Cytotoxicity of Pd nanostructures supported on PEN: Influence of sterilization on Pd/PEN interface

Non-conventional antimicrobial agents, such as palladium nanostructures, have been increasingly used in the medicinal technology. However, experiences uncovering their harmful and damaging effects to human health have begun to appear. In this study, we have focused on in vitro cytotoxicity assessment of Pd nanostructures supported on a biocompatible polymer. Pd nanolayers of variable thicknesses (ranging from 1.1 to 22.4nm) were sputtered on polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). These nanolayers were transformed by low-temperature post-deposition annealing into discrete nanoislands. Samples were characterized by AFM, XPS, ICP-MS and electrokinetic analysis before and after annealing. Sterilization of samples prior to cytotoxicity testing was done by UV irradiation, autoclave and/or ethanol. Among the listed sterilization techniques, we have chosen the gentlest one which had minimal impact on sample morphology, Pd dissolution and overall Pd/PEN interface quality. Cytotoxic response of Pd nanostructures was determined by WST-1 cell viability assay in vitro using three model cell lines: mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) and two types of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (L929 and NIH 3T3). Finally, cell morphology in response to Pd/PEN was evaluated by means of fluorescence microscopy.

Benefit-cost analysis of commercially available activated carbon filters for indoor ozone removal in single-family homes

This study involved the development of a model for evaluating the potential costs and benefits of ozone control by activated carbon filtration in single-family homes. The modeling effort included the prediction of indoor ozone with and without activated carbon filtration in the HVAC system. As one application, the model was used to predict benefit-to-cost ratios for single-family homes in 12 American cities in five different climate zones. Health benefits were evaluated using disability-adjusted life-years and included city-specific age demographics for each simulation. Costs of commercially available activated carbon filters included capital cost differences when compared to conventional HVAC filters of similar particle removal efficiency, energy penalties due to additional pressure drop, and regional utility rates. The average indoor ozone removal effectiveness ranged from 4 to 20% across the 12 target cities and was largely limited by HVAC system operation time. For the parameters selected in this study, the mean predicted benefit-to-cost ratios for 1-inch filters were >1.0 in 10 of the 12 cities. The benefits of residential activated carbon filters were greatest in cities with high seasonal ozone and HVAC usage, suggesting the importance of targeting such conditions for activated carbon filter applications.

Anatomic variation and orgasm: Could variations in anatomy explain differences in orgasmic success?

Though the public consciousness is typically focused on factors such as psychology, penis size, and the presence of the "G-spot," there are other anatomical and neuro-anatomic differences that could play an equal, or more important, role in the frequency and intensity of orgasms. Discovering these variations could direct further medical or procedural management to improve sexual satisfaction. The aim of this study is to review the available literature of anatomical sexual variation and to explain why this variation may predispose some patients toward a particular sexual experience. In this review, we explored the available literature on sexual anatomy and neuro-anatomy. We used PubMed and OVID Medline for search terms, including orgasm, penile size variation, clitoral variation, Grafenberg spot, and benefits of orgasm. First we review the basic anatomy and innervation of the reproductive organs. Then we describe several anatomical variations that likely play a superior role to popular known variation (penis size, presence of g-spot, etc). For males, the delicate play between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems is vital to achieve orgasm. For females, the autonomic component is more complex. The clitoris is the primary anatomical feature for female orgasm, including its migration toward the anterior vaginal wall. In conclusions, orgasms are complex phenomena involving psychological, physiological, and anatomic variation. While these variations predispose people to certain sexual function, future research should explore how to surgically or medically alter these. Clin. Anat. 29:665-672, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Antibacterial properties of palladium nanostructures sputtered on polyethylene naphthalate

Scheme of pen processing resulting in “curtain” effect of Pd.

Particle characterization in retail environments: concentrations, sources, and removal mechanisms

Particles in retail environments can have consequences for the occupational exposures of retail workers and customers, as well as the energy costs associated with ventilation and filtration. Little is known about particle characteristics in retail environments. We measured indoor and outdoor mass concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 , number concentrations of submicron particles (0.02-1 μm), size-resolved 0.3-10 μm particles, as well as ventilation rates in 14 retail stores during 24 site visits in Pennsylvania and Texas. Overall, the results were generally suggestive of relatively clean environments when compared to investigations of other building types and ambient/occupational regulatory limits. PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations (mean ± s.d.) were 20 ± 14 and 11 ± 10 μg/m(3), respectively, with indoor-to-outdoor ratios of 1.0 ± 0.7 and 0.88 ± 1.0. Mean submicron particle concentrations were 7220 ± 7500 particles/cm(3) with an indoor-to-outdoor ratio of 1.18 ± 1.30. The median contribution to PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations from indoor sources (vs. outdoors) was 83% and 53%, respectively. There were no significant correlations between measured ventilation rates and particle concentrations of any size. When examining options to lower PM2.5 concentrations below regulatory limits, the required changes to ventilation and filtration efficiency were site specific and depended on the indoor and outdoor concentration, emission rate, and infiltration level.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Little is known about particle concentrations, contribution of indoor sources, and emission rates in retail environments. Knowledge of these particle characteristics informs health scientists with input parameters to include in exposure modeling. The predicted concentration change in response to different ventilation rates and filtration efficiencies may be used for guidance to develop control strategies to lower particulate matter concentrations in retail environments.

High speed inscription of uniform, large-area laser-induced periodic surface structures in Cr films using a high repetition rate fs laser

We report on the fabrication of laser-induced periodic surface structures in Cr films upon high repetition rate fs laser irradiation (up to 1 MHz, 500 fs, 1030 nm), employing beam scanning. Highly regular large-area (9  cm2) gratings with a relative diffraction efficiency of 42% can be produced within less than 6 min. The ripple period at moderate and high fluences is 0.9 μm, with a small period of 0.5 μm appearing at lower energies. The role of the irradiation parameters on the characteristics of the laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) is studied and discussed in the frame of the models presently used. We have identified the polarization vector orientation with respect to the scan direction as a key parameter for the fabrication of high-quality, large-area LIPSS, which, for perpendicular orientation, allows the coherent extension of the sub-wavelength structure over macroscopic distances. The processing strategy is robust in terms of broad parameter windows and applicable to other materials featuring LIPSS.

Ion migration assisted inscription of high refractive index contrast waveguides by femtosecond laser pulses in phosphate glass

In this Letter, we report on the successful fabrication of low loss, high refractive index contrast waveguides via ion migration upon femtosecond laser writing in phosphate glass. Waveguides were produced in two different phosphate glass compositions with high and low La(2)O(3) content. In the La-rich glass, a large refractive index increase in the guiding region was observed due to the incoming migration of La accompanied by the out-diffusion of K. The much smaller refractive index change in the La-less glass is caused by rearrangements of the glass structure. These results confirm the feasibility of adapting the glass composition for enabling the laser writing of high refractive index contrast structures via spatially selective modification of the glass composition.

Reorganizing and shaping of embedded near-coalescence silver nanoparticles with off-resonance femtosecond laser pulses

We demonstrate that 2D distributions of non-spherical near-coalescence silver nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in an ultrathin dielectric film can be reorganized, shaped and aligned by exposure to ultrashort laser pulses. As-grown samples prepared by pulsed laser deposition show a broad absorption band with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 650 nm, which can be blue-shifted down to 440 nm and transformed to show polarization anisotropy. In situ white light probing of the spectral sample transmission allows control during irradiation of the position and polarization anisotropy of the SPR, effectively controlling particle reorganization and shaping. Using the high spatial resolution of the optical probe technique (better than 10 μm), the dependence of the nanoparticle shape and distribution on the local fluence can be studied in a single irradiated region. The results inferred from the spectral measurements have been confirmed by TEM studies, showing the formation of nanoparticles with prolate shape, preferential alignment along the polarization axis of the laser and a narrow size distribution. This simple and efficient approach for NP shaping and the straightforward extension to multilayer systems offer excellent perspectives for optical encoding, multidimensional data storage and fabrication of complex, polarization-sensitive spectral masks starting from thin films with near-coalescence distributions of NPs.

Developing Patient-Centered Services, Part 3: The Ohio State University Medical Center

The Director's Forum series is edited by Robert J. Weber and Scott M. Mark and is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. This month's article continues the theme of practice model development. This focus is mainly a result of health-system pharmacy's emphasis on changing pharmacy practice by moving pharmacists closer to patients and by utilizing technicians to ensure optimal quality control of the medication use system. This article gives the pharmacy director another example of a practice model that employs a hybrid approach. These examples can be used as a foundation for growing patient-centered pharmacy services in your organization.

Independent control of beam astigmatism and ellipticity using a SLM for fs-laser waveguide writing

We have used a low repetition rate (1 kHz), femtosecond laser amplifier in combination with a spatial light modulator (SLM) to write optical waveguides with controllable cross-section inside a phosphate glass sample. The SLM is used to induce a controllable amount of astigmatism in the beam wavefront while the beam ellipticity is controlled through the propagation distance from the SLM to the focusing optics of the writing set-up. The beam astigmatism leads to the formation of two separate disk-shaped foci lying in orthogonal planes. Additionally, the ellipticity has the effect of enabling control over the relative peak irradiances of the two foci, making it possible to bring the peak irradiance of one of them below the material transformation threshold. This allows producing a single waveguide with controllable cross-section. Numerical simulations of the irradiance distribution at the focal region under different beam shaping conditions are compared to in situ obtained experimental plasma emission images and structures produced inside the glass, leading to a very satisfactory agreement. Finally, guiding structures with controllable cross-section are successfully produced in the phosphate glass using this approach.