Ultra-Low Power Sensor Devices for Monitoring Physical Activity and Respiratory Frequency in Farmed Fish.

Integration of technological solutions aims to improve accuracy, precision and repeatability in farming operations, and biosensor devices are increasingly used for understanding basic biology during livestock production. The aim of this study was to design and validate a miniaturized tri-axial accelerometer for non-invasive monitoring of farmed fish with re-programmable schedule protocols. The current device (AE-FishBIT v.

An Intraoperative Visualization System Using Hyperspectral Imaging to Aid in Brain Tumor Delineation.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) allows for the acquisition of large numbers of spectral bands throughout the electromagnetic spectrum (within and beyond the visual range) with respect to the surface of scenes captured by sensors. Using this information and a set of complex classification algorithms, it is possible to determine which material or substance is located in each pixel. The work presented in this paper aims to exploit the characteristics of HSI to develop a demonstrator capable of delineating tumor tissue from brain tissue during neurosurgical operations.

Influence of HLA Matching on the Efficacy of Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapies for Osteoarthritis and Degenerative Disc Disease.

Background: The necessity for more effective therapies for chronic osteoarticular diseases has led to the development of treatments based on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the natural precursors of musculoskeletal tissue. Treatments with autologous MSCs yielded excellent results, with nearly 70% improvement of pain and disability in osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. Using allogeneic MSCs is logistically more convenient and would widen the pool of eligible patients, but potential immune rejection should be considered.

Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis With Allogeneic Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent joint disease and a common cause of joint pain, functional loss, and disability. Conventional treatments demonstrate only modest clinical benefits without lesion reversal. Autologous mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) treatments have shown feasibility, safety, and strong indications for clinical efficacy.

Consequences of cavity size and chemical environment on the adsorption properties of isoreticular metal-organic frameworks: an inverse gas chromatography study.

The role of the structure of three isoreticular metal-organic frameworks (IRMOFs) on their adsorption behavior has been studied in this work, selecting different kinds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as adsorbates (alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, aromatics and chlorinated). For this purpose, three samples (IRMOF-1, IRMOF-8 and IRMOF-10) with cubic structure and without functionalities on the organic linkers were synthesized. Adsorption capacities at infinite dilution were derived from the adsorption isotherms, whereas thermodynamic properties have been determined from chromatographic retention volume.

Effect of carbon nanofiber functionalization on the adsorption properties of volatile organic compounds.

The effect of the chemical activation, using HNO3, of a commercial carbon nanofiber (CNF) on its surface chemistry and adsorption properties is studied in this work. The adsorption of different alkanes (linear and cyclic), aromatic compounds and chlorohydrocarbons on both the parent and the oxidized CNF were compared. Temperature-programmed desorption results, in agreement with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments, reveal the existence of oxygen groups on the surface of the treated CNF.

Enhancement of the CO(2) retention capacity of X zeolites by Na- and Cs-treatments.

Adsorption of carbon dioxide on alkaline modified X zeolites was investigated by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) analysis of these materials previously saturated with CO(2) at 50, 100 and 200 degrees C. Parent X zeolite (in its sodium form) was treated with different sodium and cesium aqueous solutions, using both carbonates and hydroxides as precursors. The resulting materials were characterised by nitrogen physisorption, XRD, and NH(3)-TPD, in order to determine their morphological, crystallographic and chemical properties.

Sulphur poisoning of palladium catalysts used for methane combustion: effect of the support.

Four different supported palladium catalysts (using alumina, silica, zirconia and titania as supports), prepared by incipient wetness impregnation, were tested as catalysts for methane oxidation in presence of sulphur dioxide. The catalyst supported on zirconia showed the best performance, whereas the silica-supported one showed the fastest deactivation. Temperature-programmed desorption experiments of the poisoned catalysts suggest that SO(2) adsorption capacity of the support plays a key role in the catalyst poisoning.

Adsorption of volatile organic compounds onto carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and high-surface-area graphites.

The adsorption of different alkanes (linear and cyclic), aromatics, and chlorohydrocarbons onto different nonmicroporous carbons--multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and high-surface-area graphites (HSAGs)--is studied in this work by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Capacity of adsorption was derived from the isotherms of adsorption, whereas thermodynamic properties (enthalpy of adsorption, surface free energy characteristics) have been determined from chromatographic retention data. HSAGs present the highest adsorption capacity, followed by CNTs and CNFs (although CNTs present an intermediate surface area between the two HSAG studied).

Oxidation of trichloroethene over metal oxide catalysts: kinetic studies and correlation with adsorption properties.

The performance of bulk chromium oxide is compared with that of a Mn commercial catalyst for the deep oxidation of trichloroethene (1000-2500ppmv, 55h(-1) space velocity) in air, in dry and wet (20000ppm of H(2)O) conditions, in terms of activity, selectivity and stability. Chromium oxide was found to be more active (on a catalyst weight basis), however its activity decreases continuously with time on stream. The presence of water increases its stability, the Mn catalyst showing the opposite behaviour.

Oxidation of methane over palladium catalysts: effect of the support.

This work is focused on the deep catalytic oxidation of methane over supported palladium catalysts. The influences of the metal loading, oxidation state of palladium, nature of supports, presence of promoters in the supports (for zirconia-based supports), and thermal stability have been studied experimentally. Catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness of commercially available supports with aqueous solutions of palladium nitrate.

Characterization of Co, Fe and Mn-exchanged zeolites by inverse gas chromatography.

The adsorption of several alkanes, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds on NaX, CaA, and exchanged Co, Mn and Fe zeolites as adsorbents was investigated. Zeolite composition and structure was determined by ICP-mass spectroscopy, XRD, and nitrogen adsorption. Adsorption parameters (enthalpy of adsorption and free energy of adsorption) as well as dispersive surface energy interaction and specific interaction parameters were determined for each solute-adsorbent system by inverse gas chromatography (IGC).

Adsorption characterisation of different volatile organic compounds over alumina, zeolites and activated carbon using inverse gas chromatography.

Adsorption parameters (enthalpy of adsorption, free energy of adsorption) of several alkanes, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds on different adsorbents (alumina, zeolites 13X and 5 A, and activated carbon) were determined by inverse gas chromatography. Dispersive surface energy interaction and specific interaction parameters were determined for each solute-adsorbent system. It was found that mesoporous alumina presents lower enthalpy of adsorption than the microporous materials.

Catalytic combustion of methane over commercial catalysts in presence of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide.

The performance of different commercially available catalysts (supported Pd, Pt, Rh, bimetallic Pd-Pt, and Cr-Cu-Ti oxide catalyst) for the oxidation of methane, alone and in presence of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide is studied in this work. Catalysts performance was evaluated both in terms of activity and resistance to poisoning. The main conclusions are that supported Pd and Rh, present the highest activities for methane oxidation, both alone and in presence of ammonia, whereas they are severely poisoned in presence of H2S.