3D Printed Porous Methacrylate/Silica Hybrid Scaffold for Bone Substitution.

Inorganic-organic hybrid biomaterials made with star polymer poly(methyl methacrylate-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) and silica which show promising mechanical properties, are 3D printed as bone substitutes for the first time, by direct ink writing of the sol. Three different inorganic:organic ratios of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate)-star-SiO hybrid inks are printed with pore channels in the range of 100-200 µm. Mechanical properties of the 3D printed scaffolds fall within the range of trabecular bone, and MC3T3 pre-osteoblast cells are able to adhere to the scaffolds in vitro, regardless of their compositions.

How the experience of medical assistance in dying changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: a qualitative study of providers.

Background: In March 2020, all levels of government introduced various strategies to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to document how the experience of providing medical assistance in dying (MAiD) changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using semistructured interviews with key informants in Canada who provided or coordinated MAiD before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forced and chosen transfers for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) before and during the COVID 19 pandemic: A mixed methods study.

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of people who transferred locations for MAiD. It used mixed methods with a chart review from one health authority and interviews with key informants across Canada. In the chart review, we found that of 444 MAiD deaths, 42 (9.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical assistance in dying in Canada and the relationship of public health laws to private understandings of the legal order.

Drawing on interviews we conducted with 15 medical assistance in dying (MAiD) providers from across Canada, we examine how physicians and nurse practitioners reconcile respect for the new, changing rules brought upon by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, along with their existing legal obligations and ethical commitments as health care professionals and MAiD providers. Our respondents reported situations where they did not follow or did not insist on others following the applicable public health rules. We identify a variety of techniques that they deployed either to minimize, rationalize, justify or excuse deviations from the relevant public health rules.

Effect of Comonomers on Physical Properties and Cell Attachment to Silica-Methacrylate/Acrylate Hybrids for Bone Substitution.

Hybrids with a silica network covalently bonded to a polymer are promising materials for bone repair. Previous work on synthesizing methyl methacrylate (MMA) based copolymers by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization gives high tailorability of mechanical properties since sophisticated polymer structures can be designed. However, more flexible hybrids would be beneficial.

New Method for the Deposition of Nickel Oxide in Porous Scaffolds for Electrodes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers.

A simple chemical bath deposition is used to coat a complex porous ceramic scaffold with a conformal Ni layer. The resulting composite is used as a solid oxide fuel cell electrode, and its electrochemical response is measured in humidified hydrogen. X-ray tomography is used to determine the microstructural characteristics of the uncoated and Ni-coated porous structure, which include the surface area to total volume, the radial pore size, and the size of the necks between the pores.

Global motion perception in children with amblyopia as a function of spatial and temporal stimulus parameters.

Global motion sensitivity in typically developing children depends on the spatial (Δx) and temporal (Δt) displacement parameters of the motion stimulus. Specifically, sensitivity for small Δx values matures at a later age, suggesting it may be the most vulnerable to damage by amblyopia. To explore this possibility, we compared motion coherence thresholds of children with amblyopia (7-14years old) to age-matched controls.