Patient-specific 3D printed model of biliary ducts with congenital cyst.

Background: 3D printing has shown great promise in medical applications, with increasing reports in liver diseases. However, research on 3D printing in biliary disease is limited with lack of studies on validation of model accuracy. In this study, we presented our experience of creating a realistic 3D printed model of biliary ducts with congenital cyst.

Optimising Ambient Setting Bayer Derived Fly Ash Geopolymers.

The Bayer process utilises high concentrations of caustic and elevated temperature to liberate alumina from bauxite, for the production of aluminium and other chemicals. Within Australia, this process results in 40 million tonnes of mineral residues (Red mud) each year. Over the same period, the energy production sector will produce 14 million tonnes of coal combustion products (Fly ash).

Effects of thermal denaturation on the solid-state structure and molecular mobility of glycinin.

The effects of moisture and thermal denaturation on the solid-state structure and molecular mobility of soy glycinin powder were investigated using multiple techniques that probe over a range of length and time scales. In native glycinin, increased moisture resulted in a decrease in both the glass transition temperature and the denaturation temperature. The sensitivity of the glass transition temperature to moisture is shown to follow the Gordon-Taylor equation, while the sensitivity of the denaturation temperature to moisture is modeled using Flory's melting point depression theory.

Small-angle X-ray scattering study of the effect of pH and salts on 11S soy glycinin in the freeze-dried powder and solution states.

The nanostructures from powders of native protein, glycinin, and corresponding solutions from which the powders have been formed, have been studied as a function of pH and 1 M salts using small-angle X-ray scattering. All powders showed Porod scattering with the exception of that prepared from the solution close to pI which displayed fractal behavior. Well-defined Bragg peaks in the powder scattering at pH 5, pH 7, and 1 M NaCl indicate the presence of long-range order.

The versatile colour gamut of coatings of plasmonic metal nanoparticles.

We have investigated the colour gamut of coatings produced by the growth of plasmonically-active coatings of cap-shaped Au or Ag nanoparticles on a transparent substrate. The control of colour and spectral selectivity that can be obtained by the manipulation of the rates of nucleation and growth were explored using a combination of experiment and calculation. In our experimental work the Au nanoparticles were grown in situ using a wet chemical electroless plating technique while the Ag nanoparticles were produced by physical vapour deposition.

The preparation of a plasmonically resonant VO2 thermochromic pigment.

Vanadium dioxide (VO(2)) undergoes a reversible metal-insulator transition, normally at approximately 68 degrees C. While the properties of continuous semi-transparent coatings of VO(2) are well known, there is far less information available concerning the potential use of discrete VO(2) nanoparticles as a thermochromic pigment in opaque coatings. Individual VO(2) nanoparticles undergo a localized plasmon resonance with near-infrared light at about 1100 nm and this resonance can be switched on and off by simply varying the temperature of the system.

Micro- and nano-indentation of a hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube composite.

The mechanical properties of pure synthetic hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube composites were examined. Vickers microhardness and nanoindentation using a Berkovich tipped indenter were used to determine the hardness, fracture toughness and Young's modulus of the pure hydroxyapatite matrix and the composite materials. Microscopy showed that for the composites produced the carbon nanotubes were present as discrete clumps.

Structure and molecular mobility of soy glycinin in the solid state.

We report a multitechnique study of structural organization and molecular mobility for soy glycinin at a low moisture content (<30% w/w) and relate these to its glass-to-rubber transition. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are used to probe structure and mobility on different length and time scales. NMR (approximately 10(-6) to 10(-3) s) reveals transitions at a higher moisture content (>17%) than DSC or SAXS, which sample for much longer times (approximately 10 to 10(3) s) and where changes are detected at >13% water content at 20 degrees C.

Microstrain in hydroxyapatite carbon nanotube composites.

Synchrotron radiation diffraction data were collected from hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube bioceramic composites to determine the crystallite size and to measure changes in non-uniform strain. Estimates of crystallite size and strain were determined by line-profile fitting of discrete peaks and these were compared with a Rietveld whole-pattern analysis. Overall the two analysis methods produced very similar numbers.