Increasing surface hydrophilicity with biopolymers: a combined single bubble collision, QCM-D and AFM study.

Hypothesis: Naturally extracted polysaccharides, such as guar gum, are promising candidates for environmentally friendly flotation reagents. It is hypothesized that the kinetics of collision of sub- to millimeter gas bubbles with a hydrophobic graphite surface, and the stability of thin liquid film formed between the bubble and surface is affected by an adsorbed layer of guar gum.

Experiments: A combination of gravimetric (quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation) and imaging (atomic force microscopy) techniques was used to investigate the adsorption of guar gum on graphite surface, while high-speed camera imaging allowed for direct observation of the bubble collision process with guar gum-modified graphite surfaces with millisecond resolution.

Quantitative MR in Paediatric Patients with Wilson Disease: A Case Series Review.

Wilson disease (WD) is a liver disorder characterized by improper copper metabolism. Although non-invasive tools are currently used to support diagnosis and management, this is still an area of unmet need, as patients present with a wide range of symptoms. Our aim was to investigate the potential utility of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and quantitative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP+) to support patient management.

Can small air bubbles probe very low frother concentration faster?

The existing literature on the rise velocities of air bubbles in aqueous surfactant solutions adsorbing at the water-air interface focuses mainly on large bubbles ( > 1.2 mm). In addition, due to the way the bubbles in rising bubble experiments are formed, their size is dependent on interfacial tension (the lower the interfacial tension the smaller the bubble).

Quantitative multiparametric MRI as a non-invasive stratification tool in children and adolescents with autoimmune liver disease.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC) are two very closely related autoimmune liver diseases with overlapping clinical features and similar management strategies. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of quantitative imaging markers to distinguish ASC from AIH in paediatrics. 66 participants (N = 52 AIH, N = 14 ASC) aged 14.

Multiparametric MRI as a Noninvasive Monitoring Tool for Children With Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Objectives: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive liver disease managed with corticosteroids and immunosuppression and monitored using a combination of liver biochemistry and histology. However, liver biopsy is invasive with risk of pain and bleeding. The aim of the present study was to investigate the utility of noninvasive imaging with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (mpMRI) to provide clinically useful information on the presence and extent of hepatic inflammation, potentially guiding immunosuppression.

Odd-even effects on hydration of natural polyelectrolyte multilayers: An in situ synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy study.

Hypothesis: Odd-even effects in polysaccharide polyelectrolyte multilayers influence their hydration content and the chemical environment of the water within them.

Experiments: Polysaccharide polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) composed of pharmaceutical grade fucoidan and chitosan were studied under confinement using synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy at increasing pressure, in order to isolate and measure infrared spectra of water within the PEM, without interference from bulk water. Complementary studies of the PEMs were carried out using lab-based in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform spectroscopy (ATR FTIR) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), as well as zeta potential measurements, to determine the quantity of adsorbed polymer, hydration content, film thickness, viscoelastic properties and surface charge during layer-by-layer deposition.

A Novel Soft Contact Piezo-Controlled Liquid Cell for Probing Polymer Films under Confinement using Synchrotron FTIR Microspectroscopy.

Soft polymer films, such as polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs), are useful coatings in materials science. The properties of PEMs often rely on the degree of hydration, and therefore the study of these films in a hydrated state is critical to allow links to be drawn between their characteristics and performance in a particular application. In this work, we detail the development of a novel soft contact cell for studying hydrated PEMs (poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride)) using FTIR microspectroscopy.

Spinal cord lesions in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis - Magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of spinal cord lesions revealed by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in children and adolescents with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS).

Material And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the spinal cord magnetic resonance examinations in a group of MS patients consisting of 58 children (37 girls and 21 boys) aged from 7 to 17.8 years (mean 13.

Radioguided surgery in patient with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour followed by PET/CT scan as a new approach of complete resection evaluation--case report.

Radioguided surgery using 68-gallium labelled somatostatin analogues is a promising method for detection of small, intra-abdominal, neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN). However, due to high background activity (physiological uptake in e.g.