3D Printing in Prosthetics, Orthotics and Assistive Technology: Myth and Reality.

3D printing initially captured the public eye when mainstream media began writing about Enabling the Future, a volunteer network that had begun designing and 3D printing prosthetic hands. Many of the stories focused on how this technology was going to disrupt the prosthetic sector. The response from prosthetists was skepticism and concern, in particular warning that 3D printed components would not be robust enough to withstand the activities of daily living.

Technology Management as a Core Component of a Client-centric Prosthetic Orthotic Practice Model.

Technological innovation has transformed how we communicate, work, and conduct business. Over the next decade how we experience health care both as health care professionals and as client-patients will also change significantly. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge to medical clinical professionals that are device-focused, including prosthetists orthotists, as they consider how best to adapt.

Se supplementation to an in vitro blood-brain barrier does not affect Cu transfer into the brain.

Background: Dyshomeostasis of copper (Cu) accompanied by Cu accumulation in certain brain areas has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases. One proposed toxic mode of action following Cu overload is oxidative stress associated with neuronal damage, whereas Selenium (Se) is assumed to play here a protective role. This study investigates the relationship between adequate Se supplementation and the respective consequences for Cu transfer into the brain applying an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Photo-Responsive Control of Adsorption and Structure Formation at the Air-Water Interface with Arylazopyrazoles.

Smart interfaces that are responsive to external triggers such as light are of great interest for the development of responsive or adaptive materials and interfaces. Using alkyl-arylazopyrazole butyl sulfonate surfactants (alkyl-AAP) that can undergo / photoisomerization when irradiated with green () and UV () lights, we demonstrate through a combination of experiments and computer simulations that there can be surprisingly large changes in surface tension and in the molecular structure and order at air-water interfaces. Surface tensiometry, vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, and neutron reflectometry (NR) are applied to the study of custom-synthesized AAP surfactants with octyl- and H-terminal groups at air-water interfaces as a function of their bulk concentration and / configuration.

Selenium homeostasis in human brain cells: Effects of copper (II) and Se species.

Background: Both essential trace elements selenium (Se) and copper (Cu) play an important role in maintaining brain function. Homeostasis of Cu, which is tightly regulated under physiological conditions, seems to be disturbed in Alzheimer´s (AD) and Parkinson´s disease (PD) patients. Excess Cu promotes the formation of oxidative stress, which is thought to be a major cause for development and progression of neurological diseases (NDs).