Imaging Techniques for Meniscal Vasculature: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Translational Applications.

: The focus of this review is on the imaging techniques used to visualize the meniscal vascular network and arteries in clinical, human ex vivo, and animal model applications. For this purpose, research articles from the past decade that have imaged the vascular network of the meniscus and/or the genicular and popliteal arteries were identified according to established PRISMA statement standards. : Various imaging modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging, micro-computed tomography, and optical and fluorescence microscopy, were included and compared based on the type of visualization, imaging resolution, and range of vessel size detection.

Multiscale Manufacturing of Recyclable Polyimide Composite Aerogels.

Mitigating embodied emissions is becoming increasingly crucial as the energy supply shifts toward more sustainable sources. Bio-based materials present a potentially more sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers; however, it often do not yet match the performance of synthetic materials. Given the ongoing reliance on high-performance, high-environmental-impact materials, it is essential to ensure their complete recyclability.

Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Probing Fe Segregation during the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

NiFe electrocatalysts are among the most active phases for water splitting with regard to the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The interplay between Ni and Fe, both at the surface and in the subsurface of the catalyst, is crucial to understanding such outstanding properties and remains a subject of debate. Various phenomena, ranging from the formation of oxides/(oxy)hydroxides to the associated segregation of certain species, occur during the electrochemical reactions and add another dimension of complexity that hinders the rational design of electrodes for water splitting.

Iron-Catalyzed Laser-Induced Graphitization - Multiscale Analysis of the Structural Evolution and Underlying Mechanism.

The transition to sustainable materials and eco-efficient processes in commercial electronics is a driving force in developing green electronics. Iron-catalyzed laser-induced graphitization (IC-LIG) has been demonstrated as a promising approach for rendering biomaterials electrically conductive. To optimize the IC-LIG process and fully exploit its potential for future green electronics, it is crucial to gain deeper insights into its catalyzation mechanism and structural evolution.

Assessment of the advantages and limitations of an innovative silk fibroin scaffold for the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with preclinical in vitro and in vivo evaluations.

The gold standard treatment in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction involves autologous tissue transplantation, but this can have complications. Artificial grafts are an alternative, but the best option is debated. This study aimed to assess the biocompatibility and integration of a silk fibroin textile prosthesis (SF-TP) with peri-implant bone tissue and the native ACL.

Taming the Production of Bioluminescent Wood Using the White Rot Fungus Desarmillaria Tabescens.

Although bioluminescence is documented both anecdotally and experimentally, the parameters involved in the production of fungal bioluminescence during wood colonization have not been identified to date. Here, for the first time, this work develops a methodology to produce a hybrid living material by manipulating wood colonization through merging the living fungus Desarmillaria tabescens with nonliving balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) wood to achieve and control the autonomous emission of bioluminescence. The hybrid material with the highest bioluminescence is produced by soaking the wood blocks before co-cultivating them with the fungus for 3 months.

Understanding the Structure-Function Relationship through 3D Imaging and Biomechanical Analysis: A Novel Methodological Approach Applied to Anterior Cruciate Ligaments.

Understanding the microstructure of fibrous tissues, like ligaments, is crucial due to their nonlinear stress-strain behavior from unique fiber arrangements. This study introduces a new method to analyze the relationship between the microstructure and function of anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL). We tested the procedure on two ACL samples, one from a healthy individual and one from an osteoarthritis patient, using a custom tensioning device within a micro-CT scanner.

Thermodynamic assessment of evaporation during molten steel testing onboard the International Space Station.

Evaporation control is a critical facility resource during solidification experiments that limits processing time and must be tracked to ensure facility health. A thermodynamic analysis was performed on a ternary FeCrNi sample processed onboard the International Space Station (ISS) using ESA Electromagnetic Levitation (EML) facility in a microgravity environment. A non-ideal solution-based mathematical model was applied for the overall sample mass loss prediction during this study.

Revealing the complexity of meniscus microvasculature through 3D visualization and analysis.

Three-dimensional information is essential for a proper understanding of the healing potential of the menisci and their overall role in the knee joint. However, to date, the study of meniscal vascularity has relied primarily on two-dimensional imaging techniques. Here we present a method to elucidate the intricate 3D meniscal vascular network, revealing its spatial arrangement, connectivity and density.

Development of A Micro-CT Scanner with Dual-Energy Option and Endovascular Contrast Agent Administration Protocol for Fetal and Neonatal Virtual Autopsy.

The rate of parental consent for fetal and perinatal autopsy is decreasing, whereas parents are more likely to agree to virtual autopsy by non-invasive imaging methods. Fetal and perinatal virtual autopsy needs high-resolution and good soft-tissue contrast for investigation of the cause of death and underlying trauma or pathology in fetuses and stillborn infants. This is offered by micro-computed tomography (CT), as opposed to the limited resolution provided by clinical CT scanners, and this is one of the most promising tools for non-invasive perinatal postmortem imaging.

Additive Manufacturing of Nanocellulose Aerogels with Structure-Oriented Thermal, Mechanical, and Biological Properties.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is widely recognized as a versatile tool for achieving complex geometries and customized functionalities in designed materials. However, the challenge lies in selecting an appropriate AM method that simultaneously realizes desired microstructures and macroscopic geometrical designs in a single sample. This study presents a direct ink writing method for 3D printing intricate, high-fidelity macroscopic cellulose aerogel forms.

Reversible chirality inversion of an AuAg-cysteine coordination polymer by pH change.

Responsive chiral systems have attracted considerable attention, given their potential for diverse applications in biology, optoelectronics, photonics, and related fields. Here we show the reversible chirality inversion of an AuAg-cysteine (AuAg-cys) coordination polymer (CP) by pH changes. The polymer can be obtained by mixing HAuCl and AgNO with L-cysteine (or D-cysteine) in appropriate proportions in HO (or other surfactant solutions).

Iron-carbohydrate complexes treating iron anaemia: Understanding the nano-structure and interactions with proteins through orthogonal characterisation.

Intravenous (IV) iron-carbohydrate complexes are widely used nanoparticles (NPs) to treat iron deficiency anaemia, often associated with medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease, heart failure and various inflammatory conditions. Even though a plethora of physicochemical characterisation data and clinical studies are available for these products, evidence-based correlation between physicochemical properties of iron-carbohydrate complexes and clinical outcome has not fully been elucidated yet. Studies on other metal oxide NPs suggest that early interactions between NPs and blood upon IV injection are key to understanding how differences in physicochemical characteristics of iron-carbohydrate complexes cause variance in clinical outcomes.

Garnet-Based Solid-State Li Batteries with High-Surface-Area Porous LLZO Membranes.

Rechargeable garnet-based solid-state Li batteries hold immense promise as nonflammable, nontoxic, and high energy density energy storage systems, employing LiLaZrO (LLZO) with a garnet-type structure as the solid-state electrolyte. Despite substantial progress in this field, the advancement and eventual commercialization of garnet-based solid-state Li batteries are impeded by void formation at the LLZO/Li interface at practical current densities and areal capacities beyond 1 mA cm and 1 mAh cm, respectively, resulting in limited cycling stability and the emergence of Li dendrites. Additionally, developing a fabrication approach for thin LLZO electrolytes to achieve high energy density remains paramount.

3D visualization of the human anterior cruciate ligament combining micro-CT and histological analysis.

Purpose: The study aimed to obtain a comprehensive 3D visualization of knee specimens, including the cruciate ligaments and corresponding femoral and tibial bone insertions using a non-destructive micro-CT method.

Methods: Knee specimens were fixed in anatomical positions and chemically dehydrated before being scanned using micro-CT with a voxel size of 17.5 μm.

The influence of implant design and limb alignment on in vivo wear rates of fixed-bearing and rotating-platform knee implant retrievals.

Analysis of polyethylene (PE) wear in knee implants is crucial for understanding the factors leading to revision in total knee arthroplasty. Importantly, current experimental and computational methods for predicting insert wear can only be validated against true in vivo measurements from retrievals. This study quantitatively investigated in vivo PE wear rates in fixed-bearing (FB) (n = 21) and rotating-platform (n = 53) implant retrievals.

Hybrids of manganese oxide and lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LLCNPs@MnO) as potential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents.

Due to the health risks associated with the use of Gd-chelates and the promising effects of using nanoparticles as contrast agents (CAs) for MRI, Mn-based nanoparticles are considered a highly competitive alternative. The use of hybrid constructs with paramagnetic functionality of Mn-based nanoparticles is an effective approach, in particular, the use of biocompatible lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LLCNPs) as a carrier of MnO nanoparticles. LLCNPs possess a unique internal structure ensuring a payload of different polarity MnO nanoparticles.

Trivinylphosphine Oxide: Synthesis, Characterization, and Polymerization Reactivity Investigated Using Single-Crystal Analysis and Density Functional Theory.

Organophosphorus chemicals are versatile and important in industry. Trivinylphosphine oxide (TVPO), for example, exhibited a promising precursor as a flame-retardant additive for industrial applications. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations were used to explore the kinetic and thermodynamic chemical processes underlying the nucleophilic addition reactions of TVPO in order to better understand their polymerization mechanisms.

Multiscale multimodal characterization and simulation of structural alterations in failed bioprosthetic heart valves.

Calcific degeneration is the most frequent type of heart valve failure, with rising incidence due to the ageing population. The gold standard treatment to date is valve replacement. Unfortunately, calcification oftentimes re-occurs in bioprosthetic substitutes, with the governing processes remaining poorly understood.

Otosclerosis under microCT: New insights into the disease and its anatomy.

Purpose: Otospongiotic plaques can be seen on conventional computed tomography (CT) as focal lesions around the cochlea. However, the resolution remains insufficient to enable evaluation of intracochlear damage. MicroCT technology provides resolution at the single micron level, offering an exceptional amplified view of the otosclerotic cochlea.

Critical nanomaterial attributes of iron-carbohydrate nanoparticles: Leveraging orthogonal methods to resolve the 3-dimensional structure.

Intravenous iron-carbohydrate nanomedicines are widely used to treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia across a wide breadth of patient populations. These colloidal solutions of nanoparticles are complex drugs which inherently makes physicochemical characterization more challenging than small molecule drugs. There have been advancements in physicochemical characterization techniques such as dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurement, that have provided a better understanding of the physical structure of these drug products in vitro.

Quantitative Evaluation of the 3D Anatomy of the Human Osseous Spiral Lamina Using MicroCT.

Purpose: The osseous spiral lamina (OSL) is an inner cochlear bony structure that projects from the modiolus from base to apex, separating the cochlear canal into the scala vestibuli and scala tympani. The porosity of the OSL has recently attracted the attention of scientists due to its potential impact on the overall sound transduction. The bony pillars between the vestibular and tympanic plates of the OSL are not always visible in conventional histopathological studies, so imaging of such structures is usually lacking or incomplete.

Oriented Porous NASICON 3D Framework via Freeze-Casting for Sodium-Metal Batteries.

Sodium-metal batteries are promising candidates for low-cost, large-format energy storage systems. However, sodium-metal batteries suffer from high interfacial resistance between the electrodes and the solid electrolyte, leading to poor electrochemical performance. We demonstrate a sodium superionic conductor (NASICON) with an oriented porous framework of sodium aluminum titanium phosphate (NATP) fabricated by the freeze-casting technique, which shows excellent properties as a solid electrolyte.

Electromagnetic levitation containerless processing of metallic materials in microgravity: thermophysical properties.

Transitions from the liquid to the solid state of matter are omnipresent. They form a crucial step in the industrial solidification of metallic alloy melts and are greatly influenced by the thermophysical properties of the melt. Knowledge of the thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys is necessary in order to gain a tight control over the solidification pathway, and over the obtained material structure of the solid.