Search results for "Bioengineering"
showing 10 items of 1963 documents
Testing soil water repellency in a Sicilian area two years after a fire
2019
The water drop penetration time (WDPT) technique was applied in 2018 to check persistence of soil water repellency (SWR) in a Sicilian mountain area affected by a wildfire on June 2016. A total of four sites, that were severely water repellent immediately after burning, were sampled. Depending on the site, wettable soil conditions, less SWR and maintenance of a noticeable SWR were detected two years later. At the site showing a near-constant SWR, WDPTs were particularly high in the top soil layer (0-0.03 m) and they appreciably decreased more in depth. Signs of decreasing SWR in drier soil conditions and in association with coarser soil particles were also detected at this site. High gradie…
Analysis of hybrid vehicle transmissions with any number of modes and planetary gearing: kinematics, power flows, mechanical power losses
2021
Abstract This paper is focused on upgrading a unified parametric model, available in the literature, that can perform both the analysis and the design of Power-Split Continuously Variable Transmissions (PS-CVTs), which are particularly promising to deploy in the hybrid electric powertrain. In particular, this work is focused on the analysis of PS-CVTs and proposes a new matrix approach for identifying the basic functional parameters underlying the model from the constructive layout of the transmission. This new method does not rely on a case-specific formulation, thus befits any power-split transmission, regardless of the number of planetary and ordinary gear sets and their constructive arr…
Optimizing MRI contrast with B1 pulses using optimal control theory
2016
The variety of achievable contrasts by MRI makes it a highly flexible and valuable diagnostic tool. Contrast results from relaxation time differences, which are intrinsic properties of each tissue. Using optimal control theory, one can control the obtained contrast by applying excitation pulses that bring the magnetization in a user-defined target state. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the feasibility and the flexibility of using optimal contrast pulses. The robustness to experimental variable parameters such as field inhomogeneities is also studied. Finally, an in-vitro contrast experiment is performed on a small-animal MRI showing a reasonable match with the simulation resu…
Direct analysis of power-split CVTs: A unified method
2018
Abstract This paper provides a fast kinematic analysis method for compound power-split CVTs, which consents to identify their functional parameters. Such parameters permit the assessment of power flows, torques and efficiency, and the design of equivalent transmissions by the use of a recently published mathematical model. The same method can easily address either simpler or more complex transmissions by mean of kinematic equivalent parameters, without the need to arrange separate systems of equations. As a case study, we performed the kinematic analysis of the “Voltec” multi-mode GM transmission.
Power losses in power-split CVTs: A fast black-box approximate method
2018
Abstract This paper addresses the mechanical losses of planetary transmissions, with particular attention to power-split CVTs in their hybrid electric versions. It provides unified layout-independent analytical relationships, which can be used for both analysis, design and control purposes, and a simplified approach; the latter overcomes the necessity to segment the operating range of the power-split CVT in order to keep its loss model physically consistent. An example of application to a real hybrid electric PS-CVT is performed to show the simplicity, accuracy and generality of the proposed method.
Bioprospecting challenges in unusual environments
2017
Editorial: The microbiome as a source of new enterprises and job creation.
A Natural Xenogeneic Endometrial Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Toward Improving Current Human in vitro Models and Future in vivo Applications
2021
Decellularization techniques support the creation of biocompatible extracellular matrix hydrogels, providing tissue-specific environments for both in vitro cell culture and in vivo tissue regeneration. We obtained endometrium derived from porcine decellularized uteri to create endometrial extracellular matrix (EndoECM) hydrogels. After decellularization and detergent removal, we investigated the physicochemical features of the EndoECM, including gelation kinetics, ultrastructure, and proteomic profile. The matrisome showed conservation of structural and tissue-specific components with low amounts of immunoreactive molecules. EndoECM supported in vitro culture of human endometrial cells in t…
Bifunctional poly(acrylamide) hydrogels through orthogonal coupling chemistries
2019
Biomaterials for cell culture allowing simple and quantitative presentation of instructive cues enable rationalization of the interplay between cells and their surrounding microenvironment. Poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) hydrogels are popular 2D-model substrates for this purpose. However, quantitative and reproducible biofunctionalization of PAAm hydrogels with multiple ligands in a trustable, controlled, and independent fashion is not trivial. Here, we describe a method for bifunctional modification of PAAm hydrogels with thiol- and amine- containing biomolecules with controlled densities in an independent, orthogonal manner. We developed copolymer networks of AAm with 9% acrylic acid and 2% N-(4…
In Vivo Functional Evaluation of Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts Fabricated Using Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from High Cardiovascular Risk Po…
2016
Many preclinical evaluations of autologous small-diameter tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) utilize cells from healthy humans or animals. However, these models hold minimal relevance for clinical translation, as the main targeted demographic is patients at high cardiovascular risk such as individuals with diabetes mellitus or the elderly. Stem cells such as adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) represent a clinically ideal cell type for TEVGs, as these can be easily and plentifully harvested and offer regenerative potential. To understand whether AD-MSCs sourced from diabetic and elderly donors are as effective as those from young nondiabetics (i.e., healthy) in the conte…
Therapeutic Opportunities in Intestinal Microbiota–Virus Interactions
2018
The host microbiota has emerged a third player in interactions between hosts and viral pathogens. This opens new possibilities to use different tools to modulate the intestinal microbial composition, aimed at reducing the risk of or treating viral enteric infections.