Lignin is one of the main components in wood and during the chemical pulping processes it is degraded and dissolved into the cooking liquor. The current challenge is to meet the need for energy and raw materials, and reform to a more environmentally sustainable society, so there is a great interest in using kraft lignin as a raw material for energy, materials and as source of chemicals. ) To meet this goal, it is essential to obtain kraft lignin with desirable properties. The overall goal of this master thesis project was to understand the relationship between kraft process conditions and the structure and properties of the dissolved lignin. Wood chips of pine, spruce and eucalyptus were pulped with the kraft process at constant temperature and similar alkali charge and sulphidity to different cooking times. From the collected black liquor, the dissolved kraft lignin was precipitated by acidification with sulphuric acid. It was observed that longer cooking time yields more precipitated material, where pine gave the highest yield. There was a significant difference in colour of the precipitated between eucalyptus and the softwood samples. Some the characteristic properties of the collected samples were investigated. Results from the Klason lignin and ionic chromatography showed variation in lignin and carbohydrate composition depending on raw material and cooking time. This was also indicated by results lignin carbohydrate ratio from analytical pyrolysis. However, the analytical pyrolysis data showed that the relative composition of lignin and carbohydrates was similar independent on pulping time and raw material. The sulphur content was higher for eucalyptus lignin compared to the softwood lignin. Pine lignin with the longest pulping time had the highest total phenolic content. Spruce lignin with the longest cooking time had the highest glass transition temperature. / Lignin är en av de största byggstenarna i träd och andra växtmaterial, både till storlek och mängd. Under kemiska massaframställningsprocesser, som sulfatprocessen, bryts strukturen ned och lignin löses ut i kokvätskan. Ligninets värmevärde tas till vara, genom att det förbränns i sodapannan. Med den utmaning som dagens samhälle står inför, där fossila råvaror ska ersättas med förnyelsebara, finns ett allt större intresse att se vilka andra användningsområden som kan finnas för lignin, som grön råvara för energi, material och kemikalier. Det krävs därför kunskap om hur lignin med lämpliga egenskaper ska kunna utvinnas. Målet med detta examensarbete var att undersöka hur vedråvara och koktid under sulftakoket påverkar egenskaper hos det utlösta ligninet. I denna studie kokades vedflis av tall, gran och eukalyptus enligt sulfatprocessen och det utlösta ligninet analyserades efter tre olika koktider. Längre koktid ledde till mer utfällt material. Det var en tydlig skillnad i färg mellan lignin från eukalyptus och de från barrveden, gran och tall Eukalyptusligninet var mörkare med en tydlig grönaktig färgskiftning. Längre koktid medförde även ett mer lättfiltrerbart lignin. Mängden lignin, bestämt som mängd Klason lignin efter sur hydrolys, var högre i utfällningen efter kok av eukalyptus jämfört med efter kok av barrved. Resultaten från den analytiska pyrolysen visar däremot på rakt motsatt förhållande. Enligt den analytiska pyrolysen är det något mindre mängd lignin i utfällningen efter eukalyptuskok. Orsaken kan vara att vid kvantitativ bestämning av lignin som Klason lignin, kommer det oorganiska materialet att fällas ut tillsammans med ligninet, varvid mängden Klason lignin även inbegriper askmängden. Mängden lignin som lösts ut under koket ökar med ökad koktid, men andelen lignin i det utfällda materialet ändras inte med koktiden. Svavelhalten var högre för (utlöst) eukalyptuslignin än för granlignin och talllignin. Talllignin med den längsta koktiden hade den högsta totala halten fenol. Gran lignin med den längsta koktiden hade det högsta värdet på glastransitionstemperaturen.

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This dissertation contributed three main areas to flexibility testing and biomechanical characterization of human spinal segments. The first was a literature review of existing testing methodology, the second examined common spine fixation procedures, and the third developed an improved fixation method. Spine biomechanical characterization is the primary technique for assessing the healthy, diseased, and surgically treated response of spinal tissues. However, despite decades of use, no standard testing protocol or reporting methodology for flexibility testing conditions has been established. As part of the present work, a comprehensive, systematic literature review was performed, and the methods sections of 242 relevant journal articles provided key information regarding preparation processes, fixation methods, testing temperatures, loading rates, loading magnitudes, and pre-conditioning procedures. The collated information was utilized to recommend best practices for testing and reporting flexibility testing methodology. Exothermic cementing processes were the dominant spinal fixation method from the reviewed articles. In these cases, fixation occurred when the most superior and inferior vertebrae of a functional spinal unit (FSU) were embedded into a cementing material that bound tightly to the cortical surface of the vertebrae, yielding a strong and geometrically favorable attachment point. The four most common fixation materials are highly exothermic and were tested to quantify the temperature rise in the adjacent intervertebral disc (IVD), as well as any associated thermal iatrogenic damage. Three thermocouples, inserted into three distinct locations of the IVD, measured temperatures throughout the cementing process. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), the most frequently used cementing material, resulted in the greatest temperature increases, with a mean temperature rise up to 57°C above room temperature. Visible macro- and microscopic changes occurred in each of the cemented FSU IVDs. Changes included morphological changes, tissue desiccation, cracks, a breakdown in striations in the annulus fibrosus (AF), and denaturation and cell migration in the nucleus pulposus (NP). Based on these results, alternative vertebral attachment methods were considered and investigated. A structured design process was followed, and a mechanical ex vivo spinal fixation device which comprised a compliant vertebral clamp was designed. The geometry of the vertebral clamp was optimized based on pseudo-rigid body and finite element analyses. The final design was fabricated in titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) using a 3D laser sintering process. Three clamps were manufactured and functionally validated. The opening/deployment and physiological loads of ± 7.5 N•m were cyclically tested on each clamp. The clamps showed no signs of failure and remained securely attached to the vertebrae. The resultant device/vertebrae interface stiffnesses were 4 to 10x greater than their corresponding FSU stiffnesses. The clamp design eliminated thermal iatrogenic damage, had minimal structural iatrogenic damage, was reusable, adjustable, and resulted in less than 10% of the previous preparation time.

No description available.

No description available.

Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (TWP) are a fast growing segment of the adolescent treatment arena. Scientific literature on TWPs shows that researchers have skipped the natural step of identifying the population of adolescents admitted for treatment. To fill the gap in TWP research, this archival study identified demographic features and distinctive foundational aspects that represent the TWP treatment population. Comparison samples were taken from two TWPs, two residential treatment centers (RTC) and an outpatient therapy clinic (OP). At each of the five sites, basic descriptive data from client records were combined to represent multiple characterizing indexes that are in common usage for description of adolescent clinical populations. Data from TWPs (n = 150) were compared to both RTC (n = 152) and OP (n = 154) data in order to identify statistical and clinical differences across settings (primarily using Chi-square and Cramer's V). Results showed significant differences (p < .05) between TWP admits and RTC/OP admits in demographic (e.g. age; adoptive status), school related behavioral problems, nature and type of primary diagnoses, treatment history (psychiatric and psychological), psychosocial history, legal issues, substance use, and family dynamics descriptors. A number of differences (TWP vs. OP and TWP vs. RTC) showed a moderate to large effect size (Cramer's V > .3). Important clinically significant differences include: the nature of current primary disorder (TWP admits show more externalizing); presence of a mood disorder (RTC/OP present with more mood disorders); attendance at previous outpatient treatment (RTC/OP access outpatient treatment more); admittance to previous inpatient treatment (TWPs more commonly had a single inpatient admission; RTC more commonly had more than one inpatient admittance); family communication and family adaptability (TWPs family communication and family adaptability rated lower). These client features appear to be distinct identifiers of TWP admits when compared to RTC/OP admits. Other characterization indices emerged as identifiers between TWP vs. OP (e.g. school suspension; diagnostic severity; and arrests) and TWP vs. RTC (e.g. suicidal ideation; self mutilation; and prescribed psychiatric medication) separately. Implications for researchers, clinicians, educational consultants, and families are discussed.

Natural IgM producing phagocytic B cells (NIMPABs) are a rare population of immune cells that can produce antibodies to broadly target and eliminate cancer cells via phosphatidylcholine (PtC)-specific phagocytosis. A novel, dual-labeled lipid-shelled superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION)-based (SLNP) system was developed to trigger specific phagocytotic behavior in and subsequent enrichment of NIMPABs for a potential immunotherapy. Here we propose the design of an in vitro model to assess cell-SLNP interactions with J774A.1 monocyte cell line and the optimization of SLNP formulation. First, we developed and examined the morphology, size, concentration, purification, sterilization, and storage conditions of oleylamine-coated SPIONs and SLNPs using various microscopy methods, spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential. Our data confirmed SPIONs are magnetic and 7-8 nm in diameter. SLNPs containing SPIONs retained the magnetic property, and are typically measured between 100-120 nm in diameter, and had a positive zeta potential. Fluorescence labeling of the SLNPs did not affect their properties. Second, we examined cytotoxicity and phagocytosis of SLNPs with J774A.1 cells. Our preliminary data showed that significant percentage of phagocytosis can be observed as early as 2 hours. However, longer than 2 hour incubation resulted in significant cytotoxic effects. The source of SLNP cytotoxicity was examined with transmission electron microscopy and characterization techniques, identifying high un-encapsulated free oleylamine-coated SPION content in SLNP samples contributing to a positive zeta potential for these samples. Simplified SLNPs with oleic acid-coated SPIONs were synthesized and resulting examined particles had a negative zeta potential, reduced free SPION content and improved SPION incorporation into SLNP cores. Based on these findings, SLNP criteria, characterization techniques, and cell assays were revised to establish a rigorous, standardized workflow essential for determining the optimal SLNP formulation. Future work must continue to modify SLNP formulation with information obtained from all characterization techniques and cellular assays outlined in the in vitro model. Once optimized, selective SLNP-mediated isolation of NIMPAB cells can be validated ex vivo with murine peritoneal cavity washout cells and then human peripheral blood samples. / 2024-08-26T00:00:00Z

Today's Advance Technology Facilities require low noise levels and increased noise monitoring. Ambient noise can interfere with the accuracy and precision of experiments and manufacturing processes. Therefore preconstruction site surveys are needed to develop strategies for mitigating noise. Vibration and low frequency electromagnetic fields are particularly detrimental for sensitive instruments, and they are also difficult to mitigate. However a large part of these costs can be avoided or minimized if a quiet building site is selected in the first place. Accelerometers and gauss meters combined with a computer for acquisition and analysis provide a low cost method of evaluating noise levels at proposed building sites. This work examines low frequency vibration and electromagnetic fields at two proposed sites for the planned Physical Science Building at the University of Central Florida.

The synthesis and characterization of porous SiCN ceramics produced by the method of polymer-derived ceramics were studied in this work. The polymer-to-ceramic conversion technique is a novel revolution in the methods for fabricating porous materials with controlled morphologies and tailored properties. The porous SiCN ceramics can be successfully prepared from thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors (polysilazane) and the pore former (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)). The fabrication procedures involved the mixing of the pre-ceramic precursor with appropriate concentration of the PVA, curing, pyrolysis and subsequent PVA removal, leaving pores in the ceramic matrix. The material obtained revealed a homogeneous amorphous microstructure consisting of Si, C and N elements. The effects of the concentration and the particle size of PVA on the bulk density, open porosity, line shrinkage, microstructure, pore size, permeability, mechanical behavior, oxidation behavior and thermal stability were examined in this thesis. An increase in both concentration and particle size of PVA contribute to a decrease in the bulk density and an increase in the open porosity and line shrinkage. The morphology development, in particular, was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The properties in terms of the pore size and permeability were measured by the water expulsion method. The mechanical behavior of the porous SiCN ceramic was characterized by the three- point bending strength test, thermal shock strength test and hertzian indentation strength test. The flexural strength and hertzian indentation strength of these porous ceramics at room temperature decrease with an increase in porosity. However, the flexural strength after thermal shock was significantly improved by increasing the temperature change. The oxidation behavior and thermal stability of porous SiAlCN ceramics were also explored by the mass change versus oxidation time and temperature. The phase evolution at different temperatures was also investigated by XRD analysis.

“Blood vessel mimics” (BVMs) are tissue-engineered constructs that serve as in vitro preclinical testing models for intravascular devices. The Cal Poly Tissue Engineering lab specifically uses BVMs to test the cellular response to stent implantation. PLGA scaffolds are electrospun in-house using the current “Standard Protocol” and used as the framework for these constructs. The performance of BVMs greatly depends on material and mechanical properties of the scaffolds. It is desirable to create BVMs with reproducible properties so that they can be consistent models that ultimately generate more reliable results for intravascular device testing. Reproducibility stems from the consistency of the scaffolds. Thus, scaffolds with consistent material and mechanical properties are necessary for creating reproducible BVMs. The aim of this thesis was to characterize the reproducibility of the electrospun PLGA scaffolds using fiber diameter measurements and compliance testing. Initial work in this investigation involved designing and testing several experimental electrospinning protocols to obtain smaller fiber diameters, which have been shown to elicit more ideal cellular responses. The most successful protocol in that regard was then analyzed for the reproducibility of fiber diameters and compared to the reproducibility of the Standard Protocol. After determining that the Standard Protocol produced scaffolds with more consistent fibers, a large-scale reproducibility study was performed using this protocol. In this expanded study, both fiber diameter and compliance were analyzed and used to characterize the scaffolds. It was established that the scaffolds demonstrated inconsistent mean fiber diameter and mean compliance. The current standard electrospinning protocol therefore does not create PLGA scaffolds with statistically reproducible properties. Future modifications should be made to the electrospinning parameters in order to reduce variability between the scaffolds and future studies should be performed to determine the acceptable range of properties.