A research report submitted to the School of Oral Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Dentistry in the branch Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery. Johannesburg 2014 / The reconstruction of osseous mandibular defects remains a significant challenge. The use of autologous bone for mandibular reconstruction is associated with numerous limitations, and alternatives to autologous bone would provide significant benefits for patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare binary application of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 7 (rhBMP-7) and recombinant human transforming growth factor  (rhTGF-3) to solo application of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 7 (rhBMP-7) in full-thickness mandibular defects in the non-human primate Papio ursinus. In four baboons, a 2.5cm segmental defect was created in the mandible and stabilized with a 2.7mm titanium reconstruction plate. Two defects were implanted with rhBMP-7 solo, and the other two with binary application rhBMP-7 and rhTGF-3 at a ratio of 20:1. All four baboons were euthanazed at 180 days post implantation. All four specimens were radiographed prior to sectioning. Tissue processing and histomorphometry were done on the undecalcified sections prepared from the harvested mandible specimens. In all defects bone regeneration re-established bony continuity at six months. The mean area of the regenerate was 336 ± 107.5 mm2 (range 229-444.7) in the solo specimens, and 312 ± 63.5mm2 (range 249-376.6) in the binary specimens. Radiographic examination confirmed complete bone healing in all defects but variable restitution of defect volume. The regenerated bone had a trabecular pattern consistent with mature mandibular bone and the defect interfaces were indiscernible. Due to the small sample size no performance advantage could be identified between the two treatment groups. These results confirm that successful bone regeneration by tissue induction in surgically created mandibular defects can be achieved with osteogenic proteins of the transforming growth factor- superfamily.

Ph.D., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / 1 Investigating the life history strategy of an African savanna tree, Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (marula) Chantal Vinisia Helm Abstract Lack of understanding of the life history attributes and responses of savanna woody plants to disturbances, as well as the observation of unstable population structures in a keystone, savanna tree, Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (marula), prompted this study. This study employed a combination of empirical, experimental and model formulation techniques, aimed at achieving its ultimate purpose of understanding the life history strategy of marula in the face of disturbance. Four main population structures were identified for marula in the low altitude savannas of South Africa: 1) adult dominated, 2) juvenile dominated, 3) with a “missing size class” and 4) stable (negative J-shaped). Spatial variability in structure indicated different drivers affecting different populations. High annual mortality rates of up to 4.6% in adult trees, no recruitment out of the fire trap and little regeneration were observed in the Kruger National Park (KNP) between 2001 and 2010, and consequently even greater instability in the structure of these populations already observed earlier in the decade. Growth rates of saplings between 2 and 8 m in height and 2 and 30 cm in stem diameter in the field were monitored between 2007 and 2010. Annual growth rates of up to 11 mm in diameter and up to 22 cm in height were observed. Annual relative growth rates ranged between 1.9 and 4.8% across sites. Growth rates were positively linked with rainfall and plant size. Growth rates, biomass allocation patterns, as well as storage and defence allocation in 3 to 28 month old marula seedlings were assessed under glasshouse conditions. Relative growth rates were highest directly after germination (20%), but did not exceed 5% thereafter. Allocation to roots (already 65% of the overall biomass at 3 months of age and >80% when older) was high regardless of soil type or provenance. Provenance affected height gain, and plants germinating from seeds collected at higher rainfall sites had faster height growth rates than those from seeds collected at lower 2 rainfall sites. Allocation to storage in the form of root starch peaked at 35%, while allocation to defence in the form of phenolics in the leaves peaked at 18%, being relatively higher than other species. No trade-off between growth and defence allocation was observed. However, in the second growing season, growth at the start coincided with a 50% decrease in starch reserves in the roots. Reproductive maturity was found to occur after 46 years and escape from the fire trap after 12 years in a disturbance free environment. Marula trees appear to be able to live for up to 300 years of age. High temporal variability in fruit production was observed, marginally linked to rainfall. Only 2% of seeds persisted for more than one year, and hence marula relied mostly on the current season’s fruit crop for input of new germinants. Fruit production was highly synchronous across trees at a site. Very high levels of seed predation were observed. Marula seeds can remain dormant for at least 10 years when stored in the laboratory. Germination takes place after 3 mm of rainfall every four days for two weeks and is enhanced by acid digestion and high temperatures. Germination percentages are relatively low (<50% of the endocarps). Marula seedlings appear highly adapted to fire, with high allocation to below-ground biomass and starch storage, as well as very thick bark from very small stem diameters, including a well developed resprouting response from very young. Marula stems were able to resist fire from 3.4 cm in stem diameter, and were completely resistant above 7 cm. Stem diameter growth was prioritised above stem height growth, indicating that in marula, diameter gain is more important than height gain in escaping the fire trap. Topkilled marula saplings are able to regain their prefire height within one season. However, rainfall patterns may have an overriding effect on these growth patterns. Adult trees appear to be made vulnerable to fire through bark stripping, toppling and pollarding and the subsequent invasion of the soft wood by borers. On nutrient-poor granite soils, marula has a resistant strategy to herbivory, however on nutrient-rich basalt soils, marula overcompensates for herbivory even at very low levels. This may explain why marulas are more vulnerable on basalt soils in the KNP, having 3 already been extirpated from the northern arid basaltic plains. Marula seedlings are extremely drought resistant through fast root penetration rates and high root: shoot ratios. A simple demographic model was developed which predicted that marula populations are unlikely to survive given the current elephant impact in the KNP and if the fire interval is less than once every seven years. Even though marula is highly resilient to damage from herbivory or fire alone, the combination of frequent fire and heavy utilisation is proving fatal for marula populations in the KNP and elsewhere. In terms of other savanna tree species, marula is an outlier in its life history strategy, being extremely well adapted to the effects of fire with very thick bark, extensive resprouting ability and fast growth rates, combined with very high allocation to root mass, and levels of storage and chemical defence, as well as having very drought tolerant seedlings. Its main weakness as an adult, appears to be its soft wood, which is susceptible to wood borer attack. The perplexing lack of recruitment at some sites in spite of the extraordinary ability of marula seedlings to resprout from an early age, withstand extensive drought, have fast root penetration rates, extremely high root reserve storage and resistance to fire at small stem diameters, combined with high levels of fruit production and low water requirements for germination, is probably due to a combination of the lack of a dense persistent seed bank, high inter-annual variability in fruit production, low germination percentages, high seed and /or seedling predation rates and possibly dispersal of seeds away from suitable habitats. Overall, the unstable population structures observed in the low altitude savannas of South Africa, specifically in the KNP, do not bode well for the future persistence of marula as a dominant canopy tree species. Keywords: elephant, fire, growth, mortality, recruitment, regeneration

Efficient plant regeneration and transformation procedures and the stability of the transgene are important to the success of the cotton and soybean biotechnology industry. Engineering herbicide resistance into plants will provide the potential solution to effective weed control in agriculture and reduce loss in crop yields due to weeds. It will also provide cheaper control and decrease environmental hazards. The aims of this study were to develop efficient regeneration and transformation protocols for commercially grown soybean and cotton in South Africa and to use tobacco as a model plant to study the stability of the pat gene through seed generations, successive generations and high temperature and drought stress regimes. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun) leaf disks were successfully transformed with the pat gene. PCR analysis confirmed the integration of the pat gene in all nine transgenic plants and T1, T2 and T3 progeny. Successive generations, high temperatures and drought stress had no adverse effect on the stability and expression of the pat gene in the transgenic tobacco plants. In view of the economic importance of soybean (Glycine max) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in South Africa and the potential to improve commerciallygrown cultivars by genetic transformation, a regeneration and transformation protocol using the shoot apical meristem and Agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer was successfully developed, to obtain herbicide (Basta) resistant commercially-grown South African soybean and cotton plants for the first time. The frequencies of regenerated plants per meristem were 66% for Talana, 52% for Ibis, 90% for Sabie, 74.6% for LRCC 101, 69.5% for Palala and 70% for 107/1. Prior to transformation experiments, Talana and Ibis were screened for susceptibility to virulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens sis 43. Both cultivars produced tumours in response to infection and were therefore compatible hosts for Agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer. Transformation of Talana, Sabie and 107/1 with the pat gene, was successfully achieved following wounding of the shoot apical meristem and injecting with Agrobacterium in the presence of acetosyringone. Transformed explants and shoots grew in the presence of kanamycin and PPT, indicating that the integrated pat gene was producing the enzyme PAT which was successfully detoxifying the herbicide PPT. Final transformation frequencies from the initial transformed meristems to regenerated plants were 1.06% for Talana, 2.3-3% for Sabie and 1.2-2.3% for 107/1. These transformation frequencies were higher than those reported in the literature. PCR analysis of the extracted DNA from transgenic soybean and cotton shoots confirmed the presence of the 558 bp pat coding region in the transformed plants. The success of this study on the regeneration and transformation of soybean and cotton indicates that South African agriculture now has available techniques for plant regeneration and recombinant DNA technology for crop improvement of soybean and cotton.

ABSTRACT: What is culture? What is the culture of the city? The premise of this study is that the construction of an official rationality of culture, as a concept that underlies culture-led urban regeneration and place-marketing, is often limiting and exclusionary. The official concept of culture often overlooks the important political nuances and complexities that are involved in the representation and appropriation of cultural identities. It also neglects the value of the symbols and practices that are produced in the everyday life of the city, which may provide a real inclusionary, socially relevant understanding of identity and difference in the city. The study explains the need to prompt urban practitioners and theorists to begin to deconstruct prevailing interpretations of urban culture so that we may begin engaging with alternative interpretations of identities, cultures and difference to more authentically reflect the fluid meanings produced in the realm of urban everyday life. Beginning with a brief glimpse into the various meanings constructed for culture over time, the study then proceeds to analyse the official documented discourse on culture constructed for the city of Johannesburg. These ideas are then distilled into four critical themes acting as a conceptual framework relating to the interpretation of culture in the city. These four themes lead to an exploration of the space of everyday life as an alterative source of the multiple shifting meanings and identities being formed daily in the everyday life of the city. This study extends an invitation to urban theorists and practitioners to embark upon the task of critically deconstructing the realities and political complexities of prevailing interpretations of culture in the city that underlies urban regeneration. In this way the study aims to stimulate the development of alternative rationalities in urban planning about the nuances and representations of social life, identities and difference in the city, urging a 9 critical review and critique of urban decision making and its consequences for the everyday social experience of the city. This research concludes by suggesting that the concept of culture be deprivileged in the context of urban regeneration and that a new direction in practising urban regeneration and place-marketing be explored in the spaces of everyday life.

O propósito deste estudo foi avaliar histologicamente o papel do laser de baixa intensidade (LB) no processo de cicatrização óssea de defeitos de tamanho crítico em calvárias de ratos tratados com osso bovino (BO) associados a regeneração óssea guiada (ROG). Foram utilizados 80 ratos machos adultos (Rattus norvegicus, albinus, Wistar), pesando entre 250 e 300 g. Um defeito ósseo de tamanho crítico (DTC) com 5 mm de diâmetro foi criado na calvária de cada animal. Os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em 8 grupos de tratamento (n=10), sendo: 1) Grupo C (controle), 2) Grupo LB - laser de baixa intensidade (laser de baixa intensidade - GaAlAs, 730nm, 100mW, 6J, 210J/cm2), 3) Grupo BO (osso bovino), 4) Grupo ROG (membrana colágena), 5) Grupo BO/ROG (osso bovino/membrana colágena), 6) Grupo BO/LB (osso bovino/laser de baixa intensidade), 7) Grupo ROG/LB (membrana colágena/laser de baixa intensidade), 8) Grupo BO/ROG/LB (osso bovino/laser de baixa intensidade/membrana colágena). Após 30 dias, os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia. As variáveis avaliadas foram: área de osso neoformado (AON), extensão linear de osso (ELO) e área de partículas remanescentes (APR). Foi utilizado o teste paramétrico ANOVA, seguido pelo teste de Tukey. Todos os grupos apresentaram maiores médias de AON em relação ao grupo C, exceto os grupos BO, BO/ROG e BO/ROG/LB. Todos os grupos apresentaram médias de ELO estatisticamente diferente do grupo C, exceto o BO. O grupo BO/ROG/LB não apresentou maiores médias de AON e ELO que o Grupo BO/ROG, entretanto mostrou maior formação óssea na região da membrana quando utilizado o LB em associação ao BO/ROG na análise histológica. Maior APR foi observada nos grupos em que BO não foi irradiado pelo LB. Entretanto, não ocorreu diferença estatisticamente significativa entre APR nos grupos BO e BO/ROG, BO/LB e BO/ROG/LB, BO/ROG e BO/ROG/LB. O LB não levou a maior formação óssea histométrica quando associado ao BO/ROG, apesar de promover maior formação óssea na análise histológica na região da membrana. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate histologically the low level laser (LB) on bone healing in critical-size calvarial defects (CSD) in rats treated with inorganic bovine bone (BO) and guided bone regeneration (GBR). Were used 80 male adult rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus Wistar) weighing 250 to 300 g. A bone defect of critical size (DTC) with 5 mm in diameter was created in the calvaria of each animal. The animals were randomly divided into 8 treatment groups (n = 10), 1) Group C (control), 2) Group LB - low level laser (low level laser - GaAlAs, 730nm, 100mW, 6J, 210J / cm2 ), 3) Group BO (bovine bone), 4) Group ROG (collagen membrane), 5) Group BO / ROG (bovine bone / collagen membrane), 6) Group BO/ LB (bovine bone / low level laser), 7) Group ROG / LB (collagen membrane / low level laser), 8) Group BO / LB / ROG (bovine bone /low level laser / collagen membrane). After 30 days, the animals were euthanized. The variables analyzed were newly formed bone area (AON), linear extension of bone (ELO) and area of remnant particles (APR). The parametric test ANOVA followed by Tukey\'s test was used. All groups have the highest mean AON compared to C group except the group BO, BO/ROG and BO / ROG / LB. All groups showed mean of ELO statistically different from group C, except the BO. The Group BO/ROG/LB did not show higher ELO and AON than Group BO/ROG, however showed increased bone formation in the membrane area when used LB with BO/ROG in the histological analysis. Higher APR was observed in the groups where BO is not irradiated by LB. However, there was no significant difference between APR in BO BO and BO/ROG groups, BO/LB and BO/ROG/LB groups. The LB has not provide greater histometric bone formation when combined with BO / ROG, despite promote greater bone formation in the histological analysis.

O propósito deste estudo foi avaliar diferentes protocolos de aplicação do laser de baixa intensidade (LBI) associados ou não ao osso bovino inorgânico (Bio-Oss®) na cicatrização de defeitos ósseos de tamanho crítico (DTC) em calvárias de ratos. Foram utilizados 90 ratos machos adultos (Rattus norvegicus, albinus, Wistar). Um defeito de tamanho crítico (DTC) de 5 mm de diâmetro foi criado cirurgicamente na calvária de cada animal. Os animais foram divididos igualmente (n=10) e aleatoriamente em 9 gruposexperimentais: 1) grupo C (controle), 2) grupo LBI (4J) (laser de baixa intensidade GaAlAs, 730 nm, 100 mW, 4J, 140 J/cm2), 3) Grupo LBI (6J) (laser de baixa intensidade GaAlAs, 730 nm, 100 mW, 6J, 210 J/cm2), 4) Grupo BO (osso bovino inorgânico), 5) Grupo BO + LBI (4J) (osso bovino inorgânico + laser de baixa intensidade 4J), 6) Grupo BO + LBI (6J) (osso bovino inorgânico + laser de baixa intensidade 6J), 7) Grupo OA (osso autógeno), 8) Grupo OA + LBI (4J) (osso autógeno + laser de baixa intensidade 4J), 9) Grupo OA + LBI (6J) (osso autógeno + laser de baixa intensidade 6J). Os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia aos 30 dias pós-operatórios. Foram avaliadas a área de osso neoformado (AON), extensão linear de osso (ELO) e área de partículas remanescentes (APR). Os dados foram submetidos ao teste paramétrico ANOVA, seguido pelo teste de Tukey (p<0,05). O grupo BO+LBI (6J) demonstrou maior média (48,57 ± 28,22%) de AON e o grupo C a menor média (9,96 ± 4,49%) de AON. Os grupos LBI (6J), OA+LBI (6J) e BO+LBI (6J) demonstraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas de AON em relação ao grupo C. Em relação a ELO, apenas os grupos BO e BO+LBI (4J) não demonstraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas quando comparados ao grupo C, e a maior diferença entre as médias de ELO foram nas comparações do grupo LBI (6J) (76,55 ± 15,54%) com o grupo C (16,00 ± 9,86%. Maior APR foi observada nos grupos em que BO não foi irradiado pelo LBI. Porém, quando comparado o Grupo BO+LBI (6J) aos grupos OA+LBI (4J) e BO+LBI (4J) não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas. O protocolo do LBI (6J) promoveu maior formação óssea quando utilizado isoladamente ou associado ao BO, tornando-se uma opção vantajosa para ser utilizado no tratamento de defeitos ósseos. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate different protocols of low-level laser (LLL) application combined or not with inorganic bovine bone (Bio-Oss®) in the healing process of bone defects of critical size (CSD) in rat calvaria. 90 male adult rats (Rattusnorvegicus, albinus, Wistar) were used. A critical size defect (CSD) of 5 mm in diameter was surgically created in the calvaria of each rat. The rats were then divided equally (n=10) and randomly into 9 experimental groups: 1) Group C (control) 2) Group LBI (4J) (low-level laser - GaAlAs, 730 nm, 100 mW, 4J, 140 J/cm2), 3) Group LBI (6) (low- level laser - GaAlAs, 730 nm, 100 mW, 6J, 210 J/cm2), 4) Group BO (inorganic bovine bone), 5) Group BO + LBI (4J) (inorganic bovine bone + low-level laser 4J), 6) Group BO LBI (6J) (inorganic bovine bone + low-level laser 6J), 7) Group OA (autogenous bone), 8) Group OA + LBI (4J) (autogenous bone + low-level laser 4J), 9 Group OA + LBI (6J) (autogenous bone + low-level laser 6J). The rats utilized were euthanized 30 days post-operation. The areas of new bone formation (ANB), linear extension bone (LEB), and areas of remaining particles (ARP) were evaluated. The data underwent the parametric ANOVA test, followed by the Tukey test (p<0,05). Group BO+LBI (6J) presented the greatest average (48,57 ± 28,22%) of ANB and Group C presented the lowest average (9,96 ± 4,49%) of ANB. The groups LBI (6J), OA+LBI (6J), and BO+LBI (6J) presented statistically significant differences of ANB in comparison to Group C. Regarding the LEB, only the groups BO and BO+LBI (4J) did not present differences statistically significant in comparison to Group C. The largest difference between the averages of LEB were in the comparison of Group LBI (6J) (76,55 ± 15,54%) with Group C (16,00 ± 9,86%). The largest ARP was observed in the groups where the inorganic bovine bone was not irradiated by the LLL. However, when comparing Group BO+LBI (6J) to Group OA+LBI (4J) and BO+LBI (4J), no statistically significant differences were noted. The protocols of LLL (6J) promoted greater bone formation when used alone or combined with the inorganic bovine bone, making it an advantageous option for treating bone defects.

by Leung Shiu Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves 137-146. / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Surgical intervention done for nerve injury --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Rehabilitation procedures after nerve injuries --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Frustrating result of recovery after nerve injuries --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Reasons for the poor results --- p.3 / Chapter 1.5 --- Objective of the study --- p.5 / Chapter 1.6 --- Hypothesis and organization of the study --- p.6 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- The effects of pulsed electromagnetic field on peripheral nerve regeneration --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Electrical field and nerve growth --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Experimental findings of effect of the electromagnetic field on peripheral nerve regeneration --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3 --- The diversity of interest --- p.17 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- Physiological effects of the pulsed electromagnetic field --- p.18 / Chapter 3.1 --- The conventional use of electromagnetic field in musculoskeletal rehabilitation --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2 --- The pulsed electromagnetic field --- p.18 / Chapter 3.3 --- Nature of the pulsed electromagnetic field with a carrier frequency of 27.12 MHz --- p.19 / Chapter 3.4 --- Therapeutic effects of the pulsed electromagnetic field --- p.20 / Chapter 3.5 --- Some experimental results of the pulsed electromagnetic field --- p.20 / Chapter 3.6 --- Discussion --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- Methology --- p.27 / Chapter 4.1 --- Experimental animals and aneasthesia --- p.27 / Chapter 4.2 --- Models of lesions --- p.28 / Chapter 4.3 --- Sample size and grouping of the experimental rats --- p.35 / Chapter 4.4 --- Pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation --- p.37 / Chapter 4.5 --- Methods of evaluating the nerve regeneration --- p.38 / Chapter 4.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.53 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- Results --- p.54 / Chapter 5.1 --- Directly repaired groups --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2 --- Crushed groups --- p.62 / Chapter 5.3 --- Artery bridge groups --- p.73 / Chapter 5.4 --- Sham operated groups --- p.84 / Chapter 5.5 --- Electron microscopic examination --- p.90 / Chapter 5.6 --- Summary of all the data --- p.94 / Chapter CHAPTER SIX --- Discuss ion --- p.96 / Chapter CHAPTER SEVEN --- Conclusion --- p.103 / Chapter 7.1 --- Restatement of the experimental objective and hypothesis --- p.103 / Chapter 7.2 --- Conclusion --- p.103 / Chapter 7.3 --- Suggestions for furthur research --- p.104 / Chapter 7.4 --- Clinical Implication --- p.105 / Chapter APPENDIX I --- Determination of the duration of survival of the experimental animal --- p.106 / Chapter APPENDIX II --- Perfusion of rats --- p.115 / Chapter APPENDIX III --- Horseradish peroxidase and tetramethvlbezindine reaction --- p.118 / Chapter APPENDIX IV --- Histology fixation --- p.120 / Chapter APPENDIX V --- Determination of the Position of the Histology Specimens --- p.121 / Chapter APPENDIX VI --- Raw Data Collected in the Experiment --- p.132 / REFERENCE --- p.137

Research has shown that autologous progenitor-like cardiac spheroids, when delivered to an infarcted heart, are able to restore mechanical function. These spheroids are made by isolating and expanding autologous cardiac progenitor cells. Though these results are promising, the process for creating cardiac spheroids is inefficient and time consuming, requiring a large amount of cardiac tissue. For every 10,000 cardiac myocytes in the heart there is only one cardiac progenitor cell; requiring a large amount of initial tissue. This clinical limitation could be overcome if cardiac myocytes, which are more abundant than cardiac progenitor cells, could be used to make cardiac spheroids. Research has shown that mesenchymal stem cells when co-cultured with adult cardiac myocytes cause the cardiac myocytes to behave like a progenitor cell. We found that, when co-cultured with mesenchymal stem cells, cardiac mycoytes could be made to form cardiac spheroid bodies. This was done by isolating adult myocytes from rat hearts and co-culturing them with human mesenchymal stem cells. After two weeks, cultures were observed to form spheroid bodies and the number of spheroids formed were compared to a pure myocyte control. Cardiac specific staining confirmed that the spheroids were made from the myocytes. It was also found that the mesenchymal stem cells, when co-cultured in the same well with the myocytes, form significantly more spheroids than myocytes treated with stem cell conditioned media. Further, no other cell type present in the co-cultures are able to create spheroid bodies when co-cultured with mycoytes or stem cells. The ability to create cardiac spheroid like bodies from adult myocytes offers a way to overcome the limitations of the time needed and the large quantity of autologous cardiac tissue required to currently make these types of bodies.

No description available.

Adsorption combined with aqueous phase electrochemical regeneration has been shown by researchers at The University of Manchester (UoM) to offer an alternative approach to the removal of organics from waters and wastewater's. The process, based on a regenerable graphite intercalation compound (GIC) adsorbent, produces no secondary waste, is energy efficient and chemical free. A company, Arvia Technology Ltd., was set up in 2007 to commercialise the technology. As part of a growth and development strategy Arvia investigated other possible applications of the technology and found that odour removal from gas streams might be a good fit with technology features. This Engineering Doctorate (EngD) was a direct investigation into both this technology fit and into the market opportunity for technologies treating odours and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gas streams. The research conducted demonstrated that the technology in its different applied forms had certain process drawbacks. Where mass transfer, adsorption and regeneration were combined in a single unit, enhanced transfer as a result of higher pollutant Henry's coefficient was offset by lower adsorbate affinity which varied with hydrophobicity. This relation between affinity and hydrophobicity was different for oxygen functionalised aromatic molecules than for the aliphatic molecules studied. Where adsorption occurred in the gaseous phase and regeneration in the aqueous phase, disadvantages such as short adsorbent packed bed lifetimes and lower current efficiencies of oxidation as a result of adsorbate desorption were shown to be an issue. When the above process challenges were set against the challenging market environment and relatively small market opportunity (approx. £52 million in Europe, 2012) it was difficult to recommend further broad research into the technology. However it was concluded that the concept might still be usefully applied to odour and VOC abatement and that further work should focus on a two phase system with a gas phase adsorbent regeneration technique. The relation observed between adsorbate affinity, hydrophobicity and structure allowed the demonstration of the preferential removal of phenol from solutions containing significantly higher concentrations of aliphatic molecules. This finding is considered the most important project output as it highlights an opportunity to develop Arvia's water treatment technology into a targeted water treatment system for the removal of specific, industrially important, organic contaminants.