Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

A Versatile, Low Toxicity Glycol Methacrylate Embedding Medium For Use In Biological Research, And For Recovered Biomaterials Prostheses, Peter O. Gerrits, Bernhard Eppinger, Harry Van Goor, Richard W. Horobin

Cells and Materials

Methods for preparing standardized glycol methacrylate (GMA) based embedding media for use in light microscopy in a rational, precise and reproducible manner are described. The application of these procedures resulted in a versatile, low toxicity GMA embedding medium.

GMA embedding medium and resin blocks were tested utilizing a variety of physico-chemical techniques, namely: gas chromatography, determination of the maximum temperature reached during polymerization, the time taken to reach the maximum temperature, hardness testing, determination of the glass transition temperature, and measurement of the dimensional changes following section stretching and mounting at various temperatures. Data obtained from these techniques enabled a …

Fracture Toughness And Fractography Of Dental Ceramics, H. J. Mueller

Cells and Materials

Chevron-notch short-rod fracture toughness (KIv) and scanning electron microscopy analyses of leucite-, tetrasilicic fluormica-, and alumina- reinforced dental ceramics and control materials were investigated. Short-rod fracture toughness is a measure of the bulk resistance to crack propagation but not of the surface resistance to crack initiation. Results indicated significant differences in KIv among the following six groups (from lowest to highest (a) Dicor and Optec, (b) Optec, Excelco's Incisal, Macor and Excelco's Gingival, (c) Excelco's Brush-O-Paque, (d) Vitadur-N core, (e) Coming's 9606 glass-ceramic, and (t) Vita Hi Ceram. Good agreement occurred with published data for Macor and 9606. Comparisons of …

Composite Filler Characterization By Scanning Electron Microscopy, Image Analysis And Thermogravimetry, J. Vaidyanathan, T. K. Vaidyanathan

Cells and Materials

The morphological and compositional characterization of the filler particles in selected dental composites has been accomplished by a combination of backscattered electron imaging, digital imaging , energy dispersive X-ray analysis and thermogravimetry. Backscattered electron images provide excellent composition contrast between the filler and the matrix in this analysis . Qualitative energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to classify the filler composition in the composites studied. The digital imaging technique of feature analysis was utilized to quantitatively characterize the particle morphological parameters and their distributions. Several parameters were determined of which the particle area, breadth, height and Waddel diameter are emphasized. Particle …

Adhesion Of Staphylococci To Breast Prosthesis Biomaterials: An Electron Microscopic Evaluation, T. A. Fassel, J. E. Van Over, C. C. Hauser, C. E. Edmiston, J. R. Sanger

Cells and Materials

Gram-positive coagulase-negative staphylococci have been implicated in breast prosthesis infection. Staphylococcus au re us, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus hominis strains were examined for adhesion and proliferation morphology to polyurethane foam and smooth silicone rubber prosthetic biomaterials. Ruthenium red, alcian blue and ruthenium red-lysine in en bloc procedures were applied to optimally visualize the polysaccharide slime. Ruthenium red processing resulted in observation of additional outer material close to the cell wall, more than seen in the absence of cationic reagent. Alcian blue preserved fibrous or netlike strands or meshworks of material. Ruthenium red-lysine preserved considerable amounts of slime covering the cocci …

The Articular Cartilage Of The Rabbit Knee: A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study, Daniel Levanon, Haim Stein

Cells and Materials

The surface morphology of eight sectors in the rabbit knee articular cartilage was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Cartilage surfaces showed wide variation in the shape, dimensions , and density of gaps and acellular processes. Patellas and load-bearing condyles revealed a relatively higher density of processes than did load-free condyles. Surface processes and gaps were abundant. They might represent a condensation product(s) of hyaluronic acid/protein complex that accrues during cycles of loading/weight bearing.

Preservation Of The Cell-Biomaterial Interface At The Ultrastructural Level, J. M. Schakenraad, J. A. Oosterbaan, E. H. Blaauw

Cells and Materials

Studying the tissue-biomaterial interface at the ultrastructural level is not without problems. Dissolution of the biomaterial in one of the dehydration or embedding media causes holes and shatter during sectioning or dislodgement of the biomaterial. The fine tuning of the hardness of both biomaterial and embedding medium, as well as the introduction of butyl-2,3- epoxypropylether as an intermediate between the dehydration series and the Epon resin , improving the impregnation , will solve many of the problems mentioned. With this improved technique good results were obtained with materials ranging from teflon, poly(Lactic acid) and polyurethanes to tissue culture polystyrene. No …

Adhesion And Spreading Of Human Fibroblasts On Superhydrophobic Fep-Teflon, H. J. Busscher, I. Stokroos, J. G. Golverdingen, J. M. Shakenraad

Cells and Materials

Adhesion and spreading of human fibroblasts was studied on hydrophobized and hydrophilized FEPTeflon, and compared with adhesion and spreading on untreated FEP-Teflon and Tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). Superhydrophobic FEP-Teflon was prepared by ion etching followed by oxygen glow-discharge. Hydrophilic PEP-Teflon was prepared by ion etching only. Water contact angles of the modified surfaces were 140- 1500 and 5-10° for the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic variant, respectively. (Untreated FEP-Teflon: 109°). Spreading of human skin fibroblasts significantly increased on hydrophilic FEP-Teflon (257 μm2 per cell), whereas a significant decrease was observed on superhydrophobic FEP-Teflon (158 μm2 per cell), as compared to untreated …

Surface Modification Of Polymers To Permit Endothelial Cell Growth, C. James Kirkpatrick, Detlef Mueller-Schulte, Marc Roye, Guenter Hollweg, Claudia Gossen, Horst Richter, Christian Mittermayer

Cells and Materials

The interaction between endothelial cells (EC) and polymers has become relevant to medicine as a result of attempts to improve the biocompatibility of vascular prostheses. In man, endothelialization is minimal, so that vascular surgeons have attempted to pre-seed vascular grafts with autologous EC. The poor results of EC seeding of commonly used materials for vascular grafts, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) or woven polyester (Dacron) has led to attempts to modify the surface of these and other polymers. Three principal modification techniques have been employed : 1. adsorption of bioactive molecules from applied solutions. Examples are fibronectin, collagen types I …

Dusts Produced During Cutting Of Modern Splinting Bandages, R. Wytch, D. W. Gregory, R. Clayton, D. Wardlaw

Cells and Materials

Previous work carried out by the authors (Wytch et al ., 1988a) has shown that airborne dust generated during removal of orthopaedic casts with a power saw could represent a respiratory hazard. Further work has been carried out on all types of splinting bandage currently available in the United Kingdom to assess the potential dust hazard when sawing these materials. It has been shown that although plaster of Paris bandage produces significant concentrations of airborne dust, most of the polyurethane-impregnated fabric bandages generate extremely low levels of dust and in the case of the non-glass fabrics, the level is insignificant. …

A Simple Method For Ultrastructural Evaluation Of Fragile Collagenous Biomaterials, Arthur J. Wasserman, Yasushi P. Kato, Frederick H. Silver

Cells and Materials

No abstract provided.

Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Within Tubular Prosthesis: Effects Of Laminin And Collagen Matrices On Cellular Ingrowth, Ivar J. Kljavin, Roger D. Madison

Cells and Materials

Bridging a severed peripheral nerve with a tubular conduit, "entubulation repair" , allows manipulation of the microenvironment encountered by regenerating axons. In the present study, we placed the ends of severed mouse sciatic nerves into nonpermeable Tygon tubes to bridge a 4 mm nerve gap. The tube lumen was filled with either a collagen or laminin matrix. The matrices formed a stable 3-D structure connecting both proximal and distal stumps, and provided a scaffolding for the regenerating axons and their supporting cells. We examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy, the initial events of …

Ultrastructural Study Of Bone Formation On Synthetic Hydroxyapatite In Osteoblast Cultures, J. M. Sautier, J. R. Nefussi, N. Forest

Cells and Materials

Collagenase isolated rat calvaria cells forming a mineralized matrix in vitro were cultured in the presence of synthetic hydroxyapatite. Interactions between bone cells and hydroxyapatite biomaterial were followed by transmission electron microscopy. The appearance of a granular, collagen free, electron-dense layer at the periphery of the material was noted initially. Progressively, an amorphous, granular material formed and extended between the hydroxyapatite aggregates. Osteoblastic cells then synthesized an osteoid matrix which mineralized on the first formed granular collagen free layer, following a classical pattern of calcification . Demineralization of ultrathin sections confirmed the presence of this interface between the material and …

Interactions Of Bacteria And Amoebae With Ocular Biomaterials, Thomas John

Cells and Materials

The use of biomaterials in periocular and intraocular sites has resulted in some ocular inflammations and infections which can result in vision-threatening ocular disease. This review addresses bacterial interactions with, and adherence to ocular biomaterials such as soft contact lenses, surgical suture materials, and intraocular lenses. In addition, adherence of Acanthamoeba to soft contact lenses is described, and the role of these lenses in the development of Acanthamoeba keratitis is discussed.

Evaluation Of The Images Of Specular Microscopy Of The Cells On Implanted Intraocular Lenses In Vivo, Kiyoshi Okada, Keiko Takahashi, Hiroaki Sagawa, Kuniomi Abe

Cells and Materials

Specular microscopy , an optical method to study the anterior segment of the eye, was applied to observe the cells on implanted intraocular lenses in vivo. The images from specular microscopy were evaluated by comparing the morphology of the same cells on intraocular lenses implanted in rabbit eyes by specular microscopy , light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The time lapse study in living human eyes and the optical evaluation of jts interference images were performed to elucidate its image formation.

The same giant cells, as observed in vivo by specular microscopy, proved to be multinucleated cells. It …

Stereoscopic Analysis Of Trabecular Bone Orientation In Proximal Human Tibias, K. N. Bachus, M. K. Harman, R. D. Bloebaum

Cells and Materials

The three-dimensional orientation of trabeculae is a key factor in determining the load carrying capabilities of cancellous bone. Previous biomechanical studies have shown that proximal tibias resected parallel to the articulating surface are stronger and stiffer than the contralateral tibias resected perpendicular to the long axis of the bone. However, morphologic evidence was not provided to help explain the mechanical differences.

To determine the orientation of the trabeculae in the medial condyle for both parallel cut and perpendicular cut specimens, a scanning electron microscope and stereoscopic techniques were used. Data showed that tibias cut parallel to the articular surface had …

A Comparative Study Of Bovine Pericardium Mineralization: A Basic And Practical Approach, Branko B. Tomazic, Chakwan Siew, Walter E. Brown

Cells and Materials

The biomineralization of bovine pericardium (BP) heart valve bioprostheses was investigated by simulation of the process under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The nature and composition of calcific deposits that formed in human heart valve bioprostheses were compared with the mineral formed on BP discs immersed in a calcifying medium or subcutaneously implanted into Sprague-Dawley rats. The early stage of experimental biomineralization in vitro took place on the surface only, while in vivo deposition appeared to be intrinsic, as documented by histological cross sections. The chemical composition of the initial mineral phase formed under in vitro conditions had a …

Mechanical And Barrier Properties Of Edible Corn And Wheat Protein Films, T. P. Aydt, Curtis Weller, R. F. Testin

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Published methods for production of homogeneous edible films from com and wheat proteins were adapted. Barrier and mechanical properties of the edible films were evaluated with procedures commonly used on polymeric films. Mechanical property data included thickness, elongation, tensile strength, tear strength, and burst strength measurements. Barrier property data included water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide gas transmission rate measurements. Homogeneous com and wheat protein films were found to have low tensile strengths, far less than cellophane. Com films were brittle while wheat films were elastic in comparison to cellophane. All three types of film had low permeabilities for dry …

A Cooperative Educational Program To Reduce Soil Erosion, David P. Shelton, Elbert C. Dickey, Paul J. Jasa, David A. Biere, Susan Smydra Krotz

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Eastern Nebraska, especially the northeastern portion, has a history of severe soil erosion, due in part to a predominance of steep slopes and highly erodible soils (12). While the average annual allowable soil loss ("T" value) for most of these soils is five tons per acre, some fields have annual soil erosion rates that exceed 100 tons per acre. The loss of topsoil is critical, of course, but erosion from cropland also results in the removal of fertilizers and pesticides, which degrades water quality.

Even though farmers are generally aware that soil erosion is a national problem, many …

Equipment For Ridge Planting, Elbert C. Dickey, Paul J. Jasa

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

In ridge plant systems, crops are planted into ridges formed during cultivation of the previous crop.

Row cleaning devices on the planter push weed seed and residue lying on the soil surface from the ridge to the area between the rows, or row middles. The crop seed is planted into the old row in a cleanly tilled strip at a higher elevation than the row middles. A band application of herbicide behind the planter typically is used in the row for weed control. Crop cultivation controls weeds between the row and rebuilds ridges for the following year.

Ridge plant systems …

Estimating Percent Residue Cover Using The Line-Transect Method, David P. Shelton, Elbert C. Dickey, Roger Kanable, Stewart W. Melvin, Charles A. Burr

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Estimating Percent Residue Cover Using the Line-Transect Method

The line-transect method is one of the easiest method to use in the field to determine the percent residue cover on the surface. Accurate measurement is necessary to determine if enough cover is present to comply with the conservation plan.

The following is a step-by-step procedure for using the line-transect method to measure the percentage of residue cover.

Step 1

Use a 100-foot or 50-foot measuring tape for measuring residue cover. Other measuring length or even knotted ropes can be used if the appropriate multiplication factor is used to calculate the percentage. …

Fertilization Of Crops With Feedlot Manure, Elbert C. Dickey, Gerald Bodman

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The application of animal manure to farmland is an appropriate and environmentally sound management practice for most feedlot operators. Land application returns nutrients from manure to the soil and helps build and maintain soil fertility. In addition to containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, manure contains trace "elements such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Manure has also been shown to improve soil tilth, increase water-holding capacity, lessen wind and water erosion and improve aeration. Land application of manure should be viewed as a means to utilize crop nutrients present in the manure for crop production rather than utilizing the land …

Subsoiling, Contouring, And Tillage Effects On Erosion And Runoff, Paul J. Jasa, Elbert C. Dickey

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A study to evaluate the effectiveness of subsoiling on reducing soil erosion and water runoff from continuous com production was conducted. A rotating boom rainfall simulator was used on replicated treatments having either preplant in-row subsoiling or postplant between-row subsoiling used in both tilled and untilled surface conditions. Tilled and untilled treatments without subsoiling were used as checks. These six treatments were used up-and-downhill and on the contour.

Subsoiling reduced the rate of water runoff but did not significantly reduce the soil erosion rate after equilibrium had been reached between water application and runoff rates. Surface condition and farming direction …

Enhancing Soil Conservation Practice Adoption With Targeted Educational Programs, Elbert C. Dickey, David P. Shelton, Paul J. Jasa

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Two independent, but closely related, grant funded educational programs were developed and implemented to reduce soil erosion in selected areas of eastern Nebraska. Traditional extension programming methods as well as other more non-traditional approaches were used extensively to enhance soil conservation practice adoption. In one program, encompassing 220 000 ha (540,000 acre) of cropland, annual soil erosion was reduced by 2.3 million t (2.5 million ton) and annual fuel savings of 1.5 million L (390,000 gal) were achieved through a reduction in the number of tillage operations. In the second project, more than 93 000 m (305,000 ft) of terraces …

Endothelial Superoxide Production In The Isolated Rat Heart During Early Reperfusion After Ischemia -- A Histochemical Study, Charles F. Babbs, Meloney D. Cregor, John J. Turek, Stephen F. Badylak

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper describes a histochemical study of superoxide generation in buffer-perfused, isolated rat hearts during the first 2 minutes of reperfusion after 60 minutes of warm ischemia. Superoxide radical production was demonstrated by a modification of Karnovsky's manganese/diaminobenzidine technique, in which superoxide oxidizes Mn++ to Mn+++ ions, which in turn oxidize diaminobenzidine to form amber, osmiophilic polymers, observable by light or electron microscopy. Isolated hearts were rendered ischemic, reperfused with oxygen equilibrated buffer containing Mn++ and diaminobenzidine, fixed by perfusion with Trump's solution, and processed for light and electron microscopy. The method consistently demonstrated evidence of superoxide generation near the …

Methylene Blue As An Inhibitor Of Superoxide Generation By Xanthene Oxidase: A Potential New Drug For The Attenuation Of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Steven C. Salaris, Charles F. Babbs, William D. Voorhees

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Tissue oxidases, especially xanthine oxidase, have been proposed as primary sources of toxic oxygen radicals in many experimental models of disease states. Among these, ischemia-reperfusion injury may be of the greatest clinical interest. In this paper we propose the use of methylene blue as a means of suppressing the production of superoxide radicals, O2, by acting as an alternative electron acceptor for xanthine oxidase. Previous work has indicated that methylene blue accepts electrons from xanthine oxidase at the iron-sulfur center. Initial experiments in our laboratory demonstrated that (1) pairs of electrons from each enzymatic oxidation are transferred to methylene blue, …

Effective Estimation And Computer Control Of Minimum Tumour Temperature During Conductive Interstitial Hyperthermia, J A. Deford, Charles F. Babbs, U H. Patel, M W. Bleyer, J A. Marchosky, C J. Moran

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

The goal of heat therapy in the treatment of malignant disease is to raise the temperature of all neoplastic tissue to a cytotoxic temperature for a predetermined period of time. This seemingly simple task has proved difficult in-vivo, in part because of nonuniform power absorption and in part because of nonhomogeneous and time varying tumour blood flow. We have addressed this difficulty first by utilizing the conceptually simple technique of conductive interstitial hyperthermia, in which the tumour is warmed by multiple, electrically heated catheters, and second by implementing on-line conu·ol of minimum tumour temperatures near each catheter, estimated on the …

Design And Evaluation Of Closed-Loop Feedback Control Of Minimum Temperatures In Human Intracranial Tumors Treated With Interstitial Hyperthermia, J A. Deford, Charles F. Babbs, U H. Patel, N E. Fearnot, J A. Marchosky, C J. Moran

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

The dynamic nature of blood flow during hyperthermia therapy has made the control of minimum tumor temperature a difficult task. This paper presents initial studies of a novel approach to closed-loop control of local minimum tissue temperatures utilizing a newly developed estimation algorithm for use with conductive interstitial heating systems. The local minimum tumor temperature is explicitly estimated from the power required to maintain each member of an array of electrically heated catheters at a known temperature, in conjunction with a new bioheat equation-based algorithm to predict the ‘droop’ or fractional decline in tissue temperature between heated catheters. A closed …

Performance Of Seedigated And Conventionally Planted Crops, W. S. Leander Jr., Derrel L. Martin, James R. Gilley

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Seedigation is the use of a moving sprinkler irrigation system to broadcast seeds on the soil surface. Seed germination, plant characteristics and yield for grain sorghum, winter wheat and soybeans that were seedigated and conventionally planted are compared. When the seeding rates for seedigation were increased above that for conventional planting, and adequate moisture was available for germination, grain sorghum and wheat seedigated on tilled surfaces produced yields similar to conventionally planted crops. Seedigation of soybeans into fallow conditions, or when used as a relay crop, was unsuccessful. Shallow disking following seedigation did not improve germination or yield of grain …

Residue Management To Control Soil Erosion By Water, Elbert C. Dickey, David P. Shelton, Paul J. Jasa, Michael C. Hirschi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The Erosion Process

Erosion of topsoil begins when water detaches individual soil particles from clod and other soil aggregates. A single raindrop may seem insignificant, yet collectively, raindrops strike the ground with surprising force. During an intense storm, rainfall can loosen and detach up to 100 tons of soil per acre and can be especially erosive when residue mulch or vegetation are not present to absorb their impact.

Two problems often occur during rainstorms. The rate of rainfall can exceed the rate at which water can enter the soil and raindrop impact forces can partially seal the soil surface. In …