• 1H NMR quantification of spray dried and spray freeze-dried saccharide carriers in dry powder inhaler formulations

      Babenko, Mai; Peron, Jean-Marie R.; Kaialy, Waseem; Calabrese, Gianpiero; Alany, Raid; ElShaer, Amr (Elsevier, 2019-03-16)
      Quantitative analysis using proton NMR (1H qNMR) has been employed in various areas such as pharmaceutical analysis (e.g., dissolution study), vaccines, natural products analysis, metabolites, and macrolide antibiotics in agriculture industry. However, it is not routinely used in the quantification of saccharides in dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations. The aim of this study was to develop a 1H NMR method for the quantification of saccharides employed in DPI formulations. Dry powders as DPI carriers were prepared by spray drying (SD) and spray freeze drying (SFD) using three saccharides: namely D-mannitol, D-sorbitol and D-(+)-sucrose. The calibration curves constructed for all three saccharides demonstrated linearity with R2 value of 1. The 1H qNMR method produced accurate (relative error %: 0.184-3.697) and precise data with high repeatability (RSD %: 0.517-3.126) within the calibration curve concentration range. The 1H qNMR method also demonstrated significant sensitivity with low values of limit of detection (0.058 mM for D-mannitol, 0.045 mM for D-(+)-sucrose, and 0.056 mM for D-sorbitol) and limit of quantitation (0.175 mM for D-mannitol, 0.135 mM for D-(+)-sucrose, and 0.168 mM for D-sorbitol). Pulmonary deposition via impaction experiments of the three saccharides was quantified using the developed method. It was found that SFD D-mannitol (68.99%) and SFD D-(+)-sucrose (66.62%) exhibited better delivered dose (total saccharide deposition in throat and all impactor stages) than SD D-mannitol (49.03%) and SD D-(+)-sucrose (57.70%) (p< 0.05). The developed 1H qNMR methodology can be routinely used as an analytical method to assess pulmonary deposition in impaction experiments of saccharides employed as carriers in DPI formulations.
    • 2,8-Disubstituted-1,6-Naphthyridines and 4,6-Disubstituted-Isoquinolines with Potent, Selective Affinity for CDK8/19

      Mallinger, Aurélie; Schiemann, Kai; Rink, Christian; Sejberg, Jimmy; Honey, Mark A.; Czodrowski, Paul; Stubbs, Mark; Poeschke, Oliver; Busch, Michael; Schneider, Richard; et al. (American Chemical Society, 2016-03-28)
      We demonstrate a designed scaffold-hop approach to the discovery of 2,8-disubstituted-1,6-naphthyridine- and 4,6-disubstituted-isoquinoline-based dual CDK8/19 ligands. Optimized compounds in both series exhibited rapid aldehyde oxidase-mediated metabolism, which could be abrogated by introduction of an amino substituent at C5 of the 1,6-naphthyridine scaffold or at C1 of the isoquinoline scaffold. Compounds 51 and 59 were progressed to in vivo pharmacokinetic studies, and 51 also demonstrated sustained inhibition of STAT1SER727 phosphorylation, a biomarker of CDK8 inhibition, in an SW620 colorectal carcinoma human tumor xenograft model following oral dosing.
    • 3D particle models for composite laminates with anisotropic elasticity

      Wan, L; Yang, D; Ismail, Y; Sheng, Yong (Elsevier BV, 2018-05-25)
      © 2018 Elsevier Ltd This paper presents an assessment of three different particle based approaches for 3D modelling of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite laminates with anisotropic elasticity, namely 3D Discrete Lattice model, 3D Hexagonal Close Packing model and Extended 2D Hexagonal and Square Packing model. These approaches are compared and evaluated against experimental results using a 0∘ ply lamina case. It has been confirmed that the Extended 2D Hexagonal and Square modelling approach in Discrete Element Method (DEM) is capable of modelling 3D composite laminates with better efficiency. Angle-ply lamina and two different laminates are modelled with the chosen particle approach. Good agreements between DEM, Finite Element and theoretical results prove the capability of this developed DEM approach for modelling the elastic behaviour of general FRP composite lamina and laminates.
    • 3D printed auxetic nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 sample collection

      Arjunan, Arun; Zahid, Suhaib; Baroutaji, Ahmad; Robinson, John (Elsevier, 2020-11-12)
      The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in worldwide shortages of nasopharyngeal swabs required for sample collection. While the shortages are becoming acute due to supply chain disruptions, the demand for testing has increased both as a prerequisite to lifting restrictions and in preparation for the second wave. One of the potential solutions to this crisis is the development of 3D printed nasopharyngeal swabs that behave like traditional swabs. However, the opportunity to digitally conceive and fabricate swabs allows for design improvements that can potentially reduce patient pain and discomfort. The study reports the progress that has been made on the development of auxetic nasopharyngeal swabs that can shrink under axial resistance. This allows the swab to navigate through the nasal cavity with significantly less stress on the surrounding tissues. This is achieved through systematically conceived negative Poisson's ratio (-ν) structures in a biocompatible material. Finite element (FE) and surrogate modelling techniques were employed to identify the most optimal swab shape that allows for the highest negative strain (-∊lat) under safe stress (σvon). The influence and interaction effects of the geometrical parameters on the swab's performance were also characterised. The research demonstrates a new viewpoint for the development of functional nasopharyngeal swabs that can be 3D printed to reduce patient discomfort. The methodology can be further exploited to address various challenges in biomedical devices and redistributed manufacturing.
    • 3D printed cobalt-chromium-molybdenum porous superalloy with superior antiviral activity

      Arjunan, Arun; Robinson, John; Baroutaji, Ahmad; Tuñón-Molina, Alberto; Martí, Miguel; Serrano-Aroca, Ángel (MDPI, 2021-11-24)
      COVID-19 pandemic and associated supply-chain disruptions emphasise the requirement for antimicrobial materials for on-demand manufacturing. Besides aerosol transmission, SARS-CoV-2 is also propagated through contact with virus-contaminated surfaces. As such, the development of effective biofunctional materials that can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 is critical for pandemic preparedness. Such materials will enable the rational development of antiviral devices with prolonged serviceability, reducing the environmental burden of disposable alternatives. This research reveals the novel use of Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) to 3D print porous Cobalt-Chromium-Molybdenum (Co-Cr-Mo) superalloy with potent antiviral activity (100% viral inactivation in 30 min). The porous material was rationally conceived using a multi-objective surrogate model featuring track thickness (tt) and pore diameter (ϕd) as responses. The regression analysis found the most significant parameters for Co-Cr-Mo track formation to be the interaction effects of scanning rate (Vs) and laser power (Pl) in the order PlVs>Vs>Pl. Contrastively, the pore diameter was found to be primarily driven by the hatch spacing (Sh). The study is the first to demonstrate the superior antiviral properties of 3D printed Co-Cr-Mo superalloy against an enveloped virus used as biosafe viral model of SARS-CoV-2. The material significantly outperforms the viral inactivation time of other broadly used antiviral metals such as copper and silver, as the material’s viral inactivation time was from 5 h to 30 min. As such, the study goes beyond the current state-of-the-art in antiviral alloys to provide extra protection to combat the SARS-CoV-2 viral spread. The evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic brings new and unpredictable challenges where on-demand 3D printing of antiviral materials can achieve rapid solutions while reducing the environmental impact of disposable devices
    • 3D printing customised stiffness-matched meta-biomaterial with near-zero auxeticity for load-bearing tissue repair

      Wanniarachchi, Chameekara; Arjunan, Arun; Baroutaji, Ahmad; Singh, Manpreet (Elsevier, 2023-06-24)
      The evolution of meta-biomaterials has opened up exciting new opportunities for mass personalisation of biomedical devices. This research paper details the development of a CoCrMo meta-biomaterial structure that facilitates personalised stiffness-matching while also exhibiting near-zero auxeticity. Using laser powder bed fusion, the porous architecture of the meta-biomaterial was characterised, showing potential for near-zero Poisson’s ratio. The study also introduces a novel surrogate model that can predict the porosity (φ), yield strength (σy), elastic modulus (E), and negative Poisson’s ratio ( - υ) of the meta-biomaterial, which was achieved through prototype testing and numerical modelling. The model was then used to inform a multi-criteria desirability objective, revealing an optimum near-zero - υ of - 0.037, with a targeted stiffness of 17.21 GPa. Parametric analysis of the meta-biomaterial showed that it exhibited - υ, φ, σy and E values ranging from - 0.02 to -0.08, 73.63–81.38%, 41–64 MPa, and 9.46–20.6 GPa, respectively. In this study, a surrogate model was developed for the purpose of generating personalised scenarios for the production of bone scaffolds. By utilising this model, it was possible to achieve near-zero - υ and targeted stiffness personalisation. This breakthrough has significant implications for the field of bone tissue engineering and could pave the way for improved patient outcomes. The presented methodology is a powerful tool for the development of biomaterials and biomedical devices that can be 3D printed on demand for load-bearing tissue reconstruction. It has the potential to facilitate the creation of highly tailored and effective treatments for various conditions and injuries, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.
    • 3D scene creation using story-based descriptions

      Zeng, Xin; Mehdi, Qasim; Gough, Norman (University of Wolverhampton, School of Computing and Information Technology, 2005)
      Developments in the creation of 3D virtual environments have made this a popular approach in a variety of applications. However, creating 3D scenes still requires professionals to spend an enormous amount of effort and time on it. In this paper, we present a fully implemented prototype system called 3DSV (3D Story Visualiser) that generates a virtual scene by using simplified story-based descriptions. This prototype system is based on the integration of advances in computer graphics and text-tovisualization technology to generate 3D virtual environment. This makes it easier and faster for nonprofessionals to create 3D environments compared to using traditional 3D design packages.
    • 3D-printed polyester-based prototypes for cosmetic applications—future directions at the forensic engineering of advanced polymeric materials

      Rydz, Joanna; Sikorska, Wanda; Musioł, Marta; Janeczek, Henryk; Włodarczyk, Jakub; Misiurska-Marczak, Marlena; Łeczycka, Justyna; Kowalczuk, Marek (MDPI, 2019-03-26)
      Knowledge of degradation and impairment phenomena of (bio)degradable polymeric materials under operating conditions, and thus the selection of test procedures and prediction of their behavior designates the scope and capabilities as well as possible limitations of both: the preparation of the final product and its durability. The main novelty and objective of this research was to determine the degradation pathways during testing of polylactide and polylactide/polyhydroxyalkanoate materials made with three-dimensional printing and the development of a new strategy for the comprehensive characterization of such complex systems including behavior during waste disposal. Prototype objects were subjected to tests for damage evolution performed under simulating operating conditions. The reference samples and the tested items were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry to determine changes in material properties. The studies showed that: polyhydroxyalkanoate component during accelerated aging and degradation in environments rich in microorganisms accelerated the degradation of the material; paraffin accelerates polylactide degradation and slows degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoate-based material; under the influence of an environment rich in enzymes, paraffin contamination accelerates biodegradation; under the influence of natural conditions, paraffin contamination slowed degradation; the processing conditions, in particular the printing orientation of individual parts of the container, influenced the material properties in its various regions, affecting the rate of degradation of individual parts.
    • The 3rd Faculty of Science and Engineering Festival of Research: Conference proceedings

      Suresh, Subashini; Pillai, Prashant (University of Wolverhampton, 2022-05-25)
    • The 4th Faculty of Science and Engineering Festival of Research: Conference proceedings

      Suresh, Subashini; Pillai, Prashant; Proverbs, David (University of Wolverhampton, 2023-05-03)
    • A 140-year-old specimen from the southern Trans-Fly region of Papua New Guinea proves that the Eastern Brownsnake, Pseudonaja textilis, was not a wartime or post-war introduction (Serpentes, Elapidae, Hydrophiinae)

      O'Shea, Mark; Doria, Giuliano; Petri, Massimo; Kaiser, Hinrich (Museo Civico di Storia Naturelle, Genova, 2016-10-20)
      Abstract: The medically important Australian elapid Pseudonaja textilis was first documented for the island of New Guinea in the 1950s, when specimens from the northern coast of the Papuan Peninsula were collected and identified. It was initially believed that these snakes were from an invasive population that established post-World War II, a concept generally accepted over following decades. More recently molecular evidence and additional specimens, from West New Guinea and the southern coast of the Papuan Peninsula, have suggested that the New Guinea populations are indigenous. However, no pre-World War II specimens have been found to dismiss the human-mediated introduction argument. We here present the earliest known Papuan voucher specimen of P. textilis, a juvenile from collections housed in Genoa made by Luigi Maria D’Albertis in 1876 that pre-dates all other vouchers and the New Guinea Campaign (1942-1945) of World War II by 77 and 66 years, respectively. We also discuss the origins of P. textilis in New Guinea, the history of its discovery, and the Pleistocene routes of its invasion from Australia.
    • A 300-year record of sedimentation in a small tilled catena in Hungary based on δ13C, δ15N, and C/N distribution

      Jakab, Gergely; Hegyi, István; Fullen, Michael A.; Szabó, Judit; Zacháry, Dóra; Szalai, Zoltán (Springer, 2018-01-04)
      Purpose Soil erosion is one of the most serious hazards that endanger sustainable food production. Moreover, it has marked effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) with direct links to global warming. At the same time, soil organic matter (SOM) changes in composition and space could influence these processes. The aim of this study was to predict soil erosion and sedimentation volume and dynamics on a typical hilly cropland area of Hungary due to forest clearance in the early eighteenth century. Materials and methods Horizontal soil samples were taken along two parallel intensively cultivated complex convex-concave slopes from the eroded upper parts at mid-slope positions and from sedimentation in toe-slopes. Samples were measured for SOC, total nitrogen (TN) content, and SOMcompounds (δ13C, δ15N, and photometric indexes). They were compared to the horizons of an in situ non-eroded profile under continuous forest. On the depositional profile cores, soil depth prior to sedimentation was calculated by the determination of sediment thickness. Results and discussion Peaks of SOC in the sedimentation profiles indicated thicker initial profiles, while peaks in C/N ratio and δ13C distribution showed the original surface to be ~ 20 cm lower. Peaks of SOC were presumed to be the results of deposition of SOC-enriched soil from the upper slope transported by selective erosion of finer particles (silts and clays). Therefore, changes in δ13C values due to tillage and delivery would fingerprint the original surface much better under the sedimentation scenario than SOC content. Distribution of δ13C also suggests that the main sedimentation phase occurred immediately after forest clearance and before the start of intense cultivation with maize. Conclusions This highlights the role of relief in sheet erosion intensity compared to intensive cultivation. Patterns of δ13C indicate the original soil surface, even in profiles deposited as sediment centuries ago. The δ13C and C/N decrease in buried in situ profiles had the same tendency as recent forest soil, indicating constant SOM quality distribution after burial. Accordingly, microbiological activity, root uptake, and metabolism have not been effective enough to modify initial soil properties.
    • A case for target value design towards effective low-cost housing project cost management and performance South-East Zone Nigeria

      Obi, Lovelin; Arif, Mohammed (IBEA Publications Ltd London, 2015)
      Reports over the past decade, reveal the trend of poor cost performances of many Low-cost Housing (LcH) projects. This have apparently resulted in huge monetary losses to the government as the client, declining housing supply and undermined affordability of many Low and Low-medium incomes particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. In spite of the changes with contemporary trends in Nigeria, it would appear that the techniques employed in the management of the delivery costs of the LcH projects particularly in the South-east zone are yet similar to those used over a century ago. This necessitates urgent and appropriate sustainable intervention strategies adopting cost-effective techniques. Prior studies affirms the implications of modern cost management techniques such as Target Value Design (TVD) in improving delivery cost performances on construction projects. For this reason this paper which forms an integral part of an ongoing doctoral study, aim to identify the efficacy and applicability of TVD in the context of LcH project delivery cost management. A review of relevant and extant literature identifies peculiarities on the concept of TVD and LcH projects. Findings from literature and data collected via questionnaires further identify constraints on current LcH project delivery cost management system and clearly indicates the possible applicability and integration of TVD in the system. These findings provide a platform for the next phase of the research towards developing an improved delivery cost management model for LcH projects. This is expected to engender effective government-led LcH projects delivery particularly in in South-East zone Nigeria.
    • A case study of joint procurement and provision of legal services to a group of a universities in the midlands

      Charlson, Jennifer; Chinyio, Ezekiel A. (ARCOM, 2013-09-02)
      A Group of 5 UK Universities in the Midlands undertook a joint procurement process for the provision of Legal Services. The objective was to put in place common Framework Agreements. The Legal Services procured were divided into six lots and one of these was 'Property and Construction'. The lots were assembled into three packages and the contract for each package was awarded to one or more Service Providers. Albeit a service provider is to work for all the collaborating Universities. A competitive 'restricted' two-stage tender process was administered in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, SI 2006/5. The Framework Agreements were awarded in 2012 to the most economically advantageous Solicitors' Practices. The participating Universities are being interviewed about the reasons for the joint procurement exercise, any challenges faced in its implementation and lessons learnt so far. Two interviews have been conducted so far and evaluated via content analysis to reveal that advantages to be gained from 'economy of scale' were the main impetus for the collaborative procurement. The negotiations between the Universities which led to the establishment of the collaboration and its subsequent sustenance have been friendly. The challenge identified so far concerns how to distribute work more fairly to legal services providers.
    • A case study on the microstructure of fibrous peat (West Lake, China)

      Wilkinson, Stephen; Zhao, Chaofa; Yang, Zhongxuam; Kun, Pan; Shakoor, Abdul; Cato, Kerry (Springer, 2018-09-21)
      The classification of peat soils generates a very large number of different types, from a descriptive perspective this is useful, however such a system generates too many options for engineering purposes. The behaviour of organic soils varies based on the quantity and type of organic material present within the soil. The effects of fibre content are particularly important. The West Lake in Hangzhou has been dredged many times during its history to allow it to maintain its beauty. During the most recent dredging the sludge from the lake was transported via a 4km pipeline and deposited inside the Jiangyangfan Reservoir. The organic soil situated in Jiangyangfan Ecopark is a particularly interesting peaty material. The organic sludge was mixed and homogenised during the transportation process, and then would have settled out within the reservoir. This resulted in a more than 20m thick peat layer deposited with an uneven surface. The Ecopark buildings were then constructed on top of this in 2008. A combined electron microscope and mechanical study of the microstructure and behaviour of the peat has been used to identify the engineering impact of the presence of relatively small numbers of fibres within the soil matrix. The fibres within the peat modify its behaviour such that it can no longer be understood within the typical critical state framework for soils. The peat starts to plastically deform from very small levels of applied stress, in addition it does not display a tension cut-off failure, and ultimately fails in shear.
    • A closed-loop reciprocity calibration method for massive MIMO in terrestrial broadcasting systems

      Luo, Hua; Zhang, Yue; Huang, Li-Ke; Cosmas, John; Aggoun, Amar (IEEE, 2016-09-22)
      Massive multi-input multioutput (MIMO) is believed to be an effective technique for future terrestrial broadcasting systems. Reciprocity calibration is one of the major practical challenges for massive MIMO systems operating in time-division duplexing mode. A new closed-loop reciprocity calibration method is investigated in this paper which can support online calibration with a higher accuracy compared to the existing methods. In the first part of the proposed method, an optimized relative calibration is introduced using the same structure of traditional relative calibration, but with less impaired hardware in the reference radio chain. In the second part, a test device (TD)-based calibration is proposed which makes online calibration possible. An experiment setup is built for the measurement of the base station hardware impairments and TD-based calibration implementation. Simulation results and the error vector magnitude of UE received signal after calibration show that the performance of our proposed method is improved significantly compared to the existing relative calibration methods.
    • A comparative study of analytical methodologies to determine the soil organic matter content of Lithuanian Eutric Albeluvisols

      Jankauskas, Benediktas; Slepetiene, Alvyra; Jankauskiene, Genovaite; Fullen, Michael A.; Booth, Colin A. (2006)
      Large archive databases of soil organic matter (SOM) widely exist in Lithuania and the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Despite the demise of the former Soviet Union over 16 years ago, and Lithuania's integration as a full European Union state, difficulties of SOM data acceptance remain where these results are presented for publication in international journals, due to methodological differences between laboratory protocols. Therefore, the scientific pilot project ‘Carbon sequestration in Lithuanian soils’, supported by the Leverhulme Trust (U.K.), included an objective to correlate soil carbon methodologies, using Lithuanian Eutric Albeluvisols. A comparison of SOM content data acquired using five different analytical methods is reported. The research programme included a specific objective to correlate analytical methods for SOM analyses. A total of 92 Eutric Albeluvisol samples were collected from topsoil (0–0.2 m: Ap, n=36; Ah, n=10) and subsoil (0.2–0.4 m: Bt, n=46) horizons of 46 long-term experimental field plots at the Kaltinenai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture. Each sample was then subsampled and analysed for SOM using dry combustion (by automatic elemental analyser), Walkley–Black (USDA), Tyurin photometrical, Tyurin titrimetrical and loss-on-ignition (LoI) methods (the later performed, in parallel, in both Lithuania and U.K. laboratories). Linear correlation and paired regression equations were calculated. Correlation coefficients between the sets of results varied between r=0.81–0.96 (from 0–0.2 m, n=46, P<0.001) and r=0.76–0.98 (from 0.2–0.4 m, n=46, P<0.001). Based on the strength and significance of these relationships, it is proposed that simple linear or more complex paired regression equations can be confidently employed to recalculate SOM data between various analytical methodologies. Future work will continue these investigations on other soil units and environments, hereby enhancing the database.
    • A comparative study of three-dimensional printing directions: The degradation and toxicological profile of a PLA/PHA blend

      Gonzalez Ausejo, Jennifer; Rydz, Joanna; Musioł, Marta; Sikorska, Wanda; Sobota, Michał; Włodarczyk, Jakub; Adamus, Grazyna; Janeczek, Henryk; Kwiecień, Iwona; Hercog, Anna; et al. (Elsevier, 2018-04-17)
      The use of biobased plastics is of great importance for many applications. Blending thermoplastic polylactide (PLA) with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) enables the formulation of a more mechanically powerful material and this enables tailored biodegradation properties. In this study we demonstrate the 3D printing of a PLA/PHA blend as a potential candidate for biocompatible material applications. The filament for 3D printing consisted of PHA, which contains predominantly 3-hydroxybutyrate units and a small amount of 3-hydroxyvalerate units, as revealed by multistage mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn). This research found that the properties of 3D printed species before and during abiotic degradation are dependent on printing orientation. Furthermore, the 3D printed specimens exhibited good biocompatibility with HEK293 cells, indicating real promise as biological scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
    • A comparison of the nature of pre-entry assessment in FE feeder colleges with those of the first year degree programme

      Buckley, Kevan; Davies, Jenny; Bentley, Hilary (University of Wolverhampton, 2005)
      Discusses differences in the style and content of assessment of students in Further Education colleges compared with assessment during their first year undergraduate programme in the School of Computing and Information technology at the University of Wolverhampton. Differences are analysed to identify strengths and potential areas of difficulty experienced by students.
    • A Computationally-Efficient Numerical Model to Characterize the Noise Behavior of Metal-Framed Walls

      Arjunan, Arun; Wang, Chang; English, Martin; Stanford, Mark; Lister, Paul (MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland, 2015-08-07)
      Architects, designers, and engineers are making great efforts to design acoustically-efficient metal-framed walls, minimizing acoustic bridging. Therefore, efficient simulation models to predict the acoustic insulation complying with ISO 10140 are needed at a design stage. In order to achieve this, a numerical model consisting of two fluid-filled reverberation chambers, partitioned using a metal-framed wall, is to be simulated at one-third-octaves. This produces a large simulation model consisting of several millions of nodes and elements. Therefore, efficient meshing procedures are necessary to obtain better solution times and to effectively utilise computational resources. Such models should also demonstrate effective Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) along with acoustic-fluid coupling to simulate a realistic scenario. In this contribution, the development of a finite element frequency-dependent mesh model that can characterize the sound insulation of metal-framed walls is presented. Preliminary results on the application of the proposed model to study the geometric contribution of stud frames on the overall acoustic performance of metal-framed walls are also presented. It is considered that the presented numerical model can be used to effectively visualize the noise behaviour of advanced materials and multi-material structures.