3-D printing provides a novel approach for standardization and reproducibility of freezing devices

Cryopreservation has become an important and accepted tool for long-term germplasm conservation of animals and plants. To protect genetic resources, repositories have been developed with national and international cooperation. For a repository to be effective, the genetic material submitted must be of good quality and comparable to other submissions. However, due to a variety of reasons, including constraints in knowledge and available resources, cryopreservation methods for aquatic species vary widely across user groups which reduces reproducibility and weakens quality control. Herein we describe a standardizable freezing device produced using 3-dimensional (3-D) printing and introduce the concept of network sharing to achieve aggregate high-throughput cryopreservation for aquatic species. The objectives were to: 1) adapt widely available polystyrene foam products that would be inexpensive, portable, and provide adequate work space; 2) develop a design suitable for 3-D printing that could provide multiple configurations, be inexpensive, and easy to use, and 3) evaluate various configurations to attain freezing rates suitable for various common cryopreservation containers. Through this approach, identical components can be accessed globally, and we demonstrated that 3-D printers can be used to fabricate parts for standardizable freezing devices yielding relevant and reproducible cooling rates across users. With standardized devices for freezing, methods and samples can harmonize into an aggregated high-throughput pathway not currently available for aquatic species repository development.     

Streamlined LCA of soy-based ink printing

This study provides a benchmark of the life cycle environmental impact characteristics associated with a typical soybased ink used for sheetfed lithographic printing. The scope ineluded a streamlined Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) and Impact Assessment (LCIA). Materials, processes, and life cycle stages that are the same between different printing inks, or were less than one percent by mass of the printing system input materials, were excluded. The LCIA included identification of specific processes in the life cycle of soy-based ink printing that make the greatest contribution to the overall environmental hazard potential in 13 impact categories for the baseline printing system selected. The LCIA approach included both regional scaling for areas that differ in sensitivity to certain impact indicators and normalization against a reference value. Reduction in the use of tall oil rosin and switching from conventional to low or no-till farming appear to be promising opportunities for reducing the environmental hazard potential.     

江苏省太湖流域产业结构的水环境污染效应

通过研究太湖流域(江苏部分)的产业结构污染负荷和水环境的空间分布特点,得出了产业结构污染负荷的水环境空间响应状况.根据小流域划分技术,得出该区域水环境质量空间分布特点:劣于Ⅴ类水质的区域占32％,Ⅴ类水质的占30％,仅有27％的区域水质低于Ⅳ类.另一方面,对应水环境质量空间分布研究,构建了综合反映产业结构水环境污染负荷的经济社会指标体系,分析了流域农田污染因子和工业污染因子的空间分布特点.通过主成分分析,提取了水环境污染因素的四个主成分,分别为土地利用强度、三次产业结构、农业面源和工业点源.基于主成分载荷,解析了四个水环境污染因素的贡献率.在产业结构方面,研究得出工业化仍是区域水环境污染最大影响因素,但区域水环境恶化是各种因素共同交织的结果.又对工业点源污染和农业面源污染等级进行分区,对各区的空间分布特点做了详细的分析.研究了流域水环境综合污染的空间分布和市县区域分解特点,发现县级市比市区在产业发展上对水环境影响更大,主要是由于县级市工业发展相对较为粗放,水环境监管的区域差异性.为控制流域产业结构的水环境污染,综合提出了在流域内整合产业结构调整和产业优化布局,调整重污染工业结构和控制农业面源污染的对策,及相应的产业结构污染负荷区域差别化削减的建议.     

Life cycle assessment of printing and writing paper produced in Portugal

Goal, Scope and Background The environmental sustainability is one of the current priorities of the Portuguese pulp and paper industry. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was the methodology chosen to evaluate the sustainability of the printing and writing paper production activity. This paper grade represents about 60% of the total production of paper in Portugal and its production is expected to increase in the near future. The main goal of this study was to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the entire life cycle of the printing and writing paper produced in Portugal from Eucalyptus globulus pulp and consumed in Germany, in order to identify the processes with the largest environmental impacts. Another goal of this study was to evaluate the effect on the potential environmental impacts of changing the market where the Portuguese printing and writing paper is consumed: German market vs. Portuguese market. Methods The main stages considered in this study were: forestry, pulp production, paper production, paper distribution, and paper final disposal. Transports and production of chemicals, fuels and energy in the grid were also included in these stages. Whenever possible and feasible, average or typical data from industry were collected. The remaining data were obtained from the literature and specialised databases. A quantitative impact assessment was performed for five impact categories: global warming over 100 years, acidification, eutrophication, non-renewable resource depletion and photochemical oxidant formation. Results In the German market scenario, the paper production stage was a remarkable hot spot for air emissions (non-renewable CO₂, NO_x and SO₂) and for non-renewable energy consumption, and, consequently, for the impact categories that consider these parameters: global warming, acidification and non-renewable resource depletion. These important environmental impacts are due to the energy requirements in the printing and writing paper production process, which are fulfilled by on-site fuel oil burning and consumption of electricity from the national grid, which is mostly based on the use of fossil fuels. The pulp production stage was identified as the largest contributor to water emissions (COD and AOX) and to eutrophication. Considering that energy consumed by the pulp production processes comes from renewable fuels, this stage was also the most contributing to renewable energy consumption. Discussion The paper distribution stage showed an important contribution to NO_x emissions, which, however, did not result in a major contribution to acidification or eutrophication. The final disposal stage was the main contributor to the photochemical oxidant formation potential due to CH₄ emissions from wastepaper landfilling. On the other hand, paper consumption in Portugal was environmentally more favourable than in Germany for the parameters/impact categories where the paper distribution stage has a significant contribution (non-renewable CO₂, NO_x, non-renewable energy consumption, acidification, eutrophication and non-renewable resource depletion) due to shorter distances needed to deliver paper to the consumers. For the remaining parameters/impact categories, the increase observed in the final disposal stage in the Portuguese market was preponderant, and resulted from the existence of significant differences in the final disposal alternatives in the analysed markets (recycling dominates in Germany, whereas landfilling dominates in Portugal). Conclusions The pulp and paper production stages were found to be of significance for almost all of the inventory parameters as well as for the impact assessment categories. The paper distribution and the final disposal stages were only of importance for some of the inventory parameters and some of the impact categories. The forestry stage played a minor role in the environmental impacts generated during the paper life cycle. The consumption of paper in Portugal led to a decrease in the environmental burdens of the paper distribution stage, but to an increase in the environmental burdens of the final disposal stage, when compared with the consumption of paper in Germany. Recommendations and Perspectives This study provides useful information that can assist the pulp and paper industry in the planning of future investments leading to an increase in its sustainability. The results of inventory analysis and impact assessment show the processes that play an important role in each impact category, which allow the industry to improve its environmental performance, making changes not only in the production process itself, but also in the treatment of flue gases and liquid effluents. Besides that concern regarding pollution prevention, other issues with relevance to the context of sustainability, such as the energy consumption, can also be dealt with.     

Rapid generation of three‐dimensional microchannels for vascularization using a subtractive printing technique

The development of tissue‐engineered products has been limited by lack of a perfused microvasculature that delivers nutrients and maintains cell viability. Current strategies to promote vascularization such as additive three‐dimensional printing techniques have limitations. This study validates the use of an ultra‐fast laser subtractive printing technique to generate capillary‐sized channels in hydrogels prepopulated with cells by demonstrating cell viability relative to the photodisrupted channels in the gel. The system can move the focal spot laterally in the gel at a rate of 2500 mm/s by using a galvanometric scanner to raster the in plane focal spot. A Galilean telescope allows z‐axis movement. Blended hydrogels of polyethylene glycol and collagen with a range of optical clarities, mechanical properties and swelling behavior were tested to demonstrate that the subtractive printing process for writing vascular channels is compatible with all of the blended hydrogels tested. Channel width and patterns were controlled by adjusting the laser energy and focal spot positioning, respectively. After treatment, high cell viability was observed at distances greater than or equal to 18 μm from the fabricated channels. Overall, this study demonstrates a flexible technique that has the potential to rapidly generate channels in tissue‐engineered constructs.      

Three-dimensional printing can provide customizable probes for sensing and monitoring in cryobiology applications

Cryopreservation has been recognized as a powerful tool for long-term preservation of genetic resources. However, the outcomes of cryopreservation by different user groups often vary due to inconsistency in procedures and freezing equipment. Herein, we report on the feasibility of providing customizable sensing probes with three-dimensional (3-D) printing to monitor cryopreservation phenomena. The objectives were to: 1) introduce 3-D printing as a fabrication method for developing customizable probes to be used in cryogenic applications; 2) design and fabricate an example of a 3-D printed sensing probe and multiplexer capable of detecting phase-change phenomena based on quantitative data regarding sample electrical resistance and temperature, and 3) demonstrate the sensing platform in cryopreservation conditions and in combination with a custom-made 3-D printed freezing device. The sensing probe developed was designed to fit within standard 0.5-ml French straws. Phase-transition phenomena were detected by analyzing electrical resistance changes. The quantitative data from this device in conjugation with a 3-D printed freezer rack provided cryopreservation capability with high reproducibility and offered an alternative to expensive programmable freezers. The use of 3-D printing provided flexibility to develop new sensing probes or modify existing designs based on specific needs. After initial prototyping, fabrication, and testing of 3-D printed sensing probes, particularly useful designs can lead to the reduction of variation in performing standardized cryopreservation protocols.     

Utilization of calcium carbonate particles from eggshell waste as coating pigments for ink-jet printing paper

The effective treatment and utilization of biowaste have been emphasized in our society for environmental and economic concerns. Recently, the eggshell waste in the poultry industry has been highlighted because of its reclamation potential. This study presents an economical treatment process to recover useful bioproducts from eggshell waste and their utilization in commercial products. We developed the dissolved air floatation (DAF) separation unit, which successfully recovered 96% of eggshell membrane and 99% of eggshell calcium carbonate (ECC) particles from eggshell waste within 2 h of operation. The recovered ECC particles were utilized as coating pigments for ink-jet printing paper and their impact on the ink density and paper gloss were investigated. The addition of the ECC particles as coating pigments enhances the optical density of cyan, magenta and yellow inks while decreasing the black ink density and the gloss of the coated paper.     

Skin tissue generation by laser cell printing

For the aim of ex vivo engineering of functional tissue substitutes, Laser-assisted BioPrinting (LaBP) is under investigation for the arrangement of living cells in predefined patterns. So far three-dimensional (3D) arrangements of single or two-dimensional (2D) patterning of different cell types have been presented. It has been shown that cells are not harmed by the printing procedure. We now demonstrate for the first time the 3D arrangement of vital cells by LaBP as multicellular grafts analogous to native archetype and the formation of tissue by these cells. For this purpose, fibroblasts and keratinocytes embedded in collagen were printed in 3D as a simple example for skin tissue. To study cell functions and tissue formation process in 3D, different characteristics, such as cell localisation and proliferation were investigated. We further analysed the formation of adhering and gap junctions, which are fundamental for tissue morphogenesis and cohesion. In this study, it was demonstrated that LaBP is an outstanding tool for the generation of multicellular 3D constructs mimicking tissue functions. These findings are promising for the realisation of 3D in vitro models and tissue substitutes for many applications in tissue engineering.     

Life cycle assessment of 3D printing geo‐polymer concrete: An ex‐ante study

Three‐dimensional (3D) printing and geo‐polymers are two environmentally oriented innovations in concrete manufacturing. The 3D printing of concrete components aims to reduce raw material consumption and waste generation. Geo‐polymer is being developed to replace ordinary Portland cement and reduce the carbon footprint of the binder in the concrete. The environmental performance of the combined use of the two innovations is evaluated through an ex‐ante life cycle assessment (LCA). First, an attributional LCA was implemented, using data collected from the manufacturer to identify the hotspots for environmental improvements. Then, scaled‐up scenarios were built in collaboration with the company stakeholder. These scenarios were compared with the existing production system to understand the potential advantages/disadvantages of the innovative system and to identify the potential directions for improvement. The results indicate that 3D printing can potentially lead to waste reduction. However, depending on its recipe, geo‐polymer likely has higher environmental impacts than ordinary concrete. The ex‐ante LCA suggests that after step‐by‐step improvements in the production and transportation of raw materials, 3D printing geo‐polymer concrete is able to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete components, while it does still perform worse on impact categories, such as depletion of abiotic resources and stratospheric ozone depletion. We found that the most effective way to lower the environmental impacts of 3D concrete is to reduce silicate in the recipe of the geo‐polymer. This approach is, however, challenging to realize by the company due to the locked‐in effect of the previous innovation investment. The case study shows that to support technological innovation ex‐ante LCA has to be implemented as early as possible in innovation to allow for maintaining technical flexibility and improving on the identified hotspots.     

Environmental impacts of gold mining in Essakane site of Burkina Faso

In this study, environmental impacts on air, water, and soil pollution caused by the exploit of Essakane gold mine, which is located in North Eastern part of Burkina Faso were investigated. Analyses on drinking water were made in the laboratory to determine the concentration of essential chemicals used in gold mining. Dust fallouts have been measured to assess the level of air pollution. The results showed that exploiting of gold mine directly or indirectly contributes to air pollution in Essakane district. The use of chemicals such as cyanide (industrial gold mining) and mercury (artisanal gold mining) to obtain the gold from the ore constitutes a potential risk for the ecosystem, the local population's health, and livestock production. The results also showed that there is a significant degradation of natural landscape and topography of the soil by open-pits mining (industrial mine) and holes dug by artisanal miners.     

A brief review of extrusion‐based tissue scaffold bio‐printing

Extrusion‐based bio‐printing has great potential as a technique for manipulating biomaterials and living cells to create three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds for damaged tissue repair and function restoration. Over the last two decades, advances in both engineering techniques and life sciences have evolved extrusion‐based bio‐printing from a simple technique to one able to create diverse tissue scaffolds from a wide range of biomaterials and cell types. However, the complexities associated with synthesis of materials for bio‐printing and manipulation of multiple materials and cells in bio‐printing pose many challenges for scaffold fabrication. This paper presents an overview of extrusion‐based bio‐printing for scaffold fabrication, focusing on the prior‐printing considerations (such as scaffold design and materials/cell synthesis), working principles, comparison to other techniques, and to‐date achievements. This paper also briefly reviews the recent development of strategies with regard to hydrogel synthesis, multi‐materials/cells manipulation, and process‐induced cell damage in extrusion‐based bio‐printing. The key issue and challenges for extrusion‐based bio‐printing are also identified and discussed along with recommendations for future, aimed at developing novel biomaterials and bio‐printing systems, creating patterned vascular networks within scaffolds, and preserving the cell viability and functions in scaffold bio‐printing. The address of these challenges will significantly enhance the capability of extrusion‐based bio‐printing.     

Piezoelectric inkjet printing of a cross-hatch immunoassay on a disposable nylon membrane

The development of a cost-effective method for manufacturing immunoassays is a key step towards their commercial use. In this study, a piezoelectric inkjet printer and a nylon membrane were used to fabricate a disposable immunoassay. Using a piezoelectric inkjet printer, a cross-hatch pattern of goat anti-mouse antibody (GαM) and rabbit anti-horseradish peroxidase (RαHRP) antibody were deposited on the nylon membrane. These patterns were subsequently treated with a solution containing rabbit anti-goat antibody labeled with horseradish peroxidase (RαG-HRP). The effectiveness of the immobilization process was examined using tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), which oxidizes in the presence of HRP to form a visible precipitate. Optical evaluation of the TMB precipitate was used to assess the precision of the features in the inkjet-printed pattern as well as antibody functionality following inkjet printing. Uniform patterns that contained functional antibodies were fabricated using the piezoelectric inkjet printer. These results suggest that piezoelectric inkjet printing may be used to fabricate low-cost disposable immunoassays for biotechnology and healthcare applications.     

资源生态化利用中的生物加工过程

自然的生态系统目前正受到现代生产方式的严重挑战,其结果造成能源短缺,资源匮乏,环境污染等问题,对人类生存构成危机。人类需要一种遵循地球生态系统规律的,自然与社会环境协调发展的生态化超现代化生产方式。其核心技术是资源生态化利用。对资源生态化系统中宏观的、介观的和微观的化学和生化过程问题进行初步探讨：宏观尺度上的生态平衡、物质与能量的循环转化,介观尺度上物种进化、繁殖与死亡,生物食物铁的形成,微观尺度上生物体内代谢过程中的物质转化与传递等。资源利用生态化的基础是生物加工过程,因此实现资源生态化利用不仅要效法自然的生态系统,还要注重现代工程技术、现代生物技术在生态化系统应用中理论和技术的创新。合理利用生物加工过程可以解决人类面临的资源、能源、环境与健康等重大问题,并实现可持续发展。     

Advances in 3D printing of composite scaffolds for the repairment of bone tissue associated defects

The conventional methods of using autografts and allografts for repairing defects in bone, the osteochondral bone, and the cartilage tissue have many disadvantages, like donor site morbidity and shortage of donors. Moreover, only 30% of the implanted grafts are shown to be successful in treating the defects. Hence, exploring alternative techniques such as tissue engineering to treat bone tissue associated defects is promising as it eliminates the above-mentioned limitations. To enhance the mechanical and biological properties of the tissue engineered product, it is essential to fabricate the scaffold used in tissue engineering by the combination of various biomaterials. Three-dimensional (3D) printing, with its ability to print composite materials and with complex geometry seems to have a huge potential in scaffold fabrication technique for engineering bone associated tissues. This review summarizes the recent applications and future perspectives of 3D printing technologies in the fabrication of composite scaffolds used in bone, osteochondral, and cartilage tissue engineering. Key developments in the field of 3D printing technologies involves the incorporation of various biomaterials and cells in printing composite scaffolds mimicking physiologically relevant complex geometry and gradient porosity. Much recently, the emerging trend of printing smart scaffolds which can respond to external stimulus such as temperature, pH and magnetic field, known as 4D printing is gaining immense popularity and can be considered as the future of 3D printing applications in the field of tissue engineering.     

基于数据包络分析的江苏省水资源利用效率

采用水足迹理论分析江苏省2000-2010年水资源的真实利用情况,同时从投入产出的角度出发,选取农业用水量、工业用水量、生活用水量、COD排放总量、固定资产投资总额和从业人员数作为投入指标,GDP和粮食产量作为产出指标,运用数据包络分析中的C2R和BC2模型对这11a间江苏省的水资源利用效率进行评价.研究表明:2010年江苏省的水足迹为778.28m3,总体呈缓慢上升趋势.农业用水、工业用水和虚拟水贸易是江苏省水资源利用中的主要组成部分.11a间DEA有效年份占64％,投入冗余和产出不足均为0,即投入和产出达到最优状态.在DEA无效年份中存在冗余,存在资源浪费和污染高排放的情况.可以通过DEA投影结果对其进行改进,实现资源的最优配置.     

3D printing of self-standing and vascular supportive multimaterial hydrogel structures for organ engineering

Three dimensional printable formulation of self-standing and vascular-supportive structures using multi-materials suitable for organ engineering is of great importance and highly challengeable, but, it could advance the 3D printing scenario from printable shape to functional unit of human body. In this study, the authors report a 3D printable formulation of such self-standing and vascular-supportive structures using an in-house formulated multi-material combination of albumen/alginate/gelatin-based hydrogel. The rheological properties and relaxation behavior of hydrogels were analyzed before the printing process. The suitability of the hydrogel in 3D printing of various customizable and self-standing structures, including a human ear model, was examined by extrusion-based 3D printing. The structural, mechanical, and physicochemical properties of the printed scaffolds were studied systematically. Results supported the 3D printability of the formulated hydrogel with self-standing structures, which are customizable to a specific need. In vitro cell experiment showed that the formulated hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and vascular supportive behavior with the extent of endothelial sprout formation when tested with human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the suitability of the extrusion-based 3D printing technique for manufacturing complex shapes and structures using multi-materials with high fidelity, which have great potential in organ engineering.     

我国几种典型棉纺织产品的工业水足迹评价

产品水足迹评价能够揭示人类活动在产品全生命周期中的水资源综合影响,可以为提高水资源利用与管理水平和引导绿色消费提供重要的科学依据和技术手段,是当前水资源评价与管理领域的热点研究方向。纺织品是日常生活最主要的消费品之一,其工业生产过程需要利用大量的水资源,同时排放出的工业废水还会对周围水环境造成严重影响。为了揭示纺织品生产过程的水资源综合影响,运用工业水足迹的概念与原理,探讨和明确了纺织品工业水足迹评价的系统边界与内容,建立了相应的核算方法,并选择了花灰布、漂白布、染色布、色织布等四种典型棉纺织产品进行了工业水足迹评价。结果显示,漂白布的工业水足迹较小为36.51L/lb,花灰布次之为37.84L/lb,染色布的平均工业水足迹为61.52L/lb,色织布水足迹最大,平均值为81.51L/lb。比较同种类型、不同颜色纺织品的工业水足迹,由大到小依次为深色中色浅色,即颜色越深对水资源的影响程度最大。从水足迹构成来看,棉纺织产品的工业水足迹主要来自于直接工业水足迹,间接工业水足迹占比较小;在直接工业水足迹的构成中,蓝水足迹的贡献较大。     

产业生态系统资源代谢分析方法

产业生态系统是由企业群、资源及环境组成的社会-经济-环境复合生态系统。资源代谢是其功能运行的重要保障。资源代谢在时间和空间尺度上的耗竭及阻滞是造成严重生态环境问题的主要原因。根据生态学原理,运用物质流分析手段解析了产业生态系统的物质流、能流及资金流结构,构建了产业生态系统资源代谢分析模型,提出了资源输入-使用-输出-循环共生四方面的资源代谢分析指标体系和基于模糊综合分析的资源代谢问题树分析方法。在此基础上提出了基于循环共生网络结构模型的生态管理模式。以期为产业资源的生态管理提供方法支撑。     

3D printing in biotechnology—An insight into miniaturized and microfluidic systems for applications from cell culture to bioanalytics

Since its invention in the 1980s, 3D printing has evolved into a versatile technique for the additive manufacturing of diverse objects and tools, using various materials. The relative flexibility, straightforwardness, and ability to enable rapid prototyping are tremendous advantages offered by this technique compared to conventional methods for miniaturized and microfluidic systems fabrication (such as soft lithography). The development of 3D printers exhibiting high printer resolution has enabled the fabrication of accurate miniaturized and microfluidic systems—which have, in turn, substantially reduced both device sizes and required sample volumes. Moreover, the continuing development of translucent, heat resistant, and biocompatible materials will make 3D printing more and more useful for applications in biotechnology in the coming years. Today, a wide variety of 3D‐printed objects in biotechnology—ranging from miniaturized cultivation chambers to microfluidic lab‐on‐a‐chip devices for diagnostics—are already being deployed in labs across the world. This review explains the 3D printing technologies that are currently used to fabricate such miniaturized microfluidic devices, and also seeks to offer some insight into recent developments demonstrating the use of these tools for biotechnological applications such as cell culture, separation techniques, and biosensors.     

Improving piezoelectric cell printing accuracy and reliability through neutral buoyancy of suspensions

The sedimentation and aggregation of cells within inkjet printing systems has been hypothesized to negatively impact printer performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate this influence through the use of neutral buoyancy. Ficoll PM400 was used to create neutrally buoyant MCF‐7 breast cancer cell suspensions, which were ejected using a piezoelectric drop‐on‐demand inkjet printing system. It was found that using a neutrally buoyant suspension greatly increased the reproducibility of consistent cell counts, and eliminated nozzle clogging. Moreover, the use of Ficoll PM400 was shown to not affect cellular viability. This is the first demonstration of such scale and accuracy achieved using a piezoelectric inkjet printing system for cellular dispensing. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2932–2940. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.