Alberta Innovates Research Articles

Stabilization of Ni-YSZ Nanocomposite Anodes by Deposition of a Thin YSZ Overlayer

Micro solid oxide fuel cells (μ-SOFCs) are energy conversion devices that are being considered for portable devices, such as laptop computers and mobile phones. As the low operating temperatures of μ-SOFCs (600 °C) result in high electrode resistances, one solution to this is to increase the triple phase boundary (TPB) length. In order to achieve this goal, ethylene glycol-based polymeric precursors of the Ni and YSZ components, which allow atomic level mixing of ions, were used to form nanocomposite Ni-YSZ thin films in this work. This, in turn, resulted in Ni-YSZ anode layers with an average grain size of ca. 25 nm, producing a very high TPB length (in comparison to conventional Ni-YSZ anodes) and hence a low electrode polarization resistance of 0.64 Ω.cm2 at 550 °C in humidified H2. It has been reported that Ni-YSZ thin films, prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), exhibit Ni grain growth at operating temperatures (400-600 °C), resulting in a deleterious effect on the long-term stability of the electrode performance [1]. Although the YSZ network within the composite films constrained Ni grain growth to some extent, significant grain growth at the outer surface of the film could not be inhibited [1]. To overcome this problem for the polymeric precursor-deposited Ni-YSZ films developed here, we deposited a thin, porous YSZ layer (ca. 100 nm in thickness) on top of the Ni-YSZ film. This led to a decrease in the polarization resistance degradation rate, from 3.7% per hour at 550 °C in Ni-YSZ thin films to only 0.39 % per hour at the same temperature.The results obtained in this study show that atomic level mixing, resulting from the use of polymeric precursors, yields very good electrode performances that can be stabilized by the application of additional layers. This will allow for significantly lower μ-SOFC cost as a result of the increase in power density and improved robustness. Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge the Eyes High PDF Program at the University of Calgary and Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) for the support of AB, as well as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for the overall financial support of this work.

Impedance Spectroscopy Analysis of Ni/YSZ Interfaces Prepared by Liquid Precursor Deposition

The state-of-the-art material for SOFC anodes is a Ni-yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) based cermet, due primarily to the excellent electrocatalytic activity of Ni towards H2oxidation. To design and construct Ni-YSZ anodes with maximum performance, it is important to understand the reaction mechanism at the Ni/YSZ interface. Therefore, model anode designs, in which dense Ni films were deposited on dense YSZ electrolytes in the form of regularly spaced strips, have been developed by multiple groups [1, 2] to control the Ni/YSZ interfacial length, with impedance spectroscopy (EIS) used to evaluate performance. However, a consensus has not been reached yet on the exact reaction steps and how they change with temperature. Charge transfer at the Ni/YSZ interface, hydrogen diffusion on Ni surface and hydrogen adsorption/desorption reaction, have all been suggested as the rate-limiting steps in the literature [1, 2]. Thus, a clear identification of the rate limiting step at the Ni/YSZ interface and its correlation with the Ni-YSZ composite anodes is still required. In this work, solution precursor deposited Ni thin films were deposited on dense Zr oxide discs for comparison with Ni-YSZ composite anodes that were prepared by the infiltration of the Ni solution precursor into porous YSZ scaffolds. EIS analysis was carried out, and a transmission line model, which allows the separation of the porous YSZ scaffold ionic resistance and the Ni/YSZ interfacial impedance, was used to fit the impedance data. The dominant impedance arcs in the thin film Ni anodes and the Ni/YSZ interfacial impedance, extracted from the transmission line modelling of the Ni-YSZ composites, both exhibited an activation energy of ~1.3 eV. The same activation energy obtained for the Ni/YSZ interfacial impedance obtained from both Ni thin film anodes and infiltrated Ni-YSZ anodes validates the transmission line fitting approach while the obtained activation energy value of ~1.3 eV indicates that the charge transfer process occurring at the triple phase boundary is the rate determining reaction step in Ni-YSZ anodes. Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge the Eyes High PDF Program at the University of Calgary and Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) for the support of AB, as well as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for the overall financial support of this work.

Visual Nanosensor for the Detection of Heavy Metals in Water

Introduction It has been known for decades that metals with a thin oxide coating can exhibit interference colours by a Fabry-Perot interference phenomenon.1 The colour produced by constructive interference of light reflecting from the air/oxide and oxide/metal interfaces is directly related to the oxide film thickness, and this property has been used as a convenient way to determine oxide film thickness by the unaided eye. Recently, interference colours of nanostructured metal oxides formed at Al, Ti, and Si have been reported. The observed colour of these nanostructured oxide films is dependent on film thickness, surface modification, and porosity of the nanostructures. These parameters have been investigated for potential applications in sensing and displays.2,3 In this study, the interference colours of Ta oxide nanotubular films have been used to create a sensor that allows for the visual detection of heavy metals in water (ppm to ppb levels). Methods and Results We have previously reported that thin films of highly ordered Ta2O5 nanotubes (NTs) can be formed by the anodization of Ta foil.4 The Ta2O5 NTs were prepared by anodization of Ta in a solution containing HF, H2SO­4 and H2O in a two-electrode cell configuration. Ta2O5 NT diameter was controlled by the applied voltage, and NT length was varied by controlling the anodization time and HF concentration,5 as shown in Figure 1 (a-d). The colour of the NT film changes with NT length, progressing through brown, deep purple, deep blue, yellow, orange, purple, and blue as NT length increases from 20-500 nm. Beyond a length of ~500 nm, teal and pink colours dominate the visible appearance of the oxide films. The peaks and valleys present in the diffuse reflectance spectrum vary with oxide film thickness, and with the refractive index of the nanotubular film. This was seen to change upon NT infiltration with different analytes (as shown in Figure 1e), allowing for visual sensing applications. Due to the conductive Ta metal NT support, heavy metals, such as Cu, Cd, and Pb, can be electrodeposited inside the NT film, resulting in refractive index change, and thus, a visible colour change. This results in a rapid visual sensor that does not require costly or bulky instrumentation, making it ideal for detecting heavy metals in water in remote locations. Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and scholarship support from NSERC and Alberta Innovates Technology Futures for CH. We also thank Drs. Dimitre Karpuzov and Shihong Xu (Alberta Centre for Surface Engineering and Science, Edmonton, Alberta) for assistance with the FE-SEM imaging. References (1) Charlesby, A.; Polling, J. J. Proc. R. Soc. A Math. Phys. Eng. Sci. 1955, 227, 434–447. (2) Zhao, B. X.; Meng, G.; Xu, Q.; Han, F. Adv. Mater. 2010, 22, 2637–2641. (3) Lezec, H. J.; McMahon, J. J.; Nalamasu, O.; Ajayan, P. M. Nano Lett. 2007, 7, 329–333. (4) El-Sayed, H.; Singh, S.; Greiner, M. T.; Kruse, P. Nano Lett. 2006, 6, 2995–2999. (5) Horwood, C.; El-Sayed, H.; Birss, V. Electrochim. Acta 2014, 132, 91–97. Figure 1

C-1: The use of engineering modeling in designing cryopreservation protocols for articular cartilage

The transplantation of bone-bearing living articular cartilage is an effective treatment for joint injury and disease. Widespread access to this treatment, however, will require the ability to cryopreserve and bank this tissue. The cryopreservation of articular cartilage has been studied for more than 50 years, with early unsuccessful attempts at freezing of cartilage slices [R.C. Curran, T. Gibson, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 144 (1956) 572] and the first successful cryopreservation of isolated chondrocytes reported in 1965 [A.U. Smith, Nature 205 (1965) 782]. Recently, our group developed a protocol to cryopreserve human full-thickness articular cartilage attached to bone resulting in chondrocyte membrane integrity of 75.4 ± 12.1% with functionality of chondrocytes confirmed by a metabolic assay and the ability of extracted, pellet-cultured chondrocytes to produce of collagen II and sulfated glycosaminoglycans at levels similar to healthy controls [N.M. Jomha et al., Biomaterials 33 (2012) 6061]. This protocol, aimed at vitrifying the tissue, requires the addition of four different mixtures of four different cryoprotectants added at different temperatures for specific periods of time. To develop this protocol, we relied heavily on engineering modeling. This presentation will review our research over the past 10 years on modeling of various key phenomena relevant to the cryopreservation of articular cartilage including solution thermodynamics; water transport; and the transport, toxicity, and vitrifiability of cryoprotectants. The research being reviewed was funded primarily by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Alberta Innovates, and the Edmonton Orthopaedic Research Committee. J.A.W. Elliott holds a Canada Research Chair in Thermodynamics.

Ruby’s Baby Brother by K. White & M. Latimer

White, Kathryn and Miriam Latimer. Ruby’s Baby Brother. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books, 2013. Print.Ruby’s Baby Brother is a delightful new entry in the “Ruby’s” series, in which Ruby experiences new activities and situations (Ruby’s School Walk, Ruby’s Sleepover). This third installment is particularly for young children who may relate to the roller coaster feelings of excitement, uncertainty, jealousy and joy when facing the prospect of an additional member to the family. The book reads with remarkable rhyming and dancing texts on each page. Latimer’s illustrations introduce readers to a loving young family, living in a colourful and cozy home. Inside this home is Ruby, with cute curly ponytails, waiting anxiously by the window as her parents walk to the house from their red car. She has a strong negative impression of babies, and is honest in her thoughts: “Babies are smelly;…and Leon is bound to snatch all my toys”. To solve this paramount problem, Ruby imaginatively plans to use magic to let her brother fly away as a bat or be blasted up to the moon in a rocket that she makes. One wonders if better preparation would have helped this little girl’s “strange” and “scary” feelings. Ruby also articulates her fears and vulnerability toward her new baby brother, Leon. “What if he says to me, ‘This is My house./ So Ruby, I’m turning you into a mouse.” However, when she gets a chance to hold and cuddle with Leon, she realizes her brother is actually harmless, “warm and small”. And she embarks on a courageous quest to include her brother in all her adventures as “a queen and a knight” to the sea, the sky and outer space. She would even protect him from night time witches and wizards. Accompanying this fanciful big-sister journey is the adorable depiction of a family’s new-baby reality: new crib and toys in nursery, mommy breast-feeding and daddy changing diapers. The charming stick people drawings on opening and closing pages reassure readers that little baby brother is no longer a distant figure separated from the family at the other side of the house, and he is welcomed into the arms and affectionate gaze of a happy Ruby.Recommended: 3 stars out of 4Reviewer: Liza ChanLiza Chan is a Research Librarian, cross-appointed at Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions and University of Alberta John W. Scott Health Sciences Libraries. She is also a proud auntie to 2 nephews, with whom she often enjoys visiting local libraries.

Get Well Soon, Grandpa! by A. Swerts & J. Bakker

Swerts, An, and Jenny Bakker. Get Well Soon, Grandpa! New York: Clavis, 2013. Print. Get Well Soon, Grandpa! is written by An Swerts and beautifully illustrated by Jenny Bakker. This 2013 English edition is translated from the original Dutch title, Lieve opa, ik help je wel (2012). It tells the heart-warming story of a caring strawberry-haired girl, Faye, her doting Grandpa Bert, and their experiences of dealing with Grandpa Bert’s unexpected health issue, a stroke.The story starts with Faye’s exciting sleepover with Grandpa Bert. Their close relationship and fun together are evident in their messy pancake-cooking, habitual bedtime stories, and Faye’s special role in Grandpa Bert’s morning shaving rituals. The story is well paced and satisfyingly realistic and whimsical. Young readers would gain insight that a stroke can happen suddenly, and a child, like Faye, can react calmly and appropriately. The medical aspect of stroke is skillfully and aptly explained through colourful lovely images and Faye’s simple questions and dialogue with a gentle physician. The story shows that when an aging relative sustains a stroke, it can be a confusing, stressful, and worrisome time for both young children and adults, as experienced by Faye and Faye’s mother. For passionate and eager Faye, being unfamiliar with the hospital environment and rules, she devises a special and bold plan to make sure Grandpa Bert’s hospital stay is not lonely over the summer, and that he gets to see his dog, Toby.Another noteworthy element of the story is that it superbly highlights the multidisciplinary and rehabilitative nature of stroke therapy with visits from Tom, the physical therapist, and Lena, the speech therapist. Their interactions with Grandpa Bert and Faye are friendly and beneficial. Finally, the move-in of Grandpa Bert to Faye’s home and her ability to help with Grandpa Bert’s exercises and activities of daily living indicate the importance of family’s love, adjustment and involvement in the healing process.With an age-appropriate portrayal of stroke and its manifestation, and the admirable bond between a grandparent and grandchild, this is an excellent book for public libraries and elementary school libraries.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Liza ChanLiza Chan is a Research Librarian, cross-appointed at Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions and University of Alberta John W. Scott Health Sciences Libraries. She is also a proud auntie to 2 nephews, with whom she often enjoys visiting local libraries.

Mimi's Village and How Basic Health Care Transformed It by K. Smith Milway

Smith Milway, Katie. Mimi's Village and How Basic Health Care Transformed It. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2012. Print.Mimi’s Village is part of the CitizenKid series, a collection that seeks to inspire children to be better global citizens. Based on Katie Smith Milway’s experiences working for non-profit organizations, the story is set in Western Kenya – a real-world context that is vividly supported by Eugenie Fernandes’ colourful full-page illustrations of flora, fauna and village life.Told in simple one-page chapters, this story introduces children to the health challenges experienced by Mimi and her family: unsafe drinking water, a child’s life-threatening illness, and travel through the night to a distant health clinic. As the story develops, readers begin to see that small steps can radically improve health in the village: clean water, vaccinations and mosquito nets. Perhaps most importantly, Mimi’s inspirational role – she asks her father, “Could you build a clinic too? Maybe then a nurse would come” – demonstrates that children can make meaningful contributions to their communities. This theme is carried into the book’s final seven pages, which include the story of a “real village health worker,” as well as concrete suggestions that answer the question, “How can you help?”The writing in this book is not the strongest and the title may not inspire child readers. In addition, younger readers will benefit from reading this with an adult. These shortcomings are, however, fully mitigated by Mimi’s engaging story and the book’s two important messages: simple public health measures will dramatically improve the lives of many children living throughout the world; and children everywhere can positively impact their world. This juvenile nonfiction book will make a compelling addition to any library collection.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Shelagh K. GenuisShelagh K. Genuis is an Alberta Innovates–Health Solutions Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health. Although an avid reader of biography, she has never stopped reading children’s fiction.

How Martha Saved her Parents from Green Beans by D. LaRochelle

LaRochelle, David. How Martha Saved her Parents from Green Beans. Illus. Mark Fearing. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013. Print.This imaginative picture book is a tale that will delight picky eaters and those who live with them. Written in LaRochelle’s signature dramatic hyperbole, this 2014 Minnesota Book Award finalist puts a humorous and absurd twist on the classic ‘eat your vegetables’ dinner time conflict.Despite parental encouragement to eat her beans, Martha knows, “Green beans are bad. Very bad.” She is proved correct when a rogue band of mean green beans swagger into town. They chase old ladies, throw rotten tomatoes, make rude noises and kidnap Martha’s parents. Initially Martha is thrilled. She throws her plate of cold green beans out the window and settles in for a late night of cookies and movies. By morning, however, she misses her parents. When Martha discovers them tied up and surrounded by laughing, dancing villainous beans, she is forced to confront her worst nightmare: Is she “too much of a coward to eat a green bean”?This story is hilariously illustrated by Mark Fearing. The expressive faces of Martha, her parents, those dreaded green beans and even Martha’s dog provide eloquent parallels to the text. While parents may appreciate a conclusion in which the family enjoys alternative vegetables, vegetable haters everywhere will appreciate LaRochelle’s provocative conclusion: “Everyone knows that there is nothing bad about a nice leafy salad.” This boldly illustrated adventure will make an entertaining addition to any public, school or personal library serving young children.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Shelagh K. GenuisShelagh K. Genuis is an Alberta Innovates–Health Solutions Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health. Although an avid reader of biography, she has never stopped reading children’s fiction

SU‐E‐CAMPUS‐I‐03: Dosimetric Comparison of the Hypoxia Agent Iodoazomycin Arabinoside (IAZA) Labeled with the Radioisotopes I‐123, I‐131 and I‐124

Purpose:To compare the radiation dose to normal organs from the radio‐iodinated, hypoxia‐binding radiosensitizer iodoazomycin arabinoside (IAZA) for three different isotopes of iodine.Methods:Dosimety studies with normal volunteers had been carried out with [123I]IAZA, a drug binding selectively to hypoxic sites. Two other isotopes of iodine, 131I and 124I, offer the opportunity to use IAZA as an agent for radioisotope therapy and as an imaging tracer for Positron Emission Tomography. Radioisotope dosimetry for 131I and 124I was performed by first deriving from the [123I]IAZA studies biological uptake and excretion data. The cumulated activities for 131I or 124I where obtained by including their half‐lives when integrating the biological data and then extrapolating to infinite time points considering a) physical decay only or b) physical and biological excretion. Doses were calculated using the Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) schema (OLINDA1.1 code, Vanderbilt 2007).Results:Compared to 123I, organ doses were elevated on average by a factor 6 and 9 for 131I and 124I, respectively, if both physical decay and biological excretion were modeled. If only physical decay is considered, doses increase by a factor 18 (131I) and 19 (124I). Highest organ doses were observed in intestinal walls, urinary bladder and thyroid. Effective doses increased by a factor 11 and 14 for 131I and 124I, respectively, if biological and physical decay are present. Purely physical decay yields a 23‐fold increase over 123I for both, 131I and 124I.Conclusion:Owing to the significant dose increase, caused by their longer half life and the approximately 10 times larger electronic dose deposited in tissue per nuclear decay, normal tissue doses of IAZA labeled with 131I and 124I need to be carefully considered when designing imaging and therapy protocols for clinical trials. Effective blocking of iodine uptake in the thyroid is essential. Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions (AIHS) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Investigating the effect of antibiotics on gut microbiota components and subsequent Clostridium difficile infection (LB516)

C. difficile (Cdif) infections (CDI) are a world‐wide epidemic. Recent small clinical trials have generated excitement for the use of fecal microbial transplants as a therapeutic option; however, the exact components of the microbiota needed for protection against CDI have remained elusive. This study assessed the specific intestinal microbiota components associated with prevention or exacerbation of CDI in a mouse model of disease. C57/Bl6 mice from two different vendors (A or B) were exposed to broad‐spectrum antibiotics before oral gavage with Cdif spores. Mice from A and B were co‐housed for 14 days, followed by exposure to antibiotics and development of CDI. Microbiota diversity and composition were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq Next‐Gen Sequencing of 16S rDNA in fecal samples. Mice from different vendors had distinct microbiota profiles both before and after antibiotic exposure. Mice from A developed severe CDI as evidenced by weight loss, histological damage, increased MPO levels and inflammatory cytokines, including KC and IL‐1β. Mice from B were resistant to CDI with minimal histological and cytokine changes from baseline. While similar at naïve levels, vendor B retained a high abundance of Bacteroidetes phyla after antibiotics. Following cohousing, mice from vendor A had less severe CDI and mice from vendor B had more severe CDI. Our data are the first to identify specific patterns in the intestinal microbiota that confer susceptibility to CDI. Furthermore, the bacterial populations that may be critical for preventing or reducing the severity of CDI were revealed. This study may lead to more targeted bacteriotherapy for the treatment and prevention of CDI.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Canadian Institute of Health Research and Alberta Innovates ‐ Health Solutions

Normoglycemia sensitizes MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells to metformin through an AMPK‐dependent mechanism (LB610)

Background: Metformin has been shown to have strong anti‐proliferative effect in many breast cancer cell lines, mainly due to the activation of the energy sensing kinase, AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK). MDA‐MB‐231 cells are aggressive and invasive breast cancer cells that are known to be resistant to several anti‐cancer agents as well as to the anti‐proliferative effect of metformin. As metformin is a glucose lowering drug, we hypothesized that normoglycemia will sensitize MDA‐MB‐231 cells to the anti‐proliferative effect of metformin.Methods: MDA‐MB‐231 cells were treated with increasing metformin concentrations in hyperglycemic or normoglycemic conditions. The growth inhibitory effect of metformin was assessed by MTT assay. The expression of several proteins involved in cell proliferation was measured by western blotting.Results: In agreement with previous studies, treatment with metformin did not inhibit the growth of MDA‐MB‐231 cells cultured in hyperglycemic conditions. However, metformin significantly inhibited MDA‐MB‐231 growth when the cells were cultured in normoglycemic conditions. In addition, we show that metformin‐treatment of MDA‐MB‐231 cells cultured in normoglycemic conditions and not hyperglycemic conditions caused a striking activation of AMPK, and an AMPK‐dependent inhibition of multiple molecular signaling pathways known to control protein synthesis and cell proliferation.Conclusion: Our data show that normoglycemia sensitizes the triple negative MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells to the anti‐proliferative effect of metformin through an AMPK‐dependent mechanism. These findings suggest that tight normoglycemic control may enhance the anti‐proliferative effect of metformin in diabetic cancer patients.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Alberta Innovates ‐ Health Solutions

Lamprey breathing when feeding sucks: the respiratory rhythm generator of a parasitic fish.

Lamprey breathing when feeding sucks: the respiratory rhythm generator of a parasitic fish.

Choline status modulates the development of atherosclerosis in LDL receptor knockout mice (272.7)

Background: Phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase (Pemt) is the only de novo pathway for phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis in mammals; as such, Pemt ‐/‐ mice are chronically choline‐deficient. PEMT deficiency dramatically reduces atherosclerosis development in LDL receptor (LDLR) knockout mice. This atheroprotective effect is believed to be mediated by reduction in circulating lipid levels.Purpose: to investigate the effect of altering choline status on plasma lipid profiles and atherosclerosis development in LDLR‐/‐ mice, and to test the hypothesis that choline supplementations reverse the atheroprotective effect of PEMT deletion via normalization plasma lipid profiles.Methods: LDLR‐/‐ and PEMT‐/‐/ LDLR‐/‐ male mice were given free access to high fat high cholesterol diet. Choline in diet (g/Kg) ranged from 0‐10. Atherosclerosis development was assessed by measuring plaque area in cross sectional aortic root.Results: In LDLR‐/‐ mice, choline‐deficient group gained less weight, presented higher liver TG, CE and PL compared to other groups. Excessive choline group presented significantly higher liver PC and plasma TG.Choline supplementation caused step‐wise increase in atherosclerosis development in LDLR‐/‐ mice. Significant correlations were observed between choline in diet and plasma PL (r=0.8075, P<0.0001), plasma total cholesterol (r=0.8369, P<0.0001), plasma TG (r=0.7551, P<0.0001), and aortic root atherosclerotic plaque area (r=0.6985, P<0.0001).As previously reported, PEMT‐/‐/ LDLR‐/‐ mice were protected from atherosclerosis. Increasing dietary choline from 3‐10 (g/Kg) decreased liver weight, TG, and PL. Surprisingly; it didn’t promote atherogenic plasma lipid profiles nor increased plaque formation.Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between dietary choline and the development of atherosclerosis in the LDLR‐/‐ mice. Choline deficiency cannot solely explain the atheroprotective effect of PEMT deletion in the LDLR‐/‐ mice.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) & Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions (AI B)

Initial Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Solar Molten Media Methane Cracking for Hydrogen Production

Previous work assessed the fundamental technical and market risks associated with the development and deployment of solar fuels technology in Alberta. It identified methane cracking in solar-molten media as the hydrogen production technology featuring the best combination of technical risk, market acceptance, and breakthrough potential of all the techniques covered in the study. Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) plans to advance the technology from a conceptual stage to a proof-of concept over a span of 4 years. The ultimate goal is to design, build and test a prototype solar receiver/reactor in a suitable solar simulator.The paper outlines the activities to date concerning the initial bench-scale testing of methane cracking in molten media at temperatures ranging from 1023 to 1373K. The design and construction of an experimental apparatus used to establish the fundamental thermo-chemical performance of the process is presented, along with preliminary results and lessons from the first testing campaign. A transient, non-isothermal, preliminary mathematical model of a reacting bubble within the molten metal has been developed using MATLAB. The model accounts for the chemical reactions, diffusion of the gases in the bubble and heat transfer from the molten metal to the reacting gases. The model can be used to predict the minimum bubble residence time needed to achieve a given hydrogen yield. The simulation tool will be used to numerically estimate methane conversions in the reactor at various conditions.

A case study in mobilizing all pharmacy team members in the community setting

Financial disclosures:Ms. Houle is funded for her PhD studies by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Hypertension Canada and the Interdisciplinary Chronic Disease Collaboration (funded by Alberta Innovates—Health Solutions).

020 The role of intracellular thermodynamic non-ideality in the modeling of cellular osmotic behavior

A central requirement in modeling cellular osmotic behaviour is the ability to calculate the chemical potentials of water and of permeating solutes (e.g. cryoprotectants) both inside and outside the cell. The conditions that cells are exposed to during cryopreservation are generally thermodynamically non-ideal. Accordingly, calculations use non-ideal solution theories, such as the multi-solute osmotic virial equation (MSOVE) [J Phys Chem B, 2007;111(7):1775–85]. However, the MSOVE requires that the concentrations of all osmotically-contributing solutes in solution be known. While extracellular solutions are generally well-defined, the intracellular composition is typically not known. We have previously shown in practice [Cryobiology, 2008;57(2):130–136], and by way of a thermodynamic proof [Cryobiology, 2011;63(3):318], that when using the MSOVE the intracellular solution can be modelled using a “grouped solute” approach, where all non-permeating intracellular solutes are treated as a single “grouped” solute in chemical potential calculations. Although such a grouped solute is a theoretical construct, much like any real solute its thermodynamic parameters, i.e. osmotic virial coefficients, must be known if it is to be included in calculations. A recent publication [Biopreservation and Biobanking, 2012;10(5):462–471] contains the first measurements of grouped solute osmotic virial coefficients for several cell types. The measured coefficients characterise intracellular solution behaviour ranging from ideal to very non-ideal, indicating considerable variation in thermodynamic non-ideality among cell types. Herein we investigate the role of non-ideal intracellular thermodynamics in the theoretical modeling of cellular osmotic equilibrium. Specifically, we have quantified the effect of varying the intracellular grouped solute osmotic virial coefficients on mathematical model predictions of equilibrium cell volume. Theoretical predictions of equilibrium cell volume are directly applicable to models of near-equilibrium slow cooling processes, and, because the driving force for kinetic osmotic transport is determined by a difference in intra- and extracellular chemical potentials, any variations in these equilibrium predictions will also affect the corresponding kinetic models. In this study we calculated equilibrium cell volumes in solutions containing both permeating and non-permeating solutes, using the MSOVE to calculate chemical potentials. Predictions were made in solutions of non-permeating solutes with osmolalities ranging from isotonic to 10 times isotonic, as well as in solutions containing concentrations from 0 to 6 molal of the permeating cryoprotectant dimethyl sulphoxide (Me 2 SO). Intracellular grouped solute second osmotic virial coefficients with values ranging from 0 (ideal) to 8 molal −1 were used to characterize the intracellular solution in the calculations. For the solutions with only non-permeating solutes, the value of the grouped solute osmotic virial coefficient was found to have a minimal effect on predictions: a maximum 10% difference in predicted volume. However, for the solutions containing Me 2 SO, a more noticeable effect was observed: increasing the assumed grouped solute osmotic virial coefficient (i.e. increasing intracellular non-ideality) resulted in predictions of lower equilibrium cell volumes, ultimately resulting in a maximum 60% difference in predicted volume between the models using the ideal and most non-ideal (8 molal −1 ) coefficients. These results demonstrate that the thermodynamic properties of the intracellular solution substantially influence model predictions of cellular osmotic behaviour in the presence of permeating solutes. Source of funding: This work was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) MOP 86492 and 126778, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the University of Alberta, and Alberta Innovates Technology Futures. J.A.W. Elliott holds a Canada Research Chair in Thermodynamics. Conflict of interest: None declared. michalz@ualberta.ca

Proteinase 3 (PR3) Autoantibodies as a Serological Marker in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Purpose: Autoantibodies to proteinase 3 (PR3) have recently been shown to be a biomarker of ulcerative colitis (UC) when tested by a novel chemiluminescence assay (CIA). The objective of this study was to determine if anti-PR3 by CIA differentiates UC from Crohn's disease (CD) in a large cohort of IBD patients. Methods: Four hundred twenty five patients (333 CD, 92 UC) from the Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions (AIHS) Alberta IBD Consortium were tested by QUANTA Flash® PR3 on BIO-FLASH® CIA (INOVA Diagnostics, San Diego, CA), QUANTA Lite® PR3 ELISA (INOVA Diagnostics Inc.), and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on formalin and ethanol-fixed neutrophil substrates for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA: INOVA Diagnostics Inc). Statistical evaluation was performed using Analyse-it software (Version 2.03; Analyse-it Software, Ltd., Leeds, UK). Mann-Whitney U-test was used to analyze differences between groups, and Fisher's exact test to qualitatively compare groups. P values <0.05 were considered significant. Results: By CIA, 29/92 (31.5%) patients with UC were positive for PR3, compared to 39/333 (11.7%) CD patients (p<0.0001). Mean titers were 28.2 chemiluminescent units (CU) (95% CI 16.7-39.7) in UC, and 13.5 CU (95% CI 8.5-18.4) in CD (p=3.0x10-13). By ELISA, only 14/92 (15.2%) UC patients and 15/333 (4.5%) CD patients were positive for PR3 (p=0.0018). Atypical ANCA (aANCA), a known marker for UC, was observed in 10/92 (10.8%) of UC, and 8/333 (2.4%) of CD (p=0.0001). Clinical sensitivities and specificities were comparable between the assays (Table 1). The manufacturer's recommended cut-off value is 20 CU; however, using a value of 92 CU increased the specificity.Table 1: Comparison of diagnostic performance of different assays for UCConclusion: In the setting of serological analysis of IBD, PR3 is a specific marker for UC, and has higher titers compared to CD. PR3 measured by CIA detected more patients than ELISA. CIA provides advantages for the diagnostic laboratory because it avoids the limitations of IIF on ANCA, as it is less dependent on subjective interpretation and has a rapid (30 minute) turnaround time. Disclosure - Dr. L. Stinton - Consultant: INOVA Diagnostics Inc; Dr. M. Mahler - Employee, INOVA Diagnositcs Inc.; Dr. M. Fritzler - Consultant: INOVA Diagnostics Inc.

Finding Pathways to Produce Heavy Oil From Canadian Carbonates

Alberta Heavy Oil Nearly 2 million bbl of ultraheavy crude are produced each day from Canadian oil sands, but the notion of also producing bitumen from reservoirs made of carbonate rock can spark skeptical remarks. They are likely to say something like: “Carbonates are very different. In carbonates, it is just different,” said Daniel Yang, director of reservoir engineering at Laricina Energy, who has a different reading of the exploration history of formations that hold more than 400 billion bbl of the crude. Laricina has partnered with a second Calgary independent, Osum Oil Sands, to try to prove that bitumen can be commercially produced from the Grosmont formation, which holds 75% of the heavy crude known as bitumen in Alberta’s carbonates. The reality is the Grosmont is different. A pilot project by Laricina and Osum showed that the well design commonly used for oil sands is not a good fit in carbonates. But a mix of methods used for bitumen production worked well enough to convince the partners to plan a commercial test. that they plan to use for the first commercial development in the formation. The Laricina-Osum joint venture has filed for a permit to produce as much as 10,700 B/D from up to 32 wells, with first oil in 2015. Husky and Shell have also filed for permission to do pilot projects with the Alberta Energy Regulator, the agency formerly known as the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB). “It is going like early development in major oil sands basins such as the Athabasca, where there were many field pilots,” said Eddy Isaacs, chief executive officer of Energy and Environment Solutions at Alberta Innovates, a provincial agency that funds research, including past carbonates work. But moving from wells producing oil in situ in the relatively consistent sandstones and unconsolidated sands to carbonates will require significant advances in production methods and simulation software. The Grosmont was born complicated. It was formed hundreds of millions of years ago from the hap-hazard deposition of marine life off a long shoreline, was chemically transformed into dolomite, followed by water flows that carved it up, widening the fractures and carving out so many holes in the rock that it created weak spots in a formation that has been lifted and crushed and filled with oil that degraded into some of the world’s heaviest crude.

THU0240 The Comparative Effectiveness of Oral Methotrexate Versus Subcutaneous Methotrexate for the Initial Treatment of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

BackgroundMethotrexate (MTX) is considered the preferred initial DMARD for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but the preferred route of administration (oral or subcutaneous) is unclear.ObjectivesTo determine the comparative effectiveness of...

The effect of age, sex, and concussion history on preseason ImPACT values of elite Canadian youth ice hockey players

ObjectiveTo examine the effect of age, sex, and concussion history on preseason scores from the ImPACT computer-based neurocognitive test battery in elite 12–17-year-old ice hockey players.DesignCross-sectional.SettingParticipants were recruited from the...