Human butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE) is currently being developed as a detoxication enzyme for stoichiometric binding and/or catalytic hydrolysis of organophosphates. Herein, we describe the use of a molecular evolution method to develop novel hBChE variants with increased resistance to stereochemically defined nerve agent model compounds of soman, sarin, and cyclosarin. Novel hBChE variants (Y3...

Abstract A finite element model of an impact test on a soft tissue simulant, used as part shoulder surrogate, was developed in Ansys© LS-DYNA ® . The surrogate consisted metal hemicylindrical core, with diameter 75 mm, covered 15 mm thick relaxed muscle simulant. simulant 14 layer silicone 1 chamois leather to represent skin. material properties the were obtained via quasi-static compression te...

The drug midazolam has been recommended to replace diazepam as the immediate anticonvulsant treatment for nerve agent-induced seizures. This recommendation marks the latest decision in an ongoing program to improve medical countermeasures to treat nerve agent poisoning. Extensive rodent screening studies first identified midazolam as the most promising compound to focus on for advanced testing....

Infusion medical devices (MDs) used in hospitals are often made of plasticized polyvinylchloride (PVC). These plasticizers may leach out into infused solutions during clinical practice, especially during risk-situations, e.g multiple infusions in Intensive Care Units and thus may enter into contact with the patients. The migrability of the plasticizers is dependent of several clinical parameter...

The potential of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to discriminate biological and chemical threat simulant residues prepared on multiple substrates and in the presence of interferents has been explored. The simulant samples tested include Bacillus atrophaeus spores, Escherichia coli, MS-2 bacteriophage, α-hemolysin from Staphylococcus aureus, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, and dimethyl ...

Solvent-swollen polymer gels can be utilized as mechanical simulants of biological tissues to evaluate protective systems and assess injury mechanisms. However, a key challenge in this application of synthetic materials is mimicking the rate-dependent mechanical response of complex biological tissues. Here, we characterize the mechanical behavior of tissue simulant gel candidates comprising a c...

To study penetrating traumatic brain injury biomechanics, a full metal jacket 9-mm handgun projectile was discharged into a transparent brain simulant (Sylgard gel). Five pressure transducers were placed at the entry (two), exit (two), and center (one) of the simulant. High-speed digital video photography at 20,000 frames per second (fps) was used to capture the temporal cavity pulsation. Press...

When humans will settle on the moon or Mars they will have to eat there. Food may be flown in. An alternative could be to cultivate plants at the site itself, preferably in native soils. We report on the first large-scale controlled experiment to investigate the possibility of growing plants in Mars and moon soil simulants. The results show that plants are able to germinate and grow on both Mar...

Nerve agents belong to highly toxic organophosphorus compounds misused as chemical warfare agents for military as well as terroristic purposes. Basic mechanism of action of nerve agents is based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) inhibition and subsequent accumulation of neuromediator acetylcholine at the cholinergic synapses, either peripheral or central leading to cholinergic hypersti...

<p class="JARTEAbstract">This work aims to study the effect of immersion in a ethanolic food simulant mechanically recycled poly(lactic acid) (PLAR) and its nanocomposites reinforced with halloysite nanotubes (HNT). PLAR was obtained by subjecting PLA an accelerated ageing process, which includes photochemical, thermal hydrothermal steps, followed final demanding washing step. further 4 %...