The nervous system poses a grand challenge for integration with modern electronics and the subsequent advances in neurobiology, neuroprosthetics, and therapy which would become possible upon such ...integration. Due to its extreme complexity, multifaceted signaling pathways, and ∼1 kHz operating frequency, modern complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) based electronics appear to be the only technology platform at hand for such integration. However, conventional CMOS-based electronics rely exclusively on electronic signaling and therefore require an additional technology platform to translate electronic signals into the language of neurobiology. Organic electronics are just such a technology platform, capable of converting electronic addressing into a variety of signals matching the endogenous signaling of the nervous system while simultaneously possessing favorable material similarities with nervous tissue. In this review, we introduce a variety of organic material platforms and signaling modalities specifically designed for this role as “translator”, focusing especially on recent implementation in in vivo neuromodulation. We hope that this review serves both as an informational resource and as an encouragement and challenge to the field.
New materials capable of separating mixtures of saturated, unsaturated, and aromatic hydrocarbons can enable more efficient industrial processes and cleaner energy. Outstanding challenges in ...hydrocarbon separations stem from the similar structures, properties, and reactivities of the molecules comprising many of these mixtures. With high surface areas, tunable pore geometries, and adjustable surface functionality, metal–organic frameworks hold tremendous promise for effecting previously difficult or impossible separations. In this review, we provide a comprehensive account of the metal–organic frameworks that have been investigated for hydrocarbon separations within the context of their potential relevance for separating various industrial alkane-, alkene-, and aromatic-containing mixtures.
Spatial patterns of functional organization, resolved by microelectrode mapping, comprise a core principle of sensory cortices. In auditory cortex, however, recent two-photon Ca2+ imaging challenges ...this precept, as the traditional tonotopic arrangement appears weakly organized at the level of individual neurons. To resolve this fundamental ambiguity about the organization of auditory cortex, we developed multiscale optical Ca2+ imaging of unanesthetized GCaMP transgenic mice. Single-neuron activity monitored by two-photon imaging was precisely registered to large-scale cortical maps provided by transcranial widefield imaging. Neurons in the primary field responded well to tones; neighboring neurons were appreciably cotuned, and preferred frequencies adhered tightly to a tonotopic axis. By contrast, nearby secondary-field neurons exhibited heterogeneous tuning. The multiscale imaging approach also readily localized vocalization regions and neurons. Altogether, these findings cohere electrode and two-photon perspectives, resolve new features of auditory cortex, and offer a promising approach generalizable to any cortical area.
•High-sensitivity mode of transcranial imaging of cortex in unanesthetized mice•Spectral organization of auditory cortex under widefield imaging is highly regular•Neighboring neurons in AI are appreciably cotuned•Increased spectral integration is observed in neurons of AII
Understanding cortical organization across large-to-small spatial scales is critical to brain mapping. Issa et al. develop an imaging approach in GCaMP-expressing mice to characterize sound responses of auditory cortex from the level of individual neurons up to large-scale cortical maps.
As compared to porous network solids, including metal–organic frameworks, covalent–organic frameworks, porous aromatic frameworks, and zeolites, porous molecular materials are relatively unexplored. ...Additionally, within porous molecular space, porous organic cages (POCs) have been the most widely reported over the past decade. Relatively recently, however, porous hybrid metal–organic molecular complexes have received considerable attention with a large fraction of surface areas for these coordination cages reported over the past three years. This review focuses on advances in this area. We highlight the recent work with permanently microporous metal–organic polyhedra (MOPs). Analogous to early work in the area of MOFs, the vast majority of MOPs for which surface areas have been reported have been based on paddlewheel building units and carboxylate ligands. We describe the synthesis of porous cages and highlight those based on monometallic, bimetallic, trimetallic, tetrametallic, and higher nuclearity clusters. Finally, we showcase work wherein the porosity of MOPs has been leveraged for applications related to the storage and separation of small molecules and the incorporation of these porous and potentially porous cages into membranes.
Anthropogenic climate change influences the nature and probabilistic behavior of extreme climate phenomena over time. Current infrastructure design of water systems, however, is based on ...intensity‐duration‐frequency (IDF) curves that assume extreme precipitation will not significantly change. To sustain the reliability of infrastructure designs in a changing environment, time‐varying nonstationary‐based IDF curves must replace the static stationary‐based IDF curves. This study outlines a fully time varying risk framework using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to incorporate the impact of different complex nonstationary conditions on the occurrence of extreme precipitation in the Great Lakes area. The results demonstrate the underestimation of the extreme precipitation using stationary assumptions and the importance of updating infrastructure design strategies in a changing climate.
Key Points
A nonstationary IDF curve framework is designed by developing a dynamic GEV distribution
The nature and risk of extreme precipitation have changed over time under climate change
Infrastructure design procedures should be updated using time‐varying risk concept under a changing climate
THE MASS-METALLICITY RELATION FOR GIANT PLANETS Thorngren, Daniel P.; Fortney, Jonathan J.; Murray-Clay, Ruth A. ...
The Astrophysical journal,
11/2016, Letnik:
831, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
ABSTRACT Exoplanet discoveries of recent years have provided a great deal of new data for studying the bulk compositions of giant planets. Here we identify 47 transiting giant planets (20 M⊕ < M < 20 ...MJ) whose stellar insolations are low enough (F* < 2 × 108 erg s−1 cm−2, or roughly Teff < 1000) that they are not affected by the hot-Jupiter radius inflation mechanism(s). We compute a set of new thermal and structural evolution models and use these models in comparison with properties of the 47 transiting planets (mass, radius, age) to determine their heavy element masses. A clear correlation emerges between the planetary heavy element mass Mz and the total planet mass, approximately of the form . This finding is consistent with the core-accretion model of planet formation. We also study how stellar metallicity Fe/H affects planetary metal-enrichment and find a weaker correlation than has previously been reported from studies with smaller sample sizes. We confirm a strong relationship between the planetary metal-enrichment relative to the parent star Zplanet/Zstar and the planetary mass, but see no relation in Zplanet/Zstar with planet orbital properties or stellar mass. The large heavy element masses of many planets (>50 M⊕) suggest significant amounts of heavy elements in H/He envelopes, rather than cores, such that metal-enriched giant planet atmospheres should be the rule. We also discuss a model of core-accretion planet formation in a one-dimensional disk and show that it agrees well with our derived relation between mass and Zplanet/Zstar.
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids can deliver transformative gene therapies, but our understanding of AAV biology remains incomplete. We generated the complete first-order AAV2 capsid fitness ...landscape, characterizing all single-codon substitutions, insertions, and deletions across multiple functions relevant for in vivo delivery. We discovered a frameshifted gene in the VP1 region that expresses a membrane-associated accessory protein that limits AAV production through competitive exclusion. Mutant biodistribution revealed the importance of both surface-exposed and buried residues, with a few phenotypic profiles characterizing most variants. Finally, we algorithmically designed and experimentally verified a diverse in vivo targeted capsid library with viability far exceeding random mutagenesis approaches. These results demonstrate the power of systematic mutagenesis for deciphering complex genomes and the potential of empirical machine-guided protein engineering.
There is increasing interest in the role of physical exercise as a therapeutic strategy for individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We assessed the effect of 26 weeks (6 months) of a supervised ...aerobic exercise program on memory, executive function, functional ability and depression in early AD.
This study was a 26-week randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise vs. non-aerobic stretching and toning control intervention in individuals with early AD. A total of 76 well-characterized older adults with probable AD (mean age 72.9 7.7) were enrolled and 68 participants completed the study. Exercise was conducted with supervision and monitoring by trained exercise specialists. Neuropsychological tests and surveys were conducted at baseline,13, and 26 weeks to assess memory and executive function composite scores, functional ability (Disability Assessment for Dementia), and depressive symptoms (Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia). Cardiorespiratory fitness testing and brain MRI was performed at baseline and 26 weeks. Aerobic exercise was associated with a modest gain in functional ability (Disability Assessment for Dementia) compared to individuals in the ST group (X2 = 8.2, p = 0.02). There was no clear effect of intervention on other primary outcome measures of Memory, Executive Function, or depressive symptoms. However, secondary analyses revealed that change in cardiorespiratory fitness was positively correlated with change in memory performance and bilateral hippocampal volume.
Aerobic exercise in early AD is associated with benefits in functional ability. Exercise-related gains in cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with improved memory performance and reduced hippocampal atrophy, suggesting cardiorespiratory fitness gains may be important in driving brain benefits.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01128361.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Silicon (Si) is considered a non-essential element similar to cadmium, arsenic, lead, etc., for plants, yet Si is beneficial to plant growth, so it is also referred to as a quasi-essential element ...(similar to aluminum, cobalt, sodium and selenium). An element is considered quasi-essential if it is not required by plants but its absence results in significant negative consequences or anomalies in plant growth, reproduction and development. Si is reported to reduce the negative impacts of different stresses in plants. The significant accumulation of Si on the plant tissue surface is primarily responsible for these positive influences in plants, such as increasing antioxidant activity while reducing soil pollutant absorption. Because of these advantageous properties, the application of Si-based nanoparticles (Si-NPs) in agricultural and food production has received a great deal of interest. Furthermore, conventional Si fertilizers are reported to have low bioavailability; therefore, the development and implementation of nano-Si fertilizers with high bioavailability could be crucial for viable agricultural production. Thus, in this context, the objectives of this review are to summarize the effects of both Si and Si-NPs on soil microbes, soil properties, plant growth and various plant pathogens and diseases. Si-NPs and Si are reported to change the microbial colonies and biomass, could influence rhizospheric microbes and biomass content and are able to improve soil fertility.
This paper was accepted by Stefan Scholtes, healthcare management.
Conflict of Interest Statement:
E. D. Shah has consulted or served on advisory boards for Ardelyx, GI Supply, Mahana, Mylan, ...Neuraxis, Salix, Sanofi, and Takeda.
Funding:
E. D. Shah is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Grant NIH 1K23DK134752.
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