Highlights ► We evaluated astrocyte activation and inflammation involvement in human epilepsy samples. ► High GFAP is associated with increased AQP4, CX43, m-calpain, and L-type Ca2+ channels. ► ...Kir4.1, dystrophin, and α-syntrophin are decreased in human epilepsy. ► Inflammatory markers and glutamate receptors/subunits are also increased. ► Astrocyte-related inflammation may be a significant target for new epilepsy therapy.
The creation of composite structures is a commonly employed approach towards enhanced photocatalytic performance, with one of the key rationales for doing this being to separate photoexcited charges, ...affording them longer lifetimes in which to react with adsorbed species. Here we examine three composite photocatalysts using either WO3, TiO2 or CeO2 with BiVO4 for the degradation of model dyes Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B. Each of these materials (WO3, TiO2 or CeO2) has a different band edge energy offset with respect to BiVO4, allowing for a systematic comparison of these different arrangements. It is seen that while these offsets can afford beneficial charge transfer (CT) processes, they can also result in the deactivation of certain reactions. We also observed the importance of localized dye concentrations, resulting from a strong affinity between it and the surface, in attaining high overall photocatalytic performance, a factor not often acknowledged. It is hoped in the future that these observations will assist in the judicious selection of semiconductors for use as composite photocatalysts.
Abstract
The patterns of respiratory virus illness are expressed differently between temperate and tropical climates. Tropical outbreaks often peak in wet seasons. Temperate outbreaks typically peak ...during the winter. The prevailing causal hypotheses focus on sunlight, temperature and humidity variations. Yet no consistent factors have been identified to sufficiently explain seasonal virus emergence and decline at any latitude. Here we demonstrate close connections among global-scale atmospheric circulations, IgE antibody enhancement through seasonal pollen inhalation, and respiratory virus patterns at any populated latitude, with a focus on the US. Pollens emerge each Spring, and the renewed IgE titers in the population are argued to terminate each winter peak of respiratory illness. Globally circulated airborne viruses are postulated to subsequently deposit across the Southern US during lower zonal geostrophic winds each late Summer. This seasonally refreshed viral load is postulated to trigger a new influenza outbreak, once the existing IgE antibodies diminish to a critical value each Fall. Our study offers a new and consistent explanation for the seasonal diminishment of respiratory viral illnesses in temperate climates, the subdued seasonal signature in the tropics, the annually circulated virus phenotypes, and the northerly migration of influenza across the US every year. Our integrated geospatial and IgE hypothesis provides a new perspective for prediction, mitigation and prevention of the outbreak and spread of seasonal respiratory viruses including Covid-19 pandemic.
Flexible, wearable, implantable and easily reconfigurable supercapacitors delivering high energy and power densities are needed for electronic devices. Here we demonstrate weavable, sewable, ...knottable and braidable yarns that function as high performance electrodes of redox supercapacitors. A novel technology, gradient biscrolling, provides fast-ion-transport yarn in which hundreds of layers of conducting-polymer-infiltrated carbon nanotube sheet are scrolled into ~20 μm diameter yarn. Plying the biscrolled yarn with a metal wire current collector increases power generation capabilities. The volumetric capacitance is high (up to ~179 F cm(-3)) and the discharge current of the plied yarn supercapacitor linearly increases with voltage scan rate up to ~80 V s(-1) and ~20 V s(-1) for liquid and solid electrolytes, respectively. The exceptionally high energy and power densities for the complete supercapacitor, and high cycle life that little depends on winding or sewing (92%, 99% after 10,000 cycles, respectively) are important for the applications in electronic textiles.
Direct‐write printing of stem cells within biomaterials presents an opportunity to engineer tissue for in vitro modeling and regenerative medicine. Here, a first example of constructing neural tissue ...by printing human neural stem cells that are differentiated in situ to functional neurons and supporting neuroglia is reported. The supporting biomaterial incorporates a novel clinically relevant polysaccharide‐based bioink comprising alginate, carboxymethyl‐chitosan, and agarose. The printed bioink rapidly gels by stable cross‐linking to form a porous 3D scaffold encapsulating stem cells for in situ expansion and differentiation. Differentiated neurons form synaptic contacts, establish networks, are spontaneously active, show a bicuculline‐induced increased calcium response, and are predominantly gamma‐aminobutyric acid expressing. The 3D tissues will facilitate investigation of human neural development, function, and disease, and may be adaptable for engineering other 3D tissues from different stem cell types.
Three dimensional (3D) human neural tissue is generated by bioprinting human neural stem cells with a novel polysaccharide‐based bioink. After bioink gelation, encapsulated stem cells self‐renew and differentiate to neuronal and neuroglial cell lineage. Neurons are predominantly gamma‐aminobutyric acid expressing, establish networks, are spontaneously active, and show a bicuculline‐induced increased calcium response.
High consumer demand for cannabidiol (CBD) has made high-CBD hemp (
) an extremely high-value crop. However, high demand has resulted in the industry developing faster than the research, resulting in ...the sale of many hemp accessions with inconsistent performance and chemical profiles. These inconsistencies cause significant economic and legal problems for growers interested in producing high-CBD hemp. To determine the genetic and phenotypic consistency in available high-CBD hemp varieties, we obtained seed or clones from 22 different named accessions meant for commercial production. Genotypes (∼48,000 SNPs) and chemical profiles (% CBD and THC by dry weight) were determined for up to 8 plants per accession. Many accessions-including several with the same name-showed little consistency either genetically or chemically. Most seed-grown accessions also deviated significantly from their purported levels of CBD and THC based on the supplied certificates of analysis. Several also showed evidence of an active tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) synthase gene, leading to unacceptably high levels of THC in female flowers. We conclude that the current market for high-CBD hemp varieties is highly unreliable, making many purchases risky for growers. We suggest options for addressing these issues, such using unique names and developing seed and plant certification programs to ensure the availability of high-quality, verified planting materials.
Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line and Sewing Thread Haines, Carter S.; Lima, Márcio D.; Li, Na ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
02/2014, Letnik:
343, Številka:
6173
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The high cost of powerful, large-stroke, high-stress artificial muscles has combined with performance limitations such as low cycle life, hysteresis, and low efficiency to restrict applications. We ...demonstrated that inexpensive high-strength polymer fibers used for fishing line and sewing thread can be easily transformed by twist insertion to provide fast, scalable, nonhysteretic, long-life tensile and torsional muscles. Extreme twisting produces coiled muscles that can contract by 49%, lift loads over 100 times heavier than can human muscle of the same length and weight, and generate 5.3 kilowatts of mechanical work per kilogram of muscle weight, similar to that produced by a jet engine. Woven textiles that change porosity in response to temperature and actuating window shutters that could help conserve energy were also demonstrated. Large-stroke tensile actuation was theoretically and experimentally shown to result from torsional actuation.
By controlling the SWNT‐rGO electrode composition and thickness to attain the appropriate porosity and tortuosity, the electroactive surface area is maximized while rapid diffusion of the electrolyte ...through the electrode is maintained. This leads to an increase in exchange current density between the electrode and electrolyte which results in enhanced thermocell performance.
This compilation presents a detailed review of current research, developments, and progress on nanotechnology usage for the elimination of dyes from effluents released by textile industries. The ...benefits of using nanomaterials for functionalized textile production are presented, and the applications of nanomaterials in the most known functional technical textiles are discussed. The authors present the results of empirical studies carried out in the Portuguese industrial context, including the textile sector, where the relationship between negative effects associated with shift work and the adoption of certain management practices by organizations is analyzed. Additionally, the authors discuss how, to achieve the Fourth Industrial Revolution, technological tools must be incorporated into both the production and consumption of textiles. The closing study indicates that it is possible to make objective pilling detection easily for standard fabric structures in the textile industry using databases created by measuring lots of samples.
The electromagnetic pollution issues have been arising from the fast-growing development for electronic devices. Hence, the demand for materials with high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding ...performance has increased. Here, we developed self-healable, flexible and printable graphene oxide/silver nanowire films and textiles with excellent EMI shielding performance. The maximum electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 92 dB was recorded for an 18 μm-thickness film. In addition, the specific EMI shielding effectiveness was 31 dB cm3/g or 48,275 dB cm2/g when normalized to film thickness. Both values are higher than reported EMI shielding products. The composite film and coated textile were tolerant of damage induced by cracking or scratching. Damaging the films by cracking reduced the electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and the EMI SE was decreased from 72 dB to 56 dB at 8.2 GHz. After the healing process, the EMI SE was recovered to 71 dB and mechanical properties restored. The EMI SE of textile reached a maximum of 30 dB which is suitable to use as a commercial EMI shielding product. In addition, the textile exhibited high flexibility, and showed excellent mechanical stability with no change in performance after 1000 bending cycles.
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