Information thermodynamics bridges information theory and statistical physics by connecting information content and entropy production through measurement and feedback control. Maxwell's demon is a ...hypothetical character that uses information about a system to reduce its entropy. Here we realize a Maxwell's demon acting on a superconducting quantum circuit. We implement quantum non-demolition projective measurement and feedback operation of a qubit and verify the generalized integral fluctuation theorem. We also evaluate the conversion efficiency from information gain to work in the feedback protocol. Our experiment constitutes a step toward experimental studies of quantum information thermodynamics in artificially made quantum machines.
Functional microRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes have been recognised as potential stable biomarkers in cancers. The aim of this study is to identify specific miRNAs in exosome as serum biomarkers for the ...early detection of recurrence in human colorectal cancer (CRC).
Serum samples were sequentially obtained from six patients with and without recurrent CRC. The miRNAs were purified from exosomes, and miRNA microarray analysis was performed. The miRNA expression profiles and copy number aberrations were explored using microarray and array CGH analyses in 124 CRC tissues. Then, we validated exosomal miRNAs in 2 serum sample sets (90 and 209 CRC patients) by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.
Exosomal miR-17-92a cluster expression level in serum was correlated with the recurrence of CRC. Exosomal miR-19a expression levels in serum were significantly increased in patients with CRC as compared with healthy individuals with gene amplification. The CRC patients with high exosomal miR-19a expression showed poorer prognoses than the low expression group (P<0.001).
Abundant expression of exosomal miR-19a in serum was identified as a prognostic biomarker for recurrence in CRC patients.
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•4D printing of Hygromorph BioComposites was performed.•Soft matrix enhance actuation of Hygromorph biocomposite.•Layer Height (LH) allows for local control of thickness and stiffness ...ratio.•Interfilament Distance (IDp) allows for variable composite stiffness.•Simple compliant mechanism via localized microstructure change are proposed.
4D printing focus on the integration of a targeted morphing function by controlling the properties and the architecture of the materials.
The present work evaluates the potential of tailoring 4D printing to Hygromorph BioComposite (HBC), which paves the way for the construction of a new generation of sustainable shape-changing metamaterials with a sequential response. HBCs are made of continuous flax fibres that have been proven to be relevant for actuation and thus 4D printing due to their hygromorphism function.
The morphing performance of HBCs can be boosted by selecting an appropriate matrix. The soft Poly Buthylene Succinate (PBS) matrix showed a 92% increase in responsiveness and 500% increase in reactivity compared to the Poly Lactic Acid (PLA)/Flax HBC.
4D printing with Layer Height (LH) control within layers allows for complex actuation potential with a local control of the thickness and stiffness ratio. The Interfilament Distance of the 0° oriented passive layer (IDp) offers the opportunity to achieve non-uniform reactivity and responsiveness for autonomous smart surfaces.
Finally, the programming of the spatial distribution of the flax yarn can be combined with heterogeneities. As an illustration, simple compliant mechanism via localized microstructure changes is proposed.
The aim of the study was to examine COVID-19 preventive behaviours among individuals with mental health problems.
This is a pooled cross-sectional study.
Online survey data were analysed from 2000 ...Japanese adults collected in April and May 2020. Information was obtained on 13 COVID-19 preventive behaviours and anxiety and depressive symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the associations.
In models adjusted for demographic and socio-economic factors, anxiety (coefficient: −0.77, 95% confidence interval CI: −1.30, -0.24) and depressive symptoms (coefficient: −0.82, 95% CI: −1.34, -0.30) were both associated with significantly lower engagement in COVID-19 preventive behaviours.
Our results highlight the importance of facilitating the performance of preventive behaviours in individuals with mental health problems to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in this population.
•We examined the effects of depression and anxiety on COVID-19 preventive behaviours.•Data were analysed from 2000 Japanese adults collected in April and May 2020.•Anxiety/depressive symptoms were linked to the use of fewer preventive behaviours.
Atomic scale characterization of the white etching layer (WEL) in a rail track surface made of pearlitic steel was performed with respect to elemental distribution using atom probe tomography. The ...atomic distributions of the alloying elements at various depths below the surface were analyzed inside and outside the WEL. Manganese-enriched and silicon-depleted zones corresponding to pre-existing cementite lamellae were observed in the WEL, although the cementite lamellae of the matrix pearlite had completely decomposed. The manganese-enriched and silicon-depleted zones were more distinct in the bottom region than in the topmost surface region of the WEL. The width and spacing of the zones indicated that the WEL region did not undergo heavy deformation. A temperature rise in the rail-to-wheel contact areas was predicted by friction calculation, which was confirmed through shape analysis of the manganese-enriched zones. These results support the hypothesis that martensitic transformation after rapid austenization was the origin of the WEL.
Predictive biomarkers for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have great benefit in the selection of treatment options, including liver transplantation (LT), for HCC. The purpose of this ...study was to identify specific microRNAs (miRs) in exosomes from the serum of patients with recurrent HCC and to validate these molecules as novel biomarkers for HCC recurrence.
We employed microarray-based expression profiling of miRs derived from exosomes in the serum of HCC patients to identify a biomarker that distinguishes between patients with and without HCC recurrence after LT. This was followed by the validation in a separate cohort of 59 HCC patients who underwent living related LT. The functions and potential gene targets of the recurrence-specific miRs were analysed using a database, clinical samples and HCC cell lines.
We found that miR-718 showed significantly different expression in the serum exosomes of HCC cases with recurrence after LT compared with those without recurrence. Decreased expression of miR-718 was associated with HCC tumour aggressiveness in the validated cohort series. We identified HOXB8 as a potential target gene of miR-718, and its upregulation was associated with poor prognosis.
Circulating miRs in serum exosomes have potential as novel biomarkers for predicting HCC recurrence.
High thermal conductivity Cu/diamond composites were produced at ambient temperature and pressure using an electrodeposition technique, employing various diamond particle sizes in the range of 10 to ...230 μm. The microstructures of the resulting composites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and their thermal conductivities were assessed using a Xenon flash instrument. The theoretical thermal conductivities of these materials were calculated based on the Hasselman-Johnson equation and compared with the experimentally determined values. The Cu/diamond composites produced in this work were found to exhibit compact textures without any gaps between the Cu matrix and the diamond particles, and the experimental thermal conductivities were in good agreement with the theoretical values. The specimen containing 61 vol.% of 230 μm diameter diamond particles had the highest conductivity of 662 W K-1 m-1, which is 1.6 times that of pure Cu (ca. 400 W K-1 m-1).
In a cell-surface engineering system established using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, novel, so-called arming yeasts are constructed that are armed with biocatalysts in the form of enzymes, ...functional proteins, antibodies, and combinatorial protein libraries. Among the many advantages of the system, in which proteins are genetically displayed on the cell surface, are easy reproduction of the displayed biocatalysts and easy separation of product from catalyst. As proteins and peptides of various kinds can be displayed on the yeast cell surface, the system is expected to allow the preparation of tailor-made functional proteins. With its ability to express many of the functional proteins necessary for post-translational modification and in a range of different sizes, the yeast-based molecular display system appears uniquely useful among the various display systems so far developed. Capable of conferring novel additional abilities upon living cells, cell-surface engineering heralds a new era of combinatorial bioengineering in the field of biotechnology. This mini-review describes molecular display using yeast and its various applications.
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