The in vitro study demonstrates wirelessly controlled modulation of neural activity using magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENPs), synchronized to magnetic field application with a sub-25-msec temporal ...response. Herein, MENPs are sub-30-nm CoFe2O4@BaTiO3 core-shell nanostructures. MENPs were added to E18 rat hippocampal cell cultures (0.5 μg of MENPs per 100,000 neurons) tagged with fluorescent Ca2+ sensitive indicator cal520. MENPs were shown to wirelessly induce calcium transients which were synchronized with application of 1200-Oe bipolar 25-msec magnetic pulses at a rate of 20 pulses/sec. The observed calcium transients were similar, in shape and magnitude, to those generated through the control electric field stimulation with a 50-μA current, and they were inhibited by the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin. The observed MENP-based magnetic excitation of neural activity is in agreement with the non-linear M − H hysteresis loop of the MENPs, wherein the MENPs’ coercivity value sets the threshold for the externally applied magnetic field.
•A study through a reduced in vitro model (on E18 rat hippocampal cell cultures) for the first time demonstrates how 30-nm MENPs can be used to wirelessly induce neural activity via application of magnetic fields, with a sub-25-msec temporal response.•The property of the nanoparticles such as the magnetic coercivity is used as a wireless switch to activate action potential in selected regions.•The validity of MENPs-based neural firing approach is confirmed through different positive and negative control measurements.•The importance of having MENPs adequately dispersed to ensure the desired wireless neural firing control operation is being demonstrated.
ABSTRACT We have conducted an optical long-slit spectroscopic survey of 1022 galaxies using the 10 m Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at McDonald Observatory. The main goal of the HET Massive Galaxy ...Survey (HETMGS) is to find nearby galaxies that are suitable for black hole mass measurements. In order to measure accurately the black hole mass, one should kinematically resolve the region where the black hole dominates the gravitational potential. For most galaxies, this region is much less than an arcsecond. Thus, black hole masses are best measured in nearby galaxies with telescopes that obtain high spatial resolution. The HETMGS focuses on those galaxies predicted to have the largest sphere-of-influence, based on published stellar velocity dispersions or the galaxy fundamental plane. To ensure coverage over galaxy types, the survey targets those galaxies across a face-on projection of the fundamental plane. We present the sample selection and resulting data products from the long-slit observations, including central stellar kinematics and emission line ratios. The full data set, including spectra and resolved kinematics, is available online. Additionally, we show that the current crop of black hole masses are highly biased toward dense galaxies and that especially large disks and low dispersion galaxies are under-represented. This survey provides the necessary groundwork for future systematic black hole mass measurement campaigns.
Background
Although the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) became a vital part of cancer care, many patients do not respond to treatment, indicating need for biomarkers. The Pan-Immune-Inflammation ...Value (PIV) is a recently developed peripheral blood count-based biomarker. Herein, we evaluated a PIV-based candidate scoring system as a prognostic biomarker in ICI-treated patients.
Methods
A total of 120 advanced cancer patients treated with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 inhibitors for any cancer type were included in this study. The PILE scoring system incorporating the PIV (< median vs. ≥ median), lactate dehydrogenase levels (normal vs. > normal) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0 vs. ≥ 1) was constructed from the multivariate analyses and used for stratification. The association between overall survival (OS), progression-free survival and PILE risk category was evaluated with multivariate analysis.
Results
The median follow-up was 9.62 months and the median OS of all cohort were 12.42 ± 2.75 months. Patients with higher PIV had significantly decreased OS (7.75 ± 1.64 vs. 18.63 ± 4.26 months,
p
= 0.037). The patients in the PILE high-risk group (PILE score 2–3) had decreased OS (18.63 ± 4.02 vs. 5.09 ± 1.23 months, HR: 2.317, 95% CI: 1.450–3.700,
p
< 0.001) and PFS (7.69 ± 1.30 vs. 2.69 ± 0.65 months, HR: 1.931, 95% CI: 1.263–2.954,
p
= 0.002) compared to PILE low-risk group (PILE score 0–1). The Harrell C-Index values were 0.65 and 0.61 for OS and PFS prediction, respectively.
Conclusion
In this study, we demonstrated a decreased overall survival in ICI-treated patients with a higher PILE score. If prospective studies validate our results, PILE score could be a biomarker for immunotherapy.
Mrk 1216 is a nearby, early-type galaxy with a small effective radius of 2.8 kpc and a large stellar velocity dispersion of 308 km s−1 for its K-band luminosity of . Using integral field spectroscopy ...assisted by adaptive optics from Gemini North, we measure spatially resolved stellar kinematics within ∼450 pc of the galaxy nucleus. The galaxy exhibits regular rotation with velocities of 180 km s−1 and a sharply peaked velocity dispersion profile that reaches 425 km s−1 at the center. We fit axisymmetric, orbit-based dynamical models to the combination of these high angular resolution kinematics, large-scale kinematics extending to roughly three effective radii, and Hubble Space Telescope imaging, resulting in a constraint of the mass of the central black hole in Mrk 1216. After exploring several possible sources of systematics that commonly affect stellar-dynamical black hole mass measurements, we find a black hole mass of and an H-band stellar mass-to-light ratio of (1 uncertainties). Mrk 1216 is consistent with the local black hole mass-stellar velocity dispersion relation, but is a factor of ∼5-10 larger than expectations from the black hole mass-bulge luminosity and black hole mass-bulge mass correlations when conservatively using the galaxy's total luminosity or stellar mass. This behavior is quite similar to the extensively studied compact galaxy NGC 1277. Resembling the quiescent galaxies, Mrk 1216 may be a passively evolved descendant, and perhaps reflects a previous era when galaxies contained over-massive black holes relative to their bulge luminosities/masses, and the growth of host galaxies had yet to catch up.
The vapor extraction process, or VAPEX has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years as a new method of heavy oil or bitumen recovery. The VAPEX (vapor extraction) can be visualized as an ...energy efficient recovery process for unlocking the potential of high viscosity resources trapped in bituminous and heavy oil reservoirs. In this research, a total of 20 VAPEX experiments were performed with Hele-Shaw cell using three different Turkish crude oils. Two different VAPEX solvents (propane and butane) were used with three different injection rates (20, 40, and 80 mL/min). Garzan, Raman, and Batı Raman crude oils were used as light, medium, and heavy oil. All experiments were recorded by normal video camera in order to also analyze visually. For both VAPEX solvents, oil production rates increased with injection rates for all crude oils. Instantaneous asphaltene rate for Garzan oil showed fluctuated performance with propane solvent. Butane showed an almost constant degree of asphaltene precipitation. Instantaneous asphaltene rate for Raman and Batı Raman oils gave straight-line results with the injection rate of 20 mL/min for both solvents. For asphaltene precipitation, propane gave better results than butane in almost all injection rates for Garzan and Raman oil. In the experiments with Batı Raman oil, butane made better upgrading than propane with the injection rate 80 mL/min. With the other two rates, both solvents showed almost the same performance.
Application of Vapex Process for Light Crude Oil Kok, M. V.; Yildirim, Y.; Akin, S.
Energy sources. Part A, Recovery, utilization, and environmental effects,
01/2008, Letnik:
30, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The objective of this study is to investigate the applicability of Vapex process on Garzan crude oil. Experiments were performed with Hele-Shaw cell using two different solvents (propane and butane) ...at three different injection rates (20, 40, and 80 ml/min). For both Vapex solvents, oil production rates increased with injection rates for Garzan crude oil. Instantaneous asphaltene rate for Garzan oil showed fluctuated performance with propane solvent. Butane showed almost constant degree of asphaltene precipitation. For asphaltene precipitation, propane gave better results than butane in almost all injection rates for Garzan crude oil.
The incidence and subsequent outcomes of missed injuries and the primary factors contributing to each missed injury were analyzed.
Records of 709 trauma patients were reviewed between December 2003 ...and December 2004. Demographic data were compared and analyzed for two patient groups: those with multiple injuries diagnosed in 24 hours and those with multiple injuries diagnosed in >24 hours.
Fifty-two missed injuries were determined in 34 (4.8%) patients. There were significant differences between the patients with and without delayed diagnoses, including the mean injury severity scores (23 vs. 16.9), morbidity, and mortality (p < 0.05 for all). Among 69 contributing factors identified, 28 (40.6%) were unavoidable and 41 (59.4%) were potentially avoidable.
Missed injuries could usually be encountered in the most seriously injured patients, particularly in those with altered levels of consciousness. Missed injuries were mostly avoidable and most were the result of inadequate clinical examination.
This study aimed to assess mutations in
GJB2
gene (connexin 26), as well as A1555G mitochondrial mutation in both the patients with profound genetic nonsyndromic hearing loss and healthy controls. ...Ninety-five patients with profound hearing loss (>90 dB) and 67 healthy controls were included. All patients had genetic nonsyndromic hearing loss. Molecular analyses were performed for connexin 26 (35delG, M34T, L90P, R184P, delE120, 167delT, 235delC and IVS1+1 A → G) mutations, and for mitochondrial A1555G mutation. Twenty-two connexin 26 mutations were found in 14.7% of the patients, which were 35delG, R184P, del120E and IVS1+1 A → G. Mitochondrial A1555G mutation was not encountered. The most common
GJB2
gene mutation was 35delG, which was followed by del120E, IVS1+1 A → G and R184P, and 14.3% of the patients segregated with DFNB1. In consanguineous marriages, the most common mutation was 35delG. The carrier frequency for 35delG mutation was 1.4% in the controls. 35delG and del120E populations, seems the most common connexin 26 mutations that cause genetic nonsyndromic hearing loss in this country. Nonsyndromic hearing loss mostly shows DFNB1 form of segregation.
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