Recent years have seen major advances in the developments of both additive manufacturing concepts and responsive materials. When combined as 4D printing, the process can lead to functional materials ...and devices for use in health, energy generation, sensing, and soft robots. Among responsive materials, liquid crystals, which can deliver programmed, reversible, rapid responses in both air and underwater, are a prime contender for additive manufacturing, given their ease of use and adaptability to many different applications. In this paper, selected works are compared and analyzed to come to a didactical overview of the liquid crystal‐additive manufacturing junction. Reading from front to back gives the reader a comprehensive understanding of the options and challenges in the field, while researchers already experienced in either liquid crystals or additive manufacturing are encouraged to scan through the text to see how they can incorporate additive manufacturing or liquid crystals into their own work. The educational text is closed with proposals for future research in this crossover field.
Liquid crystals are the basis for many “smart” materials used in, for instance, soft robotics and polymer optics. Recently, their potential and appeal for different additive manufacturing techniques has been demonstrated. Insight into the usage of liquid crystals in 3D printing for fabrication at both micro‐ and centimeterscale is provided for those wanting to join this exciting, developing field.
The iridescence of structural color and its polarization characteristics originate from the nanoscale organization of materials. A major challenge in materials science is generating the bright, ...lustrous hues seen in nature through nanoscale engineering, while simultaneously controlling interaction of the material with different light polarizations. In this work, a suitable chiral nematic liquid crystal elastomer ink is synthesized for direct ink writing, which self‐assembles into a chiral photonic structure. Tuning the writing direction and speed leads to the programmed formation of a slanted photonic axis, which exhibits atypical iridescence and polarization selectivity. After crosslinking, a freely programmable, chiroptical photonic polymer material is obtained. The strongly perspective‐dependent appearance of the material can function as specialized anticounterfeit markers, as optical elements in decorative iridescent coatings, or, as demonstrated here, in optically based signaling features.
Inspired by natural examples of patterned iridescence, an ink based on a chiral nematic liquid crystal that can be processed with a direct ink writer 3D printer is shown. Tuning the writing direction and speed leads to the programmed formation of a slanted photonic axis that exhibits atypical iridescence and polarization selectivity.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in tumorigenecity by regulating specific oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and their roles in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are becoming apparent. Distinct from ...the CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) sub-population, we have isolated a novel PROCR(+)/ESA(+) BCSC sub-population. To explore miRNA-regulatory mechanisms in this sub-population, we performed miRNA expression profiling and found miR-495 as the most highly upegulated miRNA in PROCR(+)/ESA(+) cells. Coincidently, high upregulation of miR-495 was also found in CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) BCSCs, reflecting its potential importance in maintaining common BCSC properties. Ectopic expression of miR-495 in breast cancer cells promoted their colony formation in vitro and tumorigenesis in mice. miR-495 directly suppressed E-cadherin expression to promote cell invasion and inhibited REDD1 expression to enhance cell proliferation in hypoxia through post-transcriptional mechanism. miR-495 expression was directly modulated by transcription factor E12/E47, which itself is highly expressed in BCSCs. These findings reveal a novel regulatory pathway centered on miR-495 that contributes to BCSC properties and hypoxia resistance.
The plant immune system is activated by microbial patterns that are detected as nonself molecules. Such patterns are recognized by immune receptors that are cytoplasmic or localized at the plasma ...membrane. Cell surface receptors are represented by receptor-like kinases (RLKs) that frequently contain extracellular leucine-rich repeats and an intracellular kinase domain for activation of downstream signaling, as well as receptor-like proteins (RLPs) that lack this signaling domain. It is therefore hypothesized that RLKs are required for RLPs to activate downstream signaling. The RLPs Cf-4 and Ve1 of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mediate resistance to the fungal pathogens Cladosporium fulvum and Verticillium dahliae , respectively. Despite their importance, the mechanism by which these immune receptors mediate downstream signaling upon recognition of their matching ligand, Avr4 and Ave1, remained enigmatic. Here we show that the tomato ortholog of the Arabidopsis thaliana RLK Suppressor Of BIR1-1/Evershed (SOBIR1/EVR) and its close homolog S. lycopersicum (Sl)SOBIR1-like interact in planta with both Cf-4 and Ve1 and are required for the Cf-4– and Ve1-mediated hypersensitive response and immunity. Tomato SOBIR1/EVR interacts with most of the tested RLPs, but not with the RLKs FLS2, SERK1, SERK3a, BAK1, and CLV1. SOBIR1/EVR is required for stability of the Cf-4 and Ve1 receptors, supporting our observation that these RLPs are present in a complex with SOBIR1/EVR in planta . We show that SOBIR1/EVR is essential for RLP-mediated immunity and propose that the protein functions as a regulatory RLK of this type of cell-surface receptors.
Traditionally, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from adult bone marrow were described as being capable of differentiating to various lineages including cartilage. Despite increasing interest in ...these MSCs, concerns regarding their safety, in vivo behavior and clinical effectiveness have restrained their clinical application. We hypothesized that MSCs have trophic effects that stimulate recycled chondrons (chondrocytes with their native pericellular matrix) to regenerate cartilage. Searching for a proof of principle, this phase I (first‐in‐man) clinical trial applied allogeneic MSCs mixed with either 10% or 20% recycled autologous cartilage‐derived cells (chondrons) for treatment of cartilage defects in the knee in symptomatic cartilage defect patients. This unique first in man series demonstrated no treatment‐related adverse events up to one year postoperatively. At 12 months, all patients showed statistically significant improvement in clinical outcome compared to baseline. Magnetic resonance imaging and second‐look arthroscopies showed completely filled defects with regenerative cartilage tissue. Histological analysis on biopsies of the grafts indicated hyaline‐like regeneration with a high concentration of proteoglycans and type II collagen. Short tandem repeat analysis showed the regenerative tissue only contained patient‐own DNA. These findings support the novel insight that the use of allogeneic MSCs is safe and opens opportunities for other applications. Stem cell‐induced paracrine mechanisms may play an important role in the chondrogenesis and successful tissue regeneration found. Stem Cells 2017;35:256–264
Overview of the IMPACT therapy. During a mini‐arthrotomy cartilage is acquired form the debrided rim of the treated cartilage (a). The previously deemed waste cartilage is minced into small pieces of approximately 1 × 1 × 1 mm and transferred to a tube containing the digestion medium (b). During 40 minutes the cubical cartilage pieces are digested, releasing the chondrons (c). After washing the chondrons they are combined with the human allogeneic MSCs (d). The cell product containing the defect derived autologous chondrons and allogeneic MSCs is resuspended in the fibrin glue (e). The surgeon will apply the cell loaded fibrin glue to the debrided isolated cartilage defect (f). See http://youtu.be/CbZQ18Bvvtw for a video demonstration. Patients were followed for 18 months after treatment and were subjected to a rehabilitation program. No treatment‐related adverse events were found and all patients showed statistically significant clinical improvement.
Seaweed is a popular edible source and is associated with many foods and pharmaceutical industries around the world. The current research aims to provide information on the chemical composition of 15 ...seaweed species, consisted of Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta/Phaeophyceae, and Rhodophyta macroalgae, collected from coastal areas of Sri Lanka. Seaweed samples were subjected to the analysis of lipids, proteins, ash and macro, micro, trace and ultra-trace elements. The highest protein content was recorded in the brown algae. Maximum dietary fiber and ash contents were recorded from green algae. The highest predominant fatty acids were observed from green seaweeds (Caulerpa racemosa); however, linoleic acid (C18:2n6) is the dominant fatty acid of all macroalgae. Mineral contents were highest in the red macroalga; however, copper, zinc and magnesium were also comparatively higher in green alga Ulva lactuca. In conclusion, 15 seaweed species belonging to the three different classes of seaweeds are investigated in details to obtain their biochemical, mineral and fatty acid compositions for the synthesis of novel therapeutic agents. In order to explore biorefinery processes for these seaweeds, as well as how they can potentially be cultivated, more extensive studies are required. Studying and determining the nutritional values of seaweeds will be beneficial with the potentials for future industrial uses and research.
Various human activities – including agriculture, water consumption, river damming, and aquaculture – have intensified over the last century. This has had a major impact on nitrogen (N) and ...phosphorus (P) cycling in global continental waters. In this study, we use a coupled nutrient-input–hydrology–in-stream nutrient retention model to quantitatively track the changes in the global freshwater N and P cycles over the 20th century. Our results suggest that, during this period, the global nutrient delivery to streams increased from 34 to 64 Tg N yr−1 and from 5 to 9 Tg P yr−1. Furthermore, in-stream retention and removal grew from 14 to 27 Tg N yr−1 and 3 to 5 Tg P yr−1. One of the major causes of increased retention is the growing number of reservoirs, which now account for 24 and 22 % of global N and P retention/removal in freshwater systems, respectively. This increase in nutrient retention could not balance the increase in nutrient delivery to rivers with the consequence that river nutrient transport to the ocean increased from 19 to 37 Tg N yr−1 and from 2 to 4 Tg P yr−1. Human activities have also led to a global increase in the molar N : P ratio in freshwater bodies.
Freshwater salinisation is a growing problem, yet cross-regional assessments of freshwater salinity status and the impact of agricultural and other sectoral uses are lacking. Here, we assess inland ...freshwater salinity patterns and evaluate its interactions with irrigation water use, across seven regional river basins (401 river sub-basins) around the world, using long-term (1980-2010) salinity observations. While a limited number of sub-basins show persistent salinity problems, many sub-basins temporarily exceeded safe irrigation water-use thresholds and 57% experience increasing salinisation trends. We further investigate the role of agricultural activities as drivers of salinisation and find common contributions of irrigation-specific activities (irrigation water withdrawals, return flows and irrigated area) in sub-basins of high salinity levels and increasing salinisation trends, compared to regions without salinity issues. Our results stress the need for considering these irrigation-specific drivers when developing management strategies and as a key human component in water quality modelling and assessment.
Soft actuators allowing multifunctional, multishape deformations based on single polymer films or bilayers remain challenging to produce. In this contribution, direct ink writing is used for ...generating patterned actuators, which are in between single- and bilayer films, with multifunctionality and a plurality of possible shape changes in a single object. The key is to use the controlled deposition of a light-responsive liquid crystal ink with direct ink writing to partially cover a foil at strategic locations. We found patterned films with 40% coverage of the passive substrate by an active material outperformed “standard” fully covered bilayers. By patterning the film as two stripes, a range of motions, including left- and right-handed twisting and bending in orthogonal directions, could be controllably induced in the same actuator. The partial coverage also left space for applying liquid crystal inks with other functionalities, exemplified by fabricating a light-responsive green reflective actuator whose reflection can be switched “on” and “off”. The results presented here serve as a toolbox for the design and fabrication of patterned actuators with dramatically expanded shape deformation and functionality capabilities.
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