Recent progress in electronic skin or e‐skin research is broadly reviewed, focusing on technologies needed in three main applications: skin‐attachable electronics, robotics, and prosthetics. First, ...since e‐skin will be exposed to prolonged stresses of various kinds and needs to be conformally adhered to irregularly shaped surfaces, materials with intrinsic stretchability and self‐healing properties are of great importance. Second, tactile sensing capability such as the detection of pressure, strain, slip, force vector, and temperature are important for health monitoring in skin attachable devices, and to enable object manipulation and detection of surrounding environment for robotics and prosthetics. For skin attachable devices, chemical and electrophysiological sensing and wireless signal communication are of high significance to fully gauge the state of health of users and to ensure user comfort. For robotics and prosthetics, large‐area integration on 3D surfaces in a facile and scalable manner is critical. Furthermore, new signal processing strategies using neuromorphic devices are needed to efficiently process tactile information in a parallel and low power manner. For prosthetics, neural interfacing electrodes are of high importance. These topics are discussed, focusing on progress, current challenges, and future prospects.
Recent progress in electronic skin research is broadly reviewed, focusing on the technologies required in the following three applications: skin‐attachable electronics, robotics, and prosthetics. Topics such as stretchability, self‐healing, biocompatibility, tactile sensing, chemical and electrophysiological sensing, wireless communication, large‐area integration, neuromorphic signal processing, and neural interfaces are discussed.
Exosomal noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have unique expression profiles reflecting the characteristics of a tumor, and their role in tumor progression and metastasis is emerging. However, the significance ...of circulating exosomal ncRNAs in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be elucidated. We therefore determined the prognostic significance of circulating exosomal ncRNAs (miRNA‐21 and lncRNA‐ATB) for human HCC. This prospective study enrolled 79 HCC patients between October 2014 and September 2015. Exosomes were extracted from serum samples using the ExoQuick Exosome Precipitation Solution. To validate the isolation of the exosomes from serum, immunoblotting for exosome markers and characterization of nanoparticle using NanoSight were performed. NcRNAs were isolated from exosomes using the miRNeasy serum/plasma micro kit. Both circulating exosomal miRNA‐21 and lncRNA‐ATB were related to TNM stage and other prognostic factors, including the T stage and portal vein thrombosis. Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression test identified that both higher miRNA‐21 and higher lncRNA‐ATB were independent predictors of mortality and disease progression, along with larger tumor size and higher C‐reactive protein (all p < 0.05). The overall survival and progression‐free survival were significantly lower in patients with higher circulating levels of exosomal miRNA‐21 (≥0.09) and lncRNA‐ATB (≥0.0016) (log‐rank test: p < 0.05). In conclusion, our study has provided strong evidence that circulating exosomal ncRNAs (miRNA‐21 and lncRNA‐ATB) are novel prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for HCC.
What's new?
A growing body of evidence indicates that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as miRNAs and lncRNAs, play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. Could particular ncRNAs also serve as serum biomarkers for cancer prognosis? In our study, the authors found that two specific ncRNAs in circulating exosomes were independent predictors of overall survival and disease progression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These molecules might therefore provide valuable biomarkers to improve the clinical management of HCC, as well as potential therapeutic targets.
Methyl bromide (MB) is a fumigant that has been widely used for killing pests on plants in trade, soils, and structures worldwide due to its excellent permeability and insecticidal effect; however, ...MB should be replaced because it is an ozone-depleting substance. It is well-known that MB is highly toxic and hazardous to workers, but the effects of exposure in asymptomatic workers have not been explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of MB fumigation on the health of fumigators at a sensitive level. The electroencephalogram (EEG) and urinary bromide ion levels of 44 fumigators (the study group) and 20 inspectors (the control) were measured before and after fumigation work from February to August 2019 in Busan, Korea. The mean post-work concentration of bromide ion (18.311 mug/mg CRE) in the fumigators was significantly increased from the pre-work level (7.390 mug/mg CRE) (P<0.001). The fumigator post-work median frequencies (MDF) and alpha-to-theta ratios (ATR) of EEG index were significantly decreased compared to the pre-work values (P<0.05 for all indices). In contrast, there were no significant differences in inspector EEG indices and urinary bromide ion. The urinary bromide ion levels in all the subjects were negatively correlated with MDF (P = 0.032). In conclusion, fumigators' EEG indices and urinary bromide ion suggested that occupational exposure to MB negatively affected the health of workers, although the workers were asymptomatic.
The rapid decline of a few Emberiza bunting species is increasing conservation concerns, especially in Asia. However, temporal changes in communities and populations of buntings, ones of the most ...common migratory songbirds in Korea, have not been quantitatively assessed. To understand how the status of buntings has changed over the past 100 years, we collated abundance data from museum collections and bird-banding records between 1910 and 2019. We also used presence-absence data for buntings collected by a nationwide census scheme between 1997 to 2012. Our analysis showed that bunting communities reconstructed from museum-specimen and bird-banding data were not significantly different; however, community composition differed over time. The Meadow (E. cioides), Yellow-throated (E. elegans), Black-faced (E. spodocephala), Rustic (E. rustica) and Chestnut Buntings (E. rutila), which are still common or were once common species, significantly affected the temporal changes in bunting community composition. There were no recent changes in the presence of Rustic and Chestnut Buntings since 1997, but they caused medium-term changes in the bunting community composition, suggesting that there was a sharp to moderate decline in their numbers in the past. The probability of the presence of six bunting species decreased annually, with the most prominent decline in two common breeders, the Meadow (-2.99%/year) and Yellow-throated Buntings (-1.82%/year). This finding suggests that breeding buntings in Korea are under high pressure, as are the migratory buntings. Moreover, despite its recent population decline, the Yellow-throated Bunting was still a major contributor to the community, suggesting that bunting diversity has also been deteriorating while bunting populations are shrinking. Long-term monitoring schemes across their distribution ranges, international cooperation for identifying major threats and key areas of conservation, and law enforcement against illegal hunting and habitat loss are strongly required to mitigate the on-going decline of buntings in Korea and Asia.
Pixelating patterns of red, green, and blue quantum dots (QDs) is a critical challenge for realizing high‐end displays with bright and vivid images for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. Since ...QDs must be processed from a solution, their patterning process is completely different from the conventional techniques used in the organic light‐emitting diode and liquid crystal display industries. Although innovative QD patterning technologies are being developed, photopatterning based on the light‐induced chemical conversion of QD films is considered one of the most promising methods for forming micrometer‐scale QD patterns that satisfy the precision and fidelity required for commercialization. Moreover, the practical impact will be significant as it directly exploits mature photolithography technologies and facilities that are widely available in the semiconductor industry. This article reviews recent progress in the effort to form QD patterns via photolithography. The review begins with a general description of the photolithography process. Subsequently, different types of photolithographical methods applicable to QD patterning are introduced, followed by recent achievements using these methods in forming high‐resolution QD patterns. The paper also discusses prospects for future research directions.
Quantum dots (QDs) are used as promising materials for next‐generation displays due to their excellent electrical/optical properties. Strategies for patterning QDs via photolithography (conventional photolithography, lift off process, and direct photolithography) are comprehensively reviewed. This review also discusses the prospects for patterned QDs in terms of their structural and physical properties.
Tumor initiating cells (TICs) have been implicated in clinical relapse and metastasis of a variety of epithelial cancers, including lung cancer. While efforts toward the development of specific ...probes for TIC detection and targeting are ongoing, a universal TIC probe has yet to be developed. We report the first TIC‐specific fluorescent chemical probe, TiY, with identification of the molecular target as vimentin, a marker for epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). TiY selectively stains TICs over differentiated tumor cells or normal cells, and facilitates the visualization and enrichment of functionally active TICs from patient tumors. At high concentration, TiY also shows anti‐TIC activity with low toxicity to non‐TICs. With the unexplored target vimentin, TiY shows potential as a first universal probe for TIC detection in different cancers.
What makes tumors TIC? The first tumor initiating cell (TIC)‐selective probe, TiY, was developed, with vimentin as the molecular target. TiY facilitates the visualization and enrichment of functionally active TICs from patient‐derived tumors and all of the tested cancer cell lines. Furthermore, TiY showed anti‐TIC activity at high concentrations.
Since the discovery of stem cells and multipotency characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), there has been tremendous development in regenerative medicine. MSCs derived from bone marrow have ...been widely used in various research applications, yet there are limitations such as invasiveness of obtaining samples, low yield and proliferation rate, and questions regarding their practicality in clinical applications. Some have suggested that MSCs from other sources, specifically those derived from palatine tonsil tissues, that is, tonsil‐derived MSCs (TMSCs), could be considered as a new potential therapeutic tool in regenerative medicine due to their superior proliferation rate and differentiation capabilities with low immunogenicity and ease of obtaining. Several studies have determined that TMSCs have differentiation potential not only into the mesodermal lineage but also into the endodermal as well as ectodermal lineages, expanding their potential usage and placing them as an appealing option to consider for future studies in regenerative medicine. In this review, the differentiation capacities of TMSCs and their therapeutic competencies from past studies are addressed. Stem Cells 2019;37:1252–1260
Schematic illustration of lineage differentiation of tonsil‐derived mesenchymal stem cells.
In the adult hippocampus, synapses are constantly formed and eliminated
. However, the exact function of synapse elimination in the adult brain, and how it is regulated, are largely unknown. Here we ...show that astrocytic phagocytosis
is important for maintaining proper hippocampal synaptic connectivity and plasticity. By using fluorescent phagocytosis reporters, we find that excitatory and inhibitory synapses are eliminated by glial phagocytosis in the CA1 region of the adult mouse hippocampus. Unexpectedly, we found that astrocytes have a major role in the neuronal activity-dependent elimination of excitatory synapses. Furthermore, mice in which astrocytes lack the phagocytic receptor MEGF10 show a reduction in the elimination of excitatory synapses; as a result, excessive but functionally impaired synapses accumulate. Finally, Megf10-knockout mice show defective long-term synaptic plasticity and impaired formation of hippocampal memories. Together, our data provide strong evidence that astrocytes eliminate unnecessary excitatory synaptic connections in the adult hippocampus through MEGF10, and that this astrocytic function is crucial for maintaining circuit connectivity and thereby supporting cognitive function.
The hippocampus is vulnerable to uncontrollable stress and is enriched with oxytocin receptors, but their interactive influences on hippocampal functioning are unknown. This study aimed to determine ...the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration on stress-induced alterations in synaptic plasticity and spatial memory in male rats. While vehicle-administered stressed rats showed impairment in long-term potentiation, enhancement in long-term depression, and weakened spatial memory, these changes were not observed in oxytocin-administered stressed rats. To reveal the potential signaling mechanism mediating these effects, levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK) in the hippocampus was examined. Western blotting showed that oxytocin treatment blocked stress-induced alterations of pERK. Additionally, the oxytocin receptor antagonist L-368,899 inhibited the oxytocin's protective effects on hippocampal memory to stress. Thus, intranasal administration of oxytocin reduced stress effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory in rats via acting on oxytocin receptors and regulating ERK activity. This study suggests that exogenous oxytocin may be a therapeutically effective means to counter the detrimental neurocognitive effects of stress.
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•CFS were manufactured using recycled CF with TPU lamination for in vitro research.•CFS heating device has stable thermal performance compared to conventional CP.•FIR-CFS did not ...exhibit cytotoxicity under most of the tested conditions.•FIR-CFS induces the osteogenesis of TMSCs, independent of its thermal effects.•FIR-CFS has the potential to alleviate symptoms of osteoporosis.
Far-infrared (FIR) therapy has been extensively studied because of its numerous benefits in improving human health. A planar heating element device was designed to assess the in vitro efficacy of FIR therapy by using a flexible carbon fiber composite sheet (CFS) with versatile designs and shapes. The physical properties were optimized for in vitro assays, and low hygroscopicity and stable thermal performance were obtained through thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) lamination. The CFS evenly released FIR at temperatures ranging from 25 to 80 °C. There was no significant effect on cell viability under most conditions. However, the FIR emitted from the CFS at 70 and 80 °C for 2 h increased apoptotic cell death. The FIR irradiation between 60 and 80 °C for 1 h or less effectively induced osteogenesis of the tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) without inducing cytotoxicity. The most significant osteogenic induction occurred at 60 and 70 °C, as evidenced by increased calcium mineralization and osteogenic markers. This study demonstrated that CFS efficiently generates the FIR, which induces the osteogenicity of TMSCs at a non-cytotoxic level, suggesting the potential applicability of the CFS device for treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
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