One of the main limitations to the Pt-therapy in cancer is the development of associated drug resistance that can be associated with a significant reduction of the intracellular platinum ...concentration. Thus, intracellular Pt concentration could be considered as a biomarker of cisplatin resistance. In this work, an alternative method to address intracellular Pt concentration in individual cells is explored to permit the evaluation of different cell models and alternative therapies in a relatively fast way. For this aim, total Pt analysis in single cells has been implemented using a total consumption nebulizer coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection (ICP-MS). The efficiency of the proposed device has been evaluated in combination with flow cytometry and turned out to be around 25% (cells entering the ICP-MS from the cells in suspension). Quantitative uptake studies of a nontoxic Tb-containing compound by individual cells were conducted and the results compared to those obtained by bulk analysis of the same cells. Both sets of data were statistically comparable. Thus, final application of the developed methodology to the comparative uptake of Pt-species in cisplatin resistant and sensitive cell lines (A2780cis and A2780) was conducted. The results obtained revealed the potential of this analytical strategy to differentiate between different cell lines of different sensitivity to the drug which might be of high medical interest.
The movement of lithium ions into and out of electrodes is central to the operation of lithium-ion batteries. Although this process has been extensively studied at the device level, it remains ...insufficiently characterized at the nanoscale level of grain clusters, single grains and defects. Here, we probe the spatial variation of lithium-ion diffusion times in the battery-cathode material LiCoO(2) at a resolution of ∼100 nm by using an atomic force microscope to both redistribute lithium ions and measure the resulting cathode deformation. The relationship between diffusion and single grains and grain boundaries is observed, revealing that the diffusion coefficient increases for certain grain orientations and single-grain boundaries. This knowledge provides feedback to improve understanding of the nanoscale mechanisms underpinning lithium-ion battery operation.
Optical channels, such as fibres or free-space links, are ubiquitous in today's telecommunication networks. They rely on the electromagnetic field associated with photons to carry information from ...one point to another in space. A complete physical model of these channels must necessarily take quantum effects into account to determine their ultimate performances. Single-mode, phase-insensitive bosonic Gaussian channels have been extensively studied over past decades, given their importance for practical applications. In spite of this, a long-standing unsolved conjecture on the optimality of Gaussian encodings has prevented finding their classical communication capacity. Here, this conjecture is solved by proving that the vacuum state achieves the minimum output entropy of these channels. This establishes the ultimate achievable bit rate under an energy constraint, as well as the long awaited proof that the single-letter classical capacity of these channels is additive.
Stem cell therapies are limited by poor cell survival and engraftment. A hurdle to the use of materials for cell delivery is the lack of understanding of material properties that govern transplanted ...stem cell functionality. Here, we show that synthetic hydrogels presenting integrin-specific peptides enhance the survival, persistence, and osteo-reparative functions of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) transplanted in murine bone defects. Integrin-specific hydrogels regulate hMSC adhesion, paracrine signaling, and osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. Hydrogels presenting GFOGER, a peptide targeting α2β1 integrin, prolong hMSC survival and engraftment in a segmental bone defect and result in improved bone repair compared to other peptides. Integrin-specific hydrogels have diverse pleiotropic effects on hMSC reparative activities, modulating in vitro cytokine secretion and in vivo gene expression for effectors associated with inflammation, vascularization, and bone formation. These results demonstrate that integrin-specific hydrogels improve tissue healing by directing hMSC survival, engraftment, and reparative activities.
Abstract
Dark magnetic spots crossing the stellar disk lead to quasiperiodic brightness variations, which allow us to constrain stellar surface rotation and photometric activity. The current work is ...the second of this series, where we analyze the Kepler long-cadence data of 132,921 main-sequence F and G stars and late subgiant stars. Rotation-period candidates are obtained by combining wavelet analysis with autocorrelation function. Reliable rotation periods are then selected via a machine-learning (ML) algorithm, automatic selection, and complementary visual inspection. The ML training data set comprises 26,521 main-sequence K and M stars from Paper I. To supplement the training, we analyze in the same way as Paper I, i.e., automatic selection and visual inspection, 34,100 additional stars. We finally provide rotation periods
P
rot
and associated photometric activity proxy
S
ph
for 39,592 targets. Hotter stars are generally faster rotators than cooler stars. For main-sequence G stars,
S
ph
spans a wider range of values with increasing effective temperature, while F stars tend to have smaller
S
ph
values in comparison with cooler stars. Overall for G stars, fast rotators are photometrically more active than slow rotators, with
S
ph
saturating at short periods. The combined outcome of the two papers accounts for average
P
rot
and
S
ph
values for 55,232 main-sequence and subgiant FGKM stars (out of 159,442 targets), with 24,182 new
P
rot
detections in comparison with McQuillan et al. The upper edge of the
P
rot
distribution is located at longer
P
rot
than found previously.
Although epidemiological studies have investigated associations between occupational pesticide exposures and different adverse health outcomes, they have rarely assessed individuals at two ...time-points of a same crop season with different pesticide use.
Clinical symptoms, physical examination signs, hematological and clinical chemistry parameters were measured in 189 intensive agriculture workers and 91 healthy control subjects from Almeria coastline (Southeastern Spain) to evaluate potential effects of pesticide exposure.
Greenhouse workers showed an increased risk of ocular and skin signs relative to controls at the period of high pesticide exposure (OR: 4.80 and 2.87, respectively); however, no differences were observed for clinical symptoms. A greater risk for ECG changes (OR: 3.35) and altered spirometry (OR: 5.02) was found at the period of low exposure. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase was significantly decreased in greenhouse workers relative to controls in both periods. Assessment of hematological parameters revealed increased counts of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets and hemoglobin in greenhouse workers relative to controls, and also in the period of high versus low pesticide exposure. Changes in clinical chemistry parameters included decreased levels of glucose, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride and alkaline phosphatase in greenhouse workers relative to controls; however, these parameters were raised in the period of high versus low pesticide exposure.
These findings suggest that chronic occupational exposure to pesticides of lower toxicity than former compounds under integrated production systems elicit mild toxic effects, particularly targeting the skin and eyes, as well as subtle subclinical (biochemical) changes of unknown long-term consequences.
Context. The space mission Kepler provides us with long and uninterrupted photometric time series of red giants. We are now able to probe the rotational behaviour in their deep interiors using the ...observations of mixed modes. Aims. We aim to measure the rotational splittings in red giants and to derive scaling relations for rotation related to seismic and fundamental stellar parameters. Methods. We have developed a dedicated method for automated measurements of the rotational splittings in a large number of red giants. Ensemble asteroseismology, namely the examination of a large number of red giants at different stages of their evolution, allows us to derive global information on stellar evolution. Results. We have measured rotational splittings in a sample of about 300 red giants. We have also shown that these splittings are dominated by the core rotation. Under the assumption that a linear analysis can provide the rotational splitting, we observe a small increase of the core rotation of stars ascending the red giant branch. Alternatively, an important slow down is observed for red-clump stars compared to the red giant branch. We also show that, at fixed stellar radius, the specific angular momentum increases with increasing stellar mass. Conclusions. Ensemble asteroseismology indicates what has been indirectly suspected for a while: our interpretation of the observed rotational splittings leads to the conclusion that the mean core rotation significantly slows down during the red giant phase. The slow-down occurs in the last stages of the red giant branch. This spinning down explains, for instance, the long rotation periods measured in white dwarfs.
A systematic experimental study of lithium‐ion battery porous electrode microstructures using synchrotron X‐ray tomographic microscopy finds particle shape and fabrication‐induced alignment to cause ...tortuosity anisotropy, which can impact battery performance. Tortuosity anisotropy is demonstrated to be easily predicted based on simple electron microscopy assessment of particle shapes and the differential effective medium approximation.
Materials engineered to elicit targeted cellular responses in regenerative medicine must display bioligands with precise spatial and temporal control. Although materials with temporally regulated ...presentation of bioadhesive ligands using external triggers, such as light and electric fields, have recently been realized for cells in culture, the impact of in vivo temporal ligand presentation on cell-material responses is unknown. Here, we present a general strategy to temporally and spatially control the in vivo presentation of bioligands using cell-adhesive peptides with a protecting group that can be easily removed via transdermal light exposure to render the peptide fully active. We demonstrate that non-invasive, transdermal time-regulated activation of cell-adhesive RGD peptide on implanted biomaterials regulates in vivo cell adhesion, inflammation, fibrous encapsulation, and vascularization of the material. This work shows that triggered in vivo presentation of bioligands can be harnessed to direct tissue reparative responses associated with implanted biomaterials.
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