Extracellular vesicles (including the subclass exosomes) secreted by cells contain specific proteins and RNA that could be of interest in determining new markers. Isolation/characterization of ...PCa‐derived exosomes from bodily fluids enables us to discover new markers for this disease. Unfortunately, isolation with current techniques (ultracentrifugation) is labor intensive and other techniques are still under development. The goal of our study was to develop a highly sensitive time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TR‐FIA) for capture/detection of PCa‐derived exosomes. In our assay, biotinylated capture antibodies against human CD9 or CD63 were incubated on streptavidin‐coated wells. After application of exosomes, Europium‐labeled detection antibodies (CD9 or CD63) were added. Cell medium from 37 cell lines was taken to validate this TR‐FIA. Urine was collected (after digital rectal exam) from patients with PCa (n = 67), men without PCa (n = 76). As a control, urine was collected from men after radical prostatectomy (n = 13), women (n = 16) and patients with prostate cancer without digital rectal exam (n = 16). Signal intensities were corrected for urinary PSA and creatinine. This TR‐FIA can measure purified exosomes with high sensitivity and minimal background signals. Exosomes can be measured in medium from 37 cell lines and in urine. DRE resulted in a pronounced increase in CD63 signals. After DRE and correction for urinary PSA, CD9 and CD63 were significantly higher in men with PCa. This TR‐FIA enabled us to measure exosomes with high sensitivity directly from urine and cell medium. This TR‐FIA forms the basis for testing different antibodies directed against exosome membrane markers to generate disease‐specific detection assays.
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The vesicles cast off by cancer cells could serve as billboards advertising the cancer's presence – if we knew how to read them. Detecting markers in prostate cancer vesicles is currently labor intensive. These authors set out to change that, by developing an immunoaffinity technique to expose these cellular markers more easily. Using the assay, they detected two cell surface proteins, CD9 and CD63, in the urine of men who had prostate cancer. They found far less of the markers in men without cancer, men without prostates, and women, suggesting CD9 and CD63 could be useful prostate cancer markers.
The increasing amount of global waste reflects the social, environmental, and economic trajectories of the local environment. This study addresses this multifaceted problem that requires a holistic ...view with an ecosystem-level perspective on waste. The research objective is to analyze how the waste business ecosystem enables value capture and creation. Thus, this study contributes to the literature by using a business ecosystem approach that acknowledges several stakeholders, value networks, and the social and environmental issues of the local environment. We qualitatively examine the structure and process of value capture in the waste business ecosystem in two different environments, Finland and Sao Paulo metropolitan area, Brazil. We identify the key stakeholders and their roles, as well as contrast the waste business ecosystem between a developing country and a developed country to unveil differences in value networks. The comparative qualitative case study described relies on the interview and observation of multiple stakeholders. Theoretically, this research builds on the business ecosystem literature, value capture and creation literature, and the extant literature on waste business management. As its key result, the study maps two different ecosystems and their value creation and value capture mechanisms. The findings show that notwithstanding the strong role of regulators in both local environments and their business ecosystems, some private companies engage in value capture. However, the process and structure of the value capture differ in the two case studies. We also found that the stakeholders and their roles in the value capture structure and process vary between these two local environments and with regard to collaboration for value creation. In Finland, ecosystem-level value creation is not rare, but in the Sao Paulo metropolitan area, business models are typically single-firm-centric in terms of value creation and capture. The results presented in this paper delineate and structure the waste business ecosystems in both local environments and provide implications for stakeholders by suggesting the value capture trajectories that can be reached. Finally, fruitful avenues for further research are discussed.
•Describes the waste management business ecosystems in Finland and Sao Paulo.•Provides implications for stakeholders by suggesting the value capture trajectories.•Visualizations of waste business ecosystems are presented.•Discusses stakeholder's role in value capture.
Secondary bacterial pneumonia is a common cause of death during influenza epidemics. We hypothesized that virus-specific factors could contribute to differences in annual excess mortality. ...Recombinant influenza viruses with neuraminidases from representative strains from the past 50 years were created and characterized. The specific level of their neuraminidase activity correlated with their ability to support secondary bacterial pneumonia. Recombinant viruses with neuraminidases from 1957 and 1997 influenza strains had the highest level of activity, whereas a virus with the neuraminidase from a 1968 strain had the lowest level of activity. The high level of activity of the neuraminidase from the 1957 strain, compared with that of other neuraminidases, more strongly supported the adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the development of secondary bacterial pneumonia in a mouse model. These data lend support to our hypothesis that the influenza virus neuraminidase contributes to secondary bacterial pneumonia and subsequent excess mortality
The design, integration, testing and launch of the first Finnish satellite Aalto-1 is briefly presented in this paper. Aalto-1, a three-unit CubeSat, launched into Sun-synchronous polar orbit at an ...altitude of approximately 500 km, is operational since June 2017. It carries three experimental payloads: Aalto Spectral Imager(AaSI), Radiation Monitor (RADMON) and Electrostatic Plasma Brake (EPB). AaSI is a hyperspectral imager in visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelength bands, RADMON is an energetic particle detector and EPB is a de-orbiting technology demonstration payload. The platform was designed to accommodate multiple payloads while ensuring sufficient data, power, radio, mechanical and electrical interfaces. The design strategy of platform and payload subsystems consists of in-house development and commercial subsystems. The CubeSat Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) followed Flatsat-Engineering-Qualication Model (EQM)-Flight Model (FM) model philosophy for qualification and acceptance.
The paper briefly describes the design approach of platform and payload subsystems, their integration and test campaigns and spacecraft launch. The paper also describes the ground segment & services that were developed by Aalto-1 team.
•The design and development of multi-payload CubeSat, Aalto 1.•The miniaturized hyperspectral imager based on piezo-actuated tunable FPI.•The de-orbiting payload consisting of coulomb drag force.•The miniaturized low power radiation monitor.•The platform design approach consisting of inhouse development and commercial subsystems.
Viral-bacterial coinfections in humans are well-documented. Viral infections often lead to bacterial superinfections. In vitro and animal models for influenza, as well as molecular microbiology study ...of viruses and bacteria, provide an understanding of the mechanisms that explain how respiratory viruses and bacteria combine to cause disease. This article focuses on viral and bacterial combinations, particularly synergism between influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Potential mechanisms for synergism between viruses and bacteria include: virus destruction of respiratory epithelium may increase bacterial adhesion; virus-induced immunosuppression may cause bacterial superinfections; and inflammatory response to viral infection may up-regulate expression of molecules that bacteria utilize as receptors. Influenza and parainfluenza viruses possess neuraminidase (NA) activity, which appears to increase bacterial adherence after viral preincubation. Experimental studies demonstrate that viral NA exposes pneumococcal receptors on host cells by removing terminal sialic acids. Other studies show that inhibition of viral NA activity reduces adherence and invasion of S. pneumoniae, independently of effects on viral replication. Clinical studies reveal that influenza vaccination reduces the incidence of secondary bacterial respiratory tract infections.
Detection of viral factors (e.g. high NA activity) that increase the likely potential of epidemic/pandemic influenza strains for causing morbidity and mortality from secondary bacterial infections provides new possibilities for intervention. Additional study is needed to identify the mechanisms for the development of bacterial complications after infections with respiratory syncytial virus and other important respiratory viruses that lack NA activity. Prevention of bacterial superinfection is likely to depend on effective antiviral measures.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of otitis media, sinusitis, and pneumonia. Many of these infections result from antecedent influenza virus infections. In this study we sought to ...determine whether the frequency and character of secondary pneumococcal infections differed depending on the strain of influenza virus that preceded bacterial challenge. In young ferrets infected with influenza virus and then challenged with pneumococcus, influenza viruses of any subtype increased bacterial colonization of the nasopharynx. Nine out of 10 ferrets infected with H3N2 subtype influenza A viruses developed either sinusitis or otitis media, while only 1 out of 11 ferrets infected with either an H1N1 influenza A virus or an influenza B virus did so. These data may partially explain why bacterial complication rates are higher during seasons when H3N2 viruses predominate. This animal model will be useful for further study of the mechanisms that underlie viral-bacterial synergism.
Active edge p-on-p silicon pixel detectors with thickness of 100μm were fabricated on 150mm float zone silicon wafers at VTT. By combining measured results and TCAD simulations, a detailed study of ...electric field distributions and charge collection performances as a function of applied voltage in a p-on-p detector was carried out. A comparison with the results of a more conventional active edge p-on-n pixel sensor is presented. The results from 3D spatial mapping show that at pixel-to-edge distances less than 100μm the sensitive volume is extended to the physical edge of the detector when the applied voltage is above full depletion. The results from a spectroscopic measurement demonstrate a good functionality of the edge pixels. The interpixel isolation above full depletion and the breakdown voltage were found to be equal to the p-on-n sensor while lower charge collection was observed in the p-on-p pixel sensor below 80V. Simulations indicated this to be partly a result of a more favourable weighting field in the p-on-n sensor and partly of lower hole lifetimes in the p-bulk.
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