Infrastructure in animal husbandry refers to fundamental facilities and services necessary for better living conditions of animals and its economy to function through better productivity. Mainly, ...infrastructure can be divided into two categories: hard infrastructure and soft infrastructure. Physical infrastructure, such as buildings, roads, and water supplying systems, belongs to hard infrastructure. Soft infrastructure includes services which are required to maintain economic, health, cultural and social standards of animal husbandry. Therefore, the proper management of infrastructure in animal husbandry is necessary for animal welfare and its economy. Among various technologies to improve the quality of infrastructure, non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology is an effectively applicable technology in different stages of animal husbandry. NTP is mainly helpful in maintaining better health conditions of animals in several ways via decontamination from microorganisms present in air, water, food, instruments and surfaces of animal farming systems. Furthermore, NTP is used in the treatment of waste water, vaccine production, wound healing in animals, odor-free ventilation, and packaging of animal food or animal products. This review summarizes the recent studies of NTP which can be related to the infrastructure in animal husbandry.
Abstract Flexible electronics offer a multitude of advantages, such as flexibility, lightweight property, portability, and high durability. These unique properties allow for seamless applications to ...curved and soft surfaces, leading to extensive utilization across a wide range of fields in consumer electronics. These applications, for example, span integrated circuits, solar cells, batteries, wearable devices, bio-implants, soft robotics, and biomimetic applications. Recently, flexible electronic devices have been developed using a variety of materials such as organic, carbon-based, and inorganic semiconducting materials. Silicon (Si) owing to its mature fabrication process, excellent electrical, optical, thermal properties, and cost efficiency, remains a compelling material choice for flexible electronics. Consequently, the research on ultra-thin Si in the context of flexible electronics is studied rigorously nowadays. The thinning of Si is crucially important for flexible electronics as it reduces its bending stiffness and the resultant bending strain, thereby enhancing flexibility while preserving its exceptional properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent efforts in the fabrication techniques for forming ultra-thin Si using top-down and bottom-up approaches and explores their utilization in flexible electronics and their applications.
Highlights Flexible silicon manufacturing techniques are categorized into two main approaches: top-down and bottom-up depending on the process sequence. The top-down approach is a method of producing the bulk silicon wafer by scaling down it into nano/micro-sized structures. The bottom-up approach is a method of creating an intricate structure through precise control of small-scale atoms and molecules. Flexible silicon maintains the advantages of the bulk silicon such as electrical properties, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
Abstract Interleukin-17-producing CD4+ T cells (Th17 cells) are the dominant pathogenic cellular component in autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune arthritis. IL-10 promotes the ...generation of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells via the IL-10 receptor signal. The objective of this study was to examine whether IL-10, which acts as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, has a suppressive effect on the activation of human Th17 cells. Expression of IL-17 and IL-10 was examined immunohistochemically in tissue obtained from rheumatoid arthritis patients. Human peripheral blood CD4+ T cells were isolated and cultured under various stimulatory conditions. Th17 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells were detected by flow cytometry. The gene expression of related cytokines and transcription factors were assessed by ELISA and RT-PCR. IL-17 was overexpressed in rheumatoid arthritis patients. IL-10 treatment significantly decreased the numbers of IL-17-producing and RORc-expressing cells among human CD4+ T cells that had been activated in vitro by Th17-differentiating conditions in autoimmune arthritis patients. IL-10 induced Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the human CD4+ T cell population. Our results demonstrate that IL-17 is overexpressed in autoimmune disease patients and that IL-10 suppresses IL-17 expression. IL-10 may be useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Abstract
Photodetectors sensing the short‐wave infrared (SWIR) region have great potential due to their significant advantages in a variety of applications because SWIR light possesses both ...characteristics of visible light and infrared light. Among them, devices using photodetectors to mimic synaptic dynamics and functions have received a great deal of attention due to their capabilities to implement simplified neural systems. However, it is essential to develop synaptic devices that can operate fast with low energy consumption for more efficient implementation of neural systems. Here, a flexible InGaAs synaptic phototransistor with a fast operation speed of under 1 ms and low energy consumption in the atto joule level is developed to femto joule level which is superior to biological synapses (50 ms, 1–100 fJ). By using InGaAs which has high carrier mobility as a channel layer, weak light, and short optical pulse width, fast operation speed in the SWIR region with low energy consumption is obtained. Moreover, the devices demonstrate synaptic behaviors such as “excitatory post synaptic current”, “paired‐pulse facilitation”, “short term plasticity”, “long term plasticity”, and “learning‐experience behavior” as neuro‐synaptic applications. These results provide the possibilities for implementation of complex synaptic functions with fast speed and low power SWIR synaptic phototransistors.
Advanced technologies that can establish intimate, long‐lived functional interfaces with neural systems have attracted increasing interest due to their wide‐ranging applications in neuroscience, ...bioelectronic medicine, and the associated treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. A critical challenge of significance remains in the development of electronic platforms that offer conformal contact with soft brain tissue for the sensing or stimulation of brain activities and chronically stable operation in vivo, at scales that range from cellular‐level resolution to macroscopic areas. This review summarizes recent advances in this field, with an emphasis on the use of demonstrated concepts, constituent materials, engineered designs, and system integration to address the current challenges. The article begins with an overview of recent bioelectronic platforms with unique form factors, ranging from filamentary probes to conformal sheets and three‐dimensional frameworks for alleviating the mechanical mismatch between interface materials and neural tissues. Next, active interfaces which utilize inorganic/organic semiconductor‐enabled devices are reviewed, highlighting various working principles of recording mechanisms including capacitively and conductively coupled sensing enabled by high transistor matrices at high spatiotemporal resolution. The subsequent section presents approaches to biological integration which use active materials for multiplexed addressing, local amplification and multimodal operation with high‐channel‐count and large‐scale electronic systems in a safe fashion that provides multi‐decade stable performance in both animal models and human subjects. The advances summarized in this review will guide the future direction of this technology and provide a basis for next‐generation chronic neural interfaces with long‐lived high‐performance operation.
This review summarizes recent advances in engineered materials, device designs, and integration schemes for neural interfaces which facilitate brain signal recording and stimulation and offer long‐term, stable, high‐channel‐count, and high‐resolution operation. The advances summarized in this review will guide the future direction of this technology and provide a basis for next‐generation chronic neural interfaces with long‐lived high‐performance operations.
Neuroscience is an essential field of investigation that reveals the identity of human beings, with a comprehensive understanding of advanced mental activities, through the study of neurobiological ...structures and functions. Fully understanding the neurotransmission system that allows for connectivity among neuronal circuits has paved the way for the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and depression. The field of flexible implants has attracted increasing interest mainly to overcome the mechanical mismatch between rigid electrode materials and soft neural tissues, enabling precise measurements of neural signals from conformal contact. Here, the current issues of flexible neural implants (chronic device failure, non‐bioresorbable electronics, low‐density electrode arrays, among others are summarized) by presenting material candidates and designs to address each challenge. Furthermore, the latest investigations associated with the aforementioned issues are also introduced, including suggestions for ideal neural implants. In terms of the future direction of these advances, designing flexible devices would provide new opportunities for the study of brain–machine interfaces or brain–computer interfaces as part of locomotion through brain signals, and for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Flexible implants have attracted increasing interest, mainly to overcome the mechanical mismatch between rigid materials and soft neural tissues, enabling precise measurements of neural signals from conformal contact. The current issues of flexible neural implants are summarized by presenting material candidates and designs to address challenges. Furthermore, the latest investigations associated with each issue are also introduced.
The interleukin-33 (IL-33)/ST2 pathway has emerged as an intercellular signaling system that participates in antigen-allergen response, autoimmunity and fibrosis. It has been suggested that IL-33/ST2 ...signaling has been involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), because IL-33 and its receptor have been specifically mapped to RA synovium. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of IL-33 and sST2 in sera and synovial fluids in patients with RA. The serum level of IL-33 was significantly higher in patients with RA (294.9 ± 464.0 pg/mL) than in healthy controls (96.0 ± 236.9 pg/mL, P = 0.002). The synovial fluid level of IL-33 was significantly higher in RA patients than in osteoarthritis patients. The level of serum sST2 was higher in RA patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.042). A significant relationship was found between the levels of IL-33 and IL-1β (r = 0.311, P = 0.005), and IL-33 and IL-6 (r = 0.264, P = 0.017) in 81 RA patients. The levels of IL-33, sST2 and C-reactive protein decreased after conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs treatment in 10 patients with treatment-naïve RA. Conclusively, IL-33 is involved in the pathogenesis of RA and may reflect the degree of inflammation in patients with RA.
Biometric locking systems offer a seamless integration of an individual's physiological characteristics with secure authentication. However, they suffer from limitations such as false positive and ...negative authentication, environmental interference, and varying disadvantages across multiple authentication methods. To address these limitations, this study develops a soft smart biopatch for a continuous cardiac biometric wearable device that can continuously gather novel biometric data from an individual's heart sound for authentication with minimal error (less than 0.5%). The device is designed to be discreet and user‐friendly, and it employs soft biocompatible materials to ensure comfort and ease of use. The patch system incorporates a miniaturized microphone to monitor sounds over long periods and multiple dimensions, enhancing the reliability of the biometric data. Furthermore, the use of machine‐learning algorithms has enabled the creation of unique identification keys for individuals based on the continuous monitoring properties of the low‐cost device. These advantages make it more effective and efficient than traditional biometric systems, with the potential to enhance the security of mobile devices and door locks.
The development of a novel biometric locking system using a continuous cardiac biometric wearable device designed for secure and efficient authentication is studied. The patch enhances data reliability and user comfort by combining microfabricated microphone technology, machine‐learning algorithms, and soft biocompatible materials. The application potential spans from mobile device security to door locks.
Recent advances in sensors and electronics have enabled electrooculogram (EOG) detection systems for capturing eye movements. However, EOG signals are susceptible to the sensor's skin‐contact ...quality, limiting the precise detection of eye angles and gaze. Herein, a two‐camera eye‐tracking system and a data classification method for persistent human–machine interfaces (HMIs) are introduced. Machine‐learning technology is used for a continuous real‐time classification of gaze and eye directions, to precisely control a robotic arm. In addition, a deep‐learning algorithm for classifying eye directions is developed and the pupil center‐corneal reflection method of an eye tracker for gaze tracking is utilized. A supervisory control and data acquisition architecture that can be universally applied to any screen‐based HMI task are used by the system. It is shown in the study that the classification algorithm using deep learning enables exceptional accuracy (99.99%) with the number of actions per command (≥64), the highest performance compared to other HMI systems. Demonstrating real‐time control of a robotic arm captures the unique advantages of the precise eye‐tracking system for playing chess and manipulating dice. Overall, this paper shows the HMI system's potential for remote control of surgery robots, warehouse systems, and construction tools.
Herein, a persistent human–machine interface to control robotic arms via gaze and eye direction tracking is presented.
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is attracting attention as a next-generation cancer treatment that can selectively destroy malignant tissues, exhibit fewer side effects, and lack pain during ...treatments. Implantable PDT systems have recently been developed to resolve the issues of bulky and expensive conventional PDT systems and to implement continuous and repetitive treatment. Existing implantable PDT systems, however, are not able to perform multiple functions simultaneously, such as modulating light intensity, measuring, and transmitting tumor-related data, resulting in the complexity of cancer treatment. Here, we introduce a flexible and fully implantable wireless optoelectronic system capable of continuous and effective cancer treatment by fusing PDT and hyperthermia and enabling tumor size monitoring in real-time. This system exploits micro inorganic light-emitting diodes (μ-LED) that emit light with a wavelength of 624 nm, designed not to affect surrounding normal tissues by utilizing a fully programmable light intensity of μ-LED and precisely monitoring the tumor size by Si phototransistor during a long-term implantation (2–3 weeks). The superiority of simultaneous cancer treatment and tumor size monitoring capabilities of our system operated by wireless power and data transmissions with a cell phone was confirmed through in vitro experiments, ray-tracing simulation results, and a tumor xenograft mouse model in vivo. This all-in-one single system for cancer treatment offers opportunities to not only enable effective treatment of tumors located deep in the tissue but also enable precise and continuous monitoring of tumor size in real-time.
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