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The present research focuses on the electrical properties of lead-free piezoceramics (0.985- x)(K 0.485 Na 0.485 Li 0.03)(Nb 0.96 Sb 0.04)O 3 -0.015(Bi 0.5 Na 0.5)ZrO 3 - x SnO 2 (KNNLS-BNZ- x SnO 2 , x = 0.003, 0.006, 0.009, 0.012, and 0.015). This study examines the influence of varying SnO 2 doping levels on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics. All the ceramics prepared demonstrate pure perovskite structure without any secondary phases. The Rietveld refinement analysis of XRD data reveals the existence of multiphase evolution around room temperature. The tetragonality (c/a) and cell volume of the ceramics tend to rise with an increase in Sn4+ content, potentially leading to improved ferroelectric characteristics. The optimum values obtained were Curie temperature (T c) = 395 oC, remnant polarization (P r) = 21.07 μC/cm2, piezoelectric coefficient (d 33)=357 pC/N, piezoelectric voltage constant (g 33) = 24 × 10−3 Vm/N, and figure of merit (FOM off) = 10.34 pm2/N, corresponding to the ceramic doped with x = 0.012 SnO 2. The findings indicate that an optimal amount of Sn4+ in the host composition KNNLS-BNZ improves piezoelectric properties by constructing an R-O-T phase boundary near room temperature. This study suggests that the ceramic with x = 0.012 SnO 2 exhibits a favorably high T c coupled with an exceptional energy harvesting capability, making it a suitable candidate for energy harvesting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New materials based on LaScO 3 , namely, were synthesized by the solid-phase method. The structure of the resulting complex oxides was refined. The electrical properties of the undoped, mono- and co-doped samples were determined by varying the temperature T and pH 2 O. All substituted samples were found to have the conductivity of several orders of magnitude higher relative to the parent phase. The maximum conductivity was observed for the Ba2+/Mg2+-co-doped sample due to high concentration of oxygen vacancies The possibility of phase formation and its electrical properties are greatly influenced by geometric parameters such as the ratio of the radii of the host- and the dopant-ion, the free cell volume, the critical radius. It has been demonstrated that the nature of the dopant affects the porosity of the samples. The investigated phases demonstrate good chemical stability in a CO 2 -saturated atmosphere. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial plasticity supports oogenesis in vertebrates. Dormant oocytes have mitochondrial morphology suggestive of low mitochondrial activity. Dormant human and Xenopus oocytes have their mitochondria clustered in the Balbiani body and suppress Complex I to avoid generation of damaging reactive oxygen species. Mouse oocytes fine-tune mitochondrial localisation and membrane potential to increase ATP production at energy-demanding sites during maturation. Major differences exist in mitochondrial distribution and physiology among vertebrates, including between evolutionary closer species, such as human and mouse. Mitochondria have a crucial role in cellular function and exhibit remarkable plasticity, adjusting both their structure and activity to meet the changing energy demands of a cell. Oocytes, female germ cells that become eggs, undergo unique transformations: the extended dormancy period, followed by substantial increase in cell size and subsequent maturation involving the segregation of genetic material for the next generation, present distinct metabolic challenges necessitating varied mitochondrial adaptations. Recent findings in dormant oocytes challenged the established respiratory complex hierarchies and underscored the extent of mitochondrial plasticity in long-lived oocytes. In this review, we discuss mitochondrial adaptations observed during oocyte development across three vertebrate species (Xenopus , mouse, and human), emphasising current knowledge, acknowledging limitations, and outlining future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Adequate transfer of passive immunity (TPI) is a cornerstone for a proper health status of calves. In the literature, there is limited information on the prevalence of failure of TPI in dairy-beef crossbred calves and its effect on morbidity, mortality, and ADG during the preweaning period. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between TPI with morbidity, mortality, and ADG in preweaning dairy-beef crossbred calves. A total of 1,055 newborn dairy-beef crossbred calves were enrolled upon arrival at a calf-raising facility in California from January to August 2021. Farm of origin, genetic breed group, sex, and BW were recorded upon arrival. Blood was collected at 24 ± 1 h after arrival to evaluate serum IgG concentration, serum total protein (TP), and packed cell volume. Morbidity (diarrhea and respiratory treatment records) and mortality were recorded daily until 60 d of life. Calves were grouped into 2 genetic breed groups: Holstein × Beef (Ho × Be, 49.6%) and Jersey × Beef crossbred calves (Je × Be, 50.4%). Descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazard models were created to evaluate the association of TPI categories for serum IgG (TPI-IgG: poor: <10.0 g/L, fair: 10.0–17.9 g/L, good: 18.0–24.9 g/L, and excellent: ≥25.0 g/L) and TP (TPI-TP: poor: <5.1 g/dL, fair: 5.1–5.7 g/dL, good: 5.8–6.1 g/dL, and excellent: ≥6.2 g/dL), sex, and genetic breed group with morbidity and mortality. Additionally, a mixed linear regression was performed to evaluate the association of sex, genetic breed group, and TPI categories with ADG. Overall morbidity and mortality were 84.8% (n = 895) and 2.5% (n = 26). Calves classified as TPI-IgG excellent were associated with the lowest (43.2% less) hazard of being treated compared with TPI-IgG poor calves. For mortality, dairy-beef crossbred calves with TPI-IgG excellent were associated with a reduction of 82.0% in the hazard of dying compared with TPI-IgG poor. The TPI-IgG poor and TPI-IgG fair calves were associated with a decreased ADG of 101.0 and 98.8 g/d, respectively, in comparison with TPI-IgG good calves. Average daily gain of TPI-IgG good and TPI-IgG excellent calves were not different. In our study, dairy-beef crossbred calves enrolled may have endured challenging conditions that increased morbidity. This reinforces the importance of high IgG levels to decrease morbidity and mortality and maximize ADG in dairy-beef crossbred calves raising systems. Further research should evaluate the long-term effects of TPI categories on the health and performance of dairy-beef crossbred calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An automorphism u of a vector space is called unipotent of index 2 whenever (u − id) 2 = 0. Let b be a non-degenerate symmetric or skewsymmetric bilinear form on a vector space V over a field F of characteristic different from 2. Here, we characterize the elements of the isometry group of b that are the product of two unipotent isometries of index 2. In particular, if b is skewsymmetric and nondegenerate we prove that an element of the symplectic group of b is the product of two unipotent isometries of index 2 if and only if it has no Jordan cell of odd size for the eigenvalue −1. As an application, we prove that every element of a symplectic group is the product of three unipotent elements of index 2 (and no fewer in general). For orthogonal groups, the classification closely matches the classification of sums of two square-zero skewselfadjoint operators that was obtained in a recent article [7]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell volume as a characteristic of changes in response to external environmental cues has been shown to control the fate of stem cells. However, its influence on macrophage behavior and macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses have rarely been explored. Herein, through mediating the volume of macrophages by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG), we demonstrated the feasibility of fine-tuning cell volume to regulate macrophage polarization towards anti-inflammatory phenotypes, thereby enabling to reverse macrophage-mediated inflammation response. Specifically, lower the volume of primary macrophages can induce both resting macrophages (M0) and stimulated pro-inflammatory macrophages (M1) to up-regulate the expression of anti-inflammatory factors and down-regulate pro-inflammatory factors. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that macrophage polarization resulting from changing cell volume might be mediated by JAK/STAT signaling pathway evidenced by the transcription sequencing analysis. We further propose to apply this strategy for the treatment of arthritis via direct introduction of PEG into the joint cavity to modulate synovial macrophage-related inflammation. Our preliminary results verified the credibility and effectiveness of this treatment evidenced by the significant inhibition of cartilage destruction and synovitis at early stage. In general, our results suggest that cell volume can be a biophysical regulatory factor to control macrophage polarization and potentially medicate inflammatory response, thereby providing a potential facile and effective therapy for modulating macrophage mediated inflammatory responses. Cell volume has recently been recognized as a significantly important biophysical signal in regulating cellular functionalities and even steering cell fate. Herein, through mediating the volume of macrophages by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG), we demonstrated the feasibility of fine-tuning cell volume to induce M1 pro-inflammatory macrophages to polarize towards anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, and this immunomodulatory effect may be mediated by the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. We also proposed the feasible applications of this PEG-induced volume regulation approach towards the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), wherein our preliminary results implied an effective alleviation of early synovitis. Our study on macrophage polarization mediated by cell volume may open up new pathways for immune regulation through microenvironmental biophysical clues. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages are employed as targets for delivering genes, drugs, or lipid nanoparticles into tumors or other specific sites. Studying the interaction between solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and macrophages is essential for assessing nanotoxicity and advancing the development of nanomedicines. However, limited data are currently available on the membrane microstructure and biochemical changes that occur when macrophages interact with SLNs. We conducted a label-free morphological and biochemical investigation of NR8383 macrophages using optical diffraction tomography (ODT), which validated the efficiency of the SLNs as a drug delivery system. ODT provided intracellular holotomography to characterize the macrophages and fluorescence imaging to analyze delivery efficiency. ODT analysis revealed the responses of phagocytic macrophages. Additionally, a quantitative analysis of lipid droplets using refractive indices revealed that, compared with incubation with normal cells, incubation with SLNs significantly increased the lipid droplet volume and surface area. The uptake of SLNs into macrophages resulted in increased cell volume, surface area, and concentration, which indicated greater morphological and biochemical variability in the treated cells than in the control cells. The results suggest that ODT imaging is promising for understanding the intracellular distribution of SLNs and useful for validating the efficacy of delivery of SLNs to macrophages. [Display omitted] • We conducted a label-free morphological and biochemical investigation of alveolar macrophages after treating with solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) using optical diffraction tomography (ODT). • Incubation with SLNs significantly increased the volume and surface area of lipid droplets as well as cell volume and surface area of the macrophages compared to normal cells. • The ODT imaging holds promise for understanding the intracellular distribution of SLNs and is valuable for validating the efficacy of SLNs delivery to macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flight staff are at particular risk of iterative sinus barotrauma. We here report a case of barotraumatic atelectasic frontal sinusitis with dynamic radiologic change in frontal sinus volume. A 46-year-old air pilot was referred for right frontal pain occurring at each landing. Two sinus CT scans were taken: one after a period of intense flying and the other after a month without flying. In the right frontal sinus, a type-3 Kuhn cell changed in volume from 6 × 11 × 12 mm to 13 × 18 × 19 mm. The alteration involved a modification in the medial wall, which was demineralized and changed position within the frontal sinus. Removal during endoscopic frontal sinusotomy allowed complete resolution of pain. This article reports radiologic change in a frontal sinus wall in a setting of repeated barotraumatic frontal sinusitis with a dynamic atelectasic component. In iterative barotrauma, we advocate imaging at different time points. When the ostial obstruction is identified, functional aeration surgery can be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high stability of hydride phase has limited the improvement for the hydrogen storage properties of Ti–V based alloy at room temperatures. In this work, the stability of hydride was reduced by designing a low-price Ti–V–Fe–Mn alloy, and the effect of Ti/V ratio on the crystal structure and hydrogen storage properties was systematically investigated. The Ti 40- x V 40+ x Fe 15 Mn 5 (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8) alloys were synthesized using arc melting, and the as-prepared alloys are all composed of single BCC phase. The lattice constant and cell volume decrease linearly with a lessening in Ti/V ratio. The reduction of cell volume makes it difficult for hydrogen atoms to diffuse, resulting in a sluggish hydrogen absorption rate. The dehydrogenation plateau in PCI curve rises and corresponding thermodynamics is optimized with a decrease in the lattice constant, and the hydrogen atoms are more readily to release, especially for Ti 32 V 48 Fe 15 Mn 5 alloy with the dehydrogenation capacity of 1.83 wt% at 373 K. The result indicates the thermodynamic properties can be optimized by adjusting the lattice constant of Ti–V–Fe–Mn alloys, and hydrogen storage capacity is improved effectively. This study provides a reference for composition design of Ti–V–Fe–Mn alloys for high-density hydrogen storage. [Display omitted] • The solubility of iron for Ti–V based alloy is not less than 15 mol.%. • The Samples can absorb hydrogen after heat preservation at 623 K and 3 MPa H 2. • The substitution of V for Ti enhances the desorption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotopic offsets in biogenic calcite from equilibrium values can provide unique insights into the physiology and mechanisms of carbon regulation in calcifying phytoplankton. This study examines the impact of varying CO 2 (controlled via pH) on five coccolithophore species chosen for varied cell sizes, physiology, and calcification. The study investigates isotopic offsets in coccolith calcite and organic matter, in relation to carbon demand and supply (µ /CO 2). Species-specific CO 2 and/or pH optima for growth (µ opt) were derived from variations in growth rates with varying CO 2 concentrations. Growth rates for all species declined with rising CO 2 (decreasing pH) due to H+-driven inhibition. C. braarudii and C. leptoporus exhibited µ opt at high CO 2 concentrations (suggesting high carbon-demand) and limited growth under low CO 2 (high pH) suggesting carbon limitation. Under low CO 2 supply, when growth rates were CO 2 -limited, both species exhibited coincident isotopic depletion in calcite and organic matter as a consequence of CO 2 diffusion into the cell that experienced no equilibration as a result of a highly depleted internal carbon pool. In these two species, isotopic values in calcite remained unaffected by growth rates and CO 2 concentration (µ /CO 2) when CO 2 was sufficient for optimal growth. G. huxleyi and G. oceanica displayed optima for growth (µ opt) at low CO 2 concentrations and showed no growth limitation under low CO 2 (indicating low carbon-demand). Both species experienced depleted (negative) vital effects caused by an excess of CO 2 diffusion into the small internal carbon pool of the cell when diffusive carbon supply outpaced low demand (low µ /CO 2). Enriched (positive) vital effects were observed under low carbon supply and high demand, likely due to increased HCO 3 – uptake and diffusive CO 2 loss from the intracellular carbon pool due to a lower intracellular pH than the seawater pH. C. carterae exhibited a µ opt at intermediate CO 2 concentrations and isotopically equilibrated intracellular carbon pool such that δ13C values in calcite and organic matter suggested a shared carbon pool. This study illustrates that pH and CO 2 driven vital effects and fractionation into organic matter indicate the residence time for carbon in the intracellular carbon pool, where the size of the pool is proportional to cell size. Due to the increased buffering afforded by a larger pool, C. leptoporus and C. carterae may have elevated intracellular pH which minimises CO 2 leakage, whereas vital effects in G. huxleyi and G. oceanica are caused by CO 2 diffusion in or out of their small internal carbon pool with limited buffering capacity owing to its small size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful development of CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies has led to an exponential increase in the number of patients recieving treatment and the advancement of novel CAR T products. Therefore, there is a strong need to develop streamlined platforms that allow rapid, cost-effective, and accurate measurement of the key characteristics of CAR T cells during manufacturing (i.e., cell number, cell size, viability, and basic phenotype). In this study, we compared the novel benchtop cell analyzer Moxi GO II (ORFLO Technologies), which enables simultaneous evaluation of all the aforementioned parameters, with current gold standards in the field: the Multisizer Coulter Counter (cell counter) and the BD LSRFortessa (flow cytometer). Our results demonstrated that the Moxi GO II can accurately measure cell number and cell size (i.e., cell volume) while simultaneously assessing simple two-color flow cytometry parameters, such as CAR T-cell viability and CD4 or CAR expression. These measurements are comparable with those of gold standard instruments, demonstrating that the Moxi GO II is a promising platform for quickly monitoring CAR T-cell growth and phenotype in research-grade and clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopy imaging techniques are instrumental for characterization and analysis of biological structures. As these techniques typically render 3D visualization of cells by stacking 2D projections, issues such as out-of-plane excitation and low resolution in the z -axis may pose challenges (even for human experts) to detect individual cells in 3D volumes as these non-overlapping cells may appear as overlapping. A comprehensive method for accurate 3D instance segmentation of cells in the brain tissue is introduced here. The proposed method combines the 2D YOLO detection method with a multi-view fusion algorithm to construct a 3D localization of the cells. Next, the 3D bounding boxes along with the data volume are input to a 3D U-Net network that is designed to segment the primary cell in each 3D bounding box, and in turn, to carry out instance segmentation of cells in the entire volume. The promising performance of the proposed method is shown in comparison with current deep learning-based 3D instance segmentation methods. • Introduced a novel supervised deep learning method for 3D instance segmentation in cell microscopy. • Presented case studies demonstrating the gain in performance in comparison with existing approaches. • Generated realistic simulated 3D data of cell microscopy with ground truth labels that could be useful for the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During physiological and pathological processes, cells experience significant morphological alterations with the re-arrangement of cytoskeletal filaments, resulting in anisotropic viscoelasticity. Here, a structure-based cell model is proposed to study the anisotropic viscoelastic mechanical behaviors of living cells. We investigate how cell shape affects its creep responses in longitudinal and perpendicular directions. It is shown that cells exhibit power-law rheological behavior in both longitudinal and perpendicular directions under step stress, with a more solid-like behavior along the longitudinal direction. We reveal that the cell volume and cytoskeletal filament orientation, which have been neglected in most existing models, play a critical role in regulating cellular anisotropic viscoelasticity. The stiffness of the cell in both directions increases linearly with increasing its aspect ratio, due to the decrease of cell volume. Moreover, the increase in the cell's aspect ratio produces the aggregation of cytoskeletal filaments along the longitudinal direction, resulting in higher stiffness in this direction. It is also shown that the increase in cell's aspect ratio corresponds to a process of cellular ordering, which can be quantitatively characterized by the orientational entropy of cytoskeletal filaments. In addition, we present a simple yet robust method to establish the relationship between cell's aspect ratio and cell volume, thus providing a theoretical framework to capture the anisotropic viscoelastic behavior of cells. This study suggests that the structure-based cell models may be further developed to investigate cellular rheological responses to external mechanical stimuli and may be extended to the tissue scale. The viscoelastic behaviors of cells hold significant importance in comprehending the roles of mechanical forces in embryo development, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. Here, a structure-based cell model is proposed to study the anisotropic viscoelastic mechanical behaviors of living cells. Our study highlights the crucial role of previously neglected factors, such as cell volume and cytoskeletal filament orientation, in regulating cellular anisotropic viscoelasticity. We further propose an orientational entropy of cytoskeletal filaments to quantitatively characterize the ordering process of cells with increasing aspect ratios. Moreover, we derived the analytical interrelationships between cell aspect ratio, cell stiffness, cell volume, and cytoskeletal fiber orientation. This study provides a theoretical framework to describe the anisotropic viscoelastic mechanical behavior of cells. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Volume of Fluid (VoF) method stands out as a widely utilized tool for capturing interfaces in the numerical simulation of multimaterial fluid flow. Numerous efforts have been invested in enhancing its accuracy and efficiency, including the development of analytic reconstruction methods. Despite these advancements, there exists a continued need for further improvements in the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of the VoF method in practical applications. In the conventional VoF method, information from neighboring cells is crucial for computing the normal vector of the interface in each multimaterial cell, requiring data from as many as 26 neighboring cells in 3D VoF methods. This paper introduces a novel VoF method named SVoF, which departs from traditional approaches by eliminating the necessity for information from neighboring cells. In the SVoF method, the data provided for interface reconstruction in each multimaterial cell consists of the volume fractions of fluids in several subcells within the cell itself. Initially, these data are determined by the initial conditions. In MMALE methods, these data can be updated through a closure model for multimaterial cells in each Lagrangian stage and remapped in each subsequent remapping stage. The determination of the normal vector of the linear interface in SVoF is achieved through an optimization procedure. The objective function of this procedure is the sum of the squares of the differences between the given volume fractions and the reconstructed volume fractions of the reference fluid in specific subcells. The optimization procedure is solved using an improved quadratic fit golden section algorithm. Similar to traditional VoF methods, the intercept of the linear interface is calculated by precisely matching the given volume fraction of the reference fluid throughout the entire multimaterial cell. The SVoF method is characterized by its ease of coding and implementation, making it suitable for interface reconstruction in multimaterial cells containing three materials. Building upon the SVoF method, a new cell-centered MMALE method is developed, showcasing robustness. This new MMALE method utilizes Tipton's pressure relaxation model for the closure of multimaterial cells and leverages the SVoF method for interface reconstruction. Numerical results demonstrate that the SVoF method can precisely reproduce linear interfaces, approaching second-order accuracy, and that this new MMALE method exhibits significant robustness. • A novel VoF method (SVoF) that doesn't require information from neighboring cells. • SVoF requires the volume fractions of fluids in multiple subcells within each multimaterial cell. • SVoF is applicable for interface reconstruction in multimaterial cells containing three distinct materials. • SVoF precisely reproduces linear interfaces and is straightforward to code and implement. • MMALE combined with SVoF demonstrates greater robustness compared to the existing MMALE coupled with MoF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff of macular ganglion cell layer (GCL) volume consistent with optic atrophy in children with syndromic craniosynostosis and to investigate factors independently associated with reduction in GCL volume. Retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients with syndromic craniosynostosis evaluated at Boston Children's Hospital (2010–2022) with reliable macular OCT scans. The latest ophthalmic examination that included OCT macula scans was identified. Age at examination, sex, ethnicity, best-corrected logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction, and funduscopic optic nerve appearance were recorded in addition to history of primary or recurrent elevation in intracranial pressure (ICP), Chiari malformation, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Spectral-domain OCT software quantified segmentation of macula retinal layers and was checked manually. The primary outcome was determining sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cutoff of GCL volume consistent with optic atrophy. The secondary outcome was determining whether previously elevated ICP, OSA, Chiari malformation, craniosynostosis diagnosis, logMAR visual acuity, age, or sex were independently associated with lower GCL volume. Median age at examination was 11.9 years (interquartile range, 8.5–14.8 years). Fifty-eight of 61 patients (112 eyes) had reliable macula scans, 74% were female, and syndromes represented were Apert (n = 14), Crouzon (n = 17), Muenke (n = 6), Pfeiffer (n = 6), and Saethre-Chotzen (n = 15). Optimal cutoff identifying optic atrophy was a GCL volume < 1.02 mm3 with a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 77%. Univariate analysis demonstrated that significantly lower macular GCL volume was associated with optic atrophy on fundus examination (P < 0.001), Apert syndrome (P < 0.001), history of elevated ICP (P = 0.015), Chiari malformation (P = 0.001), OSA (P < 0.001), male sex (P = 0.027), and worse logMAR visual acuity (P < 0.001). Multivariable median regression analysis confirmed that only OSA (P = 0.005), optic atrophy on fundus examination (P = 0.003), and worse logMAR visual acuity (P = 0.042) were independently associated with lower GCL volume. Surveillance for optic atrophy by GCL volume may be useful in a population where cognitive skills can limit acquisition of other key ophthalmic measures. It is noteworthy that OSA is also associated with lower GLC volume in this population. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Li 2 O substitution on the sintering behavior, lattice structure, microstructure, and microwave dielectric properties of ZnO–B 2 O 3 –Bi 2 O 3 glass-ceramics was studied by various amounts of Li 2 O to substitute ZnO. The substitution of Li 2 O decreases the glass network connectivity and thus decreases the sintering temperature of the glass. In the sintered glass-ceramics, the substitution of 0.2 mol % Li 2 O leads to the most significant lattice activation resulting in the glass-ceramic exhibiting the smallest cell volume of Zn 3 B 2 O 6 crystal and the microstructure with fine and uniform grains. The P–V-L theory is innovatively applied to glass-ceramic materials to characterize the variation in bond characteristics caused by lattice activation and it indicates that the 0.2 mol % Li 2 O substitution decreases the Zn–O bond ionicity and increases the lattice energy of the B–O bond, in the Zn 3 B 2 O 6 crystalline phase. The refinement of microstructure and the optimization of bond characteristics improve the microwave dielectric properties of glass-ceramics. The glass-ceramic with 0.2 mol % Li 2 O substitution sintered at 620 °C for 5 h exhibits excellent microwave dielectric properties of ε r ∼5.05, Q×f ∼15,383 GHz, τ f ∼ −6 ppm/°C and good chemical compatibility with Ag or Al electrodes, which is a favorable candidate for application in ULTCC substrate materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is dynamic and bidirectional regulation of cell metabolism and cell cycle progression that is incompletely understood. Changes to cellular metabolism, including redox state, can directly affect the activity of cell cycle regulators and signaling pathways to impact cell cycle control. Mitochondrial metabolism changes dramatically during the cell cycle and most acutely during mitosis. Cells adjust cell cycle duration and growth rate to couple cell size to cell cycle progression and maintain uniform cell size across generations. Disruption of protein synthesis or DNA replication can drive cells to exit the cell cycle and become quiescent. The relationship between metabolism and cell cycle progression is complex and bidirectional. Cells must rewire metabolism to meet changing biosynthetic demands across cell cycle phases. In turn, metabolism can influence cell cycle progression through direct regulation of cell cycle proteins, through nutrient-sensing signaling pathways, and through its impact on cell growth, which is linked to cell division. Furthermore, metabolism is a key player in mediating quiescence–proliferation transitions in physiologically important cell types, such as stem cells. How metabolism impacts cell cycle progression, exit, and re-entry, as well as how these processes impact metabolism, is not fully understood. Recent advances uncovering mechanistic links between cell cycle regulators and metabolic processes demonstrate a complex relationship between metabolism and cell cycle control, with many questions remaining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploid (2n, 3n, and 4n) genomes are known to be unstable in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we attempted construction of super-polypoid strains (defined as having higher ploidy than tetraploidy) up to 32n by using the mat α 2- PBT method that we newly developed and investigated their genomic stability. It is known that cell size increases as ploidy increases up to tetraploid. However, unexpectedly, there was no change in the average cell size of the super-polyploid strains compared with tetraploid or pentaploid strains. Smaller sized cells were observed at a rather higher frequency in super-polyploid cell populations compared with those of diploid, triploid and tetraploid strains, suggesting that ploidy reduction in super-polyploid strains occurs quickly at a relatively high frequency. Assuming that ploidy reduction occurs through chromosome loss (or non-disjunction) during mitotic growth, we also estimated the frequency of chromosome loss (or non-disjunction) in various polyploid strains. Our results indicated that the frequency of chromosome loss (or non-disjunction) is drastically increased (10−2–10−3/cells plated) in super-polyploid strains compared with that (10−4–10−5/cells plated) of conventional polyploid (2n–4n) strains. This is the first attempt of construction of super-polyploid strains and investigation of their genomic stability in S. cerevisiae. We believe that the mat α 2- PBT method will be an invaluable tool for investigating a variety of interesting issues regarding polyploidy and their genomic characterization in eukaryotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the effect of stoichiometry and annealing condition on Ti–Cr AB 2 -type hydrogen storage alloys. Prior to annealing the majority phase of the as-cast alloys was the C14 Laves phase, with separate Ti and Cr phases. Annealing treatment (1273 K/14 d) led to a transition from C14 to C15 Laves phase structure. Both C14 (as-cast) and C15 (annealed) cell size increased with Ti content, up to a ratio (Cr/Ti) of 1.6, due to B-site Ti substitution in the lattice up to a limit. Pressure composition isotherm (PCI) measurements demonstrated alloys containing a greater Ti content had a better maximum hydrogen storage capacity (1.5 vs. 1.03 wt%) and lower plateau pressure (9.4 vs. 15.8 bar) at 253 K. Annealing resulted in a lower storage capacity (1.05 vs. 1.49 wt%), greater plateau pressure (ca. 30 bar) and flatter plateau slope (25 % reduction in plateau slope). Reduction in hydrogen storage capacity of annealed alloys could be due to diffusion of residual Cr in the alloy into the C15 Laves phase during the annealing process, thereby changing the local composition as confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD). • The C14 and C15 cell size for as cast and annealed alloys increased with Ti content. • The increase in cell size indicates (limited) Ti substitution in the lattice. • Cr vacancies are present in smaller deviations away from AB2 stoichiometry. • Greater Ti content leads to high hydrogen storage capacity and low plateau pressure. • Capacity reduces post-annealing due to C15 B-site Cr diffusion and increased oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of two-dimensional simulations of the cellular structure of a detonation wave in a stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen with air. The dependence on cellular structure on chemical kinetics mechanism proved to be essential in terms of characteristic cell size. Comparison of simulation results with experimental data made it possible distinguishing the kinetic mechanism, which could describe the cellular structure for the conditions under investigations more adequately than other tested mechanisms. The dependence of cellular structure on mixture temperature and channel width was also investigated and comparative results are presented. It was shown in numerical experiments, that the dependence of cell size on temperature could be not monotonous due to manifestation of different effects under different mixture conditions. The cells can grow and then split giving birth to a fine structure. • Two-dimensional simulations of the cellular structure of a detonation wave. • The dependence on cell structure on kinetic mechanism strongly affects cell size. • Comparison of simulation with experiment made enabled finding optimal kinetics. • Dependence of cell structure on mixture temperature, channel width was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A black phosphorus layered homogeneous phosphorus-rich compound – (V 0.5 Cr 0.5)P 4 is synthesized using a large volume press under conditions of P = 5 GPa, 1100 °C, and 1 h of heating. (V 0.5 Cr 0.5)P 4 has a monoclinic (C 2/ c) structure with lattice parameters and cell volume of a = 5.2307(3)Å, b = 10.861(4)Å, c = 5.8253(4)Å, β = 110.784°, and V = 309.41(4)Å3, respectively. The thermal expansion behavior above about 110K has been investigated by low-temperature synchrotron XRD. The coefficient of thermal expansion, α , was calculated to be α a = 0.57 × 10−5K−1, α b = 0.70 × 10−5K−1, α c = 0.92 × 10−5K−1, α β = 0.13 × 10−5K−1 and α v = 2.10 × 10−5K−1 at 293K. This thermal expansion behavior presents an anisotropic expansion characteristic different from pure black phosphorus due to the V/Cr atom that bonded the black phosphorus layers together. (V 0.5 Cr 0.5)P 4 with the characteristic black phosphorus layers was synthesized. Equimolar amount of vanadium and chromium were incorporated into the structure after high pressure synthesis using large volume press. The characterization was done using SEM, EDS, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Crystal structure parameters were refined by Rietveld analysis. The low temperature XRD pattern was taken to calculate the coefficient of thermal expansion. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the sake of computational efficiency and for theoretical purposes, in mathematical modelling, the Dirac Delta distributions are often utilized as a replacement for cells or vesicles, since the size of cells or vesicles is much smaller than the size of the surrounding tissues. Here, we consider the scenario that the cell or the vesicle releases the diffusive compounds to the immediate environment, which is modelled by the diffusion equation. Typically, one separates the intracellular and extracellular environment and uses homogeneous Neumann boundary condition for the cell boundary (so-called spatial exclusion model), while the point source model neglects the intracellular environment. We show that extra conditions are needed such that the solutions to the two models are consistent. We prove a necessary and sufficient condition for the consistency. Suggested by the numerical results, we conclude that an initial condition in the form of Gaussian kernel in the point source model compensates for a time-delay discrepancy between the solutions to the two models in the numerical solutions. Various approaches determining optimal amplitude and variance of the Gaussian kernel have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar disorder has been associated with a decrease in hippocampal size, and lithium appears to reverse this neuroanatomical abnormality. The objective of this work was to evaluate, at a cellular level, the size of both cell body and nucleus of pyramidal neurons located throughout the Cornu Ammonis (CA1 to CA4 regions). To perform this duty, we used 16 rats that were randomized into two groups: control and dietary lithium-treated. After one month, they were sacrificed and their brains removed for histopathological analysis. Serial photos of the entire Cornu Ammonis were taken and, after dividing them into 4 regions of interest, we measured the cell body and nucleus on each pyramidal neuron belonging to the first 5 photos of each region of interest. As a result of this histological analysis, cell body area and nuclear area were significantly larger in the experimental group in a specific area of the Cornu Ammonis that could correspond to CA2 or the transition between CA1 and CA2. These results suggest that the effect of lithium is not homogeneous throughout the hippocampus and allows directing future studies to a specific area of this structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fermentation process of milk to yoghurt using Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus in co-culture with Streptococcus thermophilus is hallmarked by the breakdown of lactose to organic acids such as lactate. This leads to a substantial decrease in pH - both in the medium, as well as cytosolic. The latter impairs metabolic activities due to the pH-dependence of enzymes, which compromises microbial growth. To quantitatively elucidate the impact of the acidification on metabolism of L. bulgaricus in an integrated way, we have developed a proton-dependent computational model of lactose metabolism and casein degradation based on experimental data. The model accounts for the influence of pH on enzyme activities as well as cellular growth and proliferation of the bacterial population. We used a machine learning approach to quantify the cell volume throughout fermentation. Simulation results show a decrease in metabolic flux with acidification of the cytosol. Additionally, the validated model predicts a similar metabolic behaviour within a wide range of non-limiting substrate concentrations. This computational model provides a deeper understanding of the intricate relationships between metabolic activity and acidification and paves the way for further optimization of yoghurt production under industrial settings. • Kinetic model that takes cell culture growth into account. • Integration of new experimental data sets. • Potential to predict acidification during batch culture growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Landolphia dulcis has been extensively used in folk medicine as sex booster, antidiabetic and antimicrobial especially in western part of Nigeria. • The solvent extracts of L. dulcis were investigated against plasmodium berghei NK65 (chloroquine-sensitive) strain using curative assay. • The chemo-profile investigation of crude extracts revealed the presence of steroids, alkaloids, saponins, phenols, tannins and flavonoids. • According to quantitative phytochemical screening, total phenolic, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids and flavonoid content were abundant in ethanolic (50%) extracts. • Among the extracts, the ethanol bark extract exhibited the highest plasmodium inhibitory potential of 87.7% while inhibitory of 53.61% was exhibited by ethanolic leaves extract. Landolphia dulcis has been extensively used in folk medicine as sex booster, antidiabetic and antimicrobial especially in Western part of Nigeria. This research aims to investigate the curative potency of L. dulcis leaves and bark in Plasmodium infected mice. The extracts of L. dulcis were investigated against Plasmodiun bergei NK65, a chloroquine sensitive strain using curative assay. Parameters such as percentage inhibition, level of infected red blood cells (parasitaemia), weight variation and packed cell volume were evaluated in experimental mice. The crude extracts were assessed using standard phytochemical methods. The phytochemical screenings of crude extracts revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, steroids and flavonoids. According to quantitative phytochemical screening, total phenolic, tannins, and flavonoid content were abundant in ethanol (50%) extracts. A significant increase in body weight of extract and chloroquine treated mice was observed; however, a reduction of -3.000 g was evident in group without treatment. A significant increase was observed in packed cell volume of 200 and 400 mg/kg of ethanol (50%) extracts treated groups. An inhibitory activity of 87.7% and 53.61% were observed in 400 mg/kg ethanolic bark extract and 200 mg/kg ethanol (50%) leaves extract respectively, though, inhibitory activity of 100% was observed in chloroquine treated group. The outcomes of this study recommend the use of L. dulcis bark and leaves as a therapeutic agent for management of malaria and as a prospective antimalarial templates. Further studies are needed to investigate the safety and the mechanisms of action of the L. dulcis extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These last decades have seen the emergence and development of cell-based therapies, notably those based on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The advancement of these promising treatments requires increasing the throughput of processed cell for industrialization in order to reduce production costs. Among the various bioproduction challenges, downstream processing, including medium exchange, cell washing, cell harvesting and volume reduction, remains a critical step for which improvements are needed. Typically, these processes are performed by centrifugation. However, this approach limits the automation, especially in small batch productions where it is performed manually in open system. An acoustophoresis-based system was developed for cell washing. The cells were transferred from one stream to another via the acoustic forces and were collected in a different medium. The optimal flow rates of the different streams were assessed using red blood cells suspended in an albumin solution. Finally, the impact of acoustic washing on adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) transcriptome was investigated by RNA-sequencing. With a single passage through the acoustic device at input flow rate of 45 mL/h, the albumin removal was up to 90% while recovering 99% of RBCs. To further increase the protein removal, a loop washing in two steps was performed and has allowed an albumin removal ≥99% and a red blood cell/AD-MSCs recovery of 99%. After loop washing of AD-MSCs, only two genes, HES4 and MIR-3648-1, were differently expressed compared with the input. In this study, we developed a continuous cell-washing system based on acoustophoresis. The process allows a theoretically high cell throughput while inducing little gene expression changes. These results indicate that cell washing based on acoustophoresis is a relevant and promising solution for numerous applications in cell manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is critical for anabolism and biomass production. Here we show that the essential function of PPP in yeast is the synthesis of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP) catalyzed by PRPP-synthetase. Using combinations of yeast mutants, we found that a mildly decreased synthesis of PRPP affects biomass production, resulting in reduced cell size, while a more severe decrease ends up affecting yeast doubling time. We establish that it is PRPP itself that is limiting in invalid PRPP-synthetase mutants and that the resulting metabolic and growth defect can be bypassed by proper supplementation of the medium with ribose-containing precursors or by the expression of bacterial or human PRPPsynthetase. In addition, using documented pathologic human hyperactive forms of PRPP-synthetase, we show that intracellular PRPP as well as its derived products can be increased in both human and yeast cells, and we describe the ensuing metabolic and physiological consequences. Finally, we found that PRPP consumption appears to take place “on demand” by the various PRPP-utilizing pathways, as shown by blocking or increasing the flux in specific PRPP-consumingmetabolic routes. Overall, our work reveals important similarities between human and yeast for both synthesis and consumption of PRPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermal sensor has received much attention for temperature sensing, which aims to achieve accurate temperature measurement by using the electrical signal generated by its temperature change. The perovskite (1- x)CaMn 0.05 Zr 0.95 O 3 - x CaMnO 3 (x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) composite ceramics were reported for the first time. Furthermore, their structure, microscopic morphology, and device performance were systematically evaluated. It was revealed that the sensor performance could be tuned by controlling the CaMnO 3 ratio in the low resistance phase. The phase structure and crystal structures (cell volume and cell parameters a, b, and c) of the composite ceramics were defined using x-ray diffraction (XRD) refinement. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/Mapping revealed dense and uniform micromorphology. The ln(ρ) and 1000/T were quite linear, and the aging drift rate was as low as 1.89% after aging at 900 °C for 600 h. Importantly, a novel double hopping mechanism and a cation vacancy defect diffusion model were proposed to reveal the electron transport mechanism in the sensor lattice and elaborate the physical mechanism of the effect of cation vacancy defects on sensor resistance drift. In conclusion, this study prepared an NTC thermal sensor with ultra-high stability in a high temperature environment by rational design, providing a fresh idea for subsequently developing a high temperature NTC sensor. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 (NVP) has been deemed as a promising cathode because of high capacity and good stability. Nevertheless, poor intrinsic conductivity seriously limits its further application. Herein, partial Ba2+ substitution on V3+ site is introduced to modify NVP in terms of increasing cell volume due to larger ionic radius of Ba2+ and generating beneficial hole carriers derived from p-type doping. The expanded crystal channels efficiently facilitate the Na + migration and the hole carriers are beneficial for transfer charge to improve electronic conductivity. Ba2+ doping further enhances the structural stability due to the pillar effect, which has been proved by DSC measurement. The increase of exothermic peak temperature and decrease of heat release rate demonstrates the excellent thermal stability of NVBa0.07P@CNTs. Moreover, disordered carbon layer and enwrapped CNTs construct an effective network to provide abundant routes for electronic transportation. Notably, the optimized NVBa0.07P@CNTs delivers superior electrochemical performance in both half and full cells. It releases a capacity of 117.23 mA h g−1 at 0.1C and submits a capacity of 101.99 mA h g−1 with retention of 80% at 15 C over 2000 cycles. Even at 50 C, it still delivers a high value of 78.33 mA h g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fewer hypocretin neurons are found in humans with alcohol use disorder. • Smaller size of hypocretin, MCH neurons and activation of microglia was detected. • No changes were observed in the histamine cell group in this same human population. • Rats exposed to alcohol do not show changes hypocretin, MCH or microglia. • Factors secondary to AUD might be responsible for the changes in humans. Human heroin addicts and mice administered morphine for a 2 week period show a greatly increased number of hypothalamic hypocretin (Hcrt or orexin) producing neurons with a concomitant reduction in Hcrt cell size. Male rats addicted to cocaine similarly show an increased number of detectable Hcrt neurons. These findings led us to hypothesize that humans with alcohol use disorder (AUD) would show similar changes. We now report that humans with AUD have a decreased number and size of detectable Hcrt neurons. In addition, the intermingled melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons are reduced in size. We saw no change in the size and number of tuberomammillary histamine neurons in AUD. Within the Hcrt/MCH neuronal field we found that microglia cell size was increased in AUD brains. In contrast, male rats with 2 week alcohol exposure, sufficient to elicit withdrawal symptoms, show no change in the number or size of Hcrt, MCH and histamine neurons, and no change in the size of microglia. The present study indicates major differences between the response of Hcrt neurons to opioids and that to alcohol in human subjects with a history of substance abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact guidance, the widely-known phenomenon of cell alignment, is an essential step in the organization of adherent cells. This guidance is known to occur by, amongst other things, anisotropic features in the environment including elastic heterogeneity. To understand the origins of this guidance we employed a novel statistical thermodynamics framework, which recognises the non-thermal fluctuations in the cellular response, for modelling the response of the cells seeded on substrates with alternating soft and stiff stripes. Consistent with observations, the modelling framework predicts the existence of three regimes of cell guidance: (i) in regime I for stripe widths much larger than the cell size guidance is primarily entropic; (ii) for stripe widths on the order of the cell size in regime II guidance is biochemically mediated and accompanied by changes to the cell morphology while (iii) in regime III for stripe widths much less than the cell size there is no guidance as cells cannot sense the substrate heterogeneity. Guidance in regimes I and II is due to "molli-avoidance" with cells primarily residing on the stiff stripes. While the molli-avoidance tendency is not lost with decreasing density of collagen coating the substrate, the reduced focal adhesion formation with decreasing collagen density tends to inhibit contact guidance. Our results provide clear physical insights into the interplay between cell mechano-sensitivity and substrate elastic heterogeneity that ultimately leads to the contact guidance of cells in heterogeneous tissues. Cellular morphology and organization play a crucial role in the micro-architecture of tissues and dictates their biological and mechanical functioning. Despite the importance of cellular organization in all facets of tissue biology, the fundamental question of how a cell organizes itself in an anisotropic environment is still poorly understood. We employ a novel statistical thermodynamics framework which recognises the non-thermal fluctuations in the cellular response to investigate cell guidance on substrates with alternating soft and stiff stripes. The propensity of cells to primarily reside on stiff stripes results in strong guidance when the period of the stripes is larger than the cell size. For smaller stripe periods, cells sense a homogeneous substrate and guidance is lost. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials with a general formula Sr 1-x Ca x TiO 3 (where x = 0.0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; 0.8; 1.0) were obtained by two different synthesis routes: wet chemical method and conventional solid-state reaction. The effect of the synthesis method and the calcium content on the properties of the synthesized materials was evaluated. All materials were sintered at 1400 °C and tested for structural, microstructural, and electrical properties. X-ray diffraction analysis showed a decrease in the symmetry of the perovskite structure (cubic → tetragonal → orthorhombic) and a decrease in the cell volume of the perovskite structure phases with an increase in the Ca amount introduced into the system, regardless of the applied synthesis method. Also, the materials obtained by the citrate method had a smaller grain size compared to the materials synthesized by the solid-state method. However, for materials synthesized by both methods the increase of grain size with increasing calcium amount was observed. Moreover, the effect of calcium content on the porosity of the materials obtained by the citrate method was observed while for materials obtained by the solid-state reaction this parameter was generally not affected by Ca amount. The results of electrical properties measurements carried out in the air atmosphere indicate the ionic conductivity in Sr 1-x Ca x TiO 3 materials irrespective of the applied synthesis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadyl formate monohydrate VO(HCOO) 2 ·H 2 O has been synthesized by a facile two-stage method. The chemical and structural identity of the synthesized compound has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, vibrational and absorption spectroscopy. It was established that during heating in water and ethylene glycol, VO(HCOO) 2 ·H 2 O leads to vanadyl hydroxide VO(OH) 2 and vanadyl glycolate VO(OCH 2 CH 2 O) being formed. When heated in air or in helium at 300 °C and higher, VO(HCOO) 2 ·H 2 O transforms into vanadium pentoxide or sesquioxide, respectively. VO(HCOO) 2 ·H 2 O was used as a precursor for the synthesis of nanoscale vanadium sesquioxide (with an average particle size of 50 nm), which is stable under the normal conditions and is characterized by a lower metal-insulator transition temperature than the microsized (bulk) compound. The effect of transition temperature reduction for nanoscale vanadium sesquioxide agrees with the lower value of its unit cell volume (V = 296.74 Å3) as compared with that for bulk V 2 O 3 (297.7 Å3). The main factor affecting the V 2 O 3 particle size is the annealing temperature of precursor in inert atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical transition energies of chiral carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are intimately related to their geometrical structures, and are frequently applied in the recognition and isolation of single nanotubes. Conventional translational crystal lattice (TCL) scheme failed to offer an accurate description of the optical properties of the chiral CNTs due to the formidable unit cell size constraint as well as the complexity of the band structures. Most fitting equations for the Kataura plot, usually based on the empirical correlations with the chiral indices of the CNTs, lack a clear physical interpretation. In this study, we apply the natural helical crystal lattice (NHCL) scheme to systematically analyze the band gap variation of arbitrary chiral CNTs. We derive a global analytical formula that takes into account the comprehensive geometrical connection topologies for the band gap of all (n , m)-CNTs with a diameter larger than 1.2 nm. With the inclusion of the many-body effect, we are able to provide a global Kataura plot prediction with a minimal set of only two fitting parameters, and the results are consistent with the experimental Kataura plot within 0.67% deviation for over 1300 data points. Our formula precisely captures the observed experimental branching features and presents a clear physical rationalization for the topological family effect on the optical excitation energies of chiral CNTs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies for efficiently expanding Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, the primary host cells for antibody production, are of growing industrial importance. Various processes for the use of microcarriers in CHO suspension cultures have been developed, but there have been very few studies on cell-adhesive microcarriers that are similar in size to cells. In this study, we proposed a new approach to suspension cultures of CHO cells using cell-sized condensed and crosslinked gelatin microparticles (GMPs) as carriers. Unlike commercially available carriers with sizes typically greater than 100 μm, each cell can adhere to the surface of multiple particles and form loose clusters with voids. We prepared GMPs of different average diameters (27 and 48 μm) and investigated their effects on cell adhesion and cluster formation. In particular, small GMPs promoted cell proliferation and increased IgG4 production by the antibody-producing CHO cell line. The data obtained in this study suggest that cell-sized particles, rather than larger ones, enhance cell proliferation and function, providing useful insights for improving suspension-culture-based cell expansion and cell-based biologics production for a wide range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detonation propagation characteristics of the mixtures, 2H 2 + O 2 +3Ar and CH 4 + 2O 2 , were investigated. Accordingly, the mixtures were tested in round tube with inner diameter of D = 80 mm and annular tubes with widths of w = 25 mm, 15 mm, and 5 mm. The two mixtures represent stable mixture with regular cell pattern and unstable mixture with irregular cell pattern, respectively. Smoked foils were utilized to record cellular structure under various initial conditions. Subsequently, the length scale L dsc was measured, which represents the length from the start of the test section to the position where the cellular structure changes drastically (the cell size obviously increases or the structure disappears). The results reveal that both mixtures can successfully propagate in round tube and annular tubes of 25 mm and 15 mm, but fail in 5 mm annular tube. The L dsc value of 2H 2 + O 2 + 3Ar is higher than that of CH 4 + 2O 2 in 80 mm and 15 mm tubes, but it is opposite in 25 mm tube. Moreover, the relationship between L dsc and hydraulic diameter D H was analysed. For a given tube, the values of L dsc and L dsc / D H increased when the initial pressure increased. And the variation trend of L dsc and L dsc / D H of CH 4 + 2O 2 is steeper. Furthermore, the mixtures 2H 2 + O 2 + 3Ar and CH 4 + 2O 2 resulted in over-driven detonation in 15 mm and 25 mm annular tubes, respectively. The ratio between the total reaction length (sum of the induction length and exothermic length) and the hydraulic diameter (D H /(Δ i + Δ e)) correspond to critical values of 18 for hydrogen-oxygen-argon and 6 for methane-oxygen, below which the detonation will fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy cows diagnosed with metritis may experience a greater degree of oxidative stress (OS) and a deficit in the antioxidative capacity compared to healthy cows. We aimed to assess circulating OS markers and endometrial cell mitochondrial function, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mean endometrial nuclear cell area in postpartum cows diagnosed with metritis or as healthy. From an initial pool of 121 Holstein cows, we retrospectively selected 34 cows and balanced for metritis (n = 17) or healthy (n = 17). Metritis was defined as an enlarged uterus with red-brown watery or thick off-white purulent discharge occurring within 21 days postpartum. Cows with no signs of clinical disease (including dystocia or retained placenta) were referred to as healthy. Blood samples for serum reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM), antioxidants (OXY), and oxidative status index (OSI) tests, evaluated via photometric determination of plasma thiols, were performed at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days postpartum. Furthermore, from the initial pool, a random subset of 5 cows diagnosed with metritis and 6 diagnosed as healthy we collected (at the same time points as for the blood samples) endometrial cytology samples using the cytobrush technique. From the uterine samples, we evaluated the endometrial cell mitochondrial function, intracellular ROS levels, and the endometrial cell nuclear area using MitoTracker Orange, dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, and Hoechst 33258, respectively. Mixed linear regression models, accounting for repeated measurements, were fitted to assess the effect of metritis versus healthy on circulating and endometrial cell OS parameters and endometrial cell size. The effect of days postpartum and its interaction with uterine health status were forced into each model. Serum concentrations of d-ROMs and OSI were greater in metritis at 7, 14, and 35 days postpartum than in healthy cows. Interestingly, the mean endometrial cell nuclear area was lower in metritis than healthy cows at 14 and 21 days postpartum. We found no differences between metritis and healthy for endometrial cell mitochondrial function and intracellular ROS production. In conclusion, cows diagnosed with metritis experienced greater systemic OS levels than healthy cows, but their OS was not higher in the uterine milieu. • Cows diagnosed with metritis experience greater systemic levels of oxidative stress than healthy cows. • Endometrial mitochondrial function or intracellular ROS did not differ between healthy and metritis cows. • Oxidative stress serum markers can be used as a management tool to monitor the early stages of metritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although cell size regulation is crucial for cellular functions in a variety of organisms from bacteria to humans, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we identify Rim21, a component of the pH-sensing Rim101 pathway, as a positive regulator of cell size through a flow cytometry-based genomewide screen of Saccharomyces cerevisiae deletion mutants. We found that mutants defective in the Rim101 pathway were consistently smaller than wildtype cells in the log and stationary phases. We show that the expression of the active form of Rim101 increased the size of wildtype cells. Furthermore, the size of wildtype cells increased in response to external alkalization. Microscopic observation revealed that this cell size increase was associated with changes in both vacuolar and cytoplasmic volume. We also found that these volume changes were dependent on Rim21 and Rim101. In addition, a mutant lacking Vph1, a component of V-ATPase that is transcriptionally regulated by Rim101, was also smaller than wildtype cells, with no increase in size in response to alkalization. We demonstrate that the loss of Vph1 suppressed the Rim101-induced increase in cell size under physiological pH conditions. Taken together, our results suggest that the cell size of budding yeast is regulated by the Rim101-V-ATPase axis under physiological conditions as well as in response to alkaline stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cell cycle regulatory proteins catalyze cell cycle progression in a concentration-dependent manner. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the protein kinase Cdr2 promotes mitotic entry by organizing cortical oligomeric nodes that lead to inhibition of Wee1, which itself inhibits the cyclindependent kinase Cdk1. cdr2Δ cells lack nodes and divide at increased size due to overactive Wee1, but it has not been known how increased Cdr2 levels might impact Wee1 and cell size. It also has not been clear if and how Cdr2 might regulate Wee1 in the absence of the related kinase Cdr1/Nim1. Using a tetracycline-inducible expression system, we found that a 6× increase in Cdr2 expression caused hyperphosphorylation of Wee1 and reduction in cell size even in the absence of Cdr1/Nim1. This overexpressed Cdr2 formed clusters that sequestered Wee1 adjacent to the nuclear envelope. Cdr2 mutants that disrupt either kinase activity or clustering ability failed to sequester Wee1 and to reduce cell size. We propose that Cdr2 acts as a dosage-dependent regulator of cell size by sequestering its substrate Wee1 in cytoplasmic clusters, away from Cdk1 in the nucleus. This mechanism has implications for other clustered kinases, which may act similarly by sequestering substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The fourth finding of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis in the world is recorded. • The first English description of the cell morphology are presented. • The first photographs of the variety are presented. • Previously published dimensions of cell sizes are adjusted. Although Micrasterias apiculata is widely distributed and frequently found in samples throughout the world, its variety M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis , has a very limited geographical distribution. It was previously found in only three locations in the world. The variety was originally described in 1908 from Java, Indonesia (southeast Asia) and 20 years later detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. The third finding of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis was during the late 1980's in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, but it was described incorrectly under the name M. apiculata var. lacerata f. ornata. M. apiculata var. lacerata f. ornata closely resembles M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis and due to similarities, it is proposed to reduce the name M. apiculata var. lacerata f. ornata as a synonym of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis. In this case, the current finding of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis , in samples from northern Mozambique near the Tanzanian border, represents the fourth record of its presence in the world, the third for Africa, and the first for Mozambique. Up to now only French and German descriptions, together with line drawings, of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis were available. This paper presents the first English description of the cell morphology, as well as the first photomicrographs, illustrating structures previous portrayed in line drawings. Based on new findings, it is proposed that the minimum value of existing cell dimension ranges should be adjusted. A lectotype for M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis is designated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs), as an emergent pollutant, are causing global attention in terms of water pollution, which poses a great detriment to aquatic organisms, like algae, fish and shellfish. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of MPs of different particle sizes to microalgae with different cell diameters. Here, we conducted a microcosm batch experiment to investigate the toxicity of four particle sizes (0.2 µm, 0.5 µm, 1 µm and 5 µm) of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) to 12 species of microalgae. Our results found that PS-MPs of 0.5 and 1 µm had the highest inhibition rate on the microalgae. By classifying 12 species of microalgae into small, medium and large particles sizes, the inhibition of PS-MPs on algal growth gradually increased with larger cells, indicating that they were more susceptible to inhibition. The inhibition rate of PS-MPs on three phyla was Chlorophyta < Cyanobacteria < Bacillariophyta. The contents of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde in microalgae cells increased under PS-MPs exposure, suggesting that PS-MPs caused damage to the antioxidant system of microalgae. Together, these findings identified that the toxicity of MPs to microalgae was correlated with the relative size of each other, contributing to evaluate the risk of MPs for aquatic ecosystems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains a clinical challenge to differentiate brain tumors from radiation-induced necrosis in the brain. Despite significant improvements, no single MRI method has been validated adequately in the clinical setting. Multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) was performed to differentiate 9L gliosarcoma from radiation necrosis in animal models. Five types of MRI methods probed complementary information on different scales i.e., T 2 (relaxation), CEST based APT (probing mobile proteins/peptides) and rNOE (mobile macromolecules), qMT (macromolecules), diffusion based ADC (cell density) and SSIFT iAUC (cell size), and perfusion based DSC (blood volume and flow). For single MRI parameters, iAUC and ADC provide the best discrimination of radiation necrosis and brain tumor. For mpMRI, a combination of iAUC, ADC, and APT shows the best classification performance based on a two-step analysis with the Lasso and Ridge regressions. A general mpMRI approach is introduced to choosing candidate multiple MRI methods, identifying the most effective parameters from all the mpMRI parameters, and finding the appropriate combination of chosen parameters to maximize the classification performance to differentiate tumors from radiation necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New segmentation deals with intensity inhomogeneity within biological images. • Use of continuous formulation of B-spline level set with RSF active contour model. • Use of Watershed algorithm with a relevant choice of object markers. • The efficiency is proved in terms of qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Image segmentation plays an important role in the analysis and understanding of the cellular process. However, this task becomes difficult when there is intensity inhomogeneity between regions, and it is more challenging in the presence of the noise and clustered cells. The goal of the paper is propose an image segmentation framework that tackles the above cited problems. A new method composed of two steps is proposed: First, segment the image using B-spline level set with Region-Scalable Fitting (RSF) active contour model, second apply the Watershed algorithm based on new object markers to refine the segmentation and separate clustered cells. The major contributions of the paper are: 1) Use of a continuous formulation of the level set in the B-spline basis, 2) Develop the energy function and its derivative by introducing the RSF model to deal with intensity inhomogeneity, 3) For the Watershed, propose a relevant choice of markers that considers the cell properties. Experimental results are performed on widely used synthetic images, in addition to simulated and real biological images, without and with additive noise. They attest the high quality of segmentation of the proposed method in terms of quantitative and qualitative evaluation. The proposed method is able to tackle many difficulties at the same time: overlapped intensities, noise, different cell sizes and clustered cells. It provides an efficient tool for image segmentation especially biological ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing the cellular structure of polymeric foams has long been considered one of the most economical and effective methods for enhancing their impact properties. However, the relationship between cell size and impact strength has rarely been systematically studied. In this study, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) was used as a toughening agent to improve the toughness of Poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (SMMA). The expansion ratio of pure SMMA foams and their blended counterparts were controlled by fixing the mold-opening distance, while the cell size was adjusted by changing the blowing agent content and packing time. Notably, the impact strength of the optimized SMMA/SBS blend foam reached 15.5 kJ/m2, representing a significant increase of 1400 % compared to that of the pure SMMA foam. In addition, the impact strength of pure SMMA foams did not change significantly as the cell size increased from 29.7 μm to 278.9 μm. However, for SMMA/SBS blend foams, an optimal cell range (100−150 μm) was identified, where the impact strength was approximately twice that of foams with smaller cell sizes (1−25 μm). Then, examination of the impact-fractured surfaces at different cell sizes revealed that the synergistic effects of an appropriate cell size (100−150 μm) and the presence of SBS particles promoted craze initiation and expanded the plastic deformation area during crack initiation, leading toenhanced impact toughness in the blended foam. This work not only systematically elucidates the relationship between cell size and impact strength but also provides new insights into the synergistic effects of rubber particle and cell size on the mechanical properties of polymeric foams. [Display omitted] • Preparing the SMMA/SBS blended foam with more than 6 times higher impact strength. • Establishing the relationship between cell size and impact strength. • Tailoring impact toughness of SMMA/SBS blended foam by controlling cell size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Displays triple-band, polarization-agnostic characteristics, possesses a double-negative property. • Thickness equal to 1 78 t h of the free-space wavelength at the lower absorption frequency of 1.56 GHz. • Absorption rates of 98 % at 1.56 GHz, 99 % at 2.43 GHz, and 97 % at 3.36 GHz. • Structure is insensitivity to polarization angles up to 90°, and a wide incidence angle range of up to 70°. • The proposed structure has an effective medium ratio (EMR) of 6.41 indicating compact unit cell size. This research introduces a triple-band metamaterial absorber characterized by insensitivity to both polarization and incident angles. The structure includes square ring resonators on the upper side and a continuous metal ground on the lower side, separated by an FR4 substrate. At the lowest operating frequency, the unit cell's thickness, and length measure 0.0128λ and 0.156λ, respectively. Under normal incidence, the proposed absorber demonstrates three clear absorption peaks at 1.56, 2.43, and 3.36 GHz, achieving absorption rates of 98 %, 99 %, and 97 %, respectively. The absorption response exhibits variation with incident angles up to 70° for both TM and TE polarizations due to its high-level symmetry. This configuration attains negative permittivity and permeability suitable for operational frequencies in the L-band and S-band. The study examines the electric field, impedance, and surface current to provide additional evidence for the absorption analysis. A validated RLC circuit equivalent to the proposed structure has been confirmed using Advanced Design System (ADS). The results indicate a slight deviation, especially at frequencies beyond the resonance frequencies. The structure underwent fabrication and testing in an anechoic chamber, revealing a strong correlation between the simulated and measured results. The suggested absorber holds promise for ISM applications, radar systems, sensing technologies, and energy harvesting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiMnPO 4 (LMP), an olivine-type material, is considered as a cathode for lithium-ion battery material, but faces challenges such as the Jahn-Teller effect, poor conductivity, and low ionic conductivity. To overcome these limitations, we explored Co doping as a potential solution. By utilizing a solvothermal method, we successfully synthesized LiMn 1-x Co x PO 4 /C (x is the mass fraction of Co doping in LiMnPO 4 sample) materials with a high (200) exposed surface. Our first-principles calculations indicated that Co doping significantly impacts the material's structure and electrochemical performance. Notably, the LiMn 0.95 Co 0.05 PO 4 /C sample demonstrated the highest performance, delivering capacities of 164.7 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and 97.5 mAh g−1 at 1 C, while maintaining a remarkable 95.4 % capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.5 C. Furthermore, the preferential growth on the b-c plane results in an enhanced (200) orientation, which exposes more reactive sites and facilitates Li+ migration. This study not only offers a straightforward approach for obtaining high-performance electrode materials but also bridges the gap between theory and experiment, providing a new avenue for understanding cation doping in polyanionic cathode materials. • In this study, LiMn 1-x Co x PO 4 /C materials with a high (200) exposed surface are prepared using a simple solvothermal method • We obtained electronic state total density and Bader charge analysis data near the Fermi level through first-principles calculations. With the increasing concentration of Co in the Mn sites, the unit cell volume of LiMnPO 4 gradually decreases, and the capacity of the samples initially increases and then decreases • The best sample exhibited the highest electrochemical performance, with capacities of 164.7 and 97.5 mAh g-1 at 0.1C and 1C, respectively. Even after 100 cycles at 0.5C, the capacity retention rate reached 95.4%, that is, it has a long cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel single layer Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) for fifth generation (5G) applications with a polarization independent closely spaced dual band response. The proposed design consists of four split ring apertures etched on a square patch printed on a RT5880 dielectric substrate. The FSS has two stop-bands at 24.78 GHz and 28 GHz center frequencies with attenuations around 55 dB. The S21<−10 dB bandwidths (BW) of these bands are 14.48 % and 9.25 %, respectively and these closely spaced bands succeed 1.13 frequency ratio. It shows a stable frequency response for both TE and TM polarizations. Furthermore, the FSS represents a single layered and quite thin (thickness 0.042 λ l) structure with its unit cell size (0.70 λ l × 0.70 λ l , where λ l is the free-space wavelength at lower frequency). The novelty of the presented FSS is not only achieving a small closely spaced band ratio in the mmWave band and exhibiting polarization insensitivity but also providing these features with a simple geometry and, uncomplicated single layer structure. The simulation results were confirmed by well accordant measurement results. All these results make the presented FSS a good candidate for 5G electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodology to develop predictive simplified kinetics schemes (one-step/three-step chain-branching) is presented in which detonation velocity-curvature (D − κ) curves computed with detailed thermochemistry are used as the fitting target aiming to capture the turning point of the curve (κ crit). This was motivated by the similar trend observed between the κ crit values obtained using the simplified schemes of Taileb et al. (2020), fitted using conventional methods, and the critical reactive layer heights for detonation propagation under yielding confinement (h crit) reported by the same authors. Both updated schemes satisfactorily reproduce the target D − κ curves and are used to (re)compute multidimensional cellular detonations propagating in channels and confined by inert layers. Simulations show a much better agreement with the results obtained with detailed kinetics for the detonation flow fields, cell sizes distributions, and h crit. Moreover, it is observed that the average curvatures of the computed fronts are in line with those predicted by the D − κ formulation, providing supporting evidence of the applicability of reduced order models for fast and inexpensive estimates of detonation limiting behaviors in safety studies. Novelty and Significance Statement The novelty of this research lies in proposing and testing an alternative methodology to determine the kinetics parameters of simplified kinetics schemes (1 − step and 3 − step) so that these retain the predictive capabilities of detailed kinetics. This is achieved by using detonation velocity-curvature curves (D − κ) as a fitting target. Conventional fitting procedures, such as targeting ignition delay times and/or matching ZND profiles have been shown to perform poorly in previous research. The new methodology shows significant improvements in the prediction of dynamic detonation parameters in ideal detonations such as cell sizes distributions, as well as in the prediction of the critical reactive layer heights for detonation propagation under yielding confinement (h crit); a canonical configuration of interest to propulsion and industrial safety. For the latter, the new methodology yields h crit for H 2 -O 2 detonations of h crit = 12 mm instead of 24 mm (with conventional methods), and h crit = 8 mm instead of 20 mm , for the 1-step and 3-step models, respectively. The D κ results are much closer to those obtained with detailed kinetics ( h crit = 6 mm) and to the experimental measurements ( h crit = 4. 6 mm). The methodology is generic to be applied to any mixture of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]