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Abstract Droplet encapsulations using liquid or solid shells are of significant interest in microreactors, drug delivery, crystallization, and cell growth applications. Despite progress in droplet-related technologies, tuning micron-scale shell thickness over a large range of droplet sizes is still a major challenge. In this work, we report capillary force assisted cloaking using hydrophobic colloidal particles and liquid-infused surfaces. The technique produces uniform solid and liquid shell encapsulations over a broad range (5–200 μm shell thickness for droplet volume spanning over four orders of magnitude). Tunable liquid encapsulation is shown to reduce the evaporation rate of droplets by up to 200 times with a wide tunability in lifetime (1.5 h to 12 days). Further, we propose using the technique for single crystals and cell/spheroid culture platforms. Stimuli-responsive solid shells show hermetic encapsulation with tunable strength and dissolution time. Moreover, scalability, and versatility of the technique is demonstrated for on-chip applications.

Abstract Misexpression and remodeling of the extracellular matrix is a canonical hallmark of cancer, although the extent of cancer‐associated aberrations in the genes coding for extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and the consequences thereof are not well understood. In this study, we examined the alterations in core matrisomal genes across a set of nine cancers. These genes, especially the ones encoding for ECM glycoproteins (GP), were observed to be more susceptible to mutations than copy number variations across cancers. We classified the glycoprotein genes based on the ubiquity of their mutations across the nine cancer groups and estimated their evolutionary age using phylostratigraphy. To our surprise, the ECM glycoprotein genes commonly mutated across all cancers were predominantly unicellular in origin, whereas those commonly showing mutations in specific cancers evolved mostly during and after the unicellular‐multicellular transition. Pathway annotation for biological interactions revealed that the most pervasively mutated glycoprotein set regulated a larger set of inter‐protein interactions and constituted more cohesive interaction networks relative to the cancer‐specific mutated set. In addition, ontological prediction revealed the pervasively mutated set to be strongly enriched for basement membrane (BM) dynamics. Our results suggest that ancient unicellular‐origin ECM GP were canalized into playing critical tissue morphogenetic roles, and when disrupted through matrisomal gene mutations, associated with neoplastic transformation of a wide set of human tissues.

Background: The use of real time ultrasound (US) for insertion of central venous catheters is limited by various factors such as availability, space constraints, and perceived lack of need according to surveys including cardiovascular anesthesiologists. Methods: After the ethical committee approval and patient consent, 201 adult patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were randomized to undergo internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation by either of the two methods: Landmark technique (control group), static US technique using the transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) probe (US group). The success rate, number of attempts, total cannulation time, and complication rate in the two groups were compared. Results: The overall success rate and the first attempt success rate were significantly higher in the control group than the US group (99% vs. 89.6%, P = 0.003 and 87.6% vs. 70.8%, P = 0.003, respectively). The total number of attempts to locate the IJV with the finder needle as well as the puncture needle was significantly lower in the control group than the US group (2.2 vs. 1.3, P = 0.001and 1.7 vs. 1.2, P = 0.021, respectively). The incidence of arterial puncture was higher in the US group than the control group (9.4% vs. 1.9%, P= 0.020). The total cannulation time was also higher in the US group (430 ± 320 s) than the control group (197 ± 116 s, P= 0.001). Conclusion: The landmark technique has a higher success rate, lower complication rate, and total cannulation time as compared with the static US technique using the TTE probe for IJV cannulation in adult cardiac surgical patients.

Dorsolumbar trauma is the most common cause of paraparesis or paraplegia. Optimal goals of the management include establishment of a painless, balanced and stable spinal column with vertebral fusion. We reviewed various types of fractures of dorsolumbar spine, their management and outcome in a prospective study of 94 cases of dorsolumbar trauma managed surgically at our centre (Jan 2008 – May 2009). All patients underwent complete neurological examination, CT and MR imaging of the spine. Most common mode of injury was fall from height (66%). Majority of the patients belonged to Frankel grade A (66 %). Eighteen patients (19 %) were operated using anterior approach and rest by posterior approach. There was no deterioration in neurological status in any of the patients while 26 patients had improvement. Three cases died out of which one was attributed to associated head injury. We conclude that fall from height is the most common cause of dorsolumbar fracture with majority affected belonging to young population and had significant deficits, thus causing significant burden on the society. Surgical management is safe and helps in early mobilization and rehabilitation, thus facilitating possible neurological recovery.

The article presents a research study that aims to understand what makes listening a difficult and complex task for foreigner learners of Korean language and what can be done in the classroom to overcome those obstacles. Discusses the process of listening, which is a complex process; what makes Korean listening difficult: real-time, speed, and pronunciation, accent and tone, colloquial; need of an improved approach; and teaching listening strategies.

The present work reports the structural and ferromagnetic properties of 200 KeV Ni2+ ion implanted ZnO films before and after annealing at 650 °C in air and correlates these properties with their electronic structures. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at Zn and Ni K-edges reveal that Zn metal cluster is absent in ZnO matrix, but there is an indication of clustering of Ni metal as a secondary phase. The XAS analysis of O K-edge shows (i) non-stoichiometric NiO segregation in as-implanted film and its absence/reduction in air annealed film, (ii) partial substitution of Ni2+ ions at tetrahedral Zn sites, and (iii) presence of lattice defects such as oxygen vacancies in both films. The observed ferromagnetic behavior of as-implanted and air annealed films has both intrinsic as well as extrinsic origins. The intrinsic and extrinsic origins are discussed in terms of bound magnetic polaron model and presence of antiferromagnetic NiO phase/ferromagnetic Ni metal clusters, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report x-ray absorption at Zn and Ni K-edges in 200 keV Ni2+ ion implanted ZnO/sapphire films. The implantation fluences are 6 × 1015 and 2 × 1016 ions/cm2, corresponding to 2% and 7% Ni in a ZnO matrix. The measurements reveal a marginal substitution of Ni in ZnO in both the films and also rule out the presence of ferromagnetic Ni metal clusters. The M-H and field cooled-zero field cooled measurements performed via SQUID magnetometry show that the films are ferromagnetic at room temperature, and the saturation magnetization of 2% Ni film is appreciably higher than that of 7% Ni film. The origin of ferromagnetism is understood on the basis of the oxygen vacancy mediated bound magnetic polaron model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Available footprint on offshore platforms (Fig. 1) can be a significant challenge for coiled-tubing (CT) operations. Many times, platform limitations require that a smaller CT unit be deployed for work that would be faster and easier operationally with CT of a larger diameter. Often the platform's crane capacity dictates the size of CT used, which in turn reduces the working envelope of the CT. Some wells offshore India are completed horizontally and require intervention using larger sizes of CT in order to gain horizontal reach and manipulate sliding sleeves. When CT is used for these operations, the weight of the CT reel itself is critical to the effectiveness of the overall operation and requires proper management. Traditional methods of managing/reducing CT-reel weight involve spooling the CT string from a boat to the platform or joining CT sections by butt welding on the platform. Bringing the required length of CT onboard in two or more sections and joining them with a spoolable connector provides significant benefits over the traditional methods. The use of just one spoolable connector can reduce the maximum CT-reel lifting weight by typically 30 to 40% while increasing the CT size by one or two gauge sizes. This paper describes the results of a feasibility study performed to address typical challenges and presents actual case histories in which a spoolable connector was used to connect two CT strings. Required equipment was built and mobilized so that two separate strings could be joined on the platform with the aid of a connecting jig. Several trips were performed safely without the need to change the spoolable connector. Specific benefits of the spoolable connector over the traditional methods are explained. Methods to monitor the usable life of the spoolable connector while tripping in and out of the well (Fig. 2) will also be discussed, as well as new developments currently under way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Radiation is a well-known etiology for many CNS tumors, including meningiomas, sarcomas and gliomas. However, occurrence of pituitary adenoma after radiation exposure is rare. We report a 21-year-old man with a pituitary adenoma, who was treated with post-operative radiotherapy for pontine glioma at 6 years of age. The role of radiation exposure in the etiology of pituitary adenoma is discussed, along with a literature review of radiation-induced tumors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]