Phase-sensitive spatially-modulated surface plasmon resonance polarimetry for detection of biomolecular interactions

We here describe a scheme of spatially modulated surface plasmon resonance (SPR) polarimetry that enables to combine ultra-high phase sensitivity with good signal-to-noise background. The proposed approach uses spatial modulation of s-polarized component by birefringent elements and the extraction of phase-polarization information by Fourier-transform methods. This scheme was tested for monitoring the interactions between an antibody and its biological partner. Our experimental data, collected by amplitude-sensitive and phase-sensitive polarimetry demonstrate that the latter scheme provides at least one order of magnitude improvement in terms of detection limit.     

Efficiency of naphthalene biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida G7 in soil

The efficiency of naphthalene degradation by Pseudomonas putida G7 in soil was assessed using a mathematical model. The number of microorganisms and the concentration of naphthalene in soil samples were monitored. The feasibility of a spectrofluorometric method for naphthalene assay in soil samples was compared with high pressure liquid chromatography. A proposed mathematical model described the growth of the naphthalene‐degrading strains and the consumption of substrates (naphthalene, naphthalene degradation intermediates and soil organic substances) in soil. To describe the growth kinetics of microorganisms having high affinity to substrates with low solubility, two differential equations with substrate exponent 2/3 were proposed. These equations were used to describe utilization of soil organic matter. The model parameters characterize the growth rates for different substrates and respective yield coefficients, specific bacterial death and adaptation rates, and also the rates of PAHs degradation and evaporation. These characteristics can be used in choosing the bacterial strains for biopreparations and efficient clean‐up biotechnology of polluted soils. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Properties of anodic oxides grown on a hafnium–tantalum–titanium thin film library

A ternary thin film combinatorial materials library of the valve metal system Hf–Ta–Ti obtained by co-sputtering was studied. The microstructural and crystallographic analysis of the obtained compositions revealed a crystalline and textured surface, with the exception of compositions with Ta concentration above 48 at.% which are amorphous and show a flat surface. Electrochemical anodization of the composition spread thin films was used for analysing the growth of the mixed surface oxides. Oxide formation factors, obtained from the potentiodynamic anodization curves, as well as the dielectric constants and electrical resistances, obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, were mapped along two dimensions of the library using a scanning droplet cell microscope. The semiconducting properties of the anodic oxides were mapped using Mott–Schottky analysis. The degree of oxide mixing was analysed qualitatively using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling. A quantitative analysis of the surface oxides was performed and correlated to the as-deposited metal thin film compositions. In the concurrent transport of the three metal cations during oxide growth a clear speed order of Ti > Hf > Ta was proven.     

Directed 2D-to-3D pattern transfer method for controlled fabrication of topologically complex 3D features in silicon

A process that allows control over the 3D motion of catalyst nanostructures during metal-assisted chemical etching by their local pinning prior to etching is demonstrated. The pinning material acts as a fulcrum for rotation of the catalyst structures resulting in etching of silicon features with rotational geometry.     

Elastic properties of porous media in the vicinity of the percolation limit

A new approach to calculation of the elastic bulk modulus of low consolidated porous media in the vicinity of the percolation limit under dry and saturated conditions is developed based on a physical consolidation model of rocks and the classical contact theory developed by H. Hertz in 1882. The derived analytical relationships for the elastic bulk modulus, which take into account the structural architecture of packing, are compared with theoretical predictions from popular micromechanic theories, Hashin–Shtrikman strict bounds as well as with experimental results available for low consolidated granular materials. The latter comparison demonstrates a good agreement under both dry and water saturated conditions.     

Cardiac Toxicity Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an important advancement in the field of cancer treatment, significantly improving the survival of patients with a series of advanced malignancies, like melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and Hodgkin lymphoma. ICIs act upon T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells, targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), breaking the immune tolerance of the T cells against malignant cells and enhancing the body’s own immune response. A variety of cardiac-adverse effects are associated with ICI-based treatment, including pericarditis, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and acute coronary syndrome, with myocarditis being the most studied due to its often-unexpected onset and severity. Overall, Myocarditis is rare but presents an immune-related adverse event (irAE) that has a high fatality rate. Considering the rising number of oncological patients treated with ICIs and the severity of their potential adverse effects, a good understanding and continuous investigation of cardiac irAEs is of the utmost importance. This systematic review aimed to revise recent publications (between 2016–2022) on ICI-induced cardiac toxicities and highlight the therapeutical approach and evolution in the selected cases.     

Circulating Small EVs miRNAs as Predictors of Pathological Response to Neo-Adjuvant Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Neo-adjuvant therapy (NAT) is increasingly used in the clinic for the treatment of breast cancer (BC). Pathological response to NAT has been associated with improved patients’ survival; however, the current techniques employed for assessing the tumor response have significant limitations. Small EVs (sEVs)-encapsulated miRNAs have emerged as promising new biomarkers for diagnosis and prediction. Therefore, our study aims to explore the predictive value of these miRNAs for the pathological response to NAT in BC. By employing bioinformatic tools, we selected a set of miRNAs and evaluated their expression in plasma sEVs and BC biopsies. Twelve miRNAs were identified in sEVs, of which, miR-21-5p, 221-3p, 146a-5p and 26a-5p were significantly associated with the Miller–Payne (MP) pathological response to NAT. Moreover, miR-21-5p, 146a-5p, 26a-5p and miR-24-3p were independent as predictors of MP response to NAT. However, the expression of these miRNAs showed no correlation between sEVs and tissue samples, indicating that the mechanisms of miRNA sorting into sEVs still needs to be elucidated. Functional analysis of miRNA target genes and drug interactions revealed that candidate miRNAs and their targets, can be regulated by different NAT regimens. This evidence supports their role in governing the patients’ therapy response and highlights their potential use as prediction biomarkers.     

Spacer-chromoionophores — polymethine dye substituted aza-crown ethers with increased complexation ability

Aromatic aldehyde derivatives of N-phenyl-aza-15-crown-5 ( 2 ), N-phenyl-aza-18-crown-6 ( 8 ), and benzo-15-crown-5 ( 10 ) are condensed with malononitrile and 2-amino-1,1,3-tricyano-1-propene to give light yellow to orange colored crown ether derivatives 4 , 5a , 9a , 11 , and 12 . 5a and 9a were acylated with ethyl chloroformate to give the magenta colored dyes 5b and 9b , respectively. By condensation of N-(4-nitrosophenyl)-aza-15-crown-5 3 with 2-amino-1,1,3-tricyano-1-propene the magenta dye 6a is obtained. Acylation of 6a with ethyl chloroformate leads to the deep blue colored dye 6b . In these derivatives the nitrogen or oxygen atoms of the crown ethers are part of the chromophoric system, and binding properties are affected. Further chromophoric derivatives of aza-crown ethers are studied in which these are separated from the chromophoric moiety by a spacer. N-(ω-chloroalkyl)-N-alkylanilines 14a-c were attached to aza-15-crown-5 13a-c and aza-18-crown-6 13b-c to yield the spacer crown ether derivatives 15a-c and 16a-c , respectively. The formylated spacer crown ether derivatives 17a-c and 18b were condensed with 2-amino-1,1,3-tricyano-1-propene to give the orange spacer-chromoionophores 19a-c and 20 . In these crown ether derivatives the extended conjugation is interrupted by the spacer, and good binding properties are obtained. The complex formation constants of the crown ether derivatives with Na⁺ and K⁺ are determined using ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Recognition and inspection of two-dimensional industrial parts using subpolygons

A model-based scene analysis for the recognition of imperfect and possibly occluded two-dimensional (2D) industrial parts is described. The means of recognition leads reliably to the correct association of the sides making up the unknown object to those of the model. Both the scene polygon and the model are divided into pairs of complementary subpolygons. This is done by a cutting line drawn parallel and close to a selected side. The subpolygons from the object are compared to all possible subpolygons from the model. Invariant moments are used in the analysis. A matching process using clusters of mutually consistent features is used to hypothesize the identity of the object. Examples are given to illustrate the method.