Long‐Term Electrical and Mechanical Function Monitoring of a Human‐on‐a‐Chip System

The goal of human‐on‐a‐chip systems is to capture multiorgan complexity and predict the human response to compounds within physiologically relevant platforms. The generation and characterization of such systems is currently a focal point of research given the long‐standing inadequacies of conventional techniques for predicting human outcome. Functional systems can measure and quantify key cellular mechanisms that correlate with the physiological status of a tissue, and can be used to evaluate therapeutic challenges utilizing many of the same endpoints used in animal experiments or clinical trials. Culturing multiple organ compartments in a platform creates a more physiologic environment (organ–organ communication). Here is reported a human 4‐organ system composed of heart, liver, skeletal muscle, and nervous system modules that maintains cellular viability and function over 28 days in serum‐free conditions using a pumpless system. The integration of noninvasive electrical evaluation of neurons and cardiac cells and mechanical determination of cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction allows the monitoring of cellular function, especially for chronic toxicity studies in vitro. The 28‐day period is the minimum timeframe for animal studies to evaluate repeat dose toxicity. This technology can be a relevant alternative to animal testing by monitoring multiorgan function upon long‐term chemical exposure.     

Improved frequency characteristics of the randomized PWM boost rectifier

A randomized pulse width modulation (RPWM) algorithm is applied in the control unit of the boost rectifier to achieve improved frequency characteristics in the wide band. First, the introduction of the RPWM switching is reflected in a smaller increase of the total harmonic distortion (THD) factor in the input current. Nevertheless, decrease of the power factor is negligibly small. Second, the power spectrum density (PSD) of the input current is estimated and measured to evaluate the influence of randomization in the high-frequency range. This approach offers an effective and credible prediction method for reduction of conductive electromagnetic interference (EMI) by using the RPWM switching.     

Improving mobile ad hoc network routing with satellite out‐of‐band signaling

Routing in mobile ad hoc networks is a complex task due to the mobility of the nodes and the constraints linked to a wireless multihop network (e.g., limited bandwidth, collisions, and bit errors). These adverse conditions impair not only data traffic but also routing signaling traffic, which feeds route computation. In this contribution, we propose to use satellite communications to help in the distribution of mobile ad hoc network routing signaling. The optimized link‐state routing (OLSR) is chosen among several routing protocols to be extended with satellite‐based signaling, yielding a version we call OLSR hybrid signaling (OLSR‐H). This new scheme is evaluated through simulations and yields improvements of approximately 10% in the data delivery ratio compared with a regular OLSR. This evaluation is conducted using two different network topology models, one being fit for representing forest firefighting operations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improving user content privacy on social networks using rights management systems

Currently, millions and millions of users are using online social networks to share their thoughts, experiences and content with online friends. Documents, videos, music and pictures are shared online, relying on the privacy and security controls offered by the social network platforms, with little control from the end user. This creates serious privacy concerns, since the control over the content shared online on the social network is out of the hands of the user. In this paper, the authors propose an approach for content privacy shared on social networks that is user-centric and not based on the social network platform. In order to achieve that, an architecture based on a rights management platform capable of enforcing the necessary security and privacy mechanisms that extend the original controls provided by the social network platform will be presented. That way, users will be able to control their privacy settings and protect their own content, even when they are no longer part of the social network (suspending or deleting its account).     

Reconstruction of nonuniformly sampled images in spline spaces.

This paper presents a novel approach to the reconstruction of images from nonuniformly spaced samples. This problem is often encountered in digital image processing applications. Nonrecursive video coding with motion compensation, spatiotemporal interpolation of video sequences, and generation of new views in multicamera systems are three possible applications. We propose a new reconstruction algorithm based on a spline model for images. We use regularization, since this is an ill-posed inverse problem. We minimize a cost function composed of two terms: one related to the approximation error and the other related to the smoothness of the modeling function. All the processing is carried out in the space of spline coefficients; this space is discrete, although the problem itself is of a continuous nature. The coefficients of regularization and approximation filters are computed exactly by using the explicit expressions of B-spline functions in the time domain. The regularization is carried out locally, while the computation of the regularization factor accounts for the structure of the nonuniform sampling grid. The linear system of equations obtained is solved iteratively. Our results show a very good performance in motion-compensated interpolation applications.     

Metal Organic Framework Crystals in Mixed‐Matrix Membranes: Impact of the Filler Morphology on the Gas Separation Performance

Mixed‐matrix membranes comprising NH₂‐MIL‐53(Al) and Matrimid or 6FDA‐DAM have been investigated. The metal organic framework (MOF) loading has been varied between 5 and 20 wt%, while NH₂‐MIL‐53(Al) with three different morphologies, nanoparticles, nanorods, and microneedles has been dispersed in Matrimid. The synthesized membranes have been tested in the separation of CO₂ from CH₄ in an equimolar mixture. At 3 bar and 298 K for 8 wt% MOF loading, incorporation of NH₂‐MIL‐53(Al) nanoparticles leads to the largest improvement compared to nanorods and microneedles. The incorporation of the best performing filler, i.e., NH₂‐MIL‐53(Al) nanoparticles, into the highly permeable 6FDA‐DAM has a larger effect, and the CO₂ permeability increases up to 85% with slightly lower selectivities for 20 wt% MOF loading. Specifically, these membranes have a permeability of 660 Barrer with a CO₂/CH₄ separation factor of 28, leading to a performance very close to the Robeson limit of 2008. Furthermore, a new non‐destructive technique based on Raman spectroscopy mapping is introduced to assess the homogeneity of the filler dispersion in the polymer matrix. The MOF contribution can be calculated by modeling the spectra. The determined homogeneity of the MOF filler distribution in the polymer is confirmed by focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy analysis.     

Effects of Phonon Confinement on Anomalous Thermalization,Energy Transfer,and Upconversion in Ln3+‐Doped Gd2O3 Nanotubes

There is a growing interest in understanding how size‐dependent quantum confinement affects the photoluminescence efficiency, excited‐state dynamics, energy‐transfer and thermalization phenomena in nanophosphors. For lanthanide (Ln³⁺)‐doped nanocrystals, despite the localized 4f states, confinement effects are induced mostly via electron–phonon interactions. In particular, the anomalous thermalization reported so far for a handful of Ln³⁺‐doped nanocrystals has been rationalized by the absence of low‐frequency phonon modes. This nanoconfinement may further impact on the Ln³⁺ luminescence dynamics, such as phonon‐assisted energy transfer or upconversion processes. Here, intriguing and unprecedented anomalous thermalization in Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ and Gd₂O₃:Yb³⁺,Er³⁺ nanotubes, exhibiting up to one order of magnitude larger than previously reported for similar materials, is reported. This anomalous thermalization induces unexpected energy transfer from Eu³⁺ C₂ to S₆ crystallographic sites, at 11 K, and ²H_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2 Er³⁺ upconversion emission; it is interpreted on the basis of the discretization of the phonon density of states, easily tuned by varying the annealing temperature (923–1123 K) in the synthesis procedure, and/or the Ln³⁺ concentration (0.16–6.60%).     

Fabrication of CdSe‐Nanofibers with Potential for Biomedical Applications

The design and synthesis of nanostructured functional hybrid biomaterials are essential for the next generation of advanced diagnostics and the treatment of disease. A simple route to fabricate semiconductor nanofibers by self‐assembled, elastin‐like polymer (ELP)‐templated semiconductor nanoparticles is reported. Core–shell nanostructures of CdSe nanoparticles with a shell of ELPs are used as building blocks to fabricate functional one‐dimensional (1D) nanostructures. The CdSe particles are generated in situ within the ELP matrix at room temperature. The ELP controls the size and the size‐distribution of the CdSe nanoparticles in an aqueous medium and simultaneously directs the self‐assembly of core–shell building blocks into fibril architectures. It was found that the self‐assembly of core–shell building blocks into nanofibers is strongly dependent on the pH value of the medium. Results of cytotoxicity and antiproliferation of the CdSe‐ELP nanofibers demonstrate that the CdSe‐ELP does not exhibit any toxicity towards B14 cells. Moreover, these are found to be markedly capable of crossing the cell membrane of B14. In contrast, unmodified CdSe nanoparticles with ELPs cause a strong toxic response and reduction in the cell proliferation. This concept is valid for the fabrication of a variety of metallic and semiconductor 1D‐architectures. Therefore, it is believed that these could be used not only for biomedical purposes but for application in a wide range of advanced miniaturized devices.     

Intratumoral Thermal Reading During Photo‐Thermal Therapy by Multifunctional Fluorescent Nanoparticles

The tremendous development of nanotechnology is bringing us closer to the dream of clinical application of nanoparticles in photothermal therapies of tumors. This requires the use of specific nanoparticles that must be highly biocompatible, efficient light‐to‐heat converters and fluorescent markers. Temperature reading by the heating nanoparticles during therapy appears of paramount importance to keep at a minimum the collateral damage that could arise from undesirable excessive heating. In this work, this thermally controlled therapy is possible by using Nd³⁺ ion‐doped LaF₃ nanocrystals. Because of the particular optical features of Nd³⁺ ions at high doping concentrations, these nanoparticles are capable of in vivo photothermal heating, fluorescent tumor localization and intratumoral thermal sensing. The successful photothermal therapy experiments here presented highlight the importance of controlling therapy parameters based on intratumoral temperature measurements instead of on the traditionally used skin temperature measurements. In fact, significant differences between intratumoral and skin temperatures do exist and could lead to the appearance of excessive collateral damage. These results open a new avenue for the real application of nano­particle‐based photothermal therapy at clinical level.