Modeling Self-Rollable Elastomeric Films for Building Bioinspired Hierarchical 3D Structures

In this work, an innovative model is proposed as a design tool to predict both the inner and outer radii in rolled structures based on polydimethylsiloxane bilayers. The model represents an improvement of Timoshenko’s formula taking into account the friction arising from contacts between layers arising from rolling by more than one turn, hence broadening its application field towards materials based on elastomeric bilayers capable of large deformations. The fabricated structures were also provided with surface topographical features that would make them potentially usable in different application scenarios, including cell/tissue engineering ones. The bilayer design parameters were varied, such as the initial strain (from 20 to 60%) and the bilayer thickness (from 373 to 93 µm). The model matched experimental data on the inner and outer radii nicely, especially when a high friction condition was implemented in the model, particularly reducing the error below 2% for the outer diameter while varying the strain. The model outperformed the current literature, where self-penetration is not excluded, and a single value of the radius of spontaneous rolling is used to describe multiple rolls. A complex 3D bioinspired hierarchical elastomeric microstructure made of seven spirals arranged like a hexagon inscribed in a circumference, similar to typical biological architectures (e.g., myofibrils within a sarcolemma), was also developed. In this case also, the model effectively predicted the spirals’ features (error smaller than 18%), opening interesting application scenarios in the modeling and fabrication of bioinspired materials.     

Limited Accuracy of Pan-Trk Immunohistochemistry Screening for NTRK Rearrangements in Follicular-Derived Thyroid Carcinoma

Patients with advanced thyroid cancer harboring NTRK rearrangements can be treated with highly effective selective inhibitors. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis, to detect Trk protein expression, represents an appealing screening strategy for NTRK rearrangements, but its efficacy has been poorly explored in thyroid cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic utility of Trk IHC in the identification of NTRK rearrangements. A series of 26 follicular-derived thyroid tumors, positive for NTRK rearrangements, and 28 NTRK fusion-negative controls were retrospectively analyzed by IHC using the pan-Trk monoclonal antibody (clone {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"EPR17341","term_id":"523383444","term_text":"EPR17341"}}EPR17341) on the Ventana system. Area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity were calculated by ROC analysis. Trk expression was detected in 25 samples, including 22 out of the 26 NTRK-rearranged (84.6%) and three out of 28 NTRK-negative samples (10.7%). Four out of twenty-six NTRK-rearranged thyroid tumors were negative for Trk expression (15.4%), all carrying the ETV6/NTRK3 fusion. The AUC, sensitivity and specificity were 0.87, 0.85 and 0.89, respectively. A screening based on IHC analysis showed limited sensitivity and specificity in the identification of NTRK-rearranged tumors. Since falsely negative results could preclude the administration of effective targeted drugs, alternative detection strategies should be considered for thyroid cancer.     

Empirical Evaluation of CASE Tools Usage at Nokia

We presentthe results of a research work targeted to understanding thedomains and consequences of CASE tools usage in Nokia. We aimto evaluate the importance of the various CASE tools features,as rated by our developers, and how well such features are implementedin currently available CASE tools. A structured questionnairewas sent to our most experienced developers and CASE users. Fromthis survey, it emerged that CASE tools support is reputed mostuseful for the following functions: graphical drawing, automaticdocumentation generation and storage of diagrams. The resultshint to a mismatch between the features required by the developersand those offered by CASE products. Further research is neededbefore more definite conclusions can be drawn.     

A straightforward design technique for narrowband multi‐stage low‐noise amplifiers with I/O conjugate match

Low‐noise amplifier (LNA) designers often struggle to simultaneously satisfy gain, noise, stability, and I/O matching requirements. In this article, a novel design technique, tailored for two‐stage low‐noise amplifiers, is presented. The proposed design method is completely deterministic and exploits inductive source degeneration to obtain a two‐stage LNA featuring perfect input and output match together with low noise figure (NF) and a pre‐determined gain, including stability analysis. A novel flowchart is provided together with the corresponding design chart that contains gain, matching, and stability information, therefore addressing all key figures‐of‐merit of a linear amplifier. The design chart is easily implementable in commercial Electronic Design Automation software, to aid designers in the difficult task of selecting the appropriate source degeneration inductor value. The noise performance, on the other hand, is the best possible since the matching networks are designed to provide the input of the two Field Effect Transistors with the optimum termination for noise. The design method is validated with two separate test vehicles operating respectively at Ka‐band (26.5‐31.5 GHz) and K‐band (20.0‐24.0 GHz). The realized Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits exhibit 18 dB gain for both versions, NF of 1.5 and 1.2 dB, respectively for the Ka‐band and K‐band version. Input and output matching are typically better than 12 and 15 dB.     

Exploring networks with traceroute-like probes: Theory and simulations

Mapping the Internet generally consists in sampling the network from a limited set of sources by using traceroute-like probes. This methodology, akin to the merging of different spanning trees to a set of destination, has been argued to introduce uncontrolled sampling biases that might produce statistical properties of the sampled graph which sharply differ from the original ones. In this paper, we explore these biases and provide a statistical analysis of their origin. We derive an analytical approximation for the probability of edge and vertex detection that exploits the role of the number of sources and targets and allows us to relate the global topological properties of the underlying network with the statistical accuracy of the sampled graph. In particular, we find that the edge and vertex detection probability depends on the betweenness centrality of each element. This allows us to show that shortest path routed sampling provides a better characterization of underlying graphs with broad distributions of connectivity. We complement the analytical discussion with a throughout numerical investigation of simulated mapping strategies in network models with different topologies. We show that sampled graphs provide a fair qualitative characterization of the statistical properties of the original networks in a fair range of different strategies and exploration parameters. Moreover, we characterize the level of redundancy and completeness of the exploration process as a function of the topological properties of the network. Finally, we study numerically how the fraction of vertices and edges discovered in the sampled graph depends on the particular deployements of probing sources. The results might hint the steps toward more efficient mapping strategies.     

Pressure‐Tunable Ambipolar Conduction and Hysteresis in Thin Palladium Diselenide Field Effect Transistors

Few‐layer palladium diselenide (PdSe₂) field effect transistors are studied under external stimuli such as electrical and optical fields, electron irradiation, and gas pressure. The ambipolar conduction and hysteresis are observed in the transfer curves of the as‐exfoliated and unprotected PdSe₂ material. The ambipolar conduction and its hysteretic behavior in the air and pure nitrogen environments are tuned. The prevailing p‐type transport observed at atmospheric pressure is reversibly turned into a dominant n‐type conduction by reducing the pressure, which can simultaneously suppress the hysteresis. The pressure control can be exploited to symmetrize and stabilize the transfer characteristics of the device as required in high‐performance logic circuits. The transistors are affected by trap states with characteristic times in the order of minutes. The channel conductance, dramatically reduced by the electron irradiation during scanning electron microscope imaging, is restored after an annealing of several minutes at room temperature. The work paves the way toward the exploitation of PdSe₂ in electronic devices by providing an experiment‐based and deep understanding of charge transport in PdSe₂ transistors subjected to electrical stress and other external agents.     

BETaaS: A Platform for Development and Execution of Machine-to-Machine Applications in the Internet of Things

Wireless Personal Communications - The integration of everyday objects into the Internet represents the foundation of the forthcoming Internet of Things (IoT). Smart objects will be the building...     

NSCLC as the Paradigm of Precision Medicine at Its Finest: The Rise of New Druggable Molecular Targets for Advanced Disease

Standard treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) historically consisted of systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy until the early 2000s, when precision medicine led to a revolutionary change in the therapeutic scenario. The identification of oncogenic driver mutations in EGFR, ALK and ROS1 rearrangements identified a subset of patients who largely benefit from targeted agents. However, since the proportion of patients with druggable alterations represents a minority, the discovery of new potential driver mutations is still an urgent clinical need. We provide a comprehensive review of the emerging molecular targets in NSCLC and their applications in the advanced setting.     

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in Pediatric Urology: Urethral and Urinary Bladder Reconstruction

In the case of pediatric urology there are several congenital conditions, such as hypospadias and neurogenic bladder, which affect, respectively, the urethra and the urinary bladder. In fact, the gold standard consists of a urethroplasty procedure in the case of urethral malformations and enterocystoplasty in the case of urinary bladder disorders. However, both surgical procedures are associated with severe complications, such as fistulas, urethral strictures, and dehiscence of the repair or recurrence of chordee in the case of urethroplasty, and metabolic disturbances, stone formation, urine leakage, and chronic infections in the case of enterocystoplasty. With the aim of overcoming the issue related to the lack of sufficient and appropriate autologous tissue, increasing attention has been focused on tissue engineering. In this review, both the urethral and the urinary bladder reconstruction strategies were summarized, focusing on pediatric applications and evaluating all the biomaterials tested in both animal models and patients. Particular attention was paid to the capability for tissue regeneration in dependence on the eventual presence of seeded cell and growth factor combinations in several types of scaffolds. Moreover, the main critical features needed for urinary tissue engineering have been highlighted and specifically focused on for pediatric application.     

达涅利薄板坯连铸连轧设备最新技术成果

给出达涅利薄板坯连铸连轧技术的最新应用成果.这些成果表明,达涅利技术不仅用于生产普通钢种,还可用于生产质量要求严格的优质钢种和高附加值产品.由达涅利在尼兹尼.诺夫戈罗德区Vyksa建设1套CRC(连铸连轧)设备.这是在俄罗斯建设的第1套薄板坯连铸连轧设备,也是世界上第1套利用薄板坯连铸连轧工艺路线生产北极高寒地区用API管线钢的生产设备.另外2套设备已在中国唐山钢铁集团有限公司和本溪钢铁集团有限公司进入满负荷生产阶段,前者一直保持着设备生产能力世界纪录,后者则成为中国第一家利用薄板坯连铸连轧工艺生产硅钢的厂家.