Toward Xeno-Free Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells

The small intestinal epithelium has an important role in nutrition, but also in drug absorption and metabolism. There are a few two-dimensional (2D) patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based intestinal models enabling easy evaluation of transcellular transport. It is known that animal-derived components induce variation in the experimental outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to refine the differentiation protocol by using animal-free components. More specifically, we compared maturation of 2D-cultured iPCSs toward small intestinal epithelial cells when cultured either with or without serum, and either on Geltrex or on animal-free, recombinant laminin-based substrata. Differentiation status was characterized by qPCR, immunofluorescence imaging, and functionality assays. Our data suggest that differentiation toward definitive endoderm is more efficient without serum. Both collagen- and recombinant laminin-based coating supported differentiation of definitive endoderm, posterior definitive endoderm, and small intestinal epithelial cells from iPS-cells equally well. Small intestinal epithelial cells differentiated on recombinant laminin exhibited slightly more enterocyte specific cellular functionality than cells differentiated on Geltrex. Our data suggest that functional small intestinal epithelial cells can be generated from iPSCs in serum-free method on xeno-free substrata. This method is easily converted to an entirely xeno-free method.     

Amylose is not Strictly Linear

Amyloses from selected corn starches were used to measure the glucoses involved in the branching points. The number of glucose α 1,6 glycosidically linked were determined by two different methods: 1) The enzymatic one measures directly quantiatively and specifically the glucoses α, 1,6 linked. 2) The other, a chemical one that measures the different n-methylated glucoses involved in the terminal, α 1,4 linked and α1,6 linked positions. The results obtained through both methodologies clearly indicate a good correlation. Amylose is not linear. It has very small proportion of branches and they are α1,6 glycosidically linked.     

A readout IC for an uncooled microbolometer infrared FPA with on-chip self-heating compensation in 0.35 μm CMOS

This paper describes a readout integrated circuit architecture for an infrared focal plane array intended for infrared network-attached video cameras in surveillance applications. The focal plane array consists of 352 × 288 uncooled thin-film microbolometer detectors with a pitch of 25 μm, enabling ambient temperature operation. The circuit features a low-noise readout path, detector resistance mismatch correction and a non-linear ramped current pulse scheme for the electrical biasing of the detectors in order to relax the dynamic range requirement of amplifiers and the ADC in the readout channel, imposed by detector process variation and self-heating during readout. The design is implemented in a 0.35-μm standard CMOS process and two versions of a smaller 32 × 32-pixel test chip have been fabricated and measured for evaluation. The latest test chip achieves a dynamic range of 97 dB and an input-referred RMS noise voltage of 6.4 μV yielding an estimated NETD value of 26 mK with f/1 optics. At a frame rate of 60 FPS the chip dissipates 170 mW of power from a 3.4 V supply.     

A mesh adaptation framework for dealing with large deforming meshes

In this paper, we identify and propose solutions for several issues encountered when designing a mesh adaptation package, such as mesh‐to‐mesh projections and mesh database design, and we describe an algorithm to integrate a mesh adaptation procedure in a physics solver. The open‐source MAdLib package is presented as an example of such a mesh adaptation library. A new technique combining global node repositioning and mesh optimization in order to perform arbitrarily large deformations is also proposed. We then present several test cases to evaluate the performances of the proposed techniques and to show their applicability to fluid–structure interaction problems with arbitrarily large deformations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sensitivity analysis of a finite element model for the simulation of stainless steel tube extrusion

In this work, a sensitivity analysis has been performed on a finite element model of glass-lubricated extrusion of stainless steel tubes. Fifteen model parameters, including ram speed, billet and tool temperatures, friction coefficients and heat transfer coefficients, were considered. The aim of the study was to determine the parameters that are most important for the response of the extrusion force. The relationship between the model parameters and the responses was analyzed by a calculation of two different regression models: one linear polynomial model and one model that includes interaction terms. Additional simulations were then carried out to validate the regression models. The results show that the initial billet temperature is the factor that has the strongest impact on the extrusion force within the parameter ranges studied in this work. The goodness of prediction and goodness of fit are very good for both regression models.     

Rooted Maximum Agreement Supertrees

Given a set $\T$ of rooted, unordered trees, where each $T_i \in \T$ is distinctly leaf-labeled by a set $\Lambda(T_i)$ and where the sets $\Lambda(T_i)$ may overlap, the maximum agreement supertree problem~(MASP) is to construct a distinctly leaf-labeled tree $Q$ with leaf set $\Lambda(Q) \subseteq $\cup$_{T_i \in \T} \Lambda(T_i)$ such that $|\Lambda(Q)|$ is maximized and for each $T_i \in \T$, the topological restriction of $T_i$ to $\Lambda(Q)$ is isomorphic to the topological restriction of $Q$ to $\Lambda(T_i)$. Let $n = \left| $\cup$_{T_i \in \T} \Lambda(T_i)\right|$, $k = |\T|$, and $D = \max_{T_i \in \T}\{\deg(T_i)\}$. We first show that MASP with $k = 2$ can be solved in $O(\sqrt{D} n \log (2n/D))$ time, which is $O(n \log n)$ when $D = O(1)$ and $O(n^{1.5})$ when $D$ is unrestricted. We then present an algorithm for MASP with $D = 2$ whose running time is polynomial if $k = O(1)$. On the other hand, we prove that MASP is NP-hard for any fixed $k \geq 3$ when $D$ is unrestricted, and also NP-hard for any fixed $D \geq 2$ when $k$ is unrestricted even if each input tree is required to contain at most three leaves. Finally, we describe a polynomial-time $(n/\!\log n)$-approximation algorithm for MASP.     

Issues related to the computer realization of a multidisciplinary and multiobjective optimization system

Issues and novel ideas to be considered when developing computer realizations of complex multidisciplinary and multiobjective optimization systems are introduced. The aim is to discuss computer realizations that make possible both computationally efficient multidisciplinary analysis and multiobjective optimization of real world problems. We introduce software tools that make typically very time-consuming simulation processes more effective and, thus, enable even interactive multiobjective optimization with a real decision maker. In this paper, we first define a multidisciplinary and multiobjective optimization system and after that present an implementation overview of such problems including basic components participating in the solution process. Furthermore, interfaces and data flows between the components are described. A couple of important features related to the implementation are discussed in detail, for example, the usage of automatic differentiation. Finally, the ideas presented are illustrated with an industrial multiobjective optimization problem, when we describe numerical experiments related to quality properties in paper making.     

Combination of biomolecular interaction analysis and mass spectrometric amino acid sequencing

We describe an approach for the combination of biomolecular interaction analysis (BIA) and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS) to obtain sequence information on the affinity-bound proteins on the sensor chip of BIA. The procedure is illustrated with stable and unstable interactions of recombinant proteins, i.e., histidine-tagged protein-Ni2+/NTA and 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate receptor-ligand interactions. The E. coli lysates expressing the recombinant proteins were passed through the sensor chips, and biomolecular interactions were monitored in real time. The molecules detected on the sensor chip were digested by delivering proteolytic enzyme to the sensing flow cells. The resulting on-chip digested peptide mixture at the mid- to low-femtomole level was recovered on a microcapillary reversed-phase precolumn by an on-line system and analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS. In both cases, unambiguous sequence information on the recombinant proteins isolated on the sensor chip was obtained from only a single run of analysis. The combined BIA-MS/MS may prove to be a general and versatile system to discover novel biomolecular interactions and to analyze protein complexes.     

Studies of relaxation phenomena in polymers. II. The behavior of simple polymers in their main transition region

In an earlier paper, a “new” viscoelastic function, log J₂ = g{log J₁}, was defined. For polymers, the linear viscoelastic behavior of which is characterized by “simple segment movements” in their main transition regions, the following general properties are found: (1) The local maxima of the function for different polymers fall along a straight line width the slope approximately equal to 1.1. (2) A characteristical general shape is noticed for the function after shifting along the straight line and reducing the J₁ compliance as regards the “frozen in” compliance J₁₀. (3) J₁ reflects the storage and J₂, the loss mechanisms of the system. The relation J₂/J₁ is an expression for the average retardation time.     

Environmental education for all engineers.

Environmental engineering education at universities is a rapidly changing field globally. Traditionally it has resided in the civil engineering program addressing water and wastewater quality, treatment, design and regulatory issues. In recent years environmental engineering has become a much broader field encompassing water, wastewater, soil pollution, air pollution, risk assessment, ecosystems, human health, toxicology, sustainable development, regulatory aspects and much more. The need to introduce environmental engineering/green engineering/pollution prevention/design for the environment concepts to undergraduate engineering students has become recognized to be increasingly important. This need is being driven in part through the US Engineering Accreditation Commission Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology criteria 2000. Thus there has been a major shift in environmental engineering education and it no longer resides only within the civil engineering discipline. This paper focuses on the development of innovative curricula for a brand new engineering program at Rowan University that integrates environmental education for all engineers. A common course known as "engineering clinic" was developed for all engineering students throughout their eight semesters of engineering education. One of the clinic goals is to integrate engineering design and the environment. The program, in its seventh year, indicates successful implementation of environmental education in all four engineering disciplines in their course work and clinics.