Collagen-Specific Molecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Prostate Cancer

Constant interactions between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) influence the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). One of the key components of the ECM are collagen fibers, since they are responsible for the tissue stiffness, growth, adhesion, proliferation, migration, invasion/metastasis, cell signaling, and immune recruitment of tumor cells. To explore this molecular marker in the content of PCa, we investigated two different tumor volumes (500 mm³ and 1000 mm³) of a xenograft mouse model of PCa with molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a collagen-specific probe. For in vivo MRI evaluation, T1-weighted sequences before and after probe administration were analyzed. No significant signal difference between the two tumor volumes could be found. However, we detected a significant difference between the signal intensity of the peripheral tumor area and the central area of the tumor, at both 500 mm³ (p < 0.01, n = 16) and at 1000 mm³ (p < 0.01, n = 16). The results of our histologic analyses confirmed the in vivo studies: There was no significant difference in the amount of collagen between the two tumor volumes (p > 0.05), but within the tumor, higher collagen expression was observed in the peripheral area compared with the central area of the tumor. Laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry further confirmed these results. The 1000 mm³ tumors contained 2.8 ± 1.0% collagen and the 500 mm³ tumors contained 3.2 ± 1.2% (n = 16). There was a strong correlation between the in vivo MRI data and the ex vivo histological data (y = −0.068x + 1.1; R² = 0.74) (n = 16). The results of elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry supported the MRI data (y = 3.82x + 0.56; R² = 0.79; n = 7). MRI with the collagen-specific probe in PCa enables differentiation between different tumor areas. This may help to differentiate tumor from healthy tissue, potentially identifying tumor areas with a specific tumor biology.     

From Mind to Products:Towards Social Manufacturing and Service

After reviewing the development of industrial manufacturing, a novel concept called social manufacturing (SM) and service are proposed as an innovative manufacturing solution for the coming personalized customization era. SM can realize a customer's requirements of "from mind to products", and fulfill tangible and intangible needs of a prosumer, i.e., producer and consumer at the same time. It represents a manufacturing trend, and is expected to become popular in more and more industries. First, a comparison between mass customization and SM is given out, and the basis and motivation from social network to SM is analyzed. Then, its basic theories and supporting technologies, like Internet of Things (IoT), social networks, cloud computing, 3D printing, and intelligent systems, are introduced and analyzed, and an SM platform prototype is developed. Finally, three transformation modes towards SM and 3D printing are suggested for different user cases.      

Observation of Exchange Interaction in Iron(II) Spin Crossover Molecules in Contact with Passivated Ferromagnetic Surface of Co/Au(111)

Spin crossover (SCO) complexes sensitively react on changes of the environment by a change in the spin of the central metallic ion making them ideal candidates for molecular spintronics. In particular, the composite of SCO complexes and ferromagnetic (FM) surfaces would allow spin-state switching of the molecules in combination with the magnetic exchange interaction to the magnetic substrate. Unfortunately, when depositing SCO complexes on ferromagnetic surfaces, spin-state switching is blocked by the relatively strong interaction between the adsorbed molecules and the surface. Here, the Fe(II) SCO complex [Fe^II(Pyrz)₂] (Pyrz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolylborate) with sub-monolayer thickness in contact with a passivated FM film of Co on Au(111) is studied. In this case, the molecules preserve thermal spin crossover and at the same time the high-spin species show a sizable exchange interaction of > 0.9 T with the FM Co substrate. These observations provide a feasible design strategy in fabricating SCO-FM hybrid devices.     

Design and Analysis of Charge-Reduced Refrigerant Cycles Using R290

R290 is one of the most promising refrigerants for heat pumps and cooling processes working in a temperature range of –15 to 70 °C. The nearly neglectable global warming potential and attractive thermodynamic properties allow the design of climate-friendly and efficient refrigeration systems and heat pumps. However, R290 is flammable, and the use of charge-reduced components and designs should be the first central step to reduce safety risks. Whereas the prediction of heat capacity, temperatures and pressure drops are sufficiently precise the prediction of refrigerant charge is not very accurate when using computer-aided design tools. The article presents a method to enhance accuracy for refrigerant cycles with less than 500 g of R290.     

Tap Reactor for Temporally and Spatially Resolved Analysis of the CO2 Methanation Reaction

Chemical energy carriers produced according to power-to-X concepts will play a crucial role in the future energy system. Here, CO₂ methanation is described as one promising route. However, transient operating conditions and the resulting effects on catalyst stability are to be considered. In this contribution, a tap reactor for spatially and temporally resolved analysis of the methanation reaction is presented. The Ni catalyst investigated was implemented as coating. Reaction data as a function of time and reactor coordinate under various operating conditions are presented and discussed. A comparison with simulation data validates the presented tap reactor concept.     

RaQuN: a generic and scalable n-way model matching algorithm

Software and Systems Modeling - Model matching algorithms are used to identify common elements in input models, which is a fundamental precondition for many software engineering tasks, such as...     

Molecular Assessment of Metabolome Alterations in Lotus japonicus Roots Induced by Arbuscular Mycorrhiza

An arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis, which is established by 80% of all vascular plants and Glomeromycota fungi, can boost the growth, stress tolerance, and yield of agricultural crop plants by increasing the mineral supply of the host plant [1]. Mineral nutrients absorbed by the fungus are exchanged for photoassimilates from the plant via highly branched fungal structures called arbuscules which are formed within root cortex cells [2]. The process of arbuscule formation and degradation is highly dynamic and accompanied by considerable cell reprogramming [3], but there is only limited knowledge on the influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza on the host metabolome. We investigated alterations of the host plant's root metabolome induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis using the model legume Lotus japonicus. Methanol extracts of mycorrhizal (myc) and non-mycorrhizal roots (mock) were analyzed employing ultra-highperformance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–time-of-flight–ion mobility–mass spectrometry (UPLC–ESI–ToF–IM–MS) in an untargeted metabolomics approach. Up-regulated marker metabolites were identified via principal components analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares–discriminant analysis (OPLS–DA) depicted as S-plots, and their structures elucidated by co-chromatography with authentic standards or by isolation from L. japonicus roots using preparative HPLC and one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) experiments. We isolated three previously unknown mycorrhizal marker polyphenols from L. japonicus roots, one being a coumaronochromone, one pterocarp-6a-ene, and one aryl benzofuran carboxaldehyde. Additionally, we identified three more coumaronochromones, three flavonoids, three isoflavonoids, and one coumestan in mycorrhized L. japonicus.     

Reduction Kinetics of Cold-Bonded Briquette Prepared from Return Fines of Sinter with Carbon Monoxide and Coke

The reduction kinetics of cold-bonded briquette prepared from return fines of sinter is studied. The results reveal that cold-bonded briquettes with coke (CBBC) have a higher reduction velocity index (RVI) value than cold-bonded briquettes without coke (CBB). Interfacial chemical reaction controls the early stages of the CBB reduction process at 900 and 950 °C, followed by both interfacial chemical reaction and internal diffusion. At 1000, 1050, and 1100 °C, the early and final stages of the CBB reduction process are controlled by interfacial chemical reaction and internal diffusion, respectively, while both interfacial chemical reaction and internal diffusion control middle stage. The apparent activation energies of the different stages are 46.20, 56.74, 38.24, and 40.74 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The gasification of carbon reaction controls the reduction process of CBBC, and the apparent activation energy is 32.42 kJ mol⁻¹. According to the Friedman method, the apparent activation energy of CBB and CBBC is reasonable. Coke promotes the phase transformation in CBBC. Scanning electron microscopy results show that the CBBC sample is more fully reduced than the CBB sample and that it has smoother corners and edges of the iron-bearing phase or the metallic iron phase than the CBB sample.