Study of cryostructuration of polymer systems. XXI. Cryotropic gel formation of the water–maltodextrin systems

The freeze–thaw behavior of water solutions containing dissolved maltodextrin (MD; enzymatically converted potato starch derivative with MW of 8000 Da) over a wide range of MD concentration (0.1–15 g/dL) and freezing temperatures from ?24 to ?6°C was studied. Cryogenic treatment of these systems resulted in the formation of precipitates or gels, whose yield and thermal characteristics (fusion temperature and enthalpy) depended on the initial polymer concentration and conditions of freezing, frozen storage, and thawing. There appeared to be at least two stages to this process: (i) a rapid stage, when partial insolubilization occurred while the system was freezing, and (ii) a slower stage, the rate of which was dependent mainly on the thawing regimes used or the duration of storage at subzero temperatures. In this respect, the cryostructuration of MD was very similar to the freeze–thaw behavior of amylopectin/amylose and locust bean gum water solutions studied earlier. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1658–1667, 2002     

Synergic grain boundary segregation and precipitation in W- and W-Mo-containing high-entropy borides

The structures of W- and W-Mo-containing high-entropy borides (HEBs) are systematically studied by combining atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy imaging, electron diffraction, and chemical analysis. We reveal that W or W-Mo addition in HEBs leads to segregation of these elements to the grain boundaries (GBs). In the meantime, W- or W-Mo-rich precipitates also form along the GBs. Crystallographic analysis and atomic-scale imaging show that the GB precipitates in both W- and W-Mo-containing HEBs have a cube-on-cube orientation relationship with the matrix. With further strain analysis, the coherency of the precipitate/matrix interface is validated. Nanoindentation tests show that the simultaneous GB segregation and coherent precipitation, as a supplement to the grain hardening, provide additional hardening of the HEBs. Our work provides an in-depth understanding of the GB segregation and precipitation behaviors of HEBs. It suggests that GB engineering could be potentially used for optimizing the performance of high-entropy ceramics.     

Equality of access and local loop unbundling in the UK broadband telecommunications market

The relationship between an incumbent telecommunications operator and those companies that access its network is often fraught. This is particularly true in respect of local loop unbundling (LLU), a key product in the broadband telecommunications market. OFCOM, the UK’s telecommunications regulator, recently conducted a major review of the industry that resulted in a new approach to tackling this relationship. This paper focuses on this new approach, which combined a new regulatory concept – equality of access – with the establishment of a mini-regulator focusing on local loop unbundling processes, and goes on to assess the extent to which the relationship has been improved.     

Toward a 2D/3D Finite-Element–Based Digital Shadow for the Approximation of Metrologically Inaccessible Dynamic Fields of State Variables during Heavy Plate Rolling

While innovations in metal forming technology are closely linked to material science, automation, and mechatronization in recent decades, nowadays, and in the upcoming years, they are supposed to be driven by digital transformation and virtualization. Motivated by this expectation and the fact that the dynamic, process-relevant thermophysical state variables in plates during rolling are difficult or even impossible to measure, a modularly structured 2D/3D model, integrated into a digital shadow, is built and validated against a metrologically accessible process data. The decisive innovation of the presented modeling strategy is the investigation of the state during longitudinal rolling in the fillet, depending on the width direction. The fillet marks the heavy plate without head and tail crops, developed during longitudinal rolling. Application of the simulation tool reveals significant temperature gradients near the plate surfaces, both horizontally and vertically, but also a region of nearly constant temperature near the core. The development of the fillet cross-section shape, including the emergence of bulges or contractions at the side surfaces, is predicted within the simulation. The digital shadow is scalable and has a parameterized structure so that rolling schedules of different compositions can be simulated.     

Preclinical Evaluation of CRISPR-Edited CAR-NK-92 Cells for Off-the-Shelf Treatment of AML and B-ALL

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL) are severe blood malignancies affecting both adults and children. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based immunotherapies have proven highly efficacious in the treatment of leukemia. However, the challenge of the immune escape of cancer cells remains. The development of more affordable and ready-to-use therapies is essential in view of the costly and time-consuming preparation of primary cell-based treatments. In order to promote the antitumor function against AML and B-ALL, we transduced NK-92 cells with CD276-CAR or CD19-CAR constructs. We also attempted to enhance cytotoxicity by a gene knockout of three different inhibitory checkpoints in NK cell function (CBLB, NKG2A, TIGIT) with CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The antileukemic activity of the generated cell lines was tested with calcein and luciferase-based cytotoxicity assays in various leukemia cell lines. Both CAR-NK-92 exhibited targeted cytotoxicity and a significant boost in antileukemic function in comparison to parental NK-92. CRISPR-Cas9 knock-outs did not improve B-ALL cytotoxicity. However, triple knock-out CD276-CAR-NK-92 cells, as well as CBLB or TIGIT knock-out NK-92 cells, showed significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against U-937 or U-937 CD19/tag AML cell lines. These results indicate that the CD19-CAR and CD276-CAR-NK-92 cell lines’ cytotoxic performance is suitable for leukemia killing, making them promising off-the-shelf therapeutic candidates. The knock-out of CBLB and TIGIT in NK-92 and CD276-CAR-NK-92 should be further investigated for the treatment of AML.     

Investigations on milk flow and milk yield from teats with milk flow disorders

The objective of this study was to investigate peak milk flow, average milk flow, and milk yield in teats with milk flow disorders. A total of 100 hard milking teats were studied in 97 cows. Teats with milk flow disorders were examined endoscopically. Quarter milk flow and quarter milk yield were examined with four Lactocorders attached to a quarter milking machine. Peak milk flow, average milk flow, and milk yield were measured in all teats of the udder before treatment of the affected teat, as well as 1 and 6 mo later. Teats with milk flow disorders were compared to all other teats of the same udder. Before treatment, peak milk flow from affected teats was 20%, average milk flow 14%, and milk yield 53% of the control teats, adjusted for other significant explanatory variables. Milk flow and milk yield increased after surgical treatment of the affected teats. Six months after treatment peak milk flow was 79%, average milk flow 76%, milk yield was 71% compared with control teats. We conclude from these findings that teat endoscopy and measuring quarter milk flow and milk yield with Lactocorders are useful tools for examining teats with milk flow disorders.     

Short communication: Immunoglobulin variation in quarter-milked colostrum

Whereas whole first-milked colostrum IgG₁ variation is documented, the IgG₁ difference between the quarter mammary glands of dairy animals is unknown. First colostrum was quarter-collected from healthy udders of 8 multiparous dairy cows, all within 3 h of parturition. Weight of colostrum produced by individual quarters was determined and a sample of each was frozen for subsequent analysis. Immunoglobulin G₁ concentration (mg/mL) was measured by ELISA and total mass (g) was calculated. Standard addition method was used to overcome colostrum matrix effects and validate the standard ELISA measures. Analysis of the data showed that cow and quarter (cow) were significantly different in both concentration and total mass per quarter. Analysis of the mean IgG₁ concentration of the front and rear quarters showed that this was not different, but the large variation in individual quarters confounds the analysis. This quarter difference finding indicates that each mammary gland develops a different capacity to accumulate precolostrum IgG₁, whereas the circulating hormone concentrations that induce colostrogenesis reach the 4 glands similarly. This finding also shows that the variation in quarter colostrum production is a contributor to the vast variation in first milking colostrum IgG₁ content. Finally, the data suggests other factors, such as locally acting autocrine or paracrine, epigenetic, or stochasticity, in gene regulation mechanisms may impinge on colostrogenesis capacity.     

Functional Patterning of Biopolymer Thin Films Using Enzymes and Lithographic Methods

Two different lithographic techniques for the patterning of thin biopolymer films are developed. The first method is based on using a microstructured elastomeric mold for the structuring of thin films of regenerated cellulose. The thin films are manufactured by spin‐coating of trimethylsilyl cellulose (TMSC) and subsequent regeneration. The microchannels formed by the mold and the cellulose film are filled with a cellulase solution by capillary action. In the areas exposed to the enzyme solution, the cellulose film is digested, whereas the area in contact with the mold is protected from the enzymatic activity. Optical thickness measurements, atomic force microscopy and fluorescent staining confirm a successful patterning of cellulose on several substrates by this method. The second method is based on the structured regeneration of thin TMSC films. TMSC surfaces are protected with metal masks and exposed to vapors of hydrochloric acid. These treatments result in hydrophilic cellulose structures surrounded by hydrophobic TMSC with differing physicochemical properties. Treatments of the obtained structures with cellulases allow the selective removal of pure cellulose, whereas a TMSC pattern remains on the surface. These TMSC can be regenerated back to pure cellulose by treatments with vapors of hydrochloric acid. The developed methods allow the effective fabrication of micropatterned biopolymer thin films suitable for further functionalization and application in, e.g., bioanalytical devices. This is shown by the immobilization and detection of single‐stranded DNA on structured cellulose surfaces. Owing to the versatility of both patterning approaches the methods can be further extended to other combinations of substrates and enzymes.     

Effects of Private and Public Label Packaging on Consumer Purchase Patterns

The evaluation of package branding is important to determine its ability to connect with consumers on an emotional level. In the past, focus groups have been the traditional method used to evaluate branding; however, focus groups can be seen as an inaccurate method of gathering data due to purely qualitative data collection. This paper presents a retail shopping experiment conducted in CUShop?, a consumer experience laboratory, to determine whether consumers prefer a public label product versus a private label product, utilizing eye tracking to analyse the decision‐making process. Results illustrated that purchase decision as well as time spent observing packaging indicates that participants preferred public branded packaging with respect to its private label competitor. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.