Electron microscopic observations and DNA chain fragmentation studies on apoptosis in bone tumor cells induced by ~(153)Sm-EDTMP

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Adenovirus-Mediated Inducible Expression of a PD-L1 Blocking Antibody in Combination with Macrophage Depletion Improves Survival in a Mouse Model of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in a growing number of malignancies. However, overcoming primary or secondary resistances is difficult due to pharmacokinetics issues and side effects associated with high systemic exposure. Local or regional expression of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using gene therapy vectors can alleviate this problem. In this work, we describe a high-capacity adenoviral vector (HCA-EFZP-aPDL1) equipped with a mifepristone-inducible system for the controlled expression of an anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody. The vector was tested in an immune-competent mouse model of colorectal cancer based on implantation of MC38 cells. A single local administration of HCA-EFZP-aPDL1 in subcutaneous lesions led to a significant reduction in tumor growth with minimal release of the antibody in the circulation. When the vector was tested in a more stringent setting (rapidly progressing peritoneal carcinomatosis), the antitumor effect was marginal even in combination with other immune-stimulatory agents such as polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (pI:C), blocking mAbs for T cell immunoglobulin, mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) or agonistic mAbs for 4-1BB (CD137). In contrast, macrophage depletion by clodronate liposomes enhanced the efficacy of HCA-EFZP-aPDL1. These results highlight the importance of addressing macrophage-associated immunoregulatory mechanisms to overcome resistance to ICIs in the context of colorectal cancer.     

Alkaline fuel cells: contemporary advancement and limitations

ZeTek Power recently introduced mass manufacturable and cost effective alkaline fuel cells on the market. Today's research is focused on further improvement both in terms of performance increase and cost reduction. This research is classically performed using small (4 cm²) experimental electrodes in the half-cell configuration. This allows the primary electrochemical losses in an anode or cathode to be determined independently. Additional performance losses occur when one integrates large electrodes into a module of 24 cells and in a stack comprised of many modules. By comparing the performance of half-cell experiments to that of modules, these losses can be distinguished and addressed. The information thus obtained, both for the small electrodes and in up-scaling is vital if one is to identify the key areas in which improvement is possible and where to focus future research. Furthermore, the identification of the losses in a module and system allows us to predict the final performance from half-cell measurements of a new laboratory scale experimental electrode.     

Exploring single electrode reactions in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Utilising a pseudo-reference electrode in polymer electrolyte fuel cells allows for the separation of anodic and cathodic contributions to the entire cell impedance. Modelling the impedance responses by using equivalent circuits inhibits the investigation of kinetic parameters of the basic electrochemical reactions, which take place at single electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Therefore, we evaluate single electrode impedance measurements by a kinetic model, which is based on specific reaction pathways, either for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) or the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). As a consequence, it is possible to obtain kinetic parameters for the specific reaction of interest. Furthermore, the information gained from the single electrode impedance measurements and the kinetic model can give insight into single reactions steps. In particular, the ORR has to include a chemical step in the reaction pathway.     

Modelling the effects of human papillomavirus in cervical cells

Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after breast cancer. The prevalence of this malignant disease is estimated at 1.4 million cases worldwide, causing about 290,000 deaths and 500,000 new cases per year, of which 80% correspond to women living in developing countries. In this work we propose a family of ordered models for basal cells of the cervix corresponding to different stages ranging from normal cells to the formation of precancerous lesions. We analyse the first member of the family analytically and for the second member we developed a non-standard numerical method in order to extract some biological information.     

Sintering behaviour of La1−xSrxFeO3−δ mixed conductors

The sintering properties of La_1−xSr_xFeO_3−δ (x = 0.1, 0.25) mixed conductors have been investigated with particular emphasis on the effect of secondary phases due to cation non-stoichiometry (±5 mol% La excess and deficiency). Secondary phases, located at grain boundaries in cation non-stoichiometric materials, increased the sintering temperature compared to single-phase materials. Extensive swelling in final stage of sintering was observed in all materials, which resulted in micro-porous materials. The swelling was most pronounced in the phase pure and two-phase materials due to La-deficiency, while refractory secondary phases in La-excess materials inhibited both sintering, grain growth and swelling. In La-deficient materials, formation of molten secondary phases resulted in rapid swelling due to viscous flow. The present findings demonstrated the importance of controlling sintering temperature and time, as well as careful control of the cation stoichiometry of La_1−xSr_xFeO_3−δ in order to achieve fully dense and homogenous La_1−xSr_xFeO_3−δ ceramics.     

Improved Computational Model of Grid Cells Based on Column Structure

To simulate the firing pattern of biological grid cells, this paper presents an improved computational model of grid cells based on column structure. In this model, the displacement along different directions is processed by modulus operation, and the obtained remainder is associated with firing rate of grid cell. Compared with the original model, the improved parts include that: the base of modulus operation is changed, and the firing rate in firing field is encoded by Gaussian-like function. Simulation validates that the firing pattern generated by the improved computational model is more consistent with biological characteristic than original model. Besides, the firing pattern is badly influenced by the cumulative positioning error, but the computational model can also generate the regularly hexagonal firing pattern when the real-time positioning results are modified.     

Electrochemical and microstructural characterization of cyclic redox behaviour of SOFC anodes

The oxidation of Ni to NiO in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode will result in large bulk volume change, which may change the interfaces of the two phases in the anode cermet and thus may cause significant performance degradation. The reduction and oxidation (redox) of the Ni/YSZ cermet were studied at 800 ℃. Anodic polarization measurements were performed before and after redox cycles. The anode current density at an overpotential of 100 mV kept decreasing during the whole redox treatment. It decreased from 19.11 to 7.95 mA·cm-2 after two redox cycles. Anode supported unit cell was assembled for cell's discharge measurements. Cell performance declined after each redox cycle. The maximum power density decreased from 126.28 to 40.32 mW·cm-2 . The microstructural changes after redox cycling were recorded using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results reveal that after re-oxidation, the Ni gets coarse and has a higher porosity; the nickel network structure turns to be desultory.     

Preparation and characterization of TiO2 photoelectrode codoped with aluminum and boron and its application in dye-sensitized solar cell

Nanocrystalline titania films codoped with aluminum and boron were prepared by cathodic vacuum arc deposition. In the process, titanium alloy target was used under an O2/Ar atmosphere, and sensitization of films were carried out by natural dye-sensitized complex in anhydrous ethanol. The structure, surface morphology and UV-vis spectra of titania films codoped were measured by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectrometer. Theas-deposited films are found to be amorphous. The films annealed were examinedto be of anatase structure with orientation along the (101) planes, the averagecrystal size is in the range between 41 and 45 nm. SEM results show that thereare some pores in the codoped titania films, the optical properties of the dye-sensitized films were also measured which reveals that the spectral responses of films shift to the visible region. Under simulated sunlight illumination, the overall energy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cell is 0.9%.     

基于光伏电池输出特性的MPPT算法研究

为了寻找更好的实现光伏发电系统最大功率点跟踪控制方法,基于单个光伏电池的物理特性建立了太阳能光伏电池阵列的Matlab仿真模型,分析了太阳能光伏电池阵列所具有的随着光照强度和温度不同而变化的P-U和I-U非线性特性.基于光伏电池的动态特性,在最大功率点跟踪算法的设计中增加一个电流监测回路,并结合自寻优技术对电导增量法进行改进,提出了一种自适应变步长寻优算法.仿真结果表明,该算法能够快速准确的跟踪最大功率点.