BINA

The Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT) is scheduled to be launched to geostationary orbit in 2026. It will carry a telescope with an unprecedentedly large field of view (204 deg) and NUV (230-290nm) sensitivity (22.5 mag, 5, at 900s). ULTRASAT will conduct the first wide-field survey of transient and variable NUV sources and will revolutionize our ability to study the hot transient universe: It will explore a new parameter space in energy and time-scale (months long light-curves with minutes cadence), with an extra-Galactic volume accessible for the discovery of transient sources that is 300 times larger than that of GALEX and comparable to that of LSST. ULTRASAT data will be transmitted to the ground in real-time, and transient alerts will be distributed to the community in 15 min, enabling a vigorous ground-based follow-up of ULTRASAT sources. ULTRASAT will also provide an all-sky NUV image to 23.5 AB mag, over 10 times deeper than the GALEX map. Two key science goals of ULTRASAT are the study of mergers of binaries involving neutron stars, and supernovae: With a large fraction (50%) of the sky instantaneously accessible, fast (minutes) slewing capability and a field-of-view that covers the error ellipses expected from GW detectors beyond 2025, ULTRASAT will rapidly detect the electromagnetic emission following BNS/NS-BH mergers identified by GW detectors, and will provide continuous NUV light-curves of the events; ULTRASAT will provide early (hour) detection and continuous high (minutes) cadence NUV light curves for hundreds of core-collapse supernovae, including for rarer supernova …

The parasitic reactions at the electrolyte/electrode interfaces inhibit the increase of the charging cut-off voltage and the improvement of energy density. Herein, the authors design multifunctional solvent molecules and propose a practical design principle to stabilize the electrolyte/electrode interfaces for high-voltage Li ion batteries.

Single-molecule Förster-resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments allow the study of biomolecular structure and dynamics in vitro and in vivo. We performed an international blind study involving 19 laboratories to assess the uncertainty of FRET experiments for proteins with respect to the measured FRET efficiency histograms, determination of distances, and the detection and quantification of structural dynamics. Using two protein systems with distinct conformational changes and dynamics, we obtained an uncertainty of the FRET efficiency ≤0.06, corresponding to an interdye distance precision of ≤2 Å and accuracy of ≤5 Å. We further discuss the limits for detecting fluctuations in this distance range and how to identify dye perturbations. Our work demonstrates the ability of smFRET experiments to simultaneously measure distances and avoid the averaging of conformational dynamics for realistic …

Adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing is essential to prevent undesired immune activation. This diverse process alters the genetic content of the RNA and may recode proteins, change splice sites and miRNA targets, and mimic genomic mutations. Recent studies have associated or implicated aberrant editing with pathological conditions, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurological and psychiatric conditions. RNA editing patterns in cardiovascular tissues have not been investigated systematically so far, and little is known about its potential role in cardiac diseases. Some hints suggest robust editing in this system, including the fact that ADARB1 (ADAR2), the main coding-sequence editor, is most highly expressed in these tissues. Here we characterized RNA editing in the heart and arteries and examined a contributory role to the development of atherosclerosis and two structural heart diseases -Ischemic and Dilated Cardiomyopathies. Analyzing hundreds of RNA-seq samples taken from the heart and arteries of cardiac patients and controls, we find that global editing, alongside inflammatory gene expression, is increased in patients with atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathies, and heart failure. We describe a single recoding editing site and suggest it as a target for focused research. This recoding editing site in the IGFBP7 gene is one of the only evolutionary conserved sites between mammals, and we found it exhibits consistently increased levels of editing in these patients. Our findings reveal that RNA editing is abundant in arteries and is elevated in several key cardiovascular conditions. They thus provide a roadmap for basic and …

This paper presents a structured illumination microscopy (SIM) reconstruction algorithm that allows the reconstruction of super-resolved images with 2N + 1 raw intensity images, with N being the number of structured illumination directions used. The intensity images are recorded after using a 2D grating for the projection fringe and a spatial light modulator to select two orthogonal fringe orientations and perform phase shifting. Super-resolution images can be reconstructed from the five intensity images, enhancing the imaging speed and reducing the photobleaching by 17%, compared to conventional two-direction and three-step phase-shifting SIM. We believe the proposed technique will be further developed and widely applied in many fields.

Speckle pattern analysis become a widespread method for remote sensing of various biomedical parameters. This technique is based on tracking the secondary speckle patterns reflected from a human skin illuminated by a laser beam. Speckle pattern variations can be translated into the corresponding partial carbon dioxide (CO 2) state (High or Normal) in the bloodstream. We present a novel approach for remote sensing of human blood carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO 2) based on speckle pattern analyses combined with machine learning approach. The blood CO 2 partial pressure is an important indicative parameter for a variety of malfunctions in the human body.

Genome engineering via targeted nucleases, specifically CRISPR-Cas9, has revolutionized the field of gene therapy research, providing a potential treatment for diseases of the blood and immune system. While numerous genome editing techniques have been used, CRISPR-Cas9 homology-directed repair (HDR)-mediated editing represents a promising method for the site-specific insertion of large transgenes for gene knock-in or gene correction. Alternative methods, such as lentiviral/gammaretroviral gene addition, gene knock-out via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ)-mediated editing, and base or prime editing, have shown great promise for clinical applications, yet all possess significant drawbacks when applied in the treatment of patients suffering from inborn errors of immunity or blood system disorders. This review aims to highlight the transformational benefits of HDR-mediated gene therapy and possible solutions for the existing problems holding the methodology back. Together, we aim to help bring HDR-based gene therapy in CD34+ hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) from the lab bench to the bedside.

Enhancing the image quality of the captured image is one of the prime objectives of modern image acquisition systems. These imaging systems can be broadly divided into two subsystems: an optical subsystem and a digital subsystem. There are various limitations associated with the optical and digital subsystems. One of the crucial parameters that are affected by the limitation of the physical extent of the recording or capturing system is the field of view (FOV). A reduced FOV can lead to loss of information thereby increasing the time for post-processing of images as well as introducing mechanical scanning to achieve a larger FOV. A simple yet efficient technique for FOV enhancement is demonstrated in this paper. An optical element is designed in such a way that it diffracts different wavelengths in the desired manner and the information from different regions of the object is carried by different wavelengths which …

This paper aims to present initial proof of concept of a non-invasive early diagnostic tool for Alzheimer disease (AD). The approach is based on the identification using Raman spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms of two proteins that are linked with AD and exist in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As demonstrated in previous studies, the concentration of the proteins amyloid-β and tau may indicate the existence of AD. The proteins’ concentration in the CSF signifies the condition of AD. The current study can contribute to the existing body of knowledge by enabling the development of a non-invasive diagnostic tool that may help with early diagnosis of AD.

The characterization of ultrathin transparent films is paramount for various optoelectronic materials, coatings, and photonics. However, characterizing such thin layers is difficult and it requires specialized clean‐room equipment and trained personnel. Here, a contact‐less, all‐optical method is introduced and validated for characterizing nanometric transparent films using far‐field optics. A series of nanometric, smooth, and homogeneous layered samples are fabricated first, alternating transparent spacer and fluorescent layers in a controlled manner. Fluorescence radiation pattern originating from the thin fluorophore layers is then recorded and analyzed and quantitative image analysis is used to perform in operando measurements of the refractive index, film homogeneity and to estimate axial fluorophore distances at a sub‐wavelength scale with a precision of a few of nanometers. The results compare favorably to …

Platinum group metal‐free catalysts have been considered the most promising alternative for platinum‐based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells. Despite the significant advancement made in activity, their viability as fuel cell catalysts is still questionable due to their low durability. So far, deciphering the degradation mechanisms of this class of catalysts has been hampered by their undefined structure. Herein, we used a molecular model catalyst, iron‐phthalocyanine, featuring Fe−N4 active sites with resemblance to those in the more active Fe−N−C catalysts, and studied their degradation mechanisms. Based on X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the electrochemical measurements, three main demetallation processes were identified: at potentials higher than 0.65 V vs. RHE, where the metal center is Fe3+, an electrochemical oxidation of the ligand ring is occurring, between 0.6 and 0.2 V …

We study non-normalizable quasi-equilibrium states (NNQE) arising from anomalous diffusion. Initially, particles in contact with a thermal bath are released from an asymptotically flat potential well, with dynamics that is described by fractional calculus. For temperatures that are sufficiently low compared to the potential depth, the properties of the system remain almost constant in time. We use the fractional-time Fokker-Planck equation (FTFPE) and continuous-time random walk approaches to calculate the ensemble averages of observables. We obtain analytical estimates of the duration of NNQE, depending on the fractional order, from approximate theoretical solutions of the FTFPE. We study and compare two types of observables, the mean square displacement typically used to characterize diffusion, and the thermodynamic energy. We show that the typical time scales for stagnation depend exponentially on the activation energy in units of temperature multiplied by a function of the fractional exponent.

The parasitic reactions at the electrolyte/electrode interfaces inhibit the increase of the charging cut-off voltage and the improvement of energy density. Herein, the authors design multifunctional solvent molecules and propose a practical design principle to stabilize the electrolyte/electrode interfaces for high-voltage Li ion batteries.

The Leggett–Garg Inequality (LGI) constrains, under certain fundamental assumptions, the correlations between measurements of a quantity Q at different times. Here, we analyze the LGI and propose similar but somewhat more elaborate inequalities, employing a technique that utilizes the mathematical properties of correlation matrices, which was recently proposed in the context of nonlocal correlations. We also find that this technique can be applied to inequalities that combine correlations between different times (as in LGI) and correlations between different locations (as in Bell inequalities). All the proposed bounds include additional correlations compared to the original ones and also lead to a particular form of complementarity. A possible experimental realization and some applications are briefly discussed.

Enhancing the image quality of the captured image is one of the prime objectives of modern image acquisition systems. These imaging systems can be broadly divided into two subsystems: an optical subsystem and a digital subsystem. There are various limitations associated with the optical and digital subsystems. One of the crucial parameters that are affected by the limitation of the physical extent of the recording or capturing system is the field of view (FOV). A reduced FOV can lead to loss of information thereby increasing the time for post-processing of images as well as introducing mechanical scanning to achieve a larger FOV. A simple yet efficient technique for FOV enhancement is demonstrated in this paper. An optical element is designed in such a way that it diffracts different wavelengths in the desired manner and the information from different regions of the object is carried by different wavelengths which …

Biomass—A Renewable Resource for Carbon Materials | MDPI Books Menu MDPI Log in Close Menu Home Books Library Forthcoming Books Publish With Us Advisory Board FAQs Contact Login Register Shopping Cart (0) logo Shopping Cart 0 Cart Log In Login Register Home Books Library Forthcoming Books Publish with Us Book Builder Advisory Board FAQ Search for Books: Biomass—A Renewable Resource for Carbon Materials Open Access Reprint Book Biomass—A Renewable Resource for Carbon Materials Indra Neel Pulidindi, Pankaj Sharma and Aharon Gedanken , Eds. Published: April 2023 Pages: 166 © by the authors ISBN 978-3-0365-7189-8 (hardback); ISBN 978-3-0365-7188-1 (PDF) https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-0365-7188-1 (registering DOI) This book is a reprint of the Special Issue Biomass—A Renewable Resource for Carbon Materials that was published in C Download Book PDF …

Up scaling of kidney epithelial cells is crucial for renal regenerative medicine. Nonetheless, the adult kidney lacks a distinct stem cell hierarchy limiting the ability to long-term propagate clonal populations of primary cells that retain renal identity. Towards this goal, we tested the paradigm of shifting the balance between differentiation and stemness in the kidney by introducing a single pluripotency factor, OCT4. Here we show that ectopic expression of OCT4 in human adult kidney epithelial cells (hKEpC) induces cells to dedifferentiate, stably proliferate and clonally emerge over many generations. Control hKEpC de-differentiate, assume fibroblastic morphology, and completely lose clonogenic capacity. Analysis of gene expression and histone methylation patterns revealed that OCT4 represses the HNF1b gene module, which is critical for kidney epithelial differentiation, and concomitantly activate stemness-related …

Rechargeable Zn-air batteries (RZABs) with non-alkaline electrolytes are a promising type of energy storage devices that potentially combine low cost, high energy density and safety. However, cathode materials for these devices remain poorly developed. We present a systematic study of how structure of carbons affects their performance as cathode scaffolds in non-alkaline RZABs. Ten commercially available types of carbon are characterized and tested in Zn-air battery cathodes with 1M Zn(OAc)2 or ZnSO4 solutions in H2O as electrolytes. At a low current density (0.1 mA cm−2), there is a roughly linear dependence between the roundtrip energy efficiency and the logarithm of BET surface area, and this dependence is relevant across materials with different morphology and graphitization degree. Lower overpotentials at the initial cycles are observed for cathodes that are more hydrophilic. At higher currents (1 mA …

Myopia (nearsightedness) and presbyopia (aging eye) are the most common refractive errors of the human eye. Technology has advanced toward correcting aberration using various surgical procedures, including laser surgery, as well as prescribing corrective lenses. Hence, the effect of various laser wavelengths on the eye has been extensively studied over the last few decades. Usually, excimer lasers are used for this purpose, which increases the cost of the procedure because they are unique and difficult to manufacture and require regular maintenance. Due to the absorption properties, visible wavelengths do not interact with the corneal layers and hence are currently not used for eye surgery. This study presents the first clinical evidence that a 532 nm laser in combination with an eye-safe fluorescein dye that is in wide clinical use in ophthalmology can be utilized for high-precision ablation purposes due to the …

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) are currently considered the most advanced fuel cell technology. However, the industrial implementation of PEMFCs is strongly hindered by deficient durability, especially that of the carbonaceous materials commonly used to support the platinum-based catalyst nanoparticles, which are prone to electrochemical corrosion at the cathode, resulting in a serious performance loss of the entire cell. In the attempt to overcome this issue, many research groups have tried to introduce heteroatoms (N, S, B, P) into the carbon lattice, thus trying to make the electrode corrosion-resistant. Newly developed heteroatom-doped carbons were subjected to corrosion tests in half-cell and single-cell systems to evaluate their stability. This paper reviews the recent studies devoted to corrosion research of heteroatom-doped carbon supports for Pt-based catalysts in PEMFCs. In particular, an overview on N, B, and S dopants and their effects on carbon corrosion is provided.