BINA

Neuroblastoma is a lethal childhood solid tumor of developing peripheral nerves. Two percent of children with neuroblastoma develop opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome (OMAS), a paraneoplastic disease characterized by cerebellar and brainstem-directed autoimmunity but typically with outstanding cancer-related outcomes. We compared tumor transcriptomes and tumor-infiltrating T and B cell repertoires from 38 OMAS subjects with neuroblastoma to 26 non-OMAS-associated neuroblastomas. We found greater B and T cell infiltration in OMAS-associated tumors compared to controls and showed that both were polyclonal expansions. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) were enriched in OMAS-associated tumors. We identified significant enrichment of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II allele HLA-DOB∗01:01 in OMAS patients. OMAS severity scores were associated with the expression of …

SignificanceDiabetes is a prevalent disease worldwide that can cause severe health problems. Accurate blood glucose detection is crucial for diabetes management, and noninvasive methods can be more convenient and less painful than traditional finger-prick methods.AimWe aim to report a noncontact speckle-based blood glucose measurement system that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) data processing to improve glucose detection accuracy. The study also explores the influence of an alternating current (AC) induced magnetic field on the sensitivity and selectivity of blood glucose detection.ApproachThe proposed blood glucose sensor consists of a digital camera, an AC-generated magnetic field source, a laser illuminating the subject’s finger, and a computer. A magnetic field is applied to the finger, and a camera records the speckle patterns generated by the laser light reflected from the finger. The acquired …

Recent research on two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has led to remarkable discoveries of fundamental phenomena and to device applications with technological potential. Large-scale TMDCs grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are now available at continuously improving quality, but native defects and natural degradation in these materials still present significant challenges. Spectral hysteresis in gate-biased photoluminescence (PL) measurements of WSe2 further revealed long-term trapping issues of charge carriers in intrinsic defect states. To address these issues, we apply here a two-step treatment with organic molecules, demonstrating the “healing” of native defects in CVD-grown WSe2 and WS2 by substituting atomic sulfur into chalcogen vacancies. We uncover that the adsorption of thiols provides only partial defect passivation, even for high adsorption quality, and …

The development of bioinspired catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction is one of the most prominent pathways in the search for active materials to replace Pt-based catalysts in fuel cells. Herein, we report innovative bioinspired catalysts using a directed synthetic pathway to create adjacent Cu and Fe sites. This catalyst is composed of a covalent 3D framework in an aerogel form. Aerogels are high surface area and porous hierarchical structures that can allow the formation of ultrahigh active site density and optimized mass transport of reactants and products to and from the catalytic sites. The aerogel-based catalyst exhibits high performance in a half-cell in 0.1 M KOH, with an onset potential of 0.94 V vs RHE and half-wave potential of E1/2 = 0.80 V vs RHE, high selectivity toward the four-electron reduction of oxygen to hydroxide anions, and high durability. These results are well-translated to the anion exchange …

Velocity map imaging (VMI) is a powerful technique that allows to infer the kinetic energy of ions or electrons that are produced from a large volume in space with good resolution. The size of the acceptance volume is determined by the spherical aberrations of the ion optical system. Here we present an analytical derivation for velocity map imaging with no spherical aberrations. We will discuss a particular example for the implementation of the technique that allows using the reaction microscope recently installed in the Cryogenic storage ring (CSR) in a VMI mode. SIMION simulations confirm that a beam of electrons produced almost over the entire volume of the source region, with width of 8 cm, can be focused to a spot of 0.1 mm on the detector. The use of the same formalism for position imaging, as well as an option of position imaging in one axis and velocity map imaging in a different axis, are also discussed.

In this work, we demonstrate the focusing of a Gaussian laser beam, in silicon, by a vortex-shaped beam where both beams are at a wavelength of 775nm, which can sharpen the beam's PSF to improve the resolution in laser scanning microscopy.

Chemical pollutants in drinking water can have many sources, such as pharmaceutical waste, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharges1, 2, 3. The development of a reliable, sensitive, and handheld sensor for the detection of a mixture of contaminants is important, both for human health and the environment. Herein, we show the development of a plasmonic sensor for Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and colorimetry measurements. Two types of plasmonic surfaces which enhance the electromagnetic field are presented here;(i) Well-defined cavities milled in silver substrates which are covered with 5 nm of SiO2 for stability.(ii) A scalable metallic-like aerogel network with large surface area, for increasing the sensitivity of our measurements. Three different families of analytes were studied, which can be found in drinking water: Piperidine and its derivatives (Pharmaceutical waste), Dioxins & Polychlorinated biphenyls, Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, each of which is toxic, both to the environment and humans health, even at a low concentration of 30 mg/Kg (3* 10-4M). Those

Recent research on two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has led to remarkable discoveries of fundamental phenomena and to device applications with technological potential. Large-scale TMDCs grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are now available at continuously improving quality, but native defects and natural degradation in these materials still present significant challenges. Spectral hysteresis in gate-biased photoluminescence (PL) measurements of WSe2 further revealed long-term trapping issues of charge carriers in intrinsic defect states. To address these issues, we apply here a two-step treatment with organic molecules, demonstrating the “healing” of native defects in CVD-grown WSe2 and WS2 by substituting atomic sulfur into chalcogen vacancies. We uncover that the adsorption of thiols provides only partial defect passivation, even for high adsorption quality, and …

I will present a photonic sensor that can be used for remote sensing of many biomedical parameters simultaneously and continuously. The technology is based upon illuminating a surface with a laser and then using an imaging camera to perform temporal and spatial tracking of secondary speckle patterns in order to have nano metric accurate estimation of the movement of the back reflecting surface. The capability of sensing those movements in nano-metric precision allows connecting the movement with remote bio-sensing and with medical diagnosis capabilities. The proposed technology was already applied for remote and continuous estimation of vital bio-signs (such as heart beats, respiration, blood pulse pressure and intra ocular pressure), for molecular sensing of chemicals in the blood stream (such as for estimation of alcohol, glucose and lactate concentrations in blood stream, blood coagulation and …

BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM), is the most common primary brain tumor. GBM contains a small subpopulation of glioma stem cells (GSCs) that are implicated in tumor recurrence and treatment resistance and therefore represent important therapeutic targets. Recent clinical studies suggest propofol impacts subsequent tumor response to treatments and patient prognosis. The effects of propofol on patient derived GSCs alone and in combination with radiation and temozolomide, (TMZ) have not been reported. Objectives: The molecular mechanisms underlying propofol’s anti-tumor effects on GSCs and its effect on cellular communication with microglia was studied. Using GSC spheroids, differentiated glioma and tumor cells on a microfluid chip, effects of propofol alone and together with radiation and TMZ on the self-renewal and stemness of GSCs, their mesenchymal transit and the …

The purpose of the review is to provide new insight into the potential of surface modification of carbon fibers for enhancing the application of the carbon fibers many a fold. To this end a total of 429 papers on the subject of surface modication of carbon fibers by a variety of chemical and electrochemical methods published during the period from 2010-2022 have been reviewed. Astounding results of surface funcationalization of carbon fibers by a variety of state of the art methods resulting in the unconventional applications of the resulting modified carbon fibers are summarized in a nut-shell in schemes from 1-6 towards the end of the review. Surface modifica-tion induces functionality to carbon fibers (CFs). The vitality of CF surface modification reac-tions could only be compared to the life process of respiration that sustains the multi functional-ity of living cells. Applicability of CFs can be drastically enhanced in incomprehensible ways by surface modification. Upon surface modification, inert and non-reactive CF surface becomes chemically active and functional with utility in diverse fields, namely, health, energy, environ-ment, defense, catalysis, smart materials and many others. Surface modification methods can be broadly classified into chemical, electrochemical and physical methods. By these surface modi-fication methods, the inert FC surface becomes polar. Surface properties like roughness, wetta-bility and energy are enhanced. Modification processes like sizing, oxidation, amination, si-lanization, polymerization, nanoarchitecture induces multifunctionality on CF surface. Modi-fied CFs when used as reinforcing material in carbon fiber …

Nanoporous gold (Au) films are self-supported structures that possess a large surface area and extraordinary catalytic activity. Generally, nanoporous gold is obtained by solution-based dealloying where the less noble metal, often silver (Ag), is etched out. However, the residual amounts of the sacrificial metal are not well controlled, the impure samples show restructuring, and the residual metal prevents the study of the catalytic role of Au alone. Here, we fabricate impurity-free nanoporous gold films by a plasma-enabled dry synthetic route. The scheme does not include sacrificial metals or solution processing and is much more general. It is used to obtain self-supported ultra-pure nanoporous gold films with controllable pore sizes. The impurity-free nanoporous gold films possess highly curved ligaments, are remarkably robust, and stable over hundreds of electrochemical cycles. Furthermore, they contain many …

Permselectivity of a membrane is central for the development of electrochemical energy storage devices with two redox couples, such as redox flow batteries (RFBs). In RFBs, Br 3−/Br− couple is often used as a catholyte which can cross over to the anolyte, limiting the battery’s lifetime. Naturally, the development of permselective membranes is essential to the success of RFBs since state-of-the-art perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) is too costly. This study investigates membranes of graphene oxide (GO), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and imidazole (Im) as binder and linker, respectively. The GO membranes are compared to a standard PFSA membrane in terms of ionic conductivity (Na+) and permselectivity (exclusion of Br−). The ionic conduction is evaluated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the permselectivity from two-compartment diffusion cells in a four-electrode system. Our findings suggest that the GO membranes reach conductivity and permselectivity comparable with standard PFSA membranes.

In this work, we demonstrate the focusing of a Gaussian laser beam, in silicon, by a vortex-shaped beam where both beams are at a wavelength of 775nm, which can sharpen the beam's PSF to improve the resolution in laser scanning microscopy.

Composite solid electrolytes with ceramic particles dispersed in a polymer matrix are considered a correct choice for all-solid-state batteries. These electrolytes balance the high ionic conductivity of superionic-ceramic conductors and the elasticity of polymers. Here, Li||LiFePO4 batteries with 30 wt% of Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) embedded in PEO20:LiTFSI show superior performance at elevated temperature. After ~150 cycles, cells retained 84% of their original capacity compared to only 51% for batteries with no additive. At 5C cells demonstrate 43% higher capacity. In symmetric cells with blocking and non-blocking electrodes and all-solid-state batteries LATP lowers the impedance of the electrode-electrolyte interface ensuring cycling stability. LATP improves performance by stabilization of the cathode-electrolyte interface, apparently the major contributor to the cell impedance.

Hydrogen production via water electrolysis defines the novel energy vector for achieving a sustainable society. However, the true progress of the given technology is hindered by the sluggish and complex hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) occurring at the cathodic side of the system where overpriced and scarce Pt-based electrocatalysts are usually employed. Therefore, efficient platinum group metals (PGMs)-free electrocatalysts to carry out HER with accelerated kinetics are urgently demanded. In this scenario, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) owing to efficacious structural attributes and optimum hydrogen-binding free energy (ΔGH*) is emerging as a reliable alternative to PGMs. However, the performance of MoS2-based electrocatalysts is still far away from the benchmark performance. The HER activity of MoS2 can be improved by engineering the structural parameters i.e., doping, defects inducement, modulating …

Theoretical and applied studies of quantum walks are abundant in quantum science and technology thanks to their relative simplicity and versatility. Here we derive closed-form expressions for the probability distribution of quantum walks on a line. The most general two-state coin operator and the most general (pure) initial state are considered in the derivation. The general coin operator includes the common choices of Hadamard, Grover, and Fourier coins. The method of Fibonacci-Horner basis for the power decomposition of a matrix is employed in the analysis. Moreover, we also consider mixed initial states and derive closed-form expression for the probability distribution of the Quantum walk on a line. To prove the accuracy of our derivations, we retrieve the simulated probability distribution of Hadamard walk on a line using our closed-form expressions. With a broader perspective in mind, we argue that our approach has the potential to serve as a helpful mathematical tool in obtaining precise analytical expressions for the time evolution of qubit-based systems in a general context.

We demonstrate temperature-controlled spectral tunability of a partially-pumped single-wavelength random laser in a solid-state random laser based on DCM (4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran) doped PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) dye. By carefully shaping the spatial profile of the pump, we first achieve low-threshold, single-mode random lasing with excellent side lobes rejection. Notably, we show how temperature-induced changes in the refractive index of the PMMA-DCM layer result in a blue-shift of this single lasing mode. Continuous tunability of the lasing wavelength is demonstrated over a 8nm-wide bandwidth.

We present an experimental study on a terahertz quantum cascade laser (THz QCL) design that combines both two-well injector and directphonon scattering schemes, ie, a so-called two-well injector direct-phonon design. As a result of the two-well injector direct-phonon scheme presented here, the lasers benefit from both a direct phonon scattering scheme for the lower laser level depopulation and a setback for the doping profile that reduces the overlap of the doped region with active laser states. Additionally, our design also has efficient isolation of the active laser levels from excited and continuum states as indicated by negative differential resistance behavior all the way up to room temperature. This scheme serves as a good platform for improving the temperature performance of THz QCLs as indicated by the encouraging temperature performance results of the device with a relatively high doping level of 7.56 Â …

Chemical pollutants in drinking water can have many sources, such as pharmaceutical waste, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharges1, 2, 3. The development of a reliable, sensitive, and handheld sensor for the detection of a mixture of contaminants is important, both for human health and the environment. Herein, we show the development of a plasmonic sensor for Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and colorimetry measurements. Two types of plasmonic surfaces which enhance the electromagnetic field are presented here;(i) Well-defined cavities milled in silver substrates which are covered with 5 nm of SiO2 for stability.(ii) A scalable metallic-like aerogel network with large surface area, for increasing the sensitivity of our measurements. Three different families of analytes were studied, which can be found in drinking water: Piperidine and its derivatives (Pharmaceutical waste), Dioxins & Polychlorinated biphenyls, Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, each of which is toxic, both to the environment and humans health, even at a low concentration of 30 mg/Kg (3* 10-4M). Those

The allocation of CPU time and memory resources, are well known problems in organizations with a large number of users, and a single mainframe. Usually, the amount of resources given to a single user is based on its own statistics, not on the entire statistics of the organization therefore patterns are not well identified and the allocation system is prodigal. In this work the authors suggest a fuzzy logic-based algorithm to optimize the CPU and memory distribution between the users based on the history of the users. The algorithm works separately on heavy users and light users since they have different patterns to be observed. The result is a set of rules, generated by the fuzzy logic inference engine that will allow the system to use its computing ability in an optimized manner. Test results on data taken from the Faculty of Engineering in Tel Aviv University, demonstrate the abilities of the new algorithm. This paper also …