BINA

Cell-to-cell communication system involves Exosomes, small, membrane-enveloped nanovesicles. Exosomes are evolving as effective therapeutic tools for different pathologies. These extracellular vesicles can bypass biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier, and can function as powerful nanocarriers for drugs, proteins and gene therapeutics. However, to promote exosomes' therapy development, especially for brain pathologies, a better understanding of their mechanism of action, trafficking, pharmacokinetics and bio-distribution is needed. In this research, we established a new method for non-invasive in-vivo neuroimaging of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes, based on computed tomography (CT) imaging with glucose-coated gold nanoparticle (GNP) labeling. We demonstrated that the exosomes were efficiently and directly labeled with GNPs, via an energy-dependent mechanism …

The aim of this handbook is to summarize the recent development in the topic of ultrasonics and sonochemistry, especially in the areas of functional materials and processing applications. This handbook will benefit the readers as a full and quick technical reference with a high-level historic review of technology, detailed technical descriptions and the latest practical applications. This handbook is divided into five main sections: fundamentals of ultrasonics and sonochemistry, biomaterials, food processing, catalysts, wastewater remediation. Each section and chapter is written by reputable international scholars and industrial experts. The handbook comprehensively covers the fundamentals of sonochemistry along with key applications. The handbook strives to be a self-contained, easily-understandable reference that will also include up to date knowledge based on research articles. This handbook serves tol provide a quick and reliable knowledge for new comers from chemistry, bioengineering, food processing, environmental engineering, in both academia and in industrial fields.

The efficient formulation of silicon based, high-loading electrode with good capacity retention and cycling stability remains challenging. To gain a better understanding of the ongoing processes and failure mechanisms occurring during battery performance, operando micro-Raman spectroscopy is helpful to map the active silicon sites. Herein, we present the investigation of the electrochemical performance of anodes composed of plasmonic metal (Ag and Au) decorated silicon, designed for enhancing Raman signal. Following the discovery that only a partial amount of the electroactive material undergoes lithiation in the first cycle, we show that the plasmonic metal tips can enhance the connectivity of the Si particles. The micro-Raman mapping of electroactive silicon material reveals how the plasmonic metals influence the distribution of silicon active sites during battery cycling. The ratio of electroactive Si is found to …

Theranostics is an emerging field, defined as combination of therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in the same material. Nanoparticles are considered as an efficient platform for theranostics, particularly in cancer treatment, as they offer substantial advantages over both common imaging contrast agents and chemotherapeutic drugs. However, the development of theranostic nanoplatforms raises an important question: Is the optimal particle for imaging also optimal for therapy? Are the specific parameters required for maximal drug delivery, similar to those required for imaging applications? Herein, we examined this issue by investigating the effect of nanoparticle size on tumor uptake and imaging. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-conjugated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in different sizes (diameter range: 20–120 nm) were injected to tumor bearing mice and their uptake by tumors was measured, as well …

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a robust, precise, fast, and reliable imaging method that enables excellent spatial resolution and quantification of contrast agents throughout the body. However, CT is largely inadequate for molecular imaging applications due mainly to its low contrast sensitivity that forces the use of large concentrations of contrast agents for detection. To overcome this limitation, we generated a new class of iodinated nanoscale activity-based probes (IN-ABPs) that sufficiently accumulates at the target site by covalently binding cysteine cathepsins that are exceptionally highly expressed in cancer. The IN-ABPs are comprised of a short targeting peptide selective to specific cathepsins, an electrophilic moiety that allows activity-dependent covalent binding, and tags containing dendrimers with up to 48 iodine atoms. IN-ABPs selectively bind and inhibit activity of recombinant and intracellular …

Recent studies have reported the emerging role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human cancers. We systematically characterized miRNA expression and editing in the human brain, which displays the highest number of A-to-I RNA editing sites among human tissues, and in de novo glioblastoma brain cancer. We identified 299 miRNAs altered in their expression and 24 miRNAs differently edited in human brain compared to glioblastoma tissues. We focused on the editing site within the miR-589–3p seed. MiR-589–3p is a unique miRNA almost fully edited (∼100%) in normal brain and with a consistent editing decrease in glioblastoma. The edited version of miR-589–3p inhibits glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while the unedited version boosts cell proliferation and motility/invasion, thus being a potential cancer-promoting factor. We demonstrated that the editing of this miRNA is mediated by …

Biodiesel produced from waste cooking oils (WCOs) mixed with methanol was efficiently transesterified using a continuous fluid flow system with a focused microwave heating device. Strontium oxide (SrO) was added as the catalyst. The factors that most influence the biodiesel conversion rate were first estimated by considering the effects of oil‐to‐methanol ratio, added quantity of SrO, and microwave heating power on reaction time in a built‐in batch unit. The optimal parameter values were then applied to a continuous fluid flow system, which simulates the conversion of a scaled‐up quantity of WCOs into biodiesel. Under the optimum fluid flow velocity and an appropriate output temperature, a biodiesel conversion rate of ca. 93 % was reached, associated with the decomposition of ester bonds and the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate substance during the reaction.

Gallium-nitride (GaN) is a promising material platform for integrated electro-optic devices due to its wide direct bandgap, pronounced nonlinearities and high optical damage threshold. Low-loss ridge waveguides in GaN layers were recently demonstrated. In this work, we provide the first report of four-wave mixing in a GaN waveguide at telecommunication wavelengths, and observe comparatively high nonlinear propagation parameters. The nonlinear coefficient of the waveguide is measured as 1.6 ± 0.45 [W × m]^−1, and the corresponding third-order nonlinear parameter of GaN is estimated as 3.4 ± 1e-18 [m^2/W]. The results suggest that GaN waveguides could be instrumental in nonlinear-optical signal processing applications.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising therapeutic modality for cancer. However, current protocols using bare drugs suffer from several limitations that impede its beneficial clinical effects. Here, we introduce a new approach for an efficient PDT treatment. It involves conjugating a PDT agent, meso-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin (mTHPC) photosensitizer, to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that serve as carriers for the drug. AuNPs have a number of characteristics that make them highly suitable to function as drug carriers: they are biocompatible, serve as biomarkers, and function as contrast agents in vitro and in vivo. We synthesized AuNPs and covalently conjugated the mTHPC drug molecules through a linker. The resultant functional complex, AuNP–mTHPC, is a stable, soluble compound. SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells were incubated with the complex, showing possible administration of higher doses of drug …

Cocrystallization of energetic materials has emerged as a strategy to modulate properties through directed selection of coformers. Here, the cocrystallization of a high-nitrogen energetic material, 3,6-bis(1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-5-ylamino)-s-tetrazine (BTATz), is detailed. The utility of electrostatic potential maps to predict the behavior of coformers with BTATz is demonstrated as well as a critical requirement for regions of sufficiently negative electrostatic potential on the coformer (Vs,min). Cocrystal structures are compared to the solvent-free structure of BTATz, determined here for the first time. The new materials exhibit good thermal stability (>200 °C) and are insensitive to impact. Cocrystallization of BTATz demonstrates the capability of high-nitrogen energetic materials to form multicomponent crystal systems and reaffirms the ability of coformers to modulate energetic performance.

Models of crowd dynamics are critically important for urban planning and management. They support analysis, facilitate qualitative and quantitative predictions, and synthesize behaviors for simulations. One promising approach to crowd modeling relies on micro-level agent-based simulations, where the interactions of simulated individual agents in the crowd result in macro-level crowd dynamics which are the object of study. This article reports on an agent-based model of urban pedestrian crowds, where culture is explicitly modeled. We extend an established agent-based social agent model, inspired by social psychology, to account for individual cultural attributes discussed in social science literature. We then embed the model in a simulation of pedestrians and explore the resulting macro-level crowd behaviors, such as pedestrian flow, lane changes rate, and so on. We validate the model by quantitatively …

We present Barcoded Oligonucleotides Ligated On RNA Amplified for Multiplexed and parallel In-Situ analysis (BOLORAMIS), a reverse-transcription (RT)-free method for spatially-resolved, targeted, in-situ RNA identification of single or multiple targets. For this proof of concept, we have profiled 154 distinct coding and small non-coding transcripts ranging in sizes 18 nucleotides in length and upwards, from over 200, 000 individual human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and demonstrated compatibility with multiplexed detection, enabled by fluorescent in-situ sequencing. We use BOLORAMIS data to identify differences in spatial localization and cell-to-cell expression heterogeneity. Our results demonstrate BOLORAMIS to be a generalizable toolset for targeted, in-situ detection of coding and small non-coding RNA for single or multiplexed applications.

Metallic mercury has always attracted much attention in various fields because of its unique characteristic of forming amalgams. Here, different phases of pure crystalline Hg–Ag amalgam microspheres are synthesized by ultrasonically reacting liquid mercury with an aqueous solution of silver nitrate. Sonicating different molar ratios of liquid metallic Hg with AgNO3 results in the formation of pure crystalline phases of solid silver amalgams with uniform morphology. The resulting Hg–Ag amalgams from various compositions after sonication are physically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The XRD of the amalgams obtained from the molar ratios of Hg:Ag (1:1.5) and Hg:Ag (1.5:1 and 2:1) match the Schachnerite and Moschellandbergite phases, respectively, whereas the Hg–Ag …

We report the synthesis, characterization, and photo‐physical properties of two new rutheniumII‐phenol‐imidazole complexes. These bio‐mimetic complexes have potential as photocatalysts for water splitting. Owing to their multiple phenol‐imidazole groups, they have a higher probability of light‐induced radical formation than existing complexes. The newly synthesized complexes show improved overlap with the solar spectrum compared to other rutheniumII‐phenol‐imidazole complexes, and their measured lifetimes are suitable for light‐induced radical formation. In addition, we conducted solvatochromic absorption measurements, which elegantly follow Marcus theory, and demonstrate the symmetry differences between the two complexes. The solvatochromic measurements further imply electron localization onto one of the ligands. The new complexes may find applications in photocatalysis, dye‐sensitized …

The implementation of carbon dots in electronic devices are among the hot topics in today’s research. The current work describes the fabrication of a new back contact electrode for solar cells with the modification of carbon paper by the uniform deposition of highly crystalline carbon dots (CD). The~ 5nm size CD were synthesized by the sonication of polyethylene glycol (PEG-400), which was further deposited on carbon paper. Copper was successfully electrodeposited onto the modified C-dots carbon-paper (C-paper@ CD) through a potentiostatic procedure. The SEM and XRD results show that the electrodeposition of copper on CD-modified carbon paper is denser than pristine carbon-paper. A detailed study of CD@ C-paper and Cu/Cu2O-CD@ C-paper was performed using the XRD, SEM, Raman, EDS, Elemental mapping, KPFM (Kelvin Probe Force Microscope), etc. The as-prepared electrode comprising of a C-paper modified with CD was tested in solar cells as a back contact, and it demonstrated superior high photo-voltage, significantly useful for photovoltaic implications.

Online coverage path planning is a canonical multi-robot task, where the objective is to minimize the time it takes for robots to visit every point in an unknown area. Two general major approaches have been explored in the literature: a stigmergic approach, inspired by ant behavior, relies on active marking of the environment. In contrast, the collaborative approach relies instead on localization, memory of positions, and global communications. In this paper, we report on a new approach, inspired by territorial bird chirping, which borrows from both previous approaches: it relies on localization and memory, but not on global communications. We provide a detailed analytic and empirical evaluation of this model.

Molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) is one of the most important layered semiconductors. Its importance arises because of its chemical, electrical and optical properties that lead to potential applications in fields such as photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, opto-electronics, etc. Here, we report a simple and novel green hydrothermal synthesis of MoS2 nanoflowers (NFs) from ammonium molybdenum hydrate and thiourea without using any acids or bases. The resultant MoS2 NFs have good crystallinity with a lattice spacing of 0.61 nm. The optical bandgap of the MoS2 NFs was found to be 1.55 eV. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) dyes with the MoS2 NFs under sun light irradiation was investigated. The MoS2 NFs showed excellent photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of MB and CV with almost 100% degradation with vigorous stirring under natural sun light. This is the fastest …

The polymerization of aniline requires an initiator, such as ammonium persulfate, iron chloride (FeCl3), potassium persulfate, or silver nitrate. In this study, we introduced a novel one-pot synthesis of polyaniline using carbon dots (C-dots) and UV light that act as catalysts without any additional initiator. Chemical oxidative polymerization is a facile one-step process where C-dots are prepared from polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400). Polyaniline was also synthesized by employing carbon dots coated on a glass plate and irradiation of UV light. The synthesized polymer was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. A similar procedure also allowed the synthesis of polypyrrole from pyrrole. The approach using only carbon dots and UV light offers a novel and …

Modern multi-robot service robotics applications often rely on coordination capabilities at multiple levels, from global (system-wide) task allocation and selection, to local (nearby) spatial coordination to avoid collisions. Often, the global methods are considered to be the heart of the multi-robot system, while local methods are tacked on to overcome intermittent, spatially-limited hindrances. We tackle this general assumption. Utilizing the alphabet soup simulator (simulating order picking, made famous by Kiva Systems), we experiment with a set of myopic, local methods for obstacle avoidance. We report on a series of experiments with a reinforcement-learning approach, using the Effectiveness-Index intrinsic reward, to allow robots to learn to select between methods to use when avoiding collisions. We show that allowing the learner to explore the space of parameterized methods results in significant …

In the current work, stable nanoparticles (NPs) of vanillin are formed in situ from an aqueous/ethanol solution and deposited on the surface of chitosan, a natural polymer, using a high-intensity ultrasonic method. The spectroscopic, physical, mechanical and morphological properties of the coated chitosan films are examined by helium-ion microscopy (HIM), atomic-force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and texture analysis, and compared with the original film properties. Vanillin NPs were detected on the film surface. It was also found that the sonochemical deposition method does not affect the bulk properties of the chitosan films. All the chitosan films demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The deposition of …

Online goal recognition is the problem of recognizing the goal of an agent based on an incomplete sequence of observations with as few observations as possible. Recognizing goals with minimal domain knowledge as an agent executes its plan requires efficient algorithms to sift through a large space of hypotheses. We develop an online approach to recognize goals in both continuous and discrete domains using a combination of goal mirroring and a generalized notion of landmarks adapted from the planning literature. Extensive experiments demonstrate the approach is more efficient and substantially more accurate than the state-of-the-art.