Design and Investigation of a High-Performance Quartz-Based SAW Temperature Sensor.

In this work, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) temperature sensor based on a quartz substrate was designed and investigated. Employing the Coupling-of-Modes (COM) model, a detailed analysis was conducted on the effects of the number of interdigital transducers (IDTs), the number of reflectors, and their spacing on the performance of the SAW device. The impact of the transversal mode of quartz SAWs on the device was subsequently examined using the finite element method (FEM).

An integrated vertex model of the mesoderm invagination during the embryonic development of Drosophila.

The mesoderm invagination of the Drosophila embryo is known as an archetypal morphogenic process. To explore the roles of the active cellular forces and the regulation of these forces, we developed an integrated vertex model that combines the regulation of morphogen expression with cell movements and tissue mechanics. Our results suggest that a successful furrow formation requires an apical tension gradient, decreased basal tension, and increased lateral tension, which corresponds to apical constriction, basal expansion, and apicobasal shortening respectively.

[Radiographic study of relationship between medial cuneiform obliquity and simple hallux valgus].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between hallux valgus and the indicators associated with medial cuneiform obliquity measured on feet weight-bearing anteroposterior X-ray films.

Methods: Based on the feet weight-bearing anteroposterior X-ray films taken between January 2018 and February 2021 and met the criteria, the hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), metatarsus adductus angle (MAA), metatarsus cuneiform angle (MCA), distal medial cuneiform angle (DMCA), and proximal metatarsal articular angle (PMAA) were measured and the morphology of the first tarsometatarsal (TMT) were recorded. According to the HVA, the X-ray films were divided into normal group (HVA<15°) and hallux valgus group (HVA≥15°).

Follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 positive subgroup from the Asymptomatic novel CORonavirus iNFection study.

A nested longitudinal study within theAsymptomatic novel CORonavirus iNFfection study followed participants with positive nasopharyngeal swab to query for development of symptoms and assess duration of positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results. Of the 91 participants initially testing positive, 86 participated in follow-up approximately 14 days after study enrollment; of those 86 participants, 19 (22.1%) developed at least one symptom at any time after the initial positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test result.

Continuously tunable true-time delay lines based on a one-dimensional grating waveguide for beam steering in phased array antennas.

In this paper, we propose integrated one-dimensional (1D) grating waveguide-based true-time delay (TTD) lines on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. Through optimizing the structure of the proposed waveguide, a time delay of 77.23 ps/mm can be readily achieved in a wavelength tuning range from 1540.

Graphene-based nonvolatile terahertz switch with asymmetric electrodes.

We propose a nonvolatile terahertz (THz) switch which is able to perform the switching with transient stimulus. The device utilizes graphene as its floating-gate layer, which changes the transmissivity of THz signal by trapping the tunneling charges. The conventional top-down electrode configuration is replaced by a left-right electrode configuration, so THz signals could transmit through this device with the transmissivity being controlled by voltage pulses.

Broadband tunable filter based on the loop of multimode Bragg grating.

A broadband tunable silicon filter has been demonstrated on silicon-on-insulator platform. The device is based on the loop of multimode anti-symmetric waveguide Bragg grating. A wide bandwidth tunability about 1.

Silicon lateral-apodized add-drop filter for on-chip optical interconnection.

A lateral-apodized add-drop filter is demonstrated in a multimode asymmetric waveguide Bragg grating. This design utilizes two individual superposed gratings with the same sidewall corrugation depth. The strong side lobes of the grating filter are efficiently suppressed by mapping the target apodization profile into lateral shifts between the periods of the two gratings.

Broad bandwidth and large fabrication tolerance polarization beam splitter based on multimode anti-symmetric Bragg sidewall gratings.

A novel polarization beam splitter based on an anti-symmetric sidewall Bragg grating in a multimode silicon-on-insulator strip waveguide is demonstrated. Anti-symmetric spatially periodic refractive-index perturbations are designed for strong coupling between the fundamental (TE) and the first-order transverse electric modes (TE), while not for transfer magnetic modes. An adiabatic coupler is cascaded at the input-port, so as to drop the TE reflection.

Oxidized arachidonic and adrenic PEs navigate cells to ferroptosis.

Enigmatic lipid peroxidation products have been claimed as the proximate executioners of ferroptosis-a specialized death program triggered by insufficiency of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Using quantitative redox lipidomics, reverse genetics, bioinformatics and systems biology, we discovered that ferroptosis involves a highly organized oxygenation center, wherein oxidation in endoplasmic-reticulum-associated compartments occurs on only one class of phospholipids (phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs)) and is specific toward two fatty acyls-arachidonoyl (AA) and adrenoyl (AdA). Suppression of AA or AdA esterification into PE by genetic or pharmacological inhibition of acyl-CoA synthase 4 (ACSL4) acts as a specific antiferroptotic rescue pathway.

Group-Based Trajectory Modeling of Healthcare Financial Charges in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Phenotype.

Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a heterogeneous group of chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions with variable disease courses often requiring significant healthcare expenditures. We aimed to identify disease trajectory patterns based on longitudinal financial expenditures and to assess the association of classic disease activity parameters with financial charges.

Methods: This was an analysis of a consented, prospective, natural history IBD registry (2009-2013) from a tertiary IBD center of 2,203 patients and their associated medical charges excluding pharmacy expenses.

Correction to "Design and Synthesis of a Mitochondria-Targeted Mimic of Glutathione Peroxidase, MitoEbselen-2, as a Radiation Mitigator".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/ml5003635.].

Silicon band-rejection and band-pass filter based on asymmetric Bragg sidewall gratings in a multimode waveguide.

A silicon photonic wire filter based on an asymmetric sidewall Bragg grating in a multimode silicon-on-insulator strip waveguide is demonstrated. The operating principle is based on the contra-directional coupling between the transverse electric fundamental (TE0) and first-order (TE1) modes, which is enabled by the asymmetric spatially periodic refractive-index perturbations. An asymmetric Y-junction is cascaded at the input port of the filter so as to drop the Bragg reflection.

Mitochondrial Redox Opto-Lipidomics Reveals Mono-Oxygenated Cardiolipins as Pro-Apoptotic Death Signals.

While opto-genetics has proven to have tremendous value in revealing the functions of the macromolecular machinery in cells, it is not amenable to exploration of small molecules such as phospholipids (PLs). Here, we describe a redox opto-lipidomics approach based on a combination of high affinity light-sensitive ligands to specific PLs in mitochondria with LC-MS based redox lipidomics/bioinformatics analysis for the characterization of pro-apoptotic lipid signals. We identified the formation of mono-oxygenated derivatives of C18:2-containing cardiolipins (CLs) in mitochondria after the exposure of 10-nonylacridine orange bromide (NAO)-loaded cells to light.

LPS impairs oxygen utilization in epithelia by triggering degradation of the mitochondrial enzyme Alcat1.

Cardiolipin (also known as PDL6) is an indispensable lipid required for mitochondrial respiration that is generated through de novo synthesis and remodeling. Here, the cardiolipin remodeling enzyme, acyl-CoA:lysocardiolipin-acyltransferase-1 (Alcat1; SwissProt ID, Q6UWP7) is destabilized in epithelia by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) impairing mitochondrial function. Exposure to LPS selectively decreased levels of carbon 20 (C20)-containing cardiolipin molecular species, whereas the content of C18 or C16 species was not significantly altered, consistent with decreased levels of Alcat1.

Precessing cylinders at the second and third resonance: turbulence controlled by geostrophic flow.

We investigate, via both asymptotic analysis and direct numerical simulation, precessionally driven flow of a homogeneous fluid confined in fluid-filled circular cylinders that rotate rapidly about their symmetry axis and precess about a different axis and that are marked by radius-height aspect ratios Γ=1.045945 and Γ=1.611089.

On-chip microwave signal generation based on a silicon microring modulator.

A photonic-assisted microwave signal generator based on a silicon microring modulator is demonstrated. The microring cavity incorporates an embedded PN junction that enables a microwave signal to modulate the lightwave circling inside. The DC component of the modulated light is trapped in the cavity, while the high-order sideband components are able to exit the cavity and then generate microwave signals at new frequencies in a photodetector.

Design and Synthesis of a Mitochondria-Targeted Mimic of Glutathione Peroxidase, MitoEbselen-2, as a Radiation Mitigator.

Ionizing radiation (IR) triggers mitochondrial overproduction of HO and accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides leading to the induction of apoptotic and necroptotic cell death pathways. Given the high catalytic efficiency of the seleno-enzyme glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) toward reduction of lipid hydroperoxides and HO, we tested the potential of mitochondria-targeted derivatives of ebselen to mitigate the deleterious effects of IR. We report that 2-[[2-[4-(3-oxo-1,2-benzoselenazol-2-yl)phenyl]acetyl]amino]ethyl-triphenyl-phosphonium chloride (MitoPeroxidase 2) was effective in reducing lipid hydroperoxides, preventing apoptotic cell death, and, when administered 24 h postirradiation, increased the survival of mice exposed to whole body γ-irradiation.

Designing inhibitors of cytochrome c/cardiolipin peroxidase complexes: mitochondria-targeted imidazole-substituted fatty acids.

Mitochondria have emerged as the major regulatory platform responsible for the coordination of numerous metabolic reactions as well as cell death processes, whereby the execution of intrinsic apoptosis includes the production of reactive oxygen species fueling oxidation of cardiolipin (CL) catalyzed by cytochrome (Cyt) c. As this oxidation occurs within the peroxidase complex of Cyt c with CL, the latter represents a promising target for the discovery and design of drugs with antiapoptotic mechanisms of action. In this work, we designed and synthesized a new group of mitochondria-targeted imidazole-substituted analogs of stearic acid TPP-n-ISAs with various positions of the attached imidazole group on the fatty acid (n = 6, 8, 10, 13, and 14).

Design of a high voltage stimulator chip for a stroke rehabilitation system.

This paper describes the design of an 8-channel high voltage stimulator chip for rehabilitation of stroke patients through surface stimulation, which requires high stimulation currents and high compliance voltage. The chip gets stimulation control data through its Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), and can accordingly generate biphasic stimulation currents with different amplitudes, duration, frequencies and polarities independently for each channel. The current driver is implemented with thick oxide devices with a supply voltage up to 90V.

Dual function of mitochondrial Nm23-H4 protein in phosphotransfer and intermembrane lipid transfer: a cardiolipin-dependent switch.

The nucleoside diphosphate kinase Nm23-H4/NDPK-D forms symmetrical hexameric complexes in the mitochondrial intermembrane space with phosphotransfer activity using mitochondrial ATP to regenerate nucleoside triphosphates. We demonstrate the complex formation between Nm23-H4 and mitochondrial GTPase OPA1 in rat liver, suggesting its involvement in local and direct GTP delivery. Similar to OPA1, Nm23-H4 is further known to strongly bind in vitro to anionic phospholipids, mainly cardiolipin, and in vivo to the inner mitochondrial membrane.

A manganese-porphyrin complex decomposes H(2)O(2), inhibits apoptosis, and acts as a radiation mitigator in vivo.

Ionizing radiation triggers mitochondrial overproduction of H(2)O(2) with concomitant induction of intrinsic apoptosis, whereby clearance of H(2)O(2) upon overexpression of mitochondrial catalase increases radioresistance in vitro and in vivo. As an alternative to gene therapy, we tested the potential of Mn((III))-porphyrin complexes to clear mitochondrial H(2)O(2). We report that triphenyl-[(2E)-2-[4-[(1Z,4Z,9Z,15Z)-10,15,20-tris(4-aminophenyl)-21,23-dihydroporphyrin-5-yl]phenyl]iminoethyl]phosphonium-Mn((III)) compartmentalizes preferentially into mitochondria of mouse embryonic cells, reacts with H(2)O(2), impedes γ-ray-induced mitochondrial apoptosis, and increases the survival of mice exposed to whole body irradiation with γ-rays.

A mitochondria-targeted inhibitor of cytochrome c peroxidase mitigates radiation-induced death.

The risk of radionuclide release in terrorist acts or exposure of healthy tissue during radiotherapy demand potent radioprotectants/radiomitigators. Ionizing radiation induces cell death by initiating the selective peroxidation of cardiolipin in mitochondria by the peroxidase activity of its complex with cytochrome c leading to release of haemoprotein into the cytosol and commitment to the apoptotic program. Here we design and synthesize mitochondria-targeted triphenylphosphonium-conjugated imidazole-substituted oleic and stearic acids that blocked peroxidase activity of cytochrome c/cardiolipin complex by specifically binding to its haem-iron.

Are mitochondrial reactive oxygen species required for autophagy?

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are said to participate in the autophagy signaling. Supporting evidence is obscured by interference of autophagy and apoptosis, whereby the latter heavily relies on ROS signaling. To dissect autophagy from apoptosis we knocked down expression of cytochrome c, the key component of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, in HeLa cells using shRNA.