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Bio-based activated carbons with very high specific surface area of &gt, 3.000 m² g−1 (based on CO2 adsorption isotherms) and a high proportion of micropores (87% of total SSA) are produced by corncobs via pyrolysis and chemical activation with KOH. The activated carbon is further doped with different proportions of the highly pseudocapacitive transition metal oxide RuO2 to obtain enhanced electrochemical properties and tune the materials for the application in electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLC) (supercapacitors). The activated carbon and composites are extensively studied regarding their physico-chemical and electrochemical properties. The results show that the composite containing 40 wt.% RuO2 has an electric conductivity of 408 S m−1 and a specific capacitance of 360 Fg−1. SEM-EDX, XPS, and XRD analysis confirm the homogenous distribution of partly crystalline RuO2 particles on the carbon surface, which leads to a biobased composite material with enhanced electrochemical properties.

Dietary nutrients, host metabolism, and gut microbiota activity each influence the host’s metabolic phenotype; however, the interplay between these factors remains poorly understood. We employed tissue-resolved metabolomics in gnotobiotic mice carrying a synthetic human gut microbiota and germfree mice in two dietary conditions to develop an intestinal flux model that quantifies diet, host, and bacterial contributions to the levels of 2,700 intestinal metabolites. While diet was the main factor affecting metabolite profiles, we identified 1,117 potential microbial substrates and products in the gut. By integrating metagenomics and metatranscriptomics data into genome-scale enzymatic networks, we linked 202 potential substrate-product pairs by a single enzymatic reaction. We further identified bacterial species and enzymes that can explain the differential abundance of 13% of the identified microbial products between the mouse groups. This quantitative modelling approach paves the way for controlling an individual’s metabolic phenotype by modulating their gut microbiome composition and diet.

Background The increase in cardiovascular disease cases that require minimally invasive treatment is inducing a new need to train physicians to perform them safely and effectively. Nevertheless, adaptation to simulation-based training has been slow, especially for complex procedures. Objectives We describe a newly developed mitral valve repair (MVR) simulator, equipped with new objective performance assessment methods, with an emphasis on its use for training the MitraClip™ procedure. Methods The MVR contains phantoms of all anatomical structures encountered during mitral valve repair with a transvenous, transseptal approach. In addition, several cameras, line lasers, and ultraviolet lights are used to mimic echocardiographic and fluoroscopic imaging and with a remote eye tracker the cognitive behaviour of the operator is recorded. A pilot study with a total of 9 interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and technical experts was conducted. All participants performed the MitraClip procedure on the MVR simulator using standard interventional tools. Subsequently, each participant completed a structured questionnaire to assess the simulator. Results The simulator functioned well, and the implemented objective performance assessment methods worked reliably. Key performance metrics such as x-ray usage were comparable with results from studies assessing these metrics in real interventions. Fluoroscopy imaging is realistic for the transseptal puncture but reaches its limits during the final steps of the procedure. Conclusion The functionality and objective performance assessment of the MVR simulator were demonstrated. Especially for complex procedures such as the MitraClip procedure, this simulator offers a suitable platform for risk-free training and education., Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology, 12 (5), ISSN:1869-408X, ISSN:1869-4098

AIMS Aim: To provide a step-by-step recommendation on how to align the Portico transcatheter heart valve, in a reproducible and reliable way, aiming to achieve proper neo-commissure alignment during transcatheter aortic valve implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS Patient-specific 3D aortic models were developed and printed based on CT scan reconstructions, and posteriorly positioned in a transcatheter aortic valve simulator. Neo-commissures were defined as aligned if the degree of deviation, having the native commissures as reference, was between 0-15o. The proposed neo-commissure alignment concept consists in overlapping 2 native and 2 neo-commissures in the same fluoroscopic projection, by rotating clockwise the delivery system in the descending aorta. After, the delivery system is advanced through the aortic root while the new reached orientation is kept. Neo-commissures alignment concept reproducibility and consistency were evaluated in 3 different aorta models (standard, horizontal, and anteriorized), with 2 operators performing 5 deployments in each model, counting 30 deployments in total. A successful neo-commissure alignment was achieved in all deployments (100% success). CONCLUSIONS Experimental tests using 3D-printed aortic root models demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of Portico neo-commissures alignment. The proposed orientation steps were reproducible and reliable in all the experimental deployments performed. Further animal and human studies are required to support the proposed concept.

Hydrogen peroxide production by direct synthesis (H2 + O2 → H2O2) is a promising alternative to the commercialized indirect process involving sequential hydrogenation and oxidation of anthraquinone...

In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play critical and complex roles in the tumor microenvironment. CAFs are also a major cell type in the desmoplastic stroma in PDAC and may account for half of the entire tumor tissue. Multiple subtypes of CAFs have been suggested, but the tissue origin(s) of CAF subtypes are unknown and genetic tools to robustly target them in vivo are lacking. Here we aimed to examine three potential tissue sources of CAFs: the pancreatic epithelium (through epithelium-to-mesenchyme transition), the bone marrow (through circulation), and the pancreatic mesenchyme or tissue resident fibroblasts (TRFs) in the normal pancreas (through proliferation). We utilized a genetically engineered mouse model of PDAC, where Kras and p53 mutations were engineered in the pancreatic epithelium using an Flp-Frt system. To determine whether the pancreatic epithelium gives rise to CAFs, we permanently labeled the pancreatic epithelium with a GFP reporter and traced their cell descendants by GFP expression. Despite robust GFP labeling of the epithelium, GFP expression was rarely identified in CAFs. To determine whether the bone marrow gives rise to CAFs, we transplanted donor bone marrow carrying a ubiquitously expressed GFP reporter to GFP-negative recipient mice. We found that minimal proportion of pancreatic CAFs were tagged with GFP. Lastly, to determine whether pancreatic TRFs give rise to CAFs, we used an inducible CreER-LoxP system to allow for permanent Tomato labeling in TRF progenitors, the splanchnic mesenchyme, during mid-gestation. Lineage tracing in PDAC showed that the vast majority of CAFs were labeled with Tomato expression, suggesting their splanchnic origin. Furthermore, certain splanchnic gene expression signatures persisted in subsets of CAFs in both the PDAC mouse model and human patient samples. Deletion of one of the splanchnic genes, Gata6, in CAFs resulted in increased tumor burden in the pancreas, suggesting a tumor-restraining role of Gata6 in CAFs. In summary, we found that the pancreatic epithelium and bone marrow contributes to a minimal proportion of CAFs in PDAC. Meanwhile, pancreatic TRFs are derived from the splanchnic mesenchyme during fetal development and they expand to contribute to the vast majority of CAFs in PDAC. Moreover, the persistence of splanchnic signature defines subtypes of CAFs, with a potential tumor-suppressing function. This study provides genetic approaches to robustly target CAFs in vivo, and novel insights into CAF origin, heterogeneity and function in PDAC. Citation Format: Lu Han, Yongxia Wu, Kun Fang, Sean Sweeney, Ulyss Roesner, Melodie Parrish, Khushbu Patel, Tom Walter, Julia Piermattei, Anthony Trimboli, Julia Lefler, Cynthia Timmers, Xue-Zhong Yu, Victor Jin, Michael Zimmermann, Angela Mathison, Raul Urrutia, Michael Ostrowski, Gustavo Leone. The splanchnic mesenchyme is the main tissue origin of fibroblasts in the pancreas during homeostasis and tumorigenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5847.

Kurzfassung Durch die Integration von datenbasierten Dienstleistungen in unternehmensübergreifende Ladungsträgerkreisläufe erhoffen sich Unternehmen mehr Transparenz über ihren Materialfluss. In diesem Beitrag wird anhand des Aufbaus eines prototypischen Cyber-Physischen Systems am Technologiezentrum für Produktions- und Logistiksysteme (TZ PULS) gezeigt, dass durch intelligente Ladungsträger und cloudbasierte Service-Systeme eine Umsetzung von den datenbasierten Dienstleistungen „Temperaturüberwachung“ und „Automatisierte Bestandsbuchungen“ möglich ist. Die Ergebnisse geben Auskunft über die praktische Eignung der datenbasierten Dienstleistungen und zeigen technologische Grenzen auf, die bei der Implementierung in den logistischen Prozessen zu berücksichtigen sind.

Fe3O4/CoFe2O4 nanorods were obtained via a simple seed-mediated synthesis. Nanorods were used as seeds to grow CoFe2O4 by thermal codecomposition of the cobalt(II) and iron(III) acetylacetonate precursors. The growth process was monitored by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), and the resulting nanorods were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and IR and Raman spectroscopy. Magnetometry and AC susceptometry studies revealed a distribution of Neel relaxation times with an average blocking temperature of 140 K and a high-field magnetization of 42 Am2/kg. Complementarily recorded 57Fe-Mossbauer spectra were consistent with the Fe3O4/CoFe2O4 spinel structure and exhibited considerable signs of spin frustration, which was correlated to the internal and surface structure of the nanorods.

Synthetic sugar analogs are widely applied in metabolic oligosaccharide engineering (MOE) and as novel drugs to interfere with glycoconjugate biosynthesis. However, mechanistic insights on their exact cellular metabolism over time are mostly lacking. We combined ion-pair UHPLC-QqQ mass spectrometry using tributyl- and triethylamine buffers for sensitive analysis of sugar metabolites in cells and organisms and identified low abundant nucleotide sugars, such as UDP-arabinose in human cell lines and CMP-sialic acid (CMP-NeuNAc) in Drosophila. Furthermore, MOE revealed that propargyloxycarbonyl (Poc) labeled ManNPoc was metabolized to both CMP-NeuNPoc and UDP-GlcNPoc. Finally, time-course analysis of the effect of antitumor compound 3Fax-NeuNAc by incubation of B16-F10 melanoma cells with N-acetyl-D-[UL-13C6]glucosamine revealed full depletion of endogenous ManNAc 6-phosphate and CMP-NeuNAc within 24 hour. Thus, dynamic tracing of sugar metabolic pathways provides a general approach to reveal time-dependent insights into the metabolism of synthetic sugars, which is important for the rational design of analogs with optimized effects., Glycobiology, 32 (3), ISSN:0959-6658

The Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) is a multifunctional quorum sensing molecule of key importance to P. aeruginosa. Here, we report that the lytic Pseudomonas bacterial virus LUZ19 targets this population density-dependent signaling system by expressing quorum sensing targeting protein (Qst) early during infection. We demonstrate that Qst interacts with PqsD, a key host quinolone signal biosynthesis pathway enzyme, resulting in decreased levels of PQS and its precursor 2-heptyl-4(1H)-quinolone. The lack of a functional PqsD enzyme impairs LUZ19 infection but is restored by external supplementation of 2-heptyl-4(1H)-quinolone, suggesting that LUZ19 exploits the PQS system for successful infection. We establish a broad functional interaction network of Qst, which includes enzymes of cofactor biosynthesis pathways (CoaC/ThiD) and a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase pathway (PA1217). Qst therefore represents an exquisite example of intricate reprogramming of the bacterium by a phage, which may be further exploited as tool to combat antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens., Cell Reports, 38 (7), ISSN:2666-3864, ISSN:2211-1247

New therapeutic concepts are critically needed for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen particularly recalcitrant to antibiotics. The screening of around 230,000 small molecules yielded a very low hit rate of 0.002% after triaging for known antibiotics. The only novel hit that stood out was the antimetabolite oxythiamine. Oxythiamine is a known transketolase inhibitor in eukaryotic cells, but its antibacterial potency has not been reported. Metabolic and transcriptomic analyses indicated that oxythiamine is intracellularly converted to oxythiamine pyrophosphate and subsequently inhibits several vitamin-B1-dependent enzymes, sensitizing the bacteria to several antibiotic and non-antibiotic drugs such as tetracyclines, 5-fluorouracil, and auranofin. The positive interaction between 5-fluorouracil and oxythiamine was confirmed in a murine ocular infection model, indicating relevance during infection. Together, this study revealed a system-level significance of thiamine metabolism perturbation that sensitizes P. aeruginosa to multiple small molecules, a property that could inform on the development of a rational drug combination. Ministry of Education (MOE) National Research Foundation (NRF) Submitted/Accepted version This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grants funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (NRF-2014K1A4A7A01074645, 2017M3A9G6068246, and 2019M3E5D5064653 to S.J.), by the Singapore Ministry of Education under its Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 2 (grant MOE2017-T2-1-063 to K.P.), and by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, under its Investigatorship Program (NRF-NRFI06-2020-0004 to K.P.).

The chemical-physical processes controlling hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) are still not completely understood. This paper focuses on two aspects: the influence on the hydrochar formation of the particle size of the feedstock and the presence of solved compounds in the feedwater. To address these, brewer’s spent grains were crushed to 250 μm proved by HPLC analysis of liquid byproducts, particularly when rPW, containing readily condensable/polymerizable intermediates, is added. This has a positive effect on the yield and carbon content of the hydrochars caused mainly by an increase in its secondary char fraction. The reaction pathways involved are discussed in detail.

In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play critical and complex roles in the tumor microenvironment. CAFs are also a major cell type in the desmoplastic stroma in PDAC and may account for half of the entire tumor tissue. Multiple subtypes of CAFs have been suggested, but the tissue origin(s) of CAF subtypes are unknown and genetic tools to robustly target them in vivo are lacking. Here we aimed to examine three potential tissue sources of CAFs: the pancreatic epithelium (through epithelium-to-mesenchyme transition), the bone marrow (through circulation), and the pancreatic tissue resident fibroblasts (TRFs) in the normal pancreas (through proliferation). We utilized a genetically engineered mouse model of PDAC, where Kras and p53 mutations were engineered in the pancreatic epithelium using an Flp-Frt system. To determine whether the pancreatic epithelium gives rise to CAFs, we permanently labeled the pancreatic epithelium with a GFP reporter and traced their cell descendants by GFP expression. Despite robust GFP labeling of the epithelium, GFP expression was rarely identified in CAFs, suggesting little contribution of epithelium to the CAF pool. To determine whether the bone marrow gives rise to CAFs, we transplanted donor bone marrow carrying a ubiquitously expressed GFP reporter allele to GFP-negative recipient mice. We found that only a small portion of pancreatic CAFs were tagged with GFP. Lastly, to determine whether pancreatic TRFs give rise to CAFs, we used an inducible CreER-LoxP system to allow for permanent Tomato labeling in TRFs progenitors, the splanchnic mesenchyme, during mid-gestation. Lineage tracing in PDAC showed that the vast majority of CAFs were labeled with Tomato expression, suggesting their splanchnic origin. Furthermore, certain splanchnic gene expression signatures were persistent in subsets of CAFs in both the PDAC mouse model and human patient samples. In summary, we found that bone marrow contributes to a small portion of CAFs in PDAC, and the pancreatic epithelium contributes even less. Meanwhile, pancreatic TRFs are derived from the splanchnic mesenchyme during fetal development and they expand to contribute to the vast majority of CAFs in PDAC. Moreover, the persistence of splanchnic signature defines subtypes of CAFs. This study provides approaches to robustly target CAFs in vivo, and novel insights into CAF origin and heterogeneity in PDAC. Citation Format: Lu Han, Yongxia Wu, Melodie Parrish, Khushbu Patel, Tony Trimboli, Julia Lefler, Xuezhong Yu, Michael Zimmermann, Angela Mathison, Raul Urrutia, Michael Ostrowski, Gustavo Leone. The splanchnic mesenchyme is the main tissue origin of fibroblasts in the pancreas during homeostasis and tumorigenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 3645.

Future left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are expected to respond to the physiologic need of patients; however, they still lack reliable pressure or volume sensors for feedback control. In the clinic, echocardiography systems are routinely used to measure left ventricular (LV) volume. Until now, echocardiography in this form was never integrated in LVADs due to its computational complexity. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the applicability of a simplified ultrasonic sensor to fit an LVAD cannula and to show the achievable accuracy in vitro. Our approach requires only two ultrasonic transducers because we estimated the LV volume with the LV end-diastolic diameter commonly used in clinical assessments. In order to optimize the accuracy, we assessed the optimal design parameters considering over 50 orientations of the two ultrasonic transducers. A test bench was equipped with five talcum-infused silicone heart phantoms, in which the intra-ventricular surface replicated papillary muscles and trabeculae carnae. The end-diastolic LV filling volumes of the five heart phantoms ranged from 180 to 480 mL. This reference volume was altered by ±40 mL with a syringe pump. Based on the calibrated measurements acquired by the two ultrasonic transducers, the LV volume was estimated well. However, the accuracies obtained are strongly dependent on the choice of the design parameters. Orientations toward the septum perform better, as they interfere less with the papillary muscles. The optimized design is valid for all hearts. Considering this, the Bland-Altman analysis reports the LV volume accuracy as a bias of ±10% and limits of agreement of 0%-40% in all but the smallest heart. The simplicity of traditional echocardiography systems was reduced by two orders of magnitude in technical complexity, while achieving a comparable accuracy to 2D echocardiography requiring a calibration of absolute volume only. Hence, our approach exploits the established benefits of echocardiography and makes them applicable as an LV volume sensor for LVADs.

Analytic and numerical studies on curved magnetic nano-objects predict numerous exciting effects that can be referred to as magneto-chiral effects, which do not originate from intrinsic Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction or interface-induced anisotropies. In constrast, these chiral effects stem from isotropic exchange or dipole-dipole interaction, present in all magnetic materials, which acquire asymmetric contributions in case of curved geometry of the specimen. As a result, for example, the spin-wave dispersion in round magnetic nanotubes becomes asymmetric, namely spin waves of the same frequency propagating in opposite directions along the nanotube exhibit different wavelenghts. Here, using time-resolved scanning transmission X-ray microscopy experiments, standard micromagntic simulations and a dynamic-matrix approach, we show that the spin-wave spectrum undergoes additional drastic changes when transitioning from a continuous to a discrete rotational symmetry, i.e. from round to hexagonal nanotubes, which are much easier to fabricate. The polygonal shape introduces localization of the modes both to the sharp, highly curved corners and flat edges. Moreover, due to the discrete rotational symmetry, the degenerate nature of the modes with azimuthal wave vectors known from round tubes is partly lifted, resulting in singlet and duplet modes. For comparison with our experiments, we calculate the microwave absorption from the numerically obtained mode profiles which shows that a dedicated antenna design is paramount for magnonic applications in 3D nano-structures. To our knowledge these are the first experiments directly showing real space spin-wave propagation in 3D nano objects.

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has become a promising technology for the production of hydrochar and carbon spheres. Several studies indicate a strong dependency of the reaction conditions on the sphere diameter. The usage of additives, such as salts, is one possibility to increase the size of the spheres. However, the growth mechanism which leads to larger particles is not fully understood. In this work, kinetic studies of HTC with fructose were performed with different salts as additives. The growth of the particles (the increase in size) has been compared to the formation rates (increase in yield) of hydrochar by using the reaction rate constants from the kinetic model. The results indicate that the acceleration of the growth rate is independent of the formation rate. It is therefore assumed that coagulation, as a growth mechanism, took place. With longer reaction times, the particles reached a stable particle size, independently from the added salts; therefore, it was assumed that the particles underwent some sort of solidification. The state of matter can therefore be described as an intermediate state between liquid and solid, similar to mesophase pitch. Experiments with a stirrer resulted in squashed particles, which supports the model, that the particles exhibit emulsion-like behavior., Projekt DEAL; Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany [01DH17035]; Paul and Yvonne Gillet Foundation, Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This research was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany in the framework of the ERA-Net Medwaste initiative, grant number 01DH17035. Dennis Jung received a generous grant from the Paul and Yvonne Gillet Foundation

Hierarchical H-ZSM-5 zeolites are a promising class of heterogeneous catalysts that have shown encouraging results in lab-scale studies for the production of gasoline from dimethyl ether (DTG conversion). However, the influences of mesopore formation and shaping on various catalyst properties are still under debate. In this study, a series of H-ZSM-5 zeolites with hierarchical pore structures were prepared by modifying commercially available zeolites via alkaline treatment ("desilication"). The powdered zeolites were shaped into technical catalyst bodies by wet extrusion using either silica or alumina binders. All materials were extensively characterized. The different interactions during alkaline treatment were related to the observed modifications in the zeolite properties of the materials obtained. Although many properties of modified and untreated zeolite powders remained predominantly unchanged in their shaped catalyst equivalents, both binders affected certain material characteristics, particularly those related to their acidity. Finally, preliminary tests showed enhanced catalytic performance of hierarchical ZSM-5 catalysts in DTG conversion.

Quantum computing introduces a new computing paradigm that promises to solve problems that cannot be solved by classical computers efficiently. Thus, quantum applications will be more and more integrated in classical applications. To bring these composite applications into production, technologies for an automated deployment and orchestration are required to avoid manual error-prone and time-consuming processes. For non-quantum applications, a variety of deployment technologies have been developed in recent years. However, the deployment of quantum applications currently differs significantly from non-quantum applications and thus, leads to a different modeling procedure for the deployment of quantum applications. To overcome these problems, we propose TOSCA4QC that introduces two deployment modeling styles based on the Topology and Orchestration Specification for Cloud Applications (TOSCA) standard for automating the deployment and orchestration of quantum applications: (i) SDK-specific modeling style to cover all technical deployment details and (ii) SDK-agnostic modeling style supporting common modeling principles. We further show how existing model-driven development (MDD) approach can be applied to refine a SDK-agnostic model to an executable SDK-specific model. We demonstrate the practical feasibility by a prototypical implementation as an extension of the TOSCA ecosystem OpenTOSCA and three case studies with IBMQ and a quantum simulator.

Part 3: Deployment and Workflows; International audience; Service composition is a popular approach for building software applications from several individual services. Using imperative workflow technologies, service compositions can be specified as workflow models comprising activities that are implemented, e.g., by service calls or scripts. While scripts are typically included in the workflow model itself and can be executed directly by the workflow engine, the required services must be deployed in a separate step. Moreover, to enable their invocation, an additional step is required to configure the workflow model regarding the endpoints of the deployed services, i.e., IP-address, port, etc. However, a manual deployment of services and configuration of the workflow model are complex, time-consuming, and error-prone tasks. In this paper, we present an approach that enables defining service compositions in a self-contained manner using imperative workflow technology. For this, the workflow models can be packaged with all necessary deployment models and software artifacts that implement the required services. As a result, the service deployment in the target environment where the workflow is executed as well as the configuration of the workflow with the endpoint information of the services can be automated completely. We validate the technical feasibility of our approach by a prototypical implementation based on the TOSCA standard and OpenTOSCA.

BACKGROUND Training in transcatheter cardiovascular skills today represents a significant challenge because of the complexity of the interventions and an extensive use of multiple live imaging technologies. OBJECTIVES We describe the design, the face validation, and content validation of a newly developed physical transseptal puncture (TSP) simulator using additive manufacturing techniques and novel imaging simulation solutions. METHODS The TSP simulator contains a femoral vein catheterization pad, silicon phantoms of the venous system, a replaceable interatrial septum, and cameras to mimic live fluoroscopic and echocardiographic imaging. A validation study was conducted at the University Hospital of Zurich. A total of 14 interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons assessed the TSP simulator. Participants performed a TSP on the simulator using standard interventional tools. Face and content validity was demonstrated using a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS The TSP simulator is a new training tool for transcatheter cardiovascular interventions. All interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons completed the training exercise and scoring. Overall impression was rated (out of 5) 4.04 ± 1.03, haptic feedback scored 4.13 ± 0.82, and the realism of fluoroscopy simulation 4.39 ± 0.79. Usability was rated 4.50 ± 0.63 by the participants, indicating that the simulator could be suitable for training. CONCLUSION We demonstrated face and content validity of a new simulator for transcatheter cardiovascular interventions. The TSP simulator's usability, haptic feedback, imaging solutions, and the overall impression of its usage were reported as very realistic. The TSP simulator represents a promising tool for simulation-based training using real interventional toolkits in a mimicked radiological environment.

Human tuberculosis is caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) that vary in virulence and transmissibility. While genome-wide association studies have uncovered several mutations conferring drug resistance, much less is known about the factors underlying other bacterial phenotypes. Variation in the outcome of tuberculosis infection and diseases has been attributed primarily to patient and environmental factors, but recent evidence indicates an additional role for the genetic diversity among MTBC clinical strains. Here, we used metabolomics to unravel the effect of genetic variation on the strain-specific metabolic adaptive capacity and vulnerability. To define the functionality of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) systematically, we developed a constraint-based approach that integrates metabolomic and genomic data. Our model-based predictions correctly classify SNP effects in pyruvate kinase and suggest a genetic basis for strain-specific inherent baseline susceptibility to the antibiotic para-aminosalicylic acid. Our method is broadly applicable across microbial life, opening possibilities for the development of more selective treatment strategies.

With the ongoing advances in the area of cloud computing, Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, and the increasing prevalence of cyber-physical systems and devices equipped with sensors, the amount of data generated every second is rising steadily. Thereby, the gathering of data and the creation of added value from this data is getting easier and easier. However, the increasing volume of data stored in the cloud leads to new challenges. Analytics software and scalable platforms are required to evaluate the data distributed all over the internet. But with distributed applications and large data sets to be handled, the network becomes a bottleneck. Therefore, in this work, we present an approach to automatically improve the deployment of such applications regarding the placement of data processing components dependent on the data flow of the application. To show the practical feasibility of our approach, we implemented a prototype based on the open-source ecosystem OpenTOSCA. Moreover, we evaluated our prototype using various scenarios.

OBJECTIVES Reducing avoidable radiation exposure during medical procedures is a top priority. The purpose of this study was to quantify, for the first time, the percentage of avoidable radiation during fluoroscopically guided cardiovascular interventions using eye tracking technologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mobile eye tracking glasses were used to measure precisely when the operators looked at a fluoroscopy screen during the interventions. A novel machine learning algorithm and image processing techniques were used to automatically analyze the data and compute the percentage of avoidable radiation. Based on this percentage, the amount of potentially avoidable radiation dose was computed. RESULTS This study included 30 cardiovascular interventions performed by 5 different operators. A significant percentage of the administered radiation (mean [SD], 43.5% [12.6%]) was avoidable (t29 = 18.86, P < 0.00001); that is, the operators were not looking at the fluoroscopy screen while the x-ray was on. On average, this corresponded to avoidable amounts of air kerma (mean [SD], 229 [66] mGy) and dose area product (mean [SD], 32,781 [9420] mGycm), or more than 11 minutes of avoidable x-ray usage, per procedure. CONCLUSIONS A significant amount of the administered radiation during cardiovascular interventions is in fact avoidable.

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Hydrothermal carbonization experiments were performed with fructose solutions as feedstock. A kinetic model is proposed that models hydrochar formation based on molar concentrations. On the basis of SEM pictures, the mean particles size of the hydrochar was determined, and it could be demonstrated that the growth of the particles is not directly related to the formation rate of hydrochar or the decreasing rate of the intermediates concentration in the aqueous solution. Four additives (salts) have been tested, and the results point out that the ionic strength is an important factor to control the particle size. Together, these observations lead to the conclusion that coalescence is an important driver for the growth of the particles and that a LaMer-like nucleation followed by diffusion-controlled growth is unlikely to be the formation and growth mechanism of hydrochar.

The aim was to gain insights into the visual behaviour and the perceptual skills of operators during catheter-based cardiovascular interventions (CBCVIs). A total of 33 CBCVIs were performed at the University Hospital Zurich by five operators, two experts and three novices, while wearing eye tracking glasses. The visual attention distribution on three areas of interest (AOIs) the "Echo screen", "Fluoro screen" and "Patient" was analysed for the transseptal puncture procedure. Clear visual behaviour patterns were observable in all cases. There is a significant differences in visual attention distribution of the experts compared to the novices. Experts spent 79% of dwell time on the Echo screen and 17% on the Fluoro screen, novices spent 52% on the Echo screen and 40% on the Fluoro screen. Additionally, results showed that experts focused their gaze on smaller areas than novices during critical interventional actions. Operators seem to exhibit identifiable visual behaviour patterns for CBCVIs. These identifiable patterns were significantly different between the expert and the novice operators. This indicates that the visual behaviour of operators could be employed to assist transfer of experts' perceptual skills to novices and to develop tools for objective performance assessment.

The large building complex making up the Emile Cohl Art School integrates innovative, lightweight structures with both the existing historic columns and the riveted lattice girders which support the saw-tooth roof of the former Renault factory, built in 1899. The roof above the central hall is a multi-span suspension structure. Two steel ribbons, supported by fan-shaped steel struts and anchored on both ends, give an undulating shape to the roof. Wooden box elements span the entire 12 m between the steel ribbons. The rectangular sections are made of a planar Kerto® wooden assembly, fixed onto the curved steel ribbons thanks to custom-fabricated intermediate wooden connections. This is a highly efficient way to cover the hall—using only one type of repeating surface element and minimizing the assembly procedure while giving the roof an elegant wave shape. The steel structure rests on a concrete portal frame, a new element which helps to stiffen the old existing roof structure, including the weak, o...

The response of soil microbial activity to climate warming has been predicted to have a large destabilising effect on the carbon cycle. However, the nature of this feedback remains poorly understood, especially in tropical ecosystems and across annual to decadal timescales. We studied the response of bacterial community growth to 2 and 11 years of altered temperature regimes, by translocating soil across an elevation gradient in the tropical Andes. Soil cores were reciprocally translocated among five sites across 3 km in elevation, where mean annual temperature (MAT) ranged from 26.4 to 6.5°C. The bacterial community growth response to temperature was estimated using a temperature Sensitivity Index (SI): the log-ratio of growth determined by leucine incorporation at 35°C: 4°C. Bacterial communities from soil translocated to their original site (controls) had a growth response assumed to be ‘adapted’ to the original MAT. Translocating soil downslope (warming) resulted in an increased SI relative to their original growth response, and vice versa under cooling, indicating community-level adaptation over the incubation period to the altered MAT. The average level of adaptation (i.e., the extent to which SI converged on the control values) was 77% after 2 years, and was complete after 11 years. The adaptive response was faster when soil was warmed rather than cooled: instances of complete adaptation of SI occurred in soils after 2 years when warmed, but only after 11 years when they were cooled. Taken together, our results show that the majority of the growth adaptation to warming by the bacterial community occurs rapidly, within 2 years, whilst growth adaptation to cooling occurs within a decade. Our analysis demonstrates rapid warm-adaptation of bacterial community growth, with potential consequences for the temperature sensitivity of soil carbon cycling in response to future climate warming.

Predicted increase in climate warming will affect soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in vulnerable cold alpine environments. In contrast to freeze and thaw cycles, less is known about the effects of temperature regimes in the range between 2 and 10 °C on SOC availability to soil microorganisms. For this reason, CO2 efflux, extracellular enzyme activities and microbial communities were measured in an incubation experiment with three temperature treatments: (T1) continuous 10 °C, (T2) cooled down to 2 °C, and (T3) rewarmed from 2 to 10 °C. Two forest soils at low elevation and two grassland soils at high elevation were taken from two sites with distinct bedrock types (limestone at Hochschwab, gneiss and schist at Rauris). The CO2 efflux did not differ significantly between the elevation levels at the two sites. In the continuous warm treatment T1, the relative decline in CO2 efflux was stronger in the two Rauris than in the two Hochschwab soils during the 0–123 days period. In the cooling treatment T2, the cumulative ΣCO2C efflux of the Hochschwab soils was lowered by 32% and that of the Rauris soils by only 19% compared with T1 during the 30–123 days period. In the rewarming treatment T3, the ΣCO2 efflux was on average 33% higher than that of treatment T1 during the 91–123 days period, ranging from +8% to +62%. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition and extracellular enzyme activities were not markedly affected by incubation time or temperature treatments. The differences in bedrock properties had stronger effects on the ΣCO2 efflux, enzyme activities as well as total PLFA content and composition than elevation level or vegetation. Other, largely unknown factors control the rewarming effects on the mobilisation of a labile SOC pool.

Reducing the effects of climate change is a key-point to achieve sustainable development. It is known that fertilizer application stimulates soil gaseous N losses, especially immediately after their application. In this shortterm incubation experiment, the effects of different chabazite zeolite amendments on soil gaseous emissions (CO2, N2O, NOx and NH3) were evaluated in high resolution as potential mitigation strategy for agricultural soils. Different soil-zeolite mixtures, including both natural and NH4 +-enriched chabazite zeolites, were incubated for 24 h both immediately after the application of urea fertilizer and without a further N input in order to carry out a high resolution investigation of soil CO2, N2O, NOx and NH3 fluxes, in comparison to an unamended soil. Immediate CO2, N2O, NOx and especially NH3 emissions after fertilizer application were generally reduced in soils amended with zeolites at natural state, indicating a potential valuable material for reducing soil C-N gaseous losses. On the other hand, the application of NH4 +-enriched zeolites lowered CO2 and N2O emissions, but very high NOx fluxes occurred during the first 24 h even without applying any further N input. NH3 emissions were higher in NH4 +-enriched zeolites amended soil, but if the amendment is performed without further N inputs, the emissions can be significantly lowered with respect to a conventional urea fertilization. Reducing the effects of climate change is a key-point to achieve sustainable development. It is known that fertilizer application stimulates soil gaseous N losses, especially immediately after their application. In this short-term incubation experiment, the effects of different chabazite zeolite amendments on soil gaseous emissions (CO2, N2O, NOx and NH3) were evaluated in high resolution as potential mitigation strategy for agricultural soils. Different soil-zeolite mixtures, including both natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolites, were incubated for 24 h both immediately after the application of urea fertilizer and without a further N input in order to carry out a high resolution investigation of soil CO2, N2O, NOx and NH3 fluxes, in comparison to an unamended soil. Immediate CO2, N2O, NOx and especially NH3 emissions after fertilizer application were generally reduced in soils amended with zeolites at natural state, indicating a potential valuable material for reducing soil C-N gaseous losses. On the other hand, the application of NH4+-enriched zeolites lowered CO2 and N2O emissions, but very high NOx fluxes occurred during the first 24 h even without applying any further N input. NH3 emissions were higher in NH4+-enriched zeolites amended soil, but if the amendment is performed without further N inputs, the emissions can be significantly lowered with respect to a conventional urea fertilization.

Background: Although some theorists have suggested that pain sensations cannot be part of the dreaming world, research has shown that pain sensations occur in about 1% of the dreams in healthy persons and in about 30% of patients with acute, severe pain. Objective: The present study is the first to study pain dreams in patients with chronic pain. Method: A questionnaire was administered to 100 patients with chronic lower back pain and 270 controls. Results: The patients reported more pain dreams and more negatively toned dreams compared to healthy controls. In addition, patients reported more often that the dreamed pain persisted into waking state. Conclusion: In patients, pain dreams might be instigated by actual pain whereas for healthy persons pain dreams might be pain memories (self-experienced pain and/or seeing persons in pain). Future research should clarify how pain is processed during sleep. As patients with chronic pain experience negatively toned dreams, it will be beneficial to ask chronic pain patients about their dreams and, if necessary, offer specific treatment options like imagery rehearsal treatment.

Nitrogen (N) availability to plants in dry soil is limited by diffusive flux of N compounds through the soil solution towards the root surface. Conventional soil extraction procedures only provide information about bulk soil N concentrations, which can be distorted during soil sampling, transport, storage and extraction, and hence are of limited use to detect short-term N dynamics. Soil microdialysis is a new tool to monitor diffusive flux of mineral and organic N compounds in situ in high temporal and spatial resolution with minimal disturbance, and is therefore well-suited to determine dynamic fractions of plant-available N in soil microsites. We investigated N availability and mobilization during a drying–rewetting event in a temperate beech forest using soil microdialysis and soil extractions with water. While water extracts mainly revealed mineral N in the form of NH4+ and NO3−, diffusive N fluxes in situ were dominated by amino acids. Microdialysis showed that rewetting of dry soil led to a fast but short-lived mobilization of NO3− and some neutral hydrophilic amino acids (lysine, glutamine, cysteine, glycine), which was not detected in water extracts, and the rewetting N flush was larger with increasing drought duration. Our results suggest that at our temperate forest site plant-available N was dominated by amino acids, a fraction of N that might be missed using conventional soil extraction methods. Considering expected increases in the frequency of extreme climatic events, the observed release of mobile N forms bears the potential of N loss from soil if severe drought is followed by a heavy rain event.