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Liquid-based computing media are massively parallel computing devices with high fault-tolerance and self-healing capabilities. They can compute by propagating and interacting phase waves or by changing their internal coordination. Colloidal suspensions of conductive polymer nanorods are expected to be interesting candidates for developing the computing subsystem in such applications, because of their anisometry which makes them particularly susceptible to electrical fields. In this work, we investigated a suspension of polyaniline nanorods (NRs) to explore the potential of generating learning mechanisms in the colloid and applying them in the computing system of future cybernetic systems. We demonstrated that learning, as expressed in the formation of programmable conductive pathways leading to distinct states, can be implemented using Alternated Current (AC) electrical stimulation. We achieved repeatable programming of colloid resistance anisotropy that can be easily mapped into binary logic, demonstrating that this is due to the AC field effects on the hydrogen bonds that stabilise the dispersoids in the solvent as well as the charges' orientation inside the polymeric chains. We also influenced the conductivity of polyaniline (PANI) NRs by changing their molecular conformation. The findings establish robust protocols for programming future liquid robots.

Abstract A kombucha is a tea and sugar fermented by over sixty kinds of yeasts and bacteria. This symbiotic community produces kombucha mats, which are cellulose-based hydrogels. The kombucha mats can be used as an alternative to animal leather in industry and fashion once they have been dried and cured. Prior to this study, we demonstrated that living kombucha mats display dynamic electrical activity and distinct stimulating responses. For use in organic textiles, cured mats of kombucha are inert. To make kombucha wearables functional, it is necessary to incorporate electrical circuits. We demonstrate that creating electrical conductors on kombucha mats is possible. After repeated bending and stretching, the circuits maintain their functionality. In addition, the abilities and electronic properties of the proposed kombucha, such as being lighter, less expensive, and more flexible than conventional electronic systems, pave the way for their use in a diverse range of applications.

Abstract Mycelium-bound composites are potential alternatives to conventional materials for a variety of applications, including thermal and acoustic building panels and product packaging. If the reactions of live mycelium to environmental conditions and stimuli are taken into account, it is possible to create functioning fungal materials. Thus, active building components, sensory wearables, etc. might be created. This research describes the electrical sensitivity of fungus to changes in the moisture content of a mycelium-bound composite. Trains of electrical spikes initiate spontaneously in fresh mycelium-bound composites with a moisture content between $$\sim$$ ∼ 95% and $$\sim$$ ∼ 65%, and between $$\sim$$ ∼ 15% and $$\sim$$ ∼ 5% when partially dried. When the surfaces of mycelium-bound composites were partially or totally encased with an impermeable layer, increased electrical activity was observed. In fresh mycelium-bound composites, electrical spikes were seen both spontaneously and when induced by water droplets on the surface. Also explored is the link between electrical activity and electrode depth. Future designs of smart buildings, wearables, fungi-based sensors, and unconventional computer systems may benefit from fungi configurations and biofabrication flexibility.

Abstract Mycelium bound composites are promising materials for a diverse range of applications including wearables and building elements. Their functionality surpasses some of the capabilities of traditionally passive materials, such as synthetic fibres, reconstituted cellulose fibres and natural fibres. Thereby, creating novel propositions including augmented functionality (sensory) and aesthetic (personal fashion). Biomaterials can offer multiple modal sensing capability such as mechanical loading (compressive and tensile) and moisture content. To assess the sensing potential of fungal insoles we undertook laboratory experiments on electrical response of bespoke insoles made from capillary matting colonised with oyster fungi Pleurotus ostreatus to compressive stress which mimics human loading when standing and walking. We have shown changes in electrical activity with compressive loading. The results advance the development of intelligent sensing insoles which are a building block towards more generic reactive fungal wearables. Using FitzHugh-Nagumo model we numerically illustrated how excitation wave-fronts behave in a mycelium network colonising an insole and shown that it may be possible to discern pressure points from the mycelium electrical activity.

The hosts to gold around the Witwatersrand Basin span over 400 my, through 14 km of stratigraphy in a variety of host rocks and in tectonic settings that include periods of rifting, thermal subsidence, foreland basin, flood basalt outpouring, graben development, and further thermal subsidence. A geological model that assumes placer processes to explain this diversity implies a super-long-lived and special source of the detrital gold, transport, and highly effective sorting processes over a time span of 400 my. There is no evidence of a special source and sorting over such a long time period. In the Phanerozoic, this would be equivalent to the special source and sorting processes operating continually over an equivalent period of geological time spanning from the Devonian up until the present day; this is as yet recognised nowhere else on the planet. With regard to the geological model that assumes a placer process, this is untenable because of these scientific shortcomings and its lack of success in exploration. A better use of funds may be to consider alternative approaches and epigenetic models in exploration.

Abstract Background The potential to directly harness photosynthesis to make actuators, biosensors and bioprocessors has been previously demonstrated in the literature. Herein, this capability has been expanded to more advanced systems — Marimo Actuated Rover Systems (MARS) — which are capable of autonomous, solar powered, movement. Results We demonstrate this ability is both a practical and viable alternative to conventional mobile platforms for exploration and dynamic environmental monitoring. Prototypes have been successfully tested to measure their speed of travel and ability to automatically bypass obstacles. Further, MARS is electromagnetically silent, thus avoiding the background noise generated by conventional electro/mechanical platforms which reduces instrument sensitivity. The cost of MARS is significantly lower than platforms based on conventional technology. Conclusions An autonomous, low-cost, lightweight, compact size, photosynthetically powered rover is reported. The potential for further system enhancements are identified and under development.

Possible young analogues for regionally extensive unconformities (100 to 400 km2) in the gold-bearing Witwatersrand Supergroup (Archean, South Africa) occur in the South Island of New Zealand. Extensive marine unconformities in New Zealand show progression from an unconformity surface to conglomerate to clean well-sorted sandstone to marine mudstone, as is also found in the major Witwatersrand auriferous reef horizons. The hosting young sedimentary basins of the South Island rest on thin or thick crust on inboard and outboard foreland settings, with variable alluvial gold budgets. They expose the Cretaceous–Oligocene Waipounamu Erosion Surface unconformity that formed when most of New Zealand was subsiding, and Pleistocene–Holocene unconformities related to global sea level changes. The Witwatersrand gold-bearing reef sediments are a good match for such marine transgressions, but not alluvial fans or braided streams. Most Witwatersrand gold is immediately above planar unconformity surfaces and not restricted to, or concentrated in, erosion channels that are incised through the reefs. However, in modern alluvial fans or braided streams, gold is almost entirely in erosion channels on a smaller scale than the Witwatersrand gold reef packages and not spread across the planar unconformities. Alluvial fans and braid plains in New Zealand dilute gold with large volumes of gravel.

The use of live organisms in electrically-coupled sensing devices has been suggested as an alternative low-cost, low-environmental footprint and robust technology for continuous monitoring and sensing applications. The utility of Chlorella vulgaris algae as living biosensor media inside liquid marbles (LMs), micro-wells and surface recesses is here explored, through noninvasive measurement of electrical activity via indirect monitoring of culture media. We present results demonstrating the suitability of this organism in several experimental setups which may be adapted to a wide range of applications, and evaluate how to maximise sensing performance through optimising electrode geometry, environmental controls and, in the case of LMs, coating parameters. We conclude by discussing potential applications and further optimisations.

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array high-frequency long-baseline campaign in 2019 (HF-LBC-2019) was arranged to undertake band 9 (690 GHz) and 10 (850 GHz) observations using the longest 16 km baselines in order to explore calibration feasibility and imaging capabilities. Observations were arranged using close calibrators between 0° and 4° from the target point-source quasars (QSOs) to also explore subtle effects of calibrator separation angle. A total of 13 observations were made, five using standard in-band observations and eight using the band-to-band (B2B) observing mode, where phase solutions are transferred from a lower frequency band. At bands 9 and 10, image angular resolutions as high as 7 and 5 mas were achieved, respectively. Both in-band and B2B experiments were successful in imaging the target QSOs but with varying degrees of quality. Target image coherence varied between 0.14 and 0.79, driven by the calibrator separation angle and effectiveness of phase referencing despite observing in correct stability conditions. We conclude that the phase rms conditions and calibrator selection, specifically separation angle from the target, must carefully be considered prior to observing in order to minimize imaging defects. For bands 9 and 10, in order to achieve a coherence >0.7 such that the image structure and source flux can be regarded as suitably accurate, a 1° separated calibrator should be used while the phase rms over the phase switching cycle time should ideally be

Abstract Background The green algae balls (Aegagropila linnaei), known as Marimo, are large spherical colonies of live photosynthetic filaments, formed by rolling water currents in freshwater lakes. Photosynthesis therein produces gas bubbles that can attach to the Marimo, consequently changing its buoyancy. This property allows them to float in the presence of light and sink in its absence. Results We demonstrate that this ability can be harnessed to make actuators, biosensors and bioprocessors (oscillator, logic gates). Factors affecting Marimo movement have been studied to enable the design, construction and testing of working prototypes. Conclusions A novel actuator design is reported, incorporating an enhanced bubble retention system and the design and optimisation of a bio-oscillator is demonstrated. A range of logic gates (or, and, nor, nand, xor) implementable with Marimo have been proposed.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an urgent requirement for novel diagnostic tests that determine infection with SARS-CoV-2 and the development of an immune response against it. The perspective of end users on the characteristics and clinical use of these assays has not been previously considered.Methods: We surveyed 17,186 health care professions (HCPs) in 29 countries to gauge opinion on the design, use, diagnostic impact and diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19 tests. Results were correlated with national statistics on the burden of disease and testing in individual countries.Results: HCPs overwhelmingly recognized the importance of COVID-19 tests but 37.1% were unsure of the appropriate timing of investigations relative to disease symptoms. Confidence in the diagnostic accuracy of assays varied inversely with COVID-19-related mortality in individual countries but had no relationship with the total number of tests performed. There was global consensus that the most important impact of positive antigen and antibody testing was confidence in returning to work following recovery. Saliva was the preferred sampling fluid for COVID-19 diagnostic tests in all groups surveyed.Conclusions: HCP input can ensure novel assays are fit for purpose in varied global health care settings, but HCPs may require support to effectively use novel diagnostics thus minimizing waste when supplies are limited.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of allotments and home- grown food in the UK. This interest is likely to increase as people become more aware of the health benefits of spending time outdoors. Climate projections for the UK indicate that over the next 20 years, winters will become warmer and wetter, and the summers hotter and drier. Most UK allotments and community gardens are a collection of individual plots whose holders are free to manage them as they wish, within site rules. The efficacy of individual efforts to collect and store rainwater is often limited as most allotment sites were laid out when water practices were a secondary consideration. Our research, which included visiting allotment sites and reviewing growing practices, suggests that grouping plots and sharing water facilities could enable plot holders to store sufficient water to meet anticipated demand for thirty rain-free days in midsummer. This combined with growing practices that improve soil moisture capacity and water use efficiency will provide effective mitigation against climate change.

External control of oscillation dynamics in the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction is important for many applications including encoding computing schemes. When considering the BZ reaction, there are limited studies dealing with thermal cycling, particularly cooling, for external control. Recently, liquid marbles (LMs) have been demonstrated as a means of confining the BZ reaction in a system containing a solid–liquid interface. BZ LMs were prepared by rolling 50 μl droplets in polyethylene (PE) powder. Oscillations of electrical potential differences within the marble were recorded by inserting a pair of electrodes through the LM powder coating into the BZ solution core. Electrical potential differences of up to 100 mV were observed with an average period of oscillation ca 44 s. BZ LMs were subsequently frozen to −1°C to observe changes in the frequency of electrical potential oscillations. The frequency of oscillations reduced upon freezing to 11 mHz cf. 23 mHz at ambient temperature. The oscillation frequency of the frozen BZ LM returned to 23 mHz upon warming to ambient temperature. Several cycles of frequency fluctuations were able to be achieved.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is a rare, aggressive tumor characterized by skin and/or marrow infiltration by CD4+ CD56+ cells. Historically, the tumor was variably thought to arise from either monocytes, T cells or NK cells giving rise to terms such as CD4+/CD56+ acute monoblastic leukemia, primary cutaneous CD4+/CD56+ hematodermic tumor and blastic NK-cell lymphoma. Whilst considerable progress has been made in understanding the histogenesis, the best modality of treatment remains to be defined. We are therefore reporting this case which was successfully treated with a T-deplete allogeneic transplant and the patient is currently alive and in remission 4 years post transplant.

BACKGROUND:Type 2 diabetes results from failure of the β-cells to compensate for increased insulin demand due to abnormal levels of metabolic factors. The ob/ob(lep-/-) mouse has been extensively studied as an animal model of type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown a correlation between β-cell function and bioluminescent imaging in lean genetically engineered mice. The ability to noninvasively monitor β-cell function in ob/ob mice could provide new information on β-cell regulation in type 2 diabetes. METHODS:To create the B6 Albino ob/ob MIP-luc mice (ob/ob-luc), the ob/ob mouse was crossed with the CD1 MIP-luc mouse. All mice were backcrossed over multiple generations to ensure the genetic background of the transgenic mice was over 96% similar to the background of the original ob/ob mouse. Animal weight, blood glucose levels, insulin in plasma, and in vivo bioluminescence (BLI) were monitored weekly or biweekly for up to 70 weeks of age. BL imaging was performed using IVIS Spectrum (Perkin Elmer) and calculated by integrating the bioluminescence signal between 5 and 10 min after i.v. injection of D-luciferin. Insulin immunohistochemistry determined islet beta cell count and insulin secretion assay determined islet insulin function. RESULTS:There were significant increases in BLI and insulin levels as the ob/ob-luc mice aged while glucose levels gradually decreased. Ob/ob-luc were sacrificed at different time points to determine ex vivo BLI, islet function and total β-cell numbers using a cell counting training algorithm developed for the Vectra image analysis system (Perkin Elmer). The number of β-cells increased as the mice aged and all three ex vivo measurements correlated with BLI. CONCLUSIONS:The ob/ob-luc mice can serve as a model of metabolic stress, similar to human type 2 diabetes using BLI as a surrogate marker for β-cell function.

We here present an immunologic head-to-head comparison between human umbilical cord lining mesenchymal stem cells (clMSCs) and adult bone marrow MSCs (bmMSCs) from patients >65 years of age. clMSCs had significantly lower HLA class I expression, higher production of tolerogenic TGF-β and IL-10, and showed significantly faster proliferation. In vitro activation of allogeneic lymphocytes and xenogeneic in vivo immune activation was significantly stronger with bmMSCs, whereas immune recognition of clMSCs was significantly weaker. Thus, bmMSCs were more quickly rejected in immunocompetent mice. IFN-γ at 25 ng/ml increased both immunogenicity by upregulation of HLA class I/HLA-DR expression and tolerogenicity by increasing intracellular HLA-G and surface HLA-E expression, augmenting TGF-β and IL-10 release, and inducing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression. Higher concentrations of IFN-γ (>50 ng/ml) further enhanced the immunosuppressive phenotype of clMSCs, more strongly downregulating HLA-DR expression and further increasing IDO production (at 500 ng/ml). The net functional immunosuppressive efficacy of MSCs was tested in mixed lymphocyte cultures. Although both clMSCs and bmMSCs significantly reduced in vitro immune activation, clMSCs were significantly more effective than bmMSCs. The veto function of both MSC lines was enhanced in escalating IFN-γ environments. In conclusion, clMSCs show a more beneficial immunogeneic profile and stronger overall immunosuppressive potential than aged bmMSCs.