Supramolecular hydrogen bond enables Kapton nanofibers to reinforce liquid-crystalline polymers for light-fueled flight

We report fabrication of photoresponsive liquid-crystalline polymers reinforced with highly-oriented Kapton nanofibers with a supramolecular hydrogen bonding interface. To enhance the interfacial strength, hydroxyl groups are introduced into the side chain of azobenzene-containing liquid-crystalline polymers, forming hydrogen bonds with the Kapton nanofibers, directly imaged by nano-FTIR. Interestingly, the composite film exhibits the hierarchical structure of dragonfly wings, while demonstrating relatively high elastic modulus (1.64 GPa), reduced modulus (72.8 GPa), and nanohardness (4.5 GPa); 20–30 times higher than natural dragonfly wings. The enhanced mechanical performance and bilayer structure enables the composite film to exhibit rapid photoresponsive behaviors independent of the direction of illumination, due to an unconventional deformation mechanism arising from the interactions at the fiber-polymer interface. In addition, the flapping frequency and bending angle of the composite films can be continuously tuned for a single device (0.1–5 Hz, and 1.5–15.8°) by modifying the pulsed photoirradiation. The composite films are assembled into an artificial dragonfly device, and the light-driven flight aerodynamics are demonstrated in windy conditions. These not only provide a solution of micro-aircraft wings, but also offer a good bionic model for emulating dragonfly wings

Guest Editorial: Design and Analysis of Communication Interfaces for Industry 4.0

This special issue (SI) aims to present recent advances in the design and analysis of communication interfaces for Industry 4.0. The Industry 4.0 paradigm aims to integrate advanced manufacturing techniques with Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT) to create an agile digital manufacturing ecosystem. The main goal is to instrument production processes by embedding sensors, actuators and other control devices which autonomously communicate with each other throughout the value-chain [1]

Structure and Function of the α-Hydroxylation Bimodule of the Mupirocin Polyketide Synthase

\ua9 2023 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.Mupirocin is a clinically important antibiotic produced by a trans-AT Type I polyketide synthase (PKS) in Pseudomonas fluorescens. The major bioactive metabolite, pseudomonic acid A (PA−A), is assembled on a tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyran (THP) core incorporating a 6-hydroxy group proposed to be introduced by α-hydroxylation of the thioester of the acyl carrier protein (ACP) bound polyketide chain. Herein, we describe an in vitro approach combining purified enzyme components, chemical synthesis, isotopic labelling, mass spectrometry and NMR in conjunction with in vivo studies leading to the first characterisation of the α-hydroxylation bimodule of the mupirocin biosynthetic pathway. These studies reveal the precise timing of hydroxylation by MupA, substrate specificity and the ACP dependency of the enzyme components that comprise this α-hydroxylation bimodule. Furthermore, using purified enzyme, it is shown that the MmpA KS0 shows relaxed substrate specificity, suggesting precise spatiotemporal control of in trans MupA recruitment in the context of the PKS. Finally, the detection of multiple intermodular MupA/ACP interactions suggests these bimodules may integrate MupA into their assembly

The use of a synthetic shoulder patch for large and massive rotator cuff tears – a feasibility study

Background The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of using a non-absorbable biocompatible polyester patch to augment open repair of massive rotator cuff tears (Patch group) and compare outcomes with other treatment options (Non-patch group). Methods Participants referred to orthopaedic clinics for rotator cuff surgery were recruited. Choice of intervention (Patch or Non-patch) was based on patient preference and intra-operative findings. Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and Constant score were completed at baseline and 6 months. Shoulder MRI was performed at baseline and 6 months to assess fat fraction and Goutallier classification pre- and post- treatment. Feasibility outcomes (including retention, consent and missing data) were assessed. Results Sixty-eight participants (29 in the Patch group, 39 in Non-patch group) were included (mean age 65.3 years). Conversion to consent (92.6%), missing data (0% at baseline), and attrition rate (16%) were deemed successful feasibility endpoints. There was significant improvement in the Patch group compared to Non-patch at 6 months in OSS (difference in medians 9.76 (95% CI 2.25, 17.29) and SPADI: 22.97 (95% CI 3.02, 42.92), with no substantive differences in Constant score. The patch group had a higher proportion of participants improving greater than MCID for OSS (78% vs 62%) and SPADI (63% vs 50%) respectively. Analysis of the 48 paired MRIs demonstrated a slight increase in the fat fraction for supraspinatus (53 to 55%), and infraspinatus (26 to 29%) at 6 months. These differences were similar and in the same direction when the participants were analysed by treatment group. The Goutallier score remained the same or worsened one grade in both groups equally. Conclusions This study indicates that a definitive clinical trial investigating the use of a non-absorbable patch to augment repair of massive rotator cuff tears is feasible. In such patients, the patch has the potential to improve shoulder symptoms at 6 months

Microscopics of Extremal Kerr from Spinning M5 Branes

We show that the spinning magnetic one-brane in minimal five-dimensional supergravity admits a decoupling limit that interpolates smoothly between a self-dual null orbifold of AdS_3 \times S^2 and the near-horizon limit of the extremal Kerr black hole times a circle. We use this interpolating solution to understand the field theory dual to spinning M5 branes as a deformation of the Discrete Light Cone Quantized (DLCQ) Maldacena-Stominger-Witten (MSW) CFT. In particular, the conformal weights of the operators dual to the deformation around AdS_3 \times S^2 are calculated. We present pieces of evidence showing that a CFT dual to the four-dimensional extremal Kerr can be obtained from the deformed MSW CFT.Comment: 5 page

Nearly Monodispersion CoSm Alloy Nanoparticles Formed by an In-situ Rapid Cooling and Passivating Microfluidic Process

An in siturapid cooling and passivating microfluidic processhas been developed for the synthesis of nearly monodispersed cobalt samarium nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable crystal structures and surface properties. This process involves promoting the nucleation and growth of NPs at an elevated temperature and rapidly quenching the NP colloids in a solution containing a passivating reagent at a reduced temperature. We have shown that Cobalt samarium NPs having amorphous crystal structures and a thin passivating layer can be synthesized with uniform nonspherical shapes and size of about 4.8 nm. The amorphous CoSm NPs in our study have blocking temperature near 40 K and average coercivity of 225 Oe at 10 K. The NPs also exhibit high anisotropic magnetic properties with a wasp-waist hysteresis loop and a bias shift of coercivity due to the shape anisotropy and the exchange coupling between the core and the thin oxidized surface layer

3D reconstruction of multiple stained histology images.

Three dimensional (3D) tissue reconstructions from the histology images with different stains allows the spatial alignment of structural and functional elements highlighted by different stains for quantitative study of many physiological and pathological phenomena. This has significant potential to improve the understanding of the growth patterns and the spatial arrangement of diseased cells, and enhance the study of biomechanical behavior of the tissue structures towards better treatments (e.g. tissue-engineering applications)