TeratoScore: Assessing the Differentiation Potential of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by Quantitative Expression Analysis of Teratomas

SummaryTeratoma formation is the gold standard assay for testing the capacity of human pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into all embryonic germ layers. Although widely used, little effort has been made to transform this qualitative assay into a quantitative one. Using gene expression data from a wide variety of cells, we created a scorecard representing tissues from all germ layers and extraembryonic tissues. TeratoScore, an online, open-source platform based on this scorecard, distinguishes pluripotent stem cell-derived teratomas from malignant tumors, translating cell potency into a quantitative measure (http://benvenisty.huji.ac.il/teratoscore.php). The teratomas used for the algorithm also allowed us to examine gene expression differences between tumors with a diploid karyotype and those initiated by aneuploid cells. Chromosomally aberrant teratomas show a significantly different gene expression signature from that of teratomas originating from diploid cells, particularly in central nervous system-specific genes, congruent with human chromosomal syndromes

Perhitungan Nilai Overall Equipment Effectiveness Mesin Mixer Banbury 270 L Dan Mesin Bias Cutting Line 2 (Studi Kasus PT. Suryaraya Rubberindo Industries)

The level of effectiveness of the machine naturally become an important factor in a company. PT Suryaraya Rubberindo Industries is a company engaged in the manufacture of tires and tube for two-wheeled vehicles. Machine operate continuously required to meet the targets that have been set with a high degree of effectiveness. But no one has ever done a study to determine the value of the effectiveness of the machines in PT Suryaraya Rubberindo Industries. Overall Equipment Effectiveness, or OEE is a systematic method to measure the level of effectiveness of a machine or equipment. The OEE value is influenced by six factors commonly called the Six Big Losses. The use of the calculation of OEE and Six Big Losses were able to determine the value of OEE and the dominant factor for the low performance of a machine or equipment. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of OEE for Mixer Banbury 270 L machine and Bias Cutting Line 2 machine, determine the factors causing low machine performance and provide suggestions for improvement in order to improve the performance of the machine in PT Suryaraya Rubberindo Industries. Based on the method of processing the OEE and Six Big Losses can determine the value of OEE and identify the causes of low performance machines. OEE values ​​at Mixer Banbury 270 L machine is 71.07 % influence by Six Big Losses factor Reduce Speed Loss

Proportion of Agriculture, Industry and Services Sector to Value Added Tax Revenue in Low Income and Lower-Middle Income Countries: Rule of Law as a Moderating Variable

This study aims to determine how much the agricultural, industrial and service sectors affect Value Added Tax revenues in low and lower middle income countries with rule of law as moderating variable. The independent variables used in this study are the proportion of the agricultural sector to GDP, the proportion of the industrial sector to GDP, the proportion of the service sector to GDP, the dependent variable used is VAT revenue while the moderating variable is the rule of law. This study uses secondary data with a population of 27 countries with low and lower middle income in a span of seven years, from 2009 to 2015. The statistical method used in this study is quantitative method with multiple linear regression using panel-corrected standard error regression model. The results showed that before being moderated by the rule of law, the agricultural, industrial and service sectors had no effect on VAT revenues. But after being moderated by the rule of law, the agricultural, industrial and service sectors have a positive influence on VAT revenues. Thus, the government is expected to focus attention on the rule of law. Good rule of law will increase investor confidence in the existence of applicable laws and also related to property rights, law enforcement officers, courts and also low levels of crime and violence which ultimately increase tax revenues reflected in increased VAT revenues

Stress Corrosion Analysis and Direct Cell Viability of Biodegradable Zn-Fe-Ca Alloy in In-Vitro Conditions

Due to the excellent biocompatibility of Zn and Zn-based alloys, researchers have shown great interest in developing biodegradable implants based on zinc. Furthermore, zinc is an essential component of many enzymes and proteins. The human body requires ~15 mg of Zn per day, and there is minimal concern for systemic toxicity from a small zinc-based cardiovascular implant, such as an arterial stent. However, biodegradable Zn-based implants have been shown to provoke local fibrous encapsulation reactions that may isolate the implant from its surrounding environment and interfere with implant function. The development of biodegradable implants made from Zn-Fe-Ca alloy was designed to overcome the problem of fibrous encapsulation. In a previous study made by the authors, the Zn-Fe-Ca system demonstrated a suitable corrosion rate that was higher than that of pure Zn and Zn-Fe alloy. The Zn-Fe-Ca system also showed adequate mechanical properties and a unique microstructure that contained a secondary Ca-reach phase. This has raised the promise that the tested alloy could serve as a biodegradable implant metal. The present study was conducted to further evaluate this promising Zn alloy. Here, we assessed the material’s corrosion performance in terms of cyclic potentiodynamic polarization analysis and stress corrosion behavior in terms of slow strain rate testing (SSRT). We also assessed the ability of cells to survive on the alloy surface by direct cell culture test. The results indicate that the alloy develops pitting corrosion, but not stress corrosion under phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and air environment. The direct cell viability test demonstrates the successful adherence and growth of cells on the alloy surface

Visualizing the melting of the charge density wave in UTe2 by generation of pairs of topological defects with opposite winding

Topological defects are singularities in an ordered phase that can have a profound effect on phase transitions and serve as a window into the order parameter. In this work we use scanning tunneling microscopy to visualize the role of topological defects in the novel magnetic field induced disappearance of an intertwined charge density wave (CDW) in the heavy fermion superconductor, UTe2. By simultaneously imaging the amplitude and phase of the CDW order, we reveal pairs of topological defects with positive and negative phase winding. The pairs are directly correlated with a zero CDW amplitude and increase in number with increasing magnetic field. These observations can be captured by a Ginzburg Landau model of a uniform superconductor coexisting with a pair density wave. A magnetic field generates vortices of the superconducting and pair density wave order which can create topological defects in the CDW and induce the experimentally observed melting of the CDW at the upper critical field. Our work reveals the important role of magnetic field generated topological defects in the melting the CDW order parameter in UTe2 and provides support for the existence of a parent pair density wave order on the surface of UTe2.Comment: 29 Pages, includes manuscript and supplemental information, 4 Main figures and 8 Supplemental Figure

Dependence of the absolute value of the penetration depth in (Ba1–x Kx) Fe2 As2 on doping

We report magnetic force microscopy (MFM) measurements on the iron-based superconductor Ba1−xKxFe2As2. By measuring locally the Meissner repulsion with the magnetic MFM tip, we determine the absolute value of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth (λab) in underdoped, optimally doped, and overdoped samples. The results suggest an abrupt increase of λab as doping is increased from xopt, which is potentially related to the presence of a quantum critical point. The response of superconducting vortices to magnetic forces exerted by the MFM tip for x=0.19 and 0.58 is compatible with previously observed structural symmetries at those doping levels

Tailoring mathematical models to stem-cell derived cardiomyocyte lines can improve predictions of drug-induced changes to their electrophysiology

Human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) have applications in disease modeling, cell therapy, drug screening and personalized medicine. Computational models can be used to interpret experimental findings in iPSC-CMs, provide mechanistic insights, and translate these findings to adult cardiomyocyte (CM) electrophysiology. However, different cell lines display different expression of ion channels, pumps and receptors, and show differences in electrophysiology. In this exploratory study, we use a mathematical model based on iPSC-CMs from Cellular Dynamic International (CDI, iCell), and compare its predictions to novel experimental recordings made with the Axiogenesis Cor.4U line. We show that tailoring this model to the specific cell line, even using limited data and a relatively simple approach, leads to improved predictions of baseline behavior and response to drugs. This demonstrates the need and the feasibility to tailor models to individual cell lines, although a more refined approach will be needed to characterize individual currents, address differences in ion current kinetics, and further improve these results