Investigation of the impact of additive manufacturing techniques on the acoustic performance of a coiled-up resonator

Acoustic metamaterials (AMMs) offer innovative solutions for physics and engineering problems, allowing lighter, multiphysics, and sustainable systems. They are usually studied analytically or numerically and then tested on prototypes. For this reason, additive manufacturing (AM) techniques are a popular way of quickly realising AMMs' innovative geometrical designs. However, AM parameters are often standardised without considering the specific issues of each AMM geometrical shape, leading to a possible mismatch between the analytical (or numerical) and experimental results. In this study, a simple AMM-a coiled-up resonator-has been produced with different AM technologies [fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), and selective laser melting and materials (polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, resin, flexible resin, and stainless steel). The sound absorption performance of these samples has been measured in two research labs in Italy and compared with the analytical and numerical calculations. This permitted the identification of the best combinations of AM technologies, their setup, and materials matching the expected results. The SLA/resin combination performed better overall; however, cheaper and more easily manageable samples made with FDM and polyethylene terephthalate glycol can achieve the same acoustic performance through the optimal AM printing setup. It is expected that this methodology could also be replicated for other AMMs

Gestión lingüística y medidas para el fomento del euskera en la publicidad de EITB

El objetivo fundacional del ente público de comunicación vasco, EITB, fue el fomento del euskera y la cultura vasca. Este artículo analiza, desde un punto de vista idiomático, la evolución histórica y la situación actual de la televisión pública en un ámbito tan influyente como lo es el publicitario. La metodología empleada para ello se sustenta en una triangulación de diversos métodos: entrevistas en profundidad; análisis de contenido y análisis documental. Las conclusiones apuntan a la ausencia de una estrategia idiomática real para la publicidad y la subordinación total de las políticas a la necesidad de consecución de recursos financieros

Creation or translation? Bilingual campaigns in Basque advertising agencies

Scientific research to date has not focused on the issue of bilingual advertising creation. As a contribution to this line of research, this article uses a specific sociolinguistic approach, taking the Basque country as its model. Thus, using semi-structured in-depth interviews, it describes the internal processes that major advertising agencies follow in order to create advertisements in two official Languages, Basque and Spanish. The study highlights the fact that the creation process is primarily in Spanish, adapting to Basque at a later date, a fact which has repercussions on the effectiveness of the campaigns in the second language. The main conclusion shows a need to define and design a prototype model of bilingual development, which at the present time is nonexistent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- La producción científica desarrollada hasta la fecha no ha indagado demasiado en la cuestión de la creación publicitaria bilingüe. Con el propósito de hacer una aportación en esta línea, el presente artículo se acerca a una realidad sociolingüística concreta, como es la del País Vasco. Por medio de entrevistas en profundidad semiestructuradas, se describe el proceso interno que las principales agencias de publicidad siguen para dar vida a anuncios en los dos idiomas oficiales, el euskera y el castellano. El estudio pone de manifiesto que el proceso de creación se desarrolla principalmente en castellano, mientras que la adaptación al euskera es una labor posterior, lo que condicionaría la efectividad de las campañas en este segundo idioma, según la hipótesis principal del estudio. Las conclusiones apuntan la necesidad de definir y diseñar un modelo prototípico de creación bilingüe, inexistente en la actualidad

Fluctuations in protein synthesis from a single RNA template: stochastic kinetics of ribosomes

Proteins are polymerized by cyclic machines called ribosome which use their messenger RNA (mRNA) track also as the corresponding template and the process is called translation. We explore, in depth and detail, the stochastic nature of the translation. We compute various distributions associated with the translation process; one of them, namely dwell time distribution, has been measured in recent single ribosome experiments (Wen et al. Nature {\bf 452}, 598 (2008)). The form of this distribution predicted by our theory is consistent with that extracted from the experimental data. For our quantitative calculations, we use a model that captures both the mechano-chemistry of each individual ribosome as well as their steric interactions. We also demonstrate the effects of the sequence inhomogeneities of real genes on the fluctuations and noise in translation. In principle, our new predictions can be tested by carrying out {\it in-vitro} experiments.Comment: 4 pages; new data; revised title, abstract and tex

Transgenic Exosomes for Thymus Regeneration

During senescence, Wnt4 expression is down-regulated (unlike their Frizzled receptors), while PPARgamma expression increases in the thymus. Together, these changes allow for thymic degeneration to occur, observed as adipose involution. However, when restored, Wnt4 can efficiently counteract PPARgamma and prevent thymic senescence from developing. The Wnt-pathway activator miR27b has also been reported to inhibit PPARgamma. Our goal was to evaluate the Wnt4 and miR27b levels of Wnt4-transgenic thymic epithelial cell (TEC)-derived exosomes, show their regenerative potential against age-related thymic degeneration, and visualize their binding and distribution both in vitro and in vivo. First, transgenic exosomes were harvested from Wnt4 over-expressing TECs and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. This unveiled exosomes ranging from 50 to 100 nm in size. Exosomal Wnt4 protein content was assayed by ELISA, while miR27b levels were measured by TaqMan qPCR, both showing elevated levels in transgenic exosomes relative to controls. Of note, kit-purified TEI (total exosome isolate) outperformed UC (ultracentrifugation)-purified exosomes in these parameters. In addition, a significant portion of exosomal Wnt4 proved to be displayed on exosomal surfaces. For functional studies, steroid (Dexamethasone or DX)-induced TECs were used as cellular aging models in which DX-triggered cellular aging was efficiently prevented by transgenic exosomes. Finally, DiI lipid-stained exosomes were applied on the mouse thymus sections and also iv-injected into mice, for in vitro binding and in vivo tracking, respectively. We have observed distinct staining patterns using DiI lipid-stained transgenic exosomes on sections of young and aging murine thymus samples. Moreover, in vivo injected DiI lipid-stained transgenic exosomes showed detectable homing to the thymus. Of note, Wnt4-transgenic exosome homing outperformed control (Wnt5a-transgenic) exosome homing. In summary, our findings indicate that exosomal Wnt4 and miR27b can efficiently counteract thymic adipose involution. Although extrapolation of mouse results to the human setting needs caution, our results appoint transgenic TEC exosomes as promising tools of immune rejuvenation and contribute to the characterization of the immune-modulatory effects of extracellular vesicles in the context of regenerative medicine

Experimental verification of extraordinary transmission without surface plasmons

This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics.This letter provides an experimental demonstration of extraordinary transmission in a closed waveguide system loaded with an electrically small diaphragm. This is a situation where the standard surface plasmon polariton SPP theory does not apply. The theoretical explanation is then based on the concept of impedance matching. This concept has previously been applied by some of the authors to account for enhanced transmission in situations where surface plasmon theory can be used: periodic arrays of small holes or slits in flat metal screens. The experiment in this letter supports the impedance matching model, valid for when SPPs are present or not. © 2009 American Institute of PhysicsThe authors would like to acknowledge the support of this research by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and European Union Feder Funds Grant Nos. TEC2007-65376 and Consolider Ingenio 2010 CSD2008- 00066 and by the Spanish Junta de Andalucía Project No. TIC-25

Artificial Neural Network Correlation and Biostatistics Evaluation of Physiological and Molecular Parameters in Healthy Young Individuals Performing Regular Exercise

Studies support that regular physical activity (PA) decelerates senescence-related decline of physiological and molecular parameters in the elderly. We have addressed the other end of this spectrum: healthy and young, inactive individuals participated in a 6- month long personal trainer-guided lifestyle program. We have measured physiological and molecular parameters (differentiating high- and low responders) and their correlation with PA (sedentary status). Cluster analysis helped to distinguish individuals with high- or low PA and differentiate high- and low-responders of each parameter. The assessed cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, 6-min walking distance, relative VO2max), body composition parameters (body fat and muscle mass percentage) metabolic parameters (glucose, insulin, HDL, LDL), immune parameters (cortisol, CRP, lymphocyte counts, hTREC) all showed improvement. Artificial neural network analysis (ANN) showed correlation efficiencies of physiological and molecular parameters using a concept-free approach. ANN analysis appointed PA as the mastermind of molecular level changes. Besides sedentary status, insulin and hTREC showed significant segregation. Biostatistics evaluation also supported the schism of participants for their sedentary status, insulin concentration and hTREC copy number. In the future ANN and biostatistics, may predict individual responses to regular exercise. Our program reveals that high responder individuals of certain parameters may be low responders of others. Our data show that moderate regular PA is essential to counteract senescence in young and healthy individuals, despite individual differences in responsiveness. Such PA may not seem important in the everyday life of young and healthy adults, but shall become the base for healthy aging