Helium diffraction and acoustic phonons of graphene grown on copper foil.

We report helium diffraction from graphene grown by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) using copper foil. This method reveals acoustic phonons, which are physically important to thermal conductance as well as a sensitive probe of graphene's interactions with the underlying substrate. Helium diffraction is made possible by the high quality of graphene produced by a recently reported "peel-off method". The graphene lattice parameter was found to remain constant in the temperature range between 110 and 500 K. The measured parabolic dispersion of the flexural mode along (Gamma) over bar (M) over bar allows determining the bending rigidity k = ( 1.30 +/- 0.15) eV, and the graphene-Cu coupling strength g = ( 5.7 +/- 0.4) x 10(19) N/m(3). Unlike analytics employing atomic resolution microscopy, we obtain information on the atomic-scale quality of the graphene over mm length scales, suggesting the potential for Helium atom scattering to become an important tool for controlling the quality of industrially produced graphene

What do we know about dynamic glucose-enhanced (DGE) MRI and how close is it to the clinics? Horizon 2020 GLINT consortium report

Cancer is one of the most devastating diseases that the world is currently facing, accounting for 10 million deaths in 2020 (WHO). In the last two decades, advanced medical imaging has played an ever more important role in the early detection of the disease, as it increases the chances of survival and the potential for full recovery. To date, dynamic glucose-enhanced (DGE) MRI using glucose-based chemical exchange saturation transfer (glucoCEST) has demonstrated the sensitivity to detect both D-glucose and glucose analogs, such as 3-oxy-methyl-D-glucose (3OMG) uptake in tumors. As one of the recent international efforts aiming at pushing the boundaries of translation of the DGE MRI technique into clinical practice, a multidisciplinary team of eight partners came together to form the "glucoCEST Imaging of Neoplastic Tumors (GLINT)" consortium, funded by the Horizon 2020 European Commission. This paper summarizes the progress made to date both by these groups and others in increasing our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms related to this technique as well as translating it into clinical practice

Design of a randomised controlled trial on immune effects of acidic and neutral oligosaccharides in the nutrition of preterm infants: carrot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prevention of serious infections in preterm infants is a challenge, since prematurity and low birth weight often requires many interventions and high utility of devices. Furthermore, the possibility to administer enteral nutrition is limited due to immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract in the presence of a developing immune system. In combination with delayed intestinal bacterial colonisation compared with term infants, this may increase the risk for serious infections. Acidic and neutral oligosaccharides play an important role in the development of the immune system, intestinal bacterial colonisation and functional integrity of the gut. This trial aims to determine the effect of enteral supplementation of acidic and neutral oligosaccharides on infectious morbidity (primary outcome), immune response to immunizations, feeding tolerance and short-term and long-term outcome in preterm infants. In addition, an attempt is made to elucidate the role of acidic and neutral oligosaccharides in postnatal modulation of the immune response and postnatal adaptation of the gut.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>In a double-blind placebo controlled randomised trial, 120 preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <1500 gram) are randomly allocated to receive enteral acidic and neutral oligosaccharides supplementation (20%/80%) or placebo supplementation (maltodextrin) between day 3 and 30 of life. Primary outcome is infectious morbidity (defined as the incidence of serious infections). The role of acidic and neutral oligosaccharides in modulation of the immune response is investigated by determining the immune response to DTaP-IPV-Hib(-HBV)+PCV7 immunizations, plasma cytokine concentrations, faecal Calprotectin and IL-8. The effect of enteral acidic and neutral oligosaccharides supplementation on postnatal adaptation of the gut is investigated by measuring feeding tolerance, intestinal permeability, intestinal viscosity, and determining intestinal microflora. Furthermore, short-term and long-term outcome are evaluated.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Especially preterm infants, who are at increased risk for serious infections, may benefit from supplementation of prebiotics. Most studies with prebiotics only focus on the colonisation of the intestinal microflora. However, the pathways how prebiotics may influence the immune system are not yet fully understood. Studying the immune modulatory effects is complex because of the multicausal risk of infections in preterm infants. The combination of neutral oligosaccharides with acidic oligosaccharides may have an increased beneficial effect on the immune system. Increased insight in the effects of prebiotics on the developing immune system may help to decrease the (infectious) morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN16211826.</p

Homology, homoplasy and cusp variability at the enamel-dentine junction of hominoid molars

Evolutionary studies of mammalian teeth have generally concentrated on the adaptive and functional significance of dental features, whereas the role of development on phenotypic generation and as a source of variation has received comparatively little attention. The present study combines an evolutionary biological framework with state-of-the-art imaging techniques to examine the developmental basis of variation of accessory cusps. Scholars have long used the position and relatedness of cusps to other crown structures as a criterion for differentiating between developmentally homologous and homoplastic features, which can be evaluated with greater accuracy at the enamel–dentine junction (EDJ). Following this approach, we collected digital models of the EDJ and outer enamel surface of more than 1000 hominoid teeth to examine whether cusp 5 of the upper molars (UM C5) and cusps 6 and 7 of the lower molars (LM C6 and LM C7) were associated each with a common developmental origin across species. Results revealed that each of these cusps can develop in a variety of ways, in association with different dental tissues (i.e. oral epithelium, enamel matrix) and dental structures (i.e. from different cusps, crests and cingula). Both within and between species variability in cusp origin was highest in UM C5, followed by LM C7, and finally LM C6. The lack of any species-specific patterns suggests that accessory cusps in hominoids are developmentally homoplastic and that they may not be useful for identifying phylogenetic homology. An important and unanticipated finding of this study was the identification of a new taxonomically informative feature at the EDJ of the upper molars, namely the post-paracone tubercle (PPT). We found that the PPT was nearly ubiquitous in H. neanderthalensis and the small sample of Middle Pleistocene African and European humans (MPAE) examined, differing significantly from the low frequencies observed in all other hominoids, including Pleistocene and recent H. sapiens. We emphasize the utility of the EDJ for human evolutionary studies and demonstrate how features that look similar at the external surface may be the product of different developmental patterns. This study also highlights the importance of incorporating both developmental and morphological data into evolutionary studies in order to gain a better understanding of the evolutionary significance of dental and skeletal features

Thoughts in concert : A multi-method approach to investigate the effect of performers’ focus of attention

Does it matter what a performer feels or thinks about while performing? To investigate the effect of performers’ focus of attention on their performances we asked eight violinists to play the same musical phrase in response to three different instructions. The first instruction was to focus on the technical aspects of playing. The second instruction was to give an expressive performance. Following a sadness-inducing mood induction task, the third instruction was to play while focusing on felt emotions. High quality audio and three-dimensional motion-capture recordings were made of all performances. Subsequently, thirty individuals rated how much they liked each performance, how skilled they thought each performer was, and to what extent each performance was expressive of sadness. Computational analysis of the audio and motion-capture recordings revealed differences between performance conditions. Statistical analysis of the perception data revealed that individuals preferred the Expressive performances to the Technical and Emotional ones. In addition, the Expressive performances were rated as played by the most skilled performers. The Emotional performances were rated as being most expressive of sadness. The findings suggest that a performer’s focus of attention has an effect on the audio features, movement features, and perception of their performances.peerReviewe

The Sound of Sadness : The Effect of Performers' Emotions on Audience Ratings

Very few studies have investigated the effect of performers’ felt emotions on the audience perception of their performances. Does it matter what a performer feels or thinks about when performing? To investigate this, we asked four violinists to play the same musical phrase in response to three different instructions. The first in-struction was to focus on the technical aspects of their playing. The second instruction was to give an expres-sive performance. Following a sadness-inducing mood induction task, the third instruction was to play while focusing on their felt emotions. High quality audio and motion-capture recordings were made of all perfor-mances. Subsequently, motion-capture animations, audio recordings, and motion-capture animations com-bined with audio recordings of the performances were presented to an audience. Thirty audience members rated how much they liked each performance, how skilled they thought each performer was, and to what ex-tent each performance was expressive of sadness. Statistical analysis revealed that, overall, audience mem-bers preferred the Expressive performances to the Technical and Emotional ones. In addition, the Expressive performances were rated as played by the most skilled performers. The Emotional performances, however, were rated as being most expressive of sadness. Our results suggest that what performers feel or think about when performing does affect the perception of their performances by an audience

Emotions in Concert : Performers' Experienced Emotions on Stage

Music is often said to be expressive of emotions. Surprisingly, not much is known about the role of performers’ emotions while performing. Do musicians feel the musical emotions when expressing them? Or has expressive playing nothing to do with the emotional experiences of the performer? To investigate performers’ perspectives on the role of emotions in performance, we conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with nineteen musicians teaching or studying at a European conservatoire. In the interviews, musicians were first asked to de-scribe a recent performance experience in as much detail as possible, then to make a visual representation of their experiences on stage, and finally, to answer some general questions about the role of emotions in performance. Qualitative Thematic Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed a difference between performance related emotions and emotions related to the music. In addition, a difference was found between emotional and expressive playing. To allow the music to be expressive of emotions, performers seem to feel the musical emotions to some extent, while they make sure to have the technical ability to express them on their instrument, and stay in control of their playing