Bio-inspired Tensegrity Soft Modular Robots

In this paper, we introduce a design principle to develop novel soft modular robots based on tensegrity structures and inspired by the cytoskeleton of living cells. We describe a novel strategy to realize tensegrity structures using planar manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing. We use this strategy to develop icosahedron tensegrity structures with programmable variable stiffness that can deform in a three-dimensional space. We also describe a tendon-driven contraction mechanism to actively control the deformation of the tensegrity mod-ules. Finally, we validate the approach in a modular locomotory worm as a proof of concept.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Living Machine conference 201

Genetic Elements Involved in Zika Virus Neuropathogenesis

Zikavirus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus(Fig. 1) that is closely related to Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, yellow fever, and dengue viruses. ZIKV was first discovered in Uganda in 1947, but it was not until recent outbreaks, such as through Micronesia in 2007 and through Brazil in 2015 (Fig. 2), that it has been found to be associated with neurological diseases such as Guillain-Barrésyndrome and microcephaly

Ku-band High Efficiency Antenna with Corporate-Series-Fed Microstrip Array

Excellent efficiency of a linearly polarized microstrip array in Ku-band is achieved by having proper impedance matching throughout the array and by properly using the corporate and series fed by microstrip transmission lines. The cavity-backed microstrip patch is used to obtain relatively wide bandwidth. The auto-tracking Ku-band antenna in the azimuth direction has developed with a very low profile for vehicle\u27s rooftop mounting, as well as, a low manufacturing cost. The main beam of array is tilted 15° away from the broadside direction to provide optimum coverage for Korea satellite III

Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) and Fluid Flows

The micromachining technology that emerged in the late 1980s can provide micron-sized sensors and actuators. These micro transducers are able to be integrated with signal conditioning and processing circuitry to form micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) that can perform real-time distributed control. This capability opens up a new territory for flow control research. On the other hand, surface effects dominate the fluid flowing through these miniature mechanical devices because of the large surface-to-volume ratio in micron-scale configurations. We need to reexamine the surface forces in the momentum equation. Owing to their smallness, gas flows experience large Knudsen numbers, and therefore boundary conditions need to be modified. Besides being an enabling technology, MEMS also provide many challenges for fundamental flow-science research

Rhodium-oxide-coated indium tin oxide for enhancement of hole injection in organic light emitting diodes

The authors report the enhancement of hole injection using an RhOx layer between indium tin oxide anodes and 4, 4??? -bis[N-(1-naphtyl)- N -phenyl-amino]biphenyl in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The operation voltage of OLEDs at 700 cdm2 decreased from 13 to 10 V as the Rh layer changed to RhOx by surface treatment using O2 plasma. Synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that the work function increased by 0.2 eV as the Rh layer transformed into RhOx. Thus, the hole injection energy barrier was lowered, reducing the turn-on voltage and increasing the quantum efficiency of OLEDs.open281

Evaluation of a genomic classifier in radical prostatectomy patients with lymph node metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of the Decipher test in predicting lymph node invasion (LNI) on radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens. METHODS: We identified 1,987 consecutive patients with RP who received the Decipher test between February and August 2015 (contemporary cohort). In the contemporary cohort, only the Decipher score from RP specimens was available for analysis. In addition, we identified a consecutive cohort of patients treated with RP between 2006 and 2012 at the University of California, San Diego, with LNI upon pathologic examination (retrospective cohort). The retrospective cohort yielded seven, 22, and 18 tissue specimens from prostate biopsy, RP, and lymph nodes (LNs) for individual patients, respectively. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the performance of Decipher in the contemporary cohort with LNI as the endpoint. In the retrospective cohort, concordance of risk groups was assessed using validated cut-points for low (0.60) Decipher scores. RESULTS: In the contemporary cohort, 51 (2.6%) patients had LNI. Decipher had an odds ratio of 1.73 (95% confidence interval, 1.46-2.05) and 1.42 (95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.7) per 10% increase in score on univariable and multivariable (adjusting for pathologic Gleason score, extraprostatic extension, and seminal vesicle invasion), respectively. No significant difference in the clinical and pathologic characteristics between the LN positive patients of contemporary and retrospective cohorts was observed (all P\u3e0.05). Accordingly, among LN-positive patients in the contemporary cohort and retrospective cohort, 80% and 77% had Decipher high risk scores (P=1). In the retrospective cohort, prostate biopsy cores with the highest Gleason grade and percentage of tumor involvement had 86% Decipher risk concordance with both RP and LN specimens. CONCLUSION: Decipher scores were highly concordant between pre- and post-surgical specimens. Further, Decipher scores from RP tissue were predictive of LNI at RP. If validated in a larger cohort of prostate biopsy specimens for prediction of adverse pathology at RP, Decipher may be useful for improved pre-operative staging

The UV Upturn in Elliptical Galaxies as an Age Indicator

We show that the UV flux of old stellar systems can tell us about their ages. Two independent populations synthesis groups that have had wildly different views have here worked together and generated two solutions that can be easily tested using space telescopes. Proposed tests will constrain the ages of giant Es, that are often considered the oldest populations in the universe, and thus cosmology.Comment: LaTeX and 11 eps figures Accepted for publication in Ap

Hierarchical growth of TiO₂ nanosheets on anodic ZnO nanowires for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells

We present a novel route to hierarchical core-shell structures consisting of an anodic ZnO nanowire core surrounded by a shell of TiO2 nanosheets (ZNW@TNS). This material combines the beneficial properties of enhanced electron transport, provided by the nanowire core, with the high surface area and chemical stability of the TiO2 shell. Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (qssDSSCs) are prepared using different quantities of either the bare ZnO nanowires or the hierarchical nanowire structures and the effect on cell performance is examined. It is found that whilst the addition of the bare ZnO nanowires results in a decrease in cell performance, significant improvements can be achieved with the addition of small quantities of the hierarchical structures. Power conversion efficiencies of up to 7.5% are achieved under 1 Sun, AM 1.5 simulated sunlight, with a ∼30% increase compared to non-hierarchical mesoporous TiO2 films. A solid-state DSSC (ssDSSC) with a single component solid polymer also exhibits excellent efficiency of 7.2%. The improvement in cell performance is related to the improved light scattering, surface area and electron transport properties via the use of reflectance spectroscopy, BET surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.</p

Functional Genomics and Immunologic Tools: The Impact of Viral and Host Genetic Variations on the Outcome of Zika Virus Infection

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes no-to-mild symptoms or severe neurological disorders. To investigate the importance of viral and host genetic variations in determining ZIKV infection outcomes, we created three full-length infectious cDNA clones as bacterial artificial chromosomes for each of three spatiotemporally distinct and genetically divergent ZIKVs: MR-766 (Uganda, 1947), P6-740 (Malaysia, 1966), and PRVABC-59 (Puerto Rico, 2015). Using the three molecularly cloned ZIKVs, together with 13 ZIKV region-specific polyclonal antibodies covering nearly the entire viral protein-coding region, we made three conceptual advances: (i) We created a comprehensive genome-wide portrait of ZIKV gene products and their related species, with several previously undescribed gene products identified in the case of all three molecularly cloned ZIKVs. (ii) We found that ZIKV has a broad cell tropism in vitro, being capable of establishing productive infection in 16 of 17 animal cell lines from 12 different species, although its growth kinetics varied depending on both the specific virus strain and host cell line. More importantly, we identified one ZIKV-non-susceptible bovine cell line that has a block in viral entry but fully supports the subsequent post-entry steps. (iii) We showed that in mice, the three molecularly cloned ZIKVs differ in their neuropathogenicity, depending on the particular combination of viral and host genetic backgrounds, as well as in the presence or absence of type I/II interferon signaling. Overall, our findings demonstrate the impact of viral and host genetic variations on the replication kinetics and neuropathogenicity of ZIKV and provide multiple avenues for developing and testing medical countermeasures against ZIKV