Eddy Current Position Measurement in Harsh Environments: A Temperature Compensation and Calibration Approach

Eddy current displacement sensors (ECDSs) are widely used for the noncontact position measurement of small displacements (lift-offs). Challenges arise with larger displacements as the sensitivity of the ECDSs decreases. This leads to a more pronounced impact of temperature variations on the inductance and, consequently, an increased position error. Design solutions often rely on multiple coils, suitable coil carrier materials, and compensation measures to address the challenges. This study presents a single-coil ECDS for large displacement ranges in environments with high temperatures and temperature variations. The analysis is based on a sensor model derived from an equivalent circuit model (ECM). We propose design measures for both the sensing coil and the target, focusing on material selection to handle the impact of temperature variations. A key part of improving performance under varying temperatures includes model-based temperature compensation for the inductance of the sensing coil. We introduce a method to calibrate the sensor for large displacements, using a modified coupling coefficient based on field simulation data. Our analysis shows that this single-coil ECDS design maintains a position error of less than 0.2% full-scale for a temperature variation of 100 K for the sensing coil and 110 K for the target

3D detection of the central sleep apnoea syndrome

In polysomnography, an oronasal thermal airflow sensor and respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) belts at thorax and abdomen are used to detect central sleep apnoea. These sensors are uncomfortable to wear, can disturb the patient’s sleep, and data quality can be significantly di-minished if a sensor slips off the patient. Contactless meas-urements would be a desirable alternative. We utilized a 3D time-of-flight sensor to monitor respiratory-related chest movements to decipher epochs of normal breathing and ap-noea in ten adult patients with a total of 467 apnoea events. Time-synchronized comparisons of 3D measurements of chest movements due to respiration to polysomnography signals from rip belts and nasal airflow proved that the 3D sensor provided largely equivalent results. This new tech-nique could support the diagnosis of central sleep apnoea and Cheyne-Stokes respiration

The GATA3 X308_Splice breast cancer mutation is a hormone context-dependent oncogenic driver

Funder: Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and University. BFU2016-80570-RFunder: Cancer Research UK (CRUK); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000289Funder: Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (Scientific Foundation, Spanish Association Against Cancer); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100002704Abstract: As the catalog of oncogenic driver mutations is expanding, it becomes clear that alterations in a given gene might have different functions and should not be lumped into one class. The transcription factor GATA3 is a paradigm of this. We investigated the functions of the most common GATA3 mutation (X308_Splice) and five additional mutations, which converge into a neoprotein that we called “neoGATA3,” associated with excellent prognosis in patients. Analysis of available molecular data from >3000 breast cancer patients revealed a dysregulation of the ER-dependent transcriptional response in tumors carrying neoGATA3-generating mutations. Mechanistic studies in vitro showed that neoGATA3 interferes with the transcriptional programs controlled by estrogen and progesterone receptors, without fully abrogating them. ChIP-Seq analysis indicated that ER binding is reduced in neoGATA3-expressing cells, especially at distal regions, suggesting that neoGATA3 interferes with the fine tuning of ER-dependent gene expression. This has opposite outputs in distinct hormonal context, having pro- or anti-proliferative effects, depending on the estrogen/progesterone ratio. Our data call for functional analyses of putative cancer drivers to guide clinical application

A GATA6-centred gene regulatory network involving HNFs and ΔNp63 controls plasticity and immune escape in pancreatic cancer

Data de publicació electrònica: 12-04-2021Objective: Molecular taxonomy of tumours is the foundation of personalised medicine and is becoming of paramount importance for therapeutic purposes. Four transcriptomics-based classification systems of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exist, which consistently identified a subtype of highly aggressive PDACs with basal-like features, including ΔNp63 expression and loss of the epithelial master regulator GATA6. We investigated the precise molecular events driving PDAC progression and the emergence of the basal programme. Design: We combined the analysis of patient-derived transcriptomics datasets and tissue samples with mechanistic experiments using a novel dual-recombinase mouse model for Gata6 deletion at late stages of KRasG12D-driven pancreatic tumorigenesis (Gata6LateKO). Results: This comprehensive human-to-mouse approach showed that GATA6 loss is necessary, but not sufficient, for the expression of ΔNp63 and the basal programme in patients and in mice. The concomitant loss of HNF1A and HNF4A, likely through epigenetic silencing, is required for the full phenotype switch. Moreover, Gata6 deletion in mice dramatically increased the metastatic rate, with a propensity for lung metastases. Through RNA-Seq analysis of primary cells isolated from mouse tumours, we show that Gata6 inhibits tumour cell plasticity and immune evasion, consistent with patient-derived data, suggesting that GATA6 works as a barrier for acquiring the fully developed basal and metastatic phenotype. Conclusions: Our work provides both a mechanistic molecular link between the basal phenotype and metastasis and a valuable preclinical tool to investigate the most aggressive subtype of PDAC. These data, therefore, are important for understanding the pathobiological features underlying the heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer in both mice and human.Work in the lab of PM was supported by the grant P27361-B23 from the Austrian Science Grant (FWF) and by contributions from the Fellinger Krebsforschung foundation and the Ingrid Shaker-Nessmann Krebsforschungsvereinigung foundation. Patients were not involved in the design of this study. RAU and GAL were supported by The Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Endowed Innovation and Discovery Fund, the Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation, Inc and NIH Grants: R01 DK52913 and R01 CA178627. Work in the lab of FXR was supported, in part, by grant RTI2018-101071-B-I00 (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Madrid, Spain). CNIO is supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades as a Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa SEV-2015-0510

Scrapbook 2

The 20-story Adolphus Hotel was constructed in downtown Dallas, Texas, by beer magnate Adolphus Busch between 1910 and 1912. Since its restoration to its original grandeur in 1981, the hotel has remained a popular attraction. Includes scrapbooks containing advertisements, newspaper articles, correspondence, and financial papers relating to the history of the Adolphus Hotel