Large-scale validation of miRNAs by disease association, evolutionary conservation and pathway activity.

The validation of microRNAs (miRNAs) identified by next generation sequencing involves amplification-free and hybridization-based detection of transcripts as criteria for confirming valid miRNAs. Since respective validation is frequently not performed, miRNA repositories likely still contain a substantial fraction of false positive candidates while true miRNAs are not stored in the repositories yet. Especially if downstream analyses are performed with these candidates (e.g. target or pathway prediction), the results may be misleading. In the present study, we evaluated 558 mature miRNAs from miRBase and 1,709 miRNA candidates from next generation sequencing experiments by amplification-free hybridization and investigated their distributions in patients with various disease conditions. Notably, the most significant miRNAs in diseases are often not contained in the miRBase. However, these candidates are evolutionary highly conserved. From the expression patterns, target gene and pathway analyses and evolutionary conservation analyses, we were able to shed light on the complexity of miRNAs in humans. Our data also highlight that a more thorough validation of miRNAs identified by next generation sequencing is required. The results are available in miRCarta ( https://mircarta.cs.uni-saarland.de )

Verfahren zur Herstellung eines 3D-CAD-Modells, Verwendung des 3D-CAD-Modells, Computerprogrammprodukt und System zur NC-Bearbeitung

Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines 3D-CAD-Modells eines Bauteils umfasst folgende Schritte: Erfassen von Geometriedaten eines Werkstück-Rohteils (8) und Modifizieren eines eine ursprüngliche Bauteilgeometrie aufweisenden Ursprungs-CAD-Modells (9) zu dem gewünschten 3D-CAD-Modell mit einer modifizierten Bauteilgeometrie, wobei zur Modifikation die Geometriedaten des Werkstück-Rohteils (8) genutzt werden. Das nach dem Verfahren hergestellte 3D-CAD-Modells kann im Rahmen einer Bauteil-Neufertigung oder einer Überarbeitung eines gebrauchten Bauteils für eine CAM-Bearbeitung oder für eine additive Bearbeitung verwendet werden. Darüber hinaus ist auch eine Verwendung für eine Simulation, insbesondere eine Strömungssimulation oder eine Belastungssimulation möglich. Des Weiteren werden ein Computerprogrammprodukt mit zur Durchführung der Schritte des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens geeigneten Programmcode-Mitteln vorgeschlagen sowie ein System zur NC-Bearbeitung mit mindestens einem NC-gesteuerten Werkzeug, welches sich durch ein solches Computerprogrammprodukt kennzeichnet

CAx-Prozesskette für komplexe Rotationsbauteile

Machining of complex rotary components is very complicated, which is why geometries are often simplified at the expense of efficiency. Only through the use of special machining centers and special tools is it possible to produce the complex geometries. However, high costs arise for the production of special tools. The objective of the OpToRoMill project was the development of a CAx process chain that enables production with conventional solid carbide cutters

Programming of adaptive repair process chains using repair features and function blocks

The current trends of product customization and repair of high value parts with individual defects demand automation and a high degree of flexibility of the involved manufacturing process chains. To determine the corresponding requirements this paper gives an overview of manufacturing process chains by distinguishing between horizontal and vertical process chains. The established way of modeling and programming processes with CAx systems and existing approaches is shown. Furthermore, the different types of possible adaptions of a manufacturing process chain are shown and considered as a cascaded control loop. Following this it is discussed which key requirements of repair process chains are unresolved by existing approaches. To overcome the deficits this paper introduces repair features which comprise the idea of geometric features and defines analytical auxiliary geometries based on the measurement input data. This meets challenges normally caused by working directly on reconstructed geometries in the form of triangulated surfaces which are prone to artifacts. Embedded into function blocks, this allows the use of traditional approaches for manufacturing process chains to be applied to adaptive repair process chains

Vernetzte, adaptive Produktion

The networking of technical systems is an essential precondition for the use of data-driven services in agile industrial value chains. Successful examples of implementation, as can already be found in logistics or assembly processes, can't simply be transferred to production processes in discrete manufacturing. This is mainly due to t he complexity of the individual technological processes and process chains.Thus, the present paper primarily deals with the question of how production has to be designed in order to utilize the potentials of networking in a similar way. The precondition is the "Smart Manufacturing Network", which ensures data and information exchange between all participants involved in one manufacturing process. The two approaches of assistance systems and the digital twin form important core elements for data-driven process optimization and control. The related developments can be validated and demonstrated in the Frauhofer High Performance Center "Networked, Adaptive Production" using realistic test environments. The present paper describes the current state of research as well as the requirements for further developments and provides an overview of first application examples

Human alveolar epithelial cells expressing tight junctions to model the air-blood barrier.

This paper describes a new human alveolar epithelial cell line (hAELVi - human Alveolar Epithelial Lentivirus immortalized) with type I-like characteristics and functional tight junctions, suitable to model the air-blood barrier of the peripheral lung. Primary human alveolar epithelial cells were immortalized by a novel regimen, grown as monolayers on permeable filter supports and characterized morphologically, biochemically and biophysically. hAELVi cells maintain the capacity to form tight intercellular junctions, with high trans-epithelial electrical resistance (> 1000 Ω*cm²). The cells could be kept in culture over several days, up to passage 75, under liquid-liquid as well as air-liquid conditions. Ultrastructural analysis and real time PCR revealed type I-like cell properties, such as the presence of caveolae, expression of caveolin-1, and absence of surfactant protein C. Accounting for the barrier properties, inter-digitations sealed with tight junctions and desmosomes were also observed. Low permeability of the hydrophilic marker sodium fluorescein confirmed the suitability of hAELVi cells for in vitro transport studies across the alveolar epithelium. These results suggest that hAELVi cells reflect the essential features of the air-blood barrier, as needed for an alternative to animal testing to study absorption and toxicity of inhaled drugs, chemicals and nanomaterials