5G mobile networks aim to support a large variety of services with different and demanding requirements. To achieve this, analog radio over fiber (ARoF) fronthaul along with millimeter-wave (mmWave) cells is a strong candidate to be part of the 5G architecture. Very high throughput can be achieved by using mmWave signals due to the large available bandwidths, which combines well with the advantages of employing ARoF technology. Nevertheless, combined mmWave and ARoF systems face a particular challenge as the impacts of both channels—such as high free-space path loss, phase noise, chromatic dispersion, and other degrading effects—affect the signal without the possibility for intermediate restoration. The selection of the signal waveforms plays an important role in reducing these defects. In addition, waveforms are one of the keys in the physical layer available towards satisfying the requirements for 5G and beyond. In this manuscript, several key requirements are presented to determine the merit of candidate waveform formats to fulfill the 5G requirements in the mmWave ARoF architecture. An overview of the different suitable waveforms for this architecture is provided, discussing their advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, a comprehensive comparison in terms of different requirements is also presented in this paper. Full article

Ti-V-based metal hydrides have decent overall performance as hydrogen storage materials, but V is expensive and it is therefore tempting to replace it by less expensive ferrovanadium containing about 20% Fe. In the present work we have investigated how Fe influences the structure and hydrogen storage properties of (Ti_0.7V_0.3)_1−zFe_z alloys with $\begin{array}{c}\hfill errortypecez\end{array}\in \{0,$ 0.03, 0.06, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3} using synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and manometric measurements performed in a Sieverts apparatus. The alloys form body-centered cubic (bcc) crystal structures for all considered values of z, and the addition of Fe causes the unit cell to contract. When exposed to hydrogen gas, the bcc alloys form face-centered cubic (fcc) hydrides if $\begin{array}{c}\hfill errortypecez\end{array}\le 0.1$ while other hydrogen-containing phases are formed for higher Fe-contents. The hydrogen capacities of the fcc hydrides at 20 bar are not significantly influenced by the addition of Fe and reach 3.2(3) wt% in (Ti_0.7V_0.3)_0.9Fe_0.1H_1.6(2). For higher Fe contents the hydrogen capacity is decreased. The absorption kinetics are fast and the reactions are complete within minutes when the alloys are exposed to 20 bar H₂ at room temperature. Increasing Fe content reduces the desorption enthalpy, onset temperature and activation energy. Full article

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) glycobiology has been an area of intensive research in the last decades and continues to be an attractive topic due to the multiple roles that N-glycosylation in particular plays in the virus life-cycle and its interaction with the host that are still being discovered. The three HBV envelope glycoproteins, small (S), medium (M) and large (L) share a very peculiar N-glycosylation pattern, which distinctly regulates their folding, degradation, assembly, intracellular trafficking and antigenic properties. In addition, recent findings indicate important roles of N-linked oligosaccharides in viral pathogenesis and evasion of the immune system surveillance. This review focuses on N-glycosylation’s contribution to HBV infection and disease, with implications for development of improved vaccines and antiviral therapies. Full article

In order to enhance the sensitivity of drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin (DDP), a co-delivery system was designed for simultaneous delivery of curcumin (CUR) and p53 DNA. Firstly, the bifunctional peptide K14 composed of tumor targeting peptide (tLyP-1) and nuclear localization signal (NLS) was synthesized. A nonviral carrier (PEI-K14) was synthesized by cross-linking low molecular weight polyethyleneimine (PEI) with K14. Then, CUR was coupled to PEI-K14 by matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9)-cleavable peptide to prepare CUR-PEI-K14. A co-delivery system, named CUR-PEI-K14/p53, was obtained by CUR-PEI-K14 and p53 self-assembly. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties and gene transfection efficiency were evaluated. Finally, ovarian cancer cisplatin-resistant (SKOV3-DDP) cells were selected to evaluate the effect of CUR-PEI-K14/p53 on enhancing the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to DDP. The CUR-PEI-K14/DNA complexes appeared uniformly dispersed and spherical. The particle size was around 20–150 nm and the zeta potential was around 18–37 mV. It had good stability, high transfection efficiency, and low cytotoxicity. CUR-PEI-K14/p53 could significantly increase the sensitivity of SKOV3-DDP cells to DDP, and this effect was better as combined with DDP. The sensitizing effect might be related to the upregulation of p53 messenger RNA (mRNA), the downregulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) mRNA, and the upregulation of BCL2-Associated X (bax) mRNA. CUR-PEI-K14/p53 can be used as an effective strategy to enhance the sensitivity of drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells to DDP. Full article

Ferrocenyl amides (FB1-FB13) and their organic analogues (BZ1-BZ13) were prepared by a low-temperature condensation method. Ferrocenyl amides were synthesised using 4-ferrocenylbenzoyl chloride and ether-based amines and diamines. Benzoyl chloride was used to synthesise organic analogues by reacting with various amines. The synthesised compounds were characterised by elemental, spectroscopic (FT-IR and NMR) and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Crystal structures of the representative organic analogues (BZ2 and BZ6) were solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. BZ2 crystallises in the triclinic space group P 1 with a unit cell volume of V = 1056.6(3) ų and with two formula units per unit cell. Whereas BZ6 assembles in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with four formula units per unit cell and a unit cell volume of V = 1354.7(2) ų. Spectral studies confirmed the presence of amide linkages in the synthesised compound with a strong N—H∙∙∙∙∙O=C hydrogen bonding network established between amide groups of neighbouring molecular scaffolds further stabilising the molecular stacking in accordance with the archetypal crystal structures. The bioactive nature of each compound was assessed by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and total antioxidant activity. Antidiabetic, anticholinesterase enzyme inhibition tests, as well as antibacterial activities, were performed showing significant biological activity for ferrocenyl amides as compared to their organic analogues. Full article

Industrial process monitoring is an important field of research where different chemical processes are monitored and controlled. In this work, electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to analyze antisolvent based crystallization of sucrose solutions. The impedance and phase spectra were recorded for four known sucrose concentrations in water, and for each case, four predetermined amounts of ethanol were added. As a result, sixteen different solutions involving sucrose solutions of different concentrations and ethanol to water ratios were analyzed. Significant differences were observed in the magnitude and phase spectra of the solutions in the frequency range of 50 kHz to 300 kHz. The experimentally obtained data from the EIS were converted into frequency response models. Three continuous-time transfer function models of the first-order, second-order, and a second-order with a zero were estimated and compared. In addition, a 2-D electrical resistance tomography (ERT) system with a low conductivity sensor unit was designed and tested with demineralized water, tap water and industrial food grade saturated sucrose solution. Non-conducting phantom and sugar crystals were observed within the saturated sucrose solution using the Bayesian reconstruction algorithm. These demonstrations have the potential to be developed into a multi-frequency ERT systems for monitoring the distribution of the crystals in the reactor. The EIS modality can be a complementary process analytical technology (PAT) tool indicating supersaturation status and provide quality assurance. Full article

In this paper, a heat pump air conditioning system (HPACS) with refrigerant R134a based on the functional requirements of battery electric vehicle is designed and tested. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of different ambient temperature, air flow rate of internal condenser, expansion valve (EXV) opening and compressor speed. The results demonstrate that air flow rate of internal condenser, EXV opening and compressor speed have important impact on heating capacity, compressor power consumption and coefficient of performance (COP) under several ambient temperatures. To verify the HPACS can also provide the heating capacity required by the battery electric vehicle cabin in cold climate, the system was also tested under a −5 ^oC ambient temperature, it was found that the heating capacity is 3.6 kW and the COP is 3.2, demonstrating that the system has high energy efficiency. In addition, heating process analysis of the HPACS under lower temperature is studied by exergy principle. The results indicate that compressor is the highest exergy destruction in all components, accounting for 55%. The percentage of exergy destruction in other components is about 28%, 12% and 5% for the expansive valve, condenser, and evaporator. Furthermore, air flow rate of internal condenser, ambient temperature and expansion valve opening have important impact on exergy destruction and exergy efficiency of the HPACS. Full article

Nowadays, the concept of programmable matter paves the way for promising applications such as reshaping an object to test different configurations, modeling or rapid prototyping. Based on elementary modules, such matter can be arranged and disassembled easily according to the needs of the designers. Several solutions have been proposed to implement this concept. Most of them are based on modular self-reconfigurable robotics (SMR) that can work together and move relatively to one another in order to change their configuration. Achieving such behavior requires to solve some technological challenges in particular module’s geometry and actuation. In this paper, we build and develop a proof of concept for a catom based on electrostatic actuation. The modeling and analysis of the actuator functioning as catom is given after a comparison of various possible actuation. Simulations as well as experiments validations are afterwards carried out to confirm and demonstrate the efficiency of electrostatic actuation to achieve latching capabilities of the proposed catom. Full article

The global emergence of clinical diseases caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is an issue of great concern. EHEC release Shiga toxins (Stxs) as their key virulence factors, and investigations on the cell-damaging mechanisms toward target cells are inevitable for the development of novel mitigation strategies. Stx-mediated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), characterized by the triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal injury, is the most severe outcome of an EHEC infection. Hemolytic anemia during HUS is defined as the loss of erythrocytes by mechanical disruption when passing through narrowed microvessels. The formation of thrombi in the microvasculature is considered an indirect effect of Stx-mediated injury mainly of the renal microvascular endothelial cells, resulting in obstructions of vessels. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent data providing evidence that HUS-associated hemolytic anemia may arise not only from intravascular rupture of erythrocytes, but also from the extravascular impairment of erythropoiesis, the development of red blood cells in the bone marrow, via direct Stx-mediated damage of maturing erythrocytes, leading to “non-hemolytic” anemia. Full article

With increasing life expectancy, demands for dental tissue and whole-tooth regeneration are becoming more significant. Despite great progress in medicine, including regenerative therapies, the complex structure of dental tissues introduces several challenges to the field of regenerative dentistry. Interdisciplinary efforts from cellular biologists, material scientists, and clinical odontologists are being made to establish strategies and find the solutions for dental tissue regeneration and/or whole-tooth regeneration. In recent years, many significant discoveries were done regarding signaling pathways and factors shaping calcified tissue genesis, including those of tooth. Novel biocompatible scaffolds and polymer-based drug release systems are under development and may soon result in clinically applicable biomaterials with the potential to modulate signaling cascades involved in dental tissue genesis and regeneration. Approaches for whole-tooth regeneration utilizing adult stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, or tooth germ cells transplantation are emerging as promising alternatives to overcome existing in vitro tissue generation hurdles. In this interdisciplinary review, most recent advances in cellular signaling guiding dental tissue genesis, novel functionalized scaffolds and drug release material, various odontogenic cell sources, and methods for tooth regeneration are discussed thus providing a multi-faceted, up-to-date, and illustrative overview on the tooth regeneration matter, alongside hints for future directions in the challenging field of regenerative dentistry. Full article

Ovarian cancer (OC) shows the highest mortality rate among gynecological malignancies and, because of the absence of specific symptoms, it is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage, mainly due to the lack of specific and early biomarkers, such as those based on cancer molecular signature identification. Indeed, although significant progress has been made toward improving the clinical outcome of other cancers, rates of mortality for OC are essentially unchanged since 1980, suggesting the need of new approaches to identify and characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis and progression of these malignancies. In addition, due to the low response rate and the high frequency of resistance to current treatments, emerging therapeutic strategies against OC focus on targeting single factors and pathways specifically involved in tumor growth and metastasis. To date, loss-of-function screenings are extensively applied to identify key drug targets in cancer, seeking for more effective, disease-tailored treatments to overcome lack of response or resistance to current therapies. We review here the information relative to essential genes and functional pathways recently discovered in OC, often strictly interconnected with each other and representing promising biomarkers and molecular targets to treat these malignancies. Full article

A new Thymus vulgaris L. solid essential oil (SEO) formulation composed of liquid EO linked to solid excipients has been chemically analysed and evaluated for its intestinal spasmolytic and antispastic effects in ex vivo ileum and colon of guinea pig and compared with liquid EO and excipients. Liquid EO and solid linked EO were analysed by original capillary electrochromatography coupled to diode array detection (CEC-DAD) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methodologies. The main bioactive constituents are thymol and carvacrol, with minor constituents for a total of 12 selected analysed compounds. Liquid EO was the most effective in decreasing basal contractility in ileum and colon; excipients addiction permitted normal contractility pattern in solid linked EO SEO. In ileum and colon, the Thymus vulgaris L. solid formulation exerted the relaxant activity on K⁺-depolarized intestinal smooth muscle as well as liquid EO. The solid essential oil exhibits antimicrobial activity against different strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Thyphimurium, Candida albicans) similarly to liquid oil, with activity against pathogen, but not commensal strains (Bifidobacterium Breve, Lactobacillus Fermentum) in intestinal homeostasis. Therefore, Thymus vulgaris L. solid essential oil formulation can be proposed as a possible spasmolytic and antispastic tool in medicine. Full article

In the relatively short history of anti-tumor treatment, numerous medications have been developed against a variety of targets. Intriguingly, although many anti-tumor strategies have failed in their clinical trials, metformin, an anti-diabetic medication, demonstrated anti-tumor effects in observational studies and even showed its synergistic potential with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in subsequent clinical studies. Looking back from bedside-to-bench, it may not be surprising that the anti-tumor effect of metformin derives largely from its ability to rewire aberrant metabolic pathways within the tumor microenvironment. As one of the most promising breakthroughs in oncology, ICIs were also found to exert their immune-stimulatory effects at least partly via rewiring metabolic pathways. These findings underscore the importance of correcting metabolic pathways to achieve sufficient anti-tumor immunity. Herein, we start by introducing the tumor microenvironment, and then we review the implications of metabolic syndrome and treatments for targeting metabolic pathways in anti-tumor therapies. We further summarize the close associations of certain aberrant metabolic pathways with impaired anti-tumor immunity and introduce the therapeutic effects of targeting these routes. Lastly, we go through the metabolic effects of ICIs and conclude an overall direction to manipulate metabolic pathways in favor of anti-tumor responses. Full article

New techniques were developed for the synthesis of monolithic highly porous composite aerogels (hydrogels) from reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes, as well as graphene-containing composites based on mesoporous activated carbon. Simple operations for hydrophilization of synthesized samples were proposed. New electrode materials for electrosorption and deionization of water were fabricated. The resulting materials were investigated and tested in electrochemical cells for membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI). Full article

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy due to its late detection and high recurrence rate. Resistance to conventional platinum-based therapies and metastasis are attributed to a population of cells within tumors called cancer stem cells, which possess stem-like features and are able to recapitulate new tumors. Recent studies have deepened the understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer stem cells and their special properties and have identified multiple markers and signaling pathways responsible for their self-renewal abilities. Targeting cancer stem cells represents the most promising strategy for overcoming therapy resistance and reducing mortality in ovarian cancer, but further efforts must be made to improve our understanding of the mechanisms involved in therapy resistance. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge about ovarian cancer stem cells, their involvement in metastasis and their interactions with the tumor microenvironment; we also discuss the therapeutic approaches that are being developed to target them to prevent tumor relapse. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the value of lymph node (LN) number as a predictor for adjuvant treatment in node-positive endometrial cancer. Data of 441 patients diagnosed with International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIC endometrial cancer and who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy alone or chemoradiotherapy between 2009 and 2015 from the Taiwan Cancer Registry were reviewed. The patients were stratified based on the number of positive LN as follows: 1, 2–5, and ≥ 6. The overall survival (OS) was analysed using the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. In multivariable analysis, chemoradiotherapy was independently associated with improved OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43–0.90; p = 0.01) compared with chemotherapy alone. Patients with ≥ 6 positive LNs were associated with a worse OS (HR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.25–3.95; p = 0.006) and those with 2–5 LNs were not associated with a worse OS (HR: 1.56, 95% CI: 0.94–2.59; p = 0.09) compared to patients with one LN. When stratified based on LN number, chemoradiotherapy was found to significantly improve the 5-year OS of patients with ≥ 6 positive LNs compared to chemotherapy alone (35.9% vs. 70.0%, p < 0.001). No significant differences between chemotherapy alone and chemoradiotherapy were observed in 5-year OS among patients with one LN (73.1% vs. 80.8%, p = 0.31) or 2–5 positive LNs (71.4% vs. 75.7%, p = 0.68). Lymph node number may be used to identify node-positive endometrial cancer patients who are likely to have improved OS with intensification of adjuvant therapy. Full article