Cheap Platform Research Articles

Improving Glycerol Electrooxidation Performance on Nanocubic PtCo Catalysts.

As glycerol (GLY) has emerged as a highly functional and cheap platform molecule and as an abundant biodiesel production byproduct, possible conversion methods have been investigated. One of the promising approaches is the glycerol electrooxidation (GEOR) on noble metal-based catalysts. Although noble metals, especially Pt, are generally very stable at different pH and highly selective toward three-carbon (C3) products, their electrocatalytic performance can be further improved by morphology tuning and alloying with non-noble metals like Co. In the present study, cubic PtxCo100-x (x = 100, 80, and 60) nanoparticles were investigated in an alkaline medium at 20 and 40 °C. The effect of the composition and reaction conditions on the selectivity of the GEOR toward C3 products like lactate and glycerate was studied, and the reaction mechanism was discussed. The highest mass activity was found for Pt80Co20, although when the specific activity, glycerol conversion, and GEOR selectivity were compared, Pt60Co40 was the superior catalyst overall. In general, all catalysts, even those that are Co-rich, exhibited a high C3 product selectivity up to 95% at 0.67 V vs RHE. The low applied potential of 0.67 V vs RHE at 40 °C facilitated lactate formation with selectivity up to 72%. At the same time, the glycerate formation with a selectivity of up to 40%, as well as C-C bond cleavage, was more favored at 0.87 V vs RHE.

POPULATION-CENTRIC WARFARE

On November 16th, 2023, Dr. David Kilcullen presented Population-Centric Warfare for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were the evolution of warfare with a focus on smaller, cheaper platforms, challenges in urban and coastal environments driven by electronic connectivity, and the crucial integration of internal security efforts with national security strategies to address ongoing global conflicts.
 
 Received: 01-20-2024
 Revised: 01-29-2024

Hydrolyzable emulsions as a dual release platform for hydrophobic drugs and DNA.

Several challenges need to be overcome when applying nucleic acids as therapeutic agents. We developed a new way to control the onset of the release of cholesterol-conjugated oligonucleotides with a simple, versatile, and cheap platform. Moreover, we combine the platform into a dual-release system that can release a hydrophobic drug with zero-order kinetics, followed by a rapid release of cholesterol-conjugated DNA.

Plastid Transformation: New Challenges in the Circular Economy Era

In a circular economy era the transition towards renewable and sustainable materials is very urgent. The development of bio-based solutions, that can ensure technological circularity in many priority areas (e.g., agriculture, biotechnology, ecology, green industry, etc.), is very strategic. The agricultural and fishing industry wastes represent important feedstocks that require the development of sustainable and environmentally-friendly industrial processes to produce and recover biofuels, chemicals and bioactive molecules. In this context, the replacement, in industrial processes, of chemicals with enzyme-based catalysts assures great benefits to humans and the environment. In this review, we describe the potentiality of the plastid transformation technology as a sustainable and cheap platform for the production of recombinant industrial enzymes, summarize the current knowledge on the technology, and display examples of cellulolytic enzymes already produced. Further, we illustrate several types of bacterial auxiliary and chitinases/chitin deacetylases enzymes with high biotechnological value that could be manufactured by plastid transformation.

BIOM-36. A STUDY OF CLINICAL AND MOLECULAR PROGNOSTIC FACTORS FOR RESPONSE TO REGORAFENIB IN RECURRENT GLIOBLASTOMA

Abstract Introduction Following the results from the REGOMA study, regorafenib has become the first chemotherapeutic option for recurrent glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, in many countries. However, predictive factors for response to regorafenib are scarcely recognized. The objective of this study was to identify molecular predictive factors for response to regorafenib using a clinically available platform. METHODS We analyzed a prospective cohort of 30 patients harboring recurrent glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, and treated with regorafenib. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis was performed on DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues using a rapid, cheap, and clinically validated platform. MGMT methylation was assessed using methylation-specific PCR, and EGFRvIII expression was assessed using RT-PCR. RESULTS In our series, six-month progression-free survival (PFS) was 30% and median overall survival (OS) was 7.5 months: these data are consistent with current literature. Among clinical variables, gross-total resection was endowed with a positive prognostic value for PFS (p=0.0296, log-rank test). NGS analysis revealed a mutation in the EGFR pathway (EGFR and/or PIK3CA) in 18% of cases; a mutation in the mitogen-activated protein-kinase (MAPK) pathway (RAS and/or RET) in 18% of cases; no mutations in the remaining cases. Patients carrying MAPK pathway mutation had a poor response to regorafenib treatment, with a significantly shorter PFS and a nonsignificantly shorter OS compared to EGFR-mutated patients (for PFS, 2.5 vs 4.5 months, p=0.0061; for OS, 7 vs 9 months, p=0.1076). By combining NGS analysis with RT-PCR for EGFRvIII, we identified 14 patients with EGFR pathway activation, who had a significantly longer PFS and OS after regorafenib treatment. Multivariate analysis confirmed that MAPK pathway mutations predicted a scarce response to regorafenib treatment. Conclusions Through an easy-to-use and cheap platform, we identified a mesenchymal, MAPK-altered signature in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, predictive of scarce response to regorafenib at recurrence. We thus provide a molecular selection criterion to implement in the clinical practice.

Transparent and flexible structurally colored biological nanofiber films for visual gas detection

•Construct structurally colored film using sustainable biological nanofibers •Multiple advantages are integrated into the one •Achieve ultrafast color response to environment stimuli of less than 1 s •Realize visual gas concentration detection simply upon blowing Structurally colored films hold promise as cheap platforms for use in visual detection. However, achieving accurate stimuli-responsive functions that can be distinguished by the naked eye in a single thin, robust, and practically useful material remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate flexible and self-standing structurally colored films fabricated by filtrating sustainable hydrophilic nanofibrillated cellulose through a porous hydrophobic membrane, followed by natural drying. 480–644 nm thick and composed of densely packed, high-aspect-ratio nanofibers entangled in web-like structures, the films are transparent, tailorable into a variety of shapes, and easily foldable. They exhibit iridescence owing to thin-film interference and reversibly change color in seconds when exposed to various moist gases and liquids. We validate the visual gas-detection capabilities of the films by measuring the ethanol concentration in the breath of an inebriated participant and envisage that these materials will find use in automated and broad-spectrum gas-detection devices. Structurally colored films hold promise as cheap platforms for use in visual detection. However, achieving accurate stimuli-responsive functions that can be distinguished by the naked eye in a single thin, robust, and practically useful material remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate flexible and self-standing structurally colored films fabricated by filtrating sustainable hydrophilic nanofibrillated cellulose through a porous hydrophobic membrane, followed by natural drying. 480–644 nm thick and composed of densely packed, high-aspect-ratio nanofibers entangled in web-like structures, the films are transparent, tailorable into a variety of shapes, and easily foldable. They exhibit iridescence owing to thin-film interference and reversibly change color in seconds when exposed to various moist gases and liquids. We validate the visual gas-detection capabilities of the films by measuring the ethanol concentration in the breath of an inebriated participant and envisage that these materials will find use in automated and broad-spectrum gas-detection devices.

Face with Mask Detection in Thermal Images Using Deep Neural Networks.

As the interest in facial detection grows, especially during a pandemic, solutions are sought that will be effective and bring more benefits. This is the case with the use of thermal imaging, which is resistant to environmental factors and makes it possible, for example, to determine the temperature based on the detected face, which brings new perspectives and opportunities to use such an approach for health control purposes. The goal of this work is to analyze the effectiveness of deep-learning-based face detection algorithms applied to thermal images, especially for faces covered by virus protective face masks. As part of this work, a set of thermal images was prepared containing over 7900 images of faces with and without masks. Selected raw data preprocessing methods were also investigated to analyze their influence on the face detection results. It was shown that the use of transfer learning based on features learned from visible light images results in mAP greater than 82% for half of the investigated models. The best model turned out to be the one based on Yolov3 model (mean average precision—mAP, was at least 99.3%, while the precision was at least 66.1%). Inference time of the models selected for evaluation on a small and cheap platform allows them to be used for many applications, especially in apps that promote public health.

Towards a Topographically-Accurate Reflection Point Prediction Algorithm for Operational Spaceborne GNSS Reflectometry—Development and Verification

GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R), a method of remote sensing using the reflections from satellite navigation systems, was initially envisaged for ocean wind speed sensing. In recent times there has been significant interest in the use of GNSS-R for sensing land parameters such as soil moisture, which has been identified as an Essential Climate Variable (ECV). Monitoring objectives for ECVs set by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) organisation include a reduction in data gaps from spaceborne sources. GNSS-R can be implemented on small, relatively cheap platforms and can enable the launch of constellations, thus reducing such data gaps in these important datasets. However in order to realise operational land sensing with GNSS-R, adaptations are required to existing instrumentation. Spaceborne GNSS-R requires the reflection points to be predicted in advance, and for land sensing this means the effect of topography must be considered. This paper presents an algorithm for on-board prediction of reflection points over the land, allowing generation of DDMs on-board as well as compression and calibration. The algorithm is tested using real satellite data from TechDemoSat-1 in a software receiver with on-board constraints being considered. Three different resolutions of Digital Elevation Model are compared. The algorithm is shown to perform better against the operational requirements of sensing land parameters than existing methods and is ready to proceed to flight testing.

Three-dimensional structure design of tubular polyvinyl chloride hybrid nanofiber membranes for water-in-oil emulsion separation

A novel tubular polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hybrid nanofiber membrane with three-dimensional structure interwoven by three-dimensional microspheres and two-dimensional nanofibers was fabricated via electrospinning process, with the polyester (PET) hollow braided tube as the support and hydrophobic nano silica (SiO2) as the inorganic additive. The fabricating strategy was designed as the double-needle electrospinning methods with two-component in respective needles. The synergistic effect of two-dimensional nanofibers interwoven with three-dimensional microspheres endowed the three-dimensional nanofiber membrane with the continuous water-oil-solid interfaces, which slowed down the water wetting process and improved the hydrophobic stability of the membrane. With high porosity and multistage rough structures, the three-dimensional nanofiber membrane could be used as an efficient liquid separation membrane, which had excellent separation efficiency for various surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions separation without external force. When the SiO2 content reached to 4 wt%, the membrane revealed excellent lipophilicity and superhydrophobicity under oil. Moreover, it produced a high permeation flux up to 358.60 L/m2.h with outstanding separation efficiency more than 95% under the driving of gravity, and the excellent reuse performance in water-in-oil emulsion. In addition, the three-dimensional tubular nanofiber membranes prepared by this method have high porosity, excellent mechanical properties, good thermal stability and hydrophobic stability. This simple, economical and environmentally friendly method provided a convenient and cheap platform for the field of waste oil containing water remediation.

New Hope for a "Cursed" Crop? Understanding Stakeholder Attitudes to Plant Molecular Farming With Modified Tobacco in Europe.

Plant molecular farming (PMF) with tobacco could provide a sustainable and cheap platform for the production of high-value proteins for medical use. It could also offer European tobacco farmers an alternative, healthful end use for their crop. New plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) offer a means of quickly and precisely optimizing molecular farming platforms for this purpose. However, there has been little empirical research focussing on the barriers and facilitators of these technologies in the agricultural sphere. Here, we explore key stakeholder perceptions toward this combination of technologies, exploring their understanding of risk and opportunity. We interviewed N = 24 key stakeholders – tobacco farmers, agronomists, policymakers, and researchers – in three tobacco-growing areas of Spain and Italy. Our findings demonstrate these stakeholders have a favorable attitude toward PMF with tobacco due to its beneficial medical purpose and the opportunity it provides farmers to continue growing tobacco in a declining European market. Tobacco producers also reported favorable views toward NPBTs, though for some this was contingent on their use for non-food crops like tobacco. Most stakeholders’ concerns are economic in nature, such as potential profitability and demands for new agronomic practices or infrastructure. Tobacco producer associations were thought to be important facilitators for future PMF scale-up. The attitude toward these technologies by smoking tobacco companies is, however, unknown and constitutes a potential risk to the development of PMF.

Simple and selective optical biosensor using Ultrasonicator synthesis of 5-((anthracen-9-ylmethylene) amino)-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione for direct detection of ascorbic acid in vegetables and fruits.

We report an optical biosensor using imine, 5-((anthrcene-9-ylmethylene) amino)-2,3dihydrophthalazine) 1-4-dione (ADD) for direct detection of ascorbic acid (AA) via FRET quenched. The ADD was successfully prepared by using simple ultra - sonication method, which was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. The fluorescence intensity of ADD probe was drastically quenched in presence of AA, and shown excellent selectivity towards the detection of AA in presence of possible biological active interferences. A wide linear range from 0.25 to 190µM was achieved towards the detection of AA with a LOD of 10nM. The occurrence of FRET mechanism is due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding between ADD and AA, which was confirmed by Density Functional Theory calculations. Moreover, the biosensor was successfully applied for the detection of AA in real samples such as fruits and vegetables to demonstrate the practicability. In addition, the developed biosensor could be a simple and economically cheap platform for the detection of AA in food samples.

Ultra-sensitive detection of parathyroid hormone in human serum: a cheap and practical biosensing platform modified by an epoxy ended-silane agent

ABSTRACTIn this study, we designed an impedimetric immunosensor by modification of disposable ITO-PET (indium tin oxide-polyethylene terephthalate) electrode surface with 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane (3-GOPE). 3-GOPE silanization agent generates a suitable platform on the ITO-PET working electrode surface for antibody immobilisation and allows a wide determination range for analyte concentrations with the fabricated biosensor. All immobilisation processes, investigation of optimum parameters and characterisation studies of the developed immunosensor were evaluated and followed by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV). Furthermore, the interactions between anti-parathyroid hormone (anti-PTH) and Parathyroid hormone (PTH) were simultaneously analysed with the Single Frequency Impedance (SFI) technique. All parameters which affect the biosensor response were optimised. A great wide concentration range (1 fg mL−1-2500 fg mL−1) and ultra-low detection limit (0.89 fg mL−1) were obtained under optimum conditions. Moreover, the impedimetric biosensor allowed high sensitivity in the detection of PTH in human serum. It was proved that the fabricated biosensor system has some advantages such as long-term storage life, very low limit of detection, ability to detect the PTH concentrations at femtogram level (1 fg mL−1- 2500 fg mL−1), excellent reproducibility and repeatability, reusability and ultra-high sensitivity.

COASTAL MAPPING AND KITESURFING

Abstract. Collecting data on aquatic biodiversity is very challenging because of the difficulty to access underwater ecosystems. Over the years, field surveys have become easier and cheaper with the development of low cost electronics. Commercial and recreational vessels, including sailboats, can now substantially complement expensive scientific surveys and arrays of observation buoys deployed across the world oceans (Pesant et al., 2015, Karsenti et al., 2011). Meanwhile, a large variety of marine animals such as birds, mammals, and fish have become data collection platforms for both biological and environmental parameters through the advent of archival tags. It becomes obvious that data collection in coastal and high seas will become more popular and that citizen will play a growing role in acquiring information on ocean dynamics (physical, chemical and biological parameters). However, currently, very few attempts have been made to use Human beings as observation platforms. In this paper we describe large datasets (more than 200,000 pictures) that have been recently collected along the coast of Mauritius by using popular and cheap platforms such as kite surf and Stand Up Paddle. We describe the characteristics of the data collected and showcase how they can be geolocated and used to complement remote sensing and mapping in order to drastically extend the current scope of “old school” fieldwork. We point out some of the main limitations encountered which need to be addressed to foster this citizen science approach such as data storage and transmission, deep learning to automate image recognition. The methods are all based on open source softwares.

A single-electrode electrochemical system for multiplex electrochemiluminescence analysis based on a resistance induced potential difference.

Developing low-cost and simple electrochemical systems is becoming increasingly important but still challenged for multiplex experiments. Here we report a single-electrode electrochemical system (SEES) using only one electrode not only for a single experiment but also for multiplex experiments based on a resistance induced potential difference. SEESs for a single experiment and multiplex experiments are fabricated by attaching a self-adhesive label with a hole and multiple holes onto an ITO electrode, respectively. This enables multiplex electrochemiluminescence analysis with high sensitivity at a very low safe voltage using a smartphone as a detector. For the multiplex analysis, the SEES using a single electrode is much simpler, cheaper and more user-friendly than conventional electrochemical systems and bipolar electrochemical systems using electrode arrays. Moreover, SEESs are free from the electrochemiluminescent background problem from driving electrodes in bipolar electrochemical systems. Since numerous electrodes and cover materials can be used to fabricate SEESs readily and electrochemistry is being extensively used, SEESs are very promising for broad applications, such as drug screening and high throughput analysis.

Single-crystalline silver films on mica

Highly ordered Ag films grown on cleaved mica with a two-step procedure were characterized in detail with several techniques for surface analysis, including low-energy electron diffraction, X-ray photoemission spectra, a scanning tunneling microscope and angle-resolved photoemission spectra. Silver films of a thickness ≥100nm were deposited on mica substrates at 300K and stored under ambient conditions. The Ag/mica films became atomically flat and free of contamination when they were transferred into ultra-high vacuum and prepared with sputtering and annealing. The experimental results indicate that the surfaces of the cleaned Ag/mica films have structural and electronic properties resembling those of a Ag(111) single crystal with ordered domains aligned over a macroscopic region, but the surfaces of the Ag/mica films became rough on annealing above 623K. On the rough surfaces, the surface steps tended to bunch together, yielding flat terraces bound with steps of large heights. With the decreased thermal stability in mind, the Ag/mica film is adoptable as a cheap platform alternative to a Ag(111) single crystal for the growth of highly ordered overlayers.

A Cubesat Payload for Exoplanet Detection.

The search for undiscovered planets outside the solar system is a scientific topic that is rapidly spreading into the astrophysical and engineering communities. In this framework, the design of an innovative payload to detect exoplanets from a nano-sized space platform, like a 3U cubesat, is presented. The selected detection method is photometric transit, and the payload aims to detect flux decrements down to ~0.01% with a precision of 12 ppm. The payload design is also aimed at false positive recognition. The solution consists of a four-facets pyramid on the top of the payload, to allow for measurement redundancy and low-resolution spectral dispersion of the star images. The innovative concept is the use of a small and cheap platform for a relevant astronomical mission. The faintest observable target star has V-magnitude equal to 3.38. Despite missions aimed at ultra-precise photometry from microsatellites (e.g., MOST, BRITE), the transit of exoplanets orbiting very bright stars has not yet been surveyed photometrically from space, since any observation from a small/medium sized (30 cm optical aperture) telescope would saturate the detector. This cubesat mission can provide these missing measurements. This work is set up as a demonstrative project to verify the feasibility of the payload concept.

The Working Poor: Two Perspectives on Reality—A Communication to the Editor Inviting a Discussion

The Working Poor: Two Perspectives on Reality—A Communication to the Editor Inviting a Discussion

Transition-Metal-Doped p-Type ZnO Nanoparticle-Based Sensory Array for Instant Discrimination of Explosive Vapors.

The development of portable, real-time, and cheap platforms to monitor ultratrace levels of explosives is of great urgence and importance due to the threat of terrorism attacks and the need for homeland security. However, most of the previous chemiresistor sensors for explosive detection are suffering from limited responses and long response time. Here, a transition-metal-doping method is presented to remarkably promote the quantity of the surface defect states and to significantly reduce the charge transfer distance by creating a local charge reservoir layer. Thus, the sensor response is greatly enhanced and the response time is remarkably shortened. The resulting sensory array can not only detect military explosives, such as, TNT, DNT, PNT, PA, and RDX with high response, but also can fully distinguish some of the improvised explosive vapors, such as AN and urea, due to the huge response reaching to 100%. Furthermore, this sensory array can discriminate ppb-level TNT and ppt-level RDX from structurally similar and high-concentration interfering aromatic gases in less than 12 s. Through comparison with the previously reported chemiresistor or Schottky sensors for explosive detection, the present transition-metal-doping method resulting ZnO sensor stands out and undoubtedly challenges the best.

E-st@r-I experience: Valuable knowledge for improving the e-st@r-II design

Many universities all over the world have now established hands-on education programs based on CubeSats. These small and cheap platforms are becoming more and more attractive also for other-than-educational missions, such as technology demonstration, science applications, and Earth observation. This new paradigm requires the development of adequate technology to increase CubeSat performance and mission reliability, because educationally-driven missions have often failed. In 2013 the ESA Education Office launched the Fly Your Satellite! Programme which aims at increasing CubeSat mission reliability through several actions: to improve design implementation, to define best practices for conducting the verification process, and to make the CubeSat community aware of the importance of verification. Within this framework, the CubeSat team at Politecnico di Torino developed the e-st@r-II CubeSat as follow-on of the e-st@r-I satellite, launched in 2012 on the VEGA Maiden Flight. E-st@r-I and e-st@r-II are both 1U satellites with educational and technology demonstration objectives: to give hands-on experience to university students and to test an active attitude determination and control system based on inertial and magnetic measurements with magnetic actuation. This paper describes the know-how gained thanks to the e-st@r-I mission, and how this heritage has been translated into the improvement of the new CubeSat in several areas and lifecycle phases. The CubeSat design has been reviewed to reduce the complexity of the assembly procedure and to deal with possible failures of the on-board computer, for example re-coding the software in the communications subsystem. New procedures have been designed and assessed for the verification campaign accordingly to ECSS rules and with the support of ESA specialists. Different operative modes have been implemented to handle some anomalies observed during the operations of the first satellite. A new version of the on-board software is one of the main modifications. In particular, the activation sequence of the satellite has been modified to have a stepwise switch-on of the satellite. In conclusion, the e-st@r-I experience has provided valuable lessons during its development, verification and on-orbit operations. This know-how has become crucial for the development of the e-st@r-II CubeSat as illustrated in this article.

A microfluidic cigarette smoke collecting platform for simultaneous sample extraction and multiplex analysis

In this work, we report a novel microfluidic gas collecting platform aiming at simultaneous sample extraction and multiplex mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. An alveolar-mimicking elastic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures was designed to move dynamically driven by external pressure. The movement was well tuned both by its amplitude and rhythm following the natural process of human respiration. By integrating the alveolar units into arrays and assembling them to gas channels, a cyclic contraction/expansion system for gas inhale and exhale was successfully constructed. Upon equipping this system with a droplet array on the alveolar array surface, we were able to get information of inhaled smoke in a new strategy. Here, with cigarette smoke as an example, analysis of accumulation for target molecules during passive smoking is taken. Relationships between the breathing times, distances away from smokers and inhaled content of nicotine are clarified. Further, by applying different types of extraction solvent droplets on different locations of the droplet array, simultaneous extraction of nicotine, formaldehyde and caproic acid in sidestream smoke (SS) are realized. Since the extract droplets are spatially separated, they can be directly analyzed by MS which is fast and can rid us of all complex sample separation and purification steps. Combining all these merits, this small, cheap and portable platform might find wide application in inhaled air pollutant analysis both in and outdoors.