Combinatory Technique Research Articles

Novel combinatory method for surface and crystallinity analysis of crystalline materials: Combinatory analysis method for crystalline materials surface

This work is dedicated to developing a method of combined surface morphology- and crystallographic analysis for crystalline silicon. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, a series of chemical operations, such as polishing and texturing, were applied to multi-crystalline silicon samples. The samples were pre- and post-analysed with WLI and Laue techniques, and the experimental data allowed construction of maps for crystal orientation to etching rate dependency. The study illustrates the strengths of the combinatory technique as an alternative to existing techniques such as atom force microscopy (AFM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD).•Combination of LAUE tool and white light interferometry techniques.•Alternative time-effective method to EBSD.•Analysis of surface morphology and crystallographic properties for chemical processing.

Self-ordered Porous Anodic Alumina Templates by a Combinatory Anodization Technique in Oxalic and Selenic Acids

Self-ordered Porous Anodic Alumina Templates by a Combinatory Anodization Technique in Oxalic and Selenic Acids

Deep Convolutional Neural Network Ensembles Using ECOC

Deep neural networks have enhanced the performance of decision making systems in many applications including image understanding, and further gains can be achieved by constructing ensembles. However, designing an ensemble of deep networks is often not very beneficial since the time needed to train the networks is very high or the performance gain obtained is not very significant. In this paper, we analyse error correcting output coding (ECOC) framework to be used as an ensemble technique for deep networks and propose different design strategies to address the accuracy-complexity trade-off. We carry out an extensive comparative study between the introduced ECOC designs and the state-of-the-art ensemble techniques such as ensemble averaging and gradient boosting decision trees. Furthermore, we propose a combinatory technique which is shown to achieve the highest classification performance amongst all.

Combination of Mustardè cheek advancement flap and paramedian forehead flap as a reconstructive option in orbital exenteration.

To describe a combinatory technique made of Mustardè cheek advancement flap and paramedian forehead flap as a reconstructive option after orbital exenteration. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent orbital exenteration and subsequent reconstruction with this technique at our Head and Neck Department, Divisions of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, at San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. Three patients were treated with the aforementioned technique, following orbital exenteration due to malignancies. All of them were affected by recurrent diseases arising from the ocular components or periorbital structures: one basal cell carcinoma and two squamous cell carcinomas. Excellent result was achieved considering skin texture and colour match, aesthetic results and intra and post-operative complications (only minor, surgically controlled haemorrhage and minimal dehiscence subsequent to defective healing occurred). The proposed technique can be considered by the head and neck reconstructive surgeon as a good option in extended orbital exenteration.

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry.

Atomic Force Microscopy-Infrared Spectroscopy (AFM-IR) is a novel combinatory technique, enabling simultaneous characterization of physical properties and chemical composition of sample with nanoscale resolution. By combining AFM with IR, the spatial resolution limitation of conventional IR is overcome, enabling a resolution of 20-100 nm to be achieved. This opens the door for a broad array of new applications of IR toward probing samples smaller than several micrometers, previously unachievable by means of conventional IR microscopy. AFM-IR is eminently suited for bacterial research, providing both spectral and spatial information at the single cell and intracellular level. The increasing global health concerns and unfavorable future prediction regarding bacterial infections, and especially, rapid development of antimicrobial resistance, has created an urgent need for a research tool capable of phenotypic probing at the single cell and subcellular level. AFM-IR offers the potential to address this need, by enabling detail characterization of chemical composition of a single bacterium. Here, we provide a complete protocol for sample preparation and data acquisition of single spectra and mapping modality, for the application of AFM-IR toward bacterial studies.

Comparison of Photon-electron and Photon Radiotherapy for Supraclavicular Lymph Nodes of Mastectomy Patients with Left-sided Breast Cancer.

The aim of radiotherapy is to deliver the highest possible radiation dose to the tumor and the lowest radiation to normal tissues surrounding the tumor. In the present study, lymph nodes of the supraclavicular region were treated using two therapeutic techniques, namely photon technique (PT) and combinatory photon-electron technique (CPET). We recruited 50 patients with local lymph node metastasis. The photon energies were 6-15 MV. Furthermore, the electron beam energy was 18 MeV in CPET. The study findings revealed that the mean delivered dose to target volume was 41.12 ± 2.98Gy for PT and 44.56 ± 1.90Gy for CPET. The percentage of the target volume irradiated to 90% of the prescribed dose (V90) was calculated as 74.61% ± 9.30% and 82.06% ± 9.70% for PT and CPET, respectively. The mean dose delivered to the heart and lungs was not significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, the maximum doses delivered to the spinal cord were 12.55Gy in PT and 8.89Gy in CPET. The mean doses delivered to the thyroid gland were 39.26 and 34.89Gy in PT and CPET. According to the study results, the maximum doses delivered to the spinal cord, head of the humerus bone, and thyroid were reduced significantly as measured the CPET technique. In contrast, no significant difference was observed regarding the dose delivered to the heart and lung. The dose delivered to the supraclavicular region determined by the CPET was significantly augmented. Furthermore, the coverage of the tumor mass was optimized using the new method.

Nanoparticle tracking analysis

Due to their extremely small size, nanoparticles cannot be analyses by conventional approaches such as light microscopy. To visualise particles in the nanoscale range, a combination of an ultra-microscope and a laser illumination unit has to be applied. This combinatory technique is called Nanoparticle Tracking Anlysis (NTA) and can be used of thr nalysis of particles in a size range of approximately 10 nm up to 1 μm in liquid suspension.

Solid Dispersion of Hesperetin Co-crystals Synergistically Attenuates Hepatic Toxicity of Carbon Tetrachloride Oxidative Stress in Rats.

Hesperetin (HSP) is a low water-soluble flavanone aglycone with low bioavailability. This study aimed at enhancing the hepatoprotective effects of HSP by a combinatory technique based on solid dispersions of co-crystals of HSP. Co-crystals were prepared using citric acid, tartaric acid, caffeine and isonicotinamide (INM) using two methods of solvent evaporation and co-grinding. The solid dispersion of co-crystals with different ratio of INM, PVP K30 and drug was prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The resulting material was characterized by DSC, XRD, FTIR and SEM, their saturated solubility and dissolution rate were compared to the pure drug. Finally, liver toxicity was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and mice were treated with different formulations of HSP. The liver function was tested by measurement of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin as well as histopathological tests. Although saturation solubility of HSP was enhanced about 5 times by co-crystals of HSP/INM (1:2), solid dispersions of the co-crystals of HSP obtained from PVP K30 and INM enhanced it up to 200 folds. Functional parameters of liver in rats pretreated with a solid dispersion of co-crystals of HSP were significantly lower than those with pure HSP and co-crystals of INM/HSP with 2:1 ratio. Furthermore, this formulations reduced liver damage effectively compared with the CCL4 group. Solid dispersion of HSP co-crystals synergistically attenuates hepatic toxicity of carbon tetrachloride oxidative stress in rats more effectively than its solid dispersions or co-crystals alone.

Nanoscale Resolution 3D Printing with Pin-Modified Electrified Inkjets for Tailorable Nano/Macrohybrid Constructs for Tissue Engineering.

Cells respond to their microenvironment, which is of a size comparable to that of the cells. The macroscale features of three-dimensional (3D) printing struts typically result in whole cell contact guidance (CCG). In contrast, at the nanoscale, where features are of a size similar to that of receptors of cells, the response of cells is more complex. The cell-nanotopography interaction involves nanoscale adhesion localized structures, which include cell adhesion-related particles that change in response to the clustering of integrin. For this reason, it is necessary to develop a technique for manufacturing tailorable nano/macrohybrid constructs capable of freely controlling the cellular activity. In this study, a hierarchical 3D nano- to microscale hybrid structure was fabricated by combinational processing of 3D printing and electrified inkjet spinning via pin motions. This method overcomes the disadvantages of conventional 3D printing, providing a novel combinatory technique for the fabrication of 3D hybrid constructs with excellent cell proliferation. Through a pin-modified electrified inkjet spinning, we have successfully fabricated customizable nano-/microscale hybrid constructs in a fibrous or mesh form, which can control the cell fate. We have conducted this study of cell-topography interactions from the fabrication approach to accelerate the development of next-generation 3D scaffolds.

Finding exact constants in a Markov model of Zipfs law generation

According to the classical Zipfs law, the word frequency is a power function of the word rank with an exponent −1. The objective of this work is to find multiplicative constant in a Markov model of word generation. Previously, the case of independent letters was mathematically strictly investigated in [Bochkarev V V and Lerner E Yu 2017 International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences Article ID 914374]. Unfortunately, the methods used in this paper cannot be generalized in case of Markov chains. The search of the correct formulation of the Markov generalization of this results was performed using experiments with different ergodic matrices of transition probability P. Combinatory technique allowed taking into account all the words with probability of more than e−300 in case of 2 by 2 matrices. It was experimentally proved that the required constant in the limit is equal to the value reciprocal to conditional entropy of matrix row P with weights presenting the elements of the vector π of the stationary distribution of the Markov chain.

PH-Sensitive star-shaped poly(glutamic acid) with a porphyrin core as highly efficient photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy and molecular imaging

Recent efforts to develop tumor-targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) photosensitizers (PSs) have greatly advanced the potential of PDT in cancer therapy, although complete eradication of tumor cells by PDT alone remains challenging. As a way to improve PDT efficacy, we report a new combinatory PDT therapy technique that specifically targets multilayers of cells. Simply mixing different PDT PSs, even those that target distinct receptors (this may still lead to similar cell-killing pathways), may not achieve ideal therapeutic outcomes. Instead, significantly improved outcomes likely require synergistic therapies that target various cellular pathways. In this study, we target two proteins upregulated in cancers: the cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R, a G-protein coupled receptor) and translocator protein (TSPO, a mitochondria membrane receptor). We found that the CB2R-targeted PS, IR700DX-mbc94, triggered necrotic cell death upon light irradiation, whereas PDT with the TSPO-targeted IR700DX-6T agent led to apoptotic cell death. Both PSs significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo in a target-specific manner. As expected, the combined CB2R- and TSPO-PDT resulted in enhanced cell killing efficacy and tumor inhibition with lower drug dose. The median survival time of animals with multilayer PDT treatment was extended by as much as 2.8-fold over single PDT treatment. Overall, multilayer PDT provides new opportunities to treat cancers with high efficacy and low side effects.Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is increasingly used as a minimally invasive, controllable and effective therapeutic procedure for cancer treatment. However, complete eradication of tumor cells by PDT alone remains challenging. In this study, we investigate the potential of multilayer PDT in cancer treatment with high efficacy and low side effects. Through PDT targeting two cancer biomarkers located at distinct subcellular localizations, remarkable synergistic effects in cancer cell killing and tumor inhibition were observed in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. This strategy may be widely applied to treat various cancer types by using strategically designed PDT photosensitizers that target corresponding upregulated receptors at tactical subcellular localization.

Type IIs restriction based combinatory modulation technique for metabolic pathway optimization

BackgroundOne of the most important research subjects of metabolic engineering is pursuing a balanced metabolic pathway, which is the basis of an efficient cell factory. In this work, we dedicated to develop a simple and efficient technique to modulate expression of multiple genes simultaneously, and select for the optimal regulation pattern.ResultsA Type IIs restriction based combinatory modulation (TRCM) technique was designed and established in the research. With this technique, a plasmid library containing variably regulated mvaE, mvaS, mvaK1, mvaD and mvaK2 of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway were obtained and transformed into E. coli DXS37-IDI46 to obtain a β-carotene producer library. The ratio of successfully assembled plasmids was determined to be 35%, which was increased to 100% when color based pre-screening was applied. Representative strains were sequenced to contain diverse RBSs as designed to regulate expression of MVA pathway genes. A relatively balanced MVA pathway was achieved in E. coli cell factory to increase the β-carotene yield by two fold. Furthermore, the approximate regulation pattern of this optimal MVA pathway was illustrated.ConclusionsA TRCM technique for metabolic pathway optimization was designed and established in this research, which can be applied to various applications in terms of metabolic pathway regulation and optimization.

Multilayer photodynamic therapy for highly effective and safe cancer treatment.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is increasingly used as a minimally invasive, controllable and effective therapeutic procedure for cancer treatment. However, complete eradication of tumor cells by PDT alone remains challenging. In this study, we investigate the potential of multilayer PDT in cancer treatment with high efficacy and low side effects. Through PDT targeting two cancer biomarkers located at distinct subcellular localizations, remarkable synergistic effects in cancer cell killing and tumor inhibition were observed in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. This strategy may be widely applied to treat various cancer types by using strategically designed PDT photosensitizers that target corresponding upregulated receptors at tactical subcellular localization.

A Combinatory Antibody-Antigen Microarray Assay for High-Content Screening of Single-Chain Fragment Variable Clones from Recombinant Libraries.

We have developed a combinatory antibody–antigen microarray for direct screening of multiple single-chain fragment variable (scFv) clones with no need for pre-purification or enrichment before screening. The straightforward workflow allows for early selection of binders to predefined peptide and glycopeptide targets. A capture antibody is contact printed on microarray slides, side by side with the antigens of interest. A large number of scFv clones, in supernatants, are printed on top of the capture antibody and the antigen in a “spot-on-spot” print. The printed scFv clones, which bind to the capture antibody, are detected using biotinylated antigen, while the binding of scFv clones to the printed antigen is detected through a mouse anti-tag antibody. Two different analyses are thus performed on the same slide, generating two kinds of information: one on the ability of an individual scFv clone to bind to the soluble form of the antigen, which may favour selection for higher affinity rather than avidity, while the other allows the identification of large numbers of clones, simultaneously, due to the binding of scFv clones to densely presented antigens, thus providing an overall increased hit rate. The functionality of the new screening approach was illustrated through the generation of antibodies against peptides from the chaperone complex Ku70/Ku80 and the GalNAcα-serine/threonine epitope on the IgA1 alpha chain hinge region. In total, 659 scFv clones were screened with a hit rate of approximately 20%. This approach allowed the identification of functional antibodies in both cases, illustrating the usefulness and capacity of this combinatory microarray screening technique for efficient analysis and validation of antibodies at an early stage of antibody generation.

Combinatorial fabrication of composite nanorods using oblique angle co-deposition

We demonstrate that oblique angle co-deposition can be used as a versatile combinatory nanofabrication technique to generate a library of nanomaterials. Using the Cu-Fe2O3 system as an example, by carefully characterizing the vapor plumes of the source materials, a composition map can be generated, which is used to design the locations of all the substrate holders. The resulting nanostructures at different locations show different thickness, morphology, crystallinity, composition, as well as inhomogeneity in microstructures, and material maps of all these structural parameters are established. By further oxidizing or reducing the composite nanostructures, their properties—such as band gap, photocatalytic performance, and magnetic properties—can be easily linked to their composition and other structural parameters. Optimal materials for photocatalytic and magnetic applications are efficiently identified. It is expected that oblique angle co-deposition and its variations could become the most powerful combinatory nanofabrication technique for nanomaterial survey.

Grid indentation analysis of mechanical properties of composite electrodes in Li-ion batteries

Electrodes in commercial rechargeable batteries are microscopically heterogeneous materials. The constituent components, including active materials, polymeric binders, and porous conductive matrix, often have large variation in their mechanical properties, making the mechanical characterization of composite electrodes a challenging task. In a model system of LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 cathode, we employ the instrumented grid indentation to determine the elastic modulus and hardness of the constituent phases. The approach relies on a large array of nanoindentation experiments and statistical analysis of the resulting data provided that the maximum indentation depth is carefully chosen. The statistically extracted properties of the active particles and the surrounding medium are in good agreement with the tests of targeted indentation at selected sites. The combinatory technique of grid indentation and statistical deconvolution represents a fast and reliable route to quantify the mechanical properties of composite electrodes that feed the parametric input for the mechanics models.

Les frontières du 'dictamen.' Structuration et dynamiques d’un espace textuel médiéval (XIIIe–XVe s.)

A study of the practice of dictamen among the schools and chanceries of Late medieval Europe (13th–15th c.) offers a broad range of perspectives in order to map neglected dimensions of late medieval textual cultures. It is well known that Ars dictaminis was a set of rhetorical doctrines, mostly devised for and used in the world of chanceries and for the redaction of letters and charters. But how exactly did the process of translation of a sophisticated rhetoric in an epistolary, mostly political practice, work? This paper focuses on the coalescence and the impact of the rhetoric ‘database’ constituted by the great collections of dictamina traditionally called summae dictaminis . This material served as a matrix to create an immense array of rhetorically and rhythmically similar texts throughout Europe during at least two centuries. This process transcends the disciplinary frontiers between literary and politico-administrative studies. Not only had classical ars dictaminis developed into a sort of semi-formulaic logic, a combinatory technique that was in some ways more akin to poetry than to what we would imagine under the heading of ‘letter writing,’ but the variety of texts impacted by these techniques also cancelled every genetic barrier between ‘literary’ and ‘non-literary’ textual production.

Chemical Mapping of Silica Prepared via Sol–Gel Reaction in Rubber Nanocomposites

Rubber–silica nanocomposites containing 10 wt % silica were prepared using in situ hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of n-hexylamine as catalyst in two rubber matrices, namely, natural rubber and ethylene-propylene diene rubber. The structure of sol–gel synthesized silica, mapped by solid-state NMR spectroscopy and XPS, indicated the presence of remnant ethoxy groups inside the silica particles and on the silica surface, while hexylamine resided preferentially at the silica surface stabilized via hydrogen bonding of the ethoxy and chemisorption of the hexylamine. Thus, the preparation of sol–gel synthesized silica results in the formation of so-called “hairy” silica particles with increased hydrophobic properties. The combinatory technique FTIR-TGA-MS confirms the complex chemistry of the sol–gel synthesized silica as well as the low amount of residual ethanol present in the particles and the in situ rubber–silica nanocomposite, the latter aspect being important when industrial manufacturing and application of in situ rubber–silica nanocomposites is considered. It is further shown that (i) the particular surface chemistry, (ii) the phenomena of entrapped rubber chains inside the silica nanoparticles, and (iii) morphology of the sol–gel synthesized silica nanoparticles lead to a more intimate interaction with the rubber matrix, which may be fine-tuned toward improved mechanical properties.

The Onset of Potassium Chloride Induced High Temperature Corrosion: A Novel Experimental Approach

The present study investigates the early stages of the oxide layer degradation process of Sanicro 28 (Fe31Cr27Ni) stainless steel when exposed to KCl at 450 and 535 °C. A novel combinatory technique was developed and utilized, where CA was employed as a qualitative method to follow the varying stages of the onset of the corrosion reaction. XPS was then used to identify the elemental distribution and depth profile within the oxide layer at each identified reaction stage, and the resulting change in surface morphology and the progress of the corrosion front was studied by SEM-EDXA. Additionally, the main mechanism behind the spreading of the reaction front was identified using a novel test approach. The corrosion reaction could be separated into several overlapping stages, with the process being initiated by the alternation of the oxide layer resulting in the loss of passivity, the formation of chromate within the oxide layer and finally the oxidation of the chromium and iron from underlying material.

Fixator-Assisted Nailing for Correction of Long Bone Deformities

Many surgical options exist for the correction of long bone deformities. The fixator-assisted nailing (FAN) technique developed by Paley et al combines the accuracy, lack of invasiveness, and adjustability of external fixation with the stability and comfort of internal fixation. A temporary external fixator is applied for acute deformity correction. Once the desired alignment is achieved, an intramedullary nail is placed and locked statically, interference screws are inserted for additional stability, and the fixator is removed during the surgery. This combinatory technique may further be combined with lengthening or arthrodesis procedures.