Layer-by-Layer-Assembled Multilayer Films for Transcutaneous Drug and Vaccine Delivery

We describe protein- and oligonucleotide-loaded layer-by-layer (LbL)-assembled multilayer films incorporating a hydrolytically degradable polymer for transcutaneous drug or vaccine delivery. Films were constructed based on electrostatic interactions between a cationic poly(β-amino ester) (denoted Poly-1) with a model protein antigen, ovalbumin (ova), and/or immunostimulatory CpG (cytosine−phosphate diester−guanine-rich) DNA oligonucleotide adjuvant molecules. Linear growth of nanoscale Poly-1/ova bilayers was observed. Dried ova protein-loaded films rapidly deconstructed when rehydrated in saline solutions, releasing ova as nonaggregated/nondegraded protein, suggesting that the structure of biomolecules integrated into these multilayer films is preserved during release. Using confocal fluorescence microscopy and an in vivo murine ear skin model, we demonstrated delivery of ova from LbL films into barrier-disrupted skin, uptake of the protein by skin-resident antigen-presenting cells (Langerhans cells), and transport of the antigen to the skin-draining lymph nodes. Dual incorporation of ova and CpG oligonucleotides into the nanolayers of LbL films enabled dual release of the antigen and adjuvant with distinct kinetics for each component; ova was rapidly released, while CpG was released in a relatively sustained manner. Applied as skin patches, these films delivered ova and CpG to Langerhans cells in the skin. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of LbL films applied for the delivery of biomolecules into skin. This approach provides a new route for storage of vaccines and other immunotherapeutics in a solid-state thin film for subsequent delivery into the immunologically rich milieu of the skin.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier NanotechnologiesSingapore. Agency for Science, Technology and Researc

The Loser and Joy With Child - Creative Explorations of Masculinity

Pellisson Maurice. Revue bleue, 28 juin. — A. Croiset, La question des vacances.. In: La revue pédagogique, tome 63, Juillet-Décembre 1913. p. 195

A single-crystal source of path-polarization entangled photons at non-degenerate wavelengths

We demonstrate a bright, narrowband, compact, quasi-phase-matched single-crystal source generating path-polarization-entangled photon pairs at 810 nm and 1550 nm at a maximum rate of 3 Mcounts/(s THz mW) after coupling to single-mode fiber, and with two-photon interference visibility above 90%. While the source can already be used to implement quantum communication protocols such as quantum key distribution, this work is also instrumental for narrowband applications such as entanglement transfer from photonic to atomic qubits, or entanglement of photons from independent sources.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, published in Optics Express (2008

Bernardin Frankapan i Krbavska bitka: je li spasio sebe i malobrojne ili je pobjegao iz boja?

Veliki poraz hrvatske vojske od Osmanlija na Krbavskom polju 9. rujna 1493. predstavlja jednu od najvažnijih epizoda u dugotrajnom obrambenom ratu Hrvata protiv Osmanlija. Iako su uzroci i posljedice, pa i sam tijek bitke, već u znatnoj mjeri prikazani u starijoj i novijoj hrvatskoj historiografiji, ipak su uloga i djelovanje kneza Bernardina Frankapana u samoj bitki i događajima koji su joj prethodili, ostali u značajnoj mjeri nerasvijetljeni i nerazjašnjeni. Autor na osnovi sačuvanih pisanih i arheoloških svjedočanstva, kao i nakon uvida na terenu, analizira događaje koji su prethodili Bernardinovu povlačenju iz bitke, pokušavajući odgonetnuti uzroke i motive takova poteza. Isto tako, detaljnijim uvidom u sačuvana pisana svjedočanstva o događajima prije Krbavske bitke, pokušava objasniti odnose između bana Derenčina i knezova Frankapana.The great defeat of Croatian army against ottoman troops in the battle of Krbava field (9th September 1493) is one of the most important episode in long–lasting defensive war against Ottoman Empire. Although, the causes and the consequences, and the very duration of the battle, are already elaborated in older and newer Croatian historiography, the role and actions of the duke Bernardin Frankapan in the events before battle and in the battle are still not illuminated and dismissed. Analyzing the written sources and archeological artifacts, author describes events that are preceded Bernardin’s evacuation from the battle. He is, also, trying to figure out the motives and causes of such actions. Further more, by detailing analysis of written sources about events before battle of Krbava field, author clarifies relationships between banus Derenčin and ducal family of Frankapan

Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide

Product degradability, sustainability and low-toxicity are driving demand for the synthesis of biobased polymers and surfactants. Here we report the synthesis of novel surface active polymers using cyclic esters (D,L-lactide) and temperature sensitive polyols (D-sorbitol) as renewable building blocks. We highlight the modification of chain length and degree of branching to provide a route to tailoring the properties and application performance of these new compounds. High processing temperatures (≥180 °C) and harsh post-reaction treatments are often needed to remove residual monomer and catalysts and these can become barriers to creating materials based on renewable resources. Here we exploit supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a green solvent to overcome these challenges; significantly reducing reaction temperatures, targeting controlled molecular weights with narrow dispersities and reducing sideproduct formation. Additionally in the same pot, we can use supercritical extraction to purify the compounds and to efficiently remove unreacted reagents, which could be recovered and recycled. We believe that our approach to the production and purification of these novel branched poly(lactides) is a significant step towards the development of the next generation of biopolymers and green surfactants, combining both the use of bio-sourced raw materials and the potential to use sustainable, low energy processes and techniques

Coupling between magnetic field and curvature in Heisenberg spins on surfaces with rotational symmetry

We study the nonlinear $\sigma$-model in an external magnetic field applied on curved surfaces with rotational symmetry. The Euler-Lagrange equations derived from the Hamiltonian yield the double sine-Gordon equation (DSG) provided the magnetic field is tuned with the curvature of the surface. A $2\pi$ skyrmion appears like a solution for this model and surface deformations are predicted at the sector where the spins point in the opposite direction to the magnetic field. We also study some specific examples by applying the model on three rotationally symmetric surfaces: the cylinder, the catenoid and the hyperboloid. The coupling between a magnetic field and the curvature of the substract is an interesting result and we believe that this issue may be relevant to be applied in condensed matter systems, e.g., superconductors, nematic liquid crystals, graphene and topological insulators.Comment: To be published in Physics Letters

Electrochemical properties of composite cathodes using Sm doped layered perovskite for intermediate temperature-operating solid oxide fuel cell

The authors are grateful for the support of the Basic Science Research Program, part of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (No. 2014R1A1A1004163).SmBaCo2O5+d (SBCO) showed the lowest observed Area Specific Resistance (ASR) value in the LnBaCo2O5+d (Ln: Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd) oxide system for the overall temperature ranges tested. The ASR of a composite cathode (mixture of SBCO and Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−d) on a Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−d (CGO91) electrolyte decreased with respect to the CGO91 content; the percolation limit was also achieved for a 50 wt% SBCO and 50 wt% CGO91 (SBCO50) composite cathode. The ASRs of SBCO50 on the dense CGO91 electrolyte in the overall temperature range of 500 to 750 °C were relatively lower than those of SBCO50 on the CGO91 coated dense 8 mol % yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) electrolyte for the same temperature range. From 750 °C and for all higher temperatures tested, however, the ASRs of SBCO50 on the CGO91 coated dense 8YSZ electrolyte were lower than those of the CGO91 electrolyte. The maximum power densities of SBCO50 on the Ni-8YSZ/8YSZ/CGO91 buffer layer were 1.034 W cm−2 and 0.611 W cm−2 at 800 °C and 700 °C.PostprintPeer reviewe

Young starless cores embedded in the magnetically dominated Pipe Nebula

The Pipe Nebula is a massive, nearby dark molecular cloud with a low star-formation efficiency which makes it a good laboratory to study the very early stages of the star formation process. The Pipe Nebula is largely filamentary, and appears to be threaded by a uniform magnetic field at scales of few parsecs, perpendicular to its main axis. The field is only locally perturbed in a few regions, such as the only active cluster forming core B59. The aim of this study is to investigate primordial conditions in low-mass pre-stellar cores and how they relate to the local magnetic field in the cloud. We used the IRAM 30-m telescope to carry out a continuum and molecular survey at 3 and 1 mm of early- and late-time molecules toward four selected starless cores inside the Pipe Nebula. We found that the dust continuum emission maps trace better the densest regions than previous 2MASS extinction maps, while 2MASS extinction maps trace better the diffuse gas. The properties of the cores derived from dust emission show average radii of ~0.09 pc, densities of ~1.3x10^5 cm^-3, and core masses of ~2.5 M_sun. Our results confirm that the Pipe Nebula starless cores studied are in a very early evolutionary stage, and present a very young chemistry with different properties that allow us to propose an evolutionary sequence. All of the cores present early-time molecular emission, with CS detections toward all the sample. Two of them, Cores 40 and 109, present strong late-time molecular emission. There seems to be a correlation between the chemical evolutionary stage of the cores and the local magnetic properties that suggests that the evolution of the cores is ruled by a local competition between the magnetic energy and other mechanisms, such as turbulence.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 15 pages, 5 figures, 9 table

The effects of nitroxyl (HNO) on soluble guanylate cyclase activity: interactions at ferrous heme and cysteine thiols

It has been previously proposed that nitric oxide (NO) is the only biologically relevant nitrogen oxide capable of activating the enzyme soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). However, recent reports implicate HNO as another possible activator of sGC. Herein, we examine the affect of HNO donors on the activity of purified bovine lung sGC and find that, indeed, HNO is capable of activating this enzyme. Like NO, HNO activation appears to occur via interaction with the regulatory ferrous heme on sGC. Somewhat unexpectedly, HNO does not activate the ferric form of the enzyme. Finally, HNO-mediated cysteine thiol modification appears to also affect enzyme activity leading to inhibition. Thus, sGC activity can be regulated by HNO via interactions at both the regulatory heme and cysteine thiols