Carbon nanotubes allow capture of krypton, barium and lead for multichannel biological X-ray fluorescence imaging

The desire to study biology in situ has been aided by many imaging techniques. Among these, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping permits observation of elemental distributions in a multichannel manner. However, XRF imaging is underused, in part, because of the difficulty in interpreting maps without an underlying cellular ‘blueprint’; this could be supplied using contrast agents. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be filled with a wide range of inorganic materials, and thus can be used as ‘contrast agents’ if biologically absent elements are encapsulated. Here we show that sealed single-walled CNTs filled with lead, barium and even krypton can be produced, and externally decorated with peptides to provide affinity for sub-cellular targets. The agents are able to highlight specific organelles in multiplexed XRF mapping, and are, in principle, a general and versatile tool for this, and other modes of biological imaging

Contemporary management of cancer of the oral cavity

Oral cancer represents a common entity comprising a third of all head and neck malignant tumors. The options for curative treatment of oral cavity cancer have not changed significantly in the last three decades; however, the work up, the approach to surveillance, and the options for reconstruction have evolved significantly. Because of the profound functional and cosmetic importance of the oral cavity, management of oral cavity cancers requires a thorough understanding of disease progression, approaches to management and options for reconstruction. The purpose of this review is to discuss the most current management options for oral cavity cancers

Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes

Cancer is driven by genetic change, and the advent of massively parallel sequencing has enabled systematic documentation of this variation at the whole-genome scale(1-3). Here we report the integrative analysis of 2,658 whole-cancer genomes and their matching normal tissues across 38 tumour types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We describe the generation of the PCAWG resource, facilitated by international data sharing using compute clouds. On average, cancer genomes contained 4-5 driver mutations when combining coding and non-coding genomic elements; however, in around 5% of cases no drivers were identified, suggesting that cancer driver discovery is not yet complete. Chromothripsis, in which many clustered structural variants arise in a single catastrophic event, is frequently an early event in tumour evolution; in acral melanoma, for example, these events precede most somatic point mutations and affect several cancer-associated genes simultaneously. Cancers with abnormal telomere maintenance often originate from tissues with low replicative activity and show several mechanisms of preventing telomere attrition to critical levels. Common and rare germline variants affect patterns of somatic mutation, including point mutations, structural variants and somatic retrotransposition. A collection of papers from the PCAWG Consortium describes non-coding mutations that drive cancer beyond those in the TERT promoter(4); identifies new signatures of mutational processes that cause base substitutions, small insertions and deletions and structural variation(5,6); analyses timings and patterns of tumour evolution(7); describes the diverse transcriptional consequences of somatic mutation on splicing, expression levels, fusion genes and promoter activity(8,9); and evaluates a range of more-specialized features of cancer genomes(8,10-18).Peer reviewe

Betelnut fibres as an alternative to glass fibres to reinforce thermoset composites: a comparative study

For the current work, investigations were carried out using treated betelnut fibre-reinforced polyester (T-BFRP) and chopped strand mat glass fibre-reinforced polyester (CSM-GFRP) composites. Results revealed that T-BFRP showed competitive performance of about 1.16%, 17.39% and 4.92% for tensile, flexural and compression tests as compared to the latter. Through tribological performance tests, T-BFRP composite showed superiority in wear for the dry and wet tests of about 98% and 90.8% while the friction coefficient was reduced by about 9.4% and 80% respectively. The interface temperature was lower by about 17% for T-BFRP composite subjected to dry test as compared to CSM-GFRP. SEM analysis revealed that the brittle effects observed on glass fibres during the tribo test enhanced the material removal rate which increased the thermo-mechanical effects at the rubbing zone. As such, evidence of adhesive to abrasive wear transition was observed when the CSM-GFRP composite was subjected to the stainless steel counterface. On the contrary, T-BFRP composite formed a thin layer of shield (i.e. back film transfer) on its worn surface during the test, which assisted in lowering the material removal rate. © The Author(s) 2011

Tribological and mechanical performances of newly developed eco-epoxy composites incorporating flax fibres and graphene nanoplatelets

The inclusion of both fibre and solid lubricants into polymers may provide a potential solution to maximise their tribological and mechanical performances. This study investigates the effect of incorporating flax fibres and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinformcements in epoxy matrix composites on their tensile, microhardness and adhesive wear behaviour. Dry adhesive wear experiments were conducted using a block-on-ring (BOR) test rig against a stainless steel ring. Adhesive wear performance was evaluated considering the effect of the volume fraction (Vf) of flax fibre (0, 15, 20 and 25 Vf.%) and different weight fractions of GNPs (1.5 and 3 wt.%). Different applied loads in the 15–60 N range, covering the mild and severe wear regions, were used. The worn surfaces were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results revealed that flax fibre potently improved the stiffness and tensile strength of epoxy. Increase in Vf of flax fibre showed a positive tendency to improve the wear resistance of epoxy; however, with an insignificant change in the coefficient of friction (COF). More interestingly, heat distortion temperature (HDT) was found to be the main key parameter controlling the wear behaviours of the composites. SEM observations indicated that severe wear signs – including detachment, fragmentation and fibre debonding – were noted when the interface temperature reached the heat distortion temperature of the epoxy. On the other hand, the inclusion of GNPs reduced the interface temperature during sliding as well as the COF of the flax/epoxy composite. Ultimately, incorporation of flax fibres and GNPs enhanced both mechanical and tribological performances of the eco-composites

Revolutionizing procurement: Unveiling next-gen supplier strategies in UAE's oil & gas sector

Procurement is a linchpin in organizational success, securing vital resources that enable top-tier service and product delivery. In fiercely competitive arenas like the oil and gas industry, cultivating robust supplier relationships isn't just beneficial—it's indispensable. Despite the ever-evolving market and myriad factors influencing these interactions, optimizing buyer-supplier dynamics remains paramount. The study delves deep into strategies to fortify procurement partnerships, spotlighting key elements shaping these relationships in the UAE's oil and gas landscape. Utilizing the renowned Kraljic's portfolio model (KPM), the study analyses purchasing strategies and their determinants. Data from a comprehensive online survey with 312 industry stakeholders and stringent reliability tests via SPSS offer compelling insights. Dominant themes include the prevalence of supplier and buyer dominance in ADNOC's procurement of both trivial and significant assets. Notably, no one-size-fits-all strategy emerges for major equipment acquisition, yet supplier dominance proves supremely effective for consumables and minor item procurements. A critical discovery underscores the significant role of employee tenure in shaping purchase decisions and supplier liaisons