Explore the vast range of titles available.

A self-bound quantum droplet of magnetic atoms is observed in a trap-free levitation field. Atomic rain in an ultracold quantum gas The water molecules in a water droplet stick together because of a finely tuned balance between attractive and repulsive forces. Droplets have also been realized with superfluid helium. However, with cold atomic gases consisting of alkali atoms, a self-bound droplet had never been observed. Instead, cold atomic gases had to be contained in a trapping potential to work with them. These authors demonstrate the creation of self-bound droplets of an ultracold dipolar gas. The droplets have atom number densities 100 million times lower than in helium droplets. With this new system it becomes possible to study truly isolated quantum systems, which could, for example, be invaluable to understanding the interplay between dissipation and quantum correlations. Self-bound many-body systems are formed through a balance of attractive and repulsive forces and occur in many physical scenarios. Liquid droplets are an example of a self-bound system, formed by a balance of the mutual attractive and repulsive forces that derive from different components of the inter-particle potential. It has been suggested 1 , 2 that self-bound ensembles of ultracold atoms should exist for atom number densities that are 10 8 times lower than in a helium droplet, which is formed from a dense quantum liquid. However, such ensembles have been elusive up to now because they require forces other than the usual zero-range contact interaction, which is either attractive or repulsive but never both. On the basis of the recent finding that an unstable bosonic dipolar gas can be stabilized by a repulsive many-body term 3 , it was predicted that three-dimensional self-bound quantum droplets of magnetic atoms should exist 4 , 5 . Here we report the observation of such droplets in a trap-free levitation field. We find that this dilute magnetic quantum liquid requires a minimum, critical number of atoms, below which the liquid evaporates into an expanding gas as a result of the quantum pressure of the individual constituents. Consequently, around this critical atom number we observe an interaction-driven phase transition between a gas and a self-bound liquid in the quantum degenerate regime with ultracold atoms. These droplets are the dilute counterpart of strongly correlated self-bound systems such as atomic nuclei 6 and helium droplets 7 .

Descriptive data are rapidly expanding in biomedical research. Instead, functional validation methods with sufficient complexity remain underdeveloped. Transcriptional reporters allow experimental characterization and manipulation of developmental and disease cell states, but their design lacks flexibility. Here, we report logical design of synthetic cis- regulatory DNA (LSD), a computational framework leveraging phenotypic biomarkers and trans-regulatory networks as input to design reporters marking the activity of selected cellular states and pathways. LSD uses bulk or single-cell biomarkers and a reference genome or custom cis- regulatory DNA datasets with user-defined boundary regions. By benchmarking validated reporters, we integrate LSD with a computational ranking of phenotypic specificity of putative cis- regulatory DNA. Experimentally, LSD-designed reporters targeting a wide range of cell states are functional without minimal promoters. Applied to broadly expressed genes from human and mouse tissues, LSD generates functional housekeeper-like sLCRs compatible with size constraints of AAV vectors for gene therapy applications. A mesenchymal glioblastoma reporter designed by LSD outperforms previously validated ones and canonical cell surface markers. In genome-scale CRISPRa screens, LSD facilitates the discovery of known and novel bona fide cell-state drivers. Thus, LSD captures core principles of cis- regulation and is broadly applicable to studying complex cell states and mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. Descriptive data in biomedical research are expanding rapidly, but functional validation methods lag behind. Here, authors present Logical Synthetic cis-regulatory DNA, a framework to design reporters that mark cellular states and pathways, showcasing its applicability to complex phenotypic states.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has changed the management of suspected viral myocarditis by providing a ‘positive’ diagnostic test and has lead to new insights into myocardial involvement in systemic inflammatory conditions. In this review we analyse the use of CMR tissue characterisation techniques across the available studies including T2 weighted imaging, early gadolinium enhancement, late gadolinium enhancement, Lake Louise Criteria, T2 mapping, T1 mapping and extracellular volume assessment. We also discuss the use of multiparametric CMR in acute cardiac transplant rejection and a variety of inflammatory conditions such as sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythrematous, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis.

Atomic monolayers on semiconductor surfaces represent an emerging class of functional quantum materials in the two-dimensional limit — ranging from superconductors and Mott insulators to ferroelectrics and quantum spin Hall insulators. Indenene, a triangular monolayer of indium with a gap of ~ 120 meV is a quantum spin Hall insulator whose micron-scale epitaxial growth on SiC(0001) makes it technologically relevant. However, its suitability for room-temperature spintronics is challenged by the instability of its topological character in air. It is imperative to develop a strategy to protect the topological nature of indenene during ex situ processing and device fabrication. Here we show that intercalation of indenene into epitaxial graphene provides effective protection from the oxidising environment, while preserving an intact topological character. Our approach opens a rich realm of ex situ experimental opportunities, priming monolayer quantum spin Hall insulators for realistic device fabrication and access to topologically protected edge channels. Topological states in atomically thin quantum spin Hall insulators suffer from instability against environmental factors. Here, the authors devise a strategy to preserve topologically protected states in monolayer indenene through graphene intercalation.

Through its unique characteristics, additive manufacturing yields great potential for designing fluid components with increased performance characteristics. These potentials in advanced design, functional structure, and manufacturing are not easily realized. Therefore, the present study proposes a holistic development methodology for fluid components with a specific focus on hydraulic manifolds. The methodology aims to lead the designer from the specification of the task, through a step-by-step embodied design, to a technical and economic evaluation of the optimized, first-time manufactured part. A case study applies the proposed methodology to a part of a rail-vehicle braking application. Through its application, a significant reduction in weight, size, as well as significant contributions to the company’s AM strategy can be assigned to the part. At the same time, increased direct manufacturing costs are identified. Based on the increased performance characteristics of the resulting design and the holistic foundation of the subsequent economic decisions, a satisfying efficiency can be allocated to the proposed methodology.

Purpose Numerous metals can be processed using the additive manufacturing process laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M, ISO/ASTM 52900). The main advantages of additive manufacturing technologies are the high degree of design freedom and the cost-effective implementation of lightweight structures. This could be profitable for gears with increased power density, combining reduced mass with considerable material strength. Current research on additively manufactured gears is focused on developing lightweight structures but is seldom accompanied by simulations and even less by mechanical testing. There has been very little research into the mechanical and material properties of additively manufactured gears. The purpose of this study is to investigate the behavior of lightweight structures in additively manufactured gears under static loads. Design/methodology/approach This research identifies the static load-carrying capacity of helical gears with different lightweight structures produced by PBF-LB/M with the case hardening steel 16MnCr5. A static gear loading test rig with a maximum torque at the pinion of T1 = 1200 Nm is used. Further focus is set on analyzing material properties such as the relative density, microstructure, hardness depth profile and chemical composition. Findings All additively manufactured gear variants show no failure or plastic deformation at the maximum test load. The shaft hub connection, the lightweight hub designs and the gearing itself are stable and intact regarding their form and function. The identified material characteristics are comparable to conventionally manufactured gears (wrought and machined), but also some particularities were observed. Originality/value This research demonstrates the mechanical strength of lightweight structures in gears. Future research needs to consider the dynamic load-carrying capacity of additively manufactured gears.

To make powder bed fusion (PBF) via laser beam (-LB) for metals (/M) available for highly regulated components such as pressure equipment according to the Pressure Equipment Directive, system-specific qualification methods need to be established to deal with process- and geometry-dependent inhomogeneous material behavior. Therefore, the material properties of austenitic stainless steel (316L) and their influences on normative acceptable qualification strategies were investigated in this study. Flat tensile test specimens were produced by two manufacturing systems identical in construction and were compared to specimens produced from conventionally rolled sheet material. Specimens were compared in the horizontal and vertical building directions in relation to different slope angles, wall thicknesses and cross-sectional areas. Despite identical process setups, parameters and powder feedstock, differences in mechanical behavior could be seen. Furthermore, the mechanical properties, surface roughness and density showed dependencies on the wall thickness and slope angle. In particular, the influence of wall thickness has not been covered in publications about PBF-LB/M before. These results suggest that geometry- and system-dependent components can be designed based on associated data from qualification processes. Therefore, a new qualification method based on wall structure properties is suggested for standard qualification processes of components with wall structures, such as pressure equipment.

In this work the benefit of using dextrose instead of sucrose was investigated. Trials with stuck fermentation could show the potential of compensating glucose / fructose imbalances by adding dextrose. Trials on sparkling wine production showed that under stressful conditions the second fermentation started earlier and finished more complete, when dextrose was used instead of sucrose in the tirage liqueur. In general the sensory property of the later product was not changed when dextrose was used as alternative to sucrose. Several trials on must chaptalization showed in general no clear differences in terms of fermentation kinetics. The aroma analysis showed as well, that the fermentation aroma was not clearly different when dextrose used as sugar source.

De-alcoholized wines are currently experiencing an increasing demand, but are also being discussed very controversially at this time. The de-alcoholization process is usually carried out by distillation processes under vacuum. The treatment is accompanied by a series of changes in terms of analytical and sensory parameters of the wines. Ethanol has a very complex and far ranging influence on the wine sensory character. Even more, the de-alcoholization process goes along with certain losses of aroma components. Several strategies were assessed to buffer and balance the effect of de-alcoholizing wines below 0.5% v/v. Compared to the addition of tannins and mannoproteins, sweetening showed clearer results on the panelist’s preference. The assessment of a commercial resin treatment to recover aroma from de-alcoholization process showed promising results.

BackgroundDisturbances of copper (Cu) homeostasis can lead to hypertrophic cardiac phenotypes (eg, Wilson’s disease). We previously identified abnormal Cu homeostasis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and, therefore, hypothesised that Cu2+–selective chelation with trientine dihydrochloride may slow or reverse disease progression in HCM. The aim of this study was, therefore to explore the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of trientine in HCM.MethodsIn this medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA) registered open-label pilot study, we treated 20 HCM patients with trientine for 6 months. Patients underwent a comprehensive assessment schedule including separate cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and CMR 31P-spectroscopy at baseline and end of therapy. Predefined end points included changes in left ventricular mass (LVM), markers of LV fibrosis, markers of LV performance and myocardial energetics. Ten matched patients with HCM were studied as controls.ResultsTrientine treatment was safe and tolerated. Trientine caused a substantial increase in urinary copper excretion (0.42±0.2 vs 2.02±1.0, p=0.001) without affecting serum copper concentrations. Treatment was associated with significant improvements in total atrial strain and global longitudinal LV strain using both Echo and CMR. LVM decreased significantly in the treatment arm compared with the control group (−4.2 g v 1.8 g, p=0.03). A strong trend towards an absolute decrease in LVM was observed in the treatment group (p=0.06). These changes were associated with a significant change in total myocardial volume driven by a significant reduction in extracellular matrix (ECM) volume (43.83±18.42 mL vs 41.49±16.89 mL, p=0.04) as opposed to pure cellular mass reduction and occurred against a background of significant ECM volume increase in the control group (44.59±16.50 mL vs 47.48±19.30 mL, p=0.02). A non-significant 10% increase in myocardial phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate (PCr/ATP) ratio with trientine therapy (1.27±0.44 vs 1.4±0.39) was noted.ConclusionsCu2+–selective chelation with trientine in a controlled environment is safe and a potential future therapeutic target. A phase 2b trial is now underway.