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Nuclear Talin-1 Provides a Bridge Between Cell Adhesion and Gene Expression
No full textTalin-1 (TLN1) is best known to activate integrin receptors and transmit mechanical stimuli to the actin cytoskeleton at focal adhesions. However, the localization of TLN1 is not restricted to focal adhesions. By utilizing both subcellular fractionations and confocal microscopy analyses, we show that TLN1 localizes to the nucleus in several human cell lines, where it is tightly associated with the chromatin. Importantly, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of endogenous TLN1 triggers extensive changes in the gene expression profile of human breast epithelial cells. To determine the functional impact of nuclear TLN1, we expressed a TLN1 fusion protein containing a nuclear localization signal. Our findings revealed that the accumulation of nuclear TLN1 alters the expression of a subset of genes and impairs the formation of cell-cell clusters. This study introduces an additional perspective on the canonical view of TLN1 subcellular localization and function.</p
Synthesis of aliphatic α-hydroxy carboxylic acids via electrocarboxylation of aldehydes
Get PDFHerein, we describe electrocarboxylation of aliphatic aldehydes in an undivided cell for the synthesis of aliphatic α-hydroxy acids (AHA). The electrosynthesis utilizes stable carbon-based electrodes providing safe and simple access to AHAs. Yields between 20 to 45% are acheived with seven substrates, some up to three times higher than with previous electrosynthesis protocols.</p
Swarm Intelligence and Systems Thinking:Finding Common Ground for the Engineering of Drone Swarms Solutions
No full textSwarm intelligence (SI), inspired by the collective behaviour of social insects, such as ants, bees, and termites, has been applied to various domains, including the engineering of drone swarms. Another holistic approach to understand and design complex systems is systems thinking (ST), which emphasizes particularly the interactions and relationships between a system’s components. This paper explores the intersection of SI and ST, aiming to find commonalities and synergies between the two fields. Based on previous research, the paper highlights the key characteristics (e.g., decentralization, self-organization, and adaptability) of the bio-inspired bottom-up approach of SI and compares them with the core features (such as interconnectedness and feedback loops) of top-down type of ST. By integrating concepts and principles from both disciplines, the paper suggests that innovative solutions to complex problems, for instance, in the engineering of drone swarms, can be developed. The paper concludes that both approaches share a focus on emergent behaviour and the importance of considering a system as a whole. The combined application of both of them can eventually lead to a better understanding, design and management of complex artificial systems, such as drone swarm solutions.</p
Computational designing approach for medium manganese steels with potential better hydrogen embrittlement resistance
No full textMedium manganese steels (MMnS) are known as third-generation high-strength steels, providing an excellent balance of high strength and ductility at a lower cost than second-generation steels. However, the increasing demand for steels with improved hydrogen embrittlement resistance highlights the need for the effective development of new alloys. This study explores the computational design of MMnS with a better combination of strength, ductility, and hydrogen embrittlement resistance. Mechanical properties vary due to changes in chemical composition and processing routes. Computational approaches enable precise optimization of these parameters, avoiding the inefficiencies of traditional trial-and-error. Therefore, CALPHAD-based thermodynamic calculations were employed to design a novel MMnS chemistry, increasing the fraction and stability of the retained austenite and providing efficient traps for hydrogen. As a result, the optimised chemical compositions were determined to be (in wt.%): 0.35C-9Mn-1Si-1Mo-1&3Al-0.1Nb, and 0.35C-9Mn-1Si-1Mo-3Al-0.05Nb and 0.3V. Thermo-Calc precipitation simulations identified 0.1% Nb as optimal since higher Nb contents reduce carbon in austenite, lowering its stability, and increase the size of the carbides. This Nb content results in NbC formation with an size distribution around 1 nm, 36 nm, and a size distribution of 1.2×1030, and 5.4×1027respectively. 3% Al promotes the delta ferrite formation and avoids the formation of kappa carbides, and 1% Mo compromises the volume fraction of NbC, strengthening the alloy and serving as an effective hydrogen deep trapping site. 0.3% V was chosen, compromising its effects on the size distribution of VC and available C for the austenitic phase, improving its mechanical stability
AMALGAN: Image-Based Android Malware Classification Using Generative Adversarial Network
Get PDFThe Android malware detection process requires analysing numerous files to ensure system security. Malware can also be embedded in media files and images. Android malware leverages the Android platform to propagate malicious payloads through image files created by malware developers. The proposed Android malware detection using the generative adversarial network (AMALGAN) approach employs image data to identify and classify Android malware. Unlike traditional uses of generative adversarial networks (GANs) for data generation or augmentation, the proposed approach exploits GANs innovatively for malware detection. In this work, the two modules of GAN, the generator and discriminator, are fine-tuned to identify and classify malware. An image-based malware dataset is used for training and validation. The GAN functions as an auxiliary classifier, while a hybrid malware analysis technique is applied to extract relevant features. Standard evaluation metrics are employed to assess the effectiveness of the proposed AMALGAN model. The results demonstrate that AMALGAN achieves 95.24% accuracy, 94.31% precision, 96.12% recall, and a 94.11% F1-score. These results confirm that the proposed approach outperforms several state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score
Public Procurement for Sustainability
Get PDFPublic procurement emerges as an instrument to promote sustainability and innovation, facilitating the implementation of policy goals. Adaptive procurement leverages sustainable innovation available in the market. Developmental procurement creates demand for solutions that do not exist yet but need to be developed first. Real-world applications from sectors such as construction, transportation, and waste management illustrate the transformative role of procurement. However, challenges persist, including the inconsistent implementation of sustainability and innovation-oriented procurement practices across organizations and sectors and the presence of multiple potentially conflicting objectives
Does a polymer film due to Rayleigh-instability affect interfacial properties measured by microbond test?
No full textThe microbond (MB) test, which is primarily used to characterise the interface of fibrous composites, requires a large number of droplets to be tested and analysed in order to make a reliable conclusion about the fibre–droplet interface. The conventional method of depositing single droplets on fibre and performing the MB test can be improved by depositing multiple droplets using the Rayleigh plateau instability phenomenon (an additional film is formed between the droplets). Although the latter method has significant advantages and higher statistical reliability, the role of the additional film affecting MB test results has not been investigated. In this work, both methods are experimentally evaluated for glass and flax fibres with two different resin systems and the interfacial constants, namely critical stress for damage initiation and critical energy release rate, are validated by finite element (FE) models. The study reveals that the thickness of the additional film shows incorrect interfacial shear strength (IFSS) when determined from simple force-displacement data ((Formula presented.) 18% increase for the fibre-droplet system in this study). The FE models confirm that the damage onset at the interface occurs at a higher force with this method, but the interfacial strength constants remain the same as with the conventional method
Networked innovation
Get PDFNetworked innovation refers to various types of inter-organisational innovation, ranging from closed contractually agreed arrangements to open, informally described collaboration settings. Here, networked innovation is defined as “intentional collaboration arrangements around inter-organisational innovation process”. The collaboration in these networks enhances knowledge transfer, integration, and co-creation activity between actors. Therefore, these networked innovation arrangements require an understanding of the flows of knowledge, either complementary or integrative, between the participating actors. This understanding should be at the core of the processes and practices of networked innovations. Clearly, networked innovation has many benefits, from cost savings and the shortened time required to commercialise the innovation to broader knowledge creation
Extrusion pre-treatment of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) lignocellulosic sidestream to produce cellulose fibres
No full textBACKGROUND: Various agricultural sidestreams have been demonstrated as feedstock to produce cellulose. To the best of our knowledge, there is no research work on the potential of agricultural sidestream from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), a neglected and underutilised crop to produce cellulose fibres. Conventional methods to produce cellulose consume large amounts of chemicals (NaOH) and produce a high amount of effluent waste. Herein, we investigated extrusion pre-treatment without and with an alkali followed by bleaching as an alternative method to conventional alkaline pre-treatment followed by bleaching to produce cellulose fibres from cowpea sidestream. RESULTS: Cellulose extracted by extrusion without and with mild alkali followed by bleaching consumed about 20 times less NaOH compared to the conventional method and produced less effluent waste. Extrusion with mild alkali followed by bleaching resulted in higher cellulose yield, purity, and crystallinity compared to extrusion without an alkali followed by bleaching. However, the conventional method resulted in higher cellulose yield, purity and crystallinity compared to extrusion pre-treatment followed by bleaching. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that micro-sized cellulose fibres with an average diameter of 10–15 μm were extracted using both methods. Notably, cellulose fibres extracted using extrusion pre-treatment were shorter than those extracted using the conventional method. CONCLUSION: Extrusion pre-treatment is a promising continuous alternative to alkaline pre-treatment to produce micro-sized cellulose fibres from low-value, underutilised cowpea lignocellulosic sidestream, for potential use as a filler in composite plastics.</p