The Chemistry of Cyborgs—Interfacing Technical Devices with Organisms

The term “cyborg” refers to a cybernetic organism, which characterizes the chimera of a living organism and a machine. Owing to the widespread application of intracorporeal medical devices, cyborgs are no longer exclusively a subject of science fiction novels, but technically they already exist in our society. In this review, we briefly summarize the development of modern prosthetics and the evolution of brain–machine interfaces, and discuss the latest technical developments of implantable devices, in particular, biocompatible integrated electronics and microfluidics used for communication and control of living organisms. Recent examples of animal cyborgs and their relevance to fundamental and applied biomedical research and bioethics in this novel and exciting field at the crossroads of chemistry, biomedicine, and the engineering sciences are presented.     

Eine neue Methode der organischen Elementaranalyse stickstoffhaltiger K?rper

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Linear Response Equilibrium versus echo-planar encoding for fast high-spatial resolution 3D chemical shift imaging

In this work Linear Response Equilibrium (LRE) and Echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) are compared in terms of sensitivity per unit time and power deposition. In addition an extended dual repetition time scheme to generate broad stopbands for improved inherent water suppression in LRE is presented. The feasibility of LRE and EPSI for assessing cholesterol esters in human carotid plaques with high spatial resolution of 1.95×1.15×1.15 mm(3) on a clinical 3T MR system is demonstrated. In simulations and phantom experiments it is shown that LRE has comparable but lower sensitivity per unit time relative to EPSI despite stronger signal generated. This relates to the lower sampling efficiency in LRE relative to EPSI as a result of limited gradient performance on clinical MR systems. At the same time, power deposition of LRE is significantly reduced compared to EPSI making it an interesting niche application for in vivo high field spectroscopic imaging of metabolites within a limited bandwidth.     

How can nanobiotechnology oversight advance science and industry: examples from environmental,health, and safety studies of nanoparticles (nano-EHS)

Nanotechnology has great potential to transform science and industry in the fields of energy, material, environment, and medicine. At the same time, more concerns are being raised about the occupational health and safety of nanomaterials in the workplace and the implications of nanotechnology on the environment and living systems. Studies on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) issues of nanomaterials have a strong influence on public acceptance of nanotechnology and, eventually, affect its sustainability. Oversight and regulation by government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play significant roles in ensuring responsible and environmentally friendly development of nanotechnology. The EHS studies of nanomaterials can provide data and information to help the development of regulations and guidelines. We present research results on three aspects of EHS studies: physico-chemical characterization and measurement of nanomaterials; emission, exposure, and toxicity of nanomaterials; and control and abatement of nanomaterial releases using filtration technology. Measurement of nanoparticle agglomerates using a newly developed instrument, the Universal NanoParticle Analyzer (UNPA), is discussed. Exposure measurement results for silicon nanoparticles in a pilot scale production plant are presented, as well as exposure measurement and toxicity study of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Filtration studies of nanoparticle agglomerates are also presented as an example of emission control methods.     

B-CALM: An open-source GPU-based 3D-FDTD with multi-pole dispersion for plasmonics

Numerical calculations with finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) on metallic nanostructures in a broad optical spectrum require an accurate approximation of the permittivity of dispersive materials. In this paper, we present the algorithms behind B-CALM (Belgium-California Light Machine), an open-source 3D-FDTD solver operating on Graphical Processing Units with multi-pole dispersion models. Our modified architecture shows a reduction in computing times for multi-pole dispersion models. We benchmark B-CALM by computing the absorption efficiency of a metallic nanosphere on a broad spectral range with a six-poles Drude-Lorentz model and compare it with Mie theory.

     

Trapped ion chain as a neural network: error resistant quantum computation

We demonstrate the possibility of realizing a neural network in a chain of trapped ions with induced long range interactions. Such models permit one to store information distributed over the whole system. The storage capacity of such a network, which depends on the phonon spectrum of the system, can be controlled by changing the external trapping potential. We analyze the implementation of error resistant universal quantum information processing in such systems.     

Microstructure morphology transitions at mesoscopic epitaxial surfaces

Spiral surface growth is well understood in the limit where motion of the spiral ridge is controlled by the local supersaturation of adatoms in its surrounding. In liquid epitaxial growth, however, spirals can form governed by both, transport of heat as well as solute. We propose for the first time a two-scale model of epitaxial growth which takes into account all of these transport processes. This new model assumes a separation of length scales for the transport of heat compared to that of the solutal field. It allows for the first time numerical simulations of extended surface regions by at the same time taking into account microstructure evolution and microstructure interaction. We apply this model successfully to extend the scaling relation for the step spacing given by the BCF theory [Phil. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 243, 299 (1951)] to microstructure evolution governed by heat and solute diffusion. Further applications to understand the mechanisms and consequences of spiral interaction at epitaxial surfaces, in particular the resulting morphology transitions, are discussed.