Tumaco: Collaboration of Mobile Devices in Hypermedia-based In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems

in Libro de Actas del XXI Congreso Argentino de Ciencias de la Computación (CACIC 2015) (2015)

In-Vehicle Infotainment systems nowadays are largely limited to one-to-one relationships with the drivers' mobile phone. In this paper, we propose Tumaco, a SOA-based IVI system, which enables the ... [more ▼]

In-Vehicle Infotainment systems nowadays are largely limited to one-to-one relationships with the drivers' mobile phone. In this paper, we propose Tumaco, a SOA-based IVI system, which enables the seamless integration of all devices of all passengers. Collaborative services can be executed within a cross-platform ecosystem through the use of semantic hypermedia. In addition, passengers may customize their own user experience in order to reduce mental workload. Our prototypical implementation showed the benefits of opening the user experience to all passengers on a car. Finally, we present a framework that enables developers to provide their own services within our ecosystem. [less ▲]

Tumor suppressor miR-215 counteracts hypoxia-induced colon cancer stem cell activity

in Cancer Letters (2019), 450

Cancer stem cells, also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are a population of aggressive and self-renewing cells that are responsible for the initiation and progression of many cancers, including ... [more ▼]

Cancer stem cells, also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are a population of aggressive and self-renewing cells that are responsible for the initiation and progression of many cancers, including colorectal carcinoma. Intratumoral hypoxia, i.e. reduced oxygen supply following uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells, is thought to support TIC activity by inducing specific hypoxia-responsive mechanisms that are not yet entirely understood. Using previously established and fully characterized patient-derived TIC cultures, we could observe increased sphere and colony formation under hypoxic conditions. Mechanistically, microRNA (miRNA)-profiling experiments allowed us to identify miR-215 as one of the main hypoxia-induced miRNAs in primary colon TICs. Through stable overexpression of miR-215, followed by a set of functional in vitro and in vivo investigations, miR-215 was pinpointed as a negative feedback regulator, working against the TIC-promoting effects of hypoxia. Furthermore, we could single out LGR5, a bona fide marker of non-neoplastic intestinal stem cells, as a downstream target of hypoxia/miR-215 signaling. The strong tumor- and TIC-suppressor potential of miR-215 and the regulatory role of the hypoxia/miR-215/LGR5 axis may thus represent interesting points of attack for the development of innovative anti-CSC therapy approaches. [less ▲]

Tumor-Initiating Cells: a criTICal review of isolation approaches and new challenges in targeting strategies

in Molecular Cancer (2017)

Most cancers contain a subpopulation of highly tumorigenic cells, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Targeting TICs may be essential to achieve cure, because of their self ... [more ▼]

Most cancers contain a subpopulation of highly tumorigenic cells, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Targeting TICs may be essential to achieve cure, because of their self-renewal and tumorigenic properties as well as their resistance to conventional therapies. Despite significant advances in TIC biology, their isolation and identification remain largely disputed and incompletely established. In this review, we discuss the latest developments in isolation and culturing approaches of TICs, with focus on colorectal cancer (CRC). We feature recent findings on TIC-relevant signaling pathways and the metabolic identity of TICs, as well as their current clinical implications. Lastly, we highlight the influence of inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity on TIC function and targeting approaches. [less ▲]

The tumour suppressor Ras-association domain family protein 1A (RASSF1A) regulates TNF-alpha signalling in cardiomyocytes.

in Cardiovascular research (2014), 103(1), 47-59

AIMS: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a key role in the regulation of cardiac contractility. Although cardiomyocytes are known to express the TNF-alpha receptors (TNFRs), the mechanism of ... [more ▼]

AIMS: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a key role in the regulation of cardiac contractility. Although cardiomyocytes are known to express the TNF-alpha receptors (TNFRs), the mechanism of TNF-alpha signal transmission is incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the tumour suppressor Ras-association domain family protein 1 isoform A (RASSF1A) modulates TNF-alpha signalling in cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used RASSF1A knockout (RASSF1A(-/-)) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates in this study. Acute stimulation with a low dose of TNF-alpha (10 microg/kg iv) increased cardiac contractility and intracellular calcium transients' amplitude in WT mice. In contrast, RASSF1A(-/-) mice showed a blunted contractile response. Mechanistically, RASSF1A was essential in the formation of the TNFR complex (TNFRC), where it functions as an adaptor molecule to facilitate the recruitment of TNFR type 1-associated death domain protein and TNFR-associated factor 2 to form the TNF-alpha receptor complex. In the absence of RASSF1A, signal transmission from the TNF-alpha receptor complex to the downstream effectors, such as cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 and protein kinase A, was attenuated leading to the reduction in the activation of calcium handling molecules, such as L-type Ca(2+) channel and ryanodine receptors. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate an essential role of RASSF1A in regulating TNF-alpha signalling in cardiomyocytes, with RASSF1A being key in the formation of the TNFRC and in signal transmission to the downstream targets. [less ▲]

Tunable magnetoplasmonics in lattices of Ni/SiO2/Au dimers

in Scientific Reports (2019), 9

We present a systematic study on the optical and magneto-optical properties of Ni/SiO2/Au dimer lattices. By consideringthe excitation of orthogonal dipoles in the Ni and Au nanodisks, we analytically ... [more ▼]

We present a systematic study on the optical and magneto-optical properties of Ni/SiO2/Au dimer lattices. By consideringthe excitation of orthogonal dipoles in the Ni and Au nanodisks, we analytically demonstrate that the magnetoplasmonicresponse of dimer lattices is governed by a complex interplay of near- and far-field interactions. Near-field coupling betweendipoles in Ni and low-loss Au enhances the polarizabilty of single dimers compared to that of isolated Ni nanodisks. Far-fielddiffractive coupling in periodic lattices of these two particle types enlarges the difference in effective polarizability further.This effect is explained by an inverse relationship between the damping of collective surface lattice resonances and theimaginary polarizability of individual scatterers. Optical reflectance measurements, magneto-optical Kerr effect spectra, andfinite-difference time-domain simulations confirm the analytical results. Hybrid dimer arrays supporting intense plasmonexcitations are a promising candidate for active magnetoplasmonic devices. [less ▲]

Tuning Intermolecular Interactions with Nanostructured Environments

in Chemistry of Materials (2016), ASAP

Tuning the defect configurations in nematic and smectic liquid crystalline shells.

in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A : Mathematical and Physical Sciences (2013), 371(1988), 20120258

Thin liquid crystalline shells surrounding and surrounded by aqueous phases can be conveniently produced using a nested capillary microfluidic system, as was first demonstrated by Fernandez-Nieves et al ... [more ▼]

Thin liquid crystalline shells surrounding and surrounded by aqueous phases can be conveniently produced using a nested capillary microfluidic system, as was first demonstrated by Fernandez-Nieves et al. in 2007. By choosing particular combinations of stabilizers in the internal and external phases, different types of alignment, uniform or hybrid, can be ensured within the shell. Here, we investigate shells in the nematic and smectic phases under varying boundary conditions, focusing in particular on textural transformations during phase transitions, on the interaction between topological defects in the director field and inclusions in the liquid crystal (LC), and on the possibility to relocate defects within the shell by rotating the shell in the gravitational field. We demonstrate that inclusions in a shell can seed defects that cannot form in a pristine shell, adding a further means of tuning the defect configuration, and that shells in which the internal aqueous phase is not density matched with the LC will gently rearrange the internal structure upon a rotation that changes the influence of gravity. Because the defects can act as anchor points for added linker molecules, allowing self-assembly of adjacent shells, the various arrangements of defects developing in these shells and the possibility of tuning the result by modifying boundary conditions, LC phase, thickness and diameter of the shell or applying external forces make this new LC configuration very attractive. [less ▲]

Tuning the Magneto-Optical Response of Nanosize Ferromagnetic Ni Disks Using the Phase of Localized Plasmons

in Physical Review Letters (2013), 111(16), 167401

We explore the influence of the phase of localized plasmon resonances on the magneto-optical activity of nanoferromagnets. We demonstrate that these systems can be described as two orthogonal damped ... [more ▼]

We explore the influence of the phase of localized plasmon resonances on the magneto-optical activity of nanoferromagnets. We demonstrate that these systems can be described as two orthogonal damped oscillators coupled by the spin-orbit interaction. We prove that only the spin-orbit induced transverse plasmon plays an active role on the magneto-optical properties by controlling the relative amplitude and phase lag between the two oscillators. Our theoretical predictions are fully confirmed by magneto-optical Kerr effect and optical extinction measurements in nanostructures of different size and shape. [less ▲]

Tuning the Pseudospin Polarization of Graphene by a Pseudomagnetic Field

in Nano Letters (2017), 17

One of the intriguing characteristics of honeycomb lattices is the appearance of a pseudomagnetic field as a result of mechanical deformation. In the case of graphene, the Landau quantization resulting ... [more ▼]

One of the intriguing characteristics of honeycomb lattices is the appearance of a pseudomagnetic field as a result of mechanical deformation. In the case of graphene, the Landau quantization resulting from this pseudomagnetic field has been measured using scanning tunneling microscopy. Here we show that a signature of the pseudomagnetic field is a local sublattice symmetry breaking observable as a redistribution of the local density of states. This can be interpreted as a polarization of graphene’s pseudospin due to a strain induced pseudomagnetic field, in analogy to the alignment of a real spin in a magnetic field. We reveal this sublattice symmetry breaking by tunably straining graphene using the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. The tip locally lifts the graphene membrane from a SiO2 support, as visible by an increased slope of the I(z) curves. The amount of lifting is consistent with molecular dynamics calculations, which reveal a deformed graphene area under the tip in the shape of a Gaussian. The pseudomagnetic field induced by the deformation becomes visible as a sublattice symmetry breaking which scales with the lifting height of the strained deformation and therefore with the pseudomagnetic field strength. Its magnitude is quantitatively reproduced by analytic and tight-binding models, revealing fields of 1000 T. These results might be the starting point for an effective THz valley filter, as a basic element of valleytronics. [less ▲]

Tuning the work function of stepped metal surfaces by adsorption of organic molecules

in Journal of Physics : Condensed Matter (2017), 29

Understanding the binding mechanisms for aromatic molecules on transition-metal surfaces, especially with defects such as vacancies, steps and kinks, is a major challenge in designing functional ... [more ▼]

Understanding the binding mechanisms for aromatic molecules on transition-metal surfaces, especially with defects such as vacancies, steps and kinks, is a major challenge in designing functional interfaces for organic devices. One important parameter in the performance of organic/inorganic devices is the barrier of charge carrier injection. In the case of a metallic electrode, tuning the electronic interface potential or the work function for electronic level alignment is crucial. Here, we use density-functional theory (DFT) calculations with van der Waals (vdW) interactions treated with both screened pairwise (vdWsurf) and many-body dispersion (MBD) methods, to systematically study the interactions of benzene with a variety of stepped surfaces. Our calculations confirm the physisorptive character of Ag(2 1 1), Ag(5 3 3), Ag(3 2 2), Ag(7 5 5) and Ag(5 4 4) surfaces upon the adsorption of benzene. The MBD effects reduce the adsorption energies by about 0.15 eV per molecule compared to the results from the DFT + vdWsurf method. In addition, we find that the higher the step density, the larger the reduction of the work function upon the adsorption of benzene. We also study the effect of vdW interactions on the electronic structure using a fully selfconsistent implementation of the vdWsurf method in the Kohn–Sham DFT framework. We find that the self-consistent vdWsurf effects increase the work function due to the lowered Fermi level and the increased vacuum level. As a result, the benzene/Ag(2 1 1) system has the lowest work function (3.67 eV) among the five adsorption systems, significantly smaller than the work function of the clean Ag(1 1 1) surface (4.74 eV). Our results provide important insights into the stability and electronic properties of molecules adsorbed on stepped metal surfaces, which could help in designing more appropriate interfaces with low work functions for electron transfer. [less ▲]