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Beyond biomimicry! We are at a threshold where technology and life converge, where living machines modify and adapt the environments that they construct and persist within. Who is working at this frontier? How are scientists, engineers, programmers, designers and biologists converging to capture organismal construction algorithms from nature and play them back to emerging swarm robotic and digital
Improvements in the efficiency of combustion within a vehicle can lead to reductions in the emission of harmful pollutants and increased fuel efficiency. Gas sensors have a role to play in this process, since they can provide real time feedback to vehicular fuel and emissions management systems as well as reducing the discrepancy between emissions observed in factory tests and 'real world' scenari
In the past few years there has been a growth in the use of nanoparticles for stabilizing lipid membranes that contain embedded proteins. These bionanoparticles provide a solution to the challenging problem of membrane protein isolation by maintaining a lipid bilayer essential to protein integrity and activity. We have previously described the use of an amphipathic polymer (poly(styrene-co-maleic
Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles are commonly used as drug carriers in controlled drug release and targeting. To achieve predictable and clinically relevant volumes of drug distribution, nanoparticle size, surface charge, and especially composition and structure must be controlled. Understanding the internal structures within the particles is fundamen
Free-standing titania films were grown at the air-water interface, a novel method to synthesize robust TiO2 nanowire/nanoparticle composite films. The calcined films contain an anatase crystal phase and have a high surface area with a structure composed of one-dimensional long nanowires and mesoporous nanoparticle branches. These suggest a promising way to manufacture large areas of thick porous t
N-Oxyl mediated oxidations are becoming widely applied to the selective oxidation of a range of substrates bearing primary alcohol groups, including renewable biopolymers such as cellulose, but screening of mediators and oxidation conditions can be a laborious process, potentially limiting discovery of new mediators and/or optimised conditions for reaction. We describe a simple method for rapid vo
PLGA/PLA polymeric nanoparticles could potentially enhance the effectiveness of convective delivery of drugs, such as carboplatin, to the brain, by enabling a more sustained dosage over a longer time than otherwise possible. However, the link between the controlled release nanoparticle synthesis route, and the subsequent drug release profile obtained, is not well-understood, which hinders design o
To evaluate the role of polymer-surfactant interactions in drug solubilisation/stabilisation during the dissolution of spray-dried solid dispersions and their potential impact on in vivo drug solubilisation and absorption. Dissolution/precipitation tests were performed on spray-dried HPMC-Etravirine solid dispersions to demonstrate the impact of different surfactants on the in vitro performance of
This article highlights how an aesthetics of religion approach generates significant new insights into well-researched textual material. It does so by looking at Chinese Buddhist biographies focusing on how the world of smell is communicated. Academically established ways of approaching biographies elucidate their historical background and analyze narrative patterns. By looking at the Biographies
Study of phonon and electron subsystems of C60I4-x and C60Br24 crystals has shown a different character of chemical bonding in these materials: C60I4-x is a compound with weak van der Waals interaction between C-60 and I-2 molecules whereas C60Br24 is a covalent crystal with a charge transfer between nearest C and Br atoms.
The large MIMIC waveform dataset, sourced from intensive care units, has been used extensively for the development of Photoplethysmography (PPG) based blood pressure (BP) estimation algorithms. Yet, because the data comes from patients in severe conditions-often under the effect of drugs-it is regularly noted that the relationship between BP and PPG signal characteristics may be anomalous, a claim
The electronic structure of C60n- molecules and ions and C60Kn (n=0-4,6) crystals is investigated in the zero diatomic overlap approximation. The calculated characteristics of the carbon-carbon chemical bond in fullerenes and fullerites are compared with the bond characteristics in simpler covalent carbon-containing compounds, viz.: selected hydrocarbons, graphite, and diamond. It is shown that t
Using cyclic boundary conditions and LCAO basis allows one to reproduce both band and local properties of the electronic structure of a crystal. Electronic structure of a row of composite copper and lead crystalline oxides are studied within the CNDO approximation, and the local properties (atomic charges, bond orders, valencies) are analyzed. A comparison of the local properties of some high-Tc s
Purpose Complex organizations increasingly rely on middle managers as strategic linking-pins between the top and bottom levels of the organization. Using social identity theory and commitment theory as the foundation, this study evaluates a management and leadership development program (MLDP) intended to engage middle managers as strategy creators and implementers. We also evaluate the cascading ePurpose Complex organizations increasingly rely on middle managers as strategic linking-pins between the top and bottom levels of the organization. Using social identity theory and commitment theory as the foundation, this study evaluates a management and leadership development program (MLDP) intended to engage middle managers as strategy creators and implementers. We also evaluate the cascading e
Healthcare organizations are challenged by complexity in structure and knowledge, and heterogeneity in deliveries and patient demands. Reductionist managerial approaches fall short in resolving the quality issues of healthcare, but Scientific Management and New Public Management (NPM) nevertheless has a strong hold on leadership thinking in hospitals. Increasing demand for adaptive and collaborati
The article presents an empirical study of informal leadership in an international high-tech company. The empirical work consisted of qualitative observation and shadowing of managers in the company, and a total of 14 interviews. The transcribed fieldnotes and audio recordings of observations and interviews were analyzed thematically, resulting in three central themes: informality, information basThe article presents an empirical study of informal leadership in an international high-tech company. The empirical work consisted of qualitative observation and shadowing of managers in the company, and a total of 14 interviews. The transcribed fieldnotes and audio recordings of observations and interviews were analyzed thematically, resulting in three central themes: informality, information bas
Followership research has increased recently, but little attention has been paid to the complexities and challenges of creating a followership identity. Researchers typically portray followership as a safe alternative to leadership identity, but we challenge this assumption by using naturally occurring workplace interactions to identify active contributions as well as risks associated with a follo
