| 1. |
- Guo, Yuchen, et al.
(author)
-
Design Applicable 3D Microfluidic Functional Units Using 2D Topology Optimization with Length Scale Constraints
- 2020
-
In: Micromachines. - : MDPI. - 2072-666X. ; 11:6
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Due to the limits of computational time and computer memory, topology optimization problems involving fluidic flow frequently use simplified 2D models. Extruded versions of the 2D optimized results typically comprise the 3D designs to be fabricated. In practice, the depth of the fabricated flow channels is finite; the limited flow depth together with the no-slip condition potentially make the fluidic performance of the 3D model very different from that of the simplified 2D model. This discrepancy significantly limits the usefulness of performing topology optimization involving fluidic flow in 2D—at least if special care is not taken. Inspired by the electric circuit analogy method, we limit the widths of the microchannels in the 2D optimization process. To reduce the difference of fluidic performance between the 2D model and its 3D counterpart, we propose an applicable 2D optimization model, and ensure the manufacturability of the obtained layout, combinations of several morphology-mimicking filters impose maximum or minimum length scales on the solid phase or the fluidic phase. Two typical Lab-on-chip functional units, Tesla valve and fluidic channel splitter, are used to illustrate the validity of the proposed application of length scale control.
|
|
| 2. |
- Manias, Dimitrios, et al.
(author)
-
Isolation and characterization of endophytes : biochemical and molecular approach
- 2020
-
In: Microbial endophytes. - Duxford : Woodhead Publishing Limited. - 9780128187340 ; , s. 1-14
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Endophytes are microorganisms residing inside the plants with an escalating interest for the scientific community. The plethora of endophyte-derived medicinal molecules and the application potentials in agriculture and bioremediation are some of the reasons why endophytes are extensively studied. Endophytes which can be either endophytic fungi or bacteria have been isolated from a wide variety of plants. The huge diversity among the endophytic microbes and the host plants hinders the establishment of a uniform protocol for isolation of endophytes. However, the most common technique that is currently used involves a thorough surface sterilization followed by fragmentation of the plant tissue and culture of the fragments onto agar plates. Nevertheless, non-culturable microorganisms are usually omitted from the aforementioned procedure and molecular approaches have to be applied for a more inclusive isolation. Sequencing of 16S rRNA for bacteria and ITS or 18S rRNA for fungi can be applied to both culturable and unculturable endophytes. Sometimes, morphological examination can be a further validation for the identification of the isolated strains. Subsequently, a variety of biochemical and molecular approaches including colorimetry, spot assays, chromatographies, and gene-targeted PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification are performed in order to further characterize the endophytic strains. Scrutinous functional analysis of endophytes may provide valuable insights into the advancement of agriculture, medicine, and industry. In this chapter, methods for the isolation of endophytic bacteria/fungi, identification, and their characterization depending on their functional role are discussed and provided as a helpful toolbox for a new researcher in the endophyte field.
|
|
| 3. |
- Maniatakou, Sofia, et al.
(author)
-
Unravelling diverse values of ecosystem services : A socio-cultural valuation using Q methodology in Messenia, Greece
- 2020
-
In: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 12:24
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- People perceive the importance of benefits from ecosystem services in different ways, depending on their values, beliefs, and needs. Acknowledging and integrating this diversity into decision-making processes can support informed natural resource management. Our empirical study unpicks the multiple ways stakeholder groups perceive the benefits derived from wetland ecosystem services (WES) in the area surrounding the “Gialova” coastal wetland in Messenia, Greece. The inhabitants from this region benefit from a range of WES, and most livelihoods are closely linked to agriculture and tourism. We aim to understand the patterns in commonly held stakeholder views on WES using “Q methodology”, a participatory mixed-methods approach. We identified five distinct perspectives on WES from a sample of 32 stakeholders. Alongside diverse perceptions of the relative importance of different WES, we observed a range of explanations of why certain WES are important and analyzed these through the lens of “value pluralism”. This identified tension between relational and instrumental values. Such analyses move beyond ecosystem service identification towards an understanding of value justifications and conflicts, and can support the deliberation of conflicted views, and policy design in alignment with people’s values.
|
|
| 4. |
- Valli, Katja, et al.
(author)
-
Can observers link dream content to behaviours in rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder? : A cross-sectional experimental pilot study
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Sleep Research. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0962-1105 .- 1365-2869. ; 21:1, s. 21-29
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Motor activity in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) has been linked to dream content. Systematic and controlled sleep laboratory studies directly assessing the relation between RBD behaviours and experienced dream content are, however, largely lacking. We aimed to investigate whether a link can be established between RBD behaviours and dream content when both are systematically sampled in a controlled setting. We investigated six patients with Parkinson syndrome and RBD who underwent 23 nights of videopolysomnographic recording during which they were awakened from REM sleep (10 min after the onset of the second and successive REM periods). Spontaneous free-worded dream reports and a structured dream questionnaire were obtained. Video recordings of motor manifestations were each combined with four dream reports, and seven judges had to match the video clip with the correctly reported dream content from a choice of four possibilities. Of the 35 REM sleep awakenings performed, a total of 17 (48.6%) motor-behavioural episodes with recalled dream content were obtained. The mean of correctly identified video-dream pairs was 39.5% (range 0100%). Our data showed that reported dream content can be linked to motor behaviours above chance level. Matching accuracy was affected mainly by the clarity of dream reports and the specific nature of movements manifest in video recordings.
|
|
| 5. |
- Valli, Katja
(author)
-
Dreaming in the multilevel framework
- 2011
-
In: Consciousness and Cognition. - : Elsevier. - 1053-8100 .- 1090-2376. ; 20:4, s. 1084-1090
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biological realism (Revonsuo, 2001, 2006) states that dreaming is a biological phenomenon and therefore explainable in naturalistic terms, similar to the explanation of other biological phenomena. In the biological sciences, the structure of explanations can be described with the help of a framework called ‘multilevel explanation’. The multilevel model provides a context that assists to clarify what needs to be explained and how, and how to place different theories into the same model. Here, I will argue that the multilevel framework would be useful when we try to construct scientific explanations of dreaming.
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
