Upconversion fluorescence resonance energy transfer in a homogeneous immunoassay for estradiol

We recently described a novel homogeneous assay principle based on upconversion fluorescence resonance energy transfer (UC-FRET), where an upconverting phosphor (UCP) is utilized as a donor. The UC-FRET has now been applied to a competitive homogeneous immunoassay for 17beta-estradiol (E2) in serum, using a small-molecular dye as an acceptor. The assay was constructed by employing an UCP coated with an E2-specific recombinant antibody Fab fragment as a donor and an E2-conjugated small-molecular dye, Oyster-556, as an acceptor. Standard curves for the assay were produced both in buffer and in male serum. Sensitized acceptor emission was measured at 600 nm under continuous laser diode excitation at 980 nm. In buffer, the IC50 value of the assay was 1 nM and in serum 3 nM. The lower limits of detection (mean of zero calibrators, 3 SD) were 0.4 and 0.9 nM, respectively. The measurable concentration range extended up to 3 nM in buffer and 9 nM in serum. Equilibrium in the assay was reached in 30 min. The novel principle of UC-FRET has unique advantages compared to present homogeneous luminescence-based methods and can enable an attractive assay system platform for clinical diagnostics and for high-throughput screening approaches.     

Near-infrared spectroscopy for cocrystal screening. A comparative study with Raman spectroscopy

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a well-established technique for solid-state analysis, providing fast, noninvasive measurements. The use of NIR spectroscopy for polymorph screening and the associated advantages have recently been demonstrated. The objective of this work was to evaluate the analytical potential of NIR spectroscopy for cocrystal screening using Raman spectroscopy as a comparative method. Indomethacin was used as the parent molecule, while saccharin and l-aspartic acid were chosen as guest molecules. Molar ratios of 1:1 for each system were subjected to two types of preparative methods. In the case of saccharin, liquid-assisted cogrinding as well as cocrystallization from solution resulted in a stable 1:1 cocrystalline phase termed IND-SAC cocrystal. For l-aspartic acid, the solution-based method resulted in a polymorphic transition of indomethacin into the metastable alpha form retained in a physical mixture with the guest molecule, while liquid-assisted cogrinding did not induce any changes in the crystal lattice. The good chemical peak selectivity of Raman spectroscopy allowed a straightforward interpretation of sample data by analyzing peak positions and comparing to those of pure references. In addition, Raman spectroscopy provided additional information on the crystal structure of the IND-SAC cocrystal. The broad spectral line shapes of NIR spectra make visual interpretation of the spectra difficult, and consequently, multivariate modeling by principal component analysis (PCA) was applied. Successful use of NIR/PCA was possible only through the inclusion of a set of reference mixtures of parent and guest molecules representing possible solid-state outcomes from the cocrystal screening. The practical hurdle related to the need for reference mixtures seems to restrict the applicability of NIR spectroscopy in cocrystal screening.     

基于透红外视觉传感的GMA-AM熔池图像质量评价

针对熔化极气体保护电弧(gas metal arc,GMA)增材制造(additive manufacturing,AM)图像感知,提出一种透红外熔池视觉传感方法. 为客观评价熔池图像质量,综合图像灰度、纹理、形状和频谱等四类特征定义了熔池图像质量评价参数φ. 结果表明,φ值越大,图像质量越好. 透红外熔池图像质量评价参数φ远大于近红外窄带熔池图像,熔池更清晰,对比度更高. 相比800,850和930 nm等透红外滤光片,990 nm透红外滤光片能过滤大部分电弧连续谱和特征谱,获得的熔池信息量最大,对比度更明显,边缘更清晰,细节信息更丰富,熔池图像质量最佳,是最佳取像窗口.     

Paclitaxel changes sympathetic control of blood pressure

Paclitaxel has become part of standard therapy in the treatment of ovarian and breast cancer. Concern has been raised about the effects of paclitaxel on cardiovascular function. Therefore, this study of the effects of paclitaxel on autonomic cardiovascular control was initiated. Eighteen women treated for ovarian or breast cancer were examined with autonomic cardiovascular function tests, once before the treatment and once after the second course of paclitaxel. Heart rate and blood pressure variability and changes in heart rate and blood pressure responses to the tests were measured. Baroreflex sensitivity was calculated from the Valsalva manoeuvre non-invasively. Paclitaxel did not change heart rate variability at rest compared with the pretreatment level. However, medium frequency variability of blood pressure was smaller after treatment with paclitaxel. Paclitaxel treatment did not impair the heart rate and blood pressure responses to the autonomic function tests. The results do imply that paclitaxel alters sympathetic control of blood pressure. Nevertheless, paclitaxel does not appear to precipitate autonomic cardiac neuropathy.     

Artificial neural network training utilizing the smooth variable structure filter estimation strategy

A multilayered neural network is a multi-input, multi-output nonlinear system in which network weights can be trained by using parameter estimation algorithms. In this paper, a novel training method is proposed. This method is based on the relatively new smooth variable structure filter (SVSF) and is formulated for feed-forward multilayer perceptron training. The SVSF is a state and parameter estimation that is based on the sliding mode concept and works in a predictor–corrector fashion. The SVSF training performance is tested on three benchmark pattern classification problems. Furthermore, a study is presented comparing the popular back-propagation method, the extended Kalman filter, and the SVSF.     

A Connectivity-Based Method for Enhancing Sampling in Probabilistic Roadmap Planners

The motion planning is a difficult problem but nevertheless, a crucial part of robotics. The probabilistic roadmap planners have shown to be an efficient way to solve these planning problems. In this paper, we present a new algorithm that is based on the principles of the probabilistic roadmap planners. Our algorithm enhances the sampling by intelligently detecting which areas of the configuration space are easy and which parts are not. The algorithm then biases the sampling only to the difficult areas that may contain narrow passages. Our algorithm works by dividing the configuration space into regions at the beginning and then sampling configurations inside each region. Based on the connectivity of the roadmap inside each region, our algorithm aims to detect whether the region is easy or difficult. We tested our algorithm with three different simulated environments and compared it with two other planners. Our experiments showed that with our method it is possible to achieve significantly better results than with other tested planners. Our algorithm was also able to reduce the size of roadmaps.     

Quantification of pesticides in food crops using QuEChERS approaches and GC-MS/MS

The analysis of pesticides in food products requires accurate measurements for which standardised protocols have been developed. This paper reports the validation of QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe)-based methods applied to three different food samples (brown rice, red pepper and mandarin orange) analysed using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The validation of the analytical methods used to measure 113 pesticides, including various insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, was conducted in three food matrices and at three spiking levels by three different laboratories. The set of validated results was interpreted, statistically analysed and visualised using principal component analysis (PCA). Notably, the matrix effects in GC-MS analysis for most of the tested pesticides from different matrices were lowered to practical values (less than 30%) appropriate for routine analysis. This allowed for the quantification of pesticides in the samples using standard and analyte protectants (APs) in the reagent method blank as a screening measure, providing an alternative to matrix-matched calibration. Alternatively, the use of only one standardised calibration (grape matrix) in combination with APs also allowed for the qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of pesticides in different matrices. The inclusion of APs reduced the differences in the matrix-induced enhancement effects of various samples. The use of an internal standard (IS) to correct the matrix effects was also noted. The normalisation of the analyte peak with triphenyl phosphate (TPP) as an IS resulted in a slight improvement of validation values such as precision and linearity in only one laboratory, but it lowered the value of matrix effects in all three laboratories.     

可见光和近红外熔池图像融合方法

为了获取质量信息更佳的熔池图像，设计用分束镜将采集的同一路光源平均传输给两个相机，利用同步触发装置，建立了可见光和近红外熔池图像同路光源同步采集系统. 由于两个相机的图像之间具有不同的形变，提出了基于仿射变换的熔池图像配准方法，配准了可见光和近红外熔池图像. 在此基础上，提出了基于主成分分析的图像融合方法对可见光和近红外熔池图像进行图像融合. 结果表明，与加权平均融合，亮度色度饱和度融合和小波融合等传统图像融合方法相比，主成分分析图像融合方法最有效，得到的熔池图像质量最好.     

Smart Clothing Prototype for the Arctic Environment

Continuous miniaturisation of electronic components has made it possible to create smaller and smaller electrical devices which can be worn and carried all the time. Together with developing fibre and textile technologies, this has enabled the creation of truly usable smart clothes that resemble clothes more than wearable computing equipment. These intelligent clothes are worn like ordinary clothing and provide help in various situations according to the application area. This paper describes the design and implementation of a survival smart clothing prototype for the arctic environment. Concept development, electrical design, and non-electrical features are discussed. The suit provides communication, positioning, and navigation aids for the user. Depending on the measurements of the human and the environment, the suit decides whether an emergency message should be sent. The user can control the system with a user interface called a Yo-Yo. The functionality of the suit has been tested in an arctic environment.     

Effects of conflict alerting system reliability and task difficulty on pilots' conflict detection with cockpit display of traffic information

A total of 24 pilots viewed dynamic encounters between their own aircraft and an intruder aircraft on a 2-D cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI) and estimated the point and time of closest approach. A three-level alerting system provided a correct categorical estimate of the projected miss distance on 83% of the trials. The remaining 17% of alerts were equally divided between misses and false alarms, of large and small magnitude. Roughly half the pilots depended on automation to improve estimation of miss distance relative to the baseline pilots, who viewed identical trials without the aid of automated alerts. Moreover, they did so more on the more difficult traffic trials resulting in improved performance on the 83% correct automation trials without causing harm on the 17% automation-error trials, compared to the baseline group. The automated alerts appeared to lead pilots to inspect the raw data more closely. While assisting the accurate prediction of miss distance, the automation led to an underestimate of the time remaining until the point of closest approach. The results point to the benefits of even imperfect automation in the strategic alerts characteristic of the CDTI, at least as long as this reliability remains high (above 80%).