Nonstationary harmonic modeling for ECG removal in surface EMG signals

We present a compact approach for mitigating the presence of electrocardiograms (ECG) in surface electromyographic (EMG) signals by means of time-variant harmonic modeling of the cardiac artifact. Heart rate and QRS complex variability, which often account for amplitude and frequency time variations of the ECG, are simultaneously captured by a set of third-order constant-coefficient polynomials modulating a stationary harmonic basis in the analysis window. Such a characterization allows us to significantly suppress ECG from the mixture by preserving most of the EMG signal content at low frequencies (less than 20?Hz). Moreover, the resulting model is linear in parameters and the least-squares solution to the corresponding linear system of equations efficiently provides model parameter estimates. The comparative results suggest that the proposed method outperforms two reference methods in terms of the EMG preservation at low frequencies.     

Supramolecular Assembly of Aminoethylene‐Lipopeptide PMO Conjugates into RNA Splice‐Switching Nanomicelles

Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) are oligonucleotide analogs that can be used for therapeutic modulation of pre‐mRNA splicing. Similar to other classes of nucleic acid‐based therapeutics, PMOs require delivery systems for efficient transport to the intracellular target sites. Here, artificial peptides based on the oligo(ethylenamino) acid succinyl‐tetraethylenpentamine (Stp), hydrophobic modifications, and an azide group are presented, which are used for strain‐promoted azide‐alkyne cycloaddition conjugation with splice‐switching PMOs. By systematically varying the lead structure and formulation, it is determined that the type of contained fatty acid and supramolecular assembly have a critical impact on the delivery efficacy. A compound containing linolenic acid with three cis double bonds exhibits the highest splice‐switching activity and significantly increases functional protein expression in pLuc/705 reporter cells in vitro and after local administration in vivo. Structural and mechanistic studies reveal that the lipopeptide PMO conjugates form nanoparticles, which accelerate cellular uptake and that the content of unsaturated fatty acids enhances endosomal escape. In an in vitro Duchenne muscular dystrophy exon skipping model using H2K‐mdx52 dystrophic skeletal myotubes, the highly potent PMO conjugates mediate significant splice‐switching at very low nanomolar concentrations. The presented aminoethylene‐lipopeptides are thus a promising platform for the generation of PMO‐therapeutics with a favorable activity/toxicity profile.     

Biocompatible Cubic Boron Nitride: A Noncytotoxic Ultrahard Material

Cubic boron nitride (c-BN) has an ultrahardness and a large bandgap energy like diamond. In the last 30 years, most of the attention has been directed towards the mechanical and electronic applications of c-BN, while its biological potential has been overlooked. The authors report in vitro biocompatibility of high-quality c-BN films prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using the chemistry of fluorine. c-BN films become superhydrophilic when chemical-treated in hydrogen and nitrogen plasmas with or without the impact of low-energy ions due to a marked increase in polar part of the surface free energy by removal of the fluorine atoms terminating c-BN surfaces. Satisfactory proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells comparable with a control sample and a superhydrophilic nanocrystalline diamond film, and the formation of mineral deposits by biomineralization are confirmed on the superhydrophilic c-BN films with negative values of zeta potential. The results demonstrate a high potential of c-BN as a noncytotoxic ultrahard coating material for biological and biomedical applications.     

Gas-phase compaction and unfolding of protein structures

Ion-mobility mass spectrometry is emerging as a powerful tool for studying the structures of less established protein assemblies. The method provides simultaneous measurement of the mass and size of intact protein assemblies, providing information not only on the subunit composition and network of interactions but also on the overall topology and shape of protein complexes. However, how the experimental parameters affect the measured collision cross-sections remains elusive. Here, we present an extensive systematic study on a range of proteins and protein complexes with differing sizes, structures, and oligomerization states. Our results indicate that the experimental parameters, T-wave height and velocity, influence the determined collision cross-section independently and in opposite directions. Increasing the T-wave height leads to compaction of the protein structures, while higher T-wave velocities lead to their expansion. These different effects are attributed to differences in energy transmission and dissipation rates. Moreover, by analyzing proteins in their native and denatured states, we could identify the lower and upper boundaries of the collision cross-section, which reflect the "maximally packed" and "ultimately unfolded" states. Together, our results provide grounds for selecting optimal experimental parameters that will enable preservation of the nativelike conformation, providing structural information on uncharacterized protein assemblies.     

T-Cell Response against Varicella Zoster Virus in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis during Relapse and Remission

An association between varicella zoster virus (VZV) and multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported in Mexican populations. The aim of this study was to compare the response of T cells from MS patients, during relapse and remission, to in vitro stimulation with VZV, adenovirus (AV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Proliferation and cytokine secretion of T cells from 29 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 38 healthy controls (HC) were analyzed by flow cytometry after stimulating with VZV, AV or EBV. IgG and IgM levels against VZV and EBV were quantified using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Relapsing MS patients showed a higher percentage of responding CD4+ and CD8+ T cells against VZV compared to AV. In HC and remitting MS patients, proliferation of CD4+ T cells was higher when stimulated with VZV as compared to EBV. Moreover, T cells isolated from remitting patients secreted predominantly Th1 cytokines when cell cultures were stimulated with VZV. Finally, high concentration of anti-VZV IgG was found in sera from patients and controls. The results support previous studies of an VZV-MS association in the particular population studied and provide additional information about the possible role of this virus in the pathogenesis of MS.     

The Effect of Sodium Chloride on Catechol Oxidase from Apples

Catechol oxidase from apple chloroplasts and browning of apple slices are strongly inhibited by the chloride anion. The inhibition is non-competitive and reversible. Inhibition is pH-dependent. being observed at pH 5.1 but not at pH 7.3. Activity could be extracted from the particles using CTAB. The extract's activity at the two pH could not be resolved into distinct fractions. The pH-dependence of inhibition is ascribed to a change in the tertiary structure of the enzyme.     

The effect of physiologically relevant additives on the rheological properties of concentrated Pluronic copolymer gels

The high concentration triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)₉₉-poly(propylene oxide)₆₉-poly(ethylene oxide)₉₉ (Pluronic F127) aqueous solutions with the addition of different components commonly used in physiologically relevant applications were characterized by rheological measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small angle X-ray/neutron scattering. The sol-gel transition temperature, as well as the storage modulus of the F127 solution depend both on the concentration of polymer and of clay. Above the gel transition, the storage modulus of the solutions increased with clay concentration. Yield strain is independent of polymer and clay concentrations. Two different kinds of inorganic salts, sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) were added into the polymer and polymer-clay solutions. The sol-gel transition temperature decreased noticeably, but the storage modulus decreased only a small amount with increasing concentration of inorganic salts. Addition of salts to polymer-clay solutions resulted in precipitation of the clays which decreased the modulus. No effect on the mechanical properties was observed with the addition of common serum proteins. However, addition of 0.5-10% glucose decreased the transition temperature between 3° and 7°, without significantly affecting the modulus. The depression of the transition temperature by glucose was similar to that found with salts and indicated that the mechanism, namely competition for water, may be similar.     

Exploring critical attributes during air traffic congestion with a fuzzy DEMATEL–ANP technique: a case study in Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Railway Engineering Science - The constant growth of air travel in the Philippines has brought about significant consequences to air traffic congestion. Given limited resources, major airports seek...     

Colloidal synthesis of Au nanoparticles using polyelectrolytes with 1,3,4-thiadiazole as reducing agents

Heterocyclic compounds are well known for their biological activity and coordination properties. Some heterocyclic compounds have been employed in the stabilization against coalescence of metallic nanoparticles in colloidal solutions, for example, tetrazole, triazole, and pyrazole. The aim of this work is to design new polyelectrolytes with heterocyclic pendant groups useful as reducing agents of Au³⁺ and as stabilizing agents for the synthesis of colloidal Au nanoparticles. Thus, polyelectrolytes with thiosemicarbazone and 1,3,4-thiadiazole pendant groups were used as reducing agents of Au³⁺ ions and stabilizing agents of Au nanoparticles. The voltammetry study of the polyelectrolytes showed that one with thiosemicarbazone pendant groups is the better reducing agent than polyelectrolytes with heterocyclic pendant groups. The polyelectrolytes can control the growth of the nanoparticles, obtaining structures with an average size of 9 nm. In this study, it was concluded that the nature of the heterocyclic group does not have an effect on the shape of nanoparticles and quasi-spherical nanoparticles were obtained with all polyelectrolytes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47790.     

Hysteresis loops of individual Co nanostripes measured by magnetic force microscopy

High-resolution magnetic imaging is of utmost importance to understand magnetism at the nanoscale. In the present work, we use a magnetic force microscope (MFM) operating under in-plane magnetic field in order to observe with high accuracy the domain configuration changes in Co nanowires as a function of the externally applied magnetic field. The main result is the quantitative evaluation of the coercive field of the individual nanostructures. Such characterization is performed by using an MFM-based technique in which a map of the magnetic signal is obtained as a function of both the lateral displacement and the magnetic field.