Metabolomic Profiling of Plasma from Melioidosis Patients Using UHPLC-QTOF MS Reveals Novel Biomarkers for Diagnosis

To identify potential biomarkers for improving diagnosis of melioidosis, we compared plasma metabolome profiles of melioidosis patients compared to patients with other bacteremia and controls without active infection, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the metabolomic profiles of melioidosis patients are distinguishable from bacteremia patients and controls. Using multivariate and univariate analysis, 12 significant metabolites from four lipid classes, acylcarnitine (n = 6), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) (n = 3), sphingomyelins (SM) (n = 2) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) (n = 1), with significantly higher levels in melioidosis patients than bacteremia patients and controls, were identified. Ten of the 12 metabolites showed area-under-receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) >0.80 when compared both between melioidosis and bacteremia patients, and between melioidosis patients and controls. SM(d18:2/16:0) possessed the largest AUC when compared, both between melioidosis and bacteremia patients (AUC 0.998, sensitivity 100% and specificity 91.7%), and between melioidosis patients and controls (AUC 1.000, sensitivity 96.7% and specificity 100%). Our results indicate that metabolome profiling might serve as a promising approach for diagnosis of melioidosis using patient plasma, with SM(d18:2/16:0) representing a potential biomarker. Since the 12 metabolites were related to various pathways for energy and lipid metabolism, further studies may reveal their possible role in the pathogenesis and host response in melioidosis.     

Nonlocality threshold for entanglement under general dephasing evolutions: a case study

Determining relationships between different types of quantum correlations in open composite quantum systems is important since it enables the exploitation of a type by knowing the amount of another type. We here review, by giving a formal demonstration, a closed formula of the Bell function, witnessing nonlocality, as a function of the concurrence, quantifying entanglement, valid for a system of two noninteracting qubits initially prepared in extended Werner-like states undergoing any local pure-dephasing evolution. This formula allows for finding nonlocality thresholds for the concurrence depending only on the purity of the initial state. We then utilize these thresholds in a paradigmatic system where the two qubits are locally affected by a quantum environment with an Ohmic class spectrum. We show that steady entanglement can be achieved and provide the lower bound of initial state purity such that this stationary entanglement is above the nonlocality threshold thus guaranteeing the maintenance of nonlocal correlations.     

Untersuchung des Datenverkehrs aktueller Smart-TVs

Das Internet der Dinge (IoT) bezeichnet die Anbindung von Gegenständen des alltäglichen Gebrauchs an das Internet. Der Fernseher ist als Smart-TV bereits Teil des Internets. Einige Untersuchungen haben hier in jüngster Vergangenheit deutliche Missstände in Bezug auf Datenschutz und Datensicherheit aufgezeigt. Der Beitrag fasst die Ergebnisse einer aktuellen, umfangreichen Untersuchung von fünf Smart-TVs zusammen.     

Ink drop filling by a slot coating die for an electrowetting display panel

Ink drops have to be filled into the square cells for an electrowetting display panel. Several ink solutions such as dodecane, tetradecane, and hexadecane were used as test liquids. These fluids have viscosities less than 4 mPas and surface tensions between 23.3 and 26 mN/m and contact angles less than 50°. A slot coating die was employed to deliver these liquids to fill up the square cells. The effects of several parameters such as coating thickness and coating speed were examined. Operating windows inside which the stable filling is possible could be found for these liquids. Several defects were observed outside the operating windows. A flow visualization technique was applied to observe the fluid motion in the coating bead region, particularly the movements of upstream and downstream menisci, the mechanism of liquid filling was discussed.     

Implicit Decals: Interactive Editing of Repetitive Patterns on Surfaces

Texture mapping is an essential component for creating 3D models and is widely used in both the game and the movie industries. Creating texture maps has always been a complex task and existing methods carefully balance flexibility with ease of use. One difficulty in using texturing is the repeated placement of individual textures over larger areas. In this paper, we propose a method which uses decals to place images onto a model. Our method allows the decals to compete for space and to deform as they are being pushed by other decals. A spherical field function is used to determine the position and the size of each decal and the deformation applied to fit the decals. The decals may span multiple objects with heterogeneous representations. Our method does not require an explicit parametrization of the model. As such, varieties of patterns, including repeated patterns like rocks, tiles and scales can be mapped. We have implemented the method using the GPU where placement, size and orientation of thousands of decals are manipulated in real time.     

Mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of flow characteristics in an upflow reactor

Abstract

Determining and modeling of the extent of a treatment process in a reactor require knowledge of the flow characteristics. Residence time distribution (RTD), hydrodynamic dispersion coefficients, and velocity distribution are three important terms. Velocity distribution can be measured by a laser doppler anemometer (LDA) accurately, but RTD and hydrodynamic dispersion coefficients must be analyzed by mathematical modeling and dye testing. In this paper, the mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of a upflow reactor are developed. Rhodamine B and a fluorometer are used in laboratory testing. By applying the Euler FTCS (forward‐time‐center‐space) finite‐difference method, the results of dye tests and convection‐dispersion models are compared. The relationship between hydro‐dynamic dispersion coefficients and flow rates is discussed.     

Mechanistic procedure for parameter determination of multiplicative decomposition based constitutive models

By exploiting the Clausius–Planck local energy dissipation inequality, a large strain, three-dimensional constitutive model has been developed for the monotonic and cyclic response prediction of various asphaltic materials. The model consists of a Zener non-linear, visco-elastic component acting in series with a stress dependent viscous component. A novel computational scheme has been developed for solution of the coupled system of equations expressing the interdependent response of these two in series components. An explicit, mechanistic, parameter determination procedure is presented for the laboratory determination of all necessary model parameters. Examples of model parameter determination and utilisation for prediction of the response of a recycled asphalt mix and a stone mastic asphalt mix are presented.     

Power-to-Gas integration in the Transition towards Future Urban Energy Systems

Temperature levels play a key role in the thermal energy demand of urban contexts affecting their associated primary energy consumption and Renewable Energy Fraction. A Smart Heating strategy accounts for those supply features requiring new solutions to be effectively renewable and to solve the RES capacity firming. Power-to-Gas (P2G) is the way to decarbonize the energy supply chain as fraction of Hybrid fuels, combination of fossil ones and Renewable Hydrogen, as immediate responsive storage solution. While, Power-To-Heat is conceived as the strategy to modernize the high and medium temperature heating systems by electricity-driven machines to switch from Fuel-to-Heat to Electricity-to-Heat solutions. The authors investigated on different urban energy scenarios at RES share increase from 25% up to 50% in the energy mix to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the P2G applications. Primary Energy Consumption was chosen as the objective function. Three Reference Cities were chosen as reference scenarios. Moreover, the analytical models of P2G was designed and implemented in the reference energy system. The results of the twelve scenarios, four for each Reference City were evaluated in terms of amount of Renewable Heat delivered. Finally, the interaction between P2G and renewable heat production was evaluated.     

Rapid and direct determination of fructose in food: A new osmium-polymer mediated biosensor

This paper describes the development and performance of a new rapid amperometric biosensor for fructose monitoring in food analysis. The biosensor is based on the activity of fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) immobilised into a carbon nanotube paste electrode according to two different procedures. The direct wiring of the FDH in a highly original osmium-polymer hydrogel was found to offer a better enzyme entrapment compared to the immobilisation of the enzyme in an albumin hydrogel. The optimised biosensor required only 5 U of FDH and kept the 80% of its initial sensitivity after 4 months. During this time, the biosensor showed a detection limit for fructose of 1 μM, a large linear range between 0.1 and 5 mM, a high sensitivity (1.95 μA cm⁻² mM), good reproducibility (RSD = 2.1%) and a fast response time (4 s).