Eradication of Multi‐Drug Resistant Bacteria by a Novel Zn‐doped CuO Nanocomposite

Zinc‐doped copper oxide nanoparticles are synthesized and simultaneously deposited on cotton fabric using ultrasound irradiation. The optimization of the processing conditions, the specific reagent ratio, and the precursor concentration results in the formation of uniform nanoparticles with an average size of ≈30 nm. The antibacterial activity of the Zn‐doped CuO Cu_0.88Zn_0.12O in a colloidal suspension or deposited on the fabric is tested against Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive) bacteria. A substantial enhancement of 10 000 times in the antimicrobial activity of the Zn–CuO nanocomposite compared to the pure CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) is observed after 10 min exposure to the bacteria. Similar activities are observed against multidrug‐resistant bacteria (MDR), (i.e., Methicillin‐resistant S. aureus and MDR E. coli) further emphasizing the efficacy of this composite. Finally, the mechanism for this enhanced antibacterial activity is presented.     

Nanotechnological strategies for engineering complex tissues

Tissue engineering aims at developing functional substitutes for damaged tissues and organs. Before transplantation, cells are generally seeded on biomaterial scaffolds that recapitulate the extracellular matrix and provide cells with information that is important for tissue development. Here we review the nanocomposite nature of the extracellular matrix, describe the design considerations for different tissues and discuss the impact of nanostructures on the properties of scaffolds and their uses in monitoring the behaviour of engineered tissues. We also examine the different nanodevices used to trigger certain processes for tissue development, and offer our view on the principal challenges and prospects of applying nanotechnology in tissue engineering.     

Can art breach boundaries? Segregation and hierarchy at a fringe theatre festival in the Israeli mixed city of Acre

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between art and urban boundaries using the case study of a fringe theatre festival in the Israeli mixed-city of Acre. While mixed cities today are understood as agglomerations of enclaves, maintained and reinforced by boundaries, urban designers and artists have used art as a culture-led regeneration strategy through which these boundaries may be breached. This study undermines the shared assumption of both fields: that art has the power to breach boundaries, by juxtaposing a city’s artistic activity with its segregation patterns and boundaries. Using super-positioning, the findings of two research methods have been integrated: urban research and ethnographic field work. The article shows that although the artistic activity in question is rooted in an avant-garde radical desire to subvert socioeconomic structures, it actually produces new versions and interpretations of the same segregations and boundaries in both space and society.     

Protein incorporation within Ti scaffold for bone ingrowth using Sol-gel SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> as a slow release carrier

Porous titanium structures hold considerable promise as scaffolds for bone ingrowth in load bearing locations provided they are made osteoinductive by incorporation of bone growth factors. The purpose of the present research was to incorporate soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) imitating growth factor into a porous Ti scaffold using sol-gel silica as a slow-release protein carrier. Alcohol-free TMOS-based sols (of pH 2 or 5) with dissolved STI were injected into Ti wire scaffolds yielding SiO₂ coating on the wire struts and SiO₂ beads entrapped in-between the wires. The formation of well-polymerized nanoporous SiO₂ was confirmed by FTIR, solid-state NMR, N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms and BET analysis. In-vitro dissolution of silica and STI release in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 37 °C were measured by ICP-AES and Bradford assay, respectively. The biochemical activity of released STI protein was assessed by enzymatic assay. STI release was found to follow an attractive pattern of rapid release during the first 5 days followed by steady slow release for over one month. Despite certain conformational changes induced by the encapsulation procedure (detected by Circular Dichroism), the released STI retained most of its biological activity, especially when silica sol was prepared at the high protein-friendly pH = 5.     

Alertness maintaining tasks (AMTs) while driving

We evaluated the effectiveness of alertness maintaining tasks (AMTs) on driver performance, subjective feelings, and psychophysiological state in monotonous simulated driving in two experiments. In the first experiment, 12 professional truck drivers participated in five sessions of simulated driving: driving only, driving with one of three AMTs (counterbalanced), and driving while listening to music. AMTs were not equally effective in maintaining alertness. The trivia AMT prevented driving performance deterioration, and increased alertness (measured by standardized HRV). The choice reaction time AMT was least demanding but also increased subjective sleepiness and reduced arousal (measured by alpha/beta ratio). The working memory AMT caused a significant decrement in driving speed, increased subjective fatigue, and was regarded by the participants as detrimental to driving. Trivia was preferred by the majority of the drivers over the other two AMTs. Experiment 2 further examined the utility of the trivia AMT. When the drivers engaged in the trivia AMT they maintained better driving performance and perceived the driving duration as shorter than the control condition. The two experiments demonstrated that AMTs can have a positive effect on alertness. The effect is localized in the sense that it does not persist beyond the period of the AMT activation.     

A two-state electronic antigen and an antibody selected to discriminate between these states

Inspired by biology where pathways are triggered and suppressed by specific binding of two molecules, we realize a functional interface between electronics and biology by replacing one of the pair molecules with a two-state "electronic antigen" device comprising a hydroquinone monolayer assembled on gold, and choosing for the pair molecule an antibody that discriminates between the two electrically selected redox states of the monolayer. Application of an oxidative +0.6 V pulse to the antigen switches it to its benzoquinone state where antibodies bind the layer. A subsequent -0.6 V pulse reduces the monolayer back to the unbinding hydroquinone state, releases the specifically bound antibody molecules, and prevents further binding.     

Reliability demonstration for safety-critical systems

This paper suggests a new model for reliability demonstration of safety-critical systems, based on the TRW Software Reliability Theory. The paper describes the model, the test equipment required, and test strategies based on the various constraints occurring during software development. The paper also compares a new testing method, single risk sequential testing (SRST), with the common probability ratio sequential testing method (PRST), and concludes that: (i) SRST provides higher chances of success than PRST; (ii) SRST takes less time to complete than PRST; and (iii) SRST satisfies the consumer-risk criterion, whereas PRST provides a much smaller consumer-risk than the requirement     

Image Morphing with Feature Preserving Texture

Image metamorphosis as an animation tool has mostly been employed in the context of the entire image. This work explores the use of isolated and focused image based metamorphosis between two-dimensional objects, while capturing the features, colors, and textures of the objects. This pinpointed approach allows one to independently overlay several such dynamic shapes, without any bleeding of one shape into another. Hence, shape blending and metamorphosis of two-dimensional objects can be exploited as animated sequences of clip arts.     

A new method for fetal ECG detection

Presented in this work is the theoretical basis of a new method we propose for the analysis of fetal ECG (FECG). This method is intended to detect the fetal HR from a weak FECG signal, and to supply us with an average FECG complex. The FECG signals studied in this work were recorded from the maternal abdominal wall. The core of our method is the computation of a triple parametric transform, using analyzing functions which have a greater correlation with the ECG signal than the correlation of the standard sine and cosine functions used in a Fourier transform. The functions used are trains of square waves characterized by the width of the square wave, their periodicity, and some initial phase value. This method, applied here to a medical problem, can be more generally applied to handle weak quasiperiodic sharp signals of any origin.     

Evaluation of neural networks defenses and attacks using NDCG and reciprocal rank metrics

International Journal of Information Security - The problem of attacks on neural networks through input modification (i.e., adversarial examples) has attracted much attention recently. Being...