PM based multi-component F/T sensors—State of the art and trends

Recent advancement in force/torque (F/T) sensor technologies have been powered by new measurement principles, novel structures of elastic elements (EEs), advanced manufacturing technologies, nonlinear signal processing and decoupling algorithms using artificial intelligence. The interlocked interaction of novel advances in these areas provide promising solutions improving the static and dynamic performances such as sensitivity, accuracy, compactness, economic efficiency, stiffness, and resonant frequency of F/T sensors.     

OpenFPGA CoreLib core library interoperability effort

This paper begins by summarizing the goals of the OpenFPGA CoreLib Working Group to facilitate the interoperability of FPGA circuit cores within a variety of FPGA design tools, including high-level programming tools targeting FPGA architectures. This effort is contrasted with other IP reuse efforts. The paper reviews the current approach used by several high-level language compilers to integrate IP within their tool. The CoreLib approach for standardizing this IP integration is proposed followed by an example that demonstrates its utility. Finally, the current state of the effort and future plans are presented.     

An improved method for rapid and efficient radioiodination of iodine-123-IQNB

The SPECT radioligand, 3-quinuclidinyl-4-[123I]iodobenzilate ([123I]IQNB), binds to muscarinic receptors and has generated interest as a potential agent for clinical SPECT. Unfortunately, cumbersome and inefficient radioiodination procedures have limited the practicality of [123I]IQNB SPECT imaging. METHODS: We report a rapid (5 min) and simple radioiodination procedure for preparing [123I]IQNB from a tri-n-butylstannyl precursor in a no-carrier-added reaction that yields high specific activity with radiochemical yield exceeding 60%. The radiochemical purity of the final product exceeds 95%. RESULTS: We have used this procedure to radioiodinate the four stereoisomers of [123I]IQNB. The procedure is highly reliable and reproducible. SPECT studies on a healthy human volunteer at 1, 2, 6 and 24 hr after injection of each of the four stereoisomers reveal expected differences in the kinetic and binding characteristics of the four stereoisomers. (R,S)-[123I]IQNB appears to be the SPECT agent of choice. CONCLUSION: Radioiodination of [123I]IQNB from our tri-n-butylstannyl precursor is simpler, more efficient and less expensive than previous techniques. The potential exists for a "kit" which would be practical in a typical clinical setting.     

Virtual Organization Support within a Grid-Wide Operating System

Despite grids' popularity, virtual organizations (VOs) have yet to become a commodity technology in modern computing environments due to the complexity of managing them and difficulty of assuring user and VO isolation. Here, the authors describe the VO management approach taken by XtreemOS, a new grid operating system with native support for VOs that supports a wide range of computing resources, from clusters to mobiles. They also discuss the requirements for the VO model and management within XtreemOS and introduce an expandable VO model and a system architecture that supports it.     

Highly turbulent counterflow flames: A laboratory scale benchmark for practical systems

We propose a highly turbulent counterflow flame as a very useful benchmark of complexity intermediate between laminar flames and practical systems. By operating in a turbulent Reynolds number regime of relevance to practical systems such as gas turbines and internal combustion engines, it retains the interaction of turbulence and chemistry of such environments, but offers several advantages including: (a) the achievement of high Reynolds numbers without pilot flames, which is particularly advantageous from a modeling standpoint; (b) control of the transition from stable flames to local extinction/reignition conditions; (c) compactness of the domain by comparison with jet flames, with obvious advantages from both a diagnostic and, especially, a computational viewpoint; and (d) the reduction or, altogether, elimination of soot formation, thanks to the high strain rates and low residence times of such a system, and the establishment of conditions of large stoichiometric mixture fraction, as required for robust flame stabilization. We demonstrate the phenomenology of such highly strained turbulent flames under conditions spanning unpremixed, partially premixed and premixed regimes. The system lends itself to the validation of DNS and other computational models. It is also well-suited for the examination of practical fuel blends - a need that is becoming more and more pressing in view of the anticipated diversification of the future fossil fuel supply.     

Antimicrobial Effect of Malpighia Punicifolia and Extension of Water Buffalo Steak Shelf‐Life

In the present study, a multiple approach was used to characterize Malpighia punicifolia extract and to evaluate its inhibitory activity against several meat spoilage bacteria. First, volatile fraction, vitamins and phenolic compounds of the extract obtained by supercritical fluid extraction were determined by GC‐MS and HPLC. Then, the antimicrobial action of the extract was in vitro evaluated against Pseudomonas putida DSMZ 291^T, Pseudomonas fluorescens DSMZ 50009^T, Pseudomonas fragi DSMZ 3456^T, and Brochothrix thermosphacta DSMZ 20171^T by the agar well diffusion assay and by the agar dilution test. Based on the results of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the assayed bacteria, 4 different concentrations of the extract were used in a challenge test on water buffalo steaks stored for 21 d at 4 °C. Results of chemical analyses showed that M. punicifolia extract is characterized by the presence of several compounds, already described for their antimicrobial (phenolic acids, flavonones, and furanes) and antioxidant (ascorbic acid) properties. The in vitro detection of antimicrobial activities highlighted that the extract, used at 8% concentration, was able to inhibit all the target bacteria. Moreover, very low MIC values (up to 0.025%) were detected. In situ tests, performed on water buffalo steaks treated with the extract in the concentration range 0.025% to 0.05%, showed a strong inhibition of both intentionally inoculated bacteria and naturally occurring microorganisms. Positive results, in terms of color and odor, were also observed during the entire storage of steaks preserved with the extract.     

Azobenzene isomerization in polymer co-crystalline phases

Three different co-crystalline phases of syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) with azobenzene have been prepared and structurally characterized. The triclinic δ-clathrate phase is characterized by a styrene-monomeric-unit/guest ratio (SU/G) equal to 8/1 while the δ-intercalate phase is characterized by SU/lG = 4/1. The orthorhombic ε-clathrate phase allows stacking of a variable number of guest molecules per monomer unit with SU/G ≥ 9/1. Isomerization reactions of the azobenzene guest molecules (both photo-induced trans → cis and spontaneous cis → trans) have been studied by UV–Visible and FTIR measurements. Repeated isomerization cycles produce progressive desorption from the polymer film of azobenzene molecules being simply dissolved in s-PS amorphous phases, while poorly affect the content of azobenzene molecules being guest of s-PS co-crystalline phases. Polarized FTIR spectra of axially oriented films indicate that isomerizations occur without expulsion of azobenzene guest molecules from the polymer co-crystalline phases. The whole set of data indicate that films exhibiting co-crystalline phases of azobenzene with s-PS are suitable for producing self-erasing photo-isomerization patterns with molecular size marks.     

Cannabinoids: Therapeutic Use in Clinical Practice

Medical case reports suggest that cannabinoids extracted from Cannabis sativa have therapeutic effects; however, the therapeutic employment is limited due to the psychotropic effect of its major component, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The new scientific discoveries related to the endocannabinoid system, including new receptors, ligands, and mediators, allowed the development of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of several pathological disorders minimizing the undesirable psychotropic effects of some constituents of this plant. Today, FDA-approved drugs, such as nabiximols (a mixture of THC and non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD)), are employed in alleviating pain and spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Dronabinol and nabilone are used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Dronabinol was approved for the treatment of anorexia in patients with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). In this review, we highlighted the potential therapeutic efficacy of natural and synthetic cannabinoids and their clinical relevance in cancer, neurodegenerative and dermatological diseases, and viral infections.