Synthesis of N,N-diethyl-N-{4-[(E)-(4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenyl}amine via in situ diazotisation and coupling in supercritical carbon dioxide

The synthesis of azo dyes via a conventional aqueous-based diazotisation and coupling reaction requires the use of relatively high concentrations of mineral acids, which leads to high electrolyte concentrations in wastewater. Reported in this paper is an environmentally benign one-pot method for the synthesis of a nonionic azo dye, N,N -diethyl- N -{4-[( E )-(4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenyl}amine, in supercritical carbon dioxide without using a mineral acid. The product yield increased significantly with temperature, with 91% theoretical yield afforded at 80 °C. The pressure of the system had little influence on product yield.     

Comparison of Etest to broth microdilution method for testing Streptococcus pneumoniae susceptibility to levofloxacin and three macrolides

When the Etest was compared to broth microdilution for susceptibility testing of Streptococcus pneumoniae, levofloxacin, erythromycin, and penicillin results correlated for both methods; azithromycin and clarithromycin showed discrepancies of > or = 2 dilutions for 95.8% and 31.5% of the isolates, respectively. Levofloxacin was active against 141 of 142 isolates (< or = 2.0 micrograms/ml), making it a potentially useful new fluoroquinolone.     

Self-organizing maps as a model of brain mechanisms potentially linked to autism.

The application of artificial neural networks in the study of psychopathological syndromes has great potential. Several computational models of acquired and developmental disorders, including autism, have been proposed recently. In this paper, we use the framework of self-organizing maps to study several aspects of autism, by modeling abnormalities in the learning process in biologically plausible manners. We then interpret the resulting feature maps with reference to autistic characteristics. The effects of manipulating the physical structure and size of self-organizing maps were measured and compared with the general characteristics of neural growth abnormalities in autistic children. We find no effect on stimuli coverage, but a negative impact on map unfolding, dependant on the intensity of the abnormality, but not the time of onset. We analyze sensory issues by introducing the concept of attention functions, used to model hypersensitivities and hyposensitivities. The issue of focus on details rather than the whole is analyzed through a model in which distant neighbors are explicitly rejected; we show the model may lead to improved coverage of finely-shaped areas or isolated stimuli, but poorer map unfolding. Finally, we consider effects of noisy communication channels on the development of maps, and show a strong sensitivity of both coverage and unfolding of maps.     

An expert PID controller uses refined ziegler and nichols rules and fuzzy logic ideas

This article proposes a scheme for the on-line adjustment of three mode controller settings based on experimental measurements of closed-loop performance. It uses a recently developed heuristic tuning procedure to identify estimated process parameters. This method may give rise to conflicting estimates. Fuzzy Set theory is applied to manage the situation in terms of a fuzzy conjunction to combine the various estimates. PID control was chosen because of its wide use in the industrial environment due to driving simplicity and robustness. The article shows design, development, and computer simulation aspects.     

From dust till drawn

We present a system for drawing pastel media in real-time as an effective alternative to most existing digital solutions that basically allow for drawing arbitrary strokes in a particular style. Our approach is focused on the simulation of the natural material itself and on its interaction with the drawing surface and the drawing tool. Upon free-form drawing, a bidirectional transfer of pigment takes place. In one direction, the paper surface is dusted with new pigment particles broken off the tip (i.e., the end of the drawing tool). A large part of these particles will be deposited or blended together with previously deposited ones whereas the remainder does not contribute to the drawing and is blown off. On the other hand, a certain amount of previously deposited pigment is scraped off and picked up again soiling the tip. This is noticeable in the next strokes to be drawn. Furthermore, both the tip and the paper surface are subject to weathering depending on the exerted pressure and friction of the drawing tool, and the bumpiness of the paper. As a result, the paper surface becomes slightly damaged, limiting the deposition of new pigment. The tip, on the other hand, becomes blunt making new strokes wider. From a stylistic point of view, similarly to traditional drawings our results convey the artists’ characteristics (e.g., the way of wielding the brush, skillfulness, feeling for the medium). Therefore, we believe that our system allows an artist to create realistically looking pastel images without losing his/her personal touch.     

Out-of-Field Hippocampus from Partial-Body Irradiated Mice Displays Changes in Multi-Omics Profile and Defects in Neurogenesis

The brain undergoes ionizing radiation exposure in many clinical situations, particularly during radiotherapy for brain tumors. The critical role of the hippocampus in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced neurocognitive dysfunction is well recognized. The goal of this study is to test the potential contribution of non-targeted effects in the detrimental response of the hippocampus to irradiation and to elucidate the mechanisms involved. C57Bl/6 mice were whole body (WBI) or partial body (PBI) irradiated with 0.1 or 2.0 Gy of X-rays or sham irradiated. PBI consisted of the exposure of the lower third of the mouse body, whilst the upper two thirds were shielded. Hippocampi were collected 15 days or 6 months post-irradiation and a multi-omics approach was adopted to assess the molecular changes in non-coding RNAs, proteins and metabolic levels, as well as histological changes in the rate of hippocampal neurogenesis. Notably, at 2.0 Gy the pattern of early molecular and histopathological changes induced in the hippocampus at 15 days following PBI were similar in quality and quantity to the effects induced by WBI, thus providing a proof of principle of the existence of out-of-target radiation response in the hippocampus of conventional mice. We detected major alterations in DAG/IP3 and TGF-β signaling pathways as well as in the expression of proteins involved in the regulation of long-term neuronal synaptic plasticity and synapse organization, coupled with defects in neural stem cells self-renewal in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. However, compared to the persistence of the WBI effects, most of the PBI effects were only transient and tended to decrease at 6 months post-irradiation, indicating important mechanistic difference. On the contrary, at low dose we identified a progressive accumulation of molecular defects that tended to manifest at later post-irradiation times. These data, indicating that both targeted and non-targeted radiation effects might contribute to the pathogenesis of hippocampal radiation-damage, have general implications for human health.     

Solubility and Aggregation of Selected Proteins Interpreted on the Basis of Hydrophobicity Distribution

Protein solubility is based on the compatibility of the specific protein surface with the polar aquatic environment. The exposure of polar residues to the protein surface promotes the protein’s solubility in the polar environment. The aquatic environment also influences the folding process by favoring the centralization of hydrophobic residues with the simultaneous exposure to polar residues. The degree of compatibility of the residue distribution, with the model of the concentration of hydrophobic residues in the center of the molecule, with the simultaneous exposure of polar residues is determined by the sequence of amino acids in the chain. The fuzzy oil drop model enables the quantification of the degree of compatibility of the hydrophobicity distribution observed in the protein to a form fully consistent with the Gaussian 3D function, which expresses an idealized distribution that meets the preferences of the polar water environment. The varied degrees of compatibility of the distribution observed with the idealized one allow the prediction of preferences to interactions with molecules of different polarity, including water molecules in particular. This paper analyzes a set of proteins with different levels of hydrophobicity distribution in the context of the solubility of a given protein and the possibility of complex formation.     

Interactional Order and Constructed Ways of Seeing with Touchless Imaging Systems in Surgery

While surgical practices are increasingly reliant on a range of digital imaging technologies, the ability for clinicians to interact and manipulate these digital representations in the operating theatre using traditional touch based interaction devices is constrained by the need to maintain sterility. To overcome these concerns with sterility, a number of researchers are have been developing ways of enabling interaction in the operating theatre using touchless interaction techniques such as gesture and voice to allow clinicians control of the systems. While there have been important technical strides in the area, there has been little in the way of understanding the use of these touchless systems in practice. With this in mind we present a touchless system developed for use during vascular surgery. We deployed the system in the endovascular suite of a large hospital for use in the context of real procedures. We present findings from a study of the system in use focusing on how, with touchless interaction, the visual resources were embedded and made meaningful in the collaborative practices of surgery. In particular we discuss the importance of direct and dynamic control of the images by the clinicians in the context of talk and in the context of other artefact use as well as the work performed by members of the clinical team to make themselves sensable by the system. We discuss the broader implications of these findings for how we think about the design, evaluation and use of these systems.     

Enzyme‐catalyzed hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) cyclic trimer

Oligoesters present in poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers are commonly extracted from the fiber during processing, such as aqueous‐based dyeing. Aqueous, insoluble oligoesters, particularly cyclic trimers that precipitate on processing machinery and on the fiber surface are difficult to remove under benign conditions. Reported is a new method for the efficient removal of cyclic trimer by enzyme‐catalyzed hydrolysis. Almost complete hydrolysis of trimer was accomplished at pH 8 and 60°C. Effects of time, agitation, surfactant, and enzyme and trimer concentrations on the efficiency of hydrolysis are reported. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2545–2552, 2003