Pulsed full-color digital holography with a hydrogen Raman shifter

We demonstrate pulsed full-color digital holography with a hydrogen Raman shifter as a single source of highly directional multiwavelength light. For the primary (blue, green, red) color channels we utilize the first three Stokes beam outputs (415.9, 502.9, and 635.9 nm) of the shifter (gas pressure, 1.38 MPa) that is pumped by the 355-nm output of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (5.4-ns pulse width, 10-Hz repetition rate). We have developed a simple beam-conditioning system to improve the transverse intensity distribution for the individual Stokes beams and to equalize their relative intensities. Full-color holographic imaging is demonstrated with transmitting and reflecting colored objects. Also, the optical noise characteristics of the reconstructed images are investigated.     

Synthesis, enantiomeric resolution, and structure-activity relationship study of a series of 10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene MT2 receptor antagonists

Racemic N-(8-methoxy-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-10-ylmethyl)acetamide (compound 5) was previously identified as a novel selective MT(2) antagonist fulfilling the requirements of pharmacophore and 3D QSAR models. In this study the enantiomers of 5 were separated by medium-pressure liquid chromatography and behaved as the racemate. Compound 5 was modified at the acylaminomethyl side chain and at position C8. The resulting analogues generally behaved as melatonin receptor antagonists (GTPgammaS test) with a modest degree of selectivity (up to 10-fold) for the MT(2) receptor. Changes at the amide side chain led to a decrease in binding affinity, whereas 8-acetyl and 8-methyl derivatives 12 and 11, respectively, were as potent as the 8-methoxy parent compound 5. Docking experiments with an MT(2) receptor model suggested binding modes consistent with the observed SARs and with the lack of selectivity of the enantiomers of 5.     

Hot Glue Gun Releasing Biocompatible Tissue Adhesive

Tissue bioadhesives are widely used in dermatology, surgery rooms, and in the field. Despite their advantages over sutures and staples, currently available tissue glues are limited by their mechanical properties and toxicity. Here, a new approach is described for wound closure that is based on a biocompatible, low melting point four‐armed N‐hydroxy succinimide‐modified polycaprolactone (star‐PCL‐NHS). Star‐PCL‐NHS is inserted into a hot melt glue gun, melts upon minimal pressure, and is extruded directly onto the wound, where it solidifies, bonding strongly with both edges of the wound. Changes in molecular weight allow control of adhesive strength, melting point, and elasticity properties. In vitro and in vivo evaluations confirm the biocompatibility of this system. The straightforward synthetic scheme and the simple delivery method, combined with the desirable mechanical properties, tunability, and tissue compatibility, are desirable traits in wound management.     

Understanding temporal structure for video captioning

Pattern Analysis and Applications - Recent research in convolutional and recurrent neural networks has fueled incredible advances in video understanding. We propose a video captioning framework...     

N‐(Anilinoethyl)amides: Design and Synthesis of Metabolically Stable,Selective Melatonin Receptor Ligands

The class of N‐(anilinoethyl)amides includes melatonin receptor ligands with varied subtype selectivity and intrinsic activity. One of these ligands, the MT₂‐selective partial agonist UCM765 (N‐{2‐[(3‐methoxyphenyl)phenylamino]ethyl}acetamide), had evidenced hypnotic effects in rodents at doses ≥40 mg kg^?1 (s.c.), in spite of its sub‐nanomolar affinity for human melatonin receptors. Supposing that its low in vivo potency could be due, at least in part, to metabolic liability in rat liver, UCM765 was incubated with rat liver S9 fraction and rat, mouse, or human microsomes, and the major metabolites were identified by LC–MS, synthesized, and in vitro tested for their affinity toward MT₁ and MT₂ receptors. The obtained information was exploited to design novel analogues of UCM765 that are more resistant to in vitro oxidative degradation, while maintaining a similar binding profile. The analogue UCM924 (N‐{2‐[(3‐bromophenyl)‐(4‐fluorophenyl)amino]ethyl}acetamide) displayed a binding profile similar to that of UCM765 on cloned human receptors (MT₂‐selective partial agonist) and a significantly longer half‐life in the presence of rat liver S9 fraction.     

Living Bacteria in Thermoresponsive Gel for Treating Fungal Infections

The leading living bacteria formulations currently available are from a limited list of genera and are generally limited to gastrointestinal tract syndromes. A formulation composed of living Bacillus subtilis incorporated in a thermoresponsive hydrogel that hardens after administration on the skin and continuously produces antifungal agents is described. The ability of the formula to support bacteria growth and its mechanical properties and penetrability through the skin are fine‐tuned by varying the ratio between polymer concentrations and bacterial media. The formula penetrates via the stratum corneum and accumulates in the epidermis without penetrating the inner, dermis layer. In vivo results mirror the results seen in vitro: bacillus formulations completely inhibit candida growth, demonstrating clinical effects comparable to those achieved by ketoconazole. LC‐MS/MS analysis of the bacterial formulation confirms the presence of surfactin, the most powerful biosurfactant that possesses a broad antifungal activity. This platform may enable rational design of novel formulations composed of secreting bacteria inside a responsive, smart, hydrogel—which is the prerequisite for producing a successful drug delivery system.     

Inhibitory Effects of Artificial Sweeteners on Bacterial Quorum Sensing

Despite having been tagged as safe and beneficial, recent evidence remains inconclusive regarding the status of artificial sweeteners and their putative effects on gut microbiota. Gut microorganisms are essential for the normal metabolic functions of their host. These microorganisms communicate within their community and regulate group behaviors via a molecular system termed quorum sensing (QS). In the present study, we aimed to study the effects of artificial sweeteners on this bacterial communication system. Using biosensor assays, biophysical protein characterization methods, microscale thermophoresis, swarming motility assays, growth assays, as well as molecular docking, we show that aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin have significant inhibitory actions on the Gram-negative bacteria N-acyl homoserine lactone-based (AHL) communication system. Our studies indicate that these three artificial sweeteners are not bactericidal. Protein-ligand docking and interaction profiling, using LasR as a representative participating receptor for AHL, suggest that the artificial sweeteners bind to the ligand-binding pocket of the protein, possibly interfering with the proper housing of the native ligand and thus impeding protein folding. Our findings suggest that these artificial sweeteners may affect the balance of the gut microbial community via QS-inhibition. We, therefore, infer an effect of these artificial sweeteners on numerous molecular events that are at the core of intestinal microbial function, and by extension on the host metabolism.     

Activated carbon fibers from electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile/pitch blends

The electrospinnability of pitch was improved by blending in a solution of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) resulting in the reduction of the average fiber diameter from 2000 to 750 nm. The compositions showing good spinnability are proposed within the soluble concentrations in the ternary phase diagram of the PAN-pitch-solvent, which contains lower concentration of the pitch. Activated carbon fibers were derived by stabilization, carbonization and steam activation at 700, 800, 900 and 1000 °C of the PAN/pitch electrospun fibers. The Brunauer, Emmett, Teller (BET) specific surface area ranged from 732 to 1877 m²/g.