Ability of a contactless inductive device for the characterization of the critical current versus temperature in superconducting rings at temperatures close to TC

Critical current measurements for three polycrystalline rings of YBCO, three Bi-2223, and one YBCO + Ag were developed from a temperature close to 80 K to the critical temperature using a previously reported contactless inductive device based on the transformer method. These data were used to analyze the ability of this device to characterize, in superconducting rings, the Ginzburg-Landau, Ambegaokar-Baratoff, and De Gennes regimes as well as the crossover temperature between them.     

A Radiation Imaging Detector Made by Postprocessing a Standard CMOS Chip

An unpackaged microchip is used as the sensing element in a miniaturized gaseous proportional chamber. This letter reports on the fabrication and performance of a complete radiation imaging detector based on this principle. Our fabrication schemes are based on wafer-scale and chip-scale postprocessing. Compared to hybrid-assembled gaseous detectors, our microsystem shows superior alignment precision and energy resolution, and offers the capability to unambiguously reconstruct 3D radiation tracks on the spot.     

Infants of diabetic mothers (IDM). II -- Fibronectin and perinatal morbidity

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine fibronectin levels in umbilical cord blood of infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) and evaluate a possible correlation with perinatal pathology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study of 58 IDM (33 males and 25 females) and 58 control newborns (NB) (33 males and 25 females) was carried out. RESULTS: There were no differences in fibronectin levels between the two groups nor between the sexes. Perinatal morbidity was higher in the IDM group, but there was no correlation between fibronectin levels and the presence of perinatal pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Fibronectin levels are not useful in the perinatal evaluation of infants of diabetic mothers.     

Indirect Exciton–Phonon Dynamics in MoS2 Revealed by Ultrafast Electron Diffraction

Transition metal dichalcogenides layered nano-crystals are emerging as promising candidates for next-generation optoelectronic and quantum devices. In such systems, the interaction between excitonic states and atomic vibrations is crucial for many fundamental properties, such as carrier mobilities, quantum coherence loss, and heat dissipation. In particular, to fully exploit their valley-selective excitations, one has to understand the many-body exciton physics of zone-edge states. So far, theoretical and experimental studies have mainly focused on the exciton–phonon dynamics in high-energy direct excitons involving zone-center phonons. Here, ultrafast electron diffraction and ab initio calculations are used to investigate the many-body structural dynamics following nearly- resonant excitation of low-energy indirect excitons in MoS₂. By exploiting the large momentum carried by scattered electrons, the excitation of in-plane K- and Q- phonon modes are identified with 𝑬^′ symmetry as key for the stabilization of indirect excitons generated via near-infrared light at 1.55 eV, and light is shed on the role of phonon anharmonicity and the ensuing structural evolution of the MoS₂ crystal lattice. The results highlight the strong selectivity of phononic excitations directly associated with the specific indirect- exciton nature of the wavelength-dependent electronic transitions triggered in the system.     

Orthogonal variant moments features in image analysis

Moments are statistical measures used to obtain relevant information about a certain object under study (e.g., signals, images or waveforms), e.g., to describe the shape of an object to be recognized by a pattern recognition system. Invariant moments (e.g., the Hu invariant set) are a special kind of these statistical measures designed to remain constant after some transformations, such as object rotation, scaling, translation, or image illumination changes, in order to, e.g., improve the reliability of a pattern recognition system. The classical moment invariants methodology is based on the determination of a set of transformations (or perturbations) for which the system must remain unaltered. Although very well established, the classical moment invariants theory has been mainly used for processing single static images (i.e. snapshots) and the use of image moments to analyze images sequences or video, from a dynamic point of view, has not been sufficiently explored and is a subject of much interest nowadays. In this paper, we propose the use of variant moments as an alternative to the classical approach. This approach presents clear differences compared to the classical moment invariants approach, that in specific domains have important advantages. The difference between the classical invariant and the proposed variant approach is mainly (but not solely) conceptual: invariants are sensitive to any image change or perturbation for which they are not invariant, so any unexpected perturbation will affect the measurements (i.e. is subject to uncertainty); on the contrary, a variant moment is designed to be sensitive to a specific perturbation, i.e., to measure a transformation, not to be invariant to it, and thus if the specific perturbation occurs it will be measured; hence any unexpected disturbance will not affect the objective of the measurement confronting thus uncertainty. Furthermore, given the fact that the proposed variant moments are orthogonal (i.e. uncorrelated) it is possible to considerably reduce the total inherent uncertainty. The presented approach has been applied to interesting open problems in computer vision such as shape analysis, image segmentation, tracking object deformations and object motion tracking, obtaining encouraging results and proving the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Physical and thermal strain of firefighters according to the firefighting tactics used to suppress wildfires

The aim of this study was to analyse the physiological strain of firefighters, using heart rate (HR) and core temperature, during real wildfire suppression according to the type of attack performed (direct, indirect or mixed). Three intensity zones were established according to the HR corresponding to the ventilatory threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT): zone 1, RCT. The exercise workload (training impulse (TRIMP)), the physiological strain index (PSI) and the cumulative heat strain index(CHSI) were calculated using the time spent in each zone, and the HR and core temperature, respectively. Significantly higher mean HR, time spent in Z2 and Z3 and TRIMP h(-1) were found in direct and mixed versus indirect attacks. The highest PSI and CHSI were observed in the direct attack. In conclusion, exercise strain and combined thermal strain, but not core temperature during wildfire suppression, are related to the type of attack performed. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: Our findings demonstrated that wildfire firefighting is associated with high physiological demands, which vary significantly depending on the tactics chosen for performing the task. These results should be kept in mind when planning programmes to improve wildland firefighters' physical fitness, which will allow improvement in their performance.     

Characteristics of High- and Low-Fat Bologna Sausages as Affected by Final Internal Cooking Temperature and Chilling Storage

A study was made of the effect that final internal processing temperature (63, 70 and 78°C) and chilling storage (2°C) exerted on the characteristics (cooking loss, purge loss, colour, Instron texture profile analysis) of high-fat (242 g kg⁻¹) and low-fat (100 g kg⁻¹) bologna sausage. High-fat sausages were harder and chewier than low-fat sausages. Lower fat contents were accompanied by a significant reduction in the cooking loss and purge loss. Binding properties were not affected ( P> 0·05) by final internal cooking temperature. In general, Hunter colour parameter a values were higher in low-fat samples subjected to a high final internal cooking temperature than in those cooked up to only 63°C. High internal temperatures produced harder meat emulsions, an effect which was more pronounced in high-fat than in low-fat sausages. Cohesiveness and springiness of sausages was not affected ( P> 0·05) by heat treatment. There were no major variations in textural parameters as a result of chilled storage.     

Beneficial and Sexually Dimorphic Response to Combined HDAC Inhibitor Valproate and AMPK/SIRT1 Pathway Activator Resveratrol in the Treatment of ALS Mice

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder. There is no cure and current treatments fail to slow the progression of the disease. Epigenetic modulation in the acetylation state of NF-kB RelA and the histone 3 (H3) protein, involved in the development of neurodegeneration, is a drugable target for the class-I histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitors, entinostat or valproate, and the AMP-activated kinase (AMPK)-sirtuin 1 pathway activator, resveratrol. In this study, we demonstrated that the combination of valproate and resveratrol can restore the normal acetylation state of RelA in the SOD1(G93A) murine model of ALS, in order to obtain the neuroprotective form of NF-kB. We also investigated the sexually dimorphic development of the disease, as well as the sex-sensibility to the treatment administered. We showed that the combined drugs, which rescued AMPK activation, RelA and the histone 3 acetylation state, reduced the motor deficit and the disease pathology associated with motor neuron loss and microglial reactivity, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) level decline. Specifically, vehicle-administered males showed earlier onset and slower progression of the disease when compared to females. The treatment, administered at 50 days of life, postponed the time of onset in the male by 22 days, but not in a significant way in females. Nevertheless, in females, the drugs significantly reduced symptom severity of the later phase of the disease and prolonged the mice’s survival. Only minor beneficial effects were produced in the latter stage in males. Overall, this study shows a beneficial and sexually dimorphic response to valproate and resveratrol treatment in ALS mice.     

Role of NEU3 Overexpression in the Prediction of Efficacy of EGFR-Targeted Therapies in Colon Cancer Cell Lines

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), through the MAP kinase and PI3K-Akt-mTOR axis, plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis. The membrane-associated NEU3 sialidase interacts with and desialylates EGFR by promoting its dimerization and downstream effectors’ activation. Among the targeted therapies against EGFR, the monoclonal antibody cetuximab is active only in a subgroup of patients not carrying mutations in the MAP kinase pathway. In order to better understand the EGFR-NEU3 interplay and the mechanisms of pharmacological resistance, we investigated the role of NEU3 deregulation in cetuximab-treated CRC cell lines transiently transfected with NEU3 using Western blot analysis. Our results indicate that NEU3 overexpression can enhance EGFR activation only if EGFR is overexpressed, indicating the existence of a threshold for NEU3-mediated EGFR activation. This enhancement mainly leads to the constitutive activation of the MAP kinase pathway. Consequently, we suggest that the evaluation of NEU3 expression cannot entirely substitute the evaluation of EGFR because EGFR-negative cases cannot be stimulated by NEU3. Furthermore, NEU3-mediated hyperactivation of EGFR is counterbalanced by the administration of cetuximab, hypothesizing that a combined treatment of NEU3- and EGFR-targeted therapies may represent a valid option for CRC patients, which must be investigated in the future.     

Use of microbial transglutaminase and sodium alginate in the preparation of restructured fish models using cold gelation: Effect of frozen storage

Changes in physicochemical properties of raw-appearing restructured models made from hake (Merluccius capensis) muscle, using cold gelation technology by addition of sodium alginate and microbial transglutaminase (MTGase), were studied during frozen storage at ? 15 °C.Among the more interesting results, addition of MTGase produced more protein aggregation in models processed by muscle homogenization and thus the protein network that formed in the gel was better than in samples with added sodium alginate. All samples presented enhanced changes in mechanical properties such as gel strength in the course of frozen storage. The protein network that formed was better organized as shown by the ultrastructure analysis and by protein aggregation data from the beginning of storage, and as a result Water Binding Capacity was greater in restructured models processed by muscle homogenization. Some of the models studied presented lipid oxidation during frozen storage, slightly more in the ones with MTGase added.Industrial RelevanceThe industrial relevance of the present work is to establish bases for using fish fillet trimmings and minced muscle to prepare restructured products that can be commercialized in a raw state and that could also support frozen storage in order to prolong the self-life in the market. The models studied here are not final products but the base with which to prepare them. One possibility of them is to process this kind of products with technologies normally used in whole fish muscle such as smoked fish fillets, carpaccios or marinated products. In addition, these raw restructured products can be commercialized to be cooked as a normal fresh fish fillet or pieces of fillet in a variety of preparations, and also products that contain a high amount of salt. Samples elaborated by binding larger muscle fragments imitate well the original fibrousness of the muscle so that it could be used to elaborate products similar to hamburgers or others that will be fried in batter.