Dynex: multiplex ELISA technology

Conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a gold standard for screening antibodies and testing for protein or antigen presence. A significant limitation of this assay resides in the fact that only one analyte can be assessed per microplate well. Here, we describe and investigate a new technology consisting of an automated ELISA system in which up to 10 analytes can be measured within one single well, thus improving productivity, accuracy, and repeatability by reducing the amount of human labor required. Another strength of the platform is that a user can load any necessary sets/subsets of beads to perform required assays, with improved flexibility compared to manufactured-loaded arrays for multiplex analysis. We also demonstrate that this system can be used to determine the pathogenicity (i.e., presence of Shiga toxins) and serotype (i.e., Escherichia coli O157) of E. coli isolates.     

Measurement of oocyte temporal maturation process by means of a simple optical micro-system

We present a simple optical micro-system used to measure the transmission spectra of oocytes in order to qualify their maturation stage. Two applications of the device are possible: (i) the evaluation of the maturation stages of oocytes, and (ii) the development of a fertilization indicator. For the first application, GV, MI and MII oocytes were also analysed. Transmission spectra allow the 3 maturation stages to be identified but cannot be used to estimate the maturity of an unknown oocyte. Oocytes are subject to continuous development. This is why spectral separation of the 3 maturation stages cannot be made although they can be visually identified. However, the visual observation remains biologist-dependent. We therefore investigated the temporal maturation evolution of the oocytes in terms of transmission spectra and probability analysis. Results show that oocytes to be fertilized should not only be chosen in the MII stage, but also at the right time during the MII stage. This particular aspect requires further investigation. However, spectral measurements could be used as a technique for monitoring the maturation evolution of the oocytes. Fertilized oocytes exhibiting fertilization abnormalities were also tested. The device proved to be an efficient fertilization indicator.     

Use of neural networks for predictions using time series: Illustration with the El Niño Southern oscillation phenomenon

This paper introduces the use of sets of multiple networks (bundled networks) to manage the variability due to different initialization parameters. This method makes it statistically impossible for the networks to be trapped in the same local minimum, and therefore allows better control of the confidence of the prediction eventually given. The spread of the forecasts given by these different networks can be used for prediction reliability purposes. An illustration of this usage is given with the El Niño phenomenon.     

Proteomic analysis of secretory proteins and vesicles in vascular research

The release of proteins and membrane vesicles in the bloodstream regulates diverse vascular processes, both physiological, such as angiogenesis and haemostasis, and pathological, such as atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis. Proteomics, beside its canonical application for the expression profiling in cells and organs, can be applied to the study of secreted proteins and microvesicles, which play a significant role in the homeostasis of the vasculature, and the development of the atherosclerotic disease.     

Space-time adaptation for patch-based image sequence restoration

We present a novel space-time patch-based method for image sequence restoration. We propose an adaptive statistical estimation framework based on the local analysis of the bias-variance trade-off. At each pixel, the space-time neighborhood is adapted to improve the performance of the proposed patch-based estimator. The proposed method is unsupervised and requires no motion estimation. Nevertheless, it can also be combined with motion estimation to cope with very large displacements due to camera motion. Experiments show that this method is able to drastically improve the quality of highly corrupted image sequences. Quantitative evaluations on standard artificially noise-corrupted image sequences demonstrate that our method outperforms other recent competitive methods. We also report convincing results on real noisy image sequences     

Radio‐opaque fecal impaction and pseudo‐occlusion in a dialyzed patient taking lanthanum carbonate

Lanthanum therapy is an efficient therapy of hyperphosphoremia by chelating phosphore in the digestive tract. Lanthanum is a silvery white metallic element that belongs to group 3 of the periodic table. This drug is lightly absorbed and has low water solubility. It should be borne in mind that abdominal X‐rays of patients taking lanthanum carbonate may have a radio‐opaque appearance typical of imaging agents. This characteristic is suggested to confirm adherence of the patient by doing an abdominal X‐ray. We describe in our case a particular good compliant patient with slow digestive transit, which ends by pseudo‐occlusion.     

Nightingallery: theatrical framing and orchestration in participatory performance

The Nightingallery project encouraged participants to converse, sing, and perform with a musically responsive animatronic bird, playfully interacting with the character while members of the public could look on and observe. We used Nightingallery to frame an HCI investigation into how people would engage with one another when confronted with unfamiliar technologies in conspicuously public, social spaces. Structuring performances as improvisational street theatre, we styled our method of exhibiting the bird character. We cast ourselves in supporting roles as carnival barkers and minders of the bird, presenting him as if he were a fantastical creature in a fairground sideshow display, allowing him the agency to shape and maintain dialogues with participants, and positioning him as the focal character upon which the encounter was centred. We explored how the anthropomorphic nature of the bird itself, along with the cultural connotations associated with the carnival/sideshow tradition helped signpost and entice participants through the trajectory of their encounters with the exhibit. Situating ourselves as secondary characters within the narrative defining the performance/use context, our methods of mediation, observation, and evaluation were integrated into the performance frame. In this paper, we explore recent HCI theories in mixed reality performance to reflect upon how genre-based cultural connotations can be used to frame trajectories of experience, and how manipulation of roles and agency in participatory performance can facilitate HCI investigation of social encounters with playful technologies.     

Rendering Grass in Real Time with Dynamic Lighting

The authors present a real-time grass rendering technique that works for large, arbitrary terrains with dynamic lighting, shadows, and a good parallax effect. A novel combination of geometry and lit volume slices provides accurate, per-pixel lighting. A fast grass-density management scheme allows the rendering of arbitrarily shaped patches of grass.     

Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Tribochemical Reactions with ZDDP: Zinc Phosphate–Iron Oxide Reaction

Zinc phosphate glass is considered to be the main constituent of tribofilms generated under boundary lubrication with zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), a well-known antiwear additive. The reaction occurring during friction between zinc phosphate glasses and steel native iron oxide layer is investigated by both an experimental approach and by Molecular Dynamics simulations (MD). The importance of this “tribochemical” reaction in the general ZDDP antiwear process is discussed.     

Zinc Dialkyl Phosphate (<Emphasis Type="Bold">ZP</Emphasis>) as an Anti-Wear Additive: Comparison with <Emphasis Type="Bold">ZDDP</Emphasis>

In this study, we are interested in the anti-wear properties of zinc dialkyl phosphate additive (ZP) in comparison with ‘classical’ zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP). Friction tests were performed on a reciprocating tribometer using both ball-on-flat and cylinder-on-flat configurations under a Hertzian contact pressure of 0.9 GPa. Experiments were carried out as a function of temperature (25 and 100 °C), sliding speed (25, 50 and 100 mm/s) and additives concentrations. Ball wear scar diameters as well as friction coefficient were measured. In order to better understand the anti-wear mechanisms of these additives, friction tests were followed by surface analyses such as AES (Auger Electron Spectroscopy) and XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) observations of the ZDDP and ZP tribofilms were also carried out to visualise the generated layers. The anti-wear capability of ZP molecule is discussed.