Virtual biopsy of the joint tissues using near-infrared, reflectance confocal microscopy. A pilot study

Standard noninvasive imaging techniques applied to joints provide gross morphological features, insufficient for assessing histological detail. On the other hand, biopsying is invasive, time consuming, and may involve unwanted processing artifacts. Near-infrared reflectance confocal microscopy is a technique that allows serial, high-resolution optical sectioning through intact tissues without employing exogenous fluorescent stains. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential utility of near-infrared reflectance confocal microscopy for providing immediate histological information on meniscus, articular cartilage, epiphyseal plate, bone, muscle, and tendon. Images from near-infrared reflectance confocal microscopy were compared with mirror routine histology sections. Characteristic architectural features were readily visualized in the three dimensions of space. Additionally, the use of experimental contrast agents highlighted the localization of nuclei. Limitations include penetration depth and minor optical artifacts. In conclusion, near-infrared reflectance confocal microscopy is a useful technique for immediate, nondestructive, serial "virtual" sectioning through intact tissues, being thus a potential adjunct to current imaging techniques in orthopedics.     

Deriving Efficient Porous Heteroatom‐Doped Carbon Electrocatalysts for Hydrazine Oxidation from Transition Metal Ions‐Coordinated Casein

In this work, the synthesis of high‐performance, metal ion‐imprinted, mesoporous carbon electrocatalysts for hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) using casein or a family of phosphoproteins derived from cow's milk as a precursor is shown. The synthesis is made possible by mixing trace amounts of non‐noble metal ions (Fe³⁺ or Co²⁺) with casein and then producing different metal ions‐functionalized casein intermediates, which upon carbonization, followed by acid treatment, lead to metal ion‐imprinted catalytically active sites on the materials. The materials effectively electrocatalyze HzOR with low overpotentials at neutral pH and exhibit among the highest electrocatalytic performances ever reported for carbon catalysts. Their catalytic activities are also better than the corresponding control material, synthesized by carbonization of pure casein and other materials previously reported for HzOR. This work demonstrates a novel synthetic route that transforms an inexpensive protein to highly active carbon‐based electrocatalysts by modifying its surfaces with trace amounts of non‐noble metals. The types of metal ions employed in the synthesis are found to dictate the electrocatalytic activities of the materials. Notably, Fe³⁺ is found to be more effective than Co²⁺ in helping the conversion of casein into more electrocatalytically active carbon materials for HzOR.     

Core techniques of question answering systems over knowledge bases: a survey

The Semantic Web contains an enormous amount of information in the form of knowledge bases (KB). To make this information available, many question answering (QA) systems over KBs were created in the last years. Building a QA system over KBs is difficult because there are many different challenges to be solved. In order to address these challenges, QA systems generally combine techniques from natural language processing, information retrieval, machine learning and Semantic Web. The aim of this survey is to give an overview of the techniques used in current QA systems over KBs. We present the techniques used by the QA systems which were evaluated on a popular series of benchmarks: Question Answering over Linked Data. Techniques that solve the same task are first grouped together and then described. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed for each technique. This allows a direct comparison of similar techniques. Additionally, we point to techniques that are used over WebQuestions and SimpleQuestions, which are two other popular benchmarks for QA systems.     

Textile Technology for Soft Robotic and Autonomous Garments

Textiles have emerged as a promising class of materials for developing wearable robots that move and feel like everyday clothing. Textiles represent a favorable material platform for wearable robots due to their flexibility, low weight, breathability, and soft hand-feel. Textiles also offer a unique level of programmability because of their inherent hierarchical nature, enabling researchers to modify and tune properties at several interdependent material scales. With these advantages and capabilities in mind, roboticists have begun to use textiles, not simply as substrates, but as functional components that program actuation and sensing. In parallel, materials scientists are developing new materials that respond to thermal, electrical, and hygroscopic stimuli by leveraging textile structures for function. Although textiles are one of humankind's oldest technologies, materials scientists and roboticists are just beginning to tap into their potential. This review provides a textile-centric survey of the current state of the art in wearable robotic garments and highlights metrics that will guide materials development. Recent advances in textile materials for robotic components (i.e., as sensors, actuators, and integration components) are described with a focus on how these materials and technologies set the stage for wearable robots programmed at the material level.     

Substrate-Independent and Re-Writable Surface Patterning by Combining Polydopamine Coatings,Silanization, and Thiol-Ene Reaction

Polydopamine coating is a unique, simple, and substrate-independent surface functionalization strategy. Techniques for secondary functionalization, patterning, and re-functionalization of polydopamine modified materials are important to broaden the scope of applications of such materials in a variety of fields. Here, a facile and substrate-independent strategy for surface functionalization and patterning is presented. This approach combines the advantages of three important methods: facile and substrate-independent polydopamine coating, versatile gas phase silanization, and rapid thiol-ene photoclick reaction for patterning. They demonstrate equally efficient functionalization and patterning of diverse materials, such as glass, polytetrafluoroethylene, aluminum, polypropylene, or polyethylene. They also show the possibility of controlled chemical removal of the patterns or surface functionalization by treatment with tetrabutylammonium fluoride, which allows re-modification or re-patterning of the substrate. Thus, this universal and powerful approach for substrate independent surface modification and patterning can significantly facilitate the development of novel functional materials and devices useful for various applications.     

Natural Abundance Carbon Isotopic Analysis Indicates the Equal Contribution of Local Synthesis and Plasma Uptake to Palmitate Levels in the Mouse Brain

Saturated fatty acids are the most abundant fatty acids in the brain, however, there has been some debate regarding the ability of intact dietary saturated fatty acids to be incorporated into the brain. In the present study, we use compound specific isotope analysis to measure the natural abundance carbon isotopic signature of brain, liver, and blood palmitic acid (PAM) and compare it to the dietary PAM and sugar isotopic signatures to calculate the relative contribution of both the incorporation of intact and endogenously synthesized PAM to these pools. Mice were equilibrated to the study diet, and extracted fatty acids were analyzed with gas chromatography isotope ratio mass spectrometry to determine the carbon isotopic signature of PAM (δ¹³C_PAM). Liver, serum total, and serum unesterified fatty acid δ¹³C_PAM ranged between ?20.6 and ?21.1 mUr and were approximately 8.5 mUr more enriched in ¹³C when compared to the dietary PAM signature. Brain δ¹³C_PAM was found to be more enriched than liver or blood pools (?16.7 ± 0.2 mUr, mean ± SD). Two end‐member‐mixed modeling using the carbon isotopic signature of dietary PAM and dietary sugars determined the contribution of synthesis to the total tissue PAM pool to range between 44% and 48%. This suggests that endogenous synthesis and dietary PAM are near equal contributors to brain, liver, and blood PAM pools. In conclusion, our data provide evidence that brain PAM levels are maintained by both local endogenous synthesis and through the uptake of intact PAM from the blood.     

UV‐Triggered Polymerization,Deposition, and Patterning of Plant Phenolic Compounds

Plant‐derived phenolic compounds, rich in catechol and pyrogallol moieties, can form multifunctional coatings on various substrates following polymerization under mildly alkaline conditions. Despite many appealing features of such coatings, the difficulty to control polymerization of phenolic compounds spatially and temporally limits their number of potential applications. In this study, it is demonstrated that UV irradiation can trigger oxidative polymerization and deposition of plant‐derived phenolic compounds, which opens the possibility to create 2D gradients and patterns of polyphenol coatings and control this polymerization temporally. UV–vis spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and cyclic voltammetry analyses are used to investigate the UV‐induced polymerization of several plant‐derived phenolic compounds including pyrogallol, tannic acid, caffeic acid, and gallic acid. Formation of polyphenol coatings on polar and nonpolar substrates after UV irradiation has been studied using water contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy, time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The possibility to use UV‐light to accelerate polymerization of phenolic compounds and perform micropatterning can extend the scope of potential applications of the large class of structurally diverse plant‐derived phenolic compounds.     

Production,nutrient cycling and soil compaction to grazing of grass companion cropping with corn and soybean

Agricultural management systems are needed to simultaneously enhance production, promote plant diversity, improve nutrient cycling and reduce soil compaction. We investigated the effects of intercropped forage grass on production of corn (Zea mays L.) harvested for silage at 0.20 and 0.45 m height in the summer, as well as on production of subsequent forage, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] harvested for silage, nutrient cycling and soil responses on a Typic Haplorthox in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. Palisade grass cv. BRS Piatã [Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Piatã] was the introduced companion crop with corn (Years 1 and 2), while signal grass [Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk] was the residual weedy species in comparison. Guineagrass cv. Aruãna [Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruãna] was the introduced companion crop with soybean (Year 3), with only a residual effect of crop systems from the previous two years. After the corn silage harvest, pasture was grazed by lambs in winter/spring using a semi-feedlot system. When cut at 0.45 m compared with 0.20 m height, corn intercropped with palisade grass had greater leaf nutrient concentration, improved agronomic characteristics, forage mass of pasture for grazing by lambs, greater surface mulch produced, and greater quantity of N, P and K returned to soil. Greater soil organic matter, P, K and Mg concentration, and base saturation in the surface soil depth and lower soil penetration resistance at all depths occurred at 0.45 m than at 0.20 m corn silage cutting height intercropped with palisade grass. Analyzing the system as a whole, harvesting corn silage crop with palisade grass intercrop at 0.45 m height was the most viable option in this integrated crop-livestock system.     

Quantitative determination of acetaminophen in pharmaceutical formulations using differential scanning calorimetry. Comparison with spectrophotometric method

In this paper our previous researches dealing with compatibility, thermoanalytical characterization, the kinetics of thermal degradation of acetaminophen, either pure or contained in some commercial pharmaceutical formulations, have found applications outlets. In a previous investigation the possible interactions between acetaminophen and four excipients contained in the commercial pharmaceutical formulations were tested. As a continuation of this research in the present study an analytical method based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was applied to determine the acetaminophen content of four commercial pharmaceutical formulations. For a fifth drug it was shown that the method is not applicable owing to observed incompatibility with one of the excipients. Finally, the analytical results obtained were compared with those derived from two UV spectrophotometric methods (one, i.e., “direct method,” recommended by the Pharmacopeia and the other based on the first-order derivative UV spectra).