Fiber-optic distributed measurement of polarization beat length using slope-assisted Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry

Optical Review - We demonstrate distributed measurement of the polarization beat length along single-mode optical fibers (SMFs) using slope-assisted Brillouin optical correlation-domain...     

Note on the computation of the maximal eigenvalue of a non-negative irreducible matrix

Summary We prove the convergence of Wielandt's method in the computation of the maximal eigenvalue and eigenvector of a non-negative irreducible matrix.     

Conducting polymer based hybrid structure as transparent and flexible field electron emitter

An efficient cathode material with high transparency (93%) based on conducting polymer poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been developed for the fabrication of highly transparent and flexible field electron emitters (FEE). This kind of material showed superior field emission (FE) performance with very high current density (10^–3A/cm²) at very low electric field. The FE performance of the hybrid materials was dramatically improved compared to either SWCNTs and PEDOT:PSS. Thus the hybrid structures of conducting polymer and SWCNTs might be a good choice for use as a cathode material to enhance the FE performance and for potential application in future portable displays. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Computer-Aided Detection of Quantitative Signatures for Breast Fibroepithelial Tumors Using Label-Free Multi-Photon Imaging

Fibroadenomas (FAs) and phyllodes tumors (PTs) are major benign breast tumors, pathologically classified as fibroepithelial tumors. Although the clinical management of PTs differs from FAs, distinction by core needle biopsy diagnoses is still challenging. Here, a combined technique of label-free imaging with multi-photon microscopy and artificial intelligence was applied to detect quantitative signatures that differentiate fibroepithelial lesions. Multi-photon excited autofluorescence and second harmonic generation (SHG) signals were detected in tissue sections. A pixel-wise semantic segmentation method using a deep learning framework was used to separate epithelial and stromal regions automatically. The epithelial to stromal area ratio and the collagen SHG signal strength were investigated for their ability to distinguish fibroepithelial lesions. An image segmentation analysis with a pixel-wise semantic segmentation framework using a deep convolutional neural network showed the accurate separation of epithelial and stromal regions. A further investigation, to determine if scoring the epithelial to stromal area ratio and the SHG signal strength within the stromal area could be a marker for differentiating fibroepithelial tumors, showed accurate classification. Therefore, molecular and morphological changes, detected through the assistance of computational and label-free multi-photon imaging techniques, enable us to propose quantitative signatures for epithelial and stromal alterations in breast tissues.     

Fast determination of thyroid stimulating hormone in human blood serum without chemical preprocessing by using infrared spectroscopy and least squares support vector machines

The least squares support vector machines (LS-SVM) was used to model infrared spectral data for TSH hormone secreted by thyroid, which regulates the basal metabolic rate. This model was used for direct estimation of the content of TSH in blood serum samples, and the results were comparable with those obtained with the conventional analytical method based on chemoluminescence methodology. Excellent agreement was observed between the conventional method and the newly developed calibration model based in analysis of spectral data with LS-SVM. The latter has clear advantages, because it is fast and requires no reagent once the measurements were done directly in the serum by using a simple mid-infrared spectrometer in the ATR mode. An important advantage observed in this calibration method based on LS-SVM is the remarkable capacity to avoid overfitting in the model-building step, that is, the developed method is highly robust.     

Mixed biopolymer systems based on starch

A binary mixture of starch-starch or starch with other biopolymers such as protein and non-starch polysaccharides could provide a new approach in producing starch-based food products. In the context of food processing, a specific adjustment in the rheological properties plays an important role in regulating production processing and optimizing the applicability, stability, and sensory of the final food products. This review examines various biopolymer mixtures based on starch and the influence of their interaction on physicochemical and rheological properties of the starch-based foods. It is evident that the physicochemical and rheological characteristics of the biopolymers mixture are highly dependent on the type of starch and other biopolymers that make them up mixing ratios, mixing procedure and presence of other food ingredients in the mixture. Understanding these properties will lead to improve the formulation of starch-based foods and minimize the need to resort to chemically modified starch.     

All Non-Carbon B3NO2 Exotic Heterocycles: Synthesis,Dynamics, and Catalysis

The B₃NO₂ six-membered heterocycle (1,3-dioxa-5-aza-2,4,6-triborinane=DATB), comprising three different non-carbon period 2 elements, has been recently demonstrated to be a powerful catalyst for dehydrative condensation of carboxylic acids and amines. The tedious synthesis of DATB, however, has significantly diminished its utility as a catalyst, and thus the inherent chemical properties of the ring system have remained virtually unexplored. Here, a general and facile synthetic strategy that harnesses a pyrimidine-containing scaffold for the reliable installation of boron atoms is disclosed, giving rise to a series of Pym-DATBs from inexpensive materials in a modular fashion. The identification of a soluble Pym-DATB derivative allowed for the investigation of the dynamic nature of the B₃NO₂ ring system, revealing differential ring-closing and -opening behaviors depending on the medium. Readily accessible Pym-DATBs proved their utility as efficient catalysts for dehydrative amidation with broad substrate scope and functional-group tolerance, offering a general and practical catalytic alternative to reagent-driven amidation.     

Absorption of diltiazem in beagle dog from pulsatile release tablet.

An orally applicable pulsatile drug delivery system in dry-coated tablet form was prepared using diltiazem hydrochloride as the model drug, and a polyvinyl chloride-hydrogenated castor oil-polyethyleneglycol mixture as the outer shell of the tablet. In vitro drug release from the prepared tablet exhibited a typical pulsatile pattern with a 7 h lag phase (non-drug release period). This dosage form was orally administered to three beagle dogs under non-fasting and fasting conditions, and the plasma concentration level of diltiazem was determined according to time after administration. The result of the in vivo study in non-fasting dogs suggested that the drug could be released in the gastrointestinal tract as in the in vitro test. However, under the fasting condition, a large difference in the plasma concentration profile was found, suggesting that the disintegration time of the tablet tended to be influenced by the feeding condition of subject.     

Study of quantitative evaluation of liver volume and accumulation rate of radioactive agent with single photon emission computed tomography

The quantitative evaluation on measurement of liver volume and the hepatic accumulation rate of the radioactive agent were studied with respect to body constitution, background activity and splenic consumption rate, using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The optical cut-off level for liver volume determination was proved to be reasonable as 35%. The background less than 5% had no influence to their clinical estimation with the error of less than 1.6%. The estimation of liver volume was mostly influenced by the splenic activity. When the splenic activity was increased two times of the hepatic activity, the liver volume was determined as 4.2% larger. Calculated counts by SPECT was well correlated with the hepatic activity. This study proved that SPECT was useful for the quantitative evaluation of the liver volume and the hepatic accumulation rate.