Characterization and Quantification of Biological Surfaces Using Cluster ToF-SIMS with the Event-By-Event Bombardment/Detection Mode

Cluster ToF-SIMS (time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) operated in the event-by-event bombardment/detection mode has been applied to: 1) evaluate and screen the manufacturing quality of step-wise prepared micropatterned biointerfaces; 2) quantify the binding density of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs)-antiCD4 conjugates selectively attached on the cell surface; 3) elucidate the biological interaction of proteins and molecules by quantifying the fractional coverage of immobilized biomolecules; 4) enhance the accuracy of secondary ion identification of specific molecules. Briefly, our method consists of recording the secondary ions, SIs, individually emitted from a single projectile impact (C60 1,2+, Au400 +4). From the set of individual mass data, we select events where a specific SI was detected. The selected records reveal the SIs co-ejected from the nanovolume impacted by an individual cluster projectile from an emission area of 10-20 nm in diameter and an emission depth of 5-10 nm. The approach for quantifying the number of AuNPs or that of specific nanodomains is via the concept of the fractional coverage. The latter is the ratio of the effective number of projectile impacts on a specified sampling area (Ne) to the total number of impacts (No). The methodology has been validated with the determination of the number of antibody-AuNP conjugates on a cell, i.e. the number of disease related antigens on a cell via their specific binding sites with the AuNP-labeled antibodies. The number of AuNP-antibodies measured, ~42000 per cell, is in good agreement with literature results. The fractional coverage concept was also used to quantify several variants of biointerfaces. An example is the quantification of biotin and avidin immobilization as a function of the composition of silane substrates. The data collected in the event-by-event bombardment/detection mode expands the scope and quality of analytical information. One can identify SIs co-emitted with two specified SIs (double coincidence mass spectrometry) to inspect a specific stratum of a biointerface. A further refinement is the selection of events meeting a double coincidence emission condition. This mode enables the identification of nano-object of a few nm in size, which eliminates (anticoincidence) interferences from substrates

Retraction and Generalized Extension of Computing with Words

Fuzzy automata, whose input alphabet is a set of numbers or symbols, are a formal model of computing with values. Motivated by Zadeh's paradigm of computing with words rather than numbers, Ying proposed a kind of fuzzy automata, whose input alphabet consists of all fuzzy subsets of a set of symbols, as a formal model of computing with all words. In this paper, we introduce a somewhat general formal model of computing with (some special) words. The new features of the model are that the input alphabet only comprises some (not necessarily all) fuzzy subsets of a set of symbols and the fuzzy transition function can be specified arbitrarily. By employing the methodology of fuzzy control, we establish a retraction principle from computing with words to computing with values for handling crisp inputs and a generalized extension principle from computing with words to computing with all words for handling fuzzy inputs. These principles show that computing with values and computing with all words can be respectively implemented by computing with words. Some algebraic properties of retractions and generalized extensions are addressed as well.Comment: 13 double column pages; 3 figures; to be published in the IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy System

Accelerometer-assessed light physical activity is protective of future cognitive ability: A longitudinal study among community dwelling older adults

OBJECTIVE: Physical activity (PA), especially moderate-to-vigorous intensity, could protect older adults from cognitive impairment. However, most literature is based on self-reported PA which is limited by recall bias. Light PA is popular among older adults, but a paucity of objective longitudinal data has considered the relationship between light PA and cognitive ability. We examined if a higher level of objectively measured light PA, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), was prospectively associated with better cognitive ability in older adults. METHODS: A longitudinal study over 22.12 (±1.46) months including 274 community-dwelling older adults across 14 regions in Taiwan was undertaken. Cognitive ability was obtained using a Chinese version of the Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire (AD8) and light PA and MVPA captured by 7days accelerometer positioned on waist. Multivariable negative binomial regression adjusted for confounders were undertaken. RESULTS: 274 participants (74.52years, 45.6% male) attended the follow-up (96.1%). Higher light PA, independent from MVPA, was associated with a reduced rate of decline in cognitive ability (rate ratio 0.75 [0.60-0.92]). MVPA, was also associated with a reduced decline in cognitive ability (rate ratio 0.85 [0.75-0.95]). Light PA was protective of cognitive ability in sensitivity analyses removing participants with activities of daily living difficulties, depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment at baseline. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that light PA may offer a protective influence of future cognitive ability in community dwelling older adults. The promotion of light PA may be a valuable means to maintain cognitive ability in older age