Modular Autonomous Biosampler (MAB)- A prototype system for distinct biological size-class sampling and preservation

Presently, there is a community wide deficiency in our ability to collect and preserve multiple size-class biologic samples across a broad spectrum of oceanographic platforms (e.g. AUVs, ROVs, and Ocean Observing System Nodes). This is particularly surprising in comparison to the level of instrumentation that now exists for acquiring physical and geophysical data (e.g. side-scan sonar, current profiles etc.), from these same platforms. We present our effort to develop a low-cost, high sample capacity modular,autonomous biological sampling device (MAB). The unit is designed for filtering and preserving 3 distinct biological size-classes (including bacteria), and is deployable in any aquatic setting from a variety of platform modalities (AUV, ROV, or mooring)

Reactive Video: Movement Sonification as Auditory Feedback for Supporting Physical Activity

This paper provides initial efforts in developing and evaluating a real-time movement sonification framework for physical activity practice and learning. Reactive Video provides an interactive, vision-based, adaptive video playback with auditory feedback on users' performance to better support when learning and practicing new physical skills. We implement the sonification for auditory feedback design by extending the Web Audio API framework. The current application focuses on Tai-Chi performance and provides two main audio cues to users for several Tai Chi exercises. We provide our design approach, implementation, and sound generation and mapping, specifically for interactive systems with direct video manipulation. Our observations reveal the relationship between the movement-to-sound mapping and characteristics of the physical activity

Comparison of Raman and near-infrared chemical mapping for the analysis of pharmaceutical tablets

Raman and near-infrared (NIR) chemical mapping are widely used methods in the pharmaceutical industry to understand the distribution of components within a drug product. Recent advancements in instrumentation have enabled the rapid acquisition of high-resolution images. The comparison of these techniques for the analysis of pharmaceutical tablets has not recently been explored and thus the relative performance of each technique is not currently well defined. Here, the differences in the chemical images obtained by each method are assessed and compared with scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDX), as an alternative surface imaging technique to understand the ability of each technique to acquire a chemical image representative of the sample surface. It was found that the Raman data showed the best agreement with the spatial distribution of components observed in the SEM-EDX images. Quantitative and qualitative comparison of the Raman and NIR images revealed a very different spatial distribution of components with regards to domain size and shape. The Raman image exhibited sharper and better discriminated domains of each component, whereas the NIR image was heavily dominated by large pixelated domains. This study demonstrated the superiority of using Raman chemical mapping compared with NIR chemical mapping to produce a chemical image representative of the sample surface using routinely available instrumentation to obtain a better approximation of domain size and shape. This is fundamental for understanding knowledge gaps in current manufacturing processes; particularly relating the relationship between components in the formulation, processing condition, and final characteristics. By providing a means to more accurately visualize the components within a tablet matrix, these areas can all be further understood

Reactive Video:Adaptive Video Playback Based on User Motion for Supporting Physical Activity

Videos are a convenient platform to begin, maintain, or improve a ftness program or physical activity. Traditional video systems allow users to manipulate videos through specifc user interface actions such as button clicks or mouse drags, but have no model of what the user is doing and are unable to adapt in useful ways. We present adaptive video playback, which seamlessly synchronises video playback with the user’s movements, building upon the principle of direct manipulation video navigation. We implement adaptive video playback in Reactive Video, a vision-based system which supports users learning or practising a physical skill. The use of pre-existing videos removes the need to create bespoke content or specially authored videos, and the system can provide real-time guidance and feedback to better support users when learning new movements. Adaptive video playback using a discrete Bayes and particle flter are evaluated on a data set collected of participants performing tai chi and radio exercises. Results show that both approaches can accurately adapt to the user’s movements, however reversing playback can be problematic

Notch activation is required for downregulation of HoxA3-dependent endothelial cell phenotype during blood formation.

Hemogenic endothelium (HE) undergoes endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT) to generate blood, a process that requires progressive down-regulation of endothelial genes and induction of hematopoietic ones. Previously, we have shown that the transcription factor HoxA3 prevents blood formation by inhibiting Runx1 expression, maintaining endothelial gene expression and thus blocking EHT. In the present study, we show that HoxA3 also prevents blood formation by inhibiting Notch pathway. HoxA3 induced upregulation of Jag1 ligand in endothelial cells, which led to cis-inhibition of the Notch pathway, rendering the HE nonresponsive to Notch signals. While Notch activation alone was insufficient to promote blood formation in the presence of HoxA3, activation of Notch or downregulation of Jag1 resulted in a loss of the endothelial phenotype which is a prerequisite for EHT. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Notch pathway activation is necessary to downregulate endothelial markers during EHT

Energy Requirements and Nutritional Strategies for Male Soccer Players:A Review and Suggestions for Practice

Soccer is a high intensity intermittent sport, featuring critical events completed at high/maximal intensity which is superimposed onto an aerobic base of lower intensity activities and rest. Due to these varying energic demands and the duration of competition the need for optimal nutritional strategies to offset and delay fatigue are paramount. Over the last 50 years, several investigations have been reported on aspects of soccer be they nutrition-focused or those concerning the demands of the sport. Emanating from these scientific papers, observations have been made on the likely factors which result in the fatigue during match-play. Factors such as muscle glycogen depletion and hypoglycaemia are discussed. Studies on the energy demands of soccer have employed a variety of methodologies which are briefly reviewed and vary between the use of heart rate telemetry to the use of global positioning systems (GPS). Moving on from observations of the energy demands of the sport leads to the major focus of this review which highlights key nutritional strategies to support the preparation and recovery of male soccer players to enhance performance, or at least to enable players to perform adequately. This review examines relevant methodologies in assessing training and competitive energy costs as well as the concomitant energy intakes demanded for successful performance outcomes. In order to bring an applied aspect to the overall findings from areas discussed, some practical ideas of feeding strategies are presented

No-tillage and reduced-tillage : costs and returns

"Soil conservation and cost control are important considerations in choosing tillage practices. In 1983, the University of Missouri--Columbia published Agricultural Guide G350, 'Conservation tillage : costs and returns,' to provide information regarding those choices. This guide updates that information because conservation tillage technology and other production conditions have changed."--First page.Myron Bennett and David E. Ervin (Department of Agricultural Economics), Don Pfost (Department of Agricultural Engineering), Nyle Wollenhaupt and Gary Hoette (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture), and Andrea Clarke (USDA, Soil Conservation Service, Columbia, Missouri)New 10/86/8

Three-dimensional imaging of pharmaceutical tablets using serial sectioning and Raman chemical mapping

Chemical mapping by Raman spectroscopy is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to characterise the distribution of components within pharmaceutical tablets; however, current methods do not go beyond examining an exposed surface area of a sample. There are known limitations with estimating domain size and shape statistics from 2D chemical images as the values obtained will depend on where the domain is sectioned, potentially under- or overestimating its true value. The combination of Raman spectroscopic mapping and serial sectioning has been recently explored as an alternative method to obtain a depth profile of a sample; however, to date, this has involved instrumentation capable of automated Raman mapping with subsequent sample sectioning. A key requirement for Raman mapping is producing an optically flat surface, and this becomes increasingly challenging for larger surface areas required for the examination of a pharmaceutical tablet. Here, we describe 3D imaging of a tablet matrix by combining Raman mapping with independent sample sectioning to provide appropriate lateral and axial resolution. The approach was first validated by analysing a spherical object of known size and shape and comparing the 3D domain size statistics calculated from the reconstructed image to its absolute values. The method was then applied to a three-component model system, simulating a pharmaceutical tablet, to determine the capability and applicability of the method for solid dosage formulations. The study demonstrated that relative differences in the size, shape and distribution of domains can be quantified enabling an enhanced understanding of the spatial arrangement of each component within the formulation and the effect of each processing condition on the final drug product. By visualising the 3D structure of a tablet matrix with demonstrable accuracy and precision using materials of known dimensions, new capabilities to enhance tablet manufacturing methods are now available

Data processing of three-dimensional vibrational spectroscopic chemical images for pharmaceutical applications

Vibrational spectroscopic chemical imaging is a powerful tool in the pharmaceutical industry to assess the spatial distribution of components within pharmaceutical samples. Recently, the combination of vibrational spectroscopic chemical mapping with serial sectioning has provided a means to visualise the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a tablet matrix. There are recognised knowledge gaps in current tablet manufacturing processes, particularly regarding the size, shape and distribution of components within the final drug product. The performance of pharmaceutical tablets is known to be primarily influenced by the physical and chemical properties of the formulation. Here, we describe the data processing methods required to extract quantitative domain size and spatial distribution statistics from 3D vibrational spectroscopic chemical images. This provides a means to quantitatively describe the microstructure of a tablet matrix and is a powerful tool to overcome knowledge gaps in current tablet manufacturing processes, optimising formulation development