A Population-Based Ultra-Widefield Digital Image Grading Study for Age-Related Macular Degeneration-Like Lesions at the Peripheral Retina.

Our understanding of the relevance of peripheral retinal abnormalities to disease in general and in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in particular is limited by the lack of detailed peripheral imaging studies. The purpose of this study was to develop image grading protocols suited to ultra-widefield imaging (UWFI) in an aged population

Silicon microcantilever sensors to detect the reversible conformational change of a molecular switch, Spiropyan

The high sensitivity of silicon microcantilever sensors has expanded their use in areas ranging from gas sensing to bio-medical applications. Photochromic molecules also represent promising candidates for a large variety of sensing applications. In this work, the operating principles of these two sensing methods are combined in order to detect the reversible conformational change of a molecular switch, spiropyran. Thus, arrays of silicon microcantilever sensors were functionalized with spiropyran on the gold covered side and used as test microcantilevers. The microcantilever deflection response was observed, in five sequential cycles, as the transition from the spiropyran (SP) (CLOSED) to the merocyanine (MC) (OPEN) state and vice-versa when induced by UV and white light LED sources, respectively, proving the reversibility capabilities of this type of sensor. The microcantilever deflection direction was observed to be in one direction when changing to the MC state and in the opposite direction when changing back to the SP state. A tensile stress was induced in the microcantilever when the SP to MC transition took place, while a compressive stress was observed for the reverse transition. These different type of stresses are believed to be related to the spatial conformational changes induced in the photochromic molecule upon photo-isomerisation

THE IMPACT OF COW NUTRITION IN THE DRY PERIOD WITH RED AND FODDER BEETS ON COLOSTRUM QUALITY AND IMMUNE STATUS OF CALVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding red and fodder beets in the diet of cow, in the dry period, on colostrum quality and immune status of calves. Twelve Holstein Friesian cows were dried at 56 days before the expected date of calving and were randomized assigured to two groups (1 oud 2). Three diets were formulated: diet 1 with a mix (50:50) of red and fodder beets (10% of dry matter of diet) for group 1, diet 2, without beets, for group 2, both beginning at 56 days before parturition until 21 days before parturition and diet 3 beginning 21 days before parturition until 21 day post parturition for both group 1 as groups 2. Samples of colostrums were collected within 2 hours after parturition and 1ts % Brix, proteinand and fat content were measured. Blood samples of calves  were collected at three days of age, and % Brix was determined using a digital refractometer. The % Brix is well correlated with immunoglobulin G (Ig G) concentrations in colostrums and blood. Trataments had no significant effect on protein and fat content of colostrums. Ig G content was higher in colostrums from cows in group 1, than in group 2 (61,9 ± 4,8 g/l v. 54,32 ± 27,5) and in the blood serum of calves (11,69 ± 1,15 mg/ml v. 9,36 ± 3,53). Red and fodder beets can be a good feed sources for improvement of colostrums quality of cows or immune status of their calves

Next frontiers in cleaner synthesis: 3D printed graphene-supported CeZrLa mixed-oxide nanocatalyst for CO2 utilisation and direct propylene carbonate production

A rapidly-growing 3D printing technology is innovatively employed for the manufacture of a new class of heterogenous catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into industrially relevant chemicals such as cyclic carbonates. For the first time, directly printed graphene-based 3D structured nanocatalysts have been developed combining the exceptional properties of graphene and active CeZrLa mixed-oxide nanoparticles. It constitutes a significant advance on previous attempts at 3D printing graphene inks in that it does not merely explore the printability itself, but enhances the efficiency of industrially relevant reactions, such as CO2 utilisation for direct propylene carbonate (PC) production in the absence of organic solvents. In comparison to the starting powder, 3D printed GO-supported CeZeLa catalysts showed improved activity with higher conversion and no noticeable change in selectivity. This can be attributed to the spatially uniform distribution of nanoparticles over the 2D and 3D surfaces, and the larger surface area and pore volume of the printed structures. 3D printed GO-supported CeZeLa catalysts compared to unsupported 3D printed samples exhibited higher selectivity and yield owing to the great number of new weak acid sites appearing in the supported sample, as observed by NH3-TPD analysis. In addition, the catalyst's facile separation from the product has the capacity to massively reduce materials and operating costs resulting in increased sustainability. It convincingly shows the potential of these printing technologies in revolutionising the way catalysts and catalytic reactors are designed in the general quest for clean technologies and greener chemistry

Nonlinear Properties of Chalcogenide Glass Fibers

Non

Stringy Instantons and Quiver Gauge Theories

We explore contributions to the 4D effective superpotential which arise from Euclidean D3 branes (``instantons'') that intersect space-filling D-branes. These effects can perturb the effective field theory on the space-filling branes by nontrivial operators composed of charged matter fields, changing the vacuum structure in a qualitative way in some examples. Our considerations are exemplified throughout by a careful study of a fractional brane configuration on a del Pezzo surface.Comment: 30 pages, 4 figures; v2: reference added; v3: confusing minor error in axion charges fixed (thanks to D. Green for pointing it out