Scanning electron microscopy image representativeness: morphological data on nanoparticles.

A sample of a nanomaterial contains a distribution of nanoparticles of various shapes and/or sizes. A scanning electron microscopy image of such a sample often captures only a fragment of the morphological variety present in the sample. In order to quantitatively analyse the sample using scanning electron microscope digital images, and, in particular, to derive numerical representations of the sample morphology, image content has to be assessed. In this work, we present a framework for extracting morphological information contained in scanning electron microscopy images using computer vision algorithms, and for converting them into numerical particle descriptors. We explore the concept of image representativeness and provide a set of protocols for selecting optimal scanning electron microscopy images as well as determining the smallest representative image set for each of the morphological features. We demonstrate the practical aspects of our methodology by investigating tricalcium phosphate, Ca3 (PO4 )2 , and calcium hydroxyphosphate, Ca5 (PO4 )3 (OH), both naturally occurring minerals with a wide range of biomedical applications

Loan and Security Agreement Between Chrysler and U.S Department of The Treasury

Loan and Security Agreement By and Between The Borrower Listed on Appendix A as Borrower and The United States Department of the Treasury as Lender. This is also known as the Chrysler Original Loan and Security Agreement (with amendments) (December 31, 2008) (Chrysler LSA 2008). These were agreements (including amendments) to execute lending to Chrysler by Treasury under the bridge loans on January 2, 2009

Automotive Industry Financing Program Chrysler LB Receivables Trust Secured Term Loan Summary of Terms (Chrysler Financial Term Sheet)

Treasury document outlining the initially proposed terms of lending to Chrysler Financial\u27s ABS master trust, Chrysler LB Receivables Trust. This document is sometimes known as the Chrysler Financial Term Sheet

Foreign Object Debris Detection System Cost-Benefit Analysis

Foreign object debris (FOD) poses significant safety and financial threats to aviation. Estimates of the annual global costs of FOD range up to $22.7 billion in current United States dollars. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognizes that airport FOD detection systems can help reduce FOD risks. The FAA Airport Technology Research and Development Branch research team reviewed a recent cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of such systems. Inputs to this analysis included stakeholder interviews, literature review, safety and operational databases, and airport FOD detection records

Evaluating Automated Anti-Icing Technology to Reduce Traffic Collisions

Abstract Evaluating Automated Anti-Icing Technology to Reduce Traffic Collisions Reducing fatalities, injuries, and property damage related to traffic collisions is a priority for road safety agencies. Traffic collisions result in more than 2,200 fatalities and 173,000 injuries each year on Canadian roads. Inclement weather is a contributing factor in traffic crashes for approximately 21 percent of the injuries and 25 percent of property damage Road surface condition sensors, automatic notification alerts, and automated anti-icing spray systems are also examined in this paper. Automated anti-icing systems minimize the amount of chemical needed for de-icing by spraying the road in advance of icing and only when required. These technologies help maintenance managers to reduce traffic collisions and fatalities and make more timely and efficient decisions.

Evaluating Automated Anti-Icing Technology to Reduce Traffic Collisions

Abstract Evaluating Automated Anti-Icing Technology to Reduce Traffic Collisions Reducing fatalities, injuries, and property damage related to traffic collisions is a priority for road safety agencies. Traffic collisions result in more than 2,200 fatalities and 173,000 injuries each year on Canadian roads. Inclement weather is a contributing factor in traffic crashes for approximately 21 percent of the injuries and 25 percent of property damage Road surface condition sensors, automatic notification alerts, and automated anti-icing spray systems are also examined in this paper. Automated anti-icing systems minimize the amount of chemical needed for de-icing by spraying the road in advance of icing and only when required. These technologies help maintenance managers to reduce traffic collisions and fatalities and make more timely and efficient decisions.

Piperidinols that show anti-tubercular activity as inhibitors of arylamine N-acetyltransferase: an essential enzyme for mycobacterial survival inside macrophages

Latent M. tuberculosis infection presents one of the major obstacles in the global eradication of tuberculosis (TB). Cholesterol plays a critical role in the persistence of M. tuberculosis within the macrophage during latent infection. Catabolism of cholesterol contributes to the pool of propionyl-CoA, a precursor that is incorporated into cell-wall lipids. Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) is encoded within a gene cluster that is involved in the cholesterol sterol-ring degradation and is essential for intracellular survival. The ability of the NAT from M. tuberculosis (TBNAT) to utilise propionyl-CoA links it to the cholesterol-catabolism pathway. Deleting the nat gene or inhibiting the NAT enzyme prevents intracellular survival and results in depletion of cell-wall lipids. TBNAT has been investigated as a potential target for TB therapies. From a previous high-throughput screen, 3-benzoyl-4-phenyl-1-methylpiperidinol was identified as a selective inhibitor of prokaryotic NAT that exhibited antimycobacterial activity. The compound resulted in time-dependent irreversible inhibition of the NAT activity when tested against NAT from M. marinum (MMNAT). To further evaluate the antimycobacterial activity and the NAT inhibition of this compound, four piperidinol analogues were tested. All five compounds exert potent antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis with MIC values of 2.3-16.9 µM. Treatment of the MMNAT enzyme with this set of inhibitors resulted in an irreversible time-dependent inhibition of NAT activity. Here we investigate the mechanism of NAT inhibition by studying protein-ligand interactions using mass spectrometry in combination with enzyme analysis and structure determination. We propose a covalent mechanism of NAT inhibition that involves the formation of a reactive intermediate and selective cysteine residue modification. These piperidinols present a unique class of antimycobacterial compounds that have a novel mode of action different from known anti-tubercular drugs