30 research outputs found
Multivariate Analysis in Vibrational Spectroscopy of Highly Energetic Materials and Chemical Warfare Agents Simulants
Artificial intelligence assisted Mid-infrared laser spectroscopy in situ detection of petroleum in soils
A simple, remote-sensed method of detection of traces of petroleum in soil combining
artificial intelligence (AI) with mid-infrared (MIR) laser spectroscopy is presented. A portable MIR
quantum cascade laser (QCL) was used as an excitation source, making the technique amenable to
field applications. The MIR spectral region is more informative and useful than the near IR region for
the detection of pollutants in soil. Remote sensing, coupled with a support vector machine (SVM)
algorithm, was used to accurately identify the presence/absence of traces of petroleum in soil mixtures.
Chemometrics tools such as principal component analysis (PCA), partial least square-discriminant
analysis (PLS-DA), and SVM demonstrated the e ectiveness of rapidly di erentiating between
di erent soil types and detecting the presence of petroleum traces in di erent soil matrices such as
sea sand, red soil, and brown soil. Comparisons between results of PLS-DA and SVM were based
on sensitivity, selectivity, and areas under receiver-operator curves (ROC). An innovative statistical
analysis method of calculating limits of detection (LOD) and limits of decision (LD) from fits of the
probability of detection was developed. Results for QCL/PLS-DA models achieved LOD and LD
of 0.2% and 0.01% for petroleum/soil, respectively. The superior performance of QCL/SVM models
improved these values to 0.04% and 0.003%, respectively, providing better identification probability
of soils contaminated with petroleum
Applications of Optical Fibers to Spectroscopy: Detection of High Explosives and Other Threat Chemicals
Modulated-laser source induction system for remote detection of infrared emissions of high explosives using laser-induced thermal emission
In a homeland security setting, the ability to detect explosives at a distance is a top
security priority. Consequently, the development of remote, noncontact detection systems continues
to represent a path forward. In this vein, a remote detection system for excitation of infrared
emissions using a CO2 laser for generating laser-induced thermal emission (LITE) is a
possible solution. However, a LITE system using a CO2 laser has certain limitations, such
as the requirement of careful alignment, interference by the CO2 signal during detection, and
the power density loss due to the increase of the laser image at the sample plane with the detection
distance. A remote chopped-laser induction system for LITE detection using a CO2 laser
source coupled to a focusing telescope was built to solve some of these limitations. Samples of
fixed surface concentration (500 μg∕cm2) of 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) were
used for the remote detection experiments at distances ranging between 4 and 8 m. This system
was capable of thermally exciting and capturing the thermal emissions (TEs) at different times in
a cyclic manner by a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer coupled to a gold-coated
reflection optics telescope (FTIR-GT). This was done using a wheel blocking the capture of TE
by the FTIR-GT chopper while heating the sample with the CO2 laser. As the wheel moved, it
blocked the CO2 laser and allowed the spectroscopic system to capture the TEs of RDX.
Different periods (or frequencies) of wheel spin and FTIR-GT integration times were evaluated
to find dependence with observation distance of the maximum intensity detection, minimum
signal-to-noise ratio, CO2 laser spot size increase, and the induced temperature incremen
Mid-Infrared Laser Spectroscopy Applications I: Detection of Traces of High Explosives on Reflective and Matte Substrates
Mid-infrared (MIR) lasers have revolutionized infrared vibrational spectroscopy, converting an already dominant spectroscopic analysis technique into an even more powerful, easier to use, and quicker turn-around cadre of versatile spectroscopic tools. A selection of applications, revisited under the umbrella of MIR laser-based properties, very high brightness, collimated beams, polarized sources, highly monochromatic tunable sources, and coherent sources, is included. Applications discussed concern enhanced detection, discrimination, and quantification of high explosives (HEs). From reflectance measurements of chemical residues on highly reflective metallic substrates to reflectance measurements of HEs deposited on non-reflective, matte substrates is discussed. Coupling with multivariate analyses (MVA) techniques of Chemometrics allowed near trace detection of HEs, with sharp discrimination from highly MIR absorbing substrates
Mid-Infrared laser spectroscopy detection and quantification of explosives in soils using multivariate analysis and artificial intelligence
A tunable quantum cascade laser (QCL) spectrometer was used to develop methods for
detecting and quantifying high explosives (HE) in soil based on multivariate analysis (MVA) and
artificial intelligence (AI). For quantification, mixes of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) of concentrations
from 0% to 20% w/w with soil samples were investigated. Three types of soils, bentonite, synthetic
soil, and natural soil, were used. A partial least squares (PLS) regression model was generated for
predicting DNT concentrations. To increase the selectivity, the model was trained and evaluated using
additional analytes as interferences, including other HEs such as pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN),
trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), and non-explosives such as benzoic acid
and ibuprofen. For the detection experiments, mixes of different explosives with soils were used to
implement two AI strategies. In the first strategy, the spectra of the samples were compared with
spectra of soils stored in a database to identify the most similar soils based on QCL spectroscopy.
Next, a preprocessing based on classical least squares (Pre-CLS) was applied to the spectra of soils
selected from the database. The parameter obtained based on the sum of the weights of Pre-CLS was
used to generate a simple binary discrimination model for distinguishing between contaminated and
uncontaminated soils, achieving an accuracy of 0.877. In the second AI strategy, the same parameter
was added to a principal component matrix obtained from spectral data of samples and used to
generate multi-classification models based on different machine learning algorithms. A random forest
model worked best with 0.996 accuracy and allowing to distinguish between soils contaminated with
DNT, TNT, or RDX and uncontaminated soils
From Cell to Symptoms: The Role of SARS-CoV-2 Cytopathic Effects in the Pathogenesis of COVID-19 and Long COVID
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection triggers var-ious events from the molecular to the tissue level, which in turn is given by the intrinsic character-istics of each patient. Given the molecular diversity characteristic of each cellular phenotype, the possible cytopathic, tissue, and clinical effects are difficult to predict, which determines the hetero-geneity of COVID-19 symptoms. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the cytopathic effects of SARS-CoV-2 on various cell types, focusing on the development of COVID-19, which in turn may lead, in some patients, to the persistence of symptoms after recovery from the disease, a condition known as long COVID. We describe the molecular mechanisms un-derlying virus–host interactions, including alterations in protein expression, intracellular signaling pathways, and immune responses. In particular, the article highlights the potential impact of these cytopathies on cellular function and clinical outcomes, such as immune dysregulation, neuropsy-chiatric disorders, and organ damage. The article concludes by discussing future directions for re-search and implications for the management and treatment of COVID-19 and long COVID
Fiber Optic Coupled Raman Based Detection of Hazardous Liquids Concealed in Commercial Products
Mid-Infrared Laser Spectroscopy Applications in Process Analytical Technology: Cleaning Validation, Microorganisms, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in Formulations
Mid-infrared (MIR) lasers are very high-brightness energy sources that are replacing conventional thermal sources (globars) in many infrared spectroscopy (IRS) techniques. Although not all laser properties have been exploited in depth, properties such as collimation, polarization, high brightness, and very high resolution have contributed to recast IRS tools. Applications of MIR laser spectroscopy to process analytical technology (PAT) are numerous and important. As an example, a compact grazing angle probe mount has allowed coupling to a MIR quantum cascade laser (QCL), enabling reflectance-absorbance infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) measurements. This methodology, coupled to powerful multivariable analysis (MVA) routines of chemometrics and fast Fourier transform (FFT) preprocessing of the data resulted in very low limits of detection of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and high explosives (HEs) reaching trace levels. This methodology can be used to measure concentrations of surface contaminants for validation of cleanliness of pharmaceutical and biotechnology processing batch reactors and other manufacturing vessels. Another application discussed concerns the enhanced detection of microorganisms that can be encountered in pharmaceutical and biotechnology plants as contaminants and that could also be used as weapons of mass destruction in biological warfare. In the last application discussed, the concentration of APIs in formulations was determined by MIR laser spectroscopy and was cross validated with high-performance liquid chromatography
5to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica
El V Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2019, realizado del 6 al 8 de febrero de 2019 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, ofreció a la comunidad académica nacional e internacional una plataforma de comunicación unificada, dirigida a cubrir los problemas teóricos y prácticos de mayor impacto en la sociedad moderna desde la ingeniería.
En esta edición, dedicada a los 25 años de vida de la UPS, los ejes temáticos estuvieron relacionados con la aplicación de la ciencia, el desarrollo tecnológico y la innovación en cinco pilares fundamentales de nuestra sociedad: la industria, la movilidad, la sostenibilidad ambiental, la información y las telecomunicaciones.
El comité científico estuvo conformado formado por 48 investigadores procedentes de diez países: España, Reino Unido, Italia, Bélgica, México, Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Estados Unidos y Ecuador.
Fueron recibidas un centenar de contribuciones, de las cuales 39 fueron aprobadas en forma de ponencias y 15 en formato poster. Estas contribuciones fueron presentadas de forma oral ante toda la comunidad académica que se dio cita en el Congreso, quienes desde el aula magna, el auditorio y la sala de usos múltiples de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, cumplieron respetuosamente la responsabilidad de representar a toda la sociedad en la revisión, aceptación y validación del conocimiento nuevo que fue presentado en cada exposición por los investigadores.
Paralelo a las sesiones técnicas, el Congreso contó con espacios de presentación de posters científicos y cinco workshops en temáticas de vanguardia que cautivaron la atención de nuestros docentes y estudiantes. También en el marco del evento se impartieron un total de ocho conferencias magistrales en temas tan actuales como la gestión del conocimiento en la universidad-ecosistema, los retos y oportunidades de la industria 4.0, los avances de la investigación básica y aplicada en mecatrónica para el estudio de robots de nueva generación, la optimización en ingeniería con técnicas multi-objetivo, el desarrollo de las redes avanzadas en Latinoamérica y los mundos, la contaminación del aire debido al tránsito vehicular, el radón y los riesgos que representa este gas radiactivo para la salud humana, entre otros