Effective RFID-based object tracking for manufacturing

International audienceAbstract Automated Identification and in particular, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) promises to assist with the automation of mass customised production processes by simplifying the retrieval, tracking and usage of highly specialised components. RFID has long been used to gather a history or trace of object movements, but its use as an integral part of the automated control process is yet to be fully exploited. Such (automated) use places stringent demands on the quality of the sensor data collected and the method used to interpret that data. In particular, this paper focuses on the issue of correctly identifying, tracking and dealing with aggregated objects in customised production with the use of RFID. In particular, this work presents approaches for making best use of RFID data in this context. The presented approach is evaluated in the context of a laboratory manufacturing system that produces customised gift boxes

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and life threatening disease with median survival of 2.5-3 years. The IPF lung is characterized by abnormal lung remodeling, epithelial cell hyperplasia, myofibroblast foci formation, and extracellular matrix deposition. Analysis of gene expression microarray data revealed that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a non-collagenous extracellular matrix protein is among the most significantly up-regulated genes (Fold change 13, p-value <0.05) in IPF lungs. This finding was confirmed at the mRNA level by nCounter® expression analysis in additional 115 IPF lungs and 154 control lungs as well as at the protein level by western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that COMP was expressed in dense fibrotic regions of IPF lungs and co-localized with vimentin and around pSMAD3 expressing cells. Stimulation of normal human lung fibroblasts with TGF-β1 induced an increase in COMP mRNA and protein expression. Silencing COMP in normal human lung fibroblasts significantly inhibited cell proliferation and negatively impacted the effects of TGF-β1 on COL1A1 and PAI1. COMP protein concentration measured by ELISA assay was significantly increased in serum of IPF patients compared to controls. Analysis of serum COMP concentrations in 23 patients who had prospective blood draws revealed that COMP levels increased in a time dependent fashion and correlated with declines in force vital capacity (FVC). Taken together, our results should encourage more research into the potential use of COMP as a biomarker for disease activity and TGF-β1 activity in patients with IPF. Hence, studies that explore modalities that affect COMP expression, alleviate extracellular matrix rigidity and lung restriction in IPF and interfere with the amplification of TGF-β1 signaling should be persuaded. © 2013 Vuga et al

The mechanisms of boronate ester formation and fluorescent turn-on in ortho-aminomethylphenylboronic acids

ortho-Aminomethylphenylboronic acids are used in receptors for carbohydrates and various other compounds containing vicinal diols. The presence of the o-aminomethyl group enhances the affinity towards diols at neutral pH, and the manner in which this group plays this role has been a topic of debate. Further, the aminomethyl group is believed to be involved in the turn-on of the emission properties of appended fluorophores upon diol binding. In this treatise, a uniform picture emerges for the role of this group: it primarily acts as an electron-withdrawing group that lowers the pK(a) of the neighbouring boronic acid thereby facilitating diol binding at neutral pH. The amine appears to play no role in the modulation of the fluorescence of appended fluorophores in the protic-solvent-inserted form of the boronic acid/boronate ester. Instead, fluorescence turn-on can be consistently tied to vibrational-coupled excited-state relaxation (a loose-bolt effect). Overall, this Review unifies and discusses the existing data as of 2019 whilst also highlighting why o-aminomethyl groups are so widely used, and the role they play in carbohydrate sensing using phenylboronic acids

Sugarcane genes associated with sucrose content

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background -</p> <p>Sucrose content is a highly desirable trait in sugarcane as the worldwide demand for cost-effective biofuels surges. Sugarcane cultivars differ in their capacity to accumulate sucrose and breeding programs routinely perform crosses to identify genotypes able to produce more sucrose. Sucrose content in the mature internodes reach around 20% of the culms dry weight. Genotypes in the populations reflect their genetic program and may display contrasting growth, development, and physiology, all of which affect carbohydrate metabolism. Few studies have profiled gene expression related to sugarcane's sugar content. The identification of signal transduction components and transcription factors that might regulate sugar accumulation is highly desirable if we are to improve this characteristic of sugarcane plants.</p> <p>Results -</p> <p>We have evaluated thirty genotypes that have different Brix (sugar) levels and identified genes differentially expressed in internodes using cDNA microarrays. These genes were compared to existing gene expression data for sugarcane plants subjected to diverse stress and hormone treatments. The comparisons revealed a strong overlap between the drought and sucrose-content datasets and a limited overlap with ABA signaling. Genes associated with sucrose content were extensively validated by qRT-PCR, which highlighted several protein kinases and transcription factors that are likely to be regulators of sucrose accumulation. The data also indicate that aquaporins, as well as lignin biosynthesis and cell wall metabolism genes, are strongly related to sucrose accumulation. Moreover, sucrose-associated genes were shown to be directly responsive to short term sucrose stimuli, confirming their role in sugar-related pathways.</p> <p>Conclusion -</p> <p>Gene expression analysis of sugarcane populations contrasting for sucrose content indicated a possible overlap with drought and cell wall metabolism processes and suggested signaling and transcriptional regulators to be used as molecular markers in breeding programs. Transgenic research is necessary to further clarify the role of the genes and define targets useful for sugarcane improvement programs based on transgenic plants.</p

Small fragments of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in synovial fluid and serum as markers for cartilage degradation

We determined the tissue distribution of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in man and evaluated COMP in synovial fluid (SF) and serum. COMP was purified from human articular cartilage. Polyclonal antibodies were used to detect COMP in tissue cryosections and protein extracts. COMP was determined quantitatively and qualitatively in SF and serum by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. Knee joint SF was taken from nine cadaveric and six living controls, 52 patients with osteoarthritis (OA), 85 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 60 patients with other forms of inflammatory arthritis. The degradative potential of SF on native COMP was tested in vitro. The highest concentrations of COMP were measured in articular cartilage and meniscus, the lowest in rib and trachea. Compared with controls, the concentrations of COMP in SF and serum were elevated in 36 and 50% of the patients. A total of 84% of patients with RA and 60% of patients with other forms of inflammatory arthritis showed significant amounts of low-molecular-weight COMP fragments (50-70 kDa) in SF. In contrast, SF fragments were present in only 21% of the OA patients. Furthermore, 13% of SF taken from patients with RA or other forms of inflammatory arthritis were able to degrade COMP in vitro. Using inhibitors, the involvement of serine proteinases could be demonstrated in only 8% of the cases. Based on these results, the absolute levels of COMP in SF and serum, and its fragmentation pattern in SF, seem to be promising as markers of joint tissue metabolis