Partially coherent fields in synthetic optical holography

Synthetic optical holography is a newly proposed method for implementing phase imaging in scanning near-field optical microscopy. It combines high-speed phase imaging, technical simplicity, and simultaneous operation at visible to terahertz frequencies to improve upon competing image acquisition processes by a factor of 50. This has led scanning near-field optical microscopy to become a powerful tool for nano-optical examination of surfaces. We aim to explore the effects of partial coherence in the illuminating and reference fields

Dissociation between morphine-induced spinal gliosis and analgesic tolerance by ultra-low-dose α2-adrenergic and cannabinoid CB1-receptor antagonists.

Long-term use of opioid analgesics is limited by tolerance development and undesirable adverse effects. Paradoxically, spinal administration of ultra-low-dose (ULD) G-protein-coupled receptor antagonists attenuates analgesic tolerance. Here, we determined whether systemic ULD α2-adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonists attenuate the development of morphine tolerance, whether these effects extend to the cannabinoid (CB1) receptor system, and if behavioral effects are reflected in changes in opioid-induced spinal gliosis. Male rats were treated daily with morphine (5 mg/kg) alone or in combination with ULD α2-AR (atipamezole or efaroxan; 17 ng/kg) or CB1 (rimonabant; 5 ng/kg) antagonists; control groups received ULD injections only. Thermal tail flick latencies were assessed across 7 days, before and 30 min after the injection. On day 8, spinal cords were isolated, and changes in spinal gliosis were assessed through fluorescent immunohistochemistry. Both ULD α2-AR antagonists attenuated morphine tolerance, whereas the ULD CB1 antagonist did not. In contrast, both ULD atipamezole and ULD rimonabant attenuated morphine-induced microglial reactivity and astrogliosis in deep and superficial spinal dorsal horn. So, although paradoxical effects of ULD antagonists are common to several G-protein-coupled receptor systems, these may not involve similar mechanisms. Spinal glia alone may not be the main mechanism through which tolerance is modulated

Impact of Cold Plasma Processing on Major Peanut Allergens

Cold plasma is emerging as a novel food processing technology, with demonstrated efficacies for microbial inactivation and residual chemical dissipation of food products. Given the technology’s multimodal action it has the potential to reduce allergens in foods, however data on the efficacy and mechanisms of action are sparse. This study investigates the efficacy of cold plasma on major peanut allergens (Ara h 1 and Ara h 2). For this purpose, dry, whole peanut (WP) and defatted peanut flour (DPF) were subjected to an atmospheric air discharge using a pin to plate cold plasma reactor for different treatment durations. With increases in plasma exposure, SDS‑PAGE analysis revealed reduced protein solubility of the major peanut allergens. Alterations in allergenicity and structure of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 were examined using ELISA and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Competitive ELISA with proteins purified from plasma treated WP or DPF revealed reduced antigenicity for both Ara h 1 and Ara h 2. The highest reduction in antigenicity was 65% for Ara h 1 and 66% Ara h 2 when purified from DPF. Results from CD spectroscopy analysis of purified proteins strongly suggests the reduction in antigenicity is due to modifications in the secondary structure of the allergens induced by plasma reactive species. Cold plasma is effective at reducing peanut protein solubility and causes changes in allergen structure leading to reduced antigenicity

Ionic Peltier Effect in Li Ion Battery Electrolytes

Thermoelectric transport, i.e., charge current driven by a temperature gradient (Seebeck effect) and heat current driven by an electric current (Peltier effect), provides fundamental insights on microscopic thermodynamics and kinetics of materials and enables devices that convert between heat and electrical work. The ionic Seebeck effect in ionic thermoelectric materials was reported more than one century ago while the reciprocal phenomenon, the ionic Peltier effect, remains unexplored due to experimental challenges. This work reports experimental observations and quantitative measurements of the ionic Peltier effect by an ultrasensitive temperature difference metrology (UTDM) with an extremely high temperature difference resolution up to 4 uK. UTDM enables the probing of sub-mK-level temperature responses of ionic Peltier effect even in the presence of parasitic Joule heat. We observe high ionic Peltier coefficients (up to 450 mV) in liquid electrolytes commonly used in Li-ion batteries. These high Peltier coefficients are approximately one order of magnitude greater than the Peltier coefficients of well-optimized electronic thermoelectric materials and comparable to Peltier coefficients of lightly doped silicon. Our work provides a platform to study the microscopic physics of ionic Peltier effect and understanding the thermodynamics and kinetics of ion transport in Li-ion batteries

Nature-inspired trapped air cushion surfaces for environmentally sustainable antibiofouling

Feathers of seabirds and waterfowl (for example the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos)) consist of hierarchical fibrillar structures encapsulated with hydrophobic preen oil. These characteristics afford waterproofing through the entrapment of air pockets, enabling swimming and diving for such bird species. This liquid repellency mechanism for bird feathers is mimicked by surface hydrophobisation of fibrous nonwoven polypropylene textiles to create large volumes of trapped air at the solid–liquid interface (plastron). Higher static water contact angle values correlate to a greater resistance towards water ingress (akin to the behaviour of mallard feathers). In order to extend the trapped gas layer lifetimes, the transportation of air from the water surface to a submerged air bubble by the diving bell spider (Argyroneta aquatica) for respiration is mimicked via short duration (< 1 s) solar-powered air bubble bursts once every 2 h. This combination of ornithological and arachnological inspired approaches yields stable trapped gas layers at the solid–liquid interface which are shown to inhibit biofouling in real-world outdoor wet environments

Knowledge Transfer in Commercial Law

Abstract This paper describes two initiatives that are extending the boundaries of knowledge transfer in the field of commercial law. Both initiatives are concerned with &apos;legal incubators&apos; Introduction: Setting the Scene Early-stage start-up companies and entrepreneurs looking to develop and commercialise new ideas and technologies need to draw upon a wide range of resources to build momentum and firmly establish business operations and market presence. This is particularly true in the information and communications technology (ICT) space, where the breadth of resources required goes well beyond management expertise and access to investment finance to include a range of very specific skills related to digital technology innovation. This portfolio of technology-related skills and knowledge includes legal expertise, the nature of which is often more specific than more generalised transactional work covering, for example, corporate structure and commercial contracts. Indeed, many start-up companies in the ICT sector, even at an early stage of development, need to develop an understanding of a range of complex legal issues concerning the ownership, use, sharing and commercialisation of intellectual property, in all its forms (e.g. patents, copyright, trade marks and confidential information); as well a

Vertebral Body Stapling versus Bracing for Patients with High-Risk Moderate Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Purpose. We report a comparison study of vertebral body stapling (VBS) versus a matched bracing cohort for immature patients with moderate (25 to 44°) idiopathic scoliosis (IS). Methods. 42 of 49 consecutive patients (86%) with IS were treated with VBS and followed for a minimum of 2 years. They were compared to 121 braced patients meeting identical inclusion criteria. 52 patients (66 curves) were matched according to age at start of treatment (10.6 years versus 11.1 years, resp. [P = 0.07]) and gender. Results. For thoracic curves 25-34°, VBS had a success rate (defined as curve progressio