Investigations on skeleton completeness for skeleton-based shape matching

Skeleton is an important shape descriptor for deformable shape matching, because it integrates both geometrical and topological features of a shape. As the skeletonisation process often generates redundant skeleton branches that may seriously disturb the skeleton matching and cause high computational complexity, skeleton pruning is required to remove the inaccurate or redundant branches while preserving the essential topology of the original skeleton. However, pruning approaches normally require manual intervention to produce visually complete skeletons. As different people may have different perceptions for identifying visually complete skeletons, it is unclear how much the accuracy of skeleton-based shape matching is influenced by human selection. Moreover, it is also unclear how skeleton completeness impacts the accuracy of skeleton-based shapematching. We investigate here these two questions in a structured way. In addition, we present experimental evidence to show that it is possible to do automatic skeleton pruning while maintaining the matching accuracy by estimating the approximate pruning power of each shape

Detektion leicht flüchtiger organischer Verbindungen mikrobiellen Ursprungs (MVOC) mittels Ionenmobilitätsspektrometrie (IMS)

Spuren leicht flüchtiger organischer Verbindungen mikrobiellen Ursprungs (MVOC) in der Luft von Innenräumen können das Vorhandensein von Schimmelpilzen indizieren. Die Anwendung der Ionenmobilitätsspektrometrie (IMS) zur Detektion von leicht flüchtigen schimmelpilzspezifischen Verbindungen ist wegen ihrer hohen Empfindlichkeit vielversprechend. Um dieses analytisch-chemische Verfahren für eine Innenraumdiagnostik zu nutzen, wurde ein mobil einsetzbares Gerät zur vor-Ort-Detektion getestet.Im ersten Teil der Arbeit wurden MVOC-Prüfgase im Labor generiert. Die Prüfgase wurden durch permeative Beimengungen in einen definierten Gasstrom hergestellt. Anhand dieser Prüfgase wurden die typischen IMS-Parameter, wie reduzierte Mobilität (K0), relative Driftzeit (trd), Konzentrationsabhängigkeit der Signale und daraus resultierend die Nachweisgrenze des Ionenmobilitätsspektrometer ermittelt. Die bestimmten Nachweisgrenzen der 14 untersuchten MVOC liegen im Bereich zwischen 2 und 192 µg m 3 (1 bis 51 ppbV).Im zweiten Teil wurden sieben oft im Innenraum nachgewiesene Schimmelpilzarten auf Nährmedien kultiviert und ihre produzierten MVOC detektiert. Dabei wurde festgestellt, dass Schimmelpilze art- und altersabhängige MVOC-Emissionen aufweisen. Eine statistische Auswertung und Bestätigung zeigte die Anwendung der Hauptkomponentenanalyse (PCA). Versuchsbegleitend erfolgte eine Identifizierung der MVOC durch gaschromatographische Analysen und bestätigte die IMS-Ergebnisse.Beim Schimmelpilzwachstum einer Mischsporenkultur auf drei verschiedenen Baumaterialien wurden die produzierten MVOC detektiert. Die IMS-Spektren wurden chemometrisch durch eine PCA ausgewertet. Es können die Spektren von unbeimpften und mit Schimmelpilzkulturen beimpften Baumaterialien damit unterscheiden werden ohne die stoffliche Zusammensetzung der Emissionskammerluft zu kennen.Im letzten Teil dieser Arbeit wurde das IMS in 27 Feldversuchen eingesetzt, um MVOC und damit ein Schimmelpilzwachstum in Innenräumen zu detektieren. In 59 % der Fälle wurde eine positive Korrelation zwischen einem sichtbaren Schimmelpilzbefall und den mittels IMS detektierten MVOC ermittelt

Evaluation and application of static headspace-multicapillary column-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry for complex sample analysis.

An evaluation of static headspace-multicapillary column-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (SHS-MCC-GC-IMS) has been undertaken to assess its applicability for the determination of 32 volatile compounds (VCs). The key experimental variables of sample incubation time and temperature have been evaluated alongside the MCC-GC variables of column polarity, syringe temperature, injection temperature, injection volume, column temperature and carrier gas flow rate coupled with the IMS variables of temperature and drift gas flow rate. This evaluation resulted in six sets of experimental variables being required to separate the 32 VCs. The optimum experimental variables for SHS-MCC-GC-IMS, the retention time and drift time operating parameters were determined; to normalise the operating parameters, the relative drift time and normalised reduced ion mobility for each VC were determined. In addition, a full theoretical explanation is provided on the formation of the monomer, dimer and trimer of a VC. The optimum operating condition for each VC calibration data was obtained alongside limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) values. Typical detection limits ranged from 0.1ng bis(methylthio)methane, ethylbutanoate and (E)-2-nonenal to 472ng isovaleric acid with correlation coefficient (R(2)) data ranging from 0.9793 (for the dimer of octanal) through to 0.9990 (for isobutyric acid). Finally, the developed protocols were applied to the analysis of malodour in sock samples. Initial work involved spiking an inert matrix and sock samples with appropriate concentrations of eight VCs. The average recovery from the inert matrix was 101±18% (n=8), while recoveries from the sock samples were lower, that is, 54±30% (n=8) for sock type 1 and 78±24% (n=6) for sock type 2. Finally, SHS-MCC-GC-IMS was applied to sock malodour in a field trial based on 11 volunteers (mixed gender) over a 3-week period. By applying the SHS-MCC-GC-IMS database, four VCs were identified and quantified: ammonia, dimethyl disulphide, dimethyl trisulphide and butyric acid. A link was identified between the presence of high ammonia and dimethyl disulphide concentrations and a high malodour odour grading, that is, ≥ 6. Statistical analysis did not find any correlation between the occurrence of dimethyl disulphide and participant gender

EFAD 2022 Supplementary document to the current International Code of Ethics: Recommendations of the PPC on areas of practice not specifically addressed in the International Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics A code of ethics is a written set of principles and rules with the purpose of: • Helping professionals conduct their actions in accordance with primary values, principles and ethical standards. • Assuring the public that members of regulated professions are acting in a socially and professionally acceptable manner. • Assisting individuals to govern their decision making. • Helping professionals practice honestly and with integrity. • Guarding against malicious or self-serving practices and actions

How flies turn food into progeny

Sex-optimal diets have different effects on gene expression in female and male flies

Diagnosis of COVID-19 by analysis of breath with gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry - a feasibility study

Background There is an urgent need to rapidly distinguish COVID-19 from other respiratory conditions, including influenza, at first-presentation. Point-of-care tests not requiring laboratory- support will speed diagnosis and protect health-care staff. We studied the feasibility of using breath-analysis to distinguish these conditions with near-patient gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). Methods Independent observational prevalence studies at Edinburgh, UK, and Dortmund, Germany, recruited adult patients with possible COVID-19 at hospital presentation. Participants gave a single breath-sample for VOC analysis by GC-IMS. COVID-19 infection was identified by transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT- qPCR) of oral/nasal swabs together with clinical-review. Following correction for environmental contaminants, potential COVID-19 breath-biomarkers were identified by multi-variate analysis and comparison to GC-IMS databases. A COVID-19 breath-score based on the relative abundance of a panel of volatile organic compounds was proposed and tested against the cohort data. Findings Ninety-eight patients were recruited, of whom 21/33 (63.6%) and 10/65 (15.4%) had COVID-19 in Edinburgh and Dortmund, respectively. Other diagnoses included asthma, COPD, bacterial pneumonia, and cardiac conditions. Multivariate analysis identified aldehydes (ethanal, octanal), ketones (acetone, butanone), and methanol that discriminated COVID-19 from other conditions. An unidentified-feature with significant predictive power for severity/death was isolated in Edinburgh, while heptanal was identified in Dortmund. Differentiation of patients with definite diagnosis (25 and 65) of COVID-19 from non-COVID-19 was possible with 80% and 81.5% accuracy in Edinburgh and Dortmund respectively (sensitivity/specificity 82.4%/75%; area-under-the-receiver- operator-characteristic [AUROC] 0.87 95% CI 0.67 to 1) and Dortmund (sensitivity / specificity 90%/80%; AUROC 0.91 95% CI 0.87 to 1).Interpretation These two studies independently indicate that patients with COVID-19 can be rapidly distinguished from patients with other conditions at first healthcare contact. The identity of the marker compounds is consistent with COVID-19 derangement of breath-biochemistry by ketosis, gastrointestinal effects, and inflammatory processes. Development and validation of this approach may allow rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 in the coming endemic flu seasons.</div

Final publishable JRP summary for ENV55 MetNH3 - Metrology for Ammonia in Ambient Air

This project developed reference standards and measurement techniques for traceable measurements of NH3 in air. These will enable validated high quality ammonia measurement data which will help monitor and compare NH3 levels and ensure compliance with environmental protection policies and legislation

Dietary stearic acid regulates mitochondria in vivo in humans.

Since modern foods are unnaturally enriched in single metabolites, it is important to understand which metabolites are sensed by the human body and which are not. We previously showed that the fatty acid stearic acid (C18:0) signals via a dedicated pathway to regulate mitofusin activity and thereby mitochondrial morphology and function in cell culture. Whether this pathway is poised to sense changes in dietary intake of C18:0 in humans is not known. We show here that C18:0 ingestion rapidly and robustly causes mitochondrial fusion in people within 3 h after ingestion. C18:0 intake also causes a drop in circulating long-chain acylcarnitines, suggesting increased fatty acid beta-oxidation in vivo. This work thereby identifies C18:0 as a dietary metabolite that is sensed by our bodies to control our mitochondria. This could explain part of the epidemiological differences between C16:0 and C18:0, whereby C16:0 increases cardiovascular and cancer risk whereas C18:0 decreases both

A metrological approach to improve accuracy and reliability of ammonia measurements in ambient air

The environmental impacts of ammonia (NH$_3$) in ambient air have become more evident in the recent decades, leading to intensifying research in this field. A number of novel analytical techniques and monitoring instruments have been developed, and the quality and availability of reference gas mixtures used for the calibration of measuring instruments has also increased significantly. However, recent inter-comparison measurements show significant discrepancies, indicating that the majority of the newly developed devices and reference materials require further thorough validation. There is a clear need for more intensive metrological research focusing on quality assurance, intercomparability and validations. MetNH3 (Metrology for ammonia in ambient air) is a three-year project within the framework of the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP), which aims to bring metrological traceability to ambient ammonia measurements in the 0.5–500 nmol mol$^{−1}$ amount fraction range. This is addressed by working in three areas: (1) improving accuracy and stability of static and dynamic reference gas mixtures, (2) developing an optical transfer standard and (3) establishing the link between high-accuracy metrological standards and field measurements. In this article we describe the concept, aims and first results of the project.EMRP MetNH3 (EURAMET