Fluorescence lifetime assisted enhanced security feature in travel documents for border control and security applications.

Border management and security challenges are increasing considerably in recent years. One of the major concerns is counterfeiting and fraudulent use of identity and other travel documents for crossing border controls. This poses serious threats and safety concerns worldwide, considering the scenario of terrorism and illegal migration across the world. Hence, advanced technologies with improved security features becomes essential to strengthen border security and to enable smooth transits. In this paper, we present a novel dual waveguide based invisible fluorescence security feature with lifetime discrimination and a simple validation system. Molecular fluorescence and lifetimes from the rare earth doped waveguides can be used as additional security features in the identity documents. The validation system consists of a modulated excitation source and fast photo-diodes which helps in the simultaneous detection of multiple security features from the fluorescence waveguides. The rare earth doped fluorescence waveguides are embedded into the identity document as micro-threads or tags which are invisible to the naked eye and are only machine readable. Rare earth fluorescence materials have higher sensitivity and selectivity as they absorb only specific ultraviolet (UV) or visible (VIS) wavelengths to create corresponding fluorescent emissions in the visible or infrared wavelengths. Herein, we present the results based on the fluorescence and fluorescence lifetime spectroscopic studies carried out on the terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy) doped waveguides. The different emission wavelengths and lifetimes of these rare earth elements is a key differentiating feature, providing selectivity and security to the detector systems

An adjuvant free mouse model of oral allergenic sensitization to rice seeds protein

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rice is commonly known as a staple crop consumed worldwide, though with several rice proteins being reported for allergic properties in clinical studies. Thus, there is a growing need for the development of an animal model to better understand the allergenicity of rice proteins and the immunological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of food allergy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Groups of BALB/c mice were sensitized daily with freshly homogenized rice flour (30 mg or 80 mg) without adjuvant by intragastric gavage. In addition, the mice were challenged with extracted rice flour proteins at several time points intragastrically. Hypersensitivity symptoms in mice were evaluated according to a scoring system. Vascular leakage, ELISA of rice protein-specific IgE, histopathology of small intestine, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis were conducted on challenged mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An adjuvant free mouse model of rice allergy was established with sensitized mice showing increased scratching behaviors and increased vascular permeability. Rice protein-specific IgE was detected after eighteen days of sensitization and from the fifth challenge onwards. Inflammatory damage to the epithelium in the small intestine of mice was observed beyond one month of sensitization. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis results confirmed the positive rice allergy in the mouse model.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We introduced a BALB/c mouse model of rice allergy with simple oral sensitization without the use of adjuvant. This model would serve as a useful tool for further analysis on the immunopathogenic mechanisms of the various rice allergens, for the evaluation of the hypersensitivity of rice or other cereal grains, and to serve as a platform for the development of immunotherapies against rice allergens.</p

Stochastic Dominance Analysis of CTA Funds

In this paper, we employ the stochastic dominance approach to rank the performance of commodity trading advisors (CTA) funds. An advantage of this approach is that it alleviates the problems that can arise if CTA returns are not normally distributed by utilizing the entire returns distribution. We find both first-order and higher-order stochastic dominance relationships amongst the CTA funds and conclude that investors would be better off investing in the first-order dominant funds to maximize their expected utilities and expected wealth. However, for higher-order dominant CTA, riskaverse investors can maximize their expected utilities but not their expected wealth. We conclude that the stochastic dominance approach is more appropriate compared with traditional approaches as a filter in the CTA selection process given that a meaningful economic interpretation of the results is possible as the entire return distribution is utilized when returns are non-normal

Hybrid Passivated Red Organic LEDs with Prolonged Operation and Storage Lifetime

In addition to mobile and TV displays, there is a trend of organic LEDs being applied in niche markets, such as microdisplays, automobile taillights, and photobiomodulation therapy. These applications mostly do not require to be flexible in form but need to have long operation lifetimes and storage lifespans. Using traditional glass encapsulation may not be able to fulfill the rigorous product specification, and a hybrid encapsulation method by combining glass and thin-film encapsulation will be the solution. Conventional thin-film encapsulation technology generally involves organic and inorganic multilayer films that are thick and have considerable stress. As a result, when subjected to extreme heat and stress, the film easily peels off. Herein, the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of a 2 &micro;m silicon nitride film prepared at 85 &deg;C is less than 5 &times; 10&minus;5 g/m2/day and its stress is optimized to be 23 MPa. Red organic LEDs are passivated with the hybrid encapsulation, and the T95 lifetime reaches nearly 10 years if the LED is continuously driven at an initial luminance of 1000 cd/m2. In addition, a storage lifespan of over 17 years is achieved

Plasma high sensitivity troponin T levels in adult survivors of childhood leukaemias: determinants and associations with cardiac function.

We sought to quantify plasma high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnT) levels, their determinants, and their associations with left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation in adult survivors of childhood acute leukaemias.One hundred adult survivors (57 males) of childhood acute leukaemias, aged 24.1 ± 4.2 years, and 42 age-matched controls (26 males) were studied. Plasma cTnT was determined using a highly sensitive assay. Genotyping of NAD(P)H oxidase and multidrug resistance protein polymorphisms was performed. Left ventricular function was assessed by conventional, three-dimensional, and speckle tracking echocardiography. The medians (interquartile range) of hs-cTnT in male and female survivors were 4.9 (4.2 to 7.2) ng/L and 1.0 (1.0 to 3.5) ng/L, respectively. Nineteen survivors (13 males, 6 females) (19%) had elevated hs-cTnT (>95(th) centile of controls). Compared to those without elevated hs-TnT levels, these subjects had received larger cumulative anthracycline dose and were more likely to have leukaemic relapse, stem cell transplant, and cardiac irradiation. Their LV systolic and early diastolic myocardial velocities, isovolumic acceleration, and systolic longitudinal strain rate were significantly lower. Survivors having CT/TT at CYBA rs4673 had higher hs-cTnT levels than those with CC genotype. Functionally, increased hs-cTnT levels were associated with worse LV longitudinal systolic strain and systolic and diastolic strain rates.Increased hs-cTnT levels occur in a significant proportion of adult survivors of childhood acute leukaemias and are associated with larger cumulative anthracycline dose received, history of leukaemic relapse, stem cell transplant, and cardiac irradiation, genetic variants in free radical metabolism, and worse LV myocardial deformation

Comparisons of echocardiographic findings between survivors with (group I) and without (group II) elevated hs-cTnT levels.

<p>Abbreviations: A, peak mitral inflow velocity at late diastole; a, mitral annular late diastolic myocardial tissue velocity; E, peak mitral inflow velocity at early diastole; e, mitral annual early diastolic myocardial tissue velocity; EF, ejection fraction; FS, fractional shortening; IVA, isovolumic acceleration; LV, left ventricular; LVEDd, left ventricular end diastolic dimension; LVESd, left ventricular end systolic dimension; SR_d, early diastolic strain rate; SR_s, systolic strain rate.</p>*<p>statistically significant.</p

Comparisons of demographic and echocardiographic findings between survivors and control subjects.

<p>Abbreviations: A, peak mitral inflow velocity at late diastole; a, mitral annular late diastolic myocardial tissue velocity; E, peak mitral inflow velocity at early diastole; e, mitral annual early diastolic myocardial tissue velocity; EF, ejection fraction; FS, fractional shortening; IVA, isovolumic acceleration; LV, left ventricular; LVEDd, left ventricular end diastolic dimension; LVESd, left ventricular end systolic dimension; SR_d, early diastolic strain rate; SR_s, systolic strain rate.</p>*<p>statistically significant.</p