Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Implemented Synthetic Indole and Indazole Cannabinoid Detection, Identification, and Quantification

The present invention provides a method for detecting synthetic indole and indazole cannabinoids in a sample known or suspected to contain a synthetic indole or indazole cannabinoid. A deuterated solvent is added to the solid sample, creating a suspension. The suspension is mixed to release the cannabinoid from the solid sample. The suspension is subject to a NMR spectroscopy process to produce a sample NMR spectrum

MetaRef: a pan-genomic database for comparative and community microbial genomics

Microbial genome sequencing is one of the longest-standing areas of biological database development, but high-throughput, low-cost technologies have increased its throughput to an unprecedented number of new genomes per year. Several thousand microbial genomes are now available, necessitating new approaches to organizing information on gene function, phylogeny and microbial taxonomy to facilitate downstream biological interpretation. MetaRef, available at http://metaref.org, is a novel online resource systematically cataloguing a comprehensive pan-genome of all microbial clades with sequenced isolates. It organizes currently available draft and finished bacterial and archaeal genomes into quality-controlled clades, reports all core and pan gene families at multiple levels in the resulting taxonomy, and it annotates families’ conservation, phylogeny and consensus functional information. MetaRef also provides a comprehensive non-redundant reference gene catalogue for metagenomic studies, including the abundance and prevalence of all gene families in the >700 shotgun metagenomic samples of the Human Microbiome Project. This constitutes a systematic mapping of clade-specific microbial functions within the healthy human microbiome across multiple body sites and can be used as reference for identifying potential functional biomarkers in disease-associate microbiomes. MetaRef provides all information both as an online browsable resource and as downloadable sequences and tabular data files that can be used for subsequent offline studies

Roles of N-linked glycosylation and glycan-binding proteins in placentation: trophoblast infiltration, immunomodulation, angiogenesis, and pathophysiology

Protein N-linked glycosylation is a structurally diverse post-translational modification that stores biological information in a larger order of magnitude than other post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination and acetylation. This gives N-glycosylated proteins a diverse range of properties and allows glyco-codes (glycan-related information) to be deciphered by glycan-binding proteins (GBPs). The intervillous space of the placenta is richly populated with membrane-bound and secreted glycoproteins. Evidence exists to suggest that altering the structural nature of their N-glycans can impact several trophoblast functions, which include those related to interactions with decidual cells. This review summarizes trophoblast-related activities influenced by N-glycan-GBP recognition, exploring how different subtypes of trophoblasts actively adapt to characteristics of the decidualized endometrium through cell-specific expression of N-glycosylated proteins, and how these cells receive decidua-derived signals via N-glycan-GBP interactions. We highlight work on how changes in N-glycosylation relates to the success of trophoblast infiltration, interactions of immunomodulators, and uterine angiogenesis. We also discuss studies that suggest aberrant N-glycosylation of trophoblasts may contribute to the pathogenesis of pregnancy complications (e.g. pre-eclampsia, early spontaneous miscarriages and hydatidiform mole). We propose that a more in-depth understanding of how N-glycosylation shapes trophoblast phenotype during early pregnancy has the potential to improve our approach to predicting, diagnosing and alleviating poor maternal/fetal outcomes associated with placental dysfunction

Monitoring of the central blood pressure waveform via a conformal ultrasonic device.

Continuous monitoring of the central-blood-pressure waveform from deeply embedded vessels, such as the carotid artery and jugular vein, has clinical value for the prediction of all-cause cardiovascular mortality. However, existing non-invasive approaches, including photoplethysmography and tonometry, only enable access to the superficial peripheral vasculature. Although current ultrasonic technologies allow non-invasive deep-tissue observation, unstable coupling with the tissue surface resulting from the bulkiness and rigidity of conventional ultrasound probes introduces usability constraints. Here, we describe the design and operation of an ultrasonic device that is conformal to the skin and capable of capturing blood-pressure waveforms at deeply embedded arterial and venous sites. The wearable device is ultrathin (240 μm) and stretchable (with strains up to 60%), and enables the non-invasive, continuous and accurate monitoring of cardiovascular events from multiple body locations, which should facilitate its use in a variety of clinical environments

Comprehensive simulation of cooperative robotic system for advanced composite manufacturing: A case study

Composite materials are widely used because of their light weight and high strength properties. They are typically made up of multi-directional layers of high strength fibres, connected by a resin. The manufacturing of composite parts is complex, time-consuming and prone to errors. This work investigates the use of robotics in the field of composite material manufacturing, which has not been well investigated to date (particularly in simulation). Effective autonomous material transportation, accurate localization and limited material deformation during robotic grasping are required for optimum placement and lay-up. In this paper, a simulation of a proposed cooperative robotic system, which integrates an autonomous mobile robot with a fixed-base manipulator, is presented. An approach based on machine vision is adopted to accurately track the position and orientation of the fibre plies. A simulation platform with a built-in physics engine is used to simulate material deformation under gravity and external forces. This allows realistic simulation of robotic manipulation for raw materials. The results demonstrate promising features of the proposed system. A root mean square error of 9.00 mm for the estimation of the raw material position and 0.05 degrees for the fibre orientation detection encourages further research for developing the proposed robotic manufacturing system

Mapping the zoonotic niche of Marburg virus disease in Africa.

BACKGROUND: Marburg virus disease (MVD) describes a viral haemorrhagic fever responsible for a number of outbreaks across eastern and southern Africa. It is a zoonotic disease, with the Egyptian rousette (Rousettus aegyptiacus) identified as a reservoir host. Infection is suspected to result from contact between this reservoir and human populations, with occasional secondary human-to-human transmission. METHODS: Index cases of previous human outbreaks were identified and reports of infection in animals recorded. These data were modelled within a species distribution modelling framework in order to generate a probabilistic surface of zoonotic transmission potential of MVD across sub-Saharan Africa. RESULTS: Areas suitable for zoonotic transmission of MVD are predicted in 27 countries inhabited by 105 million people. Regions are suggested for exploratory surveys to better characterise the geographical distribution of the disease, as well as for directing efforts to communicate the risk of practices enhancing zoonotic contact. CONCLUSIONS: These maps can inform future contingency and preparedness strategies for MVD control, especially where secondary transmission is a risk. Coupling this risk map with patient travel histories could be used to guide the differential diagnosis of highly transmissible pathogens, enabling more rapid response to outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever

Chalcogenide glasses for photonics device applications

Chalcogenides are compounds formed predominately from one or more of the chalcogen elements; sulphur, selenium and tellurium. Although first studied over fifty years ago, interest in chalcogenide glasses has, over the past few years, increased significantly as glasses, crystals and alloys find new life in a wide range of photonic devices. This chapter begins with an overview of chalcogenide glass compositions, their purification, synthesis and fabrication. Focussing on more novel gallium lanthanum sulphide based chalcogenides, as well as reviewing more established materials such as arsenic trisulphide based glasses we then explore the purification and synthesis of these materials, along with their basic optical and thermal properties. Next the fabrication of these versatile glasses into a variety of forms; including thin films, microspheres and optical fibers is explained. This chapter ends with an overview of representative applications of these exciting optoelectronic materials