Differential Interference Research Articles

Identifying contaminants of coal-derived inertinite in charcoal briquettes: Preliminary findings of microscopic analysis

Despite the widespread popularity of charcoal-based grilling fuels, extensive studies have highlighted various pollutants linked to their production and combustion, posing potential risks to human health and the environment. Since the presence of impurities has been identified as a factor contributing to elevated emissions of harmful gases and particulate matter, a comprehensive quality assessment of grilling fuels is imperative to effectively manage and minimise potential risks to customer health and safety. While identifying many impurities in solid biomass fuels is possible through microscopic analysis, identifying fossil coal contaminants in charcoal briquettes can be challenging. The biggest difficulty arises when coal-derived inertinite and man-made charcoal need to be distinguished as both exhibit numerous visual similarities in microscopic images. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine the optical morphology of inertinite and charcoal with the aim of differentiating them when they co-occur in charcoal briquettes. The results show that employing high differential interference (DIC) and fluorescence filters, coupled with reflected white light in microscopic analysis, can enhance the observations allowing for easier detection of impurities of inertinite in charcoal-based grilling fuels. Among the most notable distinctions are the high degree of cellular structure preservation and the presence of small pores and protrusions in man-made charcoal; these characteristics are typically absent in the inertinite fragments.

Differential interference with actin-binding protein function by acute Cytochalasin B.

Dynamic actin filament remodeling is crucial for a plethora of fundamental cell biological processes, ranging from cell division and migration to cell communication, intracellular trafficking or tissue development. Cytochalasin B and -D are fungal secondary metabolites frequently used for interference with such processes. Although generally assumed to block actin filament polymerization at their rapidly growing barbed ends and compete with regulators at these sites, our molecular understanding of their precise effects in dynamic actin structures is scarce. Here we combine live cell imaging and analysis of fluorescent actin-binding protein dynamics with acute treatment of lamellipodia in migrating cells with cytochalasin B. Our results show that in spite of an abrupt halt of lamellipodium protrusion, cytochalasin B affects various actin filament barbed end-binding proteins in a differential fashion. Cytochalasin B enhances instead of diminishes the accumulation of prominent barbed end-binding factors such as Ena/VASP family proteins and heterodimeric capping protein (CP) in the lamellipodium. Similar results were obtained with cytochalasin D. All these effects are highly specific, as cytochalasin-induced VASP accumulation requires the presence of CP, but not vice versa , and coincides with abrogation of both actin and VASP turnover. Cytochalasin B can also increase apparent barbed end interactions with the actin-binding β-tentacle of CP and partially mimic its Arp2/3 complex-promoting activity in the lamellipodium. In conclusion, our results reveal a new spectrum of cytochalasin activities on barbed end-binding factors, with important implications for the interpretation of their effects on dynamic actin structures.

Short-term auditory priming in freely-moving mice

Priming, a change in the mental processing of a stimulus as a result of prior encounter with a related stimulus, has been observed repeatedly and studied extensively in humans. Yet currently, there is no behavioral model of short-term priming in lab animals, precluding research on the neurobiological basis of priming. Here, we describe an auditory discrimination paradigm for studying response priming in freely moving mice. We find a priming effect in success rate in all mice tested on the task. In contrast, we do not find a priming effect in response times. Compared to non-primed discrimination trials, the addition of incongruent prime stimuli reduces success rate more than congruent prime stimuli, suggesting a cognitive mechanism based on differential interference. The results establish the short-term priming phenomenon in rodents, and the paradigm opens the door to studying the cellular-network basis of priming.

All-optical ultrasonic detector based on differential interference.

We report on an all-optical ultrasonic detecting method based on differential interference. A linearly polarized probe beam is split into two closely separated ones with orthogonal polarization. After interacting with propagating ultrasonic waves in a coupling media, the split beams are recombined into one beam, with its polarization being changed into an elliptical one by the elastic-optical effect. The recombined beam is filtered by an analyzer and detected by a photodetector. The bandwidth and noise-equivalent pressure (NEP) of the acoustic detector are determined to be 107.4 MHz and 2.18 kPa, respectively. We also demonstrate its feasibility for photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) using agar-embedded phantoms.

Research on data privacy protection technology of social network users based on differential disturbance

To improve social networking user data privacy protection, and put forward based on the difference of the disturbance of social network user data privacy protection technology, adopt the method of discrete transform social network user data output discreteness scheduling, build social network user data encryption key agreement, linear combination of ellipse encryption method for network user data of the internal spatial structure reorganization, to extract the fuzzy degree of social network user data set, the introduction of the main components in the process of fusion technology for data encryption feature normalization processing, by cross compile technology to achieve the optimal coding of social network user data control, the difference perturbation technique, Design linear disturbance control and arithmetic coding in social network user data privacy protection, construct encryption and decryption keys, and realize encrypted storage and transmission of social network user data. Simulation results show that the encryption time of this method is 8.5 ms, much lower than the traditional method, and the fidelity reaches 1 when the number of iterations reaches 400. Other methods are 0.923, 0.866 and 0.921, respectively, which are all lower than the social network user data privacy protection technology based on differential interference. Therefore, The method designed in this paper can encrypt user data in social network in a shorter time, has stronger anti-attack ability, and improves the real rate of user data transmission.

Разработка устройства защиты от сверхкоротких импульсов для цепей электропитания бортовой радиоэлектронной аппаратуры

Correct and uninterrupted operation of on-board radio-electronic equipment (REE) operating in extreme space conditions is an important requirement in spacecraft (SC) development and operation, since its violation can cause irreparable damage. Ensuring interference immunity of power supply bus (PSB) of on-board REE of SC. When designing the PSB, the task of ensuring the integrity of the power supply was solved by developing a protection device against conductive interference, including protection against ultra-short pulses (USP). The duration of such interference is in the nanosecond and subnanosecond range. Due to their wide range, such interference overcomes traditional means of protection. To protect against USP, devices called modal filters (MF) have been proposed. MFs are designed to be integrated into PSBs and provide effective protection against USP. Meanwhile, in order to obtain a complex protection effect of a spacecraft against radiated and conductive large-amplitude USP, a joint use of MF and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter on elements with concentrated parameters is proposed. For the first time, recommendations on step-by-step development of an PSB protection device against USP, which is a hybrid consisting of MF and EMI-filter, are presented. Experimental studies have shown that such a hybrid attenuates common and differential interference in the frequency range up to 5 GHz by 5.81 and 11.9 times, respectively. In addition, the device is small and lightweight, which is important for space applications.

Automated stain-free histomorphometry of peripheral nerve by contrast-enhancing techniques and artificial intelligence

BackgroundTraditional histopathologic evaluation of peripheral nerve using brightfield microscopy is resource-intensive, necessitating complex sample preparation. Label-free imaging techniques paired with artificial intelligence-based image reconstruction and segmentation may facilitate peripheral nerve histomorphometry. New methodHerein, the utility of label-free phase contrast techniques paired with artificial intelligence-based image processing for imaging of mammalian peripheral nerve is demonstrated. ResultsFresh frozen murine sciatic nerve sections were imaged in transmission modalities using differential interference and phase contrast microscopy and in epifluorescent modality following staining with myelin-specific dye. Deep learning was employed to predict epifluorescent images from transmitted phase contrast images, and machine learning employed for automated segmentation of myelinated axons for reporting of axons counts and g-ratios. Comparison with existing methodsConventional peripheral nerve histomorphometry employs resource intensive resin embedding, ultra-microtome sectioning, and staining steps. Herein we demonstrate feasibility of high-throughput nerve histomorphometry via label-free phase contrast imaging of frozen sections. ConclusionsClinical applications of label-free phase contrast microscopy paired with deep learning algorithms are discussed.

Natural chalcones elicit formation of specialized pro-resolving mediators and related 15-lipoxygenase products in human macrophages

Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) comprise lipid mediators (LMs) produced from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) via stereoselective oxygenation particularly involving 12/15-lipoxygenases (LOXs). In contrast to pro-inflammatory LMs such as leukotrienes formed by 5-LOX and prostaglandins formed by cyclooxygenases, the SPMs have anti-inflammatory and inflammation-resolving properties. Although glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that block prostaglandin production are still prime therapeutics for inflammation-related diseases despite severe side effects, novel concepts focus on SPMs as immunoresolvents for anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy. Here, we studied the natural chalcone MF-14 and the corresponding dihydrochalcone MF-15 from Melodorum fruticosum, for modulating the biosynthesis of LM including leukotrienes, prostaglandins, SPM and their 12/15-LOX-derived precursors in human monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) M1- and M2-like phenotypes. In MDM challenged with Staphylococcus aureus-derived exotoxins both compounds (10 µM) significantly suppressed 5-LOX product formation but increased the biosynthesis of 12/15-LOX products, especially in M2-MDM. Intriguingly, in resting M2-MDM, MF-14 and MF-15 strikingly evoked generation of 12/15-LOX products and of SPMs from liberated PUFAs, along with translocation of 15-LOX-1 to membranous compartments. Enhanced 12/15-LOX product formation by the chalcones was evident also when exogenous PUFAs were supplied, excluding increased substrate supply as sole underlying mechanism. Rather, MF-14 and MF-15 stimulate the activity of 15-LOX-1, supported by experiments with HEK293 cells transfected with either 5-LOX, 15-LOX-1 or 15-LOX-2. Together, the natural chalcone MF-14 and the dihydrochalcone MF-15 favorably modulate LM biosynthesis in human macrophages by suppressing pro-inflammatory leukotrienes but stimulating formation of SPMs by differential interference with 5-LOX and 15-LOX-1.

Research on Electromagnetic Flowmeter Based on Double-frequency Trapezoidal Wave Excitation

Electromagnetic Flowmeter is widely used in industrial production and life, because it is characterized by high precision and little environmental interference in electromagnetic flow measurement. However, the commonly used low frequency rectangular wave excitation greatly reduces the measurement accuracy and measurement range of electromagnetic flowmeter due to in-phase interference, differential interference and other factors. Double-frequency trapezoidal wave excitation has the advantages of both excellent zero-point stability of low frequency excitation and strong ability to suppress the noise of slurry fluid and fast response speed of high frequency excitation. In this paper, a double-frequency trapezoidal wave excitation method for electromagnetic flow measurement is proposed. Then the experimental platform is established to verify the measurement accuracy and measurement range. According to the comparison with the instant flow of the standard meter, the measurement accuracy of double-frequency trapezoidal wave excitation is significantly higher than that of low frequency rectangular wave excitation, and in phase interference and differential interference are significantly reduced.

Tripartite Interactions among Ixodiphagus hookeri, Ixodes ricinus and Deer: Differential Interference with Transmission Cycles of Tick-Borne Pathogens

For the development of sustainable control of tick-borne diseases, insight is needed in biological factors that affect tick populations. Here, the ecological interactions among Ixodiphagus hookeri, Ixodes ricinus, and two vertebrate species groups were investigated in relation to their effects on tick-borne disease risk. In 1129 questing ticks, I. hookeri DNA was detected more often in I. ricinus nymphs (4.4%) than in larvae (0.5%) and not in adults. Therefore, we determined the infestation rate of I. hookeri in nymphs from 19 forest sites, where vertebrate, tick, and tick-borne pathogen communities had been previously quantified. We found higher than expected co-occurrence rates of I. hookeri with deer-associated Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and lower than expected rates with rodent-associated Borrelia afzelii and Neoehrlichia mikurensis. The prevalence of I. hookeri in nymphs varied between 0% and 16% and was positively correlated with the encounter probability of ungulates and the densities of all life stages of I. ricinus. Lastly, we investigated the emergence of I. hookeri from artificially fed, field-collected nymphs. Adult wasps emerged from seven of the 172 fed nymphs. From these observations, we inferred that I. hookeri is parasitizing I. ricinus larvae that are feeding on deer, rather than on rodents or in the vegetation. Since I. hookeri populations depend on deer abundance, the main propagation host of I. ricinus, these wasps have no apparent effect on tick populations. The presence of I. hookeri may directly interfere with the transmission cycle of A. phagocytophilum, but not with that of B. afzelii or N. mikurensis.

In vitro characterization of sonothrombolysis and echocontrast agents to treat ischemic stroke

The development of adjuvant techniques to improve thrombolytic efficacy is important for advancing ischemic stroke therapy. We characterized octafluoropropane and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA)-loaded echogenic liposomes (OFP t-ELIP) using differential interference and fluorescence microscopy, attenuation spectroscopy, and electrozone sensing. The loading of rt-PA in OFP t-ELIP was assessed using spectrophotometry. Further, it was tested whether the agent shields rt-PA against degradation by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). An in vitro system was used to assess whether ultrasound (US) combined with either Definity or OFP t-ELIP enhances rt-PA thrombolysis. Human whole blood clots were mounted in a flow system and visualized using an inverted microscope. The perfusate consisted of either (1) plasma alone, (2) rt-PA, (3) OFP t-ELIP, (4) rt-PA and US, (5) OFP t-ELIP and US, (6) Definity and US, or (7) rt-PA, Definity, and US (n = 16 clots per group). An intermittent US insonation scheme was employed (220 kHz frequency, and 0.44 MPa peak-to-peak pressures) for 30 min. Microscopic imaging revealed that OFP t-ELIP included a variety of structures such as liposomes (with and without gas) and lipid-shelled microbubbles. OFP t-ELIP preserved up to 76% of rt-PA activity in the presence of PAI-1, whereas only 24% activity was preserved for unencapsulated rt-PA. The use of US with rt-PA and Definity enhanced lytic efficacy (p < 0.05) relative to rt-PA alone. US combined with OFP t-ELIP enhanced lysis over OFP t-ELIP alone (p < 0.01). These results demonstrate that ultrasound combined with Definity or OFP t-ELIP can enhance the lytic activity relative to rt-PA or OFP t-ELIP alone, respectively.

Semantic and visual relatedness of distractors impairs episodic retrieval of pictures in a divided attention paradigm

ABSTRACTWe used a divided attention (DA) paradigm to infer the representational codes needed to support episodic retrieval of pictures, by measuring susceptibility to memory interference from different distracting tasks. Participants made recognition memory decisions to semantically categorized sets of pictures while simultaneously making size judgments to a set of visually-presented distractor pictures. Recognition accuracy was worse and response times were slower under DA conditions relative to full attention (FA), regardless of semantic relatedness of distractors to targets (Experiment 1). Similarly, we found no differential memory interference under DA relative to FA when distractor pictures were either visually (but not semantically), semantically (but not visually), or unrelated to the targets (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, memory interference was significantly larger under DA at retrieval when distractors were both semantically and visually similar to the targets. Findings suggest episodic memory for pictures requires access to either visually- or semantically-based representations for optimal performance.

Common-mode noise cancellation circuit for wearable ECG.

Wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) is attracting much attention for monitoring heart diseases in healthcare and medical applications. However, an imbalance usually exists between the contact resistances of sensing electrodes, so that a common mode noise caused by external electromagnetic field can be converted into the ECG detection circuit as a differential mode interference voltage. In this study, after explaining the mechanism of how the common mode noise is converted to a differential mode interference voltage, the authors propose a circuit with cadmium sulphide photo-resistors for cancelling the imbalance between the contact resistances and confirm its validity by simulation experiment. As a result, the authors found that the interference voltage generated at the wearable ECG can be effectively reduced to a sufficient small level.

Corrigendum: CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Immunity to Geminiviruses: Differential Interference and Evasion.

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 26912; published online: 26 May 2016; updated: 26 August 2016 This Article contains an error in Figure 5 where Figure 5D and 5E were published as Figure 5E and 5D respectively. The correct Figure 5 and correct figure legend appears below as Figure 1.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Immunity to Geminiviruses: Differential Interference and Evasion.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has recently been used to confer molecular immunity against several eukaryotic viruses, including plant DNA geminiviruses. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the efficiencies of targeting different coding and non-coding sequences in the genomes of multiple geminiviruses. Moreover, we analyze the ability of geminiviruses to evade the CRISPR/Cas9 machinery. Our results demonstrate that the CRISPR/Cas9 machinery can efficiently target coding and non-coding sequences and interfere with various geminiviruses. Furthermore, targeting the coding sequences of different geminiviruses resulted in the generation of viral variants capable of replication and systemic movement. By contrast, targeting the noncoding intergenic region sequences of geminiviruses resulted in interference, but with inefficient recovery of mutated viral variants, which thus limited the generation of variants capable of replication and movement. Taken together, our results indicate that targeting noncoding, intergenic sequences provides viral interference activity and significantly limits the generation of viral variants capable of replication and systemic infection, which is essential for developing durable resistance strategies for long-term virus control.

Uptake of and Resistance to the Antibiotic Berberine by Individual Dormant, Germinating and Outgrowing Bacillus Spores as Monitored by Laser Tweezers Raman Spectroscopy.

Berberine, an alkaloid originally extracted from the plant Coptis chinensis and other herb plants, has been used as a pharmacological substance for many years. The therapeutic effect of berberine has been attributed to its interaction with nucleic acids and blocking cell division. However, levels of berberine entering individual microbial cells minimal for growth inhibition and its effects on bacterial spores have not been determined. In this work the kinetics and levels of berberine accumulation by individual dormant and germinated spores were measured by laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy and differential interference and fluorescence microscopy, and effects of berberine on spore germination and outgrowth and spore and growing cell viability were determined. The major conclusions from this work are that: (1) colony formation from B. subtilis spores was blocked ~ 99% by 25 μg/mL berberine plus 20 μg/mL INF55 (a multidrug resistance pump inhibitor); (2) 200 μg/mL berberine had no effect on B. subtilis spore germination with L-valine, but spore outgrowth was completely blocked; (3) berberine levels accumulated in single spores germinating with ≥ 25 μg/mL berberine were > 10 mg/mL; (4) fluorescence microscopy showed that germinated spores accumulated high-levels of berberine primarily in the spore core, while dormant spores accumulated very low berberine levels primarily in spore coats; and (5) during germination, uptake of berberine began at the time of commitment (T1) and reached a maximum after the completion of CaDPA release (Trelease) and spore cortex lysis (Tlysis).

Characterization of Sputter-Deposited NiTi Thin Film by Nanoindentation

NiTi shape memory alloy thin film sputter-deposited on a large scale silicon wafer was characterized by means of instrumented (depth-sensing) indentation technique. Thickness of deposited thin film was measured by calotest device. Microstructure of thin film was observed using differential interference (Nomarski) contrast. It was shown that the local mechanical properties are different in areas containing different phases (austenite and martensite) according to different deposition conditions (kinetic energy of deposited atoms when impacting the substrate surface).

Design and implementation of wireless monitoring network for temperature-humidity measurement

In order to overcome the shortcomings of existing wireless temperature-humidity monitoring systems, such as high-energy consumption, poor man–machine interaction, differential interference and no reverse real-time control etc., a novel real-time temperature-humidity monitoring system based on short distance wireless microwave communication is designed. In addition, some intelligent algorithms are briefly introduced in wireless communication for frequency assignment, improving energy efficiency and other resource allocation problems. This system uses the chip STC89C52 as the control chip, chip SHT11 as the data acquisition module, chip nRF905 as wireless transceiver module and chip MAX232 as the serial interface between the upper and the lower computer. The system requirements, system design, correlative hardware circuits, control flow chart and software design are depicted in details. This system can realize data acquisition, processing, transmission, control and display of temperature and humidity information. The system functions verification and performance test results show that this system has strong interference, low energy consumption and high precision. This system has great valuable, which has been applied in industrial and agricultural fields, such as greenhouse cultivation and laboratory storage.

Differential interferences with clinical chemistry assays by gold nanorods, and gold and silica nanospheres

Nanomaterials are known to cause interference with several standard toxicological assays. As part of an in vivo study of PEG-coated gold nanorods in mice, nanorods were added to reference serum, and results for standard clinical chemistry parameters were compared with serum analyzed without nanorods. PEG-coated gold nanorods produced several concentration-dependent interferences. Comparisons were then made with PEG-coated gold and silica nanospheres. Interferences were observed for both materials that differed from gold nanorods. Removal of the particles from serum by centrifugation prior to analysis resolved most, but not all of the interferences. Additional clinical chemistry analyzers were used to further investigate trends in assay interference. We conclude that PEG-coated gold and silica nanoparticles can interfere with standard clinical chemistry tests in ways that vary depending upon material, shape, and specific assay methodology employed. Assay interferences by nanomaterials cannot always be predicted, underscoring the need to verify that nanomaterials under study do not interfere with methods used to evaluate potential biological effects.

Study of Mechanical, Electromagnetic, and Crystalline Properties of PP/SEBS/GNs Nano-Composites

Polypropylene (PP) and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) are blended at a ratio of 70/30 to serve as matrices, to which graphene nanosheets (GNs), the reinforcement, are then added to form PP/SEBS/GNs nanocomposites. A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) test, tensile test, conductivity test, and electromagnetic interference shielding test are performed on the nanocomposites to examine the crystalline, mechanical, and electromagnetic properties. DSC results show that the content of GNs is proportional to the crystallization temperature of PP. The conductivity and electromagnetic inference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) increase with an increase in the content of GNs, and can reach an optimal 0.244 S/m and 22 dB, respectively. The results of a tensile test show that an increasing content of GNs results in a decrease and then an increase in the tensile strength of the nanocomposites, until it reaches optimal tensile strength is 17.44 MPa.