Cities beyond proximity.

The concept of 'proximity-based cities' has gained attention as a new urban organizational model. Most prominently, the 15-minute city contends that cities can function more effectively, equitably and sustainably if essential, everyday services and key amenities are within a 15-minute walk or cycle. However, focusing solely on travel time risks overlooking disparities in service quality, as the proximity paradigm tends to emphasize the mere presence of an element in a location rather than bringing up more complex questions of identity, diversity, quality, value or relationships.

Raman spectroscopic based chemometric models to support a dynamic capacitance based cell culture feeding strategy.

Multiple process analytical technology (PAT) tools are now being applied in tandem for cell culture. Research presented used two in-line probes, capacitance for a dynamic feeding strategy and Raman spectroscopy for real-time monitoring. Data collected from eight batches at the 15,000 L scale were used to develop process models.

Enabling Robust and Rapid Raw Material Identification and Release by Handheld Raman Spectroscopy.

A fast, reproducible, non-destructive method to confirm raw material identification in real-time upon material receipt within a warehouse environment is desired. Current practices in pharmaceutical manufacturing often employ compendia methods for raw material identification tests, which require sample preparation prior to time-consuming chemical analysis and often employ subjective spectral comparisons. We have developed, qualified, and validated a rapid objective identity method ("Rapid ID") by Raman spectroscopy using the Bruker BRAVO handheld Raman spectrometer for 46 common raw materials used in upstream and downstream biopharmaceutical cell culture-based processes.

Glucose monitoring and adaptive feeding of mammalian cell culture in the presence of strong autofluorescence by near infrared Raman spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy offers an attractive platform for real-time monitoring and control of metabolites and feeds in cell culture processes, including mammalian cell culture for biopharmaceutical production. However, specific cell culture processes may generate substantial concentrations of chemical species and byproducts with high levels of autofluorescence when excited with the standard 785 nm wavelength. Shifting excitation further toward the near-infrared allows reduction or elimination of process autofluorescence.

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a rural employer-based wellness program.

Context: The cost-effectiveness of employer-based wellness programs has been previously investigated with favorable financial and nonfinancial outcomes being detected. However, these investigations have mainly focused on large employers in urban settings. Very few studies examined wellness programs offered in rural settings.

Texture coding in the rat whisker system: slip-stick versus differential resonance.

Rats discriminate surface textures using their whiskers (vibrissae), but how whiskers extract texture information, and how this information is encoded by the brain, are not known. In the resonance model, whisker motion across different textures excites mechanical resonance in distinct subsets of whiskers, due to variation across whiskers in resonance frequency, which varies with whisker length. Texture information is therefore encoded by the spatial pattern of activated whiskers.

Biomechanics of the vibrissa motor plant in rat: rhythmic whisking consists of triphasic neuromuscular activity.

The biomechanics of a motor plant constrain the behavioral strategies that an animal has available to extract information from its environment. We used the rat vibrissa system as a model for active sensing and determined the pattern of muscle activity that drives rhythmic exploratory whisking. Our approach made use of electromyography to measure the activation of all relevant muscles in both head-fixed and unrestrained rats and two-dimensional imaging to monitor the position of the vibrissae in head-fixed rats.

A theory of the Benham Top based on center-surround interactions in the parvocellular pathway.

A model color-opponent neuron was used to investigate the subjective colors evoked by the Benham Top (BT). Color-opponent inputs from cone-selective parvocellular (P) pathway neurons with center-surround receptive fields were subtracted with a short relative delay, yielding a small transient input in response to a white spot. This transient input was amplified by BT-like stimuli, modeled as a thin dark bar followed by full-field illumination.