Rapid chemical detection and segmentation of latent fingerprints by means of a novel middle-infrared scanning method.

The fast and reliable detection, segmentation and visualization of latent fingerprints are the main tasks in forensics. Currently, conventional fingerprints are searched for, recorded and subsequently analyzed traditional destructive physical and chemical methods. For firmly defined crime objects and undefined crime scenes, the forensic process is very time-consuming and can take several hours for a single fingerprint.

Rapid brain structure and tumour margin detection on whole frozen tissue sections by fast multiphotometric mid-infrared scanning.

Frozen section analysis is a frequently used method for examination of tissue samples, especially for tumour detection. In the majority of cases, the aim is to identify characteristic tissue morphologies or tumour margins. Depending on the type of tissue, a high number of misdiagnoses are associated with this process.

Equivalence classes of circular codes induced by permutation groups.

In the 1950s, Crick proposed the concept of so-called comma-free codes as an answer to the frame-shift problem that biologists have encountered when studying the process of translating a sequence of nucleotide bases into a protein. A little later it turned out that this proposal unfortunately does not correspond to biological reality. However, in the mid-90s, a weaker version of comma-free codes, so-called circular codes, was discovered in nature in J Theor Biol 182:45-58, 1996.

The domesticated transposase ALP2 mediates formation of a novel Polycomb protein complex by direct interaction with MSI1, a core subunit of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2).

A large fraction of plant genomes is composed of transposable elements (TE), which provide a potential source of novel genes through "domestication"-the process whereby the proteins encoded by TE diverge in sequence, lose their ability to catalyse transposition and instead acquire novel functions for their hosts. In Arabidopsis, ANTAGONIST OF LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN 1 (ALP1) arose by domestication of the nuclease component of Harbinger class TE and acquired a new function as a component of POLYCOMB REPRESSIVE COMPLEX 2 (PRC2), a histone H3K27me3 methyltransferase involved in regulation of host genes and in some cases TE. It was not clear how ALP1 associated with PRC2, nor what the functional consequence was.

Computer-based comparison of different methods for selecting mitral annuloplasty ring size.

Background: Ring sizing for mitral valve annuloplasty is conventionally done intraoperatively using specific 'sizer' instruments, which are placed onto the valve tissue. This approach is barely reproducible since different sizing strategies have been established among surgeons. The goal of this study is to virtually apply different sizing methods on the basis of pre-repair echocardiography to find out basic differences between sizing strategies.

High temperature investigation of electrochemical lithium insertion into LiTiO.

LiTiO was synthesized via a solid state reaction and lithiated at 400 °C in a custom built galvanostatic cell consisting of a molten LiCl-KCl electrolyte and Li-Al alloy wires as counter and reference electrodes. The material exhibits decreased rate capability at 400 °C compared to the room temperature behavior. Electrochemical lithiation at C/20 exhibits a discharge profile with both a sloping curve and flat plateau, which is indicative of a solid solution behavior before reaching a two phase region.

Intraoperative Quantitative Mitral Valve Analysis Using Optical Tracking Technology.

Purpose: Analysis of mitral valve morphology during reconstruction is routinely based on visual assessment and subjective, poorly reproducible measurements. We prove the feasibility of a new intraoperative system for quantitative mitral valve analysis.

Description: The proposed computer-based assistance system enables accurate intraoperative localization of anatomic landmarks on the mitral valve apparatus using optical tracking technology.

The impact of autophagy on peripheral synapses in health and disease.

Alterations of autophagy have been linked to several peripheral nervous system diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Modulation of autophagy by metabolic or pharmacological interventions has been increasingly recognized as a strategy to fight many of these disorders. Cellular processes that are aberrant in case of impaired autophagy and that might lead to these diseases belong to three different categories: (1) clearing of protein aggregates, (2) regulation of vesicle and cargo turnover, and (3) disposal of damaged mitochondria.

Accuracy evaluation of a mitral valve surgery assistance system based on optical tracking.

Purpose: Mitral valve reconstruction is a widespread surgical method to repair incompetent mitral valves, which usually includes implantation of a ring prosthesis. To date, intraoperative analysis of the mitral valve is merely based on visual assessment using simple surgical tools, which might not allow for accurate assessment of the complex anatomy.

Methods: We propose a novel intraoperative computer-based assistance system, which combines passive optical tracking technology with tailored measurement strategies applicable during different phases of the intraoperative workflow.

Neuromuscular junction degeneration in muscle wasting.

Purpose Of Review: Denervation is a hallmark of age-related and other types of muscle wasting. This review focuses on recent insights and current viewpoints regarding the mechanisms and clinical relevance of maintaining the neuromuscular junction to counteract muscle wasting resulting from aging or neural disease/damage.

Recent Findings: Activity-dependent regulation of autophagy, the agrin-muscle specific kinase-Lrp4 signaling axis, and sympathetic modulation are principal mechanisms involved in stabilizing the neuromuscular junction.

High-frequency ultrasound as an option for scanning of prepared teeth: an in vitro study.

Because of its ability to non-invasively capture hard structures behind soft tissue, high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS)-assisted microscanning could be a patient-friendly and promising alternative for digitization of prepared teeth. However, intra-oral HFUS microscanners for taking digital impressions of prepared teeth are still not available in the clinical setting. Because working range, scanner size, scanning time, surface reconstruction accuracy and costs are major factors in such a system, our overall objective is to minimize hardware efforts and costs while maintaining the accuracy of the surface-reconstructed tooth model in the range 50 μm.