Substandard Quality of the Antimicrobials Sold in the Street Markets in Haiti

This pilot study was conducted to analyze the quality of the antimicrobials sold in the street markets in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A total of 258 packs containing antimicrobials were bought in 28 street markets in Port-au-Prince (Haiti). Tablets and contents of capsules included in 196 packs were analyzed using a Raman handheld spectrometer (NanoRAM of BWTEK, Model: BWS456-785) during the first quarter of 2019. Three out of 11 antimicrobials (Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, and Cotrimoxazole) had a high spectral match with an HQI ≥ 90 to the respective authentic medicine for more than 95% of their tablets/capsules. For six antimicrobials (Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Cloxacillin, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, and the combination Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid) none of their tablets/capsules showed a sufficient spectral match with the authentic medicine. This finding indicates that these products sold in the markets did not contain the labeled drug and/or contained a degraded drug. In addition to the fact that prescription antimicrobials can be purchased in street markets, the present field study found that for most of them (including “Watch” antimicrobials according to the AWaRe classification) were substandard, which contributes to the present antimicrobials resistance epidemic.

Comparative Review of Artificial Light Sources for Solar-Thermal Biomass Conversion Research Applications

In recent years solar-thermal methods of waste biomass conversion are promptly gaining on attention. For researchers working in areas that suffer from lack of natural solar power, the choice of proper solar simulator for the study is crucial. Solar simulator consist of artificial light source enclosed in proper housing with optical and cooling system, powered by dedicated power supply. Solar simulators are not only granting independence from external conditions, yet provide possibility of research expand due to tuneable output power and emissive spectrum. Over the years, solar simulators were powered by different types of lamps. Throughout the history, the solar simulators were used mainly in photovoltaic and space research, crystal growth industry, and the material testing. For mentioned purposes, the total thermal output power of simulator was playing secondary role in comparison to urgent need of spectral match, irradiance distribution and beam uniformity with terrestrial or extra-terrestrial sunlight. For thermal applications, solar simulators are facing the challenge of providing high output power, described by high radiant heat flux and high heat flux density over the specified target area. In presented paper the comparison of xenon arc, metal halide lams and tungsten halogen for thermal applications has been presented with emphasis on available thermal power, spectral match with natural sunlight and operational issues. The course of decision taken during the selection of artificial light source for construction of laboratory-scale solar pyrolytic reactor is proposed.

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OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: The purpose of this study is to use the baboon as a novel animal model for breath research and to identify and characterize baboon breath metabolites that reflect cardiometabolic function to inform us in the development of a noninvasive, cost-effective, and repeatable point-of-care diagnostic breath test. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Blood and urine was collected from control and IUGR at the approximate age of 3.5 years. Both groups were then placed on a high fat, high sugar, high salt diet for 7 weeks, after which blood, urine, and breath were collected. The breath samples were then subjected to comprehensive, 2-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Using ChromaTOF software, breath VOCs were identified with at least an 80% spectral match against the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) chemical reference library. The raw data were then statistically analyzed using MetaboAnalyst. We then interrogated multiple online databases to characterize and identify the role of VOCs that were present in both control and IUGR groups. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Preliminary analyses of the breath VOCs indicate differences in expression between sexes and in control Versus IUGR groups. These results indicate unique “breath signatures.” Further analysis of the breath VOCs reveals the presence of metabolites that are involved in β-oxidation and oxidative stress pathways. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This breath study, a first of its kind, will develop the baboon as a superior animal model for breath biomarker research. Our observed unique “breath signatures” indicate changes in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress pathways, which we hypothesize are the early metabolic changes at the cellular level that are not yet reflected in clinical lab measures. Future directions include analyzing breath VOCs that did not meet 80% spectral match, validation using SPME technology and commercial standards, and initiating a human pilot study in clinically obese, at-risk children in collaboration with physicians at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio to develop a noninvasive, cost-effective, rapid, and repeatable point-of-care diagnostic breath test.

Changeable camouflage: how well can flounder resemble the colour and spatial scale of substrates in their natural habitats?

Flounder change colour and pattern for camouflage. We used a spectrometer to measure reflectance spectra and a digital camera to capture body patterns of two flounder species camouflaged on four natural backgrounds of different spatial scale (sand, small gravel, large gravel and rocks). We quantified the degree of spectral match between flounder and background relative to the situation of perfect camouflage in which flounder and background were assumed to have identical spectral distribution. Computations were carried out for three biologically relevant observers: monochromatic squid, dichromatic crab and trichromatic guitarfish. Our computations present a new approach to analysing datasets with multiple spectra that have large variance. Furthermore, to investigate the spatial match between flounder and background, images of flounder patterns were analysed using a custom program originally developed to study cuttlefish camouflage. Our results show that all flounder and background spectra fall within the same colour gamut and that, in terms of different observer visual systems, flounder matched most substrates in luminance and colour contrast. Flounder matched the spatial scales of all substrates except for rocks. We discuss findings in terms of flounder biology; furthermore, we discuss our methodology in light of hyperspectral technologies that combine high-resolution spectral and spatial imaging.

A New Method for Spectral Matching Pretreatment

Since spectral curves were obtained by experiment, on the basis of the fully use of the waveform characters, a new method for spectral matching pretreatment has been proposed in this paper. Corresponding to the spectral curve, we can accurately get the spectral absorption curve of the number of bands, it can effectively suppress the effects of the noise according to the times of fitting the points. Besides, it can also prominent the peak point of the material. This method can have an effective influence on the initial period of spectral match and detailed resolution; some numerical simulations have been made to test the validity and capability of the proposed method.

Ceramic IR Emitter with Spectral Match to GaSb PV Cells for TPV

ABSTRACTA high temperature ceramic selective emitter for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) electric generators is described with a spectral match to GaSb IR cells. While solar cells generate electricity quietly and are lightweight, traditional solar cells are used with sunlight and only generate electricity during the day. Workers at JX Crystals invented the GaSb IR cell as a booster cell to demonstrate a solar cell conversion efficiency of 35%. JX Crystals now makes these IR cells. In TPV, these cells can potentially be used with flame heated ceramic emitters to generate electricity quietly day and night. One of the most important requirements for TPV is a good spectral match between the ceramic IR emitted and the IR PV cells. The first problem is to find, demonstrate, and integrate a doped ceramic IR emitter with a spectral match to these GaSb cells. Recently, nickel oxide and cobalt oxide doped MgO-based ceramics have been shown experimentally and theoretically to have spectral selectivity but no attempts have been made to integrate these ceramic IR emitters into a fully operational TPV generator. Herein, we review the history of TPV and note that a key to future progress will be the integration of an appropriate ceramic emitter with cells and a burner to demonstrate an operational TPV generator. Integrating TPV into a residential boiler is discussed as a potential future large volume commercial market.