Macroscopic hysteresis and local Barkhausen noise techniques were used for the comprehensive magnetic investigation of structural low-carbon steel subjected to uniaxial plastic tension. Scattering of ...the measured magnetic parameters was substantial within the Luders band region with stabilization at higher strains. Compressive residual stresses in the deformation direction formed a hard magnetization axis with intriguing two-phase remagnetization. The magnetic parameters had the highest sensitivity to strain in this direction. They changed as cos2 with rotation to the perpendicular easy magnetization axis, where the magnetic sensitivity was the lowest. The relation between the deformed steel microstructure (dislocation and residual stress patterns) and the obtained magnetic behaviour is interpreted. The applicability of the examined techniques for the non-destructive characterization of steel degradation is discussed.
•An aquaculture management system for fish identifying and tracking was developed.•SegNet deep learning and space-state modeling were used to identify individuals.•Performance was evaluated in terms ...of SegNet network structure and training.•SegNet identification informed a particle tracking velocimetry analysis.
In marine aquaculture, fish populations constantly decrease throughout the cultivation period because of mortality and escape. Current production management systems provide limited opportunities to count the cultured fish, making it difficult to estimate accurately the fish population in the cage. To overcome this problem, an automatic fish identifying method based on particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) flow visualization technology is proposed in this paper. The proposed method utilizes an image processing unit that extracts individual fish from the acquired image and a motion analysis unit that calculates the motion vector for each individual. Thus, the accuracy of the extraction results in the image processing unit affects the system’s counting results. To validate the efficiency and robustness of the image extraction performed by the image processing unit, individuals were extracted from images using the open-source image deep learning semantic segmentation method (SegNet), which is able to distinguish between the background and foreground in the images via analysis at the pixel level. SegNet is able to improve the image discrimination performance by multiplying the learning paths, and the robustness of the detection results can be ensured by changing the layer structure according to the detection target. Accordingly, the use of SegNet was evaluated in terms of the number of layers and images in the training set. The results of this study indicate that the application of SegNet with PTV technology represents a promising method for the automatic identifying and behavioral tracking of fish in an aquaculture net cage.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
We present data products from the 300 ks Chandra survey in the AKARI North Ecliptic Pole Deep Field. This field has a unique set of nine-band infrared photometry covering 2–24 μm from the AKARI ...Infrared Camera, including mid-infrared (MIR) bands not covered by Spitzer. The survey is one of the deepest ever achieved at ∼15 μm, and is by far the widest among those with similar depths in the MIR. This makes this field unique for the MIR-selection of AGN at z ∼ 1. We design a source detection procedure, which performs joint maximum likelihood PSF (point spread function) fits on all of our 15 mosaicked Chandra pointings covering an area of 0.34 deg2. The procedure has been highly optimized and tested by simulations. We provide a point source catalogue with photometry and Bayesian-based 90 per cent confidence upper limits in the 0.5–7, 0.5–2, 2–7, 2–4, and 4–7 keV bands. The catalogue contains 457 X-ray sources and the spurious fraction is estimated to be ∼1.7 per cent. Sensitivity and 90 per cent confidence upper flux limits maps in all bands are provided as well. We search for optical–MIR counterparts in the central 0.25 deg2, where deep Subaru Suprime-Cam multiband images exist. Among the 377 X-ray sources detected there, ∼80 per cent have optical counterparts and ∼60 per cent also have AKARI MIR counterparts. We cross-match our X-ray sources with MIR-selected AGN from Hanami et al. Around 30 per cent of all AGN that have MIR SEDs purely explainable by AGN activity are strong Compton-thick AGN candidates.
Galectins constitute a family of lectins that specifically exhibit the affinity for beta-galactosides and modulate various biological events. Galectin-9 is a tandem-repeat type galectin with two ...carbohydrate recognition domains and has recently been shown to have an anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells. We investigated the effect of recombinant protease-resistant galectin-9 (hGal9) on multiple myeloma (MM). In vitro, hGal9 inhibited the cell proliferation of five myeloma cell lines examined, including a bortezomib-resistant subcell line, with IC(50) between 75.1 and 280.0 nM, and this effect was mediated by the induction of apoptosis with the activation of caspase-8, -9, and -3. hGal9-activated Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK signaling pathways followed by H2AX phosphorylation. Importantly, the inhibition of either JNK or p38 MAPK partly inhibited the anti-proliferative effect of hGal9, indicating the crucial role of these pathways in the anti-MM effect of hGal9. hGal9 also induced cell death in patient-derived myeloma cells, some with poor-risk factors, such as chromosomal deletion of 13q or translocation t(4;14)(p16;q32). Finally, hGal9 potently inhibited the growth of human myeloma cells xenografted in nude mice. These suggest that hGal9 is a new therapeutic target for MM that may overcome resistance to conventional chemotherapy.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
•Electromechanical property of PVDF is studied by a new geometric modeling technique.•This technique is developed on the basis of Finsler geometry.•Finsler geometry is a mathematical framework for ...describing anisotropic phenomena.•Complex interactions of polarizations and polymers are implemented in metric function.•Reported experimental data are reproduced by MC with a single set of parameters.
Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) is a ferroelectric polymer characterized by negative strain along the direction of the applied electric field. However, the electromechanical response mechanism of PVDF remains unclear due to the complexity of the hierarchical structure across the length scales. In this letter, we employ the Finsler geometry model as a new solution to the aforementioned problem and demonstrate that the deformations observed through Monte Carlo simulations on 3D tetrahedral lattices are nearly identical to those of real PVDF. Specifically, the simulated mechanical deformation and polarization are similar to those observed experimentally.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The paper is devoted to the establishment of experimental conditions, which ensure the repeatability of magnetic Barkhausen noise testing in practice. For this task, the measurements were performed ...on open flat samples using different experimental configurations, including: different magnetization frequencies, sampling rates, and filter cut-off frequencies; using a sample-wrapped coil and using attached pick-up coils of various dimensions, with different lift-offs of a single yoke magnet and of the attached coil. The sample magnetization was controlled by a vertical array of three Hall sensors; their readings were extrapolated to the sample surface to precisely define its field. After analysis of the results, a scheme for an optimized sensor with a controlled field waveform was suggested to improve the measurement repeatability. The important issues of signal processing and parameter applicability were also discussed in detail.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
A novel actuation mechanism is presented, which makes use of the antagonism of intrinsic magnetic and shape recovery forces acting on a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (SMA) microactuator in a ...magnetic field. This mechanism is associated with large actuation and small biasing forces in each actuation direction resulting in a large stroke. Since no additional biasing elements are required, extremely compact designs are possible. As a demonstrator, an optical microscanner of 7
mm×3
mm×5
mm size is presented showing large scanning angles up to 120° in off-resonance mode. The scanning performance keeps frequency independent below a critical frequency, which is determined by heat transfer times.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is complicated and even several therapeutic strategies have been developed, they are not adequate for achieving mucosal remission in all IBD ...patients. Several reports have described the role of carbon monoxide (CO) in protection against chronic intestinal inflammation. CO has recently emerged as a potent immunomodulatory entity, anti-inflammatory agent, and homeostasis of physiological condition. CO reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages via the effect of MAPK pathways. Interleukin-6, one of the important cytokines in the pathogenesis of IBD is also regulated by CO. Epithelial cell restitution is reported to be important factor to control IBD and CO has been reported to enhance colonic epithelial restitution through FGF15/19 expression in colonic myofibroblasts. CO also reduced mucosal damage and inflammation in several experimental animal colitis models such as interleukin-10(-/-) mouse model, TCRα(-/-) mouse model, dextran sodium sulfate colitis model, and trinitrobennzen sulfonic acid colitis model. Taken together, CO has anti-inflammatory and enhancement of restitution examined in vitro model and in vivo experimental colitis model. These results indicate that CO may have a potential to be one of the therapeutic strategies in IBD patients.
Monte Carlo simulations were used for a detailed description of magnetic, martensitic and magnetocaloric properties of Ni
2+
x
Mn
1−
x
Ga (0.18 ⩽
x
⩽ 0.24) and Ni
50
Mn
34
In
16
Heusler alloys, which ...undergo a first-order magnetostructural phase transition. In the simulations we made use of magnetic exchange parameters which were obtained by
ab initio
calculations. Results of magnetic and lattice contributions to the total specific heat as well as the change in the isothermal magnetic entropy Δ
S
mag
and the adiabatic temperature Δ
T
ad
changes around the magnetic and magnetostructural transitions in an external magnetic field agree fairly well with available experimental data.
Background
Surgical treatment for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma frequently involves hepatectomy and extrahepatic bile duct resection with a choledochojejunostomy (CJ). Cholangitis owing to ...bilioenteric anastomosis is a common complication. The impact of CJ or regurgitating cholangitis on the liver regeneration process after major hepatectomy is unknown.
Methods
Rats underwent 70 per cent hepatectomy (Hx group) or hepatectomy with CJ (Hx + CJ group). The intrahepatic inflammatory response, hepatic regeneration rate, and expression of regeneration‐associated genes in the liver and blood were compared between these two groups.
Results
Levels of hepatobiliary markers in the blood were significantly higher 4 and 7 days after operation in the Hx + CJ group than the Hx group. Intrahepatic expression of inflammation‐associated genes, such as interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor α, was also significantly higher in the Hx + CJ group on days 4 and 7. A progressive periportal inflammatory response was identified in the Hx + CJ group by histological examination. The hepatic regeneration rate was significantly lower in the Hx + CJ group than in the Hx group on day 2 (mean(s.d.) 14·2(6·3) versus 21·4(2·6) per cent; P = 0·013) and day 4 (32·4(5·3) versus 41·3(4·4) per cent; P = 0·004). Gene expression levels of hepatic regeneration‐promoting factors such as hepatocyte growth factor were significantly lower in the Hx + CJ group than the Hx group on day 1.
Conclusion
CJ perturbs early liver regeneration after hepatectomy. An excessive inflammatory response in the liver and suppression of liver regeneration‐associated factors may play a role.
Surgical relevance
Patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma may need major hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection and choledochojejunostomy. This carries a substantial risk of postoperative complications including liver failure.
A rat model of partial hepatectomy with choledochojejunostomy was established. The molecular mechanisms underlying liver regeneration, and perturbation of this process by duodenobiliary reflux via the choledochojejunostomy, are described.
The results give insight into the pathophysiological events following major hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection and choledochojejunostomy. This may help to develop a treatment strategy to reduce postoperative liver failure.
Excessive inflammation, suppression of regeneration
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