Thermoelastic martensitic transformation plays an important role in shape memory effects and superelasticity. The thermoelastic martensite reduces the elastic strain energy during transformation via ...a combination of multiple variants (i.e., self-accommodation). We investigated the microstructural characteristics and self-accommodation of the martensite in equiatomic ZrPd and near-equiatomic NiZr alloys by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy–electron backscatter diffraction analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation. The space group of the equiatomic ZrPd and near-equiatomic NiZr alloys at room temperature was determined to be
Cm
. In the equiatomic ZrPd alloy, two habit plane variants (HPVs) were bounded by a {021}
Cm
compound twin. The minimum self-accommodation unit necessary to relax the strain energy due to the B2-to-
Cmcm
martensitic transformation is a pair of HPVs with plate- and polygonal-like morphologies. In addition, the strain energy resulting from the martensitic transformation from the
Cmcm
to the
Cm
phase is released by the formation of a {001}
Cm
compound twin as a lattice invariant shear (LIS). The near-equiatomic NiZr alloy had coarse variants with a grain size of several hundred micrometers and thin variants with a width of a few tens of nanometers; the interface of these variants was a {021}
Cm
deformation twin. TEM in situ heating observations revealed that the near-equiatomic NiZr alloy transformed from the
Cm
to the
Cmcm
structure around 573 K and that the {001}
Cm
compound twins induced as an LIS disappeared. Clarifying the thermoelastic martensitic transformation in such Zr-based alloys is useful for the development of high-temperature shape memory alloys.
Graphical abstract
a Inverse pole figure map of the
Cm
martensite. b Lattice correspondence variants map. c and d Pole figures taken by {021}
Cm
, and {111}
Cm
planes, respectively.
How do physical interactions with others change our own motor behavior? Utilizing a novel motor learning paradigm in which the hands of two - individuals are physically connected without their ...conscious awareness, we investigated how the interaction forces from a partner adapt the motor behavior in physically interacting humans. We observed the motor adaptations during physical interactions to be mutually beneficial such that both the worse and better of the interacting partners improve motor performance during and after interactive practice. We show that these benefits cannot be explained by multi-sensory integration by an individual, but require physical interaction with a reactive partner. Furthermore, the benefits are determined by both the interacting partner's performance and similarity of the partner's behavior to one's own. Our results demonstrate the fundamental neural processes underlying human physical interactions and suggest advantages of interactive paradigms for sport-training and physical rehabilitation.
•Effects of various front-end schemes are examined using DNN acoustic models.•Meeting transcription experiments are conducted using a single distant microphone.•Both speaker independent/adaptive ...configurations are considered.•A pipeline is proposed to integrate different classes of front-end schemes.•The pipeline is used to analyse the way in which different schemes interact.
This paper examines the individual and combined impacts of various front-end approaches on the performance of deep neural network (DNN) based speech recognition systems in distant talking situations, where acoustic environmental distortion degrades the recognition performance. Training of a DNN-based acoustic model consists of generation of state alignments followed by learning the network parameters. This paper first shows that the network parameters are more sensitive to the speech quality than the alignments and thus this stage requires improvement. Then, various front-end robustness approaches to addressing this problem are categorised based on functionality. The degree to which each class of approaches impacts the performance of DNN-based acoustic models is examined experimentally. Based on the results, a front-end processing pipeline is proposed for efficiently combining different classes of approaches. Using this front-end, the combined effects of different classes of approaches are further evaluated in a single distant microphone-based meeting transcription task with both speaker independent (SI) and speaker adaptive training (SAT) set-ups. By combining multiple speech enhancement results, multiple types of features, and feature transformation, the front-end shows relative performance gains of 7.24% and 9.83% in the SI and SAT scenarios, respectively, over competitive DNN-based systems using log mel-filter bank features.
Aim
Lactate is produced in and released from skeletal muscle cells. Lactate receptor, G‐protein‐coupled receptor 81 (GPR81), is expressed in skeletal muscle cells. However, a physiological role of ...extracellular lactate on skeletal muscle is not fully clarified. The purpose of this study was to investigate extracellular lactate‐associated morphological changes and intracellular signals in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.
Methods
Mouse myoblast C2C12 cells were differentiated for 5 days to form myotubes. Sodium lactate (lactate) or GPR81 agonist, 3,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,5‐DHBA), was administered to the differentiation medium.
Results
Lactate administration increased the diameter of C2C12 myotubes in a dose‐dependent manner. Administration of 3,5‐DHBA also increased myotube diameter. Not only lactate but also 3,5‐DHBA upregulated the phosphorylation level of mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), p42/44 extracellular signal‐regulated kinase‐1/2 (ERK1/2) and p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK). MEK inhibitor U0126 depressed the phosphorylation of ERK‐p90RSK and increase in myotube diameter induced by lactate. On the other hand, both lactate and 3,5‐DHBA failed to induce significant responses in the phosphorylation level of Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin, p70 S6 kinase and protein degradation‐related signals.
Conclusion
These observations suggest that lactate‐associated increase in the diameter of C2C12 myotubes is induced via activation of GRP81‐mediated MEK/ERK pathway. Extracellular lactate might have a positive effect on skeletal muscle size.
The mineral hydroxyapatite HAP; Ca
10(PO
4)
6(OH)
2 is the chief component of animal bones and teeth. It also is known to function as a catalyst with both acid and base sites, depending on the manner ...in which it is synthesized. We closely studied the reaction of ethanol over HAP using catalysts of different Ca/P molar ratios. These were prepared by controlling the pH of the solution during precipitation synthesis. We found that the distribution of acid sites and basic sites on the catalyst surface varied with the Ca/P ratio of HAP. The yields of ethylene, 1-butanol, and 1,3-butadiene were correlated with the ratio of acid sites and basic sites. We further found that yields of higher alcohols, such as 1-butanol, that are known as Guerbet alcohols and are characteristic products of ethanol over HAP, are functions of the probability of ethanol activation (
α) on the catalyst surface.
The spatial distribution of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ18O and δ2H) of stream waters across Japan was clarified with a data set by compiling sample data obtained from 1278 forest ...catchments during the summer of 2003. Both δ18O and δ2H values showed positive correlations with the mean annual air temperature and annual evapotranspiration, and negative correlations with latitude and elevation. Deuterium excess (d-excess) values in stream waters were higher on the Sea of Japan side, and lower on the Pacific Ocean side, of the Japanese archipelago. The d-excess in precipitation was generally higher in winter and lower in summer in Japan. The Sea of Japan side experiences a great deal of snowfall, and seasonal changes in monthly precipitation are rather small. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean side experiences a large amount of rainfall during summer with low levels of precipitation during the winter. Therefore, the lower d-excess in stream waters on the Pacific Ocean side reflects summer precipitation, and the higher values on the Sea of Japan side are affected by delayed recharge from snowmelt. The isoscapes of stream water connote not only spatially integrated but also temporally integrated isotope signals of precipitation and provide a framework for addressing applied hydrological, ecological, or meteorological research questions at regional scales, such as the effects of climate change.
Isthmin (ISM) is a secreted 60-kDa protein that potently induces endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis. It suppresses tumor growth and angiogenesis in mice when stably overexpressed in cancer cells. ...Although αvβ5 integrin serves as a low-affinity receptor for ISM, the mechanism by which ISM mediates antiangiogenesis and apoptosis in ECs remain to be fully resolved. In this work, we report the identification of cell-surface glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78) as a high-affinity receptor for ISM (Kd=8.6 nM). We demonstrated that ISM-GRP78 interaction triggers apoptosis not only in activated ECs but also in cancer cells expressing high level of cell-surface GRP78. Normal cells and benign tumor cells tend to express low level of cell-surface GRP78 and are resistant to ISM-induced apoptosis. Upon binding to GRP78, ISM is internalized into ECs through clathrin-dependent endocytosis that is essential for its proapoptotic activity. Once inside the cell, ISM co-targets with GRP78 to mitochondria where it interacts with ADP/ATP carriers on the inner membrane and blocks ATP transport from mitochondria to cytosol, thereby causing apoptosis. Hence, ISM is a novel proapoptotic ligand that targets cell-surface GRP78 to trigger apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. The restricted and high-level expression of cell-surface GRP78 on cancer cells and cancer ECs make them uniquely susceptible to ISM-targeted apoptosis. Indeed, systemic delivery of recombinant ISM potently suppressed subcutaneous 4T1 breast carcinoma and B16 melanoma growth in mice by eliciting apoptosis selectively in the cancer cells and cancer ECs. Together, this work reveals a novel ISM-GRP78 apoptosis pathway and demonstrates the potential of ISM as a cancer-specific and dual-targeting anticancer agent.
Aim
To determine the root surface strain (RSS) generated during root canal shaping and its effects on apical microcrack development.
Methodology
Twenty‐five extracted human mandibular premolars were ...selected and decoronated. The teeth were instrumented with either the ProTaper (PT) or WaveOne (WO) (Dentsply Maillefer) NiTi rotary systems (n = 10 per group) or used as controls (n = 5). Instrumented root canals were enlarged to ProTaper F4 (size 40, 0.06 taper) or using WaveOne LARGE (size 40, 0.08 taper) instruments according to the manufacturer's instructions. An electrical strain gage (KFG02‐120‐C1‐16, Kyowa Dengyo, Tokyo, Japan) was fixed on the proximal root surface and connected to a strain amplifier via a bridge box in order to measure RSS. During canal shaping, the strain output of the amplifier was recorded. The instantaneous RSS induced by each instrument and the maximum RSSs were determined. All teeth were then stained with contrast media and imaged with micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) at an isotropic resolution of 10 μm to detect microcracks. The mean maximum RSS values (microstrain) and mean number of microcracks recorded for both groups were tested for statistical significance using Mann–Whitney U‐test. Presence/absence of microcracks in both groups was compared by chi‐square tests.
Results
Increased baseline RSS from strain accumulation during canal shaping was observed, with similar maximum RSS (mean ± SD) for PT (416.6 ± 185.1 μstrain) and WO (398.2 ± 163.8 μstrain) (P = 0.94). The interevaluator reliability for microcrack detection using micro‐CT had a kappa value of 0.998. Compared to the PT group, there was a trend for fewer samples with microcracks in the WO group (P = 0.051). On the micro‐CT images, apical microcracks were detected in 20 PT and 11 WO samples (P = 0.10). The microcracks were observed in the buccolingual direction in all WO and 81% of PT samples. No vertical root fractures were found. The maximum RSS obtained during canal shaping was poorly correlated with the number of microcracks found (R2 = 0.093).
Conclusions
Based on these preliminary data, canal shaping appears to cause apical microcracks regardless of the type of rotary instrument motion. Contrast‐enhanced micro‐CT was able to identify microcracks in roots.
Aim
To evaluate the potential effects of endodontic procedures (instrumentation and filling) on crack initiation and propagation in apical dentine.
Methodology
Forty extracted single‐rooted premolars ...with two canals were selected, 1.5 mm of the apex was ground perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth and the surface polished. The specimens were divided into 4 groups. The buccal canals of groups A, B and C were enlarged to size 40 with manual K‐files. Group A was filled with gutta‐percha using lateral condensation and vertical compaction without sealer. Group B was filled with the same method as group A except only lateral condensation was used. Group C was left unfilled, while group D was left unprepared and unfilled. Images of the resected surface were taken after resection (baseline), after canal preparation, after filling and after 4‐week storage. The images were then inspected for cracks originating from the canal.
Results
A significant effect of preparation on crack initiation (P < 0.05) and no significant effect of filling (P > 0.05) or 4‐week storage on crack initiation (P > 0.05) was found (logistic regression). Fisher's exact test revealed a significant effect of filling on crack propagation (P < 0.05) and no effect of 4‐week storage on crack propagation (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
Root canal procedures can potentially initiate and propagate cracks from within the root canal in the apical region.
Human dexterity with tools is believed to stem from our ability to incorporate and use tools as parts of our body. However tool incorporation, evident as extensions in our body representation and ...peri-personal space, has been observed predominantly after extended tool exposures and does not explain our immediate motor behaviours when we change tools. Here we utilize two novel experiments to elucidate the presence of additional immediate tool incorporation effects that determine motor planning with tools. Interestingly, tools were observed to immediately induce a trial-by-trial, tool length dependent shortening of the perceived limb lengths, opposite to observations of elongations after extended tool use. Our results thus exhibit that tools induce a dual effect on our body representation; an immediate shortening that critically affects motor planning with a new tool, and the slow elongation, probably a consequence of skill related changes in sensory-motor mappings with the repeated use of the tool.
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