This paper summarizes our research on the theory and application of particle charging in gas–solids pipe flow. The particles moving in a pipe are charged by collisions with the pipe wall. The charge ...transferred from the particles to the wall per unit time is equal to the electric current flowing from the wall to earth, and the current depends on the mass flow rate and the charge-to-mass ratio. Conversely, these values can be calculated from the electric current using a special technique; i.e., two short pipes that are made of different materials are installed in series with electrical isolation. The principle of the calculation is based on the contact charging between different materials and the charge balance in the system; the simultaneous equations can be solved analytically. This method is applicable to online measurement for polymer powders as well as mineral powders.
The vehicle-based mobile mapping system (MMS) is effective for capturing 3D shapes and images of roadside objects. The laser scanner and cameras on the MMS capture point-clouds and sequential digital ...images synchronously during driving. In this paper, we propose a method for detecting and classifying pole-like objects using both point-clouds and images captured using the MMS. In our method, pole-like objects are detected from point-clouds, and then target objects, which are objects attached to poles, are extracted for identifying the types of pole-like objects. For associating each target object with images, the points of the target object are projected onto images, and the image of the target object is cropped. Each pole-like object is represented as a feature vector, which are calculated from point-clouds and images. The feature values of a point-cloud are calculated by point processing, and the ones of the cropped image are calculated using a convolutional neural network. The feature values of point-clouds and images are unified, and they are used as the input to machine learning. In experiments, we classified pole-like objects using three methods. The first method used only point-clouds, the second used only images, and the third used both point-clouds and images. The experimental results showed that the third method could most accurately classify pole-like objects.
BACKGROUND The transcription factor, octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4)/POU5F1, is expressed in embryonic stem cells, germ cells and some types of adult stem cells. Human OCT4 encodes two ...isoforms, OCT4A and OCT4B. While OCT4A plays a crucial role in the maintenance of stem cell properties, including pluripotency, whereas OCT4B does not. We previously reported that human myometrium contains side population cells (myoSP) with a Hoechst 33 342 low-fluorescent profile. These cells exhibit phenotypic and functional characteristics of myometrial stem cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the comparative expression of OCT4 in the stem/progenitor cell population of the human myometrium. METHODS Human myometrial tissue samples were collected from 18 consenting patients who underwent hysterectomy because of benign gynecological diseases. The resultant isolated or cultured myometrial cells and isolated myoSP were subjected to semi-quantitative and real-time RT–PCR analyses, immunoblot analyses and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS RT–PCR and immunoblot analyses revealed that OCT4 mRNA and OCT4 protein were detectable in some (but not all) myometrial samples. Immunohistochemistry showed that OCT4 protein was confined to the nuclei of relatively few cells in myometrial tissues expressing OCT4 mRNA. OCT4 and OCT4A transcripts, but not those of OCT4B, were more abundant in myoSP than in non-myoSP, as determined by real-time and semi-quantitative RT–PCR analyses. CONCLUSIONS Relatively few myometrial cells express OCT4 protein. OCT4 mRNA, in particular OCT4A mRNA, is up-regulated in myoSP that have been reported to exhibit stem cell-like properties. Taken together, the present results indicate that the myoSP population is enriched in OCT4 mRNA.
This paper discusses techniques for embedding data into three-dimensional (3-D) polygonal models of geometry. Given objects consisting of points, lines, (connected) polygons, or curved surfaces, the ...algorithms described in produce polygonal models with data embedded into either their vertex coordinates, their vertex topology (connectivity), or both. Such data embedding can be used, for example, for copyright notification, copyright protection, theft deterrence, and inventory of 3-D polygonal models. A description of the background and requirements is followed by a discussion of where, and by what fundamental methods, data can be embedded into 3-D polygonal models. The paper then presents several data embedding algorithms, with examples, based on these fundamental methods. By means of these algorithms and examples, we show that the embedding of data into 3-D polygonal models is a practicable technique.
Re‐emergence of vector‐borne diseases such as dengue and yellow fever, which are both transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has been correlated with insecticide resistance. P‐glycoproteins ...(P‐gps) are ATP‐dependent efflux pumps that are involved in the transport of substrates across membranes. Some of these proteins have been implicated in multidrug resistance (MDR). In this study, we identified a putative P‐glycoprotein in the Ae. aegypti database based on its significantly high identity with Anopheles gambiae, Culex quinquefasciatus, Drosophila melanogaster and human P‐gps. The basal ATPase activity of ATP‐binding cassette transporters in larvae was significantly increased in the presence of MDR modulators (verapamil and quinidine). An eightfold increase in Ae. aegypti P‐gp (AaegP‐gp) gene expression was detected in temephos‐treated larvae as determined by quantitative PCR. To analyse the potential role of AaegP‐gp in insecticide efflux, a temephos larvicide assay was performed in the presence of verapamil. The results showed an increase of 24% in temephos toxicity, which is in agreement with the efflux reversing effect. RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated silencing of the AaegP‐gp gene caused a significant increase in temephos toxicity (57%). In conclusion, we have demonstrated for the first time in insects that insecticide‐induced P‐gp expression can be involved in the modulation of insecticide efflux.
Pharmaceutical powders are very prone to electrostatic charging by colliding and sliding contacts with walls and other particles. In pharmaceutical formulation processes, particle charging is often a ...nuisance and can cause problems in the manufacture of products, such as affecting powder flow, and reducing fill and dose uniformity. For a fundamental understanding of the powder triboelectrification, it is essential to study charge transfer due to a single contact of a particle with a target plane under well-defined physical, mechanical and electrical conditions. In this study, charge transfer due to a single impact of a particle against a stainless steel target was measured for α-lactose monohydrate, aspirin, sugar granules and ethylcellulose. The amount of transferred charge is expressed as a function of impact velocity and impact angle as well as the initial charge. The maximum contact area during impact between a particle and a target plane is estimated by an elastic–plastic deformation model. It is found that the transferred charge is a linear function of the contact area. For a given material, there is an initial particle charge for which no charge transfer occurs due to impact. This is found to be independent of impact velocity and angle, and is hence viewed as a characteristic property, which is related to the contact potential difference and tribo-electric series of the sample powders.
New conductive glass with a composition of 20BaO·10Fe
2
O
3
·
x
WO
3
·(70 −
x
)V
2
O
5
(
x
= 10–50) was investigated by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy. A marked decrease in quadrupole splitting ...(Δ) was observed after the isothermal annealing at 500 °C for 1,000 min, due to the structural relaxation of 3D-network composed of FeO
4
, VO
4
, and VO
5
units. After the isothermal annealing, a marked increase in the electrical conductivity (
σ
) was observed from 1.7 × 10
−5
to 1.0 × 10
−1
S cm
−1
when “
x
” was 10, whereas comparable
σ
values of 1.1 × 10
−4
and 2.0 × 10
−4
S cm
−1
were observed when “
x
” was 40. These results evidently show that structural relaxation of 3D-network structure involved with a marked increase in
σ
is intrinsic of “vanadate glass”. XRD pattern indicated several weak peaks due to needle-like BaFe
2
O
4
and α-Fe
2
O
3
when the glass sample with “
x
” of 20 was annealed at 500 °C for 1,000 min. SEM study proved the formation of needle-like BaFe
2
O
4
just on the surface of the sample, whereas hexagonal BaFe
12
O
19
were observed in the annealed sample with “
x
” of 40. Chemical durability of WO
3
-containing vanadate glass was investigated by immersing each glass sample into 20 %-HCl solution for 72 h.
In a cross-sectional study, visit-to-visit blood pressure (BP) variability was shown to be associated with artery remodelling. Here, we investigated the impact of visit-to-visit BP variability and ...average BP on the carotid artery remodelling progression in high-risk elderly according to different classes of antihypertension medication use/non-use. BP measurements and carotid ultrasound were performed in the common carotid artery in 164 subjects (mean age 79.7 years at baseline, 74.7% females) with one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Based on 12 visits (1 × /month for 1 year), we calculated visit-to-visit BP variability expressed as the standard deviation (s.d.), coefficient of variation (CV), maximum BP, minimum BP and delta (maximum-minimum) BP. We measured mean intima-media thickness (IMT) as well as stiffness parameter β were measured at baseline and at the mean 4.2-year follow-up. In a multiple regression analysis, the maximum, minimum, s.d. and average of systolic BP (SBP) were significantly associated with a change in β-values between the baseline and follow-up after adjustment for age, smoking, lower high-density lipoprotein level, baseline β-value and follow-up period. There were no significant associations between the visit-to-visit BP variability measures and the change in mean IMT. Significant associations of maximum, minimum, s.d. and average SBP were found with increased β-values in the subjects without calcium channel blocker (CCB) use and in the subjects using renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASIs). Thus, exaggerated visit-to-visit SBP variability and a high average SBP level were significant predictors of progression in carotid arterial stiffness in high-risk elderly without CCBs use and in those using a RASI.
The present study investigated the natural and anthropogenic processes that control the composition of the bottom sediments of Sharm Obhur, Red Sea. Mineralogical analysis using XRD indicated that ...the sediments consist of carbonate and non-carbonate minerals. Elemental interrelationships allowed differentiating two groups of elements of different sources and origin. Elements that are in the same group are positively correlated, while they correlate negatively with elements of the other group. The first group includes silicon, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn, whereas the other group includes Ca, Sr, and CaCO₃. The highest concentration levels of the first group and the highest content of non-carbonate minerals were obtained from the sediments near the head of the sharm (zone A), whereas the sediments near the mouth of the sharm (zone B) yielded high concentrations of second group and carbonate minerals. Metal enrichment and contamination factors and pollution load index were calculated. The values of these indices differentiate two groups of metals: lithogenic and non-lithogenic. Except for lead (Pb) at one sampling site, metals in zone A sediments are of lithogenic source, supplied to the sharm either naturally by aeolian transportation and through Wadi Al-Kuraa'a during rare but major floods or by human activities such as dumping and shore protection. Non-lithogenic Cr, Pb, V, and Mn were documented from some sampling sites in zone B, and their occurrences are related to waste disposal and fossil fuel combustion.
Thyroid hormones play crucial roles in the development and functional maintenance of the central nervous system. Despite extensive studies of the neural function of thyroid hormones, little is known ...about the effects of hypothyroidism on behavioural traits and the mechanisms underlying such effects. In the present study, we report an investigation of congenitally hypothyroid mutant rdw rats, revealing a novel function of thyroid hormones in the central nervous system. The rdw rats were subjected to behavioural analyses such as the rotarod test, open field test and circadian activity measurement. To determine the cause of behavioural disorders, cerebellar morphogenesis was examined by immunohistochemical analysis, and the axonal transport of dopamine in the nigrostriatal pathway was analysed by high‐performance liquid chromatography and western blotting. The effects of thyroxine administration to the rdw rats were examined by behavioural analysis. The rdw rats showed severe impairment of motor coordination and balance. This could be explained by the fact that the rats showed severe retardation of cerebellar morphogenesis, which correlates with the small somata and poor dendritic arborisation of Purkinje cells and retarded migration of granule cells particularly during the first two postnatal weeks. Moreover, the rdw rats showed hypoactivity, characterised by decreased circadian locomotor activity. After weaning, thyroxine administration improved the dwarfism in rdw rats but had no effect on cerebellar function. In addition, the rdw rats showed anxiety and depression intrinsically to novel surroundings. Interestingly, the rdw rats showed high levels of dopamine in the substantia nigra and low levels in the striatum, an important centre for the coordination of behaviour. Furthermore, low levels of tubulin in the striatum were detected, indicating the aberrant axonal transport of dopamine in the nigrostriatal pathway as a result of the reduced delivery of microtubules. These findings indicate an important function of thyroid hormones in cerebellar formation and in the regulation of axonal transport of dopamine. Moreover, rdw rats will be useful for studies of brain function and behavioural disorders in congenital hypothyroidism.
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