Current navigation systems use multi-sensor data to improve the localization accuracy, but often without certitude on the quality of those measurements in certain situations. The context detection ...will enable us to build an adaptive navigation system to improve the precision and the robustness of its localization solution by anticipating possible degradation in sensor signal quality (GNSS in urban canyons for instance or camera-based navigation in a non-textured environment). That is why context detection is considered the future of navigation systems. Thus, it is important firstly to define this concept of context for navigation and to find a way to extract it from available information. This paper overviews existing GNSS and on-board vision-based solutions of environmental context detection. This review shows that most of the state-of-the art research works focus on only one type of data. It confirms that the main perspective of this problem is to combine different indicators from multiple sensors.
To investigate the 2-year healing rate of macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) treated initially with intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) and later combined with other ...treatment as needed, and the characteristics of refractory cases.
130 patients (130 eyes) with BRVO-ME who received IVR initially were studied. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drug was additionally administered when ME relapsed or persisted. Photocoagulation was performed when the non-perfusion area (NPA) was ≥5 disc diameter (DD), and/or when ME relapsed due to microaneurysm. Patients were classified into a healed group ME resolved in <2 years or mild ME remained without best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) loss for ≥6 months or refractory group (ME persisted for ≥2 years).
110 eyes were classified into the healed group, and 20 eyes into the refractory group. The healed group and refractory group had, respectively, mean follow-up periods of 21.2 and 37.4 months, and frequencies of NPA ≥5 DD of 55.5 and 25.0% (p = 0.015). In the healed group, mean BCVA (logMAR) improved significantly compared to baseline in all the periods until 24 months after treatment initiation and at the last visit (p<0.001). In the refractory group, mean BCVA improved significantly compared to baseline until 12 months after treatment initiation (p<0.05 for all periods), but was not significantly different at 18 or 24 months or at the last visit.
In patients with BRVO-ME treated initially with IVR and later given additional treatments as needed, the healing rate was 84.6%. In eyes that healed within 2 years, BCVA improved relative to baseline throughout 24 months and at the last visit. In refractory eyes, BCVA improved only until 12 months, and thereafter deteriorated to baseline level at the last examination.
Abstract
Premise
Insect defoliation of trees causes unusual changes to wood anatomy and slows radial growth that decreases tree value; however, the characteristics of these anatomical changes in ...hardwoods remain unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize the anatomy and histochemistry of the wood in trunks of
Betula maximowicziana
trees after severe insect defoliation.
Methods
Secondary xylem tissues were sampled from trunks that had been defoliated by
Caligula japonica
at Naie and Furano in central Hokkaido during 2006‐2012, then cross‐dated and examined microscopically and stained histochemically to characterize anatomical and chemical changes in the cells.
Results
White rings with thin‐walled wood fibers and greatly reduced annual ring width in the subsequent year were observed in samples from both sites. From these results, the year that the white rings formed was determined, and severe defoliation was confirmed to trigger white ring formation. The characteristics may prove useful to detect the formation year of white rings. Scanning electron microscopy and histochemical analyses of the white rings indicated that the thickness of the S
2
layer in the wall of wood fiber cells decreased, but xylan and lignin were still deposited in the cell walls of wood fibers. However, the walls of the fibers rethickened after the defoliation.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that
B. maximowicziana
responds to a temporary lack of carbon inputs due to insect defoliation by regulating the thickness of the S
2
layer of the cell wall of wood fibers. For
B. maximowicziana
, insect defoliation late in the growing season has serious deleterious effects on wood formation and radial growth.
We investigated the inhibitory effects of 13 organophosphate esters (OPEs) and hydrolytic metabolites on the carboxylesterase activity of rat liver microsomes in vitro in order to examine whether ...there might be a potential impact on human health, and to elucidate the structure activity relationship. Among the test compounds, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EDPhP) was the most potent inhibitor of carboxylesterase activity, as measured in terms of 4-nitrophenol acetate hydrolase activity, followed by tri-m-cresyl phosphate (TmCP), cresyl diphenyl phosphate (CDPhP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). The IC50 values were as follows: EDPhP (IC50: 0.03 μM) > TmCP (0.4 μM) > CDPhP (0.8 μM) > TPhP (14 μM) > tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (17 μM) > tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (77 μM) > tri-n-propyl phosphate (84 μM) > tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (104 μM) > tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (124 μM) > tri-n-butyl phosphate (230 μM). The IC50 value of EDPhP was three orders of magnitude lower than that of bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate, which is widely used as an inhibitor of carboxylesterase. Trimethyl phosphate, triethyl phosphate and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate slightly inhibited the carboxylesterase activity; their IC50 values were above 300 μM. Lineweaver-Burk plots indicated that the inhibition by several OPEs was non-competitive. Diphenyl and monophenyl phosphates, which are metabolites of TPhP, showed weaker inhibitory effects than that of TPhP.
•We examined carboxylesterase inhibition by organophosphate esters (OPEs).•2-Ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate was the most potent inhibitor among tested OPEs.•Aryl OPEs were strong rat liver microsomal carboxylesterase inhibitors.•Di- or mono-substituted derivatives of OPEs showed markedly decreased inhibition.•OPEs bearing a bulky substituent showed greater carboxylesterase-inhibitory effects.
Benzophenone-3 (2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; BP-3) is widely used as sunscreen for protection of human skin and hair from damage by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In this study, we examined the ...metabolism of BP-3 by rat and human liver microsomes, and the estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities of the metabolites. When BP-3 was incubated with rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH, 2,4,5-trihydroxybenzophenone (2,4,5-triOH BP) and 3-hydroxylated BP-3 (3-OH BP-3) were newly identified as metabolites, together with previously detected metabolites 5-hydroxylated BP-3 (5-OH BP-3), a 4-desmethylated metabolite (2,4-diOH BP) and 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone (2,3,4-triOH BP). In studies with recombinant rat cytochrome P450, 3-OH BP-3 and 2,4,5-triOH BP were mainly formed by CYP1A1. BP-3 was also metabolized by human liver microsomes and CYP isoforms. In estrogen reporter (ER) assays using estrogen-responsive CHO cells, 2,4-diOH BP exhibited stronger estrogenic activity, 2,3,4-triOH BP exhibited similar activity, and 5-OH BP-3, 2,4,5-triOH BP and 3-OH BP-3 showed lower activity as compared to BP-3. Structural requirements for activity were investigated in a series of 14 BP-3 derivatives. When BP-3 was incubated with liver microsomes from untreated rats or phenobarbital-, 3-methylcholanthrene-, or acetone-treated rats in the presence of NADPH, estrogenic activity was increased. However, liver microsomes from dexamethasone-treated rats showed decreased estrogenic activity due to formation of inactive 5-OH BP-3 and reduced formation of active 2,4-diOH BP. Anti-androgenic activity of BP-3 was decreased after incubation with liver microsomes.
•Metabolic modification of the endocrine-disrupting activity of BP-3 was examined.•2,4,5-TriOH BP and 3-OH BP-3 were identified as new BP-3 metabolites.•2,4-DiOH BP and 2,3,4-triOH BP exhibited high or similar estrogenic activities.•Estrogenic activity of BP-3 was enhanced by incubation with rat liver microsomes.•Structural requirements for the activities of BP-3 derivatives were demonstrated.
Studies of the usefulness of transverse right ventricular (RV) shortening are limited. We retrospectively analyzed the CMR images of 67 patients (age: 50.8 ± 19.0 years; men: 53.7%; Control: n = 20, ...Overloaded RV (atrial septal defect): n = 15, Constricted RV (pericarditis): n = 17, Degenerated RV (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy): n = 15) (all enrolled consecutively for each disease) in a single center. We defined RV longitudinal (fractional longitudinal change: FLC) and transverse (fractional transverse change: FTC) contraction parameters. We assessed the FTC/FLC (T/L) ratio on four-chamber cine CMR views and compared the four groups regarding the fractional parameters. FTC had a stronger correlation (R
= 0.650; p < 0.001) with RV ejection fraction than that with FLC (R
= 0.211; p < 0.001) in the linear regression analysis. Both FLC and FTC were significantly lower in the Degenerated RV and Constricted RV groups compared with those in the Control and Overloaded RV groups. The T/L ratio was significantly lower in the Degenerated RV group (p = 0.008), while the Overloaded RV (p = 0.986) and Constricted RV (p = 0.582) groups had preserved T/L ratios, compared with the Control group. Transverse shortening contributes to RV function more significantly compared with longitudinal contraction. Impaired T/L ratios may reflect RV myocardial degeneration. RV fractional parameters may help precisely understand RV dysfunction.
Despite concerns raised on the inequality in healthcare provision in Japan, little is known about the factors that hinder candidates’ application to medical schools. A nationwide cross-sectional ...survey was conducted to identify the impact of economic factors and living place on students’ choice of and preparation for medical school. The survey was administered to high school teachers with career advisory roles, as they support and likely influence students’ choice and decision on this matter. Responses totaling 1,094 were obtained from 1,746 high schools across Japan. The ratio of high schools with two or more students enrolled in medical schools every year is higher in private schools, those with high tuition, and those located in big cities. Approximately 66.8% of the respondents agreed that "It is difficult for students in economically disadvantaged families to enroll in medical schools;" 42.0% agreed that "Some students gave up on aspiring to enter medical schools because they could not afford it," and 61.2% agreed that "Students living in urban areas are more likely to enroll in medical schools." When asked about the percentage of students attending prep school among those aspiring for a medical career, significantly more respondents from private versus public high schools answered "80% or more." When asked about the percentage of parents who are doctors or dentists among students aspiring for a medical career, significantly more respondents from private versus public high schools answered "50% or more.” The results suggest that students from lower-income families and those living in rural areas are more likely to be disadvantaged when choosing a medical career (because of financial difficulties) than those who live in urban areas and come from wealthier families. The results imply that economic and geographical divides in medical admission are reflected in high school teachers’ perception of and support provided to students.
The utilization of electric vehicles (EV) and their used batteries in supporting small-scale energy management systems were studied. Both theoretical study and practical demonstration were performed ...to measure the feasibility of the developed system. Each five EVs and used EV batteries were used along with 20 kW photovoltaic (PV) panels as a renewable energy source. The main objective of the developed system is performing a peak-load shifting by utilizing EVs, used EV batteries and PV panels. The planning of load leveling was performed 24 h ahead for each 30 min period. The studies showed that the application of EVs and used EV batteries in supporting certain small-scale energy management systems is feasible. In addition, some findings during the demonstration test were listed and analyzed for the purpose of further system development and deployment.
Purpose. To investigate the dropout rate of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and identify the ...characteristics of dropout cases. Methods. We studied 235 eyes of 235 treatment-naïve BRVO-ME patients receiving intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. Additional intravitreal anti-VEGF drug was given when ME relapsed or persisted, and photocoagulation was performed as needed. Adherence until treatment completion was defined as disappearance of ME within 2years after the first injection without recurrence for more than 6months or mild ME remaining but no visual deterioration for more than 6months without additional anti-VEGF drug. In patients with ME recurrence, those who were followed for more than 2years were considered adherence, and those followed for less than 2years were considered dropout. The clinical course and background of the two groups were compared. Results. 179 patients (76.2%) adhered to treatment and 56 patients (23.8%) dropped out. Mean follow-up periods in adherence and dropout groups were 23.4 and 7.1months, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in demographic and baseline factors of age, gender ratio, distance from home to hospital, visual acuity, and foveal thickness (FT). At the last follow-up, visual acuity was significantly poorer in the dropout group than in the adherence group (0.23 vs. 0.11 logMAR, p=0.003), and FT was significantly greater in the dropout group than in the adherence group (316 vs. 273µm, p=0.002). Reasons for dropout included patient declining further treatment in 12.5%, progression of dementia in 8.9%, others, and unknown in 64.3%. Conclusion. The clinical outcome of patients who dropped out of anti-VEGF therapy for BRVO-ME was worse compared to patients who adhered to therapy, and the reasons for discontinuation varied.
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