As the inspection tour targeted at disarranged parking phenomenon conducted by specially assigned security personnel to parking lots in neighborhoods makes it more difficult for parking management, ...this paper proposes an FPGA-based character recognition robot design. The camera was controlled by the master controller EP4CE115F29C7N to acquire the license plate information, the improved character recognition algorithm based on YCbCr color space was put forward to identify the license plates, and the robot walking was controlled by combining IR control with increment-type PID. The experimental results show that this robot is of certain practical value as it is capable of effective recognition and displaying the characters on the license plates.
We present the design, fabrication and characterization of high-Q (Q=36,000) polymeric photonic crystal nanobeam cavities made of two polymers that have an ultra-low index contrast (ratio=1.15) and ...observed thermo-optical bistability at hundred microwatt power level. Due to the extended evanescent field and small mode volumes, polymeric nanobeam cavities are ideal platform for ultra-sensitive biochemical sensing. We demonstrate that these sensors have figures of merit (FOM=9190) two orders of magnitude greater than surface plasmon resonance based sensors, and outperform the commercial Biacore(TM) sensors. The demonstration of high-Q cavity in low-index-contrast polymers can open up versatile applications using a broad range of functional and flexible polymeric materials.
Background
Stroke is associated with an increased risk of dementia; however, the impact of stroke on cognition has been found to be variable, such that stroke survivors can show decline, remain ...stable, or revert to baseline cognitive functioning. Knowing the natural history of cognitive impairment after stroke is important for intervention. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the longitudinal course of cognitive function in stroke survivors.
Methods and Results
Three electronic databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO) were searched using OvidSP from inception to July 15, 2016. Longitudinal studies with ≥2 time points of cognitive assessment after stroke were included. In total, 5952 articles were retrieved and 14 were included. There was a trend toward significant deterioration in cognitive test scores in stroke survivors (8 studies). Cognitive stability (3 studies) and improvement (3 studies) were also demonstrated, although follow‐up time tended to be shorter in these studies. Variables associated with impairment included age, ethnicity, premorbid cognitive performance, depression, stroke location, and history of previous stroke. Associations with APOE*E4 (apolipoprotein E with the E4 allele) allele status and sex were mixed.
Conclusions
Stroke is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, but cognitive decline is not a consequence. Factors associated with decline, such as sociodemographic status, health‐related comorbidity, stroke history, and clinical features could be used in models to predict future risk of dementia after stroke. A risk model approach could identify patients at greatest risk for timely intervention to reduce the frequency or delay the onset of poststroke cognitive impairment and dementia.
In situ generation of proton gradients across membranes is a key component for energy generation within cells and is therefore an important feature for the design of energy converting artificial ...cells. Here, we establish a stepwise method for the in vitro expression and detergent-free reconstitution of proteorhodopsin into the membrane of lipid vesicles. This represents a novel technique towards the bottom-up synthesis of energy-generating artificial cells.
Impact statement
Our results offer the potential for straightforward, additive-free, and molecularly simple routes to building complex bioreactors based on in vitro transcription–translation systems and lipid vesicles.
Most of the Coq proteins involved in coenzyme Q (ubiquinone or Q) biosynthesis are interdependent within a multiprotein complex in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Lack of only one Coq ...polypeptide, as in Δcoq strains, results in the degradation of several Coq proteins. Consequently, Δcoq strains accumulate the same early intermediate of the Q6 biosynthetic pathway; this intermediate is therefore not informative about the deficient biosynthetic step in a particular Δcoq strain. In this work, we report that the overexpression of the protein Coq8 in Δcoq strains restores steady state levels of the unstable Coq proteins. Coq8 has been proposed to be a kinase, and we provide evidence that the kinase activity is essential for the stabilizing effect of Coq8 in the Δcoq strains. This stabilization results in the accumulation of several novel Q6 biosynthetic intermediates. These Q intermediates identify chemical steps impaired in cells lacking Coq4 and Coq9 polypeptides, for which no function has been established to date. Several of the new intermediates contain a C4-amine and provide information on the deamination reaction that takes place when para-aminobenzoic acid is used as a ring precursor of Q6. Finally, we used synthetic analogues of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid to bypass deficient biosynthetic steps, and we show here that 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid is able to restore Q6 biosynthesis and respiratory growth in a Δcoq7 strain overexpressing Coq8. The overexpression of Coq8 and the use of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid analogues represent innovative tools to elucidate the Q biosynthetic pathway.
Background: Several steps of eukaryotic coenzyme Q biosynthesis are still in question.
Results: Yeast coq null mutants overexpressing the Coq8 kinase have stable Coq polypeptides and accumulate new Q intermediates that help diagnose the blocked step.
Conclusion: New functions for Coq polypeptides are proposed.
Significance: Identification of the blocked step allows for the use of alternate ring precursors that rescue Q biosynthesis in some mutants.
The low dust temperatures (<14 K) of Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) make them ideal targets to probe the initial conditions and very early phase of star formation. "TOP-SCOPE" is a joint survey ...program targeting ∼2000 PGCCs in J = 1-0 transitions of CO isotopologues and ∼1000 PGCCs in 850 m continuum emission. The objective of the "TOP-SCOPE" survey and the joint surveys (SMT 10 m, KVN 21 m, and NRO 45 m) is to statistically study the initial conditions occurring during star formation and the evolution of molecular clouds, across a wide range of environments. The observations, data analysis, and example science cases for these surveys are introduced with an exemplar source, PGCC G26.53+0.17 (G26), which is a filamentary infrared dark cloud (IRDC). The total mass, length, and mean line mass (M/L) of the G26 filament are ∼6200 M☉, ∼12 pc, and ∼500 M☉ pc−1, respectively. Ten massive clumps, including eight starless ones, are found along the filament. The most massive clump as a whole may still be in global collapse, while its denser part seems to be undergoing expansion owing to outflow feedback. The fragmentation in the G26 filament from cloud scale to clump scale is in agreement with gravitational fragmentation of an isothermal, nonmagnetized, and turbulent supported cylinder. A bimodal behavior in dust emissivity spectral index (β) distribution is found in G26, suggesting grain growth along the filament. The G26 filament may be formed owing to large-scale compression flows evidenced by the temperature and velocity gradients across its natal cloud.
Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate (ITCs) derived from glucosinolate that is found in cruciferous vegetables, has been reported to exert a promising anticancer effect in a substantial amount of ...scientific research. However, epidemical studies showed inconsistencies between cruciferous vegetable intake and bladder cancer risk. In this study, human bladder cancer T24 cells were used as in vitro model for revealing the inhibitory effect and its potential mechanism of SFN on cell growth. Here, a low dose of SFN (2.5 µM) was shown to promote cell proliferation (5.18–11.84%) and migration in T24 cells, whilst high doses of SFN (>10 µM) inhibited cell growth significantly. The induction effect of SFN on nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) expression at both low (2.5 µM) and high dose (10 µM) was characterized by a bell-shaped curve. Nrf2 and glutathione (GSH) might be the underlying mechanism in the effect of SFN on T24 cell growth since Nrf2 siRNA and GSH-depleting agent L-Buthionine-sulfoximine abolished the effect of SFN on cell proliferation. In summary, the inhibitory effect of SFN on bladder cancer cell growth and migration is highly dependent on Nrf2-mediated GSH depletion and following production. These findings suggested that a higher dose of SFN is required for the prevention and treatment of bladder cancer.
Electrical conductivity, tensile strength and micro-hardness of Cu–0.43
wt.% Cr–0.17
wt.% Zr–0.05
wt.% Mg–0.1
wt.% RE alloy were investigated after cold working and aging treatment. The results show ...that good combination of the physical and mechanical properties can be obtained after aging at 450
°C for 4
h. The analysis of the microstructure by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) show that three kinds of strengthening phases, such as chromium-rich phase, zirconium-rich phase and the CrCu
2(Zr, Mg) particles were observed. Most of the chromium-rich phase and zirconium-rich phase dispersed separately, and few of them congregated together in the matrix. The CrCu
2(Zr, Mg) phase may be decomposed into chromium-rich phase and zirconium-rich phase at aging temperature above 450
°C.
PDF
