Depth perception for moving images shown on a large LED display with an aperture grille

Abstract— A type of depth illusion created by the use of an aperture grille is reported. When viewing a moving target through multiple slits, a movement with depth is perceived, which was originally reported (see Ref. 11). The binocular delay is considered to cause a virtual disparity between both perspective images with apparent movement. By using an LED display with an aperture grille as a stereoscopic display, perceived distance caused by a binocular delay has been measured. The measured distance is compared with the perceived distance for stereoscopic still images shown on a stereoscopic LED panel. The comparison supported that the binocular delay is converted into binocular disparity. Furthermore, pair‐comparison tests were conducted to investigate depth impressions. It was found that use of an aperture grille improves depth impression for a movie that was taken with a laterally moving camera.     

Fucoxanthin Prevents Pancreatic Tumorigenesis in C57BL/6J Mice That Received Allogenic and Orthotopic Transplants of Cancer Cells

Fucoxanthin (Fx) is a marine carotenoid with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties in various animal models of carcinogenesis. However, there is currently no information on the effects of Fx in animal models of pancreatic cancer. We investigated the chemopreventive effects of Fx in C57BL/6J mice that received allogenic and orthotopic transplantations of cancer cells (KMPC44) derived from a pancreatic cancer murine model (Ptf1a^Cre/+; LSL-kras^G12D/+). Using microarray, immunofluorescence, western blot, and siRNA analyses, alterations in cancer-related genes and protein expression were evaluated in pancreatic tumors of Fx-administered mice. Fx administration prevented the adenocarcinoma (ADC) development of pancreatic and parietal peritoneum tissues in a pancreatic cancer murine model, but not the incidence of ADC. Gene and protein expressions showed that the suppression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21)/chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) axis, its downstream of Rho A, B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), N-cadherin, αSMA, pFAK(Tyr³⁹⁷), and pPaxillin(Tyr³¹) were significantly suppressed in the pancreatic tumors of mice treated with Fx. In addition, Ccr7 knockdown significantly attenuated the growth of KMPC44 cells. These results suggest that Fx is a promising candidate for pancreatic cancer chemoprevention that mediates the suppression of the CCL21/CCR7 axis, BTLA, tumor microenvironment, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and adhesion.     

The role of microbial surface properties and extracellular polymer in Lactococcus Lactis aggregation

Microbial adhesion to an interface is known to have an important role in a wide variety of situations. In this study, we examine the effect of the surface physicochemical properties and extracellular polymers (ECP) of a lactic bacterium on microbial aggregation. Lactococcus lactis JCM 5805 was used in the current experiments to investigate the factors that control microbial aggregation. To this aim, we measured the electrophoretic mobility and contact angle of L. lactis. As a result, L. lactis was found to be a negatively charged and hydrophilic bacterium. The microbial aggregation was investigated using DLVO (Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek) theory. The percent aggregates of washed cells increased slightly with increasing ionic strength of the cell suspension. This tendency agreed with the prediction of the DLVO theory. By contrast, when the ECP was present in suspensions of intact cells or washed cells, the ECP was found to promote the aggregation of the microbial cells in the low ionic strength region due to an attractive bridging force. The percent aggregates of microbial cell decreased with increasing the ionic strength due to the repulsive steric or overlap forces between polymer-covered surfaces.     

Chemiluminescence of polyethylene induced by UV irradiation

Summary The chemiluminescence (CL) of polyethylene (PE) film induced by UV irradiation was investigated. CL parameter, I₀, which indicates the oxidation rate under UV irradiation was obtained from a kinetic analysis. The I₀ was found to be valuable to evaluate the durability of PE films.     

Ultrastructural organization of the transverse tubules and the sarcoplasmic reticulum in a fish sound-producing muscle

The ultrastructural basis for the extremely rapid contraction-relaxation cycle (up to 300 s(-1)) in the swim-bladder muscle (SBM) of a scorpionfish (Sebastiscus marmoratus), producing characteristic sounds for communication, was investigated by electron microscopy. The SBM fibres contained well-developed sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) showing triadic contacts with well-organized transverse tubules (T tubules). It was newly found that different types of triadic contacts were present within the single SBM fibre. In the middle region of the fibre (approximately 54% of the fibre length), the triadic contacts were located around the level of boundary between the A- and I-bands (AI-type triad). However in the two end regions of the fibre (approximately 21% and approximately 12% of the fibre length), the triadic contacts were seen around the level of the Z-band (Z-type triad). Between the middle and end regions of the fibre, T tubule-SR contacts exhibited the form of pentads composed of a pair of T tubules and three SR elements, and newly found heptads composed of three T tubules and four SR elements. The fractional volume of SR relative to the fibre volume was estimated to be approximately 26% in the middle region of the fibre with the AI-type triads and approximately 15% in the fibre ends with the Z-type triads. These results are discussed in connection with the mechanism, by which the mechanical activity of the SBM muscle is neurally controlled.     

Purification and properties of polyphenol oxidase in head lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.1) in head lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) was purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The enzyme was found to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be about 56 000 amu by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The purified enzyme quickly oxidised chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoyl quinic acid) and (—)-epicatechin. The K^m values for the enzyme, using chlorogenic acid (pH 4·5, 30°C) and (—)-epicatechin (pH 7·0, 30°C) as substrate, were 0·67 mM and 0·91 mM, respectively. The optimal pH of chlorogenic acid oxidase and (—)-epicatechin oxidase activities were 4·5 and 7·8, respectively, and both activities were stable in the pH range 6–8 at 5°C for 20 h. Potassium cyanide and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate markedly inhibited both activities of the purified enzyme. The inhibitory effect of metallic ions such as Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ for chlorogenic acid oxidase activity was stronger than that for (—)-epicatechin oxidase activity.     

Surface texture assessment of ultra-precision machined parts based on laser speckle pattern analysis

Surface texture plays an important role in overall product specification, because the surface quality of the product is dominated by the nano-scale surface texture. This paper presents a surface texture assessment method for evaluating roughness and periodicity of surface structure with a laser speckle pattern analysis. By investigating the relation between surface texture and laser speckle pattern, characteristic parameters for describing a laser speckle pattern are proposed. The proposed characteristic parameters can evaluate the surface texture in entire observed area and in limited area in any given direction. Furthermore, the surface texture can be qualitatively assessed with a radar chart of the proposed laser speckle characteristic parameters.     

Hyperfluorescence™: Excel the performance,create the future

Hyperfluorescence™ (HF), known as the most advanced OLED emitting technology, combines TADF and fluorescence mechanisms enabling 100% internal quantum efficiency (IQE) and narrowband emission. Based on in silico simulation, HF is not only more outperformed than the modern OLED emitting technologies but also feasible for the RGB definition of BT.2020. Of the green top-emission HF device, the device performance is manifold increased than that of the bottom-emission, where this effect is more amplified than that in phosphorescence system. An efficiency improvement approach to reach market requirements was illustrated to show our vision in pursuing excellent performance.     

A close correlation in the expression patterns of Af-6 and Usp9x in Sertoli and granulosa cells of mouse testis and ovary

Usp9x, an X-linked deubiquitylating enzyme, is stage dependently expressed in the supporting cells (i.e. Sertoli cells and granulosa cells) and germ cells during mouse gametogenesis. Af-6, a cell junction protein, has been identified as a substrate of Usp9x, suggesting a possible association between Usp9x and Af-6 in spermatogenesis and oogenesis. In this study, we examined the expression pattern of Af-6 and Usp9x and their intracellular localization in testes and ovaries of mice treated with or without pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), an FSH-like hormone. In both testes and ovaries, Af-6 expression was predominantly observed in supporting cells, as well as in steroidogenic cells, but not in any germ cells. In Sertoli cells, Af-6 was continuously expressed throughout postnatal and adult stages, where both Af-6 and Usp9x were enriched at the sites of Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-spermatid junctions especially at stages XI-VI. In the granulosa cells, Af-6, as well as Usp9x, was highly expressed in primordial and primary follicles, but its expression rapidly decreased after the late-secondary follicle stage. Interestingly, in PMSG-treated mice, the expression levels of Af-6 and Usp9x were synchronously enhanced, slightly in Sertoli cells and strongly in granulosa cells of the late-secondary and Graafian follicles. Such closely correlated expression patterns between Af-6 and Usp9x clearly suggest that Af-6 may be deubiquitylated by Usp9x in both Sertoli and granulosa cells. It further suggests that the post-translational regulation of Af-6 by Usp9x may be one potential pathway to control the cell adhesion dynamics in mammalian gametogenesis.     

Sequence‐Specific DNA Photosplitting of Crosslinked DNAs Containing the 3‐Cyanovinylcarbazole Nucleoside by Using DNA Strand Displacement

An oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) containing the ultrafast reversible 3‐cyanovinylcarbazole (^CNVK) photo‐crosslinker was photo‐crosslinked to a complementary strand upon exposure to 366 nm irradiation and photosplit by use of 312 nm irradiation. In this paper we report that the photoreaction of ^CNVK on irradiation at 366 nm involves a photostationary state and that its reaction can be controlled by temperature. Guided by this new insight, we proposed and have now demonstrated previously unknown photosplitting of ^CNVK aided by DNA strand displacement as an alternative to heating. The photo‐crosslinked double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) underwent >80 % photosplitting aided by DNA strand displacement on irradiation at 366 nm without heating. In this photosplitting based on DNA strand displacement, the relative thermal stability of the invader strand with respect to the template strands plays an important role, and an invader strand/template strand system that is more stable than the passenger strand/template strand system induces photosplitting without heating. This new strand‐displacement‐aided photosplitting occurred in a sequence‐specific manner through irradiation at 366 nm in the presence of an invader strand.