HD/SHD still image database system and image distribution in broadband network applications

This paper focuses on a practical design for an efficient scalable image database and retrieval system over broadband networks. It describes a concrete solution for the implementation of HD/SHD (high-definition/super-high-definition) still image retrieval services which can be used in different applications. The structure of the complete system, consisting of a directory server, an image server, and MMI (man-machine interface) devices, has been presented, detailing each element and their corresponding functions. The desired HD/SHD image is displayed on the HD-PDP (plasma display panel) with the aid of image matching. The proposed system generates image index automatically, eliminating special skills in preparing index images and crucially reducing the processing time (from 35 min to 110 s), and does not use keywords. It has been also shown that these indices can be used for quite accurate image retrieval, i.e., the system provides high precision rates (currently up to 98%) to the user, eliminating troubles encountered in the image retrieval operations due to limitation on the user’s age, culture, knowledge, and languages.The broadband IP networks currently have a number of issues from the viewpoint of practical system operations, and so the requirements and issues needed for the networks are discussed from the viewpoint of in-service performance, differentiation among different types of services, secure connections, and so on, focusing on handling of HD/SHD still images.     

Morphological characteristics of flood refugia of cobble-bed vegetation

Periodic flooding alters riverine vegetation community composition; moderate flood disturbance maintains communities at an early seral stage, whereas severe floods may remove entire communities. After disturbance, plants may recolonize riverbeds from refugia.Here, we investigated the morphological characteristics of refugia where riverine plants survived large floods. At three sites, plant communities growing on cobble-bars were surveyed, and the hydraulic characteristics of each site were analyzed. The populations of an indicator plant, Anaphalis margaritacea sub-species yedoensis (Franch. et Savat.) were assessed after major floods in 2004 and 2009. At each survey, the particle size and bed composition were measured, and the critical shear-stress required to move particles at each site was calculated. A one-dimensional flow and the average and local shear-stress at ten different discharges, including that of the largest flood were calculated. The results demonstrate that the A. margaritacea community is maintained at locations where the local shear-stress at peak discharge in large-floods does not exceed a critical value. These conditions were achieved in locations with particular morphological characteristics, where the river is not constrained by levees and is restricted by a downstream narrow-pass; in this reach river width increases with discharge thus limiting the increase in water depth with increasing discharge and allowing the establishment of refugia where plant species may survive large floods.Flooding and reestablishment from refugia maintain a characteristic riverbed community in equilibrium.     

Helium gas permeability of montmorillonite/epoxy nanocomposites

Helium gas permeability of silicate clay (montmorillonite) particles/epoxy nanocomposites was examined. The incorporation of increasing amounts of montmorillonite particles reduced the helium gas permeability. Based on Fick’s law, gas permeation behavior of the nanocomposite was evaluated. With the increase of montmorillonite loading, gas diffusivity decreased, while gas solubility increased. Helium diffusion behavior is in agreement to the numerical results based on the Hatta–Taya–Eshelby theory. It has been revealed that dispersion of nanoscale platelets in polymer is effective in improving gas barrier property.     

Time dependence of mesoscopic strain distribution for triaxial woven carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer under creep loading measured by digital image correlation

This paper presents the time dependence of the mesoscopic strain of a triaxial woven carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer under creep loading measured using digital image correlation (DIC). Two types of DIC techniques were employed for the measurement: conventional subset DIC and mesh DIC. Static tensile and creep tests were carried out, and the time dependence of the mesoscopic strain distribution was investigated by applying these techniques. The ultimate failure of this material is dominated by inter-bundle decohesion caused by relative rigid rotation and relating shear stress. Therefore, these were focused on in the present study. During the creep tests, the fiber directional strain, shear strain, and rotation were monitored using the DIC, and the mechanism for the increase in the specimen’s macro-strain over time was investigated based on the results obtained by the DIC measurement.     

Photoactivable Elimination of Tumorigenic Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells by Using a Lectin–Doxorubicin Prodrug Conjugate

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are attractive resources for regenerative medicine, but medical applications are hindered by their tumorigenic potential. Previously, a hPSC-specific lectin probe, rBC2LCN, was identified through comprehensive glycome analysis by using high-density lectin microarrays. Herein, a lectin–doxorubicin (DOX) prodrug conjugate, with controllable photolysis activation for the elimination of tumorigenic human induced pluripotent stem cells, has been developed. rBC2LCN was fused with a biotin-binding protein, tamavidin (BC2Tama), and the fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by means of affinity chromatography. BC2Tama was then conjugated with doxorubicin-photocleavable biotin (DOXPCB). The BC2Tama–DOXPCB conjugates were observed to bind to hPSCs followed by internalization. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light, DOX was released inside the cells, which allowed specific killing of the hPSCs. Thus, BC2Tama–DOXPCB should be useful for the targeted elimination of hPSCs contained in hPSC-derived cell therapy products. This is the first report of the generation of lectin–prodrug conjugates. BC2Tama should be applicable for the targeted delivery of various types of biotinylated compounds into hPSCs.     

Characterization of alternative plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) sheets for blood containers

This study aimed to optimize the ratio of dioctyl 4‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DOTH) and di‐isononyl‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DINCH^®) for use as plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) sheets. We also evaluated the biological safety of DOTH for its potential to be part of a safe PVC‐based blood container. The suppression of hemolysis in mannitol‐adenine‐phosphate / red cell concentrates (MAP/RCC) with DOTH/(DINCH^®‐PVC) sheets and the elution of plasticizers from the sheets increased with higher DOTH compositions. The properties of the PVC sheet containing DOTH and DINCH^® in the ratio of 25:33 parts against PVC 100 parts as a weight were almost identical to the PVC sheet made of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate. From a subchronic toxicity test, DOTH did not show any adverse effects on all organs, including the testes, epididymis, liver, and kidneys. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level was 300 mg/kg body weight/day in a rat. These results suggest that DOTH/DINCH^® (25:33) is a promising candidate for the replacement of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate in blood containers. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:520–528, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Supramolecular Ligands for Histone Tails by Employing a Multivalent Display of Trisulfonated Calix[4]arenes

Post‐translational modification of histone tails plays critical roles in gene regulation. Thus, molecules recognizing histone tails and controlling their epigenetic modification are desirable as biochemical tools to elucidate regulatory mechanisms. There are, however, only a few synthetic ligands that bind to histone tails with substantial affinity. We report CA2 and CA3, which exhibited sub‐micromolar affinity to histone tails (especially tails with a trimethylated lysine). Multivalent display of trisulfonated calix[4]arene was important for strong binding. CA2 was applicable not only to synthetic tail peptides but also to endogenous histone proteins, and was successfully used to pull‐down endogenous histones from nuclear extract. These findings indicate the utility of these supramolecular ligands as biochemical tools for studying chromatin regulator protein and as a targeting motif in ligand‐directed catalysis to control epigenetic modifications.     

Thrombopoietin and erythropoietin activate inside-out signaling of integrin and enhance adhesion to immobilized fibronectin in human growth-factor-dependent hematopoietic cells

Erythropoietin (EPO) and thrombopoietin (c-MPL ligand; TPO) are structurally similar cytokines and support respectively, the proliferation and differentiation for erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages, as well as more primitive progenitors. We studied the effect of these cytokines on the induction of adhesion of human growth-factor-dependent hematopoietic cells to immobilized fibronectin, which is a main component of the extracellular matrix in the bone marrow. MO7ER cells that are genetically engineered to express human EPO receptor and MO7e cells that express endogenous c-MPL were used. Stimulation with either TPO or EPO induced rapid increases in adhesion of M07ER cells to fibronectin without apparent change of expression of integrins. Experiments with inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) demonstrated that CD41, which has been reported to be involved in TPO-induced adhesion of megakaryocytic cells, is not responsible for this enhanced adhesion. Anti-beta 1 integrin mAb inhibited adhesion completely, while inhibition by anti-alpha 4 integrin mAb and anti-alpha 5 integrin mAb was partial. Combination of anti-alpha 4 mAb plus anti-alpha 5 mAb completely abolished adhesion, as did anti-beta 1 mAb, suggesting that the adhesion is mediated by both alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 integrins. Experiments using inhibitors suggested that ligand binding followed by activation of intracellular tyrosine kinases along with PI3-kinase activation is required. After stimulation of M07ER cells with either TPO or EPO, fibronectin-attached cells, but not cells in suspension, showed tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, which plays a central role in integrin-mediated signaling. These data suggest that TPO and EPO might be involved in homing/migration to the bone marrow microenvironment by hematopoietic cells that express corresponding receptors.     

Experience of treatment for giant cell tumor of the upper tibia

Cell cycle analysis using flow cytometer (FCMX) was performed to evaluate the influence of cyclosporin A (CsA) on cellular proliferation during compensatory renal growth (CRG) in uninephrectomized (Ux) rats. CsA (50 mg/kg/day) was administered subcutaneously for 7 days and animals were scarificed 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120 and 168 h after Ux. The percent changes in the S (DNA synthesis) and G2M (DNA replication) phases in the contralateral kidney were analyzed. The cortical cells entering the S and G2M phases showed significant differences between CsA and vehicle groups (p = 0.0001, p = 0.001, respectively), but the medullary cells entering the S and G2M phases showed no significant differences between the 2 groups (p = 1.000, respectively). In the cortex, the CsA group showed a significant decrease in the S (at 12, 72 and 120 h) and G2M phases (at 24, 72 and 120 h) compared to the vehicle group (p < 0.05, respectively), but there was no significant difference in the medulla. In conclusion, cellular proliferation is suppressed in cortical cells by CsA.