Inscribing or Circumscribing a Histogon to a Convex Polygon

We consider two optimization problems of approximating a convex polygon, one by a largest inscribed histogon and the other by a smallest circumscribed histogon. An axis-aligned histogon is an axis-aligned rectilinear polygon such that every horizontal edge has an integer length. A histogon of orientation ? is a copy of an axis-aligned histogon rotated by ? in counterclockwise direction. The goal is to find a largest inscribed histogon and a smallest circumscribed histogon over all orientations in [0,?). Depending on whether the horizontal width of a histogon is predetermined or not, we consider several different versions of the problem and present exact algorithms. These optimization problems belong to shape analysis, classification, and simplification, and they have applications in various cost-optimization problems

Multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal displays with improved angular dependent gamma curves.

Methods, systems and apparatus for a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate with a color filter, an over-coating and a common electrode. The second substrate includes an insulating layer surface facing the first substrate, a pixel electrode, a plurality of common and pixel domain guides formed on the common and the pixel electrodes, a plurality of electric shields on one of the common or pixel electrodes and a liquid crystal layer vertically aligned between the first and second substrates. The panel also includes a drive circuit for applying a voltage to generate an electric field to control liquid crystal molecule orientation corresponding to the plurality of domain guides and electric shields to form a multi-domain liquid crystal display panel device. The plural domain guides are either protrusions or slits formed in the common electrode and the pixel electrode to form the multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal device

Pig-to-Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Naked Islet Xenotransplantation

Islet transplantation is an established therapy for selected type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients with severe hypoglycemic unawareness and glycemic liability despite of insulin treatment. However, the donor organ is limited. Porcine islets are the best alternative source to overcome this limitation, and pig-to-nonhuman primate (NHP) naked islet xenotransplantation studies are being performed worldwide. Several studies including our own have presented successful proof-of-concept results based on immunosuppression regimen including the anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody. Particularly, long-term control of diabetes by adult porcine islet transplantation has been demonstrated in five consecutive monkeys, and the longest survival was ~1000 days after transplantation. Currently, pig-to-NHP islet xenotransplantation based on clinically applicable immunosuppression regimen is being pursued. In this chapter, we will describe all the procedures of pig-to-NHP naked islet xenotransplantation: (1) the porcine islet isolation from designated pathogen-free (DPF) miniature pigs, (2) diabetes induction in monkeys, (3) transplantation procedure via the portal vein, (4) immune monitoring comprising humoral and cellular immunity after porcine islet transplantation, and finally (5) liver biopsy and subsequent immunohistochemical procedure in detail

Investigation of Enhanced Polygon Wall Boundary Model in PNU-MPS Method

With regard to demonstration of fluid flow, there are two descriptions which are Eulerian description and Lagrangian description. In the field of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), a number of studies relevant to grid method based on Eulerian description have been conducted generally. However, when the grid method is employed to simulate flow field, it is inevitable to give consideration to convection term which generates severe numerical diffusion and fluctuation. To obtain the accuracy of solution, a different type of method based on Lagrangian description is come to the fore. Numerical approaches following Lagrangian description have been called meshfree or particle method. Even though particle method does not accompany convection term and fully satisfies conservation of mass, its studies have not been carried out extensively because it is difficult to implement the boundary conditions correctly due to insufficient number of particles in the vicinity of boundary. It affects directly the stability of flow field and accuracy in computation. In MPS (Moving Particle Semi-implicit) method [1], fixed-type of dummy particles are placed inside wall boundary. By placing extra particles as the wall, it seems to be not easy to satisfy the boundary condition for sharp-edged or extremely thin body configuration. In this study, the enhanced polygon wall boundary model, which was suggested originally by Mitsume et al. [2], is employed to the PNU-MPS (Pusan-National-University-modified MPS) method [3] to improve and stabilize the analysis of fluid flow with arbitrary-shaped body including sharp-edged body configuration without any additional particles. The developed simulation method, called as PNU-MPS-POLY, is adopted to the Couette flow and the lid-driven cavity flow with various corner angles. The present simulation results are validated through comparison with the analytic solutions, the experiments [4], and other simulation results [5,6]

Unexpected difficulty in ventilating the lungs after tracheal intubation -A case report-

We experienced difficulty in ventilating the lungs of a patient after tracheal intubation. After intubation, an insufficient amount of tidal volume (VT) was delivered to the patient and the fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination identified partial abutment of the endotracheal tube (ETT) orifice against the tracheal wall. After various attempts to correctly place the ETT, a double-lumen endotracheal tube was placed to achieve a sufficient VT. It is important to notice that even an appropriately placed ETT may get obstructed due to the left sided bevel at its tip

Bone regeneration potential of sub-microfibrous membranes with osteogenic induction of rBMSC for tissue engineering

Purpose: To examine the biocompatibility and osteoinductive potential of  sub-microfibrous membranes with cells in vitro and in vivo.Methods: Polylactic acid (PLA) and poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) were blended at various volume ratios (PLA:PCL = 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70 and 0:100) and each membrane form was prepared by electrospinning. Cell viability,  biocompatibility, and bone regeneration were measured.Results: The membranes from the PLA/PCL blends prepared by an electrospinning process showed a range of diameter distribution ranging from 1,580 to 550 nm. The cells of 100 % PCL membrane (smallest diameter) exhibited significantly higher adhesion and proliferation than those of the other membranes. Among the  membranes from PLA/PCL blends, PCL membrane showed weak inflammatory changes in the early stages of implantation without acute or chronic inflammation. PCL membranes with osteogenically-induced cells successfully stimulated new bone formation in a rate calvarial defect model.Conclusion: The results indicate that biodegradable PCL sub-microfibrous membrane produced by electrospinning process seems to have excellent biocompatibility, and may be used as a scaffold for bone tissue engineering.Keywords: Biocompatibility, Hard tissue, Biomaterial availability, Bone remodeling, Polylactic acid, Poly-ε-caprolactone, Osteoinductive potential, Sub-microfibrous membrane

Effects of Infrared Radiation and Heat on Human Skin Aging in vivo

Sunlight damages human skin, resulting in a wrinkled appearance. Since natural sunlight is polychromatic, its ultimate effects on the human skin are the result of not only the action of each wavelength separately, but also interactions among the many wavelengths, including UV, visible light, and infrared (IR). In direct sunlight, the temperature of human skin rises to about 40°C following the conversion of absorbed IR into heat. So far, our knowledge of the effects of IR radiation or heat on skin aging is limited. Recent work demonstrates that IR and heat exposure each induces cutaneous angiogenesis and inflammatory cellular infiltration, disrupts the dermal extracellular matrix by inducing matrix metalloproteinases, and alters dermal structural proteins, thereby adding to premature skin aging. This review provides a summary of current research on the effects of IR radiation and heat on aging in human skin in vivo