Adaptive visualization of gas distribution using augmented reality glasses

L. Duan, H. Matsukura, P. Punpongsanon, T. Hiraki, D. Iwai and K. Sato, "Adaptive Visualization of Gas Distribution Using Augmented Reality Glasses," 2020 IEEE 9th Global Conference on Consumer Electronics (GCCE), 2020, pp. 658-659, doi: 10.1109/GCCE50665.2020.9291811

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Transforming Growth Factor-beta Synergistically Upregulate Endothelin-1 Expression in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells BEAS-2B

Endothelin-1 is a peptide with many functions including bronchoconstriction and the stimulation of fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts, and airway smooth muscle cell proliferation. These functions are related to airway remodeling and endothelin-1 is known to be upregulated in the epithelium of patients with severe asthma. We thus sought to elucidate the mechanisms underlying endothelin-1 expression in bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. The human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B was grown in culture and then treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-13 (IL-13), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Expression of endothelin-1 mRNA and protein was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We also repressed expression of the key transcription factor in the pathogenesis of severe asthma, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), using small interfering RNA (siRNA). TNF-α and TGF-β significantly increased the release of endothelin-1 protein into the culture medium of BEAS-2B cells at 24 h after treatment compared to untreated cells; however, the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, had no effect. Endothelin-1 mRNA expression was also upregulated by TNF-α and TGF-β with a peak time point at 4 h after stimulation. Finally, the combination of TNF-α and TGF-β synergistically increased both endothelin-1 protein secretion and mRNA expression, and this upregulation was significantly suppressed in cells transfected with siRNA to repress NF-κB expression. TNF-α and TGF-β synergistically upregulate the expression of endothelin-1 in human bronchial epithelial cells, possibly via the activity of NF-κB. Our findings thus suggest NF-κBa as a potential therapeutic target for the regulation of airway remodeling

High-temperature compression tests of Ti(C, N)–70 wt% W cermet and isothermal forging of Inconel 718 alloys using cermet molds

In this study, TiC0·5N0.5–70 wt% W cermet specimens consisting of a core–rim grain structure with coherent interfaces and the binder phase were prepared by blending TiC0·5N0.5 and W powders with particle sizes of less than 1 μm and then spark plasma sintering the blended powders. The compression tests of the cermet specimens were conducted in the temperature range of 1873 K–2073 K in a vacuum and under Ar gas flow conditions. At all testing temperatures, this cermet exhibited much higher yield stress than MoSiBTiC and MoNbTaVW high-entropy alloys, which are some of the structural materials showing the highest strength at temperatures exceeding 1873 K. After isothermal upset forging of commercially available solid-solution heat-treated Inconel 718 alloy specimens with a diameter of 5 mm and a height of 5 mm using cermet molds at loads of 40 kN and 10 kN at 1273 K and 1373 K in a vacuum, respectively, their average grain size (2 μm) was found to be much smaller than that before forging. Such fine microstructures were assumed to be formed by dynamic recrystallization during forging

Head orientation control of projection area for projected virtual hand interface on wheelchair

A projected virtual hand interface, which visually extends the arms of users using projection images, enables wheelchair users to reach unreachable objects; however, its projection area is usually smaller than the reaching area for its users. In our previous research, we developed a wheelchair system with a projected virtual hand system in which users can move the projected area via finger movements on a touch panel. However, it requires some time to move the projected area to the desired position. To address this problem, we propose a wheelchair system enhanced with a projected virtual hand that allows controlling a projection area using a user's head orientation. The proposed system measures the current user's head orientation and distance between a user and a projection surface. Then, it adapts the suitable pan and tilt of the projector by considering its positional relationship with the projection plane. As users can operate the projection area simply by turning their head, this operation can be executed simultaneously with operating a virtual hand using their hands. We propose a control model for projector rotation according to the user's head orientation. We implemented a prototype based on the model and confirmed the system's latency. The usability study revealed that the proposed method enables users to perform pointing tasks in a shorter time compared with the existing method. Moreover, it has acceptable interface usability

Clarithromycin-resistant Mycobacterium Shinjukuense Lung Disease: Case Report and Literature Review

Mycobacterium shinjukuense is a species of non-tuberculous mycobacteria newly reported in 2010. Herein, we report on an 85-year-old woman with M. shinjukuense lung disease. Radiographic examinations showed consolidation with bronchiectasis, which responded transiently to clarithromycin monotherapy. After 1 year of monotherapy, the diagnosis was established and drug susceptibility testing revealed elevated minimum inhibitory concentration for clarithromycin. The patient was then treated successfully with a combination of antituberculosis drugs. The transient response to clarithromycin suggested that the M. shinjukuense had acquired resistance to clarithromycin. Appropriate treatment for M. shinjukuense lung disease has not yet been established; therefore, it is important to accumulate information from case reports

Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome: Life Saving Role of Peritoneal Lavage and Drainage

Purpose We encountered a case where an infection with group A streptococcus (GAS; ie, Streptococcus pyogenes ) initially caused primary peritonitis and then subsequently caused streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. The patient's life was likely saved by an emergency laparotomy followed by extensive peritoneal lavage and drainage. Case Presentation A 40-year-old woman was admitted to the Emergency Department for lower abdominal pain and numbness in the extremities. She presented with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. An emergency laparotomy was performed, and ascites that resembled pus and general peritonitis were noted. Peritoneal lavage and drainage were performed, and GAS was isolated from peritoneal fluid. Gram staining of cervical polyp specimens revealed Gram-positive bacteria. Conclusions The patient was diagnosed with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome due to an ascending GAS infection originating from vagina