Verifying the conformance of CMY offset inks to ISO 2846 by means of a graduated gage

The original intent of this research was to verify that a new method - called the Little Joe method in this report - could be used to verify that CMY offset inks conform to ISO 2846. This method would use less time to generate multiple ink film thicknesses (IFTs) than the traditionally used ISO 2834 method. With a graduated gage, a Little Joe proofer can be used to produce multiple IFTs on a single sample. However, the absolute thickness values for those IFTs are unknown. Therefore, to calibrate these unknown IFTs, a calibration curve that relates IFT and optical density should be used. Such a curve would have to be built based on samples produced by the method described in ISO 2834 using an IGT printability tester. The question is: will both methods (the traditional ISO 2834 method and the Little Joe method), either accept or reject a given sample? This research found that the same IFTs on both samples do not have the same colorimetric values. The ink film was not as smooth on the Little Joe prints as it was on the IGT prints. The presence of tiny white spots throughout the Little Joe sample add a gray component to the color. The difference in smoothness of the ink layer on the Little Joe proofer comes from the ink not being worked as much as it is on the distribution rollers of the IGT printer. Therefore, the ink is less liquid and not able to completely spread out and cover the paper. The answer to the research question is that the two methods do not both either accept or reject a given sample. Towards the conclusion of this research, Professor Franz Sigg and the researcher made some improvement to the traditional ISO 2834 method and eventually invented a more efficient method: the modified ISO 2834 method. A high input volume of ink (0.1 cc) was applied to the IGT inking unit. Then, while the inking unit was kept running without adding new ink, the disc was weighed before and after each print and was then re-inked to made another print. As samples were printed, the ink on the inking unit was reduced, producing prints with progressively thinner ink film thicknesses in rapid progression since no cleaning was needed between prints. This allowed the prints to be produced in a much shorter time than with the original ISO 2834 method. The result of the modified ISO 2834 method agreed with that of the original method within a tolerance of 1 DeltaE. Therefore, both methods can accept or reject a given sample at the same time

Effect of Neural Network on Reduction of Noise for Edge Detection

Processing photographic images is important in many applications, among them the development of automated driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. Many techniques are used for processing images, including neural networks, other types of machine learning, and edge detection. One common issue with processing these photos is the presence of noise, whether caused by the camera itself or by physical conditions (e.g., weather conditions or dirt on road signs). In this paper, a neural network is used for noise reduction to improve edge detection results and tested with two kinds of noise, Gaussian and salt & pepper noise, and three different edge detection algorithms, Canny, Sobel, and Zhang. Results showed that the noise reduction process was effective in improving performance of the edge detection process, with the exception of conditions where the noise was originally very minimal

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Sheng-xue-xiaoban, inhibits the angiogenesis in ovarian cancer in vitro

Purpose: The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Sheng-xue-xiao-van (SXXB) is reported to be effective in treatment of thrombocytopenic purpura and chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in clinical practices. The purpose of this study was to explore the functions of the SXXB Capsule in ovarian cancer in vitro.Methods: The toxicity of the medicine was measured using CCK8 method in ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and OC-3-VGH and also the human ovarian epithelial cell line IOSE80. The cells were treated using the DMSO-diluted SXXB solution with the concentration levels at0, 3.125 and 6.25 μg/ml. Western blot was applied to measure the VEGFA proteins in each group. Later, the cells treated with 0 and 25μg/ml SXXB solution for 48h were collected for supernatant. Then HUVECs were co-cultured with the supernatant. Migration and tube formation assays were performed thereafter.Results: SXXB solution showed higher toxicity in ovarian cancer cells than in IOSE80. The protein levels of VEGFA were reduced as the SXXB concentrations increased in ovarian cancer cells but not in IOSE80. Migration and formed tubes were inhibited in HUVECs co-cultured with the supernatant collected from SXXB-treated ovarian cancer cells.Conclusion: The SXXB Capsule might inhibit the angiogenesis in ovarian cancer in vitro

Combating Multi-path Interference to Improve Chirp-based Underwater Acoustic Communication

Linear chirp-based underwater acoustic communication has been widely used due to its reliability and long-range transmission capability. However, unlike the counterpart chirp technology in wireless -- LoRa, its throughput is severely limited by the number of modulated chirps in a symbol. The fundamental challenge lies in the underwater multi-path channel, where the delayed copied of one symbol may cause inter-symbol and intra-symbol interfere. In this paper, we present UWLoRa+, a system that realizes the same chirp modulation as LoRa with higher data rate, and enhances LoRa's design to address the multi-path challenge via the following designs: a) we replace the linear chirp used by LoRa with the non-linear chirp to reduce the signal interference range and the collision probability; b) we design an algorithm that first demodulates each path and then combines the demodulation results of detected paths; and c) we replace the Hamming codes used by LoRa with the non-binary LDPC codes to mitigate the impact of the inevitable collision.Experiment results show that the new designs improve the bit error rate (BER) by 3x, and the packet error rate (PER) significantly, compared with the LoRa's naive design. Compared with an state-of-the-art system for decoding underwater LoRa chirp signal, UWLoRa+ improves the throughput by up to 50 times

Test Targets 10: A Collaborative effort exploring the use of scientific methods for color imaging and process control

Th ere are six papers that were written, peer reviewed, and published in Test Targets 10. Two papers focus on printing standardization and conformity assessment. Chung describes aims and tolerances specified in ISO 12647-2 and the use of color measurement and data analysis for conformity assessment. Urbain and Khoury describe data reception requirements in ISO 12647-2 and ISO 15930 and the use of a test pdf file to assess conformity of any pdf workflow. Test Targets 10 will likely be remembered as the publication that covers OBA (optical brightening agents). Two papers focus on OBA. Tian and Chung report the effect of paper containing OBA on printed colors and how such effect can be corrected using different mathematics. Sigg and Millward report the stability of OBA as a function of exposure to light over time. In addition, Gallery of Visual Interest shows side-by-side the visual effect of pictorial and synthetic color images printed on paper with and without OBA. Printing conformity is result-oriented and does not dictate the press calibration method used. The fifth paper, authored by Wang, compares the compatibility of two press calibration methods, TVI and G7, by means of gradation compensation and press run simulation. Printing conformity requires that correct inks and paper be used. Verifying that correct inks are used is outside the capability of a printer. Th e sixth paper, authored by Zhang, explores an alternative ink drawdown and ink verification method that could be implemented by printers. Test Forms is a regular feature of Test Targets. We are pleased to showcase pictorial color reference images, Roman 16 Reference Images, courtesy of Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V. (bvdm), and many possible uses of these images for printing process control and for color management studies. For example, we can compare the appearance of an image printed from the supplied CMYK file with the image from a supplied RGB file that was converted to CMYK by a color management application

Macrophage‐derived MMP‐9 enhances the progression of atherosclerotic lesions and vascular calcification in transgenic rabbits

Matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9), or gelatinase B, has been hypothesized to be involved in the progression of atherosclerosis. In the arterial wall, accumulated macrophages secrete considerable amounts of MMP‐9 but its pathophysiological functions in atherosclerosis have not been fully elucidated. To examine the hypothesis that macrophage‐derived MMP‐9 may affect atherosclerosis, we created MMP‐9 transgenic (Tg) rabbits to overexpress the rabbit MMP‐9 gene under the control of the scavenger receptor A enhancer/promoter and examined their susceptibility to cholesterol diet‐induced atherosclerosis. Tg rabbits along with non‐Tg rabbits were fed a cholesterol diet for 16 and 28 weeks, and their aortic and coronary atherosclerosis was compared. Gross aortic lesion areas were significantly increased in female Tg rabbits at 28 weeks; however, pathological examination revealed that all the lesions of Tg rabbits fed a cholesterol diet for either 16 or 28 weeks were characterized by increased monocyte/macrophage accumulation and prominent lipid core formation compared with those of non‐Tg rabbits. Macrophages isolated from Tg rabbits exhibited higher infiltrative activity towards a chemoattractant, MCP‐1 in vitro and augmented capability of hydrolysing extracellular matrix in granulomatous tissue. Surprisingly, the lesions of Tg rabbits showed more advanced lesions with remarkable calcification in both aortas and coronary arteries. In conclusion, macrophage‐derived MMP‐9 facilitates the infiltration of monocyte/macrophages into the lesions thereby enhancing the progression of atherosclerosis. Increased accumulation of lesional macrophages may promote vascular calcification.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154927/1/jcmm15087-sup-0001-FigS1-S13.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154927/2/jcmm15087.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154927/3/jcmm15087_am.pd

Salusin-α Inhibits Proliferation and Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell via Akt/mTOR Signaling

Background/Aims: The proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are key steps in the progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential roles of salusin-α in the functions of VSMCs during the development of atherosclerosis. Methods: In vivo, the effects of salusin-α on atherogenesis were examined in rabbits fed a cholesterol diet. The aortas were en face stained with Sudan IV to evaluate the gross atherosclerotic lesion size. The cellular components of atherosclerotic plaques were analyzed by immunohistochemical methods. In vitro, Cell Counting Kit-8 and wound-healing assays were used to assess the effects of salusin-α on VSMC proliferation and migration. In addition, western blotting was used to evaluate the total and phosphorylated levels of Akt (also known as protein kinase B) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in VSMCs. Results: Salusin-α infusion significantly reduced the aortic lesion areas of atherosclerosis, with a 39% reduction in the aortic arch, a 71% reduction in the thoracic aorta, and a 71% reduction in the abdominal aorta; plasma lipid levels were unaffected. Immunohistochemical staining showed that salusin-α decreased both macrophage- and VSMC-positively stained areas in atherosclerotic lesions by 54% and 69%, cell proliferative activity in the intima and media of arteriosclerotic lesions, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 expression in plaques. Studies using cultured VSMCs showed that salusin-α decreased VSMC migration and proliferation via reduced phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. Conclusion: Our data indicate that salusin-α suppresses the development of atherosclerosis by inhibiting VSMC proliferation and migration through the Akt/mTOR pathway