Tonicity response element binding protein associated with neuronal cell death in the experimental diabetic retinopathy

AIM: To study the contribution of tonicity response element binding protein (TonEBP) in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death of diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: Diabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice by five consecutive intraperitoneal injections of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Control mice received vehicle (phosphate -buffered saline). All mice were killed 2mo after injections, and the extent of cell death and the protein expression levels of TonEBP and aldose reductase (AR) were examined. RESULTS: The TonEBP and AR protein levels and the death of RGC were significantly increased in the retinas of diabetic mice compared with controls 2mo after the induction of diabetes. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) -mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) -positive signals co -localized with TonEBP immunoreactive RGC. These changes were increased in the diabetic retinas compared with controls. CONCLUSION: The present data show that AR and TonEBP are upregulated in the DR and TonEBP may contribute to apoptosis of RGC in the DR.close2

The IPIN 2019 Indoor Localisation Competition—Description and Results

IPIN 2019 Competition, sixth in a series of IPIN competitions, was held at the CNR Research Area of Pisa (IT), integrated into the program of the IPIN 2019 Conference. It included two on-site real-time Tracks and three off-site Tracks. The four Tracks presented in this paper were set in the same environment, made of two buildings close together for a total usable area of 1000 m 2 outdoors and and 6000 m 2 indoors over three floors, with a total path length exceeding 500 m. IPIN competitions, based on the EvAAL framework, have aimed at comparing the accuracy performance of personal positioning systems in fair and realistic conditions: past editions of the competition were carried in big conference settings, university campuses and a shopping mall. Positioning accuracy is computed while the person carrying the system under test walks at normal walking speed, uses lifts and goes up and down stairs or briefly stops at given points. Results presented here are a showcase of state-of-the-art systems tested side by side in real-world settings as part of the on-site real-time competition Tracks. Results for off-site Tracks allow a detailed and reproducible comparison of the most recent positioning and tracking algorithms in the same environment as the on-site Tracks

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Purpose. The present study aims to verify the effectiveness of the reality therapy for patients with schizophrenia. Methods. It is designed as a quasi-experimental study by which a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest is conducted. The test was conducted with 30 patients with schizophrenia who were hospitalized at a mental hospital in South Korea. Fifteen of the patients participated in the reality therapy program while another 15 in the control group. The effects are measured by marking scores in the areas of the locus of control, selfesteem, and problem-focused stress coping of each participant. Results. The general characteristics and dependent variables related to outcome variables were controlled to be equal between the two groups. It turns out that the internal locus of control, self-esteem, and problemfocused stress coping are statistically significant. Conclusion. Findings show that the reality therapy caused positive changes in terms of the internal locus of control, self-esteem, and problem-focused stress coping of the observed schizophrenic patients

Alien Pulse Rejection in Concurrent Firing LIDAR

Mobile pulse light detection and ranging (LIDAR) is an essential component of autonomous vehicles. The obstacle detection function of autonomous vehicles requires very low failure rates. With an increasing number of autonomous vehicles equipped with LIDAR sensors for use in the detection and avoidance of obstacles and for safe navigation through the environment, the probability of mutual interference becomes an important issue. The reception of foreign laser pulses can lead to problems such as ghost targets or a reduced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this paper, we presented the probability that any LIDAR sensor would interfere mutually by considering spatial and temporal overlaps. We presented some typical mutual interference scenarios in real-world vehicle applications, as well as an analysis of the interference mechanism. We proposed a new multi-plane LIDAR sensor which used coded pulse streams encoded by carrier-hopping prime code (CHPC) technology to measure surrounding perimeters without mutual interference. These encoded pulses utilized a random azimuth identification and checksum with random spreading code. We modeled the entirety of the LIDAR sensor operation in Synopsys OptSim and represented the alien pulse elimination functionality obtained via modeling and simulation

Optimal Path Configuration with Coded Laser Pilots for Charging Electric Vehicles Using High Intensity Laser Power Beams

Wireless power transmission (WPT) for wireless charging has been gaining wide attention as a promising approach to miniaturizing the battery size and increasing the maximal total range of an electric vehicle (EV). With an appropriate charging infrastructure, WPT holds great potential to accelerate the acceptance of EVs through users’ higher satisfaction, reducing EV cost, and increasing the driving range and capability. A WPT system based on high-intensity laser power beaming (HILPB) provides an optimal solution for wirelessly charging electric vehicles from a distance of several meters. Despite a large number of WPT approaches, the problem of optimal path configuration for charging EV remains an unexplored area. This paper proposes a method to determine the optimal power transmission path in environments where multiple power transmitters (PTXs) and power receivers (PRXs) are operated simultaneously. To this end, we modeled the HILPB power that reaches a PRX equipped with a photovoltaic (PV) array and validated the model by simulating the WPT process in an environment with multiple PTXs and PRXs using a direct-sequence optical code division multiple access (DS-OCDMA) system. In the simulation environment, upon receiving a request from a PRX, a PTX sent its power channel information through optically encoded laser pulses using each available wireless power channel (WPC). The PRX calculated the maximum deliverable power of a PTX and WPC based on the received channel power indicator of the incident laser beam. Based on the calculation results, it selected the optimal PTX and WPC for its maximum power requirement (MPQ). The MPQ of each PRX was satisfied by applying the algorithm for selecting the PTX according to the alignment and characteristics of the PTXs and PRXs. We modeled a power reception model of the PRX based on a PV array using coded laser pilots and validated it through experimentation. We discussed some algorithms that select the most suitable PTX among several PTXs for which several EVs receive the power it needs

Pharmacological Evidence Suggests That Slo3 Channel Is the Principal K⁺ Channel in Boar Spermatozoa

Sperm ion channels are associated with the quality and type of flagellar movement, and their differential regulation is crucial for sperm function during specific phases. The principal potassium ion channel is responsible for the majority of K+ ion flux, resulting in membrane hyperpolarization, and is essential for sperm capacitation-related signaling pathways. The molecular identity of the principal K+ channel varies greatly between different species, and there is a lack of information about boar K+ channels. We aimed to determine the channel identity of boar sperm contributing to the primary K+ current using pharmacological dissection. A series of Slo1 and Slo3 channel modulators were used for treatment. Sperm motility and related kinematic parameters were monitored using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system under non-capacitated conditions. Time-lapse flow cytometry with fluorochromes was used to measure changes in different intracellular ionic concentrations, and conventional flow cytometry was used to determine the acrosome reaction. Membrane depolarization, reduction in acrosome reaction, and motility parameters were observed upon the inhibition of the Slo3 channel, suggesting that the Slo3 gene encodes the main K+ channel in boar spermatozoa. The Slo3 channel was localized on the sperm flagellum, and the inhibition of Slo3 did not reduce sperm viability. These results may aid potential animal-model-based extrapolations and help to ameliorate motility and related parameters, leading to improved assisted reproductive methods in industrial livestock production

Nutrition Composition and Single, 14-Day and 13-Week Repeated Oral Dose Toxicity Studies of the Leaves and Stems of Rubus coreanus Miquel

The leaves and stems of the plant Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCMLS) are rich in vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals which have antioxidant, anti-hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue and anti-cancer effects. However, RCMLS is not included in the Korean Food Standards Codex due to the lack of safety assurance concerning RCMLS. We evaluated single and repeated oral dose toxicity of RCMLS in Sprague-Dawley rats. RCMLS did not induce any significant toxicological changes in both male and female rats at a single doses of 2500 mg/kg/day. Repeated oral dose toxicity studies showed no adverse effects in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathology at doses of 625, 1250, and 2500 mg/kg/day. The LD50 and LOAEL of RCMLS might be over 2500 mg/kg body weight/day and no target organs were identified. Therefore, this study revealed that single and repeated oral doses of RCMLS are safe