Dynamic loading on parallel shaft gears

A computer-based analysis of the dynamic effects of spur gear systems is presented. The method of analysis with its associated computer code is capable of determining the dynamic response of spur gear systems having involute tooth profiles and standard contact ratios. Various parameters affecting the system dynamic behavior are examined. Numerical results of the analysis are compared with semi-empirical formulae, AGMA (American Gear Manufacturers Association) formulae, and experimental data. A close correlation with the experimental data is obtained

More Than a Feeling: Learning to Grasp and Regrasp using Vision and Touch

For humans, the process of grasping an object relies heavily on rich tactile feedback. Most recent robotic grasping work, however, has been based only on visual input, and thus cannot easily benefit from feedback after initiating contact. In this paper, we investigate how a robot can learn to use tactile information to iteratively and efficiently adjust its grasp. To this end, we propose an end-to-end action-conditional model that learns regrasping policies from raw visuo-tactile data. This model -- a deep, multimodal convolutional network -- predicts the outcome of a candidate grasp adjustment, and then executes a grasp by iteratively selecting the most promising actions. Our approach requires neither calibration of the tactile sensors, nor any analytical modeling of contact forces, thus reducing the engineering effort required to obtain efficient grasping policies. We train our model with data from about 6,450 grasping trials on a two-finger gripper equipped with GelSight high-resolution tactile sensors on each finger. Across extensive experiments, our approach outperforms a variety of baselines at (i) estimating grasp adjustment outcomes, (ii) selecting efficient grasp adjustments for quick grasping, and (iii) reducing the amount of force applied at the fingers, while maintaining competitive performance. Finally, we study the choices made by our model and show that it has successfully acquired useful and interpretable grasping behaviors.Comment: 8 pages. Published on IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RAL). Website: https://sites.google.com/view/more-than-a-feelin

CD133, Stem Cells, and Cancer Stem Cells: Myth or Reality?

CD133, a member of the prominin family, is found in a variety of tissues with at least three variants. The function of CD133 is not well understood, but its expression is subject to changes in the microenvironment cues including bioenergetic stress. Knockout of CD133 does not affect renewal, but mammary gland branching. A point mutation of CD133 (R733C) leads to retinal disorder. CD133 is found in embryonic stem cells, normal tissue stem cells, stem cell niches, and circulating endothelial progenitors as well as cancer stem cells. Maintenance of stemness in cancer may be attributable to asymmetric cell division in association with a set of embryonic expression signatures in CD133+ tumor cells. CD133 could enrich cancer stem cells, which are associated with chemo- and radiation resistance phenotype. High CD133 is associated with poor survival in a variety of solid tumors, including lung, colon, prostate, etc. Monitoring CD133+ cells in peripheral blood, and targeting CD133 in cancer, may further predict and improve the clinical outcomes

An e-Business Logistic Model in Taiwan

The current article develops a framework for an e-business logistic model in Taiwan. The model includes e-marketplace, logistic, organization, and informational systems factors. Data used for this research come from a survey of business groups, including marine and air carriers, terminal warehousing, custom brokers, shipping centers, and marine information service providers. Our study reveals relationships between essential variables for e-business trading in the logistic industry. These include organizational advantage and information technology, strategy and vision, consumer-directed service and planning, lower cost and high quality customer service, quick merchandise delivery and low inventory, and long-term development plans. Specifically, we found that the logistic industry in Taiwan ignores the details of purchasing procedure in e-marketplace operation, focusing more on actual merchandise delivery, consumer satisfaction, and downstream consumer service. In addition, the logistical industry in Taiwan also involves employee adjustment to the new environment, support from upper management, training and, application of information technology

A Regression Analysis on the Macroeconomic Variables Affecting Taiwan’s Export Value to the US before and after 2008 Financial Crisis

The booming of international trade since 1980 has resulted in the sharp economic growth of Taiwan. It is therefore important to understand the influential factors and their impacts on Taiwan’s international trade and export. This research adopts multiple regression method to identify the respective influential macroeconomic variables affecting the export values of Taiwan to the U.S. before and after 2008 financial crisis. It also analyzes the correlations among these macroeconomic variables. The results of this research indicate that, the first lag period of: (1) Taiwan industrial production index, (2) exchange rate of U.S. dollar to New Taiwan dollar, (3) US Interbank real call loan rate, and (4) U.S. industrial production index are influential macroeconomic variables affecting export values of Taiwan to the U.S. before 2008 financial crisis. After 2008 financial crisis, the influential macroeconomic factors are the first lag period of (1) exchange rate of U.S. dollar to New Taiwan dollar, (2) Taiwan’s industrial production index, (3) Mainland China’s consumer price index yearly increment, and (4) Taiwan’s wholesale price index yearly increment (excluding service)

Coagulation factor VIIa binds to herpes simplex virus 1‐encoded glycoprotein C forming a factor X‐enhanced tenase complex oriented on membranes

BackgroundThe cell membrane‐derived initiators of coagulation, tissue factor (TF) and anionic phospholipid (aPL), are constitutive on the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) surface, bypassing physiological regulation. TF and aPL accelerate proteolytic activation of factor (F) X to FXa by FVIIa to induce clot formation and cell signaling. Thus, infection in vivo is enhanced by virus surface TF. HSV1‐encoded glycoprotein C (gC) is implicated in this tenase activity by providing viral FX binding sites and increasing FVIIa function in solution.ObjectiveTo examine the biochemical influences of gC on FVIIa‐dependent FX activation.MethodsImmunogold electron microscopy (IEM), kinetic chromogenic assays and microscale thermophoresis were used to dissect tenase biochemistry. Recombinant TF and gC were solubilized (s) by substituting the transmembrane domain with poly‐histidine, which could be orientated on synthetic unilamellar vesicles containing Ni‐chelating lipid (Ni‐aPL). These constructs were compared to purified HSV1 TF±/gC ± variants.ResultsIEM confirmed that gC, TF, and aPL are simultaneously expressed on a single HSV1 particle where the contribution of gC to tenase activity required the availability of viral TF. Unlike viral tenase activity, the cofactor effects of sTF and sgC on FVIIa was additive when bound to Ni‐aPL. FVIIa was found to bind to sgC and this was enhanced by FX. Orientation of sgC on a lipid membrane was critical for FVIIa‐dependent FX activation.ConclusionsThe assembly of gC with FVIIa/FX parallels that of TF and may involve other constituents on the HSV1 envelope with implications in virus infection and pathology.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155933/1/jth14790-sup-0001-Supinfo.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155933/2/jth14790.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155933/3/jth14790_am.pd

Alcohol Abstinence Does Not Fully Reverse Abnormalities of Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in the Blood of Patients With Alcoholic Hepatitis

OBJECTIVES: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) develops in approximately 30% of chronic heavy drinkers. The immune system of patients with AH is hyperactivated, yet ineffective against infectious diseases. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like lymphocytes that are highly enriched in liver, mucosa, and peripheral blood and contribute to antimicrobial immunity. We aimed to determine whether MAIT cells were dysregulated in heavy drinkers with and without AH and the effects of alcohol abstinence on MAIT cell recovery. METHODS: MR1 tetramers loaded with a potent MAIT cell ligand 5-(2-oxopropylideneamino)-6-d-ribitylaminouracil were used in multiparameter flow cytometry to analyze peripheral blood MAIT cells in 59 healthy controls (HC), 56 patients with AH, and 45 heavy drinkers without overt liver disease (HDC) at baseline and 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Multiplex immunoassays were used to quantify plasma levels of cytokines related to MAIT cell activation. Kinetic Turbidimetric Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Assay and ELISA were performed to measure circulating levels of 2 surrogate markers for bacterial translocation (lipopolysaccharide and CD14), respectively. RESULTS: At baseline, patients with AH had a significantly lower frequency of MAIT cells than HDC and HC. HDC also had less MAIT cells than HC (median 0.16% in AH, 0.56% in HDC, and 1.25% in HC). Further, the residual MAIT cells in patients with AH expressed higher levels of activation markers (CD69, CD38, and human leukocyte antigen [HLA]-DR), the effector molecule granzyme B, and the immune exhaustion molecule PD-1. Plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide and CD14 and several cytokines related to MAIT cell activation were elevated in patients with AH (interferon [IFN]-α, interleukin [IL]-7, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, IL-23, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor α). Decreased MAIT cell frequency and upregulated CD38, CD69, and HLA-DR correlated negatively and positively, respectively, with aspartate aminotransferase level. MAIT cell frequency negatively correlated with IL-18. HLA-DR and CD38 levels correlated with several cytokines. At follow-ups, abstinent patients with AH had increased MAIT cell frequency and decreased MAIT cell activation. However, MAIT cell frequency was not fully normalized in patients with AH (median 0.31%). DISCUSSION: We showed that HDC had a reduction of blood MAIT cells despite showing little evidence of immune activation, whereas patients with AH had a severe depletion of blood MAIT cells and the residual cells were highly activated. Alcohol abstinence partially reversed those abnormalities

Complete Sequence of a F33:A-:B- Conjugative Plasmid Carrying the oqxAB, fosA3, and blaCTX-M-55 Elements from a Foodborne Escherichia coli Strain

This study reports the complete sequence of pE80, a conjugative IncFII plasmid recovered from an Escherichia coli strain isolated from chicken meat. This plasmid harbors multiple resistance determinants including oqxAB, fosA3, blaCTX-M-55, and blaTEM-1, and is a close variant of the recently reported p42-2 element, which was recovered from E. coli of veterinary source. Recovery of pE80 constitutes evidence that evolution or genetic re-arrangement of IncFII type plasmids residing in animal-borne organisms is an active event, which involves acquisition and integration of foreign resistance elements into the plasmid backbone. Dissemination of these plasmids may further compromise the effectiveness of current antimicrobial strategies.Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technolog