Cytohistological study of the leaf structures of Panax ginseng Meyer and Panax quinquefolius L.

AbstractBackgroundBoth Panax ginseng Meyer and Panax quinquefolius are obligate shade-loving plants whose natural habitats are broadleaved forests of Eastern Asia and North America. Panax species are easily damaged by photoinhibition when they are exposed to high temperatures or insufficient shade. In this study, a cytohistological study of the leaf structures of two of the most well-known Panax species was performed to better understand the physiological processes that limit photosynthesis.MethodsLeaves of ginseng plants grown in soil and hydroponic culture were sectioned for analysis. Leaf structures of both Panax species were observed using a light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope.ResultsThe mesostructure of both P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius frequently had one layer of noncylindrical palisade cells and three or four layers of spongy parenchymal cells. P. quinquefolius contained a similar number of stomata in the abaxial leaf surface but more tightly appressed enlarged grana stacks than P. ginseng contained. The adaxial surface of the epidermis in P. quinquefolius showed cuticle ridges with a pattern similar to that of P. ginseng.ConclusionThe anatomical leaf structure of both P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius shows that they are typical shade-loving sciophytes. Slight differences in chloroplast structure suggests that the two different species can be authenticated using transmission electron microscopy images, and light-resistant cultivar breeding can be performed via controlling photosynthesis efficiency

Monocular Parallel Tracking and Mapping with Odometry Fusion for MAV Navigation in Feature-Lacking Environments

©2013 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.Presented at the IEEE/RSJ International Workshop on Vision-based Closed-Loop Control and Navigation of Micro Helicopters in GPS-denied Environments (IROS 2013), November 7, 2013, Tokyo, Japan.Despite recent progress, autonomous navigation on Micro Aerial Vehicles with a single frontal camera is still a challenging problem, especially in feature-lacking environ- ments. On a mobile robot with a frontal camera, monoSLAM can fail when there are not enough visual features in the scene, or when the robot, with rotationally dominant motions, yaws away from a known map toward unknown regions. To overcome such limitations and increase responsiveness, we present a novel parallel tracking and mapping framework that is suitable for robot navigation by fusing visual data with odometry measurements in a principled manner. Our framework can cope with a lack of visual features in the scene, and maintain robustness during pure camera rotations. We demonstrate our results on a dataset captured from the frontal camera of a quad- rotor flying in a typical feature-lacking indoor environment

Tetra­butyl­ammonium N-benzoyl-6-nitro-1,3-benzothia­zol-2-aminide

In the title salt, C16H36N+·C14H8N3O3S−, the torsion angles within the cation reveal that one butyl group displays an anti conformation and the other three butyl groups show gauche conformations. The anion is almost planar, with a largest deviation of 0.166 (6) Å from the least-squares plane (r.m.s. deviation of fitted atoms = 0.052 Å). In the crystal structure, the component ions inter­act by means of weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Synthesis and anti-norovirus activity of pyranobenzopyrone compounds

During the last decade, noroviruses have gained media attention as the cause of large scale outbreaks of gastroenteritis on cruise ships, dormitories, nursing homes, etc. Although noroviruses do not multiply in food or water, they can cause large outbreaks because approximately 10–100 virions are sufficient to cause illness in a healthy adult. Recently, it was shown that the activity of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (ACAT1) enzyme may be important in norovirus infection. In search of anti-noroviral agents based on the inhibition of ACAT1, we synthesized and evaluated the inhibitory activities of a class of pyranobenzopyrone molecules containing amino, pyridine, substituted quinolines, or 7,8-benzoquinoline nucleus. Three of the sixteen evaluated compounds possess ED[subscript]5[subscript]0 values in the low micrometer range. 2-Quinolylmethyl derivative 3A and 4-quinolylmethyl derivative 4A showed ED[subscript]5[subscript]0 values of 3.4 and 2.4 [mu]M and TD[subscript]5[subscript]0 values of >200 and 96.4 [mu]M, respectively. The identified active compounds are suitable for further modification for the development of anti-norovirus agents

K2Au(IO3)5 and βâ KAu(IO3)4: Polar Materials with Strong SHG Responses Originating from Synergistic Effect of AuO4 and IO3 Units

Two new polar potassium gold iodates, namely, K2Au(IO3)5 (Cmc21) and βâ KAu(IO3)4 (C2), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Both compounds feature zeroâ dimensional polar [Au(IO3)4]â units composed of an AuO4 squareâ planar unit coordinated by four IO3â ions in a monodentate fashion. In βâ KAu(IO3)4, isolated [Au(IO3)4]â ions are separated by K+ ions, whereas in K2Au(IO3)5, isolated [Au(IO3)4]â ions and nonâ coordinated IO3â units are separated by K+ ions. Both compounds are thermally stable up to 400â °C and exhibit high transmittance in the NIR region (λ=800â 2500â nm) with measured optical band gaps of 2.65â eV for K2Au(IO3)5 and 2.75â eV for βâ KAu(IO3)4. Powder secondâ harmonic generation measurements by using λ=2.05â μm laser radiation indicate that K2Au(IO3)5 and βâ KAu(IO3)4 are both phaseâ matchable materials with strong SHG responses of approximately 1.0 and 1.3 times that of KTiOPO4, respectively. Theoretical calculations based on DFT methods confirm that such strong SHG responses originate from a synergistic effect of the AuO4 and IO3 units.Work together: Two new polar iodates, namely, K2Au(IO3)5 (Cmc21) and βâ KAu(IO3)4 (C2), with strong SHG effects (1.0 and 1.3 times that of KTiOPO4) have been discovered (see figure). Theoretical calculations confirm that such strong secondâ harmonic generation (SHG) responses originate from the synergistic effect of the AuO4 and IO3 units.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137203/1/chem201504117-sup-0001-misc_information.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137203/2/chem201504117.pd

Rapid Identification of Thrombocytopenia-Associated Multiple Organ Failure Using Red Blood Cell Parameters and a Volume/Hemoglobin Concentration Cytogram

Thrombocytopenia-associated multiple organ failure (TAMOF) has a high mortality rate when not treated, and early detection of TAMOF is very important diagnostically and therapeutically. We describe herein our experience of early detection of TAMOF, using an automated hematology analyzer. From 498,390 inpatients, we selected 12 patients suspected of having peripheral schistocytosis, based on the results of red blood cell (RBC) parameters and a volume/hemoglobin concentration (V/HC) cytogram. We promptly evaluated whether the individual patients had clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were consistent with TAMOF. Plasma exchanges were then performed for each patient. All 12 patients had TAMOF. The mean values of RBC parameters were significantly higher in all of the patients than with the reference range, however, 3 patients had % RBC fragments within the reference range. The mean value of ADAMTS-13 activity was slightly lower in patients compared with the reference range. Of the 12 patients, remission was obtained in 9 patients (75%) within 4 to 5 weeks using plasma exchanges. Three patients died. An increased percentage of microcytic hyperchromic cells with anisocytosis and anisochromia indicated the presence of schistocytes, making it an excellent screening marker for TAMOF. Identification of TAMOF with RBC parameters and a V/HC cytogram is a facile and rapid method along with an automated hematology analyzer already in use for routine complete blood cell counting test

Lead-free piezoceramics - Where to move on?

Lead-free piezoceramics aiming at replacing the market-dominant lead-based ones have been extensively searched for more than a decade worldwide. Some noteworthy outcomes such as the advent of commercial products for certain applications have been reported, but the goal, i.e., the invention of a lead-free piezocermic, the performance of which is equivalent or even superior to that of PZT-based piezoceramics, does not seem to be fulfilled yet. Nevertheless, the academic effort already seems to be culminated, waiting for a guideline to a future research direction. We believe that a driving force for a restoration of this research field needs to be found elsewhere, for example, intimate collaborations with related industries. For this to be effectively realized, it would be helpful for academic side to understand the interests and demands of the industry side as well as to provide the industry with new scientific insights that would eventually lead to new applications. Therefore, this review covers some of the issues that are to be studied further and deeper, so-to-speak, lessons from the history of piezoceramics, and some technical issues that could be useful in better understanding the industry demands. As well, the efforts made in the industry side will be briefly introduced for the academic people to catch up with the recent trends and to be guided for setting up their future research direction effectively.ope

Local Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Segmental Transarterial Chemoembolization: Risk Estimates Based on Multiple Prognostic Factors

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic factors for local recurrence of nodular hepatocellular carcinoma after segmental transarterial chemoembolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-four nodular hepatocellular carcinoma tumors < or = 5 cm were retrospectively analyzed for local recurrence after segmental transarterial chemoembolization using follow-up CT images (median follow-up of 17 months, 4-77 months in range). The tumors were divided into four groups (IA, IB, IIA, and IIB) according to whether the one-month follow-up CT imaging, after segmental transarterial chemoembolization, showed homogeneous (Group I) or inhomogeneous (Group II) iodized oil accumulation, or whether the tumors were located within the liver segment (Group A) or in a segmental border zone (Group B). Comparison of tumor characteristics between Group IA and the other three groups was performed using the chi-square test. Local recurrence rates were compared among the groups using the Kaplan-Meier estimation and log rank test. RESULTS: Local tumor recurrence occurred in 19 hepatocellular carcinoma tumors (25.7%). There were: 28, 18, 17, and 11 tumors in Group IA, IB, IIA, and IIB, respectively. One of 28 (3.6%) tumors in Group IA, and 18 of 46 (39.1%) tumors in the other three groups showed local recurrence. Comparisons between Group IA and the other three groups showed that the tumor characteristics were similar. One-, two-, and three-year estimated local recurrence rates in Group IA were 0%, 11.1%, and 11.1%, respectively. The difference between Group IA and the other three groups was statistically significant (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: An acceptably low rate of local recurrence was observed for small or intermediate nodular tumors located within the liver segment with homogeneous iodized oil accumulation

Virulence factors in Escherichia coli isolated from calves with diarrhea in Vietnam

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pathogenic Escherichia (E.) coli strains from diarrheic calves in Vietnam. A total of 345 E. coli isolates obtained from 322 diarrheic calves were subjected to PCR and multiplex PCR for detection of the f5, f41, f17, eae, sta, lt, stx1, and stx2 genes. Of the 345 isolates, 108 (31.3%) carried at least one fimbrial gene. Of these 108 isolates, 50 carried genes for Shiga toxin and one possessed genes for both enterotoxin and Shiga toxin. The eae gene was found in 34 isolates (9.8%), 23 of which also carried stx genes. The Shiga toxin genes were detected in 177 isolates (51.3%) and the number of strains that carried stx1, stx2 and stx1/stx2 were 46, 73 and 58, respectively. Among 177 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli isolates, 89 carried the ehxA gene and 87 possessed the saa gene. Further characterization of the stx subtypes showed that among 104 stx1-positive isolates, 58 were the stx1c variant and 46 were the stx1 variant. Of the 131 stx2-positive strains, 48 were stx2, 48 were stx2c, 11 were stx2d, 17 were stx2g, and seven were stx2c/stx2g subtypes. The serogroups most prevalent among the 345 isolates were O15, O20, O103 and O157

Treatment Outcomes of Clevudine versus Lamivudine at Week 48 in Naïve Patients with HBeAg Positive Chronic Hepatitis B

The authors assessed the efficacy and antiviral resistance of 48-week clevudine therapy versus lamivudine in treatment of naïve patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B. In this retrospective study, a total of 116 HBeAg positive patients, who received 30 mg of clevudine once daily (n=53) or 100 mg of lamivudine once daily (n=63) for 48 weeks, were included. At week 48, clevudine therapy produced a significantly greater mean reductions in serum HBV DNA levels from baseline than lamivudine therapy (-5.2 vs. -4.2 log10IU/mL; P=0.005). Furthermore, a significantly higher proportion of patients on clevudine achieved negative serum HBV DNA by PCR (<13 IU/mL) at week 48 (60.4% vs. 38.1%; P=0.025). The incidence of virologic breakthrough in the clevudine group was significantly lower than in the lamivudine group (9.4% vs. 25.4%; P=0.031). However, rates of alanine aminotransferase normalization and HBeAg loss or seroconversion were similar in the two groups (83.0% vs. 81.0%, 11.3% vs. 11.1%; P=0.813, 1.000, respectively). In conclusion, clevudine is more potent for viral suppression and lower for antiviral resistance at week 48 than lamivudine in treatment of naïve patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B