Distributed Environment Control Using Wireless Sensor/Actuator Networks for Lighting Applications

We propose a decentralized algorithm to calculate the control signals for lights in wireless sensor/actuator networks. This algorithm uses an appropriate step size in the iterative process used for quickly computing the control signals. We demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of this approach compared with the penalty method by using Mote-based mesh sensor networks. The estimation error of the new approach is one-eighth as large as that of the penalty method with one-fifth of its computation time. In addition, we describe our sensor/actuator node for distributed lighting control based on the decentralized algorithm and demonstrate its practical efficacy

Swelling-activated potassium channel in porcine pigmented ciliary epithelial cells.

Ion channels in the ciliary epithelium play critical roles in the formation of aqueous humor in the eye. The present study identified a novel, swelling-activated K(+) current in freshly dissociated porcine pigmented ciliary epithelial cells. Ciliary epithelial cells were freshly dissociated from porcine eyes. Whole-cell currents were recorded by the patch-clamp technique in pigmented and nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cell (PCE-NPCE) pairs or single PCE cells. The 0-current potential was -49 ± 13 mV in PCE-NPCE cell pairs (n = 97) and -52 ± 12 mV in single PCE cells (n = 30). Whole-cell currents in these cells were dominated by an outwardly rectifying K(+) current activated by potentials more positive than -90 mV, which never inactivated during prolonged depolarization. The K(+) current was significantly augmented by hypotonic cell perfusion. External Ba(2+) was a blocker of this K(+) conductance (IC(50) of 0.38 mM), but the conductance was insensitive to external TEA(+). Linopirdine, a specific inhibitor of KCNQ channels, effectively blocked the K(+) current in these PCE cells. Porcine PCE cells express a swelling-activated K(+) channel, which may be a member of the KCNQ/Kv7 channel family. This K(+) channel is active near resting potentials and could contribute to the regulation of cell volume and water transport via the ciliary epithelia

Development and analytical performance evaluation of an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay for pro-gastrin releasing peptide (ProGRP)

Background: Pro-gastrin releasing peptide ( ProGRP) concentrations in blood play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The automated quantitative ARCHITECT (R) ProGRP assay was developed to aid in the differential diagnosis and in the management of SCLC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of this chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay at multiple sites. Methods: ARCHITECT ProGRP measures ProGRP using a two-step sandwich using monoclonal anti-ProGRP antibodies coated on paramagnetic microparticles and labeled with acridinium. Analytical performance of the assay was evaluated at four sites: Abbott Japan, Denka Seiken, the Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Munich. Results: Total precision (%CV) for nine analyte concentrations was between 2.2 and 5.7. The analytical sensitivity of the assay was between 0.20 pg/mL and 0.88 pg/mL. The functional sensitivity at 20% CV was between 0.66 pg/mL and 1.73 pg/mL. The assay was linear up to 50,000 pg/mL using a 1:10 autodilution protocol. The calibration curve was stable for 30 days. Comparison with the Fujirebio microtiter plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) ProGRP assay gave a slope of 0.93 and a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.99. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the ARCHITECT ProGRP assay has excellent sensitivity, precision, and correlation to a reference method. This assay provides a convenient automated method for ProGRP measurement in serum and plasma in hospitals and clinical laboratories. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47:1557-63

Effects of titanium concentration on microstructure and mechanical properties of high-purity vanadium alloys

Effects of Ti concentration on microstructure and mechanical properties of high-purity V-4Cr-xTi alloys have been studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Vickers hardness and tensile tests. Results show that precipitation occurs with 1 wt% Ti addition and above, whose diameter gradually increases as Ti concentration rises. Vickers hardness and tensile strength increase with increasing Ti concentration. Moreover, strengthening mechanisms consisting of solid solution strengthening (σSS), grain boundary strengthening (σGB), and precipitation strengthening (σP) are theoretically estimated. The strength contribution sequence is σSS > σGB > σP. Solid solution strengthening from Ti increases with increasing Ti concentration, and precipitation strengthening is not significantly dependent on Ti concentration. Additionally, 1 wt% Ti is probably sufficient to scavenge the interstitial impurities and provide comparable precipitation strengthening with V-4Cr-4Ti alloy

Study protocol for endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol injection therapy for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm: a multicentre prospective study

Introduction The management of small pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) remains controversial. The standard treatment for PNENs is surgical resection; however, invasiveness of surgical procedure remains higher and the incidence of postoperative adverse events is still high. Recently, the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided ethanol injection for small PNENs has been preliminarily demonstrated. Thus, a multicentre prospective study is being conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EUS-guided ethanol injection therapy for small PNENs. Methods and analysis The major eligibility criteria are the presence of pathologically diagnosed grade (G) 1 tumour, a tumour size of <= 15 mm and non-functional PNEN or insulinoma. For treatment, we will use a 25-gauge needle and pure ethanol. Contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) will be performed on postoperative day 3-5, and if enhanced areas of the tumour are still apparent, an additional session is scheduled during the same hospitalisation period. We set the total amount of ethanol per session to 2 mL. To evaluate the efficacy and safety, CE-CT will be performed at 1 and 6 months after treatment. The primary endpoint is the percentage of subjects who achieved all of the following evaluated points. Efficacy will be evaluated based on the achievement of complete ablation (defined as no enhanced area within the tumour on CE-CT) at 1 and 6 months. Safety will be evaluated based on the avoidance of severe adverse events within 1 month after treatment, continuing severe pancreatic fistula at 1 month after treatment and the incidence and/or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus at 6 months after treatment. Ethics and dissemination This protocol has been approved by Okayama University Certified Review Board (approval number. CRB19-007). The results will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at international conferences

Primary conjunctival follicular lymphoma treated with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab and low-dose involved-field radiotherapy

金沢大学医学部附属病院眼科金沢大学大学院医学系研究