An efficient local binary pattern based plantar pressure optical sensor image classification using convolutional neural networks

The objective of this study was to design and produce highly comfortable shoe products guided by a plantar pressure imaging data-set. Previous studies have focused on the geometric measurement on the size of the plantar, while in this research a plantar pressure optical imaging data-set based classification technology has been developed. In this paper, an improved local binary pattern (LBP) algorithm is used to extract texture-based features and recognize patterns from the data-set. A calculating model of plantar pressure imaging feature area is established subsequently. The data-set is classified by a neural network to guide the generation of various shoe-last surfaces. Firstly, the local binary mode is improved to adapt to the pressure imaging data-set, and the texture-based feature calculation is fully used to accurately generate the feature point set; hereafter, the plantar pressure imaging feature point set is then used to guide the design of last free surface forming. In the presented experiments of plantar imaging, multi-dimensional texture-based features and improved LBP features have been found by a convolution neural network (CNN), and compared with a 21-input-3-output two-layer perceptual neural network. Three feet types are investigated in the experiment, being flatfoot (F) referring to the lack of a normal arch, or arch collapse, Talipes Equinovarus (TE), being the front part of the foot is adduction, calcaneus varus, plantar flexion, or Achilles tendon contracture and Normal (N). This research has achieved an 82% accuracy rate with 10 hidden-layers CNN of rotation invariance LBP (RI-LBP) algorithm using 21 texture-based features by comparing other deep learning methods presented in the literature

Nodal signaling has dual roles in fate specification and directed migration during germ layer segregation

During gastrulation, endodermal cells actively migrate to the interior of the embryo, but the signals that initiate and coordinate this migration are poorly understood. By transplanting ectopically-induced endodermal cells far from the normal location of endoderm specification, we identified the inputs that drive internalization without the confounding influences of fate specification and global morphogenic movements. We find that Nodal signaling triggers an autocrine circuit for initiating endodermal internalization. Activation of the Nodal receptor directs endodermal specification through sox32 and also induces expression of more Nodal ligands. These ligands act in an autocrine fashion to initiate endodermal cell sorting. Our work defines an “AND” gate consisting of sox32-dependent endodermal specification and Nodal ligand reception controlling endodermal cell sorting to the inner layer of the embryo at the onset of gastrulation

A Novel Control Strategy for Grid-Connected Inverter Based on Iterative Calculation of Structural Parameters

A novel control strategy that is based on iterative calculation of structural parameters is proposed for grid-connected inverter in this paper. The proposed strategy has a good dynamic performance, which makes it particularly suitable for the application of PV grid-connected generation. First, a second-order discretization mathematical model of grid-connected inverter control is established in the dq frame. The corresponding relation between the control signal and the output current is deduced in formulas. Then, the values of structural parameters in the formulas can be obtained through iterative calculation, which can further reduce the amount of calculation. After several iteration cycles, the structural parameters are approximately equal to their actual values and the inverter can be controlled as an open-loop system with its dynamic performance optimized. At last, simulation and experiments are performed. The results show that the static performance of the proposed strategy is as good as that of the classical ones, but its dynamic performance is improved significantly

How to Comprehensively Utilize the Discarded Fresh Tobacco Leaf ?

This paper aims to explore comprehensive utilization way of discarded fresh tobacco leaf．Based on modern tobacco demands on green, environmental protection and sustainable development, as well as actual situation of biogas production facility in some villages of local tobacco area, this paper selects Longwan Village of Fengshiyan Town as the experimental site and explores the rational way of discarded fresh tobacco leaf biogas fermentation. Results show that cutting and fermentation of discarded fresh tobacco leaf before adding into biogas digester is conductive to improving pH in fermentation process, reducing crust amount, and effectively improving biogas production amount and rate. The study can provide reference for effective processing and rational utilization of discarded fresh tobacco leaf

High Responsivity Vacuum Nano-Photodiode Using Single-Crystal CsPbBr3 Micro-Sheet

Field electron emission vacuum photodiode is promising for converting free-space electromagnetic radiation into electronic signal within an ultrafast timescale due to the ballistic electron transport in its vacuum channel. However, the low photoelectric conversion efficiency still hinders the popularity of vacuum photodiode. Here, we report an on-chip integrated vacuum nano-photodiode constructed from a Si-tip anode and a single-crystal CsPbBr3 cathode with a nano-separation of ~30 nm. Benefiting from the nanoscale vacuum channel and the high surface work function of the CsPbBr3 (4.55 eV), the vacuum nano-photodiode exhibits a low driving voltage of 15 V with an ultra-low dark current (50 pA). The vacuum nano-photodiode demonstrates a high photo responsivity (1.75 AW−1@15 V) under the illumination of a 532-nm laser light. The estimated external quantum efficiency is up to 400%. The electrostatic field simulation indicates that the CsPbBr3 cathode can be totally depleted at an optimal thickness. The large built-in electric field in the depletion region facilitates the dissociation of photoexcited electron–hole pairs, leading to an enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency. Moreover, the voltage drop in the vacuum channel increases due to the photoconductive effect, which is beneficial to the narrowing of the vacuum barrier for more efficient electron tunneling. This device shows great promise for the development of highly sensitive perovskite-based vacuum opto-electronics

Enhancing corrosion resistance of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel by fabricating pillar arrays

By using the electrochemical etching technique, pillar arrays with a size of ∼50–200 nm are fabricated on the surface of 316L manufactured by laser powder bed fusion. The nanopillars morphology is induced by the selective anodic dissolution of dislocation cell walls that are decorated with high local concentrations of Cr/Fe/Ni solute atoms. The appearance of pillar arrays extends the passivation range and increases the pitting potential of 316L in HNO3 solution, while the corrosion current density decreases in NaNO3 solution. The enhanced corrosion resistance was attributed to the coeffect of elimination of corrosion-sensitive features and hydrophobicity prompted by electrochemical etching

Early telomerase inactivation accelerates aging independently of telomere length.

Telomerase is required for long-term telomere maintenance and protection. Using single budding yeast mother cell analyses we found that, even early after telomerase inactivation (ETI), yeast mother cells show transient DNA damage response (DDR) episodes, stochastically altered cell-cycle dynamics, and accelerated mother cell aging. The acceleration of ETI mother cell aging was not explained by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), Sir protein perturbation, or deprotected telomeres. ETI phenotypes occurred well before the population senescence caused late after telomerase inactivation (LTI). They were morphologically distinct from LTI senescence, were genetically uncoupled from telomere length, and were rescued by elevating dNTP pools. Our combined genetic and single-cell analyses show that, well before critical telomere shortening, telomerase is continuously required to respond to transient DNA replication stress in mother cells and that a lack of telomerase accelerates otherwise normal aging

CRISPR-Mediated Modular RNA-Guided Regulation of Transcription in Eukaryotes

The genetic interrogation and reprogramming of cells requires methods for robust and precise targeting of genes for expression or repression. The CRISPR-associated catalytically inactive dCas9 protein offers a general platform for RNA-guided DNA targeting. Here, we show that fusion of dCas9 to effector domains with distinct regulatory functions enables stable and efficient transcriptional repression or activation in human and yeast cells, with the site of delivery determined solely by a coexpressed short guide (sg)RNA. Coupling of dCas9 to a transcriptional repressor domain can robustly silence expression of multiple endogenous genes. RNA-seq analysis indicates that CRISPR interference (CRISPRi)-mediated transcriptional repression is highly specific. Our results establish that the CRISPR system can be used as a modular and flexible DNA-binding platform for the recruitment of proteins to a target DNA sequence, revealing the potential of CRISPRi as a general tool for the precise regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells