Preferential localization of a vesicular monoamine transporter to dense core vesicles in PC12 cells.

Neurons and endocrine cells have two types of secretory vesicle that undergo regulated exocytosis. Large dense core vesicles (LDCVs) store neural peptides whereas small clear synaptic vesicles store classical neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and glutamate. However, monoamines differ from other classical transmitters and have been reported to appear in both LDCVs and smaller vesicles. To localize the transporter that packages monoamines into secretory vesicles, we have raised antibodies to a COOH-terminal sequence from the vesicular amine transporter expressed in the adrenal gland (VMAT1). Like synaptic vesicle proteins, the transporter occurs in endosomes of transfected CHO cells, accounting for the observed vesicular transport activity. In rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, the transporter occurs principally in LDCVs by both immunofluorescence and density gradient centrifugation. Synaptic-like microvesicles in PC12 cells contain relatively little VMAT1. The results appear to account for the storage of monoamines by LDCVs in the adrenal medulla and indicate that VMAT1 provides a novel membrane protein marker unique to LDCVs

Predicting Purchase Intent Using Pragmatic and Hedonic Kansei Engineering Scales: A Case Study of Kitchen Equipment in China

A Chinese premium kitchen equipment manufacturer was interested in knowing what their consumers liked about their product, and how they could use this to strengthen their market position. They wanted a set of repeatable scales that could be used to both evaluate their own products for future development and to benchmark competitors for sales predictions. To be successful, kitchen equipment should function perfectly, be easy to use and have emotional attributes that appeal to consumers. Kansei Engineering methods have previously been used to support the development of scales to improve the emotional response to such products. However within the Kitchen Equipment industry, there is rarely the time or resource available to implement a full and comprehensive Kansei Engineering analysis within a new product development process. We used a simplified Kansei Engineering process with two notable differences. To develop a set of useful scales we used a mix of hedonic and pragmatic adjectives and we used Kano analysis as a means to systematically reduce the number of adjectives. A factor analysis found four Kansei factors and scales were developed to measure them. The major factor was a Hedonic Scale. The next three factors measured more pragmatic attributes and specifically were: User Interface Quality, Smoke Extraction Quality and Ease of Cleaning. The four factors contributed to 70% of the variance. These factors can be used by the company as repeatable measurement scales to both evaluate their own products for future development and to benchmark competitors for sales predictions

Studies on the expansion characteristics of the granular bed present in EGSB bioreactors

In this study, the expansion characteristics of an anaerobic granular bed in EGSB reactors based on terminal settling velocity study of the granules and the Richardson-Zaki equation (1954) have been investigated. The settling velocity study shows that the mean settling velocity of the granules is in accordance with the Allen formula because the settling process falls within the intermediate flow regime range (

Ice crystallization during cold-start of a proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell

Under subfreezing conditions, ice forms in the gas-diffusion (GDL) and catalyst layers (CL) of proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), drastically reducing cell performance. Although a number of strategies exist to prevent ice formation, there is little fundamental understanding of ice-crystallization mechanisms and kinetics within PEMFC components. We incorporate recently developed ice-crystallization kinetic expressions (1-3) within the CL and GDL of a simplified 1-D transient PEMFC cold-start model. To investigate the importance of ice-crystallization kinetics, we compare liquid-water and ice saturations, and cell-failure time predicted using our kinetic rate expression relative to that predicted using a thermodynamic-based approach. We identify conditions under which ice-crystallization kinetics is critical and elucidate the impact of freezing kinetics on low-temperature PEMFC operation. © The Electrochemical Society

Phase-locking of multiple magnetic droplets by a microwave magnetic field

Manipulating dissipative magnetic droplet is of great interest for both the fundamental and technological reasons due to its potential applications in the high frequency spin-torque nano-oscillators. In this paper, a magnetic droplet pair localized in two identical or non-identical nano-contacts in a magnetic thin film with perpendicular anisotropy can phase-lock into a single resonance state by using an oscillating microwave magnetic field. This resonance state is a little away from the intrinsic precession frequency of the magnetic droplets. We found that the phase-locking frequency range increases with the increase of the microwave field strength. Furthermore, multiple droplets with a random initial phase can also be synchronized by a microwave field.published_or_final_versio

Effects of exogenous spermidine on photosynthesis, xanthophyll cycle and endogenous polyamines in cucumber seedlings exposed to salinity

The effects of exogenous spermidine (Spd, 1 mmol·L-1) on photosynthetic characteristics, xanthophylls cycle components and endogenous polyamines levels were investigated in cucumber seedlings subjected to salt stress (75 mmol·L-1 NaCl). Chlorophyll contents and net photosynthetic rate (PN) of cucumber seedlings showed a significant decrease under salinity but an increase with exogenous Spd application. Salt stress caused a remarkable decline in the maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) and the actual efficiency of photosystem II (ФPSⅡ), where an increase was observed in the constitutive loss processes (ΦNO). Application of exogenous Spd significantly decreased ФNO and enhanced regulated non-photochemical energy loss (ФNPQ) in the salt-stressed plants. Spd treatment caused an increase in the size of xanthophyll cycle pool (VAZ) and further enhanced de-epoxidation of the xanthophyll cycle (DEPS) under salt stress. These results suggest that exogenous Spd alleviated salt-mediated decline in photosynthetic efficiency through the enhanced involvement of the energy dissipation that is dependent on the xanthophyll cycle. In addition, foliar spray Spd significantly increased the free, bound and conjugated polyamines in the leaves of the salt stressed plants. Spd also increased the free putrescine (Put)/(Spd+Spm) ratio and decreased bound and conjugated Put/(Spd+Spm) under salinity. Thus, we conclude that Spd can alleviate salt-induced damage on cucumber seedlings by regulating the levels of endogenous polyamines, which was associated with an improvement in the photochemical efficiency of PSII of the salt stressed plants.Key words: Cucumber, endogenous polyamines, photosynthetic characteristics, salt stress, spermidine

Enhancing resilience by reducing critical load loss via an emergent trading framework considering possible resources isolation under typhoon

Leveraging distributed resources to enhance distribution network (DN) resilience is an effective measure in response to natural disasters. However, the willingness and economy of distributed resources are typically ignored. To address this issue, this paper proposes an emergent trading framework that uses parking lots (PLs) as resources to provide power support to critical loads (CLs) in a blackout due to typhoons. In this trading framework, an evolutionary Stackelberg game-based trading model is established to consider maximizing all stakeholders' economic benefits, considering possible resources isolation under typical fault scenarios caused by typhoons, and a benefit allocation mechanism is proposed for all stakeholders to motivate all stakeholders to participate in the trading. This framework allows that critical loads could reduce their load loss, parking lots could receive adequate compensation to stimulate them to participate in the trading, and distribution utility could ensure its economic benefits. Furthermore, an iterative evolutionary-Stackelberg solution set-up is applied to obtain the equilibria of the proposed framework. Simulation results on the modified IEEE 69-bus test system and IEEE 123-bus test system reveal the validity of the proposed method

The between-day reliability of peroneus longus EMG during walking

The peroneus longus (PL) is a rearfoot evertor, important in frontal plane foot motion. Studying PL function has been limited by previous electromyography (EMG) studies reporting poor between-day reliability. Due to its close proximity to adjacent muscles, EMG measures of PL may be susceptible to crosstalk, thus correct electrode placement is vital. The aim of this study was to use ultrasound to aid placement of small surface EMG electrodes and determine the between-day reliability of PL EMG in healthy participants' walking. Ten participants walked barefoot and shod at a controlled, self-selected speed. Six trials per condition, per session, were recorded over two days (mean (SD): 5 (3) days apart). The muscle belly was located using ultrasound. EMG was recorded with surface electrodes (Trigno Mini, Delsys, Inc.) at 2000 Hz. Amplitude was normalized to the peak per gait cycle and time normalized to the gait cycle. Reliability of discrete variables were primarily assessed with the standard error of measurement (SEM), plus the coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC), the coefficient of variation (CV) and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). The pattern of the EMG profile was consistent. The SEM of peak amplitude was 4% (3-8%) and 3% (2-5%) for barefoot and shod respectively. For timing of the peak the SEM was 2% (1-3%) and 1% (1-2%) for barefoot and shod respectively. Low SEM of discrete variables suggests good reliability of PL EMG during walking supporting the future use of this protocol. Therefore activation of PL can be confidently studied in repeated-measures study designs