Cultured microvascular endothelial cells derived from the bovine corpus luteum possess NCAM-140

Previously, five phenotypically different, stable types of microvascular endothelial cells (MVE) were isolated from the bovine corpus and cultured successfully. We found that three out of these five types of MVE express the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). As shown by immunocytochemistry, weak NCAM immunoreactivity occurred mainly in the perinuclear area of cell type 1. Monolayers of types 2 and 5 revealed heavy NCAM immunoreactivity, which was localized predominantly at the lateral cell surface outlining the contact zones of adjacent cells. In contrast, cell types 3 and 4 were not NCAM immunoreactive. Western blot analyses substantiated these results: While cell type 1 showed a weak immunoreactive band, cell types 2 and 5 displayed strong NCAM-immunoreactive bands of a molecular weight of approximately 140 kDa (NCAM-140), which was absent in cell types 3 and 4. These results reveal for the first time that NCAM can be expressed by cultured MVE and may serve in mediating endothelial cell contacts. Since luteal cells also express NCAM-140, this adhesion molecule could in addition be involved in the interactions of luteal cells with MVE

CNN for IMU Assisted Odometry Estimation using Velodyne LiDAR

We introduce a novel method for odometry estimation using convolutional neural networks from 3D LiDAR scans. The original sparse data are encoded into 2D matrices for the training of proposed networks and for the prediction. Our networks show significantly better precision in the estimation of translational motion parameters comparing with state of the art method LOAM, while achieving real-time performance. Together with IMU support, high quality odometry estimation and LiDAR data registration is realized. Moreover, we propose alternative CNNs trained for the prediction of rotational motion parameters while achieving results also comparable with state of the art. The proposed method can replace wheel encoders in odometry estimation or supplement missing GPS data, when the GNSS signal absents (e.g. during the indoor mapping). Our solution brings real-time performance and precision which are useful to provide online preview of the mapping results and verification of the map completeness in real time

CNN for Very Fast Ground Segmentation in Velodyne LiDAR Data

This paper presents a novel method for ground segmentation in Velodyne point clouds. We propose an encoding of sparse 3D data from the Velodyne sensor suitable for training a convolutional neural network (CNN). This general purpose approach is used for segmentation of the sparse point cloud into ground and non-ground points. The LiDAR data are represented as a multi-channel 2D signal where the horizontal axis corresponds to the rotation angle and the vertical axis the indexes channels (i.e. laser beams). Multiple topologies of relatively shallow CNNs (i.e. 3-5 convolutional layers) are trained and evaluated using a manually annotated dataset we prepared. The results show significant improvement of performance over the state-of-the-art method by Zhang et al. in terms of speed and also minor improvements in terms of accuracy.Comment: ICRA 2018 submissio

SIFT-MS and FA-MS methods for ambient gas phase analysis: developments and applications in the UK

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, SIFT-MS, a relatively new gas/vapour phase analytical method, is derived from the much earlier selected ion flow tube, SIFT, used for the study of gas phase ion-molecule reactions. Both the SIFT and SIFT-MS techniques were conceived and developed in the UK, the former at Birmingham University, the latter at Keele University along with the complementary flowing afterglow mass spectrometry, FA-MS, technique. The focus of this short review is largely to describe the origins, developments and, most importantly, the unique features of SIFT-MS as an analytical tool for ambient analysis and to indicate its growing use to analyse humid air, especially exhaled breath, its unique place as a on-line, real time analytical method and its growing use and applications as a non-invasive diagnostic in clinical diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring, principally within several UK universities and hospitals, and briefly in the wider world. A few case studies are outlined that show the potential of SIFT-MS and FA-MS in the detection and quantification of metabolites in exhaled breath as a step towards recognising pathophysiology indicative of disease and the presence of bacterial and fungal infection of the airways and lungs. Particular cases include the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (SIFT-MS) and the measurement of total body water in patients with chronic kidney disease (FA-MS). The growing exploitation of SIFT-MS in other areas of research and commerce are briefly listed to show the wide utility of this unique UK-developed analytical method, and future prospects and developments are alluded to

Small mammals in cornfields and associated peripheral habitats in central Nebraska

In the Great Plains, many native grasslands have been converted to agricultural fields during the last two centuries. Peripheral habitats along edges of crop fields generally consist of linear habitats along roads, with many of these habitats used by native fauna. Our study examined capture rates and species composition of small mammals in cornfields, herbaceous roadside ditches, and wooded shelterbelts in central Nebraska. We captured nine species of small mammals. The Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) and Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) were captured almost exclusively in roadside ditches, the White-footed Deermouse (Peromyscus leucopus) was captured most often in wooded shelterbelts, and the North American Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) was common to abundant in all three habitats. Capture rates of small mammals were greatest in roadside ditches and least in cornfields. Herbaceous roadside ditches contained the greatest species richness with seven species, whereas shelterbelts and cornfields each had five species. Species composition of rodents differed in shelterbelts comprised solely of eastern red-cedars (Juniperus virginiana) compared to those with a mixture deciduous and coniferous trees. Our study demonstrated that roadside ditches associated with agricultural fields serve as habitats for many prairie species whereas wooded shelterbelts along agricultural fields support both woodland and prairie species in central Nebraska. Cornfields mainly were inhabited by North American Deermice but did not support many other species of small mammals. Although agricultural practices have reduced the quantity of grasslands for prairie species across the region, habitats associated with periphery of fields appear to serve as alternative habitats for small mammals throughout the Great Plains

9th–10th Grade: English Level 2, Learning Packet #1 • Theme: Who Am I?

Day 1 • Who am I? reading comprehension, Create your own family tree, Calculating ages, Family tree vocabulary practice Day 2 • Cute features caused by gene mutations by ThoughtCo.com, adaptation by Newsela staff, Examining fingerprints, Find and complete the pattern, Practicing sequence words and phrases Day 3 • What do dominant and recessive mean? by Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff, Practicing with Punnett squares, My own dominant and recessive genetics, Graphic genetic traits Day 4 • Who am I? Barack Obama: timeline of important events, Timeline of interesting events from my life, Mirella\u27s eyes: identifying sequence language, Family vocabulary word find Day 5 • Who am I? Write your autobiography, Artists: Frida Kahlo by Evelyn Quezada, adapted by Newsela staff, Let\u27s move! My Packet Journal Reference Sheet Answer Ke

The in vitro identification and quantification of volatile biomarkers released by cystic fibrosis pathogens

There is interest in the development of exhaled breath tests for the detection of lower airway infection in children with cystic fibrosis. The first stage of this process is the identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released into the gas phase by CF pathogens that can be used as breath test biomarkers. Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is ideally suited to these in vitro studies as it allows simultaneous quantification of multiple VOCs in real time. We review a decade of in vitro experiments using SIFT-MS to analyse the VOCs released by respiratory pathogens. This includes identification and quantification of VOCs and the investigation of the in vitro factors that affect their production. We also report on how our culture methodology has been refined over the years to better account for variations in bacterial mass. Finally, we discuss how these in vitro findings have been translated into clinical trials and assess possible future applications

The influence of selected technological factors on the resistance of road concrete to CHRL

Tato bakalářská práce se věnuje rozdílům vlastností betonových povrchů s použitím různých metod úprav. Tyto rozdíly jsou vyhodnoceny pomocí zkoušek na zhotovených vzorcích. V první části práce jsou shrnuty tuzemské poznatky spojené se zkoušením odolnosti proti vodě a chemickým rozmrazovacím látkám, dále specifikace betonů v prostředí XF, teorie provzdušněných betonů a následně samotné stanovení odolnosti povrchu betonu proti působení vody a chemickým rozmrazovacím látkám. Také jsou rozebrány jednotlivé zkoušky čerstvého i ztvrdlého betonu. V druhé části bude cílem vytvořit tělesa pro zkoušení různých povrchů, které budou podrobeny zkoušce na odolnost proti CHRL metodou A. Dalším cílem bude také stanovení základních zkoušek čerstvého i ztvrdlého betonu. V závěru práce bude vyhodnocení a porovnání celého experimentu a shrnutí všech poznatků zkoušky odolnosti betonu proti CHRL.This bachelor thesis focuses on the differences in the properties of concrete surfaces using different treatment methods. These differences are evaluated by means of tests on fabricated samples. The first part of the thesis summarizes the domestic knowledge related to the testing of resistance to water and chemical deicing agents, the specification of concretes in XF environment, the theory of aerated concretes and then the actual determination of the resistance of concrete surfaces to water and chemical deicing agents. Individual tests for fresh and hardened concrete are also discussed. In the second part, the aim will be to develop test fixtures for testing various surfaces for resistance to CHRL by Method A. Another objective will also be to establish the basic tests for both fresh and hardened concrete. The thesis will conclude with an evaluation and comparison of the whole experiment and a summary of all the findings of the concrete resistance test against CHRL.227 - Katedra dopravního stavitelstvívelmi dobř

Microvascular endothelial cells of the corpus luteum

The cyclic nature of the capillary bed in the corpus luteum offers a unique experimental model to examine the life cycle of endothelial cells, involving discrete physiologically regulated steps of angiogenesis, blood vessel maturation and blood vessel regression. The granulosa cells and theca cells of the developing antral follicle and the steroidogenic cells of the corpus luteum produce and respond to angiogenic factors and vasoactive peptides. Following ovulation the neovascularization during the early stages of corpus luteum development has been compared to the rapid angiogenesis observed during tumor formation. On the other end of the spectrum, the microvascular endothelial cells are the first cells to undergo apoptosis at the onset of corpus luteum regression. Important insights on the morphology and function of luteal endothelial cells have been gained from a combination of in vitro and in vivo studies on endothelial cells. Endothelial cells communicate with cells comprising the functional unit of the corpus luteum, i.e., other vascular cells, steroidogenic cells, and immune cells. This review is designed to provide an overview of the types of endothelial cells present in the corpus luteum and their involvement in corpus luteum development and regression. Available evidence indicates that microvascular endothelial cells of the corpus luteum are not alike, and may differ during the process of angiogenesis and angioregression. The contributions of vasoactive peptides generated by the luteal endothelin-1 and the renin-angiotensin systems are discussed in context with the function of endothelial cells during corpus luteum formation and regression. The ability of two cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma, are evaluated as paracrine mediators of endothelial cell function during angioregression. Finally, chemokines are discussed as a vital endothelial cell secretory products that contribute to the recruitment of eosinophils and macrophages. The review highlights areas for future investigation of ovarian microvascular endothelial cells. The potential clinical applications of research directed on corpus luteum endothelial cells are intriguing considering reproductive processes in which vascular dysfunctions may play a role such as ovarian failure, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)