A 3D solution for a web-based building information system

This paper presents an information system for the documentation of research results in building archaeology as applied to the example of “Domus Severiana” palace on the Palatine Hill in Rome. In connection with the development of CISAR – a modular open-source web-based information system for archaeological field work and building archaeology – a special solution with the focus on 3D building documentation was created. There are many commercial and non-commercial software products for 2D web-based information systems, whereas few solutions for 3D GIS are available. Therefore, an independent product was developed based mainly on open source components. The use of open source technology allows for the optimal adaptation to user requirements and a standardised data exchange. The information system is an effective working tool that facilitates the documentation of building characteristics and related data analysis; users do not need to have special knowledge of computer science or graphics

A novel dual-rotor ultrasonic motor for underwater propulsion

Micro underwater vehicles (MUVs) have been highlighted recently for underwater explorations because of their high maneuverability, low price, great flexibility, etc. The thrusters of most conventional MUVs are driven by electromagnetic motors, which need big mechanical transmission parts and are prone to being interrupted by the variance of ambient electromagnetic fields. In this paper, a novel dual-rotor ultrasonic motor with double output shafts, compact size, and no electromagnetic interference is presented, characterized, and applied for actuating underwater robots. This motor was composed of a spindle-shaped stator, pre-pressure modulation unit, and dual rotors, which can output two simultaneous rotations to increase the propulsion force of the MUV. The pre-pressure modulation unit utilized a torsion spring to adjust the preload at the contact faces between the stator and rotor. The working principle of the ultrasonic motor was developed and the vibration mode of the stator was analyzed by the finite element method. Experimental results show that the no-load rotary speed and stalling torque of the prototype ultrasonic motor were 110 r/min and 3 mN m, respectively, with 150 V peak-to-peak driving voltage at resonance. One underwater robot model equipped with the proposed ultrasonic motor-powered thruster could move at 33 mm/s immersed in water. The dual-rotor ultrasonic motor proposed here provides another alternative for driving MUVs and is appropriate for developing specific MUVs when the electromagnetic interference issue needs to be considered. © 2019 by the authors

A Novel Dual-Rotor Ultrasonic Motor for Underwater Propulsion

Micro underwater vehicles (MUVs) have been highlighted recently for underwater explorations because of their high maneuverability, low price, great flexibility, etc. The thrusters of most conventional MUVs are driven by electromagnetic motors, which need big mechanical transmission parts and are prone to being interrupted by the variance of ambient electromagnetic fields. In this paper, a novel dual-rotor ultrasonic motor with double output shafts, compact size, and no electromagnetic interference is presented, characterized, and applied for actuating underwater robots. This motor was composed of a spindle-shaped stator, pre-pressure modulation unit, and dual rotors, which can output two simultaneous rotations to increase the propulsion force of the MUV. The pre-pressure modulation unit utilized a torsion spring to adjust the preload at the contact faces between the stator and rotor. The working principle of the ultrasonic motor was developed and the vibration mode of the stator was analyzed by the finite element method. Experimental results show that the no-load rotary speed and stalling torque of the prototype ultrasonic motor were 110 r/min and 3 mN·m, respectively, with 150 V peak-to-peak driving voltage at resonance. One underwater robot model equipped with the proposed ultrasonic motor-powered thruster could move at 33 mm/s immersed in water. The dual-rotor ultrasonic motor proposed here provides another alternative for driving MUVs and is appropriate for developing specific MUVs when the electromagnetic interference issue needs to be considered

Smac mimetic SM-164 potentiates APO2L/TRAIL- and doxorubicin-mediated anticancer activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The members of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) family are key negative regulators of apoptosis. Overexpression of IAPs are found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and can contribute to chemotherapy resistance and recurrence of HCC. Small-molecule Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (Smac) mimetics have recently emerged as novel anticancer drugs through targeting IAPs. The specific aims of this study were to 1) examine the anticancer activity of Smac mimetics as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy in HCC cells, and 2) investigate the mechanism of anticancer action of Smac mimetics.Four HCC cell lines, including SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, HepG2 and Hep3B, and 12 primary HCC cells were used in this study. Smac mimetic SM-164 was used to treat HCC cells. Cell viability, cell death induction and clonal formation assays were used to evaluate the anticancer activity. Western blotting analysis and a pancaspase inhibitor were used to investigate the mechanisms.Although SM-164 induced complete cIAP-1 degradation, it displayed weak inhibitory effects on the viability of HCC cells. Nevertheless, SM-164 considerably potentiated Apo2 ligand or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (APO2L/TRAIL)- and Doxorubicin-mediated anticancer activity in HCC cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that SM-164 in combination with chemotherapeutic agents resulted in enhanced activation of caspases-9, -3 and cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and also led to decreased AKT activation.Smac mimetics can enhance chemotherapeutic-mediated anticancer activity by enhancing apoptosis signaling and suppressing survival signaling in HCC cells. This study suggests Smac mimetics are potential therapeutic agents for HCC

SM-164 enhances APO2L/TRAIL-mediated anticancer activity in HCC cells.

<p>(a–d). BEL-7402, SMMC-7721, HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines were treated with APO2L/TRAIL (A/TR) alone, or in combination with SM-164 at 0.1 µM (SM+ A/TR) for 4 d, cell viability inhibition was determined using an MTT assay. (e-f). SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells were seeded into six-well plates at 600 cells per well in triplicates, and treated with SM-164 alone, A/TR alone or their combination (SM+ A/TR) for 2 weeks, followed by 0.05% methylene blue staining and colony counting. (left panels), representative results show photographs of stained 6-well plates for SMMC-7721 and HepG2, respectively. (right panels), data show means ± S.D. Normal human liver cell line L02 was treated as indicated for 4 d, cell viability inhibition was determined using an MTT assay. *, p<0.05, * *, p<0.01.</p

SM-164 induces rapid cIAP-1 degradation and displays modest single-agent effect in HCC cells.

<p>(a–d). BEL-7402, SMMC-7721, HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines were treated with SM-164 at 0.1 µM for 1, 6 and 24 h. Whole cell lysates were examined for the expressions of cIAP-1 and XIAP by western blotting analysis and specific antibodies. β-Actin was used as a loading control. (e-h). BEL-7402, SMMC-7721, HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines were treated with SM-164 for 4 d, cell viability inhibition was determined using an MTT assay.</p

Clinical data of HCC patients.

<p>Clinical data of HCC patients.</p

SM-164 potentiates the cytotoxic effect of Doxorubicin in HCC cells.

<p>(a). Hep3B cell line was treated with Doxorubicin (Dox) alone, or in combination with SM-164 at 0.1 µM for 48 h, cell death induction was determined in a trypan blue excluson assay; (b). Hep3B cell line was treated as indicated, whole cell lysates were analyzed with western blotting and specific antibodies. β-Actin was used as a loading control. (c). Hep3B cell line was treated with Dox at 1 µM alone, or SM-164 at 0.1 µM alone for 48 h, representative micrographs were shown. (d-e). SMMC-7721 and BEL-7402 cell lines were treated as indicated, cell death induction was determined in trypan blue exclusion assays;</p