A Method of 3D Object Reconstruction by Fusing Vision with Touch Using Internal Models with Global and Local Deformations

PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATIO

Finite Element Model Characterization Of Nano-Composite Thermal And Environmental Barrier Coatings

Thermal and environmental barrier coatings have been applied for protecting Si based ceramic matrix composite components from high temperature environment in advanced gas turbine engines. It has been found that the delamination and lifetime of T/EBC systems generally depend on the initiation and propagation of surface cracks induced by the axial mechanical load in addition to severe thermal loads. In order to prevent T/EBC systems from surface cracking and subsequent delamination due to mechanical and thermal stresses, T/EBC systems reinforced with nano-composite architectures have showed promise to improve mechanical properties and provide a potential crack shielding mechanism such as crack bridging. In this study, a finite element model (FEM) was established to understand the potential beneficial effects of nano-composites systems such as SiC nanotube-reinforced oxide T/EBC systems

Changes in Plasma Clozapine Levels after Smoking Cessation in Japanese Inpatients with Schizophrenia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Although reported for Caucasians, changes in plasma clozapine levels after smoking cessation in East Asians remain unclear. We here investigated plasma clozapine levels before and after smoking cessation in Japanese inpatients with schizophrenia. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 14 inpatients with schizophrenia who were being treated with clozapine between June 1, 2019, and July 31, 2019 and who were smokers as of July 1, 2019, the day on which a smoking ban was instituted in the tertiary public psychiatric hospital. The primary outcome was individual differences in plasma clozapine levels between before and after the smoking ban, which were compared using paired t-tests. The mean plasma clozapine level was significantly increased, by 213.4 ng/mL (95% CI 119.9-306.8; p<0.01) or 53.2%. Four of the 14 inpatients experienced clinically significant side effects, such as myoclonus, drooling, and amnesia, due to the development of high plasma clozapine levels. Our findings indicated that close monitoring of plasma clozapine levels before and after smoking cessation and prior dose adjustment of clozapine may be necessary, to prevent a significant risk of developing high plasma clozapine levels, even in Japanese patients

Structured Water Molecules on Membrane Proteins Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy

Water structuring on the outer surface of protein molecules called the hydration shell is essential as well as the internal water structures for higher-order structuring of protein molecules and their biological activities in vivo. We now show the molecular-scale hydration structure measurements of native purple membrane patches composed of proton pump proteins by a noninvasive three-dimensional force mapping technique based on frequency modulation atomic force microscopy. We successfully resolved the ordered water molecules localized near the proton uptake channels on the cytoplasmic side of the individual bacteriorhodopsin proteins in the purple membrane. We demonstrate that the three-dimensional force mapping can be widely applicable for molecular-scale investigations of the solid–liquid interfaces of various soft nanomaterials

Practical aspects of Kelvin-probe force microscopy at solid/liquid interfaces in various liquid media

The distributions of surface charges or surface potentials on biological molecules and electrodes are directly related to various biological functions and ionic adsorptions, respectively. Electrostatic force microscopy and Kelvin-probe force microscopy (KFM) are useful scanning probe techniques that can map local surface charges and potentials. Here, we report the measurement and analysis of the electrostatic and capacitive forces on the cantilever tip induced by application of an alternating voltage in order to discuss the feasibility of measuring the surface charge or potential distribution at solid/liquid interfaces in various liquid media. The results presented here suggest that a nanometer-scale surface charge or potential measurement by the conventional voltage modulation techniques is only possible under ambient conditions and in a non-polar medium and is difficult in an aqueous solution. Practically, the electrostatic force versus dc voltage curve in water does not include the minimum, which is used for the surface potential compensation. This is because the cantilever oscillation induced by the electrostatic force acting on the tip apex is overwhelmed by the parasitic oscillation induced by the electrostatic force acting on the entire cantilever as well as the surface stress effect. We both experimentally and theoretically discuss the factors which cause difficulties in application of the voltage modulation techniques in the aqueous solutions and present some criteria for local surface charge and potential measurements by circumventing these problems

Chondroitin sulfate attenuates formalin-induced persistent tactile allodynia

AbstractWe examined the effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS), a compound used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and joint pain, on the formalin-induced tactile allodynia in mice. A repeated oral administration of CS (300 mg/kg, b.i.d.) significantly ameliorated the formalin-induced tactile allodynia from day 10 after formalin injection. On day 14, the phosphorylation of spinal p38 MAPK and subsequent increase in c-Fos-immunoreactive dorsal lumbar neurons were attenuated by the repeated administration of CS. These findings suggest that CS attenuates formalin-induced tactile allodynia through the inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation and subsequent up-regulation of c-Fos expression in the dorsal lumbar spinal cord

A NEW OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE FOR ESOPHAGEAL RECONSTRUCTION USING A LONG GASTRIC TUBE OF 3 CM DIAMETER

The anthors have successfully prepared a 3 cm diameter gastric tube with a more favorable blood supply than the conventional one by performing interrupted suture each of the mucosal layers and seromuscular layers of the stomach separately with pyloromyotomy as a drainage procedure. This gastric tube caused no clavicular pressure on the anastomotic portion through a retrosternal route, so that we could perform end-to-end anastomosis between the cervical esophagus and the gastric tube in a region higher than the clavicle. We report in this paper the clinical findings of our procedure : it was effective in preventing postoperative complications such as suture insufficiency and passage disturbance other than postoperative complaints due to dumping and reflux esophagitis, etc