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Objective: Pig breeders cannot obtain phenotypic information at the time of selection for sow lifetime productivity (SLP). They would benefit from obtaining genetic information of candidate sows. Genomic data interpreted using deep learning (DL) techniques could contribute to the genetic improvement of SLP to maximize farm profitability because DL models capture nonlinear genetic effects such as dominance and epistasis more efficiently than conventional genomic prediction methods based on linear models. This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of DL for the genomic prediction of two SLP-related traits; lifetime number of litters (LNL) and lifetime pig production (LPP). Methods: Two bivariate DL models, convolutional neural network (CNN) and local convolutional neural network (LCNN), were compared with conventional bivariate linear models (i.e., genomic best linear unbiased prediction, Bayesian ridge regression, Bayes A, and Bayes B). Phenotype and pedigree data were collected from 40,011 sows that had husbandry records. Among these, 3,652 pigs were genotyped using the PorcineSNP60K BeadChip. Results: The best predictive correlation for LNL was obtained with CNN (0.28), followed by LCNN (0.26) and conventional linear models (approximately 0.21). For LPP, the best predictive correlation was also obtained with CNN (0.29), followed by LCNN (0.27) and conventional linear models (approximately 0.25). A similar trend was observed with the mean squared error of prediction for the SLP traits. Conclusion: This study provides an example of a CNN that can outperform against the linear model-based genomic prediction approaches when the nonlinear interaction components are important because LNL and LPP exhibited strong epistatic interaction components. Additionally, our results suggest that applying bivariate DL models could also contribute to the prediction accuracy by utilizing the genetic correlation between LNL and LPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase delay harmonic analysis method (PDHAM) with high-time resolution is proposed to measure the plasma parameters of the pulsed plasmas. The PDHAM, which is based on the floating harmonic method, applies the phase delayed voltages to a probe tip, and obtains each of the currents in the phase-domain at a given time. The time resolution of this method is 0.8μs, and the total measurement is done within 2 s in the case of a pulsed plasma with a frequency of 1 kHz. The measurement result of the plasma parameters was compared with a conventional Langmuir probe using a boxcar mode, and shows good agreements. Because this PDHAM can measure the plasma parameters even in the processing discharges, it is expected to be usefully applied to plasma diagnostics for pulsed processing plasmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic correlation (rpc) of growth performance between purebred (Duroc and Korean native) and synthetic (WooriHeukDon) pigs using a single-step method. Methods: Phenotypes of 15,902 pigs with genotyped data from 1,792 pigs from a nucleus farm were used for this study. We estimated the rpc of several performance traits between WooriHeukDon and purebred pigs: day of target weight (DAY), backfat thickness (BF), feed conversion rate (FCR), and residual feed intake (RFI). The variances and covariances of the studied traits were estimated by an animal multi-trait model that applied the Bayesian inference. Results: rpc within traits was lower than 0.1 for DAY and BF, but high for FCR and RFI; in particular, rpc for RFI between Duroc and WooriHeukDon pigs was nearly 1. Comparison between different traits revealed that RFI in Duroc pigs was associated with different traits in WooriHeukDon pigs. However, the most of rpc between different traits were estimated with low or with high standard deviation. Conclusion: The results indicated that there were substantial differences in rpc of traits in the synthetic WooriHeukDon pigs, which could be caused by these pigs having a more complex origin than other crossbred pigs. RFI was strongly correlated between Duroc and WooriHeukDon pigs, and these breeds might have similar single nucleotide polymorphism effects that control RFI. RFI is more essential for metabolism than other growth traits and these metabolic characteristics in purebred pigs, such as nutrient utilization, could significantly affect those in synthetic pigs. The findings of this study can be used to elucidate the genetic architecture of crossbred pigs and help develop new breeds with target traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma diagnostic methods using harmonic currents analysis of electrostatic probes were experimentally investigated to understand the differences in their measurement of the plasma parameters. When dual frequency voltage (ω1,ω2) was applied to a probe, various harmonic currents (ω1, 2ω1, ω2, 2ω2, ω2±ω1, ω2±2ω1) were generated due to the non-linearity of the probe sheath. The electron temperature can be obtained from the ratio of the two harmonics of the probe currents. According to the combinations of the two harmonics, the sensitivities in the measurement of the electron temperature differed, and this results in a difference of the electron temperature. From experiments and simulation, it is shown that this difference is caused by the systematic and random noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Needleman-Wunsch dynamic programming algorithm measures the similarity of the pairwise sequence and finds the optimal pair given the number of sequences. The task becomes nontrivial as the number of sequences to compare or the length of sequences increases. This research aims to parallelize the computation involved in the algorithm to speed up the performance using CUDA. However, there is a data dependency issue due to the property of a dynamic programming algorithm. As a solution, this research introduces the heterogeneous anti-diagonal approach, which benefits from the interaction between the serial implementation on CPU and the parallel implementation on GPU. We then measure and compare the computation time between the proposed approach and a straightforward serial approach that uses CPU only. Measurements of computation times are performed under the same experimental setup and using various pairwise sequences at different lengths. The experiment showed that the proposed approach outperforms the serial method in terms of computation time by approximately three times. Moreover, the computation time of the proposed heterogeneous anti-diagonal approach increases gradually despite the big increments in sequence length, whereas the computation time of the serial approach grows rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the mechanical advantage (MA) hypothesis in multifinger torque production tasks in humans: fingers with longer moment arms produce greater force magnitudes during torque production tasks. There were eight experimental conditions: two prehension types determined by different mechanical constraints (i.e., fixed- and free-object prehension) with two torque directions (supination and pronation) and two torque magnitudes (0.24 and 0.48 N·m). The subjects were asked to produce prescribed torques during the fixed-object prehension or to maintain constant position of the free hand-held object against external torques. The index of MA was calculated for agonist and antagonist fingers, which produce torques in the same and opposite directions to the target torques, respectively. Within agonist fingers, the fingers with longer moment arms produced greater grasping forces while within antagonist fingers, the fingers with shorter moment arms produced greater forces. The MA index was greater in the fixed-object condition as compared with the freeobject condition. The MA index was greater in the pronation condition than in the supination condition. This study supports the idea that the CNS utilizes the MA of agonist fingers, but not of antagonist fingers, during torque production in both fixed- and free-object conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the mechanical advantage (MA) hypothesis in multifinger torque production tasks in humans: fingers with longer moment arms produce greater force magnitudes during torque production tasks. There were eight experimental conditions: two prehension types determined by different mechanical constraints (i.e., fixed- and free-object prehension) with two torque directions (supination and pronation) and two torque magnitudes (0.24 and 0.48 N·m). The subjects were asked to produce prescribed torques during the fixed-object prehension or to maintain constant position of the free hand-held object against external torques. The index of MA was calculated for agonist and antagonist fingers, which produce torques in the same and opposite directions to the target torques, respectively. Within agonist fingers, the fingers with longer moment arms produced greater grasping forces while within antagonist fingers, the fingers with shorter moment arms produced greater forces. The MA index was greater in the fixed-object condition as compared with the freeobject condition. The MA index was greater in the pronation condition than in the supination condition. This study supports the idea that the CNS utilizes the MA of agonist fingers, but not of antagonist fingers, during torque production in both fixed- and free-object conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Social genetic effects (SGE) are an important genetic component for growth, group productivity, and welfare in pigs. The present study was conducted to evaluate i) the feasibility of the single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) approach with the inclusion of SGE in the model in pigs, and ii) the changes in the contribution of heritable SGE to the phenotypic variance with different scaling ω constants for genomic relationships. Methods: The dataset included performance tested growth rate records (average daily gain) from 13,166 and 21,762 pigs Landrace (LR) and Yorkshire (YS), respectively. A total of 1,041 (LR) and 964 (YS) pigs were genotyped using the Illumina PorcineSNP60 v2 BeadChip panel. With the BLUPF90 software package, genetic parameters were estimated using a modified animal model for competitive traits. Giving a fixed weight to pedigree relationships (τ: 1), several weights (ωxx, 0.1 to 1.0; with a 0.1 interval) were scaled with the genomic relationship for best model fit with Akaike information criterion (AIC). Results: The genetic variances and total heritability estimates (T²) were mostly higher with ssGBLUP than in the pedigree-based analysis. The model AIC value increased with any level of ω other than 0.6 and 0.5 in LR and YS, respectively, indicating the worse fit of those models. The theoretical accuracies of direct and social breeding value were increased by decreasing ω in both breeds, indicating the better accuracy of ω0.1 models. Therefore, the optimal values of ω to minimize AIC and to increase theoretical accuracy were 0.6 in LR and 0.5 in YS. Conclusion: In conclusion, single-step ssGBLUP model fitting SGE showed significant improvement in accuracy compared with the pedigree-based analysis method; therefore, it could be implemented in a pig population for genomic selection based on SGE, especially in South Korean populations, with appropriate further adjustment of tuning parameters for relationship matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents hybrid medium access control (MAC) for time-switching simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (TS-SWIPT) that improves channel utilization and the timeliness of data and power delivery. To this end, the proposed hybrid MAC uses a superframe structure including a beacon period (BP), a contention access period (CAP), and a channel time allocation period (CTAP), and adaptively adjusts the CAP and CTAP lengths according to the data and power delivery time requested by sensor devices. Furthermore, it adjusts the priority of data and power delivery according to the residual power level of each sensor device. To evaluate the performance of the proposed hybrid MAC, an experimental simulation was conducted. The results show that the proposed hybrid MAC outperforms the existing MAC in terms of resource utilization, aggregate throughput, and charging delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For retailers, the ability to effectively manage dynamic pricing strategies is critical for various objectives such as managing customer demand, responding to competitors' pricing tactics, achieving internal price communication, maintaining multi-channel price integrity, and ultimately, maximizing revenue and profitability. In recent years, several retailers are relying on the use of electronic shelf labels for managing displayed prices in a dynamic manner. However, there has been very little research on the design and utility of electronic shelf labels. Addressing this gap, the current study outlines a systematic approach for designing effective electronic shelf label systems and develops a research agenda for advancing research in this emergent domain. Specifically, following design science principles, we design a prototype of an electronic shelf label system that uses asymmetric transmission power between a gateway and electronic shelf labels, and validate its performance in an urban marketplace. Subsequently, we develop a set of actionable recommendations for enhancing theory and practice in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a message queue telemetry transport (MQTT) broker with priority support for emergency events in the Internet of Things (IoT), which is abbreviated p-MQTT. To support the timely and reliable message delivery of emergency events, the p-MQTT classifies the published messages coming into the broker server and controls their priority according to the classification results. To this end, the p-MQTT consists of three components: virtual queue, classification, and priority control. The virtual queue stores the published messages separately according to their type, for which the p-MQTT broker server maintains three virtual queues: Urgent, Critical, and Normal. The classification component classifies the published messages into the three types mentioned above by checking the message type field in the published message header and stores the messages in the appropriate virtual queue. Finally, the priority control assigns a forwarding priority to each virtual queue and adjusts the quality-of-service (QoS) level of the messages within each virtual queue accordingly. To verify its effectiveness, we conduct an experimental implementation of the p-MQTT. The results show that the p-MQTT achieves better performance in emergency events than the existing MQTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6-week direction-specific resistance training program on isometric torque control and isokinetic torque strength of the wrist joint. Nineteen subjects were randomly assigned to either the wrist training group (n = 9) or the control group (n = 10). The training group performed wrist exercises in 6 directions (flexion, extension, pronation, supination, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation), whereas the control group did not. Data were collected on the isometric torque control, 1-repetition maximum (1RM) strength, and isokinetic maximum torque (angular velocity of 60° per second wrist movements) before and after 6 weeks of resistance training and at 2-week intervals during training. The training group showed significant decreases in isometric torque control error in all 6 directions after 2 weeks of resistance training, whereas the control group did not show significant increase or decrease. After 4 weeks of training, the training group showed significant increases in maximum strength in all 6 directions as assessed by 1RM strength and isokinetic strength tests, whereas the control group did not show any statistically significant changes. This study shows that motor control significantly improves within the first 2 weeks of resistance training, whereas the wrist strength significantly improves within the first 4 weeks of resistance training. Based on the findings of this study, coaches and trainers should consider wrist resistance training to improve athletes' muscular strength and control of the wrist muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the enhancement of the heat transfer rate of steam condensation on the external surfaces of a vertical tube with annular fins. A cylindrical condenser tube, which is 40 mm in outer diameter and 1000 mm in length, with annular disks of uniform cross-sectional area is fabricated in the manner of ensuring perfect contact between the base surface and fins. A total of 13 annular fins of 80 mm diameter were installed along the tube height in order to increase the effective heat transfer area by 85%. Through a series of condensation tests for the air-steam mixture under natural convection conditions, the heat transfer data was measured in the pressure range of between 2 and 5 bar, and the air mass fraction from 0.3 to 0.7. The rates of heat transfer of the finned tube are compared to those that are measured on a bare tube to demonstrate the enhanced performance by extended surfaces. In addition, based on the experimental results and the characteristics of steam condensation, the applicability of finned tubes to a large condenser system with a bundle layout is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystal nucleation from solution is of central importance in the chemical and biological sciences. Linking nucleation kinetics to the properties of solutes and solvents remains a grand-challenge in physical chemistry. Through a unique dataset of compounds able to self-assemble via both hydrogen-bonds and aromatic stacking, we are able to compare the importance of these two types of interaction in driving the nucleation process. Contrary to previous reports in which solution chemistry and hydrogen bonding have been seen as controlling factors, we are now able to show that cluster growth via aromatic stacking holds the key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new and improved electrical conductance sensor is proposed for application not only to a horizontal pipe, but also an inclined one. The conductance sensor was designed to have a dual layer, each consisting of a three-electrode set to obtain two instantaneous conductance signals in turns, so that the area-averaged void fraction and structure velocity could be measured simultaneously. The optimum configuration of the electrodes was determined through numerical analysis, and the calibration curves for stratified and annular flow were obtained through a series of static experiments. The fabricated conductance sensor was applied to a 45 mm inner diameter U-shaped downward inclined pipe with an inclination angle of 3° under adiabatic air-water flow conditions. In the tests, the superficial velocities ranged from 0.1 to 3.0 m/s for water and from 0.1 to 18 m/s for air. The obtained mean void fraction and the structure velocity from the conductance sensor were validated against the measurement by the wire-mesh sensor and the cross-correlation technique for the visualized images, respectively. The results of the flow regime classification and the corresponding time series of the void fraction at a variety of flow velocities were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the change in urinary urgency and predictors of urgency improvement after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who were treated with HoLEP for BPH and had preoperative urgency measuring ≥3 on a 5-point urinary sensation scale. Those with prostate cancer diagnosed prior to or after HoLEP, a history of other prostatic and/or urethral surgery, moderate to severe postoperative complications, and neurogenic causes were excluded. Patients who had improved urgency with antimuscarinic medication after HoLEP were excluded. We divided the patients into 2 groups based on urgency symptoms 3 months after HoLEP: improved and unimproved urgency. Improved urgency was defined as a reduction of 2 or more points on the 5-point urinary sensation scale. Preoperative clinical and urodynamic factors as well as perioperative factors were compared between groups. Results: In total, 139 patients were included in this study. Voiding parameters in all patients improved significantly after HoLEP. Seventy-one patients (51.1%) had improved urgency, while 68 (48.9%) did not show any improvement. A history of acute urinary retention (AUR) and postvoid residual were associated with postoperative urgency improvement in univariate analysis. In multi-variate analysis, a history of AUR was an independent factor affecting urgency improvement. Conclusions: A preoperative history of AUR could influence the change in urgency after HoLEP surgery in patients with BPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The speckle tracking echocardiography can benefit to assess the regional myocardial deformations. Although, previous reports suggested no significant change in left ventricular (LV) torsion with aging, there are certain differences in LV rotation at the base and apex. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change and relationship of LV rotation for torsion with aging in children. METHODS: Forty healthy children were recruited and divided into two groups of twenty based on whether the children were preschool-age (2-6 years of age) or school-age (7-12 years of age). After obtaining conventional echocardiographic data, apical and basal short axis rotation were assessed with speckle tracking echocardiography. LV rotation in the basal and apical short axis planes was determined using six myocardial segments along the central axis. RESULTS: Apical and basal LV rotation did not show the statistical difference with increased age between preschool- and schoolage children. Apical radial strain showed significant higher values in preschool-age children, especially at the anterior (52.8 ± 17.4% vs. 34.7 ± 23.2%, p < 0.02), lateral (55.8 ± 20.4% vs. 36.1 ± 22.7%, p < 0.02), and posterior segments (57.1 ± 17.6% vs. 38.5 ± 21.7%, p < 0.01). The torsion values did not demonstrate the statistical difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the tendency of higher rotation values in preschool-age children than in school-age children. The lesser values of rotation and torsion with increased age during childhood warrant flirther investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colistin (polymyxin E) is active against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB). However, the effectiveness of inhaled colistin is unclear. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness and safety of aerosolized colistin for the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by MDR-GNB. Methods: In this retrospective longitudinal study, we evaluated the medical records of 63 patients who received aerosolized colistin treatment for VAP caused by MDR-GNB in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) from February 2012 to March 2014. Results: A total of 25 patients with VAP caused by MDR-GNB were included in this study. The negative conversion rate was 84.6% after treatment, and acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred in 11 patients (44%, AKI group). The average length of MICU stay and colistin treatment-related factors, such as daily and total cumulative doses and administration period, were not significantly different between groups. In-hospital mortality tended to be higher in the AKI group (p = 0.07). Multivariate analysis showed that a body mass index less than 18 was an independent risk factor of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 21.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-302.23; p = 0.02). Notably, AKI occurrence was closely related to the administration of more than two nephrotoxic drugs combined with aerosolized colistin (OR = 15.03, 95% CI 1.40-161.76; p = 0.025) and septic shock (OR = 8.10, 95% CI 1.40-161.76; p = 0.04). Conclusions: The use of adjunctive aerosolized colistin treatment appears to be a relatively safe and effective option for the treatment of VAP caused by MDR-GNB. However, more research on the concomitant use of nephrotoxic drugs with aerosolized colistin will be necessary, as this can be an important risk factor of development of AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement of the plasma density is investigated to study plasma dynamics by adding reactive gas (O2) or rare gas (He) in Ar plasmas. When the O2 or He gas is added, plasma density is suddenly decreased, while the plasma density recovers slowly with gas off. It is found that the recovery time is strongly dependent on the gas flow rate, and it can be explained by effect of gas residence time. When the He gas is off in the Ar plasma, the plasma density is overshot compared to the case of the O2 gas pulsing due to enhanced ionizations by metastable atoms. Analysis and calculation for correlation between the plasma density dynamics and the gas pulsing are also presented in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electron bounce resonance was experimentally investigated in a low pressure planar inductively coupled plasma. The electron energy probability functions (EEPFs) were measured at different chamber heights and the energy diffusion coefficients were calculated by the kinetic model. It is found that the EEPFs begin to flatten at the first electron bounce resonance condition, and the plateau shifts to a higher electron energy as the chamber height increases. The plateau which indicates strong electron heating corresponds not only to the electron bounce resonance condition but also to the peaks of the first component of the energy diffusion coefficients. As a result, the plateau formation in the EEPFs is mainly due to the electron bounce resonance in a finite inductive discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectivel: To examine the characteristics and changes in the pharyngeal phase of swallowing according to fluid viscosity in normal healthy persons, to help determine fluid intake methods in more detail than the use of standardized fluid. Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving 10 normal healthy adults. While the participants sequentially took in fluids with 10 different viscosities changes in the pharyngeal phase of the swallowing process were monitored using videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). Twenty parameters of the pharyngeal phase, including epiglottis contact, laryngeal elevation, pharyngeal constriction, and upper esophageal sphincter opening, were determined and compared. Results: No significant viscosity-based changes in epiglottis contact, laryngeal elevation, or upper esophageal sphincter-opening duration of the pharyngeal phase were observed. However, pharyngeal transit time and time from the start of the pharyngeal phase to peak pharyngeal constriction were significantly delayed upon intake of fluid with viscosities of 150.0 centipoise (cP) and 200.0 cP. Conclusion: VFSS analysis of fluid intake may require the use of fluids of various concentrations to determine a suitable viscosity of thickener mixture for each subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 19 species of three genera Dinophysis, Histioneis, and Parahistioneis of the family Dinophysaceae are reported here from samples obtained using a 20-µm mesh net from June 2006 to December 2014 around Jeju Island including the East China Sea, and 16 of these species are new to Korean waters. A checklist of the three genera of dinoflagellates reported from coastal and oceanic Korean waters is presented. Short descriptions and synonyms are given for each species. The dinoflagellates of the family Dinophysaceae belong to mostly marine species, and include many tropical and/ or subtropical species. Recently, the composition of dinoflagellate species has changed around Jeju Island as well as in Korean waters due to global warming and climate change. Tropical and subtropical dinoflagellates occur frequently in the coastal waters of Jeju Island, which reflects the ecosystem shift around the sea adjacent to Jeju Island from a temperate to a subtropical / tropical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When conventional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are required to operate fast under rapidly changing environmental conditions, a large power loss can be caused by slow tracking speed, output power fluctuation, or additionally required ad hoc parameters.This paper proposes a fast and efficient MPPT technique that minimizes the power loss with the adaptively binary-weighted step (ABWS) followed by themonotonically decreased step (MDS) without causing output power fluctuation or requiring additional ad hoc parameter. The proposedMPPT system for a photovoltaic (PV) module is implemented by a boost converter with a microcontroller unit. The theoretical analysis and the simulation results show that the proposed MPPT provides fast and accurate tracking under rapidly changing environmental conditions. The experimental results based on a distributed PV system demonstrate that the proposed MPPT technique is superior to the conventional perturb and observe (P&O) technique, which reduces the tracking time and the overall power loss by up to 82.95%, 91.51% and 82.46%, 97.71% for two PV modules, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrational temperature (Tvib) of N2 gas and electron energy distribution function (EEDF) were measured in Ar/N2 mixture inductively coupled plasma (ICP). At a low gas pressure of 5 mTorr where the EEDF is bi-Maxwellian distribution, plasma density np and Tvib (from 7000 K to 5600 K) slightly decrease. However, remarkable decrease in np and Tvib is found with the dilution of N2 gas at a high gas pressure of 50 mTorr, where the EEDF is depleted Maxwellian distribution at a fixed ICP power of 150 W. When the ICP power increases from 150 W to 300 W at the gas pressure of 50 mTorr, the depleted tail on the EEDF is replenished, while np is little changed with the dilution of N2 gas. In this case, Tvib slightly decreases from 9500 K to 7600 K. These results indicate that the variation of Tvib is strongly correlated to the plasma parameters, such as the plasma density and EEDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical probe diagnostics are very hard to be applied to atmospheric plasmas due to severe perturbation by the electrical probes. To overcome this, the probe for measuring electron temperature and ion current density is indirectly contacted with an atmospheric jet source. The plasma parameters are obtained by using floating harmonic analysis. The probe is mounted on the quartz tube that surrounds plasma. When a sinusoidal voltage is applied to a probe contacting on a quartz tube, the electrons near the sheath at dielectric tube are collected and the probe current has harmonic components due to probe sheath nonlinearity. From the relation of the harmonic currents and amplitude of the sheath voltage, the electron temperature near the wall can be obtained with collisional sheath model. The electron temperatures and ion current densities measured at the discharge region are in the ranges of 2.7-3.4 eV and 1.7-5.2 mA/cm² at various flow rates and input powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ measurements are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and limited in their ability to observe currents with spatial variations in the surf zone. This paper proposes an optical image-based method of measurement of currents in the surf zone. This method measures nearshore currents by tracking in time wave breaking-induced foam patches from sequential images. Foam patches in images tend to be arrayed with irregular pixel intensity values, which are likely to remain consistent for a short period of time. This irregular intensity feature of a foam patch is characterized and represented as a keypoint using an image-based object recognition method, i.e., Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT). The keypoints identified by the SIFT method are traced from time sequential images to produce instantaneous velocity fields. In order to remove erroneous velocities, the instantaneous velocity fields are filtered by binding them within upper and lower limits, and averaging the velocity data in time and space with a certain interval. The measurements that are obtained by this method are comparable to the results estimated by an existing image-based method of observing currents, named the Optical Current Meter (OCM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the role of α3 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits (nAChRs) in the bladder, using a rat model with detrusor overactivity induced by partial bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were used: 10 were sham-operated (control group) and 30 were observed for 3 weeks after partial BOO. BOO-induced rats were further divided into 3 groups: Two groups of 10 rats each received intravesicular infusions with hexamethonium (HM group; n=10) or methyllycaconitine (MLC group; n=10), which are antagonists for α3 and α7 nAChRs, respectively. The remaining BOO-induced rats received only saline infusion (BOO group; n=10). Based on the contraction interval measurements using cystometrogram, the contraction pressure and nonvoiding bladder contractions were compared between the control and the three BOO-induced groups. Immunoluorescent staining and Western blotting were used to analyze α3 and α7 nAChRs levels. Results: he contraction interval of the MLC group was higher than that of the BOO group (P<0.05). Nonvoiding bladder contraction almost disappeared in the HM and MLC groups. Contraction pressure increased in the BOO group (P<0.05) compared with the control group and decreased in the HM and MLC groups compared with the BOO group (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the α3 nAChR signals increased in the urothelium, and the a7 nAChR signals increased in the urothelium and detrusor muscle of the BOO group compared with the control group. Western blot analysis showed that both α3 and α7 nAChR levels increased in the BOO group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Alpha3 and α7 nAChRs are associated with detrusor overactivity induced by BOO. Furthermore, nAChR antagonists could help in clinically improving detrusor overactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total energy lost per electron-ion pair lost εT is investigated with the electron energy distribution function (EEDF). The EEDFs are measured at various argon powers in RF inductively coupled plasma, and the EEDFs show a depleted distribution (a discontinuity occurring at the minimum argon excitation threshold energy level) with the bulk temperature and the tail temperature. The total energy loss per electron-ion pair lost εT is calculated from a power balance model with the Maxwellian EEDFs and the depleted EEDFs and then compared with the measured εT from the floating probe. It is concluded that the small population of the depleted high energy electrons dramatically increases the collisional energy loss, and the calculated eT from the depleted EEDFs has a value that is similar to the measured εT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]