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12-bit X-ray film images with high greyscale values and low contrast, produced in the field of X-ray non-destructive testing, have the problems of a poor visualisation effect and serious greyscale loss when displayed on conventional monitors. In order to solve these problems, an APEA_PST algorithm for pseudo-colour image enhancement is proposed, which is suitable for enhancing super-8-bit X-ray film images. Firstly, in order to solve the problem that super-8-bit images cannot be displayed directly on 8-bit monitors, a RAW-Optical preprocessing algorithm, based on a log function, is designed. Secondly, in order to improve the overall contrast of the preprocessed images, a super-8-bit non-linear superposition gain compensation model, called G-NLM, is designed based on a combination of log mapping and grey-level change. Then, the novel super-8-bit APEA_PST pseudo-colour algorithm, based on pixel self-transformation, is proposed, which solves the problems of poor adaptive ability and a poor image display effect, enhanced by a traditional pixel self-transformation algorithm. Finally, focusing on super-8-bit greyscale images, generated in the field of industrial welding manufacturing, the APEA_PST algorithm and other classical pseudo-colour algorithms are used to enhance a specific radiographic image. The qualitative and quantitative results show that the image, as enhanced by the APEA_PST algorithm, is not only more suitable for human eyes to observe, but that the algorithm also performs well in quantitative experiments involving Entropy and IL-NIQE, showing good universality and superiority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Automatic evaluation of the X-ray films of welds is an important area of study in the field of non-destructive testing (NDT). A digitising device for the X-ray film is the key to realising automatic evaluation and its image quality directly determines the quality of the automatic evaluation system. At present, the imaging quality of most mature digitising systems on the market cannot meet the DS-class requirements of international standard EN 14096. In order to solve the problems of low visual contrast, detailed information that is difficult to distinguish and low visual resolution in existing digitising systems, a high-quality embedded X-ray film digitising device, processing films with adjustable width, is developed in this paper. The device uses a 12-bit camera and has the characteristics of small size, simple operation and easy maintenance. In order to improve the imaging quality, an optical visual enhancement model is constructed for the generated 12-bit RAW data, which can improve the display of the data. The MTF20% values of the device in the horizontal and vertical directions are 7.544 and 7.460, respectively, and the optical density range is 0.5-4.5 D, the comprehensive index of which can reach DS class. The device has been initially applied by non-destructive testing companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a design scheme of synchronous measurement system on time intervals of multiplex pulse-signals based on FPGA and ARM7, including acquisition and measurement circuit, data analysis circuit and other auxiliary circuit. The acquisition and measurement circuit is designed to synchronously measure respective time of 20 random pulse-signals traveling from the edge to the trigger signal, and to easily achieve parallel expansion of more channels. The hardware circuit design, software design and the simulation result are introduced, from which we can guarantee the time accuracy of less than 5us. The FPGA chip applies the EP1C12Q240C8N of Cyclone Series and the ARM7 control chip applies the LPC2214, using respectively the Verilog hardware description language and C programming language to design related software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of introducing embedded systems, the implementation process of embedded systems teaching reform and practice was finished in planning of Xi'an Technological University's outstanding talent training project. Through the analysis of the current problems in embedded teaching and characteristics of teaching, a project-driven teaching and training model for embedded systems was proposed, in which how the specific engineering project is introduced into the curriculum system and training system in an embedded system is discussed. It is proved that the project-based embedded systems driven teaching training model can effectively solve the difficulty of teaching, improve students' engineering practice ability and it can prefect the system of the embedded system teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection was necessary but not sufficient for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) development without other cofactors. Previously, we identified that both human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) Tat and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) were important cofactors reactivating KSHV from latency. Here, we further investigated the potential of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) to influence KSHV replication and examined the role of Tat in this procedure. We demonstrated that HSV-2 was a potentially important factor in the pathogenesis of KS, as determined by production of lytic phase mRNA transcripts, viral proteins and infectious viral particles in BCBL-1 cells. These results were further confirmed by an RNA interference experiment using small interfering RNA targeting KSHV Rta and a luciferase reporter assay testing Rta promoter-driven luciferase activity. Mechanistic studies showed that HSV-2 infection activated nuclear factor-kappa B (NFkB) signaling pathway. Inhibition of NF-κB pathway enhanced HSV-2-mediated KSHV activation, whereas activation of NFκB pathway suppressed KSHV replication in HSV-2-infected BCBL-1 cells. Additionally, ectopic expression of Tat enhanced HSV-2-induced KSHV replication. These novel findings suggest a role of HSV-2 in the pathogenesis of KS and provide the first laboratory evidence that Tat may participate HSV-2-mediated KSHV activation, implying the complicated pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related KS (AIDS-KS) patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of gene expression in the brain reward regions is known to contribute to the pathogenesis and persistence of drug addiction. Increasing evidence suggests that the regulation of gene transcription is mediated by epigenetic mechanisms that alter the chromatin structure at specific gene promoters. To better understand the involvement of epigenetic regulation in drug reinforcement properties, rats were subjected to cocaine self-administration paradigm. Daily histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor infusions in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) caused an upward shift in the dose-response curve under fixed-ratio schedule and increased the break point under progressive-ratio schedule, indicating enhanced motivation for self-administered drug. The effect of the HDAC inhibitor is attributed to the increased elevation of histone acetylation induced by chronic, but not acute, cocaine experience. In contrast, neutralizing the chronic cocaine-induced increase in histone modification by the bilateral overexpression of HDAC4 in the NAc shell reduced drug motivation. The association between the motivation for cocaine and the transcriptional activation of addiction-related genes by H3 acetylation in the NAc shell was analyzed. Among the genes activated by chronic cocaine experiences, the expression of CaMKIIα, but not CaMKIIβ, correlated positively with motivation for the drug. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA knockdown experiments showed that CaMKIIα, but not CaMKIIβ, in the NAc shell is essential for the maintenance of motivation to self-administered cocaine. These findings suggest that chronic drug-use-induced transcriptional activation of genes, such as CaMKIIα, modulated by H3 acetylation in the NAc is a critical regulatory mechanism underlying motivation for drug reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, we identified that both human herpesvirus 6 and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat were important cofactors that activated lytic cycle replication of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Here, we further investigated the potential of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to influence KSHV replication. We demonstrated that HSV-1 was a potentially important factor in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma, as determined by production of lytic phase mRNA transcripts, viral proteins and infectious viral particles in BCBL-1 cells. These results were further confirmed by an RNA interference experiment using small interfering RNA targeting KSHV ORF50 and a luciferase reporter assay testing ORF50 promoter-driven luciferase activity. Finally, we discovered that production of human interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-4 partially contributed to HSV-1-induced KSHV replication. Our data present the first direct evidence that HSV-1 can activate KSHV lytic replication and suggest a role of HSV-1 in KSHV pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]