Adhesion status of platelets under flow conditions by digital image processing

Abstract

The kinetics and distribution of platelet deposition on protein‐coated surfaces were studied in an in vitro flow system. When fluorescence‐labeled platelets in whole blood flow through a flow chamber that is composed of a glass plate, platelets will deposit onto the protein‐coated surface in a time‐and location‐dependent manner. A combination of fluorescence video microscopy and a digital image processing system allowed us to systematically study thrombosis kinetics under various flow conditions, with different biomaterials and forms of blood.

In this paper, the image processing and pattern recognition techniques have been developed to quantify adhered platelets from numerous video frames. The dynamic adhesion status (newly attached, staying, detached) has been calculated automatically by software developed on an IBM/PC/386. These morphometric parameters as a function of flow rate and type of biomaterials can be determined experimentally.     

A novel key-frame selection-based sign language recognition framework for the video data

ABSTRACT

Sign language is a medium of communication for people with hearing disabilities. Static and dynamic gestures are identified in a video-based sign language recognition and translated them into humanly understandable phrases to achieve the communication objective. However, videos contain redundant Key-frames which require additional processing. Number of such Key-frames can be reduced. The selection of particular Key-frames without losing the required information is a challenging task. The Key-frame extraction algorithm is used which helps to speed-up the sign language recognition process by extracting essential key-frames. The proposed framework eliminates the computation overhead by picking up the distinct Key-frames for the recognition process. Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), and Histograms of Oriented Gradient (HOG) are used for unique features extraction. We used the bagged tree, boosted tree ensemble method, Fine KNN, and SVM for classification. We tested methodology on video-based datasets of Pakistani Sign Language. It achieved an overall 97.5% accuracy on 37 Urdu alphabets and 95.6% accuracy on 100 common words.     

Have we reached the organisational ceiling? a review of applied accident causation models,methods and contributing factors in construction

Work-related fatalities continue to represent a significant issue within the construction industry. Contemporary accident causation models are underpinned by systems thinking, however, it is unclear whether these theories have translated into the construction domain. This article presents the findings of a review that was conducted to determine if the construction accident analysis literature has applied a systems thinking approach to understand accident causation. Specifically, the review examined two key aspects: first the types of models and methods that have been applied to analyse construction incidents, and second, the types of contributing factors identified as playing a role in construction incidents. The findings are summarised using Rasmussen’s Risk Management Framework. The review revealed that contemporary models of accident causation have not yet been applied in construction-related research. It is concluded that the models and methods applied in the construction literature predominantly identify contributing factors associated with the company, management, and frontline work levels of the system, rather than considering broader, system-wide factors. Further, the relationships between individuals and organisations operating at each level of the system have not been typically examined. Further research underpinned by systems thinking is required to better understand accident causation in the construction domain.

• Highlights

• The review revealed that contemporary models of accident causation have not yet been applied in construction-related research;

• The models and methods applied in the construction literature predominantly identify contributing factors associated with the company, management, and front line work levels of the system, rather than considering broader, system-wide factors;

• Relationships between individuals and organisations operating at each level of the system have not yet been examined;

• Despite the efforts of regulators and construction entities, the consistently high rate of fatal accidents in construction highlights the challenges surrounding the practical management of safe production within complex and dynamic working environments;

• Accident analysis methods used in this industry have not kept pace with advances in the field of safety science.

     

Neural network face detection

Abstract

Analysing a video sequence is a challenge, because faces are constantly in dynamic motion, presenting many different possible rotational and illumination conditions. While solutions to the task of face detection have been presented, the detection performances of many systems are heavily dependent upon a strictly constrained environment. This paper presents the results of an image-based neural network face detection system which seeks to address the problem of detecting faces under gross variations.     

实用语音识别的场景标记辅助系统

标引是通过给音频-视频数据加入标记,对其内容进行描述,以便于信息的检索和查询.语音标引在媒体资产管理中扮演了很重要的脚色.介绍了一种基于EBF网络的语音标引辅助系统,该系统可自动识别标引员所说的短语,辅助标引员在视频媒体上实现标引.系统从语句中将这些短语分割出来,并通过EBF神经网络进行建模.实验结果证明,该系统具有实用性,在媒体资产管理方面有良好的应用前景.     

Efficient method for isolation of exosomes from raw bovine milk

Objective: This study aimed to establish a rapid and simple method for isolating exosomes from raw bovine milk and to compare the quality of the isolated exosomes with those isolated by a standard method involving ultracentrifugation (UC).

Methods: To remove caseins, which are major milk proteins consisting more than 80% of milk protein (35% in human breast milk) and hamper isolation and purification of exosomes, hydrochloride (HCl) was added to milk for isoelectric precipitation (IP). The effects of acidification on morphological features, particle size distribution, surface charge, and exosome surface proteins were analyzed by electron microscopy, tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS), and Western blot (WB) analysis, respectively.

Results: Electron microscopy showed that some of the exosomes isolated using IP had rough surfaces; most exosomes were successfully isolated without breakage, and their morphological features were similar to those of exosomes isolated by UC. TRPS showed that their surface charge and peaks (mode) for particle size distribution did not significantly differ between both methods. WB analysis using antibodies against the exosome surface marker proteins – milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) and CD63 – revealed that the structures of exosome surface proteins were not affected by adding HCl.

Conclusions: IP can be used to remove caseins to reduce operation time. This method will be useful for efficient isolation and purification of bovine milk exosomes and contribute to progression of research on health management of dairy cattle and drug delivery systems in human medicine, which require large amounts of milk exosomes.     

Automatically detecting endocardium and epicardium of left ventricle by digital image processing for 2‐D echocardiography

Abstract

Detecting the endocardium and epicardium of the left ventricle is important for further quantitative analysis of cardiac functions and three‐dimensional reconstruction. However, to detect the boundaries automatically is difficult. In this paper, we proposed a novel, single frame method, based on binary morphology and region growing techniques, to detect the boundaries of the left ventricle automatically except an A.O.I. (Area Of Interest) adjustment operation must be performed during the process of getting image data from video tape and storing it onto the disk. The method is suited for boundary detection required in three‐dimensional reconstruction for the observation of congenital abnormalities of ventricular septum or for generating cross sectional images of arbitrary orientation. Moreover, the method may be improved by further processings for accurate endocardial and epicardial boundary estimation for quantitative cardiac function evaluations.     

Efficient Analysis of Vertical Projection Histogram to Segment Arabic Handwritten Characters

The paper discusses the segmentation of words into characters, which is an essential task in the development process of character recognition systems, as poorly segmented characters will automatically be unrecognized. The segmentation of offline handwritten Arabic text poses a greater challenge because of its cursive nature and different writing styles. In this article, we propose a new approach to segment handwritten Arabic characters using an efficient analysis of the vertical projection histogram. Our approach was tested using a set of handwritten Arabic words from the IFN/ENIT database, and promising results were obtained.     

Applications of excipients in the field of 3D printed pharmaceuticals

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of varying excipient content on the formation and physical properties of 3?D printed tablets. Fifteen different excipient preparations were formed into tablets with radii of 5?mm and thickness of 2?mm, using binder jetting (BJ). The tablets were analyzed by assessing visual and microstructural appearance, friability, hardness, and disintegration time. We found that filling agents with high water solubility (e.g. D-sucrose), binding agents with a high viscosity in solution (e.g. polyethylene glycol 4000) and moistening agent with higher water content can increase the bonding strength and hardness of the 3?D printed tablets and prolonged their disintegration time. This work has demonstrated that the type of excipient and its concentration affects the properties of the 3?D printed tablet. This article may be used as a guide for elucidation of the effects of using conventional tablet excipients in the field of 3?D printed pharmaceuticals. The present work should enable the identification of excipients that satisfy requirements, reduce analysis time, and improve efficiency.     

Development of novel pH-sensitive nanoparticles loaded hydrogel for transdermal drug delivery

Objective: Difference of pH that exists between the skin surface and blood circulation can be exploited for transdermal delivery of drug molecules by loading drug into pH-sensitive polymer. Eudragit S100 (ES100), a pH-sensitive polymer having dissolution profile above pH 7.4, is used in oral, ocular, vaginal and topical delivery of drug molecules. However, pH-sensitive potential of this polymer has not been explored for transdermal delivery. The aim of this research work was to exploit the pH-sensitive potential of ES100 as a nanocarrier for transdermal delivery of model drug, that is, Piroxicam.

Methods: Simple nanoprecipitation technique was employed to prepare the nanoparticles and response surface quadratic model was applied to get an optimized formulation. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized and loaded into Carbopol 934 based hydrogel. In vitro release, ex vivo permeation and accelerated stability studies were carried out on the prepared formulation.

Results: Particles with an average size of 25–40?nm were obtained with an encapsulation efficiency of 88%. Release studies revealed that nanoparticles remained stable at acidic pH while sustained release with no initial burst effect was observed at pH 7.4 from the hydrogel. Permeation of these nanocarriers from hydrogel matrix showed significant permeation of Piroxicam through mice skin.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that ES100 based pH-sensitive nanoparticles have potential to be delivered through transdermal route.     

Applying reticular synthesis to the design of Cu-based MOFs with mechanically interlocked linkers

The concept of“robust dynamics”describes the incorporation of mechanically interlocked molecules(MIMs)into metal-organic framework(MOF)materials such that large amplitude motions(e.g.,rotation or translation of a macrocycle)can occur inside the free volume pore of the MOF.To aid in the preparation of such materials,reticular synthesis was used herein to design rigid molecular building blocks with predetermined ordered structures starting from the well-known MOF NOTT-101.New linkers were synthesized that have a T-shape,based on a triphenylene tetra-carboxylate strut,and their incorporation into Cu(II)-based MOFs was investigated.The single-crystal structures of three new MOFs,UWCM-12(fof),β-UWCM-13(loz),UWCM-14(lil),with naked T-shaped linkers were determined;β-UWCM-13 is the first reported example of the loz topology.A fourth MOF,UWDM-14(lil)is analogous to UWCM-14(lil)but contains a[2]rotaxane linker.Variable-temperature,²H solid-state NMR was used to probe the dynamics of a 24-membered macrocycle threaded onto the MOF skeleton.     

Conceptualizing Dynamic Capabilities in Lean Production: What are They and How Do They Develop?

Abstract

This article addresses the need for developing long-term learning abilities in Lean production: dynamic capabilities. Despite Lean’s remarkable popularity, implementation efforts often emphasize short-term efficiency over developing dynamic capabilities necessary for long-term success. This article advances the understanding of dynamic capabilities in Lean based on a longitudinal in-depth case study at a manufacturing facility. The article shows that dynamic capabilities develop through the development of an organizational setting for improvement activities, termed the improvement system. The improvement system’s effectiveness is characterized by the coherence between participants, technology, management, and organization, and between the improvement system and the work system.     

Kullback-Leibler similarity measures for effective content based video retrieval

Abstract

Recent advancements in the multimedia technologies allow the capture and storage of video data with relatively inexpensive computers. As the necessity to query these data competently becomes significant, the amount of broadly accessible video data grows. As a result, content-based retrieval of video data turns out to be a demanding and vital problem. In this paper, an effective content-based video retrieval system is proposed. The raw video data are segmented into shots and the object feature, movement feature and the occlusion feature are extracted from these shots and the feature library is utilised for the storage process of these features. Subsequently, the Kullback–Leibler distance is computed among the features of the feature library and the features of the query clip which is extracted in the similar manner. Hence, with the aid of the Kullback–Leibler distance, the similar videos are extracted from the collection of videos based on the given query video clip in an effective manner.     

Impression creep behavior of different zones in friction stir welded Mg–Zn–Mn wrought alloy

The friction stir welded joint of wrought ZM21 alloy was divided into five parts, and their localized creep behavior was studied via the impression method. The tests were carried out in the stress range of 300–450 MPa (σ_imp/G ≈ 0.02–0.03) and in the temperature range of 448–523 K. Optical and SEM micrographs and EDS taken before and after the impression tests were used to study the microstructure of various zones of the FS welded joint. Power law was found to satisfactorily relate the stress and strain rates. The steady-state impression velocity was found to vary significantly between the advancing and retreating sides of TMAZ and HAZ. For TMAZ, the creep exponent on the AS was 4.8, and on the RS, it was 7.8. The activation energy on the AS was ~?133 kJ/mol, and on the RS, it was ~?101 kJ/mol. Similarly, for HAZ, the creep exponent on the AS was found to be 5.5 and on the RS, it was 4.9. The activation energy on the AS was ~?86 kJ/mol and on the RS, it was ~?232 kJ/mol. The cross-over of steady-state impression velocity of different zones indicates that the weak zone was temperature and stress dependent. Within the stresses and temperatures studied, the weld zone's creep resistance (i.e., lower minimum impression velocity) was found to be better than the base material. As it is with most magnesium alloys, dislocation climb was found to be the operative mechanism in the FS weldments of ZM21 alloy. The rate-controlling mechanism remains to be identified because the wide variation in n and Q values suggests that different creep mechanisms are in operation in different zones.

Graphical abstract

     

Interrelation between the climate-related sustainability and the financial reporting disclosures of the European automotive industry

The financial reports of the automotive companies' are measured in a standardized manner; therefore, they are transparent and comparable to each other, but this is not valid for the sustainability reports and it is not possible to compare their sustainability performances. Standard-setting organizations are currently searching for better reporting procedures. This study aims to investigate the connection between sustainability and financial reports for the most dominant European car manufacturers. It reviews the traceability of the sustainability elements back to the financial statements, which helps transparency, comparability, and impact measurement of the disclosed items and issues. This investigation allowed us to additionally review whether these companies are targeting to disclose the most harmful pollution impacts, or only focus to disclose the required obligatory items. Given the financial and sustainability reports magnitude manual testing would not provide complete and proper coverage, therefore we utilized an automated and AI-assisted content analysis with natural language processing. In this new review method, the sustainable elements of the textual reports were automatically retrieved following the 5-stage model of Landrum & Ohsowski (2018). The study highlights the lack of true sustainability information content of reports and the potential discrepancies and connections between the financial and the sustainability reports. Findings concluded that sustainability disclosures at the reviewed companies from several aspects could be improved and quantified, traced back to the financial disclosures, and to be comparable to each other if they apply a similar review method.

Graphic abstract

     

A series of energy conserving algorithms for structural dynamics

Abstract

A series of step‐by‐step integration methods has been effectively developed which does not increase the total number of equations of motion and avoids the use of the derivatives of external force. The well‐known Newmark β method [16] with β = 1/4 is the lowest order of accuracy of this series of methods. All the algorithms of this series are unconditionally stable, without overshoot in displacement or in velocity, and they do not possess any numerical dissipations. The rapid changes of dynamic loading can be automatically overcome. It is also verified that the higher the order of the integration method, the more accurate. Consequently, the higher‐order algorithms of this series allow the use of a large time step in step‐by‐step dynamic analysis. Thus, they are competitive in dynamic analysis, especially when the response of a long duration is of interest.     

Automated structural optimization system for integrated topology and shape optimization

Abstract

This paper combines previously developed techniques for image‐preprocessing and characteristic image‐interpreting together with a newly proposed automated shape‐optimization modeling technique into an integrated topology‐optimization and shape‐optimization system. As a result, structure designers are provided with an efficient and reliable automated structural optimization system (ASOS). The automated shape‐optimization modeling technique, the key technique in ASOS, uses hole‐expanding strategy, interference analysis, and hole shape‐adjusting strategy to automatically define the design variables and side constraints needed for shape optimization. This technique not only eliminates the need to manually define design variables and side constraints for shape optimization, but during the process of shape optimization also prevents interference between the interior holes and the exterior boundary. The ASOS is tested in three different structural configuration design examples.     

Dithranol-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier-based gel ameliorate psoriasis in imiquimod-induced mice psoriatic plaque model

Objective: The aim of this study was to formulate nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of dithranol-loaded in gel for ease of application and to evaluate its anti-psoriatic efficacy vis-a-vis conventional ointment formulation.

Significance: This study will provide an insight about the use of nanocarriers, esp. NLCs loaded with dithranol for the effective treatment of psoriasis.

Methods: Dithranol-loaded NLCs were prepared by hot melt homogenization method and characterized for particle size and percentage entrapment efficiency. The optimized NLCs were loaded into gel and evaluated for drug release, spreadability, rheological behavior, and staining. Anti-psoriatic efficacy of the NLC gel was evaluated in imiquimod (IMQ) induced psoriatic plaque model in comparison with prepared conventional ointment formulation (1.15% w/w dithranol).

Results: NLCs were prepared with particle size below 300?nm, polydispersity index (PDI) below 0.3 and percentage entrapment efficiency of ～100%. The prepared NLC gel was then compared with the ointment for drug release, staining property, and efficacy. Topical application of dithranol-loaded NLC gel on IMQ-induced psoriatic plaque model reduced the symptoms of psoriasis assessed by both Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scoring and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There was a significant reduction in disease severity and cytokines like Interleukins-17, 22, 23 and Tumor necrosis factor-α by the developed system in comparison to the negative control.

Conclusions: To conclude dithranol-loaded NLCs in gel base was efficacious in management of psoriasis at the same drug concentration and also offer less cloth staining to that of the ointment product.