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Major and trace elements and Sm–Nd isotopic data are presented for metabasites that are present as lenses within Paleozoic metasediments in the Chenxing and Bangxi regions, central Hainan Island, Southeast (SE) China. Most metabasites are metamorphosed cumulated gabbroic rocks tholeiitic in nature, and characterized by varying degrees of depletion in Th, Nb, Ta and light rare earth elements (LREE). Moreover, they show high positive ∈Nd(T) values of approximately +7, similar to those of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB). A Sm–Nd isochron age of 333 ± 12 Ma obtained for the metabasites is interpreted as their crystallization age. The combined geochemical and Sm–Nd isotopic data suggest that the metabasites were generated by dynamic partial melting from a MORB-like mantle source in an oceanic regime. These rocks probably represent remnants of fragmented oceanic crust of the eastern part of Paleo-Tethys. They were obducted onto the continental crust as part of the ‘Shilu Melange’ in earliest Mesozoic time when southern Hainan (part of the Indochina block) collided with northern Hainan (part of South China). Alternatively, they could be formed in a volcanic rifted passive margin at the sea-floor spreading stage as part of MORB-like seaward-dipping reflector break-up packages.

We report novel vesicles composed of the zwitterionic surfactant lauryl sulfobetaine (LSB), which is a simple single-tailed surfactant (STS). The novel vesicles spontaneously formed from LSB micellar solutions with the mediation of a rough glass surface (RGS) in the absence of any cosurfactants or additives. Importantly, the obtained STS vesicles displayed good stability upon long-term storage, exposure to high temperature, and freeze-thawing after the RGS was removed. The pH of the LSB solution (4.0-9.0) and the presence of NaCl (1.0 × 10(-5) and 1.0 × 10(-4) mol/L) in the LSB solution had no obvious influence on the formation and stability of the vesicles. The adsorption configuration of LSB on the RGS was investigated via water contact angle measurements and atomic force microscope observations. The results showed that LSB adsorption bilayers could form on the RGS, and the bilayer adsorption of LSB on the RGS and the roughness of the solid surface played a key role in the vesicle formation. A possible mechanism for the RGS-mediated formation of LSB vesicles is proposed: LSB micelles and molecules adsorb on the RGS to form curved bilayers, and the curved bilayers are then detached from the RGS and close to form vesicles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of LSB alone forming vesicles. This finding extends our understanding of the nature of vesicle systems.

To examine outcomes of a peer-led, community-based intervention providing rapid HIV testing and case management for linkage to care for untested men who have sex with men (MSM) in China.Rapid HIV testing was performed by trained peer volunteers of a community-based organisation (CBO) in three cities of Jiangsu province at MSM-oriented venues. MSM screened positive were referred and accompanied to local government health agencies (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) for confirmatory HIV testing and provided social support for up to 1 month. Data for the programme were compared with sentinel surveillance surveys of MSM conducted by the national and provincial CDC in the province during the same year to assess differences in the populations reached, in HIV positivity, and linkage to HIV care.A total of 512 previously untested MSM were tested by the CBO programme in 6 months. Compared with those in the surveillance surveys, MSM tested by the CBO were significantly more likely to be younger, single, non-resident of the province, more educated and used condoms less frequently. Higher proportions of HIV-positive MSM screened by the CBO received their confirmatory test results (98.1% vs 72.6%, p0.001) and linked to care (90.4% vs 42.0%, p0.001).Trained peers providing rapid HIV testing with social support and case management through the early period following diagnosis can efficiently expand HIV testing and improve linkage to care among MSM in China.

On the basis of the faunas including conodonts Palmatolepis gracilis sigmoidalis, P. gracilis gracilis, Polygnathus germanus, which are found for the first time, and corals Cystophrentis kalaohoensis it is confirmed that the Changjiang Formation refers to the Famennian, and may correlate with the Shaodong Formation and Menggongao Formation of central Hunan. This is the only Devonian deposits known in Hainan Island so far. It means that the outstanding problem of whether the Devonian rocks exist in that island is now settled. Meanwhile, the new evidences indicate that the lectostratotype section of Nanhao Formation of Baoting area refers to the Silurian, rather than the Lower Carboniferous as considered by most geologists formerly. Furthermore, the Member 3 of Nanhao Formation at Shilu-Jinbo district is proved to be the Upper Carboniferous, rather than Tournaisian or Middle-Upper Devonian as deemed to be before.

Self-organized domains in ring pattern of a samarium complex bounded by a β-diketone ligand TTA–Sm(TTA)3Phen (TTA denotes thenoyltrifluoroacetone; Phen denotes 1,10-phenanthroline) were assembled by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film technique. The domain pattern was observed by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) at the air/liquid interface and by atomic force microscopy (AFM) on mica. A scheme is proposed for the ring domain formation on considering components in aqueous subphase and the structure of samarium complexes. The subphase containing the samarium complex and the ligands is a fundamental condition for the stable existence of this samarium complex at the air/liquid interface. Stearic acid (SA) was mixed with the samarium complex, which formed highly ordered round domains producing a gradient electric field. Sm(TTA)3Phen molecules move towards and nucleate at the edge of the SA domains under electrostatic forces, resulting in the formation of a ring domain.

Monolayer aggregation of a series of atypical amphiphilic rare earth complexes REL 3 Phen [RE=Eu(III), Sm(III), Tb(III); L=acac (acetylacetone), TFA (trifluoroacetylacetone), HFA (hexafluoroacetylacetone), TTA (thenoyltrifluoroacetone); Phen=1, 10-phenanthroline] were investigated at the air/liquid interface by π - A isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). When the complexes were mixed with arachidic acid (AA), respectively, stable monolayers could be formed. The rare earth complexes could be divided into two classes according to the π - A isotherm shape that whether there was a plateau period or not. Complexes with β-diketones acac, TFA and HFA were in one class, while complexes with the β-diketone TTA were in another. All the rare earth complexes formed microcrystals at the air/liquid interface. However, the former complex microcrystals oriented with the same crystal plane facing to all directions upon compression; while the latter complex microcrystals oriented with the same crystal plane facing to the same direction. Differences between monolayer behaviors of the two classes of complexes were discussed by comparing the structure of β-diketone ligands. A possible structural model of the rare earth complexes in the mixed monolayers with AA at air/liquid interface was proposed.

The terbium complexes studied in this paper can be expressed by the formula TbL Phen, where Tb denotes the central ion 3 . .

A number of metamorphosed mafic rocks occurred within the Paleozoic strata in the Chenxing and Bangxi regions at the northern side of the Changjiang-Qionghai Fault in Central Hainan Island. These metamorphosed mafic rocks are tholeiites in chemistry. They are characterized by extreme depletion of Th, Nb, Ta and LREEs, resembling the depleted N-type mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB). Field relations suggest that the protolith of the metamorphosed mafic rocks were likely formed in Paleozoic. These metamorphosed mafic rocks with N-type MORB geochemical features were probably the remnants of the Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is synthesized in cutaneous wound tissue, and its higher levels in the neonate may contribute to more efficient wound healing. We used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to define NGF mRNA and protein expression in intact skin and following excision wounding in neonatal and adult rats. To determine whether NGF is associated with wound contractile fibroblasts (myofibroblasts), we also examined expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) mRNA and protein, established markers for these cells. In intact skin, NGF mRNA and protein were present in vascular and arrector pili smooth muscle, hair follicle sheath cells, keratinocytes, and hypodermal fibroblasts. Neonatal adipocytes and Schwann cells also expressed NGF mRNA and protein, while adult adipocytes and Schwann cells displayed only NGF-ir. Following wounding, NGF mRNA expression was exuberant in these cell types, and increased similarly at both ages and appeared de novo in skeletal muscle cells. Additionally, both NGF mRNA and protein were present in macrophages and myofibroblasts, and expression in myofibroblasts was significantly greater in neonates. Wound myofibroblasts also expressed alpha-SMA. Surprisingly, after wounding alpha-SMA mRNA and protein were present in essentially all cells in which NGF mRNA was detected. We conclude that NGF expression is enhanced in many cell types after wounding, but greater NGF synthesis in neonates appears to be due to a more robust myofibroblast response. In addition, cell types which demonstrated NGF mRNA also expressed alpha-SMA, and staining for both markers increased following wounding, suggesting synthesis of both proteins is regulated in a coordinated fashion.

Organized molecular films of rare earth β -diketone complexes REL 3 Phen were fabricated in this paper by the Langmuir–Blodgett film (LB) technology, where RE denotes rare earth ions Eu(III), Sm(III) and Tb(III); L denotes the organic β -diketone ligands acac (acetylacetone), TFA(trifluoroacetylacetone), HFA (hexafluoroacetylacetone) and TTA (thenoyltrifluoroacetone); Phen denotes the organic synergistic ligand 1,10-phenanthroline. The fluorescence lifetime of the rare earth β -diketone complexes in LB films was measured by the laser-induced fluorescence decay. The influence of β -diketone ligands on the fluorescence intensity of rare earth complexes was discussed in view of the intramolecular energy transfer process. The fluorescence lifetime of the rare earth β -diketone complexes in LB film was longer than that in solution. The difference was investigated in view of the intermolecular energy transfer process. Both the fluorescence lifetime and the fluorescence intensity varied with the β -diketone ligands of the rare earth complexes. However, their values did not change in the same sequence, which was discussed in view of the different intramolecular energy transfer processes.

The periorbital sheath serves as a major pathway for sympathetic nerves traveling to distal orbital targets in the rat. This tissue accommodates sympathetic fiber sprouting in the neonate but becomes impassable by postnatal day 30 (PND 30). In contrast, smooth muscle target remains receptive to sympathetic ingrowth. To determine the attributes of receptive and nonreceptive tissues, we compared periorbital pathway and target tissue phenotypes prior to (PND 5 and PND 15) and after (PND 30 and PND 60) the period when pathway receptivity is lost. Both pathway cells and superior tarsal smooth muscle cells expressed α-smooth muscle actin and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain throughout development. At PND 5–15, both tissues also expressed vimentin, collagen IV, laminin 1 and laminin β2, whereas fibronectin was detected only in pathway tissue. At PND 30, vimentin, collagen IV, and fibronectin were absent in tarsal muscle but were robust in pathway tissue. Laminin 1 and laminin β2 expression was maintained in muscle; however, in pathway cells, laminin 1 declined modestly, and laminin β2 decreased precipitously to barely detectable levels. Quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction showed that nerve growth factor mRNA was present in the pathway throughout development at levels that were greater than both surrounding connective tissue and tarsal muscle. We conclude that the loss of pathway receptivity to sympathetic nerve ingrowth is associated with a transition from a phenotype similar to fetal smooth muscle cells to one that is more consistent with myofibroblast-like cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 408:352–364, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Rare-earth beta-diketone complex doped microcapsules with high efficiency fluorescence fabricated by the LbL technique based on electrostatic and charge-dipole interactions are reported.

Sympathetic axons are abundant within some orbital tissues but are absent from others. This study investigated cellular phenotypes of tissues containing sympathetic nerves en passage and compared these with phenotypes in regions devoid of sympathetic nerves and with smooth muscle targets. Two primary orbital smooth muscle targets, the tarsal muscle and orbital muscle, contained many synaptophysin-immunoreactive nerves. Target cells had ultrastructural features typical of smooth muscle and were immunoreactive for alpha-smooth muscle actin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, desmin, vinculin, and laminin, but not non-muscle myosin, vimentin, fibronectin, or type IV collagen; nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Periorbital sheath devoid of sympathetic nerves contained elongated fibroblasts that were immunoreactive for vimentin, non-muscle myosin, and fibronectin, but not for alpha-smooth muscle actin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, vinculin, desmin, laminin, or type IV collagen, and did not express NGF mRNA. Regions of periorbital sheath containing sympathetic nerves had few synaptophysin-immunoreactive varicosities. Cells in this region contained myofilaments, ribosomes, and rough endoplasmic reticulum and were larger than tarsal muscle cells. They expressed NGF mRNA and showed a unique immunophenotype, reacting for vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin and myosin heavy chain, desmin, vinculin, laminin, and type IV collagen. This phenotype reflects both fibroblast and smooth muscle features similar to myofibroblasts or transdifferentiated smooth muscle described in other tissues. The spatial association between these cells and sympathetic nerves suggests that they may be involved in axon guidance or maintenance.

1. Parasympathetic innervation of rat eyelid tarsal smooth muscle normally inhibits sympathetic neurotransmission prejunctionally without significant direct postjunctional effects. Following surgical sympathectomy, parasympathetic stimulation elicits smooth muscle contraction. This study examined the relative contributions of cholinergic and adrenergic mechanisms mediating these contractions. 2. Electrical stimulation of the superior salivatory nucleus, which activates tarsal muscle parasympathetic nerves, elicited large contractions at 2 days postsympathectomy, which were abolished by atropine and were decreased by 65 % by alpha1-adrenoceptor blockade or spinal cord transection. 3. Contractions in response to direct cholinergic stimulation by bethanechol at 2 days postsympathectomy were increased following spinal cord transection (C2) and suppressed by the alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, indicating that adrenoceptors on smooth muscle attenuate cholinergic contractions. However, phenylephrine infusion enhanced contractile responses to parasympathetic stimulation. 4. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed alpha1D-adrenoceptor mRNA within pterygopalatine ganglia. 5. At 5 weeks and 14 months postsympathectomy, adrenergic facilitation was significantly less than at 2 days, whereas prazosin-insensitive muscarinic contraction was increased. 6. We conclude that degeneration of sympathetic innervation is followed rapidly by adrenoceptor-mediated prejunctional enhancement of parasympathetic nerve-smooth muscle neurotransmission, which occurs prior to neuroeffector junction formation as determined previously by electron microscopy. Subsequently, noradrenergic enhancement is diminished as cholinergic neurotransmission becomes established.

By using a composite subphase, the atypical amphiphilic Tb(acac)3Phen (where acac denotes acetylacetone and Phen denotes 1,10-phenanthroline) molecules without long hydrophobic chains were deposited onto solid substrates. The results of UV−vis spectra and fluorescence emission spectra show the Tb(acac)3Phen/arachidic acid (1:1 molar ratio) Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) film to be homogeneous in direction normal to the substrate. A periodic layer structure of the LB film is demonstrated by low-angle X-ray diffraction results, the average layer spacing being 5.40 nm. The LB film containing Tb(acac)3Phen can emit strong green fluorescence, and the fluorescence signal can be detected from a single layer. The wavelengths of fluorescence emission are not altered in the ordered molecular film; however, the fluorescence intensities of some emission peaks are increased.

Five different compounds, included here arachidic acid (AA), tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO), a kind of long chain Schiff base (SB), 5,10,15,20-tetra-4-oxy (2-stearic acid) phenyl porphyrin (TPP(−COOH)), and a long chain ferrocene derivative (Fc), were introduced into Langmuir—Blodgett (LB) films containing luminous rare earth complex Eu(TTA)3Phen or Sm(TTA)3Phen alternating with arachidic acid (AA). The subphase used was a composite subphase: an aqueous solution saturated with 1,10-phenanthroline, 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone, and the complex Eu(TTA)3Phen or Sm(TTA)3Phen. Low angle X-ray diffraction results show that all the LB films have a periodic layer structure. Vertical uniformity of these LB films has been demonstrated by UV—Vis and fluorescence emission spectra. Both absorbance and relative fluorescence intensity increase linearly with the number of LB layers. The results of fluorescence spectra also indicate that, TOPO and SB have a fluorescence enhancement effect on the complexes, while TPP(−COOH) and Fc have a strong fluorescence quenching effect. AA does not influence the fluorescence of the complexes.

High quality and intensely fluorescent Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of Eu(TTA) 3 Phen/AA (in molar ratio 1:1) (AA, arachidic acid) and Sm(TTA) 3 Phen/AA (1:1) were fabricated successfully by using the composite subphase that, here, denotes the aqueous solution saturated with Phen (1,10-phenanthroline), TTA ( α -thenoyltrifluoroacetone) and Eu(TTA) 3 Phen or Sm(TTA) 3 Phen. FTIR results indicate that hydrogen bonds form between -CF 3 of the title complexes and -COOH of AA in these LB films. Low-angle X-ray diffraction results show that these LB films all have a periodic layer structure. The vertical uniformity of these LB films has been demonstrated by UV-Vis spectra and fluorescence emission spectra. Both absorbance and relative fluorescence intensity increase linearly with the number of LB layers. The two LB films can give off strong fluorescence, even though only one layer of LB film gives off strong fluorescence on ultraviolet irradiation. Strong fluorescence emission can be detected from this LB film by using a fluorescence spectrophotometer. Bright fluorescence spots can also be observed within the view field of a fluorescence microscope. However, when comparing one with the other, the fluorescence intensity of Eu(TTA) 3 Phen LB films is stronger than that of Sm(TTA) 3 Phen LB films. The intensity of the former is nearly 25 times the intensity of the latter.

Vehicle recognition is a fundamental task for advanced driver assistance systems and contributes to the avoidance of collisions with other vehicles. In recent years, numerous approaches using monocular image analysis have been reported for vehicle detection. These approaches are primarily applied in motorway scenarios and may not be suitable for complex urban traffic with a diversity of obstacles and a clustered background. In this paper, stereovision is firstly used to segment potential vehicles from the traffic background. Given that the contour curve is the most straightforward cue for object recognition, we present here a novel method for complete contour curve extraction using symmetry properties and a snake model. Finally, two shape factors, including the aspect ratio and the area ratio calculated from the contour curve, are used to judge whether the object detected is a vehicle or not. The approach presented here was tested with substantial urban traffic images and the experimental results demonstrated that the correction rate for vehicle recognition reaches 93%.

This review addresses luminescent rare earth compounds assembled in microcapsules as well as in planar films fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) method and in self-assembled monolayers. Chemical precipitation, electrostatic, van der Waals interactions and covalent bonds are involved in the assembly of these compounds. Self-organized ring patterns of rare earth complexes in Langmuir monolayers and on planar surfaces with stripe patterns, as well as fluorescence enhancement due to donor–acceptor pairs, microcavities, enrichment of rare earth compounds, and shell protection against water are described. Recent information on the tuning of luminescence intensity and multicolors by the excitation wavelength and the ratio of rare earth ions, respectively, are also reviewed. Potential applications of luminescent rare earth complex assemblies serving as biological probes, temperature and gas sensors are pointed out.

Organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATP) 1B1, 1B3, and 2B1 can serve as the loci of drug-drug interactions (DDIs). In the present work, the cynomolgus monkey was evaluated as a potential model for studying OATP-mediated DDIs. Three cynomolgus monkey OATPs (cOATPs), with a high degree of amino acid sequence identity (91.9, 93.5, and 96.6% for OATP1B1, 1B3, and 2B1, respectively) to their human counterparts, were cloned, expressed, and characterized. The cOATPs were stably transfected in human embryonic kidney cells and were functionally similar to the corresponding human OATPs (hOATPs), as evident from the similar uptake rate of typical substrates (estradiol-17β-d-glucuronide, cholecystokinin octapeptide, and estrone-3-sulfate). Moreover, six known hOATP inhibitors exhibited similar IC(50) values against cOATPs. To further evaluate the appropriateness of the cynomolgus monkey as a model, a known hOATP substrate [rosuvastatin (RSV)]-inhibitor [rifampicin (RIF)] pair was examined in vitro; the monkey-derived parameters (RSV K(m) and RIF IC(50)) were similar (within 3.5-fold) to those obtained with hOATPs and human primary hepatocytes. In vivo, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of RSV (3 mg/kg, oral) given 1 hour after a single RIF dose (15 mg/kg, oral) was increased 2.9-fold in cynomolgus monkeys, consistent with the value (3.0-fold) reported in humans. A number of in vitro-in vivo extrapolation approaches, considering the fraction of the pathways affected and free versus total inhibitor concentrations, were also explored. It is concluded that the cynomolgus monkey has the potential to serve as a useful model for the assessment of OATP-mediated DDIs in a nonclinical setting.

The monolayer behaviour of a luminescent europium complex Eu(TTA)3Phen on three different subphase surfaces have been investigated. Reproducible π-A isotherms and uniformly-distributed crystalline monolayers have been obtained only on the composite subphase that, here, denotes the aqueous solution saturated with Phen (1,10-phenanthroline), TTA (α-thenoyltrifluoroacetone) and Eu(TTA)3Phen. The plateau, appearing on π-A isotherm at π = 8 mN m−1, corresponds to the surface crystallization of Eu(TTA)3Phen. The whole process of surface crystallization was videotaped in situ through the Brewster angle microscopy and proved by the images as well as by the electron diffraction hexagonal patterns on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. The bright pitches of microcrystals were observed within the view field of a fluorescence microscope. Moreover, before crystallization a phase separation was observed at π ≈ 6 mN m−1 in monolayers of Eu(TTA)3Phen mixed with arachidic acid (AA) through TEM. By using the composite subphase, high-quality and intensely fluorescent multilayers of Eu(TTA) 3 Phen AA (in molar ratio 1:1) were fabricated by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique.

Context Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) are currently the first-line therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED), but available studies investigating the comparative effects of different PDE5-Is are limited. Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of different classes of oral PDE5-Is for ED. Evidence acquisition A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify randomized controlled trials that compared different PDE5-Is or PDE5-Is with a placebo for ED. The methodological quality of included studies was appraised with the Cochrane Collaboration bias appraisal tool, and the quality of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. Evidence synthesis A total of 118 trials (31 195 individuals) were included. There was no major difference in the results between the traditional meta-analysis and the network meta-analysis. Network meta-analysis demonstrated that PDE5-Is were superior to placebo to improve erectile function. Compared with tadalafil (relative risk [RR]: 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33–0.90) and vardenafil (RR: 0.63; 95% CI, 0.35–0.92), avanafil was less effective on Global Assessment Questionnaire question 1. Tadalafil was more effective than vardenafil (mean difference [MD]: 1.49; 95% CI, 0.50–2.50) and udenafil (MD: −1.84; 95% CI, −3.31 to −0.33) as measured by the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function. For all efficacy outcomes, the absolute effects and the rank tests indicated that tadalafil and vardenafil were the most effective agents. After adjusting for dosage, the conclusion remained the same. Safety analysis showed there was no major difference among different agents. Conclusions In recommended doses, oral PDE5-Is are more effective than placebo for ED, and tadalafil seems to be the most effective agent, followed by vardenafil. PDE5-Is are generally safe and well tolerated, and there is no major difference on the safety profile.

The main purpose of this thesis is to introduce an intelligent home control system which is based on MCU(EM78F668N), the PC(personal computer), wireless transceiver module FHL0611 as the core, to control the external temperature sensors, humidity sensors, light sensor and solar heating system. Thus the system achieves the automatic control of indoor home environment and use a wireless terminal on the indoor home of the remote control. This article also gives the device hardware and software design and implementation.

By AFM we report the successful modulation of shell structure (morphology and shell thickness) of microcapsules through tailoring molecular substituents of chitosan. The shell thickness of hollow (HPCS/SA)(n) (n=5, 7, 9) capsules is more than 3 times that of the (QACS/SA)(n) (n=5, 7, 9) capsules, due to less charges carried by the neutral -NH(2) substituent group and the induced coily conformation in HPCS, while more charges carried by the positively charged -N(CH(3))(3)(+) substituent and the induced extended conformation in QACS (HPCS: hydroxyl propyl chitosan; QACS: quaternary ammonium chitosan; SA: sodium alginate). The ultrathin shells of microcapsules assembled in this work by the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique rather than the traditional method of mixing CS, SA and CaCl(2) enable the thickness modulation characterization by AFM on the atomic scale. These microcapsules with tunable shell thickness provide important guidance for potential drug delivery and sustained release.

This paper proposed a method to integrate multiple images from a video captured by the camera sticked on the back of a vehicle. The integration can be performed in real time. The image integration consists of two steps: Perspective transform and stitching. First, do camera calibration to get the intrinsic parameters and extrinsic parameters with camera calibration and get the birds-eye view of each image. Then detect the line of each image using Hough Transform. After gained the line histogram, gets the rotation angle between two images using minimum cross-correlation of line histogram. Use minimum cross-correlation of binary images to get the transform pixel in horizontal direction and vertical direction. Do spatial transform for one image to gain the images' coordinate in the same coordinate system. Add two images with different weight to get stitching image.

In driver assistance system, human eye gaze direction is an important feature described some driver's situation such as distraction and fatigue. This paper proposes a method to track driver's gaze direction by using deformable template matching. The method is divided into three steps: first, identifying the face area. Second, localizing the eye area. Finally, combining the eye region model and sight algorithm to determine the driver's gaze direction. Experimental results show that this method can effectively identify human's eye and track gaze motion in a real-time running basis.

Microcapsules with excellent fluorescence enhancement are assembled by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles to enrich Eu(DBM)(3)Phen (DBM and Phen are dibenzoylmethane and 1,10-phenanthroline, respectively) on CaCO(3) particles by the LbL technique. Compared to microcapsules without micelles, the fluorescence intensity of microcapsules with micelles increases 9 times, larger than the 6 times increase of absorbance. This unexpected fluorescence enhancement is attributed to the "fluorescence protector" effect of CTAB micelles in microcapsules. Energy loss from nonradiative deactivation through energy transfer to high-energy O-H vibrations from the emissive (5)D(0) state of Eu(III) is greatly prohibited. The new strategy using micelles in this work not only enriches europium complexes during assembly in aqueous solution but also yields a fluorescence enhancement ratio larger than the enrichment ratio.

In this paper, relational database access policy for the clues, to discuss database access optimization strategies. Relational database access in connection handling operation is a key factor affecting the efficiency of queries The algorithm is based on uplink and downlink reduction strategy to strengthen the relationship between the database access method applied to the actual sales information management system, by evaluating the algorithm of the scheduling, system operation showing a reduction for the upcoming completion of lower-priority tasks to occupy, reducing the waste of processor resources to improve the mission success rate.

Image segmentation is one of basic problems in image processing and computer vision, and is a key step in image processing and image analysis. In this article, a rather complete survey to the image segmentation methods based on PDEs is given, and their characteristics are discussed.

Support vector machines were developed in recent years, which have large advantage over the traditional neural network on small sample set for classification. In all research fields of these learning machines, the selection of kernel function is the most important problem, which has a closed relationship with the performance of classification. But the research work in this field is not enough. In this paper we evaluate the performance of usual kernel functions for SVM theoretically, through observing and computing the kernel matrix. Base on this, we used the selected kernel functions to get a new mixed kernel function. Experiential data proved that the performance of SVM was improved by the mixed kernel function. If we select the weighted values properly, the correct rate even is 100%. This will not only gives us a method to get a new learning machine, but also give a reference for selecting kernel function.

To ensure the proper assembly of the engine and its high performance, strict requirements are demanded, which involve the correctness of the carving and marking on piston surface, the accurate position of gas ring and oil ring and the installation of piston pin holepsilas check ring. Therefore the special photoelectric automatic detecting machine of automobile piston surface tag and accessory state is developed. In this paper, the collectivity design, the transporting and first orienting mechanism, the detection locating and revolving mechanism, the placement of detecting components, the electrical configuration and the automatic detecting software are all introduced.

Fluorescent microcapsules doped with a europium beta-diketonate complex were fabricated for the first time by stepwise adsorption of polyelectrolytes and europium complex using the layer-by-layer technique. The influence of temperature and solvent treatment on the morphology of the microcapsules was investigated. Intense red light emission of the microcapsules could be clearly observed by fluorescence microscopy before and after treatment. Remarkable shrinking, decrease of the inner volume and increase of the wall thickness were observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after thermal treatment. The shrinkage induced by annealing could be recovered by dissolving in ethanol solution, which was confirmed by AFM and TEM. Morphology variation of the luminescent microcapsules induced by annealing or solvent are both attributed to the molecular rearrangement of polyelectrolytes. While the shrinkage by annealing is an entropy driven process with formation of more coiled conformations of polyelectrolytes the morphology variation by ethanol might be due to the effective screening of electrostatic interaction within the polyelectrolyte multilayers and the changed interaction between hydrophobic fragments present in the polyelectrolytes.

One of the major obstacles in developing multifunctional drugs for the metabolic syndrome (MS) is lack of in vitro models that capture more complex features of the disease. Here we give the first report that establishes an energy metabolic system model using cell-assembly technique which can assemble cells into designated places to form complex three-dimensional structures. Adipose-derived stromal cells were assembled and induced differentiation into adipocytes and endothelial cells; pancreatic islets were then deposited at designated locations and constituted adipoinsular axis with adipocytes. Analysis of the factors involved in energy metabolism showed our system could capture more physiological and pathophysiological features of the in vivo energy metabolism. Drugs known to have effects on MS showed accordant effects in the systems. Construction and study of such multicellular systems could help us better understand pathogenesis of MS, develop new technologies for drug discovery, and foster applications in tissue engineering and metabolomics profiling.

Fault troubleshooting aims to diagnose and repair faults at the highest efficacy and a minimum cost. The efficacy depends on multiple criteria like fault probability, cost, time, and risk of a repair action. This paper proposes a novel fault troubleshooting approach by combining Bayesian network with multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA). Automobile engine start-up failure is used as a case study. Bayesian network is employed to establish fault diagnostic model for reasoning and calculating standard values of uncertain criteria like fault probability. MCDA is adopted to integrate the influence of the four criteria and calculate utility value of the actions in each troubleshooting step. The approach enables a cost-saving, high efficient, and low risky troubleshooting.

A strategy of employing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is proposed to achieve quick release of paclitaxel (PTX) from GO. Under NIR irradiation, AuNPs absorb and convert NIR lamp energy to local heat, destroying the interactions between GO and PTX, thus enabling the release of PTX from GO.

A series of atypical amphiphilic rare earth complexes were fabricated into Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films on a composite subphase containing two ligands and corresponding rare earth complexes. The LB films were studied by focusing on the fluorescence emission. Optimised fabrication conditions for high quality LB films of the complexes were described in detail. Influences of the ligands and the rare earth ions on the fluorescence intensity were investigated as a whole. The characteristic fluorescence peaks at 613.0, 648.0 and 545.0 nm were selected for detection of europium, samarium and terbium complexes, respectively. The influence of the ligands on the fluorescence intensity of the complexes was discussed on the viewpoint of ligand structure and the triplet energy level. For europium or samarium ion bounded by different β-diketone ligands, Eu(TTA) 3 Phen or Sm(TTA) 3 Phen emitted the most intense fluorescence in LB films. However, in terbium complexes Tb(TTA) 3 Phen emitted the weakest fluorescence. The influences of the rare earth ions on the fluorescence of rare earth complexes were discussed on the resonance energy levels. The influence of fluorescence emission by two compounds in adjacent LB layers were also studied.

Objectives Substaintial evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs are involved in the development of atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including unstable angina (UA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the roles of microRNAs remain controversial in ACS patients, and little is known about the role of plasma MicroRNA Profiling in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to observe miR-126, miR-143 expression in patients with ACS, stable angina pectoris (SAP) and non-coronary heart disease (NCHD). Methods We collected the fasting venous blood samples of 53 cases with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (acute myocardial infarction 22 cases/unstable angina pectoris 31 cases), 23 cases of stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 20 cases of non-coronary heart disease (NCHD). The relative expression of microRNA in their plasma was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the related clinic parameters were collected and the correlation between microRNA and clinic parameters were also analysed. Results miR-126 expression in SAP is higher than, and NCHD groups, with statistical significance (p 0.05); miR-126 expression in plasma was negatively correlated with peripheral blood WBCs count CK, CKMB, MYO was no significant (r=-0.022, −0.083, −0.054, −0.063, p=0.842, 0.483, 0.664, 0.602). miR-143 expression in plasma was positively correlated with plasma level of CK, CKMB, MYO (r=0.220, 0.336 and 0.300, respectively), with statistical significance (p=0.048, 0.003 and 0.010, respectively), but its positive correlation with peripheral blood white blood cells (WBCs) count, CHO, HDL, LDL were not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion Plasma miR-126 may be a novel biomarker for SAP, and plasma miR-143 may be a novel biomarker for AMI, which may provide insights into the mechanisms underlying culprit plaque in coronary artery disease patients.

Sm(TTA)3Phen domains in a ring pattern were assembled by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film technique. The domain pattern was observed by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) at air/liquid interface and by atomic force microscopy (AFM) on mica. Under the electrostatic forces, Sm(TTA)3Phen molecules move towards and nucleate at the edge of the stearic acid (SA) domains exhibiting gradient electric field, resulting in the formation of ring domains of the samarium complex.

Fusion of microcapsules of the polyelectrolytes poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) and sodium poly-styrenesulfonic acid (PSS) is achieved during the evaporation of NaCl solution in open chambers. The increasingly concentrated salt solution induces a series of faster and accumulating effects in the structure of the membranes and the cores of microcapsules. It creates defects in the membranes, decreases the electrostatic repulsion of polyelectrolytes in the membranes, causes a conformational change of the polyelectrolytes, increases the osmotic pressure gradient across the microcapsule membranes, and decreases the supporting force of the core by sucking water outwards. Due to the surface tension of the microcapsules and the hydrophobic interaction of the polyelectrolytes, microcapsules decrease the surface area and finally fuse. During fusion, their shapes change from peanut to oblate and then finally to round spheres. The neutral polymer molecules in the core diffuse and mix but do not leak out. The polyelectrolytes in the membranes do not mix due to the molecular entanglement. The work on fusion with salt as a critical parameter is important to approach promising artificial micro-containers, whose novel functions arise from the mixing of the inner content.

Microcapsules with an average diameter of 3.3 µm are obtained through the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique by using MnCO3 microparticles with voids and pores as the template core. MnCO3 enriches the electrically neutral europium complex Eu(DBM)3Phen (DBM = dibenzoylmethane, Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) both in the shell and inside the microcapsules. About 6 times more intense fluorescence emission is thus observed for microcapsules from MnCO3 compared to those obtained from a melamine formaldehyde (MF) core. The microcapsules exhibit two characteristic fluorescence peaks of the europium complexes at 596 and 612 nm, the latter sharp peak encompasses high monochromaticity. The assembly of fluorescence-enhanced microcapsules with Eu(DBM)3Phen show a new concept to enrich functional molecules by the LbL technique and has application potential in simultaneous multicolor bioassays.