Red Strip Research Articles

Characteristics of microplastics in the atmosphere of Anyang City.

In order to clarify the characteristics of microplastics in the atmosphere of Anyang city, TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 samples are collected when the ambient air quality is good, slightly polluted, and severely polluted. After pretreatment, the physical and chemical characteristics are observed and identified by using stereomicroscope and micro-infrared spectrometer. The results show that the average abundance of microplastics is 0.19 items/m3, 0.26 items/m3, and 0.42 items/m3, respectively, when the ambient air quality is good, light pollution, and heavy pollution in Anyang City. It can be seen that with the decline of ambient air quality, the average abundance of microplastics in TSP, PM2.5, and PM10 gradually increases. The black fiber strip microplastics account for about 80% of the total TSP, PM2.5, and PM10 in the ambient air of Anyang City, followed by yellow flake and black granular microplastics and a small amount of green, red, and blue fiber strip microplastics. AQI has a good correlation with the abundance of microplastics in TSP, PM10, and PM2.5, and the maximum microplastic trapping effect could be obtained according to the sampling method of PM2.5 in the ambient air. The main components of microplastics are cellophane, followed by PET and EVA. The explorations of human respiratory exposure risk assessment show that with the increase of AQI, the daily intake of microplastics in adults also increased. At high levels of pollution, the human body breathes an average of 222 ± 5 microplastics per day.

Red LED Strip Signalling Pedestrian Presence at Uncontrolled Mid-block Crosswalks

A relevant number of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians occur at night because of the reduced capacity of a driver to perceive and react to the presence of pedestrians at crosswalks. To reduce this risk of collision, new smart road technologies have been introduced. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a red LED strip that warns the driver of the presence of pedestrians at unsignalized mid-block crosswalks at night-time. The technology consists of LED strips installed near the crosswalk on the side of oncoming vehicles. The LED is activated when a sensor detects a pedestrian approaching the crosswalk. In this driving simulation experiment, three different urban mid-block crosswalks were evaluated: (i) without an LED strip (baseline), (ii) with a fixed LED strip, and (iii) with a flashing LED strip. Each scenario was tested for three different levels of pedestrian time gap acceptance (PTGA) (i.e., 4, 6, 8 s) and two road sections (i.e., 1 lane vs. 2 lanes). Thirty-six participants took part in a within-subjects’ design. During the experiment, the minimum time to collision (mTTC), the post-encroachment time (PET), maximum vehicle speed, and reaction distance were monitored to quantitatively compare the different levels of vehicle-pedestrian interaction. Compared to the baseline, the LED strip resulted in a safer driver-pedestrian interaction, with an average increase in mTTC of 1.13 s, PET of 0.66 s, and a longer average reaction distance of 7.9 m. However, a slight (albeit not statistically significant) increase in speed was observed following installation of the LED strip. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between fixed and flashing LED strips. Overall, these results confirm the LED strips effectiveness in alerting the driver to the presence of a pedestrian, thus increasing the safety of their interaction. Further studies should confirm these findings in a more ecological way, e.g., evaluating the safety impact of this technology under different weather and distracted driving conditions.

Silver nanoparticles synthesized by the heavy metal resistant strain Amycolatopsis tucumanensis and its application in controlling red strip disease in sugarcane

The production of bioethanol and sugar from sugarcane is an important economic activity in several countries. Sugarcane is susceptible to different phytopathogens. Over the last years, the red stripe disease caused by the bacterium Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae produced significant losses in sugarcane crops. Bio-nanotechnology emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to the biosynthesis of antimicrobial molecules. The aims of this study were to (a) produce extracellular silver nanoparticles using the heavy metal resistant strain Amycolatopsis tucumanensis, (b) evaluate their antibacterial in vitro effect and (c) determine the potential of silver nanoparticles to protect sugarcane against red stripe disease.Amycolatopsis tucumanensis synthesized spherical silver nanoparticles with an average size of 35 nm. Nanoparticles were able to control the growth of A. avenae subsp. avenae in in vitro assays. In addition, in vivo assays in sugarcane showed a control upon the red stripe disease when silver nanoparticles were applied as preventive treatment. The Disease Severity Index was 28.94% when silver nanoparticles were applied 3 days before inoculation with A. avenae subsp. avenae. To our knowledge, this is the first report of silver nanoparticles extracellularly synthesized by an Amycolatopsis strain that were able to inhibited the growth of A. avenae subsp. avenae and control the red stripe disease in sugarcane.

DOES APOSEMATIC COLORATION REDUCE PREDATION RISK IN SNAKES? A SHORT PERIOD EXPERIMENT USING PLASTICINE SNAKE MODELS

Aposematism in an anti-predation mechanism that occurs when animals exhibit conspicuous signals, which are often of a contrasting color patterns, to alert potential predators of their unpalatability or toxicity. This study aims to test (in a short period) the effectiveness of aposematic coloration by comparing the predatory attack upon snakes models with and without an alert coloration on the body. To simulate snakes, we made 80 greenish plasticine snake models. Half of the models had a red strip on the dorsal part of the body, imitating an aposematic coloration. The other half of the models had only a greenish tint. The models were exposed to predators for 12 hours in an area with countryside vegetation.. Among the 20 models showing signs of predation, 65% were purely greenish models and 35% were models with red coloration on the back. Attaks at extremities (head and tail) were meaningly more frequent on models with red coloration. Our results suggest the efficiency of red coloration as a warning sign and anti-predation mechanism, since the models with red coloration, imitating aposematic preys, were less preyed and were attacked preferentially at the extremities, which suggests caution by the predator.

Comparison of Current–Voltage Response to Diagnostic X-rays of Five Light-Emitting Diode Strips

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have miscellaneous applications owing to their low cost, small size, flexibility, and commercial availability. Furthermore, LEDs have dual applicability as light emitters and detectors. This study explores the current–voltage (C–V) response of LED strips exposed to diagnostic x-rays. Cold white, warm white, red, green, and blue LED strip colors were tested. Each strip consisted of 12 LED chips and was connected to a multimeter. The variable diagnostic x-ray parameters evaluated were kilovoltage peak (kVp), milliampere-seconds (mAs), and source-to-image distance (SID). The radiation dose was also measured using a dosimeter simultaneously exposed to x-rays perpendicularly incident on the strips. Lastly, the consistency of C–V responses, and any possible degradation after 1–2 months was also analyzed. Each LED strip color was ranked according to its C–V response in each of the investigated parameters. The LED strip color with the best cumulative rank across all the tested parameters was then examined for reproducibility. Our findings revealed that the C–V responses of LED strips are (a) generally low but measurable, (b) inconsistent and fluctuating as a consequence of kVp variations, (c) positively correlated to mAs, (d) negatively correlated to SID, and (e) positively correlated to dose. Overall results suggested cold white LED strip as most feasible for x-ray detection—in comparison to examined colors. Additionally, the reproducibility study using the cold white LED strip found a similar trend of C–V response to all variables except kVp. Outcomes indicate that LED strips have the potential to be exploited for detecting low dose (~0–100 mGy) diagnostic x-rays. However, future studies should be carried out to increase the low C–V signal.

Using human epithelial amnion cells in human de-epidermized dermis for skin regeneration

BackgroundHuman amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) is a desirable reserve of stem cells. Human de-epidermized dermis (DED) retains basic tissue structure and parts of the basement membrane (BM) components at the acelluIar dermal surface, and provides a potential tool for skin regeneration. ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential role of hAECs in skin regeneration, we used DED to perform organotypic culture of hAECs to develop organotypic skin. MethodsHAECs were isolated and cultured. Biological characteristics of hAECs were determined by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. To prepare DED, the epidermis was removed and then repeated freeze-thaw cycles. HAECs and fibroblast were seeded onto DED to perform the submerged culture for 3 days and then to be maintained at the air-liquid interface for 14 days to form organotypic culture. To identify whether the obtained DED retain the BM structure and components, the histological characteristics of DED and the BM were detected by immunohistochemistry. To evaluate whether the organotypic skin has similar histological characteristics with normal human skin, the marks of epidermal proliferation and differentiation and basement membrane component were detected by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, cell ultrastructure, cell–cell contact and ultrastructure of BM were examined under the transmission electron microscopy. ResultsHAECs has stem-cell characteristics with strong pluripotent Oct-4 and embryonic marker SSEA-4 expression. DED has effectively cleansed the cell components and continuous distributions of laminin and collagen IV. The histological appearance of tissue-engineered skin in vitro has 4 to 9 continuous layers of stratified epithelium and is similar to normal human skin in morphology. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that proliferation and differentiation markers such as Ki67, CK19, CK14, CK10, filaggrin but not CK18 expressed similar pattern characteristics to normal human epidermis. In addition, Periodic acid-Schiff stain showed that a uniform red staining strip located at the epidermal-dermal junction. BM component proteins (type IV collagen and laminin) and cell adhesion protein (desmoglein) were detected by immunohistochemistry in organotypic skin. Ultrastructurally, desmosomes, hemidesmosomes and BM zone (BMZ) were observed in organotypic skin. ConclusionsOur studies indicate that the hAECs is a promising stem cell source for tissue-engineered skin, and DED with hAECs is a potential application prospects in regenerative medicine.

Comparison of DAC-ELISA and Tissue Blot Immunoassay for the Detection of Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae, causal agent of Red Strip of Sugarcane

Direct Antibody Coating Enzyme Linked Immunoassay (DAC-ELISA) and Tissue Blot Immunoassay (TBIA) were compared for detection of Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae (Aaa) in sugarcane samples surveyed in 2010 and 2011. A total of 27 sugarcane clones contained two samples of symptomatic plants, which were tested simultaneously by both serological tests. The results obtained from DAC-ELISA tests showed that 11 of 27 tested samples of sugarcane clones were infected with Aaa and 16 were bacteria free; whereas, in duplicate samples only 7 samples were positive for Aaa using the TBIA. The TBIA membranes showed dark blue stain colour in the 7 positive and 20 were negative. It was concluded that the DAC-ELISA had false positives in the 4 clones (SPF-238, CP77-400, SPF-213 and GT-11) that were negative using TBIA. Assay time was also minimized in performing TBIA test as equivalence to DAC-ELISA. Related to the test performing time at least 25-30 hours were consumed for the completion of DAC-ELISA assay, while only 6-9 hours was required for TBIA assay with reliable results. Both assays gave Aaa positive for clones HoSG-315, CPSG-437, NSG-49, CPSG-2453, CP-NIA-82-223, CSSG-2402 and US-114. TBIA tests were distinct with clear positive and negative results having minimum diagnostic error. On the other hand quantitative assay of bacteria is a significant feature of DAC-ELISA but low optical density readings above background were inconsistent with the TBIA and were considered false positive results. Amongst the variety of immunological tests available in Pakistan, tissue blot immunoassay (TBIA) is most useful in detecting latent infections in the plant materials.

Aspect graphs for three-dimensional object recognition machine vision systems

The purpose of this research is to seek evidence for viewer-centered (especially aspect-graph-based) visual processing in the elementary task of object understanding. Two homologous, bilaterally symmetrical three-dimensional (3-D) objects have been employed that differ in that one is based on parts with flat surfaces and the other on parts with curved surfaces. The following procedure has been followed, separately for each object. In the training (saturated free inspection and manipulation) phase, a location (identical for both objects) of the object is marked with a red strip and the subjects' task is to memorize the object structure as well as the position of the strip. In the test phase, two-dimensional views of the object without the strip are presented and the subjects' task is to determine whether the previously marked location should be visible or invisible in the particular view. Findings have been found consistent with an aspect-graph-based 3-D object representation: (a) the reaction times and errors show characteristic dependencies on viewpoint; (b) a number of views (corresponding to certain aspects and aspect transitions of the aspect graph) consistently produce faster and more accurate recognition; (c) the differences in the aspect graphs of the two objects are reflected in differing patterns of reaction times and errors; furthermore; (d) the subjects impose a standard orientation on the objects, whereby a strong inversion effect is observed; and (e) performance varies in a similar way for both objects as a function of tilt. It is concluded that object understanding is viewpoint dependent, that is, based on a number of views. The characteristics of the views found to be most important for object understanding can be employed for creating efficient 3-D object recognition machine vision systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 20: 47–72, 2005.

Aspect graphs for three-dimensional object recognition machine vision systems

The purpose of this research is to seek evidence for viewer-centered (especially aspect-graph-based) visual processing in the elementary task of object understanding. Two homologous, bilaterally symmetrical three-dimensional (3-D) objects have been employed that differ in that one is based on parts with flat surfaces and the other on parts with curved surfaces. The following procedure has been followed, separately for each object. In the training (saturated free inspection and manipulation) phase, a location (identical for both objects) of the object is marked with a red strip and the subjects' task is to memorize the object structure as well as the position of the strip. In the test phase, two-dimensional views of the object without the strip are presented and the subjects' task is to determine whether the previously marked location should be visible or invisible in the particular view. Findings have been found consistent with an aspect-graph-based 3-D object representation: (a) the reaction times and errors show characteristic dependencies on viewpoint; (b) a number of views (corresponding to certain aspects and aspect transitions of the aspect graph) consistently produce faster and more accurate recognition; (c) the differences in the aspect graphs of the two objects are reflected in differing patterns of reaction times and errors; furthermore; (d) the subjects impose a standard orientation on the objects, whereby a strong inversion effect is observed; and (e) performance varies in a similar way for both objects as a function of tilt. It is concluded that object understanding is viewpoint dependent, that is, based on a number of views. The characteristics of the views found to be most important for object understanding can be employed for creating efficient 3-D object recognition machine vision systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 20: 47–72, 2005.

Assessment of a pyrogallol red technique for total protein measurement in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs

The measurement of protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid is a basic analytical method in neurology. In this study, a pyrogallol red technique using a human albumin calibrator previously validated in human medicine was tested for canine samples, and the results were compared with those obtained using urine test strips. Pyrogallol red significantly (P<0.05) but moderately underestimated purified dog albumin and globulins. The imprecision of the technique was low: intra- and between-series coefficients of variation were 1.6 and 4.3 per cent at protein concentrations of about 0.3 g/litre. Over 49 samples, there was good agreement between the pyrogallol red and test strip results (r=0.63), especially for low and high protein concentrations, but misclassifications were observed with '+' test strip readings.

Contractile properties and protein isoforms of single fibres from the chicken pectoralis red strip muscle.

1. The contractile properties of single muscle fibres of the red strip region of adult chicken pectoralis major (PM) muscle, some of which are known to express an embryonic isoform of myosin heavy chain (MHC), were determined and compared with the properties of the fast white fibres of the PM and the slow tonic fibres of the anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle. 2. The red strip fibres could be classified into two groups, fast and slow. The mean velocity of unloaded shortening (Vmax) in fast red strip fibres was approximately half the Vmax of fast white fibres. Vmax of slow red strip fibres was less than 20% of the value for fast red strip fibres and was not different from Vmax of ALD fibres. 3. The tension-generating ability, i.e. the maximal isometric tension/fibre cross-sectional area (P0/CSA), was the same in fast red strip fibres and fast white fibres. P0/CSA was approximately 30% lower in slow red strip fibres compared with fast red strip fibres but was 70% greater in slow red strip fibres compared with ALD fibres. 4. The tension-pCa relation of fast red strip fibres was shifted to lower pCa values, indicating a lower calcium sensitivity compared with fast white fibres, and this difference was associated with a difference in troponin T isoform composition. The tension-pCa relation of slow red strip fibres was not different from that in ALD fibres. 5. The difference in Vmax between fast red strip fibres and fast white fibres was associated with different MHC compositions of these fibres. 6. The myofibrillar protein isoform composition of slow red strip fibres was identical to that of the slow tonic fibres of ALD muscle and these two groups of fibres had very similar contractile properties.

Prevention of Red Scale Formation during Hot Rolling of Steels.

Red scale defects usually observed in high Si hot rolled strip were reproduced in a laboratory 3 stand tendem mill. The effects of hot rolling and descaling conditions on the strip surface color and scale structure were examined.Irrespective of Si content in steel, the hot rolled strip surface became red when the scale thickness before rolling was above 20 μm and the rolling temperature was below 900°C. It was found that surface part of the scale (mainly FeO) was broken to powder by hot rolling at the temperature below 900°C. The red scale of Fe2O3 was formed by the oxidation of powdered scale during cooling. Thick scale formed during slab soaking was completely removed by hydraulic descaling before rolling in low Si steel, whereas that was not removed in high Si steel. This remained scale caused the red scale defects after rolling and cooling. The application of obtained results to the hot strip mill production of red scaleless strip was discussed.

Heterogeneity and distribution of fast myosin heavy chains in some adult vertebrate skeletal muscles.

Three monoclonal antibodies, LM5, F2 and F39 raised to chicken fast skeletal muscle myosin, specific for myosin heavy chain (MHC) subunit, were used to study the composition and distribution of this protein in some vertebrate skeletal muscles. These antibodies in immunohistochemical investigations did not react with the majority of the type I fibres in most muscles. Antibodies LM5 and F39 stained all the type II fibres in all the adult chicken skeletal muscles studied. Antibody F2 also stained all the type II fibres in most chicken skeletal muscles tested except in gastrocnemius in which a proportion of both the type IIA and IIB fibres either did not stain or stained only weakly. Antibody F2 unlike LM5 and F39 stained most of the type IIIB fibres in anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) and IB fibres in red strip of chicken Pectoralis muscle. Antibodies LM5 and F2 in the rat diaphragm reacted with all the type IIA and IIB fibres, while antibody F39 stained only the type IIB fibres darkly with most IIA fibres being either not stained or only weakly stained. In the rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles, antibody LM5 stained all the IIA and IIB fibres. Antibody F2 in these muscles stained all the type IIA fibres but only a proportion of the IIB fibres. The remaining IIB fibres were either unstained or only weakly positive. Antibody F39 in rat EDL and TA muscles did not only distinguish subgroups of IIB fibres (dark, intermediate and negative or very weak) but also of the IIA fibres. These three antibodies used together therefore detected a great deal of heterogeneity in the myosin heavy chain composition and muscle fibre types of several skeletal muscles.

Myosin heavy chain expression during development and following denervation of fast fibers in the red strip of the chicken pectoralis

The myosin heavy chain composition of muscle fibers that comprise the red strip of the pectoralis major was determined at different stages of development and following adult denervation. Using a library of characterized monoclonal antibodies we found that slow fibers of the red strip do not react with antibodies to any of the fast myosin heavy chains of the superficial pectoralis. Immunocytochemical analysis of the fast fibers of the adult red strip revealed that they contain the embryonic fast myosin heavy chain rather than the adult pectoral isoform found throughout the adult white pectoralis. This was confirmed using immunoblot analysis of myosin heavy chain peptide maps. We show that during development of the red strip both neonatal and adult myosin heavy chains appear transiently, but then disappear during maturation. Furthermore, while the fibers of the superficial pectoralis reexpress the neonatal isoform as a result of denervation, the fibers of the red strip reexpress the adult isoform. Our data demonstrate a new developmental program of fast myosin heavy chain expression in the chicken and suggest that the heterogeneity of myosin heavy chain expression in adult fast fibers results from repression of specific isoforms by innervation.

Myomesin and M protein: Differential expression in embryonic fibers during pectoral muscle development

Abstract By applying immunocytochemistry using monoclonal antibodies, we found that the myofibrillar M band of both presumptive type-I and -II fibers in the pectoralis major muscle of chickens contains two high-molecular-weight proteins, i.e., myomesin ( M r, 185000) and M protein ( M r, 165000), early in embryonic development (7 days in ovo), even though adult type-I fibers lack M protein. The developmental expression of M protein is unusual in that, from 10 to 14 days in ovo, it is gradually suppressed not only in presumptive type-I fibers but also in presumptive type-II fibers formed from primary-generation myotubes. This latter suppression is transient, as M protein is expressed in all adult type-II fibers derived from both the primary- and second-generation myotubes. Myomesin, on the other hand, is continuously expressed in all myotubes throughout development. This finding shows that myomesin and M protein expression is regulated independently in different myotube populations, and that the suppression of M protein in primary-generation myotubes accounts for the delayed accumulation of M protein during development, as previously revealed by biochemical analysis. Presumptive type-I fibers, which form in the deep portion of the muscle, become concentrated in a narrow band known as the red strip.

Regional differences in the expression of myosin light chains and tropomyosin subunits during development of chicken breast muscle

Types of myosin light chains and tropomyosins present in various regions and at different developmental stages of embryonic and posthatched chicken breast muscle (pectoralis major) have been characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In the embryonic muscle all areas appear to accumulate both slow and fast forms of mysoin light chains in addition to α and β forms of tropomyosin. During development regional differences in myosin and tropomyosin expression become apparent. Slow myosin subunits become gradually restricted to areas of the anterior region of the muscle and finally become localized to a small red strip found on its anterior deep surface. This red region is characterized by the presence of slow and fast myosin light chains, α-fast, α-slow, and β-tropomyosin. In all other areas of the muscle examined only fast myosin light chains, β-tropomyosin and the α-fast form of tropomyosin, are found. In addition, β-tropomyosin also gradually becomes lost in the posterior regions of the developing breast muscle. In the adult, the red strip area represents less than 1% of the total pectoralis major mass and of the myosin extracted from this area approximately 15% was present as an isozyme that comigrated on nondenaturing gels with myosin from a slow muscle (anterior latissimus dorsi). The red region accumulates therefore fast as well as slow muscle myosin. Thus while the adult chicken pectoralis major is over 99% fast white muscle, the embryonic muscle displays a significant and changing capacity to accumulate both fast and slow muscle peptides.

On the intrinsic colours of cepheids

Some consequences from new data on the photometrically obtained intrinsic colours are considered. It is shown that the small amplitude and almost sinusoidal light-curve cepheids (Cs-subtype) increase their pulsation amplitude towards the red instability strip edge, differing from the other galactic cepheids. This feature is discussed in connection with Efremov's (1968) hypothesis that the Cs-cepheids first cross the instability strip from left to right. The galactic cepheid period-colour relation obtained by Dean, Warren and Cousins (1978) satisfies rather well the LMC cepheid observations and, consequently, considerations for the period-luminosity relations are made. The residuals from the PL relation proposed by us (AA line instead of Gascoigne's BB line in Figure 3) correlate with the colour residuals from the DWC period-colour relation ΔV/δ(B−V) being equal to 2.7 (Figure 4). The luminosity effect as a possible cause of the descrepancy between the spectroscopic cepheid colours and the photometric colours is briefly discussed.

A New Dorycephalus (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

A very narrow, long, thrice-ridged vertex distinguishes this from other Dorycephali. Nymphs are usually green and adults tan with fuscous to black markings. Length: 14 mm. Male .—General color greenish to light tan with dark markings as follows: apex of vertex, small rounded spot common to median margin of vertex and pronotum, median elongate spot from base of scutellum across margin of pronotum, small triangle before apex of scutellum, abdominal segments sparsely lined and pygofers darkened; below, lateral margins of vertex dark between ridge and edge, legs and venter darkened posteriorly. One specimen is very dark brown throughout with red eyes and lateral strip before and after eyes pale.