Controlling Ejection State of a Pneumatic Micro-droplet Generator Through Machine Vision Methods

Fei Wang,Yiwei Wang,Weijie Bao,Hui Zhang,Jiangeng Li,Zhihai Wang 한국정밀공학회 2020 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.21 No.4

Pneumatic micro-droplet ejection is a printing technique that has potential applications in many fi elds, especially in thefi eld of bio-printing. The ejection is via a solenoid valve being briefl y turned on, so that high pressure gas enters the liquidreservoir, forming a gas pressure pulse, forcing the liquid out through a tiny nozzle to form a micro-droplet. For bio-printingapplications, the bio-inks are typically non-standard. The diffi culties are not only that the initial working parameters arediffi cult to set, but also the working conditions change over time in many cases. In order to maintain a stable single-dropejection state, a machine vision based ejection monitoring was designed to obtain the number, positions and sizes of thedroplets for each ejection, and a feedback control is realized by adjusting the “ON” time of the solenoid valve or the gaspressure at the front end of the solenoid valve.

Feasibility Study of Radiation Dose Reduction in Adult Female Pelvic CT Scan with Low Tube-Voltage and Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction

Xinlian Wang,Wen He,Jianghong Chen,Zhihai Hu,Liqin Zhao 대한영상의학회 2015 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.16 No.5

To evaluate image quality of female pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans reconstructed with the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technique combined with low tube-voltage and to explore the feasibility of its clinical application. Ninety-four patients were divided into two groups. The study group used 100 kVp, and images were reconstructed with 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% ASIR. The control group used 120 kVp, and images were reconstructed with 30% ASIR. The noise index was 15 for the study group and 11 for the control group. The CT values and noise levels of different tissues were measured. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was calculated. A subjective evaluation was carried out by two experienced radiologists. The CT dose index volume (CTDIvol) was recorded. A 44.7% reduction in CTDIvol was observed in the study group (8.18 ± 3.58 mGy) compared with that in the control group (14.78 ± 6.15 mGy). No significant differences were observed in the tissue noise levels and CNR values between the 70% ASIR group and the control group (p = 0.068–1.000). The subjective scores indicated that visibility of small structures, diagnostic confidence, and the overall image quality score in the 70% ASIR group was the best, and were similar to those in the control group (1.87 vs. 1.79, 1.26 vs. 1.28, and 4.53 vs. 4.57; p = 0.122–0.585). No significant difference in diagnostic accuracy was detected between the study group and the control group (42/47 vs. 43/47, p = 1.000). Low tube-voltage combined with automatic tube current modulation and 70% ASIR allowed the low CT radiation dose to be reduced by 44.7% without losing image quality on female pelvic scan.

Large-scale Field Tests of the Performance of Geogrid-reinforced Piled Embankment over Soft Soil

Gang Wang,Xianwei Zhang,Xinyu Liu,Zhixiong Chang,Zhihai Liu 대한토목학회 2024 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.28 No.2

When constructing superstructures on soft soils, geogrid-reinforced embankments and pile-supported embankments are used widely to improve the soft foundation and prevent issues including excessive settlements and large lateral displacements, so it is crucial to understand and evaluate their performance systematically. This study focuses on a case of piled embankments for a motor-racing circuit under construction in China. Two large-scale field tests of pile-supported embankments with and without reinforcement were carried out to investigate the effect of geosynthetic reinforcement on the improvement of embankments. During long-term monitoring, instruments in the test sites measured earth pressures, settlements, lateral displacements, and pore water pressures, and the performances of the reinforced or unreinforced embankments were examined. Test results from the two test sites under similar loading are compared, and it is concluded that the geosynthetic-reinforcement considerably influences the improvement of load transfer and diminishment of total and differential settlements. The lateral restraint provided by the geogrids also reduced the lateral soil displacement and the influence of subsoil depth. The smaller excessive pore water pressures in the site with reinforcement were associated with the enhanced load transfer due to the geogrids. This study provides an important reference for the design and construction of this circuit and other related projects.

Effects of Dietary Copper on Ruminal Fermentation, Nutrient Digestibility and Fibre Characteristics in Cashmere Goats

Zhang, Wei,Wang, Runlian,Zhu, Xiaoping,Kleemann, David O,Yue, Chungwang,Jia, Zhihai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.12

Thirty-six 1.5 year-old Inner Mongolian White Cashmere wether goats (body weight $28.14{\pm}1.33$ kg) were used to determine the effects of dietary copper (Cu) concentration on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility and cashmere fibre characteristics. Wethers were fed a basal diet (containing 7.46 mg Cu/kg DM) that was supplemented with either 0 (control), 10, 20 or 30 mg Cu/kg DM. To ensure full consumption, animals were fed restrictedly with 0.75 kg feed (DM) in two equal allotments per day. The results indicated that: (1) supplemental 10 mg Cu/kg DM in the basal diet significantly (p<0.05) decreased ruminal fluid pH value and total VFA concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) increased on all Cu treatment groups. (2) Cu supplementation had no influence on DM intake and digestibility of DM, CP and ADF (p>0.05); however, NDF digestibility of groups supplemented with 10 and 20 mg Cu/kg DM were significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). Apparent absorption and retention of copper were decreased with increasing level of supplementation. (3) 20 mg Cu/kg DM treatment significantly (p<0.05) improved cashmere growth rate, but cashmere diameter was not affected by Cu supplementation (p>0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of cashmere goats with Cu at the rate of 10 to 20 mg/kg DM in the basal diet resulted in some changed rumen fermentation and was beneficial for NDF digestibility, while supplementation of 20 mg Cu/kg DM improved cashmere growth. Collectively, the optimal supplemental Cu level for cashmere goats during the fibre growing period was 20 mg/kg DM (a total dietary Cu level of 27.46 mg/kg DM).

The differentiation of rat-induced pluripotent stem cells into alveolar type II epithelial cells with a three-step induction protocol

Bei Wu,Chen Wang,Feilong Hei,Cun Long,Mengmeng Chen,Shengnan Yang,Jie Yu,Zhihai Ju 한국통합생물학회 2015 Animal cells and systems Vol.19 No.1

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derive from autologous somatic cells, the application prospect of iPS cells forregenerative medicine and tissue engineering is better than embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to some extent. Alveolar type II(AT II) epithelial cells play key role in the injured lung tissue regeneration and function recovery. The differentiation of iPScells into AT II cells could provide available source for injured lung treatment. In this study, rat iPS (riPS) cells wereresuscitated and proliferated for 14 days before differentiation. A modified three-step induction protocol similar to thereported ESCs inducing procedure was used in this study for the differentiation groups. Routine cell culture was done to theriPS cell control group (riPS-con). At stage 3, cells of day 7 (Diff. 7) and day 14 (Diff. 14) were collected for the real-timepolymerase chain reaction tests for gene expressions of Oct4, Nanog, SPA, SPB, SPC, SPD, and CC10. Immunofluorescencestaining of SPC and SSEA-1 was conducted. At the end of the differentiation, cell morphology becameoutstretched and epithelium-like. Cells of the Diff. 14 group positively expressed SPC and negatively expressed SSEA-1,which is contrary to the riPS-con group. In the Diff. 7 and the Diff. 14 groups, the expression of Oct4, Nanog, and SPBdecreased (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of SPA, SPC, SPD (P < 0.05), and CC10 (P > 0.05) increased. This studyindicated that riPS cells can successfully differentiate into AT II epithelial cells with the three-step induction protocol andmay be further applied to implanting in decellularized rat lung scaffolds and building a bio-artificial lung.

Association of the KAP 8.1 Gene Polymorphisms with Fibre Traits in Inner Mongolian Cashmere Goats

Liu, Haiying,Yue, Chun-Wang,Zhang, Wei,Zhu, Xiaoping,Yang, Guiqin,Jia, Zhihai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.10

The objective of this study was to investigate polymorphisms of keratin-associated protein 8.1 (KAP8.1) gene and its effect on fibre traits of Chinese Inner Mongolian Cashmere goats. The fibre traits data investigated were cashmere fibre diameter, combed cashmere weight, cashmere fibre length and guard hair length. Five hundred and forty animals were used to detect polymorphisms in the complete coding sequence of the hircine KAP8.1 gene by means of PCR-SSCP. The results identified six genotypes, AA, BB, CC, AB, AC and BC, coded for by three different alleles A, B and C. Two SNPs in the coding region were confirmed by sequencing, which were T113G and G116C respectively. The relationships between the genotypes and cashmere fibre diameter, combed cashmere weight, cashmere fibre length and guard hair length were analyzed. There were significant differences between the associations of the different genotypes with cashmere weight (p<0.01), cashmere length (p<0.05) and hair length (p<0.01). Cashmere fibre diameter was the only trait that was not associated with the genotypes. The animals of genotype AB and BB had the higher cashmere weight compared with the genotype AA. By further analysis, it appeared that the KAP8.1 genotype effects on fibre traits may be due to a mutation at the 113 locus. These results suggested that polymorphisms in the hircine KAP8.1 gene might be a potential molecular marker for cashmere weight in Cashmere goats.

Effect of Forage to Concentrate Ratio and Monensin Supplementation on cis-9, trans-11 Conjugated Linoleic Acid and trans-11 Octadecenoic Acid Concentrations of Ruminal Contents and Plasma in Sheep

Zhang, Yuzhi,Kong, Xianghao,Zhu, Xiaoping,Wang, Runlian,Yan, Yichai,Jia, Zhihai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.5

Twenty-four cannulated Small-tailed Han${\times}$Poll Dorset wethers (BW $47.5{\pm}2.1kg$) were used to determine the effects of forage to concentrate ratio (40:60 vs. 70:30), monensin supplementation (0, 15 or 30 ppm, DM basis) and interactions of these two factors on cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 CLA) and trans-11 octadecenoic acid (trans11-$C_{18:1}$) concentrations in ruminal contents and plasma in sheep. The experiment was designed as a $2{\times}3$ factorial. The diet contained Chinese wild rye grass hay (Aneurolepidium Chinese), cracked corn, soybean meal, NaCl, limestone and trace mineral premix. Dietary crude fat and linoleic acid ($C_{18:2n-6}$) were adjusted with soybean oil to about 7.0% and 24.0 mg/g (DM basis), respectively. High forage diets increased (p<0.001) the concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in ruminal contents and plasma. Monensin supplementation increased (p<0.001) the concentration of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ in ruminal contents, but had no effect on that of cis-9, trans-11 CLA. Concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ (p<0.019) and cis-9, trans-11 CLA (p<0.022) in plasma increased with dietary monensin levels. Interactions of forage: concentrate ratio and monensin level tended to affect the concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ (p<0.091) and $C_{18:2n-6}$ (p<0.083) in ruminal contents. Increasing forage levels increased the concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in the rumen. Supplementing with monensin increased the ruminal production of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ and concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in plasma.

Effects of Chromium Yeast on Performance, Insulin Activity, and Lipid Metabolism in Lambs Fed Different Dietary Protein Levels

Yan, Xiaogang,Zhang, Wei,Cheng, Jianbo,Wang, Runlian,Kleemann, David O.,Zhu, Xiaoping,Jia, Zhihai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.6

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of chromium (Cr), dietary crude protein (CP) level and potential interactions between these two factors on growth rate and carcass response, insulin activity and lipid metabolism in lambs. Forty-eight, 9-week-old weaned lambs (Dorper$\times$Small-tail Han sheep, mean initial body weight = $22.96kg{\pm}2.60kg$) were used in a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of supplemental Cr (0 ppb, Cr0; 400 ppb, Cr1; or 800 ppb, Cr2 from chromium yeast) and CP levels (157 g/d to 171 g/d for each animal, LP; or 189 g/d to 209 g/d for each animal, HP). Growth data and blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the feed trial, after which the lambs were killed. Both Cr additive groups and the HP group increased final weight and average daily gain, especially the Cr1 and HP group (p<0.01). HP increased pelvic fat weight (p<0.05), fat thickness of the 10th rib (p<0.05), longissimus muscle area (p<0.01) and rate of deposition of intramuscular fat (p<0.01). Supplemental Cr decreased the rate of deposition of intramuscular fat (p<0.05). Fasting insulin level and the ratio of insulin to glucose were lower with Cr1 than other groups, but with no significant difference. Glucose concentration was not affected by any treatment. Nonesterified fatty acids increased in the Cr1 (p<0.05) and HP (p<0.05) conditions and there was a significant $Cr{\times}CP$ interaction (p<0.05). Cr1 decreased triglycerides (p<0.05) and total cholesterol (p = 0.151) and HP increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05). Cr1 decreased lipoprotein lipase activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue (aLPL, p<0.05) and the ratio of aLPL to lipoprotein lipase activity in skeletal muscle (mLPL, p = 0.079). mLPL and hepatic lipase (hHL) were not affected by any treatment. In the present study, Cr had limited effects on growth rate and carcass response, whereas Cr and CP had some notable effects on plasma metabolites and enzyme activities. Cr has a potential effect on energy modulation between lipid and muscle tissue. In addition, few $Cr{\times}CP$ interactions were observed.

Research on New Nylon-6 Nanocomposites with Flame Retardancy

Jinliang Qiao,Xiaohong Zhang,Yiqun Liu,Weifu Dong,Qingguo Wang,Hua Gui,Jianming Gao,Zhihai Song,Jinmei Lai,Fan Huang 한국고분자학회 2006 한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집 Vol.2006 No.10

Effects of Dietary Copper Source and Level on Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Lipid Metabolism in Lambs

Cheng, Jianbo,Fan, Caiyun,Zhang, Wei,Zhu, Xiaoping,Yan, Xiaogang,Wang, Runlian,Jia, Zhihai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.5

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary copper (Cu) on performance, carcass characteristics and lipid metabolism in lambs. Fifty DorperMongolia wether lambs (approximately 3 month of age; 23.80.6 kg of body weight) were housed in individual pens and were assigned randomly to one of five treatments. Treatments consisted of 1) control (no supplemental Cu), 2) 10 mg Cu/kg DM from Cu-lysine, 3) 20 mg Cu/kg DM from Cu-lysine, 4) 10 mg Cu/kg DM from tribasic copper chloride (Cu2(OH)3Cl; TBCC), 5) 20 mg Cu/kg DM from tribasic copper chloride. The Cu concentration was 6.74 mg/kg DM in the basal diet. Body weight was measured on two consecutive days at the start and the end of the 60-day experimental period. Blood samples were collected and then the lambs were slaughtered on d 60. Performance was not affected (p>0.05) by dietary Cu treatment. Cu-supplemented and control lambs had similar hot carcass weight, dressing percentage and longissimus muscle area, but Cu supplementation, regardless of source and level, reduced (p<0.01) 12th rib backfat and kidney fat in lambs. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) and serum triglyceride concentrations were increased (p<0.05), total cholesterol concentrations were decreased (p<0.05) and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations tended to be increased (p<0.07) by Cu supplementation. However, Serum concentrations of HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatment. Fatty acid profile of longissimus muscle was similar across treatments. These results indicate that Cu-lysine and TBCC are of similar availability in lambs. Cu supplementation given to DorperMongolia wether lambs altered lipid metabolism. The reduction in backfat depth may be due to copper altering TNF- metabolism in lambs. Supplementation of 10 or 20 mg Cu/kg DM showed similar effects on lipid metabolism in lambs.