Improved Preprocessing Strategy under Different Obscure Weather Conditions for Augmenting Automatic License Plate Recognition

Automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems are widely used for various applications, including traffic control, law enforcement, and toll collection. However, the performance of ALPR systems is often compromised in challenging weather and lighting conditions. This research aims to improve the effectiveness of ALPR systems in foggy, low-light, and rainy weather conditions using a hybrid preprocessing methodology. The research proposes the combination of dark channel prior (DCP), non-local means denoising (NMD) technique, and adaptive histogram equalization (AHE) algorithms in CIELAB color space. And used the Python programming language comparisons for SSIM and PSNR performance. The results showed that this hybrid approach is not merely robust to a variety of challenging conditions, including challenging weather and lighting conditions but significantly more accurate for existing ALPR systems

Molecular mechanisms of Bdp1 in TFIIIB assembly and RNA polymerase III transcription initiation.

Initiation of gene transcription by RNA polymerase (Pol) III requires the activity of TFIIIB, a complex formed by Brf1 (or Brf2), TBP (TATA-binding protein), and Bdp1. TFIIIB is required for recruitment of Pol III and to promote the transition from a closed to an open Pol III pre-initiation complex, a process dependent on the activity of the Bdp1 subunit. Here, we present a crystal structure of a Brf2-TBP-Bdp1 complex bound to DNA at 2.7 Å resolution, integrated with single-molecule FRET analysis and in vitro biochemical assays. Our study provides a structural insight on how Bdp1 is assembled into TFIIIB complexes, reveals structural and functional similarities between Bdp1 and Pol II factors TFIIA and TFIIF, and unravels essential interactions with DNA and with the upstream factor SNAPc. Furthermore, our data support the idea of a concerted mechanism involving TFIIIB and RNA polymerase III subunits for the closed to open pre-initiation complex transition.Transcription initiation by RNA polymerase III requires TFIIIB, a complex formed by Brf1/Brf2, TBP and Bdp1. Here, the authors describe the crystal structure of a Brf2-TBP-Bdp1 complex bound to a DNA promoter and characterize the role of Bdp1 in TFIIIB assembly and pre-initiation complex formation

Myxobacteria

Myxobacteria are fascinating and important prokaryotes. They have large genomes and exhibit a wide range of interesting behaviors, including multicellular fruiting body formation, social interaction, predation, and secondary metabolite production. Substantial progress is being made in understanding their ecological roles and the evolutionary forces that have shaped their phenotypes and behaviors. Novel species of myxobacteria are regularly described, often producing unusual metabolites and enzymes which can be of significant biotechnological interest. Molecular studies, ranging in subject from individual enzymes to entire ‘omes, continue to provide rich insights into myxobacterial biology. This collected volume brings together five research articles and three reviews, to provide a snapshot of current myxobacterial research in all its diversity

Device-free indoor localisation with non-wireless sensing techniques : a thesis by publications presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Electronics and Computer Engineering, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Global Navigation Satellite Systems provide accurate and reliable outdoor positioning to support a large number of applications across many sectors. Unfortunately, such systems do not operate reliably inside buildings due to the signal degradation caused by the absence of a clear line of sight with the satellites. The past two decades have therefore seen intensive research into the development of Indoor Positioning System (IPS). While considerable progress has been made in the indoor localisation discipline, there is still no widely adopted solution. The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices within the modern built environment provides an opportunity to localise human subjects by utilising such ubiquitous networked devices. This thesis presents the development, implementation and evaluation of several passive indoor positioning systems using ambient Visible Light Positioning (VLP), capacitive-flooring, and thermopile sensors (low-resolution thermal cameras). These systems position the human subject in a device-free manner (i.e., the subject is not required to be instrumented). The developed systems improve upon the state-of-the-art solutions by offering superior position accuracy whilst also using more robust and generalised test setups. The developed passive VLP system is one of the first reported solutions making use of ambient light to position a moving human subject. The capacitive-floor based system improves upon the accuracy of existing flooring solutions as well as demonstrates the potential for automated fall detection. The system also requires very little calibration, i.e., variations of the environment or subject have very little impact upon it. The thermopile positioning system is also shown to be robust to changes in the environment and subjects. Improvements are made over the current literature by testing across multiple environments and subjects whilst using a robust ground truth system. Finally, advanced machine learning methods were implemented and benchmarked against a thermopile dataset which has been made available for other researchers to use

Ubiquitylation Regulates Cd4+ T Cell Activation and Effector Differentiation to Shape the Immune Response

Ubiquitylation of cellular proteins alters protein function and half-life to impact cell signaling and fate decisions. In T cells, ubiquitylation events, mediated by substrate-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitylating enzymes, can promote or limit T cell activation and alter function. For example, the catalytic E3 ligase Nedd4 is required for robust T cell activation, while a related Nedd4 family member, Itch, negatively regulates T cell signaling. Several Nedd4 family ligases are activated by binding Nedd4 family interacting protein 1 (Ndfip1) and/or Ndfip2. I have determined that ligase activity depends non-redundantly on both Ndfip1 and Ndfip2. Unlike Ndfip1, Ndfip2 is not a prominent negative regulator of T cell activation or TH2 polarization. However, loss of Ndfip2 in Ndfip1 deficient cells leads to a T cell-intrinsic expansion of pathogenic TH2 effector cells. Defining substrates of critical ubiquitylation events in activated T cells can enhance our understanding of T cell function in both health and disease. Thus, I took a targeted approach to identify new substrates of Nedd4 family catalytic E3 ligases in activated T cells, developing a proteomics workflow for unbiased quantification of differential ubiquitylation in T cells. I identified Jak1 as a substrate for Ndfip-dependent E3 ligases, and determined that Ndfip-mediated Jak1 degradation limits cytokine signaling during TCR engagement. Having successfully used proteomics for substrate-identification, I considered the utility of quantitative proteomics in globally assessing ubiquitylation in T cells. I developed a mass spectrometry-based approach pairing immunoprecipitation of “ubiquitin remnant” peptides (with di-glycine modified lysine residues) and whole proteome analysis to quantify changes in protein-specific ubiquitylation in activated CD4+ T cells. I observed dynamic changes in ubiquitylation of hundreds of proteins, including key signal transducers, during TCR stimulation. Comparing changes in ubiquitylation with changes in protein abundance in stimulated CD4+ T cells I propose to identify proteins for which ubiquitylation is tightly linked to protein abundance and/or function in a signal-dependent manner. This profiling effort, in combination with targeted studies similar to those undertaken to identify substrates of Ndfip-dependent E3 ligases, will facilitate a more global understanding of how ubiquitylation events in activated T cells finely tune the T cell response

Applications and Experiences of Quality Control

The rich palette of topics set out in this book provides a sufficiently broad overview of the developments in the field of quality control. By providing detailed information on various aspects of quality control, this book can serve as a basis for starting interdisciplinary cooperation, which has increasingly become an integral part of scientific and applied research

Pottery Making and Communities During the 5th Millennium BCE in Fars Province, Southwestern Iran

This book explores pottery making and communities during the Bakun period (c. 5000 – 4000 BCE) in the Kur River Basin, Fars province, southwestern Iran, through the analysis of ceramic materials collected at Tall-e Jari A, Tall-e Gap, and Tall-e Bakun A & B. Firstly, it reconsiders the stratigraphy and radiocarbon dates of the four sites by reviewing the descriptions of excavation trenches, then presents a new chronological relationship between the sites. The book sets out diachronic changes in the the Bakun pottery quantitatively, namely the increase of black-on-buff ware and the gradual shift of vessel forms. It also presents analyses of pottery-making techniques, painting skills, petrography, and geochemistry and clarifies minor changes in the chaînes opératoires and major changes in painting skill. Finally, the book discusses the organisation of pottery production from a relational perspective. It concludes that the more fixed community of pottery making imposed longer apprenticeship periods and that social inequality also increased

Pottery Making and Communities During the 5th Millennium BCE in Fars Province, Southwestern Iran

This book explores pottery making and communities during the Bakun period (c. 5000 – 4000 BCE) in the Kur River Basin, Fars province, southwestern Iran, through the analysis of ceramic materials collected at Tall-e Jari A, Tall-e Gap, and Tall-e Bakun A & B. Firstly, it reconsiders the stratigraphy and radiocarbon dates of the four sites by reviewing the descriptions of excavation trenches, then presents a new chronological relationship between the sites. The book sets out diachronic changes in the the Bakun pottery quantitatively, namely the increase of black-on-buff ware and the gradual shift of vessel forms. It also presents analyses of pottery-making techniques, painting skills, petrography, and geochemistry and clarifies minor changes in the chaînes opératoires and major changes in painting skill. Finally, the book discusses the organisation of pottery production from a relational perspective. It concludes that the more fixed community of pottery making imposed longer apprenticeship periods and that social inequality also increased

Mimicking native display of cd0873 on liposomes augments its potency as an oral vaccine against clostridioides difficile

Mucosal vaccination aims to prevent infection mainly by inducing secretory IgA (sIgA) antibody, which neutralises pathogens and enterotoxins by blocking their attachment to epithelial cells. We previously demonstrated that encapsulated protein antigen CD0873 given orally to hamsters induces neutralising antibodies locally as well as systemically, affording partial protection against Clostridioides difficile infection. The aim of this study was to determine whether displaying CD0873 on liposomes, mimicking native presentation, would drive a stronger antibody response. The recombinant form we previously tested resembles the naturally cleaved lipoprotein commencing with a cysteine but lacking lipid modification. A synthetic lipid (DHPPA-Mal) was designed for conjugation of this protein via its N-terminal cysteine to the maleimide headgroup. DHPPA-Mal was first formulated with liposomes to produce MalLipo; then, CD0873 was conjugated to headgroups protruding from the outer envelope to generate CD0873-MalLipo. The immunogenicity of CD0873-MalLipo was compared to CD0873 in hamsters. Intestinal sIgA and CD0873-specific serum IgG were induced in all vaccinated animals; however, neutralising activity was greatest for the CD0873-MalLipo group. Our data hold great promise for development of a novel oral vaccine platform driving intestinal and systemic immune responses