200 research outputs found
Real Time Turbulent Video Perfecting by Image Stabilization and Super-Resolution
Image and video quality in Long Range Observation Systems (LOROS) suffer from
atmospheric turbulence that causes small neighbourhoods in image frames to
chaotically move in different directions and substantially hampers visual
analysis of such image and video sequences. The paper presents a real-time
algorithm for perfecting turbulence degraded videos by means of stabilization
and resolution enhancement. The latter is achieved by exploiting the turbulent
motion. The algorithm involves generation of a reference frame and estimation,
for each incoming video frame, of a local image displacement map with respect
to the reference frame; segmentation of the displacement map into two classes:
stationary and moving objects and resolution enhancement of stationary objects,
while preserving real motion. Experiments with synthetic and real-life
sequences have shown that the enhanced videos, generated in real time, exhibit
substantially better resolution and complete stabilization for stationary
objects while retaining real motion.Comment: Submitted to The Seventh IASTED International Conference on
Visualization, Imaging, and Image Processing (VIIP 2007) August, 2007 Palma
de Mallorca, Spai
Non-spherical core collapse supernovae III. Evolution towards homology and dependence on the numerical resolution
(abridged) We study the hydrodynamic evolution of a non-spherical
core-collapse supernova in two spatial dimensions. We find that our model
displays a strong tendency to expand toward the pole. We demonstrate that this
expansion is a physical property of the low-mode, SASI instability. The SASI
leaves behind a large lateral velocity gradient in the post shock layer which
affects the evolution for minutes and hours later. This results in a prolate
deformation of the ejecta and a fast advection of Ni-rich material from
moderate latitudes to the polar regions. This effect might actually be
responsible for the global asymmetry of the nickel lines in SN 1987A. The
simulations demonstrate that significant radial and lateral motions in the
post-shock region, produced by convective overturn and the SASI during the
early explosion phase, contribute to the evolution for minutes and hours after
shock revival. They lead to both later clump formation, and a significant
prolate deformation of the ejecta which are observed even as late as one week
after the explosion. As pointed out recently by Kjaer et al., such an ejecta
morphology is in good agreement with the observational data of SN 1987A.
Systematic future studies are needed to investigate how the SASI-induced
late-time lateral expansion depends on the dominant mode of the SASI, and to
which extent it is affected by the dimensionality of the simulations. The
impact on and importance of the SASI for the distribution of iron group nuclei
and the morphology of the young SNR argues for future three-dimensional
explosion and post-explosion studies on singularity-free grids that cover the
entire sphere. Given the results of our 2D resolution study, present 3D
simulations must be regarded as underresolved, and their conclusions must be
verified by a proper numerical convergence analysis in three dimensions.Comment: 16 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
Dynamic modeling and simulation of leukocyte integrin activation through an electronic design automation framework
Model development and analysis of biological systems is recognized as a key requirement for integrating in-vitro and in-vivo experimental data. In-silico simulations of a biochemical model allows one to test different experimental conditions, helping in the discovery of the dynamics that regulate the system. Several characteristics and issues of biological system modeling are common to the electronics system modeling, such as concurrency, reactivity, abstraction levels, as well as state space explosion during verification. This paper proposes a modeling and simulation framework for discrete event-based execution of biochemical systems based on SystemC. SystemC is the reference language in the electronic design automation (EDA) field for modeling and verifying complex systems at different abstraction levels. SystemC-based verification is the de-facto an alternative to model checking when such a formal verification technique cannot deal with the state space complexity of the model. The paper presents how the framework has been applied to model the intracellular signalling network controlling integrin activation mediating leukocyte recruitment from the blood into the tissues, by handling the solution space complexity through different levels of simulation accuracy
A Study of the PDGF Signaling Pathway with PRISM
In this paper, we apply the probabilistic model checker PRISM to the analysis
of a biological system -- the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) signaling
pathway, demonstrating in detail how this pathway can be analyzed in PRISM. We
show that quantitative verification can yield a better understanding of the
PDGF signaling pathway.Comment: In Proceedings CompMod 2011, arXiv:1109.104
Mixing at the external boundary of a submerged turbulent jet
We study experimentally and theoretically mixing at the external boundary of
a submerged turbulent jet. In the experimental study we use Particle Image
Velocimetry and an Image Processing Technique based on the analysis of the
intensity of the Mie scattering to determine the spatial distribution of tracer
particles. An air jet is seeded with the incense smoke particles which are
characterized by large Schmidt number and small Stokes number. We determine the
spatial distributions of the jet fluid characterized by a high concentration of
the particles and of the ambient fluid characterized by a low concentration of
the tracer particles. In the data analysis we use two approaches, whereby one
approach is based on the measured phase function for the study of the mixed
state of two fluids. The other approach is based on the analysis of the
two-point second-order correlation function of the particle number density
fluctuations generated by tangling of the gradient of the mean particle number
density by the turbulent velocity field. This gradient is formed at the
external boundary of a submerged turbulent jet. We demonstrate that PDF of the
phase function of a jet fluid penetrating into an external flow and the
two-point second-order correlation function of the particle number density do
not have universal scaling and cannot be described by a power-law function. The
theoretical predictions made in this study are in a qualitative agreement with
the obtained experimental results.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, REVTEX
β-Catenin is a pH sensor with decreased stability at higher intracellular pH.
β-Catenin functions as an adherens junction protein for cell-cell adhesion and as a signaling protein. β-catenin function is dependent on its stability, which is regulated by protein-protein interactions that stabilize β-catenin or target it for proteasome-mediated degradation. In this study, we show that β-catenin stability is regulated by intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics, with decreased stability at higher pHi in both mammalian cells and Drosophila melanogaster β-Catenin degradation requires phosphorylation of N-terminal residues for recognition by the E3 ligase β-TrCP. While β-catenin phosphorylation was pH independent, higher pHi induced increased β-TrCP binding and decreased β-catenin stability. An evolutionarily conserved histidine in β-catenin (found in the β-TrCP DSGIHS destruction motif) is required for pH-dependent binding to β-TrCP. Expressing a cancer-associated H36R-β-catenin mutant in the Drosophila eye was sufficient to induce Wnt signaling and produced pronounced tumors not seen with other oncogenic β-catenin alleles. We identify pHi dynamics as a previously unrecognized regulator of β-catenin stability, functioning in coincidence with phosphorylation
Lung Cancer Screening and Epigenetics in African Americans: The Role of the Socioecological Framework
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and racial/ethnic minorities carry the greatest burden of lung cancer disparities with African Americans (AAs) impacted disproportionately. Inequities in lung cancer health disparities are often associated with multiple bio-behavioral and socio-cultural factors among racial/ethnic minorities. Epigenetic research has advanced the understanding of the intersectionality between biological and socio-cultural factors in lung cancer disparities among AAs. However, gaps exist in the engagement of diverse populations in epigenetic lung cancer research, which poses a challenge in ensuring the generalizability and implementation of epigenetic research in populations that carry an unequal cancer burden. Grounding epigenetic lung cancer research within a socio-ecological framework may prove promising in implementing a multi-level approach to community engagement, screening, navigation, and research participation among AAs. The University of Illinois Cancer Center (UI Cancer Center) is employing an evidence–based (EB) model of community/patient engagement utilizing the socio-ecological model (SEM) to develop a culturally sensitive epigenetic lung cancer research program that addresses multiple factors that impact lung cancer outcomes in AAs. By implementing epigenetic research within a group of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) guided by the SEM, the UI Cancer Center is proposing a new pathway in mitigating lung cancer disparities in underserved communities. At the individual level, the framework examines tobacco use among patients at FQHCs (the organizational level) and also tailors epigenetic research to explore innovative biomarkers in high risk populations. Interpersonal interventions use Patient Navigators to support navigation to EB tobacco cessation resources and lung cancer screening. Community level support within the SEM is developed by ongoing partnerships with local and national partners such as the American Lung Association (ALA) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). Lastly, at the policy level, the UI Cancer Center acknowledges the role of policy implications in lung cancer screening and advocates for policies and screening recommendations that examine the current guidelines from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF)
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