1,420 research outputs found
Morphing of Triangular Meshes in Shape Space
We present a novel approach to morph between two isometric poses of the same
non-rigid object given as triangular meshes. We model the morphs as linear
interpolations in a suitable shape space . For triangulated 3D
polygons, we prove that interpolating linearly in this shape space corresponds
to the most isometric morph in . We then extend this shape space
to arbitrary triangulations in 3D using a heuristic approach and show the
practical use of the approach using experiments. Furthermore, we discuss a
modified shape space that is useful for isometric skeleton morphing. All of the
newly presented approaches solve the morphing problem without the need to solve
a minimization problem.Comment: Improved experimental result
In vitro antitumour activity of the novel imidazoisoquinoline SDZ 62-434.
The novel imidazoisoquinoline SDZ 62-434, originally identified as a platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist, has antiproliferative activity in a range of cell lines from human solid and haematological malignancies. Using an MTT cytotoxicity assay, IC50 values of 5 microM - 111 microM were observed following a 24 h exposure. Similar results were obtained using a clonogenic assay. The HT29 colon adenocarcinoma was particularly sensitive while the MCF-7 breast carcinoma was the most resistant in our panel. Only a 2-3 fold cross-resistance was seen in the doxorubicin and cisplatin resistant variants of the A2780 ovarian carcinoma; the drug did not modulate sensitivity to doxorubicin in either parent or resistant lines. No cross-resistance to SDZ 62-434 was seen in a doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 variant. Cytotoxicity was not due to non-specific membrane lysis. The potent PAF antagonist WEB 2086 did not modulate SDZ 62-434 cytotoxicity, indicating no role for PAF receptors. Precursor incorporation studies in A2780 cells showed that DNA synthesis was inhibited more effectively than protein synthesis while RNA synthesis was unaffected. SDZ 62-434 inhibited both bombesin and platelet-derived growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells. This suggests a possible role for SDZ 62-434 as an inhibitor of signal transduction in cancer cells
Unsupervised decoding of long-term, naturalistic human neural recordings with automated video and audio annotations
Fully automated decoding of human activities and intentions from direct
neural recordings is a tantalizing challenge in brain-computer interfacing.
Most ongoing efforts have focused on training decoders on specific, stereotyped
tasks in laboratory settings. Implementing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in
natural settings requires adaptive strategies and scalable algorithms that
require minimal supervision. Here we propose an unsupervised approach to
decoding neural states from human brain recordings acquired in a naturalistic
context. We demonstrate our approach on continuous long-term
electrocorticographic (ECoG) data recorded over many days from the brain
surface of subjects in a hospital room, with simultaneous audio and video
recordings. We first discovered clusters in high-dimensional ECoG recordings
and then annotated coherent clusters using speech and movement labels extracted
automatically from audio and video recordings. To our knowledge, this
represents the first time techniques from computer vision and speech processing
have been used for natural ECoG decoding. Our results show that our
unsupervised approach can discover distinct behaviors from ECoG data, including
moving, speaking and resting. We verify the accuracy of our approach by
comparing to manual annotations. Projecting the discovered cluster centers back
onto the brain, this technique opens the door to automated functional brain
mapping in natural settings
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Polyphenols in Lamiaceae Plants—A Review
peer-reviewedLamiaceae species are promising potential sources of natural antioxidants, owing to their high polyphenol content. In addition, increasing scientific and epidemiological evidence have associated consumption of foods rich in polyphenols with health benefits such as decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases mediated through anti-inflammatory effects. The complex and diverse nature of polyphenols and the huge variation in their levels in commonly consumed herbs make their analysis challenging. Innovative robust analytical tools are constantly developing to meet these challenges. In this review, we present advances in the state of the art for the identification and quantification of polyphenols in Lamiaceae species. Novel chromatographic techniques that have been employed in the past decades are discussed, ranging from ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography to hyphenated spectroscopic methods, whereas performance characteristics such as selectivity and specificity are also summarized
The Effect of Organic Acid, Trisodium Phosphate and Essential Oil Component Immersion Treatments on the Microbiology of Cod (Gadus morhua) during Chilled Storage
peer-reviewedSpoilage is a major issue for the seafood sector with the sale and exportation of fish limited by their short shelf-life. The immediate and storage effects of immersion (30 s at 20 °C) with 5% (w/v) citric acid (CA), 5% (v/v) lactic acid (LA), 5% (w/v) capric acid (CP) and 12% trisodium phosphate (TSP) (experiment 1) and essential oil components (EOC) (1% (v/v) citral (CIT), 1% (v/v) carvacrol (CAR), 1% (w/v) thymol (THY) and 1% (v/v) eugenol (EUG)) (experiment 2) on the concentrations of indicator (total viable counts (TVC) (mesophilic and psychrophilic) and total Enterobacteriaceae counts (TEC)), and spoilage organisms (Pseudomonas spp., lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Brochothrix thermosphacta, Photobacterium spp. and hydrogen sulphide producing bacteria (HSPB)) on cod (Gadus morhua) (stored aerobically at 2 °C) was investigated. There was no significant reduction for most treatment-bacteria combinations, with the following exceptions; TSP and TVCm (time t = 6), TSP and TVCp (t = 6), CP and LAB (t = 6, 8 and 10), CP and Br. thermosphacta (t = 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 and 16), TSP and Photobacterium spp. (t = 4), CAR and Br. thermosphacta (t = 6) and CAR and HSPB (t = 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18). Although the majority of treatments did not significantly (P > 0.05) reduce bacterial counts, the limited success with CP and CAR warrants further investigation
An introduction to overviews of reviews: planning a relevant research question and objective for an overview.
This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND: Overviews of systematic reviews are a relatively new approach to synthesising evidence, and research methods and associated guidance are developing. Within this paper we aim to help readers understand key issues which are essential to consider when taking the first steps in planning an overview. These issues relate to the development of clear, relevant research questions and objectives prior to the development of an overview protocol. METHODS: Initial discussions and key concepts for this paper were formed during a workshop on overview methods at the 2016 UK Cochrane Symposium, at which all members of this author group presented work and contributed to wider discussions. Detailed descriptions of the various key features of overviews and their different objectives were created by the author group based upon current evidence (Higgins J, Green S. Cochrane Handbook Syst Rev Interv. 2011;4:5, Pollock M, et al. Sys Rev. 2016;5:190-205, Pollock A, et al. Cochrane overviews of reviews: exploring the methods and challenges. UK and Ireland: Cochrane Symposium; 2016, Pieper D, et al. Res Syn Meth. 2014;5:187-99, Lunny C, et al. Sys Rev. 2016;5:4-12, Hartling L, et al. Comparing multiple treatments: an introduction to overviews of reviews. In 23rd Cochrane Colloquium; 2015, Hartling L, et al. Plos One. 2012;7:1-8, Ballard M, Montgomery P. Res Syn Meth. 2017;8:92-108) and author experiences conducting overviews. RESULTS: Within this paper we introduce different types of overviews and suggest common research questions addressed by these overviews. We briefly reflect on the key features and objectives of the example overviews discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Clear decisions relating to the research questions and objectives are a fundamental first step during the initial planning stages for an overview. Key stakeholders should be involved at the earliest opportunity to ensure that the planned overview is relevant and meaningful to the potential end users of the overview. Following best practice in common with other forms of systematic evidence synthesis, an overview protocol should be published, ensuring transparency and reducing opportunities for introduction of bias in the conduct of the overview.Research conducted by Harriet Hunt referred to within this paper [38] was
supported as part of doctoral programme funding by the National Institute
for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health
Research and Care South West Peninsula (PenCLAHRC). The overview
conducted by Pollock [3] was supported by a project grant from the Chief
Scientist Office of the Scottish Government. The overview conducted by
McClurg [5] was supported by a project grant by the Physiotherapy Research
Foundation.
Alex Pollock is employed by the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health
Professions (NMAHP) Research Unit, which is supported by the Chief
Scientist Office of the Scottish Government. Pauline Campbell is supported
by the Chief Nurses Office of the Scottish Government.
The overview conducted by Estcourt [7] was supported by an NIHR
Cochrane Programme Grant for the Safe and Appropriate Use of Blood
Components.
The overview conducted by Brunton [10] was commissioned by the
Department of Health as part of an ongoing programme of work on health
policy research synthesis
A validated method for cholesterol determination in turkey meat products using relative response factors
The objective of this study was to develop a precise and accurate method to quantify cholesterol in turkey meat products using relative response factors, based on a modification of a previously published method for plant sterols determination. Validation was performed using neat solutions to determine linearity, precision, and accuracy. The method was linear in the concentration range considered (1–20 µg/mL, r2 ≥ 0.991). Precision and accuracy were within the acceptability guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for method validation (<20% relative standard deviation (RSD) at the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) and <15% RSD for other standards). Turkey meat was spiked with cholesterol at two levels (low = 3 µg/mL and high = 18 µg/mL), either before or after saponification, to establish the recovery and matrix effects. Recovery ranged from 94% to 105%, with a mean value of 105% at the low spike level and 95% at the high spike level. No significant matrix effects were found (90% to 112% recovery). This method is reliable for the quantification of cholesterol in turkey meat products in the range 0.4–8 mg/g
Statistical approaches to access the effect of Lactobacillus sakei culture and ultrasound frequency on fatty acid profile of beef jerky
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic frequencies and drying time on fatty acid profiles of beef jerky samples possessing different microbial compositions. Beef slices were cured using curing solutions formulated both with and without Lactobacillus sakei. Curing was carried out for 18 h at 4 °C prior to hot air drying at 60 °C for 4 h. Jerky samples from both treatment groups were then subjected to ultrasonic frequencies of 25 kHz, 33 kHz and 45 kHz for 30 min. Beef jerky samples were subsequently analysed for fatty acid profile using Gas Chromatography. In the present study, beef slices showed a high level of MUFAs, which accounted for 45.6–53.8%, followed by the SFAs (36.3–47.8%) and PUFAs (4.8–13.7%), respectively. Results demonstrated a significant effect of beef jerky processing on fatty acid profile. Various correlation analyses showed that changes in fatty acid profiles were significantly affected by individual and/or interactive effects of L. sakei, drying time and ultrasonic frequency
The evaluation of agricultural loans : a case study of development bank financed cattle projects in the Markham Valley of Papua New Guinea
This study is concerned with developing a system of loan evaluation
for us by a development bank , focussing on the extent to which the loan
recipients experienced improvement in their financial position . It is
suggested that such financial improvement is a necessary condition for
success of any credit program.
The evaluation system developed uses the 'owner's' net present
value or work as he decision criterion to judge whether financial
success had , in fact , occurred . Fourteen small-scale beef cattle
farmers, operating in the Markham Valley of Papua New Guinea , and
financed by the Papua New Guinea Development Bank, were used as cases
to test the adequacy of the system and the criterion used.
The major conclusion of this study is that the net present value
criterion is adequate as a definitive measure of financial improvement.
It incorporates the time value of money , is relatively simple to apply
and is able to take into consideration particular constraints (e . g . ,
a minimum income constraint) facing the entity for which the analysis
is being performed. It is also capable of incorporating the different
time preference rates (and risk return preferences) of different
individuals by reflecting these differences in the discount rate chosen .
Finally , the net present value is a valid maximizing objective, thus
improving its usefulness as an evaluation criterion
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