A Real Time Image Processing Subsystem: GEZGIN

In this study, a real-time image processing subsystem, GEZGIN, which is currently being developed for BILSAT-1, a 100kg class micro-satellite, is presented. BILSAT-1 is being constructed in accordance with a technology transfer agreement between TÜBITAK-BILTEN (Turkey) and SSTL (UK) and planned to be placed into a 650 km sunsynchronous orbit in Summer 2003. GEZGIN is one of the two Turkish R&D payloads to be hosted on BILSAT-1. One of the missions of BILSAT-1 is constructing a Digital Elevation Model of Turkey using both multi-spectral and panchromatic imagers. Due to limited down-link bandwidth and on-board storage capacity, employment of a realtime image compression scheme is highly advantageous for the mission. GEZGIN has evolved as an implementation to achieve image compression tasks that would lead to an efficient utilization of both the down-link and on-board storage. The image processing on GEZGIN includes capturing of 4-band multi-spectral images of size 2048x2048 8- bit pixels, compressing them simultaneously with the new industry standard JPEG2000 algorithm and forwarding the compressed multi-spectral image to Solid State Data Recorders (SSDR) of BILSAT-1 for storage and down-link transmission. The mission definition together with orbital parameters impose a 6.5 seconds constraint on real-time image compression. GEZGIN meets this constraint by exploiting the parallelism among image processing units and assigning compute intensive tasks to dedicated hardware. The proposed hardware also allows for full reconfigurability of all processing units

Notch Signaling and MicroRNA: The Dynamic Duo Steering Between Neurogenesis and Glioblastomas.

Notch signaling is an evolutionary conserved pathway that plays a central role in development and differentiation of eukaryotic cells. It has been well documented that Notch signaling is inevitable for neuronal cell growth and homeostasis. It regulates process of differentiation from early embryonic stages to fully developed brain. To achieve this streamlined development of neuronal cells, a number of cellular processes are being orchestrated by the Notch signaling. Abrogated Notch signaling is related to several brain tumors, including glioblastomas. On the other hand, microRNAs are small molecules that play decisive role in mediating and modulating Notch signaling. This review discusses the crucial role of Notch signaling in development of nervous system and how this versatile pathway interplay with microRNAs in glioblastoma. This review sheds light on interplay between abrogated Notch signaling and miRNAs in the regulation of neuronal differentiation with special focus on miRNAs mediated regulation of tumorigenesis in glioblastoma. Furthermore, it discusses different aspects of neurogenesis modulated by the Notch signaling that could be exploited for the identification of new diagnostic tools and therapies for the treatment of glioblastoma

Corporate images and customer behavioral intentions in an environmentally certified context: Promoting environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry

Growing environmental awareness has made customers change their attitudes andincreasingly demand that the hospitality industry provides products and services thatare environmentally friendly. This sector faces increasing pressure to operate in amore ecofriendly manner given its negative influence on the natural environment.Extant research demonstrates that sustainable tourism can be promoted throughenvironmental certifications. However, little attention has been paid to the relevanceof customer perceptions about these schemes and their influence on customerbehavioral intentions. So that, this study attempts to explore the conditions underwhich perceived green image leads to favorable customer behavioral intentionstowards environmentally certified hotels by considering the mediating effects offunctional and emotional images. A structured questionnaire was used to collect datafrom hotel customers in Spain. The results indicate that green image serves as apredictor of functional image, which in turn is linked to customer behavioralintentions. This shows that the evaluation of environmental issues influences theassessment of cognitive aspects, although not the direct evaluation of affectiveaspects. Consequently, green image associations directly influence the cognitiveresponses of consumers but not their emotions. Therefore, consumers will evaluatea hotel's functional image not only by considering traditional attributes but also bytaking into account environmental issues. These findings suggest that hotelcompanies should work to develop a green positioning strategy developing productsand services possessing both greenness and high?value attributes

A review on Tradescantia : phytochemical constituents, biological activities and health-promoting effects

Tradescantia is a genus of herbaceous and perennial plants belonging to the Commelinaceae family and organized into three infrageneric classifications and 12 sections. More than 80 species within the genus have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Phytochemical compounds (from various species of the genus) such as coumarins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, steroids and terpenoids have recently been characterized and described with antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer or antimicrobial properties. The objective of this review is to describe the different aspects of the genus Tradescantia, including its botanical characteristics, traditional uses, phytochemical composition, biological activities, and safety aspects.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBLdm2022Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Health-related quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease

PubMed ID: 18090192BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: In recent years, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been increasingly used as an indicator of health outcome. The aims of the study were to compare the HRQoL of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) to patients without CAD and also to determine the HRQoL of patients with CAD and the factors affecting their quality of life. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with CAD who attend the outpatients' clinic in the Cardiology Department at Trakya University's Medicine Faculty Hospital agreed to be interviewed. One hundred patients with CAD and 100 people serving as patients without CAD were included in this cross-sectional study. Patients with CAD and patients without CAD were matched by age, sex, marital status, and income. Health-related quality of life was measured with the generic HRQoL instrument. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: CAD patients' HRQoL scores differed significantly from patients without CAD. Compared to patients without CAD, the HRQoL of patients with CAD was lower in the dimensions of mobility (P < .001), hearing (P = .022), breathing (P < .001), elimination (P = .035), usual activities (P < .001), mental function (P = .004), discomfort and symptoms (P = .018), vitality (P = .006), sexual activity (P < .001), and total score (P < .001). Patients with CAD had lower HRQoL scores than patients without CAD. In patients with CAD, age and sex independently affected the HRQoL. Older patients and women had worse HRQoL. Coronary artery disease negatively affects HRQoL. It is thought that interventions to increase patients' quality of life may improve their HRQoL. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc

Communication of the Right Pulmonary Artery and Left Atrium

Direct communication of the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium is an extremely rare congenital malformation of the pulmonary vasculature. A 41-year-old woman with a history of cyanosis since childhood presented with mild exertional dyspnea. On physical examination, she had central cyanosis, clubbing of the fingers, and an upright position caused by orthodeoxia. Imaging studies showed a very large aneurysm in the distal right pulmonary artery with a direct communication to the left atrium. The patient underwent successful repair, with resolution of hypoxia and exertional symptoms. (C) 2014 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeon