905 research outputs found
Evaluation of Background Subtraction Algorithms with Post-processing
Processing a video stream to segment foreground objects from the background is a critical first step in many computer vision applications. Background subtraction (BGS) is a commonly used technique for achieving this segmentation. The popularity of BGS largely comes from its computational efficiency, which allows applications such as humancomputer interaction, video surveillance, and traffic monitoring to meet their real-time goals. Numerous BGS algorithms and a number of postprocessing techniques that aim to improve the results of these algorithms have been proposed. In this paper, we evaluate several popular, state-of-the-art BGS algorithms and examine how post-processing techniques affect their performance. Our experimental results demonstrate that post-processing techniques can significantly improve the foreground segmentation masks produced by a BGS algorithm. We provide recommendations for achieving robust foreground segmentation based on the lessons learned performing this comparative study. 1
Shortcuts to high symmetry solutions in gravitational theories
We apply the Weyl method, as sanctioned by Palais' symmetric criticality
theorems, to obtain those -highly symmetric -geometries amenable to explicit
solution, in generic gravitational models and dimension. The technique consists
of judiciously violating the rules of variational principles by inserting
highly symmetric, and seemingly gauge fixed, metrics into the action, then
varying it directly to arrive at a small number of transparent, indexless,
field equations. Illustrations include spherically and axially symmetric
solutions in a wide range of models beyond D=4 Einstein theory; already at D=4,
novel results emerge such as exclusion of Schwarzschild solutions in cubic
curvature models and restrictions on ``independent'' integration parameters in
quadratic ones. Another application of Weyl's method is an easy derivation of
Birkhoff's theorem in systems with only tensor modes. Other uses are also
suggested.Comment: 10 page
EFFECT OF CHEMICAL ENHANCERS ON THE RELEASE OF GLIPIZIDE IN A MATRIX DISPERSION TRANSDERMAL SYSTEM
Glipizide is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for treatment of type 2 diabetes.  Oral therapy with Glipizide comprises problems of bioavailability fluctuations and may be associated with severe hypoglycaemia and gastric disturbances. As a potential for convenient, safe and effective antidiabetic therapy, the rationale of this study is to develop a transdermal delivery system for Glipizide in order to improve its therapeutic efficacy.  In the preparation of films, chitosan was used as polymer. Inclusion complex of glipizide with β-Cyclodextrin was formed. The role of different permeation enhancers in the formulation was also studied. The films were characterized for thickness, tensile strength, drug content, moisture uptake, moisture content, and drug release. In vivo and skin irritation studies were performed for the optimized film. Formulation F12 containing Chitosan (1.5percent w/v) and combination of permeation enhancers (Oleic acid: ethanol 1:1.5) showed the highest drug content 99.95percent and the drug release was 99.39percent in a period of 24 hours. The release data fitted into kinetic equations, yielded Higuchi plot and diffusion mechanism of drug release. The physical evaluation indicated the formation of smooth, flexible and translucent films. No skin irritation occurred on rat skin and the infrared studies showed the compatibility of the drug with the formulation excipients. The ex vivo study revealed a constant permeation of drug for long periods. The best permeation enhancer was F12 (Oleic acid: ethanol 1:1.5). The obtained results indicated the feasibility for transdermal delivery of Glipizide using Chitosan. Key words:Glipizide, Diabetes, Transdermal Drug Delivery, β-cyclodextrin, Chitosan, in vitro permeationÂ
Safe food and feed through an integrated toolbox for mycotoxin management: the MyToolBox approach
There is a pressing need to mobilise the wealth of knowledge from the international mycotoxin research conductedover the past 25-30 years, and to perform cutting-edge research where knowledge gaps still exist. This knowledgeneeds to be integrated into affordable and practical tools for farmers and food processors along the chain inorder to reduce the risk of mycotoxin contamination of crops, feed and food. This is the mission of MyToolBox – a four-year project which has received funding from the European Commission. It mobilises a multi-actorpartnership (academia, farmers, technology small and medium sized enterprises, food industry and policystakeholders) to develop novel interventions aimed at achieving a significant reduction in crop losses due tomycotoxin contamination. Besides a field-to-fork approach, MyToolBox also considers safe use options ofcontaminated batches, such as the efficient production of biofuels. Compared to previous efforts of mycotoxin reduction strategies, the distinguishing feature of MyToolBox is to provide the recommended measures to theend users along the food and feed chain in a web-based MyToolBox platform (e-toolbox). The project focuseson small grain cereals, maize, peanuts and dried figs, applicable to agricultural conditions in the EU and China. Crop losses using existing practices are being compared with crop losses after novel pre-harvest interventionsincluding investigation of genetic resistance to fungal infection, cultural control (e.g. minimum tillage or cropdebris treatment), the use of novel biopesticides suitable for organic farming, competitive biocontrol treatment and development of novel modelling approaches to predict mycotoxin contamination. Research into post-harvestmeasures includes real-time monitoring during storage, innovative sorting of crops using vision-technology, novelmilling technology and studying the effects of baking on mycotoxins at an industrial scale
Role of LGI1 protein in synaptic transmission: From physiology to pathology
Leucine-Rich Glioma Inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) is a secreted neuronal protein highly expressed in the central nervous system and high amount are found in the hippocampus. An alteration of its function has been described in few families of patients with autosomal dominant temporal lobe epilepsy (ADLTE) or with autoimmune limbic encephalitis (LE), both characterized by epileptic seizures. Studies have shown that LGI1 plays an essential role during development, but also in neuronal excitability through an action on voltage-gated potassium Kv1.1 channels, and in synaptic transmission by regulating the surface expression of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPA-R). Over the last decade, a growing number of studies investigating LGI1 functions have been published. They aimed to improve the understanding of LGI1 function in the regulation of neuronal networks using different animal and cellular models. LGI1 appears to be a major actor of synaptic regulation by modulating trans-synaptically pre- and post-synaptic proteins. In this review, we will focus on LGI1 binding partners, “A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease (ADAM) 22 and 23”, the complex they form at the synapse, and will discuss the effects of LGI1 on neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in physiological and pathological conditions. Finally, we will highlight new insights regarding N-terminal Leucine-Rich Repeat (LRR) domain and C-terminal Epitempin repeat (EPTP) domain and their potentially distinct role in LGI1 function
Cosmology, cohomology, and compactification
Ashtekar and Samuel have shown that Bianchi cosmological models with compact
spatial sections must be of Bianchi class A. Motivated by general results on
the symmetry reduction of variational principles, we show how to extend the
Ashtekar-Samuel results to the setting of weakly locally homogeneous spaces as
defined, e.g., by Singer and Thurston. In particular, it is shown that any
m-dimensional homogeneous space G/K admitting a G-invariant volume form will
allow a compact discrete quotient only if the Lie algebra cohomology of G
relative to K is non-vanishing at degree m.Comment: 6 pages, LaTe
Killing Vector Fields in Three Dimensions: A Method to Solve Massive Gravity Field Equations
Killing vector fields in three dimensions play important role in the
construction of the related spacetime geometry. In this work we show that when
a three dimensional geometry admits a Killing vector field then the Ricci
tensor of the geometry is determined in terms of the Killing vector field and
its scalars. In this way we can generate all products and covariant derivatives
at any order of the ricci tensor. Using this property we give ways of solving
the field equations of Topologically Massive Gravity (TMG) and New Massive
Gravity (NMG) introduced recently. In particular when the scalars of the
Killing vector field (timelike, spacelike and null cases) are constants then
all three dimensional symmetric tensors of the geometry, the ricci and einstein
tensors, their covariant derivatives at all orders, their products of all
orders are completely determined by the Killing vector field and the metric.
Hence the corresponding three dimensional metrics are strong candidates of
solving all higher derivative gravitational field equations in three
dimensions.Comment: 25 pages, some changes made and some references added, to be
published in Classical and Quantum Gravit
The Principle of Symmetric Criticality in General Relativity
We consider a version of Palais' Principle of Symmetric Criticality (PSC)
that is applicable to the Lie symmetry reduction of Lagrangian field theories.
PSC asserts that, given a group action, for any group-invariant Lagrangian the
equations obtained by restriction of Euler-Lagrange equations to
group-invariant fields are equivalent to the Euler-Lagrange equations of a
canonically defined, symmetry-reduced Lagrangian. We investigate the validity
of PSC for local gravitational theories built from a metric. It is shown that
there are two independent conditions which must be satisfied for PSC to be
valid. One of these conditions, obtained previously in the context of
transverse symmetry group actions, provides a generalization of the well-known
unimodularity condition that arises in spatially homogeneous cosmological
models. The other condition seems to be new. The conditions that determine the
validity of PSC are equivalent to pointwise conditions on the group action
alone. These results are illustrated with a variety of examples from general
relativity. It is straightforward to generalize all of our results to any
relativistic field theory.Comment: 46 pages, Plain TeX, references added in revised versio
On post-Lie algebras, Lie--Butcher series and moving frames
Pre-Lie (or Vinberg) algebras arise from flat and torsion-free connections on
differential manifolds. They have been studied extensively in recent years,
both from algebraic operadic points of view and through numerous applications
in numerical analysis, control theory, stochastic differential equations and
renormalization. Butcher series are formal power series founded on pre-Lie
algebras, used in numerical analysis to study geometric properties of flows on
euclidean spaces. Motivated by the analysis of flows on manifolds and
homogeneous spaces, we investigate algebras arising from flat connections with
constant torsion, leading to the definition of post-Lie algebras, a
generalization of pre-Lie algebras. Whereas pre-Lie algebras are intimately
associated with euclidean geometry, post-Lie algebras occur naturally in the
differential geometry of homogeneous spaces, and are also closely related to
Cartan's method of moving frames. Lie--Butcher series combine Butcher series
with Lie series and are used to analyze flows on manifolds. In this paper we
show that Lie--Butcher series are founded on post-Lie algebras. The functorial
relations between post-Lie algebras and their enveloping algebras, called
D-algebras, are explored. Furthermore, we develop new formulas for computations
in free post-Lie algebras and D-algebras, based on recursions in a magma, and
we show that Lie--Butcher series are related to invariants of curves described
by moving frames.Comment: added discussion of post-Lie algebroid
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