MinMax Radon Barcodes for Medical Image Retrieval

Content-based medical image retrieval can support diagnostic decisions by clinical experts. Examining similar images may provide clues to the expert to remove uncertainties in his/her final diagnosis. Beyond conventional feature descriptors, binary features in different ways have been recently proposed to encode the image content. A recent proposal is "Radon barcodes" that employ binarized Radon projections to tag/annotate medical images with content-based binary vectors, called barcodes. In this paper, MinMax Radon barcodes are introduced which are superior to "local thresholding" scheme suggested in the literature. Using IRMA dataset with 14,410 x-ray images from 193 different classes, the advantage of using MinMax Radon barcodes over \emph{thresholded} Radon barcodes are demonstrated. The retrieval error for direct search drops by more than 15\%. As well, SURF, as a well-established non-binary approach, and BRISK, as a recent binary method are examined to compare their results with MinMax Radon barcodes when retrieving images from IRMA dataset. The results demonstrate that MinMax Radon barcodes are faster and more accurate when applied on IRMA images.Comment: To appear in proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Visual Computing, December 12-14, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, US

Contribution of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 to Cerebral Edema and Functional Outcome following Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background: Cerebral edema is an important risk factor for death and poor outcome following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is held responsible for the degradation of microvascular basal lamina proteins leading to blood-brain barrier dysfunction and, thus, formation of vasogenic cerebral edema. The current study was conducted to clarify the role of MMP-9 for the development of cerebral edema and for functional outcome after SAH. Methods: SAH was induced in FVB/N wild-type (WT) or MMP-9 knockout (MMP-9(-/-)) mice by endovascular puncture. Intracranial pressure (ICP), regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) were continuously monitored up to 30 min after SAH. Mortality was quantified for 7 days after SAH. In an additional series neurological function and body weight were assessed for 3 days after SAH. Subsequently, ICP and brain water content were quantified. Results: Acute ICP, rCBF, and MABP did not differ between WT and MMP-9(-/-) mice, while 7 days' mortality was lower in MMP-9(-/-) mice (p = 0.03; 20 vs. 60%). MMP-9(-/-) mice also exhibited better neurological recovery, less brain edema formation, and lower chronic ICP. Conclusions: The results of the current study suggest that MMP-9 contributes to the development of early brain damage after SAH by promoting cerebral edema formation. Hence, MMP-9 may represent a novel molecular target for the treatment of SAH. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base

Tekućinski antisolvent postupak taloženja za modifikaciju topljivosti bikalutamida

Liquid antisolvent process was explored as a solubility modulating tool. Bicalutamide, a poorly water soluble drug, was used as a candidate. Low aqueous solubility and poor dissolution of bicalutamide results into poor and variable bioavailability. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to modify the solubility of bicalutamide using the liquid antisolvent precipitation process. HPMC E5 and Poloxamer 407 were shortlisted as a hydrophilic polymer and surfactant, respectively, for the process. Process optimization was done with respect to the hydrophilic polymer, surfactant and drug loading concentration. The resultant microcrystals were characterized with various instrumental techniques for material characterization such as IR, DSC, SEM, XRD, particle size, specific surface area and dissolution kinetics.Tekućinski antisolvent postupak upotrijebljen je za moduliranje topljivosti bikalutamida. Zbog vrlo slabe topljivosti u vodi i sporog oslobađanja, bioraspoloživost bikalutamida je mala i varijabilna. Cilj rada je poboljšati topljivost bikalutamida koristeći antisolvent precipitaciju. Kao hidrofilni polimer korišten je HPMC E5, a kao surfaktant Poloxamer 407. Variranjem količine polimera, surfaktanta i lijeka proces je optimiran. Nastali mikrokristali analizirani su uobičajenim instrumentalnim tehnikama za karakterizaciju materijala kao što su IR, DSC, SEM, XRD, veličina čestica, specifična površina i brzina oslobađanja

Feasibility of the porous zone approach to modelling vegetation in CFD

Vegetation within stormwater ponds varies seasonly and its presence affects the flow field, which in turn affects the pond’s Residence Time Distribution and its effectiveness at pollutant removal. Vegetated flows are complex and, as a result, few suitable tools exist for evaluating realistic stormwater pond designs. Recent research has suggested using a porous zone to represent vegetation within a CFD model, and this paper investigates the feasibility of this approach using ANSYS Fluent. One of the main benefits of using a porous zone is the ability to derive the relevant parameters from the known physical characteristics of stem diameter and porosity using the Ergun equation. A sensitivity analysis on the viscous resistance factor 1/α1/α and the inertial resistance factor C2C2 has been undertaken by comparing model results to data collected from an experimental vegetated channel. Best fit values of C2C2 were obtained for a range of flow conditions including emergent and submerged vegetation. Results show the CFD model to be insensitive to 1/α1/α but very sensitive to values of C2C2. For submerged vegetation, values of C2C2 derived from the Ergun equation are under-predictions of best-fit C2C2 values as only the turbulence due to the shear layer is represented. The porous zone approach does not take into account turbulence generated from stem wakes such that no meaningful predictions for emergent vegetation were obtained. C2C2 values calculated using a force balance show better agreement with best-fit C2C2 values than those derived from the Ergun equation. Manually fixing values of kk and εε within the porous zone of the model shows initial promise as a means of taking stem wakes into account

NF-κB: A lesson in family values

A set of mobile robots (represented as points) is distributed in the Cartesian plane. The collection contains an unknown subset of byzantine robots which are indistinguishable from the reliable ones. The reliable robots need to gather, i.e., arrive to a configuration in which at the same time, all of them occupy the same point on the plane. The robots are equipped with GPS devices and at the beginning of the gathering process they communicate the Cartesian coordinates of their respective positions to the central authority. On the basis of this information, without the knowledge of which robots are faulty, the central authority designs a trajectory for every robot. The central authority aims to provide the trajectories which result in the shortest possible gathering time of the healthy robots. The efficiency of a gathering strategy is measured by its competitive ratio, i.e., the maximal ratio between the time required for gathering achieved by the given trajectories and the optimal time required for gathering in the offline case, i.e., when the faulty robots are known to the central authority in advance. The role of the byzantine robots, controlled by the adversary, is to act so that the gathering is delayed and the resulting competitive ratio is maximized. The objective of our paper is to propose efficient algorithms when the central authority is aware of an upper bound on the number of byzantine robots. We give optimal algorithms for collections of robots known to contain at most one faulty robot. When the proportion of byzantine robots is known to be less than one half or one third, we provide algorithms with small constant competitive ratios. We also propose algorithms with bounded competitive ratio in the case where the proportion of faulty robots is arbitrary

Light-Promoted Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide¿An Overview

[EN] Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide is considered as a viable strategy to generate fuels while closing the carbon cycle (heavily disrupted by the abuse in the exploitation of fossil resources) and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The process can be performed by heat-powered catalytic processes, albeit conversion and selectivity tend to be reduced at increasing temperatures owing to thermodynamic constraints. Recent investigations, as summarised in this overview, have proven that light activation is a distinct possibility for the promotion of CO2 hydrogenation to fuels. This effect is particularly beneficial in methanation processes, which can be enhanced under simulated solar irradiation using materials based on metallic nanoparticles as catalysts. The use of nickel, ruthenium and rhodium has led to substantial efficiencies. Light-promoted processes entail performances on a par with (or even superior to) those of thermally-induced, industrially-relevant, commercial technologies.The author thanks the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, MINECO) for financial support via a project for young researchers (CTQ2015-74138-JIN), and the ‘‘Severo Ochoa’’ programme (SEV 2012-0267). The European Union is also acknowledged for the SynCatMatch project (ERCAdG-2014-671093)Puga Vaca, A. (2016). Light-Promoted Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide¿An Overview. Topics in Catalysis. 59(15-16):1268-1278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-016-0658-zS126812785915-16Centi G, Perathoner S (2009) Opportunities and prospects in the chemical recycling of carbon dioxide to fuels. Catal Today 148:191–205Aresta M, Dibenedetto A, Angelini A (2014) Catalysis for the valorization of exhaust carbon: from CO2 to chemicals, materials, and fuels. technological use of CO2. 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Dysgerminoma in three patients with Swyer syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dysgerminoma is the most common malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary. This malignancy can be associated with pure gonadal dysgenesis or Swyer syndrome, mixed gonadal dysgenesis and partial gonadal dysgenesis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Dysgerminoma developed in 3 phenotypic female patients with 46 XY pure gonadal dysgenesis. All patients presented first with abdominopelvic mass. Laparatomy was done. 46 XY karyotype was made by lymphocyte culture. Then these patients underwent gonadectomy that histopathology results were streak ovaries without evidence for malignancy. Two patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In Patients with Swyer syndrome the risk of dysgerminoma is high and gonadectomy is recommended. Also 5% of dysgerminomas are discovered in phenotypic female and 46 XY karyotype, thus in adolescent with dysgerminoimas and amenorrhea, karyotype should be done.</p

Genetic approaches for assessment of phosphorus use efficiency in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Production of phosphorus efficient genotypes can reduce environmental pollution. Identification of P-efficient groundnut genotypes is a need of the hour to sustain in P-deficient soils. The pot experiment showed significant differences between genotypes (G) and treatments (T) for all the traits and G × T interaction for majority of traits. The G × T × Y interaction effects were also significant for all the traits except leaf P% (LP%), leaf acid phosphatase (LAP) and root dry weight (RDW). In lysimeter experiment, the effect of G, T and G × T were significant for leaf dry weight (LDW), stem dry weight (SDW), total transpiration (TT) and transpiration efficiency (TE). For traits, LDW, SDW, TT, TE, ICGV 00351 and ICGS 76; for SDW, TT, ICGV 02266 are best performers under both P-sufficient and deficient conditions. Based on P-efficiency indices and surrogate traits of P-uptake, ICGV’s 02266, 05155, 00308, 06040 and 06146 were considered as efficient P-responding genotypes. From GGE biplot, ICGV 06146 under P-deficient and TAG 24 under both P-sufficient and deficient conditions are portrayed as best performer. ICGV 06146 was identified as stable pod yielder and a promising genotype for P-deficient soils. The genotypes identified in this study can be used as a parent in developing mapping population to decipher the genetics and to devleop groundnut breeding lines suitable to P-deficient soils