Application of the quantum spin glass theory to image restoration

Quantum fluctuation is introduced into the Markov random fields (MRF's) model for image restoration in the context of Bayesian approach. We investigate the dependence of the quantum fluctuation on the quality of BW image restoration by making use of statistical mechanics. We find that the maximum posterior marginal (MPM) estimate based on the quantum fluctuation gives a fine restoration in comparison with the maximum a posterior (MAP) estimate or the thermal fluctuation based MPM estimate.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, 1 table, RevTe

Enhanced axonal response of mitochondria to demyelination offers neuroprotection:implications for multiple sclerosis

Axonal loss is the key pathological substrate of neurological disability in demyelinating disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the consequences of demyelination on neuronal and axonal biology are poorly understood. The abundance of mitochondria in demyelinated axons in MS raises the possibility that increased mitochondrial content serves as a compensatory response to demyelination. Here, we show that upon demyelination mitochondria move from the neuronal cell body to the demyelinated axon, increasing axonal mitochondrial content, which we term the axonal response of mitochondria to demyelination (ARMD). However, following demyelination axons degenerate before the homeostatic ARMD reaches its peak. Enhancement of ARMD, by targeting mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial transport from the cell body to axon, protects acutely demyelinated axons from degeneration. To determine the relevance of ARMD to disease state, we examined MS autopsy tissue and found a positive correlation between mitochondrial content in demyelinated dorsal column axons and cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) deficiency in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neuronal cell bodies. We experimentally demyelinated DRG neuron-specific complex IV deficient mice, as established disease models do not recapitulate complex IV deficiency in neurons, and found that these mice are able to demonstrate ARMD, despite the mitochondrial perturbation. Enhancement of mitochondrial dynamics in complex IV deficient neurons protects the axon upon demyelination. Consequently, increased mobilisation of mitochondria from the neuronal cell body to the axon is a novel neuroprotective strategy for the vulnerable, acutely demyelinated axon. We propose that promoting ARMD is likely to be a crucial preceding step for implementing potential regenerative strategies for demyelinating disorders.</p

Supramolecular Bimetallic Assemblies for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation from Water

A series of supramolecular assemblies of the type [Ru(L-L)2(L’-L)MX2)]n+ are reported where L-L is 2,2’-bipyridine (bipy) 4,4’-di-tetra-butyl-bipyridine (tbbipy) or 4,4’-diethoxycarbonyl-2,2’-bipyridine (dceb) and L-L’ is tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2’,3’-c:3’’,2’’-h:2’’’,3’’’-j]phenazine (tpphz), 2,2’:5’,2”-terpyridine (2,5-bpp), 2,2’:6’,2”-terpyridine, (2,6-bpp), 2,5-di(pyridine-2-yl)pyrazine (2,5-dpp) or 2,3-di(pyridine-2-yl)pyrazine (2,3-dpp), and MX2 is PdCl2, PtCl2 or PtI2. The photocatalytic behaviour with respect to hydrogen generation of these compounds and their ultrafast photophysical properties are discussed as a function of the nature of the peripheral ligands, the bridging ligands and the catalytic centre. The results obtained show how differences in the chemical composition of the photocatalysts can affect intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer processes and the overall photocatalytic efficienc

Selection on Feed intake or Feed Efficiency: A Position Paper from gDMI Breeding Goal Discussions

The widespread use of genomic information in dairy cattle breeding programs has opened up the possibility to select for novel traits, especially for traits that are traditionally difficult to record in a progeny testing scheme. Feed intake and efficiency is such a difficult to measure trait. In February 2013, the co-authors discussed how information on DMI should be incorporated in the breeding decisions. The aim of this paper is to present the overall discussion and main positions taken by the group on four topics related to feed efficiency: i) breeding goal definition; ii) biological variation in feed utilisation; iii) optimal recording of feed intake and predictor traits; and iv) unwanted correlated responses and validatio