A regularized solution of shape from shadows

We present a regularized solution to the shape from shadows problem. In this problem the shadows cast on an unknown surface yield data that can be used for the reconstruction of this surface. In the simulation presented here we assume that the data can now be perturbed by noise. It is shown that the regularized approach produces a solution that can handle noisy information while being very similar to the solution obtained by the approximation theoretic approaches used in earlier work. We provide implementation runs where the performance of the algorithm in recovering unknown surfaces is tested. Furthermore, we study the visual effects of smoothing on the various reconstructions

Downregulation of chloroplast protease AtDeg5 leads to changes in chronological progression of ontogenetic stages, leaf morphology and chloroplast ultrastructure in Arabidopsis

The chloroplast protein AtDeg5 is a serine-type protease peripherally attached to thylakoid membrane at its lumenal side. Since reliable data regarding the role of AtDeg5 in controlling the course of growth and developmental processes are extremely limited, two independent T-DNA insertional lines with different extent of AtDeg5 reduction were prepared and ontogenesis stage-based analysis performed. Both mutant lines displayed a compensatory overaccumulation of AtDeg8. The repression of AtDeg5 protease altered a range of phenotypic features in at least one of the mutants, with the most prominent being changes in chronological progression of development and growth of individual rosette leaves, flower production and silique ripening as well as in the area of fully expanded leaves and chloroplast ultrastructure. By analyzing the results of parallel-mutant screening we conclude that AtDeg8 overdose may rescue 23% of AtDeg5 deficiency with regard to some AtDeg5-controlled traits; alternatively AtDeg5 may have catalytic sites in excess so that these traits might remain unaltered when AtDeg5 pool is reduced by 23%. For some other AtDeg5-dependent traits the absence of excessive amount of AtDeg5 catalytic sites, lack of AtDeg5 dosage effect and inability of AtDeg8 to compensate deficiency or absence of AtDeg5 occurred

Use of Hydrothermal Carbonization and Cold Atmospheric Plasma for Surface Modification of Brewer’s Spent Grain and Activated Carbon

This paper presents results that show the effect of hydrothermal carbonization and subsequent cold plasma jet treatment with helium and argon on the structure and sorption properties of a material—spent brewery grain. Treatment of activated carbon, with a cold atmospheric plasma jet, was used comparatively. The effect of activation on the pore structure of the materials was carried out by the volumetric method at low pressure (N2, 77 K). The specific surface area as well as the total pore volume, average pore size, and pore size distribution were determined using different theoretical models. A high improvement in the sorption capacity parameter was obtained for hydrochars after cold atmospheric plasma jet treatment with an increase of 7.5 times (using He) and 11.6 times (using Ar) compared with hydrochars before cold atmospheric plasma jet treatment. The increase in specific surface area was five-fold (He) and fifteen-fold (Ar). For activated carbon, such a large change was not obtained after plasma activation. Regardless of the gas used, the increase in structural parameter values was 1.1–1.3

Guidelines from the Polish Surgical Society and Polish Society of Oncological Surgery Concerning Quality Assurance for Centres Performing Cytoreductive Procedures and HIPEC Procedures in the Treatment of Primary and Secondary Peritoneal Tumours

Surgical treatment of patients with peritoneal metastases in combination with Hyperthermic intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) and systemic treatments is applied with increasing frequency and, with correct patient qualification, allows for obtaining 5-year survival at a level of 32–52%. The conditions necessary for positive results of such treatment include the high experience of a given centre, its appropriate infrastructure, and appropriate patient qualification for the procedure. As a result of the debate connected with the need to evaluate treatment quality and results, at the request of the Peritoneal Cancer Section of the Polish Society of Oncological Surgery, the conditions for quality assurance were worked out and a Quality Assurance Commission was set up for the centres performing cytoreductive procedures and HIPEC procedures in the treatment of primary and secondary peritoneal tumours

Chloroplast protease/chaperone AtDeg2 influences cotyledons opening and reproductive development in Arabidopsis

AtDeg2 is a chloroplast protein with dual protease/chaperone activity. Since data on how the individual activities of AtDeg2 affect growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana plants is missing, two transgenic lines were prepared that express mutated AtDeg2 versions that have either only protease or chaperone activity and a comprehensive ontogenesis stage-based study was performed comprising wild type (WT) plants and insertional mutants that do not express AtDeg2, as well as the two transgenic lines. The repression of both AtDeg2 activities in deg2-3 mutants altered just a few phenotypic traits including the time when cotyledons were fully opened, the time when 10% flowers were open as well as the number of inflorescence branches and seed length in plants which have completed their generative development. It was demonstrated that complete opening of cotyledons as well as the number of inflorescence branches and seed length in plants which have completed their generative development required involvement of both AtDeg2 activities, whereas the time when 10% of flowers were open was controlled by AtDeg2 protease activity. These results show for the first time that the chaperone activity of AtDeg2 is needed for some elements of generative development of A. thaliana plants to proceed normally. So far, the chaperone activity of AtDeg2 was confirmed based on in vitro assays only

An assessment of correlations between endogenous sex hormone levels and the extensiveness of coronary heart disease and the ejection fraction of the left ventricle in males

This clinical study investigated the possible associations of male sex hormone with the extensiveness of coronary artery lesions, coronary heart disease risk factors and ejection fraction of the heart. Ninety six Caucasian male subjects were recruited, 76 with positive and 20 with negative coronary angiograms. Early morning, prior to haemodynamic examination all of them had determined levels of total testosterone, free testosterone, free androgen index(FAI), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), oestradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, plasma lipids, fibrinogen and glucose. The ejection fraction and the extensiveness of coronary lesions of each subject was assessed on the basis of x-ray examination results using Quantitative Coronary Angiography (QCA)and Left Ventricular Analysis (LVA) packages on the TCStm Acquisition workstation, Medcon. Men with proven coronary heart disease had significantly lower levels of total testosterone(11.9 vs 21.2 nmol/l), free testosterone (45.53 vs 86.10 pmol/l), free androgen index (36.7 vs47.3 IU) and oestradiol (109.4 vs 146.4 pmol/l. The level of testosterone was negatively associated with the DUKE Index(1). The most essential negative correlation was observed between SHBG and atherogenic lipid profile (low high-density lipoprotein, high triglycerides). Ejection fraction was substantially lower in patients (51.85 vs 61.30) (without prior myocardial infarction)with low levels of free-testosterone (23.85 vs. 86.10 pmol/l) and FAI (28.4 vs 47.3 IU). A negative correlation was observed between total testosterone, free testosterone, FAI and blood pressure, especially with diastolic pressure. Men with proven coronary atherosclerosis had lower levels of endogenous androgens than the healthy controls. For the first time in clinical settings it has been demonstrated that low levels of free-testosterone was characteristic for patients with low ejection fraction. Numerous hypothesies for this action can be proposed but all require a proper evaluation process. The main determinant of atherogenic plasma lipid was low levels of SHBG suggesting its main role in developing atheroscerotic lesions

Treatment of severe primary IGF-1 deficiency using rhIGF-1 preparation — first three years of Polish experience

Introduction: The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of the first three years of treatment with recombinant human insulinlike growth factor 1 (rhIGF-1) in patients from the Polish population. Material and methods: Twenty-seven children (22 boys and five girls) aged 2.8 to 16.0 years old were qualified for treatment with rhIGF-1 (mecasermin) in different treatment centres, according to Polish criteria: body height below –3.0 SD and IGF-1 concentration below percentile 2.5 with normal growth hormone (GH) levels. Mecasermin initial dose was 40 μg/kg bw twice a day and was subsequently increased to an average of 100 μg/kg bw twice a day. Body height, height velocity, weight, body mass index (BMI), and adverse events were measured. Results: Mecasermin treatment resulted in a statistically significant increase in body height (1.45 ± 1.06 SD; p < 0.01) and height velocity in comparison with pre-treatment values. The biggest change in height velocity happened during the first year and diminished during subsequent years. Body weight and BMI also increased significantly after treatment (1.16 ± 0.76 SD and 0.86 ± 0.75 SD, respectively; p < 0.01). Eight patients reported adverse events. These were mild and temporary and did not require treatment modification except in two patients. Conclusions: Treatment with rhIGF-1 was effective and safe in Polish patients with primary IGF-1 deficiency. It had a clear beneficial effect on the height of the patients and significantly accelerated the height velocity, particularly in the first year of treatment