Deep Learning Techniques for Image Recognition and Object Detection

Particularly in the fields of object identification and picture recognition, deep learning approaches have transformed the science of computer vision. This abstract provides a summary of recent developments and cutting-edge methods in deep learning for applications like object identification and picture recognition. The automated identification and classification of objects or patterns inside digital photographs is known as image recognition. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), for example, have displayed outstanding performance in image identification tests. By directly learning hierarchical representations of visual characteristics from raw pixel data, these algorithms are able to recognize complex patterns and provide precise predictions. The ability for models to learn sophisticated visual representations straight from raw pixel data has transformed applications like object identification and picture recognition. The development of extremely accurate and effective systems has been accelerated by advances in deep learning architectures and large-scale annotated datasets. Further advances in object identification and picture recognition are anticipated as deep learning develops, with applications in a variety of fields including autonomous driving, surveillance, and medical imaging

Measurement of transpiration restriction under high vapor pressure deficit for sorghum mapping population parents

Limiting transpiration rate under high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and/or progressive soil drying conditions are soil water conservation mechanisms that can play an important drought-adaptive role if water is limiting to support crops at its full potential. In this study, these two important physiological mechanisms were measured on parental pairs of existing Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) of sorghum mapping populations; both in experiments run in the glasshouse and growth chambers, and outdoors. In controlled environmental conditions, the RIL1, RIL2, RIL6 and RIL8 showed contrasting transpiration response to increasing VPD. The difference in the soil moisture fractions of transpirable soil water threshold where transpiration initiated a decline were high in RIL1, RIL3 and RIL8 respectively. The exploration of the variation of the evapotranspiration response to VPD was also carried out in a high throughput phenotyping facility in which plants were grown similar to field density conditions. Under high VPD conditions, the RIL parental pairs showed usual transpiration peak during the midday period. At this time period, genotypic differences within parental pairs were observed in RIL1, RIL2, RIL6 and RIL8. The donor parent had lower transpiration than the recurrent parents during the midday/high VPD period. Also, we found variation among parental pairs in leaf area normalized with received radiation and measured plant architecture traits. Across studied genotypes, RIL1, RIL2 and RIL8 showed differences in the plant canopy architecture and the transpiration response to an increasing VPD. Collectively, these results open the opportunity to phenotype the RIL progenies of contrasting parents and genetically map the traits controlling plant water use. In turn, this can act as an important genetic resource for identification and incorporation of terminal drought tolerance components in marker-assisted breeding

ENHANCEMENT OF SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION RATE OF ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID VIA CO-CRYSTALLIZATION TECHNIQUE: A NOVEL ASA-VALINE COCRYSTAL

Objective: This study aims to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) cocrystals using valine as a coformer via a co-crystallization technique to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of ASA. Methods: The ASA-valine cocrystal (1:1 molar ratio) was prepared using the solvent evaporation technique with ethanol: water (50:50). The cocrystal was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), melting point to confirm the formation of cocrystal. The evaluation of cocrystal was done by drug content determination, solubility and dissolution studies. Results: The prepared cocrystal was successfully confirmed for the formation of a hydrogen bond. The melting point of prepared cocrystal was decreased compared to pure ASA and valine, which indicated the formation of a new crystalline form. The FT-IR studies showed the formation of a new hydrogen bond by shifting the-O-H,-C=O and-N-H functional groups. SEM studies ensured that the prepared cocrystals were in needle-like appearance. Finally, DSC and PXRD studies were also indicated the successful formation of ASA-valine cocrystal. The drug release of cocrystal was found to be 100% at 60th min. Where in the case of pure ASA and marketed product of ASA exhibited the dissolution rate of 59% and 69% at 60th min respectively. Conclusion: The co-crystallization technique can be adopted as the best strategy to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of BCS class 2 drugs. Therefore the prepared ASA-valine cocrystal can be a greater alternative to increase the solubility and dissolution rate compared with pure and marketed ASA

LeasyScan: 3D scanning of crop canopy plus seamless monitoring of water use to harness the genetics of key traits for drought adaptation

With the genomics revolution in full swing, relevant phenotyping is now a main bottleneck. New imaging technologies provide opportunities for easier, faster and more informative phenotyping of many plant parameters. However, it is critical that the development of automated phenotyping be driven by a clear framing of target phenotypes rather than by a technological push, especially for complex constraints. Previous studies on drought adaptation shows the importance of water availability during the grain filling period, which depends on traits controlling the plant water budget at earlier stages. We will then discuss “cause” and “consequence” in phenotypes. Drawing on this, a phenotyping platform (LeasyScan) was developed to target canopy development and conductance traits. Based on a novel 3D scanning technique to capture leaf area development continuously and a scanner-to-plant concept to increase imaging throughput, LeasyScan is also equipped with 1488 analytical scales to measure transpiration seamlessly. Examples of the first applications are presented: (i) to compare the leaf area development pattern of pearl millet breeding material targeted to different agro-ecological zones, (ii) for the mapping of QTLs for vigour traits in chickpea, shown to co-map with an earlier reported “drought tolerance” QTL; (iii) for the mapping of leaf area development in pearl millet; (iv) for assessing the transpiration response to high vapour pressure deficit in different crops. This new platform has the potential to phenotype traits controlling plant water use at a high rate and precision, opening the opportunity to harness their genetics towards breeding improved varieties

A multi-centric, single-blinded, randomized, parallel-group study to evaluate the effectiveness of nasoalveolar moulding treatment in non-syndromic patients with complete unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate (NAMUC study): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Cleft lip and palate (CLP) are among the most common congenital anomaly that affects up to 33,000 newborns in India every year. Nasoalveolar moulding (NAM) is a non-surgical treatment performed between 0 and 6 months of age to reduce the cleft and improve nasal aesthetics prior to lip surgery. The NAM treatment has been a controversial treatment option with 51% of the cleft teams in Europe, 37% of teams in the USA and 25 of cleft teams in India adopting this methodology. This treatment adds to the already existing high burden of care for these patients. Furthermore, the supporting evidence for this technique is limited with no high-quality long-term clinical trials available on the effectiveness of this treatment. METHOD The NAMUC study is an investigator-initiated, multi-centre, single-blinded randomized controlled trial with a parallel group design. The study will compare the effectiveness of NAM treatment provided prior to lip surgery against the no-treatment control group in 274 patients with non-syndromic unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. The primary endpoint of the trial is the nasolabial aesthetics measured using the Asher McDade index at 5 years of age. The secondary outcomes include dentofacial development, speech, hearing, cost-effectiveness, quality of life, patient perception, feeding and intangible benefits. Randomization will be carried out via central online system and stratified based on cleft width, birth weight and clinical trial site. DISCUSSION We expect the results from this study on the effectiveness of treatment with NAM appliance in the long term along with the cost-effectiveness evaluation can eliminate the dilemma and differences in clinical care across the globe. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov CTRI/2022/11/047426 (Clinical Trials Registry India). Registered on 18 November 2022. The first patient was recruited on 11 December 2022. CTR India does not pick up on Google search with just the trial number. The following steps have to be carried out to pick up. How to search: ( https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/advsearch.php -use the search boxes by entering the following details: Interventional trial > November 2022 > NAMUC)

Evolutionary Conservation of Infection-Induced Cell Death Inhibition among Chlamydiales

Control of host cell death is of paramount importance for the survival and replication of obligate intracellular bacteria. Among these, human pathogenic Chlamydia induces the inhibition of apoptosis in a variety of different host cells by directly interfering with cell death signaling. However, the evolutionary conservation of cell death regulation has not been investigated in the order Chlamydiales, which also includes Chlamydia-like organisms with a broader host spectrum. Here, we investigated the apoptotic response of human cells infected with the Chlamydia-like organism Simkania negevensis (Sn). Simkania infected cells exhibited strong resistance to apoptosis induced by intrinsic stress or by the activation of cell death receptors. Apoptotic signaling was blocked upstream of mitochondria since Bax translocation, Bax and Bak oligomerisation and cytochrome c release were absent in these cells. Infected cells turned on pro-survival pathways like cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein 2 (cIAP-2) and the Akt/PI3K pathway. Blocking any of these inhibitory pathways sensitized infected host cell towards apoptosis induction, demonstrating their role in infection-induced apoptosis resistance. Our data support the hypothesis of evolutionary conserved signaling pathways to apoptosis resistance as common denominators in the order Chlamydiales