Lifting Wavelet Based Cognitive Vision System

This paper presents a cognitive vision system based on the learning of lifting wavelets. The learning process consists of four steps: 1. Extract training and query object images automatically from adjacent video frames using our proposed cosine-maximization method; 2. Compute autocorrelation vectors from the extracted training images, and their discriminant vectors by linear discriminant analysis; 3. Map the autocorrelation vectors onto the discriminant vector space to obtain feature vectors; 4. Learn lifting parameters in the feature vectors using the idea of discriminant analysis. The recognition of a query object is performed by measuring cosine distance between its feature vector and the feature vectors for training object images. Our experimental results on vehicle types recognition show that the proposed system performs better than the discriminant analysis of original images

Lifting Wavelet Based Cognitive Vision System

This paper presents a cognitive vision system based on the learning of lifting wavelets. The learning process consists of four steps: 1. Extract training and query object images automatically from adjacent video frames using our proposed cosine-maximization method; 2. Compute autocorrelation vectors from the extracted training images, and their discriminant vectors by linear discriminant analysis; 3. Map the autocorrelation vectors onto the discriminant vector space to obtain feature vectors; 4. Learn lifting parameters in the feature vectors using the idea of discriminant analysis. The recognition of a query object is performed by measuring cosine distance between its feature vector and the feature vectors for training object images. Our experimental results on vehicle types recognition show that the proposed system performs better than the discriminant analysis of original images

Risk Factors for Infection in Patients with Remitted Rheumatic Diseases Treated with Glucocorticoids

It is well known that infection is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in rheumatic disease patients treated with high-dose glucocorticoids, especially in the early phase after achievement of disease remission. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for infection, with a focus on the dose of glucocorticoids administered, following the achievement of disease remission in rheumatic diseases patients. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of rheumatic disease patients who had been treated with glucocorticoids. The primary endpoint was the incidence rate of infection during a period from 1 to 2 months after the commencement of treatment. From April 2006 to March 2010, 19 of 92 patients suffered from infection during the observation period. Age≧65 yrs, presence of interstitial pneumonia, diagnosis of systemic vasculitis and serum creatinine level≧2.0mg/dl were found to be univariate predictors for infection. However, only the presence of interstitial pneumonia was an independent risk factor for infection (HR＝4.50, 95%CI＝1.65 to 14.44) by the Cox proportional hazard model. Even after achievement of clinical remission, careful observation is needed for patients with interstitial pneumonia, more so than for those receiving high-dose glucocorticoids

A Search for Interstellar Carbon Chain Alcohol HC4OH in Star-Forming Region L1527 and Dark Cloud TMC-1

We report a sensitive search for the rotational transitions of the carbon chain alcohol HC4OH in the frequency range of 21.2-46.7 GHz in the star-forming region L1527 and the dark cloud TMC-1. The motivation was laboratory detection of HC4OH by microwave spectroscopy. Despite achieving rms noise levels of several millikelvin in the antenna temperature using the 45 m telescope at Nobeyama Radio Observatory, the detection was not successful, leading to 3 sigma upper limits corresponding to the column densities of 2.0 \times 1012 and 5.6 \times 1012 cm-2 in L1527 and TMC-1, respectively. These upper limits indicate that [HC4OH]/[HC5N] ratios are less than 0.3 and 0.1 in L1527 and TMC-1, respectively, where HC5N is an HC4-chain cyanide and HC4OH is a hydroxide. These ratios suggest that the cyano carbon chain molecule dominates the hydroxyl carbon chain molecule in L1527 and TMC-1. This is contrary to the case of saturated compounds in hot cores, e.g., CH3OH and CH3CN, and can be a chemical feature of carbon chain molecules in L1527 and TMC-1. In addition, the column densities of the "unsubstituted" carbon chain molecule C4H and the sulfur-bearing molecules SO and HCS+ were determined from detected lines in L1527.Comment: Astrophysical Journal, in pres

Tracheal reconstruction using s-shaped skin flaps and a conchal cartilage graft.

We have devised a technique of two-stage tracheal reconstruction using S-shaped skin flaps and an aural conchal cartilage graft. During the first operation, S-shaped skin flaps were elevated before resection of the trachea. A tracheocutaneous fistula was created at the tracheal defect using S-shaped skin flaps while placing the conchal cartilage graft underneath. During the second operation, a skin incision was made around the fistula to elevate the hinge flaps, including the cartilage. The edges of the hinge flaps were sutured to form the tracheal lumen, and the area of the skin defect was then closed with double-rotation skin flaps

シンキン バイヨウ ケンサ ニオケル カンジダ ノ ケンシュツ ニ エイキョウ スル リンショウテキ ヨウイン ノ ケントウ : コウクウ カンソウ ノ カンレン ニツイテ

In order to analyze the clinical factors affecting the fungal culture test, we examined the oral mucosae of 89 individuals with various complaints: pain, xerostomia etc. The subjects, age ranged from 36 to 87 years (mean age: 64.8 ± 11.8). Based on the fungal culture, 56 patients were found Candida-positive, and the remaining 33 patients were Candida-negative. The mean ages of the Candida-positive and -negative groups, respectively, were 67.4 ± 12.0 and 60.5 ± 10.3 years old, with the Candida-positive group being significantly older than Candida-negative group. The Candida-positive group showed a smaller amount of salivary secretion (10.9 ± 5.3 ml/10 min) than the Candida-negative group (13.8 ± 6.0 ml/10 min); this difference was also statistically significant. Patients with Candida infection suffered from different diseases and conditions, including hypertension, gastrointestinal disease, and xerostomia. The above findings suggest that one of the factors in the fungal culture test is dry mouth. Specifically, old age, dry mouth, chronic disease or medication leading to dry mouth were the clinical factors affecting the fungal culture test. However, neither the Candida species detected in the fungal culture nor the clinical appearance of the oral mucosa influenced these clinical features

Hypermineralization of Hearing-Related Bones by a Specific Osteoblast Subtype

Auditory ossicles in the middle ear and bony labyrinth of the inner ear are highly mineralized in adult mammals. Cellular mechanisms underlying formation of dense bone during development are unknown. Here, we found that osteoblast-like cells synthesizing highly mineralized hearing-related bones produce both type I and type II collagens as the bone matrix, while conventional osteoblasts and chondrocytes primarily produce type I and type II collagens, respectively. Furthermore, these osteoblast-like cells were not labeled in a “conventional osteoblast”-specific green fluorescent protein (GFP) mouse line. Type II collagen-producing osteoblast-like cells were not chondrocytes as they express osteocalcin, localize along alizarin-labeled osteoid, and form osteocyte lacunae and canaliculi, as do conventional osteoblasts. Auditory ossicles and the bony labyrinth exhibit not only higher bone matrix mineralization but also a higher degree of apatite orientation than do long bones. Therefore, we conclude that these type II collagen-producing hypermineralizing osteoblasts (termed here auditory osteoblasts) represent a new osteoblast subtype. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).Kuroda Y., Kawaai K., Hatano N., et al. Hypermineralization of Hearing-Related Bones by a Specific Osteoblast Subtype. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 36, 8, 1535. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.4320