Segmentation of touching characters in upper zone in printed Gurmukhi script

A new technique for segmenting touching characters in upper zone of printed Gurmukhi script has been presented in this paper. The technique is based on the structural properties of the Gurmukhi script characters. Concavity and convexity of the characters has been studied and using top profile projections, the touching characters in upper zone have been segmented. Recognition rate of 91 % has been achieved for segmenting the touching characters in upper zone

Alzheimer's disease mutations in APP but not γ-secretase modulators affect epsilon-cleavage-dependent AICD production

Pathological amino-acid substitutions in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and chemical gamma-secretase modulators affect the processing of APP by the gamma-secretase complex and the production of the amyloid-beta peptide A beta 42, the accumulation of which is considered causative of Alzheimer's disease. Here we demonstrate that mutations in the transmembrane domain of APP causing aggressive early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease affect both gamma- and epsilon-cleavage sites, by raising the A beta 42/40 ratio and inhibiting the production of AICD50-99, one of the two physiological APP intracellular domains (ICDs). This is in sharp contrast to gamma- secretase modulators, which shift A beta 42 production towards the shorter A beta 38, but unequivocally spare the epsilon-site and APP- and Notch-ICDs production. Molecular simulations suggest that familial Alzheimer's disease mutations modulate the flexibility of the APP transmembrane domain and the presentation of its gamma- site, modifying at the same time, the solvation of the epsilon-site

Generation and characterization of a Notch1 signaling-specific reporter mouse line.

Signaling through the Notch1 receptor is essential for the control of numerous developmental processes during embryonic life as well as in adult tissue homeostasis and disease. Since the outcome of Notch1 signaling is highly context-dependent, and its precise physiological and pathological role in many organs is unclear, it is of great interest to localize and identify the cells that receive active Notch1 signals in vivo. Here, we report the generation and characterization of a BAC-transgenic mouse line, N1-Gal4VP16, that when crossed to a Gal4-responsive reporter mouse line allowed the identification of cells undergoing active Notch1 signaling in vivo. Analysis of embryonic and adult N1-Gal4VP16 mice demonstrated that the activation pattern of the transgene coincides with previously observed activation patterns of the endogenous Notch1 receptor. Thus, this novel reporter mouse line provides a unique tool to specifically investigate the spatial and temporal aspects of Notch1 signaling in vivo. genesis 50:700-710, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Predictors of inhospital mortality following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: insights from a single-centre consecutive case series

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has a poor prognosis despite bystander resuscitation and rapid transfer to hospital. Optimal management of patients after arrival to hospital continues to be contentious, especially the timing of emergency coronary angiography±revascularisation. Robust predictors of inhospital outcome would be of clinical value for initial decision-making.STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who presented to a university hospital following OHCA over a 70-month period (2008-2013). Patients were identified from the emergency department electronic patient registration and coding system. For those patients who underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention, details were crosschecked with national databases.RESULTS: We identified 350 consecutive patients who were brought to our hospital following OHCA. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) for &gt;20 min was achieved either before arrival or inhospital in 196 individuals. From the 350 subjects, 114 (32.6%) survived to hospital discharge. When sustained ROSC was achieved, either before or inhospital, survival to discharge was 58.2% (114 of 196). Non-shockable rhythm, absence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 'downtime' &gt;15 min and initial pH ≤7.11 were predictors of inhospital death. 12% patients who underwent angiography in the presence of ST elevation had no acute coronary occlusion. 21% patients with acute coronary occlusion at angiography did not have ST elevation.CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of patients with OHCA, those who achieve ROSC had a survival-to-discharge rate of 58.2%. We identified four predictors of inhospital death, which are readily available at the time of patient presentation. Reliance on ST elevation to decide about coronary angiography and revascularisation may be flawed. More data are required.</p