Precise foreground detection algorithm using motion estimation, minima and maxima inside the foreground object

In this paper the precise foreground mask is obtained in a complex environment by applying simple and effective methods on a video sequence consisting of multi-colour and multiple foreground object environment. To detect moving objects we use a simple algorithm based on block-based motion estimation, which requires less computational time. To obtain a full and improved mask of the moving object, we use an opening-and-closing-by- reconstruction mechanism to identify the minima and maxima inside the foreground object by applying a set of morphological operations. This further enhances the outlines of foreground objects at various stages of image processing. Therefore, the algorithm does not require the knowledge of the background image. That is why it can be used in real world video sequences to detect the foreground in cases where we do not have a background model in advance. The comparative performance results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.The Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar (http://imsciences.edu.pk/) through Higher Education Commission Islamabad, Pakistan (http://hec.gov.pk/)

Dedicated core-on-anvil production of bladelet-like fakes in the Acheulean at Thomas Quarry I - L1 (Casablanca, Morocco)

The ability to produce large cutting tools (LCTs) is considered as the technological marker of the Acheulean and the indicator of a greater technological complexity compared to the previous Oldowan. Although Acheulean techno-complexes are also composed of a concurrent core-and-flake technology, the iconic handaxes have attracted more attention than any other lithic component. Consequently, little is known of the small and medium-sized flake productions (small flaking), especially starting from 1 Ma, when handaxe and cleaver manufacture becomes intensive and widespread across Africa, including the Atlantic coastal regions of Morocco. Research at Thomas Quarry I yielded a rich early Acheulean lithic assemblage, mainly composed of quartzite LCTs and small flaking, together with a small-sized flint production. Here, we report a particular aspect of this flint assemblage, i.e. a flint bladelet-like flake production. This process represents a discrete technical behaviour among those related to small flaking both in quartzite and flint: pebbles were flaked using the bipolar-on-anvil technique repeatedly employing a specific method to produce bladelet-like flakes. This production represents the oldest dated occurrence of bladelet-like technology in Africa and reveals technical competencies hitherto unknown for these periods, providing further elements for the techno-economic diversification of the African Acheulean

Effect of surface wettability on evaporation rate of droplet array

The evaporation of droplets in an array is hindered by adjacent droplets because of vapor-mediated interactions. Existing theoretical models for predicting the evaporation rate of droplets in the array neglect the important factor of surface wettability. In this work, we developed a model involving a contact angle function to accurately predict the evaporation rate of droplets with an arbitrary contact angle in the array. Fick\u27s first and second laws were solved for evaporating droplets in the array by using steady-state three-dimensional numerical simulations, to derive the contact angle function. The proposed model was experimentally validated for arrayed droplets evaporating on flat hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. We show that the contact angle function approaches unity on hydrophilic surfaces, which implies that the proposed model coincides with Wray et al.\u27s model. On the other hand, the contact angle function is much lower than unity on hydrophobic surfaces, indicating a low evaporation rate of droplets in the array. The findings of this study are expected to advance our understanding of droplet evaporation in arrays in a wide range of scientific and engineering applications

Transitional B cell cytokines predict renal allograft outcomes

Early immunological biomarkers that predict rejection and chronic allograft loss are needed to inform preemptive therapy and improve long-term outcomes. Here, we prospectively examined the ratio of interleukin-10 (IL-10) to tumor necrosis factor–α (TNFα) produced by transitional-1 B cells (T1B) 3 months after transplantation as a predictive biomarker for clinical and subclinical renal allograft rejection and subsequent clinical course. In both Training (n = 162) and Internal Validation (n = 82) Sets, the T1B IL-10/TNFα ratio 3 months after transplantation predicted both clinical and subclinical rejection anytime in the first year. The biomarker also predicted subsequent late rejection with a lead time averaging 8 months. Among biomarker high-risk patients, 60% had early rejection, of which 48% recurred later in the first posttransplant year. Among high-risk patients without early rejection, 74% developed rejection later in the first year. In contrast, only 5% of low-risk patients had early and 5% late rejection. The biomarker also predicted rejection in an External Validation Set (n = 95) and in key patient subgroups, confirming generalizability. Biomarker high-risk patients exhibited progressively worse renal function and decreased 5-year graft survival compared to low-risk patients. Treatment of B cells with anti-TNFα in vitro augmented the IL-10/TNFα ratio, restored regulatory activity, and inhibited plasmablast differentiation. To conclude, the T1B IL-10/TNFα ratio was validated as a strong predictive biomarker of renal allograft outcomes and provides a rationale for preemptive therapeutic intervention with TNF blockade

The Profile Improvement of Vocational School Teachers’ Competencies

This study is aimed to reveal the improvement in the competency of productive teachers of both state and private vocational high schools in Sleman Regency after participating in a self-development program in terms of psychological maturity and socio-cultural aspects. This study was carried out in two state vocational high schools SMKN 1 Sedayu and SMKN 1 Seyegan, and one private vocational high school SMK Muhammadiyah Pakem. It was a qualitative study in nature using interview and documentation as the means of collecting the data. Fifteen productive teachers of the three vocational high schools with expertise in Building Engineering Drawing (BED) were purposively selected to be the research subjects. The obtained data in the form of interview tapescripts, photos, and documents were triangulated to ensure data validity. The data were then analyzed systematically through three main stages including open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The results show that through self-development, the BED productive teachers in state vocational high schools can improve their pedagogical and professional competencies. In addition, this program also develops their knowledge and skills in the areas of curriculum, expertise, technology, as well as teaching strategies and methods. Even so, in the case of BED productive teachers in private vocational high schools, this self-development program does not significantly improve their competencies

Prostanoid receptors (version 2020.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Prostanoid receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Prostanoid Receptors [661]) are activated by the endogenous ligands prostaglandins PGD2, PGE1, PGE2 , PGF2α, PGH2, prostacyclin [PGI2] and thromboxane A2. Differences and similarities between human and rodent prostanoid receptor orthologues, and their specific roles in pathophysiologic conditions are reviewed in [423]. Measurement of the potency of PGI2 and thromboxane A2 is hampered by their instability in physiological salt solution; they are often replaced by cicaprost and U46619, respectively, in receptor characterization studies

Prostanoid receptors (version 2019.5) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Prostanoid receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Prostanoid Receptors [659]) are activated by the endogenous ligands prostaglandins PGD2, PGE1, PGE2 , PGF2α, PGH2, prostacyclin [PGI2] and thromboxane A2. Measurement of the potency of PGI2 and thromboxane A2 is hampered by their instability in physiological salt solution; they are often replaced by cicaprost and U46619, respectively, in receptor characterization studies

Chemokine receptors (version 2019.5) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Chemokine receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Chemokine Receptors [426, 425, 32]) comprise a large subfamily of 7TM proteins that bind one or more chemokines, a large family of small cytokines typically possessing chemotactic activity for leukocytes. Additional hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic roles have been identified for many chemokines in the areas of embryonic development, immune cell proliferation, activation and death, viral infection, and as antibiotics, among others. Chemokine receptors can be divided by function into two main groups: G protein-coupled chemokine receptors, which mediate leukocyte trafficking, and "Atypical chemokine receptors", which may signal through non-G protein-coupled mechanisms and act as chemokine scavengers to downregulate inflammation or shape chemokine gradients [32].Chemokines in turn can be divided by structure into four subclasses by the number and arrangement of conserved cysteines. CC (also known as β-chemokines; n= 28), CXC (also known as α-chemokines; n= 17) and CX3C (n= 1) chemokines all have four conserved cysteines, with zero, one and three amino acids separating the first two cysteines respectively. C chemokines (n= 2) have only the second and fourth cysteines found in other chemokines. Chemokines can also be classified by function into homeostatic and inflammatory subgroups. Most chemokine receptors are able to bind multiple high-affinity chemokine ligands, but the ligands for a given receptor are almost always restricted to the same structural subclass. Most chemokines bind to more than one receptor subtype. Receptors for inflammatory chemokines are typically highly promiscuous with regard to ligand specificity, and may lack a selective endogenous ligand. G protein-coupled chemokine receptors are named acccording to the class of chemokines bound, whereas ACKR is the root acronym for atypical chemokine receptors [33]. There can be substantial cross-species differences in the sequences of both chemokines and chemokine receptors, and in the pharmacology and biology of chemokine receptors. Endogenous and microbial non-chemokine ligands have also been identified for chemokine receptors. Many chemokine receptors function as HIV co-receptors, but CCR5 is the only one demonstrated to play an essential role in HIV/AIDS pathogenesis. The tables include both standard chemokine receptor names [675] and aliases