Patch-based 3D reconstruction of deforming objects from monocular grey-scale videos

Abstract. The ability to reconstruct the spatio-temporal depth map of a non-rigid object surface deforming over time has many applications in many different domains. However, it is a challenging problem in Computer Vision. The reconstruction is ambiguous and not unique as many structures can have the same projection in the camera sensor. Given the recent advances and success of Deep Learning, it seems promising to use and train a Deep Convolutional Neural Network to recover the spatio-temporal depth map of deforming objects. However, training such networks requires a large-scale dataset. This problem can be tackled by artificially generating a dataset and using it in training the network. In this thesis, a network architecture is proposed to estimate the spatio-temporal structure of the deforming object from small local patches of a video sequence. An algorithm is presented to combine the spatio-temporal structure of these small patches into a global reconstruction of the scene. We artificially generated a database and used it to train the network. The performance of our proposed solution was tested on both synthetic and real Kinect data. Our method outperformed other conventional non-rigid structure-from-motion methods

Development of indole sulfonamides as cannabinoid receptor negative allosteric modulators

This Letter was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) in 2011Peer reviewedPostprin

Microwave Assisted Synthesis Of Binary Metallic Oxides For Catalysis Applications

Herein, versatile, and reproducible method to prepare binary metal oxides via microwave assisted synthesis. Catalysts are substances that basically speeds up chemical reactions. Ideally, bonds are formed between the catalysts and the reactants. Also, catalysts permit formation of products from the reactants. These formed products, splits off the catalyst without affecting or changing it. Catalytic kinetics studies the correlate chemical reaction rate with some properties of reactants and/or products for instance, temperature, concentration and pressure. The aim of the project is to prepare pure and bi-metal iron-based catalyst by co-precipitation method and to characterize the prepared sample using X-ray diffraction. Metal oxides nanoparticles is a field of interest in catalysis, such that these oxides are used to oxidize carbon monoxide. The samples were prepared through co-precipitation method in laboratory scale. The metals used was copper, iron and cobalt. After preparing pure sample of each metal a mix of two metals were introduced in different ratios. The samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and then the results were compared to exist data introduced from others research, the prepared samples XRD was having a great matching with the data retrieved from internet and we found that the metal could exist in two form of oxides and even could exist as pure metal. Each peak in the XRD figure could indicate one or more phase of the metal

Diversity of inulinase-producing fungi associated with two Asteraceous plants, Pulicaria crispa (Forssk.) and Pluchea dioscoridis (L.) growing in an extreme arid environment

Inulinases are potentially valuable enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of plant’s inulin into high fructose syrups as sweetening ingredients for food industry and ethanol production. The high demands for inulinase enzymes have promoted interest in microbial inulinases as the most suitable approach for biosynthesis of fructose syrups from inulin. Arid land ecosystem represents a valuable bioresource for soil microbial diversity with unique biochemical and physiological properties. In the present study, we explored the fungi diversity associated with the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of two desert medicinal plants namely Pluchea dioscoridis and Pulicaria crispa growing in the South-Eastern desert of Aswan, Egypt. A total of 180 fungal isolates were screened based on their ability to grow on potato dextrose agar medium supplemented with 1% inulin. The isolated fungal colonies were morphologically identified according to cultural characteristics and spore-bearing structure. In addition, the inulinase activity of the isolated fungi was examined spectrophotometrically. Among these, Aspergillus terreus var. terreus 233, Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus aegyptiacus, Cochliobolus australiensis 447 and Cochliobolus australiensis exhibited high inulinase activity ranging from 5.05 to 7.26 U/ml. This study provides a promising source of microbial inulinase, which can be scaled up for industrial applications. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.120564

DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND COX1/2 INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF NEW QUINAZOLINE-5-ONE DERIVATIVES

A new series of 1-(4-Acetylphenyl)-7,7-dimethyl-3-(substitutedphenyl)-1,2,3,4,7,8-octahydroquinazolin-5(6H)-ones (6-15) were synthesized and tested against COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Those compounds exhibited strong interaction at the COX-2 binding site and poor interaction at the COX-1 active site. Subjected to in vitro cyclooxygenase COX-1/COX-2 inhibition assay; most of the compounds especially compounds 6, 7, 12, 13, and 16 exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effects, selective COX-2 inhibition, with half-maximal inhibitor concentration (IC50) values of 0.22–1.42 μM and selectivity index (SI) values of 6.16–14.18 compared with celecoxib (IC50 = 0.05 μM and COX-2 SI: 296), diclofenac (IC50 = 0.8 μM and COX-2 SI: 4.87), and indomethacin (IC50 = 0.49 μM and COX-2 SI: 0.08) as reference drugs. Docking study has been carried out to confirm the binding affinity and selectivity of the most active compound (compound 6) to COX-2 enzyme

Association between Type 2 diabetes mellitus and TCF7L2 and FTO gene variants among upper Egyptian population

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental variables. T2DM is associated with transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) and fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) genetic polymorphism.Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the common genetic risk factors of T2DM and related metabolic traits in Upper Egyptian population, in attempt to understand the genetic structure of T2DM in the Egyptian community.Methods and Materials: This case control study included 250 participants, 124 T2DM patients and 126 non-diabetics. Using mutagenically separated polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR), genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs7903146 of TCF7L2 and rs17817449 of FTO genes was carried out.Results: T allele of TCF7L2 variant rs7903146 confers a risk for T2DM (allelic OR=1.97, 95% CI: (1.34 to 2.88) p =<0.001). The minor G allele of FTO rs17817449 polymorphism was significantly higher in diabetics than controls (allelic OR=1.87, 95% CI=1.30 to 2.68, p<0.001). Genotype risk was evident under both recessive and dominant modes of inheritance (OR=3.18, CI (1.35-7.45), P =0.008, OR= 2.04, CI (1.23-3.38), p=0.006) for TCF7L2 and (OR= 2.55, CI (1.28 -5.09), p=0.008 and OR= 2.14, CI (1.25-3.63), p= 0.005) for FTO respectivelyConclusion: TCF7L2 rs7903146 and FTO rs17817449 variant conferred risk for T2DM in Upper Egyptian population. The study noted the interaction between certain biological and environmental risk factors including BMI, age, and sex and the conferred genetic risk

Surgical Management of Facial Features of Robinow Syndrome: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Robinow Syndrome is an extremely rare genetic disorder characterised by abnormalities in head, face and external genitalia. This disorder exists in dominant pattern with moderate symptoms and recessive pattern with more physical and skeletal abnormalities. It was first introduced by Menihard Robinow in 1969. It was related to chromosome 9q22 ROR2 gene related to bone and cartilage growth aspects.CASE PRESENTATION: A 17-year-old Egyptian male presented to National Research Centre Orodental genetics Clinic with typical features of short stature and facial dysmorphism weighted 50 Kg and measured 150 cm height complaining of facial disfigurement. There was no significant prenatal history, and family history was negative for congenital disabilities and genetic disorders. Clinical examination revealed macrocephaly and special facial features as prominent forehead, deformed ear pinna, hypertelorism, flat nasal tongue tie, deficient malar bone, bow-shaped upper and lower lips and dimpled chin. Orally the patient suffered from tonetie, gingival hypertrophy and dental malalignment. The orthopantomogram showed multiple impacted teeth. The physical examination revealed that the patient had deformed spine, short limbs with ectrodactyly, micropenis & hypospadias. Surgical management included correction of midface deficiency with zygomatic augmentation, closed rhinoplasty for the broad nose, lips muscles release and tongue tie relief. The patient is currently undergoing orthodontic treatment for his teeth.CONCLUSION: Improvement of facial features and a good psychological impact on the patient and his family

Novel 1,5-diaryl pyrazole-3-carboxamides as selective COX-2/sEH inhibitors with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and lower cardiotoxicity effects

Funding Information: The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at Jouf University for funding this work through research grant number (DSR2020-04-421 )Peer reviewedPostprin

Development of new thiazolidine-2,4-dione hybrids as aldose reductase inhibitors endowed with antihyperglycaemic activity: design, synthesis, biological investigations, and in silico insights

This research study describes the development of new small molecules based on 2,4-thiazolidinedione (2,4-TZD) and their aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory activities. The synthesis of 17 new derivatives of 2,4-TZDs hybrids was feasible by incorporating two known bioactive scaffolds, benzothiazole heterocycle, and nitro phenacyl moiety. The most active hybrid (8b) was found to inhibit AR in a non-competitive manner (0.16 µM), as confirmed by kinetic studies and molecular docking simulations. Furthermore, the in vivo experiments demonstrated that compound 8b had a significant hypoglycaemic effect in mice with hyperglycaemia induced by streptozotocin. Fifty milligrams per kilogram dose of 8b produced a marked decrease in blood glucose concentration, and a lower dose of 5 mg/kg demonstrated a noticeable antihyperglycaemic effect. These outcomes suggested that compound 8b may be used as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetic complications