Hardware-Oriented Algorithm for Human Detection using GMM-MRCoHOG Features

In this research, we focus on Gaussian mixture model-multiresolution co-occurrence histograms of oriented gradients (GMM-MRCoHOG) features using luminance gradients in images and propose a hardware-oriented algorithm of GMM-MRCoHOG to implement it on a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The proposed method simplifies the calculation of luminance gradients, which is a high-cost operation in the conventional algorithm, by using lookup tables to reduce the circuit size. We also designed a human-detection digital architecture of the proposed algorithm for FPGA implementation using high-level synthesis. The verification results showed that the processing speed of the proposed architecture was approximately 123 times faster than that of the FPGA implementation of VGG-16.17th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision Theory and Applications (VISAPP 2022), February 6-8, 2022, Online Streamin

Proposal for a New Noncontact Method for Measuring Tongue Moisture to Assist in Tongue Diagnosis and Development of the Tongue Image Analyzing System, Which Can Separately Record the Gloss Components of the Tongue

Tongue diagnosis is a noninvasive diagnosis and is traditionally one of the most important tools for physicians who practice Kampo (traditional Japanese) medicine. However, it is a subjective process, and its results can depend on the experience of the physician performing it. Previous studies have reported how to measure and evaluate the shape and color of the tongue objectively. Therefore, this study focused on the glossy component in order to quantify tongue moisture in tongue diagnosis. We hypothesized that moisture appears as a gloss in captured images and measured the amount of water on the tongue surface in 13 subjects. The results showed a high correlation between the degree of gloss and the amount of water on the tongue surface and suggested that the moisture on the tongue can be estimated by the degree of gloss in a captured image. Because the moisture level on the tongue changes during the course of taking photos, it became clear that we had to wait at least 3 minutes between photos. Based on these results, we established the tongue image analyzing system (TIAS), which can consistently record the gloss and color of the tongue surface simultaneously

Intergrowth between the Oxynitride Perovskite SrTaO₂N and the Ruddlesden–Popper Phase Sr₂TaO₃N

Strontium tantalum oxynitrides were prepared within the nominal composition range of 1.0 ≤ <i>x</i> ≤ 2.0, where <i>x</i> = Sr/Ta atomic ratio. A gradual structural transition was observed between the perovskite SrTaO₂N and the Ruddlesden–Popper phase Sr₂TaO₃N with increasing SrO content. X-ray diffraction analyses showed that a single-phase perovskite was obtained up to <i>x</i> = 1.1, after which Sr₂TaO₃N gradually appeared at <i>x</i> ≥ 1.25. High-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy observations identified the gradual intergrowth of a Ruddlesden–Popper Sr₂TaO₃N type planar structure interwoven with the perovskite crystal lattice upon increasing <i>x</i>. The crystal lattice at <i>x</i> = 1.4 was highly defective and consisted primarily of perovskite intergrown with a large amount of the Ruddlesden–Popper phase structure. This Ruddlesden–Popper phase layer intergrowth is a characteristic of an oxynitride perovskite rather than the Ruddlesden–Popper defects previously reported in oxide perovskites. Partial substitution of Ta with Sr was also evident in this perovskite lattice. Just below <i>x</i> = 2, a perovskite-type structure was intergrown as defects in the Ruddlesden–Popper Sr₂TaO₃N. Characterization of Sr₂TaO₃N in ambient air was challenging due to its moisture sensitivity. Thermal analysis demonstrated that this material was relatively stable up to approximately 1400 °C in comparison with SrTaO₂N perovskite, especially under nitrogen. Sr₂TaO₃N could keep its structure in a sealed tube, and some amount of SrCO₃ was observed in XRD after 10 days of exposure to 75% relative humidity under prior ambient conditions. A compact of this material had a relative density of 96% after sintering at 1400 °C under 0.2 MPa of nitrogen, even though a drastic loss of nitrogen was previously reported for a SrTaO₂N perovskite under these same conditions. Postammonolysis of the Sr₂TaO₃N ceramics was not required prior to studying its dielectric behavior. This is in contrast to the SrTaO₂N perovskite, which requires postammonolysis to recover its stoichiometric composition and electrical insulating properties

Coadministration of the FNIII14 Peptide Synergistically Augments the Anti-Cancer Activity of Chemotherapeutic Drugs by Activating Pro-Apoptotic Bim

<div><p>The acquisition of drug resistance mediated by the interaction of tumor cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM), commonly referred to as cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR), has been observed not only in hematopoietic tumor cells but also in solid tumor cells. We have previously demonstrated that a 22-mer peptide derived from fibronectin, FNIII14, can inhibit cell adhesion through the inactivation of β1 integrin; when coadministered with cytarabine, FNIII14 completely eradicates acute myelogenous leukemia by suppressing CAM-DR. In this study, we show that our FNIII14 peptide also enhances chemotherapy efficacy in solid tumors. Coadministration of FNIII14 synergistically enhances the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and aclarubicin in mammary tumor and melanoma cells, respectively. The solid tumor cell chemosensitization induced by FNIII14 is dependent upon the upregulation and activation of the pro-apoptotic protein, Bim. Furthermore, the metastasis of tumor cells derived from ventrally transplanted mammary tumor grafts is suppressed by the coadministration of FNIII14 and doxorubicin. These results suggest that the coadministration of our FNIII14 peptide with chemotherapy could achieve efficient solid tumor eradication by increasing chemosensitivity and decreasing metastasis. The major causes of tumor recurrence are the existence of chemotherapy-resistant primary tumor cells and the establishment of secondary metastatic lesions. As such, coadministering FNIII14 with anti-cancer drugs could provide a promising new approach to improve the prognosis of patients with solid tumors.</p></div

Coadministration of peptide FNIII14 synergistically increased susceptibility of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs.

<p>(A) Mammary tumor cell line 4T1 was seeded on fibronectin-coated plated. Then these cells were treated with peptide FNIII14 and serial dose of doxorubicin (DOX). (B) Melanoma B16BL6 was seeded on fibronectin-coated plated. Then, these cells were treated with peptide FNIII14 and serial dose of aclarubicin (ACR). Twenty-four hours later, the number of viable cell was estinmated by WST assay. Data were shown as means ± S.D. *; <i>p</i><0.05 vs the cells cotreated with FNIII14scr and anticancer drug. Combination index (CI) and IC₅₀ values was calculated as described in materials and methods.</p