Deep Optical Flow Estimation Via Multi-Scale Correspondence Structure Learning

As an important and challenging problem in computer vision, learning based optical flow estimation aims to discover the intrinsic correspondence structure between two adjacent video frames through statistical learning. Therefore, a key issue to solve in this area is how to effectively model the multi-scale correspondence structure properties in an adaptive end-to-end learning fashion. Motivated by this observation, we propose an end-to-end multi-scale correspondence structure learning (MSCSL) approach for optical flow estimation. In principle, the proposed MSCSL approach is capable of effectively capturing the multi-scale inter-image-correlation correspondence structures within a multi-level feature space from deep learning. Moreover, the proposed MSCSL approach builds a spatial Conv-GRU neural network model to adaptively model the intrinsic dependency relationships among these multi-scale correspondence structures. Finally, the above procedures for correspondence structure learning and multi-scale dependency modeling are implemented in a unified end-to-end deep learning framework. Experimental results on several benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 2 table

Participation of Large Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channel in Antinociceptive Activity of Chalcone Derivative (3-(2, 5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(5-methylfuran-2-yl) prop-2-en-1-one) DMPF-1 Action in Mice Model

The role of potassium channels in nociceptive activity was proposed in the past decade. Various type of potassium channel has been found to exert different action in propogation of action potential in nervous system. As DMPF-1, a chalcone derivative possesses antinociceptive properties. The mechanism of its action has been carried out to verify the pathway involved. The present study addressed the role of potassium channel in the contribution of the antinociceptive action of DMPF-1. The involvement of potassium channel was evaluated using acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test.The animals were pretreated with charybdotoxin (large Ca2+ activated potassium channel blocker)(0.04mg/kg, i.p) or apamin (small Ca2+ activated potassium channel blocker)(0.02mg/kg, i.p.) 15 minutes before administration of DMPF-1. It was demonstrated that the challenge of DMPF-1 treated group with charybdotoxin has reversed the antinociceptive activity of this novel chalcone, which indicates the possible participation of large Ca2+ activated potassium channel in antinociceptive effect cause by DMPF-1 but not through small Ca2+ activated potassium channel

BAFF as a Potential Marker for Toxoplasma Gondii Seroprevalence Among Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a global zoonotic disease, that is mainly asymptomatic in healthy persons, but critical and life-threatening in immunocompromised patients. The infection is caused by an opportunistic obligate intracellular parasite protozoon “Toxoplasma gondii” (T. gondii) that can cause fatal complications in immunosuppressed patients. Cancer patients are being immunocompromised from the cancer itself and on the other hand cancer therapy they receive may reactive a latent T. gondii infection that leaves them at high risk. The B-cell activating Factor (BAFF) is a cytokine that plays an essential role in the activation, maturation, and survival of B cells. It is vital for the appropriate functioning of the immune system. Monitoring BAFF levels in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy could be important for preventing or controlling infections in these vulnerable patients. Objectives: This study aimed to detect seroprevalence of T. gondii in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and assess the levels of BAFF in those patients. Materials and Methods: 150 serum samples were collected from oncology patients having different types of cancer and receiving chemotherapy, from different ages. And 30 samples from healthy people for control. In this cross-sectional study, samples were collected from the 1st of October 2023 to the 1st of March 2024, at Kirkuk Oncology and Hematology center. The method used was the Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Sandwich-ELISA) technique. Results: the overall anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM seropositive samples were found to be 67 (37.2%) in the total study population and 67(44.7%) in cancer patients. BAFF levels were elevated in cancer patients infected with T. gondii compared with the cancer patients with no infection and the healthy control group. A significant difference was indicated with (p-value 0.0004). Conclusions: A high rate of T. gondii seroprevalence was revealed among oncology patients receiving chemotherapy with elevated levels of BAFF associated with T. gondii infection in those patients

The 'Abbasid Caliphate, 132/750-170/786.

In the early decades of the second century A.H./eighth century A.D., the supporters of the 'Abbilsids overthrew the Umayyads and put the 'Abblsids in power in a revolution which not only substituted one dynasty for an-other, but had significant and far-reaching political, religious and social consequences. Since this was a formative period in Muslim historiography, one is faced by an overwhelming wealth of material, including numerous contradictory accounts which must be conscientiously sifted. Moreover, as is unavoidable in a period of transition and revolution, there are various loyalties to be unravelled and guarded against. Chapter I shows how historians dealt with the early Abbasid period. The controversial nature of the 'Abbasid revolution with its messianic aspect, the secrecy with which certain doctrines and principles were concealed from the uninitiated, the deceptive character of the occasional slogans destined for general consumption and the conflicting statements of 'Abbasid propaganda and Umayyad counter-propaganda make it difficult to form an accurate picture. However, as the 'Abbasid revolution must be viewed in the light of pre-ceding and following events, Chapter II reviews the situation in Khurasan and the relations of the Khurasani Arabs with the central regime. The chapter leads to an exposition of the political aspect of the 'Abbasid revolution and to the attempt to substantiate the outdated, but still accepted, in some quarters, racial interpretation of the revolt by the theory already outlined by some scholars that the 'Abbasid revolution was essentially the work of the Arabs in Khurasan and was conducted, throughout most of its stages, by Arab tribal groups whose role was predominant in the revolution. Chapter III deals with a recurrent feature of every revolution, namely internal rivalries among the revolutionaries, as is evident in the conflict between Abu Muslim on the one hand, and Abu Salama, Sulaym-an al-Khuza i, Ziyad b. Salih etc., on the other. Having achieved power the 'Abbasids discarded the extremist wing of the da'wa and adopted Orthodoxy in an attempt to win the support of the traditionists (Ashab al-Hadith), a move which resulted in the Rawandiyya risings in Khurasan and Irak. Simultaneously, the 'Abbasids got rid of certain ambitious dais who had grown too strong to be tolerated (Abu Muslim), or had deviated from the 'Abbasid path (Abd al-Jabbar al-Azdi). As the 'Abbasids failed to fulfil the hopes and expectations of the lower strata of society, other messianic and revolutionary movements arose and attracted disappointed elements. These opposition movements are dealt with in Chapters IV and V. Chapter IV shows that as all Bani Hashia had equal rights to the inheritance of the Prophet, one can hardly speak of an "claim" to the caliphate. The majority of 'Alid sympathizers were, in fact, fighting not so much to enforce this claim, as to improve their own lot and give vent to their hatred of the `Abbasid authorities. Chapter V deals with the Umayyed and Kharijite opposition. Though Irak regained its position as the centre of the empire at the expense of Syria, the Syrians did not yield, and expressed their resentment in a series of risings, some of which were connected with the Sofyani myth, while others had no messianic connotations. The Kharijites were, contrary to the generally accepted view, still active under the 'Abbisids. Their risings often proved dangerous to the authority of the 'Abbasid caliphate. 'Uman and Ifriqiyya were their sphere of influence, and many Kharijite risings in the Jazira, the Yaman, Sistan, and Khurasan had lasting success. Chapter VI treats of major political events, selected to illustrate the trends which characterized the early 'Abbasid period. It shows how tribal 'Asabiyya still played an outstanding rile in the politics of the new regime, how al-Mansur utilized it to weaken the influence of the tribal confederations in many parts of the empire, and was able to consolidate the new regime before expanding in Tabaristan or trying to regain Spain from the Umayyads. It finally shows how intrigues which arose at the 'Abbasid court early in the reign of al-Mahdi resulted in the murder of al-Hadi in 170/786