Wavelet and FFT Based Image Denoising Using Non-linear Filters

We propose a stationary and discrete wavelet based image denoising scheme and an FFTbased image denoising scheme to remove Gaussian noise. In the first approach, high subbands are added with each other and then soft thresholding is performed. The sum of low subbands is filtered with either piecewise linear (PWL) or Lagrange or spline interpolated PWL filter. In the second approach, FFT is employed on the noisy image and then low frequency and high frequency coefficients are separated with a specified cutoff frequency.Then the inverse of low frequency components is filtered with one of the PWL filters and the inverse of high frequency components is filtered with soft thresholding. The experimental results are compared with Liu and Liu's tensor-based diffusion model (TDM) approach

Adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf explants of the valuable medicinal herb Plectranthus barbatus Andrews

The objective of this study was to develop an efficient protocol for adventitious shoot regeneration for Plectranthus barbatus Andrews using leaf explants. The explants were cultured on MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium containing various concentration of kinetin (KN), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) (0.5 to 3.0 mg/l) or in combination with á-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for shoot development. The highest adventitious shoot regeneration percentage (80%) and average maximum number of 19.7 ± 2.08 shoots per explants was observed on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l KN followed by 2.0 mg/l BAP with 1.0 mg/l NAA (15.0 ± 2.20 shoots per explants). The shoots were excised and the residual explants were transferred to fresh medium where again they developed shoots. The shoots were elongated when they were cultured on half strength MS medium supplemented with 0.6 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA3) and 0.5 mg/l KN. The in vitro developed shoots produced roots when transferred to half strength MS medium augmented with 1.5 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The in vitro raised plantlets were successfully transferred to mixture of river sand, garden soil and saw dust (1:1:1) and was hardened in controlled environment. Hardened plantlets were transferred to soil in greenhouse.Key words: Plectranthus barbatus, Lamiaceae, medicinal plant, leaf explants, direct organogenesis, in vitro, plant growth regulators

HIV and Cocaine Impact Glial Metabolism: Energy Sensor AMP-activated protein kinase Role in Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Epigenetic Remodeling

HIV infection and cocaine use have been identified as risk factors for triggering neuronal dysfunction. In the central nervous system (CNS), energy resource and metabolic function are regulated by astroglia. Glia is the major reservoir of HIV infection and disease progression in CNS. However, the role of cocaine in accelerating HIV associated energy deficit and its impact on neuronal dysfunction has not been elucidated yet. The aim of this study is to elucidate the molecular mechanism of HIV associated neuropathogenesis in cocaine abuse and how it accelerates the energy sensor AMPKs and its subsequent effect on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), BRSKs, CDC25B/C, MAP/Tau, Wee1 and epigenetics remodeling complex SWI/SNF. Results showed that cocaine exposure during HIV infection significantly increased the level of p24, reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATP-utilization and upregulated energy sensor AMPKs, CDC25B/C, MAP/Tau and Wee1 protein expression. Increased ROS production subsequently inhibits OCR/ECAR ratio and OXPHOS, and eventually upregulate epigenetics remodeling complex SWI/SNF in CHME-5 cells. These results suggest that HIV infection induced energy deficit and metabolic dysfunction is accelerated by cocaine inducing energy sensor AMPKs, mitochondrial biogenesis and chromatin remodeling complex SWI/SNF activation, which may lead to neuroAIDS disease progression

Effect of organic mulches and foliar spray of kaolin on NPK uptake in enhancing yield and economics of dry land maize (Zea mays L.)

The hot and semi-arid region is prone to meteorological droughts; the lack of rain is frequently accompanied by hot temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity, which has the impact of limiting nutrient uptake and agricultural yields. To overcome this problem a field study conducted during June, 2020 kharif season at farmers field, Chinna Dudyala village, Muddanur, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh aimed to determine the effect of organic mulches and foliar spray of kaolin on NPK uptake in enhancing yield and economics of dry land maize (Zea mays). One of the most important techniques for preserving soil moisture was mulching, which also reduces evapotranspiration when anti-transpirants are used. The experiment comprised nine treatments (T1 to T9) with four types of organic mulches viz., Paddy straw, Ground-nut haulm, Coir-pith, and Sugarcane trash, with foliar spray of kaolin intervals on 40 DAS, 20 & 40 DAS and farmers practice to minimize water stress and improve the nutrient uptake by plant. Among the application of the treatments, coir-pith mulch + foliar spray of kaolin @ 3.0% (T6) on 20 DAS & 40 DAS had significant effect on NPK uptake with N (187.15 kg ha-1), P (69.60 kg ha-1) and K (156.22 kg ha-1) and enhanced grain yield (6976 kg ha-1) and stover yield (10980 kg ha-1), highest gross returns (138034 ₹. ha-1) and BCR (2.63) and was superior to all the other treatments. The present study would help to effectively utilise the available resources, enhance growth and productivity in maize crop and to make economically viable to the farmers of semi-arid regions

Colloidal Assemblies of Oriented Maghemite Nanocrystals and their NMR Relaxometric Properties

Elevated-temperature polyol-based colloidal-chemistry approach allows for the development of size-tunable (50 and 86 nm) assemblies of maghemite iso-oriented nanocrystals, with enhanced magnetization. 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometric experiments show that the ferrimagnetic cluster-like colloidal entities exhibit a remarkable enhancement (4 to 5 times) in the transverse relaxivity, if compared to that of the superparamagnetic contrast agent Endorem, over an extended frequency range (1-60 MHz). The marked increase of the transverse relaxivity r2 at a clinical magnetic field strength (1.41 T), which is 405.1 and 508.3 mM-1 s-1 for small and large assemblies respectively, allows to relate the observed response to the raised intra-aggregate magnetic material volume fraction. Furthermore, cell tests with murine fibroblast culture medium confirmed the cell viability in presence of the clusters. We discuss the NMR dispersion profiles on the basis of relaxivity models to highlight the magneto-structural characteristics of the materials for improved T2-weighted magnetic resonance images.Comment: Includes supporting informatio

Changes in the electrical transport of ZnO under visible light

Complex impedance spectroscopy data in the frequency range 16Hz < f < 3 MHz at room temperature were acquired on pure ZnO single crystal and thin film. The measured impedance of the ZnO samples shows large changes with time after exposure to or covering them from visible light. At fixed times Cole-Cole-diagrams indicate the presence of a single relaxation process. A simple analysis of the impedance data allows us to obtain two main relaxation times. The behavior for both, ZnO crystal and thin film, is similar but the thin film shows shorter relaxation times. The analysis indicates the existence of two different photo-active defects with activation energies between ~0.8 eV and ~1.1 eV.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures. Solid state communications, in pres

Assessment of Land Cover changes on long-term treated industrial effluent irrigation using Remote sensing and GIS techniques

A study was under taken to identify and map the changes in land use and land cover over a period of (1992 to 2017) 25 years in an area irrigating with treated industrial waste water using remote sensing and GIS technologies. Four LANDSAT TM and ETM+ images of 1992, 1999, 2006 and 2017 with a spatial resolution 30mx30m were used to determine the temporal land cover changes. Consequently, ground truth confirmation was done in the study area. Supervised classification was carried out in ArcGIS to identify the LULC classes. The study area was classified into four major classes; Water bodies, Settlements, Vegetation and Fallow lands.&nbsp; The study revealed that fallow lands was decreased by 99.8%, vegetation was found to be increased by 90.2%&nbsp; and settlement area was found to increase by 65.7 % over the period of 15 years. Livelihood increased with increased socio-economic status of the people

Therapeutic Challenge with a CDK 4/6 Inhibitor Induces an RB-Dependent SMAC-Mediated Apoptotic Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB), a key regulator of cell-cycle progression and proliferation, is functionally suppressed in up to 50% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). RB function is exquisitely controlled by a series of proteins, including the CyclinD-CDK4/6 complex. In this study, we interrogated the capacity of a CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib, to activate RB function. Experimental Design and Results: We employed multiple isogenic RB-proficient and -deficient NSCLC lines to interrogate the cytostatic and cytotoxic capacity of CDK 4/6 inhibition in vitro and in vivo We demonstrate that while short-term exposure to palbociclib induces cellular senescence, prolonged exposure results in inhibition of tumor growth. Mechanistically, CDK 4/6 inhibition induces a proapoptotic transcriptional program through suppression of IAPs FOXM1 and Survivin, while simultaneously augmenting expression of SMAC and caspase-3 in an RB-dependent manner. Conclusions: This study uncovers a novel function of RB activation to induce cellular apoptosis through therapeutic administration of a palbociclib and provides a rationale for the clinical evaluation of CDK 4/6 inhibitors in the treatment of patients with NSCLC