An improved block matching algorithm for motion estimation in video sequences and application in robotics

Block Matching is one of the most efficient techniques for motion estimation for video sequences. Metaheuristic algorithms have been used effectively for motion estimation. In this paper, we propose two hybrid algorithms: Artificial Bee Colony with Differential Evolution and Harmony Search with Differential Evolution based motion estimation algorithms. Extensive experiments are conducted using four standard video sequences. The video sequences utilized for experimentation have all essential features such as different formats, resolutions and number of frames which are generally required in input video sequences. We compare the performance of the proposed algorithms with other algorithms considering various parameters such as Structural Similarity, Peak Signal to Noise Ratio, Average Number of Search Points etc. The comparative results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms outperformed other algorithms

COMPARATIVE PHYSICOCHEMICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND HIGH PERFORMANCE THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY EVALUATION OF HEART WOOD AND SMALL BRANCHES OF AQUILARIA AGALLOCHA ROXB.

Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. commonly called as Agaru is a medicinal plant. Heartwood of this tree is widely used in Ayurveda for various diseases. Removal of heart wood from trunk of this tree may make this plant weak and susceptible to damage due to which availability of this plant may be difficult in near future. Present study outlines the concept of plant part substitution. Heart wood and small branches of A. agallocha are compared on the basis of physicochemical analysis, phytochemical analysis, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) to evaluate the possibilities of using small branches instead of heart wood. Physicochemical parameters of heartwood and small branches and phytochemical analysis of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extract of both heart wood and small branches were carried out using standard methods. Total phenolics and total flavonoids were estimated spectrophotometrically using Folin-ciocalteu assayand aluminum chloride assaymethods, respectively. CAMAG HPTLC system equipped with semi-automatic applicator was used for HPTLC of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of stem bark and small braches using suitable mobile phases. Results of phytochemical analysis and HPTLC of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts showed many similarities whichsuggest that small branches may have nearly similar active potency like heart wood and may be used as a substitute of heart wood after comparison and confirmation of same for pharmacological activities

Cell transformation assays for prediction of carcinogenic potential: State of the science and future research needs

Copyright @ 2011 The Authors. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Cell transformation assays (CTAs) have long been proposed as in vitro methods for the identification of potential chemical carcinogens. Despite showing good correlation with rodent bioassay data, concerns over the subjective nature of using morphological criteria for identifying transformed cells and a lack of understanding of the mechanistic basis of the assays has limited their acceptance for regulatory purposes. However, recent drivers to find alternative carcinogenicity assessment methodologies, such as the Seventh Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive, have fuelled renewed interest in CTAs. Research is currently ongoing to improve the objectivity of the assays, reveal the underlying molecular changes leading to transformation and explore the use of novel cell types. The UK NC3Rs held an international workshop in November 2010 to review the current state of the art in this field and provide directions for future research. This paper outlines the key points highlighted at this meeting

Microwave spin resonance investigation on the effect of the post-processing annealing of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles

A novel investigation on the finite-size effects on the spin resonance properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles has been performed using a room temperature ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique. A single broad spectrum was obtained for the CoFe2O4 nanoparticle samples, which indicated that all the samples were showing ferromagnetic characteristics. An asymmetric FMR line shape with a hefty trailing section was obtained due to the high magneto-crystalline anisotropy in CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, which changed with the size distribution. The resonance field for the samples shifted to a higher value due to the increase in the magneto-crystalline anisotropy in the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with an increase in size. A systematic change in the resonance field and line width was observed with the change in the size distribution of the particles. Initially, it decreased with an increase in the size of the particles and increased after the critical size range. The critical size range is the imprint of the shift of the magnetic domain from a single domain to multi domain. The line width increased at higher annealing temperatures due to the enhancement in the dipole-dipole interaction, which led to a higher spin concentration as well as magneto-crystalline anisotropy. Furthermore, the saturation magnetization (M-s) as well as 'M-r/M-s' increased from 37.7 to 71.4 emu g(-1) and 0.06 to 0.31, respectively. The highest coercivity (750.9 Oe) and anisotropy constant (4.62 x 10(4) erg cm(-3)) were found for the sample annealed at 700 degrees C, which can be corroborated by the literature as the critical annealing temperature at which CoFe2O4 nanoparticles shift from single domain nanoparticles to multi-domain nanoparticles. Post-processing annealing is critical in advanced processing techniques and spin dynamics plays a vital role in various interdisciplinary areas of applications

A Complete Set of VSOP Observations of 3C279

We have compiled a complete set of VSOP observations of 3C279, consisting of eight 5 GHz, and six 1.6 GHz, VSOP observations, all of which include the VLBA in the ground array. We are using the data-set to determine brightness temperature limits from model-fits to the visibilities, the transverse structure of the jet over its first 20 milliarcseconds, and parsec-scale spectral index maps

Efeito do cruzamento sobre o crescimento de caprinos no Ceará.

Cruzaram-se, na Fazenda Iracema, da Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuaria do Ceara - EPACE -, em Quixada, CE, 420 cabras Sem Raça Definida (SRD) com reprodutores das raças e/ou tipos Nativos - Marota, Canindé, Moxoto, Repartida e SRD - e exoticas Anglo-Nubiana e Bhuj. Pesaram-se as crias ao nascer e a intervalos de 28 dias até 112 dias (desmama) e a cada dois meses, até 12 meses. 0 peso ao nascer, dos descendentes de raças exoticas, foi maior que o das lrças nativas. Subseqüentemente, os pesos foram idênticos em todos os grupos, refletindo efeito materno. Aos 12 meses, os descendentes de Anglo-Nubiana tenderam a ser mais pesados que os de Bhuj e SRD, e estes, que aqueles das raças nativas (22,09; 20,55 e 19 kg). Os descendentes das raças nativas foram levemente inferiores aos de SRD, mostrando que essas raças podem estar estreitamente relacionadas corn o tipo SRD. Os machos foram mais pesados que as fêmeas, ao nascer (2,28 e 1,94 kg) e no período pos-desmama. Os nascidos de partos simples foram mais pesados que os nascidos de partos gemelares, até seis meses de idade. 0 peso da mae no parto influenciou o peso das crias no nascimento. [Cross-breed effect upon the growth of goats in Ceará state]. Abstract: Four hundred and twenty SRD (nondescripted breed) does were cross-breeded at Iracerna Farm of the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Ceará in Quixadá, Ceará, CE, Brazil, with sires of the nativo breeds Marota, Canindé, Repartida, Moxotó and SRD and exotic breeds Anglo-Nubian and Bhuj. The kids were weighed at birth and each 28 days up to weaning and each two months frorn weaning to 12 months of age. At birth, livo weight were higher for exotics cross-breeded kids as compared to native ones. Subsequently, live weights were the sarne for ali kids, showing great maternal effect on the growth of kids. By 12 rnonths old Anglo-Nubian cross-breeded kids were heavier than Bhuj and SRD, and these were heavier than the nativo ones (22.09, 20.55 and 19kg). Nativa breed progeny did not show advantage over SRD crosses. This suggests that native breeds may be closely reiated to SRD. Male kids were havier than female at birth (2.28 to 1.94 kg), and even during post-weaning growth. Kids bom single were heavier than twins from birth to Mx month old. Does weight at parturition affected the kids weight at birth

Relativistic Electromagnetic Mass Models: Charged Dust Distribution in Higher Dimensions

Electromagnetic mass models are proved to exist in higher dimensional theory of general relativity corresponding to charged dust distribution. Along with the general proof a specific example is also sited as a supporting candidate.Comment: Latex, 7 pages. Accepted in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Acute and chronic stress differentially regulate cyclin-dependent kinase 5 in mouse brain: implications to glucocorticoid actions and major depression

Stress activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, which in turn increases circulating glucocorticoid concentrations and stimulates the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Chronically elevated glucocorticoids by repetitive exposure to stress are implicated in major depression and anxiety disorders. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), a molecule essential for nervous system development, function and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, can modulate GR activity through phosphorylation. We examined potential contribution of CDK5 to stress response and pathophysiology of major depression. In mice, acute immobilized stress (AS) caused a biphasic effect on CDK5 activity, initially reducing but increasing afterwards in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIPPO), whereas chronic unpredictable stress (CS) strongly increased it in these brain areas, indicating that AS and CS differentially regulate this kinase activity in a brain region-specific fashion. GR phosphorylation contemporaneously followed the observed changes of CDK5 activity after AS, thus CDK5 may in part alter GR phosphorylation upon this stress. In the postmortem brains of subjects with major depression, CDK5 activity was elevated in Brodmann's area 25, but not in entire PFC and HIPPO. Messenger RNA expression of glucocorticoid-regulated/stress-related genes showed distinct expression profiles in several brain areas of these stressed mice or depressive subjects in which CDK5-mediated changes in GR phosphorylation may have some regulatory roles. Taken together, these results indicate that CDK5 is an integral component of stress response and major depression with regulatory means specific to different stressors, brain areas and diseases in part through changing phosphorylation of GR