255 research outputs found
Some Issues in the Art Image Database Systems
In this paper we illustrate several aspects of art databases, such as: the spread of the multimedia art images; the main characteristics of art images; main art images search models; unique characteristics for art image retrieval; the importance of the sensory and semantic gaps. In addition, we present several interesting features of an art image database, such as: image indexing; feature extraction; analysis on various levels of precision; style classification. We stress color features and their base, painting analysis and painting styles. We study also which MPEG-7 descriptors are best for fine painting images retrieval. An experimental system is developed to see how these descriptors work on 900 art images from several remarkable art periods. On the base of our experiments some suggestions for improving the process of searching and analysis of fine art images are given
Can HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors (“statins”) slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration? The Age-Related Maculopathy Statin Study (ARMSS)
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is responsible for the majority of visual impairment in the Western world. The role of cholesterol-lowering medications, HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors or statins, in reducing the risk of AMD or of delaying its progression has not been fully investigated. A 3-year prospective randomized controlled trial of 40 mg simvastatin per day compared to placebo in subjects at high risk of AMD progression is described. This paper outlines the primary aims of the Age-Related Maculopathy Statin Study (ARMSS), and the methodology involved. Standardized clinical grading of macular photographs and comparison of serial macular digital photographs, using the International grading scheme, form the basis for assessment of primary study outcomes. In addition, macular function is assessed at each visit with detailed psychophysical measurements of rod and cone function. Information collected in this study will assist in the assessment of the potential value of HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors (statins) in reducing the risk of AMD progression
Nutrigenomics: DNA-based individualized nutrition
In the past decade, nutrition research has undergone an important shift from epidemiology and physiology to molecular biology, adipobiology and genetics, thus launching the science of nutrigenomics. To at molecular level study effects of nutrition on health and disease. The completion of several large genome projects has markedly altered the research agenda by drawing attention to the importance of genes in human nutrition. There has been a growing recognition that micronutrients and macronutrients can be potent dietary signals that influencethemetabolic pathways of cells and have an important role in the control of energy, vascular and neuronal homeostasis. Accordingly, nutrition researchers have increasingly started to recognize that gene-environment interactions can be implicated in the pathogenesis of lifestyle-related diseases, particularly cardiometabolic diseases, fatty liver diseases, cancers, and Alzheimer's disease. An adiponutrigenomic insight into life expectancy is also outlined. Overall, the present Dance Round focuses on a mater of nationwide importance for Bulgaria, a country at the epicenter of today's global healthquake, the obesity and related diseases.Biomedical Reviews 2006; 17: 117-122
Extensive characterization of NF-κB binding uncovers non-canonical motifs and advances the interpretation of genetic functional traits
Background
Genetic studies have provided ample evidence of the influence of non-coding DNA polymorphisms on trait variance, particularly those occurring within transcription factor binding sites. Protein binding microarrays and other platforms that can map these sites with great precision have enhanced our understanding of how a single nucleotide polymorphism can alter binding potential within an in vitro setting, allowing for greater predictive capability of its effect on a transcription factor binding site.
Results
We have used protein binding microarrays and electrophoretic mobility shift assay-sequencing (EMSA-Seq), a deep sequencing based method we developed to analyze nine distinct human NF-κB dimers. This family of transcription factors is one of the most extensively studied, but our understanding of its DNA binding preferences has been limited to the originally described consensus motif, GGRRNNYYCC. We highlight differences between NF-κB family members and also put under the spotlight non-canonical motifs that have so far received little attention. We utilize our data to interpret the binding of transcription factors between individuals across 1,405 genomic regions laden with single nucleotide polymorphisms. We also associated binding correlations made using our data with risk alleles of disease and demonstrate its utility as a tool for functional studies of single nucleotide polymorphisms in regulatory regions.
Conclusions
NF-κB dimers bind specifically to non-canonical motifs and these can be found within genomic regions in which a canonical motif is not evident. Binding affinity data generated with these different motifs can be used in conjunction with data from chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-Seq) to enable allele-specific analyses of expression and transcription factor-DNA interactions on a genome-wide scale.Wellcome Trust (London, England) (grant 075491/Z/04)European Commission (Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013: Model-In (222008))European Commission (Seventh Framework Programme FP7 ITN Network INTEGER (214902))Medical Research Council (Canada) (MRC project grant G0700818
Reconstruction of the equation of state for the cyclic universes in homogeneous and isotropic cosmology
We study the cosmological evolutions of the equation of state (EoS) for the
universe in the homogeneous and isotropic
Friedmann-Lema\^{i}tre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) space-time. In particular, we
reconstruct the cyclic universes by using the Weierstrass and Jacobian elliptic
functions. It is explicitly illustrated that in several models the universe
always stays in the non-phantom (quintessence) phase, whereas there also exist
models in which the crossing of the phantom divide can be realized in the
reconstructed cyclic universes.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, version accepted for publication in Central
European Journal of Physic
Report from NA49
The most recent data of NA49 on hadron production in nuclear collisions at
CERN SPS energies are presented. Anomalies in the energy dependence of pion and
kaon production in central Pb+Pb collisions are observed. They suggest that the
onset of deconfinement is located at about 30 AGeV. Large multiplicity and
transverse momentum fluctuations are measured for collisions of intermediate
mass systems at 158 AGeV. The need for a new experimental programme at the CERN
SPS is underlined.Comment: invited talk presented at Quark Matter 2004, 10 page
System-size dependence of strangeness production in nucleus-nucleus collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}}=17.3 GeV
Emission of pi, K, phi and Lambda was measured in near-central C+C and Si+Si
collisions at 158 AGeV beam energy. Together with earlier data for p+p, S+S and
Pb+Pb, the system-size dependence of relative strangeness production in
nucleus-nucleus collisions is obtained. Its fast rise and the saturation
observed at about 60 participating nucleons can be understood as onset of the
formation of coherent partonic subsystems of increasing size.Comment: Phys.Rev.Lett in print; version2: changes made according to the
request of the referee
Rapidity and transverse momentum dependence of pion-pion Bose-Einstein correlations measured at 20, 30, 40, 80, and 158 AGeV beam energy
Preliminary results on pion-pion Bose-Einstein correlations in central Pb+Pb
collisions measured by the NA49 experiment are presented. Rapidity as well as
transverse momentum dependence of the HBT-radii are shown for collisions at 20,
30, 40, 80, and 158 AGeV beam energy. Including results from AGS and RHIC
experiments only a weak energy dependence of the radii is observed. Based on
hydrodynamical models parameters like lifetime and geometrical radius of the
source are derived from the dependence of the radii on transverse momentum.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, contribution to the Quark Matter conference,
Oakland, USA, Jan 11-17, 200
Proof of concept, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the effect of simvastatin on the course of age-related macular degeneration
BACKGROUND: HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors are ubiquitous in our community yet their potential role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains to be determined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of simvastatin on AMD progression and the effect modification by polymorphism in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and complement factor H (CFH) genes. DESIGN: A proof of concept double-masked randomized controlled study. PARTICIPANTS: 114 participants aged 53 to 91 years, with either bilateral intermediate AMD or unilateral non-advanced AMD (with advanced AMD in fellow eye), BCVA ≥ 20/60 in at least one eye, and a normal lipid profile. INTERVENTION: Simvastatin 40 mg/day or placebo, allocated 1:1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Progression of AMD either to advanced AMD or in severity of non-advanced AMD. Results. The cumulative AMD progression rates were 70% in the placebo and 54% in the simvastatin group. Intent to treat multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, smoking and baseline AMD severity, showed a significant 2-fold decrease in the risk of progression in the simvastatin group: OR 0.43 (0.18-0.99), p = 0.047. Post-hoc analysis stratified by baseline AMD severity showed no benefit from treatment in those who had advanced AMD in the fellow eye before enrolment: OR 0.97 (0.27-3.52), p = 0.96, after adjusting for age, sex and smoking. However, there was a significant reduction in the risk of progression in the bilateral intermediate AMD group compared to placebo [adjusted OR 0.23 (0.07-0.75), p = 0.015]. The most prominent effect was observed amongst those who had the CC (Y402H) at risk genotype of the CFH gene [OR 0.08 (0.02-0.45), p = 0.004]. No evidence of harm from simvastatin intervention was detected. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Simvastatin may slow progression of non-advanced AMD, especially for those with the at risk CFH genotype CC (Y402H). Further exploration of the potential use of statins for AMD, with emphasis on genetic subgroups, is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN1260500032065
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