Demosaicing of Color Images by Accurate Estimation of Luminance

Digital cameras acquire color images using a single sensor with Color filter Arrays. A single color component per pixel is acquired using color filter arrays and the remaining two components are obtained using demosaicing techniques. The conventional demosaicing techniques existent induce artifacts in resultant images effecting reconstruction quality. To overcome this drawback a frequency based demosaicing technique is proposed. The luminance and chrominance components extracted from the frequency domain of the image are interpolated to produce intermediate demosaiced images. A novel Neural Network Based Image Reconstruction Algorithm is applied to the intermediate demosaiced image to obtain resultant demosaiced images. The results presented in the paper prove the proposed demosaicing technique exhibits the best performance and is applicable to a wide variety of images

Dual mechanisms of action of the RNA-binding protein human antigen R explains its regulatory effect on melanoma cell migration

Overexpression of wingless-type MMTV integration site family 5A (WNT5A) plays a significant role in melanoma cancer progression; however, the mechanism(s) involved remains unknown. In breast cancer, the human antigen R (HuR) has been implicated in the regulation of WNT5A expression. Here, we demonstrate that endogenous expression of WNT5A correlates with levels of active HuR in HTB63 and WM852 melanoma cells and that HuR binds to WNT5A messenger RNA in both cell lines. Although the HuR inhibitor MS-444 significantly impaired migration in both melanoma cell lines, it reduced WNT5A expression only in HTB63 cells, as did small interfering RNA knockdown of HuR. Consistent with this finding, MS-444-induced inhibition of HTB63 cell migration was restored by the addition of recombinant WNT5A, whereas MS-444-induced inhibition of WM852 cell migration was restored by the addition of recombinant matrix metalloproteinase-9, another HuR-regulated protein. Clearly, HuR positively regulates melanoma cell migration via at least 2 distinct mechanisms making HuR an attractive therapeutic target for halting melanoma dissemination

Association of ABO blood group and Rh factor in cleft lip and palate patients

Background: One of the most common congenital malformations, with widespread racial and regional variation is an orofacial cleft. The occurrence is attributed to an array of environmental and genetic factors. Blood grouping and Rh factor are genetically determined. Any possible association of clefts with them helps in planning interventional services. Methods: A case control observational study was conducted on 111 samples who were cases presenting with oral clefts in Super speciality hospitals and other 111 samples who came to hospital for their treatment other than for cleft lip or cleft palate, were controls in the study. Cases were evaluated for various phenotypes of clefts. Blood samples of each case and control was collected to elaborate on blood group genotype and Rh typing. SPSS 22.0 version was employed for statistical analysis. Results: The most common blood group noted in cases as well in controls respectively was type ‘B’ in 31.5% and 43.2%, while blood group ‘AB’ was noted the lowest in both cases (14.5%) and controls (7.3%).Rh positive was noted 94.6% in both cases and control population. Clefts were observed more in male population than female counterparts.Cases of cleft lip and palate (CLP) was noted the highest, in 61 (55%) of cases, followed by defects in lip, palate and lastly in soft palate. Conclusions: Though not associated to the biological characteristics of cleft lip and palate in the current study, the functional importance of ABO blood group distribution may be the subject of future research. Identification of any associative traits for clefts assesses individuals with risk so as to help eliminate the chance of occurrence and early identification for better prognosis

Status of Plasmodium Falciparum and Vivax in Jharkhand: A Five Year (2004-08) Retrospective Study at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi

ABSTRACT Malaria is well known for its fatalities worldwide. In India, it is still endemic in many areas where two species of Plasmodium namely Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are reported. P.vivax is widespread, creating lots of morbidities across the country. P. falciparum, on the other hand, though comparatively narrow in its infectious volume, is a serious cause of mortalities in India. A five year survey was conducted from 2004 to 2008 in a high malaria-hit district, Ranchi. Thick and thin blood smears were made at the Department of Clinical Pathology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where the microscopic examinations were carried out. The overall reported and examined cases at RIMS included 36643 suspected malaria cases, out of which, 21833(59.5%) were found positive. Out of these positive cases, 6842(31.3%) were confirmed as P. falciparum patients and 14991(68.6%) as P. vivax cases respectively. Number of negative cases was 14811 (40.4%). In this study, it was observed that after the year 2005, incidence of malaria suddenly dropped by 50% and remained almost static on the same level in the following years with only some seasonal variations. However, it was observed that P. falciparum steadily became more dangerous. It is therefore highly necessary to take immediate and effective measures to minimize the complications of P. falciparum along with P. vivax to prevent death toll in these areas

Ondansetron versus palonosetron: a comparative study on efficacy and safety in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a major complication in patients who undergo surgery under general anaesthesia. Various drug regimens and antiemetic interventions have been tried from time-to-time for prevention of PONV but with a variable success rate. This study compares the safety and efficacy of ondansetron and palonosetron in preventing PONV in such patients.Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 60 ASA grades - I and II patients of either sex, aged between 20 to 50 years, scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia, 30 of who received 4 mg ondansetron and the remaining 30 received 0.05 mg palonosetron intravenously 5 minutes before induction of anaesthesia. Postoperatively they were observed for 24 hours for complete response, any episodes of nausea and vomiting, their severity, need for rescue antiemetic and side effects. After the study, results were compiled and the data was analysed using Student’s T test. P value 0.5). Complete antiemetic response was 60% in ondansetron group and 83% in palonosetron group. There was no significant statistical difference between both the groups in causing headache (p >0.5) and dizziness (p >0.05).Conclusions: Our study concludes that the antiemetic efficacy is comparable for both ondansetron and palonosetron in the given doses in preventing PONV and none is superior. Both the study drugs had almost the same adverse effect profile

Climatic Variation and Its Impacts on Yield and Water Requirement of Crops in Indian Central Himalaya

Climate is most important factor affecting agriculture, and issues related to climate and its implications have attracted attention of policy makers globally. The farm sector, particularly marginal ecosystems in mountains are vulnerable because of unpredictable variation and severe sink limitations. Efforts to impart resilience to farm and its allied sector are an urgent need. The climatic parameters play very important role to determine type of crops, cattle rearing and the life style adopted by the people. Moreover, weather has a significant impact on crop growth and development. Weather plays a vital role and affects the production and productivity of the crops. According to an estimate, weather contributes 67% variation in productivity and rest of the factors (soil, nutrient and management practices etc.) accounts for 33%. Therefore, there is a need of in-depth analysis of each meteorological parameters and identification of their trend over the years in order to identify and adapt suitable agriculture practices, better adaptable crops, varieties and their duration, time of field preparation, sowing time and irrigation as per the climatic conditions of the region. This will lead farming community to plan strategies of agriculture operation to obtain optimum yield. The climatic data from the meteorological observatory of ICAR-VPKAS, Hawalbagh located at mid hill condition (1250 m amsl) were analyzed for different periods (annual, seasonal, monthly, weekly). It was revealed that rainfall is decreasing over the years but significant (P < 0.05) decrease was recorded at mid hills. The maximum temperature is increasing significantly (P < 0.05) during post-monsoon and winter season however decreasing in monsoon season whereas minimum temperature is decreasing round the year. These changes in rainfall and temperatures are affecting production and productivity of the crops, as hills are largely rainfed. In terms of crop water demand, there is no need to apply irrigation during the rainy season except the transplanted rice. However, during the winter season as there is more than 60% of water deficit to irrigate the crops. The proper understanding of climate is necessary to bring sustainability in hill agriculture by adjusting crop sowing window and other operations as per suitability of the climate

The type 1 diabetes gene TYK2 regulates beta-cell development and its responses to interferon-alpha

The TYK2 gene is associated with development of type 1 diabetes. Here the authors show that TYK2 regulates beta-cell development, but at the same time TYK2 inhibition in the islets prevents IFN alpha responses and enhances their survival against CD8(+) T-cell cytotoxicity; representing a potent therapeutic target to halt T1D progression. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that results in the destruction of insulin producing pancreatic beta-cells. One of the genes associated with T1D is TYK2, which encodes a Janus kinase with critical roles in type-Iota interferon (IFN-Iota) mediated intracellular signalling. To study the role of TYK2 in beta-cell development and response to IFN alpha, we generated TYK2 knockout human iPSCs and directed them into the pancreatic endocrine lineage. Here we show that loss of TYK2 compromises the emergence of endocrine precursors by regulating KRAS expression, while mature stem cell-islets (SC-islets) function is not affected. In the SC-islets, the loss or inhibition of TYK2 prevents IFN alpha-induced antigen processing and presentation, including MHC Class Iota and Class Iota Iota expression, enhancing their survival against CD8(+) T-cell cytotoxicity. These results identify an unsuspected role for TYK2 in beta-cell development and support TYK2 inhibition in adult beta-cells as a potent therapeutic target to halt T1D progression.Peer reviewe