ACCURATE TRACKING OF OBJECTS USING LEVEL SETS

Our current work presents an approach to tackle the challenging task of tracking objects in Internet videos taken from large web repositories such as YouTube. Such videos more often than not, are captured by users using their personal hand-held cameras and cellphones and hence suffer from problems such as poor quality, camera jitter and unconstrained lighting and environmental settings. Also, it has been observed that events being recorded by such videos usually contain objects moving in an unconstrained fashion. Hence, tracking objects in Internet videos is a very challenging task in the field of computer vision since there is no a-priori information about the types of objects we might encounter, their velocities while in motion or intrinsic camera parameters to estimate the location of object in each frame. Hence, in this setting it is clearly not possible to model objects as single homogenous distributions in feature space. The feature space itself cannot be fixed since different objects might be discriminable in different sub-spaces. Keeping these challenges in mind, in the current proposed technique, each object is divided into multiple fragments or regions and each fragment is represented in Gaussian Mixture model (GMM) in a joint feature-spatial space. Each fragment is automatically selected from the image data by adapting to image statistics using a segmentation technique. We introduce the concept of strength map which represents a probability distribution of the image statistics and is used to detecting the object. We extend our goal of tracking object to tracking them with accurate boundaries thereby making the current task more challenging. We solve this problem by modeling the object using a level sets framework, which helps in preserving accurate boundaries of the object and as well in modeling the target object and background. These extracted object boundaries are learned dynamically over time, enabling object tracking even during occlusion. Our proposed algorithm performs significantly better than any of the existing object modeling techniques. Experimental results have been shown in support of this claim. Apart from tracking, the present algorithm can also be applied to different scenarios. One such application is contour-based object detection. Also, the idea of strength map was successfully applied to track objects such as vessels and vehicles on a wide range of videos, as a part of the summer internship program

Evaluation of effect of brainstem evoked response audiometry in subclinical hypothyroid patients in correlation with thyroglobulin antibody, thyroid peroxidase antibody and lipid profile

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism is one of the most important disorders of thyroid gland. It is known to be associated with impairment of hearing. Subclinical or early hypothyroidism is 14 times more common than overt hypothyroidism. There is increase in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) but free Triiodothyronine( T3) and Thyroxine( T4) levels are normal. In subclinical hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a cause for 50-80% of cases. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) are present in >90% of patients with autoimmue hypothyroidism. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate audiologic function in subclinical hypothyroid patients by Brainstem evoked response audiometry( BERA) OBJECTIVES : To assess the levels of TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 in newly diagnosed subclinical Hypothyroidism patients. To measure Thyroglobulin antibody, Thyroid peroxidase antibody levels, Lipid profile and Brainstem evoked response audiometry if TSH>5.1mIU/L, fT4>0.93 to 1.7 ng/dl, fT3- >3.1 to 6.8pmol/L. Compare all the parameters with healthy age and sex matched controls and to find the correlation of Brainstem evoked response audiometry with thyroid antibodies and lipid profile MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 newly diagnosed patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were compared with 30 control subjects. Free T3, Free T4, TSH, Thyroglobulin antibody and Thyroid peroxidase antibody levels and lipid profile were measured by Electro chemiluminescence immuno assay. Brainstem evoked response audiometry was recorded by using computerised Neurostim, Medicaid system. Those who are presenting with elevated TSH, normal Free T3 and Free T4 were included in my study. Medical disorder, neurological disorder and pregnancy were exclusion criteria. The study was conducted in Institute of physiology and Experimental medicine and Medical Endocrine Clinic in Madras Medical College. The data was analyzed by Unpaired student ‘t’ test. RESULTS: Thyroid stimulating hormone, Body mass index, Thyroglobulin antibody and Thyroid peroxidase antibody, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein(LDL)cholesterol were significantly (<0.05) different between subclinical hypothyroidism patients and control group. Wave V in BERA was significantly (<0.05) different between subclinical hypothyroidism patients and control group. There was a positive correlation between BERA wave v with Thyroglobulin antibody and Thyroid peroxidase antibody and negative correlation with total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. CONCLUSION: Autoimmunity is a cause for subclinical hypothyroidism which is clearly shown by elevated levels of Thyroglobulin antibody and Thyroid peroxidase antibody. Central nervous system and hearing is affected in subclinical hypothyroidism which is shown by changes in wave V in BERA. Elevated levels of antibody are a cause for changes in BERA it leads to central nervous system and hearing defect. By using simple non-invasive method (BERA) we can identify central nervous system dysfunction at earlier stages in subclinical Hypothyroidism

Preparation and Standardisation of Ayurvedic Polyherbal Formulation: Patoladi Kvatha Churna for Skin Diseases

Raw materials standardisation was done to confirm the absence of adulterants in the crude drugs and thereby it ensures a quality product. Experiments for all physicochemical parameters were performed for both the raw materials as well as the finished products as per API and results obtained were verified with the limits and proved to be successful. An extensive toxicological evaluation was done using the latest equipments to ensure the safety profile of the formulation. Total bacterial count and total fungal count was almost nil. This showed that the formulation is free of pathogenic organisms. The levels of heavy metals, pesticides, Aflatoxins were also determined. The results obtained were appreciable. Estimation of sodium content in the formulation revealed that the percentage of sodium is within the specified limits. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening was performed for the raw materials as well as the formulation. It was found to contain almost all the major Phytoconstituents. TLC studies were performed for individual crude drug. The Rf values of formulation are compared with the Rf value of crude drug, thereby ensuring the presence of the individual herb in the formulation. GC-MS analysis was done to identify the presence of various chemical structures with the help of the peaks obtained. HPTLC studies were also done to get the finger printing of the formulation. Quercetin used as bio marker. Finger printing shows the excellent presence of quercetin in the PKC. In vitro anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity was performed by Disc Diffusion and Well Diffusion method. Since five of the raw material contains flavanoidal content which was revealed by preliminary phytochemical screening and HPTLC studies. The formulation posses an excellent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity. Thus an Indian traditional official Ayurvedic formulation “PATOLADI KVATHA CHURNA” has been standardised Pharcognostically, phytochemical and even pharmacologically. These studies will be helpful to increase the confidence among the people to use this formulation for various disorders

Formulation Development and Characterization of Simvastatin Loaded Long Acting Microspheres

In this work only Physico-chemical characterization and in-vitro evaluation of Simvastatin with various class of polymers were performed. From the in-vitro and stability studies its concluded for a short‑term release requirement upto 16 hrs HPMC polymer loaded simvastatin microspheres can be recommended. For intermediate drug release over a period time of 24 hrs Ethyl cellulose loaded simvastatin microspheres can be recommended. For long term requirement of therapeutic need its promised with Carbopol 940 and PLGA microspheres (upto 48 hrs ).The controlled release behavior attained with the aid of sodium alginate which is incorporated to the formulation to provide the controlled release. The prepared formulation of microsphere is designed to administer via tablet by compression, capsule filling method and injectable formulation (with expected particle size). Based on the above mentioned reasons such microsphere drug delivery system is presently need for successful drug delivery in severe atherosclerotic /hyperlipidemic patients. Further studies can be performed to develop the product extreme consumption of commercial usage

Tumor escape and progression under immune pressure.

Although cancers develop and progress in immunocompetent hosts, immunological therapies for cancer have been proposed as alternative or complementary approaches to more standard therapy. It was initially thought that tumors were silent to the immune system, and that breaking immunological tolerance could result in immune-mediated tumor rejection. However, we have learned that cancer patients have preexisting immune responses against their tumor antigens which, nevertheless, fail to protect them, in part because of increased activity of the immune suppressor cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Attempts to develop combinatorial therapies by depleting suppressor cells or blocking suppressor pathways and at the same time actively inducing immune responses in vivo or adoptively transferring tumor-specific T cells have largely failed. Very limited success has been achieved only against melanoma, using adoptive T-cell therapy, or prostate cancer, using a vaccine which improves patient survival but has no apparent inhibitory effect on disease progression. Further progress in the immunotherapy of cancer has been halted because of a poor understanding of the cellular components of the immune responses working together in favor of or against the tumors, as well as our inability to reliably reprogram immune responses towards the most effective phenotypes against cancer. This special issue is focused on understanding the escape mechanisms that malignant cells develop to hijack antitumor immune responses as well as strategies to overcome tumor escape. Four main areas that are covered in this issue include the following. Opposing Functions of the Immune System in Tumor Inhibition and Tumor ProgressionRobert Schreiber proposed the term “cancer immunoediting” in order to broadly describe the dual host-protecting and tumor-sculpting actions of the immune system that not only survey for, and eliminate, nascent malignant cells but also shape neoplastic disease through equilibrium and escape mechanisms. In this issue, M. Aris et al. discuss the dual function of the immune system in controlling and promoting tumor progression in cutaneous melanoma. They propose that tumor evolution is because of a continuous feedback between tumor cells and their environment, and thus different combinatorial therapeutic approaches can be implemented according to the tumor stage. A. Amedei et al. discuss recent knowledge on the contribution of T cells in oncogenesis. They review the different types, “friend or foe,” of T-cell response in gastric cancer. Tumor-Associated Modulation of Immune Checkpoint MoleculesUpon activation, T cells develop negative feedback regulatory mechanisms in order to avoid overstimulation. These include the expression of checkpoint molecules such as PD-1 and CTLA-4. T cells that recognize and respond to tumor antigens produce IFN-γ. A dual function of IFN-γ is the induction of apoptosis in target cells and upregulation of PD-L1 that interacts with PD-1 positive T cells, thereby resulting in the exhaustion of tumor-reactive T cells. Expression of CTLA-4 on activated T cells also results in T-cell anergy upon interaction with costimulatory molecules on DCs. S. Sapozink et al. describe new immunomodulatory approaches currently in the development pipeline, with focus on the novel CEACAM1 immune checkpoint, and compare its potential to the extensively described lymphocyte inhibitory targets, CTLA4 and PD-1. E. Rozali et al. provide an extensive review of the literature on the immunoregulatory role of PD-L2 in cancer-induced immune suppression and discuss the results of recent studies targeting PD-L2 in cancer. L. Cruz-Merino et al. discuss immune escape mechanisms in Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and summarize the clinical, histological, pathological, and biological factors in HL, with special emphasis on the improvement of prognosis and their impact on treatment strategies. L. Farnault et al. introduce various mechanisms involved in the escape of hematological malignancies from NK-cell surveillance. These include NK-cell qualitative and qualitative deficiencies that occur through modulating the inhibitory and activating stimuli. Tumor-Induced Immune SuppressionMalignant cells produce cytokines and chemokines that facilitate the expansion or differentiation of immune suppressor cells such as Tregs, MDSC, and M2 macrophages. G. Zhou and H. Levitsky summarize the findings from some recent preclinical and clinical studies, focusing on how tumor cells advance their survival and expansion by hijacking therapy-induced immune effector mechanisms that would otherwise mediate their destruction. A particularly interesting notion that is touched upon involves tumor-independent treatment-induced homeostatic counter-regulation. M. Jadus et al. cover the escape mechanisms of bronchogenic lung cancer that must be overcome before they can be successfully treated. They also review the history of immunotherapy directed towards lung cancers. N. Hao et al. discuss the role of tumor-associated macrophages including M1 and M2 subsets during tumour progression and metastasis, highlighting the immunosuppressive role of M2 macrophages. V. Levina et al. investigate the role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) in tumor escape and metastasis using 4T1 mammary carcinoma model. They show that IDO1 can not only suppress antitumour immune responses but also promote tumour cell proliferation. Improved Immunotherapeutic Strategies to Overcome Tumor EscapeImmunotherapy combined with blockade of immune suppressor pathways has been developed to overcome tumor-induced immune suppression. Cornelissen et al. discuss the interplay between a dual function of the immune responses against mesothelioma which can either inhibit or stimulate tumor growth and review the challenges associated with immunotherapy. They also discuss possible strategies and opportunities to overcome tumor escape. R. Casalegno-Garduño et al. analyze the expression of the leukemia-associated antigen receptor for hyaluronan acid-mediated motility (RHAMM) in patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Their results suggest that immunotherapies like peptide vaccination or adoptive transfer of RHAMM-specific T cells might improve the immune response and the clinical outcome in AML/MDS patients. S.Wallner et al. summarize the current knowledge about the negative regulatory role of Cbl-b in T-cell activation and its potential therapeutic implications for cancer immunotherapy. H. Nagai et al. demonstrate that sorafenib-induced Th1 dominance can prevent the escape of tumor cells from the host immune system in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC).Overall, this special issue provides a well-rounded synopsis of representative research efforts addressing the issues related to “tumor escape and progression under immune pressure.

Epicatechins Purified from Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Differentially Suppress Growth of Gender-Dependent Human Cancer Cell Lines

The anticancer potential of catechins derived from green tea is not well understood, in part because catechin-related growth suppression and/or apoptosis appears to vary with the type and stage of malignancy as well as with the type of catechin. This in vitro study examined the biological effects of epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), EC 3-gallate (ECG) and EGC 3-gallate (EGCG) in cell lines from human gender-specific cancers. Cell lines developed from organ-confined (HH870) and metastatic (DU145) prostate cancer, and from moderately (HH450) and poorly differentiated (HH639) epithelial ovarian cancer were grown with or without EC, EGC, ECG or EGCG. When untreated cells reached confluency, viability and doubling time were measured for treated and untreated cells. Whereas EC treatment reduced proliferation of HH639 cells by 50%, EGCG suppressed proliferation of all cell lines by 50%. ECG was even more potent: it inhibited DU145, HH870, HH450 and HH639 cells at concentrations of 24, 27, 29 and 30 µM, whereas EGCG inhibited DU145, HH870, HH450 and HH639 cells at concentrations 89, 45, 62 and 42 µM. When compared with EGCG, ECG more effectively suppresses the growth of prostate cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines derived from tumors of patients with different stages of disease

Development and Validation of a Specific Stability Indicating High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for Valsartan

A stability-indicating HPLC assay method has been developed and validated for valsartan in bulk drug and pharmaceutical dosage forms. An isocratic RP-HPLC was achieved on Waters 2695 using Symmetry C18 (250mm × 4.6mm × 5μ) column with the mobile phase consisting of 0.02 mM sodium dihydrogen ortho-phosphate, pH adjusted to 2.5 using ortho-phosphoric acid (solvent A), and acetonitrile (solvent B) in the ratio of 58:42 %v/v. The stress testing of valsartan was carried out under acidic, alkaline, oxidative, thermal, and photolytic conditions. Valsartan was well resolved from its degradation products. The proposed method was validated as per ICH guidelines. The method was found to be suitable for the quality control of valsartan in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms as well as the stability-indicating studies

Novel Materials for High-Performance Energy Storage Devices

The realm of energy storage devices is witnessing a paradigm shift, driven by the exploration of novel materials. This review delves into the transformative potential of unconventional materials in enhancing the performance and versatility of energy storage systems. We discuss the potential of a hierarchical carbon material derived from E. coli cells, graphene oxide, and iron ion, underscoring its green credentials and promising attributes. Further, we highlight the transformative impact of paper as a material platform, tracing its evolution from a historical medium to a contemporary game-changer in microfluidic devices and microelectronics. The integration of electronics on paper reveals the potential of paper-based devices in diagnostics, MEMS, and energy storage. Collectively, these innovations illuminate the vast potential of avant-garde materials in revolutionising energy storage solutions, bridging the gap between cost-effectiveness and high performance. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these groundbreaking innovations, fostering a deeper understanding of the future trajectory of energy storage research

Ramifications of the HLA-I Allelic Reactivity of Anti-HLA-E*01:01 and Anti-HLA-E*01:03 Heavy Chain Monoclonal Antibodies in Comparison with Anti-HLA-I IgG Reactivity in Non-Alloimmunized Males, Melanoma-Vaccine Recipients, and End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

Serum anti-HLA-I IgG are present in non-alloimmunized males, cancer patients, and transplant recipients. Anti-HLA-I antibodies are also present in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), prepared from the plasma of thousands of healthy donors. However, the HLA-Ia reactivity of IVIg diminishes markedly after passing through HLA-E HC-affinity columns, suggesting that the HLA-I reactivity is due to antibodies formed against HLA-E. Hence, we examined whether anti-HLA-E antibodies can react to HLA-I alleles. Monoclonal IgG antibodies (mAbs) against HCs of two HLA-E alleles were generated in Balb/C mice. The antibodies were analyzed using multiplex bead assays on a Luminex platform for HLA-I reactivity. Beads coated with an array of HLA heterodimers admixed with HCs (LABScreen) were used to examine the binding of IgG to different HLA-Ia (31-HLA-A, 50-HLA-B, and 16-HLA-C) and Ib (2-HLA-E, one each of HLA-F and HLA-G) alleles. A striking diversity in the HLA-Ia and/or HLA-Ib reactivity of mAbs was observed. The number of the mAbs reactive to (1) only HLA-E (n = 25); (2) all HLA-Ib isomers (n = 8); (3) HLA-E and HLA-B (n = 5); (4) HLA-E, HLA-B, and HLA-C (n = 30); (5) HLA-E, HLA-A*1101, HLA-B, and HLA-C (n = 83); (6) HLA-E, HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C (n = 54); and (7) HLA-Ib and HLA-Ia (n = 8), in addition to four other minor groups. Monospecificity and polyreactivity were corroborated by HLA-E monospecific and HLA-I shared sequences. The diverse HLA-I reactivity of the mAbs are compared with the pattern of HLA-I reactivity of serum-IgG in non-alloimmunized males, cancer patients, and ESKD patients. The findings unravel the diagnostic potential of the HLA-E monospecific-mAbs and immunomodulatory potentials of IVIg highly mimicking HLA-I polyreactive-mAbs