Content adaptive single image interpolation based super resolution of compressed images

Image Super resolution is used to upscale the low resolution Images. It is also known as image upscaling .This paper focuses on upscaling of compressed images based on Interpolation techniques. A content adaptive interpolation method of image upscaling has been proposed. This interpolation based scheme is useful for single image based Super-resolution (SR) methods .The presented method works on horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions of an image separately and it is adaptive to the local content of an image. This method relies only on single image and uses the content of the original image only; therefore the proposed method is more practical and realistic. The simulation results have been compared to other standard methods with the help of various performance matrices like PSNR, MSE, MSSIM etc. which indicates the preeminence of the proposed method

Correlation of Glycated Hemoglobin with Oxidative Stress in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a heavy disease burden and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is considered to be evolving from a complex and multifactorial metabolic disorder to an inflammatory condition. The strong link between hyperglycemia and oxidative stress has long been established. Oxidative stress leads to the generation of inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species, which results in an inflammatory state, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. We aimed to correlate the levels of Glycated Hemoglobin with Oxidative Stress.This cross-sectional study included 200 subjects, 100 were type 2 diabetic patients and 100 were healthy non-diabetic individuals. The data were analyzed using a t test. The results showed that as the Glycated Hb increased, the levels of FBS, MDA increased and Serum SOD, Glutathione and Catalase levels decreased. The results showed a positive correlation between HbA1c and fasting blood glucose (r = 0.417, p= 0.000) and MDA (r= 0.340, p=0.000). Whereas negative correlation was observed between HbA1c and other antioxidant parameters, SOD (r= 0.025, p=0.803) Catalase (r= 0.096, p= 0.342), Glutathione (r= -0.164, p= 0.103). It is hereby concluded for the present study that when glycated Hb increases the natural antioxidants that is SOD, catalase and glutathione decrease to combact the increased formation of ROS. Serum MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation, increased with increased glycated Hb, and shows a positive correlation, indicating that lipid peroxidation increased, when glycation of Hb increased, thus depicting an increased chance of macrovascular complication in type 2 diabetics

Solid-State Fermentation of Carrot Pomace for the Production of Inulinase by Penicillium oxalicum BGPUP-4

Inulinaze su važna skupina industrijskih enzima što se koriste u proizvodnji kukuruznog sirupa i fruktooligosaharida. Polifruktan inulin uobičajeno se upotrebljava za proizvodnju inulinaza, vrlo skupih suspstrata. Raznovrsni se agroindustrijski otpad koristi za ekonomičnu proizvodnju inulinaza. U ovom je radu odabrana komina mrkve kao podloga za proizvodnju inulinaze fermentacijom na čvrstoj podlozi s pomoću plijesni Penicillium oxalicum BGPUP-4. Komina mrkve dobra je podloga za bioprocese jer je bogata topljivim i netopljivim ugljikohidratima. Optimalna proizvodnja inulinaze iz komine mrkve postignuta je pomoću centralno složenog rotacijskog dizajna i metodologije odzivnih površina. Provedeno je 15 eksperimenata za utvrđivanje optimalnog raspona triju nezavisnih varijabli za proizvodnju inulinaze, i to: udjela vlage od 70 do 90 %, vremena inkubacije od 4 do 6 dana, te pH-vrijednosti od 5,0 do 7,0. Za proizvodnju inulinaze pri temperaturi od 30 °C upotrijebljena je komina mrkve na čvrstoj podlozi koja sadržava 0,5 % inulina, 0,2 % NH4H2PO4, 0,2 % NaNO3, 0,2 % KH2PO4, 0,05 % MgSO4·7H2O i 0,001 % FeSO4·7H2O. Pri optimalnim uvjetima (udjel vlage od 90 %, vrijeme inkubacije od 4 dana i pH-vrijednost od 7,0) proizvedeno je 322,10 IU inulinaze po gramu suhe tvari. Omjer inulinaze i invertaze (I/S) također je bio velik (3,38), što upućuje na zaključak da enzim ima inulinaznu aktivnost. Koeficijent višestruke korelacije (R) za proizvodnju inulinaze bio je 0,9995; a za omjer I/S 0,9947. Vrijednost R blizu 1 potvrđuje odličnu korelaciju između eksperimentalnih i predviđenih rezultataInulinases are an important class of industrial enzymes which are used for the production of high-fructose syrup and fructooligosaccharides. Inulin, a polyfructan, is generally employed for the production of inulinase, which is a very expensive substrate. A number of agroindustrial residues have been used for cost-effective production of inulinases. In the present study, carrot pomace was selected as a substrate for the production of inulinase by Penicillium oxalicum BGPUP-4 in solid-state fermentation. Carrot pomace is one of the good substrates for bioprocesses, because it is rich in soluble and insoluble carbohydrates. A central composite rotatable design (CCRD) used in response surface methodology was employed for the optimal production of inulinase from carrot pomace. Using CCRD, 15 runs were practiced to optimize the range of three independent variables: moisture content (70-90 %), incubation time (4-6 days) and pH (5.0-7.0) for inulinase production. Carrot pomace supplemented with 0.5 % inulin as an inducer, 0.2 % NH4H2PO4, 0.2 % NaNO3, 0.2 % KH2PO4, 0.05 % MgSO4·7H2O and 0.001 % FeSO4·7H2O was used for the production of inulinase in solid-state fermentation at 30 °C. Inulinase production (322.10 IU per g of dry substrate) was obtained under the optimized conditions, i.e. moisture content of 90 %, incubation time 4 days and pH=7.0. The corresponding inulinase/invertase (I/S) ratio (3.38) was also high, which indicates the inulolytic nature of the enzyme. Multiple correlation coefficients R for inulinase production and I/S ratio were 0.9995 and 0.9947, respectively. The R value very close to one indicates an excellent correlation between experimental and predicted results

Sex Differences in the Fecal Microbiome and Hippocampal Glial Morphology Following Diet and Antibiotic Treatment

Rising obesity rates have become a major public health concern within the United States. Understanding the systemic and neural effects of obesity is crucial in designing preventive and therapeutic measures. In previous studies, administration of a high fat diet has induced significant weight gain for mouse models of obesity. Interestingly, sex differences in high-fat diet-induced weight gain have been observed, with female mice gaining significantly less weight compared to male mice on the same high-fat diet. It has also been observed that consumption of a high-fat diet can increase neurogliosis, but the mechanism by which this occurs is still not fully understood. Recent research has suggested that the gut microbiome may mediate diet-induced glial activation. The current study aimed to (1) analyze changes to the gut microbiome following consumption of a high fat (HF) diet as well as antibiotic treatment, (2) evaluate hippocampal microgliosis and astrogliosis, and (3) identify sex differences within these responses. We administered a low fat (Research Diets D12450 K) or high fat diet (Research Diets D12451) to male and female C57Bl/6 mice for sixteen weeks. Mice received an antibiotic cocktail containing 0.5g/L of vancomycin, 1.0 g/L ampicillin, 1.0 g/L neomycin, and 1.0 g/L metronidazole in their drinking water during the last six weeks of the study and were compared to control mice receiving normal drinking water throughout the study. We observed a significant reduction in gut microbiome diversity for groups that received the antibiotic cocktail, as determined by Illumina next-generation sequencing. Male mice fed the HF diet (± antibiotics) had significantly greater body weights compared to all other groups. And, female mice fed the low fat (LF) diet and administered antibiotics revealed significantly decreased microgliosis and astrogliosis in the hippocampus compared to LF-fed females without antibiotics. Interestingly, male mice fed the LF diet and administered antibiotics revealed significantly increased microgliosis, but decreased astrogliosis, compared to LF-fed males without antibiotics. The observed sex differences in LF-fed mice given antibiotics brings forward questions about sex differences in nutrient metabolism, gut microbiome composition, and response to antibiotics

Divergent dimensions of radicalization risk: migration and violent extremism in Sabah, Malaysia

This desk study is the product of a collaborative effort undertaken by researchers at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland, the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), and the Universiti of Malaysia Sabah (UMS). It endeavors to provide an account of local dynamics of violent extremism in the Sulu basin and vulnerabilities exploited by regional violent extremist organizations (VEOs) that make the region a hotbed of terrorist recruitment and training. Our initial research suggests that, despite the deficiency of extant research, the threat is especially high in the Malaysian state of Sabah, given its geographic positioning on the northeastern edge of the island of Borneo, sitting just across from western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, where a resilient and violent Moro separatist movement (Bangsamoro), as well as a homegrown jihadist movement, have taken root. Recently, these movements have aligned ideologically with the Islamic State (IS), and receive financing, training, and weapons to carry out violent extremism and terrorist objectives in the region. Moreover, VEOs actively exploit existing security vulnerabilities and common drivers of violent extremism in the region. In order to provide a holistic picture of the current state of violent extremism in the region, our research takes a regionalist approach that examines regional violent extremism movements, not as mere products of transnational jihadi activity as often argued, but rather as products of regional history and local political, ethno-religious, and sociocultural dynamics that became, often in a reductive manner, associated with global extremist movements. Sabah’s close proximity to the Philippines and Indonesia, combined with longstanding trade routes, porous borders, and cross-border familial ties, facilitate high levels of irregular migrant flows between countries through clandestine channels. VEOs not only use Sabah as a transit point but also actively exploit these unique circumstances and grievances to radicalize and recruit impressionable Malaysians and Filipino expatriates living in Saba

Performance Evaluation of various Image De-noising Techniques

Abstract. The process of removing noise from the original image is still a demanding problem for researchers. There have been several algorithms and each has its assumptions, merits, and demerits. The prime focus of this paper is related to the pre processing of an image before it can be used in applications. The pre processing is done by de-noising of images. In order to achieve these de-noising algorithms, filtering approach and wavelet based approach are used and performs their comparative study. Different noises such as Gaussian noise, salt and pepper noise, speckle noise are used. The wavelet based approach has been proved to be the best in de-noising images corrupted with Gaussian noise, salt and pepper noise and speckle noise A quantitative measure of comparison is provided by the parameters like Peak signal to noise ratio, Root mean square error, Entropy and Correlation of the image

Triblock Conjugates: Identification of a Highly Potent Antiinflammatory Agent

Rationally designed conjugates of chrysin, indole, and barbituric acid were synthesized and screened for their antiinflammatory activities through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Improved over the previously reported chrysin–indole–pyrazole conjugates and also in comparison to the chrysin, indole, and barbituric acid based COX-2 inhibitors, the new compounds have displayed significantly better IC₅₀ for COX-2 and some of them also exhibited inhibition of 5-LOX enzyme. For one of the test compounds, IC₅₀ for COX-2 and 5-LOX was 1 and 1.5 nM, respectively. Investigations of Swiss Albino mice through capsaicin induced paw lickings and dextran induced inflammation showed that these compounds possess appreciable analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. <i>K</i>_i, <i>K</i>_a, and Δ<i>G</i> for the enzyme–compound interaction were calculated and found to be in agreement with the biological data. The experimental results were supported by the molecular docking studies of the compounds in the active site of COX-2 and 5-LOX. Overall, a highly promising antiinflammatory agent was identified

Role of water in cyclooxygenase catalysis and design of anti-inflammatory agents targeting two sites of the enzyme

Abstract While designing the anti-inflammatory agents targeting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), we first identified a water loop around the heme playing critical role in the enzyme catalysis. The results of molecular dynamic studies supported by the strong hydrogen-bonding equilibria of the participating atoms, radical stabilization energies, the pKa of the H-donor/acceptor sites and the cyclooxygenase activity of pertinent muCOX-2 ravelled the working of the water–peptide channel for coordinating the flow of H·/electron between the heme and Y385. Based on the working of H·/electron transfer channel between the 12.5 Å distant radical generation and the radical disposal sites, a series of molecules was designed and synthesized. Among this category of compounds, an appreciably potent anti-inflammatory agent exhibiting IC50 0.06 μM against COX-2 and reversing the formalin induced analgesia and carageenan induced inflammation in mice by 90% was identified. Further it was revealed that, justifying its bidentate design, the compound targets water loop (heme bound site) and the arachidonic acid binding pockets of COX-2