WTA/TLA: A UAV-captured dataset for semantic segmentation of energy infrastructure

Automated inspection of energy infrastructure with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is becoming increasingly important, exhibiting significant advantages over manual inspection, including improved scalability, cost/time effectiveness, and risks reduction. Although recent technological advancements enabled the collection of an abundance of vision data from UAVs’ sensors, significant efforts are still required from experts to interpret manually the collected data and assess the condition of energy infrastructure. Thus, semantic understanding of vision data collected from UAVs during inspection is a critical prerequisite for performing autonomous robotic tasks. However, the lack of labeled data introduces challenges and limitations in evaluating the performance of semantic prediction algorithms. To this end, we release two novel semantic datasets (WTA and TLA) of aerial images captured from power transmission networks and wind turbine farms, collected during real inspection scenarios with UAVs. We also propose modifications to existing state-of-the-art semantic segmentation CNNs to achieve improved trade-off between accuracy and computational complexity. Qualitative and quantitative experiments demonstrate both the challenging properties of the provided dataset and the effectiveness of the proposed networks in this domain.The dataset is available at: https://github.com/gzamps/wta_tla_dataset

Daily volume, intraday and overnight returns for volatility prediction: profitability or accuracy?

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the relative ability of three information sets—daily trading volume, intraday returns and overnight returns—to predict equity volatility. We investigate the extent to which statistical accuracy of one-day-ahead forecasts translates into economic gains for technical traders. Various profitability criteria and utility-based switching fees indicate that the largest gains stem from combining historical daily returns with volume information. Using common statistical loss functions, the largest degree of predictive power is found instead in intraday returns. Our analysis thus reinforces the view that statistical significance does not have a direct mapping onto economic value. As a byproduct, we show that buying the stock when the forecasted volatility is extremely high appears largely profitable, suggesting a strong return-risk relationship in turbulent conditions

A Critical Tryptophan and Ca2+ in Activation and Catalysis of TPPI, the Enzyme Deficient in Classic Late-Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

Tripeptidyl aminopeptidase I (TPPI) is a crucial lysosomal enzyme that is deficient in the fatal neurodegenerative disorder called classic late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL). It is involved in the catabolism of proteins in the lysosomes. Recent X-ray crystallographic studies have provided insights into the structural/functional aspects of TPPI catalysis, and indicated presence of an octahedrally coordinated Ca(2+).Purified precursor and mature TPPI were used to study inhibition by NBS and EDTA using biochemical and immunological approaches. Site-directed mutagenesis with confocal imaging technique identified a critical W residue in TPPI activity, and the processing of precursor into mature enzyme.NBS is a potent inhibitor of the purified TPPI. In mammalian TPPI, W542 is critical for tripeptidyl peptidase activity as well as autocatalysis. Transfection studies have indicated that mutants of the TPPI that harbor residues other than W at position 542 have delayed processing, and are retained in the ER rather than transported to lysosomes. EDTA inhibits the autocatalytic processing of the precursor TPPI.We propose that W542 and Ca(2+) are critical for maintaining the proper tertiary structure of the precursor proprotein as well as the mature TPPI. Additionally, Ca(2+) is necessary for the autocatalytic processing of the precursor protein into the mature TPPI. We have identified NBS as a potent TPPI inhibitor, which led in delineating a critical role for W542 residue. Studies with such compounds will prove valuable in identifying the critical residues in the TPPI catalysis and its structure-function analysis

Using human-in-the-loop and explainable AI to envisage new future work practices

In this paper, we discuss the trends and challenges of the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods in the workplace. An important aspect towards creating positive AI futures in the workplace is the design of fair, reliable and trustworthy AI systems which aim to augment human performance and perception, instead of replacing them by acting in an automatic and non-transparent way. Research in Human-AI Interaction has proposed frameworks and guidelines to design transparent and trustworthy human-AI interactions. Considering such frameworks, we discuss the potential benefits of applying human-in-the-loop (HITL) and explainable AI (XAI) methods to define a new design space for the future of work. We illustrate how such methods can create new interactions and dynamics between human users and AI in future work practices. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Owner/Author.Human Information Communication Desig

Oxidation chemistry of 5,6-dihydroxy-2-methylindole.

In aqueous buffer at neutral pHs. 5,6-dihydroxy-2-methylindole (2) is rapidly oxidised by the peroxidase/H2O2 system to give in the early phases a complex mixture of oligomers, the major of which were isolated as the O-acetyl derivatives. Five of these were formulated as the 3,3′-biindolyl 3, the isomeric dimers 4–6 and trimer 9, arising by coupling of the indole ring at the nuclear positions, whereas the remaining ones were assigned structures 7–8, marked by methylene bridges between the indole moieties, and notably 10, featuring a tetrahydrocyclopentadiindole ring system

A Patient with Cryoglobulinemic Membranoproliferative GN (MPGN) Who Survived COVID-19 Disease: Case Presentation and Current Data of COVID-19 Infection in Dialysis and Transplanted Patients in Greece

The evolving pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 has posed a substantial health risk worldwide. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the clinical course and the therapeutic management of patients with chronic kidney disease and COVID-19 infection. To date, most evidence has come from renal transplantation, with about 45 patients reported thus far, and the current data from the ERA-EDTA (ERACODA) registry for transplanted patients and patients on Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT); as for those with glomerular diseases, data are lacking. Herein, we report the case of a 62-year-old patient with severe membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis who had been receiving a high burden of immunosuppression until four months before the COVID-19 infection. He developed severe disease with acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. After treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, despite his low chances, he gradually recovered and survived. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the few reported patients with glomerulonephritis who had COVID-19 Besides our single case with glomerulonephritis early during the disease outbreak, the very low prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the country's transplant recipients (0.038%) and dialysis patients (0.24%) reflects the impact of the rapid implementation of social distancing rules as well as of preventive measures for disease control in the hospitals and dialysis units in our country

‘How Would you Score Yourself?’: The Effect of Self-assessment Strategy Through Robots on Children’s Motivation and Performance in Piano Practice

This research examines how to design social robots to support self-regulated learning skills for piano practice. More specifically, a social robot is used to provide feedback to children and initiate self-assessment. To assess the impact of this approach on children’s motivation and performance, we conducted an experiment in a music school where 50 children practiced with both a self-assessment and a non-evaluative robot. Results showed that when the children interacted with the self-assessment robot they had higher motivation and better performance than when they interacted with the non-evaluative robot. Furthermore, interaction effects were found between the robot conditions, the children’s learning stages, and their gender regarding their motivation and rhythm performance. Overall, the study demonstrates a positive influence of robot-initiated self-assessment on children’s musical instrument practice and provided insights for personalized child-robot interaction design.Human Information Communication Desig

LYRM7 - associated complex III deficiency: A clinical, molecular genetic, MR tomographic, and biochemical study.

LYRM7 is involved in the last steps of mitochondrial complex III assembly where it acts as a chaperone for the Rieske iron‑sulfur (Fe-S) protein in the mitochondrial matrix. Using exome sequencing, we identified homozygosity for a splice site destroying 4 base pair deletion in LYRM7 in a child with recurrent lactic acidotic crises and distinct early-onset leukencephalopathy. Sanger sequencing showed variant segregation in similarly affected family members. Functional analyses revealed a reduced amount of the Rieske Fe-S protein, which was restored after re-expression of LYRM7. Our data provide further evidence for the importance of LYRM7 for mitochondrial function and emphasise the importance of whole exome sequencing in the diagnosis of rare mitochondrial diseases

Hepatocerebral form of mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome: Novel MPV17 mutations

Background: Autosomal recessive mutations in MPV17 (OMIM *137960) have been identified in the hepatocerebral form of mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDS). Objective: To describe the clinical, morphologic, and genetic findings in 3 children with MPV17-related MDS from 2 unrelated families. Design: Case report. Setting: Academic research. Main Outcome Measures: We identified 3 novel pathogenic mutations in 3 children. Results: Two children were homozygous for nonsense mutation p.W120X. A third child was compound heterozygous for missense mutation p.G24W and for a macrodeletion spanning MPV17 exon 8. All patients demonstrated lactic acidosis, hypoglycemia, hepatomegaly, and progressive liver failure. Neurologic symptoms manifested at a later stage of the disease. Death occurred within the first year of life in all 3 patients. Conclusions: These data confirm that MPV17 mutations are associated with a 2-stage syndrome. The first symptoms are metabolic and rapidly progress to hepatic failure. This stage is followed by neurologic involvement affecting the central and peripheral systems. \ua92008 American Medical Association. All rights reserved