Sub-Doppler Molecular-Iodine Transitions near the Dissociation Limit (523–498 nm)

A widely tunable and high-resolution spectrometer based on a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser was used to explore sub-Doppler transitions of iodine molecules in the wavelength range 523–498 nm. The wavelength dependence of the hyperfine transition linewidth of iodine was mapped out in this region, and the narrowest linewidth was ∼4 kHz near 508 nm. The hyperfine-resolved patterns were found to be largely modified toward the dissociation limit. The observed excellent signal-to-noise ratio should lead to high-quality optical frequency standards that are better than those of the popular 532-nm system

Backpropagation Neural Ensemble for Localizing and Recognizing Non-Standardized Malaysia’s Car Plates

In this paper, we describe a research project that autonomously localizes and recognizes non-standardized Malaysian’s car plates using conventional Backpropagation algorithm (BPP) in combination with Ensemble Neural Network (ENN). We compared the results with the results obtained using simple Feed-Forward Neural Network (FFNN). This research aims to solve four main issues; (1) localization of car plates that has the same colour with the vehicle colour, (2) detection and recognition of car plates with varying sizes, (3) detection and recognition of car plates with different font types, and (4) detection and recognition of non-standardized car plates. The non-standardized Malaysian’s car plates are different from the normal plate as they contain italic characters, a combination of cursive characters, and different font types. The experimental results show that the combination of backpropagation and ENN can be effectively used to solve these four issues. The combination of BPP and ENN’s algorithm achieved a localization rate of 98% and a 97% in recognition rate. On the other hand, the combination of backpropagation and simple FFNN recorded a 96% recognition rate

Absolute-Frequency Measurement of the Iodine-Based Length Standard at 514.67 nm

The absolute frequency of the length standard at 514.67 nm based on the molecular iodine (127I 2) transition of the P(13) 43-0 component a3 is measured using a self-referenced femtosecond optical comb. This frequency-based technique improves measurement precision more than 100 times compared with previous wavelength-based results. Power- and pressure-related frequency shifts have been carefully studied. The measured absolute frequency is 71.8±1.5 kHz higher than the internationally accepted value of 582490603.37±0.15 MHz, adopted by the Comité International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM) in 1997

Backpropagation neural ensemble for localizing and recognizing non-standardized Malaysia’s car plates

In this paper, we describe a research project that autonomously localizes and recognizes non-standardized Malaysian’s car plates using conventional Backpropagation algorithm (BPP) in combination with Ensemble Neural Network (ENN). We compared the results with the results obtained using simple Feed-Forward Neural Network (FFNN). This research aims to solve four main issues; (1) localization of car plates that has the same colour with the vehicle colour, (2) detection and recognition of car plates with varying sizes, (3) detection and recognition of car plates with different font types, and (4) detection and recognition of non-standardized car plates. The non-standardized Malaysian’s car plates are different from the normal plate as they contain italic characters, a combination of cursive characters, and different font types. The experimental results show that the combination of backpropagation and ENN can be effectively used to solve these four issues. The combination of BPP and ENN’s algorithm achieved a localization rate of 98% and a 97% in recognition rate. On the other hand, the combination of backpropagation and simple FFNN recorded a 96% recognition rate

Elliptic gradient estimates and Liouville theorems for a weighted nonlinear parabolic equation

Let $(M^N, g, e^{-f}dv)$ be a complete smooth metric measure space with $\infty$-Bakry-\'Emery Ricci tensor bounded from below. We derive elliptic gradient estimates for positive solutions of a weighted nonlinear parabolic equation \begin{align*} \displaystyle \Big(\Delta_f - \frac{\partial}{\partial t}\Big) u(x,t) +q(x,t)u^\alpha(x,t) = 0, \end{align*} where $(x,t) \in M^N \times (-\infty, \infty)$ and $\alpha$ is an arbitrary constant. As Applications we prove a Liouville-type theorem for positive ancient solutions and Harnack-type inequalities for positive bounded solutions.Comment: 18 page

Demethoxycurcumin Retards Cell Growth and Induces Apoptosis in Human Brain Malignant Glioma GBM 8401 Cells

Demethoxycurcumin (DMC; a curcumin-related demethoxy compound) has been recently shown to display antioxidant and antitumor activities. It has also produced a potent chemopreventive action against cancer. In the present study, the antiproliferation (using the MTT assay, DMC was found to have cytotoxic activities against GBM 8401 cell with IC50 values at 22.71 μM) and induced apoptosis effects of DMC have been investigated in human brain malignant glioma GBM 8401 cells. We have studied the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation, caspase activation, and NF-κB transcriptional factor activity. By these approaches, our results indicated that DMC has produced an inhibition of cell proliferation as well as the activation of apoptosis in GBM 8401 cells. Both effects were observed to increase in proportion with the dosage of DMC treatment, and the apoptosis was induced by DMC in human brain malignant glioma GBM 8401 cells via mitochondria- and caspase-dependent pathways

Multiple upstream modules regulate zebrafish myf5 expression

BACKGROUND: Myf5 is one member of the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors, and it functions as a myogenic factor that is important for the specification and differentiation of muscle cells. The expression of myf5 is somite- and stage-dependent during embryogenesis through a delicate regulation. However, this complex regulatory mechanism of myf5 is not clearly understood. RESULTS: We isolated a 156-kb bacterial artificial chromosome clone that includes an upstream 80-kb region and a downstream 70-kb region of zebrafish myf5 and generated a transgenic line carrying this 156-kb segment fused to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene. We find strong GFP expression in the most rostral somite and in the presomitic mesoderm during segmentation stages, similar to endogenous myf5 expression. Later, the GFP signals persist in caudal somites near the tail bud but are down-regulated in the older, rostral somites. During the pharyngula period, we detect GFP signals in pectoral fin buds, dorsal rostral myotomes, hypaxial myotomes, and inferior oblique and superior oblique muscles, a pattern that also corresponds well with endogenous myf5 transcripts. To characterize the specific upstream cis-elements that regulate this complex and dynamic expression pattern, we also generated several transgenic lines that harbor various lengths within the upstream 80-kb segment. We find that (1) the -80 kb/-9977 segment contains a fin and cranial muscle element and a notochord repressor; (2) the -9977/-6213 segment contains a strong repressive element that does not include the notochord-specific repressor; (3) the -6212/-2938 segment contains tissue-specific elements for bone and spinal cord; (4) the -2937/-291 segment contains an eye enhancer, and the -2937/-2457 segment is required for notochord and myocyte expression; and (5) the -290/-1 segment is responsible for basal transcription in somites and the presomitic mesoderm. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the cell lineage-specific expression of myf5 is delicately orchestrated by multiple modules within the distal upstream region. This study provides an insight to understand the molecular control of myf5 and myogenesis in the zebrafish