Single-shot layered reflectance separation using a polarized light field camera

We present a novel computational photography technique for single shot separation of diffuse/specular reflectance as well as novel angular domain separation of layered reflectance. Our solution consists of a two-way polarized light field (TPLF) camera which simultaneously captures two orthogonal states of polarization. A single photograph of a subject acquired with the TPLF camera under polarized illumination then enables standard separation of diffuse (depolarizing) and polarization preserving specular reflectance using light field sampling. We further demonstrate that the acquired data also enables novel angular separation of layered reflectance including separation of specular reflectance and single scattering in the polarization preserving component, and separation of shallow scattering from deep scattering in the depolarizing component. We apply our approach for efficient acquisition of facial reflectance including diffuse and specular normal maps, and novel separation of photometric normals into layered reflectance normals for layered facial renderings. We demonstrate our proposed single shot layered reflectance separation to be comparable to an existing multi-shot technique that relies on structured lighting while achieving separation results under a variety of illumination conditions

Quantitative (Non-qualitative) Changes of IgG Anti-Mumps After Freeze-‎Thaw Cycles

Object. The result of freeze-thaw (FT) tested sera is always doubtful, and is a matter of question which is accompanied by false negative results. Aim: To determine the effect of repeated FT cycles, on the assay results of mumps IgG antibody. Material and Methods. This prospective laboratory study includes 25 volunteers. 25 sera underwent tests for first Mumps IgG antibody, and then were frozen at -20 degrees centigrade. One week later, they were thawed and stored again at 4 degrees centigrade for one more week when the second assays, were performed. The results for mumps IgG ELISA as an effect of two FT cycles and storage temperature were reported. The results were recorded by first and second Immune Serum Ratio (ISR) value (for first and second assay) and the percentage change of ISR. A linear regression model applied for analyzing ISR change percentage. Results. There were three kinds of ISR value change as: 1-The stable ISR value (44%). 2-The decreasing change of ISR value (32%) mainly among males, older in age (14-19 years) and the first ISR more than the value of four. 3-The increasing change of ISR value (24%) which occurred in males 10-12 years with the first ISR value of 1-2 (lowest concentration). Based on regression model, level of the first ISR and group of test were significant factor for change percentage of ISR, but neither gender nor age, were significant. Discussions. Mumps IgG antibody , as a function of two FT cycles, was affected by quantitative but not qualitative alteration. If the first ISR has value of 3-4, most probably it wills no any significant changes due to at least two FT cycles

Study of the Effect of Renal Transplantation on Methacholine Challenge Test in Patients With End-Stage Renal Failure in Shahid Doctor Labafinejad Hospital in Tehran, Iran

Pulmonary complications are common in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). The objective of this study was determine the effect of renal transplantation on pulmonary function, using a methacholine challenge test. This interventional study included 14 CRF patients on maintenance dialysis who underwent serial spirometry and astography before and after renal transplantation. None of them was known to have clinically important pulmonary or heart disease. The results of spirometry, astography, echocardiography, and chest X-ray were normal. Five patients were men and all others were women. The overall age range was 15 to 45 years (mean age = 28.6 ± 10.9). For every patient four times astography was done. The mean values of spirometric and astography indices before and after renal transplantation were within normal limit. But by repeated measure analysis of variance, the results actually showed improved airway responsiveness (although within normal limits). The most common pathological lung condition in CRF is pulmonary edema, usually due to a combination of fluid overload and abnormal permeability of the pulmonary microcirculation. However, our patients had no symptomatic pulmonary edema, but minor degrees of fluid retention are virtually impossible to detect clinically and could not be excluded. Therefore, it seems that disappearance of subclinical pulmonary edema was the likeliest cause of an increase in minimum dose of methacholine, and therefore improvement in airway responsiveness after renal transplantation. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

¿Se pueden usar aceites de salvado de arroz, sésamo y oliva como sustitutos del aceite de soja para mejorar la calidad del aderezo de ensaladas francesas?

Soybean oil is a commonly-used vegetable oil for the industrial manufacture of French salad dressing. The effect of rice bran, sesame, olive, and soybean oils on French salad dressing’s quality characteristics was investigated. After one month, the highest acidity, peroxide value (PV), and the lowest emulsion stability were observed in the control containing soybean oil (p < 0.05). Samples formulated with sesame (T4) and rice bran oils (T3) had the lowest PVs. Color measurement results indicated that a* of a sample containing olive oil (T2) was most influenced and declined on the 30th day (p < 0.05). In the rheological test, samples were solid viscoelastic. The elastic modulus and complex viscosity of T2 were slightly higher. The highest and the lowest overall sensory acceptance belonged to T3 and T2, respectively. Therefore, soybean oil could be replaced to obtain a more desirable product. Finally, T3 was selected as the superior sample.El aceite de soja es un aceite vegetal de uso común para la fabricación industrial de aderezo para ensaladas francesas. Se investigó el efecto de los aceites de salvado de arroz, sésamo, oliva y soja sobre las características de calidad del aderezo para ensaladas francesas. Después de un mes, la mayor acidez, el índice de peróxido (PV) y la menor estabilidad de la emulsión se observaron en el control que contenía aceite de soja (p < 0,05). Las muestras formuladas con aceites de sésamo (T4) y salvado de arroz (T3) tuvieron los PV más bajos. Los resultados de la medida del color indicaron que a* de una muestra que contenía aceite de oliva (T2) fue la más influenciada y disminuyó en el día 30 (p < 0,05). En la prueba reológica, las muestras fueron sólidas viscoelásticas. El módulo elástico y la viscosidad compleja de T2 fueron ligeramente superiores. La aceptación sensorial general más alta y más baja correspondió a T3 y T2, respectivamente. Por lo tanto, el aceite de soja podría reemplazarse para obtener un producto más deseable. Finalmente, se seleccionó a T3 como la muestra superior

Upregulated expression of the growth arrest-specific-2 (gas2) gene in colorectal cancer, and its relation to cancer progression and prognosis

Background: Growth arrest-specific 2 (GAS2) gene is implicated in a variety of cellular functions such as cell cycle, apoptosis, and proliferation, and may be potentially involved in cancer progression. However, whether GAS2 is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and prognosis remains to be uncovered. Thus, this study investigated the association of GAS2 expression in tumor with CRC progression and prognosis. Methods: In the case-control study, surgical tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 40 patients with CRC were collected at Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, and relative expression level of GAS2 in the tissues was assayed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The correlation of tumor GAS2 expression with the clinicopathological features and overall survival rate of patients was determined. Findings: The relative expression level of GAS2 in tumor tissues was significantly elevated compared to the adjacent normal tissues 1.96 (1.17-3.40) vs. 1.10 (1.00-1.31), P < 0.001. Moreover, the expression levels of GAS2 in tumor tissues were significantly associated with clinicopathological features of cancer including tumor stage in Tumor spread, Lymph node spread, and Metastasis (TNM) staging (P = 0.010), grade (P = 0.010), size (P = 0.030), and lymphatic (P = 0.030) and vascular invasion (P = 0.040) as well as the decreased overall survival (P = 0.040). Conclusion: Elevated expression of GAS2 in CRC is associated with cancer progression indices and poor prognosis; hence it may be served as a prognostic biomarker in CRC. © 2019, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

A study on effects of castling on natural frequencies of 3D undamped steel frames using finite element method

The effects of castling on natural frequencies in 3D steel frames were investigated in this study since accurate assessment of fundamental period (frequency) of a structure is an essential part of design and analysis processes. The use of LUSAS 14.03 was adopted to calculate free vibration characteristics of frames. Thin shell element was used to modeling frames. The initial results are verified by Cinitha.A, Rama Raju. K &amp; Nagesh.R. Iyer (2008) and hand calculations using UBC code.. Furthermore different parameters such as Number of stories, Height of frames, Percentage of Castling, stiffness of connections and Supports Conditions were considered in order to evaluate their effects in frame modal respond. The results of above investigation show that by increasing the percent of castling the natural frequency will increase. Also by reduction of connection rigidity fundamental frequency will reduce. In order to achieve effective earthquake design we also have to consider these two parameters. Finally some suggestions were made in order to improve steel design against earth quake effects

The prevalence of left ventricular heart failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: Brief report

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure are prevalent comorbidities affecting a vast proportion of the world population, responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, their coexistence is more frequent than previously recognized that poses important diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We intend to determine the prevalence of concomitant left ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in patients who had referred to Firuzgar University Hospital in Tehran from March 2011 to March 2013 in period of 2 years. All participants were compatible for including and excluding criteria�s. In all cases of COPD, pulmonary function test was done; also Echocardiography was performed as the diagnostic assessment of heart failure. Results: Out of 74 participants there was 56(75.7) male and 18(24.3) female with the mean age of 67.7±12.9 (SD), the prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) was 25.70, also the prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was 74.60 among 71 patients. The prevalence of LVSD in patients with and without history of coronary artery disease (CAD) was 33.30 and 15.60 respectively. The prevalence of LVDD was 85.40 in patient with history of CAD and 60 in patients without it. The presence of ventricular dysfunction (neither systolic nor diastolic) in COPD patients was not statistically associated with presence of CAD or the intensity of underlying COPD disease. Conclusion: Knowledge about the prevalence of concomitant left side heart failure in COPD patients is limited, but it seems the presence is rather common, so more attention should be paid to coexistence of ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients disregarding presence of CAD or COPD intensity in clinical practice. © 2015, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Motor Learning in Response to Different Experimental Pain Models Among Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review

Learning new movement patterns is a normal part of daily life, but of critical importance in both sport and rehabilitation. A major question is how different sensory signals are integrated together to give rise to motor adaptation and learning. More specifically, there is growing evidence that pain can give rise to alterations in the learning process. Despite a number of studies investigating the role of pain on the learning process, there is still no systematic review to summarize and critically assess investigations regarding this topic in the literature. Here in this systematic review, we summarize and critically evaluate studies that examined the influence of experimental pain on motor learning. Seventeen studies that exclusively assessed the effect of experimental pain models on motor learning among healthy human individuals were included for this systematic review, carried out based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The results of the review revealed there is no consensus regarding the effect of pain on the skill learning acquisition and retention. However, several studies demonstrated that participants who experienced pain continued to express a changed motor strategy to perform a motor task even 1 week after training under the pain condition. The results highlight a need for further studies in this area of research, and specifically to investigate whether pain has different effects on motor learning depending on the type of motor task