355 research outputs found

    Deep Feature Representation and Similarity Matrix based Noise Label Refinement Method for Efficient Face Annotation

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    Face annotation is a naming procedure that assigns the correct name to a person emerging from an image. Faces that are manually annotated by people in online applications include incorrect labels, giving rise to the issue of label ambiguity. This may lead to mislabelling in face annotation. Consequently, an efficient method is still essential to enhance the reliability of face annotation. Hence, in this work, a novel method named the Similarity Matrix-based Noise Label Refinement (SMNLR) is proposed, which effectively predicts the accurate label from the noisy labelled facial images. To enhance the performance of the proposed method, the deep learning technique named Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) is used for feature representation. Several experiments are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed face annotation method using the LFW, IMFDB and Yahoo datasets. The experimental results clearly illustrate the robustness of the proposed SMNLR method in dealing with noisy labelled faces

    Synaptic partner prediction from point annotations in insect brains

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    High-throughput electron microscopy allows recording of lar- ge stacks of neural tissue with sufficient resolution to extract the wiring diagram of the underlying neural network. Current efforts to automate this process focus mainly on the segmentation of neurons. However, in order to recover a wiring diagram, synaptic partners need to be identi- fied as well. This is especially challenging in insect brains like Drosophila melanogaster, where one presynaptic site is associated with multiple post- synaptic elements. Here we propose a 3D U-Net architecture to directly identify pairs of voxels that are pre- and postsynaptic to each other. To that end, we formulate the problem of synaptic partner identification as a classification problem on long-range edges between voxels to encode both the presence of a synaptic pair and its direction. This formulation allows us to directly learn from synaptic point annotations instead of more ex- pensive voxel-based synaptic cleft or vesicle annotations. We evaluate our method on the MICCAI 2016 CREMI challenge and improve over the current state of the art, producing 3% fewer errors than the next best method

    THE IMPACT OF LIBRARY AWARENESS AMONG PUBLIC IN DISTRICT CENTRAL LIBRARY, TIRUNELVELI

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    The current review examines about the utilization and mindfulness Library Awareness among public In District Central Library, Tirunelveli. .The Public library is a framework that gives admittance to the information data and work of administrations and similarly accessible to all individuals from the local area of identity, Language, business status and instructive accomplishment. An overview technique was directed by utilizing organized questionnaire, which were circulated among 150 public library clients, among them 120 filled poll were gotten with reaction pace of 80%. The review uncovers that greater part 79% of clients of male, about40% of respondents are four year college education holders and it is trailed by post graduates. More number respondents bookkeeping 55% are fall between 20-30 years old gathering, larger part of clients visit the library day to day and they are keen on understanding papers and magazines. The concentrate additionally uncovers that, clients don\u27t know about news section and copy administrations of the library and they are not happy with the assortment of e-assets in the library

    Molecular Technique to Understand Deep Microbial Diversity

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    Current sequencing-based and DNA microarray techniques to study microbial diversity are based on an initial PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification step. However, a number of factors are known to bias PCR amplification and jeopardize the true representation of bacterial diversity. PCR amplification of the minor template appears to be suppressed by the exponential amplification of the more abundant template. It is widely acknowledged among environmental molecular microbiologists that genetic biosignatures identified from an environment only represent the most dominant populations. The technological bottleneck has overlooked the presence of the less abundant minority population, and underestimated their role in the ecosystem maintenance. To generate PCR amplicons for subsequent diversity analysis, bacterial l6S rRNA genes are amplified by PCR using universal primers. Two distinct PCR regimes are employed in parallel: one using normal and the other using biotinlabeled universal primers. PCR products obtained with biotin-labeled primers are mixed with streptavidin-labeled magnetic beads and selectively captured in the presence of a magnetic field. Less-abundant DNA templates that fail to amplify in this first round of PCR amplification are subjected to a second round of PCR using normal universal primers. These PCR products are then subjected to downstream diversity analyses such as conventional cloning and sequencing. A second round of PCR amplified the minority population and completed the deep diversity picture of the environmental sample

    Molecular Technique to Reduce PCR Bias for Deeper Understanding of Microbial Diversity

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    Current planetary protection policies require that spacecraft targeted to sensitive solar system bodies be assembled and readied for launch in controlled cleanroom environments. A better understanding of the distribution and frequency at which high-risk contaminant microbes are encountered on spacecraft surfaces would significantly aid in assessing the threat of forward contamination. However, despite a growing understanding of the diverse microbial populations present in cleanrooms, less abundant microbial populations are probably not adequately taken into account due to technological limitations. This novel approach encompasses a wide spectrum of microbial species and will represent the true picture of spacecraft cleanroom-associated microbial diversity. All of the current microbial diversity assessment techniques are based on an initial PCR amplification step. However, a number of factors are known to bias PCR amplification and jeopardize the true representation of bacterial diversity. PCR amplification of a minor template appears to be suppressed by the amplification of a more abundant template. It is widely acknowledged among environmental molecular microbiologists that genetic biosignatures identified from an environment only represent the most dominant populations. The technological bottleneck overlooks the presence of the less abundant minority population and may underestimate their role in the ecosystem maintenance. DNA intercalating agents such as propidium monoazide (PMA) covalently bind with DNA molecules upon photolysis using visible light, and make it unavailable for DNA polymerase enzyme during polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Environmental DNA samples will be treated with suboptimum PMA concentration, enough to intercalate with 90 99% of the total DNA. The probability of PMA binding with DNA from abundant bacterial species will be much higher than binding with DNA from less abundant species. This will increase the relative DNA concentration of previously "shadowed" less abundant species available for PCR amplification. These PCR products obtained with and without PMA treatment will then be subjected to downstream diversity analyses such as sequencing and DNA microarray. It is expected that PMA-coupled PCR will amplify the "minority population" and help in understanding microbial diversity spectrum of an environmental sample at a much deeper level. This new protocol aims to overcome the major potential biases faced when analyzing microbial 16S rRNA gene diversity. This study will lead to a technological advancement and a commercial product that will aid microbial ecologists in understanding microbial diversity from various environmental niches. Implementation of this technique may lead to discoveries of novel microbes and their functions in sustenance of the ecosystem

    Cross Sectional study of Unmet Need of Contraception among Rural Married Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 Yrs).

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    INTRODUCTION : India is the second most populous country in the world next to china. Despite this the massive population base of around 1100 million at present and Coupled with a natural increase of 1.7 percent in India is a matter of serious Concern. The National Population policy -2000 document clearly stated that Population growth in India continues. Even though the growth rate of several Other developing countries is even higher than that of India, it must be Remembered that the population base of India is very large and therefore even a Low growth rate leads to substantial addition to the population in absolute Numbers. If the current trend continues, India will overtake china in 2045 and Will become the most populous nation in the world. National population policy 2000, stated that stabilizing the population is An essential requirement for promoting sustainable development with more Equitable distribution. It also stressed that the population growth in India Continues to be high on account of the large size of population in reproductive Age group and high fertility rate due to unmet need of contraception. The Immediate objective of the policy was to address the unmet need of Contraception. The middle term objective is to bring the total fertility rate to Replacement level by 2010, through vigorous implementation of inter sectoral Operational strategies. The long- term objective is to achieve a stable Population by 2045 at a level consistent with the requirement of sustainable Economic growth and development. OBJECTIVES : 1. To find out the prevalence of contraceptive usage (Both temporary and permanent) among the rural married women of age group 15-49 Years. 2. To calculate the unmet need of contraception among nonusers. 3. To find out the factors associated with the non usage of Contraception. JUSTIFICATION : 1. Though the fertility rate in India, has decreased to 2.76, it is still above the replacement level. 2. Though 42.3% of eligible couple uses one or other method of family planning, they discontinue them3. The reason for which has to be identified, so that remedial measures taken to stop discontinuance. 3. There is still an unmet need of 14.1%, which has to be addressed to achieve more success in our effort to control population. 4. Unmet need of contraception can lead to unintended pregnancies, which poses risk for women, family, and societies. Reducing which can prevent 20-35 per cent of all maternal deaths. 5. Rural area has higher unmet need (14.1%) when compared to their urban counterpart, i.e (9.7%) due to various factors, resulting in large family size. 6. As per the 2001 census, 72.22% constitute the rural population in more than 550,000 villages. 7. Finding factors which lead to unmet need in rural population and addressing them helps achieve the national goal. 8. The national policy on population and development focuses on meeting, rather than trying to change, people’s needs and aspirations. We have set a goal to reduce the unmet need to zero by the year 2015 in the five year review of the International conference on population and development

    Extreme Ionizing-Radiation-Resistant Bacterium

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    There is a growing concern that desiccation and extreme radiation-resistant, non-spore-forming microorganisms associated with spacecraft surfaces can withstand space environmental conditions and subsequent proliferation on another solar body. Such forward contamination would jeopardize future life detection or sample return technologies. The prime focus of NASA s planetary protection efforts is the development of strategies for inactivating resistance-bearing microorganisms. Eradification techniques can be designed to target resistance-conferring microbial populations by first identifying and understanding their physiologic and biochemical capabilities that confers its elevated tolerance (as is being studied in Deinococcus phoenicis, as a result of this description). Furthermore, hospitals, food, and government agencies frequently use biological indicators to ensure the efficacy of a wide range of radiation- based sterilization processes. Due to their resistance to a variety of perturbations, the non-spore forming D. phoenicis may be a more appropriate biological indicator than those currently in use. The high flux of cosmic rays during space travel and onto the unshielded surface of Mars poses a significant hazard to the survival of microbial life. Thus, radiation-resistant microorganisms are of particular concern that can survive extreme radiation, desiccation, and low temperatures experienced during space travel. Spore-forming bacteria, a common inhabitant of spacecraft assembly facilities, are known to tolerate these extreme conditions. Since the Viking era, spores have been utilized to assess the degree and level of microbiological contamination on spacecraft and their associated spacecraft assembly facilities. Members of the non-spore-forming bacterial community such as Deinococcus radiodurans can survive acute exposures to ionizing radiation (5 kGy), ultraviolet light (1 kJ/sq m), and desiccation (years). These resistive phenotypes of Deinococcus enhance the potential for transfer, and subsequent proliferation, on another solar body such as Mars and Europa. These organisms are more likely to escape planetary protection assays, which only take into account presence of spores. Hence, presences of extreme radiation-resistant Deinococcus in the cleanroom facility where spacecraft are assembled pose a serious risk for integrity of life-detection missions. The microorganism described herein was isolated from the surfaces of the cleanroom facility in which the Phoenix Lander was assembled. The isolated bacterial strain was subjected to a comprehensive polyphasic analysis to characterize its taxonomic position. This bacterium exhibits very low 16SrRNA similarity with any other environmental isolate reported to date. Both phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses clearly indicate that this isolate belongs to the genus Deinococcus and represents a novel species. The name Deinococcus phoenicis was proposed after the Phoenix spacecraft, which was undergoing assembly, testing, and launch operations in the spacecraft assembly facility at the time of isolation. D. phoenicis cells exhibited higher resistance to ionizing radiation (cobalt-60; 14 kGy) than the cells of the D. radiodurans (5 kGy). Thus, it is in the best interest of NASA to thoroughly characterize this organism, which will further assess in determining the potential for forward contamination. Upon the completion of genetic and physiological characteristics of D. phoenicis, it will be added to a planetary protection database to be able to further model and predict the probability of forward contamination

    Identification of Bacteria and Determination of Biological Indicators

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    The ultimate goal of planetary protection research is to develop superior strategies for inactivating resistance bearing micro-organisms like Rummeli - bacillus stabekisii. By first identifying the particular physiologic pathway and/or structural component of the cell/spore that affords it such elevated tolerance, eradication regimes can then be designed to target these resistance-conferring moieties without jeopardizing the structural integrity of spacecraft hardware. Furthermore, hospitals and government agencies frequently use biological indicators to ensure the efficacy of a wide range of sterilization processes. The spores of Rummelibacillus stabekisii, which are far more resistant to many of such perturbations, could likely serve as a more significant biological indicator for potential survival than those being used currently

    Isolation of Resistance-Bearing Microorganisms

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    To better exploit the principles of gas transport and mass transport during the processes of cell seeding of 3D scaffolds and in vitro culture of 3D tissue engineered constructs, the oscillatory cell culture bioreactor provides a flow of cell suspensions and culture media directly through a porous 3D scaffold (during cell seeding) and a 3D construct (during subsequent cultivation) within a highly gas-permeable closed-loop tube. This design is simple, modular, and flexible, and its component parts are easy to assemble and operate, and are inexpensive. Chamber volume can be very low, but can be easily scaled up. This innovation is well suited to work with different biological specimens, particularly with cells having high oxygen requirements and/or shear sensitivity, and different scaffold structures and dimensions. The closed-loop changer is highly gas permeable to allow efficient gas exchange during the cell seeding/culturing process. A porous scaffold, which may be seeded with cells, is fixed by means of a scaffold holder to the chamber wall with scaffold/construct orientation with respect to the chamber determined by the geometry of the scaffold holder. A fluid, with/without biological specimens, is added to the chamber such that all, or most, of the air is displaced (i.e., with or without an enclosed air bubble). Motion is applied to the chamber within a controlled environment (e.g., oscillatory motion within a humidified 37 C incubator). Movement of the chamber induces relative motion of the scaffold/construct with respect to the fluid. In case the fluid is a cell suspension, cells will come into contact with the scaffold and eventually adhere to it. Alternatively, cells can be seeded on scaffolds by gel entrapment prior to bioreactor cultivation. Subsequently, the oscillatory cell culture bioreactor will provide efficient gas exchange (i.e., of oxygen and carbon dioxide, as required for viability of metabolically active cells) and controlled levels of fluid dynamic shear (i.e., as required for viability of shear-sensitive cells) to the developing engineered tissue construct. This bioreactor was recently utilized to show independent and interactive effects of a growth factor (IGF-I) and slow bidirectional perfusion on the survival, differentiation, and contractile performance of 3D tissue engineering cardiac constructs. The main application of this system is within the tissue engineering industry. The ideal final application is within the automated mass production of tissue- engineered constructs. Target industries could be both life sciences companies as well as bioreactor device producing companies

    RBC barcoding allows for the study of erythrocyte population dynamics and P. falciparum merozoite invasion.

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    Plasmodium falciparum invasion of host erythrocytes is essential for the propagation of the blood stage of malaria infection. Additionally, the brief extracellular merozoite stage of P. falciparum represents one of the rare windows during which the parasite is directly exposed to the host immune response. Therefore, efficient invasion of the host erythrocyte is necessary not only for productive host erythrocyte infection, but also for evasion of the immune response. Host traits, such as hemoglobinopathies and differential expression of erythrocyte invasion ligands, can protect individuals from malaria by impeding parasite erythrocyte invasion. Here we combine RBC barcoding with flow cytometry to study P. falciparum invasion. This novel high-throughput method allows for the (i) direct comparison of P. falciparum invasion into different erythrocyte populations and (ii) assessment of the impact of changing erythrocyte population dynamics on P. falciparum invasion
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