A contactless identification system based on hand shape features

This paper aims at studying the viability of setting up a contactless identification system based on hand features, with the objective of integrating this functionality as part of different services for smart spaces. The final identification solution will rely on a commercial 3D sensor (i.e. Leap Motion) for palm feature capture. To evaluate the significance of different hand features and the performance of different classification algorithms, 21 users have contributed to build a testing dataset. For each user, the morphology of each of his/her hands is gathered from 52 features, which include bones length and width, palm characteristics and relative distance relationships among fingers, palm center and wrist. In order to get consistent samples and guarantee the best performance for the device, the data collection system includes sweet spot control; this functionality guides the users to place the hand in the best position and orientation with respect to the device. The selected classification strategies - nearest neighbor, supported vector machine, multilayer perceptron, logistic regression and tree algorithms - have been evaluated through available Weka implementations. We have found that relative distances sketching the hand pose are more significant than pure morphological features. On this feature set, the highest correct classified instances (CCI) rate (>96%) is reached through the multilayer perceptron algorithm, although all the evaluated classifiers provide a CCI rate above 90%. Results also show how these algorithms perform when the number of users in the database change and their sensitivity to the number of training samples. Among the considered algorithms, there are different alternatives that are accurate enough for non-critical, immediate response applications

Air traffic generation for new terminal area air traffic management concepts design and evaluation

This paper describes two systems that can be used to obtain realistic random traffic samples in a terminal area: a real traffic analyser and a synthetic traffic generator. These two systems allow the air traffic management (ATM) engineer to gain insight on the traffic structure of the area under analysis, and allow obtaining realistic traffic samples enabling the evaluation of new operational concepts, the validation or system performance measurement after procedure changes, the analysis of ATM performance under forecasted future traffic changes, etc. Together with the design of the system, the work provides insight of user interfaces and describes the potential uses of such tools in an integrated ATM system

Glucose and insulin modify thrombospondin 1 expression and secretion in primary adipocytes from diet-induced obese rats.

Thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1), an anti-angiogenic factor and TGF-β activity regulator, has been recently recognized as an adipokine that correlates with obesity, inflammation and insulin-resistance processes. In the present study, epididymal adipocytes of rats that were fed a chow (C) or a high fat diet (HFD) for 50 days, were isolated and incubated (24-72 h) in low (LG; 5.6 mM) or high (HG; 25 mM) glucose, in presence or absence of 1.6 nM insulin. Rats fed the HF diet showed an established obesity state. Serum TSP-1 levels and TSP-1 mRNA basal expression of adipocytes from HFD rats were higher than those from controls. Adipocytes from HFD animals presented an insulin-resistance state, as suggested by the lower insulin-stimulated glucose uptake as compared to controls. TSP-1 expression in culture was higher in adipocytes from obese animals at 24 h, but when the adipocytes were treated with HG, these expression levels dropped dramatically. Later at 72 h, TSP-1 expression was lower in adipocytes from HFD rats, and no effects of the other treatments were observed. Surprisingly, the secretion levels of this protein at 72 h were increased significantly by the HG treatment in both types of adipocytes, although they were even higher in adipocytes from obese animals. Finally, cell viability was significantly reduced by HG treatment in both types of adipocytes. In summary, TSP-1 expression/secretion was modulated in an in vitro model of insulin-resistant adipocytes. The difference between expression and secretion patterns suggests a post-transcriptional regulation. The present study confirms that TPS-1 is closely associated with obesity-related mechanisms

Informe diagnóstico sobre el déficit hídrico en los partidos de la costa norte bonaerense (San Nicolás, Ramallo, San Pedro, Baradero y Zárate). Situación del clima y los cultivos. 19 de octubre de 2022. Versión 1.2

Este informe describe la situación del clima y los cultivos a mediados de octubre de 2022 para los cinco partidos ubicados sobre la costa bonaerense del río Paraná. Incluye: Eventos climáticos y su impacto en los cultivos, Registros de datos meteorológicos, Pronósticos, Precipitaciones: datos mensuales del último año y acumulado, Situación hídrica: área afectada aproximada, Estado de los cultivos: área sembrada, cosechada y sin posibilidades de ser trabajada. Estado vegetativo afectado de los cultivos y Actividades ganaderas afectadas: estimaciones de pérdidas, muerte de animales, traslados, ventas forzosas y recursos forrajeros comprometidos.EEA San PedroFil: Delprino, María Rosa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Gamietea, Ignacio José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Leonardo Martin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural Zárate; ArgentinaFIl: Ibern, Danila Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Hansen, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Heguiabeheri, Adolfo Ricardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Lazzari, Franco Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Lopez Serrano, Fernando Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Marcozzi, Paula.Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Piola, Mariana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Portillo, Javier Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; ArgentinaFil: Richmond, Pablo Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Nicolás; ArgentinaFil: Ros, Patricio Guillermo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Nicolás; ArgentinaFil: Varela, Lucila. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; Argentin

Informe diagnóstico sobre el déficit hídrico en los partidos de la costa norte bonaerense (San Nicolás, Ramallo, San Pedro, Baradero y Zárate). Situación del clima y los cultivos. 3 de abril de 2023. Versión 1.2

Este informe describe la situación del clima y los cultivos a finales de marzo de 2023 para los cinco partidos ubicados sobre la costa bonaerense del río Paraná. Incluye: Eventos climáticos y su impacto en los cultivos, Registro de datos meteorológicos, Pronósticos, Precipitaciones: datos mensuales del último año y acumulado, Situación hídrica: área afectada aproximada, Estado de los cultivos: área sembrada, cosechada y sin posibilidades de ser trabajada. Estado vegetativo afectado de los cultivos y Actividades ganaderas afectadas: estimaciones de pérdidas, muerte de animales, traslados, ventas forzosas y recursos forrajeros comprometidos.EEA San PedroFil: Delprino, María Rosa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Gamietea, Ignacio José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: García, Leonardo Martín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural Zárate; ArgentinaFil: Glaría, Oscar Juan José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Nicolás; ArgentinaFil: Hansen, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Heguiabeheri, Adolfo Ricardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Lazzari, Franco Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: López Serrano, Fernando Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Marcozzi, Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Piola, Mariana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Portillo, Javier Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; ArgentinaFil: Richmond, Pablo Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Nicolás; ArgentinaFil: Ros, Patricio Guillermo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Nicolás; ArgentinaFil: Varela, Lucila. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; Argentin

Sin3b interacts with Myc and decreases Myc levels

Myc expression is deregulated in many human cancers. A yeast two-hybrid screen has revealed that the transcriptional repressor Sin3b interacts with Myc protein. Endogenous Myc and Sin3b co-localize and interact in the nuclei of human and rat cells, as assessed by co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and proximity ligation assay. The interaction is Max-independent. A conserved Myc region (amino acids 186-203) is required for the interaction with Sin3 proteins. Histone deacetylase 1 is recruited to Myc-Sin3b complexes, and its deacetylase activity is required for the effects of Sin3b on Myc. Myc and Sin3a/b co-occupied many sites on the chromatin of human leukemia cells, although the presence of Sin3 was not associated with gene down-regulation. In leukemia cells and fibroblasts, Sin3b silencing led to Myc up-regulation, whereas Sin3b overexpression induced Myc deacetylation and degradation. An analysis of Sin3b expression in breast tumors revealed an association between low Sin3b expression and disease progression. The data suggest that Sin3b decreases Myc protein levels upon Myc deacetylation. As Sin3b is also required for transcriptional repression by Mxd-Max complexes, our results suggest that, at least in some cell types, Sin3b limits Myc activity through two complementary activities: Mxd-dependent gene repression and reduction of Myc levels

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

The Egyptian Expedition

This paper describes a pair of systems which can be used to obtain realistic traffic samples in a Sector/TMA from a given real traffic database. Those are a traffic analyzer and a traffic pattern generator. These two systems allow the ATM engineer to both gain insight on the traffic structure of the area under analysis and to obtain statistically significant samples for the evaluation of operational concepts and procedure changes, perform analysis of ATM performance under traffic changes, ..

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field