Feature extraction for license plate location based on L0-norm smoothing

We propose a simple feature extraction algorithm for license plate location, which can reduce the occurrence of pseudo-licenses significantly. Our scheme arises from a novel L-0 -norm image smoothing, in which the multiple local textures in the complex backgrounds can be suppressed remarkably without changing the structures and edges of the license objects. Due to this "edgeaware" property, we then combine a feature filtering with an efficient binarized image, a simple multi-scale image analysis algorithm, to remove the potential false license plates. Finally, we extract license plates with a projection method. Experimental results show the proposed method provides a flexible and powerful way to the license plate location in complex backgrounds

Carnosic Acid Mitigates Early Brain Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Possible Involvement of the SIRT1/p66shc Signaling Pathway

Carnosic acid (CA) has been reported to exhibit a variety of bioactivities including antioxidation, neuroprotection, and anti-inflammation; however, the impact of CA on subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has never been elucidated. The current study was undertaken to explore the role of CA in early brain injury (EBI) secondary to SAH and the underlying mechanisms. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were perforated to mimic a clinical aneurysm with SAH. CA or vehicle was administered intravenously immediately after the SAH occurred. Mortality, SAH grade, neurologic function scores, brain water content, Evans blue extravasation, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the ipsilateral cortex were determined 24 h after the SAH occurred. Western blot, immunofluorescence, Fluoro-Jade C (FJC) and TUNEL staining were also performed. Our results showed that CA decreased ROS levels, alleviated brain edema and blood-brain barrier permeability, reduced neuronal cell death, and promoted neurologic function improvement. To probe into the potential mechanisms. We showed that CA increased SIRT1, MnSOD, and Bcl-2 expression, as well as decreased p66shc, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Interestingly, sirtinol, a selective inhibitor of SIRT1, abolished the anti-apoptotic effects of CA. Taken together, these data revealed that CA has a neuroprotective role in EBI secondary to SAH. The potential mechanism may involve suppression of neuronal apoptosis through the SIRT1/p66shc signaling pathway. CA may provide a promising therapeutic regimen for management of SAH

Elevated Interleukin-6 Levels within 72 Hours Post Admission Are Associated with Disease Progression in Nonseptic Critically Ill Children

It has been established that the innate and adaptive immune suppression was heterogeneous in septic and nonseptic critically ill patients, while the value of immune function in pediatric patients with nonseptic critical illness is limited. We conducted a single-center retrospective study to explore this issue. A total of 65 children with nonseptic illnesses were studied for lymphocyte subpopulations, immunoglobulin concentrations, complement concentrations, and cytokines in peripheral blood in the next 72 hours after admission to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). When compared to clinically recovered patients, patients with disease progression had a numerically lower but not significantly different median pediatric critical illness score and longer PICU median stays. The analysis of serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, and IgA), serum complement (C3, C4) concentrations, and lymphocyte subpopulations showed no significantly difference between patients with and without relieved clinical symptoms by day 4. For the cytokine analysis, the level of IL-6 was significantly higher in patients with disease progression than that in patients who clinically recovered (p=0.046). In the univariate Cox regression analysis, plasma IL-6 levels were associated with outcome. Multivariate analysis evidenced that the level of plasma IL-6 was one of the factors determining the length of hospital stays. In conclusions, our results demonstrate that increased IL-6 levels in the initial 72 hours post admission are associated with prolonged stays and disease progression in nonseptic critically ill children in the PICU

Left ventricular long-axis ultrasound strain (GLS) is an ideal indicator for patients with anti-hypertension treatment

Background Primary hypertension is one of the most well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Currently, there is still no ideal indicator for left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Methods 73 hypertension patients and 37 healthy people were enrolled in this study. Each member was examined with conventional echocardiography including multiple indicators such as Peak mitral valve flow velocity (E, A), E/A, left atrial volume index (LAVl), tissue Doppler (PW-TDI) peak velocities during early and late diastolic mitral valve flow (e ‘), E/e ‘, and GLS. We have collected clinical data from all enrolled members. The above cardiac ultrasound indicators were obtained before the antihypertensive treatment, one month and three months after treatment. Results Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was positively correlated and negatively correlated with GLS (r = 0.638, P < .01) and E/e’ (r = −0.578, P < .05), respectively. The hypertensives had lower e’ value and higher values of GLS, E/e’, and LAVI than the control group (P < .05). GLS and E/e’ were significantly lower in hypertension group than those in the Control group after one month and three months of treatment (P < .05). The improvement rate of GLS was significantly higher than those in the improvement rate of e’, E/e’, LAVI after treatment (p < .05). Conclusion The GLS improvement rate was significantly higher than those of e’, E/e’ after one and three-month treatment. Therefore, GLS might be a potential ideal index for patients with anti-hypertension treatment. The results obtained in this study provide useful information for further study

Parameters tuning and coordination control of the frequency limit controller

The frequency stability in the sending-end network with renewable energy generating units should be paid attention especially for an asynchronous interconnection system. When the DC blocking fault occurs in the system, the problem of high frequency in the sending-end network can be suppressed by using the frequency limit controller (FLC). This study introduces the structure and the parameters tuning method of the FLC, and the parameters optimisation method is proposed to avoid FLC acting repeatedly. In the study, a case is studied, and the results show that the FLC is important in the sending-end network. Finally, aiming at the coordination problem between multiple FLCs, a control strategy based on FLC influence coefficient is proposed in the study, and the strategy can suppress the over regulation effectively

The Diagnostic Value of Cystatin C and Mild Hypothermia Therapy Based on Immunoturbidimetry Enhanced by Nanospheres in Asphyxia Neonate

In order to evaluate the early diagnosis value of CysC and the influence of mild hypothermia on the renal damage of asphyxia neonates, the serum cystatin C (CysC) levels of asphyxia neonates and normal neonates were measured by the nanomicrosphere-enhanced immunoturbidimetric method. The treatment was carried out, and the influence of mild hypothermia treatment on the renal damage of asphyxia neonates was analyzed. The results showed that the indicators of the asphyxia group were significantly higher than those of the control group, and the severe asphyxia group was significantly higher than that of the mild asphyxia group, which was statistically significant p<0.05; the heart rate of patients in the mild hypothermia treatment group decreased gradually with the decrease in body temperature. And compared with the control group, there was a significant difference (p<0.05); after symptomatic treatment, the two groups of ALT, AST, BUN, and SCR were improved to varying degrees, and the difference was statistically significant compared with before treatment (p<0.05). Studies have shown that serum CysC level can be used as an indicator to detect glomerular filtration function and early asphyxia newborns, and it is sensitive and specific for early diagnosis of kidney damage. At the same time, it can be used to monitor clinical renal function and determine the status of asphyxia newborns

Pure Chloride 2D/3D Heterostructure Passivation for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

To date, organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have reached a certified efficiency of 25.7%, showing their great potential in industrial commercialization. However, defects at the surface and grain boundaries hinder their device performance and long‐term stability. Herein, long‐chain dodecylammonium halides (DACl, DABr, and DAI) to treat the perovskite surface and improve the device performance are introduced. It is found that the three passivators can all form 2D perovskites but with different halide compositions. The DACl‐treated perovskite forms a pure chloride DA2PbCl4 2D perovskite, while the DABr and DAI‐treated surfaces form a pure iodide DA2PbI4 2D perovskite. Compared with the DA2PbI4 layer, it is found that the DA2PbCl4 passivation layer can more effectively passivate defects, improve carrier separation at the perovskite surface, and optimize the energy alignment between the perovskite film and hole transport layer. As a result, a champion power conversion efficiency of 23.91% is achieved for the DACl‐treated PSCs. Moreover, the device maintains around 95% of its initial efficiency after 1000 h storage under relative humidity of 10% at 25 °C