A Fringe Center Detection Technique Based on a Sub-Pixel Resolution, and Its Applications Using Sinusoidal Gratings

A common problem in optical profilometry is the accuracy in locating fringe centers. This paper presents an accurate fringe center detection technique based on sub-pixel resolution using the fringe projection method. An optimum reconstruction filter is developed which has low sensitivity to noise. In fringe center detection, computer simulation results of using one-pixel and sub-pixel resolutions are compared. The detection technique is then applied to radius measurement of cylindrical objects and surface profile measurement of diffuse objects. The experimental results thus obtained through the proposed optimum reconstruction filter show significant improvement in measurement accuracy

A Fringe Center Detection Technique Based on a Sub-Pixel Resolution, and Its Applications Using Sinusoidal Gratings

A common problem in optical profilometry is the accuracy in locating fringe centers. This paper presents an accurate fringe center detection technique based on sub-pixel resolution using the fringe projection method. An optimum reconstruction filter is developed which has low sensitivity to noise. In fringe center detection, computer simulation results of using one-pixel and sub-pixel resolutions are compared. The detection technique is then applied to radius measurement of cylindrical objects and surface profile measurement of diffuse objects. The experimental results thus obtained through the proposed optimum reconstruction filter show significant improvement in measurement accuracy

Multi-fair Capacitated Students-Topics Grouping Problem

Group work is a prevalent activity in educational settings, where students are often divided into topic-specific groups based on their preferences. The grouping should reflect students’ aspirations as much as possible. Usually, the resulting groups should also be balanced in terms of protected attributes like gender, as studies suggest that students may learn better in mixed-gender groups. Moreover, to allow a fair workload across the groups, the cardinalities of the different groups should be balanced. In this paper, we introduce a multi-fair capacitated (MFC) grouping problem that fairly partitions students into non-overlapping groups while ensuring balanced group cardinalities (with a lower and an upper bound), and maximizing the diversity of members regarding the protected attribute. To obtain the MFC grouping, we propose three approaches: a greedy heuristic approach, a knapsack-based approach using vanilla maximal knapsack formulation, and an MFC knapsack approach based on group fairness knapsack formulation. Experimental results on a real dataset and a semi-synthetic dataset show that our proposed methods can satisfy students’ preferences and deliver balanced and diverse groups regarding cardinality and the protected attribute, respectively

Recombinant VP1, an Akt Inhibitor, Suppresses Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inducing Apoptosis and Modulation of CCL2 Production

BACKGROUND: The application of viral elements in tumor therapy is one facet of cancer research. Recombinant capsid protein VP1 (rVP1) of foot-and-mouth disease virus has previously been demonstrated to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Here, we aim to further investigate its apoptotic mechanism and possible anti-metastatic effect in murine models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common human cancers worldwide. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Treatment with rVP1 inhibited cell proliferation in two murine HCC cell lines, BNL and Hepa1-6, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.1-0.2 µM. rVP1 also induced apoptosis in these cells, which was mediated by Akt deactivation and dissociation of Ku70-Bax, and resulted in conformational changes and mitochondrial translocation of Bax, leading to the activation of caspases-9, -3 and -7. Treatment with 0.025 µM rVP1, which did not affect the viability of normal hepatocytes, suppressed cell migration and invasion via attenuating CCL2 production. The production of CCL2 was modulated by Akt-dependent NF-κB activation that was decreased after rVP1 treatment. The in vivo antitumor effects of rVP1 were assessed in both subcutaneous and orthotopic mouse models of HCC in immune-competent BALB/c mice. Intratumoral delivery of rVP1 inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth as a result of increased apoptosis. Intravenous administration of rVP1 in an orthotopic HCC model suppressed tumor growth, inhibited intra-hepatic metastasis, and prolonged survival. Furthermore, a decrease in the serum level of CCL2 was observed in rVP1-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The data presented herein suggest that, via inhibiting Akt phosphorylation, rVP1 suppresses the growth, migration, and invasion of murine HCC cells by inducing apoptosis and attenuating CCL2 production both in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant protein VP1 thus has the potential to be developed as a new therapeutic agent for HCC

The role of cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va in non-small cell lung carcinoma cells: association with migration, invasion and prediction of distant metastasis

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, but useful biomarkers of lung cancer are still insufficient. The aim of this study is to identify some membrane-bound protein(s) associated with migration and invasion in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. METHODS: We classified four NSCLC cell lines into high and low migration/invasion groups by Transwell and Matrigel assays. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), we identified 10 membrane-associated proteins being significantly overexpressed in the high migration/invasion group. The expression of the target protein in the four NSCLC cell lines was then confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot and immunostaining. RNA interference technique was applied to observe the influence of the target protein on migration and invasion. Gelatin zymography was also performed to evaluate the activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Expression condition of the target protein on surgical specimens was further examined by immunohistochemical staining and the clinicopathologic data were analyzed. RESULTS: We identified a mitochondria-bound protein cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va (COX Va) because of its abundant presence found exclusively in tumorous areas. We also demonstrated that migration and invasion of NSCLC cells decreased substantially after knocking down COX Va by siRNA. Meanwhile, we found a positive correlation between COX Va expression, Bcl-2 expression and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in NSCLC cells. Immunohistochemical staining of surgically resected lung adenocarcinomas in 250 consecutive patients revealed that strong COX Va expression was found in 54.8% (137/250) of patients and correlated positively with the status of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.032). Furthermore, strong COX Va expression was associated with the presence of distant metastasis (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Our current study showed that COX Va may play a role in migration and invasion of NSCLC cells and can be used as a biomarker to predict aggressiveness of NSCLC

Postchallenge responses of nitrotyrosine and TNF-alpha during 75-g oral glucose tolerance test are associated with the presence of coronary artery diseases in patients with prediabetes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Meta-analysis has demonstrated an exponential relationship between 2-hr postchallenge hyperglycemia and coronary artery disease (CAD). Pulsatile hyperglycemia can acutely increase proinflammatory cytokines by oxidative stress. We hypothesized that postchallenge proinflammatory and nitrosative responses after 75 g oral glucose tolerance tests (75 g-OGTT) might be associated with CAD in patients without previously recognized type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serial changes of plasma glucose (PG), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nitrotyrosine levels were analyzed during 75 g-OGTT in 120 patients (81 male; age 62 ± 11 years) before coronary angiography. Patients were classified as normal (NGT; 42%), impaired (IGT; 34%) and diabetic (T2DM; 24%) glucose tolerance by 75 g-OGTT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Postchallenge hyperglycemia elicited TNF-α, IL-6 and nitrotyrosine levels time-dependently, and 2-hr median levels of TNF-α (7.1 versus 6.4 pg/ml; <it>P </it>< 0.05) and nitrotyrosine (1.01 versus 0.83 <it>μ</it>mol/l; <it>P </it>< 0.05), but not IL-6 or PG, were significantly higher in patients with CAD in either IGT or T2DM groups. After adjusting risk factors and glucose tolerance status, 2-hr nitrotyrosine in highest quartiles (OR: 3.1, <it>P </it>< 0.05) remained an independent predictor of CAD by logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results highlight postchallenge proinflammatory and nitrosative responses by 75 g-OGTT, rather than hyperglycemia <it>per se</it>, are associated with CAD in patients without previous recognized diabetes.</p