Automatic high-dynamic range image generation for dynamic scenes.

Automatic high-dynamic range image generation from low-dynamic range images offers a solution to conventional methods, which require a static scene. The method consists of two modules: a camera-alignment module and a movement detector, which removes the ghosting effects in the HDRI created by moving objects.     

The use of vascular access audit and infections in home hemodialysis

Vascular access‐related infection is an important adverse event in home hemodialysis (HHD). We hypothesize that errors in self‐cannulation or manipulation of dialysis vascular access are associated with increased incidence of access‐related infection. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all prevalent HHD patients at the University Health Network. All vascular access‐related infections were recorded from 2006 to 2013. Errors in dialysis access were ascertained by nurse‐administered vascular access checklist. Ninety‐two patients had completed at least one vascular access audit. Median HHD vintage was 2.3 (0.9–5.0) years in patients with appropriate vascular access technique and 5.8 (1.5–9.4) years in patients with erroneous vascular access technique. The overall rate of infection between patients with and without appropriate vascular access technique was similar (0.27 and 0.28 infections per year, P = 0.166). Among patients who were identified with errors in dialysis access manipulation, patients with five or more errors were associated with higher rate of access‐related infection (mean of 0.47 vs. 0.16 infection per patient‐year, P < 0.001). The use of vascular access audit is a feasible strategy, which can identify errors in vascular access technique. Patients with a longer median HHD vintage are associated with higher risk of inappropriate vascular access technique. Patients with multiple errors in vascular access technique are associated with a higher risk of dialysis access‐related infection. Prospective evaluation of the impact of vascular access audit on adverse vascular access events is warranted.     

Deep Root Memory Optimized Indexing Methodology for Image Search Engines

Digitization has created an abundance of new information sources by altering how pictures are captured. Accessing large image databases from a web portal requires an opted indexing structure instead of reducing the contents of different kinds of databases for quick processing. This approach paves a path toward the increase of efficient image retrieval techniques and numerous research in image indexing involving large image datasets. Image retrieval usually encounters difficulties like a) merging the diverse representations of images and their Indexing, b) the low-level visual characters and semantic characters associated with an image are indirectly proportional, and c) noisy and less accurate extraction of image information (semantic and predicted attributes). This work clearly focuses and takes the base of reverse engineering and de-normalizing concept by evaluating how data can be stored effectively. Thus, retrieval becomes straightforward and rapid. This research also deals with deep root indexing with a multi-dimensional approach about how images can be indexed and provides improved results in terms of good performance in query processing and the reduction of maintenance and storage cost. We focus on the schema design on a non-clustered index solution, especially cover queries. This schema provides a filter predication to make an index with a particular content of rows and an index table called filtered indexing. Finally, we include non-key columns in addition to the key columns. Experiments on two image data sets ‘with and without’ filtered indexing show low query cost. We compare efficiency as regards accuracy in mean average precision to measure the accuracy of retrieval with the developed coherent semantic indexing. The results show that retrieval by using deep root indexing is simple and fast.     

Post mortem brain temperature and its influence on quantitative MRI of the brain

Objective

MRI temperature sensitivity presents a major issue in in situ post mortem MRI (PMMRI), as the tissue temperatures differ from living persons due to passive cooling of the deceased. This study aims at computing brain temperature effects on the MRI parameters to correct for temperature in PMMRI, laying the foundation for future projects on post mortem validation of in vivo MRI techniques.

Materials and methods

Brain MRI parameters were assessed in vivo and in situ post mortem using a 3 T MRI scanner. Post mortem brain temperature was measured in situ transethmoidally. The temperature effect was computed by fitting a linear model to the MRI parameters and the corresponding brain temperature.

Results

Linear positive temperature correlations were observed for T₁, T₂* and mean diffusivity in all tissue types. A significant negative correlation was observed for T₂ in white matter. Fractional anisotropy revealed significant correlations in all gray matter regions except for the thalamus.

Discussion

The linear models will allow to correct for temperature in post mortem MRI. Comparing in vivo to post mortem conditions, the mean diffusivity, in contrast to T₁ and T₂, revealed additional effects besides temperature, such as cessation of perfusion and active diffusion.

     

The Autophagy Pathway: A Critical Route in the Disposal of Alpha 1-Antitrypsin Aggregates That Holds Many Mysteries

The maintenance of proteome homeostasis, or proteostasis, is crucial for preserving cellular functions and for cellular adaptation to environmental challenges and changes in physiological conditions. The capacity of cells to maintain proteostasis requires precise control and coordination of protein synthesis, folding, conformational maintenance, and clearance. Thus, protein degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) or the autophagy–lysosomal system plays an essential role in cellular functions. However, failure of the UPS or the autophagic process can lead to the development of various diseases (aging-associated diseases, cancer), thus both these pathways have become attractive targets in the treatment of protein conformational diseases, such as alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). The Z alpha 1-antitrypsin (Z-AAT) misfolded variant of the serine protease alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) is caused by a structural change that predisposes it to protein aggregation and dramatic accumulation in the form of inclusion bodies within liver hepatocytes. This can lead to clinically significant liver disease requiring liver transplantation in childhood or adulthood. Treatment of mice with autophagy enhancers was found to reduce hepatic Z-AAT aggregate levels and protect them from AATD hepatotoxicity. To date, liver transplantation is the only curative therapeutic option for patients with AATD-mediated liver disease. Therefore, the development and discovery of new therapeutic approaches to delay or overcome disease progression is a top priority. Herein, we review AATD-mediated liver disease and the overall process of autophagy. We highlight the role of this system in the regulation of Z-variant degradation and its implication in AATD-medicated liver disease, including some open questions that remain challenges in the field and require further elucidation. Finally, we discuss how manipulation of autophagy could provide multiple routes of therapeutic benefit in AATD-mediated liver disease.     

The role of coastal processes in the management of the mouth of the River Murray,Australia: Present and future challenges

The Murray–Darling Basin is the largest river system in Australia to enter the sea. Prior to regulation of water flows, the Murray Mouth remained open to the sea even during droughts. An open mouth assists in sustaining the ecology of a Ramsar listed wetland and enables the flushing of salt, nutrients, and suspended sediments to the sea. Construction of barrages designed to prevent saltwater ingress has separated the estuary into two sections, a set of freshwater lakes and a saline tidal lagoon area, creating a unique set of management challenges. Under current overextraction of water resources upstream, river flows have been largely insufficient to counter wave and tide processes, which propel marine sands thereby constricting the Murray Mouth. Dredging has been required to maintain an open entrance. Managing this system is part of a 2012 agreement between state and federal governments, through the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. This plan recognizes a healthy end of system; however, the hydrological models failed to factor in the power of the sea in blocking the Murray Mouth. The plan requires that there will be sufficient river flows for the mouth to be open 95% of the time without dredging. Currently, sand ingress from the sea requires dredging most of the time. It is unlikely that there will be sufficient river flows to counteract continued sequestration of marine sand into the mouth. Sea level rise and decreased rainfall in the southern half of the Basin under climate change conditions will require a review of management options to prevent the long‐term degradation of the end of system.     

14-3-3 Proteins Participate in Light Signaling through Association with PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs

14-3-3 proteins are regulatory proteins found in all eukaryotes and are known to selectively interact with phosphorylated proteins to regulate physiological processes. Through an affinity purification screening, many light-related proteins were recovered as 14-3-3 candidate binding partners. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that the 14-3-3 kappa isoform (14-3-3κ) could bind to PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR3 (PIF3) and CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1). Further analysis by in vitro pull-down assay confirmed the interaction between 14-3-3κ and PIF3. Interruption of putative phosphorylation sites on the 14-3-3 binding motifs of PIF3 was not sufficient to inhibit 14-3-3κ from binding or to disturb nuclear localization of PIF3. It was also indicated that 14-3-3κ could bind to other members of the PIF family, such as PIF1 and PIF6, but not to LONG HYPOCOTYL IN FAR-RED1 (HFR1). 14-3-3 mutants, as well as the PIF3 overexpressor, displayed longer hypocotyls, and a pif3 mutant displayed shorter hypocotyls than the wild-type in red light, suggesting that 14-3-3 proteins are positive regulators of photomorphogenesis and function antagonistically with PIF3. Consequently, our results indicate that 14-3-3 proteins bind to PIFs and initiate photomorphogenesis in response to a light signal.     

Ammonia volatilization following surface application of raw and treated liquid swine manure

The treatment of liquid swine manure (LSM) is primarily intended to produce energy and/or decrease P concentration in the liquid fraction, but may have a simultaneous impact on its potential for N volatilization. We compared NH₃ volatilization in the field following surface application (May 2004; May 2005; September 2005) of untreated LSM and the liquid fraction of LSM (hereafter called treated LSM) that had undergone either natural decantation, filtration, anaerobic digestion, or anaerobic digestion + flocculation. Though most treatments increased pH and the proportion of total ammoniacal N (TAN) in LSM, the proportion of applied TAN lost as NH₃ was 22% lower with treated than untreated LSMs. Most likely, the increased infiltration rate of treated LSMs, associated with reduction in dry matter, compensated for increases in TAN and pH. Emissions of NH₃ on the day of application were correlated with LSM pH (R ² = 0.51) and were the highest with the digested and the digested + flocculated LSMs. However, these LSMs generally emitted less NH₃ than the other LSMs on the following days. As a consequence, when the volatilization period was short (e.g., dry soil conditions), the proportion of applied N lost from the digested and the digested + flocculated LSMs was similar or higher than the filtered and decanted LSMs. In contrast, when the volatilization period was long, the digested and digested + flocculated LSMs emitted less NH₃ than the other treated LSMs. It can be concluded that LSM treatments tended to decrease NH₃ volatilization, compared to the untreated LSM; across application dates, the digested LSM most consistently reduced NH₃-N losses whereas the filtered LSM was the least efficient.