scholarly journals DProj: A toolbox for local 2D projection and accurate morphometrics of large 3D microscopy images

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Herbert ◽  
Léo Valon ◽  
Laure Mancini ◽  
Nicolas Dray ◽  
Paolo Caldarelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Quantitative Imaging ◽  
Cell Segmentation ◽  
Processing Step ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Image Volume ◽  
The One ◽  
3D Volume ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundQuantitative imaging of epithelial tissues prompts for bioimage analysis tools that are widely applicable and accurate. In the case of imaging 3D tissues, a common post-processing step consists in projecting the acquired 3D volume on a 2D plane mapping the tissue surface. Indeed, while segmenting the tissue cells is amenable on 2D projections, it is still very difficult and cumbersome in 3D. However, for many specimen and models used in Developmental and Cell Biology, the complex content of the image volume surrounding the epithelium in a tissue often reduces the visibility of the biological object in the projection, compromising its subsequent analysis. In addition, the projection will distort the geometry of the tissue and can lead to strong artifacts in the morphology measurement.ResultsHere we introduce DProj a user-friendly tool-box built to robustly project epithelia on their 2D surface from 3D volumes, and to produce accurate morphology measurement corrected for the projection distortion, even for very curved tissues. DProj is built upon two components. LocalZProjector is a user-friendly and configurable Fiji plugin that generates 2D projections and height-maps from potentially large 3D stacks (larger than 40 GB per time-point) by only incorporating the signal of interest, despite a possibly complex image content. DeProj is a MATLAB tool that generates correct morphology measurements by combining the height-map output (such as the one offered by LocalZProjector) and the results of the cell segmentation on the 2D projection. In this paper we demonstrate DProj effectiveness over a wide range of different biological samples. We then compare its performance and accuracy against similar existing tools.ConclusionsWe find that LocalZProjector performs well even in situations where the volume to project contains spurious structures. We show that it can process large images without a pre-processing step. We study the impact of geometrical distortions on morphological measurements induced by the projection. We measured very large distortions which are then corrected by DeProj, providing accurate outputs.

scholarly journals Research and Development of Palmprint Authentication System Based on Android Smartphones

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Xinman Zhang ◽  
Kunlei Jing ◽  
Guokun Song
Keyword(s):  
Feature Extraction ◽  
Real World ◽  
Gabor Filter ◽  
Identity Authentication ◽  
Discriminative Feature ◽  
Authentication System ◽  
The One ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Improved Algorithm

The security problems of online transactions by smartphones reveal extreme demand for reliable identity authentication systems. With a lower risk of forgery, richer texture, and more comfortable acquisition mode, compared with face, fingerprint, and iris, palmprint is rarely adopted for identity authentication. In this paper, we develop an effective and full-function palmprint authentication system regarding the application on an Android smartphone, which bridges the algorithmic study and application of palmprint authentication. In more detail, an overall system framework is designed with complete functions, including palmprint acquisition, key points location, ROI segmentation, feature extraction, and feature coding. Basically, we develop a palmprint authentication system having user-friendly interfaces and good compatibility with the Android smartphone. Particularly, on the one hand, to guarantee the effectiveness and efficiency of the system, we exploit the practical Log-Gabor filter for feature extraction and discuss the impact of filtering direction, downsampling ratio, and discriminative feature coding to propose an improved algorithm. On the other hand, after exploring the hardware components of the smartphone and the technical development of the Android system, we provide an open technology to extend the biometric methods to real-world applications. On the public PolyU databases, simulation results suggest that the improved algorithm outperforms the original one with a promising accuracy of 100% and a good speed of 0.041 seconds. In real-world authentication, the developed system achieves an accuracy of 98.40% and a speed of 0.051 seconds. All the results verify the accuracy and timeliness of the developed system.

scholarly journals Thoughts Unlocked by Technology—a Survey in Germany About Brain-Computer Interfaces

NanoEthics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Schmid ◽  
O. Friedrich ◽  
S. Kessner ◽  
R. J. Jox
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Disruptive Technology ◽  
Human Machine Interaction ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Classic Form ◽  
The One ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

AbstractA brain-computer interface (BCI) is a rapidly evolving neurotechnology connecting the human brain with a computer. In its classic form, brain activity is recorded and used to control external devices like protheses or wheelchairs. Thus, BCI users act with the power of their thoughts. While the initial development has focused on medical uses of BCIs, non-medical applications have recently been gaining more attention, for example in automobiles, airplanes, and the entertainment context. However, the attitudes of the general public towards BCIs have hardly been explored. Among the general population in Germany aged 18–65 years, a representative online survey with 20 items was conducted in summer 2018 (n = 1000) and analysed by descriptive statistics. The survey assessed: affinity for technology; previous knowledge and experience concerning BCIs; the attitude towards ethical, social and legal implications of BCI use and demographic information. Our results indicate that BCIs are a unique and puzzling way of human–machine interaction. The findings reveal a positive view and high level of trust in BCIs on the one hand but on the other hand a wide range of ethical and anthropological concerns. Agency and responsibility were clearly attributed to the BCI user. The participants’ opinions were divided regarding the impact BCIs have on humankind. In summary, a high level of ambivalence regarding BCIs was found. We suggest better information of the public and the promotion of public deliberation about BCIs in order to ensure responsible development and application of this potentially disruptive technology.

scholarly journals One-loop corrections to the two-body decays of the charged Higgs bosons in the real and complex NMSSM

2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Nhung Dao ◽  
Margarete Mühlleitner ◽  
Shruti Patel ◽  
Kodai Sakurai
Keyword(s):  
Cp Violation ◽  
Higgs Bosons ◽  
Supersymmetric Extension ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
Charged Higgs ◽  
Charged Higgs Bosons ◽  
The One ◽  
Higher Order Corrections ◽  
The Impact

AbstractWe evaluate the full next-to-leading order supersymmetric (SUSY) electroweak and SUSY-QCD corrections to the on-shell two-body decays of the charged Higgs bosons in the framework of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (NMSSM) allowing also for CP violation. We furthermore provide the possibility to choose between different renormalization schemes in the electroweakino and the squark and slepton sectors. Our corrections are implemented in the code and thus complete the one-loop corrections of the charged Higgs boson decays which so far only included the state-of-the-art QCD corrections and the resummed SUSY-electroweak and SUSY-QCD corrections. We investigate the impact of the NLO corrections including the newly computed higher-order corrections for each decay mode in a wide range of the parameter space that is allowed by the theoretical and experimental constraints as well as the effect of CP violation and the dependence on the choice of the renormalization scheme. The new version of is made publicly available.

Hype or Ready for Prime Time?

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 40-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongsong Zhang ◽  
Hsien-Ming Chou ◽  
Lina Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Continuous Speech Recognition ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Recognition Systems ◽  
The One ◽  
User Friendly

The pervasiveness of mobile handheld devices and advancement in real-time continuous speech recognition technology has opened up a wide range of research opportunities in human-computer interaction for those devices. On the one hand, there has been an increasing amount of research on developing user-friendly speech recognition solutions and applications for mobile handheld devices. On the other hand, there are many distinct challenges in mobile speech recognition. Aiming to gain a good understanding of this emerging yet challenging area and provide a research map, this paper presents a state-of-the-art overview of this field. We will discuss three main architectures of mobile speech recognition systems, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, introduce some major research issues in the field, and highlight a number of major applications of speech recognition on handheld devices. The authors will also shed some light into important future research issues as a road map for researchers and practitioners.

scholarly journals Joining two worlds - When academia meets real life and vice versa

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Ese ◽  
C Ihlebak
Keyword(s):  
Academic Freedom ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Complex Relationships ◽  
The One ◽  
Innovation Clusters ◽  
Holding Back ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Partnerships between academic institutions and actors outside of academia have for some time been considered a universal remedy for solving complex issues in a wide range of fields; ranging from themes as different as commercial developments in innovation clusters to reducing social inequalities or working against climate change. Such partnerships are strongly encouraged by governing bodies, and are sometimes prerequisites for being eligible as applicants for funding schemes like H2020. A proof of the impact this model of cooperation has had, is the fact that partnership is the only organisational structure that has been elevated to be part of the UN17 goals for sustainable development. Throughout history, academia has had a complex relationship with the society to which it belongs. On the one hand, academia depends on being seen as valuable, often through visible and concrete impact on society. On the other hand, within academia there is a strong norm of academic freedom stating that such freedom is best accommodated for through a certain degree of insulation between academia and society. This way of understanding academic freedom is an important cornerstone of the Humboltian university ideals as well as in the Mertonian CUDOS norms. Practice and policy actors may also find partnerships with academia complex to navigate. However, such partnerships can be valuable through ensuring that policies and developments are based on research findings and best practices. Furthermore, academics may educate and train practitioners, and evaluate and do research on their initiatives. However, partnerships can also be challenging for practitioners, as academics have to follow strict principles for research design and have little room for holding back results that may put the practitioners in a bad light. In this presentation the complex relationships between academia and practice are presented, both by examining advantages and by taking a critical stance.

scholarly journals Chlorine As a Disinfectant in Water Treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 172-178
Author(s):  
Rifahat Muntaha
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Sodium Hypochlorite ◽  
Sodium Hypochlorite Solution ◽  
Calcium Hypochlorite ◽  
Elemental Chlorine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Water Chlorination ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

Abstract: Disinfection of treated water is a necessary process. For this, chlorine and its products are widely used. During the treatment process, chlorine is added to drinking water as elemental chlorine, sodium hypochlorite solution or dry calcium hypochlorite. When applied to water, each of these forms “free chlorine”, which destroys pathogenic organisms. If adequate water treatment is not readily available, the impact on public health can be devastating. Worldwide, about 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and about 2.4 billion people lack sanitation. As per WHO, 3.4 million people die from waterrelated diseases. Drinking water chlorination will remain a cornerstone of disinfection. This is because of the wide range of benefits provided by chlorine. However, alternative disinfectants including ozone and UV radiation are available, all disinfection methods have unique benefits, limitations and costs. So, an engineer has to consider all the pros and cons of a disinfectant method properly before deciding the one to adopt. Keywords: Disinfection, Gaseous Chlorination, Sodium Hypochlorite, Calcium Hypochlorite, Ultraviolet, Ozone, Chlorine dioxide

Influence of environmental parameters on bacterial lipids in soils from the French Alps: implications for paleo-reconstructions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Véquaud ◽  
Sylvie Derenne ◽  
Sylvie Collin ◽  
Christelle Anquetil ◽  
Jérôme Poulenard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Membrane ◽  
Lacustrine Sediments ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
French Alps ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

<p>Microorganisms can modify the composition of their lipid membrane in response to variations in environmental parameters. This is the case for bacterial lipids such as glycerol dialkyl tetraethers (GDGT) and 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs), both used for temperature and pH reconstructions in terrestrial paleoenvironmental studies. However, a major concern with these proxies is that their structure may be influenced by other environmental parameters than temperature or pH. The present study aimed at identifying and quantifying the influence of environmental parameters such as soil moisture, vegetation types and soil types on bacterial GDGTs and 3-OH FAs. These lipids were analyzed in 49 soil samples collected between 200 m and 3,000 m altitude in the French Alps. The soils cover a wide range of temperature (0 °C to 15 °C) and pH (3 to 8) and are representative of the diversity of soils and vegetation encountered along the investigated altitudinal transects. Using this new well-documented and unique dataset, the GDGT-pH correlation was confirmed, but the one between 3-OH FAs and pH was lower than in previous studies. For the temperature, correlations were lower than in previous studies for the GDGTs and absent for the 3-OH FAs. These observations could be explained thanks to different statistical analyses. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that pH is the main driver of the variability of 3-OH FAs and GDGTs, explaining 20.5 % and 56 % of the distribution of these bacterial lipids, respectively, followed by the altitude (8 % influence on the distribution of 3-OH FAs, and 11 % on GDGTs) and granulometry (5 % impact on 3-OH FAs and 7.5 % on GDGTs). Taken together, these results highlight the major influence of the vegetation cover and soil types on the distribution of bacterial lipids. Indeed, we quantified and explained for the first time the impact of the different environmental factors (temperature, vegetation, soil type…) on the distribution of bacterial lipids. This novel comprehension of the impacts of environmental parameters will allow to refine the use of proxies based on these compounds. These results pave the way for new types of applications of GDGTs and 3-OH FAs as environmental proxies in paleosoils, peat or lacustrine sediments.</p>

scholarly journals MiSiC, a general deep learning-based method for the high-throughput cell segmentation of complex bacterial communities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swapnesh Panigrahi ◽  
Dorothée Murat ◽  
Antoine Le Gall ◽  
Eugénie Martineau ◽  
Kelly Goldlust ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Imaging Modality ◽  
Interaction Model ◽  
Cell Segmentation ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Interspecies Interactions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prey Interaction

AbstractStudies of microbial communities by live imaging require new tools for the robust identification of bacterial cells in dense and often inter-species populations, sometimes over very large scales. Here, we developed MiSiC, a general deep-learning-based segmentation method that automatically segments a wide range of spatially structured bacterial communities with very little parameter adjustment, independent of the imaging modality. Using a bacterial predator-prey interaction model, we demonstrate that MiSiC enables the analysis of interspecies interactions, resolving processes at subcellular scales and discriminating between species in millimeter size datasets. The simple implementation of MiSiC and the relatively low need in computing power make its use broadly accessible to fields interested in bacterial interactions and cell biology.

scholarly journals Historical and theoretical aspects of the study of mass media

2021 ◽  
Vol IX(254) (46) ◽  
pp. 57-61
Author(s):  
H. V. Sukharevska
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Mass Communication ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Marxist Approach ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

the article defines the basic concepts in the field of mass media research. It is noted that the research of mass communications is presented in the scientific and educational literature by a wide range of author’s positions on its structuring depending on the choice of features and priorities for the selection of structural elements. It is pointed out that the study of mass communication in Western countries is developing essentially as a single research complex with a focus on managerial, ideological and cultural aspects of com- municative influence on man and society. It is noted that there are three relatively independent areas of research: 1) non-verbal analysis of rationality in the «production of culture», with emphasis on the organization of mass media and ensuring a level of professionalism and sales in a competitive environment. 2) Neo-Marxist approach, with the study of the symbolic aspect of ideological coercion and political hegemony. 3) Neo-Durkheimian studies of «public perception», which focus on the formation by the mass media of collective ideas of a sense of solidarity of individuals as members of mass audiences. It is emphasized that the basis for the differentiation of approaches to the study of mass communication in society is the relationship between the role of spiritual and material factors. It is pointed out that on the one hand, culturological approaches are widespread, which focus on the study of mass communication in the context of ideas, values, ideas that are both produced and disseminated by them in society. On the other hand, the influential tradition of analysis of mass communication sharpens attention to the study of the structure of property relations, the peculiarities of the imple-mentation of market relations in the field of mass communication. The impact on the media of the achievements of scientific and technological progress, which significantly change their nature, expand their functions in the following areas: 1) decentralization - the choice of programs increasingly depends on the individual, 2)increasing the volume of information programs, 3) the possibility of interactivity - interaction communication for information exchange

Development of steel continuous casting at the Nizhny Tagil steel-works

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 550-555
Author(s):  
М. V. Saveliev ◽  
А. V. Chiglintsev ◽  
D. V. Sushnikov ◽  
P. V. Ekkert ◽  
V. Yu. Elin
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Casting ◽  
Steel Continuous Casting ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Steel Grades ◽  
The One ◽  
Supporting Rollers ◽  
Work Done ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ingot Solidification ◽  
Steel Works

Steel continuous casting is one of fundamentals of modern steel industry. Specialists of Nizhny Tagil steel-works (NTMK) made an important contribution to the process perfection. The one-strand slab CCM of curvilinear type with radial mold and slab straightening by multipoint curve, designed and manufactured at Uralmashzavod, became a prototype for many machines, which were later manufactured at domestic and foreign steel-works in the end of 60th of the previous century. In the process of mastering of CCMs, which were put into operation within the programs of the plant modernization and transferring to BOF production with steel continuous casting, the CCMs were significantly modernized and technology of casting was perfected. To bring down the impact on the solidifying billet peel and decrease a billet swell, the scheme of the supporting rollers location was changed, which enabled to increase the length of the supported zone. A principally new scheme of billets cooling was implemented, which ensured a softer and uniform secondary cooling due to water-air “fog”. To create optimal conditions of axis zone forming during production of round billets of 430 mm diameter, a technology of protective heat screens application was used. The protective screens were installed in the end of ingot solidification zone. A large work was done on determination of optimal technological casting parameters – temperature and speed modes, types of slag forming mixtures, types of heat-insulating mixtures, methods of metal protection in the process of casting. As a result of the work done, at EVRAZ NTMK a complex of steel continuous casting was created, which enables to be flexible depending on the varying situation at the market and to produce continuously casted billets of various dimensions and wide range of steel grades.

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