Perceptually-weighted evaluation criteria for segmentation masks in video sequences

In order to complement subjective evaluation of the quality of segmentation masks, this paper introduces a procedure for automatically assessing this quality. Algorithmically computed figures of merit are proposed. Assuming the existence of a perfect reference mask (ground truth), generated manually or with a reliable procedure over a test set, these figures of merit take into account visually desirable properties of a segmentation mask in order to provide the user with metrics that best quantify the spatial and temporal accuracy of the segmentation masks. For the sake of easy interpretation, results are presented on a peaked signal-to-noise ratio-like logarithmic scale.     

Retaining maximum antioxidative potency of wheat germ oil refined by molecular distillation

A process of physical refining wheat germ oil using the technique of molecular distillation (MD) is presented in this work. Wheat germ oil was obtained from the germ by solvent extraction using hexane and also by cold pressing. The oil extracted with hexane was degummed and bleached before deacidification in order to modify the parameters of phosphorus and color. The goal in carrying out the stage of physical refining by MD was to preserve the maximum amount of original antioxidative potential obtained from extraction of the crude oil. The effect of evaporation temperature of one‐stage MD on the efficiency of free fatty acid elimination was studied. The antioxidant portion was followed by means of analytic determination of tocopherols by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Tocopherol retention up to 98% was achieved in the oil extracted by pressing, and yields of up to 96% were achieved in the oil extracted with hexane. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mechanism of the skeletal isomerisation of linear butenes over ferrierite: analysis of side reactions

An investigation of the effect of reaction conditions on product distribution in the skeletal isomerisation reaction of linear butenes has been carried out. The main reaction routes over ferrierite have been identified. Beside the main product isobutene, major by-product formation occurs. The unwanted reactions include dimerisation of butene to form octenes, hydrogen transfer yielding small amounts of saturated C₃ and C₄ hydrocarbons and disproportionation producing propene and pentenes. The most abundant by-products were pentene and propene, though these were not formed in equimolar amounts as could be expected. Oligomerisation experiments of propene over ferrierite produced large amounts of butene and pentene, revealing the presence of adsorbed nonene. The cracking of this surface species to hexene and propene is the most likely reaction route for the excess propene formation. This additional path to propene formation operates mainly at temperatures above 623 K.     

Microwave-Assisted Reaction Sintering of Bismuth Titanate-Based Ceramics

Bismuth titanate-based ceramics, pure and doped with 5 mol% WO₃, were prepared by reaction-sintering using a microwave oven. High densities, ≥96% of theoretical density were achieved with very short thermal treatments, with soaking time ranging from 5 to 15 min. Relatively small platelet-like grains were formed, and microstructure seemed not to be strongly affected by doping nor soaking time. Electrical measurements were performed and, as expected, a decrease of electrical conductivity was observed in WO₃-doped materials. The results of reaction-sintered samples, both conventional as well as microwave sintered, are compared with those of samples prepared with previously calcined powders and sintered using microwaves as well as a conventional electric furnace.     

Effects of process-control agents on mechanical alloying of nanostructured aluminum alloys

The effects of the process-control agents (PCAs) stearic acid and methanol on the mechanical alloying (MA) of a nanostructured aluminum alloy (Al₉₃Fe₃Ti₂Cr₂) have been investigated. The dependency of the powder-particle sizes, grain sizes, atomic-level strains, lattice parameters, formation of solid solutions, and microstructural evolution of the aluminum alloy on the types of PCAs and their concentrations have been studied using a variety of analytical instruments including X-ray diffraction scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results clearly indicate that prevention of excessive cold welding of Al particles can be achieved by the addition of a PCA at the expense of reductions in the grain size, formation rate of solid solutions, and rate of microstructural refinement, all of which are desired in MA of the Al alloy. Furthermore, a PCA that is more effective in preventing excessive cold welding will also impose more hindrance to the MA process. These phenomena have been discussed in the light of the adsorption of the PCA on the metal surface and the lubricating function of the PCA.     

Preparation and sintering behaviour of submicronic Bi4Ti3O12 powders

Submicronic powders of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ with different morphologies were prepared by both the oxalate coprecipitation and the conventional mixing oxides methods. Compacts of the two calcined powders were sintered at 850–1100 °C in air, and the densification process was studied by non-isothermal and dilatometric experiments. A rapid densification (> 97% theoretical density) below 875 °C took place in the Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ oxalate powder which was attributed to an extremely uniform pore-size distribution in the green compact. The possible formation of a transient liquid which promotes densification also was taken into account. The development of plate-like morphology in the conventional Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ powder, broad pore-size distribution, and the plate-like colony formation, hindered rapid densification of the green compacts at low temperature. Microstructural development was studied; preliminary dielectric and electrical results are also reported.     

Effects of freezing and frozen storage on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of four types of goat's cheese

Summary Physicochemical and organoleptic properties were studied in two batches of four different types of goat's milk cheese: fresh, washed curd, soft with surface flora, and Majorero, frozen for four months prior to ripening and/or chilled storage. Frozen storage did not produce significant changes in the rheological or sensory characteristics of the cheeses, except in the case of fresh cheese, the textural characteristics of which were adversely affected. The level of proteolysis, estimated from the amino-acid nitrogen, was higher in the pre-frozen washed curd, soft with surface flora, and Majorero cheeses. The level of lipolysis was comparable, except in the soft cheese with surface flora, which presented higher levels of free fatty acids when stored frozen before ripening.

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Einfluß des Gefrierens und der Gefrierlagerung auf die physikalisch-chemischen und organoleptischen Eigenschaften von vier Ziegenkäsen

Zusammenfassung Aus Ziegenmilch wurden jeweils zwei Chargen von vier spanischen Käsesorten hergestellt: Frischkäse, gewaschene Käsemasse, Weichkäse mit Oberflächenflora und Majorero -Käse. Von jeder Charge wurde die Hälfte gefroren gelagert und erst nach vier Monaten auf die übliche Weise gereift und/oder gekühlt aufbewahrt. Die physikalisch-chemischen und organoleptischen Eigenschaften wurden danach untersucht. Im Vergleich mit Käsen, die nicht gefroren gewesen waren, ergaben sich keine wesentlichen Unterschiede in den rheologischen und sensorischen Eigenschaften, mit Ausnahme bei den Frischkäsen, bei dem sich die Textur durch die Aufbewahrung in gefrorenem Zustand verschlechtert hatte. Der Gehalt an freien Aminosäuren, ein Maß für die Proteolyse, war höher in der gewaschenen Käsemasse, in dem Weichkäse mit Oberflächenflora und in dem Majorero-Käse, die vier Monate gefroren gewesen waren. Durch die Gefrierlagerung hatte sich der Fettabbau nicht verändert, mit Ausnahme bei dem Käse mit Oberflächenflora, bei dem der Gehalt an freien Fettsäuren erhöht war im Vergleich mit dem Käse, der nicht vier Monate gefriergelagert worden war.

     

Proliferation to Apoptosis Tumor Cell Ratio as a Biomarker to Improve Clinical Management of Pre-Malignant and Symptomatic Plasma Cell Neoplasms

Proliferation and apoptosis of neoplastic cells are prognostic biomarkers in plasma cell neoplasms (PCNs). The prognostic capacity of proliferation to apoptosis ratio (Ratio-PA) in the era of immunomodulatory treatments is re-evaluated in 316 gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), 57 smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), and 266 multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Ratio-PA of 0.77 ± 0.12, 1.94 ± 0.52, and 11.2 ± 0.7 (p < 0.0001) were observed in MGUS, SMM, and MM patients. Ten-year overall survival (10y-OS) rates for patients with low/high Ratio-PA were 93.5%/77.3% p < 0.0001) for MGUS, 82.5%/64.7% (p < 0.05) for SMM, and 62.3%/47.0% (p < 0.05) for MM. For patients with low, intermediate, and high risk, 10y-OS for low/high Ratio-PA were 95.5%/72.9% (p < 0.0001), 74.2%/50.4% (p < 0.0001), and 35.3%/20.0% (p = 0.836), respectively. Ratio-PA was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR = 2.119, p < 0.0001, Harrell-C-statistic = 0.7440 ± 0.0194) when co-analyzed with sex, age, and standard risk. In patients with Ratio-PA^high, only first-line therapy with VRd/VTd, but not PAD/VCD, coupled with ASCT was associated with high 10y-OS (82.7%). Tumor cell Ratio-PA estimated at diagnosis offers a prognostic biomarker that complements standard risk stratification and helps to guide the clinical management of pre-malignant and symptomatic PCNs. Every effort should be made to provide first-line therapies including VTd or VRd associated with ASCT to patients with Ratio-PA^high at higher risk of progression and death.     

Syndecan-1 Depletion Has a Differential Impact on Hyaluronic Acid Metabolism and Tumor Cell Behavior in Luminal and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) are major components of the glycocalyx. The secreted GAG and CD44 ligand hyaluronic acid (HA), and the cell surface PG syndecan-1 (Sdc-1) modulate the expression and activity of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules, acting as critical regulators of tumor cell behavior. Here, we studied the effect of Sdc-1 siRNA depletion and HA treatment on hallmark processes of cancer in breast cancer cell lines of different levels of aggressiveness. We analyzed HA synthesis, and parameters relevant to tumor progression, including the stem cell phenotype, Wnt signaling constituents, cell cycle progression and apoptosis, and angiogenic markers in luminal MCF-7 and triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells. Sdc-1 knockdown enhanced HAS-2 synthesis and HA binding in MCF-7, but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. Sdc-1-depleted MDA-MB-231 cells showed a reduced CD24-/CD44+ population. Furthermore, Sdc-1 depletion was associated with survival signals in both cell lines, affecting cell cycle progression and apoptosis evasion. These changes were linked to the altered expression of KLF4, MSI2, and miR-10b and differential changes in Erk, Akt, and PTEN signaling. We conclude that Sdc-1 knockdown differentially affects HA metabolism in luminal and triple-negative breast cancer model cell lines and impacts the stem phenotype, cell survival, and angiogenic factors.