Object Detection in RGB-D Images via Anchor Box with Multi-Reduced Region Proposal Network and Multi-Pooling

Journal of Signal Processing Systems - With the latest development of automation technology, object detection technology has received more and more research attention. Automated object detection...     

Assessing stem cell research productivity

Honour Index (HoI), a method to evaluate research performance within different research fields, was derived from the impact factor (IF). It can be used to rate and compare different categories of journals. HoI was used in this study to determine the scientific productivity of stem cell research in the Asian Four Dragons (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan) from 1981 to 2001. The methodology applied in this study represents a synthesis of universal indicator studies and bibliometric analyses of subfields at the micro-level. We discuss several comparisons, and conclude the developmental trend in stem cell research for two decades. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phosphorus‐containing polyaryloxydiphenylsilanes with high flame retardance arising from a phosphorus–silicon synergistic effect

Polyaryloxydiphenylsilanes were prepared from phosphorus‐containing diols and diphenydichlorolsilane through solution polymerization. With a stoichiometric imbalance in feed monomers, the resulting polymers exhibited moderate melting points and good processing properties. The polymers prepared showed initial decomposition temperatures above 340 °C, excellent thermal stability, high char yields at 850 °C and very high limited oxygen index values of 56–59. The polymers' char yields and their (P + Si) contents showed linear relationships. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insulinomimetic effect on glucose transport by epidermal growth factor when combined with a major histocompatibility complex class I-derived peptide

Peptides derived from the alpha 1-region of the murine H-2Dk molecule enhance glucose uptake in rat adipose cells above the maximum obtained with insulin stimulation alone (Stagsted, J., Reaven, G. M., Hansen, T., Goldstein, A., and Olsson, L. (1990) Cell 62, 297-307). We now describe that epidermal growth factor (EGF) in combination with the same peptides, Dk-(61-85) and Dk-(62-85), stimulates cellular glucose uptake 5-7 times over the basal level, i.e. to 30-50% of the maximal insulin effect. EGF alone increased glucose uptake by only approximately 50% above basal and the peptide alone by 100% above basal. Maximal effect of EGF and peptide was reached in 10-20 min with 30 microM peptide (EC50 10-15 microM) and 50 nM EGF (EC50 1-2 nM). The effect of EGF and peptide on glucose uptake was additive to that of insulin and peptide until the maximal level attained with insulin and peptide was reached. The combined effect of EGF plus peptide on glucose transport was associated with a recruitment of GLUT4 molecules to the plasma membrane. However, the phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase which is activated by insulin was not activated by EGF plus peptide. Thus, the effect of EGF plus peptide on glucose uptake seems independent of the activity status of the insulin receptor. 125I-Labeled EGF bound specifically to rat adipose cells with an apparent affinity of approximately 2 nM and Bmax approximately 5 x 10(3). However, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) peptides did not affect EGF-stimulated internalization of EGF receptor, in contrast to their effect on the insulin receptors. Transforming growth factor alpha had an effect similar to EGF on glucose uptake. Three other peptides derived from other parts of murine MHC class I had no effect on glucose uptake in combination with EGF. Thus, EGF in combination with certain MHC class I-derived peptides is insulinomimetic concerning glucose transport and this effect is independent of the insulin receptor activity.     

Hemodynamic response to in situ latissimus dorsi muscle stimulation: implications in dynamic cardiomyoplasty

Dynamic cardiomyoplasty (DCM) involves the electrical stimulation of a pedicled latissimus dorsi muscle flap wrapped around the falling ventricle as a means of cardiac assist. To further elucidate a potential neurohumoral mechanism for improvement of cardiac output after myoplasty, we evaluated the hemodynamic effects of in situ stimulation of the latissimus dorsi muscle (in the absence of cardiomyoplasty). In seven mongrel dogs, a nerve cuff electrode (Medtronic 6901) was placed around the left thoracodorsal nerve (TDN). This was attached to a pulse generator (Medtronic, Itrel 7420), delivering a 4.0 volt, 0.19 second on, 0.81 second off, 33 Hz, 210 microsecond pulse width, cyclic bursts similar to that used in DCM. Stroke volume index (SVI) and other hemodynamic parameters as well as plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels were measured at five stages: baseline, stimulator on at 0, 2, and 5 minutes, and stimulator off at 30 minutes after. The animals were then subjected to 4 weeks of rapid pacing at 240 beats/min (Medtronic 8329) to induce heart failure, and as the rapid pacing was discontinued, measurements were repeated as above. After rapid pacing, cardiac function was significantly depressed, and NE was elevated (133 +/- 69 versus 500 +/- 353 pg/mL, p < 0.05). In the normal hearts, TDN stimulation increased SVI, heart rate, systemic pressure, and NE levels. In heart failure, however, no significant changes in cardiac function and NE levels were noted. In conclusion, our data indicate that in the normal hearts, afferent impulses from TDN stimulation alone may augment cardiac function by means of a neurohumoral effect that is not seen in severe heart failure. The implications of these findings in DCM are discussed.     

Trends and variations in neonatal length of in-hospital stay in Canada

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the possible mechanisms involved in prolongation of bleeding time in pre-eclamptic patients receiving a magnesium sulfate infusion to prevent convulsions. Eighteen pre-eclamptic patients near term or at term (4 cases 33 to 35 weeks; the remainder > 36 weeks) were studied. Fifteen of them received magnesium sulfate infusion; 3 did not and served as controls. Bleeding time (modified Ivy method with Surgicutt), platelet count, platelet aggregation pattern, as well as serum arachidonic acid metabolites [thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-Keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-Keto-PGF1 alpha)] werde done on admission to the labor floor (before magnesium infusion) and repeated at discontinuation of the infusion, 12-24 hours postpartum; the controls received the second test 24 hours postpartum. Thirteen of 15 patients receiving magnesium sulfate had an increase in bleeding time from an average of 6 minutes 31 seconds to 11 minutes 56 seconds, an 82% rise (p < 0.004). In 2 there was a decrease. Among the 3 controls the averages were 6 minutes 38 seconds and 6 minutes 3 seconds. The total magnesium given ranged from 52.5 to 145 grams. Platelet counts averaged 251,000/mm3 (range 145,000-519,000). Platelet aggregation pattern done in 11 patients and was normal and unchanged after magnesium in 10 of the patients with increased bleeding time and one control. TxB2 and 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha levels did not change significantly either after magnesium administration (688 and 135 pgm/ml, to 654 and 117) or in controls (695 and 230 pgm/ml, to 445 and 225). Likewise, the ratio of these 2 substances did not change in either group (6.3 to 6.6, and 4.2 to 2.2). There was no correlation between duration of infusion or total magnesium given and directions of small changes observed. This study confirms a prior preliminary observation that magnesium sulfate infusion, as currently used to prevent eclamptic convulsions, induces a significant prolongation of bleeding time. This effect is mediated neither by changes in platelets count or aggregation pattern, nor by changing the level or ratios of serum arachidonic acid metabolites (TxB2 and 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha). Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of this clinically important observation of increased bleeding following magnesium sulfate infusion.     

A Built-in Self-Test Scheme with Diagnostics Support for Embedded SRAM

In this paper we propose a novel built-in self-test (BIST) design for embedded SRAM cores. Our contribution includes a compact and efficient BIST circuit with diagnosis support and an automatic diagnostic system. The diagnosis module of our BIST circuit can capture the error syndromes as well as fault locations for the purposes of repair and fault/failure analysis. In addition, our design provides programmability for custom March algorithms with lower hardware cost. The combination of the on-line programming mode and diagnostic system dramatically reduces the effort in design debugging and yield enhancement. We have designed and implemented test chips with our BIST design. Experimental results show that the area overhead of the proposed BIST design is only 2.4% for a 128 KB SRAM, and 0.65% for a 2 MB one.