SIFER: Scale-Invariant Feature Detector with Error Resilience

We present a new method to extract scale-invariant features from an image by using a Cosine Modulated Gaussian (CM-Gaussian) filter. Its balanced scale-space atom with minimal spread in scale and space leads to an outstanding scale-invariant feature detection quality, albeit at reduced planar rotational invariance. Both sharp and distributed features like corners and blobs are reliably detected, irrespective of various image artifacts and camera parameter variations, except for planar rotation. The CM-Gaussian filters are approximated with the sum of exponentials as a single, fixed-length filter and equal approximation error over all scales, providing constant-time, low-cost image filtering implementations. The approximation error of the corresponding digital signal processing is below the noise threshold. It is scalable with the filter order, providing many quality-complexity trade-off working points. We validate the efficiency of the proposed feature detection algorithm on image registration applications over a wide range of testbench conditions.     

A Newly Developed Synbiotic Yogurt Prevents Diabetes by Improving the Microbiome–Intestine–Pancreas Axis

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing worldwide, and there are no long-term preventive strategies to stop this growth. Emerging research shows that perturbations in the gut microbiome significantly contribute to the development of T2D, while microbiome modulators may be beneficial for T2D prevention. However, microbiome modulators that are effective, safe, affordable, and able to be administered daily are not yet available. Based on our previous pro- and prebiotic studies, we developed a novel synbiotic yogurt comprised of human-origin probiotics and plant-based prebiotics and investigated its impact on diet- and streptozotocin-induced T2D in mice. We compared the effects of our synbiotic yogurt to those of a commercially available yogurt (control yogurt). Interestingly, we found that the feeding of the synbiotic yogurt significantly reduced the development of hyperglycemia (diabetes) in response to high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin compared to milk-fed controls. Surprisingly, the control yogurt exacerbated diabetes progression. Synbiotic yogurt beneficially modulated the gut microbiota composition compared to milk, while the control yogurt negatively modulated it by significantly increasing the abundance of detrimental bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, the synbiotic yogurt protected pancreatic islet morphology compared to the milk control, while the control yogurt demonstrated worse effects on islets. These results suggest that our newly developed synbiotic yogurt protects against diabetes in mice and can be used as a therapeutic to prevent diabetes progression.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Silicon Nanowires by Electroless Etching

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were synthesized by two-step electroless etching of p-type Si (100) wafer and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The vibrational signature at 1108 and 2087 cm^?1 confirmed SiNWs were passivated by both oxygen and hydrogen atoms. Raman peak at 517 cm^?1 indicated crystalline SiNWs with tailing toward redshift due to Fano effect. The Si(2p) and Si(2s) core orbital spectra of SiNWs were found at 99.8 and 150.5 eV, respectively. Moreover, the reflection of SiNWs is minimized to ~ 1 to 5% in the 650-nm wavelength.     

Fast computation of Q‐value‐based dynamic programming on road networks

One of the essential components of vehicle navigation systems is route planning. The single shortest path problem and multiple shortest path problem have been widely studied for route planning. This paper introduces a Q‐value‐based dynamic programming using the division concept for solving both single and multiple shortest path problems on road networks. The proposed algorithm divides the whole network into different divisions, and the updating of Q values in each division is one stage for searching the optimal routes on road networks. The proposed algorithm can greatly save the computational time without any preprocessing on the road networks. The proposed algorithm is also systematically studied in various sizes of road networks. The simulation results show the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm on large‐scale road networks. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dynamic optimal route search algorithm for car navigation systems with preferences by dynamic programming

Optimal route search to the destination is one of the most important functions of car navigation devices. The development of road traffic infrastructure has made it possible to receive real‐time information of the traffic situation. Route search algorithms for car navigation devices make use of this information to avoid the traffic congestions. Such algorithms should find the new optimal route efficiently when the traffic situation changes. Usually, the minimum traveling time or distance is considered to define the optimal route. However, the minimum traveling time or distance is not always what the user is looking for. The user may prefer to travel on a certain route even at the cost of traveling time or distance. Car navigation devices should consider such preferences when finding the optimal route. In this paper, we propose a dynamic programming algorithm to find the optimal route considering that it should deal with the changes of the traffic situation and multiple criteria. The proposed method uses the information from the previous computation to find the new optimal route considering user preferences when the traveling time of the road section changes. The proposed method was applied to a real road network to find the optimal route. Results show that the proposed method can find the user‐preferred optimal route. Simulation results also show better calculation time of the proposed method compared to the Dijkstra algorithm. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Novel pathways in bacteriocin synthesis by lactic acid bacteria with special reference to ethnic fermented foods

Food Science and Biotechnology - Ethnic fermented foods are known for their unique aroma, flavour, taste, texture and other sensory properties preferred by every ethnic community in this world...     

An application of Q‐value‐based dynamic programming with Boltzmann distribution to real‐world road networks

In order to alleviate traffic congestion and improve the efficiency of traffic systems from a global perspective, a dynamic traffic management model is proposed in this paper. The proposed model is applied to the large‐scale microscopic simulator SOUND/4U based on the real‐world road network of Kurosaki, Kitakyushu, Japan. All the vehicles in the simulator follow the direction from the route guidance of the dynamic traffic management model, in which the extended Q‐value‐based dynamic Programming with Boltzmann distribution (QDP‐BD) and the time‐varying traffic information are used to generate the routes from the origins to the destinations. The simulation results show that the proposed QDP‐BD can reduce traffic congestion and improve the efficiency of the whole traffic system effectively compared with the greedy method in the real‐world road network. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enzymatic transfer of a beta1,6-linked N-acetylglucosamine to the alpha-galactose of globo-N-tetraose: in vitro synthesis of a novel hybrid pentasaccharide of lacto-globo type

A novel saccharide was synthesized by incubating globo-N-tetraose, GalNAc beta1-3Gal alpha1-4Gal beta1-4Glc, and UDP[3H]GlcNAc with hog gastric mucosal microsomes, known to contain beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity of a broad acceptor specificity. Chromatography and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of the product, as well as the amount of incorporated radioactivity indicated that one [3H]GlcNAc residue was transferred to the acceptor saccharide. One- and two-dimensional 1H NMR-spectroscopic analysis of the product and ESI-CID mass spectrometry of the pentasaccharide in permethylated form established its structure as GalNAc beta1-3([3H]GlcNAc beta1-6)Gal alpha1-4Gal beta1-4Glc. The new enzyme activity possesses substrate specificity features common to a purified beta1,6-GlcNAc-transferase from bovine tracheal epithelium, which forms branches at the subterminal beta1,3-substituted galactose and accepts both GlcNAc- and Gal-configuration at the terminal residue of the acceptor (Ropp et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem., 266, 23863-23871). The new beta1,6-GlcNAc-branch was readily galactosylated by bovine milk beta1,4-galactosyltransferase, revealing a pathway to novel hybrid type glycans with N-acetyllactosamine chains on globotype saccharides. This pathway may lead to the rare IP blood-group antigen and to globoside-like molecules mediating cell adhesion.     

Protein deficiency induces alterations in the distribution of T-cell subsets in experimental pulmonary tuberculosis

Previous research has suggested that dietary protein deficiency alters resistance to experimental pulmonary tuberculosis, in part, by affecting the distribution and trafficking of antigen-reactive T cells. In this study, guinea pigs were maintained on either a protein-deficient (10% ovalbumin) or control (30% ovalbumin) diet and infected 4 to 6 weeks later with a low dose of virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv by the respiratory route. Monoclonal antibodies directed against the CD4 or CD8 markers on guinea pig lymphocytes were used in a flow cytofluorometric assay to determine the proportion of each subset in the peripheral circulation, spleen, and bronchotracheal lymph nodes at 4 weeks after infection. In uninfected guinea pigs, only the spleen exhibited an effect of diet on T-cell distribution, with small but consistent reductions in the proportions of both CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes. However, following infection, protein deficiency exerted a profound effect on T-cell distribution. Malnourished, tuberculous guinea pigs harbored only 20 and 60% of the T cells (as a proportion of total lymphoid cells) found in the spleen and blood, respectively, of their well-nourished counterparts. Normal relative proportions of CD4 and CD8 cells were observed, however. In striking contrast, the bronchotracheal lymph nodes of protein-deprived guinea pigs with tuberculosis contained more than twice the numbers of T cells of control guinea pigs, and the normal CD4-to-CD8 ratio was reversed. Peripheral T-cell function, as measured by the delayed hypersensitivity skin test to tuberculin, and antigen-induced lymphoproliferation in vitro were markedly suppressed in protein-malnourished animals. Conversely, purified protein derivative-induced (but not concanavalin A-induced) proliferation was significantly enhanced in cultures of lymph node cells from protein-deprived tuberculous animals. Taken together, these results suggest that immunological abnormalities and loss of antimycobacterial resistance in the lungs of protein-deficient guinea pigs may be explained, in part, by sequestration of antigen-reactive T cells in the lymph nodes draining the site of infection.