Orientation-Matching Minimization for Image Denoising and Inpainting

In this paper, we propose an orientation-matching functional minimization for image denoising and image inpainting. Following the two-step TV-Stokes algorithm (Rahman et al. in Scale space and variational methods in computer vision, pp. 473–482, Springer, Heidelberg, 2007; Tai et al. in Image processing based on partial differential equations, pp. 3–22, Springer, Heidelberg, 2006; Bertalmio et al. in Proc. conf. comp. vision pattern rec., pp. 355–362, 2001), a regularized tangential vector field with zero divergence condition is first obtained. Then a novel approach to reconstruct the image is proposed. Instead of finding an image that fits the regularized normal direction from the first step, we propose to minimize an orientation matching cost measuring the alignment between the image gradient and the regularized normal direction. This functional yields a new nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) for reconstructing denoised and inpainted images. The equation has an adaptive diffusivity depending on the orientation of the regularized normal vector field, providing reconstructed images which have sharp edges and smooth regions. The additive operator splitting (AOS) scheme is used for discretizing Euler-Lagrange equations. We present the results of various numerical experiments that illustrate the improvements obtained with the new functional.     

Multimodal and ontology-based fusion approaches of audio and visual processing for violence detection in movies

In this paper we present our research results towards the detection of violent scenes in movies, employing advanced fusion methodologies, based on learning, knowledge representation and reasoning. Towards this goal, a multi-step approach is followed: initially, automated audio and visual analysis is performed to extract audio and visual cues. Then, two different fusion approaches are deployed: (i) a multimodal one that provides binary decisions on the existence of violence or not, employing machine learning techniques, (ii) an ontological and reasoning one, that combines the audio-visual cues with violence and multimedia ontologies. The latter reasons out not only the existence of violence or not in a video scene, but also the type of violence (fight, screams, gunshots). Both approaches are experimentally tested, validated and compared for the binary decision problem of violence detection. Finally, results for the violence type identification are presented for the ontological fusion approach. For evaluation purposes, a large dataset of real movie data has been populated.     

Determination of Ochratoxin A in Bread: Evaluation of Microwave-Assisted Extraction Using an Orthogonal Composite Design Coupled with Response Surface Methodology

An analytical method using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection (FD) for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in bread samples is described. A 2⁴ orthogonal composite design coupled with response surface methodology was used to study the influence of MAE parameters (extraction time, temperature, solvent volume, and stirring speed) in order to maximize OTA recovery. The optimized MAE conditions were the following: 25 mL of acetonitrile, 10 min of extraction, at 80 °C, and maximum stirring speed. Validation of the overall methodology was performed by spiking assays at five levels (0.1–3.00 ng/g). The quantification limit was 0.005 ng/g. The established method was then applied to 64 bread samples (wheat, maize, and wheat/maize bread) collected in Oporto region (Northern Portugal). OTA was detected in 84 % of the samples with a maximum value of 2.87 ng/g below the European maximum limit established for OTA in cereal products of 3 ng/g.     

Influence of CYP1A2 and NAT2 Metabolic Phenotypes on Smokers' Urinary Mutagenicity

The influence of the metabolic phenotypes NAT2 and CYP1A2 on urinary mutagenicity of 118 smokers was studied. Mutagenicity of urine samples was determined by Ames test (preincubation plate incorporation assay on YG1024 Salmonella typhimurium strain with S9 mix). Urinary nicotine plus its metabolites were determined to check cigarette smoke intake. The N -acetyltransferase (NAT2) and cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) phenotypes were measured by the molar ratio of urinary caffeine metabolites, determined by HPLC analysis. Urinary mutagenicity was significantly higher in smokers CYP1A2 extensive (EM) than in CYP1A2 poor metabolizers (PM) (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.020). Linear multiple regression analysis shows that an increase in urinary mutagenicity levels was significantly related to cigarette smoke intake and to CYP1A2 N -hydroxylation activity ( t = 5.06, p < 0.001, and t = 2.33, p = 0.021), but not to NAT2 acetylation phenotype. In conclusion, phenotypic differences in metabolic activation of tobacco smoke mutagens are able to modulate the presence of mutagens in urine of cigarette smokers and, consequently, the potential genotoxic risk.     

Magnetic fishing of recombinant green fluorescent proteins and tagged proteins with designed synthetic ligands

Biomimetic ligands have emerged to overcome disadvantages inherent in biological ligands. In particular, the Ugi reaction can generate scaffolds where molecular diversity can be introduced, allowing the synthesis and screening of ligand libraries in a high-throughput manner against a variety of biological targets. Two adsorbents bearing Ugi-based synthetic ligands, coined A4C7 and A7C1, were previously developed for the selective recovery of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and RKRKRK-tagged GFP directly from Escherichia coli crude extracts. This work describes, for the first time, the in situ synthesis of Ugi-based ligands on magnetic beads and their application in the magnetic recovery of cognate proteins.     

Effect of alkaline pH-shift processing on in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of herring (Clupea harengus) fillets

The effect of alkaline pH-shift processing on herring (Clupea harengus) protein oxidation, salt solubility and digestibility, has been evaluated. For the latter, herring mince and pH-shift produced herring protein isolate, both raw and heat-treated, were digested using a static gastrointestinal in vitro model. The pH-shift process resulted in drastically lowered protein salt solubility and increased lipid oxidation while protein carbonyl formation was unaffected. Yet, no significant differences in the degree of hydrolysis (DH) were observed between mince and isolates after completed gastrointestinal digestion, something which was confirmed by a similar release of proteinaceous material <3 kDa and similar free amino acid profiles. The polypeptide profiles of digested samples however revealed that two peptides (33 and 36 kDa) were present in larger amounts in the digested protein isolate compared to the digested herring mince. The results indicate that alkaline pH-shift processing had limited quantitative influence on the gastrointestinal digestibility of herring proteins despite its negative effects on protein salt solubility and lipid oxidation.     

Diffusion Bonding of TiAl to Ti6Al4V Using Nanolayers

Microstructural characterization of TiAl to Ti6Al4V dissimilar diffusion bonds assisted by reactive Ni/Al nanolayers was performed in this study. The nanolayers (alternated Al and Ni) were deposited onto the base material surfaces. Diffusion bonding was performed at 700 and 800 °C under pressures from 5 to 40 MPa and dwell times between 60 and 180 min. Microstructural characterization was performed using high-resolution transmission and scanning electron microscopies. The observations revealed that dissimilar TiAl to Ti6Al4V joints assisted by Ni/Al reactive nanolayers can be obtained successfully at 800 °C during 60 min using a pressure of 20 MPa. The bond interface is thin (less than 10 µm) and is mainly composed of NiAl grains. Thin layers of Al-Ni-Ti intermetallic compounds were formed adjacent to the base materials.     

Detection and quantification of tissue of origin in salmon and veal products using methylation sensitive AFLPs

Food quality depends largely on the source of origin of the products used. Here we use methylation sensitive amplified polymorphisms (MSAP) analysis to diagnose and quantify the tissue of origin in salmon and veal products. We exploited the variability of MSAP profiles between tissues of an organism in order to characterise the origin of the food product. MSAP profiles provided robust discrimination of tissues from salmon (brain, eye, liver, and muscle) and veal (heart, kidney, liver, and muscle). Isolation of the diagnostic markers revealed by MSAP may ultimately allow for the development of a new STS-based epigenetic profiling technique for the detection and quantification of mixture of tissues in the same sample; offering not only rapid determination of the tissue of origin but also potential quantification of the components in processed food products.     

Antioxidant capacity,arabinoxylans content and in vitro glycaemic index of cereal-based snacks incorporated with brewer's spent grain

Extruded snacks and breadsticks were formulated with increasing levels of brewer's spent grain (BSG). The phenolic content increased by 4 and 7 fold with BSG addition in extrudates (40 g/100 g) and in breadsticks (35 g/100 g), respectively. Consequently, antioxidant capacity (DPPH, FRAP) also increased despite a recorded loss of phenolic compounds in extruded snacks. Arabinoxylans content increased up to 20 and 25 g of BSG addition/100 g of formulated extruded snacks and breadsticks, respectively. Further addition of BSG did not improve the content of arabinoxylans due to the possible formation of polysaccharide–protein complexes. Medium GI breadsticks were obtained with 35 g of BSG incorporation/100 g formulation. Phenolic content, arabinoxylans content and antioxidant capacity increased in the final products with BSG addition while the glycaemic response decreased. BSG can be incorporated as an ingredient in the formulation of extruded snacks and breadsticks generating products richer in antioxidants and fibre and with low GI.     

Improvement of the fatigue and the ferroelectric properties of PZT films through a LSCO seed layer

The ability to optimizate the preparation of Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) films on platinized Si substrate by pulsed laser deposition was demonstrated. The effect of the modification of the interface film/electrode through the use of a (La,Sr)CoO₃ (LSCO) seed layer on the remnant polarization, fatigue endurance and stress in PZT films was studied. An improvement on the ferroelectric properties was found with the using of the LSCO layer. A remnant polarization (P_r) of 19.8 μC/cm² and 4.4 μC/cm² for films with and without the LSCO layer were found. In the same way the polarization fatigue decreases significantly after deposition of the LSCO layer between the film and substrate. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images revealed a different growth process in the films. Current–voltage (I–V) measurements showed that the use of LSCO seed layer improves the leakage current and, on the other hand the conduction mechanisms in the film without LSCO, after the fatigue test, was found to be changed from Schottky to Poole–Frenkel. The trap activation energy (about 0.14 eV) determined from Poole–Frenkel mode agrees well with the energy level of oxygen vacancies. The films stresses were estimated by XRD in order to explain the improvement on the structure and consequentially ferroelectric properties of the films. The model proposed by Dawber and Scott was found to be in agreement with our experimental data, which seems to predict that the oxygen vacancies play an important role on fatigue.