Another exact solution for two-dimensional, inviscid sinh Poisson vortex arrays

Arrays of vortices are considered for two-dimensional, inviscid flows when the functional relationship between the stream function and the vorticity is a hyperbolic sine. An exact solution as a doubly periodic array of vortices is expressed in terms of the Jacobi elliptic functions. There is a threshold value of the period parameter such that a transition from globally smooth distributions of vorticity to singular distributions occurs. © 2003 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

Super-resolution of faces using texture mapping on a generic 3D model

This paper proposes a novel face texture mapping framework to transform faces with different poses into a unique texture map. Under this framework, texture mapping can be realized by utilizing a generic 3D face model, standard Haar-like feature based detector, active appearance model and pose estimation algorithm. By this texture map, correspondence of every pixel at the face across multiple distinct input images can then be established, which enables super-resolution algorithms to be applied directly on registered texture map to render high resolution faces. This paper details the proposed framework, and illustrates how the proposed super-resolution algorithm works with the help of weighted average and median filters. Convincing experimental results are also presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework and superresolution algorithm. © 2009 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Motion and edge adaptive interpolation de-interlacing algorithm

This paper presents a new motion and edge adaptive de-interlacing algorithm, which is efficient and artifacts-free. It is novel in the sense that it introduces a way to properly interpolate the two (odd and even) field images according to the information provided by the simplest form of motion detection and edge orientation estimation methods. The proposed algorithm was evaluated by three video sequences, namely, 'Akiyo', 'Silent', 'Foreman'. Experimental results confirm that the proposed algorithm performs, both objectively and subjectively, much better than other similar algorithms. These promising results indicate that the proposed interpolation approach has good potential to realize even better de-interlacing algorithms, if more sophisticated motion detection and edge orientation estimation methods are employed.postprintThe 10th WSEAS international conference on Computers (ICCOMP'06), Athens, Greece, 13-15 July 2006. In Proceedings of ICCOMP, 2006, p. 1030-103

Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of transarterial chemoembolisation treatment in hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) by mTOR inhibitor RAD001: implication for a novel treatment regimen in HCC

Oral Presentationpublished_or_final_versionThe 16th Medical Research Conference, Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 22 January 2011. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2011, v. 17 n. 1, suppl. 1, p. 25, abstract no. 3

Generalized motion and edge adaptive interpolation de-interlacing algorithm

This paper presents a generalized motion and edge adaptive de-interlacing framework, which offers a structured way to develop de-interlacing algorithm. The framework encompasses many typical de-interlacing algorithms, ranging from simple interpolation based algorithms, to more complex edge dependent and motion adaptive algorithms. Based on this framework, we develop a new de-interlacing algorithm which is efficient and artifacts-free. The proposed algorithm was evaluated by five video sequences, namely, "Akiyo", Mother and Daughter", "Silent", "Foreman" and "Stefan". Experimental results confirm that the proposed algorithm performs, both objectively and subjectively, much better than other similar algorithms. These promising results indicate that the proposed framework has good potential for realizing even better de-interlacing algorithms.postprin

A study on the effect of testosterone replacement on the development of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)

published_or_final_versio

Motion and edge adaptive interpolation de-interlacing algorithm

This paper presents a new motion and edge adaptive de-interlacing algorithm, which is efficient and artifacts-free. It is novel in the sense that it introduces a way to properly interpolate the two (odd and even) field images according to the information provided by the simplest form of motion detection and edge orientation estimation methods. The proposed algorithm was evaluated by three video sequences, namely, 'Akiyo', 'Silent', 'Foreman'. Experimental results confirm that the proposed algorithm performs, both objectively and subjectively, much better than other similar algorithms. These promising results indicate that the proposed interpolation approach has good potential to realize even better de-interlacing algorithms, if more sophisticated motion detection and edge orientation estimation methods are employed.postprintThe 10th WSEAS international conference on Computers (ICCOMP'06), Athens, Greece, 13-15 July 2006. In Proceedings of ICCOMP, 2006, p. 1030-103

Prevalence of albuminuria and cardiovascular risk profile in a referred cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes: An Asian perspective

Background: Microalbuminuria (MA) is a risk marker for diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) in patients with diabetes. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of albuminuria, CV risk factors, and treatments for renal and CV protection in an Asian population with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in eight Asian countries enrolled normotensive/hypertensive adults with type 2 diabetes without known proteinuria and/or non-diabetic kidney disease. Exclusion criteria were type 1 diabetes, menstruation, pregnancy, and acute fever. A single random urinary albumin/creatinine test was carried out in all patients. Results: Of 8,561 patients, 14% had diabetic retinopathy, and 17% and 21% had history of CV disease and smoking, respectively. Normoalbuminuria was seen in 44%, MA in 44%, and macroalbuminuria in 12%. Target glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (<7%) was reached in only 37% of 3,834 patients with available values. Diabetes was managed by diet alone in 6%, while others received oral hypoglycemic drugs and/or insulin. In total, 75% did not reach target blood pressure (BP) of ≤130/80 mm Hg. Antihypertensive drugs were prescribed to 52%, with the number of drugs increasing as the level of systolic BP increased. Drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system were most commonly prescribed, followed by calcium channel blockers. Lipid-lowering drugs and anticoagulant/antiplatelet agents were used in about 30% and 25% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: Asian patients with type 2 diabetes had a high prevalence of MA and reduced kidney function. Furthermore, BP and HbA1c control was only achieved in a minority of patients. Aggressive risk management by administration of reno- and cardioprotective treatments is urgently needed. © 2008 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.published_or_final_versio

Numerical studies of the Lagrangian approach for reconstruction of the conductivity in a waveguide

We consider an inverse problem of reconstructing the conductivity function in a hyperbolic equation using single space-time domain noisy observations of the solution on the backscattering boundary of the computational domain. We formulate our inverse problem as an optimization problem and use Lagrangian approach to minimize the corresponding Tikhonov functional. We present a theorem of a local strong convexity of our functional and derive error estimates between computed and regularized as well as exact solutions of this functional, correspondingly. In numerical simulations we apply domain decomposition finite element-finite difference method for minimization of the Lagrangian. Our computational study shows efficiency of the proposed method in the reconstruction of the conductivity function in three dimensions

Over-expression of miR-106b promotes cell migration and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma by activating epithelial-mesenchymal transition process

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one the the most fatal cancers worldwide. The poor prognosis of HCC is mainly due to the developement of distance metastasis. To investigate the mechanism of metastasis in HCC, an orthotopic HCC metastasis animal model was established. Two sets of primary liver tumor cell lines and corresponding lung metastasis cell lines were generated. In vitro functional analysis demonstrated that the metastatic cell line had higher invasion and migration ability when compared with the primary liver tumor cell line. These cell lines were subjected to microRNA (miRNAs) microarray analysis to identify differentially expressed miRNAs which were associated with the developement of metastasis in vivo. Fifteen human miRNAs, including miR-106b, were differentially expressed in 2 metastatic cell lines compared with the primary tumor cell lines. The clinical significance of miR-106b in 99 HCC clinical samples was studied. The results demonstrated that miR-106b was over-expressed in HCC tumor tissue compared with adjacent non-tumor tissue (p = 0.0005), and overexpression of miR-106b was signficantly correlated with higher tumor grade (p = 0.018). Further functional studies demonstrated that miR-106b could promote cell migration and stress fiber formation by over-expressing RhoGTPases, RhoA and RhoC. In vivo functional studies also showed that over-expression of miR-106b promoted HCC metastasis. These effects were related to the activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Our results suggested that miR-106b expression contributed to HCC metastasis by activating the EMT process promoting cell migration in vitro and metastasis in vivo. © 2013 Yau et al.published_or_final_versio