ID Patterns Research Articles

Novel use of deep neural networks on photographic identification of epaulette sharks (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) across life stages.

Photographic identification (photo ID) is an established method that is used to count animals and track individuals' movements. This method performs well with some species of elasmobranchs (i.e., sharks, skates, and rays) where individuals have distinctive skin patterns. However, the unique skin patterns used for ID must be stable through time to allow re-identification of individuals in future sampling events. More recently, artificial intelligence (AI) models have substantially decreased the labor-intensive process of matching photos in extensive photo ID libraries and increased the reliability of photo ID. Here, photo ID and AI are used for the first time to identify epaulette sharks (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) at different life stages for approximately 2 years. An AI model was developed to assess and compare the reliability of human-classified ID patterns in juvenile and neonate sharks. The model also tested the persistence of unique patterns in adult sharks. Results indicate that immature life stages are unreliable for pattern identification, using both human and AI approaches, due to the plasticity of these subadult growth forms. Mature sharks maintain their patterns through time and can be identified by AI models with approximately 86% accuracy. The approach outlined in this study has the potential of validating the stability of ID patterns through time; however, testing on wild populations and long-term datasets is needed. This study's novel deep neural network development strategy offers a streamlined and accessible framework for generating a reliable model from a small data set, without requiring high-performance computing. Since many photo ID studies commence with limited datasets and resources, this AI model presents practical solutions to such constraints. Overall, this approach has the potential to address challenges associated with long-term photo ID data sets and the application of AI for shark identification.

Spatial–Temporal Patterns of Interannual Variability in Planted Forests: NPP Time-Series Analysis on the Loess Plateau

Investigating how the productivity dynamics of planted forests vary over time is important for understanding the resilience of forests against disturbance and for maximizing ecological restoration and replanting efforts. In this study, the patterns of interannual variability in net primary production (NPP) were analyzed for planted forests as indicated by the inverse of the coefficient of variation (ICV) time series at a ten-year moving window on the Loess Plateau, China, from 2000 to 2021. The spatial–temporal patterns were defined based on the increase or decrease trend obtained using the ordinary least squares method between abrupt change points performed by a Mann–Kendall test in an ICV time series, as follows: only one linear trend, increase (LI), and decrease (LD); at least two trends, increase firstly and decrease lastly (ID) and decrease firstly and increase lastly (DI); and other trends. The results showed that 82.74% of the ICV on the Loess Plateau displayed LD and ID patterns, indicating an increasing variability of forest productivity in this region. Overall, 73.83% of the ICV had a lower degree of rate decrease in the last phase than during the initial increase. Thus, the variability was in an early stage of increasing degree. The ICV time series showed an LI pattern in the eastern Gansu and the southern Shanxi, indicating a decreased variability, due partly to the improved forest restoration. When the plantation age was considered, the newly planted forests (less than 19 a) exhibited a decreasing variability, indicating the proactive role of forest management and restoration in averting environmental disruptions in dry environments.

CE-D/I SNP polymorphism in Iraqi patients with chronic renal failure in Thi-Qar province

Precise characterization of clinical phenotypes and revelation of genetic markers for the predisposing to have renal maladies or alter its course has been bothersome and exhausting. However, some genetic variants have been linked to kidney disorders. Methods: This study involved 120 subjects (70 Hemodialysis-treated patients with chronic renal failure and 50 healthy subjects as control). Serum biochemical parameters Creatinine, and Urea were detected as diagnostic markers to renal functions. Sixty subjects (44 patients & 16 control) were genotyped for polymorphism of the enzyme gene conversion of angiotensin. The distribution of genotype and allele frequencies for ACE-D / I SNP polymorphism has been evaluated in both groups. Results : The levels of Biochemical parameters Creatinine, and Urea in renal failure patients increased significantly when compared with healthy .The ACE genotypes distribution between subjects groups in Thi-Qar indicated that The percentage of DD genotype was found to be high in the group of patients 23 (52.3%), followed by ID 16 (36.3%) and II genotype 5 (11.4%). As, the genetic pattern in the control group showed that the genotype DD and ID patterns had the same percentage of 37.3%, followed by genotype II, 25% . Also, there is an increase of D-allele frequencies in the group of patients equivalent with healthy controls.

Association of meteorological factors with infectious diarrhea incidence in Guangzhou, southern China: A time-series study (2006–2017)

BackgroundInfectious diarrhea (ID) has exerted a severe disease burden on the world. The seasonal ID patterns suggest that meteorological factors (MFs) may influence ID incidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of MFs on ID, and to provide scientific evidence to the relevant health authorities for disease control and prevention. MethodsData from ID cases and daily MFs (including mean temperature, diurnal temperature range, relative humidity, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and wind velocity) in Guangzhou, Southern China from 2006 to 2017 were collected. Using a distributed lag non-linear model approach, we assessed the relationship between MFs and ID incidence. ResultsCompared with the lowest ID risk values, low mean temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation were associated with an increased risk for ID, while higher diurnal temperature range and atmospheric pressure were also associated with increased risk. Maximum atmospheric pressure and minimum relative humidity had larger cumulative effects within 21 lag days, yielding relative risks of 133.11 (95% CI: 61.29–289.09) and 18.17 (14.42–22.89), respectively. The cumulative effect within 21 lag days of minimum temperature was higher than that from maximum temperature in all sub-populations. The cumulative effects of minimum temperature for men, teenagers, and young adults (10–29 years) were higher than those for other populations. ConclusionsMFs should be considered when developing prevention and surveillance programs for ID. Special attention should be paid to vulnerable populations, such as teenagers and young adults.

Expression of Connexin 43 in the Myocardium in Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome

Background: Sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome (SUNDS) occurs predominantly in Southeast Asian people including Koreans. SUNDS is problematic for forensic pathologists because the diagnosis depends on the “exclusion of diagnosis.” Moreover, the pathogenesis of SUNDS is still unclear although some cases are known to be intimately related to the Brugada syndrome. Connexin43 (Cx43) is a principal protein of gap junction in adult cardiac myocytes, being distributed to the intercalated discs and phosphorylated in normal condition. Ischemia and hypoxia alter the expression of total Cx43 (tCx43) resulting in redistribution of non-phosphorylated Cx43 (npCx43) to the sarcoplasm or lateral cell borders of cardiac myocytes by continuing dephosphorylation. This study aimed to compare the immunoexpression pattern of Cx43 in the cardiac myocytes of SUNDS and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: The study group included SUNDS victims (SUNDS group, N=26; all males; aged 22-43 years; median age, 30.4 years), had a characteristic premortem history and negative autopsy findings. The control group was individuals who died suddenly due to IHD with severe coronary atherosclerosis, showing no myocardial ischemic change (IHD group, N=24; 22 males and 2 females; aged 35-76 years; median age, 53.5 years). Immunostaining was performed using the ABC method. The primary antibodies were rabbit polyclonal anti-Cx43 antibody (1:2,000, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), which react to both phosphorylated forms of Cx3 and npCx43, and mouse monoclonal anti-npCx43 antibody (1:100, Life Technologies, Frederick, MD, USA), which detect only npCx43. Expression patterns were grouped as no staining (NO), intercalated disc pattern (ID pattern, confined mostly to the intercalated discs), and redistribution pattern (R pattern, extended to the lateral borders of sarcoplasmic membrane). The chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship of tCx43 and npCx43 immunoexpression pattern with SUNDS group and IHD group. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 1. Expression of tCx43 in the SUNDS and IHD group. The results of tCx43 expression in the cardiac myocytes of the SUNDS and IHD group are summarized: In the SUNDS group, 7/26 cases (26.9%) displayed the NO pattern; 19/26 cases (73.1%), the ID pattern. The R pattern was not observed in the SUNDS group. In the IHD group, 14/24 cases (58.3%) displayed the ID pattern; 10/24 cases (41.7%), the R pattern. The NO pattern was not observed in the IHD group. There was a significant difference in the tCx43 expression between the SUNDS and IHD group (p<0.001). 2. Expression of npCx43 in the SUNDS and IHD group. The results of npCx43 expression in the cardiac myocytes of the SUNDS and IHD group are summarized: In the SUNDS group, 1/26 cases (3.8%) displayed the NO pattern; 23/26 cases (88.5%), the ID pattern; and 2/26 (7.7%), the R pattern. In the IHD group, 7/24 cases (29.2%) displayed the ID pattern; 17/24 cases (70.8%), the R pattern. There was a significant difference in the npCx43 expression between the SUNDS and IHD group (p<0.001). Conclusion: There was a significantly different expression of both tCx43 and npCX43 between the SUNDS and IHD group. A greater reduction in both tCx43 and npCx43 a more delayed redistribution pattern was seen in the myocardium of SUNDS when compared with IHD. In conclusion, these results suggest that the reduced Cx43 expression in SUNDS may be inherent and indicate a risk of arrhythmia.

Thinking Fast and Slow: An Approach to Energy‐Efficient Human Activity Recognition on Mobile Devices

According to Daniel Kahneman, there are two systems that drive the human decision making process: The intuitive system that performs the fast thinking, and the deliberative system that does more logical and slower thinking. Inspired by this model, we propose a framework for implementing human activity recognition on mobile devices. In this area, the mobile app is usually always-on and the general challenge is how to balance accuracy and energy consumption. However, among existing approaches, those based on cellular IDs consume little power but are less accurate; those based on GPS/WiFi sampling are accurate often at the costs of battery drainage; moreover, previous methods in general do not improve over time. To address these challenges, our framework consists of two modes: In the deliberation mode, the system learns cell ID patterns that are trained by existing GPS/WiFi based methods; in the intuition mode, only the learned cell ID patterns are used for activity recognition, which is both accurate and energy-efficient; system parameters are learned to control the transition from deliberation to intuition, when sufficient confidence is gained, and the transition from intuition to deliberation, when more training is needed. For the scope of this paper, we first elaborate our framework in a subproblem in activity recognition, trip detection, which recognizes significant places and trips between them. For evaluation, we collected real-life traces of six participants over five months. Our experiments demonstrated consistent results across different participants in terms of accuracy and energy efficiency, and, more importantly, its fast improvement on energy efficiency over time due to regularities in human daily activities.

Data Cleaning in Text File

Data cleaning is an automated process of detecting, removing and correcting incomplete, incorrect, inaccurate and irrelevant data from a record set. Our system works on simple text (*.txt) files using Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) model. In this paper we present a set of algorithms to correct errors such as alpha- numeric errors, invalid gender, invalid ID pattern and redundant ID error. The text files are used as data storage which stores data in a tabular format and the algorithms are applied on each field value depending on its nature.

Recognizing the ID of modulated LED tube lights by using camera motion blur

AbstractIn this paper, we present an image‐based ID recognition method for ID‐modulated light‐emitting diode (LED) tube lights by using the motion blur captured by a moving camera. This method is applied to a novel camera‐based indoor positioning system, which can provide exact location for mobile users. In this system, high‐intensity LED tubes are used concurrently as the illumination devices and optical markers. The flashing of each LED lamp is modulated, and the entire tube expresses an ID message, which can be captured by a normal camera installed in a mobile terminal. The flashing occurs at a high frequency and without degrading the illumination function. However, when the exposure time of the camera is longer than the flicker period of the LED lamps, it is difficult to capture the ID pattern. We propose a method that uses motion blur to overcome this limitation. During the period of exposure, if the user manually shakes the camera in the proper direction, a streaked pattern is developed on the captured image frame, which can be used for retrieving an ID number. Moreover, we can also obtain position estimation of the terminal from motion‐blurred images. Experimental results show that with careful operation it is feasible to recognize the ID of LED tubes successfully. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc.

Description and biological observations on a new species of deepwater symphurine tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae: Symphurus) collected at Volcano–19, Tonga Arc, West Pacific Ocean

Symphurus maculopinnis n. sp., described on a single specimen (USNM 398820; 84.4 mm SL), was collected by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) exploring a hydrothermal vent area located at 561 m on Volcano–19, Tonga Arc, West Pacific (24°48.439' S, 177°0.009' W). This new species is distinctive and readily diagnosed from congeners by the following combination of characters: 1–2–2–2–1 pattern of interdigitation of dorsal proximal pterygiophores and neural spines (ID pattern), 14 caudal-fin rays, 3+6 abdominal vertebrae, 49 total vertebrae, 89 scales in a longitudinal row, 92 dorsal-fin rays, 77 anal-fin rays, blunt squarish snout, thick blind-side lips with conspicuous plicae, and conspicuous ocellated (sometimes partially) spots on posterior dorsal and anal fins. Among Symphurus, only S. ocellatus von Bonde, collected at deepwater locations off East Africa, features a similar ID pattern, 14 caudal-fin rays and spots on the posterior dorsal and anal fins. Symphurus maculopinnis differs distinctly from S. ocellatus in its lower and non-overlapping meristic features (49 vs. 54–56 total vertebrae; 92 vs. 97–103 dorsal-fin rays; and 77 vs. 85–89 anal-fin rays), its squarish (vs. pointed) snout, and thick, plicated blind-side lower lip (vs. thin, non-plicated blind-side lower lip). Additional specimens (N= 56) of S. maculopinnis observed and filmed in situ near active venting sites located between ca. 433-561 m on Volcano–19 provide the basis for behavioral and ecological information recorded for the species. Videotapes reveal one individual of S. maculopinnis featuring reversed (dextral) asymmetry from that typical (sinistral) for members of the Cynoglossidae. Specimens with reversed asymmetry are relatively rare in this family and this S. maculopinnis represents only the second known reversed individual among the approximately 42 species of deep-sea (&gt;200 m) Symphurus.

A New Species of Deep-Water Tonguefish Genus Symphurus (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae) from Taiwan

Abstract A new symphurine tonguefish species, Symphurus megasomus, is described on the basis of 18 specimens collected in deep waters (471–640 m) off eastern Taiwan. This species is characterized by the combination of a predominant 1-2-3-2-2 pattern of interdigitation of dorsal pterygiophores and neural spines, 14 caudal-fin rays, 106–111 dorsal-fin rays, 91–96 anal-fin rays, 55–58 total vertebrae, 5 hypurals, deep body (27.2–30.8% SL), small (5.3–7.9% HL), round and separate eyes, bluish-black opercle and peritoneum on both sides of body (in both fresh and alcohol-preserved specimens), uniformly straw-colored to dark-brown ocular-side background pigmentation without freckles or mottled pigmentation, and uniformly white to light yellow blind side. Among congeners, S. megasomus is most similar to S. undatus, which has the same ID pattern and number of caudal-fin rays, but differs markedly from that species in having more dorsal- and anal-fin rays and in its ocular-side coloration (uniformly straw-colored t...

Symphurus ocellaris, a new shallow-water symphurine tonguefish collected off Pacific Panama (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae)

ABSTRACT Symphurus ocellaris is described on the basis of a holotype (73.2 mm SL) and paratype (42.3 mm SL) collected in the environs of Coiba Island, Gulf of Chiriqui, Pacific Panama, at 24 m and 7.4 m, respectively. This species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of: a 1–3–4 pattern of interdigitation of dorsal-fin pterygiophores and neural spines (ID pattern), 12 caudal-fin rays, presence of an ocellated spot on the caudal fin in both sexes, 51 total vertebrae, 96–97 dorsal-fin rays, 80–81 anal-fin rays, 85–86 longitudinal scale rows, a pupillary operculum, unpigmented peritoneum, uniformly pigmented blind side, and ocular-side background coloration lacking prominent dark spots or conspicuous crossbands. Symphurus ocellaris is only the second known species in the genus characterized by a 1–3–4 ID pattern. Among eastern Pacific Symphurus, S. callopterus also has a 1–3–4 ID pattern and 12 caudal-fin rays, but lacks the ocellated caudal spot, has a different ocular-side pigmentation, and h...

Larval development of Symphurus atramentatus (Cynoglossidae: Pleuronectiformes) from the Gulf of California

Symphurus atramentatus is described from larval to juvenile stages based on 30 specimens from the Gulf of California. Eleven larvae (preflexion, flexion, and postflexion) and three juveniles were cleared and stained to obtain the number of proximal dorsal-fin pterygiophores in each of the anterior first five interneural spaces and the number of hypural elements. Meristic features were nine precaudal vertebrae, 49–51 total vertebrae, 91–97 dorsal rays, 75–79 anal rays, 12 caudal rays, and four hypural elements. All specimens had a 1-3-3-2-2 ID pattern. The combination of these characterstics confirm that the specimens belong to Symphurus atramentatus. Pigmentation pattern of S. atramentatus from preflexion to postflexion stage consists of one dashed line of pigments on the base of the anal fin pterigiophores. In posflexion larvae, a dashed line of pigments appears on the base of the anal rays, on the dorsal margin of the body, on the lateral midline of the body, in the base of the first 15 dorsal rays, and on the base of the last 25 dorsal rays. In preflexion larvae, the ventral margin of the intestine had three or four blotches, which coalesce to form a continuous dotted line in postflexion larvae. Five elongated dorsal fin rays are present from preflexion to postflexion stages, which in the juvenile stage had a similar size with the rest of the adjacent rays.

Application of Ribotyping and rDNA Internal Space Analysis (RISA) for Assessment of Microflora in Brewery Environments

The applications of ribotyping and rDNA internal space analysis (RISA) were evaluated for assessment of microflora in brewery environments. For this purpose, approximately 2,000 strains isolated in our breweries were analyzed by ribotyping, and the database was constructed using all the data acquired. The strains that displayed unidentifiable ribopatterns were presumptively identified by 16S rDNA analysis, and novel ribopatterns were registered in our database as Custom ID patterns. As a result, it was demonstrated that ribotyping is capable of discriminating the brewery isolates on the strain level and well suited to the detailed analysis of microflora in brewery environments. We have also successfully accumulated an enormous database of the strains isolated from the brewery environments. We further evaluated RISA as an inexpensive and rapid alternative to ribotyping. As a consequence, RISA was shown to distinguish strains broadly on the species level, which is sufficient for the practical assessment of brewery isolates. Because this technique has an advantage in terms of cost and time required for analysis, RISA was also considered to complement ribotyping as a prescreening method. On the basis of these results, we have developed a reliable system for assessing the microflora in brewery environments by combining ribotyping and RISA.

Idiotype profile of an immune response. II. Reversal of the relative dominance of major and minor cross-reactive idiotypes in arsonate-specific T-independent responses.

Two different cross-reactive idiotype (CRI) groups are distinguishable in the Ab response of A/J mice to the p-azobenzenearsonate (ABA) hapten: CRIA and CRIm. These two groups showed distinct patterns of relative dominance in the ensuing response depending on whether the inducing Ag was a T cell-dependent (TD) form of ABA, such as ABA-KLH or ABA-CGG, or a T-independent type 1 (TI-1) form, such as ABA-Brucella abortus or ABA-lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and on whether the response was elicited in vivo or in vitro. The CRI+ component of primary in vivo plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to TD ABA Ags was largely (greater than 90%) CRIA+ as was, to a slightly lesser extent (greater than 75%) the CRI+ portion of secondary or hyperimmune serum Ab or PFC responses to the same Ags. In contrast, in vivo primary and hyperimmune PFC responses to ABA-Bru or ABA-LPS showed a significantly lower CRIA/CRI ratio, averaging 0.5-0.6, with some individual mice giving figures as low as 0.2, indicating predominance of CRIm over CRIA. Serological analysis of hyperimmune anti-ABA Abs from a group of 5 A/J mice immunized with ABA-Bru gave a figure of less than 0.5 for the CRIA/CRI ratio. The most striking disparity from the TD pattern was seen in primary in vitro PFC responses to the TI ABA Ags; here ratios of less than 0.2 were generally seen. Since T cell removal did not alter the Id pattern in the TI responses, CRIA-specific Ts cells do not account for the weak expression of CRIA in such responses. We propose a model that explains these results on the basis of differential expression of IdX dominance by two distinct B cell subpopulations--equatable to the Lyb-5+ and Lyb-5- B cell subsets--along with differential relative activation of these subsets in different types of responses. Examination of anti-ABA PFC responses of F1 progeny of CBA/N and A/J mice to ABA-Bru lends support to this hypothesis since CRIA expression was significantly lower in mice with the xid defect.

Differentiation between specific and nonspecific reactions of bovine sera and foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) in immunodiffusion tests

The precipitating and neutralizing activities of normal bovine sera with FMDV were studied and compared. Twenty-two out of 79 normal bovine sera gave a positive reaction in micro neutralization tests with FMDV type O, while six did so with type A. In RID tests 32 sera were positive with type O and 28 with type A virus. Almost all of the 79 sera gave a positive reaction in the RID with trypsin treated virus of both types. After three to four fold concentration most sera also gave visible reactions in ID tests when tested against complete virus. When O virus was used the ID patterns produced by most normal sera clearly differed from those obtained with early and late convalescent sera from FMDV infected steers. When type A materials were employed this was also the case but to a lesser extent. The patterns obtained with concentrated normal sera showed, in general a strong line with trypsin treated virus and no line or a weaker one with complete virus. The substances in normal bovine sera precipitating trypsin treated O virus were different from those reacting with trypsinized virus of type A.