An optimization framework for inverse tone mapping using a single low dynamic range image

Fan, Ming,Lee, Dae-Hong,Kim, Seung-Wook,Ko, Sung-Jea Elsevier 2019 Signal processing Image communication Vol.78 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Conventional inverse tone-mapping (ITM) methods tend to produce contrast distortions such as contrast loss and contrast reversal in reconstructed high dynamic range (HDR) images. This paper proposes a novel ITM optimization framework based on the assumption that the input low dynamic range (LDR) image is similar to the LDR image obtained by tone mapping a true HDR image. In the proposed framework, an HDR image is initially reconstructed by applying a conventional tone-mapping function in a reverse manner, and then the reconstructed HDR image is iteratively modified toward the optimum HDR image by minimizing the difference between the input LDR image and a tone-mapped LDR image obtained from the reconstructed HDR image. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework effectively reconstructs a high-quality HDR image and outperforms other conventional methods in terms of objective quality.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> A novel optimization framework for inverse tone mapping (TM). </LI> <LI> A high-quality HDR image is iteratively reconstructed. </LI> <LI> Any differentiable and invertible TM operator can be applied to our framework. </LI> <LI> The high luminance region is further enhanced by the post-processing. </LI> </UL> </P>

Survival Analysis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Subgroup of Young Patients

Fan, Yi,Zheng, Lei,Mao, Ming-Hui,Huang, Ming-Wei,Liu, Shu-Ming,Zhang, Jie,Li, Sheng-Lin,Zheng, Lei,Zhang, Jian-Guo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.20

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is predominantly a disease of middle-aged men with long-term exposure to tobacco and alcohol. An increasing trend has been reported at a younger age worldwide. Clinical records of 100 patients under the age of 45 years treated specifically for oral cavity SCC in our hospital during a 10-year period were retrospectively analyzed to calculate the survival rates. An obvious male predominance coincided with smoking trend among Chinese young individuals and female patients were more likely to have no traditional risk factors such as smoking or drinking. The 5-year overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate were 61.0% and 75.5%, respectively, consistent with other published series over the decade showing a relatively better survival among the young. No significant differences clearly correlated with outcome when comparing non-smokers non-drinkers to ever-smokers and ever drinkers (P>0.05). Overall survival rate and disease free survival rate was found to be significantly higher in patients with early-stage disease than with advanced stage disease (P=0.001, P=0.009 respectively). The strong influence of clinical stage on prognosis emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of oral malignancies for this unique clinical subgroup.

Impact of Refined Land Surface Properties on the Simulation of a Heavy Convective Rainfall Process in the Pearl River Delta Region, China

Ming Chang,Shaofen Fan,Qi Fan,Weihua Chen,Yiqiang Zhang,Yu Wang,Xuemei Wang 한국기상학회 2014 Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences Vol.50 No.5

The location and occurrence time of convective rainfallshave attracted great public concern as they can lead to terribledisasters. However, the simulation results of convective rainfalls inthe Pearl River Delta region often show significant discrepanciesfrom the observations. One of the major causes lies in the inaccurategeographic distribution of land surface properties used in the modelsimulation of the heavy precipitation. In this study, we replaced thedefault soil and vegetation datasets of Weather Research andForecasting (WRF) model with two refined datasets, i.e. theGlobCover 2009 (GLC2009) land cover map and the HarmonizedWorld Soil Database (HWSD) soil texture, to investigate the impactof vegetation and soil on the rainfall patterns. The result showed thatthe simulation patterns of convective rainfalls obtained from thecoupled refined datasets are more consistent with the observationsthan those obtained from the default ones. By using the coupledrefined land surface datasets, the overlap ratio of high precipitationdistricts reached 36.3% with a variance of 28.5 km from theobserved maximum rainfall position, while those of the defaultUnited States Geological Survey (USGS) dataset and ModerateResolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) dataset are 17.0%/32.8 km and 24.9%/49.0 km, respectively. The simulated totalrainfall amount and occurrence time using the coupled refineddatasets are the closest to the observed peak values. In addition, theHWSD soil data has improved the accuracy of the simulatedprecipitation amount, and the GLC2009 land cover data also didbetter in catching the early peak time.

In vitro Study of the Carotenoid-cleavage Enzyme from Staphylococcus pasteuri TS-82 Revealed Substrate Specificities and Generation of Norisoprenoid Flavors

Ming-Ming Zhu,Shu-Lin Wang,Ming-Tao Fan,Jing Li 한국식품과학회 2016 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.25 No.1

Reactions of a crude enzyme extracted from S. pasteuri TS-82 to cleave carbon-carbon bonds in bicyclic and monocyclic carotenoid substrates were investigated. Dependencies of enzyme activities on processing temperature and pH were investigated and non-volatile and volatile breakdown products were characterized. The crude enzyme showed a maximum activity with zeaxanthin, followed in decreasing order by β-carotene, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, and β-apo-8'- carotenal. The optimum pH value of the enzyme was 3.0 for both bicyclic and monocyclic substrates, whereas the optimum temperature of the enzyme was substrate specific at 60oC for C40 carotenoids and 50oC for β-apo-8'-carotenal. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectra (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectra (GC-MS) indicated that the crude enzyme was able to catalyze substrates with cleavage at 9-10 and 9'-10' double bonds with C13 norisoprenoids being the main volatile reaction products in each case. Astaxanthin is a major source for α,β-dihydro-β-ionone.

The role of ginsenoside Rb1, a potential natural glutathione reductase agonist, in preventing oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells

Fan, Hui-Jie,Tan, Zhang-Bin,Wu, Yu-Ting,Feng, Xiao-Reng,Bi, Yi-Ming,Xie, Ling-Peng,Zhang, Wen-Tong,Ming, Zhi,Liu, Bin,Zhou, Ying-Chun The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process in ischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) to alleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in this study. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. The antioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activity were examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 to GR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell apoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energy between GRb1 and GR was positive (-6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantl reduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GR protein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activity in vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of ≈2.317 μM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1's apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1 in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

중국 북경지역 대학 급식소 고객의 급식선택속성에 대한 중요도와 만족도 평가

범명명(Ming-Ming Fan),배현주(Hyun-Joo Bae) 한국식품영양과학회 2016 한국식품영양과학회지 Vol.45 No.4

중국 북경지역 대학 급식소의 음식과 서비스 품질 개선 방안을 마련하고자 중국 북경지역 3곳의 대학 급식소를 이용하는 고객 총 619명을 대상으로 설문조사 하여 통계분석 한 결과 조사대상자는 남자가 53.5%, 여자가 46.5%였고, 평균연령은 만 23세였다. 전체 응답자 중 하루 세끼 식사를 하는 비율은 전체의 85.3%였고, 대학 급식소에서 점심을 하는 비율은 1주일에 평균 5회 이상인 경우가 전체의 85.5%였다. 그리고 점심비 평균은 5위안(원화 905원) 초과에서 8위안(원화 1,448원) 이하가 전체의 51.7%로 가장 많았으며 대학 급식선택속성에 대한 IPA(Importance-Performance Analysis) 결과 우선으로 개선이 필요하다고 평가된 항목은 ‘음식의 맛’, ‘음식 재료의 신선도’, ‘메뉴의 다양성’, ‘식사대기시간’과 ‘화장실의 청결’ 등이었다. 그리고 조사대상자의 특성에 따른 급식선택속성 요인의 만족도 차이 분석 결과 ‘음식의 질과 메뉴’ 요인에 대한 만족도는 평균 급식비가 8위안(1,448원) 초과한 그룹이 다른 그룹에 비해 유의적으로 낮았고(P<0.05), ‘물리적 환경’ 요인에 대한 만족도는 대학 급식소에서 점심을 1주일 평균 4회 이하로 하는 그룹이 5회 이상 식사하는 그룹에 비해 유의적으로 낮았다(P<0.05). 또한 ‘서비스 질’ 요인에 대한 만족도는 매일 대학교 급식소에서 점심식사를 하는 그룹이 다른 그룹에 비해 유의적으로 높았으며(P<0.05), ‘편리성과 가격’ 요인에 대한 만족도는 평균 급식비가 5위안(905원) 이하인 그룹이 다른 그룹에 비해 유의적으로 높았다(P<0.05). 따라서 중국 대학 급식소의 급식관리자는 급식소 이용 고객의 만족도를 증대시키기 위해서 음식의 질 개선과 함께 적정한 가격에 다양한 메뉴를 제공하는 방안을 적극적으로 모색해야 할 것이다. This study was conducted to analyze the gap between importance and satisfaction of university foodservice attributes as well as to assess customer satisfaction with university foodservice establishments. All statistical analyses were conducted using the SPSS package program (ver. 20.0) for t-test, ANOVA, and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA). A total of 619 valid responses were used for the data analysis. The results of this study are as follows: the composition of respondents was 53.5% males and 46.5% females. Exactly 85.5% of respondents ate lunch at least five times a week at the on-campus foodservice. The favorite lunch menus of Chinese university students were Chinese food (91.8%), followed by Western food (3.5%), Korean food (2.2%), and Japanese food (1.5%). According to the results of IPA, foodservice selection attributes that were priorities for improvement were food taste, food freshness, menu variety, waiting time for meal, and toilet cleanliness. In addition, five satisfaction factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis. According to the results of one-way ANOVA, ‘physical environment’ and ‘service quality’ factors showed significant differences according to the students" grades and the frequency of eating lunch at on-campus foodservice. On the other hand, ‘food quality and menu’ and ‘convenience and price’ factors showed significant differences according to meal cost. In conclusion, in order to enhance customer satisfaction of on-campus foodservice, foodservice managers should offer a varied menu at reasonable prices and improve food quality.

’88올림픽 広告 디자인 中共의 対 韓国視覚에서 본다

范偉明(Fan Wi Ming),李鍾永(번역자) 한국마케팅연구원 1988 마케팅 Vol.22 No.7

단일 LDR 영상을 이용한 역 톤 매핑을 위한 최적화 프레임워크

범명(Fan Ming),김효영(Hyo-Young Kim),이인재(In-Jae Lee),고성제(Sung-Jea Ko) 한국통신학회 2020 한국통신학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2020 No.8

The role of ginsenoside Rb1, a potential natural glutathione reductase agonist, in preventing oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells

Hui-Jie Fan,Zhang-Bin Tan,Yu-Ting Wu,Xiao-Reng Feng,Yi-Ming Bi,Ling-Peng Xie,Wen-Tong Zhang,Zhi Ming,Bin Liu,Ying-Chun Zhou 고려인삼학회 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process inischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) toalleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however,the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in thisstudy. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. Theantioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activitywere examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 toGR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cellapoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energybetween GRb1 and GR was positive ( 6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantlyreduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GRprotein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activityin vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of z2.317 mM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1’s apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stresseinducedapoptosis of H9C2 cells.

Consumer attitudes toward downward extensions: an exploration of Giordano’s extension in Hong Kong

Fan Zeng,Stacy H. N. Lee,Chui Ming Heung 한국의류학회 2019 Fashion and Textiles Vol.6 No.1

Given that numerous fashion brands constantly struggle to survive, it is important to learn how consumers evaluate and change their attitudes toward the downward extensions of mass-production fashion businesses, particularly those that originate in Hong Kong. Through capitalizing on the parent brand’s equity earned through enhancing consumer preferences and building loyalty, companies’ brand extension strategies can lead to better profits and sales for fashion brands. Based on the categorization theory and the theory of perceived fit, this study examines how consumers’ familiarity, trust, perceptions of quality, and perceptions of the brand name of the parent brands influence them when evaluating a business’s downward extension. This study also investigates how the effect of the consistency, similarities in product features, and pricing of the extension’s brand concept influences consumers’ purchase intentions toward produces from the downward extension. To achieve the objectives of this study, snowball sampling was used to gather a total of 203 data sets for analysis through methods such as t-tests and stepwise regressions. The results indicated that familiarity with and trust in parent brands, along with the perceived quality of the parent brands’ products, were positive influences on consumers’ evaluations of downward extensions. The extensions’ consistency with the brand concept, product substitutability, product transferability, and pricing positively influenced higher purchase intentions. Consequently, this study highlights that perceptions of the quality of the parent brands contributes most strongly to positive evaluations, and the extension’s pricing contributes most significantly to purchase intentions.