In the root meristem, the quiescent center (QC) is surrounded by stem cells, which in turn generate the different cell types of the root. QC cells rarely divide under normal conditions but can replenish damaged stem cells. In the proximal meristem, the daughters of stem cells, which are referred to as transit-amplifying cells, undergo additional rounds of cell division prior to differentiation. Here, we describe the functions of GRF-INTERACTING FACTORs (GIFs), including ANGUSTIFOLIA3 (AN3), in Arabidopsis thaliana roots. GIFs have been shown to interact with GRF transcription factors and SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes. We found that combinations of GIF mutants cause the loss of QC identity. However, despite their QC impairment, GIF mutants have a significantly enlarged root meristem with additional lateral root cap layers. We show that the increased expression of PLETHORA1 (PLT1) is at least partially responsible for the large root meristems of an3 mutants. Furthermore, we found that GIFs are necessary for maintaining the precise expression patterns of key developmental regulators and that AN3 complexes bind directly to the promoter regions of PLT1 as well as SCARECROW We propose that AN3/GIFs participate in different pathways that control QC organization and the size of the meristem.

Pathological image enhancement is a significant topic in the field of pathological image processing. This paper proposes a high dynamic range (HDR) pathological image enhancement method based on improved bias field correction and guided image filter (GIF). Firstly, a preprocessing including stain normalization and wavelet denoising is performed for Haematoxylin and Eosin (H and E) stained pathological image. Then, an improved bias field correction model is developed to enhance the influence of light for high-frequency part in image and correct the intensity inhomogeneity and detail discontinuity of image. Next, HDR pathological image is generated based on least square method using low dynamic range (LDR) image, H and E channel images. Finally, the fine enhanced image is acquired after the detail enhancement process. Experiments with 140 pathological images demonstrate the performance advantages of our proposed method as compared with related work.

In this study, we explore for the first time the capabilities of nanoporous anodic alumina gradient-index filters (NAA-GIFs) functionalized with titanium dioxide (TiO2) photoactive layers to enhance photon-to-electron conversion rates and improve the efficiency of photocatalytic reactions by "slow photon" effect. A set of NAA-GIFs was fabricated by sinusoidal pulse anodization, in which a systematic modification of various anodization parameters (i.e., pore widening time, anodization period, and anodization time) enables the fine-tuning of the photonic stopband (PSB) of these nanoporous photonic crystals (PCs) across the spectral regions. The surface of NAA-GIFs was chemically modified with photoactive layers of TiO2 to create a composite photoactive material with precisely engineered optical properties. The photocatalytic performance of TiO2-functionalized NAA-GIFs was assessed by studying the photodegradation of three model organic dyes (i.e., methyl orange, Rhodamine B, and methylene blue) with well-defined absorption bands across different spectral regions under simulated irradiation conditions. Our study demonstrates that when the edges of characteristic PSB of TiO2-modified NAA-GIFs are completely or partially aligned with the absorption band of the organic dyes, the photodegradation rate is enhanced due to "slow photon" effect. A rational design of the photocatalyst material with respect to the organic dye is demonstrated to be optimal to speed up photocatalytic reactions by an efficient management of photons from high-irradiance spectral regions. This provides new opportunities to develop high-performing photocatalytic materials for efficient photocatalysis with broad applicability.

The current medical and surgical therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease offer symptomatic relief but do not provide a cure. Thus, small synthetic compounds that protect neuronal cells from degeneration are critically needed to prevent and treat these. Oxidative stress has been implicated in various pathophysiological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases. In a search for neuroprotective agents against oxidative stress using the murine hippocampal HT22 cell line, we found a novel oxindole compound, GIF-0726-r, which prevented oxidative stress-induced cell death, including glutamate-induced oxytosis and erastin-induced ferroptosis. This compound also exerted a protective effect on tunicamycin-induced ER stress to a lesser extent but had no effect on campthothecin-, etoposide- or staurosporine-induced apoptosis. In addition, GIF-0726-r was also found to be effective after the occurrence of oxidative stress. GIF-0726-r was capable of inhibiting reactive oxygen species accumulation and Ca2+ influx, a presumed executor in cell death, and was capable of activating the antioxidant response element, which is a cis-acting regulatory element in promoter regions of several genes encoding phase II detoxification enzymes and antioxidant proteins. These results suggest that GIF-0726-r is a low-molecular-weight compound that prevents neuronal cell death through attenuation of oxidative stress. Among the more than 200 derivatives of the GIF-0726-r synthesized, we identified the 11 most potent activators of the antioxidant response element and characterized their neuroprotective activity in HT22 cells.

Local edge-preserving smoothing techniques such as guided image filtering (GIF) and weighted guided image filtering (WGIF) could not preserve fine structure. In this paper, a new globally guided image filtering (G-GIF) is introduced to overcome the problem. The G-GIF is composed of a global structure transfer filter and a global edge-preserving smoothing filter. The proposed filter is applied to study single image haze removal. Experimental results show that fine structure of the dehazed image is indeed preserved better by the proposed G-GIF and the dehazed images by the proposed G-GIF are sharper than those dehazed images by the existing GIF.

GIF, JPEG, and PNG are most likely the best formats to use for three reasons. First, they're standardized and open formats for anyone to use. In addition, JPEG is an ISO standard and PNG is an IETF RFC (Internet Engineering Task Force Request for Comments-www.ietf.org) and W3C recommendation (World Wide Web Consortium-www.w3.org). Second, they're compressible. GIF files are generally compressed at 5:1, JPEG at 10:1 or 20:1 and PNG at about 7:1. Finally, they're all supported by web browsers. Well, pretty much. Microsoft's Internet Explorer doesn't support the alpha channel transparency for PNG-but, on the other hand, GIF and JPEG don't have the alpha channel at all. Use TIFF to archive your original pictures as it is a lossless format. Check out the summary table and sidebar for more information regarding these picture file formats.

Ovule development is critical for seed development and plant reproduction. Multiple transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to mediate ovule development. However, it is not clear which intracellular components regulate these TFs during ovule development. After their synthesis, TFs are transported into the nucleus a process regulated by karyopherins commonly known as importin alpha and β. Around half of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) importin β-coding genes have been functionally characterized but only two with specific cargos have been identified. We report here that Arabidopsis IMPORTIN β4 (IMB4) regulates ovule development through nucleocytoplasmic transport of transcriptional coactivator growth regulating factors-interacting factors (GIFs). Mutations in IMB4 impaired ovule development by affecting integument growth. imb4 mutants were also defective in embryo sac development, leading to partial female sterility. IMB4 directly interacts with GIFs and is critical for the nucleocytoplasmic transport of GIFGIFs resulted in ovule defects similar to those in imb4 mutants, whereas enhanced expression of GIF partially restored the fertility of imb4 The results presented here uncover a novel genetic pathway regulating ovule development and reveal the upstream regulator of GIFs.

This paper highlights the differences among the most common file formats used for storing digital radiological images. It promotes the proper use of these formats to guarantee easy manipulation in handling the most typical practical applications in daily radiological practice. The authors provide a simple yet exhaustive introduction to the concept of "file format" and describe the algorithms and main features of the most common formats (BMP, JPEG, GIF, DICOM, TIF, PNG) and Portable Network Graphics (PNG).The different formats are compared in terms of dimension, quality, portability and with reference to the following specific needs: electronic communications, publication on the World Wide Web, presentation of electronic posters, video presentations for teaching and manuscript publishing. We also illustrate how to handle the various formats with the programmes supplied with standard software installations.The large number of digital applications of image file formats calls for a simplification in daily radiological practice. We recommend the use of JPEG and PNG for electronic communications; PNG and GIF for publication on the worldwide web; JPEG and PNG for electronic poster presentations; DICOM, PNG and JPEG for teaching presentations; TIF and PNG for printing on paper.

The world wide web is an exciting service that allows one to publish electronic documents made of text and images on the internet. Client software called a web browser can access these documents, and display and print them. The most popular browsers are currently Microsoft Internet Explorer (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) and Netscape Communicator (Netscape Communications, Mountain View, CA). These browsers can display text in hypertext markup language (HTML) format and images in Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) and Graphic Interchange Format (GIF). Currently, neither browser can display radiologic images in native Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format. With the aim to publish radiologic images on the internet, we wrote a dedicated Java applet. Our software can display radiologic and histologic images in DICOM, JPEG, and GIF formats, and provides a a number of functions like windowing and magnification lens. The applet is compatible with some web browsers, even the older versions. The software is free and available from the author.

When crossing the genetically marked yeast strains obtained from the Gif collection we observed the appearance of haploid nucleo-cytoplasmic hybrids carrying the 3 nuclear markers of the rho- parent and the mitochondrial markers (rho+ ER CR) of the other parent. The frequency of such cytoduction was about 1 per cent. The mitochondrial markers ER and CR were transmited to cytoductants together and did not segregate. The possible mechanisms of the cytoduction and its significance are discussed.

Electronic mailing systems (e-mail) are an important means to disseminate information within electronic networks. However, in large business communities including the hectic environment of hospitals it may be difficult to induce account holders to read the e-mail. In two mailings disseminated in a large university hospital we evaluated the impact of e-mail layout (three e-mail text versions, two e-mails with graphics) on the willingness of its approximately 6500 recipients to seek additional electronic information and open an integrated link. Overall access rates after 90 days were 21.1 and 23.5% with more than 70% of the respondents opening the link within 3 days. Differences between different layouts were large and artwork text, HTML text, animated <em>GIF</em>, and static image prompted 1.2, 1.7, 1.8, and 2.3 times more often access than the courier plain text message (p <or= 0.001). This study revealed that layout is a major determinant of the success of an information campaign.

Early diagnosis of rejection and timely immunosuppression are absolutely important in clinical lung transplantation. We studied surface markers of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), graft infiltrating lymphocytes (GIF) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in a rat using flow cytometric monitoring to diagnose rejection. Left lung transplantation was performed on Brown Norway (BN) rats and Lewis (LEW) rats in the following groups; Group 1: LEW-LEW (isograft), Group 2: BN-LEW (allograft; no immunosuppression), Group 3: BN-LEW (allograft; treated with Cyclosporine A at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day i.m.). In each group, rats were killed 3, 5, 7 days postoperatively (n = 6 on each day). Monoclonal antibodies investigated in this study were W3/25 (anti-helper T lymphocyte), OX8 (anti-suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocyte), and OX39 (anti-interleukin 2 receptor). Histological classification of rejection in Group 2 showed vascular phase at 3 days, alveolar phase at 5 days, and destructive phase at 7 days, respectively. No evidence of rejection was found in Group 1 or 3. In Group 2, W3/25 positive cell proportion in GIL and BALF significantly decreased as the rejection progressed, but OX8 positive and OX39 positive cell proportion increases were significantly greater than in Groups 1 and 3 as the rejection progressed. These results lead us to speculate that the studies of T cell subsets in GIL and BALF lymphocytes are useful for diagnosis of rejection in lung transplantation.

Metallothinein-3 (MT3), also named neuronal growth inhibitory factor (GIF), is attractive by its distinct neuronal growth inhibitory activity, which is not shared by other MT isoforms. The polypeptide chain of GIF is folded into two individual domains, which are connected by a highly conserved linker, KKS. In order to figure out the significance of the conserved segment, we constructed several mutants of human GIF (hGIF), including the K31/32A mutant, the K31/32E mutant and the KKS-SP mutant by site-directed mutagenesis. pH titration and DTNB reaction exhibited that all the three mutations made the beta-domain lower in stability and looser. More significantly, change of KKS to SP also altered the general backbone conformation and metal-thiolate cluster geometry. Notably, bioassay results showed that the bioactivity of the K31/32A mutant and the K31/32E mutant decreased obviously, while the KKS-SP mutant lost inhibitory activity completely. Based on these results, we proposed that the KKS linker was a crucial factor in modulating the stability and the solvent accessibility of the Cd(3)S(9) cluster in the beta-domain through domain-domain interactions, thus was indispensable to the biological activity of hGIF.

A case of giant cell interstitial pneumonia (GIF) that occurred in association with exposure to nitrofurantoin is presented. While the diagnosis of GIP is confirmed by histopathology, this diagnosis can be supported by the findings of bizarre multinucleated giant cells (MGC), elevated T lymphocytes, and a low T lymphocyte helper/suppressor ratio in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Recognition of GIP as a rare manifestation of nitrofurantoin toxicity is important because prompt therapy may be associated with a favorable outcome.

Prehepatic portal hypertension caused by cavernous transformation of the portal vein has been more and more considered as a multiorgan disease with circulatory changes in numerous organs related to systemic and splanchnic vascular network [1]. Honeycomb-like, spongy, cavernous portal vein is a rare clinical and pathoanatomical entity which usually results from portal vein thrombosis. Recanalization and neovascularization processes lead to cavernomatous transformation of the portal vein lumen and formation of periportal collateral hepatopetal venous varices (Petren's veins) [5, 6]. Recently, with Doppler ultrasonography and angiography cavernous portal vein has been identified as the cause of prehepatic portal hypertension. Usage of color Doppler and duplex Doppler ultrasonography has greatly contributed to diagnostic efficiency, while therapeutically, the disease remains a serious and controversial problem.

METHODS

At the Institute of Digestive Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, 8 patients with cavernous portal vein were studied in the period 1995-1997. Real-time duplex and color Doppler ultrasonography (Toshiba-SSA 100A with sector duplex probe 3.75 MHz, and 9 ATL with color Doppler convex duplex probe 3.5 MHz) were used. Indirect (arterial) portography was used for imaging of lienoportal system in the venous phase of angiography as follows: catheterization (Seldinger's technique) of the coeliac trunk or lienal artery, and catheterization of the superior mesenteric artery. Indirect portography was performed by injection of 60-80 ml of the contrast medium by an automatic pump, at 10-14 ml/sec, i.e. 8-10 ml/sec by the digital technique [7]. Peroral fiberendoscopy was performed in all patients by Olympus GIF-XQ 10 endoscope.

RESULTS

In our study the conventional ultrasonographic examination failed to provide an appropriate image of the normal portal vein. In hepatoduodenal ligament multiple tubular and round structures were seen, revealing an atypical honeycomb or spongycavernous shape of the venous lumen (Figs. 1 and 2). Doppler ultrasonography of the lumen of these venous collateral structures revealed a continuous, hypokinetic flow, mid-rate 7.4 cm/sec, which was always hepatopetally directed (to the liver). Color Doppler ultrasonography detected extensive portosystemic collateralls in all patients, and varices in the gallbladder wall in 1 patient. The results of indirect portography correlated well with Doppler ultrasonographic findings. In all patients hepatopetal flow was found (Figs. 3 and 4). The aetiology was diverse: idiopathic, liver cirrhosis, haematological diseases, Crohn's disease and Marfan's syndrome. Two patients had IV degree varices in the distal third of the oesophagus, and 4 patients had II/III degree varices. Patients with posthepatic liver cirrhosis and Crohn's disease had no varices in the distal third of the oesophagus and gastric fornix.

CONCLUSIONS

Since Pick (1909) described this malformation as the hepatopetal collateral, the haemodynamic concept of this entity has not been changed. Doppler ultrasonography and angiography confirm that the blood flow in cavernomas is hepatopetal, i.e. compensated and functional. Cavernous transformation of the portal vein is clinically manifested by bleeding from oesophagogastric varices. Haemathemesis is the most alarming complication and may be the first clinical sign. The haemorrhage is usually recurrent and profuse, but in most cases it is tolerated well owing to preserved hepatic function in patients without liver cirrhosis [19]. Portosystemic collateral circulation may take place via retroperitoneal and other spontaneous venous shunts, not involving the left gastric vein or vv. gastricae breves, when oesophagogastric varices are absent (our patient with Crohn's disease and posthepatitic B cirrhosis). Splenomegaly with hypersplenism is always present with cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and usually precedes the occurrence of gastrointestinal hae

30 patients (less than 15 years old) were admitted for esophageal strictures, 16 of them secondary to corrosive injury. All the patients were treated with endoscopic dilatation with Savary-Gilliard bougie. The dilations were done with general anesthesia using an Olympus GIF-XP10 endoscope and with fluoroscopic control. In the esophageal stenosis secondary to caustic ingestion endoscopic injection with Betamethasone was also used. The most frequent site of the stenosis was the upper third of the esophagus, and the main type of stenosis was tubular in the secondary to caustic burns and annular in the other group. In the post-caustic group 385 dilations were performed in 115 sessions. In the other group 159 dilations were done in 51 sessions. Two perforations and one sepsis were reported in patients with corrosive stenosis. There was no mortality. 43.7% of the patients with corrosive stenosis and 85.7% with stenosis secondary to other causes obtained complete healing. Esophageal dilation with Savary-Gilliard bougies represents a safe and reliable method for the treatment of esophageal strictures.

We encountered 11 patients with 13 gastric phytobezoars over a 15-month period. Barium contrast studies failed to detect the bezoar in 55% (6/11), whereas all concretions were evident during endoscopy. Gastric, duodenal, or marginal ulcers were noted at endoscopy in 45% (5/11), but none were detected on radiography. Various forms of medical therapy were unsuccessful in eliminating the bezoars. Two patients were treated surgically and two were lost to follow-up. Nine bezoars in the remaining seven patients were removed completely by suctioning the fragmented concretion through a large channel endoscope (Olympus GIF-1T or TCF-1S) in well-tolerated treatment sessions lasting an average of 50-60 minutes. No complications or failures were encountered, but symptoms were not usually eliminated after evacuation of the bezoar. Endoscopic removal of bezoars offers an attractive alternative to surgery or other forms of medical therapy.

A putative transcription factor induced in vitro by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and transforming growth factor-beta was recently cloned and characterized [Yajima S. et al. (1997) J. Neurosci. 17, 8657-8666]. The messenger RNA of this protein, termed murine GDNF-inducible transcription factor (mGIF, hereafter referred to as GIF), is localized within cortical and hippocampal regions of brain, suggesting that GIF might be regulated by perturbations of these brain regions. In an effort to learn more about the role of GIF in vivo, we examined GIF messenger RNA in the brains of rats treated with the glutamatergic agonist kainic acid. This treatment is known to induce seizures and alter the messenger RNA expression of several growth factors, including GDNF, in several brain regions. Rats were given intraperitoneal saline (1 ml/kg) or kainic acid (15 mg/kg) and were killed at various time-points for in situ hybridization of brain sections with a GIF messenger RNA riboprobe. In saline-treated rats, GIF messenger RNA was present at low levels in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hippocampal remnants such as the taenia tecta. Kainic acid treatment induced robust increases in GIF messenger RNA in several brain regions, including cerebral cortex, hippocampus, caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens, and several nuclei of the amygdala and hypothalamus. Most brain regions showed the greatest increase in GIF messenger RNA 4-6 h after kainic acid administration and a return towards normal levels at 48 h. The CA3 region of hippocampus, however, showed a more rapid increase in GIF messenger RNA that was also evident 48 h after kainic acid administration. These results demonstrate that GIF messenger RNA can be regulated in vivo, and that this novel factor warrants further study as a central mediator of GDNF and perhaps other neurotrophic factors.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate prospectively the changes in neural drive to the diaphragm in the first year after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in patients with COPD.

METHODS

In 14 patients with severe emphysema (mean +/- SD; age, 53.7 +/- 8.3 years; FEV(1), 0.64 +/- 0. 18 L; residual volume [RV], 5.33 +/- 1.25 L; PaO(2), 62.3 +/- 9.0 mm Hg; PaCO(2), 39.0 +/- 6.0 mm Hg), we assessed lung function, arterial blood gases, maximal exercise capacity (Wmax), and oxygen uptake (f1.gif" BORDER="0">O(2)max); intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi); diaphragmatic strength (transdiaphragmatic pressure, Pdisniff) and endurance capacity (tlim); central diaphragmatic drive assessed by root mean square analysis of the esophageal electromyogram (rmsdia); and isotime dyspnea during loaded breathing tests (BS).

RESULTS

Despite a significant increase (expressed as a percentage of baseline) in FEV(1) (40.6%) and a decrease in RV (30.0%) and PEEPi (75.7%) 1 month after LVRS, the improvements in Wmax (31.2%) and f1.gif" BORDER="0">O(2)max (13.7%); Pdisniff (25.4%) and tlim (64.9%); rmsdia (34.6%); and BS (21.7%) did not reach statistical significance (p < 0.05) until 6 months after LVRS. Arterial blood gases did not change significantly. Significant correlations were found between decrease in rmsdia and changes in PEEPi (r = 0.69), Wmax (r = -0.56), Pdisniff (r = -0.65), tlim (r = -0.59), and BS (r = 0.71) 6 months after LVRS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that LVRS is able to increase the efficacy of the respiratory pump and by this way reduce ventilatory drive and respiratory effort sensation.

BACKGROUND

The genetic determinants of acute kidney transplant rejection (AR) are not well studied, and familial aggregation has never been demonstrated. The goal of this retrospective case-control study was to exploit the unique nature of the Utah Population Database (UPDB) to evaluate if AR or rejection-free survival aggregates in families.

METHODS

We identified 891 recipients with genealogy data in the UPDB with at least one year of follow-up, of which 145 (16.1%) had AR and 77 recipients had biopsy-proven rejection graded>>or=1A. We compared the genealogical index of familiality (GIF) in cases and controls (i.e. recipients with random assignment of rejection status).

RESULTS

We did not find evidence for familial clustering of AR in the entire patient population or in the subgroup with early rejection (n = 52). When the subgroup of recipients with rejection grade>>or=1A (n = 77) was analysed separately, we observed increased familial clustering (GIF = 3.02) compared to controls (GIF = 1.96), although the p-value did not reach the level of statistical significance (p = 0.17). Furthermore, we observed an increase in familial clustering in recipients who had a rejection-free course (GIF = 2.45) as compared to controls (GIF = 2.08, p = 0.04). When all recipients were compared to non-transplant controls, they demonstrated a much greater degree of familiality (GIF = 2.03 versus GIF 0.63, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a familial component to rejection-free transplant course and trend to familial aggregation in recipients with AR grade 1A or higher. If a genetic association study is performed, there are families in Utah identified in the current study that can be targeted to increase the power of the test.

We examined sera from 2313 postpartum women as a potential source of granulocyte specific antibodies. Lymphocyte cytotoxic (LC) antibodies were detected in 397 (17.2%) specimens and granulocyte agglutinating (GA) antibodies in 291 (12.6%). Only two GA positive sera had reactivity for previously defined granulocyte specific antigens (one NA1 and NB1 ). One additional serum had GA reactivity similar to a serum previously reported by van Rood and called anti-6B. The frequency of granulocyte specific antibodies (0.1 percent) in our study indicates that the productivity of random screening of parous sera for granulocyte specific antibodies is low. A four-generation family study of the 6B antigen demonstrated a parallel association between HLA-B7 and B40 and 6B reactivity in the LC, GA, and granulocyte immunofluorescence (GIF) assay. This illustrates that the granulocyte reactivity of anti-6B is not granulocyte specific but is HLA related. This report provides additional evidence that HLA antibodies such as anti-B7 (6B) can react with granulocytes bearing these antigens in the GA and GIF assays currently used to identify granulocyte specific antibodies.

Gait initiation Failure (GIF) is the situation in which patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) feel as if their feet get "stuck" to the floor when initiating their first steps. GIF is a subtype of Freezing of Gait (FOG) and often leads to falls and related injuries. Understanding of neurobiological mechanisms underlying GIF has been limited by difficulties in eliciting and objectively characterizing such gait phenomena in the clinical setting. Studies investigating the effects of GIF on brain activity using EEG offer the potential to study such behavior. In this preliminary study, we present a novel methodology where wavelet transform was used for feature extraction and Support Vector Machine for classifying GIF events in five patients with PD and FOG. To deal with the large amount of EEG data, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to reduce the data dimension from 15 EEG channels into 6 principal components (PCs), retaining 93% of the information. Independent Component Analysis using Entropy Bound Minimization (ICA-EBM) was applied to 6 PCs for source separation with the aim of improving detection ability of GIF events as compared to the normal initiation of gait (Good Starts). The results of this analysis demonstrated the correct identification of GIF episodes with an 83.1% sensitivity, 89.5% specificity and 86.3% accuracy. These results suggest that our proposed methodology is a promising non-invasive approach to improve GIF detection in PD and FOG.