A generative framework for image-based editing of material appearance using perceptual attributes

Single-image appearance editing is a challenging task, traditionally requiring the estimation of additional scene properties such as geometry or illumination. Moreover, the exact interaction of light, shape and material reflectance that elicits a given perceptual impression is still not well understood. We present an image-based editing method that allows to modify the material appearance of an object by increasing or decreasing high-level perceptual attributes, using a single image as input. Our framework relies on a two-step generative network, where the first step drives the change in appearance and the second produces an image with high-frequency details. For training, we augment an existing material appearance dataset with perceptual judgements of high-level attributes, collected through crowd-sourced experiments, and build upon training strategies that circumvent the cumbersome need for original-edited image pairs. We demonstrate the editing capabilities of our framework on a variety of inputs, both synthetic and real, using two common perceptual attributes (Glossy and Metallic), and validate the perception of appearance in our edited images through a user study

Study of Melatonin as Preventive Agent of Gastrointestinal Damage Induced by Sodium Diclofenac

: Safety profile of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been widely studied and both therapeutic and side effects at the gastric and cardiovascular level have been generally associated with the inhibitory effect of isoform 1 (COX‐1) and 2 (COX‐2) cyclooxygenase enzymes. Now there are evidences of the involvement of multiple cellular pathways in the NSAIDs‐mediated‐gastrointestinal (GI) damage related to enterocyte redox state. In a previous review we summarized the key role of melatonin (MLT), as an antioxidant, in the inhibition of inflammation pathways mediated by oxidative stress in several diseases, which makes us wonder if MLT could minimize GI NSAIDs side effects. So, the aim of this work is to study the effect of MLT as preventive agent of GI injury caused by NSAIDs. With this objective sodium diclofenac (SD) was administered alone and together with MLT in two experimental models, ex vivo studies in pig intestine, using Franz cells, and in vivo studies in mice where stomach and intestine were studied. The histological evaluation of pig intestine samples showed that SD induced the villi alteration, which was prevented by MLT. In vivo experiments showed that SD altered the mice stomach mucosa and induced tissue damage that was prevented by MLT. The evaluation by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT‐qPCR) of two biochemical markers, COX‐2 and iNOS, showed an increase of both molecules in less injured tissues, suggesting that MLT promotes tissue healing by improving redox state and by increasing iNOS/NO that under non‐oxidative condition is responsible for the maintenance of GI‐epithelium integrity, increasing blood flow and promoting angiogenesis and that in presence of MLT, COX‐2 may be responsible for wound healing in enterocyte. Therefore, we found that MLT may be a preventive agent of GI damages induced by NSAIDs. Keywords: melatonin; NSAIDs; gastric injuries; antioxidan

Repression of nodal expression by maternal B1-type SOXs regulates germ layer formation in Xenopus and zebrafish

AbstractB1-type SOXs (SOXs 1, 2, and 3) are the most evolutionarily conserved subgroup of the SOX transcription factor family. To study their maternal functions, we used the affinity-purified antibody antiSOX3c, which inhibits the binding of Xenopus SOX3 to target DNA sequences [Development. 130(2003)5609]. The antibody also cross-reacts with zebrafish embryos. When injected into fertilized Xenopus or zebrafish eggs, antiSOX3c caused a profound gastrulation defect; this defect could be rescued by the injection of RNA encoding SOX3ΔC-EnR, a SOX3-engrailed repression domain chimera. In antiSOX3c-injected Xenopus embryos, normal animal–vegetal patterning of mesodermal and endodermal markers was disrupted, expression domains were shifted toward the animal pole, and the levels of the endodermal markers SOX17 and endodermin increased. In Xenopus, SOX3 acts as a negative regulator of Xnr5, which encodes a nodal-related TGFβ-family protein. Two nodal-related proteins are expressed in the early zebrafish embryo, squint and cyclops; antiSOX3c-injection leads to an increase in the level of cyclops expression. In both Xenopus and zebrafish, the antiSOX3c phenotype was rescued by the injection of RNA encoding the nodal inhibitor Cerberus-short (CerS). In Xenopus, antiSOX3c's effects on endodermin expression were suppressed by injection of RNA encoding a dominant negative version of Mixer or a morpholino against SOX17α2, both of which act downstream of nodal signaling in the endoderm specification pathway. Based on these data, it appears that maternal B1-type SOX functions together with the VegT/β-catenin system to regulate nodal expression and to establish the normal pattern of germ layer formation in Xenopus. A mechanistically conserved system appears to act in a similar manner in the zebrafish

Supplementation With 2′-FL and scGOS/lcFOS Ameliorates Rotavirus-Induced Diarrhea in Suckling Rats

Rotavirus (RV) is considered to be the most common cause of gastroenteritis among infants aged less than 5 years old. Human milk bioactive compounds have the ability to modulate the diarrheic process caused by several intestinal pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective role of a specific human milk oligosaccharide, 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), a mixture of the prebiotic short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides 9:1 (GOS/FOS) and their combination (2′-FL+GOS/FOS) on RV-induced diarrhea in suckling rats. The nutritional intervention was performed from the second to the sixteenth day of life by oral gavage and on day 5 an RV strain was orally administered to induce infection. Fecal samples were scored daily to assess the clinical pattern of severity, incidence and duration of diarrhea. Blood and tissues were obtained at day 8 and 16 in order to evaluate the effects on the epithelial barrier and the mucosal and systemic immune responses. In the assessment of severity, incidence and duration of diarrhea, both 2′-FL and GOS/FOS displayed a beneficial effect in terms of amelioration. However, the mechanisms involved seemed to differ: 2′ -FL displayed a direct ability to promote intestinal maturation and to enhance neonatal immune responses, while GOS/FOS induced an intestinal trophic effect and an RV-blocking action. The combination of 2′-FL and GOS/FOS showed additive effects in some variables. Therefore, it could be a good strategy to add these compounds in combination to infant formulas, to protect against human RV-induced diarrhea in children. Keywords: 2′-FL, scGOS/lcFOS, prebiotic, rotavirus, diarrhea, suckling rat

Oligosaccharides Modulate Rotavirus-Associated Dysbiosis and TLR Gene Expression in Neonatal Rats

Colonization of the gut in early life can be altered through multiple environmental factors. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), a mixture of short-chain galactooligosaccharides/long-chain fructooligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS) 9:1 and their combination (scGOS/lcFOS/2'-FL) on dysbiosis induced during rotavirus (RV) diarrhea in neonatal rats, elucidating crosstalk between bacteria and the immune system. The dietary interventions were administered daily by oral gavage at days 2-8 of life in neonatal Lewis rats. On day 5, RV SA11 was intragastrically delivered to induce infection and diarrhea assessment, microbiota composition, and gene expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the small intestine were studied. All dietary interventions showed reduction in clinical variables of RV-induced diarrhea. RV infection increased TLR2 expression, whereas 2'-FL boosted TLR5 and TLR7 expressions and scGOS/lcFOS increased that of TLR9. RV-infected rats displayed an intestinal dysbiosis that was effectively prevented by the dietary interventions, and consequently, their microbiota was more similar to microbiota of the noninfected groups. The preventive effect of 2'-FL, scGOS/lcFOS, and their combination on dysbiosis associated to RV diarrhea in rats could be due to changes in the crosstalk between gut microbiota and the innate immune system

Immunomodulatory and Prebiotic Effects of 2'-Fucosyllactose in Suckling Rats

Human milk oligosaccharides are unconjugated complex glycans present in high concentration in human milk that serve as pre-biotics and immunomodulators. They are not primarily absorbed or metabolized by the infant and reach the lower part of the intestinal tract unaltered. One of the main oligosaccharides found in human milk is 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL). This study aimed to investigate the effects of daily oral administration of 2'-FL in healthy suckling rats. From days 2 to 16 of life, rats were daily given the oligosaccharide (2'-FL) or vehicle (REF), weighed and their stool characteristics were assessed. On days 8 and 16 of life the morphometry, intestinal architecture, and cytokine release, mesenteric lymph nodes cell composition, plasma immunoglobulin concentrations, fecal microbiota composition, cecal short-chain fatty acids content, and the urinary metabolic profile were assessed. Animals given 2'-FL showed higher plasma IgG and IgA and more T cell subsets in the mesenteric lymph nodes on day 16. Moreover, at intestinal level, villus heights, and areas were increased on day 8. Cecal samples displayed a higher Lactobacillus proportion and a different urinary metabolic profile was observed on day 8, and a higher proportion of butyrate on day 16. In conclusion, supplementation of 2'-FL in early life has a pre-biotic and intestinal trophic effect and promotes maturation of the immune system

CITOTOXICIDAD EN CÉLULAS HELA DE EXTRACTOS DE TRES ESPECIES DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES DE HIDALGO, MÉXICO

Ethanolic extracts of three medicinal plants,Juniperus deppeana, Solanum rostratumand Bidens odorata, which are used in folk medicine in Hidalgo, Mexico, for thetreatment of wounds, ulcers, tumors andcancer, were tested in a HeLa cell line toevaluate their cytotoxic activity. The highestcytotoxicity was found in the extract of J.deppeana (IC50 = 4.63 μg/ml); hence, thisextract was separated via chromatographyon a silica gel plate, from which the mainfraction (Rf = 0.28) showed strong cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 0.79 μg/ml). Whereasthe extract of S. rostratum also exhibitedcytotoxicity (IC50 = 127.5 μg/ml), that ofB. odorata was inactive.Se evaluó la citotoxicidad en cultivos decélulas HeLa de los extractos etanólicosde tres especies de plantas, Juniperus deppeana, Solanum rostratum y Bidens odorata, que se utilizan tradicionalmente en dosregiones del estado de Hidalgo, México,para el tratamiento de heridas, úlceras, tumores y cáncer de matriz. La citotoxicidadmás elevada la presentó el extracto de J.deppeana (CI50 = 4.63 μg/ml), el cual fueseparado por cromatografía en placa de gelde sílice y la fracción principal (Rf = 0.28 )mostró actividad citotóxica (CI50 = 0.79 μg/ml). Aunque menor, el extracto de S. rostratum también presentó citotoxicidad (CI50= 127.5 μg/ml). B. odorata fue inactiva

Synthesis of a polymethyl(methacrylate)-polystyrene-based diblock copolymer containing biotin for selective protein nanopatterning

Protein patterning is of interest in high-throughput screening. Due to an increase in demand for further miniaturization of protein assays, block copolymers (BCPs) that can undergo large-area phase separation into nanometer-size domains have attracted great attention as substrates for protein nanopatterning. Here we report the synthesis of a polymethyl(methacrylate)-polystyrene-based diblock copolymer which, once spin-coated, is capable of self-segregating into cylindrical polystyrene (PS) domains. In this copolymer, the PS block was modified to introduce biotin below 10% molar in order to achieve molecular recognition of streptavidin. The PMMA matrix used to introduce poly(ethylene glycol) enabled us to obtain an antifouling environment that prevents unspecific protein adsorption outside the domains. The use of the biotin-streptavidin pair in this BCP makes it suitable for nanopatterning of other biotinylated proteins of interest for the purposes of cell biology, biosensors, and tissue engineering

Effect of Organic Nutrition in the Nursery Growth and Nutrimental Content of Native Avocados of Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico

In Mexico, there are several types of wild and criollo avocados that constitute a genetic heritage of this species; these avocados currently grow in an unordered manner on farmer's lands and in backyards, and they need to be studied as they are being lost because of agricultural activities and edaphoclimatic and phytosanitary factors. On the other hand, in orchards and avocado nurseries, high amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used affecting the physicochemical and microbiological properties of the soil, modifying the flora and fauna and polluting aquifers and springs that cause health problems among consumers. Therefore, it is very important to have a more friendly agriculture with the nature. The aim of this work was to evaluate under nursery conditions, the effect of organic fertilizers on 12 genotypes (rootstocks) of native avocados of Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico, under an experimental design of random blocks, with four treatments: T1: sheep manure,T2: Bovine manure, T3: mycorrhizae and T4 (control: water) in four replicates. The variables were: plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), number of leaves: young (NYL) and mature (NML) per plant; and the content of NO3-, K+, Ca2+ and Na+ ions obtained by petiole extraction, and the chlorophyll content measured with SPAD, in young (CYL) and mature (CML) leaves. Additionally, an analysis of variance and Tukey mean tests (P ≤ 0.01 and 0.05) and LSD (P ≤ 0.05) were done. It was found that sheep manure was superior to other treatments in PH (76.7 cm), SD (7.2 mm), NYL (6.5 leaves/plant), NML (18.4 leaves/plant), CML (40.2 SPAD) and Ca2+(1495ppm). In conclusion, the sheep manure was better than the bovine, mycorrhiza and control (water) as it affected positively the behavior of rootstocks in plant height, stem diameter and number of young and mature leaves. In addition, organic nutrition showed no significant response in the chlorophyll content of young and mature leaves. Young leaves only reached 50% of the chlorophyll content compared to mature leaves

Helminth-induced arginase-1 exacerbates lung inflammation and disease severity in tuberculosis

Parasitic helminth worms, such as Schistosoma mansoni, are endemic in regions with a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) among the population. Human studies suggest that helminth coinfections contribute to increased TB susceptibility and increased rates of TB reactivation. Prevailing models suggest that T helper type 2 (Th2) responses induced by helminth infection impair Th1 immune responses and thereby limit Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) control. Using a pulmonary mouse model of Mtb infection, we demonstrated that S. mansoni coinfection or immunization with S. mansoni egg antigens can reversibly impair Mtb-specific T cell responses without affecting macrophage-mediated Mtb control. Instead, S. mansoni infection resulted in accumulation of high arginase-1–expressing macrophages in the lung, which formed type 2 granulomas and exacerbated inflammation in Mtb-infected mice. Treatment of coinfected animals with an antihelminthic improved Mtb-specific Th1 responses and reduced disease severity. In a genetically diverse mouse population infected with Mtb, enhanced arginase-1 activity was associated with increased lung inflammation. Moreover, in patients with pulmonary TB, lung damage correlated with increased serum activity of arginase-1, which was elevated in TB patients coinfected with helminths. Together, our data indicate that helminth coinfection induces arginase-1–expressing type 2 granulomas, thereby increasing inflammation and TB disease severity. These results also provide insight into the mechanisms by which helminth coinfections drive increased susceptibility, disease progression, and severity in TB