Bayesian Network Enhanced Prediction for Multiple Facial Feature Tracking

It is challenging to track multiple facial features simultaneously in video while rich facial expressions are presented in a human face. To accurately predict the positions of multiple facial features' contours is important and difficult. This paper proposes a multi-cue prediction model based tracking algorithm. In the prediction model, CAMSHIFT is used to track the face in video in advance, and facial features' spatial constraint is utilized to roughly obtain the positions of facial features. Second order autoregressive process (ARP) based dynamic model is combined with graphical model (Bayesian network) based dynamic model. Incorporating ARP's quickness into graphical model's accurateness, we obtain the fusion of the prediction. Finally the prediction model and the measurement model are integrated into the framework of Kalman filter. The experimental results show that our algorithm can accurately track multiple facial features with varied facial expressions

Polymorphisms in Epigenetic and Meat Quality Related Genes in Fourteen Cattle Breeds and Association with Beef Quality and Carcass Traits

Improvement for carcass traits related to beef quality is the key concern in beef production. Recent reports found that epigenetics mediates the interaction of individuals with environment and nutrition. The present study was designed to analyze the genetic effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven epigenetic-related genes (DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, DNMT3L, Ago1, Ago2, and HDAC5) and two meat quality candidate genes (CAPN1 and PRKAG3) on fourteen carcass traits related to beef quality in a Snow Dragon beef population, and also to identify SNPs in a total of fourteen cattle populations. Sixteen SNPs were identified and genotyped in 383 individuals sampled from the 14 cattle breeds, which included 147 samples from the Snow Dragon beef population. Data analysis showed significant association of 8 SNPs within 4 genes related to carcass and/or meat quality traits in the beef populations. SNP1 (13154420A>G) in exon 17 of DNMT1 was significantly associated with rib-eye width and lean meat color score (pG) of DNMT3a was significantly associated with six beef quality traits. Those individuals with the wild-type genotype AA of DNMT3a showed an increase in carcass weight, chilled carcass weight, flank thicknesses, chuck short rib thickness, chuck short rib score and in chuck flap weight in contrast to the GG genotype. Five out of six SNPs in DNMT3b gene were significantly associated with three beef quality traits. SNP15 (45219258C>T) in CAPN1 was significantly associated with chuck short rib thickness and lean meat color score (p<0.05). The significant effect of SNP15 on lean meat color score individually and in combination with each of other 14 SNPs qualify this SNP to be used as potential marker for improving the trait. In addition, the frequencies of most wild-type alleles were higher than those of the mutant alleles in the native and foreign cattle breeds. Seven SNPs were identified in the epigenetic-related genes. The SNP15 in CAPN1 could be used as a powerful genetic marker in selection programs for beef quality improvement in the Snow Dragon Beef population

Spatio-Temporal Graphical-Model-Based Multiple Facial Feature Tracking

It is challenging to track multiple facial features simultaneously when rich expressions are presented on a face. We propose a two-step solution. In the first step, several independent condensation-style particle filters are utilized to track each facial feature in the temporal domain. Particle filters are very effective for visual tracking problems; however multiple independent trackers ignore the spatial constraints and the natural relationships among facial features. In the second step, we use Bayesian inference—belief propagation—to infer each facial feature's contour in the spatial domain, in which we learn the relationships among contours of facial features beforehand with the help of a large facial expression database. The experimental results show that our algorithm can robustly track multiple facial features simultaneously, while there are large interframe motions with expression changes

Strengthen the Rice Variety Breeding and Promote the Innovative Development of Seed Industry—Exploration and Practice of Science and Enterprise Cooperation of Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences

As the only provincial-level scientific research institution specializing in rice research, the Rice Research Institute (RRI) of Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences has made great achievements in the researched of rice breeding, such as breeding for dwarf rice, high-quality conventional rice breeding, hybrid rice breeding and super rice breeding. It has cultivated numerous rice varieties approved through all levels of inspection, including a batch of important parent materials widely applied by the seed industry peers, and a number of outstanding indica rice varieties widely used in southern China. It has made major contributions to the development of the rice seed industry in southern rice regions and even the whole country and the national food security, and has established the status of"China Indica Rice, Guangdong Seed Core". Since 2011, with the implementation of the Opinions of The State Council on Accelerating the Development of Modern Crop Seed Industry (state issue〔2011〕No. 8) and other documents, scientific research institutes and universities have gradually been restricted in commercial breeding researches, such as regional test indicators for hybrid rice varieties. In a bid to adapt to the new situation, the RRI strengthens the cooperation between science and technology and enterprise through the transfer of varieties, entrusted breeding and technical services so as to seek collaboration with seed enterprises which owns strong promotion ability and is close to the market, and these enterprises play their respective advantages to jointly carry out variety transformation and promotion, and good results are achieved. It has fostered and developed a number of seed enterprises, promoted the large-scale application of a batch of varieties in production, and enhanced the scientific and technological innovation of rice and the development of the seed industry. In addition, the main direction of rice breeding and the cooperation between science and enterprise in the future is analyzed

Extraction and structural analysis of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide with low molecular weight and its lipid‐lowering effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the prevalent and typical chronic liver diseases. In this study, we extracted a novel Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) with low molecular weight (MW) of 3.2 kDa through optimized “one‐step” purification process. The major monosaccharide components of ASP were mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galactose, arabinose, and xylose with weight ratio of 0.23:0.17:14.41:0.39:1.68:0.87, respectively. Herein, “small” ASP could serve as an effective therapeutic option for NAFLD both in free fatty acid‐induced L02 models and in high‐fat diet‐induced mice models. Results revealed that low MW ASP dose‐dependently decreased TG, TC in vitro and TG, TC, ALT, HDL‐C, and LDL‐C in vivo. Oil Red O‐positive area and Nile red fluorescence intensity decreased in ASP treatment groups both in vitro and in vivo which suggested ASP could reduce lipid accumulation and fatty regeneration. Hematoxylin–eosin staining results shown a decrease in hepatocytes ballooning indicating that ASP could ameliorate liver lipid degeneration. Briefly, a novel polysaccharide with low MW was successfully obtained which can prospectively act as NAFLD therapy

Lactobacillus oris improves non-alcoholic fatty liver in mice and inhibits endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis

Abstract We previously confirmed that a strain of Lactobacillus oris isolated from the fecal samples of healthy Hainan centenarian having potent lipid-lowering ability in HepG2 cells; and this study was to investigate the effect of the stain on non-alcoholic fatty liver in mice in vivio. The Lactobacillus oris strain isolated from Hainan centenarian fecal samples were frozen stored in our laboratory. Thirty ob/ob mice (10 in each group) were orally gavaged with Lactobacillus oris (Lactobacillus, 5 × 109 cfu), mixed probiotics (Mixed, 5 × 109 cfu, a mixture with known lipid-lowering ability), or culture medium (Control) respectively. Lactobacillus oris isolated from fecal samples of Hainan centenarians showed significantly in vivo lipid lowering ability compared with the controls, and the ability was comparable with mixed probiotics strains in mice The possible mechanisms of lipid-lowering of probiotics and Lactobacillus oris may be associated with HMGR inhibition to suppress the synthesis of endogenous cholesterol; bile acids reabsorption, and intestinal FXR-FGF15 signaling pathways promoting the cholesterol conversion into bile acids secretion