Tobacco Leaf Segmentation Based on Improved MASK RCNN Algorithm and SAM Model

High-precision segmentation of tobacco leaves is a prerequisite for analysis of phenotypic information. Challenges such as mutual occlusion and fuzzy edges make leaf segmentation difficult. This paper proposes an improved algorithm based on the Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (MASK RCNN) model and an instance segmentation method based on the SAM model to address these challenges. First, the MASK RCNN model is enhanced by incorporating a feature fusion layer and a hybrid attention mechanism, which improves the segmentation performance. The improved MASK RCNN model achieves an Avg.MIoU metric of approximately 85.10%, which is an improvement of 11.10% over the original algorithm. It also achieves an Avg.MPA metric of about 84.94%, indicating an improvement of 10.84%. Second, the Segment Anything Model (SAM) model is presented for the first time for tobacco leaf segmentation, providing empirical support for its application in the tobacco field. The SAM model demonstrates accurate segmentation of tobacco leaf images at different growth stages, demonstrating its good generality. In conclusion, the proposed methods effectively address the challenges in tobacco leaf segmentation, resulting in improved accuracy and performance. These techniques provide significant technical support for tobacco leaf phenotype research

Contactless In-Home Monitoring of the Long-Term Respiratory and Behavioral Phenotypes in Older Adults With COVID-19: A Case Series

Currently, there is a limited understanding of long-term outcomes of COVID-19, and a need for in-home measurements of patients through the whole course of their disease. We study a novel approach for monitoring the long-term trajectories of respiratory and behavioral symptoms of COVID-19 patients at home. We use a sensor that analyzes the radio signals in the room to infer patients' respiration, sleep and activities in a passive and contactless manner. We report the results of continuous monitoring of three residents of an assisted living facility for 3 months, through the course of their disease and subsequent recovery. In total, we collected 4,358 measurements of gait speed, 294 nights of sleep, and 3,056 h of respiration. The data shows differences in the respiration signals between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Longitudinally, we note sleep and motor abnormalities that persisted for months after becoming COVID negative. Our study represents a novel phenotyping of the respiratory and behavioral trajectories of COVID recovery, and suggests that the two may be integral components of the COVID-19 syndrome. It further provides a proof-of-concept that contactless passive sensors may uniquely facilitate studying detailed longitudinal outcomes of COVID-19, particularly among older adults.</jats:p

Farrerol Ameliorates TNBS-Induced Colonic Inflammation by Inhibiting ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Farrerol, a type of 2, 3-dihydro-flavonoid, is obtained from Rhododendron. Previous studies have shown that Farrerol performs multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant activity. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of Farrerol on colonic inflammation and explore its potential mechanisms. We found that the effect of Farrerol was evaluated via the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis model in mice and found that Farrerol has a protective effect on TNBS-induced colitis. Farrerol administration significantly improved the weight change, clinical scores, colon length, and intestinal epithelium barrier damage and markedly decreased the inflammatory cytokines production in TNBS-induced mice. The protective effect of Farrerol was also observed in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. We found that Farrerol observably reduced the production of inflammatory mediators including IL-1&beta;, IL-6, TNF-&alpha;, COX-2, and iNOS in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells via suppressing AKT, ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and NF-&kappa;B p65 phosphorylation. In conclusion, the study found that Farrerol has a beneficial effect on TNBS-induced colitis and might be a natural therapeutic agent for IBD treatment

SCAP contributes to embryonic angiogenesis by negatively regulating KISS-1 expression in mice

Abstract Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) is indispensable in organ development because it maintains intracellular cholesterol homeostasis. The vessel is not widely conceived of as a cholesterol-sensitive tissue, so the specific role of SCAP in angiogenesis has not been paid attention to. As an important component of the vascular mesoderm, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are widely involved in each step of angiogenesis. Here, we report for the first time that VSMC-specific ablation of SCAP inhibits VSMC proliferation and migration, interacting with endothelial cells (ECs), and finally causes defective embryonic angiogenesis in mice. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that SCAP ablation in VSMCs leads to the upregulation of KISS-1 protein, consequently resulting in suppressed activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and vascular endothelial-derived growth factor (VEGF) expression to prevent angiogenesis. Importantly, we found that SCAP promotes the cleavage and nuclear translocation of SREBP2, which acts as a negative transcription regulator, regulating KISS-1 expression. Our findings suggest that SCAP contributes to embryonic angiogenesis by negatively regulating KISS-1 expression in mice and provide a new point of view for therapeutic targets of vascular development

Associations of rumination with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts amongst individuals with major depressive disorder: A 12-month longitudinal study in China

Background: This study aimed to explore the longitudinal associations of rumination with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: Participants were derived from the Depression Cohort in China study (DCC). Those who completed at least one follow-up visit during the 12 months were included in the analysis. Dimensions of rumination including brooding and reflection were each measured using five items of the Ruminative Responses Scale. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. Suicide attempts were also assessed and all were analyzed with generalized estimating equations. Results: Our final sample included 532 participants aged 18 to 59 years (mean [SD], 26.91 [6.94] years) consisting of 148 (27.8%) males and 384 (72.2%) females. After adjusting for temporal trend and potential confounders, individuals with higher levels of reflection were more likely to report suicidal ideation (AOR =1.11, 95% CI:1.01–1.22). However, no statistically significant association was found between brooding and suicidal ideation (AOR =1.06, 95% CI:0.96–1.17). Conversely, individuals with higher levels of brooding were more likely to report suicide attempts (AOR =1.13, 95% CI:1.02–1.24), while no statistically significant association was observed between reflection and suicide attempts (AOR =0.91, 95% CI:0.82–1.01). Conclusion: Rumination reflects a disturbance in cognitive emotional processing and manifests in different dimensions. Our findings suggest that high levels of reflection and brooding may be associated with a higher likelihood of having suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, respectively. However, it should be interpreted with caution, given that effect sizes are small