Decolorization of malachite green by cytochrome c in the mitochondria of the fungus Cunninghamella elegans

We studied the decolorization of malachite green (MG) by the fungus Cunninghamella elegans. The mitochondrial activity for MG reduction was increased with a simultaneous increase of a 9-kDa protein, called CeCyt. The presence of cytochrome c in CeCyt protein was determined by optical absorbance spectroscopy with an extinction coefficient (E\u2085\u2085\u2080\u2013\u2085\u2083\u2085) of 19.7 \ub1 6.3 mM-\ub9 cm-\ub9 and reduction potential of + 261 mV. When purified CeCyt was added into the mitochondria, the specific activity of CeCyt reached 440 \ub1 122 \u3bcmol min-\ub9 mg-\ub9 protein. The inhibition of MG reduction by stigmatellin, but not by antimycin A, indicated a possible linkage of CeCyt activity to the Qo site of the bc1 complex. The RT-PCR results showed tight regulation of the cecyt gene expression by reactive oxygen species. We suggest that CeCyt acts as a protein reductant for MG under oxidative stress in a stationary or secondary growth stage of this fungus.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Hydroxyapatite Mineralization on the Calcium Chloride Blended Polyurethane Nanofiber via Biomimetic Method

Polyurethane nanofibers containing calcium chloride (CaCl2) were prepared via an electrospinning technique for the biomedical applications. Polyurethane nanofibers with different concentration of CaCl2 were electrospun, and their bioactivity evaluation was conducted by incubating in biomimetic simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. The morphology, structure and thermal properties of the polyurethane/CaCl2 composite nanofibers were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. SEM images revealed that the CaCl2 salt incorporated homogeneously to form well-oriented nanofibers with smooth surface and uniform diameters along their lengths. The SBF incubation test confirmed the formation of apatite-like materials, exhibiting enhanced bioactive behavior of the polyurethane/CaCl2 composite nanofibers. This study demonstrated that the electrospun polyurethane containing CaCl2 composite nanofibers enhanced the in vitro bioactivity and supports the growth of apatite-like materials

Effect of a Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Inhibitor, Des-Fluoro-Sitagliptin, on Neointimal Formation after Balloon Injury in Rats

Background: Recently, it has been suggested that enhancement of incretin effect improves cardiac function. We investigated the effect of a DPP-IV inhibitor, des-fluoro-sitagliptin, in reducing occurrence of restenosis in carotid artery in response to balloon injury and the related mechanisms. Methods and Findings: Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats were grouped into four: control (normal saline) and sitagliptin 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg per day (n = 10 per group). Sitagliptin or normal saline were given orally from 1 week before to 2 weeks after carotid injury. After 3 weeks of treatment, sitagliptin treatment caused a significant and dose-dependent reduction in intima-media ratio (IMR) in obese diabetic rats. This effect was accompanied by improved glucose homeostasis, decreased circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and increased adiponectin level. Moreover, decreased IMR was correlated significantly with reduced hsCRP, tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity. In vitro evidence with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) demonstrated that proliferation and migration were decreased significantly after sitagliptin treatment. In addition, sitagliptin increased caspase-3 activity and decreased monocyte adhesion and NFκB activation in VSMCs. Conclusions: Sitagliptin has protective properties against restenosis after carotid injury and therapeutic implications for treating macrovascular complications of diabetes

The Ninth Visual Object Tracking VOT2021 Challenge Results

acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

Quantification and Standardized Description of Color Vision Deficiency Caused by Anomalous Trichromats—Part II: Modeling and Color Compensation

A color compensation scheme has been developed to enhance the perception of people with color vision deficiency (CVD) and for people suffering from anomalous trichromacy. It is operated within the MPEG-21 Multimedia Framework, which provides a standardized description of CVD. The basic idea behind the proposed color compensation consists of simulating the path of human color perception. As such, compensated color is realized by relying on the spectral cone sensitivities of the human eye and the spectral emission functions of the display device. For quantified color compensation, the spectral sensitivity of anomalous cones has been modeled according to the deficiency degree of the standardized CVD description. The latter is based on the error score of a computerized hue test (CHT), developed in Part I of our study. Given the anomalous cone spectra, the reduction of error score on the CHT after color compensation was measured in each deficiency degree. The quantitative relationship of color compensation with the error score is linearly regressed, based on the deficiency degree with the least error score after color compensation as well as the error score before color compensation

Quantification and Standardized Description of Color Vision Deficiency Caused by Anomalous Trichromats-Part II: Modeling and Color Compensation

A color compensation scheme has been developed to enhance the perception of people with color vision deficiency (CVD) and for people suffering from anomalous trichromacy. It is operated within the MPEG-21 Multimedia Framework, which provides a standardized description of CVD. The basic idea behind the proposed color compensation consists of simulating the path of human color perception. As such, compensated color is realized by relying on the spectral cone sensitivities of the human eye and the spectral emission functions of the display device. For quantified color compensation, the spectral sensitivity of anomalous cones has been modeled according to the deficiency degree of the standardized CVD description. The latter is based on the error score of a computerized hue test (CHT), developed in Part I of our study. Given the anomalous cone spectra, the reduction of error score on the CHT after color compensation was measured in each deficiency degree. The quantitative relationship of color compensation with the error score is linearly regressed, based on the deficiency degree with the least error score after color compensation as well as the error score before color compensation. Copyright (C) 2008 Seungji Yang et al

Quantification and Standardized Description of Color Vision Deficiency Caused by Anomalous Trichromats-Part I: Simulation and Measurement

The MPEG-21 Multimedia Framework allows visually impaired users to have an improved access to visual content by enabling content adaptation techniques such as color compensation. However, one important issue is the method to create and interpret the standardized CVD descriptions when making the use of generic color vision tests. In Part I of our study to tackle the issue, we present a novel computerized hue test (CHT) to examine and quantify CVD, which allows reproducing and manipulating test colors for the purposes of computer simulation and analysis of CVD. Both objective evaluation via color difference measurement and subjective evaluation via clinical experiment showed that the CHT works well as a color vision test: it is highly correlated with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue (FM100H) test and allows for a more elaborate and correct color reproduction than the FM100H test. Copyright (C) 2008 Seungji Yang et al

Quantification and Standardized Description of Color Vision Deficiency Caused by Anomalous Trichromats-Part I: Simulation and Measurement

The MPEG-21 Multimedia Framework allows visually impaired users to have an improved access to visual content by enabling content adaptation techniques such as color compensation. However, one important issue is the method to create and interpret the standardized CVD descriptions when making the use of generic color vision tests. In Part I of our study to tackle the issue, we present a novel computerized hue test (CHT) to examine and quantify CVD, which allows reproducing and manipulating test colors for the purposes of computer simulation and analysis of CVD. Both objective evaluation via color difference measurement and subjective evaluation via clinical experiment showed that the CHT works well as a color vision test: it is highly correlated with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue (FM100H) test and allows for a more elaborate and correct color reproduction than the FM100H test. Copyright (C) 2008 Seungji Yang et al