L dwarfs detection from SDSS images using improved Faster R-CNN

We present a data-driven approach to automatically detect L dwarfs from Sloan Digital Sky Survey(SDSS) images using an improved Faster R-CNN framework based on deep learning. The established L dwarf automatic detection (LDAD) model distinguishes L dwarfs from other celestial objects and backgrounds in SDSS field images by learning the features of 387 SDSS images containing L dwarfs. Applying the LDAD model to the SDSS images containing 93 labeled L dwarfs in the test set, we successfully detected 83 known L dwarfs with a recall rate of 89.25% for known L dwarfs. Several techniques are implemented in the LDAD model to improve its detection performance for L dwarfs,including the deep residual network and the feature pyramid network. As a result, the LDAD model outperforms the model of the original Faster R-CNN, whose recall rate of known L dwarfs is 80.65% for the same test set. The LDAD model was applied to detect L dwarfs from a larger validation set including 843 labeled L dwarfs, resulting in a recall rate of 94.42% for known L dwarfs. The newly identified candidates include L dwarfs, late M and T dwarfs, which were estimated from color (i-z) and spectral type relation. The contamination rates for the test candidates and validation candidates are 8.60% and 9.27%, respectively. The detection results indicate that our model is effective to search for L dwarfs from astronomical images.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted to be published in A

Low-Dose Immune Tolerance Induction in Children With Severe Hemophilia A With High-Titer Inhibitors: Type of Factor 8 Mutation and Outcomes

BACKGROUND: No studies evaluated the role of OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between METHODS: Children SHA with high-titer inhibitors who received low-dose ITI therapy at least for 1 year were included in this study. Based on the risk of inhibitor development, RESULTS: Of 104 children included, 101 had CONCLUSIONS: Types o

Case report: Effectiveness of sirolimus in a de novo FAS mutation leading to autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome-FAS and elevated DNT/Treg ratio

BackgroundThe autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare disease characterized by defective function of the FAS death receptor, which results in chronic, non-malignant lymphoproliferation and autoimmunity accompanied by elevated numbers of double-negative (DN) T cells (T-cell receptor α/β + CD4–CD8–) and an increased risk of developing malignancies later in life.Case descriptionHere, we report a patient with a de novo FAS mutation with a severe phenotype of ALPS-FAS. The FAS gene identified as a novel spontaneous germline heterozygous missense mutation (c.857G > A, p.G286E) in exon 9, causing an amino acid exchange and difference in hydrogen bond formation. Consequently, the treatment with sirolimus was initiated. Subsequently, the patient’s clinical condition improved rapidly. Moreover, DNT ratio continuously decreased during sirolimus application.ConclusionWe described a novel germline FAS mutation (c.857G > A, p.G286E) associated with a severe clinical phenotype of ALPS-FAS. Sirolimus effectively improved the patient clinical manifestations with obvious reduction of the DNT ratio

Case report: Effectiveness of sirolimus in treating partial DiGeorge Syndrome with Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)-like features

BackgroundDiGeorge Syndrome (DGS) is a rare disease associated with 22q11.2 chromosomal microdeletion, also known as a velocardiofacial syndrome, based on the frequent involvements of the palate, facial, and heart problems. Hematologic autoimmunity is rare in DGS but presents with a refractory course and poor prognosis. Herein, we report a case of partial DGS in a patient with refractory immune cytopenia and autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS)-like manifestations.Case descriptionA 10-year-old boy with growth retardation presented initially with a ventricular septal defect at 7 months old, which had been repaired soon after. The patient suffered from thrombocytopenia and progressed into chronic refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) at 30 months old. One year later, the patient developed multilineage cytopenias including thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia. First-line treatment of ITP, like high-dose dexamethasone and intravenous immunoglobulin, had little or short-term effect on controlling symptoms. Whole-exome sequencing revealed the presence of a de novo heterozygous 2.520 Mb deletion on chromosome 22q11.21. Moreover, decreased proportion of naive T cells and elevated double-negative T cells were found. The patient was given sirolimus therapy (1.5 mg/m2, actual blood concentration range: 4.0–5.2 ng/ml) without adding other immunosuppressive agents. The whole blood cell count was gradually restored after a month, and the disease severity was soothed with less frequency of infections and bleeding events. Decreased spleen size and restrained lymph node expansion were achieved after 3-month sirolimus monotherapy.ConclusionsThis case is the first description on the efficacy of sirolimus monotherapy to treat refractory multilineage cytopenias of DGS presented with ALPS-like features

Regulatory controls of duplicated gene expression during fiber development in allotetraploid cotton.

Polyploidy complicates transcriptional regulation and increases phenotypic diversity in organisms. The dynamics of genetic regulation of gene expression between coresident subgenomes in polyploids remains to be understood. Here we document the genetic regulation of fiber development in allotetraploid cotton Gossypium hirsutum by sequencing 376 genomes and 2,215 time-series transcriptomes. We characterize 1,258 genes comprising 36 genetic modules that control staged fiber development and uncover genetic components governing their partitioned expression relative to subgenomic duplicated genes (homoeologs). Only about 30% of fiber quality-related homoeologs show phenotypically favorable allele aggregation in cultivars, highlighting the potential for subgenome additivity in fiber improvement. We envision a genome-enabled breeding strategy, with particular attention to 48 favorable alleles related to fiber phenotypes that have been subjected to purifying selection during domestication. Our work delineates the dynamics of gene regulation during fiber development and highlights the potential of subgenomic coordination underpinning phenotypes in polyploid plants. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF) on tolerance of beach plum (Prunus maritima) under salt stress

Abstract The synergic effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and a phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF) on the salt-tolerance of beach plum (Prunus maritima) grown in pots was explored. Pot experiments in greenhouse were carried out in one year beach plum inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) or/and PSF (Mortierella sp. SM-1) under 1% NaCl stress. Salinity dramatically increased Na + concentrations, but decreased K + contents and K + / Na + in shoot and root significantly. And meanwhile, salinization reduced growth (root and shoot dry weight, total phosphate contents, chlorophyll contents) and biological soil quality (soil available phosphate contents and phosphatase enzyme activities). Plants inoculated with AMF or/and PSF counteracted both Na ) and plant growth indexes, available phosphate contents, phosphatase enzyme activities and the reduction of pH than those of single inoculated with AMF or PSF. Under NaCl stress, the percentages root colonization of plants co-inoculated with AMF and PSF were significantly higher than those of plants inoculated with AMF alone. It is concluded that AMF inoculation with PSF application could synergistically enhance salt-tolerance of plants

Preparation and characterization of liquefied eggplant branch bio-based controlled-release fertilizer

Abstract Bio-based coating materials have received increased attention because of their low-cost, environmentally friendly, and sustainable properties. In this paper, a novel coating material was developed to coat ureas using bio-based coating material derived from liquefied eggplant branches to form controlled-release ureas (CRUs). Also, the optimum proportion of liquefier was studied. Furthermore, dimethyl siloxane was used to modify liquified eggplant branches to make them hydrophobic, resulting in hydrophobic controlled-release ureas (SCRUs). This hydrophobic-enabled coating is environmentally friendly and highly efficient. The products were characterized by specific scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry, and the water contact angles of CRUs and SCRUs were determined. The nutrient-release characteristics of the SCRUs in water were determined at 25 °C and compared with those of CRUs. The results showed that the modification with dimethyl siloxane reduced the N release rate and increased the longevity of the fertilizer coated with hydrophobic bio-based coating material. In addition, organosilicon atoms on the SCRU surface also block the micro-holes on the coating and thus reduce the entry of water onto the coating. The results suggest that the new coating technology can create a hydrophobic surface on bio-based coating material and thus improve their controlled-release characteristics

A facile way to prepare phosphorus-Nitrogen-Functionalized graphene oxide for enhancing the flame retardancy of epoxy resin

In this paper, we have reported a facile way to functionalize graphene oxide (GO) via assembling a supermolecular aggregate of piperazine (PiP) and phytic acid (PA) onto the GO surface (PPGO) without using any organic solvent. The functionalization of GO is confirmed by the X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS), transmission electron micrographs (TEM) and Raman spectrum. The introduction of 3 wt% PPGO into epoxy resin (EP/PPGO3) results in notable suppression on the fire risk of epoxy resin. In addition, cone calorimeter tests showed that the peak heat release rate (pHRR) was decreased from 727.4 kW/m2 to 367.5 kW/m2 (49%), and the peak smoke production rate (pSPR) was decreased from 0.2316 m2/s to 0.1379 g/s (40%). The improved flame-retardant performance of EP nanocomposites is most likely due to a tripartite cooperative effect from the key components (piperizine, phytic acid, and GO). This strategy demonstrates a facile and efficient approach for fabricating highly effective graphene-based flame retardants for polymers

Towards a Fully Automated 3D Reconstruction System Based on LiDAR and GNSS in Challenging Scenarios

High-precision 3D maps play an important role in autonomous driving. The current mapping system performs well in most circumstances. However, it still encounters difficulties in the case of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal blockage, when surrounded by too many moving objects, or when mapping a featureless environment. In these challenging scenarios, either the global navigation approach or the local navigation approach will degenerate. With the aim of developing a degeneracy-aware robust mapping system, this paper analyzes the possible degeneration states for different navigation sources and proposes a new degeneration indicator for the point cloud registration algorithm. The proposed degeneracy indicator could then be seamlessly integrated into the factor graph-based mapping framework. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed 3D reconstruction system based on GNSS and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors can map challenging scenarios with high precision