Optimum Pipeline for Visual Terrain Classification Using Improved Bag of Visual Words and Fusion Methods

We propose an optimum pipeline and develop the hybrid representation to produce an effective and efficient visual terrain classification system. The bag of visual words (BOVW) framework has emerged as a promising approach and effective paradigm for visual terrain classification. The method includes four main steps: (1) feature extraction, (2) codebook generation, (3) feature coding, and (4) pooling and normalization. Recent researches have primarily focused on feature extraction in the development of new handcrafted descriptors that are specific to the visual terrain. However, the effects of other steps on visual terrain classification are still unknown. At the same time, fusion methods are often used to boost classification performance by exploring the complementarity of diverse features. We provide a comprehensive study of all steps in the BOVW framework and different fusion methods for visual terrain classification. Then, multiple approaches in each step and their effects are explored on the visual terrain dataset. Finally, the feature preprocessing technique, improved BOVW framework, and fusion method are used to construct an optimum pipeline for visual terrain classification. The hybrid representation developed by the optimum pipeline performs effectively and rapidly for visual terrain classification in the terrain dataset, outperforming those current methods. Furthermore, it is robust to diverse noises and illumination alterations

Tumor microenvironment-responsive metal nanotherapeutics for breast cancer chemo-/immunotherapy

Abstract Many metal complexes not only had excellent cytotoxic antitumor effects but also could function as a positive immunomodulatory to improve antitumor effects by modifying the local tumor microenvironment. Herein, a dual-target nanotherapeutics (MP3/ACPP/AE105@NPs) with uPAR targeting and tumor microenvironment-responsive ability was developed by using AE105 as the targeting ligand and ACPP as the tumor microenvironment-responsive peptide to locate the metal complex to cells. Assisted by the surface modification, MP3/ACPP/AE105@NPs demonstrated excellent cellular uptake of the drugs in in vitro experiments, thereby enhancing the therapeutic utility of the loaded metal complex. The nanotherapeutics induced the excessive ROS generation by inhibiting the activity of TrxR and modulated those proteins which were related to metastasis through inhibiting ERK/AKT activation mediated by FAK in MDA-MB-231 cells. This nanotherapeutics could also significantly improve the therapeutic benefits in vivo accompanied by reduced toxic side effects. Importantly, MP3/ACPP/AE105@NPs treatment stimulated immunotherapeutic response, which was indicated by the activation of tumor-infiltrated cytotoxic T cells, and improved the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), and the proliferation-inhibitory effect of tumor-associated M2 macrophages. Taken together, the results suggested that this dual-targeted nanotherapeutics offered new opportunities for boosting the synergistic treatment of breast cancer with chemotherapy and immunotherapy

Role of Hairpin-Quadruplex DNA Secondary Structural Conversion in the Promoter of hnRNP K in Gene Transcriptional Regulation

The promoter of hnRNP K oncogene was found to contain a G/C-rich sequence on the same DNA strand, which can form interconvertible G-quadruplex, i-motif, and hairpin structures. Protein CNBP could bind and stabilize the G-quadruplex, inducing transformation of the hairpin into the G-quadruplex, resulting in down-regulation of hnRNP K transcription. In contrast, Corticosterone could bind and stabilize the hairpin, inducing transformation of the G-quadruplex into the hairpin, resulting in up-regulation of hnRNP K gene transcription

Cloning of the Lycopene β-cyclase Gene in Nicotiana tabacum and Its Overexpression Confers Salt and Drought Tolerance

Carotenoids are important pigments in plants that play crucial roles in plant growth and in plant responses to environmental stress. Lycopene β cyclase (β-LCY) functions at the branch point of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, catalyzing the cyclization of lycopene. Here, a β-LCY gene from Nicotiana tabacum, designated as Ntβ-LCY1, was cloned and functionally characterized. Robust expression of Ntβ-LCY1 was found in leaves, and Ntβ-LCY1 expression was obviously induced by salt, drought, and exogenous abscisic acid treatments. Strong accumulation of carotenoids and expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes resulted from Ntβ-LCY1 overexpression. Additionally, compared to wild-type plants, transgenic plants with overexpression showed enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stress with higher abscisic acid levels and lower levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species. Conversely, transgenic RNA interference plants had a clear albino phenotype in leaves, and some plants did not survive beyond the early developmental stages. The suppression of Ntβ-LCY1 expression led to lower expression levels of genes in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway and to reduced accumulation of carotenoids, chlorophyll, and abscisic acid. These results indicate that Ntβ-LCY1 is not only a likely cyclization enzyme involved in carotenoid accumulation but also confers salt and drought stress tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum

Mitochondrial Control Region and Population Genetic Patterns of Nycticebus bengalensis and N. pygmaius

Bengal slow lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) and pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) are nocturnal which creates difficulties to study them in the field. There is a scarcity of data on them and their population genetics are poorly understood. We sequenced and analyzed a partial fragment in the first hypervariable region of the mitochondrial control region or D-loop HVRI of 21 Nycticebus bengalensis and 119 N. pygmaeus from the boundary between China and Vietnam where they are sympatric. Though the sample size for Nycticebus pygmaeus is much larger, the polymorphism level is much lower than that of N. bengalensis, possibly because of (1) external gene flow from other habitats of N. bengalensis, (2) gene ingression from Sunda slow lorises (N. coucang coucang) to N. bengalensis, (3) a skewed birth sex ratio in N. pygmaeus, and (4) a possible low survival rate of infant N. pygmaeus. Based on genetic comparisons to Nycticebus bengalensis, we propose that N. pygmaeus in southern China and northern Vietnam might have migrated from middle or southern Vietnam recently