Infrared image enhancement using adaptive histogram partition and brightness correction

Infrared image enhancement is a crucial pre-processing technique in intelligent urban surveillance systems for Smart City applications. Existing grayscale mapping-based algorithms always suffer from over-enhancement of the background, noise amplification, and brightness distortion. To cope with these problems, an infrared image enhancement method based on adaptive histogram partition and brightness correction is proposed. First, the grayscale histogram is adaptively segmented into several sub-histograms by a locally weighted scatter plot smoothing algorithm and local minima examination. Then, the fore-and background sub-histograms are distinguished according to a proposed metric called grayscale density. The foreground sub-histograms are equalized using a local contrast weighted distribution for the purpose of enhancing the local details, while the background sub-histograms maintain the corresponding proportions of the whole dynamic range in order to avoid over-enhancement. Meanwhile, a visual correction factor considering the property of human vision is designed to reduce the effect of noise during the procedure of grayscale re-mapping. Lastly, particle swarm optimization is used to correct the mean brightness of the output by virtue of a reference image. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluations implemented on real infrared images demonstrate the superiority of our method when compared with other conventional methods

Unmanned aerial vehicle video-based target tracking algorithm Using sparse representation

Target tracking based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) video is a significant technique in intelligent urban surveillance systems for smart city applications, such as smart transportation, road traffic monitoring, inspection of stolen vehicle, etc. In this paper, a vision-based target tracking algorithm aiming at locating UAV-captured targets, like pedestrian and vehicle, is proposed using sparse representation theory. First of all, each target candidate is sparsely represented in the subspace spanned by a joint dictionary. Then, the sparse representation coefficient is further constrained by an L2 regularization based on the temporal consistency. To cope with the partial occlusion appearing in UAV videos, a Markov Random Field (MRF)-based binary support vector with contiguous occlusion constraint is introduced to our sparse representation model. For long-term tracking, the particle filter framework along with a dynamic template update scheme is designed. Both qualitative and quantitative experiments implemented on visible (Vis) and infrared (IR) UAV videos prove that the presented tracker can achieve better performances in terms of precision rate and success rate when compared with other state-of-the-art tracker

Mangiferin ameliorates insulin resistance in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome via inhibition of inflammation

Purpose: To examine the effect of mangiferin on insulin resistance (IR) in a rat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) model.Methods: The rat PCOS model was established via subcutaneous injection of 6 mg/kg of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and mangiferin was orally administered. Body and ovarian weights were recorded. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, and related inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while the expression levels of key proteins were analyzed by western blotting.Results: DHEA significantly increased ovarian weight and the ratio of ovarian weight/body weight (p <0.001), while mangiferin treatment decreased them (p < 0.001). Mangiferin also lowered DHEA-induced enhancements in serum glucose and insulin levels (p < 0.001). The mRNA and, expression and concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) were also significantly reduced by mangiferin treatment (p < 0.001). Furthermore, mangiferin suppressed phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) but increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT, p < 0.001).Conclusion: These results reveal that mangiferin not only decreases inflammatory cytokine levels by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway but also ameliorates IR in a rat PCOS model via regulating AKT signaling pathway. Thus, mangiferin is a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of PCOS. Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Mangiferin, Inflammation, Insulin resistance, NF-κB, AK

Serum IL-18 Is Closely Associated with Renal Tubulointerstitial Injury and Predicts Renal Prognosis in IgA Nephropathy

Background. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) was thought to be benign but recently found it slowly progresses and leads to ESRD eventually. The aim of this research is to investigate the value of serum IL-18 level, a sensitive biomarker for proximal tubule injury, for assessing the histopathological severity and disease progression in IgAN. Methods. Serum IL-18 levels in 76 IgAN patients and 36 healthy blood donors were measured by ELISA. We evaluated percentage of global and segmental sclerosis (GSS) and extent of tubulointerstitial damage (TID). The correlations between serum IL-18 levels with clinical, histopathological features and renal prognosis were evaluated. Results. The patients were 38.85 ± 10.95 years old, presented with 2.61 (1.43∼4.08) g/day proteinuria. Serum IL-18 levels were significantly elevated in IgAN patients. Baseline serum IL-18 levels were significantly correlated with urinary protein excretion (r = 0.494, P = 0.002), Scr (r = 0.61, P < 0.001), and eGFR (r = −0.598, P < 0.001). TID scores showed a borderline significance with serum IL-18 levels (r = 0.355, P = 0.05). During follow-up, 26 patients (34.21%) had a declined renal function. Kaplan-Meier analysis found those patients with elevated IL-18 had a significant poor renal outcome (P = 0.03), and Cox analysis further confirmed that serum IL-18 levels were an independent predictor of renal prognosis (β = 1.98, P = 0.003)

Response of miR156-SPL Module during the Red Peel Coloration of Bagging-Treated Chinese Sand Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai)

MicroRNA156 is an evolutionarily highly conserved plant micro-RNA (miRNA) that controls an age-dependent flowering pathway. miR156 and its target SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) genes regulate anthocyanin accumulation in plants, but it is unknown whether this process is affected by light. Red Chinese sand pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) fruits exhibit a unique coloration pattern in response to bagging treatments, which makes them appropriate for studying the molecular mechanism underlying light-induced anthocyanin accumulation in fruit. Based on high-throughput miRNA and degradome sequencing data, we determined that miR156 was expressed in pear fruit peels, and targeted four SPL genes. Light-responsive elements were detected in the promoter regions of the miR156a and miR156ba precursors. We identified 19 SPL genes using the “Suli” pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Chinese White Pear Group) genome database, of which seven members were putative miR156 targets. The upregulated expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic and regulatory genes and downregulated expression of PpSPL2, PpSPL5, PpSPL7, PpSPL9, PpSPL10, PpSPL13, PpSPL16, PpSPL17, and PpSPL18 were observed in pear fruits after bags were removed from plants during the anthocyanin accumulation period. Additionally, miR156a/ba/g/s/sa abundance increased after bags were removed. Yeast two-hybrid results suggested that PpMYB10, PpbHLH, and PpWD40 could form a protein complex, probably involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Additionally, PpSPL10 and PpSPL13 interacted with PpMYB10. The results obtained in this study are helpful in understanding the possible role of miR156 and its target PpSPL genes in regulating light-induced red peel coloration and anthocyanin accumulation in pear

Safety and tolerability of a single dose T0001 in Chinese healthy adult volunteers: a first-in-human ascending dose study

T0001 is the first mutant of etanercept with a higher affinity to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) than etanercept. In order to investigate the safety and tolerability of T0001, a study was carried out in healthy Chinese subjects. A first-in-human, dose escalation study was conducted in healthy Chinese subjects. Fifty-six subjects were divided into six dose cohorts (10 mg, 20 mg, 35 mg, 50 mg, 65 mg and 75 mg) to receive a single subcutaneous injection of T0001. Safety and tolerability assessment were based on the records of vital signs, physical examinations, clinical laboratory tests, 12-lead electrocardiograms and adverse events (AEs). All subjects were in good compliance and none withdraw due to AEs. No serious AEs occurred. A total of twenty-three AEs in sixteen subjects were recorded, and eighteen of these AEs were believed to be related to T0001. The most frequently reported AEs were injection site reactions and white blood cell count increase. All these AEs were of mild to moderate intensity and most of them recovered spontaneously within 14 days. In this study, no dose-limiting toxicity was observed, and the maximum tolerated dose was identified as 75 mg. T0001 was considered safe and generally well tolerated at doses up to 75 mg in healthy Chinese volunteers

A Long-Lived Accretionary Process during the Amalgamation of the North China Craton: Insights from Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic Polyphase Magmatism in the Lüliang Complex

There has been a long debate regarding the timing of the final amalgamation of the North China Craton, which is considered to have occurred either during the Neoarchean or Paleoproterozoic era. One major point of contention is whether there existed a long-lived subduction lasting through the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic. The Lüliang Complex contains multiphases of magmatism and thus represents the most viable region to address this controversy. In this study, we carried geochronological and geochemical analysis on the representative granitoids. Secondary ion mass spectrometry U–Pb dating revealed four distinct granitoid groups emplaced at 2531 ± 4, 2189–2173, 2027 ± 25, and 1852 ± 41 Ma, respectively. Notably, the 2531 Ma granitic gneiss was identified for the first time in this region. Based on the geochemical characteristics, the granitoids can be divided into two types. The 2531 and 2027 Ma groups display I-type features, while the 2189–2173 and 1852 Ma groups exhibit A-type geochemical affinities. Both I-type groups exhibit enrichment in Rb, depletion in Nb, Ta, and Ti, moderate fractionated REE patterns, substantial negative Eu anomalies, low Sr/Y ratios, and positive εHf(t) (+3.51 to +5.53 and +5.59 to +7.32, respectively), indicating that they were generated from partial melting of the juvenile mafic crust. In contrast, the 2189–2173 Ma granitoids belong to A2-type and were most likely generated by the partial melting of felsic rocks in the back-arc region, while the 1852 Ma granitoids belong to A1-type and were most possibly the result of partial melting of mafic-intermediate rocks during the post-collisional stage. Based on the records of A-type granitic magmatism and the ~1950 Ma peak metamorphism throughout the Trans-North China Orogen, we propose that a long-lived subduction process (2531–1950 Ma) can mostly explain the existing geological phenomena. It is likely that the subduction between the Eastern and Western Blocks should have commenced at ~2531 Ma, followed by a long-lived subduction. The two blocks ultimately collided with each other to form the North China Craton at ~1950 Ma, which triggered post-collisional exhumation and partial melting at ~1852 Ma

RNA-Seq reveals the key pathways and genes involved in the light-regulated flavonoids biosynthesis in mango (Mangifera indica L.) peel

IntroductionFlavonoids are important water soluble secondary metabolites in plants, and light is one of the most essential environmental factors regulating flavonoids biosynthesis. In the previous study, we found bagging treatment significantly inhibited the accumulation of flavonols and anthocyanins but promoted the proanthocyanidins accumulation in the fruit peel of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivar ‘Sensation’, while the relevant molecular mechanism is still unknown.MethodsIn this study, RNA-seq was conducted to identify the key pathways and genes involved in the light-regulated flavonoids biosynthesis in mango peel.ResultsBy weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), 16 flavonoids biosynthetic genes were crucial for different flavonoids compositions biosynthesis under bagging treatment in mango. The higher expression level of LAR (mango026327) in bagged samples might be the reason why light inhibits proanthocyanidins accumulation in mango peel. The reported MYB positively regulating anthocyanins biosynthesis in mango, MiMYB1, has also been identified by WGCNA in this study. Apart from MYB and bHLH, ERF, WRKY and bZIP were the three most important transcription factors (TFs) involved in the light-regulated flavonoids biosynthesis in mango, with both activators and repressors. Surprisingly, two HY5 transcripts, which are usually induced by light, showed higher expression level in bagged samples.DiscussionOur results provide new insights of the regulatory effect of light on the flavonoids biosynthesis in mango fruit peel

GWAS Identifies Novel Susceptibility Loci on 6p21.32 and 21q21.3 for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Carriers

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have recently identified KIF1B as susceptibility locus for hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To further identify novel susceptibility loci associated with HBV–related HCC and replicate the previously reported association, we performed a large three-stage GWAS in the Han Chinese population. 523,663 autosomal SNPs in 1,538 HBV–positive HCC patients and 1,465 chronic HBV carriers were genotyped for the discovery stage. Top candidate SNPs were genotyped in the initial validation samples of 2,112 HBV–positive HCC cases and 2,208 HBV carriers and then in the second validation samples of 1,021 cases and 1,491 HBV carriers. We discovered two novel associations at rs9272105 (HLA-DQA1/DRB1) on 6p21.32 (OR = 1.30, P = 1.13×$10^{−19}$) and rs455804 (GRIK1) on 21q21.3 (OR = 0.84, P = 1.86×$10^{−8}$), which were further replicated in the fourth independent sample of 1,298 cases and 1,026 controls (rs9272105: OR = 1.25, P = 1.71×$10^{−4}$; rs455804: OR = 0.84, P = 6.92×$10^{−3}$). We also revealed the associations of HLA-DRB1*0405 and 0901*0602, which could partially account for the association at rs9272105. The association at rs455804 implicates GRIK1 as a novel susceptibility gene for HBV–related HCC, suggesting the involvement of glutamate signaling in the development of HBV–related HCC

Вихретоковый анизотропный термоэлектрический первичный преобразователь лучистого потока

Представлена оригинальная конструкция первичного преобразователя лучистого потока, который может служить основой для создания приемника неселективного излучения с повышенной чувствительностью