Hybrid geometry sets for global registration of cross-source geometric data

We propose a concept of hybrid geometry sets for registering cross-source geometric data. Specifically, our method focuses on the coarse registration of geometric data obtained from laser scanning and photogrammetric reconstruction. Due to different characteristics (e.g., variations in noise levels, density, and scales), achieving accurate registration between these data becomes a challenging task. The proposed method uses geometric structures to construct hybrid geometry sets, and the geometric relations between the elements of a hybrid geometry set are encoded in a hybrid feature space. This enables effective and efficient similarity query and correspondence establishment between the hybrid geometry sets. The proposed global registration method works in three steps. Firstly, a set of hybrid geometry sets is constructed using extracted planes and intersection lines. Then the features of the hybrid geometry sets are computed to encode the relative pose and topological relationships between the extracted planes and intersection lines, and their correspondences between the two inputs are established by querying hybrid geometry sets with similar features. Finally, the global registration parameters are calculated using the correspondences, and the registration result is further refined through continuous optimization. The robustness of the method has been evaluated using different real-world cross-source geometric data of urban scenes. Extensive comparisons with state-of-the-art algorithms have also demonstrated its effectiveness.Urban Data Scienc

Quick and selective extraction of Z-ligustilide from Angelica sinensis using magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes

A facile and highly efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction method has been developed for Z-ligustilide, the major therapeutic agent in Angelica sinensis. The solid-phase adsorbent material used was prepared by conjugating carbon nanotubes with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles via a hydrothermal reaction. The magnetic material showed a high affinity toward Z-ligustilide due to the pi-pi stacking interaction between the carbon nanotubes and Z-ligustilide, allowing a quick and selective exaction of Z-ligustilide from complex sample matrices. Factors influencing the magnetic solid-phase extraction such as the amount of the added adsorbent, adsorption and desorption time, and desorption solvent, were investigated. Due to its high extraction efficiency, this method was proved highly useful for sample cleanup/enrichment in quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The proposed method had a linear calibration curve (R-2 = 0.9983) over the concentration between 4 ng/mL and 200 mu g/mL Z-ligustilide. The accuracy of the method was determined by the recovery, which was from 92.07 to 104.02%, with the relative standard deviations >4.51%

Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of compound Valeriana jatamansi Jones in mice

Background: Compound Valeriana jatamansi Jones is a formula for treating anxiety-related diseases in the clinic, which is composed of Valeriana jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, Albiziae Cortex and Junci Medulla. The purpose of this study was to explore the anxiolytic properties of this compound in mice

Establishment of a Cell Line from Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis with the Practicability of Transfection and Viral Replication

continuous cell line derived from extracranial carotid artery of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis was established and characterized. It was named as STA (soft-shelled turtle artery) cell line. The cells were muscle-cell like, and were stained with antibody against smooth muscle myofilament marker, a-smooth muscle actin. These cells had a normal diploid chromosome number of 2n = 66, and their 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA sequences shared 99% identity with ones of the turtle in database. The cell line can be cultured well in media DMEM/F12 or M199 supplemented with 10% FBS at 28 C. It was further demonstrated that the cells were transfected successfully with pTurbo plasmid, with a transfection efficiency being over 30%. The soft-shelled turtle iridovirus (STIV) propagated in the cell line, causing typical CPE with the formation of inclusion bodies. It is suggested that the established STA cell line provides a convenient platform for studying the pathogenesis of STIV and biological aspects of the turtle.continuous cell line derived from extracranial carotid artery of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis was established and characterized. It was named as STA (soft-shelled turtle artery) cell line. The cells were muscle-cell like, and were stained with antibody against smooth muscle myofilament marker, a-smooth muscle actin. These cells had a normal diploid chromosome number of 2n = 66, and their 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA sequences shared 99% identity with ones of the turtle in database. The cell line can be cultured well in media DMEM/F12 or M199 supplemented with 10% FBS at 28 C. It was further demonstrated that the cells were transfected successfully with pTurbo plasmid, with a transfection efficiency being over 30%. The soft-shelled turtle iridovirus (STIV) propagated in the cell line, causing typical CPE with the formation of inclusion bodies. It is suggested that the established STA cell line provides a convenient platform for studying the pathogenesis of STIV and biological aspects of the turtle

Higher antiviral response of RIG-I through enhancing RIG-I/MAVS-mediated signaling by its long insertion variant in zebrafish

As an intracellular pattern recognition receptor (PRR), the retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is responsible for the recognition of cytosolic viral nucleic acids and the production of type I interferons (IFNs). In the present study, an insertion variant of RIG-I with 38 amino acids inserted in the N-terminal CARD2 domain, as well as the typical type, named as RIG-Ia and RIG-Ib respectively were identified in zebrafish. RIG-la and RIG-Ib were all up-regulated following the infection of a negative ssRNA virus, the Spring Viremia of Carp Virus (SVCV), and an intracellular Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Edwardsiella tarda, indicating the RLR may have a role in the recognition of both viruses and bacteria. The overexpression of RIG-Ib in cultured fish cells resulted in significant increase in type I IFN promoter activity, and in protection against SVCV infection, whereas the over-expression of RIG-Ia had no direct effect on IFN activation nor antiviral response. Furthermore, it was revealed that both RIG-Ia and RIG-Ib were associated with the downstream molecular mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein, MAVS, and interestingly RIG-Ia when co-transfected with RIG-Ib or MAVS, induced a significantly higher level of type IFN promoter activity and the expression level of Mx and IRF7, implying that the RIG-la may function as an enhancer in the RIG-Ib/MAVS-mediated signaling pathway. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Sparsentan in patients with IgA nephropathy: a prespecified interim analysis from a randomised, double-blind, active-controlled clinical trial

Background: Sparsentan is a novel, non-immunosuppressive, single-molecule, dual endothelin and angiotensin receptor antagonist being examined in an ongoing phase 3 trial in adults with IgA nephropathy. We report the prespecified interim analysis of the primary proteinuria efficacy endpoint, and safety. Methods: PROTECT is an international, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study, being conducted in 134 clinical practice sites in 18 countries. The study examines sparsentan versus irbesartan in adults (aged ≥18 years) with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy and proteinuria of 1·0 g/day or higher despite maximised renin-angiotensin system inhibitor treatment for at least 12 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive sparsentan 400 mg once daily or irbesartan 300 mg once daily, stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate at screening (30 to 1·75 g/day). The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline to week 36 in urine protein-creatinine ratio based on a 24-h urine sample, assessed using mixed model repeated measures. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were safety endpoints. All endpoints were examined in all participants who received at least one dose of randomised treatment. The study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03762850. Findings: Between Dec 20, 2018, and May 26, 2021, 404 participants were randomly assigned to sparsentan (n=202) or irbesartan (n=202) and received treatment. At week 36, the geometric least squares mean percent change from baseline in urine protein-creatinine ratio was statistically significantly greater in the sparsentan group (-49·8%) than the irbesartan group (-15·1%), resulting in a between-group relative reduction of 41% (least squares mean ratio=0·59; 95% CI 0·51-0·69; p<0·0001). TEAEs with sparsentan were similar to irbesartan. There were no cases of severe oedema, heart failure, hepatotoxicity, or oedema-related discontinuations. Bodyweight changes from baseline were not different between the sparsentan and irbesartan groups. Interpretation: Once-daily treatment with sparsentan produced meaningful reduction in proteinuria compared with irbesartan in adults with IgA nephropathy. Safety of sparsentan was similar to irbesartan. Future analyses after completion of the 2-year double-blind period will show whether these beneficial effects translate into a long-term nephroprotective potential of sparsentan. Funding: Travere Therapeutics