Road Condition Detection and Classification from Existing CCTV Feed

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has approximately 500 digital cameras along highways in populated areas of Indiana. These cameras are used to monitor traffic conditions around the clock, all year round. Currently, the videos from these cameras are observed one-by-one by human operators looking for traffic conditions and incidents. The main objective of this research was to develop an automatic, real-time system to monitor traffic conditions and detect incidents automatically. The Transportation and Autonomous Systems Institute (TASI) of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the Traffic Management Center of INDOT developed a system that monitors the traffic conditions based on the INDOT CCTV video feeds. The proposed system performs traffic flow estimation, incident detection, and classification of vehicles involved in an incident. The research team designed the system, including the hardware and software components added to the existing INDOT CCTV system; the relationship between the added system and the currently existing INDOT system; the database structure for traffic data extracted from the videos; and a user-friendly, web-based server for showing the incident locations automatically. The specific work in this project includes vehicle-detection, road boundary detection, lane detection, vehicle count over time, flow-rate detection, traffic condition detection, database development, web-based graphical user interface (GUI), and a hardware specification study. The preliminary prototype of some system components has been implemented in the Development of Automated Incident Detection System Using Existing ATMS CCT (SPR-4305)

Dynamic profiling of intact glucosinolates in radish by combining UHPLC-HRMS/MS and UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS

Glucosinolates (GSLs) and their degradation products in radish confer plant defense, promote human health, and generate pungent flavor. However, the intact GSLs in radish have not been investigated comprehensively yet. Here, an accurate qualitative and quantitative analyses of 15 intact GSLs from radish, including four major GSLs of glucoraphasatin (GRH), glucoerucin (GER), glucoraphenin (GRE), and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin (4MGBS), were conducted using UHPLC-HRMS/MS in combination with UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS. Simultaneously, three isomers of hexyl GSL, 3-methylpentyl GSL, and 4-methylpentyl GSL were identified in radish. The highest content of GSLs was up to 232.46 μmol/g DW at the 42 DAG stage in the ‘SQY’ taproot, with an approximately 184.49-fold increase compared to the lowest content in another sample. That the GSLs content in the taproots of two radishes fluctuated in a similar pattern throughout the five vegetative growth stages according to the metabolic profiling, whereas the GSLs content in the ‘55’ leaf steadily decreased over the same period. Additionally, the proposed biosynthetic pathways of radish-specific GSLs were elucidated in this study. Our findings will provide an abundance of qualitative and quantitative data on intact GSLs, as well as a method for detecting GSLs, thus providing direction for the scientific progress and practical utilization of GSLs in radish

Cooking fuels and risk of all-cause and cardiopulmonary mortality in urban China:a prospective cohort study

Background: Cooking practice has transitioned from use of solid fuels to use of clean fuels, with addition of better ventilation facilities. However, the change in mortality risk associated with such a transition remains unclear. Methods: The China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) Study enrolled participants (aged 30–79 years) from ten areas across China; we chose to study participants from five urban areas where transition from use of solid fuels to clean fuels for cooking was prevalent. Participants who reported regular cooking (weekly or more frequently) at baseline were categorised as persistent clean fuel users, previous solid fuel users, or persistent solid fuel users, according to self-reported fuel use histories. All-cause and cardiopulmonary mortality were identified through linkage to China's Disease Surveillance Point system and local mortality records. Findings: Between June 24, 2004, and July 15, 2008, 226 186 participants living in five urban areas of China were enrolled in the CKB Study. Among 171 677 participants who reported cooking regularly (weekly or more frequently), 75 785 (44%) were persistent clean fuel users, 80 511 (47%) were previous solid fuel users, and 15 381 (9%) were persistent solid fuel users. During a mean of 9·8 (SD 1·7) years of follow-up, 10 831 deaths were documented, including 3819 cardiovascular deaths and 761 respiratory deaths. Compared with persistent clean fuel users, persistent solid fuel users had significantly higher risks of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1·19, 95% CI 1·10–1·28), cardiovascular mortality (1·24, 1·10–1·39), and respiratory mortality (1·43, 1·10–1·85). The excess risk of all-cause and cardiopulmonary mortality fell by more than 60% in 5 years after cessation of solid fuel use and continued to decrease afterwards. Use of ventilation was associated with lower all-cause mortality risk, even among persistent clean fuel users (HR 0·78, 0·69–0·89). Interpretation: Solid fuel use for cooking is associated with a higher risk of mortality, and cessation of solid fuel use cuts excess mortality risks swiftly and substantially within 5 years. Ventilation use also lowers the risk of mortality, even among people who persistently use clean fuels. It is of prime importance for both policy makers and the public to accelerate the transition from solid fuels to clean fuels and promote efficient ventilation to minimise further adverse health effects.</p

2-Deoxyglucose alleviates migraine-related behaviors by modulating microglial inflammatory factors in experimental model of migraine

BackgroundTargeting metabolic pathways has emerged as a new migraine treatment strategy as researchers realize the critical role metabolism plays in migraine. Activated inflammatory cells undergo metabolic reprogramming and rely on glycolysis to function. The objective of this study was to investigate the glycolysis changes in the experimental model of migraine and the effect of glycolysis inhibitor 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in the pathophysiology of migraine.MethodsWe used a rat model of migraine that triggered migraine attacks by applying inflammatory soup (IS) to the dura and examined changes in glycolysis. 2-DG was used to inhibit glycolysis, and the effects of 2-DG on mechanical ectopic pain, microglial cell activation, calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP), c-Fos, and inflammatory factors induced by inflammatory soup were observed. LPS stimulated BV2 cells to establish a model in vitro to observe the effects of 2-DG on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after microglia activation.ResultsIn the experimental model of migraine, key enzymes involved in glycolysis such as phosphofructokinase platelet (PFKP), hexokinase (HK2), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pyruvate kinase (PKM2) were expressed in the medullary dorsal horn. While the expression of electronic respiratory transport chain complex IV (COXIV) decreased. There were no significant changes in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a key enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway. The glycolysis inhibitor 2-DG alleviated migraine-like symptoms in an experimental model of migraine, reduced the release of proinflammatory cytokines caused by microglia activation, and decreased the expression of CGRP and c-Fos. Further experiments in vitro demonstrated that glycolysis inhibition can reduce the release of Iba-1/proBDNF/BDNF and inhibit the activation of microglia.ConclusionThe migraine rat model showed enhanced glycolysis. This study suggests that glycolytic inhibitor 2-DG is an effective strategy for alleviating migraine-like symptoms. Glycolysis inhibition may be a new target for migraine treatment

The Main Evaluation Indicators for the Quality of Fruit Radish

The aim of this study was to establish an scientific evaluation system for fruit radish quality. 8 quality indicators were measured for 23 varieties, such as Meinong, Qiaotouqing and Chunbulao. The indicators included root weight, root shape index, water content, crispness, soluble solids, crude fiber, isothiocyanate and vitamin C. These data were analyzed by variation correlation analysis, principal component analysis and system cluster analysis. 23 varieties of fruit radish were analyzed by variation correlation; 8 indicators were compressed into 6 integrated variables using principal component analysis. Finally, the main evaluation indicators of fruit radish were determined by using cluster analysis and correlation analysis. The results indicated that the range of variation coefficient was from 1.64%—89.99%. Water content, crispness, soluble solids, crude fiber, isothiocyanate were important components of fruit radish quality, playing a major role in the quality. These 8 indicators were closely related and relatively independent. Water content was significantly and positively correlated with crispness; soluble solids and crude fiber were significantly and negatively related to vitamin C; crispness was significantly and positively correlated with crude fiber and vitamin C. Based on the above results, 4 representative indicators were used for evaluating fruit radish quality, that is water content, crispness, soluble solids, crude fiber, which could reflect the most information of fruit radish quality

Identification and Analysis of Components of Glucosinolates in Succulent Roots and Leaves of Fruity Radish (Raphanus sativas L.)

The components of glucosinolates (GSL) in the succulent roots and leaves of three kinds of fruity radish (Xinlimei, Super Zhengyan, and Shawo) were identified and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that there were nine kinds of glucosinolates in the succulent roots and leaves of three kinds of fruity radish, including six kinds of aliphatic glucosinolates (4-methyl sulfinyl-3-butenyl glucosinolates, 2-allyl glucosinolates, 4-methyl sulfinyl butyl glucosinolates, 5-methyl sulfinyl amyl glucosinolates, 4-methyl n-butyl glucosinolates, 4-methyl thio-3- butenyl glucosinolates) and three kinds of indole glucosinolates (4-methoxy methyl indole glucosinolates, 3- methyl indole glucosinolates, 1- methoxy methyl indole glucosinolates), but there were significant differences in the content of glucosinolates between different varieties and organs. The total content of glucosinolates in succulent roots of three kinds of fruity radish was 22 472.84, 13 585.86, and 28 200.70 μg/g DM respectively, and more than 95% were aliphatic glucosinolates. The content of glucosinolates in succulent roots was 4.56, 2.71, and 4.55 times of that in leaves of three kinds of fruity radish. Main aliphatic glucosinolates in succulent roots and leaves of three kinds of fruity radish were 4-methyl sulfinyl-3-butenyl glucosinolates, accounting for 90.11%-93.92% and 63.03%-73.72% of total content of glucosinolates

Analysis on Nutritional and Functional Components of Different Pueraria lobata Roots

This paper made analysis and evaluation of nutritional components and functional components of different Pueraria lobata roots. Nutritional components mainly include water, ash content, fat, reducing sugar, starch and cellulose; functional components mainly include flavone and polyphenol. Pueraria lobata root No. 1 has highest ash content, flavone, and polyphenol but lowest fat, so it is suitable for using as medical Pueraria lobata root resource. Pueraria lobata root No. 5 has starch content as high as 64.43%, and is recommended using as vegetable and processing into Pueraria lobata powder. Pueraria lobata root No. 5 has cellulose content as high as 17.79% and is recommended processing into Pueraria lobata tablets. Through comparison of nutritional and functional components of different Pueraria lobata roots, it is intended to provide reference for variety selection, breeding, production and processing of Pueraria lobata roots

Iron overload induces islet β cell ferroptosis by activating ASK1/P-P38/CHOP signaling pathway

Background Recent studies have shown that the accumulation of free iron and lipid peroxides will trigger a new form of cell death—ferroptosis. This form of cell death is associated with a variety of diseases, including type 2 diabetes. We hypothesize that iron overload may play a role in driving glucose metabolism abnormalities by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress that mediates ferroptosis in islet β cells. In this study, we tested this conjecture from in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods We established a mouse iron overload model by intraperitoneal injection of iron dextrose (50 mg/kg) and an iron overload cell model by treating MIN6 cells with ferric ammonium citrate (640 μmol/L, 48 h) in vitro. The iron deposition in pancreatic tissue was observed by Prussian blue staining, and the pathological changes in pancreatic tissues by HE staining and the protein expression level by pancreatic immunohistochemistry. In the cellular experiments, we detected the cell viability by CCK8 and observed the cellular ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy. We also used MDA and ROS kits to detect the level of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in cells. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of target proteins. Results Iron overload induces MIN6 cell dysfunction, leading to increased fasting blood glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and significantly decreased insulin sensitivity in mice. This process may be related to the ferroptosis of islet β cells and the activation of ASK1/P-P38/CHOP signaling pathway

Marginal scorch caused by Alternaria alternata on Purple-Caitai (Brassia campestris L. ssp. chinensis L.var. utilis Tsen et Lee) in China

A new disease was detected in Purple-Caitai (Brassia campestris L. ssp. chinensis L.var. utilis Tsen et Lee) on the high mountain in Hubei, China. On the basis of morphological and cultural features, the pathogen was identified as Alternaria alternata. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-rDNA sequence of a representative Alternaria isolate from Purple-Caitai showed 99% identity with other ITS sequences of different Alternaria alternata isolates available in GenBank, thus confirming the morpho-cultural identification. Koch′s postulates were fulfilled by pathogenicity tests on potted Purple-Caitai seedlings. To our knowledge, this report is the first of marginal scorch on Purple-Caitai caused by Alternaria alternata.Keywords: Purple-Caitai, marginal scorch, Alternaria alternataAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(6), pp. 544-54