Biological potential of polyethylene glycol (Peg)-functionalized graphene quantum dots in in vitro neural stem/progenitor cells

Stem cell therapy is one of the novel and prospective fields. The ability of stem cells to differentiate into different lineages makes them attractive candidates for several therapies. It is essential to understand the cell fate, distribution, and function of transplanted cells in the local microenvironment before their applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an accurate and reliable labeling method of stem cells for imaging techniques to track their translocation after transplantation. The graphitic quantum dots (GQDs) are selected among various stem cell labeling and tracking strategies which have high photoluminescence ability, photostability, relatively low cytotoxicity, tunable surface functional groups, and delivering capacity. Since GQDs interact easily with the cell and interfere with cell behavior through surface functional groups, an appropriate surface modification needs to be considered to get close to the ideal labeling nanoprobes. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used to improve biocompatibility while simultaneously maintaining the photoluminescent potentials of GQDs. The biochemically inert PEG successfully covered the surface of GQDs. The PEG-GQDs composites show adequate bioimaging capabilities when internalized into neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs). Furthermore, the bio-inertness of the PEG-GQDs is confirmed. Herein, we introduce the PEG-GQDs as a valuable tool for stem cell labeling and tracking for biomedical therapies in the field of neural regeneration

Bypass Enhancement RGB Stream Model for Pedestrian Action Recognition of Autonomous Vehicles

Pedestrian action recognition and intention prediction is one of the core issues in the field of autonomous driving. In this research field, action recognition is one of the key technologies. A large number of scholars have done a lot of work to im-prove the accuracy of the algorithm for the task. However, there are relatively few studies and improvements in the computational complexity of algorithms and sys-tem real-time. In the autonomous driving application scenario, the real-time per-formance and ultra-low latency of the algorithm are extremely important evalua-tion indicators, which are directly related to the availability and safety of the au-tonomous driving system. To this end, we construct a bypass enhanced RGB flow model, which combines the previous two-branch algorithm to extract RGB feature information and optical flow feature information respectively. In the train-ing phase, the two branches are merged by distillation method, and the bypass enhancement is combined in the inference phase to ensure accuracy. The real-time behavior of the behavior recognition algorithm is significantly improved on the premise that the accuracy does not decrease. Experiments confirm the superiority and effectiveness of our algorithm.Comment: Accepted to ACPR 2019 - Workshop on Computer Vision for Modern Vehicle

Severity of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is Associated with Development of Metabolic Syndrome: Results of a 5-Year Cohort Study

Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MS). However, a few studies have examined the effect of NAFLD on the development of MS. We evaluated the relationship between the development of MS and clinical severity of NAFLD according to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Participants who underwent abdominal ultrasonography and blood samplings for health check-ups both in 2005 and 2010 were recruited. NAFLD was diagnosed if a person showed fatty liver on ultrasonography without significant alcohol consumption. Subjects with MS at baseline were excluded. Results: A total of 2,728 subjects met the inclusion criteria. Fatty liver (FL) with normal ALT was found in 369 (13.5%) subjects and FL with elevated ALT in 328 (12.0%). During 5 years of follow up, 582 (21.3%) incident cases of MS developed between 2005 and 2010. The incidence of MS was higher in patients with NAFLD compared to control group (41.2% in FL with elevated ALT, 34.7% in FL with normal ALT and 15.7% in control, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MS increased according to the severity of NAFLD [OR (95% CI), 1.29 (0.97−1.71) in FL with normal ALT and 1.54 (1.18−1.33) in FL with elevated ALT, p=0.01]. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that development of MS is significantly increased according to the clinical severity of NAFLD. These findings have implications in the clinical availability of NAFLD as a predictor of MS

High frequency plant regeneration from mature seedderived callus of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) cultivars

In the present study, we have developed a high-frequency plant regeneration system for Italian ryegrass via callus culture using mature seeds as explants. Optimal embryogenic callus induction was found to occur in MS medium containing 5 mg l-1 2,4-D, 0.5 mg l-1 BA, 500 mg l-1 L-proline, 1 g l-1 casein hydrolysate, 30 g l-1 sucrose, 7 mg l-1 AgNO3, 2 mg l-1 CuSO4 and solidified with 3 g l-1 Gelrite. The highest regeneration rate was obtained in MS medium containing 1 mg l-1 2,4-D, 5 mg l-1 BA, 500 mg l-1 L-proline, 1 g l-1 casein hydrolysate, 1 mg l-1 thiamine-HCl, 30 g l-1 sucrose, 7 mg l-1 AgNO3, 2 mg l-1 CuSO4 and solidified with 3 g l-1 Gelrite. By using the most effective treatment determined for each parameter, the highest rates of embryogenic callus formation (48.9%) and regeneration (47.6%) were obtained with the Hwasan 101 cultivar. The overall plant regeneration rates of the examined cultivars ranged from 7.5 to 23.2%. Thus, optimization of regeneration frequency using mature seeds as explant material may offer a simple and efficient protocol for Italian ryegrass that may improve molecular breeding of this species

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus species are tall perennial rhizomatous grasses with C4 photosynthesis originating from East Asia, and they are considered as important bioenergy crops for biomass production. In this study, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for M. sinensis was developed using embryogenic calli derived from mature seeds. In order to establish a stable system, optimum conditions to obtain highly regenerable and transformation-competent embryogenic calli were investigated, and embryogenic calli were efficiently induced with callus induction medium containing 3 mg L-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 25 mM l-proline, at pH 5.7 with an induction temperature of 28 A degrees C. In addition, the embryogenic callus induction and regeneration potentials were compared between seven M. sinensis germplasms collected from several sites in Korea, which revealed that the germplasm SNU-M-045 had superior embryogenic callus induction and regeneration potentials. With this germplasm, the genetic transformation of M. sinensis was performed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 carrying pCAMBIA1300 with a green fluorescence protein gene as a reporter. After putative transgenic plants were obtained, the genomic integration of transgenes was confirmed by genomic PCR, transgene expression was validated by Northern blot analysis, and the number of transgene integration was confirmed by DNA gel blot analysis. Furthermore, the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of M. sinensis was also performed with pCAMBIA3301 which contains an herbicide resistance gene (BAR), and we obtained transgenic M. sinensis plants whose herbicide resistance was confirmed by spraying with BASTA(A (R)). Therefore, we have established a stable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for M. sinensis, and also successfully produced herbicide-resistant Miscanthus plants by introducing BAR gene via the established method.X111210Ysciescopu

A retrospective analysis of second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Because treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients after failure with first-line chemotherapy remains controversial, we performed this retrospective analysis based on the data obtained from 1455 patients registered in a first-line treatment cohort with respect to receiving or not receiving subsequent chemotherapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The decision for administering second-line chemotherapy was, in most cases, at the discretion of the physician. Seven-hundred twenty-five (50%) received second-line chemotherapy after first-line failure. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the recognized baseline parameters for survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At the time of initiating second-line chemotherapy, the patients' median age was 56 years (range, 22 to 86) and 139 (19%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2 or more. Seven (1%) complete and 108 (15%) partial responses to second-line chemotherapy were observed for an overall response rate of 16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13 to 19%). The median progression-free and overall survivals, calculated from the start of second-line chemotherapy, were 2.9 months (95% CI, 2.6 to 3.3) and 6.7 months (95% CI, 5.8 to 7.5), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that low baseline hemoglobin level (hazard ratio [HR], 0.74; 95% CI 0.61–0.90) and a poor performance status (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.52–0.83) were independent negative prognostic factors for overall survival.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Performance status, along with baseline hemoglobin level, could be used to identify the subgroup of patients most likely to benefit from second-line chemotherapy for AGC.</p

Molecular and genetic characterization of OSH6 (Oryza sativa Homeobox 6) using dissociation (Ds) insertion mutant rice

Genetic studies of dissociation (Ds) insertion mutant rice plants indicated that ectopic expression of truncated OSH6 (Oryza sativa Homeobox 6) mRNA may be responsible for the mutant phenotype of knotted leaf formation at the peduncle. Additionally, ectopic expression of truncated OSH6 mRNA in the OSH6-Ds mutant plant led to alteration of other homeobox genes including OSH15 in leaf tissues. The OSH6-Ds mutant plant exhibited altered expression of more than 118 genes on a 22K rice microarray in comparison with wild type plants. Of these genes, 20 were up- or down-regulated in both OSH6-Ds and OSH6-overexpressing (OSH6-35S) plants. Especially, OsDof3 was not expressed in floral organs, but was present in the panicles of both OSH6-Ds and OSH6-35S plants. It is assumed that truncated OSH6 transcript might be actively involved in the gene expression during organ development. The genetic relationship between OSH6-Ds and OSH15 suggested that the formation of the extra leaf is independent of OSH6-Ds or OSH15 expression. These results suggest that truncated OSH6 mRNA influences lateral organ growth and development by regulating the expression of specific gene groups.Key words: Oryza sativa Homeobox 6 (OSH6) genes, Ds insertion lines, OSH15 mutant

Multiple roles of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C isozymes.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C is an effector molecule in the signal transduction process. It generates two second messengers, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Currently, thirteen mammal PLC isozymes have been identified, and they are divided into six groups: PLC-beta, -gamma, -delta, -epsilon, -zeta and -eta. Sequence analysis studies demonstrated that each isozyme has more than one alternative splicing variant. PLC isozymes contain the X and Y domains that are responsible for catalytic activity. Several other domains including the PH domain, the C2 domain and EF hand motifs are involved in various biological functions of PLC isozymes as signaling proteins. The distribution of PLC isozymes is tissue and organ specific. Recent studies on isolated cells and knockout mice depleted of PLC isozymes have revealed their distinct phenotypes. Given the specificity in distribution and cellular localization, it is clear that each PLC isozyme bears a unique function in the modulation of physiological responses. In this review, we discuss the structural organization, enzymatic properties and molecular diversity of PLC splicing variants and study functional and physiological roles of each isozyme

Lie symmetries and conservation laws of the Hirota-Ramani equation

In this paper, Lie symmetry method is performed for the Hirota-Ramani (H-R) equation. We will find The symmetry group and optimal systems of Lie subalgebras. Furthermore, preliminary classification of its group invariant solutions, symmetry reduction and nonclassical symmeries are investigated. Finally the conservation laws of the H-R equation are presented.Comment: 16 page