Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Constant elasticity of substitution function based RANSAC for image stitching

Feature matching is very important in image stitching. RANSAC algorithm is a representative algorithm for feature matching. However, RANSAC still has many shortcomings such as a large number of iterations, a large computational complexity and cannot completely eliminate mismatches. To address above problem, in this paper, we propose a novel method termed constant elasticity of substitution function based RANSAC (CES-RANSAC) for image stitching. Specifically, CES-RANSAC improves the RANSAC algorithm by constructing a utility function, optimizing the boundary of the utility function, calculating Cobb-Douglas coefficients. It also introduces Lindahl equilibrium to derive the return value t to help eliminate mismatches. Experiments show that compared with the traditional RANSAC algorithm, CES-RANSAC has improved matching accuracy and increased computational efficiency, which further improves the efficiency of the image matching algorithm

A Global Structure and Adaptive Weight Aware ICP Algorithm for Image Registration

As an important technology in 3D vision, point-cloud registration has broad development prospects in the fields of space-based remote sensing, photogrammetry, robotics, and so on. Of the available algorithms, the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm has been used as the classic algorithm for solving point cloud registration. However, with the point cloud data being under the influence of noise, outliers, overlapping values, and other issues, the performance of the ICP algorithm will be affected to varying degrees. This paper proposes a global structure and adaptive weight aware ICP algorithm (GSAW-ICP) for image registration. Specifically, we first proposed a global structure mathematical model based on the reconstruction of local surfaces using both the rotation of normal vectors and the change in curvature, so as to better describe the deformation of the object. The model was optimized for the convergence strategy, so that it had a wider convergence domain and a better convergence effect than either of the original point-to-point or point-to-point constrained models. Secondly, for outliers and overlapping values, the GSAW-ICP algorithm was able to assign appropriate weights, so as to optimize both the noise and outlier interference of the overall system. Our proposed algorithm was extensively tested on noisy, anomalous, and real datasets, and the proposed method was proven to have a better performance than other state-of-the-art algorithms

Electrospinning Mechanism of Nanofiber Yarn and Its Multiscale Wrapping Yarn

To analyze the feasibility of electrospinning nanofiber yarn using a wrapping yarn forming device, electrospun nanofiber-wrapped yarns and multiscale yarns were prepared by self-made equipment. The relationship between the surface morphology and properties of yarn and its preparation process was studied. The process parameters were adjusted, and it was found that some nanofibers formed Z-twisted yarns, while others showed exposed cores. To analyze the forming mechanism of electrospun nanofiber-wrapped yarn, the concept of winding displacement difference in the twisted yarn core A was introduced. The formation of nanofiber-wrapped structural yarns was discussed using three values of A. The starting point of each twist was the same position when A = 0 with a constant corner angle β. However, the oriented nanofiber broke or was pulled out from the gripping point when it was twisted, and it appeared disordered. The forming process of electrospun nanofiber-wrapped yarn displayed some unique phenomena, including the emission of directional nanofibers during collection, fiber non-continuity, and twist angle non-uniformity. The conclusions of this research have theoretical and practical value to guide the industrial preparation of nanofiber yarns and their wrapped yarns

Research on the Heating of Woven Carbon Fiber Fabrics Using Thin-Film Solar Cells

This study attempted to fabricate heating fabrics using thin-film solar cells. A lightweight and flexible thin-film solar cell was used as the power supply, and fabric samples made of carbon fiber heating lines were used as heating elements. Single-factor experiments of three factors (solar cell voltage, heating time, and carbon fiber heating line arrangement) were conducted, and their influence on the heating effect was analysed. Orthogonal experiments and variance tests were used to determine the influence of the three factors and the optimal heating process. All influential factors were shown to be statistically significant. This kind of heating fabric can be used in warm clothing or for heated clothing

Efficacy and safety of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of patients with COVID-19

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has catastrophically threatened public health worldwide and presented great challenges for clinicians. To date, no specific drugs are available against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) appear to be a promising cell therapy owing to their potent modulatory effects on reducing and healing inflammation-induced lung and other tissue injuries. The present pilot study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential and safety of MSCs isolated from healthy cord tissues in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Twelve patients with COVID-19 treated with MSCs plus conventional therapy and 13 treated with conventional therapy alone (control) were included. The efficacy of MSC infusion was evaluated by changes in oxygenation index, clinical chemistry and hematology tests, immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, and pulmonary computerized tomography (CT) imaging. The safety of MSC infusion was evaluated based on the occurrence of allergic reactions and serious adverse events. RESULTS: The MSC-treated group demonstrated significantly improved oxygenation index. The area of pulmonary inflammation decreased significantly, and the CT number in the inflammatory area tended to be restored. Decreased IgM levels were also observed after MSC therapy. Laboratory biomarker levels at baseline and after therapy showed no significant changes in either the MSC-treated or control group. CONCLUSION: Intravenous infusion of MSCs in patients with COVID-19 was effective and well tolerated. Further studies involving a large cohort or randomized controlled trials are warranted