Graph Regularized Tensor Sparse Coding for Image Representation

Sparse coding (SC) is an unsupervised learning scheme that has received an increasing amount of interests in recent years. However, conventional SC vectorizes the input images, which destructs the intrinsic spatial structures of the images. In this paper, we propose a novel graph regularized tensor sparse coding (GTSC) for image representation. GTSC preserves the local proximity of elementary structures in the image by adopting the newly proposed tubal-tensor representation. Simultaneously, it considers the intrinsic geometric properties by imposing graph regularization that has been successfully applied to uncover the geometric distribution for the image data. Moreover, the returned sparse representations by GTSC have better physical explanations as the key operation (i.e., circular convolution) in the tubal-tensor model preserves the shifting invariance property. Experimental results on image clustering demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme

AT2R (Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor)-Mediated Regulation of NCC (Na-Cl Cotransporter) and Renal K Excretion Depends on the K Channel, Kir4.1

AT2R (AngII [angiotensin II] type 2 receptor) is expressed in the distal nephrons. The aim of the present study is to examine whether AT2R regulates NCC (Na-Cl cotransporter) and Kir4.1 of the distal convoluted tubule. AngII inhibited the basolateral 40 pS K channel (a Kir4.1/5.1 heterotetramer) in the distal convoluted tubule treated with losartan but not with PD123319. AT2R agonist also inhibits the K channel, indicating that AT2R was involved in tonic regulation of Kir4.1. The infusion of PD123319 stimulated the expression of tNCC (total NCC) and pNCC (phosphorylated NCC; Thr(53)) by a time-dependent way with the peak at 4 days. PD123319 treatment (4 days) stimulated the basolateral 40 pS K channel activity, augmented the basolateral K conductance, and increased the negativity of distal convoluted tubule membrane. The stimulation of Kir4.1 was essential for PD123319-induced increase in NCC because inhibiting AT2R increased the expression of tNCC and pNCC only in wild-type but not in the kidney-specific Kir4.1 knockout mice. Renal clearance study showed that thiazide-induced natriuretic effect was larger in PD123319-treated mice for 4 days than untreated mice. However, this effect was absent in kidney-specific Kir4.1 knockout mice which were also Na wasting under basal conditions. Finally, application of AT2R antagonist decreased the renal ability of K excretion and caused hyperkalemia in wild-type but not in kidney-specific Kir4.1 knockout mice. We conclude that AT2R-dependent regulation of NCC requires Kir4.1 in the distal convoluted tubule and that AT2R plays a role in stimulating K excretion by inhibiting Kir4.1 and NCC

Fiber Surface/Interfacial Engineering on Wearable Electronics.

Funder: Henry Royce Institute for Advanced MaterialsSurface/interfacial engineering is an essential technique to explore the fiber materials properties and fulfil new functionalities. An extensive scope of current physical and chemical treating methods is reviewed here together with a variety of real-world applications. Moreover, a new surface/interface engineering approach is also introduced: self-assembly via π-π stacking, which has great potential for the surface modification of fiber materials due to its nondestructive working principle. A new fiber family member, metal-oxide framework (MOF) fiber shows promising candidacy for fiber based wearable electronics. The understanding of surface/interfacial engineering techniques on fiber materials is advanced here and it is expected to guide the rational design of future fiber based wearable electronics

Fiber Surface/Interfacial Engineering on Wearable Electronics

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2021-05-18, rev-recd 2021-06-29, pub-electronic 2021-08-21Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedFunder: Henry Royce Institute for Advanced MaterialsFunder: EPSRC; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000266; Grant(s): EP/R00661X/1, EP/P025021/1, EP/P025498/1Funder: Short Research Visits UK Fluids Network; Grant(s): EP/N032861/1Abstract: Surface/interfacial engineering is an essential technique to explore the fiber materials properties and fulfil new functionalities. An extensive scope of current physical and chemical treating methods is reviewed here together with a variety of real‐world applications. Moreover, a new surface/interface engineering approach is also introduced: self‐assembly via π–π stacking, which has great potential for the surface modification of fiber materials due to its nondestructive working principle. A new fiber family member, metal‐oxide framework (MOF) fiber shows promising candidacy for fiber based wearable electronics. The understanding of surface/interfacial engineering techniques on fiber materials is advanced here and it is expected to guide the rational design of future fiber based wearable electronics

PO-284 Aerobic Exercise Preconditioning Prevents Behavioral Deficits in an Ovariectomized Rat Model of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs in people who suffers reparative shocking, scary, or dangerous event. Evidences demonstrate that PTSD is associated with cognitive decline and depression. In the general population, women tend to show higher incidence of PTSD compared with men. Using the the ovariectomized rat model, the present work was designed to investigate the potential beneficial effect of aerobic exercise on the prevention of PTSD. Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into the following four groups (n = 8-10 in each group): 1) naïve control group; 2) ovariectomized group (OVX), 3) OVX with PTSD group (OVX + PTSD), 4) OVX + exercise group (OVX + Exe), and 5) OVX + PTSD + exercise (OVX + PTSD + Exe). For exercise pretreatment groups, the rats were subjected to 30 min of treadmill exercise (30 min/day, 5 days / week) for continuous 4 weeks. Open field test and elevated plus maze were used to measure behavioral changes from day 59 to day 66. Hippocampal levels of 17β-estradiol (E2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level were measured. Results 1. Results of open field and elevated plus maze test revealed that OVX animals exposed to PTSD showed obvious anxiety-like behavior compared to OVX animals without exercise. Intriguingly, anxiety-like behavior in OVX + PTSD group was significantly improved by aerobic exercise pretreatment in ovariectomized animals after PTSD. 2. Hippocampal levels of E2 and BDNF levels in the OVX + Exe group were significantly increased after aerobic exercise compared to these from OVX without exercise group. Conclusions These findings demonstrated that aerobic exercise preconditioning can efficiently prevent anxiety-like behavior in the ovariectomized rats subjected to PTSD, a mechanism could be associate with the increased levels of E2 and BDNF induced by exercise treatment

Ti-substituted tunnel-type Na0.44MnO2 oxide as a negative electrode for aqueous sodium-ion batteries

The aqueous sodium-ion battery system is a safe and low-cost solution for large-scale energy storage, because of the abundance of sodium and inexpensive aqueous electrolytes. Although several positive electrode materials, for example, Na0.44MnO2, were proposed, few negative electrode materials, for example, activated carbon and NaTi2(PO4)(3), are available. Here we show that Ti-substituted Na0.44MnO2 (Na-0.44[Mn1-xTix] O-2) with tunnel structure can be used as a negative electrode material for aqueous sodium-ion batteries. This material exhibits superior cyclability even without the special treatment of oxygen removal from the aqueous solution. Atomic-scale characterizations based on spherical aberration-corrected electron microscopy and ab initio calculations are utilized to accurately identify the Ti substitution sites and sodium storage mechanism. Ti substitution tunes the charge ordering property and reaction pathway, significantly smoothing the discharge/ charge profiles and lowering the storage voltage. Both the fundamental understanding and practical demonstrations suggest that Na-0.44[Mn1-xTix]O-2 is a promising negative electrode material for aqueous sodium-ion batteries.

A Missense Mutation in PPARD Causes a Major QTL Effect on Ear Size in Pigs

Chinese Erhualian is the most prolific pig breed in the world. The breed exhibits exceptionally large and floppy ears. To identify genes underlying this typical feature, we previously performed a genome scan in a large scale White Duroc × Erhualian cross and mapped a major QTL for ear size to a 2-cM region on chromosome 7. We herein performed an identical-by-descent analysis that defined the QTL within a 750-kb region. Historically, the large-ear feature has been selected for the ancient sacrificial culture in Erhualian pigs. By using a selective sweep analysis, we then refined the critical region to a 630-kb interval containing 9 annotated genes. Four of the 9 genes are expressed in ear tissues of piglets. Of the 4 genes, PPARD stood out as the strongest candidate gene for its established role in skin homeostasis, cartilage development, and fat metabolism. No differential expression of PPARD was found in ear tissues at different growth stages between large-eared Erhualian and small-eared Duroc pigs. We further screened coding sequence variants in the PPARD gene and identified only one missense mutation (G32E) in a conserved functionally important domain. The protein-altering mutation showed perfect concordance (100%) with the QTL genotypes of all 19 founder animals segregating in the White Duroc × Erhualian cross and occurred at high frequencies exclusively in Chinese large-eared breeds. Moreover, the mutation is of functional significance; it mediates down-regulation of β-catenin and its target gene expression that is crucial for fat deposition in skin. Furthermore, the mutation was significantly associated with ear size across the experimental cross and diverse outbred populations. A worldwide survey of haplotype diversity revealed that the mutation event is of Chinese origin, likely after domestication. Taken together, we provide evidence that PPARD G32E is the variation underlying this major QTL

Application of Nonlinear Adaptive Control in Temperature of Chinese Solar Greenhouses

The system of a greenhouse is required to ensure a suitable environment for crops growth. In China, the Chinese solar greenhouse plays a crucial role in maintaining a proper microclimate environment. However, the greenhouse system is described with complex dynamic characteristics, such as multi-disturbance, parameter uncertainty, and strong nonlinearity. It is difficult for the conventional control method to deal with the above problems. To address these problems, a dynamic model of Chinese solar greenhouses was developed based on energy conservation laws, and a nonlinear adaptive control strategy combined with a Radial Basis Function neural network was presented to deal with temperature control. In this approach, nonlinear adaptive controller parameters were determined through the generalized minimum variance laws, while unmodeled dynamics were estimated by a Radial Basis Function neural network. The control strategy consisted of a linear adaptive controller, a neural network nonlinear adaptive controller, and a switching mechanism. The research results show that the mean errors were 0.8460 and 0.2967, corresponding to a conventional PID method and the presented nonlinear adaptive scheme, respectively. The standard errors of the conventional PID method and the nonlinear adaptive control strategy were 1.8480 and 1.3342, respectively. The experimental results fully prove that the presented control scheme achieves better control performance, which meets the actual requirements