MLP-AIR: An Efficient MLP-Based Method for Actor Interaction Relation Learning in Group Activity Recognition

The task of Group Activity Recognition (GAR) aims to predict the activity category of the group by learning the actor spatial-temporal interaction relation in the group. Therefore, an effective actor relation learning method is crucial for the GAR task. The previous works mainly learn the interaction relation by the well-designed GCNs or Transformers. For example, to infer the actor interaction relation, GCNs need a learnable adjacency, and Transformers need to calculate the self-attention. Although the above methods can model the interaction relation effectively, they also increase the complexity of the model (the number of parameters and computations). In this paper, we design a novel MLP-based method for Actor Interaction Relation learning (MLP-AIR) in GAR. Compared with GCNs and Transformers, our method has a competitive but conceptually and technically simple alternative, significantly reducing the complexity. Specifically, MLP-AIR includes three sub-modules: MLP-based Spatial relation modeling module (MLP-S), MLP-based Temporal relation modeling module (MLP-T), and MLP-based Relation refining module (MLP-R). MLP-S is used to model the spatial relation between different actors in each frame. MLP-T is used to model the temporal relation between different frames for each actor. MLP-R is used further to refine the relation between different dimensions of relation features to improve the feature's expression ability. To evaluate the MLP-AIR, we conduct extensive experiments on two widely used benchmarks, including the Volleyball and Collective Activity datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that MLP-AIR can get competitive results but with low complexity.Comment: Submit to Neurocomputin

An Improved D-α-Tocopherol-Based Nanocarrier for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin with Reversal of Multidrug Resistance

Nanocarriers have recently emerged as an attractive platform for delivery of various types of therapeutics including anticancer agents. Previously, we developed an improved TPGS delivery system (PEG5K-VE2) which demonstrated improved colloidal stability and greater in vivo antitumor activity. Nevertheless, the application of this system is still limited by a relatively low drug loading capacity (DLC). In this study we report that incorporation of a fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) motif at the interfacial region of PEG5K-VE2 led to significant improvement of the system through the introduction of an additional mechanism of drug/carrier interaction. Doxorubicin (DOX) could be effectively loaded into PEG5K-Fmoc-VE2 micelles at a DLC of 39.9%, which compares favorably to most reported DOX nanoformulations. In addition, PEG5K-Fmoc-VE2/DOX mixed micelles showed more sustained release of DOX in comparison to the counterpart without Fmoc motif. MTT assay showed that PEG5K-Fmoc-VE2/DOX exerted significantly higher levels of cytotoxicity over DOX, Doxil as well as PEG5K-VE2/DOX in PC-3 and 4T1.2 cells. Cytotoxicity assay with NCI/ADR-RES, a drug resistant cell line, suggested that PEG5K-Fmoc-VE2 may have a potential to reverse the multidrug resistance, which was supported by its inhibition on P-gp ATPase. Pharmacokinetics (PK) and biodistribution studies showed an increased half-life in blood circulation and more effective tumor accumulation for DOX formulated in PEG5K-Fmoc-VE2 micelles. More importantly, DOX-loaded PEG5K-Fmoc-VE2 micelles showed an excellent safety profile with a MTD (~30 mg DOX/kg) that is about 3 times as much as that for free DOX. Finally, superior antitumor activity was demonstrated for PEG5K-Fmoc-VE2/DOX in both drug-sensitive (4T1.2 and PC-3) and drug-resistant (KB 8-5) tumor models compared to DOX, Doxil, and PEG5K-VE2/DOX

A PEG-Fmoc conjugate as a nanocarrier for paclitaxel

We report here that a simple, well-defined, and easy-to-scale up nanocarrier, PEG5000-lysyl-(α-Fmoc-ε-t-Boc-lysine)2 conjugate (PEG-Fmoc), provides high loading capacity, excellent formulation stability and low systemic toxicity for paclitaxel (PTX), a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for various types of cancers. 9-Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) was incorporated into the nanocarrier as a functional building block to interact with drug molecules. PEG-Fmoc was synthesized via a three-step synthetic route, and it readily interacted with PTX to form mixed nanomicelles of small particle size (25–30 nm). The PTX loading capacity was about 36%, which stands well among the reported micellar systems. PTX entrapment in this micellar system is achieved largely via an Fmoc/PTX π-π stacking interaction, which was demonstrated by fluorescence quenching studies and 13C-NMR. PTX formulated in PEG-Fmoc micelles demonstrated sustained release kinetics, and in vivo distribution study via near infrared fluorescence imaging demonstrated an effective delivery of Cy5.5-labled PTX to tumor sites. The maximal tolerated dose for PTX/PEG-Fmoc (MTD > 120 mg PTX/kg) is higher than those for most reported PTX formulations, and in vivo therapeutic study exhibited a significantly improved antitumor activity than Taxol, a clinically used formulation of PTX. Our system may hold promise as a simple, safe, and effective delivery system for PTX with a potential for rapid translation into clinical study

Contribution of Stems and Leaves to the Quality of Keemun Black Tea

In order to understand the contribution of stems and leaves to the quality of Keemun black tea, this study analyzed the differences in aroma, taste quality and metabolites among black tea manufactured from tender leaves, tender stems, single buds and intact buds with leaves (mainly one bud with two leaves) from the tea variety ‘Fuzao 2’ by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), sensory evaluation, and preference evaluation. The results showed that all four black teas were sweet aroma type, and the bud-leaf tea had a strong sweet aroma. The single-bud tea had a fresh and brisk taste. The tender-stem tea scored highest in preference evaluation. Metabolite analysis showed the content of catechins was the highest in the single-bud black tea and the lowest in the tender-stem black tea, while free amino acids were significantly enriched in the tender-stem black tea, reaching up to 80 mg/g. The contents of quercetin and rutin were higher in the stem black tea, while the contents of kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside were the highest in the leaf black tea. The ratio of thearubigins to theaflavins was 11.6, 9.4, 14.6, and 8.2 in black tea made from intact buds with leaves, buds, leaves, and tender stems, respectively. The total amount of volatile compounds in the tender-stem black tea (32.37 μg/g) was significantly lower than that in the bud (100.01 μg/g), leaf (95.67 μg/g), and bud-leaf black tea (92.42 μg/g). The contents of benzaldehyde, benzeneacetaldehyde and indole were higher in the tender stem black tea, while the contents of β-ionone, α-ionone and linalool oxide in the leaf black tea were higher than those in the other three black teas. This study shows that high contents of theanine in tender stems and glycoside aroma precursors in tea leaves contribute primarily to the formation of the quality of Keemun black tea

Pre-matching study of the natural gas engine turbocharging system based on the coupling of experiments and numerical simulation

In this study, a pre-matching method was developed based on measured performance parameters and theoretical calculations of turbochargers. First, the turbocharger of a natural gas engine was subjected to a comprehensive performance experiment. According to the experimental results, the maximum efficiencies of the turbine and compressor are 70% and 75%, respectively, and the efficiency of the turbine drops sharply from 70% to 56.6% as the pressure ratio increases from 1.25 to 2.4. In this thesis, a specific turbocharger pre-matching software has been developed in conjunction with a database. Three turbines and three compressors were selected from the self-developed database for matching and comparative study using this method. The simulation results showed that the maximum efficiency of turbine #1, #2 and #3 is 71.3%, 72.2% and 72.7%, respectively, and the efficiency of these three turbines is concentrated between 65% and 72.5%. Obviously, the maximum efficiency of the turbine has increased by 1.3–2.7% and the overall efficiency has improved after the pre-matching. Therefore, this developed pre-matching method can reduce time cost, improve work efficiency and engine performance, and is important for the design and development of turbochargers

Effects of Astragalus Polysaccharides on Associated Immune Cells and Cytokines in Immunosuppressive Dogs

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of Astragalus Polysaccharide (APS) on associated Immunity Cells and Cytokines in the immunosuppressive dogs and its dose-effect correlation. One hundred two-month-old male Chinese Countryside Dogs were randomly assigned to five groups: Control group (CG), immunosuppressive group (IG), APS low dose group (50mg/kg, LDG), APS median dose group (100mg/kg, MDG), and APS high dose group (200mg/kg, HDG), each group with twenty animals. After successfully established the dexamethasone-induced immunosuppressive models, with intravenous administer the CG and IG groups were daily dosed with saline, and the other three groups were daily dosed with APS for 7 days. On day 4 and 11 venous blood samples were collected and analyzed to determine the percentages of peripheral blood ANAE+ T lymphocytes, CD4+, CD8+ cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio; the phagocytic index and percentage of the peritoneal macrophages; and the contents of INF-γ and IL-2. After 7 days administration, the measured parameters as described above in three treated groups increased significantly (P<0.05). Our findings show that the dosage of 200mg/kg APS can significantly enhance the cellular immune level of the immunosuppressive dogs. This study has provided evidence and basis for Astragalus polysaccharides development as companion animal health products as well as for its clinical application

The prebiotic effects of oats on blood lipids, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects compared with rice: a randomized, controlled trial

20openInternationalInternational coauthor/editorPhytochemicals derived from oats are reported to possess a beneficial effect on modulating dyslipidemia, specifically on lowering total and LDL cholesterol. However, deeper insights into its mechanism remain unclear. In this randomized controlled study, we assigned 210 mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects from three study centers across China (Beijing, Nanjing, and Shanghai) to consume 80 g of oats or rice daily for 45 days. Plasma lipid profiles, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and fecal microbiota were measured. The results showed that total cholesterol (TC) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) decreased significantly with both oats and rice intake after 30 and 45 days. The reduction in TC and non-HDL-C was greater in the participants consuming oats compared with rice at day 45 (p = 0.011 and 0.049, respectively). Oat consumption significantly increased the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Roseburia, and the relative abundance of Dialister, Butyrivibrio, and Paraprevotella, and decreased unclassified f-Sutterellaceae. In the oat group, Bifidobacterium abundance was negatively correlated with LDL-C (p = 0.01, r = −0.31) and, TC and LDL-C were negatively correlated to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (p = 0.02, r = −0.29; p = 0.03, r = −0.27, respectively). Enterobacteriaceae, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were positively correlated with plasma butyric acid and valeric acid concentrations and negatively correlated to isobutyric acid. HDL-C was negatively correlated with valeric acid (p = 0.02, r = −0.25) and total triglyceride (TG) was positively correlated to isovaleric acid (p = 0.03, r = 0.23). Taken together, oats consumption significantly reduced TC and LDL-C, and also mediated a prebiotic effect on gut microbiome. Akkermansia muciniphila, Roseburia, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and plasma SCFA correlated with oat-induced changes in plasma lipids, suggesting prebiotic activity of oats to modulate gut microbiome could contribute towards its cholesterol-lowering effect.openXu, Dengfeng; Feng, Meiyuan; Chu, YiFang; Wang, Shaokang; Shete, Varsha; Tuohy, Kieran M; Liu, Feng; Zhou, Xirui; Kamil, Alison; Pan, Da; Liu, Hechun; Yang, Xian; Yang, Chao; Zhu, Baoli; Lv, Na; Xiong, Qian; Wang, Xin; Sun, Jianqin; Sun, Guiju; Yang, YuexinXu, D.; Feng, M.; Chu, Y.; Wang, S.; Shete, V.; Tuohy, K.M.; Liu, F.; Zhou, X.; Kamil, A.; Pan, D.; Liu, H.; Yang, X.; Yang, C.; Zhu, B.; Lv, N.; Xiong, Q.; Wang, X.; Sun, J.; Sun, G.; Yang, Y