Polyp-DAM: Polyp segmentation via depth anything model

Recently, large models (Segment Anything model) came on the scene to provide a new baseline for polyp segmentation tasks. This demonstrates that large models with a sufficient image level prior can achieve promising performance on a given task. In this paper, we unfold a new perspective on polyp segmentation modeling by leveraging the Depth Anything Model (DAM) to provide depth prior to polyp segmentation models. Specifically, the input polyp image is first passed through a frozen DAM to generate a depth map. The depth map and the input polyp images are then concatenated and fed into a convolutional neural network with multiscale to generate segmented images. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, and in addition, we observe that our method still performs well on images of polyps with noise. The URL of our code is \url{https://github.com/zzr-idam/Polyp-DAM}

Host genetic background rather than diet-induced gut microbiota shifts of sympatric black-necked crane, common crane and bar-headed goose

IntroductionGut microbiota of wild birds are affected by many factors, and host genetic background and diet are considered to be two important factors affecting their structure and function.MethodsIn order to clarify how these two factors influence the gut microbiota, this study selected the sympatric and closely related and similar-sized Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) and Common Crane (Grus grus), as well as the distantly related and significantly different-sized Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus). The fecal samples identified using sanger sequencing as the above three bird species were subjected to high-throughput sequencing of rbcL gene and 16S rRNA gene to identify the feeding types phytophagous food and gut microbiota.ResultsThe results showed significant differences in food diversity between black-necked cranes and Common Cranes, but no significant differences in gut microbiota, Potatoes accounted for approximately 50% of their diets. Bar-headed Geese mainly feed on medicinal plants such as Angelica sinensis, Alternanthera philoxeroides, and Ranunculus repens. Black-necked cranes and Common Cranes, which have a high-starch diet, have a similar degree of enrichment in metabolism and synthesis functions, which is significantly different from Bar-headed Geese with a high-fiber diet. The differences in metabolic pathways among the three bird species are driven by food. The feeding of medicinal plants promotes the health of Bar-headed Geese, indicating that food influences the functional pathways of gut microbiota. Spearman analysis showed that there were few gut microbiota related to food, but almost all metabolic pathways were related to food.ConclusionThe host genetic background is the dominant factor determining the composition of the microbiota. Monitoring the changes in gut microbiota and feeding types of wild birds through bird feces is of great reference value for the conservation of other endangered species

Tempol relieves lung injury in a rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia via suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress

Objective(s): Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is confirmed to cause lesions in multiple organs, especially in the lung tissue. Tempol is an antioxidant that has been reported to restrain inflammation and oxidative stress, with its role in OSA-induced lung injury being unclear. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of tempol on chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH)-induced lung injury.Materials and Methods: A rat model of OSA was established by IH. There were four groups: normal air (NA), IH, IH+tempol, NA+tempol. Inflammatory response was evaluated by TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. Oxidative stress was detected by MDA and GSH levels, and SOD activity. The protein levels were assessed by Western blot. DNA binding activity of NF-κB or Nrf2 was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Results: According to the results, tempol administration alleviated pathological changes of the lung tissue, decreased leukocyte count and protein content (

Discovery of a Unique Structural Motif in Lanthipeptide Synthetases for Substrate Binding and Interdomain Interactions

Class III lanthipeptide synthetases catalyze the formation of lanthionine/methyllanthionine and labionin crosslinks. We present here the 2.40 Å resolution structure of the kinase domain of a class III lanthipeptide synthetase CurKC from the biosynthesis of curvopeptin. A unique structural subunit for leader binding, named leader recognition domain (LRD), was identified. The LRD of CurKC is responsible for the recognition of the leader peptide and for mediating interactions between the lyase and kinase domains. LRDs are highly conserved among the kinase domains of class III and class IV lanthipeptide synthetases. The discovery of LRDs provides insight into the substrate recognition and domain organization in multidomain lanthipeptide synthetases

Occurrence and Charactrisation of Superoxide Dismutases in the Female Reproductive Structures of Petunia

Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity in cell-free extracts prepared from healthy mature flowers of Petunia hybrida (variety 'Hurrah') was studied. The SOD activity in the crude extracts was stable for more than one month when stored at -20 oC. It was found that pH 7.8 is optimal for SOD activity. Different flower tissues of petunia (stigma, style and ovary) at various stages of development were extracted and analysed for SOD activity. SOD activity was found to be significantly highest in the ovary tissue of dehiscent petunia flowers. Three SOD isozymes were detected after crude extracts of the different female reproductive tissues of petunia flowers were analysed on a non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system. Based on a difference in the sensitivity of the SOD isoforms to H2O2 and KCN, it is suggested that Mn-SOD, Fe-SOD and Cu/Zn-SOD were present in the crude extracts of the female reproductive tissues of petunia flowers. The response of the female reproductive parts of petunia flowers was also tested under water deficiency and high temperature (35 oC) stress. The SOD activity seemed to increase more in response to the high temperature than the water deficiency stress. Intense blue staining was observed from developing younger buds, and much lower formazan deposition was detected at the later stage. This indicates the lower O2- produced during later stages mainly due to increasing SOD synthesis. DEAE cellulose chromatography was successfully used to partially purify SOD from the ovaries of petunia flowers. The characteristics of the partially purified enzyme fraction were found to be very similar to those of the crude extracts

The complete mitochondrial genome of Plautia crossota (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

In this study, we elucidated the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Plautia crossota. The circular mitogenome is 16,809 bp long, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a non-coding control region. The overall base composition is as follows: A, 41.6%; T, 32.75%; C, 14.84%; G, 10.81%; a slight A + T bias of 74.35%. Phylogenetic analysis of 20 species of Pentatomoidea revealed that Plautia crossota was closer to Nezara viridula

Mitochondrial genome analysis, phylogeny and divergence time evaluation of Strix aluco (Aves, Strigiformes, Strigidae)

BackgroundPrior research has shown that the European peninsulas were the main sources of Strix aluco colonisation of Northern Europe during the late glacial period. However, the phylogenetic relationship and the divergence time between S. aluco from Leigong Mountain Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China and the Strigiformes from overseas remains unclear. The mitochondrial genome structure of birds is a covalent double-chain loop structure that is highly conserved and, thus, suitable for phylogenetic analysis. This study examined the phylogenetic relationship and divergence time of Strix using the whole mitochondrial genome of S. aluco.New informationIn this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Strix aluco, with a total length of 18,632 bp, is reported for the first time. A total of 37 genes were found, including 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes and two non-coding control regions. Certain species of Tytoninae were used as out-group and PhyloSuite software was applied to build the ML-tree and BI-tree of Strigiformes. Finally, the divergence time tree was constructed using BEAST 2.6.7 software and the age of Miosurnia diurna fossil-bearing sediments (6.0–9.5 Ma) was set as internal correction point. The common ancestor of Strix was confirmed to have diverged during the Pleistocene (2.58–0.01 Ma). The combined action of the dramatic uplift of the Qinling Mountains in the Middle Pleistocene and the climate oscillation of the Pleistocene caused Strix divergence between the northern and southern parts of mainland China. The isolation of glacial-interglacial rotation and glacier refuge was the main reason for the divergence of Strix uralensis and S. aluco from their common ancestor during this period. This study provides a reference for the evolutionary history of S. aluco

The complete mitochondrial genome of Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zorzini (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae)

In this study, we elucidated the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zorzini (accession number MW322826). The circular mitogenome is 15,369-bp-long, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a non-coding control region. The overall base composition is as follows: A, 42.16%; T, 31.75%; C, 15.97%; G, and 10.12%; a slight A + T bias of 73.91%. Phylogenetic analysis of some species of Ensifera revealed that Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zorzini was closer to Tachycines (Tachycines) minor, Tachycines, and Diestrammena are monophyletic

Analysis of winter survival strategies of sympatric black-necked cranes, and common cranes from the perspective of diet and gut microbiota

Wintering migratory birds have to travel thousands of kilometers between their breeding and wintering grounds because of their distinct habits. They experience complex and changing survival pressures throughout the winter. This study is the first to investigate the overwintering strategies of sympatric foraging black-necked cranes and common cranes from the perspectives of food and gut microbiota. Non-invasive sampling technique was used to collect stool samples. Sanger sequencing was used to determine the origin of the crane species identified from the samples. The analysis of plant-based food, the gut microbiota, and their interactions in the faeces was performed using high-throughput sequencing technology. It was found that in environments with limited aquatic vegetation, both the black-necked crane and the common crane increased their consumption of potatoes, accounting for more than 50% of their diets. Black-necked cranes also competed with common cranes for food, and they quickly adapted to changes in diet by horizontally transmitting their gut microbiota. To meet body needs, the common cranes—which could not compete with the black-necked cranes—constantly searched for new food sources. They increase the metabolism of amino acids, lipids and these metabolites to adapt to the competitive pressures and dietary changes. This study advances our knowledge of how diet and gut microbiota interact in plateau wetland birds, examining the competitive tactics of interwintering black-necked and common cranes', and provides recommendations for the re-vegetation in the Caohai wetlands and artificial feeding of the two crane species