Real-Time Traffic Light Recognition Based on C-HOG Features

This paper proposes a real-time traffic light detection and recognition algorithm that would allow for the recognition of traffic signals in intelligent vehicles. This algorithm is based on C-HOG features (Color and HOG features) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The algorithm extracted red and green areas in the video accurately, and then screened the eligible area. Thereafter, the C-HOG features of all kinds of lights could be extracted. Finally, this work used SVM to build a classifier of corresponding category lights. This algorithm obtained accurate real-time information based on the judgment of the decision function. Furthermore, experimental results show that this algorithm demonstrated accuracy and good real-time performance

New Approaches to Selecting Resistance or Tolerance to SDS and Fusarium Root Rot

Fusarial rots are a significant problem worldwide affecting roots (and sometimes fruits) of most major crops including soybean, maize and wheat. Cultivar variation in partial resistance or tolerance is widespread and significant. Different cultivars of the soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] have both resistance/tolerance to the leaf scorch known as Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and to the infection and root rot by the causal organism, Fusarium virguliforme (ex. F. solani f. sp glycines) hence the syndrome is composed of two diseases (1-3). Thirteen loci have been identified from analysis of 7 different crosses (2). Using new strains and new methods resistance loci in ‘Hartwig’ and ‘Forrest’, resistant cultivars clearly showed two loci underlie root resistance (lower LG G and D2) and four to eleven loci underlie leaf scorch resistance, depending on the cross made(eg, C2, F, I and upper G in ExF). Transcript abundance analysis of roots in response to F. virguliforme shows an orthologous set of transcripts accumulate during infection of resistant soybean cultivars and Arabidopsis thaliana that include the pathways leading to phenylpropanoid metabolism and its control, guanyl cylase a common second messenger and several transcription factors. Guanyl cyclase is also implicated in resistance in maize. In root disease resistance the genes implicated were known to be stress related. Therefore, A. thaliana is partially resistant and can be used to test both transgenes and mutants in candidate genes. Trangenics show fine maps to BACs have isolated some genes. For example, by fine mapping in NILs candidate genes underlying the controlling loci programming root resistance was a multi-stress resistance protein (lower G; Rfs1). For leaf scorch (Rfs4) an ascorbate peroxidase (C2) has been targeted. Also, Rfs2, a receptor like kinase (G) has been used to generate stable transgenic soybeans. Identification of the genes and loci conferring SDS resistance has provided options to breed improved cultivars with resistance to SDS

A High-Resolution Melting Approach for Analyzing Allelic Expression Dynamics

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are single base pair mutations that provide new approaches to studies of allele transcript abundances. High-resolution DNA melting curve (HRM) analysis using a LightScanner (Hi-Res Melting system with Idaho\u27s LC Green) provides post-PCR detection of mutations and SNPs in genomic DNA. This study investigated whether the HRM analysis can distinguish alleles among potato (Solanum tuberosum) transcript abundances. Transcript properties of genes encoding seven carbohydrate metabolism enzymes/proteins in various tissues and cold storage durations were studied. The HRM assay measured differential expression of alleles between different organs, between different storage treatments and stages of tubers from the same variety, and between different varieties with the same treatment. The RT-PCR amplicons were directly sequenced to assist the interpretation of HRM data. The cDNA HRM curves correlated well with the nucleotide polymorphisms of the cDNA sequences and the transcript abundance of alleles and therefore can serve as functional allele activity (FAA) markers. By combining the allelic specificity of HRM with simple PCR design, this technology can be applied to rapidly determine the most active allele of a gene among the cells analyzed

A Computational Approach to Understand \u3cem\u3eArabidopsis thaliana\u3c/em\u3e and Soybean Resistance to \u3cem\u3eFusarium solani\u3c/em\u3e (Fsg)

In this study, we reported the analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana microarray gene expression profile of root tissues after the plant was challenged with fungal pathogen Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines (Fsg). Our microarray analysis showed that the infection caused 130 transcript abundances (TAs) to increase by more than 2 fold and 32 out of 130 TAs were increased by more than 3 fold in the root tissues. However, only nineteen ESTs were observed with a decrease in TAs by more than 2 fold and 13 of them went down more than 3 fold due to the pathogen infection. In addition, the number of the up-regulated genes was nearly seven times more than that of downregulated genes. The coordinate regulation of adjacent genes was detected and the distance distribution of the nearest neighbor genes was less likely to be randomly scattered in genome. The results of this study enabled us to decipher the resistance mechanism to Fsg through an integrated computational approach

In silico comparison of transcript abundances during Arabidopsis thaliana and Glycine max resistance to Fusarium virguliforme

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean (<it>Glycine max </it>L. Merr.) is an economically important disease, caused by the semi-biotrophic fungus <it>Fusarium solani </it>f. sp. <it>glycines</it>, recently renamed <it>Fusarium virguliforme </it>(Fv). Due to the complexity and length of the soybean-Fusarium interaction, the molecular mechanisms underlying plant resistance and susceptibility to the pathogen are not fully understood. <it>F. virguliforme </it>has a very wide host range for the ability to cause root rot and a very narrow host range for the ability to cause a leaf scorch. <it>Arabidopsis thaliana </it>is a host for many types of phytopathogens including bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes. Deciphering the variations among transcript abundances (TAs) of functional orthologous genes of soybean and <it>A. thaliana </it>involved in the interaction will provide insights into plant resistance to <it>F. viguliforme</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we reported the analyses of microarrays measuring TA in whole plants after <it>A. thaliana </it>cv 'Columbia' was challenged with fungal pathogen <it>F. virguliforme</it>. Infection caused significant variations in TAs. The total number of increased transcripts was nearly four times more than that of decreased transcripts in abundance. A putative resistance pathway involved in responding to the pathogen infection in <it>A. thaliana </it>was identified and compared to that reported in soybean.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Microarray experiments allow the interrogation of tens of thousands of transcripts simultaneously and thus, the identification of plant pathways is likely to be involved in plant resistance to Fusarial pathogens. Dissection of the set functional orthologous genes between soybean and <it>A. thaliana </it>enabled a broad view of the functional relationships and molecular interactions among plant genes involved in <it>F. virguliforme </it>resistance.</p

Different Responses of Two Genes Associated with Disease Resistance Loci in Maize (Zea mays L.) to 3-allyloxy-1,2-benzothiazole 1,1-dioxide

Probenazole (3-allyloxy-1,2-benzothiazole 1,1-dioxide, PBZ) is a bactericide and fungicide that acts by inducing plant defense systems. It has been shown to induce the expression of NBS-LRR genes like RPR1 (rice probenazole-response gene) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR)-like disease resistance. Two maize (Zea mays L.) genes Zmnbslrr1 (a NBS-LRR gene, cloned from a disease resistance analog PIC11 based) and Zmgc1 , (a putative guanylyl cyclase-like gene) have both been associated with quantitative resistance loci (QTL) for resistance to Fusarium graminearum . PIC11 was associated with Fusarium stalk rot and ZmGC1 showed resistance to Gibberella ear rot caused by F. graminearum . The objectives of the current study here were to characterize the Zmnbslrr1 gene and to determine whether it and Zmgc1 respond to the inducer PBZ. The transcript abundance of Zmnbslrr1 expression was significantly reduced in corn seedlings of the Gibberella ear rot resistant genotype CO387 48 h after PBZ treatment. In contrast, the transcript abundance of the maize Zmgc1 gene increased more than 10-fold 8h after the treatment. Therefore, the two genes do not appear to be coordinately regulated by PBZ

Phytophthora Root Rot Resistance in Soybean E00003

Phytophthora root rot (PRR) is a devastating disease in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. Michigan elite soybean E00003 is resistant to Phytophthora sojae and has been used as a resistance source in breeding. Genetic control of PRR resistance in this source is unknown. To facilitate marker-assisted selection (MAS), the PRR resistance loci in E00003 and their map locations need to be determined. In this study, a genetic mapping approach was used to identify major PRR -resistant loci in E00003. The mapping population consists of 240 F4–derived lines developed by crossing E00003 with the P. sojae susceptible line PI 567543C. In 2009 and 2010, the mapping population was evaluated in the greenhouse for PRR resistance against P. sojae races 1, 4, and 7, using modified rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain inoculation method. The population was genotyped with seven simple sequence repeat (SSR) and three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from bulk segregant analysis. The heritability of resistance in the population ranged from 83 to 94%. A major locus, contributing 50 to 76% of the phenotypic variation, was mapped within a 3 cM interval in the Rps1 region. The interval was further saturated with more BARCSOY SSRs and SNPs with TaqMan assays. Two SSRs and three SNPs within the Rps1k gene were highly associated with PRR resistance in the mapping population. The major resistance gene in E00003 is either allelic or tightly linked to Rps1k.The molecular markers located in the Rps1k gene can be used to improve MAS for PRR resistance

Electrostatic-responsive microdroplet lasers for ultrasensitive molecular detection

Electrostatics plays a critical function in most biomolecules, therefore monitoring subtle biomolecular bindings and dynamics via the electrostatic changes of biomolecules at biointerfaces has been an attractive topic recently and has provided the basis in diagnosis and biomedical science. Here we present a bioelectrostatic responsive microlaser based on liquid crystal (LC) droplet and explored its application for ultrasensitive detection of negatively charged biomolecules. Whispering gallery mode (WGM) lasing from positively charged LC microdroplets was applied as the optical resonator, where the lasing wavelength shift was employed as a sensing parameter. With the dual impacts from whispering-gallery mode and liquid crystal, molecular binding signals will be amplified in such LC droplet sensors. It is found that molecular electrostatic changes at the biointerface of droplet triggered wavelength shift in lasing spectra. The total wavelength shift increased proportionally with the adhering target concentrations. Compared to a conventional polarized optical microscope, significant improvements in sensitivity and dynamic range by four orders of magnitude were achieved. Our work indicated that the surface-to-volume ratio plays a critical role in the detection sensitivity in WGM laser-based microsensors. Finally, bovine serum albumin and specific biosensing using streptavidin and biotin were exploited to demonstrate the potential applications of microlasers with a detection limit on the order of 1 pM. We anticipate this approach will open new possibilities for the ultrasensitive label-free detection of charged biomolecules and molecular interactions by providing a lower detection limit than conventional methods

Heavy ion irradiation simulation of high dose irradiation induced radiation effects in materials

Materials used for ADS, ITER, fast reactor, etc suffer very high dose irradiations of protons and/or neutrons. The yearly accumulated irradiation doses could reach a couple of hundred dpa in ADS, ~40 dpa in fast reactors and ~30 dpa in ITER’s DEMO, producing severe radiation damage in materials and leading to a breakdown or accident of these installations. Investigation of such high dose irradiation induced radiation damage is a currently interesting topic with great importance. It is deeply hampered for lack of high dose neutron and proton sources. The heavy ion irradiation simulation technique has been developed at HI-13 tandem accelerator to investigate radiation damage encountered in the above mentioned installations. An experiment was carried out to verify the reliability and validity of heavy ion irradiation simulation. A series of experiments were performed by heavy ion irradiation simulation in combination with positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy to investigate the temperature and dose dependence of radiation damage in stainless steels, tungsten, tantalum, etc. Some experimental results will be presented and discussed.Матеріали, що використовуються в ADS, ITER, швидкому реакторі, піддані високим дозам опромінення протонами та/або нейтронами. Це опромінення викликає серйозне радіаційне пошкодження матеріалів, що призводить до руйнування цих устаткувань або їх аварії. Дослідження радіаційних пошкоджень, зумовлених опроміненням великими дозами, є досить актуальним та важливим завданням. Однак це дослідження гальмується внаслідок відсутності нейтронних та протонних джерел, що мають високі щільності потоків часток. Моделювання з використанням опромінення важкими іонами представляє ефективний шлях такого дослідження. Метод моделювання з використанням опромінення важкими іонами на основі тандемного прискорювача НІ-13 застосовувався в Інституті атомної енергії Китаю для дослідження радіаційних пошкоджень, що спостерігаються у вищезазначених устаткуваннях. Перевірена надійність та достовірність моделювання за допомогою опромінення важкими іонами; виконано низку експериментів шляхом моделювання важкими іонами у поєднанні зі спектроскопією часу життя позитронів для вивчення залежності радіаційних пошкоджень від температури і дози для нержавіючих сталей, вольфраму, танталу і т.д. Представлені і обговорюються деякі експериментальні результати.Материалы, используемые в ADS, ITER, быстром реакторе, подвержены очень высоким дозам облучения протонами и/или нейтронами. Это облучение вызывает серьёзное радиационное повреждение материалов, что приводит к разрушению этих установок или их аварии. Исследование радиационных повреждений, вызванных облучением большими дозами, является весьма актуальной и важной задачей. Однако это исследование тормозится из-за отсутствия нейтронных и протонных источников, имеющих высокие плотности потока частиц. Моделирование с использованием облучения тяжелыми ионами предоставляет эффективный путь такого исследования. Метод моделирования с использованием облучения тяжелыми ионами на основе тандемного ускорителя НI-13 применялся в Институте атомной энергии Китая для исследования радиационных повреждений, встречающихся в вышеупомянутых установках. Проверена надежность и достоверность моделирования с помощью облучения тяжелыми ионами; выполнен ряд экспериментов путем моделирования облучения тяжелыми ионами в сочетании со спектроскопией времени жизни позитронов для изучения зависимости радиационных повреждений от температуры и дозы для нержавеющих сталей, вольфрама, тантала и т.д. Представлены и обсуждаются некоторые экспериментальные результаты