Inertial/magnetic sensors based pedestrian dead reckoning by means of multi-sensor fusion

The challenges of self-contained sensor based pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) are mainly sensor installation errors and path integral errors caused by sensor variance, and both may dramatically decrease the accuracy of PDR. To address these challenges, this paper presents a multi-sensor fusion based method in which subjects perform specified walking trials at self-administered speeds in both indoor and outdoor scenarios. After an initial calibration with the reduced installation error, quaternion notation is used to represent three-dimensional orientation and an extend Kalman filter (EKF) is deployed to fuse different types of data. A clustering algorithm is proposed to accurately distinguish stance phases, during which integral error can be minimized using Zero Velocity Updates (ZVU) method. The performance of proposed PDR method is evaluated and validated by an optical motion tracking system on healthy subjects. The position estimation accuracy, stride length and foot angle estimation error are studied. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed self-contained inertial/magnetic sensor based method is capable of providing consistent beacon-free PDR in different scenarios, achieving less than 1% distance error and end-to-end position error

Manual Acupuncture at PC6 Ameliorates Acute Restraint Stress-Induced Anxiety in Rats by Normalizing Amygdaloid Noradrenergic Response

Acupuncture improves ethanol withdrawal-induced anxiety in rats in an acupoint-dependent manner. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of acupuncture on acute restraint stress- (ARS-) induced anxiety. Male rats were exposed to ARS for 3 h followed by acupuncture at either PC6 (Neiguan), HT7 (Shenmen), or a nonacupoint (tail) once a day for three consecutive days. Five minutes after the third acupuncture treatment, anxiety-like behavior was evaluated in an elevated plus maze (EPM). Additionally, plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and the concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Acupuncture at PC6, but not HT7 or a nonacupoint, attenuated anxiety-like behavior, but this attenuation was abolished by a postacupunctural intra-CeA infusion of NE. Acupuncture at PC6 also reduced the oversecretion of plasma CORT and inhibited increases in amygdaloid NE and MHPG induced by ARS. Further, Western blot analyses and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays revealed that acupuncture at PC6 prevented ARS-induced enhancements in the protein and mRNA expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase in the CeA. These results suggest that acupuncture performed specifically at acupoint PC6 reduces ARS-induced anxiety-like behavior by dampening amygdaloid noradrenergic responses

Eupatilin Attenuates Ethanol Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety-like Behavior in Rats by Improving Ventral Hippocampus GABAa Transmission

Objective: To study the improving effect of Eupatilin (Eptl) on ethanol withdrawal (EtOHWI)-induced anxiety-like behavior in rats and probe the mechanisms related to ventral hippocampus (vHippo). Methods: Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, 8 rats per group: Saline-treated control group, EtOHWI model group, low-dose Eptl treatment group and high-dose Eptl treatment group. The EtOHWI was established by intraperitoneal injection of 3 g/kg of ethanol (20% volume/volume, dissolved in saline) once a day for 28 days followed by 3 days of withdrawal, during the withdrawal period, the low-and the high-dose Eptl treatment groups were respectively given 10 and 30 mg/kg Eptl through oral route once a day, while the saline control group was administered with an equal volume of saline. Thirty minutes after the third Eptl, all the rats were subjected to open filed (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests to detect anxiety-like behaviors. The serum coritosterone (CORT) concentration and vHippo γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) secretion were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and vHippo glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD 67) mRNA relative expression was assayed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression of GABAa receptor α1 (GABAaRα1), GABAaRα2, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygense-1 (HO-1) in the vHippo were analyzed by Western blot. The levels of MDA, T-SOD, CAT and GSH, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by commercial kits. Meanwhile, in the in vitro experiment, the nuclear levels of Nrf2 in HT22 cells were detected via immunofluorescent technique. Results: Compared with the rats in the EtOHWI group, the rats in low and high-dose Eptl treatment groups moving distance increased significantly (P<0.01) in the central region of OF which was 70.62% and 124.21% respectively, and moving time increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01) which was 251.75% and 371.62% respectively in the central zone of the OF. Visited more frequently (P<0.05 or P<0.01) which was 110.33% and 207.32% respectively, and stayed time increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01) which was 99.56% and 184.18% respectively in the open arms of the EPM1. In biochemical assays, compared with those in EtOHWI rats, in the rats of low-dose and high-dose Eptl treatment groups, the serum CORT concentrations decreased significantly (P<0.01). The vHippo GABA and GAD67 mRNA levels increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression of GABAaRα1, GABAaRα2, Nrf2, HO-1 in the vHippo increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The level of MDA decreased significantly (P<0.01), while the activities of T-SOD and CAT, as well as the level of GSH increased respectively significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α decreased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In the in vitro experiment, the immunofluorescent assay showed that compared with blank control group, Nrf2 level in nucleus of HT22 stimulated by 200 μmol/L H2O2 increased significantly (P<0.01), whereas pretreatment with 30 μmol/L Eptl inhibited the increase of Nrf2 level (P<0.05). Conclusion: Eptl attenuates EtOHWI-induced anxiety-like behavior in rats, which may be mediated by regulating the vHippo GABAaR transmissional disorder of EtOHWI rats via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities

Ku80 cooperates with CBP to promote COX-2 expression and tumor growth.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays an important role in lung cancer development and progression. Using streptavidin-agarose pulldown and proteomics assay, we identified and validated Ku80, a dimer of Ku participating in the repair of broken DNA double strands, as a new binding protein of the COX-2 gene promoter. Overexpression of Ku80 up-regulated COX-2 promoter activation and COX-2 expression in lung cancer cells. Silencing of Ku80 by siRNA down-regulated COX-2 expression and inhibited tumor cell growth in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. Ku80 knockdown suppressed phosphorylation of ERK, resulting in an inactivation of the MAPK pathway. Moreover, CBP, a transcription co-activator, interacted with and acetylated Ku80 to co-regulate the activation of COX-2 promoter. Overexpression of CBP increased Ku80 acetylation, thereby promoting COX-2 expression and cell growth. Suppression of CBP by a CBP-specific inhibitor or siRNA inhibited COX-2 expression as well as tumor cell growth. Tissue microarray immunohistochemical analysis of lung adenocarcinomas revealed a strong positive correlation between levels of Ku80 and COX-2 and clinicopathologic variables. Overexpression of Ku80 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with lung cancers. We conclude that Ku80 promotes COX-2 expression and tumor growth and is a potential therapeutic target in lung cancer

Elovl4 haploinsufficiency does not induce early onset retinal degeneration in mice

AbstractELOVL4 was first identified as a disease-causing gene in Stargardt macular dystrophy (STGD3, MIM 600110.) To date, three ELOVL4 mutations have been identified, all of which result in truncated proteins which induce autosomal dominant juvenile macular degenerations. Based on sequence homology, ELOVL4 is thought to be another member within a family of proteins functioning in the elongation of long chain fatty acids. However, the normal function of ELOVL4 is unclear. We generated Elovl4 knockout mice to determine if Elovl4 loss affects retinal development or function. Here we show that Elovl4 knockout mice, while perinatal lethal, exhibit normal retinal development prior to death at day of birth. Further, postnatal retinal development in Elovl4 heterozygous mice appears normal. Therefore haploinsufficiency for wildtype ELOVL4 in autosomal dominant macular degeneration likely does not contribute to juvenile macular degeneration in STGD3 patients. We found, however, that Elovl4+/− mice exhibit enhanced ERG scotopic and photopic a and b waves relative to wildtype Elovl4+/+ mice suggesting that reduced Elovl4 levels may impact retinal electrophysiological responses

HTRA1 variant increases risk to neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Chinese population

AbstractAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment in the world. Advanced AMD can be divided into wet AMD (choroidal neovascularization) and dry AMD (geographic atrophy, GA). Drusen is characterized by deposits in the macula without visual loss and is an early AMD sign in the Caucasian population. rs11200638 in the promoter of HTRA1 has recently been shown to increases the risk for wet AMD in both Caucasian and Hong Kong Chinese populations. In order to replicate these results in a different cohort, we genotyped rs11200638 for 164 Chinese patients (90 wet AMD and 74 drusen) and 106 normal controls in a Han Mainland Chinese cohort. The genotypes were compared using chi square analysis for an additive allelic model. rs11200638 was significantly associated with wet AMD (p=5.00×10−12). Unlike in the Caucasian population, the risk allele of rs11200638 was not associated with drusen in our Chinese population. These findings confirm the association of HTRA1 with wet AMD

Comparative Metabolomics Revealed Metabolite Differences in Bamboo Shoots (Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda Hsueh &amp; T. P. Yi ex Ohrnberger) at Different Growth Stages

In order to explore the dynamic changes and stage specificity of metabolites in bamboo shoots during its growth, widely targeted metabolomics based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze fresh bamboo shoots harvested at heights of 10 and 25 cm. The results showed that a total of 875 metabolites belonging to 13 categories were identified from bamboo shoots, including sugars, alcohols and flavonoids, whose relative contents significantly increased in 25 cm-high bamboo shoots. Moreover, the results of multivariate statistical analyses showed that the metabolites in bamboo shoots had an obvious stage specificity. Totally 283 significantly differential metabolites were identified between the two growth stages, of which 102 metabolites were annotated to 82 metabolic pathways. The contents of 20 major nutrients did not significantly differ between the two growth stages; however, the contents of metabolites related to taste, flavor and bioactive function were higher, while the content of bitter compounds was lower in the 25 cm-high bamboo shoots. Therefore, compared with the 10 cm-high bamboo shoots, the 25 cm-high bamboo shoots have a higher comprehensive economic value and are more suitable for harvesting. The results of this study can provide a theoretical reference for the comprehensive development and sustainable utilization of Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda

Detecting and pyramiding target QTL for plant- and grain-related traits via chromosomal segment substitution line of rice

IntroductionPlant height and grain length are important agronomic traits in rice, exhibiting a strong effect on plant architecture and grain quality of rice varieties.MethodsMethods: A novel rice chromosomal segment substitution line (CSSL), i.e., CSSL-Z1357, with significantly increased plant height (PH) and grain length (GL) was identified from CSSLs constructed by using Nipponbare as a receptor and a restorer line Xihui 18 as a donor. Seven agronomic traits of PH, PL, GL, GW, GPP, SPP, and TGW were phenotyped, and REML implemented in HPMIXED of SAS were used to detect the QTL for these traits. Secondary CSSLs were screened out via marker-assisted selection (MAS) to estimate the additive and epistatic effects of detected QTLs, evaluating the potential utilization of pyramiding the target QTLs for yield and quality improvement of rice varieties.Results and DiscussionResults and Discussion: CSSL-Z1357 carried nine segments from Xihui 18 with an average segment length of 4.13 Mb. The results show that the long grain of CSSL-Z1357 was caused by the increased number of surface cells and the length of the inner glume. Thirteen quantitative trait loci were identified via the F2 population of Nipponbare/CSSL-Z1357, including three each for GL (qGL-3, qGL-6, and qGL-7) and PH (qPH-1, qPH-7, and qPH-12I), among which qGL-3 increased GL by 0.23 mm with synergistic allele from CSSL-Z1357. Additionally, three single (S1 to S3), two double (D1, D2), and one triple segment (T1) substitution lines were developed in F3 via MAS. Results show that pyramiding the segments from Chr.3 (qGL-3 and qPH-3), Chr.6 (qGL-6 and qPH-6), and Chr.7 (Null and qPH-7) tended to result in better phenotype of increased GL and PH and decreased grain width, providing a potential basis for enhancing grain yield and quality in rice breeding