Semi-Supervised First-Person Activity Recognition in Body-Worn Video

Body-worn cameras are now commonly used for logging daily life, sports, and law enforcement activities, creating a large volume of archived footage. This paper studies the problem of classifying frames of footage according to the activity of the camera-wearer with an emphasis on application to real-world police body-worn video. Real-world datasets pose a different set of challenges from existing egocentric vision datasets: the amount of footage of different activities is unbalanced, the data contains personally identifiable information, and in practice it is difficult to provide substantial training footage for a supervised approach. We address these challenges by extracting features based exclusively on motion information then segmenting the video footage using a semi-supervised classification algorithm. On publicly available datasets, our method achieves results comparable to, if not better than, supervised and/or deep learning methods using a fraction of the training data. It also shows promising results on real-world police body-worn video

Chemical Production of Kopi Luwak

The Civet Cat of family Vivverridae is used to produce a rare coffee product called Kopi Luwak. As a result of Kopi Luwak’s increasing popularity, Civet Cat abuse is prevalent. Our research aims to recreate Kopi Luwak by artificially replicating the conditions of the Civet Cats digestive system. Proteolytic enzymes, acid treatment, and varying incubation conditions will be used to simulate the process

Metal-Enriched Outflows in the Ultra-Luminous infrared Quasar Q1321+058

Quasar outflows may play important role in the evolution of its host galaxy and central black hole. In this paper, we present a detailed study of multiple outflows in the obscured ultra-luminous infrared quasar Q1321+058. The outflows reveal themselves in the complex optical and UV emission line spectrum, with a broad component blueshifted by 1650 km/s and a narrow component by 360 km/s, respectively.The higher velocity component shows ever strong N III] and strong Si III], in addition to strong [O III]5007 and [Ne III]3869 emission lines, suggesting an overabundance of N and Si relative to C. The abundance pattern is consistent a fast chemical enriching process associated with a recent starburst. The outflow extends to several tens to hundred parsecs from the quasar, and covers only a very small sky. We find that the outflow with line emitting gas is energetically insufficient to remove the ISM of the host galaxy. The velocity range and the column density suggest that the outflow might be part of the low ionization broad absorption line region as seen in a small class of quasars. The optical and UV continuum is starlight-dominated and can be modelled with a young-aged (1 Myr) plus an intermediate-aged (~0.5-1 Gyr) stellar populations, suggesting a fast building of the stellar mass in the host galaxy, consistent with the starburst-type metal abundances inferred from the high velocity outflow spectrum. The broad band spectral energy distribution shows that it is an obscured quasar with its bulk emission in the middle infrared. The star formation rate, independently estimated from UV, far-infrared, and emission line luminosity, is much lower than that is required for the co-evolution of the black hole and its host spheroid.Comment: 31 pages, accepted to Ap

Light adaptation strategies of Quercus mongolica at different ages in four plantations

This study investigated the allocation strategies of non-structural carbohydrates and functional traits in Quercus mongolica seedlings of different ages under different light conditions. The study took place at the Urban Forestry Demonstration Base in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China. Seedlings of three age classes were collected in two light environments, the forest edge and the forest understory. By measuring specific leaf area, biomass, soluble sugar concentration and starch concentration, we revealed the growth adaptation strategies and responses to different light conditions in Q. mongolica seedlings of different age classes. Our results show that the adaptation strategies of seedlings of different age classes are very different. First, our study showed a strong coordination of soluble sugars between roots, stems, and leaves of 1−2 year old Q. mongolica seedlings, indicating an efficient partitioning of carbon between organs at this age. In 3−4 year old Q. mongolica seedlings, a significant negative correlation was observed between starch in the roots and soluble sugars in the leaves, indicating the transformation of various non-structural carbohydrates. In addition, 5−6 year old seedlings start to increase their investment in the above-ground part to achieve a height advantage. In conclusion, this study improves our understanding of the light adaptation strategies of Q. mongolica seedlings and provides valuable insights for the natural regeneration and management of Q. mongolica forest vegetation

Cerebroprotein hydrolysate attenuates neurodegenerative changes in Alzheimer’s mice model via ferroptosis pathway

Introduction: Cerebroprotein hydrolysate has been proven to improve cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We explored the safety and effectiveness of the clinical administration of oral cerebroprotein hydrolysate in AD, and possible mechanisms related to the neuronal ferroptosis pathway.Methods: Three-month-old male APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice were randomly divided into AD model (n = 8) and intervention (n = 8) groups. Eight non-transgenic wild-type (WT) C57 mice were used as age-matched controls. The experiments were started at the age of 6 months. The intervention group was then administered cerebroprotein hydrolysate nutrient solution (11.9 mg/kg/day) via chronic gavage, the other groups received an identical volume of distilled water. Behavioural experiments were performed after 90 days of continuous administration. Serum and hippocampal tissues were then collected for histomorphological observation, tau and p-tau expression, and ferroptosis markers analysis.Results: Cerebroprotein hydrolysate simplified movement trajectories and shortened escape latencies of APP/PS1 mice in the Morris water maze test. Neuronal morphologies were restored in hippocampal tissues on haematoxylin-eosin staining. In the AD-model group, Aβ protein and p-tau/tau expression levels were elevated, plasma Fe2+ and malondialdehyde levels were elevated, GXP4 protein expression and plasma glutathione levels declined than controls. All indices improved after cerebroprotein hydrolysate intervention.Conclusion: Cerebroprotein hydrolysate improves learning and memory function, alleviates neuronal damage, and reduces the deposition of pathological AD markers in AD mice, which may be related to the inhibition of neuronal ferroptosis

Key Role of the Membrane Trafficking of Nav1.5 Channel Protein in Antidepressant-Induced Brugada Syndrome

Anti-depressant treatment has been found to be associated with the development of Brugada syndrome (BrS) through poorly defined mechanisms. Herein, this study aimed to explore the molecular basis for amitriptyline-induced BrS. The effects of long-term treatments of amitriptyline on Nav1.5 were investigated using neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. The electrophysiological properties, expression and distribution of Nav1.5 were studied using the patch clamp, Western blot and confocal laser microscopy assays. Interactions between Nav1.5 and its interacting proteins, including ankyrin-G and dystrophin, were evaluated by co-immunoprecipitation. A larger decrease in the peak INa occurred after long-term treatments to amitriptyline (56.64%) than after acute exposure to amitriptyline (28%). Slow recovery from inactivation of Nav1.5 was observed after acute or long-term treatments to amitriptyline. The expression of Nav1.5 on the cell membrane showed a larger decrease by long-term treatments to amitriptyline than by acute exposure to amitriptyline. After long-term treatments to amitriptyline, we observed reduced Nav1.5 proteins on the cell membrane and the disrupted co-localization of Nav1.5 and ankyrin-G or dystrophin. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments further testified that the combination of Nav1.5 and ankyrin-G or dystrophin was severely weakened after long-term treatments to amitriptyline, implying the failed interaction between Nav1.5 and ankyrin-G or dystrophin. Our data suggest that the long-term effect of amitriptyline serves as an important contribution to BrS induced by amitriptyline. The mechanisms of BrS induced by amitriptyline were related to Nav1.5 trafficking and could be explained by the disrupted interaction of ankyrin-G, dystrophin and Nav1.5

DNA-methylation profiling distinguishes malignant melanomas from benign nevi: Methylation profiling of melanomas and benign nevi

DNA methylation, an epigenetic alteration typically occurring early in cancer development, could aid in the molecular diagnosis of melanoma. We determined technical feasibility for high-throughput DNA-methylation array-based profiling using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues for selection of candidate DNA-methylation differences between melanomas and nevi. Promoter methylation was evaluated in 27 common benign nevi and 22 primary invasive melanomas using a 1505 CpG site microarray. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering distinguished melanomas from nevi; 26 CpG sites in 22 genes were identified with significantly different methylation levels between melanomas and nevi after adjustment for age, sex, and multiple comparisons and with β-value differences of ≥0.2. Prediction analysis for microarrays identified 12 CpG loci that were highly predictive of melanoma, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of >0.95. Of our panel of 22 genes, 14 were statistically significant in an independent sample set of 29 nevi (including dysplastic nevi) and 25 primary invasive melanomas after adjustment for age, sex, and multiple comparisons. This first report of a DNA-methylation signature discriminating melanomas from nevi indicates that DNA methylation appears promising as an additional tool for enhancing melanoma diagnosis

DNA methylation profiles in primary cutaneous melanomas are associated with clinically significant pathologic features

DNA methylation studies have elucidated a methylation signature distinguishing primary melanomas from benign nevi and provided new insights about genes that may be important in melanoma development. However, it is unclear whether methylation differences among primary melanomas are related to tumor pathologic features with known clinical significance. We utilized the Illumina Golden Gate Cancer Panel array to investigate the methylation profiles of 47 primary cutaneous melanomas. Array-wide methylation patterns revealed a positive association of methylation with Breslow thickness and mutated BRAF, a negative association with mitotic rate, and a weak association with ulceration. Hierarchical clustering on CpG sites exhibiting the most variable methylation (n=235) divided the melanoma samples into three clusters, including a highly-methylated cluster that was positively associated with Breslow thickness and an intermediately-methylated cluster associated with Breslow thickness and mitotic rate. Our findings provide support for the existence of methylation-defined subsets in melanomas, with increased methylation associated with Breslow thickness

Defective Cell Cycle Checkpoint Functions in Melanoma Are Associated with Altered Patterns of Gene Expression

Defects in DNA damage responses may underlie genetic instability and malignant progression in melanoma. Cultures of normal human melanocytes (NHMs) and melanoma lines were analyzed to determine whether global patterns of gene expression could predict the efficacy of DNA damage cell cycle checkpoints that arrest growth and suppress genetic instability. NHMs displayed effective G1 and G2 checkpoint responses to ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage. A majority of melanoma cell lines (11/16) displayed significant quantitative defects in one or both checkpoints. Melanomas with B-RAF mutations as a class displayed a significant defect in DNA damage G2 checkpoint function. In contrast the epithelial-like subtype of melanomas with wild-type N-RAS and B-RAF alleles displayed an effective G2 checkpoint but a significant defect in G1 checkpoint function. RNA expression profiling revealed that melanoma lines with defects in the DNA damage G1 checkpoint displayed reduced expression of p53 transcriptional targets, such as CDKN1A and DDB2, and enhanced expression of proliferation-associated genes, such as CDC7 and GEMININ. A Bayesian analysis tool was more accurate than significance analysis of microarrays for predicting checkpoint function using a leave-one-out method. The results suggest that defects in DNA damage checkpoints may be recognized in melanomas through analysis of gene expression

InterMEL: An international biorepository and clinical database to uncover predictors of survival in early-stage melanoma

We are conducting a multicenter study to identify classifiers predictive of disease-specific survival in patients with primary melanomas. Here we delineate the unique aspects, challenges, and best practices for optimizing a study of generally small-sized pigmented tumor samples including primary melanomas of at least 1.05mm from AJTCC TNM stage IIA-IIID patients. We also evaluated tissue-derived predictors of extracted nucleic acids’ quality and success in downstream testing. This ongoing study will target 1,000 melanomas within the international InterMEL consortium.Medicin