An Application of Machine Vision on Identification of Sugarcane Nodes

( Shao-yuan Zhao ),( Suming Chen ),( Chao-yin Tsai ),( I-chen Liu ) 한국농업기계학회 2018 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.23 No.1

Due to labor shortage, modern agriculture goes up on automation gradually, the planting of sugarcane is no exception. If the automatic planting machine is used, sugarcane seedlings should be prepared in advance. A sugarcane node is the main place where bud is grown from. The existing sugarcane node cutting machines rely on human judgement to determine the node locations. There are time-consuming and laborious to collect the sugarcane nodes. This study intends to use machine vision to identify sugarcane nodes for developing automatic machine. The two algorithms of R-CNN and FASTER R-CNN were used to identify sugarcane node and to compare their performance. The R-CNN algorithm is usually used for the identification of multiple targets, and its accuracy is less than FASTER R-CNN, but the processing speed is faster. In this study, 530 sugarcane photos (1300 nodes) were analyzed, 400 and 130 sugarcane photos were selected as the calibration and validation groups, respectively. The experimental results show that the processing time of the R-CNN can be completed within 0.02 sec with the identification rate of 97.9%, and the processing time and identification rate of the FASTER R-CNN are similar to those of the R-CNN. The both algorithms have good results, and can be applied to the development of automated sugarcane node cutting machines.

Relationships of Low Serum Levels of Interleukin-10 With Poststroke Anxiety and Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Clinical Acute Stroke

Zhao-jian Ying,Yuan-Yuan Huang,Meng-Meng Shao,Chu-Huai Chi,Ming-Xia Jiang,Yi-Hui Chen,Yu-Chen,Miao-Xuan Sun,Yan-Yan Zhu,Xianmei Li 대한신경과학회 2023 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.19 No.3

Background and Purpose The relationships among interleukin (IL)-10 levels, anxiety, and cognitive status after stroke remain controversial. We aimed to determine the associations of serum IL-10 levels with poststroke anxiety (PSA) and poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Methods We recruited 350 patients with stroke, of whom only 151 completed a 1-month follow- up assessment. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to assess the cognitive status and anxiety, respectively. Serum IL-10 levels were measured within 24 hours of admission. Results IL-10 levels were significantly lower in the PSA group than in the non-PSA group, and they were negatively associated with HAMA scores (r=-0.371, p<0.001). After adjusting for all potential confounders, IL-10 levels remained an independent predictor of PSA (odds ratio=0.471, 95% confidence interval=0.237–0.936, p=0.032). IL-10 levels were strongly correlated with behavior during interviews, psychic anxiety, and somatic anxiety. Patients without PSCI had higher IL-10 levels were higher in non-PSCI patients than in PSCI patients, and they were positively associated with MMSE scores in the bivariate correlation analysis (r=0.169, p=0.038), and also with memory capacity, naming ability, and copying capacity. However, IL-10 did not predict PSCI in the univariable or multivariable logistic regression. Conclusions Low IL-10 levels were associated with increased risks of PSA and PSCI at a 1-month follow-up after stroke. Serum IL-10 levels may therefore be helpful in predicting PSA.

Effect of Zinc on Growth Performance, Gut Morphometry, and Cecal Microbial Community in Broilers Challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Yuxin Shao,Zhao Lei,Jianmin Yuan,Ying Yang,Yuming Guo,Bingkun Zhang 한국미생물학회 2014 The journal of microbiology Vol.52 No.12

To evaluate the effects of supplemental zinc on growth performance,gut morphometry, and the cecal microbial communityin broilers challenged with Salmonella typhimurium,180, 1-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomlyassigned to 3 treatments with ten replicates for a 42 day experiment. The 3 treatments were: unchallenged, S. typhimurium-challenged, and S. typhimurium-challenged with 120mg/kg of zinc supplementation in the diet. Salmonella infectioncaused a reduction in body-weight gain and feed intake,disrupted the intestinal structure by decreasing thevillus-height/crypt-depth ratio of the ileum and increasingthe apoptotic index of ileal epithelial cells. Moreover, thececal microbial community was altered by Salmonella infection,as demonstrated by a reduced number of Lactobacillusand total bacteria. Dietary zinc supplementation improvedgrowth performance by increasing the body-weight gainand feed intake in the challenged broilers. In addition, zincrepaired intestinal injury by reducing the apoptotic index ofileal epithelial cells, enhancing villus height and the villusheight/crypt-depth ratio of the ileum, and the proliferationindex of ileal epithelial cells. Finally, zinc regulated the cecalmicrobial community by increasing the number of total bacteriaand beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria, and reducing thenumber of Salmonella. The results indicated that dietaryzinc supplementation improved growth performance, intestinalmorphology, and intestinal microbiota in S. typhimurium-challenged broilers.

Thin TiOxlayer as a voltage divider layer located at the quasi-Ohmic junction in the Pt/Ta2O5/Ta resistance switching memory

Li, Xiang Yuan,Shao, Xing Long,Wang, Yi Chuan,Jiang, Hao,Hwang, Cheol Seong,Zhao, Jin Shi Royal Society of Chemistry 2017 Nanoscale Vol.9 No.6

<P>Ta2O5 has been an appealing contender for the resistance switching random access memory (ReRAM). The resistance switching (RS) in this material is induced by the repeated formation and rupture of the conducting filaments (CFs) in the oxide layer, which are accompanied by the almost inevitable randomness of the switching parameters. In this work, a 1 to 2 nm-thick Ti layer was deposited on the 10 nm-thick Ta2O5 RS layer, which greatly improved the RS performances, including the much-improved switching uniformity. The Ti metal layer was naturally oxidized to TiOx (x < 2) and played the role of a series resistor, whose resistance value was comparable to the on-state resistance of the Ta2O5 RS layer. The series resistor TiOx efficiently suppressed the adverse effects of the voltage (or current) overshooting at the moment of switching by the appropriate voltage partake effect, which increased the controllability of the CF formation and rupture. The switching cycle endurance was increased by two orders of magnitude even during the severe current-voltage sweep tests compared with the samples without the thin TiOx layer. The Ti deposition did not induce any significant overhead to the fabrication process, making the process highly promising for the mass production of a reliable ReRAM.</P>

SKP2 Contributes to AKT Activation by Ubiquitination Degradation of PHLPP1, Impedes Autophagy, and Facilitates the Survival of Thyroid Carcinoma

Chongwen Xu,Yuan Shao,Wanli Ren,Hao Dai,Fangli Yang,Xiang Li,Shaoqiang Zhang,Junsong Liu,Xiaobao Yao,Qian Zhao,Xin Sun,Zhiwei Zheng 한국분자세포생물학회 2023 Molecules and cells Vol.46 No.6

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common subtype of thyroid carcinoma. Despite a good prognosis, approximately a quarter of PTC patients are likely to relapse. Previous reports suggest an association between S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) and the prognosis of thyroid cancer. SKP1 is related to apoptosis of PTC cells; however, its role in PTC remains largely elusive. This study aimed to understand the expression and molecular mechanism of SKP2 in PTC. SKP2 expression was upregulated in PTC tissues and closely associated with clinical diagnosis. In vitro and in vivo knockdown of SKP2 expression in PTC cells suppressed cell growth and proliferation and induced apoptosis. SKP2 depletion promoted cell autophagy under glucose deprivation. SKP2 interacted with PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase-1 (PHLPP1), triggering its degradation by ubiquitination. Furthermore, SKP2 activates the AKT-related pathways via PHLPP1, which leads to the cytoplasmic translocation of SKP2, indicating a reciprocal regulation between SKP2 and AKT. In conclusion, the upregulation of SKP2 leads to PTC proliferation and survival, and the regulatory network among SKP2, PHLPP1, and AKT provides novel insight into the molecular basis of SKP2 in tumor progression.

Interface engineering for improving reliability of resistance switching in Cu/HfO₂/TiO₂/Pt structure

Wei Zhou, Li,Long Shao, Xing,Yuan Li, Xiang,Jiang, Hao,Chen, Ran,Jean Yoon, Kyung,Jin Kim, Hae,Zhang, Kailiang,Zhao, Jinshi,Seong Hwang, Cheol American Institute of Physics 2015 APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS Vol.107 No.7

An Investigation of Surface Roughness in Ultrasonic Assisted Dry Grinding of 12Cr2Ni4A with Large Diameter Grinding Wheel

Hai-Feng Chen,Jin-Yuan Tang,Wen Shao,Bo Zhao 한국정밀공학회 2018 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.19 No.6

Ultrasonic assisted dry grinding (UADG) is a novel green manufacturing technology for decreasing the negative environment impact of cutting fluids and improving the surface characteristics. In this study, the influences of the ultrasonic amplitude, grinding depth and grinding velocity on the surface roughness in ultrasonic assisted dry grinding of 12Cr2Ni4A with a large CBN grinding wheel were investigated. Due to the Poisson effect, the ultrasonic assisted dry grinding using a large diameter grinding wheel is the combination of axial ultrasonic assisted grinding and radial ultrasonic assisted grinding. The results indicated that the main axial ultrasonic component tended to smooth the surface topography by increasing the interaction overlap of the adjacent cutting traces, but it would result in more side flow/ploughing on the surface at a larger ultrasonic amplitude; the radial ultrasonic component exerted a function on the increase of the surface roughness through deepening the individual grinding trajectories. Thus, the surface roughness decreased first and then increased with the increase of grinding depth due to the combined contribution of axial and radial vibrations. However, the improving effect of ultrasonic vibration on the surface roughness gradually weakened with the increase of grinding velocity. Under proper operating parameters, surface roughness obtained in ultrasonic assisted dry grinding can be reduced up to 30% compared with that of common dry grinding.

Differences in the biological properties of mesenchymal stromal cells from traumatic temporomandibular joint fibrous and bony ankylosis: a comparative study

Zhang Pei-Pei,Liang Su-Xia,Wang Hua-Lun,Yang Kun,Nie Shao-Chen,Zhang Tong-Mei,Tian Yuan-Yuan,Xu Zhao-Yuan,Chen Wei,Yan Ying-Bin 한국통합생물학회 2021 Animal cells and systems Vol.25 No.5

The aim of this study was to compare the functional characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from a sheep model of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) fibrous and bony ankylosis. A sheep model of bilateral TMJ trauma-induced fibrous ankylosis on one side and bony ankylosis on the contralateral side was used. MSCs from fibrous ankylosed callus (FAMSCs) or bony ankylosed callus (BA-MSCs) at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 after surgery were isolated and cultured. MSCs derived from the bone marrow of the mandibular condyle (BM-MSCs) were used as controls. The MSCs from the different sources were characterized morphologically, phenotypically, and functionally. Adherence and trilineage differentiation potential were presented in the ovine MSCs. These cell populations highly positively expressed MSC-associated specific markers, namely CD29, CD44, and CD166, but lacked CD31 and CD45 expressions. The BA-MSCs had higher clonogenic and proliferative potentials than the FA-MSCs. The BA-MSCs also showed higher osteogenic and chondrogenic potentials, but lower adipogenic capacity than the FA-MSCs. In addition, the BA-MSCs demonstrated higher chondrogenic, but lower osteogenic capacity than the BM-MSCs. Our study suggests that inhibition of the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiations of MSCs might be a promising strategy for preventing bony ankylosis in the future.

The Prognostic Value of Treatment-Related Lymphopenia in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

Li-Ting Liu,Qiu-Yan Chen,Lin-Quan Tang,Shan-Shan Guo,Ling Guo,Hao-Yuan Mo,Ming-Yuan Chen,Chong Zhao,Xiang Guo,Chao-Nan Qian,Mu-Sheng Zeng,Jin-Xin Bei,Jing Tan,Shuai Chen,Ming-Huang Hong,Jian-Yong Shao 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.1

Purpose This study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic value of treatment-related lymphopenia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and Methods A total of 413 consecutive stage II-IVb NPC patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were enrolled. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were compared using the log-rank test. Results A minimum (mini)–absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) of < 390 cells/μL or ALC after 3 months of CCRT (post3m-ALC) < 705 cells/μL was significantly associated with worse outcome than mini-ALC ! 390 cells/μL (OS, p=0.002; PFS, p=0.005; DMFS, p=0.004) or post3m-ALC ! 705 cells/μL (OS, p < 0.001; PFS, p < 0.001; DMFS, p=0.001). Patients with lymphopenia (mini-ALC < 390 cells/μL and post3m-ALC < 705 cells/μL) had a worse prognosis than those without lymphopenia (mini-ALC ! 390 cells/μL and post3m-ALC ! 705 cells/μL) (OS, p < 0.001; PFS, p < 0.001; DMFS, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that post3m-ALC was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 2.78; p=0.015), PFS (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.82; p=0.003), and DMFS (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.08; p=0.014). Multivariate analysis also revealed that patients with lymphopenia had a high risk of death (HR, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.75 to 8.19; p=0.001), disease progression (HR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.59 to 5.41; p=0.001), and distant metastasis (HR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.67 to 9.10; p=0.002). Multivariate analysis performed with time dependent Cox regression demonstrated ALC was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR, 0.995; 95% CI, 0.991 to 0.999; p=0.025) and PFS (HR, 0.993; 95% CI, 0.988 to 0.998; p=0.006). Conclusion Treatment-related lymphopenia was a poor prognostic factor in NPC patients.

Association between Alanine Aminotransferase and Intracerebral Hemorrhage in East Asian Populations

Kim, Hyeon Chang,Oh, Sun Min,Pan, Wen-Harn,Ueshima, Hirotsugu,Gu, Dongfeng,Chuang, Shao-Yuan,Fujiyoshi, Akira,Li, Ying,Zhao, Liancheng,Suh, Il S. Karger AG 2013 Neuroepidemiology Vol.41 No.2

<P>Abstract</P><P><B><I>Background:</I></B> Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and chronic liver disease are relatively common in East Asian countries. However, the relationship between the two diseases is unclear. Thus, we investigated the association between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and ICH risk in East Asian populations. <B><I>Methods:</I></B> The East Asian Network for Stroke Prevention enrolled 279,982 participants with ALT measurements from four cohort studies in Korea, Taiwan, Japan and mainland China. Among them, 1,324 ICH events and 493 ICH deaths were observed. Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis was performed in each cohort to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) after adjusting for age, blood pressure, diabetes, total cholesterol, smoking and alcohol intake. Combined HRs were then estimated using pooled analyses with fixed-effects models. <B><I>Results:</I></B> The multivariate-adjusted pooled HRs (with 95% confidence interval, CI) for ICH incidence per 10 IU/l increments of ALT were 1.04 (1.03-1.04) in men and 1.01 (0.98-1.04) in women. Corresponding HRs for ICH mortality were 1.04 (1.02-1.05) in men and 1.04 (1.00-1.08) in women. The pooled HRs for ICH incidence in participants with ALT levels greater than or equal to 50 IU/l compared to those with levels less than 20 IU/l were 1.74 (1.41-2.16) in men and 1.60 (1.06-2.40) in women. The corresponding HRs for ICH mortality were 1.72 (1.21-2.44) in men and 1.63 (0.79-3.36) in women. <B><I>Conclusions:</I></B> An elevated ALT level was independently and significantly associated with an increased risk of ICH in East Asian men, but the association was less prominent in women.</P><P>© 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel</P>