Facial Feature Extraction Based on Weighted ALW and Pulse-Coupled Neural Network

Junhua Liang,Zhisheng Zhao,Xiao Zhang,Xuan Wang,Yang Liu 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Signal Processing, Image Vol.9 No.8

In order to improve the robustness of face identification with the changes of illumina-tion, expression and facial alteration, a new facial feature extraction algorithm based on weighted adaptive lifting wavelet(ALW) scheme and pulse-coupled neural network (PCNN) is involved in this paper. The face images are decomposed into several subbands by weighted adaptive lifting scheme. Then the PCNN is utilized to decompose each weighted subbands into a series of binary images, the entropies of which are calculated and regarded as facial features. Experimental results show that the method yields a good robustness against the illumination, expression and facial variability and reduces the computer burden.

Rescue of epithelial HCO₃⁻ secretion in murine intestine by apical membrane expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mutant F508del

Xiao, Fang,Li, Junhua,Singh, Anurag Kumar,Riederer, Brigitte,Wang, Jiang,Sultan, Ayesha,Park, Henry,Lee, Min Goo,Lamprecht, Georg,Scholte, Bob J.,De Jonge, Hugo R.,Seidler, Ursula Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2012 The Journal of physiology Vol.590 No.21

<P><B>Key points</B></P><P><P>Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal disease characterized by low rates of epithelial Cl<SUP>−</SUP> and HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> secretion and obstruction of the airways and gastrointestinal and reproductive organs by sticky mucus. HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> secretion has recently been demonstrated to be necessary for mucus hydration.</P><P>The most frequent CF mutation is F508del. This mutant protein is usually degraded in the proteasome. New therapeutic strategies have been developed which deliver F508del to the plasma membrane.</P><P>Utilizing transgenic F508del mutant and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) knockout mice, apical membrane expression of F508del protein was found to be associated with enhanced stimulation of intestinal HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> secretion.</P><P>The predominant molecular mechanism for enhanced F508del HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> stimulation appeared to be the activation of a Cl<SUP>−</SUP> recycling pathway, with Cl<SUP>−</SUP> exit via membrane‐resident F508del protein and Cl<SUP>−</SUP> entry in exchange for HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> by apical Cl<SUP>−</SUP>/HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> exchange. In contrast, the predominant molecular mechanism for cAMP‐activated HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> secretion in WT intestine appears to be HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> exit via CFTR itself.</P></P><P><B>Abstract </B> This study investigated whether expression of the common cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutant F508del in the apical membrane of enterocytes confers increased bicarbonate secretory capacity on the intestinal epithelium of F508del mutant mice compared to that of CFTR knockout (KO) mice. CFTR KO mice, F508del mutant mice (F508del) and wild‐type (WT) littermates were bred on the FVB/N background. F508del isolated brush border membrane (BBM) contained approximately 5–10% fully glycosylated band C protein compared to WT BBM. Similarly, the forskolin (FSK)‐induced, CFTR‐dependent short‐circuit current (Δ<I>I</I><SUB>sc</SUB>) of F508del mucosa was approximately 5–10% of WT, whereas the HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> secretory response (<IMG src='/wiley-blackwell_img/equation/TJP_5291_mu1.gif' alt ='inline image'/>) was almost half that of WT in both duodenum and mid‐colon studied <I>in vitro</I> and <I>in vivo.</I> While WT intestine retained full FSK‐induced <IMG src='/wiley-blackwell_img/equation/TJP_5291_mu2.gif' alt ='inline image'/> in the absence of luminal Cl<SUP>−</SUP>, the markedly higher <IMG src='/wiley-blackwell_img/equation/TJP_5291_mu3.gif' alt ='inline image'/> than Δ<I>I</I><SUB>sc</SUB> in F508del intestine was dependent on the presence of luminal Cl<SUP>−</SUP>, and was blocked by CFTR inhibitors. The Ste20‐related proline–alanine‐rich kinases (SPAK/OSR1), which are downstream of the with‐no‐lysine (K) protein kinases (WNK), were rapidly phosphorylated by FSK in WT and F508del, but significantly more slowly in CFTR KO intestine. In conclusion, the data demonstrate that low levels of F508del membrane expression in the intestine of F508del mice significantly increased FSK‐induced HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> secretion mediated by Cl<SUP>−</SUP>/HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> exchange. However, in WT mucosa FSK elicited strong SPAK/OSR1 phosphorylation and Cl<SUP>−</SUP>‐independent HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> efflux. This suggests that therapeutic strategies which deliver F508del to the apical membrane have the potential to significantly enhance epithelial HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>−</SUP> secretion.</P>

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Combined With Electroacupuncture Treatment Regulate the Subpopulation of Macrophages and Astrocytes to Facilitate Axonal Regeneration in Transected Spinal Cord

Rongyi Zhang,Junhua Wang,Qingwen Deng,Xingru Xiao,Xiang Zeng,Biqin Lai,Ge Li,Yuanhuan Ma,Jingwen Ruan,한인보,Yuan-Shan Zeng,Ying Ding 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.4

Objective: Herein, we investigated whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation combined with electroacupuncture (EA) treatment could decrease the proportion of proinflammatory microglia/macrophages and neurotoxic A1 reactive astrocytes and inhibit glial scar formation to enhance axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Adult rats were divided into 5 groups after complete transection of the spinal cord at the T10 level: a control group, a nonacupoint EA (NA-EA) group, an EA group, an MSC group, and an MSCs+EA group. Immunofluorescence labeling, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blots were performed. Results: The results showed that MSCs+EA treatment reduced the proportion of proinflammatory M1 subtype microglia/macrophages, but increased the differentiation of anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype cells, thereby suppressing the mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-1β) and increasing the expression of an anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin [IL]-10) on days 7 and 14 after SCI. The changes in expression correlated with the attenuated neurotoxic A1 reactive astrocytes and glial scar, which in turn facilitated the axonal regeneration of the injured spinal cord. In vitro, the proinflammatory cytokines increased the level of proliferation of astrocytes and increased the expression levels of C3, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. These effects were blocked by administering inhibitors of ErbB1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (AG1478 and AG490) and IL-10. Conclusion: These findings showed that MSCs+EA treatment synergistically regulated the microglia/macrophage subpopulation to reduce inflammation, the formation of neurotoxic A1 astrocytes, and glial scars. This was achieved by downregulating the ErbB1-STAT3 signal pathway, thereby providing a favorable microenvironment conducive to axonal regeneration after SCI.

Synthesis of Polyamides Containing N-Methylpyrrole and N-Methylimidazole and Their Anticancer Activity

Yuan, Gu,Xiao, Junhua,Huang, Weiqiang,Tang, Feili,Zhou, Yawei The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea 2002 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.25 No.5

Three hairpin polyamides were designed and synthesized by a haloform reaction and DCC/HOBt coupling reaction without amino protection and deprotection. Their anticancer activity were investigated with three kinds of cell lines-hepatic carcinoma, lung carcinoma and gastric carcinoma, and the values of $IC_{50}$ were at range of $10^{-7}~10^{-8}M$.

Back-fill Grout Experimental Test for Discharged Soils Reuse of the Large-diameter Size Slurry Shield Tunnel

Shunhua Zhou,Xue-Li Zhou,Chang Ji,Junhua Xiao 대한토목학회 2017 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.21 No.3

The construction of a slurry shield tunnel produces large amount of excavated soil. Direct discharge of the excavated soil by transportation not only increases the overall construction cost but also raises environmental concerns of pollution. In this study, we explore in-situ recycle of excavated soil in the Nanjing Yangtze River tunnel project as the back-fill grout. A series of laboratory were carried out to determine the synchronous grout parameters, including compression strength and shear strength, initial setting time, fluidity, consistency, and bleeding rate. The mixture ratio of the back-fill grout is also discussed to optimize the grout performance. It is found that: (1) the excavated soil produced from the construction of slurry shield tunnel in this project can be reused as the material of back-fill grout in the sand stratum; (2) Proper selection of binder/sand ratio and fly ash/cement ratio improves the performance of the synchronous grout. The test results demonstrated that the discharged soil can be recycled in-situ as the grouting material in the sand stratum.

Multiplex PCR with the Blunt Hairpin Primers for Next Generation Sequencing

Ke Chen,Yuxun Zhou,Kai Li,Junhua Xiao 한국생물공학회 2017 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.22 No.3

The multiplex PCR is one of the important methods to enrich the target DNAs for next generation sequencing. The non-specific amplification and interaction between the primers are the pivotal challenges of multiplex PCR. Here, we introduce the novel blunt hairpin primers for effective reducing the primer dimers and mispriming events. We also used a pair of auxiliary primers to enhance PCR efficiency. We simultaneously amplified 89 target regions from 44 samples and sequenced all amplicons on ion torrent PGM platform. Among all the filtrated amplicons (3438 different amplicons), 99.7, 97.6, 90.1 and 72.8% had sequencing depths fell within 200, 100, 50 and 25-fold range. The sequencing depth variations among all the samples were less than 27-fold. We also amplified multiplex regions with blunt hairpin, stick hairpin and normal linear primers, and the blunt hairpin primers could significantly reduce the amount of primer dimers and unspecific products.These results show that multiplex PCR with the blunt hairpin primers is a flexible, specific and economical target-region captured approach for the next generation sequencing.

Research on Mechanics of Longitudinal Joint in Shield Tunnel by the Nonlinear Spring Equivalent Method

Hao Jin,Shuo Yu,Shunhua Zhou,Junhua Xiao 대한토목학회 2019 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.23 No.2

Shield tunnel lining is mainly composed of prefabricated segment, accurate description of longitudinal seam joint mechanics is important for design and analysis of shield tunnel segmental linings, however, due to its stress state is complex and internal force changes show the characteristics of nonlinear, there is no more rapid and accurate calculation model to analysis the mechanics. In the view of the problem of the entity unit simulating bolt bending with low computing speed, the model of shield tunnel longitudinal seam that using the nonlinear spring to simulate bending bolt joint is proposed. Combined with longitudinal seam joint test, analysis the entity model and spring bolt model, the study concluded that: 1) the calculation results of spring bolt model are closer to the test results than entity unit model; and 2) calculation efficiency of spring bolt model bolt up 1 times than the physical model. Based on the spring bolt model, further study the relationship between viscous coefficient, friction coefficient and calculation efficiency, and analyzes the regularity of deformation and damage of shield tunnel connection.

Impact of Defects in Steel-Concrete Interface on the Corrosion-Induced Cracking Propagation of the Reinforced Concrete

Wenjun Zhu,Chengyue Yang,Zhongxu Yu,Junhua Xiao,Yude Xu 대한토목학회 2023 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.27 No.6

This paper presents the corrosion-induced cracking performance of reinforced concrete in a chloride condition. The meso-scale structures of concrete specimens were studied according to the X-ray micro-computed tomography test, including the corrosion propagation, the accumulation and transportation of corrosion products, the defects and cracking behaviors of concrete cover. The experimental results show that the defects could provide a reasonable space for the accommodation of corrosion products, which could significantly increase the corrosion process and postpone the cracking performance. The propagation of the cracking path initiating from the corrosion area of the reinforcement to the concrete cover was also captured based on the experimental images, which can make contribution to the recognition of corrosion-induced cracking behavior of the concrete cover.

A Multiplex Sensitive Quantification of MicroRNAs Based on Competitive PCR

Maochun Wang,Li Tong,Sijia Wang,Kai Li,Junhua Xiao,Yuxun Zhou 한국생물공학회 2017 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.22 No.1

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous ~22 nt RNAs that play important regulatory roles in animals and plants by targeting mRNAs for cleavage or gene silencing. Although quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) had been widely used for miRNAs quantification, a multiplex quantification method is demanding. In this study, we successfully detected 2 miRNAs (miR-505-3p and miR- 21a-5p) and an internal control (miR-16-5p) with only one reaction based on competitive PCR (cPCR) with high sensitivity. For each miRNA, two stem-loop reverse transcription (RT) primers were designed to produce two different templates: the competitor cDNA and the target cDNA, which had similar sequences except for 3 nucleotides different in length. RNA from a control sample was reverse transcribed with the competitive RT primers of multiple genes. Samples for test were reverse transcribed with target RT primers to obtain target cDNAs. Target cDNA was mixed with competitor cDNA to be used as the template for a multiplex fluorescent cPCR reaction. The cPCR products were separated on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with ABI 377 DNA sequencer and each fluorescent peak was quantified by its intensity. In this method, we compared the expression level of miR-505-3p in two tissues (thalamus and tail) between C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ mice. The results showed that in the thalamus, which had high abundance of miR-505-3p, both cPCR and SYBR Green based qRT-PCR provided a sensitive quantification outcome. However, in the tail, which had extremely low level of miR-505-3p, it could be steadily detected by cPCR even after 8 times dilution with a relatively high sensitivity, while qRT-PCR can’t detect any product only after 2 times dilution. The variation as low as 12.2% between samples could be clarified by cPCR, which could not be accomplished by qRT-PCR. This method enables multiplex, accurate and sensitive quantification of miRNAs with fewer precious RNA samples than qRT-PCR.

Characterization of the dynamic change of microRNA expression in mice hypothalamus during the time of female puberty

Gideon Omariba,Li Tong,Maochun Wang,Kai Li,Yuxun Zhou,Junhua Xiao 한국유전학회 2018 Genes & Genomics Vol.40 No.3

Puberty onset is a milestone in sexual development. A tumor suppress gene (TSG) network had been reported to be involved in the regulation of female puberty onset. The observations in rodents and primates showed a potential link between microRNAs and puberty onset. To figure out what miRNAs play roles in this important biological process, profilings of microRNAs in the hypothalamus of female mice from three different pubertal stages, juvenile [postnatal day (P10)], early pubertal (P25) and pubertal (P30) were performed on the Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 3.0 Arrays, the cerebral cortex (CTX) was used as a control tissue. 20 miRNAs were shown to be differentially expressed in hypothalamus (fold change > 1.5, P < 0.05), but not in CTX during the transition from juvenile to pubertal. Four of them were validated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRTPCR) method. 1018 genes were predicted as the targets of these miRNAs. Further bioinformatics analysis suggested that these target genes were involved in many important signaling pathways, especially in the cancer related pathways. We also found that about 90% of these target genes were expressed in the hypothalamus, as well as in the immortalized GnRH-producing GT1-7 cells, which provided additional evidence that these miRNAs could be female puberty onset related. Here we present a novel comprehensive data set of miRNA gene expression during the puberty onset; and it provides an important recourse for the future functional characterization of individual miRNAs and their targets in mouse hypothalamus and in GT1-7 cells.