Sanggenon C Suppresses Tumorigenesis of Gastric Cancer by Blocking ERK-Drp1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission.

Sanggenon C is a flavonoid extracted from the root bark of white mulberry, which is a traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antitumor pharmacological effects. In this study, sanggenon C was found to inhibit human gastric cancer (GC) cell proliferation and colony formation, induce GC cell cycle arrest in the G0-G1 phase, and promote GC cell apoptosis. Moreover, sanggenon C was found to decrease the level of mitochondrial membrane potential in GC cells and inhibit mitochondrial fission. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, and a series of functional analyses confirmed that sanggenon C inhibited mitochondrial fission to induce apoptosis by blocking the extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling pathway, and constitutive activation of ERK significantly abrogated these effects. Finally, sanggenon C was found to suppress the growth of tumor xenografts in nude mice without obvious side effects to the vital organs of animals. This study reveals that sanggenon C could be a novel therapeutic strategy for GC treatment.

[An improved classification approach based on spatial and spectral features for hyperspectral data].

The spatial correlativity and spectral information are not applied synchronously in the classification model of hyperspectral data. To solve this problem, an improved classification approach based on Markov random field (MRF) theory is proposed in our work The MRF model based on maximum a posteriori is applied to combine the spectral and spatial information. The probabilistic support vector machine (PSVM) algorithm using pixels' spectral information is applied to improve the estimation accuracy of the class conditional probability (CCP) of the spectral energy function, and the efficient belief propagation (EBP) based on multi-accelerated strategy (such as ordinal propagated message strategy, linearized message-updating strategy, and coarse-to-fine approach) is developed in order to solve the problem of the high calculational complexity and time-consumed in the global energy minimum optimization of MRF model. The true hyperspectral data collected by airborne visible infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS) is applied to estimate the performance of the proposed approach in the agricultural demonstration area, Indiana northwest, USA. The performance of the proposed approach is compared with simulated annealing and iterated conditional model. The results illuminate that the average classification accuracy of our method reachs to 95.78%, and the Kappa coefficient is 93.34%, much higher than that of the result by the traditional MRF classification algorithms, and the computational efficiency is improved more than 3 times compared with the belief propagation algorithm.

[Study on the modeling of earth-atmosphere coupling over rugged scenes for hyperspectral remote sensing].

Adjacency effects may introduce errors in the quantitative applications of hyperspectral remote sensing, of which the significant item is the earth-atmosphere coupling radiance. However, the surrounding relief and shadow induce strong changes in hyperspectral images acquired from rugged terrain, which is not accurate to describe the spectral characteristics. Furthermore, the radiative coupling process between the earth and the atmosphere is more complex over the rugged scenes. In order to meet the requirements of real-time processing in data simulation, an equivalent reflectance of background was developed by taking into account the topography and the geometry between surroundings and targets based on the radiative transfer process. The contributions of the coupling to the signal at sensor level were then evaluated. This approach was integrated to the sensor-level radiance simulation model and then validated through simulating a set of actual radiance data. The results show that the visual effect of simulated images is consistent with that of observed images. It was also shown that the spectral similarity is improved over rugged scenes. In addition, the model precision is maintained at the same level over flat scenes.

[Analysis of optic crosstalk correction for pushbroom hyperspectral data].

Based on the imaging process of pushbroom hyperspectral imager, a correction method for optic crosstalk was developed. An area that has white calibration target was selected as reference data. The target pixels crosstalk quantity was gained using the subtraction between the two lines of reference data, and it was fitted to restrain noise. Using recursion method, crosstalk quantity of single pixel was calculated from the fitted function, and it could be used to correct the optical crosstalk of the whole data. Three PHI (pushbroom hyperspectral imager) data which have different ground scene were corrected. It was showed that optical crosstalk in corrected data is lightened obviously, and the data quality is improved effectively in both the spectral dimension and spatial dimension. The spectral changing caused by optical crosstalk is also corrected, and the bands with definition increased more than 50% accounts for 83% of the total bands. Optic crosstalk is obtained form hyperspectral data itself which is independent of other data source. It is proved that the correction method is valid, and it is applicable for different ground type. The correction method also provides a way to measure the optic crosstalk of hyperspectral imager in the lab.

Elevated serum ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 levels in patients with carbon monoxide poisoning.

OBJECTIVE: Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) has been established as a reliable and potential biomarker of neuronal damage after acute neurologic insults, such as ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury. However, the effect of serum UCH-L1 levels has not been investigated in carbon monoxide (CO)-poisoned patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether serum UCH-L1 levels are a reliable marker of brain damage and the association of UCH-L1 with outcome. DESIGN AND METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 46 CO-poisoned subjects and 30 controls. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, we studied the temporal profile of serum UCH-L1 levels at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after acute CO poisoning. Poisoning severity was assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Long-term outcome was assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at 6 months after poisoning. RESULTS: Compared with controls, CO-poisoned patients had significantly elevated serum levels of UCH-L1 at each time point after poisoning. There were significantly higher levels of UCH-L1 in CO-poisoned patients with a lower GCS score as well as in those with a poor 6-month outcome dichotomized GOS. CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of UCH-L1 appear to have potential clinical utility in providing valuable information about poisoning severity and outcome after CO poisoning.

Neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin in patients with carbon monoxide poisoning.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of erythropoietin (EPO) for treating patients with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. We conducted a randomized, prospective study of 103 patients with CO poisoning in two groups: an EPO group (n = 54; patients received EPO) and a placebo group (n = 49; patients received normal saline). The study endpoints were the functional outcome at day 30 (the Barthel index and neurologic sequelae), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and the levels of S-100ß. At 18 days, the NIHSS score improved significantly and S-100ß levels significantly decreased in patients in the EPO group. At 30 days, patients in the EPO group had a superior Barthel index and fewer patients had delayed neurologic sequelae (DNS). This study demonstrated that early administration of EPO to patients with CO poisoning improved neurological outcomes and reduced the incidence of DNS.

[Lateral chromatic aberrations correction for AOTF imaging spectrometer based on doublet prism].

An user defined surface function method was proposed to model the acousto-optic interaction of AOTF based on wave-vector match principle. Assessment experiment result shows that this model can achieve accurate ray trace of AOTF diffracted beam. In addition, AOTF imaging spectrometer presents large residual lateral color when traditional chromatic aberrations correcting method is adopted. In order to reduce lateral chromatic aberrations, a method based on doublet prism is proposed. The optical material and angle of the prism are optimized automatically using global optimization with the help of user defined AOTF surface. Simulation result shows that the proposed method provides AOTF imaging spectrometer with great conveniences, which reduces the lateral chromatic aberration to less than 0.000 3 degrees and improves by one order of magnitude, with spectral image shift effectively corrected.

[Imaging spectrometry radiometric cross-calibration based on precise spectral response matching].

The present research describes the development of an improved cross-calibration method of on-orbit satellite sensor. The EO-1/Hyperion was taken as the referenced sensor and HJ-1A/HSI was taken as the uncalibrated sensor. The differences between the bands configurations were removed by the precise spectral response matching using the deconvolution method, which significantly reduced the radiometric calibration uncertainty of HSI sensor. The calibration coefficients of HSI for all 115 bands were acquired. The uncertainties of calibration coefficient from band 1 to band 60 stably lie in 5%-8%, and for all the other bands excerpt for the oxygen absorption which lies in at 760 nm and the water vapor absorption which lies in at 940 nm, the uncertainties of calibration coefficients are changed from 7% to 18%, which increased as the wavelength increased. Contrasted Compared with the traditional spectral matching method, the method proposed can improve the calibration accuracy by about 50%, which can meet the demand of the quantitive application for hyperspectral remote sensing data. It demonstrated the good precision and reliability of the method. It solved the spectral matching problem when the band configuration is big enough so that the cross calibration accuracy is too low and is difficult to apply in hyperspectral sensor cross-calibration, and provides a new method to frequently update the calibration coefficients for hyperspectral imager.

[Analysis of the noise and signal-to-noise of AOTF imaging spectrometer based on EMCCD].

Imaging spectrometer based on acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is a novel hyperspectral imaging system. In order to rectify the non-uniformity of radiation sensitivity on different waveband, especially the low signal-to-noise (SNR) in low-light conditions, the electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD) sensor was proposed. The noise of AOTF imaging spectrometer was analyzed in both normal and EM modes of the CCD sensor with derived SNR calculating model which has been experimentally validated. On that basis, a new evaluation method of the dynamic range in EM mode and a novel method of calculating spectral radiance at the entrance aperture were adopted. The experimental result shows that the theoretic SNR models are fit, and better selection of EM mode is effective to improve the SNR and non-uniformity of radiation sensitivity in low light level conditions.

[Design of full-polarized and multi-spectral imaging system based on LCVR].

A new full-polarized multi-spectral imaging system is described, which uses electronically controlled LCVR (liquid crystal variable retarder) to modulate the full-polarized state of light in the visible to IR range. The system consisted of optical lenses, LCVRs, filters and CCD. Firstly, the system structure, working theory and optical design are introduced in the present paper. A polarization calibration method is provided and the calibration system was set up, which realized high-precision polarization calibration using a small polarized source. Then, a field experiment with the imaging system was carried out. Polarized spectral images with higher spectral and spatial resolution were collected. Finally, the data acquired were rough processed to get polarization degree image of the targets. It is concluded that the experiment has proved that the imaging system is effective in obtaining full-polarized and multi- spectral data. The image captured by the system can be applied to object identification and object classification.

Prenatal alcohol exposure induces long-term changes in dendritic spines and synapses in the mouse visual cortex.

AIMS: To study the long-term changes of dendritic spine and synapse taking place in a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). METHODS: Pregnant mice were intubated daily with ethanol (EtOH) from E5 to parturition. A DiI diolistic method was used to label dendritic spines of pyramidal cells in the visual cortex of EtOH-exposed and control pups over the period from postnatal (P) day P0 to P30; synaptic ultrastructure was also analyzed using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with a significant decrease in the number of dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons in the visual cortex and an increase in their mean length. The changes were dose dependent and persisted to P30. Ultrastructural changes were also observed, with decreased numbers of synaptic vesicles, narrowing of the synaptic cleft and thickening of the postsynaptic density compared to controls; ultrastructural changes also persisted to P30. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with long-term changes in dendritic spines and synaptic ultrastructure; these alterations probably reflect the developmental retardation of dendritic spines and synapses in visual cortex. These long-term changes are likely to contribute to lifelong mental retardation associated with childhood FASDs.

[Effects of exogenous Ca2+ on D1 protein phosphorylation and PS II performances of wheat leaf chloroplasts under high temperature and illumination stress].

Aimed to understand the effects of exogenous Ca2+ on the D1 protein phosphorylation and PS II performances of wheat leaf chloroplasts under high temperature and illumination stress, wheat leaves at grain-filling stage were sprayed with 10 mmol x L(-1) of CaCl2 or water (as control), and then subjected to high temperature and illumination stress (35 degrees C and 1600 micromol x m(-2) x S(-1)) for various hours, with the changes in photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR), net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and relative amount of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated D1 protein in thylakoid membranes determined. After spraying with Ca2+, the PS II reaction center under the stress was reversibly inactivated, the net degradation of D1 protein was effectively restrained, the D1 protein phosphorylation was maintained at a higher level, and the ETR of whole chain and PS II, the maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II (F(v)/F(m)), the actual photochemical efficiency of PS II (phi(PS II), the photochemical quenching coefficient (qp), and net photosynthetic rate (P(n)) were all higher, suggesting that exogenous Ca2+ could improve the PS II performances and mitigate its damage under high temperature and illumination stress via regulating the turnover of D1 protein in wheat leaf chloroplasts.

[Effects of applying biogas liquid manure on the key source-sink metabolism enzymes and grain yield of summer maize].

15000, 22500, and 30000 kg x hm(-2) of biogas liquid manure were applied to maize hybrid Zhengdan 958 to study their effects on the key source-sink metabolism enzymes and yield components of the summer maize. Compared with CK and applying nitrogen fertilizer, the application of biogas liquid manure not only increased the aboveground biomass, leaf area index (LAI) and chlorophyll content, but also enhanced the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and sucrose phosphate synthetase (SPS) in leaves and the sucrose synthetase (SS) in grains. The yield parameters such as ear diameter, ear length, grain rows per ear, grains per row, kernels per ear, 1000-kernel mass, and grain yield per unit area were also increased significantly. Of the three test application rates, 22500 kg x hm(-2) (7500 kg x hm(-2) applied at jointing, big trumpet, and tasseling stages, respectively) had the best effects on enhancing the above mentioned enzyme activities and grain yield, with the yield reached 14006.7 kg x hm(-2) and being 40.7% higher than the control.

[Effects of salicylic acid on D1 protein phosphorylation and PS II performance in wheat leaf chloroplasts under high temperature and high light stress].

To study the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on the D1 protein phosphorylation and PS II performance in wheat (Tritivum aestivum L.) leaf chloroplasts under high temperature and high light, the wheat leaves at grain-filling stage were sprayed with SA solution (0.5 mmol x L(-1)) or water (as control), and then subjected to 35 degrees C and 1600 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) for various hours. The changes in electron transport rate (ETR), net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and relative amount of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated D1 protein in thylakoid membrane were compared. The results showed that foliar spraying SA effectively inhibited the degradation of D1 protein under high temperature and high light stress, and maintained the D1 protein phosphorylation, ETR of whole chain and PS II, Fv/Fm (the maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II), phi(PS II) (the actual photochemical efficiency of PS II), q(p)(the photochemical quenching coefficient), and Pn (net photosynthetic rate) at a higher level, indicating that exogenous SA could mitigate the damage effect of high temperature and high light on wheat leaf photosynthetic apparatus and benefit PS II performance via regulating the turnover of D1 protein in chloroplasts.

[Effect of potassium level on output and diosgenin content of Dioscorea zingiberensisg].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of potassium level on physiological characteristics and diosgenin content of Dioscorea zingiberensisg and provide experimental basis for proper use of potassium fertilizer. METHODS: Field experiment including four potassium levels was carried out. The physiological characteristics of leaves were determined at different growth stages and the diosgenin content in bulk root was assayed after harvest. RESULTS: Within the arrange of 0-180 kg K2SO4/hm2, the content of chlorophyll and amino acid, Fv/Fo, Fv/Fm, and phiPs II were increased with the increase in potassium level. Meanwhile, the ability to defense the damage caused by active oxygen was obviously enhanced. Further increase in potassium level resulted in the decrease in efficiency of potassium fertilizer. CONCLUSION: It indicats that higher yield and diosgenin content can be obtained when the potassium level is 180 kg K2/hm2.