Frequency-Based Motion Representation for Video Generative Adversarial Networks.

Videos contain motions of various speeds. For example, the motions of one's head and mouth differ in terms of speed - the head being relatively stable and the mouth moving rapidly as one speaks. Despite its diverse nature, previous video GANs generate video based on a single unified motion representation without considering the aspect of speed. In this paper, we propose a frequency-based motion representation for video GANs to realize the concept of speed in video generation process. In detail, we represent motions as continuous sinusoidal signals of various frequencies by introducing a coordinate-based motion generator. We show, in that case, frequency is highly related to the speed of motion. Based on this observation, we present frequency-aware weight modulation that enables manipulation of motions within a specific range of speed, which could not be achieved with the previous techniques. Extensive experiments validate that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art video GANs in terms of generation quality by its capability to model various speed of motions. Furthermore, we also show that our temporally continuous representation enables to further synthesize intermediate and future frames of generated videos.

Enhancing transient protein expression in HEK-293 cells by briefly exposing the culture to DMSO.

BACKGROUND: Transient expression of proteins in mammalian cells is a key technique for many functional and structural studies of human and higher eukaryotic genes as well as for the production of recombinant protein therapeutics. Maximizing the expression efficiency to achieve a higher expression yield is desirable and may be even critical when, for instance, an expressed protein must be characterized at the single-cell level. NEW METHODS: Our goal was to develop a simple method by which protein expression yield in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells could be enhanced with a brief treatment of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. RESULTS: By expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter protein using the calcium phosphate transfection method and imaging a large population of cells, we found that a 5-min exposure of 10 % DMSO to HEK-293 cells, 4 h after transfection of the protein of interest, leads to ∼1.6-fold increase in the expression yield without causing any appreciable cytotoxicity. By expressing an α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and separately a kainate receptor in HEK-293 cells and measuring glutamate-induced whole-cell current response, we also found that such a brief DMSO treatment did not affect channel activity. CONCLUSION: This method is simple, efficient and inexpensive to use for enhancing transient transfection yield in HEK-293 cells.

Power partial-discard strategy to obtain improved performance for simulated moving bed chromatography.

A novel power partial-discard (PPD) strategy was developed as a variant of the partial-discard (PD) operation to further improve the separation performance of the simulated moving bed (SMB) process. The PPD operation varied the flow rates of discard streams by introducing a new variable, the discard amount (DA) as well as varying the reported variable, discard length (DL), while the conventional PD used fixed discard flow rates. The PPD operations showed significantly improved purities in spite of losses in recoveries. Remarkably, the PPD operation could provide more enhanced purity for a given recovery or more enhanced recovery for a given purity than the PD operation. The two variables, DA and DL, in the PPD operation played a key role in achieving the desired purity and recovery. The PPD operations will be useful for attaining high-purity products with reasonable recoveries.

Anti-vascular inflammatory effects of pentacyclic triterpenoids from Astilbe rivularis in vitro and in vivo.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory condition resulting from bacterial infections. It is associated with high mortality rates, and its therapeutic options are limited. Transforming growth factor ß induced protein (TGFBIp) is an extracellular matrix protein that functions as a mediator of experimental sepsis. C-27-carboxylated pentacyclic triterpenoids are specifically found in species of the genus Astilbe, and show several biological effects. Given the anti-inflammatory effects of pentacyclic triterpenoids, we investigated the effects of 3ß-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-olean-12-en-27-oic acid (1) and 6ß-hydroxy-3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid (2) on TGFBIp-mediated vascular inflammatory responses. The anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by measuring the permeability, leukocyte adhesion and migration, and activation of pro-inflammatory proteins in TGFBIp-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mice. We found that compounds 1 and 2 inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TGFBIp secretion, TGFBIp-induced barrier disruption, expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and the adhesion/transendothelial migration of the neutrophils to the human endothelial cells. Compounds 1 and 2 also suppressed TGFBIp-induced hyperpermeability and leukocyte migration in vivo. These results suggested that C-27-carboxylated pentacyclic triterpenoids 1 and 2 have anti-inflammatory functions by inhibiting hyperpermeability, CAM expression, and leukocyte adhesion/migration. Therefore, these compounds can be considered as a potential therapy for vascular inflammatory diseases.

Sublingual immunization with Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine effectively induces immunity through both cellular and humoral immune responses in mice.

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the leading cause of viral encephalitis. Although there are four classes of vaccines against JEV, all of them are administered by s.c or i.m injection. Here, the effectiveness of sublingual (s.l.) administration of a JEV live-attenuated vaccine or recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vaccine, including JEV prM/E, was investigated. The mice were immunized three times i.m. or s.c. One week after the final immunization by both s.l. and i.m. routes, the titers of IgG1 induced by the recombinant MVA vaccine were higher than those induced by the live-attenuated vaccine, whereas the titers of IgG2a induced by the live-attenuated vaccine were higher than those induced by the recombinant MVA vaccine. However, both vaccines induced neutralizing antibodies when given by either s.l. or i.m. routes, indicating that both vaccines induce appropriate Th1 and Th2 cell responses through the s.l. and i.m. routes. Moreover, both vaccines protected against induction of proinflammatory cytokines and focal spleen white pulp hyperplasia after viral challenge. Virus-specific IFN-γ+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells appeared to increase in mice immunized via both s.l. and i.m. routes. Interestingly, virus-specific IL-17+ CD4+ T cells increased significantly only in the mice immunized via the s.l. route; however, the increased IL-17 did not affect pathogenicity after viral challenge. These results suggest that s.l. immunization may be as useful as i.m. injection for induction of protective immune responses against JEV by both live-attenuated and recombinant MVA vaccines.

Inhibitory effects of pentacyclic triterpenoids from Astilbe rivularis on TGFBIp-induced inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo.

Transforming growth factor ß induced protein (TGFBIp) is an extracellular matrix protein which expression in several cell types is greatly increased by TGF-ß. TGFBIp is released by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and functions as a mediator of experimental sepsis. Pentacyclic triterpenoids bearing a carboxyl group at C-27 position, 3ß,6α-dihydroxyolup-20(29)-ene (1), 3ß,6ß-dihydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (2) and 3ß,24-dihydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (3), are representative bioactive molecules in the genus Astilbe that possess cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and wounds healing activities. Based on the biological effects of C-27 carboxylated pentacyclic triterpenoids, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of compounds 1-3 against TGFBIp-mediated vascular inflammatory responses. The anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1-3 were determined by measuring permeability, leukocytes adhesion and migration, and activation of pro-inflammatory proteins in TGFBIp-activated human HUVECs and mice. We found that compounds 1-3 inhibited TGFBIp-induced barrier disruption, expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and adhesion/transendothelial migration of neutrophils to human endothelial cells. Each compound also suppressed TGFBIp-induced hyperpermeability and leukocyte migration in vivo. These results suggest that compounds 1-3 possess anti-inflammatory functions by inhibiting hyperpermeability, expression of CAMs, and adhesion and migration of leukocytes, thereby endorsing its usefulness as a therapy for vascular inflammatory diseases.

Suppressive effects of lysozyme on polyphosphate-mediated vascular inflammatory responses.

Lysozyme, found in relatively high concentration in blood, saliva, tears, and milk, protects us from the ever-present danger of bacterial infection. Previous studies have reported proinflammatory responses of endothelial cells to the release of polyphosphate(PolyP). In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory responses and mechanisms of lysozyme and its effects on PolyP-induced septic activities in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mice. The survival rates, septic biomarker levels, behavior of human neutrophils, and vascular permeability were determined in PolyP-activated HUVECs and mice. Lysozyme suppressed the PolyP-mediated vascular barrier permeability, upregulation of inflammatory biomarkers, adhesion/migration of leukocytes, and activation and/or production of nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6. Furthermore, lysozyme demonstrated protective effects on PolyP-mediated lethal death and the levels of the related septic biomarkers. Therefore, these results indicated the therapeutic potential of lysozyme on various systemic inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis or septic shock.

Apios americana Medik Extract Alleviates Lung Inflammation in Influenza Virus H1N1- and Endotoxin-Induced Acute Lung Injury.

Apios americana Medik (hereinafter Apios) has been reported to treat diseases, including cancer, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. The therapeutic effect of Apios is likely to be associated with its anti-inflammatory activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of Apios in animal models of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza A virus (H1N1). Mice were exposed to LPS or H1N1 for 2-4 days to induce acute lung injury. The treatment groups were administered Apios extracts via oral injection for 8 weeks before LPS treatment or H1N1 infection. To investigate the effects of Apios, we assessed the mice for in vivo effects of Apios on immune cell infiltration and the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and histopathological changes in the lung. After induction of acute lung injury, the numbers of neutrophils and total cells were lower in the Apios-treated groups than in the non-Apios-treated LPS and H1N1 groups. The Apios groups tended to have lower levels of tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-6 in BAL fluid. In addition, the histopathological changes in the lungs were markedly reduced in the Apios-treated groups. These data suggest that Apios treatment reduces LPS- and H1N1-induced lung inflammation. These protective effects of Apios suggest that it may have therapeutic potential in acute lung injury.