The GM-JMNS-CPHD Filtering Algorithm for Nonlinear Systems Based on a Generalized Covariance Intersection.

Some fusion criteria in multisensor and multitarget motion tracking cannot be directly applied to nonlinear motion models, as the fusion accuracy applied in nonlinear systems is relatively low. In response to the above issue, this study proposes a distributed Gaussian mixture cardinality jumping Markov-cardinalized probability hypothesis density (GM-JMNS-CPHD) filter based on a generalized inverse covariance intersection. The state estimation of the JMNS-CPHD filter combines the state evaluation of traditional CPHD filters with the state estimation of jump Markov systems, estimating the target state of multiple motion models without knowing the current motion models. The performances of the generalized covariance intersection (GCI)GCI-GM-JMNS-CPHD and generalized inverse covariance intersection (GICI)GICI-GM-JMNS-CPHD methods are evaluated via simulation results. The simulation results show that, compared with algorithms such as Sensor1, Sensor2, GCI-GM-CPHD, and GICI-GM-CPHD, this algorithm has smaller optimal subpattern assignment (OSPA) errors and a higher fusion accuracy.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of WOX genes in Cucumis sativus.

WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) proteins are plant-specific transcription factors that are profoundly involved in regulation of plant development and stress responses. In this study, we totally identified 11 WOX transcription factor family members in cucumber (Cucumis sativus, CsWOX) genome and classified them into three clades with nine subclades based on phylogenetic analysis results. Alignment of amino acid sequences revealed that all WOX members in cucumber contained the typical homeodomain, which consists of 60-66 amino acids and is folded into a helix-turn-helix structure. Gene duplication event analysis indicated that CsWOX1a and CsWOX1b were a segment duplication pair, which might affect the number of WOX members in cucumber genome. The expression profiles of CsWOX genes in different tissues demonstrated that the members sorted into the ancient clade (CsWOX13a and CsWOX13b) were constitutively expressed at higher levels in comparison to the others. Cis-element analysis in promoter regions suggested that the expression of CsWOX genes was associated with phytohormone pathways and stress responses, which was further supported by RNA-seq data. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the evolution of cucumber WOX genes and improve our understanding about the biological functions of the CsWOX gene family.

Overexpression of SlMYB75 enhances resistance to Botrytis cinerea and prolongs fruit storage life in tomato.

KEY MESSAGE: SlMYB75 increased the accumulation of JA and improved the scavenging of excess H2O2 to resist B. cinerea. Overexpression of SlMYB75 greatly prolongs tomato fruit storage life. Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) is a major threat to the production and storage life of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit around the world. SlMYB75 is an R2R3MYB transcription factor associated with the biosynthesis of anthocyanidin, but little is known about its function in the resistance of tomato to B. cinerea. In this study, we found that the overexpression of SlMYB75 regulated the accumulation of jasmonic acid (JA) and promoted the JA-mediated signaling pathway to resist B. cinerea infection. Moreover, the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, which were activated to scavenge hydrogen peroxide produced as a result of the B. cinerea infection, were enhanced in the transgenic tomato plants. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the wax on the fruit skin surface was significantly decreased in the transgenic tomatoes compared with the wild type. However, SlMYB75 prolonged fruit storage life by both enhancing resistance to B. cinerea and directly downregulating the fruit shelf life-related gene SlFSR. Collectively, this study provides a good candidate gene for breeding high-quality tomatoes with a long storage life and high disease resistance.

Comprehensive analysis of multiprotein bridging factor 1 family genes and SlMBF1c negatively regulate the resistance to Botrytis cinerea in tomato.

BACKGROUND: Multiprotein bridging factor 1 s (MBF1s) are members of the transcriptional co-activator family that have involved in plant growth, development and stress responses. However, little is known about the Solanum lycopersicum MBF1 (SlMBF1) gene family. RESULTS: In total, five SlMBF1 genes were identified based on the tomato reference genome, and these genes were mapped to five chromosomes. All of the SlMBF1 proteins were highly conserved, with a typical MBF1 domain and helix-turn-helix_3 domain. In addition, the promoter regions of the SlMBF1 genes have various stress and hormone responsive cis-regulatory elements. Encouragingly, the SlMBF1 genes were expressed with different expression profiles in different tissues and responded to various stress and hormone treatments. The biological function of SlMBF1c was further identified through its overexpression in tomato, and the transgenic tomato lines showed increased susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea). Additionally, the expression patterns of salicylic acid (SA)-, jasmonic acid (JA)- and ethylene (ET)- mediated defense related genes were altered in the transgenic plants. CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive analysis provides valuable information for clarifying the evolutionary relationship of the SlMBF1 members and their expression patterns in different tissues and under different stresses. The overexpression of SlMBF1c decreased the resistance of tomato to B. cinerea through enhancing the gene expression of the SA-mediated signaling pathway and depressing JA/ET-mediated signaling pathways. These results will facilitate future functional studies of the transcriptional co-activator family.

Analysis of PM2.5-induced cytotoxicity in human HaCaT cells based on a microfluidic system.

Human exposure to PM2.5 causes several adverse health effects. Skin is the first barrier against harmful environmental substances and can directly contact with PM2.5, but there is no study about PM2.5-induced cytotoxicity in human skin cells on the molecular level partially due to the shortcomings of traditional research methods. In present study, we established a microfluidic system including a cell culture chip integrated with a high-throughput protein microarray chip to investigate the mechanism of PM2.5-mediated cytotoxicity in human HaCaT cells. We found that PM2.5 was lodged inside the cytoplasm, mitochondria and nucleus of HaCaT cells by TEM. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the cell apoptosis rate increased from 0.49% to 53.4%. The results of protein microarray showed that NF-κB and NALP3 signal transductions were activated in HaCaT cells after PM2.5 stimulations, up-regulating the expression of IL-1ß and IL-6, which resulted in inflammatory response in HaCaT cells. Our findings provide a molecular insight into PM2.5-induced skin injury.

A microfluidic chip for studying the reproduction of Enteromorpha prolifera.

In recent years, green tides caused by water eutrophication, has brought serious environmental problems. Enteromorpha prolifera (E. prolifera), an opportunistic macroalgae, is one of the main source contributing to the formation of green tides. It has been estimated that the excessive growth of E. prolifera is closely related to various reproductive ways of germ cells which are at the micrometer scale. Here we report a microfluidic device named Germ Cell Capture Chip (GCChip) to investigate the E. prolifera reproductive mechanism. GCChip integrates the functions of algal growing, and the release, capture and selective culture of germ cells. Automatic separation and capture of germ cells on the chip allows to study germ cells' response to different stimuli. The novel device greatly facilitates long-term live-cell imaging at cellular resolution and implements the rapid and accurate exchange of growth medium without manual intervention. Results showed that the starting time of germ cell releases were earlier on the chip than that of traditional experiments with more concentrated breakout. Moreover, GCChip can be widely applied on the study of other algae. The study of algae growth process, including the elongation of somatic cell, the generation, and the release of reproductive cells, can all be improved by using this microfluidic platform.

Synthesis and cellular biocompatibility of two kinds of HAP with different nanocrystal morphology.

Two kinds of hydroxyapatite (HA) with different nanocrystal morphology were obtained via a simple aqueous precipitation method under different reactants molar ratios. Under Ca/P molar ratio of 1.67/1, rod-like crystal was produced, while under Ca/P molar ratio of 1.80/1, spherical crystal was produced. The spherical crystal was 40-60 nm in diameter, while the rod-like crystal was 40-55 nm in diameter and 79-100 nm in length. The influence of HA nanocrystal morphology on osteoblasts growth was assayed by MTT method and SEM. The results indicated that there was a significantly higher absorbency value on the surface of HA with spherical crystal in MTT assay than the latter. In the process of SEM observation, it is found that osteoblasts spread out a large quantity of nano-filopodias on spherical crystal surface, thus exhibiting much more active cell morphology. In conclusion, HA with spherical nanocrystal showed more favorable properties than that with rod-like one for osteoblasts.

[Studying the biocompatibility of implant titanium alloy after surface treatment by sandblasting and etching].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effect of cell behavior on a new titanium alloy and coarsening surface with sandblasting and duplicate treated by sandblasting and acid etching (SLA), including cell proliferation, morphology as well as alkaline phosphatase expression. METHODS: The cell derived from calvarial bone of neonate and co-cultured with the surface treated titanium alloys in vitro. The samples were treated by mechanical polishing, the sandblasting and the SLA. Cell proliferation on samples for 3 d was examined by MTT assay and cell morphology was observed by scan electron microscope. Alkaline phosphatase activity was measured at 5 d by ALP-special assay. RESULTS: The sandblasting and the SLA surface showed a significant different to smooth surface in the proliferation osteoblasts. The cells were elongated and spread well and having plentiful filopods on the coarse surface. The basal ALP activity indicated that optical density value of osteoblasts was not significant difference between coarse surface and smooth surface. CONCLUSION: The observed effects are attributed to coarsening surface and support the concept that roughness can enhance the differentiation, good morphology and alkaline phosphatase expression of the cells. These results suggest that the good biological performance evaluation of sandblasting and etching surface is merited.