A high-precision jujube disease spot detection based on SSD during the sorting process.

The development of automated grading equipment requires achieving high throughput and precise detection of disease spots on jujubes. However, the current algorithms are inadequate in accomplishing these objectives due to their high density, varying sizes and shapes, and limited location information regarding disease spots on jujubes. This paper proposes a method called JujubeSSD, to boost the precision of identifying disease spots in jujubes based on a single shot multi-box detector (SSD) network. In this study, a diverse dataset comprising disease spots of varied sizes and shapes, varying densities, and multiple location details on jujubes was created through artificial collection and data augmentation. The parameter information obtained from transfer learning into the backbone feature extraction network of the SSD model, which reduced the time of spot detection to 0.14 s. To enhance the learning of target detail features and improve the recognition of weak information, the traditional convolution layer was replaced with deformable convolutional networks (DCNs). Furthermore, to address the challenge of varying sizes and shapes of disease spot regions on jujubes, the path aggregation feature pyramid network (PAFPN) and balanced feature pyramid (BFP) were integrated into the SSD network. Experimental results demonstrate that the mean average precision at the IoU (intersection over union) threshold of 0.5 (mAP@0.5) of JujubeSSD reached 97.1%, representing an improvement of approximately 6.35% compared to the original algorithm. When compared to existing algorithms, such as YOLOv5 and Faster R-CNN, the improvements in mAP@0.5 were 16.84% and 8.61%, respectively. Therefore, the proposed method for detecting jujube disease spot achieves superior performance in jujube surface disease detection and meets the requirements for practical application in agricultural production.

The Molecular Mechanism of SIRT1-Catalysed Deacetylation on Non-Histone Proteins and Its Impact on Cell Apoptosis / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Sirtuins belongs to the class III family of histone deacetylases (HDAC), which is a mammalian homolog of the yeast silencing information regulator Sir2. Silent information regulator factor 2-related enzyme 1 (SIRT1) is the most well studied family member of Sirtuins. Distributed mainly in the nucleus and cytoplasm, SIRT1 is involved in various intracellular biological processes, including DNA damage repair, gene transcription, energy metabolism, stress and apoptosis through its NAD

[Effects of Targeting lncRNA HOTAIR on the Invasion and Nude Mouse Tumorigenicity of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of shRNA-mediated downregulating lncRNA HOTAIR on the invasion,nude mouse tumorigenicity and snail expression of epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. METHODS: The expression of lncRNA HOTAIR was detected by RT-PCR in SKOV3 cells. The shRNA targeting the lncRNA HOTAIR gene was cloned into RNA interference plasmid. The construction shHOTAIR vector was transfected into ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells by lipofectamine 2000,and the stably transfected cells were isolated by G418 and single clone selection. The downregulating expression of lncRNA HOTAIR was detected by quantitative real time PCR(qRT-PCR). The characteristics of shHOTAIR transfected SKOV3 cells were analyzed from the assays of invasion and nude mouse tumorigenicity,as well as the expression of snail and E-cadherin mRNA detected by qRT-PCR,and snail detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods in xenograft tumor,respectively. RESULTS: The lncRNA HOTAIR expression was proved by RT-PCR in SKOV3 cells. The lncRNA HOTAIR expression in shHOTAIR transfected SKOV3 cells was significantly lower than the scramble control (P<0.01). The shHOTAIR transfected SKOV3 cells show that the invasion ability was significantly decreased compared with the scramble control (P<0.01). The nude mouse tumorigenicity,including tumorigenicity mouse number and tumor volume,was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P<0.01). The snail protein expression detected by IHC and Western blot in shHOTAIR-SKOV3 xenograft tumor was significantly decreased compared with the control scramble- SKOV3 group (P<0.05). The lncRNA HOTAIR low expression resulted in increasing E-cadherin and decreasing snail expression detected by qRT-PCR in the shHOTAIR transfected SKOV3 cells of xenograft tumor,compared with the scramble control (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Targeting lncRNA HOTAIR expression in SKOV3 cells with RNA interference can decrease snail,increase E-cadherin and significantly reduce the invasion and tumorigenicity of epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. These results suggest that the lncRNA HOTAIR could be an effective therapeutic target for human epithelial ovarian caner treatment.

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B administration in pregnant rats alters the splenic lymphocyte response in adult offspring rats.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study suggested that SEB exposure in pregnant rats could lead to the change of T cells subpopulation in both peripheral blood and thymus of the offspring rats. However, rarely is known about the influence of SEB exposure in pregnant rats on T cell subpopulation in the spleens of offspring rats. RESULTS: SEB was intravenously administered to the pregnant rats at gestational day 16 in this study. The percentages, in vivo and in vitro responses of CD4 and CD8 T cells were investigated with flow cytometry. The prenatal SEB exposure obviously increased splenic CD4 T cell percentages of both neonates and adult offspring rats, and obviously reduced splenic CD8 T cell percentages of both the fifth day neonates and adult offspring rats. After spleens in the adult offspring rats were re-stimulated with SEB in vivo or in vitro, in vivo SEB stimulation could lead to the marked decrease of splenic CD4 T cell percentage and the marked increase of splenic CD8 T cell percentage. While in vitro SEB stimulation to the cultured splenocytes markedly decreased the proliferation of the splenic lymphocytes and the CD4 T cell percentage, and had no influence on CD8 T cell percentage. CONCLUSION: The prenatal SEB exposure could alter the percentages of CD4/CD8 T cell subpopulation and the response of CD4 and CD8 T cells to the in vivo and in vitro secondary SEB stimulation in the splenocytes of adult offspring rats.

[The measurement of water vapor isotope based on mid-infrared difference frequency generation].

Stable-isotope ratio analysis of water is an important tool for geology, meteorology, and earth sciences. Measurements of water vapor isotopes are very helpful to explaining stratospheric aridity and related issues in atmospheric sciences. The absorption of water vapor near 2.7 microm is very strong so it is suitable for measuring high sensitivity spectra. Based on difference frequency generation and quasi-phase matching, by mixing an Nd : YAG laser with Ti : Sapphire tunable from 750 to 840 nm in a 50 mm long periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal, a widely tunable CW laser source was generated for the mid-infrared spectral range from 2.5 to 4 microm. We chose lambda = 20 microm for PPLN crystal, the generated laser was around 2.7 microm. This laser is widely tunable and of inherent narrow linewidth based on difference-frequency generation. Using this idler laser and 100 m multi-pass cell, and direct absorption the water vapor isotopes were measured in the laboratory air. The authors measured isotopes ratios and delta17O, delta18O and deltaD. The values were found to be in excellent agreement with the standard value for three individual lines.

[Difference-frequency generation in PPLN and water vapor detection in air].

The continuously tunable laser source has been realized in a periodically poled LiNO3 crystal based on difference frequency generation and quasi-phase-matching technique. The pump laser is an 1 W tunable Ti: Sapphire laser with a tunable region from 770 to 870 nm. The signal laser is an 1 W diode-pumped monolithic Nd : YAG laser. When the grating period is 20 microm and the temperature is tuned between room temperature and 200 degrees C, the generated wavelength of idler laser is around 2. 8 microm with the general power of .1-2 microW. The direct absorption spectra of (001 <-- 000) band of water in laboratory air were measured based on the laser source. The concentration of water vapor in the laboratory air was estimated with an absorption optical path of 8. 5 cm in open air.

A practical synthesis of 2-((1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-4-yl)methylamino)-5- fluoronicotinic acid.

A practical synthesis of a key pharmaceutical intermediate, 2-[(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-4-yl)methylamino]-5-fluoronicotinic acid (1), is described. To introduce the aminomethyl moiety of 2 via a palladium-catalyzed cyanation/reduction sequence, a regioselective chlorination of 7-azaindole via the N-oxide was developed. A highly selective monodechlorination of 2,6-dichloro-5-fluoronicotinic acid was discovered to afford the nicotinic acid 3. The two building blocks 2 and 3 were then coupled to complete the preparation of 1.

[Application of echocardiographic monitoring in percutaneous cardiopulmonary support for the treatment of acute fulminant myocarditis: report of one case].

OBJECTIVE: To observe dynamic echocardiographic changes in patients with acute fulminant myocarditis and assess the clinical value of echocardiography in treatment with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS). METHOD PCPS through the femoral artery/vein was used in the treatment of a patient with acute fulminant myocarditis, with dynamic echocardiographic observation of the atrial and ventricular volumes, left ventricular wall thickness, pulsatile amplitude and cardiac functions before and after PCPS. The position of the catheter of PCPS was also under dynamic bedside monitoring. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The patient showed significant echocardiographic changes, such as weakening of the wall movement, lowered ejection fraction, widening of the left ventricular internal diameter with mild pericardial exudation. After PCPS, the cardiac functions such as the heart movement, ejection fraction and the shortening rate of the short axis were greatly improved as observed with ambulatory echocardiography. This case suggests that ambulatory echocardiography can be instrumental in the management of cardiac emergencies.

[The system of appellation of origin and geographic indication of orthodox drugs and their protection in China].

There are lot of orthodox drugs in Chinese traditional medicine, with good reputation, quality and characteristics, are well known for their place of origin. Appellation of origin and geographic indication (GI) should be protected. Implementing system of the protection of GI in Chinese traditional medicine field is very important to extend national elaborate orthodox drugs and raise competitiveness of the goods in international trade.

The system of appellation of origin and geographic indication of orthodox drugs and their protection in China / 中国中药杂志

There are lot of orthodox drugs in Chinese traditional medicine, with good reputation, quality and characteristics, are well known for their place of origin. Appellation of origin and geographic indication (GI) should be protected. Implementing system of the protection of GI in Chinese traditional medicine field is very important to extend national elaborate orthodox drugs and raise competitiveness of the goods in international trade.

Inhibitory effects of total flavones of Metasequoia glyptostroboides on experimental cardiac hypertrophy and expression of c-Fos protein in ventricle / 中草药

To observe the effects of total flavones of Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng (TFM) on volume-overload cardiac hypertrophy and the expression of c-Fos protein in rat. Methods　Volume-overload cardiac hypertrophy of rat was induced by aortocaval shunts. The rats were given ig TFM (400, 40 and 4 mg/kg/d). c-Fos protein in the ventricles were measured by immunocytochemical study. Results　TFM at the above dosage decreased heart weight and contents of RNA and protein in the myocardium, inhibited the expression of c-Fos protein in the ventricles. Conclusion　TFM can prevent volume-overload cardiac hypertrophy in rats. The inhibitory effects on the expression of c-Fos protein may be its mechanism in the molecular level.