Scale-space effect and scale hybridization in image intelligent recognition of geological discontinuities on rock slopes

Geological discontinuity(GD)plays a pivotal role in determining the catastrophic mechanical failure of jointed rock masses.Accurate and efficient acquisition of GD networks is essential for characterizing and understanding the progressive damage mechanisms of slopes based on monitoring image data.Inspired by recent advances in computer vision,deep learning(DL)models have been widely utilized for image-based fracture identification.The multi-scale characteristics,image resolution and annotation quality of images will cause a scale-space effect(SSE)that makes features indistinguishable from noise,directly affecting the accuracy.However,this effect has not received adequate attention.Herein,we try to address this gap by collecting slope images at various proportional scales and constructing multi-scale datasets using image processing techniques.Next,we quantify the intensity of feature signals using metrics such as peak signal-to-noise ratio(PSNR)and structural similarity(SSIM).Combining these metrics with the scale-space theory,we investigate the influence of the SSE on the differentiation of multi-scale features and the accuracy of recognition.It is found that augmenting the image's detail capacity does not always yield benefits for vision-based recognition models.In light of these observations,we propose a scale hybridization approach based on the diffusion mechanism of scale-space representation.The results show that scale hybridization strengthens the tolerance of multi-scale feature recognition under complex environmental noise interference and significantly enhances the recognition accuracy of GD.It also facilitates the objective understanding,description and analysis of the rock behavior and stability of slopes from the perspective of image data.

Identification of Weather Phenomena Based on Lightweight Convolutional Neural Networks

Weather phenomenon recognition plays an important role in the field of meteorology.Nowadays,weather radars and weathers sensor have been widely used for weather recognition.However,given the high cost in deploying and maintaining the devices,it is difficult to apply them to intensive weather phenomenon recognition.Moreover,advanced machine learning models such as Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs)have shown a lot of promise in meteorology,but these models also require intensive computation and large memory,which make it difficult to use them in reality.In practice,lightweight models are often used to solve such problems.However,lightweight models often result in significant performance losses.To this end,after taking a deep dive into a large number of lightweight models and summarizing their shortcomings,we propose a novel lightweight CNNs model which is constructed based on new building blocks.The experimental results show that the model proposed in this paper has comparable performance with the mainstream non-lightweight model while also saving 25 times of memory consumption.Such memory reduction is even better than that of existing lightweight models.

Reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide induce senescence of rudimentary leaves and the expression profiles of the related genes in Litchi chinensis

Litchi is one of the most important subtropical evergreen fruit trees in southern Asia.Previous studies indicated that high-temperature conditions encourage growth of rudimentary leaves in panicles and suppress flowering.We have demonstrated that methyl viologen dichloride hydrate(MV)and sodium nitroprusside(SNP)promoted flowering in litchi partially by inhibiting the growth of rudimentary leaves via reactive oxygen species(ROS)and nitric oxide(NO).In the present study,we examined the microstructure and ultrastructure,programmed cell death(PCD)ratio,nuclei morphology of the rudimentary leaves,and the expression of senescence-related genes after the treatment with ROS or NO.The results showed that chromatins of the ROS-or NO-treated cells in the rudimentary leaves were condensed.Fusion of the cytoplasm-digesting vesicles with the vacuole and degradation of cytoplasm forming scattered debris were found in those of the treated cells.Treatment with ROS or NO increased the cell PCD ratio.Morphology of the nuclei stained by propidium iodide(PI)showed that nuclei shape became irregular after the ROS or NO treatment.Further,the expression levels of LcRboh,LcMC-1-like,and LcPirin were higher in the ROS-and NO-treated rudimentary leaves than those in the control ones,suggesting that these genes may be involved in the ROS and NO-induced senescence and abscission of the rudimentary leaves in litchi.Our results suggested that ROS and NO play an important role in inducing the senescence of the rudimentary leaves,and ROS-and NO-induced PCD may be involved in the regulation of the rudimentary leaf growth in litchi.

A Hybrid Conjugate Gradient Algorithm for Solving Relative Orientation of Big Rotation Angle Stereo Pair

The fast convergence without initial value dependence is the key to solving large angle relative orientation.Therefore,a hybrid conjugate gradient algorithm is proposed in this paper.The concrete process is:①stochastic hill climbing(SHC)algorithm is used to make a random disturbance to the given initial value of the relative orientation element,and the new value to guarantee the optimization direction is generated.②In local optimization,a super-linear convergent conjugate gradient method is used to replace the steepest descent method in relative orientation to improve its convergence rate.③The global convergence condition is that the calculation error is less than the prescribed limit error.The comparison experiment shows that the method proposed in this paper is independent of the initial value,and has higher accuracy and fewer iterations.

A Non-toxic and Efficient Method for Extracting DNA and RNA from Peanut

[Objectives]To establish a non-toxic and efficient method for extracting DNA and total RNA from peanuts and laying a solid foundation for the molecular biology study of peanuts.[Methods]Based on the principle and method of purifying nucleic acids by silica gel adsorption at high salt and low pH condition,a non-toxic and efficient method to extract peanut DNA and total RNA using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB)extraction solution was designed.The quality and purity of nucleic acids were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and nucleic acids protein analyzer,respectively.The quality of DNA was further verified by enzyme digestion and PCR amplification using molecular marker techniques.The quality of total RNA was further verified by reverse transcription(RT)-PCR of actin gene and cDNA-SCoT gene differential display technique.[Results]The agarose gel electrophoresis test showed that the peanut DNA extracted by a low-toxic and effective method is free of contamination and degradation.Through the detection by the nucleic acid protein analyzer,the DNA concentration,yield,A260/A280 and A260/A230 of 5 peanut varieties were 419.6-498.2 ng/μL,20.98-24.91μg/g,1.89-1.96 and 2.03-2.28,respectively.The DNA was of high quality and can be completely digested by EcoRI restriction enzymes,and also can be used for SCoT and SRAP molecular marker technology analysis.The RNA extracted from different tissues of peanuts showed no visible DNA bands by non-denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis.The separated 28S bands were brighter than 18S.The ratio of A260/A280 and A260/A230 showed that the RNA quality was good and can be used for reverse transcription,RT-PCR of actin gene and amplification of cDNA-SCoT gene differential display technique.[Conclusions]This experiment established a low-toxic and effective method for extracting DNA and total RNA from peanuts.Compared with traditional methods,this method is more time-saving and cheaper than commercial kits.The most important point is that this method does not use toxic reagents such as phenol,chloroform and isopropanol.Thus,it is expected to be widely applied in molecular biology research.

Preparation and immunoprotective effects of a virus-like particle candidate vaccine of the dominant epidemic D3 genotype coxsackievirus A6 in China

Coxsackievirus A6 of the D3a genotype(CVA6 D3a)is a primary pathogen causingmainland of China's hand,foot,and mouth disease(HFMD).Viral‐like particle(VLP)vaccines represent a potential candidate vaccine to prevent HFMD.This study collected Anti‐CVA6 D3a VLPs serum from BALB/c female mice immunized using CVA6 D3a VLPs.The neutralizing antibody levels were compared against the representative 14‐JX2018(D3a)and N4‐YN2015(D3b)strains between the antisera of different immune pathways.The immunoprotective effect of anti‐CVA6 D3a VLPs against these strains was monitored using pathological sections and immuno-histochemical results of lung and skeletal muscle tissues in seven‐day‐old Institute of Cancer Research(ICR)mice.Immunological protection against different branches of viruses was evaluated in 7‐day‐old(serum passive immune protection)and 14‐day‐old(VLPs active immune protection)neonatal ICR mice models.Serum‐neutralizing antibody levels were positively correlated with the number of immunizations and higher against 14‐JX2018 than against N4‐YN2015.Furthermore,these levels were significantly higher with abdominal injection than intramuscular injection.The immunized serum of 7‐day‐old ICR mice inoculated three times was 100%protected against CVA6 D3a 14‐JX2018(lethal titer:106.25 TCID 50)and CVA6 D3b N4‐YN2015(lethal titer:105.25TCID 50)fatal attacks,respectively.For ICR mice that have completed two active immunizations for 14 days,both CVA6 D3a 14‐JX2015(challenge titer:108.25 TCID 50)and CVA6 D3b N4‐YN2015(challenge titer:107.25 TCID 50)were used for the challenge,and the mice were able to survive.Overall,the CVA6 D3a VLPs prepared in this study are a potential vaccine candidate for CVA6,as it has the optimal protective effect against both CVA6 D3a and D3b evolutionary branches viruses.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase OsRGLG5 targeted by the Magnaporthe oryzae effector AvrPi9 confers basal resistance against rice blast

Rice blast,caused by Magnaporthe oryzae,is one of the most devastating diseases of rice.During infection,M.oryzae secretes effectors to facilitate blast development.Among these effectors,the avirulence factor AvrPi9 is recognized by Pi9,a broad-spectrum blast resistance protein that triggers Pi9-mediated resistance in rice.However,little is known about the interaction between AvrPi9 and Pi9 and how AvrPi9 exerts virulence to promote infection.In this study,we found that ectopic expression of AvrPi9 in the Pi9-lacking cultivar TP309 suppressed basal resistance against M.oryzae.Furthermore,we identified an AvrPi9-interacting protein in rice,which we named OsRGLG5,encoding a functional RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase.During infection,AvrPi9 was ubiquitinated and degraded by OsRGLG5.Meanwhile,AvrPi9 affected the stability of OsRGLG5.Infection assays revealed that OsRGLG5 is a positive regulator of basal resistance against M.oryzae,but it is not essential for Pi9-mediated blast resistance in rice.In conclusion,our results revealed that OsRGLG5 is targeted by the M.oryzae effector AvrPi9 and positively regulates basal resistance against rice blast.

Pathogenesis of enterovirus infection in central nervous system

Enteroviruses (EVs) are classified into 15 species according to their sequence diversity. They include four human EV (A, B, C, and D) and three rhinoviruses (A, B, and C), and cause diseases in millions of people worldwide. Generally, individuals with enteroviral infections have mild clinical symptoms, including respiratory illness, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and fever. More importantly, some members of the human EV family are neurotropic pathogens that may cause a wide range of clinical diseases, such as aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. Previously, the EV that caused the most severe neurotropic symptoms was poliovirus (PV), a member of the EV C group. Poliovirus has been eliminated in most countries through a global vaccination campaign. Non-PV EVs infect the central nervous system (CNS) and are the major EVs causing neurological diseases. These human non-PV EVs include EV A (e.g., EV-A71, CVA6, and CVA16), B (e.g., CVA9 and CVB3, CVB5, echovirus 11 [E11], E30, and E7), C (e.g., CVA24), and D (e.g., EV-D68). Here, we review the relationship between EV infection and CNS diseases and advance in the use of cellular receptors and host immune responses during viral infection.

Morphological and molecular examination of the ciliate family Lagynusidae(Protista,Ciliophora,Prostomatea)with descriptions of two new genera and two new species from China

Ciliates in the class Prostomatea play an important role in the global microbial loop due to their signifcant abundances and broad feeding strategies at the foundation of food webs.Despite their importance in ecosystems,the taxonomy and systematics of this group of ciliates has long been poorly understood,with this being especially true for members of the family Lagynusidae.Here we examine four lagynusids collected from sandy beaches in China,using silver-staining and 18S rRNA gene sequencing techniques.These investigations revealed two new genera and two new species and provided details for two little known forms:Penardella marina gen.nov.,sp.nov.,Apolagynus cucumis(as reported by Penard.Études sur les infusoires d’eau douce.Georg and Cie,Genève,1922)gen.nov.,comb.nov.,Lagynus minutus sp.nov.,and Lagynus elegans(Engelmann in Z Wiss Zool 11:347-393,1862)Quennerstedt(Acta Univ Lund 4:1-48,1867).Penardella gen.nov.can be morphologically distinguished by having more than three dikinetidal perioral kineties.Apolagynus gen.nov.difers from the closely related genus Lagynus in the absence of a conspicuous neck-like region.The ciliature of Apolagynus cucumis is revealed here for the frst time,which demonstrates the classifcation of this species within Lagynusidae.Furthermore,Apolagynus binucleatus(Jiang et al.,2021)comb.nov.is established according to the new fnding.The results of our phylogenetic analyses based on the 18S rRNA gene support the establishment of two new genera and indicate that Lagynusidae is monophyletic,which further strengthens its valid taxonomic status.

CRISPR/Cas9介导的RPSA基因敲除细胞系的建立及其应用

【目的】利用CRISPR/Cas9技术建立RPSA基因缺失的乳仓鼠肾细胞(baby hamster kidney cells,BHK21)细胞系,为开展RPSA调控病毒复制机制研究提供工具;同时,初步探究RPSA对塞内卡病毒复制的影响。【方法】根据GenBank中仓鼠的RPSA基因序列找到产生不同转录本的共同外显子段,设计并合成4对引导RNA(sgRNA),分别构建至PX330载体中;经过筛选选择打靶活性较高的PX330-RPSA-sgRNA2质粒用于后续敲除细胞系构建。将PX330-RPSA-sgRNA2质粒转染BHK21细胞后,通过有限稀释法筛选单克隆细胞,通过Western blot及序列测定检测RPSA基因的敲除。通过Western blot及qPCR分析比较塞内卡病毒在野生型及RPSA基因敲除BHK21细胞中的复制差异。【结果】Western blot检测及序列测序证实了RPSA基因敲除单克隆细胞构建成功。进一步研究发现,塞内卡病毒在RPSA基因敲除细胞中的复制水平明显低于其在野生型BHK21细胞中复制的水平。【结论】成功构建了RPSA基因敲除的BHK21细胞系,首次表明RPSA对塞内卡病毒的复制具有重要作用,为进一步开展RPSA在细胞内调控病毒复制机制研究奠定基础。

Genome Characteristics and Evolution of Pseudorabies Virus Strains in Eastern China from 2017 to 2019

Since late 2011,outbreaks of pseudorabies virus(PRV)have occurred in southern China causing major economic losses to the pig industry.We previously reported that variant PRV forms and recombination in China could be the source of continued epidemics.Here,we analyzed samples from intensive pig farms in eastern China between 2017 and 2019,and sequenced the main glycoproteins(gB,gC,gD,and gE)to study the evolution characteristics of PRV.Based on the gC gene,we found that PRV variants belong to clade 2 and detected a founder effect during by the PRV epidemic.In addition,we detected inter-and intra-clade recombination;in particular,inter-clade recombination in the gB genes of strains FJ-ZXF and FJ-W2,which were recombinant with clade 1 strains.We also found specific amino-acid changes and positively selected sites,possibly associated with functional changes.This analysis of the emergence of PRV in China illustrates the need for continuous monitoring and the development of vaccines against specific variants of PRV.

Low Li ion diffusion barrier on low-crystalline FeOOH nanosheets and high performance of energy storage

To obtain symmetric supercapacitors(SCs)with high energy density,it is critical to fabricate an electrode with wide potential window and excellent capacitive performance.Herein,by using the strong double hydrolysis reaction between anions and cations,the FeOOH nanosheets on the surface of activated carbon cloth(FeOOH@AC)are prepared through a simple hydrothermal process.The FeOOH@AC electrode exhibits maximum capacitance of 4,090 mF·cm^−2 at wider potential window-1–0 V and 3,250 mF·cm^−2 at 0–1 V versus SCE in 2 M LiNO3 electrolyte.With two pieces of FeOOH@AC electrodes the obtained symmetric SC can operate at the voltage window of 2 V.This FeOOH symmetric SC shows high energy density of 13.261 mWh·cm^−3 at a power density of 14.824 mW·cm^−3 and maintains 4.175 mWh·cm^−3 at a maximum power density of 118.564 mW·cm^−3,as well as excellent charge storage capacity and cyclic stability.Li ion adsorption and diffusion mechanism on the(200)facets of FeOOH are explained by the density functional theory(DFT)calculations.The simple synthesis process and excellent capacitance performance of the FeOOH@AC composite make it a very promising candidate for high performance symmetric SC electrodes.

Porcine Picornavirus 3C Protease Degrades PRDX6 to Impair PRDX6-mediated Antiviral Function

Peroxiredoxin-6(PRDX6)is an antioxidant enzyme with both the activities of peroxidase and phospholipase A2(PLA2),which is involved in regulation of many cellular reactions.However,the function of PRDX6 during virus infection remains unknown.In this study,we found that the abundance of PRDX6 protein was dramatically decreased in foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV)infected cells.Overexpression of PRDX6 inhibited FMDV replication.In contrast,knockdown of PRDX6 expression promoted FMDV replication,suggesting an antiviral role of PRDX6.To explore whether the activity of peroxidase and PLA2 was associated with PRDX6-mediated antiviral function,a specific inhibitor of PLA2(MJ33)and a specific inhibitor of peroxidase activity(mercaptosuccinate)were used to treat the cells before FMDV infection.The results showed that incubation of MJ33 but not mercaptosuccinate promoted FMDV replication.Meanwhile,overexpression of PRDX6 slightly enhanced type I interferon signaling.We further determined that the viral 3Cprowas responsible for degradation of PRDX6,and 3Cpro-induced reduction of PRDX6 was independent of the proteasome,lysosome,and caspase pathways.The protease activity of 3Cprowas required for induction of PRDX6 reduction.Besides,PRDX6 suppressed the replication of another porcine picornavirus Senecavirus A(SVA),and the 3Cproof SVA induced the reduction of PRDX6 through its proteolytic activity as well.Together,our results suggested that PRDX6 plays an important antiviral role during porcine picornavirus infection,and the viral 3Cproinduces the degradation of PRDX6 to overcome PRDX6-mediated antiviral function.

Correction to: Porcine Picornavirus 3C Protease Degrades PRDX6 to Impair PRDX6-mediated Antiviral Function

Correction to:Virologica Sinica(2021)36:948-957 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12250-021-00352-4 Due to our negligence,the original version of this article,published online on March 15,2021,contained a mistake in Figure 2E(The Knockdown band of Western blotting was provided incorrectly).The correct Fig.2E is given below.We apologize for this error and state that this does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way.