一种局部多尺度retinex算法在雾天图像中的应用

由于大气粒子的散射作用,雾天条件下拍摄的图片质量下降,给户外视觉系统造成严重影响,尤其在宽动态范围场景中的图片存在过度曝光的区域和曝光不足的区域。传统的图像增强方法不能产生令人满意的复原图像,也不能提高图像中每个区域的对比度。单尺度retinex算法和由若干个单尺度retinex算法线性加权而成的多尺度retinex算法都具有局部图像增强和动态范围压缩的特点。文章提出了一种局部多尺度的retinex彩色图像复原(local multi-scale-retinex with color restoration,LMSRCR)算法,该算法根据雾浓度将图像分割成不同的局部区域,再对每个局部区域运行多尺度retinex算法。实验表明,该方法能有效去除图像中的雾,实现彩色退化图像的复原。

广义加权分数傅里叶变换两分量组合抗衰落技术

为了在不改变载波体制的情况下,提升传统单载波(Single Carrier,SC)和多载波系统(Multi-Carrier,MC)的抗衰落能力,本文利用广义混合载波(Generalized Hybrid Carrier,GHC)系统在信号设计方面的高灵活性,提出基于广义加权分数傅里叶变换(Generalized Weighted Fractional Fourier Transform,GWFRFT)的两分量组合抗衰落方案.针对SC系统,所提两分量方案包含时域和时域反转两个分量,可以有效提升系统抗时间选择性衰落的能力;针对MC系统,所提两分量方案由频域和频域反转两个分量组成,能够有效提升系统抗频率选择性衰落的能力.为了充分挖掘两分量组合信号的潜力,本文对这种信号形式获得性能优势的机理进行了分析.分析结果表明,两分量之间的功率分配和同一符号在两分量中所经历衰落的独立性是影响两分量信号性能的关键因素.鉴于此,本文提出两分量等功率设计和半码块反转方案,进一步优化了两分量组合信号的性能.在此基础上,本文给出两分量组合信号生成方法,并分析其实现复杂度和频谱特性.仿真结果表明,两分量组合方案可以在不占用额外时间和频谱资源的前提下,实现对传统SC和MC系统抗衰落性能的有效提升,而基于分量等功率分配和半码块反转的优化可以进一步增强这种性能提升的效果.

Overexpression of polo-like kinase1 predicts a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

AIM： To elucidate the role of overexpressed polo-like kinasel （PLK1）in hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： We prospectively collected clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） data from 135 HCC patients undergoing successful hepatectomy. The correlations between PLK1 mRNA expression and clinicopathologic variables were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. Prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS： Immunohistochemical results showed overexpression of PLK1 was mainly found in tumor tissues compared with tumor-free tissue. A similar mRNA result was obtained by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. A total of 111 samples were positive for PLK1 mRNA expression. The positive expression was correlated with venous invasion, tumor nodules and Edmondson grade. Furthermore, 1, 3, 5-year survival rates in the positive expression group were significantly lower than the negative control group. Multivariate analysis showed that positive PLK1 expression was an independent risk factor for HCC. CONCLUSION： PLK1 could be a potential biomarker for diagnosis and therapy for HCC.

Phosphoinositide-3-kinase,catalytic,alpha polypeptide RNA interference inhibits growth of colon cancer cell SW948

AIM:To investigate the gene knock-down effect by the phosphoinositide-3-kinase,catalytic,alpha polypeptide(PIK3CA)-targeted double-stranded RNA(dsRNA) and its effect on cell proliferation and cycle distribution in SW948.METHODS:Two PIK3CA-targeted dsRNAs were constructed and transfected into SW948 cells.Transfections were performed using lipofectamine TM 2000.The transfection effectiveness was calculated basing on the rate of fluorescence cell of SW948 at 6 h after transfection.Total messenger RNA was extracted from these cells using the RNeasy kit,and semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the down-regulation of PIK3CA,AKT1,MYC,and CCND1 gene expression.Cells were harvested,proteins were resolved,and western blot was employed to detect the expression levels of PIK3CA,AKT1,MYC,and CCND1 gene.Cell proliferation was assessed by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide assay and the inhibition rate was calculated.Soft agar colony formation assay was performed basing on colonies greater than 60 μm in diameter at ×100 magnification.The effect on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry.All experiments were performed in triplicate.RESULTS:Green fluorescence was observed in SW948 cell transfected with plasmid Pgenesil-1,and the transfection effectiveness was about 65%.Forty-eight hours post-transfection,mRNA expression of PIK3CA in SW948 cells was 0.51 ± 0.04 vs 0.49 ± 0.03 vs 0.92 ± 0.01 vs 0.93 ± 0.03(P = 0.001) in Pgenesil-CA1,Pgenesil-CA2,negative and blank group respectively.mRNA expression of AKT1 was 0.50 ± 0.03 vs 0.48 ± 0.01 vs 0.93 ± 0.04 vs 0.92 ± 0.02(P = 0.000) in Pgenesil-CA1,Pgenesil-CA2,negative and blank group respectively.mRNA expression of MYC was 0.49 ± 0.01 vs 0.50 ± 0.04 vs 0.90 ± 0.02 vs 0.91 ± 0.03(P = 0.001) in the four groups respectively.mRNA expression of CCND1 was 0.45 ± 0.02 vs 0.51 ± 0.01 vs 0.96 ± 0.03 vs 0.98 ± 0.01(P = 0.001) in the four groups respectively.The protein level of PIK3CA was 0.53 ± 0.01 vs 0.54 ± 0.02 vs 0.92 ± 0.03 vs 0.91 ± 0.02(P = 0.001) in Pgenesil-CA1,Pgenesil-CA2,negative and blank group respectively.The protein level of AKT1 in the four groups was 0.49 ± 0.02 vs 0.55 ± 0.03 vs 0.94 ± 0.03 vs 0.95 ± 0.04,P = 0.000).The protein level of MYC in the four groups was 0.51 ± 0.03 vs 0.52 ± 0.04 vs 0.92 ± 0.02 vs 0.95 ± 0.01(P = 0.000).The protein level of CCND1 in the four groups was 0.54 ± 0.04 vs 0.56 ± 0.03 vs 0.93 ± 0.01 vs 0.93 ± 0.03(P = 0.000).Both Pgenesil-CA1 and Pgenesil-CA2 plasmids significantly suppressed the growth of SW948 cells when compared with the negative or blank group at 48 h after transfec-tion(29% vs 25% vs 17% vs 14%,P = 0.001),60 h after transfection(38% vs 34% vs 19% vs 16%,P = 0.001),and 72 h after transfection(53% vs 48% vs 20% vs 17%,P = 0.000).Numbers of colonies in negative,blank,CA1,and CA2 groups were 42 ± 4,45 ± 5,8 ± 2,and 10 ± 3,respectively(P = 0.000).There were more than 4.5 times colonies in the blank and negative control groups as there were in the CA1 and CA2 groups.In addition,the colonies in blank and negative control groups were also larger than those in the CA1 and CA2 groups.The percentage of cells in the CA1 and CA2 groups was significantly higher in G 0 /G 1 phase,but lower in S and G 2 /M phase when compared with the negative and control groups.Moreover,cell apoptosis rates in the CA1 and CA2 groups were 5.11 ± 0.32 and 4.73 ± 0.32,which were significantly higher than those in negative(0.95 ± 0.11,P = 0.000) and blank groups(0.86 ± 0.13,P = 0.001).No significant difference was found between CA1 and CA2 groups in cell cycle distribution and apoptosis.CONCLUSION:PIK3CA-targeted short hairpin RNAs can block the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway and inhibit cell growth,increase apoptosis,and induce cell cycle arrest in the PIK3CA-mutant colon cancer SW948 cells.

XAF1 is frequently methylated in human esophageal cancer

AIM： To explore epigenetic changes in the gene encod- ing X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis-associ- ated factor 1 （XAF1） during esophageal carcinogenesis. METHODS： Methylation status of XAF1 was detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction （MSP） in four esophageal cancer cell lines （KYSE30, KYSE70, BICl and partially methylated in TE3 cell lines）, nine cases of normal mucosa, 72 cases of pri- mary esophageal cancer and matched adjacent tissue. XAF1 expression was examined by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting before and after treatment with 5-aza- deoxycytidine （5-aza-dc）, a demethylating agent. To investigate the correlation of XAF1 expression and methylation status in primary esophageal cancer, immu- nohistochemistry for XAF1 expression was performed in 32 cases of esophageal cancer and matched adjacent tissue. The association of methylation status and clini-copathological data was analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS： MSP results were as follows： loss of XAF1 expression was found in three of four esophageal cell lines with promoter region hypermethylation （com- pletely methylated in KYSE30, KYSE70 and BIC1 cell lines and partially in TE3 cells）; all nine cases of normal esophageal mucosa were unmethylated; and 54/72 （75.00%） samples from patients with esophageal can- cer were methylated, and 25/72 （34.70%） matched adjacent tissues were methylated （75.00% vs 34,70%, z2 = 23.5840, P = 0.000）. mRNA level of XAF1 mea- sured with semi-quantitative reverse transcription poly- merase chain reaction was detectable only in TE3 cells, and no expression was detected in KYSE30, KYSE70 or BIC1 cells. Protein expression was not observed in KYSE30 cells by Western blotting before treatment with 5-aza-dc. After treatment, mRNA level of XAF1 was detectable in KYSE30, KYSE70 and BIC1 cells. Protein expression was detected in KYSE30 after treatment with 5-aza-dc. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 32 cases of esophageal cancer and adjacent tissue, and demonstrated XAF1 in the nucleus and cytoplasm. XAF1 staining was found in 20/32 samples of adjacent normal tissue but was present in only 8/32 samples of esophageal cancer tissue （Z2= 9.143, P = 0.002）. XAF1 expression was decreased in cancer samples compared with adjacent tissues. In 32 cases of esophageal can- cer, 24/32 samples were methylated, and 8/32 esopha- geal cancer tissues were unmethylated. XAF1 staining was found in 6/8 samples of unmethylated esophageal cancer and 2/24 samples of methylated esophageal cancer tissue. XAF1 staining was inversely correlated with XAF1 promoter region methylation （Fisher＇s exact test, P = 0.004）. Regarding methylation status and clinicopathological data, no significant differences were found in sex, age, tumor size, tumor stage, or metas- tasis with respect to methylation of XAF1 for the 72 tis- sue samples from patients with esophageal cancer. CONCLUSION： XAF1 is frequently methylated in eso- phageal cancer, and XAF1 expression is regulated by promoter region hypermethylation.

Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits HBV DNA synthesis in a viral replication-inducible cell line

AIM:To analyze the antiviral mechanism of Epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)against hepatitis B virus(HBV) replication.METHODS:In this research,the HBV-replicating cell line HepG2.117 was used to investigate the antiviral mechanism of EGCG.Cytotoxicity of EGCG was analyzed by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.Hepatitis B virus e antigen(HBeAg)and hepatitis B virus surface antigen(HBsAg)in the supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Precore mRNA and pregenomic RNA(pgRNA) levels were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(PCR)assay.The effect of EGCG on HBV core promoter activity was measured by dual luciferase reporter assay.HBV covalently closed circular DNA and replicative intermediates of DNA were quantified by real-time PCR assay.RESULTS:When HepG2.117 cells were grown in the presence of EGCG,the expression of HBeAg was suppressed,however,the expression of HBsAg was not affected.HBV precore mRNA level was also downregulated by EGCG,while the transcription of precore mRNA was not impaired.The synthesis of both HBV covalently closed circular DNA and replicative intermediates of DNA were reduced by EGCG treatment to a similar extent,however,HBV pgRNA transcripted from chromosome-integrated HBV genome was not affected by EGCG treatment,indicating that EGCG targets only replicative intermediates of DNA synthesis.CONCLUSION:In HepG2.117 cells,EGCG inhibits HBV replication by impairing HBV replicative intermediates of DNA synthesis and such inhibition results in reduced production of HBV covalently closed circular DNA.

Silence of HIN-1 expression through methylation of its gene promoter in gastric cancer

AIM: To clarify the role of high in normal-1 (HIN-1) gene promoter methylation during gastric cancer development. METHODS: Gastric cancer cell lines and tissue specimens were analyzed for expression of HIN-1 mRNA and protein using the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The methylation of the HIN-1 gene promoter was detected in gastric carcinoma cells and tissues using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium cell viability assay and flow cytometry were used to assess the changes in behaviors of gastric cancer cells with or without 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine treatment. RESULTS: HIN-1 was not expressed in 4 of 5 gastric cancer cell lines. The demethylation reagent 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine was able to induce or upregulate HIN-1 expression in gastric cancer cell lines, which is associated with reduction of tumor cell viability. Furthermore, methylation of the HIN-1 gene promoter was shown in 57.8% (26/45) of the primary gastric cancer and 42.1% (17/38) of adjacent tissue samples, but was not shown in normal gastric mucosa (0/10). From the clinicopathological data of the patients, methylation of the HIN-1 gene promoter was found to be associated with tumor differentiation (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: High methylation of HIN-1 gene promoter results in silence of HIN-1 expression in gastric cancer. 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine reverses HIN-1 methylation and reduces viability of gastric cancer cells.

Nectin-like Molecule 1 Inhibits the Migration and Invasion of U251 Glioma Cells by Regulating the Expression of An Extracellular Matrix Protein Osteopontin

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of nectin-like molecule 1(NECL1) inhibiting the migration and invasion of U251 glioma cells.Methods We infected U251 glioma cells with adeno-nectin-like molecule 1(Ad-NECL1) or empty adenovirus(Ad).Transwell and wound healing assays were performed to observe the migration of U251 cells incubated with the cell supernatant from Ad-NECL1 or Ad infected U251 cells.DNA microarray was applied to screen the gene expression profile after the restoration of NECL1 in U251 glioma cell lines.The differential expression of osteopontin(OPN),a gene related to migration and invasion,was further analyzed with semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),Western blot,and immunohistochemistry.Results The restoration of NECL1 inhibited migration of U251 cells significantly(P<0.05).Altogether 195 genes were found differentially expressed by microarray,in which 175 were up-regulated and 20 down-regulated,including 9 extracellular matrix proteins involved in the migration of cells.Both mRNA and protein expressions of OPN,the most markedly reduced extracellular matrix protein,were found decreased in U251 cells after restoration of NECL1.Immunohistochemical assay also detected an increase of OPN in glioma tissues,related with the progressing of malignant grade.Conclusion A link might exist between NECL1 and the extracellular matrix protein OPN in inhibiting the migration and invasion of U251 glioma cells.

Direct Osmosis

Method of direct osmosis （also known as nonequivalent ion transfer through semipermeable membrane） was developed in 1971 and patented in 1974 by one of authors. There were no publications because the patent was secreted. Moreover, necessary quality of membranes--high negative selectivity and apparatus for this process was provided only in 2000s （patented in 2008）. Technology of direct osmosis is able to solve a number of problems of industry, such as extracting of rare elements （Re, Ge, U, etc.） from natural and manufacturing water. The authors need to mention that direct osmosis makes possible to create rentable technology of greenhouse gases trapping and burying. It will be shown in the next article. And this article is about the basic idea--nonequivalent ion transfer through semipermeable membrane or direct osmosis.

Relationship of calcineurin expression between T-lymphocyte and myocardium in patients with heart failure

Objective Congestive heart failure （CHF） is the final common pathway of various heart diseases.Calcineurin,a calcium/calmodulindependent phosphatase consisting of a catalytic subanit A （CnA） and a regulatory calcium-binding subunit B （CnB）,is activated in heart failure.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mRNA level of calcineurin in circulating T-lymphocyte and that in myocardium in patients with CHF. Methods A total of 38 patients with CHF （aged from 29 to 62 years） were included in this study.The mRNA levels of alpha-and beta-isoform of CnA in left ventricular anterior papillary muscle and peripheral lymphocytes were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Pearson linear correlation analysis was performed,and difference was considered statistically significant at a P value 〈0.05. Results Calcineurin mRNA levels in lymphocytes were positively correlated with those in myocardium （for CnA-alpha mRNA,r=0.820;for CnA-beta mRNA,r=0.875;both P〈0.01）.CnA-beta mRNA levels in both circulating lymphocytes and myocardium increased significantly with increasing NYHA class （r=0.877 for peripheral blood and r=0.805 for cardiac muscle;both P〈0.01）. Conclusions The mRNA level of CnA-beta in circulating lymphocytes is positively correlated with that in myocardium and is a promising marker for the severity of cardiac dysfunction in patients with CHF.

Dynamic change of xylanase activity and gene expression during wheat germination on As（III） stress

Through water cultivating method, the dynamic changes of xylanase activity in seed, root and plumule of wheat with different As （III） concentration treatment were studied. The results indicated that the order of average xylanase activity was seed〉plumule〉root. With the increasing concentration of As （III）, the xylanase activity elevated first then dropped in seed, but it descended first then ascended in root and plumule. As the sampling time prolonged, the xylanase activity of seeds climbed first then dropped on the four as （III） concentration, the same trend also appeared in pulume, as the as （Ill） concentration went up, the xylanase activity moved up simultaneity. Semi-quantity Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction was used in the study, the results indicated that, the xylanase gene began to express at 132 h on 0 mg/L As （III） concentration and at 120h on other concentration in the leaves of wheat.

The molecular mechanisms of Yang Wei Kang Liu powder on anticancer and reducing chemotherapy side-effect in combination with chemotherapy

Objective:We studied the molecular mechanisms of Yang Wei Kang Liu Power(YWKL,traditional Chinese medicine for nourishing stomach and anticancer) on anticancer and reducing chemotherapy side-effect in combination with chemotherapy.Methods:615 pre-cancer mouse model of YWKL for 10 days and CTX 1 time,semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) to detect bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF) gene and cancer proto-oncogene Bcl-2,c-myc expression.Results:YWKL in combination with chemotherapy could obviously promoted the expression of GM-CSF gene and inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 and c-myc oncogenes of FC 615 mice.Conclusion:The molecular mechanisms of anticancer and reducing chemotherapy side-effect of YWKL in combination with chemotherapy are to promote the expression of GM-CSF gene and inhibit the expression of Bcl-2 and c-myc oncogenes.

(1.2)INVERSES OF OPERATORS BETWEEN BANACH SPACES AND LOCAL CONJUGACY THEOREM

Let E and F be Banach spaces and f non-linear C1 map from E into F. The main result isTheorem 2.2, in which a connection between local conjugacy problem of f at x0E and a localfine property of f'(x) at x0(see the Definition 1.1 in this paper) are obtained. This theoremincludes as special cases the two known theorems: the finite rank theorem and Berger's Theoremfor non-linear Fredholm operators. Moreover, the thcorem gives rise the further results for somenon-linear semi-Fredholm maps and for all non-linear semi-Wedholm maps when E and F areHilbert spaces. Thus Theorem 2.2 not only just unifies the above known theorems but alsoreally generalizes them.

Differentiation of rat adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells towards a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype in vitro

Objective： To differentiate rat adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells （ADSCs） into cells with a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype in vitro, so as to lay a foundation for the cell-based transplantation therapy of degenerated intervertebral discs. Methods： Rat ADSCs were isolated only from the subcutaneous inguinal region and purified by limited dilution. ADSCs of the third passages were analyzed by fluorescence activated cell sorter （FACS） to detect the cell surface markers （Sca-1, CD44, CD45, CDI lb）. To induce ADSCs to- wards a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype, ADSCs were immobilized in 3-dimensional alginate hydrogels and cultured in an inducing medium containing transforming growth factor-beta1 （TGF- β1） under hypoxia （2% O2）, while control groups under normoxia （21% O2） in alginate beads in medium with or without the presence of TGF-β 1. Semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） was carried out to evaluate phenotypic and biosynthetic activities in the process of differentiation. Meanwhile, Alcian blue staining were used to detect the formation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans （GAGs） in the differentiated cells. Results： The purified ADSCs were fibroblast-like and proliferated rapidly in vitro. The flow cytometry showed that ADSCs were positive for Sca-1 and CD44, negative for CD45 and CD11b. The results of RT-PCR manifested that the gene expressions of Sox-9, aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ, which were chondrocyte specific, were upregulated in medium containing TGF-β1 under hypoxia （2% O2）. Likewise, gene expression of HIF-1 a, which was characteristics of in- tervertebral discs, was also upregulated. Simultaneously, Alcian blue staining exhibited the formation of many GAGs. Conclusions： The approach in our experiment is a simple and effective way to acquire a large quantity of homogenous ADSCs. Rat ADSCs can be differentiated into nucleus pulposus-like cells. ADSCs may replace bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as a new kind of seed cells in regeneration of degenerated intervertebral discs using cell transolantation therarw.

STABILIZATION OF NONUNIFORM TIMOSHENKO BEAM WITH COUPLED LOCALLY DISTRIBUTED FEEDBACKS

The stabilization problem of a nonuniform Timoshenko beam system With coupled locally distributed feedback controls is studied. First, by proving the uniqueness of the solution to the related ordinary differential equations, we establish the asymptotic decay of the energy corresponding to the closed loop system. Then, by virtue of piecewise multiplier method, we prove the exponential decay of the closed loop system.

Generation of GGTA1 biallelic knockout pigs via zinc-finger nucleases and somatic cell nuclear transfer

Genetically modified pigs are valuable models of human disease and donors of xenotransplanted organs.Conventional gene targeting in pig somatic cells is extremely inefficient.Zinc-finger nuclease(ZFN)technology has been shown to be a powerful tool for efficiently inducing mutations in the genome.However,ZFN-mediated targeting in pigs has rarely been achieved.Here,we used ZFNs to knock out the porcineα-1,3-galactosyl-transferase(GGTA1)gene,which generates Gal epitopes that trigger hyperacute immune rejection in pig-to-human transplantation.Primary pig fibroblasts were transfected with ZFNs targeting the coding region of GGTA1.Eighteen mono-allelic and four biallelic knockout cell clones were obtained after drug selection with efficiencies of 23.4%and 5.2%,respectively.The biallelic cells were used to produce cloned pigs via somatic cell nuclear transfer(SCNT).Three GGTA1 null piglets were born,and one knockout primary fibroblast cell line was established from a cloned fetus.Gal epitopes on GGTA1 null pig cells were completely eliminated from the cell membrane.Functionally,GGTA1 knockout cells were protected from complement-mediated immune attacks when incubated with human serum.This study demonstrated that ZFN is an efficient tool in creating gene-modified pigs.GGTA1 null pigs and GGTA1 null fetal fibroblasts would benefit research and pig-to-human transplantation.