The apple target recognition algorithm is one of the core technologies of the apple picking robot. However, most of the existing apple detection algorithms cannot distinguish between the apples that ...are occluded by tree branches and occluded by other apples. The apples, grasping end-effector and mechanical picking arm of the robot are very likely to be damaged if the algorithm is directly applied to the picking robot. Based on this practical problem, in order to automatically recognize the graspable and ungraspable apples in an apple tree image, a light-weight apple targets detection method was proposed for picking robot using improved YOLOv5s. Firstly, BottleneckCSP module was improved designed to BottleneckCSP-2 module which was used to replace the BottleneckCSP module in backbone architecture of original YOLOv5s network. Secondly, SE module, which belonged to the visual attention mechanism network, was inserted to the proposed improved backbone network. Thirdly, the bonding fusion mode of feature maps, which were inputs to the target detection layer of medium size in the original YOLOv5s network, were improved. Finally, the initial anchor box size of the original network was improved. The experimental results indicated that the graspable apples, which were unoccluded or only occluded by tree leaves, and the ungraspable apples, which were occluded by tree branches or occluded by other fruits, could be identified effectively using the proposed improved network model in this study. Specifically, the recognition recall, precision, mAP and F1 were 91.48%, 83.83%, 86.75% and 87.49%, respectively. The average recognition time was 0.015 s per image. Contrasted with original YOLOv5s, YOLOv3, YOLOv4 and EfficientDet-D0 model, the mAP of the proposed improved YOLOv5s model increased by 5.05%, 14.95%, 4.74% and 6.75% respectively, the size of the model compressed by 9.29%, 94.6%, 94.8% and 15.3% respectively. The average recognition speeds per image of the proposed improved YOLOv5s model were 2.53, 1.13 and 3.53 times of EfficientDet-D0, YOLOv4 and YOLOv3 and model, respectively. The proposed method can provide technical support for the real-time accurate detection of multiple fruit targets for the apple picking robot.
The proper restraint of the destructive potential of the immune system is essential for maintaining health. Regulatory T (T
) cells ensure immune homeostasis through their defining ability to ...suppress the activation and function of other leukocytes. The expression of the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) is a well-recognized characteristic of T
cells, and FOXP3 is centrally involved in the establishment and maintenance of the T
cell phenotype. In this Review, we summarize how the expression and activity of FOXP3 are regulated across multiple layers by diverse factors. The therapeutic implications of these topics for cancer and autoimmunity are also discussed.
Summary
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) prevent autoimmunity and tissue damage resulting from excessive or unnecessary immune activation through their suppressive function. While their importance for ...proper immune control is undeniable, the stability of the Treg lineage has recently become a controversial topic. Many reports have shown dramatic loss of the signature Treg transcription factor Forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) and Treg function under various inflammatory conditions. Other recent studies demonstrate that most Tregs are extremely resilient in their expression of Foxp3 and the retention of suppressive function. While this debate is unlikely to be settled in the immediate future, improved understanding of the considerable heterogeneity within the Foxp3+ Treg population and how Treg subsets respond to ranging environmental cues may be keys to reconciliation. In this review, we discuss the diverse mechanisms responsible for the observed stability or instability of Foxp3+ Treg identity and function. These include transcriptional and epigenetic programs, transcript targeting, and posttranslational modifications that appear responsive to numerous elements of the microenvironment. These mechanisms for Treg functional modulation add to the discussion of Treg stability.
Summary
The interplay of the immune system with other aspects of physiology is continually being revealed and in some cases studied in considerable mechanistic detail. A prime example is the ...influence of metabolic cues on immune responses. It is well appreciated that upon activation, T cells take on a metabolic profile profoundly distinct from that of their quiescent and anergic counterparts; however, a number of recent breakthroughs have greatly expanded our knowledge of how aspects of cellular metabolism can shape a T‐cell response. Particularly important are findings that certain environmental cues can tilt the delicate balance between inflammation and immune tolerance by skewing T‐cell fate decisions toward either the T‐helper 17 (Th17) or T‐regulatory (Treg) cell lineage. Recognizing the unappreciated immune‐modifying potential of metabolic factors and particularly those involved in the generation of these functionally opposing T‐cell subsets will likely add new and potent therapies to our repertoire for treating immune mediated pathologies. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent findings linking certain metabolic pathways, enzymes, and by‐products to shifts in the balance between Th17 and Treg cell populations. These advances highlight numerous opportunities for immune modulation.
This study informed researchers about the performance of different level-specific and target-specific model fit indices in the Multilevel Latent Growth Model (MLGM) with unbalanced design. As the use ...of MLGMs is relatively new in applied research domain, this study helped researchers using specific model fit indices to evaluate MLGMs. Our simulation design factors included three levels of number of groups (50, 100, and 200) and three levels of unbalanced group sizes (5/15, 10/20, and 25/75), based on simulated datasets derived from a correctly specified MLGM. We evaluated the descriptive information of the model fit indices under various simulation conditions. We also conducted ANOVA to calculated the extent to which these fit indices could be influenced by different design factors. Based on the results, we made recommendations for practical and theoretical research about the fit indices. CFI- and TFI-related fit indices performed well in the MLGM and could be trustworthy to use to evaluate model fit under similar conditions found in applied settings. However, RMSEA-related fit indices, SRMR-related fit indices, and chi square-related fit indices varied by the factors included in this study and should be used with caution for evaluating model fit in the MLGM.
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and CD4
T cells produce IL-22, which is critical for intestinal immunity. The microbiota is central to IL-22 production in the intestines; however, the factors that ...regulate IL-22 production by CD4
T cells and ILCs are not clear. Here, we show that microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) promote IL-22 production by CD4
T cells and ILCs through G-protein receptor 41 (GPR41) and inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC). SCFAs upregulate IL-22 production by promoting aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) expression, which are differentially regulated by mTOR and Stat3. HIF1α binds directly to the Il22 promoter, and SCFAs increase HIF1α binding to the Il22 promoter through histone modification. SCFA supplementation enhances IL-22 production, which protects intestines from inflammation. SCFAs promote human CD4
T cell IL-22 production. These findings establish the roles of SCFAs in inducing IL-22 production in CD4
T cells and ILCs to maintain intestinal homeostasis.
Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor associated with high mortality; however, no effective therapies for the disease have been developed. Several studies have focused on elucidating the pathogenesis of ...osteosarcoma and have aimed to develop novel therapies for the disease. Quercetin is a vital dietary flavonoid that has been shown to have a variety of anticancer effects, as it induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation and is involved in cell adhesion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin on osteosarcoma migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo and to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects on osteosarcoma migration and invasion.
Cell viability, cell cycle activity and cell apoptosis were measured using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, and cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels of several proteins of interest were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting, respectively. Moreover, a nude mouse model of human osteosarcoma lung metastasis was established to assess the anti-metastatic effects of quercetin in vivo.
We noted no significant differences in cell cycle activity and apoptosis between HOS and MG63 cells and control cells. Treatment with quercetin significantly attenuated cell migration and invasion in HOS and MG63 cells compared with treatment with control medium. Moreover HIF-1α, VEGF, MMP2, and MMP9 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly downregulated in HOS cells treated with quercetin compared with HOS cells treated with controls. Additionally, treatment with quercetin attenuated metastatic lung tumor formation and growth in the nude mouse model of osteosarcoma compared with treatment with controls.
Our findings regarding the inhibitory effects of quercetin on cell migration and invasion suggest that quercetin may have potential as a therapy for human osteosarcoma.
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•The adsorption and flotation behaviors of CGFS with Naphthenic Acids were explored.•Quantitative evaluation of impacts of collector and frother dosages by mathematical formula.•Ash ...product with 97 ash content can be produced by composite collectors.•Simulate the adhesion process of particles and bubbles.
The impact of the collector and frother dosages on the separation of carbon and ash in coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) based on flotation using kerosene and compound collectors consisting of naphthenic acids and kerosene mixed at different ratios is investigated in this study. The physical properties of the original sample of CGFS, the residual carbon, and the ash material were investigated to characterize the differences in pore structure composition and element distribution among them, thereby illuminating the basis for flotation-based separation of residual carbon and ash material and the cause of the large reagent consumption. Furthermore, the mechanisms of interactions between CGFS particles, particles and bubbles in the aqueous phase were computed and analyzed using the extended DLVO theory. The results demonstrate that the energy barrier between concentrated particles disappeared, while the energy barrier between tailing particles remained. Experimental results showed that NK concentrate particles flocculated and adhered to bubbles earlier than other particles at 100 × 10−19 m, which were conducive to flotation. (The NK is a compound reagent consisting of naphthenic acids and kerosene mixed at different ratios). The above research results are helpful to clarify the separation mechanism of residual carbon and ash in CGFS and improve the flotation separation effect.
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are indispensable for immune homeostasis due to their roles in peripheral tolerance. As the master transcription factor of Treg cells, Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) strongly ...regulates Treg function and plasticity. Because of this, considerable research efforts have been directed at elucidating the mechanisms controlling Foxp3 and its co-regulators. Such work is not only advancing our understanding on Treg cell biology, but also uncovering novel targets for clinical manipulation in autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation, and tumor therapies. Recently, many studies have explored the post-translational regulation of Foxp3, which have shown that acetylation, phosphorylation, glycosylation, methylation, and ubiquitination are important for determining Foxp3 function and plasticity. Additionally, some of these targets have been implicated to have great therapeutic values. In this review, we will discuss emerging evidence of post-translational regulations on Foxp3 in Treg cells and their exciting therapeutic applications.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy and is often characterized by early relapse and metastasis. To form a secondary (recurrent and/or metastatic) tumor, a ...breast cancer cell must evade the innate and adaptive immune systems. CD47 enables cancer cells to evade killing by macrophages, whereas CD73 and PDL1 mediate independent mechanisms of evasion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Here, we report that treatment of human or murine TNBC cells with carboplatin, doxorubicin, gemcitabine, or paclitaxel induces the coordinate transcriptional induction of CD47, CD73, and PDL1 mRNA and protein expression, leading to a marked increase in the percentage of CD47⁺CD73⁺PDL1⁺ breast cancer cells. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) blocked chemotherapy-induced enrichment of CD47⁺CD73⁺PDL1⁺ TNBC cells, which were also enriched in the absence of chemotherapy by incubation under hypoxic conditions, leading to T cell anergy or death. Treatment of mice with cytotoxic chemotherapy markedly increased the intratumoral ratio of regulatory/effector T cells, an effect that was abrogated by HIF inhibition. Our results delineate an HIF-dependent transcriptional mechanism contributing to TNBC progression and suggest that combining chemotherapy with an HIF inhibitor may prevent countertherapeutic induction of proteins that mediate evasion of innate and adaptive antitumor immunity.
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