A novel copy-move forgery detection scheme using adaptive oversegmentation and feature point matching is proposed in this paper. The proposed scheme integrates both block-based and keypoint-based ...forgery detection methods. First, the proposed adaptive oversegmentation algorithm segments the host image into nonoverlapping and irregular blocks adaptively. Then, the feature points are extracted from each block as block features, and the block features are matched with one another to locate the labeled feature points; this procedure can approximately indicate the suspected forgery regions. To detect the forgery regions more accurately, we propose the forgery region extraction algorithm, which replaces the feature points with small superpixels as feature blocks and then merges the neighboring blocks that have similar local color features into the feature blocks to generate the merged regions. Finally, it applies the morphological operation to the merged regions to generate the detected forgery regions. The experimental results indicate that the proposed copy-move forgery detection scheme can achieve much better detection results even under various challenging conditions compared with the existing state-of-the-art copy-move forgery detection methods.
Itch and pain are two distinct sensations. Although our previous study suggested that gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is an itch-specific gene in the spinal cord, a long-standing question ...of whether there are separate neuronal pathways for itch and pain remains unsettled. We selectively ablated lamina I neurons expressing GRPR in the spinal cord of mice. These mice showed profound scratching deficits in response to all of the itching (pruritogenic) stimuli tested, irrespective of their histamine dependence. In contrast, pain behaviors were unaffected. Our data also suggest that GRPR⁺ neurons are different from the spinothalamic tract neurons that have been the focus of the debate. Together, the present study suggests that GRPR⁺ neurons constitute a long-sought labeled line for itch sensation in the spinal cord.
•A MOF with plentiful Cl atoms hanging on the pore surface was successfully built.•The inverse CO2/C2H2 separation was achieved by inserting Cl atoms in the MOF.•Impact of Cl atoms toward adsorb CO2 ...and C2H2 is evidenced by simulations.
Selective isolation of CO2 from C2H2 using CO2-selective adsorbent is a huge challenge due to their analogous physical properties as well as molecular sizes and shapes. In this work, utilizing an effective strategy of embedding electronegative Cl atoms in pore surface of MOF, a 3D pillared-layer ultramicroporous MOF, Zn(atz)(BDC-Cl4)0.5n(1) (Hatz = 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole; BDC-Cl4 = tetrachloroterephthalic acid) for inverse CO2/C2H2 separation was successfully constructed. This MOF show a CO2/C2H2 (V:V = 1:1) adsorption selectivity of 2.4 at 285 K and 100 kPa. Computational studies further uncover CO2 recognition mechanism is due to the matching of the unique pore environment decorating by Cl atoms with quadrupole moment of CO2.
To reveal the expression profile and clinical significance of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Circular RNA microarrays were performed to identify DR-related circRNAs. Gene ...ontology (GO) enrichment and KEGG analysis was performed to determine the biologic modules and signaling pathway. TargetScan and miRana program was used to predict circRNA/miRNA interaction. Quantitative PCR assays were performed to detect circRNA expression pattern in clinical samples. Ki67 staining, Transwell, tube formation, and spheroid sprouting assays were performed to investigate the role and mechanism of circRNA in endothelial angiogenic function.
A total of 529 circRNAs were aberrantly expressed in diabetic retinas. The host genes of differentially expressed circRNAs were targeted to ATP binding (biologic process); extracellular exosome (cellular component); and intracellular signal transduction (molecular function). Circ_0005015 was verified to be upregulated in the plasma, vitreous sample, and fibrovascular membranes of DR patients. Circ_0005015 facilitated retinal endothelial angiogenic function via regulating endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Circ_0005015 acted as miR-519d-3p sponge to inhibit miR-519d-3p activity, leading to increased MMP-2, XIAP, and STAT3 expression.
circRNAs are involved in DR pathogenesis, and thus serve as potential biomarkers of DR diagnosis.
Background and aims
Endoscopic diagnosis of early esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is complicated and dependent on operators' experience. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence ...(AI) model for automatic diagnosis of early ESCC.
Methods
Non‐magnifying and magnifying endoscopic images of normal/noncancerous lesions, early ESCC, and advanced esophageal cancer (AEC) were retrospectively obtained from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. A total of 10,988 images from 5075 cases were chosen for training and validation. Another 2309 images from 1055 cases were collected for testing. One hundred and four real‐time videos were also collected to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the AI model. The diagnostic performance of the AI model was compared with endoscopists by magnifying images and the assistant efficiency of the AI model for novices was evaluated.
Results
The AI diagnosis for non‐magnifying images showed a per‐patient accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 99.5%, 100%, 99.5% for white light imaging, and 97.0%, 97.2%, 96.4% for optical enhancement/iodine straining images. Regarding diagnosis for magnifying images, the per‐patient accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 88.1%, 90.9%, and 85.0%. The diagnostic accuracy of the AI model was similar to experts (84.5%, P = 0.205) and superior to novices (68.5%, P = 0.005). The diagnostic performance of novices was significantly improved by AI assistance. When it comes to the diagnosis for real‐time videos, the AI model showed acceptable performance as well.
Conclusions
The AI model could accurately recognize early ESCC among noncancerous mucosa and AEC. It could be a potential assistant for endoscopists, especially for novices.
Viruses of the family Flaviviridae are important pathogens of humans and other animals and are currently classified into four genera. To better understand their diversity, evolutionary history, and ...genomic flexibility, we used transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to search for the viruses related to the Flaviviridae in a range of potential invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Accordingly, we recovered the full genomes of five segmented jingmenviruses and 12 distant relatives of the known Flaviviridae ("flavi-like" viruses) from a range of arthropod species. Although these viruses are highly divergent, they share a similar genomic plan and common ancestry with the Flaviviridae in the NS3 and NS5 regions. Remarkably, although these viruses fill in major gaps in the phylogenetic diversity of the Flaviviridae, genomic comparisons reveal important changes in genome structure, genome size, and replication/gene regulation strategy during evolutionary history. In addition, the wide diversity of flavi-like viruses found in invertebrates, as well as their deep phylogenetic positions, suggests that they may represent the ancestral forms from which the vertebrate-infecting viruses evolved. For the vertebrate viruses, we expanded the previously mammal-only pegivirus-hepacivirus group to include a virus from the graceful catshark (Proscyllium habereri), which in turn implies that these viruses possess a larger host range than is currently known. In sum, our data show that the Flaviviridae infect a far wider range of hosts and exhibit greater diversity in genome structure than previously anticipated.
The family Flaviviridae of RNA viruses contains several notorious human pathogens, including dengue virus, West Nile virus, and hepatitis C virus. To date, however, our understanding of the biodiversity and evolution of the Flaviviridae has largely been directed toward vertebrate hosts and their blood-feeding arthropod vectors. Therefore, we investigated an expanded group of potential arthropod and vertebrate host species that have generally been ignored by surveillance programs. Remarkably, these species contained diverse flaviviruses and related viruses that are characterized by major changes in genome size and genome structure, such that these traits are more flexible than previously thought. More generally, these data suggest that arthropods may be the ultimate reservoir of the Flaviviridae and related viruses, harboring considerable genetic and phenotypic diversity. In sum, this study revises the traditional view on the evolutionary history, host range, and genomic structures of a major group of RNA viruses.
Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy recessive 1 (LGMDR1), previously known as LGMD2A, is a specific LGMD caused by a gene mutation encoding the calcium‐dependent neutral cysteine protease calpain‐3 ...(CAPN3). In our study, the compound heterozygosity with two missense variants c.635 T > C (p.Leu212Pro) and c.2120A > G (p.Asp707Gly) was identified in patients with LGMDR1. However, the pathogenicity of c.635 T > C has not been investigated. To evaluate the effects of this novel likely pathogenic variant to the motor system, the mouse model with c.635 T > C variant was prepared by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique. The pathological results revealed that a limited number of inflammatory cells infiltrated the endomyocytes of certain c.635 T > C homozygous mice at 10 months of age. Compared with wild‐type mice, motor function was not significantly impaired in Capn3 c. 635 T > C homozygous mice. Western blot and immunofluorescence assays further indicated that the expression levels of the Capn3 protein in muscle tissues of homozygous mice were similar to those of wild‐type mice. However, the arrangement and ultrastructural alterations of the mitochondria in the muscular tissues of homozygous mice were confirmed by electron microscopy. Subsequently, muscle regeneration of LGMDR1 was simulated using cardiotoxin (CTX) to induce muscle necrosis and regeneration to trigger the injury modification process. The repair of the homozygous mice was significantly worse than that of the control mice at day 15 and day 21 following treatment, the c.635 T > C variant of Capn3 exhibited a significant effect on muscle regeneration of homozygous mice and induced mitochondrial damage. RNA‐sequencing results demonstrated that the expression levels of the mitochondrial‐related functional genes were significantly downregulated in the mutant mice. Taken together, the results of the present study strongly suggested that the LGMDR1 mouse model with a novel c.635 T > C variant in the Capn3 gene was significantly dysfunctional in muscle injury repair via impairment of the mitochondrial function.
A novel missense variants c.635 T > C (p.Leu212Pro) was identified in patients with LGMDR1. The mouse model with c.635 T > C variant was prepared by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique. Muscle regeneration of LGMDR1 was simulated using cardiotoxin (CTX) to induce muscle necrosis and regeneration to trigger the injury modification process. The repair of the mouse model was significantly worse at day 21 days following treatment, the c.635 T > C variant of Capn3 exhibited a significant effect on muscle regeneration and induced mitochondrial damage. RNA‐sequencing results demonstrated that the expression levels of the mitochondrial‐related functional genes were significantly downregulated in the mu‐tant mice. Taken together, the results of the present study strongly suggested that the LGMDR1 mouse model with a novel c.635 T > C variant in the Capn3 gene was significantly dysfunctional in muscle injury repair via impairment of the mitochondrial function.
Although arthropods are important viral vectors, the biodiversity of arthropod viruses, as well as the role that arthropods have played in viral origins and evolution, is unclear. Through RNA ...sequencing of 70 arthropod species we discovered 112 novel viruses that appear to be ancestral to much of the documented genetic diversity of negative-sense RNA viruses, a number of which are also present as endogenous genomic copies. With this greatly enriched diversity we revealed that arthropods contain viruses that fall basal to major virus groups, including the vertebrate-specific arenaviruses, filoviruses, hantaviruses, influenza viruses, lyssaviruses, and paramyxoviruses. We similarly documented a remarkable diversity of genome structures in arthropod viruses, including a putative circular form, that sheds new light on the evolution of genome organization. Hence, arthropods are a major reservoir of viral genetic diversity and have likely been central to viral evolution.
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•Arylamine-DOPO-bearing polyphosphoester (PPDSP) has been designed and used as a green macromolecular flame-retardant.•Hydrogen bond between PPDSP and UP matrix significantly improves ...thermal properties.•PPDSP exerts synergistic charring effect and greatly increases the fire safety of UP.•Modified-UP exhibits superior flame-retardant durability and water resistance.
Frequent fire accidents and increasing environmental/health issues call for more durable and safer firefighting strategy for polymeric materials. Widely used small-molecule flame retardants are limited for their damage to thermal/mechanical properties, poor durability, undesirable persistence, bio-accumulation and toxicity (PBT). Herein, a novel macromolecular flame retardant, arylamine-DOPO-bearing polyphosphoester (PPDSP) has been synthesized and added to the unsaturated polyester (UP). On the one hand, hydrogen bond between arylamine group of PPDSP and UP network enhances the interchain interaction and compatibility. On the other hand, the phosphoester and DOPO groups can generate high-oxidized phosphorus-containing acids at high temperature, which further catalyze the dehydration reaction of arylamine and UP matrix into dense char-layers and exert the synergistic charring effect. By integrating the hydrogen bond and synergistic charring effects into PPDSP macromolecule, the obtained UP/PPDSP resins exhibit excellent fire safety, flame-retardant durability, heat-resistance and impact strength. Compared with UP, the Tg and T5% of UP/PPDSP20 are increased by 11 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The LOI value reaches 27.3%, the UL-94 rating is V-0 and the peak heat release rate is reduced by 58%. Even after one year of normal storage or one week of water soaking, the original flame retardant performance is maintained. Hence, this macromolecular firefighting strategy provides an efficient, durable and green pathway for improving the fire safety of polymers.
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