The purpose of the study was to investigate and illustrate the challenges faced by performers and audiences during Ateso oral narratives in Ateso speaking communities in Uganda. The study used ethnographic and discurs...The purpose of the study was to investigate and illustrate the challenges faced by performers and audiences during Ateso oral narratives in Ateso speaking communities in Uganda. The study used ethnographic and discurssive analyses methods of research. The topic was Audience-Performer Interface as a Battlefield of Expression： A Study of Ateso Oral Narratives. Ethnographic method of study was used in Ateso speaking communities of Serere, Ngora, Bukedea and Pallisa districts of Uganda. The author stayed with communities for four to seven days in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The study analysed the interpretational dimensions of the oral narrative episodes. Questionnaires and focused group discussions were used to solicit data from a total of 20 （33.3%） out of 60 persons. The study saw that there was dire need to revive the cultural media of communication in Teso. In Serere, Bukedea and Ngora there was more of unpleasant intrusion than in Pallisa and Serere. Performers should consider their audiences complementary to the narration and establish rapport. Audiences should appreciate the efforts of the narrators to keep the cultural norm of story-telling alive in Teso. The Ministry of Education and Sports in Uganda should encourage local languages at all levels of education.展开更多
Vascular etiology is the second most prevalent cause of cognitive impairment globally.Endothelin-1,which is produced and secreted by endothelial cells and astrocytes,is implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke.However...Vascular etiology is the second most prevalent cause of cognitive impairment globally.Endothelin-1,which is produced and secreted by endothelial cells and astrocytes,is implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke.However,the way in which changes in astrocytic endothelin-1 lead to poststroke cognitive deficits following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion is not well understood.Here,using mice in which astrocytic endothelin-1 was overexpressed,we found that the selective overexpression of endothelin-1 by astrocytic cells led to ischemic stroke-related dementia(1 hour of ischemia;7 days,28 days,or 3 months of reperfusion).We also revealed that astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression contributed to the role of neural stem cell proliferation but impaired neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus after middle cerebral artery occlusion.Comprehensive proteome profiles and western blot analysis confirmed that levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein and peroxiredoxin 6,which were differentially expressed in the brain,were significantly increased in mice with astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression in comparison with wild-type mice 28 days after ischemic stroke.Moreover,the levels of the enriched differentially expressed proteins were closely related to lipid metabolism,as indicated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis.Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry nontargeted metabolite profiling of brain tissues showed that astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression altered lipid metabolism products such as glycerol phosphatidylcholine,sphingomyelin,and phosphatidic acid.Overall,this study demonstrates that astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression can impair hippocampal neurogenesis and that it is correlated with lipid metabolism in poststroke cognitive dysfunction.展开更多
Heat shock transcription factors(Hsfs)have important roles during plant growth and development and responses to abiotic stresses.The identification and func-tion of Hsf genes have been thoroughly studied in various he...Heat shock transcription factors(Hsfs)have important roles during plant growth and development and responses to abiotic stresses.The identification and func-tion of Hsf genes have been thoroughly studied in various herbaceous plant species,but not woody species,especially Phoebe bournei,an endangered,unique species in China.In this study,17 members of the Hsf gene family were identi-fied from P.bournei using bioinformatic methods.Phyloge-netic analysis indicated that PbHsf genes were grouped into three subfamilies:A,B,and C.Conserved motifs,three-dimensional structure,and physicochemical properties of the PbHsf proteins were also analyzed.The structure of the PbHsf genes varied in the number of exons and introns.Pre-diction of cis-acting elements in the promoter region indi-cated that PbHsf genes are likely involved in responses to plant hormones and stresses.A collinearity analysis dem-onstrated that expansions of the PbHsf gene family mainly take place via segmental duplication.The expression levels of PbHsf genes varied across different plant tissues.On the basis of the expression profiles of five representative PbHsf genes during heat,cold,salt,and drought stress,PbHsf pro-teins seem to have multiple functions depending on the type of abiotic stress.This systematic,genome-wide investigation of PbHsf genes in P.bournei and their expression patterns provides valuable insights and information for further func-tional dissection of Hsf proteins in this endangered,unique species.展开更多
Background Milk synthesis in lactating animals demands high energy metabolism,which results in an increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites(ROM)causing an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants thereby ...Background Milk synthesis in lactating animals demands high energy metabolism,which results in an increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites(ROM)causing an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants thereby inducing oxidative stress(OS)on the animals.To mitigate OS and postpartum disorders in dairy goats and gain insight into the impact of dietary choices on redox status during lactation,a feeding trial was conducted using alfalfa silage inoculated with a high-antioxidant strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum.Methods Twenty-four Guanzhong dairy goats(38.1±1.20 kg)were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments:one containing silage inoculated with L.plantarum MTD/1(RSMTD-1),and the other containing silage inoculated with high antioxidant activity L.plantarum 24-7(ES24-7).Results ES24-7-inoculated silage exhibited better fermentation quality and antioxidant activity compared to RSMTD-1.The ES24-7 diet elevated the total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxi-dase(GSH-Px),and catalase(CAT)activities in milk,serum,and feces of lactating goats(with the exception of T-AOC in milk).Additionally,the diet containing ES24-7 inoculated silage enhanced casein yield,milk free fatty acid(FFA)content,and vitamin A level in the goats’milk.Furthermore,an increase of immunoglobulin(Ig)A,IgG,IgM,inter-leukin(IL)-4,and IL-10 concentrations were observed,coupled with a reduction in IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,interferon(IFN)-γ,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αconcentrations in the serum of lactating goats fed ES24-7.Higher concentrations of total volatile fatty acid(VFA),acetate,and propionate were observed in the rumen fluid of dairy goats fed ES24-7 inoculated silage.Moreover,the diet containing ES24-7 inoculated silage significantly upregulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2(NFE2L2),beta-carotene oxygenase 1(BCO1),SOD1,SOD2,SOD3,GPX2,CAT,glu-tathione-disulfide reductase(GSR),and heme oxygenase 1(HMOX1)genes in the mammary gland,while decreased the levels of NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4),TNF,and interferon gamma(IFNG).Conclusions These findings indicated that feeding L.plantarum 24-7 inoculated alfalfa silage not only improved rumen fermentation and milk quality in lactating dairy goats but also boosted their immunity and antioxidant status by modulating the expression of several genes related to antioxidant and inflammation in the mammary gland.展开更多
Excessive abdominal fat deposition seriously restricts the production efficiency of broilers.Several studies found that dietary supplemental manganese(Mn)could effectively reduce the abdominal fat deposition of broile...Excessive abdominal fat deposition seriously restricts the production efficiency of broilers.Several studies found that dietary supplemental manganese(Mn)could effectively reduce the abdominal fat deposition of broilers,but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the inorganic or organic Mn on abdominal fat deposition,and enzyme activity and gene expression involved in lipid metabolism in the abdominal fat of male or female broilers.A total of 4201-d-old AA broilers(half males and half females)were randomly allotted by body weight and gender to 1 of 6 treatments with 10 replicates cages of 7 chicks per cage in a completely randomized design involving a 3(dietary Mn addition)×2(gender)factorial arrangement.Male or female broilers were fed with the Mn-unsupplemented basal diets containing 17.52 mg Mn kg^(-1)(d 1-21)and 15.62 mg Mn kg^(-1)(d 22-42)by analysis or the basal diets supplemented with 110 mg Mn kg^(-1)(d 1-21)and 80 mg Mn kg^(-1)(d 22-42)as either the Mn sulfate or the Mn proteinate with moderate chelation strength(Mn-Prot M)for 42 d.The results showed that the interaction between dietary Mn addition and gender had no impact(P>0.05)on any of the measured parameters;abdominal fat percentage of broilers was decreased(P<0.003)by Mn addition;Mn addition increased(P<0.004)adipose triglyceride lipase(ATGL)activity,while Mn-Prot M decreased(P<0.002)the fatty acid synthase(FAS)activity in the abdominal fat of broilers compared to the control;Mn addition decreased(P<0.009)diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2(DGAT2)mRNA expression level and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ)mRNA and protein expression levels,but up-regulated(P<0.05)the ATGL mRNA and protein expression levels in the abdominal fat of broilers.It was concluded that dietary supplementation with Mn inhibited the abdominal fat deposition of broilers possibly via decreasing the expression of PPARγand DGAT2 as well as increasing the expression and activity of ATGL in the abdominal fat of broilers,and Mn-Prot M was more effective in inhibiting the FAS acitivity.展开更多
Pyraclostrobin(PYR),a widely used fungicide,has negative effects on fish and algae,but its toxicity in protozoa remains unclear.In this study,the effects of PYR on the growth,oxidative stress,and gene expression relat...Pyraclostrobin(PYR),a widely used fungicide,has negative effects on fish and algae,but its toxicity in protozoa remains unclear.In this study,the effects of PYR on the growth,oxidative stress,and gene expression related to stress and ATP-binding cassette(ABC)transporters in Tetrahymena thermophila were investigated.The result showed that the 96-h IC_(50)of PYR against T.thermophila was 17.2 mg/L.Moreover,PYR inhibited the growth of T.thermophila in concentration-or time-dependent manner.A morphological study revealed that the shape and size of T.thermophila changed,and damage of cell membrane surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy after 96 h of PYR exposure.The activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)increased throughout the experiment.In contrast,the glutathione(GSH)content was increased at 24 h and 48 h of exposure and decreased at 96 h.Moreover,a significant increase in malondialdehyde(MDA)level was observed in T.thermophila after96 h of exposure.Furthermore,PYR upregulated the HSP703,HSP705,GPx2,and ABAC15 gene expression in the 0.1–5-mg/L groups and downregulated the HSP704,HSP90,TGR,and ABCC52 mRNA levels at 96 h of exposure.These results suggest that PYR may exert adverse effects on T.thermophila by inducing oxidative stress and changing the gene expression related to ABC transporters and stress,which may enrich the understanding of the toxicity mechanism of PYR in aquatic organisms and provide reference data for aquatic ecological risk assessments.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the influence of hypoxia and alpha-ketoglutaric acid(α-KG)on scleral collagen expression.METHODS:Meta-analysis and clinical statistics were used to prove the cha...AIM:To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the influence of hypoxia and alpha-ketoglutaric acid(α-KG)on scleral collagen expression.METHODS:Meta-analysis and clinical statistics were used to prove the changes in choroidal thickness(ChT)during myopia.The establishment of a hypoxic myopia model(HYP)for rabbit scleral fibroblasts through hypoxic culture and the effects of hypoxia andα-KG on collagen expression were demonstrated by Sirius red staining.Transcriptome analysis was used to verify the genes and pathways that hypoxia andα-KG affect collagen expression.Finally,real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used for reverse verification.RESULTS:Meta-analysis results aligned with clinical statistics,revealing a thinning of ChT,leading to scleral hypoxia.Sirius red staining indicated lower collagen expression in the HYP group and higher collagen expression in the HYP+α-KG group,showed that hypoxia reduced collagen expression in scleral fibroblasts,whileα-KG can elevated collagen expression under HYP conditions.Transcriptome analysis unveiled the related genes and signaling pathways of hypoxia andα-KG affect scleral collagen expression and the results were verified by RT-qPCR.CONCLUSION:The potential molecular mechanisms through which hypoxia andα-KG influencing myopia is unraveled and three novel genes TLCD4,TBC1D4,and EPHX3 are identified.These findings provide a new perspective on the prevention and treatment of myopia via regulating collagen expression.展开更多
Background Photosystem II(PSII)constitutes an intricate assembly of protein pigments,featuring extrinsic and intrinsic polypeptides within the photosynthetic membrane.The low-molecular-weight transmembrane protein Psb...Background Photosystem II(PSII)constitutes an intricate assembly of protein pigments,featuring extrinsic and intrinsic polypeptides within the photosynthetic membrane.The low-molecular-weight transmembrane protein PsbX has been identified in PSII,which is associated with the oxygen-evolving complex.The expression of PsbX gene protein is regulated by light.PsbX’s central role involves the regulation of PSII,facilitating the binding of quinone molecules to the Qb(PsbA)site,and it additionally plays a crucial role in optimizing the efficiency of photosynthesis.Despite these insights,a comprehensive understanding of the PsbX gene’s functions has remained elusive.Results In this study,we identified ten PsbX genes in Gossypium hirsutum L.The phylogenetic analysis results showed that 40 genes from nine species were classified into one clade.The resulting sequence logos exhibited substantial conservation across the N and C terminals at multiple sites among all Gossypium species.Furthermore,the ortholo-gous/paralogous,Ka/Ks ratio revealed that cotton PsbX genes subjected to positive as well as purifying selection pressure might lead to limited divergence,which resulted in the whole genome and segmental duplication.The expression patterns of GhPsbX genes exhibited variations across specific tissues,as indicated by the analysis.Moreover,the expression of GhPsbX genes could potentially be regulated in response to salt,intense light,and drought stresses.Therefore,GhPsbX genes may play a significant role in the modulation of photosynthesis under adverse abiotic conditions.Conclusion We examined the structure and function of PsbX gene family very first by using comparative genom-ics and systems biology approaches in cotton.It seems that PsbX gene family plays a vital role during the growth and development of cotton under stress conditions.Collectively,the results of this study provide basic information to unveil the molecular and physiological function of PsbX genes of cotton plants.展开更多
The effectiveness of facial expression recognition(FER)algorithms hinges on the model’s quality and the availability of a substantial amount of labeled expression data.However,labeling large datasets demands signific...The effectiveness of facial expression recognition(FER)algorithms hinges on the model’s quality and the availability of a substantial amount of labeled expression data.However,labeling large datasets demands significant human,time,and financial resources.Although active learning methods have mitigated the dependency on extensive labeled data,a cold-start problem persists in small to medium-sized expression recognition datasets.This issue arises because the initial labeled data often fails to represent the full spectrum of facial expression characteristics.This paper introduces an active learning approach that integrates uncertainty estimation,aiming to improve the precision of facial expression recognition regardless of dataset scale variations.The method is divided into two primary phases.First,the model undergoes self-supervised pre-training using contrastive learning and uncertainty estimation to bolster its feature extraction capabilities.Second,the model is fine-tuned using the prior knowledge obtained from the pre-training phase to significantly improve recognition accuracy.In the pretraining phase,the model employs contrastive learning to extract fundamental feature representations from the complete unlabeled dataset.These features are then weighted through a self-attention mechanism with rank regularization.Subsequently,data from the low-weighted set is relabeled to further refine the model’s feature extraction ability.The pre-trained model is then utilized in active learning to select and label information-rich samples more efficiently.Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperforms existing approaches,achieving an improvement in recognition accuracy of 5.09%and 3.82%over the best existing active learning methods,Margin,and Least Confidence methods,respectively,and a 1.61%improvement compared to the conventional segmented active learning method.展开更多
The estimation of pain intensity is critical for medical diagnosis and treatment of patients.With the development of image monitoring technology and artificial intelligence,automatic pain assessment based on facial ex...The estimation of pain intensity is critical for medical diagnosis and treatment of patients.With the development of image monitoring technology and artificial intelligence,automatic pain assessment based on facial expression and behavioral analysis shows a potential value in clinical applications.This paper reports a framework of convolutional neural network with global and local attention mechanism(GLA-CNN)for the effective detection of pain intensity at four-level thresholds using facial expression images.GLA-CNN includes two modules,namely global attention network(GANet)and local attention network(LANet).LANet is responsible for extracting representative local patch features of faces,while GANet extracts whole facial features to compensate for the ignored correlative features between patches.In the end,the global correlational and local subtle features are fused for the final estimation of pain intensity.Experiments under the UNBC-McMaster Shoulder Pain database demonstrate that GLA-CNN outperforms other state-of-the-art methods.Additionally,a visualization analysis is conducted to present the feature map of GLA-CNN,intuitively showing that it can extract not only local pain features but also global correlative facial ones.Our study demonstrates that pain assessment based on facial expression is a non-invasive and feasible method,and can be employed as an auxiliary pain assessment tool in clinical practice.展开更多
In smart classrooms, conducting multi-face expression recognition based on existing hardware devices to assessstudents’ group emotions can provide educators with more comprehensive and intuitive classroom effect anal...In smart classrooms, conducting multi-face expression recognition based on existing hardware devices to assessstudents’ group emotions can provide educators with more comprehensive and intuitive classroom effect analysis,thereby continuouslypromotingthe improvementof teaching quality.However,most existingmulti-face expressionrecognition methods adopt a multi-stage approach, with an overall complex process, poor real-time performance,and insufficient generalization ability. In addition, the existing facial expression datasets are mostly single faceimages, which are of low quality and lack specificity, also restricting the development of this research. This paperaims to propose an end-to-end high-performance multi-face expression recognition algorithm model suitable forsmart classrooms, construct a high-quality multi-face expression dataset to support algorithm research, and applythe model to group emotion assessment to expand its application value. To this end, we propose an end-to-endmulti-face expression recognition algorithm model for smart classrooms (E2E-MFERC). In order to provide highqualityand highly targeted data support for model research, we constructed a multi-face expression dataset inreal classrooms (MFED), containing 2,385 images and a total of 18,712 expression labels, collected from smartclassrooms. In constructing E2E-MFERC, by introducing Re-parameterization visual geometry group (RepVGG)block and symmetric positive definite convolution (SPD-Conv) modules to enhance representational capability;combined with the cross stage partial network fusion module optimized by attention mechanism (C2f_Attention),it strengthens the ability to extract key information;adopts asymptotic feature pyramid network (AFPN) featurefusion tailored to classroomscenes and optimizes the head prediction output size;achieves high-performance endto-end multi-face expression detection. Finally, we apply the model to smart classroom group emotion assessmentand provide design references for classroom effect analysis evaluation metrics. Experiments based on MFED showthat the mAP and F1-score of E2E-MFERC on classroom evaluation data reach 83.6% and 0.77, respectively,improving the mAP of same-scale You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5) and You Only Look Once version8 (YOLOv8) by 6.8% and 2.5%, respectively, and the F1-score by 0.06 and 0.04, respectively. E2E-MFERC modelhas obvious advantages in both detection speed and accuracy, which can meet the practical needs of real-timemulti-face expression analysis in classrooms, and serve the application of teaching effect assessment very well.展开更多
The cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase(CKX)enzyme is essential for controlling thefluctuating levels of endogen-ous cytokinin(CK)and has a significant impact on different aspects of plant growth and development.Nonethe-les...The cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase(CKX)enzyme is essential for controlling thefluctuating levels of endogen-ous cytokinin(CK)and has a significant impact on different aspects of plant growth and development.Nonethe-less,there is limited knowledge about CKX genes in tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.).Here we performed genome-wide identification and analysis of nine SlCKX family members in tomatoes using bioinformatics tools.The results revealed that nine SlCKX genes were unevenly distributed onfive chromosomes(Chr.1,Chr.4,Chr.8,Chr.10,and Chr.12).The amino acid length,isoelectric points,and molecular weight of the nine SlCKX proteins ranged from 453 to 553,5.77 to 8.59,and 51.661 to 62.494 kD,respectively.Subcellular localization analysis indi-cated that SlCKX2 proteins were located in both the vacuole and cytoplasmic matrix;SlCKX3 and SlCKX5 pro-teins were located in the vacuole;and SlCKX1,4,6,7,8,and 9 proteins were located in the cytoplasmic matrix.Furthermore,we observed differences in the gene structures and phylogenetic relationships of SlCKX proteins among different members.SlCKX1-9 were positioned on two out of the three branches of the CKX phylogenetic tree in the multispecies phylogenetic tree construction,revealing their strong conservation within phylogenetic subgroups.Unique patterns of expression of CKX genes were noticed in callus cultures exposed to varying con-centrations of exogenous ZT,suggesting their roles in specific developmental and physiological functions in the regeneration system.These results may facilitate subsequent functional analysis of SlCKX genes and provide valu-able insights for establishing an efficient regeneration system for tomatoes.展开更多
Cholangiocarcinoma(CCA),a highly aggressive bile duct cancer,is associated with late-stage diagnosis and limited treatment options,leading to poor patient outcomes.Early detection and personalized treatment strategies...Cholangiocarcinoma(CCA),a highly aggressive bile duct cancer,is associated with late-stage diagnosis and limited treatment options,leading to poor patient outcomes.Early detection and personalized treatment strategies are crucial.The study by Wang et al highlights the prognostic potential of the PEA3 subfamily genes(ETV1,ETV4,and ETV5)in CCA,identifying ETV4 as a particularly promising biomarker.Their bioinformatic analysis revealed that elevated ETV4 expression correlates with poorer survival,positioning it as a strong indicator of disease progression.These findings suggest that ETV4 could enhance prognostic precision and guide personalized therapies,although further validation through large-scale clinical trials is essential.Challenges in clinical application include the need for comprehensive experimental validation and addressing the tumor heterogeneity in CCA.Future research should focus on validating these biomarkers in diverse cohorts and developing targeted therapies,especially in regions where CCA is endemic.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cyclin-dependent kinase 9(CDK9)expression and autophagy in colorectal cancer(CRC)tissues has not been widely studied.CDK9,a key regulator of transcription,may influence the occurrence and progression of CRC...BACKGROUND Cyclin-dependent kinase 9(CDK9)expression and autophagy in colorectal cancer(CRC)tissues has not been widely studied.CDK9,a key regulator of transcription,may influence the occurrence and progression of CRC.The expression of auto-phagy-related genes BECN1 and drug resistance factor ABCG2 may also play a role in CRC.Under normal physiological conditions,autophagy can inhibit tumorigenesis,but once a tumor forms,autophagy may promote tumor growth.Therefore,understanding the relationship between autophagy and cancer,partic-ularly how autophagy promotes tumor growth after its formation,is a key motivation for this research.AIM To investigate the relationship between CDK9 expression and autophagy in CRC,assess differences in autophagy between left and right colon cancer,and analyze the associations of autophagy-related genes with clinical features and prognosis.METHODS We collected tumor tissues and paracarcinoma tissues from colon cancer patients with liver metastasis to observe the level of autophagy in tissues with high levels of CDK9 and low levels of CDK9.We also collected primary tissue from left and right colon cancer patients with liver metastasis to compare the autophagy levels and the expression of BECN1 and ABCG2 in the tumor and paracarcinoma tissues.RESULTS The incidence of autophagy and the expression of BECN1 and ABCG2 were different in left and right colon cancer,and autophagy might be involved in the occurrence of chemotherapy resistance.Further analysis of the rela-tionship between the expression of autophagy-related genes CDK9,ABCG2,and BECN1 and the clinical features and prognosis of colorectal cancer showed that the high expression of CDK9 indicated a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.CONCLUSION This study laid the foundation for further research on the combination of CDK9 inhibitors and autophagy inhibitors in the treatment of patients with CRC.展开更多
The SWEET(sugar will eventually be exported transporter)family proteins are a recently identified class of sugar transporters that are essential for various physiological processes.Although the functions of the SWEET p...The SWEET(sugar will eventually be exported transporter)family proteins are a recently identified class of sugar transporters that are essential for various physiological processes.Although the functions of the SWEET proteins have been identified in a number of species,to date,there have been no reports of the functions of the SWEET genes in woodland strawberries(Fragaria vesca).In this study,we identified 15 genes that were highly homolo-gous to the A.thaliana AtSWEET genes and designated them as FvSWEET1–FvSWEET15.We then conducted a structural and evolutionary analysis of these 15 FvSWEET genes.The phylogenetic analysis enabled us to categor-ize the predicted 15 SWEET proteins into four distinct groups.We observed slight variations in the exon‒intron structures of these genes,while the motifs and domain structures remained highly conserved.Additionally,the developmental and biological stress expression profiles of the 15 FvSWEET genes were extracted and analyzed.Finally,WGCNA coexpression network analysis was run to search for possible interacting genes of FvSWEET genes.The results showed that the FvSWEET10 genes interacted with 20 other genes,playing roles in response to bacterial and fungal infections.The outcomes of this study provide insights into the further study of FvSWEET genes and may also aid in the functional characterization of the FvSWEET genes in woodland strawberries.展开更多
Convolutional neural networks struggle to accurately handle changes in angles and twists in the direction of images,which affects their ability to recognize patterns based on internal feature levels. In contrast, Caps...Convolutional neural networks struggle to accurately handle changes in angles and twists in the direction of images,which affects their ability to recognize patterns based on internal feature levels. In contrast, CapsNet overcomesthese limitations by vectorizing information through increased directionality and magnitude, ensuring that spatialinformation is not overlooked. Therefore, this study proposes a novel expression recognition technique calledCAPSULE-VGG, which combines the strengths of CapsNet and convolutional neural networks. By refining andintegrating features extracted by a convolutional neural network before introducing theminto CapsNet, ourmodelenhances facial recognition capabilities. Compared to traditional neural network models, our approach offersfaster training pace, improved convergence speed, and higher accuracy rates approaching stability. Experimentalresults demonstrate that our method achieves recognition rates of 74.14% for the FER2013 expression dataset and99.85% for the CK+ expression dataset. By contrasting these findings with those obtained using conventionalexpression recognition techniques and incorporating CapsNet’s advantages, we effectively address issues associatedwith convolutional neural networks while increasing expression identification accuracy.展开更多
BACKGROUND Patatin like phospholipase domain containing 8(PNPLA8)has been shown to play a significant role in various cancer entities.Previous studies have focused on its roles as an antioxidant and in lipid peroxidat...BACKGROUND Patatin like phospholipase domain containing 8(PNPLA8)has been shown to play a significant role in various cancer entities.Previous studies have focused on its roles as an antioxidant and in lipid peroxidation.However,the role of PNPLA8 in colorectal cancer(CRC)progression is unclear.AIM To explore the prognostic effects of PNPLA8 expression in CRC.METHODS A retrospective cohort containing 751 consecutive CRC patients was enrolled.PNPLA8 expression in tumor samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining and semi-quantitated with immunoreactive scores.CRC patients were divided into high and low PNPLA8 expression groups based on the cut-off va-lues,which were calculated by X-tile software.The prognostic value of PNPLA8 was identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.The over-all survival(OS)rates of CRC patients in the study cohort were compared with Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log-rank test.RESULTS PNPLA8 expression was significantly associated with distant metastases in our cohort(P=0.048).CRC patients with high PNPLA8 expression indicated poor OS(median OS=35.3,P=0.005).CRC patients with a higher PNPLA8 expression at either stage I and II or stage III and IV had statistically significant shorter OS.For patients with left-sided colon and rectal cancer,the survival curves of two PN-PLA8-expression groups showed statistically significant differences.Multivariate analysis also confirmed that high PNPLA8 expression was an independent prog-nostic factor for overall survival(hazard ratio HR=1.328,95%CI:1.016-1.734,P=0.038).展开更多
Genes in the glycogen synthase kinase 3(GSK3)family are essential in regulating plant response to stressful conditions.This study employed bioinformatics to uncover the GSK3 gene family from the sunflower genome datab...Genes in the glycogen synthase kinase 3(GSK3)family are essential in regulating plant response to stressful conditions.This study employed bioinformatics to uncover the GSK3 gene family from the sunflower genome database.The expressions of GSK3 genes in different tissues and stress treatments,such as salt,drought,and cold,were assessed using transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).The study results revealed that the 12 GSK3 genes of sunflower,belonging to four classes(Classes I–IV),contained the GSK3 kinase domain and 11–13 exons.The majority of GSK3 genes were highly expressed in the leaf axil and flower,while their expression levels were relatively lower in the leaf.As a result of salt stress,six of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK22,HaSK23,HaSK32,HaSK33,and HaSK41)displayed a notable increase in expression,while HaSK14 and HaSK21 experienced a significant decrease.With regard to drought stress,five of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK13,HaSK21,HaSK22,and HaSK33)experienced a remarkable rise in expression.When exposed to cold stress,seven of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK12,HaSK13,HaSK32,HaSK33,HaSK41,and HaSK42)showed a substantial increase,whereas HaSK21 and HaSK23 had a sharp decline.This research is of great importance in understanding the abiotic resistance mechanism of sunflowers and developing new varieties with improved stress resistance.展开更多
Deep learning(DL)plays a critical role in processing and converting data into knowledge and decisions.DL technologies have been applied in a variety of applications,including image,video,and genome sequence analysis.I...Deep learning(DL)plays a critical role in processing and converting data into knowledge and decisions.DL technologies have been applied in a variety of applications,including image,video,and genome sequence analysis.In deep learning the most widely utilized architecture is Convolutional Neural Networks(CNN)are taught discriminatory traits in a supervised environment.In comparison to other classic neural networks,CNN makes use of a limited number of artificial neurons,therefore it is ideal for the recognition and processing of wheat gene sequences.Wheat is an essential crop of cereals for people around the world.Wheat Genotypes identification has an impact on the possible development of many countries in the agricultural sector.In quantitative genetics prediction of genetic values is a central issue.Wheat is an allohexaploid(AABBDD)with three distinct genomes.The sizes of the wheat genome are quite large compared to many other kinds and the availability of a diversity of genetic knowledge and normal structure at breeding lines of wheat,Therefore,genome sequence approaches based on techniques of Artificial Intelligence(AI)are necessary.This paper focuses on using the Wheat genome sequence will assist wheat producers in making better use of their genetic resources and managing genetic variation in their breeding program,as well as propose a novel model based on deep learning for offering a fundamental overview of genomic prediction theory and current constraints.In this paper,the hyperparameters of the network are optimized in the CNN to decrease the requirement for manual search and enhance network performance using a new proposed model built on an optimization algorithm and Convolutional Neural Networks(CNN).展开更多
文摘The purpose of the study was to investigate and illustrate the challenges faced by performers and audiences during Ateso oral narratives in Ateso speaking communities in Uganda. The study used ethnographic and discurssive analyses methods of research. The topic was Audience-Performer Interface as a Battlefield of Expression： A Study of Ateso Oral Narratives. Ethnographic method of study was used in Ateso speaking communities of Serere, Ngora, Bukedea and Pallisa districts of Uganda. The author stayed with communities for four to seven days in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The study analysed the interpretational dimensions of the oral narrative episodes. Questionnaires and focused group discussions were used to solicit data from a total of 20 （33.3%） out of 60 persons. The study saw that there was dire need to revive the cultural media of communication in Teso. In Serere, Bukedea and Ngora there was more of unpleasant intrusion than in Pallisa and Serere. Performers should consider their audiences complementary to the narration and establish rapport. Audiences should appreciate the efforts of the narrators to keep the cultural norm of story-telling alive in Teso. The Ministry of Education and Sports in Uganda should encourage local languages at all levels of education.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81303115,81774042 (both to XC)the Pearl River S&T Nova Program of Guangzhou,No.201806010025 (to XC)+3 种基金the Specialty Program of Guangdong Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine of China,No.YN2018ZD07 (to XC)the Natural Science Foundatior of Guangdong Province of China,No.2023A1515012174 (to JL)the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou of China,No.20210201 0268 (to XC),20210201 0339 (to JS)Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research on Emergency in TCM,Nos.2018-75,2019-140 (to JS)
文摘Vascular etiology is the second most prevalent cause of cognitive impairment globally.Endothelin-1,which is produced and secreted by endothelial cells and astrocytes,is implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke.However,the way in which changes in astrocytic endothelin-1 lead to poststroke cognitive deficits following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion is not well understood.Here,using mice in which astrocytic endothelin-1 was overexpressed,we found that the selective overexpression of endothelin-1 by astrocytic cells led to ischemic stroke-related dementia(1 hour of ischemia;7 days,28 days,or 3 months of reperfusion).We also revealed that astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression contributed to the role of neural stem cell proliferation but impaired neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus after middle cerebral artery occlusion.Comprehensive proteome profiles and western blot analysis confirmed that levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein and peroxiredoxin 6,which were differentially expressed in the brain,were significantly increased in mice with astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression in comparison with wild-type mice 28 days after ischemic stroke.Moreover,the levels of the enriched differentially expressed proteins were closely related to lipid metabolism,as indicated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis.Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry nontargeted metabolite profiling of brain tissues showed that astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression altered lipid metabolism products such as glycerol phosphatidylcholine,sphingomyelin,and phosphatidic acid.Overall,this study demonstrates that astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression can impair hippocampal neurogenesis and that it is correlated with lipid metabolism in poststroke cognitive dysfunction.
基金supported by the Fujian Province Seed Industry Innovation and Industrialization Project“Innovation and Industrialization Development of Precious Tree Seed Industries(Phoebe bornei)”(ZYCX-LY-202102)the Sub-project of National Key R&D Program“Phoebe bornei Efficient Cultivation Technology”(2016YFD0600603-2).
文摘Heat shock transcription factors(Hsfs)have important roles during plant growth and development and responses to abiotic stresses.The identification and func-tion of Hsf genes have been thoroughly studied in various herbaceous plant species,but not woody species,especially Phoebe bournei,an endangered,unique species in China.In this study,17 members of the Hsf gene family were identi-fied from P.bournei using bioinformatic methods.Phyloge-netic analysis indicated that PbHsf genes were grouped into three subfamilies:A,B,and C.Conserved motifs,three-dimensional structure,and physicochemical properties of the PbHsf proteins were also analyzed.The structure of the PbHsf genes varied in the number of exons and introns.Pre-diction of cis-acting elements in the promoter region indi-cated that PbHsf genes are likely involved in responses to plant hormones and stresses.A collinearity analysis dem-onstrated that expansions of the PbHsf gene family mainly take place via segmental duplication.The expression levels of PbHsf genes varied across different plant tissues.On the basis of the expression profiles of five representative PbHsf genes during heat,cold,salt,and drought stress,PbHsf pro-teins seem to have multiple functions depending on the type of abiotic stress.This systematic,genome-wide investigation of PbHsf genes in P.bournei and their expression patterns provides valuable insights and information for further func-tional dissection of Hsf proteins in this endangered,unique species.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U20A2002)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2023T160284)recipient of a research productivity fellowship from CNPq (National Council of Scientific and Technological Development) in Brazil
文摘Background Milk synthesis in lactating animals demands high energy metabolism,which results in an increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites(ROM)causing an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants thereby inducing oxidative stress(OS)on the animals.To mitigate OS and postpartum disorders in dairy goats and gain insight into the impact of dietary choices on redox status during lactation,a feeding trial was conducted using alfalfa silage inoculated with a high-antioxidant strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum.Methods Twenty-four Guanzhong dairy goats(38.1±1.20 kg)were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments:one containing silage inoculated with L.plantarum MTD/1(RSMTD-1),and the other containing silage inoculated with high antioxidant activity L.plantarum 24-7(ES24-7).Results ES24-7-inoculated silage exhibited better fermentation quality and antioxidant activity compared to RSMTD-1.The ES24-7 diet elevated the total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxi-dase(GSH-Px),and catalase(CAT)activities in milk,serum,and feces of lactating goats(with the exception of T-AOC in milk).Additionally,the diet containing ES24-7 inoculated silage enhanced casein yield,milk free fatty acid(FFA)content,and vitamin A level in the goats’milk.Furthermore,an increase of immunoglobulin(Ig)A,IgG,IgM,inter-leukin(IL)-4,and IL-10 concentrations were observed,coupled with a reduction in IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,interferon(IFN)-γ,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αconcentrations in the serum of lactating goats fed ES24-7.Higher concentrations of total volatile fatty acid(VFA),acetate,and propionate were observed in the rumen fluid of dairy goats fed ES24-7 inoculated silage.Moreover,the diet containing ES24-7 inoculated silage significantly upregulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2(NFE2L2),beta-carotene oxygenase 1(BCO1),SOD1,SOD2,SOD3,GPX2,CAT,glu-tathione-disulfide reductase(GSR),and heme oxygenase 1(HMOX1)genes in the mammary gland,while decreased the levels of NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4),TNF,and interferon gamma(IFNG).Conclusions These findings indicated that feeding L.plantarum 24-7 inoculated alfalfa silage not only improved rumen fermentation and milk quality in lactating dairy goats but also boosted their immunity and antioxidant status by modulating the expression of several genes related to antioxidant and inflammation in the mammary gland.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32102559)the Jiangsu Shuang Chuang Tuan Dui Program,China(JSSCTD202147)the Jiangsu Shuang Chuang Ren Cai Program,China(JSSCRC2021541)。
文摘Excessive abdominal fat deposition seriously restricts the production efficiency of broilers.Several studies found that dietary supplemental manganese(Mn)could effectively reduce the abdominal fat deposition of broilers,but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the inorganic or organic Mn on abdominal fat deposition,and enzyme activity and gene expression involved in lipid metabolism in the abdominal fat of male or female broilers.A total of 4201-d-old AA broilers(half males and half females)were randomly allotted by body weight and gender to 1 of 6 treatments with 10 replicates cages of 7 chicks per cage in a completely randomized design involving a 3(dietary Mn addition)×2(gender)factorial arrangement.Male or female broilers were fed with the Mn-unsupplemented basal diets containing 17.52 mg Mn kg^(-1)(d 1-21)and 15.62 mg Mn kg^(-1)(d 22-42)by analysis or the basal diets supplemented with 110 mg Mn kg^(-1)(d 1-21)and 80 mg Mn kg^(-1)(d 22-42)as either the Mn sulfate or the Mn proteinate with moderate chelation strength(Mn-Prot M)for 42 d.The results showed that the interaction between dietary Mn addition and gender had no impact(P>0.05)on any of the measured parameters;abdominal fat percentage of broilers was decreased(P<0.003)by Mn addition;Mn addition increased(P<0.004)adipose triglyceride lipase(ATGL)activity,while Mn-Prot M decreased(P<0.002)the fatty acid synthase(FAS)activity in the abdominal fat of broilers compared to the control;Mn addition decreased(P<0.009)diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2(DGAT2)mRNA expression level and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ)mRNA and protein expression levels,but up-regulated(P<0.05)the ATGL mRNA and protein expression levels in the abdominal fat of broilers.It was concluded that dietary supplementation with Mn inhibited the abdominal fat deposition of broilers possibly via decreasing the expression of PPARγand DGAT2 as well as increasing the expression and activity of ATGL in the abdominal fat of broilers,and Mn-Prot M was more effective in inhibiting the FAS acitivity.
基金the Key Scientific Research Projects of Henan Province to College Youth Backbone Teacher(No.2021118)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFE0112000)。
文摘Pyraclostrobin(PYR),a widely used fungicide,has negative effects on fish and algae,but its toxicity in protozoa remains unclear.In this study,the effects of PYR on the growth,oxidative stress,and gene expression related to stress and ATP-binding cassette(ABC)transporters in Tetrahymena thermophila were investigated.The result showed that the 96-h IC_(50)of PYR against T.thermophila was 17.2 mg/L.Moreover,PYR inhibited the growth of T.thermophila in concentration-or time-dependent manner.A morphological study revealed that the shape and size of T.thermophila changed,and damage of cell membrane surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy after 96 h of PYR exposure.The activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)increased throughout the experiment.In contrast,the glutathione(GSH)content was increased at 24 h and 48 h of exposure and decreased at 96 h.Moreover,a significant increase in malondialdehyde(MDA)level was observed in T.thermophila after96 h of exposure.Furthermore,PYR upregulated the HSP703,HSP705,GPx2,and ABAC15 gene expression in the 0.1–5-mg/L groups and downregulated the HSP704,HSP90,TGR,and ABCC52 mRNA levels at 96 h of exposure.These results suggest that PYR may exert adverse effects on T.thermophila by inducing oxidative stress and changing the gene expression related to ABC transporters and stress,which may enrich the understanding of the toxicity mechanism of PYR in aquatic organisms and provide reference data for aquatic ecological risk assessments.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province,China(No.ZR2023MA069)the Medical and Health Technology Development Project of Shandong Province,China(No.202202050602)+1 种基金College Students’Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program(No.S202410438017)the Graduate Student Research Grant from Shandong Second Medical University.
文摘AIM:To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the influence of hypoxia and alpha-ketoglutaric acid(α-KG)on scleral collagen expression.METHODS:Meta-analysis and clinical statistics were used to prove the changes in choroidal thickness(ChT)during myopia.The establishment of a hypoxic myopia model(HYP)for rabbit scleral fibroblasts through hypoxic culture and the effects of hypoxia andα-KG on collagen expression were demonstrated by Sirius red staining.Transcriptome analysis was used to verify the genes and pathways that hypoxia andα-KG affect collagen expression.Finally,real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used for reverse verification.RESULTS:Meta-analysis results aligned with clinical statistics,revealing a thinning of ChT,leading to scleral hypoxia.Sirius red staining indicated lower collagen expression in the HYP group and higher collagen expression in the HYP+α-KG group,showed that hypoxia reduced collagen expression in scleral fibroblasts,whileα-KG can elevated collagen expression under HYP conditions.Transcriptome analysis unveiled the related genes and signaling pathways of hypoxia andα-KG affect scleral collagen expression and the results were verified by RT-qPCR.CONCLUSION:The potential molecular mechanisms through which hypoxia andα-KG influencing myopia is unraveled and three novel genes TLCD4,TBC1D4,and EPHX3 are identified.These findings provide a new perspective on the prevention and treatment of myopia via regulating collagen expression.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(32060466)Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences。
文摘Background Photosystem II(PSII)constitutes an intricate assembly of protein pigments,featuring extrinsic and intrinsic polypeptides within the photosynthetic membrane.The low-molecular-weight transmembrane protein PsbX has been identified in PSII,which is associated with the oxygen-evolving complex.The expression of PsbX gene protein is regulated by light.PsbX’s central role involves the regulation of PSII,facilitating the binding of quinone molecules to the Qb(PsbA)site,and it additionally plays a crucial role in optimizing the efficiency of photosynthesis.Despite these insights,a comprehensive understanding of the PsbX gene’s functions has remained elusive.Results In this study,we identified ten PsbX genes in Gossypium hirsutum L.The phylogenetic analysis results showed that 40 genes from nine species were classified into one clade.The resulting sequence logos exhibited substantial conservation across the N and C terminals at multiple sites among all Gossypium species.Furthermore,the ortholo-gous/paralogous,Ka/Ks ratio revealed that cotton PsbX genes subjected to positive as well as purifying selection pressure might lead to limited divergence,which resulted in the whole genome and segmental duplication.The expression patterns of GhPsbX genes exhibited variations across specific tissues,as indicated by the analysis.Moreover,the expression of GhPsbX genes could potentially be regulated in response to salt,intense light,and drought stresses.Therefore,GhPsbX genes may play a significant role in the modulation of photosynthesis under adverse abiotic conditions.Conclusion We examined the structure and function of PsbX gene family very first by using comparative genom-ics and systems biology approaches in cotton.It seems that PsbX gene family plays a vital role during the growth and development of cotton under stress conditions.Collectively,the results of this study provide basic information to unveil the molecular and physiological function of PsbX genes of cotton plants.
基金supported by National Science Foundation of China(61971078)Chongqing Municipal Education Commission Science and Technology Major Project(KJZDM202301901).
文摘The effectiveness of facial expression recognition(FER)algorithms hinges on the model’s quality and the availability of a substantial amount of labeled expression data.However,labeling large datasets demands significant human,time,and financial resources.Although active learning methods have mitigated the dependency on extensive labeled data,a cold-start problem persists in small to medium-sized expression recognition datasets.This issue arises because the initial labeled data often fails to represent the full spectrum of facial expression characteristics.This paper introduces an active learning approach that integrates uncertainty estimation,aiming to improve the precision of facial expression recognition regardless of dataset scale variations.The method is divided into two primary phases.First,the model undergoes self-supervised pre-training using contrastive learning and uncertainty estimation to bolster its feature extraction capabilities.Second,the model is fine-tuned using the prior knowledge obtained from the pre-training phase to significantly improve recognition accuracy.In the pretraining phase,the model employs contrastive learning to extract fundamental feature representations from the complete unlabeled dataset.These features are then weighted through a self-attention mechanism with rank regularization.Subsequently,data from the low-weighted set is relabeled to further refine the model’s feature extraction ability.The pre-trained model is then utilized in active learning to select and label information-rich samples more efficiently.Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperforms existing approaches,achieving an improvement in recognition accuracy of 5.09%and 3.82%over the best existing active learning methods,Margin,and Least Confidence methods,respectively,and a 1.61%improvement compared to the conventional segmented active learning method.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.62276051the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province under Grant No.2023NSFSC0640Medical Industry Information Integration Collaborative Innovation Project of Yangtze Delta Region Institute under Grant No.U0723002。
文摘The estimation of pain intensity is critical for medical diagnosis and treatment of patients.With the development of image monitoring technology and artificial intelligence,automatic pain assessment based on facial expression and behavioral analysis shows a potential value in clinical applications.This paper reports a framework of convolutional neural network with global and local attention mechanism(GLA-CNN)for the effective detection of pain intensity at four-level thresholds using facial expression images.GLA-CNN includes two modules,namely global attention network(GANet)and local attention network(LANet).LANet is responsible for extracting representative local patch features of faces,while GANet extracts whole facial features to compensate for the ignored correlative features between patches.In the end,the global correlational and local subtle features are fused for the final estimation of pain intensity.Experiments under the UNBC-McMaster Shoulder Pain database demonstrate that GLA-CNN outperforms other state-of-the-art methods.Additionally,a visualization analysis is conducted to present the feature map of GLA-CNN,intuitively showing that it can extract not only local pain features but also global correlative facial ones.Our study demonstrates that pain assessment based on facial expression is a non-invasive and feasible method,and can be employed as an auxiliary pain assessment tool in clinical practice.
基金the Science and Technology Project of State Grid Corporation of China under Grant No.5700-202318292A-1-1-ZN.
文摘In smart classrooms, conducting multi-face expression recognition based on existing hardware devices to assessstudents’ group emotions can provide educators with more comprehensive and intuitive classroom effect analysis,thereby continuouslypromotingthe improvementof teaching quality.However,most existingmulti-face expressionrecognition methods adopt a multi-stage approach, with an overall complex process, poor real-time performance,and insufficient generalization ability. In addition, the existing facial expression datasets are mostly single faceimages, which are of low quality and lack specificity, also restricting the development of this research. This paperaims to propose an end-to-end high-performance multi-face expression recognition algorithm model suitable forsmart classrooms, construct a high-quality multi-face expression dataset to support algorithm research, and applythe model to group emotion assessment to expand its application value. To this end, we propose an end-to-endmulti-face expression recognition algorithm model for smart classrooms (E2E-MFERC). In order to provide highqualityand highly targeted data support for model research, we constructed a multi-face expression dataset inreal classrooms (MFED), containing 2,385 images and a total of 18,712 expression labels, collected from smartclassrooms. In constructing E2E-MFERC, by introducing Re-parameterization visual geometry group (RepVGG)block and symmetric positive definite convolution (SPD-Conv) modules to enhance representational capability;combined with the cross stage partial network fusion module optimized by attention mechanism (C2f_Attention),it strengthens the ability to extract key information;adopts asymptotic feature pyramid network (AFPN) featurefusion tailored to classroomscenes and optimizes the head prediction output size;achieves high-performance endto-end multi-face expression detection. Finally, we apply the model to smart classroom group emotion assessmentand provide design references for classroom effect analysis evaluation metrics. Experiments based on MFED showthat the mAP and F1-score of E2E-MFERC on classroom evaluation data reach 83.6% and 0.77, respectively,improving the mAP of same-scale You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5) and You Only Look Once version8 (YOLOv8) by 6.8% and 2.5%, respectively, and the F1-score by 0.06 and 0.04, respectively. E2E-MFERC modelhas obvious advantages in both detection speed and accuracy, which can meet the practical needs of real-timemulti-face expression analysis in classrooms, and serve the application of teaching effect assessment very well.
基金funded by the Special Project for Science and Technology Innovation Platform of Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences,China(CXPT2023003)the Freely Explore Scientific and Technology Innovation Program of Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences(ZYTS202207)the Program for Innovative Research Team of Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences,China(CXTD2021006-3)。
文摘The cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase(CKX)enzyme is essential for controlling thefluctuating levels of endogen-ous cytokinin(CK)and has a significant impact on different aspects of plant growth and development.Nonethe-less,there is limited knowledge about CKX genes in tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.).Here we performed genome-wide identification and analysis of nine SlCKX family members in tomatoes using bioinformatics tools.The results revealed that nine SlCKX genes were unevenly distributed onfive chromosomes(Chr.1,Chr.4,Chr.8,Chr.10,and Chr.12).The amino acid length,isoelectric points,and molecular weight of the nine SlCKX proteins ranged from 453 to 553,5.77 to 8.59,and 51.661 to 62.494 kD,respectively.Subcellular localization analysis indi-cated that SlCKX2 proteins were located in both the vacuole and cytoplasmic matrix;SlCKX3 and SlCKX5 pro-teins were located in the vacuole;and SlCKX1,4,6,7,8,and 9 proteins were located in the cytoplasmic matrix.Furthermore,we observed differences in the gene structures and phylogenetic relationships of SlCKX proteins among different members.SlCKX1-9 were positioned on two out of the three branches of the CKX phylogenetic tree in the multispecies phylogenetic tree construction,revealing their strong conservation within phylogenetic subgroups.Unique patterns of expression of CKX genes were noticed in callus cultures exposed to varying con-centrations of exogenous ZT,suggesting their roles in specific developmental and physiological functions in the regeneration system.These results may facilitate subsequent functional analysis of SlCKX genes and provide valu-able insights for establishing an efficient regeneration system for tomatoes.
文摘Cholangiocarcinoma(CCA),a highly aggressive bile duct cancer,is associated with late-stage diagnosis and limited treatment options,leading to poor patient outcomes.Early detection and personalized treatment strategies are crucial.The study by Wang et al highlights the prognostic potential of the PEA3 subfamily genes(ETV1,ETV4,and ETV5)in CCA,identifying ETV4 as a particularly promising biomarker.Their bioinformatic analysis revealed that elevated ETV4 expression correlates with poorer survival,positioning it as a strong indicator of disease progression.These findings suggest that ETV4 could enhance prognostic precision and guide personalized therapies,although further validation through large-scale clinical trials is essential.Challenges in clinical application include the need for comprehensive experimental validation and addressing the tumor heterogeneity in CCA.Future research should focus on validating these biomarkers in diverse cohorts and developing targeted therapies,especially in regions where CCA is endemic.
基金the Science and Technology Development Fund of Tianjin Education Commission for Higher Education,No.2020KJ133Tianjin Key Medical Discipline(Specialty)Construction Project,No.TJYXZDXK-009A.
文摘BACKGROUND Cyclin-dependent kinase 9(CDK9)expression and autophagy in colorectal cancer(CRC)tissues has not been widely studied.CDK9,a key regulator of transcription,may influence the occurrence and progression of CRC.The expression of auto-phagy-related genes BECN1 and drug resistance factor ABCG2 may also play a role in CRC.Under normal physiological conditions,autophagy can inhibit tumorigenesis,but once a tumor forms,autophagy may promote tumor growth.Therefore,understanding the relationship between autophagy and cancer,partic-ularly how autophagy promotes tumor growth after its formation,is a key motivation for this research.AIM To investigate the relationship between CDK9 expression and autophagy in CRC,assess differences in autophagy between left and right colon cancer,and analyze the associations of autophagy-related genes with clinical features and prognosis.METHODS We collected tumor tissues and paracarcinoma tissues from colon cancer patients with liver metastasis to observe the level of autophagy in tissues with high levels of CDK9 and low levels of CDK9.We also collected primary tissue from left and right colon cancer patients with liver metastasis to compare the autophagy levels and the expression of BECN1 and ABCG2 in the tumor and paracarcinoma tissues.RESULTS The incidence of autophagy and the expression of BECN1 and ABCG2 were different in left and right colon cancer,and autophagy might be involved in the occurrence of chemotherapy resistance.Further analysis of the rela-tionship between the expression of autophagy-related genes CDK9,ABCG2,and BECN1 and the clinical features and prognosis of colorectal cancer showed that the high expression of CDK9 indicated a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.CONCLUSION This study laid the foundation for further research on the combination of CDK9 inhibitors and autophagy inhibitors in the treatment of patients with CRC.
基金funded by the Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Project(2021N5014,2022N5006)the Key Research Project of the Putian Science and Technology Bureau(2021ZP08,2021ZP09,2021ZP10,2021ZP11,2023GJGZ001).
文摘The SWEET(sugar will eventually be exported transporter)family proteins are a recently identified class of sugar transporters that are essential for various physiological processes.Although the functions of the SWEET proteins have been identified in a number of species,to date,there have been no reports of the functions of the SWEET genes in woodland strawberries(Fragaria vesca).In this study,we identified 15 genes that were highly homolo-gous to the A.thaliana AtSWEET genes and designated them as FvSWEET1–FvSWEET15.We then conducted a structural and evolutionary analysis of these 15 FvSWEET genes.The phylogenetic analysis enabled us to categor-ize the predicted 15 SWEET proteins into four distinct groups.We observed slight variations in the exon‒intron structures of these genes,while the motifs and domain structures remained highly conserved.Additionally,the developmental and biological stress expression profiles of the 15 FvSWEET genes were extracted and analyzed.Finally,WGCNA coexpression network analysis was run to search for possible interacting genes of FvSWEET genes.The results showed that the FvSWEET10 genes interacted with 20 other genes,playing roles in response to bacterial and fungal infections.The outcomes of this study provide insights into the further study of FvSWEET genes and may also aid in the functional characterization of the FvSWEET genes in woodland strawberries.
基金the following funds:The Key Scientific Research Project of Anhui Provincial Research Preparation Plan in 2023(Nos.2023AH051806,2023AH052097,2023AH052103)Anhui Province Quality Engineering Project(Nos.2022sx099,2022cxtd097)+1 种基金University-Level Teaching and Research Key Projects(Nos.ch21jxyj01,XLZ-202208,XLZ-202106)Special Support Plan for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leaders in Anhui Province。
文摘Convolutional neural networks struggle to accurately handle changes in angles and twists in the direction of images,which affects their ability to recognize patterns based on internal feature levels. In contrast, CapsNet overcomesthese limitations by vectorizing information through increased directionality and magnitude, ensuring that spatialinformation is not overlooked. Therefore, this study proposes a novel expression recognition technique calledCAPSULE-VGG, which combines the strengths of CapsNet and convolutional neural networks. By refining andintegrating features extracted by a convolutional neural network before introducing theminto CapsNet, ourmodelenhances facial recognition capabilities. Compared to traditional neural network models, our approach offersfaster training pace, improved convergence speed, and higher accuracy rates approaching stability. Experimentalresults demonstrate that our method achieves recognition rates of 74.14% for the FER2013 expression dataset and99.85% for the CK+ expression dataset. By contrasting these findings with those obtained using conventionalexpression recognition techniques and incorporating CapsNet’s advantages, we effectively address issues associatedwith convolutional neural networks while increasing expression identification accuracy.
基金This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University.
文摘BACKGROUND Patatin like phospholipase domain containing 8(PNPLA8)has been shown to play a significant role in various cancer entities.Previous studies have focused on its roles as an antioxidant and in lipid peroxidation.However,the role of PNPLA8 in colorectal cancer(CRC)progression is unclear.AIM To explore the prognostic effects of PNPLA8 expression in CRC.METHODS A retrospective cohort containing 751 consecutive CRC patients was enrolled.PNPLA8 expression in tumor samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining and semi-quantitated with immunoreactive scores.CRC patients were divided into high and low PNPLA8 expression groups based on the cut-off va-lues,which were calculated by X-tile software.The prognostic value of PNPLA8 was identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.The over-all survival(OS)rates of CRC patients in the study cohort were compared with Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log-rank test.RESULTS PNPLA8 expression was significantly associated with distant metastases in our cohort(P=0.048).CRC patients with high PNPLA8 expression indicated poor OS(median OS=35.3,P=0.005).CRC patients with a higher PNPLA8 expression at either stage I and II or stage III and IV had statistically significant shorter OS.For patients with left-sided colon and rectal cancer,the survival curves of two PN-PLA8-expression groups showed statistically significant differences.Multivariate analysis also confirmed that high PNPLA8 expression was an independent prog-nostic factor for overall survival(hazard ratio HR=1.328,95%CI:1.016-1.734,P=0.038).
基金financed by the Anhui Provincial Central Leading Local Science and Technology Development Special Fund Project(202007d06020021)Project of Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau(2021143).
文摘Genes in the glycogen synthase kinase 3(GSK3)family are essential in regulating plant response to stressful conditions.This study employed bioinformatics to uncover the GSK3 gene family from the sunflower genome database.The expressions of GSK3 genes in different tissues and stress treatments,such as salt,drought,and cold,were assessed using transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).The study results revealed that the 12 GSK3 genes of sunflower,belonging to four classes(Classes I–IV),contained the GSK3 kinase domain and 11–13 exons.The majority of GSK3 genes were highly expressed in the leaf axil and flower,while their expression levels were relatively lower in the leaf.As a result of salt stress,six of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK22,HaSK23,HaSK32,HaSK33,and HaSK41)displayed a notable increase in expression,while HaSK14 and HaSK21 experienced a significant decrease.With regard to drought stress,five of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK13,HaSK21,HaSK22,and HaSK33)experienced a remarkable rise in expression.When exposed to cold stress,seven of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK12,HaSK13,HaSK32,HaSK33,HaSK41,and HaSK42)showed a substantial increase,whereas HaSK21 and HaSK23 had a sharp decline.This research is of great importance in understanding the abiotic resistance mechanism of sunflowers and developing new varieties with improved stress resistance.
基金This research was supported by Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology(KIAT)grant funded by the Korea Government(MOTIE)(P0012724,The Competency Development Program for Industry Specialist)the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by theKorea government(MSIT)(No.RS-2023-00218176)the Soonchunhyang University Research Fund.
文摘Deep learning(DL)plays a critical role in processing and converting data into knowledge and decisions.DL technologies have been applied in a variety of applications,including image,video,and genome sequence analysis.In deep learning the most widely utilized architecture is Convolutional Neural Networks(CNN)are taught discriminatory traits in a supervised environment.In comparison to other classic neural networks,CNN makes use of a limited number of artificial neurons,therefore it is ideal for the recognition and processing of wheat gene sequences.Wheat is an essential crop of cereals for people around the world.Wheat Genotypes identification has an impact on the possible development of many countries in the agricultural sector.In quantitative genetics prediction of genetic values is a central issue.Wheat is an allohexaploid(AABBDD)with three distinct genomes.The sizes of the wheat genome are quite large compared to many other kinds and the availability of a diversity of genetic knowledge and normal structure at breeding lines of wheat,Therefore,genome sequence approaches based on techniques of Artificial Intelligence(AI)are necessary.This paper focuses on using the Wheat genome sequence will assist wheat producers in making better use of their genetic resources and managing genetic variation in their breeding program,as well as propose a novel model based on deep learning for offering a fundamental overview of genomic prediction theory and current constraints.In this paper,the hyperparameters of the network are optimized in the CNN to decrease the requirement for manual search and enhance network performance using a new proposed model built on an optimization algorithm and Convolutional Neural Networks(CNN).
