Perspective Texture Synthesis Based on Improved Energy Optimization

Perspective texture synthesis has great significance in many fields like video editing, scene capturing etc., due to its ability to read and control global feature information. In this paper, we present a novel example-based, specifically energy optimization-based algorithm, to synthesize perspective textures. Energy optimization technique is a pixel-based approach, so it’s time-consuming. We improve it from two aspects with the purpose of achieving faster synthesis and high quality. Firstly, we change this pixel-based technique by replacing the pixel computation with a little patch. Secondly, we present a novel technique to accelerate searching nearest neighborhoods in energy optimization. Using k- means clustering technique to build a search tree to accelerate the search. Hence, we make use of principal component analysis (PCA) technique to reduce dimensions of input vectors. The high quality results prove that our approach is feasible. Besides, our proposed algorithm needs shorter time relative to other similar methods.     

Age-mediated gut microbiota dysbiosis promotes the loss of dendritic cells tolerance

The old age-related loss of immune tolerance inflicts a person with a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the sentinels of the immune system that maintain immune tolerance through cytokines and regulatory T-cells generation. Aging disturbs the microbial composition of the gut, causing immune system dysregulation. However, the vis-à-vis role of gut dysbiosis on DCs tolerance remains highly elusive. Consequently, we studied the influence of aging on gut dysbiosis and its impact on the loss of DC tolerance. We show that DCs generated from either the aged (DC^Old) or gut-dysbiotic young (DC^Dysbiotic) but not young (DC^Young) mice exhibited loss of tolerance, as evidenced by their failure to optimally induce the generation of Tregs and control the overactivation of CD4⁺ T cells. The mechanism deciphered for the loss of DC^Old and DC^Dysbiotic tolerance was chiefly through the overactivation of NF-κB, impaired frequency of Tregs, upregulation in the level of pro-inflammatory molecules (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-12, IFN-γ), and decline in the anti-inflammatory moieties (IL-10, TGF-β, IL-4, IDO, arginase, NO, IRF-4, IRF-8, PDL1, BTLA4, ALDH2). Importantly, a significant decline in the frequency of the Lactobacillus genus was noticed in the gut. Replenishing the gut of old mice with the Lactobacillus plantarum reinvigorated the tolerogenic function of DCs through the rewiring of inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Thus, for the first time, we demonstrate the impact of age-related gut dysbiosis on the loss of DC tolerance. This finding may open avenues for therapeutic intervention for treating age-associated disorders with the Lactobacillus plantarum.     

Determining relative abundance of specific DNA sequences in flow cytometrically sorted maize nuclei

A wide breadth of DNA content variation has been reported amongmaize lines. While the extent of this variation has been welldocumented, few studies have focused on its cause. Some of thenuclear DNA content variation has been explained by the presenceof B chromosomes or knobs. However, variation in these two structuresdoes not account for all of the observed variation. In orderto identify other fluctuating DNA sequences, a rapid and reliablemethod of estimating relative abundance of DNA sequences neededto be developed. The potential of flow cytometry in conjunctionwith spot hybridization for determining relative abundance ofspecific DNA sequences in maize was studied. Different numbersof G1 phase nuclei were sorted on nitrocellulose filters andnon-radioactive hybridization and signal detection performed.Results from these experiments revealed a significant, positivelinear correlation between the amount of target sequence andsignal density using both knob (R = 0.98) and ribosomal spacer(R =0.99) DNA sequences. In addition, G1 phase nuclei of eightinbred lines differing in the amount of knob heterochromatin,were sorted on to filters and the non-radioactive hybridizationand signal detection performed. A significant, positive linearcorrelation between C-band number and signal density (R =0.83;P = 0.0051) as well as between per cent heterochromatin andsignal density (R=0.96;P = 0.0002) was observed. These resultsindicate the usefulness of flow cytometry for spot hybridizationin determining the relative abundance of DNA sequences in themaize genome. Key words: Flow cytometry, copy number, non-isotope labelling, spot hybridization, flow sorting, Zea mays L.     

Temporal appearance and distribution of the Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in developing chick myocardium as determined by immunofluorescence labeling

The temporal appearance and distribution of the Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum were determined in the developing chick heart (stage 9 to stage 16) by indirect immunofluorescence labeling. The results obtained showed that the Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase was first observed in the bulbus ventricular region of the single tubular heart at stage 9 to 10 of development, when these myocardial cells first contract. As the atrial and later the sinus venosus tissues became incorporated into the single tubular heart the Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase was also observed in these regions, however, the highest density of Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase labeling was generally observed in the region of the heart most recently incorporated. These results suggest that the sarcoplasmic reticulum is present and perhaps functional in the regulation of the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and thereby the contraction-relaxation cycle in myocardial cells when the first contraction occurs, as well as throughout all subsequent stages of development. Furthermore comparison between the relative density and intensity of the Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase labeling and the intrinsic rate of contraction of the myocardial cells in the various regions of the heart (A. Barry, 1942, J. Exp. Zool. 91, 119-130) supports the possibility that a positive correlation exists between these two characteristics of the myocardial cells.     

Low nitrogen stress regulates chlorophyll fluorescence in coordination with photosynthesis and Rubisco efficiency of rice

Nitrogen (N) is the basis of plant growth and development and, is considered as one of the priming agents to elevate a range of stresses. Plants use solar radiations through photosynthesis, which amasses the assimilatory components of crop yield to meet the global demand for food. Nitrogen is the main regulator in the allocation of photosynthetic apparatus which changes of the photosynthesis (P_n) and quantum yield (F_v/F_m) of the plant. In the present study, dynamics of the photosynthetic establishment, N-dependent relation with chlorophyll fluorescence attributes and Rubisco efficacy was evaluated in low-N tolerant (cv. CR Dhan 311) and low-N sensitive (cv. Rasi) rice cultivars under low-N and optimum-N conditions. There was a decrease in the stored leaf N under low-N condition, resulting in the decreased P_n and F_v/F_m efficiency of the plants through depletion in the activity and content of Rubisco. The P_n and F_v/F_m followed the parallel trend of leaf N content during low-N condition along with depletion of intercellular CO₂ concentration and overall conductance under low-N condition. Photosynthetic saturation curve cleared abrupt decrease of effective quantum yield in the low-N sensitive rice cultivar than the low-N tolerant rice. Also, the rapid light curve highlighted the unacclimated regulation of photochemical and non-photochemical quenching in the low-N condition. The low-N sensitive rice cultivar triumphed non-photochemical quenching, whereas the low-N tolerant rice cultivar rose gradually during the light curve. Our study suggested that the quantum yield is the key limitation for photosynthesis in low-N condition. Regulation of Rubisco, photochemical and non-photochemical quenching may help plants to grow under low-N level.

     

Overview of Strain Characterization in Relation to Serological and Molecular Detection of Citrus tristeza <i>Closterovirus</i>

Tristeza is a devastating viral disease in all the citrus growing countries throughout the world and has killed millions of citrus trees in severely affected orchards. The citrus species grafted on sour orange rootstock are affected by this disease. Predominantly, the sweet orange, grapefruit and lime trees grafted on sour orange exhibit severe symptoms like quick decline, vein clearing, pin holing, bark scaling and degeneration leading to variable symptoms. Symptomatic expression of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) in different hosts has been attributed to virus isolates which are from severe to mild. Different serological and molecular assays have been deployed to differentiate the strains of CTV. Citrus tristeza virus is diversified towards its strains on the basis of biological, serological and molecular characterization. Phenotypic expression is due to genetic alteration and different molecular basis have now been adopted for strain differentiation. This review will give a brief idea about the different CTV isolates, their characterization based on nucleic acid and serological assays. Different methods along with salient features for strain characterization has also been reviewed. This review will also open the new aspects towards formulation of management strategies through different detection techniques.     

Variation in root morphology,enhancement in anti-oxidative enzyme responses and improved arbutin and bergenin levels in Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. raised in vitro via EMS and gamma irradiations

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Plant cells develop defence mechanisms in response to mutagen stress which leads to modulation of certain metabolic and defensive pathways. Owing to...     

Screening of Synthetic Isoxazolone Derivative Role in Alzheimer’s Disease: Computational and Pharmacological Approach

Neurochemical Research - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is age-dependent neurological disorder with progressive loss of cognition and memory. This multifactorial disease is characterized by...