Adaptive Tensor-Based Principal Component Analysis for Low-Dose CT Image Denoising

Computed tomography (CT) has a revolutionized diagnostic radiology but involves large radiation doses that directly impact image quality. In this paper, we propose adaptive tensor-based principal component analysis (AT-PCA) algorithm for low-dose CT image denoising. Pixels in the image are presented by their nearby neighbors, and are modeled as a patch. Adaptive searching windows are calculated to find similar patches as training groups for further processing. Tensor-based PCA is used to obtain transformation matrices, and coefficients are sequentially shrunk by the linear minimum mean square error. Reconstructed patches are obtained, and a denoised image is finally achieved by aggregating all of these patches. The experimental results of the standard test image show that the best results are obtained with two denoising rounds according to six quantitative measures. For the experiment on the clinical images, the proposed AT-PCA method can suppress the noise, enhance the edge, and improve the image quality more effectively than NLM and KSVD denoising methods.     

Absence of estrogen receptor beta leads to abnormal adipogenesis during early tendon healing by an up‐regulation of PPARγ signalling

Achilles tendon injury is one of the challenges of sports medicine, the aetiology of which remains unknown. For a long time, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) has been known as a regulating factor of the metabolism in many connective tissues, such as bone, muscle and cartilage, but little is known about its role in tendon. Recent studies have implicated ERβ as involved in the process of tendon healing. Tendon‐derived stem cells (TDSCs) are getting more and more attention in tendon physiological and pathological process. In this study, we investigated how ERβ played a role in Achilles tendon healing. Achilles tendon injury model was established to analyse how ERβ affected on healing process in vivo. Cell proliferation assay, Western blots, qRT‐PCR and immunocytochemistry were performed to investigate the effect of ERβ on TDSCs. Here, we showed that ERβ deletion in mice resulted in inferior gross appearance, histological scores and, most importantly, increased accumulation of adipocytes during the early tendon healing which involved activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) signalling. Furthermore, in vitro results of ours confirmed that the abnormity might be the result of abnormal TDSC adipogenic differentiation which could be partially reversed by the treatment of ERβ agonist LY3201. These data revealed a role of ERβ in Achilles tendon healing for the first time, thereby providing a new target for clinical treatment of Achilles tendon injury.     

Seasonal Distribution and Diversity of Ground Arthropods in Microhabitats Following a Shrub Plantation Age Sequence in Desertified Steppe

In desertified regions, shrub-dominated patches are important microhabitats for ground arthropod assemblages. As shrub age increases, soil, vegetation and microbiological properties can change remarkably and spontaneously across seasons. However, relatively few studies have analyzed how ground arthropods respond to the microhabitats created by shrubs of different plantation ages across seasons. Using 6, 15, 24 and 36 year-old plantations of re-vegetated shrubs (Caragana koushinskii) in the desert steppe of northwestern China as a model system, we sampled ground arthropod communities using a pitfall trapping method in the microhabitats under shrubs and in the open areas between shrubs, during the spring, summer and autumn. The total ground arthropod assemblage was dominated by Carabidae, Melolonthidae, Curculionidae, Tenebrionidae and Formicidae that were affected by plantation age, seasonal changes, or the interaction between these factors, with the later two groups also influenced by microhabitat. Overall, a facilitative effect was observed, with more arthropods and a greater diversity found under shrubs as compared to open areas, but this was markedly affected by seasonal changes. There was a high degree of similarity in arthropod assemblages and diversity between microhabitats in summer and autumn. Shrub plantation age significantly influenced the distribution of the most abundant groups, and also the diversity indices of the ground arthropods. However, there was not an overall positive relationship between shrub age and arthropod abundance, richness or diversity index. The influence of plantation age on arthropod communities was also affected by seasonal changes. From spring through summer to autumn, community indices of ground arthropods tended to decline, and a high degree of similarity in these indices (with fluctuation) was observed among different ages of shrub plantation in autumn. Altogether the recovery of arthropod communities was markedly affected by seasonal variability, and they demonstrated distinctive communal fingerprints in different microhabitats for each plantation age stage.     

海堤对广西沿海红树林的数量,群落特征和恢复的影响

广西大陆海岸线的 63%为海堤 ,海堤数量达 498个 .海堤建立毁灭了原生红树林 ,现余 5654hm2 ,其中约 85%为堤前红树林 .海堤阻截了红树林滩涂的自然海岸地貌 ,结果是红海榄和木榄已很少 ,榄李濒危 ,角果木已消失 ,海漆和陆岸种类只能沿海堤坡面生长 ,而先锋红树植物白骨壤和桐花树成为现有红树林的优势种 .堤前红树林的恢复受到海堤维护时强烈的人为干扰 .堤前滩涂相对于平均海平面的高程较低 ,不是红树林繁盛的理想滩涂 .红树林人工造林的成活率和次生林恢复的速率在很大程度上取决于生境的沉积率 .     

人造血干/祖细胞多态性的研究:Ⅷ.人正常骨髓 CD34~ 造血细胞体视学的特征

人CD34~ 造血细胞是具有高度自我更新、多向分化及重建长期造血与免疫学功能的独特体细胞。为系统探索CD34~ 造血细胞的形态、细胞化学及超微结构特征,新近我们设计组合并建立了CIMS-100-FACS 440无菌二次分选术,可使所获CD34~ 造血细胞的纯度达100%。在此基础上,本研究采用Cambri-dge Quantimet 970全自动图像分析仪对光学显微镜、扫描电镜及透射电镜下的CD34~ 造血细胞进行了体视学方面的某些探讨,进一步从三维结构信息中深刻揭示CD34~ 造血细胞的形态计量学特征。经扫描→模数转换←阴影校正→图像暂存←统计分析等检测,结果表明:CD34~ 造血细胞的直径3.490—6.741μm,周长11.776—26.240μm,面积9.565—35.686μm~2,形状因子1.048—1.840,核浆比0.58—0.72,平均光密度0.17675—0.65100,积分光密度2717.217—9870.643。由此可见CD34~ 造血细胞的确为非均一细胞群,这可能与CD34~ 造血细胞的功能亚群与分化阶段密切相关。据我们所知,这是国际上首次有关人CD34~ 造血细胞体视学特征的报道。     

Infestation and Related Ecology of Chigger Mites on the Asian House Rat (Rattus tanezumi) in Yunnan Province,Southwest China

This paper is to illustrate the infestation and related ecological characteristics of chigger mites on the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi). A total of 17,221 chigger mites were collected from 2,761 R. tanezumi rats, and then identified as 131 species and 19 genera in 2 families. Leptotrombidium deliense, the most powerful vector of scrub typhus in China, was the first major dominant species on R. tanezumi. All the dominant mite species were of an aggregated distribution among different individuals of R. tanezumi. The species composition and infestations of chiggers on R. tanezumi varied along different geographical regions, habitats and altitudes. The species-abundance distribution of the chigger mite community was successfully fitted and the theoretical curve equation was Ŝ (R)=37e^−(0.28R)². The total chigger species on R. tanezumi were estimated to be 199 species or 234 species, and this further suggested that R. tanezumi has a great potential to harbor abundant species of chigger mites. The results of the species-plot relationship indicated that the chigger mite community on R. tanezumi in Yunnan was an uneven community with very high heterogeneity. Wide geographical regions with large host samples are recommended in the investigations of chigger mites.     

Stable expression of antibiotic-resistant gene ble from Streptoalloteichus hindustanus in the mitochondria of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The mitochondrial expression of exogenous antibiotic resistance genes has not been demonstrated successfully to date, which has limited the development of antibiotic resistance genes as selectable markers for mitochondrial site-directed transformation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In this work, the plasmid pBSLPNCB was constructed by inserting the gene ble of Streptoalloteichus hindustanus (Sh ble), encoding a small (14-kilodalton) protective protein into the site between TERMINVREP-Left repeats and the cob gene in a fragment of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of C. reinhardtii. The fusion DNA-construct, which contained TERMINVREP-Left, Sh ble, cob, and partial nd4 sequence, were introduced into the mitochondria of the respiratory deficient dum-1 mutant CC-2654 of C. reinhardtii by biolistic particle delivery system. A large number of transformants were obtained after eight weeks in the dark. Subsequent subculture of the transformants on the selection TAP media containing 3 ìg/mL Zeomycin for 12 months resulted in genetically modified transgenic algae MT-Bs. Sequencing and Southern analyses on the mitochondrial genome of the different MT-B lines revealed that Sh ble gene had been integrated into the mitochondrial genome of C. reinhardtii. Both Western blot, using the anti-BLE monoclonal antibody, and Zeomycin tolerance analysis confirmed the presence of BLE protein in the transgenic algal cells. It indicates that the Sh ble gene can be stably expressed in the mitochondria of C. reinhardtii.     

Pretreatment and Lignocellulosic Chemistry

Lignocellulosic materials such as wood, grass, and agricultural and forest residues are promising alternative energy resources that can be utilized to produce ethanol. The yield of ethanol production from native lignocellulosic material is relatively low due to its native recalcitrance, which is attributed to, in part, lignin content/structure, hemicelluloses, cellulose crystallinity, and other factors. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials is required to overcome this recalcitrance. The goal of pretreatment is to alter the physical features and chemical composition/structure of lignocellulosic materials, thus making cellulose more accessible to enzymatic hydrolysis for sugar conversion. Various pretreatment technologies to reduce recalcitrance and to increase sugar yield have been developed during the past two decades. This review examines the changes in lignocellulosic structure primarily in cellulose and hemicellulose during the most commonly applied pretreatment technologies including dilute acid pretreatment, hydrothermal pretreatment, and alkaline pretreatment.     

Cloning, expression and characterization of a UDP-galactose 4-epimerase from Escherichia coli

The gene galE encoding UDP-galactose 4-epimerase was cloned into E. coli BL21(DE3) from the chromosomal DNA of E. coli strain K-12. High expression of the soluble recombinant epimerase was achieved in the cell lysate. In order to evaluate the use of this epimerase in enzymatic synthesis of important -Gal epitopes (oligosaccharides with a terminal Gal1,3Gal sequence), a new radioactivity assay (1,3-galactosyltransferase coupled assay) was established to characterize its activity in producing UDP-galactose from UDP-glucose. Approximately 2700 units (100 mg) enzyme with a specific activity of 27 U mg^–1 protein could be obtained from one liter of bacterial culture. The epimerase was active in a wide pH range with an optimum at pH 7.0. This expression system established a viable route to the enzymatic production of -Gal oligosaccharides to support xenotransplantation research.     

0．23T稳恒磁场对不同温度离体过氧化氢酶的磁效应研究

研究了 0 .2 3T稳恒磁场对不同温度下的离体牛肝过氧化氢酶 (CAT)构象及活力的影响 ,并从分子水平讨论了磁场对不同温度的过氧化氢酶产生不同生物学效应的可能机制。将不同温度的天然酶液置于磁感应强度为0 .2 3T的磁场中分别处理一定的时间 ,处理过程中保持环境温度与酶液温度一致 ,撤离磁场后立即在相同实验条件下对其进行光谱分析及量热分析 ,并用Beers&Sizers法 (改良型 )测定酶活力。结果表明 ,磁场使 2 5℃过氧化氢酶的构象发生明显变化 ,表现为荧光偏振度增加、出现明显的差示扫描量热曲线、产生λ2 10nm～ 310nm的紫外差光谱以及λ330nm荧光发射峰的荧光强度改变 (荧光发射峰的峰位未移动 ) ,构象变化的同时酶活力增加 ;15℃过氧化氢酶的构象及活力变化规律与 2 5℃过氧化氢酶类似 ,但强度均弱于 2 5℃酶 ;而 4℃过氧化氢酶的构象及活力没有发生变化 ,表现出未受磁场处理的影响。相同实验条件下 ,磁场对不同温度的酶分子影响不同 ,随温度的增加 ,影响效应趋于显著。由于不同温度的酶分子之间的差异在于构象状态的不同 ,这表明酶分子自身的构象状态对磁场处理效果有极其重要的影响。不同温度的过氧化氢酶磁效应差异显著可能是由磁致酶构象变化的特殊机制所引起。磁场对酶分子构象的影响可能是通