Lane-change intention recognition considering oncoming traffic: Novel insights revealed by advances in deep learning.

Lane-changing (LC) intention recognition models have seen limited real-world application due to a lack of research on two-lane two-way road environments. This study constructs a high-fidelity simulated two-lane two-way road to develop a Transformer model that accurately recognizes LC intention. We propose a novel LC labelling algorithm combining vehicle dynamics and eye-tracking (VEL) and compare it against traditional time window labelling (TWL). We find the LC recognition accuracy can be further improved when oncoming vehicle features are included in the LC dataset. The Transformer demonstrates state-of-the-art performance recognizing LC 4.59 s in advance with 92.6 % accuracy using the VEL labelling method compared to GRU, LSTM and CNN + LSTM models. To interpret the Transformer's 'black box', we apply LIME model which reveals the model focuses on eye-tracking features and LC vehicle interactions with preceding and oncoming traffic during LC events. This research demonstrates that modelling additional road users and driver gaze in LC intention recognition achieves significant improvements in model performance and time-to-collision warning capabilities on two-lane two-way roads.

Photoinduced [3+2] Cycloaddition of Alkyl-Acceptor Diazoalkanes: Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Pyrazolines Containing a Quaternary Center.

We present a new [3+2] cycloaddition reaction between alkyl-acceptor diazoalkanes under visible light irradiation. By employing easily accessible alkyl-acceptor-type diazoalkanes or their precursor hydrazones as both 1,3-dipoles and dipolarophiles, a diverse range of pyrazoline derivatives featuring a quaternary center have been efficiently synthesized in a predictable manner, with excellent functional group tolerance and good yields. Furthermore, scale-up experiments and downstream transformations of the product were also detailed.

Gender disparities in the mediating role of symptom knowledge level in reducing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) decision delay: Findings from a community-based study in China.

BACKGROUND: Implementing training programs to educate patients on the prodromal symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may assist patients in accurately recognizing these symptoms, and ultimately decrease their time delay in seeking emergency medical services (EMS). However, the effectiveness of this approach remains uncertain, particularly among the Chinese population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted within 22 communities in Beijing, China between 2015 and 2018, with a total of 1099 participants recruited. The study utilized a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the presence of intentional decision delay in turning to EMS under a hypothetical chest pain, the participants' knowledge of ACS prodromal symptoms, and whether they had ever received any training programs aimed at increasing their symptom knowledge. Mediation analysis was performed with regression models and bootstrapping methods, and gender difference was further analyzed through moderated mediation analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1099 participants (58.2% female, median [IQR] age 34 [20]) were included in the study. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that training programs were associated with a decrease risk in decision delay, with increased knowledge playing a mediating role (mediation effect/total effect = 36.59%, P < 0.0001). Gender modified this mediation effect, with it being observed only in the male group. Specifically, training programs were not found to significantly decrease decision delay among females (P > 0.05), even though they did improve women's knowledge of ACS prodromal symptoms (ß = 0.57, P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: The results suggested a relationship between prior training programs and reduced decision delay, with increased knowledge of prodromal symptoms of ACS serving as a mediator. However, the effect was only observed in male participants and not in female participants. This highlights the notion that mere transfer of knowledge regarding ACS prodromal symptoms may not be sufficient to mitigate decision delay in the female population. Further research is needed to corroborate these results and to gain deeper insights into the gender-specific barriers encountered in this study.

Acetylation in pathogenesis: Revealing emerging mechanisms and therapeutic prospects.

Protein acetylation modifications play a central and pivotal role in a myriad of biological processes, spanning cellular metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and beyond, by effectively reshaping protein structure and function. The metabolic state of cells is intricately connected to epigenetic modifications, which in turn influence chromatin status and gene expression patterns. Notably, pathological alterations in protein acetylation modifications are frequently observed in diseases such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. Such abnormalities can result in altered protein properties and loss of function, which are closely associated with developing and progressing related diseases. In recent years, the advancement of precision medicine has highlighted the potential value of protein acetylation in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This review includes provocative and thought-provoking papers outlining recent breakthroughs in acetylation modifications as they relate to cardiovascular disease, mitochondrial metabolic regulation, liver health, neurological health, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Additionally, it covers the molecular mechanisms and research challenges in understanding the role of acetylation in disease regulation. By summarizing novel targets and prognostic markers for the treatment of related diseases, we aim to contribute to the field. Furthermore, we discuss current hot topics in acetylation research related to health regulation, including N4-acetylcytidine and liquid-liquid phase separation. The primary objective of this review is to provide insights into the functional diversity and underlying mechanisms by which acetylation regulates proteins in disease contexts.

A pedigree-based cohort to study the genetic risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases: study design, baseline characteristics and preliminary results.

Background: We initiated the Fujian Tulou Pedigree-based Cohort (FTPC) as the integration of extended pedigrees and prospective cohort to clarify the genetic and environmental risk factors of cardiometabolic diseases. Methods: FTPC was carried out in Nanjing County, Fujian Province, China from August 2015 to December 2017 to recruit probands with the same surnames and then enroll their first-degree and more distant relatives. The participants were asked to complete questionnaire interview, physical examination, and blood collection. According to the local genealogical booklets and family registry, we reconstructed extended pedigrees to estimate the heritability of cardiometabolic traits. The follow-up of FTPC is scheduled every 5 years in the future. Results: The baseline survey interviewed 2,727 individuals in two clans. A total of 1,563 adult subjects who completed all baseline examinations were used to reconstruct pedigrees and 452 extended pedigrees were finally identified, including one seven-generation pedigree, two five-generation pedigrees, 23 four-generation pedigrees, 186 three-generation pedigrees, and 240 two-generation pedigrees. The average age of the participants was 57.4 years, with 43.6% being males. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia in FTPC were 49.2, 10.0, and 45.2%, respectively. Based on the pedigree structure, the heritability of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fast blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein was estimated at 0.379, 0.306, 0.386, 0.452, 0.568, 0.852, and 0.387, respectively. Conclusion: As an extended pedigree cohort in China, FTPC will provide an important source to study both genetic and environmental risk factors prospectively.

Adverse Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Oxidized Black Carbon Particles on the Reproductive System of Male Mice.

Ambient black carbon (BC), a main constituent of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), is a primary particle that is mainly generated by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel and biomass burning. BC has been identified as a potential health risk via exposure. However, the adverse effects of exposure to BC on the male reproductive system remain unclear. In the present study, we explored the effects of maternal exposure to oxidized black carbon (OBC) during pregnancy on testicular development and steroid synthesis in male offspring. Pregnant mice were exposed to OBC (467 µg/kg BW) or nanopure water (as control) by intratracheal instillation from gestation day (GD) 4 to GD 16.5 (every other day). We examined the testicular histology, daily sperm production, serum testosterone, and mRNA expression of hormone synthesis process-related factors of male offspring at postnatal day (PND) 35 and PND 84. Histological examinations exhibited abnormal seminiferous tubules with degenerative changes and low cellular adhesion in testes of OBC-exposed mice at PND 35 and PND 84. Consistent with the decrease in daily sperm production, the serum testosterone level of male offspring of OBC-exposed mice also decreased significantly. Correspondingly, mRNA expression levels of hormone-synthesis-related genes (i.e., StAR, P450scc, P450c17, and 17ß-HSD) were markedly down-regulated in male offspring of PND 35 and PND 84, respectively. In brief, these results suggest that prenatal exposure has detrimental effects on mouse spermatogenesis in adult offspring.

Bioimaging and detecting endogenous and exogenous cyanide in foods, living cells and mice based on a turn-on mitochondria-targeted fluorescent probe.

A novel fluorescent probe, with advanced features including "turn-on" fluorescence response, high sensitivity, good compatibility, and mitochondria-targeting function, has been synthesized based on structural design for detecting and visualizing cyanide in foods and biological systems. An electron-donating triphenylamine group (TPA) was employed as the fluorescent and an electron-accepting 4-methyl-N-methyl-pyridinium iodide (Py) moiety was used as a mitochondria-targeted localization unit, which formed intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) system. The "turn-on" fluorescence response of the probe (TPA-BTD-Py, TBP) toward cyanide is attributed two reasons, one is the insertion of an electron-deficient benzothiadiazole (BTD) group into the conjugated system between TPA and Py, and the other is the inhibition of ICT induced by the nucleophilic addition of CN-. Two active sites for reacting with CN- were involved in TBP molecule and high response sensitivity were observed in tetrahydrofuran solvent containing 3 % H2O. The response time could be reduced to 150 s, the linear range was 0.25-50 µM, and the limit of detection was 0.046 µM for CN- analysis. The TBP probe was successfully applied to the detection of cyanide in food samples prepared in aqueous solution, including the sprouting potato, bitter almond, cassava, and apple seeds. Furthermore, TBP exhibited low cytotoxicity, clear mitochondria-localizing capability in HeLa cells and excellent fluorescence imaging of exogenous and endogenous CN- in living PC12 cells. Moreover, exogenous CN- with intraperitoneal injection in nude mice could be well monitored visually by the "turn-on" fluorescence. Therefore, the strategy based on structural design provided good prospects for optimizing fluorescent probes.

Bisphenol A interferes with lncRNA Fhadlos2 and RUNX3 association in adolescent mouse ovary.

Bisphenol A (BPA) has a number of adverse effects on the reproductive development of females. In particular, the mechanism of disruption of ovarian development in adolescent mice is still unclear. Based on transcriptome sequencing results, a differentially expressed lncRNA, Fhad1os2, was detected in the ovaries of BPA-exposed pubertal mice. In our study, the lncRNA Fhad1os2, localized in the ovarian granulosa cell cytoplasm, could regulate the proliferation of mouse ovarian granulosa cells. Mechanistically, the results of RNA pull-down experiments as well as mass spectrometry analysis showed that ERα, an interfering signaling molecule of BPA, could directly bind lncRNA Fhad1os2 and decrease the transcription of lncRNA Fhad1os2 in response to the estrogen-like effect of BPA. BPA exposure also caused abnormal lncRNA Fhad1os2 pulldown protein-related signaling pathways in the ovaries of adolescent mice. Furthermore, lncRNA Fhad1os2 interacted with RUNX3, a transcription factor related to follicle development and hormone synthesis. As a negative regulator, lncRNA Fhad1os2 transactivated the expression of Runx3, which in turn induced RUNX3 to positively regulate aromatase (Cyp19a1) expression in mouse ovarian granulosa cells and promote estrogen synthesis. In conclusion, our study indicates that BPA exposure interferes with ERα-regulated lncRNA Fhad1os2 interactions with RUNX3 in pubertal mice, affecting estrogen synthesis in mouse granulosa cells and contributing to premature ovarian maturation in pubertal mice.

Lethal and Sublethal Toxicity of Beta-Carboline Alkaloids from Peganum harmala (L.) against Aedes albopictus Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae).

Plant-derived agents are powerful bio-pesticides for the eco-friendly control of mosquito vectors and other blood-sucking arthropods. The larval toxicity of beta-carboline alkaloids against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), was investigated under laboratory conditions. The total alkaloid extracts (TAEs) and beta-carboline alkaloids (harmaline, harmine, harmalol, and harman) from Peganum harmala seeds were isolated and tested in this bioassay. All alkaloids were tested either individually or as binary mixtures, using the co-toxicity coefficient (CTC) and Abbott's formula analysis. The results revealed considerable toxicity of the tested alkaloids against A. albopictus larvae. When all larval instars were exposed to the TAEs at 48 h post-treatment, the mortality of all larval instars varied in a concentration-dependent manner. The second-instar larvae were the most susceptible to different concentrations of TAEs, and the fourth-instar larvae were more tolerant to TAEs than the second-instar larvae. Especially, the third-instar larvae exposed to all alkaloids also showed that all doses resulted in an increased mortality of the third-instar larvae at 48 h post-treatment, and the toxicities of the tested alkaloids in a descending order were TAEs > harmaline > harmine > harmalol, with the LC50 values of 44.54 ± 2.56, 55.51 ± 3.01, 93.67 ± 4.53, and 117.87 ± 5.61 µg/mL at 48 h post-treatment, respectively. In addition, all compounds were also tested individually or in a 1:1 ratio (dose LC25/LC25) as binary mixtures to assess the synergistic toxicity of these binary combinations against the third-instar larvae at 24 and 48 h post-treatment, respectively. The results demonstrated that when tested as a binary mixture, all compounds (especially TAEs, harmaline, and harmine) showed their synergistic effects, exceeding the toxicity of each compound alone. Interestingly, the obtained data further revealed that the TAEs at sublethal doses (LC10 and LC25) could significantly delay the larval development and decrease the pupation and emergence rates of A. albopictus. This phenomenon could be helpful in order to develop more effective control strategies for different notorious vector mosquitoes.

BPA exposure enhances the metastatic aggression of ovarian cancer through the ERα/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling axis.

Long-term exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in humans may promote ovarian cancer development. In present study, the mechanisms by which BPA mediates the aggression metastatic behavior of ovarian cancer were investigated in vitro/in vivo. The results showed that BPA (10 µM) significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer cells (ES-2 and OVCAR-3 cells); moreover, it promoted ES-2 and OVCAR-3 cell glucose uptake, lactic acid release and intracellular ATP synthesis. After administration of 5 µg/kg/day BPA, tumor volume was increased compared with that in control group. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses showed that the genes from ES-2 cell in 10 µM BPA-treated group were enriched mainly in central carbon metabolism and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Then, qRT‒PCR and western blotting results showed that BPA (10 µM) increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of glycolysis-related genes and mTOR, p-AKT HIF-1α and ERα in vitro/vivo; whereas this effect was reduced after treatment with the ERα inhibitor methyl-piperidino-pyrazole. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry showed that BPA promoted the direct interaction of ERα with lactate dehydrogenase A. These results show that BPA directly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through the ERα/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling axis to enhance glycolysis.

Evidence of the folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism pathway genes in controlling the non-syndromic oral clefts risks.

The folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism pathway is thought to play an important role in the etiology of non-syndromic oral clefts (NSOFC), although none of the genes in this pathway has shown significant signals in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Recent evidence indicated that enhanced understanding could be gained by aggregating multiple SNPs effect simultaneously into polygenic risk score (PRS) to assess its association with disease risks. This study is aimed to assess the association between the genetic effect of folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism pathway and NSOFC risks using PRS based on a case-parent trio design. A total of 297 SNPs mapped from 18 genes in the folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism pathway were aggregated from a GWAS of 2458 case-parent trios recruited from an international consortium. We found a PRS based on the folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism pathway was significant among all NSOFC trios (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.66-2.28, p = 2.39 × 10-16 ), as well as two major subtypes, non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) trios (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.50-1.96, p = 7.66 × 10-15 ) and non-syndromic cleft palate only (NSCPO) trios (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.36-1.68, p = 2.1 × 10-14 ). Similar results were also observed in further subgroup analyses stratified into Asian and European trios. The averaged PRS of the folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism pathway varied between the NSOFC case group and its comparison group (p < 0.05) with higher average PRS in the cases. Moreover, the top 5% pathway PRS group had 2.25 (95% CI: 1.85-2.73) times increased NSOFC risk, also 3.09 (95% CI: 2.50-3.81) and 2.06 (95% CI: 1.39-3.02) times increased risk of NSCL/P and NSCPO compared to the remainder of the distribution. The results of our study confirmed the folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism pathway was important in controlling risk to NSOFC and this study enhanced evidence towards understanding the genetic risks of NSOFC.

Expression patterns and biological function of BCL2L10 during mouse preimplantation development.

BCL2-like 10 (BCL2L10) is abundantly expressed in mammalian oocytes and plays a crucial role in the completion of oocyte meiosis. However, the expression patterns of BCL2L10 and its biological functions during preimplantation development have not been well characterized. Here, we investigated the spatiotemporal expressions of Bcl2l10 during mouse preimplantation development using RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence and its biological function using siRNA and morpholino injection into pronuclear embryos. Results from RT-qPCR showed that Bcl2l10 was highly expressed in the metaphase Ⅱ-stage oocytes and pronuclear-stage embryos, but expression markedly decreased from the two-cell stage onwards and was no longer detected at the four-cell stage and beyond. Immunofluorescence staining showed that BCL2L10 was detectable throughout preimplantation development and localized in the cytoplasm and nuclei. Knocking down Bcl2l10 resulted in a reduced blastocyst formation rate (P < 0.01) and decreased expression of OCT4, NANOG, and SOX17 (P < 0.05). We concluded that the role of BCL2L10 is strongly associated with developmental competence of preimplantation mouse embryos.

Surface modification of titanium with antibacterial porous N-halamine coating to prevent peri-implant infection.

Peri-implant infection remains one of the greatest threats to orthopedics. The construction of bone implants with good antibacterial and osteogenic properties is beneficial for reducing the risk of implant-related infections and healing bone defects. In this study, N-halamine coating (namely N-Cl) was grafted onto alkali-heat treated titanium (Ti) using polydopamine to endow Ti-based orthopedic implants with strong bactericidal activity. Surface characterization revealed that the N-Cl coating has porous structure loaded with active chlorine (Cl+). The N-Cl coating also provided micro/nano-structured Ti surfaces with excellent antibacterial ability via transformation between N-H and N-Cl, and approximately 100% disinfection was achieved. Furthermore, the as-prepared N-Cl coating exhibited good biocompatibility and osteogenesis abilityin vitro. These results indicate that applying N-Cl coatings on Ti could prevent and treat peri-implant infections.

Identification of a combined lncRNA prognostic signature and knockdown of lncRNA MANCR to inhibit progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma by bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become potential therapeutic targets or promising prognostic biomarkers in cancers. However, individual gene does not show sufficient prognostic value for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Therefore, this study aims to develop a combined prognostic lncRNA signature to the prognosis of ccRCC. Methods: The transcriptome profiling data for confirmed ccRCC cases were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/). The prognostic significance, survival time and diagnostic effectiveness of the lncRNAs in ccRCC was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the 4 lncRNAs was also performed. The expression of mitotically-associated lncRNA (MANCR) was measured in ccRCC cells or tissues by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Both Colony formation assays and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was conducted to detect the proliferation of both 786-O and SN12C cells. For apoptosis detection, flow cytometry in both 786-O and SN12C cells was performed. For migration of 786-O and SN12C cells detection, wound healing and transwell assays were performed. Results: A total of 1,567 differentially expressed lncRNAs in ccRCC were discerned with 1,340 upregulation and 227 downregulation. Furthermore, a 4-lncRNA signature (FIRRE, MANCR, AC103706.1, and AC018648.1) model was obtained that showed good performance in the prognosis of ccRCC. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that these protein-coding genes (PCGs) were mainly enriched in ATPase activity, catalytic activity, and acting on RNA protein serine/threonine kinase activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that PCGs were mainly involved in endocytosis, oocyte meiosis and spliceosome. In addition, we revealed that MANCR was highly expressed in ccRCC cells and tissues and downregulation of MANCR inhibited cell proliferation and migration. In contrast, apoptosis of 786-O and SN12C cells was promoted with MANCR suppression. Conclusions: A 4-lncRNA prognostic model that presented good performance for prognosis of ccRCC patients was established. Knockdown of MANCR inhibited cell proliferation and migration, and promoted apoptosis of 786-O and SN12C cells, suggesting that a 4-lncRNA signature model might be an essential for ccRCC prognosis.

Knockdown of Toe1 causes developmental arrest during the morula-to-blastocyst transition in mice.

The target of EGR1 protein 1 (TOE1) is evolutionarily conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to mammals, which plays a critical role in the maturation of a variety of small nuclear RNAs. Mutation in human TOE1 has been reported to cause pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 7, a severe neurodegenerative syndrome. However, the role of TOE1 in early embryonic development remains unclear. Herein, we found that Toe1 mRNA and protein were expressed in mouse preimplantation embryos. Silencing Toe1 by siRNA led to morula-to-blastocyst transition failure. This developmental arrest can be rescued by Toe1 mRNA microinjection. EdU incorporation assay showed a defect in blastomere proliferation within developmentally arrested embryos. Further studies revealed that Toe1 knockdown caused increased signals for γH2AX and micronuclei, indicative of sustained DNA damage. Moreover, mRNA levels of cell cycle inhibitor p21 were significantly upregulated in Toe1 knockdown embryos before developmental arrest. Together, these results suggest that TOE1 is indispensable for mouse early embryo development potentially through maintaining genomic integrity. Our findings provide further insight into the role of TOE1 in mouse preimplantation embryonic development.

Travel intention during the COVID-19 epidemic: The influence of institutional and interpersonal trust.

The global pandemic, COVID-19, has dealt a heavy blow to the tourism industry. Therefore, exploring the mechanisms influencing travel intention in the post-epidemic era can help provide management insights for the recovery of the travel market. Relying on the logic of social cognition theory, we conducted an empirical analysis from the perspective of trust and found that institutional trust and interpersonal trust can positively predict travel intention in the context of the epidemic, while travelers' health risk perception and safety self-efficacy mediate the relationship between trust and travel intention. Moreover, we verified the moderating role of tourists' psychological resilience. Further, the study confirms that China's active prevention policy not only reduces the physical health harm caused by the epidemic, but also effectively increases individuals' institutional trust in a proactive government. Through China's active anti-epidemic policy, individuals were able to counteract the negative impact of the COVID 19 epidemic on their travel intention. Further, theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Low estrogen level in aged mice leads to abnormal oogenesis affecting the quality of surrounded nucleolus-type immature oocytes.

CONTEXT: With aging, various problems in the reproductive system emerge, especially in females. However, our understanding of reproductive aging in livestock and humans is limited. AIMS: We aimed to investigate reproductive changes between young and aged mice. METHODS: Eight- to ten-week-old female mice were used as the young group, and 10-month-old mice were studied as the aged group. Reproductive changes were investigated from physiological, histological, cytological, and epigenetic perspectives. KEY RESULTS: The estrus cycle was shortened (P <0.0001), and the estradiol (E2) concentration was lower in aged mice (P <0.01), whereas the progesterone (P4) concentration did not differ between young and aged mice (P >0.05). The histological results revealed a lower number of antral follicles in the ovary and disordered epithelial tissue structures in the oviducts in aged mice. During oogenesis, the surrounded nucleolus (SN)-type oocytes in aged mice exhibited increased mitochondrial agglutination (P <0.05) and cellular apoptosis (P <0.01) as well as decreased H3K36 triple-methylation (P <0.001). Although many defects existed, the oocytes from aged mice could normally support cellular reprogramming after somatic cell nuclear transfer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the reduced levels of reproductive hormones in aged females lead to shorter estrus cycles and reduced follicular development, leading to abnormal oogenesis, particularly in SN-type immature oocytes. IMPLICATIONS: These results provide new insight that enhance our understanding and improve the reproductive ability of aged females.

Detecting Pests From Light-Trapping Images Based on Improved YOLOv3 Model and Instance Augmentation.

Light traps have been widely used as effective tools to monitor multiple agricultural and forest insect pests simultaneously. However, the current detection methods of pests from light trapping images have several limitations, such as exhibiting extremely imbalanced class distribution, occlusion among multiple pest targets, and inter-species similarity. To address the problems, this study proposes an improved YOLOv3 model in combination with image enhancement to better detect crop pests in real agricultural environments. First, a dataset containing nine common maize pests is constructed after an image augmentation based on image cropping. Then, a linear transformation method is proposed to optimize the anchors generated by the k-means clustering algorithm, which can improve the matching accuracy between anchors and ground truths. In addition, two residual units are added to the second residual block of the original YOLOv3 network to obtain more information about the location of the underlying small targets, and one ResNet unit is used in the feature pyramid network structure to replace two DBL(Conv+BN+LeakyReLU) structures to enhance the reuse of pest features. Experiment results show that the mAP and mRecall of our proposed method are improved by 6.3% and 4.61%, respectively, compared with the original YOLOv3. The proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art methods (SSD, Faster-rcnn, and YOLOv4), indicating that the proposed method achieves the best detection performance, which can provide an effective model for the realization of intelligent monitoring of maize pests.

Detection of Small-Sized Insects in Sticky Trapping Images Using Spectral Residual Model and Machine Learning.

One fundamental component of Integrated pest management (IPM) is field monitoring and growers use information gathered from scouting to make an appropriate control tactics. Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) are two most prominent pests in greenhouses of northern China. Traditionally, growers estimate the population of these pests by counting insects caught on sticky traps, which is not only a challenging task but also an extremely time-consuming one. To alleviate this situation, this study proposed an automated detection approach to meet the need for continuous monitoring of pests in greenhouse conditions. Candidate targets were firstly located using a spectral residual model and then different color features were extracted. Ultimately, Whitefly and thrips were identified using a support vector machine classifier with an accuracy of 93.9 and 89.9%, a true positive rate of 93.1 and 80.1%, and a false positive rate of 9.9 and 12.3%, respectively. Identification performance was further tested via comparison between manual and automatic counting with a coefficient of determination, R 2, of 0.9785 and 0.9582. The results show that the proposed method can provide a comparable performance with previous handcrafted feature-based methods, furthermore, it does not require the support of high-performance hardware compare with deep learning-based method. This study demonstrates the potential of developing a vision-based identification system to facilitate rapid gathering of information pertaining to numbers of small-sized pests in greenhouse agriculture and make a reliable estimation of overall population density.

Maternal DDB1 regulates apoptosis and lineage differentiation in porcine preimplantation embryos.

CONTEXT: Maternal-effect genes (MEGs) play a critical role in modulating both cellular and molecular biology events in preimplantation embryonic development. Damage-specific DNA binding protein 1 (DDB1) is a gene that participates in meiotic resumption, ovulation, and embryonic stem cell maintenance. Its function in preimplantation development is not well-studied. AIMS: We aimed to explore the expression pattern, genomic heritage, and potential molecular mechanisms of DDB1 in preimplantation embryos in porcine. METHODS: In this study, RNA interference, microinjection, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence staining and single-cell RNA sequencing were used to explore the molecular function of DDB1 in porcine preimplantation embryos. KEY RESULTS: DDB1 was found to be expressed in germinal vesicle (GV) and Meiosis II (MII) oocytes and in preimplantation embryos. We confirmed it is a MEG. DDB1 -deficient blastocysts had a significantly reduced number of trophectoderm cells, an increased apoptotic cell number and increased apoptosis index. According to a next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis, 236 genes (131 upregulated and 105 downregulated) significantly changed in the DDB1 -deficient morula. The myeloid leukaemia factor 1 (MLF1 ) and yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1 ) expressions were significantly upregulated and downregulated respectively, in the DDB1 -deficient morula. In combination with the decreased expression of TEAD4 , CDX2 , GATA3 , OCT4 , and NANOG and the increased expression of SOX2 in the blastocyst, DDB1 may play a role in determining lineage differentiation and pluripotency maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: DDB1 is a MEG and it plays a crucial role in porcine preimplantation embryonic development. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides a theoretical basis for further understanding the molecular mechanisms of preimplantation embryo development.