Hashing with Angular Reconstructive Embeddings.

Large-scale search methods are increasingly critical for many content-based visual analysis applications, among which hashing-based approximate nearest neighbor search techniques have attracted broad interests due to their high efficiency in storage and retrieval. However, existing hashing works are commonly designed for measuring data similarity by the Euclidean distances. In this paper, we focus on the problem of learning compact binary codes using the cosine similarity. Specifically, we proposed novel angular reconstructive embeddings (ARE) method, which aims at learning binary codes by minimizing the reconstruction error between the cosine similarities computed by original features and the resulting binary embeddings. Furthermore, we devise two efficient algorithms for optimizing our ARE in continuous and discrete manners, respectively. We extensively evaluate the proposed ARE on several large-scale image benchmarks. The results demonstrate that ARE outperforms several state-of-the-art methods.

Plant biomass degrading ability of the coprophilic ascomycete fungus Podospora anserina.

The degradation of plant biomass is a major challenge towards the production of bio-based compounds and materials. As key lignocellulolytic enzyme producers, filamentous fungi represent a promising reservoir to tackle this challenge. Among them, the coprophilous ascomycete Podospora anserina has been used as a model organism to study various biological mechanisms because its genetics are well understood and controlled. In 2008, the sequencing of its genome revealed a great diversity of enzymes targeting plant carbohydrates and lignin. Since then, a large array of lignocellulose-acting enzymes has been characterized and genetic analyses have enabled the understanding of P. anserina metabolism and development on plant biomass. Overall, these research efforts shed light on P. anserina strategy to unlock recalcitrant lignocellulose deconstruction.

HMGCR is up-regulated in gastric cancer and promotes the growth and migration of the cancer cells.

Alteration of metabolic profile is one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. Statin, the inhibitors for synthesis of cholesterol, has shown anti-cancer effects on the gastric cancer cells. However, the functions of its target, HMGCR, in the progression of gastric cancer remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the expression profile and the biological functions of HMGCR in gastric cancer. It was found that the expression of HMGCR was increased in gastric cancer tissues. Over-expression of HMGCR promoted the growth and migration of gastric cancer cells, while knocking down the expression of HMGCR inhibited the growth, migration and tumorigenesis of gastric cancer cells. In the further molecular mechanism study, HMGCR was shown to activate Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling and promoted the expression of Gli1 target genes. Taken together, this study demonstrated the tumor-promoting effects of HMGCR in gastric cancer and suggested HMGCR as a promising therapeutic target.

Triterpenoid saponins from Patrinia scabra.

AIM: To study the chemical constituents and bioactivity of the roots of Patrinia scabra Bunge. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated using various chromatographic methods, and the structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical methods. In addition, cytotoxic activities toward HepG2 cells were tested by the MTT method. RESULTS: A new triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-(4'-isovaleryl)-O-ß-D-xylose-12,30-dihydroxy-oleanane-28,13-lactone-22-O- ß-D-glucoside (1), along with two known triterpenoid saponins, acanthopanax saponin CP3 (2) and foetoside C (3), were isolated. CONCLUSION: The aglycone of compound 1 was a new skeleton derivative of oleanolic acid. Compound 2 showed strong cytotoxicity to HePG2 cells (IC50 1.49 µmol·L(-1)).

Anterior cervical locking plate-related complications; prevention and treatment recommendations.

A retrospective study evaluating complications in 2,233 consecutive patients of subaxial cervical disorders treated with an anterior cervical locking plate was performed, and recommendations for prevention and treatment were made. The average length of follow-up was 1.3 years. Any loosening or breaking of the plates and screws or malpositions that threatened tracheoesophageal or neurovascular structures were defined as the complications. There were 239 cases (10.7%) with different kinds of complications. The complications included oblique plating in 56 cases in which the screw could irritate the nerve root. Screws were driven into the disc space in four cases, which ultimately led to plate loosening. Screws penetrated the endplate or passed excessively close to it producing a triangle fracture in 19 cases. Loosening or breaking of the plate and the screw was found in 115 cases. These phenomena were always associated with non-union. Three oesophageal perforations occurred and conservative treatments proved effective. Finally, overlong plates impinged on the adjacent level in 14 cases and promoted disc degeneration ultimately leading to revision surgery. Good training and careful operation may help to decrease the complication rate. Most hardware complications are not symptomatic and can be treated conservatively. Only a few of them need immediate reoperation.