A review on the effect of light-thermal-humidity environment in sow houses on sow reproduction and welfare.

The environment in sow houses is the key to restrict sow production due to its significant effect on sow growth and reproduction. In this article, the effect of light, thermal and light-thermal-humidity environment in sow houses is systematically reviewed for sow reproduction and welfare according to the existing literature. The results show the optimal ambient temperature range for sows is approximately 16-22°C, as well as the lowest and highest critical temperature are 16 and 27°C respectively. Meanwhile, the increase of relative humidity from 50% to 70% is equivalent to the increase of effective temperature by 0.9°C in sow houses. In addition, the evaluation indexes are summarized to the future research direction is proposed according to the reviewed results. It can be concluded that the current research mainly focuses on the effect mechanism of light-thermal-humidity environment on sow growth and reproductive performance, as well as the optimal regulation range of light-thermal-humidity environment. In particular, it is a popular topic to further study the effect of light-thermal-humidity environment on the genetic material of sows, as well as metabolic parameters and body composition of their offspring. The above conclusions can contribute to guiding the regulation of light-thermal-humidity environment in sow houses and improving the sow welfare.

Concentric organization of A- and B-type lamins predicts their distinct roles in the spatial organization and stability of the nuclear lamina.

The nuclear lamina is an intermediate filament meshwork adjacent to the inner nuclear membrane (INM) that plays a critical role in maintaining nuclear shape and regulating gene expression through chromatin interactions. Studies have demonstrated that A- and B-type lamins, the filamentous proteins that make up the nuclear lamina, form independent but interacting networks. However, whether these lamin subtypes exhibit a distinct spatial organization or whether their organization has any functional consequences is unknown. Using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) our studies reveal that lamin B1 and lamin A/C form concentric but overlapping networks, with lamin B1 forming the outer concentric ring located adjacent to the INM. The more peripheral localization of lamin B1 is mediated by its carboxyl-terminal farnesyl group. Lamin B1 localization is also curvature- and strain-dependent, while the localization of lamin A/C is not. We also show that lamin B1's outer-facing localization stabilizes nuclear shape by restraining outward protrusions of the lamin A/C network. These two findings, that lamin B1 forms an outer concentric ring and that its localization is energy-dependent, are significant as they suggest a distinct model for the nuclear lamina-one that is able to predict its behavior and clarifies the distinct roles of individual nuclear lamin proteins and the consequences of their perturbation.

Robust emitter localization with enhanced harmonic analysis.

We present a non-iterative and model-free algorithm for three-dimensional (3D) single emitter localization. Our algorithm decodes the axial position and the emitter width via the ratio of the first and second Fourier harmonic. The retrieved width information is further used for dynamic extraction of the proper region of interest to robustly eliminate the outer noisy background, thus improving the localization precision over existing non-iterative algorithms. Using simulated and experimental datasets, we demonstrate that our algorithm achieves localization precision approaching the state-of-the-art iterative fitting-based methods in all three dimensions at two orders of magnitude faster speed, applicable in various 3D single-molecule localization techniques.

Embedded nanometer position tracking based on enhanced phasor analysis.

We present an embedded real-time 1D position tracking device at a nanometer precision. The embedded algorithm extracts the most appropriate region of the signal without manual intervention and estimates the position based on the phase shift from the signal's first Fourier harmonic. Using simulated datasets, we demonstrate that the proposed approach can achieve a similar precision to the state-of-the-art maximum likelihood fitting-based method while executing over four orders of magnitude faster. We further implemented this algorithm on a low-power microprocessor and developed a simple, compact, and low-cost embedded position tracking device. We demonstrate nanometer tracking precision in real-time drift tracking experiments.

Embedded nanometer position tracking based on enhanced phasor analysis: erratum.

We present an erratum to our Letter [Opt. Lett.46, 3825 (2021)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.433740]. This erratum corrects an error in Eq. (2). All the simulations and experiments in the original Letter were performed using the correct equation, and therefore, this correction does not affect the results and conclusions of the original Letter.

A Low-Light Sensor Image Enhancement Algorithm Based on HSI Color Model.

Images captured by sensors in unpleasant environment like low illumination condition are usually degraded, which means low visibility, low brightness, and low contrast. In order to improve this kind of images, in this paper, a low-light sensor image enhancement algorithm based on HSI color model is proposed. At first, we propose a dataset generation method based on the Retinex model to overcome the shortage of sample data. Then, the original low-light image is transformed from RGB to HSI color space. The segmentation exponential method is used to process the saturation (S) and the specially designed Deep Convolutional Neural Network is applied to enhance the intensity component (I). At the end, we back into the original RGB space to get the final improved image. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm not only enhances the image brightness and contrast significantly, but also avoids color distortion and over-enhancement in comparison with some other state-of-the-art research papers. So, it effectively improves the quality of sensor images.

A Simple Marker-Assisted 3D Nanometer Drift Correction Method for Superresolution Microscopy.

High-precision fluorescence microscopy such as superresolution imaging or single-particle tracking often requires an online drift correction method to maintain the stability of the three-dimensional (3D) position of the sample at a nanometer precision throughout the entire data acquisition process. Current online drift correction methods require modification of the existing two-dimensional (2D) fluorescence microscope with additional optics and detectors, which can be cumbersome and limit its use in many biological laboratories. Here we report a simple marker-assisted online drift correction method in which all 3D positions can be derived from fiducial markers on the coverslip of the sample on a standard 2D fluorescence microscope without additional optical components. We validate this method by tracking the long-term 3D stability of single-molecule localization microscopy at a precision of <2 and 5 nm in the lateral and axial dimension, respectively. We then provide three examples to evaluate the performance of the marker-assisted drift correction method. Finally, we give an example of a biological application of superresolution imaging of spatiotemporal alteration for a DNA replication structure with both low-abundance newly synthesized DNAs at the early onset of DNA synthesis and gradually condensed DNA structures during DNA replication. Using an isogenic breast cancer progression cell line model that recapitulates normal-like, precancerous, and tumorigenic stages, we characterize a distinction in the DNA replication process in normal, precancerous, and tumorigenic cells.

Thermal Expansion and Second Harmonic Generation Response of the Tungsten Bronze Pb2AgNb5O15.

The incorporation of transition metal element Ag was performed to explore negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials with tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) structures. In this study, the structure and thermal expansion behaviors of a polar TTB oxide, Pb2AgNb5O15 (PAN), were systematically investigated by high-resolution synchrotron powder diffraction, high-resolution neutron powder diffraction, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and high-temperature X-ray diffractions. The TEM and Rietveld refinements revealed that the compound PAN displays (√2a(TTB), √2b(TTB), 2c(TTB))-type superstructure. This superstructure within the a-b plane is caused by the ordering of A-site cations, while the doubling of the c axis is mainly induced by a slight tilt distortion of the NbO6 octahedra. The transition metal Ag has larger spontaneous polarization displacements than Pb, but the Pb-O covalence seems to be weakened compared to the potassium counterpart Pb2KNb5O15 (PKN), which may account for the similar Curie temperature and uniaxial NTE behavior for PAN and PKN. Powder second harmonic generation (SHG) measurement indicates that PAN displays a moderate SHG response of ∼0.2 × LiNbO3 (or ∼100 × α-SiO2) under 1064 nm laser radiation. The magnitudes of the local dipole moments in NbO6 and PbOx polyhedra were quantified using bond-valence approach. We show that the SHG response stems from the superposition of dipole moments of both the PbO(x) and NbO6 polyhedra.

Unusual Strong Incommensurate Modulation in a Tungsten-Bronze-Type Relaxor PbBiNb5O15.

Pb- or Bi-based perovskite oxides have been widely studied and used because of their large ferroelectric polarization features induced by stereochemically active 6s(2) lone pair electrons. It is intriguing whether this effect could exist in other related systems. Herein, we designed and synthesized a mixed Pb and Bi A site polar compound, PbBiNb5O15, with the TTB framework. The as-synthesized material turns out to be a relaxor with weak macroscopic ferroelectricity but adopts strong local polarizations. What's more, unusual five orders of incommensurate satellite reflections with strong intensities were observed under the electron diffraction, suggesting that the modulation is highly developed with large amplitudes. The structural modulation was solved with a (3 + 1)D superspace group using high-resolution synchrotron radiation combined with anomalous dispersion X-ray diffraction technique to distinguish Pb from Bi. We show that the strong modulation mainly originates from lone-pair driven Pb(2+)-Bi(3+) ordering in the large pentagonal caves, which can suppress the local polarization in x-y plane in long ranges. Moreover, the as-synthesized ceramics display strong relaxor ferroelectric feature with transition temperature near room temperature and moderate dielectric properties, which could be functionalized to be electromechanical device materials.

Upregulation of activin-B and follistatin in pulmonary fibrosis - a translational study using human biopsies and a specific inhibitor in mouse fibrosis models.

BACKGROUND: Activins are members of the TGF-ß superfamily of growth factors. First, we identified by expression array screening that activin-B and follistatin are upregulated in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Next, we wanted to clarify their specific role in lung fibrosis formation. METHODS: We used specific antibodies for activin-A and -B subunits and follistatin to measure and localize their levels in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and control lung biopsies. To inhibit activin signaling, we used soluble activin type IIB receptor fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 (sActRIIB-Fc) in two different mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis. RESULTS: Activin-B and follistatin mRNA levels were elevated in the human IPF lung. Immunoreactivity to activin-A, -B and follistatin localized predominantly to the hyperplastic, activated alveolar epithelium, but was also seen in inflammatory cells. Mice treated with sActRIIB-Fc showed increased skeletal muscle mass and a clear reduction in alveolar cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, but no significant antifibrotic effect in the lung was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The upregulation of activin-B and follistatin in IPF is a novel finding. Our results indicate that activin inhibition is not an efficient tool for antifibrotic therapy, but could be useful in reducing alveolar cellular response to injury. Activin-B and follistatin levels may be useful as biomarkers of IPF.

Study of Mechanics and Durability of Non-Spontaneous Combustion Coal Gangue Coarse-Aggregate High-Performance Concrete.

The coal gangue coarse-aggregate content in ordinary concrete should not be too large. In order to further improve the utilization rate of coal gangue coarse aggregate, this study used the principle of "strong wrapped weak" to prepare high-performance concrete. This study considered four factors, namely, water-binder (W/B) ratios, non-spontaneous combustion coal gangue (NCCG) coarse-aggregate contents, fly ash-slag mass ratios, and silica fume coating to prepare high-performance concrete. The workability, mechanical, and durability properties were studied, and the changes in the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of concrete before and after sulfate attack and freeze-thaw cycles were analyzed based on the SEM test. The life prediction of NCCG coarse-aggregate high-performance concrete was carried out based on the grey system GM(1,1) prediction model. The results show that the NCCG coarse-aggregate contents have the greatest effect on compressive strength, sulfate resistance, and frost resistance. The W/B ratio has the greatest effect on the anti-carbonization properties. Fly ash-slag mixing can obtain better durability. Considering the effect on the design service life of high-performance concrete, NCCG coarse aggregate is used to prepare high-performance concrete in North China, and the recommended content is 60%; in the Northwest and Northeast regions, the recommended content is 45%. This study provides a basis for the preparation of high-performance concrete with NCCG coarse aggregate.

Toward drift-free high-throughput nanoscopy through adaptive intersection maximization.

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) often suffers from suboptimal resolution due to imperfect drift correction. Existing marker-free drift correction algorithms often struggle to reliably track high-frequency drift and lack the computational efficiency to manage large, high-throughput localization datasets. We present an adaptive intersection maximization-based method (AIM) that leverages the entire dataset's information content to minimize drift correction errors, particularly addressing high-frequency drift, thereby enhancing the resolution of existing SMLM systems. We demonstrate that AIM can robustly and efficiently achieve an angstrom-level tracking precision for high-throughput SMLM datasets under various imaging conditions, resulting in an optimal resolution in simulated and biological experimental datasets. We offer AIM as one simple, model-free software for instant resolution enhancement with standard CPU devices.

An Omni-Mesoscope for multiscale high-throughput quantitative phase imaging of cellular dynamics and high-content molecular characterization.

The mesoscope has emerged as a powerful imaging tool in biomedical research, yet its high cost and low resolution have limited its broader application. Here, we introduce the Omni-Mesoscope, a cost-effective high-spatial-temporal, multimodal, and multiplex mesoscopic imaging platform built from cost-efficient off-the-shelf components. This system uniquely merges the capabilities of quantitative phase microscopy to capture live-cell dynamics over a large cell population with highly multiplexed fluorescence imaging for comprehensive molecular characterization. This integration facilitates simultaneous tracking of live-cell morphodynamics across thousands of cells, alongside high-content molecular analysis at the single-cell level. Furthermore, the Omni-Mesoscope offers a mesoscale field of view of approximately 5 mm 2 with a high spatial resolution down to 700 nm, enabling the capture of information-rich images with detailed sub-cellular features. We demonstrate such capability in delineating molecular characteristics underlying rare dynamic cellular phenomena, such as cancer cell responses to chemotherapy and the emergence of polyploidy in drug-resistant cells. Moreover, the cost-effectiveness and the simplicity of our Omni-Mesoscope democratizes mesoscopic imaging, making it accessible across diverse biomedical research fields. To further demonstrate its versatility, we integrate expansion microscopy to enhance 3D volumetric super-resolution imaging of thicker tissues, opening new avenues for biological exploration at unprecedented scales and resolutions.

Super-resolution imaging of T lymphocyte activation reveals chromatin decondensation and disrupted nuclear envelope.

T lymphocyte activation plays a pivotal role in adaptive immune response and alters the spatial organization of nuclear architecture that subsequently impacts transcription activities. Here, using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), we observe dramatic de-condensation of chromatin and the disruption of nuclear envelope at a nanoscale resolution upon T lymphocyte activation. Super-resolution imaging reveals that such alterations in nuclear architecture are accompanied by the release of nuclear DNA into the cytoplasm, correlating with the degree of chromatin decompaction within the nucleus. The authors show that under the influence of metabolism, T lymphocyte activation de-condenses chromatin, disrupts the nuclear envelope, and releases DNA into the cytoplasm. Taken together, this result provides a direct, molecular-scale insight into the alteration in nuclear architecture. It suggests the release of nuclear DNA into the cytoplasm as a general consequence of chromatin decompaction after lymphocyte activation.

Muscle protein synthesis, mTORC1/MAPK/Hippo signaling, and capillary density are altered by blocking of myostatin and activins.

Loss of muscle mass and function occurs in various diseases. Myostatin blocking can attenuate muscle loss, but downstream signaling is not well known. Therefore, to elucidate associated signaling pathways, we used the soluble activin receptor IIb (sActRIIB-Fc) to block myostatin and activins in mice. Within 2 wk, the treatment rapidly increased muscle size as expected but decreased capillary density per area. sActRIIB-Fc increased muscle protein synthesis 1-2 days after the treatment correlating with enhanced mTORC1 signaling (phosphorylated rpS6 and S6K1, r = 0.8). Concurrently, increased REDD1 and eIF2Bε protein contents and phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and AMPK was observed. In contrast, proangiogenic MAPK signaling and VEGF-A protein decreased. Hippo signaling has been characterized recently as a regulator of organ size and an important regulator of myogenesis in vitro. The phosphorylation of YAP (Yes-associated protein), a readout of activated Hippo signaling, increased after short- and longer-term myostatin and activin blocking and in exercised muscle. Moreover, dystrophic mdx mice had elevated phosphorylated and especially total YAP protein content. These results show that the blocking of myostatin and activins induce rapid skeletal muscle growth. This is associated with increased protein synthesis and mTORC1 signaling but decreased capillary density and proangiogenic signaling. It is also shown for the first time that Hippo signaling is activated in skeletal muscle after myostatin blocking and exercise and also in dystrophic muscle. This suggests that Hippo signaling may have a role in skeletal muscle in various circumstances.

Localization-based super-resolution microscopy with an sCMOS camera part III: camera embedded data processing significantly reduces the challenges of massive data handling.

We present a camera embedded data processing method for localization microscopy (LM) with faster detectors such as scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) cameras. Based on the natural sparsity of single molecule images, this method utilizes the field programmable gate array chip inside a camera to identify and export only the regions containing active molecules instead of raw data. Through numerical simulation and experimental analysis, we found that this method can greatly reduce data volume (<10%) with negligible loss of useful information (<0.2%) at molecular densities <0.2 molecules/µm(2), thus significantly reducing the challenges of data transfer, storage, and analysis in LM.

Biodegradability enhancement of waste lubricating oil regeneration wastewater using electrocoagulation pretreatment.

As a sustainable management of fossil fuel resources and ecological environment protection, recycling used lubricating oil has received widespread attention. However, large amounts of waste lubricating-oil regeneration wastewater (WLORW) are inevitably produced in the recycling process, and challenges are faced by traditional biological treatment of WLORW. Thus, this study investigated the effectiveness of electrocoagulation (EC) as pretreatment and its removal mechanism. The electrolysis parameters (current density, initial pH, and inter-electrode distance) were considered, and maximal 60.06% of oil removal was achieved at a current density of 15 mA/cm2, initial pH of 7, and an inter-electrode distance of 2 cm. The dispersed oil of WLORW was relatively easily removed, and most of the oil removal was contributed by emulsified oil within 5-10 µm. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that effective removal of the biorefractory organic compounds could contribute to the improvement of biodegradability of WLORW. Thus, the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand ratio (BOD5/COD) was significantly enhanced by 4.31 times, which highly benefits future biological treatment. The routes of WLORW removal could be concluded as charge neutralization, adsorption bridging, sweep flocculation, and air flotation. The results demonstrate that EC has potential as an effective pretreatment technology for WLORW biological treatment.

Fast and precise algorithm based on maximum radial symmetry for single molecule localization.

We present an algorithm to estimate the location of single fluorescent molecule with both high speed and high precision. This algorithm is based on finding the subpixel position with maximum radial symmetry in a pixelated single molecule fluorescence image. Compared with conventional algorithms, this algorithm does not rely on point-spread-function or noise model. Through numerical simulation and experimental analysis, we found that this algorithm exhibits localization precision very close to the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), while executes ∼1000 times faster than the MLE and ∼6 times faster than the fluoroBancroft algorithm.

A systematic literature review on indoor PM2.5 concentrations and personal exposure in urban residential buildings.

Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5µm (PM2.5) is currently a major air pollutant that has been raising public attention. Studies have found that short/long-term exposure to PM2.5 lead detrimental health effects. Since people in most region of the world spend a large proportion of time in dwellings, personal exposure to PM2.5 in home microenvironment should be carefully investigated. The objective of this review is to investigate and summary studies in terms of personal exposure to indoor PM2.5 pollutants from the literature between 2000 and 2021. Factors from both outdoor and indoor environment that have impact on indoor PM2.5 levels were explicated. Exposure studies were verified relating to individual activity pattern and exposure models. It was found that abundant investigations in terms of personal exposure to indoor PM2.5 is affected by factors including concentration level, exposure duration and personal diversity. Personal exposure models, including microenvironment model, mathematical model, stochastic model and other simulation models of particle deposition in different regions of human airway are reviewed. Further studies joining indoor measurement and simulation of PM2.5 concentration and estimation of deposition in human respiratory tract are necessary for individual health protection.

Ultrastructural visualization of chromatin in cancer pathogenesis using a simple small-molecule fluorescent probe.

Imaging chromatin organization at the molecular-scale resolution remains an important endeavor in basic and translational research. Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is a powerful superresolution imaging technique to visualize nanoscale molecular organization down to the resolution of ~20 to 30 nm. Despite the substantial progress in imaging chromatin organization in cells and model systems, its routine application on assessing pathological tissue remains limited. It is, in part, hampered by the lack of simple labels that consistently generates high-quality STORM images on the highly processed clinical tissue. We developed a fast, simple, and robust small-molecule fluorescent probe-cyanine 5-conjugated Hoechst-for routine superresolution imaging of nanoscale nuclear architecture on clinical tissue. We demonstrated the biological and clinical significance of imaging superresolved chromatin structure in cancer development and its potential clinical utility for cancer risk stratification.