A Dynamic Part-Attention Model for Person Re-Identification.

Person re-identification (ReID) is gaining more attention due to its important applications in pedestrian tracking and security prevention. Recently developed part-based methods have proven beneficial for stronger and explicit feature descriptions, but how to find real significant parts and reduce miscorrelation between images to improve accuracy of ReID still leaves much room to improve. In this paper, we propose a dynamic part-attention (DPA) method based on masks, which aims to improve the use of variable attention parts. Particularly, a two-branch network with a dynamic loss function is designed to extract features of the global image and the parts of the body separately. With the comprehensive but targeting learning strategy, the proposed method can capture discriminative features based, but not depending on, masks, which guides the whole network to focus on body features more consciously and achieves more robust performance. Our method achieves rank-1 accuracy of 91.68% on public dataset Market1501, and experimental results on three public datasets indicate that the proposed method is effective and achieves favorable accuracy when compared with the state-of-the-art methods.

Nitrogen fixation island and rhizosphere competence traits in the genome of root-associated Pseudomonas stutzeri A1501.

The capacity to fix nitrogen is widely distributed in phyla of Bacteria and Archaea but has long been considered to be absent from the Pseudomonas genus. We report here the complete genome sequencing of nitrogen-fixing root-associated Pseudomonas stutzeri A1501. The genome consists of a single circular chromosome with 4,567,418 bp. Comparative genomics revealed that, among 4,146 protein-encoding genes, 1,977 have orthologs in each of the five other Pseudomonas representative species sequenced to date. The genome contains genes involved in broad utilization of carbon sources, nitrogen fixation, denitrification, degradation of aromatic compounds, biosynthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate, multiple pathways of protection against environmental stress, and other functions that presumably give A1501 an advantage in root colonization. Genetic information on synthesis, maturation, and functioning of nitrogenase is clustered in a 49-kb island, suggesting that this property was acquired by lateral gene transfer. New genes required for the nitrogen fixation process have been identified within the nif island. The genome sequence offers the genetic basis for further study of the evolution of the nitrogen fixation property and identification of rhizosphere competence traits required in the interaction with host plants; moreover, it opens up new perspectives for wider application of root-associated diazotrophs in sustainable agriculture.

MassARRAY multigene screening combined with LDL-C and sdLDL-C detection for more favorable outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus therapy.

BACKGROUND: To determine the clinical value of multigene polymorphisms, LDL-C and sdLDL-C on T2DM therapy. METHODS: In total, 352 T2DM patients before and after treatment and 48 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. LDL-C and sdLDL-C were detected in 352 T2DM patients and 48 healthy individuals by Quantimetrix Lipoprint System. The 11 gene polymorphisms-HTR3B (rs2276307, A > G), APOE (rs7412, c.526C > T), APOE (rs429358, c.388 T > C), CYP2C9*3 (rs1057910, c.1075A > C), KIF6 (rs20455, c.2155 T > C), HMGCR (rs17238540, T > G), HMGCR (rs17244841, A > T), ABCB1 (rs2032582, A > C/T), HTR7 (rs1935349, C > T), SLCO1B1 (rs4149056, c.521 T > C), and CETP (rs708272, G > A)-were screened in these 352 T2DM patients by the Agena Bioscience MassARRAY system before therapy. RESULTS: Genetic polymorphisms associated with T2DM and statin effects in pretreatment patients were detected, then results showed that all 11 genes had heterozygous mutation, and 7 genes had homozygous mutation in 352 T2DM patients, more specifically reflected that these gene polymorphisms were common in Chinese T2DM patients. LDL-C and sdLDL-C were detected before and after treatment, sdLDL mainly existed in T2DM patients, and T2DM patients had higher mean levels of sdLDL-C than healthy people. After pharmacotherapy, the coincidence rates of decreases in LDL-C and sdLDL-C levels were 88.35% (311/352) and 84.09% (296/352), consistent with patients in remission. CONCLUSIONS: Gene polymorphisms related to pharmacotherapy were common in Chinese T2DM patients. And the expression of LDL-C and sdLDL-C was consistent with the T2DM disease course. Combined multigene screening before therapy and LDL-C and sdLDL-C detection before and after therapy could better assist T2DM treatment.

Circular RNA expression profiles in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in mice.

Aim: This study was carried out to identify the expression profile and role of circRNAs in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Materials & methods: In this study, an AKI model was established in cisplatin-treated mice, and the expression of circRNAs was profiled by next-generation sequencing. The differential expression levels of selected circRNAs were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to predict the functions. Results: In total, 368 circRNAs were detected to be differentially expressed in response to cisplatin treatment. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the parental genes of the differentially expressed circRNAs were predominantly implicated in the cell and cell part, cellular process and cancer pathways. Conclusion: CircRNAs might be differentially expressed in AKI, which are potentially involved in pathophysiology of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Activation of Sirtuin 3 by Silybin Attenuates Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cisplatin-induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Silybin is a secondary metabolite isolated from the seeds of blessed milk thistle (Silybum marianum) that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antifibrotic, and antitumor properties. Here, we showed that silybin protected against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) by improving mitochondrial function through the regulation of sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) expression. Male SV129 and SIRT3 knockout (KO) mice were administered a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cisplatin with or without treatment with silybin. Moreover, cultured HK2 cells were used to evaluate mitochondrial morphology and function. Our data suggested that silybin enhanced SIRT3 expression after cisplatin administration both in vivo and in vitro. Silybin treatment improved mitochondrial function and bioenergetics in wild-type, but not SIRT3-defective, cells and mice. Moreover, we demonstrated that silybin markedly attenuated cisplatin-induced AKI and tubular cell apoptosis and improved cell regeneration in a SIRT3-dependent manner. Collectively, these results suggest that silybin is a pharmacological activator of SIRT3 capable of protecting against cisplatin-induced tubular cell apoptosis and AKI by improving mitochondrial function. Thus, silybin could serve as a potential clinical renoprotective adjuvant treatment in cisplatin chemotherapy.