Self-organizing map network for automatically recognizing color texture fabric nature

The method of recognizing color texture brought forth in the present study is to employ unsupervised learning network to automatically recognize the fabric type and the main texture types. Firstly, the color scanner is adopted to extract fabric image which is afterwards saved as the digital image. Secondly,CIE-Lab color model is taken to obtain the feature value and wavelet transform is utilized to display the texture of the fabric image. Thirdly, co-occurrence matrix is employed to figure out the feature values of the texture structure such as angular second moment, entropy, homogeneity, contrast. Finally, self-organizing map (SOM) network is used as the classifier. The experiment result shows that the study can automatically and accurately classify the fabric types (including shuttle-woven fabric, jersey fabric and non-woven fabric) and main texture type of the fabric (such as plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, single jersey, double jersey and non-woven fabric).     

Cancer chemopreventive effects of lycopene: suppression of MMP-7 expression and cell invasion in human colon cancer cells

Clinical studies indicate that high blood levels of leptin or matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7; matrilysin) proteins are associated with tumor progression of human colorectal cancer (CRC). Leptin could play an important role in cell migration and invasion of cancer cells. Our previous study indicated that lycopene could inhibit the proliferation of human colon cancer cells in vitro. However, the inhibitory effects of lycopene on the progression of human colon cancer cells have not been demonstrated yet. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of lycopene on tumor progression including cell invasion and MMP-7 expression in leptin-stimulated human colon cancer cells in vitro. Our results demonstrated that lycopene significantly inhibited leptin-mediated cell invasion and MMP-7 expression in human colon cancer HT-29 cells. Lycopene could augment the expression and stability of E-cadherin proteins. Our results showed that MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways played important roles in leptin-mediated MMP-7 expression and cell invasion. Lycopene could effectively inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and ERK 1/2 proteins. The molecular mechanisms of lycopene were in part through decreases in nuclear levels of AP-1 and β-catenin proteins. These novel findings suggested that lycopene could act as a chemopreventive agent to suppress MMP-7 expression and leptin-mediated cell invasion in human colon cancer HT-29 cells.     

Immunopathogenic behaviors of canine transmissible venereal tumor in dogs following an immunotherapy using dendritic/tumor cell hybrid

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a naturally occurring tumor that can be transmitted between dogs via live tumor cell inoculation. It is also a spontaneous self-regression tumor and its behavior is closely related to host immune responses. Since CTVT had been widely used for tumor models in canine cancers, whether this self-regression may overtake the immunity elicited from an exogenous tumor vaccine remains unclear and certainly worthwhile to be investigated. In this study, we used DCs/tumor hybrids as a tumor vaccine to evaluate the CTVT model. We prepared mature allogeneic dendritic cells from bone marrow and then assessed their phenotype (CD80, CD83, CD86, CD1a, CD11c, CD40 and MHC II), antigen uptake and presenting abilities. Fused dendritic cell/CTVT hybrids were then used as a vaccine, administered three times at two-week intervals via subcutaneous injection near the bilateral auxiliary and inguinal lymph nodes. In comparison with unvaccinated dogs (spontaneous regressed group), within a period of 2.5 months, the vaccinations substantially inhibited tumor progression (p<0.05) and accelerated the rate of regression by a mechanism involving amplification of the host tumor-specific adaptive immune responses and NK cytotoxicity (p<0.001). Pathologic examination revealed early massive lymphocyte infiltration resulting in final tumor necrosis. In addition, there are not any detectable effects on routine physical, body temperature or blood chemistry examinations. In conclusion, our data furnishes a reference value showing that CTVT is a model of potential use for the study of immunity elicited by vaccines against tumors, and also enable early-phase evaluation of the dendritic cell/tumor vaccine in terms of raising host immunity.     

Ellagic acid inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL)-induced metalloproteinase (MMP) expression by modulating the protein kinase C-α/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ/nuclear factor-κB (PKC-α/ERK/PPAR-γ/NF-κB) signaling pathway in endothelial cells

Previous studies have shown that vascular endothelium-derived matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to the destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques, a key event triggering acute myocardial infarction. In addition, studies have reported that the PKC-MEK-PPARγ signaling pathway is involved in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced expression of MMPs. Ellagic acid, a phenolic compound found in fruits and nuts, has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancerous properties. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its antiatherogenic effects remain to be clarified. This study aimed to assess whether the effects of ellagic acid on the fibrotic markers MMP-1 and MMP-3 are modulated by the PKC-ERK-PPAR-γ signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that have been exposed to oxLDL. It was found that ellagic acid significantly inhibited oxLDL-induced expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3. Pretreatment with ellagic acid and DPI, a well-known ROS inhibitor, attenuated the oxLDL-induced expression and activity of PKC-α. In addition, ellagic acid as well as pharmacological inhibitors of ROS, calcium, and PKC strongly suppressed the oxLDL-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and NF-κB activation. Moreover, ellagic acid ameliorated the oxLDL-induced suppression of PPAR-γ expression. In conclusion, the data suggest that ellagic acid elicits its protective effects by modulating the PKC-α/ERK/PPAR-γ/NF-κB pathway, resulting in the suppression of ROS generation and, ultimately, inhibition of MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression in HUVECs exposed to oxLDL.     

Using Seven Types of GM (1, 1) Model to Forecast Hourly Particulate Matter Concentration in Banciao City of Taiwan

In this study, seven types of first-order and one-variable grey differential equation model (abbreviated as GM (1, 1) model) were used to predict hourly particulate matter (PM) including PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in Banciao City of Taiwan. Their prediction performance was also compared. The results indicated that the minimum mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and maximum correlation coefficient (R) was 14.10%, 25.62, 5.06, and 0.96, respectively, when predicting PM₁₀. When predicting PM_2.5, the minimum MAPE, MSE, RMSE, and maximum R value of 15.24%, 11.57, 3.40, and 0.93, respectively, could be achieved. All statistical values revealed that the predicting performance of GM (1, 1, x ⁽⁰⁾), GM (1, 1, a), and GM (1, 1, b) outperformed other GM (1, 1) models. According to the results, it revealed that GM (1, 1) GM (1, 1) was an efficiently early warning tool for providing PM information to the inhabitants.     

牛磺酸对后备蛋鸭机体抗氧化功能的影响

本试验旨在研究玉米一豆粕型无鱼粉日粮中不同牛磺酸的添加量对笼养后备蛋鸭机体抗氧化功能的影响.试验采用单因素完全随机分组设计,选择12周龄、健康、体重相近的金定蛋鸭180只,随机分为5组,每组6个重复,每个重复6只.Ⅰ组为对照组,饲喂玉米一豆粕无鱼粉日粮,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组在基础日粮的基础上分别添加0.05％、0.10％、0.15％和0.20％的牛磺酸,试验期为6周.结果表明,与对照组相比,在日粮中添加0.15％牛磺酸可以显著提高血清还原型谷胱甘肽酶(GSH-Px)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性(P＜0.05),并且显著降低了丙二醛(MDA)含量(P＜0.05);在日粮中添加0.10％和0.15％牛磺酸可以显著提高肝脏GSH-Px、SOD、T-AOC和CAT活性(P＜0.05),并且显著降低MDA含量(P＜0.05).结果提示,在笼养后备蛋鸭日粮中添加0.10％的牛磺酸,可显著提高机体抗氧化性能,并且经济效益最佳.     

Effect of Oversulfation on the Composition,Structure, and In Vitro Anti-Lung Cancer Activity of Fucoidans Extracted from Sargassum aquifolium

Intensive efforts have been undertaken in the fields of prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of lung cancer. Fucoidans exhibit a wide range of biological activities, which are dependent on the degree of sulfation, sulfation pattern, glycosidic branches, and molecular weight of fucoidan. The determination of oversulfation of fucoidan and its effect on anti-lung cancer activity and related signaling cascades is challenging. In this investigation, we used a previously developed fucoidan (SCA), which served as a native fucoidan, to generate two oversulfated fucoidan derivatives (SCA-S1 and SCA-S2). SCA, SCA-S1, and SCA-S2 showed differences in compositions and had the characteristic structural features of fucoidan by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. The anticancer properties of SCA, SCA-S1, and SCA-S2 against human lung carcinoma A-549 cells were analyzed in terms of cytotoxicity, cell cycle, Bcl-2 expression, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), expression of caspase-3, cytochrome c release, Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, DNA fragmentation, and the underlying signaling cascades. Our findings indicate that the oversulfation of fucoidan promotes apoptosis of lung cancer cells and the mechanism may involve the Akt/mTOR/S6 pathway. Further in vivo research is needed to establish the precise mechanism whereby oversulfated fucoidan mitigates the progression of lung cancer.     

秩次分析法在评价绿豆区试产量中的应用

运用金文林教授提出的秩次分析法对国家绿豆区域试验数据进行分析,首先对各试验环境进行常规方差分析,并定义三个统计数:平均分级值H1、产量秩次值H2、环境区分指数YM,并在多重比较的基础上对各参试品种进行了客观的评价,提出了自已的建议.     

Dynamic modeling and control of a padder roller system

This is the first time in the literature dealing with the dynamic modeling and control of a rotating padder roller system. It is intended to design a control system with effective scheme and robustness to stabilize all vibration modes of a rotating padder roller system by using one set of sensor and actuator. The controller design depends on the specific pole-zero patterns. In practice, the pole-zero patterns remain the same, no matter how the physical system parameters are different. By properly placing the actuator and sensor, a realizable controller and sensor is designed to stabilize all the vibration modes and make the closed loop system absolutely stable. This will suppress the vibration without suffering from spillover and can eliminate an infinite number of vibration modes. The performance of this controller has been successfully implemented by computer simulation.     

Intelligence control of on-line dynamic gray cloth inspecting machine system module design. II. Defects inspecting module design

This study aimed to establish a set of gray cloth defect inspection module using image processing technique, so as to develop a full intelligent online dynamic gray cloth defect automatic inspection system. Gray cloth defects to be recognized in this study included holes, stains, warp missing, spider web and weft missing. First use wavelet transform and co-occurrence matrix to find features of gray cloth defect image, next, use back-propagation neural network (BPNN) to make gray cloth defect classification and data output. BPNN was capable of solving nonlinear problems, thus assisted in enhancing defect recognition effect. As every defect to be inspected in this study varied in size and shape, so advantage of BPNN could be used as aid more than else. This study primarily utilized image processing technique to inspect gray cloth defects, not only in a faster speed than common visual inspection, but also eliminating arbitrary factors of inspectors in body and psychology during inspection, resulting in absolute objectivity. Finally, tension control module built in Part 1 and gray cloth defect inspection module built in this study were integrated, and a full intelligent online dynamic gray cloth defect automatic inspection system established. As validated by experiment result, the system established in this study could successfully recognize gray cloth defects, with total recognition rate amounting to 92.5 %.