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Long-term robust tracking remains a challenging problem in visual object tracking. Based on the popular tracking-by-detection framework, we propose an approach named real-time long-term correlation tracking by single-shot multibox detection (RLCT-SSD), in which tracking and detection work in parallel and cooperate together. Our algorithm consists of two parts: a tracking module is expected to track in real time and accurately, whereas a detection module is responsible for verifying the tracking results at intervals, and redetecting if necessary. The detector updates the tracking module when the tracking result is unreliable. We introduce a motion model on the basis of fast discriminative scale space tracker to design our tracking module. The detection module is based on the single-shot multibox detector algorithm. To further reduce the computational cost, we use the ShuffleNet as our base network of detection. The experimental results on OTB2013 and OTB2015 demonstrate that our RLCT-SSD performs favorably against most state-of-the-art trackers and achieves long-term accurate tracking running in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the topic of multipopulation mortality forecasting has gained considerable attention among researchers and end-users. One of the most popular multipopulation mortality models is the augmented common factor (ACF) model. In spite of its popularity, the ACF model is subject to the limitation of producing mortality forecasts with a jagged pattern rather than a smooth relationship with age. In this article, we attempt to mitigate this problem by generalizing the work of Delwarde et al. [(2007). Smoothing the Lee–Carter and Poisson log-bilinear models for mortality forecasting a penalized log-likelihood approach. Statistical Modelling 7 (1), 29–48] to a multipopulation setting. The generalization involves smoothing parameters, one for the common trend and one for each of the np individual populations. The smoothing parameters are determined by using an extended leave-one-out cross-validation. We illustrate the proposed extension with real mortality data. It is found that compared to the original ACF model, the proposed extension produces mortality forecasts that are more reasonable, with less jagged patterns across ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary In current literature, the first flush effect of urban runoff pollution has been studied and reported extensively. However, the effects of middle and final flushes on pollutant flushing were not given much attention. In addition, few previous studies have discussed the suitability of the widely used exponential wash-off model for describing the middle or final flush processes. In this paper, the Shiyan River catchment, a typical rapidly urbanizing catchment in China, is chosen as a study area to analyze the effects of first, middle and final flushes based on monitoring hydrographs and pollutographs. In order to simulate the middle and final flush processes observed in storm events, a new, realistically simple, parsimonious model (named as logistic wash-off model) is developed with the assumption that surface pollutant loads available for wash-off increase with cumulative runoff volume following a logistic curve. The popular exponential wash-off model and the newly developed model are used and compared in simulating the flush processes in storm events. The results indicate that all the three types of pollutant flushing are observed in the experiment; however, the first flush effect is weak, while the middle and final flush effects are substantial. The exponential model has performed well in simulating the first flush process but failed to simulate well the middle and final flush processes. However, the logistic wash-off model has effectively simulated all the three types of pollutant flush, and particularly, it has performed better in simulating the middle and final flush processes than the exponential model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally accepted that intestinal sensory vagal fibers are primary afferent, responding nonsynaptically to luminal stimuli. The gut also contains intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) that respond to luminal stimuli. A psychoactive Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) that affects brain function excites both vagal fibers and IPANs. We wondered whether, contrary to its primary afferent designation, the sensory vagus response to JB-1 might depend on IPAN to vagal fiber synaptic transmission. We recorded ex vivo single- and multiunit afferent action potentials from mesenteric nerves supplying mouse jejunal segments. Intramural synaptic blockade with Ca2+ channel blockers reduced constitutive or JB-1-evoked vagal sensorydischarge. Firing of 60% of spontaneously active units was reduced by synaptic blockade. Synaptic or nicotinic receptor blockade reduced firing in 60% of vagal sensory units that were stimulated by luminal JB-1. In control experiments, increasing or decreasing IPAN excitability, respectively increased or decreased nerve firing that was abolished by synaptic blockade or vagotomy. We conclude that >50% of vagal afferents function as interneurons for stimulation by JB-1, receiving input from an intramural functional "sensory synapse." This was supported by myenteric plexus nicotinicreceptor immunohistochemistry. These data offer a novel therapeutic target to modify pathological gut-brain axis activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut commensals modulate host immune, endocrine, and metabolic functions. They also affect peripheral and central neural reflexes and function. We have previously shown that daily ingestion of Lactobacillus reuteri (LR) for 9 d inhibits the pseudoaffective cardiac response and spinal single-fiber discharge evoked by visceral distension, and decreases intestinal motility and myenteric AH cell slow afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) by inhibiting a Ca-activated K (IKCa) channel. We tested whether luminal LR could acutely decrease motility in an ex vivo perfusion model of naive Balb/c jejunum. Live LR dose dependently decreased motor complex pressure wave amplitudes with 9- to 16-min onset latency and an IC50 of 5 x 107 cells/ml Krebs. Heat-killed LR or another live commensal, Lactobacillus salivarius, were without effect. The IKCa channel blocker TRAM-34, but neither the opener (DCEBIO) nor the hyperpolarization-activated cationic channel inhibitor ZD7288 (5 µM) (or TTX 1 µM), mimicked the LR effect on motility acutely ex vivo. We provide evidence for a rapid, strain-specific, dosedependent action of a live Lactobacillus on small intestinal motility reflexes that recapitulates the long-term effects of LR ingestion. These observations may be useful as a first step to unraveling the pathways involved in bacteria to the nervous system communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An approach to deal with movings and collisions of arbitrary many discontinuities in the conservative front tracking method is developed. Using this approach one may develop an “all-purposed and robust” front-tracking algorithm. The algorithm with this approach may have some inconsistency and thus will have O(1) magnitude errors in some grid cells at sometimes. Nevertheless, these errors will be eliminated by the conservation-preserving property of the front-tracking method in the following computation. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting evidence supports the influence of the gut microbiome on the local enteric nervous system and its effects on brain chemistry and relevant behavior. Vagal afferents are involved in some of these effects. We previously showed that ingestion of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) caused extensive neurochemical changes in the brain and behavior that were abrogated by prior vagotomy. Because information can be transmitted to the brain via primary afferents encoded as neuronal spike trains, our goal was to record those induced by JB-1 in vagal afferents in the mesenteric nerve bundle and thus determine the nature of the signals sent to the brain. Male Swiss Webster mice jejunal segments were cannulated ex vivo, and serosal and luminal compartments were perfused separately. Bacteria were added intraluminally. We found no evidence for translocation of labeled bacteria across the epithelium during the experiment. We recorded extracellular multi- and single-unit neuronal activity with glass suction pipettes. Within minutes of application, JB-1 increased the constitutive single- and multiunit firing rate of the mesenteric nerve bundle, but Lactobacillus salivarius (a negative control) or media alone were ineffective. JB-1 significantly augmented multiunit discharge responses to an intraluminal distension pressure of 31 hPa. Prior subdiaphragmatic vagotomy abolished all of the JB-1-evoked effects. This detailed exploration of the neuronal spike firing that encodes behavioral signaling to the brain may be useful to identify effective psychoactive bacteria and thereby offer an alternative new perspective in the field of psychiatry and comorbid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines enzyme activation, substrate recycling and product actions of myogenic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in canine lower esophageal sphincter. Whole cell current characterization; Endogenous NOS inhibition; Mechanism of muscular NOS activation and action of nitric oxide, endogenous or applied.

Provides information on a study of evidence derived from single lower esophageal sphincter (LES) smooth muscle cells demonstrating both the existence and function of cNOS and the regeneration of the NOS substrate L-arginine (L-Arg). Methodology used to conduct the study; Results of the study.

Study Design: A rat model of multifidus muscles injury and atrophy after posterior lumbar spine surgery.Objective: We determined the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on the postoperative multifidus muscles in rat model.Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies show oxidative stress and inflammation are two main molecular mechanisms in multifidus muscle injury and atrophy after posterior lumbar surgery. AA may have a protective effect in postoperative multifidus muscles.Methods: Rats were divided into sham surgery, control surgery, and surgery plus AA groups. Multifidus muscles of the control and AA groups were excised from the osseous structures. The muscles were retracted continuously for 2 hours. In the sham and AA groups, AA was administered via oral gavage daily in the first week. In each group, the oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and Total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD). The inflammation, fat degeneration, or fibrosis of multifidus muscle were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR), histology, or immunohistochemical analysis.Results: T-SOD activity was significantly lower in the control group than that in the AA group in the first week. MDA levels were significantly higher in the AA group. Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in multifidus muscles also showed significant differences when treated with AA. The inflammation score on histology was significantly lower in the AA group postoperatively in the first week. In the long run, marker genes for fibrosis and fat degeneration, and fibrosis and fat degeneration scores, were significantly lower in the AA than the control group on days 14 and 28 postoperatively.Conclusion: In conclusion, AA attenuated the oxidative stress and inflammation response in the postoperative multifidus muscles, and remarkable differences were observed from the histological assessment and related marker genes expression. Our results provided important insight into the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of AA in the postoperative multifidus muscles.Level Of Evidence: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a multifactorial disease and responsible for many spine related disorders, causes disability in the workforce and heavy social costs all over the world. Honokiol, a low molecular weight natural product, could penetrate into and distribute in IVDs to achieve therapeutic effect in a rat tail model. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the antiinflammatory, antioxidation and IVD-protective effect of honokiol using nucleus pulposus cells and investigate its mechanisms to provide a new basis for future clinical treatment of IVDD. In the current study, we demonstrated that honokiol inhibits the H 2 O 2 -induced apoptosis (caspase-9, caspase-3, and bax), levels of oxidative stress mediators (ROS, MDA), expression of inflammatory mediators (Interleukin-6, COX-2, and iNOS), major matrix degrading proteases (MMP-3, MMP-13, ADAMTS5, and ADAMTS4) associated with nucleus pulposus degradation. Furthermore, we found nucleus pulposus protective ability of honokiol by up-regulating extra cellular matrix anabolic factors like type II collagen (Col II) and SOX9 in nucleus pulposus. We also found that honokiol suppressed the phosphorylation of NF-kB and JNK, and activation of TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome in H 2 O 2 -stimulated nucleus pulposus cells, thereby inhibiting the activation of downstream inflammatory mediators such as Interleukin-1β. Furthermore, honokiol showed a cartilage protective effect in the progression of IVDD in a rat model induced by puncture. Thus, our results demonstrate that honokiol inhibited the H 2 O 2 induced apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses through the depression of TXNIP/NLRP3/caspase-1/ Interleukin − 1β signaling axis and the activation of NF-kB and JNK. Honokiol possess nucleus pulposus protective properties and may be of value in suppressing the pathogenesis of IVDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ingestion of a commensal bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1, has potent immunoregulatory effects, and changes nerve-dependent colon migrating motor complexes (MMCs), enteric nerve function, and behavior. How these alterations occur is unknown. JB-1 microvesicles (MVs) are enriched for heat shock protein components such as chaperonin 60 heat-shock protein isolated from Escherichia coli (GroEL) and reproduce regulatory and neuronal effects in vitro and in vivo. Ingested labeled MVs were detected in murine Peyer's patch (PP) dendritic cells (DCs) within 18 h. After 3 d, PP and mesenteric lymph node DCs assumed a regulatory phenotype and increased functional regulatory CD4+25+Foxp3+ T cells. JB-1, MVs, and GroEL similarly induced phenotypic change in cocultured DCs via multiple pathways including C-type lectin receptors specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing non-integrin-related 1 and Dectin-1, as well as TLR-2 and -9. JB-1 and MVs also decreased the amplitude of neuronally dependent MMCs in an ex vivo model of peristalsis. Gut epithelial, but not direct neuronal application of, MVs, replicated functional effects of JB-1 on in situ patch-clamped enteric neurons. GroEL and anti-TLR-2 were without effect in this system, suggesting the importance of epithelium neuron signaling and discrimination between pathways for bacteria-neuron and -immune communication. Together these results offer a mechanistic explanation of how Gram-positive commensals and probiotics may influence the host's immune and nervous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoclasts play an important role in diseases involving bone loss. In this study, we assessed the effect of a plant-derived natural alkaloid (lycorine, or LY) on osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Our in vitro study showed that receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis could be inhibited by LY; this effect was due to inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling via MAP kinase kinases (MKKs). The MAPK agonist anisomycin could partially rescue the inhibitory effect of LY. Furthermore, LY also played a protective role in both a murine ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis model and a titanium particle-induced osteolysis model. These results confirmed that LY was effective in preventing osteoclast-related diseases in vivo. In conclusion, our results show that LY is effective in suppressing osteoclastogenesis and therefore could be used to treat OVX-induced osteoporosis and wear particle-induced osteolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]