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In this paper, we utilized the deep convolutional neural network D-LinkNet, a model for semantic segmentation, to analyze the Himawari-8 satellite data captured from 16 channels at a spatial resolution of 0.5 km, with a focus on the area over the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea (32°-42°N, 117°-127°E). The objective was to develop an algorithm for fusing and segmenting multi-channel images from geostationary meteorological satellites, specifically for monitoring sea fog in this region. Firstly, the extreme gradient boosting algorithm was adopted to evaluate the data from the 16 channels of the Himawari-8 satellite for sea fog detection, and we found that the top three channels in order of importance were channels 3, 4, and 14, which were fused into false color daytime images, while channels 7, 13, and 15 were fused into false color nighttime images. Secondly, the simple linear iterative super-pixel clustering algorithm was used for the pixel-level segmentation of false color images, and based on super-pixel blocks, manual sea-fog annotation was performed to obtain fine-grained annotation labels. The deep convolutional neural network D-LinkNet was built on the ResNet backbone and the dilated convolutional layers with direct connections were added in the central part to form a string-and-combine structure with five branches having different depths and receptive fields. Results show that the accuracy rate of fog area (proportion of detected real fog to detected fog) was 66.5%, the recognition rate of fog zone (proportion of detected real fog to real fog or cloud cover) was 51.9%, and the detection accuracy rate (proportion of samples detected correctly to total samples) was 93.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyapatite/polyamide-66 (HA/PA66) composite scaffolds were prepared using injection-molding technique and also analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and mechanical testing. Compared with common methods to fabricate scaffolds, this process can fabricate composite scaffolds in a rapid and convenient manner by adjusting the experimental conditions of foaming agent and shot size. The interactions between PA66 and HA particles affect the crystallization behavior of PA66 and the pore structure of scaffolds. HA particles can increase the stiffness of composite scaffolds accompanied by the reduction of impact strength, pore size and porosity. The obtained 40 wt% HA/PA66 composite scaffolds with a pore size ranging from 100-500 µm and a porosity more than 65% can simultaneously meet the requirements of porous structure and mechanical performance. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1003-1012, 2014. [C] 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers, INTRODUCTION Because hydroxyapatite (HA) has a composition and structure very close to natural bone apatite and exhibits excellent osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity, it has been used as an ideal biomaterial to [...]

Macroautophagy/autophagy is an important innate and adaptive immune response that can clear microbial pathogens through guiding their degradation. Virus infection in animals and plants is also known to induce autophagy. However, how virus infection induces autophagy is largely unknown. Here, we provide evidence that the early phase of rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) infection in Laodelphax striatellus can also induce autophagy, leading to suppression of RBSDV invasion and accumulation. We have determined that the main capsid protein of RBSDV (P10) is the inducer of autophagy. RBSDV P10 can specifically interact with GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), both in vitro and in vivo. Silencing of GAPDH in L. striatellus could significantly reduce the activity of autophagy induced by RBSDV infection. Furthermore, our results also showed that both RBSDV infection and RBSDV P10 alone can promote phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), resulting in GAPDH phosphorylation and relocation of GAPDH from the cytoplasm into the nucleus in midgut cells of L. striatellus or Sf9 insect cells. Once inside the nucleus, phosphorylated GAPDH can activate autophagy to suppress virus infection. Together, these data illuminate the mechanism by which RBSDV induces autophagy in L. striatellus, and indicate that the autophagy pathway in an insect vector participates in the anti-RBSDV innate immune response. Abbreviations3-MA: 3-methyladenine; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATG: autophagy-related; co-IP: co-immunoprecipitation; DAPI: 4ʹ,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; dpf: days post-feeding; dsRNA: double-stranded RNA; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GST: glutathione-S-transferase; RBSDV: Rice black-streaked dwarf virus; TEM: transmission electron microscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stiffness and bioactivity of polyamide 66 (PA66) have been previously improved by the addition of hydroxyapatite (HA); however, the toughness and processing ability of the HA/PA66 composite need further improvement. In this paper, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer was used as a modifier to toughen the composite and improve the melt processability. The HA/EVA/PA66 ternary composites were prepared by a twin screw extruder and injection molding, and analyzed by XRD, DSC, SEM, and mechanical testing. The results demonstrate that EVA has good miscibility with a PA66 matrix and result in a uniform distribution of fine HA particles in the composite. With increasing EVA incorporation, the brittle fracture of PA66 and HA/PA66 gradually became ductile fracture. EVA can effectively improve the impact strength and melt processability of the composite; the increased brittleness of HA/PA66 composite by HA addition can be counteracted by incorporation of EVA modifier. The increase in impact strength of the HA/EVA/PA66 composite can be explained on the basis of better stress transfer in the presence of EVA and by finer dispersion of HA particles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]