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Face recognition, a kind of biometric identification, researched in several fields such as computer vision, image processing, and pattern recognition is a natural and direct biometric method. Face Recognition Technology has diverse potential over applications in the fields of information security, law enforcement and surveillance, smart cards, access control and more. Face recognition is one of the diverse techniques used for identifying an individual. Generally the image variations because of the change in face identity are less than the variations among the images of the same face under different illumination and viewing angle. Illumination and pose are the two major challenges, among the several factors that influence face recognition. After pose and illumination, the main factors that affect the face recognition performance are occlusion and expression. So in order to overcome these issues, we proposed an efficient face recognition system based on partial occlusion and expression. The similar blocks in the face image are identified and occlusion can be recovered using the block matching technique. This is combined with expression normalized by calculating the Empherical Mode Decomposition feature. Finally, the face can be recognized by using the PCA. From the implementation result, it is evident that our proposed method based on the PCA technique recognizes the face images effectively.

Estimation of gene or isoform expression is a fundamental step in many transcriptome analysis tasks, such as differential expression analysis, eQTL (or sQTL) studies, and biological network construction. RNA-seq technology enables us to monitor the expression on genome-wide scale at single base pair resolution and offers the possibility of accurately measuring expression at the level of isoform. However, challenges remain because of non-uniform read sampling and the presence of various biases in RNA-seq data. In this paper, we present a novel hierarchical Bayesian method to estimate isoform expression. While most of the existing methods treat gene expression as a by-product, we incorporate it into our model and explicitly describe its relationship with corresponding isoform expression using a Multinomial distribution. In this way, gene and isoform expression are included in a unified framework and it helps us achieve a better performance over other state-of-the-art algorithms for isoform expression estimation. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated using both simulated data with known ground truth and two real RNA-seq datasets from MAQC project. The codes are available at http://www.math.pku.edu.cn/teachers/dengmh/GIExp/.

Person pose transfer has shown great application prospects and potential in recent years. However, this research mainly focuses on posture transfer and does not pay much attention to other human body attributes. In addition, there are problems such as blurred facial expressions and inconsistent facial texture. In order to solve these problems and improve user experience, this paper proposes a multi-feature transfer person image generation model, which combines facial expression transfer and pose transfer and completes the lighting reconstruction of person images. Our model can simultaneously migrate and supplement facial expressions while migrating a person’s posture, ensuring the consistency of characters’ overall migration. Our model can freely switch personal body lighting to adapt to different scenes, greatly improving the user experience. The experimental results show that our method’s preservation rate for face identity is improved by nearly 35% compared with the benchmark, and the similarity index for the overall person body is improved by nearly 14%. The evaluation results indicate that our method performs well in person posture transfer. The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to the existing algorithms in person posture transformation.

Engineered DNA-binding proteins, in particular zinc finger proteins (ZFPs), have broad-ranging applications in gene therapy. An engineered ZFP transcription activator targeted to the VEGF locus is currently undergoing clinical trials for the induction of angiogenesis. A number of ZFP gene switches have been developed which allow highly controllable regulation of therapeutic transgene expression based on small molecule inducers/repressors. Finally, engineered ZFP nucleases have been used to correct a gene sequence in a living cell by stimulating homologous DNA recombination, suggesting a new, highly targeted approach to gene therapy. All these approaches rely on DNA-binding protein engineering, which in the past has mainly been achieved by selection using phage display. However, a convenient cell-free selection method known as in vitro compartmentalization (IVC) has previously been used to engineer DNA-binding proteins with enzymatic activities (e.g. polymerase and methylase), and the method has recently been extended to the engineering of sequence-specific ZFP DNA-binders. Below we describe the IVC procedure and review the progress made in applying this to the problem of facilitating the engineering of DNA-binding proteins.

The aim of this study was to clone and express the ORF72 and ORF92 genes of koi herpesvirus (KHV) in a prokaryotic system and to examine the antigenicity of recombinant proteins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that both ORF72 and ORF92 had 100% homology with KHV-J, and 99% homology with those from KHV-U and KHV-I in nucleotides. This suggests that the KHV isolate in Taiwan is more closely related to the Japanese strain (Asian genotype). In the antigenicity analysis, the crude recombinant ORF72 and ORF92 capsid proteins reacted with the positive sera of the survival fish after a KHV outbreak, indicating that these recombinant capsid proteins might mimic antigens of the wild type KHV to induce an immunological response in the infected host. Our results demonstrated potential for general applicability to serological tests and vaccine development.

This paper proposes a new interpretive stance for interpreting artistic works and performances that is relevant to artificial intelligence research but also has broader implications. Termed the expressive stance, this stance makes intelligible a critical distinction between present-day machine art and human art, but allows for the possibility that future machine art could find a place alongside our own. The expressive stance is elaborated as a response to Daniel Dennett's notion of the intentional stance, which is critically examined with respect to his specialized concept of rationality. The paper also shows that temporal scale implicitly serves to select between different modes of explanation in prominent theories of intentionality. It also considers the implications of the phenomenological background for systems that produce art.

The mechanism of gene delivery and expression is one of the most important concerns raised by the development of gene delivery methods. Limited investigation is performed on how magnetic nanoparticles combine with DNA and deliver gene into mammalian cells. In this context, polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were used as gene carriers for binding and condensing with plasmid DNA expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The morphology and structure of MNP–DNA complexes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We evidenced that large amounts of DNA wrapped around the surface of MNPs and that the MNPs were physically entrapped by the DNA arranged both horizontally and vertically. EGFP gene was successfully expressed under mediation of an external magnetic field which is necessary to efficiently target EGFP gene to the cells. Fluorescence from EGFP was separately detected in the cell cytoplasm and cell nucleus.

Blend shaping is a type of deformation method that you can use on several target shapes to drive a basic shape. It is a powerful morphing tool. Facial animation is an application of blend shaping, and it brings more life, fun and vibrancy to the subject. There are many advantages and fewer limits in 3D facial animation. We use 3D animation software such as Maya to show its features and check any issues in the 3D facial animation.

Engineered DNA-binding proteins, in particular zinc finger proteins (ZFPs), comprise a promising new class of therapeutic proteins for applications in gene therapy that range from regulation of gene expression to in vivo mutation correction. All these approaches depend on the availability of highly specific DNA-binding proteins for genome-wide accurate targeting of therapeutic constructs. Until now, the design of novel ZFPs has mainly been achieved by selection using phage display. This is a labor-intensive approach which allows working with only moderately-sized combinatorial libraries. We overcame these limitations by adapting a convenient cell-free selection method known as in vitro compartmentalization (IVC) for the selection of ZFPs. In IVC, the expression libraries are assembled by PCR and up to 10¹⁰ independent clones can be selected conveniently in a single reaction. In addition to ZFPs, IVC has previously been used to engineer DNA-modifying enzymes, e.g., polymerase and methyltransferase activities. In this chapter, we describe the IVC procedure and review the progress made.

The physiological role of metallothionein (MT) has been a topic of growing interest, particularly with regard to a potential therapeutic application in trauma of the central nervous system (CNS). An increasing number of studies describe the protective, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory properties of MT-I and MT-II isoforms (MT-I/MT-II) in the context of in vitro and animal models, using, for example, MT-I/MT-II null, overexpressing, or injected mice following induced CNS trauma or disease. MT-I/MT-II respond to trauma by upregulation, and may have roles in metal ion homeostasis and free radical scavenging. Notably, a direct action of MT-I/MT-II on neurons has been shown using in vitro models, whereby the application of exogenous MT-I/MT-II directly increases neurite outgrowth of young neurons and regeneration of injured, mature neurons. The expression and putative functions of MT within the injured CNS will be addressed within this chapter, with particular regard to the MT-I/MT-II isoforms that display neuroprotective and regenerative properties. Intriguingly, a further member of the MT family, MT-III, shows high homology to MT-I/MT-II, yet has a contrasting effect on neuron growth and survival in some models.

The hydrophobic cavity of cyclodextrin contributes to the wide applications in medicine, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic industries, agriculture and environmental protection. Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (cgt) gene was able to be amplified from Paenibacillus polymyxa and inserted into vectors of pWB980. The recombinant vectors were transformed to Bacillus subtilis WB600. The results showed that cgt gene was expressed in Bacillus subtilis successfully. The optimum conditions for maximum enzyme activity were obtained at a temperature 35°C, pH 7 and quantity of inoculum 6%. Corn starch and soybean meal were chosen as carbon source and nitrogen source in the process of production. A maximum activity of the CGTase activity reached 9.2 U/mL, which is about 15-fold to that of the original strain Paenibacillus polymyxa. β-cyclodextrin is 0.104 mg/mL from 1% (m/m) soluble starch in 10 min (pH 7.0 50 oC). Cyclodextrins can form inclusion complexes with different molecules with the aid of their special chemical (molecular) structures. Physical and chemical properties of molecules can be changed after the formation of complex. This special feature enables the usage of cyclodextrins in different industry areas.

Aspartokinase (AK) was a crucial enzyme for industrial amino acids production. It is a rate-limiting enzyme in the amino acids biosynthesis of aspartate family. We cloned the key enzyme of Corynebacteriumpekinense and expressed it in E.coli strain in the form of a 6xHis-tagged protein. The recombinant AK was efficiently purified to near homogeneity with molecular weight of ~48kDa. The enzyme exhibited the highest enzymatic activities at 26°C and pH 8.0. As a mesophilic enzyme with good thermostability, its half-life is 4 h at 26°C. Steady-state kinetics study showed it was an allosteric enzyme with S0.5, nH and Vmax were 4.69 mM, 2.94 and 99.196 U/mg, respectively. Most metal ions and organic solvents inhibited the catalytic activity of AK. The end-products of aspartate pathway had a significant inhibited effect on AK activity, and there is positive cooperation between threonine and lysine. This lays the foundation for the industrial applications of AK.