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For the semantic segmentation task, spatial information and the receptive field are indispensable. For semantic segmentation to be practically applicable, it must have real-time inference speed. However, most of today's methods almost choose to compromise the spatial resolution and low-level detail information, which leads to a significant decrease in accuracy. In this paper, we propose a new architecture based on Bilateral Segmentation Network (BiSeNet) called BiSeNet V3. It introduces a new feature refinement module to optimize the feature map and a feature fusion module to combine the features efficiently. An attention mechanism is introduced to assist the model in capturing contextual information. We also use edge detection to enhance features for boundaries. Extensive experiments on the Cityscapes dataset show that our proposed approach achieves an excellent performance between segmentation accuracy and inference speed. Specifically, for a 768 × 1536 input, BiSeNet V3 achieved 79.0% mIoU on the Cityscapes test set with a speed of 93.8 FPS on an NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti. For a 720 × 960 input, BiSeNet V3 achieved 76.6% mIoU on the CamVid dataset with a speed of 147.6 FPS on an NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti. The result is significantly better than the other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-targeting anticancer agents 4 – 29 are designed by combining the structural features of purine-type microtubule-disrupting compounds and HDAC inhibitors. A library of the conjugate compounds connected by appropriate linkers was synthesized and found to possess HDACs inhibitory activity and render microtubule fragmentation by activating katanin, a microtubule-severing protein. Among various zinc-binding groups, hydroxamic acid shows the highest inhibitory activity of Class I HDACs, which was also reconfirmed by three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) pharmacophore prediction. The purine–hydroxamate conjugates exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity against MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells, H1975 lung cancer cells, and various clinical isolated non-small-cell lung cancer cells with different epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status. Pyridyl substituents could be used to replace the C2 and N9 phenyl moieties in the purine-type scaffold, which can help to improve the solubility under physiological conditions, thus increasing cytotoxicity. In mice treated with the purine–hydroxamate conjugates, the tumor growth rate was significantly reduced without causing toxic effects. Our study demonstrates the potential of the dual-targeting purine–hydroxamate compounds for cancer monotherapy. [Display omitted] • The dual-targeting agent has microtubule-disrupting and HDAC-inhibition activities. • The purine–hydroxamate conjugate inhibits lung and breast tumor growth in vivo. • The agent promotes histone acetylation via inhibiting class-I HDACs' activities. • The dual-targeting compound is feasible for developing cancer monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilobium belongs to the family Onagraceae, which consists of approximately 200 species distributed worldwide, and some species have been used as medicinal plants. Epilobium nankotaizanense is an endemic and endangered herb that grows in the high mountains in Taiwan at an elevation of more than 3300 m. Alpine herbs are severely threatened by climate change, which leads to a reduction in their habitats and population sizes. However, only a few studies have addressed genetic diversity and population genetics. In the present study, we developed a new set of microsatellite markers for E. nankotaizanense using high-throughput genome sequencing data. Twenty polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed and tested on 30 individuals collected from three natural populations. These loci were successfully amplified, and polymorphisms were observed in E. nankotaizanense. The number of alleles per locus (A) ranged from 2.000 to 3.000, and the observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosities ranged from 0.000 to 0.929 and from 0.034 to 0.631, respectively. The developed polymorphic microsatellite markers will be useful in future conservation genetic studies of E. nankotaizanense as well as for developing an effective conservation strategy for this species and facilitating germplasm collections and sustainable utilization of other Epilobium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being a second phase in the Zn–Cu–Ti-contained ceramic systems, the sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties of ZnCuTiO 4 are investigated for the first time. The ZnCuTiO 4 phase forms at a temperature less than 700 °C and the dependence of the dielectric properties of the ceramics on the sintering condition is found to be insignificant at sintering temperatures ranging from 900 to 1050 °C and with sintering time from 30 to 120 min. The relative densities of the specimens are higher than 95% for the entire temperature range tested during the experiment. Rather than being determined by the relative density, the Q × f of ZnCuTiO 4 ceramics is being controlled instead by the packing fraction. Specimen using ZnCuTiO 4 possesses a combination of dielectric properties with ε r of 18.86–19.69, Q × f of 4600–6000 GHz, and τ f of −29.1 to −34.7 ppm/°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The microwave dielectric properties of the (1− x)Li2TiO3–xZnO (x =0.1–0.5) ceramic system prepared by mixed oxide route have been investigated. The rock-salt structured (1− x)Li2TiO3–xZnO were characterized by using X-ray diffraction spectra, scanning electron microcopy (SEM). The dielectric properties are strongly dependent on the compositions, the densifications and the microstructures of the specimens. The decrease of Q × f value at high-level ZnO addition (x >0.3) was owing to the intensity of the (002) superstructure reflection decreased and became disordered rock-salt structure. For practical applications, a new microwave dielectric material 0.7Li2TiO3–0.3ZnO is suggested and it possesses a good combination of dielectric properties with an of ∼22.95, a Q × f of ∼99,800GHz (measured at 8.91GHz), and a of ∼0ppm/°C. A low-loss dielectric resonant antenna using aperture-coupled cylindrical dielectric resonant was designed and fabricated using the proposed dielectric to study its performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: (Mg1−x Zn x )1.8Ti1.1O4 (x =0.03–1.00) ceramics were prepared via the conventional solid-state method and their dielectric properties were investigated in the microwave frequency region. Formation of solid solutions was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis, the EDX analysis, and the measured lattice parameters. A small amount of Zn substitution for Mg produced a large increase in Q × f due to a high packing fraction as well as a high relative density of the ceramics. By increasing x from 0.00 to 0.06, the Q × f of the specimen could be tremendously improved from 141,000 to a maximum of 210,700GHz (at 10.52GHz), demonstrating an unique potential for low-loss microwave applications. The τ f values were found to retain in the range from −54.2 to −62.3ppm/°C for all compositions because the resultant change of unit cell volume was small. Also, a remarkable lowering of the sintering temperature down to ∼300°C was observed when Mg was totally substituted by Zn, thereby making it possible for low firing applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High-relative-permittivity and low-loss ceramics in the (1− x)Ca(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3–xCa0.8Sm0.4/3TiO3 system have been prepared by the conventional solid state route and their microwave dielectric properties have been investigated. (1− x)Ca(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3–xCa0.8Sm0.4/3TiO3 solid solution exhibited orthorhombic crystal structures for all compositions. A rapid grain growth is observed at temperatures higher than 1450°C, which would lead to a decrease in the density and the Q × f of the ceramics. A near-zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency can be achieved for Ca(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 with the addition of Ca0.8Sm0.4/3TiO3. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency increases with increasing Ca0.8Sm0.4/3TiO3 content and tunes through zero at x =0.45. Specimen using 0.55Ca(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3–0.45Ca0.8Sm0.4/3TiO3 possesses an excellent combination of microwave dielectric properties: ɛ r ∼44.96, Q × f ∼41,700GHz (where f =6.6GHz, is the resonant frequency) and τ f value of 0ppm/°C. It is proposed as a suitable candidate material for today''s 3G passive components and small-sized GPS patch antennas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Low-loss Mg1.8Ti1.1O4 ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid-state route and their microwave dielectric properties were investigated for the first time. The forming of tetragonal-structured Mg1.8Ti1.1O4 main phase associated with a second phase MgTiO3 were confirmed by the X-ray diffraction patterns. However, the presence of the second phase would cause no significant variance in the dielectric properties of the specimen because the second phase properties are very similar to that of the main phase. A fine combination of microwave dielectric properties (ɛ r ∼15.74, Q × f ∼141,000GHz at 10.57GHz, τ f ∼−52.4ppm/°C) was achieved for Mg1.8Ti1.1O4 ceramics sintered at 1450°C for 4h. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Rock-salt-structured Li2MgTiO4 ceramic was prepared by the conventional mixed oxide route and its microwave dielectric properties were investigated. The microstructures of the ceramics were characterized by SEM. The dielectric properties of the ceramics exhibited a significant dependence on the sintering condition and crystal structure. A new microwave dielectric material, Li2MgTiO4 sintered at 1360°C has a dielectric constant (ɛ r ) of ∼17.25, a Q × f of ∼97,300GHz (where f =9.86GHz, is the resonant frequency) and a τ f of ∼–27.2ppm/°C. The microwave dielectric properties of the ceramic are reported for the first time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The crystal structures, phase compositions and the microwave dielectric properties of the (1− x)Ca(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3–x(Ca0.8Sr0.2)TiO3 perovskite-based composites have been investigated. The (1− x)Ca(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3–x(Ca0.8Sr0.2)TiO3 solid solutions exhibited an 1:2 ordered monoclinic structure for all compositions. As (Ca0.8Sr0.2)TiO3 content increases, the ɛ r and τ f values increase gradually, while the Q × f values decreases. By appropriately adjusting the x value in the (1− x)Ca(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3–x(Ca0.8Sr0.2)TiO3 ceramic system, a near-zero τ f value can be achieved. The optimal microwave dielectric properties with a dielectric constant (ɛ r ) value of 43.37, a Q × f value of 46,000GHz (where f =6.8GHz, is the resonant frequency), and a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ f ) of −2.7ppm/°C can be obtained for specimen using (1− x)Ca(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3–x(Ca0.8Sr0.2)TiO3 (x =0.4) sintered at 1425°C for 3h. It is proposed as a high-dielectric-constant, low-loss dielectric and in particular, a suitable candidate material for today''s 3G passive components and small-sized GPS patch antennas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Context:Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a constituent of DanshenSalvia miltiorrhizaBunge (Lamiaceae); however, its antifatigue activity remains unclear. Objective:To study the antifatigue properties of Tan IIA and its underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods:In program I, three mouse groups were separately subjected to three gavages with 0, 1 and 6 mg/kg Tan IIA and forced swimming test (FST) weekly for 8 weeks; in program II, one gavage with 0, 2 and 10 mg/kg Tan IIA was administered plus FST weekly for 4 weeks. Serum glucose, lactate, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined after final FST. Results:Tan IIA significantly prolonged swimming durations in program I but not in program II. Swimming times were 3208 ± 1054 and 2443 ± 1054 s for the 1 and 6 mg/kg treatments and 856 ± 292 s for the vehicle control. The two doses significantly reduced serum glucose levels (40.3 ± 8.5 and 60.0 1 ± 11.8 mg/kg) and lactate levels (61.3 ± 27.5 and 68.8 ± 8.5 mg/kg) in treated mice compared with those in control mice (137.5 ± 38.6 mg/kg and 122.7 ± 18.2 mg/kg, respectively). However, no significant differences were observed regarding SOD, MDA or BUN levels. Discussion and conclusions:Tan IIA has antifatigue activity and is associated with reductions in serum glucose and lactate levels. Further studies should assess muscle hypertrophy and efficient aerobic glycolysis caused by Tan IIA. Tan IIA has potential as a pharmacological agent for fatigue resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An 8-oxopurine-6-carboxamide compound (1a) was previously identified as an inhibitor of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, more than 30 purine-6-carboxamide derivatives with variations at the C2, N7, C8, and N9 positions were synthesized to investigate the structure−activity relationship as a basis for the construction of an advanced pharmacophore model. This model suggests that purine-6-hydroxamate and purine-6-amidoxime analogs could form more hydrogen bonds with a target protein to enhance the inhibitory activities against H1975 cells. Among the series of analogs, hydroxamate 17 and amidoxime 19a exhibited excellent potency against H1975 cells (IC 50 < 1.5 μM) and other lung cancer cells with either wild-type or mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Mouse experiments indicated that compounds 17 and 19a were efficient anticancer agents with no appreciable toxicity. The mechanisms of action for the induction of cell apoptosis were determined to involve microtubule fragmentation and p53-mediated signaling pathways. Image 1 • Purine-6-amides, hydroxamate and amidoximes are synthesized by fragment-based strategy. • Advanced pharmacophore model is constructed with strong predictive power. • Amidoxime 19a binds katanin to induce microtubule fragmentation and other signaling pathways. • Compound 19a is active toward most EGFR wild-type and mutated lung adenocarcinoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]