MicroAST: Towards Super-Fast Ultra-Resolution Arbitrary Style Transfer

Arbitrary style transfer (AST) transfers arbitrary artistic styles onto content images. Despite the recent rapid progress, existing AST methods are either incapable or too slow to run at ultra-resolutions (e.g., 4K) with limited resources, which heavily hinders their further applications. In this paper, we tackle this dilemma by learning a straightforward and lightweight model, dubbed MicroAST. The key insight is to completely abandon the use of cumbersome pre-trained Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (e.g., VGG) at inference. Instead, we design two micro encoders (content and style encoders) and one micro decoder for style transfer. The content encoder aims at extracting the main structure of the content image. The style encoder, coupled with a modulator, encodes the style image into learnable dual-modulation signals that modulate both intermediate features and convolutional filters of the decoder, thus injecting more sophisticated and flexible style signals to guide the stylizations. In addition, to boost the ability of the style encoder to extract more distinct and representative style signals, we also introduce a new style signal contrastive loss in our model. Compared to the state of the art, our MicroAST not only produces visually superior results but also is 5-73 times smaller and 6-18 times faster, for the first time enabling super-fast (about 0.5 seconds) AST at 4K ultra-resolutions. Code is available at https://github.com/EndyWon/MicroAST.Comment: Accepted by AAAI 202

Monitoring and analysis of blasting vibration in tunnel excavation of nuclear power plant

Vibration monitoring of blasting excavation of drainage tunnel in Lufeng Nuclear Power Plant is carried out and the data of blasting vibration is analyzed in this paper. The results show that: (1) The vertical vibration velocity of the rock mass is greater than the horizontal radial and horizontal tangential vibration velocity (2) The blasting vibration velocity of rock mass decreases with distance, which is affected by rock structure and explosive quantity. The monitoring research in this paper has guiding significance for vibration prediction and control in tunnel blasting excavation

Analysis on monitoring and controlling techniques about blasting vibration effect of open channel in Taishan nuclear power station

The blasting for bedrock excavation on land for open channel project has a great influence on lock gate in Taishan Nuclear Power Station, therefore, based on blasting vibration monitoring data, the attenuation law of blasting vibration signal has been studied through regression analysis of practical test data by Sadaovsk empirical formula and corresponding time-frequency characteristics was analyzed by Empirical Mode Decomposition based on Hilbert-Huang transform. As for those monitoring data, the results of blast vibration velocity for vertical direction are generally larger than horizontal radial and horizontal tangential direction in the near field of blasting source and the peak particle velocity of vertical direction is usually lower than horizontal radial and horizontal tangential direction in the far field of blasting source; at the same time, their main vibration frequency mostly vary from 10 Hz to 80 Hz which is much higher than natural frequency of lock gate and is beneficial to structural safety and stability of surrounding rock mass for reducing the probability of resonance. To ensure the safety of lock gate, it is of great significance to control maximum explosive weight per delay in advance for different distance from monitoring point to the explosion source according to Safety Regulations for Blasting (GB6722-2014), which shows the excellent effect on blasting damage control of the lock gate and surrounding rock mass. The results from the analysis can be for reference to similar blasting design and blasting construction

Evaluation of early blood inflammation indicators on the prognosis of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of early blood inflammatory indicators in patients with respiratory failure caused by severe community-acquired pneumonia. Methods A total of 186 patients diagnosed with respiratory failure due to severe pneumonia on admission were recruited in this study. According to clinical prognosis， they were divided into the death group （n = 42） and improvement group （n = 144）. Twelve cytokines， ferritin， C-reactive protein， procalcitonin， blood routine examination and blood gas analysis results of the patients within two days after admission were analyzed. Pneumonia severity index （PSI） and APACHE Ⅱ scores of the patients were collected. The correlation between the above indicators and prognosis was explored. Results Compared with the improvement group， the levels of IFN-γ， IL-10， IL-6， IL-8， C-reactive protein （CRP）， procalcitonin and ferritin were significantly higher in the death group （all P < 0.05）. Upon admission， the hemoglobin level and platelet count in the death group were significantly lower than those in the improvement group （both P < 0.05）. The PSI and APACHE Ⅱ scores on admission in the death group were significantly higher compared with those in the improvement group （both P < 0.05）. Patients in the death group had higher lactic acid level and lower oxygenation index （OI） compared with their counterparts in the improvement group （both P < 0.05）. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that IL-6， ferritin， PSI and APACHE Ⅱ scores and lactic acid level were the risk factors for poor prognosis， whereas platelet count was the protective factor for poor prognosis （all P < 0.05）. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve indicated that IL-6，procalcitonin and ferritin were favorable predictors for clinical prognosis of patients. When IL-6 and ferritin levels exceed 11.41 ng/L and 659 μg/L， and platelet count was less than 148.5×109/L， patients were at risk of death. Conclusions In patients with respiratory failure caused by severe community-acquired pneumonia， the increase of blood inflammatory indicators， such as IL-6， ferritin and procalcitonin， suggests high risk death in patients， especially for patients with IL-6 >11.41 ng/L， ferritin>659 μg/L， and platelet count<148.5×109/L. Extensive attention should be paid to lowering the risk of death in these patients

Recurrence of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura with hypoglycemia (Doege–Potter Syndrome): a case report description

Hypoglycemia has multiple causes, but the most common is a complication of insulin treatment. In addition to insulin therapy, tumors such as insulinomas of pancreatic origin and extrapancreatic tumors causing paraneoplastic syndromes should also be considered. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTP) is rare tumor, which when associated with hypoglycemia causes Doege-Potter syndrome. This article reports a case of a 69-year-old man with Doege-Potter syndrome and underwent the first surgical resection for SFTP. However, the tumor recurred 9 years later with hypoglycemic symptoms and implant metastasis. This recurrent tumor originated from the visceral pleura, was more aggressive and invaded the diaphragm and parietal pleura. After the second surgical removal of the tumor, the hypoglycemic symptoms disappeared

Genome-Wide Network-Based Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Identifies Novel Prognostic Factors and an Integrative Prognostic Index

Background/Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of leading cancers in both incidence and mortality rate. The 5-year survival rate varies considerably depending on the pathological stage of the tumor. Although prominent progress has been made through screening for survival-associated factors from a certain type of genetic or epigenetic modifications, few attempts have been made to apply a network-based approach in prognostic factor identification, which could prove valuable for a complex, multi-faceted disease such as CRC. Methods: In this study, a TCGA dataset of 379 CRC patients was subjected to a network-based analysis strategy consisting of multivariate regression, co-expression network and gene regulatory network analyses, and survival analyses. Both genetic and epigenetic aberrations, including those in gene expression and DNA methylation at specific sites, were screened for significant association with patient survival. A prognostic index (PI) integrating all potential prognostic factors was subsequently validated for its prognostic value. Results: A collection of six miRNAs, eleven mRNAs, and nine DNA methylation sites were identified as potential prognostic factors. The low- and high-risk patient groups assigned based on PI level showed significant difference in overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.32, 95% confidence interval 1.29-1.36, p < 0.0001). Patients in the low- and high-risk groups can be further divided into a total of four subgroups, based on pathological staging. In the two high-risk subgroups (PI > 0), there was significant different (Cox p < 0.0001) in OS between the earlier (stages I/II) and later stages (stages III/IV). However, in the two low-risk subgroups (PI < 0), earlier (stages I/II) and later stages (stages III/IV) showed no significant difference in OS (Cox p = 0.185). On the other hand, there were significant differences in OS between the low- and high-risk subgroups when both subgroups were of earlier stages (Cox p < 0.001) or of later stages (Cox p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The novel network-based, integrative analysis adopted in this study was efficient in screening for prognostic predictors. Along with PI, the set of 6 miRNAs, 11 mRNAs, and 9 DNA methylation sites could serve as the basis for improved prognosis estimation for CRC patients in future clinical practice

IP3R-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction mediates C5b-9-induced ferroptosis in trichloroethylene-caused immune kidney injury

Patients with occupational medicamentose-like dermatitis due to trichloroethylene often suffer from immune kidney injury. Our previous study reveals that C5b-9-dependent cytosolic Ca2+ overload-induced ferroptosis is involved in trichloroethylene sensitized kidney injury. However, how C5b-9 causes cytosolic Ca2+ rise and the specific mechanism whereby overloaded Ca2+ induces ferroptosis remain unknown. The purpose of our study was to explore the role of IP3R-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in C5b-9 mediated ferroptosis in trichloroethylene sensitized kidney. Our results showed that IP3R was activated, and mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased in the renal epithelial cells of trichloroethylene-sensitized mice, and these changes were antagonized by CD59, a C5b-9 inhibitory protein. Moreover, this phenomenon was reproduced in a C5b-9-attacked HK-2 cell model. Further investigation showed that RNA interference with IP3R not only alleviated C5b-9-induced cytosolic Ca2+ overload and mitochondrial membrane potential loss but also attenuated C5b-9-induced ferroptosis in HK-2 cells. Mechanistically, IP3R-dependent cytosolic Ca2+ overload activated the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, resulting in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and ferroptosis of HK-2 cells. Finally, cyclosporin A, a mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor, not only ameliorated IP3R-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction but also blocked C5b-9-induced ferroptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that IP3R-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in trichloroethylene sensitized renal tubular ferroptosis

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead