Salient Objects in Clutter: Bringing Salient Object Detection to the Foreground

We provide a comprehensive evaluation of salient object detection (SOD) models. Our analysis identifies a serious design bias of existing SOD datasets which assumes that each image contains at least one clearly outstanding salient object in low clutter. The design bias has led to a saturated high performance for state-of-the-art SOD models when evaluated on existing datasets. The models, however, still perform far from being satisfactory when applied to real-world daily scenes. Based on our analyses, we first identify 7 crucial aspects that a comprehensive and balanced dataset should fulfill. Then, we propose a new high quality dataset and update the previous saliency benchmark. Specifically, our SOC (Salient Objects in Clutter) dataset, includes images with salient and non-salient objects from daily object categories. Beyond object category annotations, each salient image is accompanied by attributes that reflect common challenges in real-world scenes. Finally, we report attribute-based performance assessment on our dataset.Comment: ECCV 201

Rapid quantification of semen hepatitis B virus DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction

Aim: To examine the sensitivity and accuracy of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the quantification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in semen. Methods: Hepatitis B viral DNA was isolated from HBV carriers' semen and sera using phenol extraction method and QIAamp DNA blood mini kit (Qiagen, Germany). HBV DNA was detected by conventional PCR and quantified by TaqMan technology-based real-time PCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)). The detection threshold was 200 copies of HBV DNA for conventional PCR and 10 copies of HBV DNA for real time PCR per reaction. Results: Both methods of phenol extraction and QIAamp DNA blood mini kit were suitable for isolating HBV DNA from semen. The value of the detection thresholds was 500 copies of HBV DNA per mL in the semen. The viral loads were 7.5×10 7 and 1.67×10 7 copies of HBV DNA per mL in two HBV infected patients' sera, while 2.14×10 5 and 3.02×10 5 copies of HBV DNA per mL in the semen. Conclusion: Real-time PCR is a more sensitive and accurate method to detect and quantify HBV DNA in the semen. © 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

Analysis of Kif5b Expression during Mouse Kidney Development

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Improved measurement of the reactor antineutrino flux and spectrum at Daya Bay

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Search for a Light Sterile Neutrino at Daya Bay

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Different fatty acid metabolism effects of (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and C75 in adenocarcinoma lung cancer

Background Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is overexpressed and hyperactivated in several human carcinomas, including lung cancer. We characterize and compare the anti-cancer effects of the FASN inhibitors C75 and (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in a lung cancer model. Methods We evaluated in vitro the effects of C75 and EGCG on fatty acid metabolism (FASN and CPT enzymes), cellular proliferation, apoptosis and cell signaling (EGFR, ERK1/2, AKT and mTOR) in human A549 lung carcinoma cells. In vivo, we evaluated their anti-tumour activity and their effect on body weight in a mice model of human adenocarcinoma xenograft. Results C75 and EGCG had comparable effects in blocking FASN activity (96,9% and 89,3% of inhibition, respectively). In contrast, EGCG had either no significant effect in CPT activity, the rate-limiting enzyme of fatty acid β-oxidation, while C75 stimulated CPT up to 130%. Treating lung cancer cells with EGCG or C75 induced apoptosis and affected EGFR-signaling. While EGCG abolished p-EGFR, p-AKT, p-ERK1/2 and p-mTOR, C75 was less active in decreasing the levels of EGFR and p-AKT. In vivo, EGCG and C75 blocked the growth of lung cancer xenografts but C75 treatment, not EGCG, caused a marked animal weight loss. Conclusions In lung cancer, inhibition of FASN using EGCG can be achieved without parallel stimulation of fatty acid oxidation and this effect is related mainly to EGFR signaling pathway. EGCG reduce the growth of adenocarcinoma human lung cancer xenografts without inducing body weight loss. Taken together, EGCG may be a candidate for future pre-clinical development

The muon system of the Daya Bay Reactor antineutrino experiment

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Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy and Complications Between Biportal Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Qianqin Hu,1 Keyi Xiao,2 Jin-Niang Nan,3 Shang-Wun Jhang,4 Chien-Min Chen,4– 6,&ast; Guang-Xun Lin7,&ast; 1First Department of Orthopedics, Jiangxi Province Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 4Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan; 5Department of Leisure Industry Management, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan; 6Department of Biomedical Sciences National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan; 7Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chien-Min Chen, Email [email protected] Guang-Xun Lin, Email [email protected]: To effectuate a comprehensive juxtaposition of the clinical implications, incidence of complications, and successful fusion rates observed in the context of biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (BE-LIF) and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF).Methods: The present research initiative involved an exhaustive exploration of pertinent scholarly literature in renowned databases, which lasted until April 2023. The evaluative framework encompassed a diverse array of parameters, including but not limited to operation time, hospitalization, quantification of estimated blood loss, the assessment of outcomes via the application of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to gauge pain intensity, and the utilization of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to measure functional impairment.Results: The current meta-analysis included ten studies with a total of 736 participants. In comparison of the BE-LIF and MI-TLIF techniques, no substantial differences were observed in the parameters studied, included VAS for leg pain (P > 0.05), as well as the assessment of complication rates (7.76% versus 7.97%; P = 0.71) and fusion rates (89.59% versus 88.60%; P = 0.90). However, the early postoperative VAS for back pain (P < 0.0001) and the early postoperative ODI score (P = 0.007) were significantly lower in the BE-LIF group than in the MI-TLIF group. Additionally, a significant difference in blood loss was observed (P < 0.0001), with less blood loss in the BE-LIF group compared to the MI-TLIF group. Furthermore, the complex surgical procedure of BE-LIF resulted in a longer duration of surgery (P = 0.02) but shorter hospitalization compared with MI-TLIF (P < 0.0001).Conclusion: Within the context of the management of lumbar degenerative diseases, BE-LIF surgery exhibits clinical effectiveness and incidence of complications comparable to MI-TLIF. In contrast to MI-TLIF, BE-LIF offers distinctive merits, including reduced blood loss, abbreviated hospitalization durations, expedited relief from postoperative back pain, and an accelerated trajectory towards functional recuperation.Keywords: BESS, biportal endoscopy, lumbar interbody fusion, lumbar degenerative disease, minimally invasive spine surgery, UB

Measurement of electron antineutrino oscillation based on 1230 days of operation of the Daya Bay experiment

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Improved Search for a Light Sterile Neutrino with the Full Configuration of the Daya Bay Experiment

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