Few-shot Image Generation via Information Transfer from the Built Geodesic Surface

Images generated by most of generative models trained with limited data often exhibit deficiencies in either fidelity, diversity, or both. One effective solution to address the limitation is few-shot generative model adaption. However, the type of approaches typically rely on a large-scale pre-trained model, serving as a source domain, to facilitate information transfer to the target domain. In this paper, we propose a method called Information Transfer from the Built Geodesic Surface (ITBGS), which contains two module: Feature Augmentation on Geodesic Surface (FAGS); Interpolation and Regularization (I\&R). With the FAGS module, a pseudo-source domain is created by projecting image features from the training dataset into the Pre-Shape Space, subsequently generating new features on the Geodesic surface. Thus, no pre-trained models is needed for the adaption process during the training of generative models with FAGS. I\&R module are introduced for supervising the interpolated images and regularizing their relative distances, respectively, to further enhance the quality of generated images. Through qualitative and quantitative experiments, we demonstrate that the proposed method consistently achieves optimal or comparable results across a diverse range of semantically distinct datasets, even in extremely few-shot scenarios

Spatial Propagation in Nonlocal Dispersal Fisher-KPP Equations

In this paper we focus on three problems about the spreading speeds of nonlocal dispersal Fisher-KPP equations. First, we study the signs of spreading speeds and find that they are determined by the asymmetry level of the nonlocal dispersal and $f'(0)$, where $f$ is the reaction function. This indicates that asymmetric dispersal can influence the spatial dynamics in three aspects: it can determine the spatial propagation directions of solutions, influence the stability of equilibrium states, and affect the monotone property of solutions. Second, we give an improved proof of the spreading speed result by constructing new lower solutions and using the new "forward-backward spreading" method. Third, we establish the relationship between spreading speed and exponentially decaying initial data. Our result demonstrates that when dispersal is symmetric, spreading speed decreases along with the increase of the exponentially decaying rate. In addition, the results on the signs of spreading speeds are applied to two special cases where we present more details of the influence of asymmetric dispersal

Spatial Propagation in an Epidemic Model with Nonlocal Diffusion: the Influences of Initial Data and Dispersals

This paper studies an epidemic model with nonlocal dispersals. We focus on the influences of initial data and nonlocal dispersals on its spatial propagation. Here the initial data stand for the spatial concentrations of infectious agent and infectious human population when the epidemic breaks out and the nonlocal dispersals mean their diffusion strategies. Two types of initial data decaying to zero exponentially or faster are considered. For the first type, we show that the spreading speeds are two constants whose signs change with the number of elements in some set. Moreover, we find an interesting phenomenon: the asymmetry of nonlocal dispersals can influence the propagating directions of solutions and the stability of steady states. For the second type, we show that the spreading speed is decreasing with respect to the exponentially decaying rate of initial data, and further, its minimum value coincides with the spreading speed for the first type. In addition, we give some results about the nonexistence of traveling wave solutions and the monotone property of solutions. Finally, some applications are presented to illustrate the theoretical results

Identification of a novel conserved HLA-A*0201-restricted epitope from the spike protein of SARS-CoV

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The spike (S) protein is a major structural glycoprotein of coronavirus (CoV), the causal agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The S protein is a potent target for SARS-specific cell-mediated immune responses. However, the mechanism CoV pathogenesis in SARS and the role of special CTLs in virus clearance are still largely uncharacterized. Here, we describe a study that leads to the identification of a novel HLA-A*0201-restricted epitope from conserved regions of S protein.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>First, different SARS-CoV sequences were analyzed to predict eight candidate peptides from conserved regions of the S protein based upon HLA-A*0201 binding and proteosomal cleavage. Four of eight candidate peptides were tested by HLA-A*0201 binding assays. Among the four candidate peptides, Sp8 (S_958-966, VLNDILSRL) induced specific CTLs both <it>ex vivo </it>in PBLs of healthy HLA-A2⁺donors and in HLA-A2.1/K^btransgenic mice immunized with a plasmid encoding full-length S protein. The immunized mice released IFN-γ and lysed target cells upon stimulation with Sp8 peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cells in comparison to other candidates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that Sp8 is a naturally processed epitope. We propose that Sp8 epitope should help in the characterization of mechanisms of virus control and immunopathology in SARS-CoV infection.</p

Polymer Photoelectrodes for Solar Fuel Production: Progress and Challenges

Converting solar energy to fuels has attracted substantial interest over the past decades because it has the potential to sustainably meet the increasing global energy demand. However, achieving this potential requires significant technological advances. Polymer photoelectrodes are composed of earth-abundant elements, e.g. carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, which promise to be more economically sustainable than their inorganic counterparts. Furthermore, the electronic structure of polymer photoelectrodes can be more easily tuned to fit the solar spectrum than inorganic counterparts, promising a feasible practical application. As a fast-moving area, in particular, over the past ten years, we have witnessed an explosion of reports on polymer materials, including photoelectrodes, cocatalysts, device architectures, and fundamental understanding experimentally and theoretically, all of which have been detailed in this review. Furthermore, the prospects of this field are discussed to highlight the future development of polymer photoelectrodes

Combination of Electroacupuncture and Grafted Mesenchymal Stem Cells Overexpressing TrkC Improves Remyelination and Function in Demyelinated Spinal Cord of Rats

10.1038/srep09133Scientific Reports