Condition-Aware Neural Network for Controlled Image Generation

We present Condition-Aware Neural Network (CAN), a new method for adding control to image generative models. In parallel to prior conditional control methods, CAN controls the image generation process by dynamically manipulating the weight of the neural network. This is achieved by introducing a condition-aware weight generation module that generates conditional weight for convolution/linear layers based on the input condition. We test CAN on class-conditional image generation on ImageNet and text-to-image generation on COCO. CAN consistently delivers significant improvements for diffusion transformer models, including DiT and UViT. In particular, CAN combined with EfficientViT (CaT) achieves 2.78 FID on ImageNet 512x512, surpassing DiT-XL/2 while requiring 52x fewer MACs per sampling step.Comment: CVPR 202

Recombinant high-density lipoprotein complex as a targeting system of nosiheptide to liver cells

Nosiheptide is a lipophilic peptide of significant anti-hepatitis B virus (anti-HBV) activity in cell culture, but has poor distribution to liver in vivo. In this study, recombinant high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) complexes of nosiheptide were constructed to target this anti-HBV agent to hepatocytes. The optimized rHDL-nosiheptide complex had a high drug-loading efficiency (\u3e80%) and a diameter smaller than 30 nm. The concentration of nosiheptide in an optimized rHDL-nosiheptide complex to achieve 50% virus inhibition (IC50) in HepG2 2.2.15 cells was 0.63 μg/ml, which was 40 times lower than the IC50 of nosiheptide in control liposome (2.5 μg/ml) and 200 times lower than the IC50 of the free nosiheptide (12.5 μg/ml). The complex targeted most of the administered nosiheptide to the liver within 30 min after i.v. injection to male Wistar rats. Together, this report provides early evidence that it is feasible to develop efficient, HDL-based drug delivery systems against HBV, utilizing apolipoprotein A-I as the targeting moiet

Ultrafast Broadband Photodetectors Based on Three-Dimensional Dirac Semimetal Cd₃As₂

Photodetection with extreme performances in terms of ultrafast response time, broad detection wavelength range, and high sensitivity has a wide range of optoelectronic and photonic applications, such as optical communications, interconnects, imaging, and remote sensing. Graphene, a typical two-dimensional Dirac semimetal, has shown excellent potential toward a high-performance photodetector with high operation speed, broadband response, and efficient carrier multiplications benefiting from its linear dispersion band structure with a high carrier mobility and zero bandgap. As the three-dimensional analogues of graphene, Dirac semimetal Cd₃As₂ processes all advantages of graphene as a photosensitive material but potentially has stronger interaction with light as a bulk material and thus enhanced responsivity. In this work, we report the realization of an ultrafast broadband photodetector based on Cd₃As₂. The prototype metal–Cd₃As₂–metal photodetector exhibits a responsivity of 5.9 mA/W with a response time of about 6.9 ps without any special device optimization. Broadband responses from 532 nm to 10.6 μm are achieved with a potential detection range extendable to far-infrared and terahertz. Systematical studies indicate that the photothermoelectric effect plays an important role in photocurrent generation. Our results suggest this emerging class of exotic quantum materials can be harnessed for photodetection with a high sensitivity and high speed (∼145 GHz) over a broad wavelength range

Whole-Genome Sequence of Synthesized Allopolyploids in Cucumis Reveals Insights into the Genome Evolution of Allopolyploidization

The importance of allopolyploidy in plant evolution has been widely recognized. The genetic changes triggered by allopolyploidy, however, are not yet fully understood due to inconsistent phenomena reported across diverse species. The construction of synthetic polyploids offers a controlled approach to systematically reveal genomic changes that occur during the process of polyploidy. This study reports the first fully sequenced synthetic allopolyploid constructed from a cross between Cucumis sativus and C. hystrix, with high-quality assembly. The two subgenomes are confidently partitioned and the C. sativus-originated subgenome predominates over the C. hystrix-originated subgenome, retaining more sequences and showing higher homeologous gene expression. Most of the genomic changes emerge immediately after interspecific hybridization. Analysis of a series of genome sequences from several generations (S0, S4–S13) of C. ×hytivus confirms that genomic changes occurred in the very first generations, subsequently slowing down as the process of diploidization is initiated. The duplicated genome of the allopolyploid with double genes from both parents broadens the genetic base of C. ×hytivus, resulting in enhanced phenotypic plasticity. This study provides novel insights into plant polyploid genome evolution and demonstrates a promising strategy for the development of a wide array of novel plant species and varieties through artificial polyploidization.</p