All in One: RGB, RGB-D, and RGB-T Salient Object Detection

Salient object detection (SOD) aims to identify the most attractive objects within an image. Depending on the type of data being detected, SOD can be categorized into various forms, including RGB, RGB-D (Depth), RGB-T (Thermal) and light field SOD. Previous researches have focused on saliency detection with individual data type. If the RGB-D SOD model is forced to detect RGB-T data it will perform poorly. We propose an innovative model framework that provides a unified solution for the salient object detection task of three types of data (RGB, RGB-D, and RGB-T). The three types of data can be handled in one model (all in one) with the same weight parameters. In this framework, the three types of data are concatenated in an ordered manner within a single input batch, and features are extracted using a transformer network. Based on this framework, we propose an efficient lightweight SOD model, namely AiOSOD, which can detect any RGB, RGB-D, and RGB-T data with high speed (780FPS for RGB data, 485FPS for RGB-D or RGB-T data). Notably, with only 6.25M parameters, AiOSOD achieves excellent performance on RGB, RGB-D, and RGB-T datasets

Dynamic response and limit analysis of buried high-pressure gas pipeline under blasting load based on the Hamilton principle

For non-conservative systems consisting of elastic-plastic material, dissipative damping of a system in a dynamic environment involves two parts: (1) the dissipative energy related to the velocity of the mass point and (2) the dissipative energy associated with the strain rate. In this paper, the dynamic response of buried high-pressure gas pipeline under blasting load is studied, where, dissipation of energy is explicitly considered. The dissipative work was introduced into the Lagrange function. According to the Hamilton principle and finite element theory, a non-conservative explosion model composed of elastic and plastic materials was established to identify the dynamic response and the propagation characteristics of a detonation wave in the earth medium, where the explosion cavity with a triangle pressure time history on internal wall was used to describe the explosive stress from blasting buried gas pipeline. In the scheme of modeling, 15 cases of different explosive payloads, different distances from the explosion center and different wall thicknesses of the pipe were regarded as the generalized load were carried out. Then the specific dynamic responses of pipeline under blasting load were shown in the post processing, as well as the relationship between peak particle vibration velocity and explosion distance and payload. Using three types of limit analysis methods, the critical explosive loading, critical blasting center distance and critical wall thickness of a buried high-pressure gas pipeline under blasting loading were determined. The computational method and results in this paper could be referenced for security operation of a buried pipeline and blasting construction scheme

Fuzzy-Bayesian-network-based Safety Risk Analysis in Railway Passenger Transport

This study presents a fuzzy Bayesian network (FBN) method to analyze the influence on the safety risk of railway passenger transport applying different risk control strategies. Based on the fuzzy probability of the basic event determined by the expert group decision method, the proposed FBN method can reasonably predict the probability of railway passenger safety risk. It is also proven that control the risk in the safety management of railway passenger transport will be the most effective way to reduce the risk probability of the railway passenger transport safety

Integrating omics reveals that miRNA-guided genetic regulation on plant hormone level and defense response pathways shape resistance to Cladosporium fulvum in the tomato Cf-10-gene-carrying line

Invasion of C. fulvum causes the most serious diseases affecting the reproduction of tomatoes. Cf-10-gene-carrying line showed remarkable resistance to Cladosporium fulvum. To exploit its defense response mechanism, we performed a multiple-omics profiling of Cf-10-gene-carrying line and a susceptible line without carrying any resistance genes at non-inoculation and 3 days post-inoculation (dpi) of C. fulvum. We detected 54 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) between the non-inoculation and 3 dpi in the Cf-10-gene-carrying line, which potentially regulated plant-pathogen interaction pathways and hormone signaling pathways. We also revealed 3,016 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the non-inoculated and 3 dpi in the Cf-10-gene-carrying line whose functions enriched in pathways that were potentially regulated by the DE-miRNAs. Integrating DE-miRNAs, gene expression and plant-hormone metabolites indicated a regulation network where the downregulation of miRNAs at 3 dpi activated crucial resistance genes to trigger host hypersensitive cell death, improved hormone levels and upregulated the receptors/critical responsive transcription factors (TFs) of plant hormones, to shape immunity to the pathogen. Notably, our transcriptome, miRNA and hormone metabolites profiling and qPCR analysis suggested that that the downregulation of miR9472 potentially upregulated the expression of SAR Deficient 1 (SARD1), a key regulator for ICS1 (Isochorismate Synthase 1) induction and salicylic acid (SA) synthesis, to improve the level of SA in the Cf-10-gene-carrying line. Our results exploited potential regulatory network and new pathways underlying the resistance to C. fulvum in Cf-10-gene-carrying line, providing a more comprehensive genetic circuit and valuable gene targets for modulating resistance to the virus

Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Knock-out Rabbit Model for Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1.

Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1) is a severe human autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydroxylase (FAH), an enzyme catalyzing the last step in the tyrosine degradation pathway. Lack of FAH causes accumulation of toxic metabolites (fumarylacetoacetate and succinylacetone) in blood and tissues, ultimately resulting in severe liver and kidney damage with onset that ranges from infancy to adolescence. This tissue damage is lethal but can be controlled by administration of 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC), which inhibits tyrosine catabolism upstream of the generation of fumarylacetoacetate and succinylacetone. Notably, in animals lacking FAH, transient withdrawal of NTBC can be used to induce liver damage and a concomitant regenerative response that stimulates the growth of healthy hepatocytes. Among other things, this model has raised tremendous interest for the in vivo expansion of human primary hepatocytes inside these animals and for exploring experimental gene therapy and cell-based therapies. Here, we report the generation of FAH knock-out rabbits via pronuclear stage embryo microinjection of transcription activator-like effector nucleases. FAH-/- rabbits exhibit phenotypic features of HT1 including liver and kidney abnormalities but additionally develop frequent ocular manifestations likely caused by local accumulation of tyrosine upon NTBC administration. We also show that allogeneic transplantation of wild-type rabbit primary hepatocytes into FAH-/- rabbits enables highly efficient liver repopulation and prevents liver insufficiency and death. Because of significant advantages over rodents and their ease of breeding, maintenance, and manipulation compared with larger animals including pigs, FAH-/- rabbits are an attractive alternative for modeling the consequences of HT1.Wellcome Trus

Destruction of lindane and atrazine using stabilized iron nanoparticles under aerobic and anaerobic conditions: Effects of catalyst and stabilizer

Highly stable Fe–Pd bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared with 0.2% (w/w) of sodium carboxylmethylcellulose (CMC) as a stabilizer. The effectiveness of the stabilized Fe–Pd nanoparticles was studied for degradation of two chlorinated pesticides (lindane and atrazine) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Batch kinetic tests showed that under anaerobic condition the nanoparticles can serve as strong electron donors and completely reduce 1 mg l −1 of lindane at an iron dose of 0.5 g l −1 or 1 mg l −1 of atrazine with 0.05 g l −1 iron with a trace amount (0.05–0.8% of Fe) of Pd as a catalyst. In contrast, under aerobic condition, the nanoparticles can facilitate Fenton-like reactions, which lead to oxidation of 65% of lindane under otherwise identical conditions. Under aerobic condition, the presence of CMC reduced the level of hydroxyl radicals generated from the nanoparticels by nearly 50%, and thus, inhibited the oxidation of the contaminants. While the particle stabilization greatly enhanced the anaerobic degradation, it did not appear to be beneficial under aerobic condition. The degradation rate was progressively enhanced as the Pd content increased from 0.05% to 0.8% of Fe, and the catalytic effect of Pd was more significant under anaerobic condition. Under anaerobic condition, lindane is degraded via dihaloelimination and dehydrohalogenation, whereas atrazine is by reductive dechlorination followed by subsequent reductive dealkylation. Under aerobic condition, reactive oxygen species and hydroxyl radicals from the iron nanoparticles are responsible for oxidizing the pesticides. Lindane is oxidized via dechlorination/dehydrohalogenation, whereas atrazine is destroyed through dealkylation of the alkylamino side chain

Impact of an Extreme Winter Storm Event on the Coagulation/Flocculation Processes in a Prototype Surface Water Treatment Plant: Causes and Mitigating Measures

Climate change has often caused failure in water treatment operations. In this study, we report a real case study at a major surface water treatment plant in Alabama, USA. Following a severe winter storm, the effluent water turbidity surged to >15.00 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), far exceeding the 0.30 NTU standard. As a result, the plant operation had to be shut down for three days, causing millions of dollars of losses and affecting tens of thousands of people. Systematic jar tests were carried out with sediment samples from 22 upstream locations. The coagulation and settleability of sediment particles were tested under simulated storm weather conditions, i.e., low temperature (7 °C) and in the presence of various types and concentrations of natural organic matter (NOM) that was extracted from the local sediments. Experimental results proved that elevated NOM (6.14 mg·L−1 as Total Organic Carbon, TOC) in raw water was the root cause for the failure of the plant while the low temperature played a minor but significant role. Pre-oxidation with permanganate and/or elevated coagulant dosage were found effective to remove TOC in raw water and to prevent similar treatment failure. Moreover, we recommend that chemical dosages should be adjusted based on the TOC level in raw water, and a reference dosage of 0.29 kg-NaMnO4/kg-TOC and 19 kg- polyaluminum chloride (PACl) /kg-TOC would be appropriate to cope with future storm water impacts. To facilitate timely adjustment of the chemical dosages, the real time key water quality parameters should be monitored, such as turbidity, TOC, Ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, pH, and color. The findings can guide other treatment operators to deal with shock changes in the raw water quality resulting from severe weather or other operating conditions