Learn to Propagate Reliably on Noisy Affinity Graphs

Recent works have shown that exploiting unlabeled data through label propagation can substantially reduce the labeling cost, which has been a critical issue in developing visual recognition models. Yet, how to propagate labels reliably, especially on a dataset with unknown outliers, remains an open question. Conventional methods such as linear diffusion lack the capability of handling complex graph structures and may perform poorly when the seeds are sparse. Latest methods based on graph neural networks would face difficulties on performance drop as they scale out to noisy graphs. To overcome these difficulties, we propose a new framework that allows labels to be propagated reliably on large-scale real-world data. This framework incorporates (1) a local graph neural network to predict accurately on varying local structures while maintaining high scalability, and (2) a confidence-based path scheduler that identifies outliers and moves forward the propagation frontier in a prudent way. Experiments on both ImageNet and Ms-Celeb-1M show that our confidence guided framework can significantly improve the overall accuracies of the propagated labels, especially when the graph is very noisy.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, ECCV 202

A Part-Metric-Related Inequality Chain and Application to the Stability Analysis of Difference Equation

We find a new part-metric-related inequality of the form min{ai,1/ai:1≤i≤5}≤((1+w)a1a2a3+a4+a5)/(a1a2+a1a3+a2a3+wa4a5)≤max{ai,1/ai:1≤i≤5}, where 1≤w≤2. We then apply this result to show that c^=1 is a globally asymptotically stable equilibrium of the rational difference equation xn=(xn−1+xn−2+(1+w)xn−3xn−4xn−5)/(wxn−1xn−2+xn−3xn−4+xn−3xn−5+xn−4xn−5), n=1,2,…,a0,a−1,a−2,a−3,a−4>0

The Studies in Constructing Yeast Cell Factories for the Production of Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters

Fatty acid alkyl esters have broad applications in biofuels, lubricant formulas, paints, coatings, and cosmetics. Traditionally, these esters are mostly produced through unsustainable and energy-intensive processes. In contrast, microbial production of esters from renewable and sustainable feedstocks may provide a promising alternative and has attracted widespread attention in recent years. At present, yeasts are used as ideal hosts for producing such esters, due to their availability for high-density fermentation, resistance to phage infection, and tolerance against toxic inhibitors. Here, we summarize recent development on the biosynthesis of alkyl esters, including fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), fatty acid short-branched chain alkyl esters (FASBEs), and wax esters (WEs) by various yeast cell factories. We focus mainly on the enzyme engineering strategies of critical wax ester synthases, and the pathway engineering strategies employed for the biosynthesis of various ester products. The bottlenecks that limit productivity and their potential solutions are also discussed in this review.</jats:p

The disulphide cleavage derivative (C42-4) of 11′-deoxyverticillin A (C42) fails to induce apoptosis and genomic instability in HeLa cells

ABSTRACTOur previous study revealed 11’-deoxyverticillin A (C42), a natural product isolated from the Ophiocordyceps-associated fungus Clonostachys rogersoniana and a member of the epipolythiodioxopiperazines (ETPs), induced both apoptosis and autophagy in HCT116 cells; however, the role of disulphide/polysulphide bridges of C42 in the regulation of autophagy remains unexplored. Here, we revealed that C42 activated both caspase-dependent apoptosis and autophagy in HeLa cells, whereas its disulphide cleavage derivative C42-4 failed to induce the cleavage of both caspase-3 and PARP-1. In contrast, both C42 and C42-4 increased the formation of autophagosomes, punctate staining of LC3, and the ratio of LC3-II to actin, suggesting that disulphide/polysulphide bridges are dispensable for the induction of the autophagic process. Moreover, we found that C42 but not C42-4 led to nuclear instability by increasing the formation of micronuclei and expression of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), a widely used marker for DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), while Rad51, a protein pivotal for DNA repair, was decreased upon challenge with C42. These results demonstrate that the disulphide bonds in ETPs play an essential role in the induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis and nuclear stability

Changes in visitor behaviour in Canadian National Parks due to COVID-19: focusing on visitor spatial location and the distance between park facilities and visitors

COVID-19 has significantly altered visitor behaviour in Canadian National Parks (NPs), which are largely composed of forested landscapes that support vital human–nature interactions. To investigate these changes, this study selected six NPs and examined shifts in spatial visitation patterns and their relationship with proximity to park facilities before and during the pandemic. Based on 48,041 geotagged Flickr photos from 2018 to 2023, we employed the Seasonal Concentration Index (SCI), Geographic Concentration Index (GCI), Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), and the Optimal Parameter-based Geographic Detector (OPGD). Temporally, all six NPs experienced a pronounced drop in visitor numbers in 2020–2021, with only partial recovery by 2023. Spatially, visitor distribution remained highly uneven, with hotspots clustered around Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise. However, a gradual dispersion of visitor flow toward less-developed and lower-density areas was observed in recent years. Importantly, COVID-19 shifted visitors’ spatial preferences: proximity to natural features such as rivers became more influential than the traditional pull of accommodations and services. These findings suggest a pandemic-induced reconfiguration of tourism behaviour, favouring more dispersed and nature-oriented experiences, though not necessarily closer to forest interiors. The study underscores the need for adaptive tourism planning that aligns with changing recreational demands and the ecological character of NPs

Activity Enhancement Study of Xinjiang Silica-Alumina Volcanic Rock Powder through Different Activation Processes

In response to the dilemma of the scarcity of mineral additions and the high cost of long-distance transport in Hotan, Xinjiang, China, this paper presented an activation process study on the feasibility of volcanic rock powders unique to this region as mineral additions. This study explored the activity-enhancing effects of volcanic rock powder via three methods: physical activation process, chemical activation process, and thermal activation process. The results showed that physical grinding improved the particle size distribution and enhanced the ‘microaggregate’ effect. For every 80 m2/kg increase in specific surface area, the particle size decreased by approximately 0.7 μm, and the 28-day activity index increased by up to 4%. In the chemical activation process, the optimal combination scheme of 6% CaO, 2% CaCO3, and 2% CaSO4·2H2O increased the 28-day strength of volcanic rock powder mortar specimens by approximately 20%, achieving an activity index of 82%. Thermal activation studies showed that the low-temperature heat treatment interval of 300 °C to 700 °C increased the 28 d activity index of volcanic rock powders by 12 to 22 percent. However, when the temperature reached the high-temperature interval of 800 °C to 1400 °C, it, rather, inhibited the activity enhancement. A combination of the three activation methods (physical milling with a specific surface area of 560 m2/kg after heat treatment at 600 °C, chemical activation with 6% CaO, 2% CaCO3, and 2% CaSO4·2H2O) resulted in an activity of up to 86% for the volcanic rock powder. The activity enhancement by different activation methods provided a theoretical basis and practical reference for the application of volcanic rock powder as a mineral additions in Hotan, Xinjiang

Performance Monitoring Method of Air-conditioning System based on Limited Measuring Points

The application of intelligent control technologies and internet technologies to room air conditioning systems is based on the performance monitoring of air-conditioning systems. In the study, the method of real-time monitoring of the performance of room air-conditioning system was proposed. First, temperature measuring points were arranged in the air conditioner, and the temperature and circuit data were transformed into refrigerant state parameters. Subsequently, the mass flow rate of refrigerant was calculated via a semi-empirical compressor model, and the heat exchange of the indoor unit was calculated via the enthalpy difference. Finally, the power was calculated by using circuit data. Thus, the mass flow rate, capacity, power, and energy efficiency were monitored. The test results indicate that the average deviation of the calculated performance obtained by the method in the study is less than 15%. The deviation is mainly attributed to the calculation of evaporating pressure that significantly influences the calculation of the mass flow rate