Audio-Visual Segmentation

We propose to explore a new problem called audio-visual segmentation (AVS), in which the goal is to output a pixel-level map of the object(s) that produce sound at the time of the image frame. To facilitate this research, we construct the first audio-visual segmentation benchmark (AVSBench), providing pixel-wise annotations for the sounding objects in audible videos. Two settings are studied with this benchmark: 1) semi-supervised audio-visual segmentation with a single sound source and 2) fully-supervised audio-visual segmentation with multiple sound sources. To deal with the AVS problem, we propose a novel method that uses a temporal pixel-wise audio-visual interaction module to inject audio semantics as guidance for the visual segmentation process. We also design a regularization loss to encourage the audio-visual mapping during training. Quantitative and qualitative experiments on the AVSBench compare our approach to several existing methods from related tasks, demonstrating that the proposed method is promising for building a bridge between the audio and pixel-wise visual semantics. Code is available at https://github.com/OpenNLPLab/AVSBench.Comment: ECCV 2022; Correct the equation (3) and update the notation of the evaluation metrics in the last arxiv version; Code is available at https://github.com/OpenNLPLab/AVSBenc

Enhanced reversible lithium storage in germanium nano-island coated 3D hexagonal bottle-like Si nanorod arrays

MOST of China [2009CB930704]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [61106118]; Science and Technology Project of Fujian Province of China [2013H0046]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China [2011J01362]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2011121026]The rapid development of numerous microscale electronic devices, such as smart dust, micro or nano bio-sensors, medical implants and so on, has induced an urgent demand for integratable micro or nano battery supplies with high energy and power densities. In this work, 3D hexagonal bottle-like Si/Ge composite nanorod (NR) array electrodes with good uniformity and mechanical stability potentially used in micro or nano rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs) were fabricated on Si substrates by a cost-effective, wafer scale and Si-compatible process. The optimized Ge nano-islands coated Si NR composite arrays as anode materials exhibit superior areal capacities and cycling performances by virtue of their favourable structural and improved conductivity features. The unique Si-based composite electrode in nanostructures can be technically and fundamentally employed to configurate all-solid-state Li-ion micro-batteries as on-chip power systems integrated into micro-electronic devices such as M/NEMS devices or autonomous wireless microsystems

Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of New Fungicides on Rice Blast

[Objectives] The paper was to identify the characteristics and the potency of new fungicides to rice blast disease, and study their preventive and therapeutic effects on the disease. [Methods] Six new and conventional fungicides with different mechanisms of action were selected to compare their preventive and therapeutic effects on rice seedling blast in greenhouse. [Results] The agents which showed to be highly efficacious in blast prevention (greater than 90%) were 25% pyraclostrobin EC, 20% fenoxanil SC, 75% tricyclazole WP and 50% prochloraz-manganese WP sprayed at the dosages of 112.5-150, 180-360, 270-450 and 450-600 g/ha, respectively. The therapeutic effect of new fungicides 25% pyraclostrobin EC and 50% prochloraz-manganese WP on rice blast were above 90% when the dosages were 90-150 and 360-600 g/ha, respectively. The therapeutic effect of the conventional fungicide 40% isoprothiolane EC on rice blast was 69.04% when the dosage was 480 g/ha, while those of other fungicides were worse. [Conclusions] Both 25% pyraclostrobin EC and 50% prochloraz-manganese WP have good preventive and therapeutic effects on rice blast, which will provide a reference for the use of these fungicides in the field

Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of New Fungicides on Rice Blast

[Objectives] The paper was to identify the characteristics and the potency of new fungicides to rice blast disease, and study their preventive and therapeutic effects on the disease. [Methods] Six new and conventional fungicides with different mechanisms of action were selected to compare their preventive and therapeutic effects on rice seedling blast in greenhouse. [Results] The agents which showed to be highly efficacious in blast prevention (greater than 90%) were 25% pyraclostrobin EC, 20% fenoxanil SC, 75% tricyclazole WP and 50% prochloraz-manganese WP sprayed at the dosages of 112.5-150, 180-360, 270-450 and 450-600 g/ha, respectively. The therapeutic effect of new fungicides 25% pyraclostrobin EC and 50% prochloraz-manganese WP on rice blast were above 90% when the dosages were 90-150 and 360-600 g/ha, respectively. The therapeutic effect of the conventional fungicide 40% isoprothiolane EC on rice blast was 69.04% when the dosage was 480 g/ha, while those of other fungicides were worse. [Conclusions] Both 25% pyraclostrobin EC and 50% prochloraz-manganese WP have good preventive and therapeutic effects on rice blast, which will provide a reference for the use of these fungicides in the field

Advances in Integrated Prevention and Control Techniques of Rice Blast

Rice blast is the most devastating rice disease, which seriously threatens the safety of rice production. Improving the ability of integrated prevention and control of rice blast has always been an important part of ensuring the safety of food production. In the past 10 years, scientists at home and abroad have made great progress in the prevention and control techniques of rice blast, paving the way for the green and safe prevention and control technology of rice diseases. This article reviews the research progress of intelligentization of rice blast field monitoring technology, optimization of predictive and forecast data modeling system, research and development of low-toxic and high-efficiency chemical pesticides, biogenic pesticides and inducers, and regulation of multiple ecological factors of varieties and cultivation, summarizes new strategies for green prevention and control of rice blast based on these techniques, discusses the problems of high pesticide prices and pesticide residues in the prevention and control of rice blast, and looks forward to the development direction of green prevention and control technology based on molecular targets, small interfering RNA (siRNA), CRISPR/Cas9 and multiple factors

Analysis of influencing factors on sub-synchronous oscillation of wind-thermal-bundled system sent out via AC/DC transmission system

Sub-synchronous oscillation may occur when the wind-thermal-bundled system sent out via AC/DC transmission (WTBH) is integrated in power grid. Causing large-scale wind-turbine tripping, even lead the system to collapse. First, in this study the mechanism of sub-synchronous oscillation of this system is analysed. Second, the influencing factors such as the ratio of the wind-thermal-bundled installed capacity, the series compensation parameters of AC transmission line, the different operating conditions of wind power etc., are analysed, which can cause different degree impact on the sub-synchronous oscillation. Finally, the system is simulated under the Power Systems Computer Aided Design (PSCAD) environment. The results show that under the same conditions, the higher series compensation, the greater transmission capacity of the AC line, the greater risk of the sub-synchronous oscillation. Under the condition of full load, the greater proportion of installed capacity of Doubly fed Induction Generator (DFIG) is, the less risk of sub-synchronous oscillation; Under the lower wind speed condition, reducing the number of wind turbine can eliminate the risk of sub-synchronous oscillation, and the oscillation frequency vary with the number of wind turbine

Polypyrrole-Modified Nanocellulose Exhibits Superior Performance for Hg(II) Adsorption

Cellulose, a kind of polymer containing abundant functional groups, has widespread use in the adsorptive removal of environmental pollutants. An efficient and environmental friendly polypyrrole (PPy) coating approach is employed to modify the agricultural by-product straw derived cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) into excellent property adsorbents for removing the heavy metal ion of Hg(II). The FT-IR and SEM-EDS results demonstrated that PPy is formed on the surface of CNC. Consequently, the adsorption measurements proved that the obtained PPy-modified CNC (CNC@PPy) possesses a remarkably enhanced Hg(II) adsorption capacity of 1095 mg g−1, owing to a plentiful functional group of doped Cl element on the surface of CNC@PPy by forming Hg2Cl2 precipitate. The results of the study suggest that the Freundlich model is more effective than the Langmuir model at describing the isotherms, while the pseudo-second order kinetic model is better suited to correlating with the experimental data compared to the pseudo-first order model. Further, the CNC@PPy exhibits an outstanding reusability, capable of maintaining 82.3% of its original Hg(II) adsorption capacity after five successive adsorption cycles. The findings of this work reveal a method to convert the agricultural by-product into high performance environmental remediation materials

Tacrolimus-Based versus Cyclosporine-Based Immunosuppression in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Patients after Liver Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

<div><p>Background</p><p>Most liver transplant recipients receive calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), especially tacrolimus and cyclosporine, as immunosuppressant agents to prevent rejection. A controversy exists as to whether the outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected liver transplant patients differ based on the CNIs used. This meta-analysis compares the clinical outcomes of tacrolimus-based and cyclosporine-based immunosuppression, especially cases of HCV recurrence in liver transplant patients with end-stage liver disease caused by HCV infection.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Related articles were identified from the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase. Meta-analyses were performed for the results of homogeneous studies.</p><p>Results</p><p>Nine randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials were included. The total effect size of mortality (RR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.77–1.25, <i>P</i> = 0.87) and graft loss (RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.83–1.33, <i>P</i> = 0.67) showed no significant difference between the two groups irrespective of duration of immunosuppressant therapy after liver transplantation. In addition, the HCV recurrence-induced mortality (RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.66–1.89, <i>P</i> = 0.69), graft loss (RR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.64–4.07, <i>P</i>  = 0.31) and retransplantation (RR = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.48–4.09, <i>P</i> = 0.54), as well as available biopsies, confirmed that histological HCV recurrences (RR =  0.92, 95% CI: 0.71–1.19, <i>P</i> = 0.51) were similar.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>These results suggested no difference in posttransplant HCV recurrence-induced mortality, graft loss and retransplantation, as well as histological HCV recurrence in patients treated with tacrolimus-based and cyclosporine-based immunosuppresion.</p></div