Hierarchy Composition GAN for High-fidelity Image Synthesis

Despite the rapid progress of generative adversarial networks (GANs) in image synthesis in recent years, the existing image synthesis approaches work in either geometry domain or appearance domain alone which often introduces various synthesis artifacts. This paper presents an innovative Hierarchical Composition GAN (HIC-GAN) that incorporates image synthesis in geometry and appearance domains into an end-to-end trainable network and achieves superior synthesis realism in both domains simultaneously. We design an innovative hierarchical composition mechanism that is capable of learning realistic composition geometry and handling occlusions while multiple foreground objects are involved in image composition. In addition, we introduce a novel attention mask mechanism that guides to adapt the appearance of foreground objects which also helps to provide better training reference for learning in geometry domain. Extensive experiments on scene text image synthesis, portrait editing and indoor rendering tasks show that the proposed HIC-GAN achieves superior synthesis performance qualitatively and quantitatively.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

OmniForce: On Human-Centered, Large Model Empowered and Cloud-Edge Collaborative AutoML System

Automated machine learning (AutoML) seeks to build ML models with minimal human effort. While considerable research has been conducted in the area of AutoML in general, aiming to take humans out of the loop when building artificial intelligence (AI) applications, scant literature has focused on how AutoML works well in open-environment scenarios such as the process of training and updating large models, industrial supply chains or the industrial metaverse, where people often face open-loop problems during the search process: they must continuously collect data, update data and models, satisfy the requirements of the development and deployment environment, support massive devices, modify evaluation metrics, etc. Addressing the open-environment issue with pure data-driven approaches requires considerable data, computing resources, and effort from dedicated data engineers, making current AutoML systems and platforms inefficient and computationally intractable. Human-computer interaction is a practical and feasible way to tackle the problem of open-environment AI. In this paper, we introduce OmniForce, a human-centered AutoML (HAML) system that yields both human-assisted ML and ML-assisted human techniques, to put an AutoML system into practice and build adaptive AI in open-environment scenarios. Specifically, we present OmniForce in terms of ML version management; pipeline-driven development and deployment collaborations; a flexible search strategy framework; and widely provisioned and crowdsourced application algorithms, including large models. Furthermore, the (large) models constructed by OmniForce can be automatically turned into remote services in a few minutes; this process is dubbed model as a service (MaaS). Experimental results obtained in multiple search spaces and real-world use cases demonstrate the efficacy and efficiency of OmniForce

Neutrino Physics with JUNO

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20 kton multi-purposeunderground liquid scintillator detector, was proposed with the determinationof the neutrino mass hierarchy as a primary physics goal. It is also capable ofobserving neutrinos from terrestrial and extra-terrestrial sources, includingsupernova burst neutrinos, diffuse supernova neutrino background, geoneutrinos,atmospheric neutrinos, solar neutrinos, as well as exotic searches such asnucleon decays, dark matter, sterile neutrinos, etc. We present the physicsmotivations and the anticipated performance of the JUNO detector for variousproposed measurements. By detecting reactor antineutrinos from two power plantsat 53-km distance, JUNO will determine the neutrino mass hierarchy at a 3-4sigma significance with six years of running. The measurement of antineutrinospectrum will also lead to the precise determination of three out of the sixoscillation parameters to an accuracy of better than 1\%. Neutrino burst from atypical core-collapse supernova at 10 kpc would lead to ~5000inverse-beta-decay events and ~2000 all-flavor neutrino-proton elasticscattering events in JUNO. Detection of DSNB would provide valuable informationon the cosmic star-formation rate and the average core-collapsed neutrinoenergy spectrum. Geo-neutrinos can be detected in JUNO with a rate of ~400events per year, significantly improving the statistics of existing geoneutrinosamples. The JUNO detector is sensitive to several exotic searches, e.g. protondecay via the $p\to K^++\bar\nu$ decay channel. The JUNO detector will providea unique facility to address many outstanding crucial questions in particle andastrophysics. It holds the great potential for further advancing our quest tounderstanding the fundamental properties of neutrinos, one of the buildingblocks of our Universe

Utilization of Visual Cues to Improve Navigation in Metroidvania-style Level Design

This study investigates how visual cues can enhance player navigation in Metroidvania-style level design. This research aims to address the critical need for effective visual cues in improving player navigation within non-linear Metroidvania game levels. By delving into this aspect, we seek to not only enrich the gaming experience for players but also contribute valuable insights to game developers and researchers interested in improving their level design. Using a between-subjects design, we created a non-linear game prototype in Unity, representing the Metroidvania genre, along with three variants incorporating different levels of visual cue markedness, resulting in four versions in total. Data was collected through think-aloud protocols, observations, surveys, cued recall debriefs, and semi-structured interviews to assess participants' responses to the visual cues and their navigation strategies. The results indicate that integrated cues provided the clearest guidance, allowing players to quickly understand their objectives and navigate effectively. Subtle cues preserved the sense of discovery, while emphasized cues effectively highlighted specific items or secrets.

Utilization of Visual Cues to Improve Navigation in Metroidvania-style Level Design

This study investigates how visual cues can enhance player navigation in Metroidvania-style level design. This research aims to address the critical need for effective visual cues in improving player navigation within non-linear Metroidvania game levels. By delving into this aspect, we seek to not only enrich the gaming experience for players but also contribute valuable insights to game developers and researchers interested in improving their level design. Using a between-subjects design, we created a non-linear game prototype in Unity, representing the Metroidvania genre, along with three variants incorporating different levels of visual cue markedness, resulting in four versions in total. Data was collected through think-aloud protocols, observations, surveys, cued recall debriefs, and semi-structured interviews to assess participants' responses to the visual cues and their navigation strategies. The results indicate that integrated cues provided the clearest guidance, allowing players to quickly understand their objectives and navigate effectively. Subtle cues preserved the sense of discovery, while emphasized cues effectively highlighted specific items or secrets.

An Analysis of the Attitude Estimation Errors Caused by the Deflections of Vertical in the Integration of Rotational INS and GNSS

This paper investigates the attitude estimation errors caused by the deflections of vertical (DOV) in the case of a rotational inertial navigation system (INS) integrated with a global satellite navigation system (GNSS). It has been proved theoretically and experimentally that the DOV can introduce a tilt error to the INS/GNSS integration, whereas less attention has been given to its effect to the heading estimation. In fact, due to the intercoupling characteristic of attitude errors, the heading estimation of an INS/GNSS integrated navigation system can also be affected. In this paper, first, the attitude estimation errors caused by DOV were deduced based on the INS’s error propagation functions. Then, the corresponding simulations were conducted and the results were well consistent with the theoretical analysis. Finally, a real shipborne marine test was organized with the aimed to verify the effect of DOV on attitude estimation in the rotational INS/GNSS integration, whereas the global gravity model was used for DOV compensation. The results with DOV compensation were compared with the corresponding results where the compensation was not used and showed that the heading estimation errors caused by DOV could exceed 20 arcsecs, which must be considered in high-precision application cases

Decrease in Cerebral Blood Flow after Reoxygenation Is Associated with Neurological Syndrome Sequelae and Blood Pressure

Changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and regulation of cerebral circulation occur at high altitude (HA). However, the changes in CBF and their associations with neurological syndrome sequelae and blood pressure after subjects return to the lowlands remain unclear. In this study, the subjects were 23 college students who were teaching at an altitude of 4300 m for 30 days. These subjects were studied before reaching the HA (Test 1), one week after returning to the lowlands (Test 2), and three months after returning to the lowlands (Test 3). Symptom scores for de-acclimatization syndrome were evaluated. Changes in CBF were measured using the magnetic resonance imaging arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique. Additionally, the velocity of CBF in the cerebral arteries was measured using a transcranial doppler (TCD). In Test 2 vs. Test 1, the peak systolic velocity and mean velocity in the basilar artery were significantly decreased. CBF exhibited significant decreases in the left putamen/cerebellum crus1/vermis and right thalamus/inferior temporal gyrus, while significant increases were observed in the left postcentral gyrus/precuneus and right middle cingulate gyrus/superior frontal gyrus. In Test 3 vs. Test 1, the basilar artery velocity returned to the baseline level, while CBF continued to decrease. The mean global CBF showed a decreasing trend from Test 1 to Test 3. Furthermore, the mean global CBF had a negative correlation with the systolic pressure, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure. The decrease in CBF after reoxygenation may underlie the neurological symptoms in subjects returning to the lowlands. Increased blood pressure could serve as a predictor of a decrease in CBF

Clinical characteristics of protracted bacterial bronchitis in adults

There are few data regarding adult protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB). This study aimed to delineate the clinical features of PBB and evaluate their potential diagnostic value in adults. We recruited 55 adult patients with PBB and selected randomly 220 patients with non-PBB as control. A diagnosis of PBB was considered if patients had a cough lasting ≥3 weeks, no abnormalities of chest computed tomography, positive bacterial culture in sputum and/or response well to oral moxifloxacin for 1–4 weeks. The clinical manifestations and laboratory investigations were compared between PBB patients and non-PBB patients. Of the 55 patients with PBB, approximately three-fifths (34, 61.8%) were females with a median age of 46.0 years, which were similar to that of patients with non-PBB. We observed a shorter cough duration in PBB than non-PBB (median 3.0 versus 24.0 months, p < 0.001). Compared to non-PBB patients, PBB patients had higher incidences of productive cough, yellow phlegm and a sensation of mucus in the throat (SMIT) (all p < 0.001). Sputum neutrophils and lymphocytes were markedly elevated in PBB patients than non-PBB patients (both p = 0.004). Bacterial pathogens were detected in eight (28.6%) of 28 cases with PBB. The multivariate analyses showed yellow phlegm, productive cough, SMIT, increased sputum lymphocytes (≥2.3%) and cough duration ≤8.5 months with moderate sensitivity (50.9–81.8%) and moderate-high specificity (60.5–94.4%) for determining PBB. In summary, adults with PBB are characterized by productive cough, yellow phlegm, SMIT and neutrophilic airway inflammation. These cough features and increased sputum lymphocytes may be useful to indicate PBB