45 research outputs found

    Does My Dog ''Speak'' Like Me? The Acoustic Correlation between Pet Dogs and Their Human Owners

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    How hosts language influence their pets' vocalization is an interesting yet underexplored problem. This paper presents a preliminary investigation into the possible correlation between domestic dog vocal expressions and their human host's language environment. We first present a new dataset of Shiba Inu dog vocals from YouTube, which provides 7500 clean sound clips, including their contextual information of these vocals and their owner's speech clips with a carefully-designed data processing pipeline. The contextual information includes the scene category in which the vocal was recorded, the dog's location and activity. With a classification task and prominent factor analysis, we discover significant acoustic differences in the dog vocals from the two language environments. We further identify some acoustic features from dog vocalizations that are potentially correlated to their host language patterns

    Adaptive Discovering and Merging for Incremental Novel Class Discovery

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    One important desideratum of lifelong learning aims to discover novel classes from unlabelled data in a continuous manner. The central challenge is twofold: discovering and learning novel classes while mitigating the issue of catastrophic forgetting of established knowledge. To this end, we introduce a new paradigm called Adaptive Discovering and Merging (ADM) to discover novel categories adaptively in the incremental stage and integrate novel knowledge into the model without affecting the original knowledge. To discover novel classes adaptively, we decouple representation learning and novel class discovery, and use Triple Comparison (TC) and Probability Regularization (PR) to constrain the probability discrepancy and diversity for adaptive category assignment. To merge the learned novel knowledge adaptively, we propose a hybrid structure with base and novel branches named Adaptive Model Merging (AMM), which reduces the interference of the novel branch on the old classes to preserve the previous knowledge, and merges the novel branch to the base model without performance loss and parameter growth. Extensive experiments on several datasets show that ADM significantly outperforms existing class-incremental Novel Class Discovery (class-iNCD) approaches. Moreover, our AMM also benefits the class-incremental Learning (class-IL) task by alleviating the catastrophic forgetting problem.Comment: AAAI 2024. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2207.08605 by other author

    Towards Lexical Analysis of Dog Vocalizations via Online Videos

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    Deciphering the semantics of animal language has been a grand challenge. This study presents a data-driven investigation into the semantics of dog vocalizations via correlating different sound types with consistent semantics. We first present a new dataset of Shiba Inu sounds, along with contextual information such as location and activity, collected from YouTube with a well-constructed pipeline. The framework is also applicable to other animal species. Based on the analysis of conditioned probability between dog vocalizations and corresponding location and activity, we discover supporting evidence for previous heuristic research on the semantic meaning of various dog sounds. For instance, growls can signify interactions. Furthermore, our study yields new insights that existing word types can be subdivided into finer-grained subtypes and minimal semantic unit for Shiba Inu is word-related. For example, whimper can be subdivided into two types, attention-seeking and discomfort

    Sex-Specific Clinical Characteristics and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Myocardial Infarction With Non-obstructive Coronary Arteries

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    Background: Sex differences in clinical profiles and prognosis after acute myocardial infarction have been addressed for decades. However, the sex-based disparities among patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) remain largely unreported. Here, we investigated sex-specific characteristics and long-term outcomes in MINOCA population.Methods: A total of 1,179 MINOCA patients were enrolled, including 867 men and 312 women. The mean follow-up was 41.7 months. The primary endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause death, non-fatal reinfarction, revascularization, non-fatal stroke, and hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure. Baseline data and outcomes were compared. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analyses were used to identify association between sex and prognosis.Results: Female patients with MINOCA had more risk profiles with regard to older age and higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes compared with men. The evidence-based medical treatment was similar in men and women. The incidence of MACE (men vs. women: 13.8 vs. 15.3%, p = 0.504) did not differ significantly between the sexes. The Kaplan-Meier analysis also indicated that women had a similar incidence of MACE compared to men (log rank p = 0.385). After multivariate adjustment, female sex was not associated with the risk of MACE in overall (adjusted hazard ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 0.72–1.44, p = 0.916) and in subgroups of MINOCA patients.Conclusion: The long-term outcomes were similar for men and women presenting with MINOCA despite older age and more comorbidities in women. Future research should aim to improve in-hospital and post-discharge care for both sexes with MINOCA

    Magnetic resonance imaging features of bile duct adenoma

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    ObjectivesTo evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of bile duct adenoma.MethodsThe data of 28 patients [with 32 pathologically confirmed bile duct adenomas, including 15 with malignant change (malignant group) and 17 without malignant change (benign adenoma group)] were retrospectively reviewed. Abdominal MRI was performed for all patients; in addition, dynamic enhanced MRI was performed for 18 lesions. The MRI features, including lesion location, maximum size, morphology, signal characteristics, enhancement type, and appearance of the bile duct, were assessed by two abdominal radiologists. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured and compared.ResultsOf the 32 bile duct adenomas, 22 (68.75%) involved the common bile duct (CBD). While 14/32 (43.75%) lesions presented as focal eccentric-type masses, 9/32 (28.13%) presented as plaque-like masses, 4/32 (12.50%) as bile duct casting masses, and 5/32 (15.62%) as infiltrative masses. A frond-like superficial appearance was seen in 8/32 (25%) lesions. Infiltrative masses were significantly more common in the malignant group than in the benign adenoma group (P = 0.015). While 23/32 (71.88%) lesions were isointense on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), 24/32 (75%) were hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). Bile duct dilatation was present upstream of the lesion in all cases. Bile duct dilatation at the lesion was seen in 24/32 (75%) cases and downstream of the lesion in 6/32 (18.75%) cases. Of the 18 lesions that underwent dynamic enhanced MRI, 14 (77.78%) showed moderate enhancement and 13 (72.22%) showed persistent enhancement. On diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), 27/32 (84.37%) lesions showed hyperintensity. Mean ADC value was comparable between the malignant group and the benign adenoma group (P = 0.156).ConclusionsBile duct adenoma primarily presents as intraductal growth in the CBD, usually with bile duct dilatation at the lesion site or upstream to it. Most lesions are isointense on T1WI, are hyperintense on T2WI and DWI, and show moderate enhancement. A superficial frond-like appearance of the lesion and bile duct dilatation at the lesion or downstream to it might be characteristics of bile duct adenoma. An infiltrative appearance might indicate malignant transformation

    Investigation of brain iron levels in Chinese patients with Alzheimer’s disease

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    IntroductionWe aimed (i) to explore the diagnostic value of deep gray matter magnetic susceptibility in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in China and (ii) to analyze its correlation with neuropsychiatric scales. Moreover, we conducted subgroup analysis based on the presence of the APOE-ε4 gene to improve the diagnosis of AD.MethodsFrom the prospective studies of the China Aging and Neurodegenerative Initiative (CANDI), a total of 93 subjects who could undergo complete quantitative magnetic susceptibility imaging and APOE-ε4 gene detection were selected. Differences in quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) values between and within groups, including AD patients, individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls (HCs), both APOE-ε4 carriers and non-carriers, were analyzed.ResultsIn primary analysis, the magnetic susceptibility values of the bilateral caudate nucleus and right putamen in the AD group and of the right caudate nucleus in the MCI group were significantly higher than those in the HCs group (P < 0.05). In APOE-ε4 non-carriers, there were significant differences in more regions between the AD, MCI, and HCs groups, such as the left putamen and the right globus pallidus (P < 0.05). In subgroup analysis, the correlation between QSM values in some brain regions and neuropsychiatric scales was even stronger.DiscussionExploration of the correlation between deep gray matter iron levels and AD may provide insight into the pathogenesis of AD and facilitate early diagnosis in elderly Chinese. Further subgroup analysis based on the presence of the APOE-ε4 gene may further improve the diagnostic efficiency and sensitivity

    Fractal characteristics of reservoir structural fracture: a case study of Xujiahe Formation in central Yuanba area, Sichuan Basin

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    The reservoir structural fractures have excellent fractal characteristics, as well as self-similarities. Based on the fractal theory, the surface fractal characteristics of faults and the fractal characteristic of fractures in the core of the Xujiahe Formation in the Fault-Fold Belt of the central Yuanba area were studied, and a quantitative relationship was set up between them. Based on the fractal characteristics of faults, predictions were made of the favorable fracture zone, which provides a new idea for the research of fracture, as well as offers theoretical references for exploring the fracture development zone during oil-gas exploration. The results show the following: the seismic value of reflection fault fractal dimension of the Xujiahe Formation is 1.5284; the correlation coefficient R2 is bigger than 0.9901; the capacity dimension linear regression correlation coefficient of the fracture in core of the Xujiahe Formation is bigger than 0.98; the fractal dimension D can well reflect the fault and fracture development degree, as well as the complexity of the fracture system; it can quantitatively calculate the density of the fracture of the reservoir in the area; the areas of capacity dimension bigger than 1.45 are the fracture development zones in the Fault-Fold Belt of the central Yuanba area; the oil and gas enrichment degree is high; the areas with the fractal dimension value between 0.95 and 1.45 are the fracture relatively-developed zones; the fractal dimension with values smaller than 0.95 are the lack of fracture areas.Las fracturas estructurales de yacimientos tienes excelentes características fractales y autosimilares. Basados en la teoría fractal, se estudiaron las características fractales superficiales de las fallas y las características fractales de las fracturas en el núcleo del Cinturón Falla-Pliegue de la Formación Xujiahe, área central de Yuanba (China). Luego se estableció una relación cuantitativa para estas relaciones. Según las características fractales de las fallas, se predijo la zona favorable de fractura, lo que ofrece una nueva idea para el conocimiento de esta y a la vez brinda referencias teóricas para la exploración de la zona de desarrollo de la fractura durante la exploración de petróleo y gas. Los resultados muestran lo siguiente: el valor sísmico de la dimensión fractual de la falla en la Formación Xujiahe es de 1.5284; el coeficiente de correlación R2 es mayor a 0.99901; la dimensión del coeficiente de correlación de regresión lineal en el núcleo de la fractura de la Formación Xujiahe es mayor a 0.98; la dimensión fractal D puede reflejar la falla y el grado de desarrollo de la fractura, al igual que la complejidad del sistema de fractura; también puede calcular cuantitativamente la densidad de la fractura del yacimiento en el área; las áreas con capacidad mayor a 1.45 son las zonas de desarrollo de la fractura en el Cinturón Falla-Pliegue del área central de Yuanba; el grado de enriquecimiento de petróleo y gas es alta; las áreas con valor de dimensión fractal entre 0.95 y 1.45 son las zonas de fractura de desarrollo relativo; la dimensión fractal con valores menos a 0.95 son las áreas que carecen de fracturas

    Raffinose degradation-related gene GhAGAL3 was screened out responding to salinity stress through expression patterns of GhAGALs family genes

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    A-galactosidases (AGALs), the oligosaccharide (RFO) catabolic genes of the raffinose family, play crucial roles in plant growth and development and in adversity stress. They can break down the non-reducing terminal galactose residues of glycolipids and sugar chains. In this study, the whole genome of AGALs was analyzed. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to analyze members of the AGAL family in Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium barbadense, and Gossypium raimondii. Meanwhile, RT-qPCR was carried out to analyze the expression patterns of AGAL family members in different tissues of terrestrial cotton. It was found that a series of environmental factors stimulated the expression of the GhAGAL3 gene. The function of GhAGAL3 was verified through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). As a result, GhAGAL3 gene silencing resulted in milder wilting of seedlings than the controls, and a significant increase in the raffinose content in cotton, indicating that GhAGAL3 responded to NaCl stress. The increase in raffinose content improved the tolerance of cotton. Findings in this study lay an important foundation for further research on the role of the GhAGAL3 gene family in the molecular mechanism of abiotic stress resistance in cotton
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