Resfusion: Prior Residual Noise embedded Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models

Recently, Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models have been widely used in image segmentation, by generating segmentation masks conditioned on the input image. However, previous works can not seamlessly integrate existing end-to-end models with denoising diffusion models. Existing research can only select acceleration steps based on experience rather than calculating them specifically. Moreover, most methods are limited to small models and small-scale datasets, unable to generalize to general datasets and a wider range of tasks. Therefore, we propose Resfusion with a novel resnoise-diffusion process, which gradually generates segmentation masks or any type of target image, seamlessly integrating state-of-the-art end-to-end models and denoising diffusion models. Resfusion bridges the discrepancy between the likelihood output and the ground truth output through a Markov process. Through the novel smooth equivalence transformation in resnoise-diffusion process, we determine the optimal acceleration step. Experimental results demonstrate that Resfusion combines the capabilities of existing end-to-end models and denoising diffusion models, further enhancing performance and achieving outstanding results. Moreover, Resfusion is not limited to segmentation tasks, it can easily generalize to any general tasks of image generation and exhibit strong competitiveness

Comparative analysis of long noncoding RNAs in angiosperms and characterization of long noncoding RNAs in response to heat stress in Chinese cabbage

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely present in different species and play critical roles in response to abiotic stresses. However, the functions of lncRNAs in Chinese cabbage under heat stress remain unknown. Here, we first conducted a global comparative analysis of 247,242 lncRNAs among 37 species. The results indicated that lncRNAs were poorly conserved among different species, and only 960 lncRNAs were homologous to 524 miRNA precursors. We then carried out lncRNA sequencing for a genome-wide analysis of lncRNAs and their target genes in Chinese cabbage at different stages of heat treatment. In total, 18,253 lncRNAs were identified, of which 1229 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs were characterized as being heat-responsive. The ceRNA network revealed that 38 lncRNAs, 16 miRNAs, and 167 mRNAs were involved in the heat response in Chinese cabbage. Combined analysis of the cis- and trans-regulated genes indicated that the targets of DE lncRNAs were significantly enriched in the “protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum” and “plant hormone signal transduction” pathways. Furthermore, the majority of HSP and PYL genes involved in these two pathways exhibited similar expression patterns and responded to heat stress rapidly. Based on the networks of DE lncRNA-mRNAs, 29 and 22 lncRNAs were found to interact with HSP and PYL genes, respectively. Finally, the expression of several critical lncRNAs and their targets was verified by qRT-PCR. Overall, we conducted a comparative analysis of lncRNAs among 37 species and performed a comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs in Chinese cabbage. Our findings expand the knowledge of lncRNAs involved in the heat stress response in Chinese cabbage, and the identified lncRNAs provide an abundance of resources for future comparative and functional studies

The structuring role of artificial structure on fish assemblages in a dammed river of the Pearl River in China

To address the fish use patterns of artificial structures mimicking floating macrophytes deployed in a impounded tributary of the Pearl River, China, field experiments were performed from December 2014 to June 2016 using multi-mesh gillnet. The fish assemblages using artificial structures differ in terms of species richness, abundance, body size, diversity indices, and ecological traits from fish assemblages on natural barren habitats of this river. Overall, fish abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity index, and functional richness were higher at the artificial structures than at the control sites, while fish length and functional evenness was greater at the control sites in comparison to artificial structures. The introduction of artificial structures did not result in statistically significant effects on fish biomass as artificial structures attracted more individuals with smaller size. Seasonal changes of chlorophyll-a and transparency may affect the efficiency of artificial structure in harboring fishes. This study revealed that artificial structures, as synthesized habitats, are effective in acting as a “fish attractor” and an alternative tool to provide new habitats for smaller individuals in a dammed river like the Youjiang River which is a structure-less ecosystem

Modification of electrodes by electronically conductive polymer blends

The electron transfer process is often a limiting factor for overall charge delivery in a polymer film coated on an electrode surface. Our goal was to find a better conducting polymer matrix to explore the enhancement of electron transport. Our solution was to use $\pi$-conjugated, electronically conductive polymers as modifiers of electrodes. This research involved the chemical synthesis and electrochemical investigation of poly(3-hexthylthiophene) (P3HT).P3HT was chemically synthesized by nickel-catalyzed dehalogenating condensation of the monomer, 3-hexthyl-2,5-diiodothiophene. The modification in the synthetic routine of the monomer enhanced its yield by five times. The polymer could be electrochemically oxidized and reduced easily and the oxidoreduction was chemically reversible.For modification of a Au electrode, polymer blends, which consisted of P3HT and differently quaternized polyvinylpyridines (QPVPs), were spincoated onto the Au disk electrode. The distribution of electrons within the blends was studied by cyclic voltammetry, and their charge versus potential profile by chronocoulometry. With the use of rotating disk voltammetry, the interaction of the blends (P3HT in the conducting state) with the electroactive species in the solution was investigated. All of the blends effectively mediated the oxidation of Fe(dmbpy)\sb3\sp{2+}. The mediation currents showed a nearly linear relationship with substrate concentration and were independent of film thickness. By changing the components of the blends, the microstructure of the films, in terms of porosity, polarity, and fluidity, could be altered. The resistances of the oxidized, dried and solvent-wetted blends were measured by a novel open-face sandwich electrode (the gap between two working electrodes being 25.2 $\mu$m). A sharp reduction in the resistance occurred when the blend composition rose above 40% P3HT, probably because the percolation threshold was reached. The lowest resistance was obtained with a pure P3HT film. The conductivities under the "dried" condition for the pure P3HT film and the blend (Blend 2) containing 16.7% of P3HT were estimated to be 50 and 0.065 S/cm, respectively, whereas those of the corresponding films under the "wet" condition were 23 and 0.057 S/cm, respectively. Our blend systems seemed to fall into the SR case in the Andrieux-Saveant theory.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio

Protective effects of epifriedelinol in a rat model of traumatic brain injury assessed with histological and hematological markers

This study evaluated the protective effects of epifriedelinol (EFD) in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Empirical research of accounting conservatism, corporate governance and stock price collapse risk based on panel data model

This paper selects the panel data of the main board listed companies in Shenzhen and Shanghai from 2011 to 2016 as the research object and constructs the intersection of corporate governance comprehensive index and accounting conservatism and corporate governance index. Based on this, the mixed utility model is used to empirically test the relationship between accounting conservatism, corporate governance, and stock price collapse risk. The results show that: accounting conservatism, corporate governance and stock price collapse risk are negatively correlated, and conservative accounting policies can effectively restrain the occurrence of the stock price collapse, and higher levels of corporate governance can effectively reduce the possibility of the future stock price crash, and accounting conservatism and corporate governance have substitution effects in preventing the risk of the stock price collapse, and higher corporate governance levels can significantly reduce the negative impact of accounting conservatism on future stock price collapse risks. This paper also puts forward some suggestions to reduce the risk of stock price collapse from two aspects of improving accounting conservatism and strengthening corporate governance, which can be used as the reference for the sustainable and stable development of the capital market

Increasing methane (CH4) emissions and altering rhizosphere microbial diversity in paddy soil by combining Chinese milk vetch and rice straw

Background Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) can improve paddy soil fertility and ecology through nitrogen fixation, but it can also increase greenhouse gas emissions. Our primary objective was to investigate how Chinese milk vetch, rice straw, and nitrogen fertilization affect the methane and microbial components of the rice rhizosphere. Methods We examined the rhizosphere’s methane emissions and microbial abundance and diversity after incorporating Chinese milk vetch and rice straw into paddy soil. We used high-throughput sequencing of the 16s rRNA and ITS1 genes to study changes in the bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Over the course of our experiment, we applied seven different treatments to the paddy soil: conventional fertilization (the control treatment) for winter fallow crops, three levels of nitrogen in Chinese milk vetch, and three levels of nitrogen in Chinese milk vetch combined with rice straw. Results Rice yield and methane emissions increased during cultivation when the soil was treated with Chinese milk vetch with and without added straw. The nitrogen application also affected the methane fluxes. Alpha diversity measurements showed that Chinese milk vetch increased the diversity of the soil fungal community but did not significantly affect the bacterial community. Chinese milk vetch affected the rhizosphere microorganism communities by increasing the number of Methanomicrobia