Learning Robust Object Recognition Using Composed Scenes from Generative Models

Recurrent feedback connections in the mammalian visual system have been hypothesized to play a role in synthesizing input in the theoretical framework of analysis by synthesis. The comparison of internally synthesized representation with that of the input provides a validation mechanism during perceptual inference and learning. Inspired by these ideas, we proposed that the synthesis machinery can compose new, unobserved images by imagination to train the network itself so as to increase the robustness of the system in novel scenarios. As a proof of concept, we investigated whether images composed by imagination could help an object recognition system to deal with occlusion, which is challenging for the current state-of-the-art deep convolutional neural networks. We fine-tuned a network on images containing objects in various occlusion scenarios, that are imagined or self-generated through a deep generator network. Trained on imagined occluded scenarios under the object persistence constraint, our network discovered more subtle and localized image features that were neglected by the original network for object classification, obtaining better separability of different object classes in the feature space. This leads to significant improvement of object recognition under occlusion for our network relative to the original network trained only on un-occluded images. In addition to providing practical benefits in object recognition under occlusion, this work demonstrates the use of self-generated composition of visual scenes through the synthesis loop, combined with the object persistence constraint, can provide opportunities for neural networks to discover new relevant patterns in the data, and become more flexible in dealing with novel situations.Comment: Accepted by 14th Conference on Computer and Robot Visio

Fucosyltransferase 1 and 2 play pivotal roles in breast cancer cells.

FUT1 and FUT2 encode alpha 1, 2-fucosyltransferases which catalyze the addition of alpha 1, 2-linked fucose to glycans. Glycan products of FUT1 and FUT2, such as Globo H and Lewis Y, are highly expressed on malignant tissues, including breast cancer. Herein, we investigated the roles of FUT1 and FUT2 in breast cancer. Silencing of FUT1 or FUT2 by shRNAs inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in mice. This was associated with diminished properties of cancer stem cell (CSC), including mammosphere formation and CSC marker both in vitro and in xenografts. Silencing of FUT2, but not FUT1, significantly changed the cuboidal morphology to dense clusters of small and round cells with reduced adhesion to polystyrene and extracellular matrix, including laminin, fibronectin and collagen. Silencing of FUT1 or FUT2 suppressed cell migration in wound healing assay, whereas FUT1 and FUT2 overexpression increased cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis of breast cancer in vivo. A decrease in mesenchymal like markers such as fibronectin, vimentin, and twist, along with increased epithelial like marker, E-cadherin, was observed upon FUT1/2 knockdown, while the opposite was noted by overexpression of FUT1 or FUT2. As expected, FUT1 or FUT2 knockdown reduced Globo H, whereas FUT1 or FUT2 overexpression showed contrary effects. Exogenous addition of Globo H-ceramide reversed the suppression of cell migration by FUT1 knockdown but not the inhibition of cell adhesion by FUT2 silencing, suggesting that at least part of the effects of FUT1/2 knockdown were mediated by Globo H. Our results imply that FUT1 and FUT2 play important roles in regulating growth, adhesion, migration and CSC properties of breast cancer, and may serve as therapeutic targets for breast cancer

Pengembangan Suplemen Pembelajaran Fisika Gelombang Elektromagnetik Cahaya Sebagai Partikel Memanfaatkan Virtual Laboratorium

This research has been done to make a supplement for physics learning about light electromagnetic wave as a particle using virtual laboratory. The population of this research was the second year science-students at SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Metro. This development is begun by needs analysis, then identification of resource which is the background of this developmental research. The next step is, identifying the product specification then developing products which contained a tutorial book for teacher and a work sheet for student (LKS). The material and design expert test result is that those products were approved. The external test resulted by users show that the LKS was attractive, very easy to use, and useful. It also was effective to be used as a learning resource because 80% of students reached the passing grade.Telah dilakukan penelitian untuk mengembangkan suplemen pembelajaran fisika gelombang elektromagnetik cahaya sebagai partikel dengan memanfaatkan virtual laboratorium. Populasi penelitian pengembangan ini adalah siswa kelas XI IPA di SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Metro. Pengembangan ini diawali dengan analisis kebutuhan, kemudian identifikasi sumber daya yang melatar belakangi pengembangan. Langkah selanjutnya identifikasi spesifikasi produk yang dilanjutkan dengan mengembangkan produk berupa LKS untuk siswa dan buku panduan untuk guru. Hasil uji internal oleh ahli materi dan ahli desain menyatakan produk yang dikembangkan layak digunakan sebagai media pembelajaran. Hasil uji eksternal oleh pengguna menunjukkan kualitas media pembelajaran menarik, sangat mudah digunakan, dan bermanfaat serta efektif digunakan sebagai media pembelajaran dengan presentase hasil belajar sebesar 80% siswa telah memenuhi KKM

Hypermethylation of the TGF-β target, ABCA1 is associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients

Background The dysregulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays a crucial role in ovarian carcinogenesis and in maintaining cancer stem cell properties. Classified as a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family, ABCA1 was previously identified by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation microarray (mDIP-Chip) to be methylated in ovarian cancer cell lines, A2780 and CP70. By microarray, it was also found to be upregulated in immortalized ovarian surface epithelial (IOSE) cells following TGF-β treatment. Thus, we hypothesized that ABCA1 may be involved in ovarian cancer and its initiation. Results We first compared the expression level of ABCA1 in IOSE cells and a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines and found that ABCA1 was expressed in HeyC2, SKOV3, MCP3, and MCP2 ovarian cancer cell lines but downregulated in A2780 and CP70 ovarian cancer cell lines. The reduced expression of ABCA1 in A2780 and CP70 cells was associated with promoter hypermethylation, as demonstrated by bisulfite pyro-sequencing. We also found that knockdown of ABCA1 increased the cholesterol level and promoted cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Further analysis of ABCA1 methylation in 76 ovarian cancer patient samples demonstrated that patients with higher ABCA1 methylation are associated with high stage (P = 0.0131) and grade (P = 0.0137). Kaplan-Meier analysis also found that patients with higher levels of methylation of ABCA1 have shorter overall survival (P = 0.019). Furthermore, tissue microarray using 55 ovarian cancer patient samples revealed that patients with a lower level of ABCA1 expression are associated with shorter progress-free survival (P = 0.038). Conclusions ABCA1 may be a tumor suppressor and is hypermethylated in a subset of ovarian cancer patients. Hypermethylation of ABCA1 is associated with poor prognosis in these patients

Near- and far-field expansions for stationary solutions of Poisson--Nernst--Planck equations

This work is concerned with the stationary Poisson--Nernst--Planck equation with a large parameter which describes a huge number of ions occupying an electrolytic region. Firstly, we focus on the model with a single specie of positive charges in one-dimensional bounded domains due to the assumption that these ions are transported in the same direction along a tubular-like mircodomain. We show that the solution asymptotically blows up in a thin region attached to the boundary, and establish the refined "near-field" and "far-field" expansions for the solutions with respect to the parameter. Moreover, we obtain the boundary concentration phenomenon of the net charge density, which mathematically confirms the physical description that the non-neutral phenomenon occurs near the charged surface. In addition, we revisit a nonlocal Poisson--Boltzmann model for monovalent binary ions and establish a novel comparison for these two models

Topological Non-Hermitian skin effect

This article reviews recent developments in the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE), particularly on its rich interplay with topology. The review starts off with a pedagogical introduction on the modified bulk-boundary correspondence, the synergy and hybridization of NHSE and band topology in higher dimensions, as well as, the associated topology on the complex energy plane such as spectral winding topology and spectral graph topology. Following which, emerging topics are introduced such as non-Hermitian criticality, dynamical NHSE phenomena, and the manifestation of NHSE beyond the traditional linear non-interacting crystal lattices, particularly its interplay with quantum many-body interactions. Finally, we survey the recent demonstrations and experimental proposals of NHSE.Comment: A review article with 37 pages and 17 figures. Comments are welcom