Self-Supervised Learning for Stereo Reconstruction on Aerial Images

Recent developments established deep learning as an inevitable tool to boost the performance of dense matching and stereo estimation. On the downside, learning these networks requires a substantial amount of training data to be successful. Consequently, the application of these models outside of the laboratory is far from straight forward. In this work we propose a self-supervised training procedure that allows us to adapt our network to the specific (imaging) characteristics of the dataset at hand, without the requirement of external ground truth data. We instead generate interim training data by running our intermediate network on the whole dataset, followed by conservative outlier filtering. Bootstrapped from a pre-trained version of our hybrid CNN-CRF model, we alternate the generation of training data and network training. With this simple concept we are able to lift the completeness and accuracy of the pre-trained version significantly. We also show that our final model compares favorably to other popular stereo estimation algorithms on an aerial dataset.Comment: Symposium Prize Paper Award @IGARSS 201

Serological profiles in nursery piglets colonized with Staphylococcus aureus

At present, the immune response of pigs in relation to Staphylococcus aureus carriage is poorly understood. This study aimed at investigating the dynamics of the anti-staphylococcal humoral immune response in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA)-positive piglets and at assessing the effect of the experimental introduction of a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) Sequence Type (ST) 398 strain. Therefore, serum samples were collected at different times from 31 weaned piglets originating from four different sows. Twenty-four out of the 31 piglets were challenged with MRSA ST398. The serum samples were analysed for IgG antibodies to 39 S. aureus antigens, using a multiplex bead-based assay (xMAP technology, Luminex Corporation). Though antibody responses showed broad inter-individual variability, serological results appeared to be clustered by litter of origin. For most antigens, an age-related response was observed with an apparent increase in antibody titres directed against staphylococcal microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs), which have been shown to play a role in S. aureus colonization. In most animals, antibody titres directed against staphylococcal toxins or immune-modulating proteins decreased with age, possibly reflecting absence of bacterial invasion. The introduction of MRSA ST398 did not elicit a significant humoral immune reaction. This study describes, for the first time, the humoral immune response in weaned pigs colonized with S. aureus

Two-dimensional protein crystallization via metal-ion coordination by naturally occurring surface histidines

A powerful and potentially general approach to the targeting and crystallization of proteins on lipid interfaces through coordination of surface histidine residues to lipid-chelated divalent metal ions is presented. This approach, which should be applicable to the crystallization of a wide range of naturally occurring or engineered proteins, is illustrated here by the crystallization of streptavidin on a monolayer of an iminodiacetate-Cu(II) lipid spread at the air-water interface. This method allows control of the protein orientation at interfaces, which is significant for the facile production of highly ordered protein arrays and for electron density mapping in structural analysis of two-dimensional crystals. Binding of native streptavidin to the iminodiacetate-Cu lipids occurs via His-87, located on the protein surface near the biotin binding pocket. The two-dimensional streptavidin crystals show a previously undescribed microscopic shape that differs from that of crystals formed beneath biotinylated lipids

Genotype and Genotype x Environment Interaction Effects on Forage Yield and Quality of Intermediate Wheatgrass in Swards

Genetic differences among cultivars or strains for specific traits can be significantly reduced or increased by differential genotypic responses to environments. The objective of this study was to determine the relative magnitude of genotype and genotype x environment interaction effects, which are due to differential responses, on forage yield and quality of intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey] when grown in seeded swards in the central Great Plains. Thirty-four strains (genotypes), which included cultivars, experimental strains, and PI lines, were grown in replicated trials at Mead, North Platte, and Alliance, NE. The three sites differed markedly in precipitation and length of growing season. There were significant differences among strains for all evaluated traits. Genotype x location and genotype x year interaction effects were not significant for in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), indicating that this trait is quite stable across environments. Genotype x location interaction effects were significant for forage yield and protein concentration; genotype x year effects were significant for forage yield. Spearman rank correlations, used to test for consistency of ranking of the strains across environments, were high and significant for IVDMD, but were low and usually not significant for forage yield. Improving IVDMD should be emphasized in intermediate wheatgrass breeding programs, since there is substantial genetic variation for IVDMD, it is stable across environments, and it can improve livestock production per hectare

Повторения научных открытий в контексте идей исторической эпистемологии

Анализируются примеры повторений научных открытий в различные исторические периоды развития научного знания в контексте идей исторической эпистемологии. Делается вывод о том, что с развитием науки менялись условия повторений научных открытий. Размывание критериев научности, трансформация социальной организации научного сообщества, изменение роли государства в развитии науки способствовали тому, что современная наука все больше находит себе оправдание посредством власти, через власть, а власть оправдывает науку перед обществом и доминирует над ним посредством апелляции к науке