3DCFS : Fast and robust joint 3D semantic-instance segmentation via coupled feature selection

We propose a novel fast and robust 3D point clouds segmentation framework via coupled feature selection, named 3DCFS, that jointly performs semantic and instance segmentation. Inspired by the human scene perception process, we design a novel coupled feature selection module, named CFSM, that adaptively selects and fuses the reciprocal semantic and instance features from two tasks in a coupled manner. To further boost the performance of the instance segmentation task in our 3DCFS, we investigate a loss function that helps the model learn to balance the magnitudes of the output embedding dimensions during training, which makes calculating the Euclidean distance more reliable and enhances the generalizability of the model. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our 3DCFS outperforms state-of-the-art methods on benchmark datasets in terms of accuracy, speed and computational cost

The Nullity of Bicyclic Signed Graphs

Let \Gamma be a signed graph and let A(\Gamma) be the adjacency matrix of \Gamma. The nullity of \Gamma is the multiplicity of eigenvalue zero in the spectrum of A(\Gamma). In this paper we characterize the signed graphs of order n with nullity n-2 or n-3, and introduce a graph transformation which preserves the nullity. As an application we determine the unbalanced bicyclic signed graphs of order n with nullity n-3 or n-4, and signed bicyclic signed graphs (including simple bicyclic graphs) of order n with nullity n-5

Role of INPP4B in the proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival of human endometrial cancer cells

Background. Inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type II (INPP4B) has been identified as a tumor repressor in several human cancers while its role in endometrial cancer has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine whether INPP4B participates in the progression of endometrial cancer by utilizing clinical data and experimental determination. Materials and methods. We first include six chemotherapy-treated patients with recurrent and metastatic endometrioid carcinoma to determine the relationship between INPP4B mutation and relative tumor burden. By using siRNA-mediated gene silencing and vector-mediated gene overexpression, we further determined the effect of manipulating INPP4B expression on the proliferation, invasion, and survival of endometrial cancer cells. Furthermore, the repressing effect of INPP4B together with its role in chemotherapy was further validated by xenograft tumor-bearing mice models. Western blot analysis was used to explore further downstream signaling modulated by INPP4B expression manipulation. Results. Two of the patients were found to have INPP4B mutations and the mutation frequency of INPP4B increased during the progression of chemotherapy resistance. Endometrial cancer cells with silenced INPP4B expression were found to have promoted tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and survival. Endometrial cancer cells overexpressing INPP4B were found to have decreased tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and survival. An in vivo study using six xenograft tumor-bearing mice in each group revealed that INPP4B overexpression could suppress tumor progression and enhance chemosensitivity. Furthermore, INPP4B overexpression was found to modulate the activation of Wnt3a signaling. Conclusion. The current study suggested that INPP4B could be a suppressor in endometrial cancer progression and might be a target for endometrial cancer treatment. Also, INPP4B might serve as a predictor of chemosensitivity determinatio

Generating Giant and Tunable Nonlinearity in a Macroscopic Mechanical Resonator from Chemical Bonding Force

Nonlinearity in macroscopic mechanical system plays a crucial role in a wide variety of applications, including signal transduction and processing, synchronization, and building logical devices. However, it is difficult to generate nonlinearity due to the fact that macroscopic mechanical systems follow the Hooke's law and response linearly to external force, unless strong drive is used. Here we propose and experimentally realize a record-high nonlinear response in macroscopic mechanical system by exploring the anharmonicity in deforming a single chemical bond. We then demonstrate the tunability of nonlinear response by precisely controlling the chemical bonding interaction, and realize a cubic elastic constant of \mathversion{bold}$2 \times 10^{18}~{\rm N}/{\rm m^3}$, many orders of magnitude larger in strength than reported previously. This enables us to observe vibrational bistate transitions of the resonator driven by the weak Brownian thermal noise at 6~K. This method can be flexibly applied to a variety of mechanical systems to improve nonlinear responses, and can be used, with further improvements, to explore macroscopic quantum mechanics

1-Benzoyl-3-(5-quinol­yl)thio­urea

The title compound, C17H13N3OS, was obtained by the reaction of benzoyl chloride, ammonium thio­cyanate and 5-amino­quinoline in the presence of polyethyl­eneglycol-400 (PEG-400) as a phase-transfer catalyst. The compound crystallized as discrete mol­ecules linked by N—H⋯N and C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds involving all the potential donors, generating sheets parallel to (100). An intramolecular N—H⋯O bond is also present

Synthesis and Sensing Properties of ZnO/ZnS Nanocages

Large-scale uniform ZnO dumbbells and ZnO/ZnS hollow nanocages were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route combined with subsequent etching treatment. The nanocages were formed through preferential dissolution of the twinned (0001) plane of ZnO dumbbells. Due to their special morphology, the hollow nanocages show better sensing properties to ethanol than ZnO dumbbells. The gain in sensitivity is attributed to both the interface between ZnO and ZnS heterostructure and their hollow architecture that promotes analyte diffusion and increases the available active surface area

Characterization of the early fiber development gene, Ligon-lintless 1 (Li1), using microarray

AbstractCotton fiber length is a key factor in determining fiber quality in the textile industry throughout the world. Understanding the molecular basis of fiber elongation would allow for improvement of fiber length. Ligon-lintless 1 (Li1) is a monogenic dominant mutation that results in short fibers. This mutant provides an excellent model system to study the molecular mechanisms of cotton fiber elongation. Microarray technology and quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Ligon-lintless 1 (Li1) mutant compared to the wild-type. Although the results showed only a few differentially expressed genes at −1, 3 and 7days post anthesis (DPA); at 5 DPA, there were 1915 DEGs, including 984 up-regulated genes and 931 down-regulated genes. The critical stage for early termination of Li1 fiber elongation was 5 DPA, as there were the most differentially expressed genes in this sample. The transcription factors and other proteins identified might contribute to understanding the molecular basis of early fiber elongation. Gene ontology analysis identified some key GO terms that impact the regulation of fiber development during early elongation. These results provide some fundamental information about the TFs that might provide new insight into understanding the molecular mechanisms governing cotton fiber development