56 research outputs found

    Efficient FHE-based Privacy-Enhanced Neural Network for AI-as-a-Service

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    AI-as-a-Service has emerged as an important trend for supporting the growth of the digital economy. Digital service providers make use of their vast amount of user data to train AI models (such as image recognitions, financial modelling and pandemic modelling etc.) and offer them as a service on the cloud. While there are convincing advantages for using such third-party models, the fact that users need to upload their data to the cloud is bound to raise serious privacy concerns, especially in the face of increasingly stringent privacy regulations and legislations. To promote the adoption of AI-as-a-Service while addressing the privacy issues, we propose a practical approach for constructing privacy-enhanced neural networks by designing an efficient implementation of fully homomorphic encryption. With this approach, an existing neural network can be converted to process FHE-encrypted data and produce encrypted output which are only accessible by the model users, and more importantly, within an operationally acceptable time (e.g. within 1 second for facial recognition in typical border control systems). Experimental results show that in many practical tasks such as facial recognition, text classification and so on, we obtained the state-of-the-art inference accuracy in less than one second on a 16 cores CPU

    WordArt Designer: User-Driven Artistic Typography Synthesis using Large Language Models

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    This paper introduces WordArt Designer, a user-driven framework for artistic typography synthesis, relying on the Large Language Model (LLM). The system incorporates four key modules: the LLM Engine, SemTypo, StyTypo, and TexTypo modules. 1) The LLM Engine, empowered by the LLM (e.g., GPT-3.5), interprets user inputs and generates actionable prompts for the other modules, thereby transforming abstract concepts into tangible designs. 2) The SemTypo module optimizes font designs using semantic concepts, striking a balance between artistic transformation and readability. 3) Building on the semantic layout provided by the SemTypo module, the StyTypo module creates smooth, refined images. 4) The TexTypo module further enhances the design's aesthetics through texture rendering, enabling the generation of inventive textured fonts. Notably, WordArt Designer highlights the fusion of generative AI with artistic typography. Experience its capabilities on ModelScope: https://www.modelscope.cn/studios/WordArt/WordArt.Comment: Accepted by EMNLP 2023, 10 pages, 11 figures, 1 table, the system is at https://www.modelscope.cn/studios/WordArt/WordAr

    Highly efficient urea oxidation via nesting nano nickel oxide in eggshell membrane-derived carbon

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    Here, we reported a strategy of using an eggshell membrane to produce hierarchically porous carbon as a low-cost substrate for synthesizing a nano-nickel oxide catalyst (C@NiO), which can effectively turn biowaste—urea—into energy through an electrochemical approach. The interwoven carbon networks within NiO led to highly efficient urea oxidation due to the strong synergistic effect. The as-prepared electrode only needed 1.36 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode to realize a high efficiency of 10 mA cm–2 in 1.0 M KOH with 0.33 M urea and delivered an even higher current density of 25 mA cm–2 at 1.46 V, which is smaller than that of the porous carbon and commercial Pt/C catalyst. Benefiting from theoretical calculations, Ni(III) active species and the porous carbon further enabled the electrocatalyst to effectively inhibit the “CO2 poisoning” of electrocatalysts, as well as ensuring its superior performance for urea oxidation

    Cloning, expression and functional analysis of the SOC1 homologous gene in pak choi (Brassica rapa ssp. Chinensis makino)

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    AbstractFlowering transition is important in plant growth and development, and the SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO 1 (SOC1) gene belongs to the MADS-box gene family, which is an integrator involved in the regulation of flower formation in plants. Current studies have shown that the structural domain of SOC1 is relatively conserved in a variety of plants. To further investigate the function of the SOC1 homologous gene in pak choi, the full-length coding sequence of pak choi BrcSOC1 was cloned, and the structure, subcellular localization and spatiotemporal expression pattern of BrcSOC1 were analyzed in this study. The tissue-specific expression results showed that BrcSOC1 was expressed in roots, leaves, bolts, flowers and pods. The expression results at different developmental stages showed that BrcSOC1 was expressed at the highest level at floral bud differentiation stage 5. When BrcSOC1 was overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana, the flowering time in all transgenic plants was significantly earlier than in the wild type, and the expression analysis indicated that BrcSOC1 positively regulated the expression of the downstream genes AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 (AGL24) and LEAFY (LFY). These results provide an important reference for further research on the mechanism of BrcSOC1 in the flowering pathway of pak choi

    Effect of Ultra-High Pressure Sintering and Spark Plasma Sintering and Subsequent Heat Treatment on the Properties of Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Ceramics

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    In this study, coarse Beta silicon nitride (β-Si3N4) powder was used as the raw material to fabricate dense Si3N4 ceramics using two different methods of ultra-high pressure sintering and spark plasma sintering at 1550 °C, followed by heat treatment at 1750 °C. The densification, microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity of samples were investigated comparatively. The results indicate that spark plasma sintering can fabricate dense Si3N4 ceramics with a relative density of 99.2% in a shorter time and promote α-to-β phase transition. Coarse β-Si3N4 grains were partially fragmented during ultra-high pressure sintering under high pressure of 5 GPa, thereby reducing the number of the nucleus, which is conducive to the growth of elongated grains. The UHP sample with no fine α-Si3N4 powder addition achieved the highest fracture strength (822 MPa) and fracture toughness (6.6 MPa·m1/2). The addition of partial fine α-Si3N4 powder facilitated the densification of the SPS samples and promoted the growth of elongated grains. The β-Si3N4 ceramics SPS sintered with fine α-Si3N4 powder addition obtained the best comprehensive performance, including the highest density of 99.8%, hardness of 1890 HV, fracture strength of 817 MPa, fracture toughness of 6.2 MPa·m1/2, and thermal conductivity of 71 W·m−1·K−1

    Seasonal dynamics of the plant community and soil seed bank along a successional gradient in a subalpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau.

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    BACKGROUND: Knowledge about how change the importance of soil seed bank and relationship between seed mass and abundance during vegetation succession is crucial for understanding vegetation dynamics. Many studies have been conducted, but their ecological mechanisms of community assembly are not fully understood. METHODOLOGY: We examined the seasonal dynamics of the vegetation and soil seed bank as well as seed size distribution along a successional gradient. We also explored the potential role of the soil seed bank in plant community regeneration, the relationship between seed mass and species abundance, and the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes along a successional gradient. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Species richness of seed bank increased (shallow layer and the total) and seed density decreased (each layer and the total) significantly with succession. Species richness and seed density differed significantly between different seasons and among soil depths. Seed mass showed a significant negative relationship with relative abundance in the earliest successional stage, but the relationships were not significant in later stages. Seed mass showed no relationship with relative abundance in the whole successional series in seed bank. Results were similar for both July 2005 and April 2006. CONCLUSIONS: The seed mass and abundance relationship was determined by a complex interaction between small and larger seeded species and environmental factors. Both stochastic processes and deterministic processes were important determinants of the structure of the earliest stage. The importance of seed bank decreased with succession. The restoration of abandoned farmed and grazed meadows to the species-rich subalpine meadow in Tibetan Plateau can be successfully achieved from the soil seed bank. However, at least 20 years are required to fully restore an abandoned agricultural meadow to a natural mature subalpine meadow

    Dependency of magnetic microwave absorption on surface architecture of Co20Ni80 hierarchical structures studied by electron holography

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    To design and fabricate rational surface architecture of individual particles is one of the key factors that affect their magnetic properties and microwave absorption capability, which is still a great challenge. Herein, a series of Co20Ni80 hierarchical structures with different surface morphologies, including flower-, urchin-, ball-, and chain-like morphologies, were obtained using structure-directing templates via a facile one-step solvothermal treatment. The microwave reflection loss (RL) of urchin-like Co20Ni80 hierarchical structures reaches as high as -33.5 dB at 3 GHz, with almost twice the RL intensity of the ball-and chain-like structures, and the absorption bandwidth (<-10 dB) is about 5.5 GHz for the flower-like morphology, indicating that the surface nanospikes and nanoflakes on the Co20Ni80 microsphere surfaces have great influences on their magnetic microwave absorption properties. Electron holography analysis reveals that the surface nanospikes and nanoflakes could generate a high density of stray magnetic flux lines and contribute a large saturation magnetization (105.62 emu g(-1) for urchin-like and 96.41 emu g(-1) for flower-like morphology), leading the urchin-like and flower-like Co20Ni80 to possess stronger microwave RL compared with the ball-like and chain-like Co20Ni80 alloys. The eddy-current absorption mechanism mu ''(mu')(-2)(f)(-1) is dominant in the frequency region above 8 GHz, implying that eddy-current loss is a vital factor for microwave RL in the high frequency range. It can be supposed from our findings that different surface morphologies of magnetic hierarchical structures might become an effective path to achieve high-performance microwave absorption for electromagnetic shielding and stealth camouflage applications

    Expression Analysis of Brassinolide-Metabolism-Related Genes at Different Growth Stages of Pak Choi

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    Pak choi needs to be exposed to low temperature (vernalized) before flowering will initiate. Early bolting caused by low temperature often occurs in spring and leads to significant economic losses. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to study the flowering process of pak choi. Brassinolide (BR) plays a certain role in the flowering process of pak choi. In order to better understand the role of BR in the flowering process of pak choi, the BR content in the shoot apices of pak choi at different growth stages was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the BR content increased after low-temperature treatment. With the progress of vegetative growth, the BR content decreased and reached the lowest at 10 days after transplanting (V10), then the content increased and reached a small peak at the critical period of floral bud differentiation (S0). After initiation of floral bud differentiation, the content decreased at floral bud differentiation stage 1 (S1), and then gradually increased and reached a peak at floral bud differentiation stage 3 (S3). In order to clarify the molecular mechanism of BR content changes, we analyzed the expressions of key enzymes coding genes in the BR metabolic pathway, and found that six major synthase-encoding genes (Bra008760, Bra030023, Bra036097, Bra027405, Bra011678, and Bra025409) were upregulated at the critical period of floral bud differentiation, leading to the increase in BR content, which were consistent with changes in the BR content. By analyzing the functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the vegetative growth stage (V10) and the critical period of floral bud differentiation (S0), 21 DEGs were found to be related to BR metabolism. These findings can provide a reference for elucidating the molecular mechanism of BR regulating the flowering process of pak choi
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