A convolutional neural network based Chinese text detection algorithm via text structure modeling

Text detection in natural scene environment plays an important role in many computer vision applications. While existing text detection methods are focused on English characters, there is strong application demands on text detection in other languages, such as Chinese. As Chinese characters are much more complex than English characters, innovative and more efficient text detection techniques are required for Chinese texts. In this paper, we present a novel text detection algorithm for Chinese characters based on a specific designed convolutional neural network (CNN). The CNN model contains a text structure component detector layer, a spatial pyramid layer and a multi-input-layer deep belief network (DBN). The CNN is pretrained via a convolutional sparse auto-encoder (CSAE) in an unsupervised way, which is specifically designed for extracting complex features from Chinese characters. In particular, the text structure component detectors enhance the accuracy and uniqueness of feature descriptors by extracting multiple text structure components in various ways. The spatial pyramid layer is then introduced to enhance the scale invariability of the CNN model for detecting texts in multiple scales. Finally, the multi-input-layer DBN is used as the fully connected layers in the CNN model to ensure that features from multiple scales are comparable. A multilingual text detection dataset, in which texts in Chinese, English and digits are labeled separately, is set up to evaluate the proposed text detection algorithm. The proposed algorithm shows a significant 10% performance improvement over the baseline CNN algorithms. In addition the proposed algorithm is evaluated over a public multilingual image benchmark and achieves state-of-the-art results for text detection under multiple languages. Furthermore a simplified version of the proposed algorithm with only general components is compared to existing general text detection algorithms on the ICDAR 2011 and 2013 datasets, showing comparable detection performance to the existing algorithms

The value of VI-RADS combined with tumor contact length in the detection of muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Background and purpose: The value of Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative assessment of bladder cancer muscle-invasive is increasingly recognized. However, there is still a high number of false positives when the diagnostic cut-off value is 3 points. Tumor size has certain auxiliary diagnostic value in the assessment of tumor infiltration. Therefore, this study mainly explored the diagnostic performance of VI-RADS combined with tumor size in assessing bladder cancer muscle-invasive. Methods: The preoperative bladder multiparametric MRI and clinical data of 119 patients with bladder cancer confirmed by surgery and pathology (a total of 159 lesions) who were treated in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from November 2019 to February 2022 were retrospectively collected. VI-RADS score and tumor contact length (TCL) measurements were performed independently for each lesion by two radiologists. Lesions with differences in score or size were given consistent results following discussion by two physicians. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic performance of VI-RADS, TCL and their combined models for muscle invasion, and the corresponding area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy were compared. Results: Postoperative pathology confirmed that there were 75 and 84 lesions of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), respectively. The mean TCL of MIBC group (6.15-6.23 cm) was significantly different from that of NMIBC group (2.26-2.35 cm), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The specificity, PPV and diagnostic accuracy of VI-RADS combined with TCL in predicting bladder cancer muscle-invasive were significantly higher than those of VI-RADS with a diagnostic threshold of 3 points alone (P<0.05), whereas there was no statistically significant difference in the sensitivity and NPV (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in AUC between TCL (AUC = 0.89), VI-RADS (AUC = 0.90) and VI-RADS combined with TCL (AUC = 0.91) (P>0.05). Conclusion: VI-RADS combined with TCL can reduce the false positive rate of VI-RADS 3-point lesions in the evaluation of bladder cancer muscle-invasive to a certain extent, which is beneficial for avoiding overtreatment

Comparison of biexponential and monoexponential DWI in evaluation of Fuhrman grading of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE:Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common primary malignant urologic tumor. The Fuhrman grading system is an independent indicator for aggressiveness and prognosis of ccRCC. We aimed to assess the possible diagnostic role of biexponentially and monoexponentially fitted signal attenuation for the Fuhrman grading.METHODS:A total of 33 patients with ccRCC underwent multiple b values (0, 20, 50, 100, 150, 250, 400, 600, 800, 1000 s/mm2) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Biexponential parameters (fast ADC [ADCf], slow ADC [ADCs], and fraction of ADCf [f]) and monoexponential apparent diffusion coefficient were calculated, and correlated with the Fuhrman grade of ccRCC respectively. The performance of biexponential parameters in differentiating Fuhrman low- and high-grade tumors was assessed and compared with ADC value by receiver operating characteristic analysis.RESULTS:Qualified images and diffusion-weighted parameters were obtained for all patients. The ADCf and f value were positively correlated, whereas ADCs and ADC value were negatively correlated with Fuhrman grade. Significant differences were observed in ADCf (P < 0.001), ADCs (P = 0.005), and f values (P < 0.001) of high- and low-grade ccRCCs. When differentiating Fuhrman low-grade tumors from high-grade, the ADCf revealed an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.959, which was higher than the ADC value (0.789; P = 0.046), while ADCs (0.807) and f (0.833) showed no significant difference from ADC (P = 0.85 for ADCs, P = 0.73 for f).CONCLUSION:Biexponential DWI provides additional parameters for ccRCC. ADCf is more accurate compared with the ADC value in characterizing Fuhrman grade of ccRCC

Effect of Rootstocks on the Volatiles in Grape Berries of Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Petit Verdot’

In this study, the wine grape cultivar Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Petit Verdot’ was used as the scion for ‘101-14’, ‘5BB’, ‘SO4’, ‘Beta’ and ‘1103P’ rootstocks as well as self-rooted control. The volatile components of ‘Petit Verdot’ grape berries from the commercial harvest period in 2016–2017 were analyzed by using head space solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The results showed that the climate differences between vintages were the decisive factor affecting the contents of volatile components in ‘Petit Verdot’ grapes, which were also significantly affected by rootstocks. Compared with the self-rooted control, all five rootstocks significantly increased the contents of C6/C9 compounds in grapes. ‘5BB’ significantly increased the contents of C13-norisoprenoids and terpenes, ‘1103P’ significantly increased the content of bound carbonyl compounds, ‘101-14’ significantly increased the content of free carbonyl compounds and significantly decreased the content of bound C13-norisoprenoids, ‘Beta’ significantly increased the contents of bound C13-norisoprenoids and terpenes, and ‘SO4’ significantly increased the contents of C13-norisoprenoids, bound carbonyl compounds and free terpenes. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) results showed that C6/C9 compounds, such as (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-2-hexenal and hexanal, were the common differential volatile components to differentiate the grafted grapes from the self-rooted ones. In general, grafting ‘Petit Verdot’ onto the rootstock ‘5BB’ in Beijing was conducive to the accumulation of terpenes and C13-norisoprenoids in grapes during harvest

Electrochemical Performance of Screen-Printed Composite Coatings of Conducting Polymers and Carbon Nanotubes on Titanium Bipolar Plates in Aqueous Asymmetrical Supercapacitors

用导电聚合物（聚吡硌、聚苯胺）与碳纳米管（经酸处理）复合物（ECP-CNT）以及功能添加剂（表面活性剂：苄索氯铵 benzethonium chloride，粘结剂：聚乙烯醇 polyvinyl alcohol）配成水型印泥（aqueous ink)，在钛片（厚度：0.1 mm）上网印（screen printing）成所需载量及面积（例如：75 mg cm-2，100 cm2）的均匀的ECP-CNT膜. 以该膜为正极，网印活性炭（pigment black）膜为负极，3.0 mol L-1 KCl 或 1.0 mol L-1 HCl 为电解质，组装不对称超级电容器. 用循环伏安、恒电流充放电、电化学阻抗、光及电显微等方法研究了ECP-CNT复合物、网印膜、单池以及由双极片（bipolar plate）连接的多池堆（multi-cell stack）. 以两片印刷面积为100 cm2 的钛双极片组装成三池堆，得到较好的技术指标：堆电压3.0 V，电极电容1.29~1.83 F cm-2，比能量2.30~3.24 Wh kg-1，最大比功率1.04 kW kg-1.Composites of conducting polymers (polypyrrole and polyaniline) with acid treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes were formulated into printable aqueous inks, with the aid of functional additives (benzethonium chloride as a surfactant with or without polyvinyl alcohol as a binder). The inks were screen-printed as fairly uniform coatings of various mass loading densities and areas (up to 75 mg cm-2 and 100 cm2) on thin titanium plates (0.1 mm in thickness). These screen-printed plates were used to fabricate both unit cell and multi-cell stack of asymmetrical supercapacitors with screen-printed negative electrodes of activated carbon (pigment black) in aqueous electrolytes (3.0 mol L-1 KCl or 1.0 mol L-1 HCl). In particular, a three-cell stack with two bipolar Ti plates of 100 cm2 in screen-printed area was constructed, demonstrating promising technical specifications: 3.0 V in stack voltage, 1.29~1.83 F cm-2 in electrode capacitance, 2.30~3.24 Wh kg-1 in specific energy, and 1.04 kW kg-1 in maximum specific power. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charging and discharging, and electrochemical impedance spectrometry were applied to study the composites, screen-printed coatings and individual and bipolarly stacked cells, assisted by optical and electron microscopy.The authors thank E.ON AG for funding through the E.ON International Research Initiative-Energy Storage 2007.The authors thank E.ON AG for funding through the E.ON International Research Initiative-Energy Storage 2007.作者联系地址：诺丁汉大学 工程学部化学工程和环境工程系及能源与可持续性研究所，英国 诺丁汉 NG7 2RDAuthor's Address: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, and Energy and Sustainability Research Division, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK通讯作者E-mail：[email protected]

Pancreatic Stellate Cells: A Rising Translational Physiology Star as a Potential Stem Cell Type for Beta Cell Neogenesis

The progressive decline and eventual loss of islet β-cell function underlies the pathophysiological mechanism of the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The recovery of functional β-cells is an important strategy for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Based on similarities in developmental biology and anatomy, in vivo induction of differentiation of other types of pancreatic cells into β-cells is a promising avenue for future diabetes treatment. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which have attracted intense research interest due to their effects on tissue fibrosis over the last decade, express multiple stem cell markers and can differentiate into various cell types. In particular, PSCs can successfully differentiate into insulin- secreting cells in vitro and can contribute to tissue regeneration. In this article, we will brings together the main concepts of the translational physiology potential of PSCs that have emerged from work in the field and discuss possible ways to develop the future renewable source for clinical treatment of pancreatic diseases

Tailoring of polar and nonpolar ZnO planes on MgO (001) substrates through molecular beam epitaxy

Polar and nonpolar ZnO thin films were deposited on MgO (001) substrates under different deposition parameters using oxygen plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The orientations of ZnO thin films were investigated by in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD). The film roughness measured by atomic force microscopy evolved as a function of substrate temperature and was correlated with the grain sizes determined by XRD. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was performed to study the conduction band structures of the ZnO films. The fine structures of the XAS spectra, which were consistent with the results of density functional theory calculation, indicated that the polar and nonpolar ZnO films had different electronic structures. Our work suggests that it is possible to vary ZnO film structures from polar to nonpolar using the MBE growth technique and hence tailoring the electronic structures of the ZnO films

Titanium Nitride Film on Sapphire Substrate with Low Dielectric Loss for Superconducting Qubits

Dielectric loss is one of the major decoherence sources of superconducting qubits. Contemporary high-coherence superconducting qubits are formed by material systems mostly consisting of superconducting films on substrate with low dielectric loss, where the loss mainly originates from the surfaces and interfaces. Among the multiple candidates for material systems, a combination of titanium nitride (TiN) film and sapphire substrate has good potential because of its chemical stability against oxidization, and high quality at interfaces. In this work, we report a TiN film deposited onto sapphire substrate achieving low dielectric loss at the material interface. Through the systematic characterizations of a series of transmon qubits fabricated with identical batches of TiN base layers, but different geometries of qubit shunting capacitors with various participation ratios of the material interface, we quantitatively extract the loss tangent value at the substrate-metal interface smaller than $8.9 \times 10^{-4}$ in 1-nm disordered layer. By optimizing the interface participation ratio of the transmon qubit, we reproducibly achieve qubit lifetimes of up to 300 $\mu$s and quality factors approaching 8 million. We demonstrate that TiN film on sapphire substrate is an ideal material system for high-coherence superconducting qubits. Our analyses further suggest that the interface dielectric loss around the Josephson junction part of the circuit could be the dominant limitation of lifetimes for state-of-the-art transmon qubits