Multi-View 3D Object Detection Network for Autonomous Driving

This paper aims at high-accuracy 3D object detection in autonomous driving scenario. We propose Multi-View 3D networks (MV3D), a sensory-fusion framework that takes both LIDAR point cloud and RGB images as input and predicts oriented 3D bounding boxes. We encode the sparse 3D point cloud with a compact multi-view representation. The network is composed of two subnetworks: one for 3D object proposal generation and another for multi-view feature fusion. The proposal network generates 3D candidate boxes efficiently from the bird's eye view representation of 3D point cloud. We design a deep fusion scheme to combine region-wise features from multiple views and enable interactions between intermediate layers of different paths. Experiments on the challenging KITTI benchmark show that our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art by around 25% and 30% AP on the tasks of 3D localization and 3D detection. In addition, for 2D detection, our approach obtains 10.3% higher AP than the state-of-the-art on the hard data among the LIDAR-based methods.Comment: To appear in IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) 201

Placement Distance of Exit Advance Guide Sign on an Eight-Lane Expressway Considering Lane Changing Behaviour in China

The reasonable placement of the advance guide signs (AGSs) is important in improving driving efficiency and safety when exiting an expressway. By analysing the lane-changing process when approaching an exit on new two-way eight-lane expressways, we modified the tradi-tional AGS model lane-change distance formula. To this end, a field experiment was designed to explore the lane-change traversal time at the free flow condition (LOS 1). Considering the limitations of the experimental equip-ment, lane change distance at the worst levels of service was explored using VISSIM simulation. The results show that the eight-lane changing distance based on modified theoretical calculations, revealed a minor difference with VISSIM simulation in free flow condition. Further-more, placement distance at the worst levels of service are discussed. Then placement distance of all-level AGSs is recommended to be 3 km, 2 km, 1.2 km, and 0.8 km, considering the driver\u27s short-term memory attenuation calculation formula. Determining the two-way eight-lane AGS placement distance from the perspective of LOS can provide a basis on which to supplement the existing stan-dards and references for the AGS placement distance af-ter the expressway expansion in China

Single pair of charge-two high-fold fermions with type-II van Hove singularities on the surface of ultralight chiral crystals

The realization of single-pair chiral fermions in Weyl systems remains challenging in topology physics, especially for the systems with higher chiral charges $C$. In this work, based on the symmetry analysis, low-energy effective model, and first-principles calculations, we identify the single-pair high-fold fermions in chiral cubic lattices. We first derive the minimal lattice model that exhibits a single pair of Weyl points with the opposite chiral charges of $C$ = $\pm{2}$. Furthermore, we show the ultralight chiral crystal P4$_3$32-type LiC$_2$ and its mirror enantiomer as high-quality candidate materials, which exhibit large energy windows to surmount the interruption of irrelevant bands. Since two enantiomers are connected by the mirror symmetry, we observe the opposite chiral charges $C$ and the reversal of the Fermi arc velocities, showing the correspondence of chirality in the momentum space and the real space. In addition, we also reveal type-II van Hove singularities on the helicoid surfaces, which may induce chirality-locked charge density waves on the crystal surface. Our work not only provides a promising platform for controlling the sign of topological charge through the structural chirality but also facilitates the exploration of electronic correlations on the surface of ultralight chiral crystals.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

High mobility group box 1 promotes radioresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines by modulating autophagy

Resistance to radiotherapy results in relapse and treatment failure in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is reported to be associated with the radioresistance in bladder and breast cancer. However, the role of HMGB1 in the radiotherapy response in ESCC has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the role of HMGB1 to radioresistance in ESCC clinical samples and cell lines. We found that HMGB1 expression was associated with tumor recurrence after postoperative radiotherapy in locally advanced ESCC patients. HMGB1 knockdown in ESCC cells resulted in increased radiosensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. Autophagy level was found depressed in HMGB1 inhibition cells and activation of autophagy brought back cell's radioresistance. Our results demonstrate that HMGB1 activate autophagy and consequently promote radioresistance. HMGB1 may be used as a predictor of poor response to radiotherapy in ESCC patients. Our finding also highlights the importance of the utility of HMGB1 in ESCC radiosensitization.Peer reviewe

A Conceptual Framework and Roadmap Approach for Integrating BIM into Lifecycle Project Management

As a disruptive information and communication technology (ICT) in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) industry, building information modeling (BIM) enables project teams to manage a project via a model-based cooperative approach. Although it has a widespread impact on the industry, the systematic implementation ofBIM in projects faces challenges. This study integrated BIM into the lifecycle of a building project with the introduction of a conceptual framework constituted by BIM Information Flow, BIM Model Chain, BIM Workflow, BIM Institutional Environment, and BIM-based Project Management Information System (PMIS). This con- ceptual framework identifies the key areas for integrating BIM into the project lifecycle and explains how BIM works for project management practice. Through an ethnographic action research approach, the study developed a BIM roadmap for the project lifecycle by systematically implementing BIM in the building project. The major findings and pieces of evidence derived via the implementation support the conceptual framework. The following discussions explain howBIM disrupts the project from the view of organization design and clarify the contributions of this study in project management, as well as BIM adoption and integration. Finally, the conclusions focus on the development of this research, the role of the conceptual framework to underlie the BIM roadmap, and the research limitations. Recommendations are provided to- ward future research works

Dietary inflammatory potential mediated gut microbiota and metabolite alterations in Crohn's disease:A fire-new perspective

Background & aims: Pro-inflammatory diet interacting with gut microbiome might trigger for Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary inflammatory potential and microflora/metabolites change and their link with CD. Methods: The dietary inflammatory potential was assessed using a dietary inflammatory index (DII) based on the Food Frequency Questionnaire from 150 new-onset CD patients and 285 healthy controls (HCs). We selected 41 CD patients and 89 HCs who had not received medication for metagenomic and targeted metabolomic sequencing to profile their gut microbial composition as well as fecal and serum metabolites. DII scores were classified into quartiles to investigate associations among different variables. Results: DII scores of CD patients were significantly higher than HCs (0.56 ± 1.20 vs 0.23 ± 1.02, p = 0.017). With adjustment for confounders, a higher DII score was significantly associated with higher risk of CD (OR: 1.420; 95% CI: 1.049, 1.923, p = 0.023). DII score also was positively correlated with disease activity (p = 0.001). Morganella morganii and Veillonella parvula were increased while Coprococcus eutactus was decreased in the pro-inflammatory diets group, as well as in CD. DII-related bacteria were associated with disease activity and inflammatory markers in CD patients. Among the metabolic change, pro-inflammatory diet induced metabolites change were largely involved in amino acid metabolic pathways that were also observed in CD. Conclusions: Pro-inflammatory diet might be associated with increased risk and disease activity of CD. Diet with high DII potentially involves in CD by mediating alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites

A novel fusion protein consisting of anti-ANGPTL3 antibody and interleukin-22 ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in mice

IntroductionThe pathogenic mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy (DN) include podocyte injury, inflammatory responses and metabolic disorders. Although the antagonism of Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) can alleviate proteinuria symptoms by inhibiting the activation of integrin αvβ3 on the surface of podocytes, it can not impede other pathological processes, such as inflammatory responses and metabolic dysfunction of glucolipid. Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is considered to be a pivotal molecule involved in suppressing inflammatory responses, initiating regenerative repair, and regulating glucolipid metabolism.MethodsGenes encoding the mIL22IgG2aFc and two chains of anti-ANGPTL3 antibody and bifunctional protein were synthesized. Then, the DN mice were treated with intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, anti-ANGPTL3 (20 mg/kg), mIL22Fc (12 mg/kg) or anti-ANGPTL3 /IL22 (25.3 mg/kg) and irrigation of positive drug losartan (20mg/kg/d) twice a week for 8 weeks.ResultsIn this research, a novel bifunctional fusion protein (anti-ANGPTL3/IL22) formed by the fusion of IL-22 with the C-terminus of anti-ANGPTL3 antibody exhibited favorable stability and maintained the biological activity of anti-ANGPTL3 and IL-22, respectively. The fusion protein showed a more pronounced attenuation of proteinuria and improved dysfunction of glucolipid metabolism compared with mIL22Fc or anti-ANGPTL3. Our results also indicated that anti-ANGPTL3/IL22 intervention significantly alleviated renal fibrosis via inhibiting the expression of the inflammatory response-related protein nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) p65 and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Moreover, transcriptome analysis revealed the downregulation of signaling pathways associated with injury and dysfunction of the renal parenchymal cell indicating the possible protective mechanisms of anti-ANGPTL3/IL22 in DN.ConclusionCollectively, anti-ANGPTL3/IL22 bifunctional fusion protein can be a promising novel therapeutic strategy for DN by reducing podocyte injury, ameliorating inflammatory response, and enhancing renal tissue recovery

Envelope Deglycosylation Enhances Antigenicity of HIV-1 gp41 Epitopes for Both Broad Neutralizing Antibodies and Their Unmutated Ancestor Antibodies

The HIV-1 gp41 envelope (Env) membrane proximal external region (MPER) is an important vaccine target that in rare subjects can elicit neutralizing antibodies. One mechanism proposed for rarity of MPER neutralizing antibody generation is lack of reverted unmutated ancestor (putative naive B cell receptor) antibody reactivity with HIV-1 envelope. We have studied the effect of partial deglycosylation under non-denaturing (native) conditions on gp140 Env antigenicity for MPER neutralizing antibodies and their reverted unmutated ancestor antibodies. We found that native deglycosylation of clade B JRFL gp140 as well as group M consensus gp140 Env CON-S selectively increased the reactivity of Env with the broad neutralizing human mAbs, 2F5 and 4E10. Whereas fully glycosylated gp140 Env either did not bind (JRFL), or weakly bound (CON-S), 2F5 and 4E10 reverted unmutated ancestors, natively deglycosylated JRFL and CON-S gp140 Envs did bind well to these putative mimics of naive B cell receptors. These data predict that partially deglycoslated Env would bind better than fully glycosylated Env to gp41-specific naïve B cells with improved immunogenicity. In this regard, immunization of rhesus macaques demonstrated enhanced immunogenicity of the 2F5 MPER epitope on deglyosylated JRFL gp140 compared to glycosylated JRFL gp140. Thus, the lack of 2F5 and 4E10 reverted unmutated ancestor binding to gp140 Env may not always be due to lack of unmutated ancestor antibody reactivity with gp41 peptide epitopes, but rather, may be due to glycan interference of binding of unmutated ancestor antibodies of broad neutralizing mAb to Env gp41