Composite Correlation Quantization for Efficient Multimodal Retrieval

Efficient similarity retrieval from large-scale multimodal database is pervasive in modern search engines and social networks. To support queries across content modalities, the system should enable cross-modal correlation and computation-efficient indexing. While hashing methods have shown great potential in achieving this goal, current attempts generally fail to learn isomorphic hash codes in a seamless scheme, that is, they embed multiple modalities in a continuous isomorphic space and separately threshold embeddings into binary codes, which incurs substantial loss of retrieval accuracy. In this paper, we approach seamless multimodal hashing by proposing a novel Composite Correlation Quantization (CCQ) model. Specifically, CCQ jointly finds correlation-maximal mappings that transform different modalities into isomorphic latent space, and learns composite quantizers that convert the isomorphic latent features into compact binary codes. An optimization framework is devised to preserve both intra-modal similarity and inter-modal correlation through minimizing both reconstruction and quantization errors, which can be trained from both paired and partially paired data in linear time. A comprehensive set of experiments clearly show the superior effectiveness and efficiency of CCQ against the state of the art hashing methods for both unimodal and cross-modal retrieval

Intelectin contributes to allergen-induced IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP expression and type 2 response in asthma and atopic dermatitis.

The epithelial and epidermal innate cytokines IL-25, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) have pivotal roles in the initiation of allergic inflammation in asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the mechanism by which the expression of these innate cytokines is regulated remains unclear. Intelectin (ITLN) is expressed in airway epithelial cells and promotes allergic airway inflammation. We hypothesized that ITLN is required for allergen-induced IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP expression. In two asthma models, Itln knockdown reduced allergen-induced increases in Il-25, Il-33, and Tslp and development of type 2 response, eosinophilic inflammation, mucus overproduction, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Itln knockdown also inhibited house dust mite (HDM)-induced early upregulation of Il-25, Il-33, and Tslp in a model solely inducing airway sensitization. Using human airway epithelial cells, we demonstrated that HDM-induced increases in ITLN led to phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor and extracellular-signal regulated kinase, which were required for induction of IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP expression. In two AD models, Itln knockdown suppressed expression of Il-33, Tslp, and Th2 cytokines and eosinophilic inflammation. In humans, ITLN1 expression was significantly increased in asthmatic airways and in lesional skin of AD. We conclude that ITLN contributes to allergen-induced Il-25, Il-33, and Tslp expression in asthma and AD

Genetic Variation in S100B Modulates Neural Processing of Visual Scenes in Han Chinese

Spatial navigation is a crucial ability for living. Previous animal studies have shown that the S100B gene is causally related to spatial navigation performance in mice. However, the genetic factors influencing human navigation and its neural substrates remain unclear. Here, we provided the first evidence that the S100B gene modulates neural processing of navigationally relevant scenes in humans. First, with a novel protocol, we demonstrated that the spatial pattern of S100B gene expression in postmortem brains was associated with brain activation pattern for spatial navigation in general, and for scene processing in particular. Further, in a large fMRI cohort of healthy adults of Han Chinese (N = 202), we found that S100B gene polymorphisms modulated scene selectivity in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) and parahippocampal place area. Finally, the serum levels of S100B protein mediated the association between S100B gene polymorphism and scene selectivity in the RSC. Our study takes the first step toward understanding the neurogenetic mechanism of human spatial navigation and suggests a novel approach to discover candidate genes modulating cognitive functions

The Hierarchical Structure of the Face Network Revealed by Its Functional Connectivity Pattern

A major principle of human brain organization is “integrating” some regions into networks while “segregating” other sets of regions into separate networks. However, little is known about the cognitive function of the integration and segregation of brain networks. Here, we examined the well-studied brain network for face processing, and asked whether the integration and segregation of the face network (FN) are related to face recognition performance. To do so, we used a voxel-based global brain connectivity method based on resting-state fMRI to characterize the within-network connectivity (WNC) and the between-network connectivity (BNC) of the FN. We found that 95.4% of voxels in the FN had a significantly stronger WNC than BNC, suggesting that the FN is a relatively encapsulated network. Importantly, individuals with a stronger WNC (i.e., integration) in the right fusiform face area were better at recognizing faces, whereas individuals with a weaker BNC (i.e., segregation) in the right occipital face area performed better in the face recognition tasks. In short, our study not only demonstrates the behavioral relevance of integration and segregation of the FN but also provides evidence supporting functional division of labor between the occipital face area and fusiform face area in the hierarchically organized FN

X-ray Observation and Analysis of The Composite Supernova Remnant G327.1-1.1

Based on the data from the observation of the SNR G327.1-1.1 by ASCA and ROSAT, we find that G327.1-1.1 is a composite remnant with both a nonthermal emission component and a diffuse thermal emission component. The nonthermal component is well fitted by a power-law model with photon index about 2.2. This component is attributed to the emission from the synchrotron nebula powered by an undiscovered central pulsar. The thermal component has a temperature of about 0.4 keV. We attribute it to the emission from the shock-heat swept-up ISM. Its age, explosion energy and density of ambient medium are derived from the observed thermal component. Some charactistics about the synchrotron nebula are also derived. We search for the pulsed signal, but has not found it. The soft X-ray(0.4 - 2 keV) and hard X-ray(2 - 10 keV) images are different, but they both elongate in the SE-NW direction. And this X-ray SE-NW elongation is in positional coincidence with the radio ridge in MOST 843MHz radio map. We present a possibility that the X-ray nonthermal emission mainly come from the trail produced by a quickly moving undiscoverd pulsar, and the long radio ridge is formed when the pulsar is moving out of the boundary of the plerionic structure.Comment: 20 pages, 4 Postscript figures, aasms4.sty and psfig.sty, to be published in Astrophysical Journal, January 20, 1999, Vol. 51

q-deformed Supersymmetric t-J Model with a Boundary

The q-deformed supersymmetric t-J model on a semi-infinite lattice is diagonalized by using the level-one vertex operators of the quantum affine superalgebra $U_q[\hat{sl(2|1)}]$. We give the bosonization of the boundary states. We give an integral expression of the correlation functions of the boundary model, and derive the difference equations which they satisfy.Comment: LaTex file 18 page

Localized magnetic states in biased bilayer and trilayer graphene

We study the localized magnetic states of impurity in biased bilayer and trilayer graphene. It is found that the magnetic boundary for bilayer and trilayer graphene presents the mixing features of Dirac and conventional fermion. For zero gate bias, as the impurity energy approaches the Dirac point, the impurity magnetization region diminishes for bilayer and trilayer graphene. When a gate bias is applied, the dependence of impurity magnetic states on the impurity energy exhibits a different behavior for bilayer and trilayer graphene due to the opening of a gap between the valence and the conduction band in the bilayer graphene with the gate bias applied. The magnetic moment and the corresponding magnetic transition of the impurity in bilayer graphene are also investigated.Comment: 16 pages,6 figure

The radiosensitization effects of Endostar on human lung squamous cancer cells H-520

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The present study mainly aimed to investigate the direct effects of Endostar (ES) on the proliferation and radiosensitivity of human lung squamous cancer cell line H-520.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ES significantly inhibited H-520 cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. According to the colony-forming assays, ES could increase the H-520 cell radiosensitivity. ES induced cell apoptosis, the apoptosis rate increased with the raise of ES concentration. Irradiation induced significantly higher apoptosis rate in ES-treated H-520 cells than non-treated H-520 cells. ES induced cell cycle distribution and G₀/G₁arrest in H-520 cells, whereas irradiation induced G₂/M arrest. The phospho-p38-MAPK and p-Akt protein levels were decreased in H-520 cells after ES treatment. Furthermore, activated caspase protein level increased and Bcl-2 protein levels decreased after treatment with ES and irradiation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ES significantly enhanced the sensitivity of H-520 cells to irradiation by inhibition of cellular proliferation, promotion of cell apoptosis and redistribution of cell cycle, possibly via deactivation of Akt pathway. The present study supports the possibility to use the combination of ES and ionizing irradiation to treat patients with lung squamous cell cancer in clinics.</p