Ithaca365: Dataset and Driving Perception under Repeated and Challenging Weather Conditions

Advances in perception for self-driving cars have accelerated in recent years due to the availability of large-scale datasets, typically collected at specific locations and under nice weather conditions. Yet, to achieve the high safety requirement, these perceptual systems must operate robustly under a wide variety of weather conditions including snow and rain. In this paper, we present a new dataset to enable robust autonomous driving via a novel data collection process - data is repeatedly recorded along a 15 km route under diverse scene (urban, highway, rural, campus), weather (snow, rain, sun), time (day/night), and traffic conditions (pedestrians, cyclists and cars). The dataset includes images and point clouds from cameras and LiDAR sensors, along with high-precision GPS/INS to establish correspondence across routes. The dataset includes road and object annotations using amodal masks to capture partial occlusions and 3D bounding boxes. We demonstrate the uniqueness of this dataset by analyzing the performance of baselines in amodal segmentation of road and objects, depth estimation, and 3D object detection. The repeated routes opens new research directions in object discovery, continual learning, and anomaly detection. Link to Ithaca365: https://ithaca365.mae.cornell.edu/Comment: Accepted by CVPR 202

The rates and the determinants of hypertension according to the 2017 definition of hypertension by ACC/AHA and 2014 evidence-based guidelines among population aged ≥40 years old

Background : In November 2017, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) updated their definition of hypertension from 140/90 mm Hg to 130/80 mm Hg. Objectives : We sought to assess the situation of hypertension and the impact of applying the new threshold to a geographically and ethnically diverse population. Methods : We analyzed selected data on 237,142 participants aged ≥40 who had blood pressure taken for the 2014 China National Stroke Screening and Prevention Project. Choropleth maps and logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the prevalence, geographical distribution and risk factors of hypertension using both 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines and 2014 evidence-based guidelines. Results : The present cross-sectional study showed the age- and sex-standardized prevalence of hypertension was 37.08% and 58.52%, respectively, according to 2014 evidence-based guidelines and 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines. The distribution of hypertension and risk factors changed little between guidelines, with data showing a high prevalence of hypertension around Bohai Gulf and in south central coastal areas using either definition. The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of newly labeled as hypertensive was 21.44%. Interestingly, the high prevalence region of newly labeled as hypertensive was found in the north China. Conclusion : The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly on 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines compared to the prevalence when using 2014 evidence-based guidelines, with high prevalence areas of newly labeled as hypertensive now seen mainly in north China. There need to be correspondingly robust efforts to improve health education, health management, and behavioral and lifestyle interventions in the north

Aptamer-based fluorometric determination of Salmonella Typhimurium using Fe3O4 magnetic separation and CdTe quantum dots.

Based on the high sensitivity and stable fluorescence of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) in conjunction with a specific DNA aptamer, the authors describe an aptamer-based fluorescence assay for the determination of Salmonella Typhimurium. The fluorescence detection and quantification of S. Typhimurium is based on a magnetic separation system, a combination of aptamer-coated Fe3O4 magnetic particles (Apt-MNPs) and QD-labeled ssDNA2 (complementary strand of the aptamer). Apt-MNPs are employed for the specific capture of S. Typhimurium. CdTe QD-labeled ssDNA2 was used as a signaling probe. Simply, the as-prepared CdTe QD-labeled ssDNA2 was first incubated with the Apt-MNPs to form the aptamer-ssDNA2 duplex. After the addition of S. Typhimurium, they could specifically bind the DNA aptamer, leading to cleavage of the aptamer-ssDNA2 duplex, accompanied by the release of CdTe QD-labeled DNA. Thus, an increased fluorescence signal can be achieved after magnetic removal of the Apt-MNPs. The fluorescence of CdTe QDs (λexc/em = 327/612 nm) increases linearly in the concentration range of 10 to 1010 cfu•mL-1, and the limit of detection is determined to be 1 cfu•mL-1. The detection process can be performed within 2 h and is successfully applied to the analysis of spiked food samples with good recoveries from 90% to 105%

The Effect of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) on Semen Parameters in Human Males: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is one of the risk factors of impaired male fertility potential. Studies have investigated the effect of CP/CPPS on several semen parameters but have shown inconsistent results. Hence, we performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to assess the association between CP/CPPS and basic semen parameters in adult men.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Systematic literature searches were conducted with PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library up to August 2013 for case-control studies that involved the impact of CP/CPSS on semen parameters. Meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager and Stata software. Standard mean differences (SMD) of semen parameters were identified with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) in a random effects model.</p><p>Results</p><p>Twelve studies were identified, including 999 cases of CP/CPPS and 455 controls. Our results illustrated that the sperm concentration and the percentage of progressively motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm from patients with CP/CPPS were significantly lower than controls (SMD (95% CI) −14.12 (−21.69, −6.63), −5.94 (−8.63, −3.25) and −8.26 (−11.83, −4.66), respectively). However, semen volume in the CP/CPPS group was higher than in the control group (SMD (95% CI) 0.50 (0.11, 0.89)). There was no significant effect of CP/CPPS on the total sperm count, sperm total motility, and sperm vitality.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The present study illustrates that there was a significant negative effect of CP/CPPS on sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, and normal sperm morphology. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better illuminate the negative impact of CP/CPPS on semen parameters.</p></div

Droit de l’internet : droit français et européen (2ème éd.)

<p>Forest plot showing the meta-analysis outcomes of the effect of CP/CPPS on sperm vitality.</p

LXR Agonist Regulates the Carcinogenesis of PCa via the SOCS3 Pathway

Background: Down-regulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) inhibits prostate cancer (PCa) cell growth. Liver X receptors (LXRs) agonists have been recently introduced for PCa treatment. We postulated that LXR may inhibit the carcinogenesis of PCa via the SOCS3 pathway. Methods: LNCaP cells were cultured and transfected with SOCS3 small-interfering RNA (SOCS3-siRNA) and control small-interfering RNA (control-siRNA). Then cells were treated with LXR activator (GW3965). The expressions of PCa related transcript factors, e.g. transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-&#954;B) and activation protein 1(AP1) were detected by western blot assay. In vitro cell proliferation, cell migration, cell invasion and apoptosis were analysed. Nude mice were used for in vivo tumorgenesis. Results: In cells treated with control-siRNA, GW3965 enhanced SOCS3 expression and significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3, NF-&#954;B and AP1 expressions, accompanied by dramatically reduced cellular proliferation rate, immigration and invasion of cultured cells. In cells treated with SOCS3-siRNA, the inhibitory effects of LXR activator on the phosphorylation of STAT3 and expressions of NF-&#954;B and AP1 were totally abolished. The cell proliferation rate, immigration and invasion were markedly elevated by SOCS3 gene mutation, even with GW3965 treatment. The in vivo tumorgenesis assay showed that GW3965 significantly reduced the tumor volumes in tumor-bearing nude mice receiving saline injection, but failed to limit the tumor volume in tumor-bearing nude mice receiving SOCS3 antibody injection. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence in support of the notion that LXR agonist may regulate the carcinogenesis of PCa via the SOCS3 pathway

Flow diagram of selection of eligible studies.

<p>Flow diagram of selection of eligible studies.</p

Forest plot showing the meta-analysis outcomes of the effect of CP/CPPS on total sperm counts.

<p>Forest plot showing the meta-analysis outcomes of the effect of CP/CPPS on total sperm counts.</p

Characteristics of included studies investigating the effect of CP/CPPS on semen parameters.

<p>Abbreviations: SpV, semen volume; SC, sperm concentration (density); TSC, total sperm count; SPM, progressive sperm motility; STM, total sperm motility; SpV, sperm vitality; SNM, normal sperm morphology; IIIA, NIH IIIA subgroup; IIIB, NIH IIIB subgroup; III, NIH III subgroup; NI, not indicated in studies;</p>a<p>: confirmed by the authors.</p