829 research outputs found
Make the Most Out of Your Net: Alternating Between Canonical and Hard Datasets for Improved Image Demosaicing
Image demosaicing is an important step in the image processing pipeline for
digital cameras, and it is one of the many tasks within the field of image
restoration. A well-known characteristic of natural images is that most patches
are smooth, while high-content patches like textures or repetitive patterns are
much rarer, which results in a long-tailed distribution. This distribution can
create an inductive bias when training machine learning algorithms for image
restoration tasks and for image demosaicing in particular. There have been many
different approaches to address this challenge, such as utilizing specific
losses or designing special network architectures. What makes our work is
unique in that it tackles the problem from a training protocol perspective. Our
proposed training regime consists of two key steps. The first step is a
data-mining stage where sub-categories are created and then refined through an
elimination process to only retain the most helpful sub-categories. The second
step is a cyclic training process where the neural network is trained on both
the mined sub-categories and the original dataset. We have conducted various
experiments to demonstrate the effectiveness of our training method for the
image demosaicing task. Our results show that this method outperforms standard
training across a range of architecture sizes and types, including CNNs and
Transformers. Moreover, we are able to achieve state-of-the-art results with a
significantly smaller neural network, compared to previous state-of-the-art
methods
Genetic screening for mutants with altered seminal root numbers in hexaploid wheat using a high-throughput root phenotyping platform
Roots are the main channel for water and nutrient uptake in plants. Optimization of root architecture provides a viable strategy to improve nutrient and water uptake efficiency and maintain crop productivity under water-limiting and nutrient-poor conditions. We know little, however, about the genetic control of root development in wheat, a crop supplying 20% of global calorie and protein intake. To improve our understanding of the genetic control of seminal root development in wheat, we conducted a high-throughput screen for variation in seminal root number using an exome-sequenced mutant population derived from the hexaploid wheat cultivar Cadenza. The screen identified seven independent mutants with homozygous and stably altered seminal root number phenotypes. One mutant, Cadenza0900, displays a recessive extra seminal root number phenotype, while six mutants (Cadenza0062, Cadenza0369, Cadenza0393, Cadenza0465, Cadenza0818 and Cadenza1273) show lower seminal root number phenotypes most likely originating from defects in the formation and activation of seminal root primordia. Segregation analysis in F2 populations suggest that the phenotype of Cadenza0900 is controlled by multiple loci whereas the Cadenza0062 phenotype fits a 3:1 mutant:wild-type segregation ratio characteristic of dominant single gene action. This work highlights the potential to use the sequenced wheat mutant population as a forward genetic resource to uncover novel variation in agronomic traits, such as seminal root architecture
Dissection of powdery mildew resistance uncover different resistance types in the Triticum turgidum L. gene pool
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and cosmetic results of transvaginal hybrid cholecystectomy (TVC), single-port cholecystectomy (SPC), and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC). Recently, single-incision laparoscopic surgery and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery have been developed as minimally invasive alternatives for CLC. Few comparative studies have been reported. METHODS: Female patients with symptomatic gallstone disease who were treated in 2011 with SPC, TVC, or CLC were entered into a database. Patients were matched for age, body mass index, and previous abdominal surgery. After the operation all patients received a survey with questions about recovery, cosmesis, and body image. Results : A total of 90 patients, 30 in each group, were evaluated. Median operative time for CLC was significantly shorter (p < 0.001). There were no major complications. Length of hospital stay, postoperative pain, and postoperative complications were not significantly different. The results for cosmesis and body image after the transvaginal approach were significantly higher. None of the sexually active women observed postoperative dyspareunia. CONCLUSIONS: Both SPC and TVC are feasible procedures when performed in selected patients. CLC is a faster procedure, but other clinical outcomes and complication rates were similar. SPC, and especially TVC, offer a better cosmetic result. Randomized trials are needed to specify the role of SPC and TVC in the treatment of patients with symptomatic gallstone disease
Normal scaling in globally conserved interface-controlled coarsening of fractal clusters
Globally conserved interface-controlled coarsening of fractal clusters
exhibits dynamic scale invariance and normal scaling. This is demonstrated by a
numerical solution of the Ginzburg-Landau equation with a global conservation
law. The sharp-interface limit of this equation is volume preserving motion by
mean curvature. The scaled form of the correlation function has a power-law
tail accommodating the fractal initial condition. The coarsening length
exhibits normal scaling with time. Finally, shrinking of the fractal clusters
with time is observed. The difference between global and local conservation is
discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figure
Dissection of powdery mildew resistance uncover different resistance types in the Triticum turgidum L. gene pool
Distributed Testing of Excluded Subgraphs
We study property testing in the context of distributed computing, under the
classical CONGEST model. It is known that testing whether a graph is
triangle-free can be done in a constant number of rounds, where the constant
depends on how far the input graph is from being triangle-free. We show that,
for every connected 4-node graph H, testing whether a graph is H-free can be
done in a constant number of rounds too. The constant also depends on how far
the input graph is from being H-free, and the dependence is identical to the
one in the case of testing triangles. Hence, in particular, testing whether a
graph is K_4-free, and testing whether a graph is C_4-free can be done in a
constant number of rounds (where K_k denotes the k-node clique, and C_k denotes
the k-node cycle). On the other hand, we show that testing K_k-freeness and
C_k-freeness for k>4 appear to be much harder. Specifically, we investigate two
natural types of generic algorithms for testing H-freeness, called DFS tester
and BFS tester. The latter captures the previously known algorithm to test the
presence of triangles, while the former captures our generic algorithm to test
the presence of a 4-node graph pattern H. We prove that both DFS and BFS
testers fail to test K_k-freeness and C_k-freeness in a constant number of
rounds for k>4
Genomic dissection of whole-plant responses to water deficit in durum wheat Ă— wild emmer wheat RIL population
In this article we examine trends in age homogamy in first marriages in the Netherlands since 1942.... We analyze population data collected by Statistics Netherlands. Controlling for the age distribution of first-marrying men and women, chances are greatest to have married a partner of the same age. These relative chances decrease with rising age at marriage, and increase over historical time. The association between spouses' ages in age-divergent marriages is greater when the husband is older than his wife. This asymmetry in the association decreased until 1970, but increased up until 1994
Quantitative trait loci conferring grain mineral nutrient concentrations in durum wheat 3 wild emmer wheat RIL population
Mineral nutrient malnutrition, and particularly
deficiency in zinc and iron, afflicts over 3 billion people
worldwide. Wild emmer wheat, Triticum turgidum ssp.
dicoccoides, genepool harbors a rich allelic repertoire for
mineral nutrients in the grain. The genetic and physiological
basis of grain protein, micronutrients (zinc, iron,
copper and manganese) and macronutrients (calcium,
magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur) concentration
was studied in tetraploid wheat population of 152
recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from a cross
between durum wheat (cv. Langdon) and wild emmer
(accession G18-16). Wide genetic variation was found
among the RILs for all grain minerals, with considerable
transgressive effect. A total of 82 QTLs were mapped for
10 minerals with LOD score range of 3.2–16.7. Most QTLs
were in favor of the wild allele (50 QTLs). Fourteen pairs
of QTLs for the same trait were mapped to seemingly
homoeologous positions, reflecting synteny between the A
and B genomes. Significant positive correlation was found
between grain protein concentration (GPC), Zn, Fe and Cu,
which was supported by significant overlap between the
respective QTLs, suggesting common physiological and/or
genetic factors controlling the concentrations of these
mineral nutrients. Few genomic regions (chromosomes 2A,
5A, 6B and 7A) were found to harbor clusters of QTLs for
GPC and other nutrients. These identified QTLs may
facilitate the use of wild alleles for improving grain
nutritional quality of elite wheat cultivars, especially in
terms of protein, Zn and Fe
- …