Mutual information maximizing GAN inversion for real face with identity preservation

Recent generative adversarial networks (GANs) have yielded remarkable performance in face image synthesis. GAN inversion embeds an image into the latent space of a pretrained generator, enabling it to be used for real face manipulation. However, current inversion approaches for real faces suffer the dilemma of initialization collapse and identity loss. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical GAN inversion for real faces with identity preservation based on mutual information maximization. We first use a facial domain guaranteed initialization to avoid the initialization collapse. Furthermore, we prove that maximizing the mutual information between inverted faces and their identities is equivalent to minimizing the distance between identity features from inverted and original faces. Optimization for real face inversion with identity preservation is implemented on this mutual information-maximizing constraint. Extensive experimental results show that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art solutions for inverting and editing real faces, particularly in terms of face identity preservation.     

基于改进残差特征蒸馏的轻量级超分辨率网络

基于深度学习的图像超分辨率算法通常采用递归的方式或参数共享的策略来减少网络参数，这将增加网络的深度，使得运行网络花费大量的时间，从而很难将模型部署到现实生活中。为了解决上述问题，本文设计一种轻量级超分辨率网络，对中间特征的关联性及重要性进行学习，且在重建部分结合高分辨率图像的特征信息。首先，引入层间注意力模块，通过考虑层与层之间的相关性，自适应地分配重要层次特征的权重。其次，使用增强重建模块提取高分辨率图像中更精细的特征信息，以此得到更加清晰的重建图片。通过大量的对比实验表明，本文设计的网络与其他轻量级模型相比，有更小的网络参数量，并且在重建精度和视觉效果上都有一定的提升。     

No-Reference Video Quality Assessment using novel hybrid features and two-stage hybrid regression for score level fusion

This paper presents a novel No-Reference Video Quality Assessment (NR-VQA) model that utilizes proposed 3D steerable wavelet transform-based Natural Video Statistics (NVS) features as well as human perceptual features. Additionally, we proposed a novel two-stage regression scheme that significantly improves the overall performance of quality estimation. In the first stage, transform-based NVS and human perceptual features are separately passed through the proposed hybrid regression scheme: Support Vector Regression (SVR) followed by Polynomial curve fitting. The two visual quality scores predicted from the first stage are then used as features for the similar second stage. This predicts the final quality scores of distorted videos by achieving score level fusion. Extensive experiments were conducted using five authentic and four synthetic distortion databases. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other published state-of-the-art benchmark methods on synthetic distortion databases and is among the top performers on authentic distortion databases. The source code is available at https://github.com/anishVNIT/two-stage-vqa.     

The use of seed texture features for discriminating different cultivars of stored apples

The aim of this study was to identify the textural features of apple seeds with the highest discriminatory power for distinguishing the seeds of different apple cultivars with the use of discriminative classifiers. The seeds of apple cvs. Gala, Jonagold and Idared were scanned with the use of a flatbed scanner, and the acquired images were processed to calculate textural features from color channels: L, a, b, R, G, B, Y, U, V, H, S, I, X, Y and Z. The selected textures were used to develop discriminative models and distinguish the seeds of the examined apple cultivars. The analyses were performed for color spaces and color channels. The seeds of apple cvs. Gala and Idared were discriminated with 100% accuracy in models based on the textures from Lab and YUV color spaces and color channel L for the Naive Bayes, Multilayer Perceptron and Multi Class classifiers. The discriminatory accuracies of the seeds of all analyzed apple cultivars (Gala, Idared and Jonagold) ranged from 72% to 85%. The discriminatory accuracy of the textures selected from Lab color space for the Naive Bayes classifier reached 85%. The seeds of apple cvs. Gala and Jonagold were discriminated with 78–90% accuracy, and the discriminatory accuracy of the textures from Lab color space and color channel b for the Naive Bayes classifier reached 90%. The seeds of apple cvs. Idared and Jonagold were distinguished with 80–94% accuracy. The models based on textures from Lab color space and color channel b for the Naive Bayes classifier were characterized by 94% discriminatory accuracy. The study demonstrated that textural features are useful for discriminating the seeds of different apple cultivars.     

A deep neural network based classifier for brain tumor diagnosis

Classification process plays a key role in diagnosing brain tumors. Earlier research works are intended for identifying brain tumors using different classification techniques. However, the False Alarm Rates (FARs) of existing classification techniques are high. To improve the early-stage brain tumor diagnosis via classification the Weighted Correlation Feature Selection Based Iterative Bayesian Multivariate Deep Neural Learning (WCFS-IBMDNL) technique is proposed in this work. The WCFS-IBMDNL algorithm considers medical dataset for classifying the brain tumor diagnosis at an early stage. At first, the WCFS-IBMDNL technique performs Weighted Correlation-Based Feature Selection (WC-FS) by selecting subsets of medical features that are relevant for classification of brain tumors. After completing the feature selection process, the WCFS-IBMDNL technique uses Iterative Bayesian Multivariate Deep Neural Network (IBMDNN) classifier for reducing the misclassification error rate of brain tumor identification. The WCFS-IBMDNL technique was evaluated in JAVA language using Disease Diagnosis Rate (DDR), Disease Diagnosis Time (DDT), and FAR parameter through the epileptic seizure recognition dataset.     

基于文本与语义相关性分析的图像检索

为了更加有效地检索到符合用户复杂语义需求的图像，提出一种基于文本描述与语义相关性分析的图像检索算法。该方法将图像检索分为两步：基于文本语义相关性分析的图像检索和基于SIFT特征的相似图像扩展检索。根据自然语言处理技术分析得到用户文本需求中的关键词及其语义关联，在选定图像库中通过语义相关性分析得到“种子”图像；接下来在图像扩展检索中，采用基于SIFT特征的相似图像检索，利用之前得到的“种子”图像作为查询条件，在网络图像库中进行扩展检索，并在结果集上根据两次检索的图像相似度进行排序输出，最终得到更加丰富有效的图像检索结果。为了证明算法的有效性，在标准数据集Corel5K和网络数据集Deriantart8K上完成了多组实验，实验结果证明该方法能够得到较为精确地符合用户语义要求的图像检索结果，并且通过扩展算法可以得到更加丰富的检索结果。     

Reversal of the Inflammatory Responses in Fabry Patient iPSC-Derived Cardiovascular Endothelial Cells by CRISPR/Cas9-Corrected Mutation

The late-onset type of Fabry disease (FD) with GLA IVS4 + 919G > A mutation has been shown to lead to cardiovascular dysfunctions. In order to eliminate variations in other aspects of the genetic background, we established the isogenic control of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for the identification of the pathogenetic factors for FD phenotypes through CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing. We adopted droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to efficiently capture mutational events, thus enabling isolation of the corrected FD from FD-iPSCs. Both of these exhibited the characteristics of pluripotency and phenotypic plasticity, and they can be differentiated into endothelial cells (ECs). We demonstrated the phenotypic abnormalities in FD iPSC-derived ECs (FD-ECs), including intracellular Gb3 accumulation, autophagic flux impairment, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and these abnormalities were rescued in isogenic control iPSC-derived ECs (corrected FD-ECs). Microarray profiling revealed that corrected FD-derived endothelial cells reversed the enrichment of genes in the pro-inflammatory pathway and validated the downregulation of NF-κB and the MAPK signaling pathway. Our findings highlighted the critical role of ECs in FD-associated vascular dysfunctions by establishing a reliable isogenic control and providing information on potential cellular targets to reduce the morbidity and mortality of FD patients with vascular complications.     

解脂耶氏酵母作为微生物细胞工厂的应用研究进展

解脂耶氏酵母（Yarrowia lipolytica）是一种重要的工业微生物菌种，被公认为食品级安全微生物。近年来，随着合成生物学和基因编辑技术的快速发展，科学家们利用合成生物学及基因编辑技术已经成功构建出了能够生产生物化学品、生物燃料、香料、药物、工业酶和药用蛋白等多种高附加值工业产品的解脂耶氏酵母细胞工厂，使得该酵母在食品、药品和生化能源等领域均具有巨大的应用潜力。本文将重点介绍解脂耶氏酵母表达系统、合成生物学元件和基因编辑方法的最新研究进展和应用情况，并对近年来以解脂耶氏酵母作为微生物细胞工厂生产高附加值产品的应用实例进行总结，希望为研究人员进一步利用解脂耶氏酵母进行底盘细胞设计、构建和优化相关合成途径并最终实现目的产物的高效合成提供有用的信息。     

Computer aided automated detection and classification of brain tumors using CANFIS classification method

The development of abnormal cells in human brain leads to the formation of tumors. This article proposes an efficient approach for brain tumor detection and segmentation using image fusion and co-active adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (CANFIS) classification method. The brain MRI images are fused and the dual tree complex wavelet transform is applied on the fused image. Then, the statistical features, local ternary pattern features and gray level co-occurrence matrix features. These extracted features are classified using CANFIS classification approach for the classification of source brain MRI image into either normal or abnormal. Further, morphological operations are applied on the abnormal brain MRI image for segmenting the tumor regions. The proposed methodology is evaluated with respect to the performance metrics sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, tumor segmentation accuracy with detection rate. The proposed image fusion based brain tumor detection and classification methodology stated in this article achieves 96.5% of average sensitivity, 97.7% of average specificity, 87.6% of positive predictive value, 96.6% of negative predictive value, and 98.8% of average accuracy.