Robust Structured Prediction for Process Data

Processes involve a series of actions performed to achieve a particular result. Developing prediction models for process data is important for many real problems such as human and animal behavior modeling, psychological evaluation, labor hiring cost assessment, stock investment, human robot interaction and so on. Our contribution presented in this thesis first tractably extends the principle of maximum causal entropy to certain partially observable environments. More specifically, we develop IRL methods for the linear-quadratic-Gaussian system, a well known optimal control problem with partial observability. Furthermore, we investigate process prediction problems under non-stationary settings. One form of this problem is known as covariate shift, where the input distributions for training and testing are different while the mappings from input to output are the same. We propose a robust approach to deal with covariate shift for linear regression as a significant first step to deal with covariate shift for general process prediction tasks. Finally, we introduce a general framework for imitation learning, an important process prediction task where a learner attempts to imitate a demonstrator's behavior from observed demonstration. Our framework enables learning for general evaluation measures and different capabilities between the learner and demonstrator. We demonstrate the effectiveness and show the benefits of our approaches on both synthetic and real datasets

Preparation of Novel W/O Gel-Emulsions and Their Application in the Preparation of Low-Density Materials

A series of novel and stable water in oil (W/O) gel-emulsions was created by utilizing a new cholesteryl derivative, a low-molecular mass gelator (LMMGs), as a stabilizer. In the emulsions, <i>n-</i>heptane, <i>n-</i>octane, <i>n-</i>nonane, <i>n-</i>decane, tertiary butyl methacrylate (<i>t-</i>BMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), or styrene can be used as a continuous phase, water as a dispersed phase, and the stabilizer in the continuous phase is only 2% (w/v). Importantly, the gel-emulsions could be prepared by simple agitation of the mixtures at room temperature, while heating, cooling, and addition of a cosolvent or other additional component are unnecessary. SEM and optical microscopy studies revealed the foam-like structures of the gel-emulsions. Rheological measurements demonstrated that the gel-emulsions are mechanically stable and exhibit typical viscoelastic properties. Surprisingly, the storage modulus, <i>G</i>′, and the yield stress of the gel-emulsions with the alkanes as continuous phase decrease along with increasing the volume ratio of the dispersed phase, water, a property different from those of conventional gel-emulsions reported in the literature. From the viewpoint of application, the gel-emulsions as prepared are superior to others due to their simplicity in preparation, less amount of stabilizer needed, and the nonionic nature of the stabilizer, which must benefit practical applications. Furthermore, porous polymer monoliths could be prepared by polymerizing gel-emulsions with organic monomers as a continuous phase

Fluorescent Films Based on Molecular-Gel Networks and Their Sensing Performances

A pyrene-capped terthiophene of cholesteryl derivative (CholG-3T-Py) was designed, synthesized, and utilized for the fabrication of a fluorescent film. Unlike the commonly adopted direct-coating method, the film was fabricated by the physical immobilization of the fluorophore, CholG-3T-Py, onto a glass plate surface via preformed low-molecular-mass gelator (LMMGs)-based molecular-gel networks. The photophysical behavior of the film as prepared and its sensing performances to nitrobenzene (NB) were conducted after activation with toluene. It was found that the film as prepared and activated is sensitive to the presence of NB, and the sensing process is fully reversible. Furthermore, the effects of commonly found interferents, including structural analogues, raw materials, which are commonly used for the production of NB, and other nitroaromatics (NACs), on the sensing process were also tested. It was shown that only aniline and phenol possess slight interference. The present work not only extends the applications of LMMGs-based molecular gels but also provids a new approach for preparation of micro- and nano-structure-based fluorescent sensing films

Ternary System Based on Fluorophore–Surfactant AssembliesCu²⁺ for Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection of Arginine in Aqueous Solution

A new cationic dansyl derivative-based (DIlSD) fluorescence probe was designed and synthesized. Its combination with anionic surfactant SDS assemblies shows enhanced fluorescence intensity and blue-shifted maximum wavelength. Its fluorescence can be slightly quenched by Cu²⁺; however, the fluorescence quenching efficiency by Cu²⁺ is highly increased upon titration of arginine (Arg). As a result, the ternary system containing the cationic fluorophore, anionic surfactant, and Cu²⁺ functions as a highly sensitive and selective sensor to Arg. The optimized sensor system displays a detection limit of 170 nM, representing the highest sensitivity to Arg in total aqueous solution by a fluorescent sensor. Control experiments reveal that the imidazolium groups in the fluorophore, the anionic surfactant, and Cu²⁺ all play important roles in the process of sensing Arg. The electrostatic interaction between the cationic fluorophore and anionic surfactants facilitates the binding of imidazolium rings with Cu²⁺, the surfactant surface-anchored Cu²⁺ is responsible for further binding of Arg, and the electrostatic interaction between anionic surfactants and positively charged amino acids accounts for the selective responses to Arg

Synergetic Effect Based Gel-Emulsions and Their Utilization for the Template Preparation of Porous Polymeric Monoliths

A polymerizable cholesteryl derivative (COA) was synthesized and used as a stabilizer for creating gel-emulsions with water in polymerizable monomers, of which they are styrene (ST), <i>tert</i>-butyl methacrylate (<i>t</i>-BMA), ethylene glycol dimethyl acrylate (EGDMA), and methyl methacrylate (MMA), etc. Interestingly, in addition to COA, the presence of a small amount of Span-80 is a necessity for the formation of the monomers containing gel-emulsions. Unlike conventional ones, the volume fraction of the dispersed phase in the gel-emulsions as created could be much lower than 74%, a critical value for routine gel-emulsions. Stabilization of these gel-emulsions as created has been attributed to the synergetic effect between COA, a typical low-molecular-mass gelator (LMMG), and Span-80, a surfactant, of which the former gels the continuous phase and the latter minimizes the interfacial energy of the continuous phase and the dispersed phase. SEM observation confirmed the network structures of COA in the gel-emulsions. Rheological tests demonstrated that the storage modulus, <i>G</i>′, and the yield stress of the gel-emulsions decrease along with increasing the volume fraction of the dispersed phase, water, provided it is not greater than 74%a result inconsistent with the theory explaining formation of routine gel-emulsions and in support of the conclusion that the systems under study follow a different mechanism. Furthermore, unlike LMMG-based stabilizers reported earlier, the gelator, COA, created in the present study has been functioning not only as a stabilizer but also a monomer. To illustrate the conceptual advantages, the gel-emulsions of water in ST/DVB/AIBN were polymerized. As expected, the densities and internal structures of the monoliths as prepared are highly adjustable, functionalization of the materials with cholesterol has been realized, and at the same time the problem of stabilizer leaking has been avoided. A preliminary test for gas adsorption demonstrated that the monoliths as prepared are good adsorbents for some volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in particular benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenethe famous and toxic BTEX. It is believed that the findings reported in the present work provide not only a new strategy for creating novel gel-emulsions but also a new route for functionalizing porous polymeric monoliths

Time-dependent effects of NE/IFN-γ on cellular proliferation and invasion.

<p>The stimulatory effects of NE (10⁻⁸ M) continued to increase for 1 to 2 weeks, while the suppressive effects of NE (10⁻⁶ M, 10⁻⁵ M) were enhanced at 1 week and then were gradually reversed (A and B). The suppressive effects of IFN-γ (100 ng/mL) reached their peak at approximately 1 week and then stayed at the same level over the next 3 weeks (C and D). NE partially reversed the effects of IFN-γ (100 ng/mL) starting at 3 weeks. When NE (10⁻⁶ M), IFN-γ (100 ng/mL) or NE (10⁻⁶ M) plus IFN-γ (100 ng/mL) were removed, the suppressive effects began to decrease gradually starting at 2 weeks (E and F). The same phenomenon was also observed in the Transwell images (G), Magnification, 200×.</p

Time-dependent effects of NE/IFN-γ on MHC-I (A), B7-1 (B), IDO (C) and B7-H1 (D) mRNA expression.

<p>NE/IFN-γ had time-dependent suppressive effects on MHCI and B7-1 and stimulatory effects on IDO and B7-H1 expression. When NE (10⁻⁶ M), IFN-γ (100 ng/mL) or NE (10⁻⁶ M) plus IFN-γ (100 ng/mL) was removed after 48 hours, the residual effects decreased dramatically within 1 week.</p

The effects of NE/IFN-γ on MHC-I, B7-1, IDO and B7-H1 protein expression.

<p>Western blot results are shown on the left and at the top; histograms depicting relative intensities are shown on the right and at the bottom (A and B). Immunohistochemical staining of MIA PaCa-2 cells is shown at 400×magnification (C).</p

Dose-dependent effects of NE/IFN-γ on the proliferation and invasion of PC cells.

<p>NE and IFN-γ affect proliferation (OD 490 nm) and invasion (OD 570 nm) of MIA PaCa-2 (A and B) and BxPC-3 (C and D) cells in a dose-dependent manner. Low concentrations of NE (10⁻⁸ M) exhibited a trend toward stimulation, while NE (10⁻⁶ M) exhibited a trend toward suppression (<i>P</i>>0.05). High concentrations of NE (10⁻⁵ M) and IFN-γ (100 ng/mL, 200 ng/mL) had significant suppressive effects (<i>P</i><0.05). A β₂-AR antagonist decreased the stimulatory effects of NE (10⁻⁸ M) but did not alter the suppressive effects of NE (10⁻⁶ M) (E and F). (* Significant difference with control group, <i>P</i><0.05).</p

The effect of NE/IFN-γ on MHC-I, B7-1, IDO and B7-H1 expression in MIA PaCa-2 (A and B) and BxPC-3 cell lines (C and D).

<p>Compared with control group, NE suppressed MHC-I and B7-1 and up-regulated IDO and B7-H1 in a dose-dependent manner. IFN-γ suppressed B7-1, and up-regulated IDO and B7-H1. Compared with NE group, NE and IFN-γ had significant synergistic effects on IDO and B7-H1 (B and D).</p