19,251 research outputs found
Tempera: spatial transformer feature pyramid network for cardiac MRI segmentation
Assessing the structure and function of the right ventricle (RV) is important in the diagnosis of several cardiac pathologies. However, it remains more challenging to segment the RV than the left ventricle (LV). In this paper, we focus on segmenting the RV in both short (SA) and long-axis (LA) cardiac MR images simultaneously. For this task, we propose a new multi-input/output architecture, hybrid 2D/3D geometric spatial TransformEr Multi-Pass fEature pyRAmid (Tempera). Our feature pyramid extends current designs by allowing not only a multi-scale feature output but multi-scale SA and LA input images as well. Tempera transfers learned features between SA and LA images via layer weight sharing and incorporates a geometric target transformer to map the predicted SA segmentation to LA space. Our model achieves an average Dice score of 0.836 and 0.798 for the SA and LA, respectively, and 26.31 mm and 31.19 mm Hausdorff distances. This opens up the potential for the incorporation of RV segmentation models into clinical workflows
Universality in Systems with Power-Law Memory and Fractional Dynamics
There are a few different ways to extend regular nonlinear dynamical systems
by introducing power-law memory or considering fractional
differential/difference equations instead of integer ones. This extension
allows the introduction of families of nonlinear dynamical systems converging
to regular systems in the case of an integer power-law memory or an integer
order of derivatives/differences. The examples considered in this review
include the logistic family of maps (converging in the case of the first order
difference to the regular logistic map), the universal family of maps, and the
standard family of maps (the latter two converging, in the case of the second
difference, to the regular universal and standard maps). Correspondingly, the
phenomenon of transition to chaos through a period doubling cascade of
bifurcations in regular nonlinear systems, known as "universality", can be
extended to fractional maps, which are maps with power-/asymptotically
power-law memory. The new features of universality, including cascades of
bifurcations on single trajectories, which appear in fractional (with memory)
nonlinear dynamical systems are the main subject of this review.Comment: 23 pages 7 Figures, to appear Oct 28 201
An iterative algorithm for parametrization of shortest length shift registers over finite rings
The construction of shortest feedback shift registers for a finite sequence
S_1,...,S_N is considered over the finite ring Z_{p^r}. A novel algorithm is
presented that yields a parametrization of all shortest feedback shift
registers for the sequence of numbers S_1,...,S_N, thus solving an open problem
in the literature. The algorithm iteratively processes each number, starting
with S_1, and constructs at each step a particular type of minimal Gr\"obner
basis. The construction involves a simple update rule at each step which leads
to computational efficiency. It is shown that the algorithm simultaneously
computes a similar parametrization for the reciprocal sequence S_N,...,S_1.Comment: Submitte
Escaping the Ashby limit for mechanical damping/stiffness trade-off using a constrained high internal friction interfacial layer.
The development of new materials with reduced noise and vibration levels is an active area of research due to concerns in various aspects of environmental noise pollution and its effects on health. Excessive vibrations also reduce the service live of the structures and limit the fields of their utilization. In oscillations, the viscoelastic moduli of a material are complex and it is their loss part - the product of the stiffness part and loss tangent - that is commonly viewed as a figure of merit in noise and vibration damping applications. The stiffness modulus and loss tangent are usually mutually exclusive properties so it is a technological challenge to develop materials that simultaneously combine high stiffness and high loss. Here we achieve this rare balance of properties by filling a solid polymer matrix with rigid inorganic spheres coated by a sub-micron layer of a viscoelastic material with a high level of internal friction. We demonstrate that this combination can be experimentally realised and that the analytically predicted behaviour is closely reproduced, thereby escaping the often termed 'Ashby' limit for mechanical stiffness/damping trade-off and offering a new route for manufacturing advanced composite structures with markedly reduced noise and vibration levels
Propagation of strangelets in the Earth's atmosphere
A new model for the description of the behaviour of strangelets in the
Earth's atmosphere is presented. Strangelet fission induced by collision with
air nuclei is included. It is shown that strangelets with certain parameters of
initial mass and energy may reach depths near sea level, which can be examined
by ground-based experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
Valley-spin blockade and spin resonance in carbon nanotubes
Manipulation and readout of spin qubits in quantum dots made in III-V
materials successfully rely on Pauli blockade that forbids transitions between
spin-triplet and spin-singlet states. Quantum dots in group IV materials have
the advantage of avoiding decoherence from the hyperfine interaction by
purifying them with only zero-spin nuclei. Complications of group IV materials
arise from the valley degeneracies in the electronic bandstructure. These lead
to complicated multiplet states even for two-electron quantum dots thereby
significantly weakening the selection rules for Pauli blockade. Only recently
have spin qubits been realized in silicon devices where the valley degeneracy
is lifted by strain and spatial confinement. In carbon nanotubes Pauli blockade
can be observed by lifting valley degeneracy through disorder. In clean
nanotubes, quantum dots have to be made ultra-small to obtain a large energy
difference between the relevant multiplet states. Here we report on
low-disorder nanotubes and demonstrate Pauli blockade based on both valley and
spin selection rules. We exploit the bandgap of the nanotube to obtain a large
level spacing and thereby a robust blockade. Single-electron spin resonance is
detected using the blockade.Comment: 31 pages including supplementary informatio
Development of the Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus farming industry in Shaanxi Province, China: conservation threats and opportunities
The Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus is endemic to China and is Critically Endangered, largely because of overexploitation for food. This species is an expensive delicacy in China, and a rapidly growing industry to farm the species has developed throughout much of the country, centred on the Qinling Mountain region of Shaanxi Province. During a 2010 workshop on Chinese giant salamander conservation, which involved a range of stakeholders from across China, it became clear that the conservation community knew little about the salamander farming industry and whether it posed actual or potential threats or opportunities for conservation of the Chinese giant salamander. We therefore conducted a series of investigations to understand the industry better. Our results indicate that although farming of Chinese giant salamanders has the potential to be a positive development for conservation by supplying market demand with farmed animals, it is currently more likely to threaten than support conservation of the species, with continued overexploitation and the potential added impacts of infectious disease and genetic pollution arising from farming practices such as movement of animals across the country and the release of untreated farm wastewater and farmed salamanders to the wild
Esophageal perforation caused by external air-blast injury
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Esophageal perforation after external air-blast trauma is rarely presented in the emergency room. The diagnosis is often delayed more than 24 hours.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We review the literature and report a case of esophageal perforation caused by external air-blast injury.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Including the present case, a total of 5 cases of esophageal perforation were caused by external air-blast injury in English literature. Of them, the common presentations were chest pain and dyspnea. The treatment methods varied with each case. One patient died before diagnosis of esophageal perforation and the others survived after proper surgical management.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Early diagnosis and proper surgical management can reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients who suffered from esophageal perforation caused by external air-blast injury.</p
Tunable entangled photon states from a nonlinear directional coupler
Integrated optical platforms enable the realization of complex quantum photonic circuits for a variety of applications including quantum simulations, computations, and communications. The development of on-chip integrated photon sources, providing photon quantum states with on-demand tunability, is currently an important
research area. A flexible approach for on-chip generation of entangled photons is based on spontaneous nonlinear
frequency conversion, with possibilities to integrate several photon-pair sources [1] and realize subsequent post
processing using thermo-optically or electro-optically controlled interference [2, 3]. However, deterministic postprocessing can only provide a limited set of output states, whereas quantum gates with probabilistic operation are
needed to generate arbitrary two-photon states [4]
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