Improving Image Classification with Location Context

With the widespread availability of cellphones and cameras that have GPS capabilities, it is common for images being uploaded to the Internet today to have GPS coordinates associated with them. In addition to research that tries to predict GPS coordinates from visual features, this also opens up the door to problems that are conditioned on the availability of GPS coordinates. In this work, we tackle the problem of performing image classification with location context, in which we are given the GPS coordinates for images in both the train and test phases. We explore different ways of encoding and extracting features from the GPS coordinates, and show how to naturally incorporate these features into a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), the current state-of-the-art for most image classification and recognition problems. We also show how it is possible to simultaneously learn the optimal pooling radii for a subset of our features within the CNN framework. To evaluate our model and to help promote research in this area, we identify a set of location-sensitive concepts and annotate a subset of the Yahoo Flickr Creative Commons 100M dataset that has GPS coordinates with these concepts, which we make publicly available. By leveraging location context, we are able to achieve almost a 7% gain in mean average precision

Neutron scattering study on R2PdSi3 (R = Ho, Er, Tm) compounds

Previous studies on the family of inter-metallic rare-earth compounds R2PdSi3 revealed multifaceted magnetic properties, for instance, spin-glass like behavior. Experimental observations include: Signs of a crystallographic superstructure, complicated magnetic structures both in zero field and in applied magnetic fields as well as a generic phase in applied fields for compounds in the series with the heavy rare-earths R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm. This thesis expands the studies on the magnetic properties of R2PdSi3 employing mainly neutron scattering on single crystals with the focus on the compounds with R = Ho, Er and Tm. A detailed analysis of the crystallographic superstructure using modulation wave approach and group theory is presented. The resulting structure implies the existence of two different rare-earth sites with reduced symmetry and an arrangement of the different sites according to sequences as determined by the superstructure. It will be shown that the reduced symmetry of the rare-earth sites is explicitly observed in the energy spectra of inelastic neutron scattering. The results on the magnetic structures and excitations are shown and discussed in the framework of the superstructure model. Specifically the generic phase in applied fields is interpreted as a direct consequence of the crystallographic superstructure. It is rather unusual that a crystallographic superstructure is playing such a decisive, and through the field dependence also tunable role in determining the magnetic properties as observed in R2PdSi3. The mediating interactions between the crystallographic part and the magnetic part of the system will be discussed.Frühere Untersuchungen der Familie der intermetallischen Selten-Erd Verbindungen R2PdSi3 zeigten vielfältige magnetische Eigenschaften, zum Beispiel ein Spin-glas ähnliches Verhalten. Die experimentellen Beobachtungen beinhalten: Zeichen für eine kristallographische Überstruktur, komplizierte magnetische Strukturen, sowohl im Nullfeld als auch in angelegten Magnetfeldern und darüberhinaus eine generische Phase in Magnetfeldern in den untersuchten Verbindungen mit den schweren Selten-Erden R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er und Tm. Diese Dissertation erweitert die Untersuchungen der magnetischen Eigenschaften von R2PdSi3, hauptsächlich durch Verwendung von Neutronenstreuung an Einkristallen, mit dem Schwerpunkt auf den Verbindungen mit R = Ho, Er und Tm. Eine genaue Analyse der kristallographischen Überstruktur mittels Modulationswellenansatz und Gruppentheorie wird präsentiert. Das resultierende Strukturmodell impliziert die Existenz zweier unterschiedlicher Selten-Erd Lagen mit reduzierter Symmetrie in einer Anordnung entsprechend der durch die Überstruktur festgelegten Sequenzen. Es wird gezeigt, dass die reduzierte Symmetrie der Selten-Erd Lagen durch Beobachtungen der inelastischen Neutronenstreuung explizit bestätigt wird. Die Ergebnisse der magnetischen Strukturen und Anregungen werden im Rahmen des Überstrukturmodels diskutiert. Speziell die generische Phase folgt als direkte Konsequenz aus der Überstruktur. Es ist eher ungewöhnlich, dass eine kristallographische Überstruktur eine solch bestimmende und bei Magnetfeldvariation auch “tunebare” Rolle spielt, wie dies in den R2 PdSi3 Verbindungen beobachtet wird. Die vermittelnden Wechselwirkungen zwischen Struktur und Magnetismus werden diskutiert

Integrating Diverse Methodologies and Strategies for the Total Synthesis of Certain Alkaloids and Terpenoids

The body of this thesis is comprised of five scientific articles and is preceded by an overview that contextualizes all of this published/submitted/to be submitted work. The first major part of this thesis is comprised of publication 1. This is a review concerned with the application of Raney-cobalt in organic synthesis. The author's work described in publications 2 and 3 featured Raney-cobalt mediated reductive cyclization reactions as key steps in the construction of the framework of various uleine alkaloids and certain of these are highlighted in this review. Publication 2 comprises the second major part of this thesis. This article details the total syntheses of some key members of uleine alkaloid family (specifically uleine, noruleine, dasycarpidone, nordasycarpidone) by using, as key steps, a palladium-catalysed Ullmann cross-coupling reaction to generate key coupling product and the immediate reductive cyclization of this so as to assemble the uleine alkaloid framework. The third major part of this thesis is comprised of publication 3. This article describes the total synthesis of uleine alkaloid gilbertine. The key intermediate embodying the framework of uleine-type alkaloids was assembled by the Raney-cobalt mediated reductive cyclization of an nitrile compound which was itself constructed via a reaction sequence including a palladium-catalysed Ullmann cross-coupling process. The end-game associated with the synthesis involved a cationic (and possibly biomimetic) cyclisation reaction that established the final, tetrahydropyran ring of gilbertine. The fourth major part of this thesis is comprised of publication 4. This details the total synthesis of a marine-derived sesquiterpene (+)-viridianol. The target molecule was derived from a key intermediate cyclobutone through various functional group manipulations. This cyclobutone was prepared through a photochemically-promoted 1,3-acyl migration reaction involving the cyclopentannulated bicyclo[2.2.2]-octenone, itself constructed from the homochiral compound cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol using Negishi cross-coupling and intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) cycloaddition reactions as key steps. The starting material, a cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol, was obtained through the whole-cell biotransformation of p-iodotoluene using a genetically engineered micro-organism over-expressing the enzyme toluene dioxygenase. The fifth major part of this thesis is comprised of publication 5. This article details a model study relevant to the total synthesis of the marine-derived sesquiterpene (+)-viridianol. Specifically, two structurally related ring-fused cyclopropanes were subjected to the same hydrogenolytic conditions. However, they showed dramatically divergent behavior

POPULATION PHARMACOKINETIC MODELING AND GENETIC ASSOCIATION ANALYSIS IN INFANTS WITH NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME RECEIVING MORPHINE OR CLONIDINE

Neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS, is a postnatal opioid withdrawal syndrome occurring in 55% to 94% of neonates as a result of in utero exposure to opioids. It has emerged as a significant public health issue, as its incidence more than quadrupled in the past decade. There is significant variability in disease severity and treatment outcomes in neonates with NAS due to patient-specific factors and treatment- or site-specific factors. To understand what contributes to variability in length of hospital stay and other outcomes in neonates with NAS, we assessed population pharmacokinetics (PK) of clonidine and morphine, and we investigated potential associations between pre-specified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and PK or disease severity/outcome measures. Samples collected from neonates enrolled in the No-POPPY trial (NCT03396588) up to early 2020 were used for analysis. PK samples from treated subjects on oral morphine or oral clonidine were analyzed for morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide and clonidine concentrations by LC-MS/MS. DNA was isolated from lysed whole blood or buccal swabs from treated and non-treated subjects and analyzed by TaqMan SNP genotyping assays using real-time PCR. Genetic association analysis was performed on COMT 472G\u3eA and OPRM1 118A\u3eG in all trial subjects, and on GNB3 825C\u3eT and ADRA2A -1291G\u3eC in clonidine-treated subjects. NONMEM (ver 7.3) was used to build population PK models and identify covariates associated with PK variability, including SNPs potentially associated with PK of morphine/clonidine (OCT1*2-*5, ABCC3 -211C\u3eT, and CYP2D6 metabolizer class). In the genetic association analysis, in contrast to a previous report, the relationship between COMT 472G\u3eA or OPRM1 118A\u3eG and hospital length of stay or other outcome measures was inconclusive. Clonidine-treated patients with TT genotype in GNB3 825C\u3eT had an average length of stay that was 3.7 days shorter than those with CC/CT genotypes (p=0.045), which did not meet experiment-wise significance. Significant associations between several clinical factors and one or more measures of NAS severity were identified, including breastfeeding and maternal use of benzodiazepines and gabapentin during pregnancy. In the population PK analysis, one-compartment models, with allometric scaling incorporated a priori, were used for clonidine and morphine. Age was a significant covariate in both models, and a sigmoidal maturation model incorporating postnatal age on clearance provided a good fit to clonidine concentration data. The clonidine PK model was successfully used to simulate alternative initial dosing regimens that were more likely to achieve earlier symptom stabilization. Genetic factors evaluated in the population PK analysis did not significantly affect the disposition of clonidine or morphine. Within the scope of this project, clinical factors appeared to be more important factors affecting disposition of treatment agents and NAS severity/treatment outcomes than the genetic factors evaluated. As the next step, efforts will be made to extend current analysis as the clinical trial continues to enroll subjects

Research on Liability for Oil Pollution Between China and US

This article discusses question about compensation for oil pollution in China and United states. Both China and US have law and regulations on liability for pollution resulted by oil spill, but the method of remedies of two countries is different, the difference lies in regulations, litigation procedure, trial court which to handle the cases of oil spill. The article will analyze the differences

An Analysis of the Responsible Parties of Inland Waters Oil Spill Damages

This paper mainly discusses the determination of the responsible parties of inland waters oil spill damages. Firstly, the article enumerates the legislative pattern of the regulations on inland waters pollution as well as comparison of the various paradigms. Secondly, it analysis the pollution sources which resulting in the inland waters oil spill. Finally, the article discussed the methods of determination of responsible parties in various inland waters oil spill accidents according to China’s tort liability law and relevant laws and regulations

The microstructure-processing-property relationships in an Al matrix composite system reinforced by Al-Cu-Fe alloy particles

Solid state vacuum sintering was studied in tap densified Al powder and in hot quasi-isostatically forged samples composed of commercial inert gas atomized or high purity Al powder, generated by a gas atomization reaction synthesis (GARS) technique. The GARS process results in spherical Al powder with a far thinner surface oxide. The overall results indicated the enhanced ability of GARS-processed Al and Al alloy powders for solid state sintering, which may lead to simplification of current Al powder consolidation processing methods.;Elemental Al-based composites reinforced with spherical Al-Cu-Fe alloy powders were produced by quasi-isostatic forging and vacuum hot pressing (VHP) consolidation methods. It was proved that spherical Al-Cu-Fe alloy powders can serve as an effective reinforcement particulate for elemental Al-based composites, because of their high hardness and a preferred type of matrix/reinforcement interfacial bonding, with reduced strain concentration around the particles. Ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of the composites were increased over the corresponding Al matrix values, far beyond typical observations. This remarkable strengthening was achieved without precipitation hardening and without severe strain hardening during consolidation because of the matrix choice (elemental Al) and the low shear consolidation methods utilized. This reinforcement effectiveness is further evidenced by elastic modulus measurements of the composites that are very close to the upper bound predictions of the rule of mixtures. The load partitioning measurements by neutron diffraction showed that composite samples made from GARS powders present significantly higher load transfer efficiency than the composites made from commercially atomized powders. Further analysis of the load sharing measurements and the calculated values of the mismatch of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) effects suggest that these strengthening mechanisms can be combined to predict accurately the strength of the composites.;By neutron diffraction measurements, it also was found that the composites consolidated from Al and Al63Cu25Fe12 quasicrystal alloy reinforcement powders have compressive residual stress in the Al matrix, contrary to the tensile residual stress in typical Al/SiC composites. The composites made by the quasi-isostatic forging process exhibited higher tensile strengths and much higher compressive residual stresses than the composites made by the VHP process