A New Method for Figuring the Number of Hidden Layer Nodes in BP Algorithm

In the field of artificial neural network, BP neural network is a multi-layer feed-forward neural network. Because it is difficult to figure the number of hidden layer nodes in a BP neural network, the theoretical basis and the existing methods for BP network hidden layer nodes are studied. Then based on traditional empirical formulas, we propose a new approach to rapidly figure the quantity of hidden layer nodes in two-layer network. That is, with the assistance of experience formulas, the horizon of unit number in hidden layer can be confirmed and its optimal value will be found in this horizon. Finally, a new formula for figuring the quantity of hidden layer codes is obtained through fitting input dimension, output dimension and the optimal value of hidden layer codes. Under some given input dimension and output dimension, efficiency and precision of BP algorithm may be improved by applying the proposed formula

Empirical metallicity-dependent calibrations of effective temperature against colours for dwarfs and giants based on interferometric data

We present empirical metallicity-dependent calibrations of effective temperature against colours for dwarfs of luminosity classes IV and V and for giants of luminosity classes II and III, based on a collection from the literature of about two hundred nearby stars with direct effective temperature measurements of better than 2.5 per cent. The calibrations are valid for an effective temperature range 3,100 - 10,000 K for dwarfs of spectral types M5 to A0 and 3,100 - 5,700 K for giants of spectral types K5 to G5. A total of twenty-one colours for dwarfs and eighteen colours for giants of bands of four photometric systems, i.e. the Johnson ($UBVR_{\rm J}I_{\rm J}JHK$), the Cousins ($R_{\rm C}I_{\rm C}$), the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS, $gr$) and the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS, $JHK_{\rm s}$), have been calibrated. Restricted by the metallicity range of the current sample, the calibrations are mainly applicable for disk stars ([Fe/H]$\,\gtrsim\,-1.0$). The normalized percentage residuals of the calibrations are typically 2.0 and 1.5 per cent for dwarfs and giants, respectively. Some systematic discrepancies at various levels are found between the current scales and those available in the literature (e.g. those based on the infrared flux method IRFM or spectroscopy). Based on the current calibrations, we have re-determined the colours of the Sun. We have also investigated the systematic errors in effective temperatures yielded by the current on-going large scale low- to intermediate-resolution stellar spectroscopic surveys. We show that the calibration of colour ($g-K_{\rm s}$) presented in the current work provides an invaluable tool for the estimation of stellar effective temperature for those on-going or upcoming surveys.Comment: 28 pages, 19 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

HIV Vaccine Research: The Challenge and the Way Forward

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a worldwide epidemic, with over 35 million people infected currently. Therefore, the development of a safe and effective HIV-1 vaccine is on top of the global health priority. In the past few years, there have been many promising advances in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, among which the RV144 Thai trial has been encouraging and suggests optimization of the current vaccine strategies or search for novel strategies. Here we reviewed the brief history of HIV-1 vaccine, analyzed key challenges existing now, and illustrated future research priority/directions for a therapeutic or prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine, with the hope of accelerating the speed of vaccine development. We believe that an effective HIV-1 vaccine, together with other prevention approaches, will bring an end to this epidemic in the near future

(3S,4R)-3-Ethyl-4-hydr­oxy-3-(3-methoxy­phen­yl)-1-methyl­azepanium (2R,3R)-2,3-bis­(benzo­yloxy)-3-carboxy­propionate

The crystal structure of the title compound, C16H26NO2 +·C18H13O8 −, is stabilized by an extensive network of classical N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. The crystal structure also shows an ammonium-driven diastereo­isomerism

(3S,4S)-3-Ethyl-4-hydr­oxy-3-(3-methoxy­phen­yl)-1-methyl­azepan-1-ium d-tartrate dihydrate

In the title compound, C16H26NO2 +·C4H5O6 −·2H2O, a meptaz­inol derivative, three C atoms of the azepane ring are disordered over two positions, with site-occupancy factors of 0.80 and 0.20; the major disorder component adopts a twist-chair conformation, while the minor component has a chair conformation. The benzene ring is axially substituted on the heterocyclic ring, resulting in a folded conformation of the cation. The absolute configuration was determined with reference to d-tartaric acid. The crystal structure is stabilized by an extensive network of intra- and inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Hot isostatic pressing of in-situ TiB/Ti-6Al-4V composites with novel reinforcement architecture, enhanced hardness and elevated tribological properties

In this study, titanium borides reinforced Ti-6Al-4V composites have been successfully prepared by hot isostatic pressing (HIPing). The microstructure of the as-fabricated samples was investigated using X-ray diffraction technique, secondary electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction and the mechanical properties evaluated through micro-hardness and wear resistance measurements together with nano-indentation. It was found that during HIPing the additive particles TiB2 have transformed into TiB needles which tend to decorate at prior particle boundaries of the consolidated powder particles to form a network structure. Under the same HIPing condition, the needles became increasingly coarser and agglomerated with increased addition of TiB2. The micro-hardness of the synthesized materials increased with increased volume fraction of TiB. Nano-indentation measurement demonstrates that the TiB network structure shows much higher nanohardness than the surrounding matrix regions. The friction coefficient of the synthesized composites decreased continuously with increased volume fraction of TiB, indicating improved wear resistance. High resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis on wear debris revealed the formation of a series of oxides suggesting that chemical reaction between alloy elements and oxygen in air may have happened. It is thus believed that the wearing of the current samples is a result of both friction and chemical reaction

Galactic Disk Bulk Motions as Revealed by the LSS-GAC DR2

We report a detailed investigation of the bulk motions of the nearby Galactic stellar disk, based on three samples selected from the LSS-GAC DR2: a global sample containing 0.57 million FGK dwarfs out to $\sim$ 2 kpc, a local subset of the global sample consisting $\sim$ 5,400 stars within 150 pc, and an anti-center sample containing $\sim$ 4,400 AFGK dwarfs and red clump stars within windows of a few degree wide centered on the Galactic anti-center. The global sample is used to construct a three-dimensional map of bulk motions of the Galactic disk from the solar vicinity out to $\sim$ 2 kpc with a spatial resolution of $\sim$ 250 pc. Typical values of the radial and vertical components of bulk motion range from $-$15 km s$^{-1}$ to 15 km s$^{-1}$, while the lag behind the circular speed dominates the azimuthal component by up to $\sim$ 15 km s$^{-1}$. The map reveals spatially coherent, kpc-scale stellar flows in the disk, with typical velocities of a few tens km s$^{-1}$. Bending- and breathing-mode perturbations are clearly visible, and vary smoothly across the disk plane. Our data also reveal higher-order perturbations, such as breaks and ripples, in the profiles of vertical motion versus height. From the local sample, we find that stars of different populations exhibit very different patterns of bulk motion. Finally, the anti-center sample reveals a number of peaks in stellar number density in the line-of-sight velocity versus distance distribution, with the nearer ones apparently related to the known moving groups. The "velocity bifurcation" reported by Liu et al. (2012) at Galactocentric radii 10--11 kpc is confirmed. However, just beyond this distance, our data also reveal a new triple-peaked structure.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figures, Accepted for publication in a special issue of Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics on LAMOST science