FML-based Prediction Agent and Its Application to Game of Go

In this paper, we present a robotic prediction agent including a darkforest Go engine, a fuzzy markup language (FML) assessment engine, an FML-based decision support engine, and a robot engine for game of Go application. The knowledge base and rule base of FML assessment engine are constructed by referring the information from the darkforest Go engine located in NUTN and OPU, for example, the number of MCTS simulations and winning rate prediction. The proposed robotic prediction agent first retrieves the database of Go competition website, and then the FML assessment engine infers the winning possibility based on the information generated by darkforest Go engine. The FML-based decision support engine computes the winning possibility based on the partial game situation inferred by FML assessment engine. Finally, the robot engine combines with the human-friendly robot partner PALRO, produced by Fujisoft incorporated, to report the game situation to human Go players. Experimental results show that the FML-based prediction agent can work effectively.Comment: 6 pages, 12 figures, Joint 17th World Congress of International Fuzzy Systems Association and 9th International Conference on Soft Computing and Intelligent Systems (IFSA-SCIS 2017), Otsu, Japan, Jun. 27-30, 201

Equivalent efficacies of reverse hybrid and concomitant therapies in first- line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

Background and AimConcomitant therapy is a recommended first- line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection in most national or international consensuses. Reverse hybrid therapy is a modified 14- day concomitant therapy without clarithromycin and metronidazole in the final 7 days. This study aims to test whether 14- day reverse hybrid therapy is non- inferior to 14- day concomitant therapy in the first- line treatment of H. pylori infection.MethodsHelicobacter pylori- infected adult patients were randomly assigned to receive either reverse hybrid therapy (dexlansoprazole 60 mg o.d. plus amoxicillin 1 g b.d. for 14 days, and clarithromycin 500 mg plus metronidazole 500 mg b.d. for initial 7 days) or concomitant therapy (dexlansoprazole 60 mg once o.d. plus amoxicillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg, and metronidazole 500 mg b.d. for 14 days). H. pylori status was assessed 6 weeks after the end of treatment.ResultsHelicobacter pylori- infected participants (n = 248) were randomized to receive either 14- day reverse hybrid therapy (n = 124) or 14- day concomitant therapy (n = 124). Intention- to- treat analysis demonstrated that the two therapies had comparable eradication rate (95.2% vs 93.5%; 95% confidence interval, - 4.0% to 7.4%; P = 0.582). However, reverse hybrid therapy had a much lower frequency of adverse events than concomitant therapy (20.2% vs 38.7%, P = 0.001). The two therapies exhibited comparable drug adherence (93.5% vs 87.9%, P = 0.125).ConclusionsFourteen- day reverse hybrid therapy and 14- day concomitant therapy are equivalent in efficacy for the first- line treatment of H. pylori infection. However, reverse hybrid therapy has fewer adverse events compared with concomitant therapy.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163472/2/jgh15034_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163472/1/jgh15034.pd

Towards Efficient Detection of Small Near-Earth Asteroids Using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF)

We describe ZStreak, a semi-real-time pipeline specialized in detecting small, fast-moving near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) that is currently operating on the data from the newly-commissioned Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) survey. Based on a prototype originally developed by Waszczak et al. (2017) for the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF), the predecessor of ZTF, ZStreak features an improved machine-learning model that can cope with the $10\times$ data rate increment between PTF and ZTF. Since its first discovery on 2018 February 5 (2018 CL), ZTF/ZStreak has discovered $45$ confirmed new NEAs over a total of 232 observable nights until 2018 December 31. Most of the discoveries are small NEAs, with diameters less than $\sim100$ m. By analyzing the discovery circumstances, we find that objects having the first to last detection time interval under 2 hr are at risk of being lost. We will further improve real-time follow-up capabilities, and work on suppressing false positives using deep learning.Comment: PASP in pres

Towards Efficient Detection of Small Near-Earth Asteroids Using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF)

We describe ZStreak, a semi-real-time pipeline specialized in detecting small, fast-moving, near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), which is currently operating on the data from the newly commissioned Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) survey. Based on a prototype originally developed by Waszczak et al. (2017) for the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF), the predecessor of ZTF, ZStreak features an improved machine-learning model that can cope with the 10× data rate increment between PTF and ZTF. Since its first discovery on 2018 February 5 (2018 CL), ZTF/ZStreak has discovered 45 confirmed new NEAs over a total of 232 observable nights until 2018 December 31. Most of the discoveries are small NEAs, with diameters less than ~100 m. By analyzing the discovery circumstances, we find that objects having the first to last detection time interval under 2 hr are at risk of being lost. We will further improve real-time follow-up capabilities, and work on suppressing false positives using deep learning

Low-Temperature Deposition of Transparent Conducting Films Applied to Flexible Electrochromic Devices

Here, we compare two different transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), namely indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), fabricated as transparent conducting films using processes that require different temperatures. ITO and IZTO films were prepared at 230 °C and at room temperature, respectively, on glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using reactive magnetron sputtering. Electrochromic WO3 films deposited on ITO-based and IZTO-based ECDs using vacuum cathodic arc plasma (CAP) were investigated. IZTO-based ECDs have higher optical transmittance modulation, ΔT = 63% [from Tbleaching (90.01%) to Tcoloration (28.51%)], than ITO-based ECDs, ΔT = 59%. ECDs consisted of a working electrochromic electrode (WO3/IZTO/PET) and a counter-electrode (Pt mesh) in a 0.2 M LiClO4/perchlorate (LiClO4/PC) liquid electrolyte solution with an active area of 3 cm × 4 cm a calculated bleaching time tc of 21.01 s and a coloration time tb of 4.7 s with varying potential from −1.3 V (coloration potential, Vc) to 0.3 V (bleaching potential, Vb)

The Relationship between Cancer and Dementia: An Updated Review

The risk of cancer and dementia increases with age, raising complex questions about whether it is appropriate to continue cancer treatment in older patients. There is emerging research suggesting the association between cancer and dementia. However, the mechanistic underpinnings are still under investigation. Progress has already been made toward understanding the cognitive effects associated with cancer therapy. Such associations raise awareness about the need to establish better prevention methods and early screening in clinical practice. Additionally, recent studies have suggested possible therapeutic strategies for better preserving cognitive function and reducing the risk for dementia before patients start cancer treatment. We review the current literature and summarize the incidence and mechanisms of cognitive impairment in patients with lung cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and brain tumor/brain metastasis following different kinds of therapies. Possible risk factors are suggested to identify the early onset of cognitive changes in cancer patients and provide more insight into the pathophysiological process of dementia

Weathering and Material Characterization of ZTO/Ag/ZTO Coatings on Polyethylene Terephthalate Substrates for the Application of Flexible Transparent Conductors

Flexible transparent conducting coatings have been adopted in many novel optoelectrical devices for energy-related applications. Laminated coatings composed of oxide/metal/oxide (abbreviated as OMO) layers are promising alternative materials to indium tin oxide (ITO). However, the durability and weatherability of free-standing OMO samples—including laminated OMO coatings and polymeric substrates—affects the performance of the related optoelectrical components and devices. It is necessary to study the degradation mechanisms in terms of optoelectrical and mechanical properties through the weathering tests. In this study, we performed indoor accelerated and outdoor weathering tests on commercial OMO samples composed of ZTO/Ag/ZTO coatings on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The effects of environmental stressors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, elevated temperature, and mechanical bending on the degradation behaviors of OMO samples were investigated. Comprehensive material characterizations including UV–Vis spectroscopy, four-point probing, tensile tests, and Raman spectroscopy were carried out. The OMO coating was robust against the weathering tests, while the PET substrates underwent embrittlement upon long-term weathering. The embrittled PET substrates consequently impaired the mechanical flexibility and bendability of the OMO coatings. The results of this study provide an in-depth understanding of the durability and weatherability of silver-based OMO flexible transparent conductive materials

Indium-Zinc-Tin-Oxide Film Prepared by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering for Electrochromic Applications

This paper reports on the fabrication of indium-zinc-tin-oxide (IZTO) transparent conductive film deposited by direct current (DC) reactive magnetron sputtering. The electrical, structural, and optical properties of IZTO film were investigated by Hall measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and optical transmission spectroscopy with various sputtering powers. The IZTO film prepared used power at 100 W showed the lowest resistivity of 5.2 × 10−4 Ω cm. To accomplish rapid switching and high optical modulation, we have fabricated an electrochromic device (ECD) consisting of an working electrode (WO3 electrode film deposited on IZTO/ITO/glass) and a counter-electrode (Pt mesh) in 0.2 M LiClO4/PC liquid solution. The device demonstrated an optical contrast of 44% and switching times of 4.6 s and 8.1 s for the coloring and bleaching state, respectively, at the wavelength of 550 nm