3,865 research outputs found
Conditional Image-Text Embedding Networks
This paper presents an approach for grounding phrases in images which jointly
learns multiple text-conditioned embeddings in a single end-to-end model. In
order to differentiate text phrases into semantically distinct subspaces, we
propose a concept weight branch that automatically assigns phrases to
embeddings, whereas prior works predefine such assignments. Our proposed
solution simplifies the representation requirements for individual embeddings
and allows the underrepresented concepts to take advantage of the shared
representations before feeding them into concept-specific layers. Comprehensive
experiments verify the effectiveness of our approach across three phrase
grounding datasets, Flickr30K Entities, ReferIt Game, and Visual Genome, where
we obtain a (resp.) 4%, 3%, and 4% improvement in grounding performance over a
strong region-phrase embedding baseline.Comment: ECCV 2018 accepted pape
Decoupled and inhomogeneous gas flows in S0 galaxies
A recent analysis of the "Einstein" sample of early-type galaxies has
revealed that at any fixed optical luminosity Lb S0 galaxies have lower mean
X-ray luminosity Lx per unit Lb than ellipticals. Following a previous
analytical investigation of this problem (Ciotti & Pellegrini 1996), we have
performed 2D numerical simulations of the gas flows inside S0 galaxies in order
to ascertain the effectiveness of rotation and/or galaxy flattening in reducing
the Lx/Lb ratio. The flow in models without SNIa heating is considerably
ordered, and essentially all the gas lost by the stars is cooled and
accumulated in the galaxy center. If rotation is present, the cold material
settles in a disk on the galactic equatorial plane. Models with a time
decreasing SNIa heating host gas flows that can be much more complex. After an
initial wind phase, gas flows in energetically strongly bound galaxies tend to
reverse to inflows. This occurs in the polar regions, while the disk is still
in the outflow phase. In this phase of strong decoupling, cold filaments are
created at the interface between inflowing and outflowing gas. Models with more
realistic values of the dynamical quantities are preferentially found in the
wind phase with respect to their spherical counterparts of equal Lb. The
resulting Lx of this class of models is lower than in spherical models with the
same Lb and SNIa heating. At variance with cooling flow models, rotation is
shown to have only a marginal effect in this reduction, while the flattening is
one of the driving parameters for such underluminosity, in accordance with the
analytical investigation.Comment: 32 pages LaTex file, plus 5 .ps figures and macro aasms4.sty --
Accepted on Ap
Duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy in people with cystic fibrosis
Background
Progressive lung damage from recurrent exacerbations is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in cystic fibrosis. Life expectancy of people with cystic fibrosis has increased dramatically in the last 40 years. One of the major reasons for this increase is the mounting use of antibiotics to treat chest exacerbations caused by bacterial infections. The optimal duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy is not clearly defined. Individuals usually receive intravenous antibiotics for 14 days, but treatment may range from 10 to 21 days. A shorter duration of antibiotic treatment risks inadequate clearance of infection which could lead to further lung damage. Prolonged courses of intravenous antibiotics are expensive and inconvenient. The risk of systemic side effects such as allergic reactions to antibiotics also increases with prolonged courses and the use of aminoglycosides requires frequent monitoring to minimise some of their side effects. However, some organisms which infect people with cystic fibrosis are known to be multiâresistant to antibiotics, and may require a longer course of treatment. This is an update of previously published reviews.
Objectives
To assess the optimal duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy for treating chest exacerbations in people with cystic fibrosis.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Trials Register which comprises references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches, handsearches of relevant journals, abstract books and conference proceedings. Most recent search of the Group's Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register: 30 May 2019.
We also searched online trials registries. Most recent search of the ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) portal: 06 January 2019.
Selection criteria
Randomised and quasiârandomised controlled trials comparing different durations of intravenous antibiotic courses for acute respiratory exacerbations in people with CF, either with the same drugs at the same dosage, the same drugs at a different dosage or frequency or different antibiotics altogether, including studies with additional therapeutic agents.
Data collection and analysis
No eligible trials were identified for inclusion. A trial looking at the standardised treatment of pulmonary exacerbations is currently ongoing and will be included when the results are published.
Main results
No eligible trials were included.
Authors' conclusions
There are no clear guidelines on the optimum duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Duration of treatment is currently based on unit policies and response to treatment. Shorter duration of treatment should improve quality of life and adherence, result in a reduced incidence of drug reactions and be less costly. However, the shorter duration may not be sufficient to clear a chest infection and may result in an early recurrence of an exacerbation. This systematic review identifies the need for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial comparing different durations of intravenous antibiotic treatment as it has important clinical and financial implications. The currently ongoing STOP2 trial is expected to provide some guidance on these questions when published
Pre-clinical evaluation of antiproteases as potential candidates for HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis
Previous studies on highly HIV-1-exposed, yet persistently seronegative women from the Punwami Sex Worker cohort in Kenya, have shed light on putative protective mechanisms, suggesting that mucosal immunological factors, such as antiproteases, could be mediating resistance to HIV-1 transmission in the female reproductive tract. Nine protease inhibitors were selected for this study: serpin B4, serpin A1, serpin A3, serpin C1, cystatin A, cystatin B, serpin B13, serpin B1 and α-2-macroglobulin-like-protein 1. We assessed in a pilot study, the activity of these antiproteases with cellular assays and an ex vivo HIV-1 challenge model of human ecto-cervical tissue explants. Preliminary findings with both models, cellular and tissue explants, established an order of inhibitory potency for the mucosal proteins as candidates for pre-exposure prophylaxis when mimicking pre-coital use. Combination of all antiproteases considered in this study was more active than any of the individual mucosal proteins. Furthermore, the migration of cells out of ecto-cervical explants was blocked indicating potential prevention of viral dissemination following amplification of the founder population. These findings constitute the base for further development of these mucosal protease inhibitors for prevention strategies
Final Report - Assessment of Testing Options for the NTR at the INL
One of the main technologies that can be developed to dramatically enhance the human exploration of space is the nuclear thermal rocket (NTR). Several studies over the past thirty years have shown that the NTR can reduce the cost of a lunar outpost, reduce the risk of a human mission to Mars, enable fast transits for most missions throughout the solar system, and reduce the cost and time for robotic probes to deep space. Three separate committees of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences have recommended that NASA develop the NTR. One of the primary issues in development of the NTR is the ability to verify a flight ready unit. Three main methods can be used to validate safe operation of a NTR: 1) Full power, full duration test in an above ground facility that scrubs the rocket exhaust clean of any fission products; 2) Full power , full duration test using the Subsurface Active Filtering of Exhaust (SAFE) technique to capture the exhaust in subsurface strata; 3) Test of the reactor fuel at temperature and power density in a driver reactor with subsequent first test of the fully integrated NTR in space. The first method, the above ground facility, has been studied in the past. The second method, SAFE, has been examined for application at the Nevada Test Site. The third method relies on the fact that the Nuclear Furnace series of tests in 1971 showed that the radioactive exhaust coming from graphite based fuel for the NTR could be completely scrubbed of fission products and the clean hydrogen flared into the atmosphere. Under funding from the MSFC, the Center for Space Nuclear Research (CSNR) at the Idaho National laboratory (INL) has completed a reexamination of Methods 2 and 3 for implementation at the INL site. In short, the effort performed the following: 1) Assess the geology of the INL site and determine a location suitable SAFE testing; 2) Perform calculations of gas transport throughout the geology; 3) Produce a cost estimate of a non-nuclear , sub-scale test using gas injection to validate the computational models; 4) Produce a preliminary cost estimate to build a nuclear furnace equivalent facility to test NTR fuel on a green field location on the INL site. The results show that the INL geology is substantially better suited to the SAFE testing method than the NTS site. The existence of impermeable interbeds just above the sub-surface aquifer ensure that no material from the test, radioactive or not, can enter the water table. Similar beds located just below the surface will prevent any gaseous products from reaching the surface for dispersion. The extremely high permeability of the strata between the interbeds allows rapid dispersion of the rocket exhaust. In addition, the high permeability suggests that a lower back-pressure may develop in the hole against the rocket thrust, which increases safety of operations. Finally, the cost of performing a sub-scale, non-nuclear verification experiment was determined to be 250M. Based on the results of this study, a cost estimate for testing a nuclear rocket at the INL site appears to be warranted. Given the fact that a new nuclear fuel may be possible that does not release any fission products, the SAFE testing option appears to be the most affordable
Templating porosity in polymethylsilsesquioxane coatings using trimethylsilylated hyperbranched polymers
A series of trimethylsilyl end-functionalized aliphatic hyperbranched polymers has been used to template porosity in polymethylsilsesquioxane films prepared by heat treatment of a spin cast methylsilsesquioxane precursor. By varying the extent of the end-functionalization, closed pore foams with controlled pore sizes and pore contents of up to 40 vol% were obtained by chemically-induced phase separation and thermal degradation of the hyperbranched polymers during the heat treatmen
Psychosocial outcomes of an inclusive adapted sport and adventurous training course for military personnel.
PURPOSE: To explore the psychosocial outcomes of an inclusive adapted sport and adventurous training course that aims to support the rehabilitation and personal development of military personnel who have sustained physical and/or psychological disability. METHOD: Narrative life story interviews were conducted with 11 men aged 20-43 taking part in one of the 5-day courses. A thematic narrative analysis was conducted, focusing on accounts that provided insights into personally meaningful psychosocial outcomes of the course. FINDINGS: We identified six themes, falling into two distinct clusters. "Bringing me back to myself" was achieved through the themes of (1) returning to activity, (2) rediscovering a sense of purpose, and (3) reconnecting to others. "New rooms to explore" was realised through (4) experiencing new activities, (5) being valued/respected/cared for and (6) being inspired by other people. CONCLUSION: Involvement in the course stimulated a balance of present- and future-oriented psychosocial outcomes through which participants both recreated aspects of themselves that had been lost through injury/trauma and moved forward with their lives as a result of new horizons of possibility. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: This 5-day inclusive adapted sport and adventurous training course offered meaningful psychosocial outcomes among military personnel who had experienced physical and/or psychological disability. The course helped participants recover aspects of their previous life and self through becoming physically active again, rediscovering a sense of purpose and reconnecting to others. Participants describe a broadening of life horizons as a result of the course, through new activities, being valued/respected/cared for, and being inspired by other people
Semiclassical ionization dynamics of the hydrogen molecular ion in an electric field of arbitrary orientation
Quasi-static models of barrier suppression have played a major role in our
understanding of the ionization of atoms and molecules in strong laser fields.
Despite their success, in the case of diatomic molecules these studies have so
far been restricted to fields aligned with the molecular axis. In this paper we
investigate the locations and heights of the potential barriers in the hydrogen
molecular ion in an electric field of arbitrary orientation. We find that the
barriers undergo bifurcations as the external field strength and direction are
varied. This phenomenon represents an unexpected level of intricacy even on
this most elementary level of the dynamics. We describe the dynamics of
tunnelling ionization through the barriers semiclassically and use our results
to shed new light on the success of a recent theory of molecular tunnelling
ionization as well as earlier theories that restrict the electric field to be
aligned with the molecular axis
Improved photometry of SDSS crowded field images: Structure and dark matter content in the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I
We explore how well crowded field point-source photometry can be accomplished
with SDSS data: We present a photometric pipeline based on DoPhot, and tuned
for analyzing crowded-field images from the SDSS. Using Monte Carlo simulations
we show that the completeness of source extraction is above 80% to i < 21 (AB)
and a stellar surface density of about 200 sq.amin. Hence, a specialized data
pipeline can efficiently be used for e.g. nearby resolved galaxies in SDSS
images, where the standard SDSS photometric package Photo, when applied in
normal survey mode, gives poor results. We apply our pipeline to an area of
about 3.55sq.deg. around the dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph) Leo I, and
construct a high S/N star-count map of Leo I via an optimized filter in
color-magnitude space (g,r,i). Although the radial surface-density profile of
the dwarf deviates from the best fit empirical King model towards outer radii,
we find no evidence for tidal debris out to a stellar surface-density of
4*10^(-3) of the central value. We determine the total luminosity of Leo I, and
model its mass using the spherical and isotropic Jeans equation. Assuming that
'mass follows light' we constrain a lower limit of the total mass of the dSph
to be (1.7+/-0.2)*10^7 Msol. Contrary, if the mass in Leo I is dominated by a
constant density dark-matter (DM) halo, then the mass within the central 12' is
(2+/-0.6)*10^8 Msol. This leads to a mass-to-light ratio of >>6 (Ic_sol), and
possibly >75 if the DM halo dominates the mass and extends further out than
12'. In summary, our results show that Leo I is a symmetric, relaxed and bound
system; this supports the idea that Leo I is a dark-matter dominated system.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures; accepted for publication in A
Stark shift and field ionization of arsenic donors in Si-SOI structures
We develop an efficient back gate for silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices
operating at cryogenic temperatures, and measure the quadratic hyperfine Stark
shift parameter of arsenic donors in isotopically purified Si-SOI layers
using such structures. The back gate is implemented using MeV ion implantation
through the SOI layer forming a metallic electrode in the handle wafer,
enabling large and uniform electric fields up to 2 V/m to be
applied across the SOI layer. Utilizing this structure we measure the Stark
shift parameters of arsenic donors embedded in the Si SOI layer and find
a contact hyperfine Stark parameter of m/V. We also demonstrate electric-field driven dopant ionization in
the SOI device layer, measured by electron spin resonance.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
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