CrossNorm: Normalization for Off-Policy TD Reinforcement Learning

Off-policy temporal difference (TD) methods are a powerful class of reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms. Intriguingly, deep off-policy TD algorithms are not commonly used in combination with feature normalization techniques, despite positive effects of normalization in other domains. We show that naive application of existing normalization techniques is indeed not effective, but that well-designed normalization improves optimization stability and removes the necessity of target networks. In particular, we introduce a normalization based on a mixture of on- and off-policy transitions, which we call cross-normalization. It can be regarded as an extension of batch normalization that re-centers data for two different distributions, as present in off-policy learning. Applied to DDPG and TD3, cross-normalization improves over the state of the art across a range of MuJoCo benchmark tasks

Evaluation of Extracapsular Excision in the management of Benign Parotid Tumors

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of facial nerve palsy post operatively in patients undergoing surgical treatment of benign parotid tumors METHOD: This was a prospective, randomized interventional study wherein 36 patients with benign parotid tumors were included and randomized into two groups: Superficial Parotidectomy and Extracapsular Excision. Post operatively, the facial nerve function was assessed by the House-Brackmann Score on post operative days 2, 7 and 10 and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Post operatively, there was no significant difference between the two operations with regard to facial nerve palsy

Transformation: Theory and Practice in Climate Change and Development

There is growing debate on the need for transformational approaches to tackle the challenges facing development in the face of climate change. If current incremental approaches to preventing dangerous climate change and adapting to the change we are already locked into are insufficient, then more radical approaches may be required. This briefing paper summarises research designed to create a set of characteristics of transformation that can help guide the development of policies and programmes to tackle climate change. It combined a documentary analysis of academic literature on transformation from diverse fields with interviews with climate change and development experts.DfI

Electromagnetically Induced Transparency and Absorption in Metamaterials: The Radiating Two-Oscillator Model and Its Experimental Confirmation

Several classical analogues of electromagnetically induced transparency in metamaterials have been demonstrated. A simple two-resonator model can describe their absorption spectrum qualitatively, but fails to provide information about the scattering properties-e.g., transmission and group delay. Here we develop an alternative model that rigorously includes the coupling of the radiative resonator to the external electromagnetic fields. This radiating two-oscillator model can describe both the absorption spectrum and the scattering parameters quantitatively. The model also predicts metamaterials with a narrow spectral feature in the absorption larger than the background absorption of the radiative element. This classical analogue of electromagnetically induced absorption is shown to occur when both the dissipative loss of the radiative resonator and the coupling strength are small. These predictions are subsequently demonstrated in experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; supplemental information available from AP

Analisis Variasi Layout Runner Dan Dimensi Gate Terhadap Berat dan Cacat Produk Pada Produk Handle Lock Pin Dengan Simulasi Moldflow

Perancangan dasar sebuah konstruksi mold ditentukan melalui pertimbangan teknis yang terdiri dari bentuk produk, layout runner, posisi gate, dan lain-lain. Produk yang akan diteliti terdiri dari empat jenis yaitu handle, lock, male pin dan female pin. Permasalahan yang dihadapi pada penelitian kali ini adalah bentuk kontur 3D produk satu dengan yang lain sangat berbeda sehingga menyebabkan perbedaan berat yang cukup signifikan. Perbedaan kontur 3D setiap produk diprediksi akan membuat aliran plastik menjadi tidak balance. Penelitian kali ini menggunakan  dua variabel bebas yaitu layout produk dan lebar gate. Variabel layout produk terdiri dari layout 1 (L1), layout 2 (L2) dan layout 3 (L3). Variabel lebar gate terdiri dari lebar gate 1 (W1) dan lebar gate 2 (W2). Dua variabel dikombinasikan dan dilakukan proses simulasi moldflow dengan menggunakan Solidwork MoldflowPlastic 2018 for education. Hasil yang didapatkan menunjukkan kombinasi variabel L3W1 merupakan kombinasi variabel yang paling baik diantara lima kombinasi variabel lainnya. Kombinasi variabel L3W1 secara simulasi moldflow didapatkan balance yang bagus, tidak didapatkan sinkmark, ditemukan sembilan titik weldlines dan enam titik air traps. Penggunaan MTC (Mold Temperature Control) dapat menyamarkan titik weldlines dan penambahan venting juga dapat menurunkan resiko terjadi air traps

Hubungan Soft Skills dan Prestasi Praktik Industri dengan Kesiapan Siswa Memasuki Dunia Kerja

This research aimed to find the relation between soft skills and industrial practices achievement with students' readiness to enter the working world. The population of this research were the Class XII students of Mechanical Engineering Skill Competency from Canda Bhirawa Vocational High School Kediri Regency. The samples were determined using random sampling based on the Slovin formula. The soft skills and students' work readiness variables data were collected using a questionnaire, whereas the industrial practices achievement variable was obtained from the score documents provided by the school. The data that were collected were analyzed using regression technique. The results showed that there was a strong, positive, and significant correlation between soft skills and students' readiness in entering the working world, there was a medium, positive, and significant correlation between industrial practice achievements with students' readiness to enter the working world. And there was a solid, positive, and significant cooperation correlation between soft skills and industrial practices achievement with students' readiness to enter the working world.