Semi-Supervised Deep Learning for Fully Convolutional Networks

Deep learning usually requires large amounts of labeled training data, but annotating data is costly and tedious. The framework of semi-supervised learning provides the means to use both labeled data and arbitrary amounts of unlabeled data for training. Recently, semi-supervised deep learning has been intensively studied for standard CNN architectures. However, Fully Convolutional Networks (FCNs) set the state-of-the-art for many image segmentation tasks. To the best of our knowledge, there is no existing semi-supervised learning method for such FCNs yet. We lift the concept of auxiliary manifold embedding for semi-supervised learning to FCNs with the help of Random Feature Embedding. In our experiments on the challenging task of MS Lesion Segmentation, we leverage the proposed framework for the purpose of domain adaptation and report substantial improvements over the baseline model.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Radiative transfer in highly scattering materials - numerical solution and evaluation of approximate analytic solutions

Numerical solutions for radiative transport in a class of anisotropically scattering materials are presented. Conditions for convergence and divergence of the iterative method are given and supported by computed results. The relation of two flux theories to the equation of radiative transfer for isotropic scattering is discussed. The adequacy of the two flux approach for the reflectance, radiative flux and radiative flux divergence of highly scattering media is evaluated with respect to solutions of the radiative transfer equation

Optimal symmetric flight studies

Several topics in optimal symmetric flight of airbreathing vehicles are examined. In one study, an approximation scheme designed for onboard real-time energy management of climb-dash is developed and calculations for a high-performance aircraft presented. In another, a vehicle model intermediate in complexity between energy and point-mass models is explored and some quirks in optimal flight characteristics peculiar to the model uncovered. In yet another study, energy-modelling procedures are re-examined with a view to stretching the range of validity of zeroth-order approximation by special choice of state variables. In a final study, time-fuel tradeoffs in cruise-dash are examined for the consequences of nonconvexities appearing in the classical steady cruise-dash model. Two appendices provide retrospective looks at two early publications on energy modelling and related optimal control theory

San Antonio Mission Trails Statewide Transportation Enhancement Project Volume II Construction Packages 2 and 3: Archaeological Testing and Monitoring Construction of the Mission Trails Hike and Bike Trails, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Beginning in October 1998, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) provided archival research and archaeological services to the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as part of the Mission Trails Statewide Transportation Enhancement Project. The project was intended to create a hike and bike trail system connecting the five Spanish missions in San Antonio. The trail should provide easier access to the missions for visitors, allow easier access to pleasant places to walk and cycle, and greatly improve the condition of some of the city streets. This is the second and final volume issued by the CAR in the series of reports on the Mission Trails project. It describes the findings from archaeological work associated with Packages 2 and 3 of the five part Construction Package, including archival research, intensive survey, and monitoring of the portion of the Mission Trails project from Mitchell Street near Mission Concepción to Padre Drive at SE Military Drive. Both a “Direct” route, consisting of designated lanes along existing roads, and a “Scenic” route, consisting of new hike and bike trails near the San Antonio River, were included. In addition, new utility lines were placed under some streets, in particular Roosevelt Avenue, and Mission and Mitchell Roads. This report provides a historic background based on archival research for the project area and a detailed description of the intensive survey and monitoring done as part of these two Packages. After preliminary examination of the archives and previous archaeological work (Cox 2000), areas where there was reason to believe that significant cultural resources would be impacted by the project were designated “Areas of Concern”. As part of archaeological investigations associated with Package 3, an intensive survey was undertaken in these areas, including shovel testing and backhoe trenching when appropriate, to assess the potential of an adverse impact to significant cultural resources. Shovel testing was conducted at the following locations: (1) Outside the south and west walls of Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo (41BX3), where 50 shovel tests were completed to inspect the proposed route of a new section of hike and bike trail; (2) At the Pyron Homestead (41BX279), where 40 shovel tests were completed to examine the proposed route of an extension of Padre Road; (3) At the Brown Site (41BX241), where eight shovel test were excavated to confirm that no remnant of the previously recorded site was extant; (4) Along the southern edge of Padre Park, where 39 shovel tests were completed to investigate the proposed route of a new section of hike and bike trail. In addition to the shovel testing, three backhoe trenches were dug along the route of a proposed utility line near Mission Road north of the San Antonio River. Undisturbed sediments were located in two trenches, at 140 cmbs and 360 cmbs respectively, but no evidence of cultural deposits was seen. Ten backhoe trenches also were dug along the north bank of the river south of Concepción Park, where they revealed only modern fill. CAR concluded that the project would result in no adverse impact to significant cultural resources in these areas. Finally, in consultation with TxDOT-ENV and the Texas Historical Commission, and in accord with the original Scope of Work and project protocol, archaeological monitoring was conducted in selected parts of the project area. Specifically, monitoring of construction took place in the following locations: (1) Along the footprint of the hike and bike trail on the grounds of Mission San José; (2) On Mission Road where buried utility lines were being replaced; (3) On Roosevelt Avenue where new utility lines were being installed and old utility lines were being replaced. None of the sub-surface investigations located undisturbed cultural deposits. All artifacts collected from the shovel tests were in mixed context. Based on the results of these investigations, CAR recommended that continuation of the construction project would not result in adverse impacts to cultural resources in these areas. This recommendation was accepted by TxDOT-ENV and the Texas Historical Commission (TxDOT-ENV letter dated to THC dated 02-26-2007 with THC concurrence signature dated 03-01-2007). All artifacts and project-associated records are permanently curated at the curation facility of the Center for Archaeological Research

Mental health of staff working in intensive care during COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Staff working in intensive care units (ICUs) have faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic which have the potential to adversely affect their mental health. AIMS: To identify the rates of probable mental health disorder in staff working in ICUs in nine English hospitals during June and July 2020. METHODS: An anonymized brief web-based survey comprising standardized questionnaires examining depression, anxiety symptoms, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), well-being and alcohol use was administered to staff. RESULTS: Seven hundred and nine participants completed the surveys comprising 291 (41%) doctors, 344 (49%) nurses and 74 (10%) other healthcare staff. Over half (59%) reported good well-being; however, 45% met the threshold for probable clinical significance on at least one of the following measures: severe depression (6%), PTSD (40%), severe anxiety (11%) or problem drinking (7%). Thirteen per cent of respondents reported frequent thoughts of being better off dead, or of hurting themselves in the past 2 weeks. Within the sample used in this study, we found that doctors reported better mental health than nurses across a range of measures. CONCLUSIONS: We found substantial rates of probable mental health disorders, and thoughts of self-harm, amongst ICU staff; these difficulties were especially prevalent in nurses. Whilst further work is needed to better understand the real level of clinical need amongst ICU staff, these results indicate the need for a national strategy to protect the mental health, and decrease the risk of functional impairment, of ICU staff whilst they carry out their essential work during COVID-19

Overview of the Langley subsonic research effort on SCR configuration

Recent advances achieved in the subsonic aerodynamics of low aspect ratio, highly swept wing designs are summarized. The most significant of these advances was the development of leading edge deflection concepts which effectively reduce leading edge flow separation. The improved flow attachment results in substantial improvements in low speed performance, significant delay of longitudinal pitch up, increased trailing edge flap effectiveness, and increased lateral control capability. Various additional theoretical and/or experimental studies are considered which, in conjunction with the leading edge deflection studies, form the basis for future subsonic research effort

Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Salado Creek Hike and Bike Trail, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

In November of 2002 and March of 2003, a crew from the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archeological and geoarcheological investigations along Salado Creek in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The purpose of this fieldwork was to investigate, using shovel testing and backhoe trenching, the impact of the proposed construction of an approximately three-mile-long hike and bike trail along the creek. The work included testing for the presence of the historic Alsbury Family Cemetery and Homestead that may be in close proximity to the trail’s right-of-way. Work was performed under contract with HNTB Corporation of San Antonio. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2917, with Steve A. Tomka serving as Principal Investigator. Shovel testing and backhoe trenching yielded no significant archeological deposits. No cultural material was collected during the survey. A backhoe trench and shovel tests placed along the trail’s path in the vicinity of the cemetery encountered no signs of graves and archival research suggests the cemetery is well outside the trail right-of-way. It is believed that locating the Alsbury Family Cemetery may require pedestrian survey and subsurface investigations that are outside the scope of this project. Finally, it is recommended that the construction of the proposed hike and bike trail proceed as planned since it will not impact intact cultural deposits of significant research potential

Neural Networks for Information Retrieval

Machine learning plays a role in many aspects of modern IR systems, and deep learning is applied in all of them. The fast pace of modern-day research has given rise to many different approaches for many different IR problems. The amount of information available can be overwhelming both for junior students and for experienced researchers looking for new research topics and directions. Additionally, it is interesting to see what key insights into IR problems the new technologies are able to give us. The aim of this full-day tutorial is to give a clear overview of current tried-and-trusted neural methods in IR and how they benefit IR research. It covers key architectures, as well as the most promising future directions.Comment: Overview of full-day tutorial at SIGIR 201

Repetition and difference: Lefebvre, Le Corbusier and modernity's (im)moral landscape: a commentary

This article engages with the relationship between social theory, architectural theory and material culture. The article is a reply to an article in a previous volume of the journal in question (Smith, M. (2001) ‘Repetition and difference: Lefebvre, Le Corbusier and modernity’s (im)moral landscape’, Ethics, Place and Environment, 4(1), 31-34) and, consequently, is also a direct engagement with another academic's scholarship. It represents a critique of their work as well as a recasting of their ideas, arguing that the matter in question went beyond interpretative issues to a direct critique of another author's scholarship on both Le Corbusier and Lefebvre. A reply to my article from the author of the original article was carried in a later issue of the journal (Smith, M. (2002) ‘Ethical Difference(s): a Response to Maycroft on Le Corbusier and Lefebvre’, Ethics, Place and Environment, 5(3), 260-269)

The Distance to Nova V959 Mon from VLA Imaging

Determining reliable distances to classical novae is a challenging but crucial step in deriving their ejected masses and explosion energetics. Here we combine radio expansion measurements from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array with velocities derived from optical spectra to estimate an expansion parallax for nova V959 Mon, the first nova discovered through its gamma-ray emission. We spatially resolve the nova at frequencies of 4.5-36.5 GHz in nine different imaging epochs. The first five epochs cover the expansion of the ejecta from 2012 October to 2013 January, while the final four epochs span 2014 February to 2014 May. These observations correspond to days 126 through 199 and days 615 through 703 after the first detection of the nova. The images clearly show a non-spherical ejecta geometry. Utilizing ejecta velocities derived from 3D modelling of optical spectroscopy, the radio expansion implies a distance between 0.9 +/- 0.2 and 2.2 +/- 0.4 kpc, with a most probable distance of 1.4 +/- 0.4 kpc. This distance implies a gamma-ray luminosity much less than the prototype gamma-ray-detected nova, V407 Cyg, possibly due to the lack of a red giant companion in the V959 Mon system. V959 Mon also has a much lower gamma-ray luminosity than other classical novae detected in gamma-rays to date, indicating a range of at least a factor of 10 in the gamma-ray luminosities for these explosions.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, submitted to ApJ 2015-01-21, under revie