A framework for integrating syntax, semantics and pragmatics for computer-aided professional practice: With application of costing in construction industry

Producing a bill of quantity is a knowledge-based, dynamic and collaborative process, and evolves with variances and current evidence. However, within the context of information system practice in BIM, knowledge of cost estimation has not been represented, nor has it been integrated into the processes based on BIM. This paper intends to establish an innovative means of taking data from the BIM linked to a project, and using it to create the necessary items for a bill of quantity that will enable cost estimation to be undertaken for the project. Our framework is founded upon the belief that three components are necessary to gain a full awareness of the domain which is being computerised; the information type which is to be assessed for compatibility (syntax), the definition for the pricing domain (semantics), and the precise implementation environment for the standards being taken into account (pragmatics). In order to achieve this, a prototype is created that allows a cost item for the bill of quantity to be spontaneously generated, by means of the semantic web ontology and a forward chain algorithm. Within this paper, ‘cost items’ signify the elements included in a bill of quantity, including details of their description, quantity and price. As a means of authenticating the process being developed, the authors of this work effectively implemented it in the production of cost items. In addition, the items created were contrasted with those produced by specialists. For this reason, this innovative framework introduces the possibility of a new means of applying semantic web ontology and forward chain algorithm to construction professional practice resulting in automatic cost estimation. These key outcomes demonstrate that, decoupling the professional practice into three key components of syntax, semantics and pragmatics can provide tangible benefits to domain use

Data Driven Prediction Architecture for Autonomous Driving and its Application on Apollo Platform

Autonomous Driving vehicles (ADV) are on road with large scales. For safe and efficient operations, ADVs must be able to predict the future states and iterative with road entities in complex, real-world driving scenarios. How to migrate a well-trained prediction model from one geo-fenced area to another is essential in scaling the ADV operation and is difficult most of the time since the terrains, traffic rules, entities distributions, driving/walking patterns would be largely different in different geo-fenced operation areas. In this paper, we introduce a highly automated learning-based prediction model pipeline, which has been deployed on Baidu Apollo self-driving platform, to support different prediction learning sub-modules' data annotation, feature extraction, model training/tuning and deployment. This pipeline is completely automatic without any human intervention and shows an up to 400\% efficiency increase in parameter tuning, when deployed at scale in different scenarios across nations.Comment: Accepted by the 31st IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (2020

Unveiling the Intricate Intercalation Mechanism in Manganese Sesquioxide as Positive Electrode in Aqueous Zn‐Metal Battery

In the family of Zn/manganese oxide batteries with mild aqueous electrolytes, cubic α-Mn$_{2}$O$_{3}$ with bixbyite structure is rarely considered, because of the lack of the tunnel and/or layered structure that are usually believed to be indispensable for the incorporation of Zn ions. In this work, the charge storage mechanism of α-Mn$_{2}$O$_{3}$ is systematically and comprehensively investigated. It is demonstrated that the electrochemically induced irreversible phase transition from α-Mn$_{2}$O$_{3}$ to layered-typed L-Zn$_{x}$MnO$_{2}$, coupled with the dissolution of Mn$^{2+}$ and OH$^{-}$ into the electrolyte, allows for the subsequent reversible de-/intercalation of Zn$^{2+}$. Moreover, it is proven that α-Mn$_{2}$O$_{3}$ is not a host for H$^{+}$. Instead, the MnO$_{2}$ formed from L-Zn$_{x}$MnO$_{2}$ and the Mn^{2+ in the electrolyte upon the initial charge is the host for H$^{+}$. Based on this electrode mechanism, combined with fabricating hierarchically structured mesoporous α-Mn$_{2}$O$_{3}$ microrod array material, an unprecedented rate capability with 103 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1 as well as an appealing stability of 2000 cycles (at 2.0 A g$^{-1}$) with a capacity decay of only ≈0.009% per-cycle are obtained

Elucidating the molecular determinants in the process of gastrin C-terminal pentapeptide amide end activating cholecystokinin 2 receptor by Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics simulations

Gastrin plays important role in stimulating the initiation and development of many gastrointestinal diseases through interacting with the cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK2R). The smallest bioactive unit of gastrin activating CCK2R is the C-terminal tetrapeptide capped with an indispensable amide end. Understanding the mechanism of this smallest bioactive unit interacting with CCK2R on a molecular basis could provide significant insights for designing CCK2R antagonists, which can be used to treat gastrin-related diseases. To this end, we performed extensive Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction between gastrin C-terminal pentapeptide capped with/without amide end and CCK2R. The amide cap influences the binding modes of the pentapeptide with CCK2R by weakening the electrostatic attractions between the C-terminus of the pentapeptide and basic residues near the extracellular domain in CCK2R. The C-terminus with the amide cap penetrates into the transmembrane domain of CCK2R while floating at the extracellular domain without the amide cap. Different binding modes induced different conformational dynamics of CCK2R. Residue pairs in CCK2R had stronger correlated motions when binding with the amidated pentapeptide. Key residues and interactions important for CCK2R binding with the amidated pentagastrin were also identified. Our results provide molecular insights into the determinants of the bioactive unit of gastrin activating CCK2R, which would be of great help for the design of CCK2R antagonists

Solar-Driven H_2O_2 Generation From H_2O and O_2 Using Earth-Abundant Mixed-Metal Oxide@Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts

Light-driven generation of H_2O_2 only from water and molecular oxygen could be an ideal pathway for clean production of solar fuels. In this work, a mixed metal oxide/graphitic-C_3N_4 (MMO@C_3N_4) composite was synthesized as a dual-functional photocatalyst for both water oxidation and oxygen reduction to generate H_2O_2. The MMO was derived from a NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursor for obtaining a high dispersion of metal oxides on the surface of the C_3N_4 matrix. The C_3N_4 is in the graphitic phase and the main crystalline phase in MMO is cubic NiO. The XPS analyses revealed the doping of Fe^(3+) in the dominant NiO phase and the existence of surface defects in the C3N4 matrix. The formation and decomposition kinetics of H_2O_2 on the MMO@C_3N_4 and the control samples, including bare MMO, C_3N_4 matrix, Ni- or Fe-loaded C_3N_4 and a simple mixture of MMO and C_3N_4, were investigated. The MMO@C_3N_4 composite produced 63 μmol L^(−1) of H_2O_2 in 90 min in acidic solution (pH 3) and exhibited a significantly higher rate of production for H_2O_2 relative to the control samples. The positive shift of the valence band in the composite and the enhanced water oxidation catalysis by incorporating the MMO improved the light-induced hole collection relative to the bare C_3N_4 and resulted in the enhanced H_2O_2 formation. The positively shifted conduction band in the composite also improved the selectivity of the two-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to H_2O_2

Imaging and Pathological Features of Percutaneous Cryosurgery on Normal Lung Evaluated in a Porcine Model

Background and objective Lung cancer is one of the most commonly occurring malignancies and frequent causes of death in the world. Cryoablation is a safe and alternative treatment for unresectable lung cancer. Due to the lung being gas-containing organ and different from solid organs such as liver and pancreas, it is difficult to achieve the freezing range of beyond the tumor edge 1 cm safety border. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of different numbers of freeze cycles on the effectiveness of cryoablation on normal lung tissue and to create an operation guideline that gives the best effect. Methods Six healthy Tibetan miniature pigs were given a CT scan and histological investigation after percutaneous cryosurgery. Cryoablation was performed as 2 cycles of 10 min of active freezing in the left lung; each freeze followed by a 5 min thaw. In the right lung, we performed the same 2 cycles of 5 min of freezing followed by 5 min of thawing. However, for the right lung, we included a third cycle of consisting of 10 min of freezing followed by 5 min of thawing. Three cryoprobes were inserted into the left lung and three cryoprobes in the right lung per animal, one in the upper and two in the lower lobe, so as to be well away from each other. Comparison under the same experimental condition was necessary. During the experiment, observations were made regarding the imaging change of ice-ball. The lungs were removed postoperatively at 3 intervals: 4 h, 3 d of postoperation and 7 d of postoperation, respectively, to view microscopic and pathological change. Results The ice-ball grew gradually in relation to the increase in time, and the increase in number of cycles. The size of the cryolesion (hypothesis necrotic area) in specimens, over time, became larger in size than the size of the ice-ball during operation, regardless of whether 2 or 3 freeze-thaw cycles were performed. The area of necrosis was gradually increased over the course of time. The hypothesis necrotic area was equal to necrosis area 3 d after cryosurgery. Conclusion Percutaneous cryoablation of the lung can achieve complete ablation of target tissue. The freezing technique may be different depending on the individual circumstances of each tumor. In technology, 3 freeze-thaw cycles are recommended, and the range of cryoablation’s effective diameter may be not necessarily beyond the tumor edge at least 1 cm safe border during cryosurgery

Circulating Tumor DNA as a Sensitive Marker in Patients Undergoing Irreversible Electroporation for Pancreatic Cancer

Background/Aims: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in extremely poor 5-year survival. Late diagnosis of PDAC is mainly due to lack of a reliable method of early detection. Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 is often used as a tumor biomarker in PDAC; however, the test lacks sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, new sensitive and minimally invasive diagnostic tools are required to detect pancreatic cancer. Methods: Here, we investigated circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) which contained KRAS-mutated as a potential diagnostic tool for PDAC patients who underwent irreversible electroporation (IRE). We used droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) to detect the expression of KRAS-mutated genes in plasma samples of 65 PDAC patients who underwent IRE. Results: In these 65 cases, ctDNA was detected in 20 (29.2%) samples. The median overall survival (OS) was 11.4 months with ctDNA+ patients and 14.3 months for ctDNA- patients. ctDNA+ patients had a obviously poorer prognosis associated to overall survival (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results suggested that the existence of ctDNA was a predictor of survival for PDAC patients. Therefore, ctDNA may be a new sensitive biomarker for monitoring treatment outcome in PDAC