Evaluation of Parameter-Scaling for Efficient Deep Learning on Small Satellites

Parameter-scaling techniques change the number of parameters in a machine-learning model in an effort to make the network more amenable to different device types or accuracy requirements. This research compares the performance of two such techniques. NeuralScale is a neural architecture search method which claims to generate deep neural networks for devices that are resource-constrained. It shrinks a network to a target number of parameters by adjusting the width of layers independently to achieve a higher accuracy than previous methods. The novel NeuralScale algorithm is compared to the baseline uniform scaling of MobileNet-style models, where the width of each layer in the model is scaled uniformly across the network. Measurements of the latency and runtime memory required for inference were gathered on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 and Jetson AGX Xavier embedded GPUs using NVIDIA TensorRT. Measurements were also gathered on the Raspberry Pi 4 embedded CPU featuring ARM Cortex-A72 cores using ONNX Runtime. VGG-11, MobileNetV2, Pre-Activation ResNet-18, and ResNet-50 were all scaled to 0.25×, 0.50×, 0.75×, and 1.00× the original number of parameters. On embedded GPUs, this research finds that NeuralScale models do offer higher accuracy, but they run slower and consume much more runtime memory during inference than their equivalent uniform-scaling models. On average, NeuralScale is 40% as efficient as uniform scaling in terms of accuracy per megabyte of runtime memory, and NeuralScale uses 2.7× the runtime memory per parameter as uniform scaling. On the embedded CPU, NeuralScale is slightly more efficient than uniform scaling in terms of accuracy per megabyte of memory, using essentially the same amount of memory per parameter. However, there is on average an over 2.5× increase in the latency for inference. Importantly, parameter count does not guarantee performance in terms of runtime-memory usage between the scaling methods on embedded GPUs, while latency grows significantly on embedded CPUs

Doubly Differential Cross Sections of Low-Energy Electrons Emitted in the Ionization of Molecular Hydrogen by Bare Carbon Ions

We have measured the double differential cross sections (DDCS) (d2σ/dεedΩe) of low-energy electron emission in the ionization of H2 bombarded by bare carbon ions of energy 30 MeV. The energy and angular distributions of the electron DDCS have been obtained for 12 different emission angles and for electron energies varying between 0.1 and 300 eV. We have also deduced the single differential and total ionization cross section from the measured DDCS. The data have been compared with the predictions of first Born approximations and the CDW-EIS (continuum distorted wave–eikonal initial state) model. The CDW-EIS model provides an excellent agreement with the data. [S1050-2947~96!10109-8

Talking Through the Problems: A Study of Discourse in Peer-Led Small Groups

Increasingly, studies are investigating the factors that influence student discourse in science courses, and specifically the mechanisms and discourse processes within small groups, to better understand the learning that takes place as students work together. This paper contributes to a growing body of research by analyzing how students engage in conversation and work together to solve problems in a peer-led small-group setting. This qualitative study evaluates video of Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) sessions in general chemistry, with attention to both the activity structures and the function of discourse as students undertook different types of problems across one semester. Our findings suggest that students talk their way through the problems; practicing a combination of regulative and instructional language to manage the group dynamics of their community of peer learners while developing and using specific disciplinary vocabulary. Additionally, student discourse patterns revealed a focus on the process of complex problem-solving, where students engage in joint decision-making by taking turns, questioning and explaining, and building on one another’s ideas. While students in our study engaged in less of the deeper, meaning-making discourse than expected, these observations about the function of language in small-group learning deepens an understanding of how PLTL and other types of small-group learning based on the tenets of social constructivism may lead to improvements in science education, with implications for the structure of small-group learning environments, problem design, and training of peer group leaders to encourage students to engage in more of the most effective discourse in these learning contexts

Cultivars to face climate change effects on crops and weeds: a review

International audienceAbstractClimate change is caused by the release of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate change will impact many activities, but its effects on agricultural production could be acute. Estimates of annual damages in agriculture due to temperature increase or extended periods of drought will be more costly than damages in other activities. Yield losses are caused both by direct effects of climate change on crops and by indirect effects such as increased inputs in crop production for weed control. One possible solution to counteract the effects of climate change is to seek crop cultivars that are adapted to highly variable, extreme climatic conditions and pest changes. Here we review the effects of climate change on crop cultivars and weeds. Biomass increase will augment marketable yield by 8–70 % for C3 cereals, by 20–144 % for cash and vegetable crops, and by 6–35 % for flowers. Such positive effects could however be reduced by decreasing water and nutrient availability. Rising temperature will decrease yields of temperature-sensitive crops such as maize, soybean, wheat, and cotton or specialty crops such as almonds, grapes, berries, citrus, or stone fruits. Rice, which is expected to yield better under increased CO2, will suffer serious yield losses under high temperatures. Drought stress should decrease the production of tomato, soybean, maize, and cotton. Nevertheless, reviews on C4 photosynthesis response to water stress in interaction with CO2 concentration reveal that elevated CO2 concentration lessens the deleterious effect of drought on plant productivity. C3 weeds respond more strongly than C4 types to CO2 increases through biomass and leaf area increases. The positive response of C3 crops to elevated CO2 may make C4 weeds less competitive for C3 crops, whereas C3 weeds in C4 or C3 crops could become a problem, particularly in tropical regions. Temperature increases will mainly affect the distribution of weeds, particularly C4 type, by expanding their geographical range. This will enhance further yield losses and will affect weed management systems negatively. In addition, the expansion of invasive weed species such as itchgrass, cogongrass, and witchweed facilitated by temperature increases will increase the cost for their control. Under water or nutrient shortage scenarios, an r-strategist with characteristics in the order S-C-R, such as Palmer amaranth, large crabgrass, johnsongrass, and spurges, will most probably prevail. Selection of cultivars that secure high yields under climate change but also by competing weeds is of major importance. Traits related with (a) increased root/shoot ratio, (b) vernalization periods, (c) maturity, (d) regulation of node formation and/or internode distance, (e) harvest index variations, and (f) allelopathy merit further investigation. The cumulative effects of selecting a suitable stress tolerator-competitor cultivar will be reflected in reductions of environmental pollution, lower production costs, and sustainable food production

A Built-In Strategy for Containment of Transgenic Plants: Creation of Selectively Terminable Transgenic Rice

Plant transgenic technology has been widely utilized for engineering crops for trait improvements and for production of high value proteins such as pharmaceuticals. However, the unintended spreading of commercial transgenic crops by pollination and seed dispersal is a major concern for environmental and food safety. Simple and reliable containment strategies for transgenes are highly desirable. Here we report a novel method for creating selectively terminable transgenic rice. In this method, the gene(s) of interest is tagged with a RNA interference cassette, which specifically suppresses the expression of the bentazon detoxification enzyme CYP81A6 and thus renders transgenic rice to be sensitive to bentazon, a herbicide used for rice weed control. We generated transgenic rice plants by this method using a new glyphosate resistant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene from Pesudomonas putida as the gene of interest, and demonstrated that these transgenic rice plants were highly sensitive to bentazon but tolerant to glyphosate, which is exactly the opposite of conventional rice. Field trial of these transgenic rice plants further confirmed that they can be selectively killed at 100% by one spray of bentazon at a regular dose used for conventional rice weed control. Furthermore, we found that the terminable transgenic rice created in this study shows no difference in growth, development and yield compared to its non-transgenic control. Therefore, this method of creating transgenic rice constitutes a novel strategy of transgene containment, which appears simple, reliable and inexpensive for implementation

Actin and Type I Collagen Propeptide Distribution in the Developing Chick Cornea

PURPOSE. To determine the organization of actin filaments and distribution of type I procollagen during the development of the chick corneal stroma. METHODS. Embryonic chicken corneas of ages 6 to 18 days and 18 days posthatch were cryosectioned and fluorescently labeled for filamentous actin with phalloidin and for the N-and C-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen with specific monoclonal antibodies. Tissue sections were examined by fluorescence and confocal microscopy. RESULTS. Prominent actin filament bundles were present at all embryonic stages, arranged in orthogonal arrays. Type I collagen propeptides were also present, with the C-propeptide visible as small foci, often associated with the actin label. The N-propeptide was also detected in the stromal matrix, especially in Bowman's layer. Actin filaments were also prominent in the corneal epithelium, along with collagen propeptide labeling, up to embryonic day14. CONCLUSIONS. Actin filament bundles are abundant in the stroma, presumably in the keratocytes of the developing chick cornea, and are arranged in an orthogonal manner suggesting a possible role in cell and matrix organization in this tissue. Filament bundles appear to be closely associated with the foci of type I procollagen label, suggesting a possible association between the actin cytoskeleton and the trafficking of collagen. The presence of the N-propeptide of type I collagen in the extracellular matrix and the restricted distribution of the Cpropeptide suggest differential processing of these molecules after secretion. The persistence of the N-propeptide implies a role in development, possibly in association with control of collagen fibril diameter and spacing. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

Actin and Type I Collagen Propeptide Distribution in the Developing Chick Cornea

PURPOSE. To determine the organization of actin filaments and distribution of type I procollagen during the development of the chick corneal stroma. METHODS. Embryonic chicken corneas of ages 6 to 18 days and 18 days posthatch were cryosectioned and fluorescently labeled for filamentous actin with phalloidin and for the N-and C-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen with specific monoclonal antibodies. Tissue sections were examined by fluorescence and confocal microscopy. RESULTS. Prominent actin filament bundles were present at all embryonic stages, arranged in orthogonal arrays. Type I collagen propeptides were also present, with the C-propeptide visible as small foci, often associated with the actin label. The N-propeptide was also detected in the stromal matrix, especially in Bowman's layer. Actin filaments were also prominent in the corneal epithelium, along with collagen propeptide labeling, up to embryonic day14. CONCLUSIONS. Actin filament bundles are abundant in the stroma, presumably in the keratocytes of the developing chick cornea, and are arranged in an orthogonal manner suggesting a possible role in cell and matrix organization in this tissue. Filament bundles appear to be closely associated with the foci of type I procollagen label, suggesting a possible association between the actin cytoskeleton and the trafficking of collagen. The presence of the N-propeptide of type I collagen in the extracellular matrix and the restricted distribution of the Cpropeptide suggest differential processing of these molecules after secretion. The persistence of the N-propeptide implies a role in development, possibly in association with control of collagen fibril diameter and spacing. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

Hubungan Kandidiasis Intertriginosa dan Diabetes Melitus Tipe 2 di Poliklinik Kulit dan Kelamin RSUD Dokter Soedarso Pontianak pada Tahun 2012

Background. Intertriginous candidiasis is a type of cutaneous candidiasiswhich is located at the axila, inguinal, intergluteal, inframammary,interdigitalis, glands penis, and umbilicus. One of the risk factors ofintertriginous candidiasis patient is people with diabetes mellitus (DM).The increase of glucose concentration makes more susceptible frominfection. Objective. Define the association between intertriginouscandidiasis and DM type 2. Method. This research was a case controlstudy which took place in Dermatovenereology Outpatient Clinic RSUD dr.Soedarso from June until November 2013. The minimum sample for thisresearch was 126 people and divided into two groups. The case groupconsisted of 63 people and the control group consisted of 63 people. Thesubjects were selected by using consecutive sampling and analyzed bychi-square test. Result. There was an association between intertriginouscandidiasis with DM type 2 (p= 0,01). Odds Ratio (OR) value of thisresearch was 2,621 (IK 95% : 1,246 5,516). Conclusion. Intertriginouscandidiasis is associated with DM type 2 and people with DM type 2 havea possibility of 2,621 times higher risk of acquiring intertriginouscandidiasis than people without diabetes mellitus