Automatic classifier selection for non-experts

Choosing a suitable classifier for a given dataset is an important part of developing a pattern recognition system. Since a large variety of classification algorithms are proposed in literature, non-experts do not know which method should be used in order to obtain good classification results on their data. Meta-learning tries to address this problem by recommending promising classifiers based on meta-features computed from a given dataset. In this paper, we empirically evaluate five different categories of state-of-the-art meta-features for their suitability in predicting classification accuracies of several widely used classifiers (including Support Vector Machines, Neural Networks, Random Forests, Decision Trees, and Logistic Regression). Based on the evaluation results, we have developed the first open source meta-learning system that is capable of accurately predicting accuracies of target classifiers. The user provides a dataset as input and gets an automatically created high-performance ready-to-use pattern recognition system in a few simple steps. A user study of the system with non-experts showed that the users were able to develop more accurate pattern recognition systems in significantly less development time when using our system as compared to using a state-of-the-art data mining software.     

BetweenIT: An Interactive Tool for Tight Inbetweening

The generation of inbetween frames that interpolate a given set of key frames is a major component in the production of a 2D feature animation. Our objective is to considerably reduce the cost of the inbetweening phase by offering an intuitive and effective interactive environment that automates inbetweening when possible while allowing the artist to guide, complement, or override the results. Tight inbetweens, which interpolate similar key frames, are particularly time‐consuming and tedious to draw. Therefore, we focus on automating these high‐precision and expensive portions of the process. We have designed a set of user‐guided semi‐automatic techniques that fit well with current practice and minimize the number of required artist‐gestures. We present a novel technique for stroke interpolation from only two keys which combines a stroke motion constructed from logarithmic spiral vertex trajectories with a stroke deformation based on curvature averaging and twisting warps. We discuss our system in the context of a feature animation production environment and evaluate our approach with real production data.     

Shrunken Pore Syndrome Is Frequently Occurring in Severe COVID-19

A selective decrease in the renal filtration of larger molecules is attributed to the shrinkage of glomerular pores, a condition termed Shrunken Pore Syndrome (SPS). SPS is associated with poor long-term prognosis. We studied SPS as a risk marker in a cohort of patients with COVID-19 treated in an intensive care unit. SPS was defined as a ratio < 0.7 when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), determined by cystatin C, calculated by the Cystatin C Caucasian-Asian-Pediatric-Adult equation (CAPA), was divided by the eGFR determined by creatinine, calculated by the revised Lund–Malmö creatinine equation (LMR). Clinical data were prospectively collected. In total, SPS was present in 86 (24%) of 352 patients with COVID-19 on ICU admission. Patients with SPS had a higher BMI, Simplified Physiology Score (SAPS3), and had diabetes and/or hypertension more frequently than patients without SPS. Ninety-nine patients in the total cohort were women, 50 of whom had SPS. In dexamethasone-naïve patients, C-reactive protein (CRP ), TNF-alpha, and interleukin-6 did not differ between SPS and non-SPS patients. Demographic factors (gender, BMI) and illness severity (SAPS3) were independent predictors of SPS. Age and dexamethasone treatment did not affect the frequency of SPS after adjustments for age, sex, BMI, and acute severity. SPS is frequent in severely ill COVID-19 patients. Female gender was associated with a higher proportion of SPS. Demographic factors and illness severity were independent predictors of SPS.     

Improving the Corrosion Protection of Poly(phenylene methylene) Coatings by Side Chain Engineering: The Case of Methoxy-Substituted Copolymers

This work aims to improve the corrosion protection features of poly(phenylene methylene) (PPM) by sidechain engineering inserting methoxy units along the polymer backbone. The influence of side methoxy groups at different concentrations (4.6% mol/mol and 9% mol/mol) on the final polymer properties was investigated by structural and thermal characterization of the resulting copolymers: co-PPM 4.6% and co-PPM 9%, respectively. Then, coatings were processed by hot pressing the polymers powder on aluminum alloy AA2024 and corrosion protection properties were evaluated exposing samples to a 3.5% w/v NaCl aqueous solution. Anodic polarization tests evidenced the enhanced corrosion protection ability (i.e., lower current density) by increasing the percentage of the co-monomer. Coatings made with co-PPM 9% showed the best protection performance with respect to both PPM blend and PPM co-polymers reported so far. Electrochemical response of aluminum alloy coated with co-PPM 9% was monitored over time under two “artificially-aged” conditions, that are: (i) a pristine coating subjected to potentiostatic anodic polarization cycles, and (ii) an artificially damaged coating at resting condition. The first scenario points to accelerating the corrosion process, the second one models damage of the coating potentially occurring either due to natural deterioration or due to any accidental scratching of the polymer layer. In both cases, an intrinsic self-healing phenomenon was indirectly argued by the time evolution of the impedance and of the current density of the coated systems. The degree of restoring to the “factory conditions” by co-polymer coatings after self-healing events is eventually discussed.     

拉幅干燥机的计算流体力学模拟

计算流体力学模拟可检测拉幅干燥机内的气体流动过程,并对喷嘴指板后端和通风机上端潜在的问题区域进行检测。蒸发过程的模拟表明,织物表面温度与水分的分布不均匀。然而,由于缺乏设备对实验模拟数据进行认征,故无法判断其可靠性。     

用于聚酯POY生产的WINGS

Oerlikon Barmag在2007年ITMA国际纺织博览会上以提出的用于化纤装置的全新理念,首次做了名符其实的成功展示。在ITMA2007上展示的新型POY纺丝机的WINGS（卷绕集成导辊的方案）,在2008年卖出了1600多次。采用WINGS的几种装置在印度和中国同时成功投产。WINGS已占有全球市场份额的50％以上。     

Entwicklung einer Methode zur nichtinvasiven Messung des Absolutdrucks in teiltransparenten Gebinden mit karbonisierten Getränken

A non-invasive optical measurement technique for food analysis is presented, which allows for a reliable determination of the absolute pressure in beverage bottles with carbonated contents. The method uses a tunable laser diode with an emission wavelength around 2004 nm to record three to four absorption lines of CO₂ and evaluates the pressure broadening of the lines proportional to the absolute pressure. With the developed measuring method, a standard deviation of repeated absolute pressure measurements of up to 5.5 bar of less than 50 mbar could finally be achieved in field measurements on sealed soft drink bottles made of PET.     

Multi-scale study of the polishing behaviour of quartz and feldspar on road surfacing aggregate

In this paper, the exact mechanisms as to how petrographic properties of aggregate influence the polishing behaviour quantitatively were identified. Since the aggregate is composed of the different rock-forming minerals, the analyses conducted in this research project focused not only on the aggregate but also on crystals/minerals. The hardest and most abundant rock-forming minerals found on earth – quartz and feldspar – were investigated with polishing tests with the Aachen Polishing Machine on granite aggregates from four sources which exhibit different mineralogical properties. Changes of the aggregate texture and minerals were studied based on texture measurements and skid resistance measurements obtained by means of the Pendulum Test and the Wehner/Schulze device. The influences of mineral composition and crystal size on the changes of the micro-texture and skid resistance of the aggregates were determined by comparing the four granites. The polishing and wearing behaviour of quartz and various feldspars (albite, microcline and plagioclase) were characterised quantitatively by means of a spectral analysis and abrasion analysis. The results show that the micro-texture of exposed minerals is greatly smoothened on wavelengths from 100 to 500 μm. Fine-grained quartz or feldspar crystals tend to be rougher than medium of large-sized crystals. Quartz exhibits more favourable properties than feldspar between 100 and 500 μm; this is especially true for fine quartz crystals. The correlation that more content of coarse-grained quartz leads to high friction value cannot be proved in this research.     

Getting a Grip on the Undrugged: Targeting β-Catenin with Fragment-Based Methods

Aberrant WNT pathway activation, leading to nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, is a key oncogenic driver event. Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC lead to impaired proteasomal degradation of β-catenin and subsequent nuclear translocation. Restoring cellular degradation of β-catenin represents a potential therapeutic strategy. Here, we report the fragment-based discovery of a small molecule binder to β-catenin, including the structural elucidation of the binding mode by X-ray crystallography. The difficulty in drugging β-catenin was confirmed as the primary screening campaigns identified only few and very weak hits. Iterative virtual and NMR screening techniques were required to discover a compound with sufficient potency to be able to obtain an X-ray co-crystal structure. The binding site is located between armadillo repeats two and three, adjacent to the BCL9 and TCF4 binding sites. Genetic studies show that it is unlikely to be useful for the development of protein–protein interaction inhibitors but structural information and established assays provide a solid basis for a prospective optimization towards β-catenin proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) as alternative modality.