Academia Sinica

About: Academia Sinica is a facility organization based out in Taipei, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 52086 authors who have published 65998 publications receiving 1728114 citations. The organization is also known as: Central Research Academy.

Learning Compact Binary Descriptors with Unsupervised Deep Neural Networks

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a new unsupervised deep learning approach called DeepBit to learn compact binary descriptor for efficient visual object matching. Unlike most existing binary descriptors which were designed with random projections or linear hash functions, we develop a deep neural network to learn binary descriptors in an unsupervised manner. We enforce three criterions on binary codes which are learned at the top layer of our network: 1) minimal loss quantization, 2) evenly distributed codes and 3) uncorrelated bits. Then, we learn the parameters of the networks with a back-propagation technique. Experimental results on three different visual analysis tasks including image matching, image retrieval, and object recognition clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Software for the frontiers of quantum chemistry: An overview of developments in the Q-Chem 5 package

Abstract: This article summarizes technical advances contained in the fifth major release of the Q-Chem quantum chemistry program package, covering developments since 2015. A comprehensive library of exchange-correlation functionals, along with a suite of correlated many-body methods, continues to be a hallmark of the Q-Chem software. The many-body methods include novel variants of both coupled-cluster and configuration-interaction approaches along with methods based on the algebraic diagrammatic construction and variational reduced density-matrix methods. Methods highlighted in Q-Chem 5 include a suite of tools for modeling core-level spectroscopy, methods for describing metastable resonances, methods for computing vibronic spectra, the nuclear-electronic orbital method, and several different energy decomposition analysis techniques. High-performance capabilities including multithreaded parallelism and support for calculations on graphics processing units are described. Q-Chem boasts a community of well over 100 active academic developers, and the continuing evolution of the software is supported by an "open teamware" model and an increasingly modular design.

Recent developments in molecule-based organic materials for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract: Photoanodes such as TiO2, sensitizers, electrolytes, and photocathodes play important roles in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Organic materials are often used for these components. This feature article reviews the recent development of organic sensitizers for both n- and p-type DSSCs, with an emphasis on molecular design strategies. This paper also discusses dyes for co-sensitized and tandem DSSCs, and metal-containing and metal-free redox organic mediators. Finally this paper briefly discusses organic materials for counter electrodes. The article provides readers with an overview of new trends in organic materials for DSSCs.

Clusters of circulating tumor cells traverse capillary-sized vessels

Abstract: Multicellular aggregates of circulating tumor cells (CTC clusters) are potent initiators of distant organ metastasis. However, it is currently assumed that CTC clusters are too large to pass through narrow vessels to reach these organs. Here, we present evidence that challenges this assumption through the use of microfluidic devices designed to mimic human capillary constrictions and CTC clusters obtained from patient and cancer cell origins. Over 90% of clusters containing up to 20 cells successfully traversed 5- to 10-μm constrictions even in whole blood. Clusters rapidly and reversibly reorganized into single-file chain-like geometries that substantially reduced their hydrodynamic resistances. Xenotransplantation of human CTC clusters into zebrafish showed similar reorganization and transit through capillary-sized vessels in vivo. Preliminary experiments demonstrated that clusters could be disrupted during transit using drugs that affected cellular interaction energies. These findings suggest that CTC clusters may contribute a greater role to tumor dissemination than previously believed and may point to strategies for combating CTC cluster-initiated metastasis.

Convergence to nonlinear diffusion waves for solutions of a system of hyperbolic conservation laws with damping

Abstract: We consider a model of hyperbolic conservation laws with damping and show that the solutions tend to those of a nonlinear parabolic equation time-asymptotically. The hyperbolic model may be viewed as isentropic Euler equations with friction term added to the momentum equation to model gas flow through a porous media. In this case our result justifies Darcy's law time-asymptotically. Our model may also be viewed as an elastic model with damping.