Federated learning is an emerging learning paradigm where multiple clients collaboratively train a machine learning model in a privacy-preserving manner. Personalized federated learning extends this paradigm to overcome heterogeneity across clients by learning personalized models. Recently, there have been some initial attempts to apply transformers to federated learning. However, the impacts of federated learning algorithms on self-attention have not yet been studied. In this article, we investigate this relationship and reveal that federated averaging (FedAvg) algorithms actually have a negative impact on self-attention in cases of data heterogeneity, which limits the capabilities of the transformer model in federated learning settings. To address this issue, we propose FedTP, a novel transformer-based federated learning framework that learns personalized self-attention for each client while aggregating the other parameters among the clients. Instead of using a vanilla personalization mechanism that maintains personalized self-attention layers of each client locally, we develop a learn-to-personalize mechanism to further encourage the cooperation among clients and to increase the scalability and generalization of FedTP. Specifically, we achieve this by learning a hypernetwork on the server that outputs the personalized projection matrices of self-attention layers to generate clientwise queries, keys, and values. Furthermore, we present the generalization bound for FedTP with the learn-to-personalize mechanism. Extensive experiments verify that FedTP with the learn-to-personalize mechanism yields state-of-the-art performance in the non-IID scenarios. Our code is available online https://github.com/zhyczy/FedTP.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Catholic missionaries in China adopted the strategy of cultural accommodation and engaged in extensive interactions with Chinese literati and the general population in order to integrate into Chinese society. They left numerous writings in the Chinese language, objectively promoting cultural exchanges between the East and the West. This article focuses on the pharmacological work Bencao Bu (本草補, Supplement to Chinese Materia Medica) by Spanish Franciscan Pedro de la Piñuela (石鐸琭, Shi Duolu, 1650–1704). The article argues that, in addition to questioning whether the works in Chinese left by missionaries have contributed to the progress of Chinese society in science, medicine, humanities and other aspects, we should also explore the process of encounter between two different cultures. Although Bencao Bu did not significantly advance Chinese medicine, la Piñuela incorporated elements of Chinese culture into the book and made an initial attempt to apply Chinese medical concepts in diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the book not only introduced certain Western scientific knowledge and pharmaceutical techniques but also could be considered the epitome of the global exchange of botanical knowledge and medical experiences, promoting mutual understanding between different parts of the world. This underscores the cultural significance beyond religious purposes found in Bencao Bu as well as other scientific and cultural works by missionaries during the Ming and Qing periods in China.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of race on Customer Service Quality Expectations (SQE) using the Similarity-Attraction Perspective within the context of all interacting service actors, including customers, service providers, and other customers. A thorough literature review of racial effects in service environments is followed by a 2 (Service Actor Race: White vs. Black) × 2 (Service Actor Role: Service Provider vs. Other Customers) × 2 (Context: Experience vs. Credence) experimental study with Black and White customers. The study revealed that customer Perceptions of Service Actor Similarity (PSIM) mediate the influence of matching Customer Race and Service Actor Race on SQE. Results indicate: 1) that SQE is higher when customers are in the presence of other Service Actors perceived to be of their own race, and 2) that the effect varies by Service Actor Role and Service Type. This is an initial attempt to explore the impact of race on Experience and Credence services by adopting a Similarity-Attraction framework considering all participants in the service environment. The findings of this study hold important managerial implications, emphasizing that businesses should be mindful of the impact of race on SQE and consider fostering a diverse and inclusive service environment to enhance customer outcomes.

Competency-based grading (CBG) can take different forms in different subject areas. We present a method for implementing CBG in a biomechanics course with nine primary learning objectives. Competency in each learning objective is measured by the student's ability to correctly answer knowledge questions and solve analytical problems in the field of biomechanics. The primary goal of implementing CBG was to provide more opportunities for lower-performing students to learn the material and to demonstrate that learning. To determine the efficacy of CBG to improve student learning, the primary measure was course grade distribution before and after implementation of CBG. The course grade distribution data indicated that CBG has primarily helped midperforming students to improve their grades. Because of the limitations of course grades as a measure of learning, we also performed analysis of student performance on successive attempts which indicated initial and secondary attempts are best, with student success declining on subsequent attempts. Anecdotally, many students improved performance, and thus their grade, on the (optional) final exam attempts. Limitations of the study include the limited course offerings with CBG (three), and that effects of COVID-19 may be confounding CBG data. Also, the approach places nearly all the grade on quizzes or exams. However, the approach could be modified to include homework grades, projects, and the like. Overall, the student learning in this course and implementation appears to be only positively affected, so this approach appears to have benefits in a biomechanics course.

Uroflowmetry is widely used for initial non-invasive evaluation of lower urinary tract disorders. Current clinical use is mostly restricted to a scrutiny of the maximum flow rate and uroflow pattern recorded by a conventional flowmeter in a health care facility. There are several advancements in our understanding and in available technologies that promise to transform clinical utilization of this simple test. Several aspects of the uroflow test in addition to maximum flow rate and uroflow pattern show potential diagnostic utility. This includes flow acceleration, uroflow indices, uroflow-electromyography including lag time, stop uroflow test, and uroflow-based nomograms. There are initial attempts to use artificial intelligence in analysis. There is also new data with regard to factors influencing variability of uroflow testing that might influence the diagnostic value in as yet uncertain ways including diurnal variability, postural variability, locational variability, and operator variability. There are new technologies for uroflow testing in a home environment allowing for easy repetition. However, there are several challenges owing to a paucity of clinical data and standardization. There are also critical lacunae in terminology that need to be addressed. There are exciting new advancements in the field of uroflowmetry. However, there is need to standardize and validate the newer uroflow tracing analyses and technologies.

An initial theoretical attempt to explain the observed decrease of the polytropic/adiabatic index γ in the solar corona has been accomplished. The chemical reactions of the ionization–recombination processes in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) of a solar plasma cocktail containing heavy elements are found to cause 1.1 < γ ≤ 5/3 in the quiet solar atmosphere. It is also shown that the quiet solar atmosphere is in LTE, justifying this theoretical study. This result is obtained by numerically solving the Saha equation and subsequently using a newly derived equation for calculation of the polytropic index from thermodynamic partial derivatives of the enthalpy and pressure with respect to density and temperature. In addition, a comparison measured from spectroscopic observations of propagating slow magnetohydrodynamic waves in coronal loops shows that LTE ionization accounts for a very small part of the observed decrease of γ, meaning that the solar plasma in the active region is not in LTE as expected. However, the observed dependency of higher polytropic index at higher temperatures is confirmed by the current theoretical approach. It is concluded that in order to account for the polytropic index decrease in the active regions of the solar corona, it is necessary for kinetic non-LTE ionization calculations to be performed.

Introduction: Cutaneous epidermoid carcinoma (SCC) is a common skin tumor that can arise from precursor lesions or de novo. It is the second leading cause of death from skin cancer and its incidence is expected to double by 2030. Risk factors include gender, ionizing radiation, alcohol and tobacco use, and HPV infection. SCC can be classified into five types according to the Peniche classification, with the ulcerative form being the most frequent. Anesthesia management for head and neck cancers is challenging due to airway complications. Case presentation: An 82-year-old female with a history of biomass combustion smoke exposure and hypertension presented with a painful papular lesion on the left nasal wing. Biopsy revealed well-differentiated epidermoid cancer. Despite treatment, the lesion progressed rapidly, leading to a request for surgical resection. The patient had predictors of difficult intubation and ventilation, and initial intubation attempts were unsuccessful. After aspiration of secretions and intracavitary bleeding, successful intubation was achieved on the second attempt. Controlled ventilation was initiated with specific settings. Clinical discussion: A difficult airway can pose challenges for anesthesiologists, especially in patients with head and neck cancer. Pre-anesthetic evaluation and preparation for rescue devices or maneuvers are crucial. In this case, the patient had a difficult Intubation Prediction Index. General anesthesia allowed for invasive monitoring, venous access, and reliable mechanical ventilation. Direct laryngoscopy was performed due to retro nasal bleeding, with equipment available for difficult airway management and aspiration. Conclusion: Anesthetic management for patients with head cancer presents challenges in airway management and carries the risk of complications. Pre-anesthetic and airway assessment are crucial to prevent complications and ensure successful intubation.

Abstract In a recent series of papers, Poll and Schumann have been developing a simple model for estimating fuel burn for turbofan powered, civil transport aircraft for a given mass, Mach number and flight level and in a specified ambient temperature profile for all phases of flight. This paper focuses upon the combination of Mach number and flight level at which an aircraft cruises with the absolute minimum fuel burn. For a given aircraft type, the information necessary to determine these conditions must be specified and this poses a challenge. An initial attempt to obtain these data has been described previously by the first author. In this paper, the optimum conditions are found using a completely different approach. Starting from first principles and using established theory, the equations governing the situation where engine overall efficiency and airframe lift-to-drag ratio both have local maxima at the same flight condition are developed. This special case is termed the “design optimum” condition and, for a specified aircraft mass and a specified atmospheric temperature versus pressure profile, it gives the lowest possible fuel burn for any aircraft and engine combination. The design optimum occurs at a particular Mach number and Reynolds number, and it is a fixed characteristic of the aircraft. The analysis reveals the significance of Reynolds number variations, wave drag, including its derivatives with respect to both lift coefficient and Mach number, and the atmospheric properties. Whilst wave drag is notoriously difficult to determine accurately, it is found that solutions to the equations are not particularly sensitive to the accuracy of this quantity. Consequently, a simple, physically realistic model can give good results. An appropriate model is developed and a complete, approximate solution is obtained. Taking the International Standard Atmosphere as the design atmosphere, results are presented for the 53 aircraft types previously considered by Poll and Schumann. Relative to the design optimum conditions, when Reynolds number is constant and wave drag is zero, compressibility alone reduces L/D by about 5%, reduces lift coefficient by about 1.5% and increases drag coefficient by about 3.5%. Reynolds number variation has little effect upon L/D, but it reduces lift coefficient and drag coefficient by a further 7% and 8% respectively. The reduction in lift coefficient has a significant impact on the optimum cruise flight level. In general, an aircraft’s operating optimum will not coincide with its design optimum, but deviations are expected to be small. Therefore, using the design optimum solution as a reference point, an improved version of the operating optimum estimation method described by Poll and Schumann in previous work is developed. This allows the estimation of the conditions for absolute minimum fuel burn for an aircraft of given mass flying thorough any atmosphere. Updated coefficients for the 53 aircraft types are given.

Melting trajectory of the asymmetrically-heated conical thermal head for ice-melting probes

The marine black yeasts are characterized by the production of many novel protective substances. These compounds increase their physiological adaptation to multi-extreme environmental stress. Hence, the exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing marine black yeast SAHE was isolated in this study. It was molecularly identified as Hortaea werneckii (identity 98.5%) through ITS1 and ITS4 gene sequencing analysis. The physicochemical properties of the novel SAHE-EPS were investigated through FTIR, GC-MS, TGA, ESM, and EDX analysis, revealing its heteropolysaccharide nature. SAHE-EPS was found to be thermostable and mainly consists of sucrose, maltose, cellobiose, lactose, and galactose. Furthermore, it exhibited an amorphous texture and irregular porous surface structure. SAHE-EPS showed significant antiradical activity, as demonstrated by the DPPH radical scavenging assay, and the IC50 was recorded to be 984.9 μg/mL. In addition, SAHE-EPS exhibited outstanding anticancer activity toward the A549 human lung cancer cell line (IC50 = 22.9 μg/mL). Conversely, it demonstrates minimal cytotoxicity toward the WI-38 normal lung cell line (IC50 = 203 μg/mL), which implies its safety. This study represents the initial attempt to isolate and characterize the chemical properties of an EPS produced by the marine black yeast H. werneckii as a promising antiradical and anticancer agent.

Abstract Many investment arbitrations have arisen out of investments financed through aid resources. Yet, the legal framework governing aid disbursements remains mostly unexplored in investment awards and in the literature on international investment law. This article is an initial attempt at identifying the interactions between these two legal orders. It finds that 1) multilateral and bilateral aid institutions are not perfect third parties to the investor-State relationship; rather, they influence the content of investment contracts, supervise contract implementation and have a role to play in dispute prevention and resolution; 2) uncertainties surround the jurisdiction of investment tribunals over aid-financed ‘investments’; 3) development institutions may participate as disputing and non-disputing parties in the arbitrations arising out of aid-financed projects. More broadly, the article suggests that the increasing trend of leveraging aid to incentivize private investments warrants an integrated and hence more realistic approach to the different development finance flows.

Abstract The tournament rules for long jump competitions have changed in recent years. Today, only the three athletes with the best jumps from the five initial attempts are qualified to make an additional sixth jump – a format called The Final Three. In the first implemented version of The Final Three, the top athletes sequentially make one final jump, starting with the athlete ranked third place from the initial attempts. The athlete with the longest jump in this sixth attempt wins the competition, irrespective of achieved results in previous attempts. In this study, we analyze the effect of the athletes’ jump order on the probability of winning the competition within this first implemented version of The Final Three. We derive the final’s symmetric subgame perfect equilibrium and compute the corresponding equilibrium winning probabilities, given estimated distributional parameters from the Olympic long jumping final in Tokyo 2021. The modeling of the game is preceded by a development of a stochastic model for the outcome in long jumping. Our results indicate a last mover advantage, albeit small. Our model also reveals the importance of having a low variation in the approach run length and thinking strategically in this tournament format.

Additive manufacturing technologies such as directed energy deposition use powder as their raw material, and it must be deposited in a precise and controlled manner. Venturi injectors could be a solution for the highly precise transport of particulate material. They have been studied from different perspectives, but they are always under high-pressure conditions and mostly fed by gravity. In the present study, an optimization of the different dimensional parameters needed for the manufacturing of a Venturi injector in relation to a particle has been carried out to maximize the amount of powder capable of being sucked and transported for a specific flow in a low-pressure system with high precision in transport. For this optimization, simulations of Venturi usage were performed using the discrete element method, generating different variations proposed by a genetic algorithm based on a preliminary design of experiments. Statistical analysis was also performed to determine the most influential design variables on the objective, with these being the suction diameter (D3), the throat diameter (d2), and the nozzle diameter (d1). The optimal dimensional relationships were as follows: a D3 34 times the particle diameter, a d2 26.5 times the particle diameter, a d1 40% the d2, a contraction angle alpha of 18.73°, and an expansion angle beta of 8.28°. With these proportions, an 85% improvement in powder suction compared to the initial attempts was achieved, with a maximum 2% loss of load.

On December 19, 1846, at the London home of Francis Boott, dentist James Robinson administered the vapor of diethyl ether to a young female patient named Miss Lonsdale. This was the earliest known attempt in England to provide painless operating conditions for a dental extraction, and it was successful. Many authors have since written much about Boott and Robinson, but scarcely anything is known about Miss Lonsdale. In contemporaneous accounts of the event, Robinson referred to his patient as a "young person" and a "young lady"; Boott, however, named her, suggesting that she was publicly recognizable. Our initial attempt to identify Miss Lonsdale was based on genealogical, United Kingdom Census, and other public records, using selection criteria based on age, name recognition, familial relationships, and London addresses. This produced 7 possible candidates from publicly recognizable families, though none was notable in her own right. Our second attempt was based primarily on contemporaneous newspaper records, among which were published 2 private letters in which Boott referred to Robinson's patient as a "girl." We found that "Miss Lonsdale" was the publicly recognizable name of 2 young stage-performing sisters, Adeline Lonsdale, a danseuse, and Annie Lonsdale, an actor-comedienne. Both subsequently emigrated to the United States where they were well-known stage performers. Accordingly, we suggest that both are highly probable candidates for that etherized patient, with the younger sister Adeline then more publicly recognizable. However, no records were found that directly associated any of the Miss Lonsdale candidates with that first dental anesthetic in England.

The present study pays particular attention to issues of originality, intellectual property, and potential biases in machine learning models. European legislation on AI, along with various legislative acts that have followed this initial attempt at regulation, is examined as an essential reference point for initiating a technologically responsible and sustainable prospective discussion. The article analyzes two main perspectives: the risks of uncontrolled AI growth, with emphasis on the damage to the conceptualization of technological primacy over human cognition, and the opportunities for harmonization between human and AI. These themes are contextualized in relation to technological development, regulatory policies, consumer trends, and social values.

The application of microscope is a milestone in the history of otosurgery, which makes otologists deal with middle ear lesions more clearly and finely, and helps otologists expand the scope of treatment to the lateral skull base area, which greatly promotes the development of otosurgery. In the past 20 years, with the continuous improvement of endoscopic equipment research and development and the gradual improvement of endoscopic technology, the application of endoscopic technology in China has shown an explosive development, and Chinese otolaryngologists have experienced from the initial attempts of endoscopic technology, to the widespread popularization of innovative and applicable technology, and then to the feasibility of exploring the future innovative concepts. Endoscopic technology is another revolutionary push for the development of otosurgery after the microscope.

This article discusses the true essence of the colonial policy of the Russian imperialists in territory of modern Uzbekistan, and reflects on the initial attempts to implement this policy.The policy of repression was not chosen for nothing in order to achieve the basic goals of the policy of occupation, and it was implemented in several stages and aimed at the destruction of self-sacrificing people who are the pride and pride of our nation. The evidence collected on the “Cotton Case”, the final stage of the policy of repression, which was not completed because of our independence, is thoroughly studied and evaluated from a scientific point of view.

Introduction: Digital preservation underpins the persistence of scholarly links and citations through the digital object identifier (DOI) system. We do not currently know, at scale, the extent to which articles assigned a DOI are adequately preserved.&amp;nbsp;Methods: We construct a database of preservation information from original archival sources and then examine the preservation statuses of 7,438,037 DOIs in a random sample.&amp;nbsp;Results: Of the 7,438,037 works examined, there were 5.9 million copies spread over the archives used in this work. Furthermore, a total of 4,342,368 of the works that we studied (58.38%) were present in at least one archive. However, this left 2,056,492 works in our sample (27.64%) that are seemingly unpreserved. The remaining 13.98% of works in the sample were excluded either for being too recent (published in the current year), not being journal articles, or having insufficient date metadata for us to identify the source.&amp;nbsp;Discussion: Our study is limited by design in several ways. Among these are the facts that it uses only a subset of archives, it only tracks articles with DOIs, and it does not account for institutional repository coverage. Nonetheless, as an initial attempt to gauge the landscape, our results will still be of interest to libraries, publishers, and researchers.&amp;nbsp;Conclusion: This work reveals an alarming preservation deficit. Only 0.96% of Crossref members (n = 204) can be confirmed to digitally preserve over 75% of their content in three or more of the archives that we studied. (Note that when, in this article, we write “preserved,” we mean “that we were able to confirm as preserved,” as per the specified limitations of this study.) A slightly larger proportion, i.e., 8.5% (n = 1,797), preserved over 50% of their content in two or more archives. However, many members, i.e., 57.7% (n = 12,257), only met the threshold of having 25% of their material in a single archive. Most worryingly, 32.9% (n = 6,982) of Crossref members seem not to have any adequate digital preservation in place, which is against the recommendations of the Digital Preservation Coalition.

Analytical chemistry is a broad area of science comprised of many sub-disciplines. Although each sub-discipline has its own dominant trends, one trend is common to all of them: greenness and sustainability. Efforts to develop more ecological and environmentally friendly methods have been ongoing for over a decade with initial attempts largely focusing on limiting the necessary volume of solvents required and eliminating the use of toxic solvents. Over time, the miniaturization of analytical devices gained popularity as a way of not only reducing chemical usage, but also enabling analyses using smaller sample volumes and more "remote" applications (e.g., on-site sampling and analysis). Of course, miniaturization poses numerous challenges for researchers, for instance, in relation to the method's sensitivity and reproducibility. Developments in the design of detection systems have largely helped to mitigate these issues, but they also often restrict the potential for on-site analysis. Therefore, attempts have been made to improve analysis throughout the entire analytical process, from sampling through sample preparation and instrumental analysis to data handling. Furthermore, clinical chemistry labs must adhere to certain regulations and use certified protocols and materials, which precludes the rapid implementation of solutions developed in research labs. What are the obstacles in translating such innovations to practical applications, and what inventions can make a difference in the future? The answers to these two questions define the trends in analytical chemistry in the field of medical analysis.

Resolution and sensitivity improvements in mass spectrometry technology have enabled renewed attempts at solving challenging analytical issues. One such issue involves the analysis of energetic ionic species. Energetic ionic species make up an important class of chemical materials, and a more robust and versatile analytical platform would provide tremendous value to the analytical community. Initial attempts at quantification of energetic ionic species employed high-resolution time-of-flight measurements with crown ether (CE) complexation and flow injection analysis (FIA). In this investigation, ammonium nitrate (AN) and urea nitrate (UN) in the presence of a crown ether complexation agent were explored by using high-resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry. Product ion scans of these signature complexes reveal positive identification of these energetic ionic species. Finally, quantification was demonstrated for both flow injection and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, suggesting the capability for routine and rapid analysis of these energetic ionic materials.