Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SuperNet in Neural Architecture Search: A Taxonomic Survey

Deep Neural Networks (DNN) have made signiﬁ-cant progress in a wide range of visual recognition tasks such as image classiﬁcation, object detection, and semantic segmentation. The evolution of convolutional architectures has led to better performance by incurring expensive computational costs. In addition, network design has become a difﬁcult task, which is labor-intensive and requires a high level of domain knowledge. To mitigate such issues, there have been studies for a variety of neural architecture search methods that automatically search for optimal architectures, achieving models with impressive performance that outperform human-designed counterparts. This survey aims to provide an overview of existing works in this ﬁeld of research and speciﬁcally focus on the supernet optimization that builds a neural network that as-sembles all the architectures as its sub models by using weight sharing. We aim to accomplish that by categorizing supernet optimization by proposing them as solutions to the common challenges found in the literature: data-side optimization, poor rank correlation alleviation, and transferable NAS for a number of deployment scenarios.
Spinning Language Models: Risks of Propaganda-As-A-Service and Countermeasures

We investigate a new threat to neural sequence-to-sequence (seq2seq) models: training-time attacks that cause models to “spin” their outputs so as to support an adversary-chosen sentiment or point of view—but only when the input contains adversary-chosen trigger words. For example, a spinned 1 summarization model outputs positive summaries of any text that mentions the name of some individual or organization.Model spinning introduces a “meta-backdoor” into a model. Whereas conventional backdoors cause models to produce incorrect outputs on inputs with the trigger, outputs of spinned models preserve context and maintain standard accuracy metrics, yet also satisfy a meta-task chosen by the adversary.Model spinning enables propaganda-as-a-service, where propaganda is defined as biased speech. An adversary can create customized language models that produce desired spins for chosen triggers, then deploy these models to generate disinformation (a platform attack), or else inject them into ML training pipelines (a supply-chain attack), transferring malicious functionality to downstream models trained by victims.To demonstrate the feasibility of model spinning, we develop a new backdooring technique. It stacks an adversarial meta-task (e.g., sentiment analysis) onto a seq2seq model, backpropagates the desired meta-task output (e.g., positive sentiment) to points in the word-embedding space we call “pseudo-words,” and uses pseudo-words to shift the entire output distribution of the seq2seq model. We evaluate this attack on language generation, summarization, and translation models with different triggers and meta-tasks such as sentiment, toxicity, and entailment. Spinned models largely maintain their accuracy metrics (ROUGE and BLEU) while shifting their outputs to satisfy the adversary’s meta-task. We also show that, in the case of a supply-chain attack, the spin functionality transfers to downstream models.Finally, we propose a black-box, meta-task-independent defense that, given a list of candidate triggers, can detect models that selectively apply spin to inputs with any of these triggers.1We use “spinned” rather than “spun” to match how the word is used in public relations.
Evaluation of Small Specimen Geometries for Asphalt Mixture Performance Testing and Pavement Performance Prediction

The use of small specimen geometries in asphalt mixture performance testing to enable the testing of as-built pavement layers has been gaining attention in recent years. Small specimens could also improve the testing efficiency of laboratory-fabricated specimens by allowing the extraction of multiple test specimens per gyratory-compacted sample. Rigorous assessment of the small specimen geometries is required before the use of such geometries is standardized. In this study, small specimens were evaluated for dynamic modulus and simplified viscoelastic continuum damage fatigue. Three specimen geometries (100-mm- and 38-mm-diameter cylindrical specimens and 25- × 50-mm prismatic specimens) were compared by using five mixtures with a nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) ranging from 9.5 to 25.0 mm. The results show that the dynamic modulus and phase angle master curves agreed at low and intermediate temperatures, regardless of the NMAS values of the mixture. At the high temperature, the small specimen dynamic modulus values were slightly higher and the phase angle values were slightly lower than those of the large specimens. The specimen-to-specimen variability for the large and small specimens was comparable. The fatigue test results for the mixtures evaluated were comparable, except for the 25-mm mixture, which proved problematic in the testing of both small and large specimens. Pavement performance was predicted by the layered viscoelastic analysis for critical distresses program by using the test results for the small and large specimens. These results suggest that specimen geometry had a minimal effect on pavement fatigue damage predictions, which indicates promise for the use of small specimen geometries in practice.
A systematic review of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence and genotypes in Kenya: Data to inform clinical care and health policy

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate available prevalence and viral sequencing data representing chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in Kenya. More than 20% of the global disease burden from CHB is in Africa, however there is minimal high quality seroprevalence data from individual countries and little viral sequencing data available to represent the continent. We undertook a systematic review of the prevalence and genetic data available for hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Kenya using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 checklist. We identified 23 studies reporting HBV prevalence and 8 studies that included HBV genetic data published in English between January 2000 and December 2021. We assessed study quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. Due to study heterogeneity, we divided the studies to represent low, moderate, high and very high-risk for HBV infection, identifying 8, 7, 5 and 3 studies in these groups, respectively. We calculated pooled HBV prevalence within each group and evaluated available sequencing data. Pooled HBV prevalence was 3.4% (95% CI 2.7–4.2%), 6.1% (95% CI 5.1–7.4%), 6.2% (95% CI 4.64–8.2) and 29.2% (95% CI 12.2–55.1), respectively. Study quality was overall low; only three studies detailed sample size calculation and 17/23 studies were cross sectional. Eight studies included genetic information on HBV, with two undertaking whole genome sequencing. Genotype A accounted for 92% of infections. Other genotypes included genotype D (6%), D/E recombinants (1%) or mixed populations (1%). Drug resistance mutations were reported by two studies. There is an urgent need for more high quality seroprevalence and genetic data to represent HBV in Kenya to underpin improved HBV screening, treatment and prevention in order to support progress towards elimination targets.
Kinetic model for international trade allowing transfer of individuals

We propose a kinetic model to describe trade among different populations, living in different countries. The interaction rules are assumed depending on the trading propensity of each population and also on non-deterministic (random) effects. Moreover, the possible transfers of individuals from one country to another are also taken into account, by means of suitable Boltzmann-type operators. Consistent macroscopic equations for number density and mean wealth of each country are derived from the kinetic equations, and the effects of transfers on their equilibrium values are commented on. Finally, a suitable continuous trading limit is considered, leading to a simpler system of Fokker–Planck-type kinetic equations, with specific contributions accounting for transfers. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Kinetic exchange models of societies and economies’.
Risk of adverse events after covid-19 in Danish children and adolescents and effectiveness of BNT162b2 in adolescents: cohort study

Abstract Objectives To assess the risk of acute and post-acute adverse events after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents in Denmark and to evaluate the real world effectiveness of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) among adolescents. Design Cohort study. Setting Nationwide Danish healthcare registers. Participants All Danish people younger than 18 years who were either tested for SARS-CoV-2 using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or vaccinated with BNT162b2 to 1 October 2021. Main outcome measures Risk of hospital admissions (any hospital contact of ≥12 hours); intensive care unit (ICU) admissions; serious complications, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), myocarditis, and neuroimmune disorders; and initiating drug treatment and health service use up to six months after being tested. Vaccine effectiveness in vaccine recipients compared with unvaccinated peers was evaluated as one minus the risk ratio at 20 days after the first dose and 60 days after the second dose. Results Of 991 682 children and adolescents tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR in Denmark, 74 611 (7.5%) were positive. The risk of hospital admission with any variant for ≥12 hours was 0.49% (95% confidence interval 0.44% to 0.54%; 361/74 350), and 0.01% (0.01% to 0.03%; 10/73 187) of participants were admitted to an ICU within 30 days of testing positive. The risk of MIS-C within two months of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 0.05% (0.03% to 0.06%; 32/70 666), whereas no participants had myocarditis outside of MIS-C or encephalitis and fewer than five had Guillain-Barré syndrome. In the post-acute phase (1-6 months after infection), participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 showed a 1.08-fold (95% confidence interval 1.06-fold to 1.10-fold) increase in rate of contacts with general practitioners compared with a reference cohort sampled among all children tested for SARS-CoV-2 during the study period. Overall, 278 649 adolescents received BNT162b2. Compared with unvaccinated adolescents, the estimated vaccine effectiveness among 229 799 adolescents vaccinated with one dose was 62% (95% confidence interval 59% to 65%) after 20 days, and among 175 176 vaccinated with two doses was 93% (92% to 94%) after 60 days during a period when delta was the dominant variant. Conclusions The absolute risks of adverse events after SARS-CoV-2 infection were generally low in Danish children and adolescents, although MIS-C occurred in 0.05% (32/70 666) of participants with RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. In adjusted analyses, rates of general practitioner visits were slightly increased in SARS-CoV-2 positive children and adolescents, which could indicate persisting symptoms. BNT162b2 appeared to be effective in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection with the delta variant in adolescents.
Temporal Transcriptional Responses of a Vibrio alginolyticus Strain to Podoviridae Phage HH109 Revealed by RNA-Seq

Vibrio alginolyticus is a common opportunistic pathogen that causes mass mortality in cultured marine animals. Phage HH109 lyses pathogenic V. alginolyticus strain E110 with high efficiency and thus serves as a useful model to understand the dynamic interplay of a phage and its host. ABSTRACT Phage are thought to exhibit control over host genes during infection. As a preliminary investigation of the kinetics and magnitude of co-expression between phage and bacteria, we compared the global transcriptional profiles for Vibrio alginolyticus strain E110 and its lytic phage HH109 by using RNA sequencing. In total, 24.7% (1,143/4,620) of the host protein-coding genes were differentially expressed genes during infection (DEGs). Functional analysis of the host DEGs suggests that phage HH109 induced rapid and distinctive changes when compared with 60- and 120-min postinfection (mpi). Based on gene co-expression network analysis, an uncharacterized late gene gp27 encoded by the phage HH109 was predicted to modulate the host’s membrane transport and/or transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, expression of several bacterial virulence genes was downregulated while drug resistance genes were upregulated. This work contributes to an in-depth understanding of the reciprocal interactions of lytic phage HH109 and its pathogenic Vibrio host E110, and can provide new insights into the research and development of phage therapy against pathogenic Vibrio infections in the economically significant aquatic animals. IMPORTANCE Vibrio alginolyticus is a common opportunistic pathogen that causes mass mortality in cultured marine animals. Phage HH109 lyses pathogenic V. alginolyticus strain E110 with high efficiency and thus serves as a useful model to understand the dynamic interplay of a phage and its host. Global transcriptomic responses of strain E110 post-HH109 infection were characterized by using RNA sequencing, elucidating step-by-step control by HH109, an antiphage-like responses, and the elevated expression of drug resistance. This study provides a detailed molecular description phage and V. alginolyticus, providing insight into better prevention and control of vibriosis in aquatic animals.
First record in Brazil of Brachymeria annulata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) and Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian and Margabandhu (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitising pupae of Iridopsis panopla Prout (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in eucalyptus (Myrtaceae)

Abstract Iridopsis panopla (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is a defoliator of eucalyptus (Myrtaceae). Iridopsis panopla pupae were collected on a commercial plantation of Eucalyptus grandis, in the locality of Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. After 18 days, the hymenopteran parasitoids Brachymeria annulata (Chalcididae) and Trichospilus diatraeae (Eulophidae) emerged from the I. panopla pupae. This is the first host record of these parasitoids from this important eucalyptus pest. Biological aspects of T. diatraeae were evaluated under laboratory conditions.
Performance of Value and Growth Stocks in the Aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis

Abstract Background: Due to strong empirical evidence from different markets, existence of value premium became a financial theory standpoint. Although previous studies found that value stocks beat growth stocks in bearish and bullish markets, during the GFC, value stocks underperformed growth stocks. Objectives: This paper aims to examine the performance of value and growth stock portfolios after the GFC. Subjects of our analysis are constituent companies of the DJIA index, out of which portfolios of large-cap value and growth stocks have been constructed and evaluated. Methods/Approach: We measure the performance of stock portfolios, which are created based on the naïve diversification rule and random weighting approach. Statistical testing includes Levene’s homogeneity test, the Mann-Whitney U test, T-test, and the One-Sample T-test. Results: Growth stock portfolios outperform value stock portfolios after the GFC. The dominance of growth stock portfolios compared to value stock portfolios is significant, and the value premium disappears. Conclusions: Financial theory and investment management implications show that growth stocks have overtaken the dominance over value stocks since 2009. Causes might be in (1) expansionary monetary policy characterized by very low long-term interest rates and (2) high performance of the tech industry to which most growth stocks belong.
An assessment of cultural dimensions and their impact on organisational performance in the Zimbabwean banking sector

Culture is a very diverse concept which has a significant impact on business performance. Hofstede developed one most popular variant of this concept. He came up with six cultural dimensions which he named Power Distance (PD), Uncertainty Avoidance (UA), Individualism (IND), Masculinity (MAS), Long Term Orientation (LTO) and Indulgence INDUL). These terms, together with Business Performance(BP) are largely defined. The main objective of the study was to ascertain the level of these dimensions in banks in Zimbabwe. Other objectives included a development of a regression model and checking if the cultural dimensions are statistically the same across bank types and different staff levels before finally to recommending the most appropriate cultural dimension that enhances bank performance. It was hypothesized that UA, MAS and LTO all had a positive impact on BP while PD, IND and INDUL had a negative impact on BP. The research methodology was quantitative, the research purpose being a descripto-deterministic type, following a positivist philosophy, using a deductive approach and informed by a survey strategy. A mono method research choice was employed. The research was a cross-sectional study and primary data was collected using the questionnaire. The population of the study was all the commercial banks’ employees operating in Harare. Stratified random sampling was used to select participating banks and employees. The six dimensions’ indices computed all high except for LTO and INDUL. The regression model developed showed that, out of the six dimensions, only PD, UA and INDUL were significant determinants of BP. All but one, (PD), dimensions were found to be statistically indifferent across bank types while across staff levels four dimensions were materially different. The hypothesis that PD, IND and INDUL had a negative impact on BP were rejected and so were the hypotheses that UA and LTO had a positive impact on BP. The hypothesis that MAS had a negative impact on BP was accepted. In the short-to-medium term only, it was recommended that high power distance be maintained while economy and corruption levels are being managed. Maintaining a high UA and INDUL culture was recommended while not much effort was recommended for IND, MAS and LTO because they were insignificant. A replication of this study at a future date when the economy is more stable, and across other sectors of the economy and together with independent tests across gender divide are further studies that are recommended by the researcher.
Minimum loading requirements for areas of low seismicity

The rate of occurrence of intraplate earthquake events has been surveyed around the globe to ascertain the average level of intraplate seismic activities on land. Elastic response spectra corresponding to various levels of averaged (uniform) seismicity for a return period of 2475 years have then been derived along with modifying factors that can be used to infer ground motion and spectral response parameters for other return period values. Estimates derived from the assumption of uniform seismicity are intended to identify the minimum level of design seismic hazard in intraplate regions. The probabilistic seismic hazard assessment presented in the paper involved the use of ground motion models that have been developed for regions of different tectonic and crustal classifications. The proposed minimum earthquake loading model is illustrated by the case study of Peninsular Malaysia which has been identified with a minimum effective peak ground acceleration (EPGA) of 0.1 g for a return period of 2475 years, or 0.07 g for a notional return period of 475 years.
Vascular anatomy of the velopharyngeal muscles and its clinical implications: A fresh cadaveric study based on micro‐computed tomography

Poor speech improvement after levator veli palatini (LVP) reconstruction may be related to intraoperative vascular injury. We aimed to examine the vascular anatomy of the velopharyngeal muscles to provide a guide for arterial protection in cleft palate repair. Fresh adult cadaveric heads were injected with gelatin/lead oxide. The velopharyngeal specimens were stained with iodine and scanned using micro‐computed tomography. Three‐dimensional reconstruction models were obtained using a computer‐aided design software. The ascending palatine artery (APaA), especially the posterior branch, is the main artery supplying the velopharyngeal muscles. The posterior branch of the APaA reaches the dorsal part of the musculus uvulae in the posterior one third of the soft palate (SP) and lies 1.75 mm (standard deviation, 0.06) under the nasal mucosa; the anterior branch penetrates the anterolateral side of the LVP to reach the anterior one third of the SP and lies 7.09 mm (0.03) under the oral mucosa. The posterior APaA, anterior ApaA, and ApaA trunk had mean diameters of 0.41 mm (0.04), 0.46 mm (0.06), and 0.65 mm (0.04) at 0.5, 1, and 1.5 cm distance from the palatal midline, respectively. To minimize vascular injury, mobilization of muscles during intravelar veloplasty should be performed within a distance of 1 cm from the palatal midline, and dissection of the oral submucosa should be reduced in the anterior one third of the SP, while wide dissection of the nasal submucosal should be avoided in the posterior one third of the SP.
Exploring Online and In-Store Purchase Willingness: Associations With the Big Five Personality Traits, Trust, and Need for Touch

Nowadays, customers can utilize both online and in-store retail channels. Consequently, it is crucial for retailers to understand the possible drivers of retail channel selection, including customers’ personalities, degrees of trust, and product touch preferences. Unfortunately, current omnichannel research only scarcely addresses the effects of personality, trust, and desire to touch a product before purchasing it on willingness to purchase and how those effects vary between online and in-store shopping. Thus, we conducted an exploratory study. Our analysis of survey data (N = 1,208)—which controls for respondents’ age, gender, and education—reveals that across both the willingness to purchase in-store and online, a higher level of e-vendor trust is a significant, positive predictor. However, we also identify several channel-related differences, including that Trust Propensity, as well as the Big Five traits of Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness are significantly positively related to in-store, but not online, purchase willingness. We also find that Instrumental Need for Touch (defined as goal-motivated touch of a product) is positively related to in-store, but negatively related to online, purchase willingness. Finally, we highlight opportunities for future research and discuss how retail managers might enhance customer experiences in their physical and online stores.
Mammalian Neuraminidases in Immune-Mediated Diseases: Mucins and Beyond

Mammalian neuraminidases (NEUs), also known as sialidases, are enzymes that cleave off the terminal neuraminic, or sialic, acid resides from the carbohydrate moieties of glycolipids and glycoproteins. A rapidly growing body of literature indicates that in addition to their metabolic functions, NEUs also regulate the activity of their glycoprotein targets. The simple post-translational modification of NEU protein targets—removal of the highly electronegative sialic acid—affects protein folding, alters protein interactions with their ligands, and exposes or covers proteolytic sites. Through such effects, NEUs regulate the downstream processes in which their glycoprotein targets participate. A major target of desialylation by NEUs are mucins (MUCs), and such post-translational modification contributes to regulation of disease processes. In this review, we focus on the regulatory roles of NEU-modified MUCs as coordinators of disease pathogenesis in fibrotic, inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune diseases. Special attention is placed on the most abundant and best studied NEU1, and its recently discovered important target, mucin-1 (MUC1). The role of the NEU1 - MUC1 axis in disease pathogenesis is discussed, along with regulatory contributions from other MUCs and other pathophysiologically important NEU targets.