Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A visual sense of number emerges from divisive normalization in a simple center-surround convolutional network

Many species of animals exhibit an intuitive sense of number, suggesting a fundamental neural mechanism for representing numerosity in a visual scene. Recent empirical studies demonstrate that early feedforward visual responses are sensitive to numerosity of a dot array but substantially less so to continuous dimensions orthogonal to numerosity, such as size and spacing of the dots. However, the mechanisms that extract numerosity are unknown. Here, we identified the core neurocomputational principles underlying these effects: (1) center-surround contrast filters; (2) at different spatial scales; with (3) divisive normalization across network units. In an untrained computational model, these principles eliminated sensitivity to size and spacing, making numerosity the main determinant of the neuronal response magnitude. Moreover, a model implementation of these principles explained both well-known and relatively novel illusions of numerosity perception across space and time. This supports the conclusion that the neural structures and feedforward processes that encode numerosity naturally produce visual illusions of numerosity. Taken together, these results identify a set of neurocomputational properties that gives rise to the ubiquity of the number sense in the animal kingdom.
The RD53 collaboration's SystemVerilog-UVM simulation framework and its general applicability to design of advanced pixel readout chips

The foreseen Phase 2 pixel upgrades at the LHC have very challenging requirements for the design of hybrid pixel readout chips. A versatile pixel simulation platform is as an essential development tool for the design, verification and optimization of both the system architecture and the pixel chip building blocks (Intellectual Properties, IPs). This work is focused on the implemented simulation and verification environment named VEPIX53, built using the SystemVerilog language and the Universal Verification Methodology (UVM) class library in the framework of the RD53 Collaboration. The environment supports pixel chips at different levels of description: its reusable components feature the generation of different classes of parameterized input hits to the pixel matrix, monitoring of pixel chip inputs and outputs, conformity checks between predicted and actual outputs and collection of statistics on system performance. The environment has been tested performing a study of shared architectures of the trigger latency buffering section of pixel chips. A fully shared architecture and a distributed one have been described at behavioral level and simulated; the resulting memory occupancy statistics and hit loss rates have subsequently been compared.
Chronic Treatment With WY-14643 Induces Tumorigenesis and Triglyceride Accumulation in Mouse Livers

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is closely related to lipid metabolism and various liver diseases. Previous study has shown that chronic treatment with PPARα agonist WY-14643 can induce liver tumors in rodents, but the implications of this process on lipid metabolism in the liver remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore the influences of chronic treatment with WY-14643 on the liver and hepatic lipid metabolism. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were treated with WY-14643 (100 mg/kg/week, i.p.) or corn oil, and liver and serum samples were collected for testing after 42 weeks of WY-14643 treatment. The results showed that hepatomegaly, liver tumors with mild liver injury, and hepatocyte proliferation were induced in mice treated with WY-14643. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARα downstream targets acyl-CoA oxidase 1 and cytochrome P450 4A were significantly upregulated in the WY-14643–treated group. Lipidomic analysis revealed that chronic treatment with WY-14643 disturbed lipid homeostasis, especially triglycerides (TGs), which were significantly elevated after WY-14643 treatment. Moreover, TG homeostasis-related genes were significantly increased in the WY-14643–treated group. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that hepatomegaly and liver tumors induced by chronic treatment with WY-14643 in mice are accompanied by hepatocyte proliferation and TG accumulation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The present study clearly demonstrated that sustained peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) activation by chronic treatment with WY-14643 induces hepatomegaly and liver tumors with triglyceride accumulation by regulating lipid homeostasis-related genes in mice. These findings may help to clarify the influences of sustained PPARα activation on liver lipid homeostasis and provide data for the clinically rational use of drugs that can activate PPARα.
Universal scaling of the order-parameter distribution in strongly disordered superconductors

We investigate theoretically and experimentally the statistical properties of the inhomogeneous order-parameter distribution (OPD) at the verge of the superconductor-insulator transition (SIT). We find within two prototype fermionic and bosonic models for disordered superconductors that one can identify a universal rescaling of the OPD. By performing scanning-tunneling microscopy experiments in three samples of NbN with increasing disorder we show that such a rescaling describes also with an excellent accuracy the experimental data. These results can provide a breakthrough in our understanding of the SIT.
A social ecological approach to identify the barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination acceptance: A scoping review

Background COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has caused substantial impact on population health, healthcare, and social and economic systems around the world. Several vaccines have been developed to control the pandemic with varying effectiveness and safety profiles. One of the biggest obstacles to implementing successful vaccination programmes is vaccine hesitancy stemming from concerns about effectiveness and safety. This review aims to identify the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance and to organize the factors using the social ecological framework. Methods We adopted the five-stage methodological framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley to guide this scoping review. Selection criteria was based on the PICo (Population, Phenomenon of interest and Context) framework. Factors associated with acceptance and hesitancy were grouped into the following: intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and public policy factors using the social ecological framework. Results Fifty-one studies fulfilled this review’s inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in Europe and North America, followed by Asia and the Middle East. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy rates varied across countries. Some common demographic factors associated with hesitancy were younger age, being female, having lower than college education, and having a lower income level. Most of the barriers and facilitators to acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines were intrapersonal factors, such as personal characteristics and preferences, concerns with COVID-19 vaccines, history/perception of general vaccination, and knowledge of COVID-19 and health. The remaining interpersonal, institution, community, and public policy factors were grouped into factors identified as barriers and facilitators. Conclusion Our review identified barriers and facilitators of vaccine acceptance and hesitancy and organised them using the social ecological framework. While some barriers and facilitators such as vaccine safety are universal, differentiated barriers might exist for different target groups, which need to be understood if they are to be addressed to maximize vaccine acceptance.
Psychotic experiences and negative symptoms from adolescence to emerging adulthood: developmental trajectories and associations with polygenic scores and childhood characteristics

Abstract Background Psychotic experiences and negative symptoms (PENS) are common in non-clinical populations. PENS are associated with adverse outcomes, particularly when they persist. Little is known about the trajectories of PENS dimensions in young people, nor about the precursory factors associated with these trajectories. Methods We conducted growth mixture modelling of paranoia, hallucinations, and negative symptoms across ages 16, 17, and 22 in a community sample (N = 12 049–12 652). We then described the emergent trajectory classes through their associations with genome-wide polygenic scores (GPS) for psychiatric and educational phenotypes, and earlier childhood characteristics. Results Three trajectory classes emerged for paranoia, two for hallucinations, and two for negative symptoms. Across PENS, GPS for clinical help-seeking, major depressive disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were associated with increased odds of being in the most elevated trajectory class (OR 1.07–1.23). Lower education GPS was associated with the most elevated trajectory class for hallucinations and negative symptoms (OR 0.77–0.91). Conversely for paranoia, higher education GPS was associated with the most elevated trajectory class (OR 1.25). Trajectory class associations were not significant for schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, or anorexia GPS. Emotional/behaviour problems and life events in childhood were associated with increased odds of being in the most elevated trajectory class across PENS. Conclusions Our results suggest latent heterogeneity in the development of paranoia, hallucinations, and negative symptoms in young people that is associated with specific polygenic scores and childhood characteristics.
B0707-359: a case study of change in AGN-black hole spin axis

Structures of radio galaxies have the potential to reveal inconstancy in the axis of the beams, which reflect the stability in the spin axis of the supermassive black hole at the centre. We present radio observations of the giant radio galaxy B0707-359 whose structure offers an interesting case study of an AGN that may be exhibiting not only inconstancy in AGN output but also inconstancy in direction of ejection axis. Its radio morphology shows evidence for a restarting of the jets accompanied by an axis change. The observed side-to-side asymmetries of this giant radio galaxy suggest that the new jets are not in the plane of the sky. We infer that the hotspot advance velocities are unusually large and of magnitude a few-tenths of the speed of light. The dual-frequency radio images are consistent with a model where the beams from the central engine ceased, creating a relic double radio source; this interruption was accompanied by triggering of a movement of the axis of the central engine at a rate of a few degrees Myr^-1. The closer location of the giant radio galaxy axis to the host minor axis rather than the host major axis is supportive of the restarting and axis-change model for the formation of the double-double structure rather than the backflow model.
The physics of stripe patterns in turbulent channel flow determined by DNS results

The turbulent flow in an infinitely extended plane channel is analysed by solving the Navier-Stokes equations with a DNS approach. Solutions are obtained in a numerical solution domain of finite size in the streamwise as well as in the lateral direction setting periodic boundary conditions in both directions. Their impact on large scale structures in the turbulent flow field is analysed carefully in order to avoid their suppression. When this is done appropriately well known stripe patterns in these flows can be observed and analysed especially with respect to their relative motion compared to the mean flow velocity. Various details of this stripe pattern dominated velocity field are shown. Also global parameters like the friction factor in the flow field and the Nusselt number in the temperature field are determined based on the statistics of the flow and temperature data in a very large time period that guarantees fully developed turbulent flow and heat transfer.
Feasibility of Monitoring Patients Who Have Cancer With a Smart T-shirt: Protocol for the OncoSmartShirt Study

Background Studies have shown that there may be dissimilar perceptions on symptoms or side effects between patients with cancer and health care professionals. This may lead to symptomatic patients notifying the clinic irregularly or not telling the clinic at all. Wearables could help identify symptoms earlier. Patients with low socioeconomic status and less self-awareness of their health may benefit from this. A new design of wearables is a smart t-shirt that, with embedded sensors, provides measurement flows such as electrocardiogram, thoracic and abdominal respiration, and temperature. Objective This study evaluates the feasibility of using a smart t-shirt for home monitoring of biometric sensor data in adolescent and young adult and elderly patients during cancer treatment. Methods The OncoSmartShirt study is an explorative study investigating the feasibility of using the Chronolife smart t-shirt during cancer treatment. This smart t-shirt is designed with multiple fully embedded sensors and electrodes that engender 6 different measurement flows continuously. A total of 20 Danish patients with cancer ≥18 years old in antineoplastic treatment at Department of Oncology Rigshospitalet Denmark will be recruited from all cancer wards, whether patients are in curative or palliative care. Of these 20 patients, 10 (50%) will be <39 years old, defined as adolescent and young adult, and 10 (50%) will be patients >65 years old, defined as elderly. Consenting patients will be asked to wear a smart t-shirt daily for 2 weeks during their treatment course. Results The primary outcome is to determine if it is feasible to wear a smart t-shirt throughout the day (preferably 8 hours per day) for 2 weeks. Inclusion of patients started in March 2022. Conclusions The study will assess the feasibility of using the Chronolife smart t-shirt for home monitoring of vital parameters in patients with cancer during their treatment and bring new insights into how wearables and biometric data can be used as part of symptom or side-effect recognition in patients with cancer during treatment, with the aim to increase patients’ quality of life. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05235594; https://beta.clinicaltrials. gov/study/NCT05235594 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/37626
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Induces Interferon-β Production to Promote Intracellular Survival

The link between innate immunity and intracellular Pseudomonas aeruginosa is unclear. Our studies illuminated the role of interferon-β (IFN-β) in remote intracellular PA infection. Furthermore, our experimental evidence also indicated that IL-1β is a negative regulator of IFN-β production and, in particular, P. aeruginosa infection. The inhibition of IFN-β may be used as a potential therapeutic method against pulmonary PA infection. ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is known as one kind of extracellular pathogens. However, more evidence showed that PA encounters the intracellular environment in different mammalian cell types. Little is known of innate immune factors modulating intracellular PA survival. In the present study, we proposed that interferon-β (IFN-β) is beneficial to the survival of PA in the cytoplasm of macrophages. Furthermore, we found that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induced by PA suppresses IFN-β response driven by the cGAS-STING-TBK1 pathway. Mechanistically, IL-1β decreased the production of cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) by activating AKT kinase. cGAMP is necessarily sufficient to stimulate the transcription of IFN-β via the STING adaptor-TBK1 kinase-IRF3 transcription factor axis. Thus, our findings uncovered a novel module for PA intracellular survival involving IFN-β production restricted by IL-1β and provided a strong rationale for a potential clinical strategy against pulmonary PA infection patients. IMPORTANCE The link between innate immunity and intracellular Pseudomonas aeruginosa is unclear. Our studies illuminated the role of interferon-β (IFN-β) in remote intracellular PA infection. Furthermore, our experimental evidence also indicated that IL-1β is a negative regulator of IFN-β production and, in particular, P. aeruginosa infection. The inhibition of IFN-β may be used as a potential therapeutic method against pulmonary PA infection.
Microscopic study of Ca+Ca fusion

We investigate the fusion barriers for reactions involving Ca isotopes $\mathrm{^{40}Ca}+\mathrm{^{40}Ca}$, $\mathrm{^{40}Ca}+\mathrm{^{48}Ca}$, and $\mathrm{^{48}Ca}+\mathrm{^{48}Ca}$ using the microscopic time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory coupled with a density constraint. In this formalism the fusion barriers are directly obtained from TDHF dynamics. We also study the excitation of the pre-equilibrium GDR for the $\mathrm{^{40}Ca}+\mathrm{^{48}Ca}$ system and the associated $\gamma$-ray emission spectrum. Fusion cross-sections are calculated using the incoming-wave boundary condition approach. We examine the dependence of fusion barriers on collision energy as well as on the different parametrizations of the Skyrme interaction.
CAN AGN FEEDBACK BREAK THE SELF-SIMILARITY OF GALAXIES, GROUPS, AND CLUSTERS?

It is commonly thought that active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback can break the self-similar scaling relations of galaxies, groups, and clusters. Using high-resolution three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations, we isolate the impact of AGN feedback on the Lx–Tx relation, testing the two archetypal and common regimes, self-regulated mechanical feedback and a quasar thermal blast. We find that AGN feedback has severe difficulty in breaking the relation in a consistent way. The similarity breaking is directly linked to the gas evacuation within R500, while the central cooling times are inversely proportional to the core density. Breaking self-similarity thus implies breaking the cool core, morphing all systems to non-cool-core objects, which is in clear contradiction with the observed data populated by several cool-core systems. Self-regulated feedback, which quenches cooling flows and preserves cool cores, prevents dramatic evacuation and similarity breaking at any scale; the relation scatter is also limited. The impulsive thermal blast can break the core-included Lx–Tx at T500 ≲ 1 keV, but substantially empties and overheats the halo, generating a perennial non-cool-core group, as experienced by cosmological simulations. Even with partial evacuation, massive systems remain overheated. We show that the action of purely AGN feedback is to lower the luminosity and heat the gas, perpendicular to the fit.
HEAVILY OBSCURED AGN IN STAR-FORMING GALAXIES AT z ≃ 2

We study the properties of a sample of 211 heavily obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) candidates in the extended Chandra Deep Field-South selecting objects with f24 μm/fR> 1000 and R − K>4.5. Of these, 18 were detected in X-rays and found to be obscured AGNs with neutral hydrogen column densities of ∼1023 cm−2. In the X-ray-undetected sample, the following evidence suggests a large fraction of heavily obscured (Compton-thick) AGN: (1) The stacked X-ray signal of the sample is strong, with an observed ratio of soft to hard X-ray counts consistent with a population of ∼90% heavily obscured AGNs combined with 10% star-forming galaxies. (2) The X-ray-to-mid-IR ratios for these sources are significantly larger than that of star-forming galaxies and ∼2 orders of magnitude smaller than for the general AGN population, suggesting column densities of NH ≳ 5 × 1024 cm−2. (3) The Spitzer near- and mid-IR colors of these sources are consistent with those of the X-ray-detected samples if the effects of dust self-absorption are considered. Spectral fitting to the rest-frame UV/optical light (dominated by the host galaxy) returns stellar masses of ∼1011M☉ and 〈E(B − V)〉 = 0.5, and reveals evidence for a significant young stellar population, indicating that these sources are experiencing considerable star formation. This sample of heavily obscured AGN candidates implies a space density at z ∼ 2 of ∼10−5 Mpc−3, finding a strong evolution in the number of LX>1044 erg s−1 sources from z = 1.5 to 2.5, possibly consistent with a short-lived heavily obscured phase before an unobscured quasar is visible.
Listen2YourHeart: A Self-Supervised Approach for Detecting Murmur in Heart-Beat Sounds

Heart murmurs are abnormal sounds present in heartbeats, caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart. The PhysioNet 2022 challenge targets automatic detection of murmur from audio recordings of the heart and automatic detection of normal vs. abnormal clinical outcome. The recordings are captured from multiple locations around the heart. Our participation investigates the effectiveness of self-supervised learning for murmur detection. We train the layers of a backbone CNN in a self-supervised way with data from both this year's and the 2016 challenge. We use two different augmentations on each training sample, and normalized temperature-scaled cross-entropy loss. We experiment with different augmentations to learn effective phonocardiogram representations. To build the final detectors we train two classification heads, one for each challenge task. We present evaluation results for all combinations of the available augmentations, and for our multiple-augmentation approach. Our team's, Listen2YourHeart, SSL murmur detection classifier received a weighted accuracy score of 0.737 (ranked 13th out of 40 teams) and an outcome identification challenge cost score of 11946 (ranked 7th out of 39 teams) on the hidden test set.
Achieving Lightweight Federated Advertising with Self-Supervised Split Distillation

As an emerging secure learning paradigm in leveraging cross-silo private data, vertical federated learning (VFL) is expected to improve advertising models by enabling the joint learning of complementary user attributes privately owned by the ad-vertiser and the publisher. However, there are two key challenges in applying it to advertising systems: a) the limited scale of labeled overlapping samples , and b) the high cost of real-time cross-silo serving . In this paper, we propose a semi-supervised split distillation framework VFed-SSD to alleviate the two limitations. We identify that: i) there are massive unlabeled overlapped data available in advertising systems , and ii) we can keep a balance between model performance and inference cost by splitting up the federated model. Specifically, we develop a self-supervised task M atched P air D etection ( MPD ) to exploit the vertically partitioned unlabeled data and propose the Split K nowledge D istillation ( SplitKD ) schema to avoid cross-silo serving. Empirical studies on three industrial datasets exhibit the effectiveness of our methods, with the median AUC over all datasets improved by 0 . 86 % and 2 . 6 % in the local and the federated deployment mode respectively. Overall, our framework provides an efﬁcient solution for cross-silo real-time advertising with minimal deploying cost and signiﬁcant performance lift.
Photoinduced Superconductivity Reconsidered: The Role of Photoconductivity Proﬁle Distortion

We discuss a systematic uncertainty in time-resolved optical conductivity measurements that becomes important at high pump intensities. We show that common optical nonlinearities can distort the photoconductivity depth proﬁle, and by extension distort the photoconductivity spectrum. We show evidence that this distortion is present in existing measurements on K 3 C 60 , and describe how it may create the appearance of photoinduced superconductivity where none exists. Similar errors may emerge in other pump-probe spectroscopy measurements, and we discuss how to correct for them.