SplitEE: Early Exit in Deep Neural Networks with Split Computing

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have drawn attention because of their outstanding performance on various tasks. However, deploying full-fledged DNNs in resource-constrained devices (edge, mobile, IoT) is difficult due to their large size. To overcome the issue, various approaches are considered, like offloading part of the computation to the cloud for final inference (split computing) or performing the inference at an intermediary layer without passing through all layers (early exits). In this work, we propose combining both approaches by using early exits in split computing. In our approach, we decide up to what depth of DNNs computation to perform on the device (splitting layer) and whether a sample can exit from this layer or need to be offloaded. The decisions are based on a weighted combination of accuracy, computational, and communication costs. We develop an algorithm named SplitEE to learn an optimal policy. Since pre-trained DNNs are often deployed in new domains where the ground truths may be unavailable and samples arrive in a streaming fashion, SplitEE works in an online and unsupervised setup. We extensively perform experiments on five different datasets. SplitEE achieves a significant cost reduction ($>50\%$) with a slight drop in accuracy ($<2\%$) as compared to the case when all samples are inferred at the final layer. The anonymized source code is available at \url{https://anonymous.4open.science/r/SplitEE_M-B989/README.md}.Comment: 10 pages, to appear in the proceeding AIMLSystems 202

Thermal relaxation of magnetic clusters in amorphous Hf_{57}Fe_{43} alloy

The magnetization processes in binary magnetic/nonmagnetic amorphous alloy Hf_{57}Fe_{43} are investigated by the detailed measurements of magnetic hysteresis loops, temperature dependence of magnetization, relaxation of magnetization and magnetic ac susceptibility, including a nonlinear term. Blocking of magnetic moments at lower temperatures is accompanied with the slow relaxation of magnetization and magnetic hysteresis loops. All of the observed properties are explained with the superparamagnetic behaviour of the single domain magnetic clusters inside the nonmagnetic host, their blocking by the anisotropy barriers and thermal fluctuation over the barriers accompanied by relaxation of magnetization. From magnetic viscosity analysis based on thermal relaxation over the anisotropy barriers it is found out that magnetic clusters occupy the characteristic volume from 25 up to 200 nm3 . The validity of the superparamagnetic model of Hf_{57}Fe_{43} is based on the concentration of iron in the Hf_{100-x}Fe_{43} system that is just below the threshold for the long range magnetic ordering. This work throws more light on magnetic behaviour of other amorphous alloys, too

Biologically active Phytophthora mating hormone prepared by catalytic asymmetric total synthesis

A Phytophthora mating hormone with an array of 1,5-stereogenic centers has been synthesized by using our recently developed methodology of catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents. We applied this methodology in a diastereo- and enantioselective iterative route and obtained two of the 16 possible stereoisomers of Phytophthora hormone α1. These synthetic stereoisomers induced the formation of sexual spores (oospores) in A2 mating type strains of three heterothallic Phytophthora species, P. infestans, P. capsici, and P. nicotianae but not in A1 mating type strains. The response was concentration-dependent, and the oospores were viable. These results demonstrate that the biological activity of the synthetic hormone resembles that of the natural hormone α1. Mating hormones are essential components in the sexual life cycle of a variety of organisms. For plant pathogens like Phytophthora, sexual reproduction is important as a source of genetic variation. Moreover, the thick-walled oospores are the most durable propagules that can survive harsh environmental conditions. Sexual reproduction can thus greatly affect disease epidemics. The availability of synthetic compounds mimicking the activity of Phytophthora mating hormone will be instrumental for further unravelling sexual reproduction in this important group of plant pathogens.

Reclaiming comprehensive public health

Global and national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic highlight a long-standing tension between biosecurity-focused, authoritarian and sometimes militarised approaches to public health and, in contrast, comprehensive, social determinants, participatory and rights-based approaches. Notwithstanding principles that may limit rights in the interests of public health and the role of central measures in some circumstances, effective public health in a protracted pandemic like COVID-19 requires cooperation, communication, participatory decision-making and action that safeguards the Siracusa principles, respect for people’s dignity and local-level realities and capacities. Yet there is mounting evidence of a dominant response to COVID-19 where decisions are being made and enforced in an overcentralised, non-transparent, top-down manner, often involving military coercion and abuse in communities, even while evidence shows the long-term harm to public health and human rights. In contrast, experiences of comprehensive, equity-focused, participatory public health approaches, which use diverse sources of knowledge, disciplines and capabilities, show the type of public health approach that will be more effective to meet the 21st century challenges of pandemics, climate, food and energy crises, growing social inequality, conflict and other threats to health

Genotype x environment interaction and stability of indigenous coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) genotypes for seed yield in different agro-climatic zones of Chhattisgarh

The present study was conducted to find out the stability and yield performances of 13 genotypes of indigenous coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) evaluated in different agro climatic zones of Chhattisgarh. The trials were laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications at three locations for three years resulting in nine environments (Genotype × year interactions). The genotypes and G × E interactions revealed significant differences at p &lt;0.01 for seed yield indicating varieties and testing environments were distinct from each other. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis (AMMI-biplot) indicated that the yield performances of indigenous coriander genotypes were highly affected by the environments. The first two principal component axes (PCA 1 and PCA 2) were significant and they explained 67% of the total genotype x environment interaction of which 42.4% and 24.6% were represented by PCA 1 and PCA 2, respectively. A biplot generated using genotypic and environmental scores of the first two AMMI components demonstrated that genotype with larger PCA 1 and lower PCA 2 scores were high yielding and stable genotypes and genotypes with lower PCA 1 and larger PCA 2 scores were low yielding and unstable cultivars in tested locations. The genotype GC 5 C-101 (ICS 4) showed higher grain yields (16.35 q ha-1) over grand mean (13.03 q ha-1) and also had the minimum PCA 1 score, minimum AMMI stability value (ASV) and yield stability index (YSI). Therefore genotype ICS 4 (Chhattisgarh Shri Chandrahasini Dhaniya -2) showed wider stability across different agro climatic environments of Chhattisgarh

A multifunctional cotton fabric using TiO2 and PCMs: introducing thermal comfort and self-cleaning properties

The development of materials with multiple functionalities is a market imperative that places new challenges on textile processing. Whatever the application, the goal is always to achieve the best performance with the simplest and most economically attractive process, without forgetting the sustainability issues. The purpose of this study is to establish the conditions to obtain by a simple method a cotton material with comfort, self-cleaning properties and antimicrobial activity. For that, microcapsules of phase change materials (PCMs) and TiO2 nanoparticles (NP) were applied conjugated and resulting fabrics were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), contact angle and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (SEM/EDS). The self-cleaning properties of treated fabrics were also analyzed based on the photocatalytic ability of coated fabrics capability to decomposition of methyl orange (MO) under solar simulator irradiation [1] [1]and assessment of degradation of coffee, red wine and curry stains [2]. The comfort properties were assessed according DSC and Alambeta analysis. Moreover, incorporating TiO2 NP in the finishing formulation also was assessment the bacterial inhibition on the treated fabrics.CNPq-Brazil (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – Brasil / National Council of Scientific and Technological Development – Brazil) for the doctoral scholarship (233550/2014-3). Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136 and Strategic Funding UID/Multi/04423/2013 by FCT and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the programme PT2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Filled carbon nanotubes as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Downsizing well-established materials to the nanoscale is a key route to novel functionalities, in particular if different functionalities are merged in hybrid nanomaterials. Hybrid carbon-based hierarchical nanostructures are particularly promising for electrochemical energy storage since they combine benefits of nanosize effects, enhanced electrical conductivity and integrity of bulk materials. We show that endohedral multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) encapsulating high-capacity (here: conversion and alloying) electrode materials have a high potential for use in anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIB). There are two essential characteristics of filled CNT relevant for application in electrochemical energy storage: (1) rigid hollow cavities of the CNT provide upper limits for nanoparticles in their inner cavities which are both separated from the fillings of other CNT and protected against degradation. In particular, the CNT shells resist strong volume changes of encapsulates in response to electrochemical cycling, which in conventional conversion and alloying materials hinders application in energy storage devices. (2) Carbon mantles ensure electrical contact to the active material as they are unaffected by potential cracks of the encapsulate and form a stable conductive network in the electrode compound. Our studies confirm that encapsulates are electrochemically active and can achieve full theoretical reversible capacity. The results imply that encapsulating nanostructures inside CNT can provide a route to new high-performance nanocomposite anode materials for LIB

Factors Influencing Family Burden of Paediatric Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-sectional Study

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin condition that affects about 10–20% of children and 2-15% of adults in developed countries (1). In Singapore, the prevalence among children and adolescents is 20.8% (2). Itchiness, the most common complaint, results in behavioural and social impairments among paediatric AD patients, which in turn impacts on the wellbeing of caregivers, particularly family members (3, 4). A sick child can markedly affect normal family life and the mental and social wellbeing of other family members (5). Their family members, namely parents, may experience feelings of helplessness and stress as they struggle to treat their child’s symptoms, and this can lead to feelings of guilt as they feel they are failing in their duty to care for their offspring (6). In return, family quality of life can greatly influence patient-related outcomes. Previous studies have demonstrated that paediatric atopic eczema can significantly affect family life; however, they provide limited quantitative data on the factors influencing family life and functions (6). Therefore, we conducted this study in an effort to gain in-depth insights into the family burden caused by paediatric AD, and to explore the social and clinical factors potentially impacting family life and function