Network classifiers based on social learning

This work proposes a new way of combining independently trained classifiers over space and time. Combination over space means that the outputs of spatially distributed classifiers are aggregated. Combination over time means that the classifiers respond to streaming data during testing and continue to improve their performance even during this phase. By doing so, the proposed architecture is able to improve prediction performance over time with unlabeled data. Inspired by social learning algorithms, which require prior knowledge of the observations distribution, we propose a Social Machine Learning (SML) paradigm that is able to exploit the imperfect models generated during the learning phase. We show that this strategy results in consistent learning with high probability, and it yields a robust structure against poorly trained classifiers. Simulations with an ensemble of feedforward neural networks are provided to illustrate the theoretical results

Social learning under inferential attacks

A common assumption in the social learning literature is that agents exchange information in an unselfish manner. In this work, we consider the scenario where a subset of agents aims at driving the network beliefs to the wrong hypothesis. The adversaries are unaware of the true hypothesis. However, they will "blend in" by behaving similarly to the other agents and will manipulate the likelihood functions used in the belief update process to launch inferential attacks. We will characterize the conditions under which the network is misled. Then, we will explain that it is possible for such attacks to succeed by showing that strategies exist that can be adopted by the malicious agents for this purpose. We examine both situations in which the agents have minimal or no information about the network model

Variação do teor de carboidratos solúveis em germoplasma de capim-elefante.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a variação do teor de carboidratos solúveis (BRIX) existente entre 95 acessos de capim elefante (Pennisetum purpureum) do banco de germoplasma da Embrapa Gado de Leite, localizado no campo experimental de Coronel Pacheco. Foram identificados os acessos com maior teor de carboidratos solúveis, bem como avaliado o efeito do aumento da idade da planta sobre a variação da concentração de carboidrato solúvel (Brix). O experimento foi conduzido em blocos ao acaso, com duas repetições, 95 genótipos, duas idades de planta, 70 e 100 dias de crescimento, e análise do teor de carboidratos solúveis em duas secções amostradas à 30 cm da base e na metade do colmo. A análise de variância considerou o modelo de parcela subdividida no tempo, sendo os acessos as parcelas e a idade da planta as subparcelas. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Scott e Knott. Observou-se variação no teor de carboidratos solúveis entre os acessos do banco de germoplasma de capim elefante, porém não observou-se efeito significativo do aumento da idade da planta sobre o teor de carboidrato solúvel (Brix). Entretanto, alguns acessos apresentaram interação significativa com aumento ou redução do teor de carboidratos solúveis em decorrência do aumento da idade da planta. Os acessos com maior teor de carboidratos solúveis aos 70 dias e 100 dias de crescimento foram BAG80 (7,48%) e BAG94 (6,90%), enquanto os acessos com menores teores foram os acessos BAG13 (2,35%) e BAG36 (4,08%), respectivamente.Editor Técnico: Leônidas Paixão Passos, Embrapa Gado de Leite

Primary Subcutaneous B-cell Lymphoma : Case Report and Literature Review

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas are defined as malignant B-cell proliferations presenting with cutaneous involvement alone and no evidence of extracutaneous manifestations when complete staging has been performed. It has been shown that the infiltrate in some cases could involve the underlying subcutaneous tissues, but primary localization in this compartment has been rarely reported. We describe here the case of a 53-year-old woman who noticed a nodular lesion on the left shoulder that rapidly enlarged in a few months. The histological and immunophenotypical features were compatible with a subcutaneous B-cell lymphoma. The tumoural mass was confined predominantly to the subcutaneous compartment, as confirmed by computed tomography. No other tumour localizations were found. Thus, primary B-cell lymphoma of the subcutis was diagnosed. We report a review of the literature indicating that B-cell lymphomas that are primarily localized to the subcutaneous tissue represent a very rare modality of presentation with a biological behaviour different from conventional cutaneous B-cell lymphoma

Effect of Feed Restriction on the Behaviour and Welfare of Broiler Chickens

Under intensive rearing conditions, the welfare of broiler chickens may be at risk depending on genotype and sex, due to their different growth rates. The practice of quantitative feed restriction may also impact on welfare. This study aimed to evaluate behaviour and corticosterone content in plasma and faeces at different ages using 896 one-day-old chicks housed in 32 pens, allocated to 8 groups, i.e., 2 genotypes (standard vs. high breast yield) 7 2 sex 7 2 feeding plans (ad libitum vs. restricted, AL vs. FR). The feeding system affected the percentage of standing (9.84% vs. 11.7% in AL vs. FR; p 64 0.001), feeding (7.51% vs. 8.17%; p 64 0.01) and sitting/lying (67.0% vs. 64.1%; p 64 0.001), and the faeces corticosterone content (12.2 vs. 13.6 ng/g in AL vs. FR; p 64 0.10). Sex affected the percentage of pecking other chickens, standing and comfort behaviours. Changes in behaviour were recorded between high and standard breast yield genotypes with faeces corticosterone which tended to be higher in the former (p 64 0.10). Significant interactions between the main factors and age were observed. Major changes in behaviour were due to feed restriction, which stimulated activity during restriction

A Joint Venture of Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics, Coupled Cluster Electronic Structure Methods, and Liquid-State Theory to Compute Accurate Isotropic Hyperfine Constants of Nitroxide Probes in Water

The isotropic hyperfine coupling constant (HFCC, Aiso) of a pH-sensitive spin probe in a solution, HMI (2,2,3,4,5,5-hexamethylimidazolidin-1-oxyl, C9H19N2O) in water, is computed using an ensemble of state-of-the-art computational techniques and is gauged against X-band continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurement spectra at room temperature. Fundamentally, the investigation aims to delineate the cutting edge of current first-principles-based calculations of EPR parameters in aqueous solutions based on using rigorous statistical mechanics combined with correlated electronic structure techniques. In particular, the impact of solvation is described by exploiting fully atomistic, RISM integral equation, and implicit solvation approaches as offered by ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) of the periodic bulk solution (using the spin-polarized revPBE0-D3 hybrid functional), embedded cluster reference interaction site model integral equation theory (EC-RISM), and polarizable continuum embedding (using CPCM) of microsolvated complexes, respectively. HFCCs are obtained from efficient coupled cluster calculations (using open-shell DLPNO-CCSD theory) as well as from hybrid density functional theory (using revPBE0-D3). Re-solvation of “vertically desolvated” spin probe configuration snapshots by EC-RISM embedding is shown to provide significantly improved results compared to CPCM since only the former captures the inherent structural heterogeneity of the solvent close to the spin probe. The average values of the Aiso parameter obtained based on configurational statistics using explicit water within AIMD and from EC-RISM solvation are found to be satisfactorily close. Using either such explicit or RISM solvation in conjunction with DLPNO-CCSD calculations of the HFCCs provides an average Aiso parameter for HMI in aqueous solution at 300 K and 1 bar that is in good agreement with the experimentally determined one. The developed computational strategy is general in the sense that it can be readily applied to other spin probes of similar molecular complexity, to aqueous solutions beyond ambient conditions, as well as to other solvents in the longer run

Tele-medicine versus face-to-face consultation in Endocrine Outpatients Clinic during COVID-19 outbreak: a single-center experience during the lockdown period

The COVID-19 outbreak in Italy is the major concern of Public Health in 2020: measures of containment were progressively expanded, limiting Outpatients' visit

Anthocyanin composition of young red wine cv. Ruby Cabernet and Syrah: effect of time and storage conditions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of anthocyanins in red wines for 12 months of storage in bottles in two different conditions. The wine samples cv. Ruby Cabernet and cv. Syrah (Vitis vinifera L.) used for this study were produced in the Sub-middle São Francisco Valley, in the Northeast Region of Brazil, during the 2013 harvest

Anthocyanin composition of young red wine cv. Ruby Cabernet and Syrah: effect of time and storage conditions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of anthocyanins in red wines for 12 months of storage in bottles in two different conditions. The wine samples cv. Ruby Cabernet and cv. Syrah (Vitis vinifera L.) used for this study were produced in the Sub-middle São Francisco Valley, in the Northeast Region of Brazil, during the 2013 harvest