Language Semantic Graph Guided Data-Efficient Learning

Developing generalizable models that can effectively learn from limited data and with minimal reliance on human supervision is a significant objective within the machine learning community, particularly in the era of deep neural networks. Therefore, to achieve data-efficient learning, researchers typically explore approaches that can leverage more related or unlabeled data without necessitating additional manual labeling efforts, such as Semi-Supervised Learning (SSL), Transfer Learning (TL), and Data Augmentation (DA). SSL leverages unlabeled data in the training process, while TL enables the transfer of expertise from related data distributions. DA broadens the dataset by synthesizing new data from existing examples. However, the significance of additional knowledge contained within labels has been largely overlooked in research. In this paper, we propose a novel perspective on data efficiency that involves exploiting the semantic information contained in the labels of the available data. Specifically, we introduce a Language Semantic Graph (LSG) which is constructed from labels manifest as natural language descriptions. Upon this graph, an auxiliary graph neural network is trained to extract high-level semantic relations and then used to guide the training of the primary model, enabling more adequate utilization of label knowledge. Across image, video, and audio modalities, we utilize the LSG method in both TL and SSL scenarios and illustrate its versatility in significantly enhancing performance compared to other data-efficient learning approaches. Additionally, our in-depth analysis shows that the LSG method also expedites the training process.Comment: Accepted by NeurIPS 202

An analysis of the gluon distribution with next-to-leading order splitting function in small-xx

An approximated solution for gluon distribution from DGLAP evolution equations with NLO splitting function in the small-$x$ limit is presented. We first obtain the simplified forms of LO and NLO splitting functions in the small-$x$ limit. With these approximated splitting functions, we obtain the analytical gluon distribution by using the Mellin transform. The free parameters in the boundary conditions are obtained by fitting the CJ15 gluon distribution data. We find that the asymptotic behavior of gluon distribution are consistent with the CJ15 data, however, the NLO results with the consideration of ``ladder'' structure of gluon emission are slightly better than those from LO. These results indicate that the corrections from NLO is significant and is necessary for a better description of the behavior of the gluon distribution in small-$x$ region. In addition, we investigate the DGLAP evolution of the proton structure function by using the analytical solution of the gluon distribution. The differential structure function shows that our results have a similar tendency with CJ15 at small-$x$.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

MAP3K19 regulatory variation in populations with African ancestry may increase COVID-19 severity

To identify ancestry-linked genetic risk variants associated with COVID-19 hospitalization, we performed an integrative analysis of two genome-wide association studies and resolved four single nucleotide polymorphisms more frequent in COVID-19-hospitalized patients with non-European ancestry. Among them, the COVID-19 risk SNP rs16831827 shows the largest difference in minor allele frequency (MAF) between populations with African and European ancestry and also shows higher MAF in hospitalized COVID-19 patients among cohorts of mixed ancestry (odds ratio [OR] = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.10-1.30) and entirely African ancestry (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02-1.67). rs16831827 is an expression quantitative trait locus of MAP3K19. MAP3K19 expression is induced during ciliogenesis and most abundant in ciliated tissues including lungs. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses revealed that MAP3K19 is highly expressed in multiple ciliated cell types. As rs16831827∗T is associated with reduced MAP3K19 expression, it may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 by reducing MAP3K19 expression

Precision Control of Amphoteric Doping in Cu x Bi2Se3 Nanoplates.

Copper-doped Bi2Se3 (Cu x Bi2Se3) is of considerable interest for tailoring its electronic properties and inducing exotic charge correlations while retaining the unique Dirac surface states. However, the copper dopants in Cu x Bi2Se3 display complex electronic behaviors and may function as either electron donors or acceptors depending on their concentration and atomic sites within the Bi2Se3 crystal lattice. Thus, a precise understanding and control of the doping concentration and sites is of both fundamental and practical significance. Herein, we report a solution-based one-pot synthesis of Cu x Bi2Se3 nanoplates with systematically tunable Cu doping concentrations and doping sites. Our studies reveal a gradual evolution from intercalative sites to substitutional sites with increasing Cu concentrations. The Cu atoms at intercalative sites function as electron donors while those at the substitutional sites function as electron acceptors, producing distinct effects on the electronic properties of the resulting materials. We further show that Cu0.18Bi2Se3 exhibits superconducting behavior, which is not present in Bi2Se3, highlighting the essential role of Cu doping in tailoring exotic quantum properties. This study establishes an efficient methodology for precise synthesis of Cu x Bi2Se3 with tailored doping concentrations, doping sites, and electronic properties

Folic acid therapy reduces the first stroke risk associated with hypercholesterolemia among hypertensive patients

Background and Purpose - We sought to determine whether folic acid supplementation can independently reduce the risk of first stroke associated with elevated total cholesterol levels in a subanalysis using data from the CSPPT (China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial), a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Methods - A total of 20 702 hypertensive adults without a history of major cardiovascular disease were randomly assigned to a double-blind daily treatment of an enalapril 10-mg and a folic acid 0.8-mg tablet or an enalapril 10-mg tablet alone. The primary outcome was first stroke. Results - The median treatment duration was 4.5 years. For participants not receiving folic acid treatment (enalapril-only group), high total cholesterol (≥ 200 mg/dL) was an independent predictor of first stroke when compared with low total cholesterol (\u3c200 mg/dL; 4.0% versus 2.6%; hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.97; P=0.001). Folic acid supplementation significantly reduced the risk of first s roke among participants with high total cholesterol (4.0% in the enalapril-only group versus 2.7% in the enalapril-folic acid group; hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.84 P\u3c0.001; number needed to treat, 78; 95% confidence interval, 52-158), independent of baseline folate levels and other important covariates. By contrast, among participants with low total cholesterol, the risk of stroke was 2.6% in the enalapril-only group versus 2.5% in the enalapril-folic acid group (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-1.30; P=0.982). The effect was greater among participants with elevated total cholesterol (P for interaction=0.024). Conclusions - Elevated total cholesterol levels may modify the benefits of folic acid therapy on first stroke. Folic acid supplementation reduced the risk of first stroke associated with elevated total cholesterol by 31% among hypertensive adults without a history of major cardiovascular diseases

Synthèse et applications de carbones mésoporeux modifiés par de l'azote

Les carbones poreux ont été largement utilisés et étudiés ces dernières années. Ce travail de recherche porte sur la préparation de matériaux carbonés mésoporeux modifiés ou non par de l'azote. Tout d'abord, un carbone mésoporeux pur a été synthétisé. Puis des atomes d'azote ont été introduits dans ce carbone mésoporeux par deux méthodes de dopage ("in situ" et "post-synthèse" respectivement). La comparaison des propriétés acido-basiques dans des conditions différentes pour les trois types de matériaux mésoporeux carbonés, avec ou sans diazote, a été faite grâce à des techniques calorimétriques. Ces carbones mésoporeux ont aussi été utilisés dans l'adsorption de polluants, le stockage de l'hydrogène et en tant que supports pour les métaux précieux et l'oxyde de fer en catalyse. Les différentes performances dans ces applications ont été mises en relation avec les différentes propriétés structurelles et surfaciques causées par le dopage au diazotePorous carbon materials are widely used and studied in recent years. In this work, three kinds of mesoporous carbon materials were prepared. Firstly, cost-effective pure mesoporous carbon was synthesized. Then nitrogen atoms were introduced into the mesoporous carbon by “in situ” and “post” doping methods respectively. The comparisons of the acid-base properties in different conditions of the three kinds of mesoporous carbon materials with or without nitrogen were studied and revealed by different calorimetric techniques. The three kinds of mesoporous carbons were also applied in pollutants adsorption, hydrogen storage and as supports of precious metals and iron oxide in catalysis. The different performances in applications were related to the different structural and surface properties caused by the N-dopin

Unconventional lithographic fabrication of nanostructures using charged particles, laser interference and nanoimprint

The research work presented in this thesis focuses on three topics: (1) the development of a novel lithographic approach to fabricate three-dimensional (3-D) nanostructures using focused helium ions based on deepened understanding of 3-D energy dissipation of helium ions; (2) the investigation of developing hybrid approaches using interference lithography, electrodeposition and imprint transfer for fabricating large-area regular nanostructures and demonstrating their applications in plasmonic sensing; (3) the studies on nanoimprint lithography (NIL) on unconventional substrates and durability of imprint patterns in sub-10 nm UV NIL. Based on these topics, the thesis is divided into three parts. The first part presents the numerical and experimental investigations of helium ion beam lithography and the development of 3-D helium ion beam lithography. First, a model to simulate the volumetric energy dissipation of helium ions in materials is proposed and validated with experimental results. The model is based on a Monte Carlo method and has the capability to be tailored for various of resist materials by changing the parameters of resist. Moreover, by comparing the numerical and experimental results, critical energy density for sufficiently crosslinking hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) by helium ion beam exposure is investigated. Second, a facile and controllable 3-D nanofabrication method relying on focused helium ion beam lithography is developed based on the model. Embedded nanochannels inside crosslinked HSQ structures, and free-standing nanosized grids have been fabricated as demonstrations of the method. The second part describes a novel approach to fabricate large-area nanostructures on flexible plastic films using lithography, electrodeposition and imprint transfer (LEIT). A new type of plasmonic refractive index sensor featuring square gold-nanocheckerboard-embedded in a flexible plastic film is designed and fabricated. An excellent sensitivity of 435 nm RIU^(-1) has been demonstrated on the prototype sensor within the visible range, which is among the highest of all reported LSPR sensors in the visible range. Besides, because of the embedded nature of the gold nanostructures, excellent mechanical stability against repeated bending and peeling is observed.published_or_final_versionMechanical EngineeringDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph