A Neural Pre-Conditioning Active Learning Algorithm to Reduce Label Complexity

Deep learning (DL) algorithms rely on massive amounts of labeled data. Semi-supervised learning (SSL) and active learning (AL) aim to reduce this label complexity by leveraging unlabeled data or carefully acquiring labels, respectively. In this work, we primarily focus on designing an AL algorithm but first argue for a change in how AL algorithms should be evaluated. Although unlabeled data is readily available in pool-based AL, AL algorithms are usually evaluated by measuring the increase in supervised learning (SL) performance at consecutive acquisition steps. Because this measures performance gains from both newly acquired instances and newly acquired labels, we propose to instead evaluate the label efficiency of AL algorithms by measuring the increase in SSL performance at consecutive acquisition steps. After surveying tools that can be used to this end, we propose our neural pre-conditioning (NPC) algorithm inspired by a Neural Tangent Kernel (NTK) analysis. Our algorithm incorporates the classifier's uncertainty on unlabeled data and penalizes redundant samples within candidate batches to efficiently acquire a diverse set of informative labels. Furthermore, we prove that NPC improves downstream training in the large-width regime in a manner previously observed to correlate with generalization. Comparisons with other AL algorithms show that a state-of-the-art SSL algorithm coupled with NPC can achieve high performance using very few labeled data.Comment: NeurIPS 202

효과적 개도국 역량개발을 위한 유럽식 트위닝 이론의 캄보디아 내 적정기술에 대한 적용가능성 [Development Effectiveness and Capacity Development in Developing Countries: Can European Twinning Method Be Applied to the Appropriate Technology Process? A Case Study in Cambodia]

Recently, it has been discussed that twinning method can be an effective technical cooperation modalities in terms of development effectiveness and capacity development in developing countries. As emphasizing sharing mechanism, European twinning method can be a benefit for each organization in enhancing capacity development of individuals and institutions. With this in mind, this paper aims to look at whether twinning method can be applied to the appropriate technology process as the appropriate technology has shown limited approach in providing necessary training and advisors. The study conducted a case study in Cambodia with a few of appropriate technology projects, and has found that a theory of twinning method can be used in the appropriate technology process. It is illustrated in this study that training and advisors from providing organizations can be arranged by relevant recipient organizations and promotes knowledge sharing regarding to the appropriate technology process. In the end, this research argues that the application of twinning method to the appropriate technology process can lead a higher level of capacity development in local communities in developing countries

Synergistic Antibacterial Effects of Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria with Curcuma longa Rhizome Extract as Synbiotic against Cutibacterium acnes

Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease induced by Cutibacterium acnes. Recently, the effects of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics have been researched for the treatment of skin diseases in humans. However, the synbiotic effect of probiotics and prebiotic Curcuma longa rhizome extract (CLE) on C. acnes remains ambiguous. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic antibacterial activities of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with CLE as a synbiotic against C. acnes. Agar well diffusion assays were performed to determine the inhibitory effects of each combination of one of five Lactobacillus sp. with CLE as synbiotics against C. acnes KCTC 3314. Among them, the comparison between the average diameters of inhibition zones showed that the synbiotic combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus A001F8 and CLE significantly increased the inhibition zone diameters against C. acnes, compared to the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus A001F8 or CLE alone (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the synbiotics of probiotic LAB and CLE showed synergistic antibacterial effects against C. acnes, suggesting therapeutic potential for this synbiotic combination in the development of cosmetics or medicine against C. acnes

Investigation of memory-enhancing effects of Streptococcus thermophilus EG007 in mice and elucidating molecular and metagenomic characteristics using nanopore sequencing

Over the past decades, accumulating evidences have highlighted the gut microbiota as a key player in the brain functioning via microbiota-gut-brain axis, and accordingly, the beneficial role of several probiotic strains in cognitive ability also have been actively investigated. However, the majority of the research have demonstrated the effects against age-related cognitive decline or neurological disease. To this end, we aimed to investigate lactic acid bacteria strains having beneficial effects on the cognitive function of healthy young mice and elucidate underlying characteristics by carrying out nanopore sequencing-based genomics and metagenomics analysis. 8-week consumption of Streptococcus thermophilus EG007 demonstrated marked enhancements in behavior tests assessing short-term spatial and non-spatial learning and memory. It was revealed that EG007 possessed genes encoding various metabolites beneficial for a health condition in many aspects, including gamma-aminobutyric acid producing system, a neurotransmitter associated with mood and stress response. Also, by utilizing 16S-23S rRNA operon as a taxonomic marker, we identified more accurate species-level compositional changes in gut microbiota, which was increase of certain species, previously reported to have associations with mental health or down-regulation of inflammation or infection-related species. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed that the EG007-mediated altered microbiota had a significant correlation with the memory traits.N

Fast accurate multi-key weight measurement

We consider an industrial problem brought to the Mathematics in Industry New Zealand study group in 2016, where items pass briefly over load cells resulting in a noisy oscillatory signal, from which the mass of the item is to be computed. We compare results obtained using a single load cell for one piece of fruit, with results from passing over two load cells in tandem or in succession with fruit on multiple keys. We develop mathematical models to assist with the computation of total load mass, considering both deterministic and statistical approaches. The fitting of simple harmonic motion plus a step function exhibits the possibility of rapid estimates of load mass. We find that using multiple keys to measure the weight of a fruit provides more accurate results than using the single-key method. References minz-2004, Case Study Compac. http://www.minz.org.nz/assets/downloads/Case-Study-Compac.pdf Kesilmis, Z., and Baran, T. (2016). A Geometric Approach to Beam Type Load Cell Response for Fast Weighing. doi:10.1007/s12647-016-0168-2 K. Levenberg, A method for the solution of certain non-linear problems in least squares. Quarterly of applied mathematics, 2(1944), pp. 164–168. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43633451 D. W. Marquardt, An algorithm for least-squares estimation of nonlinear parameters. Journal of the society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, 11(1963), pp. 431–441. doi:10.1137/011103

Effect of gut microbiota-derived metabolites and extracellular vesicles on neurodegenerative disease in a gut-brain axis chip

Abstract A new perspective suggests that a dynamic bidirectional communication system, often referred to as the microbiome-gut-brain axis, exists among the gut, its microbiome, and the central nervous system (CNS). This system may influence brain health and various brain-related diseases, especially in the realms of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions. However, the exact mechanism is not yet understood. Metabolites or extracellular vesicles derived from microbes in the gut have the capacity to traverse the intestinal epithelial barrier or blood–brain barrier, gaining access to the systemic circulation. This phenomenon can initiate the physiological responses that directly or indirectly impact the CNS and its function. However, reliable and controllable tools are required to demonstrate the causal effects of gut microbial-derived substances on neurogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases. The integration of microfluidics enhances scientific research by providing advanced in vitro engineering models. In this study, we investigated the impact of microbe-derived metabolites and exosomes on neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived neurons in a gut-brain axis chip. While strain-specific, our findings indicate that both microbial-derived metabolites and exosomes exert the significant effects on neural growth, maturation, and synaptic plasticity. Therefore, our results suggest that metabolites and exosomes derived from microbes hold promise as potential candidates and strategies for addressing neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders