NAS-Bench-Suite-Zero: Accelerating Research on Zero Cost Proxies

Zero-cost proxies (ZC proxies) are a recent architecture performance prediction technique aiming to significantly speed up algorithms for neural architecture search (NAS). Recent work has shown that these techniques show great promise, but certain aspects, such as evaluating and exploiting their complementary strengths, are under-studied. In this work, we create NAS-Bench-Suite: we evaluate 13 ZC proxies across 28 tasks, creating by far the largest dataset (and unified codebase) for ZC proxies, enabling orders-of-magnitude faster experiments on ZC proxies, while avoiding confounding factors stemming from different implementations. To demonstrate the usefulness of NAS-Bench-Suite, we run a large-scale analysis of ZC proxies, including a bias analysis, and the first information-theoretic analysis which concludes that ZC proxies capture substantial complementary information. Motivated by these findings, we present a procedure to improve the performance of ZC proxies by reducing biases such as cell size, and we also show that incorporating all 13 ZC proxies into the surrogate models used by NAS algorithms can improve their predictive performance by up to 42%. Our code and datasets are available at https://github.com/automl/naslib/tree/zerocost.Comment: NeurIPS Datasets and Benchmarks Track 202

FAST DISSOLVING SUBLINGUAL PATCH OF PHENOBARBITAL SODIUM: FORMULATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION

Objective: To formulate and characterize. Phenobarbital sodium loaded sublingual patch using biodegradable, mucoadhesive, fast-dissolving natural polymer pullulan for immediate management of epileptic seizures. Methods: Phenobarbital sodium loaded sublingual patches were prepared by the solvent casting method and were subjected to various physicochemical evaluation parameters to find the optimized sublingual patch. The in vitro drug release study and kinetic model of the optimized formulation was also carried out. The stability study of the optimized Phenobarbital sodium loaded sublingual patch was also done. Results: From in vitro drug release study, it was found that Phenobarbital sodium loaded sublingual patch (S4) exhibited a maximum drug release of 96.24±1.27% at the end of 60 min compared to other formulations indicating a faster drug release from the formulation with release kinetics as Higuchi diffusion model. In fact, a notable release data was obtained between 0.5 to 8 min by all formulations, specifically S4 formulation (20.84±1.97% and 77.22±2.41% drug release at the end of 0.5 min and 8 min respectively) showed a better percentage release profile in comparison with other formulations. Such a trend is vital to deliver the drug at a faster rate to promote immediate effect for managing the fatal and complicated seizure. Considering the physicochemical property and in vitro drug release data, S4 formulation was regarded as an optimized one. The stability study also confirmed that S4 formulation is stable at refrigeration conditions. Conclusion: The formulated Phenobarbital sodium loaded sublingual patch is an effective drug delivery carrier which enables faster drug release to manage epileptic seizure

Hypoxia mediated alternative splicing of the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) in the retina

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a haematopoietic glycoprotein that is involved in erythropoiesis in the haematopoietic tissues and tissue protection in non-haematopoietic tissues. EPO mediates its signals by binding to its receptor, the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR). EPO has been investigated as a promising therapeutic agent in ischaemic retinopathies and glaucoma. Alternative splicing is one the most important post-transcriptional events that is responsible for generating vast protein diversity from a relatively limited number of genes, allowing the synthesis of several structurally and functionally distinct protein isofonns. In erythroid cells alternative splicing of EPOR generates three transcripts; full length (EPOR-F), soluble (EPOR-S) and truncated (EPOR-T). The full length contains the entire coding region of EPOR, while the soluble only encodes the region coding for extracellular domain resulting in the receptor being secreted in the extracellular space and the truncated variant lacks a part of the region coding for the cytoplasmic domain and act as a dominant negative regulator of EPO-EPOR mediated signals for cell survival. In this study, all three EPOR splice variants are expressed in the normal retina and EPOR-F is present in all three retinal cell layers. EPOR- T is shown to be upregulated in the mouse model of oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR) and in-vivo model of hypoxia. The upregulation of EPOR- T was associated with hypoxia mediated cell death. This hypoxia mediated upregulation of EPOR - T is abolished in presence of exogenous EPO and hypoxia mediated cell death is abolished upon knockdown of EPOR - T. The role of EPOR -Tin ischaemic cell death presents a novel therapeutic target in both retinal and non-ocular tissues.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Internet of Things (IoT) adoption in IndianHealthcare Industry-A case study from ahospital.

Purpose: Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging technology and is a technological paradigm that is revolutionizing the healthcare industry all over the world. The purpose of our thesis is to investigate the phenomenon of IoT adoption in the healthcare industry in the context of a developing country to find out the barriers and how the industry is trying to overcome them. As the second highest population with a landmark of topping the table of developing country list, India has significant potential to bring interest in the IoT adoption in healthcare. Our unit of analysis is a hospital in India. Method: To reach our research, we have chosen a qualitative research approach and systematic combining method as our research strategy, which will facilitate us to narrow down the findings of the phenomenon by using a back and forth process. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with participants of the case hospital as part of the data collection process. Finding and Analysis: The first part of the empirical finding is analyzed by the thematic analysis tool, which we have used for the data analysis. This enabled us to interpret the themes in our own way going back to data collected and previous literature references. The study helped us identify some of the main factors affecting IoT adoption in the hospital, categorized under three different sections: technological, organizational, and environmental. The findings indicate that IoT adoption barriers in hospital are categorized as per our tentative framework with theoretical frame reference in the literature review part. Adoption challenges were found mainly centred on technological acceptance, complexity, organizational behaviour, lack of expertise and infrastructure, lack of stringent regulations and standard and finally, the security and privacy concerns. They have initiated a well organizational structure with experts, providing rigorous training for key staff and visionary leadership to facilitate the adoption process

Gremlin1 preferentially binds to Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) and BMP-4 over BMP-7

Gremlin (Grem1) is a member of the DAN family of secreted bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) mediates protective effects during renal fibrosis associated with diabetes and other renal diseases. The pathogenic mechanism of Grem1 during diabetic nephropathy (DN) has been suggested to be binding and inhibition of BMP-7. However, the precise interactions between Grem1, BMP-7 and other BMPs have not been accurately defined. In the present study, we show the affinity of Grem1 for BMP-7 is lower than that of BMP-2 and BMP-4, using a combination of surface plasmon resonance and cell culture techniques. Using kidney proximal tubule cells and HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cell Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation and BMP-dependent gene expression as readouts, Grem1 consistently demonstrated a higher affinity for BMP-2&amp;gt;BMP-4&amp;gt;BMP-7. Cell-associated Grem1 did not inhibit BMP-2- or BMP-4-mediated signalling, suggesting that Grem1–BMP-2 binding occurred in solution, preventing BMP receptor activation. These data suggest that Grem1 preferentially binds to BMP-2 and this may be the dominant complex in a disease situation where levels of Grem1 and BMPs are elevated.</jats:p

Wide excision and microvascular reconstruction for maxillomandibular ameloblastomas: local control, functional, and esthetic outcomes

Introduction: Ameloblastomas are benign but aggressive odontogenic tumors with have a high propensity for bony destruction. They require to be excised completely to avoid local recurrence, and these resections involve significant functional and esthetic disturbances. With the advent of microvascular reconstruction, they can be excised, and defects are reconstructed with preservation of form and function. This paper presents our experience with wide excision and microvascular reconstruction for maxillomandibular ameloblastomas, and to describe the planning, resection, microvascular reconstruction, and rehabilitation of these patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of records for patients treated with wide excision and microvascular reconstruction for maxillomandibular ameloblastomas at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences Kochi between 2003 and 2015 was performed. Clinical and pathological features were described, and a literature review was performed. Results: A total of 48 patients were identified with equal sex distribution and mean age at presentation of 35 (range 16–71) years. Half of these patients had primary lesions, and the remaining half had the recurrent disease (range 1–4 previous surgeries). Forty patients (83%) had mandibular lesions and the remaining had the maxillary disease. All patients had wide excision with a gross bony margin of 1 cm and reconstruction with microvascular flaps (fibula free flap = 41, distal circumflex iliac artery flap = 3 and scapular free flap = 2, anterolateral thigh flap = 1 and radial forearm free flap = 1). Mean tumor size was 4.73 (2–14) cm. At a median follow-up of 21 months, all patients were free of recurrence. Successful dental rehabilitation was achieved in 40 patients (83%). Conclusion: This approach leads to results in excellent local control, functional, and esthetic outcomes. Although managing these patients is challenging, multidisciplinary expertise and planning are crucial for successful management

Gremlin1 plays a key role in kidney development and renal fibrosis

Gremlin1 (Grem1), an antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins, plays a key role in embryogenesis. A highly specific temporospatial gradient of Grem1 and bone morphogenetic protein signaling is critical to normal lung, kidney, and limb development. Grem1 levels are increased in renal fibrotic conditions, including acute kidney injury, diabetic nephropathy, chronic allograft nephropathy, and immune glomerulonephritis. We demonstrate that a small number of grem1-/- whole body knockout mice on a mixed genetic background (8%) are viable, with a single, enlarged left kidney and grossly normal histology. The grem1-/- mice displayed mild renal dysfunction at 4 wk, which recovered by 16 wk. Tubular epithelial cell-specific targeted deletion of Grem1 (TEC-grem1-cKO) mice displayed a milder response in the acute injury and recovery phases of the folic acid model. Increases in indexes of kidney damage were smaller in TEC-grem1-cKO than wild-type mice. In the recovery phase of the folic acid model, associated with renal fibrosis, TEC-grem1-cKO mice displayed reduced histological damage and an attenuated fibrotic gene response compared with wild-type controls. Together, these data demonstrate that Grem1 expression in the tubular epithelial compartment plays a significant role in the fibrotic response to renal injury in vivo