Long-term Time Series Forecasting based on Decomposition and Neural Ordinary Differential Equations

Long-term time series forecasting (LTSF) is a challenging task that has been investigated in various domains such as finance investment, health care, traffic, and weather forecasting. In recent years, Linear-based LTSF models showed better performance, pointing out the problem of Transformer-based approaches causing temporal information loss. However, Linear-based approach has also limitations that the model is too simple to comprehensively exploit the characteristics of the dataset. To solve these limitations, we propose LTSF-DNODE, which applies a model based on linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and a time series decomposition method according to data statistical characteristics. We show that LTSF-DNODE outperforms the baselines on various real-world datasets. In addition, for each dataset, we explore the impacts of regularization in the neural ordinary differential equation (NODE) framework.Comment: Accepted at IEEE BigData 202

The local translation of KNa in dendritic projections of auditory neurons and the roles of KNa in the transition from hidden to overt hearing loss

Local and privileged expression of dendritic proteins allows segregation of distinct functions in a single neuron but may represent one of the underlying mechanisms for early and insidious presentation of sensory neuropathy. Tangible characteristics of early hearing loss (HL) are defined in correlation with nascent hidden hearing loss (HHL) in humans and animal models. Despite the plethora of causes of HL, only two prevailing mechanisms for HHL have been identified, and in both cases, common structural deficits are implicated in inner hair cell synapses, and demyelination of the auditory nerve (AN). We uncovered that N

Single-Cell RNA-seq Reveals Profound Alterations in Mechanosensitive Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons with Vitamin E Deficiency.

Ninety percent of Americans consume less than the estimated average requirements of dietary vitamin E (vitE). Severe vitE deficiency due to genetic mutations in the tocopherol transfer protein (TTPA) in humans results in ataxia with vitE deficiency (AVED), with proprioceptive deficits and somatosensory degeneration arising from dorsal root ganglia neurons (DRGNs). Single-cell RNA-sequencing of DRGNs was performed in Ttpa-/- mice, an established model of AVED. In stark contrast to expected changes in proprioceptive neurons, Ttpa-/- DRGNs showed marked upregulation of voltage-gated Ca2+ and K+ channels in mechanosensitive, tyrosine-hydroxylase positive (TH+) DRGNs. The ensuing significant conductance changes resulted in reduced excitability in mechanosensitive Ttpa-/- DRGNs. A highly supplemented vitE diet (600 mg dl-α-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet) prevented the cellular and molecular alterations and improved mechanosensation. VitE deficiency profoundly alters the molecular signature and functional properties of mechanosensitive TH+ DRGN, representing an intriguing shift of the prevailing paradigm from proprioception to mechanical sensation

Sodium-activated potassium channels shape peripheral auditory function and activity of the primary auditory neurons in mice

Potassium (K+) channels shape the response properties of neurons. Although enormous progress has been made to characterize K+ channels in the primary auditory neurons, the molecular identities of many of these channels and their contributions to hearing in vivo remain unknown. Using a combination of RNA sequencing and single molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization, we localized expression of transcripts encoding the sodium-activated potassium channels K(Na)1.1(SLO2.2/Slack) and K(Na)1.2 (SLO2.1/Slick) to the primary auditory neurons (spiral ganglion neurons, SGNs). To examine the contribution of these channels to function of the SGNs in vivo, we measured auditory brainstem responses in K(Na)1.1/1.2 double knockout (DKO) mice. Although auditory brainstem response (wave I) thresholds were not altered, the amplitudes of suprathreshold responses were reduced in DKO mice. This reduction in amplitude occurred despite normal numbers and molecular architecture of the SGNs and their synapses with the inner hair cells. Patch clamp electrophysiology of SGNs isolated from DKO mice displayed altered membrane properties, including reduced action potential thresholds and amplitudes. These findings show that K(Na)1 channel activity is essential for normal cochlear function and suggest that early forms of hearing loss may result from physiological changes in the activity of the primary auditory neurons

Cooperativity of Kv7.4 channels confers ultrafast electromechanical sensitivity and emergent properties in cochlear outer hair cells.

The mammalian cochlea relies on active electromotility of outer hair cells (OHCs) to resolve sound frequencies. OHCs use ionic channels and somatic electromotility to achieve the process. It is unclear, though, how the kinetics of voltage-gated ionic channels operate to overcome extrinsic viscous drag on OHCs at high frequency. Here, we report ultrafast electromechanical gating of clustered Kv7.4 in OHCs. Increases in kinetics and sensitivity resulting from cooperativity among clustered-Kv7.4 were revealed, using optogenetics strategies. Upon clustering, the half-activation voltage shifted negative, and the speed of activation increased relative to solitary channels. Clustering also rendered Kv7.4 channels mechanically sensitive, confirmed in consolidated Kv7.4 channels at the base of OHCs. Kv7.4 clusters provide OHCs with ultrafast electromechanical channel gating, varying in magnitude and speed along the cochlea axis. Ultrafast Kv7.4 gating provides OHCs with a feedback mechanism that enables the cochlea to overcome viscous drag and resolve sounds at auditory frequencies

Altered outer hair cell mitochondrial and subsurface cisternae connectomics are candidate mechanisms for hearing loss in mice

Organelle crosstalk is vital for cellular functions. The propinquity of mitochondria, ER, and plasma membrane promote regulation of multiple functions, which include intracellular C

English Language Learning and Learner Identities of North Korean Refugees in South Korea

Since the Korean War (1945-1953) that divided the peninsula at the 38th parallel, North Korea (NK) and South Korea (SK) have developed in different ways. There has been an increasing number of North Korean refugees (NKRs) arriving in SK since the late 1990s. English has attained a significant symbolic capital in the globalized world, and South Korea exemplifies the pervasive influence of English in various aspects of society, being inseparable to the country’s modernization (Park, 2009). Previous studies (e.g., Cho, 2018; Jung, 2009; Lee et al., 2016; Park, 2007; Shin & Kim, 2019; Shin & Park, 2019; Shin et al., 2019) claimed that English, in spite of it being a foreign language in SK, plays a significant role in NKRs’ adjustment and everyday lives in SK due to the material and symbolic capital and social mobility it brings (Park, 2009). Previous studies on NKRs’ English learning also revealed that it is not purely a cognitive or linguistic matter, but it closely relates to gaps in institutional norms and structural assumptions for college students and social values in SK. Therefore, NKRs’ English learner identities are a good lens through which we understand the meanings of becoming NKRs in SK and how they negotiate their alignment with what SK celebrates as the institutional norms, such as English. This qualitative ethnographic study aims to examine the interrelationship between English ideologies and learner identities of eight NKR college students, and how they can further affect their English learning experiences by analyzing their narratives and classroom discourse. The study aims to expand the current knowledge of NKRs’ English learning by presenting and analyzing the stories of NKR English learners and users with diverse educational histories and ideologies and their fluid, multidimensional, and multidirectional identity construction and negotiation processes (Preece, 2016). Data were collected over the course of 7 months and included interviews, reflective journals, visual learner histories, and participant observations in English classrooms. Data analysis was conducted with thematic coding. The findings revealed complex interrelationships between language ideologies, identity construction and negotiation processes, and second language (L2) investment of NKR students as English learners. The construction of English learner and user identities and the levels of L2 investment of the participants were subjected to various language ideologies in SK. The findings showed the linguistic racialization experienced by NKR students in SK, where they were often identified as uneducated and incompetent, reflecting the deficit ideology towards them. The participants responded to this ideology in various ways. The study also revealed the intersectionality between Christianity and the NKR students’ identities and investment in English in different spaces. The study offers pedagogical implications from the local to the global level, including English education for NKRs and other minoritized groups, particularly immigrants and refugees. Moreover, the study provides implications for future research on the investigation of NKR students’ English learning and their identity construction and negotiation processes in their L2 communities

A Double-Edged Sword: The Two Faces of PARylation

Poly ADP-ribosylation (PARylation) is a post-translational modification process. Following the discovery of PARP-1, numerous studies have demonstrated the role of PARylation in the DNA damage and repair responses for cellular stress and DNA damage. Originally, studies on PARylation were confined to PARP-1 activation in the DNA repair pathway. However, the interplay between PARylation and DNA repair suggests that PARylation is important for the efficiency and accuracy of DNA repair. PARylation has contradicting roles; however, recent evidence implicates its importance in inflammation, metabolism, and cell death. These differences might be dependent on specific cellular conditions or experimental models used, and suggest that PARylation may play two opposing roles in cellular homeostasis. Understanding the role of PARylation in cellular function is not only important for identifying novel therapeutic approaches; it is also essential for gaining insight into the mechanisms of unexplored diseases. In this review, we discuss recent reports on the role of PARylation in mediating diverse cellular functions and homeostasis, such as DNA repair, inflammation, metabolism, and cell death

Automatic RTL Generation Tool of FPGAs for DNNs

With the increasing use of multi-purpose artificial intelligence of things (AIOT) devices, embedded field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) represent excellent platforms for deep neural network (DNN) acceleration on edge devices. FPGAs possess the advantages of low latency and high energy efficiency, but the scarcity of FPGA development resources challenges the deployment of DNN-based edge devices. Register-transfer level programming, hardware verification, and precise resource allocation are needed to build a high-performance FPGA accelerator for DNNs. These tasks present a challenge and are time consuming for even experienced hardware developers. Therefore, we propose an automated, collaborative design process employing an automatic design space exploration tool; an automatic DNN engine enables the tool to reshape and parse a DNN model from software to hardware. We also introduce a long short-term memory (LSTM)-based model to predict performance and generate a DNN model that suits the developer requirements automatically. We demonstrate our design scheme with three FPGAs: a zcu104, a zcu102, and a Cyclone V SoC (system on chip). The results show that our hardware-based edge accelerator exhibits superior throughput compared with the most advanced edge graphics processing unit