Out-of-Distribution Detection in Time-Series Domain: A Novel Seasonal Ratio Scoring Approach

Safe deployment of time-series classifiers for real-world applications relies on the ability to detect the data which is not generated from the same distribution as training data. This task is referred to as out-of-distribution (OOD) detection. We consider the novel problem of OOD detection for the time-series domain. We discuss the unique challenges posed by time-series data and explain why prior methods from the image domain will perform poorly. Motivated by these challenges, this paper proposes a novel {\em Seasonal Ratio Scoring (SRS)} approach. SRS consists of three key algorithmic steps. First, each input is decomposed into class-wise semantic component and remainder. Second, this decomposition is employed to estimate the class-wise conditional likelihoods of the input and remainder using deep generative models. The seasonal ratio score is computed from these estimates. Third, a threshold interval is identified from the in-distribution data to detect OOD examples. Experiments on diverse real-world benchmarks demonstrate that the SRS method is well-suited for time-series OOD detection when compared to baseline methods. Open-source code for SRS method is provided at https://github.com/tahabelkhouja/SRSComment: Accepted for publication at ACM Transactions on Intelligent Systems and Technology (TIST

ReCon: Revealing and Controlling PII Leaks in Mobile Network Traffic

It is well known that apps running on mobile devices extensively track and leak users' personally identifiable information (PII); however, these users have little visibility into PII leaked through the network traffic generated by their devices, and have poor control over how, when and where that traffic is sent and handled by third parties. In this paper, we present the design, implementation, and evaluation of ReCon: a cross-platform system that reveals PII leaks and gives users control over them without requiring any special privileges or custom OSes. ReCon leverages machine learning to reveal potential PII leaks by inspecting network traffic, and provides a visualization tool to empower users with the ability to control these leaks via blocking or substitution of PII. We evaluate ReCon's effectiveness with measurements from controlled experiments using leaks from the 100 most popular iOS, Android, and Windows Phone apps, and via an IRB-approved user study with 92 participants. We show that ReCon is accurate, efficient, and identifies a wider range of PII than previous approaches.Comment: Please use MobiSys version when referencing this work: http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2906392. 18 pages, recon.meddle.mob

Sliding modes in electrical drives and motion control

In this paper application of Sliding Mode Control (SMC) to electrical drives and motion control systems is discussed. It is shown that in these applications simplicity in implementation makes concepts of SMC a very attractive design alternative. Application in electrical drives control is discussed for supply via different topologies of the supply converters. Motion control is discussed for single degree of freedom motion control systems as an extension of the control of mechanical coordinates in electrical drives. Extension to multi-body systems is discussed very briefly

The Antioxidant Enzyme Prdx1 Controls Neuronal Differentiation by Thiol-Redox-Dependent Activation of GDE2

SummaryThe six-transmembrane protein GDE2 controls the onset and progression of spinal motor neuron differentiation through extracellular glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase metabolism. Although this process is likely to be tightly regulated, the relevant mechanisms that modulate its activity are unknown. Here we show that the antioxidant scavenger peroxiredoxin1 (Prdx1) interacts with GDE2, and that loss of Prdx1 causes motor neuron deficits analogous to GDE2 ablation. Prdx1 cooperates with GDE2 to drive motor neuron differentiation, and this synergy requires Prdx1 thiol-dependent catalysis. Prdx1 activates GDE2 through reduction of an intramolecular disulfide bond that bridges its intracellular N- and C-terminal domains. GDE2 variants incapable of disulfide bond formation acquire independence from Prdx1 and are potent inducers of motor neuron differentiation. These findings define Prdx1 as a pivotal regulator of GDE2 activity and suggest roles for coupled thiol-redox-dependent cascades in controlling neuronal differentiation in the spinal cord

3,6-Dimethyl-N 1,N 4-bis­(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetra­zine-1,4-dicarboxamide

In the title mol­ecule, C16H16N8O2, four atoms of the tetra­zine ring are coplanar, with the largest deviation from the plane being 0.0236 (12) Å; the other two atoms of the tetra­zine ring deviate on the same side from this plane by 0.320 (4) and 0.335 (4) Å. Therefore, the central tetra­zine ring exhibits a boat conformation. The dihedral angles between the mean plane of the four coplanar atoms of the tetrazine ring and the two pyridine rings are 26.22 (10) and 6.97 (5)°. The two pyridine rings form a dihedral angle of 31.27 (8)°. In the molecule, there are a number of short C—H⋯O interactions. In the crystal, molecules are linked via a C—H⋯O interaction to form zigzag chains propagating along the [010] direction

Reconsideration of Second Harmonic Generation from neat Air/Water Interface: Broken of Kleinman Symmetry from Dipolar Contribution

It has been generally accepted that there are significant quadrupolar and bulk contributions to the second harmonic generation (SHG) reflected from the neat air/water interface, as well as common liquid interfaces. Because there has been no general methodology to determine the quadrupolar and bulk contributions to the SHG signal from a liquid interface, this conclusion was reached based on the following two experimental phenomena. Namely, the broken of the macroscopic Kleinman symmetry, and the significant temperature dependence of the SHG signal from the neat air/water interface. However, because sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS) measurement of the neat air/water interface observed no apparent temperature dependence, the temperature dependence in the SHG measurement has been reexamined and proven to be an experimental artifact. Here we present a complete microscopic analysis of the susceptibility tensors of the air/water interface, and show that dipolar contribution alone can be used to address the issue of broken of the macroscopic Kleinman symmetry at the neat air/water interface. Using this analysis, the orientation of the water molecules at the interface can be obtained, and it is consistent with the measurement from SFG-VS. Therefore, the key rationales to conclude significantly quadrupolar and bulk contributions to the SHG signal of the neat air/water interface can no longer be considered as valid as before. This new understanding of the air/water interface can shed light on our understanding of the nonlinear optical responses from other molecular interfaces as well

Crystal structure of (5′S,8′S)-3-(2,5-di-methylphenyl)-8-methoxy-3-nitro-1-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore is a potential drug target for neurodegeneration

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) plays a central role in alterations of mitochondrial structure and function leading to neuronal injury relevant to aging and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). mPTP putatively consists of the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT). Cyclophilin D (CypD) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase intra-cellular calcium and enhance the formation of mPTP that leads to neuronal cell death in AD. CypD-dependent mPTP can play a crucial role in ischemia/reperfusion injury. The interaction of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) with CypD potentiates mitochondrial and neuronal perturbation. This interaction triggers the formation of mPTP, resulting in decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, impaired mitochondrial respiration function, increased oxidative stress, release of cytochrome c, and impaired axonal mitochondrial transport. Thus, the CypD-dependent mPTP is directly linked to the cellular and synaptic perturbations observed in the pathogenesis of AD. Designing small molecules to block this interaction would lessen the effects of Aβ neurotoxicity. This review summarizes the recent progress on mPTP and its potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases including AD

Direct measurement of electric-field-induced birefringence in a polymer-stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal composite

We demonstrate a method to directly measure the electric-fieldinduced birefringence of a polymer-stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal (PS-BPLC) composite. The induced birefringence follows the extended Kerr effect well and is approximately 3X the ordinary refractive index change. The measured data are validated by comparing the simulated and measured voltage-dependent transmittance with an in-plane switching cell. The impact of these results to the material optimization of emerging BPLC displays is discussed