Resources and Evaluations for Multi-Distribution Dense Information Retrieval

We introduce and define the novel problem of multi-distribution information retrieval (IR) where given a query, systems need to retrieve passages from within multiple collections, each drawn from a different distribution. Some of these collections and distributions might not be available at training time. To evaluate methods for multi-distribution retrieval, we design three benchmarks for this task from existing single-distribution datasets, namely, a dataset based on question answering and two based on entity matching. We propose simple methods for this task which allocate the fixed retrieval budget (top-k passages) strategically across domains to prevent the known domains from consuming most of the budget. We show that our methods lead to an average of 3.8+ and up to 8.0 points improvements in Recall@100 across the datasets and that improvements are consistent when fine-tuning different base retrieval models. Our benchmarks are made publicly available.Comment: REML @ SIGIR 2023; 9 pages, 8 figure

Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Effects of CAM Therapies: An In Vitro

The purpose of this current study was to justify the incorporation of complementary and alternate medicine (CAM) in current cancer treatments. The major drawback of anticancer drugs is their nonselective killing, which ultimately leads to attrition of normal cells. Keeping this as the foundation of our study, we made an effort to compare the cytotoxicity associated with a known chemotherapeutic drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), with certain CAM therapies previously reported to have anticancer activity. The parameters chosen for the study were based on antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects on normal, kidney epithelial cells (NRK-52E). The MTT assay, colony formation assay, DNA fragmentation, and differential staining using AO/EB, following treatment with either 5-FU or CAM therapies, were performed. The CAM therapies under study were various extracts of wheatgrass, roots of Achyranthes aspera (AA), mushroom extracts (Pleurotus ostreatus, Macrolepiota procera, and Auricularia polytricha), and a homeopathic drug, Ruta graveolens (Ruta). The results showed that treatment of normal cells with the CAM therapies led to minimum cell damage in comparison to 5-FU. This evidence-based study will lead to greater acceptance of alternative therapies against cancer

Squared torsion f(T,T)f(T,\mathcal{T}) gravity and its cosmological implications

We present the coupling of the torsion scalar $T$ and the trace of energy-momentum tensor $\mathcal{T}$, which produces new modified $f(T,\mathcal{T})$ gravity. Moreover, we consider the functional form $f(T,\mathcal{T}) =\alpha \mathcal{T}+\beta T^2$ where $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are free parameters. As an alternative to a cosmological constant, the $f(T,\mathcal{T})$ theory may offer a theoretical explanation of the late-time acceleration. The recent observational data to the considered model especially the bounds on model parameters is applied in detail. Furthermore, we analyze the cosmological behavior of the deceleration, effective equation of state and total equation of state parameters. However, it is seen that the deceleration parameter depicts the transition from deceleration to acceleration and the effective dark sector shows a quintessence-like evolution.Comment: 7 figures, 8 pages Comments are welcom

Reconstruction of f(Q,T)f(Q,T) Lagrangian for various cosmological scenario

The variety of theories that can account for the dark energy phenomenon encourages current research to concentrate on a more in-depth examination of the potential impacts of modified gravity on both local and cosmic scales. We discuss some cosmological reconstruction in $f(Q,T)$ cosmology (where $Q$ is the non-metricity scalar, and $T$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor) corresponding to the evolution background in Friedmann-La\^imatre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe. This helps us to determine how any FLRW cosmology can arise from a specific $f(Q,T)$ theory. We use the reconstruction technique to derive explicit forms of $f(Q,T)$ Lagrangian for the different kinds of matter sources and Einstein's static universe. We also formulate the models using several ansatz forms of the $f(Q,T)$ function for $p=\omega \rho$. We demonstrate that several classes of $f(Q,T)$ theories admit the power-law and de-Sitter solutions in some ranges of $\omega$. Additionally, we reconstruct the cosmological model for the scalar field with a specific form of $f(Q,T)$. These new models with cosmological inspiration may impact gravitational phenomena at other cosmological scales.Comment: PLB published versio

Cosmology with viscous generalized Chaplygin gas in f(Q)f(Q) gravity

We use the hybrid model of bulk viscosity and generalized chaplygin gas (GCG), named the viscous generalized chaplygin gas (VGCG) model, which is thought to be an alternate dark fluid of the universe. We explore the dynamics of the VGCG model in the framework of the non-metricity $f(Q)$ gravity using the functional form $f(Q)=\beta Q^n$, where $\beta$ and $n$ are arbitrary constants. For the purpose of constraining model parameters, we use recent observational datasets such as Observational Hubble data, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations, and Type $Ia$ supernovae data. According to our study, the evolution of the deceleration parameter $q$ and the equation of state (EoS) parameter $w$ show a transition from deceleration to an acceleration phase and its deviation from the $\Lambda$CDM model.Comment: Annals of Physics published versio

Dark energy constraint on equation of state parameter in the Weyl type f(Q,T)f(Q,T) gravity

The equation of state parameter is a significant method for characterizing dark energy models. We investigate the evolution of the equation of state parameter with redshift using a Bayesian analysis of recent observational datasets (the Cosmic Chronometer data (CC) and Pantheon samples). The Chevallier-Polarski-Linder parametrization of the effective equation of state parameter, $\omega_{eff}=\omega_0+\omega_a \left( \frac{z}{1+z}\right)$, where $\omega_0$ and $\omega_a$ are free constants, is confined to the Weyl type $f(Q,T)$ gravity, where $Q$ represents the non-metricity and $T$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. We observe the evolution of the deceleration parameter $q$, the density parameter $\rho$, the pressure $p$, and the effective equation of state parameter $\omega$. The cosmic data limit for $\omega$ does not exclude the possibility of $\omega < -1$. It is seen that the parameter $\omega$ shows a transition from deceleration to acceleration, as well as a shift from $\omega>-1$ to $\omega<-1$.Comment: Annals of Physics accepted versio

Role of Protein Kinase C in Diabetic Complications

Diabetes is the most common and systemic disorder associated with hyperglycemia which is the significant factor in the development of micro- and macrovascular changes. Many mechanistic approaches i.e. activation of Protein kinase C, glycation end products production, hexosamine pathway and polyol pathway induce cellular damage and lead to the development of diabetic complications like nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and myopathy. One of the adverse effects of long-lasting hyperglycemia is activation of PKC (intracellular signaling enzyme) and has become a field of great research interest. Hence, in this review special emphasis is placed on microvascular complications which are due to activation of PKC. Clinical trials have also been conducted using selective PKC inhibitors and have shown positive results against hyperglycemia