RoBoSS: A Robust, Bounded, Sparse, and Smooth Loss Function for Supervised Learning

In the domain of machine learning algorithms, the significance of the loss function is paramount, especially in supervised learning tasks. It serves as a fundamental pillar that profoundly influences the behavior and efficacy of supervised learning algorithms. Traditional loss functions, while widely used, often struggle to handle noisy and high-dimensional data, impede model interpretability, and lead to slow convergence during training. In this paper, we address the aforementioned constraints by proposing a novel robust, bounded, sparse, and smooth (RoBoSS) loss function for supervised learning. Further, we incorporate the RoBoSS loss function within the framework of support vector machine (SVM) and introduce a new robust algorithm named $\mathcal{L}_{rbss}$-SVM. For the theoretical analysis, the classification-calibrated property and generalization ability are also presented. These investigations are crucial for gaining deeper insights into the performance of the RoBoSS loss function in the classification tasks and its potential to generalize well to unseen data. To empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed $\mathcal{L}_{rbss}$-SVM, we evaluate it on $88$ real-world UCI and KEEL datasets from diverse domains. Additionally, to exemplify the effectiveness of the proposed $\mathcal{L}_{rbss}$-SVM within the biomedical realm, we evaluated it on two medical datasets: the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal dataset and the breast cancer (BreaKHis) dataset. The numerical results substantiate the superiority of the proposed $\mathcal{L}_{rbss}$-SVM model, both in terms of its remarkable generalization performance and its efficiency in training time

Support matrix machine: A review

Support vector machine (SVM) is one of the most studied paradigms in the realm of machine learning for classification and regression problems. It relies on vectorized input data. However, a significant portion of the real-world data exists in matrix format, which is given as input to SVM by reshaping the matrices into vectors. The process of reshaping disrupts the spatial correlations inherent in the matrix data. Also, converting matrices into vectors results in input data with a high dimensionality, which introduces significant computational complexity. To overcome these issues in classifying matrix input data, support matrix machine (SMM) is proposed. It represents one of the emerging methodologies tailored for handling matrix input data. The SMM method preserves the structural information of the matrix data by using the spectral elastic net property which is a combination of the nuclear norm and Frobenius norm. This article provides the first in-depth analysis of the development of the SMM model, which can be used as a thorough summary by both novices and experts. We discuss numerous SMM variants, such as robust, sparse, class imbalance, and multi-class classification models. We also analyze the applications of the SMM model and conclude the article by outlining potential future research avenues and possibilities that may motivate academics to advance the SMM algorithm

Association of NS1 Antigen, IgM, IgG Antibodies and RT-PCR in the Diagnosis of Dengue Virus Infection

Background: To determine the association of ELISA based serological markersNS1 antigen, IgM, IgG antibodies and RT-PCR in the diagnosis of dengue virus infection Methods: In this descriptive cross sectional study 420 serum samples from patients with suspicion of dengue fever were tested for detection of dengue by NS1 antigen ELISA, IgG, IgM ELISA. RT-PCR for dengue was carried out in all NS1 antigen ELISA positive cases for confirmation of dengue. Results: Out of 420 cases , 249 cases were positive for either one of the three markers NS1, IgM,IgG. Males constituted 71.66%.Two hundred and two (48.09%) were positive for NS1 only,13 (3.09%) were positive for NS1 and IgG, 07 (1.66%) were NS1, IgM and IgG positive,16 (3.80%) were positive for IgG only ,11 (2.61%) were positive for NS1 and IgM whereas 171 (40.17%) samples were reported negative for NS1, IgM and IgG.RT-PCR was conducted on 233 NS1 positive cases out of which 80.06% cases turned out positive. Maximum number of cases belonged to DEN-2 genotype. Conclusion: Early diagnosis helps in improved patient care, suitable treatment, prevents severe complications and helps limit the spread of the disease. RT PCR is  a reliable test for the  diagnosis of acute dengue fever

Epizootiološka istraživanja paramfistomoze u goveda

Epidemiological studies were undertaken at slaughter houses, live stock farms, veterinary hospitals and on household buffaloes under different management and climatic conditions in four different districts of the Punjab province. Infection rate was 7.83%, 12.33%, 7.17% and 4.25% respectively in the cattle at the slaughter house, live stock farm, veterinary hospital and at household cattle. Overall the highest prevalence in terms of season, 26% and 14.50%, was recorded during autumn at live stock farms and slaughtered cattle followed by 9.75% veterinary hospitals during summer and the lowest (2.5%) in household cattle was recorded during winter. It was observed that a higher infection rate was recorded in younger cattle (below two years of age) than older (above two years of age). Male cattle were more commonly affected than females. Snails belonging to genera Bulinus, Lymnaea and Planorbis were observed which are responsible for the transmission of paramphistomosis.Provedena su epizootiološka istraživanja paramfistomoze u goveda na klaonicama, farmama, veterinarskim klinikama i manjim gospodarstvima pod različitim uvjetima držanja i klime na području Punjaba. Invadiranost je istražena u četiri različite skupine goveda. Na klaonicama je pronađeno 7,83% invadiranih goveda, dok je na farmama taj broj bio nešto veći i iznosio je 12,33%. Među govedima na klinikama svega 7,17% životinja bilo je invadirano. Najmanji broj invadiranih goveda (4,25%) dokazan je u manjim gospodarstvima. U jesenjim mjesecima zabilježena je najveća učestalost u goveda s farmi (26%) i klaonica (14,50%). U goveda s klinika ljeti je dokazana učestalost od 9,75%. Najmanji broj invadiranih goveda dokazan je zimi u malim obiteljskim gospodarstvima (2,5%). Treba naglasiti da je najveća invadiranost zabilježena u goveda mlađih od 2 godine. Mužjaci su bili češće invadirani od ženki. Terenskim istraživanjima na istom području dokazani su posrednici, puževi iz rodova Bulinus, Lymnaea i Planorbis

Safety Evaluation of Oil Samples Collected from Different Food Points of Multan City of Pakistan

Cooking oil has become a part and parcel of modern food system and therefore its safety is of prime significance for health agencies around the globe to ensure good health among the community. Current study was designed to investigate the physicochemical properties including free fatty acids, peroxide value and conjugated dienes; minerals (nickel & cobalt) and heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in oil samples collected from different areas of Multan city of Pakistan. The findings of this study revealed that free fatty acid percentages, conjugated dienes, cobalt and nickel concentrations were in normal ranges while the peroxide values, lead and cadmium concentrations were recorded above the norms. Strict regulatory measures need to be adopted to ensure good quality oil supply and to protect the people from health implications of physicochemical and metallic hazards prevailing in fried oils and fried foods

Epizootiologija fascioloze u bivola držanih u različitim uvjetima.

Epidemiological studies were undertaken at slaughter houses, livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and on household buffaloes under the different climatic conditions existing in Punjab province. Infection rate was 25.59, 26.16, 13.7 and 10.5 per cent, respectively in slaughtered buffaloes, buffaloes at livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and in household buffaloes. Overall highest (24.0%) seasonal prevalence in all types of buffaloes was recorded during autumn, followed by spring (20.0%), winter (13.0%). While the lowest (9.0%) was recorded during summer. It was noticed that a higher infection rate was recorded in older buffaloes than in youngsters (below 2 years of age) where as sex showed no significant difference. Buffaloes of either sex are equally affected.Epizootiološka istraživanja fascioloze u bivola držanih pod različitim klimatskim uvjetima na području Punjaba provedena su na klaonicama, većim farmama, manjim seoskim gospodarstvima i na veterinarskim klinikama. Učestalost invazije u zaklanih bivola iznosila je 25,59%, u bivola s farmi 26,16%, veterinarskih klinika 13,7% te malih seoskih gospodarstava 10.5%. Najveća učestalost ustanovljena je u jesen (24,0%), zatim u proljeće (20,0%) te zimi (13,0%), dok je najmanji postotak invadiranih životinja (9,0%) utvrđen u ljetnom razdoblju. Istraživanjem je potvrđeno da su češće bile invadirane starije životinje. Nisu utvrđene razlike učestalosti po spolu

Indications of enucleations and eviscerations performed at a tertiary eye care unit: a case series.

Abstract The retrospective study was planned to look at the indications of eye enucleations and eviscerations, and comprised all such procedures done at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2006 to December 2015. Data was collected regarding age at the time of procedure, gender, procedure type, indication for enucleation or evisceration, type of implant if used and complications. Of the 66 eyes of 65 individuals, 47 (71.2%) underwent evisceration and 19 (28.8%) enucleation. The mean age at the time of the procedures was 37.86±23.09 years. The indication for enucleation or evisceration were keratitis 14(21.2%), introcular tumours 13(19.7%), trauma 10(15.2%), endophthalmitis 10(15.2%), cosmesis 10(15.2%) and painful blind eye 9(13.6%). Only 5(7.5%) procedures had postoperative complications such as wound dehiscence, infected socket, loose suture, or stich abscess. Most of causes of enucleation and evisceration in this case series could have prevented through the application of evidence-based safety practices

A COMPARISON OF PACING STRATEGY BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND PAKISTANI 100-M SWIMMERS

The purpose of this study was to determine, based on the stroking time recorded in a 100-m swimming competition, whether elite international 100-m swimmers have the same pacing strategy as the Pakistani swimmers or not. Based on a video data, three different levels of performance were analyzed i.e. Finalists (G1, n=32) from the European Championship, 2012; Medalists (G2, n=12) and Non-medalists (G3, n=20) from the Pakistan National Swimming Championship, 2014. For the current analysis each stroking distance was divided into two sections (i.e. before and after the 25m mark). The average speed of each section (ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4) was quantified in order to depict pacing strategy. Results showed even-positive pacing (1.75 ± 0.17 m/s) towards the end of the race in G1; whereas, variable speed pacing was observed in both G2 (1.42 ± 0.26 m/s) and G3 (1.21 ± 0.28 m/s). Based on these findings it is proposed to encourage an efficient pace strategy for 100-m swimmers