Random Asynchronous Iterations in Distributed Coordination Algorithms

Distributed coordination algorithms (DCA) carry out information processing processes among a group of networked agents without centralized information fusion. Though it is well known that DCA characterized by an SIA (stochastic, indecomposable, aperiodic) matrix generate consensus asymptotically via synchronous iterations, the dynamics of DCA with asynchronous iterations have not been studied extensively, especially when viewed as stochastic processes. This paper aims to show that for any given irreducible stochastic matrix, even non-SIA, the corresponding DCA lead to consensus successfully via random asynchronous iterations under a wide range of conditions on the transition probability. Particularly, the transition probability is neither required to be independent and identically distributed, nor characterized by a Markov chain

Instance Needs More Care: Rewriting Prompts for Instances Yields Better Zero-Shot Performance

Enabling large language models (LLMs) to perform tasks in zero-shot has been an appealing goal owing to its labor-saving (i.e., requiring no task-specific annotations); as such, zero-shot prompting approaches also enjoy better task generalizability. To improve LLMs' zero-shot performance, prior work has focused on devising more effective task instructions (e.g., ``let's think step by step'' ). However, we argue that, in order for an LLM to solve them correctly in zero-shot, individual test instances need more carefully designed and customized instructions. To this end, we propose PRoMPTd, an approach that rewrites the task prompt for each individual test input to be more specific, unambiguous, and complete, so as to provide better guidance to the task LLM. We evaluated PRoMPTd on eight datasets covering tasks including arithmetics, logical reasoning, and code generation, using GPT-4 as the task LLM. Notably, PRoMPTd achieves an absolute improvement of around 10% on the complex MATH dataset and 5% on the code generation task on HumanEval, outperforming conventional zero-shot methods. In addition, we also showed that the rewritten prompt can provide better interpretability of how the LLM resolves each test instance, which can potentially be leveraged as a defense mechanism against adversarial prompting. The source code and dataset can be obtained from https://github.com/salokr/PRoMPTdComment: Work in progres

Altered STAT4 isoform expression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are major forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pathogenesis involves a complex interplay between genetic, environmental and immunological factors. We evaluated isoform expression of the IL-12-activated transcription factor STAT4 in children with CD and UC. METHODS: We performed a study where we collected biopsy samples from both newly diagnosed CD and UC patients. We further collected blood samples from newly diagnosed CD and UC patients as well as patients who had a flare-up after being in clinical remission, and examined the ratios of STAT4β/STAT4α mRNA. In addition to STAT4 isoforms we measured the expression of the cytokines TNFα, IFNγ, GM-CSF and IL-17 using PCR of biopsy samples and multiplex analysis of patient serum samples. RESULTS: Ratios of STAT4β/STAT4α were increased in specific GI tract segments in both CD and UC patients that correlate with location and severity of inflammation. In contrast, we did not observe changes in STAT4β/STAT4α ratios in biopsy specimens from eosinophilic esophagitis patients. We also observed increased STAT4β/STAT4α ratios in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of UC and CD patients, compared to healthy controls. Ratios were normalized after patient treatment with steroids. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these data indicate that STAT4 isoforms could be an important non-invasive biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD, and that expression of these isoforms might provide further insight into the pathogenesis of IBD

Different Kinds of Singular and Nonsingular Exact Traveling Wave Solutions of the Kudryashov-Sinelshchikov Equation in the Special Parametric Conditions

In this paper, by using the integral bifurcation method, we studied the Kudryashov-Sinelshchikov equation. In the special parametric conditions, some singular and nonsingular exact traveling wave solutions, such as periodic cusp-wave solutions, periodic loop-wave solutions, smooth loop-soliton solutions, smooth solitary wave solutions, periodic double wave solutions, periodic compacton solutions, and nonsmooth peakon solutions are obtained. Further more, the dynamic behaviors of these exact traveling wave solutions are investigated. It is found that the waveforms of some traveling wave solutions vary with the changes of parameters

Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of Effector and Memory CD8 T Cell Differentiation

Immune protection and lasting memory are accomplished through the generation of phenotypically and functionally distinct CD8 T cell subsets. Understanding how these effector and memory T cells are formed is the first step in eventually manipulating the immune system for therapeutic benefit. In this review, we will summarize the current understanding of CD8 T cell differentiation upon acute infection, with a focus on the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of cell fate decision and memory formation. Moreover, we will highlight the importance of high throughput sequencing approaches and single cell technologies in providing insight into genome-wide investigations and the heterogeneity of individual CD8 T cells

The transcriptional repressor Bcl6 controls the stability of regulatory T cells by intrinsic and extrinsic pathways

Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential to maintain immune homeostasis, yet controversy exists about the stability of this cell population. Bcl6-deficient (Bcl6(-/-) ) mice develop severe and spontaneous T helper type 2 (Th2) inflammation and Bcl6-deficient Treg cells are ineffective at controlling Th2 responses. We used a lineage tracing approach to analyse the fate of Treg cells in these mice. In the periphery of Bcl6(-/-) mice, increased numbers of Foxp3-negative 'exTreg' cells were found, particularly in the CD25(+) population. ExTreg cells from Bcl6(-/-) mice expressed increased interleukin-17 (IL-17) and extremely elevated levels of Th2 cytokines compared with wild-type exTreg cells. Although Treg cells normally express only low levels of cytokines, Treg cells from Bcl6(-/-) mice secreted higher levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-17 than wild-type conventional T cells. Next, Treg-specific conditional Bcl6-deficient (Bcl6(Foxp3-/-) ) mice were analysed. Bcl6(Foxp3-/-) mice do not develop inflammatory disease, indicating a requirement for non-Treg cells for inflammation in Bcl6(-/-) mice, and have normal numbers of exTreg cells. We induced Th2-type allergic airway inflammation in Bcl6(Foxp3-/-) mice, and found that while exTreg cytokine expression was normal, Bcl6-deficient Treg cells expressed higher levels of the Th2-specific regulator Gata3 than Bcl6(+) Treg cells. Bcl6(Foxp3-/-) mice had increased numbers of Th2 cells after induction of airway inflammation and increased T cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These data show both Treg-intrinsic and Treg-extrinsic roles for Bcl6 in controlling Treg cell stability and Th2 inflammation, and support the idea that Bcl6 expression in Treg cells is critical for controlling Th2 responses