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Semi-supervised learning approaches train on small sets of labeled data along with large sets of unlabeled data. Self-training is a semi-supervised teacher-student approach that often suffers from the problem of "confirmation bias" that occurs when the student model repeatedly overfits to incorrect pseudo-labels given by the teacher model for the unlabeled data. This bias impedes improvements in pseudo-label accuracy across self-training iterations, leading to unwanted saturation in model performance after just a few iterations. In this work, we describe multiple enhancements to improve the self-training pipeline to mitigate the effect of confirmation bias. We evaluate our enhancements over multiple datasets showing performance gains over existing self-training design choices. Finally, we also study the extendability of our enhanced approach to Open Set unlabeled data (containing classes not seen in labeled data).

Background:Stigma against lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer (LGBQ) people may increase their risk of mental illness and reduce their access to and/or benefit from evidence-based psychological treatments. Little is known about the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of adapted psychological interventions for sexual minority individuals in the UK.Aims:To describe and evaluate a novel LGBQ Wellbeing group therapy for sexual minority adults experiencing common mental health problems, provided in a UK Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service.Method:An eight-session LGBQ Wellbeing group intervention was developed drawing on CBT and LGBQ affirmative principles. We compare the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who completed and dropped out of the groups, and explore changes in self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety and functional impairment.Results:Over eight courses provided, 78 service-users attended at least one session, of whom 78.2% completed the intervention (drop-out rate 21.8%). Older participants were more likely to drop out. There was a lower proportion of female and bisexual or ethnic/racial minority individuals than would be expected. There were significant reductions in severity of depression, anxiety and functional impairment following the group, and more than half of those who completed the intervention needed no further treatment.Conclusions:There was preliminary evidence of the feasibility of, and potential clinical benefit in, a group therapy intervention for sexual minority adults experiencing common mental health problems. Future research should investigate access and outcomes for participants with additional social disadvantage, e.g. those who are female, older, bisexual or ethnic/racial minority.

Modern network-on-chip (NoC) systems face reliability issues due to process and environmental variations. The power supply noise (PSN) in the power delivery network of a NoC plays a key role in determining reliability. PSN leads to voltage droop, which can cause timing errors in the NoC. This paper makes a novel contribution towards formally analyzing PSN in NoC systems. We present a probabilistic model checking approach to observe the PSN in a generic 2x2 mesh NoC with a uniform random traffic load. Key features of PSN are measured at the behavioral level. To tackle state explosion, we apply incremental abstraction techniques, including a novel probabilistic choice abstraction, based on observations of NoC behavior. The Modest Toolset is used for probabilistic modeling and verification. Results are obtained for several flit injection patterns to reveal their impacts on PSN. Our analysis finds an optimal flit pattern generation with zero probability of PSN events and suggests spreading flits rather than releasing them in consecutive cycles in order to minimize PSN., Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, submitted to FMICS 2021

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The design of modern network-on-chip (NoC) systems faces reliability challenges due to process and environmental variations. Peak power supply noise (PSN) in the power delivery network of a NoC device plays a critical role in determining reliable operations: PSN typically leads to voltage droop, which can cause timing errors in the NoC router pipelines. Existing simulation-based approaches cannot provide rigorous, worst-case reliability guarantees on the probabilistic behaviors of PSN. To address this problem, this paper takes a significant step in formally analyzing PSN in modern NoCs. Specifically, we present a probabilistic model checking approach for the rigorous characterization of PSN for a generic central router of a large mesh-NoC system, under the Round Robin scheduling mechanism with a uniform random network traffic load. Defining features for PSN are extracted at the behavioral level to facilitate property formulation. Several abstract models have been derived for the central router’s concrete model based on the observations of its arbiter’s conflict resolution behavior. Probabilistic modeling and verification are performed using the Modest Toolset. Results show significant scalability of our abstract models, and reveal key PSN characteristics that are indicative of NoC design and optimization.

VCU Theses and Dissertations

This article attempts to explain how combining some of the recent thinking about organised criminal networks, street gangs and confidential intelligence with local problem-solving initiatives offers an integrated solution to tackling the harm caused by criminals in communities. It does not claim to be a panacea, but makes specific reference to the impact of criminal networks at a neighbourhood level, and the relationship among gangs, criminal networks and their precursor ‘peer groups’, and touches on how international networks affect crime in neighbourhoods. It also proposes possible collaborative solutions for addressing this criminal challenge as part of an integrated approach.

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Professor Salzen presents us with his theory of emotion. At the outsetof his essay he tells us two things of importance for understanding whatis to follow. First, he asks, "Why add another grand theory of emotion?"His answer is that "the very multiplicity of theories suggest that nonehas a central point of view or a deductive or generative principle thatprovides a satisfactory or complete explanation of the phenomena ofemotion" (p. 47), We have some difficulty with such an assertion sincemultiplicity of theories do not, on scientific grounds, mean none arenecessarily satisfactory. An understanding of the property of light requiresat least two theories that happen to have the feature that if oneis true, the other is not. Wave and particle theories of light both serveto explain features of phenomena, and physics does quite well with multipleexplanation, even contradictory ones