Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unbiased Scene Graph Generation via Two-Stage Causal Modeling

Despite the impressive performance of recent unbiased Scene Graph Generation (SGG) methods, the current debiasing literature mainly focuses on the long-tailed distribution problem, whereas it overlooks another source of bias, i.e., semantic confusion, which makes the SGG model prone to yield false predictions for similar relationships. In this paper, we explore a debiasing procedure for the SGG task leveraging causal inference. Our central insight is that the Sparse Mechanism Shift (SMS) in causality allows independent intervention on multiple biases, thereby potentially preserving head category performance while pursuing the prediction of high-informative tail relationships. However, the noisy datasets lead to unobserved confounders for the SGG task, and thus the constructed causal models are always causal-insufficient to benefit from SMS. To remedy this, we propose Two-stage Causal Modeling (TsCM) for the SGG task, which takes the long-tailed distribution and semantic confusion as confounders to the Structural Causal Model (SCM) and then decouples the causal intervention into two stages. The first stage is causal representation learning, where we use a novel Population Loss (P-Loss) to intervene in the semantic confusion confounder. The second stage introduces the Adaptive Logit Adjustment (AL-Adjustment) to eliminate the long-tailed distribution confounder to complete causal calibration learning. These two stages are model agnostic and thus can be used in any SGG model that seeks unbiased predictions. Comprehensive experiments conducted on the popular SGG backbones and benchmarks show that our TsCM can achieve state-of-the-art performance in terms of mean recall rate. Furthermore, TsCM can maintain a higher recall rate than other debiasing methods, which indicates that our method can achieve a better tradeoff between head and tail relationships.
Evaluation of the Effect of Scleral Buckling on Anterior Segment and Refractive Changes Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the changes of anterior segment and refractive parameters after scleral buckling (SB) surgery for uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Methods Thirty-six RRD eyes were consecutively enrolled. Analysis concerned the central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), iris-trabecular contact (ITC), angel opening distance (AOD), angle recess area (ARA), trabecular-iris space area (TISA)，trabecular iris angle (TIA) and refractive parameters, including average keratometry (AvgK), cylindrical power (CYL), regular astigmatism, asymmetry and high order irregularity (HOI) at baseline and 1 day, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months and 12 months postoperatively. AS-OCT was performed at RRD diagnosis and day 1, week 1, month 1 and month 6 after SB to evaluate the scleral buckling. Results A statistically significant postoperative CCT increase, ACD and ACV decrease were observed at 1 day and 1 month postoperatively. ITC analysis showed that the angle of the entire circumference narrowed at 1 month postoperatively. There was a significant decrease in all the angle parameters (AOD500/750, ARA500/750, TISA500/750, and ARA500/750) at 1 day and 1 month after SB surgery. However, all of the above parameters returned to the preoperative level at 12 months. Refractive parameters including AvgK, regular astigmatism, CYL, asymmetry, and HOI of anterior corneal surface and total corneal increased on the 1 day and 1 month after SB surgery and persisted even after 12 months follow-up. However, there was no significant difference in refractive parameters of posterior corneal surface during follow-up. Conclusion The changes in the structure of anterior segments after SB surgery were almost returned to the preoperative levels at 12 months postoperatively. However, SB surgery has a long-term effect on refractive parameters throughout a 12-month follow-up.
A Story is Better Told With Collective Interests: An Experimental Examination of Misinformation Correction During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose To examine strategies that help motivate social correction behaviors to combat COVID-19-related health misinformation on social media. Design 2 (message types: narrative vs statistics) x 2 (social frames: individual vs collective) between-subjects experiment. Setting Qualtrics-based online experiment via Lucid. Subjects The final sample consisted of 450 participants (M age = 45.31). Measures Manipulation check, discussion and correction intentions, and need for cognition (NFC). Analysis ANCOVA and PROCESS model 3 were used to analyze the data. Results Significant interaction effects emerged between message types and social frames on discussion intention, F (1, 442) = 5.26, P = . 022, and correction intention, F (1, 442) = 4.85, P = . 028. Collectively framed narrative correction (Mdiscussion = 3.15, Mcorrection = 3.17) was more effective than individually framed narrative correction (Mdiscussion = 2.73, Mcorrection = 2.77). Individually framed statistical correction (Mdiscussion = 3.10, Mcorrection = 2.95) was more persuasive than collectively framed statistical correction (Mdiscussion = 2.89, Mcorrection = 2.69). The interaction effects were more evident for people low on NFC, P = . 031. Conclusion In motivating social correction behaviors, a story is better told with an emphasis on collective interests, and numbers are better presented with personal gains and losses. Future interventions should identify the target audience based on the level of NFC.
The metabolic rate of the biosphere and its components

Significance Assessing the relationship between energy flux and the quantity of biomass it sustains offers the potential to understand the biological “carrying capacity” for ecosystems on Earth and beyond. Our work supports this understanding by quantifying the energy–biomass relationship for the global biosphere and an environmentally diverse range of its components, and by exploring the factors—including the impact of humanity—that affect that relationship.
Force sensor reduced measurement error compared with verbal command during sit‐to‐stand assessment of cerebral autoregulation

Current methods estimate the time delay (TD) before the onset of dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) from verbal command to stand. A force sensor used during a sit‐to‐stand dCA measure provides an objective moment an individual stands (arise‐and‐off, AO). We hypothesized that the detection of AO would improve the accuracy of TD compared with estimation. We measured middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) for 60 s sitting followed by 2‐min standing, three times separated by 20 min. TD was calculated as the time from: (1) verbal command and (2) AO, until an increase in cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi = MCAv/MAP). Sixty‐five participants were enrolled: young adults (n = 25), older adults (n = 20), and individuals post‐stroke (n = 20). The TD calculated from AO ( x¯$$ \overline{x} $$ = 2.98 ± 1.64 s) was shorter than TD estimated from verbal command ( x¯$$ \overline{x} $$ = 3.35 ± 1.72 s, η2 = 0.49, p < 0.001), improving measurement error by ~17%. TD measurement error was not related to age or stroke. Therefore, the force sensor provided an objective method to improve the calculation of TD compared with current methods. Our data support using a force sensor during sit‐to‐stand dCA measures in adults across the lifespan and post‐stroke.
Abnormal resting-state effective connectivity in large-scale networks among obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental illness characterized by abnormal functional connectivity among distributed brain regions. Previous studies have primarily focused on undirected functional connectivity and rarely reported from network perspective. METHODS To better understand between or within-network connectivities of OCD, effective connectivity (EC) of a large-scale network is assessed by spectral dynamic causal modeling with eight key regions of interests from default mode (DMN), salience (SN), frontoparietal (FPN) and cerebellum networks, based on large sample size including 100 OCD patients and 120 healthy controls (HCs). Parametric empirical Bayes (PEB) framework was used to identify the difference between the two groups. We further analyzed the relationship between connections and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). RESULTS OCD and HCs shared some similarities of inter- and intra-network patterns in the resting state. Relative to HCs, patients showed increased ECs from left anterior insula (LAI) to medial prefrontal cortex, right anterior insula (RAI) to left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC), right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC) to cerebellum anterior lobe (CA), CA to posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and to anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Moreover, weaker from LAI to L-DLPFC, RAI to ACC, and the self-connection of R-DLPFC. Connections from ACC to CA and from L-DLPFC to PCC were positively correlated with compulsion and obsession scores (r = 0.209, p = 0.037; r = 0.199, p = 0.047, uncorrected). CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed dysregulation among DMN, SN, FPN, and cerebellum in OCD, emphasizing the role of these four networks in achieving top-down control for goal-directed behavior. There existed a top-down disruption among these networks, constituting the pathophysiological and clinical basis.
Leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing to unravel the impact of aging on stroke recovery mechanisms in mice

Significance We performed single-cell transcriptomics in young versus aged mouse brains to identify mechanisms governing an age-dependent decline in cerebral vasculature and white matter repair/regrowth after stroke. Unique subsets of endothelial cells and oligodendrocyte progenitors emerged 3 days post-stroke in young mice but lost proregenerative features in aged mice. Aging impaired the ability of microglia (MG)/macrophages (MΦ) to boost angiogenesis and oligodendrogenesis through paracrine cell-to-cell cross talk. Permanent depletion of MG/MΦ impeded angiogenesis and oligodendrogenesis and hindered long-term stroke recovery irrespective of age. Transplantation of MG/MΦ from young brains into aged stroke brains partially restored angiogenesis and oligodendrogenesis and rejuvenated neurological functions. These observations reveal molecular and cellular processes that can be targeted to improve stroke recovery in the aged.
EUS-guided gastroenterostomy for gastric outlet obstruction: a comprehensive meta-analysis

Abstract Objective A comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) for benign and malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). Material and methods PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies. The primary outcomes evaluated technical success, clinical success, and adverse events (AEs). Results Twenty‑six studies with 1493 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled rates of technical success, clinical success, and overall AEs of EUS-GE were 94.0%, 89.9%, and 13.1%, respectively. Eight studies were included in the subgroup meta-analysis for comparative evaluation of EUS-GE and surgical gastroenterostomy (SGE), while seven studies were for EUS-GE and enteral stenting (ES). Compared with SGE, the pooled odds ratios (ORs) of technical success, clinical success, and overall AEs of EUS-GE were 0.17 (p = .003), 1.42 (p = .40), and 0.15 (p < .00001), respectively. When compared with ES, the above corresponding pooled ORs were 0.55 (p = .11), 2.64 (p < .0001), and 0.41 (p = .01), respectively. Conclusion Although it is technically challenging, this largest meta-analysis indicates that EUS‑GE has comparable and high technical and clinical success rates and hence a very effective minimally invasive procedure for GOO.
Biosynthesis of Au/CuO catalyst with Syringa oblata Lindl. leaf extract for efficient selective oxidation of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone

Efficient conversion of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is the affirmation and guarantee of the feasible development of biodiesel industry, but the biocompatibility of catalyst must be considered due to the wide application of DHA in food and medicine industries. In this work, an environmentally benign biosynthesis approach with Syringa oblata Lindl. (SoL) leaf extract was employed to fabricate Au/CuO catalysts for the oxidation of glycerol to DHA. The biosynthesized SoL-Au/CuO catalysts were characterized and the effects of plant extracts concentration, gold loading, calcination temperature and reaction conditions on the catalytic performance were systematically analyzed. High catalytic performance with glycerol conversion rate of 95.7% and DHA selectivity of 77.9% can be attained under optimum conditions. This work provides the first example of preparing biocompatible catalyst for the thermal catalytic oxidation of glycerol to DHA, which can not only reach efficient conversion of glycerol and selectivity to DHA, but also is simple, green, environmentally friendly, and promising.
Characterizing the hypertensive cardiovascular phenotype in the UK Biobank

Abstract Aims To describe hypertension-related cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) phenotypes in the UK Biobank considering variations across patient populations. Methods and results We studied 39 095 (51.5% women, mean age: 63.9 ± 7.7 years, 38.6% hypertensive) participants with CMR data available. Hypertension status was ascertained through health record linkage. Associations between hypertension and CMR metrics were estimated using multivariable linear regression adjusting for major vascular risk factors. Stratified analyses were performed by sex, ethnicity, time since hypertension diagnosis, and blood pressure (BP) control. Results are standardized beta coefficients, 95% confidence intervals, and P-values corrected for multiple testing. Hypertension was associated with concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (increased LV mass, wall thickness, concentricity index), poorer LV function (lower global function index, worse global longitudinal strain), larger left atrial (LA) volumes, lower LA ejection fraction, and lower aortic distensibility. Hypertension was linked to significantly lower myocardial native T1 and increased LV ejection fraction. Women had greater hypertension-related reduction in aortic compliance than men. The degree of hypertension-related LV hypertrophy was greatest in Black ethnicities. Increasing time since diagnosis of hypertension was linked to adverse remodelling. Hypertension-related remodelling was substantially attenuated in hypertensives with good BP control. Conclusion Hypertension was associated with concentric LV hypertrophy, reduced LV function, dilated poorer functioning LA, and reduced aortic compliance. Whilst the overall pattern of remodelling was consistent across populations, women had greater hypertension-related reduction in aortic compliance and Black ethnicities showed the greatest LV mass increase. Importantly, adverse cardiovascular remodelling was markedly attenuated in hypertensives with good BP control.
Comparison of statistical methods for integrating real‐world evidence in a rare events meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Rare events meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are often underpowered because the outcomes are infrequent. Real‐world evidence (RWE) from non‐randomized studies may provide valuable complementary evidence about the effects of rare events, and there is growing interest in including such evidence in the decision‐making process. Several methods for combining RCTs and RWE studies have been proposed, but the comparative performance of these methods is not well understood. We describe a simulation study that aims to evaluate an array of alternative Bayesian methods for including RWE in rare events meta‐analysis of RCTs: the naïve data synthesis, the design‐adjusted synthesis, the use of RWE as prior information, the three‐level hierarchical models, and the bias‐corrected meta‐analysis model. The percentage bias, root‐mean‐square‐error, mean 95% credible interval width, coverage probability, and power are used to measure performance. The various methods are illustrated using a systematic review to evaluate the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis among patients using sodium/glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitors as compared with active‐comparators. Our simulations show that the bias‐corrected meta‐analysis model is comparable to or better than the other methods in terms of all evaluated performance measures and simulation scenarios. Our results also demonstrate that data solely from RCTs may not be sufficiently reliable for assessing the effects of rare events. In summary, the inclusion of RWE could increase the certainty and comprehensiveness of the body of evidence of rare events from RCTs, and the bias‐corrected meta‐analysis model may be preferable.
Liraglutide ameliorates hepatic steatosis via retinoic acid receptor‐related orphan receptor α‐mediated autophagy pathway

Liraglutide, an analog of human glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), has been found to improve hepatic steatosis in clinical practice. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be fully defined. Increasing evidence suggests that retinoic acid receptor‐related orphan receptor α (RORα) is involved in hepatic lipid accumulation. In the current study, we investigated whether the ameliorating impact of liraglutide on lipid‐induced hepatic steatosis is dependent on RORα activity and examined the underlying mechanisms. Cre‐loxP‐mediated, liver‐specific Rorα knockout (Rora LKO) mice, and littermate controls with a Roraloxp/loxp genotype were established. The effects of liraglutide on lipid accumulation were evaluated in mice challenged with a high‐fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Moreover, mouse AML12 hepatocytes expressing small interfering RNA (siRNA) of Rora were exposed to palmitic acid to explore the pharmacological mechanism of liraglutide. The results showed that liraglutide treatment significantly alleviated HFD‐induced liver steatosis, marked by reduced liver weight and triglyceride accumulation, improved glucose tolerance and serum levels of lipid profiles and aminotransferase. Consistently, liraglutide also ameliorated lipid deposits in a steatotic hepatocyte model in vitro. In addition, liraglutide treatment reversed the HFD‐induced downregulation of Rora expression and autophagic activity in mouse liver tissues. However, the beneficial effect of liraglutide on hepatic steatosis was not observed in Rora LKO mice. Mechanistically, the ablation of Rorα in hepatocytes diminished liraglutide‐induced autophagosome formation and the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes, resulting in weakened autophagic flux activation. Thus, our findings suggest that RORα is essential for the beneficial impact of liraglutide on lipid deposition in hepatocytes and regulates autophagic activity in the underlying mechanism.
Current topics and management of head and neck sarcomas

Abstract Given the low incidence, variety of histological types, and heterogeneous biological features of head and neck sarcomas, there is limited high-quality evidence available to head and neck oncologists. For resectable sarcomas, surgical resection followed by radiotherapy is the principle of local treatment, and perioperative chemotherapy is considered for chemotherapy-sensitive sarcomas. They often originate in anatomical border areas such as the skull base and mediastinum, and they require a multidisciplinary treatment approach considering functional and cosmetic impairment. Moreover, head and neck sarcomas may exhibit different behaviour and characteristics than sarcomas of other areas. In recent years, the molecular biological features of sarcomas have been used for the pathological diagnosis and development of novel agents. This review describes the historical background and recent topics that head and neck oncologists should know about this rare tumour from the following five perspectives: (i) epidemiology and general characteristics of head and neck sarcomas; (ii) changes in histopathological diagnosis in the genomic era; (iii) current standard treatment by histological type and clinical questions specific to head and neck; (iv) new drugs for advanced and metastatic soft tissue sarcomas; and (v) proton and carbon ion radiotherapy for head and neck sarcomas.
Planar cell polarity: intracellular asymmetry and supracellular gradients of Frizzled

Planar cell polarity (PCP), the coordinated orientation of structures such as cilia, mammalian hairs or insect bristles, depends on at least two molecular systems. We have argued that these two systems use similar mechanisms; each depending on a supracellular gradient of concentration that spans a field of cells. In a linked paper, we studied the Dachsous/Fat system. We found a graded distribution of Dachsous in vivo in a segment of the pupal epidermis in the abdomen of Drosophila. Here we report a similar study of the key molecule for the Starry Night/Frizzled or ‘core’ system. We measure the distribution of the receptor Frizzled on the cell membranes of all cells of one segment in the living pupal abdomen of Drosophila. We find a supracellular gradient that falls about 17% in concentration from the front to the rear of the segment. We present some evidence that the gradient then resets in the most anterior cells of the next segment back. We find an intracellular asymmetry in all the cells, the posterior membrane of each cell carrying about 22% more Frizzled than the anterior membrane. These direct molecular measurements add to earlier evidence that the two systems of PCP act independently.
Analysis of Factorial Arrangements when the Data are Proportions

1. The statistician is often confronted with data in which the measurement of interest is the proportion of units possessing a certain attribute. Such data can arise in factorial arrangements in either designed experiments or survey work. An example of the former is given by an experiment on a number of varieties of bulbs which have been infested with eelworm. Treatments of hot water at two temperatures are applied for two lengths of time, these treatments together with two sizes of bulb forming a 23 arrangement. The observations are the proportions of bulbs blooming in the different categories. A second example is taken from survey work. In a survey on virus diseases in potatoes the data may be recorded separately for each combination of a number of factors which may affect the data e.g. varieties, age of seed (new or old), and height of the field above sea level (above or below say 500 feet). Here the observations would be the proportion of diseased plants. In a factorial experiment on yield data, the main effects and interactions are estimated together with their standard errors. The estimates of the effects are given by linear functions of the observations. This paper is concerned with the corresponding analysis of factorial arrangements when the data are proportions.