Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Training generative models from privatized data

Local differential privacy is a powerful method for privacy-preserving data collection. In this paper, we develop a framework for training Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) on differentially privatized data. We show that entropic regularization of optimal transport - a popular regularization method in the literature that has often been leveraged for its computational benefits - enables the generator to learn the raw (unprivatized) data distribution even though it only has access to privatized samples. We prove that at the same time this leads to fast statistical convergence at the parametric rate. This shows that entropic regularization of optimal transport uniquely enables the mitigation of both the effects of privatization noise and the curse of dimensionality in statistical convergence. We provide experimental evidence to support the efficacy of our framework in practice.
Reducing Computational Costs in Sentiment Analysis: Tensorized Recurrent Networks vs. Recurrent Networks

Anticipating audience reaction towards a certain text is integral to several facets of society ranging from politics, research, and commercial industries. Sentiment analysis (SA) is a useful natural language processing (NLP) technique that utilizes lexical/statistical and deep learning methods to determine whether different-sized texts exhibit positive, negative, or neutral emotions. Recurrent networks are widely used in machine-learning communities for problems with sequential data. However, a drawback of models based on Long-Short Term Memory networks and Gated Recurrent Units is the significantly high number of parameters, and thus, such models are computationally expensive. This drawback is even more significant when the available data are limited. Also, such models require significant over-parameterization and regularization to achieve optimal performance. Tensorized models represent a potential solution. In this paper, we classify the sentiment of some social media posts. We compare traditional recurrent models with their tensorized version, and we show that with the tensorized models, we reach comparable performances with respect to the traditional models while using fewer resources for the training.
Mixed Fair Division: A Survey

The fair allocation of resources to agents is a fundamental problem in society and has received significant attention and rapid developments from the game theory and artificial intelligence communities in recent years. The majority of the fair division literature can be divided along at least two orthogonal directions: goods versus chores, and divisible versus indivisible resources. In this survey, besides describing the state of the art, we outline a number of interesting open questions in three mixed fair division settings: (i) indivisible goods and chores, (ii) divisible and indivisible goods (i.e., mixed goods), and (iii) fair division of indivisible goods with subsidy.
Variants of IDR with partial orthonormalization

We present four variants of IDR(s) that generate vectors such that consecutive blocks of s + 1 vectors are orthonormal. IDR methods are based on tuning parameters: an initially chosen, so-called shadow space, and the so-called seed values. We collect possible choices for the seed values. We prove that under certain conditions all four variants are mathematically equivalent and discuss possible breakdowns. We give an error analysis of all four variants and a numerical comparison in the context of the solution of linear systems and eigenvalue problems.
Simplified Temporal Consistency Reinforcement Learning

Reinforcement learning is able to solve complex sequential decision-making tasks but is currently limited by sample efficiency and required computation. To improve sample efficiency, recent work focuses on model-based RL which interleaves model learning with planning. Recent methods further utilize policy learning, value estimation, and, self-supervised learning as auxiliary objectives. In this paper we show that, surprisingly, a simple representation learning approach relying only on a latent dynamics model trained by latent temporal consistency is sufficient for high-performance RL. This applies when using pure planning with a dynamics model conditioned on the representation, but, also when utilizing the representation as policy and value function features in model-free RL. In experiments, our approach learns an accurate dynamics model to solve challenging high-dimensional locomotion tasks with online planners while being 4.1 times faster to train compared to ensemble-based methods. With model-free RL without planning, especially on high-dimensional tasks, such as the DeepMind Control Suite Humanoid and Dog tasks, our approach outperforms model-free methods by a large margin and matches model-based methods' sample efficiency while training 2.4 times faster.
Improving Spectrum-Based Localization of Multiple Faults by Iterative Test Suite Reduction

Spectrum-based fault localization (SBFL) works well for single-fault programs but its accuracy decays for increasing fault numbers. We present FLITSR (Fault Localization by Iterative Test Suite Reduction), a novel SBFL extension that improves the localization of a given base metric specifically in the presence of multiple faults. FLITSR iteratively selects reduced versions of the test suite that better localize the individual faults in the system. This allows it to identify and re-rank faults ranked too low by the base metric because they were masked by other program elements. We evaluated FLITSR over method-level spectra from an existing large synthetic dataset comprising 75000 variants of 15 open-source projects with up to 32 injected faults, as well as method- and statement-level spectra from a new dataset with 326 true multi-fault versions from the Defects4J benchmark set containing up to 14 real faults. For all three spectrum types we consistently see substantial reductions of the average wasted efforts at different fault levels, of 30%-90% over the best base metric, and generally similarly large increases in precision and recall, albeit with larger variance across the underlying projects. For the method-level real faults, FLITSR also substantially outperforms GRACE, a state-of-the-art learning-based fault localizer.
Exploring the origin of the extended main-sequence turn-off in M37 through the white dwarf cooling sequence

We use new observations from the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope to study the white dwarf cooling sequence of the open cluster M37, a cluster that displays an extended main-sequence turn-off and, according to a recent photometric analysis, also a spread of initial chemical composition. By taking advantage of a first epoch collected in 1999 with the same telescope, we have been able to calculate proper motions for sources as faint as g ∼ 26 (about ∼ 6 mag fainter than the Gaia limit), allowing us to separate cluster members from field stars. This has enabled us to isolate a sample of the white dwarf population of M37, reaching the end of the cooling sequence (at g ∼ 23.5). Here, the derived atlas and calibrated catalogue of the sources in the field of view is publicly released as supplementary online material. Finally, we present an exhaustive comparison of the white dwarf luminosity function with theoretical models, which has allowed us to exclude the age-spread scenario as the main responsible for the extended turn-off seen in the cluster colour–magnitude diagram.
Predictive Factors of Menstrual Recovery After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Women with Obesity

Objective To explore the predictors of menstrual recovery in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women with obesity following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods A total of 88 PCOS patients with obesity and 76 control patients with obesity aged 18–45 years were enrolled between May 2013 and December 2020. PCOS was diagnosed using the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria (2003). Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, sex hormones, and circulating fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL-1) levels were collected before and six-month after LSG. The data on postoperative menstrual status, body weight, and fertility were obtained through telephone follow-ups for all individuals with PCOS. Results Patients with PCOS were followed up for at least six months after surgery, and the mean follow-up time was 3.23 years. At 6 months after LSG, circulating total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone (cFT), and FGL-1 levels declined significantly. The mean percent excess weight loss (%EWL) and percent total weight loss (%TWL) in PCOS patients at the final follow-up was 97.52% ± 33.90% and 31.65% ± 10.31%, respectively. The proportion of regular menstruation in PCOS patients significantly increased within six months (75.86% vs 0.03% at baseline). In the logistic regression analysis, time from PCOS diagnosis (P=0.007), body mass index (BMI) (P=0.007), TT (P=0.038) at baseline were demonstrated to be independent predictive factors for the regular menstruation in women with PCOS and obesity within 6 months after LSG. Conclusion In PCOS patients with obesity, time from PCOS diagnosis, BMI, and TT levels at baseline were independently and negatively associated with menstrual recovery within 6 months after LSG, which could be applied in preoperative evaluation.
Infection Prevalence at a Tertiary Hospital in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A Single-Center Study to Identify Strategies to Improve Antibiotic Usage

Objective Identifying the burden of disease and the condition of the Saudi population is in high demand from both a surveillance and analytical standpoint. The objective of this study was to determine the most prevalent infections among hospitalized patients (both community-acquired and hospital-acquired), the antibiotics prescribing pattern, and their relationship with patient characteristics like age and gender. Methods A retrospective study was conducted comprising 2646 patients with infectious diseases or complications admitted to a tertiary hospital in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia. A standardized form was used to collect information from patient’s medical records. Demographic data such as age, gender, prescribed antibiotics, and culture-sensitivity tests were included in the study. Results Males represented about two-thirds (66.5%, n = 1760) of the patients. Most patients (45.9%) who suffered from infectious diseases were between the ages of 20 and 39. The most prevalent infectious ailment was respiratory tract infection (17.65%, n = 467). Furthermore, the most common multiple infectious diseases were gallbladder calculi with cholecystitis (40.3%, n = 69). Similarly, COVID-19 had the greatest impact on people over 60. Beta-lactam antibiotics were the most commonly prescribed (37.6%), followed by fluoroquinolones (26.26%) and macrolides (13.45%). But performing culture sensitivity tests were rather uncommon (3.8%, n = 101). For multiple infections, beta-lactam antibiotics (such as amoxicillin and cefuroxime) were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics (2.26%, n = 60), followed by macrolides (such as azithromycin and Clindamycin) and fluoroquinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin). Conclusion Respiratory tract infections are the most prevalent infectious disease among hospital patients, who are primarily in their 20s. The frequency of performing culture tests is low. Therefore, it is important to promote culture sensitivity testing in order to support the prudent use of antibiotics. Guidelines for anti-microbial stewardship programs are also highly recommended.
Exploring the Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Trust in Physicians from Spousal and Parent-Child Perspectives

Objective The present study aimed to probe the intergenerational transmission of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and trust in physicians. Besides, through the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM), the predictive effect of parents’ IU on their own and their spouses’ trust in physicians was examined. A mediation model was further constructed to probe the mechanisms by which parents’ IU affects children’s trust in physicians. Methods The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12 (IUS-12) and the Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale (WFPTS) were employed to conduct the questionnaire survey among 384 families (each family with a father, mother, and one child). Results IU and trust in physicians were found to be intergenerationally transmitted. The results of the APIM analyses showed that fathers’ total IUS-12 scores negatively predicted their own (β = −0.419, p < 0.01) and mothers’ (β = −0.235, p < 0.01) total WFPTS scores. Mothers’ total IUS-12 scores negatively predicted their own (β = −0.353, p < 0.01) and fathers’ (β = −0.138, p = 0.017) total WFPTS scores. The results of mediation analyses indicated that parents’ total WFPTS scores and children’s total IUS-12 scores mediated the effect of parents’ total IUS-12 scores on children’s total WFPTS scores. Conclusion The public’s IU is a crucial influencing factor of their trust in physicians. Besides, the IU between couples and between parents and children could be mutually affected. On the one hand, husbands’ IU could affect their own and their wives’ trust in physicians, and vice versa. On the other hand, parents’ IU and trust in physicians could affect their children’s IU and trust in physicians, respectively.
A Brief History and Advancement of Contraceptive Multipurpose Prevention Technology (cMPT) Products

Abstract The high incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and an unmet need for modern contraception resulting in a high unintended pregnancy rate, are major problems in reproductive health. The concept of multipurpose prevention technology (MPT) was introduced following the failure of several leading microbicide candidates to prevent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission in large clinical trials in the early 2000s. MPTs are defined as products designed to simultaneously prevent at least two of the following conditions: unintended pregnancy, HIV-1, or other major STIs. The goal of contraceptive MPT products (cMPTs) is to provide contraception and protection against one or more major STI pathogen (eg, HIV-1, herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea), Treponema pallidum (syphilis), Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis (Chlamydia). This new field has great potential and will benefit from lessons learned from the early microbicide trials. The cMPT field includes candidates representing various categories with different mechanisms of action including pH modifiers, polyions, microbicidal peptides, monoclonal antibodies, and other peptides that target specific reproductive and infectious processes. More preclinical research is being conducted to ensure minimal side effects and maximum efficacy in vivo. Effective proven and novel candidates are being combined to maximize efficacy, minimize side effects, and avoid drug resistance. More attention is being paid to acceptability and new delivery systems. cMPTs have a very promising future if adequate resources can be mobilized to sustain the effort from preclinical research to clinical trials to bring effective, acceptable, and affordable products to market.
Invasive Candidiasis in Patients with Solid Tumors: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background Invasive candidiasis (ICs) is one of the common causes of death in patients with solid tumors. However, studies on the clinical characteristics of ICs with solid tumors are limited. Methods The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyse the clinical characteristics, laboratory results and risk factor prediction of inpatients with ICs and solid tumors. We reviewed the clinical data and candida specimen information of hospitalized patients diagnosed with solid tumors combined with ICs at the First Hospital of China Medical University from January 2016 to December 2020. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the prognostic factors associated with mortality in these patients. Results A total of 243 ICs patients with solid tumors were included in this study. The average ± SD age was 62.8 ± 11.7 (range: 27–93 years old), of which nearly 41% were ≥ 65 years old (99/243, 40.7%), and most were male (162/243, 66.6%). Most patients had malignant tumors of the digestive system. The most common candida was Candida parapsilosis (101/243, 41.5%), followed by Candida guilliermondii (83/243, 34.1%), Candida albicans (32/243, 13.1%), Candida glabrata (17/243, 6.9%), Candida tropicalis (7/243, 2.8%) and Candida krusei (3/243, 1.2%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the length of stay in the ICU, urinary catheter, total parenteral nutrition, stay in the ICU, renal failure and neutrophil count were prognostic factors related to death. Conclusion In this study, based on the clinical data of solid tumor patients with ICs in the past 5 years, the results showed that the length of stay in the ICU, urinary catheter, total parenteral nutrition, stay in the ICU, renal failure and neutrophil count were identified as the main prognostic factors. This study can be used to help clinicians carry out early intervention for high-risk patients.
Online reading habits can reveal personality traits: towards detecting psychological microtargeting

Abstract Building on big data from Reddit, we generated two computational text models: (i) Predicting the personality of users from the text they have written and (ii) predicting the personality of users based on the text they have consumed. The second model is novel and without precedent in the literature. We recruited active Reddit users (N=1,105) of fiction-writing communities. The participants completed a Big Five personality questionnaire and consented for their Reddit activity to be scraped and used to create a machine learning model. We trained an natural language processing model [Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)], predicting personality from produced text (average performance: r=0.33). We then applied this model to a new set of Reddit users (N=10,050), predicted their personality based on their produced text, and trained a second BERT model to predict their predicted-personality scores based on consumed text (average performance: r=0.13). By doing so, we provide the first glimpse into the linguistic markers of personality-congruent consumed content.
Integration of statistical shape modeling and alternating interpolation-based model tracking technique for measuring knee kinematics in vivo using clinical interleaved bi-plane fluoroscopy

Background A 2D fluoroscopy/3D model-based registration with statistical shape modeling (SSM)-reconstructed subject-specific bone models will help reduce radiation exposure for 3D kinematic measurements of the knee using clinical alternating bi-plane fluoroscopy systems. The current study aimed to develop such an approach and evaluate in vivo its accuracy and identify the effects of the accuracy of SSM models on the kinematic measurements. Methods An alternating interpolation-based model tracking (AIMT) approach with SSM-reconstructed subject-specific bone models was used for measuring 3D knee kinematics from dynamic alternating bi-plane fluoroscopy images. A two-phase optimization scheme was used to reconstruct subject-specific knee models from a CT-based SSM database of 60 knees using one, two, or three pairs of fluoroscopy images. Using the CT-reconstructed model as a benchmark, the performance of the AIMT with SSM-reconstructed models in measuring bone and joint kinematics during dynamic activity was evaluated in terms of mean target registration errors (mmTRE) for registered bone poses and the mean absolute differences (MAD) for each motion component of the joint poses. Results The mmTRE of the femur and tibia for one image pair were significantly greater than those for two and three image pairs without significant differences between two and three image pairs. The MAD was 1.16 to 1.22° for rotations and 1.18 to 1.22 mm for translations using one image pair. The corresponding values for two and three image pairs were 0.75 to 0.89° and 0.75 to 0.79 mm; and 0.57 to 0.79° and 0.6 to 0.69 mm, respectively. The MAD values for one image pair were significantly greater than those for two and three image pairs without significant differences between two and three image pairs. Conclusions An AIMT approach with SSM-reconstructed models was developed, enabling the registration of interleaved fluoroscopy images and SSM-reconstructed models from more than one asynchronous fluoroscopy image pair. This new approach had sub-millimeter and sub-degree measurement accuracy when using more than one image pair, comparable to the accuracy of CT-based methods. This approach will be helpful for future kinematic measurements of the knee with reduced radiation exposure using 3D fluoroscopy with clinically alternating bi-plane fluoroscopy systems.
Efficiency of non-operative management for pectus deformities in children using an X-ray-free protocol

Abstract OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between the Haller index (HI), the external depth of protrusion and the external Haller index (EHI) for both pectus excavatum (PE) and pectus carinatum (PC) and to assess the variation in the HI during this first year of non-operative treatment for pectus deformities in children. METHODS From January 2018 to December 2022, all children treated for PE by vacuum bell and for PC by compression therapy at our institution were evaluated by external gauge, 3D scanning (iPad with Structure Sensor and Captevia—Rodin4D) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The main objectives were to assess the effectiveness of the treatment during the first year and to compare the HI determined by MRI to the EHI evaluated with 3D scanning and external measurements. The HI determined by MRI was compared to the EHI evaluated with 3D scanning and external measurements at M0 and M12. RESULTS A total of 118 patients (80 PE and 38 PC) had been referred for pectus deformity. Of these, 79 met the inclusion criteria (median age 13.7 years, 8.6–17.8). There was a statistically significant difference in the external measurements of the depth for PE between M0 and M12: 23.0 ± 7.2 vs 13.8 ± 6.1 mm, respectively, P < 0.05, and for PC 31.1 ± 10.6 vs 16.7 ± 8.9 mm, respectively, P < 0.01. During this first year of treatment, the reduction in the external measurement increased more rapidly for PE compared with PC. We found a strong correlation between the HI by MRI and the EHI by 3D scanning for PE (Pearson coefficient = 0.910, P < 0.001) and for PC (Pearson coefficient = 0.934, P < 0.001). A correlation between the EHI by 3D scanning and the external measurements by profile gauge was found for PE (Pearson coefficient = 0.663, P < 0.001) but not for PC. CONCLUSIONS Excellent results were observed as soon as the sixth month for both PE and PC. Measurement of protrusion is a reliable monitoring tool at clinical consultation but caution is required for PC as it does not appear to be correlated to the HI by MRI.
Compliant Testing Method of Trusted Cryptography Module

An effective compliant testing method is proposed in this paper,which brings forward four scale indexes,dividing the testing job into two layers.This method uses EFSM and equivalence testing skills to get test cases.Then we prosecute the testing job which coveres the whole specification successfully.Finally,by analyzing the testing results,this paper shows that the proposed method,when compared with the other TCM testing methods,is more effective in detecting the problems caused by the products not conforming with the standard.