Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning to Collaborate for User-Controlled Privacy

It is becoming increasingly clear that users should own and control their data. Utility providers are also becoming more interested in guaranteeing data privacy. As such, users and utility providers should collaborate in data privacy, a paradigm that has not yet been developed in the privacy research community. We introduce this concept and present explicit architectures where the user controls what characteristics of the data she/he wants to share and what she/he wants to keep private. This is achieved by collaborative learning a sensitization function, either a deterministic or a stochastic one, that retains valuable information for the utility tasks but it also eliminates necessary information for the privacy ones. As illustration examples, we implement them using a plug-and-play approach, where no algorithm is changed at the system provider end, and an adversarial approach, where minor re-training of the privacy inferring engine is allowed. In both cases the learned sanitization function keeps the data in the original domain, thereby allowing the system to use the same algorithms it was using before for both original and privatized data. We show how we can maintain utility while fully protecting private information if the user chooses to do so, even when the first is harder than the second, as in the case here illustrated of identity detection while hiding gender.
Organization Design for Foreign Subsidiaries of Multinational Enterprises: A Contingency Perspective

There has been considerable research suggesting ways to design foreign subsidiaries for multinational enterprises. Unfortunately, much of this research is fragmented and some is even contradictory. This study seeks to comprehensively integrate this research stream by distilling the extant literature around two key contingency factors: (1) governance environment of the host country, and (2) the strategic role of the foreign subsidiary. Specifically, we distilled the multi-national organizational design literature using the institutional economics logic coupled with Galbraith’s classic organizational design framework. This approach yielded twelve new theoretical propositions that better integrates previous theory and research around the four dimensions of organizational design. The end result is a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of what we know about organizational design in foreign subsidiaries, the novel consideration of governance environment surrounding the subsidiary as an important contingency factor, and guidance for future research in this important area.
Structure and Perturbation Analysis of Truncated SVDs for Column-Partitioned Matrices

In this paper we study truncated SVDs for column-partitioned matrices. In particular, we analyze the relation between the truncated SVDs of a matrix and the truncated SVDs of its submatrices. We give necessary and sufficient conditions under which a truncated SVD of a matrix can be constructed from those of its submatrices. We then present perturbation analysis to show that an approximate truncated SVD can still be computed even if the given necessary and sufficient conditions are only approximately satisfied. We also apply our general results to a class of matrices with the so-called low-rank-plus-shift structure.
Sex differences in adolescent ethanol drinking to behavioral intoxication.

Rodent models have been especially useful for investigating adolescent ethanol exposure. However, there is a paucity of studies examining sex differences in behavioral intoxication from adolescent ethanol drinking. Here, we used an ethanol drinking model to investigate if adolescent rats of both sexes readily drink ethanol to measurable behavioral intoxication, indicated by increased impulsive action and motor incoordination. Beginning on postnatal day (P) 28, male and female Long-Evans rats were given 30-min access to a solution of sucrose (20%) or sweetened ethanol (20% sucrose +15% ethanol) every other day until P60 and once after 2 weeks of forced abstinence (on P75). On alternate (nondrinking) days, rats were reinforced with a food pellet for making a cued nosepoke response. Beginning on P56, rats were tested in this task after drinking sessions to assess ethanol-induced changes in impulsive action, defined as premature responding prior to cue presentation. Motor coordination was assessed before and after drinking sessions using an incline plane test. Adolescent male and female rats readily consumed ethanol to behavioral intoxication, measured as reduced motor coordination. Following forced abstinence, females displayed greater ethanol-induced impulsive action. These studies provide evidence for sex differences in behavioral intoxication following adolescent ethanol drinking.
Sequential Neural Likelihood: Fast Likelihood-free Inference with Autoregressive Flows

We present Sequential Neural Likelihood (SNL), a new method for Bayesian inference in simulator models, where the likelihood is intractable but simulating data from the model is possible. SNL trains an autoregressive flow on simulated data in order to learn a model of the likelihood in the region of high posterior density. A sequential training procedure guides simulations and reduces simulation cost by orders of magnitude. We show that SNL is more robust, more accurate and requires less tuning than related neural-based methods, and we discuss diagnostics for assessing calibration, convergence and goodness-of-fit.
Fabrication, Modeling, and Evaluation of a Digital Output Tilt Sensor With Conductive Microspheres

Recent advances in wearable computing ask for bendable and conformable electronic circuits and sensors, allowing an easy integration into everyday life objects. Here, we present a novel flexible tilt sensor on plastic using conductive microspheres as gravity sensitive pendulum. The sensor provides a digital output of the measurement signal without the need for any additional electronics (e.g., amplifiers) close to the sensing structure. The sensor is fabricated on a free-standing polyimide foil with SU-8 photoresist defining the cavity for the pendulum. The pendulum consists of freely movable conductive microspheres which, depending on the sense of gravity, connect different electric contacts patterned on the polyimide foil. We develop a model of the sensor and identify the amount of microspheres as one of the key parameters in the sensor design, which influences the performance of the sensor. The presented tilt sensor with eight contacts achieves an angular resolution of 22.5° with a hysteresis of 10° and less at a tilt of the sensor plane of 50°. Analysis of the microsphere movements reveals a response time of the sensor at ~ 50 ms.
Antibodies to Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1-Binding Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1-DBLβ Are Biomarkers of Protective Immunity to Malaria in a Cohort of Young Children from Papua New Guinea

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) mediates parasite sequestration to the cerebral microvasculature via binding of DBLβ domains to intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) and is associated with severe cerebral malaria. In a cohort of 187 young children from Papua New Guinea (PNG), we examined baseline levels of antibody to the ICAM1-binding PfEMP1 domain, DBLβ3PF11_0521, in comparison to four control antigens, including NTS-DBLα and CIDR1 domains from another group A variant and a group B/C variant. ABSTRACT Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) mediates parasite sequestration to the cerebral microvasculature via binding of DBLβ domains to intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) and is associated with severe cerebral malaria. In a cohort of 187 young children from Papua New Guinea (PNG), we examined baseline levels of antibody to the ICAM1-binding PfEMP1 domain, DBLβ3PF11_0521, in comparison to four control antigens, including NTS-DBLα and CIDR1 domains from another group A variant and a group B/C variant. Antibody levels for the group A antigens were strongly associated with age and exposure. Antibody responses to DBLβ3PF11_0521 were associated with a 37% reduced risk of high-density clinical malaria in the follow-up period (adjusted incidence risk ratio [aIRR] = 0.63 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.45 to 0.88; P = 0.007]) and a 25% reduction in risk of low-density clinical malaria (aIRR = 0.75 [95% CI, 0.55 to 1.01; P = 0.06]), while there was no such association for other variants. Children who experienced severe malaria also had significantly lower levels of antibody to DBLβ3PF11_0521 and the other group A domains than those that experienced nonsevere malaria. Furthermore, a subset of PNG DBLβ sequences had ICAM1-binding motifs, formed a distinct phylogenetic cluster, and were similar to sequences from other areas of endemicity. PfEMP1 variants associated with these DBLβ domains were enriched for DC4 and DC13 head structures implicated in endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) binding and severe malaria, suggesting conservation of dual binding specificities. These results provide further support for the development of specific classes of PfEMP1 as vaccine candidates and as biomarkers for protective immunity against clinical P. falciparum malaria.
In vitro formation of the Merkel cell‐neurite complex in embryonic mouse whiskers using organotypic co‐cultures

A Merkel cell‐neurite complex is a touch receptor composed of specialized epithelial cells named Merkel cells and peripheral sensory nerves in the skin. Merkel cells are found in touch‐sensitive skin components including whisker follicles. The nerve fibers that innervate Merkel cells of a whisker follicle extend from the maxillary branch of the trigeminal ganglion. Whiskers as a sensory organ attribute to the complicated architecture of the Merkel cell‐neurite complex, and therefore it is intriguing how the structure is formed. However, observing the dynamic process of the formation of a Merkel cell‐neurite complex in whiskers during embryonic development is still difficult. In this study, we tried to develop an organotypic co‐culture method of a whisker pad and a trigeminal ganglion explant to form the Merkel cell‐neurite complex in vitro. We initially developed two distinct culture methods of a single whisker row and a trigeminal ganglion explant, and then combined them. By dissecting and cultivating a single row from a whisker pad, the morphogenesis of whisker follicles could be observed under a microscope. After the co‐cultivation of the whisker row with a trigeminal ganglion explant, a Merkel cell‐neurite complex composed of Merkel cells, which were positive for both cytokeratin 8 and SOX2, Neurofilament‐H‐positive trigeminal nerve fibers and Schwann cells expressing Nestin, SOX2 and SOX10 was observed via immunohistochemical analyses. These results suggest that the process for the formation of a Merkel cell‐neurite complex can be observed under a microscope using our organotypic co‐culture method.
Critical Governance Issue of Parathyroid Hormone Assays and its Selection in the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease Mineral and Bone Disorders

Measurement of circulating parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels is essential for optimal management of mineral and bone disorders (MBD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. There are two major types of PTH assays currently in use: intact parathyroid hormone (i‐PTH) and whole PTH (w‐PTH) assays. The i‐PTH assay is the current standard, and considerable information regarding the management of CKD‐MBD has been obtained with this method. However, several limitations have been found with the i‐PTH assay. One limitation is that i‐PTH assay also measures fragments other than full‐length PTH (1‐84). Another limitation is the existence of multiple readout methods of the i‐PTH assay. The w‐PTH assay is theoretically ideal because it exclusively detects full‐length PTH (1‐84). However, clinical data proving the advantages of w‐PTH measurement are not sufficient. For uremic patients, Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes suggest that PTH levels should be maintained within approximately two to nine times the upper normal limit of the i‐PTH assays. The most critical issue in the evaluation of PTH levels is the lack of definitive PTH assay method. Evidence‐based recommendations on clinical management goals of PTH are warranted.
Smoking Activity Recognition Using a Single Wrist IMU and Deep Learning Light

Smoking has a strongly relation with diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and coronary heart disease. To prevent smoking, there are various passive ways including warning stickers and electronic cigarettes. However, a smart and proactive methodology might be more effective and useful to break the smoking habit by automatically and actively providing feedbacks to smokers to promote their desire of quitting smoking. In this work, we propose such a smart and proactive system using a wrist band housing a single Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor, and a smartphone App. housing artificial intelligence based on Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). To detect the smoking puffs, the proposed system uses a two steps classification scheme: first, a General model categorizes measured activities into Activities Daily Living (ADL) and Hand Gestures Activity (HGA). Then an Expert model further categorizes HGAs into smoking, eating, and drinking. Our smoking activity recognition system recognizes smoking activity with an accuracy of 91.38% and provides an active vibration feedback to smokers.
Is There Really a Relationship Between Empathy and Aggression? Evidence From Physiological and Self-Report Measures

A strong relationship between empathy and aggression has traditionally been argued, but a recent meta-analysis showed that this relationship is surprisingly weak. However, none of the studies that were analyzed in the meta-analysis used physiological measures of empathy to assess differences between aggressive and nonaggressive subjects. The present study evaluated the activity of the corrugator and zygomatic muscles, galvanic skin response, and heart rate response to pictures with different social content in 30 aggressive and 30 nonaggressive subjects. Self-report measures of emotion and empathy were also evaluated. The results did not show significant differences in any of the physiological measures of affective empathy or subjective measures of emotion. Significant differences were found only in cognitive empathy, in which nonaggressive subjects had higher scores than aggressive subjects. These results suggest that intervention programs should focus on increasing cognitive empathy and exploring other variables, such as emotional self-regulation and callous-unemotional traits. We also suggest exploring other ways of understanding affective empathy.
The dysfunction of processing emotional faces in schizophrenia revealed by expression-related visual mismatch negativity

To investigate the emotional face processing in patients with schizophrenia, the preattentive automatic processing of emotional faces in individuals with schizophrenia was compared with that of age-matched healthy control group as indexed by the expressional mismatch negativity (EMMN) elicited by facial expressions. Compared with neutral faces as standard stimuli, deviant emotional faces elicited posterior EMMN between 150 and 500 ms after stimuli onset, with larger amplitudes for sad than happy deviant faces. Both early and late EMMNs significantly decreased in the schizophrenia group, regardless of sad or happy EMMN, in comparison with the healthy control group. These data suggest the dysfunction of automatic processing of expressional information in patients with schizophrenia.
Latent Smooth Skeleton Embedding

Learning a smooth skeleton in a low-dimensional space from noisy data becomes important in computer vision and computational biology. Existing methods assume that the manifold constructed from the data is smooth, but they lack the ability to model skeleton structures from noisy data. To overcome this issue, we propose a novel probabilistic structured learning model to learn the density of latent embedding given high-dimensional data and its neighborhood graph. The embedded points that form a smooth skeleton structure are obtained by maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation. Our analysis shows that the resulting similarity matrix is sparse and unique, and its associated kernel has eigenvalues that follow a power law distribution, which leads to the embeddings of a smooth skeleton. The model is extended to learn a sparse similarity matrix when the graph structure is unknown. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods on various datasets by comparing them with existing methods.
Common Carotid Artery Diameter and Risk of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality: Pooled Analyses of Four Cohort Studies

Carotid arterial diameter enlargement is a manifestation of arterial remodeling and may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated the association between carotid artery diameter and risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, CVD, and all-cause mortality and explored whether the associations could be explained by processes involved in arterial remodeling, that is, blood pressure–related media thickening, arterial stiffness, arterial wall stress, and atherosclerosis. We included 4887 participants (mean age 67±9 years; 54% women) from 4 cohort studies: Rotterdam Study, NEPHROTEST, Hoorn Study, and a study by Blacher et al. Common carotid artery properties were measured using echotracking. Incident cases were recorded based on medical records. We used Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and estimates of processes underlying arterial remodeling. During follow-up (mean, 11 years), 379 (8%) individuals had a stroke, 516 had a (11%) coronary heart disease, 807 had a (17%) CVD, and 1486 (30%) had died. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, individuals in the highest tertile of carotid diameter (diameter >8 mm) compared with those in the lowest tertile (diameter <7 mm) had a higher incidence of stroke (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.0). From all estimates of processes underlying arterial remodeling, adjustment for carotid intima-media thickness attenuated this association (hazard ratio after adjustment for intima-media thickness, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.9–1.6). Larger carotid diameter was associated with risk of CVD and mortality but not clearly with coronary heart disease risk. We showed that a larger carotid diameter is associated with incident stroke, CVD, and mortality. Carotid intima-media thickness, a measure of blood pressure–related media thickening, partially explained the association with stroke incidence.
Experimental Stroke Differentially Affects Discrete Subpopulations of Splenic Macrophages

Changes to the immune system after stroke are complex and can result in both pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive consequences. Following ischemic stroke, brain resident microglia are activated and circulating monocytes are recruited to the injury site. In contrast, there is a systemic deactivation of monocytes/macrophages that may contribute to immunosuppression and the high incidence of bacterial infection experienced by stroke patients. The manipulation of macrophage subsets may be a useful therapeutic strategy to reduce infection and improve outcome in patients after stroke. Recent research has enhanced our understanding of the heterogeneity of macrophages even within the same tissue. The spleen is the largest natural reservoir of immune cells, many of which are mobilized to the site of injury after ischemic stroke and is notable for the diversity of its functionally distinct macrophage subpopulations associated with specific micro-anatomical locations. Here, we describe the effects of experimental stroke in mice on these distinct splenic macrophage subpopulations. Red pulp (RP) and marginal zone macrophages (MZM) specifically showed increases in density and alterations in micro-anatomical location. These changes were not due to increased recruitment from the bone marrow but may be associated with increases in local proliferation. Genes associated with phagocytosis and proteolytic processing were upregulated in the spleen after stroke with increased expression of the lysosome-associated protein lysosomal-associated membrane proteins specifically increased in RP and MZM subsets. In contrast, MHC class II expression was reduced specifically in these populations. Furthermore, genes associated with macrophage ability to communicate with other immune cells, such as co-stimulatory molecules and inflammatory cytokine production, were also downregulated in the spleen after stroke. These findings suggest that selective splenic macrophage functions could be impaired after stroke and the contribution of macrophages to stroke-associated pathology and infectious complications should be considered at a subset-specific level. Therefore, optimal therapeutic manipulation of macrophages to improve stroke outcome is likely to require selective targeting of functionally and spatially distinct subpopulations.
GAN-based Data Augmentation for Improved Liver Lesion Classification

We propose a method for generating synthetic medical images using deep learning Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). We show that the generated medical images can be used for synthetic data augmentation, and improve the performance of CNN for medical image classification. Our novel method is demonstrated on a limited dataset of computed tomography (CT) images of 182 liver lesions (Cysts, Metastases and Hemangiomas). Using synthetic data augmentation we achieved an improvement of ∼ 7% in accuracy for the liver lesion classification task. This work was recently submitted for journal publication [1].
Preliminary Outcome of Individualized Abdominoperineal Excision for Locally Advanced Low Rectal Cancer

Background: The introduction of individualized abdominoperineal excision (APE) may minimize operative trauma and reduce the rate of complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of individualized APE for low rectal cancer. Methods: Fifty-six patients who underwent individualized APE from June 2011 to June 2015 were evaluated retrospectively in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University. The main outcome measures were circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement, intraoperative perforation, postoperative complications, and local recurrence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Fifty (89%) patients received preoperative chemoradiotherapy: 51 (91%) patients were treated with the sacrococcyx preserved; 27 (48%) patients with the levator ani muscle partially preserved bilaterally; 20 (36%) patients with the levator ani muscle partially preserved unilaterally and the muscle on the opposite side totally preserved; 7 (13%) patients with intact levator ani muscle and part of the ischioanal fat bilaterally dissected; and 2 (4%) patients with part of the ischioanal fat and intact lavator ani muscle dissected unilaterally and the muscle on the opposite side partially preserved. The most common complications included sexual dysfunction (12%), perineal wound complications (13%), urinary retention (7%), and chronic perineal pain (5%). A positive CRM was demonstrated in 3 (5%) patients, and intraoperative perforations occurred in 2 (4%) patients. On multiple logistic regression analysis, longer operative time (P = 0.032) and more intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.006) were significantly associated with perineal procedure-related complications. The local recurrence was 4% at a median follow-up of 53 months (range: 30–74 months). Conclusion: With preoperative chemoradiotherapy, individualized APE may be a relatively safe and feasible approach for low rectal cancer with acceptable oncological outcomes.