Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gradients Cannot Be Tamed: Behind the Impossible Paradox of Blocking Targeted Adversarial Attacks

Despite their accuracy, neural network-based classifiers are still prone to manipulation through adversarial perturbations. These perturbations are designed to be misclassified by the neural network while being perceptually identical to some valid inputs. The vast majority of such attack methods rely on white-box conditions, where the attacker has full knowledge of the attacked network’s parameters. This allows the attacker to calculate the network’s loss gradient with respect to some valid inputs and use this gradient in order to create an adversarial example. The task of blocking white-box attacks has proved difficult to address. While many defense methods have been suggested, they have had limited success. In this article, we examine this difficulty and try to understand it. We systematically explore the capabilities and limitations of defensive distillation, one of the most promising defense mechanisms against adversarial perturbations suggested so far, in order to understand this defense challenge. We show that contrary to commonly held belief, the ability to bypass defensive distillation is not dependent on an attack’s level of sophistication. In fact, simple approaches, such as the targeted gradient sign method, are capable of effectively bypassing defensive distillation. We prove that defensive distillation is highly effective against nontargeted attacks but is unsuitable for targeted attacks. This discovery led to our realization that targeted attacks leverage the same input gradient that allows a network to be trained. This implies that blocking them comes at the cost of losing the network’s ability to learn, presenting an impossible tradeoff to the research community.
Applications, indications, and effects of passive hydrotherapy WATSU (WaterShiatsu)—A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background WATSU (portmanteau word: water and shiatsu) is a form of passive hydrotherapy in chest-deep thermoneutral water (35°C = 95°F = 308.15 K). It combines elements of myofascial stretching, joint mobilization, massage, and shiatsu and is reported to be used to address physical and mental issues. The objective of this systematic review (PROSPERO Registration No. CRD42016029347) and the meta-analyses was to assess the applications, indications, and the effects of WATSU to form a basis for further studies. Methods A search for “WATSU OR watershiatsu OR (water AND shiatsu)” was conducted without any restrictions in 32 databases. Peer reviewed original articles addressing WATSU as a stand-alone hydrotherapy were assessed for risk of bias. Quantitative data of effects on pain, physical function, and mental issues were processed in random model meta-analyses with subgroup analyses by study design. Effect sizes were expressed as Hedges's g (± 95% confidence intervals). Results Of 1,906 unique citations, 27 articles regardless of study design were assessed for risk of bias. WATSU has been applied to individuals of all ages. Indications covered acute (e.g. pregnancy related low back pain) and chronic conditions (e.g. cerebral palsy) with beneficial effects of WATSU regarding e.g. relaxation or sleep quality. Meta-analyses suggest beneficial effect sizes of WATSU on pain (overall Hedges’s g = -0.71, 95% CI = -0.91 to -0.51), physical function (overall Hedges’s g = -0.76, 95% CI = -1.08 to -0.44), and mental issues (overall Hedges’s g = -0.68, 95% CI = -1.02 to -0.35). Conclusion Various applications, indications and beneficial effects of WATSU were identified. The grade of this evidence is estimated to be low to moderate at the best. To strengthen the findings of this study, high-quality RCTs are needed.
Antioxidant Peptides from Collagen Hydrolysate of Redlip Croaker (Pseudosciaena polyactis) Scales: Preparation, Characterization, and Cytoprotective Effects on H2O2-Damaged HepG2 Cells

Bioactive peptides from fish collagens with antioxidant properties have become a topic of great interest for health, food, and processing/preservation industries. To explore the high-value utilized way of scales produced during the fish processing, collagen hydrolysates of redlip croaker (Pseudosciaena polyactis) scales were prepared using six different proteases, and the hydrolysate (RSCH) prepared using neutrase showed the highest degree of hydrolysis (21.36 ± 1.18%) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) radical scavenging activity (30.97 ± 1.56%) among the six hydrolysates. Subsequently, six antioxidant peptides were purified from RSCH using membrane ultrafiltration and serial chromatography, and their amino acid sequences were identified as DGPEGR, GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, YGPDGPTG, GFIGPTE, and IGPLGA with molecular masses of 629.61, 885.95, 788.96, 762.75, 733.80, and 526.61 Da, respectively. Among six collagen peptides, GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, and GFIGPTE exhibited the strongest scavenging activities on DPPH· radical (EC50 0.59, 0.37, and 0.45 mg/mL), hydroxyl radical (EC50 0.45, 0.33, and 0.32 mg/mL), and superoxide anion radical (EC50 0.62, 0.47, and 0.74 mg/mL). GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, and GFIGPTE showed high inhibiting ability on lipid peroxidation in a linoleic acid model system and protective activities on oxidation-damaged DNA. More importantly, GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, and GFIGPTE could protect HepG2 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage through decreasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA and activating intracellular antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). These results suggested that six collagen peptides (RCP1–RCP6), especially GPEGPMGLE, EGPFGPEG, and GFIGPTE, might serve as potential antioxidants applied in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.
Sports Drink Intake Pattern Affects Exogenous Carbohydrate Oxidation during Running

ABSTRACT Purpose This study aimed to determine whether the pattern of carbohydrate sports drink ingestion during prolonged submaximal running affects exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates and gastrointestinal (GI) comfort. Methods Twelve well-trained male runners (27 ± 7 yr; 67.9 ± 6.7 kg; V˙O2peak, 68 ± 7 mL·kg−1·min−1) completed two exercise trials of 100 min steady-state running at 70%V˙O2peak. In each of the trials, 1 L of a 10% dextrose solution, enriched with [U-13C] glucose, was consumed as either 200 mL every 20 min (CHO-20) or 50 mL every 5 min (CHO-5). Expired breath and venous blood samples were collected at rest and every 20 min during exercise. Subjective scales of GI comfort were recorded at regular intervals. Results Average exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates were 23% higher during exercise in CHO-20 (0.38 ± 0.11 vs 0.31 ± 0.11 g·min−1; P = 0.017). Peak exogenous carbohydrate oxidation was also higher in CHO-20 (0.68 ± 0.14 g·min−1 vs 0.61 ± 0.14 g·min−1; P = 0.004). During exercise, total carbohydrate oxidation (CHO-20, 2.15 ± 0.47; CHO-5, 2.23 ± 0.45 g·min−1, P = 0.412) and endogenous carbohydrate oxidation (CHO-20, 1.78 ± 0.45; CHO-5, 1.92 ± 0.40 g·min−1; P = 0.148) were not different between trials. Average serum glucose (P = 0.952) and insulin (P = 0.373) concentrations were not different between trials. There were no differences in reported symptoms of GI comfort and stomach bloatedness (P > 0.05), with only 3% of reported scores classed as severe (≥5 out of 10). Conclusion Ingestion of a larger volume of carbohydrate solution at less frequent intervals during prolonged submaximal running increased exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates. Neither drinking pattern resulted in increased markers of GI discomfort to a severe level.
Usefulness of Serum Calcitonin in Patients with Thyroid Nodules ≤ 1 cm Without an Indication for Fine-Needle Aspiration

Abstract Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is not necessary in adults with nodules ≤ 1 cm without apparent extrathyroidal extension (ETE) or lymph node (LN) involvement on ultrasonography (US). In the absence of FNA and serum calcitonin (Ctn) measurement, medullary thyroid microcarcinomas (microMTC) are not diagnosed. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate Ctn levels in adults with a low clinical risk of MTC and nodules ≤ 1 cm without ETE or LN involvement on US. A total of 506 consecutively seen adults who had nodules with two or more suspicious features were included. Patients with elevated basal Ctn underwent a calcium stimulation test and FNA. Basal Ctn was normal in 490 patients (96.8%). In the 16 patients with elevated basal Ctn, FNA revealed MTC in only one patient and MTC was not suspected in the 15 patients with elevated basal Ctn. Three patients with stimulated Ctn<100 pg/ml and benign cytology were not submitted to surgery. MTC was excluded by histology in three patients with stimulated Ctn<100 pg/ml and indeterminate or suspicious cytology and in eight patients with stimulated Ctn>100 pg/ml. One patient with stimulated Ctn>100 pg/ml had MTC. Ctn was undetectable 6 months after surgery in two patients with MTC. Although uncommon, even subjects without a suspicious history and with nodules ≤ 1 cm without ETE or LN involvement on US, but with suspicious findings, can have microMTC. The measurement of Ctn permits the diagnosis of these cases.
Measurement‐based study on characterizing symmetric and asymmetric respiratory motion interplay effect on target dose distribution in the proton pencil beam scanning

Abstract Pencil beam scanning proton therapy makes possible intensity modulation, resulting in improved target dose conformity and organ‐at‐risk (OAR) dose sparing. This benefit, however, results in increased sensitivity to certain clinical and beam delivery parameters, such as respiratory motion. These effects can cause plan degeneration, which could lead to decreased tumor dose or increased OAR dose. This study evaluated the measurements of proton pencil beam scanning delivery made with a 2D ion chamber array in solid water on a 1D motion platform, where respiratory motion was simulated using sine and cosine4 waves representing sinusoidal symmetric and realistic asymmetric breathing motions, respectively. Motion amplitudes were 0.5 cm and 1 cm corresponding to 1 cm and 2 cm of maximum respiratory excursions, respectively, with 5 sec fixed breathing cycle. The treatment plans were created to mimic spherical targets of 3 cm or 10 cm diameter located at 5 cm or 1 cm depth in solid water phantom. A reference RBE dose of 200 cGy per fraction was delivered in 1, 5, 10, and 15 fractions for each dataset. We evaluated dose conformity and uniformity at the center plane of targets by using the Conformation Number and the Homogeneity Index, respectively. Results indicated that dose conformity as well as homogeneity was more affected by motion for smaller targets. Dose conformity was better achieved for symmetric breathing patterns than asymmetric breathing patterns regardless of the number of fractions. The presence of a range shifter with shallow targets reduced the motion effect by improving dose homogeneity. While motion effects are known to be averaged out over the course of multifractional treatments, this might not be true for proton pencil beam scanning under asymmetrical breathing pattern.
High Cost for Low Yield

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is an area of continued controversy in the preoperative evaluation for bariatric surgery; more information is needed regarding its impact on surgical management and associated costs. This systematic review and meta-analysis reports rates of abnormalities detected on preoperative EGD that changed operative management or delayed bariatric surgery. Sensitivity analysis examined the impact of controversial findings of hiatal hernia, Helicobacter pylori, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease. Data were used to calculate the cost per surgical alteration made due to abnormalities detected by routine EGD, compactly termed “cost-of-routine-EGD. ” Thirty-one retrospective observational studies were included. Meta-analysis found 3.9% of EGDs resulted in a change in operative management; this proportion decreased to 0.3% after sensitivity analysis, as detection of hiatal hernia comprised 85.7% of findings that changed operative management. Half of the 7.5% of cases that resulted in surgical delay involved endoscopic detection of H. pylori. Gastric pathology was detected in a significantly greater proportion of symptomatic patients (65.0%) than in asymptomatic patients (34.1%; P<0.001). Cost-of-routine-EGD to identify an abnormality that changed operative management was $601,060, after excluding controversial findings. The cost-of-routine-EGD to identify any abnormality that led to a change in type of bariatric operation was $281,230 and $766,352 when controversial findings were included versus excluded, respectively. Cost-of-routine-EGD to identify a malignancy was $2,554,506. Cost-of-routine-EGD is high relative to the low proportion of abnormalities that alter bariatric surgery. Our results highlight the need to develop alternative strategies to preoperative screening, in order to improve access and decrease cost associated with bariatric surgery.
Rapid identification of an Arabidopsis NLR gene as a candidate conferring susceptibility to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum using time‐resolved automated phenotyping

SUMMARY The broad host range necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating pathogen of many oil and vegetable crops. Plant genes conferring complete resistance against S. sclerotiorum have not been reported. Instead, plant populations challenged by S. sclerotiorum exhibit a continuum of partial resistance designated as quantitative disease resistance (QDR). Because of their complex interplay and their small phenotypic effect, the functional characterization of QDR genes remains limited. How broad host range necrotrophic fungi manipulate plant programmed cell death is for instance largely unknown. Here, we designed a time‐resolved automated disease phenotyping pipeline enabling high‐throughput disease lesion measurement with high resolution, low footprint at low cost. We could accurately recover contrasted disease responses in several pathosystems using this system. We used our phenotyping pipeline to assess the kinetics of disease symptoms caused by seven S. sclerotiorum isolates on six A. thaliana natural accessions with unprecedented resolution. Large effect polymorphisms common to the most resistant A. thaliana accessions identified highly divergent alleles of the nucleotide‐binding site leucine‐rich repeat gene LAZ5 in the resistant accessions Rubezhnoe and Lip‐0. We show that impaired LAZ5 expression in laz5.1 mutant lines and in A. thaliana Rub natural accession correlate with enhanced QDR to S. sclerotiorum. These findings illustrate the value of time‐resolved image‐based phenotyping for unravelling the genetic bases of complex traits such as QDR. Our results suggest that S. sclerotiorum manipulates plant sphingolipid pathways guarded by LAZ5 to trigger programmed cell death and cause disease.
The Galectin Family as Molecular Targets: Hopes for Defeating Pancreatic Cancer

Galectins are a family of proteins that bind β-galactose residues through a highly conserved carbohydrate recognition domain. They regulate several important biological functions, including cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion, and play critical roles during embryonic development and cell differentiation. In adults, different galectin members are expressed depending on the tissue type and can be altered during pathological processes. Numerous reports have shown the involvement of galectins in diseases, mostly inflammation and cancer. Here, we review the state-of-the-art of the role that different galectin family members play in pancreatic cancer. This tumor is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the next decade as there is still no effective treatment nor accurate diagnosis for it. We also discuss the possible translation of recent results about galectin expression and functions in pancreatic cancer into clinical interventions (i.e., diagnosis, prediction of prognosis and/or therapy) for this fatal disease.
The Historical Oppression Scale: Preliminary conceptualization and measurement of historical oppression among Indigenous peoples of the United States

Indigenous peoples of the United States are distinct from other ethnic minorities because they have experienced colonization as the original inhabitants. Social and health disparities are connected to a context of historical oppression—the chronic, pervasive, and intergenerational experiences of oppression that, over time, may be normalized, imposed, and internalized into the daily lives of many Indigenous peoples (including individuals, families, and communities). As part of the critical Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT), in this article, we introduce the Historical Oppression Scale (HOS), a scale assessing internalized and externalized oppression. Our study reports on survey data (N = 127) from a larger convergent mixed-methodology study with scale items derived from thematic analysis of qualitative data (N = 436), which informed the resultant 10-item scale. After six cases were removed from the 127 participants who participated in the quantitative component to the study due to missing data across two tribes, the sample size for analysis was 121. Confirmatory factor analysis testing of the hypothesized unidimensional construct indicated acceptable model fit (X2 = 58.10, X 2 / df = 1.94, CFI = .98, TLI = .97, RMSEA = .088, 90% CI = .05, .12). Reliability of the 10-item scale was excellent (α = .97) and convergent and discriminant validity were established. The HOS explicates complex associations between historical oppression and health and social disparities and may be an important clinical and research tool in an understudied area.
Natural history of brainstem cavernous malformations: prospective hemorrhage rate and adverse factors in a consecutive prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE Given the paucity of data on the natural history of brainstem cavernous malformations (CMs), the authors aimed to evaluate the annual hemorrhage rate and hemorrhagic risk of brainstem CMs. METHODS Nine hundred seventy-nine patients diagnosed with brainstem CMs were referred to Beijing Tiantan Hospital from 2006 to 2015; 224 patients were excluded according to exclusion criteria, and 47 patients were lost to follow-up. Thus, this prospective observational cohort included 708 cases (324 females). All patients were registered, clinical data were recorded, and follow-up was completed. RESULTS Six hundred ninety (97.5%) of the 708 patients had a prior hemorrhage, 514 (72.6%) had hemorrhagic presentation, and developmental venous anomaly (DVA) was observed in 241 cases (34.0%). Two hundred thirty-seven prospective hemorrhages occurred in 175 patients (24.7%) during 3400.2 total patient-years, yielding a prospective annual hemorrhage rate of 7.0% (95% CI 6.2%-7.9%), which decreased to 4.7% after the 1st year. Multivariate Cox regression analysis after adjusting for sex and age identified hemorrhagic presentation (HR 1.574, p = 0.022), DVA (HR 1.678, p = 0.001), mRS score ≥ 2 on admission (HR 1.379, p = 0.044), lesion size > 1.5 cm (HR 1.458, p = 0.026), crossing the axial midpoint (HR 1.446, p = 0.029), and superficially seated location (HR 1.307, p = 0.025) as independent adverse factors for prospective hemorrhage, but history of prior hemorrhage was not significant. The annual hemorrhage rates were 8.3% and 4.3% in patients with and without hemorrhagic presentation, respectively; the rate was 9.9%, 6.0%, and 1.0% in patients with ≥ 2, only 1, and 0 prior hemorrhages, respectively; and the rate was 9.2% in patients with both hemorrhagic presentation and focal neurological deficit on admission. CONCLUSIONS The study reported an annual hemorrhage rate of 7.0% exclusively for brainstem CMs, which significantly increased if patients presented with both hemorrhagic presentation and focal neurological deficit (9.2%), or any other risk factor. Patients with a risk factor for hemorrhage needed close follow-up regardless of the number of prior hemorrhages. It should be noted that the referral bias in this study could have overestimated the annual hemorrhage rate. This study improved the understanding of the natural history of brainstem CMs, and the results are important for helping patients and physicians choose a suitable treatment option based on the risk factors and stratified annual rates.Clinical trial registration no.: ChiCTR-POC-17011575 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/).
Special Issue “Emerging Viruses: Surveillance, Prevention, Evolution, and Control”

Emerging viruses represent a major concern for public health offices. Climate changes, the international migration of people and products, deforestation, and other anthropogenic activities (and their consequences) have been historically and continuously related to the emerging and re-emerging of new viruses, triggering an increasing number of notified outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. [. ].
VEGF Triggers Transient Induction of Autophagy in Endothelial Cells via AMPKα1

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is activated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in endothelial cells and it is significantly involved in VEGF-induced angiogenesis. This study investigates whether the VEGF/AMPK pathway regulates autophagy in endothelial cells and whether this is linked to its pro-angiogenic role. We show that VEGF leads to AMPKα1-dependent phosphorylation of Unc-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) at its serine residue 556 and to the subsequent phosphorylation of the ULK1 substrate ATG14. This triggers initiation of autophagy as shown by phosphorylation of ATG16L1 and conjugation of the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B, which indicates autophagosome formation; this is followed by increased autophagic flux measured in the presence of bafilomycin A1 and by reduced expression of the autophagy substrate p62. VEGF-induced autophagy is transient and probably terminated by mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), which is activated by VEGF in a delayed manner. We show that functional autophagy is required for VEGF-induced angiogenesis and may have specific functions in addition to maintaining homeostasis. In line with this, inhibition of autophagy impaired VEGF-mediated formation of the Notch intracellular domain, a critical regulator of angiogenesis. Our study characterizes autophagy induction as a pro-angiogenic function of the VEGF/AMPK pathway and suggests that timely activation of autophagy-initiating pathways may help to initiate angiogenesis.