Mitigating Adversarial Vulnerability through Causal Parameter Estimation by Adversarial Double Machine Learning

Adversarial examples derived from deliberately crafted perturbations on visual inputs can easily harm decision process of deep neural networks. To prevent potential threats, various adversarial training-based defense methods have grown rapidly and become a de facto standard approach for robustness. Despite recent competitive achievements, we observe that adversarial vulnerability varies across targets and certain vulnerabilities remain prevalent. Intriguingly, such peculiar phenomenon cannot be relieved even with deeper architectures and advanced defense methods. To address this issue, in this paper, we introduce a causal approach called Adversarial Double Machine Learning (ADML), which allows us to quantify the degree of adversarial vulnerability for network predictions and capture the effect of treatments on outcome of interests. ADML can directly estimate causal parameter of adversarial perturbations per se and mitigate negative effects that can potentially damage robustness, bridging a causal perspective into the adversarial vulnerability. Through extensive experiments on various CNN and Transformer architectures, we corroborate that ADML improves adversarial robustness with large margins and relieve the empirical observation.Comment: Accepted in ICCV 202

Development of Laser Ruler in Rigid Laryngoscope

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to develop a new device that provides a simple, noninvasive method of measuring accurate lesion size while using an endoscope.MethodsWe developed a rigid laryngoscope with a built-in laser-ruler using a one-light emitting diode and an acrylic plate. The invention incorporates a built-in laser diode that projects an auto-parallel beam into the optical path of the rigid laryngoscope to form two spots in the field of view.ResultsWhile the interspot distance remains consistent despite changes in focal plane, magnification, or viewing angle of the laryngoscope, projection to an uneven surface introduces certain variations in the shape, and size of the spots, and the distance between the two spots.ConclusionThe device enables a laryngologist to easily measure the distance between landmarks, as well as the change in real size, and the progressive change of vocal fold lesions in an outpatient setting

Expression of VEGF, HGF, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9, Telomerase in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

ObjectivesThis study investigated the telomerase expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the relationship between the serum level of several soluble factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and matrix metallopeptidase-9 and the clinicopathological features of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).MethodsPeripheral blood samples were collected from 50 HNSCC patients and 15 normal controls. The telomerase activity in the PBMCs was measured by Telomere Repeat Amplification Protocols. The serum levels of the soluble factors were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThe expression of telomerase in the PBMCs of HNSCC patients was significantly correlated with the N and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages. The serum VEGF level was significantly higher in the patients with an advanced T stage, N stage and AJCC stage. Serum VEGF was significantly related with the expression of telomerase in the PBMCs. The telomerase expression and the VEGF expression were shown to be independent factors associated with poor survival.ConclusionThe telomerase expression in the PBMCs and the serum VEGF level of HNSCC patients were significantly correlated with the N stage, the AJCC stage and the prognosis

Development of a Novel Intraoperative Neuromonitoring System Using a Surface Pressure Sensor to Detect Muscle Movement: A Rabbit Model Study

Objectives False-negative or false-positive responses in intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) using electromyography (EMG) in thyroid surgery pose a challenge. Therefore, we developed a novel IONM system that uses a surface pressure sensor instead of EMG to detect muscle twitching. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of a new IONM system using a piezo-electric surface pressure sensor in an experimental animal model. Methods We developed the surface pressure sensor by modifying a commercial piezo-electric sensor. We evaluated the stimulus thresholds to detect muscle movement, as well as the amplitude and latency of the EMG and surface pressure sensor in six sciatic nerves of three rabbits, according to the stimulus intensity. Results The surface pressure sensor detected the muscle movements in response to a 0.1 mA stimulation of all six sciatic nerves. There were no differences in the thresholds of stimulus intensity between the surface pressure sensor and EMG recordings to detect muscle movements. Conclusion It is possible to measure the change in surface pressure by using a piezo-electric surface pressure sensor instead of EMG to detect muscle movement induced by nerve stimulation. The application of IONM using a piezo-electric surface pressure sensor during surgery is noninvasive, safe, and feasible. Measuring muscle twitching to identify the state of the nerves using the novel IONM system can be an alternative to recording of EMG responses

A Case of Santorinicele without Pancreas Divisum: Diagnosis with Multi-detector Row Computed Tomography

A santorinicele is defined as a focal cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct at the minor papilla. Most cases reported previously were associated with pancreas divisum and a santorinicele without pancreas divisum is known to be rare. We recently experienced a typical case of a santorinicele without pancreas divisum in a 67-yr-old woman with abdominal pain and hematochezia, subsequently proven to be the result of an ischemic colitis. The santorinicele was diagnosed incidentally with multi-detector row computed tomography using a minimum intensity projection technique, which clearly showed a cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct and a communication between the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts. This finding was also confirmed by a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Diabetics with Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: The Korean Multicenter Revascularization Registry (KORR)

This study was designed to assess the relative merits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in multivessel coronary artery disease (MVCAD), particularly for Korean diabetics. Among 3,279 patients with MVCAD who were recommended for revascularization were enrolled from nine centers in Korea, 2,154 were selected after statistical adjustments for the disparities between two groups. Survival rates were not significantly different for three years between two groups. Among diabetic patients, the three-year mortality rate in PCI group was 1.9-fold higher than that of CABG group, although it was not statistically significant (PCI 19.8%, CABG 11.4%, p=0.14). The three-year mortality rate was similar between the two groups in non-diabetics (PCI 8.3%, CABG 10.0%, p=0.50). The 30-day rate of cerebrovascular event was higher in CABG group, for both diabetic (CABG 3.6%, PCI 0.0%, p<0.001) and non-diabetic patients (CABG 2.4%, PCI 0.0%, p<0.001). Short- and long-term revascularization rates were higher in PCI group than in CABG group. As a conclusion, this Korean registry demonstrates that PCI was associated with comparable survival rates and lower short-term morbidity, but a greater requirement for repeated revascularization compared with CABG in Korean diabetics

Extrahepatic Biliary Schwannomas: A Case Report

Benign schwannomas arise in neural crest-derived Schwann cells. They can occur almost anywhere in the body, but their most common locations are the central nervous system, extremities, neck, mediastinum, and retroperitoneum. Schwannomas occurring in the biliary tract are extremely rare and mostly present with obstructive jaundice. We recently experienced a case of extrahepatic biliary schwannomas in a 64-yr-old female patient who presented with intra- and extrahepatic bile duct and gallbladder stones during a screening program. To the best of our knowledge, extrahepatic biliary schwannomas associated with bile duct stones have not been reported previously in the literature