Evaluating and Inducing Personality in Pre-trained Language Models

Standardized and quantified evaluation of machine behaviors is a crux of understanding LLMs. In this study, we draw inspiration from psychometric studies by leveraging human personality theory as a tool for studying machine behaviors. Originating as a philosophical quest for human behaviors, the study of personality delves into how individuals differ in thinking, feeling, and behaving. Toward building and understanding human-like social machines, we are motivated to ask: Can we assess machine behaviors by leveraging human psychometric tests in a principled and quantitative manner? If so, can we induce a specific personality in LLMs? To answer these questions, we introduce the Machine Personality Inventory (MPI) tool for studying machine behaviors; MPI follows standardized personality tests, built upon the Big Five Personality Factors (Big Five) theory and personality assessment inventories. By systematically evaluating LLMs with MPI, we provide the first piece of evidence demonstrating the efficacy of MPI in studying LLMs behaviors. We further devise a Personality Prompting (P^2) method to induce LLMs with specific personalities in a controllable way, capable of producing diverse and verifiable behaviors. We hope this work sheds light on future studies by adopting personality as the essential indicator for various downstream tasks, and could further motivate research into equally intriguing human-like machine behaviors.Comment: Accepted at NeurIPS 2023 (Spotlight

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Regurgitation – A Review

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is currently a widely used option for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis with high to low surgical risk. However, aortic regurgitation (AR) remains an “off-label” indication for TAVR, particularly for patients with mild or absent leaflet calcification or aortic annulus dimensions beyond the size of the bioprosthesis, which increase the risk of dislocation. With advances in transcatheter heart valve devices, the safety and efficacy of TAVR in treating patients with severe pure native AR has gained acceptance. This review examines current evidence and clinical practice, and presents technological advancements in devices for AR

Global research trends of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children: a bibliometric analysis

BackgroundMycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), attributable to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), represents a predominant form of community-acquired pneumonia in pediatric populations, thereby posing a significant threat to pediatric health. Given the burgeoning volume of research literature associated with pediatric MPP in recent years, it becomes imperative to undertake a bibliometric analysis aimed at delineating the current research landscape and emerging trends, thereby furnishing a framework for subsequent investigations.MethodsA comprehensive literature search targeting pediatric MPP was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection. After the removal of duplicate entries through Endnote software, the remaining articles were subject to scientometric analysis via Citespace software, VOSviewer software and R language, focusing on variables such as publication volume, contributing nations, institutions and authors, references and keywords.ResultsA total of 1,729 articles pertinent to pediatric MPP were included in the analysis. China and the United States emerged as the nations with the highest publication output. Italian scholar Susanna Esposito and Japanese scholar Kazunobu Ouchi were the most influential authors in the domain of pediatric MPP. Highly-cited articles primarily focused on the epidemiological investigation of pediatric MPP, the clinical characteristics and treatment of macrolide-resistant MPP, and biomarkers for refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP). From the corpus of 1,729 articles, 636 keywords were extracted and categorized into ten clusters: Cluster #0 centered on molecular-level typing of macrolide-resistant strains; Cluster #1 focused on lower respiratory tract co-infections; Clusters #2 and #6 emphasized other respiratory ailments caused by MP; Cluster #3 involved biomarkers and treatment of RMPP; Clusters #4 and #9 pertained to extrapulmonary complications of MPP, Clusters #5 and #7 addressed etiological diagnosis of MPP, and Cluster #8 explored pathogenic mechanisms.ConclusionsThe past few years have witnessed extensive attention directed towards pediatric MPP. Research in pediatric MPP principally revolves around diagnostic techniques for MP, macrolide resistance, complications of MPP, treatment and diagnosis of RMPP, and elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms. The present study provides pediatric clinicians and researchers with the research status and focal points in this field, thereby guiding the orientation of future research endeavors

On the use of deep learning for phase recovery

Phase recovery (PR) refers to calculating the phase of the light field from its intensity measurements. As exemplified from quantitative phase imaging and coherent diffraction imaging to adaptive optics, PR is essential for reconstructing the refractive index distribution or topography of an object and correcting the aberration of an imaging system. In recent years, deep learning (DL), often implemented through deep neural networks, has provided unprecedented support for computational imaging, leading to more efficient solutions for various PR problems. In this review, we first briefly introduce conventional methods for PR. Then, we review how DL provides support for PR from the following three stages, namely, pre-processing, in-processing, and post-processing. We also review how DL is used in phase image processing. Finally, we summarize the work in DL for PR and outlook on how to better use DL to improve the reliability and efficiency in PR. Furthermore, we present a live-updating resource (https://github.com/kqwang/phase-recovery) for readers to learn more about PR.Comment: 82 pages, 32 figure

Single femoral artery access is safe and feasible during transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a propensity score matched analysis

BackgroundTranscatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) potentially may be significantly simplified by using the single artery access (SA) technique, which does not require a secondary artery access. Nevertheless, the safety and efficacy of this technique remains unclear. Our goal was to determine if single artery access TAVR (without upgrading the sheath size) is a feasible, minimally invasive procedure.MethodsPatients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR via the femoral artery were consecutively enrolled in this study. Eligible individuals were divided into 2 groups: the SA group and the dual artery access (DA) group. The primary end point was device success (defined by the valve academic research consortium 3, VARC 3). A 6-month follow-up and propensity score matching analyses were performed.ResultsAfter propensity score matching analysis, a total of 130 patients were included: 65 in the SA group and 65 in the DA group. The SA procedure achieved similar device success (95.4% vs. 87.7%; P = 0.115) compared with the DA procedure. The SA procedure shortened the operating time (102 min vs. 125 min; P = 0.001) but did not increase the x-ray time or dose. Both a 20 Fr and a 22 Fr sheath (without upgrading the sheath size) could be used for the SA procedure. There was no major vascular complication occurred in both groups. The incidence of minor main vascular and access complications in the SA group was comparable to those of the DA procedure (0.0% vs. 3.1%; P = 0.156).ConclusionsThe SA access procedure is a promising minimally invasive TAVR technique with a low incidence of vascular complications and a high incidence of device success. It is safe and possibly applicable in all TAVR procedures

Upregulation of Heme Oxygenase-1 Endues Immature Dendritic Cells With More Potent and Durable Immunoregulatory Properties and Promotes Engraftment in a Stringent Mouse Cardiac Allotransplant Model

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is critical for the ability of immature dendritic cells (imDCs) to suppress T-cell responses. Induction of high HO-1 expression may markedly improve the tolerogenic capacity of imDCs. Here, we generated bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) from BALB/c mice with low doses of GM-CSF and IL-4. The adherent BMDCs were obtained as imDCs. Upregulation of HO-1 in imDCs (HO-1hi-imDCs) was achieved by cobalt protoporphyrin treatment. HO-1hi-imDCs proved to be more maturation-resistant than conventional imDCs, with an enhanced ability to inhibit allogeneic T-cell proliferation stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies. When donor-derived DC adoptive transfer was performed in a stringent mouse cardiac allotransplant model, the extent of graft prolongation observed with HO-1hi imDCs was superior to that obtained with conventional imDCs. T-cell activation and proliferation in cardiac allograft recipients was more strongly suppressed in the HO-1hi imDC transfusion group than that in the untreated imDC group. Furthermore, donor HO-1hi imDCs were able to maintain a status of high HO-1 expression and survived longer in the recipient spleens than did untreated imDCs after adoptive transfer. In vitro-generated HO-1hi imDCs had an enhanced tolerogenic capacity to modulate alloimmune responses both in vitro and in vivo, and thus may offer a novel antigen-specific and cost-effective strategy to induce transplant tolerance

Feasibility study of temporary permanent pacemaker in patients with conduction block after TAVR

BackgroundLimited data exist on the use of temporary permanent pacemaker (TPPM) to reduce unnecessary PPM in patients with high-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the feasibility of TPPM in patients with HAVB after TAVR to provide prolonged pacing as a bridge.Materials and methodsOne hundred and eleven consecutive patients undergoing TAVR were screened from August 2021 to June 2022. Patients with HAVB eligible for PPM were included. TPPM were used in these patients instead of conventional temporary pacing or early PPM. Patients were followed up for 1 month. Holter and pacemaker interrogation were used to determine whether to implant PPM.ResultsTwenty one patients met the inclusion criteria for TPPM, of which 14 patients were third-degree AVB, 1 patient was second-degree AVB, 6 patients were first degree AVB with PR interval > 240 ms and LBBB with QRS duration > 150 ms. TPPM were placed on the 21 patients for 35 ± 7 days. Among 15 patients with HAVB, 26.7% of them (n = 4) recovered to sinus rhythm; 46.7% (n = 7) recovered to sinus rhythm with bundle branch block. The remains of 26.7% patients (n = 4) still had third-degree AVB and received PPM. For patients with first-degree AVB and LBBB, PR interval shortened to < 200 ms in all 6 patients and LBBB recovered in 2 patients. TPPM were successfully removed from all patients and no procedure-related adverse events occurred.ConclusionTPPM is reliable and safe in the small sample of patients with conduction block after TAVR to provide certain buffer time to distinguish whether a PPM is necessary. Future studies with larger sample are needed for further validation of the current results

The first clinical data of the SAPIEN 3 aortic valve in the treatment of aortic stenosis in China

BackgroundData on outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement with SAPIEN 3 in China is limited as it was approved by the National Medical Products since 2020. The present study was designed to collect clinical data on the SAPIEN 3 aortic valve in Chinese patients with bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve stenosis.MethodsWe analyzed the patient characteristics, procedural features and procedural outcomes of the first 438 patients (223 for bicuspid aortic valve and 215 tricuspid aortic valve) from 21 provinces in 74 sites treated with the SAPIEN 3 valve system for transcatheter aortic valve replacement between September 2020 and May 2022.ResultsProcedural mortality was 0.7%. 5 cases during the operation were converted to surgery. Among 438 cases, permanent pacemaker implantation was performed in a total of 12 cases (2.7%). The patient had severe leaflet calcification of the aortic valve, with moderate and severe calcification reaching 39.7% and 35.2% respectively. The size of the implanted valves was predominantly 26 mm and 23 mm, reaching 42.5% and 39.5% respectively. The incidence of moderate or severe perivalvular leak in the postoperative period was 0.5%, with a predominance of 90/10 and 80/20 valve deployment height. There was a significant difference in the deployment height of the valve between bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve, with the bicuspid aortic valve having a more deployment height of 90/10. Annulus size in bicuspid aortic valve group was significantly larger than tricuspid aortic valve group. Valve sizing for oversized, within size, and undersized were different between bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve.ConclusionsProcedural success rates were high, with similar and good results for bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve, low perivalvular leak for both valve types, and low permanent pacemaker implantation rates for both valve types. Annulus size, valve sizing and coronary artery height were significantly different in the BAV and TAV group