Differentially Private Sharpness-Aware Training

Training deep learning models with differential privacy (DP) results in a degradation of performance. The training dynamics of models with DP show a significant difference from standard training, whereas understanding the geometric properties of private learning remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we investigate sharpness, a key factor in achieving better generalization, in private learning. We show that flat minima can help reduce the negative effects of per-example gradient clipping and the addition of Gaussian noise. We then verify the effectiveness of Sharpness-Aware Minimization (SAM) for seeking flat minima in private learning. However, we also discover that SAM is detrimental to the privacy budget and computational time due to its two-step optimization. Thus, we propose a new sharpness-aware training method that mitigates the privacy-optimization trade-off. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method improves the performance of deep learning models with DP from both scratch and fine-tuning. Code is available at https://github.com/jinseongP/DPSAT.Comment: ICML 202

Electroluminescent devices with function of electro-optic shutter

The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) was used as a dielectric layer of electroluminescent (EL) device to provide multi-function of electroluminescence and electro-optic shutter. A 50 μm-thick PDLC layer was formed between a transparent electrode and a ZnS:Cu phosphor layer. The electro-optic properties of the EL device were not distorted by the introduction of the PDLC layer. The extraction efficiency of luminescence was improved by more than 14% by PDLC layer. The transmittance of the PDLC was also founded not to be degraded significantly by excitation frequency. Therefore, the electroluminescence of the device was ignited by excitation frequency at a given voltage for full transparency of the PDLC. This device has great potential for applications in transparent displays with the function of a privacy window. © 2012 Optical Society of America.1

The impact of socioeconomic deprivation on the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus:A nationwide population-based study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic status and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: From the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database, we identified 2,429,610 diabetic patients who underwent national health check-ups between 2009 and 2012. Tracing back the subjects for 5 years from the date of health check-up, we determined the subjects’ income and whether they received medical aid (MA) during the past 5 years. Subjects were divided into six groups according to the number of years of receiving (MA groups 0 through 5) and into four groups according to socioeconomic status change during the past 5 years. We estimated the risk of AF for each group using the Cox proportional-hazards model. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 7.2 ± 1.7 years, 80,257 were newly identified as AF. The MA groups showed a higher risk of AF than the non-MA group with the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32 (1.2–1.44), 1.33 (1.22–1.45), 1.23 (1.13–1.34), 1.28 (1.16–1.4), and 1.50 (1.39–1.63) for MA groups 1 through 5, respectively. Dividing subjects according to socioeconomic condition change, those who experienced worsening socioeconomic status (non-MA to MA) showed higher risk compared to the persistent non-MA group (HR 1.54; 95% CI 1.38–1.73). CONCLUSION: Low socioeconomic status was associated with the risk of AF in patients with diabetes. More attention should be directed at alleviating health inequalities, targeting individuals with socioeconomic deprivation to provide timely management for AF

Factors Affecting the Designation of Cerebrovascular Diseases as Work-Related in Administrative Litigation

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that could be used as standardized criteria for evaluating occupational diseases in initial assessments or requests for examination. Using 100 administrative litigation cases on the work-relatedness of cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) by the Seoul Branch of the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC) from 1997 to 2002, we estimated the relationship between the investigated variables and designation of the work-relatedness of the CVD. As for the age, the odds ratio of the acceptance rate of a case as work-related in subjects over 60 yr of age was 0.08 (95% CI, 0.01-0.75), which was compared to subjects under 30 yr of age. Regarding working hours, the odds ratio of the acceptance rate of a case as work-related in CVDs in those over 56 hr was 9.50 (95% CI, 1.92-47.10) when compared to those less than 56 hr. As for the benefit type, the odds ratio of the acceptance rate of a case as work-related in medical benefits was 5.74 (95% CI, 1.29-25.54), compared to survivor benefits. As for the criteria for defining situations as work overload, the odds ratio of the acceptance rate of a case as work-related in injured workers was 12.06 (95% CI, 3.12-46.62), compared to that in non-injured workers. Our findings show that the criteria for defining situations of work overload played an important role in assessing the work-relatedness of CVDs in administrative litigation, and it is necessary to make the scientific evidence on judgement of work-relatedness on overwork

Habitual Alcohol Intake and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults in Korea

IMPORTANCE: Guidelines recommend that all risk factors for early-onset atrial fibrillation, including lifestyle factors, be proactively managed, considering the poor prognosis of the disease. Not much is known about the association of cumulative alcohol intake with the risk of atrial fibrillation in young adults aged 20 to 39 years, especially among heavy drinkers. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of alcohol consumption with the risk of incident atrial fibrillation in young adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Using the National Health Insurance Service database, a nationwide population-based cohort study of adults aged 20 to 39 years without prior atrial fibrillation who underwent 4 serial annual health examinations between 2009 and 2012 was conducted. The cumulative alcohol consumption burden over 4 years was calculated by assigning 1 point to more than moderate drinking (≥105 g of alcohol per week) each year. Additionally, a semiquantitative cumulative burden was calculated by assigning 0, 1, 2, and 3 points to non, mild (<105 g per week), moderate (105-210 g per week), and heavy (≥210 g per week) drinking, respectively. Data were analyzed from May to June 2021. EXPOSURE: Amount of alcohol intake in 4 years. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was incident atrial fibrillation during the follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 1 537 836 participants (mean [SD] age 29.5 [4.1] years, 1 100 099 [71.5%] male) were included in the final analysis. According to the 4-year cumulative burden of alcohol consumption stratified by moderate to heavy drinking, 889 382 participants (57.8%) were in the burden 0 group, 203 374 participants (13.2%) in the burden 1 group, 148 087 participants (9.6%) in the burden 2 group, 144 023 participants (9.4%) in the burden 3 group, and 152 970 participants (9.9%) in the burden 4 group. During a median (IQR) follow-up of 6.13 (4.59-6.48) years, atrial fibrillation was newly diagnosed in 3066 participants (0.36 per 1000 person-years). Participants with a cumulative burden of 4 points who continued more than moderate drinking for 4 years showed a 25% higher risk of atrial fibrillation compared with 0-point participants who kept non-to-mild drinking over 4 years (adjusted HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.12-1.40). In a semiquantitative analysis, participants who sustained heavy drinking for 4 consecutive years were associated with a 47% higher atrial fibrillation risk than those who remained nondrinkers over 4 years (aHR, 1.47, CI 1.18-1.83). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Persistent moderate to heavy drinking and higher cumulative alcohol consumption burden might increase the risk of atrial fibrillation even in young adults aged 20 to 39 years

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults:A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease including cardiovascular. However, the association between NAFLD and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in young adults, remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between NAFLD as assessed by the fatty liver index (FLI) and the risk of AF in young adults. METHODS: We identified individuals aged 20–39 years who underwent health examinations conducted by the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation between January 2009 and December 2012. Individuals with significant liver disease, heavy alcohol consumption, or prevalent AF were excluded. We categorized based on FLI: <30, 30 to <60, and ≥60. Incident AF was evaluated as the primary outcome. RESULTS: We included 5,333,907 subjects (mean age, 31 ± 5 years; men, 57%). During a mean follow-up of 7.4 ± 1.1 years, 12,096 patients had newly diagnosed AF (incidence rate 0.31 per 1,000 person-years). After adjustment, subjects with FLI 30 to <60 and FLI ≥60 showed a higher risk of AF compared to those with FLI <30 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI, 1.15–1.27] and HR 1.47, 95% CI [1.39–1.55], p < 0.001, respectively). In women, the increased AF risk was accentuated in the higher FLI group than in the individuals with FLI <30, compared with men (p-for-interaction = 0.023). A higher incident AF risk in the higher FLI groups was consistently observed in various subgroups. CONCLUSION: Among young adults, NAFLD assessed using FLI was positively correlated with the AF risk. These findings support the evidence of AF screening in young adults with high FLI scores

A Case of Placenta Increta Presenting as Delayed Postabortal Intraperitoneal Bleeding in the First Trimester

Placenta increta is an uncommon and life-threatening complication of pregnancy characterized by complete or partial absence of the decidua basalis. Placenta increta usually presents with vaginal bleeding during difficult placental removal in the third-trimester. Although placenta increta may complicate first and early second-trimester pregnancy loss, the diagnosis can be very difficult during early pregnancy and thus the lesion is difficult to identify. We encountered with a woman who was diagnosed with placenta increta after receiving emergency hysterectomy due to intraperitoneal bleeding 2 months after an uncomplicated dilatation and curettage in the first trimester. Therefore, we report this case with a brief review of the literature

Therapeutic Effects of Autologous Tumor-Derived Nanovesicles on Melanoma Growth and Metastasis

Cancer vaccines with optimal tumor-associated antigens show promise for anti-tumor immunotherapy. Recently, nano-sized vesicles, such as exosomes derived from tumors, were suggested as potential antigen candidates, although the total yield of exosomes is not sufficient for clinical applications. In the present study, we developed a new vaccine strategy based on nano-sized vesicles derived from primary autologous tumors. Through homogenization and sonication of tumor tissues, we achieved high yields of vesicle-bound antigens. These nanovesicles were enriched with antigenic membrane targets but lacked nuclear autoantigens. Furthermore, these nanovesicles together with adjuvant activated dendritic cells in vitro, and induced effective anti-tumor immune responses in both primary and metastatic melanoma mouse models. Therefore, autologous tumor-derived nanovesicles may represent a novel source of antigens with high-level immunogenicity for use in acellular vaccines without compromising safety. Our strategy is cost-effective and can be applied to patient-specific cancer therapeutic vaccination