ECGadv: Generating Adversarial Electrocardiogram to Misguide Arrhythmia Classification System

Deep neural networks (DNNs)-powered Electrocardiogram (ECG) diagnosis systems recently achieve promising progress to take over tedious examinations by cardiologists. However, their vulnerability to adversarial attacks still lack comprehensive investigation. The existing attacks in image domain could not be directly applicable due to the distinct properties of ECGs in visualization and dynamic properties. Thus, this paper takes a step to thoroughly explore adversarial attacks on the DNN-powered ECG diagnosis system. We analyze the properties of ECGs to design effective attacks schemes under two attacks models respectively. Our results demonstrate the blind spots of DNN-powered diagnosis systems under adversarial attacks, which calls attention to adequate countermeasures.Comment: Accepted by AAAI 202

FedDD: Toward Communication-efficient Federated Learning with Differential Parameter Dropout

Federated Learning (FL) requires frequent exchange of model parameters, which leads to long communication delay, especially when the network environments of clients vary greatly. Moreover, the parameter server needs to wait for the slowest client (i.e., straggler, which may have the largest model size, lowest computing capability or worst network condition) to upload parameters, which may significantly degrade the communication efficiency. Commonly-used client selection methods such as partial client selection would lead to the waste of computing resources and weaken the generalization of the global model. To tackle this problem, along a different line, in this paper, we advocate the approach of model parameter dropout instead of client selection, and accordingly propose a novel framework of Federated learning scheme with Differential parameter Dropout (FedDD). FedDD consists of two key modules: dropout rate allocation and uploaded parameter selection, which will optimize the model parameter uploading ratios tailored to different clients' heterogeneous conditions and also select the proper set of important model parameters for uploading subject to clients' dropout rate constraints. Specifically, the dropout rate allocation is formulated as a convex optimization problem, taking system heterogeneity, data heterogeneity, and model heterogeneity among clients into consideration. The uploaded parameter selection strategy prioritizes on eliciting important parameters for uploading to speedup convergence. Furthermore, we theoretically analyze the convergence of the proposed FedDD scheme. Extensive performance evaluations demonstrate that the proposed FedDD scheme can achieve outstanding performances in both communication efficiency and model convergence, and also possesses a strong generalization capability to data of rare classes

Silver-modified polyniobotungstate for the visible light-induced simultaneous cleavage of C–C and C–N bonds

Silver-modified polyniobotungstate based on Nb/W mixed-addendum polyoxometalate with formula Ag9[P2W15Nb3O62]·21H2O (Ag-Nb/W) was synthesized and then characterized by various analytical and spectral techniques. Ag-Nb/W was proven to be an efficient photocatalyst for the oxidative ring opening of 2-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine via the simultaneous cleavage of C–C and C–N bonds. Under visible light (430–440 nm) and with oxygen as an oxidant at room temperature, Ag-Nb/W can catalyze the rapid transformation of various 2-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives to produce the corresponding oxidative ring-opening product N-(pyridin-2-yl) amides in good isolated yields ranging from 65% to 78%. As a heterogeneous photocatalyst, Ag-Nb/W showed excellent sustainability and recyclability in the recycling experiments. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that Ag-Nb/W could retain its integrity after catalysis. A possible mechanism involving the singlet oxygen for the catalytic reaction was proposed

The RNA landscape of Dunaliella salina in response to short-term salt stress

Using the halotolerant green microalgae Dunaliella salina as a model organism has special merits, such as a wide range of salt tolerance, unicellular organism, and simple life cycle and growth conditions. These unique characteristics make it suitable for salt stress study. In order to provide an overview of the response of Dunaliella salina to salt stress and hopefully to reveal evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of photosynthetic organisms in response to salt stress, the transcriptomes and the genome of the algae were sequenced by the second and the third-generation sequencing technologies, then the transcriptomes under salt stress were compared to the transcriptomes under non-salt stress with the newly sequenced genome as the reference genome. The major cellular biological processes that being regulated in response to salt stress, include transcription, protein synthesis, protein degradation, protein folding, protein modification, protein transport, cellular component organization, cell redox homeostasis, DNA repair, glycerol synthesis, energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and ion homeostasis. This study gives a comprehensive overview of how Dunaliella salina responses to salt stress at transcriptomic level, especially characterized by the nearly ubiquitous up-regulation of the genes involving in protein folding, DNA repair, and cell redox homeostasis, which may confer the algae important mechanisms to survive under salt stress. The three fundamental biological processes, which face huge challenges under salt stress, are ignored by most scientists and are worth further deep study to provide useful information for breeding economic important plants competent in tolerating salt stress, other than only depending on the commonly acknowledged osmotic balance and ion homeostasis

“Seminal testosterone”, rising viewpoint of local spermatogenesis in nonobstructive azoospermia: One center long-term bidirectional cohort study

ObjectiveReproductive hormones are a traditional good method to evaluate spermatogenesis but might not accurately represent local spermatogenesis. To find a more accurate method, seminal reproductive hormones were studied.MethodsA bidirectional cohort study was performed. A total of 126 infertile men from 2018 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), oligozoospermia (OLZ) and normal (NOR) groups. A prospective study was conducted on patients in the NOA and OLZ groups for 2 years. Microscopic testicular sperm extraction was performed for NOA patients, who were divided into a focal spermatogenesis group (FS) and an idiopathic azoospermia group (IA). Drug treatment was for OLZ patients, who were divided into a valid group (VA) and an invalid group (IN). The differences in sperm parameters and reproductive hormones were compared. ANOSIM analysis was used between and within groups. Pearson correlation analysis, CO inertia analysis and Proctor’s analysis were for relationships. ROC curve for the specificity and sensitivity. Time series analysis was for the trends between hormones and time.ResultsThe b-FSH, b-LH, s-T and ΔT in the NOA group were significantly higher than those in the OLZ and NOR groups. However, the s-FSH, s-E2, s-P, ΔFSH, ΔLH, ΔP and ΔE2 were lower. Thirty-one NOA patients underwent MTSE, of whom 12 had sperm (FS) and 19 had no sperm (IA). The s-FSH and s-E2 of the FS group were higher than those of the IA group. Twenty-six OLZ patients completed 30 days of treatment, of which 11 had an improved sperm count (VA) and 15 had no (IN). The ΔT of the VA group was higher than that of the IN group. After follow-up for 2 years, 18 patients’ results showed that b-FSH, b-LH and s-T were different over time, with delays of 19, 3 and -19 days. SC is closely related to pH, s-FSH, s-LH, s-E2, s-P, s-T, b-FSH, b-LH, ΔFSH, ΔLH, ΔP, ΔE2 and ΔT. There were complex common trends and relationships between different kinds of hormones. s-FSH, s-LH, s-E2, s-P, s-T, b-FSH and b-LH were useful to judge spermatogenesis, of which s-T, b-FSH and b-LH were more sensitive. If s-T, b-FSH and b-LH reached 64.4, 9.4 and 4.7, respectively, their prediction performance was the strongest.ConclusionSeminal testosterone is sensitive for judging local spermatogenesis in nonobstructive azoospermia patients, which may be the direction of local spermatogenesis in nonobstructive azoospermia.Clinical trial registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, identifier ChiCTR2200060463

Caspase polymorphisms and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

The aim of our study was to determine the impact of genetic polymorphisms in the caspase (CASP) genes on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We genotyped 7 potentially functional polymorphisms in CASP3, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, CASP10 genes in 362 HCC patients of receiving surgical resection of HCC tumor. The associations of genotype and haplotype with overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were analyzed by using the Cox proportional hazards model. We found that the CASP9 rs4645981 C allele was significantly associated with positive effect on DFS (P = 0.011 and 0.016 for CT+CC vs. TT in univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively), CT genotype was associated with a better OS of HCC than the TT genotype both in univariate and multivariate analysis (P = 0.048 and 0.041, respectively). Moreover, the CASP3 rs2705897 GT genotype showed marginally significant association with decreased OS and DFS, compared with the GG genotype. One haplotype TT/TG in CASP3 (constructed by rs12108497 T>C and rs2705897 T>G) was significantly associated with decreased OS and DFS, compared to the common haplotype TT/TT both in univariate analysis (P = 0.021 and 0.026, respectively) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.025 and 0.030, respectively). The haplotype GT/GT in CASP9 (constructed by rs4645978 A>G and rs4645981 C>T) was significantly associated with decreased DFS both in univariate and multivariate analysis (P = 0.012 and 0.010, respectively). In conclusion, the CASP9 rs4645981 polymorphism, CASP3 and CASP9 haplotypes may be useful prognosis markers for HCC patients with surgical resection of tumor

Acupuncture for Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcomes

AbstractThe present systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate the effects of acupuncture in women with breast cancer (BC), focusing on patient-reported outcomes (PROs).MethodsA comprehensive literature search was carried out for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting PROs in BC patients with treatment-related symptoms after undergoing acupuncture for at least four weeks. Literature screening, data extraction, and risk bias assessment were independently carried out by two researchers.ResultsOut of the 2, 524 identified studies, 29 studies representing 33 articles were included in this meta-analysis. At the end of treatment (EOT), the acupuncture patients’ quality of life (QoL) was measured by the QLQ-C30 QoL subscale, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endocrine Symptoms (FACT-ES), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General/Breast (FACT-G/B), and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), which depicted a significant improvement. The use of acupuncture in BC patients lead to a considerable reduction in the scores of all subscales of the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measuring pain. Moreover, patients treated with acupuncture were more likely to experience improvements in hot flashes scores, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and anxiety compared to those in the control group, while the improvements in depression were comparable across both groups. Long-term follow-up results were similar to the EOT results.ConclusionsCurrent evidence suggests that acupuncture might improve BC treatment-related symptoms measured with PROs including QoL, pain, fatigue, hot flashes, sleep disturbance and anxiety. However, a number of included studies report limited amounts of certain subgroup settings, thus more rigorous, well-designed and larger RCTs are needed to confirm our results

Desolvation and Dehydrogenation of Solvated Magnesium Salts of Dodecahydrododecaborate: Relationship between Structure and Thermal Decomposition

Attempts to synthesize solvent-free MgB_(12)H_(12) by heating various solvated forms (H_2O, NH_3, and CH_3OH) of the salt failed because of the competition between desolvation and dehydrogenation. This competition has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Products were characterized by IR, solution- and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal or powder X-ray diffraction analysis. For hydrated salts, thermal decomposition proceeded in three stages, loss of water to form first hexahydrated then trihydrated, and finally loss of water and hydrogen to form polyhydroxylated complexes. For partially ammoniated salts, two stages of thermal decomposition were observed as ammonia and hydrogen were released with weight loss first of 14 % and then 5.5 %. Thermal decomposition of methanolated salts proceeded through a single step with a total weight loss of 32 % with the release of methanol, methane, and hydrogen. All the gaseous products of thermal decomposition were characterized by using mass spectrometry. Residual solid materials were characterized by solid-state 11B magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analysis by which the molecular structures of hexahydrated and trihydrated complexes were solved. Both hydrogen and dihydrogen bonds were observed in structures of [Mg(H_2O_6B_(12)H_(12)]⋅6 H_2O and [Mg(CH_3OH)_(6)B_(12)H_(12)]⋅6 CH_3OH, which were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structural factors influencing thermal decomposition behavior are identified and discussed. The dependence of dehydrogenation on the formation of dihydrogen bonds may be an important consideration in the design of solid-state hydrogen storage materials

A compendium of genetic regulatory effects across pig tissues

The Farm Animal Genotype-Tissue Expression (FarmGTEx) project has been established to develop a public resource of genetic regulatory variants in livestock, which is essential for linking genetic polymorphisms to variation in phenotypes, helping fundamental biological discovery and exploitation in animal breeding and human biomedicine. Here we show results from the pilot phase of PigGTEx by processing 5,457 RNA-sequencing and 1,602 whole-genome sequencing samples passing quality control from pigs. We build a pig genotype imputation panel and associate millions of genetic variants with five types of transcriptomic phenotypes in 34 tissues. We evaluate tissue specificity of regulatory effects and elucidate molecular mechanisms of their action using multi-omics data. Leveraging this resource, we decipher regulatory mechanisms underlying 207 pig complex phenotypes and demonstrate the similarity of pigs to humans in gene expression and the genetic regulation behind complex phenotypes, supporting the importance of pigs as a human biomedical model.</p