Bias mitigation with AIF360: A comparative study

The use of artificial intelligence for decision making raises concerns about the societal impact of such systems. Traditionally, the product of a human decision-maker are governed by laws and human values. Decision-making is now being guided - or in some cases, replaced by machine learning classification which may reinforce and introduce bias. Algorithmic bias mitigation is explored as an approach to avoid this, however it does come at a cost: efficiency and accuracy. We conduct an empirical analysis of two off-the-shelf bias mitigation techniques from the AIF360 toolkit on a binary classification task. Our preliminary results indicate that bias mitigation is a feasible approach to ensuring group fairness

Bias mitigation with AIF360: A comparative study

The use of artificial intelligence for decision making raises concerns about the societal impact of such systems. Traditionally, the product of a human decision-maker are governed by laws and human values. Decision-making is now being guided - or in some cases, replaced by machine learning classification which may reinforce and introduce bias. Algorithmic bias mitigation is explored as an approach to avoid this, however it does come at a cost: efficiency and accuracy. We conduct an empirical analysis of two off-the-shelf bias mitigation techniques from the AIF360 toolkit on a binary classification task. Our preliminary results indicate that bias mitigation is a feasible approach to ensuring group fairness

Plagiarism in Take-home Exams: Help-seeking, Collaboration, and Systematic Cheating

Due to the increased enrollments in Computer Science education programs, institutions have sought ways to automate and streamline parts of course assessment in order to be able to invest more time in guiding students' work. This article presents a study of plagiarism behavior in an introductory programming course, where a traditional pen-and-paper exam was replaced with multiple take-home exams. The students who took the take-home exam enabled a software plugin that recorded their programming process. During an analysis of the students' submissions, potential plagiarism cases were highlighted, and students were invited to interviews. The interviews with the candidates for plagiarism highlighted three types of plagiarism behaviors: help-seeking, collaboration, and systematic cheating. Analysis of programming process traces indicates that parts of such behavior are detectable directly from programming process data.Peer reviewe

Correlation between vitamin A, E, coenzyme Q10 and degree of insulin resistance in obese and non-obese subjects

The aim of the present study was to investigate correlation between plasma vitamin A, vitamin E, serum coenzyme Q10 levels and degree of insulin resistance in obese and normal weight people. The study was performed on 98 (21 Male, 77 Female) obese people and 78 (20 Male, 58 Female) control subjects. Vitamin A, E and coenzyme Q10 levels were adjusted to the lipid levels. Adjusted vitamin A and E and coenzyme Q10 levels of the obese female group were significantly lower than those of the control female group. Adjusted vitamin A and coenzyme Q10 levels of the obese male group were significantly lower than those of the control male group. Insulin resistance level of the obese female and male groups were significantly higher than that of the control female and male groups. There were no significant correlations between serum coenzyme Q10, plasma vitamin A and E levels and insulin resistance in obese and control subjects. Our findings show that it is essential to use the lipid adjusted levels of lipid soluble nutrients in obesity. Also, we have found no association between insulin resistance and vitamin A, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 levels in obese subjects

Parathyroid hormone, but not vitamin D, is associated with the metabolic syndrome in morbidly obese women and men: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism is high among morbidly obese subjects. Further, low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 [OH]D) and magnesium have been associated with increased risk of the metabolic syndrome (MS), and recently, a possible link between PTH and MS has been reported. Although it is well known that the synthesis and secretion of PTH is regulated by serum levels of calcium, phosphate, magnesium and 25(OH)D, less is known about the possible clustered affiliation of these parameters with MS. We aimed to explore whether MS is associated with abnormal serum levels of PTH, 25(OH)D and magnesium in a population of morbidly obese patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fasting serum levels of 25(OH)D, PTH and magnesium were assessed in a cross-sectional cohort study of 1,017 consecutive morbidly obese patients (68% women). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess the independent effect of PTH, 25(OH)D and magnesium on the odds for MS (National Cholesterol Education Program [NCEP]) after adjustment for confounding factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixty-eight percent of the patients had MS. Patients with MS had lower mean serum magnesium (P < 0.001) and higher mean PTH (P = 0.067) than patients without MS, whereas mean 25(OH)D did not differ significantly. Patients with PTH levels in the second to fourth quartiles had higher odds of prevalent MS (odds ratio 1.47 [95% CI 0.92–2.35], 2.33 [95% CI 1.40–3.87] and 2.09 [95% CI 1.23–3.56], respectively), after adjustment for 25(OH)D, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, creatinine, age, gender, season of serum sampling, BMI, current smoking, albuminuria, CRP, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Further, PTH was significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic pressure (both P < 0.001), but not with the other components of MS. The levels of 25(OH)D and magnesium were not associated with MS in the multivariate model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The PTH level, but not the vitamin D level, is an independent predictor of MS in treatment seeking morbidly obese Caucasian women and men. Randomized controlled clinical trials, including different therapeutic strategies to lower PTH, e.g. calcium/vitamin D supplementation and weight reduction, are necessary to explore any cause-and-effect relationship.</p

Familial aggregation of maxillary lateral incisor agenesis

In spite of recent developments, data regarding the genes responsible for the less severe forms of hypodontia are still scarce and controversial. This study addressed the hypothesis that agenesis of maxillary lateral incisors (MLIA) is a distinct type of hypodontia, by evaluating its familial aggregation and the occurrence of other types of ageneses or microdontia in probands' relatives. Sixty-two probands with MLIA were identified, and information was collected on 142 first-degree relatives. Relative risk (RR) was calculated and compared by re-assessment of data previously published for the Swedish, Utah, and Israeli populations, for the same trait. A RR of 15 was obtained in the Portuguese, 16 in the Swedish, 12 in Utah, and 5 in the Israeli population. Our results support a significant familial aggregation of MLIA, show that MLIA almost never segregates with other forms of agenesis, and suggest that microdontia of maxillary lateral incisors is part of the same phenotype.The individuals who took part in this study are acknowledged. Carolina Lemos was the recipient of a PhD scholarship (FCT - SFRH/BD/17761/2004) and Teresa Pinho of a PhD scholarship from Instituto Superior de Ciencias da Saude Norte/CESPU. The other authors received no funding from any institution, department, or sponsor, other than salaries from the institutions with which they are affiliated

Tinned fruit consumption and mortality in three prospective cohorts.

Dietary recommendations to promote health include fresh, frozen and tinned fruit, but few studies have examined the health benefits of tinned fruit. We therefore studied the association between tinned fruit consumption and mortality. We followed up participants from three prospective cohorts in the United Kingdom: 22,421 participants from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk cohort (1993-2012), 52,625 participants from the EPIC-Oxford cohort (1993-2012), and 7440 participants from the Whitehall II cohort (1991-2012), all reporting no history of heart attack, stroke, or cancer when entering these studies. We estimated the association between frequency of tinned fruit consumption and all cause mortality (primary outcome measure) using Cox regression models within each cohort, and pooled hazard ratios across cohorts using random-effects meta-analysis. Tinned fruit consumption was assessed with validated food frequency questionnaires including specific questions about tinned fruit. During 1,305,330 person years of follow-up, 8857 deaths occurred. After adjustment for lifestyle factors and risk markers the pooled hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of all cause mortality compared with the reference group of tinned fruit consumption less often than one serving per month were: 1.05 (0.99, 1.12) for one to three servings per month, 1.10 (1.03, 1.18) for one serving per week, and 1.13 (1.04, 1.23) for two or more servings per week. Analysis of cause-specific mortality showed that tinned fruit consumption was associated with mortality from cardiovascular causes and from non-cardiovascular, non-cancer causes. In a pooled analysis of three prospective cohorts from the United Kingdom self-reported tinned fruit consumption in the 1990s was weakly but positively associated with mortality during long-term follow-up. These findings raise questions about the evidence underlying dietary recommendations to promote tinned fruit consumption as part of a healthy diet.EPIC-Norfolk is supported by the Medical Research Council (grant numbers G1000143, G0401527, G9502233, G0300128) and Cancer Research UK (grant numbers C864/A14136, C865/A2883). EPIC-Oxford is supported by Cancer Research UK (C570/A11691). Whitehall II has been supported by grants from the Medical Research Council; the British Heart Foundation; the British Health and Safety Executive; the British Department of Health; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL036310); and the National Institute on Aging at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). ETA is supported by an academic clinical fellowship awarded by the United Kingdom National Institute for Health Research. EB is funded by the British Heart Foundation. MAHL received grants from Cancer Research UK, and Medical Research Council. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.This is the final published version. It first appeared in PLoS ONE 10(2): e0117796. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117796

A Novel mRNA Level Subtraction Method for Quick Identification of Target-Orientated Uniquely Expressed Genes Between Peanut Immature Pod and Leaf

Subtraction technique has been broadly applied for target gene discovery. However, most current protocols apply relative differential subtraction and result in great amount clone mixtures of unique and differentially expressed genes. This makes it more difficult to identify unique or target-orientated expressed genes. In this study, we developed a novel method for subtraction at mRNA level by integrating magnetic particle technology into driver preparation and tester–driver hybridization to facilitate uniquely expressed gene discovery between peanut immature pod and leaf through a single round subtraction. The resulting target clones were further validated through polymerase chain reaction screening using peanut immature pod and leaf cDNA libraries as templates. This study has resulted in identifying several genes expressed uniquely in immature peanut pod. These target genes can be used for future peanut functional genome and genetic engineering research

Semaphorins and their receptors: Novel features of neural guidance molecules

Semaphorins were originally identified as axon guidance cues involved in the development of the nervous system. In recent years, it is emerging that they also participate in various biological systems, including physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we primarily focus on our cumulative findings for the role of semaphorins and their receptors in the regulation of the immune system, while also summarizing recent progress in the context of cardiovascular system

Review of available national guidelines for obstetric anal sphincter injury.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs) are the most severe form of perineal trauma with potentially devastating effects on a mother's quality of life. There are various national guidelines available for their management. The aim of this study was to review and compare recommendations from published national guidelines regarding management and prevention of OASI. METHODS: We searched the PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL and COCHRANE databases from January 2008 till October 2019 using relevant Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), including all subheadings. The guideline characteristics were mapped and methodological quality assessed with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool by three independent reviewers. To compare the methodological quality of the guidelines, the interpretation of the six domain scores were taken into consideration. By consensus of the authors, a score of 70% was taken as a cut-off, and scores above this were considered 'high quality'. RESULTS: Thirteen national guidelines on perineal trauma were included and analysed. Nine of these were specific to OASI. There is wide variation in methodological quality and evidence used for recommendations. AGREE scores for overall guideline assessment were > 70% in eight of the guidelines, with Australia-Queensland, Canada, the UK and USA scoring highest. CONCLUSIONS: The wide variation in methodological quality and evidence used for recommendations suggests that there is a need for an agreed international guideline. This will enable healthcare practitioners to follow the same recommendations, with the most recent evidence, and provide evidence-based care to all women globally