Adversarial Example Generation using Evolutionary Multi-objective Optimization

This paper proposes Evolutionary Multi-objective Optimization (EMO)-based Adversarial Example (AE) design method that performs under black-box setting. Previous gradient-based methods produce AEs by changing all pixels of a target image, while previous EC-based method changes small number of pixels to produce AEs. Thanks to EMO's property of population based-search, the proposed method produces various types of AEs involving ones locating between AEs generated by the previous two approaches, which helps to know the characteristics of a target model or to know unknown attack patterns. Experimental results showed the potential of the proposed method, e.g., it can generate robust AEs and, with the aid of DCT-based perturbation pattern generation, AEs for high resolution images

Magnetocaloric effect, thermal conductivity, and magnetostriction of epoxy-bonded La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 hydrides

金沢大学理工研究域数物科学系Magnetic materials with large magnetocaloric effect are significantly important for magnetic refrigeration. La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 compounds are one of the promising magnetocaloric materials that have a first order magnetic phase transition. Transition temperature of hydrogenated La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 increased up to room temperature region while keeping metamagnetic transition properties. From view point of practical usage, bonded composite are very attractive and their properties are important. We made epoxy bonded La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 hydrides. Magnetocaloric effect was studied by measuring specific heat, magnetization, and temperature change in adiabatic demagnetization. The composite had about 20% smaller entropy change from the hydrogenated La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 powder in 2 T. Thermal conductivity of the composite was several times smaller than La(Fe,Si)13. The small thermal conductivity was explained due to the small thermal conductivity of epoxy. Thermal conductivity was observed to be insensitive to magnetic field in 2 T. Thermal expansion and magnetostriction of the composite material were measured. The composite expanded about 0.25% when it entered into ferromagnetic phase. Magnetostriction of the composite in ferromagnetic phase was about 0.2% in 5 T and much larger than that in paramagnetic phase. The composite didn\u27t break after about 100 times magnetic field changes in adiabatic demagnetization experiment even though it has magnetostriction. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Qualitative investigation of the factors that generate ambivalent feelings in women who give birth after receiving negative results from non-invasive prenatal testing

Background: Women who receive negative results from non-invasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT) may find that they later have mixed or ambivalent feelings, for example, feelings of accepting NIPT and regretting undergoing the test. This study aimed to investigate the factors generating ambivalent feelings among women who gave birth after having received negative results from NIPT. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to women who received a negative NIPT result, and a contents analysis was conducted focusing on ambivalent expressions for those 1562 women who responded the questionnaire. The qualitative data gathered from the questionnaire were analyzed using the N-Vivo software package. Results: Environmental factors, genetic counseling-related factors, and increased anticipatory anxiety, affected the feeling of ambivalence among pregnant women. Furthermore, pregnant women desired more information regarding the detailed prognosis for individuals with Down syndrome and living with them and/or termination, assuming the possibility that they were positive. Conclusions: Three major interrelated factors affected the feeling of ambivalence in women. Highlighting and discussing such factors during genetic counseling may resolve some of these ambivalences, thereby enhancing the quality of decisions made by pregnant women

miR-22 represses cancer progression by inducing cellular senescence

The microRNA miR-22 targets CDK6, SIRT1, and Sp1—genes involved in regulation of the senescence program—to suppress cell growth and proliferation

Multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled study of the efficacy and safety of favipiravir and nafamostat mesilate in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nafamostat combined with favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel assignment study in hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were randomly assigned to receive favipiravir alone (n = 24) or nafamostat with favipiravir (n = 21). The outcomes included changes in the World Health Organization clinical progression scale score, time to improvement in body temperature, and improvement in oxygen saturation (SpO2). Results: There was no significant difference in the changes in the clinical progression scale between nafamostat with favipiravir and favipiravir alone groups (median, -0.444 vs -0.150, respectively; least-squares mean difference, -0.294; P = 0.364). The time to improvement in body temperature was significantly shorter in the combination group (5.0 days; 95% confidence interval, 4.0-7.0) than in the favipiravir group (9.0 days; 95% confidence interval, 7.0-18.0; P =0.009). The changes in SpO2 were greater in the combination group than in the favipiravir group (0.526% vs -1.304%, respectively; least-squares mean difference, 1.831; P = 0.022). No serious adverse events or deaths were reported, but phlebitis occurred in 57.1% of the patients in the combination group. Conclusion: Although our study showed no differences in clinical progression, earlier defervescence, and recovery of SpO2 were observed in the combination group