EasyFL: A Low-code Federated Learning Platform For Dummies

Academia and industry have developed several platforms to support the popular privacy-preserving distributed learning method -- Federated Learning (FL). However, these platforms are complex to use and require a deep understanding of FL, which imposes high barriers to entry for beginners, limits the productivity of researchers, and compromises deployment efficiency. In this paper, we propose the first low-code FL platform, EasyFL, to enable users with various levels of expertise to experiment and prototype FL applications with little coding. We achieve this goal while ensuring great flexibility and extensibility for customization by unifying simple API design, modular design, and granular training flow abstraction. With only a few lines of code, EasyFL empowers them with many out-of-the-box functionalities to accelerate experimentation and deployment. These practical functionalities are heterogeneity simulation, comprehensive tracking, distributed training optimization, and seamless deployment. They are proposed based on challenges identified in the proposed FL life cycle. Compared with other platforms, EasyFL not only requires just three lines of code (at least 10x lesser) to build a vanilla FL application but also incurs lower training overhead. Besides, our evaluations demonstrate that EasyFL expedites distributed training by 1.5x. It also improves the efficiency of deployment. We believe that EasyFL will increase the productivity of researchers and democratize FL to wider audiences

Effects of replacement of alfalfa by big-leaf mulberry on growth performance, digestion and meat quality in growing rabbits

[EN] This study aimed to investigate the effect of sundried big-leaf mulberry (BLM) as a replacement for alfalfa on the growth performance, digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen (N) utilisation and meat quality in New Zealand White rabbits. One hundred and sixty weaned rabbits, aged 35±1 d and with a body weight of 755±26 g, were randomly assigned to the 4 treatments with 20 replicates of 2 rabbits (1 male and 1 female) each. Animal performance was evaluated between the 35th and 77th d of age in 40 animals per treatment. The coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients and N utilisation were measured between 77 to 83 d of age in 30 animals per treatment. The control rabbits were fed a corn-soybean meal-alfalfa meal based diet. The three experimental groups were fed a similar diet in which the alfalfa meal was replaced by 10% (BLM10), 20% (BLM20), or 30% (BLM30) BLM. The final body weights and average daily gain were higher (P<0.05) in BLM20 rabbits compared to cThis work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation in Higher Education of Anhui, China (KJ2018A0535), and the fund of Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province of China (1708085QC74).Wu, XZ.; Yang, PL.; Gao, XH.; Wen, ZG.; Dai, SF.; Zhu, MX.; Wang, LX. (2019). Effects of replacement of alfalfa by big-leaf mulberry on growth performance, digestion and meat quality in growing rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 27(4):199-205. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2019.11529OJS199205274Abu Hafsa S., Salem A., Hassan A., Kholif A., Elghandour M., Barbabosa A., Lopez S. 2016. Digestion, growth performance and caecal fermentation in growing rabbits fed diets containing foliage of browse trees. World Rabbit Sci., 24: 283-293. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2016.4359AOAC International. 2005. Official methods of analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 18th ed. 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Nutritional effect of mulberry ("morus alba") leaves as sole ration of adult rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 1: 67-69. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.1993.196Gidenne T., Combes S., Fortun-Lamothe L. 2013. Protein replacement by digestible fibre in the diet of growing rabbits. 1: Impact on digestive balance, nitrogen excretion and microbial activity. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech., 183: 132-141. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2013.04.022Lounaouci-Ouyed G., Berchiche M., Gidenne T. 2014. Effects of substitution of soybean meal-alfalfa-maize by a combination of field bean or pea with hard wheat bran on digestion and growth performance in rabbits in Algeria. World Rabbit Sci., 22: 137-146. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2014.1487Ma M.R., Liu X.C., Zhu F.H. 2012. Study on biological characteristics and nutritional value of new type forage grass big-leaf mulberry. 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Effect of Feeding Head Lettuce, Water Spinach, Ruzi grass or Mimosa pigra on Feed Intake, Digestibility and Growth in Rabbits. Asian-Australas J. Anim. Sci., 21: 1171-1177. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2008.70628Ouhayoun J., Dalle Zotte A. 1996. Harmonization of muscle and meat criteria in rabbit meat research. World Rabbit Sci., 4: 211-218. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.1996.297Pérez J.M., Lebas F., Gidenne T., Maertens L., Xiccato G., Parigi-Bini R., Dalle Zotte A. 1995. European reference method for in vivo determination of diet digestibility in rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 3: 41-43. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.1995.239Rodriguez M., Carro M.D., Valiente V., Formoso-Rafferty N., Rebollar P.G. 2017. Effects of dietary fish oil supplementation on performance, meat quality, and cecal fermentation of growing rabbits. J. Anim. Sci., 95: 3620-3630. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2017.1690Safwat A.M., Sarmiento-Franco L., Santos-Ricalde R.H., Nieves D., Sandoval-Castro C.A. 2015. Estimating Apparent Nutrient Digestibility of Diets Containing Leucaena leucocephala or Moringa oleifera Leaf Meals for Growing Rabbits by Two Methods. Asian-Australas J. Anim. Sci., 28: 1155-1162. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.14.0429Shang S.M., Wu Z.Y., Liu G.Y., Sun C.R., Ma M.W., C. Li F. 2017. Effect of substituting Guinea grass with soybean hulls on production performance and digestion traits in fattening rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 25: 241. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2017.6654Statistical Analysis System. 2009. SAS/STAT User's Guide 9.2,2 ed. Inst. Inc. Cary NC, USA.Tu Y., Diao Q.Y., Zhang R., Yan G.L., Xiong W. 2009. Analysis on feed nutritive value of hybrid Broussonetia papyrifera leaf. Pratacultural Sci., 13: 30-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-8018(90)90025-2Van Soest P.J., Robertson J.B., Lewis B.A. 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. 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A data analysis method for isochronous mass spectrometry using two time-of-flight detectors at CSRe

The concept of isochronous mass spectrometry (IMS) applying two time-of-flight (TOF) detectors originated many years ago at GSI. However, the corresponding method for data analysis has never been discussed in detail. Recently, two TOF detectors have been installed at CSRe and the new working mode of the ring is under test. In this paper, a data analysis method for this mode is introduced and tested with a series of simulations. The results show that the new IMS method can significantly improve mass resolving power via the additional velocity information of stored ions. This improvement is especially important for nuclides with Lorentz factor $\gamma$-value far away from the transition point $\gamma _t$ of the storage ring CSRe.Comment: published in Chinese Physics C Vol. 39, No. 10 (2015) 10620

G-quadruplex formation in human telomeric (TTAGGG)4 sequence with complementary strand in close vicinity under molecularly crowded condition

Chromosomes in vertebrates are protected at both ends by telomere DNA composed of tandem (TTAGGG)n repeats. DNA replication produces a blunt-ended leading strand telomere and a lagging strand telomere carrying a single-stranded G-rich overhang at its end. The G-rich strand can form G-quadruplex structure in the presence of K+ or Na+. At present, it is not clear whether quadruplex can form in the double-stranded telomere region where the two complementary strands are constrained in close vicinity and quadruplex formation, if possible, has to compete with the formation of the conventional Watson–Crick duplex. In this work, we studied quadruplex formation in oligonucleotides and double-stranded DNA containing both the G- and C-rich sequences to better mimic the in vivo situation. Under such competitive condition only duplex was observed in dilute solution containing physiological concentration of K+. However, quadruplex could preferentially form and dominate over duplex structure under molecular crowding condition created by PEG as a result of significant quadruplex stabilization and duplex destabilization. This observation suggests quadruplex may potentially form or be induced at the blunt end of a telomere, which may present a possible alternative form of structures at telomere ends

Intrahepatic HBV DNA as a predictor of antivirus treatment efficacy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM: To evaluate the effect of antiviral agents on intrahepatic HBV DNA in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: Seventy-one patients received treatment with lamivudine, interferon alpha (IFN-alpha 2b) or sequential therapy with lamivudine-IFN-alpha 2b for 48 wk. All subjects were followed up for 24 wk. Serum and intrahepatic HBV DNA were measured quantitatively by PCR. HBV genotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, the intrahepatic HBV DNA level in 71 patients decreased from a mean of (6.1 +/- 1.0) log10 to (4.9 +/- 1.4) log10. Further, a larger decrease was seen in the intrahepatic HBV DNA level in patients with HBeAg seroconversion. Intrahepatic HBV DNA level (before and after treatment) was not significantly affected by the patients' HBV genotype, or by the probability of virological flare after treatment. CONCLUSION: Intrahepatic HBV DNA can be effectively lowered by antiviral agents and is a significant marker for monitoring antivirus treatment. Low intrahepatic HBV DNA level may achieve better efficacy of antivirus treatment

The expression of cytoglobin as a prognostic factor in gliomas: a retrospective analysis of 88 patients

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that cytoglobin (Cygb) may function as a tumor suppressor gene. METHODS: We immunohistochemically evaluated the expression of Cygb, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3K), phosphorylated (p)-Akt, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 88 patients with 41 high-grade gliomas and 47 low-grade gliomas. Intratumoral microvessel density (IMD) was also determined and associated with clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: Low expression of Cygb was significantly associated with the higher histological grading and tumor recurrence. A significant negative correlation emerged between Cygb expression and PI3K, p-Akt, IL-6, TNFα or VEGF expression. Cygb expression was negatively correlated with IMD. There was a positive correlation between PI3K, p-Akt, IL-6, TNFα and VEGF expression with IMD.High histologic grade, tumor recurrence, decreased Cygb expression, increased PI3K expression, increased p-Akt expression and increased VEGF expression correlated with patients’ overall survival in univariate analysis. However, only histological grading and Cygb expression exhibited a relationship with survival of patients as independent prognostic factors of glioma by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Cygb loss may contribute to tumor recurrence and a worse prognosis in gliomas. Cygb may serve as an independent predictive factor for prognosis of glioma patients