Communication-Efficient On-Device Machine Learning: Federated Distillation and Augmentation under Non-IID Private Data

On-device machine learning (ML) enables the training process to exploit a massive amount of user-generated private data samples. To enjoy this benefit, inter-device communication overhead should be minimized. With this end, we propose federated distillation (FD), a distributed model training algorithm whose communication payload size is much smaller than a benchmark scheme, federated learning (FL), particularly when the model size is large. Moreover, user-generated data samples are likely to become non-IID across devices, which commonly degrades the performance compared to the case with an IID dataset. To cope with this, we propose federated augmentation (FAug), where each device collectively trains a generative model, and thereby augments its local data towards yielding an IID dataset. Empirical studies demonstrate that FD with FAug yields around 26x less communication overhead while achieving 95-98% test accuracy compared to FL.Comment: presented at the 32nd Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS 2018), 2nd Workshop on Machine Learning on the Phone and other Consumer Devices (MLPCD 2), Montr\'eal, Canad

Cross-conjugated isothianaphthene quinoids: a versatile strategy for controlling electronic structures

The elucidation of new structure–property relationships in π-conjugated molecules bearing quinoidal moieties is of relevance because of their use in organic electronics applications and their traditional assimilation as models of doped conducting polymers. Quinoidal oligothiophenes are ground state electronic hybrids between closed-shell Kekulé quinoidal and open-shell aromatic diradicaloid forms. The prominent contribution of the diradical character in longer oligomers beyond thiophene 4-mers results in a low stability, thereby limiting the ability to tune their properties. Thus, the control of these quinoidal/aromatic contributions is an important prerequisite to develop long quinoidal oligothiophenes. To address this problem, a series of quinoidal pentathiophenes with benzene-annelated isothianaphthene units were designed and successfully synthesized as stable structures. Combined molecular spectroscopies and theoretical modelling indicated that cross-conjugation appears upon the introduction of multiple benzene-annelated units, and that the number and position of the benzene-annelated units have a significant influence on the quinoidal/aromatic/cross-conjugated electronic structures. The newly developed quinoidal pentathiophenes functioned as organic semiconducting materials in transistor and near infrared phototransistor devices. This study demonstrates that modification of the cross-conjugated quinoidal structure is a promising strategy for fine-tuning electronic structures in π-extended quinoidal systems, which could help us to understand unique π-electronic features and to develop novel organic electronic materials.This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (20H02814, 20K21224, 20H05841, 20KK0123, 19K15505, 20H04639, 20K15352, 21K05213, 20H00379, 20H05833, and 20K15261), CREST (J205101030), NEDO (21500248-0), and “Dynamic Alliance for Open Innovation Bridging Human, Environmental and Materials” from The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. We are grateful to Prof. Toshihiro Ohnishi for helpful discussion. The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities MCIU and MINECO/FEDER of the Spanish Government (project PGC2018-098533-B-100), the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Spanish Government (project RED2018-102626-T) and the Junta de Andalucía, Spain (UMA18FEDERJA057). We also thank the Research Central Services (SCAI) of the University of Málaga. // Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Measured sodium excretion is associated with cardiovascular outcomes in non-dialysis CKD patients: results from the KNOW-CKD study

BackgroundThere are insufficient studies on the effect of dietary salt intake on cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and there is no consensus on the sodium (Na) intake level that increases the risk of CV disease in CKD patients. Therefore, we investigated the association between dietary salt intake and CV outcomes in CKD patients.MethodsIn the Korean cohort study for Outcome in patients with CKD (KNOW-CKD), 1,937 patients were eligible for the study, and their dietary Na intake was estimated using measured 24h urinary Na excretion. The primary outcome was a composite of CV events and/or all-cause death. The secondary outcome was a major adverse cardiac event (MACE).ResultsAmong 1,937 subjects, there were 205 (10.5%) events for the composite outcome and 110 (5.6%) events for MACE. Compared to the reference group (urinary Na excretion< 2.0g/day), the group with the highest measured 24h urinary Na excretion (urinary Na excretion ≥ 8.0g/day) was associated with increased risk of both the composite outcome (hazard ratio 3.29 [95% confidence interval 1.00-10.81]; P = 0.049) and MACE (hazard ratio 6.28 [95% confidence interval 1.45-27.20]; P = 0.013) in a cause-specific hazard model. Subgroup analysis also showed a pronounced association between dietary salt intake and the composite outcome in subgroups of patients with abdominal obesity, female, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (< 60 ml/min per 1.73m2), no overt proteinuria, or a lower urinary potassium-to-creatinine ratio (< 46 mmol/g).ConclusionA high-salt diet is associated with CV outcomes in non-dialysis CKD patients

Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of a Korean Version of the Information Needs in Cardiac Rehabilitation Scale

Objective To translate and culturally adapt the Information Needs in Cardiac Rehabilitation (INCR) questionnaire into Korean and perform psychometric validation. Methods The original English version of the INCR, in which patients are asked to rate the importance of 55 topics, was translated into Korean (INCR-K) and culturally adapted. The INCR-K was tested on 101 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants at Kangwon National University Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in Korea. Structural validity was assessed using principal component analysis, and Cronbach’s alpha of the areas was computed. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing information needs according to CR duration and knowledge sufficiency according to receipt of education. Half of the participants were randomly selected for 1 month of re-testing to assess their responsiveness. Results Following cognitive debriefing, the number of items was reduced to 41 and ratings were added to assess participants’ sufficient knowledge of each item. The INCR-K structure comprised eight areas, each with sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha>0.7). Criterion validity was supported by significant differences in mean INCR-K scores based on CR duration and knowledge sufficiency ratings according to receipt of education (p<0.05). Information needs and knowledge sufficiency ratings increased after 1 month of CR, thus supporting responsiveness (p<0.05). Conclusion The INCR-K demonstrated adequate face, content, cross-cultural, structural, and criterion validities, internal consistency, and responsiveness. Information needs changed with CR, such that multiple assessments of information needs may be warranted as rehabilitation progresses to facilitate patient-centered education

Capicua suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by controlling the ETV4–MMP1 axis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is developed by multiple steps accompanying progressive alterations of gene expression, which leads to increased cell proliferation and malignancy. Although environmental factors and intracellular signaling pathways that are critical for HCC progression have been identified, gene expression changes and the related genetic factors contributing to HCC pathogenesis are still insufficiently understood. In this study, we identify a transcriptional repressor Capicua/CIC as a suppressor of HCC progression and a potential therapeutic target. Expression of CIC is posttranscriptionally reduced in HCC cells. CIC levels are correlated with survival rates in patients with HCC. CIC overexpression suppresses HCC cell proliferation and invasion, whereas loss of CIC exerts opposite effects in vivo as well as in vitro. The levels of PEA3 group genes, the best-known CIC target genes, are correlated with lethality in patients with HCC. Among the PEA3 group genes, ETV4 is the most significantly upregulated gene in CIC-deficient HCC cells, consequently promoting HCC progression. Furthermore, ETV4 induces expression of MMP1, the MMP gene highly relevant to HCC progression, in HCC cells, and knockdown of MMP1 completely blocks the CIC deficiency-induced HCC cell proliferation and invasion. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that the CIC-ETV4-MMP1 axis is a novel regulatory module controlling HCC progression. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.113sciescopu

Executive Summary of the Korean Society of Nephrology 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline for Optimal Hemodialysis Treatment

The Korean Society of Nephrology (KSN) has published a clinical practice guideline (CPG) document for maintenance hemodialysis (HD). The document, 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline on Optimal HD Treatment, is based on an extensive evidence-oriented review of the benefits of preparation, initiation, and maintenance therapy for HD, with the participation of representative experts from the KSN under the methodologists’ support for guideline development. It was intended to help clinicians participating in HD treatment make safer and more effective clinical decisions by providing user-friendly guidelines. We hope that this CPG will be meaningful as a recommendation in practice, but not on a regulatory rule basis, as different approaches and treatments may be used by health care providers depending on the individual patient’s condition. This CPG consists of eight sections and 15 key questions. Each begins with statements that are graded by the strength of recommendations and quality of the evidence. Each statement is followed by a summary of the evidence supporting the recommendations. There is also a link to full-text documents and lists of the most important reports so that the readers can read further (most of this is available online)