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General General

The debate over understanding in AI's large language models.

In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

We survey a current, heated debate in the artificial intelligence (AI) research community on whether large pretrained language models can be said to understand language-and the physical and social situations language encodes-in any humanlike sense. We describe arguments that have been made for and against such understanding and key questions for the broader sciences of intelligence that have arisen in light of these arguments. We contend that an extended science of intelligence can be developed that will provide insight into distinct modes of understanding, their strengths and limitations, and the challenge of integrating diverse forms of cognition.

Mitchell Melanie, Krakauer David C

2023-Mar-28

artificial intelligence, large language models, understanding

Internal Medicine Internal Medicine

Association between urinary albumin creatinine ratio and cardiovascular disease.

In PloS one ; h5-index 176.0

INTRODUCTION : The association between microalbuminuria and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is accumulating in various patient populations. However, when stratified by sex, the relationship between microalbuminuria and CVD remains unclear.

METHOD : We obtained data from the 2011-2014 and 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Microalbuminuria was measured based on spot urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR). The Framingham risk score (FRS) model was implemented to evaluate the CVD risk. Linear and logistic regression models were used to identify the associations of microalbuminuria status with cardiometabolic predictors and CVD status determined by the FRS score.

RESULTS : Among 19,340 representative Korean participants, the (UACR) in Korean women and men with history of CVD was higher than in those without history of CVD. Among patients without history of CVD, multivariate regression analysis showed that a high UACR was related to older age, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, higher total cholesterol level, higher systolic blood pressure, higher prevalence of current smoking, higher prevalence of diabetes, and higher anti-hypertensive medication use in both women and men. The UACR showed a positive linear correlation with the Framingham risk score in both women and men.

CONCLUSION : The presence of microalbuminuria was significantly associated with the cardiometabolic risk factors and the increased risk of CVD evaluated by FRS model in both women and men in a nationally representative sample of Korea.

Kim Yoo Jin, Hwang Sang Won, Lee Taesic, Lee Jun Young, Uh Young

2023

Public Health Public Health

Prevalence of and factors associated with intimate partner violence victimhood among men who have sex with men in Guangzhou, China.

In Sexually transmitted diseases

BACKGROUND : Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been a concern among men who have sex with men (MSM), but less attention has been paid to the factors associated with this population in China.

AIMS : We investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with IPV victimhood among MSM in Guangzhou, China.

METHODS : MSM were recruited from May to November 2017, and data were collected using an anonymous electronic questionnaire. Chi-squared tests and non-conditional logistic regressions were used to explore the factors associated with IPV victimhood.

RESULTS : A total of 129 in 976 (13.22%) MSM reported experiencing IPV victimhood. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that individuals who had condomless anal intercourse (CAI, aOR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.00-2.17) or had sex with a female partner (aOR = 1.81, 95%CI: 1.15-2.83) in the past six months were at a higher risk of IPV victimhood. Participants who had ever experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) were more likely to experience IPV (aOR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.32-2.94). Individuals who used rush poppers before sex had a higher risk of IPV (aOR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.21-2.63). In addition, ever having sex with a female sex partner (aOR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.04-2.60), ever having used rush poppers before sex (aOR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.22-2.64) in the past six months, and ever having experienced CSA (aOR = 2.01, 95%CI: 1.35-3.01) were associated with experiencing more types of IPV.

CONCLUSIONS : IPV victimhood was relatively common among MSM in Guangzhou, particularly among those who had CAI, experienced CSA, had sex with a female partner, used rush poppers before sex, and those with less education.

Lin Kaihao, Tan Zhimin, Li Jing, Cheng Weibin, Yang Yi, Jiang Hongbo

2023-Mar-22

Surgery Surgery

Expanding Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Research Using ChatGPT.

In Aesthetic surgery journal ; h5-index 35.0

BACKGROUND : In the past 3 months, OpenAI, a San Francisco based artificial intelligence (AI) research laboratory, has released ChatGPT, a conversation large language model (LLM). ChatGPT has the ability to answer user questions, admit to mistakes, and learn from users that are accessing the program.

OBJECTIVES : Due to the importance of producing evidence-based research in plastic surgery, the authors of this study wanted to determine how accurate ChatGPT could be in creating novel systematic review ideas that encompasses the diverse practice of cosmetic surgery.

METHODS : ChatGPT was given commands to produce 20 novel systematic review ideas for 12 different topics within cosmetic surgery. For each topic, the system was told to give 10 general and 10 specific ideas that were related to the concept. In order to determine the accuracy of ChatGPT, a literature review was conducted using Pubmed (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD), CINAHL (EBSCO Industries, Birmingham, AL), EMBASE (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and Cochrane (Wiley, Hoboken, NJ).

RESULTS : A total of 240 'novel' systematic review ideas were constructed by ChatGPT. We determined that the system had an overall accuracy of 55%. When topics were stratified by general and specific ideas, we found that ChatGPT was 35% accurate for general ideas and 75% accurate for specific ideas.

CONCLUSIONS : ChatGPT is an excellent tool that should be utilized by plastic surgeons. ChatGPT is versatile and has uses beyond research including patient consultation, patient support, and marketing. As advancements in AI continue to be made, it is important for plastic surgeons to consider the use of AI in their clinical practice.

Gupta Rohun, Park John B, Bisht Chirag, Herzog Isabel, Weisberger Joseph, Chao John, Chaiyasate Kongkrit, Lee Edward S

2023-Mar-21

General General

Protein structure prediction with in-cell photo-crosslinking mass spectrometry and deep learning.

In Nature biotechnology ; h5-index 151.0

While AlphaFold2 can predict accurate protein structures from the primary sequence, challenges remain for proteins that undergo conformational changes or for which few homologous sequences are known. Here we introduce AlphaLink, a modified version of the AlphaFold2 algorithm that incorporates experimental distance restraint information into its network architecture. By employing sparse experimental contacts as anchor points, AlphaLink improves on the performance of AlphaFold2 in predicting challenging targets. We confirm this experimentally by using the noncanonical amino acid photo-leucine to obtain information on residue-residue contacts inside cells by crosslinking mass spectrometry. The program can predict distinct conformations of proteins on the basis of the distance restraints provided, demonstrating the value of experimental data in driving protein structure prediction. The noise-tolerant framework for integrating data in protein structure prediction presented here opens a path to accurate characterization of protein structures from in-cell data.

Stahl Kolja, Graziadei Andrea, Dau Therese, Brock Oliver, Rappsilber Juri

2023-Mar-20

General General

Relationship Between Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Rates and Rare But Potentially Fatal Adverse Events: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis of Western Countries.

In Journal of Korean medical science

BACKGROUND : Owing to limited experience with the new vaccine platforms, discussion of vaccine safety is inevitable. However, media coverage of adverse events of special interest could influence the vaccination rate; thus, evaluating the outcomes of adverse events of special interest influencing vaccine administration is crucial.

METHODS : We conducted regression discontinuity in time analysis to calculate the local average treatment effect (LATE) using datasets from Our World in Data and Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. For the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, the cutoff points were April 23rd and June 23rd, April 7th, and the 14th week of 2021, respectively.

RESULTS : The LATE of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting held on April 23rd was -0.249 for all vaccines, -0.133 (-0.189 to -0.076) for Pfizer, -0.064 (-0.115 to -0.012) for Moderna, and -0.038 (-0.047 to -0.030) for Johnson & Johnson. Discontinuities were observed for all three types of vaccines in the United States. The June 23rd meeting of the ACIP (mRNA vaccines and myocarditis) did not convene any discontinuities. Furthermore, there was no significant drop in the weekly average vaccination rates in Europe following the European Medicines Agency (EMA) statement on April 7th. Conversely, there was a significant drop in the first-dose vaccination rates in the United Kingdom related to the EMA report. The first-dose vaccination rate for all vaccines changed by -0.104 (-0.176 to -0.032).

CONCLUSION : Although monitoring and reporting of adverse events of special interest are important, a careful approach towards public announcements is warranted.

Chae Seung Hoon, Park Hyung Jun, Radnaabaatar Munkhzul, Park Hojun, Jung Jaehun

2023-Mar-20

COVID-19, Regression Discontinuity Analysis, SARS-CoV-2