Towards a Practical Cluster Analysis over Encrypted Data

Cluster analysis is one of the most significant unsupervised machine learning tasks, and it is utilized in various fields associated with privacy issues including bioinformatics, finance and image processing. In this paper, we propose a practical solution for privacy-preserving cluster analysis based on homomorphic encryption~(HE). Our work is the first HE solution for the mean-shift clustering algorithm. To reduce the super-linear complexity of the original mean-shift algorithm, we adopt a novel random sampling method called dust sampling which perfectly fits in HE and achieves the linear complexity. We also substitute non-polynomial kernels by a new polynomial kernel so that it can be efficiently computed in HE. The HE implementation of our modified mean-shift clustering algorithm based on the approximate HE scheme HEAAN shows prominent performance in terms of speed and accuracy. It takes about $30$ minutes with $99\%$ accuracy over several public datasets with hundreds of data, and even for the dataset with $262,144$ data it takes only $82$ minutes applying SIMD operations in HEAAN. Our results outperform the previously best known result (SAC 2018) over $400$ times

Differential Requirement for c-Jun N-terminal Kinase 1 in Lung Inflammation and Host Defense

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) - 1 pathway has been implicated in the cellular response to stress in many tissues and models. JNK1 is known to play a role in a variety of signaling cascades, including those involved in lung disease pathogenesis. Recently, a role for JNK1 signaling in immune cell function has emerged. The goal of the present study was to determine the role of JNK1 in host defense against both bacterial and viral pneumonia, as well as the impact of JNK1 signaling on IL-17 mediated immunity. Wild type (WT) and JNK1 −/− mice were challenged with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, or Influenza A. In addition, WT and JNK1 −/− mice and epithelial cells were stimulated with IL-17A. The impact of JNK1 deletion on pathogen clearance, inflammation, and histopathology was assessed. JNK1 was required for clearance of E. coli, inflammatory cell recruitment, and cytokine production. Interestingly, JNK1 deletion had only a small impact on the host response to S. aureus. JNK1 −/− mice had decreased Influenza A burden in viral pneumonia, yet displayed worsened morbidity. Finally, JNK1 was required for IL-17A mediated induction of inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptides both in epithelial cells and the lung. These data identify JNK1 as an important signaling molecule in host defense and demonstrate a pathogen specific role in disease. Manipulation of the JNK1 pathway may represent a novel therapeutic target in pneumonia

Evidence for D-0-(D)over-bar(0) mixing

We observe evidence for D-0-(D) over bar (0) mixing by measuring the difference in the apparent lifetime when a D-0 meson decays to the CP eigenstates K+K- and pi(+)pi(-) and when it decays to the final state K-pi(+). We find the relative difference of the lifetimes y(CP) to be [1.31 +/- 0.32(stat)+/- 0.25(syst)]%, 3.2 standard deviations from zero. We also search for a CP asymmetry between D-0 and (D) over bar (0) decays; no evidence for CP violation is found. These results are based on 540 fb(-1) of data recorded by the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS