An Objective Search for Unrecognized Bias in Validated COVID-19 Prediction Models

The growing recognition of algorithmic bias has spurred discussions about fairness in artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) algorithms. The increasing translation of predictive models into clinical practice brings an increased risk of direct harm from algorithmic bias; however, bias remains incompletely measured in many medical AI applications. Using data from over 56 thousand Mass General Brigham (MGB) patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we evaluate unrecognized bias in four AI models developed during the early months of the pandemic in Boston, Massachusetts that predict risks of hospital admission, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death after a SARS-CoV-2 infection purely based on their pre-infection longitudinal medical records. We discuss that while a model can be biased against certain protected groups (i.e., perform worse) in certain tasks, it can be at the same time biased towards another protected group (i.e., perform better). As such, current bias evaluation studies may lack a full depiction of the variable effects of a model on its subpopulations. If the goal is to make a change in a positive way, the underlying roots of bias need to be fully explored in medical AI. Only a holistic evaluation, a diligent search for unrecognized bias, can provide enough information for an unbiased judgment of AI bias that can invigorate follow-up investigations on identifying the underlying roots of bias and ultimately make a change.

Reflecting on Public Behavior With Artificial Intelligence-assisted Detection of Face Mask Wearing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: COVID-19 has created health and socioeconomic damage worldwide, and face masks are a low-cost but effective method of preventing transmission of this disease. Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted systems can come into play to help visualize the public’s awareness of mask wearing and gain a better picture of whether there is adequate practice of protection during the outbreak. We reported the rate of face mask wearing by the general public using the artificial intelligence-assisted face mask detector, AiMASK.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 23 and April 22, 2021 in over 32 districts in Bangkok, Thailand. After the introduction of AiMASK, development and internal validation were performed, and average accuracy of 97.8% was found. Data were classified into a protected group (correct face mask wearing) and an unprotected group (incorrect or non-mask wearing). We analyzed the association between factors affecting the unprotected group using univariate logistic regression analysis.Results: No significant difference was found between results from human graders and those of AiMASK using two proportion Z test (p=0.74). AiMASK detected a total of 1,124,524 people, the majority of whom were in the protected group (95.98%). The unprotected group consisted of 2.06% who practised incorrect mask-wearing, and the other 1.96% were those who did not wear masks. A moderate negative correlation was found between the number of COVID-19 patients and the proportion of unprotected people (r= -0.507, p<0.001). People were 1.15 times more likely to be in the unprotected group during the holidays and in the evening than on working days and in the morning (OR=1.15, 95% CI 1.13-1.17, p<0.001). Districts in the city center were 1.31 times more likely to have higher proportions of unprotected individuals than suburban districts (OR=1.31, 95% CI 1.28-1.34, p<0.001). Conclusions: AiMASK was as effective as human graders in detecting face mask wearing. The prevailing number of COVID-19 infections affected people’s mask-wearing behavior, and half of the unprotected group were those who wore masks incorrectly. Public policies should communicate the importance of wearing masks consistently throughout the day and during holidays as well as providing instructions for effective mask wearing to prevent virus transmission.

Calculating the Souls of Black Folk

In 1995, there were nearly 50,000 children removed from their families into the New York City Administration for Children’s Services’ (ACS) foster care system.1 The NYC ACS’ forcible transfer of children from a protected group into another group may amount to genocide under Article 2(e) of the Genocide Convention if formal review can demonstrate an “intent to destroy” the group “as such” or at least “in part.” Rather than pursuing a citizen’s tribunal, or truth and reconciliation committee to assess the historic transfer of Black children to other groups during this period by the child welfare system, ACS has focused on collecting data from currently targeted populations in order to “predict who needs prevention” services. This paper examines the Family First Prevention Act’s legislative mandate to calculate the “souls of Black folks” and the geographies of predictive analytics developed to serve this aim. Using an abolitionist lens grounded in the epistemology offered by W. E. B. Du Bois’ Souls of Black Folks, this argument moves beyond the Fairness, Accountability and Transparency (FAT) framework to propose strategies for dismantling the “new modes of surveillance and social control” manifested in NYC ACS’ preventive turn. I propose a Get Out mathematics drawing from Katherine McKittrick’s proposal to “count it out different” as the fugitive’s alternative to state sanctioned datafication.

Rhodium(iii) catalyzed olefination and deuteration of tetrahydrocarbazole

The rhodium-catalyzed olefination and deuteration of tetrahydrocarbazoles in water with the aid of an N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl-protected group is presented.

Pulmonary Protective Effects of Propofol on Cisplatin-Induced Oxidative Damage in Male Rats

Background: The present study was performed to investigate the protective effects of propofol against cisplatin-induced pulmonary toxicity in rats. Methods: A total of 20 male Wistar rats weighing 180-250 g were divided into four groups of control, the cisplatin-intoxicated group intraperitoneally (IP) injected with cisplatin (7 mg/kg/d for a week), the propofol group (10 mg/kg/d, IP), and the protected group receiving propofol (10 mg/kg/d, IP) poisoned by cisplatin. Then, the biomarkers of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT) activity, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in homogeneous lung tissues. Results: The data revealed the evidence of oxidative stress in the lung tissue of cisplatin-intoxicated rats as indicated by an increase in the level of LPO compared with propofol and protected groups (P<0.05). Moreover, TAC decreased in the cisplatin group while it increased in the propofol group compared to cisplatin and protected groups (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between the groups regarding CAT (P>0.05). Protection with propofol ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by cisplatin in the lung tissue because of the reduction of LPO. Conclusion: According to these results, it seems that propofol provides a remarkable protection against cisplatin-induced oxidative pulmonary damage mediated by its antioxidant properties.

The Significance of the Declaration of Ethnic Minority Status for Irish Travellers

Irish Travellers are a traditionally nomadic ethnic minority indigenous to Ireland. Although recognized as an ethnic minority in adjacent jurisdictions, the Irish state persistently and explicitly denied recognizing Travellers’ separate ethnicity and pursued assimilationist policies designed to eradicate Travellers’ differences. However, in the late 1980s and 1990s, the state recognized the structural disadvantage and social stigma to which Travellers are subjected, naming them as a protected group in equality legislation, as well as laws addressing incitement to hatred. Through these interventions, the state afforded Travellers rights on the basis of their collective identity as Travellers, while continuing to deny their ethnicity. After sustained campaigning, Traveller ethnicity was recognized by the prime minister of Ireland in 2017. This article explores the reasoning behind, and legal significance of, that statement of recognition in Ireland.1 We outline the evidence in support of ethnic recognition as a prelude to addressing the question of whether recognition is likely to afford the community any additional rights. We conclude that this is unlikely given the protections afforded to the group prior to ethnic recognition, though we argue that recognition may give the community a firmer basis for arguing for the activation of these preexisting rights.

Synthesis and characterization of ITr-protected group 11 metal trimethylsilylchalcogenolates

This work describes the synthesis of group 11 metal trimethylsilylchalcogenolate complexes [(ITr)M-ESiMe3] stabilized by the large NHC ligand bis-1,3-tritylimidazole-2-ylidene (ITr). The thiolates and selenolates of Cu, Ag, and Au are accessed from either [(ITr)MOAc] (M = Cu, Ag) and E(SiMe3)2 or [(ITr)AuCl] and Li[ESiMe3] (E = S, Se). All complexes were characterized spectroscopically and, for the copper coordination compounds, via single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Groups Defined by Gender and the Genocide Convention

This article explores the crime of genocide in connectivity to groups defined by gender. Its aim is to investigate whether including groups defined by gender as a protected group in the Genocide Convention appears legally plausible. It begins by probing the historical origins of the concept of genocide. This exposition emanates into an analytical examination of the rationale of protecting human groups in international criminal law. Against this background, the article advocates an understanding of the crime of genocide as a rights-implementing institute. Subsequently, it employs an ejusdem generis analysis to assess whether groups defined by gender are coherent with the current canon of the protected groups, and if similar treatment thereby can be warranted. It then turns to examine other international law instruments, to expose that none of these are suitable proxies in dealing with gender-specific genocides. From this perspective, the article suggests that the content of the crime of genocide is not determinate, but rather emerges as a battlefield for hegemonic interests. Hence, it is easily discernible that the way in which the current construction of the protected groups in the Genocide Convention relates to gender groups reflects a deliberate choice. The article concludes with asserting that the choice represents a lacuna in international criminal law that in the end compromises the legitimacy of the crime of genocide, since the personal scope of the crime of genocide risks being in discord with current social and political trajectories.

THE URGENCY TO INCLUDE GENDER AS PROTECTED GROUP UNDER THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE

This research will discuss exigence to assign gender as protected groups in Genocide under Rome Statute which contains about gender (indeed third gender) selective mass killing. This research is inspired from the allegation of selective mass killing to gender in Nanjing, China, India, and Indonesia which begs protection from crime of genocide. This research method used is the juridical normative approach method. The research is conducted by analyzing the data gained from library studies and international conventions related to International Criminal Law. The specification of research is done by describing the related legislations associated with the legal theory and practice of implementing an object of research. The result of this research shows that the gender has similar characteristics exclusive groups as the protected groups under article 6 Rome Statute. What the result of that based on article 9 Rome Statute, amendment protected group is possible to do. Keywords: Gender, Genocide, International Criminal Court Abstrak Penelitian ini akan membahas urgensi untuk menambahkan gender sebagai kelompok yang dilindungi dalam kejahatan genosida yang diatur di bawah ketentuan Statuta Roma terkait pembantaian berpreferensi gender (termasuk gender ketiga). Penelitian ini terinspirasi dari adanya dugaan pembantaian selektif gender di Nanking, Tiongkok, India, bahkan Indonesia yang membutuhkan perlindungan dari ketentuan genosida. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah yuridis normatif. Penelitian dilakukan dengan menganalisis data yang diperoleh dari studi kepustakaan dan studi peraturan konvensi internasional yang berkaitan dengan Hukum Pidana Internasional. Penelitian menggunakan spesifikasi penelitian deskriptif analitis yaitu menggambarkan peraturan yang dikaitkan dengan teori hukum dan praktek pelaksanaan suatu objek penelitian. Hasil dari penelitian menunjukan bahwa gender memiliki karakteristik yang sama dengan kelompok yang dilindungi dalam kejahatan genosida. Sehingga sesuai dengan Pasal 9 Statuta Roma amandemen terhadap kelompok yang dilindungi dalam kejahatan genosida dimungkinkan untuk dilakukan. Kata Kunci: Gender, Genosida, Mahkamah Peradilan Pidana