(Press-News.org) CHICAGO—July 25, 2023—For his groundbreaking research in fortifying artificial intelligence systems with insights gained from the human immune system, Ren Wang of Illinois Institute of Technology has received the prestigious Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). Wang’s research may be used in the future to strengthen AI systems, making them more robust and resilient.
As AI has increasingly permeated our daily lives through technologies, such as ChatGPT’s natural language processing and facial recognition in smartphones, the technology’s vulnerability to attacks and errors has been exposed—including everything from self-driving cars crashing to T-shirts designed to foil facial recognition.
“This is a very dangerous phenomenon,” says Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “A very small perturbation can lead to a totally wrong answer. For example, the AI model might predict a speed limit sign when there is actually a stop sign.”
Because AI systems are like a black box—that is, it’s often not possible to know why an AI system makes any given decision—it’s difficult to develop techniques to keep them safe. To address this, Wang borrowed insights from the immune system—specifically the adaptive mechanisms of B cells, which are integral components of our immune defenses.
“B cells generate antibodies to defend against certain types of attack, and that attack could be any antigen,” says Wang. “We hope to learn from this whole process and to capture some important patterns that we can use to improve the AI system.”
Wang’s research is not limited to broad-based AI applications; he’s particularly focused on AI-driven power system applications, such as power system control and stability analysis, requiring a high degree of robustness. By integrating physical constraints into his immune-inspired learning approach, Wang aims to create robust AI models for complex power grids that necessitate less data and have a refined search space.
“I believe that this is a very novel idea,” says Wang, “and I believe this adaptive immune-inspired system will be very powerful.”
Wang is among 35 recipients selected from 167 applicants in 2023 for the Powe Award, which provides seed money for junior faculty members demonstrating exceptional promise in scientific research.
“It is a tremendous honor to have been selected as one of this year’s awardees, and I am immensely grateful,” says Wang.
The award follows another notable achievement by Wang, who recently received a Computer and Information Science and Engineering Research Initiation Initiative award from the National Science Foundation.
END
Illinois Tech assistant professor receives award for using insights from human immune system to strengthen AI
Inspired by antigen-generating B cells, Ren Wang aims to make AI systems more robust and address the ‘black box’ problem
2023-07-25
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
A novel bone regeneration technique with clinical potential
2023-07-25
Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) identify a promising way to improve bone repair with important clinical applications
Tokyo, Japan – Although bones have the ability to regenerate and repair themselves, they are generally unable to do so when the injury is larger than a small break or chip. In a study just published in Inflammation and Regeneration, Japanese researchers have developed a technique for improving bone regeneration over large areas in rats—and their findings may translate well to clinical settings.
As most of us know from experience, bones can repair themselves after a minor break ...
Researchers detail methodological approach to creating joint displays of data collection in mixed methods research
2023-07-25
Researchers present a methodology for developing joint displays of integrated mixed data collection. These joint displays provide a framework for supporting integration of a mixed methodology in research. Drawing upon a convergent mixed methods cohort study – the Early Discharge of Febrile Neutropenic Children with Cancer Study – the authors constructed a joint display of integrated mixed data collection from a patient/caregiver mixed methods survey instrument and manual medical chart abstraction. The paper outlines the methodological approach, including iterative ...
Brazilian researchers identify gynecological concerns of caregivers of young girls and women with Down syndrome
2023-07-25
Brazilian researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the concerns of caregivers of Brazilian girls with Down syndrome (DS) regarding gynecological aspects of DS including menstruation, contraception and sexual practices. The study included 100 caregivers of females aged 9 years or older with DS who had reached menarche. Participating caregivers completed a questionnaire about their concerns around puberty, menstruation, sexuality and contraceptive methods.
Caregivers commonly expressed concerns around menstrual bleeding. Most caregivers ...
Meta-analysis of research on acne reveals that oral isotretinoin, followed by topical antibiotic, benzoyl peroxide and retinoid, are most effective treatments
2023-07-25
In their comprehensive meta-analysis (comprising 221 randomized controlled trials involving 65,601 patients), researchers investigated the effectiveness of various pharmacological therapies for acne vulgaris across diverse age groups and genders. The articles described 37 interventions, with a median patient age of 20 years old and median duration of treatment of 12 weeks. The median total, inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion counts were 71.5, 27 and 44, respectively.
The study revealed that oral isotretinoin was the most effective treatment (mean difference 48.41; p-score 1.00), followed in efficacy by a triple therapy containing ...
Survey suggests geographic inequalities in patient registration versus primary care physician density can exclude patients from comprehensive care access
2023-07-25
French researchers conducted a large, simulated study to examine the relationship between the presence of primary care physicians (PCPs) and the ability of patients to register with a PCP. The study aimed to analyze local PCP supply based on various indicators, including PCP presence, patient registration availability for office visits, and patient registration availability for home visits. Out of 5,188 census blocks, 55.4% had at least one PCP, with 38.6% of those blocks allowing registration for office visits and 19.46% allowing registration for home ...
Greater primary care continuity among older people is associated with fewer inappropriate prescriptions and prescribing omissions
2023-07-25
Researchers from the Netherlands conducted an observational study to determine the association between personal continuity and potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) by family physicians in older patients. PIPs can be categorized as potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs). The study utilized anonymized routine care data from 269,478 patients, receiving care in 48 Dutch family practices, from 2013 to 2018. They included all patients 65 and older with five or more contacts with their practice in six years, giving them a sample of 25,854 individuals. ...
Primary care clinics that improved patient access, identified at-risk patients and expanded services experienced reductions in acute hospitalizations
2023-07-25
Researchers from Mathematica studied high-performing Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) sites to identify key strategies that contributed to significant reductions in acute hospitalization rates. Researchers identified CPC+ practice sites with the highest likelihood of achieving substantial reductions in Medicare acute hospitalization rates between 2016 and 2018, and referred to them as "Acute Hospitalization Rate (AHR) high-performers." Afterwards, they conducted telephone interviews and within- and cross-case comparative analyses of 14 of these primary care practice sites, ...
Primary care doctors face barriers in treating alcoholism
2023-07-25
Researchers explored how primary care physicians who have some familiarity with medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) make prescribing decisions and identify reasons for the underuse of MAUD in primary care. They interviewed 19 primary care physicians who had recently prescribed MAUD to patients in an outpatient setting. These physicians were selected from a large online database of medical professionals. Participating physicians reported several challenges in prescribing MAUD: (1) they had somewhat negative personal beliefs about the effectiveness of medications and the likelihood of patient ...
Family medicine physicians receive lowest HPV vaccine cost reimbursements compared to pediatricians, internal medicine doctors, nurse practitioners and other specialists
2023-07-25
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage has improved in the United States, but privately insured adolescents have lower initiation and completion rates compared to those under public insurance programs. One of the contributing factors to this disparity is the higher cost of the HPV vaccine compared to other routinely recommended adolescent vaccines. While private payers typically reimburse the cost of the HPV vaccine at or above the CDC list price (i.e., $210.99 in 2017-2018), it remains below ...
SwRI’s Wyrick named GSA Fellow
2023-07-25
SAN ANTONIO — July 25, 2023 —The Geological Society of America (GSA) has elected Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Danielle Wyrick as a Fellow, recognizing her exemplary scientific achievements, support of young geoscientists and excellent service to GSA. She has played a significant role in GSA’s Planetary Geology Division leadership and committees.
“During my tenure on the board of GSA’s Planetary Geology Division, we adopted the motto ‘when one planet just isn’t enough,’ ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Being consistently physically active in adulthood linked to 30–40% lower risk of death
Nerve pain drug gabapentin linked to increased dementia, cognitive impairment risks
Children’s social care involvement common to nearly third of UK mums who died during perinatal period
‘Support, not judgement’: Study explores links between children’s social care involvement and maternal deaths
Ethnic minority and poorer children more likely to die in intensive care
Major progress in fertility preservation after treatment for cancer of the lymphatic system
Fewer complications after additional ultrasound in pregnant women who feel less fetal movement
Environmental impact of common pesticides seriously underestimated
The Milky Way could be teeming with more satellite galaxies than previously thought
New study reveals surprising reproductive secrets of a cricket-hunting parasitoid fly
Media Tip Sheet: Symposia at ESA2025
NSF CAREER Award will power UVA engineer’s research to improve drug purification
Tiny parasitoid flies show how early-life competition shapes adult success
New coating for glass promises energy-saving windows
Green spaces boost children’s cognitive skills and strengthen family well-being
Ancient trees dying faster than expected in Eastern Oregon
Study findings help hone precision of proven CVD risk tool
Most patients with advanced melanoma who received pre-surgical immunotherapy remain alive and disease free four years later
Introducing BioEmu: A generative AI Model that enables high-speed and accurate prediction of protein structural ensembles
Replacing mutated microglia with healthy microglia halts progression of genetic neurological disease in mice and humans
New research shows how tropical plants manage rival insect tenants by giving them separate ‘flats’
Condo-style living helps keep the peace inside these ant plants
Climate change action could dramatically limit rising UK heatwave deaths
Annual heat-related deaths projected to increase significantly due to climate and population change
Researchers discover new way cells protect themselves from damage
Rivers choose their path based on erosion — a discovery that could transform flood planning and restoration
New discovery reveals dopamine operates with surgical precision, not as a broad signal
New AI tool gives a helping hand to x ray diagnosis
New Leicester study reveals hidden heart risks in women with Type 2 Diabetes
Over 400 different types of nerve cell have been grown – far more than ever before
[Press-News.org] Illinois Tech assistant professor receives award for using insights from human immune system to strengthen AIInspired by antigen-generating B cells, Ren Wang aims to make AI systems more robust and address the ‘black box’ problem