Bulletin of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (BCSEE)
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Accelerating Hybrid Federated Learning Convergence under Partial Participation
No full textOver the past few years, Federated Learning (FL) has become a populardistributed machine learning paradigm. FL involves a group of clients withdecentralized data who collaborate to learn a common model under thecoordination of a centralized server, with the goal of protecting clients'privacy by ensuring that local datasets never leave the clients and that theserver only performs model aggregation. However, in realistic scenarios, theserver may be able to collect a small amount of data that approximately mimicsthe population distribution and has stronger computational ability to performthe learning process. To address this, we focus on the hybrid FL framework inthis paper. While previous hybrid FL work has shown that the alternativetraining of clients and server can increase convergence speed, it has focusedon the scenario where clients fully participate and ignores the negative effectof partial participation. In this paper, we provide theoretical analysis ofhybrid FL under clients' partial participation to validate that partialparticipation is the key constraint on convergence speed. We then propose a newalgorithm called FedCLG, which investigates the two-fold role of the server inhybrid FL. Firstly, the server needs to process the training steps using itssmall amount of local datasets. Secondly, the server's calculated gradientneeds to guide the participated clients' training and the server's aggregation.We validate our theoretical findings through numerical experiments, which showthat our proposed method FedCLG outperforms state-of-the-art methods
Early sweet tooth: Juice introduction during early infancy is related to toddler juice intake
No full textTo assess if 100% fruit juice intake prior to 6 months is associated with juice and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake at 24 months and whether this differs by sociodemographic factors.
We used longitudinal data from infants enrolled in the control (no obesity intervention) arm of Greenlight, a cluster randomized trial to prevent childhood obesity which included parent-reported child 100% fruit juice intake at all well child checks between two and 24 months. We studied the relationship between the age of juice introduction (before versus after six months) and juice and SSB intake at 24 months using negative binomial regression while controlling for baseline sociodemographic factors.
We report results for 187 participants (43% Hispanic, 39% non-Hispanic Black), more than half (54%) of whom had reported 100% fruit juice intake before six months. Average 100% fruit juice intake at 24 months was greater than the recommended amount (of 4 oz) and was 8.2 oz and 5.3 oz for those who had and had not, respectively, been introduced to juice before six months. In adjusted models, early introduction of juice was associated with a 43% (95% CI: 5% to 96%) increase in juice intake at 24 months.
100% fruit juice intake exceeding recommended levels at six and 24 months in this diverse cohort was prevalent. Introducing 100% fruit juice prior to six months may put children at greater risk for more juice intake as they age. Further research is necessary to determine if early guidance can reduce juice intake
Last Chance Saloons for Natural Kind Realism
No full textTraditionally, accounts of natural kinds have run the gamut from strongly conventionalist to strongly realist views. Recently, however, there has been a significant shift toward more conventionalist-sounding positions, even (perhaps especially) among philosophers interested in scientific classification. The impetus for this is a trend toward making anthropocentric features of categories, namely, capacities to facilitate human epistemic (and other) interests via inductive inference, central to an account of kinds. I argue that taking these features seriously is both defensible and compatible with conventionalism, but not compatible with a traditional realism about kinds specifically. Moreover, hopes of achieving compatibility by revising and extending kind realism—into what I call “hyperrealism”—face an insuperable dilemma. The news for realists is not all bad, however: though kind realism proves untenable, closely associated realisms underlying the objectivity of kind discourse may be viable nonetheless
Collective Responsibility in the Workplace and its Effects on COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Employees: The Role of Strategic Internal Communication
No full textBusinesses, as one of the largest units in society, are expected to be socially responsible and become vaccine advocate to help with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Building upon this expectation, this study takes an internal communication perspective to explore the role of organizations in motivating employees to stand in solidarity and adopt prosocial behavior (i.e., vaccination against COVID-19 in this study) in the fight against the pandemic. Specifically, we propose a psychological model that pictures how organizational informing and listening can facilitate employee attitude toward vaccination by realizing their collective responsibility to protect others at work via communal relationships with the organizations. The findings of this study contribute to ethical practices of organizational communication by revealing the under-explored role of organizations in addressing vaccine hesitance and resistance during the current pandemic
Discoidin Domain Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 1 (DDR1) Is a Novel Therapeutic Target in Liposarcoma: A Tissue Microarray Study
No full textAbstract Background Liposarcoma is the most commonly diagnosed subtype of soft tissue sarcoma. As these tumors often arise near vital organs and neurovascular structures, complete resection can be challenging; consequently, recurrence rates are high. Additionally, available chemotherapeutic agents have shown limited benefit and substantial toxicities. There is, therefore, a clear and unmet need for novel therapeutics for liposarcoma. Discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (DDR1) is involved in adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and metastasis in several cancers. However, the expression and clinical importance of DDR1 in liposarcoma are unknown. Questions/purposes The purposes of this study were to assess (1) the expression, (2) the association between DDR1 and survival, and (3) the functional roles of DDR1 in liposarcoma. Methods The correlation between DDR1 expression in tumor tissues and clinicopathological features and survival was assessed via immunohistochemical staining of a liposarcoma tissue microarray. It contained 53 samples from 42 patients with liposarcoma and 11 patients with lipoma. The association between DDR1 and survival in liposarcoma was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank tests. The DDR1 knockout liposarcoma cell lines were generated by CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The DDR1-specific and highly selective DDR1 inhibitor 7RH was applied to determine the impact of DDR1 expression on liposarcoma cell growth and proliferation. In addition, the effect of DDR1 inhibition on liposarcoma growth was further accessed in a three-dimensional cell culture model to mimic DDR1 effects in vivo. Results The results demonstrate elevated expression of DDR1 in all liposarcoma subtypes relative to benign lipomas. Specifically, high DDR1 expression was seen in 55% (23 of 42) of liposarcomas and no benign lipomas. However, DDR1 expression was not found to be associated with poor survival in patients with liposarcoma. DDR1 knockout or treatment of 7RH showed decreased liposarcoma cell growth and proliferation. Conclusion DDR1 is aberrantly expressed in liposarcoma, and it contributes to several markers of oncogenesis in these tumors. Clinical Relevance This work supports DDR1 as a promising therapeutic target in liposarcoma
Discrimination predicts suboptimal adherence to continuous positive airway pressure treatment and mediates Black-White differences in use
No full textBACKGROUND: Although racial and ethnic differences in CPAP adherence for OSA are widely established, no studies have examined the influence of perceived racial discrimination on CPAP usage, to our knowledge. RESEARCH QUESTION: (1) Do Black adults with OSA report experiencing greater amounts of discrimination than non-Hispanic White adults? (2) Is discrimination associated with poorer CPAP adherence over time, independent of self-identified race? (3) Does discrimination mediate the relationship between self-identified Black race and CPAP usage? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this prospective study, Black and non-Hispanic White adults with OSA initiating CPAP were enrolled from two sleep centers and completed questionnaires including sociodemographics, perceived discrimination, daytime sleepiness, insomnia symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Perceived discrimination was measured using the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS). Black and White group comparisons for baseline sociodemographic variables, sleep symptoms, and perceived discrimination were performed with Student t test or c2/Fisher exact test, as appropriate. A linear regression model was completed with selfidentified Black race and EDS total score as the primary independent variables of interest and mean daily CPAP usage at 30 and 90 days serving as the dependent outcomes. This regression modeling was repeated after adjusting for psychosocial variables known to be associated with CPAP usage. EDS total score was explored as a potential mediator of the association between self-identified Black race and mean daily CPAP adherence at 30 and 90 days. RESULTS: The sample for this analysis consisted of 78 participants (31% female, 38% Black) with a mean age of 57 + 14 years. Sixty percent of the Black adults reported they experienced racial discrimination at least a few times each year. Relative to White adults, Black adults were also more likely to indicate more than one reason for discrimination (27% vs 4%, P = .003). Adjusting for discrimination, self-identified Black race was associated with 1.4 (95% CI, -2.3 to -0.4 h; P = .006) and 1.6 (95% CI, -2.6 to -0.6 h; P = .003) fewer hours of mean daily CPAP usage at 30 and 90 days, respectively. In the fully adjusted model, a 1-unit change in the total discrimination score (more discrimination) was associated with a 0.08-h (95% CI, 0.01-0.15 h; P = .029) and 0.08-h (95% CI, 0.01-0.16 h; P = .045) change in mean daily CPAP usage at 30 and 90 days, respectively. INTERPRETATION: Adults with OSA who encountered racial discrimination experienced greater decrement in CPAP usage than those who did not experience racial discrimination.</p
Symmetry of Macular Fundus Features in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
No full textThe symmetry of major macular fundus features in both eyes of the same patient with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was investigated using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).
Retrospective review of a prospective study
Patients with AMD
Grading was performed on the first SS-OCT images obtained on the patients. Two graders diagnosed the presence of drusen, geographic atrophy (GA), and exudative AMD (eAMD) in each eye. Medical records were reviewed to assess prior exudation. To assess symmetry, one eye of each patient was randomly selected as the index eye and compared with the fellow eye. The kappa statistic (κ) was used to assess symmetry of diagnosis. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the symmetry of drusen area and volume.
Interocular symmetry of AMD stages: drusen, GA and eAMD.
A total of 1310 patients with AMD were included. The average age was 78 years old (range, 50-102; 60% women). Of the 1310 subjects, 54% (701) presented with symmetric disease; 20% with bilateral drusen, 11% with bilateral GA, and 22% with bilateral eAMD. Only 0.5% of subjects had both GA and eAMD in both eyes. Of the randomly selected index eyes, 825 (47%) were right eyes. Overall, limited interocular agreement was observed between index and fellow eyes (54%; κ = 0.29). Kappa coefficients were poor (<0.4) for index eyes diagnosed with drusen (κ = 0.27), eAMD (κ = 0.17), and mixed disease (κ = 0.03). There was moderate agreement between index and fellow eyes for GA (κ = 0.50). Of the 265 patients with bilateral drusen, the symmetry of drusen area measurements had moderate ICC values of 0.70, 0.71, and 0.70 in the 3mm and 5mm diameter foveal-centered circles and in the total scan area, respectively. The ICC values for the drusen volumes were 0.65, 0.66, and 0.64 respectively.
Interocular symmetry was poor for eyes with drusen, eAMD, and mixed disease, but moderate for GA. While the diagnosis of drusen was not very symmetric between eyes, when present in both eyes, the drusen area and volume measurements were moderately symmetric
Abstract TP129: Increased Levels Of Matrix Metalloproteinases-induced BBB Dysfunction May Be Responsible For Increased Post-sich Hematoma Growth In Nicotine-exposed Rats
No full textByline: Priyanka Khushal, Univ of Miami, Miami, FL; Sunjoo Cho, Miami, FL; Ashish K Rehni, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI MILLER SCHOOL O, Miami, FL; Ami P Raval, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, Miami, FL; Miguel A Perez-Pinzon, UNIVERSITY MIAMI MILLER SCH. OF MED, Miami, FL; Kunjan R Dave, Univ of Miami, Miami, FL Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is the deadliest type of stroke, accounting for as high as 28% of all strokes. Tobacco use is one of the major risk factors of sICH, and it also worsens outcomes following sICH. In our earlier study, we observed that nicotine exposure increases TNFð levels in brain vessels, impairs BBB integrity, and increases post-sICH hematoma volume in a TNFð-dependent manner compared to saline-exposed controls. Earlier studies have demonstrated interactions between MMPs and TNFð. Increased levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been found in sICH patients and nicotine-exposed individuals. MMPs are involved in BBB breakdown, edema formation, hematoma expansion, and neuronal loss that follow hematoma development after sICH. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that nicotine exposure-induced increase in TNFð is responsible for increased post-sICH hematoma volume in a MMP-dependent manner. To test our hypothesis, young male and female rats were exposed to chronic nicotine treatment for 2-3 weeks using osmotic pumps containing either saline or nicotine (4.5 mg/kg/day). Levels of MMPs (2, 3, 9, and 12) and GAPDH were evaluated in brain homogenates using Western blot. Nicotine-treated female rats showed a 37% (100Ø7 vs. 137Ø10, p<0.05), 144% (100Ø18 vs. 244Ø16, p<0.01), 29% (100Ø7 vs. 129Ø9, p<0.05), 22% (100Ø6 vs. 122Ø6, p<0.05), and 24% (100Ø6 vs. 124Ø7, p<0.05) increase in levels of pro and cleaved forms of MMP-3, cleaved form of MMP-9, pro and cleaved forms of MMP-12, respectively, compared to saline-treated female rats. We are in the process of evaluating levels of MMPs in male samples. Considering the role of MMP-9 in BBB integrity, using both TNFð and MMP-9 inhibitors, we are also in the process of evaluating if TNFð increases post-sICH hematoma growth in nicotine-exposed rats via increased levels of MMP-9. The results so far imply that increased TNFð levels in nicotine-exposed rats may be responsible for increased post-sICH hematoma growth in a MMP-dependent manner. Support: James Esther King Biomedical Research Grant 9JK08 and PK is a recipient of the Lois Pope Neuroscience Summer Research Fellowship.Academi
Randomized controlled trial for selective preventive transdiagnostic intervention for adolescents at risk for emotional disorders
No full textSignificant evidence does exist on the effectiveness of transdiagnostic interventions to improve emotional problems in clinical populations, and their application as universal and indicated prevention programs. However, no randomized controlled trials (RCT) studying selective transdiagnostic prevention intervention have been published. This is the first known RCT to evaluate the efficacy/effectiveness of an evidence-based selective prevention transdiagnostic program for emotional problems in adolescents. The impact of three different interventions was evaluated: (1) PROCARE (Preventive transdiagnostic intervention for Adolescents at Risk for Emotional disorders), which is a group-based, online-delivered, abbreviated version of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A), along with adding a booster session, to reduce risk of onset of anxiety and depression, (2) PROCARE + , which includes the PROCARE protocol along with personalized add-on modules tailored to match adolescents' risk factors, and (3) an active control condition (ACC) based on emotional psychoeducation. In total, 286 adolescents (53.3% girls) evidencing high risk and low protective factors were randomized and allocated to PROCARE, PROCARE + or ACC. Self- and parent-reported measures were taken at baseline, as well as after the intervention, a 6-month follow-up was carried out, together with a 1-month follow-up after the booster session. Differences between conditions were significant on most of the outcome measures, with superior effect sizes for PROCARE +. Interventions were excellent in terms of acceptability, with good satisfaction rates. Tailored selective transdiagnostic interventions focused on mitigating risk factors and promoting protective factors in vulnerable adolescents are promising
Improving the stability of temporal statistics in transition path theory with sparse data
No full textUlam’s method is a popular discretization scheme for stochastic operators that involves the construction of a transition probability matrix controlling a Markov chain on a set of cells covering some domain. We consider an application to satellite-tracked undrogued surface-ocean drifting buoy trajectories obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global Drifter Program dataset. Motivated by the motion of Sargassum in the tropical Atlantic, we apply Transition Path Theory (TPT) to drifters originating off the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico. We find that the most common case of a regular covering by equal longitude–latitude side cells can lead to a large instability in the computed transition times as a function of the number of cells used. We propose a different covering based on a clustering of the trajectory data that is stable against the number of cells in the covering. We also propose a generalization of the standard transition time statistic of TPT that can be used to construct a partition of the domain of interest into weakly dynamically connected regions