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This paper introduces a novel one-dimensional convolutional neural network that utilizes clinical data to accurately detect choledocholithiasis, where gallstones obstruct the common bile duct. Swift and precise detection of this condition is critical to preventing severe complications, such as biliary colic, jaundice, and pancreatitis. This cutting-edge model was rigorously compared with other machine learning methods commonly used in similar problems, such as logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis, and a state-of-the-art random forest, using a dataset derived from endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography scans performed at Olive View–University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. The one-dimensional convolutional neural network model demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving 90.77% accuracy and 92.86% specificity, with an area under the curve of 0.9270. While the paper acknowledges potential areas for improvement, it emphasizes the effectiveness of the one-dimensional convolutional neural network architecture. The results suggest that this one-dimensional convolutional neural network approach could serve as a plausible alternative to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, considering its disadvantages, such as the need for specialized equipment and skilled personnel and the risk of postoperative complications. The potential of the one-dimensional convolutional neural network model to significantly advance the clinical diagnosis of this gallstone-related condition is notable, offering a less invasive, potentially safer, and more accessible alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimed to analyze research on epilepsy in autism and autism in epilepsy using VOSviewer and CiteSpace to identify research hotspots and future directions. Methods: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for relevant studies about epilepsy in autism and autism in epilepsy published from inception to 31 May 2022. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze the authors, institutions, countries, publishing journals, reference co-citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, keywords with citation bursts, and other aspects to construct a knowledge atlas. Results: A total of 473 publications related to epilepsy/autism were retrieved. The number of publications about epilepsy/ASD has generally increased over time, with some fluctuations. The USA (202 papers) and University of California-Los Angeles (15 papers) were the leading country and institution, respectively, in this field. Frye, Richard E. was the most published author (9 papers). Notably, collaboration between institutions, countries, and authors does not appear to be active. Hot topics and research frontiers include intellectual disability and exploring the mechanism of epilepsy/ASD from a genetics perspective. Conclusion: This analysis identified the most influential publications, authors, journals, institutions, and countries in the field of epilepsy/ASD research. Using co-occurrence and evolution analyses, the status of the field was identified and future trends were predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By January 2024, the COVID-19 pandemic claimed more than 1.1 million deaths in the United States (U.S.). People in prison are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 as they have no ability to socially distance, secure masks, disinfect their environment or have as much access to tests or vaccinations as is available in the community. In addition, many of these individuals reside in crowded conditions with little ventilation, which makes the spread of the virus more likely. In this paper, we used data from two projects, including the UCLA Law COVID Behind Bars Data Project and the COVID Prison Project, and supplemented these with publicly available data to examine the number of deaths and infection rates caused by COVID-19 among people in prison and prison staff in the U.S., as reported by the population of those facilities. We found that the incidence of infections and death rates in prisons were affected by crowding, prison security type (maximum, medium, minimum, or mixed) and level of prison (state or federal). People in prison who were less likely to have as much human contact (e.g., maximum-security prisons) were also less likely to be afflicted with COVID-19. People in prison were twice as likely to be infected by COVID-19 but had a similar death rate compared to the general public. Prison overcrowding increased the infection rate. The most effective state health policy was to quarantine people who had close contact with confirmed, positive cases. Further, state prisons demonstrated a higher death rate compared to federal prisons. Greater efforts to ameliorate COVID-19 and similar pathogens should be directed at state prisons with lower-level security and prisons with closer contact with the community. Quarantining close-contacts and restricting movements were the most effective state-level responses to reduce infections in prisons during April 2020 to April 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The problems of students' social interaction and psychological well-being associated with online learning dependent on self-directed learning have become an important topic of research in recent years worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting their Social Emotional Learning. This paper aimed to compare the students' loneliness, social anxiety, social interaction, and general psychological well-being at different stages of online learning (at the beginning and the height of the pandemic), considering their criteria (presence/absence of a job and own family). Methods: For this, the researchers conducted an electronic survey of students (n = 320) twice, in February and May 2020, using four questionnaires: UCLA loneliness scale-3, Social Anxiety Scale for E-Learning Environments, Social Interaction Scale, and Brief Adjustment Scale. The responses at different stages of online learning were compared using Student's t-test. Differences between employed and unemployed students with or without their own families were determined using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The findings showed that unemployed students without their families suffered the most from loneliness. Social interaction online was rated higher by students with their own families; psychological well-being at the beginning of the distance period and social anxiety at the height of the distance period were higher among unemployed students. Conclusions: This research can become a theoretical basis for a phase-by-phase study of social predictors for the psychological well-being of higher education students and is of practical value for teachers and administrators of online learning aimed at students' socialization. In addition, it provides education officials with information about how students perceive psychological well-being, anxiety, social interaction, and loneliness during distance learning, which can help officials direct their decisions and reforms to improve interaction in the online environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines potential associations of loneliness with laboratory data and specific psychosocial and behavioral attitudes. The sample collection took place in an urban Primary Health Care unit between May and July 2023, consecutively, and once exclusion criteria were implemented. Participants were aged between 40 and 75 years. Routine laboratory test results upon study initiation and six months before were used. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Loneliness Scale (Version 3), blood glucose, serum lipids, Fibrosis-4 index, and Creatinine Clearance (CrCl) were assessed through hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis. Based on full model (3rd) analysis, those who were engaged in an individual sport or activity or had contacts with more friends presented significantly lower odds for increased loneliness levels (odds ratio (OR): 0.28 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09–0.91], p = 0.034 and OR: 0.76 [95%CI 0.66–0.88], p < 0.001, respectively). The consumption of alcohol was associated with increased loneliness (OR: 5.55 [95%CI 1.42–21.63], p = 0.014). Elevated triglyceride levels were linked with moderate or no loneliness (OR: 0.20 [95%CI 0.05–0.83], p = 0.026), while an increased LDL/HDL atherosclerotic index was related to increased subjective loneliness (OR: 4.50 [95%CI 1.12–18.13], p = 0.035). The need for holistic approaches—involving primary care personnel—in understanding and addressing loneliness, recognizing its multifaceted nature as well as the diverse factors that contribute to this issue, is considered challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the protective and risk factors involved in student loneliness after the lockdown measures taken limiting social contact during the COVID-19 pandemic in France. Design/methodology/approach: Using a cross-sectional survey methodology, the authors collected data on a sample of 546 students pursuing management education in a French business school in several campuses. Loneliness was measured by the three-item UCLA loneliness scale. Logistic regression analysis examined the factors influencing student loneliness. Findings: The prevalence of loneliness was 23.4%. Risk factors for loneliness were social isolation especially in terms of intensity and isolation from friends (OR: 5.40), having a regular paid activity (OR: 1.62) and not getting academic help from other students (OR: 2.11) or taking meals alone during the lockdowns (OR: 1.94). Being a male student (OR: 0.47), practicing a sport (OR: 0.64) and studying at a specific campus (OR: 0.43) were protective factors. Practical implications: Understanding protective and risk factors affecting student loneliness helps higher education decision-makers to take the necessary actions to enhance student well-being which have an effect on learning processes. Originality/value: Loneliness is a major public health concern among students. Knowledge of the determinants for loneliness are limited and this article attempts to augment this by exploring several protective and risk indicators of loneliness among French students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present an experimental study of edge turbulence in the Large Plasma Device at UCLA. We utilize a scan of discharge power and prefill pressure (neutral density) to show experimentally that turbulent density fluctuations decrease with decreasing density gradient, as predicted for resistive drift-wave turbulence (RDWT). As expected for RDWT, we observe that the cross-phase between the density and potential fluctuations is close to 0. Moreover, the addition of an electron temperature gradient leads to a reduction in the amplitude of the density fluctuations, as expected for RDWT. However, counter to theoretical expectations, we find that the potential fluctuations do not follow the same trends as the density fluctuations for changes either in density gradients or the addition of a temperature gradient. The disconnect between the density and potential fluctuations is connected to changes in the parallel flows as a result of differences in the prefill pressure, i.e. neutral density. Further analysis of the density and potential fluctuation spectra show that the electron temperature gradient reduces the low frequency fluctuations up to $10 \,{\rm kHz}$ and the introduction of a temperature gradient leads to an unexpected ${\sim }{\rm \pi}$ shift of the density–potential cross-phase at ${\sim }10\,{\rm kHz}$ , while maintaining the typical resistive drift-wave cross-phase at lower frequencies. These experiments partly confirm existing knowledge on resistive drift-wave turbulence, but also introduce new observations that indicate a need for dedicated nonlinear three-dimensional turbulence simulations that include neutrals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conceptual papers typically focus on proposing new relationships among constructs; the purpose is thus to develop logical and complete arguments about these associations rather than testing them empirically. The current article is the conceptual paper; however, the aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between loneliness, cognitive distortions, resilience, family support and depression among older people. Purposive sampling technique will be used to collect data from 300 participants form Pakistan. Cognitive distortion scale, UCLA loneliness scale, family support scale, Connor Davidson resilience scale and beck depression inventory will be used as an assessment measure in the current study to check the level of loneliness, cognitive distortions, resilience, family support and depression. SPSS-27 software will be used for the statistical analysis in the present study. Pearson product moment correlation analysis, reliability analysis, independent sample t-test and hierarchal regression analysis will be used in the current study. The authors conclude that higher level of loneliness and cognitive distortions will lead to higher level of depression. Policy makers, social workers and organizations that wish to jointly address mental health and performance at work would benefit from reducing depression by enhancing resilience and importance of family support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While lumbar spinal fusion using rigid rods is a prevalent surgical technique, it can lead to complications such as adjacent segment disease (ASDis). Dynamic stabilization devices serve to maintain physiological spinal motion and alleviate painful stress, yet they are accompanied by a substantial incidence of construct failure and subsequent reoperation. Compared to traditional rigid devices, Isobar TTL semi-rigid stabilization devices demonstrate equivalent stiffness and effective stabilization capabilities. Furthermore, when contrasted with dynamic stabilization techniques, semi-rigid stabilization offers improved load distribution, a broader range of motion within the fixed segment, and reduced mechanical failure rates. This paper will review and evaluate the clinical and biomechanical performance of Isobar TTL semi-rigid stabilization devices. A literature search using the PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Cochrane Library databases identified studies that met the eligibility criteria. Twenty-eight clinical studies and nine biomechanical studies were included in this systematic review. The VAS, the ODI, and Japanese Orthopedic Association scoring improved significantly in most studies. UCLA grading scale, Pfirrmann grading, and modified Pfirrmann grading of the upper adjacent segments improved significantly in most studies. The occurrence rate of ASD was low. In biomechanical studies, Isobar TTL demonstrated a superior load sharing distribution, a larger fixed segment range of motion, and reduced stress at the rod–screw/screw–bone interfaces compared with titanium rods. While findings from mechanical studies provided promising results, the clinical studies exhibited low methodological quality. As a result, the available evidence does not possess sufficient strength to substantiate superior outcomes with Isobar semi-rigid system in comparison to titanium rods. To establish more conclusive conclusions, further investigations incorporating improved protocols, larger sample sizes, and extended follow-up durations are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global-scale properties of Europa's putative ocean, including its depth, thickness, and conductivity, can be established from measurements of the magnetic field on multiple close flybys of the moon at different phases of the synodic and orbital periods such as those planned for the Europa Clipper mission. The Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) has been designed and constructed to provide the required high precision, temporally stable measurements over the range of temperatures and other environmental conditions that will be encountered in the solar wind and at Jupiter. Three low-noise, tri-axial fluxgate sensors provided by the University of California, Los Angeles are controlled by an electronics unit developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Each fluxgate sensor measures the vector magnetic field over a wide dynamic range (±4000 nT per axis) with a resolution of 8 pT. A rigorous magnetic cleanliness program has been adopted for the spacecraft and its payload. The sensors are mounted far out on an 8.5 m boom to form a configuration that makes it possible to measure the remaining spacecraft field and remove its contribution to data from the outboard sensor. This paper provides details of the magnetometer design, implementation and testing, the ground calibrations and planned calibrations in cruise and in orbit at Jupiter, and the methods to be used to extract Europa's inductive response from the data. Data will be collected at nominal rates of 1 or 16 samples/s and will be processed at UCLA and delivered to the Planetary Data System in a timely manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic ankle instability is a common condition that develops after lateral ankle sprains. Many surgical techniques have been described in case of failure of conservative treatment. The purpose of this paper is to present the results in terms of clinical outcomes, return to sport and recurrence rate after reconstruction of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle with a minimally invasive approach at a minimum follow up of five years. Methods: This retrospective study involved forty-seven patients treated for chronic ankle instability from January 2013 to November 2017. The clinical outcomes were evaluated with the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle and hindfoot score (AOFAS score), the University of California–Los Angeles Rating Scale (UCLA Rating Scale), the Karlsson–Peterson ankle instability score and the Halasi scale at a mean follow up time of 80 months. Results: The mean age of the patients was 42 years (23–63). The mean VAS pain score decreased from 5.6 (2–9) pre-operatively to 0.7 (0–7) post-operatively. The mean UCLA Rating Scale score improved from 7.7 (4–8) before surgical treatment to 9.2 (6–10) afterwards. The AOFAS score increased from a pre-operative mean value of 66.5 (40–95) to a post-operative mean value of 94 (88–100) and the Halasi scale from a pre-injury mean value of 4.3 (2–8) to 4.5 post-operatively (2–8). The mean Karlsson–Peterson ankle instability score increased from 71 (40–90) pre-operatively to 87.9 (70–90) post-operatively. During this period of follow up, the procedure survival rate was 95.7%, with two cases of recurrence of ankle sprain post-operatively after twelve months in one case and forty months in the other case. Conclusions: The described technique of reconstruction of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament with a minimally invasive approach with a semitendinosus autograft is a viable treatment option for chronic ankle instability and enables the majority of patients to regain their activity and sport level with a low recurrence rate at a mid-term follow up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood where people are vulnerable to stress. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause sustained stress in the population. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation and loneliness have increased. Loneliness is associated with increased stress, psychological distress, and a higher risk of mental illnesses, such as depression. This study examined the association between loneliness, premenstrual symptoms, and other factors in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescent females in Japan. Patients and Methods: A school-based cross-sectional survey of 1450 adolescent female students in Japan was conducted in mid-December of 2021. Specifically, paper-based questionnaires were distributed in class, and the responses were collected. The Premenstrual Symptoms Questionnaire (PSQ), 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, 3-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale were used as measurement tools. The prevalence of loneliness was defined as a total R-UCLA score ≥ 6. Results: The prevalence of loneliness was 29.0%. The prevalence of serious psychological distress was also high (8.2%), especially in the lonely group (16.0%). Multivariable regression analysis identified the following factors associated with loneliness: second year (odds ratio [OR] 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09– 2.14), longer internet use (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02– 1.20), total PSQ score (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06– 1.11), and psychological distress (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01– 1.08). Conclusion: Adolescent females in Japan showed a high prevalence of loneliness. School year (2nd year), longer periods of internet use, premenstrual symptom severity, and psychological distress were independently associated with loneliness. For clinicians and school health professionals, special concern should be given to the psychological health of adolescent females during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2022 John Bates Clark Medal of the American Economic Association was awarded to Oleg Itskhoki, Professor of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles for his path breaking contributions in international economics. This article summarizes Oleg Itskhoki's work and places it in the context of the broader literature and emphasizes how it has shed new light on a number of long-standing puzzles regarding the behavior of exchange rates and international relative prices more generally and their connection to macroeconomic fluctuations and government's choices of monetary and fiscal policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In order to control the corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries have adopted social quarantine policies, with older adults in Wuhan suffering the longest and most severe conditions. But few studies have explored the impact of this on the mental health of older adults in Wuhan. The purpose of this paper is to examine changes in the residential status and mental health of this group when 1 year after the social isolation policies in Wuhan.Method: A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted to assess the questionnaire of older adults in a total of 21 streets in 5 central and 2 distant urban districts of Wuhan. Using a self-compiled living status questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the General Anxiety Disorder-7, the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Social Support Rating Scale, our survey evaluated the living status, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, loneliness and social support of all the participants.Results: A total of 400 valid samples were obtained. One year after experiencing social isolation, older adults had not changed much from their pre-epidemic living status and mostly lived with their partners. They had satisfactory social support (33.86 ± 6.92) and low levels of depression (3.12 ± 4.30), anxiety (1.52 ± 3.19) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (21.41 ± 7.39), but there were moderate levels of loneliness (38.27 ± 9.31). Among them, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms were significantly higher (ps < 0.05) in older adults who were COVID-19 close contacts while experiencing social isolation.Conclusion: One year after experiencing Wuhan's harsh social isolation, older adults in the Wuhan community did not experience significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress, but loneliness has increased and the mental health of older adults who were COVID-19 close contacts needs attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers and practitioners of cultural heritage conservation are increasingly aware of the field's impact on the physical and social environment. Faculty at the UCLA/Getty Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage are working to support the next generation of researchers and practitioners to become leaders in adapting conservation for the climate crisis and addressing social inequity. This paper presents the first stage of an initiative to develop models for embedding sustainable practices into conservation education and producing scalable curricula for broad dissemination. In this first phase, we performed literature reviews, canvassed the field through surveys, conducted interviews and developed curricula for our laboratories and classrooms. Survey results indicate a high international interest in incorporating sustainability principles in cultural heritage education, but with a corollary challenge of being unable to substitute new concepts for those already taught. Literature reviews and interviews introduced the authors to existing pedagogical approaches for embedding sustainability within our courses. Sustainability concepts such as the Three Pillars of Sustainability, the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Inform, Engage, Empower and Embed (I3E) systems provide guidance in our teaching. The next phase of the initiative will involve a close evaluation of pedagogical systems for integrating sustainability into the existing curriculum to ensure that emerging professionals in art conservation, built heritage, libraries, archives, archaeology and historic preservation will prioritize intersectional environmentalism. A future goal is to disseminate educational models broadly for adaptation by others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectrogram analysis is a vital skill for learning speech acoustics. Spectrograms are necessary for visualizing cause-effect relationships between speech articulator movements and the resulting sound produced. However, many interpretation techniques needed to read spectrograms are counterintuitive to engineering students who have been taught to use more rigid mathematical formulas. As a result, spectrogram reading is often challenging for these students who do not have prior background in acoustic phonetics. In this paper, a structured, inclusive framework for teaching spectrogram reading to students of engineering backgrounds is presented. Findings from the implementation of these teaching methods in undergraduate and graduate engineering courses at University of California, Los Angeles are also unveiled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manuscript UCLA 170/624 (ff. 75–76) contains Galileo's proof of the center of gravity of the frustum of a cone, which was ultimately published as Theoremata circa centrum gravitatis solidorum in Discorsi e dimostrazioni matematiche intorno a due nuove scienze (Leiden 1638). The UCLA copy opens the possibility of giving a fuller account of Theoremata dating and development, and it can shed light on the origins of this research by the young Galileo. A comparison of the UCLA manuscript with the other extant copies is carried out to propose a new dating for the composition of the Theoremata. This dating will then be reconsidered in light of the mathematical content. The paper ends with a complete description of the content of the UCLA manuscript and the edition of Galileo's text there contained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeleton-based action recognition is a research hotspot in the field of computer vision. Currently, the mainstream method is based on Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs). Although there are many advantages of GCNs, GCNs mainly rely on graph topologies to draw dependencies between the joints, which are limited in capturing long-distance dependencies. Meanwhile, Transformer-based methods have been applied to skeleton-based action recognition because they effectively capture long-distance dependencies. However, existing Transformer-based methods lose the inherent connection information of human skeleton joints because they do not yet focus on initial graph structure information. This paper aims to improve the accuracy of skeleton-based action recognition. Therefore, a Graph Skeleton Transformer network (GSTN) for action recognition is proposed, which is based on Transformer architecture to extract global features, while using undirected graph information represented by the symmetric matrix to extract local features. Two encodings are utilized in feature processing to improve joints' semantic and centrality features. In the process of multi-stream fusion strategies, a grid-search-based method is used to assign weights to each input stream to optimize the fusion results. We tested our method using three action recognition datasets: NTU RGB+D 60, NTU RGB+D 120, and NW-UCLA. The experimental results show that our model's accuracy is comparable to state-of-the-art approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeleton-based action recognition is widely used in varied areas, e.g., surveillance and human-machine interaction. Existing models are mainly learned in a supervised manner, thus heavily depending on large-scale labeled data, which could be infeasible when labels are prohibitively expensive. In this paper, we propose a novel Contrast-Reconstruction Representation Learning network (CRRL) that simultaneously captures postures and motion dynamics for unsupervised skeleton-based action recognition. It consists of three parts: Sequence Reconstructor (SER), Contrastive Motion Learner (CML), and Information Fuser (INF). SER learns representation from skeleton coordinate sequence via reconstruction. However the learned representation tends to focus on trivial postural coordinates and be hesitant in motion learning. To enhance the learning of motions, CML performs contrastive learning between the representation learned from coordinate sequences and additional velocity sequences, respectively. Finally, in the INF module, we explore varied strategies to combine SER and CML, and propose to couple postures and motions via a knowledge-distillation based fusion strategy which transfers the motion learning from CML to SER. Experimental results on several benchmarks, i.e., NTU RGB+D 60/120, PKU-MMD, CMU, and NW-UCLA, demonstrate the promise of the our method by outperforming state-of-the-art approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness and social isolation are subjective measures associated with the feeling of discomfort and distress. Various factors associated with the feeling of loneliness or social isolation are: the built environment, long-term illnesses, the presence of disabilities or health problems, etc. One of the most important aspect which could impact feelings of loneliness is mobility. In this paper, we present a machine-learning based approach to classify the user loneliness levels using their indoor and outdoor mobility patterns. User mobility data has been collected based on indoor and outdoor sensors carried on by volunteers frequenting an elderly nursing house in Tampere region, Finland. The data was collected using Pozyx sensor for indoor data and Pico minifinder sensor for outdoor data. Mobility patterns such as the distance traveled indoors and outdoors, indoor and outdoor estimated speed, and frequently visited clusters were the most relevant features for classifying the user's perceived loneliness levels.Three types of data used for classification task were indoor data, outdoor data and combined indoor-outdoor data. Indoor data consisted of indoor mobility data and statistical features from accelerometer data, outdoor data consisted of outdoor mobility data and other parameters such as speed recorded from sensors and course of a person whereas combined indoor-outdoor data had common mobility features from both indoor and outdoor data. We found that the machine-learning model based on XGBoost algorithm achieved the highest performance with accuracy between 90 % and 98 % for indoor, outdoor, and combined indoor-outdoor data. We also found that Lubben-scale based labelling of perceived loneliness works better for both indoor and outdoor data, whereas UCLA scale-based labelling works better with combined indoor-outdoor data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning in the 1960s and early seventies, classroom research contributed to understandings and insights concerning the complexities and diversities of teaching. In the late 1990s, classroom research began to also include student voices in the classroom. Socio-cultural theory turned the empirical focus toward student interaction, and methodological development made new insights possible. The impact of this paradigmatic change is still in progress. At the same time, a rapid growth in international comparative classroom studies emerged, where the two most recognized comparative classroom research initiatives have been the TIMSS Video Studies, the first one initiated in 1995 at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Learner's Perspective Study (LPS), initiated in 1999, at the University of Melbourne's International Center for Classroom Research (ICCR). In this paper, we ask what it takes to carry out successful international classroom research, using the LPS as an example. The analysis shows that the LPS project design made it possible for research groups from different countries and cultures to participate in building a sustainable community of research practice specialized in working with the complexities in the study of teaching and learning in classrooms. Of particular importance was the intense and sustained collaborative work on data, where researchers of varying seniority and experience met and carried out scholarly work in relation to a shared dataset. While also having disadvantages, the heavy emphasis on data was crucial for creating and sustaining a reflexive international research community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim/Goal/Purpose: Population surveys underrepresent people with severe mental ill health. This paper aims to use multiple regression analyses to explore perceived social support, loneliness and factor associations from self-report survey data collected during the Covid-19 pandemic in a sample of individuals with severe mental ill health. Design/Methodology/Approach: We sampled an already existing cohort of people with severe mental ill health. Researchers contacted participants by phone or by post to invite them to take part in a survey about how the pandemic restrictions had impacted health, Covid-19 experiences, perceived social support, employment and loneliness. Loneliness was measured by the three item UCLA loneliness scale. Findings: In the pandemic sub-cohort, 367 adults with a severe mental ill health diagnosis completed a remote survey. 29–34% of participants reported being lonely. Loneliness was associated with being younger in age (adjusted OR = -.98, p =.02), living alone (adjusted OR = 2.04, p =.01), high levels of social and economic deprivation (adjusted OR = 2.49, p =.04), and lower perceived social support (B = -5.86, p <.001). Living alone was associated with lower perceived social support. Being lonely was associated with a self-reported deterioration in mental health during the pandemic (adjusted OR = 3.46, 95%CI 2.03–5.91). Practical implications: Intervention strategies to tackle loneliness in the severe mental ill health population are needed. Further research is needed to follow-up the severe mental ill health population after pandemic restrictions are lifted to understand perceived social support and loneliness trends. Originality: Loneliness was a substantial problem for the severe mental ill health population before the Covid-19 pandemic but there is limited evidence to understand perceived social support and loneliness trends during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Content-sharing social network platforms rely heavily on user-generated content to attract users and advertisers, but they have limited authority over content provision. We develop an intervention that leverages social interactions between users to stimulate content production. We study social nudges, whereby users connected with a content provider on a platform encourage that provider to supply more content. We conducted a randomized field experiment (N = 993 , 676) on a video-sharing social network platform where treatment providers could receive messages from other users encouraging them to produce more, but control providers could not. We find that social nudges not only immediately boosted video supply by 13.21% without changing video quality but also, increased the number of nudges providers sent to others by 15.57%. Such production-boosting and diffusion effects, although declining over time, lasted beyond the day of receiving nudges and were amplified when nudge senders and recipients had stronger ties. We replicate these results in a second experiment. To estimate the overall production boost over the entire network and guide platforms to utilize social nudges, we combine the experimental data with a social network model that captures the diffusion and over-time effects of social nudges. We showcase the importance of considering the network effects when estimating the impact of social nudges and optimizing platform operations regarding social nudges. Our research highlights the value of leveraging co-user influence for platforms and provides guidance for future research to incorporate the diffusion of an intervention into the estimation of its impacts within a social network. This paper was accepted by Victor Martínez-de-Albéniz, operations management. Funding: H. Dai thanks the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) [Hellman Fellowship and Faculty Development Award] for funding support. R. Zhang is grateful for financial support from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council [Grant 16505418]. Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4622. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth in the accessibility of technology mediums has resulted in the growing dependency and is associated with Compulsive Internet Use (CIU) and Problematic Phone Use (PPU). The present study was an effort to study the relationship between psychosocial problems like loneliness and social anxiety with problematic phone use (PPU) and compulsive internet use (CIU). It was hypothesized that loneliness and social anxiety would significantly PPU and CIU. A total of 260 participants (149 males and 111 females) within the age range of 17–35 years (M = 23.3, SD 3.01) responded on four standardized questionnaires viz., Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (Kwon et al. in PLoS ONE 8:56936, 2013), Compulsive Internet Use Scale (Meerkerk et al. in Cyberpsychol Behav 12:1–6, 2009), UCLA loneliness scale-version 3 (Russel et al. in J Personal Assess 66:20–40, 1996), and Social Anxiety Questionnaire for Adults (Caballo et al. in Behav Ther 43:313–328, 2012). The regression results showed that loneliness and social anxiety emerged to be significant predictors of Problematic Phone Use (PPU) and Compulsive Internet use (CIU). The findings and implications are discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the direction of arrival (DOA) estimation problem with unfolded coprime linear array (UCLA) and propose a low computational complexity signal-subspace fitting (SF) algorithm. SF algorithm is able to achieve excellent DOA estimation performance while it requires global angular search (GAS). Especially in the several source signals situation, expensive complexity cost causes. To decrease computational complexity, we propose an initialized based SF (ISF) algorithm, which involves the several one dimensional (1D) partial angular search (PAS) instead of the multidimensional GAS. Consequently, the complexity is significantly decreased. Due to the full utilization of the array aperture, the proposed method in UCLA can attain better performance than general CLA (GCLA). In addition, as the SF is attractive in practical application, the proposed ISF algorithm lowers the computational cost, while achieving almost approximate estimation performance as traditional SF and noise subspace fitting (NF). Moreover, numerical simulations are provided and verify the effectiveness and the superiority of the proposed algorithm for the UCLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This interview highlights Professor Hossein Farhady's academic life and his sustained contribution to research in the fields of English Language teaching, language testing and ESP over the past decades. Through a number of questions, the interview asks Professor Farhady about his pioneering role in the field of language testing in Iran and his highly valued contribution to issues related to English language teaching and material design. The interview takes the shape of a narrative about Professor Farhady's past from early days of schooling in a village near Makou in Iran to his PhD studies at UCLA in California and his post-PhD research career in different countries around the globe. The interview summarises his accomplishment in leading research projects, disseminating research outputs, and training new teachers, researchers and language test and material designers. It also provides an interesting portrait of his vision for the field which is based on his experience of working in various higher education contexts over the past decades. Most importantly, the interview demonstrates Professor Farhady's commitment to research and his dedication to translating research findings to action and bringing change about in policy and professional practice. Above all, the interview is a recognition of his lifetime achievements and an acknowledgement of his dedication, diligence and devotion to research in applied linguistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic textures (DT) are typically 3D videos of physical processes showing statistical regularity but have indeterminate spatial and temporal extent. Existing DT recognition methods usually neglect the global spatio-temporal relationships of DT which reflect the statistical regularities. In this paper, a spatio-temporal texture convolutional neural network (SMTCNN) is proposed for global semantic DT representation. Specifically, SMTCNN describes DT features by learning DT' temporal motion as well as the sources of the motions and the scenarios where the motion is happening, and accordingly, a motion net and a source net are formulated. In particular, a novel module consisting of expansion and concatenation implementations on deep features is presented, with an arbitrary 2D backbone as input, followed by a new 1D CNN including 4 convolutional, 2 pooling and 2 fully-connected layers to represent the 2D tensors in space–time, by transforming DT descriptors from discrete "words" to global "textures". A number of comparative experiments on three DT dataset - UCLA, DynTex and DynTex ++ are conducted to demonstrate our approach. • A novel SMTCNN architecture considering the global spatio-temporal relationships of dynamic textures is proposed for 3D dynamic texture recognition. • We present a new contextual module transforming 2D CNN features to 1D vectors for 3D video sequence representation. • Promising results are obtained on several dynamic texture benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a novel pretext task to address the skeleton-based video representation for self-supervised action recognition tasks. Instead of exploiting only the whole body, various levels of the skeleton structure (e.g., upper body, lower body, left arm, left leg, right arm, right leg, and torso) are employed to extract essential coarser-grained characteristics. This involves computing statistical representations like motion, orientation, trajectory, and magnitude shift from unlabeled skeleton configurations. Then a learning model is built and trained to yield these statistical representations given the sequence configuration as the input. Our approach is question-driven, where each question acts as a puzzle piece contributing to a deeper understanding of the skeleton joint configuration. It's inspired by the ability of the cognitive system observed in individuals to hypothesize unseen actions. This is accomplished by posing pertinent questions and envisioning plausible scenarios to recognize the actions taking place. The answers to these devised questions are derived from the statistical representation of skeleton configurations. To this end, we made 44 questions designed to encompass the broadest overview to the finest detail. Our experiments on the NTU RGB-D, NW-UCLA, and PKU-MMD datasets demonstrate outstanding results in action recognition, proving the superiority of our approach in learning discriminative characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of implementing the He-cooled breeding blanket system for a fusion reactor, several crucial aspects need consideration. Among these, the development of a tritium transport model plays a pivotal role in ensuring safety and effective design. Given that tritium release into the environment from the breeding blanket system poses a radioactive risk, accurate calculation and prediction area essential to prevent potential incidents in a fusion reactor. To address this challenge, a collaborative effort between the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) resulted in the creation of THETA-FR (Tritium/Hydrogen Enhanced dynamic Transport Analysis Tool for Fusion Reactor). THETA-FR is an integrated analysis tool that combines Matlab Simulink and COMSOL Multiphysics. Its purpose is to model and predict the dynamic transport phenomena of H isotopes (H/D/T) within the breeding blanket system. Specifically, THETA-FR focuses on transient tritium retention, permeation, and release amounts from the breeding blanket system into the environment. In this paper, we introduce the integrated system and components of THETA-FR, shedding light on various tritium behaviors within the HCCP breeding blanket FW/BU component. By leveraging THETA-FR, researchers and engineers can make informed decisions regarding tritium control and safety in fusion reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a significant impact on the quality of life of affected patients. This study aimed to correlate serum inflammatory markers with specific tools assessing quality of life, emotional well-being, and loneliness, such as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Methods: A pilot observational study including 37 patients with HS was conducted. Inflammatory serum markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months later. Psychometric scores were also evaluated at the same study intervals. Results: DLQI was correlated with ESR at baseline (Spearman's rho = 0.35, p = 0.03), indicating that poorer quality of life is associated with changes in this serum marker. Disease activity, as reflected by inflammatory markers, was associated with significant psychological burden. Specifically, a worse DLQI score was associated with higher ESR (estimate β = 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–0.22; p = 0.001) and higher CRP level (estimate β = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.02–0.48; p = 0.02). Similarly, a worse UCLA score was associated with higher ESR (estimate β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02–0.20, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Our study results underline the close relation between systemic inflammatory markers and clinical severity together with psychological burden in HS patients, as indicated by the significant association that was revealed between ESR/CRP and poorer psychometric scores. However, further research is warranted to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As the world comes to terms with the realities surrounding COVID-19, media sources have likened quarantine experiences to that of incarceration. Individuals who have experienced incarceration and individuals who have experienced the incarceration of loved ones (LO), have already experienced periods of time apart. We are exploring the experiences of individuals who have some experience with incarceration; whether they were personally incarcerated, or they experienced the incarceration of a LO. Utilizing snowball sampling, a mixed methods survey was circulated on social media. Survey items included demographic information, questions about incarceration, issues related to COVID-19 quarantines, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Results follow similar patterns to previous studies. However, this unique population argues that COVID-19 quarantines are not the same as periods of incarceration. Similarly, future research and community agencies need to examine the unique needs of those who have experienced the incarceration of a loved one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) has gained momentum as an alternative modality for the investigation of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Of the few challenges that remain, the comparison and – eventually – matching of polyps at different timestamps leads to the potential for double reporting and can contribute to false-positive findings and inaccuracies. With the impending artificial intelligence integration, the risk of double reporting the same polyp due to the lack of information on spatial orientation underscores the necessity for establishing criteria for polyp matching. Objectives: This RAND/University of California, Los Angeles (modified Delphi) process aims to identify the key factors or components used to match polyps within a CCE video. This involves exploring the attributes of each factor to create comprehensive polyp-matching criteria based on international expert consensus. Design: A systematic qualitative study using surveys. Methods: A panel of 11 international CCE experts convened to assess a survey comprised of 60 statements. Participants anonymously rated statement appropriateness on a 1–9 scale (1–3: inappropriate, 4–6: uncertain and 7–9: appropriate). Following a virtual group discussion of the Round 1 results, a Round 2 survey was developed and completed before the final analysis. Results: The factors that were agreed to be essential for polyp matching include (1) timestamp, (2) polyp localization, (3) polyp vascular pattern, (4) polyp size, (5) time interval of the polyp appearance between the green and yellow camera, (6) surrounding tissue, (7) polyp morphology and (8) polyp surface and contour. When five or more factors are satisfied, it was agreed that the comparing polyps are likely the same polyp. Conclusion: This study has established the first complete criteria for polyp matching in CCE. While it might not provide a definitive solution for matching difficult, small and common polyps, these criteria serve as a framework to guide and facilitate the process of polyp-matching. Plain language summary: Creating criteria and standards for matching polyps (abnormal growth in the bowels) on colon capsule video analysis: an international expert agreement using the RAND (modified Delphi process) process Background: Doctors often use colon capsule endoscopy (CCE), a high-tech capsule with two cameras, to record and check for diseases in the small and large bowels as the capsule travels through the intestines. One of the most common conditions in the large bowel is polyps, which are abnormal growths in the lining of the bowel. Comparing and matching polyps in the same video from the capsule can be tricky as they look very similar, leading to the possibility of incorrectly reporting the same polyp twice or more. This can lead to wrong results and inaccuracies. The literature did not have any criteria or standards for matching polyps in CCE before. Aim: Using the RAND/UCLA (modified Delphi) process, this study aims to identify the key factors or components used to match polyps within a CCE video. The goal is to explore each factor and create complete criteria for polyp matching based on the agreement from international experts. Method: A group of 11 international CCE experts came together to evaluate a survey with 60 statements. They anonymously rated each statement on a scale from 1 to 9 (1-3: inappropriate, 4-6: uncertain, and 7-9: appropriate). After discussing the Round 1 results virtually, a Round 2 survey with the same but revised questions was created and completed before the final analysis of their agreement. Results: The main factors for matching polyps are 1) the timing when the polyp was seen, 2) where it is in the bowel, 3) its blood vessel pattern, 4) size, 5) the timing of its appearance between cameras, 6) surrounding tissue features, 7) its shape, and 8) surface features. If five or more of these factors match, the compared polyps are likely the same. Conclusion: This study establishes the first complete criteria for matching polyps in CCE. While it may not provide a definitive solution for matching challenging and small polyps, these criteria serve as a guide to help and make the process of polyp matching easier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare high school students' self-esteem and loneliness levels based on their use of Facebook and its applications. Quantitative research was utilized and 764 high school students participated in the current study. Data were collected through a Facebook Usage & Personal Information Form prepared by the researchers, the UCLA Loneliness scale, and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. The results of this study show that the selfesteem levels of students who spend less time on Facebook are higher than those of students who spend more time on Facebook. The level of loneliness among students with fewer friends on Facebook is higher than that of students with more friends on Facebook. The selfesteem level of students who added new people to their Facebook friend lists was found to be low, while the self-esteem level of students who did not add new people was found to be high There was no relationship between purpose of Facebook use with self-esteem and loneliness. The highest level of loneliness is observed in the group that rarely receives comments or likes on their status updates, photos, and music videos shared on Facebook. In general, it can be seen that students' levels of loneliness and self-esteem have changed about the use of Facebook and its applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study we report the relationship among MRI-based skull and cervical spine morphometric measures as well as symptom severity (disability—as measured by Oswestry Head and Neck Pain Scale and social isolation—as measured by the UCLA Loneliness scale) on biomarkers of allostatic load using estrogen, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and cortisol in a sample of 46 CMI patients. Correlational analyses showed that McRae line length was negatively associated with interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed joint effects of morphometric measures (McRae line length, anterior CSF space) and symptom severity (disability and loneliness) on estrogen and intereukin-6 levels. These results are consistent with allostatic load. That is, when the combination of CSF crowding and self-report symptom (disability and loneliness) severity exceed the capacity of biological resilience factors, then biomarkers such as neuroprotective estrogen levels drop, rather than rise, with increasing symptom severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Korea, the proportion of adults experiencing severe loneliness has been increasing rapidly. Accordingly, this study examines the elements of loneliness experienced by Korean adults and investigates their structural relevance using concept mapping. Korean adults (47) were recruited for individual in-depth interviews based on their scores on the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The interviews yielded 80 unique statements, which were then evaluated using multidimensional scaling and a hierarchical cluster analysis. A cluster map of loneliness was derived, with three clusters: (1) emotional distress due to the actual or anticipated absence of connection in relationships, (2) emotional distance from oneself or from others in a relationship, and (3) powerlessness and emptiness due to being directionless. Two dimensions distinguished these clusters: the lack of a sense of connection or self-assurance, and an inward or outward focus. These findings reveal that loneliness encompasses more than unmet relational needs; it also involves self-attentional focus, indicating a need to reconceptualize the notion of loneliness. The study's implications extend to counseling theory and practices by highlighting the importance of addressing both relational connections and self-perceptions in interventions for loneliness. By expanding the understanding of loneliness through empirical data, this research provides a more comprehensive framework for addressing loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological data reveal that 45% of persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) in France are more than 50 years. This population more than 50 is more susceptible to cancer, and this risk may be increased by frequent use of immunosuppressive drugs. Consequently, concerns have arisen about the potential increased risk of cancer in PwMS and how patients should be screened and managed in terms of cancer risk. Objective: To develop evidence-based recommendations to manage the coexistence of cancer and multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: The French Group for Recommendations in MS collected articles from PubMed and university databases covering the period January 1975 through June 2022. The RAND/UCLA method was employed to achieve formal consensus. MS experts comprehensively reviewed the full-text articles and developed the initial recommendations. A group of multidisciplinary health care specialists then validated the final proposal. Results: Five key questions were addressed, encompassing various topics such as cancer screening before or after initiating a disease-modifying therapy (DMT), appropriate management of MS in the context of cancer, recommended follow-up for cancer in patients receiving a DMT, and the potential reintroduction of a DMT after initial cancer treatment. A strong consensus was reached for all 31 recommendations. Conclusion: These recommendations propose a strategic approach to managing cancer risk in PwMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]