Search

Background: Total hip (THR) and total knee replacements (TKR) are two highly successful orthopaedic procedures that reduce pain for people with osteoarthritis. Previous evidence suggests that physical activity, at best, remains the same pre- to post-operatively, and in some instances declines. The PEP-TALK trial evaluates the effects of a group-based, behaviour change intervention on physical activity following a THR or TKR.Methods: PEP-TALK is an open, phase III, pragmatic, multi-centre, parallel, two-arm, two-way superiority randomised controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of usual care plus a behaviour change therapy compared with usual care alone following primary THR or TKR. The primary outcome is the UCLA Activity Score at 12 months post-randomisation which will be analysed using a linear mixed effects model. Secondary outcomes measured at 6 months and 12 months after randomisation include the UCLA Activity Score, Lower Extremity Functional Scale, Oxford Hip/Knee Score, Numerical Rating Scale for Pain, Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L index and EQ-VAS and complications or adverse events. Full details of the planned analysis approaches for the primary and secondary outcomes, as well as the planned sensitivity analyses to be undertaken due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are described here. The PEP-TALK study protocol has been published previously.Discussion: This paper provides details of the planned statistical analyses for the PEP-TALK trial. This is aimed to reduce the risk of outcome reporting bias and enhance transparency in reporting.Trial Registration: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials database, ISRCTN Number: 29770908 . Registered on October 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of a turning tide on the legalization of medicinal and recreational marijuana, and with the recent decriminalization of psilocybin in Denver, a psychedelic renaissance may too be on the horizon. Psychedelics have again become the subject of rigorous study at institutions such as Yale, UCLA, NYU, and Johns Hopkins. Many clinical accounts underscore the psychedelic experience with a "dissolution of the self" as an entity separate from the universe, producing a subjective–objective duality. By delving into clinical accounts of altered states of consciousness, this paper will identify potential "psychedelic strategies" which suggest alternative modes of translation and representation of the human body in relation to interior space, integrating the self with the built and natural environment, ultimately offering designers powerful tools to generate more socially, politically, and environmentally conscious interior futures, perhaps an alternate phenomenology of the interior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'Lomonosov' space project is lead by Lomonosov Moscow State University in collaboration with the following key partners: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Russia, University of California, Los Angeles (USA), University of Pueblo (Mexico), Sungkyunkwan University (Republic of Korea) and with Russian space industry organizations to study some of extreme phenomena in space related to astrophysics, astroparticle physics, space physics, and space biology. The primary goals of this experiment are to study: This paper is directed towards the general description of both scientific goals of the project and scientific equipment on board the satellite. The following papers of this issue are devoted to detailed descriptions of scientific instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative program recently initiated at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center allows people to donate a kidney in exchange for a voucher that a loved one can redeem for a kidney if and when needed. As a relatively new practice, the ethical implications of advanced kidney donation have not yet been widely discussed. This paper reflects on some of the bioethical issues at stake in this new donation program, as well as some broader philosophical issues related to the meaning and moral salience of commodification. I first consider whether the literature on commercial markets in organs--a longstanding topic of bioethical debate--can meaningfully inform ethical analysis of kidney voucher programs. Specifically, I consider whether and to what extent common objections to the exchange of kidneys for cash also apply to the exchange of kidneys for "kidney vouchers." Second, I argue that the contrast between the ethical issues raised by these two practices highlights the need to understand commodification as existing on a continuum, with different degrees of commodification giving rise to different ethical issues. Doing so can help sharpen our understanding of commodification as a moral concept, as well as its relevance to broader debates about the moral limits of markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information related to the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA). It mentions the 2012 AMTA Symposium hosted by Boeing Co. and ETS-Lindgren LP which featured Dr. Yahya Rahmat-Samii from the University of California in Los Angeles and David Walen as keynote speaker. It cites the annual awards banquet with Joe Pape awarded as AMTA Honorary Member and 2011 Past President Don Bodnar, along with two other 2011 board members, awarded for their Outstanding Service.

In this paper, we propose an efficient diagnostic technique for determining spatially resolved measurements of the ion density ratio in a magnetized two-ion species plasma. Shear Alfvén waves were injected into a mixed helium–neon plasma using a magnetic loop antenna, for frequencies spanning the ion cyclotron regime. Two distinct propagation bands are observed, bounded by $\omega and $\omega _{ii} , where $\omega _{ii}$ is the ion–ion hybrid cutoff frequency and $\varOmega _\textrm {He}$ and $\varOmega _\textrm {Ne}$ are the helium and neon cyclotron frequencies, respectively. A theoretical analysis of the cutoff frequency was performed and shows it to be largely unaffected by kinetic electron effects and collisionality, although it can deviate significantly from $\omega _{{ii}}$ in the presence of warm ions due to ion finite Larmor radius effects. A new diagnostic technique and accompanying algorithm was developed in which the measured parallel wavenumber $k_\parallel$ is numerically fit to the predicted inertial Alfvén wave dispersion in order to resolve the local ion density ratio. A major advantage of this algorithm is that it only requires a measurement of $k_\parallel$ and the background magnetic field in order to be employed. This diagnostic was tested on the Large Plasma Device at UCLA and was successful in yielding radially localized measurements of the ion density ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Missing data recovery is an important and yet challenging problem in imaging and data science. Successful models often adopt certain carefully chosen regularization. Recently, the low dimensional manifold model (LDMM) was introduced by [S. Osher, Z. Shi, and W. Zhu, Low Dimensional Manifold Model for Image Processing, Technical report, cam report 16-04, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 2016] and shown to be effective in image inpainting. The authors of [Low Dimensional Manifold Model for Image Processing, Technical report, cam report 16-04, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 2016] observed that enforcing low dimensionality on the image patch manifold serves as a good image regularizer. In this paper, we observe that having only the low dimensional manifold regularization is not enough sometimes, and we need smoothness as well. For that, we introduce a new regularization by combining the low dimensional manifold regularization with a higher order CU rvature RE gularization, which we call new regularization CURE for short. The key step of CURE is to solve a biharmonic equation on a manifold. We further introduce a weighted version of CURE, called WeCURE, in a similar manner as the weighted nonlocal Laplacian (WNLL) method [Z. Shi, S. Osher, and W. Zhu, Weighted nonlocal Laplacian on interpolation from sparse data, J. Sci. Comput., 73 (2017), pp. 1164-1177]. Numerical experiments for image inpainting and semisupervised learning show that the proposed CURE and WeCURE significantly outperform LDMM and WNLL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical translation of positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers for cancer management presents complex challenges. We have developed consensus-based recommendations for preclinical and clinical assessment of novel and established radiotracers, applied to image different cancer types, to improve the standardisation of translational methodologies and accelerate clinical implementation. Methods: A consensus process was developed using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) to gather insights from a multidisciplinary panel of 38 key stakeholders on the appropriateness of preclinical and clinical methodologies and stakeholder engagement for PET radiotracer translation. Panellists independently completed a consensus survey of 57 questions, rating each on a 9-point Likert scale. Subsequently, panellists attended a consensus meeting to discuss survey outcomes and readjust scores independently if desired. Survey items with median scores ≥ 7 were considered 'required/appropriate', ≤ 3 'not required/inappropriate', and 4–6 indicated 'uncertainty remained'. Consensus was determined as ~ 70% participant agreement on whether the item was 'required/appropriate' or 'not required/not appropriate'. Results: Consensus was achieved for 38 of 57 (67%) survey questions related to preclinical and clinical methodologies, and stakeholder engagement. For evaluating established radiotracers in new cancer types, in vitro and preclinical studies were considered unnecessary, clinical pharmacokinetic studies were considered appropriate, and clinical dosimetry and biodistribution studies were considered unnecessary, if sufficient previous data existed. There was 'agreement without consensus' that clinical repeatability and reproducibility studies are required while 'uncertainty remained' regarding the need for comparison studies. For novel radiotracers, in vitro and preclinical studies, such as dosimetry and/or biodistribution studies and tumour histological assessment were considered appropriate, as well as comprehensive clinical validation. Conversely, preclinical reproducibility studies were considered unnecessary and 'uncertainties remained' regarding preclinical pharmacokinetic and repeatability evaluation. Other consensus areas included standardisation of clinical study protocols, streamlined regulatory frameworks and patient and public involvement. While a centralised UK clinical imaging research infrastructure and open access federated data repository were considered necessary, there was 'agreement without consensus' regarding the requirement for a centralised UK preclinical imaging infrastructure. Conclusions: We provide consensus-based recommendations, emphasising streamlined methodologies and regulatory frameworks, together with active stakeholder engagement, for improving PET radiotracer standardisation, reproducibility and clinical implementation in oncology. [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]

Objective The Cultural Neuropsychology Program (CNP) is the sole bilingual clinical training program specifically focused on culturally and linguistically competent neuropsychological services to the Latino/a population in the UCLA Health System. Following the Socially Responsible Neuropsychology Model (SRN; Suarez et al. 2016), trainees learn the best practices in providing equitable clinical care to all patients irrespective of their background. The current paper discusses various trainees' professional development in the process of becoming culturally and linguistically competent clinical neuropsychologists. Method The use of case studies illustrates the competency paradigm shift trainees encounter when systematically integrating the SRN model with their clinical training. Three components of the model are emphasized: (1) integration of Etic and Emic approaches during the clinical intake, (2) merging psychometric properties with qualitative processes to compensate for the cultural-linguistic limitations of mainstream gold-standard neuropsychological tools, and (3) becoming an advocate through this social justice framework. Outcomes All trainees were previously exposed to the foundational - and typically required - knowledge-based competency model of understanding and appreciating cultural-individual differences and diversity in neuropsychology. Attaining cultural and linguistic competency through the SRN model, however, requires a salient paradigm shift in all skill-based competencies that trainees may not have been prepared for through their previous education. Discussion By presenting trainees' perspectives regarding their professional development, the importance of the explicit and systematic integration of fundamental brain-behavior relationships with the SRN model early in graduate training is highlighted. In so doing, this approach can ultimately augment the number of culturally- and linguistically-competent neuropsychologists needed to reduce health disparities. References Suárez, P. Casas, R. Lechuga, D. Cagigas, X. Socially Responsible Neuropsychology in Action: Another Opportunity for California to Lead the Way. Feature in The California Psychologist. Fall of 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychology & Its Contexts / Psychologie a Její Kontexty is the property of Psychology & Its Contents and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper evaluates multi-decadal simulations of the UCLA version of Climate Forecast System version 2, in which the default Noah land surface model has been replaced with the Simplified Simple Biosphere Model version-2. To examine the influence of the atmosphere-ocean (AO) interaction on the variability, two different simulations were conducted: one with interactive ocean component, and the other constrained by the prescribed sea surface temperature. We evaluate the mean seasonal climatology of precipitation and temperature, along with the model's ability to reproduce atmospheric variability at different scales over the globe, including extratropical modes of atmospheric variability, and long-term trends of global and hemispheric temperature and regional precipitation. Here, we particularly selected two monsoon regions, East Asia and West Africa, where the simulation of multi-decadal variations which has heretofore been a challenging task, to examine decadal variation of monsoon precipitation. In general, temperature anomaly trends were better captured than those of precipitation in both simulations. Results suggest that the AO interaction, represented as latent heat flux, contributes to improve reproducibility of global-wide climatology, extratropical modes of atmospheric variability, and variability in the multi-decadal climate simulation, as well as for inter-decadal variability of the East Asian summer monsoon. [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]

The article profiles Uday S. Karmarkar, Los Angeles (LA) Times professor of Technology and Management Strategy at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). It states that Uday has accomplished 75 papers with more than 3000 citations including "Lot sizes, lead times and in-process inventories" in 1987. Moreover, it stresses the contributions of Uday in developing Operations Management (OM).

A model for the steady-state operation of an emissive cathode is presented. The cathode, biased negative with respect to a cold anode, emits electrons thermionically and is embedded within a large magnetized-plasma column. The model provides formulas for the spatial shape of the global current system, the partition of potential across the plasma–sheath system, and the effective plasma resistance. The formation of a virtual cathode is explored, and an analytical expression for the critical operating conditions is derived. The model is further developed to include the self-consistent increase in plasma temperature which results from thermionic injection. In a companion paper [S. Jin et al., Phys. Plasmas 26, 022105 (2019)], results from transport experiments in the Large Plasma Device at the University of California Los Angeles are compared with this model, and excellent quantitative agreement is achieved. [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]

With the recent repression on college campuses from the Dirty Thirty at UCLA, where Peter McLaren leads off as the number one threat at UCLA to Ward Churchill recently being fired from University of Colorado, Bolder, there is a need to call attention to a new conservative agenda unfolding throughout the nation on college campuses. There has been an increasing amount of articles in the Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies on the conservative agenda forcing its way on campus (Hill 2003; Leher 2004; Lipman 2004; and Malott 2006), but nothing specifically on academic repression. In this paper I will discuss the popularization of academic repression throughout the U.S. to professors post-September 11, 2001. As the academy becomes a battlefield of public opinion, which will in the end determine the war on terrorism and who is and who is not a terrorist and therefore a threat. This paper is not intended to provide a historical outline of academic repression in the U.S., but a brief overview, which acts as a stepping point to the main topic of the paper, the 4Ss of academic repression. After explaining the current political atmosphere and providing four examples of academic repression post-September 11, 2001, I discuss the possible future if repression is not resisted, by providing my examination of the FBI Academy. In closing, this article stressed the importance of solidarity between academics and activists in order to respond to academic repression affectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several papers discussed at a symposium cosponsored by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Law Review and the Williams Institute is presented. Topics include sexuality and gender laws, U.S. Supreme Court's willingness to ignore established equal protection principles on sexualities, and the theoretical dimensions of the conflict between antinormalization and antisubordination principles. Speakers include Scott Cummings, Doug NeJaime, and Sonia Katyal.

This paper presents some of my research into the historical medical collection acquired by and on behalf of the pharmaceutical magnate Henry Solomon Wellcome (1853–1936). Specific aims of the paper are to consider how historico-geographical factors and the agency of objects influence the collection and re-collection of material cultures across time and space. I trace the movement of 30 000 objects in 1965–66 from the original Wellcome Collection in London to what is now known as the Fowler Museum at UCLA. I pay particular attention to the 'Wellcome Year' celebrations that marked the arrival of the 'great gift' in California, and explore the networks through which the travelling objects moved. From these starting points, and positing an active interpretation of material forms, the article demonstrates how people–object–place relations and shifting systems of value shape the ongoing history and geography of collections within and between certain places. I also explore how sites can be changed as a result of collections' geographies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Institute of Conservation is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this paper was to explore the relationship between social connectedness, loneliness, interpersonal support, and hopelessness among adults. 500 adults of age 18-60+ years participated in the current study. The sample was selected by the purposive sampling method. Data was collected using Social Connectedness Scale -Original (Lee & Robbins, 1995), UCLA Loneliness Scale -Version 3 (Russell & Cutrona, 1996), Lubben Social Network scale-Revised (Lubben, 2002), and Depression Hopelessness Scale (Mills and Kroner, 2003). Psychometric properties of the scales revealed satisfactory reliability for the study sample. The Pearson product-moment correlation analysis indicated that interpersonal support was found to be significantly positively correlated with social connectedness and both of them negatively correlated with hopelessness and loneliness whereas less interpersonal support significantly predicted more hopelessness among adults. Results also indicated that males had more interpersonal support and social connectedness than females. [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]

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]

The article offers the author's insights on his life from being a refugee into his last project in a museum. Topics include the taking business administration and economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), his teachers at graduate school including Robert Baldwin and Karl Brunner, and writing articles and books after retiring from the University of Hong Kong.

In a fast-changing world, social media has become an important platform to exchange knowledge globally. Apart from this global phenomenon of exchanging knowledge, people may have various reasons to join certain groups. It has been observed that individuals, specifically belonging to the young generation, look for mutual positive support and the mere pleasure of affiliation in virtual reality; inorder to avoid loneliness (Peplau& Perlman, 1982, as cited in Hoggs& Vaughan, 2018). The groups chosen by these people not only affect their behaviours but also their identities. According to social identity theory, individuals tend to derive their sense of self from the group memberships so that the driven identity becomes a part of their self-concept, therefore creating a dependence on the shared connection with the respective social group (Tajfel& Turner, 1979, cited by Kaakinen et al., 2018) [20]. Studies have shown the role played by social media platforms like Facebook, in the search for social identification by individuals for the gratification of affiliation needs [6] It has been found that young people might identify strongly with their online communities, in some cases even stronger than with their offline friends [27]. Several studies show that loneliness can play a role in an individual’s need to find identification and belongingness through social media. In the present paper, the researchers have aimed to measure the extent to which individuals of the youth are able to socially identify through social media platforms and find its correlation with the loneliness that the respective individuals may experience by using the questionnaires: Identity Bubble Reinforcement Scale [20] and the UCLA Loneliness Scale [51]. The study was conducted on participants of ages 19-24 (n=62) who were based in Delhi NCR and had an affinity to social media. It was found that with the increase in the online social media identification, the participant’s loneliness seemed to decrease. Moreover, the findings of the study also suggested that among the three subdimensions of online social identification, homophily is seen to be the most dominant factor which plays the major role in reducing the loneliness of the participants. The results may be utilized to help people cope with loneliness and subsequent mental health issues with a balanced use of social media and online communities. Group therapy may also be employed through online mediums as well as a platform for people to showcase their talent, get appreciation, build a community and earn money can be created with safety measures regulated by social media developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness is an intense experience, subjectively perceived state, in which the person experiences a significant qualitative and/or qualitative deficit in the networks of social relationships. In adolescence, loneliness relates to social exclusion and risk behaviour symptoms. Although identifying loneliness in the adolescent population is a practical issue, no suitable methodology has been adapted so far. The goal of this paper is to adapt the SELSA-S methodology (DiTomasso et al., 2004) identifying social and emotional loneliness in the European conditions. A Slovak version has been created for the purpose of identifying psychometric attributes in the adolescent population as a target group. The empirical research involved a research file of N=331 adolescents. The factor analysis was used to confirm the suitability of the three-factor structure (loneliness in family, social, and romantic relationships) (Χ²=207.08; df=87; p<.001; CFI=0.94; GFI=0.91; RMSEA /IC90%=.07 /.06-.08). The concurrent and discriminant validity of the methodology is supported by the correlation with the measured variables representing the factors of social support (r=-.20 - -.68), attachment prototypes (r=.11-.28), number of close social contacts (r=-.17 - -.22), and the UCLA loneliness scale (Russel, 1996) (r=.17-.66). The suitability of the SELSA-S methodology in the Slovak version has been confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While human activity recognition and pose estimation are closely related, these two issues are usually treated as separate tasks. In this thesis, two-dimension and three-dimension pose estimation is obtained for human activity recognition in a video sequence, and final activity is determined by combining it with an activity algorithm with visual attention. Two problems can be solved efficiently using a single architecture. It is also shown that end-to-end optimization leads to much higher accuracy than separated learning. The proposed architecture can be trained seamlessly with different categories of data. For visual attention, soft visual attention is used, and a multilayer recurrent neural network using long short term memory that can be used both temporally and spatially is used. The image, pose estimated skeleton, and RGB-based activity recognition data are all synthesized to determine the final activity to increase reliability. Visual attention evaluates the model in UCF-11 (Youtube Action), HMDB-51 and Hollywood2 data sets, and analyzes how to focus according to the scene and task the model is performing. Pose estimation and activity recognition are tested and analyzed on MPII, Human3.6M, Penn Action and NTU data sets. Test results are Penn Action 98.9%, NTU 87.9%, and NW-UCLA 88.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcome for arthroscopic removal of calcium deposit without acromioplasty and rotator cuff repair for patients with ultrasound-diagnosed arch-shaped calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff (type I), homogenic (x-ray) with chronic pain. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients with homogenous, arch-shaped calcifying tendinitis, suffering from chronic pain and who underwent arthroscopic treatment and 50 patients with the same type of tendinitis treated conservatively. All patients had calcium deposit located in supraspinatus tendon, pre-operatively and post-operatively evaluated by ultrasound. Clinical outcome was assessed by using Quick DASH, UCLA, and VAS score. Results: There were 29 male and 71 female patients; none had bilateral involvement. We divided patients into group A—operatively treated—and group B—conservatively treated—by shock wave therapy. Patients from group A had higher improvement of all used tests, QDash (from 19.3 to 2.7), UCLA (from 10 to 34), and VAS score (from 3 to 0) when compared with group B. Conclusion: Patients with arch-shaped calcium deposits and acoustic shadow have better results after arthroscopic treatment than the conservative one. There was no need for acromioplasty or tendon repair. The lack of performing the same did not have any impact on the post-operative rehabilitation and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The appearance of a symptomatic neuroma following finger amputation is a devastating consequence for patient's quality of life. It could be cause of chronic neuropathic pain. The prevention of neuroma formation is a challenging effort for hand surgeons. The biological mechanisms leading to neuroma formation are mostly unknown and different preventing procedures have been tried without certain results. In this paper, a panel of Italian hand surgeons have been asked to express appropriateness about potentially preventive techniques of neuroma formation following the RAND/UCLA appropriateness protocol.Methods: A literature review was preliminarily performed identifying the most employed methods to reduce the pathologic nerve scar. Afterwards, the selected panelists were asked to score the appropriateness of each procedure in a double scenario: in case of a sharp amputation or in a tear injury. The appropriateness was evaluated according to RAND/UCLA protocol.Results: Nine Italian hand surgeons were included in the panel. Of them 5 were orthopaedic surgeons, 4 plastic surgeons. The identified appropriate procedures were: revision amputation should be done in operating room, the neurovascular bundles should be identified and is mandatory to treat surrounding soft tissues. Only in case of clean-cut amputation, it is appropriate to perform a proximal extension of the dissection, to use diathermocoagulation and coverage with local flaps. Procedures such as shortening in tension of the nerve stump, bone shortening, implantation of the nerve end in the soft tissue, treatment in the emergency room and, in both scenarios, certain results are evaluated as uncertain.Discussion: In order to prevent the formation of a distal stump neuroma few methods were judged appropriate. It is mandatory to identify the neurovascular bundles and treat also the surrounding tissues, but no certain results could be obtained with local flap, bone shortening and other ancillary surgical acts. Moreover, it is not possible to guarantee the non arising of neuroma in any cases, also when every procedure has been temped.Conlusions: The prevention of distal neuroma is actually a challenge, without a well known strategy due to the variability of response of nervous tissue to injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]