Enhanced Breast Cancer Classification Using Attention-Augmented CNN and Multi-View Learning on the Inbreast Dataset

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide, emphasizing the critical need for accurate and early diagnosis. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have demonstrated remarkable performance in medical image analysis, particularly in mammographic classification tasks. Building upon prior work that employed a fine-tuned VGG-16 model combined with a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier on the INbreast dataset, this study proposes a novel extension to enhance both accuracy and interpretability. The proposed framework integrates Convolutional Block Attention Modules (CBAM) into the CNN architecture to enable adaptive feature refinement by focusing on salient spatial and channelwise information. Additionally, a dual-stream multi-view learning approach is introduced to leverage bilateral mammographic images, capturing cross-view contextual dependencies often overlooked in single-view analysis. To further improve classification performance, a lightweight Vision Transformer (ViT-lite) replaces the traditional SVM, facilitating effective global feature modeling through self-attention. Experimental results on the INbreast dataset demonstrate a significant improvement in classification accuracy, achieving 98.4%, along with enhanced precision, recall, and AUC scores. The proposed model not only advances the state-of-the-art in breast cancer classification but also provides a more interpretable and scalable solution, thereby contributing to the development of reliable computer-aided diagnostic tools in clinical settings. © 2025 IEEE

Do “say-on-pay” votes affect M&A decisions?

This paper demonstrates that firms receiving above-industry-average support in their “say-on-pay” (SoP) votes engage in more M&A transactions in the subsequent year. Our empirical findings suggest that high levels of SoP voting support may boost managerial confidence, thereby stimulating increased pursuit of acquisitions. Moreover, we observe that managers garnering higher SoP vote support are more likely to secure shareholders\u27 backing in M&A votes, receive higher compensation in successful deals, and face a reduced likelihood of forced turnover following unsuccessful deals. Additionally, we find that both short-term and long-term M&A performance significantly improves in deals announced by managers receiving higher SoP voting support. These findings contribute to our understanding of the relation between shareholder support for CEOs and firm investment

Differential Effects of Aβ Peptides on the Plasmin-Dependent Degradation of ApoE3 and ApoE4

The ApoE4 allele of apolipoprotein E (ApoE4) is the strongest hereditary predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, even though ApoE4 only differs from the more common ApoE3 by a single amino acid substitution. Previous studies have shown that ApoE4 is more susceptible to proteolytic degradation than ApoE3. This is an important finding because of ApoE’s role in cholesterol homeostasis and lipid transport in the brain. The molecular determinants of the increased susceptibility of ApoE4 to proteolysis are unknown. Here, we apply a combination of spectrometric and spectroscopic methods to show that amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, including Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(pyroE3-42), differentially modulate the plasmin-dependent degradation of ApoE3 and ApoE4. In particular, our data reveal that while the Aβ peptides do not affect the proteolysis of ApoE3, the peptides enhance the degradation of ApoE4 significantly. Overall, this work motivates therapeutic development that targets the Aβ-induced dysregulation of ApoE4 homeostasis in individuals carrying the ApoE4 allele. © 2025 American Chemical Society

Women’s basketball team group photo [3], circa 1949-1950

Group photograph of the Clark University women’s basketball team, 1949-1950. All photographs in this collection were digitized between 2022 and 2023. The photographs in this collection are part of the Photographs and Media record group of Clark University’s Archives & Special Collections.https://commons.clarku.edu/basketball/1211/thumbnail.jp

Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Teachers: The Impact of Race and Years of Teaching Experiences

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) can impact teachers who are supporting students exposed to trauma. STS is associated with teacher burnout, but little research is available about certain demographic factors among teachers that can make some more susceptible than others, such as race and years of teaching. The purpose of this study was to examine racial differences and years of teaching among educators working in a majority Black student school system. Findings suggested there was no relationship between years of teaching and STS. However, the results indicated that White teachers reported higher levels of STS than reports by Black teachers

Men\u27s basketball team group photo [12], circa 1980-1981

Group photograph of the Clark University men\u27s basketball team circa 1980-1981, led by Coach Wally Halas. All photographs in this collection were digitized between 2022 and 2023. The photographs in this collection are part of the Photographs and Media record group of Clark University’s Archives & Special Collections.https://commons.clarku.edu/basketball/1034/thumbnail.jp

Mixed teff (Eragrostis tef, Poaceae) cultivation and consumption among smallholder farmers in South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

Background: Indigenous cropping systems were often developed with a focus on resilience. For example, farmers in many parts of the world have traditionally grown crop varietal mixtures to mitigate risks of crop failure due to drought, pests, and disease. However, crop varietal mixtures are threatened by policies encouraging farmers to plant homogenous, single-variety cropping systems, which are more vulnerable to increasing climate variability. Teff is one of the indigenous staple crops of Ethiopian origin cultivated throughout the country for multiple purposes. Farmers continue to cultivate diverse varieties of teff, as well as a varietal mixture known as sergegna teff. We assessed farmers’ knowledge and practices related to sergegna teff in the northern highlands of Ethiopia to understand its advantages as well as threats to its continued use. Methods: Research was conducted in six kebeles (sub-districts) of Kalu and Tehuledere districts of South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia, situated in warm moist lowlands and tepid and cool mid-highlands. Data were collected through structured surveys with 304 randomly sampled interviewees, semi-structured interviews with 36 purposively sampled key informants, six focus group discussions, guided field tours and market surveys. Varieties of teff in standing crop fields were assessed within 5 m × 5 m random plots at the seed-setting stage. Data analysis included cross-tabulation of survey and interview data, descriptive statistics, and hierarchical clustering. Results: Teff dominates the farm fields in the six study kebeles. Altogether, 13 distinct varieties, including farmers’ varieties (landraces) and breeders’ varieties, were recorded. Fifty-three percent of survey respondents reported active cultivation of sergegna teff variety mixtures. The same proportion asserted preference for varietal mixtures over pure brown or white varieties on account of nutritional benefits and non-food domestic functions. The varietal mixture was also top-ranked by key informants for drought and disease resistance, resilience, and ecological elasticity. Households reported utilizing the varietal mixture in various types of food and selling at local markets. Most respondents (53% of those who reported cultivating sergegna teff in 2023) indicated using sergegna teff to prepare leavened and unleavened foods, including injera, dimeso, kita, anebabero, serebat, porridge and gruel. Conclusion: Farmers express that the ongoing cultivation and use of sergegna teff boost production and enhance resilience and economic returns. These perspectives should be considered in initiatives promoting single breeder’s varieties, which risk supplanting traditional crop varietal mixtures. Further study, alongside proactive conservation, and scaled-up efforts of institutions concerned with food security, biodiversity conservation, and inclusion of ILK are needed. © The Author(s) 2025

Men\u27s basketball team group photo [21], circa 1984-1986

Group photograph of Clark University men\u27s basketball team led by Coach Wally Halas, circa 1984-1986. All photographs in this collection were digitized between 2022 and 2023. The photographs in this collection are part of the Photographs and Media record group of Clark University’s Archives & Special Collections.https://commons.clarku.edu/basketball/1030/thumbnail.jp

Women\u27s basketball team during a huddle, 1987

Photograph of the Clark University women\u27s basketball team during a huddle, 1987. All photographs in this collection were digitized between 2022 and 2023. The photographs in this collection are part of the Photographs and Media record group of Clark University’s Archives & Special Collections.https://commons.clarku.edu/basketball/1158/thumbnail.jp

Coach Barbara Stevens and women’s basketball team huddle, 1982

Photograph of coach Barbara Stevens and women’s basketball team huddling. Stevens is one of the United States most successful women\u27s basketball coaches and her career began at Clark University. She served as head coach from 1977 to 1983. During her six-year stint at Clark, Coach Stevens posted an impressive 123-42 (.745) overall record. All photographs in this collection were digitized between 2022 and 2023. The photographs in this collection are part of the Photographs and Media record group of Clark University’s Archives & Special Collections.https://commons.clarku.edu/basketball/1154/thumbnail.jp