Comments on Five Smart Card Based Password Authentication Protocols

In this paper, we use the ten security requirements proposed by Liao et al. for a smart card based authentication protocol to examine five recent work in this area. After analyses, we found that the protocols of Juang et al.'s , Hsiang et al.'s, Kim et al.'s, and Li et al.'s all suffer from offline password guessing attack if the smart card is lost, and the protocol of Xu et al.'s is subjected to an insider impersonation attack.Comment: 4 pages

Cut Me Some Slack! Slack Resources and Technology-Mediated Human Capital Investments in Entrepreneurship

In this paper, we explore the impact that slack resources and technology can have on individuals\u27 entrepreneurial aspirations. Focusing on human capital investments that individuals make through education and work that involve both slack resources and technology, we explore the relationship among formal online learning opportunities, informal skill development in the gig economy, and entrepreneurial aspirations. Leveraging a novel dataset that merges administrative tax data with a survey of over 8,528 low and moderate-income households, we use machine learning and propensity score weighting to examine the likelihood that individuals who make these technology-mediated human capital investments will have increased odds of entrepreneurial aspirations when compared to similar individuals who do not make these investments. We find that both partaking in online learning and working in the gig economy are significantly associated with increased odds of entrepreneurial aspirations. Furthermore, through a variety of robustness and mechanism checks, we find that technology-mediation is an important factor in these relationships and that informal skill development and career preparation is one way in which gig employment influences entrepreneurial aspirations. We discuss these findings with implications for both policies and practices around online learning and gig employment

The Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Study: Survey Methodology Report

The Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey uniquely documents the social and economic impacts of a global pandemic as people experienced the global pandemic. These findings can inform social, economic and health policies now and in the future. Though the data from the survey are not publicly available, they are freely available on a limited basis to interested researchers. If you or your organization are interested in accessing the cleaned and coded survey data, or would like more information about the survey, please reach out to the Social Policy Institute at

Optimal cognitive offloading: Increased reminder usage but reduced proreminder bias in older adults

Research into prospective memory suggests that older adults may face particular difficulties remembering delayed intentions. One way to mitigate these difficulties is by using external reminders but relatively little is known about age-related differences in such cognitive offloading strategies. We examined younger and older adults' (N = 88) performance on a memory task where they chose between remembering delayed intentions with internal memory (earning maximum reward per item) or external reminders (earning a reduced reward). This allowed us to distinguish (a) the absolute number of reminders used versus (b) the proreminder or antireminder bias, compared with each individual's optimal strategy. Older adults used more reminders overall, as might be expected, because they also had poorer memory performance. However, when compared against the optimal strategy weighing the costs versus benefits of reminders, it was only the younger adults who had a proreminder bias. Younger adults overestimated the benefit of reminders, whereas older adults underestimated it. Therefore, even when aging is associated with increased use of external memory aids overall, it can also be associated with reduced preference for external memory support, relative to the objective need for such support. This age-related difference may be driven at least in part by metacognitive processes, suggesting that metacognitive interventions could lead to improved use of cognitive tools. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Assessment and Evaluation of Organized Exercise and Socialization Project on Older Adults

Background and Significance According to Berridge et al. (2020), Covid-19 has created a “double pandemic.” In addition to the virus, significant declines in the physical and mental health of senior community members, the reduction in the management of chronic conditions, and social isolation due to pandemic protocols preventing community members to gather have created a health care crisis. Based on research by Bae et al. (2019) there is evidence that a multicomponent intervention that includes socialization, physical conditioning, and cognitive activities show an improvement in working memory and improved physical conditioning. Problem and Purpose Statement The inability to socially interact during Covid-19 has been reported as being a contributing factor to reduced quality of life, increased depression, and a reduction in physical activity (Lebrasseur et al., 2021). According to Nicholson (2012), social isolation creates a cascade of negative social and physical health outcomes that involve not just loneliness, but declining cognitive function, and frankly, de-conditioning of social abilities. Hanson & Jones (2015) found that walking groups improve older adults\u27 health, quality of life, and compliance with exercise programs. According to Zubala et al. (2017), safe, effective, and inclusive programs that include social support and enjoyable physical activity encourage long-term participation. The purpose of this program is to initiate scheduled socialization events at the clinical site, culminating in a monthly event that combines physical activity and socialization that is within the activity level of the residents to reduce social isolation as well as improve physical conditioning. Methods Using Lewin’s Change Model, the project was organized in a way that would encourage a letting go, or unfreezing, of old patterns followed by a change period (Lewin, 1947). Finally, relearned replacement behavior would be the new normal. The unfreezing portion of our program included several weeks of socialization and involvement of the residents in the planning. The goal was to reduce individual resistance and build community ownership of the event and improve resident cognition. Residents provided feedback that indicates that they are currently in the change phase of the model with feedback that included a desire to replicate the program and make it a regular event. The refreezing process will occur as the community site takes up the mantle and continues to implement social exercise activities. Using a survey, outcomes were measured only once after exposing the group of participants to the intervention. The objective was to evaluate if the residents were negatively or positively affected by the weekly scheduled social time and if they felt that they had benefited from combining social time with physical activity at the once-monthly exercise intervention. The survey was conducted via electronic format (Google Form). Participants were interviewed and answers were entered by hosts of the event. The survey utilized an evidence-based method to assess participants (Davis et al., 2018) and assessed quantitative data regarding completion of the course loop of walking as well as likelihood to participate again using a Likert scale model for quantitative analysis (Polit et al., 2017). Results/Outcomes The project was successfully implemented in a low-income senior housing facility and has provided important post-intervention assessment information for the development of sustainable social exercise programs. Results were measured by a single post-intervention survey. The total number of survey samples taken from participants was 17. In the survey results, 13 participants (81.3%) agreed that they completed the course loop, and 8 participants (47.1%) agreed that the course loop was enough exercise for the day. In terms of promoting social interaction, 9 participants (52.9%) either met at least one resident or interacted with another resident while they are in the course loop. Lastly, 16 participants (94.1%) overall agreed that they would participate in another Wednesday walk in the future. These percentages reveal that majority of participants successfully completed the exercise program while also socializing with other residents. In the post-intervention survey, participant comments and suggestions include “make the walk longer,” “avoid going down the steep path,” “too many germs,” “I like to walk by myself,” “create groups to walk together would be better,” and “announcement was helpful.” This feedback will be considered when planning an additional walk in the future. Limitations Limitations included communication barriers with residents and site management. There were also language barriers that prevented residents from participating in the project. The cold weather was a big factor in the residents not wanting to participate or do additional laps around the walking course. Another limitation was that residents preferred to go to a location away from the clinical site. The nearby park was considered unsafe to have the event due to a large homeless population that had taken over the grounds, so the event occurred on clinical site grounds. After surveying some of the residents who couldn’t join the event, we found that those residents were not joining due to a schedule conflict where they were trying to do errands and were otherwise occupied. Sustainability Almost all necessary project tools were sourced from the community site, except for poster board, markers, and chalk for advertising. The outlined course for the walk remained on the site grounds. All refreshments, tables, and carafes involved in the event were donated by onsite dining facilities. Therefore, all costs associated with the event were under the $30 allocated budget. Due to the low cost, any replication of the event will have minimal fiscal impact on the organizer. According to the post-test survey administered to staff on site, the staff agreed the walk was successful and made an impact on the community. Additionally, an outline of project interventions, methods for data collection, and sourcing of tools were provided to the community site if replication is desired. Advertising and communication with residents regarding the event were done through previously existing methods of communication in the community: monthly newsletter, morning announcements via PA system, event flyers, and large poster boards. The event activity, budget, and location are replicable using the same communication methods already present at the facility, resulting in this to be a highly replicable and sustainable project. Implications for Practice In the rise of the pandemic, isolation was a strategy that was utilized to prevent the transmission of Covid-19. During these unprecedented times, older adults are at risk for social and physical de-conditioning that negatively impacts their health. Our project’s goal was to create an event that targeted improvement in quality of physical health and social wellbeing. The findings from our research suggest a continuation of a socializing event that promotes physical activity for the residents at the community site. Implications for practice include prioritizing communication with management, utilizing on-site resources, and advertising the event to the residents. A liaison interacting directly with management provides a consistent spokesperson for the project with little error for miscommunication between the team. With a maximum budget of$30 for the project, we highly suggest utilizing resources on-site. To welcome residents to our event, we provided refreshments courtesy of on-site dining services. To announce and advertise our events, we utilized an overhead speaker system to deliver information to the residents, courtesy of security services. We had the desire to invite outside volunteers for more community involvement with the event, however due to time restraints and policies in place for Covid-19, we were unable to do so. In the absence of a pandemic, we recommend incorporating additional community members to assist with the event. Per the feedback from staff and residents, it was suggested that we incorporate a scheduled weekly walk with cascading start times for groups to limit the number of walkers on the course. It was also suggested that we create permanent signage for advertisement and to reflect the conditions of the walk for unpredictable weather. Overall, the organization of an event that promotes physical health and social wellbeing is highly recommended for this population. References Bae, S., Lee, S., Lee, S., Jung, S., Makino, K., Harada, K., Harada, K., Shinkai, Y., Chiba, I., & Shimada, H. (2019). The effect of a multicomponent intervention to promote community activity on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.11.011 Berridge, C., Parsey, C.M., Ramirez, M., Freitag, C., Johnson, I.M., Allard, S.W. (2020). Caring for Washington’s older adults in the COVID-19 pandemic: Interviews with organization leaders about the state of social and healthcare services. Davis, G.C., Baral, R., Strayer, T., Serrano, E.L. (2018). Using pre- and post-survey instruments in interventions: determining the random response benchmark and its implications for measuring effectiveness. Public Health Nutr. (6):1043-1047. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980017003639. Epub 2017 Dec 21. PMID: 29262871 Ettehad, D., Emdin, C. A., Kiran, A., Anderson, S. G., Callender, T., Emberson, J., Rahimi, K. (2016). Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 387(10022), 957–967. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(15)01225-8 Hanson, S., & Jones, A., (2015). Is there evidence that walking groups have health benefits? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine 49(710-715). Lebrasseur, A., Fortin-Bédard, N., Lettre, J., Raymond E, Bussières, E.L., Lapierre, N., Faieta, J., Vincent, C., Duchesne, L., Ouellet, M.C., Gagnon, E., Tourigny, A., Lamontagne, M.È., Routhierm, F. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults: Rapid Review. JMIR Aging. (2). https://doi.org/10.2196/26474. PMID: 33720839; PMCID: PMC8043147 Lee, L. L., Mulvaney, C. A., Wong, Y. K. Y., Chan, E. S., Watson, M. C., & Lin, H. H. (2021). Walking for hypertension. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008823.pub2 Lewin, K. (1947). Frontiers in group dynamics: Concept, method and reality in social science; equilibrium and social change. Human Relations 1(1): 5–41. Nicholson, N.R. (2012). A review of social isolation: an important but underassessed condition in older adults. J Prim Prev. 33(2–3):137–52. Polit, D. F., Beck, C. T. (2017). Lippincott CoursePoint for Polit’s Essentials of Nursing Research. https://coursepoint.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781496375612/epubcfi/6/136[%3Bvnd.vst.idref%3Dch010-sec02]!/4/2[main_container]/2/62/1:183[onl%2Cy. Zubala, A., MacGillivray, S., Frost, H., Kroll, T., Skelton, D. A., Gavine, A., Gray, N. M., Toma, M., & Morris, J. (2017). Promotion of physical activity interventions for community dwelling older adults: A systematic review of reviews. PloS one, 12(7), e0180902. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.018090

An investigation of the saving-enhanced memory effect: The role of test order and list saving

Saving information onto external resources can improve memory for subsequent information—a phenomenon known as the saving-enhanced memory effect. This article reports two preregistered online experiments investigating (A) whether this effect holds when to-be-remembered information is presented before the saved information and (B) whether people choose the most advantageous strategy when given free choice of which information to save. Participants studied two lists of words; test order and whether and which list was saved (and re-presented again later) were manipulated. The saving-enhanced memory effect was only found when the first list (List A) was saved and tested after the second list (List B). When free to choose which list to save, participants preferred to save List A, but only when it was recalled after List B—that is, when it benefited memory. These findings suggest boundary conditions for the saving-enhanced memory effect and that people offload the most profitable information

Analysis of PTPRK polymorphisms in association with risk and age at onset of Alzheimer’s disease, cancer risk, and cholesterol

The human receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase kappa (PTPRK) gene is highly expressed in human brain and is previously associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and cancer. This study investigated the association of 52 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PTPRK with the risk and age at onset (AAO) of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in 791 AD patients and 782 controls. Five SNPs (top SNP rs4895829 with p=0.0125) were associated with the risk of AD based on a multiple logistic regression (p\u3c0.05); while 6 SNPs (top SNP rs1891150 with p=8.02×10−6) were associated with AAO by using a multiple linear regression analysis. Interestingly, rs2326681 was associated with both the risk and AAO of AD (p=4.65×10−2 and 5.18×10−3, respectively). In a replication study, the results from family-based association test - generalized estimating equation (GEE) statistics and Wilcoxon test showed that seven SNPs were associated with the risk of AD (top SNP rs11756545 with p=1.02×10−2) and 12 SNPs were associated with the AAO (top SNP rs11966128 with p=1.39×10−4), respectively. One additional sample showed that four SNPs were associated with risk of cancer (top SNP rs1339197 with p=4.1×10−3), 12 SNPs associated with LDL-cholesterol (top SNP rs4544930 with p=3.47×10−3), and 8 SNPs associated with total cholesterol (top SNP rs1012049 with p=6.09×10−3). In addition, the AD associated rs4895829 was associated with the gene expression level in the cerebellum (p=7.3×10−5). The present study is the first study providing evidence of several genetic variants within the PTPRK gene associated with the risk and AAO of AD, risk of cancer, LDL and total cholesterol levels