Privacy-Preserving Push-Pull Method for Decentralized Optimization via State Decomposition

Distributed optimization is manifesting great potential in multiple fields, e.g., machine learning, control, and resource allocation. Existing decentralized optimization algorithms require sharing explicit state information among the agents, which raises the risk of private information leakage. To ensure privacy security, combining information security mechanisms, such as differential privacy and homomorphic encryption, with traditional decentralized optimization algorithms is a commonly used means. However, this would either sacrifice optimization accuracy or incur heavy computational burden. To overcome these shortcomings, we develop a novel privacy-preserving decentralized optimization algorithm, called PPSD, that combines gradient tracking with a state decomposition mechanism. Specifically, each agent decomposes its state associated with the gradient into two substates. One substate is used for interaction with neighboring agents, and the other substate containing private information acts only on the first substate and thus is entirely agnostic to other agents. For the strongly convex and smooth objective functions, PPSD attains a $R$-linear convergence rate. Moreover, the algorithm can preserve the agents' private information from being leaked to honest-but-curious neighbors. Simulations further confirm the results

Universal enhancement of vacancy diffusion by Mn inducing anomalous Friedel oscillation in concentrated solid-solution alloys

We present a proof-of-principle demonstration of a universal law for the element Mn, which greatly enhances vacancy diffusion through an anomalous Friedel Oscillation effect in a series of Ni-based concentrated solid-solution alloys, regardless of the type of atom involved. The antiferromagnetic element Mn possesses a unique half-filled 3d electron structure, creating split virtual bound states near the Fermi energy level and producing a large local magnetic moment after vacancy formation. The resultant electron spin oscillations reduce the number of electrons involved in charge density oscillations, destroying charge screening and lowering potential interaction at the saddle point between the vacancy and diffusing atom. This ultimately facilitates vacancy diffusion by reducing energy level variations of conduction band electrons during the diffusion process. These findings offer valuable insights into atom diffusion mechanisms and open up new avenues for manipulating defect properties through unique element design, thereby enabling the creation of high-performance alloys in a broad range of fields

How physicians respond to negative emotions in high-risk preoperative conversations

This work was supported by the China Medical Board, CMB 14-200.Objective To investigate physicians’ responses to negative emotions in high-risk preoperative conversations; and to explore the influencing factors of these responses. Methods One hundred and sixty-two audio recordings were coded using the Chinese Verona Coding Definition of Emotional Sequences (VR-CoDES). Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version and Emotional Intelligence Scale were administered to explore the influencing factors of physicians’ responses. SPSS 24.0 and R 3.6.3 LME4 Package were used for data analysis. Results Reduce Space (83%), referring to physicians’ responses reducing the opportunities of patients to disclose emotions, was physicians’ most frequent response to patients or families’ emotions. The main responses were Information-advice (ERIa) and Ignoring (NRIa). Younger age, female, Agreeableness and Openness were factors positively associated with Explicit Provide Space (EP); Neuroticism was negatively correlated with EP. Extroversion was negatively correlated with Explicit Reduce Space (ER); Conscientiousness was negatively correlated with both EP and ER responses. Emotional intelligence had no significant influence on physicians’ responses. Conclusion The majority of physicians were inclined to reduce space by providing information advice or ignoring. Physicians’ responses were correlated with their gender, age and personality traits. Practice Implications The trainees’ gender, age and personality should be considered when conducting doctor-patient communication skills training.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Evaluating the Impact of an Interprofessional Practice Experience Involving Pharmacy and Dental Students on Medication Histories within an Urban Academic Dental Admissions Clinic

Primary Objective: To compare interprofessional (IP) care versus standard care on medication history clarifications in dental patients. Secondary Objectives: To assess the clinical significance of these clarifications with regards to the potential impact on dental treatment plans. To describe the interventions provided by IP care to clarify discrepancies and/or resolve medication-related problems

Optical Redox Imaging of Ex Vivo Hippocampal Tissue Reveals Age-Dependent Alterations in the 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer\u27s Disease

A substantial decline in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) has been reported in brain tissue homogenates or neurons isolated from Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) models. NAD, together with flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), critically supports energy metabolism and maintains mitochondrial redox homeostasis. Optical redox imaging (ORI) of the intrinsic fluorescence of reduced NAD (NADH) and oxidized FAD yields cellular redox and metabolic information and provides biomarkers for a variety of pathological conditions. However, its utility in AD has not been characterized at the tissue level. We performed ex vivo ORI of freshly dissected hippocampi from a well-characterized AD mouse model with five familial Alzheimer\u27s disease mutations (5XFAD) and wild type (WT) control littermates at various ages. We found (1) a significant increase in the redox ratio with age in the hippocampi of both the WT control and the 5XFAD model, with a more prominent redox shift in the AD hippocampi; (2) a higher NADH in the 5XFAD versus WT hippocampi at the pre-symptomatic age of 2 months; and (3) a negative correlation between NADH and Aβ42 level, a positive correlation between Fp and Aβ42 level, and a positive correlation between redox ratio and Aβ42 level in the AD hippocampi. These findings suggest that the ORI can be further optimized to conveniently study the metabolism of freshly dissected brain tissues in animal models and identify early AD biomarkers

Study and Application of Acoustic Emission Testing in Fault Diagnosis of Low-Speed Heavy-Duty Gears

Most present studies on the acoustic emission signals of rotating machinery are experiment-oriented, while few of them involve on-spot applications. In this study, a method of redundant second generation wavelet transform based on the principle of interpolated subdivision was developed. With this method, subdivision was not needed during the decomposition. The lengths of approximation signals and detail signals were the same as those of original ones, so the data volume was twice that of original signals; besides, the data redundancy characteristic also guaranteed the excellent analysis effect of the method. The analysis of the acoustic emission data from the faults of on-spot low-speed heavy-duty gears validated the redundant second generation wavelet transform in the processing and denoising of acoustic emission signals. Furthermore, the analysis illustrated that the acoustic emission testing could be used in the fault diagnosis of on-spot low-speed heavy-duty gears and could be a significant supplement to vibration testing diagnosis

Effects of Melanocortin 3 and 4 Receptor Deficiency on Energy Homeostasis in Rats

Melanocortin-3 and 4 receptors (MC3R and MC4R) can regulate energy homeostasis, but their respective roles especially the functions of MC3R need more exploration. Here Mc3r and Mc4r single and double knockout (DKO) rats were generated using CRISPR-Cas9 system. Metabolic phenotypes were examined and data were compared systematically. Mc3r KO rats displayed hypophagia and decreased body weight, while Mc4r KO and DKO exhibited hyperphagia and increased body weight. All three mutants showed increased white adipose tissue mass and adipocyte size. Interestingly, although Mc3r KO did not show a significant elevation in lipids as seen in Mc4r KO, DKO displayed even higher lipid levels than Mc4r KO. DKO also showed more severe glucose intolerance and hyperglycaemia than Mc4r KO. These data demonstrated MC3R deficiency caused a reduction of food intake and body weight, whereas at the same time exhibited additive effects on top of MC4R deficiency on lipid and glucose metabolism. This is the first phenotypic analysis and systematic comparison of Mc3r KO, Mc4r KO and DKO rats on a homogenous genetic background. These mutant rats will be important in defining the complicated signalling pathways of MC3R and MC4R. Both Mc4r KO and DKO are good models for obesity and diabetes research

Observation of Topological Surface State in High Temperature Superconductor MgB2

The hunt for the benchmark topological superconductor (TSc) has been an extremely active research subject in condensed matter research, with quite a few candidates identified or proposed. However, low transition temperatures (Tc) and/or strong sensitivity to disorder and dopant levels in known TSc candidates have greatly hampered progress in this field. Here, we use Angle-resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES) to show the presence of Dirac Nodal Lines (DNLs) and the corresponding topological surface states (TSS's) on the [010] faces of the Tc=39K s-wave BCS superconductor MgB2. Not only is this nearly triple the current record of superconducting Tc among all candidate TSc's, but the nature of these DNL states should make them highly tolerant against disorder and inadvertent doping variations. This makes MgB2 a promising high temperature platform for the study of topological superconductivity