A Comparative Analysis of Adversarial Robustness for Quantum and Classical Machine Learning Models

Quantum machine learning (QML) continues to be an area of tremendous interest from research and industry. While QML models have been shown to be vulnerable to adversarial attacks much in the same manner as classical machine learning models, it is still largely unknown how to compare adversarial attacks on quantum versus classical models. In this paper, we show how to systematically investigate the similarities and differences in adversarial robustness of classical and quantum models using transfer attacks, perturbation patterns and Lipschitz bounds. More specifically, we focus on classification tasks on a handcrafted dataset that allows quantitative analysis for feature attribution. This enables us to get insight, both theoretically and experimentally, on the robustness of classification networks. We start by comparing typical QML model architectures such as amplitude and re-upload encoding circuits with variational parameters to a classical ConvNet architecture. Next, we introduce a classical approximation of QML circuits (originally obtained with Random Fourier Features sampling but adapted in this work to fit a trainable encoding) and evaluate this model, denoted Fourier network, in comparison to other architectures. Our findings show that this Fourier network can be seen as a "middle ground" on the quantum-classical boundary. While adversarial attacks successfully transfer across this boundary in both directions, we also show that regularization helps quantum networks to be more robust, which has direct impact on Lipschitz bounds and transfer attacks.Comment: submitted to IEEE QCE2

Medical App Treatment of Non-Specific Low Back Pain in the 12-month Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial Rise-uP: Where Clinical Superiority Meets Cost Savings

Janosch A Priebe,1 Linda Kerkemeyer,2 Katharina K Haas,1 Katharina Achtert,2 Leida F Moreno Sanchez,1,3 Paul Stockert,1 Maximilian Spannagl,1 Julia Wendlinger,1 Reinhard Thoma,4 Siegfried Ulrich Jedamzik,3 Jan Reichmann,5 Sebastian Franke,6 Leonie Sundmacher,6 Volker E Amelung,2 Thomas R Toelle1 1Center of Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; 2Institute for Applied Health Services Research, Inav GmbH, Berlin, Germany; 3Bayerische TelemedAllianz, Ingolstadt, Baar-Ebenhausen, Germany; 4Pain Clinic, Algesiologikum Pain Center, Munich, Germany; 5StatConsult GmbH Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; 6Department of Health Economics, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, GermanyCorrespondence: Thomas R Toelle, Center of Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Ismaninger Str. 22, Munich, 81675, Germany, Tel +49-89-4140-4613, Email [email protected]: Non-specific low back pain (NLBP) exerts a profound impact on global health and economics. In the era of Web 3.0, digital therapeutics offer the potential to improve NLBP management. The Rise-uP trial introduces a digitally anchored, general practitioner (GP)-focused back pain management approach with the Kaia back pain app as the key intervention. Here, we present the 12-months evaluation of the Rise-uP trial including clinical and economic outcomes, patient satisfaction and behavioral tracking analysis.Methods: The cluster-randomized controlled study (registration number: DRKS00015048) enrolled 1237 patients, with 930 receiving treatment according to the Rise-uP approach and 307 subjected to standard of care treatment. Assessments of pain, psychological state, functional capacity, and well-being (patient-reported outcome measures; PROMs) were collected at baseline, and at 3-, 6-, and 12-months follow-up intervals. Health insurance partners AOK, DAK, and BARMER provided individual healthcare cost data. An artificial intelligence (AI)-driven behavioral tracking analysis identified distinct app usage clusters that presented all with about the same clinical outcome. Patient satisfaction (patient-reported experience measures; PREMs) was captured at the end of the trial.Results: Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis demonstrated that the Rise-uP group experienced significantly greater pain reduction at 12 months compared to the control group (IG: − 46% vs CG: − 24%; p < 0.001) with only the Rise-uP group achieving a pain reduction that was clinically meaningful. Improvements in all other PROMs were notably superior in patients of the Rise-uP group. The AI analysis of app usage discerned four usage clusters. Short- to long-term usage, all produced about the same level of pain reduction. Cost-effectiveness analysis indicated a substantial economic benefit for Rise-uP.Conclusion: The Rise-uP approach with a medical multimodal back pain app as the central element of digital treatment demonstrates both, clinical and economic superiority compared to standard of care in the management of NLBP.Keywords: digital medicine, medical apps, non-specific low back pain, multimodal pain therapy, healthcare costs, behavioral tracking analysi

Rapid Analysis of Listeria monocytogenes Cell Wall Teichoic Acid Carbohydrates by ESI-MS/MS

We report the application of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry for compositional characterization of wall teichoic acids (WTA), a major component of Gram-positive bacterial cell walls. Tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) of purified and chemically hydrolyzed monomeric WTA components provided sufficient information to identify WTA monomers and their specific carbohydrate constituents. A lithium matrix was used for ionization of uncharged WTA monomers, and successfully applied to analyze the WTA molecules of four Listeria strains differing in carbohydrate substitution on a conserved polyribitol-phosphate backbone structure. Carbohydrate residues such as N-acetylglucosamine or rhamnose linked to the WTA could directly be identified by ESI-MS/MS, circumventing the need for quantitative analysis by gas chromatography. The presence of a terminal N-acetylglucosamine residue tethered to the ribitol was confirmed using fluorescently labeled wheat-germ agglutinin. In conclusion, the mass spectrometry method described here will greatly facilitate compositional analysis and characterization of teichoic acids and similar macromolecules from diverse bacterial species, and represents a significant advance in the identification of serovar-specific carbohydrates and sugar molecules on bacteria

Spermidine reduces neuroinflammation and soluble amyloid beta in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model

BACKGROUND: Deposition of amyloid beta (Aß) and hyperphosphorylated tau along with glial cell-mediated neuroinflammation are prominent pathogenic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In recent years, impairment of autophagy has been identified as another important feature contributing to AD progression. Therefore, the potential of the autophagy activator spermidine, a small body-endogenous polyamine often used as dietary supplement, was assessed on Aß pathology and glial cell-mediated neuroinflammation. RESULTS: Oral treatment of the amyloid prone AD-like APPPS1 mice with spermidine reduced neurotoxic soluble Aß and decreased AD-associated neuroinflammation. Mechanistically, single nuclei sequencing revealed AD-associated microglia to be the main target of spermidine. This microglia population was characterized by increased AXL levels and expression of genes implicated in cell migration and phagocytosis. A subsequent proteome analysis of isolated microglia confirmed the anti-inflammatory and cytoskeletal effects of spermidine in APPPS1 mice. In primary microglia and astrocytes, spermidine-induced autophagy subsequently affected TLR3- and TLR4-mediated inflammatory processes, phagocytosis of Aß and motility. Interestingly, spermidine regulated the neuroinflammatory response of microglia beyond transcriptional control by interfering with the assembly of the inflammasome. CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight that the autophagy activator spermidine holds the potential to enhance Aß degradation and to counteract glia-mediated neuroinflammation in AD pathology

How Listeria monocytogenes organizes its surface for virulence

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive pathogen responsible for the manifestation of human listeriosis, an opportunistic foodborne disease with an associated high mortality rate. The key to the pathogenesis of listeriosis is the capacity of this bacterium to trigger its internalization by non-phagocytic cells and to survive and even replicate within phagocytes. The arsenal of virulence proteins deployed by L. monocytogenes to successfully promote the invasion and infection of host cells has been progressively unveiled over the past decades. A large majority of them is located at the cell envelope, which provides an interface for the establishment of close interactions between these bacterial factors and their host targets. Along the multistep pathways carrying these virulence proteins from the inner side of the cytoplasmic membrane to their cell envelope destination, a multiplicity of auxiliary proteins must act on the immature polypeptides to ensure that they not only maturate into fully functional effectors but also are placed or guided to their correct position in the bacterial surface. As the major scaffold for surface proteins, the cell wall and its metabolism are critical elements in listerial virulence. Conversely, the crucial physical support and protection provided by this structure make it an ideal target for the host immune system. Therefore, mechanisms involving fine modifications of cell envelope components are activated by L. monocytogenes to render it less recognizable by the innate immunity sensors or more resistant to the activity of antimicrobial effectors. This review provides a state-of-the-art compilation of the mechanisms used by L. monocytogenes to organize its surface for virulence, with special focus on those proteins that work "behind the frontline", either supporting virulence effectors or ensuring the survival of the bacterium within its host.We apologize to authors whose relevant work could not be cited owing to space limitations. Research in the group of Molecular Microbiology is funded by the project "NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000002-Host-Pathogen Interactions" co-funded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), under the Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional (QREN), through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), the Operational Competitiveness Programme (COMPETE) and FCT (Fundacdo para a Ciencia e Tecnologia), and by projects ERANet Pathogenomics LISTRESS ERA-PTG/0003/2010, PTDC/SAU-MIC/111581/2009FCOMP-FEDER, PTDC/BIA-BCM/100088/2008FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-008860 and PTDC/BIA-BCM/111215/2009FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-014178. Filipe Carvalho was supported by FCT doctoral grant SFRH1BD16182512009, and Sandra Sousa by the Ciencia 2008 and FCT-Investigator programs (COMPETE, POPH, and FCT)

Bewertung der Zuverlässigkeit automatisierter Auswertungen der Wärmeleitfähigkeit mithilfe eines integrierten Datenanalyse-Frameworks

Zuverlässige Abschätzungen des Wärmetransports sind entscheidend für die Auswertung von Tokamak-Experimenten und die Szenario Entwicklung, da ein effektiver Wärmeeinschluss notwendig ist, um einen Nettoenergiegewinn zu erzielen. In magnetisch eingeschlossenen Plasmen dominiert turbulenter Transport die Energieverluste, dessen komplexe Natur sich jedoch nicht analytisch beschreiben lässt. Obwohl es fortgeschrittene numerische Codes für detaillierte Turbulenzmodellierung gibt, sind diese rechenintensiv und eignen sich daher nicht für die Analyse vieler experimenteller Plasmaentladungen. Diese Arbeit verfolgt einen alternativen Ansatz, der ausschließlich experimentelle Daten nutzt, um ein diffuses Transportkoeffizienten-Modell zu speisen, das aus dem Transport code ASTRA adaptiert wurde. Der Wärmetransportwird durch Aufstellen einer Leistungsbilanz für Elektronen und Ionenanalysiert, in der sämtliche relevanten Leistungsquellen und -senken, wie Heizsysteme und Strahlungsverluste, berücksichtigt werden, um die zugehörigen Diffusionskoeffizienten χ zu bestimmen. Konkret werden Implementierung, Validierung und Analyse der Berechnung der Elektronen- und Ionen-Wärmediffusivitäten im bayesschen integrierte daten analyse system (IDA/IDE) am ASDEX Upgrade Tokamak vorgestellt. Ein zentraler Beitrag ist eine robuste Rekonstruktion des Strahlungsleistungsprofils: Anstatt sich auf spärliche Verunreinigungskonzentrationen (W,C) und feste Strahlungsfunktionen zu stützen, wird ein Gaussian-Process-Tomographie (GPT)-Code auf Basis von Bolometerdaten nach Fortran90 portiert und in IDE integriert. Die Implementierung führt eine X-Punkt-sensitive Maskierung ein, die Divertor-Pixel ausschließt, während die Emission des eingeschlossenen Plasmas erhalten bleibt, und führt eine radiale Integration in ρtor mit spline basierter Volumennormierung durch. Das GPT-basierte Prad stimmt mit manuellen Tomographien überein und korrigiert den unphysikalischen Randabfall des Legacy-Modells, wodurch χe im Bereich des Pedestals verbessert wird. Eine Monte-Carlo-Sensitivitätsstudie quantifiziert Unsicherheitshüllen in Abhängigkeit vom Radius: Temperaturgradienten dominieren (Te für χe, Ti für χi), mit den größten relativen Unsicherheiten im Kern und am Rand sowie kleineren, verlässlicheren Werten für 0.2 ≤ ρtor ≤ 0.8. Analysen mit hoher zeitlicher Auflösung zeigen interpretierbare χ-Dynamik während ELMZyklen, sofern die Diagnostik-Kadenz dies zulässt; der Einfluss der zeitlichen Auflösung und der Behandlung von dWdt wird charakterisiert, und Mittelungenüber dasselbe Zeitfenster versöhnen Profile, die mit unterschiedlichen Kadenzen gewonnen wurden. Insgesamt liefert die Arbeit einen validierten, leicht nutzbaren Pfad zu Transportkoeffizienten direkt aus IDE sowie praktische Hinweise zu Verlässlichkeit und Grenzen.Reliable estimates of heat transport are crucial for interpreting to kamak experiments and informing scenario development, as effective heat confinement is necessary to achieve net energy gain. In magnetically confined plasmas, turbulent transport dominates energy losses, but its complex nature cannot be described analytically. While advanced numerical codes exist for detailed turbulence modeling, they are computationally intensive. This thesis adopts an alternative approach by relying exclusively on experimental data to use in a diffusive transport coefficient model adapted from the transport code ASTRA. Heat transport is analyzed by establishing a power balance for electrons and ions, accounting for all relevant power sources and sinks, such as heating systems and radiative losses, to calculate the corresponding diffusion coefficients χ. Specifically, this work implements, validates and analyzes the calculation of the electron and ion heat diffusivities with in the Bayesian integrated data analysis framework (IDA/IDE) at the ASDEX Upgrade to kamak. A central contribution is a robust reconstruction of the radiated-power profile: instead of relying on sparse impurity concentrations (W, C) and fixed radiation functions, a Gaussian-Process Tomography (GPT) code using bolometer data is ported and integrated into IDE (Fortran90). The implementation introduces an X-point-aware masking that excludes divertor pixels while preserving confined-plasma emission and performs radial integration inρtor with spline-based volume normalization. The GPT-based Prad agrees with manual tomographies and corrects the unphysical edge roll-off of the legacy model, thereby improving χe near the pedestal. A Monte Carlo sensitivity study quantifies uncertainty envelopes versus radius: temperature gradients dominate (Te for χe, Ti for χi), with largest relative uncertainties in the core and edge and smaller, more reliable values for 0.2 ≤ ρtor ≤ 0.8. High-time-resolution analyses demonstrate interpretableχ dynamics during ELM cycles when the diagnostic data acquisition rate permits; the impact of temporal resolution and dWdt treatment is characterized and averaging across the same time window reconciles profiles obtained at different cadences. Overall, the work delivers a validated, readily available pathway to transport coefficients directly from IDE, together with practical guidance on reliability and limits

Psychometric Validation of the German Version of the General Mattering Scale

The aim of this bachelor thesis is to validate the German version of the General Mattering Scale (GMS) through a psychometric analysis. Mattering is fundamental psychological construct that reflect an individual’s sense of being significant, valued and visible to others. It encompasses the perception of having meaningful connections with others and the belief that one’s presence has importance (Flett, 2022). Rosenberg and McCullough (1981) initially conceptualized mattering, defining it through three primary components: (1) the sense that other people depend on us; (2) the perception that other people regard us as important; (3) the realization that other people are actively paying attention to us, which they identified as the central component of mattering. Later additions to the construct include the sense that others would miss the individual if they were no longer present and the concept of ego extension, where individuals feel they matter because their emotions and reactions are shared by those closely connected to them (Rosenberg, 1985; Rosenberg &amp; McCullough, 1981). Schlossberg (1989) further expanded the construct by introducing feeling appreciated by someone as a critical element. Mattering serves as a vital psychological resource (Flett, 2022), fulfilling the need to feel both valued and to provide value to others (Prilleltensky, 2020). The General Mattering Scale (GMS) To measure mattering, Marcus and Rosenberg (1987) developed the General Mattering Scale (GMS), a concise five-item instrument. The GMS assesses the extent to which individuals perceive themselves as important to others. Items are rated on a four-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (A lot). The GMS generates a single summary score reflecting perceptions and feelings of mattering (Flett et al., 2022). Items from the GMS: 1. How important are you to others? 2. How much do others pay attention to you? 3. How much would you be missed if you went away? 4. How interested are others in what you have to say? 5. How much do other people depend on you? Anti-Mattering Anti-mattering, introduced by Flett et al. (2022), represents a complementary but distinct construct from mattering. It captures the sense of not mattering to others, characterized by feelings of insignificance, invisibility, and unimportance. Anti-mattering reflects the perception that one is overlooked or dismissed, serving as a specific vulnerability and risk factor (Flett et al., 2022). The Anti-Mattering Scale (AMS) Flett et al. (2022) developed the Anti-Mattering Scale (AMS) to assess the extent to which individuals feel like they do not matter. Similar to the GMS, the AMS consists of five items rated on a four-point Likert scale from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (A lot). Higher scores on the AMS indicate greater levels of anti-mattering (Flett et al., 2022). Items from the AMS: 1. How much do you feel like you don’t matter? 2. How often have you been treated in a way that makes you feel like you are insignificant? 3. To what extent have you been made to feel like you are invisible? 4. How much do you feel like you will never matter to certain people? 5. How often have you been made to feel by someone that they don’t care what you think or what you have to say? Distinguishing Mattering from Anti-Mattering Flett et al. (2022) demonstrated that mattering and anti-mattering are not polar opposites. While the two construct are negatively correlated, the degree of the correlation is not strong enough to suggest that they exist on opposites ends of a single continuum. Instead, they are distinct constructs, where each has unique implications for self-concept, susceptibility to social influence, and motivational tendencies to either engage or disengage in social interactions (Flett et al., 2022). A key distinction lies in the perceived differential exposure to positive versus negative reflected appraisals from others. The impact of these appraisals is hypothesized to play a critical role in shaping self-concept. Individuals with a strong sense of mattering often perceive themselves as having self-worth, whereas those experiencing anti-mattering tend to internalize negative self-worth (Flett et al., 2022). A second way to differentiate the two constructs is by examining susceptibility to social influence. Individuals who feel they matter are aware of others’ reactions but are less affected by them compared to those with feelings of anti-mattering. Conversely, individuals who experience anti-mattering are more vulnerable and potentially hypersensitive to negative social reactions (Flett et al., 2022). A third distinction, as described by Flett et al. (2022), involves motivational orientation, affective states and emotional tendencies. People with a strong sense of mattering are generally inclined to form attachments and engage with others. In contrast, individuals with a sense of anti-mattering are more likely to disengage, distance themselves from others, and display emotional tendencies that contribute to social withdrawal (Flett et al., 2022). Psychometric Validation Psychometric validation is essential to ensure that a measurement instrument provides reliable and valid results and ensures the quality and accuracy of the data. The English version of the GMS and AMS had been validated, but up to this date the German version has not yet been validated. For the German version, a back-translation was carried out by a native speaker in order to not change the meaning of the items. Psychometric validation of the German version of the GMS is necessary to ensure that the instrument is valid and reliable for use in German-speaking countries, thereby enhancing its applicability in research and practical settings (Carrozzino et al., 2021). To psychometrically validate the GMS various quality criteria will be tested. This includes the assessment of the structure of the construct, which will be done through a confirmatory analysis. The assessment of the reliability will be in forms of internal consistency and split-half reliability. The reliability refers to the ability of an instrument to produce consistent and reproducible results. Validity will be assessed in forms of construct validity, both convergent and divergent validity, and criterion validity. To assess the convergent and divergent validity other established instruments, including the Anti-Mattering Scale (AMS), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), the Social Network Index (SNI), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) will be applied. Conclusion Mattering and anti-mattering are vital psychological constructs with implications for understanding individual well-being and impact on mental health (Flett et al., 2022). The development of reliable measures, such as the GMS and AMS, allows for the assessment of these constructs in both research and applied context. To be able to use them in German-speaking areas, the German version of the GMS and AMS need to be validated. Anti-Mattering and mattering are complementary components of the mattering construct, assessed with the GMS and AMS. Both German versions of the scales will be validated using the same data sample in cooperation with Djuna Schwedler, who focuses on the AMS. In the psychometric validation of the German version of the GMS, the following research methods will be conducted. 1. A confirmatory analysis will be carried out to check the following points of the GMS: 1a. Model specification 1b. Model identification 1c. Model estimation 1d. Model evaluation 1e. Model modification (if necessary) 1f. Measurement invariance across genders 2. Reliability of the GMS will be estimated by internal consistency 3. Split half reliability of the GMS will be tested 4. Does the GMS show correlations with other variables (construct validity) 5. How are anti-mattering and mattering related to loneliness? 6. Can the GMS Score predict whether the subject would reach a score above or below a cut-off? For all analyses, the results are considered statistically significant at α = 0.05. The study will be conducted in accordance with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. All procedures will be conducted with the adequate understanding and written consent of all participants. This research has been approved by the local ethics committee of the Charlotte Fresenius Hochschule in Munich

Faradaic efficiencies of oxynitride based photoanodes

eingereicht von: Veronika WendlingerLiteraturverzeichnis: Seite 73-76Masterarbeit Paris Lodron Universit\ue4t Salzburg 202