bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Further validation and psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale
Authors: Lleuger‐Pujol Roser , Castelló Eduardo Ortega , Franco Lorenzo Fernández , Vallejo Manuel Eliecer Espinel , Cabello Patricia Muñoz , Simarro Fernando Santos , McAllister Marion , García‐Miñaúr Sixto
Published: July 2021

Evaluation of clinical genetic services is challenging due to the nature of their interventions. The Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale (GCOS‐24), a patient‐reported outcome measure, was developed to measure empowerment, an important patient‐reported outcome from genetic counseling. Previously, we translated and adapted GCOS‐24 for use in Spain, but neither test–retest reliability nor structural and construct validity were assessed at that time. In the present study, we set out to test the reliability and validity of the Spanish adaptation of the GCOS‐24 against already validated Spanish language measures of satisfaction with life, anxiety, and health locus of control. 880 patients/families who attended the genetics clinic were invited to participate in a online survey. 201 participants (23%) completed the four questionnaires at the first timepoint, and 59 of these (29%) completed GCOS‐24 again the second timepoint, 2–4 weeks later. Test–retest reliability was confirmed, with no significant differences between responses to GCOS‐24 at the first and second timepoints and good internal consistency. Convergent validity was confirmed between GCOS‐24 and measures of satisfaction with life and anxiety but not with measures of health locus of control. For the structural and construct validation, an exploratory factor analysis was performed. The resulting factorial structure of GCOS‐24 consists of 6 factors that accumulate 68% of the variance shared by the 21 items that remained in the model. We applied the factor structure of the three validated measures to the available data and analyzed the correlation between factors of GCOS‐24 and the other scales. The results showed significant and consistent correlation with factors of the satisfaction with life and anxiety scales but no significant correlation with internal health locus of control. The use of the Spanish adaptation of GCOS‐24 in other genetic clinics in Spain will help to validate it further. This study contributes to the international validation of GCOS‐24 to evaluate the quality of genetic counseling in Europe.
Value of whole‐genome sequencing to Australian cancer patients and their first‐degree relatives participating in a genomic sequencing study
Authors: Butow Phyllis , Davies Grace , Napier Christine E. , Bartley Nicci , Ballinger Mandy L. , Biesecker Barbara , Juraskova Ilona , Meiser Bettina , Schlub Timothy , Thomas David M. , Goldstein David , Best Megan C. ,   Members of the PiGeOn Project
Published: July 2021

Genomic Sequencing (GS) to identify high cancer risk will soon enter clinical practice at significant cost to the health system. This study aimed to quantify perceived value of GS to Australian cancer patients and their first‐degree relatives participating in a genomic sequencing study, and factors associated with value. Participants were recruited upon consent to the genomics study. Eligible participants (with cancer of likely genetic etiology, or a first‐degree relative) completed a questionnaire prior to GS. Willingness to pay was assessed via hypothetical trade‐off scenarios of actionable result return rates of 1%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50%. Of 348 probands and 213 relatives (92% and 93% response rate), 81% would consistently have GS for as little as a 1% actionable return rate. Participants would pay a median of $1,000 for return rates of at least 20% (probands) or 30% (relatives), and $300 for lower return rates. Probands with common cancers and negative attitudes to uncertainty were more likely to have GS; those with higher education were more willing to pay $1,000 and $3,000 for lower return rates. This study found high interest in, but lower willingness to pay for GS in cancer patients and their first‐degree relatives, possibly due to inability to pay. Further research is needed to improve our understanding of how individuals in different risk circumstances, trade‐off the risks, harms, and benefits of GS.
Caregivers of individuals with Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome: Perspectives, experiences, and relationships with medical professionals
Authors: Webster Joshua , Wiley Susan , Schorry Elizabeth , Bowers Katherine , Collins Ruff Kathleen , Riddle Ilka
Published: July 2021

Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare genetic disorder. Family‐centered care (FCC) is a healthcare delivery approach that aims to create an equal partnership between caregivers and providers. FCC has been shown to improve parental wellbeing, their knowledge of the condition and care, and improve their feelings of self‐efficacy and personal control. The purpose of this study was to explore the healthcare experiences of family caregivers of children and adults with RTS to understand the issues they encounter when working with medical professionals and to examine their perspectives on how to improve FCC. Primary family caregivers of individuals with RTS took an online mixed‐method survey that contained three primary components: a demographic survey, the Measures of Processes of Care‐20 (MPOC‐20) [a measure of the FCC an individual feels they receive], and a qualitative assessment of negative and positive interactions with medical professionals and priority areas for improvement. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. An analysis of variance test was used to determine whether values statistically differed between different‐age groups of individuals with RTS being cared for. Sixty‐three caregivers completed the survey. The average score of the Providing General Information subscale of the MPOC‐20 was 3.18, lower than that seen in other studies. The average scores of the other subscales of the MPOC‐20 ranged from 4.60 to 5.02, comparable to other studies of caregivers of children with other medical conditions. All aspects of FCC were ranked as important by caregivers. There were no differences in MPOC‐20 values between those caring for the individuals with RTS in different‐age groups reviewed. In the qualitative responses, parents noted that experiences with medical professionals would be improved if healthcare providers actively provided FCC, collaborated with parents and other providers, respected caregivers’ time and breadth of knowledge and lived experience, gave a more balanced description of the condition, showed greater respect toward their loved ones and included them in the conversation, and made an effort to learn about RTS. The changes that parents would like to see in their child's care were not specific to one discipline and could be implemented by all healthcare specialists. While caregivers report that they receive moderate levels of FCC, they indicated that areas of FCC could be improved.
The Akt–mTORC1 pathway mediates Axl receptor tyrosine kinase-induced mesangial cell proliferation
Authors: Zhen Yuxuan , McGaha Tracy L , Finkelman Fred D , Shao Wen-Hai
Published: July 2021

Glomerulonephritis (GN), an important pathologic feature of many renal diseases, is frequently characterized by mesangial cell proliferation. We and others have previously shown that the TAM family receptor tyrosine kinases Axl, Mer, and Tyro-3 contribute to cell survival, proliferation, migration, and clearance of apoptotic cells (ACs); that Axl contributes to GN by promoting mesangial cell proliferation; and that small molecule inhibition of Axl ameliorates nephrotoxic serum-induced GN in mice. We now show that stimulation of renal mesangial cell Axl causes a modest increase in intracellular Ca2+ and activates NF-κB, mTOR, and the mTOR-containing mTORC1 complex, which phosphorylates the ribosomal protein S6. Axl-induction of Akt activation is upstream of NF-κB and mTOR activation, which are mutually codependent. Axl-induced NF-κB activation leads to Bcl-xl up-regulation. Axl is more important than Mer at mediating AC phagocytosis by mesangial cells, but less important than Mer at mediating phagocytosis of ACs by peritoneal macrophages. Taken together, our data suggest the possibility that Axl mediates mesangial cell phagocytosis of ACs and promotes mesangial cell proliferation by activating NF-κB and mTORC1.
Performance evaluation of reanalysis precipitation products in Egypt using fuzzy entropy time series similarity analysis
Authors: Hamed Mohammed Magdy , Nashwan Mohamed Salem , Shahid Shamsuddin
Published: July 2021

Selection of suitable gridded precipitation data is deemed for hydroclimatic assessment and climate change impact analysis, especially in regions where long‐term reliable precipitation data is unavailable. A novel approach based on fuzzy entropy similarity analysis (FESA) is proposed to evaluate the performance of four reanalysis gridded precipitation datasets (GPDs) for Egypt, namely European Reanalysis v.5. (ERA5), TerraClimate, Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS)—Noah Land Surface Model L4 v.2 and Climatologies at high resolution for the Earth's land surface areas (CHELSA), against gauge records. The proposed method was verified using conventional statistics. Besides, the relative performance of different GPDs was verified according to their response to the influence of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Mediterranean Oscillation (MO) on winter precipitation. The performance of the best reanalysis GPD was also compared with the gauge‐based global precipitation climatology centre (GPCC) dataset to show its reliability. The FESA revealed CHELSA as the best reanalysis GPD for Egypt. The performance assessment of GDPs based on conventional statistical metrics and visual presentation confirms the results obtained using FESA. CHELSA showed significant correlations with NAO (r = 0.3627) and MO (r = 0.624) like that obtained for gauge records. CHELSA also showed a better representation of precipitation in Egypt than GPCC at nearly half of the gauge locations. As CHELSA has a much higher spatial resolution than GPCC, it can be recommended as the proxy of gauge records in Egypt. The FESA can be used for performance analysis of gridded climate data by avoiding the complexities of using multiple statistical metrics.
Distribution of free amino acids and mRNA expression of their corresponding transporters in the intestinal mucosa of goats feeding on a corn grain versus corn gluten diet
Authors: Wu Jian , Zhang Xiaoli , Tan Zhiliang , Jiao Jinzhen
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Intestinal amino acid (AA) chemosensing has been implicated in the regulation of AA absorption, nitrogen metabolism and hormone release, thereby playing an indispensable role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis in mammals. The objective of this experiment was to study the distribution of free AA and the expression of AA transporting related genes along the small and large intestines of Liuyang black goats, together with the effects of dietary corn grain replaced by dietary corn gluten feed (CGF).

RESULTS

The CGF replacement did not alter (P > 0.05) AA profiles and the expression of AA transporting related genes in the intestinal mucosa. Intriguingly, in terms of gut regions, the concentrations of aspartic acid and glutamic acid in the mucosa of ileum were remarkably less (P < 0.001) than those in the large intestine. Moreover, the concentrations of most cationic and neutral AAs shared the same distribution pattern, with the jejunum and ileum holding the greatest and least levels (P < 0.05), respectively. It was notable that the expression of both anionic and cationic AA transporters in the small intestine was exceedingly greater (P < 0.001) than those in the large intestine. As for transporters of neutral AA, system ASC, L, and A showed an extremely distinctive expression pattern.

CONCLUSION

The jejunum would be the primary site of transporting AA, while CGF substitution does not exert a disadvantageous influence on the AA chemosensing systems of the first‐pass metabolism. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
How band tail recombination influences the open‐circuit voltage of solar cells
Authors: Wolter Max Hilaire , Carron Romain , Avancini Enrico , Bissig Benjamin , Weiss Thomas Paul , Nishiwaki Shiro , Feurer Thomas , Buecheler Stephan , Jackson Philip , Witte Wolfram , Siebentritt Susanne
Published: July 2021

The power conversion efficiency of solar cells strongly depends on the open‐circuit voltage
which, in turn, depends on the recombination activity within the device. A possible source of detrimental charge carrier recombination is band tails. An empirical linear relationship between
loss and the Urbach energy of the band tails has been shown in the past. Here we discuss how band tails influence the radiative recombination and the nonradiative recombination in the bulk of the absorber. First, we show through photoluminescence that the band tails can be willfully tuned in state‐of‐the‐art thin‐film Cu (In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) absorbers and solar cells on a 20% efficiency level and beyond through the incorporation of alkali atoms. In the second part, we compare our CIGSe results to published results from other solar cell technologies. This comparison reveals that CIGS solar cells follow the previously described empirical trend: an increase in the open‐circuit voltage with decreasing band tails. Finally, we model the influence of tail states on the radiative and nonradiative recombination losses: Radiative recombination is increased because carriers thermalize into the tail states and nonradiative recombination of free carriers in the bands is increased because of Shockley–Read–Hall recombination through the tail states. The comparison with experimental data shows that the influence of tail states is even worse than the increase in radiative and SRH recombination predicted by our model. Our results thus suggest that band tails act as one of the main remaining voltage limitations in the majority of state‐of‐the‐art solar cells.
Frequency, severity, and implications of shoulder pain in people with major upper limb amputation who use prostheses: Results of a National Study
Authors: Webster Joseph B. , Webster Natalie , Borgia Matthew , Resnik Linda
Published: July 2021

Background

People with upper limb amputation are potentially at increased risk of shoulder pain because they often perform compensatory movements to operate their prostheses and rely more heavily on their nonamputated limb for everyday activities.

Objective

To describe the frequency, severity, associated factors, and implications of shoulder pain in people with unilateral major upper limb amputation who use prostheses.

Design

Cross‐sectional, observational design.

Setting

National recruitment of people living in the community.

Participants

U.S. veterans and civilians (N = 107) with unilateral major upper limb amputation.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Shoulder pain (any, ipsilateral and contralateral to amputation), activity performance (Activities Measure for Upper Limb Amputation), health‐related quality of life (Veterans RAND 12‐Item Health Survey mental component summary [MCS] and physical component summary [PCS]), and disability (Quick Version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score [QuickDASH]).

Results

All participants completed a comprehensive in‐person assessment. Participants were 97% male with a mean age of 57.1 years and a mean time since amputation of 23.4 years. The prevalence of any shoulder pain was 30% (15% ipsilateral, 25% contralateral, 10% bilateral). Shoulder pain intensity (0 to 10 scale) was moderate for both ipsilateral (mean 4.9, SD 2.0) and contralateral (mean 4.2, SD 2.0) pain. No significant difference in shoulder pain frequency was observed by amputation level. The prevalence of any shoulder pain was greater in those using a body‐powered prosthesis (38% compared to 18% in externally powered users). Each additional year since amputation was associated with an increased likelihood of having contralateral shoulder pain (odds ratio: 1.05, confidence interval: 1.01, 1.10). In linear regression models, those with contralateral shoulder pain had worse PCS (β = −7.07, p = .008) and worse QuickDASH (β = 18.25, p < .001) scores.

Conclusions

In our sample of predominantly male veterans with major upper limb amputation, shoulder pain was a common condition associated with functional and quality of life implications. Among prosthesis users, the shoulder contralateral to the amputation was at greatest risk, with risk increasing with every year since amputation.
Distal semimembranosus tendinopathy: A narrative review
Authors: Sederberg Mark , LaMarche Laura , Skinner Lee , Cushman Daniel M.
Published: July 2021

Distal semimembranosus tendinopathy is a relatively uncommon diagnosis that can be responsible for medial knee pain. The semimembranosus tendon inserts on the posteromedial knee and is surrounded by the semimembranosus bursa, with both the bursa and tendon potential sources of pain. Similar to other tendinopathies, semimembranosus tendinopathy often occurs with overuse of the musculotendinous unit and is commonly seen in runners. Diagnosis can be made clinically and may be substantiated with use of ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging. Scant literature exists evaluating the efficacy of treatments for this condition. Consequently, best practice for treatment is inferred from other similar tendinopathies, clinical expertise, and smaller studies on semimembranosus tendinopathy. Extrapolating from other tendinopathies, rehabilitation should be the cornerstone of initial treatment, with focus on kinetic chain and gait abnormalities, hamstring strength and neuromuscular control, and progressive tendon loading. Recalcitrant cases with a coexisting bursopathy can be treated with an ultrasound‐guided bursal corticosteroid injection. Future studies may help delineate the optimal treatment regimen for this relatively uncommon diagnosis.
Public health adherence and information‐seeking for people with chronic conditions during the early phase of theCOVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Roberts Michelle K. , Ehde Dawn M. , Herring Tracy E. , Alschuler Kevin N.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

People with chronic conditions, common among rehabilitation populations, may have risk factors that put them at higher risk for more severe illness due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).

Objective

To describe and compare adherence to public health guidelines, willingness to adhere to public health guidelines (including vaccination), information‐seeking, and perceived trustworthiness of information among people with and without chronic conditions during the early stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Design

National cross‐sectional online survey of people with and without chronic health conditions conducted from April through May 2020.

Participants

Survey respondents were people with and without chronic conditions, ≥18 years old, able to read English, and in the United States since January 2020. In total, 3109 survey responses were received and 2572 complete unique responses were used in the analysis.

Methods

The survey assessed demographics, adherence to public health measures, information‐seeking, and perceived trustworthiness of information sources. Descriptive analyses characterized the sample, andt‐tests and nonparametric tests were used to compare those with and without a chronic condition on the public health measures.

Results

Participants with a chronic condition reported high adherence to public health recommendations and high willingness to adhere to anticipated recommendations across a wide range of chronic conditions and similar to those without a chronic condition despite advised caution for people with underlying health conditions. Of those with a chronic condition, 70.8% reported a willingness to be vaccinated. Participants reported accessing information from varied sources, with perceived trust highest for the health care providers and lowest for social media.

Conclusion

Participants reported high adherence to public health measures, regardless of chronic condition status, during the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Knowledge of adherence to public health measures, information‐seeking, and trust in information can assist rehabilitation providers and organizations seeking to mitigate disease transmission, particularly for those with chronic conditions.
A thermodynamic model of protein structure evolution explains empirical amino acid substitution matrices
Authors: Norn Christoffer , André Ingemar , Theobald Douglas L.
Published: July 2021

Proteins evolve under a myriad of biophysical selection pressures that collectively control the patterns of amino acid substitutions. These evolutionary pressures are sufficiently consistent over time and across protein families to produce substitution patterns, summarized in global amino acid substitution matrices such as BLOSUM, JTT, WAG, and LG, which can be used to successfully detect homologs, infer phylogenies, and reconstruct ancestral sequences. Although the factors that govern the variation of amino acid substitution rates have received much attention, the influence of thermodynamic stability constraints remains unresolved. Here we develop a simple model to calculate amino acid substitution matrices from evolutionary dynamics controlled by a fitness function that reports on the thermodynamic effects of amino acid mutations in protein structures. This hybrid biophysical and evolutionary model accounts for nucleotide transition/transversion rate bias, multi‐nucleotide codon changes, the number of codons per amino acid, and thermodynamic protein stability. We find that our theoretical model accurately recapitulates the complex yet universal pattern observed in common global amino acid substitution matrices used in phylogenetics. These results suggest that selection for thermodynamically stable proteins, coupled with nucleotide mutation bias filtered by the structure of the genetic code, is the primary driver behind the global amino acid substitution patterns observed in proteins throughout the tree of life.
High‐accuracy protein structure prediction in CASP14
Authors: Pereira Joana , Simpkin Adam J. , Hartmann Marcus D. , Rigden Daniel J. , Keegan Ronan M. , Lupas Andrei N.
Published: July 2021

The application of state‐of‐the‐art deep‐learning approaches to the protein modeling problem has expanded the “high‐accuracy” category in CASP14 to encompass all targets. Building on the metrics used for high‐accuracy assessment in previous CASPs, we evaluated the performance of all groups that submitted models for at least 10 targets across all difficulty classes, and judged the usefulness of those produced by AlphaFold2 (AF2) as molecular replacement search models with AMPLE. Driven by the qualitative diversity of the targets submitted to CASP, we also introduce DipDiff as a new measure for the improvement in backbone geometry provided by a model versus available templates. Although a large leap in high‐accuracy is seen due to AF2, the second‐best method in CASP14 out‐performed the best in CASP13, illustrating the role of community‐based benchmarking in the development and evolution of the protein structure prediction field.
Model‐based meta‐analysis of changes in circulatory system physiology in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Takaoka Ryota , Soejima Yukako , Guro Sayuri , Yoshioka Hideki , Sato Hiromi , Suzuki Hiroshi , Hisaka Akihiro
Published: July 2021

To characterize and compare various medicines for chronic heart failure (CHF), changes in circulatory physiological parameter during pharmacotherapy were investigated by a model‐based meta‐analysis (MBMA) of circulatory physiology. The clinical data from 61 studies mostly in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), reporting changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or ventricular volumes after treatment with carvedilol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, bucindolol, enalapril, aliskiren, or felodipine, were analyzed. Seven cardiac and vasculature function indices were estimated without invasive measurements using models based on appropriate assumptions, and their correlations with the mortality were assessed. Estimated myocardial oxygen consumption, a cardiac load index, correlated excellently with the mortality at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment initiation, and it explained differences in mortality across the different medications. The analysis based on the present models were reasonably consistent with the hypothesis that the treatment of HFrEF with various medications is due to effectively reducing the cardiac load. Assessment of circulatory physiological parameters by using MBMA would be insightful for quantitative understanding of CHF treatment.
Anti–SARS‐CoV‐2 Repurposing Drug Database: Clinical Pharmacology Considerations
Authors: Zhang Xinyuan , Yang Yuching , Grimstein Manuela , Liu Guansheng , Kitabi Eliford , Fan Jianghong , Wang Ying‐Hong , Earp Justin , Weaver James L. , Zhu Hao , Liu Jiang , Reynolds Kellie S. , Huang Shiew‐Mei , Wang Yaning
Published: July 2021

A critical step to evaluate the potential in vivo antiviral activity of a drug is to connect the in vivo exposure to its in vitro antiviral activity. The Anti–SARS‐CoV‐2 Repurposing Drug Database is a database that includes both in vitro anti–SARS‐CoV‐2 activity and in vivo pharmacokinetic data to facilitate the extrapolation from in vitro antiviral activity to potential in vivo antiviral activity for a large set of drugs/compounds. In addition to serving as a data source for in vitro anti–SARS‐CoV‐2 activity and in vivo pharmacokinetic information, the database is also a calculation tool that can be used to compare the in vitro antiviral activity with in vivo drug exposure to identify potential anti–SARS‐CoV‐2 drugs. Continuous development and expansion are feasible with the public availability of this database.
Quantum Information Processing and Precision Measurement Using a Levitated Nanodiamond
Authors: Zhang Huaijin , Chen Xingyan , Yin Zhang‐qi
Published: July 2021

The nanodiamond, which hosts nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) centers, has been levitated in vacuum either through optical tweezers or through an ion trap. It combines the advantages of the large mass and long coherent discrete internal energy levels, which makes it an ideal platform for quantum information processing and precision measurement. In this review, the quantum information processing and the precision measurement based on the levitated nanodiamond are briefly summarized. The basic physics of the levitated nanodiamond and the NV centers is first introduced. Then the methods of manipulating motional states of the nanodiamond with the NV centers are discussed. The magnetic coupling mechanisms between the NV centers and the translational mode or the torsional mode are discussed, and the method of cooling the mechanical modes with the NV centers is discussed. Several applications are discussed, such as the mass spectrometry, the gravitational acceleration measurement, etc. The levitated nanodiamond can also be used for realizing universal quantum logic gates and quantum simulation. Finally, the conclusion and perspective are given.
Effects of Constituent Hardness on Formability of Dual Phase Steels
Authors: Taylor Mark D. , De Moor Emmanuel , Speer John G. , Matlock David K.
Published: July 2021

A commercially produced 0.15% carbon dual phase (DP) steel with 1081 MPa tensile strength is modified to create eight additional conditions using tempering or tempering plus cold‐rolling, processes that are shown to primarily affect constituent (martensite and ferrite) hardness as measured with nanoindentation. The effects of different martensite/ferrite hardness ratios are evaluated using tensile and hole expansion testing. Lower martensite/ferrite hardness ratios (increased similarity between ferrite and martensite hardness) are interpreted to improve strain sharing, which suppresses plastic strain localization to higher stresses for yield strength and results in higher hole expansion ratios. Microstructure‐level strain maps created using digital image correlation on deformed tensile samples illustrate that plastic strains heterogeneously develop, with the largest local strains residing in ferrite at interfaces with martensite, locations consistent with preferential void nucleation sites in DP steels. Metallographic assessments of the extent of void formation in the necked regions of failed tensile samples show that for a given local thickness strain, the extent of void formation is significantly less in steels with lower martensite/ferrite hardness ratios, further illustrating the importance of controlling martensite/ferrite hardness ratios to optimize forming responses of DP steels.
A survey on machine learning based light curve analysis for variable astronomical sources
Authors: Yu Ce , Li Kun , Zhang Yanxia , Xiao Jian , Cui Chenzhou , Tao Yihan , Tang Shanjiang , Sun Chao , Bi Chongke
Published: July 2021

The improvement of observation capabilities has expanded the scale of new data available for time domain astronomy research, and the accumulation of observational data continues to accelerate. However, traditional data analysis methods are difficult to fully tap the potential scientific value of all data. Therefore, in the current and future research on light curve analysis, it is inevitable to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to assist in data analysis in order to obtain as many candidates as possible with scientific research goals. This survey reviews important developments in light curve analysis over the past years, summarizes the basic concepts in machine learning and their applications in light curve analysis and concludes perspectives and challenges for light curve analysis in the near future. The full exploration of light curves of variable celestial objects relies heavily on new techniques derived from promotion of machine learning and deep learning in the astronomical big data era.

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Machine Learning

Technologies > Artificial Intelligence
An epistemic approach to explaining cooperation in the finitely repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma
Authors: Cao Vi
Published: July 2021

We use epistemic game theory to explore rationales behind cooperative behaviors in the finitely repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma. For a class of type structures that are sufficiently rich, the set of outcomes that can arise when each player i is rational and satisfies $$(m_i-1)$$

(

m
i

-
1
)

th order strong belief of rationality is the set of paths on which each player i defects in the last $$m_i$$

m
i

rounds. We construct one sufficiently rich type structure to elaborate on how different patterns of cooperative behaviors arise under sufficiently weak epistemic conditions. In this type structure, the optimality of forgiving the opponent’s past defection and the belief that one’s defection will be forgiven account for the richness of the set of behavior outcomes.
Spatial asymmetries (“pseudoneglect”) in free visual exploration—modulation of age and relationship to line bisection
Authors: Chiffi Kathrin , Diana Lorenzo , Hartmann Matthias , Cazzoli Dario , Bassetti Claudio L. , Müri René M. , Eberhard-Moscicka Aleksandra K.
Published: July 2021

When humans visually explore an image, they typically tend to start exploring its left side. This phenomenon, so-called pseudoneglect, is well known, but its time-course has only sparsely been studied. Furthermore, it is unclear whether age influences pseudoneglect, and the relationship between visuo-spatial attentional asymmetries in a free visual exploration task and a classical line bisection task has not been established. To address these questions, 60 healthy participants, aged between 22 and 86, were assessed by means of a free visual exploration task with a series of naturalistic, colour photographs of everyday scenes, while their gaze was recorded by means of a contact-free eye-tracking system. Furthermore, a classical line bisection task was administered, and information concerning handedness and subjective alertness during the experiment was obtained. The results revealed a time-sensitive window during visual exploration, between 260 and 960 ms, in which age was a significant predictor of the leftward bias in gaze position, i.e., of pseudoneglect. Moreover, pseudoneglect as assessed by the line bisection task correlated with the average gaze position throughout a time-window of 300–1490 ms during the visual exploration task. These results suggest that age influences visual exploration and pseudoneglect in a time-sensitive fashion, and that the degree of pseudoneglect in the line bisection task correlates with the average gaze position during visual exploration in a time-sensitive manner.
Patellar instability MRI measurements are associated with knee joint degeneration after reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament
Authors: Giesler Paula , Baumann Frederic A. , Weidlich Dominik , Karampinos Dimitrios C. , Jung Matthias , Holwein Christian , Schneider Julia , Gersing Alexandra S. , Imhoff Andreas B. , Bamberg Fabian , Jungmann Pia M.
Published: July 2021

Objective

To qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the 2-year magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcome after MPFL reconstruction at the knee and to assess MRI-based risk factors that predispose for inferior clinical and imaging outcomes.

Materials and methods

A total of 31 patients with MPFL reconstruction were included (22 ± 6 years, 10 female). MRI was performed preoperatively in 21/31 patients. Two-year follow-up MRI included quantitative cartilage T2 and T1rho relaxation time measurements at the ipsilateral and contralateral knee. T2relative was calculated as T2patellofemoral/T2femorotibial. Morphological evaluation was conducted via WORMS scores. Patellar instability parameters and clinical scores were obtained. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, multivariate regression models, and correlation analyses.

Results

Two years after MPFL reconstruction, all patellae were clinically stable. Mean total WORMS scores improved significantly from baseline to follow-up (mean difference ± SEM, − 4.0 ± 1.3; P = 0.005). As compared to patients with no worsening of WORMS subscores over time (n = 5), patients with worsening of any WORMS subscore (n = 16) had lower trochlear depth, lower facetal ratio, higher tibial-tuberosity to trochlear groove (TTTG) distance, and higher postoperative lateral patellar tilt (P < 0.05). T2relative was higher at the ipsilateral knee (P = 0.010). T2relative was associated with preoperatively higher patellar tilt (P = 0.021) and higher TTTG distance (P = 0.034). TTTG distance, global T2 values, and WORMS progression correlated with clinical outcomes (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

MPFL reconstruction is an optimal treatment strategy to restore patellar stability. Still, progressive knee joint degeneration and patellofemoral cartilage matrix degeneration may be observed, with patellar instability MRI parameters representing particular risk factors.
Intra-therapeutic dosimetry of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in low-volume hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer patients and correlation with treatment outcome
Authors: Peters Steffie M. B. , Privé Bastiaan M. , de Bakker Maarten , de Lange Frank , Jentzen Walter , Eek Annemarie , Muselaers Constantijn H. J. , Mehra Niven , Witjes J. Alfred , Gotthardt Martin , Nagarajah James , Konijnenberg Mark W.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

While [177Lu]Lu-PSMA radioligand therapy is currently only applied in end-stage metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, also low-volume hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients can benefit from it. However, there are toxicity concerns related to the sink effect in low-volume disease. This prospective study aims to determine the kinetics of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA in mHSPC patients, analyzing the doses to organs at risk (salivary glands, kidneys, liver, and bone marrow) and tumor lesions < 1 cm diameter.

Methods

Ten mHSPC patients underwent two cycles of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA therapy. Three-bed position SPECT/CT was performed at 5 time points after each therapy. Organ dosimetry and lesion dosimetry were performed using commercial software and a manual approach, respectively. Correlation between absorbed index lesion dose and treatment response (PSA drop of > 50% at the end of the study) was calculated and given as Spearman’s r and p-values.

Results

Kinetics of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA in mHSPC patients are comparable to those in mCRPC patients. Lesion absorbed dose was high (3.25 ± 3.19 Gy/GBq) compared to organ absorbed dose (salivary glands: 0.39 ± 0.17 Gy/GBq, kidneys: 0.49 ± 0.11 Gy/GBq, liver: 0.09 ± 0.01 Gy/GBq, bone marrow: 0.017 ± 0.008 Gy/GBq). A statistically significant correlation was found between treatment response and absorbed index lesion dose (p = 0.047).

Conclusions

We successfully performed small lesion dosimetry and showed that the tumor sink effect in mHSPC patients is of less concern than was expected. Tumor-to-organ ratio of absorbed dose was high and tumor uptake correlates with PSA response. Additional treatment cycles are legitimate in terms of organ toxicity and could lead to better tumor response.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of Steinberg I and II avascular necrosis of the femoral head: a report of fifteen cases and literature review
Authors: Salameh Motasem , Moghamis Isam S. , Kokash Osama , Ahmed Ghalib O.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This article aimed to report a case series of pre-collapse avascular necrosis of the femoral head treated with hyperbaric oxygen and review the most recent literature on the topic.

Methods

The data from a prospectively followed registry of 15 patients with Steinberg I and II avascular necrosis of the femoral head was collected. Functional outcome, pain scores, and radiographic changes at an average follow-up of 22 months were analyzed and reported.

Results

Thirteen patients had satisfactory outcome at final follow-up with an average Oxford hip score of 37.3, pain scores were significantly improved at final follow-up (P < 0.001), and 26.7% of hips progressed to collapse on follow-up radiographs with no complications reported in all patients.

Conclusion

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for pre-collapse avascular necrosis of the femoral head is considered a safe alternative with satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes and low complications rate.
Ecological impacts of an invasive mesopredator do not differ from those of a native mesopredator: lionfish in Caribbean Panama
Authors: Samhouri Jameal F. , Stier Adrian C.
Published: July 2021

The impacts of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) on native coral reef populations in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea can be enormous. However, how much lionfish differ from native predators and whether their effects outweigh the abundant mesopredators that occupy many reefs invite continued examination. Here, we present empirical evidence from Caribbean Panama and beyond suggesting that lionfish are less abundant than native mesopredators. Furthermore, we show that their direct impacts on survivorship and size distributions of one native prey species are similar to those of a native mesopredator. These results support calls for lionfish management that considers evolving local ecological and social dynamics, including prey community composition, the roles of native mesopredators, and regional goals for conservation and fisheries. Recognition of regional context creates the potential for synergies between conservation actions aimed both at the invasion and other consequential problems such as overexploitation and climate change.
Remote and contactless infrared imaging techniques for stratigraphical investigations in paintings on canvas
Authors: Ceccarelli Sofia , Guarneri Massimiliano , Orazi Noemi , Francucci Massimo , Ciaffi Massimiliano , Mercuri Fulvio , Paoloni Stefano , de Collibus Mario Ferri , Zammit Ugo , Petrucci Francesco
Published: July 2021

In the analysis of complex stratigraphical structures like painted artefact, infrared (IR) techniques can provide precious information about elements hidden under superficial layers of the artwork, such as pictorial features and structural defects. This paper presents a novel complementary use of reflectographic and thermographic techniques for the survey of three baroque paintings, preserved at the Chigi Palace in Ariccia (Italy). First, the IR-ITR laser scanner prototype has been used for the preliminary and remote near-IR reflectographic survey of the areas where the canvas was located. The resulting map was then used for planning the thermographic and mid-IR reflectographic studies, focusing the analyses on the most interesting areas of one of the paintings, called “La Primavera”. The combination of the three imaging techniques revealed several details not visible by the naked eye, such as restored lacunas and pentimenti, demonstrating the validity and complementarity of the proposed combined methodologies.
Gender gap at a large European urological congress: still at the beginning
Authors: Hüsch Tanja , Haferkamp Axel , Thomas Christian , Steffens Joachim , Fornara Paolo , Kranz Jennifer
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Women are underrepresented at scientific conferences, decreasing the visibility of female role models, which are vital for aspiring young female scientists. This investigation aimed to evaluate female representation at the German Society of Urology's (GSoU) annual meeting.

Methods

The programs of the GSoU meeting of 2011, 2018, 2019 and the virtual conference in 2020 were retrospectively quantified by gender and categorized by chair or speaker, type, and topic of the session. Descriptive analysis was applied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify gender inequity and variables influencing gender distribution. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 2.504 chairs and speakers were invited to the GSoU meeting in 2018 and 2019. Female speakers or chairs were represented in 17.8%, indicating a gender gap of 64.7%. There were significant differences between session type, topic, and gender distribution for chairs and speakers. The topic surgical techniques were independent variables for both, underrepresented female chairs and speakers, respectively (p < 0.001). Vocational policy and plenary session were not represented by any female chair in 2011, 2018, and 2019. In comparison, the gender gap in 2011 was 74.2%, indicating a gap reduction of 1.2% per year. In a selected virtual program in 2020, the gender gap increased to 70.4%.

Conclusion

There is still a significant discrepancy between gender representation at the GSoU annual meetings, and gender equity is currently not expected before 50 years. Future efforts should address the implementation of established guidelines for achieving gender equity at urological conferences.
Cell image segmentation by using feedback and convolutional LSTM
Authors: Shibuya Eisuke , Hotta Kazuhiro
Published: July 2021

Human brain is known to have a layered structure and perform not only feedforward process from lower layer to upper layer, but also feedback process from upper layer to lower layer. Neural network is a mathematical model of the function of neurons, and several models are proposed until now. Although neural network imitates the human brain, everyone uses only feedforward process and direct feedback process from upper layer to lower layer is not used in prediction process. Therefore, in this paper, we propose Feedback U-Net using convolutional LSTM. Our model is a segmentation model using convolutional LSTM and feedback process. The output of U-Net at the first round is fed back to the input, and our method re-considers the segmentation result at the second round. By using convolutional LSTM, the features are extracted well based on the features extracted at the first round. On both of the Drosophila cell image and Mouse cell image datasets, our model outperformed conventional U-Net which uses only feedforward process.
Voice symptoms in teachers during distance teaching: a survey during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
Authors: Patjas M. , Vertanen-Greis H. , Pietarinen P. , Geneid A.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Due to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), teachers during the pandemic have had to adapt to online teaching at short notice. This study aims to investigate the voice symptoms and their environmental risk factors as well as the work ability associated with distance teaching and to compare these with symptoms in previous contact teaching.

Methods

We conducted a survey of 121 primary and secondary school teachers across Finland. The survey was advertised online through social media and the replies collected from voluntarily participating teachers.

Results

During distance teaching vocal symptoms appeared less often than in school with 71% teachers experiencing them in regular teaching and 44% in distance teaching, VHI result decreased from 7.88 in school teaching to 4.58 in distance teaching. Acoustic conditions were reported to be more suitable in distance teaching with 73% of teachers finding them adequate during distance teaching in comparison to 46% for those in regular teaching. Background noise was the most disturbing factor for a teacher’s voice in the classroom and in distance teaching and this was even more conspicuous in the classroom. Also, subjectively experienced poor indoor air quality at school influenced the voice negatively. Further, voice problems were associated with increased subjective stress levels and reduced ability to work.

Conclusion

Distance teaching has affected teachers’ voices in a positive way compared with regular teaching. This difference is likely to be due to better acoustics and indoor air quality in distance teaching conditions.
The Typical Cell of a Voronoi Tessellation on the Sphere
Authors: Kabluchko Zakhar , Thäle Christoph
Published: July 2021

The typical cell of a Voronoi tessellation generated by $$n+1$$

n
+
1

uniformly distributed random points on the d-dimensional unit sphere $$\mathbb {S}^d$$

S

d

is studied. Its f-vector is identified in distribution with the f-vector of a beta’ polytope generated by n random points in $$\mathbb {R}^d$$

R

d

. Explicit formulas for the expected f-vector are provided for any d and the low-dimensional cases $$d\in \{2,3,4\}$$

d
∈
{
2
,
3
,
4
}

are studied separately. This implies an explicit formula for the total number of k-dimensional faces in the spherical Voronoi tessellation as well.