bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scalable, probabilistic echo inversion for multifrequency and broadband acoustic surveys
Authors: Urmy Samuel S. , De Robertis Alex
Published: November 2021

Identifying biological scatterers is a perennial challenge in fisheries acoustics. Most practitioners classify backscatter based on direct sampling and frequency-difference thresholds, then integrate at a single frequency. However, this approach struggles with species mixtures, and discards multi-frequency information when integrating. Inversion methods do not have these limitations, but are seldom used, because their species identifications are often ambiguous and their algorithms complicated to implement. We address these shortcomings with a probabilistic, Bayesian inversion method. Like other inversion methods, it handles species mixtures, uses all available frequencies, and extends naturally to broadband signals. Unlike prior approaches, it leverages Bayesian priors to rigorously incorporate information from direct sampling and biological knowledge, constraining the inversion and reducing ambiguity in species identification. Because it is probabilistic, it can be trusted to run automatically: it should not produce solutions that are both wrong and confident. Unlike some data-driven machine learning models, it is based on acoustical scattering processes, so its inferences are physically interpretable. Finally, the approach is straightforward to implement using existing Bayesian libraries, and is easily parallelized for large datasets. We present examples using simulations and field data from the Gulf of Alaska, and discuss possible extensions and applications of the method.
Data-mining previous surveys to improve walleye pollock target strength estimates
Authors: Lauffenburger Nathan , De Robertis Alex , Williams Kresimir
Published: November 2021

Acoustic-trawl surveys are widely used to measure the abundance and distribution of pelagic fishes. The echo integration method used in these surveys requires estimates of the target strength (TS, dB re 1 m2) of individuals to estimate abundance. In situ TS measurements are attractive to establish length-to-TS relationships because they are obtained under realistic conditions utilizing the same tools as those during surveys. However, these measurements are usually made in restricted circumstances, are limited in number, and data processing is often subjective. Here, we present a novel method to estimate TS from a large volume of previously collected survey data recorded at trawl sites. By applying a series of published filtering methods to TS data based on frequency response, packing density, and degree of co-location in overlapping beams, single fish echoes can be reliably isolated from existing survey data. The automated approach produced measurements representative of survey conditions (e.g., collected at survey speeds on free-swimming fish) from existing surveys. We applied this method to 30 surveys of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in Alaska and estimated a new length-to-TS relationship. The results were largely consistent with the relationship currently used for walleye pollock; depth and geographic area were significant covariates.
Untangling the effect of the reed resonance and tonehole lattice cutoff frequencies on the internal and external spectra of a clarinet-like instrument
Authors: Petersen Erik A.
Published: November 2021

The spectrum characteristics of reed instruments are determined by many factors, some of which are related to musician control and others that are intrinsic to the physics of the instrument. Two such factors are the reed resonance frequency and the tonehole lattice cutoff frequency. The former can be manipulated to some degree by the musician, while the latter is fixed by the geometry of the air column. Although both of these variables are known to impact the spectrum of a woodwind instrument, it is complicated to evaluate the relative importance of their individual contributions, which may present in similar manners. Here, digital synthesis coupled with a simple radiation model is used to untangle the dual effects of these two characteristic frequencies on the internal and external spectra of a clarinet-like instrument. The amplitudes of the even harmonics in the internal and external spectra are boosted at the reed resonance frequency. While the tonehole lattice cutoff frequency also boosts the even harmonics in the internal spectrum, there is an additional overall increase in radiation at the cutoff which emphasizes both the even and odd harmonics in the external spectrum, implying that it may have a larger impact on the perceived timbre.
Preliminary lasso regression analysis of environmental effects on sonic boom metric variability
Authors: Durrant J. T. , Gee Kent L. , Anderson Mark C. , Cook Mylan R. , Loubeau Alexandra
Published: November 2021

NASA’s Low-boom Flight Demonstration mission is a step toward commercial, overland supersonic flight. Certifying low-boom aircraft will require accurate measurement and understanding of uncertainty due to variations in meteorology, aircraft trajectory, and measurement environment. This work describes an analysis of the variability present in the Quiet Supersonic Flights 2018 (QSF18) dataset collected in Galveston, Texas, and an initial effort to correlate this variability with source and environmental factors. Although these data are for an F-18 executing a low-boom dive, no other low-boom dataset over a widespread populated area exists, and this study has the potential to guide future X-59 testing and data interpretation. Although several aircraft and meteorological variables are investigated for possible correlation, no single variable consistently explains the large variation in the measured booms. This has led to the use of lasso regression (LR) to identify the most relevant factors. Thus far, the fact that LR correlates boom Perceived Level (PL) with ambient PL is a strong indication of dataset contamination by significant ambient noise. Additionally, although several meteorological factors can contribute to boom metric variability, low-altitude wind speed is particularly important. [Work supported by NASA Langley Research Center through National Institute of Aerospace.]
David Blackstock and the Acoustical Society of America: Sixty-five years of commitment
Authors: Isakson Marcia , Moran Elaine
Published: November 2021

David Blackstock and the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) have had a long history together. David attended his first ASA meeting in 1955 and became a member in 1959. Throughout his career, the ASA provided David with a place to publish and form collaborations. David more than repaid the ASA with service as the chair of meetings, technical and administrative committee service and as the Society’s vice president and president. In 1993, he was awarded the Gold Medal, the ASA’s highest honor. However, David’s true service to the ASA is to the student and early career members of the Society. David coordinated the Students Meet Members for Lunch (SMMfL) initiative from 2002 to 2019. This program has paired numerous students with members of the Society. David’s students from the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Rochester and Pennsylvania State University have been recognized by the Society with numerous awards and medals. In 2004, David was also recognized with the first ASA student council award for mentorship. In 2019, the ASA student council officially recognized David’s commitment to students by renaming the mentorship award after him. Because of David’s commitment to the Society and its future, his ASA legacy will never be forgotten.
Speech intelligibility in a virtual restaurant: Using a calibrated system to collect data remotely
Authors: Ellis Gregory M. , Souza Pamela E.
Published: November 2021

Many individuals with hearing-impairment struggle to understand speech in complex environments, even when using appropriate amplification. A restaurant was simulated to better understand the effects of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), reverberation time (T60), wide-dynamic range compression (WDRC), and digital noise reduction (DNR) on speech intelligibility for listeners with hearing impairment. A virtual restaurant was created with six competing talkers in the environment and target talker in front. Spatialized audio was processed with a 16-band hearing aid simulation. SNR was jittered following a normal distribution (Mean = 0 dB, SD = 2). Two T60’s (0.8 and 1.8s), two WDRC speeds (the fastest and slowest commercially available) and two DNR conditions (on or off) were the other factors. Three participants had participated in a sound booth when the COVID-19 pandemic affected ability to gather in-lab data. A new protocol was created to strike a balance between remote data collection and experimental control. Data for 25 additional participants were collected using a remote method with calibrated headphone and tablet system provided for the participant to use at home. The remote testing method will be discussed and data obtained using the headphone and tablet will be compared to in-booth data. [Work supported by NIH.]
Classifying and quantifying individual differences in phonetic categorization patterns
Authors: Smith Michael L. , Winn Matthew B.
Published: November 2021

A key component to speech perception is the accurate categorization of phonemes, which is classically measured by labeling functions in forced-choice tasks. The common assumption is that poor categorization drifts toward chance performance at 50%. However, the current study shows that individuals cluster in distinct patterns that diverge from that assumption. In an experiment where listeners categorized phonemes whose frequency spectra were acutely or gradually shifted upwards (reminiscent of cochlear implants), some listeners were better able to maintain distinct perceptual phonetic categories despite increasing amounts of frequency mismatch, while others could recalibrate their perception commensurate with the shift, up to a certain point before categorization ultimately broke down in a variety of ways. This study highlights the importance of classifying categorization patterns at the individual level, rather than averaging across groups, and invites reconsideration of how to quantify and interpret overlooked behavioral response patterns that signify when and how phonetic categorization breaks down. This study emphasizes provides novel ways to mathematically analyze qualitatively unique signatures of categorization breakdown (asymmetry, bias, all-or-none judgments, etc.) that are potentially ripe for studying individual differences in strategy and capacity for overcoming specific challenges relating to hearing or adaptation to acoustic degradation.
Effect of relative timing of target and background words on speech understanding using the coordinate response measure paradigm
Authors: Smith Toni , Shen Yi , Kidd Gary R. , Mamidipaka Anusha , McAuley J Devin
Published: November 2021

Recognition of target keywords in CRM sentences in the presence of competing CRM sentences has been shown to depend upon both the rhythmic context of target and background speech and F0 differences between target and background speakers. The present study investigated the role of the relative timing of target and background keywords for background keywords that were presented either in isolation (Experiment 1) or embedded within their associated background context (Experiment 2) for target and background material that was spoken by the same male talker. In Experiment 1, onset asynchrony of target and background keywords varied between –200 ms and 200 ms. Results showed an asymmetric U-shaped performance curve where (1) target recognition improved with increasing deviation of background keywords from the expected onset timing of target keywords and (2) target words were better recognized when they began before background keywords compared to when they began after. In Experiment 2, where background keywords were embedded within their original CRM context, performance was reduced to chance for both an intact background rhythm condition and a range of altered background rhythm conditions. Results will be discussed in terms of a selective entrainment hypothesis and the role of F0 differences in speech segregation.
Experimental evaluation of a universal covariance matrix tapered adaptive beamformer
Authors: Erdim Savas , Berg C. J. , Buck John R.
Published: November 2021

Covariance Matrix Tapers (CMT) widen the beampattern notches of an adaptive beamformer to improve the suppression of moving interferers. If the bearing rate of a moving interferer is known, then the ideal notch width can be found. In practice, the bearing rate is an unknown and often time-varying parameter. To address this challenge, we previously proposed a universal CMT beamformer that blends the array weights across a set of fixed notch width CMT beamformers. This universal beamformer suppressed moving interferers well in simulations. This talk presents experimental results from a 31 microphone uniform line array with a 750 Hz moving interferer at a range of 10 meters. We evaluated two scenarios with the interferer moving at different speeds. In the first experiment, the interferer moved 40deg in 814 snapshots (approximately 0.05 deg/snapshot) while in the second experiment, the interferer moved 30° in the same time. Both experiments had 25 dB INR at a single sensor. The experiments confirm that the universal CMT beamformer adapts to the best notch width for moving interferers. The results also show that the universal beamformer matches or exceeds the performance of the best fixed notch width CMT beamformer. [Work supported by ONR 321US.]
Robust direction-of-arrival estimation for a target speaker based on multi-task U-net based direct-path dominance test
Authors: Wang Hao , Gu Zhaoyi , Chen Kai , Lu Jing
Published: November 2021

A dedicated multi-task network for direct-path dominance test has been proposed recently, based on which the robustness of the direction-of-arrival estimation for a target speaker tends to be significantly improved. In this letter, the network is further refined to avoid the original two-stage processing. Moreover, the benefit and generalization of the multi-task network are confirmed by comparison with a single-task network on a significantly larger database. The efficacy of the proposed method in high noisy environments is also validated in real application environments.
The fluid bottom approximation and its implications for sound attenuation in underwater waveguides
Authors: Godin Oleg A.
Published: November 2021

The fluid-bottom model makes forward and inverse problems more amenable to theoretical analysis and numerical simulations but has some well-known limitations. The accuracy and weaknesses of the fluid approximation are elucidated in this paper by quantifying the effects of weak shear rigidity on acoustic normal modes. Mathematically, appearance of finite shear rigidity and attendant slow shear waves is a singular perturbation of the fluid-bottom model, which standard perturbation theories fail to capture correctly. The problem is addressed here by combination of an asymptotic technique and an analysis of exact solutions for idealized seabed models and placed in the context of earlier studies of the effects of shear rigidity. Due to coupling between compressional and shear waves at the seafloor and within the seabed, shear rigidity affects phase and group speeds of normal modes. By transferring the energy from compressional to shear waves, wave coupling makes a significant contribution to sound attenuation from low up to mid-frequencies. It is found that the effects of shear rigidity on the acoustic field in water are magnified by seabed stratification and especially by density variations. Implications of the results for seabed parameterization in geoacoustic inversions will be discussed. [Work supported by ONR.]
Ray method for complete sysstem of acoustic equations
Authors: Maltsev Nikolai E.
Published: November 2021

Classic ray theory in acoustics represents approximate solutions of the Helmholtz equation. This report offers a new version of ray theory, derived for a complete system of acoustic equations as it was formulated by Lord Rayleigh for sound pressure and particle velocity. The immediate advantage of this approach is the regular field at caustics.
Acoustic scattering by elastic cylinders: Practical sonar effects
Authors: Al Mursaline Miad , Stanton Timothy K. , Lavery Andone C. , Fischell Erin M.
Published: November 2021

Acoustic scattering from elastic cylinders has been studied extensively over the last few decades. However, the vast majority of theoretical investigations have focused on idealized plane wave, point receiver solutions, ignoring realistic sonar effects. Acoustic transducers are characterized by spherically spreading waves and often have transmit and receive beams that are directional. Because of the spreading, even during broadside measurements, these sonars excite cylinders obliquely. This investigation involves acoustic scattering by spot-insonified infinitely long elastic cylinders, and studies effects caused by practical sonar constraints both theoretically and experimentally. Calibrated broadside measurements of backscattering are presented for various cylinder and source/receiver geometries including both monostatic and near-monostatic configurations. In all measurements, the ratio of the footprint length of the target relative to the first Fresnel zone diameter is chosen such that the entire first Fresnel zone dominates the scattering. This ensures that the scattering from the cylinder spreads cylindrically and hence the cylinder behaves like an infinite target. A theoretical formulation is developed to account for beam spreading and directivity of practical echo-sounders. Comparisons between theoretical predictions and experimental data are presented. [Work funded by ARPA-E.]
Automated accent rating using deep neural networks
Authors: Schnoor Tyler T. , Kelley Matthew C. , Tucker Benjamin V.
Published: November 2021

Automated accentedness rating has the potential to improve many human-computer interactions involving speech, including the adaptation of automatic speech recognition or other artificial intelligence models to the speaker's accent. Accent ratings may also be used as a metric by which language learners can quantify their progress. This study employs bidirectional long short-term memory layers in a neural network to predict human ratings of the accentedness of recorded speech. Speech data are extracted in 5-s segments from over 2000 first- and second-language English speakers from multiple corpora. Human ratings are obtained in an online experiment where participants rate the accentedness of a given speech recording on a 9-point Likert scale. Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients and mel-filterbank energy features are tested as speech input representations for the neural network. When inference is tested using 10-fold cross validation, the mean correlation between the model’s predictions and human ratings is high (r = 0.74). While previous methods attained a similar correlation by automatically comparing speech that has been transcribed [Wieling et al., Lang. Dyn. Chang. 4, 253–269 (2014)] or by making accent-specific Gaussian mixture models [Cheng et al., Interspeech 2013 (2013), pp. 2574–2578], the present model requires no transcription and can perform accent-general inference.
Eye-tracking during remote collaborative communication under noisy, reverberant and delayed communication transmission conditions
Authors: Rawool Vishakha
Published: November 2021

This study, which is part of a larger study, was designed to monitor eye-tracking parameters during remote collaborative communication. Ninety (45 men and 45 women) participants were divided into 30 teams with three members in each team. Each team built different LEGO models under three communication transmission delay conditions in the following order: No delay, 750 ms delay and 5000 ms delay. One individual served as the LEGO builder, who did not have access to the instruction manual. The remaining two team members provided instructions for building the models. Participants were in separate rooms and communicated via earphones. Background white noise (50 dB SPL) was introduced in the ear canals and reverberation was applied to the transmitted communication. Participants were fitted with Tobii Pro Glasses 2 with a sampling rate of 100 fps for eye-tracking. ANOVA was performed on several eyetracking parameters including fixation rate/minute, total whole fixation duration/minute and saccades rate/minute. The results revealed that the cognitive load/or listening effort was lowest in the 750 ms condition compared to the no delay or 5000 ms delay conditions. Detailed results will be discussed during the presentation. Acknowledgement: Graduate students Sydney Osbarn and Melissa Reyes assisted in data collection.
Measurement of Physical Activity Self-Efficacy in Adults With Obesity: A Latent Variable Approach to Explore Dimensionality, Temporal Invariance, and External Validity
Authors: Myers Nicholas D. , Bateman André G. , McMahon Adam , Prilleltensky Isaac , Lee Seungmin , Prilleltensky Ora , Pfeiffer Karin A. , Brincks Ahnalee M.
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study was to improve the measurement of physical activity self-efficacy (PASE) in adults with obesity. To accomplish this objective, a latent variable approach was used to explore dimensionality, temporal invariance, and external validity of responses to a newly developed battery of PASE scales. Data (Nbaseline = 461 andN30 days postbaseline = 427) from the Well-Being and Physical Activity Study (ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03194854), which deployed the Fun For Wellness intervention, were analyzed. A two-dimensional factor structure explained responses to each PASE scale at baseline. There was strong evidence for at least partial temporal measurement invariance for this two-dimensional structure in each PASE scale. There was mixed evidence that the effectiveness of the Fun For Wellness intervention exerted a direct effect on latent PASE in adults with obesity at 30 days postbaseline (i.e., external validity) of this two-dimensional structure.
Draft Genome Sequences of Eight Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains
Authors: Sung Kidon , Gudeta Dereje D. , Park Miseon , Snippes Vagnone Paula , Nawaz Mohamed S. , Foley Steven L. , Khan Saeed A.
Published: November 2021

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of eight community-associated methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
strains that were resistant to cefoxitin, ampicillin, and erythromycin. Three isolates, i.e., CAR1, CAR2, and CAR8, were sequence type 8 (ST8) with staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
) type IVa and were Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) positive, which has been known as a predominant clone in the United States.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid-Producing Isolate, Bacillus paralicheniformis Strain bcasdu2018/01
Authors: Adhikary Anirban , Bansal Tanu , Gupta Pooja , Jain Deepti , Anand Purnima , Gupta Rani , Virdi Jugsharan Singh , Marwah Ruchi Gulati
Published: November 2021

Bacillus paralicheniformis
bcasdu2018/01 was isolated from the indoor environment of a chemistry laboratory. As part of the extracellular matrix, this isolate produces copious amounts of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA). Here, we report the 4.25-Mbp draft genome assembly of the organism with an average G+C content of 45.92%.
Detrital zircon sources in the Ordovician metasedimentary rocks of the Moroccan Meseta: Inferences for northern Gondwanan passive-margin paleogeography
Authors: Accotto* Cristina , Poyatos David Martínez , Azor Antonio , Talavera Cristina , Evans Noreen Joyce , Jabaloy-Sánchez Antonio , El Hadi Hassan , Tahiri Abdelfatah
Published: November 2021

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology has been widely used to constrain the pre-Carboniferous geography of the European and, to a lesser extent, the Moroccan Variscides. The latter have been generally considered as part of a long-lasting passive margin that characterized northern Gondwana from Ordovician to Devonian time, and was subsequently involved in the late Paleozoic Variscan orogeny. We report detrital zircon ages for three Early to Late Ordovician samples from the Beni Mellala inlier in the northeastern part of the Western Moroccan Meseta in order to discuss the temporal evolution of the sources of sediments in this region. The detrital zircon spectra of these samples, characterized by two main populations with mean ages of 630–610 Ma and 2170–2060 Ma, are typical of Cambrian–Devonian rocks from the Moroccan Variscides and confirm their link to the West African craton. A minor Stenian–Tonian population (peak at ca. 970 Ma) suggests the influence of a distant and intermittent NE African source (Sahara metacraton), which was probably interrupted after Ordovician time. Our data support previous interpretations of the Moroccan Meseta (and the entire northern Moroccan Variscides) as part of the northern Gondwana passive margin. The main sources of these sediments would have been the West African craton in the western regions of the passive margin (Moroccan Meseta and central European Paleozoic massifs), and the Arabian-Nubian Shield and/or Sahara metacraton in the eastern areas (Libya, Egypt, Jordan, central and NW Iberian zones during Paleozoic time), where the 1.0 Ga detrital zircon population is persistent throughout the Ordovician–Devonian time span.
Dose–response relationship between urinary PAH metabolites and blood viscosity among coke oven workers: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wu Min , Liu Chengjuan , Wang Huimin , Nie Jisheng , Yang Jin
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been proven to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in coke oven workers, and increased plasma viscosity is a signal for higher risk of catching up cardiovascular disease. We want to explore whether the plasma viscosity is affected by the concentration of PAHs.

Design

Our study is a cross-sectional dose–response study.

Setting

Participants in this study came from a coke plant in Taiyuan, Shanxi.

Participants

We used data of 693 coke oven workers in Taiyuan.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We assumed that plasma viscosity would increase as the concentration of PAHs metabolites in urine increases. We found that 2-hydroxyfluorene (OHFLU2) and plasma viscosity have a stable linear relationship in different statistical methods.

Results

We found that plasma viscosity increased by 1.14 (mPa.s,30/s) for each ng/mL of 2-OHFLU urinary (correlation coefficient range: 0.54–1.74, p<0.05).

Conclusions

The results of this study could provide evidence for coke oven workers to prevent cardiovascular disease by checking whether plasma viscosity is elevated.
Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy on quality of life in patients with prostate cancer after androgen deprivation therapy: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yuan Fan , Chang Degui , Jing Mingyi , Zhu Baohua , You Yaodong
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Prostate cancer (PCa), as a malignant tumour with rapid development in recent years, significantly affects men’s health, work, life and economy. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plays an important role in the treatment of PCa and can be used as a complementary therapy in the late stage of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Though ADT targeting PCa shows an effective therapeutic effect, the underlying side effects (cognitive disorder, hot flashes, a decrease in sexuality) cannot be ignored. At present, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been widely used for patients with PCa after ADT due to its confirmed efficacy, fewer side effects and lower economic burden. However, the effectiveness of CBT for patients with PCa after ADT is still controversial. Therefore, we will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of CBT for patients with PCa after ADT.

Methods and analysis

Literatures will be searched from establishment of the database to 31 May 2021 with the language restrictions of English and Chinese in eight online databases (PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, VIP, CNKI, CBM, and WAN FANG). This study will include RCTs that performed CBT as the main method of the experimental group for patients with PCa after ADT. Two or more reviewers will independently conduct the selection of studies, data extraction and data analysis. The risk ratios with 95% CIs will be used to present the data synthesis result of dichotomous data, while weighted mean differences or standardised mean differences with 95% CIs will be used to present the data synthesis result of continuous data. Meanwhile, evidence quality of outcome will be assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation method. Stata V.13.0 and Review Manager software V.5.3 will be used for analysis and synthesis.

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol is a second study based on a completed randomised controlled study. Thus, ethical approval is not required, and no additional data are available.

OSF registration number

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/FUVEA
Trends in prescribing pattern of opioid and benzodiazepine substitutes among Medicare part D beneficiaries from 2013 to 2018: a retrospective study
Authors: Esechie Aimalohi , Kuo Yong-Fang , Goodwin James S , Westra Jordan , Raji Mukaila A
Published: November 2021

Objective

Opioid and benzodiazepine co-prescribing is associated with a substantial increase in opioid overdose deaths. In this study, we examine the prescribing trends of substitutes of opioids and benzodiazepines alone or in combination, compared with opioids and benzodiazepines.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Data were collected using a 20% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries from 2013 to 2018.

Participants

4.1–4.3 million enrollees each year from 2013 to 2018.

Intervention

None.

Primary outcome

We employ a generalised linear mixed models to calculate ORs for opioid use, benzodiazepine or Z-drug (benzos/Z-drugs) use, opioid/benzos/Z-drugs 30-day use, gabapentinoid use and (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)) use, adjusted for the repeated measure of patient. We then created two models to calculate the ORs for each year and comparing to 2013.

Results

Opioid and benzos/Z-drugs use decreased by 2018 (aOR 0.626; 95% CI 0.622 to 0.630) comparing to 2013. We demonstrate a 36.3% and 9.9% increase rate of gabapentinoid and SSRI/SNRI use, respectively. Furthermore, combined gabapentinoid and SSRI/SNRI use increased in 2018 (aOR 1.422; 95% CI 1.412 to 1.431).

Conclusion

Little is known about the prescribing pattern and trend of opioid and benzodiazepine alternatives as analgesics. There is a modest shift from prescribing opioid and benzos/Z-drugs (alone or in combination) towards prescribing non-opioid analgesics—gabapentinoids with and without non-benzos/Z-drugs that are indicated for anxiety. It is unclear if this trend towards opioid/benzos/Z-drugs alternatives is associated with fewer drug overdose death, better control of pain and comorbid anxiety, and improved quality of life.
Tangle equations involving Montesinos links
Authors: Moon Hyeyoung , Darcy Isabel K.
Published: November 2021

Generalized Montesinos tangles are classified, and the system of unoriented tangle equations [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is solved for a generalized Montesinos tangle [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are rational tangles and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are Montesinos knots/links.
Study of potential games using Ising interaction
Authors: Tejasvi U. , Eithiraj R. D. , Balakrishnan S.
Published: November 2021

Problems can be handled properly in game theory as long as a countable number of players are considered, whereas, in real life, we have a large number of players. Hence, games at the thermodynamic limit are analyzed in general. There is a one-to-one correspondence between classical games and the modeled Hamiltonian at a particular equilibrium condition, usually the Nash equilibrium. Such a correspondence is arrived for symmetric games, namely the Prisoner’s Dilemma using the Ising Hamiltonian. In this work, we have shown that another class of games known as potential games can be analyzed with the Ising Hamiltonian. Analysis of this work brings out very close observation with real-world scenarios. In other words, the model of a potential game studied using Ising Hamiltonian predicts behavioral aspects of a large population precisely.
Acquired Factor VIII Deficiency Presenting as Gross Hematuria in a Hispanic, Pregnant Patient with Previously Undiagnosed Connective Tissue Disease
Authors: Loftis Christine , Dulgheru Emilia C. , White Rosa
Published: November 2021

Acquired factor VIII deficiency is a bleeding disorder caused by the presence of autoantibodies against clotting factor VIII. We report a case of a 24-year-old pregnant woman who presented with gross hematuria secondary to acquired factor VIII deficiency in the presence of a previously undiagnosed connective tissue disease. This article includes a literature review of pregnancy-related cases of acquired factor VIII deficiency. We also reviewed various therapeutic approaches for the management of the acquired factor inhibitor which include achieving hemostasis and elimination of the inhibitor via immunosuppressive agents. This case report describes the rare presentation of acquired factor VIII deficiency related to pregnancy and highlights the importance of considering a factor VIII inhibitor in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with bleeding and prolonged PTT during the peripartum and postpartum periods.
A Case of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in a Centenarian Patient
Authors: Badr Salem , Johnsrud Daniel O. , Sherry Charnai D. , Allaqaband Suhail Q. , Weiss Eric S. , Bajwa Tanvir K.
Published: November 2021

Calcified aortic stenosis has become the most common form of acquired valvular heart disease in very old patients. Despite this fact, a majority of these patients were turned down by surgery owing to a risk of

mortality
>
10
%

in patients older than 90 years. In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a therapeutic option for severe aortic stenosis. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the outcomes of TAVI in patients older than 100 years. We present the oldest patient who has undergone successful TAVI reported in the current literature.
The Identification Nanoparticle Sensor Using Back Propagation Neural Network Optimized by Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Hu Yiwen , Sharma Ashutosh , Dhiman Gaurav , Shabaz Mohammad
Published: November 2021

This study draws attention towards the application of identification nanoparticle (NPs) sensor based on back propagation (BP) neural network optimized by genetic algorithm (GA) in the early diagnosis of cancer cells. In this study, the traditional and optimized BP neural networks are compared in terms of error between the actual value and the predictive value, and they are further applied to the NP sensor for early diagnosis of cancer cells. The results show that the root mean square (RMS) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the optimized BP neural network are comparatively much smaller than the traditional ones. The particle size of silicon‐coated fluorescent NPs is about 105 nm, and the relative fluorescence intensity of silicon‐coated fluorescent NPs decreases slightly, maintaining the accuracy value above 80%. In the fluorescence imaging, it is found that there is obvious green fluorescence on the surface of the cancer cells, and the cancer cells still emit bright green fluorescence under the dark‐field conditions. In this study, a phenolic resin polymer CMK‐2 with a large surface area is successfully combined with Au. NPs with good dielectric property and bioaffinity are selectively bonded to the modified electrode through a sulfur‐gold bond to prepare NP sensor. The sensor shows good stability, selectivity, and anti‐interference property, providing a new method for the detection of early cancer cells.
Dynamic Compression Behavior and a Damage Constitutive Model of Steel Fibre Reinforced Self‐Compacting Concrete
Authors: Bian Liang , Ma Jian , Zhang Jie , Li Ping
Published: November 2021

The dynamic behavior of steel fibre reinforced self‐compacting concrete (SFRSCC) was investigated by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). SFRSCC specimens with two strength classes of about 40 MPa and 60 MPa were prepared. Different steel fibre volume fractions were used varying from 0.5% to 2.0%. The tested strain rate ranged from about 50 to 240 s−1. Signiﬁcant rate dependence was observed, and dynamic increase factor (DIF) was used to quantify the rate sensitivity. The results showed that both the matrix strength and fibre content had effect on the strain rate sensitivity of SFRSCC. A DIF formula was proposed for describing the dynamic strength of SFRSCC at high strain rates, and a dynamic damage constitutive model was derived to describe the stress‐strain relationship of SFRSCC. The parameters in the model were determined by fitting the experimental data. Good consistency between theoretical curves and experimental data was obtained.
An Intention Understanding Algorithm Based on Multimodal Information Fusion
Authors: Dou Shaosong , Feng Zhiquan , Tian Jinglan , Fan Xue , Hou Ya , Zhang Xin
Published: November 2021

This paper proposes an intention understanding algorithm (KDI) based on an elderly service robot, which combines Neural Network with a seminaive Bayesian classifier to infer user’s intention. KDI algorithm uses CNN to analyze gesture and action information, and YOLOV3 is used for object detection to provide scene information. Then, we enter them into a seminaive Bayesian classifier and set key properties as super parent to enhance its contribution to an intent, realizing intention understanding based on prior knowledge. In addition, we introduce the actual distance between the users and objects and give each object a different purpose to implement intent understanding based on object-user distance. The two methods are combined to enhance the intention understanding. The main contributions of this paper are as follows: (1) an intention reasoning model (KDI) is proposed based on prior knowledge and distance, which combines Neural Network with seminaive Bayesian classifier. (2) A set of robot accompanying systems based on the robot is formed, which is applied in the elderly service scene.
Train‐Bridge Dynamic Behaviour of Long‐Span Asymmetrical‐Stiffness Cable‐Stayed Bridge
Authors: Wu Yuexing , Zhou Jianting , Zhang Jinquan , Wen Qiang , Li Xuan
Published: November 2021

Long‐span cable‐stayed bridge (LCB) with unequal‐height towers is being designed and constructed in metro lines due to its better adaptability to environment and terrain conditions compared to traditional cable‐stayed bridge with equal‐height towers. However, the asymmetrical arrangement of towers leads to obvious nonuniformity of the structural stiffness along the longitudinal direction, which intensifies the wheel‐rail coupled vibration behaviour, and affects the running safety of operating trains and ride comfort. Therefore, train‐bridge dynamic behaviour of long‐span asymmetrical‐stiffness cable‐stayed bridge is deeply investigated in this work. Primarily, considering the comprehensive index of frequency difference and modal assurance criterion (MAC), a nonlinear model updating technique (NMUT) based on penalty function theory is proposed, which can be used to optimize the bridge numerical model. Secondly, on the basis of the train‐track‐bridge dynamic interaction theory (TDIT), a train‐track‐bridge coupled dynamic model (TCDM) is established. Finally, a LCB with unequal‐height towers is applied as a case to illustrate the influence of asymmetrical stiffness on the train‐track‐bridge dynamic characteristics. Results show that the proposed NMUT is efficacious and practical. For the LCB with unequal‐height towers, a significant difference between the bridge vibration at low tower location and that at high tower location appears. The vertical displacement difference of the main beam on both sides of the bridge increases with the distance from the observation point to the bridge tower increasing. The variation of acceleration difference on both sides of the bridge is influenced by the speed of the train and the position of the observation point simultaneously. In general, vibrations of the main beam at low tower location are larger than those at high tower location.
Risk of Postoperative Renal Failure in Radical Nephrectomy and Nephroureterectomy: A Validated Risk Prediction Model
Authors: Nasrallah Ali A. , Gharios Charbel , Itani Mira , Bacha Dania S. , Tamim Hani M. , Habib Robert H. , El Hajj Albert
Published: November 2021

Introduction: The study aimed to construct and validate a risk prediction model for incidence of postoperative renal failure (PORF) following radical nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy. Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database years 2005–2014 were used for the derivation cohort. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted, and the final model was validated with an independent cohort from the ACS-NSQIP database years 2015–2017. Results: In cohort of 14,519 patients, 296 (2.0%) developed PORF. The final 9-factor model included age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, preoperative creatinine, hematocrit, platelet count, and surgical approach. Model receiver-operator curve analysis provided a C-statistic of 0.79 (0.77, 0.82; p < 0.001), and overall calibration testing R2 was 0.99. Model performance in the validation cohort provided a C-statistic of 0.79 (0.76, 0.81; p < 0.001). Conclusion: PORF is a known risk factor for chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular morbidity, and is a common occurrence after unilateral kidney removal. The authors propose a robust and validated risk prediction model to aid in identification of high-risk patients and optimization of perioperative care.
Zervixkarzinom: Immuntherapie hält Einzug in die Erstlinie
Authors: Wölber Linn
Published: November 2021

Die Keynote-826 Studie untersucht die Wirksamkeit von Pembrolizumab bei metastasiertem, rezidiviertem oder persistenten Gebärmutterhalskrebs, der unter Chemotherapie progredient ist. Eingeschlossen wurden Patientinnen mit Plattenepithelkarzinom, adenosquamösem Karzinom oder Adenokarzinom des Gebärmutterhalses, die bisher keine systemische Chemotherapie für die metastasierte oder rezidvierte Situation erhalten hatten und bei denen eine kurative Behandlung (wie Operation und/oder Bestrahlung) nicht mehr in Frage kam. In der doppelblinden Phase-III-Studie wurden Patientinnen im Verhältnis 1:1 randomisiert. Untersucht wurde der Nutzen der der Zugabe von Pembrolizumab zur Chemotherapie mit oder ohne Bevacizumab. Primäre Endpunkte waren das progressionsfreie Überleben (PFS) und das Gesamtüberleben (OS). Bei Ergänzung mit Pembrolizumab betrug das mediane progressionsfreie Überleben von 548 Patientinnen (kombinierter PD-L1-Score ≥1) 10,4 Monate, in der Placebo-Gruppe 8,2 Monate. In der Intention-to-Treat-Population (617 Patientinnen) lag das progressionsfreie Überleben bei 10,4 Monate bzw. 8,2 Monate. Bei 317 Patienten mit einem kombinierten positiven PD-L1-Score von 10 oder mehr betrug das progressionsfreie Überleben 10,4 Monate bzw. 8,1 Monate. In der Pembrolizumab-Gruppe lag das Gesamtüberleben nach 24 Monaten bei 53,0 % und 41,7 % in der Placebo-Gruppe, bzw. 50,4 % und 40,4 % sowie 54,4 % und 44,6 %. Demzufolge zeigten die Patientinnen unter Pembrolizumab ein signifikant längeres progressionsfreies und Gesamtüberleben als unter Placebo.
Metastasiertes Mammakarzinom: CDK4-/6-Inhibitoren halten Einzug in die deutsche Versorgungsroutine
Authors: Wöckel Achim
Published: November 2021

Purpose: Treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy (CDK4/6i + ET) is a standard for patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR + HER2-) breast cancer (BC). However, real-world data on the implementation of therapy usage, efficacy, and toxicity have not yet been reported. Methods: The PRAEGNANT registry was used to identify advanced HR + HER2- BC patients (n = 1136). The use of chemotherapy, ET, everolimus + ET, and CDK4/6i + ET was analyzed for first-line, second-line, and third-line therapy. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were also compared between patients treated with CDK4/6i + ET and ET monotherapy. Also toxicity was assessed. Results: CDK4/6i + ET use increased from 38.5% to 62.7% in the first 2 years after CDK4/6i treatment became available (November 2016). Chemotherapy and ET monotherapy use decreased from 2015 to 2018 from 42.2% to 27.2% and from 53% to 9.5%, respectively. In this early analysis no statistically significant differences were found comparing CDK4/6i + ET and ET monotherapy patients with regard to PFS and OS. Leukopenia was seen in 11.3% of patients under CDK4/6i + ET and 0.5% under ET monotherapy. Conclusions: In clinical practice, CDK4/6i + ET has been rapidly implemented. A group of patients with a more unfavorable prognosis was possibly treated in the real-world setting than in the reported randomized clinical trials. The available data suggest that longer follow-up times and a larger sample size are required in order to identify differences in survival outcomes. Studies should be supported that investigate whether chemotherapy can be avoided or delayed in this patient population by using CDK4/6i + ET.
On the Difficulty of Translating Free-Order Case-Marking Languages
Authors: Bisazza Arianna , Üstün Ahmet , Sportel Stephan
Published: November 2021

Identifying factors that make certain languages harder to model than others is essential to reach language equality in future Natural Language Processing technologies. Free-order case-marking languages, such as Russian, Latin, or Tamil, have proved more challenging than fixed-order languages for the tasks of syntactic parsing and subject-verb agreement prediction. In this work, we investigate whether this class of languages is also more difficult to translate by state-of-the-art Neural Machine Translation (NMT) models. Using a variety of synthetic languages and a newly introduced translation challenge set, we find that word order flexibility in the source language only leads to a very small loss of NMT quality, even though the core verb arguments become impossible to disambiguate in sentences without semantic cues. The latter issue is indeed solved by the addition of case marking. However, in medium- and low-resource settings, the overall NMT quality of fixed-order languages remains unmatched.
Molecular phylogeny of Aplosporella abexaminans: a novel species revealing the second report of sexual-asexual connection in Aplosporellaceae (Botryosphaeriales) from India
Authors: VERMA SANJEET KUMAR , YADAV SANJAY , SINGH RAGHVENDRA
Published: November 2021

Aplosporella abexaminans, a new sexual morph fungus belongs to family Aplosporellaceae, was discovered on the bark of stem of Murraya koenigii (Rutaceae) and identified by morphological characteristics and analysis of combined ITS and LSU sequence data. This is the second report of a sexual morph with molecular evidence for this genus and the second record of conidiogenesis and chlamydospores associated with the asexual state of this family. It is characterized by its larger ascostromata, locules without ostioles, thinner locule peridium, two to multi-layered, larger asci, surrounded by an additional hyaline sac like structure, larger and hyaline to light olivaceous ascospores, asexual state without conidiomata formation, conidiogenous cells light brown to brown, conidia brown without granular content, smooth and presence of chlamydospores. The sexual morph of Aplosporella abexaminans resembles Bagnisiella and the asexual morph resembles Aplosporella, thus proving the sexual-asexual connection for the second time for this family.
The entity of the enigmatic Hoehne’s Sobralia cataractarum (Orchidaceae) clarified
Authors: ENGELS MATHIAS ERICH , SILVA CELICE ALEXANDRE , KOCH ANA KELLY
Published: November 2021

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