bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase II study of an oxaliplatin-based regimen for relapsed colon cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy (INSPIRE study)
Authors: Ishibashi Keiichiro , Aoyama Toru , Kotaka Masahito , Satake Hironaga , Tsuji Yasushi , Kataoka Masato , Nakamura Masato , Nagata Naoki , Sakamoto Junichi , Oba Koji , Mishima Hideyuki
Published: February 2021

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line chemotherapy with re-introduction of oxaliplatin (OX) more than 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy including OX.

Methods

Stage II/III colon cancer patients with neuropathies of grade ≤ 1 who relapsed more than 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy including OX were considered eligible. Eligible patients were treated with 5-fluorouracil, l-leucovorin and OX plus molecularly targeted agents or capecitabine and OX plus bevacizumab (BV) or S-1 and OX plus BV. The primary endpoint was the progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were the overall survival (OS), response rate (RR) and toxicity.

Results

A total of 50 patients were enrolled between September 2013 and May 2019. Twelve patients received 5-fluorouracil, l-leucovorin and OX (FOLFOX) plus BV, 21 patients received capecitabine and OX plus BV, 10 patients received S-1 and OX plus BV and 7 patients received FOLFOX plus cetuximab or panitumumab. The median PFS was 11.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.3–16.0), the median OS was 45.4 months (95% CI 37.4–NA), and the RR was 56.0% (95% CI 42.3–68.8). Adverse events of grade ≥ 3 that occurred in ≥ 5% of cases were neutropenia in 6 patients (12%), peripheral sensory neuropathy in 5 patients (10%), diarrhea in 4 patients (8%), hypertension in 4 patients (8%), anorexia in 3 patients (6%) and allergic reactions in 3 patients (6%).

Conclusions

First-line chemotherapy with re-introduction of OX more than 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy including OX can be used safely with expected efficacy for relapsed colon cancer patients.
The consequences of switching strategies in a two-player iterated survival game
Authors: Salagnac Olivier , Wakeley John
Published: February 2021

We consider two-player iterated survival games in which players are able to switch from a more cooperative behavior to a less cooperative one at some step of an n-step game. Payoffs are survival probabilities and lone individuals have to finish the game on their own. We explore the potential of these games to support cooperation, focusing on the case in which each single step is a Prisoner’s Dilemma. We find that incentives for or against cooperation depend on the number of defections at the end of the game, as opposed to the number of steps in the game. Broadly, cooperation is supported when the survival prospects of lone individuals are relatively bleak. Specifically, we find three critical values or cutoffs for the loner survival probability which, in concert with other survival parameters, determine the incentives for or against cooperation. One cutoff determines the existence of an optimal number of defections against a fully cooperative partner, one determines whether additional defections eventually become disfavored as the number of defections by the partner increases, and one determines whether additional cooperations eventually become favored as the number of defections by the partner increases. We obtain expressions for these switch-points and for optimal numbers of defections against partners with various strategies. These typically involve small numbers of defections even in very long games. We show that potentially long stretches of equilibria may exist, in which there is no incentive to defect more or cooperate more. We describe how individuals find equilibria in best-response walks among n-step strategies.
Robust compartmental model fitting in direct emission tomography reconstruction
Authors: Szirmay-Kalos László , Kacsó Ágota , Magdics Milán , Tóth Balázs
Published: February 2021

Dynamic tomography reconstructs a time activity curve (TAC) for every voxel assuming that the algebraic form of the function is known a priori. The algebraic form derived from the analysis of compartmental models depends nonlinearly on the nonnegative parameters to be determined. Direct methods apply fitting in every iteration step. Because of the iterative nature of the maximum likelihood–expectation maximization (ML–EM) reconstruction, the fitting result of the previous step can serve as a good starting point in the current step; thus, after the first iteration we have a guess that is not far from the solution, which allows the use of gradient-based local optimization methods. However, finding good initial guesses for the first ML–EM iteration is a critical problem since gradient-based local optimization algorithms do not guarantee convergence to the global optimum if they are started at an inappropriate location. This paper examines the robust solution of the fitting problem both in the initial phase and during the ML–EM iteration. This solution is implemented on GPUs and is built into the 4D reconstruction module of the TeraTomo software.
Dynamic and thermodynamic impacts of climate change on organized convection in Alaska
Authors: Poujol Basile , Prien Andreas F. , Molina Maria J. , Muller Caroline
Published: February 2021

Convective storms can cause economic damage and harm to humans by producing flash floods, lightning and severe weather. While organized convection is well studied in the tropics and mid-latitudes, few studies have focused on the physics and climate change impacts of pan-Arctic convective systems. Using a convection-permitting model we showed in a predecessor study that organized convective storm frequency might triple by the end of the century in Alaska assuming a high emission scenario. The present study assesses the reasons for this rapid increase in organized convection by investigating dynamic and thermodynamic changes within future storms and their environments, in light of canonical existing theories for mid-latitude and tropical deep convection. In a future climate, more moisture originates from Arctic marine basins increasing relative humidity over Alaska due to the loss of sea ice, which is in sharp contrast to lower-latitude land regions that are expected to become drier. This increase in relative humidity favors the onset of organized convection through more unstable thermodynamic environments, increased low-level buoyancy, and weaker downdrafts. Our confidence in these results is increased by showing that these changes can be analytically derived from basic physical laws. This suggests that organized thunderstorms might become more frequent in other pan-Arctic continental regions highlighting the uniqueness and vulnerability of these regions to climate change.
Detection of circulating genetically abnormal cells using 4-color fluorescence in situ hybridization for the early detection of lung cancer
Authors: Feng Mingxiang , Ye Xin , Chen Baishen , Zhang Juncheng , Lin Miao , Zhou Haining , Huang Meng , Chen Yanci , Zhu Yunhe , Xiao Botao , Huang Chuoji , Katz Ruth L. , Bai Chunxue
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Available biomarkers lack sensitivity for an early lung cancer. Circulating genetically abnormal cells (CACs) occur early in tumorigenesis. To determine the diagnostic value of CACs in blood detected by 4-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for lung cancer.

Methods

This was a prospective study of patients with pulmonary nodules ≤ 30 mm detected between 10/2019 and 01/2020 at four tertiary hospitals in China. All patients underwent a pathological examination of lung nodules found by imaging and were grouped as malignant and benign. CACs were detected by 4-color FISH. Patients were divided into the training and validation cohorts. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to analyze the diagnosis value of CACs.

Results

A total of 205 participants were enrolled. Using a cut-off value of ≥ 3, blood CACs achieved areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.887, 0.823, and 0.823 for lung cancer in the training and validation cohorts, and all patients, respectively. CACs had high diagnostic values across all tumor sizes and imaging lesion types. CACs were decreased after surgery (median, 4 vs. 1, P < 0.001) in the validation set. The CAC status between blood and tissues was highly consistent (kappa = 0.909, P < 0.001). The AUC of CAC (0.823) was higher than that of CEA (0.478), SCC (0.516), NSE (0.506), ProGRP (0.519), and CYFRA21-1 (0.535) (all P < 0.001).

Conclusion

CACs might have a high value for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. These findings might need to be validated in future studies. Evidence suggested homology in genetic aberrations between the CACs and the tumor cells.
Human TERT promoter mutations as a prognostic biomarker in glioma
Authors: Powter Branka , Jeffreys Sarah A. , Sareen Heena , Cooper Adam , Brungs Daniel , Po Joseph , Roberts Tara , Koh Eng-Siew , Scott Kieran F. , Sajinovic Mila , Vessey Joey Y. , de Souza Paul , Becker Therese M.
Published: February 2021

The TERT promoter (pTERT) mutations, C228T and C250T, play a significant role in malignant transformation by telomerase activation, oncogenesis and immortalisation of cells. C228T and C250T are emerging as important biomarkers in many cancers including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), where the prevalence of these mutations is as high as 80%. Additionally, the rs2853669 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) may cooperate with these pTERT mutations in modulating progression and overall survival in GBM. Using liquid biopsies, pTERT mutations, C228T and C250T, and other clinically relevant biomarkers can be easily detected with high precision and sensitivity, facilitating longitudinal analysis throughout therapy and aid in cancer patient management.

In this review, we explore the potential for pTERT mutation analysis, via liquid biopsy, for its potential use in personalised cancer therapy. We evaluate the relationship between pTERT mutations and other biomarkers as well as their potential clinical utility in early detection, prognostication, monitoring of cancer progress, with the main focus being on brain cancer.
Using ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction to enhance radiotherapy of glioblastoma
Authors: Peng Chanjuan , Wu Yong , Yang Yang , Li Ningning , Chen Xi , Gu Linhui , Xu Dong , Yang Chen
Published: February 2021

Objective

To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) combined with radiotherapy (XRT) on glioblastoma.

Methods

The enhanced radiosensitization by UTMD was assessed through colony formation and cell apoptosis in Human glioblastoma cells (U87MG). Subcutaneous transplantation tumors in 24 nude mice implanted with U87MG cells were randomly assigned to 4 different treatment groups (Control, UTMD, XRT, and UTMD + XRT) based on tumor sizes (100–300 mm3). Tumor growth was observed for 10 days after treatment, and then histopathology stains (HE, CD34, and γH2AX) were applied to the tumor samples. A TUNEL staining experiment was applied to detect the apoptosis rate of mice tumor samples. Meanwhile, tissue proteins were extracted from animal specimens, and the expressions of dsDNA break repair-related proteins from animal specimens were examined by the western blot.

Results

When the radiotherapy dose was 4 Gy, the colony formation rate of U87MG cells in the UTMD + XRT group was 32 ± 8%, lower than the XRT group (54 ± 14%, p < 0.01). The early apoptotic rate of the UTMD + XRT group was 21.1 ± 3% at 48 h, higher than that of the XRT group (15.2 ± 4%). The tumor growth curve indicated that the tumor growth was inhibited in the UTMD + XRT group compared with other groups during 10 days of observation. In TUNEL experiment, the apoptotic cells of the UTMD + XRT group were higher than that of the XRT group (p < 0.05). The UTMD + XRT group had the lowest MVD value, but was not significantly different from other groups (p > 0.05). In addition, γH2AX increased due to the addition of UTMD to radiotherapy compared to XRT in immunohistochemistry (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study clearly demonstrated the enhanced destructive effect of UTMD combined with 4 Gy radiotherapy on glioblastoma. This could be partly achieved by the increased ability of DNA damage of tumor cells.
High honeybee abundances reduce wild bee abundances on flowers in the city of Munich
Authors: Renner Susanne S. , Graf Marie Sophie , Hentschel Zoe , Krause Helen , Fleischmann Andreas
Published: February 2021

The increase in managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) in many European cities has unknown effects on the densities of wild bees through competition. To investigate this, we monitored honeybees and non-honeybees from 01 April to 31 July 2019 and 2020 at 29 species of plants representing diverse taxonomic and floral-functional types in a large urban garden in the city of Munich in which the same plant species were cultivated in both years. No bee hives were present in the focal garden, and all bee hives in the adjacent area were closely monitored by interviewing the relevant bee keepers in both 2019 and 2020. Honeybee numbers were similar in April of both years, but increased from May to July 2020 compared to 2019. The higher densities correlated with a significant increase in shifts from wild bee to honeybee visits in May/June/July, while visitor spectra in April 2019 and 2020 remained the same. Most of the species that experienced a shift to honeybee visits in 2020 were visited mostly or exclusively for their nectar. There were no shifts towards increased wild bee visits in any species. These results from a flower-rich garden have implications for the discussion of whether urban bee keeping might negatively impact wild bees. We found clear support that high honeybee densities result in exploitative competition at numerous types of flowers.
An online review of informational sources for advanced or high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Starkings Rachel , Shilling Valerie , Fallowfield Lesley
Published: February 2021

Objective

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most prevalent non-melanoma skin cancers worldwide. While usually treatable, patients with high-risk or advanced disease have few treatment options and limited resources available. This review assesses what online information resources are available to patients and their families about either high-risk or advanced cSCC.

Methods

Searches were run, via Google, using 8 terms such as ‘advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma patient information’. Advertisements were removed and the first 3 pages/30 results from each search were screened for duplicates and then against eligibility criteria. Websites needed to have been updated within the past 5 years, be freely accessible, designed specifically for patients and refer to the advanced disease or high-risk setting. Remaining results were assessed using the DISCERN tool.

Results

Of the final 240 results, 121 were duplicates and 104 were ineligible. The remaining 15 sources were predominantly aimed at American audiences, used variable terminology and revealed differing treatment pathways. Only 3 sites were deemed as ‘high’-quality information sources.

Conclusion

There is a lack of accessible online information on high-risk or advanced cSCC for patients. What is available is often too scientific or clinical and lacks clarity about the disease and treatment options.

Practice Implications

Further work is needed to improve the integrity and accessibility of online sources and to signpost patients to the most reliable information. This should include elements of patient led research, clinical education and information development.
Mechanisms and applications of vibration energy harvesting in solid rocket motors
Authors: Goel Chirag , Srinivas G.
Published: February 2021

Energy harvesting has become a fascinating topic of research. As the world moves towards reducing its dependency on fossil fuels, new and innovative techniques of energy harvesting have been tested and developed. The use of piezoelectric materials to harvest the ambient vibrations from the surroundings is one method that has seen a dramatic rise in use for power harvesting. Remote sensors can be powered by these piezoelectric materials and could potentially act as a continuous source of energy. In space vehicles, energy is generated using solar panels which are bulky, heavy and expensive. Instead piezoelectric harvesters can be used to generate power and are much lighter, compact and relatively cheap when produced in bulk. This paper presents a theoretical study on energy harvesting from structural vibration caused by combustion instability of a solid rocket motor through the motor burnout. Vibration data of tested solid rocket motor was taken as a reference and was inputted as the boundary condition. The 3-D model of the harvester system was designed on Fusion360 and the simulation was performed on COMSOL. Finally, improvements needed in the system to enhance practicality were discussed.
Permeability Evolution During Shear Zone Initiation in Low-Porosity Rocks
Authors: Kluge Christian , Blöcher Guido , Barnhoorn Auke , Schmittbuhl Jean , Bruhn David
Published: February 2021

Using an innovative experimental set-up (Punch-Through Shear test), we initiated a shear zone (microfault) in Flechtingen sandstone and Odenwald granite under in situ reservoir conditions while monitoring permeability and fracture dilation evolution. The shear zone, which has a cylindrical geometry, is produced by a self-designed piston assembly that punches down the inner part of the sample. Permeability and fracture dilation were measured for the entire duration of the experiment. After the shear zone generation, the imposed shear displacement was increased to 1.2 mm and pore pressure changes of $$\pm 5$$

±
5

or $$\pm 10$$

±
10

 MPa were applied cyclically to simulate injection and production scenarios. Thin sections and image analysis tools were used to identify microstructural features of the shear zone. The geometry of the shear zone is shown to follow a self-affine scaling invariance, similar to the fracture surface roughness. The permeability evolution related to the onset of the fracture zone is different for both rocks: almost no enhancement for the Flechtingen sandstone and an increase of more than 2 orders of magnitude for the Odenwald granite. Further shear displacement resulted in a slight increase in permeability. A fault compaction is observed after shear relaxation which is associated to a permeability decrease by a factor more than 3. Permeability changes during pressure cycling are reversible when varying the effective pressure. The difference in permeability enhancement between the sandstone and the granite is related to the larger width of the shear zones.
Path planning and collision avoidance for autonomous surface vehicles II: a comparative study of algorithms
Authors: Vagale Anete , Bye Robin T. , Oucheikh Rachid , Osen Ottar L. , Fossen Thor I.
Published: February 2021

Artificial intelligence is an enabling technology for autonomous surface vehicles, with methods such as evolutionary algorithms, artificial potential fields, fast marching methods, and many others becoming increasingly popular for solving problems such as path planning and collision avoidance. However, there currently is no unified way to evaluate the performance of different algorithms, for example with regard to safety or risk. This paper is a step in that direction and offers a comparative study of current state-of-the art path planning and collision avoidance algorithms for autonomous surface vehicles. Across 45 selected papers, we compare important performance properties of the proposed algorithms related to the vessel and the environment it is operating in. We also analyse how safety is incorporated, and what components constitute the objective function in these algorithms. Finally, we focus on comparing advantages and limitations of the 45 analysed papers. A key finding is the need for a unified platform for evaluating and comparing the performance of algorithms under a large set of possible real-world scenarios.
Outer approximation for global optimization of mixed-integer quadratic bilevel problems
Authors: Kleinert Thomas , Grimm Veronika , Schmidt Martin
Published: February 2021

Bilevel optimization problems have received a lot of attention in the last years and decades. Besides numerous theoretical developments there also evolved novel solution algorithms for mixed-integer linear bilevel problems and the most recent algorithms use branch-and-cut techniques from mixed-integer programming that are especially tailored for the bilevel context. In this paper, we consider MIQP-QP bilevel problems, i.e., models with a mixed-integer convex-quadratic upper level and a continuous convex-quadratic lower level. This setting allows for a strong-duality-based transformation of the lower level which yields, in general, an equivalent nonconvex single-level reformulation of the original bilevel problem. Under reasonable assumptions, we can derive both a multi- and a single-tree outer-approximation-based cutting-plane algorithm. We show finite termination and correctness of both methods and present extensive numerical results that illustrate the applicability of the approaches. It turns out that the proposed methods are capable of solving bilevel instances with several thousand variables and constraints and significantly outperform classical solution approaches.
Rates of superlinear convergence for classical quasi-Newton methods
Authors: Rodomanov Anton , Nesterov Yurii
Published: February 2021

We study the local convergence of classical quasi-Newton methods for nonlinear optimization. Although it was well established a long time ago that asymptotically these methods converge superlinearly, the corresponding rates of convergence still remain unknown. In this paper, we address this problem. We obtain first explicit non-asymptotic rates of superlinear convergence for the standard quasi-Newton methods, which are based on the updating formulas from the convex Broyden class. In particular, for the well-known DFP and BFGS methods, we obtain the rates of the form $$(\frac{n L^2}{\mu ^2 k})^{k/2}$$

(

n

L
2

μ
2

k

)

k
/
2

and $$(\frac{n L}{\mu k})^{k/2}$$

(

nL

μ
k

)

k
/
2

respectively, where k is the iteration counter, n is the dimension of the problem, $$\mu $$
μ
is the strong convexity parameter, and L is the Lipschitz constant of the gradient.
The sub-fossil red coral of Sciacca (Sicily Channel, Mediterranean Sea): colony size and age estimates
Authors: Bavestrello Giorgio , Bo Marzia , Calcagnile Lucio , Canessa Martina , D’Elia Marisa , Quarta Gianluca , Spagnoli Federico , Cattaneo-Vietti Riccardo
Published: February 2021

The Mediterranean red coral, Corallium rubrum (L.), has been a valuable economic resource for more than 2000 years. The Sicily Channel and surrounding areas are one of the most famous red coral fishing grounds of the whole region, hosting the deepest ever found living colonies and large sub-fossil red coral deposits; the so-called Sciacca banks are a unique location in the whole Mediterranean Sea. In this paper, a morphometric description of this sub-fossil population is presented for the first time from studies of colonies in the collection of several coral factories from Torre del Greco (Naples), with radiocarbon age estimations and growth rate evaluations. From the results of this study, after several thousand years Sciacca red coral colonies maintained the organic matrix structure with evident annual discontinuities, allowing estimations of the annual growth rate (about 0.3 mm/year) and the average population age (about 33.5 years). These resulting data are similar to the values determined for deep-dwelling living red coral populations. The radiocarbon dating evidenced a range of ages, from 8300 to 40 years before 1950 CE, mostly falling between 2700 and 3900 YBP, suggesting that colonies accumulated over a wide span of time. In view of the tectonically active nature of the area, several catastrophic events affected these ancient populations, maintaining them in a persistent state of early-stage, structurally similar to the those in current over-exploited areas.
Edge detection with trigonometric polynomial shearlets
Authors: Schober Kevin , Prestin Jürgen , Stasyuk Serhii A.
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we show that certain trigonometric polynomial shearlets which are special cases of directional de la Vallée Poussin-type wavelets are able to detect step discontinuities along boundary curves of periodic characteristic functions. Motivated by recent results for discrete shearlets in two dimensions, we provide lower and upper estimates for the magnitude of the corresponding inner products. In the proof, we use localization properties of trigonometric polynomial shearlets in the time and frequency domain and, among other things, bounds for certain Fresnel integrals. Moreover, we give numerical examples which underline the theoretical results.
A three-term recurrence relation for accurate evaluation of transition probabilities of the simple birth-and-death process
Authors: Pessia Alberto , Tang Jing
Published: February 2021

The simple (linear) birth-and-death process is a widely used stochastic model for describing the dynamics of a population. When the process is observed discretely over time, despite the large amount of literature on the subject, little is known about formal estimator properties. Here we will show that its application to observed data is further complicated by the fact that numerical evaluation of the well-known transition probability is an ill-conditioned problem. To overcome this difficulty we will rewrite the transition probability in terms of a Gaussian hypergeometric function and subsequently obtain a three-term recurrence relation for its accurate evaluation. We will also study the properties of the hypergeometric function as a solution to the three-term recurrence relation. We will then provide formulas for the gradient and Hessian of the log-likelihood function and conclude the article by applying our methods for numerically computing maximum likelihood estimates in both simulated and real dataset.
Pathways to Lasting Cross-Sector Social Collaboration: A Configurational Study
Authors: Weber Christiana , Haugh Helen , Göbel Markus , Leonardy Hannes
Published: February 2021

Cross-sector social collaborations are increasingly recognised as valuable inter-organizational arrangements that seek to combine the commercial capabilities of private sector companies with the deep knowledge of social and environmental issues enrooted in social sector organizations. In this paper we empirically examine the configurations of conditions that lead to lasting cross-sector social collaboration. Situating our enquiry in Schütz’s theory of life-worlds and the reciprocity literature, we employ fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyse data gathered from 60 partners in 30 cross-sector social collaborations. We find two distinct types of configurational pathways leading to lasting cross-sector social collaboration which we labelreciprocal economic exchangebased on direct reciprocity, andreciprocal social exchangebased on generalised reciprocity. The pathways vary in terms of the delivery of expected and unexpected resources and benefits. We introduce the concept ofdouble relationalityto explain the interdependence of structure and action in lasting cross sector social collaboration.
Law Lost, Compliance Found: A Frontline Understanding of the Non-linear Nature of Business and Employee Responses to Law
Authors: Li Na , van Rooij Benjamin
Published: February 2021

This paper seeks to understand the transmission and reception of legal rules as a component of the regulatory compliance process. It adopts a frontline approach (Almond and Gray 2017) to regulatory compliance that traces the grassroot functioning of compliance processes from regulator, to compliance managers to individual employees. Through a multilevel and multi-sited ethnography of worker safety protection in Chinese construction industry, this paper shows that in the cases studied there is a fundamental disconnect in the transmission and reception of law from regulator to organization and within the regulated organization. Yet at the same time, the paper finds that employees did comply with the law, and that thus compliance can exist without a full transmission and reception of legal rules into and within the regulated organization. By expanding the frontline approach to study regulation and compliance to look at the grassroots operation across three different frontlines, this study has been able to assess the legal assumptions inherent in existing regulatory compliance research. Not only does it find that compliance in these cases was not a top-down process and that we need to look at the grassroots operation inside organizations, it also shows that law does not always play a central role in regulatory compliance and that we need to reassess the implicit focus on law in regulatory compliance scholarship.
Pancreatic cancer pathology viewed in the light of evolution
Authors: Noë Michaël , Hong Seung-Mo , Wood Laura D. , Thompson Elizabeth D. , Roberts Nicholas J. , Goggins Michael G. , Klein Alison P. , Eshleman James R. , Kern Scott E. , Hruban Ralph H.
Published: February 2021

One way to understand ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (pancreatic cancer) is to view it as unimaginably large numbers of evolving living organisms interacting with their environment. This “evolutionary view” creates both expected and surprising perspectives in all stages of neoplastic progression. Advances in the field will require greater attention to this critical evolutionary prospective.
DLBench: a comprehensive experimental evaluation of deep learning frameworks
Authors: Elshawi Radwa , Wahab Abdul , Barnawi Ahmed , Sakr Sherif
Published: February 2021

Deep Learning (DL) has achieved remarkable progress over the last decade on various tasks such as image recognition, speech recognition, and natural language processing. In general, three main crucial aspects fueled this progress: the increasing availability of large amount of digitized data, the increasing availability of affordable parallel and powerful computing resources (e.g., GPU) and the growing number of open source deep learning frameworks that facilitate and ease the development process of deep learning architectures. In practice, the increasing popularity of deep learning frameworks calls for benchmarking studies that can effectively evaluate and understand the performance characteristics of these systems. In this paper, we conduct an extensive experimental evaluation and analysis of six popular deep learning frameworks, namely,TensorFlow,MXNet,PyTorch,Theano,Chainer, andKeras, using three types of DL architectures Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (Faster R-CNN), and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM). Our experimental evaluation considers different aspects for its comparison including accuracy, training time, convergence and resource consumption patterns. Our experiments have been conducted on both CPU and GPU environments using different datasets. We report and analyze the performance characteristics of the studied frameworks. In addition, we report a set of insights and important lessons that we have learned from conducting our experiments.
A Segregated Approach for Modeling the Electrochemistry in the 3-D Microstructure of Li-Ion Batteries and Its Acceleration Using Block Preconditioners
Authors: Allen Jeffery M. , Chang Justin , Usseglio-Viretta Francois L. E. , Graf Peter , Smith Kandler
Published: February 2021

Battery performance is strongly correlated with electrode microstructure. Electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries have complex microstructure geometries that require millions of degrees of freedom to solve the electrochemical system at the microstructure scale. A fast-iterative solver with an appropriate preconditioner is then required to simulate large representative volume in a reasonable time. In this work, a finite element electrochemical model is developed to resolve the concentration and potential within the electrode active materials and the electrolyte domains at the microstructure scale, with an emphasis on numerical stability and scaling performances. The block Gauss-Seidel (BGS) numerical method is implemented because the system of equations within the electrodes is coupled only through the nonlinear Butler–Volmer equation, which governs the electrochemical reaction at the interface between the domains. The best solution strategy found in this work consists of splitting the system into two blocks—one for the concentration and one for the potential field—and then performing block generalized minimal residual preconditioned with algebraic multigrid, using the FEniCS and the Portable, Extensible Toolkit for Scientific Computation libraries. Significant improvements in terms of time to solution (six times faster) and memory usage (halving) are achieved compared with the MUltifrontal Massively Parallel sparse direct Solver. Additionally, BGS experiences decent strong parallel scaling within the electrode domains. Last, the system of equations is modified to specifically address numerical instability induced by electrolyte depletion, which is particularly valuable for simulating fast-charge scenarios relevant for automotive application.
Geophysics-Based Fluid-Facies Predictions Using Ensemble Updating of Binary State Vectors
Authors: Loe Margrethe Kvale , Grana Dario , Tjelmeland Håkon
Published: February 2021

Fluid flow simulations are commonly used to predict the fluid displacement in subsurface reservoirs; however, model validation is challenging due to the lack of direct measurements. Geophysical data can be used to monitor the displacement of the fluid front. The updating of the fluid front location in two-phase flow problems based on time-lapse geophysical data can be formulated as an inverse problem, specifically a data assimilation problem, where the state is a vector of binary variables representing the fluid-facies and the observations are measurements of continuous geophysical properties, such as electrical or elastic properties. In geosciences, many data assimilation problems are solved using ensemble-based methods relying on the Kalman filter approach. However, for discrete variables, such approaches cannot be applied due to the Gaussian-linear assumption. An innovative approach for mixed discrete-continuous problems based on ensemble updating of binary state vectors is presented for fluid-facies prediction problems with time-lapse geophysical properties. The proposed inversion method is demonstrated in a synthetic two-dimensional simulation example where water is injected into a reservoir and hydrocarbon is produced. Resistivity values obtained from controlled-source electromagnetic data are assumed to be available at different times. According to the results, the proposed inversion method is to a large extent able to reproduce the true underlying binary field of fluid-facies.
A tsunamigenic delta collapse and its associated tsunami deposits in and around Lake Sils, Switzerland
Authors: Nigg Valentin , Wohlwend Stephan , Hilbe Michael , Bellwald Benjamin , Fabbri Stefano C. , de Souza Gregory F. , Donau Florian , Grischott Reto , Strasser Michael , Anselmetti Flavio S.
Published: February 2021

Large lacustrine mass movements and delta collapses are increasingly being considered as potential tsunamigenic sources and therefore hazardous for the population and infrastructure along lakeshores. Although historical reports document tsunami events in several lakes in Switzerland, and although the propagation of lake tsunamis has been studied by numerical wave modeling, only little is known about on- and offshore lacustrine tsunami deposits. In Lake Sils, Switzerland, a large prehistoric mass-movement deposit originating from the Isola Delta with a minimum estimated volume of 6.5 × 106 m3 and a basinal thickness of > 6 m in the seismic record has been identified by previous studies and radiocarbon dated to around 700 Common Era. Here, we combine (i) comprehensive sedimentological investigation of sediment cores recovered from the on- and offshore settings, (ii) mineralogical fingerprinting of the inflows from key catchments to characterize sediment provenance, and (iii) numerical tsunami modeling, to test the hypothesis of a tsunamigenic delta collapse in Lake Sils. We observe a clastic event deposit consisting of coarse-grained, fining-upward sand overlying an organic-rich peat deposit in the shallow water. This layer thins and fines landward on the coastal plain. Toward the deeper water (20–40 m), the deposit transforms into a thicker and more heterogeneous sediment package with multiple sequences of fining-upward sand and a well-pronounced clay cap at the top. Radiocarbon dating of the peat underlying the event deposit yields a maximum age of 225–419 calibrated  Common Era. The tsunami models, which indicate wave heights reaching up to 5 m, simulate areas of inundation that coincide with the location of event deposits. Based on our results, we propose that the historically undocumented Isola Delta collapse generated a basin-wide tsunami that inundated the lakeshore, transporting large amounts of unconsolidated sediment along the lakeshore toward the coastal plain and into the deeper lake basin.
Temporal patterns of carbon flow from grassland vegetation to soil microorganisms measured using 13C-labelling and signature fatty acids
Authors: Birgander Johanna , Olsson Pål Axel
Published: February 2021

Purpose

We investigated how the C flow from plants to microorganisms varies throughout the year in a temperate grassland. Additionally, we investigated how the C flow relates to saprotrophic activity and vegetation changes.

Methods

In situ stable isotope pulse labelling (13CO2) was employed to estimate the flow of recently plant-derived C to soil microorganisms by using signature fatty acids. Bacterial and fungal growth was estimated using radio-labelling in laboratory incubations.

Results

The C flow from plants to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi peaked during the warmer parts of the year, but saprotrophic microorganisms showed little temporal variation in C flow. Also saprotrophic fungi received considerable amounts of C from plants throughout the year. Bacterial and fungal growth showed temporal variation with a growth peak in August for both. This suggests a shift in the C source from mainly rhizosphere C in colder parts of the year, to older C-sources in warmer parts of the year (August).

Conclusion

We conclude that AM fungi, saprotrophic fungi and bacteria differ in the amount of recently-fixed C they receive from plants throughout the year. Hence, temporal patterns need to be considered to understand ecosystem functioning. The studied plant community included winter annuals, which potentially maintain a high C flow to saprotrophic fungi during the cold season.
Quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes after switching to insulin degludec: results from a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Uzoigwe Chioma , Radin Michael , Hamersky Carol M. , DeKoven Mitch , Holt Cassie , Karkare Swapna , Polonsky William H.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Five quality of life (QoL) domains are particularly important to patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using basal insulin—sense of physical well-being, sense of safety regarding hypoglycemia, sense of diabetes as burdensome, feelings of freedom and flexibility, and sleep quality.

Methods

An online survey assessed these QoL domains in adult patients with T2D in the USA who had switched from a previous basal insulin to insulin degludec (IDeg): modified versions of the World Health Organization (Five) Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Hypoglycemia Attitudes and Behavior Scale (HABS; confidence and anxiety subscales only), and Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS; emotional burden and regimen-related distress subscales only); three items assessing feelings of freedom and flexibility; and one item assessing sleep quality (hours of restful sleep). Patients rated each item for their previous basal insulin and currently while using IDeg. Correlations between sleep quality and the other QoL scales were also assessed.

Results

In total, 152 patients completed the survey and were included in the study sample. Patients reported significantly improved scores while using IDeg on all WHO-5, DDS, HABS, feelings of freedom and flexibility item scores, and total raw/mean subscale scores (P < 0.0001). Patients also reported a significantly greater number of hours of restful sleep [mean (SD) 6.6 (2.0) vs. 5.5 (1.8); P < 0.0001]. Better sleep quality statistically significantly correlated with improved QoL in all other domains assessed.

Conclusions

Treatment with IDeg after switching from a previous basal insulin was associated with statistically significant improvements in all QoL domains assessed.
Study of Rh/TiO2–SiO2 system in photolytic water splitting
Authors: Wasilewska Jolanta , Chmielarek Michał , Skupiński Wincenty
Published: February 2021

Titania silicates (TiO2–SiO2) of various compositions were prepared by a sol–gel method. RhCl3was used in 0.2 wt% of Rh quantity on the gel surfaces, which were subsequently exposed to UV irradiation in water under a 355-W UV lamp. λ > 370 nm. Both Rh [I] and Rh [III] surface complexes were formed, depending on the gels composition. They also exhibited various efficiency in photo water splitting reaction, the photocatalysts possessing as supports titania-silica gels containing 40 and 50 mol % of TiO2, were the most effective. According to our proposal, the rhodium complexes took part in the oxidative addition and reductive elimination cycle, where two water molecules in photo water splitting reaction, yielding hydrogen – H2and two hydroxyl radicals. The two hydroxyls radicals, catalytically converted to oxygen atom and water, in the second cycle of the investigated water splitting reaction. Titanium octahedra and silicon tetrahedra linked by Ti–O–Si bridges were thought to be the grouping responsible for activity of the investigated catalysts. Their largest amounts are on the gels containing 40–58 mol % TiO2.
Techno-sovereignism: the political rationality of contemporary Italian populism
Authors: Maglione Giuseppe
Published: February 2021

This article provides an original exploration of the self-identified populist coalition leading the Italian government between 2018 and 2019. The analysis, informed by a governmentality approach, starts by scrutinising the economic, social, and cultural issues framed as political “problems” by the coalition, also highlighting the tensions underlying such constructions. The second step charts how this political subject sought to address those problems by deploying an array of political technologies. From examining these two dimensions, the article then can discern the composite rationality—techno-sovereignism—that drove precariously the coalition’s art of government. Finally, the article sketches out some forms of contestation against the techno-sovereignist operations, whose significance may stretch beyond the Italian borders. Overall, although the Italian populist coalition turned out to be ephemeral, the dynamics that characterized its emergence and functioning could still be used heuristically to understand the interactions and reciprocal adjustments possibly used by right-wing and technocratic populist groups to exert political power conjointly.
Two-Way, One-Way or Dead-End Streets? Financial and Social Causes and Consequences of Generalized Trust
Authors: Leenheer Stefan , Gesthuizen Maurice , Savelkoul Michael
Published: February 2021

Scholars disagree on whether and to what extent adult life experiences can influence generalized trust and vice versa. Going beyond the methodological limitations of former studies, we aimed to answer the question as to what extent reciprocal causal relationships exist between generalized trust and the adult life experiences of financial success and (in)formal social contacts. We used two-wave cross-lagged panel models to identify those reciprocal causal relationships, and fixed-effects models to assess if they might be biased due to unaccounted time-invariant influences. Data from the Dutch NELLS panel study (age range 17–49) show that compelling empirical evidence is found for a reciprocal causal relationship between generalized trust and household income that does not suffer from bias due to unobserved heterogeneity. Furthermore, more trusting individuals experience a stronger decrease in material deprivation, but not vice versa. Trust and (in)formal social contacts are not causally related in any of our models.
What Makes Diets Political? Moral Foundations and the Left-Wing-Vegan Connection
Authors: Grünhage Thomas , Reuter Martin
Published: February 2021

Though meat-consumption is known to be a key factor in environmental damage, veganism and vegetarianism are still perceived to be left-wing-phenomena, ironically not penetrating to those who hold ideologies of conservation. Logical contradictions and historical counter-examples cast doubt on a substantive connection between political orientation and meat-eating. Instead, common psychological factors may predispose people toward both: left vs. right-wing political orientation and self-restrictive vs. omnivore eating preferences. Moral foundations have been shown to explain why even seemingly contradictory issue stances are brought forward in the context of the same ideological or political orientation. Here, we expand on these findings by showing the moral foundations to connect political orientation and vegan and vegetarian eating preferences as well as specific strategies of meat-eating justification in a large German sample. Specifically, the binding foundations authority and purity as well as avoidance tendencies are shown to differentially interact with meat-eating across the political spectrum with stronger effects for left-wing adherents and centrists than for the right-wing. Mediation analyses reveal that substantive parts of the association between political orientation and self-restriction in eating are attributable to differences in the moral makeup of left- and right-wing adherents. Connecting our results to prior work on the explanatory power of moral foundations for the political polarization of environmentalism, we discuss how our results may inform inter-ideologically appealing communications of reducing meat consumption, which is a worthwhile and necessary goal for mitigating climate change.