bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anomaly detection using Unsupervised Machine Learning for Grid computing site operation
Authors: Kishimoto Tomoe , Tnaka Junichi , Mashimo Tetsuro , Sawada Ryu , Terashi Koji , Kaneda Michiru , Saito Masahiko , Matsui Nagataka
Published: November 2020

A Grid computing site is composed of various services including Grid middleware, such as Computing Element and Storage Element. Text logs produced by the services provide useful information for understanding the status of the services. However, it is a time-consuming task for site administrators to monitor and analyze the service logs every day. Therefore, a support framework has been developed to ease the site administrator’s work. The framework detects anomaly logs using Machine Learning techniques and alerts site administrators. The framework has been examined using real service logs at the Tokyo Tier2 site, which is one of the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid sites. In this paper, a method of the anomaly detection in the framework and its performances at the Tokyo Tier2 site are reported.
Web Proxy Auto Discovery for Dynamically Created Web Proxies
Authors: Dykstra Dave
Published: November 2020

The WLCG Web Proxy Auto Discovery (WPAD) service provides a convenient mechanism for jobs running anywhere on the WLCG to dynamically discover web proxy cache servers that are nearby. The web proxy caches are general purpose for a number of different http applications, but different applications have different usage characteristics and not all proxy caches are engineered to work with the heaviest loads. For this reason, the initial sources of information for WLCG WPAD were the static configurations that ATLAS and CMS maintain for the Conditions data that they read through the Frontier Distributed Database system, which is the most demanding popular WLCG application for web proxy caches. That works well for use at traditional statically defined WLCG sites, but now that usage of commercial clouds is increasing, there is also a need for web proxy caches to dynamically register themselves as they are created. A package called Shoal had already been created to manage dynamically created web proxy caches. This paper describes the integration of the Shoal package into the WLCG WPAD system, such that both statically and dynamically created web proxy caches can be located from a single source. It also describes other improvements to the WLCG WPAD system since the last CHEP publication.
Computing activities at the Spanish Tier-1 and Tier-2s for the ATLAS experiment towards the LHC Run3 and High-Luminosity periods
Authors: González de la Hoz Santiago , Acosta-Silva Carles , Aparisi Pozo Javier , del Peso Jose , Fernández Casani Álvaro , Flix Molina José , Fullana Torregrosa Esteban , García Montoro Carlos , Lozano Bahilo Julio , Montiel Almudena , Pacheco Pages Andrés , Sánchez Martínez Javier , Salt Cairols José , Vedaee Aresh
Published: November 2020

The ATLAS Spanish Tier-1 and Tier-2s have more than 15 years of experience in the deployment and development of LHC computing components and their successful operations. The sites are already actively participating in, and even coordinating, emerging R&D computing activities and developing new computing models needed for the Run3 and HighLuminosity LHC periods. In this contribution, we present details on the integration of new components, such as High Performance Computing resources to execute ATLAS simulation workflows. The development of new techniques to improve efficiency in a cost-effective way, such as storage and CPU federations is shown in this document. Improvements in data organization, management and access through storage consolidations (“data-lakes”), the use of data caches, and improving experiment data catalogs, like Event Index, are explained in this proceeding. The design and deployment of new analysis facilities using GPUs together with CPUs and techniques like Machine Learning will also be presented. Tier-1 and Tier-2 sites, are, and will be, contributing to significant R&D in computing, evaluating different models for improving performance of computing and data storage capacity in the High-Luminosity LHC era.
The CMS DAQ Pinball Machine
Authors: Cornu Cynthia , Deldicque Christian , Gladki Maciej , Holzner André , Perrenoud Lydie , Reis Thomas , Sakulin Hannes , Vougioukas Michail
Published: November 2020

We present an interactive game for up to seven players that demonstrates the challenges of on-line event selection at the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment to the public. The game - in the shape of a popular classic pinball machine - was conceived and prototyped by an interdisciplinary team of graphic designers, physicists and engineers at the CMS Create hackathon in 2016. Having won the competition, the prototype was turned into a fully working machine that is now exhibited on the CMS visitors’ path. Teams of 2-7 visitors can compete with one another to collect as many interesting events as possible within a simulated LHC fill. In a fun and engaging way, the game conveys concepts such as multi-level triggering, pipelined processing, event building, the importance of purity in event selection and more subtle details such as dead time. The multi-player character of the game corresponds to the distributed nature of the actual trigger and data acquisition system of the experiment. We present the concept of the game, its design and its technical implementation centered around an Arduino micro-controller controlling 700 RGB LEDs and a sound subsystem running on a Mac mini.
Belle2VR: An Interactive Virtual Reality Visualization of GEANT4 Event Histories
Authors: Piilonen Leo , Duer Zachary , Glasson George
Published: November 2020

Belle2VR is a novel interactive virtual reality visualization of the Belle II detector at KEK and the animation therein of GEANT4-simulated event histories. The user, wearing a VR headset, manipulates a gamepad or hand controller(s) to interact with and interrogate the detailed GEANT4 event history over time, to adjust the visibility and transparency of the particles and detector subsystems, to translate freely in 3D, to zoom in or out, and to control the event-history timeline. In this way, the user explores the world of subatomic physics via electron-positron collision events in the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB colliding-beam facility at KEK in Japan. Developed at Virginia Tech by an interdisciplinary team of researchers in physics, education, and virtual environments, the simulation is intended to be integrated into the undergraduate physics curriculum.
The iTHEPHY project and its software platform: enhancing remote teacher-student collaboration
Authors: Peco Gianluca , Carbone Angelo , Gadrat Sébastien , Orloff Jean
Published: November 2020

iTHEPHY is an EU strategic partnership ERASMUS+ project aiming at developing innovative student-centred Deeper Learning Approaches (DPA) for students enrolled in particle physics master’s degree programmes. This paper describes the iTHEPHY project status and main goals attained, with a focus on a web-based virtual environment developed to support groups of students and teams of teachers during their DPA learning and teaching activities. The platform is described in detail, focusing on the methodologies and technologies which enabled to deliver a modular, user-friendly, open-source, scalable and reusable platform. Identity and Access Management are the building blocks installed for the iTHEPHY project. Different configurations of services in the cloud will be also covered.
Physics Data Production on HPC: Experience to be efficiently running at scale
Authors: Poat M D , Lauret J , Porter J , Balewski J
Published: November 2020

The Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR) is a multi-national supported experiment located at the Brookhaven National Lab and is currently the only remaining running experiment at RHIC. The raw physics data captured from the detector is on the order of tens of PBytes per data acquisition campaign, making STAR fit well within the definition of a big data science experiment. The production of the data has typically run using a High Throughput Computing (HTC) approach either done on a local farm or via Grid computing resources. Especially, all embedding simulations (complex workflow mixing real and simulated events) have been run on standard Linux resources at NERSC’s Parallel Distributed Systems Facility (PDSF). However, as per April 2019 PDSF has been retired and High Performance Computing (HPC) resources such as the Cray XC-40 Supercomputer known as “Cori” have become available for STAR’s data production as well as embedding. STAR has been the very first experiment to show feasibility of running a sustainable data production campaign on this computing resource. In this contribution, we hope to share with the community the best practices for using such resource efficiently. The use of Docker containers with Shifter is the standard approach to run on HPC at NERSC – this approach encapsulates the environment in which a standard STAR workflow runs. From the deployment of a tailored Scientific Linux environment (with the set of libraries and special configurations required for STAR to run) to the deployment of third-party software and the STAR specific software stack, we’ve learned it has become impractical to rely on a set of containers comprising each specific software release. To this extent, a solution based on the CernVM File System (CVMFS) for the deployment of software and services has been deployed but it doesn’t stop there. One needs to make careful scalability considerations when using a resource like Cori, such as avoiding metadata lookups, scalability of distributed filesystems, and real limitations of containerized environments on HPC. Additionally, CVMFS clients are not compatible on Cori nodes and one needs to rely on an indirect NFS mount scheme using custom services known as DVS servers designed to forward data to worker nodes. In our contribution, we will discuss our strategies from the past and our current solution based on CVMFS. The second focus of our presentation will be to discuss strategies to find the most efficient use of database Shifter containers serving our data production (a near “database as a service” approach) and the best methods to test and scale your workflow efficiently.
Analysis of Heat Balance of MH Separator
Authors: Tóth Lukáš , Brestovič Tomáš , Jasminská Natália , Lázár Marián
Published: November 2020

The paper deals with the thermal balance of a metal hydride separator, primarily a tank containing a metal hydride alloy subjected to heating and cooling processes caused by absorption and desorption. As during the equipment operation it is necessary to ensure heating and cooling, the amount of the required heat to be supplied and removed must be identified. The article also deals with hydrogen separation from undesired components of synthetic gas which is formed in a plasma reactor during the waste gasification process.
Genetic characteristics of Giardia duodenalis from sheep in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Cao Letian , Han Kelei , Wang Luyang , Hasi Surong , Yu Fuchang , Cui Zhaohui , Hai Ying , Zhai Xinguo , Zhang Longxian
Published: November 2020

Giardia duodenalis is an important zoonotic pathogen for both human and animal health. Although there have been reports on G. duodenalis infections in animals all over the world, information regarding the prevalence and genetic characteristics of G. duodenalis in sheep in Inner Mongolia, China, is limited. In this study, 209 sheep fecal specimens were collected in this autonomous region. We established that the prevalence of G. duodenalis was 64.11% (134/209), as determined using nested PCR detection and sequences analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Based on the beta-giardin (bg) locus, the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) locus, and the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) locus to study genetic characteristics, both assemblages A (2.99%, 4/134) and E (97.01%, 130/134) were found. Five novel nucleotide sequence of assemblage E were detected, two at the bg locus, two at the gdh locus, and one at the tpi locus. Multilocus genotyping yielded four assemblage E and two assemblage A multilocus genotypes (MLGs), including four novel assemblage E MLGs and one novel assemblage A MLG. Results of this study indicated that G. duodenalis was highly prevalent in sheep in Inner Mongolia. This study is the first to use the multilocus genotyping approach to identify G. duodenalis in sheep from this region.
La résilience des exploitants français pendant la crise
Authors: Dutheil Étienne , Knoche Philippe
Published: November 2020

Au plus fort de la crise du coronavirus, la France a été mise à l’épreuve dans tous les domaines : la santé, l’économie, le social, les transports ou encore l’énergie. La Convention organisée par la Sfen mi-septembre 2020 a permis de faire un point sur la résilience de l’industrie nucléaire française durant toute cette période, sur ses facultés d’adaptation, sa robustesse et ses capacités d’apprentissage.
The impact of distraction minimization on endoscopic mentoring and performance
Authors: Rice Sean C. , Slaughter James C. , Smalley Walter , Obstein Keith L.
Published: November 2020

Background and study aims Endoscopic mentoring requires active attention by the preceptor. Unfortunately, sources of distraction are abundant during endoscopic precepting. The impact of distraction minimization on endoscopic mentoring and performance is unknown.

Methods Fellow and attending preceptors were paired and randomized in a prospective crossover design to perform esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and/or colonoscopy in either a “distraction minimization” (DM) or a “standard” (S) room. Cell phones, pagers, music, and computers were not permitted in DM rooms. S rooms operated under typical conditions. Fellows and attendings then completed a survey. The primary outcome was fellow satisfaction with mentoring experience (visual analogue scale: 0 = min,100 = max). Additional fellow outcomes included satisfaction of attending attentiveness, identifying landmarks, communication, and distractedness; attending outcomes included satisfaction with mentoring, attentiveness, communication, and distractedness. Endoscopic performance measures included completion of EGD, cecal intubation rate, cecal intubation time, withdrawal time, total procedure time, attending assistance, and polyp detection rate. A paired t-test was used to compare mean differences (MD) between rooms; significance set at P < 0.05.

Results Eight fellows and seven attendings completed 164 procedures. Despite a trend toward less distraction between rooms (DM = 12.5 v. S = 18.3, MD =  4.1, P = 0.17), there was no difference in fellow satisfaction with training/mentoring (DM = 93, S = 93, MD = –0.04, P = 0.97), attentiveness (DM = 95, S = 92, MD = 0.86, P = 0.77), identifying pathology/landmarks (DM = 94, S = 94, MD = –1.72, P = 0.56), or communication (DM = 95, S = 95,MD = 1.0, P = 0.37). Similarly, there was no difference between rooms for any attending outcome measures or performance metrics.

Conclusions DM did not improve perceived quality of endoscopic mentoring or performance for fellows or attendings; however, reduced distraction may improve attending engagement/availability.
Microstructure and magnetism of Ga+-irradiated IrMn-based spin-valve multilayered film
Authors: Qi Xianjin , Hao Fengyan , Li Xuezhu , Duan Xiaoxu , Yang Nina
Published: November 2020

An IrMn top-nailed spin-valve multilayer film was synthesized using direct-current magnetron sputtering on a naturally oxidized silicon substrate. The multilayered film microstructure and magnetism were analyzed using x-ray diffraction, transmission, and atomic force microscopies as well as vibrating sample magnetometry as functions of ion irradiation. The reverse saturation field residence time of the spin-valve multilayered sample was used to assess its magnetic stability. Ga+ distribution in the layers after irradiation was also simulated using the SRIM2003 package. Ga+ irradiation weakened the intensity of the (111) peak of the antiferromagnetic IrMn (111) layer, decreased surface roughness as well as exchange bias field and pinned layer coercive force, while increasing the free layer coercive force. However, the multilayer exchange bias field of the spin-valve film under the reverse saturation field after Ga+ irradiation did not change with time.
A health management competency framework for Australia
Authors: Liang Zhanming , Blackstock Felicity , Howard Peter , Leggat Geoffrey , Hughes Alison , Maddern Janny , Briggs David , Isouard Godfrey , North Nicola , Leggat Sandra G.
Published: November 2020

ObjectiveThis study examined whether the management competency framework for health service managers developed in the Victorian healthcare context is applicable to managers in other Australian states.
MethodsAn online questionnaire survey of senior and middle-level health service managers in both community health services and hospitals was conducted in New South Wales and Queensland.
ResultsThe study confirmed that the essential tasks for senior and middle-level managers are consistent across health and social care sectors, as well as states. Core competencies for health services managers identified in the Victorian healthcare context are relevant to other Australian states. In addition, two additional competencies were incorporated into the framework.
ConclusionThe Management Competency Assessment Program competency framework summarises six competencies and associated behaviours that may be useful for guiding performance management and the education and training development of health service managers in Australia.
What is known about the topic?The evidence suggests that competency-based approaches can enhance performance and talent management, and inform education and training needs, yet there has been no validated competency framework for Australian health service managers.
What does the paper add?This paper explains the process of the finalisation of the first management competency framework for guiding the identification of the training and development needs of Australian health service managers and the management of their performance.
What are the implications for practice?The Management Competency Assessment Program competency framework can guide the development of the health service management workforce in three Australian states, and may be applicable to other jurisdictions. Further studies are required in the remaining jurisdictions to improve the external validity of the framework.
Seasonal climate summary for the southern hemisphere (autumn 2018): a weak La Niña fades, the austral autumn remains warmer and drier
Authors: Chapman Bernard , Rosemond Katie
Published: November 2020

This is a summary of the austral autumn 2018 atmospheric circulation patterns and meteorological indices for the southern hemisphere, including an exploration of the season’s rainfall and temperature for the Australian region. The weak La Niña event during summer 2017–18 was in retreat as the southern hemisphere welcomed the austral autumn, and before midseason, it had faded. With the El Niño Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole in neutral phases, their influence on the climate was weakened. Warmer than average sea surface temperatures dominated much of the subtropical South Pacific Ocean and provided favourable conditions for the formation of a rare subtropical cyclone over the southeast Pacific Ocean in May. The southern hemisphere sea ice extent was slightly below the autumn seasonal average. The southern hemisphere overall during autumn was drier and warmer than the seasonal average. The season brought warmer than average temperatures and average rains to parts of the continents of Africa and South America. Australia recorded its fourth-warmest autumn, partly due to an intense, extensive and persistent heatwave, which occurred during the midseason. An extraordinary and record-breaking rainfall event occurred over Tasmania’s southeast, under the influence of a negative Southern Annular Mode. The mainland’s northeastern tropical region was wetter than average as a result of tropical cyclones, which formed during an active monsoon. These areas, however, were in contrast to the rest of the continent, which followed the trend of the previous season and remained drier than average; consequently, rainfall deficiencies emerged across the southern half of Australia, and some areas witnessed an increase in extent and severity of these deficiencies.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of coastal aquaculture and driving force analysis in Southeastern China
Authors: Ying Zimin , Wu Jing , Del Valle Tomás Marín , Yang Wu
Published: November 2020

Introduction:
Large-scale disordered coastal aquaculture development causes severe environmental problems. However, quantitative assessments of spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors for coastal aquaculture are essential and urgent for coastal aquaculture sustainability.
Outcomes:
Using remote sensing products and geographic information science, we investigated the long-term landscape changes due to coastal aquaculture, and explored its underlying driving factors in the Ningde coastal region, Southeastern China. Results show that coastal aquaculture area increased from 90.65 km
2
in 2003 to 96.08 km
2
in 2016, and its structure underwent tremendous changes. The area of artificial shrimp ponds increased by 496.15% and the area of farmland ponds decreased by 25.81% between 2003 and 2016. In addition, we revealed that from 2003 to 2016, the change trends of the coastal aquaculture area and the entire Ningde coastal region were consistent, and became more fragmented and dispersive. Furthermore, regression results indicate that the growth and attenuation of coastal aquaculture areas were significantly affected by the initial coastal aquaculture area in 2003.
Discussion and Conclusion:
To sustainably manage the coastal ecosystems, we provide several recommendations (e.g., a coupled human and natural systems approach to understanding human-nature interactions, integrated assessment, and systematical spatial planning and monitoring) for future research and management.
c
entrocortin RNA localization to centrosomes is regulated by FMRP and facilitates error-free mitosis
Authors: Ryder Pearl V. , Fang Junnan , Lerit Dorothy A.
Published: November 2020

Centrosomes are microtubule-organizing centers required for error-free mitosis and embryonic development. The microtubule-nucleating activity of centrosomes is conferred by the pericentriolar material (PCM), a composite of numerous proteins subject to cell cycle–dependent oscillations in levels and organization. In diverse cell types, mRNAs localize to centrosomes and may contribute to changes in PCM abundance. Here, we investigate the regulation of mRNA localization to centrosomes in the rapidly cycling Drosophila melanogaster embryo. We find that RNA localization to centrosomes is regulated during the cell cycle and developmentally. We identify a novel role for the fragile-X mental retardation protein in the posttranscriptional regulation of a model centrosomal mRNA, centrocortin (cen). Further, mistargeting cen mRNA is sufficient to alter cognate protein localization to centrosomes and impair spindle morphogenesis and genome stability.
A note on compact Kähler manifolds with quasi-negative holomorphic sectional curvature
Authors: Xia Wei
Published: November 2020

A compact Kähler manifold with quasi-negative holomorphic sectional curvature must have ample canonical bundle. This was conjectured by Wu-Yau and is recently proved by the continuity method. In this note, we will give an alternative proof of this result by using the Kähler-Ricci flow.
Multilinear spherical maximal function
Authors: Dosidis Georgios
Published: November 2020

In dimensions

n
≥
2

n\ge 2

we obtain
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper L Superscript p 1 Baseline left-parenthesis double-struck upper R Superscript n Baseline right-parenthesis times midline-horizontal-ellipsis times upper L Superscript p Super Subscript m Baseline left-parenthesis double-struck upper R Superscript n Baseline right-parenthesis">

L

p
1

(

R

n

)
×
⋯
×

L

p
m

(

R

n

)

L^{p_1}(\mathbb R^n) \times \dots \times L^{p_m}(\mathbb R^n)

to

L
p

(

R

n

)

L^p(\mathbb R^n)

boundedness for the multilinear spherical maximal function in the largest possible open set of indices and we provide counterexamples that indicate the optimality of our results. Moreover, we obtain weak type and Lorentz space estimates as well as counterexamples in the endpoint cases.
On the realization of symplectic algebras and rational homotopy types by closed symplectic manifolds
Authors: Milivojević Aleksandar
Published: November 2020

We answer a question of Oprea–Tralle on the realizability of symplectic algebras by symplectic manifolds in dimensions divisible by four, along with a question of Lupton–Oprea in all even dimensions. This will also allow us to address, in all even dimensions six and higher, another question of Oprea–Tralle on the possibility of algebraic conditions on the rational homotopy minimal model of a closed smooth manifold implying the existence of a symplectic structure on the manifold.
Model theory of proalgebraic groups
Authors: Pillay Anand , Wibmer Michael
Published: November 2020

We lay the foundations for a model theoretic study of proalgebraic groups. Our axiomatization is based on the tannakian philosophy. Through a tensor analog of skeletal categories we are able to consider neutral tannakian categories with a fibre functor as many-sorted first order structures. The class of diagonalizable proalgebraic groups is analyzed in detail. We show that the theory of a diagonalizable proalgebraic group

G
G

is determined by the theory of the base field and the theory of the character group of

G
G

. Some initial steps towards a comprehensive study of types are also made.
Familles de formes modulaires de Drinfeld pour le groupe général linéaire
Authors: Nicole Marc-Hubert , Rosso Giovanni
Published: November 2020

Soient

F
F

un corps de fonctions sur

F

q

\mathbb {F}_q

,

A
A

l’anneau des fonctions régulières hors d’une place

∞
\infty

et

p

\mathfrak {p}

un idéal premier de

A
A

. En premier lieu, nous développons la théorie de Hida pour les formes modulaires de Drinfeld de rang

r
r

qui sont de pente nulle pour l’opérateur de Hecke

U

π

\mathrm {U}_{\pi }

convenablement défini. En second lieu, nous montrons en pente finie l’existence de familles de formes modulaires de Drinfeld variant continûment selon le poids. En troisième lieu, nous prouvons un résultat de classicité: une forme modulaire de Drinfeld surconvergente de pente suffisamment petite par rapport au poids est une forme modulaire de Drinfeld classique.
Does Cover Crop Management Affect Arthropods in the Subsequent Corn and Soybean Crops in the United States? A Systematic Review
Authors: Inveninato Carmona Gabriela , Delserone Leslie M , Nogueira Duarte Campos Julia , Ferreira de Almeida Tauana , Vieira Branco Ozório Dânia , David Betancurt Cardona Juan , Wright Robert , McMechan Anthony Justin
Published: November 2020

Cover crops (CC) support populations of pest and beneficial arthropods. The status of these arthropods in the subsequent cash crop depends on several factors such as CC species, management, biomass production, and weather conditions. A systematic review was performed to identify how CC management influences pest and beneficial arthropods and to identify knowledge gaps for the future research efforts. Eight studies included in this review indicated that CC increase beneficial arthropods or some beneficial arthropods compared with the CC managed fields. A minority of the studies indicated an increase in pest presence when using CC. Cover crop species, termination time and methods, and CC management had variable responses on arthropod activity-density. The variable responses, differences on study designs, and complexity of CC management influence arthropod activity in a CC-corn [Zea mays L. (Poaceae)]/soybean [Glycine max L. (Fabaceae)] system, limiting our ability to draw a broad and effective conclusion about the CC management impact on arthropods. Local research studies are needed to identify the impact of CC biomass quality and quantity, CC biomass thresholds for pest and beneficial arthropods, and cash crop yield impact of CC management-arthropod-related studies. Studies using the standard farming practices of each U.S. region and using standard measurements are needed to guide farmers that use cover crops. This systematic review aims to provide a better understanding of how the complexity of management in cover crop-corn/soybean management affects arthropod activity-density and to identify potential gaps in research and address future research needs.
The acquisitive–conservative axis of leaf trait variation emerges even in homogeneous environments
Authors: Gorné Lucas D , Díaz Sandra , Minden Vanessa , Onoda Yusuke , Kramer Koen , Muir Christopher , Michaletz Sean T , Lavorel Sandra , Sharpe Joanne , Jansen Steven , Slot Martijn , Chacon Eduardo , Boenisch Gerhard
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

The acquisitive–conservative axis of plant ecological strategies results in a pattern of leaf trait covariation that captures the balance between leaf construction costs and plant growth potential. Studies evaluating trait covariation within species are scarcer, and have mostly dealt with variation in response to environmental gradients. Little work has been published on intraspecific patterns of leaf trait covariation in the absence of strong environmental variation.

Methods

We analysed covariation of four leaf functional traits [specific leaf area (SLA) leaf dry matter content (LDMC), force to tear (Ft) and leaf nitrogen content (Nm)] in six Poaceae and four Fabaceae species common in the dry Chaco forest of Central Argentina, growing in the field and in a common garden. We compared intraspecific covariation patterns (slopes, correlation and effect size) of leaf functional traits with global interspecific covariation patterns. Additionally, we checked for possible climatic and edaphic factors that could affect the intraspecific covariation pattern.

Key Results

We found negative correlations for the LDMC–SLA, Ft–SLA, LDMC–Nm and Ft–Nm trait pairs. This intraspecific covariation pattern found both in the field and in the common garden and not explained by climatic or edaphic variation in the field follows the expected acquisitive–conservative axis. At the same time, we found quantitative differences in slopes among different species, and between these intraspecific patterns and the interspecific ones. Many of these differences seem to be idiosyncratic, but some appear consistent among species (e.g. all the intraspecific LDMC–SLA and LDMC–Nm slopes tend to be shallower than the global pattern).

Conclusions

Our study indicates that the acquisitive–conservative leaf functional trait covariation pattern occurs at the intraspecific level even in the absence of relevant environmental variation in the field. This suggests a high degree of variation–covariation in leaf functional traits not driven by environmental variables.
Survival on four compared with three times per week haemodialysis in high ultrafiltration patients: an observational study
Authors: Fotheringham James , Latimer Nicholas , Froissart Marc , Kronenberg Florian , Stenvinkel Peter , Floege Jürgen , Eckardt Kai-Uwe , Wheeler David C
Published: November 2020

Background

The harm caused by the long interdialytic interval in three-times-per-week haemodialysis regimens (3×WHD) may relate to fluid accumulation and associated high ultrafiltration rate (UFR). Four-times-per-week haemodialysis (4×WHD) may offer a solution, but its impact on mortality, hospitalization and vascular access complications is unknown.

Methods

From the AROii cohort of incident in-centre haemodialysis patients, 3×WHD patients with a UFR >10 mL/kg/h were identified. The hazard for the outcomes of mortality, hospitalization and vascular access complications in those who switched to 4×WHD compared with staying on 3×WHD was estimated using a marginal structural Cox proportional hazards model. Adjustment included baseline patient and treatment characteristics with inverse probability weighting used to adjust for time-varying UFR and cardiovascular comorbidities.

Results

From 10 637 European 3×WHD patients, 3842 (36%) exceeded a UFR >10 mL/kg/h. Of these, 288 (7.5%) started 4×WHD and at baseline were more comorbid. Event rates while receiving 4×WHD compared with 3×WHD were 12.6 compared with 10.8 per 100 patient years for mortality, 0.96 compared with 0.65 per year for hospitalization and 14.7 compared with 8.0 per 100 patient years for vascular access complications. Compared with 3×WHD, the unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) for mortality on 4×WHD was 1.05 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78–1.42]. Following adjustment for baseline demographics, time-varying treatment probability and censoring risks, this HR was 0.73 (95% CI 0.50–1.05; P = 0.095). Despite these adjustments on 4×WHD, the HR for hospitalization remained elevated and vascular access complications were similar to 3×WHD.

Conclusions

This observational study was not able to demonstrate a mortality benefit in patients switched to 4×WHD. To demonstrate the true benefits of 4×WHD requires a large, well-designed clinical trial. Our data may help in the design of such a study.
Financial implications of using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following heart transplantation
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Bhuvaneswari , Mehta Vipin , Critchley William , Callan Paul , Shaw Steve , Venkateswaran Rajamiyer
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVES

Primary graft dysfunction after heart transplant is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be used to wean patients from cardiopulmonary bypass. This study retrospectively reviews a single-centre experience of post-transplant ECMO in regard to outcomes and associated costs.

METHODS

Between May 2006 and May 2019, a total of 267 adult heart transplants were performed. We compared donor and recipient variables, ECMO duration and the incidence of renal failure, bleeding, infection and cost analysis between ECMO and non-ECMO groups.

RESULTS

ECMO support was required postoperatively to manage primary graft dysfunction in 72 (27%) patients. The mean duration of ECMO support was 6 ± 3.2 days. Mean ischaemic times were similar between the groups. There was a significantly higher proportion of ventricular assist device explant to transplant in the ECMO group versus non-ECMO (38.2% vs 14.1%; P < 0.0001). ECMO patients had a longer duration of stay in the intensive care unit (P < 0.0001) and total hospital stay (P < 0.0001). Greater mortality was observed in the ECMO group (P < 0.0001). The median cost of providing ECMO was £18 000 [interquartile range (IQR): £12 750–£24 000] per patient with an additional median £35 225 (IQR: £21 487.25–£51 780.75) for ITU stay whilst on ECMO. The total median cost per patient inclusive of hospital stay, ECMO and dialysis costs was £65 737.50 (IQR: £52 566.50–£95 221.75) in the non-ECMO group compared to £145 415.71 (IQR: £102 523.21–£200 618.96) per patient in the ECMO group (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with primary graft dysfunction following heart transplantation who require ECMO are frequently bridged to a recovery; however, the medium and longer-term survival for these patients is poorer than for patients who do not require ECMO.
A case of splenic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture presenting as rectal bleeding in a regional hospital
Authors: Holt Jonathon N , Schwalb Heinrich E
Published: November 2020

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare phenomenon most associated with chronic pancreatitis or previous trauma. Complications can include erosion and rupture into local structures, a situation that carries a reported mortality of 10–40%. A 58-year-old male with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and a known splenic artery pseudoaneurysm presented to the emergency department of a regional hospital with rectal bleeding and sepsis. Computed tomography revealed a peri-splenic mass communicating with the splenic flexure. The patient was taken for an emergency splenectomy and left hemicolectomy and was confirmed to have rupture of the splenic artery aneurysm into the large bowel. This case presented with comparable features reported in the literature and demonstrates that access to emergency specialist surgical services in a regional setting offers the capability to manage rare, life threatening surgical emergencies.
Clinical Improvement and Effectiveness of Exercise-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Vainshelboim Baruch
Published: November 2020

Background:

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease associated with high mortality rates and poor clinical condition. Exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation (EBPR) has been demonstrated to be effective in improving 6-min walk distance (6MWD), although the clinical improvement and effectiveness are less characterized. The current review examined the existing evidence of EBPR among patients with IPF and aimed to analyze the effect of EBPR on clinical improvement and effectiveness.

Methods:

A systematic databases search (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) was conducted for available publications as of January 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs examining the effect of EBPR in patients with IPF were reviewed. Mean difference for RCTs and weighted mean difference for meta-analyses between the EBPR arm and the usual-care arm in 6MWD were compared with the established minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 30 m. Clinical improvement following EBPR was determined when mean difference and weighted mean difference were equal or exceeding the MCID. Effectiveness of EBPR was assessed using the number needed to treat (NNT) analysis.

Results:

Five independent RCTs (including 21-61 patients/study) and five meta-analyses (including two to five studies with 62-169 patients/meta-analysis) were included. The mean difference of 6MWD ranged from 16-81 m in RCTs. Three of five RCTs demonstrated an average improvement that meets or exceeds the MCID. Two RCTs showed favorable improvement in 6MWD but did not reach the MCID. The weighted mean difference of 6MWD ranged from 27-49 m in the meta-analyses. Four of five meta-analyses showed an average improvement that meets or exceeds the MCID. One early meta-analysis of only two RCTs showed significant improvement, although did not reach the MCID. The NNT in three RCTs and four meta-analyses that met clinical improvement in 6MWD was one.

Conclusions:

This review provides novel evidence with respect to clinical improvement and high effectiveness of EBPR among patients with IPF. The results suggest that, on average, the majority of patients would be expected to clinically improve by completing the EBPR program. The findings further support the prescription of EBPR as clinically effective therapy and implementation as standard of care for patients with IPF. Future studies examining clinical improvement and effectiveness utilizing additional outcomes with the MCID are warranted.
Factors Associated With Change in Cardiovascular Fitness for Patients With Peripheral and Coronary Artery Disease in Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: Nguyen Cindy H. , Thomas Scott G. , Marzolini Susan
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) yields improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake [V˙o
2peak]). Predictors of change in V˙o
2peak have been reported among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) but have not been compared with peripheral artery disease (PAD). This study determined predictors of improved V˙o
2peak among patients with PAD, CAD, and concomitant PAD and CAD (PAD/CAD) following a 6-mo home-based outpatient CR program (1supervised and 4 home weekly sessions).

Methods:

This study was a retrospective (2006-2017) multiple linear regression analysis of CR patients with PAD (n = 63), CAD (n = 63), and PAD/CAD (n = 164). Peripheral artery disease and CAD were matched for age, sex, smoking status, diabetes, and year in program.

Results:

Mean age of all patients was 68.9±10.1 yr, 72% were male, and mean improvement in V˙o
2peak was 2.1 ± 3.3 mL/kg/min (14.5% improvement) following CR. In CAD, younger age (β = .30, P = .015), male sex (β = −.29, P = .019), and more recent year of entry (β = .26, P = .035) were predictors of improved V˙o
2peak. In PAD, only male sex (β = −.36, P = .004) and in PAD/CAD, not having diabetes (β = −.24, P = .002), not smoking (β = −.25, P = .001), and shorter elapsed time from referring diagnosis to entry (β = −.19, P = .016) were predictors.

Conclusions:

While younger age and male sex were predictors of improved V˙o
2peak in CAD, age did not influence PAD, and neither age nor sex influenced PAD/CAD. Peripheral artery disease–related limitations may override some demographic factors, and strategies for improving V˙o
2peak should be explored. Managing smoking and comorbid diagnoses including diabetes and a timely entry to CR may yield greater improvements in V˙o
2peak among individuals with PAD.
Diffusional kurtosis imaging in evaluation of microstructural changes of spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy feasibility study
Authors: Yu Jinfen , Sun Yongqiang , Cao Guangliang , Zheng Xiuzhu , Jing Yan , Li Chuanting
Published: November 2020

To explore the value of diffusion kurtosis imaging in the changes of spinal cord microstructures in patients with early cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Twenty nine patients with cervical myelopathy were selected in this study. All images were acquired on a 3.0 T MR scanner (Skyra, Siemens Medical Systems, Germany). The imaging parameters for diffusion kurtosis imaging were as follows: repetition time/echo time, 3000/91 ms; averages, 2; slice thickness/gap, 3/0.3 mm; number of slices, 17; field of view, 230 × 230 mm; Voxel size, 0.4 × 0.4 × 3.0 mm; 3 b-values (0, 1000, and 2000 s/mm2) with diffusion encoding in 20 directions for each b-value. Values for fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and mean diffusional kurtosis (MK) were calculated and compared between unaffected and affected spinal cords.

In all patients MK was significantly lower in normal appearing spinal cords adjacent to the affected cervical spinal cords than in normal cervical spinal cords (0.862 ± 0.051 vs 0.976 ± 0.0924, P < .0001), but the difference of fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient was no significant (P > .05). The affected cervical spinal cords had lower MK (0.716 ± 0.0753), FA and higher apparent diffusion coefficient than normal cervical spinal cords (P < .001).

MK values in the cervical spinal cord may reflect microstructural changes of spinal cord damage in cervical myelopathy, and it could potentially provide more information that obtained with conventional diffusion metrics.
Retinal Vascular Measures from Diabetes Retinal Screening Photographs and Risk of Incident Dementia in Type 2 Diabetes: A GoDARTS Study
Authors: Doney Alexander SF , Nar Aditya , Huang Yu , Trucco Emanuele , MacGillivray Tom , Connelly Peter , Leese Graham P , McKay Gareth J
Published: November 2020

Objective

Patients with diabetes have an increased risk of dementia. Improved prediction of dementia is an important goal in developing future prevention strategies. Diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) photographs may be a convenient source of imaging biomarkers of brain health. We therefore investigated the association of retinal vascular measures (RVMs) from DRS photographs in patients with type 2 diabetes with dementia risk.

Research Design and Methods

RVMs were obtained from 6,111 patients in the GoDARTS bioresource using VAMPIRE software. Their association, independent of Apo E4 genotype and clinical parameters, was determined for incident all cause dementia (ACD) and separately Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). We used Cox’s proportional hazards with competing risk of death without dementia. The potential value of RVMs to increase the accuracy of risk prediction was evaluated.

Results

Increased retinal arteriolar fractal dimension associated with increased risk of ACD (csHR 1.17; 1.08-1.26) and AD (HR 1.33; 1.16-1.52), whereas increased venular fractal dimension (FDV) was associated with reduced risk of AD (csHR 0.85; 0.74-0.96). Conversely, FDV was associated with increased risk of VD (csHR 1.22; 1.07-1.40). Wider arteriolar calibre was associated with a reduced risk of ACD (csHR 0.9; 0.83-0.98) and wider venular calibre was associated with a reduced risk of AD (csHR 0.87; 0.78-0.97). Accounting for competing risk did not substantially alter these findings. RVMs significantly increased the accuracy of prediction.

Conclusions

Conventional DRS photographs could enhance stratifying patients with diabetes at increased risk of dementia facilitating the development of future prevention strategies.
Potential of machine learning to predict early ischemic events after carotid endarterectomy or stenting: A comparison with surgeon predictions
Authors: Matsuo Kazuya , Fujita Atsushi , Hosoda Kohkichi , Tanaka Jun , Imahori Taichiro , Ishii Taiji , Kohta Masaaki , Tanaka Kazuhiro , Uozumi Yoichi , Kimura Hidehito , Sasayama Takashi , Kohmura Eiji
Published: November 2020

Background

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are recommended for high stroke-risk patients with carotid artery stenosis to reduce ischemic events. However, we often face difficulty in determining the best treatment strategy.

Objective

We aimed to develop an accurate post-CEA/CAS outcome prediction model using machine learning that will serve as a basis for a new decision support tool for patient-specific treatment planning.

Methods

Retrospectively collected data from 165 consecutive patients with carotid stenosis underwent CEA or CAS were divided into training and test samples. The following five machine learning algorithms were tuned, and their predictive performance evaluated by comparison with surgeon predictions: an artificial neural network, logistic regression, support vector machine, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Seventeen clinical factors were introduced into the models. Outcome was defined as any ischemic stroke within 30 days after treatment including asymptomatic diffusion-weighted imaging abnormalities.

Results

The XGBoost model performed the best in the evaluation; its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy were 31.9%, 94.6%, 47.2%, and 86.2%, respectively. These statistical measures were comparable to those of surgeons. Internal carotid artery peak systolic velocity, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and procedure (CEA or CAS) were the most contributing factors according to the XGBoost algorithm.

Conclusion

We were able to develop a post-procedural outcome prediction model comparable to surgeons in performance. The accurate outcome prediction model will make it possible to make a more appropriate patient-specific selection of CEA or CAS for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis.