bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computed tomography, not bioelectrical impedance analysis, is the proper method for evaluating changes in skeletal muscle mass in liver disease
Authors: Ohara Masatsugu , Suda Goki , Kimura Megumi , Maehara Osamu , Shimazaki Tomoe , Shigesawa Taku , Suzuki Kazuharu , Nakamura Akihisa , Kawagishi Naoki , Nakai Masato , Sho Takuya , Natsuizaka Mitsuteru , Morikawa Kenichi , Ogawa Koji , Sakamoto Naoya
Published: July 2020

Background

Sarcopenia is associated with poor prognosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). As rapid skeletal muscle wasting predicts worse prognosis and a novel therapy for sarcopenia needs to be evaluated for validation, accurate evaluation methods for relative changes in muscle mass are crucial.

Methods

We screened CLD patients who had skeletal muscle mass evaluation between June 2015 and December 2017. Patients were included if they had adequate information, were followed for >6 months, and had skeletal muscle mass evaluation by both bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and computed tomography (CT) imaging at baseline and the second evaluation point. We compared BIA and CT imaging in terms of their ability to quantify skeletal muscle mass and identify relative changes in muscle mass in CLD patients.

Results

Of the screened 447 CLD patients, 110 were included in this study, and 71 (64.5%) were men. The median age was 68 (range 21 to 90) years. In total, 83 (75.5%) and 32 (29.1%) patients had liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively. Of them, 50 (45.5%) patients were liver cirrhosis patients without hepatocellular carcinoma through the observation period. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) by BIA, psoas muscle mass index (PMI), and SMI based on CT imaging were significantly correlated at baseline [SMI by simple CT method and SMI by BIA (r = 0.61, P < 0.01), SMI by BIA and PMI (r = 0.65, P < 0.01), and SMI by simple CT method and PMI (r = 0.82, P < 0.01), respectively] and second evaluation point [SMI by simple CT method and SMI by BIA (r = 0.51, P < 0.01), SMI by BIA and PMI (r = 0.58, P < 0.01), and SMI by simple CT method and PMI (r = 0.92, P < 0.01), respectively]. Similar to previous reports, based on the PMI and SMI by simple CT method, patients with more severe liver dysfunction experienced more rapid skeletal muscle mass loss (ΔSimple method/years and ΔPMI/years in patients with Child‑Pugh Classes A, B, and C: Child‑Pugh A, −3.34%; B, −11.77%; C, −18.78%; and Child‑Pugh A, −0.78%; B, −6.33%; C, −7.71%, respectively). Completely opposite results were obtained based on SMI by BIA (Child‑Pugh A, −0.70%; B, 1.42%; C, 12.48%). A subgroup analysis revealed that in patients with fluid retention and diuretic administration, SMI by BIA increased with time (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

For accurate evaluation of the relative changes in skeletal muscle mass in patients with CLD, CT imaging method, and not BIA, is one of the proper methods.
Towards reducing the time needed for load testing
Authors: AlGhamdi Hammam M. , Bezemer Cor‐Paul , Shang Weiyi , Hassan Ahmed E. , Flora Parminder
Published: July 2020

The performance of large‐scale systems must be thoroughly tested under various levels of workload, as load‐related issues can have a disastrous impact on the system. However, load testing often requires a large amount of time, running from hours to even days. In our prior work, we reduced the execution time of a load test by detecting repetitiveness in individual performance metric values, such as CPU utilization, that are observed during the test. However, as we explain in this paper, disregarding combinations of performance metrics may miss important information about the load‐related behavior of a system. In this paper we revisit our prior approach, by proposing an approach that reduces the execution time of a load test by detecting whether a test no longer exercises new combinations of the observed performance metrics. We study three open source systems, in which we use our new and prior approaches to reduce the execution time of a 24‐hour load test. We show that our new approach is capable of reducing the execution time of the test to less than 8.5 hours, while preserving a coverage of at least 95% of the combinations that are observed between the performance metrics during the 24‐hour tests.
Sustainable use of sugarcane bagasse ash and marble slurry dust in crusher sand based concrete
Authors: Murugesan Thangavel , Vidjeapriya Ramamurthy , Bahurudeen Abdulsalam
Published: July 2020

Production of ordinary Portland cement is consuming enormous energy and releases high carbon dioxide. Additionally, the use of river sand as fine aggregate has a direct effect on the erosion of river banks due to excess sand mining and hence, the use of river sand in concrete is banned in many developing countries. Hence, the assessment of concrete with blended cement and locally available alternative fine aggregates is the need for current construction practices. India becomes the ‐largest sugar producing country, a massive volume of bagasse ash (44,200 t/day) is discarded as waste. Similarly, marble processing plants dispose of marble slurry dust. An exploration of the use of agricultural and mining wastes in crusher sand‐based concrete is not yet reported. The current investigation focuses on the potential use of bagasse ash and marble slurry dust as pozzolan and alternative to crusher sand respectively in concrete and interlocking paver blocks. Compressive strength and capability against abrasion were investigated for bagasse ash and marble slurry dust blended concrete and paver block. Besides, water‐based tests were adopted to examine durability performance. Results from the study indicate an enhancement in abrasion resistance and a substantial reduction in permeability for blended concrete than control concrete. Optimum replacement levels were found to be 20% for bagasse ash and 25% for marble mining powder.
TeV-scale Majorogenesis
Authors: Abe Yoshihiko , Hamada Yu , Ohata Takahiro , Suzuki Kenta , Yoshioka Koichi
Published: July 2020

Abstract

The Majoron, the Nambu-Goldstone boson of lepton number symmetry, is an interesting candidate for dark matter as it deeply connects the dark matter and neutrino physics. In this paper, we consider the Majoron dark matter as pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson with TeV-scale mass. The heavy Majoron generally has the large decay constant and tiny Yukawa couplings to light right-handed neutrinos which are required by cosmological and astrophysical observations. That makes it difficult to realize the desired amount of the relic abundance of Majoron dark matter. We consider three improved scenarios for the generation of Majoron, dubbed as Majorogenesis, in the early universe and find in all cases the parameter space compatible with the relic abundance and cosmic-ray constraints.
CT-based patient-specific instrumentation for total knee arthroplasty in over 700 cases: single-use instruments are as accurate as standard instruments
Authors: Gaukel Stefan , Vuille-dit-Bille Raphael N. , Schläppi Michel , Koch Peter P.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Efforts in total knee arthroplasty are made to improve accuracy for a correct leg axis and reduce component malpositioning using patient-specific instruments. It was hypothesized that use of patient-specific instruments (vs. computer-navigated and conventional techniques) will reduce the number of outliers. Our second hypothesis was that single-use instrumentation will lead to the same accuracy compared to patient-specific instruments made of metal.

Methods

708 primary total knee arthroplasties between 2014 and 2018 using computer tomography (CT)-based patient-specific cutting block technique and a preoperative planning protocol were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative data [hip–knee–angle (HKA), lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), tibial slope, femoral component flexion] was compared to postoperative performed standard radiological follow-up X-rays. Differences of > 3° between measurements were defined as outliers.

Results

Overall 500 prostheses using standard instrumentation and 208 prostheses using single-use instruments were implanted. Preoperative HKA axes (− 1.2°; p < 0.001), femoral component flexion (Δ 0.8°, p < 0.001), LDFA (Δ − 1.5°, p < 0.001), MPTA (Δ − 0.5°, p < 0.001) and tibial posterior slopes (Δ 0.5°, p < 0.001), respectively, were different from postoperative axes. More outliers occurred using standard (vs. single-use) instruments (p < 0.001) regarding postoperative HKA (ranges of standard- vs. single-use: instruments: HKA 178.0°–180.5° vs. 178.0°–180.5°, femoral component flexion 0.0°–6.0° vs. 0.0°–4.5°, LDFA 90.0°–91.0° vs. 90.0°–90.0°, MPTA 90.0°–90.0° vs. 90.0°–90.0°, tibial posterior slope − 10° to 10° vs. − 1° to 10°). No differences were seen for other angles measured. Comparing both systems, total number of outliers was higher using standard (8%) vs. single-use instruments (4.3%).

Conclusion

This study shows a high accuracy of CT-based patient-specific instrumentation concerning postoperative achieved knee angles and mechanical leg axes. Single-use instruments showed a similar accuracy.

Level of evidence

III.
Optimal dividends and capital injection under dividend restrictions
Authors: Lindensjö Kristoffer , Lindskog Filip
Published: July 2020

We study a singular stochastic control problem faced by the owner of an insurance company that dynamically pays dividends and raises capital in the presence of the restriction that the surplus process must be above a given dividend payout barrier in order for dividend payments to be allowed. Bankruptcy occurs if the surplus process becomes negative and there are proportional costs for capital injection. We show that one of the following strategies is optimal: (i) Pay dividends and inject capital in order to reflect the surplus process at an upper barrier and at 0, implying bankruptcy never occurs. (ii) Pay dividends in order to reflect the surplus process at an upper barrier and never inject capital—corresponding to absorption at 0—implying bankruptcy occurs the first time the surplus reaches zero. We show that if the costs of capital injection are low, then a sufficiently high dividend payout barrier will change the optimal strategy from type (i) (without bankruptcy) to type (ii) (with bankruptcy). Moreover, if the costs are high, then the optimal strategy is of type (ii) regardless of the dividend payout barrier. We also consider the possibility for the owner to choose a stopping time at which the insurance company is liquidated and the owner obtains a liquidation value. The uncontrolled surplus process is a Wiener process with drift.
Comparison of machine learning algorithms to predict clinically significant prostate cancer of the peripheral zone with multiparametric MRI using clinical assessment categories and radiomic features
Authors: Bernatz Simon , Ackermann Jörg , Mandel Philipp , Kaltenbach Benjamin , Zhdanovich Yauheniya , Harter Patrick N. , Döring Claudia , Hammerstingl Renate , Bodelle Boris , Smith Kevin , Bucher Andreas , Albrecht Moritz , Rosbach Nicolas , Basten Lajos , Yel Ibrahim , Wenzel Mike , Bankov Katrin , Koch Ina , Chun Felix K.-H. , Köllermann Jens , Wild Peter J. , Vogl Thomas J.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To analyze the performance of radiological assessment categories and quantitative computational analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps using variant machine learning algorithms to differentiate clinically significant versus insignificant prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods

Retrospectively, 73 patients were included in the study. The patients (mean age, 66.3 ± 7.6 years) were examined with multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) prior to radical prostatectomy (n = 33) or targeted biopsy (n = 40). The index lesion was annotated in MRI ADC and the equivalent histologic slides according to the highest Gleason Grade Group (GrG). Volumes of interest (VOIs) were determined for each lesion and normal-appearing peripheral zone. VOIs were processed by radiomic analysis. For the classification of lesions according to their clinical significance (GrG ≥ 3), principal component (PC) analysis, univariate analysis (UA) with consecutive support vector machines, neural networks, and random forest analysis were performed.

Results

PC analysis discriminated between benign and malignant prostate tissue. PC evaluation yielded no stratification of PCa lesions according to their clinical significance, but UA revealed differences in clinical assessment categories and radiomic features. We trained three classification models with fifteen feature subsets. We identified a subset of shape features which improved the diagnostic accuracy of the clinical assessment categories (maximum increase in diagnostic accuracy ΔAUC = + 0.05, p < 0.001) while also identifying combinations of features and models which reduced overall accuracy.

Conclusions

The impact of radiomic features to differentiate PCa lesions according to their clinical significance remains controversial. It depends on feature selection and the employed machine learning algorithms. It can result in improvement or reduction of diagnostic performance.

Key Points

• Quantitative imaging features differ between normal and malignant tissue of the peripheral zone in prostate cancer.

• Radiomic feature analysis of clinical routine multiparametric MRI has the potential to improve the stratification of clinically significant versus insignificant prostate cancer lesions in the peripheral zone.

• Certain combinations of standard multiparametric MRI reporting and assessment categories with feature subsets and machine learning algorithms reduced the diagnostic performance over standard clinical assessment categories alone.
Interdisziplinäre Kommunikation: Augenarztbriefe an diabetologische Schwerpunktpraxen (DSP)
Authors: Stock Lydia , Roeck Daniel , Fritsche Andreas , Ziemssen Tjalf , Ziemssen Focke
Published: July 2020

Hintergrund

Arztbriefe und Befundbögen spielen für die interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit von Hausarzt, Internist, Diabetologe und Augenarzt als Informations- und Kommunikationsmittel in der Vermeidung, Verzögerung und Therapie der diabetischen Retinopathie (DR) eine zentrale Rolle.

Methode

In einer Querschnittstudie (NCT02311504) wurden die augenärztlichen Briefe sowie weitere klinische Parameter aus der elektronischen Patientenakte (ePA) für 810 Patienten mit Diabetes extrahiert. Neben einer formalen Kategorisierung wurden die Dokumente auf ihre Aktualität und den inhaltlichen Aufbau hin überprüft und entsprechend den Themenkomplexen der nationalen Versorgungsleitlinie (NVL) für Netzhautkomplikationen analysiert.

Ergebnisse

Für 59 % aller Patienten lag in den DSP ein augenärztlicher Befundbericht vor; 26 % der Dokumente wurden elektronisch generiert, 73 % handschriftlich verfasst; 55 % entsprachen dem Standardbogen der NVL, 21 % waren selbst entworfene Formularbögen der Augenarztpraxen, 16 % ausführliche Augenarztbriefe, 5 % Kurzbriefe und 3 % Kurzmitteilungen. Das durchschnittliche Alter des aktuellsten vorliegenden Berichts lag bei 19 Monaten. Ein Viertel der Dokumente war zum Zeitpunkt der Stichprobe älter als 2 Jahre; 75 % aller Patienten wurden in den letzten 12 Monaten augenärztlich betreut mit einer augenärztlichen Berichtsquote von nur 40 %. Die Prävalenz der berichteten DR lag für die Formulare bei 12 %, in ausführlichen Briefen bei 32 %.

Schlussfolgerung

Obwohl standardisierte Formulare in der augenärztlichen Kommunikation mit den DSP einen hohen Verbreitungsgrad haben, kann die Berichtsquote verbessert werden, um eine zeitnahe Berücksichtigung relevanter Befunde zu ermöglichen. Die hohe Anzahl handgeschriebener Dokumente wies hier auf ein großes Potenzial elektronischer Formate in der interdisziplinären Kommunikation hin.
Constraints on the pre-eruptive magmatic history of the Quaternary Laacher See volcano (Germany)
Authors: Rout Smruti Sourav , Wörner Gerhard
Published: July 2020

Ba zonation patterns in sanidine phenocrysts from mafic and intermediate phonolite and crystal-rich cumulates from the Laacher See volcano (12.9 ka) in western Germany document diffusion times suggestive of periodic recharge events throughout the magma reservoir’s entire lifespan of ~ 24 ky. Phenocrysts analysed from samples that formed late at the base of the compositionally zoned magma reservoir by mixing and mingling between a resident phonolite magma and recharging basanite show resorption and thin (2–10 μm) late-stage Ba-rich overgrowth. Short diffusion profiles across these boundaries give diffusion times of ~ 1.5–3 years at most, which are interpreted to be the maximum duration between the most recent recharge by the basanite and eruption. The lack of such late overgrowth in samples from other parts of the phonolite reservoir suggests that effect of this mixing and mingling was limited to the crystal-rich base. Sanidines in the cumulates, by contrast, are generally devoid of zoned crystals. Only rare cumulate crystals with resorbed outer boundaries and very thin overgrowths (a few microns) with very sharp compositional changes imply the remobilization of cumulates only months before eruption. Based on the diffusion timescales and storage temperatures obtained in a previous study, we present a genetic model for the conditions and timing of storage and (re-)activation of the magma system prior to the eruption of Laacher See, which is the largest volcanic event in Central Europe since the last glaciation.
Prognostic impact of CD73 expression and its relationship to PD-L1 in patients with radically treated pancreatic cancer
Authors: Tahkola Kyösti , Ahtiainen Maarit , Kellokumpu Ilmo , Mecklin Jukka-Pekka , Laukkarinen Johanna , Laakkonen Joni , Kenessey Istvan , Jalkanen Sirpa , Salmi Marko , Böhm Jan
Published: July 2020

Immune suppressing molecule CD73 is overexpressed in various cancers and associated with poor survival. Little is so far known about the predictive value of CD73 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of CD73 in PDAC. The study material consisted of 110 radically treated patients for PDAC. Tissue microarray blocks were constructed and stained immunohistochemically using CD73 antibody. Staining intensity and numbers of stained tumour cells, inflammatory cells, stroma, and blood vessels were assessed. High-level CD73 expression in tumour cells was positively associated with PD-L1 expression, perineural invasion, and histopathological grade. CD73 positivity in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. Lymphocytic CD73 positivity was also associated with staining positivity in both stroma and vascular structures. In addition, CD73 positivity in vascular structures and stroma were associated with each other. There were no significant associations between CD73 positive tumour cells and CD73 positivity in any other cell types. PD-L1 expression was associated with CD73 staining positivity in stroma (p = 0.007) and also with histopathological grade (p = 0.033) and T class (p = 0.016) of the primary tumour. CD73 positivity in tumour cells was significantly associated with poor disease-specific (p = 0.021) and overall survival (p = 0.016). In multivariate analysis, CD73 positivity in tumour cells was an independent negative prognostic factor together with histopathological grade, TNM stage, and low immune cell score. In conclusion, high CD73 expression in tumour cells is associated with poor survival in PDAC independently of the number of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes or TNM stage.
Algorithm development for the spool installation sequence of outfitting works in offshore structure
Authors: Choi Jae Ho , Woo Jong Hun
Published: July 2020

In the early 2000s, shipyards in South Korea were the most competitive in the world for commercial vessels because of their accumulated production and quality management capabilities. In the mid-2000s, the rising trend of international oil prices and predicted market growth of offshore structures caused large shipyards in South Korea to start focusing on the construction of offshore structures. However, these shipyards suffered massive losses because they did not properly reflect the characteristics of offshore structures, which differ from those of commercial vessels. Such losses can largely be classified into engineering losses and production losses. This study aimed to address problems related to outfitting installation work from a production perspective. An algorithm was developed to define an efficient spool installation sequence and was verified through actual data of offshore structure. The developed algorithm should make it possible to plan spool installation work by determining an efficient spool installation sequence. In addition, the algorithm can assist in prompt decision making and eliminate wasted cost and time by providing with an efficient spool installation sequence.
Fully automated quantification of left ventricular volumes and function in cardiac MRI: clinical evaluation of a deep learning-based algorithm
Authors: Böttcher Benjamin , Beller Ebba , Busse Anke , Cantré Daniel , Yücel Seyrani , Öner Alper , Ince Hüseyin , Weber Marc-André , Meinel Felix G.
Published: July 2020

To investigate the performance of a deep learning-based algorithm for fully automated quantification of left ventricular (LV) volumes and function in cardiac MRI. We retrospectively analysed MR examinations of 50 patients (74% men, median age 57 years). The most common indications were known or suspected ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies or myocarditis. Fully automated analysis of LV volumes and function was performed using a deep learning-based algorithm. The analysis was subsequently corrected by a senior cardiovascular radiologist. Manual volumetric analysis was performed by two radiology trainees. Volumetric results were compared using Bland–Altman statistics and intra-class correlation coefficient. The frequency of clinically relevant differences was analysed using re-classification rates. The fully automated volumetric analysis was completed in a median of 8 s. With expert review and corrections, the analysis required a median of 110 s. Median time required for manual analysis was 3.5 min for a cardiovascular imaging fellow and 9 min for a radiology resident (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). The correlation between fully automated results and expert-corrected results was very strong with intra-class correlation coefficients of 0.998 for end-diastolic volume, 0.997 for end-systolic volume, 0.899 for stroke volume, 0.972 for ejection fraction and 0.991 for myocardial mass (all p < 0.001). Clinically meaningful differences between fully automated and expert corrected results occurred in 18% of cases, comparable to the rate between the two manual readers (20%). Deep learning-based fully automated analysis of LV volumes and function is feasible, time-efficient and highly accurate. Clinically relevant corrections are required in a minority of cases.
Borders as Mirrors: Racial Hierarchies and Policing Migration
Authors: Parmar Alpa
Published: July 2020

This article considers how state-controlled borders and bordering practices are conceptualized, what they symbolize, and the consequences of these representations. By analyzing critically the metaphors that are used to describe borders and migration, and by drawing on empirical research on policing migration in the United Kingdom, an alternative metaphor, where borders are depicted heuristically as mirrors, may be instructive for capturing the multiple functions of borders and their racializing consequences. I propose that borders and their control across Western liberal democracies are like mirrors that represent, reflect and, at times, deflect the reality of exclusionary attitudes and the racialized anxieties they foment. Harnessing the function of borders through a process of self-reflection, where societies hold a mirror to themselves, may be both instructive and transformative. By reconsidering the metaphors employed in relation to migration, the article contributes to interdisciplinary debates on border studies, critical race perspectives and the criminalization of mobility.
ISCEV extended protocol for VEP methods of estimation of visual acuity
Authors: Hamilton Ruth , Bach Michael , Heinrich Sven P. , Hoffmann Michael B. , Odom J. Vernon , McCulloch Daphne L. , Thompson Dorothy A.
Published: July 2020

The International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) standard for visual evoked potentials (VEPs) describes a minimum procedure for clinical VEP testing and encourages more extensive testing. This ISCEV extended protocol is an extension to the VEP standard. It describes procedures for recording multiple VEPs to a range of sizes of pattern stimuli to establish the VEP spatial frequency limit (threshold) and for relating this limit to visual acuity.
Investigating Coupled Effect of Radiative Heat Flux and Firebrand Showers on Ignition of Fuel Beds
Authors: Suzuki Sayaka , Manzello Samuel L.
Published: July 2020

Fire spread occurs via radiation, flame contact, and firebrands. While firebrand showers are known to be a cause of spot fires which ignite fuels far from the main fire front, in the case of short distance spot fires, radiation from the main fire may play a role for firebrand induced ignition processes. Many past investigations have focused on singular effects on fire spread, and little is known about coupled effects. The coupled effect of radiative heat flux and firebrand showers on ignition processes of fuel beds is studied by using a newly developed experimental protocol. The newly developed protocol includes the addition of a radiant panel to the existing experimental setup of a firebrand generator coupled to a wind facility. Experiments were performed under an applied wind field, as the wind is a key parameter in large outdoor fire spread processes. Results show that radiant heat flux plays an important role for ignition by firebrands under 6 m/s while little effect was observed under 8 m/s.
CoCon: A Conference Management System with Formally Verified Document Confidentiality
Authors: Popescu Andrei , Lammich Peter , Hou Ping
Published: July 2020

We present a case study in formally verified security for realistic systems: the information flow security verification of the functional kernel of a web application, the CoCon conference management system. We use the Isabelle theorem prover to specify and verify fine-grained confidentiality properties, as well as complementary safety and “traceback” properties. The challenges posed by this development in terms of expressiveness have led to bounded-deducibility security, a novel security model and verification method generally applicable to systems describable as input/output automata.
Men Lose Life Satisfaction with Fewer Hours in Employment: Mothers Do Not Profit from Longer Employment—Evidence from Eight Panels
Authors: Schröder Martin
Published: July 2020

This article uses random and fixed effects regressions with 743,788 observations from panels of East and West Germany, the UK, Australia, South Korea, Russia, Switzerland and the United States. It shows how the life satisfaction of men and especially fathers in these countries increases steeply with paid working hours. In contrast, the life satisfaction of childless women is less related to long working hours, while the life satisfaction of mothers hardly depends on working hours at all. In addition, women and especially mothers are more satisfied with life when their male partners work longer, while the life satisfaction of men hardly depend on their female partners’ work hours. These differences between men and women are starker where gender attitudes are more traditional. They cannot be explained through differences in income, occupations, partner characteristics, period or cohort effects. These results contradict role expansionist theory, which suggests that men and women profit similarly from moderate work hours; they support role conflict theory, which claims that men are most satisfied with longer and women with shorter work hours.
Spatial distribution and incidence trend of human alveolar echinococcosis in southwest Germany: increased incidence and urbanization of the disease?
Authors: Mueller Matthias C. , Marx Michael , Peyerl-Hoffmann Gabriele , Kern Winfried V.
Published: July 2020

Ecology and epidemiology of Echinococcus multilocularis and human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are changing in Central Europe. Our data from a regional referral center for AE in southwest Germany suggest rising regional incidence for AE (annual incidence per 100,000 population 2004–2011: 0.12; 2012–2019: 0.20) and emerging urban AE (of 7 cases of AE in Freiburg city dwellers none was diagnosed before 2012) calling for an intensification of E. multilocularis and AE surveillance and of AE prevention measures.
“The Laryngectomee Guide” is available in 18 languages (Free eBooks)
Authors: Brook Itzhak
Published: July 2020

“The Laryngectomee Guide” contains information about the diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal cancer, side effects of radiation and chemotherapy; methods of speaking; airway, stoma, and voice prosthesis care; eating and swallowing; medical, dental and psychological concerns; respiration; anesthesia; and travelling. The Guide is available now in 18 languages (English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish (4 versions), Bulgarian, Bosnian, Greece, Romanian, Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Simple and traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, and Russian).
Enhancing reproducibility using interprofessional team best practices
Authors: Rolland Betsy , Burnside Elizabeth S. , Voils Corrine I. , Shah Manish N. , Brasier Allan R.
Published: July 2020

The pervasive problem of irreproducibility of preclinical research represents a substantial threat to the translation of CTSA-generated health interventions. Key stakeholders in the research process have proposed solutions to this challenge to encourage research practices that improve reproducibility. However, these proposals have had minimal impact, because they either 1. take place too late in the research process, 2. focus exclusively on theproductsof research instead of theprocessesof research, and/or 3. fail to take into account the driving incentives in the research enterprise. Because so much clinical and translational science is team-based, CTSA hubs have a unique opportunity to leverage Science of Team Science research to implement and support innovative, evidence-based, team-focused, reproducibility-enhancing activities at a project’s start, and across its evolution. Here, we describe the impact of irreproducibility on clinical and translational science, review its origins, and then describe stakeholders’ efforts to impact reproducibility, and why those efforts may not have the desired effect. Based on team-science best practices and principles of scientific integrity, we then propose ways for Translational Teams to build reproducible behaviors. We end with suggestions for how CTSAs can leverageteam-basedbest practices and identify observable behaviors that indicate a culture of reproducible research.
Tails of exit times from unstable equilibria on the line
Authors: Bakhtin Yuri , Pajor-Gyulai Zsolt
Published: July 2020

For a one-dimensional smooth vector field in a neighborhood of an unstable equilibrium, we consider the associated dynamics perturbed by small noise. We give a revealing elementary proof of a result proved earlier using heavy machinery from Malliavin calculus. In particular, we obtain precise vanishing noise asymptotics for the tail of the exit time and for the exit distribution conditioned on atypically long exits. We also discuss our program on rare transitions in noisy heteroclinic networks.
On the extension of signature-based representations for coherent systems with dependent non-exchangeable components
Authors: Navarro Jorge , Fernández-Sánchez Juan
Published: July 2020

The signature representation shows that the reliability of the system is a mixture of the reliability functions of the k-out-of-n systems. The first representation was obtained for systems with independent and identically distributed (IID) components and after it was extended to exchangeable (EXC) components. The purpose of the present paper is to extend it to the class of systems with identically distributed (ID) components which have a diagonal-dependent copula. We prove that this class is much larger than the class with EXC components. This extension is used to compare systems with non-EXC components.
Randomized near-neighbor graphs, giant components and applications in data science
Authors: Jaffe Ariel , Kluger Yuval , Linderman George C. , Mishne Gal , Steinerberger Stefan
Published: July 2020

If we picknrandom points uniformly in$[0,1]^d$and connect each point to its$c_d \log{n}$nearest neighbors, where$d\ge 2$is the dimension and$c_d$is a constant depending on the dimension, then it is well known that the graph is connected with high probability. We prove that it suffices to connect every point to$ c_{d,1} \log{\log{n}}$points chosen randomly among its$ c_{d,2} \log{n}$nearest neighbors to ensure a giant component of size$n - o(n)$with high probability. This construction yields a much sparser random graph with$\sim n \log\log{n}$instead of$\sim n \log{n}$edges that has comparable connectivity properties. This result has non-trivial implications for problems in data science where an affinity matrix is constructed: instead of connecting each point to itsknearest neighbors, one can often pick$k'\ll k$random points out of theknearest neighbors and only connect to those without sacrificing quality of results. This approach can simplify and accelerate computation; we illustrate this with experimental results in spectral clustering of large-scale datasets.
The Bolsonaro Voter: Issue Positions and Vote Choice in the 2018 Brazilian Presidential Elections
Authors: Rennó Lucio R.
Published: July 2020

The 2018 Brazilian elections saw the rise to power of Jair Bolsonaro, yet another conservative politician who won an election in recent years. What were the ideological underpinnings of the Bolsonaro vote? Was his support based exclusively on resentment toward the Workers’ Party? This article uses a unique public opinion dataset, the 2018 Brazilian Electoral Panel Study, to explore how positions on divisive issues related to social, political, and cultural factors influenced vote choice andBolsonarismo—affection toward Bolsonaro supporters—in the 2018 Brazilian presidential elections. Results indicate that in addition to resentment against the Workers’ Party, a cultural backlash perspective, and strict views on law and order, as well as economic liberalism and rejection of social policies, were the characteristics of support for Bolsonaro.
The logistics of the Republic of Letters: mercantile undercurrents of early modern scholarly knowledge circulation
Authors: ORRJE JACOB
Published: July 2020

Anglo-Swedish scholarly correspondence from the mid-eighteenth century contains repeated mentions of two merchants, Abraham Spalding and Gustavus Brander. The letters describe how these men facilitated the exchange of knowledge over the Baltic Sea and the North Sea by shipping letters, books and other scientific objects, as well as by enabling long-distance financial transactions. Through the case of Spalding and Brander, this article examines the material basis for early modern scholarly exchange. Using the concept of logistics to highlight and relate several mercantile practices, it examines ways of making scholarly knowledge move, and analyses merchants’ potential motives for offering their services to scholarly communities. As logisticians in the Republic of Letters, these merchants could turn their commercial infrastructure into a generator of cultural status valid in both London and Stockholm. Using mercantile services, scholarly knowledge could in turn traverse the region in reliable, cost-effective and secure ways. The case of Spalding and Brander thus highlights how contacts between scholarly communities intersected with other contemporary modes of transnational exchange, and it shows how scholarly exchange relied on relationships based on norms different from the communalism often used to characterize the early modern Republic of Letters. Thus the article suggests new ways of studying early modern scholarly exchange in practice.
Collateral Damage: The Impact of Foreclosures on New Home Mortgage Lending in the 1930s
Authors: Fishback Price , Fleitas Sebastian , Rose Jonathan , Snowden Ken
Published: July 2020

The Great Depression of the 1930s involved a severe disruption in the supply of home mortgage credit. This paper empirically identifies a mechanism lying behind this credit crunch: the impairment of lenders’ balance sheets by illiquid foreclosed real estate. With data on hundreds of building and loans (B&Ls), the leading mortgage lenders in this period, we find that the overhang of foreclosed real estate explains about 30 percent of the drop in new lending between 1930 and 1935.
Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea: does fibrin glue change the surgical outcome?
Authors: Ganesh P B , Basavarajaiah B M , Rudrappa B A , Kasaragod S K
Published: July 2020

Objective

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea takes place when there is a breakdown of the barriers separating the nasal cavity from the subarachnoid space. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical outcomes of endoscopic transnasal cerebrospinal fluid leak repair with and without fibrin glue.

Method

There were 43 patients with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea who underwent surgery for cerebrospinal fluid leak repair between 2014 and 2018. Patients were divided into group A, where fibrin glue was used, and group B, where fibrin glue was not used.

Results

It was found that 74.4 per cent of cases were due to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak. The most common site of a leak was the cribriform plate (65 per cent). There was a success rate of 96.1 per cent (25 of 26) in group A and 83 per cent (15 of 17) in group B. There was no statistically significant difference between the results of the two groups (chi-square test: p = 0.31).

Conclusion

There was no statistically significant difference in the results of cerebrospinal fluid leak repair with and without fibrin glue.
Identification of molecular markers for starch content in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) by genome-wide association studies based on bulked samples
Authors: Zhang Yinghu , Luan Haiye , Zang Hui , Yang Hongyan , Xu Xiao , Chen He , Qiao Hailong , Shen Huiquan
Published: July 2020

Starch content is an important trait in barley. To evaluate the genetic diversity and identify molecular markers of starch content in barley, 40 cultivated barley genotypes collected from different regions, including genotypes whose starch content is at either the high or low end of the spectrum (15), were used in this study. All the genotypes were re-sequenced by the double-digest-restriction associated DNA sequencing method, and a total of 299,103 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were obtained. The genotypes were divided into four sub-populations based on FASTSTRUCTURE, principal component analysis and neighbour-joining tree analysis. All four sub-populations had a high linkage disequilibrium, especially group 3, whose members were recently bred for malting in the Jiangsu coastal area. The starch content of the barley lines was evaluated during three growing seasons (2014–2017), and the average values of starch content across the three growing seasons at the low and high ends were 51.5 and 55.0%, respectively. The starch content was affected by population structure, the barley in group 2 had a low starch content, while the barley in group 4 had a high starch content. Twenty-six SNP markers were identified as being significantly associated with starch content (P ⩽ 0.001) based on the average values across the three growing seasons using the mixed linear model method. These SNP markers were located on chromosomes 1H and 4H, and were considered loci of qSC1-1 and qSC4-1, respectively. The major identified QTLs for starch content are helpful for further research on carbohydrates and for barley breeding.
Dielectric sensitivity of different antennas types for microwave-based head imaging: numerical study and experimental verification
Authors: Tesarik Jan , Pokorny Tomas , Vrba Jan
Published: July 2020

The design of proper antenna element (AE) for microwave-based head imaging or brain stroke detection is a crucial challenge in the development process of microwave imaging (MWI) systems. The main purpose of this paper was to design, fabricate, and experimentally verify the compact and dimensions-reduced H-slot antenna suitable for the new generation of multichannel MWI system for brain stroke detection. The slot antenna type was chosen based on the numerical study of three AEs available in the literature, i.e. bow tie, slot, and waveguide-based. The study was focused on the sensitivity of the antennae (change of magnitude and phase ofS21) due to dielectric parameters change or type and diameter of inclusion in a head phantom representing a hemorrhagic (HEM) or ischemic (ISCH) stroke phantom, respectively. Further, the analysis of antenna radiation to lossy medium/air and its immunity against plane wave exposure was carried out. The H-slot antenna was fabricated and experimentally verified (measurements of reflection as well as transmission coefficients) using a liquid head phantom with inserted HEM stroke phantom (both prepared as a mixture of propylene glycol, water, and salt). The phantoms were filled inside the designed two-port test system. Numerical models were validated by comparing calculated and measuredS-parameters. The sensitivity of the H-slot antenna to the presence of the HEM stroke phenomenon within the phantom of the head was also demonstrated. The main advantage of the proposed H-slot antenna is its small dimensions, easy, inexpensive, and repeatable fabrication as well as mechanical stability.
Relationship of Self-Compassion, Hope, and Emotional Control to Perceived Burdensomeness, Thwarted Belongingness, and Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Umphrey Laura R. , Sherblom John C. , Swiatkowski Paulina
Published: July 2020

Abstract. Background: Cultivating positive feelings of self in relationships with others can affect perceptions of belongingness and burdensomeness. Aims: The present study examines the relationships of self-compassion, hope, and emotional control to thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation. Method: Participants were 481 college students who completed scales measuring self-compassion, hope, emotional control, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation. Results: Correlation and parallel mediation analysis results show relationships between self-compassion, hope, and emotional control with perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation. Limitations: The study is limited by its cross-sectional design, sample demographics, and inability to distinguish between individuals with suicidal ideation and those who attempt suicide. Conclusion: The results show that the relationships of self-compassion, hope, and emotional control to perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation are worth further investigation.
High fat diet causes distinct aberrations in the testicular proteome
Authors: Jarvis S. , Gethings L. A. , Samanta L. , Pedroni S. M. A. , Withers D. J. , Gray N. , Plumb R. S. , Winston R. M. L. , Williamson C. , Bevan C. L.
Published: July 2020

Diet has important effects on normal physiology and the potential deleterious effects of high fat diets and obesity on male reproductive health are being increasingly described. We conducted a histological review of the effects of chronic high fat (HF) diet (using a mouse model fed a 45% fat diet for 21 weeks) with a discovery proteomic study to assess for changes in the abundance of proteins in the testis. Mice on a HF diet became obese and developed glucose intolerance. Using mass spectrometry, we identify 102 proteins affected in the testis of obese mice. These included structural proteins important for the blood testis barrier (filamin A, FLNA), proteins involved in oxidative stress responses (spermatogenesis associated 20, SPATA-20) and lipid homoeostasis (sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, SREBP2 and apolipoprotein A1, APOA1). In addition, an important regulator protein paraspeckle component 1, PSPC-1, which interacts with the androgen receptor was significantly downregulated. Proteomic data was validated using both Western blotting and immunostaining which confirmed and localised protein expression in both mouse and human testis using biopsy specimens. This study focused mainly on the abnormalities that occurred at the protein level and as a result, we have identified several candidate proteins and conducted pathway analysis around the effects of HF diet on the testis providing novel insights not previously described. Some of the identified targets could be targeted therapeutically and future work is directed in this area.
Author Correction: A global database of Holocene paleotemperature records
Authors: Kaufman Darrell , McKay Nicholas , Routson Cody , Erb Michael , Davis Basil , Heiri Oliver , Jaccard Samuel , Tierney Jessica , Dätwyler Christoph , Axford Yarrow , Brussel Thomas , Cartapanis Olivier , Chase Brian , Dawson Andria , de Vernal Anne , Engels Stefan , Jonkers Lukas , Marsicek Jeremiah , Moffa-Sánchez Paola , Morrill Carrie , Orsi Anais , Rehfeld Kira , Saunders Krystyna , Sommer Philipp S. , Thomas Elizabeth , Tonello Marcela , Tóth Mónika , Vachula Richard , Andreev Andrei , Bertrand Sebastien , Biskaborn Boris , Bringué Manuel , Brooks Stephen , Caniupán Magaly , Chevalier Manuel , Cwynar Les , Emile-Geay Julien , Fegyveresi John , Feurdean Angelica , Finsinger Walter , Fortin Marie-Claude , Foster Louise , Fox Mathew , Gajewski Konrad , Grosjean Martin , Hausmann Sonja , Heinrichs Markus , Holmes Naomi , Ilyashuk Boris , Ilyashuk Elena , Juggins Steve , Khider Deborah , Koinig Karin , Langdon Peter , Larocque-Tobler Isabelle , Li Jianyong , Lotter André , Luoto Tomi , Mackay Anson , Magyari Eniko , Malevich Steven , Mark Bryan , Massaferro Julieta , Montade Vincent , Nazarova Larisa , Novenko Elena , Pařil Petr , Pearson Emma , Peros Matthew , Pienitz Reinhard , Płóciennik Mateusz , Porinchu David , Potito Aaron , Rees Andrew , Reinemann Scott , Roberts Stephen , Rolland Nicolas , Salonen Sakari , Self Angela , Seppä Heikki , Shala Shyhrete , St-Jacques Jeannine-Marie , Stenni Barbara , Syrykh Liudmila , Tarrats Pol , Taylor Karen , van den Bos Valerie , Velle Gaute , Wahl Eugene , Walker Ian , Wilmshurst Janet , Zhang Enlou , Zhilich Snezhana
Published: July 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Author Correction: A rasterized building footprint dataset for the United States
Authors: Heris Mehdi P. , Foks Nathan Leon , Bagstad Kenneth J. , Troy Austin , Ancona Zachary H.
Published: July 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.