bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring Behavioral Similarity of Cellular Automata
Authors: Turney Peter D.
Published: May 2021

Conway's Game of Life is the best-known cellular automaton. It is a classic model of emergence and self-organization, it is Turing-complete, and it can simulate a universal constructor. The Game of Life belongs to the set of semi-totalistic cellular automata, a family with 262,144 members. Many of these automata may deserve as much attention as the Game of Life, if not more. The challenge we address here is to provide a structure for organizing this large family, to make it easier to find interesting automata, and to understand the relations between automata. Packard and Wolfram (1985) divided the family into four classes, based on the observed behaviors of the rules. Eppstein (2010) proposed an alternative four-class system, based on the forms of the rules. Instead of a class-based organization, we propose a continuous high-dimensional vector space, where each automaton is represented by a point in the space. The distance between two automata in this space corresponds to the differences in their behavioral characteristics. Nearest neighbors in the space have similar behaviors. This space should make it easier for researchers to see the structure of the family of semi-totalistic rules and to find the hidden gems in the family.
Comparing the New World and the Old: Fray Juan Bautista and the Languages of the Spanish Monarchy
Authors: Wasserman-Soler Daniel I.
Published: May 2021

Born in New Spain, fray Juan Bautista Viseo (b. 1555) authored perhaps a dozen books in Nahuatl, Castilian, and Latin, making him one of the most prolific writers of the colonial period in Mexico. While many are lost, his available texts provide a valuable window into religious conversion efforts in the Spanish monarchy around 1600. This paper investigates his recommendations regarding how priests and members of religious orders ought to use indigenous languages. In the sixteenth-century Spanish territories, Church and Crown officials discussed language strategies on several fronts. This paper also compares Juan Bautista’s ideas about language use in Mexico to similar discussions elsewhere in the Spanish kingdoms. Existing scholarship has highlighted parallels in how the Spanish monarchy dealt with Native American and Islamic communities. However, an examination of Juan Bautista’s writing, together with that of contemporary churchmen, suggests fundamental differences in the ways that Spanish officials thought about and approached Amerindians and Moriscos.
The International Court of Justice and the Responsibility to Protect: Learning from the Case of The Gambia v. Myanmar
Authors: Mennecke Martin
Published: May 2021

It is a commonplace in the R2P discourse to describe accountability measures as key means to implement the responsibility to protect. In particular, the International Criminal Court is regularly highlighted as a central actor, both in the literature, the annual R2P reports issued by the UN Secretary-General, and the subsequent debates in the UN General Assembly. Conspicuously absent from this conversation is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (icj). This article examines the potential role of the ‘World Court’, as The Gambia in November 2019 started a new case under the UN Genocide Convention against Myanmar before the icj. Analysing the limitations and prospects and existing icj case-law, the article concludes that the International Court of Justice can make an important and unique contribution to the responsibility to protect.
From China’s “Political Meritocracy” to “Just Hierarchy”
Authors: Mushkat Roda
Published: May 2021

Students of comparative constitutional design grapple with myriad complex normative and empirical issues. Prominent among them is the relative effectiveness of different governance regimes. Concerns stemming from the perceived malfunctioning of modern democracies have intensified efforts to diagnose and rectify the supposedly proliferating ills. The seemingly solid post-1978 Chinese record of steadily managing intricate societal challenges has highlighted the possible advantages of the country’s tightly controlled top-down institutional apparatus and its potential value as a model worth broadly exploring and even embracing on a meaningful scale. This view, authoritatively and vigorously articulated by an influential and prolific political philosopher and his academic associates, has evolved to a point whereby the Chinese constitutional order and contemporary experience are portrayed as being capable of fruitfully supplanting democratic structures or, alternatively, productively revitalising them. Yet, on the whole, this remains a controversial politico-legal proposition, conceptually problematic and lacking sufficient factual support.
The role and impact of Zootaxa in mammalogy in its first 20 years
Authors: CORDEIRO-ESTRELA PEDRO , FEIJÓ ANDERSON , GAUBERT PHILIPPE , WEKSLER MARCELO , HAUTIER LIONEL , VELAZCO PAÚL M. , TETA PABLO , FABRE PIERRE-HENRI , VERON GERALDINE , BRAUN JANET K.
Published: May 2021

Zootaxa came as a new and innovative publication medium for taxonomy, amidst a scenario of devaluation of this important biological science. After 20 years, it has ascertained itself as one of the main journals in animal taxonomy. However, the contribution of the journal to the taxonomy of Mammalia (mammals), one of the most studied groups of animals with a long-standing, dedicated spectrum of specialized journals (mammalogy), could have been expected as minor. All the current and former editors of the Mammalia section of Zootaxa analyzed the relative contribution of the journal to the description of new species of mammals since 2001. We also analyzed the contribution of Zootaxa by taxon, geographic origin of taxa, and geographic origin of first authors. The taxonomic methodology of authors in species description is described as well as the temporal trends in publications and publication subjects. We highlight the editors’ picks and eventually, the challenges for the future. We found that Zootaxa has had a significant contribution to mammalogy, being the second journal (the first being Journal of Mammalogy) in terms of number of new species described (76; 10.6% of the new mammalian species described between 2001 and 2020). The majority of the new species were described following an integrative taxonomic approach with at least two sources of data (86%). The analysis of published taxa, their geographic origin, and the country of origin of first authors shows a wide coverage and exhaustive representation, except for the species from the Nearctic. We conclude that Zootaxa has likely responded to a repressed demand for an additional taxonomic journal in mammalogy, with as possible appeals the absence of publication fees and an established publication speed. With 246 articles published in the past 20 years, the Mammalia section of Zootaxa embraces a large spectrum of systematic subjects going beyond alpha taxonomy. The challenges for the future are to encourage publications of authors from the African continent, still poorly represented, and from the palaeontology community, as the journal has been open to palaeontology since its early days.
Twenty years for Zootaxa and ten years for Afromoths (Lepidoptera): a taxonomic interaction between the journal and an online relational database
Authors: DE PRINS JURATE
Published: May 2021

After twenty years of publishing the taxonomic journal Zootaxa, it is now the right time to synthesize its achievements and its contribution to the taxonomic knowledge of the Afrotropical Lepidoptera taxa. These contributions were made thanks to the exploration of natural habitats, museum collections, historic libraries, private holdings and phylogenetic investigations by many professional and amateur lepidopterists throughout the world. Zootaxa was introduced as a novel publication model with its innovative, community-based, and democratic approach to speed up the process of taxonomic publications. The fast-developing technology and especially the accessibility of digital taxonomic tools prepared the basis for novel links and inter-relationships. The global digital revolution and especially the overwhelming embrace of digital technology in Africa made an essential switch in the way we work: it became possible to present taxonomic information in a way that is searchable, consultable, illustrative, updatable, correctable and, most importantly—open and accessible to everyone. In this article, the trends of an increase in Afrotropical moth biodiversity knowledge published in Zootaxa and other journals are shortly discussed. Data are retrieved from the online taxonomic relational database Afromoths (www.afromoths.net).
A brief review of the stony coral (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) papers published by Zootaxa in its first 20 years
Authors: CAIRNS STEPHEN D. , BARON-SZABO ROSEMARIE C.
Published: May 2021

In the 20 year history of Zootaxa, thirty-two papers have been published having Scleractinia as its primary focus. Twenty-four of the 32 scleractinian papers deal with Recent taxa, most of which belonging to shallow-water, reef corals. The 8 publications dealing with fossil Scleractinia include 3 monographic works, three papers discussing nomenclatural issues of individual taxa, and 2 papers deal with various aspects of select genera.
Taxonomic papers on Collembola in Zootaxa, 2001 to 2020
Authors: GREENSLADE PENELOPE , WEINER WANDA MARIA
Published: May 2021

We summarise here publications on Collembola in the journal Zootaxa over the years 2001 to 2020 and include numbers and nationalities of authors and referees. We also list numbers of new species and genera described. For a relatively small pool of taxonomists, we conclude their output has been considerable and Zootaxa has provided a useful vehicle in which to publish their research findings. Of interest, is the shift away from a Eurocentric origin of authors to a Chinese and Brazilian one. Reasons for this change are suggested.
Amphibians in Zootaxa: 20 years documenting the global diversity of frogs, salamanders, and caecilians
Authors: RIVERA-CORREA MAURICIO , BALDO DIEGO , CANDIOTI FLORENCIA VERA , ORRICO VICTOR GOYANNES DILL , BLACKBURN DAVID C. , CASTROVIEJO-FISHER SANTIAGO , CHAN KIN ONN , GAMBALE PRISCILLA , GOWER DAVID J. , QUAH EVAN S.H. , ROWLEY JODI J. L. , TWOMEY EVAN , VENCES MIGUEL
Published: May 2021

Zootaxa is a mega-journal that since its inception, 20 years ago, has contributed to the documentation of the planet’s biodiversity. Its role concerning terrestrial vertebrates has been crucial especially for amphibians, which are the most threatened class of vertebrates. As current editors of the Amphibia section, we reviewed the state of knowledge of taxonomic publications on amphibians over the last two decades (from 2001 to 2020). Our review reveals that 2,533 frogs, 259 salamanders, and 55 caecilians have been named in these 20 years, mainly in the tropical regions of South America, Asia, and Africa. More than half (57%) of these species descriptions were published in only 10 journals. At least 827 species of the new amphibians (29% of the total) were described in Zootaxa. This mega-journal has served also as a place of publication for monographs and systematic reviews, in addition to short articles documenting the vocalizations of anurans and the morphology of embryos and larvae. Its efficient evaluation process, the freedom of manuscript length, including full-color figures, and free of cost for the authors, has made Zootaxa a favorite for amphibian researchers. In an era of accelerating rates of biodiversity loss, documenting, describing, naming, and proposing evolutionary scenarios for species is, more than ever, an urgent task.
Destratification and Restratification of the Spring Surface Boundary Layer in a Subtropical Front
Authors: Kunze Eric , Mickett John B. , Girton James B.
Published: May 2021

Destratification and restratification of a ~50-m-thick surface boundary layer in the North Pacific Subtropical Front are examined during 24–31 March 2017 in the wake of a storm using a ~5-km array of 23 chi-augmented EM-APEX profiling floats (u, υ, T, S, χT), as well as towyo and ADCP ship surveys, shipboard air-sea surface fluxes, and parameterized shortwave penetrative radiation. During the first four days, nocturnal destabilizing buoyancy fluxes mixed the surface layer over almost its full depth every night followed by restratification to N ~ 2 × 10−3 rad s−1 during daylight. Starting on 28 March, nocturnal destabilizing buoyancy fluxes weakened because weakening winds reduced latent heat flux. Shallow mixing and stratified transition layers formed above ~20-m depth. A remnant layer in the lower part of the surface layer was insulated from destabilizing surface forcing. Penetrative radiation, turbulent buoyancy fluxes, and horizontal buoyancy advection all contribute to its restratification, closing the budget to within measurement uncertainties. Buoyancy advective restratification (slumping) plays a minor role. Before 28 March, measured advective restratification is confined to daytime; is often destratifying; and is much stronger than predictions of geostrophic adjustment, mixed-layer eddy instability, and Ekman buoyancy flux because of storm-forced inertial shear. Starting on 28 March, while small, the subinertial envelope of measured buoyancy advective restratification in the remnant layer proceeds as predicted by mixed-layer eddy parameterizations.
Efficacy of galcanezumab in patients with episodic cluster headaches and a history of preventive treatment failure
Authors: Plato Brian , Andrews J Scott , Rettiganti Mallikarjuna , Tockhorn-Heidenreich Antje , Bardos Jennifer , Wenzel Richard , Kuruppu Dulanji , Ambrosini Anna
Published: May 2021

Objective:

The efficacy of galcanezumab was evaluated in patients with episodic cluster headache and history of preventive treatment failure.

Methods:

In the randomized, 8-week, double-blind study (CGAL), patients with episodic cluster headache received once-monthly subcutaneous injections of galcanezumab 300 mg or placebo. Patients who completed CGAL and enrolled in an open-label study were queried for preventive treatment history. In a subset of patients with a known history of failure of verapamil or any other prior preventive treatment, a post hoc analysis of least square mean change from baseline in weekly cluster headache attack frequency across Weeks 1 to 3 was assessed.

Results:

Fifteen patients provided data for known history of prior preventive treatment failure (6 placebo, 9 galcanezumab), of whom 11 failed verapamil. The mean reduction in the weekly frequency of cluster headache attacks was greater with galcanezumab compared to placebo among patients with prior preventive treatment failure (8.2 versus 2.4); mean difference 5.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0, 13.6) and among patients with verapamil failure (10.1 versus 1.6); mean difference 8.5 (95% CI 0.4, 16.7).

Conclusion:

In this exploratory analysis of patients with a known history of prior preventive treatment failures, treatment with galcanezumab resulted in greater mean reductions in weekly cluster headache attacks compared with placebo.

ClinicalTrials.gov:

NCT02397473 (I5Q-MC-CGAL) NCT02797951 (I5Q-MC-CGAR)
Observation of the characteristics of the natural course of Bietti crystalline dystrophy by fundus fluorescein angiography
Authors: Zhang Shengjuan , Wang Lifei , Liu Zhiqiang , Sun Huijing , Li Qian , Xing Chen , Xiao Zhe , Peng Xiaoyan
Published: May 2021

Background

Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that causes progressive vision loss. Here, 12 patients were followed up for 1–5 years with fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) to observe BCD disease progression.

Methods

FFA images were collected for 12 patients with BCD who visited our clinic twice or more over a 5-year period. Peripheral venous blood was collected to identify the pathogenic gene related to the clinical phenotype.

Results

We observed two types in FFA images of patients with BCD. Type 1 showed retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy in the macular area, followed by choriocapillaris atrophy and the subsequent appearance of RPE atrophy appeared at the peripheral retina. Type 2 showed RPE atrophy at the posterior pole and peripheral retina, followed by choriocapillaris atrophy around the macula and along the superior and inferior vascular arcades and the nasal side of the optic disc. The posterior and peripheral lesions of both type 1 and type 2 BCD subsequently extended to the mid-periphery; finally, all the RPEs and choriocapillaris atrophied, exposing the choroid great vessels, but type 2 macular RPE atrophy could last longer.

Conclusions

The characterization of two different types of BCD development provides a better understanding of the phenotype and the progression of the disease for a precise prognosis and prediction of pathogenesis.
Identifying US County-level characteristics associated with high COVID-19 burden
Authors: Li Daniel , Gaynor Sheila M. , Quick Corbin , Chen Jarvis T. , Stephenson Briana J. K. , Coull Brent A. , Lin Xihong
Published: May 2021

Background

Identifying county-level characteristics associated with high coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) burden can help allow for data-driven, equitable allocation of public health intervention resources and reduce burdens on health care systems.

Methods

Synthesizing data from various government and nonprofit institutions for all 3142 United States (US) counties, we studied county-level characteristics that were associated with cumulative and weekly case and death rates through 12/21/2020. We used generalized linear mixed models to model cumulative and weekly (40 repeated measures per county) cases and deaths. Cumulative and weekly models included state fixed effects and county-specific random effects. Weekly models additionally allowed covariate effects to vary by season and included US Census region-specific B-splines to adjust for temporal trends.

Results

Rural counties, counties with more minorities and white/non-white segregation, and counties with more people with no high school diploma and with medical comorbidities were associated with higher cumulative COVID-19 case and death rates. In the spring, urban counties and counties with more minorities and white/non-white segregation were associated with increased weekly case and death rates. In the fall, rural counties were associated with larger weekly case and death rates. In the spring, summer, and fall, counties with more residents with socioeconomic disadvantage and medical comorbidities were associated greater weekly case and death rates.

Conclusions

These county-level associations are based off complete data from the entire country, come from a single modeling framework that longitudinally analyzes the US COVID-19 pandemic at the county-level, and are applicable to guiding government resource allocation policies to different US counties.
Pyrvinium pamoate can overcome artemisinin’s resistance in anaplastic thyroid cancer
Authors: Li Yitian
Published: May 2021

Background

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a highly lethal subtype of thyroid cancer without effective therapies. Drug resistance in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma poses a significant problem. Although artemisinin exerts antitumor effects, but its efficacy in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is unknown.

Methods

We used RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes. Next, we determined the cause of ART resistance by testing the expression and activity of β-catenin, and enhanced ART activity with a WNT signaling inhibitor.

Results

Artemisinin suppressed the growth of BHT-101 but not human thyroid anaplastic carcinoma (CAL-62) cells. The mechanism of artemisinin resistance in CAL-62 was associated with the aberrant activation of WNT signaling. Pyrvinium pamoate, an inhibitor of WNT signaling, was used to overcome ART resistance in CAL-62 cells. The combination of artemisinin and pyrvinium pamoate suppressed the growth of CAL-62 cells and induced the apoptosis.

Conclusions

Our study is the first to prove the efficacy of ART as monotherapy or in combination with PP in the management of anaplastic thyroid cancer, and that the inhibition of WNT signaling may overcome ART resistance.
Using the theoretical domains framework to inform strategies to support dietitians undertaking body composition assessments in routine clinical care
Authors: Jobber Chloe J. D. , Wilkinson Shelley A. , Hughes Elyssa K. , Nave Fiona , van der Meij Barbara S.
Published: May 2021

Background

Malnutrition, sarcopenia and cachexia are clinical wasting syndromes characterised by muscle loss. Systematic monitoring by body composition assessment (BCA) is recommended for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of the syndrome(s). This study investigated practices, competency, and attitudes of Australian dietitians regarding BCA, to inform a local implementation process.

Methods

Applying the Action cycle in the Knowledge to Action framework, surveys were distributed to the 26 dietitians of an 800-bed tertiary hospital. The survey assessed barriers and enablers to performing routine BCA in clinical care. Results were categorised using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and suitable interventions mapped using the Behaviour Change Wheel.

Results

Twenty-two dietitians (84.6%) completed the survey. Barriers to BCA were identified in all TDF domains, particularly in Knowledge, Skills, Social/professional role and identity, Beliefs about capabilities, and Environmental context and resources. Enablers existed in domains of: Skills; Beliefs about consequences; Goals; Environmental context and resources; Social influences; Intentions; Optimism; Reinforcement.

Conclusions

This study showed that hospital dietitians experience individual, team, and organisational barriers to adopt BCAs in clinical practice. We were able to formulate targeted implementation strategies to overcome these barriers to assist BCA adoption into routine practice.
Improving performance intelligence for governing an integrated health and social care delivery network: a case study on the Amsterdam Noord district
Authors: Bos Véronique L. L. C. , Klazinga Niek S. , Kringos Dionne S.
Published: May 2021

Background

A guiding principle of a successful integrated health and social care delivery network is to establish a governance approach based on learning, grounded in a data and knowledge infrastructure. The ‘Krijtmolen Alliantie’ is a network of health and social care providers with the ambition to realize such a performance intelligence driven governance model in line with the Triple Aim. This study seeks to identify what performance intelligence is available and how it can be improved.

Methods

This case study was conducted in the district of Amsterdam Noord, the Netherlands, and employed 23 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in health and social care, a feasibility analysis of available administrative data, and a reflection meeting with board members of the ‘Krijtmolen Alliantie’. Information needs for performance intelligence by the stakeholders were mapped and a data landscape of the district covered by the network was drafted. Finally, in the reflection meeting with board members of the ‘Krijtmolen Alliantie’ the information needs and data landscape were aligned with governing needs, resulting in priority domains around which to strengthen the data infrastructure for governance of the integrated health and social care delivery network.

Results

The ‘Krijtmolen Alliantie’ encompasses a network of providers with a diverse range of catchment areas. There are indicators on population health and welfare, however they have limited actionability for providers due to a misalignment with their respective catchment areas. There is a barrier in data exchange between health and social care providers. It is difficult to construct one indicator for per capita cost in the Dutch health data infrastructure as health and social care are subdivided in financing siloes. Priority domains for improvement of performance intelligence for the ‘Krijtmolen Alliantie’ are: 1) Per capita and per patient cost data integration that would allow combined accountability through aligning financial incentives to facilitate integrated care, and 2) combined patient experience and outcome measures to reflect network quality of care and patient experience performance.

Conclusion

Available performance intelligence lacks actionability for the governance of integrated care networks. Our recommendation is to align performance intelligence with the regional governance responsibilities of stakeholders for health and social care delivery.
Gender inclusive sporting environments: the proportion of women in non-player roles over recent years
Authors: Eime R , Charity M , Foley B. C , Fowlie J , Reece L. J
Published: May 2021

Background

Throughout the ecosystem of sport, women have been and continue to be underrepresented at all levels compared to men. The capacity of community-level sport is heavily reliant on the many non-player roles including governance, as well as administration, coaching and officiating. Recently there has been increased attention to improving the gender balance in sport. The aim of this study is to investigate the proportions of women engaged in non-playing roles in sport (2016–2018).

Methods

This study involved secondary analysis of the AusPlay survey, a national population survey, funded by Sport Australia. This study utilised data from people aged 15-years or older about their involvement in non-playing roles in sport, and their demographic data. Survey respondents were asked “During the last 12 months, have you been involved with any sports in a nonplaying role, such as official, coach, referee, administrator, etc?” Analysis of non-player role responses focussed specifically on the top four non-player role categories; coach, official, administrator and manager. Frequency analysis concentrated on the distribution of men and women involvement in a non-player capacity for the three years, with detailed analysis of the most recent year (2018).

Results

In this study of 61,578 Australians there was a higher proportion of men in non-player roles in sport compared to women, across each of the three years (2018: men 55 %, women 46 %). Involvement of women in coaching increased significantly from 38 % to 2016 to 44 % in 2018 (p < 0.001). The proportion of women involved in administration roles significantly decreased from a peak of 51 % in 2017 to 46 % in 2018 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Aligned with strategic policy and investment strategies, there are gradual increased representation of women in non-playing sport, coaching roles. Women are still underrepresented in terms of coaches, officials and administrators, but are more likely to be managers. It is recommended that there is continued mentoring, identification and emphasising of female role models, and further strategies to increase female presence in non-playing roles. We recommend that future research, in line with appropriate gender and cultural-change theories, investigates and discusses the progress of gender equality throughout playing and non-playing role in sport.
Neonates with coronavirus disease 2019 acquired from infected mothers: the incompatibility of maternal intensity and infant lung involvement: two case reports
Authors: Moeindarbary Somayeh , Pourhoseini Azam , Layegh Parvaneh , Shahriari Zahra , Fayyaz Faezeh , Bahrami Milad , Rafiee Mahdi
Published: May 2021

Background

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization on January 30, 2020. The results of recent studies have suggested that neonates may present symptoms of COVID-19. Although the presentation of the disease in neonates is known to vary, only a limited number of studies have investigated newborns infected with COVID-19.

Case presentation

This study presents two Asian cases of newborns with COVID-19. Maternal–fetal or postnatal transmission was suggested based on the simultaneity of maternal infection. Chest radiography in one of the neonates showed severe lung involvement. Despite support and resuscitation attempts, the poor clinical condition of the neonate led to his death. However, the two mothers and one of the neonates were discharged from the hospital in good general condition.

Conclusion

The neonates had worse clinical conditions than the mothers, and the intensity of pneumonia and level of lung involvement in the newborns were not associated with the stage and severity of the disease in the mothers with COVID-19.
Estimation of divergence measures via weighted Jensen inequality on time scales
Authors: Ansari Iqrar , Khan Khuram Ali , Nosheen Ammara , Pečarić Ðilda , Pečarić Josip
Published: May 2021

The main purpose of the presented paper is to obtain some time scale inequalities for different divergences and distances by using weighted time scales Jensen’s inequality. These results offer new inequalities in h-discrete calculus and quantum calculus and extend some known results in the literature. The lower bounds of some divergence measures are also presented. Moreover, the obtained discrete results are given in the light of the Zipf–Mandelbrot law and the Zipf law.
Emerging agents and regimens for polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia
Authors: Shallis Rory M. , Podoltsev Nikolai A.
Published: May 2021

Polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are both driven by JAK-STAT pathway activation and consequently much of the recent research efforts to improve the management and outcomes of patients with these neoplasms have centered around inhibition of this pathway. In addition to newer JAK inhibitors and improved interferons, promising novel agents exploiting a growing understanding of PV and ET pathogenesis and disease evolution mechanisms are being developed. These agents may modify the disease course in addition to cytoreduction. Histone deacetylase, MDM2 and telomerase inhibitors in patients with PV/ET have demonstrated clinically efficacy and serve as chief examples. Hepcidin mimetics, limiting iron availability to red blood cell precursors, offer an exciting alternative to therapeutic phlebotomy and have the potential to revolutionize management for patients with PV. Many of these newer agents are found to improve hematologic parameters and symptom burden, but their role in thrombotic risk reduction and disease progression control is currently unknown. The results of larger, randomized studies to confirm the early efficacy signals observed in phase 1/2 trials are eagerly awaited.
A retrospective analysis of cardiovascular adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Lal Jessica Castrillon , Brown Sherry-Ann , Collier Patrick , Cheng Feixiong
Published: May 2021

Background

Modern therapies in oncology have increased cancer survivorship, as well as the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events. While immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown significant clinical impact in several cancer types, the incidence of immune-related cardiovascular (CV) adverse events poses an additional health concern and has been reported.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System data of suspect product reports for immunotherapy and classical chemotherapy from January 2010–March 2020. We identified 90,740 total adverse event reports related to immune checkpoint inhibitors and classical chemotherapy.

Results

We found that myocarditis was significantly associated with patients receiving anti-program cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or anti-program death ligand 1 (PD-L1), odds ratio (OR) = 23.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.76–48.42, (adjusted p-value) q <  0.001), and combination immunotherapy, OR = 7.29 (95% CI 1.03–51.89, q = 0.047). Heart failure was significantly associated in chemotherapy compared to PD-(L)1, OR = 0.50 (95% CI 0.37–0.69, q <  0.001), CTLA4, OR = 0.08 (95% CI 0.03–0.20, q <  0.001), and combination immunotherapy, OR = 0.25 (95% CI 0.13–0.48, q <  0.001). Additionally, we observe a sex-specificity towards males in cardiac adverse reports for arrhythmias, OR = 0.81 (95% CI 0.75–0.87, q <  0.001), coronary artery disease, 0.63 (95% CI 0.53–0.76, q <  0.001), myocardial infarction, OR = 0.60 (95% CI 0.53–0.67, q <  0.001), myocarditis, OR = 0.59 (95% CI 0.47–0.75, q <  0.001) and pericarditis, OR = 0.5 (95% CI 0.35–0.73, q <  0.001).

Conclusion

Our study provides the current risk estimates of cardiac adverse events in patients treated with immunotherapy compared to conventional chemotherapy. Understanding the clinical risk factors that predispose immunotherapy-treated cancer patients to often fatal CV adverse events will be crucial in Cardio-Oncology management.
A phantom study to optimise the automatic tube current modulation for chest CT in COVID-19
Authors: Gombolevskiy Victor , Morozov Sergey , Chernina Valeria , Blokhin Ivan , Vassileva Jenia
Published: May 2021

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The expert organisations recommend more cautious use of thoracic computed tomography (CT), opting for low-dose protocols. We aimed at determining a threshold value of automatic tube current modulation noise index below which there is a chance to miss an onset of ground-glass opacities (GGO) in COVID-19. A team of radiologists and medical physicists performed 25 phantom CT studies using different automatic tube current modulation settings (SUREExposure3D technology). We then conducted a retrospective evaluation of the chest CT images from 22 patients with COVID-19 and calculated the density difference between the GGO and unaffected tissue. Finally, the results were matched to the phantom study results to determine the minimum noise index threshold value. The minimum density difference at the onset of COVID-19 was 252 HU (p < 0.001). This was found to correspond to the SUREExposure 3D noise index of 36. We established the noise index threshold of 36 for the Canon scanner without iterative reconstructions, allowing for a decrease in the dose-length product by 80%. The proposed protocol needs to be validated in a prospective study.
Enhanced low-rank matrix estimation for simultaneous denoising and reconstruction of 5D seismic data
Authors: Oboué Yapo Abolé Serge Innocent , Chen Yangkang
Published: May 2021

Noise and missing traces usually influence the quality of multidimensional seismic data. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the useful signal from its noisy observation. The damped rank-reduction (DRR) method has emerged as an effective method to reconstruct the useful signal matrix from noisy and incomplete observations. However, the higher the noise level and the larger the ratio of missing traces, the weaker the DRR operator becomes. Consequently, the estimated low-rank (LR) signal matrix includes a significant amount of residual noise that influences the following processing steps. Therefore, we focus on the problem of estimating an LR signal matrix from its noisy observation. To elaborate on the novel algorithm, we formulate an improved proximity function by mixing the moving-average filter and the arctangent penalty function. First, we apply the proximity function to the level-4 block Hankel matrix before singular-value decomposition (SVD) and, then, to singular values, during the damped truncated SVD process. The combination of the novel proximity function and the DRR framework leads to an optimization problem, which results in better recovery performance. Our algorithm aims at producing an enhanced rank-reduction operator to estimate the useful signal matrix with higher quality. Experiments are conducted on synthetic and real 5D seismic data to compare the effectiveness of our approach to the DRR approach. Our approach obtains better performance because the estimated LR signal matrix is cleaner and contains fewer artifacts compared to that reconstructed by the DRR algorithm.
Scattering-based focusing for imaging in highly complex media from band-limited, multicomponent data
Authors: Vargas David , Vasconcelos Ivan , Sripanich Yanadet , Ravasi Matteo
Published: May 2021

Reconstructing the details of subsurface structures deep beneath complex overburden structures, such as subsalt, remains a challenge for seismic imaging. Over the past few years, the Marchenko redatuming approach has proven to reliably retrieve full-wavefield information in the presence of complex overburden effects. When used for redatuming, current practical Marchenko schemes cannot make use of a priori subsurface models with sharp contrasts because of their requirements regarding initial focusing functions, which for sufficiently complex media can result in redatumed fields with significant waveform inaccuracies. Using a scattering framework, we evaluate an alternative form of the Marchenko representation that aims at retrieving only the unknown perturbations to focusing functions and redatumed fields. From this framework, we have developed a two-step practical focusing-based redatuming scheme that first solves an inverse problem for the background focusing functions, which are then used to estimate the perturbations to focusing functions and redatumed fields. In our scheme, initial focusing functions are significantly different from previous approaches because they contain complex waveforms encoding the full transmission response of the a priori model. Our goal is the handling of not only highly complex media but also realistic data — band-limited, unevenly sampled, free-surface-multiple contaminated data. To that end, we combine the versatility of Rayleigh-Marchenko redatuming with our scattering-based scheme allowing an extended version of the method able to handle single-sided band-limited multicomponent data. This scattering-Rayleigh-Marchenko strategy accurately retrieves wavefields while requiring minimum preprocessing of the data. In support of the new methods, we evaluate a comprehensive set of numerical tests using a complex 2D subsalt model. Our numerical results indicate that the scattering approaches retrieve accurate redatumed fields that appropriately account for the complexity of the a priori model. We find that the improvements in wavefield retrieval translate into measurable improvements in our subsalt images.
Near-field strain in distributed acoustic sensing-based microseismic observation
Authors: Luo Bin , Jin Ge , Stanek Frantisek
Published: May 2021

Microseismic monitoring with surface or downhole geophone arrays has commonly been used in tracking subsurface deformation and fracture networks during hydraulic fracturing operations. Recently, the use of fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology has improved microseismic acquisition to a new level with unprecedentedly high spatial resolution and low cost. Deploying fiber-optic cables in horizontal boreholes allows for very close observation of these microsize earthquakes and captures their full wavefield details. We have found that DAS-based microseismic profiles present a seldomly reported near-field strain signal between the P- and S-wave arrivals. This near-field signal indicates a monotonically increasing (or decreasing) temporal variation, which resembles the previously reported near-field observations of large earthquakes. To understand the near-field strain behavior, we use a mathematical expression of the analytic normal strain solution that reveals the near-field, intermediate-near-field, intermediate-far-field, and far-field components. Synthetic DAS strain records of hydraulic-fracture-induced microseismic events can be generated using this analytic solution with the Brune source model. The polarity sign patterns of the near-field and far-field terms in these synthetics are linked to the corresponding source mechanism’s radiation patterns. These polarity sign patterns are demonstrated to be sensitive to the source orientations by rotating the moment tensor in different directions. A field data example is compared to the synthetic result, and a qualitative match is shown. The microseismic near-field signals detected by DAS have potential value in hydraulic fracture monitoring by providing a means to better constrain microseismic source parameters that characterize the source magnitude, source orientation, and temporal source evolution and therefore better reflect the geomechanical response of the hydraulically fractured environment in the unconventional reservoirs.
A review of seismic attribute taxonomies, discussion of their historical use, and presentation of a seismic attribute communication framework using data analysis concepts
Authors: Dewett Dustin T. , Pigott John D. , Marfurt Kurt J.
Published: May 2021

Beginning in the 1970s, seismic attributes have grown from a few simple measurements of wavelet amplitude, frequency, and phase to an expanded attribute toolbox that measures not only wavelet properties but also their context within the 3D seismic volume. When using multiple seismic attributes, the interpreter must understand not only each individual attribute but also the relationships between them. Researchers communicate these relationships via seismic attribute taxonomies, which group attributes by their signal property, mathematical formulation, or their interpretive value. The first attempts to organize seismic attributes began in the 1990s, and with new attributes and their increasing breadth of applications, continues to this day. Most scientific papers that use seismic attributes focus on a specific application, new algorithms, or a novel interpretation workflow, rather than how a specific attribute fits within the greater whole, leading to confusion for the less experienced interpreter. We have analyzed more than 2100 citing works, identified the 231 papers that discuss the taxonomies specifically, and found out how the authors use those citations. The result is a list of more than a dozen seismic attribute classification systems, which we reduce to a smaller subset by including only those that apply to general use. An optimal seismic attribute taxonomy should not only be useful to the interpretation community today, but it should also adapt to the ever-changing needs of the profession, including changes appropriate for their use in modern machine-learning algorithms. The adaptability of prior work to modern workflows remains a shortcoming. However, as we develop our work in two parts — the first covering the evolution of seismic attribute taxonomies and their use through time and the second proposing a new seismic attribute communication framework for the larger community — we link attributes together via data analysis principles and provide an extensible model as the profession and research expand.
Development and Validation of a Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Model for Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated With Chest Radiation: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and the Dutch Hodgkin Late Effects and LATER Cohorts
Authors: Moskowitz Chaya S. , Ronckers Cécile M. , Chou Joanne F. , Smith Susan A. , Friedman Danielle Novetsky , Barnea Dana , Kok Judith L. , de Vries Simone , Wolden Suzanne L. , Henderson Tara O. , van der Pal Helena J. H. , Kremer Leontien C. M. , Neglia Joseph P. , Turcotte Lucie M. , Howell Rebecca M. , Arnold Michael A. , Schaapveld Michael , Aleman Berthe , Janus Cecile , Versluys Birgitta , Leisenring Wendy , Sklar Charles A. , Begg Colin B. , Pike Malcolm C. , Armstrong Gregory T. , Robison Leslie L. , van Leeuwen Flora E. , Oeffinger Kevin C.
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE

Women treated with chest radiation for childhood cancer have one of the highest risks of breast cancer. Models producing personalized breast cancer risk estimates applicable to this population do not exist. We sought to develop and validate a breast cancer risk prediction model for childhood cancer survivors treated with chest radiation incorporating treatment-related factors, family history, and reproductive factors.

METHODS

Analyses were based on multinational cohorts of female 5-year survivors of cancer diagnosed younger than age 21 years and treated with chest radiation. Model derivation was based on 1,120 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study diagnosed between 1970 and 1986, with median attained age 42 years (range 20-64) and 242 with breast cancer. Model validation included 1,027 participants from three cohorts, with median age 32 years (range 20-66) and 105 with breast cancer.

RESULTS

The model included current age, chest radiation field, whether chest radiation was delivered within 1 year of menarche, anthracycline exposure, age at menopause, and history of a first-degree relative with breast cancer. Ten-year risk estimates ranged from 2% to 23% for 30-year-old women (area under the curve, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.73) and from 5% to 34% for 40-year-old women (area under the curve, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.84). The highest risks were among premenopausal women older than age 40 years treated with mantle field radiation within a year of menarche who had a first-degree relative with breast cancer. It showed good calibration with an expected-to-observed ratio of the number of breast cancers of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.74 to 1.16).

CONCLUSION

Breast cancer risk varies among childhood cancer survivors treated with chest radiation. Accurate risk prediction may aid in refining surveillance, counseling, and preventive strategies in this population.
Does Biology Drive Child Penalties? Evidence from Biological and Adoptive Families
Authors: Kleven Henrik , Landais Camille , Søgaard Jakob Egholt
Published: May 2021

This paper investigates whether the impact of children on the labor market outcomes of women relative to men—child penalties—can be explained by the biological links between mother and child. We estimate child penalties in biological and adoptive families using event studies around the arrival of children and almost 40 years of adoption data from Denmark. Short-run child penalties are slightly larger for biological mothers than for adoptive mothers, but their long-run child penalties are virtually identical and precisely estimated. This suggests that biology is not a key driver of child-related gender gaps. (JEL J12, J13, J16)