bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adiar Binary Decision Diagrams in External Memory
Authors: Sølvsten Steffan Christ , de Pol Jaco van , Jakobsen Anna Blume , Thomasen Mathias Weller Berg
Published: March 2022

We follow up on the idea of Lars Arge to rephrase the Reduce and Apply operations of Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) as iterative I/O-efficient algorithms. We identify multiple avenues to simplify and improve the performance of his proposed algorithms. Furthermore, we extend the technique to other common BDD operations, many of which are not derivable using Apply operations alone. We provide asymptotic improvements to the few procedures that can be derived using Apply.

Our work has culminated in a BDD package named Adiar that is able to efficiently manipulate BDDs that outgrow main memory. This makes Adiar surpass the limits of conventional BDD packages that use recursive depth-first algorithms. It is able to do so while still achieving a satisfactory performance compared to other BDD packages: Adiar, in parts using the disk, is on instances larger than 9.5 GiB only 1.47 to 3.69 times slower compared to CUDD and Sylvan, exclusively using main memory. Yet, Adiar is able to obtain this performance at a fraction of the main memory needed by conventional BDD packages to function.
Progress on Software Verification: SV-COMP 2022
Authors: Beyer Dirk
Published: March 2022

The 11th edition of the Competition on Software Verification (SV-COMP 2022) provides the largest ever overview of tools for software verification. The competition is an annual comparative evaluation of fully automatic software verifiers for C and Java programs. The objective is to provide an overview of the state of the art in terms of effectiveness and efficiency of software verification, establish standards, provide a platform for exchange to developers of such tools, educate PhD students on reproducibility approaches and benchmarking, and provide computing resources to developers that do not have access to compute clusters. The competition consisted of 15 648 verification tasks for C programs and 586 verification tasks for Java programs. Each verification task consisted of a program and a property (reachability, memory safety, overflows, termination). The new category on data-race detection was introduced as demonstration category. SV-COMP 2022 had 47 participating verification systems from 33 teams from 11 countries.
LART: Compiled Abstract Execution
Authors: Lauko Henrich , Ročkai Petr
Published: March 2022

lart – llvm abstraction and refinement tool – originates from the divine model-checker [5, 7], in which it was employed as an abstraction toolchain for the llvm interpreter. In this contribution, we present a stand-alone tool that does not need a verification backend but performs the verification natively. The core idea is to instrument abstract semantics directly into the program and compile it into a native binary that performs program analysis. This approach provides a performance gain of native execution over the interpreted analysis and allows compiler optimizations to be employed on abstracted code, further extending the analysis efficiency. Compilation-based abstraction introduces new challenges solved by lart, like domain interaction of concrete and abstract values simulation of nondeterministic runtime or constraint propagation.
The strong couplings of massive Yang-Mills theory
Authors: Hell Anamaria
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We study the massive Yang-Mills theory in which the mass term is added by hand. The standard perturbative approach suggests that the massless limit of this theory is not smooth. We confirm that this issue is related to the existence of additional degrees of freedom, which are absent in the massless theory. Nevertheless, we show that the longitudinal modes become strongly coupled at the Vainshtein scale, which coincides with the scale of the unitarity violation. Beyond this scale, they decouple from the remaining degrees of freedom, and the massless theory is restored up to small corrections. From here, it follows that the apparent discontinuity in the massless limit is only an artefact of the perturbation theory. The massless limit of massive Yang-Mills theory is smooth, as originally proposed in [21].
A note on h2,1 of divisors in CY fourfolds. Part I
Authors: Kim Manki
Published: March 2022

Abstract

In this note, we prove combinatorial formulas for the Hodge number h2,1 of prime toric divisors in an arbitrary toric hypersurface Calabi-Yau fourfold Y4. We show that it is possible to find a toric hypersurface Calabi-Yau in which there are more than h1,1(Y4) non-perturbative superpotential terms with trivial intermediate Jacobian. Hodge numbers of divisors in toric complete intersection Calabi-Yaus are the subjects of the sequel.
Radiative natural supersymmetry emergent from the string landscape
Authors: Baer Howard , Barger Vernon , Martinez Dakotah , Salam Shadman
Published: March 2022

Abstract

In string theory with flux compactifications, anthropic selection for structure formation from a discretuum of vacuum energy values provides at present our only understanding of the tiny yet positive value of the cosmological constant. We apply similar reasoning to a toy model of the multiverse restricted to vacua with the MSSM as the low energy effective theory. Here, one expects a statistical selection favoring large soft SUSY breaking terms leading to a derived value of the weak scale in each pocket universe (with appropriate electroweak symmetry breaking) which differs from the weak scale as measured in our universe. In contrast, the SUSY preservingμparameter is selected uniformly on a log scale as is consistent with the distribution of SM fermion masses: this favors smaller values ofμ. An anthropic selection of the weak scale to within a factor of a few of our measured value — in order to produce complex nuclei as we know them (atomic principle) — provides statistical predictions for Higgs and sparticle masses in accord with LHC measurements. The statistical selection then more often leads to (radiatively-driven)naturalSUSY models over the Standard Model or finely-tuned SUSY models such as mSUGRA/CMSSM, split, mini-split, spread, high scale or PeV SUSY. The predicted Higgs and superparticle spectra might be testable at HL-LHC or ILC via higgsino pair production but is certainly testable at higher energy hadron colliders with$$ \sqrt{s} $$s∼ 30–100 TeV.
A new Higgs effective field theory and the new no-lose theorem
Authors: Kanemura Shinya , Nagai Ryo
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Non-decoupling effects of heavy new particles cannot be described by the standard effective field theory with finite truncation of higher dimensional operators. We propose a new effective field theory in which non-decoupling quantum effects of new physics are correctly described. We discuss vacuum stability and perturbative unitarity in our effective field theory, and we find that the scale of new physics can be estimated if we will observe the Higgs coupling deviation via non-decoupling effects in future collider experiments.
Partial Data Problems and Unique Continuation in Scalar and Vector Field Tomography
Authors: Ilmavirta Joonas , Mönkkönen Keijo
Published: March 2022

We prove that if P(D) is some constant coefficient partial differential operator and f is a scalar field such that P(D)f vanishes in a given open set, then the integrals of f over all lines intersecting that open set determine the scalar field uniquely everywhere. This is done by proving a unique continuation property of fractional Laplacians which implies uniqueness for the partial data problem. We also apply our results to partial data problems of vector fields.
Exterior Dirichlet and Neumann Problems and the Linked Ergodic Inverse Problems in the Entire Space
Authors: Butzer Paul L. , Stens Rudolf L.
Published: March 2022

The paper is mainly concerned with the interconnection of the boundary behaviour of the solutions of the exterior Dirichlet and Neumann problems of harmonic analysis for the unit disk in $${\mathbb {R}}^2$$

R

2

and the unit ball in $${\mathbb {R}}^3$$

R

3

with the corresponding behaviour of the associated ergodic inverse problems for the entire space. The basis is the theory of semigroups of linear operators mapping a Banach space X into itself. The classical one-parameter theory for semigroups applies in the present particular applications, actually for $$X= L^2_{2\pi }$$

X
=

L

2
π

2

in case of the unit disk, and $$X=L^2(S)$$

X
=

L
2

(
S
)

in the three dimensional setting, S being the unit sphere in $${\mathbb {R}}^3$$

R

3

. Another tool is a Drazin-like inverse operator B for the infinitesimal generator A of a semigroup that arises naturally in ergodic theory. This operator B is a closed, not necessarily bounded, operator. It was introduced in a paper with Butzer and Westphal (Indiana Univ Math J 20:1163–1174, 1970/1971) and extended to a generalized setting with Butzer and Koliha (J Oper Theory 62:297–326, 2009).
Minding the gap(s): public perceptions of AI and socio-technical imaginaries
Authors: Sartori Laura , Bocca Giulia
Published: March 2022

Deepening and digging into the social side of AI is a novel but emerging requirement within the AI community. Future research should invest in an “AI for people”, going beyond the undoubtedly much-needed efforts into ethics, explainability and responsible AI. The article addresses this challenge by problematizing the discussion around AI shifting the attention to individuals and their awareness, knowledge and emotional response to AI. First, we outline our main argument relative to the need for a socio-technical perspective in the study of AI social implications. Then, we illustrate the main existing narratives of hopes and fears associated with AI and robots. As building blocks of broader “sociotechnical imaginaries”, narratives are powerful tools that shape how society sees, interprets and organizes technology. An original empirical study within the University of Bologna collects the data to examine the levels of awareness, knowledge and emotional response towards AI, revealing interesting insights to be carried on in future research. Replete with exaggerations, both utopian and dystopian narratives are analysed with respect to some relevant socio-demographic variables (gender, generation and competence). Finally, focusing on two issues—the state of AI anxiety and the point of view of non-experts—opens the floor to problematizing the discourse around AI, sustaining the need for a sociological perspective in the field of AI and discussing future comparative research.
Tafasitamab mediates killing of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in combination with γδ T cell or allogeneic NK cell therapy
Authors: Her Jung Hyun , Pretscher Dominik , Patra-Kneuer Maria , Schanzer Juergen , Cho Sung Yoo , Hwang Yu Kyeong , Hoeres Timm , Boxhammer Rainer , Heitmueller Christina , Wilhelm Martin , Steidl Stefan , Endell Jan
Published: March 2022

Tafasitamab is an Fc-modified monoclonal antibody that binds to CD19, a cell-surface antigen that is broadly expressed on various types of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), a key mode of action of tafasitamab, is mediated through the binding of tafasitamab’s Fc region to FcγRIIIa receptors on immune effector cells and results in antitumor activity. Despite the proven clinical activity of tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a higher number of immune cells in cancer patients may improve the activity of tafasitamab. Here, we characterized two ex vivo-expanded FcγRIIIa receptor—expressing cell types—γδ T and MG4101 natural killer (NK) cells—as effector cells for tafasitamab in vitro, and found that in the presence of these cells tafasitamab was able to induce ADCC against a range of NHL cell lines and patient-derived cells. We also explored the concept of effector cell supplementation during tafasitamab treatment in vivo by coadministering MG4101 NK cells in Raji and Ramos xenograft models of NHL. Combination treatment of tafasitamab and allogeneic MG4101 NK cells in these models demonstrated a survival benefit compared with tafasitamab or MG4101 monotherapy (Raji: 1.7- to 1.9-fold increase in lifespan; Ramos: 2.0- to 4.1-fold increase in lifespan). In conclusion, adoptive cell transfer of ex vivo-expanded allogeneic NK or autologous γδ T cells in combination with tafasitamab treatment may potentially be a promising novel approach to increase the number of immune effector cells and enhance the antitumor effect of tafasitamab.
Reconceptualizing mind wandering from a switching perspective
Authors: Wong Yi-Sheng , Willoughby Adrian R. , Machado Liana
Published: March 2022

Mind wandering is a universal phenomenon in which our attention shifts away from the task at hand toward task-unrelated thoughts. Despite it inherently involving a shift in mental set, little is known about the role of cognitive flexibility in mind wandering. In this article we consider the potential of cognitive flexibility as a mechanism for mediating and/or regulating the occurrence of mind wandering. Our review begins with a brief introduction to the prominent theories of mind wandering—the executive failure hypothesis, the decoupling hypothesis, the process-occurrence framework, and the resource-control account of sustained attention. Then, after discussing their respective merits and weaknesses, we put forward a new perspective of mind wandering focused on cognitive flexibility, which provides an account more in line with the data to date, including why older populations experience a reduction in mind wandering. After summarizing initial evidence prompting this new perspective, drawn from several mind-wandering and task-switching studies, we recommend avenues for future research aimed at further understanding the importance of cognitive flexibility in mind wandering.
In vitro measurements of ultrafiltration precision in hemofiltration and hemodialysis devices used in infants
Authors: Crosier Jean , Whitaker Mike , Lambert Heather J. , Wellman Paul , Nyman Andrew , Coulthard Malcolm G.
Published: March 2022

Background

To determine in vitro whether infant hemofiltration and hemodialysis devices can reliably deliver precise ultrafiltration (UF) control.

Methods

We tested the Prismaflex, Aquarius and NIDUS devices which have different circuit types, by in vitro testing with a bag of saline set up as a dummy patient, and monitoring fluid shifts by precise weighing. We looked for differences between the UF rates set and achieved and between the UF result the device displays to the clinician and the true volumes removed, which may lead to clinical errors. We performed short studies at UF settings of zero and 40 ml/h, and with and without simulating poor withdrawal and return lines, and simulated a 4-h treatment session.

Results

The Prismaflex setting vs actual errors and display vs actual errors had wide variances, with SDs of 4.1 and 14.0 ml by 15 min, respectively, at both zero and 40 ml/h UF settings. The Aquarius values were wider at 17.3 and 30.3 ml, respectively. For the NIDUS, the mean UF errors were close to zero, and the variances were 0.17 ml. Stop-alarms induced by an obstructed line produced extra UF errors of up to 0.2 ml. A limitation was that we used crystalloid and not colloid for these tests.

Conclusions

Hemotherapy devices with conventional circuits available in the UK do not regulate UF control sufficiently well to recommend for use in small infants, but the NIDUS volumetrically controlled circuit does. All hemotherapy devices intended for small infants should be tested for UF precision. We were unable to test the CARPEDIEM or Aquadex devices.

Graphical Abstract

A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information
A review of critical issues in the design of lightweight flywheel rotors with composite materials
Authors: Li Xing , Mittelstedt Christian , Binder Andreas
Published: March 2022

Composite materials are widely used to build high-performance flywheels due to their high material strength and low mass density. The high degrees of freedom in material selection, design, and manufacturing techniques lead to a variety of rotor structures. This paper presents the characteristics of different composite rotors and the critical considerations in terms of designing, manufacturing, and testing them. The introduction starts with the limitations of a single filament-wound composite rim. Then, various rotor structures are presented as well as the critical issues regarding the composite rim design, rim-shaft connection, and rotor failure in order to make safe design recommendations. The aim is to summarize the current techniques and provide references for further developments.
Combination of IL-34 and AFP improves the diagnostic value during the development of HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Kehui , Ding Yezhou , Wang Yun , Zhao Qingqing , Yan Lei , Xie Jingdong , Liu Yunye , Xie Qing , Cai Wei , Bao Shisan , Wang Hui
Published: March 2022

IL-34 involves in host immunity regulated carcinogenesis. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is related to the development of HCC. We explored if combination of IL-34 and APF could improve the diagnostic value in HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC). Serum was obtained from HBV patients or healthy control. Liver tissue was obtained from liver biopsy in CHB, HBV related cirrhosis patients or curative resection in HBV-HCC patients. Serum IL-34 and MCSF, or intrahepatic IL-34, MCSF and CD68+ tumor associate macrophages (TAMs) were determined using ELISA or immunohistochemistry. Serum IL-34 was 1.7, 1.3 or 2.3-fold higher in HBV-HCC than that of CHB, HBV related cirrhosis or healthy control, which was inhibited following trans-hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HBV-HCC patients. Intra-hepatic IL-34 was higher in HBV-HCC than that of the other three groups. Intra-hepatic IL-34 was associated with high HBV-DNA, HBeAg−, poor differentiation and small tumor size of HBV-HCC patients. Intra-hepatic TAMs in HBV-HCC were increased 1.7 or 1.3-fold, compared to that from CHB or HBV-cirrhosis patients. Intra-hepatic TAMs were associated with high HBV-DNA, high tumor differentiation, small tumor size, abnormal AFP and more tumor number. AFP plus serum IL-34, showed the highest AUC (0.837) with sensitivity (0.632) and highest specificity (0.931), suggesting that AFP plus IL-34 enhances the reliability for prediction of the development of HBV-HCC among CHB patients. Circulating and intra-hepatic IL-34 was upregulated gradually in HBV disease progression from CHB, cirrhosis and HCC. IL-34 may be used as a diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for the management of HBV-HCC.
Ethical Complexity of Social Change: Negotiated Actions of a Social Enterprise
Authors: Bhatt Babita
Published: March 2022

This paper investigates how social enterprises navigate through the ethical complexity of social change and extends the ethical quandaries faced by social enterprises (SEs) beyond organisational boundaries. Building on the emerging literature on the ethics of SEs, I conceptualise ethics as an engagement with power relations. I develop theoretical arguments to understand the interaction between ethical predispositions of a SE and the normative structure of the social system in which it operates. I applied this conceptualisation in a hierarchical and heterogeneous rural Indian context to provide insights into the moral ambiguity of ethical decision-making and suggest pathways for ethical actions. Taking a qualitative case study approach, I followed an exemplary SE’s implementation process in India. I observed ethical challenges in designing the implementation process (efficiency versus equality), selecting the beneficiaries (fairness versus power) and sustaining the programme (cooperation versus autonomy). I also identified three actions of the SE—the action of recognition, the action of reposition and the action of collaboration—and developed a transformative process model. I discuss the theoretical implications of this research for SEs and recommend a critical engagement with ethical theories to address systemic problems.
Domain Shifts in Machine Learning Based Covid-19 Diagnosis From Blood Tests
Authors: Roland Theresa , Böck Carl , Tschoellitsch Thomas , Maletzky Alexander , Hochreiter Sepp , Meier Jens , Klambauer Günter
Published: March 2022

Many previous studies claim to have developed machine learning models that diagnose COVID-19 from blood tests. However, we hypothesize that changes in the underlying distribution of the data, so called domain shifts, affect the predictive performance and reliability and are a reason for the failure of such machine learning models in clinical application. Domain shifts can be caused, e.g., by changes in the disease prevalence (spreading or tested population), by refined RT-PCR testing procedures (way of taking samples, laboratory procedures), or by virus mutations. Therefore, machine learning models for diagnosing COVID-19 or other diseases may not be reliable and degrade in performance over time. We investigate whether domain shifts are present in COVID-19 datasets and how they affect machine learning methods. We further set out to estimate the mortality risk based on routinely acquired blood tests in a hospital setting throughout pandemics and under domain shifts. We reveal domain shifts by evaluating the models on a large-scale dataset with different assessment strategies, such as temporal validation. We present the novel finding that domain shifts strongly affect machine learning models for COVID-19 diagnosis and deteriorate their predictive performance and credibility. Therefore, frequent re-training and re-assessment are indispensable for robust models enabling clinical utility.
Economics in the Social Science Spectrum: Evolution and Overlap with Different Academic Areas
Authors: Bögenhold Dieter
Published: March 2022

Causes for the distinct and growing separation of the academic domains of economics and neighboring fields are ongoing processes of specialization, fragmentation, and evolution. Thanks to the proliferation of publications and knowledge in economics, degrees of specialization have emerged. One of the great paradoxes in economics is the existence of mainstream economics, which is taught to undergraduate students and dominates textbooks, alongside new contributions that enter the arena via other disciplines (e.g., psychology, history, and law). The paper delineates some developments in economics over the last 100 years oscillating between continuity and change. Especially, the interplay between different domains in the social sciences is discussed as fields of tension and cooperation between economics and other disciplines. The message of the article is that economics is not a homogeneous body of being, content, and learning. Economics has a diverse knowledge base on a theoretical and methodological level with different forms of economic capacity, conceptual sensitivity, and methodological rigor. Many different approaches coexist with corresponding camps of authors. A multiplicity of topics and discourses can be observed with an interesting division of economics with one branch focused on mathematics, econometric tools, and applications, and the other branch moving towards increasing social scientification with strong links to psychology, history, philosophy, and sociology. The Oxford credo of politics, philosophy, and economics (PPE) has undergone a revival in this respect.
Mandibular advancement device: prescription in adult dental sleep medicine — guideline of the German Society of Dental Sleep Medicine
Authors: Bernhardt Olaf , Giannakopoulos Nikolaos Nikitas , Heise Markus , Meyer Alexander , Norden Dagmar , Schlieper Jörg , Kares Horst
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may result in severe health onditions, reduces quality of live, and affects high percentages of the adult population. Due to recent changes in the German health care regulations, mandibular advancement devices (MAD) will become available as a treatment option for OSA to a greater extent for general dentists and their patients.

Methods

A guideline development group consisting of nine members representing four German dental and medical organizations was formed, in order to provide critical information and orientation to the main stakeholders (dentists and patients), regarding the use of MAD for the treatment of OSA within dental sleep medicine.

Results

This guideline aims to inform physicians and dentists, particularly those with acquired qualification/specialization in sleep medicine (or in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders), as well as experts, payers, and patients. It delivers recommendations on technical requirements for MAD prescription and fabrication, clinical procedures, maintenance, and follow-up procedures.

Conclusion

A MAD should be designed for long-term therapy and must be a custom made, adjustable, bimaxillary retained two-splint system equipped with adjustable protrusive elements. The fabrication in a dental laboratory should be based on dental impressions or scans and three-dimensional registrations of the starting position taken with a bite gauge.
Numerical study of when and who will get infected by coronavirus in passenger car
Authors: Sarhan Abd Alhamid R. , Naser Parisa , Naser Jamal
Published: March 2022

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is becoming extremely necessary to assess respiratory disease transmission in passenger cars. This study numerically investigated the human respiration activities’ effects, such as breathing and speaking, on the transport characteristics of respiratory-induced contaminants in passenger car. The main objective of the present study is to accurately predict when and who will get infected by coronavirus while sharing a passenger car with a patient of COVID-19 or similar viruses. To achieve this goal, transient simulations were conducted in passenger car. We conducted a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based investigation of indoor airflow and the associated aerosol transport in a passenger car. The Eulerian-Eulerian flow model coupled with k-ε turbulence approach was used to track respiratory contaminants with diameter ≥ 1 μm that were released by different passengers within the passenger car. The results showed that around 6.38 min, this is all that you need to get infected with COVID-19 when sharing a poorly ventilated car with a driver who got coronavirus. It also has been found that enhancing the ventilation system of the passenger car will reduce the risk of contracting Coronavirus. The predicted results could be useful for future engineering studies aimed at designing public transport and passenger cars to face the spread of droplets that may be contaminated with pathogens.
Hybrid-based Bayesian algorithm and hydrologic indices for flash flood vulnerability assessment in coastal regions: machine learning, risk prediction, and environmental impact
Authors: Abu El-Magd Sherif Ahmed , Maged Ali , Farhat Hassan I.
Published: March 2022

Natural hazards and severe weather events are a matter of serious threat to humans, economic activities, and the environment. Flash floods are one of the extremely devastating natural events around the world. Consequently, the prediction and precise assessment of flash flood-prone areas are mandatory for any flood mitigation strategy. In this study, a new hybrid approach of machine learning (ML) algorithm and hydrologic indices opted to detect impacted and highly vulnerable areas. The obtained models were trained and validated using a total of 189 locations from Wadi Ghoweiba and surrounding area (case study). Various controlling factors including varied datasets such as stream transport index (STI), stream power index (SPI), lithological units, topographic wetness index (TWI), slope angle, stream density (SD), curvature, and slope aspect (SA) were utilized via hyper-parameter optimization setting to enhance the performance of the proposed model prediction. The hybrid machine learning (HML) model, developed by combining naïve Bayes (NïB) approach and hydrologic indices, was successfully implemented and utilized to investigate flash flood risk, sediment accumulation, and erosion predictions in the studied site. The synthesized new hybrid model demonstrated a model accuracy of 90.8% compared to 87.7% of NïB model, confirming the superior performance of the obtained model. Furthermore, the proposed model can be successfully employed in large-scale prediction applications.
Post-stroke enriched auditory environment induces structural connectome plasticity: secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sihvonen Aleksi J. , Soinila Seppo , Särkämö Teppo
Published: March 2022

Post-stroke neuroplasticity and cognitive recovery can be enhanced by multimodal stimulation via environmental enrichment. In this vein, recent studies have shown that enriched sound environment (i.e., listening to music) during the subacute post-stroke stage improves cognitive outcomes compared to standard care. The beneficial effects of post-stroke music listening are further pronounced when listening to music containing singing, which enhances language recovery coupled with structural and functional connectivity changes within the language network. However, outside the language network, virtually nothing is known about the effects of enriched sound environment on the structural connectome of the recovering post-stroke brain. Here, we report secondary outcomes from a single-blind randomized controlled trial (NCT01749709) in patients with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke (N = 38) who were randomly assigned to listen to vocal music, instrumental music, or audiobooks during the first 3 post-stroke months. Utilizing the longitudinal diffusion-weighted MRI data of the trial, the present study aimed to determine whether the music listening interventions induce changes on structural white matter connectome compared to the control audiobook intervention. Both vocal and instrumental music groups increased quantitative anisotropy longitudinally in multiple left dorsal and ventral tracts as well as in the corpus callosum, and also in the right hemisphere compared to the audiobook group. Audiobook group did not show increased structural connectivity changes compared to both vocal and instrumental music groups. This study shows that listening to music, either vocal or instrumental promotes wide-spread structural connectivity changes in the post-stroke brain, providing a fertile ground for functional restoration.
Abschied vom Recht auf Bildung?
Authors: Butterwegge Carolin , Butterwegge Christoph
Published: March 2022

Schulschließungen während der Covid-19-Pandemie haben nicht bloß zu Lernrückständen bei vielen Kindern und Jugendlichen geführt. Vielmehr wuchs auch die in der Bundesrepublik aufgrund der wachsenden sozialen Ungleichheit die ohnehin stark ausgeprägte Bildungsungleichheit. Hauptleidtragende der monatelangen Kita- und Schulschließungen waren Kinder aus einkommensschwachen Familien.
Psychometric evaluation of the Decision Support Tool for Functional Independence in community-dwelling older people
Authors: van Bijsterveld S. C. , Barten J. A. , Molenaar E. A. L. M. , Bleijenberg N. , de Wit N. J. , Veenhof C.
Published: March 2022

Background

The aging population is increasingly faced with daily life limitations, threatening their Functional Independence (FI). These limitations extend different life domains and require a broad range of community-care professionals to be addressed. The Decision Support Tool for Functional Independence (DST-FI) facilitates community-care professionals in providing uncontradictory recommendations regarding the maintenance of FI in community-dwelling older people. The current study aims to determine the validity and reliability of the DST-FI.

Methods

Sixty community-care professionals completed a twofold assessment. To assess construct validity, participants were asked to assign predefined recommendations to fifty cases of older people to maintain their level of FI. Hypotheses were tested regarding the expected recommendations per case. Content validity was assessed by questions on relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility of the current set of recommendations. Twelve participants repeated the assessment after two weeks to enable both within- and between rater reliability properties, expressed by an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient.

Results

Seven out of eight predefined hypotheses confirmed expectations, indicating high construct validity. As the recommendations were indicated ‘relevant’ and ‘complete’, content validity was high as well. Agreement between raters was poor to moderate while agreement within raters was moderate to excellent, resulting in moderate overall reliability.

CONCLUSION

The DST-FI suggests high validity and moderate reliability properties when used in a population of community-dwelling older people. The tool could facilitate community-care professionals in their task to preserve FI in older people. Future research should focus on psychometric properties like feasibility, acceptability, and developing and piloting strategies for implementation in community-care.
Deep learning for evaluation of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma from tumor areas of histology images
Authors: Chen Qiaofeng , Xiao Han , Gu Yunquan , Weng Zongpeng , Wei Lihong , Li Bin , Liao Bing , Li Jiali , Lin Jie , Hei Mengying , Peng Sui , Wang Wei , Kuang Ming , Chen Shuling
Published: March 2022

Background

Microvascular invasion (MVI) is essential for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, MVI is hard to evaluate in patients without sufficient peri-tumoral tissue samples, which account for over a half of HCC patients.

Methods

We established an MVI deep-learning (MVI-DL) model with a weakly supervised multiple-instance learning framework, to evaluate MVI status using only tumor tissues from the histological whole slide images (WSIs). A total of 350 HCC patients (2917 WSIs) from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAHSYSU cohort) were divided into a training and test set. One hundred and twenty patients (504 WSIs) from Dongguan People’s Hospital and Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University (DG-SD cohort) formed an external test set. Unsupervised clustering and class activation mapping were applied to visualize the key histological features.

Results

In the FAHSYSU and DG-SD test set, the MVI-DL model achieved an AUC of 0.904 (95% CI 0.888–0.920) and 0.871 (95% CI 0.837–0.905), respectively. Visualization results showed that macrotrabecular architecture with rich blood sinus, rich tumor stroma and high intratumor heterogeneity were identified as the key features associated with MVI ( +), whereas severe immune infiltration and highly differentiated tumor cells were associated with MVI (−). In the simulation of patients with only one WSI or biopsies only, the AUC of the MVI-DL model reached 0.875 (95% CI 0.855–0.895) and 0.879 (95% CI 0.853–0.906), respectively.

Conclusion

The effective, interpretable MVI-DL model has potential as an important tool with practical clinical applicability in evaluating MVI status from the tumor areas on the histological slides.

Graphical abstract
Radiomics analysis of contrast-enhanced CT for staging liver fibrosis: an update for image biomarker
Authors: Wang Jincheng , Tang Shengnan , Mao Yingfan , Wu Jin , Xu Shanshan , Yue Qi , Chen Jun , He Jian , Yin Yin
Published: March 2022

Background

To establish and validate a radiomics-based model for staging liver fibrosis at contrast-enhanced CT images.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study developed two radiomics-based models (R-score: radiomics signature; R-fibrosis: integrate radiomic and serum variables) in a training cohort of 332 patients (median age, 59 years; interquartile range, 51–67 years; 256 men) with biopsy-proven liver fibrosis who underwent contrast-enhanced CT between January 2017 and December 2020. Radiomic features were extracted from non-contrast, arterial and portal phase CT images and selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression to differentiate stage F3–F4 from stage F0–F2. Optimal cutoffs to diagnose significant fibrosis (stage F2–F4), advanced fibrosis (stage F3–F4) and cirrhosis (stage F4) were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by area under the curve, Obuchowski index, calibrations and decision curve analysis. An internal validation was conducted in 111 randomly assigned patients (median age, 58 years; interquartile range, 49–66 years; 89 men).

Results

In the validation cohort, R-score and R-fibrosis (Obuchowski index, 0.843 and 0.846, respectively) significantly outperformed aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio (APRI) (Obuchowski index, 0.651; p < .001) and fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) (Obuchowski index, 0.676; p < .001) for staging liver fibrosis. Using the cutoffs, R-fibrosis and R-score had a sensitivity range of 70–87%, specificity range of 71–97%, and accuracy range of 82–86% in diagnosing significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Conclusion

Radiomic analysis of contrast-enhanced CT images can reach great diagnostic performance of liver fibrosis.
Fabrication of Ce-ReS2 by Molten Salt for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Chen Ran , Ma Minghai , Luo Yi , Qian Liping , Wan Shunli , Xu Shengyou , She Xinsong
Published: March 2022

Renewable and economical generation of hydrogen via electrochemical methods shows great potential in addressing the energy crisis. In this study, an emerging molten salt method was adopted for the synthesis of a cerium-modified rhenium disulfide nanosheet for electrical hydrogen evolution reactions. The prepared 1% Ce-doped rhenium disulfide (ReS2) sample showed promoted hydrogen evolution performance in both acid and alkaline electrolytes compared to bare ReS2. Generating of abundant defects in ReS2 exposed more reaction active sites. Moreover, adding cerium accelerated the hydrogen evolution dynamics. Hopefully, this work will offer new insight into developing ReS2-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions.
Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of tricuspid regurgitation in the Netherlands: state of the art and future perspectives
Authors: Krikken Jan A. , van den Heuvel Ad F. M. , Willemsen H. Marco , Voors Adriaan A. , Lipsic Erik
Published: March 2022

Despite the high prevalence and adverse clinical outcomes of severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), conventional treatment options, surgical or pharmacological, are limited. Surgery is associated with a high peri-operative risk and medical treatment has not clearly resulted in clinical improvements. Therefore, there is a high unmet need to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with severe TR. During recent years, several transcatheter solutions have been studied. This review focuses on the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of TR (TTVR) with respect to patient selection, the procedure, pre- and peri-procedural echocardiographic assessments and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we highlight the current status of TTVR in the Netherlands and provide data from our initial experience at the University Medical Centre Groningen.
Lithofacies characterization and source rock assessment of the lower-middle Miocene Successions in the northern part of Ramadan oil field, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Authors: El Nady Mohamed M , Ramadan Fatma S. , El Hemimey Wafaa A. , Saleh Ahmed H.
Published: March 2022

Facies of rifting basins reflect different depositional environments from deep to shallow conditions. The present study focuses on subsurface facies characterization and source rock assessment of Kareem and Rudeis rocks in six wells lying in the central Gulf of Suez. The distribution of the lithologic patterns delineated through several constructed facies maps. Porosity cross-plots of Kareem and Rudeis formations to determine the rock minerals and porosity attitudes. Rock–Eval pyrolysis was applied to determine the kerogen type, organic matter richness, percentage, and maturation of the source rocks. The greater depth of the two formations was reflected in the western parts while their stratigraphic thickness increases toward the east and the north directions, with decreasing thickness towards the west direction due to an underlain basin structure of the pre-Miocene. Isolith maps show three deep marine lithologies for the two formations with the anhydrite as a fourth shallow marine lithology in the Kareem Formation only. These lithofacies reflect the turnover from the deep to the shallow depositional environment. The facies change from a main shaly limestone in the Rudeis Formation to calcareous shale in the Kareem formation, indicating transmutation from the lower Miocene deep to the middle Miocene shallow marine environments. The cross-plots reflected the existence of limestone, shale, and anhydrite. Geochemically, both formations are marginally good source rock with a marginally good generation of mixed type II/III and type III. Accordingly, Rudeis and Kareem formations could be good reservoirs rather than being potential source rocks in the central Gulf of Suez.
New insights in the investigation of trepanations from the Carpathian Basin
Authors: Király Kitty , Váradi Orsolya Anna , Kis Luca , Nagy Réka , Elekes Gréta , Bukva Mátyás , Tihanyi Balázs , Spekker Olga , Marcsik Antónia , Molnár Erika , Pálfi György , Bereczki Zsolt
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study is to describe four new cases of trepanation from the Great Hungarian Plain and complement two other previously published cases with new results from the 9th to 16th c. CE. Sex determination and age-at-death estimation were performed using classical macromorphological methods. In certain cases, radiographic imaging, 3D scanning, and radiocarbon dating were also performed. Our cases fit the formerly established understanding of trepanations, with a male majority and signs of trauma as accompanying symptoms. The cause of intervention was mostly therapeutic, i.e., trauma, in most cases. In order to simplify the currently confusing nomenclature in trepanation categories (complete–incomplete vs. surgical–symbolic), we propose the use of “trepanation” exclusively to all forms of intentional, non-violent removals of all three layers of the cranial vault. On the other hand, the phenomena widely known in Eastern Europe as symbolic trepanations should be designated as “cranioglyphs,” referring to all forms of superficial interventions administered to the cranial vault that do not penetrate all three layers of the bone. In case the data are insufficient to properly categorize the phenomenon at hand, one should refrain from it, and simply describe the lesion as intentional cranial intervention. In order to bring spotlight to the wide range of cranial interventions in the early medieval Carpathian Basin, our team is conducting several research projects, in order to contribute to a better understanding of these traditions in the future.
Intervention Fidelity of Telephone Motivational Interviewing On Physical Activity, Fruit Intake, and Vegetable Consumption in Dutch Outpatients With and Without Hypertension
Authors: Mesters Ilse , van Keulen Hilde M. , de Vries Hein , Brug Johannes
Published: March 2022

Background

In theory, Motivational Interviewing (MI) fidelity should be associated with client outcomes. Nevertheless, this fidelity-effectiveness association is rarely investigated. This study evaluated the extent to which Telephone Motivational Interviewing (TMI) fidelity is associated with change in self-reported physical activity (PA), fruit intake, and vegetable consumption.

Method

Adults in primary care (45–70 years) participated in a study that compared the effect of tailor print communication, telephone motivational interviewing (TMI), and a combination of the two on PA, fruit intake, and vegetable consumption. MI fidelity was assessed using the behavioral coding method “Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Code (MITI)” in 409 randomly selected audio-recorded sessions, representing 232 participants of the TMI group. The associations between MI fidelity scores and the behavioral changes from baseline to 47-week follow-up were examined using backward multiple linear regression analyses (adjusted for covariates).

Results

A significant and positive association between the percentage of MI adherent responses and improvements in PA and fruit consumption was found with respectively a small and medium effect size. The global rating “Spirit” (which resembles an all-at-once appraisal of the interviewer’s MI competence) was significantly, but inversely associated with progress in vegetable intake with a medium effect size.

Conclusion

The finding that relatively lower MI competency was associated with higher vegetable consumption went against our expectations. Findings suggest that practicing MI-consistent skills was beneficial in promoting PA and fruit consumption, but moderated vegetable intake. This study contributes to the scientific confidence that TMI enables change in PA and fruit intake.
Incommensurability and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis: taking Kuhn seriously
Authors: Gefaell Juan , Saborido Cristian
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we analyze the debate between the Modern Synthesis and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis in light of the concept of incommensurability developed by Thomas Kuhn. In order to do so, first we briefly present both the Modern Synthesis and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis. Then, we clarify the meaning and interpretations of incommensurability throughout Kuhn’s works, concluding that the version of this concept deployed inThe Structure of Scientific Revolutionsis the best suited to the analysis of scientific disputes. After discussing incommensurability in Kuhn’s works, we address the question of whether the Modern Synthesis and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis can be considered semantically, methodologically, and ontologically incommensurable, concluding that they can. Finally, we discuss three problems that arise from such a conclusion: firstly, what are the consequences of incommensurability; secondly, which mode of scientific change better explains this current dispute in evolutionary biology; and thirdly, whether rational theory comparison is possible given incommensurability. We suggest that the main consequence of incommensurability is profound disagreement, that the kind of scientific change that better explains the current dispute between the MS and the EES may be scientific specialization, and that incommensurability does not preclude rational theory comparison.
Internship contracts in Spain: a stepping stone or a hurdle towards job stability?
Authors: De la Rica Sara , Gorjón Lucía
Published: March 2022

Internship contracts (ICs) were designed as a stepping stone for educated young workers to develop their professional skills upon graduation. Such contracts incentivise employment creation, as firms benefit from lower wages and tax reductions, but at the same time, firms are expected to develop training programmes to improve the professional skills of youth. This paper assesses whether such subsidies help improve the labour market trajectories of the beneficiaries of ICs. To do so, we focus on entrants into the labour market and compare those who start through an IC with a matched control group whose first employment episode is through a nonsubsidised temporary contract. We look at short, medium and long-term effects on job stability and wages. We find that in the short run, labour market performance, in terms of wages and job stability, is poorer for the beneficiaries of the IC, unless they leave the firm right after the IC experience. In the medium and long run, however, the negative impact on wages is mitigated, and its impact on job stability is positive. A possible interpretation is that firms, in the short run, use ICs to lower hiring costs, but beneficiaries send a positive signal to the market that is rewarded in the medium and long terms.