bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Washington DC to Washington State: The Global Burden of Diseases Data Basis and the Political Economy of Global Health
Authors: Gaudilliere Jean-Paul , Gasnier Camille
Published: June 2020

This chapter takes the origins, development and uses of the Global Burden of Disease database as lens to interrogate the political economy of global health, focusing on the intended logic of this massive accumulation and manipulation of epidemiological data, and the ways in which it informs the management of public health programs and activities. Following the GBD’s journey from its first embodiment as a World Bank tool in the early 1990s to its present day development at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation helps understand how epidemiological data travel to become actionable data, revealing the complex interactions between data gathering on political purpose and their effective uses (or non-use) in specific contexts. The GBD database was first conceived following an accounting logic closely linked with planning: by aggregating epidemiological as well as financial data, the aim was to achieve triage, i.e. balance health budgets and prioritize investments. Nevertheless, as we argue, the specific context of global health and its mode of government have given way to different and contrasting uses of the database. GBD data are now most referred to as indicator: in global “donors” discourses they figure as numerical pictures of suffering distribution across the globe and signs of emergency.
Tracing Data Journeys Through Medical Case Reports: Conceptualizing Case Reports Not as “Anecdotes” but Productive Epistemic Constructs, or Why Zebras Can Be Useful
Authors: Ankeny Rachel A.
Published: June 2020

Medical case reports provide an important example of data journeying: they are used to collect data and make them available for re-use to others in the field including clinicians, biomedical researchers, and health policymakers. In this paper, I explore how data journey in case reports, with particular focus on the earliest stages of the process, namely from creation and publication of case reports to the initial re-uses of them and data within them. I investigate key themes relating to case reporting and re-use, including factors which seem to smooth the path along which the data captured by a case report journey via broader citation patterns and detailed qualitative analysis of highly re-used case reports. This analysis reveals some of the key factors associated with the case reports whose data have greater amounts of journeying including publication in a general medical journal; that the data have broader implications and evidential value for topical or even urgent issues for instance in public health; and use in the case report of multiple research methods or concepts from diverse subfields. These findings along with standardization of case reporting are shown to have epistemological implications, particularly for how we understand the journeying of data.
Muon g − 2 in Higgs-anomaly mediation
Authors: Yanagida Tsutomu T. , Yin Wen , Yokozaki Norimi
Published: June 2020

Abstract

A simple model for the explanation of the muon anomalous magnetic moment was proposed by the present authors within the context of the minimal supersymmetric standard model [1, 2]: Higgs-anomaly mediation. In the setup, squarks, sleptons, and gauginos are massless at tree-level, but the Higgs doublets get large negative soft supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking masses squared

$$ {m}_{H_u}^2\simeq {m}_{H_d}^2<0 $$

m

H
u

2

≃

m

H
d

2

<
0

at a certain energy scale, M
inp. The sfermion masses are radiatively generated by anomaly mediation and Higgs-loop effects, and gaugino masses are solely determined by anomaly mediation. Consequently, the smuons and bino are light enough to explain the muon g − 2 anomaly while the third generation sfermions are heavy enough to explain the observed Higgs boson mass. The scenario avoids the SUSY flavor problem as well as various cosmological problems, and is consistent with the radiative electroweak symmetry breaking. In this paper, we show that, although the muon g − 2 explanation in originally proposed Higgs-anomaly mediation with M
inp
∼ 1016 GeV is slightly disfavored by the latest LHC data, the muon g − 2 can still be explained at 1σ level when Higgs mediation becomes important at the intermediate scale, M
inp
∼ 1012 GeV. The scenario predicts light SUSY particles that can be fully covered by the LHC and future collider experiments. We also provide a simple realization of

$$ {m}_{H_u}^2\simeq {m}_{H_d}^2<0 $$

m

H
u

2

≃

m

H
d

2

<
0

at the intermediate scale.
2HDM neutral scalars under the LHC
Authors: Kling Felix , Su Shufang , Su Wei
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Two Higgs Doublet Models (2HDM) provide a simple framework for new physics models with an extended Higgs sector. The current LHC results, including both direct searches for additional non-Standard Model (SM) Higgs bosons, as well as precision measurements of the SM-like Higgs couplings, already provide strong constraints on the 2HDM parameter spaces. In this paper, we examine those constraints for the neutral scalars in the Type-I and Type-II 2HDM. In addition to the direct search channels with SM final states: H/A →

$$ f\overline{f} $$

f

f
¯

, VV, Vh, hh, we study in particular the exotic decay channels of H/A → AZ/HZ once there is a mass hierarchy between the non-SM Higgses. We found that H/A → AZ/H Z channel has unique sensitivity to the alignment limit region which remains unconstrained by conventional searches and Higgs precision measurements. This mode also extends the reach at intermediate t

β
for heavy m

A
that are not covered by the other direct searches.
Mortality and functional outcome after surgical evacuation of traumatic acute subdural hematomas in octa- and nonagenarians
Authors: Younsi Alexander , Fischer Jessica , Habel Cleo , Riemann Lennart , Scherer Moritz , Unterberg Andreas , Zweckberger Klaus
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The incidence of acute subdural hematomas (aSDH) is rising. However, beneficial effects of surgery for the oldest aSDH patients remain unclear. We hence describe the postoperative outcome of octa- and nonagenarians with aSDH in comparison to a younger patient cohort.

Methods

Patients aged ≥ 80 years surgically treated for traumatic aSDH at a single institution between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and imaging variables were assessed, and univariate analysis was performed to identify factors predicting outcome at discharge. Results were compared to a cohort of younger aSDH patients and statistical analysis was performed. Long-term outcome was prospectively evaluated with the GOSE and QOLIBRI.

Results

27 aSDH patients aged ≥ 80 years were identified. On admission, 41% were in a comatose state and in-hospital mortality was 33%. At discharge, 22% had a favorable outcome (GOS 4 + 5). In univariate statistical analysis, better neurological status (GCS > 8), ≤ 1 comorbidity and smaller aSDH volumes were significant predictors for a favorable outcome. Comparison to 27 younger aSDH patients revealed significant differences in the prevalence of comorbidities and antithrombotics. At long-term follow-up, quality of life of aSDH patients was reduced (median QOLIBRI 54%).

Conclusion

Outcome after surgical treatment of aSDH in octa- and nonagenarians is not detrimental per se. Predictors for a favorable outcome are a non-comatose state on admission (GCS > 8), ≤ 1 preexisting comorbidity and a lower aSDH volume in patients aged ≥ 80 years. In individual patients, surgical evacuation of aSDH might remain a treatment option even in high ages.
Correction to: Footprint preparation with nanofractures in a supraspinatus repair cuts in half the retear rate at 1-year follow-up. A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ruiz Ibán Miguel Angel , Sanchez Alepuz Eduardo , Diaz Heredia Jorge , Hachem Abdul-ilah , Ezagüi Bentolila Leon , Calvo Angel , Verdú Carlos , de Rus Aznar Ignacio , Soler Romagosa Francesc
Published: June 2020

The article Footprint preparation with nanofractures in a supraspinatus repair cuts in half the retear rate at 1-year follow-up.
The effects of suppressing the biological stress systems on social threat-assessment following acute stress
Authors: Ali Nida , Cooperman Cory , Nitschke Jonas P. , Baldwin Mark W. , Pruessner Jens C.
Published: June 2020

Rationale

Stress is associated with increased sensitivity to threat. Previous investigations examining how stress affects threat processing have largely focused on biomarker responses associated with either the sympathetic-nervous-system (SNS) or the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Objectives

We pharmacologically suppressed activations of SNS, HPA, or both, prior to stress and investigated how each stress system modulates social threat assessment.

Methods

One hundred sixty-one healthy men and women were randomized in a between-subject design, to one of four pharmacological or placebo conditions: dexamethasone–placebo, placebo–propranolol, dexamethasone–propranolol, or placebo–placebo. Participants provided threat assessments for angry and neutral human faces on a baseline day, and immediately after stress induction on a testing day.

Results

With both systems responding normally to stress (placebo–placebo), threat assessment was higher for neutral faces compared with angry. Compared with placebo, SNS suppression resulted in increased threat assessment for angry faces. HPA suppression resulted in decreased threat assessment for neutral and angry faces. When both systems were suppressed, there was an increase in threat assessment for angry faces, and no difference from placebo for neutral.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that when intact, the biological stress systems adaptively support organisms during stress by focusing attention towards specific stimuli that are relevant to the threat. Dysregulations of the stress systems result in important system specific consequences on threat evaluation, such that suppression of either stress system alone resulted in reduced threat assessment for contextually relevant threatening stimuli, whereas when both systems were suppressed, individuals appear indiscriminately attentive to all potential threats in the environment, resulting in increased threat processing of both contextually relevant and irrelevant stimuli. Given that stress-related psychopathologies have been associated with dysregulations of the stress systems and biased responses to social threat, a systematic understanding of the mechanisms that underlie how stress systems modulate social threat assessment is needed, and can provide important insights into the cognitive processes that are involved in the development and maintenance of stress-related psychopathologies.
Variation in carotenoid-containing retinal oil droplets correlates with variation in perception of carotenoid coloration
Authors: Caves Eleanor M. , Schweikert Lorian E. , Green Patrick A. , Zipple Matthew N. , Taboada Carlos , Peters Susan , Nowicki Stephen , Johnsen Sönke
Published: June 2020

In the context of mate choice, males may vary continuously in their expression of assessment signals, typically reflecting information about variation in mate quality. Similarly, females may exhibit variation in mate preference, which could be due to differences in how individual females perceive signals. The extent to which perception varies across individuals, however, and whether differences in sensory physiology underlie perceptual differences is poorly understood. Carotenoid pigments create the orange-red coloration of many assessment signals, and they also play a role in color discrimination in many vertebrates via their presence in retinal oil droplets. Here, we link variation in oil droplet carotenoid concentration with the ability of female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) to discriminate an orange-red color continuum that parallels variation in male beak color, a mate assessment signal. We have shown previously that zebra finch females perceive this color range categorically, meaning they label color stimuli from this continuum as belonging to two categories and exhibit better discrimination between colors from different categories as compared with equally different colors from within a category. We quantified behavioral color discrimination and R-type (red) cone oil droplet spectral absorption, a proxy for carotenoid concentration. Oil droplet absorption was strongly predictive of variation in behavioral color discrimination ability. In particular, higher carotenoid concentration in oil droplets correlated with increased discrimination of colors from different sides of the previously identified category boundary. These data show that differences in the sensory periphery can correlate with individual variation in perception of a signal-relevant color range.

Significance statement

Signal receivers vary in their preferences for signaling traits, but whether this is due to variation in how different receivers perceive signals is not well-understood. We show that variation between individual zebra finch females in perception of an orange-red continuum range correlates with the carotenoid concentration of retinal oil droplets. These data provide the first direct evidence that individual variation in oil droplet carotenoid concentration can lead to variation in color discrimination ability. Linking variation in signal-relevant color discrimination ability with variation in retinal physiology suggests a potential mechanism contributing to individual variation in signal assessment.
Trends in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: cross-sectional data from the German National Database
Authors: Albrecht Katinka , Huscher Dörte , Callhoff Johanna , Richter Jutta G. , Alexander Tobias , Henes Jörg , Zink Angela
Published: June 2020

Objective

To describe trends in outcomes among patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) over two decades.

Methods

From 1997 to 2017, a total of 1079 IIM patients were documented in the National Database of the German Collaborative Arthritis Centers. Annual cross-sectional data on treatment, disease activity, patient-reported outcomes, hospitalization and employment were compared across the years. Information on phenotypes, organ manifestations and autoantibodies was collected for a subset to compare the assessment of global health, pain, fatigue and sleeping disorders.

Results

In 2017, significantly more IIM patients were assessed to be in low disease activity (94%) than in 1997 (59%), p < 0.01. Pain (p = 0.001), global health (p = 0.049), fatigue (p = 0.03) and sleeping disorders (p = 0.01) also improved since recording. Glucocorticoid use decreased from 84 to 58% (p < 0.01). Employment in patients < 65 years remained unchanged (53%), while early retirement (23–9%), hospitalization/year (34–18%) and sick leave (52–24%) decreased. A total of 186 patients with information on subtypes were classified as polymyositis (44%), dermatomyositis (33%), anti-synthetase syndrome (10%), overlapping-myositis (8%), inclusion body myositis (2%), necrotizing myositis (0.5%) and unspecific (3%). The most frequently reported symptoms were limitations in global health (60%), fatigue (57%) and sleeping disorders (51%), and all of them were most frequent in overlap-myositis. Pulmonary hypertension and cardiomyopathy were associated with poor outcomes regarding global health, daily activities and fatigue.

Conclusion

IIM patients report better outcomes than 20 years ago, along with good physician-reported disease control. Global health, fatigue and sleeping disorders are relevant patient-reported domains in IIM.
RNA directed DNA methylation and seed plant genome evolution
Authors: Wambui Mbichi R. , Wang Qing-Feng , Wan Tao
Published: June 2020

RNA Directed DNA Methylation (RdDM) is a pathway that mediates de novo DNA methylation, an evolutionary conserved chemical modification of cytosine bases, which exists in living organisms and utilizes small interfering RNA. Plants utilize DNA methylation for transposable element (TE) repression, regulation of gene expression and developmental regulation. TE activity strongly influences genome size and evolution, therefore making DNA methylation a key component in understanding divergence in genome evolution among seed plants. Multiple proteins that have extensively been studied in model plant Arabidopsis thaliana catalyze RNA dependent DNA Methylation pathway along with small interfering RNA. Several developmental functions have also been attributed to DNA methylation. This review will highlight aspects of RdDM pathway dynamics, evolution and functions in seed plants with focus on recent findings on conserved and non-conserved attributes between angiosperms and gymnosperms to potentially explain how methylation has impacted variations in evolutionary and developmental complexity among them and advance current understanding of this crucial epigenetic pathway.
Improved characterization of sub-centimeter enhancing breast masses on MRI with radiomics and machine learning in BRCA mutation carriers
Authors: Lo Gullo Roberto , Daimiel Isaac , Rossi Saccarelli Carolina , Bitencourt Almir , Gibbs Peter , Fox Michael J. , Thakur Sunitha B. , Martinez Danny F. , Jochelson Maxine S. , Morris Elizabeth A. , Pinker Katja
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To investigate whether radiomics features extracted from MRI of BRCA-positive patients with sub-centimeter breast masses can be coupled with machine learning to differentiate benign from malignant lesions using model-free parameter maps.

Methods

In this retrospective study, BRCA-positive patients who had an MRI from November 2013 to February 2019 that led to a biopsy (BI-RADS 4) or imaging follow-up (BI-RADS 3) for sub-centimeter lesions were included. Two radiologists assessed all lesions independently and in consensus according to BI-RADS. Radiomics features were calculated using open-source CERR software. Univariate analysis and multivariate modeling were performed to identify significant radiomics features and clinical factors to be included in a machine learning model to differentiate malignant from benign lesions.

Results

Ninety-six BRCA mutation carriers (mean age at biopsy = 45.5 ± 13.5 years) were included. Consensus BI-RADS classification assessment achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 53.4%, sensitivity of 75% (30/40), specificity of 42.1% (32/76), PPV of 40.5% (30/74), and NPV of 76.2% (32/42). The machine learning model combining five parameters (age, lesion location, GLCM-based correlation from the pre-contrast phase, first-order coefficient of variation from the 1st post-contrast phase, and SZM-based gray level variance from the 1st post-contrast phase) achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 81.5%, sensitivity of 63.2% (24/38), specificity of 91.4% (64/70), PPV of 80.0% (24/30), and NPV of 82.1% (64/78).

Conclusions

Radiomics analysis coupled with machine learning improves the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in characterizing sub-centimeter breast masses as benign or malignant compared with qualitative morphological assessment with BI-RADS classification alone in BRCA mutation carriers.

Key Points

• Radiomics and machine learning can help differentiate benign from malignant breast masses even if the masses are small and morphological features are benign.

• Radiomics and machine learning analysis showed improved diagnostic accuracy, specificity, PPV, and NPV compared with qualitative morphological assessment alone.
Irrigation and hydrometeorological extremes
Authors: de Vrese Philipp , Stacke Tobias
Published: June 2020

In the present study, the Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology’s Earth System Model is used to investigate irrigation’s general effect on severe and extreme hydrometeorological regimes. Our idealized simulations show a large potential to modulate the magnitude and occurrence frequency of severe and extreme precipitation rates, indicating the possibility to mitigate some of the detrimental effects of future climate change, but also a substantial risk due to the declining water availability in drying regions. Irrigation almost exclusively reduces the magnitude and occurrence frequency of severely and extremely dry conditions and has the potential to counter the drying trends that result from the 21st century increase in greenhouse gas concentrations—according to the RCP4.5 scenario. At the same time, irrigation does not only have a mitigating effect, as it increases the occurrence frequency and intensity of severely wet conditions in many regions. The study aims at irrigation’s theoretical (maximum) impact and investigates a highly idealized trajectory in which global irrigation is being maximized within hydrologically sustainable limits. However, even for this scenario, we find large regions in which present-day water extractions are not sustainable as they often rely on exhaustible sources. Especially, a depletion of non-renewable ground water in South Asia would lead to a strong reduction in irrigation and, consequently, a substantial increase in the occurrence frequency of severely and extremely dry months throughout the region.
Psychological distress in cervical cancer screening: results from a German online survey
Authors: Jentschke M. , Lehmann R. , Drews N. , Hansel A. , Schmitz M. , Hillemanns P.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The PODCAD study aimed at assessing the degree of psychological stress that women experience due to notification of an abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear finding or a positive human papillomavirus (HPV) test result.

Methods

We designed a survey to address the question of psychological burden due to abnormal Pap smear results and/or positive HPV tests. In this online campaign approach, we aimed to reach > 2000 women all over Germany irrespective of kind and number of abnormal screening findings. We asked for different kinds of anxiety, distress and uncertainty regarding both, Pap and HPV status.

Results

A total of 3753 women completed the survey at least partially, and almost 2300 fully completed the survey. Of these, more than 50% were affected already since more than 1 year, and almost half of them had experienced at least three Pap smears in follow-up examinations. Almost 70% of the women were afraid of developing cancer. Intriguingly, almost half of the women with abnormal findings were not aware of their stage of the Pap smear. Furthermore, almost 30% of the women displayed signs of a post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusion

Abnormal results in cervical cancer screening have an impact on patients’ psychology, irrespective of the knowledge and severity of the findings. Better information concerning risks and benefits of cervical cancer screening and about the meaning of the outcome of its procedures are required to decrease this anxiety.
Effect of intensive prior exercise on muscle fiber activation, oxygen uptake kinetics, and oxygen uptake plateau occurrence
Authors: Niemeyer Max , Leithäuser Renate , Beneke Ralph
Published: June 2020

Purpose

We tested the hypothesis that the described increase in oxygen uptake ($$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

V
˙

O
2

)-plateau incidence following a heavy-severe prior exercise is caused by a steeper increase in $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

V
˙

O
2

and muscle fiber activation in the submaximal intensity domain.

Methods

Twenty-one male participants performed a standard ramp test, a $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{{\text{2max}}}}$$

V
˙

O
2max

verification bout, an unprimed ramp test with an individualized ramp slope and a primed ramp test with the same ramp slope, which was preceded by an intensive exercise at 50% of the difference between gas exchange threshold and maximum workload. Muscle fiber activation was recorded from vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and gastrocnemius medialis using a surface electromyography (EMG) device in a subgroup of 11 participants. Linear regression analyses were used to calculate the $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

V
˙

O
2

-($$\Delta \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}} /\Delta P$$

Δ

V
˙

O
2

/
Δ
P

) and EMG-(∆RMS/∆P) ramp test kinetics.

Results

Twenty out of the 21 participants confirmed their $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{{\text{2max}}}}$$

V
˙

O
2max

in the verification bout. The $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

V
˙

O
2

-plateau incidence in these participants did not differ between the unprimed (n = 8) and primed (n = 7) ramp test (p = 0.500). The $$\Delta \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}} /\Delta P$$

Δ

V
˙

O
2

/
Δ
P

was lower in the primed compared to the unprimed ramp test (9.40 ± 0.66 vs. 10.31 ± 0.67 ml min−1 W−1, p < 0.001), whereas the ∆RMS/∆P did not differ between the ramp tests (0.62 ± 0.15 vs. 0.66 ± 0.14% W−1; p = 0.744).

Conclusion

These findings do not support previous studies, which reported an increase in $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

V
˙

O
2

-plateau incidence as well as steeper increases in $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

V
˙

O
2

and muscle fiber activation in the submaximal intensity domain following a heavy-severe prior exercise.
General anesthesia affecting on developing brain: evidence from animal to clinical research
Authors: Liu Xinyue , Ji Jing , Zhao Guo-Qing
Published: June 2020

As the recent update of General anaesthesia compared to spinal anaesthesia (GAS) studies has been published in 2019, together with other clinical evidence, the human studies provided an overwhelming mixed evidence of an association between anaesthesia exposure in early childhood and later neurodevelopment changes in children. Pre-clinical studies in animals provided strong evidence on how anaesthetic and sedative agents (ASAs) causing neurotoxicity in developing brain and deficits in long-term cognitive functions. However pre-clinical results cannot translate to clinical practice directly. Three well designed large population-based human studies strongly indicated that a single brief exposure to general anesthesia (GAs) is not associated with any long-term neurodevelopment deficits in children’s brain. Multiple exposure might cause decrease in processing speed and motor skills of children. However, the association between GAs and neurodevelopment in children is still inconclusive. More clinical studies with larger scale observations, randomized trials with longer duration exposure of GAs and follow-ups, more sensitive outcome measurements, and strict confounder controls are needed in the future to provide more conclusive and informative data. New research area has been developed to contribute in finding solutions for clinical practice as attenuating the neurotoxic effect of ASAs. Xenon and Dexmedetomidine are already used in clinical setting as neuroprotection and anaesthetic sparing-effect, but more research is still needed.
Belt–pulley interaction: role of the action line of friction forces
Authors: Oborin Evgenii
Published: June 2020

A simplified model of the belt motion with small strains is proposed. The main purpose of the modeling is to show the effects arising when the line of action of friction forces is shifted to the belt’s middle axis. The prestressed shearable model of the belt is used in this study. The differential equations of the steady state motion are integrated and combined together with the boundary conditions into two nonlinear systems of algebraic equations corresponding to the different cases of the belt behavior: presence and absence of a sliding segment. The nonlinearity results from the fact that the boundaries of the contact segments are a priori unknown. The case without sliding requires introduction of a concentrated force at the point where the belt leaves the pulley. Considerable effects of the assumptions of contact characterization on the simulation results are demonstrated.
Stability of nanobeams under nonconservative surface loading
Authors: Glabisz Wojciech , Jarczewska Kamila , Hołubowski Ryszard
Published: June 2020

A universal algorithm for analyzing the stability of Euler–Bernoulli nanobeams with any support conditions, subjected to arbitrary conservative and nonconservative loads, has been shown. The analysis was carried out using exact solutions in each of the prismatic nanobeam segments. The study of the determinant of a homogeneous system of equations resulting from boundary conditions and continuity conditions at the contact points of the nanobeam elements was the basis for the analysis of its critical loads. The presented general algorithm was used to analyze the impact on critical loads of prestress nanobeams caused by conservative and nonconservative external surface loads.
LabelSens: enabling real-time sensor data labelling at the point of collection using an artificial intelligence-based approach
Authors: Woodward Kieran , Kanjo Eiman , Oikonomou Andreas , Chamberlain Alan
Published: June 2020

In recent years, machine learning has developed rapidly, enabling the development of applications with high levels of recognition accuracy relating to the use of speech and images. However, other types of data to which these models can be applied have not yet been explored as thoroughly. Labelling is an indispensable stage of data pre-processing that can be particularly challenging, especially when applied to single or multi-model real-time sensor data collection approaches. Currently, real-time sensor data labelling is an unwieldy process, with a limited range of tools available and poor performance characteristics, which can lead to the performance of the machine learning models being compromised. In this paper, we introduce new techniques for labelling at the point of collection coupled with a pilot study and a systematic performance comparison of two popular types of deep neural networks running on five custom built devices and a comparative mobile app (68.5–89% accuracy within-device GRU model, 92.8% highest LSTM model accuracy). These devices are designed to enable real-time labelling with various buttons, slide potentiometer and force sensors. This exploratory work illustrates several key features that inform the design of data collection tools that can help researchers select and apply appropriate labelling techniques to their work. We also identify common bottlenecks in each architecture and provide field tested guidelines to assist in building adaptive, high-performance edge solutions.
Analysis of the short-term effect of photodynamic therapy on primary bronchial lung cancer
Authors: Lin Cunzhi , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhao Qian , Sun Pingping , Gao Zhe , Cui Shichao
Published: June 2020

To analyze the short-term clinical effect of photodynamic therapy on bronchial lung cancer and provide relevant practical experience for its better application in clinical practice. Twenty patients with bronchial lung cancer diagnosed by pathology were treated with photodynamic therapy or interventional tumor reduction combined with photodynamic therapy. Follow-up at 3 months after treatment, the chest CT and bronchoscopy were reexamined. The lesions were observed under a microscope, and the pathological specimens of living tissues were stained with HE and TUNEL to evaluate the short-term clinical effect. The volume of the tumor in the trachea or bronchus was smaller than before and the obstruction improved after the PDT from the chest CT. We could conclude that after PDT, the tumor volume was reduced and the pathological tissue appeared necrotic, the surface was pale, and the blood vessels were fewer while compared with before, and less likely to bleed when touched from the results of the bronchoscopy. HE staining showed that before treatment, there were a large number of tumor cells, closely arranged and disordered, or agglomerated and distributed unevenly. The cell morphology was not clear and the sizes were various with large and deeply stained nucleus, and the intercellular substance was less. After treatment, the number of tumor cells decreased significantly compared with before and the arrangement was relatively loose and orderly. The cells were roughly the same size; the intercellular substance increased obviously and showed uniform staining. The nuclei morphology was incomplete and fragmented, and tumor cells were evenly distributed among the intercellular substance. TUNEL staining showed that the number of cells was large and the nucleus morphology was regular before treatment; the nuclear membrane was clear and only a small number of apoptotic cells could be seen. However, the number of cells decreased and arranged loosely after treatment, with evenly stained cytoplasm. The nuclear morphology was irregular and the nuclear membrane cannot be seen clearly. Apoptotic cells with typical characteristics such as karyopyknosis, karyorrhexis, and karyolysis were common. Photodynamic therapy for bronchial lung cancer can achieve a satisfactory short-term clinical treatment effect and improve the life quality of patients, but the long-term clinical effect remains to be further studied.
Prioritizing river basins for intensive monitoring and assessment by the US Geological Survey
Authors: Van Metre Peter C. , Qi Sharon , Deacon Jeffrey , Dieter Cheryl , Driscoll Jessica M. , Fienen Michael , Kenney Terry , Lambert Patrick , Lesmes David , Mason Christopher A. , Mueller-Solger Anke , Musgrove Marylynn , Painter Jaime , Rosenberry Donald , Sprague Lori , Tesoriero Anthony J. , Windham-Myers Lisamarie , Wolock David
Published: June 2020

The US Geological Survey (USGS) is currently (2020) integrating its water science programs to better address the nation’s greatest water resource challenges now and into the future. This integration will rely, in part, on data from 10 or more intensively monitored river basins from across the USA. A team of USGS scientists was convened to develop a systematic, quantitative approach to prioritize candidate basins for this monitoring investment to ensure that, as a group, the 10 basins will support the assessment and forecasting objectives of the major USGS water science programs. Candidate basins were the level-4 hydrologic units (HUC04) with some of the smaller HUC04s being combined; median candidate-basin area is 46,600 km2. Candidate basins for the contiguous United States (CONUS) were grouped into 18 hydrologic regions. Ten geospatial variables representing land use, climate change, water use, water-balance components, streamflow alteration, fire risk, and ecosystem sensitivity were selected to rank candidate basins within each of the 18 hydrologic regions. The two highest ranking candidate basins in each of the 18 regions were identified as finalists for selection as “Integrated Water Science Basins”; final selection will consider input from a variety of stakeholders. The regional framework, with only one basin selected per region, ensures that as a group, the basins represent the range in major drivers of the hydrologic cycle. Ranking within each region, primarily based on anthropogenic stressors of water resources, ensures that settings representing important water-resource challenges for the nation will be studied.
Development of Lake Vesijärvi through four decades of remediation efforts
Authors: Salonen Kalevi , Sarvala Jouko , Horppila Jukka , Keto Juha , Malin Ismo , Malinen Tommi , Niemistö Juha , Ruuhijärvi Jukka
Published: June 2020

The diversion of sewage inputs in the mid-1970s led to an order of magnitude reduction in nutrient loading to Lake Vesijärvi, southern Finland. After the diversion, nutrient concentrations declined, consistent with a simple dilution model, and by the mid-1990s the chlorophyll concentration was reduced by 80%. The favourable development was supported by a 5-year mass removal of planktivorous and benthivorous fish and the stocking of predatory pikeperch (Sander lucioperca (L.)), although the exact mechanisms behind their effects remain obscure. Starting in 2010, oxygen-rich water from the top of the water column was pumped to the deepest parts of the lake, resulting in high deepwater oxygen concentration in winter. In summer, hypoxic or even anoxic conditions could not be avoided, but the duration of the anoxic period was markedly shortened. Because nitrate was never depleted, leaching of total nitrogen from the sediment was reduced and the same was also true for total phosphorus, but only in winter. The oxygenation stabilized deepwater nutrient concentrations to a low level, but this was not reflected in the epilimnetic total nutrient concentration or in a further decrease in the chlorophyll concentration.
Mean Field Approach for Configuring Population Dynamics on a Biohybrid Neuromorphic System
Authors: Partzsch Johannes , Mayr Christian , Giulioni Massimiliano , Noack Marko , Hänzsche Stefan , Scholze Stefan , Höppner Sebastian , Giudice Paolo Del , Schüffny Rene
Published: June 2020

Real-time coupling of cell cultures to neuromorphic circuits necessitates a neuromorphic network that replicates biological behaviour both on a per-neuron and on a population basis, with a network size comparable to the culture. We present a large neuromorphic system composed of 9 chips, with overall 2880 neurons and 144M conductance-based synapses. As they are realized in a robust switched-capacitor fashion, individual neurons and synapses can be configured to replicate with high fidelity a wide range of biologically realistic behaviour. In contrast to other exploration/heuristics-based approaches, we employ a theory-guided mesoscopic approach to configure the overall network to a range of bursting behaviours, thus replicating the statistics of our targeted in-vitro network. The mesoscopic approach has implications beyond our proposed biohybrid, as it allows a targeted exploration of the behavioural space, which is a non-trivial task especially in large, recurrent networks.
An integrated model for fire sales and default contagion
Authors: Detering Nils , Meyer-Brandis Thilo , Panagiotou Konstantinos , Ritter Daniel
Published: June 2020

Fire sales and default contagion are two of the main drivers of systemic risk in financial networks. While default contagion spreads via direct balance sheet exposures between institutions, fire sales describe iterated distressed selling of assets and their associated decline in price which impacts all institutions invested in these assets. That is, institutions are indirectly linked if they have overlapping asset portfolios. In this paper, we develop a model that helps us understand the joint effect of the two contagion channels and investigate structures of financial systems that promote or hinder the spread of an initial local shock. We first consider the contagion process for an explicitly given system and then derive our main results for random ensembles of systems whose macroscopic statistical characteristics of defining parameters are close to each other. In particular, we model direct exposures by means of a random graph. Our approach ensures robustness to local uncertainties and changes in the system. We characterize resilient and non-resilient system structures by criteria that can be used by regulators to assess system stability. Moreover, we provide explicit capital requirements that secure the financial system against the joint impact of fire sales and default contagion.
No-reference image quality assessment of authentically distorted images with global and local statistics
Authors: Rajchel Milosz , Oszust Mariusz
Published: June 2020

The development of digital image processing techniques requires reliable image quality assessment (IQA) methods. Since images acquired by a camera often contain various distortions and their non-distorted versions are not available, a no-reference IQA (NR-IQA) technique should be used. Many popular methods are developed to assess artificially distorted images, available in benchmark databases. In this paper, a new large benchmark database, containing naturally distorted images captured with a digital camera, is introduced along with a new NR-IQA metric. The method uses a wide spectrum of local and global image features and their statistics to address a diversity of distortions. Among 80 employed features, 56 are introduced to the IQA for the first time, while the remaining statistics are used to further improve the quality prediction performance of the method. The obtained perceptual feature vector is used to provide a quality model with support vector regression technique. The experimental comparison of the method with the state-of-the-art IQA measures on the database reveals its superiority in terms of correlation with human scores.
Clarifying the boundary conditions of value creation within dynamic capabilities framework: a grafting approach
Authors: Michaelis Björn , Rogbeer Shalini , Schweizer Lars , Özleblebici Zafer
Published: June 2020

This study extends dynamic capabilities research by examining the underlying and fundamental concepts of capabilities, resource allocation, fungibility, and environmental change with respect to value creation and appropriation (VCA). Scholars generally assume that VCA depends on the amount of resources allocated to generate future capabilities. We diverge from this ability-performance tautology and instead ground dynamic capabilities in a resource allocation framework. By introducing two boundary conditions, we suggest that environmental change and fungibility between current and dynamic capabilities determine whether resource allocation leads to VCA. We believe that our findings not only represent a fruitful path for future research by strategy and organization scholars, but also provide an important contribution to our knowledge of managing resources in dynamic environments to create future capabilities.
Determinism and Destigmatization: Mitigating Blame for Addiction
Authors: Clark Thomas W.
Published: June 2020

The brain disease model of addiction is widely endorsed by agencies concerned with treating behavioral disorders and combatting the stigma often associated with addiction. However, both its accuracy and its effectiveness in reducing stigma have been challenged. A proposed alternative, the “choice” model, recognizes the residual rational behavior control capacities of addicted individuals and their ability to make choices, some of which may cause harm. Since harmful choices are ordinarily perceived as blameworthy, the choice model may inadvertently help justify stigma. This paper seeks to fully naturalize the choice model by highlighting the determinants of voluntary action and thus increase its potential for destigmatizing addiction. In light of a deterministic understanding of behavior, it is unreasonable to suppose that addicted individuals could have made different choices in becoming addicted and in subsequent situations. To the extent that stigma is motivated by the supposition that addicted individuals could have chosen otherwise in actual situations, a deterministic understanding of addictive behavior promises to mitigate blame and stigma.
Ecology of building solutions in the engineering of construction projects
Authors: Ibadov Nabi
Published: June 2020

Increasing the ecological performance of construction projects is one of the most actual problems of building production. This article deals with the selection problem of ecological construction projects. The purpose of this article is (1) to indicate the criteria (parameters, features) that create the level of environmental performance of a given building solution by analyzing the functional requirements for building objects; (2) to demonstrate the essential characteristics (specificity) of ecological construction; (3) to propose a method of assessing construction projects including the environmental criterion, supporting decision-making. In addition to the issues mentioned, the article also contains a numerical example of choosing a construction project, where the mathematical tool with elements of fuzzy set theory is used—a fuzzy relation of preferences. Three following evaluation criteria are proposed in the numerical example: time, cost, and environmental performance of the construction project. The article creates the base for a deeper analysis of the ecological performance of construction projects. An important element of the article is also the idea that the environmental problem should be included in the overall assessment of construction projects (including construction solutions). This is a necessity due to the increasingly stringent requirements set for buildings in various areas of their ecological characteristics, features, and properties.
Contamination of Clams with Human Norovirus and a Novel Hepatitis A Virus in Cameroon
Authors: Bonny Patrice , Desdouits Marion , Schaeffer Julien , Garry Pascal , Essia Ngang Jean Justin , Le Guyader Françoise S.
Published: June 2020

Shellfish constitute an important protein source but may be contaminated by viruses from various origins. A study performed on clams collected in Cameroon showed a high prevalence of norovirus and hepatitis A virus. After sequencing, the hepatitis A virus showed similarities with the genotype V simian strains.
Evaluating the Effect of WO3 on Electrochemical and Corrosion Properties of TiO2-RuO2-Coated Titanium Anodes with Low Content of RuO2
Authors: Kusmierek Elzbieta
Published: June 2020

The electrochemical and corrosion characterization of Ti0.97Ru0.03O2/Ti electrodes modified with WO3 was reported. Modification of Ti0.97Ru0.03O2/Ti electrodes with WO3 was previously described as improving the effectiveness of an azo dye degradation in a photoelectrochemical treatment. Thus, the effect of WO3 introduction to oxide film on electrode surface on electrochemical behaviour and stability of the modified electrodes was investigated. Moreover, corrosion behaviour of Ti0.97Ru0.03O2/Ti electrodes modified with WO3 was evaluated with the application of potentiodynamic polarization sweep method and open circuit potential measurement. Electrodes modified with WO3 revealed higher anodic and cathodic peak currents in K4[Fe(CN)6] solution (by 35% for 6%WO3 content) indicating higher electroactive surface area and faster electron transfer reaction. An increase in WO3 amount in the oxide layer caused an increase in the number of active sites determined in Na2SO4 and most of them (more than 80%) were located in the outer and more accessible surface. The investigation of the tested electrodes at high potentials at which oxygen evolution is observed, allowed their classification in the following order showing an increase in their activity towards oxygen evolution reaction: Ti0.97Ru0.03O2/Ti < Ti0.94Ru0.03O2-W0.03O3/Ti < Ti0.91Ru0.03O2-W0.06O3/Ti. Although the electrode modification with WO3 resulted in lower resistance to corrosion in Na2SO4 solution regarding corrosion potential, corrosion current densities were clearly lower in comparison with the non-modified electrode, especially after longer immersion in the solution. ASTs showed that even a small addition of WO3 increased the lifetime of the electrodes. The Ti0.97Ru0.03O2/Ti electrode modification with WO3 seemed to be advantageous for their application in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical degradation of organic pollutants.