bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High CO2 concentration and iron availability determine the metabolic inventory in an Emiliania huxleyi‐dominated phytoplankton community
Authors: Mausz Michaela A. , Segovia María , Larsen Aud , Berger Stella A. , Egge Jorun K. , Pohnert Georg
Published: July 2020

Ocean acidification (OA), a consequence of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, strongly impacts marine ecosystems. OA also influences iron (Fe) solubility, affecting biogeochemical and ecological processes. We investigated the interactive effects of CO2 and Fe availability on the metabolome response of a natural phytoplankton community. Using mesocosms we exposed phytoplankton to ambient (390 μatm) or future CO2 levels predicted for the year 2100 (900 μatm), combined with ambient (4.5 nM) or high (12 nM) dissolved iron (dFe). By integrating over the whole phytoplankton community, we assigned functional changes based on altered metabolite concentrations. Our study revealed the complexity of phytoplankton metabolism. Metabolic profiles showed three stages in response to treatments and phytoplankton dynamics. Metabolome changes were related to the plankton group contributing respective metabolites, explaining bloom decline and community succession. CO2 and Fe affected metabolic profiles. Most saccharides, fatty acids, amino acids and many sterols significantly correlated with the high dFe treatment at ambient pCO2. High CO2 lowered the abundance of many metabolites irrespective of Fe. However, sugar alcohols accumulated, indicating potential stress. We demonstrate that not only altered species composition but also changes in the metabolic landscape affecting the plankton community may change as a consequence of future high‐CO2 oceans.
Assessing anaerobic gut fungal diversity in herbivores using D1/D2 large ribosomal subunit sequencing and multi‐year isolation
Authors: Hanafy Radwa A. , Johnson Britny , Youssef Noha H. , Elshahed Mostafa S.
Published: July 2020

The anaerobic gut fungi (AGF, Neocallimastigomycota) reside in the alimentary tracts of herbivores where they play a central role in the breakdown of plant material. Here, we report on the development of the hypervariable domains D1/D2 of the large ribosomal subunit (D1/D2 LSU) as a barcoding marker for the AGF. We generated a reference D1/D2 LSU database for all cultured AGF genera, as well as the majority of candidate genera encountered in prior internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)‐based surveys. Subsequently, a D1/D2 LSU‐based diversity survey using long read PacBio SMRT sequencing was conducted on faecal samples from 21 wild and domesticated herbivores. Twenty‐eight genera and candidate genera were identified, including multiple novel lineages that were predominantly, but not exclusively, identified in wild herbivores. Association between certain AGF genera and animal lifestyles, or animal host family was observed. Finally, to address the current paucity of AGF isolates, concurrent isolation efforts utilizing multiple approaches to maximize recovery yielded 216 isolates belonging to 12 different genera, several of which have no prior cultured‐representatives. Our results establish the utility of D1/D2 LSU and PacBio sequencing for AGF diversity surveys, the culturability of multiple AGF taxa, and demonstrate that wild herbivores represent a yet‐untapped reservoir of AGF diversity.
Dynamics of D‐dimer in non‐small cell lung cancer patients receiving radical surgery and its association with postoperative venous thromboembolism
Authors: Ke Lihui , Cui Songping , Chen Shuo , Hu Bin , Li Hui
Published: July 2020

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs at a high rate after lung cancer surgery and can be attributed to various clinical risk factors. Here, we aimed to determine whether early detection of perioperative D‐dimer and risk‐stratified cutoff values would improve the diagnostic efficacy of VTE.

Methods

In this case‐control study, D‐dimer results were acquired from 171 non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients preoperatively and at the first, third, and fifth day after surgery. VTE was confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography and computer tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze how D‐dimer changed with time and the effects of risk factors on D‐dimer levels. We then compared sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value, using both adjusted and unadjusted cutoff values.

Results

VTE occurred in 23 patients (13.5%) of the study population. D‐dimer levels increased unsustainably after lung cancer surgery (P < 0.001) due to a trough on the third day, and patients who had undergone thoracotomy (P < 0.001) and those at a more advanced tumor stage (P = 0.037) had higher D‐dimer levels. Area under the curve of D‐dimer was greatest on the third day (0.762 [P < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.643–0.882]). Applying stratified cutoff values improved the specificity in the video‐assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) (P = 0.004) and thoracotomy groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

D‐dimer levels elevated with fluctuation in NSCLC patients after surgery. Surgical options and tumor stages had an impact on D‐dimer levels. With regard to VTE diagnosis, stratified cutoff values by these two factors showed better accuracy compared with a collective one..

Key points

Significant findings of the study

The changing pattern of perioperative D‐dimer levels in NSCLC patients who received surgical therapy in a major teaching hospital in Beijing, China was revealed.

What this study adds

Risk‐stratified D‐dimer cutoff values adjusted to surgical methods and disease stages would benefit the exclusion of postoperative venous thromboembolism.
Impact of previous percutaneous coronary intervention on cardiovascular outcomes and mortality after lung cancer surgery: A nationwide study in Korea
Authors: Yoon Dong Woog , Shin Dong Wook , Cho Jong Ho , Lee Jong‐Hwan , Yang Jeong Hoon , Han Kyungdo , Park Sang Hyun
Published: July 2020

Background

The number of patients with operable lung cancer with a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has increased. However, cardiovascular outcomes and mortality, according to the time from PCI to surgery, and the follow‐up time after surgery are largely unknown. Here, we aimed to compare the cardiovascular outcomes and mortality of these patients with a history of PCI to those of patients without a history of PCI.

Methods

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database, we selected 30 750 patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer between 2006 and 2014. Study outcome variables were all‐cause mortality, revascularization, intensive care unit (ICU) readmission, and stroke incidence. Patients were followed‐up until 2016.

Results

Of the 30 750 patients, 513 (1.7%) underwent PCI before surgery. The PCI group did not show an increased risk of death, ICU readmission, or stroke within one year of surgery, despite an increased risk of revascularization. However, one year after surgery, they showed a higher risk of death and revascularization than the non‐PCI group. The risk of revascularization was highest when the interval between PCI and surgery was <1 year and remained high when the interval was >3 years.

Conclusions

Patients who underwent PCI before surgery for lung cancer were at a higher risk of death than those in the non‐PCI group at one year after surgery. In addition, they showed higher short‐ and long‐term risks of revascularization than patients in the non‐PCI group. Careful long‐term management of cardiovascular risk is necessary for this population.
Common clinical thresholds of intraoperative hypotension and 30‐day mortality following surgery: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Dony Philippe , Seidel Laurence , Pirson Magali , Haller Guy
Published: July 2020

Background

A wide range of thresholds define intraoperative hypotension and can be used to guide intraoperative blood pressure management. Many clinicians use the systolic blood pressure (SBP) <80 mmHg, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) <60 mmHg and the SBP percent drop from baseline (ΔSBP) >20% as alarming limits that should not be exceeded. Whether these common thresholds are valid limits that can inform clinicians on a possible increased risk of post‐operative complications, particularly 30‐day mortality, is currently unclear.

Methods

We performed a retrospective registry‐based cohort study between January 2015 and July 2016 using departmental hospital databases and the National Death Registry. Uni‐ and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the association between each of these three thresholds and 30‐day post‐operative mortality. Six specific markers of hypotension were used.

Results

Of 11 304 patients, 86 (0.76%) died within 30 days following surgery. All intraoperative hypotension markers for SBP < 80 mmHg and MAP < 60 mmHg were significantly associated with 30‐day mortality (P < .005). Markers of ΔSBP > 20% were not significant. After adjustment for age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, emergency status and risk related to the type of surgery, both SBP < 80 mmHg and MAP < 60 mmHg (the per cent area under the threshold marker) showed the strongest associations with 30‐day mortality, with odds ratios (ORs) of 3.02 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.81‐5.07) and 3.77 (95% CI 2.25‐6.31) respectively.

Conclusions

Commonly accepted thresholds of intraoperative hypotension, such as an SBP of 80 mmHg and an MAP of 60 mmHg, are valid alarming limits that are significantly and independently associated with 30‐day mortality.
A nonsense variant in the KRT14 gene in a domestic shorthair cat with epidermolysis bullosa simplex
Authors: Dettwiler M. , Leuthard F. , Bauer A. , Jagannathan V. , Lourenço A. M. , Pereira H. , Leeb T. , Welle M. M.
Published: July 2020

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a hereditary blistering disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes. It has been reported in humans, cattle, buffaloes and dogs, but so far not in cats. In humans, EBS is most frequently caused by variants in the KRT5 or KRT14 genes. Here, we report a case of feline epidermolysis bullosa simplex and describe the causative genetic variant. An 11‐month‐old male domestic shorthair cat presented with a history of sloughed paw pads and ulcerations in the oral cavity and inner aspect of the pinnae, starting a few weeks after birth. Clinical and histopathological findings suggested a congenital blistering disease with a split formation within the basal cell layer of the epidermis and oral mucous epithelium. The genetic investigation revealed a homozygous nonsense variant in the KRT14 gene (c.979C>T, p.Gln327*). Immunohistochemistry showed a complete absence of keratin 14 staining in all epithelia present in the biopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of feline EBS, and the first report of a spontaneous pathogenic KRT14 variant in a non‐human species. The homozygous genotype in the affected cat suggests an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.
Letter: early TIPSS in acute variceal bleed—debate continues
Authors: Elhence Anshuman , Shalimar
Published: July 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Dunne et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15797.
Archaeometric analysis of ceramic production in Tiwanaku state (c.500–1000 ce): An exploratory study
Authors: Ogalde J. P. , Korpisaari A. , Riera‐Soto C. , Arriaza B. , Paipa C. , Leyton P. , Campos‐Vallette M. , Lara N. , Chacama J.
Published: July 2020

The chemical and mineralogical characterization of seven ceramic fragments produced within Tiwanaku state (c.500–1000 ce) is reported. The instrumental techniques used included X‐ray elemental and mineralogical chemical analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning and light microscopy. The results indicate there are several clay types, although they show similarities, such as the use of a plant‐based temper. The red colour of the decoration is hematite, and manganese oxides such as jacobsite are present in the black. The white colour is a mixture of gypsum and clay, and the orange is a mixture of hematite and clay. The use of colours, the quality of the clays and the temperatures reached during pottery firing point to expertise in ceramic production and to complex decision‐making processes. The multi‐elemental archaeometric approach documented here could become an important tool to shed a light on ancient ceramic technology and the internal variance of Tiwanaku pottery.
Strategies to reduce use of antidepressants
Authors: Kendrick Tony
Published: July 2020

Antidepressant prescribing has increased year on year since the introduction of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the 1980s. More than 10% of adults in England are now taking antidepressants for depression/anxiety, with a median length of treatment of more than 2 years, but antidepressants can cause side effects and withdrawal symptoms which increase with longer use. Surveys of antidepressant users suggest 30–50% have no evidence‐based indication to continue, but coming off antidepressants is often difficult due to fears of relapse, withdrawal symptoms and a lack of psychological treatments to replace maintenance treatment and prevent relapse. GPs should not prescribe antidepressants routinely for mild depressive/anxiety symptoms. Patients starting antidepressants should be advised that they are to be taken for a limited period only, and that there is a risk of withdrawal problems on stopping them. Prescribers should actively review long‐term antidepressant use and suggest coming off them slowly to patients who are well. The relationship between SSRI dose and serotonin transporter receptor occupancy suggests that hyperbolic tapering regimes may be helpful for patients with troubling withdrawal symptoms who cannot stop treatment within 4–8 weeks, and tapering strips can allow carefully titrated slower dose reduction over some months. Internet and telephone support to patients wanting to reduce their antidepressants is being trialled in the REDUCE programme. More research is needed to establish the incidence of withdrawal symptoms in representative samples of patients coming off antidepressants, and large randomised controlled trials are needed to test different tapering strategies.
Emicizumab treatment and monitoring in a paediatric cohort: real‐world data
Authors: Barg Assaf A. , Livnat Tami , Budnik Ivan , Avishai Einat , Brutman‐Barazani Tami , Tamarin Ilia , Bashari Dalia , Misgav Mudi , Kenet Gili
Published: July 2020

Real‐world data on emicizumab use and monitoring in paediatric severe haemophilia A (HA) patients are scarce. We therefore sought to evaluate safety, efficacy, and laboratory monitoring of emicizumab prophylaxis in a cohort of 40 children with severe HA, including 22 non‐inhibitor patients and nine infants younger than one year. Bleeding, trauma, adverse events, and surgeries were documented during a median follow‐up of 45 weeks. Emicizumab levels, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) values, and thrombin generation were measured before and during therapy. Twenty patients experienced zero bleeds. All bleeding was trauma‐related, and bleeding risk was positively correlated with the length of emicizumab prophylaxis. Sixteen surgical interventions were performed in 12 patients, with no thrombotic complications or thrombotic microangiopathy. Prolonged aPTT values normalised after emicizumab initiation, correlating with an increase in emicizumab plasma levels. Elevation in the thrombin generation was observed following emicizumab prophylaxis, with lower values recorded in younger infants. Emicizumab prophylaxis was safe and well tolerated. As all bleedings were trauma‐related, laboratory monitoring could not predict bleeding risk. Our results do not support routine thrombin generation monitoring in children treated by emicizumab, yet further studies are warranted in the context of surgical procedures.
Risk factors for psychological distress during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Israel: Loneliness, age, gender, and health status play an important role
Authors: Horesh Danny , Kapel Lev‐Ari Rony , Hasson‐Ohayon Ilanit
Published: July 2020

Objective

Research on the psychological toll of the COVID‐19 pandemic is being conducted in various countries. This study aimed to examine risk factors for mental health problems among Israeli adults during this crisis.

Methods

A total of 204 participants took part in the study. They completed self‐report questionnaires assessing perceived stress, anxiety, quality of life, and various questions related to quarantine, pre‐existing health issues, and worries related to the virus. The study took place during the last two weeks of March 2020.

Results

The majority of participants reported relatively high levels of perceived stress and corona‐related worries, but low levels of anxiety. Female gender, younger age, corona‐related loneliness, and pre‐existing chronic illness were all related to higher levels of psychological distress and lower levels of quality of life.

Conclusions

While considering the preliminary nature of these results, the current study highlights risk factors for psychological distress in light of the corona pandemic. Attention should be given to sociodemographic variables that were identified as related to psychological distress, as well as to the important role of loneliness, when screening and treating people during this crisis. More research is needed in order to fully understand the scope and correlates of psychological difficulties during these challenging times.
Persistence Analysis of Multi‐scale Planar Structure Graph in Point Clouds
Authors: Lejemble T. , Mura C. , Barthe L. , Mellado N.
Published: July 2020

Modern acquisition techniques generate detailed point clouds that sample complex geometries. For instance, we are able to produce millimeter‐scale acquisition of whole buildings. Processing and exploring geometrical information within such point clouds requires scalability, robustness to acquisition defects and the ability to model shapes at different scales. In this work, we propose a new representation that enriches point clouds with a multi‐scale planar structure graph. We define the graph nodes as regions computed with planar segmentations at increasing scales and the graph edges connect regions that are similar across scales. Connected components of the graph define the planar structures present in the point cloud within a scale interval. For instance, with this information, any point is associated to one or several planar structures existing at different scales. We then use topological data analysis to filter the graph and provide the most prominent planar structures.

Our representation naturally encodes a large range of information. We show how to efficiently extract geometrical details (e.g. tiles of a roof), arrangements of simple shapes (e.g. steps and mean ramp of a staircase), and large‐scale planar proxies (e.g. walls of a building) and present several interactive tools to visualize, select and reconstruct planar primitives directly from raw point clouds. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated by an extensive evaluation on a variety of input data, as well as by comparing against state‐of‐the‐art techniques and by showing applications to polygonal mesh reconstruction.
Progressive Real‐Time Rendering of One Billion Points Without Hierarchical Acceleration Structures
Authors: Schütz Markus , Mandlburger Gottfried , Otepka Johannes , Wimmer Michael
Published: July 2020

Research in rendering large point clouds traditionally focused on the generation and use of hierarchical acceleration structures that allow systems to load and render the smallest fraction of the data with the largest impact on the output. The generation of these structures is slow and time consuming, however, and therefore ill‐suited for tasks such as quickly looking at scan data stored in widely used unstructured file formats, or to immediately display the results of point‐cloud processing tasks.

We propose a progressive method that is capable of rendering any point cloud that fits in GPU memory in real time, without the need to generate hierarchical acceleration structures in advance. Our method supports data sets with a large amount of attributes per point, achieves a load performance of up to 100 million points per second, displays already loaded data in real time while remaining data is still being loaded, and is capable of rendering up to one billion points using an on‐the‐fly generated shuffled vertex buffer as its data structure, instead of slow‐to‐generate hierarchical structures. Shuffling is done during loading in order to allow efficiently filling holes with random subsets, which leads to a higher quality convergence behavior.
Spherical Gaussian Light‐field Textures for Fast Precomputed Global Illumination
Authors: Currius R. R. , Dolonius D. , Assarsson U. , Sintorn E.
Published: July 2020

We describe a method to use Spherical Gaussians with free directions and arbitrary sharpness and amplitude to approximate the precomputed local light field for any point on a surface in a scene. This allows for a high‐quality reconstruction of these light fields in a manner that can be used to render the surfaces with precomputed global illumination in real‐time with very low cost both in memory and performance. We also extend this concept to represent the illumination‐weighted environment visibility, allowing for high‐quality reflections of the distant environment with both surface‐material properties and visibility taken into account. We treat obtaining the Spherical Gaussians as an optimization problem for which we train a Convolutional Neural Network to produce appropriate values for each of the Spherical Gaussians' parameters. We define this CNN in such a way that the produced parameters can be interpolated between adjacent local light fields while keeping the illumination in the intermediate points coherent.
Facial Expression Synthesis using a Global‐Local Multilinear Framework
Authors: Wang M. , Bradley D. , Zafeiriou S. , Beeler T.
Published: July 2020

We present a practical method to synthesize plausible 3D facial expressions for a particular target subject. The ability to synthesize an entire facial rig from a single neutral expression has a large range of applications both in computer graphics and computer vision, ranging from the efficient and cost‐effective creation of CG characters to scalable data generation for machine learning purposes. Unlike previous methods based on multilinear models, the proposed approach is capable to extrapolate well outside the sample pool, which allows it to plausibly predict the identity of the target subject and create artifact free expression shapes while requiring only a small input dataset. We introduce global‐local multilinear models that leverage the strengths of expression‐specific and identity‐specific local models combined with coarse motion estimations from a global model. Experimental results show that we achieve high‐quality, plausible facial expression synthesis results for an individual that outperform existing methods both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Fast and Robust QEF Minimization using Probabilistic Quadrics
Authors: Trettner P. , Kobbelt L.
Published: July 2020

Error quadrics are a fundamental and powerful building block in many geometry processing algorithms. However, finding the minimizer of a given quadric is in many cases not robust and requires a singular value decomposition or some ad‐hoc regularization. While classical error quadrics measure the squared deviation from a set of ground truth planes or polygons, we treat the input data as genuinely uncertain information and embed error quadrics in a probabilistic setting (“probabilistic quadrics”) where the optimal point minimizes theexpectedsquared error. We derive closed form solutions for the popular plane and triangle quadrics subject to (spatially varying, anisotropic) Gaussian noise. Probabilistic quadrics can be minimized robustly by solving a simple linear system— 50×faster than SVD. We show that probabilistic quadrics have superior properties in tasks like decimation and isosurface extraction since they favor more uniform triangulations and are more tolerant to noise while still maintaining feature sensitivity. A broad spectrum of applications can directly benefit from our new quadrics as a drop‐in replacement which we demonstrate with mesh smoothing via filtered quadrics and non‐linear subdivision surfaces.
An Efficient Transport Estimator for Complex Layered Materials
Authors: Gamboa Luis E. , Gruson Adrien , Nowrouzezahrai Derek
Published: July 2020

Layered materials capture subtle, realistic reflection behaviors that traditional single‐layer models lack. Much of this is due to the complex subsurface light transport at the interfaces of – and in the media between – layers. Rendering with these materials can be costly, since we must simulate these transport effects at every evaluation of the underlying reflectance model. Rendering an image requires thousands of such evaluations, per pixel. Recent work treats this complexity by introducing significant approximations, requiring large precomputed datasetsper material, or simplifying the light transport simulations within the materials. Even the most effective of these methods struggle with the complexity induced by high‐frequency variation in reflectance parameters and micro‐surface normal variation, as well as anisotropic volumetric scattering between the layer interfaces. We present a more efficient, unbiased estimator for light transport in such general, complex layered appearance models. By conducting an analysis of the types of transport paths that contribute most to the aggregate reflectance dynamics, we propose an effective and unbiased path sampling method that reduces variance in the reflectance evaluations. Our method additionally supports reflectance importance sampling, does not rely on any precomputation, and so integrates readily into existing renderers. We consistently outperform the state‐of‐the‐art by~2 – 6× in equal‐quality (i.e., equal error) comparisons.
Fast and Robust Stochastic Structural Optimization
Authors: Cui Qiaodong , Langlois Timothy , Sen Pradeep , Kim Theodore
Published: July 2020

Stochastic structural analysis can assess whether a fabricated object will break under real‐world conditions. While this approach is powerful, it is also quite slow, which has previously limited its use to coarse resolutions (e.g., 26 × 34 × 28). We show that this approach can be made asymptotically faster, which in practice reduces computation time by two orders of magnitude, and allows the use of previously‐infeasible resolutions. We achieve this by showing that the probability gradient can be computed in linear time instead of quadratic, and by using a robust new scheme that stabilizes the inertia gradients used by the optimization. Additionally, we propose a constrained restart method that deals with local minima, and a sheathing approach that further reduces the weight of the shape. Together, these components enable the discovery of previously‐inaccessible designs.
Style‐Controllable Speech‐Driven Gesture Synthesis Using Normalising Flows
Authors: Alexanderson Simon , Henter Gustav Eje , Kucherenko Taras , Beskow Jonas
Published: July 2020

Automatic synthesis of realistic gestures promises to transform the fields of animation, avatars and communicative agents. In off‐line applications, novel tools can alter the role of an animator to that of a director, who provides only high‐level input for the desired animation; a learned network then translates these instructions into an appropriate sequence of body poses. In interactive scenarios, systems for generating natural animations on the fly are key to achieving believable and relatable characters. In this paper we address some of the core issues towards these ends. By adapting a deep learning‐based motion synthesis method called MoGlow, we propose a new generative model for generating state‐of‐the‐art realistic speech‐driven gesticulation. Owing to the probabilistic nature of the approach, our model can produce a battery of different, yet plausible, gestures given the same input speech signal. Just like humans, this gives a rich natural variation of motion. We additionally demonstrate the ability to exert directorial control over the output style, such as gesture level, speed, symmetry and spacial extent. Such control can be leveraged to convey a desired character personality or mood. We achieve all this without any manual annotation of the data. User studies evaluating upper‐body gesticulation confirm that the generated motions are natural and well match the input speech. Our method scores above all prior systems and baselines on these measures, and comes close to the ratings of the original recorded motions. We furthermore find that we can accurately control gesticulation styles without unnecessarily compromising perceived naturalness. Finally, we also demonstrate an application of the same method to full‐body gesticulation, including the synthesis of stepping motion and stance.
Efficient Minimum Distance Computation for Solids of Revolution
Authors: Son S.‐H. , Yoon S.‐H. , Kim M.‐S. , Elber G.
Published: July 2020

We present a highly efficient algorithm for computing the minimum distance between two solids of revolution, each of which is defined by a planar cross‐section region and a rotation axis. The boundary profile curve for the cross‐section is first approximated by a bounding volume hierarchy (BVH) of fat arcs. By rotating the fat arcs around the axis, we generate the BVH of fat tori that bounds the surface of revolution. The minimum distance between two solids of revolution is then computed very efficiently using the distance between fat tori, which can be boiled down to the minimum distance computation for circles in the three‐dimensional space. Our circle‐based approach to the solids of revolution has distinctive features of geometric simplification. The main advantage is in the effectiveness of our approach in handling the complex cases where the minimum distance is obtained in non‐convex regions of the solids under consideration. Though we are dealing with a geometric problem for solids, the algorithm actually works in a computational style similar to that of handling planar curves. Compared with conventional BVH‐based methods, our algorithm demonstrates outperformance in computing speed, often 10–100 times faster. Moreover, the minimum distance can be computed very efficiently for the solids of revolution under deformation, where the dynamic reconstruction of fat arcs dominates the overall computation time and takes a few milliseconds.
A Survey of Temporal Antialiasing Techniques
Authors: Yang Lei , Liu Shiqiu , Salvi Marco
Published: July 2020

Temporal Antialiasing (TAA), formally defined as temporally‐amortized supersampling, is the most widely used antialiasing technique in today's real‐time renderers and game engines. This survey provides a systematic overview of this technique. We first review the history of TAA, its development path and related work. We then identify the two main sub‐components of TAA, sample accumulation and history validation, and discuss algorithmic and implementation options. As temporal upsampling is becoming increasingly relevant to today's game engines, we propose an extension of our TAA formulation to cover a variety of temporal upsampling techniques. Despite the popularity of TAA, there are still significant unresolved technical challenges that affect image quality in many scenarios. We provide an in‐depth analysis of these challenges, and review existing techniques for improvements. Finally, we summarize popular algorithms and topics that are closely related to TAA. We believe the rapid advances in those areas may either benefit from or feedback into TAA research and development.
A strategy for the next decade to address data deficiency in neglected biodiversity
Authors: Hochkirch Axel , Samways Michael J. , Gerlach Justin , Böhm Monika , Williams Paul , Cardoso Pedro , Cumberlidge Neil , Stephenson P. J. , Seddon Mary B. , Clausnitzer Viola , Borges Paulo A. V. , Mueller Gregory M. , Pearce‐Kelly Paul , Raimondo Domitilla C. , Danielczak Anja , Dijkstra Klaas‐Douwe B.
Published: July 2020

Measuring progress toward international biodiversity targets requires robust information on the conservation status of species, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species provides. However, data and capacity are lacking for most hyperdiverse groups, such as invertebrates, plants, and fungi, particularly in megadiverse or high‐endemism regions. Conservation policies and biodiversity strategies aimed at halting biodiversity loss by 2020 need to be adapted to tackle these information shortfalls after 2020. We devised an 8‐point strategy to close existing data gaps by reviving explorative field research on the distribution, abundance, and ecology of species; linking taxonomic research more closely with conservation; improving global biodiversity databases by making the submission of spatially explicit data mandatory for scientific publications; developing a global spatial database on threats to biodiversity to facilitate IUCN Red List assessments; automating preassessments by integrating distribution data and spatial threat data; building capacity in taxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity monitoring in countries with high species richness or endemism; creating species monitoring programs for lesser‐known taxa; and developing sufficient funding mechanisms to reduce reliance on voluntary efforts. Implementing these strategies in the post‐2020 biodiversity framework will help to overcome the lack of capacity and data regarding the conservation status of biodiversity. This will require a collaborative effort among scientists, policy makers, and conservation practitioners.
Optimisation of organic solvent–pH buffer solutions to improve the photochromic performance of plant‐derived 3‐deoxyanthocyanidin dye
Authors: Tasaki Kumiko , Kohno Yoshiumi , Shibata Masashi
Published: July 2020

Plant‐derived 3‐deoxyanthocyanidins are photochromic materials that are coloured under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and decoloured under light‐shielded storage. In this study, the optimised solvent composition is investigated to enhance the photochromic performance of luteolinidin, a 3‐deoxyanthocyanidin derivative. The visible absorbance ratio between the solution after UV irradiation and after storage in the dark, an index of photochromic performance, was found to be affected by the pH of the solution, and the value reached a maximum when the pH of the solution was 5.7. The type of organic solvent, which is necessary to dissolve luteolinidin, also affected the photochromic performance. When diethylene glycol or dipropylene glycol was used, the value of the absorbance ratio was especially large. Furthermore, this optimised solvent composition displayed excellent photochromic properties with an extract from the sorghum grain shell containing a large amount of 3‐deoxyanthocyanins.
Should we wait 3 months for a repeat aspiration in non‐diagnostic/indeterminate thyroid nodules? A cancer centre experience
Authors: Valerio Ediel , Pastorello Ricardo Garcia , Calsavara Vinicius , Porfírio Mônica Modesto , Engelman Gustavo Gonçalves , Francisco Dalcin José , Bovolim Graziele , Domingos Tábata , De Brot Louise , Saieg Mauro
Published: July 2020

Introduction

The Bethesda System recommends repeat fine needle aspiration (rFNA) as a management option for nodules classified under the non‐diagnostic (ND) and atypia of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) categories. We evaluated the impact of an rFNA in diagnostic resolution and the role of early (≤3 months) vs delayed (more than 3 months) rFNA of nodules initially diagnosed as ND and AUS/FLUS.

Methods

We retrospectively collected all thyroid FNA performed in a 4‐year period with repeat aspiration. For cases initially signed out as ND or AUS/FLUS, diagnostic resolution was defined as a change to a Bethesda System category other than these two on rFNA. Comparison and regression models were fitted to identify the impact of time of rFNA on diagnostic resolution.

Results

In total, 184 cases were initially assigned as ND and 143 as AUS/FLUS, with overall diagnostic resolution rates for the reassessment of these nodules calculated at 70.1% and 62.9%, respectively. For ND cases, time of rFNA was not significantly associated with diagnostic resolution (P > .05). For AUS/FLUS nodules, however, repeat aspiration performed in more than 3 months after the initial diagnosis was 2.5 times more likely to achieve a resolution in diagnosis than early rFNA (P = .024).

Conclusions

Repeat aspiration of ND and AUS/FLUS nodules helped define diagnosis for the majority of cases, being highly effective in determining correct patient management. For AUS/FLUS nodules, repeat aspiration performed more than 3 months after the initial diagnosis was associated with a higher diagnostic resolution.
Use of a novel prescribing approach for the treatment of opioid use disorder: Buprenorphine/naloxone micro‐dosing – a case series
Authors: Brar Rupinder , Fairbairn Nadia , Sutherland Christy , Nolan Seonaid
Published: July 2020

Introduction and Aims

Buprenorphine/naloxone is an evidence‐based treatment for opioid use disorder, but an identified limitation is the period of required opioid abstinence prior to induction on the medication. ‘Micro‐dosing’, or using incrementally increasing doses of buprenorphine/naloxone over time, may be a way to overcome this challenge as it can be done in parallel with the ongoing use of other opioids (either illicit or prescribed).

Design and Methods

A retrospective case series (January to December 2018) was completed of seven participants who underwent buprenorphine/naloxone induction using micro‐dosing at two outpatient addiction clinics in Vancouver, Canada.

Results

Seven participants completed a 7‐day buprenorphine/naloxone micro‐dosing protocol. Prior to and during the induction, one participant was prescribed methadone, three were prescribed slow release oral morphine and three used only illicit fentanyl. Participants were prescribed sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone: 0.5 mg once daily (day 1), 0.5 mg twice daily (BID; day 2), 1 mg BID (day 3), 2 mg BID (day 4), 3 mg BID (day 5), 4 mg BID (day 6) and 12 mg once daily (day 7). On day 7, all prescribed or illicit full opioid agonists were discontinued. Buprenorphine/naloxone was subsequently titrated to a daily dose of between 12 and 32 mg. All patients reported success with buprenorphine/naloxone induction with no precipitated withdrawal.

Discussion and Conclusions

Buprenorphine/naloxone micro‐dosing may offer a promising alternative approach for successful induction for individuals with opioid use disorder who desire treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone, and further research to determine effectiveness is warranted.
A systematic review of reasons for abstinence from alcohol reported by lifelong abstainers, current abstainers and former problem‐drinkers
Authors: Rosansky Joseph A. , Rosenberg Harold
Published: July 2020

Issues

Numerous studies have been conducted to assess non‐drinkers' reported reasons for abstinence, and this review summarises and compares the reasons for abstinence reported by lifelong abstainers, current abstainers and former problem‐drinkers.

Approach

Based on a search of four computerised databases, we identified 31 relevant studies, each of which included a sample of at least 20 individuals who had been abstinent from alcohol for at least 14 days and reported a numerical summary of participants' self‐reported reasons for not drinking. To identify the most salient reasons for abstinence among each group of abstainers, we calculated a z‐score to represent the level of endorsement of each reason in each investigation, assigned listed reasons to one of 13 categories, and calculated average z‐scores (weighted by study quality ratings) for each of the categories.

Key Findings

Having no interest in drinking and disliking the effects of alcohol were the most salient categories of reasons for lifelong abstainers; having no interest in drinking and health reasons were the most salient categories of reasons for current abstainers; and health reasons was the most salient category of reasons for former problem‐drinkers.

Implications and Conclusions

Understanding the reasons that motivate abstinence from alcohol may help refine theoretical explanations of drinking and abstinence. In addition, understanding the reasons that lifelong abstainers report for not beginning to drink, and that current abstainers and former problem‐drinkers report for no longer drinking, may help inform interventions designed either to delay the initiation of alcohol use or help individuals stop drinking.
Dermatofluoroscopy diagnostics in different pigmented skin lesions: Strengths and weaknesses
Authors: Hofmann Maja Ann , Keim Ulrike , Jagoda Agata , Forschner Andrea , Fink Christine , Spänkuch Iris , Tampouri Ioanna , Eigentler Thomas , Weide Benjamin , Haenssle Holger A. , Garbe Claus
Published: July 2020

Background

The melanin fluorescence of skin lesions is measurable with two‐photon excitation, a process termed dermatofluoroscopy, which has shown a shift from the green spectra in benign melanocytic lesions to the red spectra in melanoma. This study addressed the question as to which kind of pigmented lesions can be correctly diagnosed as melanin‐bearing malignant tumors.

Methods

476 pigmented lesions including 101 cutaneous melanomas were analyzed with dermatofluoroscopy, measuring the melanin fluorescence in a grid‐like fashion with a separation of measurement points of 0.2 mm. The results of the dermatofluoroscopy are presented as a diagnostic score with a cut‐off score of ≥ 28 for the diagnosis of melanin‐bearing malignant tumors, and were compared to the gold standard of histopathology.

Results

A highly significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the diagnostic scores of different skin tumors was found. Dermatofluoroscopy scores showed the highest sensitivity for melanomas (92.1 %). Interestingly, most pigmented basal cell carcinomas (BCCs, 88.9 %) were diagnosed as melanin‐bearing malignant tumors. A higher sensitivity for the correct diagnosis was observed in older patients (≥ 53 years, p = 0.003), in patients with skin tanning (p = 0.025), and in patients with freckles during childhood (p = 0.046).

Conclusions

Two‐photon fluorescence is an innovative technique for the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions, and shows a high sensitivity for detection of melanomas and pigmented BCCs.
The risks of using molecular biodiversity data for incidental detection of species of concern
Authors: Darling John A. , Pochon Xavier , Abbott Cathryn L. , Inglis Graeme J. , Zaiko Anastasija
Published: July 2020

Incidental detection of species of concern (e.g., invasive species, pathogens, threatened and endangered species) during biodiversity assessments based on high‐throughput DNA sequencing holds significant risks in the absence of rigorous, fit‐for‐purpose data quality and reporting standards. Molecular biodiversity data are predominantly collected for ecological studies and thus are generated to common quality assurance standards. However, the detection of certain species of concern in these data would likely elicit interest from end users working in biosecurity or other surveillance contexts (e.g., pathogen detection in health‐related fields), for which more stringent quality control standards are essential to ensure that data are suitable for informing decision‐making and can withstand legal or political challenges. We suggest here that data quality and reporting criteria are urgently needed to enable clear identification of those studies that may be appropriately applied to surveillance contexts. In the interim, more pointed disclaimers on uncertainties associated with the detection and identification of species of concern may be warranted in published studies. This is not only to ensure the utility of molecular biodiversity data for consumers, but also to protect data generators from uncritical and potentially ill‐advised application of their science in decision‐making.
Evidence base for early intervention in psychosis services in rural areas: A critical review
Authors: Pipkin Alastair
Published: July 2020

Aim

Early Intervention in Psychosis teams (EITs) are a growing entity internationally, yet they remain under‐researched given challenges facing their delivery. Model adaptations include stand‐alone services, a hub‐and‐spoke model with various bases and integrating specialist staff into existing mental health teams. The present critical review focuses on reviewing the evidence base for the delivery of EITs in rural areas, first pertaining to evidence for model adherence and second to clinically outcomes.

Method

A systematic literature search was undertaken, finding 53 papers of interest. Nine papers met the inclusion criteria. A critical appraisal tool was used to consider the quality of the evidence and a narrative review of their findings is presented.

Results

The five studies reporting clinical outcomes of rural EITs demonstrate positive outcomes of a hub‐and‐spoke and stand‐alone EIT on reducing hospital admissions, psychotic symptoms and improving quality of life. One study directly comparing hub‐and‐spoke to stand‐alone EIT found that hub‐and‐spoke EIT had more positive outcomes than a stand‐alone service. Of the studies attempting to promote adherence to EIT model in rural areas, services show low overall adherence and report issues pertaining to funding and managerial support for practical barriers to implementation.

Conclusions

EIT services in rural areas may show similar positive outcomes to urban areas and adaptations to suit rural populations appear acceptable, such as using a hub‐and‐spoke model, though further research is required. Adherence to EIT service models in rural areas may be limited and training programmes to promote adherence benefit from managerial and financial support.
Valve surgery for infective endocarditis complicated by stroke: surgical timing and perioperative neurological complications
Authors: Zhang L. Q. , Cho S.‐M. , Rice C. J. , Khoury J. , Marquardt R. J. , Buletko A. B. , Hardman J. , Wisco D. , Uchino K.
Published: July 2020

Background and purpose

Ischaemic and hemorrhagic strokes are dreaded complications of infective endocarditis (IE). The timing of valve surgery for IE patients with stroke remains uncertain. The aim was to study perioperative neurological complications in relation to surgical timing.

Methods

The study cohort consisted of patients diagnosed with acute IE from January 2010 to December 2016. Early surgery was defined as valve surgery within 14 days of IE diagnosis, and late surgery as after 14 days. Neurological complications that occurred within 14 days post‐surgery were considered perioperative and classified as new ischaemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke, expansion of an existing intracranial hemorrhage and new‐onset seizures. Perioperative neurological complications were compared by surgical timing and other variables, including pre‐surgical imaging.

Results

Overall, 183 patients underwent valve surgery: 92 had early surgery at a median of 8 days (interquartile range 6–11); 91 had late surgery at a median of 28 days (interquartile range 19–50). Twenty patients (10.9%) had 24 complications: 11 ischaemic, six intraparenchymal hemorrhages, three subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) and four new‐onset seizures. Rates of neurological complications were similar for early and late surgery groups (10.9% vs. 11%). Enterococcal IE was more common amongst patients with perioperative neurological complications (35% vs. 12.3%, P < 0.01). An acute infarct was present on pre‐surgical magnetic resonance imaging of 134 patients (74%) and was not associated with perioperative neurological complications. Thirty‐five patients (19.3%) had intracranial hemorrhage on pre‐surgical imaging. SAH on pre‐surgical imaging was associated with developing SAH perioperatively (66.7% vs. 13.5%, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Early valve surgery for patients with IE complicated by stroke was not associated with perioperative neurological complications.