bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HIV cure strategies: which ones are appropriate for Africa?
Authors: Abana Christopher Zaab-Yen , Lamptey Helena , Bonney Evelyn Y. , Kyei George B.
Published: July 2022

Although combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced mortality and improved lifespan for people living with HIV, it does not provide a cure. Patients must be on ART for the rest of their lives and contend with side effects, unsustainable costs, and the development of drug resistance. A cure for HIV is, therefore, warranted to avoid the limitations of the current therapy and restore full health. However, this cure is difficult to find due to the persistence of latently infected HIV cellular reservoirs during suppressive ART. Approaches to HIV cure being investigated include boosting the host immune system, genetic approaches to disable co-receptors and the viral genome, purging cells harboring latent HIV with latency-reversing latency agents (LRAs) (shock and kill), intensifying ART as a cure, preventing replication of latent proviruses (block and lock) and boosting T cell turnover to reduce HIV-1 reservoirs (rinse and replace). Since most people living with HIV are in Africa, methods being developed for a cure must be amenable to clinical trials and deployment on the continent. This review discusses the current approaches to HIV cure and comments on their appropriateness for Africa.
Comparison of aortic zones for endovascular bleeding control: age and sex differences
Authors: van der Burg Boke Linso Sjirk Borger , Vrancken Suzanne , van Dongen Thijs Theodorus Cornelis Fransiscus , Wamsteker Tom , Rasmussen Todd , Hoencamp Rigo
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To gain insight into anatomical variations between sexes and different age groups in intraluminal distances and anatomical landmarks for correct insertion of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) without fluoroscopic confirmation.

Materials

All non-trauma patients receiving a computed tomography angiography (CT-A) scan of the aorta, iliac bifurcation and common femoral arteries from 2017 to 2019 were eligible for inclusion.

Methods

Central luminal line distances from the common femoral artery (CFA) to the aortic occlusion zones were measured and diameters of mid zone I, II and III were registered. Anatomical landmarks and correlations were assessed. A simulated REBOA placement was performed using the Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guideline (JTSCPG).

Results

In total, 250 patients were included. Central luminal line (CLL) measurements from mid CFA to aortic bifurcation (p = 0.000), CLL measurements from CFA to mid zone I, II and III (p = 0.000) and zone I length (p = 0.000) showed longer lengths in men. The length of zone I and III (p = 0.000), CLL distance measurements from the right CFA to mid zone I (p = 0.000) and II (p = 0.013) and aortic diameters measured at mid zone I, II and III increased in higher age groups (p = 0.000). Using the JTSCPG guideline, successful deployment occurred in 95/250 (38.0%) in zone III and 199/250 (79.6%) in zone I. Correlation between mid-sternum and zone I is 100%. Small volume aortic occlusion balloons (AOB) have poor occlusion rates in zone I (0–2.8%) and III (4.4–34.4%).

Conclusions

Men and older age groups have longer CLL distances to zone I and III and introduction depths of AOB must be adjusted. The risk of not landing in zone III with standard introduction depths is high and balloon position for zone III REBOA is preferably confirmed using fluoroscopy. Mid-sternum can be used as a landmark in all patient groups for zone I. In older patients, balloon catheters with larger inflation volumes must be considered for aortic occlusion.
The use of management controls in different cultural regions: an empirical study of Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and Nordic practices
Authors: Malmi Teemu , Bedford David S. , Brühl Rolf , Dergård Johan , Hoozée Sophie , Janschek Otto , Willert Jeanette
Published: July 2022

Most cross-cultural studies on management control have compared Anglo-Saxon firms to Asian firms, leaving us with limited understanding of potential variations between developed Western societies. This study addresses differences and similarities in a wide variety of management control practices in Anglo-Saxon (Australia, English Canada), Germanic (Austria, non-Walloon Belgium, Germany) and Nordic firms (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden). Unique data is collected through structured interviews from 584 strategic business units (SBUs). We find that management control structures in Anglo-Saxon SBUs, relative to those from Germanic and Nordic regions, are more decentralized and participative and place greater emphasis on performance-based pay. Comparing Germanic SBUs to Nordic ones, we find Germanic SBUs to rely more on individual behaviour in performance evaluation, whereas Nordic SBUs rely more on quantitative measures and value alignment in employee selection. We also observe numerous similarities in MC practices between the three cultural regions. The implications of these findings for theory development are outlined.
The second closed geodesic, the fundamental group, and generic Finsler metrics
Authors: Rademacher Hans-Bert , Taimanov Iskander A.
Published: July 2022

For compact manifolds with infinite fundamental group we present sufficient topological or metric conditions ensuring the existence of two geometrically distinct closed geodesics. We also extend results about generic Riemannian metrics to Finsler metrics. We show a bumpy metrics theorem for Finsler metrics and prove that a$$C^4$$C4-generic Finsler metric on a compact and simply-connected manifold carries infinitely many closed geodesics.
A Gauge-Invariant Unique Continuation Criterion for Waves in Asymptotically Anti-de Sitter Spacetimes
Authors: Chatzikaleas Athanasios , Shao Arick
Published: July 2022

We reconsider the unique continuation property for a general class of tensorial Klein–Gordon equations of the form$$\begin{aligned} \Box _{g} \phi + \sigma \phi = {\mathcal {G}}(\phi ,\nabla \phi ) \text {,} \qquad \sigma \in {\mathbb {R}} \end{aligned}$$□gϕ+σϕ=G(ϕ,∇ϕ),σ∈Ron a large class of asymptotically anti-de-Sitter spacetimes. In particular, we aim to generalize the previous results of Holzegel, McGill, and the second author (Holzegel and Shao in Commun Math Phys 347(3):723–775, 2016; Commun Partial Differ Equ 42(12):1871–1922, 2017; McGill and Shao in Class Quantum Gravity 38(5):054001, 2021) (which established the above-mentioned unique continuation property through novel Carleman estimates near the conformal boundary) in the following ways:

We replace the so-callednull convexity criterion—the key geometric assumption on the conformal boundary needed in McGill and Shao (2021) to establish the unique continuation properties—by a more general criterion that is alsogauge invariant.

Our new unique continuation property can be applied from a larger, more general class of domains on the conformal boundary.

Similar to McGill and Shao (2021), we connect the failure of our generalized criterion to the existence of certain null geodesics near the conformal boundary. These geodesics are closely related to the classical Alinhac-Baouendi counterexamples to unique continuation (Alinhac and Baouendi in Math Z 220(4):561–568, 1995).

Finally, our gauge-invariant criterion and Carleman estimate will constitute a key ingredient in proving unique continuation results for the full nonlinear Einstein-vacuum equations, which will be addressed in a forthcoming paper of Holzegel and the second author (Holzegel and Shao in Unique continuation for the Einstein equations in asymptotically anti-de sitter spacetimes (in preparation), 2022).
Self-Consistent Transfer Operators: Invariant Measures, Convergence to Equilibrium, Linear Response and Control of the Statistical Properties
Authors: Galatolo Stefano
Published: July 2022

We describe a general approach to the theory of self consistent transfer operators. These operators have been introduced as tools for the study of the statistical properties of a large number of all to all interacting dynamical systems subjected to a mean field coupling. We consider a large class of self consistent transfer operators and prove general statements about existence of invariant measures, speed of convergence to equilibrium, statistical stability and linear response. While most of the results presented in the paper are valid in a weak coupling regime, the existence results for the invariant measures we show also hold outside the weak coupling regime. We apply the general statements to examples of different nature: coupled continuous maps, coupled expanding maps, coupled systems with additive noise, systems made of different maps coupled by a mean field interaction and other examples of self consistent transfer operators not coming from coupled maps. We also consider the problem of finding the optimal coupling between maps in order to change the statistical properties of the system in a prescribed way.
Characterising rectifiable metric spaces using tangent spaces
Authors: Bate David
Published: July 2022

We characterise rectifiable subsets of a complete metric space X in terms of local approximation, with respect to the Gromov–Hausdorff distance, by an n-dimensional Banach space. In fact, if $$E\subset X$$

E
⊂
X

with $${\mathcal {H}}^n(E)<\infty $$

H

n

(
E
)

<
∞

and has positive lower density almost everywhere, we prove that it is sufficient that, at almost every point and each sufficiently small scale, E is approximated by a bi-Lipschitz image of Euclidean space. We also introduce a generalisation of Preiss’s tangent measures that is suitable for the setting of arbitrary metric spaces and formulate our characterisation in terms of tangent measures. This definition is equivalent to that of Preiss when the ambient space is Euclidean, and equivalent to the measured Gromov–Hausdorff tangent space when the measure is doubling.
Prognostic factors and survival of patients with uterine sarcoma: a German unicenter analysis
Authors: Huss Alexandra , Klar Maximilian , Hasanov Mir Fuad , Juhasz-Böss Ingolf , Bossart Michaela
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Uterine sarcoma (US) as a histologically heterogeneous group of tumors is rare and associated with poor prognosis. Prognostic factors based on systematic data collection need to be identified to optimize patients’ treatment.

Methods

This unicenter, retrospective cohort study includes 57 patients treated at the University Hospital Freiburg, Germany between 1999 and 2017. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated and visualized in Kaplan–Meier curves. Prognostic factors were identified using log-rank test and Cox regression.

Results

44 Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), 7 low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS), 4 high-grade ESS and 2 undifferentiated US patients were identified. The median age at time of diagnosis was 51.0 years (range 18–83). The median follow-up time was 35 months. PFS for the total cohort was 14.0 (95%-Confidence-Interval (CI) 9.7–18.3) and OS 36.0 months (95%-CI 22.1–49.9). Tumor pathology was prognostically significant for OS with LG-ESS being the most favorable (mean OS 150.3 months). In the multivariate analysis, patients over 52 years showed a four times higher risk for tumor recurrence (hazard ratio (HR) 4.4; 95%-CI 1.5–12.9). Progesterone receptor negativity was associated with a two times higher risk for death (HR 2.8; 95%-CI 1.0–7.5). For LMS patients age ≥ 52 years (p = 0.04), clear surgical margins (p = 0.01), FIGO stage (p = 0.01) and no application of chemotherapy (p = 0.02) were statistically significant factors for OS.

Conclusion

Tumor histology, age at time of diagnosis and progesterone receptor status were prognostic factors for US. Unfavorable OS in LMS patients was associated with advanced FIGO stage, suboptimal cytoreduction and application of chemotherapy.
Quality of life and mental health in the locked-in-state—differences between patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their next of kin
Authors: Aust Elisa , Linse Katharina , Graupner Sven-Thomas , Joos Markus , Liebscher Daniel , Grosskreutz Julian , Prudlo Johannes , Meyer Thomas , Günther René , Pannasch Sebastian , Hermann Andreas
Published: July 2022

For both patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their next of kin (NOK), the maintenance of quality of life (QoL) and mental health is particularly important. First studies suggest significant discrepancies between QoL reports by patients and NOK, but little is known for advanced ALS stages. To address this issue, we screened 52 ALS patients in incomplete locked-in state (iLIS). Final results were obtained for 15 couples of iLIS patients and NOK. We assessed patients’ and NOK’s subjective QoL, depression and anxiety and NOK’s caregiver burden. Gaze controlled questionnaires allowed direct assessment of patients. Patients and NOK self-reported comparable, mostly moderate to high levels of QoL. Of note, NOK indicated stronger anxiety symptoms. Higher anxiety levels in NOK were associated with stronger caregiver burden and reduced QoL. No significant misjudgment of patient’s QoL by the NOK was evident, while patients overestimated NOK’s global QoL. However, NOK with severe caregiver burden and depression symptoms gave poorer estimations of patients’ QoL. This relationship is relevant, considering NOK’s impact on life critical treatment decisions. While the daily time NOK and patient spend together was positively correlated with NOK’s QoL and mental health, this was not reversely found for the patients. Our results suggest that NOK adapt less successfully to the disease and concomitant experience of loss and point to an urgent need for specialized psychosocial support. The findings emphasize the importance of direct psychological wellbeing assessment of both patients and NOK in clinical practice, enabled by eye-tracking technology for patients in iLIS.
Elitable GE-filters of bordered GE-algebras
Authors: Lee Jeong-Gon , Shaik Manzoor Kaleem , Bandaru Ravikumar , Jun Young Bae
Published: July 2022

In this paper, the notions of maximal GE-filter and prime GE-filter of a GE-algebra are introduced and the relation between them is given. Some characterizations of prime GE-filters of a transitive GE-algebra are given in terms of the GE-filter generated by a subset of a transitive GE-algebra. We generalized Stone’s theorem to transitive GE-algebras. The notion of elitable GE-filter of a bordered GE-algebra is introduced and investigated its properties. We observed that the class of all elitable GE-filters of a transitive bordered GE-algebra is a complete distributive lattice. Equivalent conditions for a GE-filter of a transitive bordered GE-algebra to be elitable GE-filter are given. We provided conditions for a subset of a transitive bordered GE-algebra to be elitable GE-filter.
2D nanomaterial sensing array using machine learning for differential profiling of pathogenic microbial taxonomic identification
Authors: Li Zhijun , Jiang Yizhou , Tang Shihuan , Zou Haixia , Wang Wentao , Qi Guangpei , Zhang Hongbo , Jin Kun , Wang Yuhe , Chen Hong , Zhang Liyuan , Qu Xiangmeng
Published: July 2022

An integrated custom cross-response sensing array has been developed combining the algorithm module’s visible machine learning approach for rapid and accurate pathogenic microbial taxonomic identification. The diversified cross-response sensing array consists of two-dimensional nanomaterial (2D-n) with fluorescently labeled single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as sensing elements to extract a set of differential response profiles for each pathogenic microorganism. By altering the 2D-n and different ssDNA with different sequences, we can form multiple sensing elements. While interacting with microorganisms, the competition between ssDNA and 2D-n leads to the release of ssDNA from 2D-n. The signals are generated from binding force driven by the exfoliation of either ssDNA or 2D-n from the microorganisms. Thus, the signal is distinguished from different ssDNA and 2D-n combinations, differentiating the extracted information and visualizing the recognition process. Fluorescent signals collected from each sensing element at the wavelength around 520 nm are applied to generate a fingerprint. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate that a six-sensing array enables rapid and accurate pathogenic microbial taxonomic identification, including the drug-resistant microorganisms, under a data size of n = 288. We precisely identify microbial with an overall accuracy of 97.9%, which overcomes the big data dependence for identifying recurrent patterns in conventional methods. For each microorganism, the detection concentration is 105 ~ 108 CFU/mL for Escherichia coli, 102 ~ 107 CFU/mL for E. coli-β, 103 ~ 108 CFU/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, 103 ~ 107 CFU/mL for MRSA, 102 ~ 108 CFU/mL for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 103 ~ 108 CFU/mL for Enterococcus faecalis, 102 ~ 108 CFU/mL for Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 103 ~ 108 CFU/mL for Candida albicans. Combining the visible machine learning approach, this sensing array provides strategies for precision pathogenic microbial taxonomic identification.

Graphical abstract

• A molecular response differential profiling (MRDP) was established based on custom cross-response sensor array for rapid and accurate recognition and phenotyping common pathogenic microorganism.

• Differential response profiling of pathogenic microorganism is derived from the competitive response capacity of 6 sensing elements of the sensor array. Each of these sensing elements’ performance has competitive reaction with the microorganism.

• MRDP was applied to LDA algorithm and resulted in the classification of 8 microorganisms.
On decompositions of binary recurrent polynomials
Authors: Kreso Dijana
Published: July 2022

Polynomial decomposition expresses a polynomial f as the functional composition $$f=g\circ h$$

f
=
g
∘
h

of lower degree polynomials g and h, and has various applications. In this paper, we will show that for a minimal, non-degenerate, simple, binary, linearly recurrent sequence $$(G_n(x))_{n=0}^\infty $$

(

G
n

(
x
)

)

n
=
0

∞

of complex polynomials whose coefficients in the Binet form are constants, if $$G_n(x)=g(h(x))$$

G
n

(
x
)

=
g

(
h

(
x
)

)

, then apart from some exceptional situations that have to be taken into account, the degree of g is bounded by a constant independent of n. We will build on a general but conditional result of this type that already exists in the literature. We will then present one Diophantine application of the main result.
Air travel with pneumocephalus: a systematic review
Authors: Bichsel Oliver , Hauck Annalisa , Oertel Markus
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Concerns arise when patients with pneumocephalus engage in air travel. How hypobaric cabin pressure affects intracranial air is largely unclear. A widespread concern is that the intracranial volume could relevantly expand during flight and lead to elevated intracranial pressure. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and summarise models and case reports with confirmed pre-flight pneumocephalus.

Methods

The terms (pneumocephalus OR intracranial air) AND (flying OR fly OR travel OR air transport OR aircraft) were used to search the database PubMed on 30 November 2021. This search returned 144 results. To be included, a paper needed to fulfil each of the following criteria: (i) peer-reviewed publication of case reports, surveys, simulations or laboratory experiments that focussed on air travel with pre-existing pneumocephalus; (ii) available in full text.

Results

Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria after title or abstract screening. We additionally identified five more articles when reviewing the references. A notion that repeatedly surfaced is that any air contained within the neurocranium increases in volume at higher altitude, much like any extracranial gas, potentially resulting in tension pneumocephalus or increased intracranial pressure.

Discussion

Relatively conservative thresholds for patients flying with pneumocephalus are suggested based on models where the intracranial air equilibrates with cabin pressure, although intracranial air in a confined space would be surrounded by the intracranial pressure. There is a discrepancy between the models and case presentations in that we found no reports of permanent or transient decompensation secondary to a pre-existing pneumocephalus during air travel. Nevertheless, the quality of examination varies and clinicians might tend to refrain from reporting adverse events. We identified a persistent extracranial to intracranial fistulous process in multiple cases with newly diagnosed pneumocephalus after flight. Finally, we summarised management principles to avoid complications from pneumocephalus during air travel and argue that a patient-specific understanding of the pathophysiology and time course of the pneumocephalus are potentially more important than its volume.
Impacts of a floating photovoltaic system on temperature and water quality in a shallow tropical reservoir
Authors: Yang Peipei , Chua Lloyd H. C. , Irvine Kim N. , Nguyen Manh Tuan , Low E.-Wen
Published: July 2022

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic-ecological lake model combined with field measurements and sampling was applied to investigate the impacts of floating photovoltaic (PV) systems on hydrodynamics and water quality in a shallow tropical reservoir in Singapore. The model was validated using field data and subsequently applied to predict temperature and water quality changes for a hypothetical 42 ha placement of floating photovoltaic panels, covering about 30% of the water surface and capable of generating up to 50 MW of energy. The impact of the panel placement was studied numerically. The area of the reservoir where panels are placed experiences both light limiting and reduced wind stress conditions. The model indicated an average water temperature increase of 0.3 °C beneath the panels, consistent with the field observation from a 1 ha demonstration installation. Comparisons of model results between the uncovered and covered areas reveal greater stability of the water column (increase in Richardson number from 2.3 to 3.3) and reduction in mixing energy (from 9 × 10–7 to 7 × 10–7 W/kg) under the PV panels. Furthermore, the model predicted that chlorophyll a, total organic carbon and dissolved oxygen concentrations would decline by up to 30%, 15% and 50%, respectively, under the photovoltaic panels. Total nitrogen and total phosphorus, averaged over the water column, increased by 10% and 30%, respectively, under the panels. Distant from the floating solar panels, temperature, stability and water quality were unaffected.
Considering vocational training as selection criterion for medical students: evidence for predictive validity
Authors: Amelung Dorothee , Zegota Simon , Espe Lia , Wittenberg Tim , Raupach Tobias , Kadmon Martina
Published: July 2022

Prior work experience in a relevant medical profession is an important admission criterion currently used at many German medical schools in addition to cognitive criteria. In other countries, work experience is often considered in later admission stages (e.g., interviews with pre-selected subgroups of applicants). However, evidence for its predictive validity for study success in addition to cognitive admission criteria is currently lacking. We therefore assessed whether completed vocational training in a relevant medical profession can predict study performance in the first two years of study in addition to cognitive admission criteria. Admission and study performance data of all currently enrolled medical students at two German medical schools (Göttingen and Heidelberg) beginning with the 2013/14 cohort were retrospectively analyzed. Cognitive admission criteria in our sample were GPA grades and a cognitive test (“Test für Medizinische Studiengänge”, TMS). We defined the study outcome parameter as the mean percentile rank over all performance data points over the first two years of study for each location, respectively. A multi-level model with varying intercepts by location, GPA, TMS, vocational training, and sex as predictors accounted for 14.5% of the variance in study outcome. A positive predictive association with study outcome was found for vocational training (ß = 0.33, p = .008) beyond GPA (ß = 0.38, p < .001) and TMS (ß = 0.26, p < .001). Our results support the use of prior vocational training as a selection criterion for medical studies potentially adding predictive validity to cognitive criteria.
Make IT Work: The Labor Market Effects of Information Technology Retraining in the Netherlands
Authors: Vooren Melvin , Haelermans Carla , Groot Wim , Maassen van den Brink Henriette
Published: July 2022

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effects of an active labor market program (ALMP) for higher educated workers in the Netherlands. The one-year program is characterized by six months of full-time IT retraining followed by a six-month internship. We estimate the effects of participating on earnings per month and working days per month. The results show significant lock-in effects during the program, lasting up to five months after program start. After this lock-in period, we find significant positive effects on earnings and working days. These positive effects remain significant until the end of the 36-month evaluation period. A conservative cost–benefit analysis based on the effects on earnings shows a return of 2.53% (95% CI 2.02–3.04%), which is low compared to the returns to education in the Netherlands of around 8%. We conclude that IT retraining has positive effects on the labor market outcomes of the participants yet relatively low returns.
Keeping the lights On or Off: tracking the progress of access to electricity for sustainable development in Nigeria
Authors: Alabi Oluwafisayo , Abubakar Aisha , Werkmeister Astrid , Sule Suki Dauda
Published: July 2022

This paper is focussed on employing satellite night lights (SNLs) to investigate access to electricity across the geographical regions in Nigeria. Specifically, we explore how SNLs interact with human and socioeconomic development indicators (population, poverty, and household consumption) to demonstrate the implications of slow and/or delayed progress in closing the electricity access gap in Nigeria. Our findings suggest that minimal progress has been made and there remains significant evidence of disproportionate spread of electricity across the country with most of the electricity visibility concentrated in the Southern regions, state capitals and industrial centres. Crucially, policy challenges and trade offs emerge. On one hand, is the need to address the long-standing issue of stranded and underutilised assets around power generation, transmission, and distribution and how these balance (or not) against additional and new capacity to enable sufficient, reliable and sustained electricity supply. On the other hand, is the challenge of ensuring that closing the access to electricity gap in Nigeria is done in a way that is just, fair, and equitable, with no part of society becoming worse-off or excluded.
Knowledge Graph and Deep Learning-based Text-to-GraphQL Model for Intelligent Medical Consultation Chatbot
Authors: Ni Pin , Okhrati Ramin , Guan Steven , Chang Victor
Published: July 2022

Text-to-GraphQL (Text2GraphQL) is a task that converts the user's questions into Graph + QL (Query Language) when a graph database is given. That is a task of semantic parsing that transforms natural language problems into logical expressions, which will bring more efficient direct communication between humans and machines. The existing related work mainly focuses on Text-to-SQL tasks, and there is no available semantic parsing method and data set for the graph database. In order to fill the gaps in this field to serve the medical Human–Robot Interactions (HRI) better, we propose this task and a pipeline solution for the Text2GraphQL task. This solution uses the Adapter pre-trained by “the linking of GraphQL schemas and the corresponding utterances” as an external knowledge introduction plug-in. By inserting the Adapter into the language model, the mapping between logical language and natural language can be introduced faster and more directly to better realize the end-to-end human–machine language translation task. In the study, the proposed Text2GraphQL task model is mainly constructed based on an improved pipeline composed of a Language Model, Pre-trained Adapter plug-in, and Pointer Network. This enables the model to copy objects' tokens from utterances, generate corresponding GraphQL statements for graph database retrieval, and builds an adjustment mechanism to improve the final output. And the experiments have proved that our proposed method has certain competitiveness on the counterpart datasets (Spider, ATIS, GeoQuery, and 39.net) converted from the Text2SQL task, and the proposed method is also practical in medical scenarios.
Bernstein-Bézier Galerkin-Characteristics Finite Element Method for Convection-Diffusion Problems
Authors: El-Amrani Mofdi , El-Kacimi Abdellah , Khouya Bassou , Seaid Mohammed
Published: July 2022

A class of Bernstein-Bézier basis based high-order finite element methods is developed for the Galerkin-characteristics solution of convection-diffusion problems. The Galerkin-characteristics formulation is derived using a semi-Lagrangian discretization of the total derivative in the considered problems. The spatial discretization is performed using the finite element method on unstructured meshes. The Lagrangian interpretation in this approach greatly reduces the time truncation errors in the Eulerian methods. To achieve high-order accuracy in the Galerkin-characteristics solver, the semi-Lagrangian method requires high-order interpolating procedures. In the present work, this step is carried out using the Bernstein-Bézier basis functions to evaluate the solution at the departure points. Triangular Bernstein-Bézier patches are constructed in a simple and inherent manner over finite elements along the characteristics. An efficient preconditioned conjugate gradient solver is used for the linear systems of algebraic equations. Several numerical examples including advection-diffusion equations with known analytical solutions and the viscous Burgers problem are considered to illustrate the accuracy, robustness and performance of the proposed approach. The computed results support our expectations for a stable and highly accurate Bernstein-Bézier Galerkin-characteristics finite element method for convection-diffusion problems.
Using a trait-based approach to asses fire resistance in forest landscapes of the Inland Northwest, USA
Authors: Moris Jose V. , Reilly Matthew J. , Yang Zhiqiang , Cohen Warren B. , Motta Renzo , Ascoli Davide
Published: July 2022

Context

Several plant traits are associated with resistance to fire, thus fire-resistant species may give rise to more fire-resistant landscapes. However, up-scaling from plant traits to landscape- and regional-scale fire effects remains a challenge.

Objectives

We test two hypotheses: (1) forests composed of fire-resistant species experience lower fire severity than forests composed of less fire-resistant species; and (2) wildfires affecting forests with greater fire resistance experience smaller patches of high-severity fire.

Methods

We used a predictive map of existing forest types (major tree species dominating forest composition) and a trait-based map of fire resistance. We examined large-scale spatial patterns of fire severity derived from Landsat imagery in 611 wildfires across the range of western larch in the Inland Northwest USA (1985–2014). We then applied structural equation modeling to study complex relationships between fire resistance and high-severity fire in each wildfire.

Results

Forest types dominated by fire-resister species (e.g., ponderosa pine) experienced lower fire severity than forest types dominated by non-resister species such as lodgepole pine (fire-embracer) and subalpine fir (fire-avoider). We found a strong negative correlation between the fire resistance index and average values of the relative differenced normalized burn ratio, as well as an indirect relationship between fire resistance and high-severity patch size.

Conclusions

The large-scale differences in fire severity among forest types generally reflect the degree of fire resistance that fire-related traits confer to individual trees species, providing evidence that incorporating plant traits has the potential to assist in assessing fire resistance at large spatial scales.
Optical phase shifter design for single and multi-mode waveguide configurations
Authors: Wageeh Amr , El-Sabban Salwa , Khalil Diaa
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we introduce simple design equations for optical phase shifter configurations on both single mode and multimode platforms. The design equations are based on approximate analytical expressions describing the phase shift (difference) between two waveguides, one is considered as the reference guide and the second is considered as the phase shifter. Different layout geometrical configurations have been studied: the step width and the linear tapering waveguide. The validity of the design formula is tested using standard Beam Propagation Method BPM. The obtained results are in good agreement with numerical calculations and allow using these closed form expressions in the optical design of such phase shifters.
Coordinated community response to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation: randomized control trial
Authors: Maxwell Christopher D. , Almanza Kourtnie Rodgers , Pickering Carolyn E. Z.
Published: July 2022

Objectives

To test if the Community Complex Care Response Team (C3RT), a coordinated community response model, impacts the likelihood of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation among at-risk community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

One hundred forty-six participants were randomly assigned to receive either the C3RT intervention (n = 74) or the standard practice (n = 72). Cox regression analyses were used to test whether the intervention delayed incidents of EANF victimization measured by when adult protective services opened an investigation, when the police recorded a victimization, and when a hospital admission took place.

Results

Assignment to the C3RT intervention program did not significantly delay incidents of EANF victimization indicator.

Conclusions

This C3RT approach did not produce the desired outcomes, though the project demonstrates that it is ethical and feasible to implement an RCT to test an intervention with vulnerable populations.
Fullerenes for the treatment of cancer: an emerging tool
Authors: Fernandes Neha Benedicta , Shenoy Raghavendra Udaya Kumar , Kajampady Mandira Kashi , DCruz Cleona E. M. , Shirodkar Rupesh K. , Kumar Lalit , Verma Ruchi
Published: July 2022

Cancer is a most common cause of mortality globally. Available medicines possess severe side effects owing to their non-specific targeting. Hence, there is a need of an alternative in the healthcare system that should have high efficacy with the least side effects, also having the ability to achieve site-specific targeting and be reproducible. This is possible with the help of fullerenes. Fullerenes are having the unique physicochemical and photosensitizer properties. This article discusses the synthesis, functionalization, mechanism, various properties, and applications of C60 fullerenes in the treatment of cancer. The review article also addresses the various factors influencing the activity of fullerenes including the environmental conditions, toxicity profile, and future prospective.

Graphical abstract
Determination of potential thresholds for N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea and ethyl methanesulfonate based on a multi-endpoint genotoxicity assessment platform in rats
Authors: Zhu Xuejiao , Huo Jiao , Zeng Zhu , Liu Yunjie , Li Ruirui , Chen Yiyi , Zhang Lishi , Chen Jinyao
Published: July 2022

The main goal of the study was to investigate the genotoxic response of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) at low doses in a multi-endpoint genotoxicity assessment platform in rats and to derive potential thresholds and related metrics. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were treated by daily oral gavage for 28 consecutive days with ENU (0.25 ~ 8 mg/kg bw) and EMS (5 ~ 160 mg/kg bw), both with six closely spaced dose levels. Pig-a gene mutation assay, micronucleus test, and comet assay were performed in several timepoints. Then, the dose–response relationships were analyzed for possible points of departure (PoD) using the no observed genotoxic effect level and benchmark dose (BMD) protocols with different critical effect sizes (CES, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1SD). Overall, dose-dependent increases in all investigated endpoints were found for ENU and EMS. PoDs varied across genetic endpoints, timepoints, and statistical methods, and selecting an appropriate lower 95% confidence limit of BMD needs a comprehensive consideration of the mode of action of chemicals, the characteristics of tests, and the model fitting methods. Under the experimental conditions, the PoDs of ENU and EMS were 0.0036 mg/kg bw and 1.7 mg/kg bw, respectively.
Model development to estimate site index values for six major tree species in North Korea
Authors: Park Sohee , Yang A-Ram , Kim Eun-hee , Lim Joongbin
Published: July 2022

Due to considerable deforestation in North Korea, there is a need to plan forest restoration programs based on scientific forest management. In this study, a methodology was developed for estimating the site index values of six major tree species and the forest productivity potential. The site index values of these tree species were derived in South Korea using the Chapman-Richards equation. These values were used with data from the 6th National Forest Inventory, which included 20 types of edaphic, topographic, and climatic factors, and random forest analysis—a widely used machine learning technique for spatial prediction—to develop a new model for estimating the site index values of these species across South Korea. The prediction accuracy of this model was evaluated using the root mean square error. The results show that the prediction accuracy was high, with a root mean square error of ~ 1 m. Moreover, the importance of the variables related to climate and geography was generally high. The proposed site index estimation model for six tree species was applied across North Korea, and its effectiveness tested by comparing the estimated values with those reported in literature from North Korea. The differences between the model outputs and recorded data in the northern alpine regions were presumably due to the lack of data for high-altitude regions in South Korea. This model is based on the determination of the suitability of tree species in restoration efforts. Therefore, it can contribute to the evaluation of forest productivity in North Korea and may help plan efficient forest restoration programs.
Revisiting the Timeline of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Toward a Temporal Risk Profile
Authors: Schmidt Tobias Philip , Weiss Miriam , Hoellig Anke , Nikoubashman Omid , Schulze-Steinen Henna , Albanna Walid , Clusmann Hans , Schubert Gerrit Alexander , Veldeman Michael
Published: July 2022

Background

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is one of the main determinants of clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The classical description of risk for DCI over time is currently based on the outdated concept of angiographic vasospasm. The goal of this study was to assess the temporal risk profile of DCI, defined by extended clinical and radiological criteria, as well as the impact the time point of DCI onset has on clinical outcome.

Methods

All patients with aneurysmal SAH referred to a single tertiary care center between 2010 and 2018 were considered for inclusion. This study was designed as a retrospective cohort analysis and data were extracted from existing patient files. In conscious patients, DCI was diagnosed clinically, and in unconscious patients, diagnosis was based on perfusion computed tomography imaging and multimodal neuromonitoring. Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale scores were assessed after 12 months and compared between patients with early (< day 7) and late (≥ day 7) DCI onset.

Results

The median delay from day of the hemorrhage (day 0) until detection of the first DCI event was 7.0 days, with an interquartile range of 5 days. The probability of DCI development over time demonstrated a bimodal distribution with a peak risk on day 5 (0.084; confidence interval 0.05.5–0.122) and a second peak on day 9 (0.077; confidence interval 0.045–0.120). A total of 27 patients (15.6%) suffered dominant hemispheric or severe bilateral DCI-related infarctions, resulting in the withdrawal of technical life support. Of those, the majority (20 patients, 22.2%) presented with early DCI onset (vs. late onset: 7 patients, 8.4%; p = 0.013).

Conclusions

The risk profile of DCI over time mirrors the description of angiographic vasospasm; however, it comes with an added timely delay of 1 to 2 days. Early occurrence of DCI (before day 7) is associated with a higher infarct load and DCI-related mortality. Although the exact causal relationship remains to be determined, the time point of DCI onset may serve as an independent prognostic criterion in decision-making.
Isotopic insights into the early Medieval (600–1100 CE) diet in the Luistari cemetery at Eura, Finland
Authors: Etu-Sihvola H. , Salo K. , Naito Y. I. , Kytökari M. , Ohkouchi N. , Oinonen M. , Heyd V. , Arppe L.
Published: July 2022

In this article, we present the results of an isotopic study of diet for the early medieval (Merovingian, Viking, Early Christian) humans buried in the unique Luistari cemetery at Eura (ca. 600–1400 CE), southwestern Finland, the largest cemetery of the region. Isotope analysis was conducted on 37 humans for dentine and bone collagen (δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S), and five of them were also studied using compound-specific nitrogen isotope analysis. Dental enamel and/or bone carbonate δ13C values were studied from altogether 65 humans, five cattle, and five sheep/goats. The bone and dentine collagen and carbonate data show that throughout the centuries, freshwater fish was a stable part of the diet for the population. Our results do not show systematic dietary differences between estimated males and females, but differences can be large on the individual level. We also discovered a possible temporal change in the enamel carbonate ẟ13C values that could be related to the increasing role of carbohydrates (e.g., crops) in the diet. Luistari burials are well comparable to contemporary Swedish Viking trading communities like Birka in their higher protein intake. But contrary to the wider Viking network, they do not show the same marine signal.
Automated vehicle inspection model using a deep learning approach
Authors: Fouad Mohamed Mostafa , Malawany Karim , Osman Ahmed Gamil , Amer Hatem Mohamed , Abdulkhalek Ahmed Mohamed , Eldin Abeer Badr
Published: July 2022

Image-based inspection is a growing area with a large scope of automation. The automatic classification of vehicle damages would make the insurance claim much faster and more efficient. This can effectively reduce the claiming cost. This paper presents, an image classification model using an adapted version of pre-trained convolutional neural networks. The pre-trained neural networks were, the VGG-19 and DenseNet-169. The proposed model is a pipeline that established with fully connected layers for additional damage classification. The final proposed model improves the feature extraction process. The dataset had a class imbalance problem, so a weighted loss function had been used to solve such problem. The model employed binary cross-entropy as a loss function, and sigmoid activation was applied to the output layers as independent layers. Finally, the model presents a multi-label classifier, where one image may be assigned to many labels. The model classifies vehicle damage through five classes: broken glass, broken headlights, broken taillights, scratches, and dents. A four-layer neural network was employed for the classification, along with several regularization approaches to handle overfitting problem. The final results showed that the DenseNet-169 had a better accuracy of 81%, whereas VGG-19 had a 78%. Another approach had been proposed where it had a mix of transfer and ensemble learning approaches. This final approach had an accuracy of 85.5% and F1-scores of 0.855.
User Engagement on a Novel Educational Health Intervention Aimed at Increasing HPV Vaccine Uptake in Hong Kong: a Qualitative Study
Authors: Chau Janita Pak Chun , Lo Suzanne Hoi Shan , Butt Laveeza , Lee Vivian Wing Yan , Lui Grace Chung Yan , Lau Alexander Yuk Lun
Published: July 2022

HPV vaccine uptake rates are suboptimal in Hong Kong. A multi-disciplinary school-based HPV health-promotion programme (MDL-SHPVP) aimed at raising HPV knowledge levels and increasing vaccine uptake has therefore been developed to address vaccine hesitancy. This qualitative study was conducted to collect user feedback and identify the strengths and limitations of the educational resources developed for the programme among key vaccination stakeholders including adolescent girls and their mothers. Twenty-six participants including eight mother-daughter dyads, four teachers, three social workers, two school principals and one school nurse were recruited. To cater to the diverse audience, ten educational videos, three animations, a digital game and one booklet were developed for the programme and distributed to the participants for viewing. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted to collect feedback on the acceptability and effectiveness of the resources. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and resulting data were thematically analysed. Three themes and six sub-themes emerged. The educational materials were well-received and effective in raising HPV-knowledge levels, generating confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness, and boosting vaccination intention. Some doubts regarding vaccine necessity remained, and recommendations for improving resource presentation and accessibility were provided. Our findings suggest that the MDL-SHPVP has the potential to boost HPV vaccine uptake. Future studies may explore educational interventions which target to increase not only HPV vaccination intention but also the sense of urgency so as to encourage timely vaccination for adolescents at the ideal age. Study findings may also provide directions for the development of future health education interventions.
Community deception: from undirected to directed networks
Authors: Fionda Valeria , Madi Saif Aldeen , Pirrò Giuseppe
Published: July 2022

Community deception is about hiding a target community that wants to remain below the radar of community detection algorithms. The goal is to devise algorithms that, given a maximum number of updates (e.g., edge additions and removal), strive to find the best way to perform such updates in order to hide the target community inside the community structure found by a detection algorithm. So far, community deception has only been studied for undirected networks, although many real-world networks (e.g., Twitter) are directed. One way to overcome this problem would be to treat the network as undirected. However, this approach discards potentially helpful information in the edge directions (e.g., A follows B does not imply that B follows A). The aim of this paper is threefold. First, to give an account of the state-of-the-art community deception techniques in undirected networks underlying their peculiarities. Second, to investigate the community deception problem in directed networks and to show how deception techniques proposed for undirected networks should be modified and adapted to work on directed networks. Third, to evaluate deception techniques both in undirected and directed networks. Our experimental evaluation on a variety of (large) directed networks shows that techniques that work well for undirected networks fail short when directly applied to directed networks, thus underlying the need for specific approaches.