bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Augmented / virtual / mixed reality systems optical terminology
Authors: Resnik Olga , Arazi Yosi , Kaganovitz Yoni , Levy‐Beeri Assaf
Published: January 2022

In this part of our tutorial, we attempt to explain and cover several most important non‐imaging parameters that form the complementary part of the base requirements list for an XR system specification. The non‐imaging part of the system specification is often treated with less attention, and in many cases is the reason for dissatisfactory system performances. In our extensive experience, we found that this part is critical when designing an XR system, since the non‐imaging parameters have very high impact on the visual image perception and ultimately the user experience. Taking them into consideration from early design stages on can make the difference between the mediocre performances product and the product that produces the ‘wow effect’.
Dye‐sensitized solar cells as promising candidates for underwater photovoltaic applications
Authors: Enaganti Prasanth K. , Soman Suraj , Devan Sabu S. , Pradhan Sourava Chandra , Srivastava Alok Kumar , Pearce Joshua M. , Goel Sanket
Published: January 2022

Harvesting solar energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells is the simplest, efficient, and reliable approach to power marine electronics. Installing PV above or under water provides cooling and cleaning to sustain the power conversion efficiency. Previous work on commercially available silicon‐based PV quantified the performance of PV with different submerged environments and showed promising results in harvesting available underwater solar energy. Subsequent, theoretical studies point to enormous potential of using wide‐band‐gap PV in underwater conditions. With this motivation, herein for the first time, a dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) employing wide‐bandgap ruthenium sensitizers (1.8 eV) have been tested under submerged conditions. The DSSCs were characterized under submerged conditions up to 20 cm. Four replicates provided data detailing DSSCs potential for underwater PV applications when compared with the previously collected data for monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous silicon PV. Although the light intensity under water decreases with an increase in depths, the rate of decrease in power output for DSSCs was only 40.68%, which was less than the traditional monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon PV by approximately 20–25%. Also, compared with amorphous silicon PV, DSSCs showed a slightly better performance by 2–3%, clearly displaying the capability of DSSCs to harvest indirect/diffused lights in comparison with the conventional PVs. Compared with the conventional PVs, indigenously fabricated DSSCs showed tremendous relative increase in performance in underwater conditions. Further work is underway to further optimize DSSCs even though it can be concluded that with added advantages of simple fabrication process and cost‐effectiveness, DSSCs have enormous future potential for underwater PV applications.
A review on the role of plasma technology in the nano‐finishing of textile materials with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Radetić Maja , Marković Darka
Published: January 2022

Nano‐finishing of textiles with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) is relatively simple, but insufficiently efficient binding between the fibers and NPs poses a big problem because of the poor stability of textile nanocomposites. A good way to overcome this problem is to activate the fibers by plasma. Selection of gas and optimization of plasma processing parameters lead to a generation of new functional groups improving the binding of NPs. Another approach relies on the formation of stable nano‐coatings by magnetron sputtering. Progress has been recently made in plasma‐assisted in situ synthesis of metal NPs where toxic chemical reducing agents were replaced with short plasma treatment. This review paper addresses substantial roles of plasma, which enhance the performance of nano‐finished textiles.
Magnetic Field‐Oriented Electrical Transport Properties in Antiperovskite Mn3SnC
Authors: Wu Peng , Yan Jun , Liang Pengli , Zhu Zhifeng , Wu Tao
Published: January 2022

Antiperovskite bulk materials show attractive properties and have potential applications on the magnetic sensor, zero thermal expansion, and magnetocaloric effect. Hence, it is important to intensively study the materials on multiple dimensionalities. Herein, the Mn3SnC thick films with variable planar size are used for longitudinal resistivity, magnetization, and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) properties study. An abnormal thermal hysteresis loop feature and angular‐dependant longitudinal resistivity of the Mn3SnC around the first‐order phase transition under in‐plane (IP) magnetic field for the first time are found. This abnormal thermal hysteresis loop is affected by magnetic field direction, IP angle, and field strength. The angular‐dependent longitudinal resistivity measurement implies that the electrical transport properties of Mn3SnC correlate with the IP magnetic field orientation and show high angular sensitivity. This novel feature of Mn3SnC relates to the spin‐Hall magnetoresistance. The discrepancy between IP and out‐of‐plane magnetization indicates the variable planer arrangement of Mn atoms, which affects magnetic interactions. The dynamic property of FMR is studied on the Mn3SnC sample, and the phase transition temperature is consistent with that of the electrical transport and magnetization study.
Retracted: Practical implementation of inclusive preschool education in Ukraine
Authors: Kalinina Tetiana S. , Karnaukhova Antonina V. , Mashovets Marina A. , Shvaliuk Tetiana M. , Telna Olha A.
Published: January 2022

The right of children with special needs to education is realised through the introduction of inclusive education. Such practice is common in many countries around the world. An inclusive setting in early childhood education protects children from segregation and negative attitudes from others. In Ukraine, in connection with European integration, preschool inclusive education is actively developing. Accordingly, studying of inclusive education and the practice of preschool educational institutions for children with special educational needs in the country is relevant, and determining the specifics of this process became the purpose of this study. Analysis of the legal framework, method of comparative analysis, synthesis and analysis of quantitative indicators, questionnaires, systematisation and generalisation of statistical data were used during the research. A comparison of inclusive preschool education implementation experience in the European Union (EU) and Ukraine was conducted and the main trends in the development and implementation of inclusive education in Ukraine were identified. It was found that membership in the EU has a positive effect on both pre‐primary education in the member states and the practice of inclusive education. This study can be useful for educators and policy makers in Ukraine for developing ways to improve the situation with inclusive education both in preschool educational institutions and in schools, as well as for educators and policy makers from other countries, especially the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, where similar processes are taking place in their educational systems.
Retracted: Higher education institution: Distance learning and modern communicative opportunities
Authors: Grytsenko Iryna , Borysenko Nataliia , Sydorenko Nataliia , Vashchuk Viktoriya , Valuieva Iia
Published: January 2022

New technologies significantly influence the increase in the range of methods and techniques in distance learning. The quality, efficiency and potential of modern communication channels are relevant issues in the current educational paradigm. The authors aimed to evaluate the educational potential of high‐tech means of communication and applications, to reveal their impact on modern communication opportunities during distance learning in the free economic zone. The main methods used during the study were analysis, questionnaire, systematisation and generalisation. The preliminary tests and experiment post‐tests were introduced to determine the technological and communicative readiness of the respondents (42 student‐volunteers). All student‐volunteers passed a test to assess the quantity and quality of high‐tech means of communication in the educational process and a survey on assessing the quality and effectiveness of distance education compared to full‐time education. Questionnaires with the same questions were taken by the students after their training, which involved high‐tech educational tools. The need to attract high‐tech means of communication in the process of distance learning was shown and students’ attitude towards it was improved. It was found that the level of communication skills development during distance learning directly depends on the use of high‐tech technical means. The study proved that high‐tech communication tools that were used in the experimental group should be used in the learning process in terms of distance learning. The effectiveness of the use of communicative opportunities in distance learning in order to identify the frequency of their use was described.
Making the case for project‐based learning: An examination of research evidence translation and mobilisation in education
Authors: Malin Joel R. , Rind Gul Muhammad
Published: January 2022

Evidence about how to translate and mobilise research evidence for use in schools remains quite limited. The present study sought to address this gap by leveraging an opportunity to examine such processes. In February 2021, Edutopia (a large US‐based, practice‐focused educational intermediary organisation) hosted a large virtual event, with 6526 participants, to communicate/highlight just‐released findings from four large‐scale, funded causal studies into the efficacy of project‐based learning and to encourage educators to adopt this practice. Examining this event, this primarily qualitative study addressed one main research question: How were research evidence and other forms of evidence used to justify and motivate the adoption of project‐based learning in schools? This study also drew upon secondary data to examine certain self‐reported impacts. This study applied a two‐layered analytic frame to broadly examine the selling and gelling of educational research evidence and other forms of evidence, and to uncover if/how five main factors of innovation adoption were addressed. Findings provided detail and analysis along each of these dimensions and, further, revealed certain apparent tensions associated with making the case for project‐based learning—for example, some instances of possible research ‘over‐selling’, and a focus on answering certain questions that could not be addressed solely via research evidence, necessitating a reliance on other evidence sources. Survey/summary results suggested participants were strongly convinced of this innovation's positive impacts and were eager to discuss it further with colleagues, though given data limitations we were unable to discern the extent/ways participants’ subsequent practices subsequently shifted.
What We Know and Need to Know about Literacy Interventions for Elementary Students with Reading Difficulties and Disabilities, including Dyslexia
Authors: Al Otaiba Stephanie , McMaster Kristen , Wanzek Jeanne , Zaru Mai W.
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this paper is to describe what we know and what we still need to learn about literacy intervention for children who experience significant difficulties learning to read. We reviewed 14 meta‐analyses and systematic reviews of experimental and quasi‐experimental studies published in the last decade that examined the effects of reading and writing interventions in the elementary grades, including research focused on students with reading difficulties and disabilities, including dyslexia. We attended to moderator analyses, when available, to further refine what we know and need to learn about interventions. Findings from these reviews indicate that explicit and systematic interventions focusing on the code and meaning dimensions of reading and writing, and delivered one‐to‐one or in small groups, are likely to improve foundational code‐based reading skills, and to a lesser extent, meaning‐based skills, across elementary grade levels. Findings, at least in the upper elementary grades, indicate that some intervention features including standardized protocols, multiple components, and longer duration can yield stronger effects. And, integrating reading and writing interventions shows promise. We still need to learn more about specific instructional routines and components that provide more robust effects on students’ ability to comprehend and individual differences in response to interventions. We discuss limitations of this review of reviews and suggest directions for future research to optimize implementation, particularly to understand for whom and under what conditions literacy interventions work best.
Recent Advances in ZIF‐Derived Atomic Metal–N–C Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Synthetic Strategies, Active Centers, and Stabilities
Authors: Gao Chen , Mu Shengdong , Yan Rui , Chen Fan , Ma Tian , Cao Sujiao , Li Shuang , Ma Lang , Wang Yinghan , Cheng Chong
Published: January 2022

Exploring highly active, stable electrocatalysts with earth‐abundant metal centers for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is essential for sustainable energy conversion. Due to the high cost and scarcity of platinum, it is a general trend to develop metal–N–C (M–N–C) electrocatalysts, especially those prepared from the zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF) to replace/minimize usage of noble metals in ORR electrocatalysis for their amazingly high catalytic efficiency, great stability, and readily‐tuned electronic structure. In this review, the most pivotal advances in mechanisms leading to declined catalytic performance, synthetic strategies, and design principles in engineering ZIF‐derived M–N–C for efficient ORR catalysis, are presented. Notably, this review focuses on how to improve intrinsic ORR activity, such as M–Nx–Cy coordination structures, doping metal‐free heteroatoms in M–N–C, dual/multi‐metal sites, hydrogen passivation, and edge‐hosted M–Nx. Meanwhile, how to increase active sites density, including formation of M–N complex, spatial confinement effects, and porous structure design, are discussed. Thereafter, challenges and future perspectives of M–N–C are also proposed. The authors believe this instructive review will provide experimental and theoretical guidance for designing future, highly active ORR electrocatalysts, and facilitate their applications in diverse ORR‐related energy technologies.
Mapping Techniques for the Design of Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Li Chunyuan , Li Yaoyao , Fan Yuxin , Wang Fan , Lei Tianyu , Chen Wei , Hu Anjun , Xue Lanxin , Huang Jianwen , Wu Chunyang , Yang Chengtao , Hu Yin , Yan Yichao
Published: January 2022

Mapping technique has been the powerful tool for the design of next‐generation energy storage devices. Unlike the traditional ion‐insertion based lithium batteries, the Li‐S battery is based on the complex conversion reactions, which require more cooperation from mapping techniques to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Therefore, in this review, the representative works of mapping techniques for Li‐S batteries are summarized, and categorized into the studies of lithium metal anode and sulfur cathode, with sub‐sections based on shared characterization mechanisms. Due to specific features of mapping techniques, various aspects such as compositional distribution, in‐plain/cross section characterization, coin cell/pouch cell configuration, and structural/mechanical analysis are emphasized in each study, aiming for the guidance for developing strategies to improve the battery performances. Benefited from the achieved progresses, suggestions for future studies based on mapping techniques are proposed to accelerate the development and commercialization of the Li‐S battery.
Tailoring Ordered Porous Carbon Embedded with Cu Clusters for High‐Energy and Long‐Lasting Phosphorus Anode
Authors: Xiao Jiajia , Cai Zihe , Muhmood Tahir , Hu Xiaojun , Lin Shengxuan , Hu Xiaobin
Published: January 2022

The natural insulating property and notorious pulverization of volume variation‐induced materials during cycling pares the electrochemical activity of red phosphorous (RP) for lithium/sodium‐ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs). To work out these issues, a tailored trimodal porous carbon support comprising highly ordered macropores and micro‐mesoporous walls embedded with copper (Cu) nanoclusters (Cu‐OMC) is proposed to confine RP. The construction of highly conductive copper–carbon wall facilitates fast electrons and ions transportation, while the interconnected and ordered porous structure not only creates enough space to resist the expansion effect of RP but also minimizes the ion diffusion length and enhances ion accessibility (the ion migration coefficient is ten times that of disordered porous carbon). Consequently, the resulting Cu‐OMC@RP anode delivers a high reversible capacity (2498.7 mAh g–1 at 0.3 C for LIBs; 2454.2 mAh g–1 at 0.1 C for SIBs), superb rate properties (824.7 mAh g–1 at 10 C for LIBs; 774.2 mAh g–1 at 5 C for SIBs), and outstanding cycling stability (an ultralow decay rate of 0.057% per cycle after 1000 cycles at 10 C for LIBs and 0.048% per cycle at 5 C over 500 cycles for SIBs).
In Situ Detection of Lithium‐Ion Battery Pack Capacity Inconsistency Using Magnetic Field Scanning Imaging
Authors: Wang Hang , Dai Lang , Mao Lei , Liu Yongbin , Jin Yi , Wu Qiang
Published: January 2022

One of the main obstacles for the reliability and safety of a lithium‐ion battery pack is the difficulty in guaranteeing its capacity consistency at harsh operating conditions, while the key solution is accurate detection of cell capacity inconsistency within the battery pack without taking it apart for destructive testing. Here, an in situ and nondestructive technology is proposed for this purpose, by imaging the magnetic field of the battery pack during its operation, the minor current imbalance within the pack can be identified without strong interference of the magnetic susceptibility due to state of charge change, and the corresponding location can also be determined. The feasibility of employing this technique in the battery pack with multicells is also demonstrated, which is beneficial in practical systems for evaluating the battery pack reliability, with which mitigation and maintenance can be taken to extend its remaining useful life.
Wettability Between Si–Mn‐Killed Steel and MgO‐Based Refractory Containing SiO2 Impurities
Authors: Cheng Limei , Ren Ying , Liu Tingyao , Zhang Lifeng
Published: January 2022

Herein, contact angles between the Si–Mn‐killed steel with and without cerium and the MgO–SiO2 refractory are measured in a reducing atmosphere. With the increase of the SiO2 in the refractory from 3 to 10 wt%, the initial contact angle for the steel without cerium decreases from 140.2° to 131.4°, and the equilibrium contact angle decreases from 136.8° to 127.8°. For the cerium‐containing steel, the initial contact angle and equilibrium contact angle decrease from 140.9° and 120.6° to 131.6° and 107.4°, respectively. With the increase of SiO2 content in the MgO‐based refractory, the increase of the Mg2SiO4 in the refractory causes the reduction of the initial contact angle between the Si–Mn‐killed steel and the refractory. The interfacial reaction between the steel and the refractory decreases the contact angle. The addition of cerium in the steel promotes the interfacial reaction, obviously decreasing the contact angle.
Rheological properties and dynamic thermal stability ofPVC/La L2/Ca‐Zncomposite stabilizer
Authors: Li Deling , Luo Congcong , Yao Bing , Ding Yue , Ren Jizhen
Published: January 2022

Lanthanum complex with curcumin (La L2)/Ca‐Zn composite stabilizer was prepared using La L2and Ca‐Zn stabilizer, in which Ca‐Zn stabilizer was obtained from calcium stearate and zinc stearate at their mass ratio of 5:1. The rheological properties and dynamic thermal stability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stabilized by La L2/Ca‐Zn composite stabilizers were estimated through a torque rheometer. The degraded fragments obtained from the torque experiments were measured by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV‐vis) spectroscopy. La L2had an effective synergistic effect with Ca‐Zn stabilizer. Compared with La L2, La L2/Ca‐Zn composite stabilizer could more significantly improve the rheological properties and dynamic thermal stability of PVC. An optimal synergistic effect could be observed when the mass ratio of La L2with Ca‐Zn stabilizer was about 8:2, in which the plasticizing torque and equilibrium torque of PVC was 33.3 N m and 22.5 N m, respectively, and its dynamic thermal stabilizing time was 25.1 min. The possible thermal stability mechanism of La L2/Ca‐Zn composite stabilizer for PVC was suggested based on the evaluation of FTIR spectroscopy and UV‐vis spectroscopy.
Applied citizen science in freshwater research
Authors: Metcalfe Anya N. , Kennedy Theodore A. , Mendez Gabriella A. , Muehlbauer Jeffrey D.
Published: January 2022

Worldwide, scientists are increasingly collaborating with the general public. Citizen science methods are readily applicable to freshwater research, monitoring, and education. In addition to providing cost‐effective data on spatial and temporal scales that are otherwise unattainable, citizen science provides unique opportunities for engagement with local communities and stakeholders in resource management and decision‐making. However, these methods are not infallible. Citizen science projects require deliberate planning in order to collect high data quality and sustain meaningful community partnerships. Citizen science practitioners also have an ethical responsibility to ensure that projects are not putting the safety of participants at stake. We discuss here how citizen science is being applied in freshwater research, emerging challenges in project planning and implementation, as well as how citizen science is shaping public understanding, policy, and management of freshwaters.

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Water Quality

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

Human Water > Water Governance

Water and Life > Methods
libwfa: Wavefunction analysis tools for excited and open‐shell electronic states
Authors: Plasser Felix , Krylov Anna I. , Dreuw Andreas
Published: January 2022

An open‐source software library for wavefunction analysis, libwfa, provides a comprehensive and flexible toolbox for post‐processing excited‐state calculations, featuring a hierarchy of interconnected visual and quantitative analysis methods. These tools afford compact graphical representations of various excited‐state processes, provide detailed insight into electronic structure, and are suitable for automated processing of large data sets. The analysis is based on reduced quantities, such as state and transition density matrices (DMs), and allows one to distill simple molecular orbital pictures of physical phenomena from intricate correlated wavefunctions. The implemented descriptors provide a rigorous link between many‐body wavefunctions and intuitive physical and chemical models, for example, exciton binding, double excitations, orbital relaxation, and polyradical character. A broad range of quantum‐chemical methods is interfaced with libwfa via a uniform interface layer in the form of DMs. This contribution reviews the structure of libwfa and highlights its capabilities by several representative use cases.

This article is categorized under:

Software > Quantum Chemistry

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy
Assessing the Evaluability of Adaptation-Focused Interventions: Lessons from the Adaptation Fund
Authors: MacPherson Ronnie , Jersild Amy , Bours Dennis , Holo Caroline
Published: January 2022

Evaluability assessments (EAs) have differing definitions, focus on various aspects of evaluation, and have been implemented inconsistently in the last several decades. Climate change adaptation (CCA) programming presents particular challenges for evaluation given shifting baselines, variable time horizons, adaptation as a moving target, and uncertainty inherent to climate change and its extreme and varied effects. The Adaptation Fund Technical Evaluation Reference Group (AF-TERG) developed a framework to assess the extent to which the Fund’s portfolio of projects has in place structures, processes, and resources capable of supporting credible and useful monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). The framework was applied on the entire project portfolio to determine the level of evaluability and make recommendations for improvement. This chapter explores the assessment’s findings on designing programs and projects to help minimize the essential challenges in the field. It discusses how the process of EA can help identify opportunities for strengthening both evaluability and a project’s MEL more broadly. A key conclusion was that the strength and quality of a project’s overall approach to MEL is a major determinant of a project’s evaluability. Although the framework was used retroactively, EAs could also be used prospectively as quality assurance tools at the pre-implementation stage.
Evaluation for Transformational Change: Learning from Practice
Authors: Naidoo Indran A.
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 crisis has challenged the evaluation profession by altering the framework within which it operates. Evaluators must embrace new realities and respond to changes while not altering their principles, norms, and standards.

A review of how evaluation networks and offices have responded to changing demands showed lack of recognition for the long-term implications to the profession. Commissioners and users of evaluation now have new priorities, and nontraditional actors have entered the traditional evaluation space, offering similar expertise and meeting the demands of evaluation commissioners and users. The extensive development challenges posed by COVID-19 require a comprehensive response capacity from evaluation if it is to be transformative as a profession.

This chapter draws on national and international case studies, examining the concept of transformation from a contextual perspective and noting the relativism in the concept. It draws links between aspects, suggesting that this period is an opportunity for evaluators to learn from practice around transformation, and suggests that flexibility provides an opportunity to remain relevant and advance transformational goals.
Sustainability After Project Completion: Evidence from the GEF
Authors: Negi Neeraj Kumar , Sohn Molly Watts
Published: January 2022

This chapter examines the extent to which completed GEF projects are sustainable and the factors affecting sustainability. We considered only those projects that were covered through postcompletion evaluation at least 2 years after implementation completion, and where the evaluation reports provided adequate information related to observed sustainability during the postcompletion period. We assessed 62 projects to meet the selection criteria, then completed a desk review of the postcompletion evaluation reports and other relevant documents for these projects to assess the extent to which the project outcome was sustainable.

We found that the projects covered through postcompletion evaluations were generally sustainable, with the sustainability outlook deteriorating for some projects while improving for others. The incidence of the catalytic processes that enhance sustainability—sustaining, mainstreaming, replication, scaling-up, and market change—was higher at postcompletion evaluation, as the passage of time allows long-term project outcomes to manifest. At the project level, we observed these catalytic processes in a wider set of activities at postcompletion evaluation than at implementation completion. Factors such as financial support for follow-up, political support, follow-up by and capacities of the executing agency, stakeholder buy-in, and project design seem to play a crucial role in determining project sustainability.
Making Space for Qualitative Evidence in Global Maternal and Child Health Policymaking
Authors: Colvin Christopher J.
Published: January 2022

The success of health interventions often hinges on complex processes of implementation, the impact of sociopolitical and cultural contexts, resource constraints and opportunity costs, and issues of equity and accountability. Qualitative research offers critical insights for understanding these issues. “Qualitative evidence syntheses” (or QES)—modeled on quantitative systematic reviews—have recently emerged as an important vehicle for integrating insights from qualitative evidence into global health policy. However, it is challenging to integrate QES into policymaking in ways that are bothacceptableto the often-conservative health policy world andconsonantwith social science’s distinctive methodologies and paradigms. Based on my experiences participating in and observing numerous guideline working group meetings and interviews with key informants, this chapter offers an auto-ethnographic account of an effort to integrate QES into the World Health Organization’s global OptimizeMNH guidelines for task shifting in maternal and newborn health (MNH). It is based on my experiences participating in and observing numerous guideline working group meetings as well as interviews with several key informants. Advocates of QES were successful in helping to make a place for qualitative evidence in this global guideline. Their work, however, required a delicate balance between adopting quantitatively inspired methods for evidence synthesis and innovating new methods that would both suit the project needs and be seen as legitimate by qualitative researchers. This case study of the development of one WHO guideline does not signal a revolution in knowledge production, but it does show there remains room—perhaps growing room—for a more expansive vision of what forms of knowledge need to be on the table when developing global health policy.
Fundamentals of Artificial Neural Networks and Deep Learning
Authors: Montesinos López Osval Antonio , Montesinos López Abelardo , Crossa Jose
Published: January 2022

In this chapter, we go through the fundamentals of artificial neural networks and deep learning methods. We describe the inspiration for artificial neural networks and how the methods of deep learning are built. We define the activation function and its role in capturing nonlinear patterns in the input data. We explain the universal approximation theorem for understanding the power and limitation of these methods and describe the main topologies of artificial neural networks that play an important role in the successful implementation of these methods. We also describe loss functions (and their penalized versions) and give details about in which circumstances each of them should be used or preferred. In addition to the Ridge, Lasso, and Elastic Net regularization methods, we provide details of the dropout and the early stopping methods. Finally, we provide the backpropagation method and illustrate it with two simple artificial neural networks.
Artificial Neural Networks and Deep Learning for Genomic Prediction of Continuous Outcomes
Authors: Montesinos López Osval Antonio , Montesinos López Abelardo , Crossa Jose
Published: January 2022

This chapter provides elements for implementing deep neural networks (deep learning) for continuous outcomes. We give details of the hyperparameters to be tuned in deep neural networks and provide a general guide for doing this task with more probability of success. Then we explain the most popular deep learning frameworks that can be used to implement these models as well as the most popular optimizers available in many software programs for deep learning. Several practical examples with plant breeding data for implementing deep neural networks in the Keras library are outlined. These examples take into account many components in the predictor as well many hyperparameters (hidden layer, number of neurons, learning rate, optimizers, penalization, etc.) for which we also illustrate how the tuning process can be done to increase the probability of a successful application.
Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Montesinos López Osval Antonio , Montesinos López Abelardo , Crossa Jose
Published: January 2022

We provide the fundamentals of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and include several examples using the Keras library. We give a formal motivation for using CNN that clearly shows the advantages of this topology compared to feedforward networks for processing images. Several practical examples with plant breeding data are provided using CNNs under two scenarios: (a) one-dimensional input data and (b) two-dimensional input data. The examples also illustrate how to tune the hyperparameters to be able to increase the probability of a successful application. Finally, we give comments on the advantages and disadvantages of deep neural networks in general as compared with many other statistical machine learning methodologies.
Elements for Building Supervised Statistical Machine Learning Models
Authors: Montesinos López Osval Antonio , Montesinos López Abelardo , Crossa Jose
Published: January 2022

This chapter gives details of the linear multiple regression model including assumptions and some pros and cons, the maximum likelihood. Gradient descendent methods are described for learning the parameters under this model. Penalized linear multiple regression is derived under Ridge and Lasso penalties, which also emphasizes the estimation of the regularization parameter of importance for its successful implementation. Examples are given for both penalties (Ridge and Lasso) and but not for penalized regression multiple regression framework for illustrating the circumstances when the penalized versions should be preferred. Finally, the fundamentals of penalized and non-penalized logistic regression are provided under a gradient descendent framework. We give examples of logistic regression. Each example comes with the corresponding R codes to facilitate their quick understanding and use.
Generisch-serielle Re-Lektüren in Psycho II-IV zwischen Interdependenzen und Slashergenre
Authors: Kirsten Karina
Published: January 2022

Nur drei Jahre nach Hitchcocks Tod erscheint 1983 mit Psycho II unter der Regie von Richard Franklin die erste Fortsetzung von Psycho, auf die in nur kurzen Abständen 1986 und 1990 zwei weitere folgen: Psycho III und Psycho IV – The Beginning. Die drei Sequels folgen dabei einer populären Welle an Horrorfortsetzungen, die die Geschichten ihrer Vorgängerproduktionen ebenso erfolgreich fortführen. It Lives Again (1978), Damien: Omen II (1978),Dawn of the Dead (1978),Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) und Halloween II (1981), um nur einige zu nennen, markieren in den 1970er und frühen 1980er Jahren den seriellen Auftakt eines Genretrends, der sich bis in die Gegenwart zieht.
Generisch-serielle De-Konstruktionen in Bates Motel zwischen historischer Reimagination und seriengenetischer Neuperspektivierung
Authors: Kirsten Karina
Published: January 2022

Bates Motel erzählt die Geschichte des 17-jährigen Norman Bates und seiner Mutter Norma Bates, die es nach dem Tod des Vaters in eine Kleinstadt an der Westküste von Oregon verschlägt. Abseits des städtischen Zentrums beziehen Mutter und Sohn ein viktorianisches Haus auf dem Hügel und renovieren das zugehörige, etwas heruntergekommene Motel, das sie als ‚Bates Motel‘ neueröffnen. Die als Prequel zu Psycho angelegte Serie verlagert die Handlung von Psycho aus der kalifornischen Kleinstadt Fairevale an den Küstenort White Pine Bay.
Big Data und Wissen
Authors: Lünich Marco
Published: January 2022

Wie erörtert, sollen Daten die Wirklichkeit nicht nur vermeintlich objektiv, realitätsgetreu und folglich wahrheitsgemäß abbilden, sondern auf den Daten basierende Einsichten sollen und werden im Rahmen einer vorrangig ökonomischen Verwertungslogik in der postindustriellen Gesellschaft genutzt. Die besondere Bedeutung der Erzeugung, Verteilung und Verwertung von Wissen auf Datengrundlage spielt dabei auch direkt auf Vorstellungen an, die mit dem Konzept der Wissensgesellschaft verbunden sind und in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten vielfach in der Öffentlichkeit diskutiert wurden (Kübler, 2009).
Einführung: Erzählen, eine Ressource zur imagefördernden (Selbst)Darstellung von Unternehmen
Authors: Ackermann Ulrike
Published: January 2022

Erzählen ist als ein „anthropologisches Grundbedürfnis des Menschen“ in den verschiedensten Kulturen und Epochen allgegenwärtig. In der Wissenschaft ist es mit dem narrative turn in den 1970/80er-Jahren zu einem interdisziplinären Forschungsfeld avanciert (The Narrativist Turn in the Human Sciences, Kreiswirth 1994). Im Zuge der Erkenntnis, dass dem Erzählen eine zentrale Rolle zukommt, der Welt und dem eigenen Dasein Sinn abzugewinnen, Ereignisse in zeitliche und kausale Zusammenhänge einzubinden und so Kohärenz zu erzeugen, ist das Interesse daran geradezu inflationär gestiegen. Infolge unterschiedlicher Forschungsperspektiven auf das Untersuchungsobjekt ,Erzählen‘ rücken verschiedene Phänomene und jeweils spezifische Merkmale des Erzählens in den Vordergrund.
Zentrale Ergebnisse
Authors: Ackermann Ulrike
Published: January 2022

Um narrative Praktiken von Unternehmen im Internet mit Blick auf die übergeordnete Hypothese zu untersuchen, dass Erzählungen von Unternehmen im Internet funktional an imagefördernden (S)D ausgerichtet sind, gehe ich in der Untersuchung davon aus, dass das, ,was‘ Unternehmen über sich nach außen kommunizieren (Inhalte), grundsätzlich ausschlaggebend für die Gestaltung dieser Botschaft ist. Dieses Herangehen lehnt sich an Felders (2006) Methode an, der zur Beschreibung von Geltungsansprüchen in politischen Reden eine Form-Funktions-Analyse wählt. Bei seinem Vorgehen stellt er „das Verhältnis von möglichen Formen zum Erzielen potenzieller Wirkungen bzw. Funktionen in den Mittelpunkt der Betrachtung“.
Methode: Qualitativer Forschungsansatz
Authors: Ackermann Ulrike
Published: January 2022

Das Forschungsvorhaben bezieht sich im Sinne der Medienwissenschaften auf eine Produktanalyse (Holly 2010: 362). Es beinhaltet keine Rezeptionsstudie. Das, was für die Analyse der uRE zur Verfügung steht, ist die zeichenhafte Materialität der Erzählungen.
A novel technique for stabilising sacroiliac joint dislocation using spinal instrumentation: technical notes and clinical outcomes
Authors: Miyake Takahito , Futamura Kentaro , Baba Tomonori , Hasegawa Masayuki , Tsuihiji Kanako , Kanda Norihide , Tsuchida Yoshihiko , Mogami Atsuhiko , Obayashi Osamu , Ogura Shinji
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Currently, sacroiliac joint dislocations, including crescent fracture–dislocations, are treated using several techniques that have certain issues. We present the technical details and clinical outcomes of a new technique, anterior sacroiliac stabilisation (ASIS), performed using spinal instrumentation.

Methods

ASIS is performed with the patient in a supine position via the ilioinguinal approach. The displacements are reduced and fixed by inserting cancellous screws from the sacral ala and iliac brim; the screw heads are bridged using a rod and locked. We performed a retrospective review of patients with iliosacral disruption who underwent ASIS between May 2012 and December 2020 at two medical facilities. The patients were assessed for age, sex, injury type, associated injuries, complications, functional outcome by evaluating the Majeed pelvic score after excluding the sexual intercourse score and fracture union.

Results

We enrolled 11 patients (median age: 63 years). The median operative time was 195 min, median blood loss was 570 g, and eight patients (72.3%) required blood transfusion. The sacral and iliac screws had a diameter of 6.0–8.0 mm and 6.2–8.0 mm, and a length of 50–70 mm and 40–80 mm, respectively. Bone union was achieved with no marked loss of reduction in the median follow-up period of 12 months in all cases. The median Majeed score at the final follow-up was 85/96.

Conclusion

ASIS is a rigid internal fixation method that provides angular stability. Despite invasiveness issues compared to iliosacral screw fixation, this method is easy to confirm and achieves precise reduction.
Sicherheit von Blut und Blutprodukten: Testmethoden zum Nachweis der Hepatitisviren B, C und E
Authors: Mitterreiter Johanna , Scheiblauer Heinrich , Fiedler Sarah , Kreß Julia
Published: January 2022

Infektionen mit den Hepatitisviren B, C und E (HBV, HCV, HEV) sind über das Blut übertragbar und können schwere akute und chronische Leberentzündungen hervorrufen. Um die Sicherheit von Spenderblut zu gewährleisten und Empfänger vor Virusübertragungen zu schützen, werden Blutkonserven in Deutschland mit Nukleinsäureamplifikationstechniken (NAT) auf Virusgenom sowie mit serologischen Methoden auf virale Antigene und humane Antikörper getestet. In diesem Beitrag werden die entsprechenden Regularien zur Sicherheit von Blut und Blutprodukten in Deutschland sowie die verschiedenen Screeningmethoden beschrieben. Die Sicherheit der Blutprodukte wird bewertet.

Beim Spenderscreening angewandte NAT-Methoden basieren auf Technologien der Polymerasekettenreaktion (PCR) oder auf isothermen Verfahren, wie derTranscription-mediated Amplification(TMA), welche einen hochempfindlichen Nachweis einer Virusinfektion in Spenderblut ermöglichen und so zu einer Verkürzung der diagnostischen Fensterperiode beitragen. Bereits seit den 1970er-Jahren wird zur Erkennung einer möglichen HBV-Infektion ein Screening des viralen Oberflächenproteins (HBsAg) gefordert. Die verpflichtende Einführung der Testung auf HCV-spezifische Antikörper 1992, der HCV-NAT-Testung 1999 und des Anti-HBc-Spenderscreenings 2006 sowie die nichtverpflichtende, von den meisten Blutspendeeinrichtungen freiwillig durchgeführte HBV-NAT-Testung haben die Sicherheit von Blutprodukten deutlich verbessert und Übertragungsfälle auf seltene Einzelfälle in der frühen diagnostischen Fensterperiode reduziert. Der Erfolg der 2020 in Deutschland eingeführten HEV-NAT-Testung von Spenderblut wird sich in den kommenden Jahren bemessen lassen. Neben der Spendertestung ergänzen Maßnahmen zur Spenderauswahl und Pathogeninaktivierung das Sicherheitssystem für Blutspenden in Deutschland.
Bulevirtide als erster spezifischer Wirkstoff gegen Hepatitis-D-Virusinfektionen – Mechanismus und klinische Wirkung
Authors: Nkongolo Shirin , Hollnberger Julius , Urban Stephan
Published: January 2022

Die Blockade des Zelleintritts von Krankheitserregern ist ein geeigneter Ansatz, um Neuinfektionen zu verhindern. Der therapeutische Einsatz von Eintrittsinhibitoren bei chronisch infizierten Patienten war jedoch bisher nur begrenzt erfolgreich. Zur Behandlung von chronischen Hepatitis-D-Virus-(HDV-)Infektionen wurde im Juli 2020 mit Bulevirtide (BLV) ein vielversprechender Wirkstoff bedingt zugelassen, der auf diesem Wirkprinzip beruht. Zuvor hatten für HDV keine gezielte Medikation zur Verfügung gestanden und die Behandlung beruhte auf dem Off-Label-Einsatz von Interferon-Alpha/Peginterferon-Alpha (IFNα/Peg-IFNα). In diesem Beitrag wird ein Überblick über die Grundlagen des Wirkmechanismus von BLV gegeben und bisher vorliegende klinische Daten werden zusammengefasst.

Eine HDV-Infektion manifestiert sich als Ko- oder Superinfektion bei Hepatitis-B-Virus-(HBV-)Infektionen und betrifft 4,5–15 % der HBV-Patienten weltweit. HDV nutzt die Hüllproteine von HBV zur Verbreitung. BLV wirkt, indem es den HBV/HDV-Rezeptor natriumtaurocholat-co-transportierendes Polypeptid (NTCP) blockiert und so den Eintritt von HBV/HDV in Hepatozyten verhindert. BLV senkt die HDV-Serum-RNA-Spiegel und führt bei HBV/HDV-infizierten Personen zur Normalisierung der Alanin-Aminotransferase-(ALT-)Werte. Es hat ein ausgezeichnetes Sicherheitsprofil, selbst wenn es über 48 Wochen in hohen Dosen (10 mg täglich) verabreicht wird. In Kombination mit Peg-IFNα zeigt BLV synergistische Effekte auf die Senkung der HDV-RNA im Serum, aber auch auf die Hepatitis-B-Oberflächenantigen-(HBsAg‑)Spiegel. Dies führte bei einer Untergruppe von Patienten zu einer funktionellen Heilung, wenn 2 mg BLV plus Peg-IFNα verabreicht wurden. Der Mechanismus dieser wahrscheinlich immunvermittelten Eliminierung wird in Folgestudien untersucht.
Entwicklung und Evaluation eines Deep-Learning-Algorithmus für die Worterkennung aus Lippenbewegungen für die deutsche Sprache
Authors: Pham Dinh Nam , Rahne Torsten
Published: January 2022

Hintergrund

Zahlreiche Menschen profitieren beim Lippenlesen von den zusätzlichen visuellen Informationen aus den Lippenbewegungen des Sprechenden, was jedoch sehr fehleranfällig ist. Algorithmen zum Lippenlesen mit auf künstlichen neuronalen Netzwerken basierender künstlicher Intelligenz verbessern die Worterkennung signifikant, stehen jedoch nicht für die deutsche Sprache zur Verfügung.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden 1806 Videos mit jeweils nur einer deutsch sprechenden Person selektiert, in Wortsegmente unterteilt und mit einer Spracherkennungssoftware Wortklassen zugeordnet. In 38.391 Videosegmenten mit 32 Sprechenden wurden 18 mehrsilbige, visuell voneinander unterscheidbare Wörter zum Trainieren und Validieren eines neuronalen Netzwerks verwendet. Die Modelle 3D Convolutional Neural Network, Gated Recurrent Units und die Kombination beider Modelle (GRUConv) wurden ebenso verglichen wie unterschiedliche Bildausschnitte und Farbräume der Videos. Die Korrektklassifikationsrate wurde jeweils innerhalb von 5000 Trainingsepochen ermittelt.

Ergebnisse

Der Vergleich der Farbräume ergab keine relevant unterschiedlichen Korrektklassifikationsraten im Bereich von 69 % bis 72 %. Bei Zuschneidung auf die Lippen wurde mit 70 % eine deutlich höhere Korrektklassifikationsrate als bei Zuschnitt auf das gesamte Sprechergesicht (34 %) erreicht. Mit dem GRUConv-Modell betrugen die maximalen Korrektklassifikationsraten 87 % bei bekannten Sprechenden und 63 % in der Validierung mit unbekannten Sprechenden.

Schlussfolgerung

Das erstmals für die deutsche Sprache entwickelte neuronale Netzwerk zum Lippenlesen zeigt eine sehr große, mit englischsprachigen Algorithmen vergleichbare Genauigkeit. Es funktioniert auch mit unbekannten Sprechenden und kann mit mehr Wortklassen generalisiert werden.