bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Big Data's Call to Philosophers of Education
Authors: Blanken-Webb Jane
Published: September 2020

This paper investigates the intersection of big data and philosophy of education by considering big data’s potential for addressing learning via a holistic process of coming-to-know. Learning, in this sense, cannot be reduced to the difference between a pre- and post-test, for example, as it is constituted at least as much by qualities of experience as it is the situation, process of inquiry and its consequences. Long a perennial concern of philosophers of education, the author suggests that big data offers a budding opportunity for philosophers to engage in dialogue with empirical research in order to better understand the process of learning as coming-to-know. Drawing on John Dewey’s theory of inquiry and his philosophy of experience, the author demonstrates ways that both empirical and philosophical research stands to benefit from cross-dialogue. In offering an unprecedented glimpse of empirical detail, the author proposes that big data stands to afford new insights into this most complex human process and that Dewey’s philosophy offers a vital lens of interpretation that can help philosophers of education to make use of this data in addressing the perennial question of how humans come-to-know.
What Exactly (If Anything) is Wrong with Paternalism Towards Children?
Authors: Drerup Johannes
Published: September 2020

Theoretical and practical issues concerning the justification of paternalism towards children are widely debated in a variety of philosophical contexts. The major focus of these debates either lies on questions concerning the general legitimacy of paternalism towards children or on justifications of paternalism in concrete situations involving children (e.g. in applied ethics). Despite the widespread consensus that the legitimacy of educational paternalism in important respects hinges on its principled, temporal and domain-specific limitation (e.g., via a soft-paternalist strategy), surprisingly little has been said about conditions and criteria that determine what exactly (if anything) is morally wrong with paternalism towards children. This contribution aims to further the understanding of these normative issues by providing a critical analysis of the theoretical and methodological difficulties involved in developing context-invariant criteria for the identification of specific wrong-making features of paternalist rationales and paternalistically justified practices in cases involving children. I am going to show that the moral status of pro- and anti-paternalist reasons is much more context-sensitive than usually assumed by proponents of standard generalist justificatory strategies. In conclusion my argument is that a moral particularist and casuistic framework may offer an adequate theoretical alternative to make sense of the context-dependent wrongs (and rights) of educational paternalism.
Whatever Will Be Will Be: Queering Disabled Subjects’ Temporality
Authors: Sheldon James , Rands Kai
Published: September 2020

Normative time is disciplined through what Freeman calls chrononormativity, and this disciplining is particularly evident in the experiences of disabled children. Despite the constant regimenting of the present reality for disabled children in time, they are essentially denied a future, the future generally being figured without people with disabilities. Exploring Muñoz’s critiques of Edelman, we emphasize the importance of futurity for children with disabilities, particularly one which they get to construct themselves rather than being constructed for them. We turn to Foucault’s discussion of the Ship of Fools in order to begin to imagine an alternative, queer time that is “steered” by children (and adults) with disabilities towards their own ends and goals.
Question 94: On Philosophy as Subversion, In Response to Dieter Misgeld
Authors: Gaon Stella
Published: September 2020

Dieter Misgeld: A Philosopher’s Journey from Hermeneutics to Emancipatory Politics, by Hossein Mesbahian and Trevor Norris (2017), is a book-length transcript of a set of wideranging and extensive conversations with Professor Emeritus Dieter Misgeld. These interviews were conducted in 2005, on the occasion of his retirement from teaching at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. The “journey” referenced in the title reflects the sharp distinction between philosophy and politics that appears to inform Misgeld’s views throughout the text. In response to Misgeld, I propose that, while his understanding of philosophy as apolitical or quietist arguably holds on a narrow definition of the term “philosophy,” this definition forecloses a more radical understanding of philosophy as critique. A deeper and broader conception of philosophy as “theory,” I submit, can and should be drawn from the work of first generation Frankfurt School theorists Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno. Properly conceived and undertaken, philosophy as critical theory can and does subvert political power, albeit not in ways that one might predict on the basis of the customary separation of theory and practice. I refer to numerous moments of the discussion to make this case so as to convey the breadth and richness of the book.
The War on Public Education: Agonist Democracy and the Fight for Schools as Public Things
Authors: Knight Abowitz Kathleen
Published: September 2020

Agonistic critiques of democratic theory conceptualize democracy as a site of conflict and struggle; as the fight against privatization escalates, these critiques become more relevant for educational governance. Public education governance has, in addition, increasingly been the site of growing conflicts between federal, states and local levels, as populist and other types of dissent are now emerging in educational politics. These conflicts reached a new nexus with the nomination of Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education. This nomination represents a vivid battle over public school as a “public thing,” a material object, space, institution or place of symbolic and embodied civic importance (Honig 2017). DeVos’ nomination stirred up, in popular imagination, the idea of public schools as “public things” of meaning and value for many citizens who participated in unprecedented ways to (unsuccessfully) block her appointment. It was with this threat to public education that the value of school as a “public thing” became crystalized among a diverse network of citizens. This political moment reveals 1) the nature of schools as public things, 2) the importance of agonist critiques of democracy, and public work, as a means for citizens to help safe-guard the future of schools as public things. I conclude by explaining the limits of agonism as a comprehensive approach to the democratic governance of schooling, advocating for its use as a critique and expansion of current models of public engagement with educational politics.
Anti-“Heterosexist” Education and the Stigmatization of Some Roman Catholic Beliefs
Authors: Jordan M.
Published: September 2020

I address some tension between Roman Catholicism and the anti-“heterosexist” education within some of Ontario’s regular, public schools. In particular, I argue that the anti-“heterosexist” education within the Peel District School Board (PDSB) and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) stigmatizes some Roman Catholic beliefs, however incidentally. I then offer a proposal for how this stigmatization could be extinguished without abandoning an effort to prevent bullying against students with same-sex sexual inclination.
The Epistemic Goods of Higher Education
Authors: Kotzee Ben
Published: September 2020

In this paper, I investigate two clashing perspectives regarding the good of the university: a socio-economic and an epistemic perspective. I position current writing on the university in the philosophy of education as being largely socio-economic and contrast this view to an earlier tradition of writing about the university that I position as mostly epistemic. Following on from this discussion, I review the university’s role in the distribution of social and epistemic goods. I hold that the university directly controls only the latter, not the former and hold that whatever socio-economic roles the university plays in society, it must do so through the distribution of knowledge in society. Next, I explore what this means for the university’s socio-economic functioning: I hold that seeing the good that the university distributes as knowledge places limits on its socio-economic functioning. Lastly, I ask what the university can do to promote epistemic justice in how it conducts teaching and research. I hold that one of the most important things that the university can do in the name of epistemic justice is to educate others (especially employers) about the true worth of a university degree.
Political Authority, Personal Autonomy and Higher Education
Authors: Martin Christopher
Published: September 2020

Does the liberal state have a role in helping mature citizens make worthwhile educational choices? The question has clear relevance for the aims of higher education in a liberal democratic society. As systems of higher education internationalize, it has become difficult for liberal states to steer high education policy in directions that serve civic interests. This is, in part, because political liberalism imposes restrictions on what one might call directive educational authority: the power to direct citizens toward specific kinds of knowledge, understanding and skills in the interests of making their lives better. This restriction follows from the view that citizens have the capacity to make thier own decisions about how best to live, including decisions about the kind of education they need. My aim in this paper is to make the case for a more direct role for the state in promoting a good life through higher education. In particular, I argue that the liberal state’s obligation to promote autonomy across its citizenry confers legitimate educational authority over post-compulsory, as well as compulsory, education. This argument affirms the State’s educational obligations to citizens beyond a basic or compulsory education. Getting in the way of this affirmation, however, is an overly restrictive account of educational authority that occludes these obligations under the guise of respect for autonomy. Accordingly, in making my case I propose an autonomy-based account educational authority derived from Joseph Raz’s Service Conception, defending this account against the charge that such authority is illegitimately paternalistic.
Flourishing and Well-being in the Academy: A Capabilities Approach
Authors: Gereluk Dianne
Published: September 2020

Increased wellness and mental health strategies have been implemented across campuses in post-secondary institutions, which is reflective of the broader discourse on wellness in societies.  In response to increased awareness of wellness on campuses, universities respond in various ways which include student and staff engagement surveys, academic plans that include wellness, and institutional mental health strategies.  While these initiatives are important to support the communities that universities serve, such initiatives may do better if a more robust notion of wellbeing underpins these initiatives.  In this paper, I draw upon Nussbaum’s capabilities to broaden the discourse on wellbeing in academia.  I argue that considering wellbeing through a capabilities approach may provide a better normative framework to address more substantive tensions that undermine academics’ well-being.
Antimicrobial and micronutrient interventions for the management of infants under 6 months of age identified with severe malnutrition: a literature review
Authors: Campion-Smith Timothy J. , Kerac Marko , McGrath Marie , Berkley James A.
Published: September 2020

Background

Infants under 6 months (U6M) contribute a significant proportion of the burden and mortality of severe malnutrition globally. Evidence of underlying aetiology in this population is sparse, but it is known that the group includes ex-preterm and low birthweight (LBW) infants. They represent a unique population given their dependence on breastmilk or a safe, secure alternative. Nutrition agencies and health providers struggle to make programming decisions on which interventions should be provided to this group based upon the 2013 WHO Guidelines for the ‘Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Infants and Young Children’ since there are no published interventional trial data focussed on this population. Interim guidance for this group might be informed by evidence of safety and efficacy in adjacent population groups.

Methodology

A narrative literature review was performed of systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials of antimicrobial and micronutrient interventions (antibiotics, deworming, vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, zinc, folic acid and oral rehydration solution (ORS) for malnutrition) across the population groups of low birthweight/preterm infants, infants under 6 months, infants and children over 6 months with acute malnutrition or through supplementation to breastfeeding mothers. Outcomes of interest were safety and efficacy, in terms of mortality and morbidity.

Results

Ninety-four articles were identified for inclusion within this review. None of these studied interventions exclusively in severely malnourished infants U6M. 64% reported on the safety of studied interventions. Significant heterogeneity was identified in definitions of study populations, interventions provided, and outcomes studied. The evidence for efficacy and safety across population groups is reviewed and presented for the interventions listed.

Conclusions

The direct evidence base for medical interventions for severely malnourished infants U6M is sparse. Our review identifies a specific need for accurate micronutrient profiling and interventional studies of micronutrients and oral fluid management of diarrhoea amongst infants U6M meeting anthropometric criteria for severe malnutrition. Indirect evidence presented in this review may help shape interim policy and programming decisions as well as the future research agenda for the management of infants U6M identified as malnourished.
New Promises and Opportunities in 3D Printable Inks Based on Coordination Compounds for the Creation of Objects with Multiple Applications
Authors: Maldonado Noelia , Amo‐Ochoa Pilar
Published: September 2020

This review focuses on the usefulness of coordination bonds to create 3D printable inks and shows how the union of chemistry and 3D technology contributes to new scientific advances, by allowing amorphous or polycrystalline solids to be transformed into objects with the desired shape for successful applications. The review clearly shows how there has been considerable increase in the manufacture of objects based on the combination of organic matrices and coordination compounds. These coordination compounds are usually homogeneously dispersed within the matrix, anchored onto a proper support or coating the printed object, without destroying their unique properties. Advances are so rapid that today it is already possible to 3D print objects made exclusively from coordination compounds without additives. The new printable inks are made mainly with nanoscale nonporous coordination polymers, metal–organic gels, or metal–organic frameworks. The highly dynamic coordination bond allows the creation of objects, which respond to stimuli, that can act as sensors and be used for drug delivery. In addition, the combination of metal–organic frameworks with 3D printing allows the adsorption or selective capacity of the object to be increased, relative to that of the original compound, which is useful in energy storage, gas separation, or water pollutant elimination. Furthermore, the presence of the metal ion can give them new properties, such as luminescence, that are useful for application in sensors or anticounterfeiting. Technological advances, the combination of various printing techniques, and the properties of coordination bonds lead to the creation of surprising, new, printable inks and objects with highly complex shapes that will close the gap between academia and industry for research into coordination compounds.
Bonding Trends in Tetravalent Th–Pu Monosalen Complexes
Authors: Radoske Thomas , März Juliane , Patzschke Michael , Kaden Peter , Walter Olaf , Schmidt Moritz , Stumpf Thorsten
Published: September 2020

The synthesis of three complex series of the form [AnCl2(salen)(Pyx)2] (H2salen=N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine; Pyx=pyridine, 4‐methylpyridine, 3,5‐dimethylpyridine) with tetravalent early actinides (An=Th, U, Np, Pu) is reported with the goal to elucidate the affinity of these heavy elements for small neutral N‐donor molecules. Structure determination by single‐crystal XRD and characterization of bulk powders with infrared spectroscopy reveals isostructurality within each respective series and the same complex conformation in all reported structures. Although the trend of interatomic distances for An−Cl and An−N (imine nitrogen of salen or pyridyl nitrogen of Pyx) was found to reflect an ionic behavior, the trend of the An−O distances can only be described with additional covalent interactions for all elements heavier than thorium. All experimental results are supported by quantum chemical calculations, which confirm the mostly ionic character in the An−N and An−Cl bonds, as well as the highest degree of covalency of the An−O bonds. Structurally, the calculations indicate just minor electronic or steric effects of the additional Pyx substituents on the complex properties.
High‐sugar diet intake, physical activity, and gut microbiota crosstalk: Implications for obesity in rats
Authors: de Oliveira Neves Viviano Gomes , de Oliveira Daiane Teixeira , Oliveira Deborah Campos , Oliveira Perucci Luiza , dos Santos Talita Adriana Pereira , da Costa Fernandes Isabela , de Sousa Graziele Galdino , Barboza Natália Rocha , Guerra‐Sá Renata
Published: September 2020

This study aims to evaluate the effect of long‐term high‐sugar diet (HSD) intake and regular physical activity on gut microbiota as well as its health impact. Weaned male Wistar rats were fed with standard chow diet (SSD) or HSD ad libitum and subjected or not to regular swimming training with a workload (2% of body weight) for 15 weeks. Feces samples were used on microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. HSD increased body mass, adipose cushions, and the serum levels of triglycerides and VLDL, also changed the bacteria taxons associated with metabolic disorders (increase taxons belonging to Proteobacteria phylum and decrease Pediococcus genus); the swim training reverted these changes. SSD intake increased the abundance of bacteria associated with metabolization of dietary fiber. Training in association with SSD consumption beneficially modulated the microbiota, increasing the Bacteroidetes, Bacteroidaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Parabacteroides, and Lactobacillaceae, and decreasing the Firmicute/Bacteroidetes ratio; training was not able to maintain this profile in animals SHD‐fed. Physical training modulates the gut microbiota reversing the obesogenic response caused by SHD. However, training itself is not efficient for up‐regulating the probiotic bacteria in comparison to its association with a balanced diet.
Automated design for recognition of blood cells diseases from hematopathology using classical features selection and ELM
Authors: Khan Muhammad Attique , Qasim Muhammad , Lodhi Hafiz Muhammad Junaid , Nazir Muhammad , Javed Kashif , Rubab Saddaf , Din Ahmad , Habib Usman
Published: September 2020

In the human immune system, the white blood cells (WBC) creates bone and lymphoid masses. These cells defend the human body toward several infections, such as fungi and bacteria. The popular WBC types are Eosinophils, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, and Monocytes, which are manually diagnosis by the experts. The manual diagnosis process is complicated and time‐consuming; therefore, an automated system is required to classify these WBC. In this article, a new method is presented for WBC classification using feature selection and extreme learning machine (ELM). At the very first step, data augmentation is performed to increases the number of images and then implement a new contrast stretching technique name pixel stretch (PS). In the next step, color and gray level size zone matrix (GLSZM) features are calculated from PS images and fused in one vector based on the level of high similarity. However, few redundant features are also included that affect the classification performance. For handling this problem, a maximum relevance probability (MRP) based feature selection technique is implemented. The best‐selected features computed from a fitness function are ELM in this work. All maximum relevance features are put to ELM, and this process is continued until the error rate is minimized. In the end, the final selected features are classified through Cubic SVM. For validation of the proposed method, LISC and Dhruv datasets are used, and it achieved the highest accuracy of 96.60%. From the results, it is clearly shown that the proposed method results are improved as compared to other implemented techniques.
Analysis of the prophylactic effect of thymosin drugs on COVID‐19 for 435 medical staff: A hospital‐based retrospective study
Authors: Liu Xiulan , Liu Yi , Wang Liuming , Hu Luhong , Liu Dong , Li Juan
Published: September 2020

To explore the role of thymosin drugs in the prevention of novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19), we analyzed the preventive effects of different medication timings on health medical staff, and then provided recommendations for pharmaceutical monitoring of thymus drugs. The hospital‐based retrospective study analyzed 435 medical staffers, treated with or without thymosin drugs as preventive medicines in our hospital of Wuhan City, from January 25 to March 25, 2020. For the prophylactics, the medical staff was prevented from pre‐exposure prophylaxis (risk prevention of exposure to COVID‐19 patients before using thymosin drugs) and postexposure prophylaxis (risk prevention of exposure to COVID‐19 patients after using thymosin drugs). The effectiveness and safety of thymosin drugs were studied in the prevention and control of COVID‐19 application, in real‐world data research for the application of the drug for COVID‐ 19. In a similar exposure environment, compared to medical staffers who did not take preventive medicine, the use of thymosin drugs, before exposure and after exposure had an insignificant effect, and the adverse drug reaction (ADR) was increased, especially when thymosin drugs were used together with α‐interferon.
Fluorinated SnO2/ER as an antistatic coating for enhancing the surface insulating strength of epoxy insulators
Authors: Wu Gengteng , Ruan Haoou , Tian Yi , Zhou Huahao , An Guoping , Yang Xinyu , Xie Qing
Published: September 2020

The surface coating of epoxy resin has been widely used in the composite materials with micron scale fillers, but the related research on the composite coating filled with nanoparticles is still rare. SnO2 is a common antistatic additive in composite materials, and it is also a semiconductor material, capable of uniform voltage. In this paper, nano‐SnO2 powder was considered as the filler of coating materials. By analyzing the microscopic test results, the flashover voltage, surface charge dissipation, and surface conductivity of the coating sample, the effects of coating treatment and nano‐SnO2 fluorination on the surface insulation properties of epoxy insulators were studied. It is found that the flashover voltage and surface charge dissipation rate of the coating sample can be improved by both coating treatment and fluorination treatment, thus improving the surface insulation performance of epoxy insulators. The modification process and test results have guiding significance for improving the surface insulation performance of epoxy insulators.
Behaviour and Reasoning Description Language (BRDL)
Authors: Cerone Antonio
Published: September 2020

In this paper we present a basic language for describing human behaviour and reasoning and present the cognitive architecture underlying the semantics of the language. The language is illustrated through a number of examples showing its ability to model human reasoning, problem solving, deliberate behaviour and automatic behaviour. We expect that the simple notation and its intuitive semantics may address the needs of practitioners from non matematical backgrounds, in particular psychologists, linguists and other social scientists. The language usage is twofold, aiming at the formal modelling and analysis of interactive systems and the comparison and validation of alternative models of memory and cognition.
An Immersive Virtual Reality Exergame for People with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Chen Weiqin , Bang Martin , Krivonos Daria , Schimek Hanna , Naval Arnau
Published: September 2020

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects primarily motor system. Physical exercise is considered important for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to slow down disease progression and maintain abilities and quality of life. However, people with PD often experience barriers to exercises that causes low-level adherence to exercise plans and programs. Virtual Reality (VR) is an innovative and promising technology for motor and cognitive rehabilitation. Immersive VR exergames have potential advantages by allowing for individualized skill practice in a motivating interactive environment without distractions from outside events. This paper presents an immersive virtual reality (VR) exergame aiming at motor training on fingers and hand-and-eye coordination. The results from the usability study indicate that immersive VR exergames have potential to provide motivating and engaging physical exercise for people with PD. Through this research, we hope to contribute to evidence-based design principles for task-specific immersive VR exergames for patients with Parkinson’s Disease.
AUDiaL: A Natural Language Interface to Make Statistical Charts Accessible to Blind Persons
Authors: Murillo-Morales Tomas , Miesenberger Klaus
Published: September 2020

This paper discusses the design and evaluation of AUDiaL (Accessible Universal Diagrams through Language). AUDiaL is a web-based, accessible natural language interface (NLI) prototype that allows blind persons to access statistical charts, such as bar and line charts, by means of free-formed analytical and navigational queries expressed in natural language. Initial evaluation shows that NLIs are an innovative, promising approach to accessibility of knowledge representation graphics, since, as opposed to traditional approaches, they do not require of additional software/hardware nor user training while allowing users to carry out most tasks commonly supported by data visualization techniques in an efficient, natural manner.
Accessible Multimodal Tool Support for Brainstorming Meetings
Authors: Koutny Reinhard , Günther Sebastian , Dhingra Naina , Kunz Andreas , Miesenberger Klaus , Mühlhäuser Max
Published: September 2020

In recent years, assistive technology and digital accessibility for blind and visually impaired people (BVIP) has been significantly improved. Yet, group discussions, especially in a business context, are still challenging as non-verbal communication (NVC) is often depicted on digital whiteboards, including deictic gestures paired with visual artifacts. However, as NVC heavily relies on the visual perception, whichrepresents a large amount of detail, an adaptive approach is required that identifies the most relevant information for BVIP. Additionally, visual artifacts usually rely on spatial properties such as position, orientation, and dimensions to convey essential information such as hierarchy, cohesion, and importance that is often not accessible to the BVIP. In this paper, we investigate the requirements of BVIP during brainstorming sessions and, based on our findings, provide an accessible multimodal tool that uses non-verbal and spatial cues as an additional layer of information. Further, we contribute by presenting a set of input and output modalities that encode and decode information with respect to the individual demands of BVIP and the requirements of different use cases.
Survey of Rehabilitation Clinicians in the United States: Barriers and Critical Use-Cases for mRehab Adoption
Authors: Morris John , Thompson Nicole , Wallace Tracey , Jones Mike , DeRuyter Frank
Published: September 2020

This paper presents data and analysis from survey research conducted by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Information and Communications Technology Access for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Access for Community Living, Health and Function (LiveWell RERC) on the perceptions and attitudes of clinical professionals in rehabilitation medicine regarding mobile health (mHealth) and mobile rehabilitation (mRehab) practices, techniques and technology in the United States. The analytical focus of this paper is on two key survey questions related to specific barriers and opportunities (most critical use-cases) for adopting mHealth/mRehab interventions. We present response data to these two questions segmented by clinical specialty – physical, occupational, speech and recreation therapy – to identify possible variation between and among these rehabilitation professions. This analysis provides a detailed map of the terrain of clinician expectations and experiences for the adoption and implementation of mHealth/mRehab interventions in the United States, and possibly other countries. Results show substantial support for mRehab interventions and technologies across all four clinical specialties. The most frequently identified barriers to effective use of mobile and internet technologies to support patients remotely focused on patients (ability to learn and use the technology, and internet access), not clinicians. The was more variability among clinical specializations regarding best use-cases. Tracking patient adherence to prescribed activities and supporting patients in the home and community were the most frequently cited best use cases across the whole sample.
Enabling Real-Time 3D Display of Lifelike Fingerspelling in a Web App
Authors: Montgomery Jami , McDonald John , Gong Eric , Baowidan Souad , Wolfe Rosalee
Published: September 2020

Fingerspelling receptive skills remain among the most difficult aspects of sign language for hearing people to learn due to the lack of access to practice tools that reproduce the natural motion of human signing. This problem has been exacerbated in recent years by the move from desktop to mobile technologies which has rendered prior software platforms less accessible to general users. This paper explores a web-enabled 3D rendering architecture that enables real-time fingerspelling on a human avatar that can address these issues. In addition it is capable of producing more realistic motion than prior efforts that were video-based and provides greater interactivity and customization that will support further enhancements to self-practice tools for fingerspelling reception.
Automatic Assistance to Cognitive Disabled Web Users via Reinforcement Learning on the Browser
Authors: Murillo-Morales Tomas , Heumader Peter , Miesenberger Klaus
Published: September 2020

This paper introduces a proof of concept software reasoner that aims to detect whether an individual user is in need of cognitive assistance during a typical Web browsing session. The implemented reasoner is part of the Easy Reading browser extension for Firefox. It aims to infer the user’s current cognitive state by collecting and analyzing user’s physiological data in real time, such as eye tracking, heart beat rate and variability, and blink rate. In addition, when the reasoner determines that the user is in need of help it automatically triggers a support tool appropriate for the individual user and Web content being consumed. By framing the problem as a Markov Decision Process, typical policy control methods found in the Reinforcement Learning literature, such as Q-learning, can be employed to tackle the learning problem.
On flux vacua and modularity
Authors: Schimmrigk Rolf
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Geometric modularity has recently been conjectured to be a characteristic feature of flux vacua with W = 0. This paper provides support for the conjecture by computing motivic modular forms in a direct way for several string compactifications for which such vacua are known to exist. The analysis of some Calabi-Yau manifolds which do not admit supersymmetric flux vacua shows that the reverse of the conjecture does not hold.
Holographic boiling and generalized thermodynamic description beyond local equilibrium
Authors: Li Xin , Nie Zhang-Yu , Tian Yu
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Tuning a very simple two-component holographic superfluid model, we can have a first order phase transition between two superfluid phases in the probe limit. In- spired by the potential landscape discussion, an intuitive physical picture for systems with first order phase transitions is provided. We stress that holography perfectly offers a generalized thermodynamic description of certain strongly coupled systems even out of local equilibrium, which enables us to carefully study domain wall structures of the system under first order phase transitions, either static or in real time dynamics. We numerically construct the 1D domain wall configuration and compute the surface tension of the domain wall from its generalized grand potential. We also numerically simulate the real time dynamics of a 2D bubble nucleation process (holographic boiling). The surface tension of the 1D domain wall nicely matches the final state of the 2D bubble nucleation process when the bubble radius is large enough.
M-theory and orientifolds
Authors: Braun Andreas P.
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We construct the M-Theory lifts of type IIA orientifolds based on K3-fibred Calabi-Yau threefolds with compatible involutions. Such orientifolds are shown to lift to M-Theory on twisted connected sumG2manifolds. Beautifully, the two building blocks forming theG2manifold correspond to the open and closed string sectors. As an application, we show how to use such lifts to explicitly study open string moduli. Finally, we use our analysis to construct examples ofG2manifolds with different inequivalent TCS realizations.
Wie viele Personen lassen sich in Deutschland im niedergelassenen Bereich auf HIV testen?
Authors: Hofmann Alexandra , Bätzing Jörg , Marcus Ulrich , Bremer Viviane , Bartmeyer Barbara
Published: September 2020

Hintergrund

Die Anzahl der in Deutschland auf HIV getesteten Personen ist schwer zu ermitteln. Unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen sind HIV-Tests Leistung der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung (GKV). Ziel dieser Analyse war die Untersuchung des Testumfangs in der vertragsärztlichen Versorgung.

Methoden

Vertragsärztliche Abrechnungsdaten des Zentralinstituts für die kassenärztliche Versorgung (Zi) wurden hinsichtlich HIV-Such- und -Bestätigungstests der Jahre 2010–2015 analysiert. Die Auswertung erfolgte deskriptiv; zeitliche Trends wurden mit linearen Regressionen überprüft. Die Anzahl der Bestätigungstests wurde mit den an das Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) gemeldeten HIV-Neudiagnosen verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Im Jahresdurchschnitt wurden 1,7 % der GKV-Versicherten auf HIV getestet. Der Suchtestumfang stieg im Zeitverlauf an. Durchschnittlich 82,5 % der Untersuchten waren Frauen, von denen 81,2 % während der Schwangerschaft getestet wurden. Bestätigungstests wurden im Gesamtzeitraum bei 16.034 Versicherten durchgeführt (durchschnittlich 0,3 % der Versicherten mit Suchtest), darunter im Durchschnitt 51,2 % Männer. Im selben Zeitraum wurden 18.446 HIV-Neudiagnosen (davon 82,8 % Männer) ans RKI gemeldet.

Schlussfolgerung

Erstmalig wurde die Personenzahl mit HIV-Test im Bereich der GKV bestimmt. Die hohe Suchtestzahl bei Frauen ist auf Tests in der Schwangerschaft zurückzuführen. Aus der im Vergleich zu den gemeldeten HIV-Neudiagnosen geringeren Zahl von abgerechneten Bestätigungstests kann geschlossen werden, dass in unbekanntem Umfang in anderen Testeinrichtungen und nicht über die GKV auf HIV getestet und diagnostiziert wurde.
Radiologische Manifestationen von Lungenerkrankungen bei COVID-19
Authors: Heidinger Benedikt H. , Kifjak Daria , Prayer Florian , Beer Lucian , Milos Ruxandra-Iulia , Röhrich Sebastian , Arndt Hanka , Prosch Helmut
Published: September 2020

Klinisches/methodisches Problem

Seit dem Auftreten des neuartigen Coronavirus Ende 2019 und der damit verbundenen Erkrankung – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – kam es zum Ausrufen einer Pandemie durch die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO). Der Referenzstandard für die Diagnose ist der Virusnachweis mittels „reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction“ (RT-PCR). Bei hoher Spezifizität ist die Sensitivität der RT-PCR jedoch stark abhängig von der Symptomdauer, der Viruslast, der Qualität der Probe sowie des verwendeten Tests.

Radiologische Standardverfahren

Im Rahmen von COVID-19 werden primär Thoraxröntgen und Thorax-Computertomographie(CT) zur Erkennung von Lungenmanifestationen bzw. deren Ausdehnung und von Komplikationen eingesetzt.

Leistungsfähigkeit

Die Sensitivität und Spezifizität des Thoraxröntgens bei COVID-19 ist gering. Die Thorax-CT weist eine hohe Sensitivität von ungefähr 90 % bei jedoch geringer Spezifizität auf (zwischen 25 und 33 %).

Empfehlung für die Praxis

Die Indikation für die Durchführung von Bildgebung im Rahmen von COVID-19 sollte immer mit Bedacht gestellt werden, um das Übertragungsrisiko für medizinisches Personal und andere Patienten zu minimieren. Die Bildgebung ist vor allem hilfreich zur Evaluierung des Ausmaßes der Lungenbeteiligung der Erkrankung, zur Abgrenzung von Komplikationen und Differenzialdiagnosen. Typischerweise zeigen sich bilaterale, subpleurale Milchglasverdichtungen mit oder ohne Konsolidierungsareale. Im Verlauf können auch Veränderungen einer organisierenden Pneumonie beobachtet werden. Bei Untersuchungen nach Genesung einer COVID-19-Pneumonie ist auf fibrotische Lungenveränderungen zu achten.
Optimal consumption and portfolio choice with ambiguous interest rates and volatility
Authors: Lin Qian , Riedel Frank
Published: September 2020

We study continuous-time consumption and portfolio choice in the presence of Knightian uncertainty about interest rates. We develop the stochastic model that involves singular priors and analyze optimal behavior. When there is sufficiently large uncertainty about interest rates, the agent invests in the asset market only and abstains from the bond market.
A phase 2a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, add-on clinical trial of ebselen (SPI-1005) as a novel treatment for mania or hypomania
Authors: Sharpley Ann L , Williams Clare , Holder Adele A , Godlewska Beata R , Singh Nisha , Shanyinde Milensu , MacDonald Orla , Cowen Philip J
Published: September 2020

Rationale

Lithium is an effective prophylactic and anti-manic treatment in bipolar disorder; however, its use is declining through perceived poor tolerance and toxicity. Lithium inhibits inositol monophosphatase (IMPase), a probable key therapeutic mechanism. The anti-inflammatory drug, ebselen, also inhibits IMPase and appears well-tolerated and safe.

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of adjunctive ebselen in mania using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) (primary outcome) and the Altman Self-Rating Mania (ASRM) Scale and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) among the secondary outcomes.

Methods

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial conducted between October 2017 and June 2019, at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Pharmacy-controlled randomisation was computer-generated, with full allocation concealment. In/outpatients (n = 68) aged 18–70, experiencing mania or hypomania, were assigned to 3 weeks ebselen (600 mg bd) (n = 33) or placebo (n = 35). Participants received usual clinical care and psychotropic medication.

Results

Ebselen was numerically, but not statistically, superior to placebo in lowering scores on the YMRS (adjusted mean difference and 95% confidence interval, − 1.71 (− 5.34 to 1.91), p = 0.35) and ASRM (− 1.36 (− 3.75 to 1.17), p = 0.29). However, scores on the CGI-S were significantly lower at week 3 in ebselen-treated participants (adjusted mean difference, − 0.58 (− 1.14 to − 0.03), p = 0.04). A post hoc analysis excluding patients taking concomitant valproate treatment magnified the difference between ebselen and placebo on the YMRS. Adverse events were comparable between groups, and mild.

Conclusions

Ebselen merits further investigation where concomitant psychotropic medication is better controlled and participants taking valproate are excluded. If effective, ebselen’s superior tolerance and safety could make it a useful alternative to lithium.

Trial registration

Trial Registry: www.clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03013400.
Decision-Support Tools Used in the Baltic Sea Area: Performance and End-User Preferences
Authors: Nygård Henrik , van Beest Floris M. , Bergqvist Lisa , Carstensen Jacob , Gustafsson Bo G. , Hasler Berit , Schumacher Johanna , Schernewski Gerald , Sokolov Alexander , Zandersen Marianne , Fleming Vivi
Published: September 2020

Decision-support tools (DSTs) synthesize complex information to assist environmental managers in the decision-making process. Here, we review DSTs applied in the Baltic Sea area, to investigate how well the ecosystem approach is reflected in them, how different environmental problems are covered, and how well the tools meet the needs of the end users. The DSTs were evaluated based on (i) a set of performance criteria, (ii) information on end user preferences, (iii) how end users had been involved in tool development, and (iv) what experiences developers/hosts had on the use of the tools. We found that DSTs frequently addressed management needs related to eutrophication, biodiversity loss, or contaminant pollution. The majority of the DSTs addressed human activities, their pressures, or environmental status changes, but they seldom provided solutions for a complete ecosystem approach. In general, the DSTs were scientifically documented and transparent, but confidence in the outputs was poorly communicated. End user preferences were, apart from the shortcomings in communicating uncertainty, well accounted for in the DSTs. Although end users were commonly consulted during the DST development phase, they were not usually part of the development team. Answers from developers/hosts indicate that DSTs are not applied to their full potential. Deeper involvement of end users in the development phase could potentially increase the value and impact of DSTs. As a way forward, we propose streamlining the outputs of specific DSTs, so that they can be combined to a holistic insight of the consequences of management actions and serve the ecosystem approach in a better manner.
Early Post‐Operative Pancreatitis and Systemic Inflammatory Response Assessed by Serum Lipase and IL‐6 Predict Pancreatic Fistula
Authors: Gasteiger S. , Primavesi F. , Göbel G. , Braunwarth E. , Cardini B. , Maglione M. , Sopper S. , Öfner D. , Stättner S.
Published: September 2020

Background

Post‐operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a critical complication after pancreatic resection. This prospective pilot study evaluates perioperative markers of pancreatitis and systemic inflammation to predict clinically relevant grade B/C‐POPF (CR‐POPF).

Methods

All patients undergoing pancreatic resection from December 2017 to April 2019 were prospectively enrolled. Surgical procedures and outcomes were correlated with perioperative blood markers. ROC analysis was performed to assess their predictive value for CR‐POPF. Cut‐offs were calculated with the Youden index.

Results

In total, 70 patients were analysed (43 pancreatoduodenectomies and 27 distal pancreatectomies). In‐hospital/90‐d mortality and morbidity were 5.7/7.1% (n = 4/n = 5) and 75.7% (n = 53). Major complications (Clavien–Dindo ≥ 3a) occurred in 28 (40.0%) patients, CR‐POPF in 20 (28.6%) patients. Serum lipase (cut‐off > 51U/L) and IL‐6 (> 56.5 ng/l) on POD3 were significant predictors for CR‐POPF (AUC = 0.799, 95%‐CI 0.686–0.912 and AUC = 0.784, 95%‐CI 0.668–0.900; combined AUC = 0.858, 95%‐CI 0.758–0.958; all p < 0.001). Patients with both or one factor(s) above cut‐off more frequently developed CR‐POPF than cases without (100 vs. 50% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.001). This also applied for overall and severe complications (p = 0.013 and p = 0.009).

Conclusions

Post‐operative pancreatitis and inflammatory response are major determinants for development of POPF. A combination of serum lipase and IL‐6 on POD3 is a highly significant early predictor of CR‐POPF and overall complications, potentially guiding patient management.

Clinical trial registration

The study protocol was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04294797)
Limiting homologous recombination at stalled replication forks is essential for cell viability: DNA2 to the rescue
Authors: Appanah Rowin , Jones David , Falquet Benoît , Rass Ulrich
Published: September 2020

The disease-associated nuclease–helicase DNA2 has been implicated in DNA end-resection during DNA double-strand break repair, Okazaki fragment processing, and the recovery of stalled DNA replication forks (RFs). Its role in Okazaki fragment processing has been proposed to explain why DNA2 is indispensable for cell survival across organisms. Unexpectedly, we found that DNA2 has an essential role in suppressing homologous recombination (HR)-dependent replication restart at stalled RFs. In the absence of DNA2-mediated RF recovery, excessive HR-restart of stalled RFs results in toxic levels of abortive recombination intermediates that lead to DNA damage-checkpoint activation and terminal cell-cycle arrest. While HR proteins protect and restart stalled RFs to promote faithful genome replication, these findings show how HR-dependent replication restart is actively constrained by DNA2 to ensure cell survival. These new insights disambiguate the effects of DNA2 dysfunction on cell survival, and provide a framework to rationalize the association of DNA2 with cancer and the primordial dwarfism disorder Seckel syndrome based on its role in RF recovery.
On Colorful Edge Triples in Edge-Colored Complete Graphs
Authors: Simonyi Gábor
Published: September 2020

An edge-coloring of the complete graph $$K_n$$

K
n

we call F-caring if it leaves no F-subgraph of $$K_n$$

K
n

monochromatic and at the same time every subset of |V(F)| vertices contains in it at least one completely multicolored version of F. For the first two meaningful cases, when $$F=K_{1,3}$$

F
=

K

1
,
3

and $$F=P_4$$

F
=

P
4

we determine for infinitely many n the minimum number of colors needed for an F-caring edge-coloring of $$K_n$$

K
n

. An explicit family of $$2\lceil \log _2 n\rceil $$

2
⌈

log
2

n
⌉

3-edge-colorings of $$K_n$$

K
n

so that every quadruple of its vertices contains a totally multicolored $$P_4$$

P
4

in at least one of them is also presented. Investigating related Ramsey-type problems we also show that the Shannon (OR-)capacity of the Grötzsch graph is strictly larger than that of the cycle of length 5.