bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remote Training of Neurointerventions by Audiovisual Streaming
Authors: Hanning Uta , Bechstein Matthias , Kaesmacher Johannes , Boulouis Grégoire , Chapot René , Andersson Tommy , Boccardi Edoardo , Psychogios Marios , Cognard Christophe , de Dios Lascuevas Marta , Rodrigues Marta , Rodriguez Caamaño Isabel , Gargalas Sergios , Simonato Davide , Zupancic Vedran , Daller Cornelia , Meyer Lukas , Broocks Gabriel , Guerreiro Helena , Fiehler Jens , Martínez-Galdamez Mario , Kalousek Vladimir
Published: July 2022

Background

Remote access of trainees to training centers via video streaming (tele-observership, e‑fellowship) emerges as an alternative to acquire knowledge in endovascular interventions. Situational awareness is a summary term that is also used in surgical procedures for perceiving and understanding the situation and projecting what will happen next. A high situational awareness would serve as prerequisite for meaningful learning success during tele-observerships. We hypothesized that live perception of the angiographical procedures using streaming technology is feasible and sufficient to gain useful situational awareness of the procedure.

Methods

During a European tele-observership organized by the European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy (ESMINT) and its trainee association (EYMINT), a total of six neurointerventional fellows in five countries observed live cases performed by experienced neurointerventionalists (mentors) in six different high-volume neurovascular centers across Europe equipped with live-streaming technology (Tegus Medical, Hamburg, Germany). Cases were prospectively evaluated during a 12-month period, followed by a final questionnaire after completion of the course.

Results

A total of 102/161 (63%) cases with a 1:1 allocation of fellow and mentor were evaluated during a 12-month period. Most frequent conditions were ischemic stroke (27.5%), followed by embolization of unruptured aneurysms (25.5%) and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) (15.7%). A high level of situational awareness was reported by fellows in 75.5% of all cases. After finishing the program, the general improvement of neurointerventional knowledge was evaluated to be extensive (1/6 fellows), substantial (3/6), and moderate (2/6). The specific fields of improvement were procedural knowledge (6/6 fellows), technical knowledge (3/6) and complication management (2/6).

Conclusion

Online streaming technology facilitates location-independent training of complex neurointerventional procedures through high levels of situational awareness and can therefore supplement live hands-on-training. In addition, it leads to a training effect for fellows with a perceived improvement of their neurointerventional knowledge.
Effect of Comorbidity Burden and Polypharmacy on Poor Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Barow Ewgenia , Probst Ann-Cathrin , Pinnschmidt Hans , Heinze Marlene , Jensen Märit , Rimmele David Leander , Flottmann Fabian , Broocks Gabriel , Fiehler Jens , Gerloff Christian , Thomalla Götz
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Comorbidities and polypharmacy are risk factors for worse outcome in stroke. However, comorbidities and polypharmacy are mostly studied separately with various approaches to assess them. We aimed to analyze the impact of comorbidity burden and polypharmacy on functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT).

Methods

Acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) treated with MT from a prospective observational study were analyzed. Relevant comorbidity burden was defined as a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score ≥ 2, polypharmacy as the intake of ≥ 5 medications at time of stroke onset. Favorable outcome was a score of 0–2 on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days after stroke. The effect of comorbidity burden and polypharmacy on favorable outcome was studied via multivariable regression analysis.

Results

Of 903 patients enrolled, 703 AIS patients (mean age 73.4 years, 54.9% female) with anterior circulation LVO were included. A CCI ≥ 2 was present in 226 (32.1%) patients, polypharmacy in 315 (44.8%) patients. Favorable outcome was less frequently achieved in patients with a CCI ≥ 2 (47, 20.8% vs. 172, 36.1%, p < 0.001), and in patients with polypharmacy (69, 21.9% vs. 150, 38.7%, p < 0.001). In multivariable regression analysis including clinical covariates, a CCI ≥ 2 was associated with lower odds of favorable outcome (odds ratio, OR 0.52, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 0.33–0.82, p = 0.005), while polypharmacy was not (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.52–1.27, p = 0.362).

Conclusion

Relevant comorbidity burden and polypharmacy are common in AIS patients with LVO, with comorbidity burden being a risk factor for poor outcome.
PSMA-PET und „radio-guided surgery“ bei zervikaler Lymphadenektomie
Authors: Lingl Julia P. , Böhm Felix , Wiegel Thomas , Beer Ambros J. , Hoffmann Thomas K.
Published: July 2022

Wir berichten über einen 75 Jahre alten Patienten mit suspekten linksseitig zervikalen Lymphknoten in Region IV. Detektiert wurden diese in der PSMA-PET-MRT (Prostataspezifisches Membranantigen-Positronenemissions-Magnetresonanztomographie) zum Restaging bei bekanntem Prostatakarzinom mit laborchemischem PSA(Prostataspezifisches Antigen)-Anstieg in der onkologischen Nachsorgeuntersuchung. Zur histologischen Sicherung wurde eine hochselektive Lymphadenektomie in der linksseitigen Region IV unter γ‑Sonden-Kontrolle nach 99mTc(Technetium-99m)-PSMA-Markierung durchgeführt. Hierbei wurden 2 vergrößerte Lymphknoten mit deutlicher Traceraufnahme entfernt. Die histopathologische Untersuchung ergab die Diagnose von Lymphknotenmetastasen des bekannten Prostatakarzinoms. Mithilfe der „radio-guided surgery“ können unter Verwendung eines adäquaten Tracers supraselektiv pathologische Lymphknoten im Kopf-Hals-Bereich detektiert und sanierend entnommen werden.
Surface integrity of hybrid CM247LC/Inconel 718 components produced by laser-directed energy deposition
Authors: Mehmeti Aldi , Bidare Prveen , Imbrogno Stano , Wimpenny David , Essa Khamis , Dimov Stefan
Published: July 2022

High-temperature alloys pose significant challenges in additive manufacturing. These materials have unique properties, such as high resistance to mechanical and chemical degradation when exposed to high temperatures. Furthermore, when these alloys are used to produce hybrid components with other similar alloys, investigating their surface integrity is critical because any residual stress can lead to early stage cracks and poor fatigue performance. In this research, a hybrid manufacturing approach is employed to produce components from difficult to weld alloys, i.e. CM247LC deposited on IN718 through a laser based direct energy deposition (L-DED) process. The surface integrity, mechanical properties and microstructure of such hybrid components is investigated, especially their welding/joint areas. Crack-free processing regimes were established to deposit CM247LC while mitigating the negative effects onto the microstructure of the Inconel substrate. Especially, the thermal gradients were managed to deliver crack free sections of CM247LC with good interface bonding, strength and fine microstructure. It is important to note that this is achieved without any significant preheating that contrasts with what is reported in other investigations so far. Furthermore, end-use hybrid blisks with deposited CM247LC blades onto Inconel 718 disks (HUB) were manufactured and then machined within a single processing set-up. The results show that the substrate thickness, the machining between the deposited layers and the final machining and heat-treatment play a role in reducing residual stresses. Ultimately, such hybrid manufacturing approach can be considered a new solution for producing such components and also for their subsequent repair.
Social status predicts different mating and reproductive success for men and women in China: evidence from the 2010–2017 CGSS data
Authors: Zhang Yikang , Santtila Pekka
Published: July 2022

Evolutionary psychological theories posit that higher social status is conducive to men’s reproductive success. Extant research from historical records, small scale societies, as well as industrialized societies, support this hypothesis. However, the relationship between status difference between spouses and reproductive success has been investigated less. Moreover, even fewer studies have directly compared the effect of status and status difference between spouses on reproductive success in men and women. Using data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) conducted between 2010 and 2017 (N = 55,875; 28,931 women) and operationalizing social status as standardized income and educational level (compared with same-sex peers), we examined how social status and relative status between spouses impact men’s and women’s mating and reproductive success. We found that (1) men with higher social status were more likely to have long-term mating (being in a marriage and/or not going through marriage disruption) and reproductive success, mainly through having a lower risk of childlessness; (2) women with higher social status were less likely to have mating and reproductive success; and (3) relative status between spouses had an impact on the couple’s reproductive success so that couples, where the husband had higher status compared to the wife, had higher reproductive success. Thus, social status positively impacted men’s reproductive success, but relative status between spouses also affected mating and impacted childbearing decisions.

Significance statement

In terms of standardized educational level and income among peers, social status positively predicts men’s mating and reproductive success in contemporary China. However, while a higher social status increases the probability of having at least one child, it does not predict a greater number of children for men. A status difference between spouses, on the other hand, consistently predicts having children. Thus, the higher the husband’s status relative to his wife, the greater the likelihood of having the first, second, and third children. The current results suggest that when examining the effect of status on mating and reproduction, social status and status within a family should be considered. We also stress the importance of exploring the potential proximate mechanisms by which a status difference influences childbearing decisions.
MRI changes in diaphragmatic motion and curvature in Pompe disease over time
Authors: Harlaar Laurike , Ciet Pierluigi , van Tulder Gijs , van Kooten Harmke A. , van der Beek Nadine A. M. E. , Brusse Esther , de Bruijne Marleen , Tiddens Harm A. W. M. , van der Ploeg Ans T. , van Doorn Pieter A.
Published: July 2022

Objectives

To evaluate changes in diaphragmatic function in Pompe disease using MRI over time, both during natural disease course and during treatment with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).

Methods

In this prospective study, 30 adult Pompe patients and 10 healthy controls underwent pulmonary function tests and spirometry-controlled MRI twice, with an interval of 1 year. In the sagittal view of 3D gradient echo breath-hold acquisitions, diaphragmatic motion (cranial-caudal ratio between end-inspiration and end-expiration) and curvature (diaphragm height and area ratio) were calculated using a machine learning algorithm based on convolutional neural networks. Changes in outcomes after 1 year were compared between Pompe patients and healthy controls using the Mann-Whitney test.

Results

Pulmonary function outcomes and cranial-caudal ratio in Pompe patients did not change significantly over time compared to healthy controls. Diaphragm height ratio increased by 0.04 (−0.38 to 1.79) in Pompe patients compared to −0.02 (−0.18 to 0.25) in healthy controls (p = 0.02). An increased diaphragmatic curvature over time was observed in particular in untreated Pompe patients (p = 0.03), in those receiving ERT already for over 3 years (p = 0.03), and when severe diaphragmatic weakness was found on the initial MRI (p = 0.01); no progression was observed in Pompe patients who started ERT less than 3 years ago and in Pompe patients with mild diaphragmatic weakness on their initial MRI.

Conclusions

MRI enables to detect small changes in diaphragmatic curvature over 1-year time in Pompe patients. It also showed that once severe diaphragmatic weakness has occurred, improvement of diaphragmatic muscle function seems unlikely.

Key Points

• Changes in diaphragmatic curvature in Pompe patients over time assessed with 3D MRI may serve as an outcome measure to evaluate the effect of treatment on diaphragmatic function.

• Diaphragmatic curvature showed a significant deterioration after 1 year in Pompe patients compared to healthy controls, but the curvature seems to remain stable over this period in patients who were treated with enzyme replacement therapy for less than 3 years, possibly indicating a positive effect of ERT.

• Improvement of diaphragmatic curvature over time is rarely seen in Pompe patients once diaphragmatic motion shows severe impairment (cranial-caudal inspiratory/expiratory ratio < 1.4).
Effect of curcumin supplementation on exercise-induced muscle damage: a narrative review
Authors: Nanavati K. , Rutherfurd-Markwick K. , Lee S. J. , Bishop N. C. , Ali A.
Published: July 2022

Curcumin, a natural polyphenol extracted from turmeric, is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. In the past few decades, curcumin’s ability to impact chronic inflammatory conditions such as metabolic syndrome, arthritis, and cancer has been widely researched, along with growing interest in understanding its role in exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). EIMD impacts individuals differently depending on the type (resistance exercise, high-intensity interval training, and running), intensity, and duration of the exercise. Exercise disrupts the muscles’ ultrastructure, raises inflammatory cytokine levels, and can cause swelling in the affected limb, a reduction in range of motion (ROM), and a reduction in muscular force-producing capacity. This review focuses on the metabolism, pharmacokinetics of various brands of curcumin supplements, and the effect of curcumin supplementation on EIMD regarding muscle soreness, activity of creatine kinase (CK), and production of inflammatory markers. Curcumin supplementation in the dose range of 90–5000 mg/day can decrease the subjective perception of muscle pain intensity, increase antioxidant capacity, and reduce CK activity, which reduces muscle damage when consumed close to exercise. Consumption of curcumin also improves muscle performance and has an anti-inflammatory effect, downregulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8. Curcumin may also improve oxidative capacity without hampering training adaptations in untrained and recreationally active individuals. The optimal curcumin dose to ameliorate EIMD is challenging to assess as its effect depends on the curcumin concentration in the supplement and its bioavailability.
Tape suture constructs for instabilities of the pubic symphysis: is the idea of motion preservation a suitable treatment option? A cadaver study
Authors: Cavalcanti Kußmaul Adrian , Schwaabe Fanny , Kistler Manuel , Jörgens Maximilian , Schreyer Korbinian F. , Greiner Axel , Böcker Wolfgang , Becker Christopher A.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Current gold standard for the treatment of symphyseal disruptions includes anterior plating, almost entirely prohibiting symphyseal mobility and resulting in an iatrogenic arthrodesis followed by high rates of implant failure. Minimally invasive tape suture constructs have been found to maintain the micro mobility of ligamentous injuries, yet still providing sufficient biomechanical stability. Recently, this technique has been primarily investigated for symphyseal disruptions on synthetic pelvic models. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of this novel flexible osteosynthesis on cadaveric pelvic models based on the following hypothesis: tape suture constructs ensure sufficient biomechanical stability without inhibiting micro mobility of the pubic symphysis for the treatment of symphyseal disruptions and maintain stability during long-term loading.

Materials and methods

9 cadaveric anterior pelvic rings were used in this study and a symphyseal disruption was created in every specimen. The specimens were then exposed to short- and long-term vertical and horizontal cyclic loading after treatment with a tape suture construct in criss-cross technique. The mean maximum displacement (mm) during cyclic loading and the corresponding stiffness (N/mm) were measured and compared.

Results

Regarding both displacement (mm) and corresponding stiffness (N/mm), the tape sutures displayed a significant difference between short- and long-term loading for cranial and caudal vertical loading (p < 0.01) but differences remained non-significant for horizontal loading (p > 0.05). No tape suture suffered from implant failure during long-term loading.

Conclusions

The tape suture construct displayed sufficient biomechanical stability without exceeding the physiological mobility of 2 mm of the pubic symphysis; however, also maintained the desired micro mobility of the affected joint necessary to prevent an iatrogenic arthrodesis. Further, all tape sutures maintained stability throughout long-term loading.
Twinkle artifact in sonographic breast clip visualization
Authors: Maggie Banys-Paluchowski , Peter Paluchowski , Natalia Krawczyk
Published: July 2022

The ‘twinkle’ or ‘twinkling’ artifact represents a phenomenon observed using color Doppler ultrasound that leads to a rapid alternation of color in and immediately behind an echogenic and highly reflective object. It occurs during sonographic examination of kidney stones, and has been also described in clips used for marking breast and axillary lesions.
The heritability of vocal tract structures estimated from structural MRI in a large cohort of Dutch twins
Authors: Dediu Dan , Jennings Emily M. , van’t Ent Dennis , Moisik Scott R. , Di Pisa Grazia , Schulze Janna , de Geus Eco J. C. , den Braber Anouk , Dolan Conor V. , Boomsma Dorret I.
Published: July 2022

While language is expressed in multiple modalities, including sign, writing, or whistles, speech is arguably the most common. The human vocal tract is capable of producing the bewildering diversity of the 7000 or so currently spoken languages, but relatively little is known about its genetic bases, especially in what concerns normal variation. Here, we capitalize on five cohorts totaling 632 Dutch twins with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Two raters placed clearly defined (semi)landmarks on each MRI scan, from which we derived 146 measures capturing the dimensions and shape of various vocal tract structures, but also aspects of the head and face. We used Genetic Covariance Structure Modeling to estimate the additive genetic, common environmental or non-additive genetic, and unique environmental components, while controlling for various confounds and for any systematic differences between the two raters. We found high heritability, h2, for aspects of the skull and face, the mandible, the anteroposterior (horizontal) dimension of the vocal tract, and the position of the hyoid bone. These findings extend the existing literature, and open new perspectives for understanding the complex interplay between genetics, environment, and culture that shape our vocal tracts, and which may help explain cross-linguistic differences in phonetics and phonology.
Soil substrate culturing approaches recover diverse members of Actinomycetota from desert soils of Herring Island, East Antarctica
Authors: Benaud Nicole , Chelliah Devan S. , Wong Sin Yin , Ferrari Belinda C.
Published: July 2022

Antimicrobial resistance is an escalating health crisis requiring urgent action. Most antimicrobials are natural products (NPs) sourced fromActinomycetota, particularly theStreptomyces. Underexplored and extreme environments are predicted to harbour novel microorganisms with the capacity to synthesise unique metabolites. Herring Island is a barren and rocky cold desert in East Antarctica, remote from anthropogenic impact. We aimed to recover rare and cold-adapted NP-producing bacteria, by employing two culturing methods which mimic the natural environment: direct soil culturing and the soil substrate membrane system. First, we analysed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data from 18 Herring Island soils and selected the soil sample with the highestActinomycetotarelative abundance (78%) for culturing experiments. We isolated 166 strains across three phyla, including novel and rare strains, with 94% of strains belonging to theActinomycetota. These strains encompassed thirty-five ‘species’ groups, 18 of which were composed ofStreptomycesstrains. We screened representative strains for genes which encode polyketide synthases and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, indicating that 69% have the capacity to synthesise polyketide and non-ribosomal peptide NPs. FourteenStreptomycesstrains displayed antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial and yeast pathogens using an in situ assay. Our results confirm that the cold-adapted bacteria of the harsh East Antarctic deserts are worthy targets in the search for bioactive compounds.
Pineal cysts without hydrocephalus: microsurgical resection via an infratentorial-supracerebellar approach—surgical strategies, complications, and their avoidance
Authors: Fleck Steffen , Damaty Ahmed El , Lange Ina , Matthes Marc , Rafaee Ehab El , Marx Sascha , Baldauf Jörg , Schroeder Henry W. S.
Published: July 2022

Indications for surgery of pineal cysts without ventriculomegaly are still under debate. In view of the limited data for pineal cyst resection in the absence of hydrocephalus, and the potential risk of this approach, we have analyzed our patient cohort focusing on strategies to avoid complications according to our experience in a series of 73 pineal cyst patients. From 2003 to 2015, we reviewed our database retrospectively for all patients operated on a pineal cyst. Furthermore, we prospectively collected patients from 2016 to 2020. In summary, 73 patients with a pineal cyst were treated surgically between 2003 and 2020. All patients were operated on via a microscopic supracerebellar-infratentorial (SCIT) approach. The mean follow-up period was 26.6 months (range: 6–139 months). Seventy-three patients underwent surgery for a pineal cyst. An absence of enlarged ventricles was documented in 62 patients (51 female, 11 male, mean age 28.1 (range 4–59) years). Main presenting symptoms included headache, visual disturbances, dizziness/vertigo, nausea/emesis, and sleep disturbances. Complete cyst resection was achieved in 59/62 patients. Fifty-five of 62 (89%) patients improved after surgery with good or even excellent results according to the Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale, with complete or partial resolution of the leading symptoms. Pineal cysts resection might be an indication in certain patients for surgery even in the absence of ventriculomegaly. The high percentage of postoperative resolution of quality-of-life impairing symptoms in our series seems to justify surgery. Preoperatively, other causes of the leading symptoms have to be excluded.
Heavy metals removal/stabilization from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash: a review and recent trends
Authors: Ajorloo Mojtaba , Ghodrat Maryam , Scott Jason , Strezov Vladimir
Published: July 2022

Waste treatment using thermal technologies, such as incineration, leads to the production of pollutants and wastes, including fly ash (FA). Fly ash contains heavy metals (HMs) and other contaminants and can potentially pose high risks to the environment and negatively impact health and safety. Consequently, stabilizing fly ash prior to either use or landfilling is crucial. The toxicity of fly ash through heavy metal leaching can be assessed using leaching tests. The leaching rates of heavy metals primarily depend on the surrounding conditions as well as fly ash properties and metal speciation. Physical separation, leaching or extraction, thermal treatment and solidification/chemical stabilization are proposed as suitable approaches for fly ash treatment. Economic considerations, environmental concerns, energy consumption and processing times can define the efficiency and selection of the treatment approach. This review considers the latest findings and compares the advantages and shortcomings of different fly ash treatment methods with the aim of highlighting the recent advances in the field. The review concludes that the simultaneous implementation of various methods can lead to highly efficient heavy metals removal/stabilization while simultaneously taking economic and environmental considerations into account.
Fostering Social Impact Through Corporate Implementation of the SDGs: Transformative Mechanisms Towards Interconnectedness and Inclusiveness
Authors: Fiandrino Simona , Scarpa Francesco , Torelli Riccardo
Published: July 2022

The United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has considerable potential for achieving a more sustainable future. However, the concrete realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is impeded by how they are implemented by a diverse set of competent agents. This conceptual paper draws on social impact theory to investigate how businesses can utilise the SDG framework to achieve positive social outcomes. We identify two pathways that can guide businesses to improve their SDGs interventions, which entail considering the interconnections between the goals that are directly or indirectly affected by the initiative at stake and the inclusiveness of the actors affected by the SDGs. Building on the literature on hybrid organising (to frame interconnectedness) and the literature on multi-stakeholder partnerships and deliberative governance (to frame inclusiveness), we discuss a set of organisational mechanisms and transformations that can help businesses ensure that their SDGs interventions are more socially impactful. By doing so, this paper extends the literature on the role of companies for sustainable development and provides some practical implications.
A Decision Theory Perspective on Wicked Problems, SDGs and Stakeholders: The Case of Deforestation
Authors: Alexander Anthony , Walker Helen , Delabre Izabela
Published: July 2022

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an opportunity to address major social and environmental challenges. As a widely agreed framework they offer a potential way to mobilise stakeholders on a global scale. The manner in which the goals, with time-based targets and specific metrics, are set out within a voluntary reporting process adopted by both governments and business, provides a fascinating and important case for organisational studies. It is both about advancing performance measurement and evidence-based policy-making for sustainable development, and also participation and consultation at a wider, more global scale, than has ever been possible before. This paper contributes to the notion of SDGs as a wicked problem, answering calls for deeper theorisation, via synthesis with core ideas in the management field of decision theory. A case study on the wicked problem of deforestation and its links to supply chains, multi-stakeholder initiatives and SDG reporting, provides an illustration of the relevance of the application of decision theory to wicked problems, presented using a novel conceptual framework. This helps to illustrate new avenues for research and practical application regarding the balance of technocratic and participative approaches for sustainable development.
Penalized Averaging of Quantile Forecasts from GARCH Models with Many Exogenous Predictors
Authors: Gooijer Jan G. De
Published: July 2022

This study explores the multi-step ahead forecasting performance of a so-called hybrid conditional quantile method, which combines relevant conditional quantile forecasts from parametric and semiparametric methods. The focus is on lower (left) and upper (right) tail quantiles of the conditional distribution of the response variable. First, we evaluate and compare out-of-sample conditional quantile forecasts obtained from a hybrid method and from five non-hybrid methods, employing a large data set of exogenous predictors generated by various GARCH model specifications. Second, we compare the accuracy of these methods by calculating conditional quantile forecasts for the risk premium of the monthly S&P 500 index, using a data set of macroeconomic predictors. Monte Carlo and empirical application results indicate that the hybrid forecasting provides more accurate quantile forecasts than non-hybrid methods. The success of the hybrid method is most prominent when compared with results obtained by a simple equal-weighted combination of quantile forecasts.
Visual Analytics: Transferring, Translating and Transforming Knowledge from Analytics Experts to Non-technical Domain Experts in Multidisciplinary Teams
Authors: Marjanovic Olivera , Patmore Greg , Balnave Nikola
Published: July 2022

Today’s complex problems call for multidisciplinary analytics teams comprising of both analytics and non-technical domain (i.e. subject matter) experts. Recognizing the difference between data visualisaion (DV) (i.e. static visual outputs) and visual analytics (VA) (i.e. a process of interactive visual data exploration, guided by user’s domain and contextual knowledge), this paper focuses on VA for non-technical domain experts. By seeking to understand knowledge sharing from VA experts to non-technical users of VA in a multidisciplinary team, we aim to explore how these domain experts learn to use VA as a thinking tool, guided by their knowing-in-practice. The research described in this paper was conducted in the context of a long-term industry-wide research project called the ‘Visual Historical Atlas of the Australian Co-operatives’, led by a multidisciplinary VA team who faced the challenge tackled by this research. Using Action Design Research (ADR) and the combined theoretical lens of boundary objects and secondary design, the paper theorises a three-phase method for knowledge transfer, translation and transformation from VA experts to domain experts using different types of VA-related boundary objects. Together with the proposed set of design principles, the three-phase model advances the well-established stream of research on organizational use of analytics, extending it to the emerging area of visual analytics for non-technical decision makers.
Are there gender-based variations in the presentation of Autism amongst female and male children?
Authors: Simcoe Sarah Mae , Gilmour John , Garnett Michelle S. , Attwood Tony , Donovan Caroline , Kelly Adrian B.
Published: July 2022

The Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Conditions (Q-ASC; Attwood, Garnett & Rynkiewicz, 2011) is one of the few screening instruments that includes items designed to assess female-specific ASD-Level 1 traits. This study examined the ability of a modified version of the Q-ASC (Q-ASC-M; Ormond et al., 2018) to differentiate children with and without ASD-Level 1. Participants included 111 parents of autistic children and 212 parents of neurotypical children (5–12 years). Results suggested that the gendered behaviour, sensory sensitivity, compliant behaviours, imagination, and imitation subscales differentiated autistic females from neurotypical females. Compared to autistic males, autistic females had higher scores on gendered behaviour, sensory sensitivity, social masking, and imitation. Results are discussed in relation to early detection of autistic female children.
The Responsibility of Farmers, Public Authorities and Consumers for Safeguarding Bees Against Harmful Pesticides
Authors: Milford Anna Birgitte , Hatteland Bjørn Arild , Ursin Lars Øystein
Published: July 2022

The worldwide decline in bees and other pollinating insects is a threat to biodiversity and food security, and urgent action must be taken to stop and then reverse this decline. An established cause of the insect decline is the use of harmful pesticides in agriculture. This case study focuses on the use of pesticides in Norwegian apple production and considers who among farmers, consumers and public authorities is most responsible for protecting bees against harmful pesticides. The extent to which these three different groups consider themselves responsible and the degree to which they are trusted by each of the other groups are also studied. This empirical study involves both qualitative interviews with Norwegian apple farmers, consumers and public authorities and survey data from consumers and farmers. The results show that consumers consider public authorities and farmers equally responsible for protecting bees, while farmers are inclined to consider themselves more responsible. Farmers, consumers and public authorities do not consider consumers significantly responsible for protecting bees, and consumers have a high level of trust in both farmers and public authorities regarding this matter. This study also finds that a low level of consumer trust in farmers or public authorities increases consumers’ propensity to purchase organic food, suggesting that those who do not trust that enough action is adopted to protect the environment take on more individual responsibility. This paper adds to the existing literature concerning the allocation of responsibility for environmental outcomes, with empirical evidence focusing specifically on pesticides and bees.
The link between swelling ratios and physical properties of EPDM rubber compound having different oil amounts
Authors: Darko Charles
Published: July 2022

This new observation demonstrated that an increase in oil amounts within ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) compounds decreased the crosslink density and the storage modulus but increase the elongation at break after tensile testing. The compounds with high oil amounts were observed to release oil particles when dissolved in toluene solutions and that increased their swell ratios. Consequently, the crosslink density had a perfect negative linear correlation with the elongation at break and a strong power-law correlation with the swell ratios. This work guides the material chemists and engineers during compound formulations when an increase in oil amounts is required.
Sequence of tense and cessation implicatures: evidence from Polish
Authors: Mucha Anne , Renans Agata , Romoli Jacopo
Published: July 2022

In English, past tense stative clauses embedded under a past-marked attitude verb, likeEric thought that Kalina was sick, can receive two interpretations, differing on when the state of the complement is understood to hold, i.e. Kalina’s sickness precedes the time of Eric’s thinking (backward-shifted reading), or Kalina is sick at the time of Eric’s thinking (simultaneous reading). As is well known, the availability of the simultaneous reading—also called Sequence of tense (SOT)—is subject to cross-linguistic variation. Non-SOT languages only allow for the backward-shifted interpretation. This cross-linguistic variation has been analysed in two main ways in the literature: a structural approach, connecting the availability of the simultaneous reading in a language to a syntactic mechanism that allows the embedded past not to be interpreted; and an implicature approach, which links the absence of such a reading to the presence of a “cessation” implicature associated with past tense. We report a series of experiments on Polish, which is commonly classified as a non-SOT language. First, we investigate the interpretation of complement clauses embedded under past-marked attitude verbs in Polish and English. This investigation revealed a difference between these two languages in the availability of simultaneous interpretations for past-under-past complement clauses, albeit not as large as a binary distinction between SOT and non-SOT languages would lead us to expect. We then address the question of whether the lower acceptability we observe for simultaneous readings in Polish might be due to an embedded cessation implicature. On the way to address this question, we show that in simple matrix clauses, Polish gives rise to the same cessation inference as English. Then we investigate Polish past-under-past sentences in positive and negative contexts, comparing their potential cessation implicature to the exclusive implicature of disjunction. In our results, we found that the latter was endorsed more often in positive than in negative contexts, as expected, while the cessation implicature was endorsed overall very little, with no difference across contexts. The disanalogy between the disjunction and the temporal cases, and the insensitivity of the latter to monotonicity, are a challenge for the implicature approach, and cast doubts on associating SOT phenomena with implicatures.
Metabolite profiling of abalone (Haliotis iris) energy metabolism: a Chatham Islands case study
Authors: Venter Leonie , Alfaro Andrea C. , Van Nguyen Thao , Lindeque Jeremie Zander
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The Chatham Islands has some of the most prized black-footed abalone (Haliotis iris) beds in New Zealand. This well-managed fishery includes restrictions on catch and size limits, selective fishing methods, and shellfish management. However, recent declines in biomass and growth parameters have prompted omics research to characterise the biological responses of abalone, potentially contributing towards animal management strategies.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to characterise the metabolite profiles of slow and fast growing, juvenile and adult abalone, relating to metabolites supporting energy metabolism.

Methods

A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolite profiling, applying methyl chloroformate alkylation, was performed on juvenile and adult abalone samples collected from Point Durham and Wharekauri sites, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.

Results

The results obtained from haemolymph and muscle samples indicated that abalone from the fast-growing area, Wharekauri, fuelled metabolic functions via carbohydrate sources, providing energy for fatty acid and amino acid synthesis. Conversely, higher amino acid levels were largely utilised to promote growth in this population. The metabolism of juvenile abalone favoured anabolism, where metabolites were diverted from glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and used for the production of nucleotides, amino acids and fatty acids.

Conclusions

This research provides unique physiological insights towards abalone populations supporting the use of metabolomics as a tool to investigate metabolic processes related to growth. This work sets the stage for future work aimed at developing biomarkers for growth and health monitoring to support a growing and more sustainably abalone fishery.

Graphical abstract
Determination of alpha factors for monitoring of aeration systems with the ex situ off-gas method: experience from practical application and estimation of measurement uncertainty
Authors: Schwarz Maximilian , Trippel Jana , Engelhart Markus , Wagner Martin
Published: July 2022

Performance of aeration systems in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) under process conditions can be monitored with off-gas tests. The ex situ off-gas method transfers activated sludge from an adjacent aeration tank into aerated columns to determine oxygen transfer parameters (e.g., the α-factor). This method is an alternative to in situ off-gas testing with hoods at the tank surface; however, its application and measurement uncertainty have not been examined yet. We outline our experience from long-term off-gas testing with two pilot-scale test reactors (8.3 m3 volume). Global variance-based sensitivity analysis using Sobol’ indices revealed oxygen concentration in off-gas and dissolved oxygen as the most important input quantities to determine α-factors accurately. Measurement uncertainty of other instruments was negligible. These findings are transferable to in situ off-gas hoods because the methods are similar. Random measurement error of α-factors was estimated with uncertainty analysis and comparison measurements to a relative standard deviation of about ± 2.8% for our ex situ pilot setup. Diffuser fouling, biofilm growth, or sensor drift caused systematic errors avoidable by maintenance. Additional mixing of bubble column due to sludge inflow into ex situ tanks led to a systematic overestimation of α-factors at lower airflow rates. Hence, the ex situ off-gas method is not suitable to determine α-factors for the design of aeration systems but offers unique possibilities for research of oxygen transfer dynamics and development of aeration equipment because ex situ columns can be operated independently from a full-scale activated sludge tank.
Microstructural and Tribo-mechanical Properties of Arc-Sprayed CoCr-Based Coatings
Authors: Hagen L. , Paulus M. , Tillmann W.
Published: July 2022

Due to their superior wear and oxidation resistance, Stellite™ coatings are widely used in industrial applications, where the coatings are exposed to high temperature. Common processes for applying Stellite™ coatings include the high-velocity oxy-fuel spraying, laser cladding, and plasma transferred arc welding. Although Stellite™ welding consumables or similar welding consumables in the form of cored wires (CoCr base without industrial property rights) are commercially available, there are hardly any studies on arc-sprayed Stellite™ coatings available in the literature. In this study, the microstructural characteristics of arc-sprayed deposits were investigated, which were produced using a CoCr-based cored wire with addition of 4.5 wt.% tungsten. The produced deposits were examined in its as-sprayed state as well as after exposed to elevated temperatures. The microstructure was scrutinized by means of electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, as well as x-ray diffraction analyses using synchrotron radiation. Tribo-mechanical tests were conducted in order to assess the performance of the arc-sprayed coating. The findings were discussed and compared to those obtained from conventional CoCr-based coatings. It was found that the arc-sprayed CoCr-based coating is predominantly composed of Co-rich, Cr-rich lamellae or lamellae comprising a Co(Cr)-rich solid solution interspersed with various oxides between the individual lamellae. Solid solution hardening serves as dominant strengthening mechanism, while precipitation hardening effects are hardly evident. With regard to the oxidation behaviour, the as-sprayed coating mainly contains CoCr2O4as well as traces of Co3O4. For heating above 550 °C, coating surface additionally consists of Fe2O3and Co3O4. In dry sliding experiments, the arc-sprayed CoCr-based coating shows a decreased wear resistance compared to CoCr-based coatings processed by HVOF and PTA, whereas the coefficient of friction (COF) sliding against alumina was similar to the COF observed for the HVOF-sprayed CoCr-based coating, but lower than the COF obtained for the CoCr-based hardfacing alloy deposited by PTA.
Track-to-track association methodology for operational surveillance scenarios with radar observations
Authors: Pastor Alejandro , Sanjurjo-Rivo Manuel , Escobar Diego
Published: July 2022

This paper proposes a novel track-to-track association methodology able to detect and catalogue resident space objects (RSOs) from associations of uncorrelated tracks (UCTs) obtained by radar survey sensors. It is a multi-target multi-sensor algorithm approach able to associate data from surveillance sensors to detect and catalogue objects. The association methodology contains a series of steps, each of which reduces the complexity of the combinational problem. The main focus are real operational environments, in which brute-force approaches are computationally unaffordable. The hypotheses are scored in the measurement space by evaluating a figure of merit based on the residuals of the observations. This allows us to filter out most of the false hypotheses that would be present in brute-force approaches, as well as to distinguish between true and false hypotheses. The suitability of the proposed track-to-track association has been assessed with a simulated scenario representative of a real operational environment, corresponding to 2 weeks of radar survey data obtained by a single survey radar. The distribution and evolution of the hypotheses along the association process is analysed and typical association performance metrics are included. Most of the RSOs are detected and catalogued and only one false positive is obtained. Besides, the rate of false positives is kept low, most of them corresponding to particular cases or objects with high eccentricity or limited observability.
Study on wetland landscape pattern evolution in the Dongping Lake
Authors: Zhou Ke
Published: July 2022

Wetland structure evolution is a basis of healthy ecosystem and one of the important indicators for restoration and protection of wetlands. In this paper, based on the Landsat remote sensing images from 1980 to 2020, the wetland structure was extracted by using the supervised classification method in the Dongping Lake. A CA–Markov Model was put forward to set up wetland transfer matrix and to improve the space and quantity of simulation results. The temporal-spatial evolution of the wetland and landscape indicators were studied, and the evolution trend as well as driving forces were analyzed. The studied results show that, in recent years, the wetland landscape pattern transfer were occurred continuously, in which the area of bare land significantly decreased, the infrastructure land use significantly increased, the natural water surface increased gradually. The studied landscape pattern indices show that the wetland landscape evenness index increased, the landscape diversity index tends to be decreased, the degree of wetland landscape fragmentation is basically balanced, but the overall trend is increasing, and the landscape diversity tends to be simple. At present, the area of wild reeds takes the dominant trend in the main wetland area, which accounts for 55% of the total wetland area. The proportion of forest and grass land area accounts for 9%.
Transparent but Accurate Evolutionary Regression Combining New Linguistic Fuzzy Grammar and a Novel Interpretable Linear Extension
Authors: Biedma-Rdguez Carmen , Gacto María José , Anguita-Ruiz Augusto , Alcalá-Fdez Jesús , Alcalá Rafael
Published: July 2022

Scientists must understand what machines do (systems should not behave like a black box), because in many cases how they predict is more important than what they predict. In this work, we propose a new extension of the fuzzy linguistic grammar and a mainly novel interpretable linear extension for regression problems, together with an enhanced new linguistic tree-based evolutionary multiobjective learning approach. This allows the general behavior of the data covered, as well as their specific variability, to be expressed as a single rule. In order to ensure the highest transparency and accuracy values, this learning process maximizes two widely accepted semantic metrics and also minimizes both the number of rules and the model mean squared error. The results obtained in 23 regression datasets show the effectiveness of the proposed method by applying statistical tests to the said metrics, which cover the different aspects of the interpretability of linguistic fuzzy models. This learning process has obtained the preservation of high-level semantics and less than 5 rules on average, while it still clearly outperforms some of the previous state-of-the-art linguistic fuzzy regression methods for learning interpretable regression linguistic fuzzy systems, and even to a competitive, pure accuracy-oriented linguistic learning approach. Finally, we analyze a case study in a real problem related to childhood obesity, and a real expert carries out the analysis shown.