bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Image fairness in deep learning: problems, models, and challenges
Authors: Tian Huan , Zhu Tianqing , Liu Wei , Zhou Wanlei
Published: March 2022

In recent years, it has been revealed that machine learning models can produce discriminatory predictions. Hence, fairness protection has come to play a pivotal role in machine learning. In the past, most studies on fairness protection have used traditional machine learning methods to enforce fairness. However, these studies focus on low dimensional inputs, such as numerical inputs, whereas more recent deep learning technologies have encouraged fairness protection with image inputs through deep model methods. These approaches involve various object functions and structural designs that break the spurious correlations between targets and sensitive features. With these connections broken, we are left with fairer predictions. To better understand the proposed methods and encourage further development in the field, this paper summarizes fairness protection methods in terms of three aspects: the problem settings, the models, and the challenges. Through this survey, we hope to reveal research trends in the field, discover the fundamentals of enforcing fairness, and summarize the main challenges to producing fairer models.
Using hierarchical unsupervised learning to integrate and reduce multi-level and multi-paraspinal muscle MRI data in relation to low back pain
Authors: Torres-Espin Abel , Keller Anastasia , Johnson Gabriel T. A. , Fields Aaron J. , Krug Roland , Ferguson Adam R. , Hargens Alan R. , O’Neill Conor W. , Lotz Jeffrey C. , Bailey Jeannie F.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The paraspinal muscles (PSM) are a key feature potentially related to low back pain (LBP), and their structure and composition can be quantified using MRI. Most commonly, quantifying PSM measures across individual muscles and individual spinal levels renders numerous separate metrics that are analyzed in isolation. However, comprehensive multivariate approaches would be more appropriate for analyzing the PSM within an individual. To establish and test these methods, we hypothesized that multivariate summaries of PSM MRI measures would associate with the presence of LBP symptoms (i.e., pain intensity).

Methods

We applied hierarchical multiple factor analysis (hMFA), an unsupervised integrative method, to clinical PSM MRI data from unique cohort datasets including a longitudinal cohort of astronauts with pre- and post-spaceflight data and a cohort of chronic LBP subjects and asymptomatic controls. Three specific use cases were investigated: (1) predicting longitudinal changes in pain using combinations of baseline PSM measures; (2) integrating baseline and post-spaceflight MRI to assess longitudinal change in PSM and how it relates to pain; and (3) integrating PSM quality and adjacent spinal pathology between LBP patients and controls.

Results

Overall, we found distinct complex relationships with pain intensity between particular muscles and spinal levels. Subjects with high asymmetry between left and right lean muscle composition and differences between spinal segments PSM quality and structure are more likely to increase in pain reported outcome after prolonged time in microgravity. Moreover, changes in PSM quality and structure between pre and post-spaceflight relate to increase in pain after prolonged microgravity. Finally, we show how unsupervised hMFA recapitulates previous research on the association of CEP damage and LBP diagnostic.

Conclusion

Our analysis considers the spine as a multi-segmental unit as opposed to a series of discrete and isolated spine segments. Integrative and multivariate approaches can be used to distill large and complex imaging datasets thereby improving the clinical utility of MRI-based biomarkers, and providing metrics for further analytical goals, including phenotyping.
Counterexamples on compositions
Authors: Appell Jürgen , Brito Belén López , Reinwand Simon
Published: March 2022

We give a collection of 16 examples which show that compositions $$g\circ f$$

g
∘
f

of well-behaved functions $$f$$
f
and $$g$$
g
can be badly behaved. Remarkably, in 10 of the 16 examples it suffices to take as outer function $$g$$
g
simply a power-type or characteristic function. Such a collection of examples may serve as a source of exercises for a calculus course.
Time limit to rescue intestine with viability at risk caused by blood flow disruption in patients presenting with acute abdomen
Authors: Kyuno Takuro , Otsuka Kanki , Kobayashi Makoto , Yoshida Eiji , Sato Kei , Kawagishi Ryoko , Kono Tsuyoshi , Chiba Takehiro , Kimura Toshimoto , Yonezawa Hitoshi , Funato Osamu , Takagane Akinori
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Early management is crucial for acute intestinal blood flow disorders; however, no published study has identified criteria for the time limit for blood flow resumption. This study specifically examines the time factors for avoiding intestinal resection.

Methods

The subjects of this retrospective cohort study were 125 consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgery for a confirmed diagnosis of intestinal strangulation (n = 86), incarceration (n = 27), or volvulus (n = 12), between January 2015 and March 2021. Intestinal resection was performed when intestinal irreversible changes had occurred even after ischemia was relieved surgically. We analyzed the relationship between the time from computed tomography (CT) imaging to the start of surgery (C-S time) and intestinal resection using the Kaplan–Meier method and calculated the estimated intestinal rescue rate. Patient background factors affecting intestinal resection were also examined.

Results

The time limit for achieving 80% intestinal rescue rate was 200 min in C-S time, and when this exceeded 300 min, the intestinal rescue rate dropped to less than 50%. Multivariate analysis identified the APACHE II score as a significant influencing factor.

Conclusion

A rapid transition from early diagnosis to early surgery is critical for patients with acute abdomen originating from intestinal blood flow disorders. The times from presentation at the hospital to surgery should be reduced further, especially for severe cases.
Dynamic Behaviour of Abandoned Underground Mines: Insights from Numerical Simulations
Authors: de Lucia D. , Fazio N. L. , Lollino P.
Published: March 2022

The Apulian region (south-east of Italy) is characterized by the presence of old underground cavities used for the extraction of soft calcarenite rocks and then abandoned over time. The assessment of stability of these caves represents a challenging problem, especially for the areas of possible interaction of the caves with overlying structures and infrastructures. The role of environmental factors in triggering disruption processes in the cave has been extensively studied in the literature, but the instability effect related to dynamic loads is often underestimated. Consequently, the purpose of the present work is to propose some advancements in this field by evaluating the effects of dynamic loads, consistent with the regional seismicity, on the stability of calcarenite underground cavities. A large number of two-dimensional parametric finite element analyses has been carried out on ideal cases of single rectangular cavities. The study allowed to detect appreciable instability effects caused by the dynamic input, depending on the cavity width, the thickness of the roof, and the energy content of the dynamic input. The interaction between twin cavities under dynamic conditions has been also studied from a numerical point of view. The results show that plastic failure in the septum is reached earlier under dynamic conditions than static and it is again dependent on the cavity width and the roof thickness. Lastly, a numerical procedure to calculate factor of safety against either shear failure or tensile failure mechanisms has been proposed, which allows to quantify the change of the stability conditions from static to dynamic conditions.
The glycine-containing dipeptide leucine-glycine raises accumbal dopamine levels in a subpopulation of rats presenting a lower endogenous dopamine tone
Authors: Olsson Yasmin , Lidö Helga , Ericson Mia , Söderpalm Bo
Published: March 2022

Interventions that elevate glycine levels and target the glycine receptor (GlyR) in the nucleus Accumbens (nAc) reduce ethanol intake in rats, supposedly by acting on the brain reward system via increased basal and attenuated ethanol-induced nAc dopamine release. Glycine transport across the blood brain barrier (BBB) appears inefficient, but glycine-containing dipeptides elevate whole brain tissue dopamine levels in mice. This study explores whether treatment with the glycine-containing dipeptides leucine-glycine (Leu-Gly) and glycine-leucine (Gly-Leu) by means of a hypothesized, facilitated BBB passage, alter nAc glycine and dopamine levels and locomotor activity in two rodent models. The acute effects of Leu-Gly and Gly-Leu (1–1000 mg/kg, i.p.) alone or Leu-Gly in combination with ethanol on locomotion in male NMRI mice were examined in locomotor activity boxes. Striatal and brainstem slices were obtained for ex vivo HPLC analyses of tissue levels of glycine and dopamine. Furthermore, the effects of Leu-Gly i.p. (1–1000 mg/kg) on glycine and dopamine output in the nAc were examined using in vivo microdialysis coupled to HPLC in freely moving male Wistar rats. Leu-Gly and Gly-Leu did not significantly alter locomotion, ethanol-induced hyperlocomotor activity or tissue levels of glycine or dopamine, apart from Gly-Leu 10 mg/kg that slightly raised nAc dopamine. Microdialysis revealed no significant alterations in nAc glycine or dopamine levels when regarding all rats as a homogenous group. In a subgroup of rats defined as dopamine responders, a significant elevation of nAc dopamine (20%) was seen following Leu-Gly 10–1000 mg/kg i.p, and this group of animals presented lower baseline dopamine levels compared to dopamine non-responders. To conclude, peripheral injection of glycine-containing dipeptides appears inefficient in elevating central glycine levels but raises accumbal dopamine levels in a subgroup of rats with a lower endogenous dopamine tone. The tentative relationship between dopamine baseline and ensuing response to glycinergic treatment and presumptive direct interactions between glycine-containing dipeptides and the GlyR bear insights for refinement of the glycinergic treatment concept for alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Management of white spot lesions induced during orthodontic treatment with multibracket appliance: a national-based survey
Authors: Weyland Manon Isabelle , Jost-Brinkmann Paul-Georg , Bartzela Theodosia
Published: March 2022

Objectives

The study aimed to survey current strategies against enamel demineralization during multibracket therapy (MBT) and guide a prevention concept based on existing scientific evidence.

Materials and methods

The survey comprised questions on the prevention and management of white spot lesions (WSL). The questionnaire was sent via email to orthodontists working in practices and universities throughout Germany. The analysis involved descriptive statistics using the chi-square test (p < 0.05).

Results

A prevention protocol was used before MBT by 80.6% of the participants. Less than a quarter of the participants regularly applied topical fluoride (gel or varnish) during MBT. According to the respondents’ assessment, the prevalence of WSL during MBT is 11.6%, mainly observed in 12- to 15-year-old male patients. Orthodontists graduating after 2000 tended to recommend and apply fluoride-containing materials more often than their senior colleagues (p = 0.039). Participants from private practices applied fluoride varnish or gel more frequently than those from university clinics (p = 0.013). Fluoridation was the most common (70.7%) treatment for WSL after MBT, followed by resin infiltration (21.2%). The majority (80.9%) of the participants favor a guideline for preventing WSL.

Conclusions

WSL prevention during MBT is challenging. Males in puberty are predominantly affected. Younger orthodontists are more concerned about the prevention of WSL during MBT.

Clinical relevance.

The non-negligible prevalence of individuals with WSL emphasizes the need for dental education and health care reform. This would help to implement standardized procedures and establish innovative applications.
Did COVID-19 impact stroke services? A multicenter study
Authors: Shokri Hossam , Nahas Nevine El , Basiony Ahmed El , Nguyen Thanh N. , Abdalkader Mohamad , Klein Piers , Lavados Pablo M. , Olavarría Verónica V. , Amaya Pablo , Llanos-Leyton Natalia , Brola Waldemar , Michał Lipowski , Fariña Donoband Edson Dejesus Melgarejo , Cardozo Analia , Caballero Cesar David , Pedrozo Fatima , Rahman Aminur , Hokmabadi Elyar Sadeghi , Jalili Javad , Farhoudi Mehdi , Aref Hany , Roushdy Tamer
Published: March 2022

Background

It has been reported that acute stroke services were compromised during COVID-19 due to various pandemic-related issues. We aimed to investigate these changes by recruiting centers from different countries.

Methods

Eight countries participated in this cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study by providing data from their stroke data base. We compared 1 year before to 1 year during COVID-19 as regards onset to door (OTD), door to needle (DTN), door to groin (DTG), duration of hospital stay, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at baseline, 24 h, and at discharge as well as modified Rankin score (mRS) on discharge and at 3 months follow-up.

Results

During the pandemic year, there was a reduction in the number of patients, median age was significantly lower, admission NIHSS was higher, hemorrhagic stroke increased, and OTD and DTG showed no difference, while DTN time was longer, rtPA administration was decreased, thrombectomy was more frequent, and hospital stay was shorter. mRS was less favorable on discharge and at 3 months.

Conclusion

COVID-19 showed variable effects on stroke services. Some were negatively impacted as the number of patients presenting to hospitals, DTN time, and stroke outcome, while others were marginally affected as the type of management.
Applying machine learning to social datasets: a study of migration in southwestern Bangladesh using random forests
Authors: Best Kelsea , Gilligan Jonathan , Baroud Hiba , Carrico Amanda , Donato Katharine , Mallick Bishawjit
Published: March 2022

As researchers collect large amounts of data in the social sciences through household surveys, challenges may arise in how best to analyze such datasets, especially where motivating theories are unclear or conflicting. New analytical methods may be necessary to extract information from these datasets. Machine learning techniques are promising methods for identifying patterns in large datasets, but have not yet been widely used to identify important variables in social surveys with many questions. To demonstrate the potential of machine learning to analyze large social datasets, we apply machine learning techniques to the study of migration in Bangladesh. The complexity of migration decisions makes them suitable for analysis with machine learning techniques, which enable pattern identification in large datasets with many covariates. In this paper, we apply random forest methods to analyzing a large survey which captures approximately 2000 variables from approximately 1700 households in southwestern Bangladesh. Our analysis ranked the covariates in the dataset in terms of their predictive power for migration decisions. The results identified the most important covariates, but there exists a tradeoff between predictive ability and interpretability. To address this tradeoff, random forests and other machine learning algorithms may be especially useful in combination with more traditional regression methods. To develop insights into how the important variables identified by the random forest algorithm impact migration, we performed a survival analysis of household time to first migration. With this combined analysis, we found that variables related to wealth and household composition are important predictors of migration. Such multi-methods approaches may help to shed light on factors contributing to migration and non-migration.
A multicentre, open-label, single-arm phase II trial of the efficacy and safety of sclerotherapy using 3% polidocanol foam to treat second-degree haemorrhoids (SCLEROFOAM)
Authors: Gallo G. , Pietroletti R. , Novelli E. , Sturiale A. , Tutino R. , Lobascio P. , Laforgia R. , Moggia E. , Pozzo M. , Roveroni M. , Bianco V. , Luc A. Realis , Giuliani A. , Diaco E. , Naldini G. , Trompetto M. , Perinotti R. , Sammarco G.
Published: March 2022

Background

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3% polidocanol foam for treating 2nd-degree haemorrhoids.

Methods

A multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial involving 10 tertiary referral centres for haemorrhodal disease (HD) was performed. Between January and June 2019, patients with 2nd-degree haemorrhoids were prospectively included in this study. The primary outcome was to establish the success rate after one sclerotherapy session in terms of complete resolution of bleeding episodes one week after the injection. The Hemorrhoidal Disease Symptom Score (HDSS), the Short Health Scale for HD (SHS-HD) score and the Vaizey incontinence score were used to assess symptoms and their impact on quality of life and continence. Pain after the procedure, subjective symptoms and the amount and type of painkillers used were recorded. Patients were followed up for 1 year.

Results

There were 183 patients [111 males; 60.7%, mean age 51.3 ± 13.5 (18–75) years]. Complete resolution of bleeding was reached in 125/183 patients (68.3%) at 1 week and the recurrence rate was 12% (15/125).

Thirteen patients (7.4%) underwent a second sclerotherapy session, while only 1 patient (1.8%) had to undergo a third session. The overall 1-year success rate was 95.6% (175/183). The HDSS and the SHS score significantly improved from a median preoperative value of 11 and 18 to 0 and 0, respectively (p < 0.001). There were 3 episodes of external thrombosis. No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions

Sclerotherapy with 3% polidocanol foam is a safe, effective, painless, repeatable and low-cost procedure in patients with bleeding haemorrhoids.
Diverse grouping and mating strategies in the Critically Endangered Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus)
Authors: Li Ping , Garber Paul A. , Bi Yu , Jin Kun , Qi Xuming , Zhou Jiang
Published: March 2022

Understanding flexibility in the social structure and mating strategies of the world’s last remaining population (35 individuals) of wild Hainan gibbons (Nomascus hainanus) is critical for developing effective management plans to aid in their population recovery. Three of the five remaining Hainan gibbon groups (A, B, and C) currently live in a social unit characterized by two or three adult males, two reproducing adult females, and offspring. A fourth group (D) contains one adult male, two adult females, and offspring, and Group E contains a single adult male–adult female pair with a young infant. In this study, we describe observations of copulations between multiple resident males and one of the two resident females in Group C. Group C is best described as a small multi-male/multi-female group. We found that this breeding female (F2) solicited copulations from two resident adult males (M1 and M2) on the same day, and also mated with each of these two males on different days. Resident males were not observed to interrupt the mating pair. Although factors such as a biased adult sex ratio, severe population disruption, and habitat degradation can help explain variation in group composition and mating strategies in Hainan gibbons, we argue that there exists considerable mating system variability across gibbon species, and that this variability offers important insights into male and female Hainan gibbon group structure and reproductive strategies.
A new approach to the design of acyclic chemical compounds using skeleton trees and integer linear programming
Authors: Zhang Fan , Zhu Jianshen , Chiewvanichakorn Rachaya , Shurbevski Aleksandar , Nagamochi Hiroshi , Akutsu Tatsuya
Published: March 2022

Intelligent systems are applied in a wide range of areas, and computer-aided drug design is a highly important one. One major approach to drug design is the inverse QSAR/QSPR (quantitative structure-activity and structure-property relationship), for which a method that uses both artificial neural networks (ANN) and mixed integer linear programming (MILP) has been proposed recently. This method consists of two phases: a forward prediction phase, and an inverse, inference phase. In the prediction phase, a feature function f over chemical compounds is defined, whereby a chemical compound G is represented as a vector f(G) of descriptors. Following, for a given chemical property $$\pi$$, using a dataset of chemical compounds with known values for property $$\pi$$, a regressive prediction function $$\psi$$ is computed by an ANN. It is desired that $$\psi (f(G))$$ takes a value that is close to the true value of property $$\pi$$ for the compound G for many of the compounds in the dataset. In the inference phase, one starts with a target value $$y^*$$ of the chemical property $$\pi$$, and then a chemical structure $$G^*$$ such that $$\psi (f(G^*))$$ is within a certain tolerance level of $$y^*$$ is constructed from the solution to a specially formulated MILP. This method has been used for the case of inferring acyclic chemical compounds. With this paper, we propose a new concept on acyclic chemical graphs, called a skeleton tree, and based on it develop a new MILP formulation for inferring acyclic chemical compounds. Our computational experiments indicate that our newly proposed method significantly outperforms the existing method when the diameter of graphs is up to 8. In a particular example where we inferred acyclic chemical compounds with 38 non-hydrogen atoms from the set {C, O, S} times faster.
A Ship-Based Characterization of Coherent Boundary-Layer Structures Over the Lifecycle of a Marine Cold-Air Outbreak
Authors: Duscha Christiane , Barrell Christopher , Renfrew Ian A. , Brooks Ian M. , Sodemann Harald , Reuder Joachim
Published: March 2022

Convective coherent structures shape the atmospheric boundary layer over the lifecycle of marine cold-air outbreaks (CAOs). Aircraft measurements have been used to characterize such structures in past CAOs. Yet, aircraft case studies are limited to snapshots of a few hours and do not capture how coherent structures, and the associated boundary-layer characteristics, change over the CAO time scale, which can be on the order of several days. We present a novel ship-based approach to determine the evolution of the coherent-structure characteristics, based on profiling lidar observations. Over the lifecycle of a multi-day CAO we show how these structures interact with boundary-layer characteristics, simultaneously obtained by a multi-sensor set-up. Observations are taken during the Iceland Greenland Seas Project’s wintertime cruise in February and March 2018. For the evaluated CAO event, we successfully identify cellular coherent structures of varying size in the order of 4 $$\times $$
×
 10$$^2$$

2

 m to 10$$^4$$

4

 m and velocity amplitudes of up to 0.5 m $$\hbox {s}^{-1}$$

s

-
1

in the vertical and 1 m $$\hbox {s}^{-1}$$

s

-
1

in the horizontal. The structures’ characteristics are sensitive to the near-surface stability and the Richardson number. We observe the largest coherent structures most frequently for conditions when turbulence generation is weakly buoyancy dominated. Structures of increasing size contribute efficiently to the overturning of the boundary layer and are linked to the growth of the convective boundary-layer depth. The new approach provides robust statistics for organized convection, which would be easy to extend by additional observations during convective events from vessels of opportunity operating in relevant areas.
A numerical investigation of three-dimensional falling liquid films
Authors: Kahouadji Lyes , Batchvarov Assen , Adebayo Idris T. , Jenkins Zachary , Shin Seungwon , Chergui Jalel , Juric Damir , Matar Omar K.
Published: March 2022

In this article, we present a full three-dimensional numerical study of thin liquid films falling on a vertical surface, by solving the full three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations with a hybrid front-tracking/level-set method for tracking the interface. General falling film flow applications span across many types of process industries but also occur in a multitude of natural and environmental applications such as ice sheets, glaciology and even volcanic lava flows. In this study, we propose three configurations of falling films. Two of them, with small and moderate Reynolds number, are set to mimic pulsed and forced falling film types inside a minimum periodic domain, able to cover entirely the temporal evolution of a single wave. The latest example, corresponding to a high Reynolds number, is initialised with a flat interface without any specific perturbations. For the first time, this study highlights the natural transition from a non-deformed interface to its first streamwise disturbance (two-dimensional wavy flow), and then a second spanwise wave disturbance (three-dimensional wavy flow).
Spoken Language Change in Children on the Autism Spectrum Receiving Community-Based Interventions
Authors: Trembath David , Stainer Matt , Caithness Teena , Dissanayake Cheryl , Eapen Valsamma , Fordyce Kathryn , Frewer Veronica , Frost Grace , Hudry Kristelle , Iacono Teresa , Mahler Nicole , Masi Anne , Paynter Jessica , Pye Katherine , Quan Shannon , Shellshear Leanne , Sutherland Rebecca , Sievers Stephanie , Thirumanickam Abirami , Westerveld Marleen F. , Tucker Madonna
Published: March 2022

We assessed the spoken language of 73 preschool aged children on the autism spectrum receiving community-based early intervention at two time points, approximately 7 months apart. Using the Spoken Language Benchmarks, there was a small non-significant change in the proportion of children transitioning from below, to at or above, Phase 3 (word combinations). Using binomial regression, a model comprising seven of nine clinician-proposed child-related predictors explained 64% of the variance. None of the predictors were individually significant, although a large effect size (OR = 16.71) was observed for children’s baseline rate of communicative acts. The findings point to substantial unmet clinical need in children with minimal verbal language, but also the relevance of clinician-proposed predictors of their spoken language outcomes.
Logics with Group Announcements and Distributed Knowledge: Completeness and Expressive Power
Authors: Ågotnes Thomas , Alechina Natasha , Galimullin Rustam
Published: March 2022

Public announcement logic (PAL) is an extension of epistemic logic with dynamic operators that model the effects of all agents simultaneously and publicly acquiring the same piece of information. One of the extensions of PAL, group announcement logic (GAL), allows quantification over (possibly joint) announcements made by agents. In GAL, it is possible to reason about what groups can achieve by making such announcements. It seems intuitive that this notion of coalitional ability should be closely related to the notion of distributed knowledge, the implicit knowledge of a group. Thus, we study the extension of GAL with distributed knowledge, and in particular possible interaction properties between GAL operators and distributed knowledge. The perhaps surprising result is that, in fact, there are no interaction properties, contrary to intuition. We make this claim precise by providing a sound and complete axiomatisation of GAL with distributed knowledge. We also consider several natural variants of GAL with distributed knowledge, as well as some other related logic, and compare their expressive power.
Phase-field approach to simulate BCC-B2 phase separation in the AlnCrFe2Ni2 medium-entropy alloy
Authors: Coutinho Yuri Amorim , Kunwar Anil , Moelans Nele
Published: March 2022

Phase separation is a relevant mode of transformation for microstructure development in multicomponent alloys. Its occurrence can drastically alter the composition landscape and lead to patterns, either beneficial or undesired to the alloy design. This phenomenon is reported commonly in the BCC phase region of AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys and their cost-effective Co-free alternatives based on AlCrFeNi due to chemical ordering. To better understand this transformation, we employ a phase-field model with materials parameters obtained from the CALPHAD methodology. Microstructure simulations of phase separation are conducted for the BCC-B2 phase on the $$\mathrm {Al_{n}CrFe_{2}Ni_{2}}$$

Al
n

CrFe
2

Ni
2

alloy ($$\mathrm {n}$$
n
is the stoichiometric coefficient). The free energy density is obtained from a CALPHAD sublattice model, in which the disordered BCC and ordered B2 phases are formulated as a single Gibbs free energy expression. The relation between the site fraction variables in the CALPHAD sublattice model and the mole fractions in the phase-field equations is provided via neural networks. The acquisition of training data on the equilibrium value of the site fractions is presented along with the training and validation procedure. The trained neural networks are combined with a finite-element framework and Cahn–Hilliard model to simulate the BCC-B2 phase separation at different compositions.

Graphical Abstract
Temperature and Current Sensitivities of Bare Mo/Au Transition-Edge Sensors
Authors: Fàbrega Lourdes , Camón Agustín , Strichovanec Pavel , Pobes Carlos , Bolea Juan , Mas Manel
Published: March 2022

We study the logarithmic transition sensitivities to temperature and current, α and β, of bare Mo/Au TES sensors without any normal metal structure, with and without relevant weak link effects. Both parameters display a smooth dependence with bias. We analyze them as a function of bias, bath temperature and TES size. We observe relevant differences in the behavior of α and β as the aspect ratio increases.
Explaining classifiers by constructing familiar concepts
Authors: Schneider Johannes , Vlachos Michalis
Published: March 2022

Interpreting a large number of neurons in deep learning is difficult. Our proposed ‘CLAssifier-DECoder’ architecture (ClaDec) facilitates the understanding of the output of an arbitrary layer of neurons or subsets thereof. It uses a decoder that transforms the incomprehensible representation of the given neurons to a representation that is more similar to the domain a human is familiar with. In an image recognition problem, one can recognize what information (or concepts) a layer maintains by contrasting reconstructed images of ClaDec with those of a conventional auto-encoder(AE) serving as reference. An extension of ClaDec allows trading comprehensibility and fidelity. We evaluate our approach for image classification using convolutional neural networks. We show that reconstructed visualizations using encodings from a classifier capture more relevant classification information than conventional AEs. This holds although AEs contain more information on the original input. Our user study highlights that even non-experts can identify a diverse set of concepts contained in images that are relevant (or irrelevant) for the classifier. We also compare against saliency based methods that focus on pixel relevance rather than concepts. We show that ClaDec tends to highlight more relevant input areas to classification though outcomes depend on classifier architecture. Code is at https://github.com/JohnTailor/ClaDec
Flattening the quality of life curve? A prospective person-centred study from Norway amid COVID-19
Authors: Nes Ragnhild Bang , Yu Baeksan , Hansen Thomas , Vedaa Øystein , Røysamb Espen , Nilsen Thomas S.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

We examined multidimensional, heterogeneous reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated measures to provide further insights into the developmental processes of risk and adaptation.

Method

We used three-wave questionnaire data from 8156 individuals participating in the Norwegian County Public Health Survey assessed 1–5 months before and three (June 2020) and nine (December 2020) months after the outbreak. Latent profile and latent transition analyses were used to identify latent quality of life (QoL) classes and multiform changes, their probabilities, and predictors.

Results

We identified five distinct QoL classes of varying proportions, namelyFlourishing(i.e. 24–40%),Content(31–46%),Content-Symptomatic(8–10%),Languishing(14–20%), andTroubled(2–5%). Despite higher levels of negative affect and lower levels of life satisfaction and positive emotions, most individuals remained in their pre-pandemic QoL profiles. Yet, changes occurred for a meaningful proportion, with transition to a less favourable class more common than to a favourable. Between time 1 and 3, the flourishing and troubled groups decreased by 40% and 60%, while the content and languishing groups increased by 48% and 43%, respectively. Favourable pre-pandemic relational (marital status, support, interpersonal trust, and belonging), health, and economy-related status predicted significantly lower odds of belonging to the high-risk groups both pre-pandemic and during the pandemic.

Conclusions

Overall, this study shows lower levels of QoL amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but substantial stability in the QoL distribution, and an overall levelling of the QoL distribution. Our findings also underscore the importance of financial, health-related, and social capital to QoL.
The correct formula of 1979 prospect theory for multiple outcomes
Authors: Wakker Peter P.
Published: March 2022

Whereas original prospect theory was introduced over 40 years ago, its formula for multi-outcome prospects has never yet been published, resulting in many misunderstandings. This note provides that formula.
Screening clonally replicated Acacia mangium breeding populations for tolerance to Ceratocystis canker and wilt disease
Authors: Brawner Jeremy Todd , Sunarti Sri , Nirsatmanto Arif , Indrayadi Heru , Tarigan Marthin , Yuliarto Muhammad , Rahayu Sri , Hardiyanto Eko Bhakti , Glen Morag , Mohammed Caroline , Rimbawanto Anto
Published: March 2022

Three screening trials of clonally replicated Acacia mangium seedlings were evaluated for survival and lesion length following inoculation with locally collected strains of Ceratocystis in Indonesia. Tolerance in the population was low with 6.7% of the 1033 clones represented by more than 4 ramets surviving repeated inoculations. Differences in tolerance among populations were slight; however, populations with consistently higher survival and shorter lesion lengths were from Papua New Guinea rather than Queensland. Estimates of the proportion of the experimental variation attributable to differences among parents (heritability) were low to moderate for both survival and lesion length. Estimates of the proportion of the experimental variation that was attributable to differences among clones (repeatability) were greater but typically similar to the heritability estimates, indicating that initial improvements from selection will primarily be derived from identifying tolerant parents. While genetic correlations among experiments were positive, estimates could not exclude the existence of host–pathogen interactions. Two validation trials of the tolerant clones were assessed 9 months after establishment; these trials verified that one-third of the clones identified in the nursery screening were also tolerant to Ceratocystis in field trials. The experiments confirmed that nursery screening may be used to quickly focus efforts on parents that produce more tolerant progeny, screening additional seedlings to increase selection intensity rather than using clonal replication to increase accuracy would lead to greater improvements in tolerance and field trials are required to verify disease tolerance at later ages.
White matter alterations in heart-kidney imbalance insomnia and Jiao-Tai-Wan treatment: A diffusion-tensor imaging study
Authors: Chen Jie , Li Yanxuan , Xia Nengzhi , Wen Caiyun , Xia Tianyi , Zhuang Yuandi , Jiang Mengmeng , Xiang Yilan , Zhang Mingyue , Zhan Chenyi , Yang Yunjun , Yuan Zhengzhong , Huang Qun
Published: March 2022

Previous studies have reported changes in white matter microstructures in patients with insomnia. However, few neuroimaging studies have focused specifically on white matter tracts in insomnia patients after having received treatment. In this prospective study, diffusion-tensor imaging was used in two samples of heart-kidney imbalance insomnia patients who were treated with placebo or Jiao-Tai-Wan, a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used to treat heart-kidney imbalance insomnia, to assess the changes in white matter tracts. Tract-based spatial statistical analyses were first applied to compare the changes in mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy of white matter between 75 heart-kidney imbalance insomnia patients and 41 healthy control participants. In subsequent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, comparisons of mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy were also performed in 24 heart-kidney imbalance insomnia patients (8 males; 16 females; 42.5 ± 10.4 years) with Jiao-Tai-Wan and 26 heart-kidney imbalance insomnia patients (11 males; 15 females; 39.7 ± 9.4 years) with a placebo, with age and sex as covariates. Fractional anisotropy values in left corticospinal tract were increased in heart-kidney imbalance insomnia patients. Heart-kidney imbalance insomnia patients showed lower mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy values of several white matter tracts than healthy control participants, such as the bilateral anterior limb of internal capsule, bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus and bilateral posterior corona radiata. After being treated with Jiao-Tai-Wan, heart-kidney imbalance insomnia patients showed a trend towards reduced fractional anisotropy values in the left corticospinal tract. Jiao-Tai-Wan may improve the sleep quality by reversing the structural changes of the left corticospinal tract caused by heart-kidney imbalance insomnia.
Survivorship care plans and information for rural cancer survivors
Authors: Rowe Arlen , Crawford-Williams Fiona , Goodwin Belinda. C , Myers Larry , Stiller Anna , Dunn Jeff , Aitken Joanne. F , March Sonja
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to investigate the amount and type of survivorship care information received by cancer survivors living in rural Australia and whether this varies according to demographic factors or cancer type.

Methods

Self-reported receipt of a survivorship care plan (SCP) and information on various aspects of survivorship care (e.g., managing side effects, healthy lifestyles, psychosocial advice and monitoring for recurrence) were collected from 215 cancer survivors who had returned home to a rural area in Queensland Australia after receiving cancer treatment in a major city within the previous 5 years (72% in the previous 12 months). Logistic regression was used to assess for differences across demographic factors and cancer type.

Results

Only 35% of participants reported receiving a SCP and proportions of those reporting the receipt of specific information varied from 74% for information on short-term side effects to less than 30% for information on finances, chemoprevention and monitoring for signs of recurrence. No significant differences were found in the receipt of survivorship care information across demographic factors or cancer type.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that cancer survivors living in rural areas are not consistently provided with adequate survivorship care information, particularly that pertaining to long-term health and recovery.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Without improved systems for delivering survivorship care information to patients returning home to rural communities after treatment, these cancer survivors risk missing out on necessary information and advice to maintain their health, wellbeing and long-term recovery.
Epileptogenesis in Common Parasitic Infections
Authors: Mazumder Rajarshi , Lee John K.
Published: March 2022

Purpose of the review

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) has been well recognized as a leading cause of epilepsy. More recently, studies of other parasitic diseases such as cerebral malaria (CM) and onchocerciasis are yielding novel insights into the pathogenesis of parasite-associated epilepsy. We compare the clinical and electrophysiological findings in epilepsy associated with these highly prevalent parasites and discuss the mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis.

Recent Findings

Electrophysiological and imaging biomarkers continue to emerge, and individuals who are at-risk of developing parasite-associated epilepsies are being identified with greater reliability. While both Taenia solium and Plasmodium falciparum directly affect the brain parenchyma, Onchocerca volvulus is not known to invade the central nervous system. Thus, the causal association between O. volvulus and epilepsy remains controversial.

Both NCC and CM have a well-defined acute phase when the parasites directly or indirectly invade the brain parenchyma and lead to local inflammatory changes. This is followed by a chronic phase marked by recurrent seizures. However, these stages of epileptogenic process have not been identified in the case of O. volvulus.
Translation of policy for reducing undernutrition from national to sub-national levels in Rwanda
Authors: Iruhiriye Elyse , Olney Deanna K. , Frongillo Edward A. , Niyongira Emmanuel , Nanama Simeon , Rwibasira Eugene , Mbonyi Paul , Blake Christine E.
Published: March 2022

Understanding how countries improve children’s nutrition can inform policies and contribute to further improvements. We examined the relationship between improvements in nutrition in Rwanda (1992–2017) and political commitment to- and policy coherence in- nutrition. We reviewed nutrition-relevant Rwandan policies and programs (2000–2018) and conducted 90 semi-structured interviews with national (n = 32), mid-level (n = 38), and community (n = 20) nutrition stakeholders and 40 community-level focus group discussions (FGDs). FGDs and sub-national interviews were conducted in ten purposefully selected districts, five each in which stunting decreased (reduced) and increased or stagnated (non-reduced) between the 2010 and 2014/15 Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys. Analysis consisted of thematic analysis and the assessment of events, policy developments, and strategies that influenced nutrition in Rwanda, including operationalization of political commitment and policy coherence for nutrition. Political and institutional commitment to nutrition increased in Rwanda as evidenced by the adoption of a multisectoral nutrition policy that was reinforced with national and subnational horizontal coordination platforms. These platforms strengthened multisectoral strategies to address nutrition and supported operational and institutional commitment. The role of mid-level actors in nutrition governance increased as responsibilities for planning, implementing, and monitoring nutrition programs were increasingly delegated to sub-national administrative levels. Variations in policy implementation existed between reduced and non-reduced districts. Despite improvements, challenges remained in coordination, financial commitment, and capacity to address, monitor, and evaluate nutrition. Political commitment to- and policy coherence in- nutrition at the national level are important for improving nutrition, and when reinforced institutionally, can be translated to sub-national levels where implementation occurs.
Biochar from food waste: a sustainable amendment to reduce water stress and improve the growth of chickpea plants
Authors: Pradhan Snigdhendubala , Mackey Hamish R. , Al-Ansari Tareq A. , McKay Gordon
Published: March 2022

The application of biochar in agriculture is a developing means to improve soil water retention, fertility, and crop yield. The present work focuses on biochar preparation from mixed vegetable and fruit wastes, using cauliflower, cabbage, banana peels, corn leaves, and corn cobs. The biochar produced at 400 °C was applied to the soil as an amendment to observe the qualitative changes of soil quality, plant growth, and water retention capacity of the soil based on screening in a previous study. Pot experiments were conducted at a laboratory scale having 0%, 2%, and 6% biochar mixed with sand. Each pot was sown with seeds of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and monitored over 60 days. Two biochar application rates improved soil quality by increasing soil porosity from 49.3 to ≥ 53.4%, more than doubling cation exchange capacity to ≥ 21.1 cmolc.kg−1, providing a small reduction in bulk density of approximately 10% and decreasing electrical conductivity of the extract by at least 40% in comparison to control condition. The biochar application also increased key soil nutrients K, Mn, S, and P by a factor of 2–9 times. Application of biochar at 2% and 6% improved water retention from 55 to 77 and 91 mL respectively over the study and, more importantly, more than doubled the biomass yield for the same water application. The lower biochar application rate of 2% led to more germinated seeds (p = 0.0001), leaves (p = 0.0001), flowers, and fruiting chickpeas than the control condition. The 6% biochar application rate slightly improved plant height (p = 0.01) and provided a small reduction in water loss compared with the 2% biochar. Both biochar loadings increased the root and shoot biomass (p = 0.005) and nutrient content of the shoot and root biomass, particularly K, P, and S (p = 0.0001). This study demonstrates that biochar application at 2–6% is an effective means to increase chickpea yield and reduce water stress. Given small differences in performance within this application range, 2% application is recommended. The study establishes valorization of cellulose rich food waste in the form of biochar as a potential method for positive soil management and increased agricultural productivity in arid environments.
Interrelations Between Food Form, Texture, and Matrix Influence Energy Intake and Metabolic Responses
Authors: Forde Ciarán G. , Bolhuis Dieuwerke
Published: March 2022

Purpose of Review

Nutrition often focuses on food composition, yet differences in food form, texture, and matrix influence energy intake and metabolism. This review outlines how these attributes of food impact oral processing, energy intake, and metabolism.

Recent Findings

Food form has a well-established impact on intake, where liquids are consumed more than solids and semi-solids. For solids, texture properties likethickness,hardness, andlubrication, and geometrical properties like size and shape influence oral processing, eating rate, and intake. Food matrix integrity can influence nutrient and energy absorption and is strongly influenced by food processing.

Summary

Food texture and matrix play important roles in modulating energy intake and absorption. Future research needs to consider the often overlooked role of texture and matrix effects on energy and metabolic responses to composite foods and meals. Research is needed to understand how processing impacts macro- and micro-structure of food and its long-term impact on energy balance and health.