bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact van de 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT-scan op het behandeladvies voor patiënten met prostaatkanker en een biochemisch recidief na curatieve therapie
Authors: Meijer Dennie , Ettema Rosemarijn H. , van Leeuwen Pim J. , Oosterholt Pepijn M. J. , Bodar Yves J. L. , van der Poel Henk G. , Hendrikse N. Harry , Donswijk Maarten L. , Wondergem Maurits , Vellekoop Annelies E. , van Moorselaar R. Jeroen A. , Nieuwenhuijzen Jakko A. , Oprea-Lager Daniela E. , Vis André N.
Published: July 2021

Samenvatting

Het doel van deze studie was te onderzoeken of de bevindingen op een 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan leiden tot een verandering van het behandeladvies voor patiënten met een biochemisch recidief (BCR) prostaatkanker. 253 patiënten met BCR-prostaatkanker bij wie een 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan werd gemaakt ter herstadiëring, werden geïncludeerd. Twee urologen formuleerden een voorgestelde behandeling voor elke patiënt voor- en nadat zij kennis hadden genomen van de uitslagen van de 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan. Bij 103/253 patiënten (40,7%) werd een verandering van het behandeladvies beschreven. Een positieve 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan (p < 0,001) en een positieve pathologische lymfeklierstatus (pN1; p = 0,024) waren significante voorspellers van een voorgenomen beleidswijziging, terwijl een positieve chirurgische marge (p = 0,022) negatief geassocieerd was met een voorgenomen beleidswijziging. De conclusie luidt dat bevindingen op een 18F‑DCFPyL PET/CT-scan een significante impact hebben op het voorgestelde beleid bij patiënten met BCR-prostaatkanker.
Real Lines on Random Cubic Surfaces
Authors: Ait El Manssour Rida , Belotti Mara , Meroni Chiara
Published: July 2021

We give an explicit formula for the expectation of the number of real lines on a random invariant cubic surface, i.e., a surface $$Z\subset {\mathbb {R}}{\mathrm {P}}^3$$

Z
⊂
R

P

3

defined by a random gaussian polynomial whose probability distribution is invariant under the action of the orthogonal group O(4) by change of variables. Such invariant distributions are completely described by one parameter $$\lambda \in [0,1]$$

λ
∈
[
0
,
1
]

and as a function of this parameter the expected number of real lines equals: $$\begin{aligned} E_\lambda =\frac{9(8\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2)}{2\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2}\left( \frac{2\lambda ^2}{8\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2}-\frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{3}\sqrt{\frac{8\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2}{20\lambda ^2+(1-\lambda )^2}}\right) . \end{aligned}$$

E
λ

=

9
(
8

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

)

2

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

2

λ
2

8

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

-

1
3

+

2
3

8

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

20

λ
2

+

(
1
-
λ
)

2

.

This result generalizes previous results by Basu et al. (Math Ann 374(3–4):1773–1810, 2019) for the case of a Kostlan polynomial, which corresponds to $$\lambda =\frac{1}{3}$$

λ
=

1
3

and for which $$E_{\frac{1}{3}}=6\sqrt{2}-3.$$

E

1
3

=
6

2

-
3
.

Moreover, we show that the expectation of the number of real lines is maximized by random purely harmonic cubic polynomials, which corresponds to the case $$\lambda =1$$

λ
=
1

and for which $$E_1=24\sqrt{\frac{2}{5}}-3$$

E
1

=
24

2
5

-
3

.
Finite element implementation and application of a sand model in micropolar theory
Authors: Liu Jiangxin , Yin Zhen-Yu , Wu Lijian , Hicher Pierre-Yves
Published: July 2021

In traditional finite element failure analyses of geotechnical structures, the micro grain rotations cannot be modelled and numerical solutions are mesh dependent. In this study, a user element including rotational degree of freedom has been developed based on micropolar theory (Cosserat theory), then an enhanced non-associated sand model is calibrated with laboratory data and used to model the plane strain tests. The simulated results demonstrate the polarized model is able to model reasonably the sand behavior as well as the grain rotations in the localized region. What’s more, with this enhanced model, the mesh independent numerical solutions in terms of mechanical responses, shear bands thickness and orientations have been obtained.

Article highlights

In failure analysis of geostructures, significant rotations of soil grains have been observed to occur in the strain localized regions, but the current commercial Finite Element tools cannot model the micro rotations. Therefore, a user defined element must be developed to include the rotational degree of freedom.
The micropolar approach is proven to be effective to model the grain rations in present paper.

More suitable than other classical soil or sand constitutive models, the selected non-associated sand model in
present paper is capable of describing well the contraction and shear dilatancy behaviors of sand. Then the model
has been enhanced by means of micropolar technique, in this way, the reasonable strain localization phenomena
in laboratory tests could be predicted well.

There are always the mesh dependent problems for traditional simulations of the strain localization phenomena in finite element analysis. It can be found in present paper that the mesh independent numerical solutions are obtained by means of micropolar technique. Furthermore, the micropolar approach can obviously improve convergence difficulties in finite element analyses.
Gerrymandering the States
Authors: Keena Alex , Latner Michael , McGann Anthony J. McGann , Smith Charles Anthony
Published: July 2021

State legislatures are tasked with drawing state and federal districts and administering election law, among many other responsibilities. Yet state legislatures are themselves gerrymandered. This book examines how, why, and with what consequences, drawing on an original dataset of ninety-five state legislative maps from before and after 2011 redistricting. Identifying the institutional, political, and geographic determinants of gerrymandering, the authors find that Republican gerrymandering increased dramatically after the 2011 redistricting and bias was most extreme in states with racial segregation where Republicans drew the maps. This bias has had long-term consequences. For instance, states with the most extreme Republican gerrymandering were more likely to pass laws that restricted voting rights and undermined public health, and they were less likely to respond to COVID-19. The authors examine the implications for American democracy and for the balance of power between federal and state government; they also offer empirically grounded recommendations for reform.
Media, technology, and the sins of memory
Authors: Schacter Daniel L.
Published: July 2021

Human memory is prone to error and distortion. It has been proposed that memory's misdeeds can be classified into seven categories or ‘sins’. This article discusses the impact of media and technology on four memory sins:transience(forgetting over time),absent-mindedness(lapses in attention that produce forgetting),misattribution(attributing a memory to the wrong source), andsuggestibility(implanted memories). Growing concerns have been expressed about the negative impact of media and technology on memory. With respect to transience, I review research regarding the impact of the Internet (ie, Google), GPS, and photographs. Studies have documented impaired memory following specific tasks on which people rely on media/technology (eg, poor memory for a route after using GPS), but have revealed little evidence for broader impairments (eg, generally impaired memory in GPS users), and have also documented some mnemonic benefits (eg, reviewing photos of past experiences). For absent-mindedness, there is strong evidence that media multitasking is associated with poor memory for a target task (eg, a lecture) because of attentional lapses, suggesting evidence that chronic media multitasking could be associated with broader memory problems, and emerging evidence that technology can help to reduce certain kinds of absent-minded errors. Regarding misattribution and suggestibility, there is clear evidence that manipulated or misleading photos are associated with false memories for personal events and fake news, but no evidence of broader effects on susceptibility to memory distortion. Further study of the impact of media and technology on the memory sins is a fruitful pursuit for interdisciplinary studies.
Autobiographies and Weak Ties: Saʾin al-Din Turka's Self-Narratives
Authors: Binbaş İlker Evrim
Published: July 2021

As I write this essay, the forty-fourth US President Barack Obama's autobiography titled A Promised Land is the best-selling book in Germany, in both the German and the English editions. This is his second autobiographical work, following Dreams from My Father in 1995. Given Obama's prominent place in our modern political culture, this is hardly surprising, but today's publishers seem to have no specific criteria for deciding whose life and career are worthy of an autobiography. Any moderately successful individual from any walk of life can publish an autobiography today. The popularity of the genre is certainly related to the extreme glorification of individual and personal success in modern society, but it also shapes how we view premodern self-narratives: as a window into an intellectual's individuality and Bildung. This essay questions this convention and explores the opportunities that self-narratives embedded in literary and narrative sources present to historians of 15th-century Iran and Central Asia. I will argue that autobiographies and self-narratives are much more than tools for refashioning the self in the early modern period. They open a window to a much wider network of weak ties and acquaintances, a closer scrutiny of which may allow us to reconstruct transregional networks, understand the connectedness of these intellectual networks, and delineate their collective identities in the early modern period. In my discussion I will focus on a selection of 15th-century texts, most prominently the self-narratives of the Timurid intellectual Saʾin al-Dīn Turka (d. 1432).
The Dream Diary of an Ottoman Governor: Kulakzade Mahmud Pasha's Düşnama
Authors: Çörekçi Semra
Published: July 2021

“Muslims were not the first in the Near East to interpret dreams. This type of divination had a long history, and Muslims were not ignorant of that history.” The interest of early Arab Islamic cultures in dreams can be proved by the vast literature on dreams and their interpretation as well as dream accounts written in diverse historical texts. The Ottoman Empire was no different in that it also shared this culture of dream interpretation and narration. Unlike past scholarship that ignored the significance of dreams, the number of studies addressing the subject has increased in the recent decades, thanks to the growing tendency of scholars to see dreams as potential sources for cultural history. However, as Peter Burke has stated, scholars and historians in particular must bear in mind the fact that “they do not have access to the dream itself but at best to a written record, modified by the preconscious or conscious mind in the course of recollection and writing.” Historians must be aware of the fact that dream accounts might be recorded by dreamers who recounted how they wanted to remember them. The “reality” of the dream, in a sense, may be distorted. However, dream accounts, distorted or not, can provide a ground for historical analysis because they may reveal the most intimate sentiments, aspirations, and anxieties of the dreamer. Such self-narratives can provide the historian with information necessary to map the mindset of a historical personage, because “such ‘secondary elaboration’ probably reveals the character and problems of the dreamer as clearly as the dream itself does.” This paper focuses on a sampling of dreams related in an 18th-century Ottoman self-narrative to provide insight into the life and mind of an Ottoman governor. I will try to demonstrate how the author of the narrative made meaning of those dreams and revealed his aspirations.
A field–particle correlation analysis of a perpendicular magnetized collisionless shock
Authors: Juno James , Howes Gregory G. , TenBarge Jason M. , Wilson Lynn B. , Spitkovsky Anatoly , Caprioli Damiano , Klein Kristopher G. , Hakim Ammar
Published: July 2021

Using the field–particle correlation technique, we examine the particle energization in a three-dimensional (one spatial dimension and two velocity dimensions; 1D-2V) continuum Vlasov–Maxwell simulation of a perpendicular magnetized collisionless shock. The combination of the field–particle correlation technique with the high-fidelity representation of the particle distribution function provided by a direct discretization of the Vlasov equation allows us to ascertain the details of the exchange of energy between the electromagnetic fields and the particles in phase space. We identify the velocity-space signatures of shock-drift acceleration of the ions and adiabatic heating of the electrons arising from the perpendicular collisionless shock by constructing a simplified model with the minimum ingredients necessary to produce the observed energization signatures in the self-consistent Vlasov–Maxwell simulation. We are thus able to completely characterize the energy transfer in the perpendicular collisionless shock considered here and provide predictions for the application of the field–particle correlation technique to spacecraft measurements of collisionless shocks.
Prevalence and determinants of symptomatic COVID-19 infection among children and adolescents in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of 11 445 individuals
Authors: Musa Omran A. H. , Chivese Tawanda , Bansal Devendra , Abdulmajeed Jazeel , Ameen Osman , Islam Nazmul , Xu Chang , Sallam Mohamed A. , Albayat Soha S. , Khogali Hayat S. , Ahmed Shazia N. N. , Himatt Sayed M. , Nour Mohamed , Elberdiny Aiman A. , Abdallah Abdallah Musa , Furuya-Kanamori Luis , Al-Romaihi Hamad E. , Doi Suhail A. R. , Al-Thani Mohammed H. J. , Abu Baker Abd Farag Elmoubashar
Published: July 2021

There is a paucity of evidence about the prevalence and risk factors for symptomatic infection among children. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its risk factors in children and adolescents aged 0–18 years in Qatar. We conducted a cross-sectional study of all children aged 0–18 years diagnosed with COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction in Qatar during the period 1st March to 31st July 2020. A generalised linear model with a binomial family and identity link was used to assess the association between selected factors and the prevalence of symptomatic infection. A total of 11 445 children with a median age of 8 years (interquartile range (IQR) 3–13 years) were included in this study. The prevalence of symptomatic COVID-19 was 36.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 35.7–37.5), and it was similar between children aged <5 years (37.8%), 5–9 years (34.3%) and 10 + years (37.3%). The most frequently reported symptoms among the symptomatic group were fever (73.5%), cough (34.8%), headache (23.2%) and sore throat (23.2%). Fever (82.8%) was more common in symptomatic children aged <5 years, while cough (38.7%) was more prevalent in those aged 10 years or older, compared to other age groups. Variables associated with an increased risk of symptomatic infection were; contact with confirmed cases (RD 0.21; 95% CI 0.20–0.23; P = 0.001), having visited a health care facility (RD 0.54; 95% CI 0.45–0.62; P = 0.001), and children aged under 5 years (RD 0.05; 95% CI 0.02–0.07; P = 0.001) or aged 10 years or older (RD 0.04; 95% CI 0.02–0.06; P = 0.001). A third of the children with COVID-19 were symptomatic with a higher proportion of fever in very young children and a higher proportion of cough in those between 10 and 18 years of age.
Quantifying seed germination based on thermal models to predict global climate change impacts on Cerrado species
Authors: Correa Amanda Ribeiro , Pereira da Silva Ana Mayra , de Aquino Arantes Carita Rodrigues , Guimarães Sebastião Carneiro , Camili Elisangela Clarete , de Fátima Barbosa Coelho Maria
Published: July 2021

Seed germination is regulated by temperature and can thus be quantified by thermal models, which can predict germination occurrence in biomes and plant survival under possible climate change scenarios. The objective of this study was to quantify germination based on thermal time and survival risk of 14 species in the Brazilian Cerrado in scenarios of future climate change. Seeds were collected in the warmer regions of the Cerrado, central Brazil, placed in incubators to germinate at constant temperatures of 10–50°C and evaluated every hour or day. Germination rate (R50), time for germination of 50% of the seeds (T50) and dent-like function were used to determine cardinal temperatures. Thermal time parameters were estimated using the Weibull model. Seed germination forecasts were made based on the International Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC) scenarios of global temperature increase. Base temperatures (Tb) ranged from 3.5 to 16.5°C, maximum temperatures (Tmax) from 35 to 50°C and optimum temperatures (To) from 30 to 35°C. Estimated thermal time varied from 484°C h to 400°C d at sub-optimal temperatures and 108°C h at 126°C d at supra-optimal temperatures. Species more distributed showed a higher thermal range of germination and are less susceptible to extinction in temperature increase scenarios. The results of this study suggest that seeds that are non-dormant after dispersal may be the most vulnerable in the future. In this context, our predictions contribute to understand how the survival of trees and shrubs will be affected in the Cerrado in the future.
‘Where Have all the Distortions Gone?’ Appellate Body Report, Ukraine–Ammonium Nitrate
Authors: Herghelegiu Cristina , Rubini Luca
Published: July 2021

This article reviews the Appellate Body Report in the Ukraine–Ammonium Nitrate dispute that focused on the impact of Russia's dual pricing in the natural gas market on the ammonium nitrate market. Interpreting the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement (ADA), the Appellate Body rejected the possibility to reject input costs, which, though distorted, were duly reported in the company's records, and to replace them with a surrogate price which, for the Ukrainian authorities, was the (adjusted) export price of Russian natural gas at the German border. In this article, (a) we fully review the background of the dispute, showing the connections between natural gas and ammonium nitrate prices, and the impact on Russia's price regulation of the domestic market on them; (b) we then review the ADA and concur with the interpretation of the Appellate Body, essentially for systemic reasons; (c) for completeness, we also investigate whether econometrics could accurately determine the natural gas benchmark price in Russia and conclude in the negative; (d) since dual pricing gives an economic benefit to domestic ammonium nitrate producers, we finally test dual pricing under the WTO subsidy rules. The conclusion is that the current disciplines are not likely to apply to dual pricing and lead us to conclude that important distortions are currently left without regulation in the WTO.
How does an allowance for a non-working younger partner affect the retirement behaviour of couples?
Authors: Nagore García Amparo , van Soest Arthur
Published: July 2021

We examine the effect of the partner allowance (PA) in the Dutch pension system on the retirement decisions of couples using administrative data. PA was paid to people who receive the public old-age pension with a partner younger than the state pension age (SPA) and with a low own income. PA worked as a financial incentive to retire earlier, especially for the younger partners. As of 1 April 2015, new old-age pensioners are no longer entitled to this allowance. We estimate the effect of this reform on the retirement behaviour of each spouse. To account for the fact that at the same time, another reform essentially put an end to generous early retirement arrangements, we compare singles and couples. We conclude that PA substantially increased female younger partners' probabilities to exit from part-time employment into retirement close to the older partner's SPA. On the other hand, there is no evidence that male younger partners (either full-time or part-time workers) responded to the PA reform. In addition, PA increased male older partners’ probabilities to retire in the years before reaching their SPA.
Identifying the influential factors, benefits and challenges of hydroponic shipping container farm businesses: a snapshot of farmers' perceptions
Authors: Wagner Nicole , Morrish Douglas , Juarez Marcella
Published: July 2021

This preliminary mixed methods study utilized an online survey and phone interviews to examine the benefits, challenges and user experience of farmers utilizing hydroponic shipping container farms (HSCFs). Due to the novelty of this crop production method, and thus the relatively small number of commercial farmers adopting this technology, 12 commercial HSCF businesses, of 46 identified online and via social media, participated in this study. Because population size was small, and 11 of the 12 farms had been in business a very short amount of time (two years or less), the following results are preliminary. The results showed that HSCFs gave farmers the ability to produce locally, sustainably and in new areas. Seventy-five percent of the farmers (n= 9) strongly agreed or agreed that the HSCFhelped their farm become more productive, did everything they expected it to doandwas efficient.Most participants were satistifed (n= 8; 66.7%) with their HSCFs; one was very satisfied (8.3%), while others wereneutral(n= 1; 8.3%) anddissatisfied(n= 2; 16.7%). Participant expectations were most met regarding incorporation of technology, reduced resource use and efficiency; however, 50.0% of the farmers (n= 6) disagreed or strongly disagreed that the HSCF was profitable. Some farmers reported that HSCFs are efficient in production, although their units were not as productive and profitable, nor as user friendly as they expected. Regarding HSCF challenges, power usage and startup costs were ranked most highly, while finding labor was the least challenging. Following phone interviews with three profitable farmers, it was revealed that their success was due to growing local food that was in demand by their community. While this study identified several challenges of HSCFs, this technology may have benefits, for example in areas with limited arable land and water resources, and may offer some farmers a way to be profitable, especially by tapping the growing consumer demand for local produce.
Typical Errors Made by Children and Adolescents with Developmental Dyscalculia
Authors: Meier Patricia , McCaskey Ursina , Kucian Karin
Published: July 2021

Abstract. Background: Poor numeracy and numerical learning problems are very common in our society and present serious obstacles in daily live, school or professional success. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to identify typical error patterns and problem solving strategies in children and adolescents with developmental dyscalculia (DD). Methods: We have examined 86 participants; half had a diagnosed DD (mean 15.5 years) and were compared to typically developing peers (mean 13.9 years). Numerical skills were tested by the standardized test battery BASIS-MATH 4–8. In addition, intelligence, alertness, spatial working memory, and math anxiety were assessed. Results: Results showed that subtractions, completion, and division are particularly challenging for DD. This applied notably to basic operations with large numbers, crossing tens/hundreds, but also simpler calculation problems. Item analyses revealed 10 calculation problems that differentiated best between groups. Moreover, DD used efficient calculation strategies to a lower extent. Discussion: In summary, basic numerical skills in DD, including those of lower difficulty levels, are clearly limited and even adolescents fail in such tasks. Moreover, we were able to identify 10 numerical tasks that would be particularly meaningful to implement in a DD-screener. Finally, our findings highlight the importance of considering individual problem-solving strategies when evaluating people with DD in a clinical, therapeutic or school setting.
Comment on “Fragmentation of the Adriatic Promontory: New Chronological Constraints From Neogene Shortening Rates Across the Southern Alps (NE Italy)” by Moulin & Benedetti
Authors: Poli M. E. , Monegato G. , Fontana A. , Mozzi P. , Rossato S. , Zampieri D. , Falcucci E. , Gori S. , Caputo R. , Zanferrari A.
Published: July 2021

Moulin and Benedetti (2018),https://doi.org/10.1029/2018TC004958present a new interpretation of the Neogene‐Quaternary tectonic evolution of the Eastern Southern Alps (ESA) in Veneto‐Friuli. After the reinterpretation of literature field data by means of remote sensing analysis (Digital Elevation Model interpretation), they calculated deformation rates of the tectonic structures through age interpretation of geomorphological surfaces of the Veneto‐Friuli piedmont plain. The authors linked the result of surface analysis to the thrust and fold architecture of the ESA basing on the Castellarin et al. (2006),https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2005.10.013interpretation of TRANSALP project and the Friuli geological map at the scale 1:150,000 (Carulli, 2006). Discussing their new architecture of the ESA, the authors finally yielded rates of Europe‐Adria plates convergence and suggested fragmentation of Adria over the last 1–2 Ma. The present comment is aimed at discussing several critical points concerning: the use of the geomorphological and chronological data; the misinterpretation of the Digital Terrain Model; the reconstruction of the balanced geological cross section. Moreover, the application of a structural model defined in a certain area to another without considering peculiar structural complexities available in the literature results is geologically and methodologically questionable.
Initiating Salt Tectonics by Tilting: Viscous Coupling Between a Tilted Salt Layer and Overlying Brittle Sediment
Authors: Hamdani Itzhak , Aharonov Einat , Olive Jean‐Arthur , Parez Stanislav , Gvirtzman Zohar
Published: July 2021

Salt basins often exhibit a shelf/slope region of extension and a deeper domain of contraction. The up‐slope normal faults in such salt tectonics systems are often associated with the pinch‐out edge of the buried salt layer. Although the spatial correlation between the normal faults and the salt pinch‐out was previously observed, the mechanism was not fully explained. The Levant basin, which is a young and mildly deformed salt basin with a relatively thin overburden, provides an opportunity to analyze a simple salt tectonics system driven by basin margin tilt, and the formation of the normal faults. This work presents analytical and numerical modeling of the coupled viscous salt and overlying visco‐plastic sediment layer. Results suggest the viscosities of both the sediment overburden and salt, as well as their thicknesses, control the deformation of the coupled layers. The visco‐plastic deformation mechanism explains quantitatively the position of faulting and observations of the temporal evolution of brittle deformation in the Levant basin margin. It predicts that the largest stress in the overburden arises above the salt edge, driving normal faulting at that location. Our model also places quantitative constraints on the effective viscosity of the overburden (>2 × 1020 Pa s), which is consistent with experimentally‐determined creep laws. Our results contribute to the understanding of halokinematics in salt basins during the early stages of deformation and will allow better assessment of geological hazards related to salt related deformation.
Paleobathymetry of Submarine Lavas in the Samail and Troodos Ophiolites: Insights From Volatiles in Glasses and Implications for Hydrothermal Systems
Authors: Belgrano Thomas M. , Tollan Peter M. , Marxer Felix , Diamond Larryn W.
Published: July 2021

Hydrostatic pressure exerted by the ocean water column fundamentally influences magmatic and hydrothermal processes in submarine volcanic settings and is therefore an important parameter to know when investigating such processes. Currently, there are few reliable methods for reconstructing past ocean depths for ancient volcanic terranes. Here, we develop and test an empirically calibrated statistical approach for determining paleodepths of eruption from the concentrations of H2O and CO2 dissolved in volcanic glasses, utilizing the well‐defined pressure‐dependent solubility of these volatiles in silicate melts. By comparing newly determined and published glass compositions from the Samail and Troodos ophiolites with sedimentary and fluid inclusion evidence, we propose that the Samail lavas erupted at ocean depths of ∼3.4 km, and the Troodos lavas at ∼4.1 km. These depths are 1–2 km deeper than those assumed in most previous studies of hydrothermal activity in the two ophiolites. These high depths imply high hydrostatic pressures within the underlying oceanic crust. Such pressures may have allowed convecting hydrothermal fluids to attain significantly higher temperatures (e.g., >450°C) than in typical modern ocean ridge hydrothermal systems during metal leaching in the crust and metal precipitation in seafloor sulfide deposits.
Prevalence of benefit finding and posttraumatic growth in long-term cancer survivors: results from a multi-regional population-based survey in Germany
Authors: Liu Zhunzhun , Thong Melissa S. Y. , Doege Daniela , Koch-Gallenkamp Lena , Bertram Heike , Eberle Andrea , Holleczek Bernd , Waldmann Annika , Zeissig Sylke Ruth , Pritzkuleit Ron , Brenner Hermann , Arndt Volker
Published: July 2021

Background

Cancer studies reported mixed results on benefit finding (BF) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) prevalence and few were focused on long-term survivors.

Methods

BF and PTG were assessed in a multi-regional population-based study in Germany with 6952 breast, colorectal and prostate cancer survivors, using the Benefit Finding Scale and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. We calculated the age-adjusted prevalence, stratified by demographical and clinical characteristics.

Results

Overall, 66.0% of cancer survivors indicated moderate-to-high BF, and 20.5% moderate-to-high PTG. Age-adjusted prevalence of BF and PTG differed according to cancer type (breast > colorectal > prostate) and sex (female > male). BF and PTG prevalence were higher in younger than in older respondents; the age-adjusted prevalence was higher in respondents who survived more years after diagnosis. The strength and direction of associations of age-adjusted prevalence with cancer stage, disease recurrence, and time since diagnosis varied according to cancer type and sex.

Conclusions

A substantial proportion of long-term cancer survivors reported moderate-to-high BF and PTG. However, the prevalence was lower in older and male cancer survivors, and during the earlier years after cancer diagnosis. Further longitudinal studies on PTG and BF in cancer survivors are warranted to address heterogeneity in survivors’ experience after cancer diagnosis.
Ensemble learning-iterative training machine learning for uncertainty quantification and automated experiment in atom-resolved microscopy
Authors: Ghosh Ayana , Sumpter Bobby G. , Dyck Ondrej , Kalinin Sergei V. , Ziatdinov Maxim
Published: July 2021

Deep learning has emerged as a technique of choice for rapid feature extraction across imaging disciplines, allowing rapid conversion of the data streams to spatial or spatiotemporal arrays of features of interest. However, applications of deep learning in experimental domains are often limited by the out-of-distribution drift between the experiments, where the network trained for one set of imaging conditions becomes sub-optimal for different ones. This limitation is particularly stringent in the quest to have an automated experiment setting, where retraining or transfer learning becomes impractical due to the need for human intervention and associated latencies. Here we explore the reproducibility of deep learning for feature extraction in atom-resolved electron microscopy and introduce workflows based on ensemble learning and iterative training to greatly improve feature detection. This approach allows incorporating uncertainty quantification into the deep learning analysis and also enables rapid automated experimental workflows where retraining of the network to compensate for out-of-distribution drift due to subtle change in imaging conditions is substituted for human operator or programmatic selection of networks from the ensemble. This methodology can be further applied to machine learning workflows in other imaging areas including optical and chemical imaging.
Parkinson’s disease patient-specific neuronal networks carrying the LRRK2 G2019S mutation unveil early functional alterations that predate neurodegeneration
Authors: Carola G. , Malagarriga D. , Calatayud C. , Pons-Espinal M. , Blasco-Agell L. , Richaud-Patin Y. , Fernandez-Carasa I. , Baruffi V. , Beltramone S. , Molina E. , Dell’Era P. , Toledo-Aral J. J. , Tolosa E. , Muotri A. R. , Garcia Ojalvo J. , Soriano J. , Raya A. , Consiglio A.
Published: July 2021

A deeper understanding of early disease mechanisms occurring in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is needed to reveal restorative targets. Here we report that human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived dopaminergic neurons (DAn) obtained from healthy individuals or patients harboring LRRK2 PD-causing mutation can create highly complex networks with evident signs of functional maturation over time. Compared to control neuronal networks, LRRK2 PD patients’ networks displayed an elevated bursting behavior, in the absence of neurodegeneration. By combining functional calcium imaging, biophysical modeling, and DAn-lineage tracing, we found a decrease in DAn neurite density that triggered overall functional alterations in PD neuronal networks. Our data implicate early dysfunction as a prime focus that may contribute to the initiation of downstream degenerative pathways preceding DAn loss in PD, highlighting a potential window of opportunity for pre-symptomatic assessment of chronic degenerative diseases.
Individualized prediction of three- and six-year outcomes of psychosis in a longitudinal multicenter study: a machine learning approach
Authors: de Nijs Jessica , Burger Thijs J. , Janssen Ronald J. , Kia Seyed Mostafa , van Opstal Daniël P. J. , de Koning Mariken B. , de Haan Lieuwe ,   GROUP investigators, Alizadeh Behrooz Z. , Bartels-Velthuis Agna A. , van Beveren Nico J. , Bruggeman Richard , de Haan Lieuwe , Delespaul Philippe , Luykx Jurjen J. , Myin-Germeys Inez , Kahn Rene S. , Schirmbeck Frederike , Simons Claudia J. P. , van Amelsvoort Therese , van Os Jim , van Winkel Ruud , Cahn Wiepke , Schnack Hugo G.
Published: July 2021

Schizophrenia and related disorders have heterogeneous outcomes. Individualized prediction of long-term outcomes may be helpful in improving treatment decisions. Utilizing extensive baseline data of 523 patients with a psychotic disorder and variable illness duration, we predicted symptomatic and global outcomes at 3-year and 6-year follow-ups. We classified outcomes as (1) symptomatic: in remission or not in remission, and (2) global outcome, using the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale, divided into good (GAF ≥ 65) and poor (GAF < 65). Aiming for a robust and interpretable prediction model, we employed a linear support vector machine and recursive feature elimination within a nested cross-validation design to obtain a lean set of predictors. Generalization to out-of-study samples was estimated using leave-one-site-out cross-validation. Prediction accuracies were above chance and ranged from 62.2% to 64.7% (symptomatic outcome), and 63.5–67.6% (global outcome). Leave-one-site-out cross-validation demonstrated the robustness of our models, with a minor drop in predictive accuracies of 2.3% on average. Important predictors included GAF scores, psychotic symptoms, quality of life, antipsychotics use, psychosocial needs, and depressive symptoms. These robust, albeit modestly accurate, long-term prognostic predictions based on lean predictor sets indicate the potential of machine learning models complementing clinical judgment and decision-making. Future model development may benefit from studies scoping patient’s and clinicians' needs in prognostication.
Longitudinal associations of physical activity with plasma metabolites among colorectal cancer survivors up to 2 years after treatment
Authors: van Roekel Eline H. , Bours Martijn J. L. , van Delden Linda , Breukink Stéphanie O. , Aquarius Michèl , Keulen Eric T. P. , Gicquiau Audrey , Viallon Vivian , Rinaldi Sabina , Vineis Paolo , Arts Ilja C. W. , Gunter Marc J. , Leitzmann Michael F. , Scalbert Augustin , Weijenberg Matty P.
Published: July 2021

We investigated longitudinal associations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light-intensity physical activity (LPA) with plasma concentrations of 138 metabolites after colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Self-reported physical activity data and blood samples were obtained at 6 weeks, and 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment in stage I-III CRC survivors (n = 252). Metabolite concentrations were measured by tandem mass spectrometry (BIOCRATES AbsoluteIDQp180 kit). Linear mixed models were used to evaluate confounder-adjusted longitudinal associations. Inter-individual (between-participant differences) and intra-individual associations (within-participant changes over time) were assessed as percentage difference in metabolite concentration per 5 h/week of MVPA or LPA. At 6 weeks post-treatment, participants reported a median of 6.5 h/week of MVPA (interquartile range:2.3,13.5) and 7.5 h/week of LPA (2.0,15.8). Inter-individual associations were observed with more MVPA being related (FDR-adjusted q-value < 0.05) to higher concentrations of arginine, citrulline and histidine, eight lysophosphatidylcholines, nine diacylphosphatidylcholines, 13 acyl-alkylphosphatidylcholines, two sphingomyelins, and acylcarnitine C10:1. No intra-individual associations were found. LPA was not associated with any metabolite. More MVPA was associated with higher concentrations of several lipids and three amino acids, which have been linked to anti-inflammatory processes and improved metabolic health. Mechanistic studies are needed to investigate whether these metabolites may affect prognosis.
Forward and backward locomotion patterns in C. elegans generated by a connectome-based model simulation
Authors: Sakamoto Kazuma , Soh Zu , Suzuki Michiyo , Iino Yuichi , Tsuji Toshio
Published: July 2021

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) can produce various motion patterns despite having only 69 motor neurons and 95 muscle cells. Previous studies successfully elucidate the connectome and role of the respective motor neuron classes related to movement. However, these models have not analyzed the distribution of the synaptic and gap connection weights. In this study, we examined whether a motor neuron and muscle network can generate oscillations for both forward and backward movement and analyzed the distribution of the trained synaptic and gap connection weights through a machine learning approach. This paper presents a connectome-based neural network model consisting of motor neurons of classes A, B, D, AS, and muscle, considering both synaptic and gap connections. A supervised learning method called backpropagation through time was adapted to train the connection parameters by feeding teacher data composed of the command neuron input and muscle cell activation. Simulation results confirmed that the motor neuron circuit could generate oscillations with different phase patterns corresponding to forward and backward movement, and could be switched at arbitrary times according to the binary inputs simulating the output of command neurons. Subsequently, we confirmed that the trained synaptic and gap connection weights followed a Boltzmann-type distribution. It should be noted that the proposed model can be trained to reproduce the activity patterns measured for an animal (HRB4 strain). Therefore, the supervised learning approach adopted in this study may allow further analysis of complex activity patterns associated with movements.
Prediction of skin disease using a new cytological taxonomy based on cytology and pathology with deep residual learning method
Authors: Bu Jin , Lin Yu , Qing Li-Qiong , Hu Gang , Jiang Pei , Hu Hai-Feng , Shen Er-Xia
Published: July 2021

With the development of artificial intelligence, technique improvement of the classification of skin disease is addressed. However, few study concerned on the current classification system of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD)-10 on Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, which is now globally used for classification of skin disease. This study was aimed to develop a new taxonomy of skin disease based on cytology and pathology, and test its predictive effect on skin disease compared to ICD-10. A new taxonomy (Taxonomy 2) containing 6 levels (Project 2–4) was developed based on skin cytology and pathology, and represents individual diseases arranged in a tree structure with three root nodes representing: (1) Keratinogenic diseases, (2) Melanogenic diseases, and (3) Diseases related to non-keratinocytes and non-melanocytes. The predictive effects of the new taxonomy including accuracy, precision, recall, F1, and Kappa were compared with those of ICD-10 on Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (Taxonomy 1, Project 1) by Deep Residual Learning method. For each project, 2/3 of the images were included as training group, and the rest 1/3 of the images acted as test group according to the category (class) as the stratification variable. Both train and test groups in the Projects (2 and 3) from Taxonomy 2 had higher F1 and Kappa scores without statistical significance on the prediction of skin disease than the corresponding groups in the Project 1 from Taxonomy 1, however both train and test groups in Project 4 had a statistically significantly higher F1-score than the corresponding groups in Project 1 (P = 0.025 and 0.005, respectively). The results showed that the new taxonomy developed based on cytology and pathology has an overall better performance on predictive effect of skin disease than the ICD-10 on Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The level 5 (Project 4) of Taxonomy 2 is better on extension to unknown data of diagnosis system assisted by AI compared to current used classification system from ICD-10, and may have the potential application value in clinic of dermatology.
Mucosa-associated gut microbiota reflects clinical course of ulcerative colitis
Authors: Nishihara Yuichiro , Ogino Haruei , Tanaka Masaru , Ihara Eikichi , Fukaura Keita , Nishioka Kei , Chinen Takatoshi , Tanaka Yoshimasa , Nakayama Jiro , Kang Dongchon , Ogawa Yoshihiro
Published: July 2021

This longitudinal study was designed to elucidate whether gut microbiota is associated with relapse and treatment response in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Fifty-one patients with UC were enrolled between 2012 and 2017, and followed up through 2020. Colon mucosal biopsy were obtained at enrollment, and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was performed using extracted RNA. Of the 51 patients, 24 were in remission and 27 had active UC at enrollment. Of the 24 patients in remission, 17 maintained remission and 7 developed relapse during follow-up. The 7 patients with relapse showed lower diversity, with a lower proportion of Clostridiales (p = 0.0043), and a higher proportion of Bacteroides (p = 0.047) at enrollment than those without relapse. The 27 patients with active UC were classified into response (n = 6), refractory (n = 13), and non-response (n = 8) groups according to their treatment response in 6 months. The refractory and non-response groups showed lower diversity with a lower proportion of Prevotella (p = 0.048 and 0.043) at enrollment than the response group. This study is the first demonstration that reduced diversity and particular microbes are associated with the later clinical course of relapse events and treatment response in UC.
Identification of new GLUT2-selective inhibitors through in silico ligand screening and validation in eukaryotic expression systems
Authors: Schmidl Sina , Ursu Oleg , Iancu Cristina V. , Oreb Mislav , Oprea Tudor I. , Choe Jun-yong
Published: July 2021

Glucose is an essential energy source for cells. In humans, its passive diffusion through the cell membrane is facilitated by members of the glucose transporter family (GLUT, SLC2 gene family). GLUT2 transports both glucose and fructose with low affinity and plays a critical role in glucose sensing mechanisms. Alterations in the function or expression of GLUT2 are involved in the Fanconi–Bickel syndrome, diabetes, and cancer. Distinguishing GLUT2 transport in tissues where other GLUTs coexist is challenging due to the low affinity of GLUT2 for glucose and fructose and the scarcity of GLUT-specific modulators. By combining in silico ligand screening of an inward-facing conformation model of GLUT2 and glucose uptake assays in a hexose transporter-deficient yeast strain, in which the GLUT1-5 can be expressed individually, we identified eleven new GLUT2 inhibitors (IC50 ranging from 0.61 to 19.3 µM). Among them, nine were GLUT2-selective, one inhibited GLUT1-4 (pan-Class I GLUT inhibitor), and another inhibited GLUT5 only. All these inhibitors dock to the substrate cavity periphery, close to the large cytosolic loop connecting the two transporter halves, outside the substrate-binding site. The GLUT2 inhibitors described here have various applications; GLUT2-specific inhibitors can serve as tools to examine the pathophysiological role of GLUT2 relative to other GLUTs, the pan-Class I GLUT inhibitor can block glucose entry in cancer cells, and the GLUT2/GLUT5 inhibitor can reduce the intestinal absorption of fructose to combat the harmful effects of a high-fructose diet.
Frequency, risk factors, and outcomes of hospital readmissions of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Ramos-Martínez Antonio , Parra-Ramírez Lina Marcela , Morrás Ignacio , Carnevali María , Jiménez-Ibañez Lorena , Rubio-Rivas Manuel , Arnalich Francisco , Beato José Luis , Monge Daniel , Asín Uxua , Suárez Carmen , Freire Santiago Jesús , Méndez-Bailón Manuel , Perales Isabel , Loureiro-Amigo José , Gómez-Belda Ana Belén , Pesqueira Paula María , Gómez-Huelgas Ricardo , Mella Carmen , Díez-García Luis Felipe , Fernández-Sola Joaquim , González-Ferrer Ruth , Aroza Marina , Antón-Santos Juan Miguel , Bermejo Carlos Lumbreras
Published: July 2021

To determine the proportion of patients with COVID-19 who were readmitted to the hospital and the most common causes and the factors associated with readmission. Multicenter nationwide cohort study in Spain. Patients included in the study were admitted to 147 hospitals from March 1 to April 30, 2020. Readmission was defined as a new hospital admission during the 30 days after discharge. Emergency department visits after discharge were not considered readmission. During the study period 8392 patients were admitted to hospitals participating in the SEMI-COVID-19 network. 298 patients (4.2%) out of 7137 patients were readmitted after being discharged. 1541 (17.7%) died during the index admission and 35 died during hospital readmission (11.7%, p = 0.007). The median time from discharge to readmission was 7 days (IQR 3–15 days). The most frequent causes of hospital readmission were worsening of previous pneumonia (54%), bacterial infection (13%), venous thromboembolism (5%), and heart failure (5%). Age [odds ratio (OR): 1.02; 95% confident interval (95% CI): 1.01–1.03], age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index score (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06–1.21), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.26–2.69), asthma (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.04–2.22), hemoglobin level at admission (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86–0.99), ground-glass opacification at admission (OR: 0.86; 95% CI:0.76–0.98) and glucocorticoid treatment (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.00–1.66) were independently associated with hospital readmission. The rate of readmission after hospital discharge for COVID-19 was low. Advanced age and comorbidity were associated with increased risk of readmission.