bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbonyl oxide chemistry in water cluster: An extended computational study
Authors: Kashyap Chayanika , Baruah Indrani , Rohman Shahnaz S. , Ullah Sabnam S. , Kalita Amlan J. , Borgohain Gargi , Guha Ankur K.
Published: July 2020

An extended computational approach has been utilized to explore the reactions of acids with carbonyl oxide, also known as Criegee intermediate (CI). The reactions were explored inside a water cluster containing 50 water molecules. All possibilities of product formation were considered. Among the considered acids, the rate of 1,4‐insertion follows the order HCOO < HCl < HNO3. The most stable products of the reactions between the considered acids and CI have been identified.
New Insights into Biocompatible Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: A Potential Booster of Gene Delivery to Stem Cells
Authors: Zhang Tianyuan , Xu Qianhao , Huang Ting , Ling Daishun , Gao Jianqing
Published: July 2020

Gene delivery to stem cells is a critical issue of stem cells‐based therapies, still facing ongoing challenges regarding efficiency and safety. Recent advances in the controlled synthesis of biocompatible magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have provided a powerful nanotool for assisting gene delivery to stem cells. However, this field is still at an early stage, with well‐designed and scalable IONPs synthesis highly desired. Furthermore, the potential risks or bioeffects of IONPs on stem cells are not completely figured out. Therefore, in this review, the updated researches focused on the gene delivery to stem cells using various designed IONPs are highlighted. Additionally, the impacts of the physicochemical properties of IONPs, as well as the magnetofection systems on the gene delivery performance and biocompatibility are summarized. Finally, challenges attributed to the potential impacts of IONPs on the biologic behaviors of stem cells and the large‐scale productions of uniform IONPs are emphasized. The principles and challenges summarized in this review provide a general guidance for the rational design of IONPs‐assisted gene delivery to stem cells.
Developing an effective vaccine for COVID‐19
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: July 2020

In this editorial, Roger Kirby, Editor‐in‐Chief for Trends in Urology and Men's Health, discusses the current work going into developing a safe and effective vaccine for COVID‐19.
Non‐specific urethritis and mycoplasma genitalium
Authors: Warren Hannah
Published: July 2020

Mycoplasma genitalium is a little known, yet common, sexually transmitted pathogen. Its increasing resistance to first‐ and second‐line antibiotics and declining cure rates are cause for concern, which means testing for the organism in symptomatic men with non‐specific urethritis is important.
Britain's anabolic steroid epidemic
Authors: Schartau Patricia
Published: July 2020

Tackling the growing misuse of anabolic‐androgenic steroids will need multidisciplinary co‐operation to reduce the risk of harm to those who abuse image and performance enhancing drugs.
Synthesis, Structures, and Magnetic Properties of Zigzag Tetranuclear Lanthanide Complexes
Authors: Li Xiang , Liu Yuhan , Chi Xiao‐Wei , Zhu Guang‐Zhou , Gao Feng
Published: July 2020

Five isostructural tetranuclear lanthanide complexes with the general formula [Ln4(teaH2)2(teaH)2(NO3)6]·2CH3OH [Ln3+ = Dy3+ (1), Tb3+ (2), Ho3+ (3), Er3+ (4), and Gd3+ (5)] were successfully synthesized by the reaction of various lanthanide nitrate and triethanolamine (teaH3) ligand. Single crystal X‐ray analyses reveal the eight‐coordinate Ln3+ centers adopt a slightly distorted triangular dodecahedron geometry and nine‐coordinate Ln3+ ions own an approximately capped square antiprism environment in similar zigzag Ln4 core. Magnetic studies demonstrate the presence of anitferromagnetic interactions between Ln3+ centers without obvious SMM behavior.
Higher-point conformal blocks in the comb channel
Authors: Fortin Jean-François , Ma Wen-Jie , Skiba Witold
Published: July 2020

Abstract

We compute M -point conformal blocks with scalar external and exchange operators in the so-called comb configuration for any M in any dimension d. Our computation involves repeated use of the operator product expansion to increase the number of external fields. We check our results in several limits and compare with the expressions available in the literature when M = 5 for any d, and also when M is arbitrary while d = 1.
Aufklärungserfolg, Zufriedenheit und Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten bei Computertomographie-Aufklärungen
Authors: Vogele D. , Schöffski O. , Efinger K. , Schmidt S. A. , Beer M. , Kildal D.
Published: July 2020

Hintergrund

Die Aufklärung eines Patienten vor einer Computertomographie (CT) spielt sowohl für die aufklärenden Ärzte als auch für die Patienten eine entscheidende Rolle. Ein persönliches Aufklärungsgespräch über die Durchführung, Risiken und mögliche Alternativen ist vor einer CT-Untersuchung verpflichtend.

Methode

Durchgeführt wurde eine Befragung zur Patientenzufriedenheit hinsichtlich der Dauer und den Inhalten einer CT-Aufklärung. Befragt wurden hierüber auch aufklärende Ärzte. Ein weiterer Teil der Befragung beschäftigte sich mit der Akzeptanz technischer Hilfsmittel, wie z. B. Informationsvideos oder Tablets/PCs.

Ergebnis

Insgesamt 512 Patienten und 106 Ärzte beteiligten sich an der Befragung. Die Dauer des Aufklärungsgesprächs gaben die Patienten mit durchschnittlich 4,08 min und die Ärzte mit 4,7 min an. Am ausführlichsten klärten die Ärzte über die Nebenwirkungen von Kontrastmitteln auf. Über mögliche Alternativen und die Notwendigkeit der Untersuchung wurde weniger aufgeklärt. Korrelierend erinnerten sich rund 92 % aller Patienten nicht an eine Information über alternative Untersuchungsmöglichkeiten. 88,7 % der Patienten und 95,3 % der ärztlichen Teilnehmer befürworteten die Aufklärung mithilfe von interaktiven Videos und Animationen und 74 % der Patienten sowie 98,8 % der Ärzte die Beantwortung der Fragen zum Gesundheitszustand am Tablet/PC.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Dauer einer CT-Aufklärung wurde von den Patienten etwas kürzer eingeschätzt, wobei sich die Patienten teilweise nur schlecht an die Aufklärungsinhalte erinnerten. Die Akzeptanz gegenüber technischen Neuerungen war bei den Teilnehmern sehr hoch. Durch den Einsatz von Informationsvideos und Tablets/PCs könnte der Aufklärungserfolg erhöht werden.
Specification and automated verification of atomic concurrent real-time transactions
Authors: Cai Simin , Gallina Barbara , Nyström Dag , Seceleanu Cristina
Published: July 2020

Many database management systems (DBMS) need to ensure atomicity and isolation of transactions for logical data consistency, as well as to guarantee temporal correctness of the executed transactions. Since the mechanisms for atomicity and isolation may lead to breaching temporal correctness, trade-offs between these properties are often required during the DBMS design. To be able to address this concern, we have previously proposed the pattern-based UPPCART framework, which models the transactions and the DBMS mechanisms as timed automata, and verifies the trade-offs with provable guarantee. However, the manual construction of UPPCART models can require considerable effort and is prone to errors. In this paper, we advance the formal analysis of atomic concurrent real-time transactions with tool-automated construction of UPPCART models. The latter are generated automatically from our previously proposed UTRAN specifications, which are high-level UML-based specifications familiar to designers. To achieve this, we first propose formal definitions for the modeling patterns in UPPCART, as well as for the pattern-based construction of DBMS models, respectively. Based on this, we establish a translational semantics from UTRAN specifications to UPPCART models, to provide the former with a formal semantics relying on timed automata, and develop a tool that implements the automated transformation. We also extend the expressiveness of UTRAN and UPPCART, to incorporate transaction sequences and their timing properties. We demonstrate the specification in UTRAN, automated transformation to UPPCART, and verification of the traded-off properties, via an industrial use case.
Reducing loneliness in older adults: looking at locals and migrants in a Swiss case study
Authors: Ehsan Annahita , Bolano Danilo , Guillaume-Boeckle Sylvie , Spini Dario
Published: July 2020

Older adults are at a high risk for loneliness, and community-based interventions can help reduce loneliness for all older adults in a community, regardless of their migration status. However, little research has investigated how older adults, including locals and migrants (in this case, internal newcomers and international expats) participate in these interventions. The “Neighbourhoods in Solidarity” (NS) are a series of community-based interventions that aim to increase social connectedness and reduce loneliness in older adults (55+) in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. This longitudinal embedded mixed-methods study aimed to understand whether older adults (distinguishing between locals, newcomers, and expats) were aware of and participated in the NS, to assess whether participation was associated with changes in loneliness, and to identify relevant processes that could explain a reduction in loneliness. We combined a longitudinal pre/post survey (235 respondents) with ethnographic observations and informal interviews. Quantitative findings showed that individuals who participated in the NS did not have significant changes in loneliness. Qualitative findings showed that perceived migration played an important role in who participated, and that the community distinguished between two types of migrants: newcomers who spoke French fluently, and expats who did not. Individuals were only ‘local’ if they had ancestors from the town. Some newcomers and some locals used the NS as a platform to build a new sense of community within the NS, whereas expats rarely participated. This was due to linguistic and cultural determinants, institutional constraints, interpersonal relationships, and personal preferences.
The Availability of Peer Support and Disparities in Outpatient Mental Health Service Use Among Minority Youth with Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Ojeda Victoria D. , Munson Michelle R. , Jones Nev , Berliant Emily , Gilmer Todd P.
Published: July 2020

We examine whether the availability of peer support reduces disparities in service use among minority youth ages 16–24 with serious mental illness in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. Administrative data from 2015–2018 was used to summarize service use among 13,363 transition age youth age 16–24 with serious mental illness who received services from 183 outpatient public mental health programs; 17.2% were Black, 67.4% were Latinx, and 15.4% were non-Latinx white. The availability of peer support was assessed via a program survey. Generalized linear models were used to assess the relationship between availability of peer support, defined as having a peer specialist on staff, and the annual number of outpatient mental health visits. We also examined the relationship between racial/ethnic concordance of youth and peer specialists and use of outpatient services. Forty-six percent of youth received services from programs that employed peer specialists. Among youth in both counties, the availability of peer support was associated with an increase in annual outpatient visits (P ≤ .05 each). Peer support was associated with reductions in service use disparities among Black and Latinx youth in Los Angeles County (P < .001 each). Peer concordance was associated with an increase in outpatient service use among Latinx youth in both counties (P < .05 each). Peer support was associated with increases in use of outpatient mental health services. Detailed examination of the context for youth peer support implementation is merited to identify the specific pathways that improve outcomes.
A perspective on the early days of RAS research
Authors: Weiss Robin A.
Published: July 2020

The name of the oncogene, ras, has its origin in studies of murine leukemia viruses in the 1960s by Jenny Harvey (H-ras) and by Werner Kirsten (K-ras) which, at high doses, produced sarcomas in rats. Transforming retroviruses were isolated, and its oncogene was named ras after rat sarcoma. From 1979, cellular ras sequences with transforming properties were identified by transfection of tumor DNA initially by Robert Weinberg from rodent tumors, and the isolation of homologous oncogenes from human tumors soon followed, including HRAS and KRAS, and a new member of the family named NRAS. I review these discoveries, placing emphasis on the pioneering research of Christopher Marshall and Alan Hall, who subsequently made immense contributions to our understanding of the functions of RAS and related small GTPases to signal transduction pathways, cell structure, and the behavior of normal and malignant cells.
Status and trends of orthophosphate concentrations in groundwater used for public supply in California
Authors: Kent Robert , Johnson Tyler D. , Rosen Michael R.
Published: July 2020

Phosphorus is a necessary nutrient for all organisms. However excessive phosphorus can cause eutrophication in surface water. Groundwater can be an important nonpoint contributor of phosphorus to surface water bodies. Most groundwater phosphorus is in the form of orthophosphate and orthophosphate concentrations in California groundwater vary temporally and geographically. This study quantifies orthophosphate concentrations in water samples from public supply wells in California, evaluates temporal trends (both step and monotonic trends) in orthophosphate concentration for different areas of the state, and explores potential explanatory factors for the trends observed. Orthophosphate concentrations are low in 42 percent of the groundwater used for public supply in California, moderate in 43 percent, and high in 15 percent of this groundwater relative to reference conditions and a goal expressed by the USEPA for streams overlying the aquifers. The findings also suggest that orthophosphate concentrations increased in approximately one-third of this groundwater during the study period (2000 to 2018). The timing of orthophosphate increases observed in time-series evaluations coincided approximately with the timing of increases observed in step-trend evaluations, with both suggesting that the increasing trend occurred mostly before 2011. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the statewide dataset indicates that orthophosphate concentrations are antithetically related to dissolved oxygen (DO), and weakly associated with boron, arsenic, and fluoride. Step trend and time-series trend analyses using PCA were inconclusive.
On Earthquake Detectability by the Next-Generation Gravity Mission
Authors: Cambiotti Gabriele , Douch Karim , Cesare Stefano , Haagmans Roger , Sneeuw Nicolas , Anselmi Alberto , Marotta Anna Maria , Sabadini Roberto
Published: July 2020

Earthquakes have been studied by means of seismometers recording the elastic waves travelling through the interior of our planet. Global Navigation Satellite System and Synthetic Aperture Radar surveys, measuring surface displacements, have provided additional information on earthquakes, as well as on those solid Earth processes responsible for them, such as subduction, collision and extension and the inter-seismic strain accumulation. This instrumentation is deployed over land and thus misses the seas, often surrounding regions where large earthquakes occur. This limitation is nowadays overcome by space gravity missions, thanks to their uniform coverage of the Earth, both inland and offshore. In this perspective, Gravitational Seismology has been identified as a new application of the Next-Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM), with the aim of evaluating its overall performance and of assessing the detectability of earthquake gravity signatures, as well as of those from active tectonics and inter-seismic deformation. Within the framework of self-gravitating viscoelastic Earth models, we have simulated the co- and post-seismic gravity signatures of 291 scenario earthquakes, with different occurrence times and geographical locations, focal mechanisms, depths and lines of strike, and included into the background gravity feeding the NGGM closed-loop simulation which provides observables of multiple pairs of GRACE-like satellites, given the instrument noise. NGGM earthquake detectability is herein defined on the possibility of estimating the amplitude of the original gravity signature of each earthquake by inversion of synthetic NGGM gravity data, consisting of 156 28-day gravity field solutions (about 11 years). For about two thirds of earthquakes of magnitude as low as 7, comparable with the 1980 Irpinia intraplate earthquake, the amplitudes have been estimated with a relative error less than 10% (and less than 50% for almost all the earthquakes), assuming as known the time variable contributions from atmosphere, oceans, hydrology, continental ice and glacial isostatic adjustment. When these contributions are inverted simultaneously with the earthquake ones, instead, we have had to increase the earthquake magnitude to 7.8 in order to estimate more than half of their amplitudes with a relative error less than 10%. We thus have shown that the NGGM will be able to detect, in most cases, the co- and post-seismic signatures of earthquakes of at least magnitude 7.8 and that this lower magnitude threshold can decrease down to magnitude 7 by improving the modelling of the background gravity field.
People Engaging Each Other: A Dual-Perspective Study of Interpersonal Processes in Useful Therapy
Authors: Råbu Marit , Moltu Christian
Published: July 2020

To explore how clients and therapists experience and engage in a therapeutic relationship which the client can make use of. We explored 11 psychotherapy dyads using in-depth qualitative methods. Selected dyads were ones in which the client experienced the therapy as useful. The data collection method was serial interviews with both therapists and clients. Therapists and clients were interviewed separately, four and two times, respectively, about their personal development, their views on and experiences with therapy, and their collaboration in the concrete therapeutic dyad. Transcripts of interviews were analyzed using a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative analysis. The analysis yielded an overarching theme identified as “engaging each other.” This theme consisted of three constituent processes, developed from complementary descriptions from clients and therapists: (1) opening up to an encounter between humans, (2) trusting professionality, and (3) creating space for an unbearable story. We discuss how technical skill and personal warmth underlie the development of a helping relationship within which humans can open up to a personal encounter with suffering. We discuss how the personal aspect of the therapist position relates to psychotherapy as a moral practice, and suggest that this perspective is meaningful in understanding the therapist factor and the real relationship.
The influence of the ammonia concentration and the water content on the water sorption behavior of ambient pressure dried silica xerogels
Authors: Huber Lukas , Comesaña Silvia Paz , Koebel Matthias M.
Published: July 2020

Porous silica xerogels were synthesized within 10 h by a two-step sol–gel process under atmospheric conditions. In the first step, tetraethylorthosiloxane (TEOS) was hydrolyzed with water using sulfuric acid as a catalyst. In the second step, water and ammonia were added to the prehydrolyzed silica sol prior to the drying of the samples at 150 °C. The influence of the ammonia concentration and the water content on the physicochemical properties and the water sorption behavior of silica xerogels produced in the aforementioned way was investigated. The resulting silica xerogels were characterized by helium pycnometry, scanning electron microscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen sorption, and water sorption. It was shown that a higher ammonia concentration leads to an increased pore size of the silica xerogel which starts to adsorb water at a higher relative pressure. With an increased water content during gelation, the silica xerogel has a higher specific surface area and a higher water sorption capacity. Furthermore, silica xerogels can be tailored by a controlled addition of ammonia and water to have a higher water sorption capacity than the reference silica gel over the whole range of relative pressure.
Throwing spatial light: on topological explanations in Gestalt psychology
Authors: Skowron Bartłomiej , Wójtowicz Krzysztof
Published: July 2020

It is a well-known fact that mathematics plays a crucial role in physics; in fact, it is virtually impossible to imagine contemporary physics without it. But it is questionable whether mathematical concepts could ever play such a role in psychology or philosophy. In this paper, we set out to examine a rather unobvious example of the application of topology, in the form of the theory of persons proposed by Kurt Lewin in hisPrinciples of Topological Psychology. Our aim is to show that this branch of mathematics can furnish a natural conceptual system for Gestalt psychology, in that it provides effective tools for describing global qualitative aspects of the latter’s object of investigation. We distinguish three possible ways in which mathematics can contribute to this: explanation, explication (construed in the spirit of Carnap) and metaphor. We hold that all three of these can be usefully characterized asthrowing light ontheir subject matter, and argue that in each case this contrasts with the role of explanations in physics. Mathematics itself, we argue, provides something different from such explanations when applied in the field of psychology, and this is nevertheless still cognitively fruitful.
New hybrids of tacrine and indomethacin as multifunctional acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Authors: Zawada Kamil , Czarnecka Kamila , Girek Małgorzata , Kręcisz Paweł , Trejtnar František , Mandíková Jana , Jończyk Jakub , Bajda Marek , Staśkiewicz Mariusz , Wójtowicz Przemysław , Dziubek Katarzyna , Skibiński Robert , Szymański Paweł
Published: July 2020

A new series of hybrid compounds were designed, consisting of anti-AChE and BuChE activity components with an anti-inflammatory component. A series of 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine and indomethacin derivatives were synthesized. All compounds were created using alkyldiamine with different chain lengths as a linker. Various biological activities were evaluated, including inhibitory activity against AChE and BuChE. The tested compounds showed high inhibitory activities against cholinesterases. The IC50 values for all compounds ranging from 10 nM to 7 µM. The potency of inhibition was much higher than well-known AChE and BuChE inhibitors (tacrine and donepezil). Compound 3h had the strongest inhibitory activity; kinetic studies showed it to have a mixed-type of acetylcholinesterase inhibition properties. The cytotoxicity of the newly-synthesized compounds against HepG2 (hepatocarcinoma cells) and EA.hy96 (human vein endothelial cells) cell lines was determined using the MTT and MTS tests. All investigated compounds presented similar cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and EA.hy926 cell line, ranged in micromolar values. Compounds with longer linkers showed higher antioxidant activity. The most active compound was 3h. Docking studies confirmed interactions with important regions of AChE and BuChE. Its multifunctional properties, i.e. high activity against AChE and BuChE, antioxidant activity and low cytotoxicity, highlight 3h as a promising agent for the treatment of AD.
What GDPR and the Health Research Regulations (HRRs) mean for Ireland: a research perspective
Authors: Mee Blanaid , Kirwan Mary , Clarke Niamh , Tanaka Aoife , Manaloto Lino , Halpin Emma , Gibbons Una , Cullen Ann , McGarrigle Sarah , Connolly Elisabeth M , Bennett Kathleen , Gaffney Eoin , Flanagan Ciaran , Tier Laura , Flavin Richard , McElvaney Noel G.
Published: July 2020

Background

Irish Health Research Regulations (HRRs) were introduced following the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018. The HRRs described specific supplementary regulatory requirements for research regarding governance, processes and procedure that impact on several facets of research. The numerous problems that the HRRs and particularly “explicit consent” inadvertently created were presented under the auspices of the Irish Academy of Medical Sciences (IAMS) on November 25, 2019, at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Aims

The objective of this review was to obtain feedback and to examine the impact of GDPR and the HRRs on health research in Ireland in order to determine whether the preliminary feedback, presented at the IAMS meetings, was reflected at a national level.

Methods

Individuals from the research community were invited to provide feedback on the impact, if any, of the HRRs on health research. Retrospective patient recruitment and consent outside a hospital setting for a multi-institutional Breast Predict study (funded by the Irish Cancer Society) were also analysed.

Results

Feedback replicated the issues presented at the IAMS with additional concerns identified. Only 20% of the original target population (n = 1987) could be included in the Breast Predict study.

Conclusions

Our results confirm that the HRRs have had a significantly negative impact on health research in Ireland. Urgent meaningful engagement between patient advocate groups, the research community and legislators would help ameliorate these impacts.
Confirmatory composite analysis using partial least squares: setting the record straight
Authors: Schuberth Florian
Published: July 2020

Confirmatory composite analysis (CCA) is a subtype of structural equation modeling that assesses composite models. Composite models consist of a set of interrelated emergent variables, i.e., constructs which emerge as linear combinations of other variables. Only recently, Hair et al. (J Bus Res 109(1):101–110, 2020) proposed ‘confirmatory composite analysis’ as a method of confirming measurement quality (MCMQ) in partial least squares structural equation modeling. As a response to their study and to prevent researchers from confusing the two, this article explains what CCA and MCMQ are, what steps they entail and what differences they have. Moreover, to demonstrate their efficacy, a scenario analysis was conducted. The results of this analysis imply that to assess composite models, researchers should use CCA, and to assess reflective and causal–formative measurement models, researchers should apply structural equation modeling including confirmatory factor analysis instead of Hair et al.’s MCMQ. Finally, the article offers a set of corrections to the article of Hair et al. (2020) and stresses the importance of ensuring that the applied model assessment criteria are consistent with the specified model.
Frontline robots in tourism and hospitality: service enhancement or cost reduction?
Authors: Belanche Daniel , Casaló Luis V. , Flavián Carlos
Published: July 2020

Robots are being implemented in many frontline services, from waiter robots in restaurants to robotic concierges in hotels. A growing number of firms in hospitality and tourism industries introduce service robots to reduce their operational costs and to provide customers with enhanced services (e.g. greater convenience). In turn, customers may consider that such a disruptive innovation is altering the established conditions of the service-provider relationship. Based on attribution theory, this research explores how customers’ attributions about the firm motivations to implement service robots (i.e. cost reduction and service enhancement) are affecting customers’ intentions to use and recommend this innovation. Following previous research on robot’s acceptance, our research framework analyzes how these attributions may be shaped by customers’ perceptions of robot’s human-likeness and their affinity with the robot. Structural equation modelling is used to analyze data collected from 517 customers evaluating service robots in the hospitality industry; results show that attributions mediate the relationships between affinity toward the robot and customer behavioral intentions to use and recommend service robots. Specifically, customer’s affinity toward the service robot positively affects service improvement attribution, which in turn has a positive influence on customer behavioral intentions. In contrast, affinity negatively affects cost reduction attribution, which in turn has a negative effect on behavioral intentions. Finally, human-likeness has a positive influence on affinity. This research provides practitioners with empirical evidence and guidance about the introduction of service robots and its relational implications in hospitality and tourism industries. Theoretical advances and future research avenues are also discussed.
Assisting the Visually Impaired in Multi-object Scene Description Using OWA-Based Fusion of CNN Models
Authors: Alhichri Haikel , Bazi Yakoub , Alajlan Naif
Published: July 2020

Advances in technology can provide a lot of support for visually impaired (VI) persons. In particular, computer vision and machine learning can provide solutions for object detection and recognition. In this work, we propose a multi-label image classification solution for assisting a VI person in recognizing the presence of multiple objects in a scene. The solution is based on the fusion of two deep CNN models using the induced ordered weighted averaging (OWA) approach. Namely, in this work, we fuse the outputs of two pre-trained CNN models, VGG16 and SqueezeNet. To use the induced OWA approach, we need to estimate a confidence measure in the outputs of the two CNN base models. To this end, we propose the residual error between the predicted output and the true output as a measure of confidence. We estimate this residual error using another dedicated CNN model that is trained on the residual errors computed from the main CNN models. Then, the OAW technique uses these estimated residual errors as confidence measures and fuses the decisions of the two main CNN models. When tested on four image datasets of indoor environments from two separate locations, the proposed novel method improves the detection accuracy compared to both base CNN models. The results are also significantly better than state-of-the-art methods reported in the literature.
Environmental protection problems in the areas of former mines with emphasis on sinkholes: selected examples
Authors: Strzałkowski P. , Litwa P.
Published: July 2020

The paper concerns an analysis of causes of sinkholes in the area of the former mines located in the Upper Silesia (Poland). The conducted statistical analysis allowed to determine the share of some types of shallow excavations in the formation of sinkholes. Analyses covered the period from 1966 to 2003 and records of more than 300 sinkholes. The research team determined—on the basis of the considerations—that the factor that poses the greatest threat and contributes to the formation of sinkholes during the operation of the mine is shallow goafs. Other such factors are dog headings that have not been decommissioned yet. It can be assumed that they will also generate a significant number of collapses in mines that are no longer in operation. The transition into the state of cave-in of old and shallow dog headings is often caused by loss of load-bearing capacity of a wooden roof support which biodegrades. Collapses linked to these excavations may be predicted with the use of tools such as the method presented in the paper.
Orthorexic tendencies in the general population: association with demographic data, psychiatric symptoms, and utilization of mental health services
Authors: Greetfeld Martin , Hessler-Kaufmann Johannes Baltasar , Brandl Beate , Skurk Tomas , Holzapfel Christina , Quadflieg Norbert , Schlegl Sandra , Hauner Hans , Voderholzer Ulrich
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by a preoccupation to eat healthily and restrictive eating habits despite negative psychosocial and physical consequences. As a relatively new construct, its prevalence and correlates in the general population and the associated utilization of mental health services are unclear.

Methods

Adults from the general population completed the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), the Short Eating Disorder Examination (SEED).

Results

Five-hundred eleven (63.4% female) participants with a mean age of 43.39 (SD = 18.06) completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of ON according to the DOS was 2.3%. Considering only effects of at least intermediate size, independent samples t-tests suggested higher DOS scores for persons with bulimia nervosa (p < .001, Cohen’s d = 1.14), somatoform syndrome (p = .012, d = .60), and major depressive syndrome (compared p < .001, d = 1.78) according to PHQ as well as those who reported to always experience fear of gaining weight (p < .001, d = 1.78). The DOS score correlated moderately strong and positively with the PHQ depression (r = .37, p < .001) and stress (r = .33, p < .001) scores as well as the SEED bulimia score (r = .32, p < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, only PHQ depression scores were associated with past psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatment (OR = 1.20, p = .002) and intake of psychotropic medication in the last year (OR = 1.22, p = .013).

Conclusions

The prevalence of ON was low compared to international studies but is in line with other non-representative German studies. Orthorexic tendencies related to general mental distress and eating disorder symptoms but were no independent reason for seeking treatment.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
Detecting Early Widespread Metal Use in the Eastern North American Arctic around AD 500–1300
Authors: Jolicoeur Patrick C.
Published: July 2020

In the first millennium AD, peoples across the North American Arctic began to use and exchange metal. A group known as the Late Dorset (AD 500–1300) were the first to widely exchange metal in the Eastern Arctic. However, due to differential taphonomic processes and past excavation methods, metal objects in existing collections are rare although geographically widespread. This has led to metal being seen as a broadly exchanged but uncommon raw material among Late Dorset. This article expands the known scale of Late Dorset metal use by analyzing the blade slot thicknesses of bone and ivory objects from sites across the Eastern Arctic and comparing them to the thicknesses of associated lithic and metal endblades. These results demonstrate that Late Dorset used metal at least as frequently as stone for some activities. Given the few and geographically discrete sources, metal would have been exchanged over thousands of kilometers of fragmented Arctic landscape. The lack of similar evidence in earlier periods indicates intergroup interaction increases significantly with the Late Dorset. It is through these same vectors that knowledge and information would have flowed. Metal, consequently, represents the best material for understanding the maximum extent and intensity of their interaction networks.
4412 Unraveling the role of the interaction between enteric virus and commensal bacteria in a physiological relevant model of human intestinal epithelium
Authors: Mirabelli Carmen
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: In the crowded environment of the intestine, selected commensal bacteria and enteric viruses interact. The biological significance of this interaction, in either normal or pathological condition is not known. To study this interaction, we are developing a physiologically relevant model of an human intestinal epithelium. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Intestinal biopsies (ileum region) and fecal samples of 6 healthy and 6 active Crohn’s patients are being collected to derive human intestinal enteroid (HIE) lines. 2D-polarized HIE will be first characterized with studies of epithelial permeability, tight junctions and cell type composition, and co-cultured with matching fecal samples. The (co-)cultures will be then infected with human norovirus (HNoV), our model enteric virus, and infection will be quantified by RT-qPCR. In addition, the interaction of HNoV with bacteria derived from healthy or Crohn’s will be determined quantitatively by flow cytometry (viral tagging) and qualitatively by 16S sequencing of the total versus HNoV-bound bacterial species. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Crohn’s patients are characterized by a microbiome dysbiosis and, in particular, by a high abundance of Enterobacteriacae. HNoV interacts with Enterobacter cloacae, and interestingly, HNoV infection is associated with exacerbation and reactivation of Crohn’s disease. By re-creating the intestinal milieu of healthy and Crohn’s patients, we expect that the kinetics of infection by HNoV will be higher in Crohn’s as compared to healthy volunteers. In addition, by studying the composition of the HNoV-bound bacterial component of Crohn’s versus heathy volunteers, we will be able to identify the contribution of selected bacteria to the expected increase of infection. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: With this study, we will fill the gap of knowledge on the importance of commensal bacteria and enteric virus interactions in healthy and diseased condition. This new knowledge will be paramount for the identification of novel strategies to combat highly prevalent virus infections.
4216 A TL1 team approach to investigate attention and learning at the intracranial network level and assess the effect different cognitive rehabilitation strategies have on measures of attention and learning
Authors: Long Sarah E. , Tocci Catherine , Kalamangalam Giridhar , Perlstein William , Gunduz Ayse
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: 1) Investigate the network level interactions of attention and learning during an attention network task (ANT) and an implicit learning contextual cueing (CC) task. 2) Assess the effect attention rehabilitation strategies have on behavioral and neural responses pre/post-attentional intervention. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study involves refractory epilepsy patients with implanted intracranial electrodes and moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (m/sTBI) survivors. In epileptic patients, we will identify connectivity of cortical regions via the ANT, which probes components of attention (alerting, orienting, and executive control) and a CC task that probes implicit learning. We hypothesize that modulation of attention and learning can be seen at the network level. In TBI we will assess improvement following two attention rehabilitation paradigms behaviorally; and use our results from epileptic patients to guide measurement of treatment-related neuroplastic change via scalp electroencephalography. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: When the proposed objectives are complete, we expect to determine how the implicit learning rate in m/sTBI changes as a result of both direct attention and metacognitive-strategy training, and discern the neuroanatomical networks associated with attention and implicit learning based on connectivity results. We expect to identify intracranial regions and networks that exhibit modulatory effects associated with attention and implicit learning. Additionally, we anticipate that deficits in attention will be mitigated following training and hypothesize that implicit learning rate will improve in TBI patients as a result of both attentional rehabilitation paradigms. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Characterizing intracranial activity in epilepsy patients will give electrophysiology data unattainable in TBI patients. This intracranial perspective will enable us to propose mechanisms of action that may result from our interventions and enable critique of current rehabilitation treatments.
4392 Comparative Analysis of Vascular Hemodynamics in a Young Biracial Cohort
Authors: Bell Preston , Fox Ervin , Musani Solomon , Mitchell Gary
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: We investigated hemodynamic measures in young black and white adults below the age of 50 years to identify mechanisms that may predispose blacks to more CVE. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We recruited 276 young blacks and white adults in Jackson, MS (mean age: 33 ± 9 years; 70% women; 57% Black;). Participants had clinical and vascular tonometry parameters obtained. Vascular measures included carotid femoral pulse wave velocity, central and peripheral pulse pressure (CPP and PPP), characteristic impedance (Zc), augmentation index, and forward pressure wave. Race-specific characteristic means and proportions were tested using Student’s T- or Chi-square tests. After further sex stratification, significant variation in characteristics among sex within race were tested using nested ANOVA. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Characteristics of the study group stratified by race were found to be similar. Vascular measures stratified by race revealed blacks to have significantly higher Zc (p = 0.03) and PPP (p = 0.03) than whites. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: In this study of vascular hemodynamics in young black and white participants we found differences in Zc and PPP. Findings suggest that differing relations between proximal aortic diameter and wall stiffness may contribute to the racial disparity in CVE in adults. This finding could offer an explanation to the beneficial effects of treatment modalities that target aortic stiffness in blacks.
4367 Exploratory evaluation of an online educational intervention for JUUL use
Authors: Leavens Eleanor L S , Carpenter Matthew J. , Smith Tracy T. , Nollen Nikki
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Initiation of JUUL use by young adults is one of the most significant issues of concern within the debate on vaping. Despite the proliferation of products and the surge in prevalence, no studies have investigated individual-level interventions or prevention strategies for pod-mod use. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Participants (N = 947) were young adults (<30 years old) recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk based on smoking (never, former, and current smokers) and JUUL use status (never and current users), resulting in 6 use groups. In a pre-post design, participants completed baseline assessments, were presented with a brief JUUL-specific educational intervention, and completed post-assessment measures. The one-page intervention provided basic information about JUUL and stated that JUUL is harmful to non-smokers but could be beneficial to smokers if they completely switch. Primary outcomes were changes in JUUL knowledge, perceived harmfulness, intentions for future use, and motivation to change. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Participants (Mage = 26.1) were male (57%) and White (75%). Overall, the intervention increased JUUL-related knowledge, risk perceptions, commitment to quitting, and readiness to quit JUUL (ps<.01). Similarly, participants showed decreased interest in future JUUL use, interest in purchasing JUUL, and interest in future regular use (ps<.01). Non-JUUL users showed decreased interest in initiating JUUL use after viewing the intervention (p<.01). There were significant Time X Group interactions for JUUL-related knowledge (p<.001), with never JUUL/never smokers showing the greatest increase in product knowledge following the intervention. However, no other interaction effects were significant. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The intervention was effective in increasing knowledge and risk perceptions while reducing intentions for future use. The intervention was most effective in increasing knowledge among non-users, suggesting that brief educational interventions may be useful tools for preventing pod-mod initiation. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DESCRIPTION: Dr. Carpenter has received consulting honoraria from Pfizer. All other authors have no conflicts to disclose.
4339 Exploring Physician Investigator Clinical Trials Training and Quality Management Systems and its Implementation in Medical School Curriculums
Authors: Kaur Sukhmani , Chandramohan Advaita , Pacifici Eunjoo
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Although many physicians conduct clinical trials as Principle Investigators, a systematic training is often lacking. Instead, most receive on-site training, potentially compromising data quality and human subject safety. This research assesses the landscape for physician training through medical school curriculums. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This project explored training programs for physician researchers, specifically in the emerging field of quality management systems (QMS). To understand the scope of academic research available for QMS and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training and lack of clinical trial training implemented in medical school curricula, a literature review was conducted. Available training for physicians was assessed through existing training programs from the FDA, NIH, DIAMOND, ACRP, and Google for accessibility in terms of costs, completion timelines and certification, format (online vs. in-person), and inclusion of GCP and QMS training in the curriculum RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Literature review revealed that not much is known about physician researcher training beyond the institutional requirement for minimal GCP review. Examination of select medical school curriculum also discovered a lack of clinical trial training for students interested in clinical research. Furthermore, existing training programs and modules available for physicians are limited as their syllabi do not include QMS training. In addition, these programs commonly have inaccessible registration links, are expensive, and have significant time commitments for in-person courses. These findings support the need for more accessible and effective training and certification tools for physician researchers. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT : QMS training is not included medical school curricula or programs for physician researchers, potentially compromising data integrity and subject protection. This research supports the development of essential QMS training concepts and practical approaches for physician researcher clinical trials.