bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison between manual and artificial intelligence–based automatic positioning in CT imaging for COVID-19 patients
Authors: Gang Yadong , Chen Xiongfeng , Li Huan , Wang Hanlun , Li Jianying , Guo Ying , Zeng Junjie , Hu Qiang , Hu Jinxiang , Xu Haibo
Published: March 2021

Objective

To analyze and compare the imaging workflow, radiation dose, and image quality for COVID-19 patients examined using either the conventional manual positioning (MP) method or an AI-based automatic positioning (AP) method.

Materials and methods

One hundred twenty-seven adult COVID-19 patients underwent chest CT scans on a CT scanner using the same scan protocol except with the manual positioning (MP group) for the initial scan and an AI-based automatic positioning method (AP group) for the follow-up scan. Radiation dose, patient positioning time, and off-center distance of the two groups were recorded and compared. Image noise and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were assessed by three experienced radiologists and were compared between the two groups.

Results

The AP operation was successful for all patients in the AP group and reduced the total positioning time by 28% compared with the MP group. Compared with the MP group, the AP group had significantly less patient off-center distance (AP 1.56 cm ± 0.83 vs. MP 4.05 cm ± 2.40, p < 0.001) and higher proportion of positioning accuracy (AP 99% vs. MP 92%), resulting in 16% radiation dose reduction (AP 6.1 mSv ± 1.3 vs. MP 7.3 mSv ± 1.2, p < 0.001) and 9% image noise reduction in erector spinae and lower noise and higher SNR for lesions in the pulmonary peripheral areas.

Conclusion

The AI-based automatic positioning and centering in CT imaging is a promising new technique for reducing radiation dose and optimizing imaging workflow and image quality in imaging the chest.

Key Points

• The AI-based automatic positioning (AP) operation was successful for all patients in our study.

• AP method reduced the total positioning time by 28% compared with the manual positioning (MP).

• AP method had less patient off-center distance and higher proportion of positioning accuracy than MP method, resulting in 16% radiation dose reduction and 9% image noise reduction in erector spinae.
AI-based detection and classification of distal radius fractures using low-effort data labeling: evaluation of applicability and effect of training set size
Authors: Tobler Patrick , Cyriac Joshy , Kovacs Balazs K. , Hofmann Verena , Sexauer Raphael , Paciolla Fabiano , Stieltjes Bram , Amsler Felix , Hirschmann Anna
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the performance of a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) in detecting and classifying distal radius fractures, metal, and cast on radiographs using labels based on radiology reports. The secondary aim was to evaluate the effect of the training set size on the algorithm’s performance.

Methods

A total of 15,775 frontal and lateral radiographs, corresponding radiology reports, and a ResNet18 DCNN were used. Fracture detection and classification models were developed per view and merged. Incrementally sized subsets served to evaluate effects of the training set size. Two musculoskeletal radiologists set the standard of reference on radiographs (test set A). A subset (B) was rated by three radiology residents. For a per-study-based comparison with the radiology residents, the results of the best models were merged. Statistics used were ROC and AUC, Youden’s J statistic (J), and Spearman’s correlation coefficient (ρ).

Results

The models’ AUC/J on (A) for metal and cast were 0.99/0.98 and 1.0/1.0. The models’ and residents’ AUC/J on (B) were similar on fracture (0.98/0.91; 0.98/0.92) and multiple fragments (0.85/0.58; 0.91/0.70). Training set size and AUC correlated on metal (ρ = 0.740), cast (ρ = 0.722), fracture (frontal ρ = 0.947, lateral ρ = 0.946), multiple fragments (frontal ρ = 0.856), and fragment displacement (frontal ρ = 0.595).

Conclusions

The models trained on a DCNN with report-based labels to detect distal radius fractures on radiographs are suitable to aid as a secondary reading tool; models for fracture classification are not ready for clinical use. Bigger training sets lead to better models in all categories except joint affection.

Key Points

• Detection of metal and cast on radiographs is excellent using AI and labels extracted from radiology reports.

• Automatic detection of distal radius fractures on radiographs is feasible and the performance approximates radiology residents.

• Automatic classification of the type of distal radius fracture varies in accuracy and is inferior for joint involvement and fragment displacement.
On the Hamel Coefficients and the Boltzmann–Hamel Equations for the Rigid Body
Authors: Müller Andreas
Published: March 2021

The Boltzmann–Hamel (BH) equations are central in the dynamics and control of nonholonomic systems described in terms of quasi-velocities. The rigid body is a classical example of such systems, and it is well-known that the BH-equations are the Newton–Euler (NE) equations when described in terms of rigid body twists as quasi-velocities. It is further known that the NE-equations are the Euler–Poincaré, respectively, the reduced Euler–Lagrange equations on SE(3) when using body-fixed or spatial representation of rigid body twists. The connection between these equations are the Hamel coefficients, which are immediately identified as the structure constants of SE(3). However, an explicit coordinate-free derivation has not been presented in the literature. In this paper the Hamel coefficients for the rigid body are derived in a coordinate-free way without resorting to local coordinates describing the rigid body motion. The three most relevant choices of quasi-velocities (body-fixed, spatial, and hybrid representation of rigid body twists) are considered. The corresponding BH-equations are derived explicitly for the rotating and free floating body. Further, the Hamel equations for nonholonomically constrained rigid bodies are discussed, and demonstrated for the inhomogenous ball rolling on a plane.
Induction of liver hypertrophy for extended liver surgery and partial liver transplantation: State of the art of parenchyma augmentation–assisted liver surgery
Authors: Müller Philip C. , Linecker Michael , Kirimker Elvan O. , Oberkofler Christian E. , Clavien Pierre-Alain , Balci Deniz , Petrowsky Henrik
Published: March 2021

Background

Liver surgery and transplantation currently represent the only curative treatment options for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. Despite the ability of the liver to regenerate after tissue loss, 25–30% future liver remnant is considered the minimum requirement to prevent serious risk for post-hepatectomy liver failure.

Purpose

The aim of this review is to depict the various interventions for liver parenchyma augmentation–assisting surgery enabling extended liver resections. The article summarizes one- and two-stage procedures with a focus on hypertrophy- and corresponding resection rates.

Conclusions

To induce liver parenchymal augmentation prior to hepatectomy, most techniques rely on portal vein occlusion, but more recently inclusion of parenchymal splitting, hepatic vein occlusion, and partial liver transplantation has extended the technical armamentarium. Safely accomplishing major and ultimately total hepatectomy by these techniques requires integration into a meaningful oncological concept. The advent of highly effective chemotherapeutic regimen in the neo-adjuvant, interstage, and adjuvant setting has underlined an aggressive surgical approach in the given setting to convert formerly “palliative” disease into a curative and sometimes in a “chronic” disease.
Cardiac hypertrophy at autopsy
Authors: Basso Cristina , Michaud Katarzyna , d’Amati Giulia , Banner Jytte , Lucena Joaquin , Cunningham Kristopher , Leone Ornella , Vink Aryan , van der Wal Allard C. , Sheppard Mary N. ,   on behalf of the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology
Published: March 2021

Since cardiac hypertrophy may be considered a cause of death at autopsy, its assessment requires a uniform approach. Common terminology and methodology to measure the heart weight, size, and thickness as well as a systematic use of cut off values for normality by age, gender, and body weight and height are needed. For these reasons, recommendations have been written on behalf of the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology. The diagnostic work up implies the search for pressure and volume overload conditions, compensatory hypertrophy, storage and infiltrative disorders, and cardiomyopathies. Although some gross morphologic features can point to a specific diagnosis, systematic histologic analysis, followed by possible immunostaining and transmission electron microscopy, is essential for a final diagnosis. If the autopsy is carried out in a general or forensic pathology service without expertise in cardiovascular pathology, the entire heart (or pictures) together with mapped histologic slides should be sent for a second opinion to a pathologist with such an expertise. Indication for postmortem genetic testing should be integrated into the multidisciplinary management of sudden cardiac death.
Prognostic impact of the glypican family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the survival of breast cancer patients
Authors: Grillo Paulina Karin , Győrffy Balázs , Götte Martin
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Dysregulated expression of proteoglycans influences the outcome and progression of numerous cancers. Several studies have investigated the role of individual glypicans in cancer, however, the impact of the whole glypican family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans on prognosis of a large patient cohort of breast cancer patients has not yet been investigated. In the present study, our aim was to investigate the prognostic power of the glypicans in breast cancer patients.

Methods

We used a public database including both gene expression data and survival information for 3951 breast cancer patients to determine the prognostic value of glypicans on relapse-free survival using Cox regression analysis. Moreover, we performed quantitative Real-Time PCR to determine glypican gene expression levels in seven representative breast cancer cell lines.

Results

We found that high GPC3 levels were associated with a better prognosis in overall breast cancer patients. When stratified by hormone receptor status, we found that in worse prognosis subtypes low GPC1 levels correlate with a longer relapse-free survival, and in more favorable subtypes low GPC6 was associated with longer survival.

Conclusion

Our study concludes that glypicans could act as subtype-specific biomarkers for the prognosis of breast cancer patients and sparks hope for future research on glypicans possibly eventually providing targets for the treatment of the disease.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter propensity-matched study
Authors: Dell’Amore Andrea , Lomangino Ivan , Tamburini Nicola , Bongiolatti Stefano , Parri Nicola Sergio Forti , Grossi William , Catelli Chiara , Lorenzoni Giulia , Gregori Dario , Nicotra Samuele , Zuin Andrea , Morelli Angelo , Solli Piergiorgio , Voltolini Luca , Cavallesco Giorgio , Rea Federico
Published: March 2021

Background

The role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains controversial. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the reliability of video-assisted lobectomy compared to the open approach by evaluating perioperative and long-term outcomes.

Methods

In this retrospective, multicentric study from January 2010 to December 2018, we included all patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy through the video-assisted or open approach after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The perioperative outcomes, including data concerning the feasibility of the surgical procedure, the occurrence of any medical and surgical complications and long-term oncological evidence, were collected and compared between the two groups. To minimize selection bias, propensity score matching was performed.

Results

A total of 286 patients were enrolled: 193 underwent thoracotomy lobectomy, and 93 underwent VATS lobectomy. The statistical analysis showed that surgical time (P < 0.001), drainage time (P < 0.001), days of hospitalization (P < 0.001) and VAS at discharge (P = 0.042) were lower in the VATS group. The overall survival and disease-free survival were equivalent for the two techniques on long-term follow-up.

Conclusions

VATS lobectomy represents a valid therapeutic option in patients affected by non-small-cell lung cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The VATS approach in our experience seems to be superior in terms of the perioperative outcomes, while maintaining oncological efficacy.
Rehabilitation für Kinder und Jugendliche mit Diabetes in Österreich: Konzept der Arbeitsgruppe Pädiatrische Endokrinologie und Diabetologie Österreich/Österreichische Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde
Authors: Fröhlich-Reiterer Elke , Cavini Anna , Fischmeister Gustav , Prchla Christine , Tauschmann Martin , Berger Gabriele , Steichen Elisabeth , Steigleder-Schweiger Claudia , Kovacic Robert , Rami-Merhar Birgit , Hofer Sabine E. , Karall Daniela , Sperl Wolfgang , Kerbl Reinhold
Published: March 2021

Diabetes ist eine der häufigsten chronischen Stoffwechselerkrankungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Die Zahl der Neuerkrankten hat in der letzten Dekade stark zugenommen.

Typ-1-Diabetes ist mit > 90 % die häufigste Form des Diabetes im Kindes- und Jugendalter; deshalb bezieht sich das vorliegende Konzept auf Kinder und Jugendliche mit Typ-1-Diabetes. Seit 2016 gibt es in Österreich die ersten Rehabilitationszentren für Kinder und Jugendliche. Rehabilitation wird dann nötig, wenn sich Probleme mit dem Diabetes in der ambulanten Behandlung nicht lösen lassen oder auch wenn es wegen des Diabetes Schwierigkeiten mit Schule und Ausbildung gibt, und ist deshalb eine wichtiger Bestandteil in der Betreuung von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Typ-1-Diabetes.

Das vorliegende Konzept wurde von Mitgliedern der Arbeitsgruppe Pädiatrische Endokrinologie und Diabetologie Österreich (APEDÖ) in Zusammenarbeit mit den Vorständen der Rehabilitationskliniken und der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde (ÖGKJ) erstellt.

Das Konzept beinhaltet Indikationen und Kontraindikationen für eine Diabetes Rehabilitation, geht auf die Ziele der Rehabilitation in den verschiedenen Altersgruppen (Kleinkinder, Schulkinder und Jugendliche) ein und gibt auch einen Überblick über die empfohlenen Anforderungen für das multidisziplinäre Rehabilitationsteam vor Ort.

Das Rehabilitationskonzept der APEDÖ/ÖGKJ dient als Basiskonzept, die Rehabilitationspläne bleiben in der Verantwortung des jeweiligen Zentrums und sollen durch Austausch im Rahmen regelmäßiger Treffen zu einer Optimierung und Angleichung der Konzepte führen.
Development and validation of the Climate Model Confidence Index (CMCI): measuring ability to reproduce historical climate conditions
Authors: Hewer Micah J. , Beech Nathan , Gough William A.
Published: March 2021

This study further develops and finally validates the Climate Model Confidence Index (CMCI) as a simple and effective metric for evaluating and ranking the ability of climate models to reproduce historical climate conditions. Modelled daily climate data outputs from two different statistical downscaling techniques (PCIC: Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium; SDSM: Statistical Down-Scaling Model) are compared with observational data recorded by Environment Canada weather stations located in Kelowna, BC (Canada), for the period from 1969 to 2005. Using daily data (N > 13,000), Student’s t-tests determined if there were statistically significant differences between the modelled and observed means while ANOVA F-tests identified differences between variances. Using aggregated annual data (N = 37), CMCI values were also calculated for the individual model runs from each statistical downscaling technique. Climate model outputs were ranked according to the absolute value of the t statistics. The 20 SDSM ensembles outperformed the 27 PCIC models for both minimum and maximum temperatures, while PCIC outperformed SDSM for total precipitation. Linear regression determined the correlation between the absolute value of the t statistics and the corresponding CMCI values (R2 > 0.99, P < 0.001). Rare discrepancies (< 10% of all model rankings) between the t statistic and CMCI rankings occurred at the third decimal place and resulted in a one rank difference between models. These discrepancies are attributed to the precision of the t tests which rely on daily data and consider observed as well as modelled variance, whereas the simplicity and utility of the CMCI are demonstrated by only requiring annual data and observed variance to calculate.
A temperature binning approach for multi-sector climate impact analysis
Authors: Sarofim Marcus C. , Martinich Jeremy , Neumann James E. , Willwerth Jacqueline , Kerrich Zoe , Kolian Michael , Fant Charles , Hartin Corinne
Published: March 2021

Characterizing the future risks of climate change is a key goal of climate impacts analysis. Temperature binning provides a framework for analyzing sector-specific impacts by degree of warming as an alternative or complement to traditional scenario-based approaches in order to improve communication of results, comparability between studies, and flexibility to facilitate scenario analysis. In this study, we estimate damages for nine climate impact sectors within the contiguous United States (US) using downscaled climate projections from six global climate models, at integer degrees of US national warming. Each sector is analyzed based on socioeconomic conditions for both the beginning and the end of the century. The potential for adaptive measures to decrease damages is also demonstrated for select sectors; differences in damages across adaptation response scenarios within some sectors can be as much as an order of magnitude. Estimated national damages from these sectors based on a reactive adaptation assumption and 2010 socioeconomic conditions range from $600 million annually per degree of national warming for winter recreation to $8 billion annually per degree of national warming for labor impacts. Results are also estimated per degree of global temperature change and for 2090 socioeconomic conditions.
A Laplacian approach to $$\ell _1$$-norm minimization
Authors: Bonifaci Vincenzo
Published: March 2021

We propose a novel differentiable reformulation of the linearly-constrained$$\ell _1$$ℓ1minimization problem, also known as the basis pursuit problem. The reformulation is inspired by the Laplacian paradigm of network theory and leads to a new family of gradient-based methods for the solution of$$\ell _1$$ℓ1minimization problems. We analyze the iteration complexity of a natural solution approach to the reformulation, based on a multiplicative weights update scheme, as well as the iteration complexity of an accelerated gradient scheme. The results can be seen as bounds on the complexity of iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) type methods of basis pursuit.
Unbalanced exchange flow and its implications for the night cooling of buildings by displacement ventilation
Authors: Wise Nick , Hunt Gary
Published: March 2021

Passive ventilation of buildings at night forms an essential part of a low-energy cooling strategy, enabling excess heat that has accumulated during the day to self-purge and be replaced with cooler night air. Instrumental to the success of a purge are the locations and areas of ventilation openings, and openings positioned at low and at high levels are a common choice as there is then the expectation that a buoyancy-driven displacement flow will establish and persist. Desirable for their efficiency, displacement flows guide excess heat out through high-level openings and cooler air in through low-level openings. Herein we show that displacement flow cannot be maintained for the full duration of a purge. Instead, the flow must transition to an ‘unbalanced exchange flow’, whereby the cool inflow of air at low level is maintained but there is now a warm outflow and a cool inflow occurring simultaneously at the high-level opening. The internal redistribution of heat caused by this exchange alters the rate at which heat is self-purged and the time thought necessary to complete a purge. We develop a theoretical model that captures and predicts these behaviours. Our approach is distinct from all others which assume that a displacement flow will persist throughout the purge. Based on this enhanced understanding, and specifically that the transition to unbalanced exchange flow changes the rate of cooling and resultant emptying times, we anticipate that practitioners will be better placed to design passive systems that meet their target specifications for cooling.
A privacy and security analysis of early-deployed COVID-19 contact tracing Android apps
Authors: Hatamian Majid , Wairimu Samuel , Momen Nurul , Fritsch Lothar
Published: March 2021

As this article is being drafted, the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic is causing harm and disruption across the world. Many countries aimed at supporting their contact tracers with the use of digital contact tracing apps in order to manage and control the spread of the virus. Their idea is the automatic registration of meetings between smartphone owners for the quicker processing of infection chains. To date, there are many contact tracing apps that have already been launched and used in 2020. There has been a lot of speculations about the privacy and security aspects of these apps and their potential violation of data protection principles. Therefore, the developers of these apps are constantly criticized because of undermining users’ privacy, neglecting essential privacy and security requirements, and developing apps under time pressure without considering privacy- and security-by-design. In this study, we analyze the privacy and security performance of 28 contact tracing apps available on Android platform from various perspectives, including their code’s privileges, promises made in their privacy policies, and static and dynamic performances. Our methodology is based on the collection of various types of data concerning these 28 apps, namely permission requests, privacy policy texts, run-time resource accesses, and existing security vulnerabilities. Based on the analysis of these data, we quantify and assess the impact of these apps on users’ privacy. We aimed at providing a quick and systematic inspection of the earliest contact tracing apps that have been deployed on multiple continents. Our findings have revealed that the developers of these apps need to take more cautionary steps to ensure code quality and to address security and privacy vulnerabilities. They should more consciously follow legal requirements with respect to apps’ permission declarations, privacy principles, and privacy policy contents.
A New Condition for Transitivity of Probabilistic Support
Authors: Atkinson David , Peijnenburg Jeanne
Published: March 2021

As is well known, implication is transitive but probabilistic support is not. Eells and Sober, followed by Shogenji, showed that screening off is a sufficient constraint for the transitivity of probabilistic support. Moreover, this screening off condition can be weakened without sacrificing transitivity, as was demonstrated by Suppes and later by Roche. In this paper we introduce an even weaker sufficient condition for the transitivity of probabilistic support, in fact one that can be made as weak as one wishes. We explain that this condition has an interesting property: it shows that transitivity is retained even though the Simpson paradox reigns. We further show that by adding a certain restriction the condition can be turned into one that is both sufficient and necessary for transitivity.
Cooperative Division of Cognitive Labour: The Social Epistemology of Photosynthesis Research
Authors: Nickelsen Kärin
Published: March 2021

How do scientists generate knowledge in groups, and how have they done so in the past? How do epistemically motivated social interactions influence or even drive this process? These questions speak to core interests of both history and philosophy of science. Idealised models and formal arguments have been suggested to illuminate the social epistemology of science, but their conclusions are not directly applicable to scientific practice. This paper uses one of these models as a lens and historiographical tool in the examination of actual scientific collectives. It centres on the analysis of two episodes from the history of photosynthesis research of the late nineteenth- to mid-twentieth centuries, which display a wide and coordinated intellectual diversity similar to Kitcher’s “division of cognitive labour” (1990). The concept, I argue, captures important aspects of the photosynthesis research communities, but the underlying process unfolded in ways that differ from the model’s assumption in interesting ways. The paper unravels how the self-organised interplay of cooperation and competition, and the dynamics of individual and collective goals within scientific communities were influential factors in the generation of knowledge. From there, some thoughts are developed on how historical and philosophical approaches in the analysis of science can productively interact.
Entrepreneurial intention: An analysis of the role of Student-Led Entrepreneurial Organizations
Authors: Sansone Giuliano , Ughetto Elisa , Landoni Paolo
Published: March 2021

Although a great deal of attention has been paid to entrepreneurship education, only a few studies have analysed the impact of extra-curricular entrepreneurial activities on students’ entrepreneurial intention. The aim of this study is to fill this gap by exploring the role played by Student-Led Entrepreneurial Organizations (SLEOs) in shaping the entrepreneurial intention of their members. The analysis is based on a survey that was conducted in 2016 by one of the largest SLEOs in the world: the Junior Enterprises Europe (JEE). The main result of the empirical analysis is that the more time students spent on JEE and the higher the number of events students attended, the greater their entrepreneurial intention was. It has been found that other important drivers also increase students’ entrepreneurial intention, that is, the Science and Technology field of study and the knowledge of more than two foreign languages. These results confirm that SLEOs are able to foster students’ entrepreneurial intention. The findings provide several theoretical, practical and public policy implications. SLEOs are encouraged to enhance their visibility and lobbying potential in order to be recognized more as drivers of student entrepreneurship. In addition, it is advisable for universities and policy makers to support SLEOs by fostering their interactions with other actors operating in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, who promote entrepreneurship and technology transfer activities. Lastly, this paper advises policy makers to assist SLEOs’ activities inside and outside the university context.
Changing climate requires shift from refugia to sanctuaries for floodplain forests
Authors: Fink Sabine , Scheidegger Christoph
Published: March 2021

Context

Riparian areas are considered to undergo major alterations under changing climate, making floodplain habitats targets for conservation and landscape planning. Protected areas might provide sanctuaries especially for sessile riparian plant species, but these niches are not always persistent over time.

Objectives

We investigate if plant species of floodplain forests are provided with suitable habitat within currently protected areas and if these refugia persist. A coupled-modelling approach is used to gain spatially explicit information on new areas for sanctuaries.

Methods

We use species distribution models to predict the niche of 12 Salicion albae and 7 Fraxinion floodplain forest species along rivers in Switzerland, under current, moderate and extreme climate change scenarios up to 80 years to the future (2100). The spread of plant species from current habitat to suitable future habitat is simulated using dispersal vectors and life history traits.

Results

Salicion albae species are more flexible under both climate change scenarios than Fraxinion species. The main limitation for the spread of species is their dispersal ability, as only a minority of the suitable cells is colonized during the simulation process. The predicted future presence within currently protected areas decreases under both climate change scenarios in the model.

Conclusions

Current protected floodplains do not provide persistent refugia for the plants studied, but might still be of importance to other organisms. Planning of sanctuaries for riparian plant species and communities need to focus on connectivity along rivers to maintain viable source populations in dynamic riverine landscapes under changing climate.
Antisaccades in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Waldthaler Josefine , Stock Lena , Student Justus , Sommerkorn Johanna , Dowiasch Stefan , Timmermann Lars
Published: March 2021

The usefulness of eye-tracking tasks as potential biomarkers for motor or cognitive disease burden in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been subject of debate for many years. Several studies suggest that the performance in the antisaccade task may be altered in patients with PD and associated with motor disease severity or executive dysfunction. In this meta-analysis, random effects models were used to synthesize the existing evidence on antisaccade error rates and latency in PD. Furthermore, meta-regressions were performed to assess the role of motor and cognitive disease severity, dopaminergic medication and methodological factors. Additionally, the impact of acute levodopa administration and activation of deep brain stimulation was evaluated in two separate sub-analyses.

This meta-analysis confirms that antisaccade latency and error rate are significantly increased in PD. Disease duration, Unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale score and Hoehn and Yahr stage mediate the effect of PD on antisaccade latency with higher motor burden being associated with increased antisaccade latency.

Acute administration of levodopa had no significant effects on antisaccade performance in a small number of eligible studies. Deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus, on the other hand, may alter the speed accuracy trade-off supporting an increase of impulsivity following deep brain stimulation in PD.

According to the results of the meta-analysis, antisaccade latency may provide a potential marker for disease severity and progression in PD which needs further confirmation in longitudinal studies.
Shannon-limit approached information reconciliation for quantum key distribution
Authors: Tang Bang-Ying , Liu Bo , Yu Wan-Rong , Wu Chun-Qing
Published: March 2021

Information reconciliation (IR) corrects the errors in sifted keys and ensures the correctness of quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. Polar codes-based IR schemes can achieve high reconciliation efficiency; however, the incidental high frame error rate decreases the secure key rate of QKD systems. In this article, we propose a Shannon-limit approached (SLA) IR scheme, which mainly contains two phases: the forward reconciliation phase and the acknowledgment reconciliation phase. In the forward reconciliation phase, the sifted key is divided into sub-blocks and performed with the improved block checked successive cancellation list decoder of polar codes. Afterward, only the failure corrected sub-blocks perform the additional acknowledgment reconciliation phase, which decreases the frame error rate of the SLA IR scheme. The experimental results show that the overall failure probability of SLA IR scheme is decreased to $$10^{-8}$$

10

-
8

and the efficiency is improved to 1.091 with the IR block length of 128 Mb. Furthermore, the efficiency of the proposed SLA IR scheme is 1.055, approached to Shannon limit, when the quantum bit error rate is 0.02 and the input scale of 1 Gb, which is hundred times larger than the state-of-the-art implemented polar codes-based IR schemes.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) in Vascular Research: from Two- to Three-Dimensional Organoids
Authors: Trillhaase Anja , Maertens Marlon , Aherrahrou Zouhair , Erdmann Jeanette
Published: March 2021

Stem cell technology has been around for almost 30 years and in that time has grown into an enormous field. The stem cell technique progressed from the first successful isolation of mammalian embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in the 1990s, to the production of human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in the early 2000s, to finally culminate in the differentiation of pluripotent cells into highly specialized cell types, such as neurons, endothelial cells (ECs), cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and lung and intestinal cells, in the last decades. In recent times, we have attained a new height in stem cell research whereby we can produce 3D organoids derived from stem cells that more accurately mimic the in vivo environment. This review summarizes the development of stem cell research in the context of vascular research ranging from differentiation techniques of ECs and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to the generation of vascularized 3D organoids. Furthermore, the different techniques are critically reviewed, and future applications of current 3D models are reported.

Graphical abstract
Rituals of Vocational Socialisation: Faith-Building in Higher Vocational Education for Weak-Form Occupational Pathways
Authors: Ye Rebecca
Published: March 2021

This paper addresses the question of how higher vocational education and training programmes socialise participants for future work, where the occupational pathways they are to embark on are weakly defined. The analysis focuses on organisational rituals as a means to understand individual and collective transformative processes taking place at a particular intersection of education and labour markets. Building on organisational and sociological theories of rituals, as well as drawing empirically from a longitudinal qualitative interview study of a cohort of students in Swedish higher vocational education for work in digital data strategy, I explore how rituals are enacted in a vocational education and training setting and what these rituals mean to the aspirants who partake in them. The findings illustrate how rituals initiate, convert, and locate the participants in a team. These repeated encounters with rituals socialise, cultivate and build vocational faith amongst participants, despite the nascency and unstable nature of their education-to-work pathways. However, while rituals can serve as a catalyst to ignite processes of collective identification and vocational socialisation, they are not always successful. The paper discusses implications of faith-building in weak-form occupational pathways when the labour market is strong and conversely, when the economy is in recession. The text concludes by advocating the need for examining the power of educational institutions in shaping transitional experiences of participants in vocational education.
A review of cooperative rules and their associated algorithms for minimum-cost spanning tree problems
Authors: Bergantiños Gustavo , Vidal-Puga Juan
Published: March 2021

Minimum-cost spanning tree problems are well-known problems in the operations research literature. Some agents, located at different geographical places, want a service provided by a common supplier. Agents will be served through costly connections. Some part of the literature has focused, mainly, in studying how to allocate the connection cost among the agents. We review the papers that have addressed the allocation problem using cooperative game theory. We also relate the rules defined through cooperative games with rules defined directly from the problem, either through algorithms for computing a minimal tree, either through a cone-wise decomposition.
Overlapping and non-overlapping roles of the class-I histone deacetylase-1 corepressors LET-418, SIN-3, and SPR-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic development
Authors: Kubota Yukihiro , Ohnishi Yuto , Hamasaki Tasuku , Yasui Gen , Ota Natsumi , Kitagawa Hiromu , Esaki Arashi , Fahmi Muhamad , Ito Masahiro
Published: March 2021

Background

Histone deacetylase (HDAC)-1, a Class-I HDAC family member, forms three types of complexes, the nucleosome remodeling deacetylase, Sin3, and CoREST complexes with the specific corepressor components chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 3 (Mi2/CHD-3), Sin3, and REST corepressor 1 (RCOR1), respectively, in humans.

Objective

To elucidate the functional relationships among the three transcriptional corepressors during embryogenesis.

Methods

The activities of HDA-1, LET-418, SIN-3, and SPR-1, the homologs of HDAC-1, Mi2, Sin3, and RCOR1 in Caenorhabditis elegans during embryogenesis were investigated through measurement of relative mRNA expression levels and embryonic lethality given either gene knockdown or deletion. Additionally, the terminal phenotypes of each knockdown and mutant embryo were observed using a differential-interference contrast microscope. Finally, the functional relationships among the three corepressors were examined through genetic interactions and transcriptome analyses.

Results

Here, we report that each of the corepressors LET-418, SIN-3, and SPR-1 are expressed and have essential roles in C. elegans embryonic development. Our terminal phenotype observations of single mutants further implied that LET-418, SIN-3, and SPR-1 play similar roles in promoting advancement to the middle and late embryonic stages. Combined analysis of genetic interactions and gene ontology of these corepressors indicate a prominent overlapping role among SIN-3, SPR-1, and LET-418 and between SIN-3 and SPR-1.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the class-I HDAC-1 corepressors LET-418, SIN-3, and SPR-1 may cooperatively regulate the expression levels of some genes during C. elegans embryogenesis or may have some similar roles but functioning independently within a specific cell.
Telemedicine in allergology: practical aspects
Authors: Dramburg Stephanie , Walter Uso , Becker Sven , Casper Ingrid , Röseler Stefani , Schareina Astrid , Wrede Holger , Klimek Ludger
Published: March 2021

Since spring 2020, the wide-ranging contact restriction measures in the context of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic have also led to a reduction in physician–patient contacts in the ambulatory care setting. Telemedicine applications will increasingly provide a way to efficiently deliver patient care under infection control measures. In allergology, telemedical as well as digital applications can also significantly facilitate everyday clinical practice. However, the technical and legal hurdles associated with the implementation of digital strategies must be overcome for this to happen. The aim of this article is to provide an intuitive overview of the aspects to be considered in the implementation of telemedicine consultations and to highlight the current state of the framework as well as optimization possibilities and perspectives in allergology. If a structured use is guaranteed, digital and telemedical applications can improve patient care—also in allergology. There is potential to be exploited in many areas, from the remote collection of clinical history, and video consultations, to the discussion of diagnostic findings, disease monitoring, and therapy support. The use of telemedical applications, especially video consultations, has experienced a remarkable acceleration in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present overview of the legal, technical and professional framework is intended to support the anchoring of digital and telemedical technologies in everyday allergology. However, in order to consolidate these in the future, an agreement is needed regarding professional standards of action as well as a remuneration structure that is permanently defined beyond the current pandemic.
Production decision-making system for manufacturing enterprises constrained by carbon reduction policies
Authors: Changsong Ma , Tiantong Yuan , Lei Zhong , Wei Liu
Published: March 2021

This paper studies the optimal low carbon production decision system with considered the constraints of carbon emission reduction policy for manufacturing enterprises producing two kinds of products in the free market. Firstly, The research proved the optimal production combination exists and it is unique under the carbon emissions limits, and next, the research analyzed the low-carbon production decision-making system in three situations, which are carbon emission trade decision, green technology input decision, and joint decision. The research results showed that carbon emission permits trade can increase more flexibility to manufacturing enterprises and increase their profits as well. However, the carbon emissions limits set by the government would have an important impact on the production decision system of manufacturing enterprises. Carbon emission permits trade and green technology investment can optimize and improve the production decision system of manufacturing enterprises to a certain extent. Meanwhile, the government's scientific and reasonable formulation of initial carbon quotas would mobilize the enthusiasm and initiative of manufacturing enterprises to participate in carbon emission reduction. The government should also guide and encourage enterprises to invest in and develop low-carbon emission reduction technologies through tax relief, so as to improve carbon emission reduction technologies and its innovations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Bayesian Topology Learning and noise removal from network data
Authors: Ramezani Mayiami Mahmoud , Hajimirsadeghi Mohammad , Skretting Karl , Dong Xiaowen , Blum Rick S. , Poor H. Vincent
Published: March 2021

Learning the topology of a graph from available data is of great interest in many emerging applications. Some examples are social networks, internet of things networks (intelligent IoT and industrial IoT), biological connection networks, sensor networks and traffic network patterns. In this paper, a graph topology inference approach is proposed to learn the underlying graph structure from a given set of noisy multi-variate observations, which are modeled as graph signals generated from a Gaussian Markov Random Field (GMRF) process. A factor analysis model is applied to represent the graph signals in a latent space where the basis is related to the underlying graph structure. An optimal graph filter is also developed to recover the graph signals from noisy observations. In the final step, an optimization problem is proposed to learn the underlying graph topology from the recovered signals. Moreover, a fast algorithm employing the proximal point method has been proposed to solve the problem efficiently. Experimental results employing both synthetic and real data show the effectiveness of the proposed method in recovering the signals and inferring the underlying graph.
Mesh in Elective Hernia Repair: 10-Year Experience with over 6,000 Patients
Authors: Attaar Mikhail , Forester Beau , Chirayil Sebastian , Su Bailey , Wong Harry J. , Kuchta Kristine , Linn John , Denham Woody , Haggerty Stephen , Ujiki Michael B.
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND:

The use of mesh in hernia repair has faced intense scrutiny, leading patients to become fearful of its use, despite its benefits in reducing hernia recurrence. We report a single institutional experience in performing hernia repair with mesh in terms of hernia-specific outcomes, mesh-related complications, and patient-reported quality of life.

STUDY DESIGN:

Patients who underwent abdominal wall hernia repair with mesh at a single institution were identified from a prospectively maintained quality database. Demographic, perioperative, and postoperative outcomes data were analyzed. Surgical Outcomes Measurements System (SOMS) and Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS) surveys were administered pre- and postoperatively at 3 weeks, 6 months, 1, 2, and 5 years.

RESULTS:

Between 2010 and 2020, a total of 6,387 patients underwent abdominal hernia repair with mesh. Inguinal hernia repairs made up the majority (65%) of the operations. Rates of mesh infection varied by hernia type, with lower rates after umbilical (0.0%) and inguinal (0.4%) repair, and highest after incisional repair (1.3%). Similarly, mesh explantation rates were low after umbilical and inguinal repair (0.0% and 0.4%, respectively) and highest after incisional repair (3.0%). Scores on all SOMS domains were significantly improved from baseline (all p < 0.05). On CCS, 2.9%, 3.3%, and 4.4% of patients reported severe or disabling symptoms postoperatively at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Rates of mesh-related complications vary by hernia type. A majority of patients report excellent long-term quality of life, although a relatively large percentage of patients experience severe or disabling symptoms at long-term follow-up.
Banach spaces for which the space of operators has 2𝔠closed ideals
Authors: Freeman Daniel , Schlumprecht Thomas , Zsák András
Published: March 2021

We formulate general conditions which imply that${\mathcal L}(X,Y)$, the space of operators from a Banach spaceXto a Banach spaceY, has$2^{{\mathfrak {c}}}$closed ideals, where${\mathfrak {c}}$is the cardinality of the continuum. These results are applied to classical sequence spaces and Tsirelson-type spaces. In particular, we prove that the cardinality of the set ofclosed ideals in${\mathcal L}\left (\ell _p\oplus \ell _q\right )$is exactly$2^{{\mathfrak {c}}}$for all$1<p<q<\infty $.
Severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroconversion and occupational exposure of employees at a Swiss university hospital: A large longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Martischang Romain , Iten Anne , Arm Isabelle , Abbas Mohamed , Meyer Benjamin , Yerly Sabine , Eckerle Isabella , Pralong Jacques , Sauser Julien , Suard Jean-Claude , Kaiser Laurent , Pittet Didier , Harbarth Stephan
Published: March 2021

Background:

The dynamics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) seroconversion of hospital employees are understudied. We measured the proportion of seroconverted employees and evaluated risk factors for seroconversion during the first pandemic wave.

Methods:

In this prospective cohort study, we recruited Geneva University Hospitals employees and sampled them 3 times, every 3 weeks from March 30 to June 12, 2020. We measured the proportion of seroconverted employees and determined prevalence ratios of risk factors for seroconversion using multivariate mixed-effects Poisson regression models.

Results:

Overall, 3,421 participants (29% of all employees) were included, with 92% follow-up. The proportion of seroconverted employees increased from 4.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7%–5.1%) at baseline to 8.5% [(95% CI, 7.6%–9.5%) at the last visit. The proportions of seroconverted employees working in COVID-19 geriatrics and rehabilitation (G&R) wards (32.3%) and non–COVID-19 G&R wards (12.3%) were higher compared to office workers (4.9%) at the last visit. Only nursing assistants had a significantly higher risk of seroconversion compared to office workers (11.7% vs 4.9%; P = .006). Significant risk factors for seroconversion included the use of public transportation (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.25–2.03), known community exposure to severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (2.80; 95% CI, 2.22–3.54), working in a ward with a nosocomial COVID outbreak (2.93; 95% CI, 2.27–3.79), and working in a COVID-19 G&R ward (3.47; 95% CI, 2.45–4.91) or a non–COVID-19 G&R ward (1.96; 95% CI, 1.46–2.63). We observed an association between reported use of respirators and lower risk of seroconversion (0.73; 95% CI, 0.55–0.96).

Conclusion:

Additional preventive measures should be implemented to protect employees in G&R wards. Randomized trials on the protective effect of respirators are urgently needed.