bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specularizer : Detecting Speculative Execution Attacks via Performance Tracing
Authors: Wang Wubing , Chen Guoxing , Cheng Yueqiang , Zhang Yinqian , Lin Zhiqiang
Published: July 2021

This paper presents Specularizer, a framework for uncovering speculative execution attacks using performance tracing features available in commodity processors. It is motivated by the practical difficulty of eradicating such vulnerabilities in the design of CPU hardware and operating systems and the principle of defense-in-depth. The key idea of Specularizer is the use of Hardware Performance Counters and Processor Trace to perform lightweight monitoring of production applications and the use of machine learning techniques for identifying the occurrence of the attacks during offline forensics analysis. Different from prior works that use performance counters to detect side-channel attacks, Specularizer monitors triggers of the critical paths of the speculative execution attacks, thus making the detection mechanisms robust to different choices of side channels used in the attacks. To evaluate Specularizer, we model all known types of exception-based and misprediction-based speculative execution attacks and automatically generate thousands of attack variants. Experimental results show that Specularizer yields superior detection accuracy and the online tracing of Specularizer incur reasonable overhead.
Dynamical inverse seesaw mechanism as a simple benchmark for electroweak breaking and Higgs boson studies
Authors: Mandal Sanjoy , Romão Jorge C. , Srivastava Rahul , Valle José W. F.
Published: July 2021

Abstract

The Standard Model (SM) vacuum is unstable for the measured values of the top Yukawa coupling and Higgs mass. Here we study the issue of vacuum stability when neutrino masses are generated through spontaneous low-scale lepton number violation. In the simplest dynamical inverse seesaw, the SM Higgs has two siblings: a massive CP-even scalar plus a massless Nambu-Goldstone boson, called majoron. For TeV scale breaking of lepton number, Higgs bosons can have a sizeable decay into the invisible majorons. We examine the interplay and complementarity of vacuum stability and perturbativity restrictions, with collider constraints on visible and invisible Higgs boson decay channels. This simple framework may help guiding further studies, for example, at the proposed FCC facility.
Components of eleven-dimensional supergravity with four off-shell supersymmetries
Authors: Becker Katrin , Butter Daniel , Linch William D. , Sengupta Anindya
Published: July 2021

Abstract

We derive the component structure of 11D,N= 1/8 supergravity linearized around eleven-dimensional Minkowski space. This theory represents 4 local supersymmetries closing onto 4 of the 11 spacetime translations without the use of equations of motion. It may be interpreted as adding 201 auxiliary bosons and 56 auxiliary fermions to the physical supergravity multiplet for a total of 376 + 376 components. These components and their transformations are organized into representations of SL(2;C)× G2.
Microscopic entropy of AdS3 black holes revisited
Authors: Larsen Finn , Lee Siyul
Published: July 2021

Abstract

We revisit the microscopic description of AdS3 black holes in light of recent progress on their higher dimensional analogues. The grand canonical partition function that follows from the AdS3/CFT2 correspondence describes BPS and nearBPS black hole thermodynamics. We formulate an entropy extremization principle that accounts for both the black hole entropy and a constraint on its charges, in close analogy with asymptotically AdS black holes in higher dimensions. We are led to interpret supersymmetric black holes as ensembles of BPS microstates satisfying a charge constraint that is not respected by individual states. This interpretation provides a microscopic understanding of the hitherto mysterious charge constraints satisfied by all BPS black holes in AdS. We also develop thermodynamics and a nAttractor mechanism of AdS3 black holes in the nearBPS regime.
More Retrieval Attempts are Associated with Poorer Functional Outcome After Unsuccessful Thrombectomy
Authors: Flottmann F. , van Horn N. , Maros M. E. , Leischner H. , Bechstein M. , Meyer L. , Sauer M. , Deb-Chatterji M. , Alegiani A. , Thomalla G. , Fiehler J. , Brekenfeld C. ,   GSR investigators
Published: July 2021

Purpose

In mechanical thrombectomy, it has been hypothesized that multiple retrieval attempts might the improve reperfusion rate but not the clinical outcome. In order to assess a potential harmful effect of a mechanical thrombectomy on patient outcome, the number of retrieval attempts was analyzed. Only patients with a thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score of 0 were reviewed to exclude the impact of eventual successful reperfusion on the mechanical hazardousness of repeated retrievals.

Methods

In this study 6635 patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) from the prospectively administered multicenter German Stroke Registry were screened. Insufficient reperfusion was defined as no reperfusion (TICI score of 0), whereas a primary outcome was defined as functional independence (modified Rankin scale [mRS] 0–2 at day 90). Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regressions were then performed to adjust for confounders.

Results

A total of 377 patients (7.8%) had a final TICI score of 0 and were included in the study. After propensity score matching functional independence was found to be significantly more frequent in patients who underwent ≤ 2 retrieval attempts (14%), compared to patients with > 2 retrieval attempts (3.9%, OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.07–0.73, p = 0.009). After adjusting for age, sex, admission NIHSS score, and location of occlusion, more than two retrieval attempts remained significantly associated with lower odds of functional independence at 90 days (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.07–0.52, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

In patients with failure of reperfusion, more than two retrieval attempts were associated with a worse clinical outcome, therefore indicating a possible harmful effect of multiple retrieval attempts.
Zahn- und Kieferfehlstellungen – gesundheitliche Relevanz und Behandlung
Authors: Ruf Sabine , Proff Peter , Lisson Jörg
Published: July 2021

Zahn- und Kieferfehlstellungen gehören zu den häufigsten Mundgesundheitsbeeinträchtigungen beim Menschen. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt eine Übersicht zu deren Ursachen, Häufigkeit und Folgen. Er zeigt die präventiven und kurativen Möglichkeiten kieferorthopädischer Behandlungen auf und gibt Informationen zu deren rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen in Deutschland. Inanspruchnahme und Qualität der kieferorthopädischen Versorgung werden im internationalen Vergleich dargestellt.

Bei den Ursachen für Zahn- und Kieferfehlstellungen spielen genetische, epigenetische, funktionelle und umweltbedingte Faktoren eine Rolle, die individuell meist nicht eindeutig feststellbar sind. Bisher zeigen nur kleinere Querschnittsstudien, dass bis zu 80 % der Kinder in Deutschland betroffen sind. Essen, Trinken, Kauen, Sprechen und Atmen können beeinträchtigt sein, die Neigung zu Parodontalerkrankungen sowie Überlastungsschäden von Kiefergelenk und Kaumuskulatur sind erhöht. Bei einer Proklination der oberen Schneidezähne steigt die Gefahr von Frontzahntraumata. Fehlstellungen können zudem negative psychosoziale Folgen oder Einschränkungen der Lebensqualität zur Folge haben. Kieferorthopädische Behandlungen leisten in Kooperation mit anderen (zahn-)medizinischen Fachdisziplinen einen wichtigen präventiven bzw. kurativen Beitrag zur Verbesserung der Mundgesundheit, der Allgemeingesundheit und der Lebensqualität.

Die Kieferorthopädie bietet ein erhebliches Potenzial für die Stärkung der zahnärztlichen Prävention im Gesundheitswesen, zumal die gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV) eine breitflächige Versorgung der Bevölkerung mit kieferorthopädischen Leistungen auf international anerkanntem, hohem Niveau ermöglicht. Um die Prävention weiter zu verbessern, wird die Einführung eines kieferorthopädischen Screenings im 7.–8. Lebensjahr als systematische Vorsorge empfohlen.
An integrated approach for the modelling of silicon carbide components laser milling process
Authors: Leone Claudio , Genna Silvio , Tagliaferri Vincenzo
Published: July 2021

The paper deals with characterisation and modelling of laser milling process on silicon carbide hard ceramic. To this end, a Yb:YAG pulsed fiber laser was adopted to mill silicon carbide bars. Square pockets, 5×5 mm2 in plane dimension, were machined at the maximum nominal average power (30W), under different laser process parameters: pulse frequency, scan speed, hatching distance, repetitions and scanning strategy. After machining, the achieved depth and the roughness parameters were measured by way of digital microscopy and 3D surface profiling, respectively. In addition, the material removal rate was calculated as the ratio between the removed volume/process time. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was adopted to assess the effect of the process parameters on the achieved depth, the material removal rate (MRR) and roughness parameters, while response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neuronal networks (ANNs) were adopted to model the process behaviours. Results show that both RSM and ANNs fault in MRR and RSm roughness parameters modelling. Thus, an integrated approach was developed to overcome the issue; the approach is based on the use of the RSM model to obtain a hybrid Training dataset for the ANNs. The results show that the approach can allow improvement in model accuracy.
Acquired ABC-transporter overexpression in cancer cells: transcriptional induction or Darwinian selection?
Authors: Theile Dirk , Wizgall Pauline
Published: July 2021

Acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumor diseases has repeatedly been associated with overexpression of ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC-transporters) such as P-glycoprotein. Both in vitro and in vivo data suggest that these efflux transporters can cause MDR, albeit its actual relevance for clinical chemotherapy unresponsiveness remains uncertain. The overexpression can experimentally be achieved by exposure of tumor cells to cytotoxic drugs. For simplification, the drug-mediated transporter overexpression can be attributed to two opposite mechanisms: First, increased transcription of ABC-transporter genes mediated by nuclear receptors sensing the respective compound. Second, Darwinian selection of sub-clones intrinsically overexpressing drug transporters being capable of extruding the respective drug. To date, there is no definite data indicating which mechanism truly applies or whether there are circumstances promoting either mode of action. This review summarizes experimental evidence for both theories, suggests an algorithm discriminating between these two modes, and finally points out future experimental approaches of research to answer this basic question in cancer pharmacology.
LC-HRMS screening of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in impregnated paper samples and contaminated soils
Authors: Bugsel Boris , Bauer Rebecca , Herrmann Florian , Maier Martin E. , Zwiener Christian
Published: July 2021

High per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) concentrations have been detected in agricultural soils in Southwest Germany. Discharges of PFAS-contaminated paper sludge and compost are suspected to be the cause of the contamination. Perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) have been detected also in groundwater, drinking water, and plants in this area. Recently, previously unknown compounds have been identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Major contaminants were polyfluorinated dialkylated phosphate esters (diPAPs) and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol–based phosphate diester (diSAmPAP). In this study, HRMS screening for PFAS was applied to 14 soil samples from the contaminated area and 14 impregnated paper samples which were from a similar period than the contamination. The paper samples were characterized by diPAPs (from 4:2/6:2 to 12:2/12:2), fluorotelomer mercapto alkyl phosphates (FTMAPs; 6:2/6:2 to 10:2/10:2), and diSAmPAP. In soil samples, diPAPs and their transformation products (TPs) were the major contaminants, but also FTMAPs, diSAmPAP, and their TPs occurred. The distribution patterns of the carbon chain lengths of the precursor PFAS in soil samples were shown to resemble those in paper samples. This supports the hypothesis that paper sludge is a major source of contamination. The presence of major degradation products like PFCAs, FTSAs, or PFOS and their distribution of carbon chain lengths indicate the activity of biotic or abiotic degradation processes and selective leaching processes from the upper soil horizons.

Graphical abstract
Austausch von Aniridie-IOL gegen individuelle Iris-IOL-Implantate
Authors: Mayer C. , Scharf D. , Khoramnia R.
Published: July 2021

Hintergrund

Es können 3 Gruppen an Irisprothesen zur chirurgischen Versorgung von Irisdefekten unterschieden werden: (1) segmentale Irisimplantate, (2) kombinierte Irisblenden-Intraokularlinsen (IOL) und (3) reine Irisimplantate. Die meisten Irisrekonstruktionen gehen zusätzlich mit einer Aphakiekorrektur durch sekundäre Linsenimplantation einher. Auch wenn primäre Ziele die Herstellung einer Pupille sowie die Besserung des Blendungsempfindens, der Kontrastsensitivität und der Sehschärfe sind, spielt das ästhetische Ergebnis eine nicht zu vernachlässigende Rolle.

Ziel der Arbeit

Dargestellt werden funktionelle und ästhetische Ergebnisse nach Austausch von Aniridie-IOL-Implantaten gegen eine individuell angefertigte künstliche Iris in Kombination mit einer IOL.

Material und Methoden

In dieser retrospektiven Studie mit 7 Augen von 7 Patienten wurde eine Irisblenden-IOL (Morcher GmbH, Stuttgart) aus medizinischen Gründen (Subluxation) gegen eine individuell hergestellte künstliche Iris aus Silikon (ArtificialIris, HumanOptics, Erlangen) in Kombination mit einer angenähten IOL ausgetauscht. Die Nachbeobachtungszeit betrug mindestens 3 Monate. Bestkorrigierter Fernvisus (BCVA), Endothelzellzahl (ECC), Komplikationen, Blendungsempfinden, das ästhetische Ergebnis und die Patientenzufriedenheit wurden evaluiert.

Ergebnisse

BCVA und ECC zeigten keine statistisch signifikante Änderung zwischen prä- und postoperativ (p > 0,05). Es zeigte sich eine Dezentrierung des Iris-IOL-Implantats von 0,27 ± 0,19 mm 3 Monate postoperativ. Auf einer visuellen Analogskala (VAS) von 1 bis 10 (1 = gar nicht bis 10 = extrem zufrieden) wurde die Zufriedenheit mit dem Gesamtergebnis mit 8,6 ± 2,5 bewertet. Das subjektive Blendungsempfinden besserte sich auf 5,6 ± 3,5 und die subjektive ästhetische Beeinträchtigung auf 2,4 ± 2,0 auf der VAS (1 = gar nicht bis 10 = extrem stark). Die postoperativen Komplikationen umfassten eine vorübergehende intraokulare Hypotonie in zwei, einen Druckanstieg in zwei, eine Netzhautablösung und eine transiente Glaskörperblutung jeweils in einem Auge. Sechs von sieben Patienten würden den Eingriff wiederholen.

Schlussfolgerung

Im Vergleich zu einem starren Aniridie-IOL-Implantat bietet der Austausch gegen eine individuell angefertigte künstliche Iris in Kombination mit einer IOL neben einem guten funktionellen gleichzeitig auch ein ästhetisch ansprechendes Ergebnis.
Generation of advanced Escher-like spiral tessellations
Authors: Ouyang Peichang , Chung Kwok Wai , Bailey David , Nicolas Alain , Gdawiec Krzysztof
Published: July 2021

In this paper, using both hand-drawn and computer-drawn graphics, we establish a method to generate advanced Escher-like spiral tessellations. We first give a way to achieve simple spiral tilings of cyclic symmetry. Then, we introduce several conformal mappings to generate three derived spiral tilings. To obtain Escher-like tessellations on the generated tilings, given pre-designed wallpaper motifs, we specify the tessellations’ implementation details. Finally, we exhibit a rich gallery of the generated Escher-like tessellations. According to the proposed method, one can produce a great variety of exotic Escher-like tessellations that have both good aesthetic value and commercial potential.
Early inflammation precedes cardiac fibrosis and heart failure in desmoglein 2 murine model of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Ng K. E. , Delaney P. J. , Thenet D. , Murtough S. , Webb C. M. , Zaman N. , Tsisanova E. , Mastroianni G. , Walker S. L. M. , Westaby J. D. , Pennington D. J. , Pink R. , Kelsell D. P. , Tinker A.
Published: July 2021

The study of a desmoglein 2 murine model of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy revealed cardiac inflammation as a key early event leading to fibrosis. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) is an inherited heart muscle disorder leading to ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure due to abnormalities in the cardiac desmosome. We examined how loss of desmoglein 2 (Dsg2) in the young murine heart leads to development of AC. Apoptosis was an early cellular phenotype, and RNA sequencing analysis revealed early activation of inflammatory-associated pathways in Dsg2-null (Dsg2−/−) hearts at postnatal day 14 (2 weeks) that were absent in the fibrotic heart of adult mice (10 weeks). This included upregulation of iRhom2/ADAM17 and its associated pro-inflammatory cytokines and receptors such as TNFα, IL6R and IL-6. Furthermore, genes linked to specific macrophage populations were also upregulated. This suggests cardiomyocyte stress triggers an early immune response to clear apoptotic cells allowing tissue remodelling later on in the fibrotic heart. Our analysis at the early disease stage suggests cardiac inflammation is an important response and may be one of the mechanisms responsible for AC disease progression.
Kinematic partitioning in the Southern Andes (39° S–46° S) inferred from lineament analysis and reassessment of exhumation rates
Authors: Göllner Paul Leon , Eisermann Jan Oliver , Balbis Catalina , Petrinovic Ivan A. , Riller Ulrich
Published: July 2021

The Southern Andes are often viewed as a classic example for kinematic partitioning of oblique plate convergence into components of continental margin-parallel strike-slip and transverse shortening. In this regard, the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone, one of Earth’s most prominent intra-arc deformation zones, is believed to be the most important crustal discontinuity in the Southern Andes taking up margin-parallel dextral strike-slip. Recent structural studies, however, are at odds with this simple concept of kinematic partitioning, due to the presence of margin-oblique and a number of other margin-parallel intra-arc deformation zones. However, knowledge on the extent of such zones in the Southern Andes is still limited. Here, we document traces of prominent structural discontinuities (lineaments) from the Southern Andes between 39° S and 46° S. In combination with compiled low-temperature thermochronology data and interpolation of respective exhumation rates, we revisit the issue of kinematic partitioning in the Southern Andes. Exhumation rates are maximal in the central parts of the orogen and discontinuity traces, trending predominantly N–S, WNW–ESE and NE–SW, are distributed across the entire width of the orogen. Notably, discontinuities coincide spatially with large gradients in Neogene exhumation rates and separate crustal domains characterized by uniform exhumation. Collectively, these relationships point to significant components of vertical displacement on these discontinuities, in addition to horizontal displacements known from published structural studies. Our results agree with previously documented Neogene shortening in the Southern Andes and indicate orogen-scale transpression with maximal vertical extrusion of rocks in the center of the transpression zone. The lineament and thermochronology data call into question the traditional view of kinematic partitioning in the Southern Andes, in which deformation is focused on the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone.
Confounding Ghost Channels and Causality: A New Approach to Causal Information Flows
Authors: Ay Nihat
Published: July 2021

Information theory provides a fundamental framework for the quantification of information flows through channels, formally Markov kernels. However, quantities such as mutual information and conditional mutual information do not necessarily reflect the causal nature of such flows. We argue that this is often the result of conditioning based on σ-algebras that are not associated with the given channels. We propose a version of the (conditional) mutual information based on families of σ-algebras that are coupled with the underlying channel. This leads to filtrations which allow us to prove a corresponding causal chain rule as a basic requirement within the presented approach.
Inhibitors of immune checkpoints—PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4—new opportunities for cancer patients and a new challenge for internists and general practitioners
Authors: Wojtukiewicz Marek Z. , Rek Magdalena M. , Karpowicz Kamil , Górska Maria , Polityńska Barbara , Wojtukiewicz Anna M. , Moniuszko Marcin , Radziwon Piotr , Tucker Stephanie C. , Honn Kenneth V.
Published: July 2021

The treatment of cancer patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) (anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, combined therapy anti-PD-1/PD-L1 with anti-CTLA-4) has without doubt been a significant breakthrough in the field of oncology in recent years and constitutes a major step forward as a novel type of immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer. ICIs have contributed to a significant improvement in the outcome of treatment and prognosis of patients with different types of malignancy. With the expansion of the use of ICIs, it is expected that caregivers will face new challenges, namely, they will have to manage the adverse side effects associated with the use of these drugs. New treatment options pose new challenges not only for oncologists but also for specialists in other clinical fields, including general practitioners (GPs). They also endorse the need for taking a holistic approach to the patient, which is a principle widely recognized in oncology and especially relevant in the case of the expanding use of ICIs, which may give rise to a wide variety of organ complications resulting from treatment. Knowledge and awareness of the spectrum of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) will allow doctors to qualify patients for treatment more appropriately, prevent complications, correctly recognize, and ultimately treat them. Additionally, patients with more non-specific symptoms would be expected, in the first instance, to consult their general practitioners, as complications may appear even after the termination of treatment and do not always proceed in line with disease progression. Dealing with any iatrogenic complications, will not only be the remit of oncologists but because of the likelihood that specific organs may be affected, is likely to extend also to specialists in various fields of internal medicine. These specialists, e.g., endocrinologists, dermatologists, pulmonologists, and gastroenterologists, are likely to receive referrals for patients suffering from specific types of adverse events or will be asked to provide care in cases requiring hospitalization of patients with complications in their field of expertise. In view of these considerations, we believe that there is an urgent need for multidisciplinary teamwork in the treatment of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy and suffering the consequent adverse reactions to treatment.
Understanding shared links and their intentions to meet information needs in modern code review:
Authors: Wang Dong , Xiao Tao , Thongtanunam Patanamon , Kula Raula Gaikovina , Matsumoto Kenichi
Published: July 2021

Code reviews serve as a quality assurance activity for software teams. Especially for Modern Code Review, sharing a link during a review discussion serves as an effective awareness mechanism where “Code reviews are good FYIs [for your information].”. Although prior work has explored link sharing and the information needs of a code review, the extent to which links are used to properly conduct a review is unknown. In this study, we performed a mixed-method approach to investigate the practice of link sharing and their intentions. First, through a quantitative study of the OpenStack and Qt projects, we identify 19,268 reviews that have 39,686 links to explore the extent to which the links are shared, and analyze a correlation between link sharing and review time. Then in a qualitative study, we manually analyze 1,378 links to understand the role and usefulness of link sharing. Results indicate that internal links are more widely referred to (93% and 80% for the two projects). Importantly, although the majority of the internal links are referencing to reviews, bug reports and source code are also shared in review discussions. The statistical models show that the number of internal links as an explanatory factor does have an increasing relationship with the review time. Finally, we present seven intentions of link sharing, with providing context being the most common intention for sharing links. Based on the findings and a developer survey, we encourage the patch author to provide clear context and explore both internal and external resources, while the review team should continue link sharing activities. Future research directions include the investigation of causality between sharing links and the review process, as well as the potential for tool support.
Edge-enabled Mobile Crowdsensing to Support Effective Rewarding for Data Collection in Pandemic Events
Authors: Foschini Luca , Martuscelli Giuseppe , Montanari Rebecca , Solimando Michele
Published: July 2021

Smart cities use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to enrich existing public services and to improve citizens’ quality of life. In this scenario, Mobile CrowdSensing (MCS) has become, in the last few years, one of the most prominent paradigms for urban sensing. MCS allow people roaming around with their smart devices to collectively sense, gather, and share data, thus leveraging the possibility to capture the pulse of the city. That can be very helpful in emergency scenarios, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that require to track the movement of a high number of people to avoid risky situations, such as the formation of crowds. In fact, using mobility traces gathered via MCS, it is possible to detect crowded places and suggest people safer routes/places. In this work, we propose an edge-anabled mobile crowdsensing platform, called ParticipAct, that exploits edge nodes to compute possible dangerous crowd situations and a federated blockchain network to store reward states. Edge nodes are aware of all critical situation in their range and can warn the smartphone client with a smart push notification service that avoids firing too many messages by adapting the warning frequency according to the transport and the specific subarea in which clients are located.
Correction to: Mapping the field of research on African higher education: a review of 6483 publications from 1980 to 2019
Authors: Zavale Nelson Casimiro , Schneijderberg Christian
Published: July 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-021-00691-x
Pessimism and Optimism in the Debate on Climate Change: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Nordgren Anders
Published: July 2021

In the debate on climate change commentators often express pessimistic or optimistic views. We see this mainly in the media and popular literature, but also in various academic fields. The aim of this paper is to investigate different kinds of pessimistic and optimistic views put forward in this debate and suggest explanations of the diversity of views. The paper concludes that pessimism and optimism may concern, for example, climate change as an unmitigated or poorly mitigated process, mitigation of climate change or specific measures of mitigation. These aspects are important to distinguish, because a person can be pessimist concerning climate change as an unmitigated or poorly mitigated process and optimist concerning mitigation of climate change, and be pessimist concerning one specific mitigation measure and optimist concerning another. It is suggested that the diversity of pessimistic and optimistic views is due to the uncertainty of scientific climate models and the influence of evaluative and ideological assumptions.
Optimization and improvement of a robotics gaze control system using LSTM networks
Authors: Domingo Jaime Duque , Gómez-García-Bermejo Jaime , Zalama Eduardo
Published: July 2021

Gaze control represents an important issue in the interaction between a robot and humans. Specifically, deciding who to pay attention to in a multi-party conversation is one way to improve the naturalness of a robot in human-robot interaction. This control can be carried out by means of two different models that receive the stimuli produced by the participants in an interaction, either an on-center off-surround competitive network or a recurrent neural network. A system based on a competitive neural network is able to decide who to look at with a smooth transition in the focus of attention when significant changes in stimuli occur. An important aspect in this process is the configuration of the different parameters of such neural network. The weights of the different stimuli have to be computed to achieve human-like behavior. This article explains how these weights can be obtained by solving an optimization problem. In addition, a new model using a recurrent neural network with LSTM layers is presented. This model uses the same set of stimuli but does not require its weighting. This new model is easier to train, avoiding manual configurations, and offers promising results in robot gaze control. The experiments carried out and some results are also presented.
Combining EQ-5D-5L items into a level summary score: demonstrating feasibility using non-parametric item response theory using an international dataset
Authors: Feng You-Shan , Jiang Ruixuan , Pickard A. Simon , Kohlmann Thomas
Published: July 2021

Background

The EQ-5D-5L is a well-established health questionnaire that estimates health utilities by applying preference-based weights. Limited work has been done to examine alternative scoring approaches when utility weights are unavailable or inapplicable. We examined whether the Mokken scaling approach can elucidate 1) if the level summary score is appropriate for the EQ-5D-5L and 2) an interpretation of such a score.

Methods

The R package “mokken” was used to assess monotonicity (scaling coefficients H, automated item selection procedure) and manifest invariant item ordering (MIIO: paired item response functions [IRF], HT). We used a rich dataset (the Multiple Instrument Comparison, MIC) which includes EQ-5D-5L data from six Western countries.

Results

While all EQ-5D-5L items demonstrated monotonicity, the anxiety/depression (AD) item had weak scalability (Hi = 0.377). Without AD, scalability improved from Hs = 0.559 to Hs = 0.714. MIIO revealed that the 5 items can be ordered, and the ordering is moderately accurate in the MIC data (HT = 0.463). Excluding AD, HTimproves to 0.743. Results were largely consistent across disease and country subgroups.

Discussion

The 5 items of the EQ-5D-5L form a moderate to strong Mokken scale, enabling persons to be ordered using the level summary score. Item ordering suggests that the lower range of the score represents mainly problems with pain and anxiety/depression, the mid-range indicates additional problems with mobility and usual activities, and middle to higher range of scores reveals additional limitations with self-care. Scalability and item ordering are even stronger when the anxiety/depression item is not included in the scale.
Correction to: Voluntary disclosure when private information and disclosure costs are jointly determined
Authors: Kim Jung Min , Taylor Daniel J. , Verrecchia Robert E.
Published: July 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s11142-021-09623-7
Strategic manipulation in judgment aggregation under higher-level reasoning
Authors: Terzopoulou Zoi , Endriss Ulle
Published: July 2021

We analyse the incentives of individuals to misrepresent their truthful judgments when engaged in collective decision-making. Our focus is on scenarios in which individuals reason about the incentives of others before choosing which judgments to report themselves. To this end, we introduce a formal model of strategic behaviour in logic-based judgment aggregation that accounts for such higher-level reasoning as well as the fact that individuals may only have partial information about the truthful judgments and preferences of their peers. We find that every aggregation rule must belong to exactly one of three possible categories: it is either (i) immune to strategic manipulation for every level of reasoning, or (ii) manipulable for every level of reasoning, or (iii) immune to manipulation only for everykth level of reasoning, for some natural number kgreater than 1.
Effect of direct current on gas condensate droplet immersed in brine solution
Authors: Ikpeka Princewill M. , Ugwu Johnson O. , Pillai Gobind G. , Russell Paul
Published: July 2021

Environmentally sustainable methods of extracting hydrocarbons from the reservoir are increasingly becoming an important area of research. Several methods are being applied to mitigate condensate banking effect which occurs in gas condensate reservoirs; some of which have significant impact on the environment (subsurface and surface). Electrokinetic enhanced oil recovery (EEOR) increases oil displacement efficiency in conventional oil reservoirs while retaining beneficial properties to the environment. To successfully apply this technology on gas condensate reservoirs, the behavior of condensate droplets immersed in brine under the influence of electric current need to be understood. A laboratory experiment was designed to capture the effect of electrical current on interfacial tension and droplet movement. Pendant drop tensiometry was used to obtain the interfacial tension, while force analysis was used to analyze the effect of the electrical current on droplet trajectory. Salinity (0–23 ppt) and electric voltage (0–46.5 V) were the main variables during the entire experiment. Results from the experiment reveal an increase in IFT as the voltage is increased, while the droplet trajectory was significantly altered with an increase in voltage. This study concludes that the interfacial tension increases progressively with an increase in DC current, until its effect counteracts the benefit obtained from the preferential movement of condensate droplet.
The spectra of finite 3-transposition groups
Authors: Hall J. I. , Shpectorov S.
Published: July 2021

We calculate the spectrum of the diagram for each finite 3-transposition group. Such graphs with a given minimum eigenvalue have occurred in the context of compact Griess subalgebras of vertex operator algebras.
Spatial Modelling of Micro-pollutants in a Strongly Regulated Cross-border Lowland Catchment
Authors: Lämmchen Volker , Klasmeier Jörg , Hernandez-Leal Lucia , Berlekamp Jürgen
Published: July 2021

Anthropogenically influenced transboundary catchment areas require an appropriately adapted exposure modelling. In such catchments, water management decisions strongly influence and override natural river hydrology. We adapted the existing exposure assessment model GREAT-ER to better represent artificially overprinted hydrological conditions in the simulations. Changes in flow directions and emission routes depending on boundary conditions can be taken into account by the adopted approach. The approach was applied in a case study for the drug metformin in the cross-border catchment of Vecht (Germany/Netherlands). In the Dutch part, pumps to maintain necessary water levels and minimum flow rates during dry periods lead to a reversal of the (natural) flow directions and as a consequence to additional pollutant input from the Lower Rhine/Ijssel along with a spatial redistribution of emissions in the catchment area. The model results for the pharmaceutical product metformin show plausible concentration patterns that are consistent with both monitoring results and literature findings at mean discharges and the effects of the changed hydrology in times of low natural discharges, namely an increase in polluted river sections under dry conditions due to the pumping activities. The adapted methodology allows for realistic application of the GREAT-ER model in anthropogenically modified catchments. The approach can be used in similar catchments worldwide for more realistic aquatic exposure assessment.
Trouble Underground: Demand Shocks and the Labor Supply Behavior of New York City Taxi Drivers
Authors: Saia Alessandro
Published: July 2021

We investigate the relevance of targeting behavior in the labor supply decisions of New York City Taxi drivers using exogenous and transitory positive changes in labor demand. Exploiting high-frequency variations in taxi demand due to subway service disruptions, we show that drivers work more when earnings opportunities are greater both when they are above and when they are below their income target. Surpassing the target, however, significantly reduces drivers’ labor supply. Estimates imply that drivers’ response to demand shocks is 40$$\%$$
%
smaller once they have reached their daily income target. These results suggest that, while drivers’ behavior seems largely consistent with the prediction of a standard model of labor supply, targeting behavior does nevertheless play an essential role in determining drivers’ decisions.
Practical Considerations in Inflatable Penile Implant Surgery
Authors: Chung Eric , Mulhall John
Published: July 2021

Background

Penile prosthesis implantation remains an effective solution for men with medical-refractory erectile dysfunction (ED) following radical pelvic surgery. Despite the distortion of pelvic anatomy, a penile implant can be performed with excellent clinical outcomes provided strict patient selection, proper preoperative workup and safe surgical principles are adhered to.

Aim

To provide practical recommendations on inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation in patients with medical-refractory ED, with an emphasis on patient selection and counselling, preoperative workup as well as surgical considerations to minimize intraoperative complications.

Methods

A Medline search on relevant English-only articles on penile prostheses and pelvic surgery was undertaken and the following terms were included in the search for articles of interest: “bladder cancer”, “prostate cancer”, “rectal cancer”, “pelvic surgery” and “inflatable penile implant”.

Outcomes

Clinical key recommendations on patient selection, preoperative workup and surgical principles.

RESULTS

Patients should be made aware of the mechanics of IPP and the informed consent process should outline the benefits and disadvantages of IPP surgery, alternative treatment options, cost, potential prosthetic complications and patient’s expectations on clinical outcomes. Specialised diagnostic test for workup for ED is often not necessary although preoperative workup should include screening for active infection and optimising pre-existing medical comorbidities. Precautionary measures should be carried out to minimise infective complication. Corporal dilation and reservoir placement can be challenging in this group, and surgeons may require knowledge of advanced reconstructive surgical techniques when dealing with specific cases such as coexisting Peyronie’s disease and continence issue.

Clinical translation

Strict patient selection and counselling process coupled with safe surgical principles are important to achieve excellent linical outcomes and patient satisfaction rates.

Strengths and limitations

This masterclass paper provides an overview of the practical considerations for men who are undergoing IPP surgery following radical pelvic surgery. Limitations include the lack of highquality data and detailed surgical description on each surgical troubleshooting steps for various prosthetic-related complications.

CONCLUSION

The IPP implantation can be performed efficiently and safely in patients following radical pelvic surgery.
Taking ‘A walk through dementia’: exploring care home practitioners’ experiences of using a virtual reality tool to support dementia awareness
Authors: Hicks Ben , Konovalova Irma , Myers Kirsten , Falconer Liz , Board Michele
Published: July 2021

Emerging research has outlined the possibility for virtual reality (VR) experiences, which situate users into the perspective of someone living with dementia, to enhance dementia awareness. Currently, there is limited VR research that engages care home practitioners. It is imperative this population has high levels of dementia education given their requirements to provide care and support to residents, many of whom will be living with the condition. This paper reports on an exploratory qualitative study designed to elicit the experiences of care home practitioners who engaged with the VR application: ‘A walk through dementia’. Twenty practitioners, across four care homes in the United Kingdom, watched the VR scenarios and provided their views on the experience and the potential for the VR tool to be developed into a wider training programme to support dementia awareness. Data were collected via focus group discussions. Following an inductive thematic analysis, we constructed three themes. These suggested participants perceived the VR application offered them aconvincing and immersive experiencethat wasinsightful and evocative, and provided‘next-level’ dementia-awareness trainingthat enabled them to reflect on care practices. Although the findings highlight important challenges for practitioners and developers wishing to use VR within dementia care, they suggest this application may be an engaging experiential learning tool that can provide care home staff with deeper cognitive and emotional awareness of living with dementia. Further work, drawing on these preliminary insights, is required to ensure the VR tool can be incorporated into a training programme that can positively contribute to the ‘dementia-friendly communities’ agenda.
THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF PROCEDURAL MEMORY ASSESSMENTS USED IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION RESEARCH
Authors: Buffington Joshua , Demos Alexander P. , Morgan-Short Kara
Published: July 2021

Evidence for the role of procedural memory in second language (L2) acquisition has emerged in our field. However, little is known about the reliability and validity of the procedural memory measures used in this research. The present study (N = 119) examined the reliability and the convergent and discriminant validity of three assessments that have previously been used to examine procedural memory learning ability in L2 acquisition, the dual-task Weather Prediction Task (DT-WPT), the Alternating Serial Reaction Time Task (ASRT), and the Tower of London (TOL). Measures of declarative memory learning ability were also collected. For reliability, the DT-WPT and TOL tasks met acceptable standards. For validity, an exploratory factor analysis did not provide evidence for convergent validity, but the ASRT and the TOL showed reasonable discriminant validity with declarative memory measures. We argue that the ASRT may provide the purest engagement of procedural memory learning ability, although more reliable dependent measures for this task should be considered. The Serial Reaction Time task also appears promising, although we recommend further consideration of this task as the present analyses were post hoc and based on a smaller sample. We discuss these results regarding the assessment of procedural memory learning ability as well as implications for implicit language aptitude.
QUANTIFYING THE DIFFERENCE IN READING FLUENCY BETWEEN L1 AND L2 READERS OF ENGLISH
Authors: Nisbet Kelly , Bertram Raymond , Erlinghagen Charlotte , Pieczykolan Aleks , Kuperman Victor
Published: July 2021

This study is a comparative examination of reading behavior of first-language (L1) Canadian and second-language (L2) Finnish and German readers of English. We measured eye-movement patterns during reading the same set of English sentences and administered tests of English vocabulary, spelling, and exposure to print. The core of our study is a novel method of statistical prediction used to generate hypothetical Finnish and German participants with maximum observed L1 scores in all component skills. We found that with L1-like component skills, hypothetical German readers can show the same reading speed as the L1 group. We hypothesize this advantage comes from the small linguistic distance to English. Conversely, hypothetical Finnish readers remain disadvantaged even with maximum component skills, likely due to a larger linguistic distance. We discuss theoretical and applied implications of our method for L2 acquisition research.
Uncertainty in illness and the coping styles of severe patients with COVID-19: current status and correlation
Authors: Lan Cai-Feng , Nie Cai-Ling , Lin Yan-Juan
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of uncertainty in illness and the coping styles of patients with severe coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) and to explore their relationship to provide effective guidance for clinical nursing. A cross-sectional survey was used to investigate 56 severe patients with COVID-19 in a designated hospital in Wuhan. A general information questionnaire, the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Adults (MUIS-A) and the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ) were used to collect the data. A statistical analysis was performed. The total score of the MUIS-A was a 66.29 ± 17.25 which was at a low level, while the total score of the MCMQ was 54.16 ± 6.39. The scores of facing and avoiding were significantly higher than those in the norm. The difference in the yielding dimension of patients with different family economic situations was statistically significant. The total score of MUIS-A correlated negatively with the coping style of facing and avoiding and positively correlated with the coping style of yielding. The coping style of patients was one of the factors influencing uncertainty in illness. Nursing staff need to pay close attention to the psychological state of their patients, understand their coping styles and actively correct negative coping styles to reduce the uncertainty in illness and promote physical as well as mental recovery.
Pubertal status of children with congenital heart disease
Authors: Ghaemmaghami Zahra , Khajali Zahra , Dalili Mohammad , Fotovati Zahra , Moradian Maryam , Sheikhfathollahi Mahmood
Published: July 2021

Background:

CHD influences many aspects of life in affected individuals. Puberty, a major aspect of development, is a concern for patients and families.

Objectives:

We investigated pubertal status in children and adolescents with CHD.

Methods:

Patients with CHD aged 6–18 were enrolled. Cardiac diagnoses were confirmed using history, examination, and paraclinical tools including echocardiography. An endocrinologist determined pubertal stages, and the second Tanner stages for pubarche (P2), thelarche (B2), and gonadarche (G2) were considered as the pubertal onset. A study with a large sample size on pubertal onset in a normal population was used for comparison.

Results:

Totally, 451 patients (228 girls and 223 boys) at a median (10th–90th percentile) age of 10.79 (8.02–14.28) years for the girls and 10.72 (8.05–14.03) years for the boys were enrolled. The median (10th–90th percentile) ages at B2 and P2 in the girls with CHD were 10.77 (9.55–12.68) and 10.53 (9.39–12.28) years, respectively, which were higher than the median ages of 9.74 (8.23–11.94) and 10.49 (8.86–12.17) years in the normal girls.

The median (10th–90th percentile) ages at G2 and P2 in the boys with CHD were 11.04 (8.85–13.23) and 11.88 (9.78–13.46) years, correspondingly, which were higher than the median ages of 9.01 (6.00–11.84) and 10.34 (6.84–13.10) years in the normal boys.

Conclusions:

Pubertal onset could be delayed in children with CHD when compared with the normal population.