bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of epithelial cholinergic chemosensory cells of the urethra and trachea of mice
Authors: Perniss Alexander , Schmidt Patricia , Soultanova Aichurek , Papadakis Tamara , Dahlke Katja , Voigt Anja , Schütz Burkhard , Kummer Wolfgang , Deckmann Klaus
Published: February 2021

Cholinergic chemosensory cells (CCC) are infrequent epithelial cells with immunosensor function, positioned in mucosal epithelia preferentially near body entry sites in mammals including man. Given their adaptive capacity in response to infection and their role in combatting pathogens, we here addressed the time points of their initial emergence as well as their postnatal development from first exposure to environmental microbiota (i.e., birth) to adulthood in urethra and trachea, utilizing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-eGFP reporter mice, mice with genetic deletion of MyD88, toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2), TLR4, TLR2/TLR4, and germ-free mice. Appearance of CCC differs between the investigated organs. CCC of the trachea emerge during embryonic development at E18 and expand further after birth. Urethral CCC show gender diversity and appear first at P6-P10 in male and at P11-P20 in female mice. Urethrae and tracheae of MyD88- and TLR-deficient mice showed significantly fewer CCC in all four investigated deficient strains, with the effect being most prominent in the urethra. In germ-free mice, however, CCC numbers were not reduced, indicating that TLR2/4-MyD88 signaling, but not vita-PAMPs, governs CCC development. Collectively, our data show a marked postnatal expansion of CCC populations with distinct organ-specific features, including the relative impact of TLR2/4-MyD88 signaling. Strong dependency on this pathway (urethra) correlates with absence of CCC at birth and gender-specific initial development and expansion dynamics, whereas moderate dependency (trachea) coincides with presence of first CCC at E18 and sex-independent further development.
Faster algorithms for counting subgraphs in sparse graphs
Authors: Bressan Marco
Published: February 2021

Given a k-node pattern graph H and an n-node host graph G, the subgraph counting problem asks to compute the number of copies of H in G. In this work we address the following question: can we count the copies of H faster if G is sparse? We answer in the affirmative by introducing a novel tree-like decomposition for directed acyclic graphs, inspired by the classic tree decomposition for undirected graphs. This decomposition gives a dynamic program for counting the homomorphisms of H in G by exploiting the degeneracy of G, which allows us to beat the state-of-the-art subgraph counting algorithms when G is sparse enough. For example, we can count the induced copies of any k-node pattern H in time $$2^{O(k^2)} O(n^{0.25k + 2} \log n)$$

2

O
(

k
2

)

O

(

n

0.25
k
+
2

log
n
)

if G has bounded degeneracy, and in time $$2^{O(k^2)} O(n^{0.625k + 2} \log n)$$

2

O
(

k
2

)

O

(

n

0.625
k
+
2

log
n
)

if G has bounded average degree. These bounds are instantiations of a more general result, parameterized by the degeneracy of G and the structure of H, which generalizes classic bounds on counting cliques and complete bipartite graphs. We also give lower bounds based on the Exponential Time Hypothesis, showing that our results are actually a characterization of the complexity of subgraph counting in bounded-degeneracy graphs.
Robotic natural-orifice IntraCorporeal anastomosis with Extraction (NICE procedure) for complicated diverticulitis
Authors: Haas Eric M. , de Paula Thais Reif , Luna-Saracho Roberto , Smith Melissa Sara , LeFave Jean-Paul J.
Published: February 2021

Background

Totally intracorporeal surgery for left-sided resection carries numerous potential advantages by avoiding crossing staple lines and eliminating the need for an abdominal incision. For those with complicated diverticulitis, minimally invasive surgery is known to be technically challenging due to inflamed tissue, distorted pelvic anatomy, and obliterated tissue planes, resulting in high conversion rates. We aim to illustrate the stepwise approach and modifications required to successful complete the robotic Natural-orifice IntraCorporeal anastomosis with transrectal specimen Extraction (NICE) procedure in this cohort.

Methods

Consecutive, elective, unselected patients presenting with complicated diverticulitis defined as fistula, abscess and stricture underwent the NICE procedure over a 24-month period. Demographic and intraoperative data were collected, and video recordings were reviewed and edited on encrypted server.

Results

A total of 60 patients (50% female) underwent the NICE procedure for complicated diverticulitis with a mean age of 58.9 years and mean BMI of 30.7 kg/m2. The mean operative time was 231.6 min. All cases (100%) were achieved with intracorporeal anastomosis using a circular stapling device. All but one patient (98.3%) had successful transrectal extraction of the specimen. Forty-four (73%) of the specimens required a specimen-thinning maneuver to successfully extract the specimen and there were no conversions. We identified seven key technical modifications and considerations to facilitate successful completion of the procedure which are illustrated, including early release of the disease, mesentery-sparing dissection, dual instrument control of the mesenteric vasculature, release of the rectal reflection, use of NICE back table, specimen-thinning maneuver, and closure of the rectal cuff.

Conclusion

We present a stepwise approach with key modifications to successfully achieve totally robotic intracorporeal resection for those presenting with complicated diverticulitis. This approach may help overcome the technical challenges and provide a foundation for reproducible results.
Multi-disease big data analysis using beetle swarm optimization and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system
Authors: Singh Parminder , Kaur Avinash , Batth Ranbir Singh , Kaur Sukhpreet , Gianini Gabriele
Published: February 2021

Healthcare organizations and Health Monitoring Systems generate large volumes of complex data, which offer the opportunity for innovative investigations in medical decision making. In this paper, we propose a beetle swarm optimization and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (BSO-ANFIS) model for heart disease and multi-disease diagnosis. The main components of our analytics pipeline are the modified crow search algorithm, used for feature extraction, and an ANFIS classification model whose parameters are optimized by means of a BSO algorithm. The accuracy achieved in heart disease detection is $$99.1\%$$

99.1
%

with $$99.37\%$$

99.37
%

precision. In multi-disease classification, the accuracy achieved is $$96.08\%$$

96.08
%

with $$98.63\%$$

98.63
%

precision.
The results from both tasks prove the comparative advantage of the proposed BSO-ANFIS algorithm over the competitor models.
A graph-based CNN-LSTM stock price prediction algorithm with leading indicators
Authors: Wu Jimmy Ming-Tai , Li Zhongcui , Herencsar Norbert , Vo Bay , Lin Jerry Chun-Wei
Published: February 2021

In today’s society, investment wealth management has become a mainstream of the contemporary era. Investment wealth management refers to the use of funds by investors to arrange funds reasonably, for example, savings, bank financial products, bonds, stocks, commodity spots, real estate, gold, art, and many others. Wealth management tools manage and assign families, individuals, enterprises, and institutions to achieve the purpose of increasing and maintaining value to accelerate asset growth. Among them, in investment and financial management, people’s favorite product of investment often stocks, because the stock market has great advantages and charm, especially compared with other investment methods. More and more scholars have developed methods of prediction from multiple angles for the stock market. According to the feature of financial time series and the task of price prediction, this article proposes a new framework structure to achieve a more accurate prediction of the stock price, which combines Convolution Neural Network (CNN) and Long–Short-Term Memory Neural Network (LSTM). This new method is aptly named stock sequence array convolutional LSTM (SACLSTM). It constructs a sequence array of historical data and its leading indicators (options and futures), and uses the array as the input image of the CNN framework, and extracts certain feature vectors through the convolutional layer and the layer of pooling, and as the input vector of LSTM, and takes ten stocks in U.S.A and Taiwan as the experimental data. Compared with previous methods, the prediction performance of the proposed algorithm in this article leads to better results when compared directly.
Vertebral body changes after continuous spinal distraction in scoliotic children
Authors: Lippross Sebastian , Grages Antonia , Lueders Katja A. , Braunschweig Lena , Austein Friederike , Tsaknakis Konstantinos , Lorenz Heiko M. , Hell Anna K.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Growth-friendly spinal implants (GFSI) were established for scoliotic children as an interim solution until definite spinal fusion could be performed during puberty. While deformity control was clearly proven, the effects on vertebral shape and morphology are still unclear. Our prospective study assesses the effect of GFSI with continuous distraction on vertebral body shape and volume in SMA children in comparison with previously untreated age-matched SMA patients.

Methods

Cohort I (n = 19, age 13.2 years) were SMA patients without prior surgical scoliosis treatment. Cohort II (n = 24, age 12.4 years) were children, who had continuous spinal distraction with GFSI for 4.5 years. Radiographic measurements and computed tomography (CT) 3D volume rendering were performed before definite spinal fusion. For cohort II, additional radiographs were analyzed before the first surgical implantation of GFSI, after surgery and every year thereafter.

Results

Our analysis revealed decreased depth and volume in scoliotic patients with prior GFSI compared to scoliotic patients without prior implants. This difference was significant for the lower thoracic and entire lumbar spine. Vertebral body height and pedicle size were unchanged between the two cohorts.

Conclusion

CT data showed volume reduction in the vertebral body in scoliotic children after GFSI treatment. This effect was more severe in the lumbar and lower thoracic area. While vertebral height was identical in both groups, vertebral depth was reduced in the GFSI-treated group. Reduced vertebral depth and altered vertebral morphology should be considered before instrumenting the spine in previously treated scoliotic SMA children.

Level of evidence III

Diagnostic: individual cross-sectional studies with consistently applied reference standard and blinding.
Disziplin, Profession und evidenzbasierte Praxis: Zur Stellung der Psychotherapie im Gesundheitssystem. Eine Bilanz
Authors: Datler Wilfried , Hochgerner Markus , Korunka Christian , Löffler-Stastka Henriette , Pawlowsky Gerhard
Published: February 2021

30 Jahre nach der Verabschiedung des österreichischen Psychotherapiegesetzes wird die Besonderheit der Psychotherapie im Gesundheitssystem mit Bezug auf nationale Gegebenheiten und international vorliegende Forschungsergebnisse dargestellt. Dabei werden zentrale Qualitäts- und Unterscheidungsmerkmale der Psychotherapie im Verhältnis zur Klinischen Psychologie und zu weiteren Gesundheitsberufen unter Miteinbeziehung von evidenzbasierter Forschungsliteratur vorgestellt. Es wird deutlich gemacht, dass Psychotherapie das bedeutsamste und weitreichendste Versorgungsangebot zur interaktionellen Behandlung psychischer Erkrankungen darstellt. Zu den zentralen Merkmalen der Psychotherapie zählen die umfassenden, evidenzbasierten sowie wissenschaftstheoretisch und methodisch in vier Clustern verankerten Konzepte zur Erklärung, Diagnose und individuellen, prozessorientierten Behandlung von psychischen Erkrankungen sowie die im Vergleich zu ähnlichen Berufen deutlich höhere Qualität der Ausbildung.
Bayesian Estimation of Economic Simulation Models Using Neural Networks
Authors: Platt Donovan
Published: February 2021

Recent advances in computing power and the potential to make more realistic assumptions due to increased flexibility have led to the increased prevalence of simulation models in economics. While models of this class, and particularly agent-based models, are able to replicate a number of empirically-observed stylised facts not easily recovered by more traditional alternatives, such models remain notoriously difficult to estimate due to their lack of tractable likelihood functions. While the estimation literature continues to grow, existing attempts have approached the problem primarily from a frequentist perspective, with the Bayesian estimation literature remaining comparatively less developed. For this reason, we introduce a widely-applicable Bayesian estimation protocol that makes use of deep neural networks to construct an approximation to the likelihood, which we then benchmark against a prominent alternative from the existing literature. Overall, we find that our proposed methodology consistently results in more accurate estimates in a variety of settings, including the estimation of financial heterogeneous agent models and the identification of changes in dynamics occurring in models incorporating structural breaks.
Correction to: The wealth decumulation behavior of the retired elderly in Italy: the importance of bequest motives and precautionary saving
Authors: Ventura Luigi , Horioka Charles Yuji
Published: February 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-021-09552-z
In-Situ Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Investigation of Microstructural Evolutions During Low-Pressure Carburizing
Authors: Tapar Ogün Baris , Epp Jérémy , Steinbacher Matthias , Gibmeier Jens
Published: February 2021

An experimental heat treatment chamber and control system were developed to performin-situX-ray diffraction experiments during low-pressure carburizing (LPC) processes. Results from the experimental chamber and industrial furnace were compared, and it was proven that the built system is reliable for LPC experiments.In-situX-ray diffraction investigations during LPC treatment were conducted at the German Electron Synchrotron Facility in Hamburg Germany. During the boost steps, carbon accumulation and carbide formation was observed at the surface. These accumulation and carbide formation decelerated the further carbon diffusion from atmosphere to the sample. In the early minutes of the diffusion steps, it is observed that cementite content continue to increase although there is no presence of gas. This effect is attributed to the high carbon accumulation at the surface during boost steps which acts as a carbon supply. During quenching, martensite at higher temperature had a lowerc/aratio than later formed ones. This difference is credited to the early transformation of austenite regions having lower carbon content. Also, it was noticed that the final carbon content dissolved in martensite reduced compared to carbon in austenite before quenching. This reduction was attributed to the auto-tempering effect.
The Spontaneous Emulsification of Entrained Inclusions During Casting of High Aluminum Steels
Authors: Raviraj Akalya , Kourra Nadia , Williams Mark A. , Abbel Gert , Davis Claire , Tiekink Wouter , Sridhar Seetharaman , Spooner Stephen
Published: February 2021

Mold slag entrainment during the continuous casting process presents a late stage source of non-metallic inclusions (NMI) with a high likelihood of ending up in the final product. The reaction between the entrained slag phase and surrounding liquid steel in the continuous casting mold affects the inclusion morphology and properties. However, there is a lack of information on the kinetics of the NMI-steel reaction. A novel approach, utilizing controlled synthetic inclusion/metal samples, has been developed to study the reactions between free inclusion-slag droplets and steel. The technique combines High-Temperature Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (HT-CSLM), X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) and advanced electron microscopy techniques offering rapid controlled heating performance and extensive characterization of the samples. This method offers the ability to observe the size, shape and composition of an unconstrained reacting inclusion and to investigate the interface between the materials with respect to reaction time. This study interrogates a low aluminum steel (0.04 wt pct) and a high aluminum steel (1 wt pct) in contact with an inclusion-slag phase with a starting composition aligned to a typical mold slag. It was found that the reaction between silica and aluminum across the interface of the two phases provided a driving force for spontaneous emulsification to occur. Products of such emulsification will have a significant effect on the inclusion size distribution and potentially the prevalence of inclusion retention in molten steels solidifying in the continuous caster (for example if emulsified buoyancy forces are reduced to near zero) and hence in the subsequent solid product.
Effect of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Improvement of Fracture Toughness of Spark-Plasma-Sintered Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Nanocomposites
Authors: Arunkumar T. , Anand G. , Subbiah Ram , Karthikeyan R. , Jeevahan Jaya
Published: February 2021

Highly dense yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nano-ceramics reinforced with TC-CVD-synthesized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated using spark plasma sintering at a temperature of 1350°C, the heating rate of 100 °C/min and pressure of 50MPa with a dwell time of 10 minutes. The identical parameters were utilized for fabricating composites with a varying weight ratio of YSZ and MWNCTs. The samples were characterized for their phase transformation, microstructure and elemental composition using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The physical and mechanical properties such as density, porosity, hardness, fracture toughness and wear were also investigated. The increase in the MWCNTs concentration has resulted in the deterioration of the hardness due to CNT agglomerations. The wear resistance of the composites revealed MWNCTs enhanced wear resistance of YSZ nanocomposite by undergoing MWNCTs pull-out and crack branching mechanisms. Further indentation method and single-beam V-notch beam (SEVNB) methods were utilized to study the effect of MWCNTs on the fracture toughness of the nanocomposites. The fracture toughness of YC1 (6.58 ± 0.3 MPa m1/2) was 21% higher than the YSZ (5.21 ± 0.2 MPa m1/2) due to the toughening mechanisms attributable to crack deflection, branching and bridging of MWCNTs.
Exploitation, Criminalization, and Pecuniary Trade in the Organs of Living People
Authors: McLachlan Hugh V.
Published: February 2021

It is often maintained that, since the buying and selling of organs—particularly the kidneys—of living people supposedly constitutes exploitation of the living vendors while the so-called “altruistic” donation of them does not, the former, unlike the latter, should be a crime. This paper challenges and rejects this view. A novel account of exploitation, influenced by but different from those of Zwolinski and Wertheimer and of Wilkinson, is developed. Exploitation is seen as a sort of injustice. A distinction is made between justice and fairness. To exploit someone is to take advantage of him or her unjustly. Exploitation pertains to the nature of actions, interactions, and transaction rather than to their outcomes or to how they are perceived by exploitees. Desperation on the part of one or other of the parties to a transaction does not preclude the giving of valid consent to the transaction. Disparities of power or wealth between the parties to a transaction do not indicate or entail that the transaction will be exploitative. A disparity in the benefits that arise from a transaction between the parties does not indicate or entail that exploitation has taken place.
Robust multivariate estimation based on statistical depth filters
Authors: Saraceno Giovanni , Agostinelli Claudio
Published: February 2021

In the classical contamination models, such as the gross-error (Huber and Tukey contamination model or case-wise contamination), observations are considered as the units to be identified as outliers or not. This model is very useful when the number of considered variables is moderately small. Alqallaf et al. (Ann Stat 37(1):311–331, 2009) show the limits of this approach for a larger number of variables and introduced the independent contamination model (cell-wise contamination) where now the cells are the units to be identified as outliers or not. One approach to deal, at the same time, with both type of contamination is filter out the contaminated cells from the data set and then apply a robust procedure able to handle case-wise outliers and missing values. Here, we develop a general framework to build filters in any dimension based on statistical data depth functions. We show that previous approaches, e.g., Agostinelli et al. (TEST 24(3):441–461, 2015b) and Leung et al. (Comput Stat Data Anal 111:59–76, 2017), are special cases. We illustrate our method by using the half-space depth.
Phenology of the specialist bee Colletes hederae and its dependence on Hedera helix L. in comparison to a generalist, Apis mellifera
Authors: Hennessy Georgia , Uthoff Cassanda , Abbas Sema , Quaradeghini Stefano C. , Stokes Emma , Goulson Dave , Ratnieks Francis L. W.
Published: February 2021

Colletes hederae,the ivy bee, (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) has undergone large range expansions in Europe in recent years, including colonising Britain in 2001 with its original distribution limited to Western mainland Europe and the Channel Islands. It is thought to specialise onHedera helixL. (Apiales: Ariliaceae), common ivy. However, some research has questioned this dependence. This study quantifies the foraging ecology ofC. hederaeto determine its relationship with ivy in Sussex. We quantified the phenology of ivy bloom,C. hederaeactivity and flower visitation, and pollen collection of females through pollen analysis. We also gathered equivalent data onApis melliferaboth as a comparison and to assess alternative pollen sources. The phenology of femaleC. hederaeactivity was highly correlated with and phonologically contained within the ivy bloom period. Pollen analysis fromC. hederaeidentified ivy pollen was 98.5% of samples, significantly more than forA. mellifera(90%). Two other plant species were identified and more common inC. hederaesamples when ivy bloom was not at its peak. Surveys of ivy flowers surrounding the aggregations found thatC. hederaewere the most common insect (26%) foraging on ivy.AlthoughC. hederaecan forage on other species, ivy was found to be an important floral resource. The results also suggest the potential for competition withA. mellifera, the only other bee present in more than small numbers onH. helixflowers, as althoughA. melliferais a generalist, in autumn it mainly forages on ivy.
MUMBAI: multi-person, multimodal board game affect and interaction analysis dataset
Authors: Doyran Metehan , Schimmel Arjan , Baki Pınar , Ergin Kübra , Türkmen Batıkan , Salah Almıla Akdağ , Bakkes Sander C. J. , Kaya Heysem , Poppe Ronald , Salah Albert Ali
Published: February 2021

Board games are fertile grounds for the display of social signals, and they provide insights into psychological indicators in multi-person interactions. In this work, we introduce a new dataset collected from four-player board game sessions, recorded via multiple cameras, and containing over 46 hours of visual material. The new MUMBAI dataset is extensively annotated with emotional moments for all game sessions. Additional data comes from personality and game experience questionnaires. Our four-person setup allows the investigation of non-verbal interactions beyond dyadic settings. We present three benchmarks for expression detection and emotion classification and discuss potential research questions for the analysis of social interactions and group dynamics during board games.
Is fund performance driven by flows into connected funds? spillover effects in the mutual fund industry
Authors: Zhu Bing , Woltering René-Ojas
Published: February 2021

Mutual funds are connected with each other through overlapping portfolio holdings. We document that the performance of individual mutual funds is affected by spillover effects from fund flows to connected mutual funds. Spillover-effects are particularly pronounced during crisis periods, when a one standard deviation increase in flows to the tercile of funds with the highest overlapping portfolio holdings is associated with a monthly excess returns of 1.50%. Small cap stock funds are more heavily impacted, suggesting that the spillover effect is related to underlying asset liquidity. Moreover, we shed light on the dark side of diversification, as highly diversified funds are more exposed to the spillover risk factor.
An Electrochemical Study of Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate on Mg and Mg Alloy Electrodes
Authors: Kékedy-Nagy László , Abolhassani Mojtaba , Greenlee Lauren F. , Pollet Bruno G.
Published: February 2021

In this work, the electrochemistry of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate in aqueous solution on Mg and Mg AZ31 alloy (Al 3 wt%, Zn 1 wt%, balanced Mg) electrodes was studied using electrochemical characterization similar to electro-agglomeration and physical characterization to shed some light on the electrochemical mechanism of struvite formation as phosphate precipitation in waste. It was found that the Mg AZ31 alloy exhibited higher corrosion current densities (jcorr), and thus higher Mg dissolution rates and corrosion rates (vcorr) when compared with pure Mg. This finding was confirmed by ion chromatography (IC) analysis. Results also showed a phosphorus removal efficiency (PRem) of 16.8% together with ~53 mL H2 production for pure Mg and 17.2% with ~61 mL H2 production for Mg AZ31 alloy. The precipitates formed on the two Mg electrode materials were physically characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, which indicated the formation of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate-MgNH4PO4*6H2O). It was found that (i) the thickness of the films was influenced by the applied scan rates, which also had a significant impact on the morphology, and (ii) hydrogen bubble formation influenced the precipitates, whereby the film thicknesses were negatively impacted.

Graphical abstract
Targeted micronutrition via holo-BLG based on the farm effect in house dust mite allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients – first evaluation in a standardized allergen exposure chamber
Authors: Bergmann Karl-Christian , Graessel Anke , Raab Jennifer , Banghard Werner , Krause Linda , Becker Sylvia , Kugler Sebastian , Zuberbier Torsten , Ott Verena B. , Kramer Matthias F. , Roth‑Walter Franziska , Jensen-Jarolim Erika , Guethoff Sonja
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Evaluation of a lozenge for targeted micronutrition (holo-BLG), a new invention based on the farm effect, in house dust mite (HDM) allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) patients in a standardized allergen exposure chamber (AEC).

Methods

Eligible HDM allergic patients were exposed to HDM raw material in an AEC for 120 min before (V1) and after (V3) 3 months of holo-BLG supplementation. Nasal, conjunctival, bronchial and other symptoms were rated by the patients every 10 min and, wellbeing, peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF), and lung function parameters every 30 min. Primary endpoint was the change in median Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) at V3 compared to V1 at 120 min of exposure. Secondary endpoints consisted of the exploratory analysis of the temporal evolution of symptom scores using linear mixed effects models.

Results

A total of 32 patients were included in the analysis. A significant improvement of 60% (p = 0.0034) in the primary endpoint TNSS (V1 2.5 [interquartile range, IQR 1–4], V3 1.0 [IQR 1–3]) was observed. 40% improvement was seen for the Total Symptom Score (V1 5.0 [IQR 3–9], V3 3.0 [IQR 2–4]; [Wilcoxon test: confidence interval 1.5–4.0, p < 0.0003]). The analysis of the temporal evolution of all symptom scores and the personal wellbeing revealed clinically meaningful improvement over time, manifested in a lower symptom increase during the final HDM exposure. No relevant differences were observed for PNIF and lung function parameters. Safety and tolerability were rated as excellent.

Conclusions

The effect of holo-BLG resulting in immune resilience might help to fight the allergy epidemic on a new front based on targeted micronutrition of immune cells.

Trial registration

The study was retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04477382).
Geographic impressions in Facebook political ads
Authors: Gitomer Adina , Oleinikov Pavel V. , Baum Laura M. , Fowler Erika Franklin , Shai Saray
Published: February 2021

Online political advertising is becoming increasingly popular as political campaigns recognize the utility of social network platforms, like Facebook, for reaching and engaging with voters. Yet, contrary to the wealth of information about campaign advertising on TV, little is known about advertising online, as comprehensive data only recently became available to scholars. Moreover, the newly available data is often aggregated, incomplete, and imprecise. Here, we present an analysis of Facebook political ad data, supplemented with funding-related meta-data obtained through human coding and a partnership with the Center for Responsive Politics. Through computational tools—namely, network analysis—we aim to use this data to describe and categorize political ad funding behavior on Facebook. Specifically, we focus on the geographic concentration of ads, and discover that most ads reach an audience in a single geographic region (i.e., U.S. state) or in a wide range of regions, and very few reach an audience spanning a small number of regions. We use this observation to partition funding entities into three groups based on their relationships to regionally-concentrated ads. We then examine the differences between these groups via bipartite networks connecting funding entities to their geographic audiences, as well as content they support. Our findings reveal that geographic impressions play an important role in online political advertising, and can be used to classify funding entities. As a result, this study represents a step toward ensuring political funding transparency and demystifying online political advertising more broadly.
Cartesian coordinate control for teleoperated construction machines
Authors: Lee Hyung Joo , Brell-Cokcan Sigrid
Published: February 2021

Despite the continuous development of the hardware, most construction machines are exclusively teleoperated limiting the control to a single paradigm. The operators usually have to move different joints of the machine in a coordinated way solely relied on their experiences leading to reduced local accuracy and work efficiency. Automation of construction machinery can open up new possibilities to improve efficiency and safety during the construction process. This work introduces a generic method that can adapt construction machines that have been already used in the field for decades, so that a more intuitive and versatile control paradigm can be allowed. We introduce the system architecture with the necessary hardware extension and the closed-loop inverse kinematic based motion controller implemented in a visual programming environment. In contrast to existing works, which are mostly based on developing entirely new systems, an autonomous machine suited for construction sites and other hazardous environments can be obtained at a reduced effort. Because of its low cost and generality, this approach can be widely utilized in construction industries opening possibilities for a combination of the advanced robotics technology with proven machines from construction sites. We present our first prototype system based on a BROKK 170 demolition machine and highlight its capabilities but also the inherent limitations of the proposed method.
A novel sparse reduced order formulation for modeling electromagnetic forces in electric motors
Authors: Sancarlos Abel , Cueto Elias , Chinesta Francisco , Duval Jean-Louis
Published: February 2021

A novel model order reduction (MOR) technique is presented to achieve fast and real-time predictions as well as high-dimensional parametric solutions for the electromagnetic force which will help the design, analysis of performance and implementation of electric machines concerning industrial applications such as the noise, vibration, and harshness in electric motors. The approach allows to avoid the long-time simulations needed to analyze the electric machine at different operation points. In addition, it facilitates the computation and coupling of the motor model in other physical subsystems. Specifically, we propose a novel formulation of the sparse proper generalized decomposition procedure, combining it with a reduced basis approach, which is used to fit correctly the reduced order model with the numerical simulations as well as to obtain a further data compression. This technique can be applied to construct a regression model from high-dimensional data. These data can come, for example, from finite element simulations. As will be shown, an excellent agreement between the results of the proposed approach and the finite element method models are observed.
Assessment of service provider competency for child and adolescent psychological treatments and psychosocial services in global mental health: evaluation of feasibility and reliability of the WeACT tool in Gaza, Palestine
Authors: Jordans M. J. D. , Coetzee A. , Steen H. F. , Koppenol-Gonzalez G. V. , Galayini H. , Diab S. Y. , Aisha S. A. , Kohrt B. A.
Published: February 2021

Background

There is a scarcity of evaluated tools to assess whether non-specialist providers achieve minimum levels of competency to effectively and safely deliver psychological interventions in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and utility of the newly developed Working with children – Assessment of Competencies Tool (WeACT) to assess service providers’ competencies in Gaza, Palestine.

Methods

The study evaluated; (1) psychometric properties of the WeACT based on observed role-plays by trainers/supervisors (N= 8); (2) sensitivity to change among service provider competencies (N= 25) using pre-and-post training WeACT scores on standardized role-plays; (3) in-service competencies among experienced service providers (N= 64) using standardized role-plays.

Results

We demonstrated moderate interrater reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient, single measures, ICC = 0.68 (95% CI 0.48–0.86)] after practice, with high internal consistency (α= 0.94). WeACT assessments provided clinically relevant information on achieved levels of competencies (55% of the competencies were scored as adequate pre-training; 71% post-training; 62% in-service). Pre-post training assessment saw significant improvement in competencies (W= −3.64;p< 0.001).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated positive results on the reliability and utility of the WeACT, with sufficient inter-rater agreement, excellent internal consistency, sensitivity to assess change, and providing insight needs for remedial training. The WeACT holds promise as a tool for monitoring quality of care when implementing evidence-based care at scale.
Rapid improvement in vitamin D status with dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in vitamin D insufficient dogs
Authors: Kurzbard Rachel A. , Backus Robert C. , Yu Shiguang
Published: February 2021

Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with various disease processes. We determined whether consumption of a diet supplemented with HyD®, a 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3) source, would safely increase plasma 25(OH)D3 concentrations in Golden Retrievers with low vitamin D status. We hypothesised that dietary supplementation with HyD® would rapidly increase and sustain plasma 25(OH)D3 levels in healthy Golden Retrievers with low vitamin D status compared with supplementation with vitamin D3. Of fifty-seven privately owned dogs recruited with written owner consent, eighteen dogs with low vitamin D status were identified and sorted between two groups to have similar initial plasma 25(OH)D3 concentrations, sex distributions, ages and body weights. Dogs of each group were fed a dry dog food supplemented with either 16 μg/kg of 25(OH)D3 as HyD® (n 10) or 81 μg/kg of cholecalciferol (D3) (n 8) for 4 months. Plasma 25(OH)D3 concentrations were determined monthly. A significant time effect (P < 0⋅001) and time by group interaction (P = 0⋅0045) were found for monthly determined plasma 25(OH)D3 concentrations. Dogs fed the HyD®-supplemented diet experienced a 40⋅5 % rise in plasma 25(OH)D3 values after 1 month (P < 0⋅001) and no change thereafter. Plasma 25(OH)D3 values of dogs supplemented with vitamin D3 did not increase (P > 0⋅05) and were less than values of dogs supplemented with HyD® (P = 0⋅044). With few exceptions, average haematologic, biochemical and urinalyses results remained within the reference range for both groups. Dietary supplementation with HyD® is sufficient to safely increase and sustain plasma 25(OH)D3 levels in healthy dogs.
The first record of floor plates in pinnules and the earliest record of an anitaxis in rhodocrinitid diplobathrid camerate crinoids
Authors: Guensburg Thomas E.
Published: February 2021

Restudy of Proexenocrinus inyoensis Strimple and McGinnis, 1972, shows that this earliest-known rhodocrinitid diplobathrid camerate crinoid (late Floian, Early Ordovician) expresses the only known record of ambulacral floor plates within pinnules. These pinnule floor plates are remarkably conserved plesiomorphic expressions, with anatomy similar to floor plates of some of the earliest pentaradiate echinoderms, although on a smaller scale. Proexenocrinus floor plates provide direct skeletal evidence that the general resemblance of blastozoan (eocrinoid, diploporan, rhombiferan) brachioles and crinoid pinnules is the product of homoplasy. Proexenocrinus posterior cup morphology is interpreted to include an anitaxis, a distinctive posterior interray morphology.
A decade of EU law in the courts of Scotland and Ireland: national legal systems compared
Authors: Rodger Barry , Maher Imelda , Riordan Rónán
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the findings of a comparative statistical study examining the application and trends in the deployment and utilisation of European Union (EU) law before the Scottish and Irish courts over a 10-year period from 2009–2018. The paper poses the question, how does European integration impact on the domestic legal systems of EU Member States due to the increasing volume, and significance, of cases where EU law is raised and applied within domestic legal systems? The research presented is of particular relevance in light of Brexit. It allows prescient reflection on the significant disruption and impact the United Kingdom's exit from the EU is likely to have on areas of domestic law which are highly integrated with EU law. It highlights the potential difficulties implicit in attempting to unpick over 40 years of assimilation of EU law and principles into Scots law. These research outcomes should lead to further reflection and debate on the role of EU law and its impact on judicial decision-making in the Scottish and Irish legal systems in general.
The Diminishing Value of Representing the Disadvantaged: Between Group Representation and Individual Career Paths
Authors: Bailer Stefanie , Breunig Christian , Giger Nathalie , Wüst Andreas M.
Published: February 2021

Does enhanced descriptive representation lead to substantive representation? Legislators who share descriptive features with disadvantaged groups do not necessarily represent their group interests. Instead, Members of Parliament (MPs) strategically choose when to engage with the policy topic of their corresponding groups. MPs represent their respective group at the beginning of their career because it confers credibility when they have no legislative track record and few opportunities to demonstrate expertise. These group-specific efforts are replaced by other legislative activities at later stages of their careers. The authors apply this theoretical expectation across four disadvantaged groups – women, migrants, low social class and the young – and thereby offer a broad perspective on descriptive representation. Their sample consists of a unique data base that combines biographical information on German MPs with topic-coded parliamentary questions for the period 1998 to 2013. The study demonstrates the diminishing value of representing the disadvantaged across different types of MPs.
The long and winding road of Ascaris larval migration: the role of mouse models
Authors: Holland C. V.
Published: February 2021

Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum are helminth parasites of humans and pigs, respectively. The life cycle of Ascaris sets it apart from the other soil-transmitted helminths because of its hepato-tracheal migration. Larval migration contributes to underestimated morbidity in humans and pigs. This migration, coupled with a lack of a murine model in which the Ascaris parasite might complete its life cycle, has undoubtedly contributed to the neglected status of the ascarid. Our knowledge of the epidemiology of adult worm infections had led us to an enhanced understanding of patterns of infection such as aggregation and predisposition; however, the mechanisms underlying these complex phenomena remain elusive. Carefully controlled experiments in defined inbred strains of mice – with enhanced recovery of larvae in tandem with measurements of cellular, histopathological and molecular processes – have greatly enhanced our knowledge of the early phase of infection, a phase crucial to the success or failure of adult worm establishment. Furthermore, the recent development of a mouse model of susceptibility and resistance, with highly consistent and diverging Ascaris larval burdens in the murine lungs, represents the extremes of the host phenotype displayed in the aggregated distribution of worms and provides an opportunity to explore the mechanistic basis that confers predisposition to light and heavy Ascaris infection. Certainly, detailed knowledge of the cellular hepatic and pulmonary responses at the molecular level can be accrued from murine models of infection and, once available, may enhance our ability to develop immunomodulatory therapies to elicit resistance to infection.
Accurate 3D Localization Using RGB-TOF Camera and IMU for Industrial Mobile Robots
Authors: Yekkehfallah Majid , Yang Ming , Cai Zhiao , Li Liang , Wang Chuanxiang
Published: February 2021

Localization based on visual natural landmarks is one of the state-of-the-art localization methods for automated vehicles that is, however, limited in fast motion and low-texture environments, which can lead to failure. This paper proposes an approach to solve these limitations with an extended Kalman filter (EKF) based on a state estimation algorithm that fuses information from a low-cost MEMS Inertial Measurement Unit and a Time-of-Flight camera. We demonstrate our results in an indoor environment. We show that the proposed approach does not require any global reflective landmark for localization and is fast, accurate, and easy to use with mobile robots.
A Turbulent Silk Road: China's Vulnerable Foreign Policy in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Ghiselli Andrea , Morgan Pippa
Published: February 2021

The nexus between China's human and economic presence abroad and its security policy is increasingly important. Within this nexus, this study statistically explores whether and to what extent Chinese contractors reduce the number of Chinese nationals they send to work in North Africa, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa when the security situation in host states worsens. We find no significant evidence that either warnings from Chinese embassies and consulates to leave host countries or expert perceptions of host stability influence the number of Chinese workers. Worker numbers appear to decrease significantly only in the aftermath of large-scale violent events. These findings suggest that Chinese companies are relatively acceptant of security risks and uncertainties, despite the decade-long regulatory efforts of the Chinese government to make them more security-conscious overseas and, thus, to reduce pressure to use diplomatically and economically expensive military means for their protection.
Strong well-posedness and inverse identification problem of a non-local phase field tumour model with degenerate mobilities
Authors: FRIGERI SERGIO , LAM KEI FONG , SIGNORI ANDREA
Published: February 2021

We extend previous weak well-posedness results obtained in Frigeri et al. (2017, Solvability, Regularity, and Optimal Control of Boundary Value Problems for PDEs, Vol. 22, Springer, Cham, pp. 217–254) concerning a non-local variant of a diffuse interface tumour model proposed by Hawkins-Daarud et al. (2012, Int. J. Numer. Method Biomed. Engng.28, 3–24). The model consists of a non-local Cahn–Hilliard equation with degenerate mobility and singular potential for the phase field variable, coupled to a reaction–diffusion equation for the concentration of a nutrient. We prove the existence of strong solutions to the model and establish some high-order continuous dependence estimates, even in the presence of concentration-dependent mobilities for the nutrient variable in two spatial dimensions. Then, we apply the new regularity results to study an inverse problem identifying the initial tumour distribution from measurements at the terminal time. Formulating the Tikhonov regularised inverse problem as a constrained minimisation problem, we establish the existence of minimisers and derive first-order necessary optimality conditions.
A reappraisal of Joseph Brennan and the achievements of Irish banking and currency policy 1922–1943
Authors: Drea Eoin , Barry Frank
Published: February 2021

Joseph Brennan, as secretary of the Irish Department of Finance (1923–7) and chair of the Irish Currency Commission (1927–43), was a pivotal influence on Irish banking and currency affairs. Yet, within the existing literature, his adherence to conservative British norms is seen as providing a ‘bleak prescription’ for the Irish economy. However, such a view ignores the fact that Brennan was far from dogmatic on banking and currency issues and underplays his incrementalist, and often internationalist, approach to the development of Irish monetary institutions. Brennan's actions up to the early 1940s were based on the realities of Ireland's slowly receding economic and intellectual dependency on Britain, a ‘dependency’ often misrepresented in the existing literature as a more primitive, pre-Keynesian, conservative approach. However, rather than acting as a restraining influence on Irish economic development, the policies Brennan advocated enabled Ireland to avoid the instability associated with many smaller, emerging nation states in the 1920s and 1930s. The focus on continuity – which guaranteed currency and banking stability – represented the realities of Ireland's reliance on the sluggish British economy in the decades after independence. Brennan's achievement, in helping to sustain banking and currency stability notwithstanding economic uncertainty, a fragile political environment (and suspicious banking interests), deserves wider acknowledgement.