bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High road mortality during female-biased larval dispersal in an iconic beetle
Authors: Lehtonen Topi K. , Babic Natarsha L. , Piepponen Timo , Valkeeniemi Otso , Borshagovski Anna-Maria , Kaitala Arja
Published: January 2021

Animals often disperse from one habitat to another to access mates or suitable breeding sites. The costs and benefits of such movements depend, in part, on the dispersing individuals’ phenotypes, including their sex and age. Here we investigated dispersal and road-related mortality in larvae of a bioluminescent beetle, the European common glow-worm, Lampyris noctiluca, in relation to habitat, sex and proximity of pupation. We expected these variables to be relevant to larval dispersal because adult females are wingless, whereas adult males fly when searching for glowing females. We found that dispersing glow-worm larvae were almost exclusively females and close to pupation. The larvae were often found on a road, where they were able to move at relatively high speeds, with a tendency to uphill orientation. However, each passing vehicle caused a high mortality risk, and we found large numbers of larvae run over by cars, especially close to covered, forest-like habitat patches. In contrast, adult females in the same area were most often found glowing in more open rocky and grassy habitats. These findings demonstrate an underappreciated ecological strategy, sex-biased dispersal at larval phase, motivated by different habitat needs of larvae and wingless adult females. The results are also consistent with roads being an ecological trap, facilitating dispersal and presumably females’ signal visibility but causing severe larval mortality just before the reproductive stage. Hence, in addition to the previously recognised threats of urbanisation, even low traffic volumes have a high potential to negatively affect especially females of this iconic beetle.

Significance statement

Animals sometimes need to move from one habitat to another to find mating partners or breeding sites. We found this need to result in strongly female-biased larval dispersal in the European common glow-worm, a beetle known for the glow of wingless females that attract flying males to mate. Female larvae moving between habitats often used a road or trail but perished in high numbers when run over by cars. Hence, roads are likely to be ecological traps for the female glow-worm larvae, attracting them during dispersal, but causing grave mortality. The sex-biased larval dispersal, demonstrated in this study, is a poorly known ecological strategy that was found to be very risky in a human-modified landscape.
Diagnosis‐Related Group (DRG)‐Based Prospective Hospital Payment System can be well adopted for Acute Care Surgery: Taiwanese Experience with Acute Cholecystitis
Authors: Wu Yu‐Tung , Lin Yu‐Ning , Cheng Chi‐Tung , Fu Chih‐Yuan , Liao Chien‐Hung , Hsieh Chi‐Hsun
Published: January 2021

Background

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a common procedure for cholelithiasis paid by diagnostic‐related groups (DRGs) systems. However, acute cholecystitis (AC) patients usually have heterogeneous conditions that compromise the successful implementation of DRGs. We evaluated the quality/efficiency of treating AC patients under the DRG system in Taiwan.

Methods

All AC patients who underwent LC between October 2015 and December 2016 were included. Patient demographics, treatment outcomes, and financial results were analyzed. Patients were reimbursed by one of the two DRG schemes based on their comorbidities/complications (CC): DRG‐1, LC without CC; and DRG‐2, LC with CC. Hospitals were reimbursed the costs incurred if they were below the lower threshold (balanced sector); with the outlier threshold if costs were between the lower and outlier thresholds (profitable sector); and with the outlier threshold plus 80% of the exceeding cost if costs were higher than the outlier threshold (profit‐losing sector).

Results

Among 246 patients, 114 were paid by DRG‐1, and 132 were by DRG‐2. In total, 195 of 246 patients underwent LC within 1 day after admission, and patients with mild AC had shorter hospital stays than those with moderate or severe AC. The complication rate was 7.3% with only one mortality. In total, 92.1% of patients in DRG‐1 and 90.9% of patients in DRG‐2 were profitable. The average margin per patient was 11,032 TWD for DRG‐1 and 24,993 TWD for DRG‐2.

Conclusions

DRGs can be well adopted for acute care surgery, and hospitals can still provide satisfactory services without losing profit.
Global incidence of spinal perineural Tarlov’s cysts and their morphological characteristics: a meta-analysis of 13,266 subjects
Authors: Klepinowski Tomasz , Orbik Wojciech , Sagan Leszek
Published: January 2021

Background

Spinal perineural Tarlov’s cysts (TCs) are considered incidental findings that occasionally might exert pressure upon nerve roots and correspond with patients’ signs and symptoms. Purpose of this meta-analysis is to deliver global incidence and characteristics (location, size, and shape) of TCs.

Methods

Following PRISMA checklist, all major databases were searched by two authors for radiologic studies reporting incidence and morphologic features (location, size, and shape) of TCs. Anatomical Quality Assessment tool was applied for risk of bias evaluation. Meta-analysis of random-effects model was employed. Subgroup analysis for regional distribution, gender, sacral levels, age, correspondence with symptoms, and persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) were planned ahead.

Results

22 radiologic studies of level 3 evidence involving 13,266 subjects were included. Global pooled prevalence of TCs was 4.18% (95% CI 2.47–6.30). Mean pooled sagittal diameter was 11.86 mm (95% CI 10.78–12.93). Sacral cysts strongly prevailed over the other segments. Of the sacral, S2 level was the most common (46.7% [95% CI 29.4–60.5]). Geographically, the highest incidence was found in Europe (6.07% [95% CI 1.49–13.00]), followed by North America (3.82% [95% CI 0.49–9.44]), and Asia (3.33% [95% CI 1.52–5.75]). TCs were more common in women than in men (5.84% vs 3.03%, p < 0.001, test of homogeneity, χ2). Subjects with PGAD had incidence of 37.87% (95% CI 2.45–81.75). TCs in pediatric population are rare—0.53% (95% CI 0.02–1.51). 15.59% of TCs corresponded with symptoms.

Conclusions

Spinal perineural (Tarlov) cysts are found in a minority of population. S2 level of the sacral bone is affected most frequently. There is female predominance. Correspondence with symptoms is seen in less than one-fifth of TCs. Studies with stronger evidence level are needed to corroborate the results. The purported high incidence in PGAD requires confirmation in case–control studies for the risk-ratio calculation.
Coronary artery lumen volume index as a marker of flow-limiting atherosclerosis—validation against 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography
Authors: Benetos Georgios , Benz Dominik C. , Rampidis Georgios P. , Giannopoulos Andreas A. , von Felten Elia , Bakula Adam , Sustar Aleksandra , Fuchs Tobias A. , Pazhenkottil Aju P. , Gebhard Catherine , Kaufmann Philipp A. , Gräni Christoph , Buechel Ronny R.
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Coronary artery volume indexed to left myocardial mass (CAVi), derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), has been proposed as an indicator of diffuse atherosclerosis. We investigated the association of CAVi with quantitative flow parameters and its ability to predict ischemia as derived from 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (PET-MPI).

Methods

Sixty patients who underwent hybrid CCTA/PET-MPI due to suspected CAD were retrospectively included. CAVi was defined as total coronary artery lumen volume over myocardial mass, both derived from CCTA. From PET-MPI, quantitative stress and rest myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) were obtained and correlated with CAVi, and semi-quantitative perfusion images were analyzed for the presence of ischemia. Harrell’s c-statistic and net reclassification improvement (NRI) analysis were performed to evaluate the incremental value of CAVi over the CCTA model (i.e., stenosis > 50% and > 70%).

Results

CAVi correlated moderately with stress MBF and MFR (R = 0.50, p < 0.001, and R = 0.39, p = 0.002). Mean stress MBF and MFR were lower in patients with low (i.e., ≤ 20.2 mm3/g, n = 24) versus high (i.e., > 20.2 mm3/g, n = 36) CAVi (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). CAVi was independently associated with abnormal stress MBF (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.998, p = 0.045). CAVi increased the predictive ability of the CCTA model for abnormal stress MBF and ischemia (c-statistic 0.763 versus 0.596, pdiff < 0.05 and 0.770 versus 0.645, pdiff < 0.05, NRI 0.84, p = 0.001 and 0.96, p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

CAVi exhibits incremental value to predict both abnormal stress MBF and ischemia over CCTA alone.

Key Points

• Coronary artery volume indexed to left myocardial mass (CAVi), derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), is correlated with myocardial blood flow indices derived from13N-ammonia positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging.

• CAVi is independently associated with abnormal stress myocardial blood flow.

• CAVi provides incremental diagnostic value over CCTA for both abnormal stress MBF and ischemia.
The efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens extract for the treatment of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Kai , Guo Run-Qi , Chen Shan-Wen , Chen Bin , Xue Xin-Bo , Chen Shan , Huang Jian , Liu Ming , Tian Ye , Zuo Li , Chen Ming , Zhou Li-Qun
Published: January 2021

Purpose

To perform a placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens extract (SRE) for the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Methods

We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter, clinical phase 4 study of 221 patients with CP/CPPS across 11 centers. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive SRE or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in total score on the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Secondary efficacy endpoints included improvements within each domain of NIH-CPSI, clinical response rate, and International Index of Erectile Function 5 items (IIEF-5).

Results

In total, 226 patients were enrolled and randomized between January 2017 and June 2018. Of these 221 patients were included in the intent-to-treat analysis: 148 in the SRE group and 73 patients in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo, SRE led to statistically significant improvements in the NIH-CPSI total score and sub-scores. The significant improvements of NIH-CPSI scores were established after 2 weeks from the first dose, and continued to the end of the treatment. Furthermore, a significantly higher rate of patients achieved a clinical response in the SRE group compared with that in the placebo group (73.0% vs 32.9%, P < 0.0001). Only minor adverse events were observed across the entire study population.

Conclusions

SRE was effective, safe, and clinically superior to placebo for the treatment of CP/CPPS. ChiCTR-IPR-16010196, December 21, 2016 retrospectively registered
Association between acute myocardial infarction-to-cardiac rupture time and in-hospital mortality risk: a retrospective analysis of multicenter registry data from the Cardiovascular Research Consortium-8 Universities (CIRC-8U)
Authors: Yoneyama Kihei , Ishibashi Yuki , Koeda Yorihiko , Itoh Tomonori , Morino Yoshihiro , Shimohama Takao , Ako Junya , Ilari Yuji , Yoshioka Koichiro , Kunishima Tomoyuki , Inami Shu , Ishikawa Tetsuya , Sugimura Hiroyuki , Kozuma Ken , Sugi Keiki , Yoshino Hideaki , Akashi Yoshihiro J.
Published: January 2021

Despite the known association of cardiac rupture with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), it is still unclear whether the clinical characteristics are associated with the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with AMI complicated by cardiac rupture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the time of cardiac rupture occurrence and the risk of in-hospital mortality after AMI. We conducted a retrospective analysis of multicenter registry data from eight medical universities in Eastern Japan. From 10,278 consecutive patients with AMI, we included 183 patients who had cardiac rupture after AMI, and examined the incidence of in-hospital deaths during a median follow-up of 26 days. Patients were stratified into three groups according to the AMI-to-cardiac rupture time, namely the > 24-h group (n = 111), 24–48-h group (n = 20), and < 48-h group (n = 52). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and the confidence interval (CI) for in-hospital mortality. Around 87 (48%) patients experienced in-hospital death and 126 (67%) underwent a cardiac surgery. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed a non-linear association across the three groups for mortality (HR [CI]; < 24 h: 1.0, reference; 24–48 h: 0.73 [0.27–1.86]; > 48 h: 2.25 [1.22–4.15]) after adjustments for age, sex, Killip classification, percutaneous coronary intervention, blood pressure, creatinine, peak creatine kinase myocardial band fraction, left ventricular ejection fraction, and type of rupture. Cardiac surgery was independently associated with a reduction in the HR of mortality (HR [CI]: 0.27 [0.12–0.61]) and attenuated the association between the three AMI-to-cardiac rupture time categories and mortality (statistically non-significant) in the Cox model. These data suggest that the AMI-to-cardiac rupture time contributes significantly to the risk of in-hospital mortality; however, rapid diagnosis and prompt surgical interventions are crucial for improving outcomes in patients with cardiac rupture after AMI.
Meta-analyses in paediatric surgery are often fragile: implications and consequences
Authors: Schröder Arne , Muensterer Oliver J. , Oetzmann von Sochaczewski Christina
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Meta-analyses occupy the highest level of evidence and thereby guide clinical decision-making. Recently, randomised-controlled trials were evaluated for the robustness of their findings by calculating the fragility index. The fragility index is the number of events that needs to be added to one treatment arm until the statistical significance collapses. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the robustness of paediatric surgical meta-analyses.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE for paediatric surgical meta-analyses in the last decade. All meta-analyses on a paediatric surgical condition were eligible for analysis if they based their conclusion on a statistically significant meta-analysis.

Results

We screened 303 records and conducted a full-text evaluation of 60 manuscripts. Of them, 39 were included in our analysis that conducted 79 individual meta-analyses with significant results. Median fragility index was 5 (Q25–Q75% 2–11). Median fragility in relation to included patients was 0.77% (Q25–Q75% 0.29–1.87%).

Conclusion

Paediatric surgical meta-analyses are often fragile. In almost 60% of results, the statistical significance depends on less than 1% of the included population. However, as the fragility index is just a transformation of the P value, it basically conveys the same information in a different format. It therefore should be avoided.
Dysphagia, voice problems, and pain in head and neck cancer patients
Authors: Zebralla Veit , Wichmann Gunnar , Pirlich Markus , Hammermüller Carola , Berger Thomas , Zimmermann Klara , Neumuth Thomas , Mehnert-Theuerkauf Anja , Dietz Andreas , Hinz Andreas , Wiegand Susanne
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment can leave devastating side effects with a relevant impact on physical and emotional quality of life (QoL) of HNC patients. The objectives were to examine the amount of dysphagia, voice problems, and pain in HNC patients, the impact of sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors on these symptoms, the psychometric properties of the EAT-10, and the relationship between these symptoms and QoL variables.

Methods

HNC patients attending for regular follow-up from 07/2013 to 09/2019 completed questionnaires (Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10); questions from the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC H&N35) on dysphagia, voice problems, pain, fatigue, and QoL collected with the software OncoFunction. Associations between prognostic factors and symptoms were tested with analyses of variance (ANOVAs). Associations between the symptom scales and QoL variables were expressed with Pearson correlations.

Results

Of 689 patients, 54.9% suffered from dysphagia, the EAT-10 proved to be a reliable measure. The mean voice score was 37.6 (± 33.9) [range 0–100], the mean pain score 1.98 (± 2.24) [range 0–10]. Trimodality treatment was associated with the highest dysphagia scores. Dysphagia, voice problems, and pain significantly correlated with each other, the highest association was found for dysphagia and pain (r = 0.51). QoL was strongly correlated with dysphagia and pain (r = − 0.39 and r = − 0.40, respectively), while the association with voice problems was weaker (r = − 0.28).

Conclusion

Dysphagia is an important symptom in HNC patients greatly affecting patients’ QoL and significantly correlating with voice problems and pain.
A deformation energy model reveals sequence-dependent property of nucleosome positioning
Authors: Liu Guoqing , Zhao Hongyu , Meng Hu , Xing Yongqiang , Cai Lu
Published: January 2021

We present a deformation energy model for predicting nucleosome positioning, in which a position-dependent structural parameter set derived from crystal structures of nucleosomes was used to calculate the DNA deformation energy. The model is successful in predicting nucleosome occupancy genome-wide in budding yeast, nucleosome free energy, and rotational positioning of nucleosomes. Our model also indicates that the genomic regions underlying the MNase-sensitive nucleosomes in budding yeast have high deformation energy and, consequently, low nucleosome-forming ability, while the MNase-sensitive non-histone particles are characterized by much lower DNA deformation energy and high nucleosome preference. In addition, we also revealed that remodelers, SNF2 and RSC8, are likely to act in chromatin remodeling by binding to broad nucleosome-depleted regions that are intrinsically favorable for nucleosome positioning. Our data support the important role of position-dependent physical properties of DNA in nucleosome positioning.
Catastrophe theory in work from heartbeats to eye movements
Authors: Ather Syed Hussain
Published: January 2021

In "Slow-fast control of eye movements: an instance of Zeeman’s model for an action," Clement and Akman extended Zeeman's model for the heartbeat to describe eye movement control of different species using aspects of catastrophe theory. The scientists created a model that gives an example of how the techniques of catastrophe theory can be used to understand information processing by biological organisms, a key aspect of biological cybernetics. They tested how well the system of equations for Zeeman's model could be applied to saccadic eye movements.
Detecting faking-good response style in personality questionnaires with four choice alternatives
Authors: Monaro Merylin , Mazza Cristina , Colasanti Marco , Ferracuti Stefano , Orrù Graziella , di Domenico Alberto , Sartori Giuseppe , Roma Paolo
Published: January 2021

Deliberate attempts to portray oneself in an unrealistic manner are commonly encountered in the administration of personality questionnaires. The main aim of the present study was to explore whether mouse tracking temporal indicators and machine learning models could improve the detection of subjects implementing a faking-good response style when answering personality inventories with four choice alternatives, with and without time pressure. A total of 120 volunteers were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups and asked to respond to the Virtuous Responding (VR) validity scale of the PPI-R and the Positive Impression Management (PIM) validity scale of the PAI via a computer mouse. A mixed design was implemented, and predictive models were calculated. The results showed that, on the PIM scale, faking-good participants were significantly slower in responding than honest respondents. Relative to VR items, PIM items are shorter in length and feature no negations. Accordingly, the PIM scale was found to be more sensitive in distinguishing between honest and faking-good respondents, demonstrating high classification accuracy (80–83%).
From immune to olfactory expression: neofunctionalization of formyl peptide receptors
Authors: Boillat Madlaina , Carleton Alan , Rodriguez Ivan
Published: January 2021

Variations in gene expression patterns represent a powerful source of evolutionary innovation. In a rodent living about 70 million years ago, a genomic accident led an immune formyl peptide receptor (FPR) gene to hijack a vomeronasal receptor regulatory sequence. This gene shuffling event forced an immune pathogen sensor to transition into an olfactory chemoreceptor, which thus moved from sensing the internal world to probing the outside world. We here discuss the evolution of the FPR gene family, the events that led to their neofunctionalization in the vomeronasal organ and the functions of immune and vomeronasal FPRs.
Characteristics of the vaginal microbiomes in prepubertal girls with and without vulvovaginitis
Authors: Xiaoming Wu , Jing Liu , Yuchen Pan , Huili Liu , Miao Zhang , Jing Shu
Published: January 2021

The present study focused on the characteristics of the vaginal microbiomes in prepubertal girls with and without vulvovaginitis. We collected 24 vaginal samples and 16 fecal samples from 10 girls aged 3–9 years with vulvovaginitis and 16 healthy girls of the same age. The samples were divided into three groups: fecal swabs from healthy controls (HF), vaginal swabs from healthy controls (HVS), and vaginal swabs from girls with vulvovaginitis (VVS). Sequencing of the V3–V4 region of the 16S rDNA gene was performed with the NovaSeq PE250 platform to reveal the vaginal microbial community structure in healthy prepubertal girls and vulvovaginitis-associated microbiota. The intestinal microbiomes of healthy children were also analyzed for comparison. This study revealed that the healthy vaginal tract in prepubertal girls was dominated by Prevotella, Porphyromonas, Ezakiella, and Peptoniphilus species, with a high diversity of microbiota. The vulvovaginitis-associated microbiota were dominated by Streptococcus, Prevotella, Haemophilus, and Granulicatella, with lower diversity than that in healthy girls. Furthermore, the compositions of the vaginal and intestinal microbiomes were completely different. ANOSIM, MRPP, Adonis, and AMOVA were used to analyze the beta diversity, and the results showed that there were significant differences in the microbial communities among the three groups. Lactobacillus deficiency and high bacterial diversity were characteristics of the vaginal microbiome in healthy prepubertal girls; this is inconsistent with that in reproductive-age women. The vulvovaginitis-associated vaginal microbiota differed dramatically from normal microbiota, and the main causative agents were not fecal in origin.
HoloFlows: modelling of processes for the Internet of Things in mixed reality
Authors: Seiger Ronny , Kühn Romina , Korzetz Mandy , Aßmann Uwe
Published: January 2021

Our everyday lives are increasingly pervaded by digital assistants and smart devices forming the Internet of Things (IoT). While user interfaces to directly monitor and control individual IoT devices are becoming more sophisticated and end-user friendly, applications to connect standalone IoT devices and create more complexIoT processesfor automating and assisting users with repetitive tasks still require a high level of technical expertise and programming knowledge. Related approaches for process modelling in IoT mostly suggest extensions to complex modelling languages, require high levels of abstraction and technical knowledge, and rely on unintuitive tools. We present a novel approach for end-user oriented-no-code-IoT process modelling using Mixed Reality (MR) technology:HoloFlows. Users are able to explore the IoT environment and model processes among sensors and actuators as first-class citizens by simply “drawing” virtual wires among physical IoT devices. MR technology hereby facilitates the understanding of the physical contexts and relations among the IoT devices and provides a new and more intuitive way of modelling IoT processes. The results of a user study comparing HoloFlows with classical modelling approaches show an increased user experience and decrease in required modelling knowledge and technical expertise to create IoT processes.
Quaker Business Ethics as MacIntyrean Tradition
Authors: Burton Nicholas , Sinnicks Matthew
Published: January 2021

This paper argues that Quaker business ethics can be understood as a MacIntyrean tradition. To do so, it draws on three key MacIntyrean concepts: community, compartmentalisation, and the critique of management. The emphasis in Quaker business ethics on finding unity, as well as the emphasis that Quaker businesses have placed on serving their local areas, accords with MacIntyre’s claim that small-scale community is essential to human flourishing. The emphasis on integrity in Quaker business ethics means practitioners are well-placed to resist the compartmentalising pressures of contemporary work. Quaker business ethics is also highly critical of the manipulative forms of management that MacIntyre regards as dominant. As such, Quaker business ethics provides evidence that more morally ameliorative forms of running business organisations is possible, even if they remain difficult to achieve.
Diagnostic accuracy of quantitative flow ratio (QFR) and vessel fractional flow reserve (vFFR) estimated retrospectively by conventional radiation saving X-ray angiography
Authors: Jin Chongying , Ramasamy Anantharaman , Safi Hannah , Kilic Yakup , Tufaro Vincenzo , Bajaj Retesh , Fu Guosheng , Mathur Anthony , Bourantas Christos V. , Baumbach Andreas
Published: January 2021

Background

Angiography derived FFR reveals good performance in assessing intermediate coronary stenosis. However, its performance under contemporary low X-ray frame and pulse rate settings is unknown. We aim to validate the feasibility and performance of quantitative flow ratio (QFR) and vessel fractional flow reserve (vFFR) under such angiograms.

Methods

This was an observational, retrospective, single center cohort study. 134 vessels in 102 patients, with angiograms acquired under 7.5fps and 7pps mode, were enrolled. QFR (fQFR and cQFR) and vFFR were validated with FFR as the gold standard. A conventional manual and a newly developed algorithmic exclusion method (M and A group) were both evaluated for identification of poor-quality angiograms.

Results

Good agreement between QFR/vFFR and FFR were observed in both M and A group, except for vFFR in the M group. The correlation coefficients between fQFR/cQFR/vFFR and FFR were 0.6242, 0.5888, 0.4089 in the M group, with rvFFR significantly lower than rfQFR (p = 0.0303), and 0.7055, 0.6793, 0.5664 in the A group, respectively. AUCs of detecting lesions with FFR ≤ 0.80 were 0.852 (95% CI 0.722–0.913), 0.858 (95% CI 0.778–0.917), 0.682 (95% CI 0.586–0.768), for fQFR/cQFR/vFFR in the M group, while vFFR performed poorer than fQFR (p = 0.0063) and cQFR (p = 0.0054). AUCs were 0.898 (95% CI 0.811–0.945), 0.892 (95% CI 0.803–0.949), 0.843 (95% CI 0.746–0.914) for fQFR/cQFR/vFFR in the A group. AUCvFFR was significantly higher in the A group than that in the M group (p = 0.0399).

Conclusions

QFR/vFFR assessment is feasible under 7.5fps and 7pps angiography, where cQFR showed no advantage compared to fQFR. Our newly developed algorithmic exclusion method could be a better method of selecting angiograms with adequate quality for angiography derived FFR assessment.
Nanomechanical characterisation of a water-repelling terpolymer coating of cellulosic fibres
Authors: Auernhammer Julia , Bell Alena K. , Schulze Marcus , Du Yue , Stühn Lukas , Wendenburg Sonja , Pause Isabelle , Biesalski Markus , Ensinger Wolfgang , Stark Robert W.
Published: January 2021

Polymer coatings on cellulosic fibres are widely used to enhance the natural fibre properties by improving, for example, the hydrophobicity and wet strength. Here, we investigate the effects of a terpolymer P(S-co-MABP-co-PyMA) coating on cotton linters and eucalyptus fibres to improve the resistance of cellulose fibres against wetness. Coated and uncoated fibres were characterised by using scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy with the objective of correlating macroscopic properties such as the hydrophobicity of the fleece with microscopic properties such as the coating distribution and local nanomechanics. The scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy results revealed the distribution of the coating on the paper fleeces and fibres. Contact angle measurements proved the hydrophobic character of the coated fleece, which was also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy measurements that investigated the water uptake in single fibres. The water uptake also induced a change in the local mechanical properties, as measured by atomic force microscopy. These results verify the basic functionality of the hydrophobic coating on fibres and paper fleeces but call into question the homogeneity of the coating.

Graphic abstract
Long-Term Mental Health and Quality of Life Outcomes of Neonatal Insults in Kilifi, Kenya
Authors: Magai Dorcas N. , Koot Hans M. , Newton Charles R. , Abubakar Amina
Published: January 2021

We examined the mental health and quality of life (QoL) outcomes and their correlates of school-aged survivors of neonatal jaundice (NNJ), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and a comparison group. The Child Behavior Checklist and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory were administered to assess the mental health and QoL of 375 children (134 with NNJ, 107 with HIE, and 134 comparison group) aged 6 to 12 years [Median age 9 (interquartile range 7 to 11)]. The results showed that survivors of NNJ and HIE have mental health problems and QoL similar to the comparison group. Maternal mental health was the predominant covariate of mental health and QoL in survivors of NNJ and HIE. This result could indicate that mothers with mental health problems are more likely to have children with mental health issues, but also that caring for children with these adversities may affect mental health well-being of the caregivers. There is a need for early mental health screening and psychosocial intervention for caregivers and their children to enhance both their mental health and QoL.
A model of architecture for estimating GPU processing performance and power
Authors: Payvar Saman , Pelcat Maxime , Hämäläinen Timo D.
Published: January 2021

Efficient usage of heterogeneous computing architectures requires distribution of the workload on available processing elements. Traditionally, the mapping is based on information acquired from application profiling and utilized in architecture exploration. To reduce the amount of manual work required, statistical application modeling and architecture modeling can be combined with exploration heuristics. While the application modeling side of the problem has been studied extensively, architecture modeling has received less attention. Linear System Level Architecture (LSLA) is a Model of Architecture that aims at separating the architectural concerns from algorithmic ones when predicting performance. This work builds on the LSLA model and introduces non-linear semantics, specifically to support GPU performance and power modeling, by modeling also the degree of parallelism. The model is evaluated with three signal processing applications with various workload distributions on a desktop GPU and mobile GPU. The measured average fidelity of the new model is 93% for performance, and 84% for power, which can fit design space exploration purposes.
Thermal desorption treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils of tundra, taiga, and forest steppe landscapes
Authors: Bykova Marina V. , Alekseenko Alexey V. , Pashkevich Mariya A. , Drebenstedt Carsten
Published: January 2021

The results of field, analytical, and experimental research at a number of production facilities reflect the properties of oil-contaminated soils in 3 landscapes: the permafrost treeless Arctic ecosystem, boreal forest, and temperate-climate grassland-woodland ecotone. Laboratory studies have revealed the concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils, ranging from medium levels of 2000–3000 mg/kg to critical figures over 5000 mg/kg, being 2–25 times higher than the permissible content of oil products in soils. The experimentally applied thermal effects for the oil products desorption from the soil allowed finding an optimal regime: the treatment temperature from 25 to 250 °C reduces the concentrations to an acceptable value. The conditions are environmentally sound, given that the complete combustion point of humates is ca. 450 °C. The outcomes suggest the eco-friendly solution for soil remediation, preserving the soil fertility in fragile cold environments and in more resilient temperate climates, where revitalized brownfields are essential for food production.
The ethics of inattention: revitalising civil inattention as a privacy-protecting mechanism in public spaces
Authors: Sharon Tamar , Koops Bert-Jaap
Published: January 2021

Societies evolve practices that reflect social norms of appropriateness in social interaction, for example when and to what extent one should respect the boundaries of another person’s private sphere. One such practice is what the sociologist Erving Goffman called civil inattention—the social norm of showing a proper amount of indifference to others—which functions as an almost unnoticed yet highly potent privacy-preserving mechanism. These practices can be disrupted by technologies that afford new forms of intrusions. In this paper, we show how new networked technologies, such as facial recognition (FR), challenge our ability to practice civil inattention. We argue for the need to revitalise, in academic and policy debates, the role of civil inattention and related practices in regulating behaviour in public space. Our analysis highlights the relational nature of privacy and the importance of social norms in accomplishing and preserving it. While our analysis goes some way in supporting current calls to ban FR technology, we also suggest that, pending a ban and in light of the power of norms to limit what is otherwise technically possible, cultivating new practices of civil inattention may help address the challenges raised by FR and other forms of digital surveillance in public.
Asymptotic Behaviour of Time Stepping Methods for Phase Field Models
Authors: Cheng Xinyu , Li Dong , Promislow Keith , Wetton Brian
Published: January 2021

Adaptive time stepping methods for metastable dynamics of the Allen–Cahn and Cahn–Hilliard equations are investigated in the spatially continuous, semi-discrete setting. We analyse the performance of a number of first and second order methods, formally predicting step sizes required to satisfy specified local truncation error $$\sigma $$
σ
in the limit of small length scale parameter $$\epsilon \rightarrow 0$$

ϵ
→
0

during meta-stable dynamics. The formal predictions are made under stability assumptions that include the preservation of the asymptotic structure of the diffuse interface, a concept we call profile fidelity. In this setting, definite statements about the relative behaviour of time stepping methods can be made. Some methods, including all so-called energy stable methods but also some fully implicit methods, require asymptotically more time steps than others. The formal analysis is confirmed in computational studies. We observe that some provably energy stable methods popular in the literature perform worse than some more standard schemes. We show further that when Backward Euler is applied to meta-stable Allen–Cahn dynamics, the energy decay and profile fidelity properties for these discretizations are preserved for much larger time steps than previous analysis would suggest. The results are established asymptotically for general interfaces, with a rigorous proof for radial interfaces. It is shown analytically and computationally that for most reaction terms, Eyre type time stepping performs asymptotically worse due to loss of profile fidelity.
Sol–gel matrix for YAG:Ce phosphors in pc-LEDs
Authors: Kräuter Gertrud , Eberhardt Angela , Peskoller Florian , Güldal Nusret Sena , Lell Alfred , Ritasalo Riina , Pilvi Tero , Römer Manfred , Domann Gerhard , Löbmann Peer
Published: January 2021

Sol–gel formulations were applied to replace silicone as matrix material for phosphors in pc-LEDs. The content of organic groups was minimized in order to reduce yellowing during the operation of the elements. It was possible to evenly embed YAG:Ce particles in sol–gel binders. Further processing on LED chips resulted in operational light sources; and their performance was compared to standard silicone-based elements. Additional deposition of ALD laminates seals possible defects within the sol–gel matrix as additional protection of the phosphors and the underlying LEDs.
A simple metric of landscape fire exposure
Authors: Beverly Jennifer L. , McLoughlin Neal , Chapman Elizabeth
Published: January 2021

Context

Proximity of landcover elements to each other will enable or constrain fire spread. Assessments of potential fire propagation across landscapes typically involve empirical or simulation models that estimate probabilities based on complex interactions among biotic and abiotic controls.

Objectives

We developed a metric of landscape fire exposure based solely on a grid cell’s proximity to nearby hazardous fuel capable of transmitting fire to its location. To evaluate accuracy of this new metric, we asked:Do burned areas occur preferentially in locations with high exposure?

Methods

We mapped exposure to hazardous fuels in Alberta, Canada using a neighbourhood analysis. Correspondence between exposure and 2331 fires that burned 2,606,387 ha following our 2007 assessment was evaluated and exposure changes between 2007 and 2019 were assessed.

Results

In all eleven ecological units analysed, burned area surpluses occurred where exposure was ≥ 60% and corresponding deficits occurred where exposure was < 40%. In seven ecological units, the majority of burned areas had pre-fire exposure ≥ 80%. Between 2007 and 2019, land area with exposure ≥ 80% increased by almost a third.

Conclusions

Exposure to hazardous fuels is easily quantified with a single thematic layer and aligns well with subsequent fires in Boreal, Foothills and Rocky Mountain natural regions. The resulting fire exposure metric is a numeric rating of the potential for fire transmission to a location given surrounding fuel composition and configuration, irrespective of weather or other fire controls. Exposure can be compared across geographic regions and time periods; and used in conjunction with other metrics of fire controls to inform the study of landscape fire.
Space-use patterns of Malay civets (Viverra tangalunga) persisting within a landscape fragmented by oil palm plantations
Authors: Evans Meaghan N. , Müller Carsten T. , Kille Peter , Asner Gregory P. , Guerrero-Sanchez Sergio , Bakar Mohd Soffian Abu , Goossens Benoit
Published: January 2021

Context

Agricultural land use is expanding and is a major driver of the biodiversity crisis. Land use planning initiatives seeking to optimize wildlife conservation are hindered by a lack of baseline data quantifying species’ tolerance to human-modified landscapes.

Objectives

We explored the influence of landscape characteristics on the fine-scale space-use patterns of a model generalist carnivore, the Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga), within degraded tropical forests and oil palm plantations.

Methods

We collected over 20,000 GPS locations from 21 male civets in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo to evaluate the species’ space-use patterns and habitat utilization processes. We used movement-based modeling to determine home ranges, and combined the results with high-resolution remotely sensed habitat characteristics. We developed resource utilization functions to determine individual and population-level functional responses to proximity to plantation edge, distance to water, terrain ruggedness, forest structure, and functional diversity.

Results

Civets foraged within oil palm plantations, yet all animals utilized forests. Home ranges scaled with proportion of plantation within both total and core ranges. Resource utilization functions reported individualism in the species’ responses to habitat characteristics. At the population-scale, civets consistently and more intensely used habitats closer to plantation edges and taller tree canopies.

Conclusions

Although plantations did not pose an inhospitable matrix, oil palm agriculture is a less suitable habitat than remnant forests for civets. Proximity measures and forest structure influenced the spatial behaviors of this adaptable generalist, highlighting the importance of protected areas. We recommend land-sparing and -sharing approaches to facilitate carnivore persistence across oil palm degraded landscapes.
The design of learning spaces matters: perceived impact of the deskless school on learning and teaching
Authors: Reinius Hanna , Korhonen Tiina , Hakkarainen Kai
Published: January 2021

This exploratory case study examined the kinds of activity that a ‘deskless school” (i.e., flexible physical school spaces) engenders among pupils and teachers. We also considered the meaning and significance that pupils and teachers attach to various features of the school, as well as the associated action possibilities. The data were gathered in a new school in the Helsinki capital area that was architecturally designed to have flexible learning spaces (FLS) without traditional classrooms or desks for pupils in an attempt to encourage pedagogical renewal. The participants comprised 17 pupils in one second-grade class and their two teachers. The data were collected by participant observation (15 lessons over 3 weeks) and interviews with the teachers and groups of pupils. Those working in FLS engaged in collaborative learning and teaching activities. Pupils worked constantly in pairs or small groups and studied collaboratively. They also incorporated mobility into their own learning activities and developed agency by choosing how and where they would work. In particular, they appreciated being able to collaborate with their peers and freely choose where and how to study. Teachers approved of the school environment’s facilitation of collaborative learning and highlighted the importance of professional co-planning and other aspects of collaboration. Overall, the design of school environments matters at the pedagogical and professional level. With thoughtful planning, such design can support deeper collaboration among teachers and pupils, foster knowledge sharing, and even develop pupils’ agency. Although the learning space itself does not ensure change, it does enable new kinds of interaction and joint learning activities.
A ‘Life-Style Choice’ or a Philosophical Belief?: The Argument for Veganism and Vegetarianism to be a Protected Philosophical Belief and the Position in England and Wales
Authors: McKeown Paul , Dunn Rachel Ann
Published: January 2021

The recent judgment in Casamitjana Costa v The League Against Cruel Sports in England and Wales held that ethical veganism was a protected philosophical belief under employment law. In contrast, vegetarianism was found not to be a protected philosophical belief in Conisbee v Crossley Farms Limited and others. The authors argue that the Employment Tribunal misunderstood the notion of vegetarianism when deciding that it was a ‘life-style choice’. There are different kinds of vegans and vegetarians, each with their own way of practising the philosophy which influences how they live their life. Not all people who follow a meat-free diet should be afforded this protection, and it depends on whether their belief is one which is determined by certain factors, such as animal welfare and environmentalism, rather than for health purposes. The authors explore the arguments and analysis in the above employment cases, coming to the conclusion that the tribunals oversimplified what it means to hold values such as veganism and vegetarianism, failing to understand the differences between different classifications and sub-groups when coming to a decision. The different kinds of vegans and vegetarians and their characteristics are outlined, before determining whether this should constitute protection under employment law, protecting individuals from discrimination. The situation in the USA and Canada regarding this issue is very different, and there are parallels drawn with attempting to establish veganism or vegetarianism as a religion, and where they could benefit from the recent decision in England and Wales. Finally, this paper concludes that ethical and environmental veganism and vegetarianism should both qualify as protected philosophical beliefs, but other kinds may fall short of what is required to satisfy the requirements under law.
Illustrative Discussion of MC-Dropout in General Dataset: Uncertainty Estimation in Bitcoin
Authors: Alarab Ismail , Prakoonwit Simant , Nacer Mohamed Ikbal
Published: January 2021

The past few years have witnessed the resurgence of uncertainty estimation generally in neural networks. Providing uncertainty quantification besides the predictive probability is desirable to reflect the degree of belief in the model’s decision about a given input. Recently, Monte-Carlo dropout (MC-dropout) method has been introduced as a probabilistic approach based Bayesian approximation which is computationally efficient than Bayesian neural networks. MC-dropout has revealed promising results on image datasets regarding uncertainty quantification. However, this method has been subjected to criticism regarding the behaviour of MC-dropout and what type of uncertainty it actually captures. For this purpose, we aim to discuss the behaviour of MC-dropout on classification tasks using synthetic and real data. We empirically explain different cases of MC-dropout that reflects the relative merits of this method. Our main finding is that MC-dropout captures datapoints lying on the decision boundary between the opposed classes using synthetic data. On the other hand, we apply MC-dropout method on dataset derived from Bitcoin known as Elliptic data to highlight the outperformance of model with MC-dropout over standard model. A conclusion and possible future directions are proposed.