bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal association of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin levels with clinical characteristics in thyroid eye disease
Authors: Ko JaeSang , Kook Koung Hoon , Yoon Jin Sook , Woo Kyung In , Yang Jae Wook
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The clinical course of thyroid eye disease (TED) is heterogeneous and predicting patients who may develop the severe sequelae of the disease is difficult. In this study, we evaluated the longitudinal association between changes in serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody (TRAb) levels and course of disease activity and severity over time.

Design

This was a multicentre, prospective, observational study.

Setting

Fifteen tertiary care oculoplastic service centres in Korea.

Participants

Seventy-six patients with newly diagnosed TED were included and followed up for 12 months.

Methods

We evaluated clinical characteristics and serum TRAb levels at baseline, 6 and 12 months of TED diagnosis. Additionally, we analysed longitudinal associations between the serum TRAb levels and clinical activity score (CAS), no signs or symptoms, only signs, soft tissue involvement, proptosis, extraocular muscle involvement, corneal involvement, sight loss (NOSPECS) score and proptosis.

Results

Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) and TSH-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) levels decreased during the 1-year follow-up, whereas disease activity measured using CAS decreased mainly in the first 6 months. Disease severity measured using NOSPECS score and proptosis remained unchanged. Moreover, inter-person differences in TBII levels were associated with CAS, NOSPECS score and proptosis over time, whereas inter-person differences in TSI levels were associated with NOSPECS score. Subgroup analysis of patients with a baseline CAS≥4 demonstrated that within-person changes in TSI levels affected the CAS and NOSPECS score.

Conclusions

Follow-up measurement of serum TSI and TBII levels may help evaluate TED prognosis and enable accurate clinical decision-making.
Learning team-based quality improvement in a virtual setting: a qualitative study
Authors: Hovlid Einar , Husabø Gunnar , Valestrand Eivind Alexander , Hartveit Miriam
Published: June 2022

Objective

The objective was to explore students’ perceptions of learning quality improvement (QI) in a virtual setting and identify factors that promote or inhibit virtual learning.

Design

We used an exploratory case study design with focus group interviews. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach, with an analytical framework derived from activity theory and Bloom’s revised taxonomy of six categories of cognitive processes of learning.

Setting

Postgraduate students participating in a virtual 1-day simulation module to learn QI at two universities in Norway.

Participants

Four focus groups with a total of 12 participants.

Results

The students’ descriptions of learning outcomes indicate that the learning activity involved a variety of cognitive activities, including higher-order cognitive processes. We identified three themes pertaining to the students’ experiences of the virtual learning activity: learning through active participation, constructing a virtual learning opportunity and creating a virtual learning environment. The students described that participation and active engagement led to a greater understanding and an integration of theory and practical improvement skills. They reported that to engage in the virtual learning opportunity, it was necessary to create a learning environment where they felt psychologically safe.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that it is possible to facilitate collaborative learning integrating theoretical knowledge and practical skills in a virtual setting. Students experienced that engaging in the virtual learning activity contributed to the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Psychological safety seems to be important for students’ engagement in the virtual learning activity. A virtual learning environment alters prior common norms for interaction based on physical presence, which in turn affect students feeling of psychological safety. Educators need to be aware of this and facilitate a virtual learning environment where students feel comfortable to engage.
Behind the athletic body: a clinical interview study of identification of eating disorder symptoms and diagnoses in elite athletes
Authors: Lichtenstein Mia Beck , Johansen Karen Krogh , Runge Eik , Hansen Marina Bohn , Holmberg Trine Theresa , Tarp Kristine
Published: June 2022

Eating disorders are more prevalent in athletes than in the general population and may have severe consequences for sports performance and health. Identifying symptoms can be difficult in athletes because restrictive eating and slim body images are often idealised in a sports setting. The Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the SCOFF (Sick, Control, One stone, Fat and Food) questionnaire (SCOFF) are widely used generic instruments to identify symptoms of eating disorders. This study aimed to investigate the instruments’ validity and explore eating disorder symptoms in a sample of athletes.

A sample of 28 athletes (25 females) competing at a national level was interviewed based on the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders. We interviewed 18 athletes with a high score on EDE-Q and 10 with a low score. All interviews were transcribed and analysed from a general inductive approach. We identified 20 athletes with an eating disorder diagnosis, while 8 had no diagnosis. EDE-Q found 90% of the cases, while SCOFF found 94%. EDE-Q found no false-positive cases, while SCOFF found one.

The qualitative results showed that most athletes reported eating concerns, restrictive eating, eating control (counting calories), weight concerns, body dissatisfaction (feeling fat and non-athletic), excessive exercise and health problems (eg, pain, fatigue).

In conclusion, EDE-Q and SCOFF seem valid instruments to screen athletes’ samples but may fail to find 6%–10% cases with eating disorders. Despite athletic bodies and normal body mass index, many athletes report severe eating problems and dissatisfaction with weight and body appearance. Implementation of regular screening may identify these symptoms at an early stage.
Health challenges and acute sports injuries restrict weightlifting training of older athletes
Authors: Huebner Marianne , Ma Wenjuan
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To quantify acute injuries sustained during weightlifting that result in training restrictions and identify potential risk factors or preventative factors in Master athletes and to evaluate potentially complex interactions of age, sex, health-related and training-related predictors of injuries with machine learning (ML) algorithms.

Methods

A total of 976 Masters weightlifters from Australia, Canada, Europe and the USA, ages 35–88 (51.1% women), completed an online survey that included questions on weightlifting injuries, chronic diseases, sport history and training practices. Ensembles of ML algorithms were used to identify factors associated with acute weightlifting injuries and performance of the prediction models was evaluated. In addition, a subgroup of variables selected by six experts were entered into a logistic regression model to estimate the likelihood of an injury.

Results

The accuracy of ML models predicting injuries ranged from 0.727 to 0.876 for back, hips, knees and wrists, but were less accurate (0.644) for shoulder injuries. Male Master athletes had a higher prevalence of weightlifting injuries than female Master athletes, ranging from 12% to 42%. Chronic inflammation or osteoarthritis were common among both men and women. This was associated with an increase in acute injuries.

Conclusions

Training-specific variables, such as choices of training programmes or nutrition programmes, may aid in preventing acute injuries. ML models can identify potential risk factors or preventative measures for sport injuries.
Hypoxia-inducible lentiviral gene expression in engineered human macrophages
Authors: Chinn Harrison K , Gardell Jennifer L , Matsumoto Lisa R , Labadie Kevin P , Mihailovic Tara N , Lieberman Nicole A P , Davis Amira , Pillarisetty Venu G , Crane Courtney A
Published: June 2022

Background

Human immune cells, including monocyte-derived macrophages, can be engineered to deliver proinflammatory cytokines, bispecific antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptors to support immune responses in different disease settings. When gene expression is regulated by constitutively active promoters, lentiviral payload gene expression is unregulated, and can result in potentially toxic quantities of proteins. Regulated delivery of lentivirally encoded proteins may allow localized or conditional therapeutic protein expression to support safe delivery of adoptively transferred, genetically modified cells with reduced capacity for systemic toxicities.

Methods

In this study, we engineered human macrophages to express genes regulated by hypoxia responsive elements included in the lentiviral promoter region to drive conditional lentiviral gene expression only under hypoxic conditions. We tested transduced macrophages cultured in hypoxic conditions for the transient induced expression of reporter genes and the secreted cytokine, interleukin-12. Expression of hypoxia-regulated genes was investigated both transcriptionally and translationally, and in the presence of human tumor cells in a slice culture system. Finally, hypoxia-regulated gene expression was evaluated in a subcutaneous humanized-mouse cancer model.

Results

Engineered macrophages were shown to conditionally and tranisently express lentivirally encoded gene protein products, including IL-12 in hypoxic conditions in vitro. On return to normoxic conditions, lentiviral payload expression returned to basal levels. Reporter genes under the control of hypoxia response elements were upregulated under hypoxic conditions in the presence of human colorectal carcinoma cells and in the hypoxic xenograft model of glioblastoma, suggesting utility for systemic engineered cell delivery capable of localized gene delivery in cancer.

Conclusions

Macrophages engineered to express hypoxia-regulated payloads have the potential to be administered systemically and conditionally express proteins in tissues with hypoxic conditions. In contrast to immune cells that function or survive poorly in hypoxic conditions, macrophages maintain a proinflammatory phenotype that may support continued gene and protein expression when regulated by conditional hypoxia responsive elements and naturally traffic to hypoxic microenvironments, making them ideal vehicles for therapeutic payloads to hypoxic tissues, such as solid tumors. With the ability to fine-tune delivery of potent proteins in response to endogenous microenvironments, macrophage-based cellular therapies may therefore be designed for different disease settings.
WT1-specific TCRs directed against newly identified peptides install antitumor reactivity against acute myeloid leukemia and ovarian carcinoma
Authors: van Amerongen Rosa A , Hagedoorn Renate S , Remst Dennis F G , Assendelft Danique C , van der Steen Dirk M , Wouters Anne K , van de Meent Marian , Kester Michel G D , de Ru Arnoud H , Griffioen Marieke , van Veelen Peter A , Falkenburg J H Frederik , Heemskerk Mirjam H M
Published: June 2022

Background

Transcription factor Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1) is an ideal tumor target based on its expression in a wide range of tumors, low-level expression in normal tissues and promoting role in cancer progression. In clinical trials, WT1 is targeted using peptide-based or dendritic cell-based vaccines and T-cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies. Antitumor reactivities were reported, but T-cell reactivity is hampered by self-tolerance to WT1 and limited number of WT1 peptides, which were thus far selected based on HLA peptide binding algorithms.

Methods

In this study, we have overcome both limitations by searching in the allogeneic T-cell repertoire of healthy donors for high-avidity WT1-specific T cells, specific for WT1 peptides derived from the HLA class I associated ligandome of primary leukemia and ovarian carcinoma samples.

Results

Using broad panels of malignant cells and healthy cell subsets, T-cell clones were selected that demonstrated potent and specific anti-WT1 T-cell reactivity against five of the eight newly identified WT1 peptides. Notably, T-cell clones for WT1 peptides previously used in clinical trials lacked reactivity against tumor cells, suggesting limited processing and presentation of these peptides. The TCR sequences of four T-cell clones were analyzed and TCR gene transfer into CD8+ T cells installed antitumor reactivity against WT1-expressing solid tumor cell lines, primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts, and ovarian carcinoma patient samples.

Conclusions

Our approach resulted in a set of naturally expressed WT1 peptides and four TCRs that are promising candidates for TCR gene transfer strategies in patients with WT1-expressing tumors, including AML and ovarian carcinoma.
Increased suicide attempt risk in people with epilepsy in the presence of concurrent psychogenic nonepileptic seizures
Authors: Faiman Irene , Hodsoll John , Young Allan H , Shotbolt Paul
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To test the hypothesis that people with concurrent diagnosis of epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are at increased risk of attempting suicide as compared to people with epilepsy or PNES alone. To report on suicide rates.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study from the UK largest tertiary mental health care provider, with linked nationwide admission and mortality data from the Hospital Episode Statistics and Office for National Statistics. Participants were 2460 people with a primary or secondary diagnosis of epilepsy, PNES or concurrent epilepsy and PNES attending between 1 January 2007 and 18 June 2021. The primary outcome was a first hospital admission for suicide attempt (International Classification of Diseases, version 10 X60–X84).

Results

9% of participants had at least one suicide attempt-related hospital admission. For people with concurrent diagnosis of epilepsy and PNES, the odds for suicide attempt-related admissions were 2.52 times the odds of people with epilepsy alone (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.79; p=0.01). Odds were comparable between people with concurrent diagnosis and people with PNES alone (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.41 to 1.48; p=0.40). Post hoc analyses revealed that the odds of people with PNES alone were 1.93 times the odds of people with epilepsy alone (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.38 to 0.70; p<0.001).

Conclusions

People with concurrent diagnosis of epilepsy and PNES or PNES alone have significantly increased odds of hospitalisation due to suicide attempt as compared to people with epilepsy alone (152% and 93% increase, respectively). These findings have direct implications for the clinical management of suicide risk in people with epilepsy.
Excessive platelet inhibition following Pipeline embolization of intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Miller Timothy R , Khunte Mihir , Caffes Nicholas , Anders Megan , Rock Peter , Beitelshees Amber L , Malhotra Ajay , Cannarsa Gregory , Cherian Jacob , Simard J Marc , Jindal Gaurav , Gandhi Dheeraj
Published: June 2022

Background

High levels of platelet inhibition have been associated with hemorrhagic complications following Pipeline embolization of intracranial aneurysms. We therefore titrate clopidogrel dosing to maintain a moderate level of platelet inhibition using the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. However, many patients demonstrate dramatic increases in platelet inhibition following treatment despite being on a consistent antiplatelet regimen. We therefore elected to explore the incidence of this phenomenon and possible predisposing factors.

Methods

All successful Pipeline aneurysm treatments performed at our institution from 2011 to 2019 with moderate procedure-day platelet inhibition levels as indicated by a VerifyNow PRU of 60–235 were included. Patients who received glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and those treated for ruptured/symptomatic lesions were excluded. The incidence of excessive platelet inhibition defined by a PRU<60 within 8 weeks of treatment was noted. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determined independent predictors of the phenomenon.

Results

Some 190 treatments were performed in 178 qualifying patients. A post-procedure PRU <60 occurred following 79% of treatments, documented on average after 8.5 (range 1–47) days. A higher procedure day hematocrit level (P=0.003, OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.029 to 1.152) was an independent predictor of reaching a PRU <60, while intra-procedural midazolam exposure (P=0.044, OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.201 to 0.980) and a higher procedure-day PRU (P=0.047, OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.982 to 1.000) were associated with a reduced odds. Time-since-procedure and hematocrit levels were associated with excessive platelet inhibition when excluding patients who initially demonstrated hyperresponse.

Conclusion

Elevations in platelet inhibition were frequently observed following flow diversion with Pipeline.
Progression of aortic stenosis after an acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Paquin Amélie , Marsit Ons , Deschênes Valérie , Rouabhia Dounia , Hadjadj Sandra , Clisson Marine , Robitaille Charlotte , Aikawa Elena , Levine Robert A , Pibarot Philippe , Clavel Marie-Annick , Beaudoin Jonathan
Published: June 2022

Background

Myocardial infarction (MI) has been shown to induce fibrotic remodelling of the mitral and tricuspid valves. It is unknown whether MI also induces pathological remodelling of the aortic valve and alters aortic stenosis (AS) progression. We thus compared AS progression after an acute MI and in patients with/without history of MI, and assessed post-MI pathobiological changes within the aortic valve leaflets in a sheep model.

Methods

Serial echocardiograms in human patients with AS were retrospectively analysed and compared between 3 groups: (1) acute MI at baseline (n=68), (2) prior history of MI (n=45) and (3) controls without MI (n=101). Annualised progression rates of AS severity were compared between these 3 groups. In addition, aortic valves were harvested from 15 sheep: (1) induced inferior MI (n=10) and (2) controls without MI (n=5), for biological and histological analyses.

Results

In humans, the acute MI, previous MI and control groups had comparable baseline AS severity. Indexed aortic valve area (AVAi) declined faster in the acute MI group compared with controls (−0.07±0.06 vs −0.04±0.04 cm2/m2/year; p=0.004). After adjustment, acute MI status was significantly associated with faster AVAiprogression (mean difference: −0.013 (95% CI −0.023 to −0.003) cm2/m2/year, p=0.008). In the post-MI experimental animal model, aortic valve thickness and qualitative/quantitative expression of collagen were significantly increased compared with controls.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that AS progression is accelerated following acute MI, which could be caused by increased collagen production and thickening of the aortic valve after the ischaemic event.
Characteristics of Cheyenne little filtered cigar Instagram ads, 2019–2020
Authors: Mead-Morse Erin L , Delnevo Cristine D , Singh Binu , Wackowski Olivia A
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Little is known about little filtered cigar (LFC) marketing on social media. We examined the characteristics of Instagram posts by Cheyenne—a popular LFC brand—from 2019 to 2020.

Methods

We conducted a content analysis of 323 images posted in 2019 and 2020. Descriptive statistics were examined, and χ2and Fisher’s exact tests were used to test differences by year.

Results

Most posts (76.0%) showed ≥1 pack and/or LFC stick, which look highly similar to cigarette packs and sticks. The pack was often flavoured (62.2%). Images of lit LFC sticks increased from 2019 (12.2%) to 2020 (26.7%, p=0.005). Warning labels were present on the ad in 79.9% of posts, but always at the bottom, and used the same single warning statement that they are not a safe alternative to cigarettes. The depiction of people nearly doubled from 2019 (18.1%) to 2020 (34.8%, p=0.001), and women (50.6%) were more commonly depicted than men (32.1%). Popular depictions and themes included the outdoors (57.6%) and seasonal imagery (36.2%) among others.

Discussion

Cheyenne actively used Instagram to market its product and grow its brand. Posts seemed designed to promote the similarity of their LFC to cigarettes, through depictions of cig-a-like packs/sticks. Although warning labels were prevalent on Cheyenne Instagram posts, the warnings were not compliant with FDA warning guidelines and might have been counterproductive by emphasising their viability as cigarette alternatives rather than their dangerous health effects. Future surveillance is needed, and regulation of LFC advertising on social media may be warranted.
Static magnetic dipole solutions of Einstein–Maxwell equations from the soliton solutions of a Kerr object
Authors: Chaudhuri A. , Nandi S. , Chaudhuri S.
Published: June 2022

Using the solution generating techniques of Das and Chaudhuri (Pramana J. Phys. 40, 277 (1993); Pramana J. Phys. 58, 449 (2002)), static magnetovac solutions of Einstein–Maxwell equations in general relativity are constructed from the stationary gravitational soliton solutions of Einstein's field equations corresponding to a Kerr object. The techniques followed in the present paper have not been much used in the literature so far although the results are obtained in a straightforward way. The stationary gravitational two-soliton solutions of Einstein's field equations for a Kerr object are generated using the soliton technique of Belinskii and Zakharov (Sov. Phys. JETP 48, 985 (1978); Sov. Phys. JETP 50, 1 (1979)). In the next step, following the procedure of Das and Chaudhuri, mentioned above, static magnetovac solutions of Einstein–Maxwell field equations corresponding to the generated stationary two-soliton solutions of the Kerr object are constructed. The solutions are found to be well behaved at spatial infinity and contain monopole, dipole, and other higher mass multipoles. The mass and the dipole moment of the source are evaluated. It is shown that by redefining some constants appearing in the solutions, Bonnor's (Z. Phys. 190, 444 (1966)) magnetic dipole solutions are faithfully reproduced.
Curcumin-Pretreated Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Enhance the Neuroprotective Ability to Repair Rheumatoid Arthritis-Induced Damage in the Rat Brain
Authors: Ju Da-Tong , Tsai Bruce Chi-Kang , Sitorus Maria Angelina , Kuo Wei-Wen , Kuo Chia-Hua , Chen Tung-Sheng , Hsieh Dennis Jine-Yuan , Ho Tsung-Jung , Huang Chih-Yang , Wang Chien-Hao
Published: June 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases have become increasingly prevalent in the aged population. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes systemic inflammation, damaging the neurons. However, only a few treatment options can reduce RA-induced neurodegeneration. This study aimed to evaluate whether adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) pretreated with curcumin could ameliorate RA-induced neurodegenerative illness in an RA rat model. Wistar rats were randomly classified into the following four groups: control, RA, RA + ADSC (1 × 106 cells per rat), and RA + curcumin-pretreated ADSC (1 × 106 cells per rat). After treatment for two months, the effects were specifically evaluated in the brains collected from the rats. Our results demonstrated that the transplantation of curcumin-pretreated ADSCs substantially reduced inflammation and apoptosis in the cortices of RA rats compared to those of other groups. Thus, the combination of ADSCs and curcumin exerts a synergistic effect in enhancing neuronal protection in RA rats. In the future, this combination therapeutic strategy can potentially be used as a novel treatment method to reduce RA-induced neurodegenerative disorders.
EntailSum: An Entailment-Based Approach to Aspect-Based Text Summarization with Automated Aspect Adaptation
Authors: Ankner Zachary , Balaji Purvaja , Zhu Ye , Hiew Chun Keat , Wang Patrick , Gupta Amar
Published: June 2022

Aspect-based summarization differs from generic text-summarization in which the generated summary must be conditioned on a given topic. A fundamental challenge to the aspect-based summarization approach is the lack of labeled data for training models, which limits the usage of supervised methods. One approach to address this issue is to introduce human intervention to generate unique datasets per aspect. However, there is a large number of possible aspects to summarize which makes this option impossible to scale. This limits the use of typical modeling techniques, and requires methods which excel in few-shot, or ideally zero-shot regimes. Hence, in this research, we propose a modular, two-step approach that does not need any aspect-based supervision. This research combines recent advances in zero-shot text classification and generic summarization in a novel way. The backbone of the proposed approach is a transformer network trained for the task of textual entailment, which is used to reduce a document to the set of on topic sentences. In the experiments, our model achieves a new state of the art compared to other unsupervised models on the MA-News dataset (ROUGE-1 35.70 and ROUGE-2 15.52), and even outperforms fine-tuned models without any supervision of its own.
EXACT TRAVELING WAVE SOLUTION FOR THE FRACTAL RIEMANN WAVE MODEL ARISING IN OCEAN SCIENCE
Authors: WANG KANGLE
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we investigate the Riemann wave model (RWM) on Cantor sets by using the local fractional derivative (LFD). A novel computational approach is provided to seek the exact traveling-wave solution of the non-differential type for the local fractional Riemann wave model (LFRWM). The proposed scheme is called local fractional traveling-wave method (LFTWM). An example is given to illustrate that the LFTWM is simple and excellent. The properties of the obtained traveling-wave solutions are elaborated by some 3D graphs. The LFTWM sheds a new light on solving the local fractional wave equations (LFWE) in physics and engineering.
Multi-Class Document Image Classification using Deep Visual and Textual Features
Authors: Sevim Semih , Ekinci Ekin , Omurca Sevinç Ilhan , Edinç Eren Berk , Eken Süleyman , Erdem Türkücan , Sayar Ahmet
Published: June 2022

The digitalization era has brought digital documents with it, and the classification of document images has become an important need as in classical text documents. Document images, in which text documents are stored as images, contain both text and visual features, unlike images. Therefore, it is possible to use both text and visual features while classifying such data. Considering this situation, in this study, it is aimed to classify document images by using both text and visual features and to determine which feature type is more successful in classification. In the text-based approach, each document/class is labeled with the keywords associated with that document/class and the classification is realized according to whether the document contains the related key-words or not. For visual-based classification, we use four deep learning models namely CNN, NASNet-Large, InceptionV3, and EfficientNetB3. Experimental study is carried out on document images obtained from applicants of the Kocaeli University. As a result, it is seen ii that EfficientNetB3 is the most superior among all with 0.8987 F-score.
Dinosaur tracks in a Cretaceous (lower Albian) braid delta system (Basque–Cantabrian Basin, western Pyrenees): linking trace fossils suites and short-term preservation windows
Authors: Díaz-Martínez Ignacio , López-Horgue Mikel A. , Agirrezabala Luis M. , Cónsole-Gonella Carlos , Pereda-Suberbiola Xabier
Published: June 2022

Albian dinosaur tracks from the Monte Grande Formation (Basque–Cantabrian Basin) are described. Sedimentary succession shows seven different facies associations (FAs) with four track-bearing levels (levels 1–4) of a braid delta system. FA 4, a proximal crevasse subdelta, preserves in levels 2 and 3 theropod, possibly sauropod and undetermined dinosaur tracks, as well as
Ophiomorpha
and
Skolithos
traces. FA 5, a middle crevasse subdelta, presents undetermined cross-section tracks in levels 1 and 4, besides
Ophiomorpha
,
Skolithos
and locally
Teichichnus
in other layers. Both FAs have the same general ichnoassociation, although with preservational variations. The sedimentary succession represents an area with periods of crevasse subdelta progradation and colonization of opportunistic organisms, and other periods of subdelta abandonment represented by short sedimentary hiatuses in which the water sheet would be shallow or even absent and where dinosaurs would be roaming. Particularly, the traces of levels 2 and 3 represent the same ichnocoenosis constituting two different suites and may be envisaged as penecontemporaneous, produced within a short-term preservational window. This tracksite is one of the scarce Albian dinosaur ichnological records in the southwestern European island palaeoarchipelago and one of the few worldwide localities where Albian dinosaur tracks have been found in deltaic facies.
Toward verified artificial intelligence
Authors: Seshia Sanjit A. , Sadigh Dorsa , Sastry S. Shankar
Published: June 2022

Making AI more trustworthy with a formal methods-based approach to AI system verification and validation.
Algorithms with predictions
Authors: Mitzenmacher Michael , Vassilvitskii Sergei
Published: June 2022

Seeking a new approach that goes beyond worst-case analysis.
Building a practical quantum computer
Authors: Monroe Don
Published: June 2022

Quantum computation has a long road ahead.
Using makeup to block surveillance
Authors: Shein Esther
Published: June 2022

Altering one's facial features with a special type of makeup can keep them from being recognized by artificial intelligence.
Apple's challenge to virtualization software
Authors: Samuelson Pamela
Published: June 2022

Is it okay for security researchers to virtualize software to look for vulnerabilities?
The future of information work
Authors: Yang Longqi , Holtz David , Jaffe Sonia , Suri Siddharth
Published: June 2022

Considering the recent effects of remote work on network structure.
Words matter
Authors: Gilbert Juan E. , Ludi Stephanie , Patterson David A. , Smith Lisa M.
Published: June 2022

Some jargon can be offensive to newcomers and unintentionally shape our thoughts.
SafeDrop: Detecting Memory Deallocation Bugs of Rust Programs via Static Data-flow Analysis
Authors: Cui Mohan , Chen Chengjun , Xu Hui , Zhou Yangfan
Published: June 2022

Rust is an emerging programming language that aims to prevent memory-safety bugs. However, the current design of Rust also brings side effects, which may increase the risk of memory-safety issues. In particular, it employs ownership-based resource management and enforces automatic deallocation of unused resources without using the garbage collector. It may therefore falsely deallocate reclaimed memory and lead to use-after-free or double-free issues. In this article, we study the problem of invalid memory deallocation and propose
SafeDrop
, a static path-sensitive data-flow analysis approach to detect such bugs. Our approach analyzes each function of a Rust crate iteratively in a flow-sensitive and field-sensitive way. It leverages a modified Tarjan algorithm to achieve scalable path-sensitive analysis and a cache-based strategy for efficient inter-procedural analysis. We have implemented our approach and integrated it into the Rust compiler. Experiment results show that the approach can successfully detect all such bugs in our experiments with a limited number of false positives and incurs a very small overhead compared to the original compilation time.
Graph Deep Factors for Probabilistic Time-series Forecasting
Authors: Chen Hongjie , Rossi Ryan A. , Mahadik Kanak , Kim Sungchul , Eldardiry Hoda
Published: June 2022

Effective time-series forecasting methods are of significant importance to solve a broad spectrum of research problems. Deep probabilistic forecasting techniques have recently been proposed for modeling large collections of time-series. However, these techniques explicitly assume either complete independence (local model) or complete dependence (global model) between time-series in the collection. This corresponds to the two extreme cases where every time-series is disconnected from every other time-series in the collection or likewise, that every time-series is related to every other time-series resulting in a completely connected graph. In this work, we propose a deep hybrid probabilistic graph-based forecasting framework called Graph Deep Factors (GraphDF) that goes beyond these two extremes by allowing nodes and their time-series to be connected to others in an arbitrary fashion. GraphDF is a hybrid forecasting framework that consists of a relational global and relational local model. In particular, a relational global model learns complex non-linear time-series patterns globally using the structure of the graph to improve both forecasting accuracy and computational efficiency. Similarly, instead of modeling every time-series independently, a relational local model not only considers its individual time-series but also the time-series of nodes that are connected in the graph. The experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed deep hybrid graph-based forecasting model compared to the state-of-the-art methods in terms of its forecasting accuracy, runtime, and scalability. Our case study reveals that GraphDF can successfully generate cloud usage forecasts and opportunistically schedule workloads to increase cloud cluster utilization by 47.5% on average. Furthermore, we target addressing the common nature of many time-series forecasting applications where time-series are provided in a streaming version; however, most methods fail to leverage the newly incoming time-series values and result in worse performance over time. In this article, we propose an online incremental learning framework for probabilistic forecasting. The framework is theoretically proven to have lower time and space complexity. The framework can be universally applied to many other machine learning-based methods.
HAIR: Halving the Area of the Integer Register File with Odd/Even Banking
Authors: Michaud Pierre , Peysieux Anis
Published: June 2022

This article proposes a new microarchitectural scheme for reducing the hardware complexity of the integer register file of a superscalar processor. The register file is split into two banks holding even-numbered and odd-numbered physical registers, respectively. Each bank provides one read port to each two-input integer execution unit. This way, each bank has half the total number of read ports, and the register file area is roughly halved, which reduces the energy dissipated per register access and the register access time. However, a bank conflict occurs when both inputs of a two-input micro-operation lie in the same bank. Bank conflicts hurt performance, and we propose a simple solution to remove most bank conflicts, thus recovering most of the lost performance.
Report on the Malawi Data Science Bootcamp 2021
Authors: Moyo Reuben , Ndevbu Stanley , Zimba Michael , Dybdal Martin , Maistro Maria , Balder Bach Benjamin
Published: June 2022

This report presents and briefly discusses the first Data Science Summer school in Malawi, Africa, which was named Malawi Data Science Bootcamp 2021 (MWData 2021). This event took place at Mzuzu University, Lilongwe ODeL Center in Lilongwe, Malawi, on October 25 - 29, 2021.
Diversity and Inclusion Activities in EGC - A 2022 Report
Authors: Amer-Yahia Sihem , Bonifati Angela , Favre Cecile , Fromont Elisa , Labroche Nicolas , Melancon Guy , Sedes Florence , Soulet Arnaud , Termier Alexandre
Published: June 2022

EGC ("Extraction et Gestion des Connaissances"1 in French) started in 2001 and is the reference conference for the french community in Knowledge Extraction and Management (equivalent to the French KDD).
Statistical Learning in Vision
Authors: Fiser József , Lengyel Gábor
Published: June 2022

Vision and learning have long been considered to be two areas of research linked only distantly. However, recent developments in vision research have changed the conceptual definition of vision from a signal-evaluating process to a goal-oriented interpreting process, and this shift binds learning, together with the resulting internal representations, intimately to vision. In this review, we consider various types of learning (perceptual, statistical, and rule/abstract) associated with vision in the past decades and argue that they represent differently specialized versions of the fundamental learning process, which must be captured in its entirety when applied to complex visual processes. We show why the generalized version of statistical learning can provide the appropriate setup for such a unified treatment of learning in vision, what computational framework best accommodates this kind of statistical learning, and what plausible neural scheme could feasibly implement this framework. Finally, we list the challenges that the field of statistical learning faces in fulfilling the promise of being the right vehicle for advancing our understanding of vision in its entirety.
Distinct responses between healthy and cirrhotic human livers upon lipopolysaccharide challenge: possible implications for acute-on-chronic liver failure
Authors: Suriguga Su , Li Mei , Luangmonkong Theerut , Boersema Miriam , de Jong Koert P. , Oosterhuis Dorenda , Gorter A. R. , Beljaars Leonie , Olinga Peter
Published: June 2022

Precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs) model provides a unique platform to investigate the different immune responses of healthy versus cirrhotic livers in humans. Our data show that cirrhotic PCLSs exhibit excessive inflammatory response accompanied by a lower anti-inflammatory cytokine release in response to LPS; a better understanding of this alteration may guide the novel therapeutic approaches to mitigate the excessive inflammation during the onset of acute-on-chronic liver failure.
A novel maladaptive unfolded protein response as a mechanism for small bowel resection-induced liver injury
Authors: Steinberger Allie E. , Tecos Maria E. , Phelps Hannah M. , Rubin Deborah C. , Davidson Nicholas O. , Guo Jun , Warner Brad W.
Published: June 2022

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a complex signaling cascade that converges upon C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP). Under conditions of chronic cellular stress, the UPR shifts from homeostatic to proapoptotic leading to inflammation and cell death. Here, we provide evidence that small bowel resection-induced liver injury and fibrosis are mediated by a maladaptive hepatic UPR. Low-fat diet, TUDCA treatment, and ileocecal resection rescued the hepatic phenotype and reversed the UPR pattern.
Baroreflex responses to limb venous distension in humans
Authors: Hamaoka Takuto , Leuenberger Urs A. , Blaha Cheryl , Luck Jonathan Carter , Sinoway Lawrence I. , Cui Jian
Published: June 2022

The venous distension reflex (VDR) is a pressor response evoked by peripheral venous distension and accompanied by increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). The effects of venous distension on the baroreflex, an important modulator of blood pressure (BP), have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the VDR on baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). We hypothesized that the VDR will increase the sympathetic BRS (SBRS). Beat-by-beat heart rate (HR), BP, and MSNA were recorded in 16 female and 19 male young healthy subjects. To induce venous distension, normal saline equivalent to 5% of the forearm volume was infused into the veins of the occluded forearm. SBRS was assessed from the relationship between diastolic BP and MSNA during spontaneous BP variations. Cardiovagal BRS (CBRS) was assessed with the sequence technique. Venous distension evoked significant increases in BP and MSNA. Compared with baseline, during the maximal VDR response period, SBRS was significantly increased (−3.1 ± 1.5 to −4.5 ± 1.6 bursts·100 heartbeats−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.01) and CBRS was significantly decreased (16.6 ± 5.4 to 13.8 ± 6.1 ms·mmHg−1, P < 0.01). No sex differences were observed in the effect of the VDR on SBRS or CBRS. These results indicate that in addition to its pressor effect, the VDR altered both SBRS and CBRS. We speculate that these changes in baroreflex function contribute to the modulation of MSNA and BP during limb venous distension.
Artificial Intelligence Algorithms in Ice and Snow Tourism Promotion from Digital Technology
Authors: Wu Di , Song Zhiliang , Guo Han
Published: June 2022

The present work is aimed at using the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to study the promotion and publicity of ice and snow tourism (IST). Firstly, the urgent needs of IST external publicity are analyzed based on digital technology. Besides, the dynamic vision sensor technology is used to collect data in the distributed Internet of Things structure of the IST publicity system. Then, the AlexNet algorithm is combined with the digital logic method. The research assumption is that the complete IST image based on AI can be formed according to the AlexNet algorithm. The improved AlexNet algorithm and Chi-square test implement the IST poster emotion recognition and IST publicity model. Then, the intelligent customer service of the IST publicity platform is studied. The results demonstrate that after 120 iterations, the accuracy of the sports-oriented publicity method based on AlexNet can reach about 75%. In addition, the accuracy of the recommended IST publicity algorithm based on AlexNet is close to 90% after 80 iterations. Therefore, the model’s accuracy is improved by at least 9.6% compared with the traditional method. The research has practical application value for the digital and intelligent development of the IST industry.
Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization and Nitrogen Fixing Endophytic Bacteria Supplementation on Soil Fertility, N Uptake, Growth, and Yield of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Cultivated on Alluvial Soil in Dykes
Authors: Thuc Le Vinh , Huu Tran Ngoc , Ngoc Trinh Minh , Hue Nguyen Hong , Quang Le Thanh , Xuan Do Thi , Nhan Tran Chi , Thanh Xuan Ly Ngoc , My Thu Le Thi , Akagi Isao , Sakagami Jun-Ichi , Khuong Nguyen Quoc
Published: June 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the proper combination of nitrogen (N) fertilizer level and nitrogen fixing endophytic bacteria (NFEB) supplementation for the maximum grain yield of sesame cultivated in alluvial soil in dykes. The experiment followed a completely randomized block design with two factors. The first one was the levels of N fertilizer used, including 0, 50, 75, and 100% N of recommended fertilizer formula (RFF), and the other consisted of no bacteria applied, an individual strain of Enterobacter cloacae ASD-48 or E. cloacae ASD-21 applied, and their mixture, with 5 replicates. The results revealed that fertilizing with 100% N of RFF led to an enhancement of the plant height (16.8 cm), the chlorophyll a and b and their total content (6.45, 1.86, and 8.30 μg mL−1), the number of capsules per plant (7.22 capsules plant−1), the total N uptake (126.5 mg N pot−1), and the grain yield (9.08 g pot−1), in comparison to no N fertilizer applied. Supplementation of two NFRB strains enhanced the soilconcentrations of NH4+ and NO3−, the total N uptake, and the grain yield. The treatment fertilized with 75% N of RFF plus an individual NFEB strain or their bacterial mixture had equivalent total N uptake to that the treatment fertilized with 100% N of RFF had, 120.8–125.5 mg N pot−1 compared to 124.4 mg N pot−1. Regarding the sesame yield, with a reduction by 25–50% N of RFF plus ASD-48 and ASD-21, either individually or in mixture, it increased by 2.39–8.56%, compared to that in the treatment fertilized with 100% N of RFF.
Analysis of the Influence of Fault Fracture Zone on Mining Response Based on FDM-DEM Coupling
Authors: Xu Cao , Xiaoshan Cao , Tielin Han , Yan Ru
Published: June 2022

Fault slip will cause a change in mining stress at the longwall face, which will cause adverse effects. In this study, on the basis of Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions (FLAC3D) and Particle Flow Code in 3 Dimensions (PFC3D), the sliding of the fault fracture zone and its impact on the longwall working face were analyzed. The rock mass of the fault fracture zone with a certain thickness was constructed using rigid random model particles. The coupling between the wall element of PFC3D and the zone element of the continuous medium in the software was used to realize the transmission of force and displacement, and the interaction between the fault fracture zone and the working face was studied. The influence of the slip of different fault zone positions on the fault and working face was also explored using the method of externally disturbing the fracture zone of the fault. The numerical results showed that as the distance between the fault and the working face continued to decrease, the peak stress concentration in front of the longwall face first increased, then decreased, and gradually shifted to the vicinity of the fault zone. The stress mutation and fault slip occurred within a certain distance of the longwall face from the fault. When fault slip activation begins, the stress near the fault zone showed a sudden change of varying degrees with the advancement of the longwall face. This sudden change was caused by the influence of mining activities from the activation distance of the rock in the fault fracture zone and the rolling extrusion of the rock mass in the fracture zone. When the fault zone closer to the working face was disturbed, the influence on the fault zone and longwall face was greater. When the fault zone near the coal seam was disturbed, the rock mass and working face near the fault zone brought different degrees of dynamic responses, which were mostly instantaneous and had high frequency and amplitude. The results of this research could help in the mining of longwall mining affected by fault zones and have a certain guiding role in coal mining before crossing faults.
Experimental and Numerical Research of Paved Microcrack Using Histogram Equalization for Detection and Segmentation
Authors: Ullah Asad , Sun Zhaoyun , Elahi Hassan , Afzal Farkhanda , Khatoon Amna , Sayed Nasir , Ahmad Ishfaq
Published: June 2022

The paved cracks are one of the major concerns for scientists and engineers in road maintenance and damage evaluation study. Digital image processing applications have been applied in road surface inspection, classification, and decomposition of paved roads. This paper has tested and proposed the process to evaluate the road cracks and their possible solution as we know that the key issues for analysis are enhancement and segmentation of image along with edge detection to attain the promising results we have gained and discussed under the heading of simulations for the experimental and numerical of crack detection. Using MATLAB, we examine the various gray-level image using better techniques based on their computational capability. The method is based upon one of the histogram modification techniques, which is coupled with the segmentation method and the crack edge detection. At last, three feature methods are used, namely, Harris, MSERF, and SURF, to wind up our research.
Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy with Heminephrectomy for Urothelial Carcinoma of the Upper Renal Pelvis on the Left Side of the Horseshoe Kidney
Authors: Ikeda Taro , Matsumoto Kazunori , Hasegawa Go , Ikeda Yohei , Hara Noboru , Nishiyama Tsutomu
Published: June 2022

A 70-year-old male was diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma of the upper renal pelvis on the left side of the horseshoe kidney. Preoperative thin-slice contrast-enhanced CT with three-dimensional reconstruction of the images revealed that two arteries arising from the aorta supplied the left moiety of the horseshoe kidney. He underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal nephroureterectomy with heminephrectomy on the left side of the horseshoe kidney visualized by indocyanine green fluorescence system. The histopathological findings of the renal pelvic tumor revealed invasive urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation, high grade, and pT3.