bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness about FDA announcement on voluntary recall of ranitidine among physicians and pharmacists in and around Chennai, India: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Begam Rukaiah Fatma , Ravikumar Yamuna , Velmurugan Ramaiyan
Published: May 2021

Background

Ranitidine is a histamine-2 (H2) blocker, which decreases the amount of acid created by the stomach. In September 2019, the drug was recalled due to impurities N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Health Canada. NDMA is a carcinogen based on results from laboratory tests. The objective of the study is to assess the awareness among the physicians and pharmacists in and around Chennai about the ranitidine recall notification and its related issues. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out where a questionnaire was administered on 198 physicians and 113 pharmacists who were enrolled in the study. Awareness, knowledge, and issues related to recall notification were recorded from the participants.

Results

Results showed that only 75% of the study participants were aware of the notification and the issues related, with significantly more participants from the urban area compared with the rural area. When the notification was known by many, the reasons pertaining to the notification were not known.

Conclusion

Overall, the awareness assessed among physicians and pharmacists was not satisfactory. Physicians and pharmacists are the most responsible healthcare providers and to be updated with every notification on medication published by regulatory bodies.
Dictionary learning with convolutional structure for seismic data denoising and interpolation
Authors: Almadani Murad , Waheed Umair bin , Masood Mudassir , Chen Yangkang
Published: May 2021

Seismic data inevitably suffer from random noise and missing traces in field acquisition. This limits the use of seismic data for subsequent imaging or inversion applications. Recently, dictionary learning has gained remarkable success in seismic data denoising and interpolation. Variants of the patch-based learning technique, such as the K-singular value decomposition (K-SVD) algorithm, have been shown to improve denoising and interpolation performance compared with the analytic transform-based methods. However, patch-based learning algorithms work on overlapping patches of data and do not take the full data into account during reconstruction. In contrast, the data patches (convolutional sparse coding [CSC]) model treats signals globally and, therefore, has shown superior performance over patch-based methods in several image processing applications. As a consequence, we test use of the CSC model for seismic data denoising and interpolation. In particular, we use the local block coordinate descent (LoBCoD) algorithm to reconstruct missing traces and clean seismic data from noisy input. The denoising and interpolation performance of the LoBCoD algorithm has been compared with that of K-SVD and orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithms using synthetic and field data examples. We have used three quality measures to test the denoising accuracy: the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PS/N), the relative L2-norm of the error (RLNE), and the structural similarity index (SSIM). We find that LoBCoD performs better than K-SVD and OMP for all test cases in improving PS/N and SSIM and in reducing RLNE. These observations suggest a huge potential of the CSC model in seismic data denoising and interpolation applications.
A deep-learning method for latent space analysis of multiple seismic attributes
Authors: Wallet Bradley C. , Ha Thang N.
Published: May 2021

Seismic attributes are a well-established method for highlighting subtle features in seismic data to improve interpretability and suitability for quantitative analysis. Seismic attributes are an enabling technology in such areas as thin-bed analysis, geobody extraction, and seismic geomorphology. Seismic attributes are mathematical functions of the data that are designed to exploit geologic and/or geophysical principles to provide meaningful information about underlying processes. Seismic attributes often suffer from an “abundance of riches” because the high dimensionality of seismic attributes may cause great difficulty in accomplishing even simple tasks. Spectral decomposition, for instance, typically produces tens and sometimes hundreds of attributes. However, when it comes to visualization, for instance, we are limited to visualizing three or at most four attributes simultaneously. We have developed a deep-learning-based approach to latent space analysis. This method is superior to other methods in that it focuses upon capturing essential information rather than just focusing upon probability density functions or clusters. Our method provides a quantitative way to assess the fit of the latent space to the original data. We apply our method to a data set from Canterbury Basin, New Zealand. This data set contains a turbidite system, and it has been the subject of several other papers. We examine the goodness of fit of our model by comparing the input data to what can be reproduced, and we provide an interpretation based upon our method.
Outcome measures in forensic mental health services: A systematic review of instruments and qualitative evidence synthesis
Authors: Ryland Howard , Cook Jonathan , Yukhnenko Denis , Fitzpatrick Raymond , Fazel Seena
Published: May 2021

Background

Outcome measurement in forensic mental health services can support service improvement, research, and patient progress evaluation. This systematic review aims to identify instruments available for use as outcome measures in this field and assess the evidence for the most common instruments, specific to the forensic context, which cover multiple outcome domains.

Methods

Studies were identified by searching seven online databases. Additional searches were then performed for 10 selected instruments to identify additional information on their psychometric properties. Instrument manuals and gray literature was reviewed for information about instrument development and content validity. The quality of evidence for psychometric properties was summarized for each instrument based on the COnsensus-based Standards for health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) approach.

Results

A total of 435 different instruments or variants were identified. Psychometric information on the 10 selected instruments was extracted from 103 studies. All 10 instruments had a clinician reported component with only two having patient reported scales. Half of the instruments were primarily focused on risk. No instrument demonstrated adequate psychometric properties in all eight COSMIN categories assessed. Only one instrument, the Camberwell Assessment of Need: Forensic Version, had adequate evidence for its development and content validity. The most evidence was for construct validity, while none was identified for construct stability between groups.

Conclusions

Despite the large number of instruments potentially available, evidence for their use as outcome measures in forensic mental health services is limited. Future research and instrument development should involve patients and carers to ensure adequate content validity.
Cluster Headache and Other Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias
Authors: Nahas Stephanie J.
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) are relatively rare, but they represent a distinct set of syndromes that are important to recognize. Despite their unique features, TACs often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for several years, leading to unnecessary pain and suffering. A significant proportion of TAC presentations may have secondary causes.

RECENT FINDINGS

The underlying pathophysiology of TACs is likely rooted in hypothalamic dysfunction and derangements in the interplay of circuitry involving trigeminovascular, trigeminocervical, trigeminoautonomic, circadian, and nociceptive systems. Recent therapeutic advancements include a better understanding of how to use older therapies more effectively and the identification of new approaches.

TAC syndromes are rare but important to recognize because of their debilitating nature and greater likelihood for having potentially serious underlying causes. Although treatment options have remained somewhat limited, scientific inquiry is continually advancing our understanding of these syndromes and how best to manage them.
Diagnosing Secondary and Primary Headache Disorders
Authors: Dodick David W.
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article provides a systematic diagnostic approach to the patient with headache.

RECENT FINDINGS

The vast majority of patients presenting with headache in clinical practice have a primary headache disorder. The most common primary headache disorder in clinical practice is overwhelmingly migraine. Unfortunately, a substantial proportion of patients with migraine do not receive an accurate diagnosis. In addition, the clinical features of migraine overlap with secondary causes of headache, making a careful history and deliberative evaluation for warning symptoms or signs of a secondary headache disorder of paramount importance.

The approach to the patient with headache requires knowledge of the diagnostic criteria for primary headache disorders, recognition of the importance of a systematic evaluation for red flags associated with secondary headache disorders, and awareness of the pearls and pitfalls encountered in the diagnostic evaluation of a patient with headache.
Songbooks
Authors: Weisbard Eric
Published: May 2021

In Songbooks, critic and scholar Eric Weisbard offers a critical guide to books on American popular music from William Billings's 1770 New-England Psalm-Singer to Jay-Z's 2010 memoir Decoded. Drawing on his background editing the Village Voice music section, coediting the Journal of Popular Music Studies, and organizing the Pop Conference, Weisbard connects American music writing from memoirs, biographies, and song compilations to blues novels, magazine essays, and academic studies. The authors of these works are as diverse as the music itself: women, people of color, queer writers, self-educated scholars, poets, musicians, and elites discarding their social norms. Whether analyzing books on Louis Armstrong, the Beatles, and Madonna; the novels of Theodore Dreiser, Gayl Jones, and Jennifer Egan; or varying takes on blackface minstrelsy, Weisbard charts an alternative history of American music as told through its writing. As Weisbard demonstrates, the most enduring work pursues questions that linger across time period and genre—cultural studies in the form of notes on the fly, on sounds that never cease to change meaning.
The Neurologist as an Agent of Exercise Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Sandroff Brian M. , Richardson Emma V. , Motl Robert W.
Published: May 2021

This review hypothesizes that the neurologist represents the linchpin of exercise behavior change within comprehensive multiple sclerosis (MS) care settings. This is based on a series of recent articles that developed actionable practice models for accomplishing such behavior change through the neurologist as the primary agent. This provides tangible, next steps for exercise promotion in MS.
Baugeschichtliche Untersuchungen im Jahr 2005
Authors: Badrutt Conradin , Jaggi Bernard , Merki Matthias , Ritzmann Hans , Tramèr Stephan
Published: May 2021

In der vorliegenden Publikation werden in Text und Bild 18 Untersuchungen vorgestellt, einschliesslich der baugeschichtlichen Abklärungen am «Eptingerhof» (Rittergasse 12-16), die bereits im Jahr 2003/ 2004 abgeschlossen wurden.
Tätigkeitsbericht der Archäologischen Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt für das Jahr 2007
Authors: Lassau Guido
Published: May 2021

Der Tätigkeitsbericht des Kantonsarchäologen bietet einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Kennzahlen und die Arbeiten in den verschiedenen Abteilungen der Archäologischen Bodenforschung im Jahr 2007.
Ausgrabungen und Funde im Jahr 2009
Authors: Bargetzi Dagmar , Bernasconi Marco , Block Martin , Hagendorn Andrea , Hüglin Sophie , Leuzinger Urs , Matt Christoph , Rissanen Hannele , Schön Udo , Spichtig Norbert , Stegmüller Christian , Steiner Susan , Straumann Sven
Published: May 2021

Berichte zu den archäologischen Untersuchungen der Archäologischen Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt im Jahr 2009.
Leitungen erschliessen Geschichte
Authors: Bernasconi Marco , Hagendorn Andrea , Scholz Till
Published: May 2021

Seit 2007 wurde das gesamte Leitungsnetz auf dem Münsterhügel saniert und erweitert. Gleichzeitig wurden auch das Pflaster und die Strassenbeläge erneuert. Dies ermöglichte der Archäologischen Bodenforschung neue Einblicke in den Untergrund einer Fundstelle von nationaler Bedeutung, die in diesem Artikel überblicksartig vorgestellt werden.
Neue Erkenntnisse zur spätlatène- und frühkaiserzeitlichen Strasse auf dem Basler Münsterhügel
Authors: Hagendorn Andrea , Rentzel Philippe , Pümpin Christine , Lanzicher Andrea Francesco
Published: May 2021

Vom Frühjahr 2002 bis zum Frühjahr 2003 wurde in der Liegenschaft Münsterplatz 1+2 eine Grabung durchgeführt, bei der ein Teilstück der spätlatène- und frühkaiserzeitlichen Strasse, die auf den Münsterhügel führte, untersucht wurde. Dank der vorliegenden interdisziplinären Auswertung konnten insbesondere Fragen zur Datierung, zur Strassenbautechnik und zur Bedeutung der Strassen für die Entwicklung des Münsterhügels als Siedlungsplatz beantwortet werden.
The nexus between improved water supply and water-borne diseases in urban areas in Africa: a scoping review
Authors: Mutono Nyamai , Wright Jim A , Mutembei Henry , Muema Josphat , Thomas Mair L.H , Mutunga Mumbua , Thumbi Samuel Mwangi
Published: May 2021

Background: The sub-Saharan Africa has the fastest rate of urbanisation in the world. However, infrastructure growth in the region is slower than urbanisation rates, leading to inadequate provision and access to basic services such as piped safe drinking water. Lack of sufficient access to safe water has the potential to increase the burden of waterborne diseases among these urbanising populations. This scoping review assesses how the relationship between waterborne diseases and water sufficiency in Africa has been studied.

Methods: In April 2020, we searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar databases for studies of African cities that examined the effect of insufficient piped water supply on selected waterborne disease and syndromes (cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroneteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, rotavirus). Only studies conducted in cities that had more than half a million residents in 2014 were included.

Results: A total of 32 studies in 24 cities from 17 countries were included in the study. Most studies used case-control, cross-sectional individual or ecological level study designs. Proportion of the study population with access to piped water was the common water availability metrics measured while amounts consumed per capita or water interruptions were seldom used in assessing sufficient water supply. Diarrhea, cholera and typhoid were the major diseases or syndromes used to understand the association between health and water sufficiency in urban areas. There was weak correlation between the study designs used and the association with health outcomes and water sufficiency metrics. Very few studies looked at change in health outcomes and water sufficiency over time.

Conclusion: Surveillance of health outcomes and the trends in piped water quantity and mode of access should be prioritised in urban areas in Africa in order to implement interventions towards reducing the burden associated with waterborne diseases and syndromes.
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in preclinical research: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Carroll Pádraig , Dervan Adrian , Maher Anthony , McCarthy Ciarán , Woods Ian , Kavanagh Rachel , Beirne Cliff , Harte Geoff , O'Flynn Dónal , Murphy Paul , Quinlan John , Holton Alice , Casey Sarah , Moriarty Frank , Smith Éimear , O'Brien Fergal J. , Flood Michelle
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Patient and public involvement (PPI) aims to improve the quality, relevance, and appropriateness of research and ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of those affected by particular conditions to the greatest possible degree. The evidence base for the positive impact of PPI on clinical research continues to grow, but the role of PPI in preclinical research (an umbrella term encompassing ‘basic’, ‘fundamental’, ‘translational’ or ‘lab-based’ research) remains limited. As funding bodies and policymakers continue to increase emphasis on the relevance of PPI to preclinical research, it is timely to map the PPI literature to support preclinical researchers involving the public, patients, or other service users in their research. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review is to explore the literature on patient and public involvement in preclinical research from any discipline.

Methods: This scoping review will search the literature in Medline (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and OpenGrey.net to explore the application of PPI in preclinical research. This review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for scoping reviews. It will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Two reviewers will independently review articles for inclusion in the final review. Data extraction will be guided by the research questions. The PPI advisory panel will then collaboratively identify themes in the extracted data.

Discussion: This scoping review will provide a map of current evidence surrounding preclinical PPI, and identify the body of literature on this topic, which has not been comprehensively reviewed to date. Findings will inform ongoing work of the research team, support the work of other preclinical researchers aiming to include PPI in their own research, and identify knowledge and practice gaps. Areas for future research will be identified.
Basics of flexography
Authors: Moginov Rostislav , Nadirova Ekaterina , Dmitriev Yaroslav
Published: May 2021

The textbook deals with the theoretical and practical issues of flexographic printing technology. Much attention is paid to prepress and printing processes. Data on the adhesion of flexographic inks are presented, and theoretical and practical issues affecting the quality of printing are presented.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for teaching students of higher education institutions in the discipline " Flexographic printing technology "in the direction of bachelor's degree 29.03.03 and master's degree 29.04.03" Technology of printing and packaging production", can be used in practical work by specialists of printing enterprises and publishing organizations.
Administrative law
Authors: Mironov Anatoliy
Published: May 2021

The textbook deals with: the subject and method of administrative law; administrative-legal norms and relations; the ratio of public administration and executive power; administrative-legal status of citizens and organizations; civil service; forms and methods of public administration; administrative process; administrative-legal regimes; administrative-legal regulation of the organization of public administration in various fields of activity; responsibility for committing administrative offenses.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary vocational education of the latest generation and the program of the academic discipline "Administrative Law".
For students of secondary professional educational institutions studying in legal specialties, as well as for readers interested in the problems of administrative law.
Current trends in the development of international taxation
Authors: Pinskaya Milyausha , Milogolov Nikolay , Cagan-Mandzhieva Kermen , Loginova Tat'yana
Published: May 2021

The monograph is devoted to current trends in international taxation, aimed at developing a methodology for countering the erosion of the tax base, as well as practical issues of its application in modern Russia and abroad. The results of the BEPS Project initiated by the G20 member countries under the leadership of the OECD were evaluated. The analysis of the Russian rules for determining transfer prices for intangible assets in the light of the OECD recommendations issued under the BEPS Project is carried out. The article summarizes the legal approaches to countering the abuse of Double Taxation Agreements abroad and shows their development in Russia. The economic analysis of the scale and consequences of the erosion of the national tax base is made. An assessment of the potential fiscal and economic effects of the creation of special administrative regions in the Kaliningrad Region and Primorsky Krai was carried out. Recommendations on the strategy of the long-term tax policy of the Russian Federation in the field of international taxation have been developed.
It is addressed to economists, lawyers, managers, managers and specialists of federal government bodies, as well as teachers, postgraduates and students of economic and law universities and faculties, students of the professional development system.
Management of internal reserves to reduce the cost of engineering products
Authors: Sunteev Anton
Published: May 2021

The monograph presents current trends in the management of internal reserves to reduce the cost of production of machine-building enterprises. The approaches of various scientists to the interpretation of the concept of "enterprise reserve" are analyzed. The classification of the types of reserves of the enterprise is given and supplemented by the classification of the resources that form the reserve. Methodological support for the management of internal reserves for reducing the cost of industrial products and methods for identifying them are presented. A technology for studying the cost of production of machine-building enterprises is proposed. The analysis of the state and trends of development of machine-building enterprises of the Russian Federation is carried out and the key problems are identified. The practice of organizing the processes of managing internal reserves to reduce the cost of production at machine-building enterprises is presented. The factors of influence on the change in the cost of production are estimated using factor and correlation-regression analyses. A system for managing internal reserves for reducing the cost of production is formed and the stages and principles of its construction are given. A program of measures to manage internal reserves to reduce the cost of machine-building products and an algorithm for identifying them have been developed.
For students, researchers and practitioners.
Models of accounting objects
Authors: Cherneckaya Galina
Published: May 2021

The textbook provides an accessible overview of the theoretical foundations and general rules of accounting in terms of capital turnover. Explanations are built through the disclosure of the economic meaning of accounting procedures and the clear logic underlying them.
The author hopes that the unconventional, but very convincing logic will interest readers and make them look at accounting as a very fascinating and interesting subject, the study of which should not be approached with fear and confidence that it is still impossible to understand accounting. A large number of people who are forced to deal with accounting due to their profession or curricula that provide for this subject will be able to understand how accounting is interesting in itself as a science and is necessary in the practical activities of any specialist.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For accountants, auditors, economists, lawyers, as well as students of economic universities and faculties.
Radio engineering support of aircraft flights and aviation telecommunications
Authors: Kudryakov Sergey , Kul'chickiy Valeriy , Povarenkin Nikolay , Ponomarev Viktor , Rubcov Evgeniy , Sobolev Evgeniy
Published: May 2021

The training manual describes the basics of radio engineering support for flights, the organization of radio engineering support for flights, and the general characteristics of flight support equipment. Information is provided about drive radios, marker beacons, radio beacon landing systems, automatic direction finders, RSBN system, VOR and DME beacons, satellite navigation systems, as well as radar surveillance equipment. The basics of telecommunications, issues of aviation telecommunications, as well as information about the means of aviation telecommunications are presented. There are questions for self-control.
It is intended for students studying under the specialty program in the specialty 25.05.05 "Aircraft operation and air traffic management"; for students studying under the bachelor's program in the direction of training 25.03.04 "Airport operation and aircraft flight support", as well as for students studying under the master's program in the direction 25.04.04 "Airport Operation and aircraft flight support".
Human resource Development in the Digital Age: Strategic Challenges, Challenges, and Opportunities
Authors: Zabelina Ol'ga , Omel'chenko Irina , Mayorova Anna , Safonova Ekaterina
Published: May 2021

The monograph, based on the identification of trends and problems of changes in the demand and supply of skills, as well as the study of modern mechanisms of their formation and actualization, substantiates the priority areas of human resources development in the Russian Federation that meet the strategic challenges of the period of digital transformation of the labor sphere.
The authors identify and systematize current and future trends related to changes in the demand for professions and skills in the Russian and global labor markets. The directions of transformation of the demand for skills and professions in the conditions of digitalization of the economy, skills and professions of the future are determined. Quantitative and qualitative imbalances and trends in labor supply and demand in the Russian labor market are identified (based on statistical analysis of data from 2009-2019). The features and problems of supply and demand of professions/skills in the segments of the Russian labor market covered by Internet recruitment are identified (based on data from resume parsing and vacancies of Internet recruitment portals in 2018 and 2020). Methodological approaches to identifying widely-and poorly-demanded skills are proposed and tested during the competence analysis of labor supply and demand using Big Data technologies.the competence profile of the vacancies of the professional core and extra - skills. An innovative author's approach to assessing the potential of skills capitalization — a possible increase in the salary of an applicant due to the expansion of the set of skills that he has-is proposed and tested. The current policy directions of formation and improvement of skills of the population in the Russian Federation are identified and systematized. The strategic challenges of the period of digital transformation of the labor sphere facing the Russian Federation and the priority areas of human resources development that meet these challenges are identified.
The conclusions and recommendations can be used in the work of the Ministry of Labor of Russia, Rostrud, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the Ministry of Education of Russia, government authorities, employment services of the Russian regions, as well as organizations of the professional education system.
18 examples of mivar expert systems
Authors: Varlamov Oleg
Published: May 2021

Many years of research on mivar technologies of logical artificial intelligence have allowed us to create a new powerful, versatile and fast tool, which is called "multidimensional open gnoseological active net" — "multidimensional open gnoseological active net: MOGAN". This tool allows you to quickly and easily design algorithms and work with logical reasoning in the "If..., Then..." format, and it can be used to model cause-and-effect relationships in different subject areas and create knowledge bases of new-generation applied artificial intelligence systems and real-time mivar expert systems with "Big Knowledge". The reader, after studying this tutorial, you will be able to create mivar expert system with the help of CASMI Wi!Mi.
Designed for students, bachelors, masters and postgraduate students studying artificial intelligence methods, as well as for users, experts and specialists, creating a system of information processing and management, mivar models, expert systems, automated control systems, systems of decision support and Recommender systems.
Mivar databases and rules
Authors: Varlamov Oleg
Published: May 2021

The multidimensional open epistemological active network MOGAN is the basis for the transition to a qualitatively new level of creating logical artificial intelligence. Mivar databases and rules became the foundation for the creation of MOGAN. The results of the analysis and generalization of data representation structures of various data models are presented: from relational to "Entity — Relationship" (ER-model). On the basis of this generalization, a new model of data and rules is created: the mivar information space "Thing-Property-Relation". The logic-computational processing of data in this new model of data and rules is shown, which has linear computational complexity relative to the number of rules. MOGAN is a development of Rule - Based Systems and allows you to quickly and easily design algorithms and work with logical reasoning in the "If..., Then..." format. An example of creating a mivar expert system for solving problems in the model area "Geometry"is given. Mivar databases and rules can be used to model cause-and-effect relationships in different subject areas and to create knowledge bases of new-generation applied artificial intelligence systems and real-time mivar expert systems with the transition to"Big Knowledge".
The textbook in the field of training "Computer Science and Computer Engineering" is intended for students, bachelors, undergraduates, postgraduates studying artificial intelligence methods used in information processing and management systems, as well as for users and specialists who create mivar knowledge models, expert systems, automated control systems and decision support systems.
Keywords: cybernetics, artificial intelligence, mivar, mivar networks, databases, data models, expert system, intelligent systems, multidimensional open epistemological active network, MOGAN, MIPRA, KESMI, Wi!Mi, Razumator, knowledge bases, knowledge graphs, knowledge networks, Big knowledge, products, logical inference, decision support systems, decision-making systems, autonomous robots, recommendation systems, universal knowledge tools, expert system designers, logical artificial intelligence.
Scaled PCA: A New Approach to Dimension Reduction
Authors: Huang Dashan , Jiang Fuwei , Li Kunpeng , Tong Guoshi , Zhou Guofu
Published: May 2021

This paper proposes a novel supervised learning technique for forecasting: scaled principal component analysis (sPCA). The sPCA improves the traditional principal component analysis (PCA) by scaling each predictor with its predictive slope on the target to be forecasted. Unlike the PCA that maximizes the common variation of the predictors, the sPCA assigns more weight to those predictors with stronger forecasting power. In a general factor framework, we show that, under some appropriate conditions on data, the sPCA forecast beats the PCA forecast, and when these conditions break down, extensive simulations indicate that the sPCA still has a large chance to outperform the PCA. A real data example on macroeconomic forecasting shows that the sPCA has better performance in general.

This paper was accepted by Kay Giesecke, Management Science Special Section on Data-Driven Prescriptive Analytics.
Sub-6 optical-cycle Kerr-lens mode-locked Tm:Lu2O3 and Tm:Sc2O3 combined gain media laser at 2.1 μm
Authors: Suzuki Anna , Kränkel Christian , Tokurakawa Masaki
Published: May 2021

We present a combined gain media Kerr-lens mode-locked laser based on a Tm:Lu2O3 ceramic and a Tm:Sc2O3 single crystal. Pulses as short as 41 fs, corresponding to less than 6 optical cycles, were obtained with an average output power of 42 mW at a wavelength of 2.1 μm and a repetition rate of 93.3 MHz. Furthermore, a maximum average power of 316 mW with a pulse duration of 73 fs was achieved.
Room-temperature two-dimensional plasmonic crystal semiconductor lasers
Authors: Huang Kuan-Ying , Liu Yao-Lun , Wu Chu-Chun , Hsiao Bo-Jen , Shih Ce-Fang , Tsai Chia-Ming , Lin Gray , Lin Sheng-Di
Published: May 2021

Room-temperature plasmonic-crystal lasers have been demonstrated with a square-lattice gold nano-pillar arrays on top of InGaAs/GaAs quamtum wells on a GaAs substrate. The lasing wavelength is tunable in the range of 865–1001 nm by varying the lattice period. The lasers exhibit an extremely narrow linewidth and small divergence angle so could have great potential for various applications. An unexpected mirror cavity effect has been observed and investigated. The mirror-cavity lasers have a very low threshold and could be developed to realize electrically-driven plasmonic lasers.
Influence of wavefront types on movement artefacts in handheld laser speckle contrast perfusion imaging
Authors: Chizari Ata , Knop Tom , Tsong Wilson , Schwieters Sven , Steenbergen Wiendelt
Published: May 2021

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a non-invasive and affordable technique to visualize skin perfusion. Handheld use of the system facilitates measurements on various skin areas in a flexible manner. However, movement artefacts caused by handheld operation or test subject movements hamper its performance. In this work, we study the influence of the laser beam type in handheld-LSCI by evaluating the speckle contrast on static objects for beams with planar, spherical or scrambled wavefronts, and for movement artefacts caused by tilting or translation of wavefronts. We show that the scrambled waves made by often-used engineered diffusers lead to significantly larger movement artefacts than planar or spherical waves.
Targeted modification of the Per2 clock gene alters circadian function in mPer2luciferase (mPer2Luc) mice
Authors: Ralph Martin R. , Shi Shu-qun , Johnson Carl H. , Houdek Pavel , Shrestha Tenjin C. , Crosby Priya , O’Neill John S. , Sládek Martin , Stinchcombe Adam R. , Sumová Alena
Published: May 2021

Modification of the Per2 clock gene in mPer2Luc reporter mice significantly alters circadian function. Behavioral period in constant dark is lengthened, and dissociates into two distinct components in constant light. Rhythms exhibit increased bimodality, enhanced phase resetting to light pulses, and altered entrainment to scheduled feeding. Mechanistic mathematical modelling predicts that enhanced protein interactions with the modified mPER2 C-terminus, combined with differential clock regulation among SCN subregions, can account for effects on circadian behavior via increased Per2 transcript and protein stability. PER2::LUC produces greater suppression of CLOCK:BMAL1 E-box activity than PER2. mPer2Luc carries a 72 bp deletion in exon 23 of Per2, and retains a neomycin resistance cassette that affects rhythm amplitude but not period. The results show that mPer2Luc acts as a circadian clock mutation illustrating a need for detailed assessment of potential impacts of c-terminal tags in genetically modified animal models.
Adherence to COVID-19 policy measures: Behavioral insights from The Netherlands and Belgium
Authors: van den Broek-Altenburg Eline , Atherly Adam
Published: May 2021

Background

Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, countries have been mirroring each other’s policies to mitigate the spread of the virus. Whether current measures alone will lead to behavioral change such as social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a facemask is not well understood. The objective of this study is to better understand individual variation in behavioral responses to COVID-19 by exploring the influence of beliefs, motivations and policy measures on public health behaviors. We do so by comparing The Netherlands and Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium.

Methods and findings

Our final sample included 2,637 respondents from The Netherlands and 1,678 from Flanders. The data was nationally representative along three dimensions: age, gender, and household income in both countries. Our key outcome variables of interest were beliefs about policy effectiveness; stated reasons for complying with public rules; and changes in behavior. For control variables, we included a number of measures of how severe the respondent believed Covid-19 to be and a number of negative side effects that the person may have experienced: loneliness, boredom, anxiety, and conflicts with friends and neighbors. Finally, we controlled for socio-demographic factors: age, gender, income (categorical), education (categorical) and the presence of Covid-19 risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, allergies). The dependent variable for each of the estimation models is dichotomous, so we used Probit models to predict the probability of engaging in a given behavior.

We found that motivations, beliefs about the effectiveness of measures, and pre-pandemic behavior play an important role. The Dutch were more likely to wash their hands than the Flemish (15.4%, p<0.01), visit family (15.5%, p < .01), run errands (12.0%, p<0.05) or go to large closed spaces such as a shopping mall (21.2%, p<0.01). The Dutch were significantly less likely to wear a mask (87.6%, p<0.01). We also found that beliefs about the virus, psychological effects of the virus, as well as pre-pandemic behavior play a role in adherence to recommendations.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that policymakers should consider behavioral motivations specific to their country in their COVID-19 strategies. In addition, the belief that a policy is effective significantly increased the probability of the behavior, so policy measures should be accompanied by public health campaigns to increase adherence.
A systematic review to identify research priority setting in Black and minority ethnic health and evaluate their processes
Authors: Iqbal Halima , West Jane , Haith-Cooper Melanie , McEachan Rosemary R. C.
Published: May 2021

Background

Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities suffer from disproportionately poorer health than the general population. This issue has been recently exemplified by the large numbers of infection rates and deaths caused by covid-19 in BAME populations. Future research has the potential to improve health outcomes for these groups. High quality research priority setting is crucial to effectively consider the needs of the most vulnerable groups of the population.

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review is to identify existing research priority studies conducted for BAME health and to determine the extent to which they followed good practice principles for research priority setting.

Method

Included studies were identified by searching Medline, Cinnahl, PsychINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, as well as searches in grey literature. Search terms included “research priority setting”, “research prioritisation”, “research agenda”, “Black and minority ethnic”, “ethnic group”. Studies were included if they identified or elicited research priorities for BAME health and if they outlined a process of conducting a research prioritisation exercise. A checklist of Nine Common Themes of Good Practice in research priority setting was used as a methodological framework to evaluate the research priority processes of each study.

Results

Out of 1514 citations initially obtained, 17 studies were included in the final synthesis. Topic areas for their research prioritisation exercise included suicide prevention, knee surgery, mental health, preterm birth, and child obesity. Public and patient involvement was included in eleven studies. Methods of research prioritisation included workshops, Delphi techniques, surveys, focus groups and interviews. The quality of empirical evidence was diverse. None of the exercises followed all good practice principles as outlined in the checklist. Areas that were lacking in particular were: the lack of a comprehensive approach to guide the process; limited use of criteria to guide discussion around priorities; unequal or no representation from ethnic minorities, and poor evaluation of their own processes.

Conclusions

Research priority setting practices were found to mostly not follow good practice guidelines which aim to ensure rigour in priority setting activities and support the inclusion of BAME communities in establishing the research agenda. Research is unlikely to deliver useful findings that can support relevant research and positive change for BAME communities unless they fulfil areas of good practice such as inclusivity of key stakeholders’ input, planning for implementation of identified priorities, criteria for deciding on priorities, and evaluation of their processes in research priority setting.
Research policies and scientific production: A study of 94 Peruvian universities
Authors: Millones-Gómez Pablo Alejandro , Yangali-Vicente Judith Soledad , Arispe-Alburqueque Claudia Milagros , Rivera-Lozada Oriana , Calla-Vásquez Kriss Melody , Calla-Poma Roger Damaso , Requena-Mendizábal Margarita Fe , Minchón-Medina Carlos Alberto
Published: May 2021

Studies of research policies and scientific production are essential for strengthening educational systems and achieving objectives such as quality improvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of research policies on the scientific production of public and private Peruvian universities. An observational, descriptive, secondary analysis study of the research policies of 92 universities and two graduate schools licensed by the National Superintendence of Higher Education of Peru (SUNEDU) was conducted for the period from 2016–2020. Scientific publications from educational institutions were collected from Scopus and Web of Science for the study period, and researchers certified by the National Council of Science and Technology of Peru (CONCYTEC) were divided by group and level. Multiple regression analysis was performed using two models. The analysis indicated that research policies did not influence scientific production in Scopus or Web of Science in either 2019 or 2020 (Model I) but that type of management (p < 0.01), number of National Scientific, Technological, and Technological Innovation Registry (RENACYT) researchers (p < 0.001) and 2016 scientific production (p < 0.001) did influence production when these variables were incorporated into the model (Model II). However, time of licensing and management type had no effects. The number of research policies implemented by Peruvian universities and licensed graduate schools was not large. Therefore, it is recommended that project funding policies, research training, and research collaboration be strengthened and that the management capacity of research centers and institutes be increased.
Smell compounds classification using UMAP to increase knowledge of odors and molecular structures linkages
Authors: Rugard Marylène , Jaylet Thomas , Taboureau Olivier , Tromelin Anne , Audouze Karine
Published: May 2021

This study aims to highlight the relationships between the structure of smell compounds and their odors. For this purpose, heterogeneous data sources were screened, and 6038 odorant compounds and their known associated odors (162 odor notes) were compiled, each individual molecule being represented with a set of 1024 structural fingerprint. Several dimensional reduction techniques (PCA, MDS, t-SNE and UMAP) with two clustering methods (k-means and agglomerative hierarchical clustering AHC) were assessed based on the calculated fingerprints. The combination of UMAP with k-means and AHC methods allowed to obtain a good representativeness of odors by clusters, as well as the best visualization of the proximity of odorants on the basis of their molecular structures. The presence or absence of molecular substructures has been calculated on odorant in order to link chemical groups to odors. The results of this analysis bring out some associations for both the odor notes and the chemical structures of the molecules such as “woody” and “spicy” notes with allylic and bicyclic structures, “balsamic” notes with unsaturated rings, both “sulfurous” and “citrus” with aldehydes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, amines and sulfur compounds, and “oily”, “fatty” and “fruity” characterized by esters and with long carbon chains. Overall, the use of UMAP associated to clustering is a promising method to suggest hypotheses on the odorant structure-odor relationships.
Validation of a multiplex flow immunoassay for detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in dried blood spots
Authors: Turgeon Coleman T. , Sanders Karen A. , Rinaldo Piero , Granger Dane , Hilgart Heather , Matern Dietrich , Theel Elitza S.
Published: May 2021

Background

Dried blood spots (DBS) are an established specimen type for clinical testing given their low cost, ease of collection and storage, and convenient shipping capabilities through the postal system. These attributes are complementary to the expansion of SARS-CoV-2 serologic testing, which may be used to inform community seroprevalence rates.

Methods

The Luminex xMAP SARS-CoV-2 Multi-Antigen assay utilizes magnetic beads labeled with three viral antigens (nucleocapsid [NC], receptor binding domain [RBD], spike S1 subunit) to detect anti-viral IgG-class antibodies, and has Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in serum and plasma. This assay was modified for use with DBS and validated against paired sera tested by one of two reference assays: the Roche Diagnostics Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 ECLIA or the Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA.

Results

159 paired DBS and serum specimens analyzed using the modified Luminex xMAP assay on DBS and the reference methods on serum showed an overall concordance of 96.9% (154/159). Use of multivariate pattern recognition software (CLIR) for post-analytical interpretation of the Luminex xMAP DBS assay results, instead of manufacturer provided interpretive thresholds, increased overall qualitative result concordance to 99.4% (158/159) between the modified Luminex xMAP DBS and reference results.

Conclusions

Use of DBS for detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 provides comparable results to those obtained using serum. DBS concordance was improved with multivariate pattern recognition software (CLIR). We demonstrate that DBS are a reliable specimen type for SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection using the modified Luminex xMAP assay.
Der weltweite Emissionshandel ist im Aufwind
Authors: Kellner Kai , Kardish Christopher
Published: May 2021

Die International Carbon Action Partnership bringt Regierungen und Behörden aus der ganzen Welt zusammen, um die Ausgestaltung des globalen Emissionshandels zu diskutieren. Während der Pandemie sind nicht nur die gehandelten Emissionen gestiegen, sondern es zeigte sich auch die Widerstandsfähigkeit des Handelssystems gegenüber Covid-19.
Europäische Plattform für die Kreislaufwirtschaft
Authors: Bahn-Walkowiak Bettina , Koop Carina , Wilts Henning
Published: May 2021

Durch vielfältige Innovationen und technologische Errungenschaften wird die Kreislaufwirtschaft stetig weiterentwickelt. Gleichzeitig existieren viele Unsicherheiten und Risiken im Hinblick auf die langfristigen Wirkungen dieser neuen Technologien. Zudem tragen viele Innovationen aufgrund von Rebound-Effekten zweifellos immer noch zur Beschleunigung des Ressourcenverbrauchs und der Verschwendung bei.
Bioökonomie als Treiber für Innovation und nachhaltiges Wirtschaften
Authors: Fröhling Benjamin
Published: May 2021

Bioökonomische Ansätze sparen den Unternehmen Kosten und ebnen den Weg für den eigenen Beitrag zu einer nachhaltigen Kreislaufwirtschaft. Wie kann Bioökonomie als aktueller und  attraktiver Innovationstreiber für zukunftsorientierte Unternehmen genutzt werden?