bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invariance as a basis for necessity and laws
Authors: Sher Gila
Published: May 2021

Many philosophers are baffled by necessity. Humeans, in particular, are deeply disturbed by the idea of necessary laws of nature. In this paper I offer a systematic yet down to earth explanation of necessity and laws in terms of invariance. The type of invariance I employ for this purpose generalizes an invariance used in meta-logic. The main idea is that properties and relations in general have certain degrees of invariance, and some properties/relations have a stronger degree of invariance than others. The degrees of invariance of highly-invariant properties are associated with high degrees of necessity of laws governing/describing these properties, and this explains the necessity of such laws both in logic and in science. This non-mysterious explanation has rich ramifications for both fields, including the formality of logic and mathematics, the apparent conflict between the contingency of science and the necessity of its laws, the difference between logical-mathematical, physical, and biological laws/principles, the abstract character of laws, the applicability of logic and mathematics to science, scientific realism, and logical-mathematical realism.
Examining the contribution of RAN components to reading fluency, reading comprehension, and spelling in German
Authors: Huschka Sina S. , Georgiou George K. , Brandenburg Janin , Ehm Jan-Henning , Hasselhorn Marcus
Published: May 2021

We examined the contribution of rapid automatized naming (RAN) components (articulation time, pause time, and pause time consistency) to reading fluency, reading comprehension, and spelling in a sample of 257 German children (139 boys, 118 girls; Mage = 5.60 years, SD = 0.31) followed from kindergarten to Grade 1. In kindergarten, children were assessed on measures of RAN (colors and objects), phonological awareness, letter-sound knowledge, phonological short-term memory, and paired-associate learning. Reading fluency, reading comprehension, and spelling were assessed at the end of Grade 1. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that pause time and pause time consistency continued to predict reading fluency, but not reading comprehension or spelling, after controlling for the effects of the other cognitive skills assessed in kindergarten. Articulation time did not add to the prediction of any literacy skills. These findings support previous research suggesting that, during the early phases of learning to read, pause time holds the key in the relation between RAN and reading fluency.
Volatility and the Cross-Section of Real Estate Equity Returns during Covid-19
Authors: Milcheva Stanimira
Published: May 2021

This paper uses the global systemic shock associated with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus Covid-19 to assess the risk-return relationship in the cross-section of real estate equities in the US and in selected Asian countries. I construct regional Covid-19 Risk Factors (CRFs) to assess how the risk exposure of stocks to the pandemic affects their performance. I find substantial differences between stocks in Asia and the US as a result of the pandemic. During the early stages of the pandemic, the sensitivity of Asian real estate companies to the market becomes negative, while it remains positive and increases in the US. Real estate sectors experience strong divergence in performance in the US while little sectoral difference is observed in Asia. The most affected sectors in the US are retail and hotels, while in Asia it is office. A Fama–MacBeth regression shows evidence for a low-risk effect during the Covid period: while insignificant prior to the pandemic, the return-risk relationship becomes significantly negative during the Covid period, with valuation effects driving the results in both regions. Firms in the US perform significantly worse if their exposure to the pandemic is higher, which is not the case in Asia. The results point towards strong divergence of expectations between US and Asian real estate companies in the onset of Covid-19, which may be associated with the level of prior experience to similar pandemics.
Seroepidemiology of Foot and Mouth Disease using passive surveillance techniques in selected provinces of Lao PDR
Authors: Siengsanan-Lamont Jarunee , Douangngeun Bounlom , Theppangna Watthana , Khounsy Syseng , Phommachanh Phouvong , Kamolsiripichaiporn Somjai , Udon Romphruke , Seeyo Kingkarn Boonsuya , Selleck Paul W. , Matsumoto Nina , Gleeson Laurence J. , Blacksell Stuart D.
Published: May 2021

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a high-impact, contagious transboundary animal disease that is endemic in Southeast Asia. Abattoir samples were routinely collected in six selected provinces between March and December 2019. A total of 1280 samples of abattoir animals were tested for FMD Non-Structural Protein (NSP) antibodies to indicate natural infections. Overall, 22.8% were seropositive for FMD NSP antibodies while seroprevalence of cattle (n = 469), buffalo (n = 214), and pigs (n = 597) were 44.6%, 35.0%, and 1.3%, respectively. The highest seroprevalence destination province was Xiengkhouang (35.3% of 272 samples), followed by Savannakhet (27.0% of 244 samples). Risk factors for evidence of natural infection identified by a multivariate logistic regression model included age groups (p-value = 0.02) and origin provinces (p-value = 2.8 × 10−5) of the animals. There were significant differences of FMD NSP seroprevalence between age groups and origin provinces of the animals. The odds ratio of a seropositive result in the less than 1 year old group was 2.5 (95% CI; 1.4, 4.4) when compared to the 3–4 years old group, while the odds ratios for animals that originated from Khammouane and Xiengkhouang provinces were 4.5 (95% CI; 1.1, 18.7) and 2.4 (95% CI; 1.4, 4.1), respectively, when compared to Champasak province. Serotype-specific antibody ELISA for 44 NSP antibody–positive samples revealed evidence of FMD serotypes O and A virus circulation in some provinces. Despite the passive abattoir survey providing useful information on FMD virus previous exposure and geographic locations of the animals, timely information on FMD virus circulation and distribution is also crucial to an effective control program. Alternative approaches to increase the cost-effectiveness of the surveillance network are also discussed.
The TaPaSCo Open-Source Toolflow
Authors: Heinz Carsten , Hofmann Jaco , Korinth Jens , Sommer Lukas , Weber Lukas , Koch Andreas
Published: May 2021

The integration of FPGA-based accelerators into a complete heterogeneous system is a challenging task faced by many researchers and engineers, especially now that FPGAs enjoy increasing popularity as implementation platforms for efficient, application-specific accelerators for domains such as signal processing, machine learning and intelligent storage. To lighten the burden of system integration from the developers of accelerators, the open-source TaPaSCo framework presented in this work provides an automated toolflow for the construction of heterogeneous many-core architectures from custom processing elements, and a simple, uniform programming interface to utilize spatially distributed, parallel computation on FPGAs. TaPaSCo aims to increase the scalability and portability of FPGA designs through automated design space exploration, greatly simplifying the scaling of hardware designs and facilitating iterative growth and portability across FPGA devices and families. This work describes TaPaSCo with its primary design abstractions and shows how TaPaSCo addresses portability and extensibility of FPGA hardware designs for systems-on-chip. A study of successful projects using TaPaSCo shows its versatility and can serve as inspiration and reference for future users, with more details on the usage of TaPaSCo presented in an in-depth case study and a short overview of the workflow.
SNP markers associated with resistance to frosty pod and black pod rot diseases in an F1 population of Theobroma cacao L.
Authors: Gutiérrez Osman A. , Puig Alina S. , Phillips-Mora Wilbert , Bailey Bryan A. , Ali Shahin S. , Mockaitis Keithanne , Schnell Raymond J. , Livingstone Donald , Mustiga Guiliana , Royaert Stefan , Motamayor Juan Carlos
Published: May 2021

Economically, cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) is a major tropical commodity for the Americas; however, severe losses due to Moniliophthora roreri (Cif. and Par.), which causes frosty pod rot (FPR), and Phytophthora spp., which causes black pod rot (BPR), have reduced cacao production in the Americas. The objectives of this study are to (i) re-confirm the QTL using different marker set; (ii) discover new QTL associated with FPR and BPR resistance using SNP markers; and (iii) find genes in the candidate QTL regions. At CATIE in Turrialba, Costa Rica, an F1 mapping population of cacao was obtained by crossing “POUND 7,” a clone moderately susceptible to FPR and resistant to BPR, with “UF 273,” resistant to FPR and highly susceptible to BPR. A total of 179 F1 progeny were fingerprinted with 5149 SNP markers and a dense linkage map composed of 10 linkage groups was developed using 2910 polymorphic SNP markers. Also segregating F1 trees were screened for resistance to FPR and BPR diseases. Seven QTL previously reported on chromosomes 2, 7, and 8 for FPR resistance and on chromosomes 4, 8, and 10 for BPR resistance were confirmed. Additionally, eight QTL were identified for FPR resistance (chromosomes 4, 9, and 10) and BPR resistance (chromosome 2). The expression of genes commonly associated with plant defense and disease resistance that are located within the identified QTL was confirmed.
Efficiency of sweet whey fermentation with psychrophilic methanogens
Authors: Dębowski Marcin , Korzeniewska Ewa , Kazimierowicz Joanna , Zieliński Marcin
Published: May 2021

Sweet whey is a waste product from the dairy industry that is difficult to manage. High hopes are fostered regarding its neutralization in the methane fermentation. An economically viable alternative to a typical mesophilic fermentation seems to be the process involving psychrophilic bacteria isolated from the natural environment. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of exploiting psychrophilic microorganisms in methane fermentation of sweet whey. The experiments were carried out under dynamic conditions using Bio Flo 310 type flow-through anaerobic bioreactors. The temperature inside the reactors was 10 ± 1 °C. The HRT was 20 days and the OLR was 0.2 g COD/dm3/day. The study yielded 132.7 ± 13.8 mL biogas/gCODremoved. The CH4 concentration in the biogas was 32.7 ± 1.6%, that of H2 was 8.7 ± 4.7%, whereas that of CO2 reached 58.42 ± 2.47%. Other gases were also determined, though in lower concentrations. The COD and BOD5 removal efficiency reached 21.4 ± 0.6% and 17.6 ± 1.0%, respectively.
Liefern Jugendliche valide Informationen zum Bildungsstand ihrer Eltern in standardisierten Erhebungen? Befunde zu Schülerinnen und Schülern der 9. Jahrgangsstufe in Deutschland
Authors: Hovestadt Till , Schneider Thorsten
Published: May 2021

Die Qualität der Angaben, die Jugendliche zu den Bildungsabschlüssen ihrer Eltern in einer standardisierten Befragung liefern, wird unter Heranziehung der kognitiven Theorie des Antwortverhaltens untersucht. Hierzu werden Daten des Nationalen Bildungspanels aus der 9. Jahrgangsstufe des Schuljahres 2009/10 mit multinomialen Logit-Modellen analysiert. Ungefähr jeder fünfte bzw. vierte Jugendliche liefert keine Angabe zum Abschluss der Mutter bzw. des Vaters, jeder vierte abweichende und nur jeder zweite übereinstimmende Angaben. Theoriekonform geht ein größerer Wortschatz mit weniger Fehl- und mehr konsistenten Angaben einher. Von Eltern im Ausland erworbene Abschlüsse sind entweder seltener kognitiv verankert oder können den vorgegebenen Antwortkategorien nicht zugeordnet werden. Entgegen theoretischer Annahmen und bisheriger Forschung sind Gewissenhaftigkeit und Diskussionen mit Eltern für die Qualität der Antworten unbedeutend. Vergleichende Auswertungen zu sozialen Ungleichheiten in Mathematikkompetenzen zeigen, dass diese statistisch und inhaltlich signifikant niedriger ausfallen, wenn anstelle der Selbstberichte von Eltern Proxy-Angaben der Jugendlichen verwendet werden.
Quantification of Myocardial Deformation Applying CMR-Feature-Tracking—All About the Left Ventricle?
Authors: Lange Torben , Schuster Andreas
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

Cardiac magnetic resonance-feature-tracking (CMR-FT)-based deformation analyses are key tools of cardiovascular imaging and applications in heart failure (HF) diagnostics are expanding. In this review, we outline the current range of application with diagnostic and prognostic implications and provide perspectives on future trends of this technique.

Recent Findings

By applying CMR-FT in different cardiovascular diseases, increasing evidence proves CMR-FT-derived parameters as powerful diagnostic and prognostic imaging biomarkers within the HF continuum partly outperforming traditional clinical values like left ventricular ejection fraction. Importantly, HF diagnostics and deformation analyses by CMR-FT are feasible far beyond sole left ventricular performance evaluation underlining the holistic nature and accuracy of this imaging approach.

As an established and continuously evolving technique with strong prognostic implications, CMR-FT deformation analyses enable comprehensive cardiac performance quantification of all cardiac chambers.
Sorting Out Sorting Nexins Functions in the Nervous System in Health and Disease
Authors: Vieira Neide , Rito Teresa , Correia-Neves Margarida , Sousa Nuno
Published: May 2021

Endocytosis is a fundamental process that controls protein/lipid composition of the plasma membrane, thereby shaping cellular metabolism, sensing, adhesion, signaling, and nutrient uptake. Endocytosis is essential for the cell to adapt to its surrounding environment, and a tight regulation of the endocytic mechanisms is required to maintain cell function and survival. This is particularly significant in the central nervous system (CNS), where composition of neuronal cell surface is crucial for synaptic functioning. In fact, distinct pathologies of the CNS are tightly linked to abnormal endolysosomal function, and several genome wide association analysis (GWAS) and biochemical studies have identified intracellular trafficking regulators as genetic risk factors for such pathologies. The sorting nexins (SNXs) are a family of proteins involved in protein trafficking regulation and signaling. SNXs dysregulation occurs in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Down’s syndrome (DS), schizophrenia, ataxia and epilepsy, among others, establishing clear roles for this protein family in pathology. Interestingly, restoration of SNXs levels has been shown to trigger synaptic plasticity recovery in a DS mouse model. This review encompasses an historical and evolutionary overview of SNXs protein family, focusing on its organization, phyla conservation, and evolution throughout the development of the nervous system during speciation. We will also survey SNXs molecular interactions and highlight how defects on SNXs underlie distinct pathologies of the CNS. Ultimately, we discuss possible strategies of intervention, surveying how our knowledge about the fundamental processes regulated by SNXs can be applied to the identification of novel therapeutic avenues for SNXs-related disorders.
Surgical Approaches in Odontogenic Orbital Cellulitis (OOC): Our Experience and Review of Literature
Authors: Antonio Romano , Stefania Troise , Umberto Committeri , Antonio Arena , Dell’Aversana Orabona Giovanni , Francesco Seidita , Paola Bonavolontà , Giorgio Iaconetta , Lugi Califano
Published: May 2021

Aims Odontogenic orbital cellulitis represents a complication of root infections of upper pre-molars and molars. The severity depends on the orbital structure involved. The treatment is based on antibiotic therapy associated or not to surgery. Through the presentation of three cases and a review of literature, we purpose as aim of our study to underline the necessity of a timely diagnosis and to provide the correct surgical approach in each different types and stages of orbital infections. Methods We present three patients that were affected by dental infection evolved in orbital cellulitis. In two cases the disease was solved with the extraction of infected tooth and a surgical endoscopic drainage of the abscess through antrostomy of maxillary sinus. In the third patient the disease had already induced a bulbar perforation and endophthalmitis, so an orbit evisceration was necessary. Results Review of literature showed that the standard treatment of orbital cellulitis is the transnasal approach associated or not by a transoral and/or transcutaneous procedure depending on the stage of the disease and on the causes. In our 3 cases these indications were followed without relapses of the disease. Conclusion An early diagnosis is mandatory in odontogenic orbital cellulitis specially to avoid serious complications. Surgical treatment can be simple and effective mostly in early-stage infection: it is based on extraction of infected tooth and on the drainage of abscess. Surgical approach consists in transnasal procedure flanked or not by transoral and transcutaneous procedures based on the stage of the infection considering involved structures.
Acrolein Induces Systemic Coagulopathy via Autophagy-dependent Secretion of von Willebrand Factor in Mice after Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Cui Wenxing , Wu Xun , Feng Dayun , Luo Jianing , Shi Yingwu , Guo Wei , Liu Haixiao , Wang Qiang , Wang Liang , Ge Shunnan , Qu Yan
Published: May 2021

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced coagulopathy has increasingly been recognized as a significant risk factor for poor outcomes, but the pathogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the causal role of acrolein, a typical lipid peroxidation product, in TBI-induced coagulopathy, and further explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that the level of plasma acrolein in TBI patients suffering from coagulopathy was higher than that in those without coagulopathy. Using a controlled cortical impact mouse model, we demonstrated that the acrolein scavenger phenelzine prevented TBI-induced coagulopathy and recombinant ADAMTS-13 prevented acrolein-induced coagulopathy by cleaving von Willebrand factor (VWF). Our results showed that acrolein may contribute to an early hypercoagulable state after TBI by regulating VWF secretion. mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq) and transcriptome analysis indicated that acrolein over-activated autophagy, and subsequent experiments revealed that acrolein activated autophagy partly by regulating the Akt/mTOR pathway. In addition, we demonstrated that acrolein was produced in the perilesional cortex, affected endothelial cell integrity, and disrupted the blood-brain barrier. In conclusion, in this study we uncovered a novel pro-coagulant effect of acrolein that may contribute to TBI-induced coagulopathy and vascular leakage, providing an alternative therapeutic target.
Communication Models in Human–Robot Interaction: An Asymmetric MODel of ALterity in Human–Robot Interaction (AMODAL-HRI)
Authors: Frijns Helena Anna , Schürer Oliver , Koeszegi Sabine Theresia
Published: May 2021

We argue for an interdisciplinary approach that connects existing models and theories in Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) to traditions in communication theory. In this article, we review existing models of interpersonal communication and interaction models that have been applied and developed in the contexts of HRI and social robotics. We argue that often, symmetric models are proposed in which the human and robot agents are depicted as having similar ways of functioning (similar capabilities, components, processes). However, we argue that models of human–robot interaction or communication should be asymmetric instead. We propose an asymmetric interaction model called AMODAL-HRI (an Asymmetric MODel of ALterity in Human–Robot Interaction). This model is based on theory on joint action, common robot architectures and cognitive architectures, and Kincaid’s model of communication. On the basis of this model, we discuss key differences between humans and robots that influence human expectations regarding interacting with robots, and identify design implications.
Implementation of Self-Management Interventions in Cancer Survivors: Why Are We Not There Yet?
Authors: Rimmer Ben , Sharp Linda ,   on behalf of Ways Ahead study team
Published: May 2021

Despite the growing evidence base for supported self-management for the improvement of quality of life, there is a lack of widespread implementation of self-management interventions for cancer survivors. We propose five key areas that, if addressed, would optimise the development and evaluation of these interventions, namely: (1) improving intervention adaptability to different survivor populations; (2) establishing intervention acceptability (and feasibility); (3) ensuring systematic description of interventions, their content, and active ingredients; (4) conducting process evaluations; and (5) assessing cost-effectiveness. These areas are an essential prerequisite for translation of self-management interventions from research into routine cancer care.
A Bifunctional-Modulated Conformal Li/Mn-Rich Layered Cathode for Fast-Charging, High Volumetric Density and Durable Li-Ion Full Cells
Authors: Zhao Zedong , Sun Minqiang , Wu Tianqi , Zhang Jiajia , Wang Peng , Zhang Long , Yang Chongyang , Peng Chengxin , Lu Hongbin
Published: May 2021

Lithium- and manganese-rich (LMR) layered cathode materials hold the great promise in designing the next-generation high energy density lithium ion batteries. However, due to the severe surface phase transformation and structure collapse, stabilizing LMR to suppress capacity fade has been a critical challenge. Here, a bifunctional strategy that integrates the advantages of surface modification and structural design is proposed to address the above issues. A model compound Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 (MNC) with semi-hollow microsphere structure is synthesized, of which the surface is modified by surface-treated layer and graphene/carbon nanotube dual layers. The unique structure design enabled high tap density (2.1 g cm−3) and bidirectional ion diffusion pathways. The dual surface coatings covalent bonded with MNC via C-O-M linkage greatly improves charge transfer efficiency and mitigates electrode degradation. Owing to the synergistic effect, the obtained MNC cathode is highly conformal with durable structure integrity, exhibiting high volumetric energy density (2234 Wh L−1) and predominant capacitive behavior. The assembled full cell, with nanographite as the anode, reveals an energy density of 526.5 Wh kg−1, good rate performance (70.3% retention at 20 C) and long cycle life (1000 cycles). The strategy presented in this work may shed light on designing other high-performance energy devices.
Trajectories through temporal networks
Authors: Mattsson Carolina E. S. , Takes Frank W.
Published: May 2021

What do football passes and financial transactions have in common? Both are networked walk processes that we can observe, where records take the form of timestamped events that move something tangible from one node to another. Here we propose an approach to analyze this type of data that extracts the actual trajectories taken by the tangible items involved. The main advantage of analyzing the resulting trajectories compared to using, e.g., existing temporal network analysis techniques, is that sequential, temporal, and domain-specific aspects of the process are respected and retained. As a result, the approach lets us produce contextually-relevant insights. Demonstrating the usefulness of this technique, we consider passing play within association football matches (an unweighted process) and e-money transacted within a mobile money system (a weighted process). Proponents and providers of mobile money care to know how these systems are used—using trajectory extraction we find that 73% of e-money was used for stand-alone tasks and only 21.7% of account holders built up substantial savings at some point during a 6-month period. Coaches of football teams and sports analysts are interested in strategies of play that are advantageous. Trajectory extraction allows us to replicate classic results from sports science on data from the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Moreover, we are able to distinguish teams that consistently exhibited complex, multi-player dynamics of play during the 2017–2018 club season using ball passing trajectories, coincidentally identifying the winners of the five most competitive first-tier domestic leagues in Europe.
Intelligent warehouse monitoring based on distributed system and edge computing
Authors: Lin Sen , Huang Jianxin , Chen Wenzhou , Zhou Wenlong , Xu Jinhong , Liu Yong , Yao Jinqiang
Published: May 2021

This paper mainly focuses on the volume calculation of materials in the warehouse where sand and gravel materials are stored and monitored whether materials are lacking in real-time. Specifically, we proposed the sandpile model and the point cloud projection obtained from the LiDAR sensors to calculate the material volume. We use distributed edge computing modules to build a centralized system and transmit data remotely through a high-power wireless network, which solves sensor placement and data transmission in a complex warehouse environment. Our centralized system can also reduce worker participation in a harsh factorial environment. Furthermore, the point cloud data of the warehouse is colored to visualize the actual factorial environment. Our centralized system has been deployed in the real factorial environment and got a good performance.
Evaluation of dsRNA delivery methods for targeting macrophage migration inhibitory factor MIF in RNAi-based aphid control
Authors: Liu Shaoshuai , Ladera-Carmona Maria Jose , Poranen Minna M. , van Bel Aart J. E. , Kogel Karl-Heinz , Imani Jafargholi
Published: May 2021

Macrophage migration inhibitory factors (MIFs) are multifunctional proteins regulating major processes in mammals, including activation of innate immune responses. In invertebrates, MIF proteins participate in the modulation of host immune responses when secreted by parasitic organisms, such as aphids. In this study, we assessed the possibility to use MIF genes as targets for RNA interference (RNAi)-based control of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (Sa) on barley (Hordeum vulgare). When nymphs were fed on artificial diet containing double-stranded (ds)RNAs (SaMIF-dsRNAs) that target sequences of the three MIF genes SaMIF1, SaMIF2 and SaMIF3, they showed higher mortality rates and these rates correlated with reduced MIF transcript levels as compared to the aphids feeding on artificial diet containing a control dsRNA (GFP-dsRNA). Comparison of different feeding strategies showed that nymphs’ survival was not altered when they fed from barley seedlings sprayed with naked SaMIF-dsRNAs, suggesting they did not effectively take up dsRNA from the sieve tubes of these plants. Furthermore, aphids’ survival was also not affected when the nymphs fed on leaves supplied with dsRNA via basal cut ends of barley leaves. Consistent with this finding, the use of sieve tube-specific YFP-labeled Arabidopsis reporter lines confirmed that fluorescent 21 nt dsRNACy3, when supplied via petioles or spraying, co-localized with xylem structures, but not with phloem tissue. Our results suggest that MIF genes are a potential target for insect control and also imply that application of naked dsRNA to plants for aphid control is inefficient. More efforts should be put into the development of effective dsRNA formulations.
Depth perception in single rgb camera system using lens aperture and object size: a geometrical approach for depth estimation
Authors: Alphonse P. J. A. , Sriharsha K. V.
Published: May 2021

In recent years, with increase in concern about public safety and security, human movements or action sequences are highly valued when dealing with suspicious and criminal activities. In order to estimate the position and orientation related to human movements, depth information is needed. This is obtained by fusing data obtained from multiple cameras at different viewpoints. In practice, whenever occlusion occurs in a surveillance environment, there may be a pixel-to-pixel correspondence between two images captured from two cameras and, as a result, depth information may not be accurate. Moreover use of more than one camera exclusively adds burden to the surveillance infrastructure. In this study, we present a mathematical model for acquiring object depth information using single camera by capturing the in focused portion of an object from a single image. When camera is in-focus, with the reference to camera lens center, for a fixed focal length for each aperture setting, the object distance is varied. For each aperture reading, for the corresponding distance, the object distance (or depth) is estimated by relating the three parameters namely lens aperture radius, object distance and object size in image plane. The results show that the distance computed from the relationship approximates actual with a standard error estimate of 2.39 to 2.54, when tested on Nikon and Cannon versions with an accuracy of 98.1% at 95% confidence level.
A Canonical String Encoding for Pure Bigraphs
Authors: Grzelak Dominik , Aßmann Uwe
Published: May 2021

The bigraph theory, devised by Robin Milner, is a recent mathematical framework for concurrent processes. Its generality is able to subsume many existing process calculi, for example, CCS, CSP, and Petri nets. Further, it provides a uniform proof of bisimilarity, which is a congruence. We present the first canonical string encoding for pure and lean bigraphs by lifting the breadth-first canonical form of rooted unordered trees to a unique representation for bigraphs up to isomorphism (i.e., lean-support equivalence). The encoding’s applicability is limited to atomic alphabets. The time complexity is $$O(n^{2}k\, d \log {d})$$

O
(

n
2

k

d
log
d
)

, where n is the number of places, d the degree of the place graph and k the maximum arity of a bigraph’s signature. We provide proof of the correctness of our method and also conduct experimental measurements to assess the complexity.
Reconstruction in Women with T4 Breast Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: When Is It Safe?
Authors: Pawloski Kate R. , Barrio Andrea V. , Gemignani Mary L. , Sevilimedu Varadan , Le Tiana , Dayan Joseph , Morrow Monica , Tadros Audree B.
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND:

Despite limited evidence regarding its safety, immediate reconstruction (IR) is increasingly offered to women with T4 breast cancer. We compared outcomes after IR, delayed reconstruction (DR), and no reconstruction (NR) in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) for T4 disease.

STUDY DESIGN:

We retrospectively identified consecutive women with T4 tumors treated with trimodality therapy from January 2007 through December 2019. Clinicopathologic characteristics, complications requiring reoperation, time to PMRT, and recurrence patterns were compared. The cumulative incidence of local recurrence (LR) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods.

RESULTS:

Of the 269 women identified, the median (IQR) age was 52 (45–62) years; 164 women (61%) had T4d disease. Forty-five women (17%) had IR, 41 (15%) had DR, and 183 (68%) had NR. IR was independently associated with T4a-c disease (odds ratio [OR], 5.75; 95% CI, 2.57–12.87; p < 0.001) and younger age (OR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86–0.94; p < 0.001). The risk of complications after IR was 22% overall and 46% in T4d patients (6/13), compared with 4.4% overall for NR and 7.3% for DR (p < 0.001). IR was associated with >8-week interval to PMRT (p < 0.001). At a median (range) follow-up of 4.2 (0.2–13) years, the median time to first recurrence was 18 months and was similar between groups (p = 0.13). The cumulative incidence of LR was 16% for T4d disease and 2.2% for T4a-c disease (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

After IR, women with T4 tumors, particularly T4d disease, experienced delayed initiation of adjuvant treatment and substantial morbidity, suggesting that an interval of >18 months between mastectomy and reconstruction is advisable.
Mortality Rate of Patients With COVID-19 Based on Underlying Health Conditions
Authors: Choi Won-Young
Published: May 2021

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mortality rates of 566,602 patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) based on sex, age, and the presence or absence of underlying diseases and determine whether the underlying disease provides prognostic information specifically related to death.

Methods:

The mortality rate was evaluated using conditional probability to identify the significant factors, and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) using a multivariable logistic regression analysis were estimated.

Results:

The mortality rate of patients with underlying health conditions was 12%, which was 4 times higher than that of patients without underlying health conditions. Furthermore, the mortality rates of women and men with underlying health conditions were 5.5 and 3.4 times higher than the mortality rates of patients without underlying health conditions, respectively. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis including sex, age, and underlying health conditions, male sex (OR: 1.83), age ≥ 41 y (ORs > 2.70), and underlying health conditions (OR: 2.20) were confirmed as risk factors for death.

Conclusions:

More attention should be paid to older patients with underlying diseases and male patients with underlying diseases as the probability of death in this population was significantly higher.
Holomorphic anomaly equation for and the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit of local
Authors: Bousseau Pierrick , Fan Honglu , Guo Shuai , Wu Longting
Published: May 2021

We prove a higher genus version of the genus$0$local-relative correspondence of van Garrel-Graber-Ruddat: for$(X,D)$a pair withXa smooth projective variety andDa nef smooth divisor, maximal contact Gromov-Witten theory of$(X,D)$with$\lambda _g$-insertion is related to Gromov-Witten theory of the total space of${\mathcal O}_X(-D)$and local Gromov-Witten theory ofD.

Specializing to$(X,D)=(S,E)$forSa del Pezzo surface or a rational elliptic surface andEa smooth anticanonical divisor, we show that maximal contact Gromov-Witten theory of$(S,E)$is determined by the Gromov-Witten theory of the Calabi-Yau 3-fold${\mathcal O}_S(-E)$and the stationary Gromov-Witten theory of the elliptic curveE.

Specializing further to$S={\mathbb P}^2$, we prove that higher genus generating series of maximal contact Gromov-Witten invariants of$({\mathbb P}^2,E)$are quasimodular and satisfy a holomorphic anomaly equation. The proof combines the quasimodularity results and the holomorphic anomaly equations previously known for local${\mathbb P}^2$and the elliptic curve.

Furthermore, using the connection between maximal contact Gromov-Witten invariants of$({\mathbb P}^2,E)$and Betti numbers of moduli spaces of semistable one-dimensional sheaves on${\mathbb P}^2$, we obtain a proof of the quasimodularity and holomorphic anomaly equation predicted in the physics literature for the refined topological string free energy of local${\mathbb P}^2$in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit.
Effect of a national policy of universal masking and uniform criteria for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure on hospital staff infection and quarantine
Authors: Temkin Elizabeth , Schwaber Mitchell J. , Vaturi Azza , Nadir Eyal , Zilber Rama , Barel Osnat , Pavlov Lidia , Carmeli Yehuda
Published: May 2021

Objective:

To determine the effect of 2 regulations issued by the Israel Ministry of Health on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections and quarantine among healthcare workers (HCWs) in general hospitals.

Design:

Before-and-after intervention study without a control group (interrupted time-series analysis).

Setting:

All 29 Israeli general hospitals.

Participants:

All HCWs.

Interventions:

Two national regulations were issued on March 25, 2020: one required universal masking of HCWs, patients, and visitors in general hospitals and the second defined what constitutes HCW exposure to severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and when quarantine is required.

Results:

Overall, 283 HCWs were infected at work or from an unknown source. Before the intervention, the number of HCWs infected at work increased by 0.5 per day (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2–0.7; P < .001), peaking at 16. After the intervention, new infections declined by 0.2 per day (95% CI, −0.3 to −0.1; P < .001). Before the intervention, the number of HCWs in quarantine or isolation increased by 97 per day (95% CI, 90–104; P < .001), peaking at 2,444. After the intervention, prevalence decreased by 59 per day (95% CI, −72 to −46; P < .001). Epidemiological investigations determined that the most common source of HCW infection (58%) was a coworker.

Conclusions:

Universal masking in general hospitals reduced the risk of hospital-acquired COVID-19 among HCWs. Universal masking combined with uniform definitions of HCW exposure and criteria for quarantine limited the absence of HCWs from the workforce.
Temperature and outgroup discrimination
Authors: Choi Donghyun Danny , Poertner Mathias , Sambanis Nicholas
Published: May 2021

High temperatures have been linked to aggression and different forms of conflict in humans. We consider whether exposure to heat waves increases discriminatory behavior toward outgroups. Using data from two large-scale field experiments in Germany, we find a direct causal effect of exposure to heat shocks on discrimination in helping behavior. As temperature rises, German natives faced with a choice to provide help to strangers in every-day interactions help Muslim immigrants less than they do other German natives, while help rates toward natives are unaffected by temperature. This finding suggests that there may be a physiological basis for discriminatory behavior toward outgroups.
Scratching the discs: evaluating alternative hypotheses for the origin of the Ediacaran discoidal structures from the Cerro Negro Formation, La Providencia Group, Argentina
Authors: Inglez Lucas , Warren Lucas V. , Quaglio Fernanda , Netto Renata G. , Okubo Juliana , Arrouy Maria J. , Simões Marcello G. , Poiré Daniel G.
Published: May 2021

In the Ediacaran marine succession of the Cerro Negro Formation (Tandilia System, NE Argentina), abundant microbially induced sedimentary structures indicate general conditions of substrate biostabilization. Numerous discoidal structures in this succession were previously interpreted as moulds of soft-tissue holdfasts of sessile organisms, within the form genus Aspidella. In this study, we performed a detailed re-analysis of some of these features and discuss two alternative hypotheses to explain their genesis: (1) as the result of soft-sediment deformation and fluid injection structures; and (2) as structures of active animal–sediment interaction (i.e. trace fossils). We show that the dome-shaped discs are internally laminated, with a cylindrical to a funnel-shaped vertical tube at their central region. The presence of these downwards vertical extensions and other intricate internal arrangements cannot be explained under the taphonomic spectrum of discoidal fossils, but shows striking similarities to Intrites-like structures and other sand-volcano-like pseudofossils (e.g. Astropolithon). However, some structures are hard to distinguish from vertical dwelling burrows with funnel-shaped apertures and thick-lined walls, commonly produced by suspension- and detritus-feeding invertebrates (e.g. Skolithos isp., Monocraterion isp. and, less likely, Rosselia isp.). Since reliable age constraints are unavailable, and further investigation concerning other palaeobiological indicators is needed, the most parsimonious hypothesis is that of a structure derived from fluid-escape processes. Our study demonstrates the importance of detailed investigation on discoidal structures in either upper Ediacaran or lower Cambrian strata.
Nonlinear electromagnetic interplay between fast ions and ion-temperature-gradient plasma turbulence
Authors: Di Siena A. , Görler T. , Poli E. , Bañón Navarro A. , Biancalani A. , Bilato R. , Bonanomi N. , Novikau I. , Vannini F. , Jenko F.
Published: May 2021

In strong electromagnetic regimes, gyrokinetic simulations have linked a substantial ion-scale turbulence stabilization to the presence of supra-thermal particles, capturing qualitatively well the experimental observations in different devices worldwide. An explanation for the underlying physical mechanism responsible for the fast-ion-induced turbulent transport reduction observed in the numerical simulations has been proposed only recently by Di Sienaet al.(Nucl. Fusion, vol. 59, 2019, p. 124001;Nucl. Fusion, vol. 60, 2020, p. 089501). It involves a nonlinear cross-scale coupling (nonlinear interaction involving different modes at different wavenumbers) between ion-temperature-gradient and marginally stable Alfvén eigenmodes, which in turn increases zonal flow activity. In view of an optimization of this turbulence-stabilizing effect, the key parameters controlling the nonlinear cross-scale coupling are here identified. At the same time, these findings provide useful insights for reduced-turbulence models and integrative approaches, which might be trained on the results presented in this paper to grasp the underlying physics and the parameter scaling of the beneficial effects of fast particles on plasma turbulence.
Myelin regulatory factor deficiency is associated with the retinal photoreceptor defects in mice
Authors: Yu Xiaowei , Sun Nannan , Yang Xue , Zhao Zhenni , Zhang Jiamin , Zhang Miao , Zhang Dandan , Ge Jian , Fan Zhigang
Published: May 2021

Previously, we reported the myelin regulatory factor (MYRF) as a candidate gene for nanophthalmos. We have also produced Myrf knockdown (Myrf+/−) mouse strain to investigate the cellular and molecular phenotypes of reduced MYRF expression in the retina. Myrf+/− mouse strain was generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Optomotor response system, electroretinogram (ERG), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), histology, and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate retinal spatial vision, electrophysiological function, retinal thickness, and pathological changes in cone or rod photoreceptors, respectively. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism linking Myrf deficiency with photoreceptor defects. The genotype and phenotype of CRISPR/Cas9-induced Myrf+/− mice and their offspring were comprehensively investigated. Photoreceptor defects were detected in the retinas of Myrf+/− mice. Visual acuity and ERG responses were decreased in Myrf+/− mice compared with the control mice (Myrf+/+). The loss of cone and rod neurons was proportional to the decreased outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness. Moreover, RNA-seq revealed that phototransduction and estrogen signaling pathways played important roles in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Myrf+/− mouse strain provides a good model to investigate the function of the MYRF gene. Photoreceptor defects with impaired functions of spatial vision and retinal electrophysiology indicate an important role played by MYRF in retinal development. Alterations in phototransduction and estrogen signaling pathways play important roles in linking Myrf deficiency with retinal photoreceptor defects.
Real-world effectiveness of long-acting injectable antipsychotics to reduce 90-day and annual readmission in psychotic disorders: insights from a state psychiatric hospital
Authors: Patel Rikinkumar S. , Tankersley William E.
Published: May 2021

Background

To evaluate the effectiveness of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI-a) in reducing the 90-day and annual readmission rates in schizophrenia inpatients.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study and included 180 adult patients with psychotic disorders discharged from 2018 to 2019 at a state psychiatric hospital. Descriptive statistics were used to measure the differences between the readmit and nonreadmit cohorts. Logistic regression model was used to measure the odds ratio (OR) for 90-day and annual readmission and was controlled for potential readmission risk factors.

Results

A lower proportion of patients receiving LAI-a were readmitted within 90-day (28.6%) and 1-year (32.4%) periods. Patients receiving LAI-a had lower odds of association for 90-day (OR 0.36, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.139-0.921) and annual (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.131-0.954) readmissions compared to those discharged on oral antipsychotics. A higher proportion of inpatients who received fluphenazine LAI had 90-day (25%) and annual (18.2%) readmissions compared to other LAI-a.

Conclusion

Utilization of LAI-a in patients with psychotic disorders can decrease both 90-day and annual psychiatric readmissions by 64% to 65%. Physicians should prefer LAI-a to reduce the readmission rate and improve the quality of life, and decrease the healthcare-related financial burden.
Die Rolle von Pflegefachpersonen in der onkologischen Rehabilitation
Authors: Mayrhofer Laura , Mrak Lisa , Kobleder Andrea , Kohler Myrta
Published: May 2021

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Für Menschen mit einer Krebserkrankung steigt das Angebot für eine onkologische Rehabilitation zunehmend. Es wird ein interdisziplinärer Ansatz verfolgt, um Menschen mit einer Krebserkrankung bestmöglich auf das Leben zuhause vorzubereiten. Pflegefachpersonen sind Teil des interdisziplinären Teams, jedoch ist über ihre Rolle in diesem Setting bis dato wenig bekannt. Ziel: Ziel war es herauszufinden, welche Rolle beziehungsweise Tätigkeiten und Aufgaben Pflegefachpersonen in der onkologischen Rehabilitation innehaben. Methode: Ein Scoping Review wurde durchgeführt. Die Literaturrecherche fand in MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar und Referenzlisten statt. Es gab keine Einschränkung des Publikationszeitraumes. Nach der Bewertung der inkludierten Publikationen erfolgte eine thematische Analyse. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt wurden sieben Publikationen eingeschlossen (eine qualitative Studie, ein Herausgeberwerk, ein White Paper, ein Artikel und drei Literaturübersichten). Drei Hauptthemen wurden identifiziert: die Rolle der Pflege als emotionale und psychische Stütze, als Coach und im interdisziplinären Team. Zusätzlich zur allgemeinen Pflege fördern sie das Selbstmanagement, beraten und schulen, führen Symptommanagement durch und nehmen eine koordinative Funktion ein. Schlussfolgerung: Dieses Scoping Review bildet eine erste Übersicht über die Rolle der Pflegefachpersonen in der onkologischen Rehabilitation. Ihr Fokus liegt auf der bestmöglichen Vorbereitung von Menschen mit einer Krebserkrankung auf das „neue und veränderte“ Leben.