bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized Synthesis for Diversity and Cost Constraints with Control Improvisation
Authors: Gittis Andreas , Vin Eric , Fremont Daniel J.
Published: August 2022

In many synthesis problems, it can be essential to generate implementations which not only satisfy functional constraints but are also randomized to improve variety, robustness, or unpredictability. The recently-proposed framework of control improvisation (CI) provides techniques for the correct-by-construction synthesis of randomized systems subject to hard and soft constraints. However, prior work on CI has focused on qualitative specifications, whereas in robotic planning and other areas we often have quantitative quality metrics which can be traded against each other. For example, a designer of a patrolling security robot might want to know by how much the average patrol time needs to be increased in order to ensure that a particular aspect of the robot’s route is sufficiently diverse and hence unpredictable. In this paper, we enable this type of application by generalizing the CI problem to support quantitative soft constraints which bound the expected value of a given cost function, and randomness constraints which enforce diversity of the generated traces with respect to a given label function. We establish the basic theory of labelled quantitative CI problems, and develop efficient algorithms for solving them when the specifications are encoded by finite automata. We also provide an approximate improvisation algorithm based on constraint solving for any specifications encodable as Boolean formulas. We demonstrate the utility of our problem formulation and algorithms with experiments applying them to generate diverse near-optimal plans for robotic planning problems.
Playing Against Fair Adversaries in Stochastic Games with Total Rewards
Authors: Castro Pablo F. , D’Argenio Pedro R. , Demasi Ramiro , Putruele Luciano
Published: August 2022

We investigate zero-sum turn-based two-player stochastic games in which the objective of one player is to maximize the amount of rewards obtained during a play, while the other aims at minimizing it. We focus on games in which the minimizer plays in a fair way. We believe that these kinds of games enjoy interesting applications in software verification, where the maximizer plays the role of a system intending to maximize the number of “milestones” achieved, and the minimizer represents the behavior of some uncooperative but yet fair environment. Normally, to study total reward properties, games are requested to be stopping (i.e., they reach a terminal state with probability 1). We relax the property to request that the game is stopping only under a fair minimizing player. We prove that these games are determined, i.e., each state of the game has a value defined. Furthermore, we show that both players have memoryless and deterministic optimal strategies, and the game value can be computed by approximating the greatest-fixed point of a set of functional equations. We implemented our approach in a prototype tool, and evaluated it on an illustrating example and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle case study.
Divide-and-Conquer Determinization of Büchi Automata Based on SCC Decomposition
Authors: Li Yong , Turrini Andrea , Feng Weizhi , Vardi Moshe Y. , Zhang Lijun
Published: August 2022

The determinization of a nondeterministic Büchi automaton (NBA) is a fundamental construction of automata theory, with applications to probabilistic verification and reactive synthesis. The standard determinization constructions, such as the ones based on the Safra-Piterman’s approach, work on the whole NBA. In this work we propose a divide-and-conquer determinization approach. To this end, we first classify the strongly connected components (SCCs) of the given NBA as inherently weak, deterministic accepting, and nondeterministic accepting. We then present how to determinize each type of SCC independently from the others; this results in an easier handling of the determinization algorithm that takes advantage of the structure of that SCC. Once all SCCs have been determinized, we show how to compose them so to obtain the final equivalent deterministic Emerson-Lei automaton, which can be converted into a deterministic Rabin automaton without blow-up of states and transitions. We implement our algorithm in our tool COLA and empirically evaluate COLA with the state-of-the-art tools Spot and Owl on a large set of benchmarks from the literature. The experimental results show that our prototype COLA outperforms Spot and Owl regarding the number of states and transitions.
From Spot 2.0 to Spot 2.10: What’s New?
Authors: Duret-Lutz Alexandre , Renault Etienne , Colange Maximilien , Renkin Florian , Gbaguidi Aisse Alexandre , Schlehuber-Caissier Philipp , Medioni Thomas , Martin Antoine , Dubois Jérôme , Gillard Clément , Lauko Henrich
Published: August 2022

Spot is a C++17 library for LTL and$$\omega $$ω-automata manipulation, with command-line utilities, and Python bindings. This paper summarizes its evolution over the past six years, since the release of Spot 2.0, which was the first version to support$$\omega $$ω-automata with arbitrary acceptance conditions, and the last version presented at a conference. Since then, Spot has been extended with several features such as acceptance transformations, alternating automata, games, LTL synthesis, and more. We also shed some lights on the data-structure used to store automata.

Artifact:https://zenodo.org/record/6521395.
On extraction of twist-two Compton form factors from DVCS observables through harmonic analysis
Authors: Shiells Kyle , Guo Yuxun , Ji Xiangdong
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We investigate the exercise of locally extracting the real and imaginary parts of the four twist-2 Compton form factors (CFFs) $$ \left\{\mathcal{H},\mathcal{E},\overset{\sim }{\mathcal{H}},\overset{\sim }{\mathcal{E}}\right\} $$

H
E

H
~

E
~

which arise in the deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) process e + p → e + p + γ. Neglecting dynamical higher-twist contributions, we find that there are a sufficient number of DVCS observables and degrees of freedom to extract all 8 leading quantities model-independently, exploiting the azimuthal dependence of the absolute cross sections across all possible beam and target polarizations at a common kinematical point in {Q, t, xB, y}. As an example, for typical JLab lab-frame kinematics, we simplify the reduced DVCS observables to their dominant terms, providing a sufficient number of equations for local determination of the twist-2 CFFs. We demonstrate the feasibility using harmonic fitting to both cross sections and beam spin asymmetries with both real and pseudo-data.
Higgs branches of U/SU quivers via brane locking
Authors: Bourget Antoine , Grimminger Julius F. , Hanany Amihay , Kalveks Rudolph , Zhong Zhenghao
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We solve a long standing problem on the computation of the Higgs branch $$ \mathcal{H} $$
H
of linear quivers with 8 supercharges and with both unitary and special unitary gauge nodes. The solution uses the concept of magnetic quivers, where components of $$ \mathcal{H} $$
H
are described as 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 Coulomb branches. When the starting quiver is good, there is a single component in $$ \mathcal{H} $$
H
and the magnetic quiver is a 3d mirror. The magnetic quivers are obtained from studying the brane web for an auxiliary 5d theory (with only special unitary gauge groups), constrained by a new notion called brane locking, where some branes are required to move together. We view this as a computational tool rather than an operation in 5d. A detailed algorithm is provided.
Categories of quantum liquids I
Authors: Kong Liang , Zheng Hao
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We develop a mathematical theory of separable higher categories based on Gaiotto and Johnson-Freyd’s work on condensation completion. Based on this theory, we prove some fundamental results on Em-multi-fusion higher categories and their higher centers. We also outline a theory of unitary higher categories based on a ∗-version of condensation completion. After these mathematical preparations, based on the idea of topological Wick rotation, we develop a unified mathematical theory of all quantum liquids, which include topological orders, SPT/SET orders, symmetry-breaking orders and CFT-like gapless phases. We explain that a quantum liquid consists of two parts, the topological skeleton and the local quantum symmetry, and show that all nD quantum liquids form a ∗-condensation complete higher category whose equivalence type can be computed explicitly from a simple coslice 1-category.
The quest for a conifold conformal order
Authors: Buchel Alex
Published: August 2022

Abstract

The holographic duality between cascading gauge theory and type IIB supergravity on warped deformed conifold with fluxes reveals exotic thermal phases with nonzero expectation values of certain operators, persistent to high temperatures. These phases, in the limit of vanishing the strong coupling scale of the cascading gauge theory, would realize thermal ordered conformal phases in ℝ3,1 relativistic QFT. We find that the dual Klebanov-Strassler/Klebanov-Tseytlin black branes in this limit are outside the regime of the supergravity approximation, rendering the construction of such conformal ordered states unreliable. While we have been able to construct conformal order in phenomenologically deformed effective theory of type IIB supergravity reduced on warped deformed conifold with fluxes, the removal of the deformation parameter causes the destruction of the thermal conformal ordered phases. Once again, we find that the holographic models with the conformal ordered phases are in the String Theory swampland.
Transposable element polymorphisms improve prediction of complex agronomic traits in rice
Authors: Vourlaki Ioanna-Theoni , Castanera Raúl , Ramos-Onsins Sebastián E. , Casacuberta Josep M. , Pérez-Enciso Miguel
Published: August 2022

Key message

Transposon insertion polymorphisms can improve prediction of complex agronomic traits in rice compared to using SNPs only, especially when accessions to be predicted are less related to the training set.

Transposon insertion polymorphisms (TIPs) are significant sources of genetic variation. Previous work has shown that TIPs can improve detection of causative loci on agronomic traits in rice. Here, we quantify the fraction of variance explained by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) compared to TIPs, and we explore whether TIPs can improve prediction of traits when compared to using only SNPs. We used eleven traits of agronomic relevance from by five different rice population groups (Aus, Indica, Aromatic, Japonica, and Admixed), 738 accessions in total. We assess prediction by applying data split validation in two scenarios. In the within-population scenario, we predicted performance of improved Indica varieties using the rest of Indica accessions. In the across population scenario, we predicted all Aromatic and Admixed accessions using the rest of populations. In each scenario, Bayes C and a Bayesian reproducible kernel Hilbert space regression were compared. We find that TIPs can explain an important fraction of total genetic variance and that they also improve genomic prediction. In the across population prediction scenario, TIPs outperformed SNPs in nine out of the eleven traits analyzed. In some traits like leaf senescence or grain width, using TIPs increased predictive correlation by 30–50%. Our results evidence, for the first time, that TIPs genotyping can improve prediction on complex agronomic traits in rice, especially when accessions to be predicted are less related to training accessions.
Continuum beliefs of mental illness: a systematic review of measures
Authors: Tomczyk S. , Schlick S. , Gansler T. , McLaren T. , Muehlan H. , Peter L.-J. , Schomerus G. , Schmidt S.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The continuum of mental health/illness has been subject to scientific debate for decades. While current research indicates that continuum belief interventions can reduce mental health stigma and improve treatment seeking in affected populations, no study has yet systematically examined measures of continuum beliefs.

Methods

This preregistered systematic review summarizes measures of continuum beliefs. Following the PRISMA statement, three scientific databases (PubMed, PsycInfo and PsycArticles via EBSCOhost, Web of Science) are searched, instruments are described and discussed regarding their scope, and methodological quality.

Results

Overall, 7351 records were identified, with 35 studies reporting relevant findings on 11 measures. Most studies examined general population samples and used vignette-based measures. Schizophrenia and depression were most commonly examined, few studies focused on dementia, ADHD, OCD, eating disorders, and problematic alcohol use, or compared continuum beliefs across disorders. Validity was very good for most measures, but reliability was rarely tested. Measures mostly assessed beliefs in the normality of mental health symptoms or the normality of persons with such symptoms but rarely nosological aspects (i.e., categorical v continuous conceptualization of mental disorders).

Conclusions

Current research provides psychometrically sound instruments to examine continuum beliefs for a variety of mental disorders. While studies suggest utility for general population samples and mental health professionals, more research is necessary to corroborate findings, for instance, regarding age (e.g., in adolescents), gender, or type of mental disorder. Future research should also compare self-report ratings, and vignette-based measures, include measures of nosological concepts to fully grasp the continuum concept of mental illness.

Preregistration

PROSPERO: CRD42019123606.
Topology optimization using difference-based equivalent static loads
Authors: Triller J. , Immel R. , Harzheim L.
Published: August 2022

Topology optimization of crash-related problems usually involves a huge number of design variables as well as nonlinearities in geometry, material, and contact. The Equivalent Static Load (ESL) method provides an approach to solve such problems. This method has recently been extended under the name Difference-based Equivalent Static Load (DiESL) method to employ a set of Finite Element models, each describing the deformed geometry at an individual time step. Only sizing optimization problems were considered so far. In this paper, the DiESL method is extended to topology optimization utilizing a Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization approach (SIMP). The method is tested using an example of a rigid pole colliding with a simple beam, where the intrusion of the pole is minimized. The initial velocity of the pole is varied in order to examine the influence of inertia effects on the optimized structures. It is shown that the results differ significantly depending on the chosen initial velocity and, consequently, that they exhibit inertia effects. This cannot be seen in the results derived by the standard ESL method. Consequently, the results of the DiESL method’s show a considerable improvement compared to those of the standard ESL method.
A machine learning accelerated inverse design of underwater acoustic polyurethane coatings
Authors: Weeratunge Hansani , Shireen Zakiya , Iyer Sagar , Menzel Adrian , Phillips Andrew W. , Halgamuge Saman , Sandberg Richard , Hajizadeh Elnaz
Published: August 2022

Here we propose a detailed protocol to enable an accelerated inverse design of acoustic coatings for underwater sound attenuation application by coupling Machine Learning and an optimization algorithm with Finite Element Models (FEM). The FEMs were developed to obtain the realistic performance of the polyurethane (PU) acoustic coatings with embedded cylindrical voids. The frequency dependent viscoelasticity of PU matrix is considered in FEM models to substantiate the impact on absorption peak associated with the embedded cylinders at low frequencies. This has been often ignored in previous studies of underwater acoustic coatings, where usually a constant frequency-independent complex modulus was used for the polymer matrix. The key highlight of the proposed optimization framework for the inverse design lies in its potential to tackle the computational hurdles of the FEM when calculating the true objective function. This is done by replacing the FEM with an efficiently computable surrogate model developed through a Deep Neural Network. This enhances the speed of predicting the absorption coefficient by a factor of $$4.5 \times 10^3$$

4.5
×

10
3

compared to FEM model and is capable of rapidly providing a well-performing, sub-optimal solution in an efficient way. A significant, broadband, low-frequency attenuation is achieved by optimally configuring the layers of cylindrical voids. This is accomplished by accommodating attenuation mechanisms, including Fabry–P$$\acute{e}$$

e
´

rot resonance and Bragg scattering of the layers of voids. Furthermore, the proposed protocol enables the inverse and targeted design of underwater acoustic coatings through accelerating the exploration of the vast design space compared to time-consuming and resource-intensive conventional trial-and-error forward approaches.
The variation in shape and thickness of the pelvic floor musculature in males and females: a geometric-morphometric analysis
Authors: Stansfield Ekaterina , Mitteroecker Philipp , Umek Wolfgang , Fischer Barbara
Published: August 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

In women, the risk of pelvic floor prolapse is known to be associated with age and parity. Different studies suggested that it is also related to pelvic dimensions, e.g. biomechanical modelling showed that a larger pelvic canal results in higher values of displacement, stress and strain in the pelvic floor muscles, which can increase the risk of pelvic floor disorders. To better understand the multiple factors contributing to pelvic floor disorders, we assessed how age, body weight, body height, parity (in women), pelvic canal size and overall muscle development affected pelvic floor geometry.

Methods

A comprehensive geometric morphometric analysis of variation in pelvic floor muscle shape was conducted based on a dense set of 3D landmarks measured on CT scans in a cohort of 49 deceased men and 52 deceased women. The multivariate association between biological variables (parity, dimensions of the true pelvis, age, body weight, height) and pelvic floor muscle morphology was explored by reduced rank regression in both sexes.

Results

In women, advanced age, high body weight relative to body height and a large pelvic canal were associated with a deeper pelvic floor. Surprisingly, parity did not have any strong association with overall pelvic floor shape. In men, high body weight was associated with a deep pelvic floor. Age had little effect on male pelvic floor shape, except for the thickness of the ischiocavernosus muscle, which reduced with age.

Conclusion

These results suggest that age, relative body weight and the size of the pelvic canal contribute to the risk of female pelvic floor disorders via their effect on pelvic floor shape, independently of birth-related factors such as injury and avulsion of pelvic floor muscles.
[89Zr]Zr-PSMA-617 PET/CT in biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer: first clinical experience from a pilot study including biodistribution and dose estimates
Authors: Rosar Florian , Schaefer-Schuler Andrea , Bartholomä Mark , Maus Stephan , Petto Sven , Burgard Caroline , Privé Bastiaan M. , Franssen Gerben M. , Derks Yvonne H. W. , Nagarajah James , Khreish Fadi , Ezziddin Samer
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted PET/CT has become increasingly important in the management of prostate cancer, especially in localization of biochemical recurrence (BCR). PSMA-targeted PET/CT imaging with long-lived radionuclides as 89Zr (T1/2 = 78.4 h) may improve diagnostics by allowing data acquisition on later time points. In this study, we present our first clinical experience including preliminary biodistribution and dosimetry data of [89Zr]Zr-PSMA-617 PET/CT in patients with BCR of prostate cancer.

Methods

Seven patients with BCR of prostate cancer who revealed no (n = 4) or undetermined (n = 3) findings on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging were referred to [89Zr]Zr-PSMA-617 PET/CT. PET/CT imaging was performed 1 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post injection (p.i.) of 111 ± 11 MBq [89Zr]Zr-PSMA-617 (mean ± standard deviation). Normal organ distribution and dosimetry were determined. Lesions visually considered as suggestive of prostate cancer were quantitatively analyzed.

Results

Intense physiological uptake was observed in the salivary and lacrimal glands, liver, spleen, kidneys, intestine and urinary tract. The parotid gland received the highest absorbed dose (0.601 ± 0.185 mGy/MBq), followed by the kidneys (0.517 ± 0.125 mGy/MBq). The estimated overall effective dose for the administration of 111 MBq was 10.1 mSv (0.0913 ± 0.0118 mSv/MBq). In 6 patients, and in particular in 3 of 4 patients with negative [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT, at least one prostate cancer lesion was detected in [89Zr]Zr-PSMA-617 PET/CT imaging at later time points. The majority of tumor lesions were first visible at 24 h p.i. with continuously increasing tumor-to-background ratio over time. All tumor lesions were detectable at 48 h and 72 h p.i.

Conclusion

[89Zr]Zr-PSMA-617 PET/CT imaging is a promising new diagnostic tool with acceptable radiation exposure for patients with prostate cancer especially when [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging fails detecting recurrent disease. The long half-life of 89Zr enables late time point imaging (up to 72 h in our study) with increased tracer uptake in tumor lesions and higher tumor-to-background ratios allowing identification of lesions non-visible on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging.
Infectious complications after transrectal MRI-targeted and systematic prostate biopsy
Authors: Kalalahti Inari , Huotari Kaisa , Erickson Andrew. M. , Petas Anssi , Vasarainen Hanna , Rannikko Antti
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To compare infectious complications after transrectal systematic prostate biopsy (SB) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted biopsy (TB) in a large retrospective cohort to assess whether one technique is superior to the other regarding infectious complications.

Methods

A total of 4497 patients underwent 5288 biopsies, 2875 (54%) SB and 2413 (46%) MRI-TB only. On average, 12 SB cores and 3.7 MRI-TB cores were taken per biopsy session during the study period. Infection-related complications within 30 days were compared. The primary endpoint was a positive urine culture. Secondary endpoints were positive blood cultures, urine tests with elevated leukocytes ≥ 100 E6/L and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 100 mg/L. Chi-square test was used to compare the cohorts.

Results

Positive urine cultures were found in 77 (2.7%) after SB and in 42 (1.7%) after MRI-TB (p = 0.022). In total, 46 (0.9%) blood culture positive infections were found, 23 (0.9%) occurred after SB and 23 (1.0%) after MRI-TB, (p = 0.848). Urine tests with elevated leukocytes ≥ 100 E6/L were found in 111 (3.9%) after SB and in 61 (2.5%) after MRI-TB (p = 0.006). Elevated CRP ≥ 100 mg/L was found in 122 (4.2%) after SB and in 72 (3.0%) after MRI-TB (p = 0.015). Blood cultures were drawn more often after SB than after MRI-TB, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, urine cultures and CRP were taken more often after SB than MRI-TB.

Conclusion

Blood culture positive infections were equally rare after SB and MRI-TB. However, all other infectious complications were more common after SB than MRI-TB.
Prognostic model for atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: a UK cohort study
Authors: Chung Sheng-Chia , O’Brien Benjamin , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Fields Kara G. , Muehlschlegel Jochen D. , Thakur Anshul , Clifton David , Collins Gary S. , Watkinson Peter , Providencia Rui
Published: August 2022

Objective

To develop a validated clinical prognostic model to determine the risk of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery as part of the PARADISE project (NIHR131227).

Methods

Prospective cohort study with linked electronic health records from a cohort of 5.6 million people in the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink from 1998 to 2016. For model development, we considered a priori candidate predictors including demographics, medical history, medications, and clinical biomarkers. We evaluated associations between covariates and the AF incidence at the end of follow-up using logistic regression with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. The model was validated internally with the bootstrap method; subsequent performance was examined by discrimination quantified with the c-statistic and calibration assessed by calibration plots. The study follows TRIPOD guidelines.

Results

Between 1998 and 2016, 33,464 patients received cardiac surgery among the 5,601,803 eligible individuals. The final model included 13-predictors at baseline: age, year of index surgery, elevated CHA2DS2-VASc score, congestive heart failure, hypertension, acute coronary syndromes, mitral valve disease, ventricular tachycardia, valve surgery, receiving two combined procedures (e.g., valve replacement + coronary artery bypass grafting), or three combined procedures in the index procedure, statin use, and ethnicity other than white or black (statins and ethnicity were protective). This model had an optimism-corrected C-statistic of 0.68 both for the derivation and validation cohort. Calibration was good.

Conclusions

We developed a model to identify a group of individuals at high risk of AF and adverse outcomes who could benefit from long-term arrhythmia monitoring, risk factor management, rhythm control and/or thromboprophylaxis.

Graphical abstract
Impact of stem profile on the revisability and the need for osteotomy in well-fixed cemented revision total knee arthroplasty implants
Authors: Maslaris Alexander , Spyrou Georgios , Schoeneberg Carsten , Citak Mustafa , Matziolis Georg
Published: August 2022

Introduction

While re-revision total knee arthroplasty (ReRTKA) steadily increases, the ease and bone-sparing removal of RTKA implants is gaining more and more in importance. Biomechanical data suggest that cemented conical stems can be removed significantly easier than cylindrical stems. However, no clinical evidence exists supporting this observation. Aim of this study was to compare the revisability and need for osteotomy (OT) between removals of well-fixed cemented conical vs. cylindrical RTKA stems.

Materials and methods

55 removals of well-fixed full-cemented RTKA stems (29 knees) performed between 2016 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Main outcome variables were: bone loss, fractures, osteotomy incidence, surgery duration, early postoperative complications (EPC), hemoglobin drop and blood transfusion. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis.

Results

44.8% were conical, 48.3% cylindrical, and 6.9% combined stem designs. Causes for re-revision were PJI (75.9%), malposition (17.2%) and persistent pain (6.9%). 10 stem removals (18.2%) required an OT (four femoral, six tibial): eight stems (14.5%) had cylindrical and two (3.6%) conical designs (P = 0.041). Fractures were noted solely in removals without OT (11.1% vs. 0%,). There was a tendency to more bone loss in cylindrical stem revisions (53.8% vs. 32%, P = 0.24). A longer overall surgery time was observed in revisions of cylindrical stems (+ 37 min, P = 0.05). There was higher hemoglobin drop and need for blood transfusion in revisions of cylindrical stems or after OT but without reaching statistical significance. The EPC rates were slightly higher in ReRTKA on cylindrical stems (P = 0.28).

Conclusion

Well-fixed cemented conical stems may be revision friendlier with less demands on OT and shorter overall surgery time than cemented cylindrical stems.
Optimized process quality in certified breast centers through adherence to stringent diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms effects of structural as well as socio-demographic factors on start of therapy
Authors: Herbert Saskia-Laureen , Hirzle Paula , Bartmann Catharina , Schlaiß Tanja , Kiesel Matthias , Curtaz Carolin , Löb Sanja , Wöckel Achim , Diessner Joachim
Published: August 2022

Purpose

An increasing incidence of breast cancer can be observed worldwide. Since a delay of therapy can have a negative impact on prognosis, timely cancer care is an important quality indicator. By receiving treatment at a certified breast cancer center, the patient has the best chance of treatment in accordance with guidelines and the best prognosis. The identification of risk factors for a delay of therapy is of central importance and should be the basis for a continuous optimization of treatment at breast cancer centers.

Methods

This retrospective study included women with breast cancer (primary diagnosis, relapse, or secondary malignancy) at the University Hospital Würzburg in 2019 and 2020. Data were retrieved from patients’ records. Correlations and regression analyses were performed to detect potential risk factors for treatment delay.

Results

Patients who received the histological confirmation of breast cancer at an external institution experienced a later therapy start than those patients who received the histological confirmation at the University Hospital Würzburg itself. (35.7 vs. 32.2 days). The interval between histological confirmation and the first consultation at the University Hospital Würzburg correlated statistically significant with age, distress and distance to the hospital.

Conclusion

Patients with an in-house diagnosis of breast cancer are treated more quickly than those whose diagnosis was confirmed in an external institution. We identified factors such as increased age, greater distance to the hospital as well as increased distress to prolong the time until start of oncological treatment. Intensified patient care should be offered to these subgroups.
Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation
Authors: Cancelloni Virginia , Rufa Alessandra , Battisti Carla , De Stefano Nicola , Mastrocinque Egidio , Garosi Guido , Venezia Duccio , Chiarotti Ivano , Cerase Alfonso
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri) is a rare potentially reversible encephalopathy associated with an autoimmune process against proteins deposited in the walls of cortical and leptomeningeal brain vessels. Definite diagnosis requires histopathological features of vascular inflammation and amyloid deposition from brain biopsy. Clinical-neuroradiological criteria have been recently introduced and validated to reduce the need for biopsy. The purpose of this paper is to report a historical retrospective review of clinical-neuroradiological follow-up of two patients with probable CAA-ri and five patients with a reasonably probable suspect of CAA-ri (4 females, 3 males, patient’s age at admission: 66–79 years) seen at our institution between 2007 and 2021, focusing on clinical and neuroradiological awareness to this entity and variable response to immunotherapy.

Materials and methods

Clinical features at presentation included subacute to acute confusion (6/7), seizures (4/7), cognitive impairment (5/7), and focal neurological signs (3/7). Neuroradiology included braincomputed tomography followed by magnetic resonance imaging. Infectious diseases and autoimmune workups were then performed.

Results

CSF analysis was performed in two patients. Cerebral angiography was performed in two patients, to rule out vascular malformations. Hemorrhagic posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome has been suspected in two patients. Four patients underwent immunotherapy with corticosteroids followed by reduction of brain dysfunctions. Three patients did not undergo immunotherapy but underwent clinical and/or neuroradiological remission.

Conclusions

Patients with CAA-ri present a rare steroid-responsive acute to subacute brain dysfunction. Thus, it has to be known and recognized both clinically and neuroradiologically. Spontaneous clinical and/or neuroradiological improvement is possible in patients with mild symptoms.
Coastal livelihood resilience to abrupt environmental change: the role of social capital in a Peruvian bay
Authors: Kriegl Michael , Kluger Lotta Clara , Gorris Philipp , Kochalski Sophia
Published: August 2022

Abrupt environmental change, such as sudden shifts in temperature or salinity, can severely alter the functioning of marine ecosystems and cause dramatic impacts on the associated social systems. Resource users, who rely on ecosystem services provided by the ocean, are particularly vulnerable to such drastic events. Functioning social relationships (social capital) have recently been suggested as a key driver for recovery after disaster. Here, we study how small-scale fishers who conduct sea-ranching of the Peruvian bay scallop Argopecten purpuratus in Northern Peru dealt with the literal wipe-out of their target resources caused by the Coastal El Niño (CEN) of 2017 that heavily impacted the entire region. Adopting an ego-network approach complemented by qualitative information from expert interviews, we investigated how resource users drew on their social networks to cope with the disaster. Results suggested a significant positive correlation between more desirable post-disaster trajectories and the number of helpful social links of scallop farmer associations. Disentangling the temporal aspect of this pattern, we found that social capital established before the disaster was driving this correlation. Importantly, both economic and non-economic links were contributing to the observed patterns. This study emphasizes the importance of social capital for dealing with the effects of disasters following natural events. Having extensive social networks increases the capacity to mobilize resources and information when needed and is associated with more efficient recovery after abrupt environmental change. Mechanisms to foster and enhance social capital are key for preventive management actions aiming to build resilience within vulnerable communities facing accelerating global change.
An insight into differential protein abundance throughout Leishmania donovani promastigote growth and differentiation
Authors: Alcolea Pedro J. , Alonso Ana , García-Tabares Francisco , Larraga Jaime , Martins Luis T. C. , Loayza Franciso J. , Ruiz-García Silvia , Larraga Vicente
Published: August 2022

Leishmania donovani causes anthroponotic visceral leishmaniasis, responsible for about 50,000 annual deaths worldwide. Current therapies have considerable side effects. Drug resistance has been reported and no vaccine is available nowadays. The development of undifferentiated promastigotes in the sand fly vector’s gut leads to the promastigote form that is highly infective to the mammalian host. Fully differentiated promastigotes play a crucial role in the initial stages of mammalian host infection before internalization in the host phagocytic cell. Therefore, the study of protein levels in the promastigote stage is relevant for disease control, and proteomics analysis is an ideal source of vaccine candidate discovery. This study aims to get insight into the protein levels during the differentiation process of promastigotes by 2DE-MALDI-TOF/TOF. This partial proteome analysis has led to the identification of 75 proteins increased in at least one of the L. donovani promastigote differentiation and growth phases. This study has revealed the differential abundance of said proteins during growth and differentiation. According to previous studies, some are directly involved in parasite survival or are immunostimulatory. The parasite survival–related proteins are ascorbate peroxidase; cystathionine β synthase; an elongation factor 1β paralog; elongation factor 2; endoribonuclease L-PSP; an iron superoxide dismutase paralog; GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase; several heat shock proteins—HSP70, HSP83-17, mHSP70-rel, HSP110; methylthioadenosine phosphorylase; two thiol-dependent reductase 1 paralogs; transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase; and the AhpC thioredoxin paralog. The confirmed immunostimulatory proteins are the heat shock proteins, enolase, and protein kinase C receptor analog. The potential immunostimulatory molecules according to findings in patogenic bacteria are fructose-1,6-diphophate aldolase, dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1α and E1β subunits, and triosephosphate isomerase. These proteins may become disease control candidates through future intra-vector control methods or vaccines.
Molecular surveillance revealed no SARS-CoV-2 spillovers to raccoons (Procyon lotor) in four German federal states
Authors: Hagag Ibrahim T. , Langner Torsten , Groschup Martin H. , Keller Markus
Published: August 2022

Raccoons (Procyon lotor), which are closely related to the family Mustelidae, might be susceptible to natural infection by SARS-CoV-2. This assumption is based on experimental evidence that confirmed the vulnerability of farmed fur-carnivore species, including Procyon lotor to SARS-CoV-2. To date, there are no reports of natural SARS-CoV-2 infections of raccoons in Germany. Here, we use RT-PCR to analyze 820 samples from raccoons hunted in Germany with a focus on 4 German federal states (Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia). Lung tissues were homogenized and processed for RNA extraction and RT-qPCR for detecting SARS-CoV-2 was performed. No viral RNA was detected in any samples (0/820). Next, we compared raccoons and human ACE-2 residues that are known to serve for binding with SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD). Interestingly, we found only 60% identity on amino acid level, which may have contributed to the absence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in raccoons. In conclusion, the chance of raccoons being intermediate reservoir hosts for SARS-CoV-2 seems to be very low.
Panmixia and active colonisation of the invasive palm Trachycarpus fortunei (Arecaceae) in Southern Switzerland and Northern Italy as inferred by microsatellites and SNP markers
Authors: Jousson Antoine , Christe Camille , Stauffer Fred , Marazzi Brigitte , Aberlenc Frédérique , Maspoli Guido , Naciri Yamama
Published: August 2022

Trachycarpus fortunei(Arecaceae: Coryphoideae) is an Asian palm that was introduced during the nineteenth century in southern Switzerland and northern Italy as an ornamental plant. In the recent decades, the palm has become an aggressive invasive species in the region. Before this study, the genetic structure and diversity of the naturalised populations were unknown. We aimed at understanding the dynamics of invasion and at comparing the results obtained with two types of markers. This genetic approach aimed at tracing back as far as possible the source of invasive populations comparing historical information found in literature and invasive genetic patterns. The genetic diversity was analysed using eight microsatellites (five were developed for that purpose) and 31′000 SNPs identified through GBS analyses. Genetic analyses were carried out for 200 naturalised individuals sampled from 21 populations in the Canton Ticino (Switzerland) and the provinces of Lombardy and Piedmont (Italy). The observed general panmixia indicates that the expansion ofT. fortuneiis active in its naturalised areas. The genetic pattern found for both SNPs and microsatellites appears to be related to the colonisation process, with a lack of geographic structure and bottleneck signatures occurring at the colonisation front, distantly from historical sites. This study gives a better understanding of the expansion ofT. fortuneiand adds new insights to its ecology.
Equations of State for n-Hexadecane and n-Docosane
Authors: Romeo Raffaella , Lemmon Eric W.
Published: August 2022

Equations of state for n-hexadecane (C16H34) and n-docosane (C22H46) have been developed as functions of the Helmholtz energy with independent variables of temperature and density. The equations were developed based on experimental values of density, speed of sound, isobaric heat capacity, and vapor pressure. With these equations, all thermodynamic properties of n-hexadecane and n-docosane can be calculated. For n-hexadecane, the uncertainty in vapor pressure is 0.5 %. The uncertainty of the saturated liquid density is 0.05 % from the triple point up to 400 K, and 0.2 % at higher temperatures. The uncertainty in densities is within 0.5 %. The speed of sound and isobaric heat capacity can be calculated within 0.25 %. The uncertainties of the properties calculated with the equation for n-docosane are 5 % for vapor pressure, 0.1 % for saturated liquid density, 1 % for density, 0.5 % and 1 % for speed of sound at atmospheric pressure and higher pressures, respectively, and within 3 % for heat capacity.
Surface sediment composition and depositional environments in tropical Lake Sentani, Papua Province, Indonesia
Authors: Nomosatryo Sulung , Tjallingii Rik , Henny Cynthia , Ridwansyah Iwan , Wagner Dirk , Tomás Sara , Kallmeyer Jens
Published: August 2022

Tropical Lake Sentani in the Indonesian Province Papua consists of four separate basins and is surrounded by a catchment with a very diverse geology. We characterized the surface sediment (upper 5 cm) of the lake’s four sub-basins based on multivariate statistical analyses (principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering) of major element compositions obtained by X-ray fluorescence scanning. Three types of sediment are identified based on distinct compositional differences between rivers, shallow/proximal and deep/distal lake sediments. The different sediment types are mainly characterized by the correlation of elements associated with redox processes (S, Mn, Fe), carbonates (Ca), and detrital input (Ti, Al, Si, K) derived by river discharge. The relatively coarse-grained river sediments mainly derive form the mafic catchment geology and contribution of the limestone catchment geology is only limited. Correlation of redox sensitive and detrital elements are used to reveal oxidation conditions, and indicate oxic conditions in river samples and reducing conditions for lake sediments. Organic carbon (TOC) generally correlates with redox sensitive elements, although a correlation between TOC and individual elements change strongly between the three sediment types. Pyrite is the quantitatively dominant reduced sulfur mineral, monosulfides only reach appreciable concentrations in samples from rivers draining mafic and ultramafic catchments. Our study shows large spatial heterogeneity within the lake’s sub-basins that is mainly caused by catchment geology and topography, river runoff as well as the bathymetry and the depth of the oxycline. We show that knowledge about lateral heterogeneity is crucial for understanding the geochemical and sedimentological variations recorded by these sediments. The highly variable conditions make Lake Sentani a natural laboratory, with its different sub-basins representing different depositional environments under identical tropical climate conditions.
Illiberal Reactions to Higher Education
Authors: Schofer Evan , Lerch Julia C. , Meyer John W.
Published: August 2022

Higher education has expanded at astonishing rates around the world. We seek to understand the oppositions that periodically arise, which may produce enrollment declines and/or imposition of political controls. The post-1945 growth of higher education was – to a greater extent than is often recognized – propelled by the liberal, and later neoliberal, international order. Oppositions arise from illiberal alternatives, which also may organize globally. The recent weakening of the global liberal order, associated with growing populism and nationalism, creates conditions for a new wave of oppositions. We hypothesize that attacks on higher education emerge in countries less integrated into world society and in countries linked to international structures that support illiberal alternatives. We examine cross-national data on higher education over the period 1960–2017. Enrollments and funding are higher in societies more tightly linked to world society and lower in countries tied to illiberal international organizations. Analyses of enrollments in various fields, constraints on academic freedom, and terrorist attacks on education institutions show similar pattern. Finally, we observe heterogeneity in the forms of illiberal opposition: countries that suppress academic freedom generally are less likely to restrict enrollments.
Must a Just Distribution of Emissions Shares Respect Territorial Claims to Terrestrial Sink Capacity?
Authors: Mathie Alex
Published: August 2022

A central task of climate justice is to agree upon a just distribution of the right to emit greenhouse gases. According to the equal per capita shares view, the right to emit should be divided equally between every inhabitant of Earth, since to emit is to use up the resource of atmospheric absorptive capacity, and this is a resource to which no one person has any stronger claim than any other. The fact that a significant proportion of the Earth’s ability to absorb and sequester greenhouse gases actually comes not from the atmosphere, but from terrestrial climate sinks that are located within national borders, and that are therefore plausibly subject to legitimate territorial claims, poses a serious challenge to the intuitive egalitarian simplicity of the equal per capita shares view. A defence of this view, then, is tantamount to a defence of the redistribution of terrestrial sink capacity, and therefore must involve either (1) an argument against the legitimacy of territorial claims to terrestrial sink capacity, or (2) an argument for why legitimate territorial claims to terrestrial sink capacity should nevertheless be ignored in favour of an equal per capita distribution of emissions shares. One strategy for doing so involves applying Charles Beitz’s resource redistribution principle to terrestrial sink capacity. Some authors have argued that this strategy will fail due to important differences between the nature of ‘conventional’ natural resources, and the nature of a resource link climate sink capacity. In this paper, I consider five arguments to this effect that seek to establish the legitimacy of territorial claims to terrestrial sink capacity. Respectively, they appeal to attachment, identity, self-determination, improvement and fairness in order to do so. I argue that each one either fails to establish the legitimacy of territorial claims to terrestrial sink capacity, or, where they do plausibly establish legitimacy, they do so in a way that renders them vulnerable to type-(2) objections that suggest territorial claims to terrestrial sink capacity should nevertheless be ignored. I conclude that, if one is willing to adopt the resource redistribution principle, a just distribution of emissions shares need not respect territorial claims to terrestrial sink capacity.