scholarly journals Research Infrastructure Contact Zones: A method to visualise and align the activities of major biodiversity informatics initiatives

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Smith ◽  
Aino Juslén ◽  
Ana Casino ◽  
Francois Dusoulier ◽  
Lisa French ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Data ◽  
Research Infrastructure ◽  
Global Alignment ◽  
Biodiversity Informatics ◽  
Data Standards ◽  
Global Biodiversity Information Facility ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Data Content ◽  
High Level

In an effort to characterise the various dimensions of activity within the biodiversity informatics landscape, we developed a framework to survey these dimensions for ten major organisations*1 relative to both their current activities and long-term strategic ambitions. This survey assessed the contact between these infrastructure organisations by capturing the breadth of activities for each infrastructure across five categories (data, standards, software, hardware and policy), for nine types of data (specimens, collection descriptions, opportunistic observations, systematic observations, taxonomies, traits, geological data, molecular data, and literature), and for seven phases of activity (creation, aggregation, access, annotation, interlinkage, analysis, and synthesis). This generated a dataset of 6,300 verified observations, which have been scored and validated by leading members of each infrastructure organisation. In this analysis of the resulting data, we address a set of high-level questions about the overall biodiversity informatics landscape, looking at the greatest gaps, overlap and possible rate-limiting steps. Across the infrastructure organisations, we also explore how far each is in relation to achieving its ambitions and the extent of its niche relative to other organisations. Our results show that when viewed by scope, most infrastructures occupy a relatively narrow niche in the overall landscape of activity, with the notable exception of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and possibly LifeWatch. Niches associated with molecular data and biological taxonomy are very well filled, suggesting there is still considerable room for growth in other areas, with the Distributed System of Scientific Collections (DiSSCo) and the Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) showing the highest levels of difference between their current activities and stated ambitions, potentially reflecting the relative youth of these organisations. iNaturalist, the Biodiversity Heritage Library and Catalogue of Life all occupy narrow and tightly circumscribed niches. These organisations are also amongst the closest to achieving their stated ambitions within their respective areas of activity. The largest gaps in infrastructure activity relate to the development of hardware and standards, with many gaps set to be addressed if the stated ambitions of those surveyed come to fruition. Nevertheless, some gaps persist, outlining a potential role for this survey as a planning tool to help coordinate and align investment in future biodiversity informatics activities. GBIF and LifeWatch are the two infrastructures where there is the most similarity in ambition with DiSSCo, with the greatest overlap concentrated on activities related to data/content, specimen data and their shared ambition to interlink information. While overlap appears intense, the analysis is limited by the resolution of the survey framework and ignores existing collaborations between infrastructures. In addition to presenting the results of this survey, we outline our plans to publish this work and a proposal to develop the methodology as an interactive web-based tool. This would allow other projects and infrastructures to self-score their activities and visualise their niche within the current landscape, encouraging better global alignment of activities. For example, our results should make it easier for initiatives to strengthen collaboration and differentiate work when their activities overlap. Likewise, this approach would be useful for funding agencies when targeting gaps in the informatics landscape or increasing the technical maturity of certain critical activities, e.g., to improve immature data standards. While no framework is perfect, we hope to encourage a dialogue on the potential for taking an algorithmic approach to community alignment and see this as a means of strengthening community cooperation when addressing problems that require global cooperation.

Vivid Imagers Are Better at Detecting Salient Changes

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Rodway ◽  
Karen Gillies ◽  
Astrid Schepman
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Change Detection ◽  
Visual Imagery ◽  
Detection Task ◽  
Level Of Detail ◽  
Detection Accuracy ◽  
Change Detection Task ◽  
Term Change ◽  
High Level

This study examined whether individual differences in the vividness of visual imagery influenced performance on a novel long-term change detection task. Participants were presented with a sequence of pictures, with each picture and its title displayed for 17  s, and then presented with changed or unchanged versions of those pictures and asked to detect whether the picture had been changed. Cuing the retrieval of the picture's image, by presenting the picture's title before the arrival of the changed picture, facilitated change detection accuracy. This suggests that the retrieval of the picture's representation immunizes it against overwriting by the arrival of the changed picture. The high and low vividness participants did not differ in overall levels of change detection accuracy. However, in replication of Gur and Hilgard (1975) , high vividness participants were significantly more accurate at detecting salient changes to pictures compared to low vividness participants. The results suggest that vivid images are not characterised by a high level of detail and that vivid imagery enhances memory for the salient aspects of a scene but not all of the details of a scene. Possible causes of this difference, and how they may lead to an understanding of individual differences in change detection, are considered.

scholarly journals Review on Perioperative and Oncological Outcomes of Robotic Gastrectomy for Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 638
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Giuliani ◽  
Francesco Guerra ◽  
Lorenzo De Franco ◽  
Lucia Salvischiani ◽  
Roberto Benigni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Radical Gastrectomy ◽  
Robotic Gastrectomy ◽  
Relevant Evidence ◽  
Relative Paucity ◽  
Duration Of Surgery ◽  
High Level ◽  
Standard Laparoscopic Surgery

Background. Minimally invasive gastrectomy is currently considered a valid option to treat gastric cancer and is gaining increasing acceptance. Recent reports have suggested that the application of robots may confer some advantages over conventional laparoscopy, but the role of robotic surgery in clinical practice is still uncertain. We aimed to critically review the relevant evidence comparing robotic to standard laparoscopic surgery in performing radical gastrectomy. Methods. The Pubmed/Medline electronic databases were searched through February 2021. Paper conference and the English language was the only restriction applied to our search strategy. Results. According to the existing data, robotic gastrectomy seems to provide some benefits in terms of blood loss, rate of conversion, procedure-specific postoperative morbidity, and length of hospital stay. Robotic gastrectomy is also associated with a longer duration of surgery and a higher economic burden as compared to its laparoscopic counterpart. No significant differences have been disclosed in terms of long-term survivals, while the number of lymph nodes retrieved with robotic gastrectomy is generally higher than that of laparoscopy. Conclusions. The current literature suggests that robotic radical gastrectomy appears as competent as the conventional laparoscopic procedure and may provide some clinical advantages. However, due to the relative paucity of high-level evidence, it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions.

scholarly journals Mapping of affordability levels for photovoltaic-based electricity generation in the solar belt of sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and South Asia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sándor Szabó ◽  
Irene Pinedo Pascua ◽  
Daniel Puig ◽  
Magda Moner-Girona ◽  
Mario Negre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
High Level ◽  
Do So

AbstractLack of access to modern forms of energy hampers efforts to reduce poverty. The provision of electricity to off-grid communities is therefore a long-standing developmental goal. Yet, many off-grid electrification projects neglect mid- and long-term operation and maintenance costs. When this is the case, electricity services are unlikely to be affordable to the communities that are the project’s primary target. Here we show that, compared with diesel-powered electricity generation systems, solar photovoltaic systems are more affordable to no less than 36% of the unelectrified populations in East Asia, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. We do so by developing geo-referenced estimates of affordability at a high level of resolution (1 km2). The analysis illustrates the differences in affordability that may be found at the subnational level, which underscores that electrification investments should be informed by subnational data.

scholarly journals Long Term Interactions of Native and Invasive Species in a Marine Protected Area Suggest Complex Cascading Effects Challenging Conservation Outcomes

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Charalampos Dimitriadis ◽  
Ivoni Fournari-Konstantinidou ◽  
Laurent Sourbès ◽  
Drosos Koutsoubas ◽  
Stelios Katsanevakis
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
High Level

Understanding the interactions among invasive species, native species and marine protected areas (MPAs), and the long-term regime shifts in MPAs is receiving increased attention, since biological invasions can alter the structure and functioning of the protected ecosystems and challenge conservation efforts. Here we found evidence of marked modifications in the rocky reef associated biota in a Mediterranean MPA from 2009 to 2019 through visual census surveys, due to the presence of invasive species altering the structure of the ecosystem and triggering complex cascading effects on the long term. Low levels of the populations of native high-level predators were accompanied by the population increase and high performance of both native and invasive fish herbivores. Subsequently the overgrazing and habitat degradation resulted in cascading effects towards the diminishing of the native and invasive invertebrate grazers and omnivorous benthic species. Our study represents a good showcase of how invasive species can coexist or exclude native biota and at the same time regulate or out-compete other established invaders and native species.

scholarly journals Physical workload and increased frequency of musculoskeletal pain: a cohort study of employed men and women with baseline occasional pain

2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2020-107094
Author(s):  
Kathryn Badarin ◽  
Tomas Hemmingsson ◽  
Lena Hillert ◽  
Katarina Kjellberg
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Workload ◽  
Job Exposure Matrix ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Strenuous Work ◽  
High Level

ObjectivesMusculoskeletal pain (MSP) is prevalent among the workforce. This study investigates the long-term association between physical workload (PWL) and increased frequency of MSP among male and female employees with pre-existing occasional MSP.MethodsThis study uses the Stockholm Public Health cohort survey data from the baseline 2006. The sample includes 5715 employees with baseline occasional MSP (no more than a few days per month). Eight PWL exposures and overall PWL were estimated using a job-exposure matrix (JEM). The JEM was assigned to occupational titles from a national register in 2006. Follow-up survey data on frequent MSP (a few or more times a week) were collected from 2010. Logistic regressions produced sex-specific ORs with 95% CIs and were adjusted for education, health conditions, psychological distress, smoking, BMI, leisure-time physical activity and decision authority.ResultsAssociations were observed between several aspects of heavy PWL and frequent MSP for men (eg, OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.20, among those in the highest exposure quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile for heavy lifting) and women (eg, OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.35 to 2.29, among those in the highest exposure quartile compared with those in the the lowest quartile for physically strenuous work). Small changes were observed in the OR after adjustment, but most of the ORs for PWL exposures among the men were no longer statistically significantly increased.ConclusionA high level of exposure to heavy PWL was associated with increased frequency of MSP 4 years later for men and women with baseline occasional pain.

scholarly journals Adiponectin and its receptors in patients with cardiovascular disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Belik ◽  
OV Gruzdeva ◽  
YUA Dyleva ◽  
EG Uchasova ◽  
MYU Sinitsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Defects ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Adiponectin Mrna ◽  
Fat Stores ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
High Level ◽  
Group 1

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Aim to determine the features of adiponectin expression, secretion of adiponectin and its receptors in local fat depots in CVD. Materials and methods The study included 90 patients with СAD (Group 1) and 60 patients with heart defects (Group 2). Adipocytes were isolated from samples of subcutaneous (SAT), epicardial (EAT) and perivascular (PVAT) adipose tissue obtained during CABG or heart valve replacement. The expression of adiponectin was determined by qPCR using TaqManTM Gene Expression Assays (Applied Biosystems, USA) in the ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, USA), the levels of expression products was determined using enzyme immunoassay (Bender MedSystems GmbH, Vienna, Austria). The data were analyzed using the statistical software Statistica 9.0. Results EAT adipocytes were characterized by the lowest adiponectin expression relative to adipocytes of other localization both in Group 1 and Group 2. In patients Group 1 adiponectin expression in EAT was reduced relative in SAT and PVAT (by 1.2 and 1.5 times). In Group 2, the adiponectin mRNA in the EAT was lower than in the SAT and PVAT (1.4 and 1.5 times). The expression of adiponectin in EAT in Group 2 exceeded the same indicator in Group 1 by 1.2 times. The maximum expression of adiponectin was observed in the PVAT culture in patients of both groups. For Group 2, this indicator exceeded the values of Group 1 by 1.2 times. The content of adiponectin in the culture EAT was lower than in the SAT, both in Group 1 and Group 2 (by 1.3 and 1.13 times). The level of this indicator in Group 2 was 1.4 times higher than in Group 1. PVAT adipocytes of patients with CAD were characterized by the lowest level of adiponectin secretion in comparison with adipocytes of other localization. The adiponectin level in the PVAT of Group 2 exceeded that of fat stores of other localization and in Group 1 patients by 1.8 times. There were no statistically significant differences in the expression and concentration of adiponectin in the culture of adipocytes of the SAT between the groups of patients. In Group 1, the lowest level of AdipoR1 was found in the adipocyte culture of the PVAT. Noteworthy is the decrease in the level of AdipoR1 in Group 1 compared to the level of Group 2, observed in the SAT and PVAT: 1.3 and 1.5 times. There were no significant differences in the concentration of the AdipoR1 in the EAT, as well as AdipoR2 in all types of AT between the groups of patients. Conclusion: in CVD the EAT is characterized by minimal expression and secretion of adiponectin, regardless of nosology. In CAD despite the high level of expression of adiponectin, the adipocytes of the PVAT were found to have the lowest content in comparison with adipocytes of other localization. Dysregulation of the adiponectin/AdipoR axis is observed in PVAT, which may be due to low expression of adiponectin receptors and long-term processes of its post-translational modification and oligomerization in CAD.

scholarly journals Phenylketonuria and juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Ting Zhu ◽  
Jin Wu ◽  
Li Yuan Wang ◽  
Xiao Mei Sun
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Hip Joint ◽  
Metabolic Disorder ◽  
Rare Case ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Methotrexate Therapy ◽  
Case Presentation

Abstract Background Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic metabolic disorder in which patients have no ability to convert phenylalanine to tyrosine. Several autoimmune diseases have been reported to combine with PKU, co-existent of PKU and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) has not been presented. Case presentation The girl was diagnosed with PKU at the age of 1 month confirmed by molecular data. At the age of 3.5 years, she presented with pain and swelling of her right ankle, right knee, and right hip joint. After a serial of examinations, she was diagnosed with JIA and treated with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Conclusions We report a rare case of a 4-year-old girl with PKU and JIA, which supports a possible interaction between PKU and JIA. Long-term metabolic disturbance may increase the susceptibility to JIA. Further chronic inflammation could alter the metabolism of tryptophan and tyrosine to increase blood Phe concentration. In addition, corticosteroid and methotrexate therapy for JIA may increase blood Phe concentration.

Low Alkaline Cement Used in the Construction of a Gallery in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Nakayama ◽  
Haruo Sato ◽  
Yutaka Sugita ◽  
Seiji Ito ◽  
Masashi Minamide ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fly Ash ◽  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Concrete Lining ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Tunnel Support ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
Alkaline Conditions ◽  
High Level ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory

In Japan, any high level radioactive waste (HLW) repository is to be constructed at over 300 m depth below surface. Tunnel support is used for safety during the construction and operation, and shotcrete and concrete lining are used as the tunnel support. Concrete is a composite material comprised of aggregate, cement and various admixtures. Low alkaline cement has been developed for the long term stability of the barrier systems whose performance could be negatively affected by highly alkaline conditions arising due to cement used in a repository. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has developed a low alkaline cement, named as HFSC (Highly Fly-ash Contained Silicafume Cement), containing over 60 wt% of silica-fume (SF) and fly-ash (FA). HFSC was used experimentally as the shotcrete material in construction of part of the 140m deep gallery in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory (URL). The objective of this experiment was to assess the performance of HFSC shotcrete in terms of mechanics, workability, durability, and so on. HFSC used in this experiment is composed of 40 wt% OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement), 20 wt% SF, and 40 wt% FA. This composition was determined based on mechanical testing of various mixes of the above components. Because of the low OPC content, the strength of HFSC tends to be lower than that of OPC. The total length of tunnel using HFSC shotcrete is about 73 m and about 500 m3 of HFSC was used. The workability of HFSC shotcrete was confirmed in this experimental construction.

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