JURNAL AGROTEKNOLOGI
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An illuminated fifteenth-century Milanese manuscript of the 'Meditationes Vitae Christi'
No full textStudy of an overlooked fifteenth-century manuscript of the ‘Meditationes Vitae Christi’ demonstrates that its illustrations were adapted to the needs of its first owner, the Milanese innkeeper Cristoforo da Cassano. It is an example of the way in which the images accompanying this popular devotional text were reshaped to appeal to a new lay urban audience
Deep Bayesian Gaussian processes for uncertainty estimation in electronic health records
No full textOne major impediment to the wider use of deep learning for clinical decision making is the difficulty of assigning a level of confidence to model predictions. Currently, deep Bayesian neural networks and sparse Gaussian processes are the main two scalable uncertainty estimation methods. However, deep Bayesian neural networks suffer from lack of expressiveness, and more expressive models such as deep kernel learning, which is an extension of sparse Gaussian process, captures only the uncertainty from the higher-level latent space. Therefore, the deep learning model under it lacks interpretability and ignores uncertainty from the raw data. In this paper, we merge features of the deep Bayesian learning framework with deep kernel learning to leverage the strengths of both methods for a more comprehensive uncertainty estimation. Through a series of experiments on predicting the first incidence of heart failure, diabetes and depression applied to large-scale electronic medical records, we demonstrate that our method is better at capturing uncertainty than both Gaussian processes and deep Bayesian neural networks in terms of indicating data insufficiency and identifying misclassifications, with a comparable generalization performance. Furthermore, by assessing the accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve over the predictive probability, we show that our method is less susceptible to making overconfident predictions, especially for the minority class in imbalanced datasets. Finally, we demonstrate how uncertainty information derived by the model can inform risk factor analysis towards model interpretability
Effects of lung ultrasonography-guided management on cumulative fluid balance and other clinical outcomes: a systematic review
No full textLung ultrasonography is accurate in detecting pulmonary edema and overcomes most limitations of traditional diagnostic modalities. Whether use of lung ultrasonography-guided management has an effect on cumulative fluid balances and other clinical outcomes remains unclear. In this systematic review, we included 12 studies using ultrasonography guided-management with a total of 2290 patients. Four in-patient studies found a reduced cumulative fluid balance (ranging from -0.3 L to -2.4 L), whereas three out-patient studies found reduction in dialysis dry weight (ranging from -2.6 kg to -0.2 kg) compared with conventionally managed patients. None of the studies found adverse effects related to hypoperfusion. The use of lung ultrasonography-guided management was not associated with other clinical outcomes. This systematic review shows that lung ultrasonography-guided management, exclusively or in concert with other diagnostic modalities, is associated with a reduced cumulative fluid balance. Studies thus far have not shown a consistent effect on clinical outcomes
Probing galaxy bias and intergalactic gas pressure with KiDS Galaxies-tSZ-CMB lensing cross-correlations
No full textWe constrain the redshift dependence of gas pressure bias (bias-weighted average electron pressure), which
characterises the thermodynamics of intergalactic gas, through a combination of
cross-correlations between galaxy positions and the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich
(tSZ) effect, as well as galaxy positions and the gravitational lensing of the
cosmic microwave background (CMB). The galaxy sample is from the fourth data
release of the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS). The tSZ map and the CMB lensing
map are from the {\textit{Planck}} 2015 and 2018 data releases, respectively.
The measurements are performed in five redshift bins with . With
these measurements, combining galaxy-tSZ and galaxy-CMB lensing
cross-correlations allows us to break the degeneracy between galaxy bias and
gas pressure bias, and hence constrain them simultaneously. In all redshift
bins, the best-fit values of \bpe are at a level of and increase slightly with redshift. The galaxy bias is
consistent with unity in all the redshift bins. Our results are not sensitive
to the non-linear details of the cross-correlation, which are smoothed out by
the {\textit{Planck}} beam. Our measurements are in agreement with previous
measurements as well as with theoretical predictions. We also show that our
conclusions are not changed when CMB lensing is replaced by galaxy lensing,
which shows the consistency of the two lensing signals despite their radically
different redshift ranges. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using CMB
lensing to calibrate the galaxy distribution such that the galaxy distribution
can be used as a mass proxy without relying on the precise knowledge of the
matter distribution
Multiplexed profiling of extracellular vesicles for biomarker development
No full textExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membranous particles that play a crucial role in molecular trafficking, intercellular transport and the egress of unwanted proteins. They have been implicated in many diseases including cancer and neurodegeneration. EVs are detected in all bodily fluids, and their protein and nucleic acid content offers a means of assessing the status of the cells from which they originated. As such, they provide opportunities in biomarker discovery for diagnosis, prognosis or the stratification of diseases as well as an objective monitoring of therapies. The simultaneous assaying of multiple EV-derived markers will be required for an impactful practical application, and multiplexing platforms have evolved with the potential to achieve this. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of the currently available multiplexing platforms for EV analysis, with a primary focus on miniaturized and integrated devices that offer potential step changes in analytical power, throughput and consistency
Supporting Parents & Kids Through Lockdown Experiences (SPARKLE): a digital parenting support app implemented in an ongoing general population cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic: a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
No full textObjectives
The COVID-19 related lockdowns and distancing measures have presented families with unprecedented challenges. A UK-wide cohort study tracking changes in families’ mental health since early lockdown (Co-SPACE) found a significant rise in primary school-aged children’s behaviour problems and associated family-related stress. Three-quarters of parents in Co-SPACE also reported wanting extra support. In SPARKLE, we will examine whether providing Co-SPACE families with a smartphone application delivering information and parenting support, Parent Positive, can reverse the negative effects of the pandemic on children and parents. The efficacy on child and parent outcomes and cost-effectiveness of Parent Positive will be examined. We will also test whether the effects are moderated by pre-existing levels of child conduct problems and usage of Parent Positive. Exploratory analyses will examine whether other baseline characteristics or lockdown circumstances moderate the effects of Parent Positive.
Trial design
SPARKLE is a two-arm superiority parallel group randomised controlled trial embedded in an existing large UK-wide self-selected community cohort – Co-SPACE. Those who consent to SPARKLE will be randomised 1:1 to either Parent Positive or Follow-up As Usual (FAU).
Participants
Co-SPACE (a UK-wide longitudinal cohort study) parents aged ≥18 who have children aged 4-10 years will be eligible for SPARKLE.
Intervention and comparator
Parent Positive: is a digital public health intervention that can be delivered rapidly at scale to support parents in managing their children’s behaviour to reduce conduct problems and levels of family conflict, which were exacerbated during the first lockdown, and which may increase further in future months as families need to cope with continuous uncertainty and further disruption to their daily lives. Co-designed with parents and based on decades of parenting research, Parent Positive consists of three elements: (i) Parenting Boosters: where advice, delivered in the form of narrated animations, videos, graphics and text is provided to help parents with eight common parenting challenges; (ii) Parenting Exchange: a facilitated parent-to-parent communication and peer support platform and; (iii) Parent Resources: giving access to carefully selected high-quality, evidence-based online parenting resources.
Follow-up as Usual: FAU was selected as a comparator because the public health nature meant that an active comparator was not appropriate due to the pragmatic, rapid implementation of the trial. Individuals randomised to FAU will receive no intervention for the first two months while the data for baseline (T1), T2 and T3 are collected. They will then be given full access to the app until 30th November 2021.
Main outcomes
Outcome measures will be collected remotely through Qualtrics according to the Co-SPACE schedule at baseline (T1), which will be the Co-SPACE survey data obtained immediately prior to randomisation, and then at one month (T2) and two months (T3) post-randomisation. Measures will be collected to assess group differences in child and parent outcomes, costs and service utilisation, and adverse events. Usage of Parent Positive will also be tracked. The primary outcome is parent-reported child conduct problems at one-month post-randomisation measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire conduct problems subscale.
Randomisation
Enrolled participants will be allocated to Parent Positive or FAU at the ratio of 1:1 by simple randomisation using the Randomizer function within the Qualtrics programme. Neither blocking nor stratification will be used.
Blinding (masking)
It is not possible to blind parents enrolled in the study and Qualtrics will automatically inform parents of their group allocation. Blinded members of the research team and the senior statistician will not be given access to the Qualtrics system or the data in order to remain blinded until after the analysis is complete. We do not anticipate any serious harms associated with taking part in the intervention, therefore there will be no need to unblind any blinded staff during the study. The junior statistician will be unblinded throughout.
Numbers to be randomised (sample size)
A total of 616 will be recruited into the trial with 308 consenting parents randomised to each treatment arm.
Trial status
V1.0; 15.03.2021. Not yet recruiting. Anticipated start date: 1st April 2021. Anticipated end date for recruitment: 31st July 2021.
Trial registration
Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT04786080. The trial was prospectively registered on 8 March 2021.
Full protocol
The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol. The study protocol has been reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Clinical Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines (Additional file 2)
Cooperative interactions among females can lead to even more extraordinary sex ratios
No full textHamilton's local mate competition theory provided an explanation for extraordinary female-biased sex ratios in a range of organisms. When mating takes place locally, in structured populations, a female-biased sex ratio is favored to reduce competition between related males, and to provide more mates for males. However, there are a number of wasp species in which the sex ratios appear to more female biased than predicted by Hamilton's theory. It has been hypothesized that the additional female bias in these wasp species results from cooperative interactions between females. We investigated theoretically the extent to which cooperation between related females can interact with local mate competition to favor even more female-biased sex ratios. We found that (i) cooperation between females can lead to sex ratios that are more female biased than predicted by local competition theory alone, and (ii) sex ratios can be more female biased when the cooperation occurs from offspring to mothers before dispersal, rather than cooperation between siblings after dispersal. Our models formally confirm the verbal predictions made in previous experimental studies, which could be applied to a range of organisms. Specifically, cooperation can help explain sex ratio biases in Sclerodermus and Melittobia wasps, although quantitative comparisons between predictions and data suggest that some additional factors may be operating
Ethical issues in participatory arts methods for young people with adverse childhood experiences
No full textContext
Participatory arts-based methods such as photovoice, drama and music have increasingly been used to engage young people who are exposed to psychosocial risks. These methods have the potential to empower youth and provide them with an accessible and welcoming environment to express and manage difficult feelings and experiences. These effects are, however, dependent on the way these methods are implemented and how potential ethical concerns are handled.
Objective
Using the current literature on arts-based health research as a foundation, this paper examines ethical issues emerging from participatory arts methods with young people with traumatic experiences.
Results
We present a typology covering relevant issues such as power, accessibility, communication, trust and ownership, across the domains of partnership working, project entry, participation and dissemination. Drawing on our extensive clinical and research experiences, existing research and novel in-practice examples, we offer guidance for ethical dilemmas that might arise at different phases of research.
Conclusion
Adequate anticipation and consideration of ethical issues, together with the involvement of young people, will help ensure that arts methods are implemented in research and practice with young people in a fair, meaningful and empowering way.
Patient or Public Contribution
The issues reviewed are largely based on the authors' experience conducting participatory research. Each of the projects referenced has its own systems for PPI including, variously, consultations with advisory groups, coproduction, youth ambassadors and mentor schemes. One of the coauthors, Josita Kavitha Thirumalai, is a young person trained in peer support and has provided extensive input across all stages
Quasinormal modes of growing dirty black holes
No full textThe ringdown of a perturbed black hole contains fundamental information about space-time in the form of quasinormal modes (QNM). Modifications to general relativity, or extended profiles of other fields surrounding the black hole, so called "black hole hair", can perturb the QNM frequencies. Previous works have examined the QNM frequencies of spherically symmetric "dirty"black holes; that is black holes surrounded by arbitrary matter fields. Such analyses were restricted to static systems, making the assumption that the metric perturbation was independent of time. However, in most physical cases such black holes will actually be growing dynamically due to accretion of the surrounding matter. Here we develop a perturbative analytic method that allows us to compute for the first time the time dependent QNM deviations of such growing dirty black holes. Whilst both are small, we show that the change in QNM frequency due to the accretion can be of the same order or larger than the change due to the static matter distribution itself, and therefore should not be neglected in such calculations. We present the case of spherically symmetric accretion of a complex scalar field as an illustrative example, but the method has the potential to be extended to more complicated cases
You talkin’ to me? Exploring practical attacks on controller pilot data link communications
No full textWorldwide, voice-based Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications are gradually being replaced with data link-based equivalents, namely the Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) system. This helps to manage the high levels of congestion on voice-based ATC---under modern traffic levels these analog voice channels are extremely busy, especially at times of peak traffic. CPDLC offers the ability to conduct most ATC actions in the form of digital text-based messages.
As with voice-based ATC, CPDLC has no built-in security mechanisms. Furthermore, the links which carry CPDLC do not have security mechanisms either. In this paper, we analyze the susceptibility of CPDLC to attacks by a software-defined radio (SDR)-equipped attacker. Crucially, this is different to attacks on aviation surveillance systems, as it requires the attacker to comply with a larger authentication protocol.
We identify attacks on CPDLC, including a man-in-the-middle attack on the protocol. This attack enables a take-over of an aircraft's communication on an attacker-specified frequency, after which arbitrary CPDLC commands can be transmitted to the target without alerting the legitimate controller. We empirically assess the likely effectiveness of this attack through a data collection and analysis exercise. In order to counteract this type of attack, we propose three countermeasures of different complexities, including logical checks and a public key infrastructure approach. We also estimate to what extent these countermeasures can be implemented without altering the underlying protocol