title: Fuzzy Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure and Simulation Model to Solve the Team Orienteering Problem with Time Windows

text: Tourism is a relevant economic activity that provides important resources (income, employment,...) to countries. When a tourist visits a country or city, he/she wants to know their points of interest. To do this, he/she must select some of the places according to his/her preferences and design routes to visit them. This problem can be adequately modeled as a Team Orienteering Problem with Time Windows (TOPTW). In this paper we propose a fuzzy GRASP and a multi-agent simulation model to solve the TOPTW. Our proposal incorporates two criteria to build the restricted candidate list. The computational results obtained show the validity of the proposal.


title: Metrical Approach to Measuring Uncertainty

text: Many uncertainty measures can be generated by the corresponding divergences, like the Kullback-Leibler divergence generates the Shannon entropy. Divergences can evaluate the information gain obtained by knowing a posterior probability distribution w.r.t. a prior one, or the contradiction between them. Divergences can be also viewed as distances between probability distributions. In this paper, we consider divergences that satisfy a weak system of axioms. This system of axioms does not guaranty additivity of divergences and allows us to consider, for example, the [Formula: see text]-metric on probability measures as a divergence. We show what kind of uncertainty measures can be generated by such divergences, and how these uncertainty measures can be extended to credal sets.


title: A Note on Aggregation of Intuitionistic Values

text: Atanassov’s intuitionistic fuzzy set theory is based on the lattice [Formula: see text] of intuitionistic values and their aggregation. There are lots of works dealing with this topic, but mostly considering some particular cases. In this contribution, we offer a rather general view on aggregation of intuitionistic values with transparent proofs of several properties which significantly shorten the related proofs for particular cases known from the literature.


title: Automorphism Groups of Finite BL-Algebras

text: Using a category dual to finite [Formula: see text]-algebras and their homomorphisms, in this paper we characterise the structure of the automorphism group of any given finite [Formula: see text]-algebra. Further, we specialise our result to the case of the variety generated by the k-element [Formula: see text]-algebra, for each [Formula: see text].


title: A Fuzzy Approach for Similarity Measurement in Time Series, Case Study for Stocks

text: In this paper, we tackle the issue of assessing similarity among time series under the assumption that a time series can be additively decomposed into a trend-cycle and an irregular fluctuation. It has been proved before that the former can be well estimated using the fuzzy transform. In the suggested method, first, we assign to each time series an adjoint one that consists of a sequence of trend-cycle of a time series estimated using fuzzy transform. Then we measure the distance between local trend-cycles. An experiment is conducted to demonstrate the advantages of the suggested method. This method is easy to calculate, well interpretable, and unlike standard euclidean distance, it is robust to outliers.


title: Fast Convergence of Competitive Spiking Neural Networks with Sample-Based Weight Initialization

text: Recent work on spiking neural networks showed good progress towards unsupervised feature learning. In particular, networks called Competitive Spiking Neural Networks (CSNN) achieve reasonable accuracy in classification tasks. However, two major disadvantages limit their practical applications: high computational complexity and slow convergence. While the first problem has partially been addressed with the development of neuromorphic hardware, no work has addressed the latter problem. In this paper we show that the number of samples the CSNN needs to converge can be reduced significantly by a proposed new weight initialization. The proposed method uses input samples as initial values for the connection weights. Surprisingly, this simple initialization reduces the number of training samples needed for convergence by an order of magnitude without loss of accuracy. We use the MNIST dataset to show that the method is robust even when not all classes are seen during initialization.


title: Fuzzy Inference System as an Aggregation Operator - Application to the Design of a Soil Chemical Quality Index

text: Fuzzy logic is widely used in linguistic modeling. In this work, fuzzy logic is used in a multicriteria decision making framework in two different ways. First, fuzzy sets are used to model an expert preference relation for each of the individual information sources to turn raw data into satisfaction degrees. Second, fuzzy rules are used to model the interaction between sources to aggregate the individual degrees into a global score. The whole framework is implemented as an open source software called GeoFIS. The potential of the method is illustrated using an agronomic case study to design a soil chemical quality index from expert knowledge for cacao production systems. The data come from three municipalities of Tolima department in Colombia. The output inferred by the fuzzy inference system was used as a target to learn the weights of classical numerical aggregation operators. Only the Choquet Integral proved to have a similar modeling ability, but the weights would have been difficult to set from expert knowledge without learning.


title: A Word Embedding Model for Mapping Food Composition Databases Using Fuzzy Logic

text: This paper addresses the problem of mapping equivalent items between two databases based on their textual descriptions. Specifically, we will apply this technique to link the elements of two food composition databases by calculating the most likely match of each item in another given database. A number of experiments have been carried by employing different distance metrics, some of them involving Fuzzy Logic. The experiments show that the mappings are highly accurate and Fuzzy Logic improves the precision of the model.


title: Belief Functions for the Importance Assessment in Multiplex Networks

text: We apply Dempster-Shafer theory in order to reveal important elements in undirected weighted networks. We estimate cooperation of each node with different groups of vertices that surround it via construction of belief functions. The obtained intensities of cooperation are further redistributed over all elements of a particular group of nodes that results in pignistic probabilities of node-to-node interactions. Finally, pairwise interactions can be aggregated into the centrality vector that ranks nodes with respect to derived values. We also adapt the proposed model to multiplex networks. In this type of networks nodes can be differently connected with each other on several levels of interaction. Various combination rules help to analyze such systems as a single entity, that has many advantages in the study of complex systems. In particular, Dempster rule takes into account the inconsistency in initial data that has an impact on the final centrality ranking. We also provide a numerical example that illustrates the distinctive features of the proposed model. Additionally, we establish analytical relations between a proposed measure and classical centrality measures for particular graph configurations.


title: The Formalization of Asymmetry in Disjunctive Evaluation

text: The main property of disjunction is substitutability, i.e., the fully satisfied predicate substitutes the rejected one. But, in many real–world cases disjunction is expressed as the fusion of full and optional alternatives, which is expressed as OR ELSE connective. Generally, this logical connective provides a solution lower than or equal to the MAX operator, and higher than or equal to the projection of the full alternative, i.e., the solution does not go below any averaging function and above MAX function. Therefore, the optional alternative does not influence the solution when it is satisfied with a degree lower than the degree of full alternative. In this work, we propose further generalization by other disjunctive functions in order to allow upward reinforcement of asymmetric disjunction. Finally, the obtained results are illustrated and discussed.


title: A Publicly Available, High Resolution, Unbiased CT Brain Template

text: Clinical imaging relies heavily on X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans for diagnosis and prognosis. Many research applications aim to perform population-level analyses, which require images to be put in the same space, usually defined by a population average, also known as a template. We present an open-source, publicly available, high-resolution CT template. With this template, we provide voxel-wise standard deviation and median images, a basic segmentation of the cerebrospinal fluid spaces, including the ventricles, and a coarse whole brain labeling. This template can be used for spatial normalization of CT scans and research applications, including deep learning. The template was created using an anatomically-unbiased template creation procedure, but is still limited by the population it was derived from, an open CT data set without demographic information. The template and derived images are available at https://github.com/muschellij2/high_res_ct_template. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this chapter (10.1007/978-3-030-50153-2_27) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.


title: Depth-Bounded Approximations of Probability

text: We introduce measures of uncertainty that are based on Depth-Bounded Logics [4] and resemble belief functions. We show that our measures can be seen as approximation of classical probability measures over classical logic, and that a variant of the PSAT [10] problem for them is solvable in polynomial time.


title: Learning Sets of Bayesian Networks

text: This paper considers the problem of learning a generalized credal network (a set of Bayesian networks) from a dataset. It is based on using the BDEu score and computes all the networks with score above a predetermined factor of the optimal one. To avoid the problem of determining the equivalent sample size (ESS), the approach also considers the possibility of an undetermined ESS. Even if the final result is a set of Bayesian networks, the paper also studies the problem of selecting a single network with some alternative procedures. Finally, some preliminary experiments are carried out with three small networks.


title: Aggregation Functions Transformed by 0 - 1 Valued Monotone Systems of Functions

text: In the paper Jin et al. [8] the authors introduced a generalized phi-transformation of aggregation functions. This is a kind of two-step aggregation. This transformation was further developed in Jin et al. [9] into a Generalized-Convex-Sum-Transformation. A special case of the proposed Generalized-Convex-Sum-Transformation is the well-known *-product, also known as the Darsow product of copulas. This approach covers also the discrete Choquet integral. In this paper we study the monotone systems of functions, particularly the case when functions in these systems are just two-valued.


title: Archimedean Choice Functions: An Axiomatic Foundation for Imprecise Decision Making

text: If uncertainty is modelled by a probability measure, decisions are typically made by choosing the option with the highest expected utility. If an imprecise probability model is used instead, this decision rule can be generalised in several ways. We here focus on two such generalisations that apply to sets of probability measures: E-admissibility and maximality. Both of them can be regarded as special instances of so-called choice functions, a very general mathematical framework for decision making. For each of these two decision rules, we provide a set of necessary and sufficient conditions on choice functions that uniquely characterises this rule, thereby providing an axiomatic foundation for imprecise decision making with sets of probabilities. A representation theorem for Archimedean choice functions in terms of coherent lower previsions lies at the basis of both results.


title: Some Remarks on Approximate Reasoning and Bandler-Kohout Subproduct

text: In our contribution we give some remarks and conclusions regarding reasoning schemas used in approximate reasoning. Based on created computer tool for image customization we give some advices regarding FITA. Also, we show some facts regarding Bandler-Kohout subproduct and we present results for several inference schemas.


title: Approximating General Kernels by Extended Fuzzy Measures: Application to Filtering

text: Convolution kernels are essential tools in signal processing: they are used to filter noisy signal, interpolate discrete signals, [Formula: see text]. However, in a given application, it is often hard to select an optimal shape of the kernel. This is why, in practice, it may be useful to possess efficient tools to perform a robustness analysis, talking the form in our case of an imprecise convolution. When convolution kernels are positive, their formal equivalence with probability distributions allows one to use imprecise probability theory to achieve such an imprecise convolution. However, many kernels can have negative values, in which case the previous equivalence does not hold anymore. Yet, we show mathematically in this paper that, while the formal equivalence is lost, the computational tools used to describe sets of probabilities by intervals on the singletons still retain their key properties when used to approximate sets of (possibly) non-positive kernels. We then illustrate their use on a single application that consists of filtering a human electrocardiogram signal by using a low-pass filter whose order is imprecisely known. We show, in this experiment, that the proposed approach leads to tighter bounds than previously proposed approaches.


title: On the Properties of Intermediate Quantifiers and the Quantifier “MORE-THAN”

text: This paper continues the research in formal theory of intermediate quantifiers. We present some new properties, introduce intermediate quantifiers of type [Formula: see text], and also new quantifiers MORE-THAN and LESS-THAN.


title: Graded Decagon of Opposition with Fuzzy Quantifier-Based Concept-Forming Operators

text: We introduce twelve operators called fuzzy quantifier-based operators. They are proposed as a new tool to help to deepen the analysis of data in fuzzy formal concept analysis. Moreover, we employ them to construct a graded extension of Aristotle’s square, namely the graded decagon of opposition.


title: Conditioning and Dilation with Coherent Nearly-Linear Models

text: In previous work [1] we introduced Nearly-Linear (NL) models, a class of neighbourhood models obtaining upper/lower probabilities by means of a linear affine transformation (with barriers) of a given probability. NL models are partitioned into more subfamilies, some of which are coherent. One, that of the Vertical Barrier Models (VBM), includes known models, such as the Pari-Mutuel, the [Formula: see text]-contamination or the Total Variation model as special instances. In this paper we study conditioning of coherent NL models, obtaining formulae for their natural extension. We show that VBMs are stable after conditioning, i.e. return a conditional model that is still a VBM, and that this is true also for the special instances mentioned above but not in general for NL models. We then analyse dilation for coherent NL models, a phenomenon that makes our ex-post opinion on an event A, after conditioning it on any event in a partition of hypotheses, vaguer than our ex-ante opinion on A.


title: Fuzzy Neighborhood Semantics for Multi-agent Probabilistic Reasoning in Games

text: In this contribution we apply fuzzy neighborhood semantics to multiple agents’ reasoning about each other’s subjective probabilities, especially in game-theoretic situations. The semantic model enables representing various game-theoretic notions such as payoff matrices or Nash equilibria, as well as higher-order probabilistic beliefs of the players about each other’s choice of strategy. In the proposed framework, belief-dependent concepts such as the strategy with the best expected value are formally derivable in higher-order fuzzy logic for any finite matrix game with rational payoffs.


title: Coherent and Archimedean Choice in General Banach Spaces

text: I introduce and study a new notion of Archimedeanity for binary and non-binary choice between options that live in an abstract Banach space, through a very general class of choice models, called sets of desirable option sets. In order to be able to bring horse lottery options into the fold, I pay special attention to the case where these linear spaces do not include all ‘constant’ options. I consider the frameworks of conservative inference associated with Archimedean choice models, and also pay quite a lot of attention to representation of general (non-binary) choice models in terms of the simpler, binary ones. The representation theorems proved here provide an axiomatic characterisation of, amongst other choice methods, Levi’s E-admissibility and Walley–Sen maximality.


title: General Grouping Functions

text: Some aggregation functions that are not necessarily associative, namely overlap and grouping functions, have called the attention of many researchers in the recent past. This is probably due to the fact that they are a richer class of operators whenever one compares with other classes of aggregation functions, such as t-norms and t-conorms, respectively. In the present work we introduce a more general proposal for disjunctive n-ary aggregation functions entitled general grouping functions, in order to be used in problems that admit n dimensional inputs in a more flexible manner, allowing their application in different contexts. We present some new interesting results, like the characterization of that operator and also provide different construction methods.


title: Secondary Trauma and Parenting Practices in Internet Crimes against Children Task Force Investigators

text: Investigating cases of child pornography requires daily exposure to sexually explicit material involving children and may have negative implications on the mental well-being of those in this line of work. This study aimed to identify whether secondary traumatic stress symptoms were associated with participants’ parenting behaviors and concerns about their own children’s use of the internet. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force workers (n = 212) completed online questionnaires measuring work exposure to sexually explicit material, secondary traumatic stress symptoms, and parenting behaviors. Professionals in this field reported a wide range of secondary trauma symptoms, and their parenting behaviors were both directly and indirectly (via secondary trauma) affected by prolonged exposure to sexually explicit material involving children. Internet monitoring behaviors were more prevalent for parents of younger children, and mothers’ parenting behaviors were more strongly associated with secondary trauma symptoms than were fathers. Results have implications for mental health and parenting services for professionals in this field.


Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth: Observations on NHS England's Interim Guidance on Pembrolizumab in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer


Title Page


July/August 2020 Forum


title: Design and Development of Digital Twins: a Case Study in Supply Chains

text: Digital twin technology consists of creating virtual replicas of objects or processes that simulate the behavior of their real counterparts. The objective is to analyze its effectiveness or behavior in certain cases to improve its effectiveness. Applied to products, machines and even complete business ecosystems, the digital twin model can reveal information from the past, optimize the present and even predict the future performance of the different areas analyzed. In the context of supply chains, digital twins are changing the way they do business, providing a range of options to facilitate collaborative environments and data-based decision making and making business processes more robust. This paper proposes the design and development of a digital twin for a case study of a pharmaceutical company. The technology used is based on simulators, solvers and data analytic tools that allow these functions to be connected in an integral interface for the company.


title: Effects of dexmedetomidine on stress hormones in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement: a randomized controlled trial

text: BACKGROUND: Stress response always occurs in cardiac valve replacement patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: 60 patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement were recruited and randomized into control and Dex groups. Dex group received 1.0 μg·kg-1 of Dex for 10 min intravenously before anesthesia, followed by 0.5 μg·kg-1·h-1 of Dex, steadily administered throughout the procedure. And controlled group received the identical velocity of saline as Dex group. Plasma level of cortisol (Cor), epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) were evaluated at four timepoints: Before administration (T0), sawn sternum (T1), end of extracorporeal circulation (T2), and 24 h post operation (T3). General data of operation and recovery such as heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), intraoperative bispectral index (BIS), and hospitalization time in the intensive care unit (ICU) were also compared. RESULTS: Increase of Cor, E, NE, and 5-HT for the Dex group was significant lesser than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and ICU hospitalization time and ventilator support time was significantly shorter in the Dex group. The proportion of patients discharged from the hospital with better prognosis was significantly higher than that in the control group, while there were no significant differences in hospitalization costs and vasoactive drugs use between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dex reduces plasma Cor, E and NE elevations in patients after CPB, alleviates the stress reaction of the body, shortens the hospitalization time and ventilator support time in ICU, and plays a positive role in the rehabilitation of patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: China Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR-IPR-17010954) March 22rd, 2017.


Politik & Management


title: Biology and American Sociology, Part II: Developing a Unique Evolutionary Sociology

text: In sociology’s formative period between 1830 and 1930, evolutionary analysis organized much theorizing and research. This line of work ended abruptly in the 1920s but, over the last decades, has come back into the discipline somewhat piecemeal with the reintroduction of more sophisticated stage models of societal evolution, functional analysis, human ecological analysis, and other new lines of evolutionary inquiry outlined in this paper. Our goal is to demonstrate that revitalized paradigms of the past can still be useful with modest reconceptualization, while at the same time new intellectual movements in the other social sciences, especially economics and psychology, incorporating evolutionary ideas from biology provide sociology with an opportunity to develop its own approach to evolutionary analysis that avoids the problems that let to the demise of this line of inquiry in the 1920s, as well as the problems of other social sciences applying their more narrowly focus models to sociological problems. Indeed, sociology can become a leader in the social sciences in developing more sophisticated theoretical and methodological approaches to incorporating biology and evolutionary analysis into the social sciences. When presented in a new, more sophisticated guise, old approaches like functionalism, stage models of societal evolution, and ecological models can be seen as still having a great deal of explanatory power, while revealing a progressive and future orientation that should appeal to all contemporary sociologists. It is time, then, for sociology to remember its past in order to move into the future.


title: Therapeutic potential of a designed CSαβ peptide ID13 in Staphylococcus aureus-induced endometritis of mice

text: Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen that can cause clinical and subclinical endometritis in humans and animals. In this study, a designed CSαβ peptide ID13 from DLP4 exhibited high stable antibacterial activity in simulated gastric fluid (90.79%), serum (99.54%), and different pH buffers (> 99%) against S. aureus CVCC 546 and lower cytotoxicity (89.62% viability) than its parent peptide DLP4 (74.14% viability) toward mouse endometrial epithelial cells (MEECs). ID13 caused a depolarization of bacterial membrane and downregulation of the expression of genes involved in membrane potential maintenance and biofilm formation. The in vitro efficacy analysis of ID13 showed a synergistic effect with vancomycin, ampicillin, rifampin, and ciprofloxacin; intracellular antimicrobial activity against S. aureus CVCC 546 in MEECs; and the ability to inhibit lipoteichoic acid-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines from RAW 264.7. In the S. aureus-induced endometritis of mice, similar to vancomycin, ID13 remarkably alleviated pathological conditions, inhibited the production of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10), and suppressed the TLR2-NF-κB signal pathway. Collectively, these results suggest that ID13 could be a potential candidate peptide for therapeutic application in S. aureus-induced endometritis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00253-020-10685-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.


Gastrointestinale Manifestation und fäkale Viruslast der SARS-CoV-2-Infektion


Alles Corona - oder was?


Muskuloskeletale Bewegung und Entzündung im Fokus


CED in Zeiten von COVID-19


title: Phishing Email Detection Based on Binary Search Feature Selection

text: Phishing has appeared as a critical issue in the cybersecurity domain. Phishers adopt email as one of their major channels of communication to lure potential victims. This paper attempts to detect phishing emails by using binary search feature selection (BSFS) with a Pearson correlation coefficient algorithm as a ranking method. The proposed method utilizes four sets of features from the email subject, the body of the email, hyperlinks, and readability of contents. Overall, 41 features were selected from the aforementioned four dimensions. The result shows that the BSFS method evaluated the accuracy of 97.41% in comparison with SFFS (95.63%) and WFS (95.56%). This exploration shows that the SFFS requires more time to ascertain the optimum features set and the WFS requires the least time; however, the accuracy of WFS is very low in comparison with other algorithms. The significant finding of the experiment is that the BFSF requires the least time to evaluate the best feature set with better accuracy even though few features are removed from the feature corpus.


title: Morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients with invasive group A streptococcus infection: an observational study

text: BACKGROUND: Group A streptococci (GAS) are known to cause serious invasive infections, but little is known about outcomes when patients with these infections are admitted to intensive care. We wanted to describe critically ill patients with severe sepsis or septic shock due to invasive GAS (iGAS) and compare them with other patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. METHODS: Adult patients admitted to a general intensive care unit (ICU) in Sweden (2007–2019) were screened for severe sepsis or septic shock according to Sepsis 2 definition. Individuals with iGAS infection were identified. The outcome variables were mortality, days alive and free of vasopressors and invasive mechanical ventilation, maximum acute kidney injury score for creatinine, use of continuous renal replacement therapy and maximum Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score during the ICU stay. Age, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS 3) and iGAS were used as independent, explanatory variables in regression analysis. Cox regression was used for survival analyses. RESULTS: iGAS was identified in 53 of 1021 (5.2%) patients. Patients with iGAS presented a lower median SAPS 3 score (62 [56–72]) vs 71 [61–81]), p < 0.001), had a higher frequency of cardiovascular cause of admission to the ICU (38 [72%] vs 145 [15%], p < 0.001) and had a higher median creatinine score (173 [100–311] vs 133 [86–208] μmol/L, p < 0.019). Of the GAS isolates, 50% were serotyped emm1/T1 and this group showed signs of more pronounced circulatory and renal failure than patients with non-emm1/T1 (p = 0.036 and p = 0.007, respectively). After correction for severity of illness (SAPS 3) and age, iGAS infection was associated with lower mortality risk (95% confidence interval (CI) of hazard ratio (HR) 0.204–0.746, p < 0.001). Morbidity analyses demonstrated that iGAS patients were more likely to develop renal failure. CONCLUSION: Critically ill patients with iGAS infection had a lower mortality risk but a higher degree of renal failure compared to similarly ill sepsis patients. emm1/T1 was found to be the most dominant serotype, and patients with emm1/T1 demonstrated more circulatory and renal failure than patients with other serotypes of iGAS.


title: Predicting Outcomes After Blunt Chest Trauma—Utility of Thoracic Trauma Severity Score, Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α), and Biomarkers (vWF and CC-16)

text: Thoracic trauma severity score (TTSS) has been used to assess severity and risk of pulmonary complications in patients with chest trauma. The role of cytokines and biomarkers in patients with chest trauma and its association with TTSS is not well elucidated. The aim of the study was to assess the cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α) and biomarkers (vWF, CC-16) in patients of thoracic trauma and correlate it with TTSS and patient’s outcome. This was a prospective observational study. Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected from chest trauma patients. TTSS was calculated in all patients. Suitable controls for serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) sample were selected. The outcome parameters included patient discharge or death, duration of hospital, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Forty-three patients were included. There was no significant correlation between the measured cytokines and biomarkers and TTSS. The mean TTSS of patients who had a fatal outcome was significantly higher than the patients who recovered. Patients with a high TTSS score had a significant prolonged ICU stay. Patients with a prolonged hospital stay had lower values of CC-16. TTSS is a useful tool to predict severity of chest trauma and prolonged ICU stay. Lower levels of CC-16 in BAL fluid of chest trauma patients were associated with prolonged hospital stay suggestive of its protective role in the airway. Longer prospective studies are required to determine the role of cytokines and biomarkers in patients with thoracic trauma in predicting the patient’s outcome.


title: SURE — EU Capacity for Stabilising Employment and Incomes in the Pandemic

text: On 2 April 2020, the European Commission (2020) duly put forward a proposal for the creation of a European instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE). This bold and innovative move must be welcome, but the actual profile of this new instrument requires clarification to avoid misunderstandings, false expectations and eventual disappointment.


title: Why Current EU Proposals for Corona-Related Financial Aid Cannot Replace Coronabonds

text: With public debt-to-GDP levels now set to surpass post-war records and Italy’s ratio approaching levels reached in Greece on the eve of the country’s debt restructuring in early 2012, fears of a return of the sovereign debt crisis have emerged.


The European Response to the Coronavirus Crisis


title: The Privilege of Working From Home at the Time of Social Distancing

text: Although the common perception is that the pandemic is ‘the great equaliser’, workers’ tasks, contractual framework and position in the internal organisational hierarchy strongly affect their ability to work remotely.


title: Slavutych atomograd as the last ideal city of the USSR: Challenges and adaptation mechanisms of resilience

text: Urban resilience implies the ability of all components of a city system to maintain or restore their functions following unforeseen events, and the ability to adapt to external changes. We apply the concept of resilience and adaptation to Slavutych atomograd following the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station explosion. Challenges and responses facing the urban management and planning systems are examined. Perceptions of Slavutych’s resilience capacity are integrated into research based on a survey of residents. The main challenges faced were lack of targeted financing; insufficient economic diversification and professional employment opportunities; an aging population and outmigration of youth and professionals; physical remoteness from the Kyiv Region; declining quality of municipal infrastructure, poor housing and community services; and slow introduction of market mechanisms. Resilience potential formation is used in effective municipal management practices, stimulating innovations in nuclear/alternative energy, IT, and cultural/artistic events. Urban management and planning systems remain active and are ongoing.


Wound Healing


title: The COVID-19 pandemic: resilient organisational response to a low-chance, high-impact event

text: The global healthcare sector is currently in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a ‘low-chance, high-impact’ event which will require healthcare systems, and the organisations within them, to maintain organisational resilience in order to respond effectively. However, contrary to the instinctive reaction to tighten control, the quality of response depends on healthcare systems’ capacity to loosen control and, subsequently, enhance improvisation. Three factors critical to enhancing an organisation’s capacity for improvisation are highlighted; increasing autonomy, maintaining structure and creating a shared understanding. By drawing on the case of Christchurch Hospital’s response to a major earthquake, this paper demonstrates the vital role that improvisation can play within a clinical setting, when responding to a low-chance, high-impact event.


title: Microneedle Array: Applications, Recent Advances, and Clinical Pertinence in Transdermal Drug Delivery

text: Drug delivery through the skin by transdermal patches has a long history. Subsequent growth of transdermal science proved prominent utility of transdermal systems meant for passive diffusion of the drug. It was followed by the development of iontophoresis- and sonophoresis-based transdermal delivery systems. Microneedle array has now caught attention of the investigators owing to its immense utility in transdermal delivery of very large molecules with ionic and hydrophilic nature. In this technical note, we present the current scenario, applications, and recent advances in microneedle array-based delivery of the most critical molecules through the skin. The application of microneedle has widely been investigated, and these technologies are being developed for the delivery of bio-therapeutics, bio-macromolecules, insulin, growth hormones, immunobiologicals, proteins, siRNA, and peptides. Potential of microneedles to transform the global transdermal market is highlighted in terms of the success rate of the microneedle technologies in clinical trials reaching to the global market. The arrival of the commercial microneedle-based products in the market is highly anticipated as they have potential to portray remarkable impact on clinical medicine in near future.


title: Towards Hypervisor Support for Enhancing the Performance of Virtual Machine Introspection

text: Virtual machine introspection (VMI) is the process of external monitoring of virtual machines. Previous work has demonstrated that VMI can contribute to the security of cloud environments and distributed systems, as it enables, for example, stealthy intrusion detection. One of the biggest challenges for applying VMI in production environments is the performance overhead that certain tracing operations impose on the monitored virtual machine. In this paper, we show how this performance overhead can be significantly minimized by incorporating minor extensions for VMI operations into the hypervisor. In a proof-of-concept implementation, we demonstrate that the pre-processing of VMI events in the Xen hypervisor reduces the monitoring overhead for the use case of VMI-based process-bound monitoring by a factor of 18.


title: Building a Polyglot Data Access Layer for a Low-Code Application Development Platform: (Experience Report)

text: Low-code application development as proposed by the OutSystems Platform enables fast mobile and desktop application development and deployment. It hinges on visual development of the interface and business logic but also on easy integration with data stores and services while delivering robust applications that scale. Data integration increasingly means accessing a variety of NoSQL stores. Unfortunately, the diversity of data and processing models, that make them useful in the first place, is difficult to reconcile with the simplification of abstractions exposed to developers in a low-code platform. Moreover, NoSQL data stores also rely on a variety of general purpose and custom scripting languages as their main interfaces. In this paper we report on building a polyglot data access layer for the OutSystems Platform that uses SQL with optional embedded script snippets to bridge the gap between low-code and full access to NoSQL stores.


title: Self-tunable DBMS Replication with Reinforcement Learning

text: Fault-tolerance is a core feature in distributed database systems, particularly the ones deployed in cloud environments. The dependability of these systems often relies in middleware components that abstract the DBMS logic from the replication itself. The highly configurable nature of these systems makes their throughput very dependent on the correct tuning for a given workload. Given the high complexity involved, machine learning techniques are often considered to guide the tuning process and decompose the relations established between tuning variables. This paper presents a machine learning mechanism based on reinforcement learning that attaches to a hybrid replication middleware connected to a DBMS to dynamically live-tune the configuration of the middleware according to the workload being processed. Along with the vision for the system, we present a study conducted over a prototype of the self-tuned replication middleware, showcasing the achieved performance improvements and showing that we were able to achieve an improvement of 370.99% on some of the considered metrics.


title: A Comparison of Message Exchange Patterns in BFT Protocols: (Experience Report)

text: The performance and scalability of byzantine fault-tolerant (BFT) protocols for state machine replication (SMR) have recently come under scrutiny due to their application in the consensus mechanism of blockchain implementations. This led to a proliferation of proposals that provide different trade-offs that are not easily compared as, even if these are all based on message passing, multiple design and implementation factors besides the message exchange pattern differ between each of them. In this paper we focus on the impact of different combinations of cryptographic primitives and the message exchange pattern used to collect and disseminate votes, a key aspect for performance and scalability. By measuring this aspect in isolation and in a common framework, we characterise the design space and point out research directions for adaptive protocols that provide the best trade-off for each environment and workload combination.


title: A Resource Usage Efficient Distributed Allocation Algorithm for 5G Service Function Chains

text: Recent evolution of networks introduce new challenges for the allocation of resources. Slicing in 5G networks allows multiple users to share a common infrastructure and the chaining of Network Function (NFs) introduces constraints on the order in which NFs are allocated. We first model the allocation of resources for Chains of NFs in 5G Slices. Then we introduce a distributed mutual exclusion algorithm to address the problem of the allocation of resources. We show with selected metrics that choosing an order of allocation of the resources that differs from the order in which resources are used can give better performances. We then show experimental results where we improve the usage rate of resources by more than 20% compared to the baseline algorithm in some cases. The experiments run on our own simulator based on SimGrid.


title: Capturing Privacy-Preserving User Contexts with IndoorHash

text: IoT devices are ubiquitous and widely adopted by end-users to gather personal and environmental data that often need to be put into context in order to gain insights. In particular, location is often a critical context information that is required by third parties in order to analyse such data at scale. However, sharing this information is i) sensitive for the user privacy and ii) hard to capture when considering indoor environments. This paper therefore addresses the challenge of producing a new location hash, named IndoorHash, that captures the indoor location of a user, without disclosing the physical coordinates, thus preserving their privacy. This location hash leverages surrounding infrastructure, such as WiFi access points, to compute a key that uniquely identifies an indoor location. Location hashes are only known from users physically visiting these locations, thus enabling a new generation of privacy-preserving crowdsourcing mobile applications that protect from third parties re-identification attacks. We validate our results with a crowdsourcing campaign of 31 mobile devices during one month of data collection.


title: On the Trade-Offs of Combining Multiple Secure Processing Primitives for Data Analytics

text: Cloud Computing services for data analytics are increasingly being sought by companies to extract value from large quantities of information. However, processing data from individuals and companies in third-party infrastructures raises several privacy concerns. To this end, different secure analytics techniques and systems have recently emerged. These initial proposals leverage specific cryptographic primitives lacking generality and thus having their application restricted to particular application scenarios. In this work, we contribute to this thriving body of knowledge by combining two complementary approaches to process sensitive data. We present SafeSpark, a secure data analytics framework that enables the combination of different cryptographic processing techniques with hardware-based protected environments for privacy-preserving data storage and processing. SafeSpark is modular and extensible therefore adapting to data analytics applications with different performance, security and functionality requirements. We have implemented a SafeSpark’s prototype based on Spark SQL and Intel SGX hardware. It has been evaluated with the TPC-DS Benchmark under three scenarios using different cryptographic primitives and secure hardware configurations. These scenarios provide a particular set of security guarantees and yield distinct performance impact, with overheads ranging from as low as 10% to an acceptable 300% when compared to an insecure vanilla deployment of Apache Spark.


title: TailX: Scheduling Heterogeneous Multiget Queries to Improve Tail Latencies in Key-Value Stores

text: Users of interactive services such as e-commerce platforms have high expectations for the performance and responsiveness of these services. Tail latency, denoting the worst service times, contributes greatly to user dissatisfaction and should be minimized. Maintaining low tail latency for interactive services is challenging because a request is not complete until all its operations are completed. The challenge is to identify bottleneck operations and schedule them on uncoordinated backend servers with minimal overhead, when the duration of these operations are heterogeneous and unpredictable. In this paper, we focus on improving the latency of multiget operations in cloud data stores. We present TailX, a task-aware multiget scheduling algorithm that improves tail latencies under heterogeneous workloads. TailX schedules operations according to an estimation of the size of the corresponding data, and allows itself to procrastinate some operations to give way to higher priority ones. We implement TailX in Cassandra, a widely used key-value store. The result is an improved overall performance of the cloud data stores for a wide variety of heterogeneous workloads. Specifically, our experiments under heterogeneous YCSB workloads show that TailX outperforms state-of-the-art solutions and reduces tail latencies by up to 70% and median latencies by up to 75%.


title: Fed-DIC: Diagonally Interleaved Coding in a Federated Cloud Environment

text: Coping with failures in modern distributed storage systems that handle massive volumes of heterogeneous and potentially rapidly changing data, has become a very important challenge. A common practice is to utilize fault tolerance methods like Replication and Erasure Coding for maximizing data availability. However, while erasure codes provide better fault tolerance compared to replication with a more affordable storage overhead, they frequently suffer from high reconstruction cost as they require to access all available nodes when a data block needs to be repaired, and also can repair up to a limited number of unavailable data blocks, depending on the number of the code’s parity block capabilities. Furthermore, storing and placing the encoded data in the federated storage system also remains a challenge. In this paper we present Fed-DIC, a framework which combines Diagonally Interleaved Coding on client devices at the edge of the network with organized storage of encoded data in a federated cloud system comprised of multiple independent storage clusters. The erasure coding operations are performed on client devices at the edge while they interact with the federated cloud to store the encoded data. We describe how our solution integrates the functionality of federated clouds alongside erasure coding implemented on edge devices for maximizing data availability and we evaluate the working and benefits of our approach in terms of read access cost, data availability, storage overhead, load balancing and network bandwidth rate compared to popular Replication and Erasure Coding schemes.


title: Kollaps/Thunderstorm: Reproducible Evaluation of Distributed Systems: Tutorial Paper

text: Reproducing experimental results is nowadays seen as one of the greatest impairments for the progress of science in general and distributed systems in particular. This stems from the increasing complexity of the systems under study and the inherent complexity of capturing and controlling all variables that can potentially affect experimental results. We argue that this can only be addressed with a systematic approach to all the stages and aspects of the evaluation process, such as the environment in which the experiment is run, the configuration and software versions used, and the network characteristics among others. In this tutorial paper, we focus on the networking aspect, and discuss our ongoing research efforts and tools to contribute to a more systematic and reproducible evaluation of large scale distributed systems.


title: A Self-stabilizing One-To-Many Node Disjoint Paths Routing Algorithm in Star Networks

text: The purpose of the paper is to present the first self-stabilizing algorithm for finding [Formula: see text] one-to-many node-disjoint paths in message passing model. Two paths in a network are said to be node disjoint if they do not share any nodes except for the endpoints. Our proposed algorithm works on n-dimensional star networks [Formula: see text]. Given a source node s and a set of [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] destination nodes in the n-dimensional star network, our algorithm constructs [Formula: see text] node-disjoints paths [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a path from s to [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. Since the proposed solution is self-stabilizing [7], it does not require initialization and withstands transient faults. The stabilization time of our algorithm is [Formula: see text] rounds.


title: DroidAutoML: A Microservice Architecture to Automate the Evaluation of Android Machine Learning Detection Systems

text: The mobile ecosystem is witnessing an unprecedented increase in the number of malware in the wild. To fight this threat, actors from both research and industry are constantly innovating to bring concrete solutions to improve security and malware protection. Traditional solutions such as signature-based anti viruses have shown their limits in front of massive proliferation of new malware, which are most often only variants specifically designed to bypass signature-based detection. Accordingly, it paves the way to the emergence of new approaches based on Machine Learning (ML) technics to boost the detection of unknown malware variants. Unfortunately, these solutions are most often underexploited due to the time and resource costs required to adequately fine tune machine learning algorithms. In reality, in the Android community, state-of-the-art studies do not focus on model training, and most often go through an empirical study with a manual process to choose the learning strategy, and/or use default values as parameters to configure ML algorithms. However, in the ML domain, it is well known admitted that to solve efficiently a ML problem, the tunability of hyper-parameters is of the utmost importance. Nevertheless, as soon as the targeted ML problem involves a massive amount of data, there is a strong tension between feasibility of exploring all combinations and accuracy. This tension imposes to automate the search for optimal hyper-parameters applied to ML algorithms, that is not anymore possible to achieve manually. To this end, we propose a generic and scalable solution to automatically both configure and evaluate ML algorithms to efficiently detect Android malware detection systems. Our approach is based on devOps principles and a microservice architecture deployed over a set of nodes to scale and exhaustively test a large number of ML algorithms and hyper-parameters combinations. With our approach, we are able to systematically find the best fit to increase up to 11% the accuracy of two state-of-the-art Android malware detection systems.


title: Chemoprevention in familial adenomatous polyposis: past, present and future

text: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome characterized by colorectal adenomas and a near 100% lifetime risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Prophylactic colectomy, usually by age 40, is the gold-standard therapy to mitigate this risk. However, colectomy is associated with morbidity and fails to prevent extra-colonic disease manifestations, including gastric polyposis, duodenal polyposis and cancer, thyroid cancer, and desmoid disease. Substantial research has investigated chemoprevention medications in an aim to prevent disease progression, postponing the need for colectomy and temporizing the development of extracolonic disease. An ideal chemoprevention agent should have a biologically plausible mechanism of action, be safe and easily tolerated over a prolonged treatment period, and produce a durable and clinically meaningful effect. To date, no chemoprevention agent tested has fulfilled these criteria. New agents targeting novel pathways in FAP are needed. Substantial preclinical literature exists linking the molecular target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway to FAP. A single case report of rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, used as chemoprevention in FAP patients exists, but no formal clinical studies have been conducted. Here, we review the prior literature on chemoprevention in FAP, discuss the rationale for rapamycin in FAP, and outline a proposed clinical trial testing rapamycin as a chemoprevention agent in patients with FAP.


Fighting the Moral Distress of Idleness


title: Annex: Krisenpflichten in der Corona-Krise

text: Im März 2020 hat der Gesetzgeber ein umfangreiches Maßnahmenpaket zur Abmilderung der juristischen und wirtschaftlichen Folgen der Corona-Pandemie beschlossen. Hieraus ergeben sich Konsequenzen für die in der unternehmenskrise zu beachtenden Pflichten, insbesondere für die Antragspflicht (Kap. 9) und das Zahlungsverbot (Kap. 11).


Editorial note


Ground glass: the future after COVID‐19?


title: Meet COVID‐19 challenges with enthusiasm, strong communication

text: James Gilman graduated from the University of New Haven in 1993. After he'd worked for the Connecticut State Police for 22 years, he returned to his alma mater, this time as the Chief of Police. “It was very exciting to get back to where I started,” Gilman said.


The China–US blame game: claims‐making about the origin of a new virus


Religious returns, ritual changes and divinations on COVID‐19


Viral living


From sociality to social distancing: reversing values of solidarity in Italy


Pandemic vulnerabilities, mortality and empathy in fieldwork


Life versus capital: COVID‐19 and the politics of life


What does COVID‐19 distract us from? A migration studies perspective on the inequities of attention


title: Keep your mission student‐centered, even in the face of crisis

text: Jay Gatrell, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Eastern Illinois University, understands what it means to really live out the mission of his institution in everything he does. Gatrell spent 14 years of his academic career at Indiana State University, an opportunity that afforded him the chance to work in many different roles of academic leadership, including Associate Dean, Interim Chair, Acting Chair, and Dean of the Graduate School and Chief Research Officer.


Letter from the (un)seen virus: (post)humanist perspective in corona times


title: Rethink management, operation of college sports in light of COVID‐19 pandemic

text: As the world continues to confront COVID‐19, every governing body, conference, and association, and virtually every collegiate institution, continues to carefully monitor, evaluate, and consider both the current situation and their next steps.


All in this together? Isolation and housing in ‘lockdown London’


COVID‐19 and climate change reactions: STS potential of online research


Reclaiming the social from ‘social distancing’


title: Adapt to the daily operations of campus security in the wake of COVID‐19

text: The COVID‐19 pandemic has upended the normal routines of colleges and universities across the nation. Campus security departments are no exception. With fewer people on campus, their responsibilities have changed but not lessened. Campus security leaders must also consider the health threats posed to their own staff as they make assignments and monitor the unfolding pandemic.


title: Consider role of contractual obligations in decision‐making during times of crisis

text: The global crisis brought on by the COVID‐19 pandemic has forever changed higher education. In the beginning of the crisis, leaders on college campuses had to decide what to do with courses, students in residence halls, auxiliary services like food operations and bookstores, scheduled athletics competitions, and full‐time faculty and staff who normally reported to physical buildings. And those are just the obvious examples.


Jishuku, social distancing and care in the time of COVID‐19 in Japan


title: COVID‐19 will change our campuses forever

text: Every three months when I sit down to write this column, I always try to choose a contemporary topic that, even though I am writing a few months ahead of publication, will still be relevant when readers see it. But as I pen this piece, I have never felt more confident that, when this column publishes, COVID‐19 will still be on everyone's mind.


Open Access, Open Science, and Coronavirus: Mega trends with historical proportions


Touch in the new ‘1.5‐metre society’


Fear of others: thinking biopolitics


title: Virtual APA meeting: Importance of helping pregnancy women with SUDs

text: In “Substance Use Disorders in Perinatal Women,” Kimberly Yonkers, M.D., gives a sobering presentation on the consequences of substance use in pregnant women, on the women themselves, their pregnancies, and their offspring, in the perinatal period. Yonkers' presentation took place April 25 as part of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA's) virtual online annual meeting; the meeting itself, scheduled to be in Philadelphia, was canceled due to COVID‐19. Yonkers' presentation touched on social justice as well as medical issues.


The coronavirus hit us strong: a small‐scale narrative


When rumours fly like helicopters: an international conspiracy ‘language’ for the new reality?


title: Reverse design of an influenza neutralizing spiky nano‐inhibitor with a dual mode of action

text: In this study, we demonstrate the concept of ‘reverse design’ for virus inhibitors. With the current knowledge of influenza A virus (IAV), we designed a nano‐inhibitor that has a reverse shape to the viral particle and heteromultivalent inhibitory effects on hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. The synthesized nano‐inhibitor can neutralize the viral particle extracellularly and block its attachment and entry to the host cells. The virus replication was significantly reduced by 6 orders of magnitude in the presence of the reverse designed nano‐inhibitors. Even being used 24 hours after the infection, >99.999% inhibition is also achieved, which indicates such a nano‐inhibitor might be a potent antiviral for the treatment of influenza infection.


Bericht aus dem Vorstand der ÖGKJP


title: Predicting the outcomes of preterm neonates beyond the neonatal intensive care unit: What are we missing?

text: ABSTRACT: Preterm infants are a population at high risk for mortality and adverse health outcomes. With recent improvements in survival to childhood, increasing attention is being paid to risk of long-term morbidity, specifically during childhood and young-adulthood. Although numerous tools for predicting the functional outcomes of preterm neonates have been developed in the past three decades, no studies have provided a comprehensive overview of these tools, along with their strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of this article is to provide an in-depth, narrative review of the current risk models available for predicting the functional outcomes of preterm neonates. A total of 32 studies describing 43 separate models were considered. We found that most studies used similar physiologic variables and standard regression techniques to develop models that primarily predict the risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. With a recently expanded knowledge regarding the many factors that affect neurodevelopment and other important outcomes, as well as a better understanding of the limitations of traditional analytic methods, we argue that there is great room for improvement in creating risk prediction tools for preterm neonates. We also consider the ethical implications of utilizing these tools for clinical decision-making. IMPACT: Based on a literature review of risk prediction models for preterm neonates predicting functional outcomes, future models should aim for more consistent outcomes definitions, standardized assessment schedules and measurement tools, and consideration of risk beyond physiologic antecedents. Our review provides a comprehensive analysis and critique of risk prediction models developed for preterm neonates, specifically predicting functional outcomes instead of mortality, to reveal areas of improvement for future studies aiming to develop risk prediction tools for this population. To our knowledge, this is the first literature review and narrative analysis of risk prediction models for preterm neonates regarding their functional outcomes.


Health-related quality of life after critical care—the emperor’s new clothes


title: Multiple cross displacement amplification-a more applicable technique in detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)

text: BACKGROUND: Early and rapid identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) provides theoretical clinical advantages in therapeutic optimization strategies. METHODS: The P. aeruginosa-multiple cross displacement amplification (PA-MCDA) assay was conducted at an isothermal temperature during the amplification stage, and products were visually detected by color changes. The entire process was completed within 1 h. A total of 77 strains, including P. aeruginosa species and various other species of non-P. aeruginosa, were used to evaluate PA-MCDA assays. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of suspected VAP patients was examined by the MCDA assay. RESULTS: The MCDA assay exhibited a 100% analytical specificity in detecting PA from all 77 strains, and the limit of detection was as low as 100 fg DNA per reaction. A temperature of 65 °C was recommended as standard during the amplification stage. The agreement between PA-MCDA and bacteria culture was 91.18% (κ = 0.787; p = 0.000) in the identification of P. aeruginosa in BALF from suspected VAP. The PA-MCDA assay showed values of 92.31%, 90.78%, 77.41%, and 97.18% for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value, respectively. PA-MCDA had a higher detective rate of P. aeruginosa than bacteria culture in patients with antipseudomonal therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The instrument-free platform of the MCDA assay makes it a simple, rapid, and applicable procedure for “on-site” diagnosis and point-of-care testing for the presence of P. aeruginosa without the need for specific bacterial culture.


Bericht aus dem Vorstand


title: The SARS-CoV-2 Ivermectin Navarra-ISGlobal Trial (SAINT) to Evaluate the Potential of Ivermectin to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission in low risk, non-severe COVID-19 patients in the first 48 hours after symptoms onset: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized control pilot trial

text: OBJECTIVES: The primary objective is to determine the efficacy of a single dose of ivermectin, administered to low risk, non-severe COVID-19 patients in the first 48 hours after symptom onset to reduce the proportion of patients with detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test from nasopharyngeal swab at day 7 post-treatment. 1. To assess the efficacy of ivermectin to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the nasopharyngeal swab at day 7 post treatment. 2. To assess the efficacy of ivermectin to improve symptom progression in treated patients. 3. To assess the proportion of seroconversions in treated patients at day 21. 4. To assess the safety of ivermectin at the proposed dose. 5. To determine the magnitude of immune response against SARS-CoV-2. 6. To assess the early kinetics of immunity against SARS-CoV-2. TRIAL DESIGN: SAINT is a single centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, superiority trial with two parallel arms. Participants will be randomized to receive a single dose of 400 μg/kg ivermectin or placebo, and the number of patients in the treatment and placebo groups will be the same (1:1 ratio). PARTICIPANTS: The population for the study will be patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, with non-severe COVID-19 disease, and no risk factors for progression to severity. Vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, minors (i.e.; under 18 years old), and seniors (i.e.; over 60 years old) will be excluded. Inclusion criteria: 1. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the emergency room of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR. 2. Residents of the Pamplona basin (“Cuenca de Pamplona”). 3. The patient must be between the ages of 18 and 60 years of age. 4. Negative pregnancy test for women of child bearing age*. 5. The patient or his/her representative, has given informed consent to participate in the study. 6. The patient should, in the PI's opinion, be able to comply with all the requirements of the clinical trial (including home follow up during isolation). Exclusion criteria: 1. Known history of ivermectin allergy. 2. Hypersensitivity to any component of ivermectin. 3. Diagnosed by the attending physician. Identified in a chest X-ray. 4. Fever or cough present for more than 48 hours. 5. Positive IgG against SARS-CoV-2 by rapid diagnostic test. 6. Age under 18 or over 60 years. 7. Immunosuppression. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Diabetes. Hypertension. Obesity. Acute or chronic renal failure. History of coronary disease. History of cerebrovascular disease. Current neoplasm. 8. Recent travel history to countries that are endemic for Loa loa (Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Equatorial, Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Sudan). 9. Current use of CYP 3A4 or P-gp inhibitor drugs such as quinidine, amiodarone, diltiazem, spironolactone, verapamil, clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, indinavir, ritonavir or cobicistat. Use of critical CYP3A4 substrate drugs such as warfarin. *Women of child bearing age may participate if they use a safe contraceptive method for the entire period of the study and at least one month afterwards. A woman is considered to not have childbearing capacity if she is post-menopausal (minimum of 2 years without menstruation) or has undergone surgical sterilization (at least one month before the study). The trial is currently planned at a single center, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, in Navarra (Spain), and the immunology samples will be analyzed at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), in Barcelona (Spain). Participants will be recruited by the investigators at the emergency room and/or COVID-19 area of the CUN. They will remain in the trial for a period of 28 days at their homes since they will be patients with mild disease. In the interest of public health and to contain transmission of infection, follow-up visits will be conducted in the participant's home by a clinical trial team comprising nursing and medical members. Home visits will assess clinical and laboratory parameters of the patients. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Ivermectin will be administered to the treatment group at a 400μg/Kg dose (included in the EU approved label of Stromectol and Scabioral). The control group will receive placebo. There is no current data on the efficacy of ivermectin against the virus in vivo, therefore the use of placebo in the control group is ethically justified. MAIN OUTCOMES: Primary Proportion of patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab at day 7 post-treatment. : 1. Mean viral load as determined by PCR cycle threshold (Ct) at baseline and on days 4, 7, 14, and 21. 2. Proportion of patients with fever and cough at days 4, 7, 14, and 21 as well as proportion of patients progressing to severe disease or death during the trial. 3. Proportion of patients with seroconversion at day 21. 4. Proportion of drug-related adverse events during the trial. 5. Median levels of IgG, IgM, IgA measured by Luminex, frequencies of innate and SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells assessed by flow cytometry, median levels of inflammatory and activation markers measured by Luminex and transcriptomics. 6. Median kinetics of IgG, IgM, IgA levels during the trial, until day 28. RANDOMISATION: Eligible patients will be allocated in a 1:1 ratio using a randomization list generated by the trial statistician using blocks of four to ensure balance between the groups. A study identification code with the format “SAINT-##” (##: from 01 to 24) will be generated using a sequence of random numbers so that the randomization number does not match the subject identifier. The sequence and code used will be kept in an encrypted file accessible only to the trial statistician. A physical copy will be kept in a locked cabinet at the CUN, accessible only to the person administering the drug who will not enrol or attend to patient care. A separate set of 24 envelopes for emergency unblinding will be kept in the study file. BLINDING (MASKING): The clinical trial team and the patients will be blinded. The placebo will not be visibly identical, but it will be administered by staff not involved in the clinical care or participant follow up. NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE): The sample size is 24 patients: 12 participants will be randomised to the treatment group and 12 participants to the control group. TRIAL STATUS: Current protocol version: 1.0 dated 16 of April 2020. Recruitment is envisioned to begin by May 14th and end by June 14th. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT number: 2020-001474-29, registered April 1(st). Clinicaltrials.gov: submitted, pending number 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.


title: Intracranial-to-central venous pressure gap predicts the responsiveness of intracranial pressure to PEEP in patients with traumatic brain injury: a prospective cohort study

text: BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation (MV) with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is commonly applied in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). However, the individual responsiveness of intracranial pressure (ICP) to PEEP varies. Thus, identifying an indicator detecting ICP responsiveness to PEEP is of great significance. As central venous pressure (CVP) could act as an intermediary to transduce pressure from PEEP to ICP, we developed a new indicator, P(IC)Gap, representing the gap between baseline ICP and baseline CVP. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between P(IC)Gap and ICP responsiveness to PEEP. METHODS: A total of 112 patients with sTBI undergoing MV were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. ICP, CVP, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), static compliance of the respiratory system (Cst), and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PetCO(2)) were recorded at the initial (3 cmH(2)O) and adjusted (15 cmH(2)O) levels of PEEP. P(IC)Gap was assessed as baseline ICP - baseline CVP (when PEEP = 3 cmH(2)O). The patients were classified into the ICP responder and non-responder groups based on whether ICP increment with PEEP adjusted from 3 cmH(2)O to 15 cmH(2)O was greater than 20% of baseline ICP. The above parameters were compared between the two groups, and prediction of ICP responsiveness to PEEP adjustment was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the non-responder group, the responder group had lower P(IC)Gap (1.63 ± 1.33 versus 6.56 ± 2.46 mmHg; p < 0.001), lower baseline ICP, and higher baseline CVP. ROC curve analysis suggested that P(IC)Gap was a stronger predictive indicator of ICP responsiveness to PEEP (AUC = 0.957, 95%CI 0.918–0.996; p < 0.001) compared with baseline ICP and baseline CVP, with favorable sensitivity (95.24, 95%CI 86.91–98.70%) and specificity (87.6, 95%CI 75.76–94.27%), at a cut off value of 2.5 mmHg. CONCLUSION: The impact of PEEP on ICP depends on the gap between baseline ICP and baseline CVP, i.e. P(IC)Gap. In addition, P(IC)Gap is a potential predictor of ICP responsiveness to PEEP adjustment in patients with sTBI.


title: Futuristic CRISPR-based biosensing in the cloud and internet of things era: an overview

text: Biosensors-based devices are transforming medical diagnosis of diseases and monitoring of patient signals. The development of smart and automated molecular diagnostic tools equipped with biomedical big data analysis, cloud computing and medical artificial intelligence can be an ideal approach for the detection and monitoring of diseases, precise therapy, and storage of data over the cloud for supportive decisions. This review focused on the use of machine learning approaches for the development of futuristic CRISPR-biosensors based on microchips and the use of Internet of Things for wireless transmission of signals over the cloud for support decision making. The present review also discussed the discovery of CRISPR, its usage as a gene editing tool, and the CRISPR-based biosensors with high sensitivity of Attomolar (10(−18)M), Femtomolar (10(−15)M) and Picomolar (10(−12)M) in comparison to conventional biosensors with sensitivity of nanomolar 10(−9)M and micromolar 10(−3)M. Additionally, the review also outlines limitations and open research issues in the current state of CRISPR-based biosensing applications.


title: Barriers and challenges in the process of including critically ill patients in clinical studies

text: BACKGROUND: Clinical research in severely ill or injured patients is required to improve healthcare but may be challenging to perform in practice. The aim of this study was to analyse barriers and challenges in the process of including critically ill patients in clinical studies. METHODS: Data from critically ill patients considered for inclusion in an observational study of venous thromboembolism in Norway were analysed. This included quantitative and qualitative information from the screening log, consent forms and research notes. RESULTS: Among 279 eligible critically ill patients, 204 (73%) were omitted from the study due to challenges and barriers in the inclusion process. Reasons for omission were categorised as practical in 133 (65%), medical in 31 (15%), and legal or ethical in 40 (20%) of the patients. Among 70 included patients, 29 (41%) consents were from patients and 41 (59%) from their next of kin. Several challenges were described herein; these included whether patients were competent to give consent, and which next of kin that should represent the patient. Furthermore, some included patients were unable to recall what they have consented, and some appeared unable to separate research from treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers and challenges in the inclusion process led to the omission of near three out of four eligible patients. This analysis provided information about where the problem resides and may be solved. The majority of challenges among included patients were related to issues of autonomy and validity of consent. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03405766).


title: Amikacin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic in intensive care unit: a prospective database

text: BACKGROUND: Aminoglycosides have a concentration-dependent therapeutic effect when peak serum concentration (C(max)) reaches eight to tenfold the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). With an amikacin MIC of 8 mg/L, the C(max) should be 64–80 mg/L. This objective is based on clinical breakpoints and not on measured MIC. This study aimed to assess the proportion of patients achieving the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target C(max)/MIC ≥ 8 using the measured MIC in critically ill patients treated for documented Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) infections. METHODS: Retrospective analysis from February 2016 to December 2017 of a prospective database conducted in 2 intensive care units (ICU). All patients with documented severe GNB infections treated with amikacin (single daily dose of 25 mg/kg of total body weight (TBW)) with both MIC and C(max) measurements at first day of treatment (D1) were included. Results are expressed in n (%) or median [min–max]. RESULTS: 93 patients with 98 GNB-documented infections were included. The median C(max) was 55.2 mg/L [12.2–165.7] and the median MIC was 2 mg/L [0.19–16]. C(max)/MIC ratio ≥ 8 was achieved in 87 patients (88.8%) while a C(max) ≥ 64 mg/L was achieved in only 38 patients (38.7%). Overall probability of PK/PD target attainment was 93%. No correlation was found between C(max)/MIC ratio and clinical outcome at D8 and D28. CONCLUSION: According to PK/PD parameters observed in our study, single daily dose of amikacin 25 mg/kg of TBW appears to be sufficient in most critically ill patients treated for severe GNB infections.


title: The thermostability of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine can be increased by co-lyophilizing RTS,S and AS01

text: BACKGROUND: Developing thermostable vaccines is a challenge for pharmaceutical companies due to the inherent instability of biological molecules in aqueous solution. The problem is even more stringent in regions subjected to high temperatures in which protective cold chain is difficult to maintain due to a lack of infrastructure. Here, a simple, cost-effective solution to increase the thermostability of the malaria candidate vaccine RTS,S/AS01 is described. This vaccine currently needs to be stored between 2 and 8 °C due to the sensitivity of liquid AS01 to higher temperatures. The strategy was to increase thermostability by co-lyophilizing the RTS,S antigen and AS01. METHODS: Co-lyophilization was achieved in a solution containing 5% sucrose, 10 mM potassium phosphate and 0.0312% polysorbate 80 at pH 6.1. The physicho-chemical characteristics and immunogenic properties of the resulting solid product, called CL-vac, fresh or stored at high temperature, were compared to those of the candidate RTS,S/AS01. RESULTS: CL-vac proved to be acceptable in terms of visual appearance and physico-chemical characteristics. The structural integrity of both RTS,S and AS01 within CL-vac and its equivalence to the RTS,S/AS01 candidate vaccine were shown. Further, the stability of CL-vac was demonstrated for storage periods including 1 year at 4 °C, 1 year at 30 °C, and up to 6 months at 37 °C. In addition, CL-vac could withstand a heat excursion consisting of 1 month at 45 °C after storage for 1 year at 30 °C. Equivalence and stability were demonstrated by the various analytical tools and the immunogenicity of the samples after storage was also demonstrated in mice. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the co-lyophilization process appeared as a promising approach to increase RTS/AS01 vaccine thermostability.


title: The Covid-Shock Doctrine: Under the Tutorship of CoV-2, the Voice(s) From Poland

text: These are two autoethnographic voices. We speak in a strange time: democracy dies, social justice dies. A lot of people have died of the virus, many die of fear. We write to protest against new neoliberal and neoconservative “shock doctrine.” We write together to protest against destructive self-absorption, isolation, and fear. It is protest-text. But we are not sure what we can do now.


Mechanisms of Infectious Disease


COVID-19 and Community Dental Services: The challenges ahead


title: Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in neurocritical patients: a culprit or a bystander?

text: BACKGROUND: Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is an intracellular enzyme, which is widely expressed in central nervous system (CNS), pancreas, and other organs. GAD antibodies (GAD-Abs) are linked to various neurological disorders. However, the significance of GAD-Abs in neurocritical patients is undetermined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with serologically positive GAD-Abs and requiring neurocritical care were included. The clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: We included 9 patients with serologically positive GAD-Abs. Clinical manifestations involved both CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS). Six (66.7%) patients had other specific autoimmune antibodies. Non-specific autoimmune responses were observed in 8 (88.9%) patients. All patients clinically responded well to immunotherapy. The titers of GAD-Abs decreased in 7 (77.8%) patients but remained unchanged in the other 2 patients. One (11.1%) patient awoke before the negative conversion of GAD-Abs, and 3 (33.3%) patients remained unconscious and/or under mechanical ventilation for several weeks after the vanishing of GAD-Abs. CONCLUSIONS: Most neurocritical patients with serologically positive GAD-Abs had other specific autoimmune antibodies. All patients responded well to immunotherapy, but not parallel to the titers of GAD-Abs. These results indicated that GAD-Abs might be more a bystander than a culprit in neurocritical patients, suggesting that an underlying autoimmune disease should be explored.


Denplan makes significant investment in PPE


title: Chemical space exploration based on recurrent neural networks: applications in discovering kinase inhibitors

text: With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery, de novo molecular generation provides new ways to explore chemical space. However, because de novo molecular generation methods rely on abundant known molecules, generated molecules may have a problem of novelty. Novelty is important in highly competitive areas of medicinal chemistry, such as the discovery of kinase inhibitors. In this study, de novo molecular generation based on recurrent neural networks was applied to discover a new chemical space of kinase inhibitors. During the application, the practicality was evaluated, and new inspiration was found. With the successful discovery of one potent Pim1 inhibitor and two lead compounds that inhibit CDK4, AI-based molecular generation shows potentials in drug discovery and development. [Image: see text]


From survival to revival: Life after Coronavirus


27(th) Congress of the European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery


title: Social media mining for smart cities and smart villages research

text: The imperative of well-being and improved quality of life in smart cities context can only be attained if the smart services, so central to the concept of smart cities, correspond with the needs, expectations and skills of cities’ inhabitants. Considering that social media generate and/or open real-time entry points to vast amounts of data pertinent to well-being and quality of life, such as citizens’ expectations, opinions, as well as to recent developments related to regulatory frameworks, debates, political decisions and policymaking, the big question is how to exploit the potential inherent in social media and use it to enhance the value added smart cities generate. Social mining is traditionally understood as the process of representing, analyzing, and extracting actionable patterns and trends from raw social media data. In the context of smart cities, this special issue focuses on how social media data, also potentially combined with other data, can be used to optimize the efficiency of city operations and services, and thereby contribute more efficiently to citizens’ well-being and quality of life.


Finding a way forward in the community


'Leadership' in lockdown


Managing sickness through COVID-19


title: Do governance quality and ICT infrastructure influence the tax revenue mobilisation? An empirical analysis for India

text: It attempts to empirically understand the role of Information and Communication Technology infrastructure and governance quality in direct and indirect tax revenues mobilisation for the combined governments of Centre, States and Union Territories of India during the post-liberalisation period of 1990–1991 to 2017–2018. Considering that the recently implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not entirely different from the previous value added tax (VAT) regime in terms of revenue collections at each stages on the value added of manufacturing and sales but an extension of VAT (which existed since 2005 by most of the states and Union Territories until 1st July 2017) by bringing the services into tax net, it tries to assess on the role of institutions/governance and use of modern ICT infrastructures in realisation of greater tax revenues for the combined government. The findings surprisingly reveal that ICT infrastructures and governance quality have no significant positive effect on the overall tax revenue collections. This contrary outcome could be possible when there is greater scope for tax payers to easily escape out of the tax net by carrying out the transactions outside the ICT system or without relying on to the use of ICT infrastructure and leaving no trace behind.


Upcoming Events in Pediatric Cardiology Pediatric Cardiology 41-5


title: Tollwutprophylaxe: So beraten Sie in der Hausarztpraxis: Reisemedizin

text: Auch wenn von Reisen während der COVID-19-Pandemie gegenwärtig noch weitgehend abzusehen ist, bleibt Tollwut ein wichtiges Thema, dem Sie sich spätestens dann wieder widmen müssen, wenn die ersten Kurzentschlossenen zur Reiseberatung in Ihrer Praxis erscheinen werden. Dieser Beitrag frischt Ihr vorhandenes Wissen auf und informiert Sie insbesondere über das von der WHO propagierte verkürzte präexpositionelle Impfschema.


title: Effect of deletion of gene cluster involved in synthesis of Enterobacterial common antigen on virulence and immunogenicity of live attenuated Salmonella vaccine when delivering heterologous Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen PspA

text: BACKGROUND: Enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) is a family-specific surface antigen shared by all members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Previous studies showed that the loss of ECA results in Salmonella attenuation, indicating its usefulness as a vaccine candidate for Salmonella infection, but no studies have shown whether the mutation resulting from the deletion of the ECA operon in conjunction with other mutations could be used as an antigen vehicle for heterologous protein antigen delivery. RESULTS: In this study, we introduced a nonpolar, defined ECA operon deletion into wild-type S. Typhimurium χ3761 and an attenuated vaccine strain χ9241, obtaining two isogenic ECA operon mutants, namely, χ12357 and χ12358, respectively. A number of in vitro and in vivo properties of the mutants were analyzed. We found that the loss of ECA did not affect the growth, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) production and motility of S. Typhimurium wild type strain χ3761 and its attenuated vaccine strain χ9241 but significantly affected the virulence when administered orally to BALB/c mice. Furthermore, the effects of the ECA mutation on the immunogenicity of a recombinant S. Typhimurium vaccine strain χ9241 when delivering the pneumococcal antigen PspA were determined. The result showed that the total anti-PspA IgG level of χ12358 (pYA4088) was slightly lower than that of χ9241 (pYA4088), but the protection rate was not compromised. CONCLUSIONS: ECA affects virulence and benefits the Th2 immunity of Salmonella Typhimurium, therefore, it is feasible to use a reversible ECA mutant mode to design future Salmonella vaccine strains for heterologous protective antigens.


Vorgeschädigte Haut lieber desinfizieren


Editor’s Note: Journal of Healthcare Informatics Research and COVID-19 Research


Symposia on behavioral economics of the COVID-19 pandemic


FGDP(UK) & CGDent launch UK guidelines for safe return to practice


How to hold adequate data


title: Health Communication: Approaches, Strategies, and Ways to Sustainability on Health or Health for All

text: This chapter starts from a holistic perspective on health in the society. It makes a statement that, in order to become effective and sustainable, health communication needs to be studied, assessed, and practiced from a rights- or social justice-based position. Such an approach implies the use and integration of multidisciplinary perspectives that try to grasp the complexity of health issues from both global and local, individual, interpersonal, group, and community levels.


title: How Cities Cope in Outbreak Events?

text: An outbreak can cause more problems than just the spread of disease. It can be an antagonistic nemesis to our cities and communities, particularly if we lack preparedness and resilience. Its progress is usually unclear as it can be completely different from case to case, and can react differently in different contexts and with different groups of people. Such reactions may purely relate to climatic conditions, hygienic status, and environmental attributes of the context. Those reactions can also differ from one group of people to another, while the disease has to find its correct host as well the way it can transmit and evolve. Consequently, the magnitude of impacts would depend on many factors, of which the nature of the disease is very important during the whole outbreak progress.


title: Introduction: The City During Outbreak Events

text: As the largest quarantine in human history, the City of Wuhan, China, with more than 11 million people went under a complete lockdown situation on 23 Jan 2020. An unprecedented situation that lasted longer than ever imagined. This occurred solely due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (later renamed as “COVID-19”), just one day before the celebration of the Chinese New Year.


title: Recommendations for ‘The City in Need’

text: As the body first deteriorates and then reaches immunity against a disease, the city also first suffers and then becomes more resilient by the end of an outbreak event. The city may not become fully immune, but will be more experienced and prepared with a much enhanced resilience for the future.


title: Preparedness Through Urban Resilience

text: This book explores the topic of resilience at the city level. The focus is more on outbreak events at the city level, or how cities should prepare and react in facing the larger events of epidemic and pandemic.


title: Risiko-Management in der Logistik und Supply Chain

text: In der Logistik geht es um Gestaltung, Planung, Steuerung, Bereitstellung, Optimierung und Sicherung des Material- und Warenflusses und der damit einhergehenden Informationen von der Entwicklung eines Produktes, beginnend beim Lieferanten, bis zum Absatz an den Endabnehmer. Häufig wird Logistik mit den „7 R“ beschrieben: Es geht darum, das richtige Produkt zur richtigen Zeit, am richtigen Ort, in der richtigen Menge, in der richtigen Qualität und zu den richtigen Kosten zum richtigen Kunden zu bringen. Ein Blick in die Gegenwart zeigt, dass logistischeProzessketten und Logistiknetze immer komplexer geworden sind – auch hinsichtlich Kosten, Zeit und Qualität. In diesem Kapitel bieten wir eine konkrete Arbeitshilfe für Praktiker und stellen anhand unterschiedlicher Beispiele Konzepte, Methoden und Instrumente vor, die es ermöglichen, Risiken in der Logistik zu identifizieren und effektiv zu handhaben. Für ein wirksames Logistik-Risikomanagement müssen die folgenden vier Erfolgsfaktoren berücksichtigt werden: 1. Methoden, 2. Organisation, 3. Prozess und 4. gelebte Risiko-/Fehlerkultur.


title: Risiko-Management in der Produktion

text: In einem Industrie- und Handelsunternehmen können Risiken an jedem Punkt entlang der Wertschöpfungskette entstehen. So hatte die Nuklearkatastrophe von Fukushima im März 2011 oder die COVID-19-Pandemie im Jahr 2020 massive Auswirkungen auf die Produktionsprozesse weltweit. Die Unterbrechung länderüberschreitender Lieferketten führte zu zumindest zeitweisen Produktionsstopps. Vor allem in der Folge der verstärkten Globalisierung der Wertschöpfungsnetzwerke sowie die Verschlankung derartiger Netzwerke ist die Risikoexponierung vieler produzierender Unternehmen in den vergangenen Jahren stark angestiegen. Das Kapitel "Risiko-Management in der Produktion" bietet eine Einführung in Methoden zum Aufbau eines wirksamens Risiko-Managements im Bereich der Produktion. So werden u.a. die Methoden Szenariotechnik/Szenarioanalyse (deterministisch), FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), Fehlerbaumanalyse (Fault Tree Analysis), Bow-Tie-Analyse, CIRS, PAAG und HAZOP beschrieben.


Response to the authors


title: Reflection on Disruptions: Managing the City in Need, Saving the City in Need

text: At the time when mostly negative news flow between countries, the reactions of national-level and city-level governments should reflect on their full preparedness and responsive management.


Epilepsia Open—June 2020—Announcements


title: Does increase in R & D investment reduce environmental pressures? Empirical research on the global top six carbon emitters

text: This work is aimed to investigate the effect of research and development (R&D) on reduce in environmental pressures through an empirical analysis of the top six global carbon emitters (the C6: China, USA, India, Russia, Japan, and Germany). This work is valuable toward carbon reduction within C6 countries and the world (C6 emit roughly 60% of the global carbon emissions). Moreover, it is also meaningful for exploring the decoupling of economic development from carbon emissions in other areas (both developing and developed countries). The main findings displayed that the decoupling status in developed countries (i.e., USA, Japan, and Germany) were better and more stable than in developing countries (i.e., China, India, and Russia). Germany performed best among the developed countries, and China performed most stable among the developing countries. The effect of the per capita R&D expenditure was main resistance to decoupling carbon emissions from economic development in C6 countries. However, the energy intensity effect and R&D efficiency effect related to technological progress were the main driving forces for the decoupling process. Consequently, this study proposes that the improvement of technological progress should be prioritized.


title: Autonomy in consumer choice

text: We propose that autonomy is a crucial aspect of consumer choice. We offer a definition that situates autonomy among related constructs in philosophy and psychology, contrast actual with perceived autonomy in consumer contexts, examine the resilience of perceived autonomy, and sketch out an agenda for research into the role of perceived autonomy in an evolving marketplace increasingly characterized by automation.


title: Ethical and Professional Considerations in the Forensic Assessment of Complex Trauma and Dissociation

text: Empirical research spanning the past three decades has consistently upheld that traumatic experiences are prevalent (Gold, Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy, S(1), 114–124, 2008; Kilpatrick et al. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(5), 537–547, 2013; Resnick, Kilpatrick, Dansky, Saunders, & Best Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 61(6), 984–991, 1993). Therefore, the likelihood of encountering an individual who has experienced significant trauma within forensic settings is high (Dalenberg, Straus, & Ardill, 2017). Further, forensic psychologists are frequently called upon to assess the impact of such traumatic events and to opine about their connection to a specific psycho-legal issue such as damages in a civil case or the presence of extreme emotional disturbance or mitigating factors in criminal matters. Childhood trauma that has occurred repeatedly and cumulatively, particularly within the context of family relationships, has been referred to as complex trauma. Complex trauma has been shown to result in significant difficulties in a broad range of capabilities such as affect regulation, dissociation, identity development, relational capacities, and somatic distress (Courtois and Ford 2009). The author delineates core ethical principles and challenges encountered in forensic assessment both generally and more specifically in the forensic assessment of complex trauma and dissociation. She also details practical strategies for responding to those challenges. In addition, the author identifies essential skills needed for competency in this arena and outlines professional considerations that arise when working with this population.


When it takes a pandemic to help us forget our conflicts


title: Introduction to Scheduling in Industry 4.0 and Cloud Manufacturing Systems

text: In this chapter, we present an introduction to scheduling in Industry 4.0 and cloud manufacturing systems. We elaborate on the peculiarities of scheduling and sequencing problems in the context of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing. We delineate recent research streams and summarize the structure and contribution of the book.


title: The Tolerance Scheduling Problem in a Single Machine Case

text: This chapter introduces the Tolerance Scheduling problem, which involves the decision-making issues in rescheduling processes. The solutions to this problem can be incorporated in the design of Decision Support Systems (DSS) in Industry 4.0 environments. We present here the mathematical foundations for the solutions of the Tolerance Scheduling problem as well as the technical requirements of their embodiment in Industry 4.0’s DSS. We illustrate these ideas in a case study with a single machine, in which we analyze the performance of the model at different tolerances.


title: Neuroinflammatory and Demyelinating Disorders of Childhood

text: In this chapter, we will review monophasic and recurrent demyelinating disorders in children. We will first review consensus definitions and provide an approach to the evaluation of children with first episode of acquired demyelinating disorder. We will discuss typical clinical and radiological features of these syndromes. In the second section, we will review features of recurrent demyelinating syndromes in children, focusing on clinical presentation and treatment options.