Do we really need to catch them all? A new User-guided Social Media Crawling method

With the growing use of popular social media services like Facebook and Twitter it is challenging to collect all content from the networks without access to the core infrastructure or paying for it. Thus, if all content cannot be collected one must consider which data are of most importance. In this work we present a novel User-guided Social Media Crawling method (USMC) that is able to collect data from social media, utilizing the wisdom of the crowd to decide the order in which user generated content should be collected to cover as many user interactions as possible. USMC is validated by crawling 160 public Facebook pages, containing content from 368 million users including 1.3 billion interactions, and it is compared with two other crawling methods. The results show that it is possible to cover approximately 75% of the interactions on a Facebook page by sampling just 20% of its posts, and at the same time reduce the crawling time by 53%. In addition, the social network constructed from the 20% sample contains more than 75% of the users and edges compared to the social network created from all posts, and it has similar degree distribution

Localization of carbon nanotubes in polyamide 6 blends with non-reactive and reactive rubber

Blending of two immiscible polymer matrices can be an effective way to combine favourable properties of both blend partners. The additional incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in such thermoplastic blends may further enhance the blend properties and especially generate electrical conductivity. In the present study, 20 wt.% of non-reactive rubber and maleic anhydride functionalized rubber were melt blended with polyamide 6 and 3 wt.% MWCNTs by using different incorporation strategies. For the blends containing non-reactive rubber, the MWCNTs were always localized selectively in the thermodynamically preferred polyamide phase as shown by TEM images and electrical measurements. Interestingly, the different strategies resulted in different localization behaviours of the MWCNTs in case of the reactive rubber. These findings demonstrate the significant influence of maleic anhydride groups of the rubber component on localization of MWCNTs in the different blend phases which results in different values of electrical volume resistivity of the blends. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Solubility and selectivity effects of the anion on the adsorption of different heavy metal ions onto chitosan

The biopolymer chitosan is a very efficient adsorber material for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Due to the solubility properties of chitosan it can be used as both a liquid adsorber and a solid flocculant for water treatment reaching outstanding adsorption capacities for a number of heavy metal ions. However, the type of anion corresponding to the investigated heavy metal ions has a strong influence on the adsorption capacity and sorption mechanism on chitosan. In this work, the adsorption capacity of the heavy metal ions manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc were investigated in dependence on their corresponding anions sulfate, chloride, and nitrate by batch experiments. The selectivity of the different heavy metal ions was analyzed by column experiments. © 2020 by the authors

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm after cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation

Objective: Unusual clinical course. Background: Following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmia has been observed. We report a case of sustained ventricular arrhythmia in a patient who underwent cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation for symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation. Case Report: A 57-year-old patient with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent CB-based pulmonary vein isolation for symptomatic persistent AF. On the day following an uneventful procedure, the patient for the first time experienced a sustained ventricular tachycardia that exacerbated into VT storm. Each arrhythmia was terminated by the ICD that had been implanted for primary prevention. Antiarrhythmic treatment with amiodarone was initiated immediately. The patient remained free from sustained ventricular arrhythmia during follow-up. Conclusions: After pulmonary vein isolation, physicians should be vigilant for ventricular arrhythmia. The influence of atrial autonomic innervation on ventricular electrophysiology is largely unknown

Аппаратная реализация искусственной нейронной сети на FPGA для распознавания написанных от руки цифр

Материалы XIII Междунар. науч.-техн. конф. (науч. чтения, посвящ. 125-летию со дня рождения П. О. Сухого), Гомель, 22 окт. 2020 г

Implantable loop recorders in patients with unexplained syncope: Clinical predictors of pacemaker implantation

Background: Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are a valuable tool for the investigation of unexplained syncopal episodes. The aim of this retrospective single center study was to identify predictive factors for pacemaker implantation in patients with unexplained syncope who underwent ILR insertion. Methods: One hundred six patients were retrospectively analyzed (mean age 59.1 years; 47.2% male) with unexplained syncope and negative conventional testing who underwent ILR implantation. The pri- mary study endpoint was detection of symptomatic or asymptomatic bradycardia requiring pacemaker implantation.  Results: The average follow-up period after ILR implantation was 20 ± 15 months. Pacemaker im- plantation according to current guidelines was necessary in 22 (20.8%) patients, mean duration until index bradycardia was 81 ± 88 (2–350) days. Ten (45.5%) patients received a pacemaker due to sinus arrest, 7 (31.8%) patients due to third-degree atrioventricular block, 2 (9.1%) patients due to second- degree atrioventricular block and 1 (4.5%) patient due to atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular rate. Three factors remained significant in multivariate analysis: obesity, which defined by a body mass index above 30 kg/m2 (OR: 7.39, p = 0.014), a right bundle branch block (OR: 9.40, p = 0.023) and chronic renal failure as defined by a glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min (OR: 6.42, p = 0.035). Conclusions: Bradycardia is a frequent finding in patients undergoing ILR implantation due to un- explained syncope. Obesity, right bundle branch block and chronic renal failure are independent clinical predictors of pacemaker implantation

Pictures of Synthetic Biology: A reflective discussion of the representation of Synthetic Biology (SB) in the German-language media and by SB experts

This article is concerned with the representation of Synthetic Biology in the media and by biotechnology experts. An analysis was made of German-language media articles published between 2004 and 2008, and interviews with biotechnology-experts at the Synthetic Biology conference SB 3.0 in Zurich 2007. The results have been reflected in terms of the definition of Synthetic Biology, applications of Synthetic Biology and the perspectives of opportunities and risks. In the media, Synthetic Biology is represented as a new scientific field of biology with an engineering-like thinking, while the scientists interviewed mostly define Synthetic Biology as contrary to nature and the natural system. Media articles present Synthetic Biology broadly with positive potential and inform the publics less about the potential risks than about the benefits of Synthetic Biology. In contrast, the experts interviewed reflect more on the risks than the opportunities of Synthetic Biology. Both used metaphors to describe Synthetic Biology and its aspects

The four-minute approach revisited : accelerating MRI-based multi-factorial age estimation

Objectives: This feasibility study aimed to investigate the reliability of multi-factorial age estimation based on MR data of the hand, wisdom teeth and the clavicles with reduced acquisition time. Methods: The raw MR data of 34 volunteers-acquired on a 3T system and using acquisition times (TA) of 3:46 min (hand), 5:29 min (clavicles) and 10:46 min (teeth)-were retrospectively undersampled applying the commercially available CAIPIRINHA technique. Automatic and radiological age estimation methods were applied to the original image data as well as undersampled data to investigate the reliability of age estimates with decreasing acquisition time. Reliability was investigated determining standard deviation (SSD) and mean (MSD) of signed differences, intra-class correlation (ICC) and by performing Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Automatic age estimation generally showed very high reliability (SSD < 0.90 years) even for very short acquisition times (SSD ≈ 0.20 years for a total TA of 4 min). Radiological age estimation provided highly reliable results for images of the hand (ICC ≥ 0.96) and the teeth (ICC ≥ 0.79) for short acquisition times (TA = 16 s for the hand, TA = 2:21 min for the teeth), imaging data of the clavicles allowed for moderate acceleration (TA = 1:25 min, ICC ≥ 0.71). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that reliable multi-factorial age estimation based on MRI of the hand, wisdom teeth and the clavicles can be performed using images acquired with a total acquisition time of 4 min

Small-Scale Fluctuations in Cosmic X-ray Background : A Power Spectrum Approach

Equations to investigate fluctuations in cosmic X-ray background radiation due to point-like sources at high-redshift are formulated in a systematic way. The angular power spectrum of X-ray background fluctuations is investigated from large-scales to small-scales in various cosmological models such as open universe models and models with the cosmological constant, assuming a simple evolution model of the sources. The effect of epoch-dependent bias is demonstrated for small-angle fluctuations. The contribution from shot noise fluctuations is also discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, Phys.Rev.D in pres

Identification of ICF categories relevant for nursing in the situation of acute and early post-acute rehabilitation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The recovery of patients after an acute episode of illness or injury depends both on adequate medical treatment and on the early identification of needs for rehabilitation care. The process of early beginning rehabilitation requires efficient communication both between health professionals and the patient in order to effectively address all rehabilitation goals. The currently used nursing taxonomies, however, are not intended for interdisciplinary use and thus may not contribute to efficient rehabilitation management and an optimal patient outcome. The ICF might be the missing link in this communication process. The objective of this study was to identify the categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) categories relevant for nursing care in the situation of acute and early post-acute rehabilitation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>First, in a consensus process, "Leistungserfassung in der Pflege" (LEP) nursing interventions relevant for the situation of acute and early post-acute rehabilitation were selected. Second, in an integrated two-step linking process, two nursing experts derived goals of LEP nursing interventions from their practical knowledge and selected corresponding ICF categories most relevant for patients in acute and post-acute rehabilitation (ICF Core Sets).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighty-seven percent of ICF Core Set categories could be linked to goals of at least one nursing intervention variable of LEP. The ICF categories most frequently linked with LEP nursing interventions were respiration functions, experience of self and time functions and focusing attention. Thirteen percent of ICF Core Set categories could not be linked with LEP nursing interventions. The LEP nursing interventions which were linked with the highest number of different ICF-categories of all were "therapeutic intervention", "patient-nurse communication/information giving" and "mobilising".</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The ICF Core Sets for the acute hospital and early post-acute rehabilitation facilities are highly relevant for rehabilitation nursing. Linking nursing interventions with ICF Core Set categories is a feasible way to analyse nursing. Using the ICF Core Sets to describe goals of nursing interventions both facilitates inter-professional communication and respects patient's needs. The ICF may thus be a useful framework to set nursing intervention goals.</p