Using Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Technologies to Detect and Map Two Aquatic Macrophytes

This paper describes the light reflectance characteristics ofwaterhyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mort.) Solms] and hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (L.F.) Royle] and the application of airborned videography with global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies for distinguishing and mapping the distribution of these two aquatic weeds in waterways of southern Texas. Field reflectance measurements made at several locations showed that waterhyacinth generally had higher near-infrared (NIR) reflectance than associated plant species and water. Hydrilla had lower NIR reflectance than associated plant species and higher NIR reflectance than water. Reflectance measurements made on hydrilla plants submerged below the water surface had similar spectral characteristics to water. Waterhyacinth and hydrilla could be distinguished in color-infrared (CIR) video imagery where they had bright orange-red and reddish-brown image responses, respectively. Computer analysis of the imagery showed that waterhyacinth and hydrilla infestaions could be quantified. An accuracy assessment performed on the classified image showed an overall accuracy of 87.7%. Integration of the GPS with the video imagery permitted latitude/longitude coordinates of waterhyacinth and hydrilla infestation to be recorded on each image. A portion of the Rio Grande River in extreme southern Texas was flown with the video system to detect waterhyacinth and hydrilla infestaions. The GPS coordinates on the CIR video scenes depicting waterhyacinth and hydrilla infestations were entered into a GIS to map the distribution of these two noxious weeds in the Rio Grande River

The Challenges of Creativity in Software Organizations

Part 1: Creating ValueInternational audienceManaging creativity has proven to be one of the most important drivers in software development and use. The continuous changing market environment drives companies like Google, SAS Institute and LEGO to focus on creativity as an increasing necessity when competing through sustained innovations. However, creativity in the information systems (IS) environment is a challenge for most organizations that is primarily caused by not knowing how to strategize creative processes in relation to IS strategies, thus, causing companies to act ad hoc in their creative endeavors. In this paper, we address the organizational challenges of creativity in software organizations. Grounded in a previous literature review and a rigorous selection process, we identify and present a model of seven important factors for creativity in software organizations. From these factors, we identify 21 challenges that software organizations experience when embarking on creative endeavors and transfer them into a comprehensive framework. Using an interpretive research study, we further study the framework by analyzing how the challenges are integrated in 27 software organizations. Practitioners can use this study to gain a deeper understanding of creativity in their own business while researchers can use the framework to gain insight while conducting interpretive field studies of managing creativity

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Engineering Semantic-Based Interactive Multi-device Web Applications

To build high-quality personalized Web applications developers have to deal with a number of complex problems. We look at the growing class of personalized Web Applications that share three characteristic challenges. Firstly, the semantic problem of how to enable content reuse and integration. Another problem is how to move away from a sluggish static interface to a responsive dynamic one as seen in regular desktop applications. The third problem is adapting the system into a multi-device environment. For this class of personalized Web applications we look at an example application, a TV recommender called SenSee, in which we solve these problems in a metadata-driven way. We go into depth in the techniques we used to create a solution for these given problems, where we particularly look at utilizing the techniques of Web Services, Web 2.0 and the Semantic Web. Moreover, we show how these techniques can also be used to improve the core personalization functionality of the application. In this paper we present our experience with SenSee to demonstrate general engineering lessons for this type of applications

Supplementary Material for: Risk Factors for Stroke in People with End-Stage Kidney Disease: A Cohort Study

<strong><em>Background:</em></strong> It is unclear how traditional cardiovascular risk factors and different treatment modalities for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) affect stroke risk in people with ESKD. We aimed to identify the risk factors for stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) in people with ESKD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data linkage between the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, clinical and administrative datasets. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated the magnitudes of risk of hospitalization with different subtypes of strokes associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and ESKD treatment modalities (hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD) and kidney transplantation). Results were expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 10,745 people received treatment for ESKD in New South Wales, Australia, between 2000 and 2010. We observed 640 hospitalizations for stroke in 49,497 person-years of follow-up (129.4 per 10,000 person years). Some risk factors were consistent with those found in the general population, including smoking and a history of previous stroke. Other risk factors were novel for people with ESKD. Women were 85% more likely to have an intracerebral hemorrhage (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.22-2.79) and 30% more likely to have an ischemic stroke (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.01-1.66) than men. Compared to people on HD, people with kidney transplants had a 65% lower risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18-0.69) but a similar risk of ischemic stroke (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.64-1.49). People on PD had a 36% higher risk of ischemic stroke (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.05-1.76) but a similar risk of intracerebral hemorrhage compared to people on HD (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.43-1.11). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> These findings could be used to establish reliable estimates of the risk of stroke in people with ESKD and identify those who are most likely to benefit from preventive treatments

Recessive mutations in POLR1C cause a leukodystrophy by impairing biogenesis of RNA polymerase III

Contains fulltext : 153818.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)A small proportion of 4H (Hypomyelination, Hypodontia and Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism) or RNA polymerase III (POLR3)-related leukodystrophy cases are negative for mutations in the previously identified causative genes POLR3A and POLR3B. Here we report eight of these cases carrying recessive mutations in POLR1C, a gene encoding a shared POLR1 and POLR3 subunit, also mutated in some Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) cases. Using shotgun proteomics and ChIP sequencing, we demonstrate that leukodystrophy-causative mutations, but not TCS mutations, in POLR1C impair assembly and nuclear import of POLR3, but not POLR1, leading to decreased binding to POLR3 target genes. This study is the first to show that distinct mutations in a gene coding for a shared subunit of two RNA polymerases lead to selective modification of the enzymes' availability leading to two different clinical conditions and to shed some light on the pathophysiological mechanism of one of the most common hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, POLR3-related leukodystrophy

Current management strategies and therapeutic targets in chronic constipation

Constipated patients who are refractory to simple lifestyle interventions will usually resort to laxatives, whether prescribed or over the counter. Clinical trial evidence is scarce for older medications such as laxatives, especially with a condition as chronic and subjective as constipation. Newer polyethylene glycol-based laxatives have been investigated under rigorous clinical trial settings, but comparisons between different laxatives are not available. Newer prokinetic agents, targeting peristalsis, intestinal secretion and the colonic flora, have been developed for laxative refractory constipation. This review focuses on the evidence for each of these agents, and the relative indications for each of them