Reusing Data and Metadata to Create New Metadata Through Machine-Learning & Other Programmatic Methods

Recent improvements in natural language processing (NLP) enable metadata to be created programmatically from reused original metadata or even the dataset itself. Transfer-learning applied to NLP has greatly improved performance and reduced training data requirements. In this talk, well compare machine-generated metadata to human-generated metadata and discuss characteristics of metadata and data archives that affect suitability for machine-learning reuse of metadata. Where as human-generated metadata is often populated once, populated from the perspective of data supplier, populated by many individuals with different words for the same thing, and limited in length, machine-generated metadata can be updated any number of times, generated from the perspective of any user, constrained to a standardized set of terms that can be evolved over time, and be any length required. Machine-learning generated metadata offers benefits but also additional needs in terms of version control, process transparency, human-computer interaction, and IT requirements. As a successful example, well discuss how a dataset of abstracts and associated human-tagged keywords from a standardized list of several thousand keywords were used to create a machine-learning model that predicted keyword metadata for open-source code projects on code.nasa.gov. Well also discuss a less successful example from data.nasa.gov to show how data archive architecture and characteristics of initial metadata can be strong controls on how easy it is to leverage programmatic methods to reuse metadata to create additional metadata

Patch Testing to Methyldibromoglutaronitrile/Phenoxyethanol

Background Methyldibromoglutaronitrile/phenoxyethanol (MDBGN/PE) is a broad-spectrum preservative mixture used in consumer and industrial products. Objectives The aims of the study were (1) to characterize the prevalence and clinical relevance of patch test reactions to MDBGN/PE and the epidemiology of positive patients and (2) to determine the frequency of concomitant reactions of MDBGN/PE and its components. Methods This study used a retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data compiled by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group from 1994 to 2018. Results Of 55,477 tested patients, 2674 (4.8%) had positive patch test reactions to MDBGN/PE (1.0%-2.5% petrolatum [pet]); most were + (63.3%) or ++ (22.3%). Clinical relevance was considered definite in 3.0% and probable in 19.3% of reactions. Common dermatitis sites included the hands (26.4%), scattered/generalized distribution (24.7%), and the face (18.3%). Patients with a positive reaction to MDBGN/PE and/or MDBGN and/or PE were significantly more likely to be male and older than 40 years and/or had hand dermatitis (P ≤ 0.0033). Positivity to MDBGN/PE 2.0% pet decreased significantly over time (from 6.0% in 1998-2000 to 2.5% in 2017-2018, P \u3c 0.0001). Personal care products were the most common exposure source (53.2%). Conclusions Over time, positivity to MDBGN/PE 2.0% pet decreased significantly from 6.0% (in 1998-2000) to 2.5% (in 2017-2018). The high proportion of weak (63.3%) reactions underscore the need for careful interpretation of patch test sites. Important demographic associations included male sex and age older than 40 years

Patch Testing to Methyldibromoglutaronitrile/Phenoxyethanol: North American Contact Dermatitis Group Experience, 1994-2018

Background Methyldibromoglutaronitrile/phenoxyethanol (MDBGN/PE) is a broad-spectrum preservative mixture used in consumer and industrial products. Objectives The aims of the study were (1) to characterize the prevalence and clinical relevance of patch test reactions to MDBGN/PE and the epidemiology of positive patients and (2) to determine the frequency of concomitant reactions of MDBGN/PE and its components. Methods This study used a retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data compiled by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group from 1994 to 2018. Results Of 55,477 tested patients, 2674 (4.8%) had positive patch test reactions to MDBGN/PE (1.0%-2.5% petrolatum [pet]); most were + (63.3%) or ++ (22.3%). Clinical relevance was considered definite in 3.0% and probable in 19.3% of reactions. Common dermatitis sites included the hands (26.4%), scattered/generalized distribution (24.7%), and the face (18.3%). Patients with a positive reaction to MDBGN/PE and/or MDBGN and/or PE were significantly more likely to be male and older than 40 years and/or had hand dermatitis (P ≤ 0.0033). Positivity to MDBGN/PE 2.0% pet decreased significantly over time (from 6.0% in 1998-2000 to 2.5% in 2017-2018, P \u3c 0.0001). Personal care products were the most common exposure source (53.2%). Conclusions Over time, positivity to MDBGN/PE 2.0% pet decreased significantly from 6.0% (in 1998-2000) to 2.5% (in 2017-2018). The high proportion of weak (63.3%) reactions underscore the need for careful interpretation of patch test sites. Important demographic associations included male sex and age older than 40 years