Visual Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Event Predictions: Investigating the Spread Dynamics of Invasive Species

Invasive species are a major cause of ecological damage and commercial losses. A current problem spreading in North America and Europe is the vinegar fly Drosophila suzukii. Unlike other Drosophila, it infests non-rotting and healthy fruits and is therefore of concern to fruit growers, such as vintners. Consequently, large amounts of data about infestations have been collected in recent years. However, there is a lack of interactive methods to investigate this data. We employ ensemble-based classification to predict areas susceptible to infestation by D. suzukii and bring them into a spatio-temporal context using maps and glyph-based visualizations. Following the information-seeking mantra, we provide a visual analysis system Drosophigator for spatio-temporal event prediction, enabling the investigation of the spread dynamics of invasive species. We demonstrate the usefulness of this approach in two use cases

CommAID: Visual Analytics for Communication Analysis through Interactive Dynamics Modeling

Communication consists of both meta-information as well as content. Currently, the automated analysis of such data often focuses either on the network aspects via social network analysis or on the content, utilizing methods from text-mining. However, the first category of approaches does not leverage the rich content information, while the latter ignores the conversation environment and the temporal evolution, as evident in the meta-information. In contradiction to communication research, which stresses the importance of a holistic approach, both aspects are rarely applied simultaneously, and consequently, their combination has not yet received enough attention in automated analysis systems. In this work, we aim to address this challenge by discussing the difficulties and design decisions of such a path as well as contribute CommAID, a blueprint for a holistic strategy to communication analysis. It features an integrated visual analytics design to analyze communication networks through dynamics modeling, semantic pattern retrieval, and a user-adaptable and problem-specific machine learning-based retrieval system. An interactive multi-level matrix-based visualization facilitates a focused analysis of both network and content using inline visuals supporting cross-checks and reducing context switches. We evaluate our approach in both a case study and through formative evaluation with eight law enforcement experts using a real-world communication corpus. Results show that our solution surpasses existing techniques in terms of integration level and applicability. With this contribution, we aim to pave the path for a more holistic approach to communication analysis.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, Computer Graphics Forum 2021 (pre-peer reviewed version

Communication Analysis through Visual Analytics: Current Practices, Challenges, and New Frontiers

The automated analysis of digital human communication data often focuses on specific aspects such as content or network structure in isolation. This can provide limited perspectives while making cross-methodological analyses, occurring in domains like investigative journalism, difficult. Communication research in psychology and the digital humanities instead stresses the importance of a holistic approach to overcome these limiting factors. In this work, we conduct an extensive survey on the properties of over forty semi-automated communication analysis systems and investigate how they cover concepts described in theoretical communication research. From these investigations, we derive a design space and contribute a conceptual framework based on communication research, technical considerations, and the surveyed approaches. The framework describes the systems' properties, capabilities, and composition through a wide range of criteria organized in the dimensions (1) Data, (2) Processing and Models, (3) Visual Interface, and (4) Knowledge Generation. These criteria enable a formalization of digital communication analysis through visual analytics, which, we argue, is uniquely suited for this task by tackling automation complexity while leveraging domain knowledge. With our framework, we identify shortcomings and research challenges, such as group communication dynamics, trust and privacy considerations, and holistic approaches. Simultaneously, our framework supports the evaluation of systems and promotes the mutual exchange between researchers through a structured common language, laying the foundations for future research on communication analysis.Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables, 1 figur

GESCHÄFTSMODELLE 4.0: Baukasten zur Entwicklung datenbasierter Geschäftsmodelle

Die Digitalisierung ermöglich Unternehmen den Zugriff auf einen neuen Schatz an Ressourcen: Daten. Doch wie sind diese Daten wirtschaftlich zu nutzen? Das Praxishandbuch zeigt Ihnen, wie Sie datenbasierte Geschäftsmodelle entwickeln, um gezielt einen strategischen Wettbewerbsvorteil aufbauen zu können. Hierfür steht ein Baukasten aus methodischen Werkzeugen zur Verfügung, welcher Sie Schritt für Schritt durch die Entwicklung Ihres individuellen datenbasierten Geschäftsmodells führt

Matrix-Bound PAI-1 Supports Cell Blebbing via RhoA/ROCK1 Signaling

The microenvironment of a tumor can influence both the morphology and the behavior of cancer cells which, in turn, can rapidly adapt to environmental changes. Increasing evidence points to the involvement of amoeboid cell migration and thus of cell blebbing in the metastatic process; however, the cues that promote amoeboid cell behavior in physiological and pathological conditions have not yet been clearly identified. Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) is found in high amount in the microenvironment of aggressive tumors and is considered as an independent marker of bad prognosis. Here we show by immunoblotting, activity assay and immunofluorescence that, in SW620 human colorectal cancer cells, matrix-associated PAI-1 plays a role in the cell behavior needed for amoeboid migration by maintaining cell blebbing, localizing PDK1 and ROCK1 at the cell membrane and maintaining the RhoA/ROCK1/MLC-P pathway activation. The results obtained by modeling PAI-1 deposition around tumors indicate that matrix-bound PAI-1 is heterogeneously distributed at the tumor periphery and that, at certain spots, the elevated concentrations of matrix-bound PAI-1 needed for cancer cells to undergo the mesenchymal-amoeboid transition can be observed. Matrix-bound PAI-1, as a matricellular protein, could thus represent one of the physiopathological requirements to support metastatic formation

Role of high tibial osteotomy in chronic injuries of posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner

High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a surgical procedure used to change the mechanical weight-bearing axis and alter the loads carried through the knee. Conventional indications for HTO are medial compartment osteoarthritis and varus malalignment of the knee causing pain and dysfunction. Traditionally, knee instability associated with varus thrust has been considered a contraindication. However, today the indications include patients with chronic ligament deficiencies and malalignment, because an HTO procedure can change not only the coronal but also the sagittal plane of the knee. The sagittal plane has generally been ignored in HTO literature, but its modification has a significant impact on biomechanics and joint stability. Indeed, decreased posterior tibial slope causes posterior tibia translation and helps the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knee. Vice versa, increased tibial slope causes anterior tibia translation and helps the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-deficient knee. A review of literature shows that soft tissue procedures alone are often unsatisfactory for chronic posterior instability if alignment is not corrected. Since limb alignment is the most important factor to consider in lower limb reconstructive surgery, diagnosis and treatment of limb malalignment should not be ignored in management of chronic ligamentous instabilities. This paper reviews the effects of chronic posterior instability and tibial slope alteration on knee and soft tissues, in addition to planning and surgical technique for chronic posterior and posterolateral instability with HTO

Visual Analytics of Spatial Events : Methods for the Interactive Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Data Abstractions

Technological advances, especially in remote sensing, GPS sensors, and computer vision and camera-based tracking, enable the collection of spatio-temporal data on an unprecedented scale. These massive datasets raise the problem of how subject matter experts can derive useful knowledge from them and how these datasets can be visualized without leading to overcrowded and cluttered displays. For that, suitable data abstractions are required on the one hand and the integration of subject matter experts in the analysis process instead of solely relying on automatic methods on the other hand. This dissertation addresses the aforementioned issues. First, spatial events, which are objects with a limited temporal existence with an additional associated spatial position, are identified as a suitable data abstraction for visualization and further analysis. Additionally, complex spatial events are introduced, which occur in domains, where events not only have a spatial and temporal location, but where the events can have semantic interrelationships, have interdependencies with other objects on other objects, or are constricted by outside rules and influences. Visual analytics is employed to ensure the integration of subject matter experts in the analysis process of (complex) spatial events via a combination of automatic and visual analysis methods with a tight coupling through human interaction. The suitability of visual analytics to analyze spatial events is successfully demonstrated in a diverse range of domains and the current state of the art is broadened by several contributions. Via traditional methods such as glyph-based map representations that are extended to enable the subject matter experts to use their insights from the visualizations to steer the model building process further. With completely newly developed methods such as query-by-sketch interfaces based on real-world metaphors that offer model visualizations that enable the subject matter experts to evaluate findings of the underlying models. Furthermore, new approaches are presented that enable the users to offload the complexity of defining complex spatial events and query construction unto the system with the help of visual query languages. The presented approaches are quantitatively evaluated or in use cases and user studies in close cooperation with relevant subject matter experts. The user-driven evaluation is performed in paired analytics sessions, where the experts are encouraged to share their feedback and comments following the Thinking-Aloud protocol. The results demonstrate the potential that the visual analytics of spatial events offers and how the subject matter experts can be included in this process. The overall positive reception by experts regarding these new interaction and analysis modalities demonstrates the empowering and positive impact that visual analytics can have and reveals an exciting field for future research that builds upon the findings of this dissertation!publishe