Showing flows of people and resources between multiple geographic locations is a challenging visualisation problem. We conducted two quantitative user studies to evaluate different visual ...representations for such dense many-to-many flows. In our first study we compared a bundled node-link flow map representation and OD Maps 37 with a new visualisation we call MapTrix. Like OD Maps, MapTrix overcomes the clutter associated with a traditional flow map while providing geographic embedding that is missing in standard OD matrix representations. We found that OD Maps and MapTrix had similar performance while bundled node-link flow map representations did not scale at all well. Our second study compared participant performance with OD Maps and MapTrix on larger data sets. Again performance was remarkably similar.
Immersive virtual- and augmented-reality headsets can overlay a flat image against any surface or hang virtual objects in the space around the user. The technology is rapidly improving and may, in ...the long term, replace traditional flat panel displays in many situations. When displays are no longer intrinsically flat, how should we use the space around the user for abstract data visualisation? In this paper, we ask this question with respect to origin-destination flow data in a global geographic context. We report on the findings of three studies exploring different spatial encodings for flow maps. The first experiment focuses on different 2D and 3D encodings for flows on flat maps. We find that participants are significantly more accurate with raised flow paths whose height is proportional to flow distance but fastest with traditional straight line 2D flows. In our second and third experiment we compared flat maps, 3D globes and a novel interactive design we call MapsLink , involving a pair of linked flat maps. We find that participants took significantly more time with MapsLink than other flow maps while the 3D globe with raised flows was the fastest, most accurate, and most preferred method. Our work suggests that careful use of the third spatial dimension can resolve visual clutter in complex flow maps.
The metaverse is a visual world that blends the physical world and digital world. At present, the development of the metaverse is still in the early stage, and there lacks a framework for the visual ...construction and exploration of the metaverse. In this paper, we propose a framework that summarizes how graphics, interaction, and visualization techniques support the visual construction of the metaverse and user-centric exploration. We introduce three kinds of visual elements that compose the metaverse and the two graphical construction methods in a pipeline. We propose a taxonomy of interaction technologies based on interaction tasks, user actions, feedback and various sensory channels, and a taxonomy of visualization techniques that assist user awareness. Current potential applications and future opportunities are discussed in the context of visual construction and exploration of the metaverse. We hope this paper can provide a stepping stone for further research in the area of graphics, interaction and visualization in the metaverse.
Since immune system and internal environment
are large and complex, the interpretation of the observed immune effect from the perspective of a single immune cell or antibody seems a little feeble. ...Many studies have shown that specific antibodies against " former" viruses have a reduced ability to neutralize "new" mutant strains. However, there is no comprehensive and clear view of whether there will be Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). We review the latest relevant studies, hoping to explain the ADE of SARS-CoV-2 infection sometimes observed in some patients.
Network visualizations are commonly used to analyze relationships in various contexts, such as social, biological, and geographical interactions. To efficiently explore a network visualization, the ...user needs to quickly navigate to different parts of the network and analyze local details. Recent advancements in display and interaction technologies inspire new visions for improved visualization and interaction design. Past research into network design has identified some key benefits to visualizing networks in 3D versus 2D. However, little work has been done to study the impact of varying levels of embodied interaction on network analysis. We present a controlled user study that compared four network visualization environments featuring conditions and hardware that leveraged different amounts of embodiment and visual perception ranging from a 2D visualization desktop environment with a standard mouse to a 3D visualization virtual reality environment. We measured the accuracy, speed, perceived workload, and preferences of 20 participants as they completed three network analytic tasks, each of which required unique navigation and substantial effort to complete. For the task that required participants to iterate over the entire visualization rather than focus on a specific area, we found that participants were more accurate using a VR HMD and a trackball mouse than conventional desktop settings. From a workload perspective, VR was generally considered the least mentally demanding and least frustrating to use in two of our three tasks. It was also preferred and ranked as the most effective and visually appealing condition overall. However, using VR to compare two side-by-side networks was difficult, and it was similar to or slower than other conditions in two of the three tasks. Overall, the accuracy and workload advantages of conditions with greater embodiment in specific tasks suggest promising opportunities to create more effective environments in which to analyze network visualizations.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is currently the type of breast cancer with the worst prognosis; it lacks specific treatments, such as ER/PR antagonistic endocrine and anti-HER2 targeted ...therapies. Although immunotherapy with immune checkpoints has shown some efficacy in many solid tumors, clinical data in TNBC suggest significant limitations. The essence of ferroptosis is the impaired metabolism of intracellular lipid oxides, which in turn causes the activation and abnormalities of the immune system, including ROS, and not only plays an important role in liver injury and organ aging but also a large amount of data points to the close correlation between the ferroptosis process and tumor development. In this study, through the analysis of large-throughput biological data of breast tumors, combined with the characteristics of the biological process of ferroptosis, the specific gene IDH2 was found to be significantly highly expressed in TNBC and functionally correlated with ferroptosis. Through clinical specimens validated at the gene and protein levels, in vitro tumor cell line validation, and in vivo mouse models, we found that the high expression of IDH2 in TNBC has a role in inhibiting the ferroptosis process in TNBC, thus promoting the proliferation of TNBC cells and other malignant features.
In this paper, the traditional, silicate-based Portland cement (PC) was employed as the control to explore the impact of adding varying amounts of metakaolin (MK) on the mechanical properties of ...cement mortar. In fact, as a mineral admixture, metakaolin (MK) has the ability to significantly improve the early strength and sulfate resistance of cement mortar in traditional, silicate-based Portland cement (PC). In addition to this, the performance of Portland cement mortar is greatly affected by the curing mode. The previous research mainly stays in the intermittent curing and alkaline excitation mode, and there are few studies on the influence of relatively humidity on it. Moreover, the paper investigated the impact of four different curing methods about humidity on the mechanical properties and sulfate resistance. The results show that the best content of metakaolin in Portland cement is 10% (M10), and the best curing method is 95% humidity in the first three days followed by 60% humidity in the later period (3#). Based on previous literature that suggests that adding MK thickens water film layer on the surface of mortar, the mechanism of MK increasing the early strength of cement was analyzed. The compressive strength of the Portland cement containing 10% MK (M10) after 1 day curing is 3.18 times that of pristine PC mortar, and is comparable if PC is cured for three days under the same curing conditions. The traditional PC mortar is highly dependent on the wet curing time, and normally requires a curing time of at least seven days. However, the incorporation of MK can greatly reduce the sensitivity of Portland cement to water; MK cement mortar with only three days wet curing (3#M10) can reach 49.12 MPa after 28 days, which can greatly shorten the otherwise lengthy wet curing time. Lastly, the cement specimens with MK also demonstrated excellent resistance against sulfate corrosion. The work will provide a strong theoretical basis for the early demolding of cement products in construction projects. At the same time, this study can also provide a theoretical reference for the construction of climate drought and saline land areas, which has great reference value.
Lung ultrasound (LUS) is recommended as a reliable diagnostic alternative to chest X-ray (CXR) for detecting pneumonia in children.
PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were used to ...identify eligible studies from their inception until April 2023. The investigated diagnostic parameters included sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC).
Twenty-six studies involving 3,401 children were selected for meta-analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC of LUS for detecting pneumonia in children were 0.95, 0.92, 12.31, 0.05, 108.53, and 0.98, respectively, while the sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC of CXR were 0.92, 0.93, 24.63, 0.08, 488.54, and 0.99, respectively. The sensitivity of LUS was higher than that of CXR for detecting pneumonia in children (ratio: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06; P = 0.018), whereas the DOR of LUS was significantly lower than that of CXR (ratio: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.06-0.85; P = 0.028).
This study found that the diagnostic performance of LUS was comparable to that of CXR for detecting pneumonia, and the sensitivity of LUS was superior to that of CXR.
Abstract
Both electric vehicles and Tokamak power supply use multiple parallel converters to realize high current operation in four quadrants. A finite‐time current sharing control algorithm based on ...disturbance compensation is proposed to improve the converter system's dynamic and steady‐state performance so that the system can achieve the required load current and branch‐current sharing in a finite time. In the proposed algorithm, this paper adopts a finite‐time observer for unknown disturbances in the converter system and load circuit due to disturbances, such as unknown inductance and resistance in the converter system. The results show that the load current control overshoot is minimal, and the dynamic performance of each branch current is higher than the traditional control algorithm.
A finite‐time current sharing control algorithm based on disturbance compensation is proposed so that the converter system can achieve the required load current and branch current sharing in a finite time.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a relatively rare and extensively malignant kind of thyroid carcinoma. The poor prognosis and high mortality rate of ATC can be attributed to its invasive features ...and undifferentiated phenotype. At present, there is a lack of efficacious therapeutic options. In light of the elevated fatality rate, it is vital to possess a comprehensive comprehension of the scientific terrain pertaining to ATC. To gather the perspectives of different researchers about the topic of ATC treatment, we did a bibliometric network analysis, which offers a comprehensive view of the scholarly literature.
A systematic search was conducted on the WoSCC database to identify publications pertaining to ATC treatment between the years 2000 and 2023. In this bibliometric investigation, the tools VOSviewers, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix" were employed to investigate the general attributes, developmental framework, and academic frontiers of the subject matter.
1223 publications in total, written by 6937 scholars from 53 areas and 1402 institutions and published in 358 scholarly journals, were analyzed. There has been a gradual increase in the quantity of publications pertaining to ATC treatment. The United States and China emerged as the most prominent nations. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Counseling Center are prominent research institutions in highly productive countries. The journal
holds a prominent position within its discipline, being widely recognized as both the most popular and highly co-cited publication. According to the available data, Maria Cabanillas has authored the highest number of published articles, while RC Smallridge has received the highest number of co-citations. It turned out that the prevailing keywords encompassed expression, therapy, apoptosis, survival, activation, proliferation, metastasis, and other related terms. Immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and prognostic factors are the emerging research hotspots and trends.
This paper presents a complete overview of research trends and advancements in the treatment of ATC using bibliometric analysis. The acquisition of information will offer vital insights for funding and potential creative strategies in researching the treatment of ATC, which indicates the research frontiers as well as prevalent directions in recent years.
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