bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physician perspectives of abortion advocacy: findings from a mixed-methods study
Authors: Manze Meredith , Romero Diana , Kwan Amy , Ellsworth Taylor Rose , Jones Heidi
Published: April 2022

Objective

Our aim was to assess physicians’ perspectives of what constitutes abortion advocacy and the skills needed to be effective in their efforts to safeguard legal abortion.

Methods

Alumni from a physician training programme for sexual and reproductive health advocacy completed a cross-sectional survey including questions on perceived skills needed for effective advocacy. The research team conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with alumni, based on their level of engagement in advocacy. We present descriptive statistics for survey data and themes identified in the interview data using techniques informed by grounded theory.

Results

Of the survey respondents (n=231), almost a third (28.6%; n=66) felt the most important media skill they learnt was the ability to stay on message. The most important policy skill was communicating effectively with policymakers (47.0%; n=108), followed by distilling evidence for policymakers and laypeople (13.0%; n=30). In the IDIs (n=36), participants reported activities such as media interviews as clear examples of advocacy, but also considered implementing institutional policies and abortion provision to be advocacy. They discussed how individual comfort and capacity for advocacy activities may change over time, given personal and professional considerations. Regardless of the type of activity, physicians valued strategic communication and relationship-building skills.

Conclusions

Based on our findings, training programmes that seek to mobilise physician advocates to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights should work with trainees to create a tailored advocacy plan that fits their personal and professional lives and goals. Regardless of the types of advocacy activities physicians focus on, strategic communication may be central in skills-based training.
Getting the best from the Heart Team: guidance for cardiac multidisciplinary meetings
Authors: Archbold Andrew , Akowuah Enoch , Banning Adrian P , Baumbach Andreas , Braidley Peter , Cooper Graham , Kendall Simon , MacCarthy Philip , O'Kane Peter , O'Keeffe Niall , Shah Benoy Nalin , Watt Victoria , Ray Simon
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this document is to update the existing joint British Societies recommendations on multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) published in 2015 to reflect changes in practice. We aim to provide guidance on the structure and function of MDMs which should be taking place in every cardiac surgical centre. Out of scope are MDMs that do not require the routine presence of a cardiac surgeon such as electrophysiology MDMs and those which are not provided in every centre, such as complex aortic surgery.
New evaluation of the tumor immune microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer and its association with prognosis
Authors: Shinohara Shuichi , Takahashi Yusuke , Komuro Hiroyasu , Matsui Takuya , Sugita Yusuke , Demachi-Okamura Ayako , Muraoka Daisuke , Takahara Hirotomo , Nakada Takeo , Sakakura Noriaki , Masago Katsuhiro , Miyai Manami , Nishida Reina , Shomura Shin , Shigematsu Yoshiki , Hatooka Shunzo , Sasano Hajime , Watanabe Fumiaki , Adachi Katsutoshi , Fujinaga Kazuya , Kaneda Shinji , Takao Motoshi , Ohtsuka Takashi , Yamaguchi Rui , Kuroda Hiroaki , Matsushita Hirokazu
Published: April 2022

Background

A better understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) will facilitate the development of prognostic biomarkers and more effective therapeutic strategies in patients with lung cancer. However, little has been reported on the comprehensive evaluation of complex interactions among cancer cells, immune cells, and local immunosuppressive elements in the TIME.

Methods

Whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing were carried out on 113 lung cancers. We performed single sample gene set enrichment analysis on TIME-related gene sets to develop a new scoring system (TIME score), consisting of T-score (tumor proliferation), I-score (antitumor immunity) and S-score (immunosuppression). Lung cancers were classified according to a combination of high or low T-score, I-score, and S-scores (eight groups; G1-8). Clinical and genomic features, and immune landscape were investigated among eight groups. The external data sets of 990 lung cancers from The Cancer Genome Atlas and 76 melanomas treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) were utilized to evaluate TIME scoring and explore prognostic and predictive accuracy.

Results

The representative histological type including adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and driver mutations such as epidermal growth factor receptor and TP53 mutations were different according to the T-score. The numbers of somatic mutations and predicted neoantigens were higher in Thi (G5-8) than Tlo (G1-4) tumors. Immune selection pressure against neoantigen expression occurred only in Thi and was dampened in Thi/Ilo (G5-6), possibly due to a reduced number of T cells with a high proportion of tumor specific but exhausted cells. Thi/Ilo/Shi (G5) displayed the lowest immune responses by additional immune suppressive mechanisms. The T-score, I-score and S-scores were independent prognostic factors, with survival curves well separated into eight groups with G5 displaying the worst overall survival, while the opposite group Tlo/Ihi/Slo (G4) had the best prognosis. Several oncogenic signaling pathways influenced on T-score and I-scores but not S-score, and PI3K pathway alteration correlated with poor prognosis in accordance with higher T-score and lower I-score. Moreover, the TIME score predicted the efficacy of ICI in patients with melanoma.

Conclusion

The TIME score capturing complex interactions among tumor proliferation, antitumor immunity and immunosuppression could be useful for prognostic predictions or selection of treatment strategies in patients with lung cancer.
Contribution of large genomic rearrangements inPALB2to familial breast cancer: implications for genetic testing
Authors: Li Na , Zethoven Magnus , McInerny Simone , Healey Eliza , DeSilva Dilanka , Devereux Lisa , Scott Rodney J , James Paul A , Campbell Ian G
Published: April 2022

Background

PALB2is the most important contributor to familial breast cancer afterBRCA1andBRCA2. Large genomic rearrangements (LGRs) inBRCA1andBRCA2are routinely assessed in clinical testing and are a significant contributor to the yield of actionable findings. In contrast, the contribution of LGRs inPALB2has not been systematically studied.

Methods

We performed targeted sequencing and real-time qPCR validation to identify LGRs inPALB2in 5770 unrelated patients with familial breast cancer and 5741 cancer-free control women from the same Australian population.

Results

Seven large deletions ranging in size from 0.96 kbp to 18.07 kbp involvingPALB2were identified in seven cases, while no LGRs were identified in any of the controls. Six LGRs were considered pathogenic as they included one or more exons ofPALB2and disrupted the WD40 domain at the C terminal end of the PALB2 protein while one LGR only involved a partial region of intron 10 and was considered a variant of unknown significance. Altogether, pathogenic LGRs identified in this study accounted for 10.3% (6 of 58) of the pathogenicPALB2variants detected among the 5770 families with familial breast cancer.

Conclusions

Our data show that a clinically important proportion ofPALB2pathogenic mutations in Australian patients with familial breast cancer are LGRs. Such observations have provided strong support for inclusion ofPALB2LGRs in routine clinical genetic testing.
Ethical implications of the widespread use of informal mHealth methods in Ghana
Authors: Owusu Samuel Asiedu
Published: April 2022

Background

Informal mHealth is widely used by community health nurses in Ghana to extend healthcare delivery services to clients who otherwise might have been excluded from formal health systems or would experience significant barriers in their quest to access formal health services. The nurses use their private mobile phones or devices to make calls to their clients, health volunteers, colleagues or superiors. These phone calls are also reciprocal in nature. Besides, the parties exchange or share other health data and information through text messages, pictures, videos or voice clips. There are some ethical dimensions that are inherent in these practices that ought to be critically scrutinised by bioethicists.

Objective

The author has argued in this paper that informal mHealth at large scale adoption in Ghana is associated with some bioethical challenges.

Methods

This essay was largely based on an analysis of an empirical study published by Hampshireet alin 2021 on the use of informal mHealth methods in Ghana.

Results

Widespread adoption of Informal mHealth in Ghana is associated with privacy invasion of both the nurses and their clients, breaches confidentiality of the parties, discredits the validity of informed consent processes and may predispose the nurses to some other significant aggregated harms.

Conclusion

The author affirms his partial support for a formalised adoption process of informal mHealth in Ghana but has reiterated that the current ethical challenges associated with informal mHealth in Ghana cannot escape all the debilitating bioethical challenges, even if it is formalised.
p-Chloro-diphenyl diselenide modulates Nrf2/Keap1 signaling and counteracts renal oxidative stress in mice exposed to repeated dexamethasone administrations
Authors: Müller Sabrina G. , Heck Suélen O. , Marques Luiza S. , Zborowski Vanessa A. , Nogueira Cristina W.
Published: April 2022

Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid that has been associated with oxidative stress in central and peripheral tissues. p-Chloro-diphenyl diselenide (( p-ClPhSe)2) is an antioxidant organoselenium compound. The present study evaluated whether nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1) signaling contributes to the ( p-ClPhSe)2antioxidant effects in the kidney of mice exposed to dexamethasone. Adult Swiss mice received dexamethasone (intraperitoneal) at a dose of 2 mg/kg or its vehicle for 21 days. After that, mice were treated with ( p-ClPhSe)2(intragastric) (1, 5, or 10 mg/kg) for 7 days. Samples of kidneys were collected for biochemical assays. ( p-ClPhSe)2at a dose of 1 mg/kg reversed the renal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and carbonyl protein (CP) levels increased by dexamethasone. ( p-ClPhSe)2at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg was effective against the increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, ROS, and CP, as well as the decrease of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity and nonprotein sulfhydryl levels induced by dexamethasone. At 5 mg/kg, ( p-ClPhSe)2reduced the renal levels of 4-OH-2-HNE and heme oxygenase (HO-1), as well as modulated the Nrf2/Keap-1 signaling in mice exposed to dexamethasone. The present findings revealed that ( p-ClPhSe)2antioxidant effects were associated with the modulation of Nrf2/Keap-1 signaling pathway in the kidney of mice exposed to dexamethasone.
RGE effects on the LFV scale from meson decays
Authors: González Marcela , Kovalenko Sergey , Neill Nicolás A. , Vignatti Jonatan
Published: April 2022

We consider the lepton-flavor violating (LFV) lepton-quark dimension-6 operators and analyze their contributions to the LFV leptonic decays of vector, pseudoscalar, and scalar neutral mesons $$M\rightarrow \ell _1 \ell _2$$

M
→

ℓ
1

ℓ
2

as well as to $$\mu (\tau ) \rightarrow \ell ee, \ell \gamma \gamma $$

μ
(
τ
)
→
ℓ
e
e
,
ℓ
γ
γ

decays. These operators contribute to the purely leptonic processes via quark loop. On the basis of quark-hadron duality, we relate these loops to the appropriate meson-exchange contributions. In this way, we extract lower bounds on the individual scales of the studied LFV operators from the experimental and phenomenological limits on the leptonic decays of mesons and leptons. As a byproduct, we shall obtain new limits on the LFV leptonic decays of flavored mesons from the experimental bounds on the three-body lepton decays. We study the effects of QED and QCD radiative corrections to the LFV lepton-quark operators in question. We derive for them the one-loop matrix of the RGE evolution and examine its effect on the previously derived tree-level limits on these operators. We show that the QED corrections are particularly relevant due to operator mixing. Specifically, for some of them the limits on their individual LFV scales improve by up to 3 orders of magnitude.
Wave propagation in phononic materials based on the reduced micromorphic model by one-sided Fourier transform
Authors: Dhaba A. R. El , Abou-Dina M. S. , Ghaleb A. F.
Published: April 2022

A one-dimensional problem of wave propagation in phononic materials is solved under the reduced micromorphic model introduced recently. An efficient technique is used for the solution, based on one-sided Fourier transform. This allows obtaining an exact solution in closed form, which can be utilized to check approximate solutions obtained by other methods. The results are confirmed numerically by the method of finite differences. They illustrate the existence of frequency band gaps.
Prediction of the capillary pressure of fluid surrounding a cylinder representing an idealized rock structure in porous media
Authors: Davarpanah Afshin , Cox Simon
Published: April 2022

Liquids in oil-bearing porous media assume complex shapes that depend on the reservoir characteristics and the wetting properties of the liquid. The wide variation in the geometry of rock formations makes it difficult to accurately predict the capillary pressure of small volumes of liquid and hence the likelihood of being able to move it. Here, we consider the situation in which a small volume of liquid surrounds an upright cylinder on a flat substrate and predict the shape that the liquid takes and its capillary pressure. We validate our predictions by comparing with Surface Evolver simulations for a range of contact angles and cylinder radii.
Shell-model-like approach based on cranking covariant density functional theory to ν1h11/2 band in 100Pd
Authors: Lin Yanlong , Yan Tao , Liu Lang
Published: April 2022

The [Formula: see text] band in 100Pd is investigated by the cranking covariant density functional theory (CDFT) with the particle-number-conservation shell-model-like approach (SLAP) to treat the pairing correlations. The experimental [Formula: see text], moments of inertia, and the total angular momentum are well reproduced by our calculation. The deformations for neutrons, protons, and the whole nucleus behave in a similar way with the decreasing of [Formula: see text] and the tiny change of [Formula: see text] with increasing rotational frequency [Formula: see text] from 0.2 to 0.6[Formula: see text]MeV. The features of the antimagnetic rotation (AMR) are identified by above calculation results. To conclude, the configuration of AMR for [Formula: see text]Pd given by the cranking CDFT-SLAP is [Formula: see text]([Formula: see text])[Formula: see text]. Furthermore, the configuration of [Formula: see text]([Formula: see text])[Formula: see text], which presents the experimental result of low spins, is also presented.
Broadband diffuse optical spectroscopy of two-layered scattering media containing oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, water, and lipids
Authors: Blaney Giles , Bottoni Martina , Sassaroli Angelo , Fernandez Cristianne , Fantini Sergio
Published: April 2022

We investigated the relationship between chromophore concentrations in two-layered scattering media and the apparent chromophore concentrations measured with broadband optical spectroscopy in conjunction with commonly used homogeneous medium inverse models. We used diffusion theory to generate optical data from a two-layered distribution of relevant tissue absorbers, namely, oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, water, and lipids, with a top-layer thickness in the range 1–15[Formula: see text]mm. The generated data consisted of broadband continuous-wave (CW) diffuse reflectance in the wavelength range 650–1024[Formula: see text]nm, and frequency-domain (FD) diffuse reflectance at 690 and 830[Formula: see text]nm; two source-detector distances of 25 and 35[Formula: see text]mm were used to simulate a dual-slope technique. The data were inverted using diffusion theory for a semi-infinite homogeneous medium to generate reduced scattering coefficients at 690 and 830[Formula: see text]nm (from FD data) and effective absorption spectra in the range 650–1024[Formula: see text]nm (from CW data). The absorption spectra were then converted into effective total concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, as well as water and lipid concentrations. For absolute values, it was found that the effective hemoglobin parameters are typically representative of the bottom layer, whereas water and lipid represent some average of the respective concentrations in the two layers. For concentration changes, lipid showed a significant cross-talk with other absorber concentrations, thus indicating that lipid dynamics obtained in these conditions may not be reliable. These systematic simulations of broadband spectroscopy of two-layered media provide guidance on how to interpret effective optical properties measured with similar instrumental setups under the assumption of medium homogeneity.
Generalized integral Niezgoda’s inequalities
Authors: Ali M. Maqsood , Khan Asif R.
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we give generalizations followed by refinements of the integral version of Niezgoda’s inequality in several different ways by using weights, functions with nondecreasing increments and isotonic linear functionals.
Measurement of the hydraulic properties of chalk using centrifuge permeameter; the study of chalk hydraulic properties under accelerated gravitational force
Authors: Al-Jaf Peshawa , Smith Martin , Gunzel Friederike
Published: April 2022

In this study, a geotechnical centrifuge has been used to study the unsaturated hydraulic properties of rock samples from the chalk aquifer, SE England. This method allows rapid measurement of hydraulic properties in a controlled environment, in contrast to previous studies on the chalk unsaturated zone, which required either an extended period (years) of data monitoring in the field or extended experimental periods (weeks) in the laboratory. Three types of specially built sensors were used to monitor water flow through chalk samples: a water pressure transducer to measure matric potential, frequency domain reflectometry probes to measure the volumetric water content and pressure transducers to measure the volume of water passing through the sample. Chalk samples were tested during wetting and draining processes to understand any hysteresis occurring during periodic recharge of the aquifer. Before undertaking physical tests of chalk samples in the centrifuge, a theoretical model of chalk hydraulic behaviour under centrifugal force was developed. This model was used to define and justify the instrumentation plan of the physical model and predict the shape of the soil moisture characteristic (SMC) curve and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (
K
u
) function. The results were then evaluated and compared with the experimental results. These results show that chalk samples can be successfully tested under centrifuge conditions and hydraulic properties can be measured, including soil moisture characteristic curves and hydraulic conductivity.

Supplementary material:
Calculation spread sheets are available at
https://doi.org/10.17033/DATA.00000283
INF-Based Tracking and Characterization of Museum Visitor Paths and Behaviors Using Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons
Authors: Casano Jonathan D. L. , Agapito Jenilyn L. , Moreno Abigail S. , Rodrigo Ma. Mercedes T.
Published: April 2022

This article presents a study that analyzes the visitor experience by using location data collected through Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) beacons. A visual analysis of the visitors’ behavior and interactions with the artworks at the Ateneo Art Gallery, the first museum of modern art in the Philippines, was conducted. The Immediate, Near, Far (INF) framework was built on top of earlier studies to provide a finer approximation of the visitors’ location in an enclosed space. It was used to operationalize the different metrics used to characterize visitors’ behaviors and such behaviors vis-á-vis tracked museum areas such as Holding Power and Attraction Power. Two additional metrics were introduced—the Re-Attraction Power and Nearness. This work strives to contribute to research on museum visitorship particularly within a developing world context.
Tikkoun Sofrim: Making Ancient Manuscripts Digitally Accessible: The Case of Midrash Tanhuma
Authors: Wecker Alan J. , Raziel-Kretzmer Vered , Kiessling Benjamin , Ezra Daniel Stökl Ben , Lavee Moshe , Kuflik Tsvi , Elovits Dror , Schorr Moshe , Schor Uri , Jablonski Pawel
Published: April 2022

Making ancient handwritten manuscripts accessible to the general public is challenging, for several reasons. Foremost, they are handwritten. Each and every one is unique, so there is a need for manual transcription for providing enough examples for training a machine-learning-based algorithm to automatically transcribe the handwritten text. Moreover, the quality of the text is diverse—over time the ink faded, pages were damaged, and so forth. Furthermore, the boundaries of the textual regions on a page and the lines of text are not standard. Sometimes there are corrections above the lines, the lines are curved, there are comments and annotations on the margins, and more. A possible solution for these challenges is having a “person in the loop.” However, manual correction brings with it another challenge—how to address disagreement between annotations (as usually several corrections are considered before a decision is taken about the correct transcription). Tikkoun-Sofrim is a system that integrates automatic handwritten text recognition with manual, crowdsourced error correction, introducing an automatic decision process about when to stop asking for additional transcription and selecting the best transcription, declaring it as the recommended agreed reading. The system was applied to several manuscripts of “Midrash Tanhuma,” a medieval Hebrew rabbinic homiletic text, achieving a high level of success.
Creative Experiences for Engaging Communities with Cultural Heritage through Place-based Narratives
Authors: Echavarria Karina Rodriguez , Samaroudi Myrsini , Dibble Laurie , Silverton Edward , Dixon Sophie
Published: April 2022

This research explores technologically advanced means to enhance audiences’ connection with cultural heritage assets through participatory creative methods that particularly reinforce young people’s sense of identity and well-being during sensitive “transitional” periods of their lives. Hence, the research investigates how communities can meaningfully connect with cultural heritage through creative experiences, while aiming at lowering the entry barriers to increasing audiences’ participation. For this, the research deploys narrative approaches to illuminate different viewpoints and interpretations of cultural heritage within communities. The contribution of the article is twofold, as it includes a novel approach for developing and re-telling communities’ narratives linked to people, objects, sites, and events in the urban landscape. At the same time, it proposes a workflow to digitise and communicate these narratives through
Augmented Reality (AR) Maps
by proposing methods for digitisation and producing physical printed elements for the experience. These physical elements are then augmented with digital narratives, delivered through
Immersive Web
technology. This concept is proposed as a means to document and disseminate the narratives in a way that enhances the public understanding and appreciation of objects and sites. The approach was tested with a class of children in a local primary school in Brighton and Hove (UK) to understand its suitability for community engagement, targeting young audiences. The significance of the research is that it demonstrates the potential of the synergy between creative and digital approaches for enabling meaningful engagement with the cultural heritage while improving the well-being of the participants as well as their sense of community and place.
Correction of Dropped Frames in High-resolution Push-broom Hyperspectral Images for Cultural Heritage
Authors: Willard Charlie , Wade Nancy , Strlič Matija , Gilchrist John R. , Weyrich Tim , Gibson Adam
Published: April 2022

Dropped frames can occur in line-scan cameras, which result in non-uniform spatial sampling of the scene. A dropped frame occurs when data from an image sensor is not successfully recorded. When mosaicking multiple line-scan images, such as in high-resolution imaging, this can cause misalignment. Much previous work to identify dropped frames in video prioritises fast computation over high accuracy, whereas in heritage imaging, high accuracy is often preferred over short computation time. Two approaches to identify the position of dropped frames are presented, both using the A* search algorithm to correct dropped frames. One method aligns overlapping sections of push-broom images and the other aligns the push-broom image to a lower resolution reference image. The two methods are compared across a range of test images, and the method aligning overlapping sections is shown to perform better than the method using a reference image under most circumstances. The overlap method was applied to hyperspectral images acquired of
La Ghirlandata,
an 1873 oil on canvas painting by D. G. Rossetti, enabling a high-resolution hyperspectral image mosaic to be produced. The resulting composite image is 10,875

\( \times \)

14,697 pixels each with 500 spectral bands from 400–2,500 nm. This corresponds to a spatial resolution of

\( 80 \,\mathrm{\upmu }\mathrm{m} \)

and a spectral resolution of 3–6 nm.
Tracking Data Provenance of Archaeological Temporal Information in Presence of Uncertainty
Authors: Migliorini Sara , Quintarelli Elisa , Belussi Alberto
Published: April 2022

The interpretation process is one of the main tasks performed by archaeologists who, starting from ground data about evidences and findings, incrementally derive knowledge about ancient objects or events. Very often more than one archaeologist contributes in different time instants to discover details about the same finding and thus, it is important to keep track of history and provenance of the overall knowledge discovery process. To this aim, we propose a model and a set of derivation rules for tracking and refining data provenance during the archaeological interpretation process. In particular, among all the possible interpretation activities, we concentrate on the one concerning the dating that archaeologists perform to assign one or more time intervals to a finding to define its lifespan on the temporal axis. In this context, we propose a framework to represent and derive updated provenance data about temporal information after the mentioned derivation process. Archaeological data, and in particular their temporal dimension, are typically vague, since many different interpretations can coexist, thus, we will use Fuzzy Logic to assign a degree of confidence to values and Fuzzy Temporal Constraint Networks to model relationships between dating of different findings represented as a graph-based dataset. The derivation rules used to infer more precise temporal intervals are enriched to manage also provenance information and their following updates after a derivation step. A MapReduce version of the path consistency algorithm is also proposed to improve the efficiency of the refining process on big graph-based datasets.
Transferring Traditional Crafts from the Physical to the Virtual World: An Authoring and Visualization Method and Platform
Authors: Stefanidi Evropi , Partarakis Nikolaos , Zabulis Xenophon , Adami Ilia , Ntoa Stavroula , Papagiannakis George
Published: April 2022

Visualizing human motion is a topic that has gained increasing attention in the domain of cultural heritage, due to the need for capturing intangible dimensions, existing for example in theatrical performances, dances, and crafts. In this respect, virtual humans are typically employed to re-enact human motion, executing movements reproduced through predefined animations, or physics simulation engines. In the case of traditional crafts, a defining point is how to model the interaction of virtual humans with craft-related objects and how to transfer it from the physical to the digital world. Toward a more effective and generic modeling and visualization of the interaction of humans with tools and machines utilized in crafts, this article proposes a novel methodology for the modeling and visualization of crafts and presents a platform enabling the authoring and visualization of craft processes. We contribute a way of visualizing craft processes within virtual environments, aiming to increase the usability of craft representation. As an example, we present and analyze the case of the craft of weaving with the use of a loom.
Formally Verified Loop-Invariant Code Motion and Assorted Optimizations
Authors: Monniaux David , Six Cyril
Published: April 2022

We present an approach for implementing a formally certified loop-invariant code motion optimization by composing an unrolling pass and a formally certified yet efficient global subexpression elimination. This approach is lightweight: each pass comes with a simple and independent proof of correctness. Experiments show the approach significantly narrows the performance gap between the CompCert certified compiler and state-of-the-art optimizing compilers. Our static analysis employs an efficient yet verified hashed set structure, resulting in the fast compilation.
JPEG column: 85th JPEG meeting in San Jose, California, U.S.A.
Authors: Pinheiro Antonio
Published: April 2022

The 85th JPEG meeting was held in San Jose, CA, USA.
Cosmology and High-Energy Astrophysics: A 50-Year Perspective on Personalities, Progress, and Prospects
Authors: Rees Martin J.
Published: April 2022

In the 1960s, novel and increasingly powerful observational techniques opened up the field of high-energy astrophysics. Cosmology started to become an empirical science, and there was a resurgence in the study of general relativity. Martin Rees became a graduate student at the University of Cambridge during that period and subsequently held postdoc positions in the United States. He was therefore fortunate to have a close-up perspective on some of these developments and to interact with many senior figures who were spearheading these advances. He himself became a phenomenologist, contributing his own ideas to several topics in these fields and working with many collaborators. This article offers an assessment of some key subsequent developments and personal perspectives from a diverse career spanning more than 50 years.
My Personal Journey from the Fascination for Phages to a Tumor-Inducing Fungal Pathogen of Corn
Authors: Kahmann Regine
Published: April 2022

My path in science began with a fascination for microbiology and phages and later involved a switch of subjects to the fungus Ustilago maydis and how it causes disease in maize. I will not provide a review of my work but rather focus on decisive findings, serendipitous, lucky moments when major advances made the U. maydis–maize system what it is now—a well-established model for biotrophic fungi. I also want to share with you the joy of finding the needle in a haystack at the very end of my scientific career, a fungal structure likely used for effector delivery, and how we were able to translate this into a potential application in agriculture.
Percolative Anodization: Tailoring TiO2 Nanotube Arrays Inside Ultrafine Ti Microchannels
Authors: Su Jun , Li Hongyun , Jin Jian , Yin Dingyin , Sun Lidong
Published: April 2022

Porous metals have generated increasing interest for biomedical, catalysis, energy and environmental applications, because of the high specific strength and large surface area. To make full use of the porous feature, it is of essential importance to tailor the surface morphology and wettability of the microchannels inside the metals. However, it remains a great challenge to uniformly and conformally coat the microchannels of <30 μm in view of the spatial limitation. In this work, a percolative anodization is developed to decorate the ultrafine microchannels of porous titanium with TiO2 nanotube arrays. Uniform and conformal nanotube coatings are produced throughout the channels of 0.5–10 μm with superwetting characters by optimizing the solvent viscosity. The mechanism of percolative anodization is established by investigating the nanotube growth in both torturous and straight channels. A key parameter of K value is thus introduced to elucidate the percolative anodization controlled either by electric field or concentration field. The anodization requires an electrolyte solution of low viscosity with K < 0.4, and may employ that of high viscosity with K > 0.4 to sufficiently coat the microchannels. The major findings reported herein can be extended to other porous metals for surface modification and functionalization.
The Importance of a Moving Boundary Approach for Modeling the SEI Layer Growth to Predict Capacity Fade
Authors: Uppaluri Maitri , Shah Krishna , Viswanathan Vilayanur , Subramanian Venkat R.
Published: April 2022

One of the contributing factors to the aging of lithium-ion batteries is the growth of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. The growth of the SEI layer leads to the irreversible loss of lithium available for cycling and increases the resistance of the battery. Physics-based models in literature model the kinetically limited or solvent diffusion-limited growth. In such models, the interface resistance is a constant, and the contribution to the overpotential of the intercalation reaction from the SEI layer is considered to be ohmic. In this study, we propose a model that describes the growth of the SEI layer on the electrode surface as a moving interface. The transport of lithium ions and the solvent in the electrolyte are affected by this moving interface. The equations that govern the species transport and the potential drop across the SEI layer are derived from dilute solution theory and solved by transforming the coordinates of the moving boundary. The ion transport induces changes in the conductivity across the SEI layer, which affects the potential drop that arises due to its growth. The effects of this potential on capacity fade are studied over cycling the battery.
Review—Strategic Design of Layered Double Hydroxides and Graphitic Carbon Nitride Heterostructures for Photoelectrocatalytic Water Splitting Applications
Authors: Guru Sruthi , Rao G. Ranga
Published: April 2022

The layered double hydroxides/graphitic carbon nitride (LDH/g-C3N4) heterostructures stand as promising photo- and electro-catalysts for water oxidation and reduction. These materials containing metal ions

M

p
+

a

n

d

M

′

q
+

,

represented as

M

p
+

M

′

q
+

−
LDH
/
g
‐

C
3

N
4

,

have unique advantages over single component catalysts. This review provides the necessary insights on the material selection and mechanisms involved in electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic water splitting processes. The importance of heterojunctions and interfacial chemistry in the water splitting mechanism is explained in detail by taking CuTi-LDH@g-C3N4 and Bi2O2CO3/NiFe-LDH@g-C3N4 as examples. There is a synergistic effect between g-C3N4 and LDH layers that improves the performance of the hybrid materials over individual catalysts. This effect is due to the formation of Type II heterojunction in CuTi-LDH@g-C3N4 for oxygen evolution reaction, and of S-scheme mechanism in Bi2O2CO3/NiFe-LDH@g-C3N4 for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. Comparison of these two photoelectrocatalysts reveals new insights related to the role of synthesis method (hydrothermal vs coprecipitation), surface active sites (binary vs ternary heterostructures) and type of heterojunctions (Type II vs S-scheme), specifically, in the photoelectrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. These insights pave the way for further research in such multi-component hybrid materials to augment the progress in designing highly efficient heterogeneous photo/electro-catalysts for generating renewable fuels.
Glycyrrhiza Polysaccharide Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice
Authors: Huang Chunying , Luo Xiaoqi , Li Lulu , Xue Nan , Dang Yuanjie , Zhang Hongli , Liu Jingxuan , Li Jibing , Li Cuiqin , Li Farong
Published: April 2022

Background. Licorice is one of the most ubiquitous herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, with notable anti-inflammatory and antiulcerative effects as well as potent digestive disease therapeutic impacts; yet, its active components and mechanisms remain unclear. There is a lot of evidence that Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GPS) has antioxidants, improving intestinal flora, anti-inflammatory effects, etc. Hypothesis/Purpose. Here, we investigated the effects of GPS on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute ulcerative colitis (UC) mice and its possible mechanisms. Methods. GPS (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) or the positive control drug sulfasalazine (SASP) (200 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice for 8 days. Body weight was recorded daily. Symptoms associated with UC, such as disease activity index (DAI), colon length, spleen weight, and mucosal damage were detected. The possible mechanism of GPS ameliorating enteritis symptoms was explored by detecting intestinal permeability and serum levels of inflammatory factors, and changes in intestinal permeability were expressed by serum concentration of FITC-dextran and D-lactic acid. Results. The results demonstrated that GPS administration alleviated UC symptoms in colitis mice, including weight loss, DAI index, shorting colon length, and mucosal damage. Mechanistic evaluation revealed that GPS treatment reduced intestinal permeability and serum levels of inflammatory factors: IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, while increasing serum levels of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, suggesting that GPS’s mechanism in UC is related to reducing intestinal permeability and inhibiting the inflammatory response, with intestinal permeability implicated as the initiating mechanism. Conclusion. This study highlights GPS as a promising therapeutic agent, with high therapeutic efficacy and a good safety profile, for enteritis and beyond.
GNL3 Regulates SIRT1 Transcription and Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stem Cell-Like Features and Metastasis
Authors: Zhang Songyan , Zhao Haoran , Chen Yang , Zhang Yubao
Published: April 2022

The expression of GNL3 in hepatocellular carcinoma was detected, and its effect on the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells was investigated. Hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent tissues were collected. The mRNA and protein expression levels of GNL3 were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The relationship between GNL3 and the prognosis of liver cancer was analysed using public databases. A GNL3 interfering plasmid was constructed, and the effects of GNL3 on the proliferation of HepG2 and PLC-PRF-5 hepatoma cells were detected by the CCK-8 method. Transwell chamber assays were used to detect the effects of GNL3 on the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The effects of GNL3 on SIRT1 expression and stem cell markers were analysed. The effect of GNL3 on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in a subcutaneous tumor-bearing animal model. The results showed that the mRNA and protein levels of GNL3 were higher than those of adjacent tissues. The overall survival (OS) of HCC patients with high GNL3 expression was worse. In vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that silencing GNL3 could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Mechanistic studies have shown that GNL3 regulates SIRT1 expression. GNL3 mediates the stem cell-like properties of HCC cells through SIRT1. In conclusion, this study found that GNL3 increased expression in hepatocellular carcinoma, which promoted the malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and was related to the cell dry phenotype. This study has certain significance in evaluating the prognosis of HCC patients.
Construction of an Industrial Structure Analysis and Evaluation Model for Oil and Gas Resource-Based Cities Based on Deep Learning Model and Cluster Analysis
Authors: Deng Shuran
Published: April 2022

In the present time of resource integration, the industrial transformation of oil and gas resource-based cities has become inevitable. Through the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the current situation of industrial structure, the overweight of industrial structure is pointed out and reasonable suggestions are put forward for the existing problems. This paper constructs an industrial structure analysis and evaluation model for oil and gas resource-based cities based on deep learning model and cluster analysis. The transformation of traditional industries is a long process, and at present the oil and petrochemical industry should still be an important support for Daqing’s economic development, so more efforts should be made to extend the service life of oil fields and to get more funds and time for successive industries. Fine exploration is being carried out, relying on continuous innovation in exploration theory, methods, technology and management, and re-measuring old exploratory wells in fields that have already been explored.
Trajectory Tracking Robust Control Method Based on Finite-Time Convergence of Manipulator with Nonsingular Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Surface
Authors: Sun Hanqing , Zhang Shijie , Quan Qingle , Liu Zheng , Wang Guizhi , Lian Weimin
Published: April 2022

In order to make the manipulator track the desired trajectory in a finite time, a new control method based on fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode has been designed. This method combines the traditional fast terminal sliding mode with the nonsingular terminal sliding mode, has rapidity, nonsingularity, finite-time convergence, and strong robustness, and can effectively suppress the inherent chattering phenomenon of the sliding mode controller. The nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode surface is used to accelerate the convergence speed of manipulator trajectory tracking error, and the singularity problem in terminal sliding mode is solved. The finite-time convergence of the algorithm is proved by the Lyapunov function. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve accurate finite-time trajectory tracking characteristics and has robustness against external disturbances.
Grassland Ecological Protection Monitoring and Management Application Based on ZigBee Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Xie Wei , Song Xiangyang , Wan Tao , Liu Aijun
Published: April 2022

Grassland plays a key role in human production and life, especially in the protection and improvement of the natural environment, which cannot be replaced by other ecosystems, such as maintaining water and soil, preventing wind and sand fixation, maintaining carbon balance, affecting climate change, and producing biological products,.. More importantly, contemporary society attaches great importance to the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. Protecting and nurturing grassland plants and animals, maintaining biodiversity, rational grazing, and maintaining the sustainable development of the grassland ecological environment have become the top priorities. In view of the current serious grassland degradation and the decline of livestock carrying capacity, this paper proposes a grassland environmental monitoring system based on the ZigBee wireless sensor network. The system consists of a grassland wireless monitoring network and a remote PC, which realizes real-time and remote monitoring of environmental information, such as air temperature and humidity, light intensity, and rainfall that affect the growth of grassland pastures. Based on the requirements of the agricultural field data monitoring system, the overall framework of the system was designed and built. The system mainly includes two parts: the ZigBee wireless sensor network subsystem and the remote management software subsystem, and data communication is realized between the two through the Ethernet system data exchange protocol. Among them, the ZigBee wireless sensor network subsystem is deployed in the grassland area and mainly realizes the functions of real-time collection, processing, and wireless transmission of grassland data. The remote management software subsystem is mainly used for data reception, storage, and display and can maintain communication with the gateway node to support real-time monitoring of grassland data by remote browsers.
Targeting Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction Using Tanshinone IIA for the Treatment of Tissue Inflammation and Fibrosis
Authors: Lu Tsuo-Cheng , Wu Yi-Hsiu , Chen Wei-Yu , Hung Yu-Chiang
Published: April 2022

Salvia miltiorrhiza Burge (Danshen), a member of the Lamiaceae family, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries as a valuable medicinal herb with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic potential. Several evidence-based reports have suggested that Salvia miltiorrhiza and its components prevent vascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy, and cardiac fibrosis. Tanshinone IIA (TanIIA), a lipophilic component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, has gained attention because of its possible preventive and curative activity against cardiovascular disorders. TanIIA, which possesses antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties, could be a key component in the therapeutic potential of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Vascular diseases are often initiated by endothelial dysfunction, which is accompanied by vascular inflammation and fibrosis. In this review, we summarize how TanIIA suppresses tissue inflammation and fibrosis through signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR/eNOS, TGF-β1/Smad2/3, NF-κB, JNK/SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase)/MAPK, and ERK/Nrf2 pathways. In brief, this review illustrates the therapeutic value of TanIIA in the alleviation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, which are critical components of cardiovascular disorders.
Biomimetic Nanoscale Materials for Skin Cancer Therapy and Detection
Authors: Abu Owida Hamza
Published: April 2022

Skin cancer has developed as one of the most common types of cancer in the world, with a significant impact on public health impact and the economy. Nanotechnology methods for cancer treatment are appealing since they allow for the effective transport of medicines and other biologically active substances to specific tissues while minimizing harmful consequences. It is one of the most significant fields of research for treating skin cancer. Various nanomaterials have been employed in skin cancer therapy. The current review will summarize numerous methods of treating and diagnosing skin cancer in the earliest stages. There are numerous skin cancer indicators available for the prompt diagnosis of this type of disease. Traditional approaches to skin cancer diagnosis are explored, as are their shortcomings. Electrochemical and optical biosensors for skin cancer diagnosis and management were also discussed. Finally, various difficulties concerning the cost and ease of use of innovative methods should be addressed and overcome.