bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal environmental changes affect differently the physiological and biochemical responses of two Limonium species in Sabkha biotope
Authors: Maaloul Sameh , Abdellaoui Raoudha , Mahmoudi Maher , Bouhamda Talel , Bakhshandeh Esmaeil , Boughalleb Fayçal
Published: May 2021

To cope with abiotic stresses, the halophytes use various tolerance mechanisms that are not all known for some species of halophytes. This work aimed to model the responses of two halophytes, Limonium pruinosum and Limonium tunetanum, to changing environmental conditions over a year in Sabkha biotope, Tunisia. Our findings indicated that the model could describe well the seasonal variations of all studied traits over a year in this region (R2 > 0.80). The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and mineral composition (i.e., Sodium [Na+], potassium [K+], calcium [Ca2+], and magnesium [Mg2+] concentrations] in the soil significantly varied during the year (P < 0.01). The highest soil Na+ concentration was found during the dry period (June–August), which matched with a high Na+ content in the aerial parts (i.e., 2455.1 and 3366.0 μmol g−1 SDM in August for L. pruinosum and L. tunetanum, respectively). This accumulation is concomitant with a deficit in nutrients, particularly K+ and Mg2+ and, to a lesser extent, Ca2+. Following these disturbances, both species decreased their photosynthetic activity, water potential as well as the relative water content to a lesser extent, especially in August. To counteract these harmful effects, these species have accumulated organic substances, but in a different way. Indeed, L. pruinosum accumulated sucrose, fructose, and citrate, while L. tunetanum accumulated sucrose, xylitol, citrate, and malate, indicating a major role of these osmolytes in the stress tolerance mechanisms. In both species, the results also showed that all traits were highly correlated with the edaphic variables (i.e., pH, EC, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ concentrations) and with temperature as the climatic variable.
Complete the triangulation: Quantifying differential fear conditioning with a noninterfering and sensitive behavioral measure along with self‐report and physiological measures
Authors: Jiang Xinrui , Burleigh Lauryn , Greening Steven G.
Published: May 2021

According to the multicomponent view, emotion is expressed through subjective feelings and thoughts, physiological activation, and behavioral responses. In human fear conditioning research, the former two are much more popular than the third category. One concern is that concurrent behavioral probes may interfere with the conditioning process. To allow triangulation of emotion research through simultaneous employment of subjective, physiological, and behavioral measurement, it is necessary to find behavioral measures that meet the criteria of causing no interference while being sensitive to conditioning. In this study, a basic visual attention task was examined in terms of its impact on differential fear conditioning as measured by both subjective (i.e., self‐reported fear and shock estimation) and physiological (i.e., skin conductance response/SCR) expression; and its ability to detect fear conditioning indicated by a reaction time (RT) or accuracy difference between the two conditioned stimuli (CS+ vs. CS−). While participants in the probe group (n = 86) completed differential fear conditioning with the behavioral task, those in the no‐probe group (n = 76) underwent conditioning by itself. Based on self‐reported fear, shock estimation, and SCR, both groups successfully acquired differential fear with no apparent between‐group difference in the degree of conditioning. In the probe group, RT but not accuracy exhibited a difference between CS+ and CS−. These findings suggest that the selected visual attention task does not interfere with differential fear conditioning measured via SCR and self‐report and is a sensitive measure of differential conditioning. Exploratory individual analyses also revealed significant relationships between the above measures.
Reward expectation modulates N2pc for target selection: Electrophysiological evidence
Authors: Wei Ping , Ji Liyan
Published: May 2021

In an electrophysiological experiment, we investigated the effect of reward expectation on the localized attentional interference effect using a cue‐target paradigm, while event‐related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. A cue indicating the reward condition of each trial (incentive vs. non‐incentive) was followed by the presentation of a search array containing two target items. Participants were asked to decide whether the two shape singletons (two triangles, two rectangles, or one triangle and one rectangle) among a set of circles were the same shape. Moreover, we manipulated the distance between the two targets to be adjacent to each other (Separation 1) or further apart (Separation 3 and Separation 5). Behavioral results revealed a larger reward facilitation effect for the larger target separation conditions. The N2pc component locked to the target display exhibited an interaction between reward expectation and the distance between the two targets. For non‐incentive trials, the N2pc amplitude increased as the separation between the two targets increased; however, for incentive trials, the N2pc showed comparable amplitudes in the different target separation conditions. These results indicate that reward expectation regulated attentional focus to better resolve the competition between representation and selection of the two targets for acquiring possible reward outcomes.
The ups and downs of lifestyle modification: An existential journey among persons with severe obesity
Authors: Toft Bente Skovsby , Hörberg Ulrica , Rasmussen Birgit
Published: May 2021

Background

Maintaining a healthy living after the end of a lifestyle intervention is a challenge for persons with severe obesity. Measurable outcomes are often emphasised, but there is a need for understanding the process of lifestyle change and the long‐term perspectives among persons with severe obesity.

Aim and objective

To describe and deepen the understanding of how persons with severe obesity experience making and maintaining lifestyle changes in everyday life three years after lifestyle intervention.

Methodology and methods

The study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. A purposive sample of seven adults with BMI ≥ 40 was recruited from a lifestyle intervention programme. Data were generated through individual follow‐up interviews. The analysis was based on theoretical framework on dwelling and mobility. Ethical approvals were received from the Danish Data Protection Agency and the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki were followed.

Results

One overarching theme emerged: ‘The journey of ups and downs’. Three sub‐themes were: ‘Living with and tackling the demands of life's hassles’, ‘Deliberating the fight for weight loss’ and ‘Needing a trusted person to feel met as a human being’.

Conclusions

Everyday life among persons with severe obesity is experienced as a dynamic process of shifting experiences of dwelling and mobility. Sustained lifestyle changes require ongoing adjustments of action, which healthcare providers can influence in ways that either support or obstruct. Collaboration and a humanised approach across disciplines and sectors are suggested to promote sustained healthy living.
Intersectionality and coalitions in social movement research—A survey and outlook
Authors: Roth Silke
Published: May 2021

Over the last 30 years, intersectionality has become a prominent concept, but in social movement scholarship, its adoption has yet been limited. So far, the concept is primarily employed to analyze the mobilization of women of color and other gendered mobilizations. In this article, I argue that intersectionality matters for all social movements—both as an analytic and as a political strategy. It is important to understand that all social movements and movement organizations are shaped by multiple axes of privilege and discrimination, which influence who participates in these movements and how, what demands are pursued and which are neglected, and how the issues of the movements and movement organizations are framed. My review starts out with defining and distinguishing between structural intersectionality and political intersectionality. Then, I survey a range of social movements from an intersectional perspective. This is followed by a discussion of coalitions and other strategies to achieve political intersectionality. The article concludes with an outlook on future directions for intersectional analyses in social movement scholarship.
Ridge jump reorientation of the South China Sea revealed by high‐resolution magnetic data
Authors: Guan Qingsheng , Zhang Tao , Taylor Brian , Gao Jinyao , Li Jiabiao
Published: May 2021

We establish a high‐resolution magnetic isochron pattern in the East Subbasin (ESB) of the South China Sea (SCS) based on recently collected magnetic data, which provides an updated age of seafloor spreading in the ESB and reveals a new type of ridge reorientation. Seafloor spreading in the ESB initiated at Chron 11n.1r (29.7 Ma) and ceased shortly after Chron 5Br (15.6 Ma). Successive ridge jumps occurred between Chrons 9r and 7n, which explains the substantial asymmetric geometry of the ESB. Furthermore, the ridge reorientation associated with ridge jumps highlights a new ridge reorientation model in which the ridge jumps off‐axis and reorients synchronously to adapt to the new direction of seafloor spreading. In the ESB, this type of reorientation responds more rapidly to changes in the direction of plate motion than gradual ridge rotation.
microRNA‐22‐3p plays a protective role in a murine asthma model through the inhibition of the NLRP3–caspase‐1–IL‐1β axis
Authors: Guo Shufang , Chen Ru , Zhang Lina , Wu Meiqiong , Wei Yangyang , Dai Wenjuan , Jiang Yi , Kong Xiaomei
Published: May 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

How does miR‐22‐3p exert a protective role in asthma?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Upregulation of miR‐22‐3p hampered airway inflammation and release of inflammatory cytokines through blocking the activation of the NLRP3–caspase‐1–IL‐1β signalling pathway in asthma.

Asthma, a great public health burden, is triggered by inflammatory responses in the airways and these are not addressed appropriately by current therapies. This study aims to investigate the regulatory mechanism of microRNA‐22‐3p (miR‐22‐3p) on the proliferation of bronchial epithelial cells exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in a murine asthma model challenged by ovalbumin. We first confirmed the downregulation of miR‐22‐3p in the murine asthma model and bronchial epithelial cells. miR‐22‐3p remarkably reversed the decline in bronchial epithelial cell viability, enhancement in apoptosis rate and release of inflammatory factors induced by LPS. miR‐22‐3p targeted and conversely regulated NACHT, LRR and PYD domains‐containing protein 3 (NLRP3). Overexpression of NLRP3 counteracted the inhibitory effect of miR‐22‐3p on inflammatory damage in bronchial epithelial cells through activation of caspase‐1/interleukin (IL)‐1β. In an in vivo model, overexpression of miR‐22‐3p significantly attenuated airway obstruction and tissue damage in mice. In summary, our study underscores that miR‐22‐3p serves both as a negative regulator of the NLRP3–caspase‐1–IL‐1β axis and as a protective factor against the inflammatory response, suggesting a future therapeutic role in asthma.
Automated Procedure Reconfiguration Framework for Augmented Reality-Guided Maintenance Applications
Authors: Young Crystal , Rai Rahul
Published: May 2021

The application of augmented reality (AR) to maintenance issues has resulted in significant improvements in reducing the time operators spend finding and comprehending manual maintenance procedures. One area that requires innovation is reducing the rigidity of procedures within AR-guided maintenance applications. Current widely applicable strategies are limited in that they can only be completed off-site or they can be completed on-site but rely on operator knowledge or expert intervention in order to perform reconfiguration. In this work, a novel framework is presented to allow for automated reconfiguring of procedures within AR-guided maintenance applications. Once triggered, the presented framework is able to work autonomously. The framework relies on subassemblies of the machine being maintained and analyzes the effect a defective part has within its subassembly. This information is used to create a modified procedure using automatic procedure creation methods. An implementation of the framework is presented using a simple example. The framework is utilized in a complete AR-guided maintenance application and test.
Effect of Ambient Temperature Variation on Pressure Drop During Condensation in Long Inclined Tubes
Authors: Kekaula Kaipo , Chen Yitung
Published: May 2021

Two-phase flow pressure drop during condensation of steam inside inclined tube heat exchangers was investigated over a wide range of ambient temperature. The ambient temperature changes from 3 to 45 °C, the steam mass flux varies from 3 to 18 kg/(m2 · s), vapor quality ranges from 0.51 to 0.86. 608 data points were experimentally obtained and compared with eight commonly used correlations from the available literatures. Frictional pressure drop increases with increasing temperature difference and fan speed. For the full experimental dataset, the best overall performing correlation was obtained by using the Wallis correlation (MAPE = 17.60%, NRMSE = 14.87%). For cold ambient temperatures, (Tamb < 20 °C, N = 298), the best overall performing correlation was obtained by using the Carey correlation (MAPE = 11.02%, NRMSE = 14.71%). For hot ambient temperatures (Tamb > 30 °C, N = 196), the Lockhart and Martinelli correlation has shown the best performance (MAPE = 16.84%, NRMSE = 20.45%). An improved two-phase frictional pressure drop correlation based on the Wallis correlation (Wallis, 1969, One Dimensional Two-Phase Flow, McGraw-Hill, New York) is proposed.
Pyramid Ensemble Convolutional Neural Network for Virtual Computed Tomography Image Prediction in a Selective Laser Melting Process
Authors: Wang Lening , Chen Xiaoyu , Henkel Daniel , Jin Ran
Published: May 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a type of advanced manufacturing process that enables fast prototyping to realize personalized products in complex shapes. However, quality defects existed in AM products can directly lead to significant failures (e.g., cracking caused by voids) in practice. Thus, various inspection techniques have been investigated to evaluate the quality of AM products, where X-ray computed tomography (CT) serves as one of the most accurate techniques to detect geometric defects (e.g., voids inside an AM product). Taking a selective laser melting (SLM) process as an example, voids can be detected by investigating CT images after the fabrication of products with limited disturbance from noises. However, limited by the sensor size and scanning speed issue, CT is difficult to be used for online (i.e., layer-wise) voids detection, monitoring, and process control to mitigate the defects. As an alternative, optical cameras can provide layer-wise images to support online voids detection. The intricate texture of the layer-wise image restricts the accuracy of void detection in AM products. Therefore, we propose a new method called pyramid ensemble convolutional neural network (PECNN) to efficiently detect voids and predict the texture of CT images using layer-wise optical images. The proposed PECNN can efficiently extract informative features based on the ensemble of the multiscale feature-maps (i.e., image pyramid) from optical images. Unlike deterministic ensemble strategies, this ensemble strategy is optimized by training a neural network in a data-driven manner to learn the fine-grained information from the extracted feature-maps. The merits of the proposed method are illustrated by both simulations and a real case study in a SLM process.
Analysis of the Impact of Requirement-Sketch Sequencing on Requirement Generation in Conceptual Design
Authors: Spivey Nick , Ortiz Joshua , Patel Akash , Davenport Brian , Summers Joshua D.
Published: May 2021

Generally, engineering design progresses from generating requirements to developing concepts. Despite this, educators observe that students have ideas for the eventual solution before fully defining the problem. Thus, a method of exploiting this natural proclivity may result in a better overall product or process. The coevolutionary design may provide a theoretical construct for such a method. Sketching as a first step may improve the resulting requirements, which in turn would result in higher quality solutions. To test this, an experiment is used to study the effects of rearranging the design sequence to use an early conceptual sketch in the elicitation of constraints and criteria. Requirements generated by students were analyzed based on their quantity, completeness, variety, typology, and novelty. It was found that the use of a preliminary conceptual sketch had a significant (positive) effect on the quantity, typology, and novelty of the resulting requirements, though no change in their variety was observed. Also, an additional intermediate step of identifying key features in the sketch further influenced requirement characteristics. The findings of this study support the coevolutionary model of design and suggest that the sketching of ideas and the identification of features in advance of listing requirements may be a valid design practice in the future. Using sketches and feature identification helps in clarifying requirements for the participants. Finally, this method can align more naturally with the approach that many students employ in design. Rather than modifying behaviors, this method can exploit student behaviors to a positive effect.
Estimation of critical dimension and line edge roughness using a neural network
Authors: Li Dehua , Lee Soo-Young , Choi Jin , Kim Seom-Beom , Jeon Chan-Uk
Published: May 2021

While electron-beam (e-beam) lithography is widely employed in the pattern transfer, the proximity effect makes features blurred, and the stochastic nature of the exposure and development processes causes the roughness in the feature boundaries. In an effort to reduce the proximity effect and line edge roughness (LER), it is often necessary to estimate the critical dimension (CD) and LER. In our previous study, the e-beam lithographic process was modeled using the information extracted from SEM images for the estimation of CD and LER. This modeling involves several parameters to be determined and tends to require a long computation time. In this study, the possibility of improving the accuracy of the CD and LER estimation using a neural network (NN) is investigated. In the NN-based estimation, the explicit modeling of the e-beam lithographic process can be avoided. This paper describes the method of estimating the CD and LER using a NN, including the issues of training, tuning, and sample reduction and presents results obtained through an extensive simulation.
Automatic data selection for validation: A method to determine cetacean occurrence in large acoustic data sets
Authors: Kowarski Katie A. , Delarue Julien J.-Y. , Gaudet Briand J. , Martin S. Bruce
Published: May 2021

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) can inform wildlife management by providing information on the distribution of cetaceans. This paper presents an automatic data selection for validation (ADSV) method to effectively identify all species acoustically present in large PAM data sets. The ADSV method involves the application of automated detectors, the automated selection of a portion of data for manual review, and the evaluation/optimization of automated detectors. Using an exemplar data set, results from the ADSV method were compared to a more intensive systematic manual review method. The two methods were found to have similar species occurrence results (hourly occurrence matching 73%–100%).
Structural analysis of the PTEN:P-Rex2 signaling complex reveals how cancer-associated mutations coordinate to hyperactivate Rac1
Authors: D’Andrea Laura , Lucato Christina M. , Marquez Elsa A. , Chang Yong-Gang , Civciristov Srgjan , Mastos Chantel , Lupton Christopher J. , Huang Cheng , Elmlund Hans , Schittenhelm Ralf B. , Mitchell Christina A. , Whisstock James C. , Halls Michelle L. , Ellisdon Andrew M.
Published: May 2021

Mutations that dysregulate a protein complex may promote cancer metastasis by enhancing Rac1 activation.
Remodeling of the Homer-Shank interactome mediates homeostatic plasticity
Authors: Heavner Whitney E. , Lautz Jonathan D. , Speed Haley E. , Gniffke Edward P. , Immendorf Karen B. , Welsh John P. , Baertsch Nathan A. , Smith Stephen E. P.
Published: May 2021

Activity-dependent regulation of protein interactions enables synaptic scaling and stable neuronal excitability.
Laundry Hygiene and Odor Control: State of the Science
Authors: Abney Sarah E. , Ijaz M. Khalid , McKinney Julie , Gerba Charles P.
Published: May 2021

Laundering of textiles—clothing, linens, and cleaning cloths—functionally removes dirt and bodily fluids, which prevents the transmission of and reexposure to pathogens as well as providing odor control. Thus, proper laundering is key to controlling microbes that cause illness and produce odors.
Foveal avascular zone in oculocutaneous albinism
Authors: Mansour Hana A , Uwaydat Sami , Yunis Muhamad H , Mansour Ahmad M
Published: May 2021

Optical coherence tomography angiography imaging in two patients with oculocutaneous albinism, one with severe nystagmus, showed persistence of both the superficial and the deep retinal capillary plexus adding another vascular feature to the foveal hypoplasia.
Risk of colorectal cancer in first degree relatives of patients with colorectal polyps: nationwide case-control study in Sweden
Authors: Song Mingyang , Emilsson Louise , Roelstraete Bjorn , Ludvigsson Jonas F
Published: May 2021

Objective

To assess the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in first degree relatives (parents and full siblings) of patients with precursor lesions (polyps) for CRC.

Design

Case-control study.

Setting

Linkage to the multi-generation register and gastrointestinal ESPRESSO (Epidemiology Strengthened by histoPathology Reports in Sweden) histopathology cohort in Sweden.

Participants

68 060 patients with CRC and 333 753 matched controls.

Main outcome measures

Multivariable adjusted odds ratios of CRC according to the number of first degree relatives with a colorectal polyp and the histology of polyps and age at diagnosis in first degree relatives. Subgroup analysis was also performed according to age at CRC diagnosis and evaluated the joint association of family history of colorectal polyps and family history of CRC.

Results

After adjusting for family history of CRC and other covariates, having a first degree relative with a colorectal polyp (8.4% (5742/68 060) in cases and 5.7% (18 860/333 753) in controls) was associated with a higher risk of CRC (odds ratio 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.35 to 1.45). The odds ratios ranged from 1.23 for those with hyperplastic polyps to 1.44 for those with tubulovillous adenomas. To better put this risk in perspective, the age specific absolute risk of colon and rectal cancers was estimated according to family history of polyps based on the 2018 national CRC incidence in Sweden. For example, the absolute risk of colon cancer in individuals aged 60-64 years with and without a family history of colorectal polyp was, respectively, 94.3 and 67.9 per 100 000 for men and 89.1 and 64.1 per 100 000 for women. The association between family history of polyps and CRC risk was strengthened by the increasing number of first degree relatives with polyps (≥2 first degree relatives: 1.70, 1.52 to 1.90, P<0.001 for trend) and decreasing age at polyp diagnosis (<50 years: 1.77, 1.57 to 1.99, P<0.001 for trend). A particularly strong association was found for early onset CRC diagnosed before age 50 years (≥2 first degree relatives: 3.34, 2.05 to 5.43, P=0.002 for heterogeneity by age of CRC diagnosis). In the joint analysis, the odds ratio of CRC for individuals with two or more first degree relatives with polyps but no CRC was 1.79 (1.52 to 2.10), with one first degree relative with CRC but no polyps was 1.70 (1.65 to 1.76), and with two or more first degree relatives with both polyps and CRC was 5.00 (3.77 to 6.63) (P<0.001 for interaction).

Conclusions

After adjusting for family history of CRC, the siblings and children of patients with colorectal polyps are still at higher risk of CRC, particularly early onset CRC. Early screening for CRC might be considered for first degree relatives of patients with polyps.
Prevention and management of major complications in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
Authors: Boeykens Kurt , Duysburgh Ivo
Published: May 2021

Background

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a commonly used endoscopic technique where a tube is placed through the abdominal wall mainly to administer fluids, drugs and/or enteral nutrition. Several placement techniques are described in the literature with the ‘pull’ technique (Ponsky-Gardener) as the most popular one. Independent of the method used, placement includes a ‘blind’ perforation of the stomach through a small acute surgical abdominal wound. It is a generally safe technique with only few major complications. Nevertheless these complications can be sometimes life-threatening or generate serious morbidity.

Method

A narrative review of the literature of major complications in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Results

This review was written from a clinical viewpoint focusing on prevention and management of major complications and documented scientific evidence with real cases from more than 20 years of clinical practice.

Conclusions

Major complications are rare but prevention, early recognition and popper management are important.
Increasing prevalence of NAFLD/NASH among children, adolescents and young adults from 1990 to 2017: a population-based observational study
Authors: Zhang Xin , Wu Mingshan , Liu Zhenqiu , Yuan Huangbo , Wu Xuefu , Shi Tingting , Chen Xingdong , Zhang Tiejun
Published: May 2021

Objective

To describe the prevalence and variations of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) among children and adolescents (CADs) and young adults (YADs).

Design

A population-based observational study.

Setting

Annual cases and prevalence of NAFLD/NASH from 1990 to 2017, by sex, region and country were collected from the Global Burden of Disease database.

Main outcome measures

The estimated annual percentage change, which was calculated by a regression line, was used to quantify the temporal trends in NAFLD/NASH burden among young people at the global, regional and national levels.

Results

Globally, NAFLD/NASH incidence increased from 19.34 million in 1990 to 29.49 million in 2017 among CADs, with an annual increase of 1.35%. Additionally, in YADs, the number of cases and NAFLD/NASH prevalence significantly increased during this period, independent of sex and region. The greatest NAFLD/NASH increase was in North Africa and the Middle East. Almost all countries showed an increasing trend from 1990 to 2017, with the most pronounced increase observed in the developed regions.

Conclusions

The epidemiology of NAFLD/NASH in young people has changed considerably over the last three decades. Both the prevalence and number of cases have increased irrespective of sex, age and region. This phenomenon can result in a predictable increase in chronic liver disease burden in the near future. Understanding the prevalence of NAFLD/NASH and its variations is of paramount importance to develop strategies to implement public health policy.
Informal caregiving for adults, loneliness and social isolation: a study protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Hajek André , Kretzler Benedikt , König Hans-Helmut
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Some empirical studies have identified an association between informal caregiving for adults and loneliness or social isolation. However, there is a lack of a review systematically synthesising empirical studies that have examined these associations. Hence, the aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of evidence from observational studies.

Methods and analysis

Three electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL) will be searched (presumably in May 2021), and reference lists of included studies will be searched manually. Cross-sectional and longitudinal observational studies examining the association between informal caregiving for adults and loneliness or social isolation will be included. Studies focusing on grandchildren care or private care for chronically ill children will be excluded. Data extraction will include information related to study design, definition and measurement of informal caregiving, loneliness and social isolation, sample characteristics, statistical analysis and main results. The quality of the studies will be evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Two reviewers will perform the selection of studies, data extraction and assessment of study quality. Figures and tables will be used to summarise and report results. A narrative summary of the findings will be provided. If data permit, a meta-analysis will be conducted.

Ethics and dissemination

No primary data will be collected. Therefore, approval by an ethics committee is not required. We plan to publish our findings in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020193099.
The Columbus steerable guidewire in neurointerventions: early clinical experience and applications
Authors: von Hessling Alexander , Reyes del Castillo Tomás , Karwacki Grzegorz , Roos Justus E.
Published: May 2021

Objective

To report our early experience in using the steerable ‘Columbus’ guidewire, also known as ‘Drivewire’ in the USA, and its potential applications in neurovascular interventions.

Methods

Neurointerventions in 36 patients (20 female, 16 male) using the steerable Columbus guidewire were recorded from August 2019 to December 2020 and included a variety of neurovascular procedures: Treatment of aneurysms (n=17), thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke (n=12), and others (n=7), such as treatment of stenosis and embolization procedures. Immediate follow-up with digital subtraction angiography and tracking of each patient’s clinical outcome was performed.

Results

In 35 out of 36 cases, the target vessel was reached with Columbus, including advancement of the appropriate microcatheter. In 14 cases, additional wires were used, mainly because of the nature of the procedures (eg, use of multiple wires/buddy wires or exchange maneuvers). In five cases, the Columbus wire was damaged by the operator and had to be replaced. Peri-interventional complications occurred in two patients, neither attributed to the Columbus guidewire.

Conclusions

The new Columbus neurovascular guidewire has the unique ability to be shaped within the patient. Currently available versions lack torquability compared with other available guidewires but offer tremendous support at the tip, allowing maneuvers which are impossible with other wires on the market.
Treatment of experimental aneurysms with a GPX embolic agent prototype: preliminary angiographic and histological results
Authors: Fries Frederik , Tomori Toshiki , Schulz-Schaeffer Walter J , Jones Joshua , Yilmaz Umut , Kettner Michael , Simgen Andreas , Reith Wolfgang , Mühl-Benninghaus Ruben
Published: May 2021

Background

Recently, liquid embolic agents have emerged for the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Here we describe the in vivo performance of a novel liquid embolization agent (GPX Embolic Device).

Methods

Elastase-induced aneurysms were embolized with a GPX prototype under balloon assistance. Digital subtraction angiography was performed pre-deployment and immediately after, and at 5, 10, and 30 min post-deployment in 10 rabbits and at 1 month in 8 rabbits. The early post-deployment intra-aneurysmal flow was graded as unchanged, moderately diminished, or completely absent. At 1 month the status of aneurysm occlusion was evaluated. Adhesion to catheter material and migration of GPX was assessed.

Results

The mean aneurysm neck diameter, width, and height were 3.6±1.0 mm, 3.0±0.8 mm, and 7.4±1.4 mm, respectively. The mean dome-to-neck ratio was 0.9±0.2. Complete stagnation of intra-aneurysmal flow was observed in 9 of 10 aneurysms (90%) within 30 min of device deployment. One aneurysm showed moderately diminished intra-aneurysmal flow at 30 min. At 1 month, 8 aneurysms were completely occluded. There was no evidence of GPX adhesion to the catheter material. Histologically, a leukocyte and foreign body reaction to GPX was detectable 28 days after embolization.

Conclusions

This is the first preclinical study reporting the performance of a protype version of the GPX Embolic Device in a wide-neck aneurysm model. GPX showed promising results by achieving and maintaining high rates of complete angiographic occlusion, but may induce an inflammatory reaction.
Compliance with the WHO 24-h movement guidelines and associations with body weight status among preschool children in Hong Kong
Authors: Feng Jie , Huang Wendy Yajun , Reilly John J. , Wong Stephen Heung-Sang
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to investigate the extent to which preschool children in Hong Kong meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 24-h movement guidelines and to examine the associations between meeting the guidelines and body weight status. Data from 251 preschoolers (141 boys) aged between 3 and 6 years were analysed. The children wore an activPAL for 7 consecutive days to measure physical activity and sleep. Their screen time was reported by their parents using validated questions. Their body weight status was classified as underweight, normal weight or overweight/obese. A total of 2.9% of the preschoolers met all 3 movement guidelines. Children in compliance with the physical activity, screen time and sleep guidelines accounted for 14.5%, 67.4%, and 39.0% of the sample, respectively. There was no significant association between meeting the individual or combined guidelines and body mass index or the odds ratio for being of normal weight. Meeting more guidelines was not associated with body mass index or the odds ratio for being normal weight. Compliance with the 24-h movement guidelines was extremely low among preschool children in Hong Kong. Meeting the 24-h movement guidelines was not associated with a favourable weight status among preschoolers.

Novelty: Compliance with the WHO 24-h movement guidelines was extremely low for the early years in Hong Kong. Further evidence is needed to understand the associations between meeting the guidelines and weight status among preschoolers.
Detection techniques and investigation of different neutrino experiments
Authors: Nath Ankur , Francis Ng. K.
Published: May 2021

Neutrino physics is an experimentally driven field. So, we investigate the different detection techniques available in the literature and study the various neutrino oscillation experiments in a chronological manner. Our primary focus is on the construction and detection mechanisms of each experiment. Today, we know a lot about this mysterious ghostly particle by performing different experiments at different times with different neutrino sources, viz. solar, atmospheric, reactor, accelerators and high-energy astrophysical; and they have contributed in the determination of neutrino parameters. Yet the problems are far from over. We need to determine more precise values of the already known parameters and unravel the completely unknown parameters. Some of the unknowns are absolute masses of neutrino, types of neutrino, mass hierarchy, octant degeneracy and existence of leptonic CP phase(s). We analyze the neutrino experiments into the past, present and the future (or proposed). We include SNO, Kamiokande, K2K, MINOS, MINOS+, Chooz, NEMO and ICARUS in the past; while Borexino, Double Chooz, Super-K, T2K, IceCube, KamLAND, NO[Formula: see text]A, RENO and Daya Bay in the present; and SNO+, Hyper-K, T2HK, JUNO, RENO-50, INO, DUNE, SuperNEMO, KM3NeT, P2O, LBNO and PINGU in the proposed experiments. We also discuss the necessities of upgrading the present ones to those of the proposed ones thereby summarizing the potentials of the future experiments. We conclude this paper with the current status of the neutrinos.
GUIDANCE ON AREA OF CREATED TEARS FOR AORTIC FENESTRATION TREATMENT BASED ON COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
Authors: HOU XIAOXI , OU CHUBIN , HANZAWA KAZUHIKO , DAI XILEI , QIAN YI
Published: May 2021

Aortic fenestration (AF) uses puncture and a dilation balloon to create a tear in the intimal flap, which can directly relieve ischemia syndrome and reduce hypertension in the false lumen. The selection of a dilation balloon as well as the area of the created tear applied in reality depend on clinical experience, so we aim to provide a quantitative guidance and reference for doctors to better plan the treatment of aortic fenestration. In this study, the area of the created tear was virtually enlarged to at least 10 different values for four cases including one ideal case, and a computational fluid dynamic approach was applied to simulate blood flows in the aorta. The area ratio (AR) between the created tear and entry tear was introduced to express the enlargement of the created tear. The quantitative hemodynamic results indicate that the AR should be controlled to be larger than 7.0, but not too big to obtain the best treatment for acute aortic dissection (AD) case. Additionally, we assessed that AR might also be a risk factor for the prediction of dissection propagation.
Investigation of the New Half Metallic Ferromagnetic Quaternary Heusler Compounds LiX′NO (X′=Ba, Ca and Sr)
Authors: Torrichi M. , Belmekki M. , Ziani N.
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we present an ab initio study, based on the density functional theory (DFT) approach and GGA-PBE approximation, of the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of new quaternary Heusler compounds LiX[Formula: see text]NO ([Formula: see text], Ca and Sr). We searched the structural stability of these quaternary Heusler among three different atomic arrangements (type-1, type-2 and type-3) by calculating of the cohesive energy, elastic constant and phonon dispersion. We found that the type-2 structure is the most stable structure in the ferromagnetic phase. The results of the magnetic and electronic properties show that the LiX[Formula: see text]NO quaternary compound exhibits a half-metallic character with 100% spin polarization at the Fermi level and obey the Slater Pauling rule. It is also divulged that half-metallicity comes mainly from N and O atoms. These theoretical results make these new quaternary alloys as very promising materials for spintronic device.
Use of statistical methods to characterize the influence of groundwater on the thermal regime of rivers in Normandy, France: comparison between the highly permeable, chalk catchment of the Touques River and the low permeability, crystalline rock catchment of the Orne River
Authors: Gresselin Frédéric , Dardaillon Bruno , Bordier Christine , Parais Fabrice , Kauffmann François
Published: May 2021

The study of the temperature of two rivers in Normandy (France), the Orne and the Touques, between 2013 and 2018 allowed the main controlling factors regulating their thermal regime to be determined. The analysis was conducted by coupling different statistical treatments: linear regression between water and air temperatures, independent component analysis, principal component analysis and a multiple linear regression model. The temperature of the two rivers is mainly controlled by climatic factors but secondary regulation factors are demonstrated to play important roles: runoff for the two rivers and groundwater for the Touques. The influence of the chalk aquifer on river temperature appears to vary seasonally throughout the year, reaching its maximum in the early spring and increasing from upstream to downstream. The coupled use of the different statistical complex methods showed its validity in understanding both the temporal and spatial variations in water temperature and its correlation with the secondary factors, that could not be inferred from a simpler approach based on linear regression. These techniques could be valuable in other areas with rivers sufficiently monitored to determine the controlling water temperature factors and thus their sensitivity to climate change.
WiFi-Enabled User Authentication through Deep Learning in Daily Activities
Authors: Shi Cong , Liu Jian , Liu Hongbo , Chen Yingying
Published: May 2021

User authentication is a critical process in both corporate and home environments due to the ever-growing security and privacy concerns. With the advancement of smart cities and home environments, the concept of user authentication is evolved with a broader implication by not only preventing unauthorized users from accessing confidential information but also providing the opportunities for customized services corresponding to a specific user. Traditional approaches of user authentication either require specialized device installation or inconvenient wearable sensor attachment. This article supports the extended concept of user authentication with a device-free approach by leveraging the prevalent WiFi signals made available by IoT devices, such as smart refrigerator, smart TV, and smart thermostat, and so on. The proposed system utilizes the WiFi signals to capture unique human physiological and behavioral characteristics inherited from their daily activities, including both walking and stationary ones. Particularly, we extract representative features from channel state information (CSI) measurements of WiFi signals, and develop a deep-learning-based user authentication scheme to accurately identify each individual user. To mitigate the signal distortion caused by surrounding people’s movements, our deep learning model exploits a CNN-based architecture that constructively combines features from multiple receiving antennas and derives more reliable feature abstractions. Furthermore, a transfer-learning-based mechanism is developed to reduce the training cost for new users and environments. Extensive experiments in various indoor environments are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed authentication system. In particular, our system can achieve over 94% authentication accuracy with 11 subjects through different activities.
A Systematic Review on Software Robustness Assessment
Authors: Laranjeiro Nuno , Agnelo João , Bernardino Jorge
Published: May 2021

Robustness is the degree to which a certain system or component can operate correctly in the presence of invalid inputs or stressful environmental conditions. With the increasing complexity and widespread use of computer systems, obtaining assurances regarding their robustness has become of vital importance. This survey discusses the state of the art on software robustness assessment, with emphasis on key aspects like types of systems being evaluated, assessment techniques used, the target of the techniques, the types of faults used, and how system behavior is classified. The survey concludes with the identification of gaps and open challenges related with robustness assessment.
Citizen Participation and Machine Learning for a Better Democracy
Authors: Arana-Catania Miguel , Lier Felix-Anselm Van , Procter Rob , Tkachenko Nataliya , He Yulan , Zubiaga Arkaitz , Liakata Maria
Published: May 2021

The development of democratic systems is a crucial task as confirmed by its selection as one of the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations. In this article, we report on the progress of a project that aims to address barriers, one of which is information overload, to achieving effective direct citizen participation in democratic decision-making processes. The main objectives are to explore if the application ofNatural Language Processing(NLP) and machine learning can improve citizens’ experience of digital citizen participation platforms. Taking as a case study the “Decide Madrid” Consul platform, which enables citizens to post proposals for policies they would like to see adopted by the city council, we used NLP and machine learning to provide new ways to (a) suggest to citizens proposals they might wish to support; (b) group citizens by interests so that they can more easily interact with each other; (c) summarise comments posted in response to proposals; and (d) assist citizens in aggregating and developing proposals. Evaluation of the results confirms that NLP and machine learning have a role to play in addressing some of the barriers users of platforms such as Consul currently experience.

CCS concepts: • Human-centred computing→Collaborative and social computing • Computing methodologies→Artificial intelligence→Natural language processing
Privacy-aware Character Pattern Matching over Outsourced Encrypted Data
Authors: Mainardi Nicholas , Barenghi Alessandro , Pelosi Gerardo
Published: May 2021

Providing a method to efficiently search into outsourced encrypted data, without forsaking strong privacy guarantees, is a pressing concern rising from the separation of data ownership and data management typical of cloud-based applications. While several existing solutions allow a client to look up the occurrences of a substring in an outsourced document collection, the practical application requirements in terms of privacy and efficiency call for the improvement of such solutions. In this work, we present a privacy-preserving substring search protocol with a polylogarithmic communication cost and a limited computational effort on the server side. The proposed protocol provides search pattern and access pattern privacy, for both exact string search and character-pattern search with wildcards. Its extension to a multi-user setting shows significant savings in terms of outsourced storage w.r.t. a baseline solution where the whole dataset is replicated. The performance figures of an optimized implementation of our protocol, searching into a remotely stored genomic dataset, validate the practicality of the approach exhibiting a data transfer of less than 50 kiB to execute a query over a document of 40 MiB, with execution times on client and server in the range of a few seconds and a few minutes, respectively.
Desiring Bureaucracy
Authors: Lea Tess
Published: May 2021

This review presents new perspectives on the anthropology of bureaucracy. Since Weber's account of the importance of this organizational mode to the functioning of contemporary socioeconomic systems, the inescapability of bureaucracy has been repeatedly theorized to show its good and ill effects. Yet anthropologists retain an ambivalent relation to this topic and can struggle to move beyond critique. I consider this ambivalence, suggesting that it reflects a frustrated desire for better governance, and offer neglected topics as potentially productive ways to tackle bureaucracy as an omnipresent yet difficult-to-pinpoint cultural form. Finally, the review makes the case for an impenitently anthropological approach to the fullness of bureaucracy, including testing the ethnographer's founding categories of thought, over a position of pure denunciation or evaluation.
The Economics of Central Clearing
Authors: Menkveld Albert J. , Vuillemey Guillaume
Published: May 2021

Central clearing counterparties (CCPs) have a variety of economic rationales. The Great Recession of 2007–2009 led regulators to mandate CCPs for most interest-rate and credit derivatives, markets in which large amounts of risks are transferred across agents. This change led to a large increase in CCP studies, which along with classical studies are surveyed in this article. For example, multilateral netting, the insurance against counterparty risk, the effect of CCPs on asset prices and fire sales, margins setting, the default waterfall, and CCP governance are discussed here. We review both CCP theory and empirical work and conclude by discussing regulatory issues.