bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Mass Workplace COVID-19 Rapid Testing on Health and Healthcare Resource Savings
Authors: López Seguí Francesc , Navarrete Duran Jose Maria , Tuldrà Niño Albert , Sarquella Maria , Revollo Boris , Llibre Josep Maria , Ara del Rey Jordi , Estrada Cuxart Oriol , Paredes Roger , Hernández Guillamet Guillem , Clotet Bonaventura , Vidal Alaball Josep , Such Faro Patricia
Published: May 2021

Background: The epidemiological situation generated by COVID-19 has cast into sharp relief the delicate balance between public health priorities and the economy, with businesses obliged to toe a line between employee health and continued production. In an effort to detect as many cases as possible, isolate contacts, cut transmission chains and limit the spread of the virus in the workplace, mass testing strategies have been implemented in both public health and industrial contexts to minimize the risk of disruption in activity. Objective: To evaluate the economic impact of mass workplace testing strategy as carried out by a large automotive company in Catalonia in terms of health and healthcare resource savings. Methodology: Analysis of health costs and impacts based on the estimation of mortality and morbidity avoided because of screening and the resulting savings in healthcare costs. Results: The economic impact of the mass workplace testing strategies (using both PCR and RAT tests) was approximately €10.44 per test performed or €5,575.49 per positive detected. 38% of this figure corresponds to savings derived from better use of health resources (hospital beds, ICU beds and follow-up of infected cases), while the remaining 62% corresponds to improved health rates due to avoided morbidity and mortality. In scenarios with higher positivity rates and a greater impact of the infection on health and the use of health resources, these results could be up to ten times higher (€130.24 per test performed or €69,565.59 per positive detected). Conclusion: In the context of COVID-19, preventive actions carried out by the private sector to safeguard industrial production also have concomitant public benefits in the form of savings in healthcare costs. Thus, governmental bodies need to recognize the value of implementing such strategies in private settings and facilitate them through, for example, subsidies.
New Governance Through Digital Platforms and the Old Urban Planning Process in Italy
Authors: Bellone Cinzia , Naselli Fabio , Andreassi Fabio
Published: May 2021

Current acceleration in digital innovations, unexpected challenges in our social interactions, acceleration to virtualization, limitation in our physical spaces, and unpredictable changes in our Old lifestyles - as originated from the COVID-19 global pandemic 2020 - continue to provide us with a framework, rapidly updating under our eyes, of the modifications our world is undergoing by pursuing into a New “digital age”. Or, as many scholars say nowadays, into the New Normal! These are shared and deep changes that concretely stress their effects on how ideally a city should function. Forcing us to reflect on the capability to achieve shared choices and visions for the future by taking vantage from both the New digital platforms and New suddenly opened paths. In the pages of this article authors, through different but shared viewpoints, propose an answer to the topic of "Governance 3.0", addressing the attempt of a radical change of those paradigms, now consolidated, within which the spatial dimensions, in which we live and act, are shaped. Also analyzing the relationship between Technocracy and Democracy as defined by Khanna, it is argued that it is possible to realize new forecasts and acquire a more democratic and participatory (inclusive) dimension of Governance, also thanks to new digital technologies, by exploring the general unconscious "feeling" of people, through anonymous data collection and without any direct or indirect interference with it. The analysis of the "Sentiment", already developed in other fields but easily exportable within the urban discipline, can be considered as the beginning of hybrid practices where digital and analogic find a compromise to make the "Urbs" more attractive and inclusive, while the "Civitas", connected to the Internet, can contribute to the optimization of services, of the "Polis" and a new social/spatial reorganization.
Salivarian Trypanosomosis Have Adopted Intricate Host-Pathogen Interaction Mechanisms That Ensures Survival Plain Sight of the Adaptive Immune System
Authors: Magez Stefan , Torres Joar Esteban Pinto , Oh Seoyeon , Radwanska Magdalena
Published: May 2021

Salivarian trypanosomes are extracellular parasites affecting humans, livestock and game animals. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense are human infective sub-species of T. brucei causing Human African Trypanosomosis (HAT - sleeping sickness). The related T. b. brucei parasite lacks the resistance to survive in human serum, and only inflicts animal infections. Animal Trypanosomosis (AT) is not restricted to Africa, but is present on all continents. T. congolense and T. vivax are the most widespread pathogenic trypanosomes in sub-Sahara Africa. Trough mechanical transmission, T. vivax has however been introduced into South America. T. evansi is a unique animal trypanosome that is found in vast territories around the world and can cause atypical Human Trypanosomosis (aHT). All salivarian trypanosomes are well adapted to survival inside the host’s immune system. This is not a hostile environment for these parasite, but this is the place where they thrive. Here we provide an overview of the latest insights into the host-parasite interaction and the unique survival strategies allowing trypanosomes to outsmart the immune system. In addition, we review new developments in treatment and diagnosis as well the issues that have hampered the development of field-applicable anti-trypanosome vaccines for the implementation of sustainable disease control.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A Critical Review
Authors: Ceelen Wim , Demuytere Jesse , de Hingh Ignace
Published: May 2021

With increasing awareness amongst physicians and improved radiological imaging techniques, the peritoneal cavity is increasingly recognized as an important metastatic site in various malignancies. Prognosis of these patients is usually poor as traditional treatment including surgical resection or systemic treatment is relatively ineffective. Intraperitoneal delivery of chemotherapeutic agents is thought to be an attractive alternative as this results in high tumor tissue concentrations with limited systemic exposure. The addition of hyperthermia aims to potentiate the anti-tumor effects of chemotherapy, resulting in the concept of heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the treatment of peritoneal metastases as it was developed about 3 decades ago. With increasing experience, HIPEC has become a safe and accepted treatment offered in many centers around the world. However, standardization of the technique has been poor and results from clinical trials have been equivocal. As a result, the true value of HIPEC in the treatment of peritoneal metastases remains a matter of debate. The current review aims to provide a critical overview of the theoretical concept and preclinical and clinical study results, to outline areas of persisting uncertainty, and to propose a framework to better define the role of HIPEC in the treatment of peritoneal malignancies.
Double-Skin Facade Perforation Workflow Onsite Using Robot Arm
Authors: Khairadeen Ali Ahmed , Lee One Jae
Published: May 2021

In contemporary design practices, there is a disconnect between the design techniques used for early-stage design experimentation and performance analysis, and those used for the manufacture and construction. This study addresses the problems in developing an integrated digital design workflow and provides a research framework for integrating environmental performance requirements with robotic manufacturing processes on a construction site. The proposed method enables the user to import a design surface, identify design parameters, set several environmental performance goals, and thereafter simulate and select a robotic building strategy. Based on these inputs, design alternatives are developed and evaluated, considering their robotically simulated constructibility, in terms of their performance criteria. To validate the proposed method, the design is evaluated in an experiment wherein a double-skin facade perforation is generated using the proposed methodology. Initial results suggest a heuristic feature to improve the simulated robotic constructibility. Moreover, the functionality of the prototype is demonstrated.
Functional Characterization of the obesity-linked variant of the β3-adrenergic receptor
Authors: Haji Esraa , Al Mahri Saeed , Aloraij Yumna , Malik Shuja Shafi , Mohammad Sameer
Published: May 2021

Adrenergic receptor β3 (ADRβ3) is a member of the rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor family. The binding of the ligand to ADRβ3 activates adenylate cyclase and increases cAMP in the cells. ADRβ3 is highly expressed in white and brown adipocytes and controls key regulatory pathways of lipid metabolism. Trp64Arg (W64R) polymorphism in the ADRβ3 has been associated with the early development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, lower resting metabolic rate, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance. It is unclear how the substitution of W64R affects the functioning of ADRβ3. This study was initiated to functionally characterize this obesity-linked variant of ADRβ3. We evaluated in detail the expression, subcellular distribution, and post-activation behavior of the WT and W64R ADRβ3 using a single cell quantitative fluorescence microscopy. When expressed in HEK 293 cells, ADRβ3 shows a typical distribution displayed by other GPCRs with a predominant localization at the cell surface. Unlike Adrenergic receptor β2 (ADRβ2), agonist induced desensitization of ADRβ3 does not involve loss of cell surface expression. WT and W64R variant of ADRβ3 displayed comparable biochemical properties and there was no significant impact of the substitution of Tryptophan with Arginine on the expression, cellular distribution, signaling, and post-activation behavior of ADRβ3. The obesity-linked W64R variant of ADRβ3 is indistinguishable from the WT ADRβ3 in terms of expression, cellular distribution, signaling, and post-activation behavior.
Methods and Applications of Campenot Trichamber Neuronal Cultures for the Study of Neuroinvasive Viruses
Authors: Tierney Wesley , Vicino Ian , Sun Stella , Chiu Wah , Engel Esteban , Taylor Matthew , Hogue Ian
Published: May 2021

The development of compartmentalized neuron culture systems has been invaluable in the study of neuroinvasive viruses, including the alpha herpesviruses Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) and Pseudorabies Virus (PRV). This chapter provides updated protocols for assembling and culturing rodent embryonic superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in Campenot trichamber cultures. In addition, we provide several illustrative examples of the types of experiments that are enabled by Campenot cultures: 1. Using fluorescence microscopy to investigate axonal outgrowth/extension through the chambers, and alpha herpesvirus infection, intracellular trafficking, and cell-cell spread via axons. 2. Using correlative fluorescence microscopy and cryo electron tomography to investigate the ultrastructure of virus particles trafficking in axons.
Brain mechanisms of COVID-19-sleep disorders
Authors: Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya Oxana , Mamedova Aysel , Vinnik Valeria , Klimova Maria , Yu Tingting , Zhu Dan , Penzel Thomas , Kurths Jurgen
Published: May 2021

Here, we review findings and trends in sleep research in 2020-2021 demonstrating how COVID-19 and sleep disorders can induce the BBB leakage via neuroinflammation, which might contribute to the 'coronasomnia' phenomenon. The new studies suggest that the controlling of sleep hygiene and quality should be incorporated into the rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients. We also discuss perspective strategies for prevention of COVID-19-related BBB disorders. We demonstrate that sleep might be a novel biomarker of the BBB leakage and the analysis of sleep EEG patterns can be a breakthrough non-invasive technology for diagnosis of the COVID-19-caused BBB disruption.
The environmental impact of SARS-CoV-2: an assessment of the health risks of air pollution during the pandemic
Authors: Corral Serafin , Hernández Hernández Jesús , Rivero Ceballos José Luis
Published: May 2021

This article analyses the environmental impact of the measures imposed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We compare the evolution of atmospheric pollution levels in recent years and during lockdown, and assess the effects of the decrease in mobility and changes in patterns and lifestyles during the latter period. Thus, the reduction in the risk to human health brought about by the improvement of air quality during the months of confinement through the use of dose-response functions is estimated. The focus of the case study is the island of Tenerife. The island of Tenerife has been selected because it can serve as an example for other sites in Europe. We distinguish between the three areas with the highest population concentrations: the Metropolitan, Southern, and Northern areas. The impacts of air pollution and its relationship with changes in consumption and activity patterns are clearly distinguishable. Therefore, the lessons learned can be easily extrapolated to other areas, in both island and mainland contexts.
Urinary Elimination of Ecdysterone and its Metabolites following a Single-Dose Administration in Humans
Authors: Ambrosio Gabriella , Yuliandra Tasha , Wuest Bernhard , Mazzarino Monica , Torre Xavier de la , Botrè Francesco , Diel Patrick , Isenmann Eduard , Parr Maria Kristina
Published: May 2021

Ecdysterone is a phytosteroid widely discussed for its various pharmacological, growth-promoting and anabolic effects mediated by activation of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). Performance-enhancement in sports was demonstrated recently, and ecdysterone was consequently included in the Monitoring Program to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport. Only few studies on the pharmacokinetics of ecdysterone in humans have been reported so far. In this study, post-administration urines in twelve volunteers (single dose of 50 mg of ecdysterone) were analyzed using dilute-and-inject liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Identification and quantitation of ecdysterone and of two metabolites, 14-deoxy ecdysterone and 14-deoxy poststerone was achieved. Ecdysterone was the most abundant analyte present in post-administration urines, detected for more than 2 days with a maximum concentration (Cmax) in the 2.8-8.5 h urines (Cmax = 4.4-30.0 µg/mL). The metabolites 14-deoxy ecdysterone and 14-deoxy poststerone were detected later reaching the maximum concentrations at 8.5-39.5 h (Cmax = 0.1-6.0 µg/mL) and 23.3-41.3 h (Cmax = 0.1-1.5 µg/mL), respectively. Cumulative urinary excretion yielded average values of 18%, 2.3% and 1.5% for ecdysterone, 14-deoxy ecdysterone and 14-deoxy poststerone, respectively. Ecdysterone and 14-deoxy ecdysterone were excreted following first order kinetics with half-lives calculated with three hours, while pharmacokinetics of 14-deoxy poststerone needs further evaluation.
Lensing Effects in Retarded Gravity
Authors: Yahalom Asher
Published: May 2021

Galaxies are huge physical systems having dimensions of many tens of thousands of light years. Thus any change at the galactic center will be noticed at the rim only tens of thousands of years later. Those retardation effects seems to be neglected in present day galactic modelling used to calculate rotational velocities of matter in the rims of the galaxy and surrounding gas. The significant differences between the predictions of Newtonian instantaneous action at a distance and observed velocities are usually explained by either assuming dark matter or by modifying the laws of gravity (MOND). In this paper we will show that taking general relativity seriously without neglecting retardation effects one can explain the apparent excess matter leading to gravitational lensing in both galaxies and galaxy clusters.
Forecasted Incidence, Intensive Care Unit Admissions and Projected Mortality Attributable to Covid-19 in Portugal, UK, Germany, Italy and France – 4 Weeks Ahead
Authors: Carvalho Kathleen , Vicente João Paulo , Jakovljevic Mihajlo , Teixeira João Paulo
Published: May 2021

The use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is a great contribution to medical studies since the application of forecasting concepts allows the analysis of future diseases propagations. In this context, this paper presents a study of the new coronavirus SARS-COV-2 with a focus on verifying the virus propagation associated with mitigation procedures and massive vaccination campaigns. There were proposed two methodologies to predict 28 days ahead the number of new cases, deaths, and ICU patients of five European countries: Portugal, France, Italy, United Kingdom, and Germany, and a case study of the results of massive immunization in Israel. The data input of cases, deaths, and daily ICU patients was normalized to reduce discrepant numbers due to the countries size, and the cumulative vaccination values by the percentage of population immunized, at least with one dose of vaccine. As a comparative criterion, the calculation of the mean absolute error (MAE) of all predictions presents the best methodology and targets other possibilities of use for the proposed method. The best architecture achieved a general MAE for the 1 to 28 days ahead forecast lower than 30 cases, 0,6 deaths and 2,5 ICU patients by million people.
Semantic Evidential Grid Mapping Using Monocular and Stereo Cameras
Authors: Richter Sven , Wang Yiqun , Beck Johannes , Wirges Sascha , Stiller Christoph
Published: May 2021

Accurately estimating the current state of local traffic scenes is one of the key problems in the development of software components for automated vehicles. In addition to details on free space and drivability, static and dynamic traffic participants, information on the semantics may also be included in the desired representation. Multi-layer grid maps allow to include all this information in a common representation. However, most existing grid mapping approaches only process range sensor measurements such as LIDAR and Radar and solely model occupancy without semantic states. In order to add sensor redundancy and diversity it is desired to add vision based sensor setups in a common grid map representation. In this work, we present a semantic evidential grid mapping pipeline including estimates for eight semantic classes that is designed for straightforward fusion with range sensor data. Unlike in other publication our representation explicitly models uncertainties in the evdiential model. We present results of our grid mapping pipeline based on a monocular vision setup and a stereo vision setup. Our mapping resulsts are accurate and dense mapping due to the incorporation of a disparity- or depth-based ground surface estimation in the inverse perspective mapping. We conclude this paper by providing a detailed quantitative evaluation based on real traffic scenarios in the Kitti odometry benchmark and demonstrating the advantages compared to other semantic grid mapping approaches.
Contemporary teacher education: contributions and learning
Authors: Souza Francine Mares Alves de , Ferreira Lúcia Gracia
Published: May 2021

The birth of the XXI century provided changes in various spheres of society, including education. In this perspective, a survey that aimed to analyze and evaluate the contributions of an extension course conducted at the State University of Southwest Bahia (UESB), Campus Itapetinga, whose proposal was to make through debates, discussions and reflections was performed the training of teachers through the challenge of contemporaneity. The research was qualitative, descriptive type and survey and participants in this research were 52 course participants. The training could provide moments of reflection and change. Another important point in this work was to realize the importance of the relationship between teaching, research and extension to promote the formation of this new faculty. Thus, it is worth thinking in teacher training as required in this complex and changes so lacking in society.
Presurgical orthodontic treatment of newborns with deficiency of body weight
Authors:   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Dudnik O.V. , Mamedov Ad.A. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Geppe N.A. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Skakodub A.A. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Zangieva O.T. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Stebeleva Yu.V. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Hao Guo ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Bille D.S. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Chertikhina A.S. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Beznosik A.R. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: May 2021

The study discusses the importance of interdisciplinary approach of pediatricians, surgeons, orthodontists, anesthesiologists and otorhinolaryngologists in the complex rehabilitation of newborns with bilateral cleft lip and palate. The aim of the study was to increase the effectiveness of treatment of newborns with bilateral cleft lip and palate through preliminary orthodontic preparation. This study clearly emphasizes that the conduction of early pre-surgical orthodontic treatment with the use of individual obturators contributes to the high-quality implementation of further surgical intervention and allows to normalize the act of breastfeeding in newborns. It has been proven that the interdisciplinary approach of doctors of related specialties helps to carry out a comprehensive diagnosis, counseling and subsequent treatment of newborns with bilateral cleft lip and palate. Thus, the integrated approach developed by related specialists in the neonatal period makes it possible to implement a highly qualified and step-by-step treatment from birth up to 18 years of age. Key words: bilateral cleft lip and palate, newborns, individual obturator, pediatrics, feeding, cheiloplasty, orthodontics
Predictors of response to therapy with biologicals in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors:   National Medical Research Center of Children's Health, Moscow, Russian Federation, Krekhova E.A. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Alekseeva E.I. ,   National Medical Research Center of Children's Health, Moscow, Russian Federation,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation,   Association of Pediatric Rheumatologists, Moscow, Russian Federation, Dvoryakovskaya T.M. ,   National Medical Research Center of Children's Health, Moscow, Russian Federation,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation,   Association of Pediatric Rheumatologists, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: May 2021

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is a severe orphan autoimmune disease characterized by fever, polymorphic skin rash, hepatosplenomegaly, serositis, generalized lymphadenopathy, and destructive arthritis. Proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-17, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), play a key role in sJIA pathogenesis. sJIA is refractory to conventional immunosuppressive antirheumatic drugs. Before the development of biologicals, sJIA patients had to receive corticosteroids constantly. The implementation of biologicals, such as tocilizumab (IL-6 inhibitor) and canakinumab (IL-1 inhibitor) into clinical practice radically changed the disease course, reduced the need for corticosteroids, and significantly decreased the risk of disability. The administration of biologicals at sJIA onset ensured faster achievement of inactive disease or remission compared to conventional therapy, as well as more patients responding to them. Implementation of biologicals into clinical practice dictated the need to identify optimal conditions for initiating therapy in sJIA patients to improve treatment efficacy and safety. Key words: biologicals, canakinumab, predictors, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, tocilizumab, cytokines
Results of therapy with direct-acting antiviral drugs in children with chronic hepatitis C
Authors:   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Strokova T.V. ,   N.I.Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Matinyan I.A. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation,   N.I.Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Pavlovskaya E.V. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Bagaeva M.E. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation,   N.I.Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Taran N.N. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation,   N.I.Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Zubovich A.I. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Kutyreva E.N. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: May 2021

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir among children with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Patients and methods. This study included 15 children diagnosed with CHC (10 boys and 5 girls) aged between 12 and 17 years (median age 14.9 [14.1;15.4] years). All children received Maviret (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, GLE/PIB) at a fixed dose of 300 mg of GLE plus 120 mg of PIB (3 tablets containing 100 mg/40 mg of GLE/PIB) with food once a day; treatment duration depended on the virus genotype, presence or absence of liver cirrhosis, and previous treatment for CHC. Results. The majority of patients (n = 11) had earlier received a course of antiviral therapy with interferon: 5 children received both interferon α-2a monotherapy and pegylated interferon α-2b with ribavirin at different times, while 6 children received only a course of pegylated interferon α-2b with ribavirin. Treatment was prescribed in accordance with patient characteristics. Fourteen children started an 8-week course of GLE/PIB; 1 boy infected with hepatitis C with 3 genotype received a 16-week course of GLE/PIB due to a history of treatment failure on interferons. Sustained virologic response (SVR) was registered in all study participants 12 weeks after treatment completion. None of the patients interrupted treatment or experienced virological breakthrough. All observed adverse events were mild; all of them were not associated with the therapy: 4 children (26.7%) had upper respiratory tract infections, catarrhal otitis media (6.7%), fatigue (6.7%), and metatarsal fracture (6.7%). Conclusion. Combined antiviral therapy demonstrated SVR in 100% of children with CHC. All adverse events were mild and did not require treatment interruption or withdrawal. Key words: chronic hepatitis C, antiviral therapy, direct-acting antiviral drugs, children, efficacy
Protectors without Prerogative: The Challenge of Military Defense against Information Warfare
Authors: Whyte Christopher
Published: May 2021

This article considers the unique threat of information warfare and the challenges posed to defense establishments in democratic states that are typically legally limited in their ability to operate in domestic affairs. This author argues that military strategy on information warfare must be informed by understanding the systems of social and political function being targeted by foreign adversaries. Looking to theories of political communication, the author locates such understanding in describing democracies as information systems whose functionality resides in the countervailing operation of key social forces. Defense establishments would do well to develop greater analytic capacity for prediction of attack based on such societal—rather than strategic—factors and incorporate these predictions into efforts to shape adversary behavior in cyberspace, the primary medium via which information warfare is prosecuted today.
Life-Cycle Optimization of the Carbon Dioxide Huff-n-Puff Process in an Unconventional Oil Reservoir Using Least-Squares Support Vector and Gaussian Process Regression Proxies
Authors: Almasov Azad , Onur Mustafa
Published: May 2021

In this work, we investigate the efficient estimation of the optimal design variables that maximize net present value (NPV) for the life-cycle production optimization during a single-well carbon dioxide (CO2) huff-n-puff (HnP) process in unconventional oil reservoirs. A synthetic unconventional reservoir model based on Bakken Formation oil composition is used. The model accounts for the natural fracture and geomechanical effects. Both the deterministic (based on a single reservoir model) and robust (based on an ensemble of reservoir models) production optimization strategies are considered. The injection rate of CO2, the production bottomhole pressure (BHP), the duration of injection and the production periods in each cycle of the HnP process, and the cycle lengths for a predetermined life-cycle time can be included in the set of optimum design (or well control) variables. During optimization, the NPV is calculated by a machine learning (ML) proxy model trained to accurately approximate the NPV that would be calculated from a reservoir simulator run. Similar to the ML algorithms, we use both least-squares (LS) support vector regression (SVR) and Gaussian process regression (GPR). Given a set of forward simulation runs with a commercial compositional simulator that simulates the miscible CO2 HnP process, a proxy is built based on the ML method chosen. Having the proxy model, we use it in an iterative-sampling-refinement optimization algorithm directly to optimize the design variables. As an optimization tool, the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method is used inside this iterative-sampling-refinement optimization algorithm. Computational efficiencies of the ML proxy-based optimization methods are compared with those of the conventional stochastic simplex approximate gradient (StoSAG)-based methods. Our results show that the LS-SVR- and GPR-based proxy models are accurate and useful in approximating NPV in the optimization of the CO2 HnP process. The results also indicate that both the GPR and LS-SVR methods exhibit very similar convergence rates, but GPR requires 10 times more computational time than LS-SVR. However, GPR provides flexibility over LS-SVR to access uncertainty in our NPV predictions because it considers the covariance information of the GPR model. Both ML-based methods prove to be quite efficient in production optimization, saving significant computational times (at least 4 times more efficient) over a stochastic gradient computed from a high-fidelity compositional simulator directly in a gradient ascent algorithm. To our knowledge, this is the first study presenting a comprehensive review and comparison of two different ML-proxy-based optimization methods with traditional StoSAG-based optimization methods for the production optimization problem of a miscible CO2 HnP.
Efficacy of a mindfulness-based intervention programme with and without virtual reality support to reduce stress in university students: protocol for a randomized controlled pragmatic trial
Authors: Modrego-Alarcón Marta , Navarro-Gil María Teresa , Beltrán-Ruiz María , Monreal-Bartolomé Alicia , Gascón Santiago , López-del-Hoyo Yolanda , García-Campayo Javier , Delgado-Suárez Irene , Montero-Marín Jesús
Published: May 2021

Background: There is growing concern about mental health problems in university students. For this reason, mindfulness training is becoming increasingly popular in university settings. However, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) usually present high attrition rates. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a MBI to reduce perceived stress and to improve the psychological well-being of university students, as well as to explore the capacity of virtual reality (VR) to enhance adherence to the intervention. Methods: This study protocol presents a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving assessment time points of baseline, posttreatment and 6-month follow-up. A total of 280 students from the Spanish National Distance Education University (UNED) or the University of Zaragoza will be randomly assigned to a mindfulness condition, a mindfulness condition complemented by VR, and a relaxation condition to serve as a control group. Stress will be the main outcome and will be measured using the 10-item self-report Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Other well-being and academic functioning outcomes will be assessed, as well as variables that explore the impact of VR. Multilevel mixed-effects models will be calculated to estimate the efficacy of the programme, and effect size estimations will be carried out. Effects of VR in adherence to programme will be evaluated. Discussion: Some strengths of this study are the RCT design, which includes a suitable active control group and a 6-month follow-up assessment; a large sample size of university students at different stages of their courses and a variety of degrees; and the incorporation of the VR support to facilitate completion of the MBI programme. Potential limitations are the voluntary participation of the students and the utilization of self-report measures.Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03771300.
A Multivariate Heterogeneous Variance Components Model for Multi-Environment Studies with Locational Genetic Effects
Authors: Atas Ozge Karadag
Published: May 2021

In this paper a multivariate heterogeneous variance components model is developed, which allows for determining location specific variance components in the analysis of multiple related traits. In addition to spatial heterogeneity, genetic similarities are also considered by assigning genetic variance components. The performance of the developed model is evaluated through an extensive simulation study and comparison of models are conducted by heritability estimations. Simulation study reveals that the developed method can well control the locational heterogeneity and under the developed model the heritability estimations are close to desired proportions. A real plant breeding data set is used for illustration.
N6-Methylandenosine-Related lncRNAs Play an Important Role in the Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hu YuHai , Chen YiPing
Published: May 2021

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive, fatal tumor. N6-methylandenosine (m6A) methylation is the major epigenetic modification of RNA including lncRNAs. The roles of m6A-related lncRNAs in PDAC have not been fully clarified. The aim of this study is to assess gene signatures and prognostic value of m6A-related lncRNAs in PDAC.
Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) dataset were explored to identify m6A-related lncRNAs. Univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate Cox regression were performed to construct the m6A-related lncRNAs prognostic riskscore (m6A-LPR) model to predict the overall survival (OS) in the TCGA training cohort. Kaplan–Meier curve with log-rank test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the prognostic value of the m6A-LPR. Furthermore, the robustness of the m6A-LPR was further validated in the ICGC cohort. Tumor immunity was evaluated using ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms.
Results

A total of 262 m6A-related lncRNAs were identified in two datasets. In the TCGA training cohort, 28 prognostic m6A-related lncRNAs were identified and the m6A-LPR including four m6A-related lncRNAs was constructed. The m6A-LPR was able to identify high-risk patients with significantly poorer OS and accurately predict OS in both the TCGA training cohort and the ICGC validation cohort. Analysis of tumor immunity revealed that high-risk group had remarkably lower stromal, immune, and ESTIMATE scores. Moreover, high-risk group was associated with significantly higher levels of plasma B cells and resting NK cells infiltration, and lower levels of infiltrating resting memory CD4 T cells, monocytes and resting mast cells.
Conclusions

Our study proposed a robust m6A-related prognostic signature of lncRNAs for predicting OS in PDAC, which provides some clues for further studies focusing on the mechanism process underlying m6A modification of lncRNAs.
Hepatic Macrophages Express Melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors: KAWAGUCHI SHOGO , Sakuraba Hirotake , Horiuchi Momone , Ding Jiangli , Matsumiya Tomoh , Seya Kazuhiko , Iino Chikara , Endo Tetsu , Kikuchi Hidezumi , Yoshida Shukuko , Hiraga Hiroto , Fukuda Shinsaku , Imaizumi Tadaatsu
Published: May 2021

The activation of innate immune system is essential for the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Among pattern recognition receptors, it is well-characterized that toll-like receptors (TLRs) are deeply involved in the development of NASH to reflect exposure of the liver to gut-driven endotoxins. In contrast, it has not been elucidated whether retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) are similarly implicated in the disease progression. In the present study, we examined the expression of melanoma differentiation-associated antigen 5 (MDA5), known to be a member of RLRs, in a diet-induced murine model of NASH using western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The results of western blotting showed that hepatic expression of MDA5 was significantly increased 6 weeks after choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined high-fat diet (CDAHFD). In IHC, MDA5-positive cells co-express F4/80 and CD11b, indicating they were activated macrophages, and these cells began to appear at 1 week after CDAHFD. Additionally, we performed IHC using liver biopsy specimens collected from eight patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD), and found that MDA5 was expressed in CD11b-positive macrophages in six out of eight patients. The lobular inflammation score of NAFLD activity score tended to be higher in MDA5-positive cases than in MDA5-negative cases. Our findings suggest that MDA5 may be involved in the inflammation of NASH.
WITHDRAWN: Uniaxial Compression Experiments And Numerical Simulations of Artiﬁcial Rock Samples With Regular Dentate Discontinuity
Authors: Xue Maolin , Chen Haijun , Xiong Liangxiao , Xu Zhongyuan , Yang Jie , Zhou Tao , Deng Licheng
Published: May 2021

To study the uniaxial compression performance of artificial rock samples with symmetrical and asymmetrical regular dentate discontinuities, uniaxial compression tests and Particle Flow Code (PFC) numerical simulation are conducted on cement mortar specimens, and the combined effects of dip angle, undulation angle, and number of undulating structures of cracks on the compressive strength, peak strain, elastic modulus, and crack propagation in the specimens are studied. Among these parameters, undulating structure is defined as a single regular dentate structure in the dentate discontinuity; dip angle is the angle between the bottom line of the undulating shape and the horizontal line; undulating angle is the angle between the bottom line of the undulating structure and the left line of the undulating shape; and the number of undulating structures is the number of undulating structures in the dentate discontinuity. The experimental and numerical simulation results show that when the number of the undulating structures and undulating angles remain unchanged, the uniaxial compressive strength of the specimens peak at a dip angle of 90°. In addition, when the dip and undulating angles remain unchanged, the compressive strength, peak strain, and elastic modulus of the specimens decrease with an increase in the number of undulating structures. Moreover, when the number of undulating structures and the dip angle remain unchanged, the compressive strength, peak strain, and elastic modulus of the specimens decrease with an increase in the undulating angle. Further, almost all of the new cracks in the specimens initiate at the tip of the prefabricated cracks.
A Prospective Randomised Control Trial Comparing Functional with Mechanical Axis Alignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty: study protocol for an investigator initiated trial
Authors: Steer Richard , Tippett Beth , Khan R Nazim , Collopy Dermot , Clark Gavin
Published: May 2021

Background: A drive to improve functional outcomes for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has led to alternative alignment being used. Functional alignment (FA) uses intraoperative soft tissue tension to determine the optimal position of the prosthesis within the patients soft tissue envelope. Angular limits for bone resections are followed to prevent long term prosthesis failure. This study will use the aid of robotic assistance to plan and implement the final prosthesis position. This method has yet to be compared to the traditional mechanically aligned (MA) knee in a randomised trial. Methods: A blinded randomised control trial with 100 patients will be undertaken via Perth Hip and Knee clinic. Fifty patients will undergo a MA TKA and fifty will undergo a FA TKA. Both alignment techniques will be balanced via computer assisted navigation to assess prosthetic gaps, being achieved via the initial bony resection and further soft tissue releases as required to achieve satisfactory balance. The primary outcome will be the forgotten joint score (FJS) two years after surgery, with secondary outcomes being other patient reported outcome measures, clinical functional assessment, radiographic position and complications. Other data that will be collected will be patient demography (Sex, Age, level of activity) and medical information (grade of knee injury, any other relevant medical information). The linear statistical model will be fitted to the response (FJS), including all the other variables as covariates. Discussion: Many surgeons are utilising alternative alignment techniques with a goal of achieving better functional outcomes for their patients. Currently MA TKA remains the gold standard with good outcomes and excellent longevity. There is no published RCTs comparing FA to MA yet and only two registered studies are planned or currently in progress. This study utilizes a FA technique which differs from the two studies. This study will help determine if FA TKA has superior functional results for patients.Trial registration: This trial has been registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) http://www.anzctr.org.au: U1111-1257-2291, registered 25th Jan 2021. It is also listed on www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04748510
Efficient Masked Face Recognition Method during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hariri Walid
Published: May 2021

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an unparalleled crisis leading to a huge number of casualties and security problems. In order to reduce the spread of coronavirus, people often wear masks to protect themselves. This makes face recognition a very difficult task since certain parts of the face are hidden. A primary focus of researchers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is to come up with suggestions to handle this problem through rapid and efficient solutions. In this paper, we propose a reliable method based on occlusion removal and deep learning-based features in order to address the problem of the masked face recognition process. The first step is to remove the masked face region. Next, we apply three pre-trained deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) namely, VGG-16, AlexNet, and ResNet-50, and use them to extract deep features from the obtained regions (mostly eyes and forehead regions). The Bag-of-features paradigm is then applied to the feature maps of the last convolutional layer in order to quantize them and to get a slight representation comparing to the fully connected layer of classical CNN. Finally, Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) is applied for the classification process. Experimental results on Real-World-Masked-Face-Dataset show high recognition performance compared to other state-of-the-art methods.
LRS: A Positive and Negative Linear Frequency Modulation Method for Ranging and Speed Measurement
Authors: Song Caixia , Jing Tiantian
Published: May 2021

Linear Frequency Modulation (LFM) is widely used in radar and sonar scenarios. However, the Doppler tolerance of LFM signal is not ideal. When the unidirectionally modulated LFM signal is in distance measurement, the Doppler delay of the matched filter output cannot be eliminated, and thus there is a ranging error. After the positive and negative Frequency Modulation (FM) echo signals, which is based on the same frequency band, are matched and filtered, the delay caused by Doppler is the same and the direction is opposite. By using the inverse time delay difference of the positive and negative FM, speed can be measured, and the ranging error in the ranging of unidirectionally modulated LFM signal can also be eliminated. In this paper, based on the analysis of the influence of target moving speed on LFM signal ranging, a positive and negative Linear frequency modulation method for Ranging and Speed measurement (LRS) is proposed. Extensive simulation results show that the proposed LRS method can better estimate the distance and speed of moving targets, and it has reference value for engineering application.