bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of the intention to participate in a programme of plasma donation for fractionation among men who have sex with men
Authors: Veillette‐Bourbeau Ludivine , Otis Joanne , Lewin Antoine , Godin Gaston , Germain Marc , Daunais‐Laurin Gabriel , Lalonde Frédérick , Caruso Jessica , Myhal Geneviève , Pronovost Frédérick
Published: May 2021

Background and objectives

Several approaches are currently under study to contribute to efforts to allow men who have sex with men (MSM) to donate blood. One of these approaches involves implementing a programme of plasma donation for fractionation, with a quarantine period. The goal of this article is to identify the determinants of intention to participate in the plasma donation programme among MSM in Montreal, Canada.

Materials and methods

Based on the theory of planned behaviour, a questionnaire was developed to measure MSM’s intention to donate plasma and identify influencing factors. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the determinants of intention to donate plasma.

Results

Respondents’ (N = 933) intention to donate plasma in the next six months was moderate. The multiple linear regression model explained 55% (P < 0·001) of the variation of intention. Intention was predicted by attitudes (β = 0·34, P < 0·001), perceived behavioural control (β = 0·28, P < 0·001), aged under 35 years (β = 0·26, P < 0·001), history of blood donation (β = 0·24, P < 0·001), subjective norm (β = 0·21, P < 0·001), income above $40,000 (β = 0·20, P < 0·001), moral norm (β = 0·18, P < 0·001) and higher level of involvement in various issues LGBTQ+ communities are fighting for (β = 0·09, P < 0·001).

Conclusion

Our analyses show that intention to donate plasma within the proposed programme is associated with personal, social and structural factors, but more strongly predicted by factors related to the theory of planned behaviour. Our results also highlight the importance of involving MSM; community acceptability of the plasma donation programme would probably be higher if MSM felt respected and party to the decisions.
Quantification of testosterone‐dependent erythropoiesis during male puberty
Authors: Mancera‐Soto Erica , Ramos‐Caballero Diana Marcela , Magalhaes Jose , Chaves Gomez Sandra , Schmidt Walter F. J. , Cristancho‐Mejía Edgar
Published: May 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

To what extent does testosterone influence haemoglobin formation during male puberty?

What is the main finding and its importance?

In boys, testosterone might be responsible for about 65% of the increase in haemoglobin mass during puberty. The underlying mechanisms are assumed to be twofold: (i) indirectly, mediated by the increase in lean body mass, and (ii) directly by immediate testosterone effects on erythropoiesis. Thereby, an increase in testosterone of 1 ng/ml is associated with an increase in haemoglobin mass of ∼65 g. These processes are likely to determine endurance performance in adulthood.

The amount of haemoglobin during puberty is related to endurance performance in adulthood. During male puberty, testosterone stimulates erythropoiesis and could therefore be used as a marker for later endurance performance. This cross‐sectional study aimed to determine the relationship between serum testosterone concentration and haemoglobin mass (Hbmass) in both male and female children and adolescents and to evaluate the possible influences of altitude and training. Three‐hundred and thirteen differentially trained boys and girls aged from 9 to 18 years and living at altitudes of 1000 and 2600 m above sea level entered the study. The stage of sexual maturation was determined according to the classification of Tanner. Testosterone was measured by ELISA. Hbmass was determined by CO‐rebreathing. Haemoglobin concentration did not change during maturation in girls and was 11% higher during puberty in boys, while Hbmass was elevated by 33% in Tanner stage V compared to stage II in girls (498 ± 77 vs. 373 ± 88 g) and by 95% in boys (832 ± 143 vs. 428 ± 95 g). This difference can most likely be attributed to indirect testosterone influences through an increase in lean body mass (LBM) and to direct testosterone effects on erythropoiesis, which increase the Hbmass by ∼65 g per 1 ng/ml. Altitude and training statuses were not associated with testosterone, but with an increase in Hbmass (altitude by 1.1 g/kg LBM, training by 0.8 g/kg LBM). Changes in Hbmass are closely related to testosterone levels during male puberty. Further studies will show whether testosterone and Hbmass during childhood and adolescence can be used as diagnostic tools for endurance talents.
Energy and Exergy Analyses of Simultaneous Charging and Discharging Latent Heat Storage System at Different Inclination Angles—An Experimental Study
Authors: Khobragade Sandip , Devanuri Jaya Krishna
Published: May 2021

In this study, the effect of inclination on the thermal performance of a shell and tube latent heat storage system (LHSS) is investigated. Due to its practical applicability, a simultaneous charging and discharging (SCD) condition is considered. The SCD process for the LHSS involves the circulation of the hot fluid from one side and at the same time cold fluid from the other side. The inclination angles considered for this study are 0 deg (horizontal), 30 deg, 60 deg, and 90 deg (vertical). The effect of inclination on the temperature distribution at various locations of LHSS, melting behavior, energy stored, exergy efficiency, heat input, and recovery are presented. The experimental results indicate that the orientation of an LHSS has a great impact on the melting behavior and performance of LHSS. The maximum energy stored is obtained for the horizontal (θ = 0 deg) configuration and shows 27.42% higher value than the vertical. This study reveals that during the initial stage, higher melting rate is observed in horizontal configuration due to the efficient buoyancy-induced thermal transport. After attaining the steady-state condition, the energy storage is not significant, and the thermal transport is noted between the hot and cold heat transfer fluids.
Turning Parameters Optimization for Diffraction Effect Suppression of Diamond-Turned Surface Combining Surface Micro-Topography Model and Scattering Theory
Authors: Sheng Pengfeng , Shen Zhengxiang , Jiang Li , Fang Shenghuan , Wang Zhanshan
Published: May 2021

The diamond-turning process is a mean optical surface generation technique with high figure accuracy and surface finish. The diamond-turned surface has a significant diffraction effect introduced by the tool marks remaining on the surface, which heavily degrade the optical performance in the visible wavelength spectrum. The traditional approach that was used to eliminate this effect was polishing. In this paper, we present a method to find turning parameters that can generate an optical surface without diffraction effect directly by coupling a surface micro-topography model of a turned surface via the scattering theory. The surface micro-topography model of the turned surface reveals the relationship between tool marks and the diamond-turning parameters (DTPs). The scattering theory reveals the relationship between diffraction intensity distributions (DIDs) and surface micro-topography of the turned surface. Therefore, we obtained the relationship between DIDs and DTPs. The diffraction effect is considered to be eliminated when the first-order diffraction intensity is less than 0.01% of incidence intensity. The criterion of turning parameters for diffraction elimination is then obtained. Finally, turning experiments are performed to confirm the effectiveness of this method, and the diffraction-free surface finish is achieved.
Near real-time detection of low-frequency baleen whale calls from an autonomous surface vehicle: Implementation, evaluation, and remaining challenges
Authors: Baumgartner Mark F. , Ball Keenan , Partan Jim , Pelletier Léo-Paul , Bonnell Julianne , Hotchkin Cara , Corkeron Peter J. , Van Parijs Sofie M.
Published: May 2021

Mitigation of threats posed to marine mammals by human activities can be greatly improved with a better understanding of animal occurrence in real time. Recent advancements have enabled low-power passive acoustic systems to be integrated into long-endurance autonomous platforms for persistent near real-time monitoring of marine mammals via the sounds they produce. Here, the integration of a passive acoustic instrument capable of real-time detection and classification of low-frequency (LF) tonal sounds with a Liquid Robotics wave glider is reported. The goal of the integration was to enable monitoring of LF calls produced by baleen whales over periods of several months. Mechanical noises produced by the platform were significantly reduced by lubricating moving parts with polytetrafluoroethylene, incorporating rubber and springs to decelerate moving parts and shock mounting hydrophones. Flow noise was reduced with the development of a 21-element hydrophone array. Surface noise produced by breaking waves was not mitigated despite experimentation with baffles. Compared to a well-characterized moored passive acoustic monitoring buoy, the system greatly underestimated the occurrence of sei, fin, and North Atlantic right whales during a 37-d deployment, and therefore is not suitable in its current configuration for use in scientific or management applications for these species at this time.
Individual differences in the ability to access spatial information in lag-clicks
Authors: Tirado Carlos , Gerdfeldter Billy , Nilsson Mats E.
Published: May 2021

It may be difficult to determine whether a dichotic lag-click points to the left or right when preceded by a diotic lead-click. Previous research suggests that this loss of spatial information is most prominent at inter-click intervals (ICIs) <10 ms. However, a study by Nilsson, Tirado, and Szychowska [(2019). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 145, 512–524] found support for loss of spatial information in lag-clicks at much longer ICIs using a stimulus setup differing from those in previous research. The present study used a setup similar to that of the Nilsson, Tirado, and Szychowska study [(2019). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 145, 512–524] to measure 13 listeners' ability to lateralize (left versus right) and detect (present versus absent) the lag-click in lead–lag click pairs with ICIs of 6–48 ms. The main finding was distinct individual differences in performance. Some listeners could lateralize lag-clicks all the way down to their detection threshold, whereas others had lateralization thresholds substantially higher than their detection thresholds, i.e., they could not lateralize lag-clicks that they could easily detect. Two such listeners trained for 30 days and managed to improve their lateralization thresholds to reach their detection thresholds, but only at longer ICIs (>20 ms), suggesting different mechanisms underlying lag-click lateralization at short versus long ICIs.
Polyamines determine dispersal
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: May 2021

Monitoring of environmental polyamines controls the dispersal of
Vibrio cholerae
biofilms.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder as a paraneoplastic syndrome: a rare and challenging diagnosis
Authors: Gibril Mukhtar , Walters Richard
Published: May 2021

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an uncommon antibody-mediated disease of the central nervous system, often associated with aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-Ab). NMOSD may present as a subacute myelopathy, progressing over days with MRI revealing a contiguous inflammatory lesion of the spinal cord, ≥3 vertebral segments, a longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. We describe an unusual paraneoplastic form of AQP4-Ab NMOSD that developed in a patient with an advanced diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient had an unusual hyperacute onset, reaching a clinical nadir within hours.
Role of coronary artery calcium score in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Nasir Khurram , Cainzos-Achirica Miguel
Published: May 2021

First developed in 1990, the Agatston coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is an international guideline-endorsed decision aid for further risk assessment and personalized management in the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This review discusses key international studies that have informed this 30 year journey, from an initial coronary plaque screening paradigm to its current role informing personalized shared decision making. Special attention is paid to the prognostic value of a CAC score of zero (the so called “power of zero”), which, in a context of low estimated risk thresholds for the consideration of preventive therapy with statins in current guidelines, may be used to
de-risk
individuals and thereby inform the safe delay or avoidance of certain preventive therapies. We also evaluate current recommendations for CAC scoring in clinical practice guidelines around the world, and past and prevailing barriers for its use in routine patient care. Finally, we discuss emerging approaches in this field, with a focus on the potential role of CAC informing not only the personalized allocation of statins and aspirin in the general population, but also of other risk-reduction therapies in special populations, such as individuals with diabetes and people with severe hypercholesterolemia.
Coupled hydro-mechanical modelling of soil–vegetation–atmosphere interaction in natural clay slopes
Authors: Pedone Giuseppe , Tsiampousi Aikaterini , Cotecchia Federica , Zdravkovic Lidija
Published: May 2021

Soil–vegetation–atmosphere interaction has long been known to induce significant pore pressure variations at shallow depths and associated superficial slope movements. Recent findings suggest that the effect of this interaction may also extend to large depths in natural clay slopes. Multiple examples of weather-induced deep landslide mechanisms can be found in the Southern Apennines (Italy), where slopes are often formed of fissured clays. The relationship between the activity of these landslides and the hydro-mechanical processes due to soil–vegetation–atmosphere interaction was investigated herein by means of a two-dimensional coupled hydro-mechanical finite element analysis. A constitutive model capable of simulating the behaviour of highly overconsolidated clays, in both saturated and unsaturated states, was adopted in the analysis, in conjunction with a boundary condition capable of reproducing the combined effects of rainfall infiltration, evapo-transpiration, and run-off. The results of the analysis corroborate the connection between weather conditions, pore pressure variations, and slope movements in natural clay slopes. The importance of adequately reproducing the geological history of a natural slope to define its current state is also demonstrated.
New Linked-Wire-Type External Fixator (the Ichi-Fixator System) for Metacarpal Fractures: Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Igeta Yuka , Ichihara Satoshi , Hara Akira , Suzuki Masao , Otani Satoshi , Maruyama Yuichiro , Nozawa Masahiko
Published: May 2021

Background: External fixator is an effective treatment option in the comminuted or unstable metacarpal fractures. The new linked-wire type of external fixator (the Ichi-Fixator System) developed for hand and wrist fractures enables fine adjustment of the fixation under fluoroscopic inspection through small screws inside the fixator fitted externally. This technique is designed to reinforce the stability and rigidity of conventional percutaneous Kirchner wire fixation. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the fixator for comminuted or unstable metacarpal fractures through the evaluation of short-term results in ten cases.

Methods: Patients were fixated with fixator pins and metal clamps using the Ichi-Fixator System. All patients were then examined for post-operative complications, functional recovery, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Q-DASH) score at the end of the final follow-up consultation.

Results: Operative treatment using the Ichi-Fixator System facilitates anatomical reduction and allows immediate full mobilization, producing good outcomes. No infections were observed in all cases, including those at pin insertion sites. There were no implant failure and nonunion. Patients could perform all routine activities with normal grip strength and retained a full range of hand motion without pain. This treatment method with improved postoperative comfort would allow immediate return to work, which would clearly boost patient satisfaction.

Conclusions: Ichi-Fixator System is considered to be useful for the treatment of metacarpal fractures, and this will provide a new surgical option for all hand fractures.
Hardware Information Flow Tracking
Authors: Hu Wei , Ardeshiricham Armaiti , Kastner Ryan
Published: May 2021

Information flow tracking (IFT) is a fundamental computer security technique used to understand how information moves through a computing system. Hardware IFT techniques specifically target security vulnerabilities related to the design, verification, testing, manufacturing, and deployment of hardware circuits. Hardware IFT can detect unintentional design flaws, malicious circuit modifications, timing side channels, access control violations, and other insecure hardware behaviors. This article surveys the area of hardware IFT. We start with a discussion on the basics of IFT, whose foundations were introduced by Denning in the 1970s. Building upon this, we develop a taxonomy for hardware IFT. We use this to classify and differentiate hardware IFT tools and techniques. Finally, we discuss the challenges yet to be resolved. The survey shows that hardware IFT provides a powerful technique for identifying hardware security vulnerabilities, as well as verifying and enforcing hardware security properties.
Application Layer Denial-of-Service Attacks and Defense Mechanisms
Authors: Tripathi Nikhil , Hubballi Neminath
Published: May 2021

Application layer
Denial-of-Service (DoS)
attacks are generated by exploiting vulnerabilities of the protocol implementation or its design. Unlike volumetric DoS attacks, these are stealthy in nature and target a specific application running on the victim. There are several attacks discovered against popular application layer protocols in recent years. In this article, we provide a structured and comprehensive survey of the existing application layer DoS attacks and defense mechanisms. We classify existing attacks and defense mechanisms into different categories, describe their working, and compare them based on relevant parameters. We conclude the article with directions for future research.
Self-calibration and Collaborative Localization for UWB Positioning Systems
Authors: Ridolfi Matteo , Kaya Abdil , Berkvens Rafael , Weyn Maarten , Joseph Wout , Poorter Eli De
Published: May 2021

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a Radio Frequency technology that is currently used for accurate indoor localization. However, the cost of deploying such a system is large, mainly due to the need for manually measuring the exact location of the installed infrastructure devices (“anchor nodes”). Self-calibration of UWB reduces deployment costs, because it allows for automatic updating of the coordinates of fixed nodes when they are installed or moved. Additionally, installation costs can also be reduced by using collaborative localization approaches where mobile nodes act as anchors. This article surveys the most significant research that has been done on self-calibration and collaborative localization. First, we find that often these terms are improperly used, leading to confusion for the readers. Furthermore, we find that in most of the cases, UWB-specific characteristics are not exploited, so crucial opportunities to improve performance are lost. Our classification and analysis provide the basis for further research on self-calibration and collaborative localization in the deployment of UWB indoor localization systems. Finally, we identify several research tracks that are open for investigation and can lead to better performance, e.g., machine learning and optimized physical settings.
Does the Yield Curve Predict Output?
Authors: Haubrich Joseph G.
Published: May 2021

Does the yield curve have the ability to predict output and recessions? At some times and in certain places, of course! But when and where, which aspects of the curve matter most, and which economic forces account for the predictive ability are matters of dispute. Over the years, an increasingly sophisticated set of tools, both statistical and theoretical, has addressed the issue. For the United States, an inverted yield curve, particularly when the spread between the yield on 10-year and 3-month Treasuries becomes negative, has been a robust indicator of recessions in the post–World War II period. The spread also predicts future real GDP growth for the United States, although the forecast ability varies by time period in ways that appear to depend on monetary policy. The evidence is less clear in other countries, but the yield curve shows some predictive ability for the United Kingdom and Germany, among others.
A Long, Fulfilling Career in Human Genetics
Authors: Kazazian Haig H.
Published: May 2021

I have been fortunate and privileged to have participated in amazing breakthroughs in human genetics since the 1960s. I was lucky to have trained in medical school at Dartmouth and Johns Hopkins, in pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and Johns Hopkins, and in genetics and molecular biology with Dr. Barton Childs at Johns Hopkins and Dr. Harvey Itano at the National Institutes of Health. Later, the collaborative spirit at Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania were important to my career. Here, I describe the thrill of scientific discovery in two diverse areas of human genetics: DNA haplotypes and their role in solving the molecular basis of beta thalassemia and the role of retrotransposons (jumping genes) in human biology. I hope that this article may inspire others who love human genetics as much as I do.
Rare Kaon Decays
Authors: Ceccucci Augusto
Published: May 2021

Historically important in the development of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics, rare kaon decays are still a privileged tool for looking beyond it. The main reasons to continue the study of rare kaon decays are to test the CKM quark-mixing and CP-violation paradigm, to make quantitative comparisons with the B sector, and to search for explicit violations of the SM. Current research on rare kaon decays focuses mostly on [Formula: see text] decays, which are predicted with good accuracy within the SM and beyond. Experimentally, these decays, especially that of the charged kaon, have a long history. Their theoretical importance is matched only by their experimental difficulty. This article reviews the progress of the past 10 years, describes the state of the art, and looks toward future perspectives.
Highly Concentrated Electrolytes: Electrochemical and Physicochemical Characteristics of LiPF6 in Propylene Carbonate Solutions
Authors: Åvall Gustav , Wallenstein Joachim , Cheng Gang , Gering Kevin L. , Johansson Patrik , Abraham Daniel P.
Published: May 2021

Highly concentrated electrolytes (HCEs) based on LiPF6 in propylene carbonate (PC) have been examined as lithium-ion battery electrolytes. These HCEs have lower ionic conductivities and higher viscosities than ethylene carbonate (EC) electrolytes with 1.2 M LiPF6, but they have higher Li+ ion transference numbers. Electrochemical cycling behaviour of LiNi0.8Co0.015Al0.05O2//graphite cells with 3.2 M LiPF6 in PC resembles that of cells with EC-based electrolytes; the HCE cells have higher impedance, which can be lowered by increasing test temperature. By employing Raman and infrared spectroscopy, combined with density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we reveal that the Li+ solvation structure and speciation are key factors that determine cell performance. Two distinct regimes are observed as a function of salt concentration—in the conventional regime, the solvation number (SN) is mostly constant, while in the HCE regime it decreases linearly. Graphite exfoliation is suppressed only at very high salt concentrations (>2.4 M), where [PC]
free
/[Li+] < 1 and

P

F

6

−

f
r
e
e

>

P
C

f
r
e
e

.

Results from the Advanced Electrolyte Model indicate that Li+ desolvation improves at higher LiPF6 concentrations, thereby mitigating PC co-intercalation into the graphite. However, Li+ ion transport is hindered in the HCEs, which increases impedance at both the oxide-positive and graphite-negative electrodes.
English Grammar Discrimination Training Network Model and Search Filtering
Authors: Zhao Juan
Published: May 2021

The statistics‐based method ignores the semantic constraints in the English grammar area branch training model and is unable to identify the orientation information effectively. This paper systematically discusses the close relationship between English grammar area branch training model filtering, English grammar area branch training model retrieval, and machine learning. By analyzing the role of the situation in the understanding of the English grammar area branch training model, the relationship between the English grammar area branch training model and situation model and the correlation between the features of the English grammar area branch training model and situation model are determined, and then, a set of filtering methods for the English grammar area branch training model are proposed. At present, there are few research studies on bias filtering, and the method of thematic filtering is generally used, which has poor effect. This paper makes full use of the domain knowledge and adopts the semantic pattern analysis technology to establish a wealth of semantic analysis resources, including various dictionaries, rules, and weight representation, so as to effectively filter the inclined English grammar area branch training model. The introduction of semantic data sources solves the problem of data sparsity and cold start in the traditional collaborative filtering system. In addition, in order to improve the scalability and real‐time performance of the recommendation system, the data mining method is used to perform fuzzy clustering for users and projects in the offline data preprocessing stage. This paper proposes a search and filter scheme based on the orientation of the training model in English grammar area, elaborates on the details, constructs a whole set of function structure from representation to weight, and gives the experimental results, which prove that the system has a good filtering effect and is fast. Compared with the traditional statistical methods, the results are satisfactory.
Prevalence of Insomnia among Pancreatic Cancer Patients following Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Chalhoub Sabine , Yaghi Marita , Ard Natasha , Kanso Mariam , Allam Jad , Khalife Mohamad , Jaafar Rola F. , Faraj Walid
Published: May 2021

Introduction. Sleep disturbances are more common in cancer patients than in the general population; however, there is limited research pertaining to the occurrence of such disturbances that subsequently impact patients’ quality of life. The aim of our study is to describe the prevalence of insomnia among pancreatic cancer patients who have recently undergone recent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods. We performed a 6-year (2014-2020) retrospective cohort analysis of all adult patients aged 18 and above with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at our institution. Insomnia was characterized using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Symptoms of insomnia and the impact caused by these symptoms on daily lives were assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and patients were divided into mild insomnia (ISI 8–14) or moderate to severe insomnia (

ISI
≥
15

). Results. Out of forty patients with pancreatic cancer that have undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy, 19 (47.2%) reported that their sleep disturbances had a significant effect on their quality of life. A total of 22 (55.0%) patients reported insomnia, with 63.2% reporting mild insomnia. Chemotherapy was found to significantly increase the risk of moderate to severe insomnia. The mean ISI score was

7.2
±
6.9

, and the mean PSQI score was

7.0
±
5.1

. ISI and PSQI showed a strong positive correlation (

r
=
0.78

,

p
<
0.01

). Conclusion. Sleep disturbances such as insomnia following pancreatic cancer surgery are highly prevalent. Treating physicians and surgeons should recognize and routinely screen for sleep disorders through the management of a multidisciplinary team in order to alleviate some of the burden on the patients’ mental well-being.
Antioxidant and Anticancer Efficacies of Anethum graveolens against Human Breast Carcinoma Cells through Oxidative Stress and Caspase Dependency
Authors: Al-Oqail Mai M. , Farshori Nida N.
Published: May 2021

Anethum graveolens, belonging to the family Apiaceae, has been extensively used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes since long. Plants encompass rich number of effective constituents with less toxicity. Thus, nowadays, the attempts are being made to search plant constituents that can prevent and reverse the chronic diseases, such as cancer. In this study, an in vitro antioxidant and anticancer efficacies of Anethum graveolens (AG‐ME) were studied on human breast (MCF‐7), lung (A‐549), and cervical (HeLa) carcinoma cell lines. The antioxidant efficacies of AG‐ME were evaluated by total antioxidant, DPPH radical scavenging, H2O2 scavenging, and ferrous reducing antioxidant assays. Further, the anticancer potential of AG‐ME was also determined against different cancer cell lines. The AG‐ME exhibited strong antioxidant activities as observed by antioxidant assays. AG‐ME also showed a dose‐dependent anticancer/cytotoxic potential against MCF‐7, A‐549, and HeLa cell lines. The AG‐ME‐induced reduction in GSH and increase in SOD activities indicates the role of oxidative stress in AG‐ME‐induced MCF‐7 cell death. The results also exhibited that AG‐ME triggered ROS production and significantly reduced MMP level. Moreover, a dose‐dependent increase in caspase‐3 and caspase‐9 activities suggests that the AG‐ME‐induced MCF‐7 cell death is caspase‐dependent. Together, the present study provides reasoning and reassurance for the uses of A. graveleons for medical purposes as an antioxidant and anticancer agent. Additional investigations are required to examine biological and anticancer activities under an in vivo system to discover a possible beneficial use of AG‐ME against diseases.
Further Properties of 1- and 2-Dimensional U- and W-Convexity and Fixed Point of Nonexpansive Mappings in Banach Spaces
X
and

X

∗
Authors: Gao Ji
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we further studied properties of the modulus of

n

-dimensional

U

-convexity and the modulus of

n

-dimensional

U

-flatness when n = 1 (2-dimensional character) and n = 2 (3-dimensional character). The new properties of these moduli are investigated, and the relationships between these moduli and other geometric parameters of Banach spaces are studied. Some results on fixed point theory for nonexpansive mappings and normal structure in Banach spaces are obtained.
Presplit Blasting Technique in Treating Hard Overlying Strata: From Numerical Simulation to Field Practice
Authors: Zhang Baisheng , Yang Zhiping , Yang Xuming , Zhang Shuai
Published: May 2021

The potential dynamic risk of the mined underground space with hard overlying strata is one of the main concerns for coal operators. This paper presents a comprehensive study on treating the hard overlying strata upon the coal seam through the presplit blasting technique. The properties of the overlying strata were firstly investigated and evaluated via the laboratory tests and theoretical analysis. With the consideration of the geological and mining condition of the research area, the critical parameters of the presplit blasting technique (e.g., unsaturation coefficient, borehole spacing, and the slit width) were consequently determined via the numerical simulation with the application of LS‐DYNA. Then, the field practice in accordance with the determined parameters was carried out in Yuwu coal mine. The effectiveness of the presplit blasting technique was well verified when the microstructures of the surrounding rock were investigated. The success presented in this paper does not only demonstrate the feasibility of using the presplit blasting technique in treating the hard strata of underground mines but also provide a guideline in determining the critical parameters by the numerical simulation and theoretical analysis from the design aspect.
Intelligent Computation Offloading for IoT Applications in Scalable Edge Computing Using Artificial Bee Colony Optimization
Authors: Babar Mohammad , Khan Muhammad Sohail , Din Ahmad , Ali Farman , Habib Usman , Kwak Kyung Sup
Published: May 2021

Most of the IoT‐based smart systems require low latency and crisp response time for their applications. Achieving the demand of this high Quality of Service (QoS) becomes quite challenging when computationally intensive tasks are offloaded to the cloud for execution. Edge computing therein plays an important role by introducing low network latency, quick response, and high bandwidth. However, offloading computations at a large scale overwhelms the edge server with many requests and the scalability issue originates. To address the above issues, an efficient resource management technique is required to maintain the workload over the edge and ensure the reduction of response time for IoT applications. Therefore, in this paper, we introduce a metaheuristic and nature‐inspired Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) optimization technique that effectively manages the workload over the edge server under the strict constraints of low network latency and quick response time. The numerical results show that the proposed ABC algorithm has outperformed Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), and Round‐Robin (RR) Scheduling algorithms by producing low response time and effectively managing the workload over the edge server. Furthermore, the proposed technique scales the edge server to meet the demand of high QoS for IoT applications.
Involvement of circRNAs in Proinflammatory Cytokines-Mediated β-Cell Dysfunction
Authors: Wang Zhen , Deng Chao , Zheng Ying
Published: May 2021

Aim. During the initial stage of type 1 diabetes, prolonged exposure of pancreatic β-cell to proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ results in a decreased capacity to produce and release insulin, as well as cell loss by apoptosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of endogenous noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) with closed loop with no free ends. circRNAs have been reported to be participated in the development of many diseases. As little is known about their role in insulin-secreting cells, this study is aimed at evaluating their contribution in the process of inflammation-induced β-cell damage. Methods. circRNA expression profile of MIN6 cells stimulated with a mix of cytokines, including IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, was detected by circRNA microarrays. Four dysregulated circRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. The involvement of the selected circRNAs in β-cell dysfunction was tested after their inhibition in MIN6 cells. MicroRNA target prediction software and multiple bioinformatic approaches were used to predict the targeting genes of circRNAs and analyze possible functions of the circRNAs. Results. 1020 upregulated and 902 downregulated circRNAs were identified in cytokines-treated β-cells. Inhibition of circRNAs 000286 and 017277 in β-cells could promote β-cell apoptosis and affect insulin biosynthesis and secretion. GO analysis enriched terms such as regulation of transcription and regulation of gene expression and KEGG analysis enriched top pathways included TGF-β and MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusions. The data shows that circRNAs may be involved in proinflammatory cytokines-mediated β-cell dysfunction and suggests the involvement of circRNAs in the development of type 1 diabetes.
Bidirectional Language Modeling: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Shah Jahan Muhammad , Khan Habib Ullah , Akbar Shahzad , Umar Farooq Muhammad , Gul Sarah , Amjad Anam
Published: May 2021

In transfer learning, two major activities, i.e., pretraining and fine-tuning, are carried out to perform downstream tasks. The advent of transformer architecture and bidirectional language models, e.g., bidirectional encoder representation from transformer (BERT), enables the functionality of transfer learning. Besides, BERT bridges the limitations of unidirectional language models by removing the dependency on the recurrent neural network (RNN). BERT also supports the attention mechanism to read input from any side and understand sentence context better. It is analyzed that the performance of downstream tasks in transfer learning depends upon the various factors such as dataset size, step size, and the number of selected parameters. In state-of-the-art, various research studies produced efficient results by contributing to the pretraining phase. However, a comprehensive investigation and analysis of these research studies is not available yet. Therefore, in this article, a systematic literature review (SLR) is presented investigating thirty-one (31) influential research studies published during 2018–2020. Following contributions are made in this paper: (1) thirty-one (31) models inspired by BERT are extracted. (2) Every model in this paper is compared with RoBERTa (replicated BERT model) having large dataset and batch size but with a small step size. It is concluded that seven (7) out of thirty-one (31) models in this SLR outperforms RoBERTa in which three were trained on a larger dataset while the other four models are trained on a smaller dataset. Besides, among these seven models, six models shared both feedforward network (FFN) and attention across the layers. Rest of the twenty-four (24) models are also studied in this SLR with different parameter settings. Furthermore, it has been concluded that a pretrained model with a large dataset, hidden layers, attention heads, and small step size with parameter sharing produces better results. This SLR will help researchers to pick a suitable model based on their requirements.
Effective Material Basis and Mechanism Analysis of Compound Banmao Capsule against Tumors Using Integrative Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking
Authors: He Tian-Mu , Liu Jing-Xian , Duan Can-Can , Li Xiao-Fei , Zhang Jian-Yong
Published: May 2021

Purpose. Compound banmao capsule (CBC), a well-known traditional Chinese medical material, is known to inhibit various tumors. However, its material basis and pharmacological mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effective material basis and mechanisms of action of CBC against tumors. Methods. Active compounds of CBC were identified using public database and reports to build a network. The corresponding targets of active compounds were retrieved from online databases, and the antitumor targets were identified by GeneCards database. The antitumor hub targets were generated via protein-protein interaction analysis using String, and key compounds and targets from the integrative network were detected by molecular docking and ADMET. Top targets in hepatocellular carcinoma were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Finally, the multivariate biological network was built to identify the integrating mechanisms of action of CBC against tumor cells. Results. A total of 128 compounds and 436 targets of CBC were identified successfully. Based on the generated multivariate biological network analysis, 25 key compounds, nine hub targets, and two pathways were further explored. Effective material bases of cantharidin, baicalein, scutellarin, sesamin, and quercetin were verified by integrative network analysis. PTGS2, ESR1, and TP53 were identified as hub targets via multivariate biological network analysis and confirmed using qPCR. Furthermore, VEGF and estrogen signaling pathways seem to play a role in the antitumor activity of CBC. Thus, breast cancer may be a potential clinical indication of CBC. Conclusion. This study successfully identified the material basis of CBC and its synergistic mechanisms of action against tumor cells.
Composite Quantile Regression Neural Network for Massive Datasets
Authors: Jin Jun , Zhao Zhongxun
Published: May 2021

Traditional statistical methods and machine learning on massive datasets are challenging owing to limitations of computer primary memory. Composite quantile regression neural network (CQRNN) is an efficient and robust estimation method. But most of existing computational algorithms cannot solve CQRNN for massive datasets reliably and efficiently. In this end, we propose a divide and conquer CQRNN (DC-CQRNN) method to extend CQRNN on massive datasets. The major idea is to divide the overall dataset into some subsets, applying the CQRNN for data within each subsets, and final results through combining these training results via weighted average. It is obvious that the demand for the amount of primary memory can be significantly reduced through our approach, and at the same time, the computational time is also significantly reduced. The Monte Carlo simulation studies and an environmental dataset application verify and illustrate that our proposed approach performs well for CQRNN on massive datasets. The environmental dataset has millions of observations. The proposed DC-CQRNN method has been implemented by Python on Spark system, and it takes 8 minutes to complete the model training, whereas a full dataset CQRNN takes 5.27 hours to get a result.
TG, DTA Pyrolytic Analysis of Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, and 5,8-Dihydroxy-1,4-Naphthoquinone Chelate Complexes
Authors: Mir M. Amin , Ashraf Mohammad Waqar
Published: May 2021

The solid state reactions identified on the TG traces with correspondence to DTG peaks consequent to the nonisothermal decomposition of polymetallic chelates of the naphthazarin with Zn (II), Co (II), Ni (II), and Cu (II) over the temperature range ambient at 800°C have been studied kinetically following the Dave and Chopra method as these solid state reactions exhibited their resemblance with the Freeman recommended reaction for kinetic studies. The solid state reactions as described followed first order kinetics. The kinetic data showed the very low value of Z for each of the solid state reaction in reference, concluding on the solid state reactions (the nonisothermal decomposition of polymetallic chelate of Zn (II), Co (II), Ni (II), and Cu (II) as slow reactions).
The Beneficial Effects of Edible Kynurenic Acid from Marine Horseshoe Crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) on Obesity, Hyperlipidemia, and Gut Microbiota in High‐Fat Diet‐Fed Mice
Authors: Li Jian , Zhang Yaqi , Yang Shen , Lu Zhenhua , Li Guiling , Wu Shangyi , Wu Da-Ren , Liu Jingwen , Zhou Bo , Wang Hui-Min David , Huang Shi-Ying
Published: May 2021

The marine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) has been considered as food and traditional medicine for many years. Kynurenic acid (KA) was isolated from horseshoe crab in this study for the first time in the world. A previous study in 2018 reported that intraperitoneal administration of KA prevented high‐fat diet‐ (HFD‐) induced body weight gain. Now, we investigated the effects of intragastric gavage of KA on HFD mice and found that KA (5 mg/kg/day) inhibited both the body weight gain and the increase of average daily energy intake. KA reduced serum triglyceride and increased serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. KA inhibited HFD‐induced the increases of serum low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, coronary artery risk index, and atherosclerosis index. KA also suppressed HFD‐induced the increase of the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (two dominant gut microbial phyla). KA partially reversed HFD‐induced the changes in the composition of gut microbial genera. These overall effects of KA on HFD mice were similar to that of simvastatin (positive control). But the effects of 1.25 mg/kg/day KA on HFD‐caused hyperlipidemia were similar to the effects of 5 mg/kg/day simvastatin. The pattern of relative abundance in 40 key genera of gut microbiota from KA group was closer to that from the normal group than that from the simvastatin group. In addition, our in vitro results showed the potential antioxidant activity of KA, which suggests that the improvement effects of KA on HFD mice may be partially associated with antioxidant activity of KA. Our findings demonstrate the potential role of KA as a functional food ingredient for the treatment of obesity and hyperlipidemia as well as the modulation of gut microbiota.
Trend and Sociodemographic Correlates of Cesarean Section Utilization in Nepal: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys 2006‐2016
Authors: Acharya Kiran , Paudel Yuba Raj
Published: May 2021

Background. Addressing inequalities in accessing emergency obstetric care is crucial for reducing the maternal mortality ratio. This study was undertaken to examine the time trends and sociodemographic correlates of cesarean section (CS) utilization in Nepal between 2006 and 2016. Methods. Data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) 2006, 2011, and 2016 were sourced for this study. Women who had a live birth in the last five years of the survey were the unit of analysis for this study. Absolute and relative inequalities in CS utilization were expressed in terms of rate difference and rate ratios, respectively. We used multivariable regression models to assess the CS rate by background sociodemographic characteristics of women. Results. Age and parity‐adjusted CS rates were found to have increased almost threefold (from 3.2%, 95% CI: 2.1‐4.3 in 2006 to 10.5%; 95% CI: 8.9‐11.9 in 2016) over the decade. In 2016, women from mountain region (3.0%), those from the lowest wealth quintile (2.4%), and those living in Karnali province (2.4%) had CS rate below 5%. Whereas women from the highest wealth quintile (25.1%), with higher education (21.2%), and those delivering in private facilities (37.1%) had CS rate above 15%. Women from the highest wealth quintile (OR‐3.3; 95% CI: 1.6‐7.0) compared to women from the lowest wealth quintile and those delivered in private/NGO‐run facilities (OR‐3.6; 95% CI: 2.7‐4.9) compared to women delivering in public facilities were more than three times more likely to deliver by CS. Conclusion. To improve maternal and newborn health, strategies need to be revised to address the underuse of CS among poor, those living in mountain region and Province 2, Lumbini province, Karnali province, and Sudhurpaschim province. Simultaneously, there is a pressing need for policies, guidelines, and continuous monitoring of CS rates to reduce overuse among rich women, women with higher education, and those giving childbirth in private facilities.