bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heat Shock-Binding Protein 21 Regulates the Innate Immune Response to Viral Infection
Authors: Xu Yan , Yang Qiong , Xue Binbin , Wang Xintao , Tian Renyun , Deng Rilin , Chen Shengwen , Wang Xiaohong , Wang Luoling , Wang Cong , Chen Jinwen , You Ruina , Liu Qian , Li Huiyi , Wang Jingjing , Li Xinran , Liu Shun , Yang Di , Tang Songqing , Zhu Haizhen
Published: March 2022

The innate immune system is the first-line host defense against microbial pathogen invasion. The physiological functions of molecular chaperones, involving cell differentiation, migration, proliferation and inflammation, have been intensively studied.
Small Noncoding RNA (sncRNA1) within the Latency-Associated Transcript Modulates Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Virulence and the Host Immune Response during Acute but Not Latent Infection
Authors: Tormanen Kati , Matundan Harry H. , Wang Shaohui , Jaggi Ujjaldeep , Mott Kevin R. , Ghiasi Homayon
Published: March 2022

HSV-1 latency-associated transcript (LAT) plays a major role in establishing latency and reactivation; however, the mechanism by which LAT controls these processes is largely unknown. In this study, we sought to establish the role of the small noncoding RNA1 (sncRNA1) encoded within LAT during HSV-1 ocular infection. Our results suggest that sncRNA1 has a protective role during acute ocular infection by modulating the innate immune response to infection.
Rapid Aggregation of Staphylococcus aureus in Synovial Fluid Is Influenced by Synovial Fluid Concentration, Viscosity, and Fluid Dynamics, with Evidence of Polymer Bridging
Authors: Staats Amelia , Burback Peter W. , Schwieters Andrew , Li Daniel , Sullivan Anne , Horswill Alexander R. , Stoodley Paul
Published: March 2022

Infection is a major complication of knee and hip joint replacement surgery, which is used to treat arthritis or joint damage. We have shown that
Staphylococcus aureus
, a common bacterial pathogen, aggregates upon contact with synovial fluid.
Complete Chloroplast Genome of Topotype Material of the Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Née var.
agrifolia
(Fagaceae) from California
Authors: Garcia Adam N. , Ramos Jennifer Hernandez , Mendoza Aileen G. , Muhrram Asmahan , Vidauri Jessica M. , Hughey Jeffery R.
Published: March 2022

Here, we present the chloroplast genome sequence of
Quercus agrifolia
Née, the California live oak, an ecologically important oak species along the coast of California. The genome is 161,283 bp in length, encodes 132 genes, and has a high level of gene synteny to other Fagaceae.
Whole-Genome Analysis of Escherichia Phage vB_EcoM-S1P5QW, Isolated from Manures Collected from Cattle Farms in Maine
Authors: Quintela Irwin A. , Hwang Anya , Vasse Tyler , Salvador Alexandra , Zhang Yujie , Liao Yen-Te , Wu Vivian C. H.
Published: March 2022

Here, we report a complete genome sequence of
Escherichia
phage vB_EcoM-S1P5QW, a T4-like bacteriophage that was isolated from manures collected from cattle farms in Maine.
Escherichia
phage vB_EcoM-S1P5QW can infect
Escherichia coli
O26:H11 strains and is devoid of virulence, antibiotic resistance, and lysogeny-associated genes, which may be meaningful for further biocontrol studies.
Whole-Genome Sequences of Two Listeria monocytogenes Biofilm Formers
Authors: Trinetta Valentina , Mendez Ellen A. , Hoffmann Maria , Zheng Jie
Published: March 2022

Listeria monocytogenes
strains from different lineages show different biofilm-forming abilities. In this study, two strains of
L. monocytogenes
were whole genome sequenced using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) technology and characterized.
Polyproline Peptide Aggregation with Klebsiella pneumoniae Extracellular Polysaccharides Exposes Biofilm Associated Bacteria
Authors: Fleeman Renee M. , Davies Bryan W.
Published: March 2022

Klebsiella pneumoniae
bacterial infections are a major threat to human health as mortality rates are steadily on the rise. A defining characteristic of
K. pneumoniae
is the robust polysaccharide capsule that aids in resistance to the human immune system.
Successful multidisciplinary management of an asymptomatic gastrosplenic fistula in a diffuse large B cell lymphoma patient
Authors: Mansouri Sarah , Assane Chadey , Malo Francois-Charles
Published: March 2022

Gastrosplenic fistula is a rare and potentially fatal clinical entity unknown to most healthcare providers. Its diagnosis and management are challenging; and addressing it too late can have devastating consequences for patients. To increase awareness about this pathology, we hereby present a case of asymptomatic gastrosplenic fistula arising from a diffuse large B cell lymphoma in a 60-year-old Caucasian man with no significant medical history. The patient was successfully treated with openen-blocsplenectomy and partial gastrectomy. The patient was discharged from the hospital 3 days after the surgery. At 1-month postoperatively, the patient was asymptomatic and presented no complication of the surgery. He went on to finish six cycles of chemotherapy (R-EPOCH, rituximab, etoposide phosphate, prednisone, vincristine sulfate, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride) and achieved complete metabolic response. At 2 years after the surgery, the patient remains asymptomatic and presents no sign of disease recurrence.
Monarticular rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow
Authors: Santiago Adianez , Crespo-Ramos Susanne M , Correa-Rivas María , Vilá Luis M
Published: March 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by symmetric inflammatory polyarthritis. However, RA limited to a single joint is extremely rare. Here, we report a middle-aged woman who presented with insidious right elbow arthritis. She had no other peripheral joint pain, tenderness or swelling. She had high-positive anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. An MRI of the right elbow showed capsular distension, joint effusion and bone marrow oedema. Synovial biopsy revealed hyperplasia with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate consistent with RA. Therapy with methotrexate 7.5 mg orally weekly was effective to control her inflammatory arthritis. This case highlights the relevance of synovial tissue analysis for patients presenting with chronic inflammatory monarthritis when the cause is not clinically evident, and the importance of considering RA even in the absence of polyarticular involvement. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory monarthritis can lead to joint destruction and disability.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) following COVID-19 requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Newman Seth , Zou Fengwei , Madan Shivank , Sims Daniel
Published: March 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a global pandemic with serious impact around the world. Patients most commonly present with severe lung involvement and acute respiratory failure; however, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a known—although rare—complication. We present a case of a 49-year-old patient who presented with combined cardiogenic and vasodilatory shock and was diagnosed with MIS-A. He initially required venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Impella for haemodynamic support but was able to be weaned off these devices with complete recovery of left ventricular systolic function. This case demonstrates that MIS-A may present as haemodynamic collapse in adults, but complete recovery is possible with proper haemodynamic support.
Widening the spectrum of spinocerebellar ataxia autosomal recessive type 10 (SCAR10)
Authors: Ásbjörnsdóttir Birna , Henriksen Otto Mølby , Lindquist Suzanne , Møller Lisbeth Birk , Sidaros Annette , Nielsen Jørgen Erik
Published: March 2022

Biallelic pathogenic variants in theANO10gene cause spinocerebellar ataxia recessive type 10. We report two patients, both compound heterozygous forANO10variants, including two novel variants. Both patients had onset of cerebellar ataxia in adulthood with slow progression and presented corticospinal tract signs, eye movement abnormalities and cognitive executive impairment. One of them had temporal lobe epilepsy and she also carried a heterozygous variant inCACNB4, a potential risk gene for epilepsy. Both patients had pronounced cerebellar atrophy on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and reduced metabolic activity in cerebellum as well as in the frontal lobes on 2-deoxy-2-(18F)fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography ((18F)FDG PET) scans. We provide comprehensive clinical, radiological and genetic data on two patients carrying likely pathogenicANO10gene variants. Furthermore, we provide evidence for a cerebellar as well as a frontal involvement on brain (18F)FDG PET scans which has not previously been reported.
Diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to cardiac cirrhosis in heterotaxy syndrome
Authors: Mathavan Akash , Mathavan Akshay , Hones Keegan , Altshuler Ellery
Published: March 2022

Heterotaxy syndrome is a rare congenital defect of left-right laterality of major visceral organs, often categorised by the presence of symmetric left or right atrial heart chambers with a single effective ventricle. Known as left or right atrial isomerism, these conditions may present with a distinct pattern of extracardiac anomalies. Heterotaxy is often palliated with the Fontan procedure and is suggested to be subject to similar long-term sequelae of congestive hepatopathy and ischaemia, increasing the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. Few works document primary, localised hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with heterotaxy syndrome. We present a case of diffuse, multifocal metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in a young patient with left atrial isomerism and dextrocardia. We also review suggested guidelines of surveillance for liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in this patient population.
CUP study: protocol for a comparative analysis of centralised waitlist effectiveness, policies and innovations for connecting unattached patients to primary care providers
Authors: Marshall Emily Gard , Breton Mylaine , Green Michael , Edwards Lynn , Ayn Caitlyn , Smithman Mélanie Ann , Ryan Carson Shannon , Ashcroft Rachelle , Bayoumi Imaan , Burge Frederick , Deslauriers Véronique , Lawson Beverley , Mathews Maria , McPherson Charmaine , Moritz Lauren R , Nesto Sue , Stock David , Wong Sabrina T , Andrew Melissa
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Access to a primary care provider is a key component of high-functioning healthcare systems. In Canada, 15% of patients do not have a regular primary care provider and are classified as ‘unattached’. In an effort to link unattached patients with a provider, seven Canadian provinces implemented centralised waitlists (CWLs). The effectiveness of CWLs in attaching patients to regular primary care providers is unknown. Factors influencing CWLs effectiveness, particularly across jurisdictional contexts, have yet to be confirmed.

Methods and analysis

A mixed methods case study will be conducted across three Canadian provinces: Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia. Quantitatively, CWL data will be linked to administrative and provider billing data to assess the rates of patient attachment over time and delay of attachment, stratified by demographics and compared with select indicators of health service utilisation. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with policymakers, patients, and primary care providers to elicit narratives regarding the administration, use, and access of CWLs. An analysis of policy documents will be used to identify contextual factors affecting CWL effectiveness. Stakeholder dialogues will be facilitated to uncover causal pathways and identify strategies for improving patient attachment to primary care.

Ethics and dissemination

Approval to conduct this study has been granted in Ontario (Queens University Health Sciences and Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board, file number 6028052; Western University Health Sciences Research Ethics Board, project 116591; University of Toronto Health Sciences Research Ethics Board, protocol number 40335), Québec (Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Estrie, project number 2020–3446) and Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Health Research Ethics Board, file number 1024979).
Ageing accounts for much of the association between decreasing grip strength and subsequent loneliness: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Vingeliene Snieguole , Hiyoshi Ayako , Lentjes Marleen , Fall Katja , Montgomery Scott
Published: March 2022

Background

Loneliness at older ages has been associated with higher morbidity and mortality. One of the risk factors for loneliness may be age-related decline in skeletal muscle strength, which may limit the possibilities for engagement in usual social activities and maintaining relationships. We aimed to identify if decrease in grip strength is an independent determinant of subsequent change in loneliness.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of participants aged 50 years or older living in private households and provided data in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing waves 2 (2004/2005), 4 (2008/2009) and 6 (2012/2013) (n=6118). We used fixed effects linear models to estimate β coefficients and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

The adjusted estimates for a 5-kilogramme decrease in grip strength and loneliness score (ranging from 3 to 9) are β 0.04 and 95% CI −0.003 to 0.08 among men and β 0.03 and 95% CI −0.02 to 0.09 among women. In age-stratified analysis, a statistically significant association was observed among men below the age of 80 years (0.04, 0.0001 to 0.08) but not among older men (0.04, –0.28 to 0.35), and among women below the age of 80 years (0.03, –0.002 to 0.09) or above (−0.02, –0.32 to 0.28).

Conclusion

Muscle strength declines with age and may help explain the greater social isolation that occurs at older ages. Decline in strength was only independently associated with modestly increased loneliness among men younger than 80 years of age, indicating its limitation as a potential marker of loneliness risk.
Organochlorine Pesticides, Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, and Leukemia: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Rafeeinia Arash , Asadikaram Gholamreza , Karimi-Darabi Mehrnaz , Abolhassani Moslem , Abbasi-Jorjandi Mojtaba , Moazed Vahid
Published: March 2022

Exposure to pesticides has been linked to an elevated risk of leukemia. The present research aimed to evaluate the relationship between organochlorine (OC) pesticides and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with leukemia. This work was conducted on 109 patients with leukemia and 109 healthy controls. The serum concentrations of seven derivatives of OCs including alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), beta-HCH, gamma-HCH, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), 4,4-DDT, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and 4,4-DDE along with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), paraoxonase-1 (PON1), and catalase (CAT) activities as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitric oxide (NO), protein carbonyl (PC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in all the subjects. Levels of OCs were remarkably higher in patients with leukemia compared with the controls (p<0.05). In addition, levels of SOD, AChE, GPx, PON1, and TAC were remarkably lower in patients with leukemia compared with controls (p<0.05). In contrast, MDA, NO, and PC concentrations were higher in patients with leukemia than in the controls (p<0.05). Moreover, the serum level of 4,4-DDE was negatively associated with GPx activity (p=0.038). Our findings suggest that OCs may play a role in the development of leukemia by disrupting the oxidant/antioxidant balance.
Impact of pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: case series and literature review
Authors: Li Mucong , Tian Zhuang , Qian Junyan , Huang Can , Zhao Jiuliang , Wang Qian , Song Yijun , Tian Xinping , Li Mengtao , Liu Juntao , Zeng Xiaofeng
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnancy complicated by SLE-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SLE-PAH) in a case series and literature review.

Methods

This single-centre retrospective study included 10 consecutive pregnancies complicated by SLE-PAH confirmed by right heart catheterisation (RHC) at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2009 and 2020. A literature search was conducted and 14 pregnancy cases complicated by SLE-PAH were reviewed.

Results

At the time of 10 patients’ initial visits, the average age was 30.00±5.72 years and the median disease duration of SLE and PAH was 34.5 (range 1–164) months and 2 (1–51) months. Two patients carried planned pregnancy, seven patients developed PAH during pregnancy and one pregnancy was unplanned. Further, nine patients had low disease activity, with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index between 0 and 4, and 30%, 30% and 40% of patients were of WHO functional class II, III and IV, respectively. All patients were evaluated by RHC and echocardiography. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were elevated in 70% of patients, with a median level of 776 (56–18 023) pg/mL. The median time of completed pregnancies in all patients was 31 (15–38) weeks and six patients delivered live infants. SLE activity and PAH severity improved in 70% of patients within 6 months after delivery. One patient died on the 15th day after induction of labour. In the remaining patients, all achieved a lupus low disease activity state; according to the European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society risk stratification, seven were categorised at a lower risk state compared with their risk stratification during pregnancy, and two remained at intermediate risk. Additionally, 80% of patients exhibited mild impairments with WHO functional class I or II. The median NT-proBNP level was 184 (32–4003) pg/mL within 6 months after delivery. In the reviewed literature, the average age of patients was 30.09±5.37 years. The median time of completed pregnancies was 36 (28–40) weeks. More cases were planned and successful, and the survival rates of mothers and neonates were 85.71% and 92.86%, respectively.

Conclusions

Successful pregnancy could be possible in women with SLE-PAH if SLE-PAH treatment goals are achieved under proper therapies, careful monitoring and thorough evaluations.
Effectiveness of interventions on the stress management of schoolteachers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Paudel Netra Raj , Adhikari Bidhya Acharya , Prakash K C , Kyrönlahti Saila , Nygård Clas-Håkan , Neupane Subas
Published: March 2022

Background

This systematic review aimed to analyse the effectiveness of interventions on the stress management of schoolteachers.

Methods

We searched the Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Education Research Complete until 30 November 2021, to identify relevant studies using relevant key words. Job or occupational stress was used as the outcome measure. Stress was defined as Perceived Stress Scale, Teacher Stress Inventory, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Teacher’s Distress, Brief Symptoms Inventory or Global Severity Index. Study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment was performed by two independent reviewers. The pooled estimate of the effect by the type of outcome measurement tool and by type of interventions used was calculated using random effects meta-analysis. We used Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation to assess the overall quality of the evidence.

Results

We reviewed 26 studies, of which 24 were randomised trials and 2 pre-test/post-test studies. Based on meta-analysis, a positive effect of intervention (pooled estimate −1.13, 95% CI −1.52 to −0.73) with high heterogeneity among studies (χ2=426.88, p<0.001, I2=94%) was found by type of interventions used. Cognitive–behavioural therapy had the strongest positive effect, followed by meditation among the types of interventions studied. We identified evidence of a moderate quality for interventions aiming to manage the stress level of schoolteachers.

Conclusions

The meta-analysis showed a positive effect of interventions, suggesting that interventions might reduce the stress level among teachers. The quality of the evidence was moderate.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021225098
DEM study of the alteration of the stress state in granular media around a bio-inspired probe
Authors: Chen Yuyan , Martinez Alejandro , DeJong Jason
Published: March 2022

Soil penetration is a ubiquitous energy-intensive process in geotechnical engineering that is typically accomplished by quasi-static pushing, impact driving, or excavating. In contrast, organisms such as marine and earthworms, razor clams, and plants have developed efficient penetration strategies. Using motion sequences inspired by these organisms, a probe that uses a self-contained anchor to generate the reaction force required to advance its tip to greater depths has been conceptualized. This study explores the interactions between this probe and coarse-grained soil using 3D discrete element modeling. Spatial distributions of soil effective stresses indicate that expansion of the anchor produces arching and rotation of principal effective stresses that facilitate penetration by inducing stress relaxation around the probe’s tip and stress increase around the anchor. Spatial strain maps highlight the volumetric deformations around the probe, while measurements of both stresses and strains show that the state of the soil around the anchor and tip evolves toward the critical state line. During subsequent tip advancement, the stresses and strains are similar to those during initial insertion, leading to the remobilization of the tip resistance. Longer anchor and shorter anchor-to-tip distance better facilitate tip advancement by producing greater stress relaxation ahead of the tip.
Modeling knot geometry from scanned images of Korean pine plantations
Authors: Guo Haotian , Jia Weiwei , Li Dandan , Sun Yuman
Published: March 2022

Based on 1038 knots from 42 sample trees from 14 standard plots in Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) plantations in Heilongjiang Province, China, we developed a knot profile model system. The concepts of growth inflection point and death inflection point were proposed. Depending on the growth conditions near the growth inflection point of the knot, we divided the knots into two types: curved knots and linear knots. A logistic regression model was constructed to predict the shape of the knots. The area under the curve of the logistic regression model was 0.699 (95% confidence interval 0.661∼0.736), and the prediction accuracy was 0.69. Our research shows that for middle-aged and young forests, the relative radial distances of the growth inflection points at the upper edge and bottom edge of curved knots were larger than those in linear knots. The curved knots did not bend at the death inflection point, but linear knots may bend at the death inflection point. Models were constructed separately for curved knots and linear knots. The results showed that the application of the mixed-effects model significantly improves the model fitting effect.
Development of planar P-type point contact germanium detectors for low-mass dark matter searches
Authors: Wei W.-Z. , Mei H. , Kooi K. , Mei D.-M. , Liu J. , Li J.-C. , Panth R. , Wang G.-J.
Published: March 2022

The detection of low-energy deposition in the range of sub-eV through ionization using germanium (Ge) with a bandgap of $$\sim $$
∼
0.7 eV requires internal amplification of the charge signal. This can be achieved through high electric field that accelerates charge carriers, which can then generate more charge carriers. The minimum electric field required to generate internal charge amplification is derived for different temperatures. We report the development of a planar point contact Ge detector in terms of its fabrication and the measurements of its leakage current and capacitance as a function of applied bias voltage. With the determination of the measured depletion voltage, the field distribution is calculated using GeFiCa, which predicts that the required electric field for internal charge amplification can be achieved in proximity to the point contact. The energy response to an Am-241 source is characterized and discussed. We conclude that such a detector with internal charge amplification can be used to search for low-mass dark matter.
Dynamic Buckling of Composite Structures Subjected to Impulse Loads Using the Lyapunov Exponent
Authors: U Song-Hak , So Yong-Il , So Wang-Myong
Published: March 2022

This paper focuses on dynamic buckling of composite structures subjected to impulse loads. Using the Lyapunov exponent, the Budiansky–Hutchinson criterion is improved and its algorithm is constructed. Based on it, the nonlinear dynamic buckling loads are evaluated for typical composite structures such as a fiber-reinforced composite plate, composite laminated cylindrical shells and a laminated plate with delaminations and matrix cracks that are all subjected to impulse loads. The improved criterion of dynamic buckling is validated through comparisons with the results in the published literatures.
Should I Trust You? Bidder’s Earnings Quality as an Indicator of Trustworthiness in Earnout Agreements
Authors: Prencipe Annalisa , Viarengo Luca
Published: March 2022

Synopsis

The research problem

This paper aims to test whether an acquirer’s past earnings quality (proxied by the level of earnings management) serves as an indicator of its trustworthiness in view of the inclusion of an earnout agreement in an acquisition contract.

Motivation

Prior studies highlighted the benefits of earnout agreements, showing that they help reduce adverse selection problems and valuation risk faced by the acquirers. However, not much attention has been paid to the risks that these contracts entail. The majority of earnouts are based on accounting performance measures, which may be subject to earnings management by the acquirer to reduce, or even avoid, contingent payments. Therefore, the decision to include an earnout in an acquisition may depend on the sellers’ perceived probability that the acquirer will use opportunistic tactics to avoid the contingent payment, as indicated by the acquirer’s past behavior.

The test hypotheses

H1: The likelihood of inclusion of earnouts in acquisition deals is negatively associated with the level of earnings management in the acquirer’s past financial statements.

H2: The relation between earnings management and the use of earnouts is stronger when the bidder has no acquisition track record.

Target population

M&A advisors, financial analysts, stakeholders of companies engaging in M&A deals.

Adopted methodology

Logit regressions, propensity score matching analyses for robustness.

Analyses

Using a sample of 8,968 acquisition deals completed by US listed companies between 2002 and 2014, we examine the association between the use of earnouts and bidder’s earnings quality (proxied by the level of earnings management) controlling for the determinants of the use of earnouts described by previous literature. We collected acquisitions data from Thomson ONE Banker and accounting information from Compustat. Using logit models, we regress the choice to include an earnout in an M&A deal on several earnings management proxies and on the interaction between the latter variables and bidder’s acquisition track record.

Findings

We find robust evidence that the level of the acquirer’s past earnings management is negatively associated to the probability of inclusion of an earnout in acquisition contracts. This association is stronger if the bidder has no prior acquisition history and is robust to various measures of earnings management and to controls for other external monitoring mechanisms.
Global Science and Technology Governance: Impetus, Challenges, and Prospects
Authors: Haiyong Sun
Published: March 2022

Security risks arising from accelerating technological advances have become increasingly evident as humanity now stands on the threshold of a new industrial revolution. Not only are technology-driven military reforms and technology races intensifying broader geopolitical competition among major powers, advancing frontiers of scientific inquiry such as cyberspace and outer space are also opening up new domains of potential conflict, making governance of the global commons an increasingly contentious issue. Promoting global science and technology governance to mitigate and reduce the potential security risks presented by the technological revolution has become an increasingly urgent task. However, today’s global efforts at risk control and prevention face significant challenges and constraints, including a fragmented governance architecture, an outdated power politics mentality, and inequitable distribution of technological power. To improve global science and technology governance, the international community should build an inclusive, resilient, and effective platform that is able to accommodate and reflect the interests and aspirations of both developed countries and developing nations, with a focus on addressing major risks accompanying emerging and foundational technologies like information and communications, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure.
Dynamic Modeling and Hybrid Fireworks Algorithm-Based Path Planning of an Amphibious Robot
Authors: Qi Yuanyang , Liu Jincun , Yu Junzhi
Published: March 2022

The task of path planning in amphibious environments requires additional consideration due to the complexity of the amphibious environments. This paper presents a path planning method for an amphibious robot named “AmphiRobot” with its dynamic constraints considered. First, an explicit dynamic model using Kane’s method is presented. The hydrodynamic parameters are obtained through computational fluid dynamics simulations. Furthermore, a path planning method based on a hybrid fireworks algorithm is proposed, combining the fireworks algorithm and bare bones fireworks algorithm, aiming at the amphibious robot’s characteristics of multiple motion modes and working environments. The initially planned path is then smoothed using Dubins path under constraints determined by the dynamic model. Simulation reveals that the performance of the hybrid fireworks algorithm approach is better than the fireworks algorithm and bare bones fireworks algorithm is applied separately in the amphibious environment scenarios.
Learning and Reasoning for Cultural Metadata Quality: Coupling Symbolic AI and Machine Learning over a Semantic Web Knowledge Graph to Support Museum Curators in Improving the Quality of Cultural Metadata and Information Retrieval
Authors: Bobasheva Anna , Gandon Fabien , Precioso Frederic
Published: March 2022

This work combines semantic reasoning and machine learning to create tools that allow curators of the visual art collections to identify and correct the annotations of the artwork as well as to improve the relevance of the content-based search results in these collections. The research is based on the Joconde database maintained by the French Ministry of Culture that contains illustrated artwork records from main French public and private museums representing archeological objects, decorative arts, fine arts, historical and scientific documents, etc. The Joconde database includes semantic metadata that describes properties of the artworks and their content. The developed methods create a data pipeline that processes metadata, trains a Convolutional Neural Network image classification model, makes prediction for the entire collection and expands the metadata to be the base for the SPARQL search queries. We developed a set of such queries to identify noise and silence in the human annotations and to search image content with results ranked according to the relevance of the objects quantified by the prediction score provided by the deep learning model. We also developed methods to discover new contextual relationships between the concepts in the metadata by analyzing the contrast between the concepts’ similarities in the Joconde's semantic model and other vocabularies and we tried to improve the model prediction scores based on the semantic relations. Our results show that cross-fertilization between symbolic AI and machine learning can indeed provide the tools to address the challenges of the museum curators work describing the artwork pieces and searching for the relevant images.
Opinion Mining for Software Development: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Lin Bin , Cassee Nathan , Serebrenik Alexander , Bavota Gabriele , Novielli Nicole , Lanza Michele
Published: March 2022

Opinion mining, sometimes referred to as sentiment analysis, has gained increasing attention in software engineering (SE) studies. SE researchers have applied opinion mining techniques in various contexts, such as identifying developers’ emotions expressed in code comments and extracting users’ critics toward mobile apps. Given the large amount of relevant studies available, it can take considerable time for researchers and developers to figure out which approaches they can adopt in their own studies and what perils these approaches entail.

We conducted a systematic literature review involving 185 papers. More specifically, we present (1) well-defined categories of opinion mining-related software development activities, (2) available opinion mining approaches, whether they are evaluated when adopted in other studies, and how their performance is compared, (3) available datasets for performance evaluation and tool customization, and (4) concerns or limitations SE researchers might need to take into account when applying/customizing these opinion mining techniques. The results of our study serve as references to choose suitable opinion mining tools for software development activities and provide critical insights for the further development of opinion mining techniques in the SE domain.
Computational Culture: Transforming Archives Practice and Education for a Post-Covid World
Authors: Giannini Tula , Bowen Jonathan P.
Published: March 2022

This paper takes a landscape view of archives practice now operating in a sea of human digital behavior, interacting with computational systems embedded in real and virtual life, part of our complex global digital ecosystem driving cultural and social change. We envision a new computational archives framework, designed to be user-centric, in ways that integrate traditional archival practice into an overarching computational framework incorporating structured and unstructured data, computational tools,AI (artificial intelligence), ML (machine learning), robotics, and automation intended to aid in management and public engagement with physical, digitized, and born-digital documents. Set in a networked environment of increasing computing power, this “more than human” system derives from the latest computing advances fromNLP (natural language processing)and image recognition to artificial neural networks. We envision an archives system that is at once complex and integrated into a new inclusive and diverse cultural fabric. This paper covers general issues that have been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, together with two institutional case studies.
All in One: Design, Verification, and Implementation of SNOW-optimal Read Atomic Transactions
Authors: Liu Si
Published: March 2022

Distributed read atomic transactions are important building blocks of modern cloud databases that magnificently bridge the gap between data availability and strong data consistency. The performance of their transactional reads is particularly critical to the overall system performance, as many real-world database workloads are dominated by reads. Following the SNOW design principle for optimal reads, we develop LORA, a novel SNOW-optimal algorithm for distributed read atomic transactions. LORA completes its reads in exactly one round trip, even in the presence of conflicting writes, without imposing additional overhead to the communication, and it outperforms the state-of-the-art read atomic algorithms.

To guide LORA’s development, we present a rewriting-logic-based framework and toolkit for design, verification, implementation, and evaluation of distributed databases. Within the framework, we formalize LORA and mathematically prove its data consistency guarantees. We also apply automatic model checking and statistical verification to validate our proofs and to estimate LORA’s performance. We additionally generate from the formal model a correct-by-construction distributed implementation for testing and performance evaluation under realistic deployments. Our design-level and implementation-based experimental results are consistent, which together demonstrate LORA’s promising data consistency and performance achievement.
Bayesian Attribute Bagging-Based Extreme Learning Machine for High-Dimensional Classification and Regression
Authors: He Yulin , Ye Xuan , Huang Joshua Zhexue , Fournier-Viger Philippe
Published: March 2022

This article presents a Bayesian attributebagging-based extreme learning machine (BAB-ELM)to handle high-dimensional classification and regression problems. First, thedecision-making degree (DMD)of a condition attribute is calculated based on the Bayesian decision theory, i.e., the conditional probability of the condition attribute given the decision attribute. Second, the condition attribute with the highest DMD is put into thecondition attribute group (CAG)corresponding to the specific decision attribute. Third, thebagging attribute groups (BAGs)are used to train an ensemble learning model ofextreme learning machines (ELMs).Each base ELM is trained on a BAG which is composed of condition attributes that are randomly selected from the CAGs. Fourth, the information amount ratios of bagging condition attributes to all condition attributes is used as the weights to fuse the predictions of base ELMs in BAB-ELM. Exhaustive experiments have been conducted to compare the feasibility and effectiveness of BAB-ELM with seven other ELM models, i.e., ELM, ensemble-based ELM (EN-ELM), voting-based ELM (V-ELM), ensemble ELM (E-ELM), ensemble ELM based on multi-activation functions (MAF-EELM), bagging ELM, and simple ensemble ELM. Experimental results show that BAB-ELM is convergent with the increase of base ELMs and also can yield higher classification accuracy and lower regression error for high-dimensional classification and regression problems.
Magnetic Core TSV-Inductor Design and Optimization for On-chip DC-DC Converter
Authors: Wen Chenyi , Dong Xiao , Chen Baixin , Tida Umamaheswara Rao , Shi Yiyu , Zhuo Cheng
Published: March 2022

The conventional on-chip spiral inductor consumes a significant top-metal routing area, thereby preventing its popularity in many on-chip applications. Recently through-silicon-via– (TSV) based inductor (also known as a TSV-inductor) with a magnetic core has been proved to be a viable option for the on-chip DC-DC converter. The operating conditions of these inductors play a major role in maximizing the performance and efficiency of the DC-DC converter. However, there is a critical need to study the design and optimization details of magnetic core TSV-inductors with the unique three-dimensional structure embedding magnetic core. This article aims to provide a clear understanding of the modeling details of a magnetic core TSV-inductor and a design and optimization methodology to assist efficient inductor design. Moreover, a machine learning–assisted model combining physical details and artificial neural network is also proposed to extract the equivalent circuit to further facilitate DC-DC converter design. Experimental results show that the optimized TSV-inductor with the magnetic core and air-gap can achieve inductance density improvement of up to 7.7

\( \times \)

and quality factor improvements of up to 1.6

\( \times \)

for the same footprint compared with the TSV-inductor without a magnetic core. For on-chip DC-DC converter applications, the converter efficiency can be improved by up to 15.9% and 6.8% compared with the conventional spiral and TSV-inductor without magnetic core, respectively.
Fair Sampling Error Analysis on NISQ Devices
Authors: Golden John , Bärtschi Andreas , O’Malley Daniel , Eidenbenz Stephan
Published: March 2022

We study the status of
fair sampling
on
Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ)
devices, in particular the IBM Q family of backends. Using the recently introduced Grover Mixer-QAOA algorithm for discrete optimization, we generate fair sampling circuits to solve six problems of varying difficulty, each with several optimal solutions, which we then run on twenty backends across the IBM Q system. For a given circuit evaluated on a specific set of qubits, we evaluate: how frequently the qubits return an optimal solution to the problem, the fairness with which the qubits sample from all optimal solutions, and the reported hardware error rate of the qubits. To quantify fairness, we define a novel metric based on Pearson’s χ
2
test. We find that fairness is relatively high for circuits with small and large error rates, but drops for circuits with medium error rates. This indicates that structured errors dominate in this regime, while unstructured errors, which are random and thus inherently fair, dominate in noisier qubits and longer circuits. Our results show that fairness can be a powerful tool for understanding the intricate web of errors affecting current NISQ hardware.
k
-apices of Minor-closed Graph Classes. II. Parameterized Algorithms
Authors: Sau Ignasi , Stamoulis Giannos , Thilikos Dimitrios M.
Published: March 2022

Let 𝒢 be a minor-closed graph class. We say that a graph
G
is a

k
-apex

of
𝒢
if
G
contains a set
S
of at most
k
vertices such that G\S belongs to
𝒢
. We denote by
𝒜

k

(
𝒢
) the set of all graphs that are
k
-apices of
𝒢
. In the first paper of this series, we obtained upper bounds on the size of the graphs in the minor-obstruction set of
𝒜
k
(
𝒢
), i.e., the minor-minimal set of graphs not belonging to
𝒜
k
(
𝒢
). In this article, we provide an algorithm that, given a graph
G
on
n
vertices, runs in time 2

poly
(k)

⋅
n
3
and either returns a set
S
certifying that
G
∈

𝒜
k

(
𝒢
), or reports that

G ∉ 𝒜
k

(
𝒢
). Here
poly
is a polynomial function whose degree depends on the maximum size of a minor-obstruction of
𝒢
. In the special case where 𝒢 excludes some apex graph as a minor, we give an alternative algorithm running in 2

poly
(k)

⋅
n
2
-time.
Opinion Column: Evolution of topics in the multimedia community
Authors: Redi Miriam , Alameda-Pineda Xavier
Published: March 2022

For this edition of the SIGMM Opinion Column, we asked members of the Multimedia community to share their impressions about the shift of scientific topics in the community over the years, namely the evolution of "traditional" and "emerging" Multimedia topics.

This subject has emerged in several conversations over the 2 years of history of the SIGMM Opinion Column, and we report here a summary of recent and old discussions, happened over different channels --- our Facebook group, the SIGMM Linkedin group, and in-person conversations between the column editors and MM researchers --- with hopes, fears and opinions around this problem. We want to thank all participants for their precious contribution to these discussions.
MST1/2 in PDGFRα+ cells negatively regulates TGF-β-induced myofibroblast accumulation in renal fibrosis
Authors: An Yina , Ren Yaqi , Wang Jing , Zang Jianghua , Gao Min , Wang Haidong , Wang Shuaiyu , Dong Yanjun
Published: March 2022

Using a mouse model with macrophage stimulating 1/2 ( Mst1/2) double knockout in PDGFRα+ cells and an MST1/2 inhibitor, we demonstrated that MST1/2 acted as a negative feedback signal of transforming growth factor-β-induced fibroblast differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Hippo-MST as a negative feedback signal can decrease the renal fibrosis process. This finding contributes to our understanding of the mechanism of coregulated renal remodeling after injury.
Visual Construction of Logical AND and NAND Gates
Authors: Wang Xiyuan , Yin Zhixiang , Tang Zhen , Yang Jing , Cui Jianzhong , Xu Rujie
Published: March 2022

DNA logic gates are an important branch of DNA computing and have a wide range of applications in DNA computing. In this study, logic circuits of AND gate and NAND gate are built on origami substrate. The realization of AND gate uses polymerase strand displacement (PSD) reaction and hybridization chain reaction (HCR). If there is a fluorescent band “1” displayed, the result is true. The realization of the NAND gate requires a cyclic reaction. If there is a fluorescent band “A” or “T” displayed, the result is true; if no fluorescent band is displayed, the result is false.
Detection of DDoS Attack within Industrial IoT Devices Based on Clustering and Graph Structure Features
Authors: Jing Hengchang , Wang Jian
Published: March 2022

Network available and accessible is of great importance to the Internet of things (IoT) devices. In this study, a novel machine learning method is presented to predict the occurrence of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Firstly, a structure of edges and vertices within graph theory is created to simultaneously extract traffic data characteristics. Eight characteristics of traffic data are selected as input variables. Secondly, the principal component analysis (PCA) model is adopted to extract DDoS and normal communication features further. Then, DDoSs are detected by fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering with these features. In the case study, 2000 traffic data in dataset CICIDS-2017 are used to verify the practicability of this method. The results of recall, false positive, true positive, true negative, and false negative are 100.00%, 1.05%, 68.95%, 0.00%, and 30.00%. Compared with other methods, the results demonstrate that the detecting reliability is improved, and the method has a good effect on the detection of DDoS attacks.
Associations between Gene‐Gene Interaction and Overweight/Obesity of 12‐Month‐Old Chinese Infants
Authors: Mei Hong , Yin Baoming , Yang Wenhong , Zhang Jingli , Lu Hongyan , Qi Xiaobin , Mei Wenhua , Zhang Hongzhong , Zhang Jianduan
Published: March 2022

Background. Childhood overweight and obesity (OW/OB) is a worldwide public health problem, and its genetic risks remain unclear. Objectives. To investigate risks of OW/OB associated with genetic variances in SEC16B rs543874 and rs10913469, BDNF rs11030104 and rs6265, NT5C2 rs11191580, PTBP2 rs11165675, ADCY9 rs2531995, FAM120A rs7869969, KCNQ1 rs2237892, and C4orf33 rs2968990 in Chinese infants at 12‐month old. Methods. We conducted a case‐control study with 734 infants included at delivery and followed up to 12‐month old. The classification and regression tree analysis were used to generate the structure of the gene‐gene interactions, while the unconditional multivariate logistic regression models were applied to analyze the single SNP, gene‐gene interactions, and cumulative effects of the genotypes on OW/OB, adjusted for potential confounders. Results. There were 219 (29.84%) OW/OB infants. Rs543874 G allele and rs11030104 AA genotype increased the risk of OW/OB in 12‐month‐old infants (P < 0.05). Those carrying both rs11030104 AA genotype and rs10913469 C allele had 4.3 times greater OW/OB than those carrying rs11030104 G allele, rs11191580 C allele, rs11165675 A allele, and rs543874 AA genotype. Meanwhile, the risk of OW/OB increased with the number of the risk genotypes individuals harbored. Conclusions. Rs543874, rs11030104, and rs11191580 were associated with OW/OB in 12‐month‐old Chinese infants, and the three SNPs together with rs10913469 and rs11165675 had a combined effect on OW/OB.