bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel convolutional neural network for electronic component classification with diverse backgrounds
Authors: Zhou Longfei , Zhang Lin
Published: December 2021

The rapid development of computer vision techniques has brought new opportunities for manufacturing industries, accelerating the intelligence of manufacturing systems in terms of product quality assurance, automatic assembly, and industrial robot control. In the electronics manufacturing industry, intensive variability in component shapes and colors, background brightness, and visual contrast between components and background results in difficulties in printed circuit board image classification. In this paper, we apply computer vision techniques to detect diverse electronic components from their background images, which is a challenging problem in electronics manufacturing industries because there are multiple types of components mounted on the same printed circuit board. Specifically, a 13-layer convolutional neural network (ECON) is proposed to detect electronic components either of a single category or of diverse categories. The proposed network consists of five Convolution-MaxPooling blocks, followed by a flattened layer and two fully connected layers. An electronic component image dataset from a real manufacturing company is applied to compare the performance between ECON, Xception, VGG16, and VGG19. In this dataset, there are 11 categories of components as well as their background images. Results show that ECON has higher accuracy in both single-category and diverse component classification than the other networks.
Counterpoint
Authors: Yu Xi , Zaza Sam , Schuberth Florian , Henseler Jörg
Published: December 2021

Studying and modeling theoretical concepts is a cornerstone activity in information systems (IS) research. Researchers have been familiar with one type of theoretical concept, namely behavioral concepts, which are assumed to exist in nature and measured by a set of observable variables. In this paper, we present a second type of theoretical concept, namely forged concepts, which are designed and assumed to emerge within their environment. While behavioral concepts are classically operationalized as latent variables, forged concepts are better specified as emergent variables. Additionally, we propose composite-based structural equation modeling (SEM) as a subtype of SEM that is eminently suitable to analyze models containing emergent variables. We shed light on the composite-based SEM steps: model specification, model identification, model estimation, and model assessment. Then, we present an illustrative example from the domain of IS research to demonstrate these four steps and show how modeling with emergent variables proceeds.
Toward an Understanding of How Post- Deployment User- Developer Interactions Influence System Utilization
Authors: Carraher-Wolverton Colleen , Burleson Jim
Published: December 2021

Although initial adoption of an information system has been shown to influence system success, further value can be obtained when end-users move beyond adoption, utilizing more features of the system and integrating it into their work routines. Organizations can increase the post-deployment utilization of their systems by emphasizing continued interaction between developers and end-users. In this study, we develop a research model investigating the influence of shared understanding, faithfulness of appropriation, and consensus on spirit on post-deployment system utilization. Using a sample from a healthcare organization, we show that increased end-user postdeployment interaction with developers supports a shared understanding between the two groups, which ultimately impacts both the routinization and infusion of a system. This study provides a contribution by demonstrating the impact of developer/user interaction in the post-implementation phase of systems development.
Anaphylactic Reactions Caused by Nafamostat Mesylate during Hemodialysis before Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Nakamura Yuta , Tada Kaoru , Matsuta Masashi , Murai Atsuro , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki
Published: December 2021

Nafamostat mesylate (NM) has been used to treat pancreatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation during hemodialysis (HD). However, there have been some reports of adverse effects related to anaphylactic reactions. We present a case in which anaphylactic reactions caused by NM during preoperative HD caused repeated postponement of surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms including fever, shivering, chills, low blood pressure, tachycardia, nausea, and vomiting appeared during preoperative HD, and surgery was postponed thrice. Initially, the patient was misdiagnosed with sepsis because of elevated C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels. However, since the symptoms appeared only when NM was administered and disappeared quickly after the administration of NM was terminated, the condition was diagnosed as anaphylactic reactions caused by NM. Therefore, it is essential to consider anaphylactic reactions caused by NM as differential diagnoses, when symptoms, such as fever, are observed during perioperative HD.
Proposing Algorithm Using YOLOV4 and VGG-16 for Smart-Education
Authors: Huu Phat Nguyen , Xuan Khang Doan
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we propose an algorithm to identify and solve systems of high-order equations. We rely on traditional solution methods to build algorithms to solve automated equations based on deep learning. The proposal method includes two main steps. In the first step, we use YOLOV4 (Kumar et al. 2020; Canu, 2020) to recognize equations and letters associated with the VGG-16 network (Simonyan and Zisserman, 2015) to classify them. We then used the SymPy model to solve the equations in the second step. Data are images of systems of equations that are typed and designed by ourselves or handwritten from other sources. Besides, we also built a web-based application that helps users select an image from their devices. The results show that the proposed algorithm is set out with 95% accuracy for smart-education applications.
Effect of Pulsed Jet on Pore Pressure of Deep Formation Rock
Authors: Wang Yong , Ni Hongjian , Wang Ruihe , Lei Peng , Huang Bin , Liu Shubin , Li Ning
Published: December 2021

Pulsed jet significantly affects the pore pressure of deep formation and then affects the mechanical ROP. In this paper, the effect of jet pulsation on deep pore pressure in the formation is studied by the finite element method. Under the pulsed jet, the maximum relative negative pressure is along the wellbore axis, and the farther it is to the borehole axis, the smaller the relative negative pressure is. With the increase of pulse frequency, the relative negative pressure increases and the maximum point of relative negative pressure moves upward. The optimum pulse frequency is from 50 Hz to 500 Hz. There is a linear relationship between pulse amplitude and relative negative pressure.
Morphometric Evaluations and Yields from Commercial Cuts of Black Pacu Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818) in Different Body Weights
Authors: Cavali Jucilene , Nóbrega Beatriz Andrade , Dantas Filho Jerônimo Vieira , Ferreira Elvino , Porto Marlos Oliveira , Pontuschka Rute Bianchini , Fonseca de Freitas Rilke Tadeu
Published: December 2021

For the Amazon, it is important to encourage the production of native fish, since there are several species of zootechnical interest. For this, it is necessary to know the species since its acquisition, production, processing, and marketing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the yield, correlations, and profitability of different cuts of black pacu (Colossoma macropomum) in five weight categories. Data from 220 black pacus were obtained, with a weight range of 2725 ± 1975 g. Yields of commercial cuts and morphometric measurements were evaluated in five weight classes. Kruskal–Wallis test (α = 0.05) was used to compare the average income. And, to verify the correlation between the morphometric measures and the yields, Spearman’s correlation was performed (α = 0.05). To obtain the profit of the weight classes due to the cut produced, an economic analysis was carried out considering the cost of buying the fish. Yields of fillet, ribs, and steak were higher in classes 3 and 4, while in the same classes, the yield of residues was the lowest. Despite classes 1, 2, and 5 showing lower yields, the economic analysis presented that the production of fillet and ribs was profitable. The measures of total length and standard length have a high positive correlation with the yield of meat in all classes, as well as the average circumference and caudal circumference in classes 1, 2, and 4, which can be used to determine the yields of this commercial cut.
An Empirical Study Based on the Impact of Smart Sensor System on Rural Relative Poverty
Authors: Luan Tian , Liu Xiaoyan
Published: December 2021

Solving the problem of rural poverty is a difficult problem for the country to enter a well‐off society in an all‐round way. Therefore, this paper conducts an experimental analysis based on the impact of smart sensor systems on the relative poverty in rural areas. This article is aimed at studying the related factors of rural poverty and improving relative poverty in rural areas. In this regard, this article proposes an intelligent processing function based on smart sensors. Multiple sensors work together to process relatively complex things. Then, through the experimental analysis of GH efficiency, the data collected in the experimental area is used as the data. Combining the Lorentz curve and Gini coefficient analysis to determine the influencing factors of rural relative poverty. This article also selected 10 areas for experimentation. The experimental results show that the proportion of middle school education from 2014 to 2020 is between 24.3% and 34%, and the number of poor people has also declined, indicating that education level is a factor affecting rural poverty. Therefore, based on the intelligent sensor system, the factors of relative poverty in rural areas can be found, and related measures can be analyzed. By implementing the rural poverty alleviation strategy, the relative poverty situation in rural areas can be effectively improved.
Research on Danjiang Water Quality Prediction Based on Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm and Optimized BP Neural Network
Authors: He Jian’qiang , Liu Naian , Han Mei’lin , Chen Yao
Published: December 2021

In order to ensure “a river of clear water is supplied to Beijing and Tianjin” and improve the water quality prediction accuracy of the Danjiang water source, while avoiding the local optimum and premature maturity of the artificial bee colony algorithm, an improved artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC algorithm) is proposed to optimize the Danjiang water quality prediction model of BP neural network is proposed. This method improves the local and global search capabilities of the ABC algorithm by adding adaptive local search factors and mutation factors, improves the performance of local search, and avoids local optimal conditions. The improved ABC algorithm is used to optimize the weights and thresholds of the BP neural network to establish a water quality grade prediction model. Taking the water quality monitoring data of Danjiang source (Shangzhou section) from 2015 to 2019 as the research object, it is compared with GA-BP, PSO-BP, ABC-BP, and BP models. The research results show that the improved ABC-BP algorithm has the highest prediction accuracy, faster convergence speed, stronger stability, and robustness.
The Use of Intelligent Sensing Algorithm for Internet of Things and Hash Spatial Information Location Technology
Authors: Wang Shaobo , Liu Yujia
Published: December 2021

This exploration is aimed at quickly obtaining the spatial position information of microseismic focal points and increasing the accuracy of microseismic rapid positioning, to take timely corresponding measures. A microseismic focal point location system completely different from the traditional microseismic location method is proposed. The search engine technology is introduced into the system, which can locate the microseismic focal point quickly and accurately. First, the propagation characteristics of microseismic signals in coal and rock layers are analyzed, and the focal position information is obtained. However, the collected microseismic signal of the coal mine contains noise, so it is denoised at first. Then, a waveform database is established for the denoised waveform data and focal point position. The structure and mathematical model of the location‐sensitive hash (LSH) based on P stable distribution are introduced and improved, and the optimized algorithm multiprobe LSH is obtained. The microseismic location model is established according to the characteristics of microseismic data. The values of three parameters, hash table number, hash function family dimension, and interval size, are determined. The experimental data of the parameters of the search engine algorithm are analyzed. The results show that when the number of hash tables is 6, the dimension k of the hash function family is 14, and the interval size W is 8000, the retrieval time reaches a relatively small value, the recall rate reaches a large value, and the proportion of retrieved candidates is large; the parameters of the search engine algorithm of the measured coal mine microseismic data are analyzed. It is obtained that when the number of hash tables is 4, the dimension k of the hash function family is 6, and the interval size W is 500, the retrieval time reaches a relatively small value, the recall rate obtains a large value, and the proportion of retrieved candidates is large. The contents studied are of great significance to the evaluation of destructive mine earthquakes and impact risk.
Research on Mechanical Response of Pavement Structure to Differential Settlement of Subgrade on Highway Widening
Authors: Shen Quanjun , Lu Yu , Yang Yaohui , Long Guanxu
Published: December 2021

Based on the widening project of Ri‐Lan highway in China, the finite element model is established by PLAXIS. By applying differential settlement at the bottom of the pavement, the mechanical response of the pavement structure is analysed. Finally, the differential settlement control standard indicated by crack strength is proposed. The results show that, under the effect of differential settlement, within about 4 cm of old pavement surface and upper base bear tensile stress, the base first reaches the failure strength. Under 4 cm of the old pavement surface, the subbase first reaches the failure strength. The differential settlement control standard of the pavement structure is determined by the splitting strength of the material, and we, respectively, control the differential settlement of less than 23.4 mm, where the corresponding cross‐slope rate is 0.33%, and below 75.2 mm, where the corresponding cross‐slope rate is 0.54%. It could support practical engineering applications.
Asymmetric Evolutionary Game Analysis of Building Information Modeling (BIM) Technology Diffusion
Authors: Liu Qian
Published: December 2021

Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology plays a pivotal role in the process of building process informatization. In the context of extensive promotion by all parties, how to effectively evaluate the promotion value of countries and enterprises is particularly important. In order to better analyze the promotion trend of the BIM technology diffusion system in China, a noncooperative evolutionary game model of BIM technology diffusion between the government and enterprises is constructed, and Vensim PLE software is used for simulation analysis in this paper. The model includes government subsidy cost and penalty, social benefit and loss, and income payment matrix of BIM technology input income and cost. The results show that enterprises need not only direct cost subsidy from the government but also indirect cost subsidy in the process of BIM technology diffusion. Appropriate government penalties can effectively promote the initiative of enterprises to adopt BIM technology; BIM has a great impact on the input income and cost of enterprises. In view of this, it is suggested that the first task for enterprises to promote the diffusion of BIM technology is to clarify the definition of BIM′s high investment cost and do a good financial impact analysis.
Bayesian Fatigue Life Prediction of Corroded Steel Reinforcing Bars
Authors: Wang Wei , Chen Jie , Diao Bo , Guan Xuefei , He Jingjing , Huang Min
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a general method for fatigue life prediction of corroded steel reinforcing bars. A fatigue testing on standard specimens with pitting corrosion is carried out to obtain corrosion fatigue data. The maximum corrosion degree (MCD), characterizing the most severe site of the corrosion pit, is identified to have a log‐linear relationship with the fatigue life. A fatigue life model incorporating the MCD and the stress range for corroded steel reinforcing bars is proposed. The model parameters are identified using the testing data, and the model is considered as the baseline model. To utilize the proposed model for life prediction of corroded steel reinforcing bars with different geometries and working conditions, the Bayesian method is employed to update the baseline model. The effectiveness of the overall method is demonstrated using independent datasets of realistic steel reinforcing bars.
Sarcina ventriculi in an Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration of a Perigastric Lymph Node with Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Carry-Through Contaminant Bacterial Microorganism from the Stomach
Authors: Nandakumar Bharat , Salomao Diva R. , Boire Nicholas A. , Schuetz Audrey N. , Sturgis Charles D.
Published: December 2021

Sarcina ventriculi is a rare gram-positive coccus increasingly reported in patients with a history of delayed gastric emptying or gastric outlet obstruction and is sometimes seen in association with emphysematous gastritis and perforation. We report a case of a 67-year-old male who presented with epigastric pain. CT imaging and cholangiopancreatography were concerning for pancreatic neoplasia. Upper endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of a perigastric lymph node confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of pancreatic origin, and cocci arranged in a tetrad fashions characteristic of Sarcina ventriculi were noted. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Sarcina ventriculi in an FNA of metastatic pancreatic carcinoma in a perigastric lymph node. These organisms likely represent carry-through contaminants from the transgastric approach of the endoscopic FNA.
Software Defect Prediction Based on Hybrid Swarm Intelligence and Deep Learning
Authors: Li Zhen , Li Tong , Wu YuMei , Yang Liu , Miao Hong , Wang DongSheng
Published: December 2021

In order to improve software quality and testing efficiency, this paper implements the prediction of software defects based on deep learning. According to the respective advantages and disadvantages of the particle swarm algorithm and the wolf swarm algorithm, the two algorithms are mixed to realize the complementary advantages of the algorithms. At the same time, the hybrid algorithm is used in the search of model hyperparameter optimization, the loss function of the model is used as the fitness function, and the collaborative search ability of the swarm intelligence population is used to find the global optimal solution in multiple local solution spaces. Through the analysis of the experimental results of six data sets, compared with the traditional hyperparameter optimization method and a single swarm intelligence algorithm, the model using the hybrid algorithm has higher and better indicators. And, under the processing of the autoencoder, the performance of the model has been further improved.
Correlation between Reduced FEF25-75% and a Positive Methacholine Challenge Test in Adults with Nonobstructive Baseline Spirometry
Authors: Shafiq Irfan , Uzbeck Mateen Haider , Zoumot Zaid , Abuzakouk Mohamed , Parappurath Niyas , Wahla Ali Saeed
Published: December 2021

Rationale. FEF25-75% is routinely reported on spirometry and is thought to be a marker of small airway obstruction. It is reduced in children with asthma, but its significance in adults and especially those without asthma diagnosis remains unclear. Objective. To clarify whether in adults with a nonobstructive spirometry a reduced FEF25-75% is associated with a positive methacholine challenge test (MCT). Methods. Data was collected for all the patients who had a MCT done between April 2014 and January 2020 but had nonobstructive baseline spirometry. Logistic regression was utilized to estimate the log odds of a positive methacholine test as a function of FEF25-75% and also for age, gender, BMI, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC. Results. Out of 496 patients, 187 (38%) had a positive MCT. Baseline characteristics in two groups were similar except that patients with positive MCT were younger (

32
±
11.57

vs.

38
±
13.25

years, respectively,

p
<
0.001

). Mean FEF25-75% was lower in MCT positive (

3.12
±
0.99

 L/s) vs. MCT negative (

3.39
±
0.97

 L/s) patients,

p
=
0.003

. Logistic regression results suggest that MCT outcome is inversely related to FEF25-75%, age, and gender. Specifically, as FEF25-75% percentage of predicted value increases, the log odds of a positive MCT decrease (

odds
 
ratio
 

OR

=
0.90

, 95% confidence

intervals
 

CI

=
0.84
‐
0.96

,

p
=
0.002

). Also, as age increases, the log odds of a positive MCT decrease (

OR
=
0.95

,

95
%
CI
=
0.94
‐
0.97

,

p
<
0.001

). Conclusions. Reduced FEF25-75% in adults with nonobstructive spirometry can predict a positive response to MCT in younger patients. However, this relationship becomes weaker with increasing age.
Accurate Quaternion Polar Harmonic Transform for Color Image Analysis
Authors: Zhang Lina , Sang Yu , Dai Donghai
Published: December 2021

Polar harmonic transforms (PHTs) have been applied in pattern recognition and image analysis. But the current computational framework of PHTs has two main demerits. First, some significant color information may be lost during color image processing in conventional methods because they are based on RGB decomposition or graying. Second, PHTs are influenced by geometric errors and numerical integration errors, which can be seen from image reconstruction errors. This paper presents a novel computational framework of quaternion polar harmonic transforms (QPHTs), namely, accurate QPHTs (AQPHTs). First, to holistically handle color images, quaternion-based PHTs are introduced by using the algebra of quaternions. Second, the Gaussian numerical integration is adopted for geometric and numerical error reduction. When compared with CNNs (convolutional neural networks)-based methods (i.e., VGG16) on the Oxford5K dataset, our AQPHT achieves better performance of scaling invariant representation. Moreover, when evaluated on standard image retrieval benchmarks, our AQPHT using smaller dimension of feature vector achieves comparable results with CNNs-based methods and outperforms the hand craft-based methods by 9.6% w.r.t mAP on the Holidays dataset.
A Local Extended Algorithm Combined with Degree and Clustering Coefficient to Optimize Overlapping Community Detection
Authors: Liu Jing , Guo Junfang , Li Qi
Published: December 2021

Community structure is one of the most important characteristics of complex networks, which has important applications in sociology, biology, and computer science. The community detection method based on local expansion is one of the most adaptable overlapping community detection algorithms. However, due to the lack of effective seed selection and community optimization methods, the algorithm often gets community results with lower accuracy. In order to solve these problems, we propose a seed selection algorithm of fusion degree and clustering coefficient. The method calculates the weight value corresponding to degree and clustering coefficient by entropy weight method and then calculates the weight factor of nodes as the seed node selection order. Based on the seed selection algorithm, we design a local expansion strategy, which uses the strategy of optimizing adaptive function to expand the community. Finally, community merging and isolated node adjustment strategies are adopted to obtain the final community. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve better community partitioning results than other state‐of‐the‐art algorithms.
Feature Entropy Estimation (FEE) for Malicious IoT Traffic and Detection Using Machine Learning
Authors: Diwan Tarun Dhar , Choubey Siddartha , Hota H. S. , Goyal S. B , Jamal Sajjad Shaukat , Shukla Piyush Kumar , Tiwari Basant
Published: December 2021

Identification of anomaly and malicious traffic in the Internet of things (IoT) network is essential for IoT security. Tracking and blocking unwanted traffic flows in the IoT network is required to design a framework for the identification of attacks more accurately, quickly, and with less complexity. Many machine learning (ML) algorithms proved their efficiency to detect intrusion in IoT networks. But this ML algorithm suffers many misclassification problems due to inappropriate and irrelevant feature size. In this paper, an in-depth study is presented to address such issues. We have presented lightweight low-cost feature selection IoT intrusion detection techniques with low complexity and high accuracy due to their low computational time. A novel feature selection technique was proposed with the integration of rank-based chi-square, Pearson correlation, and score correlation to extract relevant features out of all available features from the dataset. Then, feature entropy estimation was applied to validate the relationship among all extracted features to identify malicious traffic in IoT networks. Finally, an extreme gradient ensemble boosting approach was used to classify the features in relevant attack types. The simulation is performed on three datasets, i.e., NSL-KDD, USNW-NB15, and CCIDS2017, and results are presented on different test sets. It was observed that on the NSL-KDD dataset, accuracy was approx. 97.48%. Similarly, the accuracy of USNW-NB15 and CCIDS2017 was approx. 99.96% and 99.93%, respectively. Along with that, state-of-the-art comparison is also presented with existing techniques.
Potential Factors of Corneal Endothelial Cells for Progression in Children with Uveitis
Authors: Chen Xu , Shao Yi , Wu Shi-Nan , Zhou Shan-Bi
Published: December 2021

Objective. To observe the morphological changes and abnormal structure of corneal endothelial cells in children with uveitis, to analyze the related factors affecting the morphological changes of corneal endothelial cells, and to explore the clinical application of a corneal endothelial microscope in children with uveitis. Methods. The corneal endothelial cells of 70 patients with uveitis were photographed with the Topcon SP-3000 noncontact corneal endothelial microscope, and the corneal endothelial cell density (CD), average cell area (AVE), coefficient of variation of the cell area (CV), and percentage of hexagonal cells (PHC) were measured with the IMAGEnet system. Twenty-eight patients (56 eyes) with monocular uveitis were selected, with the affected eyes (28 eyes) as the experimental group and the contralateral healthy eyes (28 eyes) as the control group. The corneal endothelial cell parameters between the two groups were statistically analyzed. The parameters of corneal endothelial cells in 70 children with uveitis were compared, and the effects of the course of the disease, inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber, and posterior corneal deposition (KP) on the parameters of corneal endothelial cells were analyzed. Results. There are four abnormal forms of the corneal endothelium in children with uveitis: enlarged cell area gap, irregular cell shape, blurred intercellular space, and cell loss. KP showed irregular high reflective white spots in the corneal endothelial microscope images, surrounded by dark areas, and existed in all the eyes with dusty KP found in slit lamp examination and a small number of eyes without obvious KP. Comparing the corneal endothelial cell parameters between the experimental group and the control group, it was found that the corneal endothelial CD and PHC of the former were lower than those of the latter, and the difference was statistically significant (

P
<
0.001

and

P
=
0.018

, respectively). The AVE and CA of the former were higher than those of the latter (

P
=
0.013

and

P
=
0.046

, respectively). The corneal endothelial cell density of the eyes with a course of the disease of more than 1 year was lower than that of the eyes with a course of the disease less than 1 year, the coefficient of variation of the corneal endothelial cell area of the eyes with KP was higher than that of the eyes without KP, and the difference was statistically significant (

P
=
0.003

and

P
=
0.030

, respectively). Conclusion. Corneal endothelial microscopy is one of the important methods for the detection of uveitis with high sensitivity. The change of morphological parameters of corneal endothelial cells is one of the important indexes to assist in the diagnosis of uveitis and can be further promoted in ophthalmological examination.
Chemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Health-Promoting Effects of Withania somnifera for Pharma-Food Industry Applications
Authors: Sharifi-Rad Javad , Quispe Cristina , Ayatollahi Seyed Abdulmajid , Kobarfard Farzad , Staniak Mariola , Stępień Anna , Czopek Katarzyna , Sen Surjit , Acharya Krishnendu , Matthews Karl R. , Sener Bilge , Devkota Hari Prasad , Kırkın Celale , Özçelik Beraat , Victoriano Montserrat , Martorell Miquel , Rasul Suleria Hafiz Ansar , Alshehri Mohammed M. , Chandran Deepak , Kumar Manoj , Cruz-Martins Natália , Cho William C.
Published: December 2021

The Withania genus comes from the Solanaceae family and includes around 23 species, spread over some areas of the Mediterranean, Asia, and East Africa. Widely used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, these plants are rich in secondary metabolites, with special emphasis on steroidal lactones, named withanolides which are used as ingredients in numerous formulations for a plethora of diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, arthritis, impotence, amnesia, hypertension, anxiety, stress, cancer, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases, and many others. Among them, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is the most widely addressed species from a pharmacological and agroindustrial point of view. In this sense, this review provides an overview of the folk uses, phytochemical composition, and biological activity, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activity of W. somnifera, although more recently other species have also been increasingly investigated. In addition, their health-promoting effects, i.e., antistress, anxiolytic, adaptogenic, antirheumatoid arthritis, chemoprotective, and cardiorespiratory-enhancing abilities, along with safety and adverse effects are also discussed.
An Efficient Class of Modulus-Based Matrix Splitting Methods for Nonlinear Complementarity Problems
Authors: Xie Shui-Lian , Xu Hong-Ru
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we present an efficient method for finding a numerical solution for nonlinear complementarity problems (NCPs). We first reformulate an NCP as an equivalent system of fixed-point equations and then present a modulus-based matrix splitting iteration method. We prove the convergence of the proposed method with theorems with the relevant conditions. Our preliminary numerical results show that the method is feasible and effective.
Application Research on the Maintainability Allocation Method of a Certain Shooter Seat
Authors: Jin Liying , Wang Wensheng , Shu HouYong , Ma Xuemei , Liang Chenxing , Ma Qiang
Published: December 2021

In view of the traditional maintainability allocation method for a certain shooter seat for maintainability allocation did not consider the lifecycle expense problem, the improved NSGA-II algorithm (iNSGA-II, for short) is adopted to establish a multiobjective comprehensive trade-off model for a certain shooter seat product lifecycle maintenance-related expenses and mean time to repair (MTTR, for short) and construct multiobjective optimization problem. The experimental results show that the Pareto optimal solution effectively solves the limitation of the traditional maintainability allocation method and then provides a basis for a certain shooter seat to obtain a reasonable maintainability allocation scheme. The superiority of the iNSGA-II algorithm to optimize the maintainability allocation of a certain shooter seat was verified by comparing it with the traditional maintainability allocation method.
Characteristics Associated with Acute-Phase Response following First Zoledronic Acid Infusion in Brazilian Population with Osteoporosis
Authors: Ferreira Bruno S. A. , Cunha Bernardo M. da , Valadares Luciana P. , Moreira Larissa A. , Batista Frederico G. A. , Hottz Cristiane da F. , Lins Marina M. P. , Magalhães Gabriel G. R. , Arruda Luanna M. de , Ramalho Sergio H. R.
Published: December 2021

We aimed to evaluate characteristics associated with acute-phase response (APR) following first zoledronic acid infusion in a Brazilian cohort. This retrospective cohort study enrolled all adults with osteoporosis who underwent a first zoledronic acid infusion at our centre between June 2015 and June 2019. Clinical demographics (age, sex, diabetes, smoking, body mass index, and previous oral bisphosphonate use) and laboratory data (calcium, parathyroid hormone, renal function, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and carboxy-terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type 1 collagen [CTX], both before and after infusion) were compared between patients with and without APR. We evaluated association magnitude between the presence of APR and clinical variables through logistic regression. This study enrolled 400 patients (women, 80%). APR was observed in 24.5% (n = 98) of patients. The mean symptom duration in days was 3.5 ± 2.8. Patients with APR were younger (67 ± 12 vs. 71 ± 11 years;

p
=
0.001

), used oral bisphosphonates less frequently (34% × 50%;

p
=
0.005

), and had greater baseline CTX (0.535 ng/mL [0.375, 0.697] × 0.430 [0.249, 0.681];

p
=
0.03

) and ΔCTX (−69 [−76; −50] × −54 [−72; −23];

p
=
0.002

) than those without APR. The other variables were similar between the groups. Only ΔCTX was associated (OR, 0.62; 95% CI 0.41–0.98) with APR after accounting for age and bisphosphonate use. APR occurred in 24.5% of the cohort. Younger age and absence of prior oral bisphosphonate use were associated with APR following first zoledronic acid infusion. APR was associated with ΔCTX (but no other variables) after adjusting for these factors.
Psychological Drivers of Alternative Fuel Vehicles’ Adoption and Ecologically Responsible Use
Authors: Saleem Muhammad Abid , Ali Rao Akmal , Shah Syed Noman Ali , Zahra Sadaf , Hafeez Muhammad Haroon , Nguyen Ninh
Published: December 2021

Environmental problems caused by global warming are becoming alarming with every passing day. To curb greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions, promoting alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and sustainable transport mode choices is critical. This study explores the predictors of eco-social purchase, use, and conservation intentions in a developing country by employing an extended model of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Using a self-administered survey technique, data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 1372 customers of three leading automobile manufacturers from eight big cities of Pakistan. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test the measurement and structural models. Results showed that the extended model of TPB received support in the context of Pakistani culture and for the targeted behaviours related to eco-social purchase, use, and conservation intentions concerning AFVs. Implications for marketers and theoretical contribution are discussed at the end.
Four Core Concepts in Psychiatric Diagnosis
Authors: Zaninotto Leonardo , Altobrando Andrea
Published: December 2021

In the present article, we aimed at describing the diagnostic process in Psychiatry through a phenomenological perspective. We have identified 4 core concepts which may represent the joints of a phenomenologically oriented diagnosis. The “tightrope walking” attitude refers to the psychiatrist’s ability to swing between 2 different and sometimes contrasting tendencies (e.g., engagement and disengagement). The “holistic experience” includes all those intuitive, nonverbal, and pre-thematic elements that emerge in the early stages of the clinical encounter as an emanation of the atmospheric quality of the intersubjective space. The “co-construction of symptoms” regards the hermeneutic process behind psychiatric symptoms, involving both the patient as a self-interpreting agent and the clinician as a translator of his/her experience. Finally, by the “evolving typification” we mean that the closer the relationship becomes with the patient, the more specific and nuanced becomes the typification behind psychiatric diagnosis. Each of these concepts will be accompanied by an extract from a clinical case deriving from one of the authors’ most recent clinical experiences.
Why Is Only Type 1 Electrocardiogram Diagnostic of Brugada Syndrome? Mechanistic Insights From Computer Modeling
Authors: Zhang Zhaoyang , Chen Peng-Sheng , Weiss James N. , Qu Zhilin
Published: December 2021

Background:

Three types of characteristic ST-segment elevation are associated with Brugada syndrome but only type 1 is diagnostic. Why only type 1 ECG is diagnostic remains unanswered.

Methods:

Computer simulations were performed in single cells, 1-dimensional cables, and 2-dimensional tissues to investigate the effects of the peak and late components of the transient outward potassium current (I
to
), sodium current, and L-type calcium current (I
Ca,L
) as well as other potassium currents on the genesis of ECG morphologies and phase 2 reentry (P2R).

Results:

Although a sufficiently large peak I
to
was required to result in the type 1 ECG pattern and P2R, increasing the late component of I
to
converted type 1 ECG to type 2 ECG and suppressed P2R. Increasing the peak I
to
promoted spiral wave breakup, potentiating the transition from tachycardia to fibrillation, but increasing the late I
to
prevented spiral wave breakup by flattening the action potential duration restitution and preventing P2R. A sufficiently large I
Ca,L
conductance was needed for P2R to occur, but once above the critical conductance, blocking I
Ca,L
promoted P2R. However, selectively blocking the window and late components of I
Ca,L
suppressed P2R, countering the effect of the late I
to
. Blocking either the peak or late components of sodium current promoted P2R, with the late sodium current blockade having the larger effect. As expected, increasing other potassium currents potentiated P2R, with ATP-sensitive potassium current exhibiting a larger effect than rapid and slow component of the delayed rectifier potassium current.

Conclusions:

The peak I
to
promotes type 1 ECG and P2R, whereas the late I
to
converts type 1 ECG to type 2 ECG and suppresses P2R. Blocking the peak I
Ca,L
and either the peak or the late sodium current promotes P2R, whereas blocking the window and late I
Ca,L
suppresses P2R. These results provide important insights into the mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis and potential therapeutic targets for treatment of Brugada syndrome.

Graphic Abstract:

A graphic abstract is available for this article.
The Problem of State Violence
Authors: Butler Paul
Published: December 2021

When violence occurs, the state has an obligation to respond to and reduce the impacts of it; yet often the state originates, or at least contributes to, the violence. This may occur in a variety of ways, including through the use of force by police, pretrial incarceration at local jails, long periods of incarceration in prisons, or abuse and neglect of people who are incarcerated. This essay explores the role of the state in responding to violence and how it should contribute to reducing violence in communities, as well as in its own operations. Finally, it explores what the future of collaboration between state actors and the community looks like and offers examples of successful power-sharing and co-producing of safety between the state and the public.
Public Health Approaches to Reducing Community Gun Violence
Authors: Webster Daniel W.
Published: December 2021

Successful public health efforts are data-driven, focused on unhealthy or unsafe environments as well as risky behaviors, and often intentional about reforming systems that are unjust and harm public safety. While laws and their enforcement can be important to advance public health and safety, including reducing gun violence, minimizing harms of exposure to the criminal justice system is also important. Research demonstrates that appropriately targeted efforts that invest in and support individuals and neighborhoods at greatest risk for involvement in gun violence can be successful in saving lives and reaping impressive return on investment.
Seeing Guns to See Urban Violence: Racial Inequality & Neighborhood Context
Authors: Hureau David M.
Published: December 2021

Guns are central to the comprehension of the racial inequalities in neighborhood violence. This may sound simple when presented so plainly. However, its significance derives from the limited consideration that the neighborhood research paradigm has given guns: they are typically conceived of as a background condition of disadvantaged neighborhoods where violence is concentrated. Instead, I argue that guns belong at the forefront of neighborhood analyses of violence. Employing the logic and language of the ecological approach, I maintain that guns must be considered as mechanisms of neighborhood violence, with the unequal distribution of guns serving as a critical link between neighborhood structural conditions and rates of violence. Furthermore, I make the case that American gun policy should be understood as a set of macrostructural forces that represent a historic and persistent source of disadvantage in poor Black neighborhoods.
The Effects of Violence on Communities: The Violence Matrix as a Tool for
Advancing More Just Policies
Authors: Richie Beth E.
Published: December 2021

In this essay, I illustrate how discussions of the effects of violence on communities are enhanced by the use of a critical framework that links various microvariables with macro-institutional processes. Drawing upon my work on the issue of violent victimization toward African American women and how conventional justice policies have failed to bring effective remedy in situations of extreme danger and degradation, I argue that a broader conceptual framework is required to fully understand the profound and persistent impact that violence has on individuals embedded in communities that are experiencing the most adverse social injustices. I use my work as a case in point to illustrate how complex community dynamics, ineffective institutional responses, and broader societal forces of systemic violence intersect to further the impact of individual victimization. In the end, I argue that understanding the impact of all forms of violence would be better served by a more intersectional and critical interdisciplinary framework.
Due Process & the Theater of Racial Degradation: The Evolving Notion of
Pretrial Punishment in the Criminal Courts
Authors: Van Cleve Nicole Gonzalez
Published: December 2021

Most theorists assume that the criminal courts are neutral arbiters of justice, protected by the Constitution, the rule of law, and court records. This essay challenges those assumptions and examines the courts as a place of punitive excess and the normalization of racial abuse and punishment. The essay explains the historic origins of these trends and examines how the categories of “hardened” and “marginal” defendants began to assume racialized meanings with the emergence of mass incarceration. This transformed the criminal courts into a type of public theater for racial degradation. These public performances or “racial degradation ceremonies” occur within the discretionary practices and cultural norms of mostly White courtroom professionals as they efficiently manage the disposition of cases in the everyday practice of law. I link these historical findings to a recent study of the largest unified criminal court system in the United States–Cook County, Chicago–and discuss court watching programs as an intervention for accountability and oversight of our courts and its legal professionals.
On Institutional Democratization and Reflexive Resistance: A Conversation with Andrea Fraser
Authors: Hulsey John
Published: December 2021

In this conversation, Andrea Fraser discusses her recent book, 2016 in Money, Museums, and Politics, which considers the imbricated relationships between plutocracy, political power, and cultural institutions in the United States. She discusses the 2016 election of Donald J. Trump and the rise of right-wing populism; the history of private philanthropy and museum patronage; recent activist campaigns demanding the resignation of museum trustees, such as Warren B. Kanders at the Whitney Museum of American Art; and the concept of “reflexive resistance.”
Iʿrāb… à théologie variable ?
Authors: Binaghi Francesco
Published: December 2021

Dans le sillage des débats autour de l’iʿrāb, cet article s’intéresse aux positions de ces grammairiens qui, à l’intérieur même de la tradition grammaticale arabe, se sont explicitement opposés à la théorie de l’iʿrāb. En étudiant en particulier les propos de Quṭrub (m. 206/821), d’Ibn Ǧinnī (m. 392/1002) et d’Ibn Maḍāʾ (m. 592/1196), il s’efforcera de montrer que les critiques de ces auteurs ne relèvent pas, au premier chef, de raisons linguistiques. L’article souligne comment l’iʿrāb, ayant pris une position centrale dans les théories grammaticales et dans les idées sur la langue arabe au point de devenir un vrai credo, peut finir par concurrencer des croyances d’ordre théologique et, lorsque les prémisses conceptuelles de son fonctionnement ne sont plus compatibles avec ces dernières, la théorie de l’iʿrāb est alors rejetée tant sur le plan théologique que grammatical.
The International Court of Justice as a “Shortcut” to Identifying Custom
Authors: Nicholson Rowan
Published: December 2021

A frequently used shortcut to identifying rules of customary international law is to rely on statements by the International Court of Justice instead of conducting a more cumbersome investigation of state practice and opinio iuris. The purpose of this article is to consider when the Court’s statements align or may come to align with customary rules and, consequently, to what extent this shortcut is justified. Its value is in systematically exploring ideas that international lawyers may already have internalised; it may also help students of the subject to understand why reliance is placed on judicial decisions. Often, the Court simply elucidates pre-existing customary rules. But examples such as Factory at Chorzów, Fisheries, and Reservations to the Genocide Convention suggest that an additional or alternative justification for the shortcut may be stronger. This is the tendency of states to endorse or “ratify” statements by the Court through subsequent practice and opinio iuris.