bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accurate Marketing Strategies Based On Data Analytics
Authors: Wang Xinyi
Published: February 2021

In the current background of the times, China’s economic development is very rapid, all walks of life are changing with each passing day, so for marketing strategy, the current situation is also a challenge, but also an opportunity. Therefore, according to the current situation, this paper puts forward some methods of using data analysis to implement precision marketing. In this paper, on the premise of protecting user data security and not violating the data mining rules, in order to improve the accuracy of marketing, through comparing the current marketing model with the previous marketing model, and using literature research, questionnaire method, comparative analysis, mathematical statistics, a number of algorithms and other methods to get the experimental results. The experimental results show that the appropriate algorithm can make the marketing strategy get more accurate results.
Application Analysis of Flipped Classroom Based on Wechat Public Platform in Basketball Physical Education Teaching
Authors: Wei Wenting , Wei Jinrui , Fang Wenxuan
Published: February 2021

Under the background of the new era, with the deepening of the new curriculum reform, college physical education teaching mode and concept have changed. Among them, flipped classroom based on wechat public platform has practical significance for sports learning. It is an important part of basketball physical education teaching process. The reasonable implementation of wechat public platform flipped classroom can improve students’ subjective initiative and promote the development of students’ sports learning at all levels. There are also some problems in the application of wechat flipped classroom in basketball course, such as emphasizing form, ignoring content, unreasonable design of classroom resources. The implementation of the new teaching mode requires full use of video, micro classroom and other teaching methods to improve students’ interest in learning, explore more knowledge of teaching content, fully understand the connectivity of knowledge, and improve the overall efficiency. Among them, this paper takes the flipped classroom of wechat public platform as an important research object, expounds its special application in basketball physical education teaching, hoping to help basketball sports teaching.
The Influence of Work Pressure on Airline Personnel’s Work Errors in the Internet Age
Authors: Yang Liu , Hu Jing
Published: February 2021

To explore the influence mechanism of job stress on job errors, on the basis of literature review, this thesis proposes a conceptual model of the effect of job stress on job errors of airline personnel, and explores the mediating effect of perceived organizational support (POS). The analysis of 373 airline questionnaires show that the job stress of airline personnel has a pronounced positive effect on their job errors; airline personnel’s work tasks stress, interpersonal stress, occupational development stress and work-family conflict stress have a pronounced positive effect on their job errors, and the positive effect of role stress and organizational management stress to job errors is not significant; airline personnel’s POS produces a mediating effect between their job stress and job errors. The purpose of the study is to provide a basis for airline’s stress management and safety management, so as to improve safety performance and enhance the safety level of air transportation.
Adaptive and innovative students’ metacognition in solving logarithm tasks
Authors: Imama M , Siswono T Y E , Ismail
Published: February 2021

Problem solving as approach in teaching and learning has important position to face students’ future. Students’ problem-solving skill and knowledge depend on several aspects, one of which is metacognition. Metacognition is the awareness of students in using their minds to plan, monitor, and evaluate the cognitive processes and strategies used. Students have different cognitive styles, including adaptive and innovative style. The selection of participants in this qualitative study used a cognitive style questionnaire to find students who had cognitive styles of adaptation and innovation. Data collection using task-based interviews about algorithms. Analysis of research results from the 10th grade students as participants used steps that are data reduction, data presentation, and verification, as well as checking data validity. The results showed that adaptive student at planning stage to understand the problem through reading effort, solve the logarithm problem using her knowledge directly, and plan to check the calculation, writing, and methods used. In monitoring stage, she did not estimate time consuming for solving problem. Student have not been confident yet that her plan was correct. She thinks that she has forgotten, although using methods for checking of solution was correct. Finally, at evaluation stage, adaptive students have no other way to understand problem, believes that his knowledge could help to solving problems, look back the plan that has been used, and she has no other way to re-examine his work. The innovative student has several similar stages with the adaptive student. She has estimated time consuming for solving logarithm problem and check calculation results, writing, and methods used. She has been confident using his method to understand problem, and check his work twice until it was correct. He has alternative strategy although the alternative is more complicated so it is not used.
The Selection of Bayesian Polynomial Regression with INLA by using DIC, WAIC and CPO
Authors: Sutanto H T , Pramoedyo H , Wardhani W S , Astutik S
Published: February 2021

The polynomial regression model is extended the multiple linear regression. The selection of Bayesian polynomial regression model with INLA required Criterion. Criterion is using the measure fit model with the available data. There are three criteria, namely DIC, WAIC and CPO. The smaller criterion value from DIC, WAIC and CPO on a model show the best Bayesian polynomial regression model with INLA.
Design of Water Level Monitoring using Ultrasonic Sensor
Authors: Baskhara Hedy Aditya , Anwar Saipul , Abdurahman
Published: February 2021

High rainfall intensity is one of the causes of the large volume of water in a water dam. Currently, the water gates of many water dams are still using manual methods to open and close the sluice gates. This design aims to make a device that can monitor the height, discharge of water, and assist in the control of sluice gates. This tool can move the sluice based on the height of the water level, so it does not need to be done manually which also contains human error.

The working principle of the prototype tool is by detecting water level at several stages, and detecting water level by utilizing ultrasonic sensors. The floodgates will move according to the level of water level in the water dam, so that the water in the dam does not exceed the capacity which can cause the dam to become damaged, it can also display water level and water dam status.
Testing Transformers of one Phase Flows With Inductive Variation Loads
Authors: Kusnadi Heri , Gunawan Wawan , Setiyono Cahyo
Published: February 2021

Transformer is an electrical device that is often used to increase and decrease the voltage, either high voltage or low voltage. Transformer testing in this study aims to determine the ability of the transformer when using several variations of inductive loads that are in a single phase current transformer. This research is expected to find a difference in characteristics after testing, including to find out the inductive loading experiment, zero load testing and testing using cos A. After testing with several experiments obtained different data results. Transformer parameters can be obtained from two tests, namely zero load and load test. Zero load testing can be known V1, I0, P1. Loaded testing must pay attention to the nominal current value of the test transformer. A large size transformer will get a large current compared to a smaller size transformer.
The Experiment Study on the Utilization of Standing Wave Thermoacoustic Engine to Drive Wells Bi-Directional Turbine
Authors: Sugiyanto  , Kamal Samsul , Waluyo Joko , Widyaparaga Adhika
Published: February 2021

Standing wave thermoacoustic engine (SWTE) is a device for converting heat to propagate acoustic wave within straight and tubular of the resonator. The advantages of this engine include being able to use the waste heat as a source of heating, no moving parts and environmentally friendly. The utilization of this acoustic wave is to rotate air turbine because its movement that goes back and forth. The type of air turbine that appropriates to this character one of these is Wells bi-directional turbine, which is always rotated in the same direction regardless of the moving air direction. This study aims to investigate the performance of Wells turbine when paired with SWTE in the variation on geometry shape of blade and hub to tip ratio. The Wells turbine was embedded inside resonator of this engine has a diameter of 50 mm in the manner of the hub to tip ratio 0.6. The geometry shape of blade varied with airfoil type of NACA 0015, NACA 0018 and NACA 0024. SWTE was generating 4,67 kPa acoustic pressure and 138 Hz frequency within 52 mm inside diameter, 390 mm length of the resonator. The result was the Wells turbine NACA 0018 has rotational motion 2449 rpm, higher than the others types. Wells turbine NACA 0018 then tested with variations of the hub to tip ratio. Results showed that are generated rotational motion at 2614 rpm, 2449 rpm and 1555 rpm for 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 hub to tip ratio, respectively.. It can be concluded that the Well turbine NACA 0018 with hub to tip ratio 0,5 has best performance compare to the others.
Research on application and thermal performance of raw earth material in building envelope
Authors: Yan Y K , Song Y F
Published: February 2021

Mainstream green has recently swept the construction industry throughout the world. Building envelope and material are two important aspects of green building evaluation. As the growing development of new green building concept “human-orientation design”, raw earth, as a natural, locally sourced, minimally processed, and recyclable material that is very different from concrete, becomes one of the most attractive options. Most architects pay attention to the aesthetic design of the raw earth wall, while other researchers like civil engineers focus on the physical properties of raw earth material itself. Few studies discussed the effect of the raw earth wall in building a thermal environment. This paper firstly conducts a parametric study on the thermal performance of raw earth wall with the consideration of thermophysical properties of materials, application of thermal insulation layer in the wall, and design parameters, i.e. thickness, of each layer of the wall. A naturally ventilated public building in Shanghai is then simulated to discuss the feasibility and the most optimum strategy of raw earth wall applications as building envelope in the sub-tropical high-density cities. Based on comprehensive data analysis, four findings are identified: (1) Compared with common building materials like concrete, raw earth materials have significant advantages in two thermophysical parameters - thermal transmittance and thermal effusivity which directly influence the indoor air temperature; (2) Thickness and structure of both raw earth layer and insulation layer are two important design parameters to meet the requirements of the indoor thermal environment; (3) Raw earth wall performs better than the standardized “Green Wall” based on local green building standards; (4) In terms of thermal performance, “Raw Earth Wall with External Insulation” is more suitable in subtropics. However, “Raw Earth Wall with Sandwich Insulation” is more recommended if pursuing the beauty of raw earth materials, because the thermal performances of “Raw Earth Wall with Sandwich Insulation” and Raw Earth Wall with External Insulation” are almost the same in summer, and very close in winter.
Design and modelling of a MEMS for detection of volatile organic compound
Authors: Argüelles-Lucho P , Woo-García R M , García-González L , Sánchez-Vidal A , Herrera-May A L , Pérez-Cuapio R , López-Huerta F
Published: February 2021

Volatile organic compounds pollute air in and out of homes, which effects human health when inhaled. It is necessary to monitor these gases with rapid response sensors at low concentrations, such as with electromechanical systems. We designed and simulated of a multilayer cantilever sensor using finite element method, which is 3 mm long, 2 mm wide, and 52.2 µm thick, activated with the piezoelectric effect with a zinc oxide film and a titanium oxide film that is sensitive to gases. The first resonance frequencies were obtained with modal analysis using ANSYS®, in which the first frequency is 4722.4 Hz, the minimum sensitivity of the multilayer gas sensor is 8.22 kHz/g and a minimum detectable mass change (Δm

c
) of 2432.32 ng. This sensor could be used in industry or in homes.
Proposal for the application of ICE and BIM sessions to increase productivity in construction
Authors: Quiso E , Rivera J , Farje J
Published: February 2021

Several studies have shown that the main problem in the construction industry is low productivity. Therefore, this study focuses on developing a proposal through a methodology that can increase productivity in the construction of buildings. The proposed methodology is Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), which has 4 pillars: Building Information Modeling (BIM), Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE), metrics and Project Production Management (PPM). However, the article mainly develops BIM and ICE sessions. In addition, in the ICE sessions, “work executors” will be added, so that the information is fed back by both parties, specialist engineers and work executors. Finally, the proposal will be applied in a multi-family building project in the city of Lima - Peru, in order to obtain improvement results.
Comparing the turn performance of different motor control schemes in multilink fish-inspired robots
Authors: Howe Stephen P , Duff Andrew R , Astley Henry C
Published: February 2021

Fish robots have many possible applications in exploration, industry, research, and continue to increase in design complexity, control, and the behaviors they can complete. Maneuverability is an important metric of fish robot performance, with several strategies being implemented. By far the most common control scheme for fish robot maneuvers is an offset control scheme, wherein the robot’s steady swimming is controlled by sinusoidal function and turns are generated biasing bending to one side or another. An early bio-inspired turn control scheme is based on the C-start escape response observed in live fish. We developed a control scheme that is based on the kinematics of routine maneuvers in live fish that we call the ‘pulse’, which is a pattern of increasing and decreasing curvature that propagates down the body. This pattern of curvature is consistent across a wide range of turn types and can be described with a limited number of variables. We compared the performance of turns using each of these three control schemes across a range of durations and bending amplitudes. We found that C-start and offset turns had the highest heading changes for a given set of inputs, whereas the bio-inspired pulse turns had the highest linear accelerations for a given set of inputs. However, pulses shift the conceptualization of swimming away from it being a continuous behavior towards it being an intermittent behavior that is built by combining individual bending events. Our bio-inspired pulse control scheme has the potential to increase the behavioral flexibility of bio-inspired robotic fish and solve some of the problems associated with integrating different swimming behaviors, despite lower maximal turning performance.
Emerging nanotechnological strategies to reshape tumor microenvironment for enhanced therapeutic outcomes of cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Lin Xinyi , Wang Xiaoyan , Gu Qing , Lei Dongqin , Liu Xiaolong , Yao Cuiping
Published: February 2021

Immunotherapy has emerged as a novel cancer treatment over the last decade, however, efficacious responses to mono-immunotherapy have only been achieved in a relatively small portion of patients whereas combinational immunotherapies often lead to concurrent side effects. It has been proved that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is responsible for tumor immune escape and the ultimate treatment failure. Recently, there has been remarkable progress in both the understanding of the TME and the applications of nanotechnological strategies, and reviewing the emerging immune-regulatory nanosystems may provide valuable information for specifically modulating the TME at different immune stages. In this review, we focus on comprehending the recently-proposed T-cell-based tumor classification and identifying the most promising targets for different tumor phenotypes, and then summarizing the nanotechnological strategies to best target corresponding immune-related factors. For future precise personalized immunotherapy, tailor-made TME modulation strategies conducted by well-designed nanosystems to alleviate the suppressive TME and then promote anti-tumor immune responses will significantly benefit the clinical outcomes of cancer patients.
Nanozyme-based medicine for enzymatic therapy: progress and challenges
Authors: Wang Qian , Jiang Jing , Gao Lizeng
Published: February 2021

Nanozymes are nanomaterials with enzyme-like characteristics. As a new generation of artificial enzymes, nanozymes have the advantages of low cost, good stability, simple preparation, and easy storage, allowing them to overcome many of the limitations of natural enzymes in enzymatic therapy. Currently, most reported nanozymes exhibit oxidoreductase-like activities and can regulate redox balance in cells. Nanozymes with superoxide dismutase and catalase activity can be used to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) for cell protection, while those with peroxidase and oxidase activity can generate ROS to kill harmful cells, such as tumor cells and bacteria. In this review, we summarize recent progress in nanozyme-based medicine for enzymatic therapy and highlight the opportunities and challenges in this field for future study.
Assessing local CO2 contamination revealed by two near-by high altitude records at Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
Authors: Affolter Stéphane , Schibig Michael , Berhanu Tesfaye , Bukowiecki Nicolas , Steinbacher Martin , Nyfeler Peter , Hervo Maxime , Lauper Jürg , Leuenberger Markus
Published: February 2021

Remote research stations are guarantor of high-quality atmospheric measurements as they are essentially exposed to pristine air masses. However, in a context of increasing touristic pressure for certain sites, attention should be paid to the local anthropogenic emission related to the infrastructure itself. Among emissions, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas and a major contributor to the current global warming. Here, we compared two years of CO2 dry air mole fraction records from Jungfraujoch (Swiss Alps) measured at the Sphinx Laboratory (3580 m a.s.l.; JFJ) and the East Ridge facility (3705 m a.s.l.; JER; horizontal distance of ∼1 km), respectively. Both stations show an overall increase of the annual mean CO2 mole fraction in line with current global trends. On a daily basis, values during the night (00h00–06h00) show robust coherence with variability ranging within the measurement uncertainties matching the WMO compatibility goal of 0.1 ppm, which we considered to be background air CO2 mole fraction for Central and Western Europe. However, JFJ record shows superimposed short-term variability with diurnal CO2 spikes centered around noon. Whereas the variability occurring during time intervals ranging from days to weeks seem to be driven by inputs of air masses from the planetary boundary layer, we suppose that the super-imposed diurnal CO2 spikes occurring essentially in summer are explained by local emission sources related to the infrastructure (visitors, tourism, etc). Nevertheless, we cannot point to a single triggering cause for those spikes as it probably results from a combination of factors. In order to minimize these local emissions, smooth collaboration between all the involved stakeholders is required.
Global urban reforestation can be an important natural climate solution
Authors: Teo Hoong Chen , Zeng Yiwen , Sarira Tasya Vadya , Fung Tze Kwan , Zheng Qiming , Song Xiao Ping , Chong Kwek Yan , Koh Lian Pin
Published: February 2021

The climate mitigation potential of urban nature-based solutions (NBSs) is often perceived as insignificant and thus overlooked, as cities primarily pursue NBSs for local ecosystem services. Given the rising interest and capacities in cities for such projects, the potential of urban forests for climate mitigation needs to be better understood. We modelled the global potential and limits of urban reforestation worldwide, and find that 10.9 ± 2.8 Mha of land (17.6% of all city areas) are suitable for reforestation, which would offset 82.4 ± 25.7 MtCO2e yr−1 of carbon emissions. Among the cities analysed, 1189 are potentially able to offset >25% of their city carbon emissions through reforestation. Urban natural climate solutions should find a place on global and local agendas.
Environmental aspects of plant introduction in the context of global climate change
Authors: Glinushkin A P , Startsev V I , Startseva L V
Published: February 2021

The results of analytical and practical research on expanding the range of cultivated crops that are of strategic importance for the development of the crop industry forming feed production in the Moscow region of the Russian Federation on the basis of the introduction of highly productive crops, without the use of chemically synthesized fertilizers and plant protection products that pose a threat to indemic agrophytocenoses and soil microbiota are presented.
Retraction: Financial Information Security Using Modular Communication (IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering
677 032091)
Authors: Wang Wenwen , Zhang Yanwei
Published: February 2021

This article has been retracted by IOP Publishing on 17 February 2021 in light of clear evidence that it was computer generated. IOP Publishing is investigating why this was not identified during the submission and peer review process by the conference. As a member of the Committee for Publication Ethics (COPE) this has been investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines and it was agreed the article should be retracted.

Retraction published: 17 February 2021
Direct growth of monolayer 1T–2H MoS2 heterostructures using KCl-assisted CVD process
Authors: Arellano Arreola Victor M , Salazar Mario Flores , Zhang Tianyi , Wang Ke , Barajas Aguilar Aaron H , Chandra Sekhar Reddy K , Strupiechonski Elodie , Terrones Mauricio , De Luna Bugallo Andres
Published: February 2021

Accessing the metastable phases in a controlled fashion can further expand the applications of atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Although top-down approaches based on ion intercalation exfoliation have shown to be an effective route to transform 2H phase into 1T and/or 1T′ polytype phases, a bottom-up growth strategy could be more suitable for device integration. Herein, we show that by assisting the atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) growth with a specific alkali metal halide (AMH), it possible to induce the direct synthesis of 1T phase domains coexisting with 2H phase structure in micrometer-sized MoS2 monolayer flakes. The photoluminescence emission and structural properties of three different AMH (NaCl, KBr and KCl) MoS2 crystals are compared. Both NaCl and KBr assisted MoS2 monolayers displayed the semiconducting 2H-phase. On the other hand, we demonstrate that KCl promotes the formation of a 1T–2H phase mixture. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and resonant Raman studies performed on KCl–MoS2 monolayers show the emergence of a second chemical state and 1T Raman bands compared to the rest of the samples. High-resolution scanning transmission electron microscope imaging revealed important changes in the atomic arrangement between 2H and 1T domains, providing clear evidence of the presence of the 1T metastable phase in the lattice. Moreover, the growth 1T domains can also be controlled by modifying the deposition temperature. Our experiments show that the introduction of KCl during the APCVD growth result in stable 1T-MoS2 domains, providing a simple and reproducible route towards the polymorphism phase engineering of layered TMDs using a direct bottom-up approach.
Growth kinetics and wear resistance of vanadium carbide on AISI D2 steel produced by TRD process
Authors: Zhou Lianpu , Zhu Chundong , Guo Lian , Wei Zihao
Published: February 2021

Vanadium carbide coating was obtained on the surface of AISI D2 steel by thermal reactive diffusion process using molten borax as based salt and vanadium pentoxide as vanadium donor. The process was performed at 900 °C, 940 °C, 980 °C and 1020 °C for 3 h, 4 h, 5 h and 6 h. The Optical Microscopy was used to observe the morphology of cross section of coating layer. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy was used to analyse the element content of the matrix and the coating layer by spot scanning and line scanning. X-ray Diffraction was used to obtained the phase composition of the coating layer. Microhardness Tester was used to measure the Vickers hardness of the coating layer and matrix. Friction and wear tester were used to explore wear resistance of the coated and uncoated specimens. The results show that the thickness of vanadium carbide coating ranges from 7.54 μm to 19.1 μm under different treatment time and temperatures. The V8C7 and VC
x
are the main phases contained in the vanadium coating layer. A thickness of about 3 μm transition layer is between the matrix and coating layer and the transition layer has a block effect on the diffusion of iron. The growth rate constants of vanadium carbide coating layer at 900 °C, 940 °C, 980 °C and 1020 °C were obtained as (5.20 ± 0.116) ×10–11 cm2 s−1, (8.91 ± 0.253) ×10–11 cm2 s−1, (1.26 ± 0.020) ×10–10 cm2 s−1, and (1.70 ± 0.036) ×10–10 cm2 s−1 respectively. The activation energy for vanadium carbide layer is 123.3 ± 10.1 kJ mol−1 and the diffusion constant is (2.58 ± 1.96) ×10–5 cm2 s−1. The maximum hardness of vanadium carbide coating layer on the surface of AISI D2 steel can reach 2594HV. The wear rate of untreated and treated specimens was evaluated as 15.58 × 10–13 m3/(N·m), 5.63 × 10–13 m3/(N·m) respectively and the wear resistance of treated specimens by TRD process was about 3 times than untreated specimens.
A DFT study on physical properties of III–V compounds (AlN, GaN, AlP, and GaP) in the P3121 phase
Authors: Zhang Zheren , Chai Changchun , Song Yanxing , Kong Linchun , Yang Yintang
Published: February 2021

In this work, four III-V compounds in the P3121 phase are proposed. Based on density functional theory (DFT), their structures, stability, and mechanical, anisotropic, electronic and optical properties were investigated in detail. P3121-AlN/GaN/AlP/GaP are all proven to have dynamic and mechanical stability based on their elastic constants and phonon spectra. The calculated Vickers hardness shows that P3121-AlN and P3121-GaN possess high hardness values of 18.7 GPa and 18.1 GPa, respectively. The anisotropic properties reveal that all these materials exhibit obvious elastic anisotropy. In the P3121 phase, AlN, GaN, and GaP are direct semiconductor materials, whereas AlP is an indirect semiconductor material, with calculated energy bandgaps of 4.51 eV (P3121-AlN), 2.36 eV (P3121-GaN), 1.84 eV (P3121-GaP), and 2.01 eV (P3121-AlP). In addition, P3121-AlP has high photoelectron absorption. The calculated energy bandgaps and mechanical and optical properties suggest that P3121-AlN/GaN/AlP/GaP may possess great potential to become high-performance materials in the electronics manufacturing industry.
Unexpected False-Positive Rates in Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Serology Using the EUROIMMUN Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA IgG Assay
Authors: Geisler Daniel , Freeman Megan Culler , Rapsinski Glenn J , Wheeler Sarah E
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Serologic assay performance studies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-​2) in pediatric populations are lacking, and few seroprevalence studies have routinely incorporated orthogonal testing to improve accuracy.

Methods

Remnant serum samples for routine bloodwork from 2,338 pediatric patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh were assessed using the EUROIMMUN Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA IgG (EuroIGG) assay. Reactive cases with sufficient volume were also tested using 3 additional commercial assays.

Results

Eighty-five specimens were reactive according to the EuroIGG, yielding 3.64% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.91%-4.48%) seropositivity, of which 73 specimens had sufficient remaining volume for confirmation by orthogonal testing. Overall, 19.18% (95% CI, 10.18%-28.18%) of samples were positive on a second and/or third orthogonal assay. This 80.82% false positivity rate is disproportionate to the expected false positivity rate of 50% given our pediatric population prevalence and assay performance.

Conclusions

In pediatric populations, false-positive SARS-CoV-2 serology may be more common than assay and prevalence parameters would predict, and further studies are needed to establish the performance of SARS-CoV-2 serology in children.
MicroRNA annotation in plants: current status and challenges
Authors: Zhao Yongxin , Kuang Zheng , Wang Ying , Li Lei , Yang Xiaozeng
Published: February 2021

Last two decades, the studies on microRNAs (miRNAs) and the numbers of annotated miRNAs in plants and animals have surged. Herein, we reviewed the current progress and challenges of miRNA annotation in plants. Via the comparison of plant and animal miRNAs, we pinpointed out the difficulties on plant miRNA annotation and proposed potential solutions. In terms of recalling the history of methods and criteria in plant miRNA annotation, we detailed how the major progresses made and evolved. By collecting and categorizing bioinformatics tools for plant miRNA annotation, we surveyed their advantages and disadvantages, especially for ones with the principle of mimicking the miRNA biogenesis pathway by parsing deeply sequenced small RNA (sRNA) libraries. In addition, we summarized all available databases hosting plant miRNAs, and posted the potential optimization solutions such as how to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in these databases. Finally, we discussed the challenges and perspectives of plant miRNA annotations, and indicated the possibilities offered by an all-in-one tool and platform according to the integration of artificial intelligence.
Accurate deep learning off-target prediction with novel sgRNA-DNA sequence encoding in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing
Authors: Charlier Jeremy , Nadon Robert , Makarenkov Vladimir
Published: February 2021

Motivation

Off-target predictions are crucial in gene editing research. Recently, significant progress has been made in the field of prediction of off-target mutations, particularly with CRISPR-Cas9 data, thanks to the use of deep learning. CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing technique which allows manipulation of DNA fragments. The sgRNA-DNA (single guide RNA-DNA) sequence encoding for deep neural networks, however, has a strong impact on the prediction accuracy. We propose a novel encoding of sgRNA-DNA sequences that aggregates sequence data with no loss of information.

Results

In our experiments, we compare the proposed sgRNA-DNA sequence encoding applied in a deep learning prediction framework with state-of-the-art encoding and prediction methods. We demonstrate the superior accuracy of our approach in a simulation study involving Feedforward Neural Networks (FNNs), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) as well as the traditional Random Forest (RF), Naive Bayes (NB) and Logistic Regression (LR) classifiers. We highlight the quality of our results by building several FNNs, CNNs and RNNs with various layer depths and performing predictions on two popular gene editing datasets (CRISPOR and GUIDE-seq). In all our experiments, the new encoding led to more accurate off-target prediction results, providing an improvement of the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve up to 35%.

Availability and implementation

The code and data used in this study are available at: https://github.com/dagrate/dl-offtarget.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Inferring perturbation profiles of cancer samples
Authors: Pirkl Martin , Beerenwinkel Niko
Published: February 2021

Motivation

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. Tumors arise due to important genes changing their activity, e.g. when inhibited or over-expressed. But these gene perturbations are difficult to observe directly. Molecular profiles of tumors can provide indirect evidence of gene perturbations. However, inferring perturbation profiles from molecular alterations is challenging due to error-prone molecular measurements and incomplete coverage of all possible molecular causes of gene perturbations.

Results

We have developed a novel mathematical method to analyze cancer driver genes and their patient-specific perturbation profiles. We combine genetic aberrations with gene expression data in a causal network derived across patients to infer unobserved perturbations. We show that our method can predict perturbations in simulations, CRISPR perturbation screens and breast cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Availability and implementation

The method is available as the R-package nempi at https://github.com/cbg-ethz/nempi and http://bioconductor.org/packages/nempi.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Significant Declines in Juvenile-onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Following Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Introduction in the United States
Authors: Meites Elissa , Stone Laura , Amiling Raiza , Singh Vidisha , Unger Elizabeth R , Derkay Craig S , Markowitz Lauri E
Published: February 2021

Background

Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) is a rare and serious disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) presumably acquired during vaginal delivery. HPV vaccination of females through age 26 years, recommended in the United States since 2006, can prevent HPV transmission. We assessed trends in JORRP cases before and after HPV vaccine introduction in the United States.

Methods

Case-patients were identified from 26 pediatric otolaryngology centers in 23 U.S. states. Demographics and clinical history were abstracted from medical records. Case-patients were grouped by year of birth, and birth-cohort incidences were calculated using number of births from either national or state-level natality data from the 23 states. We calculated incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in 2-year intervals.

Results

We identified 576 U.S. JORRP case-patients born in 2004–2013. Median age at diagnosis was 3.4 years (interquartile range: 1.9, 5.5). Number of identified JORRP case-patients declined from a baseline of 165 born in 2004–2005 to 36 born in 2012–2013. Incidence of JORRP per 100 000 births using national data declined from 2.0 cases in 2004–2005 to 0.5 cases in 2012–2013 (IRR = 0.2, 95% CI = .1–.4); incidence using state-level data declined from 2.9 cases in 2004–2005 to 0.7 cases in 2012–2013 (IRR = 0.2, 95% CI = .1–.4).

Conclusions

Over a decade, numbers of JORRP case-patients and incidences declined significantly. Incidences calculated using national denominator data are likely underestimates; those calculated using state-level denominator data could be overestimates. These declines are most likely due to HPV vaccination. Increasing vaccination uptake could lead to elimination of this HPV-related disease.
Technical or political? The socialist economic calculation debate
Authors: Camarinha Lopes Tiago
Published: February 2021

The paper presents both the key arguments and the historical context of the socialist economic calculation debate. I argue that Oskar Lange presented the most developed strategy to deal with bourgeois economics, decisively helping to create the scientific consensus that rational economic calculation under socialism is possible. Lange’s arguments based on standard economic theory reveal that the most ardent defenders of capitalism cannot reject socialism on technical terms and that, as a consequence, the Austrian School was left with no choice but to diverge from mainstream economics in its search to develop a framework that could support its political position. This shows that Mises’ challenge from 1920 was solved and has been replaced by a political posture developed by Hayek and leading Austrians economists, who have been struggling since the 1980s to revise the standard interpretation of the socialist economic calculation debate. I argue that this revision should not be uncritically accepted and conclude that socialism cannot be scientifically rejected; it can only be politically rejected, by those whose economic interests it opposes.
Prospective study of surgical site infections post-open esophageal cancer surgery, and the impact of care bundles
Authors: Raftery Nicola B , Murphy Conor F , Donlon Noel E , Heneghan Helen , Donohoe Claire L , King Sinead , O’Connell Brian , Ravi Narayanasamy , Reynolds John V
Published: February 2021

SSIs represent common infection-related morbidity following major surgery. Modern care bundles have been established as prophylactic measures aimed at preventing SSI occurring postoperatively. SSI incidence and data on common culprit pathogens post-esophagectomy for cancer have not been previously reported. Patients (2013–2018) treated with curative intent were studied. SSI was defined as per the Center for Disease Control (CDC) definition. A care bundle pathway following the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for prevention of SSIs was introduced in 2013 and was audited quarterly. Risk factors and associations of SSIs were analyzed, as was the prevalence of isolated pathogens. Multivariable logistic regression examined independently predictive factors of SSIs and oncologic outcomes. Of 343 patients, 34 (9.9%) developed a postoperative SSI, with a median (range) of 8 (6–17). Quarterly audit carried out over 6 years showed no significant annual variance or trend. The most prevalent pathogen cultured was Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in nine patients (32%) followed by Candida albicans (29%), Escherichia coli (14%), and Enterococcus faecium (11%). SSI was significantly associated with pneumonia (P = 0.001), respiratory failure (P = 0.014), atrial fibrillation (P = 0.004), anastomotic leak (P < 0.001), and in-hospital blood transfusions (P = 0.031). SSI did not impact the overall survival (P = 0.951). SSI rates can be maintained at less than 10% using strict care bundles and regular audit. The most common culprit pathogen is gram-positive MSSA representing 32% of cases. These data are novel and may represent a modern benchmark for SSI post-open esophagectomy for cancer. This study highlights the incidence and associations of SSI post-esophageal cancer surgery.
Colitis Linked to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induces Trypsin Activity Affecting Epithelial Functions
Authors: Solà Tapias Núria , Denadai-Souza Alexandre , Rolland-Fourcade Claire , Quaranta-Nicaise Muriel , Blanpied Catherine , Marcellin Marlène , Edir Anissa , Rolland Corinne , Cirillo Carla , Dietrich Gilles , Alric Laurent , Portier Guillaume , Kirzin Sylvain , Bonnet Delphine , Mas Emmanuel , Burlet-Schiltz Odile , Deraison Céline , Bonnart Chrystelle , Vergnolle Nathalie , Barreau Frédérick
Published: February 2021

Background and Aims

Intestinal epithelial cells [IECs] from inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients exhibit an excessive induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress [ER stress] linked to altered intestinal barrier function and inflammation. Colonic tissues and the luminal content of IBD patients are also characterized by increased serine protease activity. The possible link between ER stress and serine protease activity in colitis-associated epithelial dysfunctions is unknown. We aimed to study the association between ER stress and serine protease activity in enterocytes and its impact on intestinal functions

Methods

The impact of ER stress induced by Thapsigargin on serine protease secretion was studied using either human intestinal cell lines or organoids. Moreover, treating human intestinal cells with protease-activated receptor antagonists allowed us to investigate ER stress-resulting molecular mechanisms that induce proteolytic activity and alter intestinal epithelial cell biology.

Results

Colonic biopsies from IBD patients exhibited increased epithelial trypsin-like activity associated with elevated ER stress. Induction of ER stress in human intestinal epithelial cells displayed enhanced apical trypsin-like activity. ER stress-induced increased trypsin activity destabilized intestinal barrier function by increasing permeability and by controlling inflammatory mediators such as C-X-C chemokine ligand 8 [CXCL8]. The deleterious impact of ER stress-associated trypsin activity was specifically dependent on the activation of protease-activated receptors 2 and 4.

Conclusions

Excessive ER stress in IECs caused an increased release of trypsin activity that, in turn, altered intestinal barrier function, promoting the development of inflammatory process.
Impact of campaign-style delivery of routine vaccines: a quasi-experimental evaluation using routine health services data in India
Authors: Clarke-Deelder Emma , Suharlim Christian , Chatterjee Susmita , Brenzel Logan , Ray Arindam , Cohen Jessica L , McConnell Margaret , Resch Stephen C , Menzies Nicolas A
Published: February 2021

The world is not on track to achieve the goals for immunization coverage and equity described by the World Health Organization’s Global Vaccine Action Plan. Many countries struggle to increase coverage of routine vaccination, and there is little evidence about how to do so effectively. In India in 2016, only 62% of children had received a full course of basic vaccines. In response, in 2017–18 the government implemented Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI), a nationwide effort to improve coverage and equity using a campaign-style strategy. Campaign-style approaches to routine vaccine delivery like IMI, sometimes called ‘periodic intensification of routine immunization’ (PIRI), are widely used, but there is little robust evidence on their effectiveness. We conducted a quasi-experimental evaluation of IMI using routine data on vaccine doses delivered, comparing districts participating and not participating in IMI. Our sample included all districts that could be merged with India’s 2016 Demographic and Health Surveys data and had available data for the full study period. We used controlled interrupted time-series analysis to estimate the impact of IMI during the 4-month implementation period and in subsequent months. This method assumes that, if IMI had not occurred, vaccination trends would have changed in the same way in the participating and not participating districts. We found that, during implementation, IMI increased delivery of 13 infant vaccines, with a median effect of 10.6% (95% confidence interval 5.1% to 16.5%). We did not find evidence of a sustained effect during the 8 months after implementation ended. Over the 12 months from the beginning of implementation, we estimated reductions in the number of under-immunized children that were large but not statistically significant, ranging from 3.9% (−6.9% to 13.7%) to 35.7% (−7.5% to 77.4%) for different vaccines. The largest effects were for the first doses of vaccines against diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and polio: IMI reached approximately one-third of children who would otherwise not have received these vaccines. This suggests that PIRI can be successful in increasing routine immunization coverage, particularly for early infant vaccines, but other approaches may be needed for sustained coverage improvements.
Exploring the place of spirituality in Canadian health promotion
Authors: Gerhardt-Strachan Karina
Published: February 2021

The field of health promotion advocates a socioecological approach to health that addresses a variety of physical, social, environmental, political and cultural factors. Encouraging a holistic approach, health promotion examines many aspects of health and wellbeing, including physical, mental, sexual, community, social and ecological health. Despite this holism, there is a noticeable absence of discussion surrounding spirituality and spiritual health. This research study explored how leading scholars in Canadian health promotion understand the place of spirituality in health promotion. Using the fourth edition of Health Promotion in Canada (Rootman et al., 2017) as the sampling frame of recognized leaders in the field, 13 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with authors from the book. This study is situated within a critical health promotion approach that utilizes methodologies aiming for social justice, equity and ecological sustainability. I argue that by avoiding spirituality within health promotion frameworks and education, the secularism of health promotion and its underlying values of Eurocentric knowledge production and science remain invisible and rarely critiqued. This study intends to open up possibilities for centering spiritual and non-Western epistemologies and ways of knowing that have been marginalized, such as Indigenous understandings of health and wellbeing. Restoring right relations with Indigenous peoples in Canada has taken on new urgency with the calls to action of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission report (NCTR, 2015). This is one important way that health promotion can fulfill its promise of being inclusive, relevant and effective for human and planetary wellbeing.
Adapting Modernity: Designing with Modern Architecture in East Jerusalem, 1948–1967
Authors: Samman Maha , Saifi Yara
Published: February 2021

This study examines the influence of modernity on residential buildings as a new form of expansion built during the Jordanian Rule (1948–1967) outside the Old City of East Jerusalem. Through investigating a sample of houses, the study shows how building typologies, layouts and architectural characteristics depict and inform reinterpretations and adaptations of modernity. Unlike the modernity that emerged out of the western locus, these buildings do not ignore their vernacular roots but adapt to the Palestinian socio-cultural lifestyle, and at the same time borrow from the aesthetic and ideological characteristics of the modern idiom. Based on architectural documentation and ethnographic research, the analyses show that the peasants (Fallahin) made an important contribution to the adaptive modernity of residential buildings in East Jerusalem. The designs were influenced by some aspects of modernity but were also subject to local and cultural determinants. The study contributes to the literature on ‘other modernities’ outside the west, and to an architectural history that is informed by people’s private and individual experience rather than by those working in the profession. This is considered to be a neglected heritage that this article aims to redress.