bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health Approach to Sexual Health Education in Schools: 3 Decades in Review*
Authors: Szucs Leigh E. , Barrios Lisa C. , Young Emily , Robin Leah , Hunt Pete , Jayne Paula E.
Published: December 2021

Background

School health education, including sexual health education, plays a crucial role in shaping adolescents' protective health behaviors, experiences, and outcomes. Adolescents need functional knowledge and skills to practice, adopt, and maintain healthy behaviors for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and unintended pregnancy.

Methods

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health (CDC/DASH) has advanced school‐based approaches to STI/HIV and pregnancy prevention through surveillance, research and evaluation, and program partnership and collaboration for over 3 decades.

Results

CDC/DASH uses systematic and innovative strategies to identify the breadth of adolescent sexual health evidence; characterize key elements of effective educational curricula; and provide practical guidance to support school‐based delivery. CDC/DASH's approach to effective health and sexual health education in schools has changed dramatically over the past 30 years and must continue to progress.

Conclusion

This paper describes how and why that approach has evolved and outlines directions for the future.
Sensory evaluation of new recipes for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP‐Ed) informs consumer acceptance and recipe development needs
Authors: Ng Melanie K. , Lee Jung Sun , Sanville Laurel M. , Cotta‐Rivera Edda , Dallas Jackie , Pencek Amanda , Powell Ariathni , Williams Breeanna , Moore Carla J. , Cox Ginnefer O.
Published: December 2021

Federal nutrition education programs use food demonstrations and tastings of healthy recipes to elicit behavior change among their target audiences, but acceptance and liking of such recipes has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to assess acceptability and key sensory attributes (appearance, flavor, texture, saltiness, and sweetness) of culturally tailored recipes using sensory evaluation methods in a nontraditional setting. Affective ballots were used to assess overall liking (OL), key attributes, and preparation intent of seven new recipes on a 9‐point hedonic scale. Open‐ended feedback was also collected. A convenience sample of 338 low‐income adults rated two out of seven recipes as meeting a standard acceptability rating ≥7. These ratings were significantly related to their preparation intent. Flavor and texture were revealed as attributes that significantly influenced OL. Findings support the practicality of sensory evaluation methodology in nontraditional settings for the development of recipes in Federal nutrition education programs.

Practical applications

This novel application of sensory evaluation in nontraditional settings can provide curriculum developers' of federal nutrition education programs a holistic understanding of their target audience's recipe needs. Developers have the ability to analyze specific attributes, ask about preparation intent behaviors, and more accurately determine areas for improvement of each recipe through these targeted consumer sensory tests. Developers can thus ensure that recipes in their curricula (present and future) are well equipped to promote healthy behavior change. Additionally, this information can be built upon over the course of many sensory evaluations of more recipes to create a living record of the target audience's likes and dislikes for future recipe development. The inclusion of sensory evaluation in Federal nutrition programs provides opportunity for collaboration between sensory scientists and these programs nationwide.
Paediatric ultrasound‐guided vascular access: Experiences and outcomes from an emergency department educational intervention
Authors: Calcutt Trent , Brady Robyn , Liew Kong
Published: December 2021

Aim

This quality assurance project aims to describe the provision of an ultrasound‐guided vascular access education package to paediatric emergency department staff. It subsequently aims to measure clinician and departmental responses to this educational intervention to support future effective education provision.

Methods

Participants were opt‐in emergency department staff. Staff were required to be approved to insert intravenous cannulae in the department. A minimum of 50% were non‐rotational staff. The educational package consisted of a theory phase (pre‐learning video, information document), a practical phase (intensive 90–120 minute individualised session using a mix of live subjects/training equipment), and an embedding phase (education group available for procedural supervision). Data collection was via de‐identified, encoded self‐reported survey data and logbooks.

Results

Twenty‐three staff were enrolled for training. Sixteen (69.9%) were non‐rotational. Prior to the education intervention, 18 trainees (78.3%) had placed no successful ultrasound‐guided peripherally inserted venous cannulae. By 15 weeks following training, six participants (28.6%) had achieved a predetermined competency benchmark; 61.9% had placed at least one successful ultrasound‐guided cannula. Difficult intravenous (IV) access predictors were present in 46.3% of patients throughout the data collection period, with infants overrepresented in this group (64.9% with difficult IV access predictors). IV access attempts by staff with prior ultrasound experience increased from 11.0 to 81.8% post‐education intervention.

Conclusions

A low‐resource brief educational intervention around ultrasound‐guided vascular access is achievable. Several barriers to education uptake were presented. Targeting the group of trainees with a high degree of motivation led to the highest yield of benchmark competency acquisition.
Surviving versus thriving: The wellbeing of primary school aged children in Tonga
Authors: Langridge Fiona C , 'Ofanoa Malakai , Fakakovikaetau Toakase , Wilkinson‐Meyers Laura , Percival Teuila , Riley Anne W , Grant Cameron C
Published: December 2021

Aim

To enable improvements in global child health, the focus must move beyond child survival to child wellbeing. In the Pacific Islands, the wellbeing of children has received little attention. This study aimed to investigate the wellbeing of children from three primary schools in Tonga.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was completed in three primary schools in Nuku'alofa with children aged 5–15 years. The study participants (256 children, 143 caregivers) completed the Child Health and Illness Profile – Child Edition, CHIP‐CE (Version 1.0).

Results

On average, >70% of children and caregivers described home and school environments as positive. From the children's reports, boys had significantly lower scores for risk avoidance than girls (3.40 vs. 3.73, P < 0.001). Children aged 5–7 versus 8–15 years had significantly lower scores for satisfaction (3.63 vs. 3.92, P = 0.002), resilience (3.34 vs. 3.56, P = 0.016) and achievement (3.25 vs. 3.62, P = 0.002). From the caregivers' report, girls had significantly lower scores for academic performance than boys (3.60 vs. 3.81, P = 0.04). Boys had significantly lower scores for individual risk association compared to girls (3.93 vs. 4.29, P = 0.01). Overall CHIP‐CE scores were lower than those of comparable populations in the West, while at the same time protective factors were documented.

Conclusions

Understanding child wellbeing in the Pacific is critical for strengthening protective factors known to mitigate poor child health outcomes. Continuing to base global child health success on child survival alone misses opportunities for improving the wellbeing of nations.
Clinical and demographic features of minor salivary gland tumors: A collaborative study of 480 cases
Authors: Bruzinga Fábio Fernandes Borém , Fernandes Fernanda Carvalho Fulgêncio , Dias Fernanda Ribeiro , Lima Marla Gabriela , de Souza Paulo Eduardo Alencar , de Aguiar Maria Cássia Ferreira , Grossmann Soraya de Mattos Camargo
Published: December 2021

Objective

To describe the frequency, clinical, and demographic features of minor salivary gland tumors and possible associated factors.

Materials and methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted. Clinical and demographic data were collected from biopsy records of two oral pathology services. Chi‐square test, Fisher's exact test, and descriptive statistical analysis were performed.

Results

A total of 480 (0.89%) minor salivary gland tumors were retrieved, 272 (56.7%) benign and 147 (30.7%) malignant. Sixty‐one (12.6%) had no subtype specification. Most patients were women (307/64.0%), in sixth decade of life (80/16.7%), with a mean age of 45.32 years. Palate was the most common site (336/70.1%). Pleomorphic adenoma (PA; 245/51.1%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC; 70/14.6%), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC; 43/8.9%) were the most frequent tumors. Symptomatic case, recurrence, and tobacco use were associated with malignancy (p < 0.05). PA and MEC were more frequent in palate (p < 0.05). No association between the three most frequent histological types and gender or age group was observed (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

This represents one of the largest exclusive series of minor salivary gland tumors in Brazil and worldwide. PA, MEC, and ACC were the most frequent tumors. Clinical and demographic data are similar from Brazilian studies or from other countries.
Recovery characteristics and parental satisfaction in pediatric procedural sedation
Authors: Cortellazzo Wiel Luisa , Monasta Lorenzo , Pascolo Paola , Servidio Alessia Giuseppina , Levantino Laura , Fasoli Silvia , Saccari Alessia , Cozzi Giorgio , Barbi Egidio
Published: December 2021

Background

Despite being a standard of care for children undergoing stressful procedures, little data exist on parental perception of pediatric sedation.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate recovery characteristics and parental satisfaction for pediatric sedations performed with four widely used sedative regimens.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted at the Institute for Maternal and Child Health of Trieste, Italy, enrolling children undergoing procedural sedation with one of the following pharmacological regimens: propofol, propofol + midazolam, ketamine + propofol, and dexmedetomidine + midazolam. A questionnaire was used to assess the occurrence of symptoms upon recovery from sedation and the following day, and the caregivers' satisfaction for both the recovery pattern and the overall sedation experience, according to a numerical rating scale (0–10). Answers were collected through a telephone survey. The primary outcome was the difference in the quality of the recovery as perceived by caregivers; the secondary and tertiary outcomes were the perceived quality of the overall sedation experience and the frequency of sedation‐related adverse events, respectively.

Results

Data from 655 patients, 149 receiving propofol, 245 propofol + midazolam, 134 ketamine + propofol, and 127 dexmedetomidine + midazolam, were analyzed. The level of parents' satisfaction for both the recovery and the sedation experience was overall high and increased with the patients' age in all the pharmacological groups (Spearman's rank correlation, ρ .083, p = .033, and ρ .087, p = .026, respectively), with no statistically significant differences between groups when adjusting for age. The occurrence of irritability, prolonged sleepiness, hyperactivity, unsteadiness, hallucinations, emesis, and respiratory distress at any moment negatively affected parental satisfaction.

Conclusions

In this study, caregivers' satisfaction with pediatric sedation was high, regardless of the regimen used. Lower parental satisfaction was associated with younger age, irritability after sedation, prolonged sleepiness, hyperactivity, unsteadiness, hallucinations, emesis, and respiratory distress.
A review of the diagnosis and management of pediatric psychodermatologic conditions: Part II
Authors: Mosca Megan , Martin Kari , Hong Julie , Hadeler Edward , Brownstone Nicholas , Koo John
Published: December 2021

Pediatric psychodermatologic conditions encompass both primary dermatologic conditions with psychiatric comorbidities and primary psychiatric conditions with self‐induced dermatologic manifestations. Detection, diagnosis, and management of primary psychiatric conditions with dermatologic manifestations are challenging due to patient‐perceived stigma and lack of educational opportunities for dermatology providers. This two‐part series highlights the most up‐to‐date evidence‐based data and management techniques of some of the more common dermatoses of primary psychiatric conditions in children. Part I includes trichotillomania, skin picking disorder, and onychophagia, and part II covers dermatitis artefacta, body dysmorphic disorder, and delusions of parasitosis by proxy, with special considerations for family dynamics.
KRIT1‐positive hyperkeratotic cutaneous capillary venous malformation
Authors: Matarneh Bayan , Cottrell Catherine E. , Choi Samantha , Pearson Gregory , Fung Bonita , Koo Selene C. , Lillis Anna P. , Ho Mai‐Lan , Fernandez Faith Esteban
Published: December 2021

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) may present in sporadic or familial forms, with different cutaneous manifestations including deep blue nodules, capillary malformations, and hyperkeratotic cutaneous capillary venous malformations (HCCVM). We report the case of an infant with a KRIT1‐positive HCCVM associated with familial CCM. Moreover, histopathology showed positive immunohistochemical stain with GLUT1, further expanding the differential diagnosis of GLUT1‐positive vascular anomalies.
The involvement of host circadian clocks in the regulation of the immune response to parasitic infections in mammals
Authors: Carvalho Cabral Priscilla , Tekade Kimaya , Stegeman Sophia K. , Olivier Martin , Cermakian Nicolas
Published: December 2021

Circadian rhythms are recurring variations of physiology with a period of ~24 h, generated by circadian clocks located throughout the body. Studies have shown a circadian regulation of many aspects of immunity. Immune cells have intrinsic clock mechanisms, and innate and adaptive immune responses – such as leukocyte migration, magnitude of inflammation, cytokine production and cell differentiation – are under circadian control. This circadian regulation has consequences for infections including parasitic infections. In the context of Leishmania infection, the circadian clock within host immune cells modulates the magnitude of the infection and the inflammatory response triggered by the parasite. As for malaria, rhythms within the immune system were shown to impact the developmental cycles of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells. Further, host circadian rhythms impact infections by multicellular parasites; for example, infection with helminth Trichuris muris shows different kinetics of worm expulsion depending on time of day of infection, a variation that depends on the dendritic cell clock. Although the research on the circadian control of immunity in the context of parasitic infections is in its infancy, the research reviewed here suggests a crucial involvement of host circadian rhythms in immunity on the development and progression of parasitic infections.
Asbestos‐induced mesothelial injury and carcinogenesis: Involvement of iron and reactive oxygen species
Authors: Okazaki Yasumasa
Published: December 2021

Asbestos fibers have been used as an industrial and construction material worldwide due to their high durability and low production cost. Commercial usage of asbestos is currently prohibited in Japan; however, the risk of asbestos‐induced malignant mesothelioma (MM) remains. According to epidemiological data, the onset of MM is estimated to occur after a latent period of 30–40 years from initial exposure to asbestos fibers; thus, the continuous increase in MM is a concern. To explore the molecular mechanisms of MM using animal models, iron saccharate with iron chelator‐induced sarcomatoid mesothelioma (SM) revealed hallmarks of homozygous deletion of Cdkn2a/2b by aCGH and microRNA‐199/214 by expression microarray. Oral treatment of iron chelation by deferasirox decreased the rate of high‐grade SM. Moreover, phlebotomy delayed MM development in crocidolite‐induced MM in rats. In Divalent metal transporter 1 (Dmt1) transgenic mice, MM development was delayed because of low reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These results indicate the importance of iron and ROS in mesothelial carcinogenesis. The aims of this review focus on the pathogenesis of elongated mineral particles (EMPs), including asbestos fibers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) that share similar rod‐like shapes in addition to the molecular mechanisms of MM development.
Maternal early‐pregnancy ferritin and offspring neurodevelopment: A prospective cohort study from gestation to school age
Authors: Sammallahti Sara , Tiemeier Henning , Reiss Irwin K. M. , Muckenthaler Martina U. , El Marroun Hanan , Vermeulen Marijn
Published: December 2021

Background

Iron plays a role in many key processes in the developing brain. During pregnancy, iron supplementation is widely recommended to prevent and treat iron deficiency; however, the prevalence of iron deficiency and the risk of iron overload vary greatly between populations. Evidence on the role of high levels of maternal ferritin, a storage iron marker during pregnancy in relation to offspring neurodevelopment is lacking.

Objective

Our main objective was to examine if maternal ferritin levels during pregnancy are associated with child cognitive and motor abilities.

Methods

We included Dutch mother‐child dyads from the prospective population‐based Generation R Study, born in 2002–2006. We compared children whose mothers had high (standard deviation score >+1) or low (standard deviation score <−1) early‐pregnancy ferritin to children whose mothers had intermediate ferritin (reference group) using linear regression. Children underwent non‐verbal intelligence and language tests at 4–9 years (cognitive abilities), finger‐tapping and balancing tests at 8–12 years (motor abilities), and structural magnetic resonance imaging at 8–12 years (brain morphology). Covariates were child age, sex, maternal intelligence quotient estimate, age, body‐mass‐index, education, parity, smoking and alcohol use.

Results

Of the 2479 mother‐child dyads with data on maternal ferritin and at least one child neurodevelopmental outcome, 387 mothers had low (mean = 20.6 µg/L), 1700 intermediate (mean = 64.6 µg/L) and 392 high (mean = 170.3 µg/L) early‐pregnancy ferritin. High maternal ferritin was associated with 2.54 points (95% confidence interval ‐4.16, ‐0.92) lower child intelligence quotient and 16.02 cm3(95% confidence interval ‐30.57, ‐1.48) smaller brain volume. Results remained similar after excluding mothers with high C‐reactive protein. Low maternal ferritin was not associated with child cognitive abilities. Maternal ferritin was unrelated to child motor outcomes.

Conclusion

High maternal ferritin during pregnancy was associated with poorer child cognitive abilities and smaller brain volume. Maternal iron status during pregnancy may be associated with offspring neurodevelopment.
On the stochastic robustness of complete clustering predictability for a first‐order consensus model
Authors: Ko Dongnam , Ha Seung‐Yeal , Shim Woojoo
Published: December 2021

We study stochastic noise response on the complete cluster predictability of a first‐order stochastic consensus model on the real line with an odd, bounded, Lipschitz, and monotone coupling function. Emergence of multiclusters is one of the novel dynamical features of the deterministic consensus model, and it has been extensively studied in collective dynamics community. Recently, the second author and his collaborators proposed a complete cluster predictability of the first‐order nonlinear consensus model that can be derived from the Cucker–Smale flocking model on the real line, and they verified that the proposed clustering algorithm explicitly determines the number of asymptotic clusters and their cluster velocities only in terms of the initial data, coupling strength and supremum of coupling function. In this work, we show that the same cluster algorithm does work for the complete clustering predictability problem when the deterministic consensus model is stochastically perturbed in a multiplicative way.
Prognostic value and predictive biomarkers of phenotypes of tumour‐associated macrophages in colorectal cancer
Authors: Kou Yu , Li Zhuoqun , Sun Qidi , Yang Shengnan , Wang Yunshuai , Hu Chen , Gu Huijie , Wang Huangjian , Xu Hairong , Li Yan , Han Baowei
Published: December 2021

Background

The roles of different subtypes of tumour‐associated macrophages (TAMs) in predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain controversial. In this study, different subtypes of TAMs were investigated as prognostic and predictive biomarkers for CRC.

Methods

Expressions of CD68, CD86 and CD163 were investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF), and the correlation between the expression of CD86 and CD163 was calculated in colorectal cancer tissues from 64 CRC patients.

Results

The results showed that high expressions of CD86+ and CD68+CD86+ TAMs as well as low expression of CD163+ and CD68+CD163+ TAMs were significantly associated with favourable overall survival (OS). The level of CD86 protein expression showed a negative correlation with CD163 protein expression. In addition, CD86 protein expression remarkably negatively correlated with tumour differentiation and tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage, while CD163 protein expression significantly positively correlated with tumour differentiation and tumour size. As an independent risk factor, high expression of CD86 TAMs had prominently favourable prognostic efficacy, while high expression of CD68+CD163+ TAMs had significantly poor prognostic efficacy.

Conclusions

These results indicate that CD86+ and CD68+CD163+ TAMs as prognostic and predictive biomarkers for CRC.
Elucidating the pleiotropic effects of sesame KANADI1 locus on leaf and capsule development
Authors: Teboul Naama , Magder Asher , Zilberberg Michael , Peleg Zvi
Published: December 2021

Autonomous seed dispersal is a critical trait for wild plants in natural ecosystems; however, for domesticated crop‐plants it can lead to significant yield losses. While seed shattering was a major selection target during the initial domestication of many crops, this trait is still targeted in breeding programs, especially in ‘orphan crops’ such as sesame, whose capsules dehisce upon ripening. Here we used a mapping population derived from a cross between wild‐type (dehiscent) × indehiscent lines to test the hypothesis that the selection against indehiscent alleles in sesame is a consequence of complex genetic interactions associated with yield reduction. We identified a major pleiotropic locus, SiKANADI1, associated with abnormal hyponastic leaf and indehiscent capsule, and genetically dissected its underlying mechanism using a set of near‐isogenic lines. Transcriptional, anatomical and physiological information shed light, for the first time, on the polar regulatory gene network in sesame. The pleiotropic effect of SiKANADI1 on leaf and capsule structure and its influence on photosynthetic capacity and final yield are thoroughly characterized. Overall, our results provide new insights on the genetic and morphological mechanisms regulating capsule indehiscence in sesame, and discuss their evolutionary consequences and potential for future sesame breeding.
Decoding the steady elongational viscosity of monodisperse linear polymers using tube-based modeling
Authors: Hannecart Céline , Shahid Taisir , Vlassopoulos Dimitris , Oosterlinck Filip , Clasen Christian , van Ruymbeke Evelyne
Published: December 2021

The current coarse-grained picture to represent polymer chain dynamics under uniaxial extensional flow (based on the Doi–Edwards model) fails to predict some scaling dependencies of material properties on deformation rate observed experimentally, specifically the monotonic thinning behavior of polymer melts. Recently, new mechanisms based on the concept of monomeric friction reduction have been proposed to explain this peculiar behavior; however, it is difficult to include them in the framework of the standard tube model. Therefore, in this work, we propose an alternative treatment which does not rule out friction reduction but uses a different approach. It considers that the chain can stretch up to a certain level that we determine based on the Pincus blob picture, in place of determining to which extend the chain stretch is reduced compared to its finite extensibility. To this end, we revisit the extensional rheological data of polystyrene melts and see how the specificities of chains under strong elongational flow can be integrated into a tube model. This requires accounting for possible flow-induced chain orientation, stretching, and disentanglement. In particular, we extend the picture of Pincus blobs and define different levels of stretch that a chain can reach as a function of the extensional rate by invoking a rate-dependent blob picture. While this approach requires introducing an additional parameter to describe the stretch relaxation time, the results are in good agreement with the experimental observations. This alternative but sound approach should contribute to the on-going discussion on the elongation of entangled polymers.
Symmetric Coexisting Attractors in a Novel Memristors-Based Chuas Chaotic System
Authors: Yan Shaohui , Song Zhenlong , Shi Wanlin
Published: December 2021

This paper introduces a charge-controlled memristor based on the classical Chuas circuit. It also designs a novel four-dimensional chaotic system and investigates its complex dynamics, including phase portrait, Lyapunov exponent spectrum, bifurcation diagram, equilibrium point, dissipation and stability. The system appears as single-wing, double-wings chaotic attractors and the Lyapunov exponent spectrum of the system is symmetric with respect to the initial value. In addition, symmetric and asymmetric coexisting attractors are generated by changing the initial value and parameters. The findings indicate that the circuit system is equipped with excellent multi-stability. Finally, the circuit is implemented in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and analog circuits.
New dynamical features of pure k-essential cosmologies
Authors: Moschella Ugo , Novello Mario
Published: December 2021

We come back on the dynamical properties of [Formula: see text]-essential cosmological models and show how the interesting phenomenological features of those models are related to the existence of boundaries in the phase surface. We focus our attention to the branching curves where the energy density has an extremum and the effective speed of sound diverges. We discuss the behaviour of solutions of a general class of cosmological models exhibiting such curves and give two possible interpretations; the most interesting possibility regards the arrow of time that is reversed in trespassing the branching curve. This study teaches to us something new about general FLRW cosmologies where the fluids driving the cosmic evolution have equations of state that are multivalued functions of the energy density and other thermodynamical quantities.
EFFECT OF ADDITIONAL FOOD ON PREDATOR–PREY INTERACTIONS WITH WATER-LEVEL FLUCTUATION
Authors: SARKAR ABHIJIT , TIWARI PANKAJ KUMAR , PAL SAMARES
Published: December 2021

Significant variations of the water-level of the lake can have a strong impact on the persistence of species. Indeed, when the water-level is low, during the autumn, the contact between the predator and the prey is more frequent, and the predation increases. Conversely, when the water-level is high, in the spring, it is more difficult for the predator to find a prey and the predation decreases. In this paper, we consider a seasonally varying predator–prey model to study the influence of water-level variations on the interaction between two species of fishes in an artificial lake. A seasonal variation of the water-level is introduced in the predation rate. The predator population is provided some additional food apart from the focal prey, and follows logistic growth in the absence of prey population. As control upon the over predation, the predator population is harvested. Sensitivity analysis shows that the biomass of predator population is highly sensitive to the additional food and water variations. In the absence of additional food, our results show bursting patterns of fishes whereas positive periodic solution arises if the additional food is available in sufficient amount. The positive periodic solution is shown to be globally stable. Higher values of water-level fluctuations induce double periodic oscillations. Our findings show that providing additional food source to the generalist predator together with water-level fluctuations exerts a strong influence on the interaction between fishes.
Image Captioning for Spatially Rotated Images in Video Surveillance Applications Using Neural Networks
Authors: Nivedita M , Phamila Y Asnath Victy
Published: December 2021

Video Surveillance has become an essential tool in the Security industry because of the sophisticated and fool-proof technology. Recent developments in image recognition and captioning have enabled us to adopt these technologies in the field of video surveillance. The biggest problem in image captioning is that it is variant on the rotation angle of the image. Different angles of the same image generate different captions. We aim to address and eliminate the rotation variance of image captioning. We have implemented a custom image rotation network using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The input image is rotated to the original angle using this network and passed on to the image captioning. The caption of the image is generated and sent to the user for the situation analysis.
An Improved Fuzzy Adaptive Firefly Algorithm-Based Hybrid Clustering Algorithms
Authors: Agrawal Anmol , Tripathy B. K. , Thirunavukarasu Ramkumar
Published: December 2021

The implication of firefly and fuzzy firefly optimization algorithms has been greatly witnessed in clustering techniques and extensively used in applications such as Image segmentation. Parameters such as step factor and attractiveness have been kept constant in these algorithms, which affect the convergence rate and accuracy of the clustering process. Though fuzzy adaptive firefly algorithm tackled this problem by making those parameters an adaptive one, issues such as low convergence rate, and provision of non-optimal solutions are still there. To tackle these issues, this paper proposed a novel fuzzy adaptive fuzzy firefly algorithm that significantly improves the accuracy and convergence rate while comparing with the existing optimization algorithms. Further, the proposed algorithm fused with existing hybrid clustering algorithms involving fuzzy set, intuitionistic fuzzy set, and rough set resulted in eight novel hybrid clustering algorithms which lead to better performance in optimizing the selection of initial centroids. To validate the proposal, experimental studies have been conducted on datasets found in bench-marking data repositories such as UCI, and Kaggle. The performance and accuracy evaluation of proposed algorithms have been carried out with the aid of seven accuracy measures. Results clearly indicate the improved accuracy and convergence rate of the proposed algorithms.
Dynamics of two-dimensional multi-peak solitons based on the fractional Schrödinger equation
Authors: Ren Xiaoping , Deng Fang
Published: December 2021

We address the propagation dynamics of two-dimensional multi-peak solitons in the optical lattices based on the fractional Schrödinger equation. The effect of Lévy index and lattice depth on the band-gap structure of optical lattices are presented. Two-, three-, four-, six- and eight-peak solitons all can exist in the first gap and be stable in a wide region of their existence domain. The effective width, maximal peak value and the power of soliton are also studied. It indicates that the Lévy index plays a significant role on the properties of solitons.
Non-Linear Dynamic Analysis on a Continuum Suspension Bridge Model with Spatial Layout of Main Cables
Authors: Xu Liang , Hui Yi , Li Ke
Published: December 2021

This study proposes an approach to set up a continuum full bridge model with spatially inclined cables based on the Hamilton principle. The dynamic governing functions, considering the geometric non-linearities of cables and deck, represent simultaneously the vertical motion of deck and vertical–horizontal motion of cable. With the comparison of the modal properties obtained from the model to those from the accurate model, results show that the proposed model is capable of accurately simulating the modal properties. The primary resonance responses and corresponding frequency-response curves are obtained through the multiple-scale-method. A finite element (FE) model is established, and the corresponding non-linear dynamic analysis in time domain is conducted. Comparing the results from two models, it can be checked that the proposed model is reliable. According to the results of the proposed model, it is found that the second-order shape functions (SOSFs) play a significant role in the system response. Once the non-linear vibration of the bridge becomes significant only considering the excited mode with using the classical Galerkin decomposition cannot correctly predict the structure response. The SOSFs can be classified into stationary and vibrating components. The vibrating component can deviate the time-series of response from the harmonic wave, and the stationary component directly determines the mean value of the time-series.
Rings withS-acc ond-annihilators
Authors: Hamed Ahmed , Malek Achraf , Chatbouri Ridha
Published: December 2021

A commutative ring R is said to satisfy acc on d-annihilators if for every sequence [Formula: see text] of elements of R, the sequence [Formula: see text] is stationary. In this paper we extend the notion of rings with acc on d-annihilators by introducing the concept of rings with S-acc on d-annihilators, where S is a multiplicative set. Let R be a commutative ring and S a multiplicative subset of R. We say that R satisfies S-acc on d-annihilators if for every sequence [Formula: see text] of elements of R, the sequence [Formula: see text] is S-stationary, that is, there exist a positive integer n and an [Formula: see text] such that for each [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. We give equivalent conditions for the power series (respectively, polynomial) ring over an Armendariz ring to satisfy S-acc on d-annihilators. We also study serval properties of rings satisfying S-acc on d-annihilators. The concept of the amalgamated duplication of R along an ideal I, [Formula: see text] is studied.
Noether symmetries of Bianchi type I spacetimes via Rif tree approach
Authors: Bokhari Ashfaque H. , Farhan Muhammad , Hussain Tahir
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we have studied Noether symmetries of the general Bianchi type I spacetimes. The Lagrangian associated with the most general Bianchi type I metric is used to find the set of Noether symmetry equations. These equations are analyzed using an algorithm, developed in Maple, to get all possible Bianchi type I metrics admitting different Noether symmetries. The set of Noether symmetry equations is then solved for each metric to obtain the Noether symmetry algebras of dimensions 4, 5, 6 and 9.
Discrete N-fold Darboux transformation and infinite number of conservation laws of a four-component Toda lattice
Authors: Fan Fangcheng
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we investigate a four-component Toda lattice (TL), which may be used to model the wave propagation in lattices just like the famous TL. By means of the Lax pair and gauge transformation, we construct the [Formula: see text]-fold Darboux transformation (DT), which enables us to obtain multi-soliton or multi-solitary wave solution without complex iterative process. Through the obtained DT, [Formula: see text]-fold explicit exact solutions of the system and their figures with proper parameters are presented from which we find the [Formula: see text]-fold solution shows two-solitary wave structure, the amplitude and shape of the wave change with time. Finally, we derive an infinite number of conservation laws formulaically to illustrate the integrability of the system.
Lower Bounds on Statistical Submersions with vertical Casorati curvatures
Authors: Siddiqui Aliya Naaz , Siddiqi Mohd Danish , Alkhaldi Ali H. , Ali Akram
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we obtain lower bounds for the normalized scalar curvature on statistical submersion with the normalized [Formula: see text]-vertical Casorati curvatures. Also, we discuss the conditions for which the equality cases hold. Beside this, we determine the statistical solitons on statistical submersion from statistical manifolds and illustrate an example of statistical submersions from statistical manifolds.
Impact of fear on delayed three species food-web model with Holling type-II functional response
Authors: Magudeeswaran S. , Vinoth S. , Sathiyanathan K. , Sivabalan M.
Published: December 2021

This paper deals with the investigation of the three species food-web model. This model includes two logistically growing interaction species, namely [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and the third species [Formula: see text] behaves as the predator and also host for [Formula: see text]. The species [Formula: see text] predating on the species [Formula: see text] with the Holling type-II functional response, while the first species [Formula: see text] is benefited from the third species [Formula: see text]. Further, the effect of fear is incorporated in the growth rate of species [Formula: see text] due to the predator [Formula: see text] and time lag in [Formula: see text] due to the gestation process. We explore all the biologically possible equilibrium points, and their local stability is analyzed based on the sample parameters. Next, we investigate the occurrence of Hopf-bifurcation around the interior equilibrium point by taking the value of the fear parameter as a bifurcation parameter for the non-delayed system. Moreover, we verify the local stability and existence of Hopf-bifurcation for the corresponding delayed system. Also, the direction and stability of the bifurcating periodic solutions are determined using the normal form theory and the center manifold theorem. Finally, we perform extensive numerical simulations to support the evidence of our analytical findings.
Traveling wave solutions in predator–prey models with competition
Authors: Lin Guo , Xing Yibing
Published: December 2021

This paper studies the minimal wave speed of traveling wave solutions in predator–prey models, in which there are several groups of predators that compete among different groups. We investigate the existence and nonexistence of traveling wave solutions modeling the invasion of predators and coexistence of these species. When the positive solution of the corresponding kinetic system converges to the unique positive steady state, a threshold that is the minimal wave speed of traveling wave solutions is obtained. To finish the proof, we construct contracting rectangles and upper–lower solutions and apply the asymptotic spreading theory of scalar equations. Moreover, multiple propagation thresholds in the corresponding initial value problem are presented by numerical examples, and one threshold may be the minimal wave speed of traveling wave solutions.
Morse–Bott theory on posets and a homological Lusternik–Schnirelmann theorem
Authors: Fernández-Ternero D. , Macías-Virgós E. , Mosquera-Lois D. , Vilches J. A.
Published: December 2021

We develop Morse–Bott theory on posets, generalizing both discrete Morse–Bott theory for regular complexes and Morse theory on posets. Moreover, we prove a Lusternik–Schnirelmann theorem for general matchings on posets, in particular, for Morse–Bott functions.
ARBITRAGEUR BEHAVIOR IN SENTIMENT-DRIVEN ASSET-PRICING
Authors: KILIC ERDEM , GÖKSEL OGUZHAN
Published: December 2021

This study aims to model arbitrageur behavior in a sentiment-driven capital asset-pricing model under the premise of reflecting a more detailed decomposition of investor types in the equity markets. We explore the behavior and the impact of arbitrageur behavior, particularly, on pricing and on key financial ratios. We observe that the prevalence of the arbitrageur counteracts the effects of unsophisticated investors, resulting in a lower volatility of the price–dividend ratio, lower predictive power of changes in consumption for future price changes and lower equity premium. Thus, the results of our research allow us to conjecture that the extrapolation bias in the prices is lowered.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Authors: Petter Stacie , Hadavi Yasamin
Published: December 2021

Partial least squares (PLS) offers multiple advantages as a composite-based structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. PLS enables scholars to examine the measurement model and structural model simultaneously and often requires fewer assumptions than factor-based SEM techniques. For these reasons and more, PLS offers great power for researchers who wish to use a SEM-based approach to evaluate a research model. However, with the great power of PLS also comes great responsibility. Scholars should determine if PLS is appropriate to use within their context, and scholars should explain their rationale for employing PLS for data analysis. Recognizing the power and responsibility associated with PLS is important since many scholars have called for an abandonment of PLS within the information systems discipline and beyond. We reviewed articles from four premier journals within the information systems field from 2017-2020 that use PLS as an analysis technique. Based on this review, we identify recommendations for scholars seeking to embrace the power and responsibility of using composite-based SEM to analyze research models.
Shortening deactivation: quantifying a critical component of cyclical muscle contraction
Authors: Loya Amy K. , Van Houten Sarah K. , Glasheen Bernadette M. , Swank Douglas M.
Published: December 2021

A muscle undergoing cyclical contractions requires fast and efficient muscle activation and relaxation to generate high power with relatively low energetic cost. To enhance activation and increase force levels during shortening, some muscle types have evolved stretch activation (SA), a delayed increased in force following rapid muscle lengthening. SA’s complementary phenomenon is shortening deactivation (SD), a delayed decrease in force following muscle shortening. SD increases muscle relaxation, which decreases resistance to subsequent muscle lengthening. Although it might be just as important to cyclical power output, SD has received less investigation than SA. To enable mechanistic investigations into SD and quantitatively compare it to SA, we developed a protocol to elicit SA and SD from Drosophila and Lethocerus indirect flight muscles (IFM) and Drosophila jump muscle. When normalized to isometric tension, Drosophila IFM exhibited a 118% SD tension decrease, Lethocerus IFM dropped by 97%, and Drosophila jump muscle decreased by 37%. The same order was found for normalized SA tension: Drosophila IFM increased by 233%, Lethocerus IFM by 76%, and Drosophila jump muscle by only 11%. SD occurred slightly earlier than SA, relative to the respective length change, for both IFMs; but SD was exceedingly earlier than SA for jump muscle. Our results suggest SA and SD evolved to enable highly efficient IFM cyclical power generation and may be caused by the same mechanism. However, jump muscle SA and SD mechanisms are likely different, and may have evolved for a role other than to increase the power output of cyclical contractions.
A Computational Intelligence Approach for Predicting Medical Insurance Cost
Authors: ul Hassan Ch. Anwar , Iqbal Jawaid , Hussain Saddam , AlSalman Hussain , Mosleh Mogeeb A. A. , Sajid Ullah Syed
Published: December 2021

In the domains of computational and applied mathematics, soft computing, fuzzy logic, and machine learning (ML) are well-known research areas. ML is one of the computational intelligence aspects that may address diverse difficulties in a wide range of applications and systems when it comes to exploitation of historical data. Predicting medical insurance costs using ML approaches is still a problem in the healthcare industry that requires investigation and improvement. Using a series of machine learning algorithms, this study provides a computational intelligence approach for predicting healthcare insurance costs. The proposed research approach uses Linear Regression, Support Vector Regression, Ridge Regressor, Stochastic Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, Decision Tree, Random Forest Regressor, Multiple Linear Regression, and k-Nearest Neighbors A medical insurance cost dataset is acquired from the KAGGLE repository for this purpose, and machine learning methods are used to show how different regression models can forecast insurance costs and to compare the models’ accuracy. The results shows that the Stochastic Gradient Boosting (SGB) model outperforms the others with a cross-validation value of 0.0.858 and RMSE value of 0.340 and gives 86% accuracy.
Hydraulic Characteristics and Numerical Simulation of the Entrance Section of Ladder-Shaped Spillway
Authors: Gu X. B. , Wu Q. H. , Wang Y. , Zhao H. X.
Published: December 2021

The ladder-shaped spillway in a certain reservoir junction is set as the engineering background in the paper. The hydraulic similarly model experiment and three-dimensional numerical simulation of hydraulic characteristics of water flow are performed. The outflow capacity, flow state analysis, velocity distribution, water surface line, pressure, and the energy dissipation rate are analyzed, and experimental results are compared with the numerical results. The conclusions demonstrate that the numerical results of the flow characteristics are very proximate to actual experimental results, the changeable law is the same, and their energy dissipation rate is basically consistent; it shows the feasibility of three-dimensional numerical simulation; the conclusions can provide the basis for the optimization about the flow state of the ladder-shaped spillway in the future.
Inhibitory Effects of Inonotus obliquus Polysaccharide on Inflammatory Response in Toxoplasma gondii-Infected RAW264.7 Macrophages
Authors: Yan Kexin , Zhou Hongyuan , Wang Meng , Li Haitao , Sang Rui , Ge Bingjie , Zhao Xin , Li Chunting , Wang Wei , Zhang Xuemei
Published: December 2021

Our previous reports have shown that Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOP) has protective effects against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in vivo. The aim of the present research is to explore the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of IOP and its mechanism in RAW264.7 macrophages infected by T. gondii. In this study, it is indicated that IOP decreased the excessive secretion of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-4, and IL-6 in T. gondii-infected RAW264.7 macrophages. IOP effectively suppressed the mRNA expression of these cytokines and chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α). Moreover, IOP inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor kappa B kinase α/β (IKKα/β), inhibitor κBα (IκBα), p65 in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway. Meantime, IOP prevented NF-κB p65 and c-Jun translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Further, IOP downregulated the protein expression of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 in T. gondii-infected RAW264.7 macrophages. The above results suggest that IOP can inhibit the inflammatory response infected with T. gondii via regulating TLR2/TLR4-NF-κB/MAPKs pathways and exerting its anti-T. gondii role in vitro.