bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular docking analysis of PARγ with compounds from Ocimum tenuiflorum
Authors:   Central Research Laboratory, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai-600 078, India, Rajagopal Ponnulakshmi
Published: February 2022

The ligand-activated transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) has become a major target for type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily, which controls the expression of proteins involved in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, and insulin sensitivity. Ocimum tenuiflorum, often known as Krishna tulsi, is the most sacred herb in India. It was utilized for a variety of medicinal purposes. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis data of PARγ modulators from Ocimum tenuiflorum. Four of the twenty substances (rosmarinic acid, permethrin, luteolin, and isosakuranetin) have a considerable binding affinity for the PPARγ. These phytochemicals are a source of potential anti-diabetic medicines.
Molecular docking analysis of bioactive compounds from Mollugo cerviana (L.) SER with DHFR for antifungal activity
Authors:   Department of Zoology, Jayaraj Annapackiam College for Women (Autonomous), Periyakulam, Sherin Rebecca F ,   India
Published: February 2022

Fungal infections have been increasing in recent years due to growing number of high-risk patients particularly immuno compromised hosts. Candida is the third- or fourth-most-common isolate in nosocomial bloodstream infections. The increase of fungal resistance to classical drugs, the treatment costs, and the fact that most available antifungal drugs have only fungistatic activity, justify the search for new strategies. Identification of therapeutic compounds from plants has been the centre of attraction ever since they were discovered. It is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis of bioactive compounds present in Mollugo cerviana (L.) SER with the DHFR protein target for antifungal activity. We show the optimal binding features of several compounds from the extract with in vivo and in vitro activities. Results of this showed that all compounds showed good antimicrobial activity and a very good antifungal activity against the target DHFR protein. So, these compounds may act as potential drug molecules after the experimental validation.
Clinical and epidemiological characterization of newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: França Ariane Mendonça Neves de , Contim Divanice , Borges Luiz Gustavo Sabino , Machado Juliana Reis , Silva Aline Cristina Souza da , Corrêa Rosana Rosa Miranda
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe inflammatory disorder that can affect the whole gastrointestinal system, particularly the ileum, and is a major cause of morbidity in premature infants. Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of newborns with NEC, seeking to identify the causes, evolution and severity of the disease. Methods: The study selected 94 patients who developed NEC (cases) and 60 patients who did not develop the disease during hospitalization (controls) and presented similar clinical signs of the case group. The variables analyzed divided into maternal and neonatal. The frequency tests were applied using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 and comparative analysis using the GraphPad Prism® 5.0 software. Results: There was a higher number of prenatal consultations in cases with NEC. Newborns with NEC had shorter hospital stay, longer parenteral nutrition and antibiotics use and a predominant use of infant formula. The Bell criteria modified by Walsh and Kleigman was negatively correlated to maternal age and positively correlated to gestational age, birth weight and time of parenteral nutrition. Conclusion: Although being a disease of the newborn, the present study indicated that maternal characteristics may be related to its onset of NEC. Therefore, the greater number of prenatal consultations and neonatal factors such as length of stay, prolonged use of parenteral nutrition and antibiotic therapy, and formula use may influence the development of the disease.
Blood flow image by multi-angle composite ultrasonic Doppler vector
Authors: Wang Kang-Yu , Zhou Yu-Lin , He Li-Yuan , Lu Chun-Yao , Yu Run , Wu Da-Wei ,   State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China,   Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Published: February 2022

Precise measurement of blood flow is of vital importance in studying the formation of thrombus and atherosclerotic plaque. However, conventional color Doppler methods are limited to obtaining the velocity component along the ultrasound beam and have poor accuracy. Several Doppler flow imaging methods based on the plane wave emission can estimate the blood velocity vectors and visualize hemodynamic parameters, which provide more detailed blood flow information and effectively improve the capability of clinical diagnosis treatment. Considering the low accuracy of the Doppler flow methods for measuring velocity in complex flow fields, an optimization technique is used to improve the imaging quality and the accuracy of velocity estimation. In this study we propose a modified vector Doppler method through combining multi-angle compound technique, to reconstruct blood velocity vectors of carotid bifurcations obtained from 3D printing. Since the multi-angle compound technology can effectively improve the quality of imaging, this technology is applied to Doppler imaging to achieve high-accuracy velocity estimation. It can significantly reduce the velocity estimation errors. Comparing the velocity estimation accuracy of different angle compound numbers (n = 1, 3, 5, and 7) in the simulation, it is found that the accuracy of velocity estimation increases with angle compound increasing. Beside, the 5-angle compound method is more robust for velocity estimation and can obtain higher frames. The experiments were carried out using a programmable ultrasonic array system and a high-frequency linear array transducer L12-5c with a central frequency of 8.125 MHz. The sample rate is set to be 31.25 MHz. The imaging results of carotid bifurcation also show that the vector Doppler based on 5-angle compound can obtain a clear image of intravascular vector flow, which is beneficial to the identifying of complex flow state, and realize intravascular dynamic imaging. Especially, it can capture the vortex phenomenon in the blood stream. The quantitative results indicate that this method significantly reduces the error between the flow calculation results and the reference results, making the estimation results more accurate. In conclusion, the vector Doppler method based on multi-angle compound has the good performance of visualizing complex blood flow and calculating hemodynamic parameters. It also provides the reference for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and the research of flow imaging methods.
Developing and Validating Professional Teaching Standards for Higher Education EFL Instructors in Saudi Arabia: A Delphi Study
Authors: Alsowat Hamad H.
Published: February 2022

This study aimed at developing and validating professional teaching standards for higher education EFL instructors in Saudi Arabia. The Delphi technique was utilized to gain a consensus among the panel of experts through three rounds. In the first round, a survey was sent to 31 English language teaching and teacher education experts to select the appropriate standards and provide any additional standards. Ninety-six performance indicators were generated at the end of this round. In the second round, the survey was sent to 29 experts to rate their responses on a 5-point Likert scale. In the third round, the survey was sent back to the experts to review their responses and provide any modifications. By the end of the third round, eighty-one performance indicators were identified and categorized into seven standard fields: language, knowledge of learners, learning environments, instruction, technology use, assessment, and professionalism. The study reveals insight into the professional standards which are appropriate for higher education EFL instructors in Saudi Arabia. This framework will help improve faculty teaching practices and for their continuous professional development.
A Comparative Corpus-based Study on the Use of Phrasal Verbs by Turkish EFL Learners and L1 English Speakers
Authors: Badem Nebahat , Şimşek Tuğba
Published: February 2022

This quantitative study aims to reveal the most frequently used phrasal verbs (PVs) by L1 speakers of English and Turkish EFL learners in written and spoken registers. With the purpose of spotting any overuse and/or underuse by Turkish EFL learners, it compares their usage to L1 English speakers’ through four corpora – two learner corpora and two native corpora. Additionally, the study investigates the most frequent adverbial verb particles (AVPs) and lexical verbs (LVs) in phrasal constructions comparing learners and native speakers. The results show that although LV types differ to a large extent, Turkish EFL learners display a similar profile to L1 English speakers in terms of types of PVs and AVPs. However, these verbs and particles are significantly underused, especially in spoken register – a result that contradicts previous research. Specifically, within the scope of this study, regardless of the register Turkish learners tend to favour few AVPs out of the mostly used ten while leaving out the others. The findings might be of use to EFL teachers regarding raising their students’ awareness on the contextual use of PVs in different registers with a combination of both implicit and explicit teaching in mind. In addition, learners can benefit from the ready-made PV lists to enhance their prospective usage in meaningful contexts.
A Comparative Study of the Representation Human/Nature Relationship in Selected Poems from Robert Frost and Sohrab Sepehri From an Ecocriticism Perspective
Authors: Dabirnia Mohammadreza
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study is to compare human attitudes toward nature in works by two green poets, Sohrab Sepehri (1928-1980) and Robert Frost (1874-1964). The emergence of new approaches in the humanities, such as ecocriticism, to examine the relationship between literature and the environment in the text results from human life’s extensive growth in numerous dimensions and the resulting negative impact on the environment. In Frost’s poetry, the human being is presented with various options when confronted by nature. He has the option of viewing nature as a source of catastrophe and succumbing to it, or he can choose to fight nature, conquer it, or submit to it. Additionally, the individual can protect and respect the environment. The human is capable of coexisting with and benefiting from nature. On the other hand, Sepehri is a poet who learns about nature and discovers new forms of existence. Sepehri adores nature and regards it as superior to his anthropocentric world. These two poets share a philosophy of attitude toward nature and its elements. Both poets’ works are influenced by nature. One adores nature and is constantly reminded of it as if he sees it everywhere, and both poets are inspired by nature, but in very different ways. Sepehri and Frost have both established successful careers in poetry, but in contrast to Sohrab Sepehri’s romantic bent, Frost writes more simple poems that defy romantic convention. Sepehri and Frost’s poetry begins with joy and ends with knowledge. While Robert Frost lived in the modern era, he possessed a traditional worldview that set him apart from other poets. For example, unlike Sepehri, Frost is satisfied to stay in the terrestrial sphere and observe ordinary events; he is hesitant to travel beyond its borders. This comparative study examines the two poets’ divergent attitudes toward nature, emphasizing their distinctions.
Analysis on Senator Cipriano Primicias’s Eulogy for President Ramon Magsaysay
Authors: Chen Jingming
Published: February 2022

This paper aims to Analysis on Senator Cipriano Primicias’s Eulogy for President Ramon Magsaysay. After careful reading and analysis, the eulogy was found to have met all the requirements of an eulogy, such as the two expectations, and five functions, which are the focus of the study of this paper. Furthermore, the prowess and brilliant life story of president Ramon Magsaysay has been briefly analyzed, in order to help our understanding of the people’s deep appreciation, respect for him, and their deep grief for his death, all of which have been stressed repeatedly in this Eulogy.
A new phylogenetic data standard for computable clade definitions: the Phyloreference Exchange Format (Phyx)
Authors: Vaidya Gaurav , Cellinese Nico , Lapp Hilmar
Published: February 2022

To be computationally reproducible and efficient, integration of disparate data depends on shared entities whose matching meaning (semantics) can be computationally assessed. For biodiversity data one of the most prevalent shared entities for linking data records is the associated taxon concept. Unlike Linnaean taxon names, the traditional way in which taxon concepts are provided, phylogenetic definitions are native to phylogenetic trees and offer well-defined semantics that can be transformed into formal, computationally evaluable logic expressions. These attributes make them highly suitable for phylogeny-driven comparative biology by allowing computationally verifiable and reproducible integration of taxon-linked data against Tree of Life-scale phylogenies. To achieve this, the first step is transforming phylogenetic definitions from the natural language text in which they are published to a structured interoperable data format that maintains strong ties to semantics and lends itself well to sharing, reuse, and long-term archival. To this end, we developed the Phyloreference Exchange Format (Phyx), a JSON-LD-based text format encompassing rich metadata for all elements of a phylogenetic definition, and we created a supporting software library, phyx.js, to streamline computational management of such files. Together they form a foundation layer for digitizing and computing with phylogenetic definitions of clades.
The coalescent with replication-independent mutations
Authors: Krone Stephen M. , Tuschhoff Beth M.
Published: February 2022

We develop the mathematical structure of the neutral coalescent with both replication-dependent and replication-independent mutations. This allows us to explain and quantify empirical results that explore differences in genetic diversity in bacterial cultures with different growth rates. We also derive an unbiased and consistent estimator for the replication-independent mutation rate that is based on a comparison of total single nucleotide polymorphism counts for two independent well-mixed cultures with different growth rates. In addition to explaining differences in genetic diversity between well-mixed cultures with different (but constant) growth rates, our coalescent also quantifies the effects of fluctuating growth rates—a situation that can be common in natural populations.
Validity and inter-rater reliability of ankle motion observed during a single leg squat
Authors: Guillén-Rogel Paloma , San Emeterio Cristina , Marín Pedro J.
Published: February 2022

Background

The single leg squat (SLS) test is a clinical functional test commonly used to evaluate clinically aberrant movement patterns of the knee. The SLS could be an interesting option to analyze ankle control in the frontal plane during dynamic load analysis. However, to date, there are no studies that have analyzed the associations between the increased subtalar joint pronation by navicular drop (ND) test and ankle control with single leg squat (SLSankle) using a three-point scale. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a clinical observation method to assess and determine the relationship between navicular drop (ND) and ankle control on the SLSankle score.

Methods

A total of fifty-five healthy, physically active (31 females and 24 males) volunteers participated in this study. The degree of subtalar pronation was assessed through the ND test, and the ankle control was defined as the ankle displacement in the frontal plane during the SLS.

Results

We found good intra-rater and inter-rater agreement during SLSankle, with Kappa values from 0.731 to 0.750. The relationship between the SLSankle and ND was significant ; the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was 0.504 (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The SLSankle score supplied the clinical practice with a reliable and valid alternative for quantifying foot mobility in comparison to the ND test.
Evaluation of Limited Joint Mobility of the Hand and Associated Factors among Diabetic and Non Diabetic Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern Ethiopia: A Case-control Study
Authors: Haregewoyin Kerebih , Prasad Mergu , Haymanot Nigussie , Abinet Gebremickael , Tamiru Getachew
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Limited Joint Mobility (LJM) is one of the long- term complications of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). It is a widespread problem among patients with DM, affecting more than two- thirds of diabetic patients. It is known that LJM predominantly affects the mobility of upper limb joints, especially those of the hand, and is often neglected until hand deformity is severe enough to interfere with daily life. Even though various studies in developed countries have revealed a significantly higher rate of LJM among diabetic patients, there is limited evidence in developing countries, specifically in Ethiopia. Aim: To assess LJM of the hand and associated factors among diabetic and non diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, case control study was conducted on 240 participants in Arba Minch General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia from November 2018 to May 2019. The range of flexion and extension motions of individual hand joints {wrist, Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), first Interphalangeal (IP), Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP), and Distal Interphalangeal (DIP)} were measured by using a Goniometer. The collected data was entered into Epi (Epidemiological) Info version 3.2 and transferred to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 for analysis. An independent t-test was conducted to compare the mean and standard deviations of hand joint motions among diabetic and non diabetic groups. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between the dependent and independent factors. The p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: A total of 234 participants (response rate of 97.5% ,117 diabetic cases and 117 non diabetic controls) were included in the study. The magnitude of LJM among diabetic cases was 17.1%, whereas in non diabetic controls, it accounted for 4.3%. The composite score mean (±SD) of hand flexion in diabetic patients was 1088.75±860, which is significantly lower (p<0.05) than in non diabetic patients, 1117.75±82.880, and hand extension in diabetic patients was 227.98±87.220, which was significantly lower than in non diabetic patients, 276.96±78.180. Age >50 years (AOR: 3.9 (1.14-13.36) with p=0.03) and co- morbidity with hypertension {AOR: 3.26 (1.02-10.41) with p=0.04} were identified as significant associated factors for LJM in diabetic patients. Conclusion: In diabetic patients, flexion and extension movements of hand joints were significantly reduced compared to those of non diabetic patients. Advanced age and co- morbidity with hypertension were significantly associated with LJM in the current study.
A Morphometric Study of Humerus to Determine Sexual Dimorphism in Indian Population
Authors: Nadaf Zeenathalam , Jose Betty Anna , Murthuza Aga Ammar , Mokhasi Varsha
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Recognising the gender from the skeleton or decomposed body is a difficult task. Morphometry of long bones is highly applicable in such cases. The morphological features of humerus show varying degrees of sexual dimorphism in various populations. Aim: The study is focused on the morphometric analysis of humerus to evaluate the most reliable parameter for sexual dimorphism in Indian subcontinent. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2016 to January 2020 on 82 dry completely ossified adult humeri of known sex (51 male and 31 female). The parameters included in this study were- Maximum Length of humerus (ML), Vertical Diameter of Head (VDH), Epicondylar Breadth (ECB), Maximum Mid-Shaft Diameter (Max. MSD) and Minimum Mid-Shaft Diameter (Min. MSD). The parameters were measured by electronic digital caliper and osteometric board. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was carried out to compute the demarking point and Discriminant Score (DS). Discriminant function analysis was performed using Wilk’s lambda to determine that which variable provided the best discrimination between sexes. Results: It was found that a higher demarking point indicates a male while the lower value indicates a female. In discriminant function analysis, the sectioning point greater than -0.42 was a male and less than -0.42 was a female. Wilk’s lambda was least for VDH (0.349) followed by ECB (0.467) and ML (0.486), whereas Max. and Min. MSD (0.771, 0.700) showed greater values. Conclusion: The VDH is the most reliable parameter in humerus for determination of sex followed by ECB and ML. Max. and Min. MSD have lesser contributions for sex determination. A combination of parameters is better than using a single parameter and this knowledge will be very helpful to forensic anthropologists.
Cadaver as an Effective Tool for Simulation Based Procedural Skill Learning Compared to Manikin- An Interns Perspective
Authors: Patil Manjula , Sheelavant Santosh
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Procedural skill learning is fundamental part of medical education. Simulation based learning helps students acquire the competencies without putting patients at risk. Manikins and cadavers are available resources of medical simulation. Which one is more effective in learning the skills with acceptable confidence, competence and satisfaction is to be elucidated. Establishing a cadaver based Procedural Skill Lab (PSL) may play a role in early exposure of procedural skills to medical students. Aim:To study the intern’s perceptions of effectiveness of procedural skill learning on cadaver and manikins and to record their opinion on need for establishing PSL in Anatomy Department. Materials and Methods: An observational study conducted at S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India. Twenty five (n=25) interns who volunteered to participate in the study were included. After collecting the baseline data about exposure to said skills, students were divided into two groups. Students learnt six procedural skills on manikins (M group) and on cadavers (C group). Post-test data was collected. Then crossover was done and survey about the satisfaction, preferred mode of learning and need of the PSL in anatomy was collected. Non parametric test were applied: Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired data Mann-Whitney U test for unpaired data, using Medcalc and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: Perceived confidence and competence of students after training in both the groups (M and C) increased for all the six skills which was statistically significant (M group p<0.0005 and C group p<0.0002). Satisfaction score was more for cadaver group (p<0.0001). Students chose cadaver based learning as the preferred method of learning and wanted PSL. Conclusion: Soft embalmed cadaver can be an effective tool to learn procedural skills at all level. Establishing a cadaver based PSL in anatomy can provide undergraduates with early exposure of skills develop the requisite knowledge, postgraduates can learn the speciality concerned procedural skills and faculty can venture upon innovative procedures and prevent de-skilling.
Prevalence of Coronary and Extracoronary Ostia in Southern Rajasthan: A Cadaveric Study
Authors: Sharma Shiv Kumar , Jaiswal Pratima , Jain Aarushi , Rasool Gulam
Published: February 2022

Introduction: A variable incidence of additional coronary ostia or third coronary ostia is found along right ostium in the Anterior Aortic Sinus (AAS). Extracoronary ostia in AAS provide third coronary artery or right conus artery which supplies pulmonary conus and upper part of right ventricle. Third coronary artery is an important bridge for collateral circulation between right and left coronary system. Aim: To reveal the number, shape, and position of coronary and extracoronary ostia in aortic sinuses in Southern Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: This observational descriptive study was conducted on 100 human hearts extracted from cadavers and preserved in formalin at Department of Anatomy, Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India from December 2019 to January 2021. Specimens were observed for numbers, shape and position of Coronary and Extracoronary Ostia. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel Worksheet and analysed in Medcalc software version 20.0.3. Results: A total number of 100 extracted human cadaveric hearts were studied and analysed. In Anterior Aortic Sinus, single coronary ostium was found in 82% specimen, double ostia were observed in 17% specimen and triple ostia were noticed in only 1% specimen in AAS. In extracoronary ostia, 17 specimens were found round while only one specimen was found elliptical in shape and 16 specimen were found below sinu-tubular junction in position while one specimen was found above sinu-tubular junction and one specimen was at level of sinu-tubular junction. Conclusion: The role of extracoronary ostia should always be taken into account during investigative and remedial interventions. Awareness about extracoronary ostia would provide a deeper insight about possible complications arising during various surgical procedures to avoid damage.
Model Selection in High‐Dimensional Regression
Authors: Zhang Hao H.
Published: February 2022

Model selection refers to the process of selecting the best model from a set of candidate models given data. In statistical inference and machine learning, model selection is critical to understanding the underlying data‐generating processes, interpreting the nature of the data, and making future predictions. Judicious model selection can help to improve model interpretability, robustness, and prediction accuracy. Traditional selection methods such as the best subset selection and forward selection are useful for low‐ or moderate‐dimensional data analysis, but they face challenges for high‐ or ultrahigh‐dimensional data. Over the past two decades, rapid advances have been made in model selection for high‐dimensional problems, and there are exciting breakthroughs in methodologies, theories, computational algorithms, and software. A variety of cutting‐edge methods are developed for model selection in linear models, additive models, interaction models, graphical models, and so on. This article provides a selective overview of these works and their main results.
Gradient‐Based Optimizers for Statistics and Machine Learning
Authors: Hsieh Cho‐Jui
Published: February 2022

In this article, we introduce gradient descent and stochastic gradient descent for solving large‐scale statistical and machine learning problems. We introduce in detail how to derive gradient descent and stochastic gradient descent algorithms, briefly highlight their convergence properties, and show how to apply them to solve statistical and machine learning problems. In the end, we also discuss some open problems when applying stochastic gradient descent to train large‐scale machine learning models.
Compositional Data
Authors: Ortego María Isabel
Published: February 2022

Compositional data are multivariate vectors that describe parts of some whole. Compositional data occur as vectors of proportions, percentages, or parts per million (ppm), although the definition also includes other types of vectors. If the compositional nature of data is ignored, misleading results may be obtained. In this case, the finding of spurious correlations, the appearance of the Simpson's paradox, and the prediction of negative values for proportions are common issues. To overcome these problems, a mathematical structure for compositional data has been defined: the Aitchison geometry on the simplex and the characterization of the simplex as a Euclidean vector space. This structure allows a suitable treatment of compositional data, either in their sample space or through their expression in coordinates, which are real vectors. Coordinates may be derived by appropriate transformations. Additive logratio (alr), centered logratio (clr), or isometric logratio (ilr) transformations may be selected. The most suitable transformation is tailored to the problem at hand and the statistical tools needed for the subsequent treatment. Several computer tools are available to perform the compositional data analysis.
Combining Biomarker and Food Intake Data
Authors: Gormley Isobel C. , D'Angelo Silvia , Brennan Lorraine
Published: February 2022

Recent developments in biomarker discovery have demonstrated that combining biomarkers with self‐reported intake data has the potential to improve estimation of food intake. In this article, statistical methods for combining biomarker and self‐reported food intake data are discussed. The calibration equations method is a widely applied method that corrects for measurement error in self‐reported food intake data through the use of biomarker data. The method is outlined and illustrated through an example where citrus intake is estimated. In order to estimate stable calibration equations, a simulation‐based framework is delineated, which estimates the percentage of study subjects from whom biomarker data is required. The method of triads is frequently used to assess the validity of self‐reported food intake data by combining it with biomarker data. The method is outlined, and sensitivity to its underlying assumptions is illustrated through simulation studies.
A Unifying Framework for Resilience Analysis
Authors: Tang Loon Ching , Shen Lijuan
Published: February 2022

A unifying framework in defining and measuring resilience has been an intense research topic in recent years. It is proposed that resilience could be represented by a set of functions comprising the intrinsic capacities of a system, the effectiveness of recovery, and the extrinsic random shock process. Through this perspective, the key constituents in achieving resilience are identified as reliability, robustness, recovery, and reconfigurability. This naturally leads to a new resilience framework with multiple dimensions and related measures. It is then shown that these associated measures could explicitly capture the trade‐off between various design parameters, resource allocations, and performance requirements.
Bayesian Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Tsionas Mike
Published: February 2022

In this article, we explain the Bayes Data Envelopment (DEA) model. The new approach has two important advantages. The posterior is consistent with the DEA formulation, and it is not necessary to solve a large number of linear programming problems.
Weakest Link in Fiber Bundle Models
Authors: Gleaton James U. , Han David , Lynch James D. , Ng Hon K. T. , Ruggeri Fabrizio
Published: February 2022

The fiber bundle model for modeling the breakdown of physical systems is discussed and illustrated for circuits of capacitors and dielectrics. Concepts such as the weakest link, chain of bundles, parallel/series capacitor circuits and series/parallel reliability systems, and size effects for chains are discussed in terms of fibrous composites and capacitor circuits.
Capacitors: Laws, Load Sharing, and Breakdown
Authors: Gleaton James U. , Han David , Lynch James D. , Ng Hon K. T. , Ruggeri Fabrizio
Published: February 2022

Because of the capacitor laws, a series circuit of capacitors can be considered as a load‐sharing bundle, while a parallel/series circuit can be treated as a chain of bundles. Such a chain is of interest in reliability since, if the parallel/series circuit fails when one of the series circuits fails, it is a weakest link chain of bundles (a series/parallel reliability system). The interplay of circuits of capacitors and load‐sharing systems is a consequence of the capacitor laws. This as well as the weakest link chain‐of‐bundles model for hafnia (HfO
2
) dielectrics is discussed.
John Mandel
Authors: Kenett Ron S. , Kacker Raghu
Published: February 2022

The assessment of measurement uncertainty, especially in the context of interlaboratory studies, is at the basis of current discussion in the literature on reproducible research. John Mandel's work provided pioneering contributions to statistical methodology for assessing and handling measurement uncertainty. As an example, the methods he developed with colleagues as mathematical statistician at the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST) and the National Institute of Health to determine the concentration of calcium in human blood serum proved efficacious in clinical practice with a major impact on health care management. In this biographical article, we review the contributions of John Mandel with some retrospective considerations.
Commissioning a secondary dose calculation software for a 0.35 T MR‐linac
Authors: Price Alex T. , Knutson Nels C. , Kim Taeho , Green Olga L.
Published: February 2022

Secondary external dose calculations for a 0.35 T magnetic resonance image‐guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) are needed within the radiation oncology community to follow safety standards set forth within the field. We evaluate the commercially available software, RadCalc, in its ability to accurately perform monitor unit dose calculations within a magnetic field. We also evaluate the potential effects of a 0.35 T magnetic field upon point dose calculations.

Monitor unit calculations were evaluated with (wMag) and without (noMag) a magnetic field considerations in RadCalc for the ViewRay MRIdian. The magnetic field is indirectly accounted for by using asymmetric profiles for calculation. The introduction of double‐stacked multi‐leaf collimator leaves was also included in the monitor unit calculations and a single transmission value was determined. A suite of simple and complex geometries with a variety field arrangements were calculated for each method to demonstrate the effect of the 0.35 T magnetic field on monitor unit calculations. Finally, 25 patient‐specific treatment plans were calculated using each method for comparison.

All simple geometries calculated in RadCalc were within 2% of treatment planning system (TPS) values for both methods, except for a single noMag off‐axis comparison. All complex muilt‐leaf collimator (MLC) pattern calculations were within 5%. All complex phantom geometry calculations were within 5% except for a single field within a lung phantom at a distal point. For the patient calculations, the noMag method average percentage difference was 0.09 ± 2.5% and the wMag average percentage difference was 0.08 ± 2.5%. All results were within 5% for the wMag method.

We performed monitor unit calculations for a 0.35 T MRgRT system using a commercially available secondary monitor unit dose calculation software and demonstrated minimal impact of the 0.35 T magnetic field on monitor unit dose calculations. This is the first investigation demonstrating successful calculations of dose using RadCalc in the low‐field 0.35 T ViewRay MRIdian system.
Rational Development of Co‐Doped Mesoporous Ceria with High Peroxidase‐Mimicking Activity at Neutral pH for Paper‐Based Colorimetric Detection of Multiple Biomarkers
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Thy , Lee Junsang , Cho Ara , Kim Min Su , Choi Daeeun , Han Jeong Woo , Kim Moon Il , Lee Jinwoo
Published: February 2022

Peroxidase‐mimicking nanozymes have been extensively studied, however, their application is limited by the requirement for an acidic pH. Herein, the development of Co‐doped mesoporous cerium oxide (Co‐m‐ceria) is reported, which operates optimally at a near‐neutral pH and exhibits a peroxidase‐like catalytic efficiency that is 600‐times higher than that of pristine m‐ceria. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for the application of pristine and various metal‐doped m‐ceria in peroxidase‐like reactions under different pH environments are conducted to select Co as the appropriate dopant. The high peroxidase‐like activity of Co‐m‐ceria under neutral conditions and its mesoporous nature enable its application in a one‐pot cascade reaction system, wherein biomarkers of oxidative enzymes can be detected without altering the pH. Five different oxidative enzymes are immobilized in the pores of Co‐m‐ceria at high loadings, followed by incorporation of the enzyme‐containing Co‐m‐ceria in paper microfluidic devices for the convenient and simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers. The Co‐m‐ceria‐incorporated paper microfluidic device enables the selective and sensitive determination of multiple biomarkers using a smartphone‐acquired image. This study demonstrates the potential of the rational design of nanozymes and their application in paper microfluidic devices, laying the groundwork for future applications of nanozymes in point‐of‐care testing environments.
Pushing the Limits of Functionality‐Multiplexing Capability in Metasurface Design Based on Statistical Machine Learning
Authors: Ma Wei , Xu Yihao , Xiong Bo , Deng Lin , Peng Ru‐Wen , Wang Mu , Liu Yongmin
Published: February 2022

As 2D metamaterials, metasurfaces provide an unprecedented means to manipulate light with the ability to multiplex different functionalities in a single planar device. Currently, most pursuits of multifunctional metasurfaces resort to empirically accommodating more functionalities at the cost of increasing structural complexity, with little effort to investigate the intrinsic restrictions of given meta‐atoms and thus the ultimate limits in the design. In this work, it is proposed to embed machine‐learning models in both gradient‐based and nongradient optimization loops for the automatic implementation of multifunctional metasurfaces. Fundamentally different from the traditional two‐step approach that separates phase retrieval and meta‐atom structural design, the proposed end‐to‐end framework facilitates full exploitation of the prescribed design space and pushes the multifunctional design capacity to its physical limit. With a single‐layer structure that can be readily fabricated, metasurface focusing lenses and holograms are experimentally demonstrated in the near‐infrared region. They show up to eight controllable responses subjected to different combinations of working frequencies and linear polarization states, which are unachievable by the conventional physics‐guided approaches. These results manifest the superior capability of the data‐driven scheme for photonic design, and will accelerate the development of complex devices and systems for optical display, communication, and computing.
Chemical Potential Diagram Guided Rational Tuning of Electrical Properties: A Case Study of CsPbBr3 for X‐ray Detection
Authors: Du Xinyuan , Liu Yingmeng , Pan Weicheng , Pang Jincong , Zhu Jinsong , Zhao Shan , Chen Chao , Yu Yu , Xiao Zewen , Niu Guangda , Tang Jiang
Published: February 2022

Controlling the carrier polarity and concentration underlies most electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, for the intensively studied lead halide perovskites, the doping tunability is inefficient. In this work, taking CsPbBr3 as an example, it is revealed that the coexistence of metallic Pb or CsBr3/Br2, rather than the precursor ratio, can provide Pb‐rich/Br‐poor or Br‐rich/Pb‐poor chemical conditions, enabling the tunability of electrical properties from weak n‐type, intrinsic, to moderate p‐type. Experimentally, under Br2‐exposure treatment, a shift of the Fermi level as large as 1.00 eV is achieved, which is one of the highest value among all kinds of doping methods. The X‐ray detector based on the intrinsic CsPbBr3 exhibits excellent performance, with a negligible dark‐current drift of 7.1 × 10−4 nA cm−1 s−1 V−1, a low detection limit of 103.6 nGyair s−1, and a high sensitivity of 9085 μC Gyair−1 cm−2. This work provides a critical understanding and guidance for tuning the electrical properties of lead halide perovskites, which establishes good foundations for achieving intrinsic perovskite semiconductors and also constructing potential homojunction devices.
Innate but Not Adaptive Immunity Regulates Lung Recovery from Chronic Exposure to Graphene Oxide Nanosheets
Authors: Loret Thomas , de Luna Luis Augusto Visani , Fordham Alexander , Arshad Atta , Barr Katharine , Lozano Neus , Kostarelos Kostas , Bussy Cyrill
Published: February 2022

Graphene has drawn a lot of interest in the material community due to unique physicochemical properties. Owing to a high surface area to volume ratio and free oxygen groups, the oxidized derivative, graphene oxide (GO) has promising potential as a drug delivery system. Here, the lung tolerability of two distinct GO varying in lateral dimensions is investigated, to reveal the most suitable candidate platform for pulmonary drug delivery. Following repeated chronic pulmonary exposure of mice to GO sheet suspensions, the innate and adaptive immune responses are studied. An acute and transient influx of neutrophils and eosinophils in the alveolar space, together with the replacement of alveolar macrophages by interstitial ones and a significant activation toward anti‐inflammatory subsets, are found for both GO materials. Micrometric GO give rise to persistent multinucleated macrophages and granulomas. However, neither adaptive immune response nor lung tissue remodeling are induced after exposure to micrometric GO. Concurrently, milder effects and faster tissue recovery, both associated to a faster clearance from the respiratory tract, are found for nanometric GO, suggesting a greater lung tolerability. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of dimensions in the design of biocompatible 2D materials for pulmonary drug delivery system.
Tunable Bandgap Engineering of ZnxCd1−xSe Solid Solution with Controlled Ratio via a Facile One‐Pot Synthesis for Visible‐Light Photocatalytic H2 Production
Authors: Wei Lin , Zeng Deqian , He Xianglong , Wang Longfei , Bao Yining , He Gang , Fujita Toyohisa , Ong Wee-Jun
Published: February 2022

Metal selenide semiconductors in photocatalysis are limited, owing to their low activity and poor stability. Herein, a facile one‐pot solution approach is developed to prepare particulate Zn
x
Cd1−x
Se solid solutions with tunable energy band structures. X‐ray diffractometer (XRD) patterns demonstrate that the crystal structure of the samples are not changed. The analysis of UV–vis and the photoluminescence spectra exhibits that the bandgap of Zn
x
Cd1−x
Se photocatalysts utilizing oleylamine as an organic template can be accurately controlled, which gradually becomes wider from 1.60 to 2.70 eV with increasing Zn/Cd molar ratio. Under visible‐light irradiation, the optimal Zn0.5Cd0.5Se without any cocatalyst exhibits a superior photocatalytic H2 generation rate (438.3 μmol h−1 g−1), exceeding that of pristine CdSe and ZnSe by more than 12 and 17 times, an apparent quantum yield of 1.7% at 420 nm and excellent stability. The results are on account of the balance between the bandgap width and the conduction band (CB) potential of Zn0.5Cd0.5Se, implying the excitation of more photogenerated electrons and faster charge carrier separation efficiency, which could be substantiated by the transient photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Therefore, this work provides a straightforward strategy to synthesize metal selenide for diverse photocatalytic applications.
The gut microbiota of gibbons across host genus and captive site in China
Authors: Lan Li‐Ying , You Yu‐Yan , Hong Qi‐Xuan , Liu Qun‐Xiu , Xu Chun‐Zhong , Chen Wu , Zhu Ying‐Di , Du Xue‐Qing , Fan Peng‐Fei
Published: February 2022

Gut microbiota influences nutrient metabolism and immunity of animal hosts. Better understanding of the composition and diversity of gut microbiota contributes to conservation and management of threatened animals both in situ and ex situ. In this study, we applied 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to evaluate the composition and diversity of the fecal bacterial community of four gibbon genera (Family Hylobatidae) at four Chinese zoos. The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria and dominant families were Prevotellaceae (Bacteroidetes), Spirochaetaceae (Spirochaetes) and Ruminococcaceae (Firmicutes) in the gut of all gibbons. Both captive site and host genus had significant effects on the relative abundance of dominant bacteria and structure of gut bacterial community. We found that captive site and host genus did not solely impact gut bacterial diversity, but the interaction between them did. This study provides basic knowledge for gut microbiota of all four gibbon genera and contributes to management and conservation of captive gibbons.
Systematic identification and characterization of differentially expressed microRNAs under tetraniliprole exposure in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda
Authors: Zhang Yun , Wang Aiyu , Yu Lang , Yang Yuanxue , Duan Ailing , Xue Chao , Zhao Ming , Zhang Jianhua
Published: February 2022

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a worldwide agricultural pest and causes huge losses of crop production each year. Tetraniliprole is a novel diamide insecticide with high efficacy against even the insecticide resistant pests of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and play an important regulatory role in the insecticide resistance in insects. However, the effects of miRNAs on the tetraniliprole tolerance in S. frugiperda are poorly understood. In the present research, the miRNAs response to tetraniliprole application in S. frugiperda were systematically investigated by high‐throughput sequencing. A total of thirty differentially expressed miRNAs were identified under tetraniliprole treatment in S. frugiperda. The functions of the target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs were further predicted by Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database pathway, and the most significantly enriched pathway was MAPK signaling pathway. The expression changes of six differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, miR‐278‐5p had the highest expression in the hemolymph and malpighian tubule and the lowest expression in the gut. Oversupply of miR‐278‐5p significantly increased the mortality of S. frugiperda following exposure to tetraniliprole. These results will provide the basis for understanding the regulatory roles of miRNAs regarding to tetraniliprole tolerance in S. frugiperda.