bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mastering Variation in Human Studies
Authors: Siegmund Janet , Peitek Norman , Apel Sven , Siegmund Norbert
Published: December 2020

The human factor is prevalent in empirical software engineering research. However, human studies often do not use the full potential of analysis methods by combining analysis of individual tasks and participants with an analysis that aggregates results over tasks and/or participants. This may hide interesting insights of tasks and participants and may lead to false conclusions by overrating or underrating single-task or participant performance. We show that studying multiple levels of aggregation of individual tasks and participants allows researchers to have both insights from individual variations as well as generalized, reliable conclusions based on aggregated data. Our literature survey revealed that most human studies perform either a fully aggregated analysis or an analysis of individual tasks. To show that there is important, non-trivial variation when including human participants, we reanalyze 12 published empirical studies, thereby changing the conclusions or making them more nuanced. Moreover, we demonstrate the effects of different aggregation levels by answering a novel research question on published sets of fMRI data. We show that when more data are aggregated, the results become more accurate. This proposed technique can help researchers to find a sweet spot in the tradeoff between cost of a study and reliability of conclusions.
Automated Patch Transplantation
Authors: Shariffdeen Ridwan Salihin , Tan Shin Hwei , Gao Mingyuan , Roychoudhury Abhik
Published: December 2020

Automated program repair is an emerging area that attempts to patch software errors and vulnerabilities. In this article, we formulate and study a problem related to automated repair, namely automated patch transplantation. A patch for an error in a donor program is automatically adapted and inserted into a “similar” target program. We observe that despite standard procedures for vulnerability disclosures and publishing of patches, many un-patched occurrences remain in the wild. One of the main reasons is the fact that various implementations of the same functionality may exist and, hence, published patches need to be modified and adapted. In this article, we therefore propose and implement a workflow for transplanting patches. Our approach centers on identifying patch insertion points, as well as namespaces translation across programs via symbolic execution. Experimental results to eliminate five classes of errors highlight our ability to fix recurring vulnerabilities across various programs through transplantation. We report that in 20 of 24 fixing tasks involving eight application subjects mostly involving file processing programs, we successfully transplanted the patch and validated the transplantation through differential testing. Since the publication of patches make an un-patched implementation more vulnerable, our proposed techniques should serve a long-standing need in practice.
An Empirical Study of Developer Discussions in the Gitter Platform
Authors: Ehsan Osama , Hassan Safwat , Mezouar Mariam El , Zou Ying
Published: December 2020

Developer chatrooms (e.g., the Gitter platform) are gaining popularity as a communication channel among developers. In developer chatrooms, a developer (
asker
) posts questions and other developers (
respondents
) respond to the posted questions. The interaction between askers and respondents results in a discussion
thread
. Recent studies show that developers use chatrooms to inquire about issues, discuss development ideas, and help each other. However, prior work focuses mainly on analyzing individual messages of a chatroom without analyzing the discussion thread in a chatroom. Developer chatroom discussions are context-sensitive, entangled, and include multiple participants that make it hard to accurately identify threads. Therefore, prior work has limited capability to show the interactions among developers within a chatroom by analyzing only individual messages.

In this article, we perform an in-depth analysis of the Gitter platform (i.e., developer chatrooms) by analyzing 6,605,248 messages of 709 chatrooms. To analyze the characteristics of the posted questions and the impact on the response behavior (e.g., whether the posted questions get responses), we propose an approach that identifies discussion threads in chatrooms with high precision (i.e., 0.81 F-score). Our results show that inactive members responded more often and unique questions take longer discussion time than simple questions. We also find that clear and concise questions are more likely to be responded to than poorly written questions.

We further manually analyze a randomly selected sample of 384 threads to examine how respondents resolve the raised questions. We observe that more than 80% of the studied threads are resolved. Advanced-level/beginner-level questions along with the edited questions are the mostly resolved questions. Our results can help the project maintainers understand the nature of the discussion threads (e.g., the topic trends). Project maintainers can also benefit from our thread identification approach to spot the common repeated threads and use these threads as frequently asked questions (FAQs) to improve the documentation of their projects.
Data-driven Computational Homogenization Using Neural Networks
Authors: Drosopoulos Georgios A. , Stavroulakis Georgios E.
Published: December 2020

Fusion of data mining and computational mechanics is a modern approach for the exploitation of available data within rigorous modeling. First steps in this direction have been focused on the usage of neural networks and other soft computing tools as metamodeling tools. This framework seems suitable for numerical homogenization techniques realized within the so-called FE
2
environment, where the lower-level analysis of a detailed representative volume element is replaced by a prediction based on a previously prepared database. Numerically prepared data are used here, although the method can be used with experimental data as well. In this case, the need for a constitutive description of the fine scale is bypassed. Extraction of material properties from the database, required by the upper-level finite element analysis, is based on backpropagation artificial neural networks. The method is applicable to monuments and masonry structural systems. We investigate this approach here for the analysis of masonry structures with elastoplastic behavior. Results indicate a satisfactory comparison with published research.
Gamification and SQL
Authors: Morales-Trujillo Miguel Ehécatl , García-Mireles Gabriel Alberto
Published: December 2020

Gamification, defined as the integration of game elements into non-gaming environments, is a promising approach to increase student engagement, motivation, and performance in Computer Science and Software Engineering education. This viewpoint encouraged the creation of QueryCompetition, a web system that allows students to practice SQL in a competitive environment. Our goal was to obtain empirical evidence on how gamifying elements, such as challenges, points, and leaderboards, integrated into QueryCompetition, affect student performance, motivation, and user experience. We carried out a quasi-experimental study with two groups in a Database course. One group used a gamified version of QueryCompetition having access to points and leaderboards, while the other used a non-gamified version with no access to the above mentioned elements. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through tests and a survey. The results showed that there was a statistically significant improvement in student performance in the gamified group as compared to the non-gamified group. In addition, a higher motivation was observed in the gamified group. The empirical evidence presented in this article supports the claim that inclusion of challenges, points, and leaderboards, together with the competitive nature of QueryCompetition, impacts positively on student performance and motivation to practice SQL.
A Critical Reassessment of the Saerens-Latinne-Decaestecker Algorithm for Posterior Probability Adjustment
Authors: Esuli Andrea , Molinari Alessio , Sebastiani Fabrizio
Published: December 2020

We critically re-examine the Saerens-Latinne-Decaestecker (SLD) algorithm, a well-known method for estimating class prior probabilities (“priors”) and adjusting posterior probabilities (“posteriors”) in scenarios characterized by distribution shift, i.e., difference in the distribution of the priors between the training and the unlabelled documents. Given a machine learned classifier and a set of unlabelled documents for which the classifier has returned posterior probabilities and estimates of the prior probabilities, SLD updates them both in an iterative, mutually recursive way, with the goal of making both more accurate; this is of key importance in downstream tasks such as single-label multiclass classification and cost-sensitive text classification. Since its publication, SLD has become the standard algorithm for improving the quality of the posteriors in the presence of distribution shift, and SLD is still considered a top contender when we need to estimate the priors (a task that has become known as “quantification”). However, its real effectiveness in improving the quality of the posteriors has been questioned. We here present the results of systematic experiments conducted on a large, publicly available dataset, across multiple amounts of distribution shift and multiple learners. Our experiments show that SLD improves the quality of the posterior probabilities and of the estimates of the prior probabilities, but only when the number of classes in the classification scheme is very small and the classifier is calibrated. As the number of classes grows, or as we use non-calibrated classifiers, SLD converges more slowly (and often does not converge at all), performance degrades rapidly, and the impact of SLD on the quality of the prior estimates and of the posteriors becomes negative rather than positive.
Discrete-Event Modeling and Simulation of Diffusion Processes in Multiplex Networks
Authors: Ruiz-Martin Cristina , Wainer Gabriel , Lopez-Paredes Adolfo
Published: December 2020

A variety of phenomena (such as the spread of diseases, pollution in rivers, etc.) can be studied as diffusion processes over networks (i.e., the diffusion of the phenomenon over a set of interconnected entities). This research introduces a method to study such diffusion processes in multiplex dynamic networks. We use a formal Modeling and Simulation methodology (in our case, DEVS, Discrete-Event System Specification). We use DEVS formal models to integrate models defined using Agent-Based Modeling and Network Theory. We present (1) anArchitectureto study Diffusion Processes in Multiplex dynamic networks (ADPM) and (2) a systematicProcessto define, implement, and simulate diffusion processes over such networks. We show a theoretical definition and a concrete implementation of ADPM. We show how to use ADPM and the process in a case study based on a real nuclear emergency plan; this illustrates the application of the process, the architecture, and the developed software. Different scenarios are studied as Diffusion Processes to demonstrate the usability of ADPM.
Diaphragm neuromuscular transmission failure in a mouse model of an early-onset neuromotor disorder
Authors: Fogarty Matthew J. , Brandenburg Joline E. , Sieck Gary C.
Published: December 2020

Individuals with motor control deficits, including cerebral palsy (CP) often have respiratory impairments. Glycine-receptor mutant spa mice have early-onset hypertonia, and limb motor impairments, similar to individuals with CP. We hypothesized that in the diaphragm of spa mice, disruption of glycinergic inputs to MNs would result in increased phrenic–DIAm neuromuscular transmission failure. Pathophysiologic abnormalities in neuromuscular transmission may contribute to respiratory dysfunction in conditions where early developmental MN loss or motor control deficits are apparent.
To move or not to move: motor cortical output is enhanced during pain observation regardless of motor preparation state
Authors: Galang Carl Michael , Obhi Sukhvinder S.
Published: December 2020

The current study provides novel results showing an increase motor cortical output, measured via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs), during empathic pain observation regardless of motor preparation state. Interestingly, this finding runs counter to the empathy for pain literature, which often finds a decrease in motor cortical output during empathic pain observation. We discuss potential explanations for this discrepancy and relate these results to the wider empathy for pain literature.
The
K
-Size Edge Metric Dimension of Graphs
Authors: Iqbal Tanveer , Azhar Muhammad Naeem , Ul Haq Bokhary Syed Ahtsham
Published: December 2020

In this paper, a new concept

k

-size edge resolving set for a connected graph

G

in the context of resolvability of graphs is defined. Some properties and realizable results on

k

-size edge resolvability of graphs are studied. The existence of this new parameter in different graphs is investigated, and the

k

-size edge metric dimension of path, cycle, and complete bipartite graph is computed. It is shown that these families have unbounded

k

-size edge metric dimension. Furthermore, the k-size edge metric dimension of the graphs Pm □ Pn, Pm □ Cn for m, n ≥ 3 and the generalized Petersen graph is determined. It is shown that these families of graphs have constant

k

-size edge metric dimension.
Electromagnetic Forces and Mechanical Responses of Stator Windings before and after Rotor Interturn Short Circuit in Synchronous Generators
Authors: Tang Gui-Ji , Jiang Hong-Chun , He Yu-Ling , Meng Qing-Fa
Published: December 2020

This paper studies the stator winding electromagnetic force behaviors before and after rotor inter-turn short circuit (RISC) in synchronous generator. Different from other studies, this paper not only studies the electromagnetic force characteristics, but also investigates the mechanical responses, the damage regularity, and the countermeasure of the stator winding. Firstly, formulas of electromagnetic force online and end part are obtained. Then, a 3D finite element model of a 3-pair-pole simulation generator is applied to get the electromagnetic force, and the dangerous stator slot is found. Finally, the mechanical response of each end winding is acquired, and especially the directional deformations of nose part are calculated. It shows that the occurrence of RISC will bring in times of rotor rotating frequency components to electromagnetic force, but the DC component and 2p times of rotor rotating frequency components are still the main that will be decreased. Additionally, the winding insulation wear in the same layer is more serious than that in a different layer, nose fatigue fracture begins with the center, and nose insulation wear starts from the top.
Diagnosis of Biliary Strictures Using Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy under the Direct View of Peroral Cholangioscopy: Results of a Prospective Study (with Video)
Authors: Tanisaka Yuki , Ryozawa Shomei , Nonaka Kouichi , Yasuda Masami , Fujita Akashi , Ogawa Tomoya , Mizuide Masafumi , Tashima Tomoaki , Araki Ryuichiro
Published: December 2020

Background. The accurate diagnosis of biliary strictures remains problematic. The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the clinical utility of probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) under the direct view of peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) for the diagnosis of biliary strictures. Methods. Consecutive patients with biliary strictures were included. We investigated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to diagnose malignancy for (1) ERCP alone, (2) POCS, (3) pCLE under the direct view of POCS, and (4) tissue sampling under the direct view of POCS. Results. A total of 30 patients (17 with malignant lesions) were prospectively enrolled. (1) ERCP alone showed 88.2% sensitivity, 46.2% specificity, and 70% (95% confidence interval (CI), 52.1%–83.3%) accuracy. (2) POCS showed 100% sensitivity, 76.9% specificity, and 90% (95% CI, 74.4%–96.5%) accuracy. (3) pCLE under the direct view of POCS showed 94.1% sensitivity, 92.3% specificity, and 93.3% (95% CI, 78.7%–98.8%) accuracy. (4) Tissue sampling under the direct view of POCS showed 82.4% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 90% (95% CI, 74.4%–96.5%) accuracy. Conclusions. pCLE under the direct view of POCS provided highly accurate and sensitive characterization of biliary strictures and showed the potential for more diagnostic reliability and reduction of delays in diagnosis. This trial was registered at UMIN (registration number: UMIN000033801).
Variable Aperture Method of Ultrasonic Annular Array for the Detection of Addictive Manufacturing Titanium Alloy
Authors: Li Wenchao , Chang Junjie , Li Wentao , Long Xiaoyun
Published: December 2020

The ultrasonic annular array transducer usually has a stronger focusing acoustic field than the linear array and matrix transducer with the same number of array elements, and is more suitable for the detection of large thickness and high attenuation components. However, due to the special arrangement of array elements, the focusing beam cannot be deflected and has a large near field, which limits its application in practical detection. The element parameters of annular array transducer are often designed and analyzed according to the 2-D acoustic field model of a linear array transducer. Therefore, the 3-D acoustic field distribution model of the annular array transducer is established, and the influence of the element parameters on its spatial acoustic field focusing characteristics is analyzed. The design criteria of the array element division mode and element size are proposed, which can avoid the generation of high-energy side lobe and grating lobe, and have good axial acoustic field. Then, the influence of excitation aperture on the energy and size of focal spot at different depths is discussed. The dynamic focusing method with variable aperture of annular array is established, and the C-scan detection experiment is carried out on the addictive manufacturing titanium alloy specimen. The detection results show that the variable aperture method has better central amplitude consistency and imaging accuracy for different depth defects, and has better near surface detection ability than the fixed aperture method.
Experimental and Analytical Study on Deformation Behavior in Hogging Moment Regions of Composite Beams
Authors: Song Aiming , Luo Qi , Wan Shui , Li Zhicong
Published: December 2020

The results of an experimental and analytical study on the static and fatigue behavior in steel‐concrete composite beams under the hogging moment were presented in this paper, and the structural deformation was discussed cautiously and emphatically. Firstly, the static and fatigue tests on three inverted simply supported beams were conducted. The development of cracks under static loading, the load‐deformation curves, and the values of residual deformation under fatigue load were recorded and analyzed in detail. Several meaningful conclusions were obtained from the analysis of experimental results. To study the development laws of residual deformation under fatigue load, the analytical methods of residual midspan deflection and residual rebar strain were proposed, respectively. The limitation and accuracy of the presented models were studied according to the comparison between the prediction and measured results. The calculation values of the proposed models showed good agreement with the test results. Finally, the design recommendations of fatigue deformation were proposed according to the experimental and analytical study on steel‐concrete composite beams subjected to hogging moment.
Review of Clinical Trials on the Effects of Tai Chi Practice on Primary Hypertension: The Current State of Study Design and Quality Control
Authors: Teng Yuke , Yang Sha , Chen Yuan , Guo Yuyi , Hu Yushi , Zhang Pan , Cao Jingya , Zhang Xinyue , Chen Yalan , Jiang Caili , Liu Tianyu , Zeng Fang
Published: December 2020

The modulation of Tai Chi in physiological function and psychological status attracts sustaining attention. This paper collected original articles regarding the effects of Tai Chi practice on modulating primary hypertension from 7 electronic databases (PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang Database, and China Science and Technology Journal Database) from their dates of origin to October 1st, 2020. A total of 45 articles were included. The literature analyses have shown that the benefits of Tai Chi practice for blood pressure management have been identified in all of the included 45 studies, and Tai Chi exercise has shown significant efficacy in improving hypertension clinical symptoms and quality of life, compared to the majority of control interventions, though there are also some methodological issues, including small sample sizes, lack of exact randomization methods and quality control criteria, and lack of specific standards used to measure the characteristics of Tai Chi practice. In the future, the inclusion of additional design standards, stricter quality controls, and evaluation measures for the features of Tai Chi practice is required in trials evaluating its effects on hypertension.
Comprehensive Management of Ectodermal Dysplasia with Interceptive Orthodontics in a Young Boy Who Was Bullied at School
Authors: Wimalarathna A. A. A. K. , Weerasekara W. B. M. C. R. D. , Herath E. M. U. C. K.
Published: December 2020

Aim. The management of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with oligodontia in Class-I malocclusion in late mix dentition. Case Report. An 11-year-old boy with ED was treated and managed by means of interceptive orthodontic treatment accompanied by direct and indirect restorative methods in a successful manner. The patient was prepared to receive definitive oral rehabilitation with dental implants for the missing teeth when the patient reaches a suitable age. The patient was followed for 5 years from the beginning of treatment. Conclusion. Management of the child with ectodermal dysplasia with oligodontia was a real challenge. Early diagnosis, necessary investigation, and providing age-appropriate multidisciplinary treatment were key steps in successful outcomes. The objectives were not only just orthodontic or paedodontics but also prosthetic and psychological.
The Survival Advantage of Females at Premenopausal Age Is Race Dependent in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Sheng Hui , Wei Xiaoli , Chen Qunxi , Huang Kewei , Han Runkun , Liu Yijun , Liu Wen , Mao Minjie
Published: December 2020

Background. A female prognostic advantage in younger individuals has been demonstrated in various cancers. Several large‐scale analyses based on different racial backgrounds have reported inconsistent results in colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of sex and age in patients with colorectal cancer of different ethnic groups. Methods. We identified 71,812 eligible patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. According to age at diagnosis, the patients were categorized into premenopausal age (≤45 yrs), menopausal age (46–54 yrs), and postmenopausal age (≥55 yrs) subgroups for further analysis. Results. Multivariate analysis identified the female survival advantage to be significant in the premenopausal age subgroup (P = 0.002, HR (95% CI): 0.73 (0.60–0.89)), diminished in the menopausal age subgroup (P = 0.09), and absent in the postmenopausal age subgroup (P = 0.96). Furthermore, the female survival advantage at premenopausal age was significant only in white patients (P = 0.001, HR (95% CI): 0.68 (0.54–0.87)) and not in either American Indian/Alaska Native or Asian or Pacific Islander patients. There was a trend of better survival of females in black patients (P = 0.07). Conclusions. Sex was a major prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients, especially premenopausal women, and the difference was also associated with race.
Numerical Simulation of Near-Surface Wind during a Severe Wind Event in a Complex Terrain by Multisource Data Assimilation and Dynamic Downscaling
Authors: Zhang De , Chen Luyuan , Zhang Feimin , Tan Juan , Wang Chenghai
Published: December 2020

Accurate forecast and simulation of near-surface wind is a great challenge for numerical weather prediction models due to the significant transient and intermittent nature of near-surface wind. Based on the analyses of the impact of assimilating in situ and Advanced Tiros Operational Vertical Sounder (ATOVS) satellite radiance data on the simulation of near-surface wind during a severe wind event, using the new generation mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and its three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system, the dynamic downscaling of near-surface wind is further investigated by coupling the microscale California Meteorological (CALMET) model with the WRF and its 3DVAR system. Results indicate that assimilating in situ and ATOVS radiance observations strengthens the airflow across the Alataw valley and triggers the downward transport of momentum from the upper atmosphere in the downstream area of the valley in the initial conditions, thus improving near-surface wind simulations. Further investigations indicate that the CALMET model provides more refined microtopographic structures than the WRF model in the vicinity of the wind towers. Although using the CALMET model achieves the best simulation of near-surface wind through dynamic downscaling of the output from the WRF and its 3DVAR assimilation, the simulation improvements of near-surface wind speed are mainly within 1 m s−1. Specifically, the mean improvement proportions of near-surface wind speed are 64.8% for the whole simulation period, 58.7% for the severe wind period, 68.3% for the severe wind decay period, and 75.4% for the weak wind period. The observed near-surface wind directions in the weak wind conditions are better simulated in the coupled model with CALMET downscaling than in the WRF and its 3DVAR system. It is concluded that the simulation improvements of CALMET downscaling are distinct when near-surface winds are weak, and the downscaling effects are mainly manifested in the simulation of near-surface wind directions.
Performance of Hybrid RF/FSO Cooperative Systems Based on Quasicyclic LDPC Codes and Space-Coupled LDPC Codes
Authors: Gueye Ibrahima , Dioum Ibra , Diop Idy , Keita K. Wane , Ndiaye Papis , Diallo Moussa , Farssi Sidi Mohamed
Published: December 2020

Free space optical (FSO) communication systems provide wireless line of sight connectivity in the unlicensed spectrum, and wireless optical communication achieves higher data rates compared to their radio frequency (RF) counterparts. FSO systems are particularly attractive for last mile access problem by bridging fiber optic backbone connectivity to RF access networks. To cope with this practical deployment scenario, there has been increasing attention to the so-called dual-hop (RF/FSO) systems where RF transmission is used at a hop followed by FSO transmission to another. In this article, we study the performance of cooperative transmission systems using a mixed RF-FSO DF (decode and forward) relay using error-correcting codes including QC-LDPC codes at the relay level. The FSO link is modeled by the gamma-gamma distribution, and the RF link is modeled by the Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) model. Another innovation in this article is the use of cooperative systems using a mixed FSO/RF DF relay using quasicyclic low-density parity check (QC-LDPC) codes at the relay level. We also use the space-coupled low-density parity check (SC-LDPC) codes on the same scheme to show its importance in cooperative optical transmission but also in hybrid RF/FSO transmission. The latter will be compared with QC-LDPC codes. The use of mixed RF/FSO cooperative transmission systems can improve the reliability and transmission of information in networks. The results demonstrate an improvement in the performance of the cooperative RF/FSO DF system based on QC-LDPC and SC-LDPC codes compared to RF/FSO systems without the use of codes, but also to the DF systems proposed in the existing literature.
Pharmacological Modulation of Cardiac Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Zhao Wei , Zhao Jia , Rong Jianhui
Published: December 2020

Cardiac remodeling describes a series of structural and functional changes in the heart after myocardial infarction (MI). Adverse post-MI cardiac remodeling directly jeopardizes the recovery of cardiac functions and the survival rate in MI patients. Several classes of drugs are proven to be useful to reduce the mortality of MI patients. However, it is an ongoing challenge to prevent the adverse effects of cardiac remodeling. The present review aims to identify the pharmacological therapies from the existing clinical drugs for the treatment of adverse post-MI cardiac remodeling. Post-MI cardiac remodeling is a complex process involving ischemia/reperfusion, inflammation, cell death, and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). Thus, the present review included two parts: (1) to examine the basic pathophysiology in the cardiovascular system and the molecular basis of cardiac remodeling and (2) to identify the pathological aspects of cardiac remodeling and the potential of the existing pharmacotherapies. Ultimately, the present review highlights drug repositioning as a strategy to discover effective therapies from the existing drugs against post-MI cardiac remodeling.
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Antifungal Effects of Essential Oil from Laurus nobilis L. Flowers Growing in Morocco
Authors: Mssillou Ibrahim , Agour Abdelkrim , El Ghouizi Asmae , Hamamouch Noureddine , Lyoussi Badiaa , Derwich Elhoussine
Published: December 2020

In this study, the chemical composition and the antioxidant and antifungal activities of essential oil from Laurus nobilis flowers were examined. The essential oil was prepared using steam distillation in a modified Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical composition of the obtained essential oil and chemotypes was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Twenty-five volatile compounds were identified, which made up 92.07% of the total essential oil content. The essential oil yield was 1.06% and the most abundant compounds were 1.8-cineole (45.01%), α-caryophyllene (7.54%), germacradienol (6.13%), limonene (4.69%), α-pinene (3.04%), and germacrene D (3.14%). The antifungal activity of the obtained essential oil was tested against seven fungal strains: Aspergillus clavatus, A. niger, Chaetomium globosum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Myrothecium verrucaria, Penicillium citrinum, and Trichoderma viride. The results indicated that essential oil from L. nobilis flowers exhibited significant antifungal activity against the tested fungal strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.05 to 0.46 mg/mL. The essential oil of L. nobilis also exhibited strong total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as indicated by its ability to scavenge free radical DPPH. Taken together, this study indicates that the essential oil from L. nobilis flowers possesses significant antifungal and antioxidant activities, possibly due to the high level of 1,8-cineole.
Molecular Insights into the MAPK Cascade during Viral Infection: Potential Crosstalk between HCQ and HCQ Analogues
Authors: Mohanta Tapan Kumar , Sharma Nanaocha , Arina Pietro , Defilippi Paola
Published: December 2020

The mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway links the cell‐surface receptors to the transcription machinery, transducing the extracellular signals into several outputs, which may also adapt the host defense mechanism to viral attacks. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) that causes the COrona VIrus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has infected upwards of nearly 70 million people and worldwide has claimed more than 1,600,000 deaths. So far, there continues to be no specific treatment for this novel coronavirus‐induced disease. In the search to control the global COVID‐19 pandemic, some eastern and developing countries have approved a variety of treatments with controversial efficacy, among which is the use of the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Interestingly, prior data had indicated that the HCQ/CQ could influence the MAPK cascade. The main aim of this review is to address molecular mechanisms, beyond drugs, that can be helpful against viral infection for this and future pandemics. We will highlight (1) the contribution of the MAPK cascade in viral infection and (2) the possible use of MAPK inhibitors in curbing viral infections, alone or in combination with HCQ and quinoline analogues. We are convinced that understanding the molecular patterns of viral infections will be critical for new therapeutical approaches to control this and other severe diseases.
A Novel Comprehensive Watermarking Scheme for Color Images
Authors: Duan Shaohua , Wang Hanwen , Liu Yunpeng , Huang Li , Zhou Xiaoyi
Published: December 2020

Watermarking technology is commonly used to solve various problems in digital rights management and multimedia security. If a watermarking scheme with multiple purposes applies single method, it will easily cause the destruction of the hidden messages in particular attacks. For the copyright protection and tamper detection of color images, this research proposed a robust-fragile watermarking scheme. The two different embedding schemes embed the watermark into the R layer and G layer after NSST (nonsubsampled shearlet transform) and DWT (discrete wavelet transform) transformation. The hash sequence generated by the R layer and the G layer is served as fragile watermarks and is embedded into the B layer by the LSB (least significant bit) method. Finally, an improved rotation correction is applied to better extract the watermark under the rotation attack. Experimental results show that the proposed method is more accurate than the existing ones in terms of rotation angle correction and can effectively resist general attacks such as noise, filtering, and JEPG compression. Moreover, the proposed fragile watermark can locate the tamper position when malicious tamper occurs. Except cropping attack, the true-positive rate (TPR) reaches 1 for all attacks.
Design and Workspace Analysis of a Differential Motion Rotary Style Breast Interventional Robot
Authors: Zhang Yongde , Sun Liyi , Liang Dexian , Du Haiyan
Published: December 2020

Introduction. Magnetic Resonance Imaging has better resolution for soft tissue; at the same time, the robot can work in a stable manner for a long time. MRI image-guided breast interventional robots have attracted much attention due to their minimally invasive nature and accuracy. In this paper, a hydraulic-driven MRI-compatible breast interventional robot is proposed to perform breast interventional procedure. Methods. First is the analysis of the design requirements of the hydraulic-driven MRI-compatible breast interventional robot, and then the design scheme is determined. Second, the three-dimensional model and the link frames are established. The workspace of the robot end point is solved by MATLAB/Simulink software. Then, the 3D printing technology is used to make a physical model of the MRI-compatible breast interventional robot. After assembly and debugging, the physical model is used for workspace verification, and the simulation result of the workspace shows that it is correct. Finally, the experimental research on the positioning error of the hydraulic drive is carried out, which established the theoretical foundation for the follow-up control research of the robot. Results. The positioning error has nothing to do with the motion distance, speed, and length of the selected tubing. The errors are 0.564 mm, 0.534 mm, and 0.533 mm at different distances of 40 mm, 80 mm, and 120 mm, respectively. The errors are 0.552 mm, 0.564 mm, and 0.559 mm at different speeds of 3 mm/s, 5 mm/s, and 8 mm/s, respectively. The errors are 0.564 mm, 0.568 mm, and 0.548 mm for different lengths of 0.5 m, 1 m, and 1.6 m, respectively. Then, the robot’s working space on the

X
O
Z

plane and the

X
O
Y

plane meets the conditions. Conclusion. The structure of a differential rotary breast interventional robot is determined, with the link frames assigned to the mechanism and the Denavit-Hartenberg parameters given. Workspace simulation of MRI-compatible breast interventional robot is done in MATLAB. The 3D printed MRI-compatible breast interventional robot is assembled and debugged to verify that its working space and positioning error meet the requirements.
Caring-Related Chronic Low Back Pain and Associated Factors among Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Ramezani Mehdi , Eghlidi Jandark , Pourghayoomi Ehsan , Mohammadi Saeed
Published: December 2020

Background. Literature indicated some risk factors for low back pain; however, there is insufficient knowledge on the effect of caring-related physical activities and individual characteristics on Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) in mothers of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Objective. The main aim of the current study was to determine the association between caring-related physical activities, Body Mass Index (BMI), education level, and CLBP in mothers of children with CP. Design. Case-control observational study. Setting. Pediatric rehabilitation clinics. Participants. Mothers of children with CP. Main Outcome Measures. Measures is comprised of a self-administered questionnaire that included the demographic characteristics items, pain visual analog scale, and three items of the job-related physical demands questionnaire. The logistic regression model served to assess the association. Results. The control group included 81 healthy mothers, with a mean (SD) age of 39 (8.45) years, and the case group contained 90 mothers who suffered from CLBP, with a mean (SD) age of 37 (8.64) years. Performing lifting movements (OR 13.73,

β
=
2.62

,

p
<
.001

), BMI (OR 11.85,

β
=
2.47

,

p
=
.011

), repetitive bending (OR 7.67,

β
=
2.04

,

p
=
.010

), forward-flexion (OR 6.71,

β
=
1.91

,

p
=
.033

), and level of education (OR .21,

β
=
−
1.53

,

p
=
.020

), in descending order of odds ratios, were found to be significant predictors of the CLBP in mothers of children with CP. Conclusion. Avoiding caring-related harmful physical activities, maintaining body weight within a healthy range, and increasing knowledge for accurate lifting/handling techniques can be helpful to prevent the CLBP in mothers of children with CP.
Ophiopogonin D Increases SERCA2a Interaction with Phospholamban by Promoting CYP2J3 Upregulation
Authors: Wang Jia , You Wenting , Wang Ningning , Zhou Wei , Ge Yunxuan , Ma Zengchun , Tan Hongling , Wang Yuguang , Gao Yue
Published: December 2020

Ophiopogonin D (OPD), a compound from the Chinese herb Radix Ophiopogonis, reportedly induces increased levels of cytochrome P450 2J3 (CYP2J3)/epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and Ca2+ in rat cardiomyocytes. Little is known regarding the specific mechanism between CYP2J3 and Ca2+ homeostasis. Here, we investigated whether CYP2J3 is involved in the protective action of OPD on the myocardium by activating the Ca2+ homeostasis-related protein complex (SERCA2a and PLB) in H9c2 rat cardiomyoblast cells. The interaction between SERCA2a and PLB was measured using fluorescence resonance energy transfer. OPD attenuated heart failure and catalyzed the active transport of Ca2+ into the sarcoplasmic reticulum by inducing the phosphorylation of PLB and promoting the SERCA2a activity. These beneficial effects of OPD on heart failure were abolished after knockdown of CYP2J3 in a model of heart failure. Together, our results identify CYP2J3 as a critical intracellular target for OPD and unravel a mechanism of CYP2J3-dependent regulation of intracellular Ca2+.
Joint Investigation and 3D Visual Evaluation of Rock Mass Quality
Authors: Yuan Haiping , Chen Chenghao , Wang Yixian , Bian Hanbing , Liu Yan
Published: December 2020

In order to realize the high efficiency quality classification and three‐dimensional visualization of engineering rock mass and to solve the technical difficulties of the traditional rock mass quality evaluation method such as high labor intensity, long process time consumption, many intervention processes such as scale measurement and manual calculation, and nonintuitive classification results, this paper puts forward a 3D visual rock mass quality evaluation method and system based on close‐range photography, which optimizes the traditional rock mass quality evaluation method, makes the rock mass classification three‐dimensional and visible, and realizes the estimation of unrevealed rock mass quality evaluation index. The research results show the following: (1) The method of storing joint information by close‐range photography and extracting joint information by human‐computer interaction improves the working efficiency and the process is safe and controllable compared with the traditional method of collecting fracture parameters. (2) Based on the statistical analysis of 97 groups of roadway survey data, the comprehensive statistical regression formula between BQ value of Chinese national standard and RMR value is given, and there is a good correlation between BQ value and RMR value of rock mass quality index. (3) Based on the power‐inverse ratio method, the three‐dimensional model of rock mass classification of the mine was established, and the cutting model obtained the current distribution diagram of rock mass quality grade, providing scientific reference for drilling, blasting, support, and other production design optimizations.
Generalization of the Convective Flow of Brinkman-Type Fluid Using Fourier’s and Fick’s Laws: Exact Solutions and Entropy Generation
Authors: Sheikh Nadeem Ahmad , Chuan Ching Dennis Ling , Khan Ilyas , Sakidin Hamzah bin
Published: December 2020

A new scheme to formulating the Caputo time-fractional model for the flow of Brinkman-type fluid between the plates was introduced by using the generalized laws of Fourier and Fick. Within a channel, free convection flow of the electrically conducted Brinkman-type fluid was considered. A newly generated transformation was applied to the heat and mass concentration equations. The governing equations were solved by the techniques of Fourier sine and the Laplace transforms. In terms of the special function, namely, the Mittag-Leffler function, final solutions were obtained. The entropy generation and Bejan number are also calculated for the given flow. To explain the conceptual arguments of the embedded parameters, separate plots are represented in figures and are often quantitatively computed and presented in tables. It is worth noting that for increasing the values of the Brinkman-type fluid parameter, the velocity profile decreases. The regression analysis shows that the variation in the velocity for time parameter is statistically significant.
An Adaptive Grid and Incentive Mechanism for Personalized Differentially Private Location Data in the Local Setting
Authors: Jung Kangsoo , Park Seog
Published: December 2020

With the proliferation of wireless communication and mobile devices, various location-based services are emerging. For the growth of the location-based services, more accurate and various types of personal location data are required. However, concerns about privacy violations are a significant obstacle to obtain personal location data. In this paper, we propose a local differential privacy scheme in an environment where there is no trusted third party to implement privacy protection techniques and incentive mechanisms to motivate users to provide more accurate location data. The proposed local differential privacy scheme allows a user to set a personalized safe region that he/she can disclose and then perturb the user’s location within the safe region. It is the way to satisfy the user’s various privacy requirements and improve data utility. The proposed incentive mechanism has two models, and both models pay the incentive differently according to the user’s safe region size to motivate to set a more precise safe region. We verify the proposed local differential privacy algorithm and incentive mechanism can satisfy the privacy protection level while achieving the desirable utility through the experiment.
Do que estamos falando quando falamos de Escrita Criativa
Authors: Amabile Luís Roberto
Published: December 2020

O presente ensaio discute a Escrita Criativa como um espaço de encontro. A discussão se alicerça por meio de uma cartografia de definições de Escrita Criativa, mesclada às reflexões advindas da experiência do autor como ministrante de oficinas e pesquisador da área. A metodologia consiste em investigar fontes diversas, como sites de universidades, trabalhos acadêmicos, livros teóricos, manuais, centrais de acolhimentos de escritores e, por fim, relatar experiências pessoais como ministrante de oficinas e cursos de Escrita Criativa para propor uma definição própria. A base teórica inclui Karen Lockney, D. G. Myers, Paul Dawson, Mark Mcgurl, João de Mancelos e Luiz Antonio de Assis Brasil.
Rimando versos, tecendo encontros: batalhas de poesia em Salvador/Bahia
Authors: Gama Danielle Marcia Hachmann de Lacerda da
Published: December 2020

As batalhas de poesia autoral conhecidas como slams se espalharam pelo país desde sua primeira edição, realizada em São Paulo, em 2008. Poetas e público se encontram em performances que buscam criar espaços democráticos de expressão, através da poesia e do uso do corpo. Estes eventos têm sido promovidos em especial em locais periféricos de centros urbanos, em que mais se percebem as carências e opressões impostas por desigualdades sociais e diversos tipos de violência. Este artigo propõe reflexões que se baseiam em nossa pesquisa de mestrado, em que acompanhamos o cenário do slam na cidade de Salvador/Bahia, durante os anos de 2017 e 2018. Baseamo-nos, para tal, nos Estudos de Performance e utilizamos a descrição etnográfica, através de observação participante e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Neste texto, analisamos os encontros que se estabelecem nas e ao redor das batalhas, através dos quais seus atores comunicam e socializam vivências, potencializando vozes e aprendizados de grupos e identidades marginalizados.
espaço do jornalismo econômico na França
Authors: Duval Julien , Meirelles Allana , Pocai Stella Marcello Giovanni
Published: December 2020

Este artigo se propõe a discutir o problema da independência do jornalismo em relação à economia, a partir da análise do subespaço do jornalismo econômico do fim dos anos 1990, na França. A partir de uma análise de correspondências múltiplas, demonstramos a estrutura desse subespaço. A posição dominante de um jornalismo que acumula atributos de profissionalismo, mesmo sendo feito em empresas dependentes do campo econômico, apresenta-se como uma das características mais importantes do espaço. Análises complementares, com base em variáveis suplementares e exploração pós-fatorial, confirmam o que a estrutura do espaço deixava entrever: o conteúdo das páginas e subseções econômicas nos veículos de comunicação deve sua existência à demanda de informações práticas, que vêm dos “agentes econômicos”, particularmente dos executivos e tomadores de decisão. Uma última parte coloca em evidência as transformações dos últimos vinte anos, que tiveram grande peso em jornais relevantes, explorando sua contribuição para a compreensão do estado atual do jornalismo econômico, caracterizado por sua baixa autonomia.