bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constraints in Clinical Cardiology and Personalized Medicine: Interrelated Concepts in Clinical Cardiology
Authors: Lourida Katerina G. , Louridas George E.
Published: May 2021

Systems biology is established as an integrative computational analysis methodology with practical and theoretical applications in clinical cardiology. The integration of genetic and molecular components of a disease produces interacting networks, modules and phenotypes with clinical applications in complex cardiovascular entities. With the holistic principle of systems biology, some of the features of complexity and natural progression of cardiac diseases are approached and explained. Two important interrelated holistic concepts of systems biology are described; the emerging field of personalized medicine and the constraint-based thinking with downward causation. Constraints in cardiovascular diseases embrace three scientific fields related to clinical cardiology: biological and medical constraints; constraints due to limitations of current technology; and constraints of general resources for better medical coverage. Systems healthcare and personalized medicine are connected to the related scientific fields of: ethics and legal status; data integration; taxonomic revisions; policy decisions; and organization of human genomic data.
The Impact of Amount of Cu on CO2 Reduction Performance of Cu/TiO2 with NH3 and H2O
Authors: Nishimura Akira , Sakakibara Yoshito , Koshio Akira , Hu Eric
Published: May 2021

This study has investigated the impact of molar ratio of CO2 to reductants NH3 and H2O as well as that of Cu loading on CO2 reduction characteristics over Cu/TiO2. No study to optimize the reductants’ combination and Cu loading weight in order to enhance CO2 reduction performance of TiO2 has been investigated yet. This study prepared Cu/TiO2 film by loading Cu particles during the pulse arc plasma gun process after coating TiO2 film by the sol-gel and dip-coating process. As to loading weight of Cu, it was regulated by change in the pulse number. This study characterized the prepared Cu/TiO2 film by SEM and EPMA. Additionally, the performance of CO2 reduction has been investigated under the illumination condition of Xe lamp with or without ultraviolet (UV) light. It is revealed that the molar ratio of CO2/NH3/H2O is optimized according to the pulse number. Since the amount of H+ which is the same as that of electron is needed to produce CO decided following the theoretical CO2 reduction reacting with H2O or NH3, larger H+ is needed with the increase in the pulse number. It is revealed that Cu of 4.57 wt% for the pulse number of 200 is the optimum condition, whereas the molar quantity of CO per unit weight of Cu/TiO2 with and without UV light illumination is 34.1 mol/g and 12.0 mol/g, respectively.
Shark New Antigen Receptor (IgNAR): Structure, Characteristics and Potential Biomedical Applications
Authors: Juma Salma Nassor , Gong Xiaoxia , Hu Sujie , Lv Zhengbing , Shao Jianzhong , Liu Lili , Chen Guiqian
Published: May 2021

Shark is a cartilaginous fish that produces new antigen receptor (IgNAR) antibodies. This antibody is identified with a similar human heavy chain but dissimilar sequences. The variable domain (VNAR) of IgNAR is stable and small in size, these features are desirable for drug discovery. Previous study results revealed the effectiveness of VNAR as a single molecule or a combination molecule to treat diseases both in vivo and in vitro with promising clinical applications. We showed the first evidence of IgNAR alternative splicing from spotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum), broadening our understanding of the IgNARs characteristics. In this review, we summarize the discoveries on IgNAR with a focus on its advantages for therapeutic development based on its peculiar biochemistry and molecular structure. Proper applications of IgNAR will provide a novel avenue to understand its special presence in cartilaginous fishes as well as designing a number of drugs for undefeated diseases.
Pericoronary Adipose Tissue Attenuation Is Associated with High-Risk Plaque and Subsequent Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Yuvaraj Jeremy , Lin Andrew , Nerlekar Nitesh , Munnur Ravi K. , Cameron James D. , Dey Damini , Nicholls Stephen J. , Wong Dennis T. L.
Published: May 2021

Background: High-risk plaques (HRP) detected on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) confer an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCAT) is a novel biomarker of coronary inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the association of PCAT with HRP and subsequent ACS development in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Patients with stable CAD who underwent coronary CTA from 2011 to 2016 and had available outcome data were included. We studied 41 patients with HRP propensity matched to 41 controls without HRP (60 ± 10 years, 67% males). PCAT was assessed using semi-automated software on a per-patient basis in the proximal right coronary artery (PCATRCA) and a per-lesion basis (PCATLesion) around HRP in cases and the highest-grade stenosis lesions in controls. Results: PCATRCA and PCATLesion were higher in HRP patients than controls (PCATRCA: −80.7 ± 6.50 HU vs. −84.2 ± 8.09 HU, p = 0.03; PCATLesion: −79.6 ± 7.86 HU vs. −84.2 ± 10.3 HU, p = 0.04), and were also higher in men (PCATRCA: −80.5 ± 7.03 HU vs. −86.1 ± 7.08 HU, p < 0.001; PCATLesion: −79.6 ± 9.06 HU vs. −85.2 ± 7.96 HU, p = 0.02). Median time to ACS was 1.9 years, within a median follow-up of 5.3 years. PCATRCA alone was higher in HRP patients who subsequently presented with ACS (−76.8 ± 5.69 HU vs. −82.0 ± 6.32 HU, p = 0.03). In time-dependent analysis, ACS was associated with HRP and PCATRCA. Conclusions: PCAT attenuation is increased in stable CAD patients with HRP and is associated with subsequent ACS development. Further investigation is required to determine the clinical implications of these findings.
PD-1 and LAG-3 Checkpoint Blockade: Potential Avenues for Therapy in B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Tobin Joshua W. D. , Bednarska Karolina , Campbell Ashlea , Keane Colm
Published: May 2021

The dependence of cancer on an immunotolerant tumor microenvironment (TME) is well established. Immunotherapies that overcome tumor-induced immune suppression have been central to recent advancements in oncology. This is highlighted by the success of agents that interrupt PD-1 mediated immune suppression in a range of cancers. However, while PD-1 blockade has been paradigm-shifting in many malignancies, the majority of cancers show high rates of primary resistance to this approach. This has led to a rapid expansion in therapeutic targeting of other immune checkpoint molecules to provide combination immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), with one such promising approach is blockade of Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 (LAG-3). Clinically, lymphoproliferative disorders show a wide spectrum of responses to ICB. Specific subtypes including classical Hodgkin lymphoma have demonstrated striking efficacy with anti-PD-1 therapy. Conversely, early trials of ICB have been relatively disappointing in common subtypes of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In this review, we describe the TME of common lymphoma subtypes with an emphasis on the role of prominent immune checkpoint molecules PD-1 and LAG3. We will also discuss current clinical evidence for ICB in lymphoma and highlight key areas for further investigation where synergistic dual checkpoint blockade of LAG-3 and PD-1 could be used to overcome ICB resistance.
The Role of Caregiver’s Feeding Pattern in the Association between Parents’ and Children’s Healthy Eating Behavior: Study in Taichung, Taiwan
Authors: Liao Hung-En , Deng Yueen-Mei
Published: May 2021

While parenting style has been linked with parent feeding behavior (FB), little is known about the role FB plays in the relationship between parents’ eating behavior (PEB) and children’s eating behavior (CEB). Based on social learning theory, we hypothesized that children learn to develop healthy CEB by obeying and imitating parents’ healthy eating and feeding behaviors, and that FB is the mediator between PEB and CEB. In total, 257 survey responses from parents of children up to 5 years old were included in the study. Results indicated that CEB did not differ by children’s age, gender, or birth order; for parents, older age and lower educational levels were associated with less healthy unhealthier FB and PEB. Healthy PEB and FB explained 46.8% and 21.7% of the variance in healthy CEB, respectively. The model confirmed that FB reduced the coefficient of healthy PEB from 0.563 to 0.468 and increased the variance explained from 35.0% to 38.5%. FB was a mediator for PEB and CEB. Discussion covers the complexity of ideal parenting styles and child feeding and their associated effects on CEB in varied environments, including different cultures. We concluded that PEB was the main predictor of CEB, and healthy feeding acted as a mediator.
School Satisfaction and Happiness in 10-Year-Old Children from Seven European Countries
Authors: Gómez-Baya Diego , García-Moro Francisco José , Muñoz-Silva Alicia , Martín-Romero Nuria
Published: May 2021

School satisfaction is conceptualized as a crucial factor influencing children´s happiness and consequent healthy functioning in multiple developmental areas. Research to date has mainly evaluated how contextual factors related to the interactions between the student, teachers and classmates influence children’s happiness, not considering other important factors more related to their own student experiences. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of school satisfaction on happiness in 10-year-old children from Europe. Children’s global school satisfaction levels, as well as different separate indicators of school satisfaction (i.e., satisfaction with other children in class; school marks; school life experience as a student; things they have learned; and relationships with teachers) were considered. The study comprised a sample of 7.445 10-year-old children from seven European countries. First, correlation analysis showed that the overall school satisfaction measure, as well as its different indicators, had positive associations with happiness levels. Second, regression analyses confirmed the effect by indicators of global school satisfaction on happiness. The indicators with the strongest effects were the satisfaction with their life as a student and the satisfaction with other children in the class, while the smallest effects were found regarding the satisfaction with the relationships with teachers and the things learned. These results point out the need to consider personal and contextual indicators of school satisfaction in a program design to foster happiness in 10-year-old children.
Update on Metabolic Bariatric Surgery for Morbidly Obese Adolescents
Authors: Till Holger , Mann Oliver , Singer Georg , Weihrauch-Blüher Susann
Published: May 2021

Despite worldwide public attention and intense medical efforts, the prevalence of severe morbid obesity in children and adolescents is still rising. Similar to adults, excess adipose tissue triggers multiple immunological and metabolic pathways leading to serious co-morbidities such as impaired glucose tolerance or even type 2 diabetes (T2D), dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hyperuricemia. The management of severe childhood obesity requires a life-long multidisciplinary approach with a combination of lifestyle changes, nutrition, and medications. Standardized life-style intervention programs remain the first-line treatment for morbid obese children and adolescents, but unfortunately reveal limited long-term success. In such cases, metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) has evolved from being a controversial issue to being included in distinct recommendations. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Pediatric Committee, indications for bariatric surgery in adolescence must follow very strict criteria. Adolescents with class II obesity (BMI > 120% of the 95th percentile) and a diagnosed co-morbidity or with class III obesity (BMI ≥ 140% of the 95th percentile) should be considered for MBS. These interventions represent high-risk operations, and adolescents should be treated in specialized, multidisciplinary high-volume obesity centers with long-term follow-up programs. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) remains the gold standard of all malabsorptive procedures. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), which the authors pioneered as a stand-alone procedure in morbidly obese adolescents in 2008, has become the most commonly performed operation in morbidly obese adolescents at present. Recent literature proves that MBS is safe and effective in morbidly obese adolescents. Mid-term data have revealed significant improvement or even resolution of major co-morbidities. Thus, MBS for the treatment of morbidly obese adolescents has evolved from being a controversial issue to being included in distinct recommendations by several medical societies as a therapeutic strategy to reduce severe co-morbidities potentially causing end-organ damage in adulthood.
Dialogic Reading to Empower Executive Functions in Preschoolers
Authors: Ruffini Costanza , Spoglianti Silvia , Bombonato Clara , Bonetti Silvia , Di Lieto Maria Chiara , Pecini Chiara
Published: May 2021

Among the interventions recently developed to enhance Executive Functions (EFs) in preschoolers, Quincey Quokka’s Quest (QQQ) is an illustrated book proposing EF activities embedded within a shared reading framework (Howard et al., 2017). In the present study, the Italian version of QQQ (QQQIT) was tested in 20 typical developing 4–5 year old children. Standardized tests were used to assess EFs pre- and post- intervention. QQQIT was conducted once a week for 8 weeks in small groups. A positive trend was registered in QQQIT performances from the first to the last sessions and a significant improvement, in comparison to the control condition, was obtained in the Color and Form Game test. These results, supporting the feasibility of the QQQIT intervention and its efficacy in increasing shifting abilities, confirm the usefulness of ecological interventions to empower specific EF components in preschool contexts.
Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis and Hypercalcemia with Nephrocalcinosis in Infancy: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Chrysaidou Katerina , Sargiotis Georgios , Karava Vasiliki , Liasis Dimitrios , Gourvas Victor , Moutsanas Vissarios , Christoforidis Athanasios , Stabouli Stella
Published: May 2021

Subcutaneous fat necrosis is an uncommon benign panniculitis affecting more commonly full-term newborns. It has been associated with birth asphyxia and meconium aspiration, as well as therapeutic hypothermia. Although the prognosis is generally favorable, complications such as hypercalcemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia may complicate its course. The most serious complication is hypercalcemia that may reach life threatening levels and can be associated with nephrocalcinosis. We thereby describe a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis after therapeutic hypothermia, which presented with late-onset refractory severe hypercalcemia and persistent nephrocalcinosis during the follow up of the patient. Due to the risk of the development of chronic kidney disease, we highlight the importance of careful monitoring of hypercalcemia and review the literature of subcutaneous fat necrosis related to nephrocalcinosis.
Influence of the Coupling South Atlantic Convergence Zone-El Niño-Southern Oscillation (SACZ-ENSO) on the Projected Precipitation Changes over the Central Andes
Authors: Sulca Juan C. , Rocha Rosmeri P. da
Published: May 2021

There are no studies related to the influence of the coupling between the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) pattern variability on future changes in the austral summer (December-February, DJF) precipitation over the central Andes. Therefore, we evaluated the historical simulations (1980–2005) and projections (2070–2099) for the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP 8.5) scenario of 25 global climate models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5). Moreover, we also consider the Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4) projections nested in three CMIP5 GCMs (GFDL-ESM2M, MPI-ESM-MR, and HadGEM2-ES) under RCP 8.5. We separate the CMIP5 GCMs according to their abilities to simulate the nonlinear characteristics of ENSO and the SACZ for the historical period. We found that only three out of 25 CMIP5 GCMs (hereafter group A) simulate the nonlinear characteristics of ENSO and the SACZ during the historical period. Although most CMIP5 GCM project DJF precipitation decreases over the central Andes, group A project precipitation increases related to the projected increase in deep convection over the central Peruvian Amazon. On the regional scale, only RegGFDL (nested in a group A CMIP5 GCM) projects a statistically significant increase in DJF precipitation (~5–15%) over the northern central Andes and the central Peruvian Amazon. Conversely, all RegCM4 simulations project a decrease in DJF precipitation (~−10%) over the southern central Andes.
Glass-Ceramic Materials Obtained by Sintering of Vitreous Powders from Industrial Waste: Production and Properties
Authors: Ayala Valderrama Diana M. Ayala , Cuaspud Jairo A. Gómez , Taniolo Nicoletta , Boccaccini Aldo R.
Published: May 2021

Glass-ceramics are advanced inorganic silicate materials that can be obtained by sintering glass powders using a careful temperature control to result in the densification, nucleation, and crystallization of the material. In the current work, three different samples were obtained starting from amorphous silicate materials derived from mixtures of metallurgical slag, coal fly ash, and glass cullet, mixed in different proportions. The as-received waste samples were heat-treated to high temperatures to achieve complete melting at 1200, 1300, and 1400 °C for two hours, performing a rapid cooling in order to yield an amorphous material (glass). The obtained frit was ball-milled to a powder, which was then cold pressed to obtain compact pellets. The thermal treatment of pellets was carried out at 800–1100 °C for 2 h followed by a cooling rate of 10 °C/min to obtain the final glass-ceramics. The microstructure of samples was evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed heterogeneous conglomerates and clusters of ~20 microns. The formation of crystalline phases was corroborated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, showing the presence of anorthite in all samples. Depending on the sample composition, other crystalline phases such as augite, enstatite, and diopside were detected. Using the Debye–Scherrer equation, it was possible to find the average size of the nano-crystalline domains. The quantification of the non-crystalline or amorphous fraction was also performed. Additionally, the density and porosity of the materials were calculated using the procedures defined in the ASTM C373 and ASTM C20 standards, measuring density values in the range 2.2–3.1 g·cm−3. The apparent porosity was approx. 33% in the three materials. Raman spectroscopy analysis showed characteristic signals associated with crystalline phases containing alumina, silica, iron, and calcium. Overall, the study confirmed the possibility of obtaining glass-ceramics with fine (nanometric) crystal sizes from a combination of silicate waste and the capability of modifying the crystalline composition by changing the proportions of the different wastes in the initial formulations.
An Overview of the Compton Scattering Calculation
Authors: Qiao Chen-Kai , Wei Jian-Wei , Chen Lin
Published: May 2021

The Compton scattering process plays significant roles in atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics and material science. It could provide useful information on the electromagnetic interaction between light and matter. Several aspects of many-body physics, such us electronic structures, electron momentum distributions, many-body interactions of bound electrons, etc., can be revealed by Compton scattering experiments. In this work, we give a review of ab initio calculation of Compton scattering process. Several approaches, including the free electron approximation (FEA), impulse approximation (IA), incoherent scattering function/incoherent scattering factor (ISF) and scattering matrix (SM) are focused on in this work. The main features and available ranges for these approaches are discussed. Furthermore, we also briefly introduce the databases and applications for Compton scattering.
Prediction on Permeability of Engineered Cementitious Composites
Authors: Wang Qiannan , Zhang Guoshuai , Tong Yunyun , Gu Chunping
Published: May 2021

Permeability of concrete is regarded as a basic indicator of its durability. This paper proposed a simple model to predict the permeability of engineered cementitious composites (ECC), which are fiber reinforced cementitious composites with extremely high ductility and toughness. The permeability of cement paste in ECC was firstly determined based on the general effective media theory. The needed microstructure information of cement paste was obtained from a simulated microstructure. Porosity of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) was obtained with an ITZ porosity model, and then used to calculate the permeability of ITZ. The permeability of the matrix was determined according to the general self-consistent scheme, and the influence of fiber was simplified with its volume fraction. The calculated permeability of ECC was verified with results from water permeability tests and the accuracy of the model was acceptable for cement-based materials.
Leukemia Cell Lines: In Vitro Models for the Study of Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia
Authors: Drexler Hans G. , Nagel Stefan , Quentmeier Hilmar
Published: May 2021

Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm that is genetically characterized by the absence of both the Philadelphia chromosome and BCR-ABL1 fusion gene and the high prevalence of mutations in the colony-stimulating factor 3 receptor (CSF3R). Additional disease-modifying mutations have been recognized in CNL samples, portraying a distinct mutational landscape. Despite the growing knowledge base on genomic aberrations, further progress could be gained from the availability of representative models of CNL. To address this gap, we screened a large panel of available leukemia cell lines, followed by a detailed mutational investigation with focus on the CNL-associated candidate driver genes. The sister cell lines CNLBC-1 and MOLM-20 were derived from a patient with CNL and carry CNL-typical molecular hallmarks, namely mutations in several genes, such as CSF3R, ASXL1, EZH2, NRAS, and SETBP1. The use of these validated and comprehensively characterized models will benefit the understanding of the pathobiology of CNL and help inform therapeutic strategies.
Three Cases of Lymphocytic Infiltration of the Eyelid
Authors: Sugioka Kyoko , Hayashi Akinobu , Ichishi Masako , Sugimoto Yasuko , Habe Koji , Yamanaka Keiichi
Published: May 2021

Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (LIS), first reported by Jessner and Kanof in 1953, is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by erythematous papules and plaques on the head, neck, and upper back and histopathological findings of a normal epidermis with underlying lymphocytic infiltration of the reticular dermis without mucin deposition. A 69-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman presented with edematous indurative erythema of the left upper eyelid. Lymphocytic infiltration of the dermis with CD4+ T cell predominance was noted on biopsy. A 68-year-old man presented with a four-year history of recurrent edematous indurative erythema of the right upper eyelid that extended up to the right cheek. Predominantly dermal infiltration of CD8+ T lymphocytes was found on biopsy. We treated all three patients with 8–16 mg of methylprednisolone daily, and the erythema and induration improved. CD4+ T cells were predominant in the acute phase (patients 1 and 2), whereas CD8+ T cells were predominant in the chronic phase (patient 3). CD8+ T cells may be involved in LIS recurrence. Lymphocytic infiltration of the eyelid may be associated with isolated circumscribed, edematous, indurative, colorless lesions that are responsive to daily low-to-middle doses of oral methylprednisolone.
A Unique Transdisciplinary Engineering-Based Integrated Approach for the Design of Temporary Refugee Housing Using Kano, HOQ/QFD, TRIZ, AD, ISM and DSM Tools
Authors: Moran Daniel , Ertas Atila , Gulbulak Utku
Published: May 2021

The continued displacement of refugees from their homes and homelands (now greater than 50 million people worldwide) places increased focus and attention on evolving the designs of temporary housing that is available to be provided to the refugee population, especially in rural areas where housing does not already exist and must be constructed in very little time. Complex engineering problems involving social issues, such as this case study, benefit from the use of Integrated Transdisciplinary (TD) Tools (ITDT) to effectively and efficiently address the design questions related to them. The integrated use of TD Tools such as Kano Analysis, KJ Diagrams, Critical to Quality (CTQ), House of Quality (HOQ)/Quality Function Design (QFD), Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), Axiomatic Design (AD), Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), and Design Structure Matrix (DSM) through an end-to-end unique design process leads to innovation and elimination of design conflicts for especially complicated design problems. The objective of this study is to examine the design of temporary refugee housing using integrated TD tools mentioned above. This research concludes that the use of the ITDT approach provides an innovative, decoupled design.
Detection of Microcalcifications in Spiral Breast Computed Tomography with Photon-Counting Detector Is Feasible: A Specimen Study
Authors: Wetzl Matthias , Wenkel Evelyn , Balbach Eva , Dethlefsen Ebba , Hartmann Arndt , Emons Julius , Kuhl Christiane , Beckmann Matthias W. , Uder Michael , Ohlmeyer Sabine
Published: May 2021

The primary objective of the study was to compare a spiral breast computed tomography system (SBCT) to digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for the detection of microcalcifications (MCs) in breast specimens. The secondary objective was to compare various reconstruction modes in SBCT. In total, 54 breast biopsy specimens were examined with mammography as a standard reference, with DBT, and with a dedicated SBCT containing a photon-counting detector. Three different reconstruction modes were applied for SBCT datasets (Recon1 = voxel size (0.15 mm)3, smooth kernel; Recon2 = voxel size (0.05 mm)3, smooth kernel; Recon3 = voxel size (0.05 mm)3, sharp kernel). Sensitivity and specificity of DBT and SBCT for the detection of suspicious MCs were analyzed, and the McNemar test was used for comparisons. Diagnostic confidence of the two readers (Likert Scale 1 = not confident; 5 = completely confident) was analyzed with ANOVA. Regarding detection of MCs, reader 1 had a higher sensitivity for DBT (94.3%) and Recon2 (94.9%) compared to Recon1 (88.5%; p < 0.05), while sensitivity for Recon3 was 92.4%. Respectively, reader 2 had a higher sensitivity for DBT (93.0%), Recon2 (92.4%), and Recon3 (93.0%) compared to Recon1 (86.0%; p < 0.05). Specificities ranged from 84.7–94.9% for both readers (p > 0.05). The diagnostic confidence of reader 1 was better with SBCT than with DBT (DBT 4.48 ± 0.88, Recon1 4.77 ± 0.66, Recon2 4.89 ± 0.44, and Recon3 4.75 ± 0.72; DBT vs. Recon1/2/3: p < 0.05), while reader 2 found no differences. Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of MCs in breast specimens is equal for DBT and SBCT when a small voxel size of (0.05 mm)3 is used with an equal or better diagnostic confidence for SBCT compared to DBT.
Effect of Perineural Injection with Different Dextrose Volumes on Median Nerve Size, Elasticity and Mobility in Hands with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Lin Meng-Ting , Liu I-Chun , Syu Wei-Ting , Kuo Po-Ling , Wu Chueh-Hung
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different injectate volumes on ultrasonographic parameters and the correlation to clinical outcomes under perineural dextrose injection (PDI). In this post hoc analysis of the randomized, double-blinded, three-arm trial, ultrasound-guided PDI with either 1 mL, 2 mL, and 4 mL 5% dextrose water was administered, respectively, in 14, 14, and 17 patients. Ultrasound outcomes included mobility, shear-wave elastography (SWE), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve; clinical outcomes were Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) score. Outcomes were measured before injection, and after injection at the 1st, 4th, 12th, and 24th week. For ultrasound outcomes, CSA decreased significantly from baseline data at all follow-up time-points in the 2 mL group (p = 0.005) and the 4 mL group (p = 0.015). The mean change of mobility from baseline showed a greater improvement on the 4 mL group than the other groups at the 1st week post-injection. For clinical outcomes, negative correlation between the VAS and mobility at the 1st (p = 0.046) and 4th week (p = 0.031) post-injection in the 4 mL group were observed. In conclusion, PDI with higher volume yielded better nerve mobility and decreased CSA of median nerve, but no changes of nerve elasticity.
Low Skeletal Muscle Mass Is a Risk Factor for Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Kang Min-Kyu , Park Jung-Gil
Published: May 2021

Sarcopenia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the association between low skeletal muscle mass (LSMM) and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with NAFLD. A total of 683 patients with ultrasound-confirmed NAFLD who underwent carotid ultrasonography were enrolled retrospectively. The appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by the body mass index was used to define LSMM. Using carotid ultrasound, increased carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT, >1 mm) and the presence of carotid plaques were measured. Of the 683 patients, 75 (11.0%) had LSMM. In multivariate analyses, LSMM was associated with increased cIMT (odds ratios (ORs) = 2.26 to 2.95, all p < 0.05) and carotid plaques (ORs = 2.05 to 2.90, all p < 0.05). The proportion of increased cIMT and carotid plaques was significantly higher in obese NAFLD patients with LSMM than in those without LSMM (33.3% vs. 17.6% for cIMT and 12.7% vs. 5.7% for carotid plaques, respectively; p < 0.001). Furthermore, LSMM was independently associated with increased cIMT (ORs = 2.44 to 3.30, all p < 0.05) and carotid plaques (ORs = 2.56 to 3.54, all p < 0.05) in obese NAFLD patients. LSMM is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with NAFLD.
Experimental Evaluation of Computer Vision and Machine Learning-Based UAV Detection and Ranging
Authors: Wei Bingsheng , Barczyk Martin
Published: May 2021

We consider the problem of vision-based detection and ranging of a target UAV using the video feed from a monocular camera onboard a pursuer UAV. Our previously published work in this area employed a cascade classifier algorithm to locate the target UAV, which was found to perform poorly in complex background scenes. We thus study the replacement of the cascade classifier algorithm with newer machine learning-based object detection algorithms. Five candidate algorithms are implemented and quantitatively tested in terms of their efficiency (measured as frames per second processing rate), accuracy (measured as the root mean squared error between ground truth and detected location), and consistency (measured as mean average precision) in a variety of flight patterns, backgrounds, and test conditions. Assigning relative weights of 20%, 40% and 40% to these three criteria, we find that when flying over a white background, the top three performers are YOLO v2 (76.73 out of 100), Faster RCNN v2 (63.65 out of 100), and Tiny YOLO (59.50 out of 100), while over a realistic background, the top three performers are Faster RCNN v2 (54.35 out of 100, SSD MobileNet v1 (51.68 out of 100) and SSD Inception v2 (50.72 out of 100), leading us to recommend Faster RCNN v2 as the recommended solution. We then provide a roadmap for further work in integrating the object detector into our vision-based UAV tracking system.
Hybrid Control of Digital Baker Map with Application to Pseudo-Random Number Generator
Authors: Shi Yuhui , Deng Yashuang
Published: May 2021

Dynamical degradation occurs when chaotic systems are implemented on digital devices, which seriously threatens the security of chaos-based cryptosystems. The existing solutions mainly focus on the compensation of dynamical properties rather than on the elimination of the inherent biases of chaotic systems. In this paper, a unidirectional hybrid control method is proposed to improve the dynamical properties and to eliminate the biases of digital chaotic maps. A continuous chaotic system is introduced to provide external feedback control of the given digital chaotic map. Three different control modes are investigated, and the influence of control parameter on the properties of the controlled system is discussed. The experimental results show that the proposed method can not only improve the dynamical degradation of the digital chaotic map but also make the controlled digital system produce outputs with desirable performances. Finally, a pseudorandom number generator (PRNG) is proposed. Statistical analysis shows that the PRNG has good randomness and almost ideal entropy values.
Word and Face Recognition Processing Based on Response Times and Ex-Gaussian Components
Authors: Moret-Tatay Carmen , García-Ramos David , Sáiz-Mauleón Begoña , Gamermann Daniel , Bertheaux Cyril , Borg Céline
Published: May 2021

The face is a fundamental feature of our identity. In humans, the existence of specialized processing modules for faces is now widely accepted. However, identifying the processes involved for proper names is more problematic. The aim of the present study is to examine which of the two treatments is produced earlier and whether the social abilities are influent. We selected 100 university students divided into two groups: Spanish and USA students. They had to recognize famous faces or names by using a masked priming task. An analysis of variance about the reaction times (RT) was used to determine whether significant differences could be observed in word or face recognition and between the Spanish or USA group. Additionally, and to examine the role of outliers, the Gaussian distribution has been modified exponentially. Famous faces were recognized faster than names, and differences were observed between Spanish and North American participants, but not for unknown distracting faces. The current results suggest that response times to face processing might be faster than name recognition, which supports the idea of differences in processing nature.
Implications of Noise on Neural Correlates of Consciousness: A Computational Analysis of Stochastic Systems of Mutually Connected Processes
Authors: Kraikivski Pavel
Published: May 2021

Random fluctuations in neuronal processes may contribute to variability in perception and increase the information capacity of neuronal networks. Various sources of random processes have been characterized in the nervous system on different levels. However, in the context of neural correlates of consciousness, the robustness of mechanisms of conscious perception against inherent noise in neural dynamical systems is poorly understood. In this paper, a stochastic model is developed to study the implications of noise on dynamical systems that mimic neural correlates of consciousness. We computed power spectral densities and spectral entropy values for dynamical systems that contain a number of mutually connected processes. Interestingly, we found that spectral entropy decreases linearly as the number of processes within the system doubles. Further, power spectral density frequencies shift to higher values as system size increases, revealing an increasing impact of negative feedback loops and regulations on the dynamics of larger systems. Overall, our stochastic modeling and analysis results reveal that large dynamical systems of mutually connected and negatively regulated processes are more robust against inherent noise than small systems.
Lane Line Detection Based on Object Feature Distillation
Authors: Haris Malik , Glowacz Adam
Published: May 2021

In order to meet the real-time requirements of the autonomous driving system, the existing method directly up-samples the encoder’s output feature map to pixel-wise prediction, thus neglecting the importance of the decoder for the prediction of detail features. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a general lane detection framework based on object feature distillation. Firstly, a decoder with strong feature prediction ability is added to the network using direct up-sampling method. Then, in the network training stage, the prediction results generated by the decoder are regarded as soft targets through knowledge distillation technology, so that the directly up-samples branch can learn more detailed lane information and have a strong feature prediction ability for the decoder. Finally, in the stage of network inference, we only need to use the direct up-sampling branch instead of the forward calculation of the decoder, so compared with the existing model, it can improve the lane detection performance without additional cost. In order to verify the effectiveness of this framework, it is applied to many mainstream lane segmentation methods such as SCNN, DeepLabv1, ResNet, etc. Experimental results show that, under the condition of no additional complexity, the proposed method can obtain higher F1Measure on CuLane dataset.
Analysis of Non-Idealities on CMOS Passive Mixers
Authors: Martinez-Perez Antonio D. , Aznar Francisco , Royo Guillermo , Celma Santiago
Published: May 2021

In the current state of the art, WiFi-alike standards require achieving a high Image Rejection Ratio (IRR) while having low power consumption. Thus, quadrature structures based on passive ring mixers offer an attractive and widely used solution, as they can achieve a high IRR while being a passive block. However, it is not easy for the designer to know when a simple quadrature scheme is enough and when they should aim for a double quadrature structure approach, as the latter can improve the performance at the cost of requiring more area and complexity. This study focuses on the IRR, which crucially depends on the symmetry between the I and Q branches. Non-idealities (component mismatches, parasitics, etc.) will degrade the ideal balance by affecting the mixer and/or following/previous stages. This paper analyses the effect of imbalances, providing the constraints for obtaining a 40 dB IRR in the case of a conversion from a one-hundred-megahertz signal to the five-gigahertz range (upconversion) and vice versa (downconversion) for simple and double quadrature schemes. All simulations were carried out with complete device models from 65 nm standard CMOS technology and also a post-layout Monte Carlo analysis was included for mismatch analysis. The final section includes guidelines to help designers choose the most adequate scheme for each case.
Flexible 5G New Radio LDPC Encoder Optimized for High Hardware Usage Efficiency
Authors: Petrović Vladimir L. , El Mezeni Dragomir M. El , Radošević Andreja
Published: May 2021

Quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check (QC–LDPC) codes are introduced as a physical channel coding solution for data channels in 5G new radio (5G NR). Depending on the use case scenario, this standard proposes the usage of a wide variety of codes, which imposes the need for high encoder flexibility. LDPC codes from 5G NR have a convenient structure and can be efficiently encoded using forward substitution and without computationally intensive multiplications with dense matrices. However, the state-of-the-art solutions for encoder hardware implementation can be inefficient since many hardware processing units stay idle during the encoding process. This paper proposes a novel partially parallel architecture that can provide high hardware usage efficiency (HUE) while achieving encoder flexibility and support for all 5G NR codes. The proposed architecture includes a flexible circular shifting network, which is capable of shifting a single large bit vector or multiple smaller bit vectors depending on the code. The encoder architecture was built around the shifter in a way that multiple parity check matrix elements can be processed in parallel for short codes, thus providing almost the same level of parallelism as for long codes. The processing schedule was optimized for minimal encoding time using the genetic algorithm. The optimized encoder provided high throughputs, low latency, and up-to-date the best HUE.
Review of Power Converter Impact of Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting Circuits and Devices for Autonomous Sensor Applications
Authors: Sarker Mahidur R. , Saad Mohamad Hanif Md , Olazagoitia José Luis , Vinolas Jordi
Published: May 2021

The demand for power is increasing due to the rapid growth of the population. Therefore, energy harvesting (EH) from ambient sources has become popular. The reduction of power consumption in modern wireless systems provides a basis for the replacement of batteries with the electromagnetic energy harvesting (EMEH) approach. This study presents a general review of the EMEH techniques for autonomous sensor (ATS) applications. Electromagnetic devices show great potential when used to power such ATS technologies or convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. As its power source, this stage harvests ambient energy and features a self-starting and self-powered process without the use of batteries. Therefore, it consumes low power and is highly stable for harvesting energy from the environment with low ambient energy sources. The review highlights EMEH circuits, low power EMEH devices, power electronic converters, and controllers utilized in numerous applications, and described their impacts on energy conservation, benefits, and limitation. This study ultimately aims to suggest a smart, low-voltage electronic circuit for a low-power sensor that harvests electromagnetic energy. This review also focuses on various issues and suggestions of future EMEH for low power autonomous sensors.
A Gamified Simulator and Physical Platform for Self-Driving Algorithm Training and Validation
Authors: Pappas Georgios , Siegel Joshua E. , Politopoulos Konstantinos , Sun Yongbin
Published: May 2021

We identify the need for an easy-to-use self-driving simulator where game mechanics implicitly encourage high-quality data capture and an associated low-cost physical test platform. We design such a simulator incorporating environmental domain randomization to enhance data generalizability and a low-cost physical test platform running the Robotic Operating System. A toolchain comprising a gamified driving simulator and low-cost vehicle platform is novel and facilitates behavior cloning and domain adaptation without specialized knowledge, supporting crowdsourced data generation. This enables small organizations to develop certain robust and resilient self-driving systems. As proof-of-concept, the simulator is used to capture lane-following data from AI-driven and human-operated agents, with these data training line following Convolutional Neural Networks that transfer without domain adaptation to work on the physical platform.
High Precision Multiplier for RNS {2n−1,2n,2n+1}
Authors: Ma Shang , Hu Shuai , Yang Zeguo , Wang Xuesi , Liu Meiqing , Hu Jianhao
Published: May 2021

The Residue Number System (RNS) is a non-weighted number system. Benefiting from its inherent parallelism, RNS has been widely studied and used in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) systems and cryptography. However, since the dynamic range in RNS has been fixed by its moduli set, it is hard to solve the overflow problem, which can be easily solved in Two’s Complement System (TCS) by expanding the bit-width of it. For the multiplication in RNS, the traditional way to deal with overflow is to scale down the inputs so that the result can fall in its dynamic range. However, it leads to a loss of precision. In this paper, we propose a high-precision RNS multiplier for three-moduli set 2n−1,2n,2n+1, which is the most used moduli set. The proposed multiplier effectively improves the calculation precision by adding several compensatory items to the result. The compensatory items can be obtained directly from preceding scalers with little extra effort. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first one to propose a high-precision RNS multiplier for the moduli set 2n−1,2n,2n+1. Simulation results show that the proposed RNS multiplier can get almost the same calculation precision as the TCS multiplier with respect to Mean Square Error (MSE) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio(SNR), which outperforms the basic scaling RNS multiplier about 2.6–3 times with respect to SNR.
Viewpoint-Aware Action Recognition Using Skeleton-Based Features from Still Images
Authors: Kim Seong-heum , Cho Donghyeon
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we propose a viewpoint-aware action recognition method using skeleton-based features from static images. Our method consists of three main steps. First, we categorize the viewpoint from an input static image. Second, we extract 2D/3D joints using state-of-the-art convolutional neural networks and analyze the geometric relationships of the joints for computing 2D and 3D skeleton features. Finally, we perform view-specific action classification per person, based on viewpoint categorization and the extracted 2D and 3D skeleton features. We implement two multi-view data acquisition systems and create a new action recognition dataset containing the viewpoint labels, in order to train and validate our method. The robustness of the proposed method to viewpoint changes was quantitatively confirmed using two multi-view datasets. A real-world application for recognizing various actions was also qualitatively demonstrated.
An Advanced Angular Velocity Error Prediction Horizon Self-Tuning Nonlinear Model Predictive Speed Control Strategy for PMSM System
Authors: Wei Yao , Wei Yanjun , Sun Yening , Qi Hanhong , Li Mengyuan
Published: May 2021

In nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC), higher accuracy can be obtained with a shorter prediction horizon in steady-state, better dynamics can be obtained with a longer prediction horizon in a transient state, and calculation burden is proportional to the prediction horizon which is usually pre-selected as a constant according to dynamics of the system with NMPC. The minimum calculation and prediction accuracy are hard to ensure for all operating states. This can be improved by an online changing prediction horizon. A nonlinear model predictive speed control (NMPSC) with advanced angular velocity error (AAVE) prediction horizon self-tuning method has been proposed in which the prediction horizon is improved as a discrete-time integer variable and can be adjusted during each sampling period. A permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) rotor position control system with the proposed strategy is accomplished. Tracking performances including rotor position Integral of Time-weighted Absolute value of the Error (ITAE), the maximal delay time, and static error are improved about 15.033%, 23.077%, and 10.294% respectively comparing with the conventional NMPSC strategy with a certain prediction horizon. Better disturbance resisting performance, lower weighting factor sensitivities, and higher servo stiffness are achieved. Simulation and experimental results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and correctness.