bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OPN N‐glycosylation promoted bone destruction
Authors: Dong Ming , Sun Qiannan , Yu Xinxin , Sui Linlin , Xu Yuefei , Kong Hui , Kong Ying
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Exploring the role of OPN N‐glycosylation in osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of OPN in mice with apical periodontitis. The asparagine at position 79 of the OPN protein was mutated to glutamine, and the above plasmids were transfected into osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The effect of OPN N‐glycosylation on proliferation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts was detected by CCK8 assays. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of OPN N‐glycosylation on osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Detection of N‐glycosylation of OPN activated the NF‐κB signaling pathway to regulate osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Results

OPN increased the expression in a mice model of apical periodontitis. The expression curve of OPN resembled a reverse V shape. The OPN N‐glycosylation site was identified as 79 by MS. N‐glycosylation of OPN promoted the proliferation of osteoclasts. But the N79 glycosylation site of mutant OPN could not increase the proliferation of osteoblasts. OPN N‐glycosylation modulated the expression of osteoclast‐ and osteoblast‐associated factors through the NF‐κB signaling pathway. N‐glycosylation of OPN promoted nuclear translocation of NF‐κB in osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

Conclusions

The N‐glycosylation site of OPN is 79. N‐glycosylation of OPN played an important role in the biological function of OPN protein.
Effect of Diabetes Mellitus on Implant Osseointegration of Titanium Screws: An Animal Experimental Study
Authors: Xiao Lei , Zhou Yi‐juan , Jiang Ya‐bin , Tam Man Seng , Cheang Lek Hang , Wang Hua‐jun , Zha Zhen‐gang , Zheng Xiao‐fei
Published: April 2022

Objective

To explore the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on implant osseointegration of titanium screws.

Methods

Sixty rats were randomly divided into a DM group and a control group (each group, n = 30). DM group rats were injected with 1% Streptozotocin solution at 65 mg/kg to establish a DM model. Titanium screws were implanted into the rats' distal femurs in both groups. The rats were sacrificed for micro‐CT scanning, micro‐indentation, biomechanical detection, confocal Raman microspectroscopy, and histological and histomorphometric analysis at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post‐implantation, respectively. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and protein expression of the related growth factors around the implant were analyzed using real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blots.

Results

At 4, 8 and 12 weeks, micro‐CT scanning, hematoxylin‐eosin (HE) staining, Gieson's acid‐magenta staining, and fluorescent labeled staining showed disorder in the bone tissue arrangement, a lack of new bone tissue, poor maturity and continuity, and poor trabecular bone parameters around the implant in the DM group. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks, the interfacial bone binding rate in the DM group was significantly lower (16.2% ± 4.8%, 25.7% ± 5.7%, 42.5% ± 5.8%, respectively) than that in the control group (23.6% ± 5.2%, 40.8% ± 6.3%, 64.2% ± 7.3%, respectively; P < 0.05). At 8 and 12 weeks, the elastic modulus (17.0 ± 1.8 and 15.1 ± 1.5 GPa, respectively) and trabecular bone hardness (571 ± 39 and 401 ± 37 MPa, respectively) in the DM group were significantly lower than the elastic modulus (23.4 ± 2.3 and 23.8 ± 1.8 GPa, respectively) and trabecular bone hardness (711 ± 45 and 719 ± 46 MPa, respectively) in the control group (P < 0.05). The maximum load required for the prosthesis pull‐out experiment in the DM group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (55.14 ± 6.74 N, 73.34 ± 8.43 N, and 83.45 ± 8.32 N, respectively) was significantly lower than that in the control group (77.45 ± 7.48 N, 93.28 ± 8.29 N, and 123.62 ± 9.43 N, respectively, P < 0.05). At 8 and 12 weeks, the mineral‐to‐collagen ratio in the DM group (6.56 % ± 1.35% and 4.45%± 1.25%, respectively) was significantly higher than that in the control group (5.31% ± 1.42% and 3.62% ± 1.33%, respectively, P < 0.05). At 12 weeks, mRNA and protein expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein 2, transforming growth factor‐β1, vascular endothelial growth factor, osteopontin, osteocalcin, and runt‐related transcription factor 2 in the DM group were significantly lower than that in the control group.

Conclusions

DM can negatively affect bone osseointegration, manifesting as disorder in bone tissue arrangement around the implant, a lack of new bone tissue, poor maturity and continuity, poor trabecular bone parameters and lower expression of the related growth factors.
Pediatric lower limb peripheral nerve blocks: Indications, effectiveness, and the incidence of adverse events
Authors: Frawley Geoff , Marchesini Vanessa , Loh Brian , Koziol James
Published: April 2022

Aim

While the proportion of pediatric anesthetics with regional anesthesia in pediatric patients has steadily increased, there are only a few series that describe the use of lower limb peripheral nerve blocks in children. Our aim was to describe the indications, anesthetic approach, and complications associated with lower limb blocks in children undergoing orthopedic surgery in a center with a large caseload of complex patients.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, we reviewed children who had a peripheral nerve block for orthopedic surgery placed between January 2016 and January 2021 at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Block data were sourced from the electronic medical record and departmental regional anesthesia database. Data collected included demographics, the site of catheter placement and technique of nerve block, presence of sensory/motor blockade, the use of perioperative opioids, and any complications related to peripheral nerve block.

Results

A total of 1438 blocks were performed in 1058 patients. Four patients had clinical features of perioperative neurological injury giving an incidence of 3 per 1000 blocks (95% CI 1.1–8:1000). Only one patient had a sensory deficit persisting longer than 6 months for an incidence of 0.8 per 1000 blocks (95% CI 0.1–5:1000). All four peripheral nerve injury followed tibial osteotomy for lengthening procedures or correction of tibial torsion. The etiology of the injury could not be determined despite imaging and surgical exploration and the contribution of popliteal sciatic nerve block to the subsequent PNI could not be confirmed. There were no cases of local anesthetic systemic toxicity.

Conclusion

An increased risk of perioperative peripheral nerve injury is associated with pediatric tibial osteotomy for congenital deformity. While popliteal sciatic nerve block was not directly implicated in the nerve injury the presence of a prolonged sensory block can delay early recognition and treatment of peripheral nerve injury.
The magnification effect in global value chains
Authors: Hayakawa Kazunobu , Mukunoki Hiroshi
Published: April 2022

We examine the “magnification effect,” which demonstrates that as the number of separable production stages increases, trade increases dramatically as trade costs decline. We empirically investigate the existence of this magnification effect by estimating gravity‐type equations for worldwide trade to obtain the tariff elasticity of trade per industry. We find that tariff elasticity is higher in industries with a greater degree of global value chain participation. These results are observed for both gross and value‐added trade. Furthermore, we find that tariff elasticity is higher in intra‐Asian trade, especially in machinery industries.
Improving Cardio-Mechanic Inference by Combining in Vivo Strain Data with Ex Vivo Volume–Pressure Data
Authors: Lazarus Alan , Gao Hao , Luo Xiaoyu , Husmeier Dirk
Published: April 2022

Cardio-mechanic models show substantial promise for improving personalised diagnosis and disease risk prediction. However, estimating the constitutive parameters from strains extracted from in vivo cardiac magnetic resonance scans can be challenging. The reason is that circumferential strains, which are comparatively easy to extract, are not sufficiently informative to uniquely estimate all parameters, while longitudinal and radial strains are difficult to extract at high precision. In the present study, we show how cardio-mechanic parameter inference can be improved by incorporating prior knowledge from population-wide ex vivo volume–pressure data. Our work is based on an empirical law known as the Klotz curve. We propose and assess two alternative methodological frameworks for integrating ex vivo data via the Klotz curve into the inference framework, using both a non-empirical and empirical prior distribution.
Red blood cell transfusion burden in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with ring Sideroblasts (RS): A retrospective multicenter study by the Groupe Francophone des Myélodysplasies (GFM)
Authors: Jouzier Claire , Cherait Amina , Cony‐Makhoul Pascale , Hamel Jean‐François , Veloso Melanie , Thepot Sylvain , Cluzeau Thomas , Stamatoullas Aspasia , Garnier Alice , Guerci‐Bresler Agnès , Dimicoli‐Salazar Sophie , Pica Gian Matteo , Cheze Stéphane , Santana Clémence , Chermat Fatiha , Fenaux Pierre , Park Sophie
Published: April 2022

Background

MDS‐RS patients are characterized by chronic anemia and a low risk of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) progression and they generally become Red Blood Cell (RBC) transfusion dependent (TD).

Study design and methods

We performed a retrospective “real‐life” observational study of 6 months in 100 MDS‐RS TD patients, recruited in 12 French centers, to describe transfusion characteristics, and evaluate the frequency and causes of hospitalizations, health costs, and morbidity, associated with transfusion dependency, in a French population of RBC transfusion‐dependent MDS‐RS patients.

Results

79% of the patients had high transfusion burden (HTB) and 21% low transfusion burden (LTB). HTB patients had a longer disease duration (6 vs. 3.7 years, p = 0.0078), more frequent iron chelation (82% vs. 50%, p = 0.0052) and higher serum ferritin (p = 0.03). During the 6‐month study period, 22% of the patients required inpatient hospitalization, 36% of them for symptomatic anemia requiring emergency RBC transfusion. The 6‐month median transfusion costs, including the cost of the day care facility, transportation to and from the hospital, iron chelation, and lab tests, was 16,188€/patient.

Discussion

MDS‐RS represents the archetypal type of chronically transfused lower‐risk MDS. Most of those patients have a high transfusion burden and thus frequently need visits to the hospital's day care facility, and frequent hospitalizations, with an overall high median treatment cost. Those costs should be compared with costs of new treatments potentially able to avoid RBC transfusion dependence and to reduce the complications of chronic anemia in MDS‐RS patients.
Excretory urographic, ultrasonographic, and cystoscopic characteristics of urinary bladder abscesses in a dog
Authors: Carneiro Rafael K. , Pereira Tainara , Brun Maurício V. , da Cruz Igor C. , Antunes Bernardo N. , Pozzobon Ricardo , Feliciano Marcus R.
Published: April 2022

A 7‐year‐old male neutered, 6.5 kg, Maltese breed dog was referred with a history of dysuria after undergoing two cystotomies to remove calcium oxalate uroliths. Survey radiographs were inconclusive. Excretory urography allowed visualization of two filling defects in the cranioventral urinary bladder region. Ultrasonography showed urinary bladder sediments, a diffusely thickened wall, and two circumscribed intramural/intraluminal structures with an anechoic interior and a smooth and regular surface. The cystoscopic diagnosis was urinary bladder abscesses and urine cultures were positive for Escherichia coli. Antimicrobial/anti‐inflammatory therapy was started with good clinical outcomes and negative culture after 21 days.
Origaker: A Novel Multi-Mimicry Quadruped Robot Based on a Metamorphic Mechanism
Authors: Tang Zhao , Wang Kun , Spyrakos-Papastavridis Emmanouil , Dai Jian S.
Published: April 2022

This article presents the Origaker, a novel multi-mimicry quadruped robot. Based on a single-loop spatial metamorphic mechanism, the Origaker is able to transform between different working modes, as the reptile-, arthropod-, and mammal-like modes, without disassembly and reassembly. The combination of the metamorphic mechanism and the quadruped robot enables the Origaker to pitch vertically, twist horizontally, and change the positional correlation between the trunk and legs. In consideration of its reconfigurability and structure adaptability, gaits and movement strategies, namely, the fast spinning gait, the stair climbing gait, the self-recovery, packaging, and crawling through narrow spaces and right-angled bends, were proposed and analyzed, demonstrating that the metamorphic mechanism provides the robot with enhanced locomotivity. Finally, a prototype was developed and experimentally tested. The experiment demonstrates that the robot can crawl over various surfaces, execute the designed gaits and strategies on different terrains, and conquer challenging obstacles.
Buoyancy-Driven Mixed Convection and Radiation Heat Transfer in a Tilted Vented Cavity
Authors: Prakash Om , Singh S. N.
Published: April 2022

Experimental and numerical studies have been carried out to determine the impact of tilt angle on buoyancy-driven mixed convection coupled to surface radiation heat transfer inside a vented cavity. The present investigation might be rationalized in the thermal design of the electronic equipment housing, solar collector receiver, regenerative heating/cooling system, etc. Keeping the constant ventilation size and its location, the tilt angle measured from horizontal is varied from 0 deg to 90 deg with the increment of 15 deg. The experimental investigation comprising planner symmetry is complemented with the two-dimensional numerical study incorporating the range of Rayleigh number from 7.21 × 108 to 1.75 × 109, Reynolds number from 665 to 9931, Richardson number from 20.1 to 2283.4, and the surface emissivity from 0.05 to 0.85. The results signify that the convective Nusselt number enhances significantly at the optimum tilt angle of 90 deg, whereas the moderate increment in radiative Nusselt number is found at the optimum tilt angle of 0 deg. Based on the obtained experimental data, the empirical correlations of the average convective Nusselt number and dimensionless temperature are developed in terms of Reynolds number, Richardson number, and tilt angle.
Si nanocone structure fabricated by a relatively high-pressure hydrogen plasma in the range of 3.3–27 kPa
Authors: Nomura Toshimitsu , Kimoto Kenta , Kakiuchi Hiroaki , Yasutake Kiyoshi , Ohmi Hiromasa
Published: April 2022

In this study, we prepared a silicon nanocone structure using a relatively high-pressure H2 plasma in the range of 3.3–27 kPa. The silicon sample with the prepared nanocone structure exhibited a black surface. We investigated the dependence of the silicon nanocone formation behavior on various experimental parameters such as H2 pressure, processing time, substrate temperature, input power, and substrate bias. A small amount of air feed and a thin native oxide layer are desirable for the nanocone formation. Furthermore, the silicon temperature during plasma exposure plays an important role in increasing the silicon nanocone height. In addition, the polarity of the substrate bias drastically changes the surface structure from the nanocone in the case of a negative bias to a low-aspect-ratio pyramidal structure in that of a positive bias. This result implies that the anisotropic ion incidence is important for nanocone formation, despite the relatively high process pressure.
Optimizing non-invasive functional markers for cochlear deafferentation based on electrocochleography and auditory brainstem responses
Authors: Harris Kelly C. , Bao Jianxin
Published: April 2022

Accumulating evidence suggests that cochlear deafferentation may contribute to suprathreshold deficits observed with or without elevated hearing thresholds, and can lead to accelerated age-related hearing loss. Currently there are no clinical diagnostic tools to detect human cochlear deafferentation in vivo. Preclinical studies using a combination of electrophysiological and post-mortem histological methods clearly demonstrate cochlear deafferentation including myelination loss, mitochondrial damages in spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), and synaptic loss between inner hair cells and SGNs. Since clinical diagnosis of human cochlear deafferentation cannot include post-mortem histological quantification, various attempts based on functional measurements have been made to detect cochlear deafferentation. So far, those efforts have led to inconclusive results. Two major obstacles to the development of in vivo clinical diagnostics include a lack of standardized methods to validate new approaches and characterize the normative range of repeated measurements. In this overview, we examine strategies from previous studies to detect cochlear deafferentation from electrocochleography and auditory brainstem responses. We then summarize possible approaches to improve these non-invasive functional methods for detecting cochlear deafferentation with a focus on cochlear synaptopathy. We identify conceptual approaches that should be tested to associate unique electrophysiological features with cochlear deafferentation.
Novice Users of a Bodyweight–Supporting Treadmill Require Familiarization
Authors: Naylon Jordyn A. , Sutherlin Mark A. , True Larissa , Dames Kevin D.
Published: April 2022

Context: Previous work has demonstrated an improvement in running economy during sustained running on a lower body positive pressure treadmill, but neuromuscular and spatiotemporal measures have only been investigated during short-duration running bouts on these devices. The current study sought to replicate the noted metabolic response and investigate whether neuromuscular and/or spatiotemporal adaptations underlie the noted improvements in running economy. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: Fifteen trained runners (11 males and 4 females) ran three 15-minute trials with 30% bodyweight support at 70% of the speed that elicited their peak oxygen consumption while running on a standard treadmill. A series of 1-way analyses of variance with repeated measures were used to explore differences in dependent variables over the 45 minutes of running. Dependent variables included oxygen consumption, root-mean-square electromyography of the vastus medialis and medial gastrocnemius during stance, and spatiotemporal parameters. Results: Oxygen consumption decreased after the initial exposure, with no further reductions after 20 minutes. Root-mean-square electromyography of the vastus medialis and medial gastrocnemius also decreased over time, with no further reductions after 20 and 10 minutes, respectively. No differences in spatiotemporal parameters were found. Conclusions: Future research should provide sufficient time for runners to develop a more economical gait pattern prior to collecting dependent variables, and previous findings using lower body positive pressure treadmills may need to be reconsidered. Athletes using these devices for training or rehabilitation should note that increased economy will lower the intensity of a given treadmill setting over time.
Impact of Embedding High-Intensity Interval Training in Schools and Sports Training on Children and Adolescent’s Cardiometabolic Health and Health-Related Fitness: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Eather Narelle , Babic Mark , Riley Nicholas , Costigan Sarah A. , Lubans David R.
Published: April 2022

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to identify studies evaluating the impact of high-intensity interval training when delivered in school and sports training. Methods: A systematic search of 10 databases (September 2019) identified 24 eligible studies (including children and/or adolescents 5–18 years and reporting cardiometabolic health and/or health-related fitness outcomes), assessed for quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (version 2.0). Outcomes were synthesized using a random-effects meta-analysis, and potential moderators were explored (i.e., study duration, risk of bias, age, and deliverer/instructor). Results: Standardized mean difference for the effects of high-intensity interval training were significant for body mass index g = −0.27 (p < .001), cardiorespiratory fitness g = 0.27 (p < .001), lower body muscular fitness g = 0.49 (p = .005), and upper body muscular fitness g = 0.37 (p = .002); but not for blood pressure (p > .05). Risk of bias results were variable (low = 8, some concerns = 9, and high = 7). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that embedding high-intensity interval training in schools and sports training can facilitate improvements in some aspects of cardiometabolic health and fitness in children and adolescents.
Dynamic patterns of microRNA expression during acute myeloid leukemia state-transition
Authors: Frankhouser David E. , O’Meally Denis , Branciamore Sergio , Uechi Lisa , Zhang Lianjun , Chen Ying-Chieh , Li Man , Qin Hanjun , Wu Xiwei , Carlesso Nadia , Marcucci Guido , Rockne Russell C. , Kuo Ya-Huei
Published: April 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to hold prognostic value in acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, the temporal dynamics of miRNA expression in AML are poorly understood. Using serial samples from a mouse model of AML to generate time-series miRNA sequencing data, we are the first to show that the miRNA transcriptome undergoes state-transition during AML initiation and progression. We modeled AML state-transition as a particle undergoing Brownian motion in a quasi-potential and validated the AML state-space and state-transition model to accurately predict time to AML in an independent cohort of mice. The critical points of the model provided a framework to align samples from mice that developed AML at different rates. Our mathematical approach allowed discovery of dynamic processes involved during AML development and, if translated to humans, has the potential to predict an individual’s disease trajectory.
Single-EV analysis (sEVA) of mutated proteins allows detection of stage 1 pancreatic cancer
Authors: Ferguson Scott , Yang Katherine S. , Zelga Piotr , Liss Andrew S. , Carlson Jonathan C. T. , del Castillo Carlos Fernandez , Weissleder Ralph
Published: April 2022

Tumor cell–derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are being explored as circulating biomarkers, but it is unclear whether bulk measurements will allow early cancer detection. We hypothesized that a single-EV analysis (sEVA) technique could potentially improve diagnostic accuracy. Using pancreatic cancer (PDAC), we analyzed the composition of putative cancer markers in 11 model lines. In parental PDAC cells positive for KRAS
mut
and/or P53
mut
proteins, only ~40% of EVs were also positive. In a blinded study involving 16 patients with surgically proven stage 1 PDAC, KRAS
mut
and P53
mut
protein was detectable at much lower levels, generally in <0.1% of vesicles. These vesicles were detectable by the new sEVA approach in 15 of the 16 patients. Using a modeling approach, we estimate that the current PDAC detection limit is at ~0.1-cm
3
tumor volume, below clinical imaging capabilities. These findings establish the potential for sEVA for early cancer detection.
Supercurrent parity meter in a nanowire Cooper pair transistor
Authors: Wang Ji-Yin , Schrade Constantin , Levajac Vukan , van Driel David , Li Kongyi , Gazibegovic Sasa , Badawy Ghada , Op het Veld Roy L. M. , Lee Joon Sue , Pendharkar Mihir , Dempsey Connor P. , Palmstrøm Chris J. , Bakkers Erik P. A. M. , Fu Liang , Kouwenhoven Leo P. , Shen Jie
Published: April 2022

We study a Cooper pair transistor realized by two Josephson weak links that enclose a superconducting island in an InSb-Al hybrid nanowire. When the nanowire is subject to a magnetic field, isolated subgap levels arise in the superconducting island and, because of the Coulomb blockade, mediate a supercurrent by coherent cotunneling of Cooper pairs. We show that the supercurrent resulting from such cotunneling events exhibits, for low to moderate magnetic fields, a phase offset that discriminates even and odd charge ground states on the superconducting island. Notably, this phase offset persists when a subgap state approaches zero energy and, based on theoretical considerations, permits parity measurements of subgap states by supercurrent interferometry. Such supercurrent parity measurements could, in a series of experiments, provide an alternative approach for manipulating and protecting quantum information stored in the isolated subgap levels of superconducting islands.
Impact of government-funded insulin pump programs on insulin pump use in Canada: a cross-sectional study using the National Diabetes Repository
Authors: Song Cimon , Booth Gillian L , Perkins Bruce A , Weisman Alanna
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Insulin pump access in type 1 diabetes may be inequitable. We studied the association between government funding programs for insulin pumps and rates of insulin pump use and disparities between pump users and non-users.

Research design and methods

Adults with type 1 diabetes were identified in the National Diabetes Repository, a primary care electronic medical record database of individuals with diabetes from five Canadian provinces. Proportions of individuals using insulin pumps were compared between provinces with and without pump funding programs. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of insulin pump use adjusting for confounders. Univariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of insulin pump use according to each predictor, according to pump funding program status.

Results

Of 1559 adults with type 1 diabetes, proportions using insulin pumps were 47.8% (95% CI 45.1% to 50.5%) and 37.7% (95% CI 31.5% to 44.1%) in provinces with and without pump funding programs (p=0.0038). Adjusting for age, sex, HbA1c, income quintile, and rural/urban location, the OR for insulin pump use was 1.45 (1.08–1.94) for provinces with pump funding programs compared with provinces without. Higher income was associated with a greater odds of insulin pump use in provinces with pump funding programs, and rural/urban location was not associated with insulin pump use.

Conclusions

Insulin pump use is more common in regions with government funding programs. Further research is required to best understand and comprehensively address persistent income disparities between pump users and non-users despite the availability of reimbursement programs.
A new bound on odd multicrossing numbers of knots and links
Authors: Guha Anshul
Published: April 2022

An [Formula: see text]-crossing projection of a link [Formula: see text] is a projection of [Formula: see text] onto a plane such that [Formula: see text] points on [Formula: see text] are superimposed on top of each other at every crossing. We prove that for all [Formula: see text] and all links [Formula: see text], the inequality [Formula: see text] holds, where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the [Formula: see text]-crossing number, [Formula: see text]-genus, and the number of components of [Formula: see text] respectively. This result is used to prove a new bound on the odd crossing numbers of torus knots and generalizes a result of Jablonowski (see [M. Jabłonowski, Triple-crossing number, the genus of a knot or link and torus knots, Topology Appl. 285 (2020) 107389]). We also prove a new upper bound on the [Formula: see text]-crossing numbers of the 2-torus knots and links. Furthermore, we improve the lower bounds on the [Formula: see text]-crossing numbers of [Formula: see text] knots with [Formula: see text]-crossing number at most [Formula: see text]. Finally, we improve the lower bounds on the [Formula: see text]-crossing numbers of [Formula: see text] knots with [Formula: see text]-crossing number at most [Formula: see text].
Detection and Localization of Copy-Move Forgery in Digital Images: Review and Challenges
Authors: Suresh Gulivindala , Rao Chanamallu Srinivasa
Published: April 2022

Copy move forgery in digital images became a common problem due to the wide accessibility of image processing algorithms and open-source editing software. The human visual system cannot identify the traces of forgery in the tampered image. The proliferation of such digital images through the internet and social media is possible with a finger touch. These tampered images have been used in news reports, judicial forensics, medical records, and financial statements. In this paper, a detailed review has been carried on various copy-move forgery detection (CMFD) and localization techniques. Further, challenges in the research are identified along with possible solutions.
Robustness of Detrended Cross-correlation Analysis Method Under Outliers Observations
Authors: Dhifaoui Zouhaier
Published: April 2022

The computation of the bivariate Hurst exponent constitutes an important technique to test the power-law cross-correlation of time series. For this objective, the detrended cross-correlation analysis (DCCA) method represents the most used one. In this paper, we prove the robustness of the DCCA method, where the trend is estimated using the polynomial fitting, to estimate the bivariate Hurst exponent when time series are corrupted by outliers observations. On the other hand, we give the exact polynomial order and a regression region for computing a detrended cross-correlation function to obtain a least square estimator of bivariate Hurst exponent. Our theoretical results are shown by a simulation study on a two-fractional Gaussian noise process corrupted by outliers observations. Additionally, our results are applied to financial time series. The empirical findings results are accompanied by interpretations.
A note on a class of permutation trinomials
Authors: Gupta Rohit , Rai Amritanshu
Published: April 2022

Let [Formula: see text] denote the finite field with [Formula: see text] elements. In this paper, we investigate the trinomial [Formula: see text] over the finite field [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] being a positive integer. We prove that the trinomial [Formula: see text] permutes [Formula: see text] if and only if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is even. This work is a continuation of the previous work of Bai and Xia [A new class of permutation trinomials constructed from Niho exponents, Cryptogr. Commun. 10 (2018) 1023–1036].
A Novel Methodology for Non-Destructive Characterization of Polymers’ Viscoelastic Properties
Authors: Genovese Andrea , Maiorano Antonio , Russo Riccardo
Published: April 2022

A procedure of non-destructive experimental tests aimed at determining the viscoelastic characteristics of the rubbers is described. After recalling the basic principles of viscoelastic theory, the experimental setup and the measurements necessary for the test are described. The procedure consists in hitting the surface of the object under test with a specially instrumented indenter. The techniques for processing the acquired signals to identify the characteristic starting and ending points of indentation in the time-histories are then illustrated. By analyzing separately the phases of the free drop of the indenter and the phase of contact between indenter and rubber, the main mechanical characteristics, such as stiffness and damping of both the instrumented indenter and the bulk of rubber under test are estimated. The methods of calculating the viscoelastic parameters of the rubber starting from the knowledge of the above mechanical parameters are then illustrated. The determined results, in terms of storage and loss moduli, are compared with those provided by classic DMA type tests. The qualitative agreement is excellent. The quantitative agreement falls in the scattering range typical for this kind of measurement. The paper is completed with a discussion of the main causes of measurement uncertainty.
Doubly metric theory and simultaneous shrinking target problem in Cantor series expansion
Authors: Wang Weiliang , Li Lu , Wang Xiujian , Yue Qin
Published: April 2022

Let [Formula: see text] be a sequence of positive integers with [Formula: see text] for every [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be the transformation with [Formula: see text] which induces the Cantor series expansion. In the paper, we show that the Lebesgue measure and generalized Hausdorff measure of the following shrinking target set [Formula: see text] satisfy a dichotomy law, which depends on the convergence or divergence of a certain series, where [Formula: see text] is a positive function such that [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text] and i.m. stands for infinitely many. In addition, for every integer [Formula: see text] and integer [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be a Lipschitz function with Lipschitz constant [Formula: see text]. Assume that [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], we obtain the Hausdorff dimension of the following set: [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]
Effect of Mainshock–Aftershock Excitations on Seismic Energy Dissipation Mechanism of RC Frames
Authors: Soleiman Meigooni F. , Tehranizadeh M.
Published: April 2022

Four RC moment frames (RCMFs) with 4–20 stories are designed, modeled, and subjected to IDA procedures by considering various levels of prior damage caused by mainshock (MS). The collapse of the structures is then identified by gradual scale-up of the aftershock until dynamic instability is observed. The percentage of the energies dissipated by various parts of the structures and via different modes is next studied at three states during the collapse-inducing excitation. These states include the final residual state, the maximum drift state, and the maximum kinetic energy state. While an almost constant contribution of around 30% is provided by the inherent damping of the nodal masses, the share of beams’ hysteretic energy varies between 10% in the low-rise shear-dominated frame and 30% in the high-rise flexure-dominated RCMFs. The contribution of the columns’ hysteresis also changes in a reverse manner so that the sum of ratios provided by the beams and columns hysteresis is kept constant and equal to around 70%. The prior damage caused by the MS also leads to changes in the contribution of various elements and stories due to the deterioration MS induces to the strength of the members.
Seismic Response Mitigation of Extra-Large LNG Storage Tanks
Authors: Kharde S. H. , Soni D. P.
Published: April 2022

The paper investigates the effectiveness of a smart base-isolation system for seismic response mitigation of extra-large liquified natural gas (LNG) storage tanks. The mathematical model of the base-isolated LNG tank with smart dampers, the magneto-rheological (MR) dampers, is presented. The governing equations of motion of the smart system are derived and solved by the classical transition matrix method in the time domain. The linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control scheme is employed to command MR dampers. The LNG tank system is analyzed under six artificial accelerograms, compatible with operational basis earthquake (OBE) and safe shutdown earthquake (SSE) response spectrum, generated using a method of a random set of phase angles with amplitudes obtained from power spectral density function. A time-delay compensation procedure based on the Taylor series expansion is applied to reduce the deterioration of control performance due to time delay. To investigate the effectiveness of smart base-isolation, the responses are compared with the fixed-base tank, base-isolated tank, and tank with passive MR damper. The results show that the smart base-isolation is effective in reducing the seismic response of extra-large LNG tanks, especially the displacement at the isolation level without much altering other responses. The passive MR damper is also found effective and showed fail-safe behavior even under the failure of the control algorithm. Moreover, the application of time-delay compensation using the Taylor series increased the performance and overall efficiency of the LNG tank system.
LGNet: Local and global representation learning for fast biomedical image segmentation
Authors: Xu Guoping , Zhang Xuan , Liao Wentao , Chen Shangbin , Wu Xinglong
Published: April 2022

Medical image segmentation plays a crucial role in clinical diagnosis and therapy systems, yet still faces many challenges. Building on convolutional neural networks (CNNs), medical image segmentation has achieved tremendous progress. However, owing to the locality of convolution operations, CNNs have the inherent limitation in learning global context. To address the limitation in building global context relationship from CNNs, we propose LGNet, a semantic segmentation network aiming to learn local and global features for fast and accurate medical image segmentation in this paper. Specifically, we employ a two-branch architecture consisting of convolution layers in one branch to learn local features and transformer layers in the other branch to learn global features. LGNet has two key insights: (1) We bridge two-branch to learn local and global features in an interactive way; (2) we present a novel multi-feature fusion model (MSFFM) to leverage the global contexture information from transformer and the local representational features from convolutions. Our method achieves state-of-the-art trade-off in terms of accuracy and efficiency on several medical image segmentation benchmarks including Synapse, ACDC and MOST. Specifically, LGNet achieves the state-of-the-art performance with Dice’s indexes of 80.15% on Synapse, of 91.70% on ACDC, and of 95.56% on MOST. Meanwhile, the inference speed attains at 172 frames per second with [Formula: see text] input resolution. The extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed LGNet for fast and accurate for medical image segmentation.
Inter-frame video forgery detection using UFS-MSRC algorithm and LSTM network
Authors: Girish N. , Nandini C.
Published: April 2022

The forgery involved in region duplication is a common type of video tampering, where the traditional techniques used to detect video tampering are ineffective and inefficient for the forged videos under complex backgrounds. To overcome this issue, a novel video forgery detection model is introduced in this research paper. Initially, the input video sequences are collected from Surrey University Library for Forensic Analysis (SULFA) and Sondos datasets. Further, spatiotemporal averaging method is carried out on the collected video sequences to obtain background information with a pale of moving objects for an effective video forgery detection. Next, feature extraction is performed using the GoogLeNet model for extracting the feature vectors. Then, the Unsupervised Feature Selection with Multi-Subspace Randomization and Collaboration (UFS-MSRC) approach is used to choose the discriminative feature vectors that superiorly reduce the training time and improve the detection accuracy. Finally, long short-term memory (LSTM) network is applied for forgery detection in the different video sequences. The experimental evaluation illustrated that the UFS-MSRC with LSTM model attained 98.13% and 97.38% of accuracy on SULFA and Sondos datasets, where the obtained results are better when compared to the existing models in video forgery detection.
Foreign Financial Services Adoption in Manufacturing by Asian Economies: New Index from the Global Value Chain Perspective
Authors: Zhang Weikang , Yan Isabel Kit-Ming , Cheung Yin-Wong
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we employ the input–output framework and recent global value chain (GVC) results to construct the index of foreign financial services adoption in manufacturing (FFSAM) that captures the role of foreign financial services in facilitating domestic manufacturing production. The FFSAM index shows that foreign financial services adoption by Asian economies has rapidly caught up with the Western world between 2007 and 2017. Asian economies tend to deploy more foreign financial services from high-income economies than low-income economies, and in high-technology manufacturing industries than low-technology manufacturing industries. Manufacturing industries that produce for domestic consumption and for exports tend to attract different groups of financial servicification providers. It is found that the FFSAM index is affected by the GVC position, financial institution factors, and financial market characteristics.
Intelligent e-commerce Framework for Consumer Behavior Analysis Using Big Data Analytics
Authors: Lv Hua
Published: April 2022

Internet shopping gradually surpassed conventional retail shopping; it has been taken up internationally by many customers. However, e-commerce in emerging markets remains at an early stage, and thus, the factors that lead to its acceptance must be discovered. The main objective is to combine the expected theory of behavior, rational activity, and the technology model’s acceptability using big data analysis (BDA) to evaluate the main predictors of internet buying plans. The growth in online shopping raises rivalry in the area of e-commerce between various organizations. The existing enterprise planning methods became obsolete with the advent of technology. Enterprises must adapt market intelligence through big data analysis to improve the business process in e-commerce. In the e-commerce market world, the influence of BDA plays a crucial part. The proposed model addresses different methodologies and methods for data analysis e-commerce. Users are proposing several new ways of enhancing market intelligence using BDA in the e-commerce sector. The findings show the relevance of the reasonable action theory and technology acceptance model, for explaining online shopping intentions, confirmation that e-commerce behavior often determines intentional purchases online, which in turn can be explained in terms of perceived utility, how easy it is to use, and how subjective the online shopping rule is perceived. This perspective of online shopping intention has contributed to a paradigm change in the e-commerce industry, as data is no longer viewed as the outcome of their market practices but as their greatest asset: a vital insight into the needs of consumers, a prediction of customer behavior patterns, the democracy of publicity to match consumer preferences, and success assessment to determine efficiency in meeting customers. The experimental outcomes of suggested BDA enhance the order delivery ratio (95.2%), customer behavior analysis ratio (92.6%), product quality ratio (97.6%), customer satisfaction ratio (95.9%), and demand prediction ratio (96.3%).
Virtual Screening and Molecular Docking Analysis of Degradation Products of Curcumin as Inhibitors of EGFR
Authors: Gopal Swarita
Published: April 2022

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a member of ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, is reportedly overexpressed in various types of human malignancies. Curcumin, a derived phytochemical compound, has demonstrated antiproliferative effects in various cancer cell lines. Since curcumin degrades into different bioactive compounds, attention has been drawn to analyze if these degradation products are primarily responsible for the observed biological activity of curcumin. In the current work 11 degradation products of curcumin were selected and assessed for their drug likeness, ADME and toxicity properties using a diverse range of advanced computational methods. Binding characteristics of EGFR with these ligand molecules were examined using in silico single ligand molecular docking and multi-ligand simultaneous docking (MLSD) methods. Spiroepoxide, one intermediate product of spontaneous oxidation of curcumin, docked with minimum energy ([Formula: see text]9.123[Formula: see text]kcal/mol) as compared to parent curcumin and co-crystallized Erlotinib inhibitor. Vina score for simultaneously docked autooxidation compounds at the binding site of EGFR, where one ligand was curcumin, was lower than the predicted binding energies of singly docked compounds, thus indicating that curcumin-derived compounds produced by the oxidative pathway do take part along with curcumin in inhibiting EGFR. The best ‘posed’ complex, spiroepoxide bound to EGFR, was chosen for MD simulation to examine the stability of this protein–ligand complex.
A Security Cost Modelling Framework for Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Ivkić Igor , Sailer Patrizia , Gouglidis Antonios , Mauthe Andreas , Tauber Markus
Published: April 2022

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are formed through interconnected components capable of computation, communication, sensing and changing the physical world. The development of these systems poses a significant challenge, since they have to be designed in a way to ensure cyber-security without impacting their performance. This article presents the Security Cost Modelling Framework (SCMF) and shows supported by an experimental study how it can be used to measure, normalise, and aggregate the overall performance of a CPS. Unlike previous studies, our approach uses different metrics to measure the overall performance of a CPS and provides a methodology for normalising the measurement results of different units to a common
Cost Unit
. Moreover, we show how the
Security Costs
can be extracted from the overall performance measurements, which allows us to quantify the overhead imposed by performing security-related tasks. Furthermore, we describe the architecture of our experimental testbed and demonstrate the applicability of SCMF in an experimental study. Our results show that measuring the overall performance and extracting the security costs using SCMF can serve as basis to redesign interactions to achieve the same overall goal at less costs.
In Situ Synthesis of AgCl@Ag Plates as Binder-Free Cathodes in a Magnesium Seawater-Activated Battery
Authors: Zhang Jiaxi , Liu Hui , Huang Jiefeng , Liu Ying , Fang Hongjie , Zhang Qian , He Xuehua , Song Juemin , Li Zheng , Xu Xiaochang , Yu Kun
Published: April 2022

A binder-free AgCl@Ag (SPL-A) cathode was prepared via a facile one-step synthesis by the in situ growth of AgCl active material on the surface of Ag foil substrate. Compared with the AgCl cathode (SPL-B) prepared by the traditional smelting-rolling method, the coarse-grained particulates of AgCl in AgCl@Ag cathode facilitated the permeation of the electrolyte. In addition, it exhibited a preferred growth orientation of the (111), (222), and (311) crystal planes to reduce the charge transfer resistance. The electrochemical behaviors of the optimized SPL-A-24 cathode (prepared with reaction time of 24 h) and the SPL-B cathode were also compared. The galvanostatic discharge results showed that SPL-A-24 cathode had a more positive electrode potential than SPL-B cathode (−0.06 V vs −0.19 V at 50 mA cm−2). Moreover, SPL-A cathode exhibited a stable discharge process that SPL-B cathode could not achieve at 100 mA cm−2 and 250 mA cm−2. The magnesium seawater-activated battery assembled with SPL-A-24 cathode displayed a shorter time to reach the voltage plateau (0.2 s), a higher maximum discharge voltage (1.69 V), a larger specific power (255.5 mWh g−1), and higher specific capacity (167.7 mAh g−1) at the discharge current density of 50 mA cm−2.