bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward an Understanding of Long-tailed Runtimes of SLS Algorithms
Authors: Lorenz Jan-Hendrik , Wörz Florian
Published: October 2022

The satisfiability problem (SAT) is one of the most famous problems in computer science. Traditionally, its NP-completeness has been used to argue that SAT is intractable. However, there have been tremendous practical advances in recent years that allow modern SAT solvers to solve instances with millions of variables and clauses. A particularly successful paradigm in this context is stochastic local search (SLS).

In most cases, there are different ways of formulating the underlying SAT problem. While it is known that the precise formulation of the problem has a significant impact on the runtime of solvers, finding a helpful formulation is generally non-trivial. The recently introduced
GapSAT
solver [Lorenz and Wörz 2020] demonstrated a successful way to improve the performance of an SLS solver on average by learning additional information, which logically entails from the original problem. Still, there were also cases in which the performance slightly deteriorated. This justifies in-depth investigations into how learning logical implications affects runtimes for SLS algorithms.

In this work, we propose a method for generating logically equivalent problem formulations, generalizing the ideas of
GapSAT
. This method allows a rigorous mathematical study of the effect on the runtime of SLS SAT solvers. Initially, we conduct empirical investigations. If the modification process is treated as random, then Johnson SB distributions provide a perfect characterization of the hardness. Since the observed Johnson SB distributions approach lognormal distributions, our analysis also suggests that the hardness is long-tailed.

As a second contribution, we theoretically prove that restarts are useful for long-tailed distributions. This implies that incorporating additional restarts can further refine
all
algorithms employing above mentioned modification technique.

Since the empirical studies compellingly suggest that the runtime distributions follow Johnson SB distributions, we also investigate this property on a theoretical basis. We succeed in proving that the runtimes for the special case of Schöning’s random walk algorithm [Schöning 2002] are approximately Johnson SB distributed.
Doubly Robust Estimation for Correcting Position Bias in Click Feedback for Unbiased Learning to Rank
Authors: Oosterhuis Harrie
Published: October 2022

Clicks on rankings suffer from position bias: generally items on lower ranks are less likely to be examined—and thus clicked—by users, in spite of their actual preferences between items. The prevalent approach to unbiased click-based learning-to-rank (LTR) is based on counterfactual inverse-propensity-scoring (IPS) estimation. In contrast with general reinforcement learning, counterfactual doubly robust (DR) estimation has not been applied to click-based LTR in previous literature.

In this article, we introduce a novel DR estimator that is the first DR approach specifically designed for position bias. The difficulty with position bias is that the treatment—user examination—is not directly observable in click data. As a solution, our estimator uses the expected treatment per rank, instead of the actual treatment that existing DR estimators use. Our novel DR estimator has more robust unbiasedness conditions than the existing IPS approach, and in addition, provides enormous decreases in variance: our experimental results indicate it requires several orders of magnitude fewer datapoints to converge at optimal performance. For the unbiased LTR field, our DR estimator contributes both increases in state-of-the-art performance and the most robust theoretical guarantees of all known LTR estimators.
Knowledge Tracing: A Survey
Authors: Abdelrahman Ghodai , Wang Qing , Nunes Bernardo
Published: October 2022

Humans’ ability to transfer knowledge through teaching is one of the essential aspects for human intelligence. A human teacher can track the knowledge of students to customize the teaching on students’ needs. With the rise of online education platforms, there is a similar need for machines to track the knowledge of students and tailor their learning experience. This is known as the

Knowledge Tracing (KT)

problem in the literature. Effectively solving the KT problem would unlock the potential of computer-aided education applications such as intelligent tutoring systems, curriculum learning, and learning materials’ recommendation. Moreover, from a more general viewpoint, a student may represent any kind of intelligent agents including both human and artificial agents. Thus, the potential of KT can be extended to any machine teaching application scenarios which seek for customizing the learning experience for a student agent (i.e., a machine learning model). In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey for the KT literature. We cover a broad range of methods starting from the early attempts to the recent state-of-the-art methods using deep learning, while highlighting the theoretical aspects of models and the characteristics of benchmark datasets. Besides these, we shed light on key modelling differences between closely related methods and summarize them in an easy-to-understand format. Finally, we discuss current research gaps in the KT literature and possible future research and application directions.
The Design and Prototyping of an App to Teach Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Empower Them Against Abuse
Authors: Venkatasubramanian Krishna , Ranalli Tina-Marie , Lanoie Jack , Sinapi Alexander , Lama Andrew Laraw , Skorinko Jeanine , Freark Mariah , Alterio Nancy
Published: October 2022

In the United States, the abuse of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is at epidemic proportions. However, the reporting of such abuse has been severely lacking. It has been found that individuals with I/DD are more aware of when and how to report abuse when they have received abuse-prevention training. Consequently, in this article we present the design and prototyping of a mobile-computing app calledRecognizethat empowers adults with I/DD to independently learn about abuse. To this end, we first conducted an auto-ethnographicco-designofRecognizewith individuals and self-advocates from the I/DD community. Next, based on the outcomes from the co-design process, we developed threeinitial prototype variantsofRecognizeand performed a preliminary user study with six individuals with I/DD who have experience teaching others with I/DD about abuse. Based on the findings of this preliminary user study, we created aconsolidated prototype of Recognizeand performed a more detailed qualitative user study with 11 individuals with I/DD who represented the eventual users ofRecognize. The participants in this user study found it to be viable for use by individuals with I/DD. We end the article with a discussion of the implications of our findings toward the development of a deployable version ofRecognizeand similar apps.
Remarkable sex-specific differences at single-cell resolution in neonatal hyperoxic lung injury
Authors: Cantu Abiud , Gutierrez Manuel C. , Dong Xiaoyu , Leek Connor , Sajti Eniko , Lingappan Krithika
Published: October 2022

Exposure to supraphysiological concentrations of oxygen (hyperoxia) predisposes to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is characterized by abnormal alveolarization and pulmonary vascular development, in preterm neonates. Neonatal hyperoxia exposure is used to recapitulate the phenotype of human BPD in murine models. Male sex is considered an independent predictor for the development of BPD, but the main mechanisms underlying sexually dimorphic outcomes are unknown. Our objective was to investigate sex-specific and cell-type specific transcriptional changes that drive injury in the neonatal lung exposed to hyperoxia at single-cell resolution and delineate the changes in cell-cell communication networks in the developing lung. We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) to generate transcriptional profiles of >35,000 cells isolated from the lungs of neonatal male and female C57BL/6 mice exposed to 95% [Formula: see text] between PND1-5 (saccular stage of lung development) or normoxia and euthanized at PND7 (alveolar stage of lung development). ScRNAseq identified 22 cell clusters with distinct populations of endothelial, epithelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells. Our data identified that the distal lung vascular endothelium (composed of aerocytes and general capillary endothelial cells) is exquisitely sensitive to hyperoxia exposure with the emergence of an intermediate capillary endothelial population with both general capillaries (gCap) and aerocytes or alveolar capillaries (aCap) markers. We also identified a myeloid-derived suppressor cell population from the lung neutrophils. Sex-specific differences were evident in all lung cell subpopulations but were striking among the lung immune cells. Finally, we identified that the specific intercellular communication networks and the ligand-receptor pairs that are impacted by neonatal hyperoxia exposure.
Case Study on Analyses of Slope Riverbank Failure
Authors: Taha Nazaruddin Abdul , Shariff Mohamad Shakri Mohmad , Ladin Mohd Azizul
Published: October 2022

A slope riverbank failure is a natural event that occurs globally on each riverbank, and a drawdown event usually causes slope riverbank failure. This case study is aimed at analysing slope riverbank failures by evaluating the seepage and slope stability of the riverbank under slow and rapid drawdown. The riverbank in this case study is located at KM 3.49, Jalan Pantai Luagan in the Sipitang district (N 4° 59

′

12.9

″

E 115° 31

′

13.3

″

). A literature review was conducted to view the current study pattern and retrieve a methodology based on the current study pattern. GeoStudio is a commercial finite element software. The data obtained from the borehole log report and online resources were utilised to create the riverbank model in software. The phreatic line shows a slow change over time, indicating that the riverbank takes a long time to stabilise after the drawdown. The FOS value decreases during the drawdown occurrence and slowly increases after the drawdown has ended. In conclusion, the drawdown event can cause slope riverbank failure, and the seepage and stability analysis using GeoStudio can show the condition of the riverbank during the drawdown event.
Association between Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone Indices and Bone Mineral Density in US Males
Authors: Chen Shuai , Huang Wucui , Zhou Guowei , Sun Xiaohe , Jin Jie , Li Zhiwei
Published: October 2022

Objectives. Thyroid hormone is acknowledged as a pivotal factor in skeletal development and adult bone maintenance. However, available data about the relationship between sensitivity to thyroid hormone and bone mineral density (BMD) remain limited and conflicting. The purpose of the study was to explore the complex relationship between sensitivity to thyroid hormone indices and BMD using cross-sectional analysis. Methods. An overall sample of 3,107 males from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was studied in the study. The thyroid hormone sensitivity indices included free triiodothyronine/tree thyroxine (FT3/FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone index (TSHI), thyrotroph thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI), and thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI). Given the complex study design and sample weights, the correlation between sensitivity to thyroid hormone indices and BMD was evaluated through multivariate linear regression models, and extra subgroup analyses were performed to examine the robustness of the results. Results. Among the 3,107 participants, we demonstrated that FT3/FT4 was negatively correlated with lumbar BMD (β = −0.0.35, 95% CI: −0.084–0.013,

P
<
0.05

). In the terms of central sensitivity to thyroid hormone, TFQI showed a significant negative relationship with the BMD of the lumbar (β = −0.018, 95% CI: −0.033 to −0.003,

P
<
0.05

), total femur (β = −0.020, 95% CI: −0.035 to −0.006,

P
<
0.01

), and femur neck (β = −0.018, 95% CI: −0.031 to −0.005,

P
<
0.01

). In the subgroup analyses stratified by body mass index (BMI), the significant negative correlation between TFQI and lumbar BMD remained in the male participants with BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2. Conclusions. Decreased indices of sensitivity to thyroid hormones are strongly associated with increased lumbar BMD, suggesting that the dysfunction of peripheral and central response to thyroid hormone might contribute to bone loss. In addition, FT3/FT4 and TFQI were considered to be the preferable indicators to guide the prevention and clinical treatment of osteoporosis.
m6A-Related Genes Contribute to Poor Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zou Yan , Jiang Guichun , Xie Yanmin , Li Hui
Published: October 2022

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and lethal digestive system cancers worldwide. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays an essential role in diverse critical biological processes and may participate in the development and progression of HCC. Methods. We downloaded transcriptome data and clinical data from TCGA as the training set. COX and LASSO screened prognostic m6A genes. ROC and Kaplan-Meier curve analysis evaluated the effectiveness of the model. ICGC and our center data were used as verification sets. Results. We include the “writer (METTL3, METTL14, WTAP, KIAA1429, RBM15, ZC3H13),” the “reader (YTHDC1, YTHDC2, YTHDF1, YTHDF2, HNRNPC),” and the “eraser (FTO, ALKBH5)” in the study. We obtained YTHDF2, YTHDF1, METTL3, and KIAA1429 through differential analysis, survival analysis, and LASSO regression analysis. The prediction model was established based on the expression of these 4 molecules. HCC patients were divided into “high-risk” and “low-risk” groups to compare survival differences. The model suggested a poor prognosis in the validation sets. Conclusion. The four-m6A-related-gene combination model was an independent prognostic factor of HCC and could improve the prediction of the prognosis of HCC.
q,h‐Opial‐Type Inequalities via Hahn Operators
Authors: Nosheen Ammara , Saba Anum , Khan Khuram Ali , Kahungu Michael Kikomba
Published: October 2022

In this paper, the well‐known Hölder’s inequality is proved via Hahn differential and integral operators, which is a helping tool to establish some Opial‐type inequalities via Hahn’s calculus. The weight functions involved in these Opial‐type inequalities are positive and monotone. In search of applications, some new as well as some existing inequalities in the literature are obtained by applying suitable limits.
Identifying the Predictors of Short Term Weight Loss Failure after Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Bahadori Effat , Esfehani Ali Jafarzadeh , Bahrami Leila Sadat , Shadmand Foumani Moghadam Mohammad Reza , Jangjoo Ali , Nematy Mohsen , Roghani Afshin , Rezvani Reza
Published: October 2022

Introduction. Gastric bypass surgery is a gold standard therapy for severe obesity. This study aimed to evaluate anthropometric predictors for short-term excess weight loss (EWL) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) in a sample of severely obese patients. Materials and Methods. This cohort study was conducted on severely obese candidates for RYGB bariatric surgery in Mashhad, Iran. Indirect calorimetry, anthropometric measurements, and body composition data were collected before, one, and six months after RYGB. Results. Fifty-four participants (43, 79.6% women and 11, 20.4% men) with a mean age of 39.63 ± 9.66 years participated in this study. The mean total weight and BMI loss within six months were 32.89 ± 20.22 kg and 12.37 ± 7.34 kg/m2, respectively. The mean reduction in adipose tissue and fat-free mass was 24.49 kg and 7.46 kg, respectively. The mean resting metabolism rate (RMR) reduction at one and six months after RYGB was 260.49 kcal and 396.07 kcal, respectively. There was a significant difference in mean RMR between the baseline and one and six months after RYGB (

p
<
0.001

). There was no significant gender difference in mean weight and BMI loss percentage at six months post-RYGB (

p
>
0.05

). Baseline skeletal muscle mass (SMM), excess BMI loss (EBMIL) at first month after surgery, and baseline neck circumference (NC) could predict EWL six months after surgery. Conclusion. Reduced RMR shortly after RYGB may be due to FFM reduction. Some anthropometric and their acute changes after RYGB may predict the short-term EWL in RYGB patients.
Characteristics of Sand at Major Quarrying Areas around Addis Ababa
Authors: Shewatatek Daniel , Tenaw Belestie , Yemiru Asratie , Belete Gebrehana , Tadesse Tena , Tolla Tamiru
Published: October 2022

This study focused on the measurements of physical and chemical characteristics of sand samples taken from Atayie, Je‐wuha, Ziway (4 quarrying sites), Mekie (4 quarrying sites), and Soderie (2 quarrying sites) were analyzed by conducting different tests, such as silt content, moisture content, bulking, sieve size, unit weight, specific gravity, water absorption, and organic impurities tests. After conducting those tests, the results of sand samples taken from Atayie, Je‐wuha, Alagie, and Bosat Fokie sites satisfied 100% test standard requirements. In the same way, Kiera and Atie leman sand sample satisfies the 90% test requirement while Lolie basuma sand satisfies 80% test requirements and Endala chebie satisfies 70% among 10 tests with respective requirements. However, the result of sand samples taken from Langano, Godo, Melka Jelo, and Dehera Degaga satisfies below 50% of the tests among the 10 test parameters.
Evaluation of Locally Available Botanicals for the Management of Maize Weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.) in Room Storage Condition
Authors: Neupane Bishnu Prasad , Sharma Prem Nidhi , Aryal Sunil , Shrestha Jiban
Published: October 2022

From April to July 2019, an experiment was conducted in Khumaltar, Lalitpur (27°39.312′N, 85° 19.586′E, and 1322 m above sea level) to assess the effectiveness of plant materials on maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.) control under laboratory conditions (maintained room temperature of 28.5 ± 2°C, and relative humidity of 72 ± 5%) treatments were Acorus calamus (rhizome powder) @ 5 g·kg−1, Melia azadirach (rhizome powder) seed) @ 5 g·kg−1, Curcuma domestica (rhizome powder) @ 5 g·kg−1, mustard oil @ 2 mL·kg−1, Gingiber officinalis (rhizome powder) @ 5 g·kg−1, rice husk ash @ 5 g·kg−1, and an untreated control. These treatments were evaluated in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. At four months, the grains treated with Acorus calamus had the least weight loss (6.66%), and grain damage (1.23%). Grain damage (18%), and weight loss (62.33%) were the highest in the control treatment. Similarly, grains treated with Acorus calamus had the fewest number of exit holes (3.10 per 100 g of maize seed), while the control treatment had the largest number of exit holes (45.10 per 100 g of maize seed). There was a significantly higher number of weevils in the control treatment (55.80 per 250 g maize grains), but only a few numbers of weevils in the Acorus calamus-treated grains (2.50 per 250 g maize grains). In contrast with other plant materials treated grains, the maize weevil showed a reduced preference for Acorus calamus- treated grains with low weight loss, and grain damage. These findings can be used to promote locally accessible botanicals for maize weevil control in Nepal.
Comprehensive Analysis and Functional Characteristics of Differential Expression of N6-Methyladenosine Methylation Modification in the Whole Transcriptome of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Wan Lei , Liu Jian , Huang Chuanbing , Zhu Ziheng , Wang Kun , Sun Guanghan , Zhu Lei , Hu Zhongxiang
Published: October 2022

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most prevalent chemical modification in eukaryotic mRNA and is associated with the development of various immune diseases. However, the role of m6A methylation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development is unclear. We preliminarily explored the role of m6A methylation-related mRNAs in RA for its clinical application. The discovery of m6A methylation-modifying genes in this study may provide a fresh perspective on the development of drugs for RA treatment. High-throughput sequencing combined with methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP-seq) and RNA sequencing were used to assess whole-transcriptome m6A modifications in the synovium of patients with RA. The relationship between m6A-modified target genes and RA inflammation and macrophages was determined. The expression of the m6A-modified significant transcript-enriched inflammatory signaling pathway was assessed through animal experiments. Differentially expressed m6A genes were correlated with macrophage activation involved in immune response, vascular endothelium, MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K − Akt signaling pathway, and other inflammatory processes. Furthermore, combined analysis with m6A-seq and RNA-seq revealed 120 genes with significant changes in both m6A modification and mRNA expression. We selected the top 3 candidate mRNAs that were upregulated and downregulated simultaneously. The expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) mRNA and protein in RA patients was lower than that in healthy control (HC). SHC-binding protein 1 (SHCBP1) and neurexophilin-3 (NXPH3) mRNA expressions were increased in RA patients. The expression of M1 macrophages was increased in RA patients. RA markers are such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and peptide containing citrulline (CCP). Further animal experiments showed that the expression of synovial MAPK, PI3K, and Akt1 proteins in the RA model was increased, and the PTEN, p-PTEN protein expression was decreased. PI3K, Akt1, PTEN, and p-PTEN were correlated to RA joint inflammation. This study revealed a unique pattern of differential m6A methylation modifications in RA and concluded that m6A modification is related to the occurrence of RA synovial inflammation.
Relationship between Blood Lipid Profiles and Risk of Lupus Nephritis in Children
Authors: Liu Jiajia , Song Wenqi , Cui Dawei
Published: October 2022

Objective. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a relatively common rheumatic disease in children. The characteristics of blood lipid metabolism in children with LN are little reported. This study aimed to explore the relationship between blood lipid profiles and the risk of lupus nephritis (LN) in children. Methods. A total of 134 children with newly diagnosed SLE were divided into LN and non-LN groups according to pathological renal biopsy results. Clinical manifestations and blood lipid profiles were analyzed and compared between the two groups, and the relationships between blood lipid profiles and risk of LN were evaluated. Results. The positivity rate of an anti-dsDNA antibody and an SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) were significantly increased, and C3 and C4 levels were significantly reduced in the LN compared with the non-LN group. The overall incidence of dyslipidemia was 79.9%, with a significantly high incidence in the LN group compared with the non-LN group. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very LDLC (VLDL-C) were all higher in the LN group than those in the non-LN group. However, there was no significant difference in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) between the two groups. The blood lipid levels were positively correlated with 24-hour urine protein quantification, urea, creatinine, uric acid, urinary IgG, urinary microalbumin, urinary transferrin, urinary α1 microglobulin, and urinary N-acetyl glucosidase, respectively. Receiver-operating characteristic curves showed that combined detection of TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C had higher discrimination capacity than that in individual measures. Additionally, increased TC was independently associated with the occurrence of LN. Conclusions. Children with LN have significant dyslipidemia. High levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C are closely related to the occurrence of pLN. Clinical attention should be paid to monitoring and managing blood lipid profiles in children with LN.
Phosphorous Sorption Characteristics of Soils in Smallholding Land Use in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Lulu Mekdes , Lemma Bekele , Melese Asmare
Published: October 2022

Purpose. This study evaluated the P sorption characteristics of soils under smallholding land use in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods. Soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected from each of the home garden, grazing land, cropland, and woodlot in three replications at two sites and analyzed for P sorption isotherm data and selected soil properties. Results. The P sorption data were generated by equilibration with P solutions and the data were fitted with the Freundlich model (r2 = 0.88–0.98, SE = 0.16–0.24) and Langmuir model (r2 = 0.81–0.98, SE = 0.45–1.71). The Langmuir P sorption maximum (Qmax) and Freundlich sorption coefficient (Kf) were the highest in the cropland soils while these parameters were the lowest in the home garden. Maximum buffering capacity (MBC) was in the order cropland > woodlot > home garden > grazing land, but Freundlich P buffering capacity (PBC) followed the order cropland > grazing land > home garden > woodlot. Langmuir bonding energy (bL) and Freundlich phosphate sorption affinity (1/n) were in the order of home garden > woodlot > grazing land > cropland. The Qmax was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with clay, Kf, PBC, the oxalate and dithionates extractable Al, Fe, and Mn, but it negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with soil pH, SOC, AP and bL. Conclusion. Generally, the effect of P sorption of the smallholding home garden was slightly different from eucalyptus woodlot and grazing lands but considerably different from cropland. The high P sorption capacity in cropland was attributed to the high amorphous and crystalline Fe/Al oxides/hydroxides, low SOC, and low soil pH. Hence, combinations of P managements are required for increasing P availability in the smallholding land uses.
Antidiabetic Activity of Mung Bean or Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek Seeds in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice
Authors: Amare Yosef Eshetie , Dires Kassahun , Asfaw Tsegahun
Published: October 2022

Introduction. Despite the development of oral hypoglycemic medications, diabetes and its associated complications continue to be significant clinical issues. The purpose of this study was to examine the antidiabetic effects of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek seeds in mice that had been given alloxan to cause diabetes. Methods. In Swiss albino mice, diabetes was brought on by a single intraperitoneal injection of the drug alloxan (150 mg/kg). For 14 days, glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) and methanol extract of V. radiata seeds (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) were given orally. Following oral administration of V. radiata to mice, the blood glucose levels (BGL) and body weight were measured at 7 and 14 days. The mice were sacrificed at the end of the trial, and blood samples were taken for the evaluation of insulin, glycated hemoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) levels. It was determined how much glycogen was present in the liver. Additionally, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of V. radiata were determined, along with the in vitro DPPH (2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhrazyl) free radical-scavenging activity.

P

 < 0.05 was chosen as the cutoff for statistical significance. Results. Following oral administration of V. radiata for 14 days, diabetic mice’s BGL and bad cholesterol (TC and TG) levels significantly decreased, while HDL levels increased. Treatment with V. radiata significantly decreased the levels of AST, ALT, and glycated hemoglobin when compared with diabetes control. On the other hand, it raised insulin levels and the amount of liver glycogen. V. radiata underwent phytochemical analysis, which identified the presence of tannins, saponins, phenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, and glycosides. Per gram of V. radiata seed extract, the total phenolic content was 43.12 ± 3.14 mg of gallic acid equivalents, while the total flavonoid content was 38.35 ± 2.6 mg of quercetin equivalents. Ascorbic acid was shown to have an IC50 value of 18.64 µg/ml during a DPPH-scavenging assay, while V. radiata had an IC50 value of 73.35 µg/ml. Conclusion. According to the findings of the current study, the methanolic extract of the seeds from the plant V. radiata possesses significant antidiabetic characteristics that are on par with those of the commonly used drug glibenclamide. Hence, V. radiata seems to be effective as a natural antidiabetic.
Chemical Constituents from Uapaca guineensis (Phyllanthaceae), and the Computational Validation of Their Antileishmanial and Anti-inflammatory Potencies
Authors: Mouthé Happi Gervais , Towa Yimtchui Mireille , Ahmed Sikiru Akinyeye , Salau Shina , Dzouemo Liliane Clotilde , Sikam Klev Gaïtan , Wansi Jean Duplex
Published: October 2022

From the chemical investigations of the root bark of Uapaca guineensis, nine distinct compounds (1–9) have been isolated and characterized as lupeol, betulin, betulinic acid, β-amyryl acetate, physcion, quercetin, rutin, β-sitosterol, and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, respectively. The structures of all the isolated compounds have been established using their NMR data as well as the comparison of those data with the ones reported in the literature. Interestingly, to the best of our knowledge, except for the lupane-type triterpenoids (1–3) and compounds 4 and 9, all the other compounds are reported for the first time from this genus. Since the plant is widely used for the treatment of skin diseases, leishmaniasis and inflammatory diseases, the antileishmanial and anti-inflammatory potencies of all the isolated compounds have been computationally validated through their ability to inhibit the receptors 1QCC and 2XOX (for the antileishmanial studies) and 6Y3C and 1CX2 (for the anti-inflammatory studies). Furthermore, the ADMET studies of compounds have been done to evaluate their drug-likeness. Results demonstrate that all the isolated compounds showed a better affinity for both receptors’ binding sites than the standard drugs miltefosine and aspirin. Moreover, the compounds would not cause addiction when used as lead molecules whereas, aspirin is predicted to violate the BBB over a long term of usage as a drug. This study gives additional information on the chemistry of U. guineensis and its classification as a potential source of good leads for the development of potent antileishmanial and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Application of Variational Mode Decomposition and Multiscale Permutation Entropy in Rolling Bearing Failure Analysis
Authors: Liu Haorui , Li Haijun , Wang Rongyan , Zhu Hengwei , Zhang Jianchen
Published: October 2022

The rolling bearing fault test signal has nonstationary and nonlinear characteristics. The feature extraction method based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and permutation entropy can effectively measure the regularity of the signal and detect weak changes. Since the center frequency of the intrinsic mode function (IMF) of each fault test signal contains more details, this paper further extracts the multiscale permutation entropy feature for each IMF. The training samples and test samples of each IMF are constructed, and then the support vector machine (SVM) and the K-nearest neighbor algorithm (KNN) are used to identify the faults. The test results of the IMF components are used to determine the classification results combined with the maximum attribution index. Compared with the relevant feature extraction, the experimental results show that the method achieves a certain improvement in the accuracy of fault identification. The research results of rolling bearing fault data show that the multiscale permutation entropy and SVM/KNN can more accurately diagnose different fault modes, different fault sizes, and different operating states of rolling bearings.
Iron-Sulfur Clusters: A Key Factor of Regulated Cell Death in Cancer
Authors: Zhang Mengning , Liu Zhijun , Le Yifei , Gu Zhenqi , Zhao Hong
Published: October 2022

Iron-sulfur clusters are ancient cofactors that play crucial roles in myriad cellular functions. Recent studies have shown that iron-sulfur clusters are closely related to the mechanisms of multiple cell death modalities. In addition, numerous previous studies have demonstrated that iron-sulfur clusters play an important role in the development and treatment of cancer. This review first summarizes the close association of iron-sulfur clusters with cell death modalities such as ferroptosis, cuprotosis, PANoptosis, and apoptosis and their potential role in cancer activation and drug resistance. This review hopes to generate new cancer therapy ideas and overcome drug resistance by modulating iron-sulfur clusters.
The Prevalence and Pattern of Anaemia in Type 2 Diabetics in Ogbomosho, An Urban Community in Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Olufemi-Aworinde Kehinde J. , Olutogun Tolulase A. , Akande Joel O. , Akande Roseline O. , Odeyemi Abiona O. , Idowu Olufemi J. , Oke Elizabeth O. , Abolarin Ademola T. , Ala Oluwabukola A.
Published: October 2022

Anaemia is a frequent finding in type 2 diabetes, but it is typically seen with established chronic kidney disease and renal insufficiency. Cases, where anaemia predates renal insufficiency, are associated with a worse prognosis for the type 2 diabetes patient and an increased susceptibility to complications. This study aims to determine the prevalence and type of anaemia in persons living with type 2 diabetes without established chronic kidney disease in our environment. The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that involved 141 people with known type 2 diabetes as the study group and 140 healthy persons as controls. The study population and the controls were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered semistructured questionnaire at the Endocrinology clinic, Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho. The data obtained were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 23.0 (pvalue ≤0.05 was considered significant). The biochemical (fasting lipids, HBA1C, FBG, serum albumin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, and insulin) and haematological (FBC and red cell indices; PVC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RCDW) parameters of the respondents were analyzed using standard methods. The study showed a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of anaemia among subjects, 69.2% as compared to 30.8% of the control group. Normochromic normocytic anaemia was predominant among the subjects, whereas microcytic hypochromic anaemia was the predominant type in the controls. There was no statistically significant difference between MCV and MCHC of both subjects and controls. There was a positive correlation between the incidence of anaemia and the duration of diabetes among the subjects. More people with type 2 diabetes are now living longer, and the addition of haematological parameters should be part of their baseline investigations to aid in the early detection of complications.
Poststroke Seizure and Epilepsy: A Review of Incidence, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacological Therapies
Authors: Phan Joseph , Ramos Mario , Soares Theodore , Parmar Mayur S.
Published: October 2022

Stroke is the most common cause of epilepsy and ultimately leads to a decrease in the quality of life of those affected. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes can both lead to poststroke epilepsy (PSE). Significant risk factors for PSE include

age
<
65

age less than 65 years, stroke severity measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), cortical involvement, and genetic factors such as TRPM6 polymorphism. The diagnosis of PSE is made by using imaging modalities, blood biomarkers, and prognostic criteria. Electroencephalography (EEG) is currently the gold standard to diagnose PSE, while new combinations of modalities are being tested to increase diagnostic specificity. This literature review uncovers a newly found mechanism for the pathology of poststroke epilepsy. The pathogenesis of early-onset and late-onset is characterized by sequelae of neuronal cellular hypoxia and disruption of the blood-brain barrier, respectively. Interleukin-6 is responsible for increasing the activity of glial cells, causing gliosis and hyperexcitability of neurons. Epinephrine, high-mobility group protein B1, downregulation of CD32, and upregulation of HLA-DR impact the pathology of poststroke epilepsy by inhibiting the normal neuronal immune response. Decreased levels of neuropeptide Y, a neurotransmitter, act through multiple unique mechanisms, such as inhibiting intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and acting as an anti-inflammatory, also implemented in the worsening progression of poststroke epilepsy. Additionally, CA1 hippocampal resonant neurons that increase theta oscillation are associated with poststroke epilepsy. Hypertensive small vessel disease may also have an implication in the temporal lobe epilepsy by causing occult microinfarctions. Furthermore, this review highlights the potential use of statins as primary prophylaxis against PSE, with multiple studies demonstrating a reduction in incidence using statins alone, statins in combination with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and statins with aspirin. The evidence strongly suggests that the second generation AEDs are a superior treatment method for PSE. Data from numerous studies demonstrate their relative lack of significant drug interactions, increased tolerability, and potential superiority in maintaining seizure-free status.
Common Germline Risk Variants Impact Somatic Alterations and Clinical Features across Cancers
Authors: Namba Shinichi , Saito Yuki , Kogure Yasunori , Masuda Tatsuo , Bondy Melissa L. , Gharahkhani Puya , Gockel Ines , Heider Dominik , Hillmer Axel , Jankowski Janusz , MacGregor Stuart , Maj Carlo , Melin Beatrice , Ostrom Quinn T. , Palles Claire , Schumacher Johannes , Tomlinson Ian , Whiteman David C. , Okada Yukinori , Kataoka Keisuke
Published: October 2022

Aggregation of genome-wide common risk variants, such as polygenic risk score (PRS), can measure genetic susceptibility to cancer. A better understanding of how common germline variants associate with somatic alterations and clinical features could facilitate personalized cancer prevention and early detection. We constructed PRSs from 14 genome-wide association studies (median n = 64,905) for 12 cancer types by multiple methods and calibrated them using the UK Biobank resources (n = 335,048). Meta-analyses across cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (n = 7,965) revealed that higher PRS values were associated with earlier cancer onset and lower burden of somatic alterations, including total mutations, chromosome/arm somatic copy-number alterations (SCNA), and focal SCNAs. This contrasts with rare germline pathogenic variants (e.g., BRCA1/2 variants), showing heterogeneous associations with somatic alterations. Our results suggest that common germline cancer risk variants allow early tumor development before the accumulation of many somatic alterations characteristic of later stages of carcinogenesis.

Significance:

Meta-analyses across cancers show that common germline risk variants affect not only cancer predisposition but the age of cancer onset and burden of somatic alterations, including total mutations and copy-number alterations.
Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment Compared with Steroid Treatment for Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Patil Nikhil S. , Hatamnejad Amin , Mihalache Andrew , Popovic Marko M. , Kertes Peter J. , Muni Rajeev H.
Published: October 2022

Background: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) and steroid treatment are both used for macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO), however a continual reevaluation of their comparative efficacy is required. Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of intravitreal anti-VEGF agents and intravitreal steroids for the treatment of ME secondary to RVO. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials for studies published between January 2005 and November 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on patients with ME secondary to RVO who were treated with intravitreal steroids or anti-VEGF agents were included. A random effects meta-analysis was performed. Results: 879 eyes from 11 RCTs were included. At the last study observation, intravitreal anti-VEGF agents were associated with a significantly better best corrected visual acuity (WMD = −0.14 logMAR, 95% CI = [−0.19, −0.09], p < 0.00001) and lower retinal thickness (WMD = −38.01 µm, 95% CI = [−56.17, −19.85], p < 0.0001) relative to intravitreal steroids. Similar findings were found at 3–12 month time points. Intravitreal anti-VEGF agents were associated with a significantly lower incidence of IOP-related adverse events (RR = 0.28, 95% CI = [0.15, 0.51], p < 0.0001), cataract development/progression (RR = 0.22, 95% CI = [0.09, 0.49], p = 0.0003), and conjunctival hemorrhage (RR = 0.52, 95% CI = [0.32, 0.86], p = 0.01). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis found superiority of intravitreal anti-VEGF agents relative to intravitreal steroids for the treatment of ME secondary to RVO with regards to visual acuity, anatomic outcomes, and safety endpoints.
Escrita-performance
Authors: Allsopp Ric , Montagner Alessandra
Published: October 2022

Esta é uma tradução do artigo “Performance Writing”, de Ric Allsopp, originalmente publicado em língua inglesa no PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art, no ano de 1999. Traduzido para o português com um atraso de mais de vinte anos, o texto introduz breves entrelaçamentos entre as noções de escrita e de performance e expõe o percurso de fundação da escrita-performance enquanto termo que designa tanto práticas de escrita, que são em si performativas, quanto um campo do conhecimento.
Repensando a polarização: o corpo e o renascimento da política
Authors: Katz Helena
Published: October 2022

O uso frequente do conceito de polarização em contexto político pede atenção, sobretudo por dois equívocos: torna equivalente o que instala nos seus dois polos, e se assenta na transformação do divergente em inimigo a ser eliminado. O objetivo do texto é compreender os danos do uso inadequado deste conceito recorrendo ao que a natureza já nos ensina, com os polos magnéticos e geográficos, e agregando o que vem sucedendo com o corpo na sua relação com as telas. Autores como Pariser (2011), Ugresic (2011), Brugnago e Chaia (2014-2015) e Arantes (2014) fundamentam a argumentação aqui reunida na forma de revisão bibliográfica. A hipótese é a de que a fabricação do sujeito me, myself and I (KATZ, 2016, 2017) favorece a falta de rigor que vem caracterizando a comunicação, com consequências ameaçadoras à democracia.
Políticas culturais em tempos de pandemia: da Lei Aldir Blanc à Lei Paulo Gustavo e suas aplicações no estado e município de São Paulo
Authors: Almeida José Renato Fonseca de
Published: October 2022

Este artigo se debruça sobre a construção das leis emergenciais para a cultura, durante a pandemia de covid-19, em especial a Lei Aldir Blanc 1, buscando mostrar como, em tempos de guerra, exceção e pandemia, o que temos é a emergência. Trataremos com mais detalhes das experiências vivenciadas no estado e município de São Paulo, onde o autor participou da comissão municipal de elaboração dos projetos a serem implementados, fazendo apontamentos da Lei Aldir Blanc 2 e da Lei Paulo Gustavo, que, no momento de elaboração deste artigo, ainda se encontram no momento de análise e derrubada do veto presidencial para poderem ser implantadas.
Há mais passado no presente do que se possa imaginar: a emergência do complexo do calçado na aula performática Treze Dias
Authors: Rachel Denise Pereira
Published: October 2022

Este artigo expõe cortes, lesões e traumas provenientes da reprodução e permanência da obra colonial no contexto brasileiro, propagada por uma pedagogia da assimilação, na instauração de um regime das aparências escolares. Com o intuito de problematizar este regime, discutimos as reverberações da aula performática duracional Treze dias (2016), criada pelo Coletivo Parabelo com a comunidade escolar do Cieja Ermelino Matarazzo. A partir de uma abordagem autoetnográfica performativa, foi possível perceber a emergência do que designamos, em diálogo com o pensamento de Roger Bastide, “complexo do calçado”.
Contribution to the moss flora of northern Sikkim, India
Authors: Yadav Himani , Dhyani Anshul , Uniyal Prem Lal
Published: October 2022

Study of species composition and community structure is an essential requirement for maintaining the ecosystem functions, conservation, and sustainable use. Bryophytes are integral components of biodiversity and resilient during perturbation. The present investigation was, therefore, a survey in North Sikkim district (India) to study the diversity and distribution of mosses resulting in a total of 113 species in 74 genera and 28 families as new records to the study area. Of these, 14 species are considered rare based on their frequency of occurrence. The family Meteoriaceae which consists of mainly epiphytic taxa is found to be dominant and widely spread in the study area followed by Pottiaceae, Leucobryaceae, and Dicranaceae families. Sixteen species are found to be remarkable in contributing major biomass to the forest floors and as epiphytes. Five species are recorded to be endemic to this area. Most of the epiphytic species are found to be abundant in the area, indicating the good health of ecosystem. The data would be useful in the planning of conservation and management of biodiversity.
Nectar robbing by bees on the flowers of Volkameria inermis (Lamiaceae) in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: P. Suvarna Raju  , A.J. Solomon Raju  , C. Venkateswara Reddy  , G. Nagaraju
Published: October 2022

Floral traits that shape the floral architecture are important to allow or disallow flower visitors to access nectar and effect pollination. Specialization in floral architecture is vulnerable to flower visitors that exploit nectar by robbery without effecting pollination. In Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, India, studies on the exploitation of nectar by robbery in plant species with specialized flowers are completely lacking. We carried out a study on the foraging activity of insect foragers and nectar robbing by bees on the specialized nectariferous flowers of an evergreen shrub, Volkameria inermis growing in the landward side of this sanctuary. Field observations indicated that the flowers of this species facilitate legitimate probing only by butterflies and diurnal moths which while seeking nectar effect pollination. However, two bee species Anthophora dizona and Xylocopa pubescens seek nectar illegitimately as primary nectar robbers by making a slit/hole into the corolla tube from outside bypassing the flower front. Additionally, A. dizona gathers pollen legitimately from the stamens which are exposed and placed outside the corolla tube. The stigma is also placed outside the corolla tube but this bee indiscriminately makes attempts to collect pollen from the stigma, as a result of which pollination occurs. Nectar robbing by these bees leads to a reduction in nectar volume in robbed flowers and brings about variability in the standing crop of nectar. As a result, the pollinating butterflies increase the number of nectar foraging visits and shuttle between populations of V. inermis in quest of more nectar to meet their daily metabolic requirements. Such a foraging behavior increases pollination rate in general and cross-pollination in particular, which in turn increases plant fitness in V. inermis. Therefore, the nectar robbing by bees appears to have a positive effect on plant fitness through change in seed set rates.