bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemical properties of polymorphonuclear neutrophils from venous blood and peritoneal exudates of rabbits
Authors: Takamori K , Yamashita T
Published: June 2021

The biochemical properties of polymorphonuclear neutrophils from blood and peritoneal exudates of rabbits were compared. All enzymes measured showed almost identical activities in both types of cells, except for alkaline phosphodiesterase, the activity of which was seven times higher in peritoneal neutrophils. During phagocytosis, blood and peritoneal beta-glucuronidases were released in very similar fashions. Lysozyme, one of the enzymes concerned with killing of bacteria, as well as beta-glucuronidase, showed the same releasing pattern in both types of cells, but peroxidase was hardly released. Although superoxide anion generation in peritoneal neutrophils was two times higher than superoxide generation in blood neutrophils, phagocytic and bactericidal activities were almost the same in blood and peritoneal neutrophils. Blood neutrophils were more resistant to hypotonic lysis than were peritoneal neutrophils. These results show that there are no distinct differences in enzymatic and functional properties between blood and peritoneal polymorphonuclear neutrophils, except for alkaline phosphodiesterase activity, superoxide anion production, and osmotic fragility.
Mannose-Binding Activity of
Escherichia coli:
a Determinant of Attachment and Ingestion of the Bacteria by Macrophages
Authors: Bar-Shavit Zvi , Goldman Rachel , Ofek Itzhak , Sharon Nathan , Mirelman David
Published: June 2021

Recently, it was suggested that a mannose-specific lectin on the bacterial cell surface is responsible for the recognition by phagocytic cells of certain nonopsonized
Escherichia coli
strains. In this study we assessed the interaction of two strains of
E. coli
at different phases of growth with a monolayer of mouse peritoneal macrophages and developed a direct method with [
14
C]mannan to quantitate the bacterial mannose-binding activity. Normal-sized bacteria were obtained from logarithmic and stationary phases of growth. Nonseptated filamentous cells were formed by growing the organisms in the presence of cephalexin or at a restrictive temperature. Attachment to macrophages of all bacterial forms was inhibited by methyl α-
d
-mannoside and mannan but not by other sugars tested. The attachment of stationary phase and filamentous bacteria to macrophages, as well as their mannose-binding activity, was similar, whereas in the exponential-phase bacteria they were markedly reduced. The results show a linear relation between the two parameters (
R
= 0.98,
P
< 0.001). The internalization of the filamentous cells attached to macrophages during 45 min of incubation was much less efficient (20%) compared to that of exponential-phase, stationary-phase, or antibody-coated filamentous bacteria (90%). The results indicate that the mannose-binding activity of
E. coli
determines the recognition of the organisms by phagocytes. They further suggest that administration of β-lactam antibiotics may impair elimination of certain pathogenic bacteria by inducing the formation of filaments which are inefficiently internalized by the host's phagocytic cells.
Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferative responses by ribavirin
Authors: Peavy D L , Koff W C , Hyman D S , Knight V
Published: June 2021

When added to cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, ribavirin (1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) inhibited antigen- and mitogen-induced proliferative responses as determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Dose-dependent suppressive effects were obtained when concentrations of 5 to 60 microgram of ribavirin per ml were added at culture initiation or up to 96 h thereafter. Ribavirin inhibited [3H]uridine and [3H]leucine incorporation by concanavalin A-activated and normal lymphocytes although not as severely as deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. The capacity of ribavirin to interfere with lymphoproliferative responses was entirely reversed by guanosine and, to a lesser extent, by adenosine and xanthosine. These studies demonstrate that ribavirin is a reversible inhibitor of lymphocyte nucleic acid synthesis and suggest that the drug may be immunosuppressive when administered in vivo.
Influenza type A virus M protein expression on infected cells is responsible for cross-reactive recognition by cytotoxic thymus-derived lymphocytes
Authors: Reiss C S , Schulman J L
Published: June 2021

M protein of influenza A virus was detected with rabbit antiserum by both indirect immunofluorescence and by antibody plus complement-mediated cytolysis on the cell surfaces of both productively and nonproductively infected cells. In contrast, antiserum to nucleoprotein failed to react with unfixed infected cells, but did bind to fixed infected cells, especially in the perinuclear area. Incorporation of antiserum to M protein in a T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity assay produced almost complete abrogation of lysis of H-2-compatible cells infected with an influenza A virus of a subtype which differed from that used to elicit the cytotoxic T cells. However, the antibody did not significantly block 51Cr release from cells infected with the homotypic type A influenza virus. These observations are in accord with the hypothesis that the cross-reactive cytotoxic T-cell responses seen with cells infected by heterotypic influenza A viruses are due to recognition of a common M protein.
Independence of chicken major histocompatibility antigens and tumor-associated antigen on the surface of herpesvirus-induced lymphoma cells
Authors: Coleman R M , Schierman L W
Published: June 2021

Capping of chicken major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens on normal thymus, spleen, and peripheral blood leukocytes was demonstrated, although MHC antigens appeared to be present on only 15 to 18% of normal thymus cells. MHC antigen capping also occurred on cells from a Marek's disease herpesvirus-induced transplantable lymphoma (MDCT-NYM1). Capping of a Marek's disease tumor-associated surface antigen (MATSA) could be induced on MDCT-NYM1 lymphoma cells as well as on cells of two Marek's disease in vitro lymphoblastoid cell lines (MDCC-MSB1 and MDCC-LS1). Cocapping of MHC antigens and MATSA did not occur on MDCT-NYM1 lymphoma cells. The results suggest that MHC antigens and MATSA are not structurally associated on the cell membrane.
Inhibition of
Escherichia coli
Translocation from the Gastrointestinal Tract by Normal Cecal Flora in Gnotobiotic or Antibiotic-Decontaminated Mice
Authors: Berg Rodney D.
Published: June 2021

Escherichia coli
C25 maintained population levels of 10
9
to 10
10
per g of cecum and translocated to 100% of the middle mesenteric lymph nodes in gnotobiotic mice monoassociated with
E. coli
C25. Intragastric inoculation of these mice with the cecal contents from specific-pathogen-free mice reduced the population levels of
E. coli
C25 to 10
6
per g of cecum and completely inhibited translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes. Intragastric inoculation with heat-treated, Formalintreated, or filtered cecal contents did not reduce the population levels of
E. coli
C25 or reduce the incidence of translocation of
E. coli
C25 to the mesenteric lymph nodes. Thus, viable bacteria apparently are required in the cecal contents inocula to reduce the population levels and the incidence of translocation of
E. coli
C25. Treatment with streptomycin plus bacitracin decreased the anaerobic bacterial levels in these gnotobiotic mice, allowing increased population levels of
E. coli
C25 and increased translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes.
E. coli
C25 also translocated to the mesenteric lymph nodes of specific-pathogen-free mice treated with streptomycin and bacitracin before colonization with
E. coli
C25. The high cecal population levels of
E. coli
C25 in these antibiotic-decontaminated specific-pathogen-free mice apparently overwhelm any barrier to translocation exerted by the immunologically developed lamina propria of the specific-pathogen-free mice. Inoculation of gnotobiotic mice with a cecal flora also reduced the population levels of an indigenous strain of
E. coli
with a concomitant inhibition of translocation of the indigenous
E. coli
to the mesenteric lymph nodes. Thus, bacterial antagonism of the gastrointestinal population levels of certain indigenous bacteria, such as
E. coli
, by other members of the normal bacterial flora appears to be an important defense mechanism confining bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract.
Ultrastructural observations on cellular and subcellular aspects of experimental Mycoplasma pneumoniae disease
Authors: Carson J L , Collier A M , Hu S C
Published: June 2021

The ultrastructural organization of Mycoplasma pneumoniae membranes and spatial relationships of this pathogen to epithelial cells in tracheal organ cultures were examined ultrastructurally by freeze-fracture techniques. Areas of morphologically distinct cell membrane variability characterized by membrane blebs and altered distributions of membrane associated particles were observed in replicas of M. pneumoniae cells. Inspection of the host tracheal epithelium demonstrated the alignment of M. pneumoniae to the epithelium with an accompanying deterioration in the integrity of the lumenal surface membranes and subsequent loss of the epithelial cell cytosol. Ciliary dysfunction was suggested by the observation of ciliary lesions and of disorganized epithelial cell cilia. The methodology used in these studies has permitted a new perspective of host-pathogen interactions at both the cellular and subcellular levels in tracheal organ cultures. These studies may also illustrate ultrastructural correlates of the alteration of host macromolecular synthesis in experimental M. pneumoniae infection.
Adherence and morphology of guinea pig alveolar macrophages: effect of N-formyl methionyl peptides
Authors: Rossman M D , Cassizzi A M , Daniele R P
Published: June 2021

N-Formyl methionyl phenylalanine increased alveolar macrophage adherence and diameter and induced morphological changes associated with activation. N-Formyl methionyl phenylalanine may be useful in understanding macrophage activation and bacteriolytic function.
Interaction of nonhuman primate peripheral blood leukocytes and Coccidioides immitis in vitro
Authors: Beaman L , Holmberg C A
Published: June 2021

The leukocytes from rhesus macaques could not kill either endospores or arthrospores of Coccidioides immitis even in the presence of immune serum and complement, although these leukocytes were able to kill Candida and Listeria organisms.
New phenotypic marker for lipopolysaccharide responsiveness
Authors: Gollapudi S V , Gregory S H , Kern M
Published: June 2021

Lipopolysaccharide-enhanced secretion of non-immunoglobulin proteins by bone marrow cells derived from responder, nonresponder, and low-responder mouse strains did not precisely correlate with the lipopolysaccharide responsiveness assessment based on the mitogenic reactivity of splenocytes. These findings suggest that enhancement of secretion of non-immunoglobulin protein may be useful for further characterization of lipopolysaccharide responsiveness.
Interaction of Escherichia coli K88 antigen with porcine intestinal brush border membranes
Authors: Anderson M J , Whitehead J S , Kim Y S
Published: June 2021

The fimbria-associated Escherichia coli antigen, K88, was purified to homogeneity as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. This polymeric antigen consists of noncovalently linked subunits, containing little or no carbohydrate, and has a monomeric molecular weight of 23,000. When a binding assay employing differential filtration was used, K88 formed complexes with isolated porcine intestinal brush border membranes. The formation of complexes was inhibited by glycoproteins with terminal N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine residues and to a lesser extent by free N-acetylhexosamines. These amino sugars may play a role in the interaction of this pathogenic strain of E. coli with the intestinal epithelia of pigs.
Effect of immunosuppression on recurrent herpes simplex in mice
Authors: Blyth W A , Harbour D A , Hill T J
Published: June 2021

Mice latently infected with herpes simplex virus were treated with immunosuppressive drugs either alone or combined with stimuli to the skin. Treatment with cyclophosphamide reduced spleen weights and severely depressed lymphocyte levels, but had no effect on healing after cellophane tape stripping (CTS) and did not affect the cutaneous hypersensitivity response after injection of inactivated herpes simplex virus. The drug, either used alone or combined with CTS, failed to increase the incidence of recurrent clinical disease, but increased the incidence of virus isolation after CTS. Prednisolone and azathioprine used together also reduced spleen weights and circulating lymphocyte levels. They slightly delayed healing after CTS, but had no effect on cutaneous hypersensitivity to herpes simplex virus. The treatment, either used alone or combined with CTS, slightly increased the incidence of recurrent clinical disease but did not increase the incidence of virus isolation after CTS. Treatment with antithymocyte serum severely depressed the levels of circulating lymphocytes and delayed the regression of HeLa cell tumors in mice. Used alone, the treatment slightly increased the incidence of recurrent clinical disease, but it failed to increase the incidence of recurrences after CTS. It increased the duration of recurrent herpetic lesions, although in uninfected mice healing after CTS was not affected. Silica altered the clinical course of primary infection with herpes simplex virus and increased the incidence of latency in the ganglia. It also delayed healing after CTS in uninfected mice, so it was not tested when recurrent herpes after CTS was assessed clinically. Treatment with silica alone did not increase the incidence of recurrent clinical disease or the incidence of virus isolation after CTS. The results demonstrate that potent immunosuppressive drugs are much less effective than simple cutaneous manipulation in inducing recurrent lesions, and thus argue strongly for the importance of local factors in the pathogenesis of disease.
Sequence-specific activation of transcription by adenovirus EIa products is observed in HeLa cells but not in 293 cells
Authors: Leff T , Chambon P
Published: June 2021

The adenovirus EIa gene products activate transcription from the viral EIII and EIIaE promoters. We studied the mechanism of this stimulation by constructing a series of chimeric promoter recombinants containing the upstream regions of the EIII and EIIaE promoters linked to the TATA box-start-site regions of the viral major late and EIIa late promoters. By introducing these recombinants into HeLa cells together with recombinants producing the EIa gene products, we demonstrated that the induction of EIII and EIIaE transcription by EIa 13S and 12S mRNA products is dependent on sequences located in the upstream region (approximately -40 to -250) of these promoters. In addition, we showed that the major late and EIIa late upstream promoter regions do not contain such EIa-responsive sequence elements. In contrast, after transfection of these chimeric promoter recombinants into 293 cells (which constitutively express the EIa proteins), we found that their relative levels of transcription are similar and markedly different from those observed when they are cotransfected into HeLa cells with EIa protein-producing recombinants. We conclude that the efficiency of transcription from a given promoter in 293 cells is not necessarily related to the presence of a specific EIa-responsive element.
mRNA transcription in nuclei isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Jerome J F , Jaehning J A
Published: June 2021

We developed an improved method for the isolation of transcriptionally active nuclei from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which allows analysis of specific transcripts. When incubated with alpha-32P-labeled ribonucleoside triphosphates in vitro, nuclei isolated from haploid or diploid cells transcribed rRNA, tRNA, and mRNAs in a strand-specific manner, as shown by slot blot hybridization of the in vitro synthesized RNA to cloned genes encoding 5.8S, 18S and 28S rRNAs, tRNATyr, and GAL7, URA3, TY1 and HIS3 mRNAs. A yeast strain containing a high-copy-number plasmid which overproduced GAL7 mRNA was initially used to facilitate detection of a discrete message. We optimized conditions for the transcription of genes expressed by each of the three yeast nuclear RNA polymerases. Under optimal conditions, labeled transcripts could be detected from single-copy genes normally expressed at low levels in the cells (HIS3 and URA3). We determined that the alpha-amanitin sensitivity of transcript synthesis in the isolated nuclei paralleled the sensitivity of the corresponding purified RNA polymerases; in particular, mRNA synthesis was 50% sensitive to 1 microgram of alpha-amanitin per ml, establishing transcription of mRNA by RNA polymerase II.
The Implementation of a New Method of Student Assessment in a Pathogenic Bacteriology Laboratory Course
Authors: HITE M. F.
Published: June 2021

A new case study method of assessment was developed to challenge advanced undergraduate biology majors interested in medical careers and allied health professions. This method is an alternative to traditional “unknown” identifications used in many microbiology laboratories. Students used various biochemical tests and selective media throughout the course to identify organisms cultured from their own bodies. In preparing a final assessment for the course, an assignment was developed to challenge the students to apply what they had learned in a medically relevant setting. Also of importance was the elimination of further biochemical testing by these students and prevention of contact with strict pathogens in this lab, due to budget and safety constraints, respectively. Each student was provided with a clinical specimen data record sheet and additional information about their “diseased patient”. Students used analytical skills and critical thinking, as well as knowledge gained throughout the semester, to logically deduce the causative agent of disease in the mock patients. Students were required to: (i) describe the steps in this logical deduction, (ii) provide a brief overview of the characteristics and virulence factors of the organism(s), (iii) investigate all disease(s) caused by the organism, (iv) describe symptomology of the patient in detail, and (v) investigate disease treatment and prevention methods. The final assignment involved library and Internet research and culminated in a written report, which further developed writing and communication skills. Detailed descriptions of and materials for this assignment are provided along with an overall evaluation of this method after implementation.
Supplemental Material: A constraint on post–6 Ma timing of western Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA) incision removed: Local derivation indicated by ca. 5.4 Ma fluvial deposits below Shivwits Plateau basalts north of Grand Canyon
Authors: Steelquist A.T. , al. et
Published: June 2021

Geochronologic data for both clasts and detrital zircon analyses.
2019 Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium: Mitigating a fatal flaw in modern geomechanics: understanding uncertainty, applying model calibration, and defying the hubris in numerical modelling
Authors: Kalenchuk K.S.
Published: June 2021

This paper has been written to achieve two objectives. The first objective is to provide a discussion of the practical limitations of numerical modelling in the field of geomechanical engineering. Too many discussions of numerical methods in geomechanical engineering are centred on the impressive ability of numerical tools to conduct complex and sophisticated analyses with relative ease and efficiency. Practitioners need to have grounded conversations on numerical modelling regarding the reality that geomechanical designs are often data-limited with high degrees of uncertainty. When data limits and uncertainty are overlooked, geomechanical engineers are at risk of introducing unforeseen fatal flaws into engineering design. The second objective is to provide “how to” guidelines for model calibration using a variety of data types to qualify and quantify ground reaction. Model calibration is truly the only means to reduce numerical uncertainties. Formal training in numerical modelling is often focused on software utilization and computational methods; however, there are few opportunities for formal training on how to calibrate a model for practical engineering applications. This paper provides guidelines for calibration methods and procedures.
Impact of mixing and curing temperatures on fresh and hardened states’ properties of UHPC
Authors: Androuët Cédric , Deaux Olivier , Charron Jean-Philippe
Published: June 2021

New Canadian and American standards for concrete and bridges now provide guidelines for the design, production, curing, material characterization, and installation of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concretes (named UHPFRC or UHPC) on structures. However, some technical aspects require more research since fundamental knowledge about UHPC is not as complete as for normal strength concretes (NSC). Among these aspects, knowledge on the properties of UHPC produced under field conditions is scarce. The main goal of this work was to evaluate the fresh state properties (slump flow, air content, mass density, hydration heat) and hardened state properties (elastic modulus, Poisson ratio, compressive and flexural strengths) of a UHPC subjected to various mixing temperatures (10, 20, and 30 °C) and curing temperatures (10, 23, and 35 °C) encountered in field conditions. The impact of mixing and curing temperatures on each property is discussed and practical information is provided to help engineers planning UHPC curing duration and formwork stripping.
Diversity and relationships of Miscanthus sinensis from 20 geographical distributions in China based on SSR markers
Authors: Qiang Li , Ji Wenyue , Zhang Jing , Peng Junhua , He Miao
Published: June 2021

Miscanthus is a C4 herbaceous perennial genus, and it was chosen as a bioenergy crop due to high biomass yield. Miscanthus sinensis has many phenotypes which are adapted to various environments in China. In this study, 421 accessions of M. sinensis were collected from 22 provinces, and the genetic polymorphisms amongst these germplasm collections were identified using 20 primer pairs designed against 10 each from expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats [EST-SSR (eSSR)] and genomic SSR (gSSR) transferable markers from barley. A total of 95 SSR polymorphic bands were detected producing a 100% polymorphic rate among these M. sinensis accessions. The gSSR markers showed a richer genetic polymorphism than eSSR markers. Based on the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) clustering, there was a distinct sub-population separation in M. sinensis, which indicates that geographical differences and natural selection are the driving forces for genetic variation and evolution in the species. The 20 pairs of barley markers matched to 26 polymorphic bands associated with date of heading, plant height, leaf weight, stem weight, leaf/stem ratio, and total biomass yield. Eleven marker polymorphic bands were associated with the date of heading, 4 with plant height, 10 with leaf weight, 7 with stem weight, 3 with leaf/stem ratio, and 10 with biomass yield.
Noncollinear topological textures in two-dimensional van der Waals materials: From magnetic to polar systems
Authors: Yao Xiaoyan , Wang Yu , Dong Shuai
Published: June 2021

In recent years, noncollinear topological textures have long gained increasing research attentions for their high values of both fundamental researches and potential applications. The recent discovery of intrinsic orders in magnetic and polar two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials provides a new ideal platform for the investigation of noncollinear topological textures. Here, we review the theoretical and experimental progresses on noncollinear topological textures in 2D van der Waals materials in very recent years. During these years, magnetic skyrmions of both Bloch and Néel types have been observed experimentally in a few 2D van der Waals materials and related heterostructures. Concurrently, more theoretic predictions basing on various mechanisms have been reported about different noncollinear topological textures in 2D van der Waals materials, such as skyrmions, bimerons, anti-biskyrmions and skyrmionium, which are still waiting to be confirmed in experiments. Besides, noncollinear topological electric dipole orders have also been predicted in 2D van der Waals materials. Taking advantage of the intrinsic 2D nature and high integratability, the 2D van der Waals materials will play an important role in the investigation on noncollinear topological textures in both magnetic and polar systems.
Design and FPGA Implementation of New Multidimensional Chaotic Map for Secure Communication
Authors: Bouteghrine Belqassim , Tanougast Camel , Sadoudi Said
Published: June 2021

Due to their structure and complexity, chaotic systems have been introduced in several domains such as electronic circuits, commerce domain, encryption and network security. In this paper, we propose a novel multidimensional chaotic system with multiple parameters and nonlinear terms. Then, a two-phase algorithm is presented for investigating the chaotic behavior using bifurcation and Lyapunov exponent (LE) theories. Finally, we illustrate the performances of our proposal by constructing three (03) chaotic maps (3-D, 4-D and 5-D) and implementing the 3-D map on Field-Programmable-Gate-Array (FPGA) boards to generate random keys for securing a client–server communication purpose. Based on the achieved results, the proposed scheme is considered an ideal candidate for numerous resource-constrained devices and internet of the things (IoT) applications.
SELF-ASSEMBLY ON DUAL WETTABLE SURFACE
Authors: AHMAD IMTIAZ , JAN RAHIM , KHAN HIDAYAT ULLAH , HUSSAIN AKHLAQ , TABASSUM AQSA , LATIF AQSA , ALI AMBREEN
Published: June 2021

A droplet of nanoparticle suspension is deposited on a specially designed dual wettable surface. Half diagonal of SiO2 substrate was oil coated and other half stayed unchanged. The droplet forms contact angle of 35∘ on the unchanged dry portion whereas it reaches to 60∘ on the oil coated region. Nanoparticle dried in stick–slip fashion where such effect was more pronounced on the oil-wet region. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed large ribbon-like nanorod assembly on the dry-region and short monolayer ribbons on the oil-wet part of the substrate. On both surfaces, shape-separation effect produced rod-rich and sphere-rich regions. The assemblies formed over the dry portion were dense whereas significantly small number of nanoparticles were observed on the oil-wet region. The droplet contact-line remained partially dynamic owing to the dual wettable design of the surface. Such contact-line dynamics facilitated the shape-separation effect induced by the surfactant molecules and dictated the deposition process over the surface. This work will be helpful to study shape-separation effect of small biological entities and multisystem of nanoparticles.
Editorial
Authors: Gandhi Anshul , Kiyavash Negar , Wang Jia
Published: June 2021

The ACM Proceedings of the ACM on Measurement and Analysis of Computing Systems (POMACS) focuses on the measurement and performance evaluation of computer systems and operates in close collaboration with the ACM Special Interest Group SIGMETRICS. All papers in the last three (i.e., this one and the previous two) issues of POMACS will be presented during the ACM SIGMETRICS 2021 virtual conference. Each of the three issues (one per call for papers) contains papers selected by the editorial board via a rigorous review process that follows a hybrid conference and journal model, with reviews conducted by the 86 members of our POMACS editorial board. Each paper was either conditionally accepted (and shepherded), allowed a "one-shot" revision (to be resubmitted to one of the subsequent two deadlines), or rejected (with resubmission allowed after a year). Over the three issues during which we have served as editors, POMACS has published 35 papers out of 315 submissions (84 to the Summer call, 107 to the Fall call, and 124 to the Winter call). All submitted papers received at least 3 reviews and we held an online TPC meeting for each deadline/issue. Based on the indicated primary track, roughly 16% of the submissions were in the Learning track, 29% were in the Measurement & Applied Modeling track, 26% were in the Systems track, and 29% were in the Theory track. Many people contributed to the success of POMACS over the last year. First, we would like to thank the authors, who submitted their best work to SIGMETRICS/POMACS. Second, we would like to thank the TPC members who provided constructive feedback in their reviews to authors and participated in the online discussions and TPC meetings. We also thank the several external reviewers who provided their expert opinion on specific submissions that required additional input. We are also grateful to the SIGMETRICS Board Chair, Giuliano Casale, and to past TPC Chairs, Athina Markopoulou and Y. C. Tay, who provided a wealth of information and guidance. We also thank Adam Wierman for outlining the soft tracking guidelines that were adopted for SIGMETRICS 2021. Finally, we are grateful to the Organization Committee and to the SIGMETRICS Board for their efforts and initiatives in the middle of a pandemic, including making papers and videos available online and enabling online interactions.
Innovation Trend of Edge Computing Technology Based on Patent Perspective
Authors: Ju Hualei , Liu Lihua
Published: June 2021

Edge computing is an important foundation for building 5G networks, but in my country, there are few applications or inventions based on edge computing. In order to improve the application of edge computing, this article innovatively designs a human behavior recognition system based on a patent perspective, which provides a reference for other researchers. This paper discusses and designs the software and hardware schemes and related communication methods of a new edge computing framework that combines edge devices and cloud computing centers. After processing the collected human behavior data, the behaviors of the corresponding monitoring objects are classified and modeled, and then the distributed computing of edge devices is used to modify these models. These systems are characterized by low energy consumption and fast response. The experimental results prove. The recognition efficiency of edge computing technology from the patent perspective has been greatly improved. Its recognition speed is more than 30% faster than other algorithm calculations, and the accuracy of recognition reaches 0.852, which is about 20% higher than traditional recognition. The authors show that edge computing technology based on a patent perspective can play an important role in our lives.
Numerical Simulation Study of Pore-Throat Evolution of Upper Paleozoic in Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Cao Qing , Chen Zhangxing , Zhao JingZhou , Dang Jiacheng , Song Jiaxuan , Chen Bin
Published: June 2021

The parameters of grain size, contents of silica, kaolinite, hydromica, calcite, and a geological time of tight sandstone reservoirs in Upper Paleozoic in Ordos basin were researched thoroughly, and the impact of the diagenetic evolution process of different sandstone types on porosity and throats was analyzed, based on the quantitative statistics from thin sections, measurements of porosity and permeability, and conventional and constant-rate mercury injection tests. We not only build the evolution of porosity through process-oriented numerical simulations during the geological time but also establish effect-oriented numerical simulations between porosity and different diagenesis parameters. Furthermore, we set up a fitting relationship between diagenetic factors and pore throats in different gas-bearing reservoirs. Differentiation results in the evolution of porosity and a pore-throat system of sandstone types have clear characteristics, such as lithic quartz sandstones of the He 8 Member in the Sulige area and quartz sandstones of the Shan 2 Member in the Yulin area. The fitting results show that the main factors influencing the evolution of porosity and a pore-throat system are grain size and siliceous cement, which can also be validated by the measured data on two gas-bearing intervals. The results are important to a deep understanding of the relationship between the reservoir continuing to experience porosity and permeability evolution and the timing of petroleum charging into the reservoir and can also be applied elsewhere as a quick means in high grading areas of risks during field development.
Speed but Not Smoothness of Gait Reacts to Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Gulde Philipp , Hermsdörfer Joachim , Rieckmann Peter
Published: June 2021

Introduction. Improved gait is one of the leading therapy goals in multiple sclerosis. A plethora of clinical timed trials and state-of-the-art technology-based approaches are available to assess gait performance. Objectives. To examine what aspects of gait react to inpatient rehabilitation in MS and which parameters should be best assessed. Design. In this longitudinal study, we examined the performance of 76 patients with MS to shed further light on factors influencing gait, associations between tests, and the reaction to inpatient rehabilitation during an average time span of 16 d. Setting. Private specialist clinic for inpatient neurorehabilitation. Main Outcome Measures. Clinical walk tests (timed 25-foot walk test at normal pace, maximum pace over 10 m or 6 min) and IMU-based measures of movement smoothness. Results. All gait parameters were strongly intercorrelated (all

p
<
0.05

), and a model multiple linear regression for the 6MWT revealed short distance velocity (10 m) and movement smoothness as predictors in a strong model (

R

2

adjusted

0.75,

p
<
0.01

). A second model with natural pace on short distance and movement smoothness was almost equally strong (

R

2

adjusted

0.71,

p
<
0.01

). Patients improved their walking speed (

p
<
0.01

), but not smoothness (

p
=
0.08
–
0.12

), over the course of rehabilitation. Conclusions. Since we were not able to observe improvements in smoothness of gait, we conclude that rehabilitation programs should be adapted to the patient’s physiological capacities in order to allow for such improvements in smoothness of gait. Externally valid gait capacity (6MWT) could be predicted by a single walk for 10 s at natural pace.
Evaluation of Growth and Development of Adolescents’ Dental Arch Asymmetry with Normal Occlusion Using Three-Dimensional Digital Models
Authors: Yang Dapeng , Ding Shiyu , Li Peipei
Published: June 2021

Objective. The purpose of this study was to observe the dental arch asymmetry in 12-year-olds with normal occlusion during the early permanent dentition stage. Methods. Ninety-two 12-year-old students (46 males and 46 females) who had normal occlusion during early permanent dentition were selected from a junior high school in Tangshan, China. Once per year for three consecutive years, a dental cast was obtained from each subject, and the cast was scanned with a 3D digital scanner (R700 3D). The median palatal plane (MPP) and transverse palatal plane (TPP) were used as the reference plane for the transverse and anteroposterior measurements, respectively. Results. Most of the dental arch asymmetry indicators decreased with age, but these differences were not statistically significant. The values of the midincisal edge of the upper central incisors (U1), midincisal edge of the upper lateral incisors (U2), upper canine cusp tip (U3), upper first premolar buccal cusp tip (U4), upper second premolar buccal cusp tip (U5), upper first molar mesiobuccal cusp tip (U6MB), and upper first molar distobuccal cusp tip (U6DB) to the TPP were 0.019 mm, 0.279 mm, 0.017 mm, 0.016 mm, 0.016 mm, 0.027 mm, and 0.200 mm, respectively; these values were larger in males than in females (

P
<
0.05

). The values of 2–5, 6MB, and 6DB-TPP were 0.154 mm, 0.102 mm, 0.119 mm, 0.259 mm, 0.206 mm, and 0.123 mm, respectively, larger in the mandibular than in the maxillary dental arch (

P
<
0.05

). The values of the midincisal edge of the lower central incisors (L1), midincisal edge of the lower lateral incisors (L2), lower canine cusp tip (L3), lower first premolar buccal cusp tip (L4), lower second premolar buccal cusp tip (L5), lower first molar mesiobuccal cusp tip (L6MB), and lower first molar distobuccal cusp tip (L6DB) to the MPP were 0.399 mm, 0.197 mm, 0.258 mm, 0.248 mm, 0.214 mm, 0.575 mm, and 0.531 mm, respectively, larger than L1-5, L6MB, and L6DB-TPP (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. The asymmetry of the dental arch in 12-to-15-year-olds with normal occlusion did not change significantly with age. The anteroposterior asymmetry of the maxillary dental arch is larger in males than in females. With the exception of the central incisor, the anteroposterior asymmetry of the mandibular dental arch is larger than that of the maxillary dental arch. The transverse asymmetry of the mandibular dental arch is larger than the anteroposterior asymmetry.
The Brazilian entomologist Messias Carrera (1907-1994): Biobibliographical profile
Authors: Salgado Luiz Gustavo Vargas , Carvalho Alcimar do Lago , Lamas Carlos José Einicker
Published: June 2021

The present article focuses on the life trajectory and the bibliographic production of the entomologist and science communicator Messias Carrera (1907-1994), presenting aspects of his personal profile, academic training and professional development. His role as a researcher in the Zoology Department of Secretaria de Agricultura, Indústria e Comércio do Estado de São Paulo, currently Museu de Zoologia of the Universidade de São Paulo, is emphasized, having worked mainly in the taxonomy of insects of the order Diptera and in science communication between the 1930s and 1990s. Carrera was a science researcher and communicator ahead of his time. His intellectual production, limited to the scientific, technological and “humanistic” spheres, adds important advances to the relative areas of knowledge.
The Proportionality Principle in the Jurisprudence of the Russian Constitutional Court
Authors: Troitskaya Alexandra
Published: June 2021

This paper addresses the boundaries on restrictions of human rights imposed by the proportionality principle, examines the elements of the structure of this principle, and attempts to present the meaning of its elements consistently in terms of the potential for the protection of fundamental rights that are subject to restrictions. The main criticisms of some proportionality tests are considered, as well as ways to minimize the risks associated with the use of proportionality. These theoretical considerations are placed in the context of the jurisprudence of the Russian Constitutional Court, to demonstrate that the Court, instead of consistently applying proportionality tests, often draws generalized conclusions regarding the proportionality (or disproportionality) of restrictions and therefore tends to heighten some of the risks of applying the principle. One can observe some positive changes in the application of the principle, and in further requests for this. Conclusions are formulated concerning the improvement of the Court’s activities in terms of a more consistent and structured implementation of the principle of proportionality.
The Speech-Acts of a Royal Pretender
Authors: Scott James M.
Published: June 2021

Performative speech-acts were used by successive Seleucid pretenders and kings to create the appearance of power and authority out of weakness. As we have seen on the basis of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ used performative utterances in a similar way, and, for that reason, he was recognized as a royal pretender by both sympathizers and critics alike. From the perspective of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus set about to create the kingdom of God by royal pronouncement. It was a matter of royal power as discourse.
Fill the Gap between Law and Governance
Authors: Wang Dustin Kuan-Hsiung
Published: June 2021

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) clearly address the difference as well as recognize the correlations among seventeen sustainable development dimensions. The SDGs also play an important role for the international community to pay attention to our future living. Taking oceans for instance, they are the biggest ecosystems on our planet, and their health are essential to our survival. In terms of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resource under SDG 14, several targets were agreed upon by the UN member States to help guide decision-making with regard to oceans, such as conserving marine and coastal areas in agreement with international and national laws and using the latest scientific information. This article mainly focuses on the matters of conserving and managing international fishery resources. It also addresses the issues between international law and global governance with perspectives on the implementation of SDG 14. This article concludes that in order to effectively implement international fishery laws and to reach the targets that SDGs have postulated, eliminating the commercial benefits might be the necessary consideration in filling the gap between international fishery law and fishery governance.
Unveiling the diversity of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)
in Brazilian western Amazonia: a checklist of the Entomological Collection of the Federal University of Rondônia, Brazil
Authors: DE SANTANA SOUZA DIEGO , ANDRIOLO ALINE , SEPÚLVEDA TATIANA ALEJANDRA , SILVEIRA MARIA AUREA PINHEIRO DE ALMEIDA
Published: June 2021

An extensive checklist of the Cerambycidae deposited in the Entomological Collection of the Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR) is provided. The checklist includes photographs of 58 new records for the State of Rondônia, four of them representing new records for Brazil: Oncideres wappesi Martins & Galileo, 2005, Rhaphiptera boliviana Galileo & Martins, 2007, Tulcus liturus (Dillon & Dillon, 1945) and Xenofrea zischkai Galileo & Martins, 2012.
Acythopeus glyptorhis, a new gall-inducing weevil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Baridinae) damaging gac vines in Southeast Asia
Authors: PRENA JENS
Published: June 2021

Acythopeus glyptorhis Prena, sp. n. is described from northern Vietnam, Taiwan and Hainan Island (China). Existing host records of other cucurbit-associated Baridinae are reviewed. They are native to the Old World and may include as many as 80 species.
An Abdominal Registration Technology for Integration of Nanomaterial Imaging-Aided Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Yang Shao-Di , Zhao Yu-Qian , Zhang Fan , Liao Miao , Yang Zhen , Wang Yan-Jin , Yu Ling-Li
Published: June 2021

Image registration technology is a key technology used in the process of nanomaterial imaging-aided diagnosis and targeted therapy effect monitoring for abdominal diseases. Recently, the deep-learning based methods have been increasingly used for large-scale medical image registration,
because their iteration is much less than those of traditional ones. In this paper, a coarse-to-fine unsupervised learning-based three-dimensional (3D) abdominal CT image registration method is presented. Firstly, an affine transformation was used as an initial step to deal with large deformation
between two images. Secondly, an unsupervised total loss function containing similarity, smoothness, and topology preservation measures was proposed to achieve better registration performances during convolutional neural network (CNN) training and testing. The experimental results demonstrated
that the proposed method severally obtains the average MSE, PSNR, and SSIM values of 0.0055, 22.7950, and 0.8241, which outperformed some existing traditional and unsupervised learning-based methods. Moreover, our method can register 3D abdominal CT images with shortest time and is expected
to become a real-time method for clinical application.
Could an optional protocol be the way to stop the weaponization of outer space?
Authors: Meyer Paul
Published: June 2021

Since the early 1980s, the United Nations General Assembly and its affiliated forum, the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, has had the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space issue on its agenda. In the intervening years, the threat of weapons being introduced into the outer space realm has waxed and waned, but, in the main, a benign environment free from man-made threats has prevailed, allowing for great strides in the exploration and use of space. Recently, a renewal of great power rivalry including the development of offensive “counter-space” capabilities has resurrected the spectre of armed conflict in space. With widespread political support for the non-weaponization of outer space, has the time come to give legal expression to this goal by means of an optional protocol to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty?
Thermal and dielectric properties of carbon nanotubes/graphite/polyester ternary composites
Authors: Belhimria R , Samir Z , Boukheir S , Soreto Teixeira S , Achour M E , Anson-Casaos A , Gonzalez-Dominguez J M , Costa L C , El Hasnaoui M
Published: June 2021

Binary and ternary composites were synthesized using a polyester matrix reinforced by two types of carbon inclusions, namely, carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphite (Gt) (CNT/Gt/Polyester). Thermal analyses were performed, using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, which allowed us to observe significant changes in glass transition temperatures and degradation temperatures of the composites. Dielectric measurements were performed in a frequency range from 100 Hz to 1 MHz and temperature from –33 to 107°C. The dielectric permittivity values of the CNT/Gt/Polyester ternary composites, compared to the Gt/Polyester binary composites, indicate that the addition of CNT particles to the Gt/Polyester binary system significantly improved the dielectric permittivity, due to the enhanced interfacial polarization of the host matrix, while the frequency dependence of the electrical modulus spectra revealed a Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars dielectric relaxation process that was found to follow the Cole–Davidson approach.