bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Effort to Diversify Faculty: Postdoc-to-Tenure Track Conversion Models
Authors: Culpepper Dawn , Reed Autumn M. , Enekwe Blessing , Carter-Veale Wendy , LaCourse William R. , McDermott Patrice , Cresiski Robin H.
Published: November 2021

Calls to diversify the professoriate have been ongoing for decades. However, despite increasing numbers of scholars from underrepresented racial minority groups earning doctorates, actual progress in transitioning to faculty has been slow, particularly across STEM disciplines. In recent years, new efforts have emerged to recruit faculty members from underrepresented racial minority groups (i.e., African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American/Native Hawaiian/Indigenous) through highly competitive postdoctoral programs that allow fellows the opportunity to transition (or “convert”) into tenure-track roles. These programs hybridize some conventional aspects of the faculty search process (e.g., structured interview processes that facilitate unit buy-in) along with novel evidence-based practices and structural supports (e.g., proactive recruitment, cohort communities, search waivers, professional development, enhanced mentorship, financial incentives). In this policy and practice review, we describe and synthesize key attributes of existing conversion programs at institutional, consortium, and system levels. We discuss commonalities and unique features across models (N= 38) and draw specific insights from postdoctoral conversion models developed within and across institutions in the University System of Maryland (USM). In particular, experience garnered from a 10-year-old postdoc conversion program at UMBC will be highlighted, as well as the development of an additional institutional model aimed at the life sciences, and a state-system model of faculty diversification with support from a NSF Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant.
Arguing in Favor of Revising the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire Factor Structure When Assessing Side Effects Induced by Immersions in Virtual Reality
Authors: Bouchard Stéphane , Berthiaume Maxine , Robillard Geneviève , Forget Hélène , Daudelin-Peltier Camille , Renaud Patrice , Blais Caroline , Fiset Daniel
Published: November 2021

Two issues are increasingly of interest in the scientific literature regarding unwanted virtual reality (VR) induced side effects: (1) whether the latent structure of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) is comprised of two or three factors, and (2) if the SSQ measures symptoms of anxiety that can be misattributed to unwanted negative side effects induced by immersions in VR. Study 1 was conducted with a sample of 876 participants. A confirmatory factor analysis clearly supported a two-factor model composed of nausea and oculomotor symptoms instead of the 3-factor structure observed in simulators. To tease-out symptoms of anxiety from unwanted negative side effects induced by immersions in VR, Study 2 was conducted with 88 participants who were administered the Trier Stress Social Test in groups without being immersed in VR. A Spearman correlation showed that 11 out of 16 side effects correlated significantly with anxiety. A factor analysis revealed that items measuring general discomfort, difficulty concentrating, sweating, nausea, and vertigo loaded significantly on the anxiety factor comprised of items from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Finally, a multiple regression indicated that the items measuring general discomfort and difficulty concentrating significantly predicted increases in anxiety. The overall results support the notion that side effects associated with immersions in VR consist mostly of a nausea and an oculomotor latent structure and that a few items are confounding anxiety and cybersickness. The data support the suggestion to revise the scoring procedures of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire when using this instrument with immersions in VR.
Self-Representations of Military Veterans Suffering From Chronic Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: The Role of Sport
Authors: Belrose Celia , Duffaud Anais , Levy Dominique , Beji Aida , Jacob Sandrine , Lorion Gregory , Martin-Krumm Charles , Trousselard Marion
Published: November 2021

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric illness that is very prevalent in both civilian and military environments. The clinical course, regardless of management, is chronic for a number of patients, especially veterans. Persistent PTSD symptoms interact with representations of the person and their body, and may negatively impact rehabilitation. Sport is known to help psychiatric patients such as those suffering from PTSD, as it improves the connection with the body, and supports physiological and emotional regulation. However, the impact of sport on self-representations has not yet been studied. The first aim of this study is to explore person and body representations in a population of military veterans suffering from chronic PTSD, as a function of clinical severity. Second, it aims to explore how a 9-day sport program, which includes an element of socio-professional rehabilitation, changes representations of the person and their body.

Methods: This exploratory qualitative study examined the self-representation of veterans with chronic PTSD before a sport rehabilitation program. Veterans were given the prompts “body” and “person” and asked to free associate. PTSD severity and the mind–body connection were assessed using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, and the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, respectively. Parasympathetic activity was recorded at rest. A subgroup of the population volunteered to participate in a post-program session to record the same semantic, psychological, and physiological variables.

Results: Although before the program, veterans gave more negatively than positively valenced words, no relation was observed between the overall number of negative words and PTSD severity. Post-program, changes were observed in terms of valence. Specifically, some negatively-valenced categories of words disappeared, and some positive categories appeared. At the same time, there was a fall in PTSD severity, an increase in the mind–body connection, and a decrease in parasympathetic activation.

Conclusions: This study highlighted that veterans with chronic PTSD have a negative representation of the self. A dedicated, 9-day program that included regular sport improved self-representations related to both the person and their body, and reduced PTSD symptoms. The findings underline the importance of ensuring that programs for patients suffering from chronic PTSD should include sporting activity, and highlight the benefits. Sport appears to be a path to the reappropriation of a positive image of the self, by improving the representation of the body. This relationship could be consistent with improved interoception, but our results need further investigation.
Clinical Response of Major Depressive Disorder Patients With Suicidal Ideation to Individual Target-Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Authors: Tang Nailong , Sun Chuanzhu , Wang Yangtao , Li Xiang , Liu Junchang , Chen Yihuan , Sun Liang , Rao Yang , Li Sanzhong , Qi Shun , Wang Huaning
Published: November 2021

Suicidal ideation increases precipitously in patients with depression, contributing to the risk of suicidal attempts. Despite the recent advancement in transcranial magnetic stimulation, its effectiveness in depression disorder and its wide acceptance, the network mechanisms of the clinical response to suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder remain unclear. Independent component analysis for neuroimaging data allows the identification of functional network connectivity which may help to explore the neural basis of suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data and clinical scales were collected from 30 participants (15 major depressive patients with suicidal ideation and 15 healthy subjects). Individual target-transcranial magnetic stimulation (IT-TMS) was then used to decrease the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex activity through the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Thirty days post IT-TMS therapy, seven of 15 patients (46.67%) met suicidal remission criteria, and 12 patients (80.00%) met depression remission criteria. We found that IT-TMS could restore the abnormal functional network connectivity between default mode network and precuneus network, left executive control network and sensory-motor network. Furthermore, the changes in functional network connectivity between the default mode network and precuneus network were associated with suicidal ideation, and depressive symptoms were related to connectivity between left executive control network and sensory-motor network. These findings illustrate that IT-TMS is an effective protocol for the accurate restoration of impaired brain networks, which is consistent with clinical symptoms.
Caring During COVID-19: Reconfigurations of Gender and Family Relations During the Pandemic in Switzerland
Authors: Bühler Nolwenn , Pralong Mélody , Rawlinson Cloé , Gonseth Semira , D’Acremont Valérie , Bochud Murielle , Bodenmann Patrick
Published: November 2021

COVID-19 caused major changes in private and public arenas. Individuals were forced to reorganise their daily lives in response to the restrictive measures imposed by governments. The redistribution of gender roles and the responsibility for care provides an example of the reconfigurations that took place during the pandemic. This article sheds light on the implications of the pandemic for gender inequalities by exploring how care work was reconfigured as women and men sought to protect family members and navigated risks of infection. The study is based on qualitative data – interviews and observations – gathered in an interdisciplinary medical anthropology project. In the article, the authors focus on seven cases selected from a larger corpus to illustrate how reconfigurations of the gendered division of care work within families shifted during the pandemic as men assumed greater moral responsibility for safeguarding family members, without infringing the norms of masculinity. The first part of the article explores the intensification of care activities during lockdown for women living in the Canton de Vaud in Switzerland. The second part centres on the moral responsibility and duty for women and men to protect family members from viral exposure. The results from the study confirm not only that most care activities continued to be delegated to female family members, but also that men’s roles evolved. While their safeguarding role can be understood as a new form of caring for men, the findings suggest that it was essentially crisis specific and did not challenge masculinity norms. The extent to which this reconfiguration of gender roles might have a longer-term impact on gender inequalities remains to be seen. Meanwhile, these observations could have important implications for policies aimed at mitigating the medium and long-term effects of the pandemic on gender inequality.
Zai Technology and Integrated Nutrient Management for Improved Soil Fertility and Increased Sorghum Yields in Kitui County, Kenya
Authors: Kebenei Mercy Cheruto , Mucheru-Muna Monicah , Muriu-Ng'ang'a Felista , Ndung'u Charles Kimani
Published: November 2021

Deteriorating soil fertility, low unreliable rainfall and soil moisture stress has resulted to low crop yields among farmers of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), necessitating a search for more sustainable production practices. Zai technology has the ability to promote soil moisture retention and enhances soil fertility. A four-seasons field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of Zai technology combined with cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer on selected soil properties and sorghum yields in Kabati, Kitui County. The experiment was set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatments replicated thrice with sorghum Gadam as the test crop. Soil sampling was done at the beginning of the first season and at the end of the fourth season at a dept of 0–15 cm across each plot for laboratory analyses. From the results, the increase in electrical conductivity was significant at p < 0.05 in all the treatments after four cropping seasons. Total organic carbon significantly increased in Zai with cattle manure (p = 0.045), conventional with no input (p = 0.038) and conventional with cattle manure (p = 0.045). Available phosphorous significantly (p < 0.05) increased in treatments under Zai technology while total nitrogen significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after the four cropping seasons. There was a significant (p < 0.05) interactive effect of the tested factors on soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, and available phosphorous at the end of the experiment. Moreover, there was significant (p < 0.05) interactive effects on grain yields (SR18 and SR19 seasons) and stover yields (SR18, LR19, and SR19 seasons), with higher yields being recorded in treatments under Zai technology. This study demonstrates the importance of Zai technology in increasing crop yield by trapping water and enhancing its retention and infiltration into the soil for uptake by plants. This study concluded that positive impacts on important soil properties and crop yield could be realized when Zai technology is utilized alongside either sole inorganics or a combination of organic and inorganic amendments and this could be used as a strategy to improve crop production in eastern Kenya and other similar areas.
Check-All-That-Apply Questions including the Ideal Product as a Tool for Selecting Varieties in Breeding Programs. A Case Study with Mandarins
Authors: Giménez-Sanchis Adrián , Tárrega Amparo , Tarancón Paula , Aleza Pablo , Besada Cristina
Published: November 2021

Obtaining superior quality varieties are one of the main objectives of fruit breeding programs worldwide. In this study, we investigate employing check-all-that-apply (CATA) questions, which include the ideal product, as a method to select new varieties according to consumer organoleptic quality requirements. To this end, mandarin cultivars were used as a case study. Four new cultivars from the IVIA breeding program (‘Pri-88′, ‘Pri-89′, ‘Pri-90′ and ‘Tri-707′), and two commercial cultivars related to them (‘Clemenules’ and ‘Oronules’), were evaluated by a consumer panel using the CATA questions method, which include their ideal product. Our results reveal that this method is a useful tool for selecting varieties based on consumer descriptions of their sensory properties in relation to those of their ideal cultivar. This allows the different consumer preference patterns and differences in sample perceptions to be taken into account. A penalty analysis was performed, including the ideal product, to identify the “must-have” attributes; i.e., those that consumers included in their ideal mandarin description and, whenever present in samples, they significantly increased acceptance. For the mandarins herein evaluated, these attributes are “refreshing taste”, “very aromatic”, “sweet”, “juicy”, “very intense taste”, “sour” and “not very fibrous”. The fruit characteristics that contributed to improve the quality of the new varieties vs. the original varieties were also identified. ‘Pri-89′ and ‘Tri-707′, obtained from ‘Clemenules’, came closer to consumers’ ideal variety, because besides the aforementioned “must-have” attributes, these mandarins have small segments. ‘Pri-90′ implied improvement in relation to ‘Oronules’ and is an appropriate variety for those consumers sensitive to bitterness and who like mandarins with a certain level of sourness.
The Case of Atypical Sexual Attractiveness in a Male Domestic Dog—A Case Study
Authors: Woszczyło Martyna , Szumny Antoni , Łyczko Jacek , Jezierski Tadeusz , Krzemińska Paulina , Szczerbal Izabela , Świtoński Marek , Niżański Wojciech , Dzięcioł Michał
Published: November 2021

During the ovarian cycle in domestic dogs, females do not accept males during the first days of estrus but become attractive to males from the beginning of proestrus, with this attractiveness persisting until the end of the estrus phase. It is believed that increased estradiol is responsible for the female attractiveness to the males. In this paper we describe the case of strong, but atypical attractiveness of a castrated male to various, adult, intact males, influenced by the emitted semiochemical signals. Any significant changes in the level of hormones typically involved in the process connected with estrus and responsible for sexual arousal in the males were assessed. The case animal was a 4 year old castrated male Border Collie that was extremely attractive to various males, which presented high levels of sexual arousal, with intensive sniffing and licking of the preputial area, specific vocalization, increased salivation and, finally, mating attempts. Clinical examination of the castrated male revealed a lack of testes in the scrotum and abdominal cavity confirmed by USG. Laboratory tests indicated basal levels of estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone (15.23 pg/mL, <0.05 ng/mL, 0.25 ng/mL), and sex was confirmed via cytogenetic and molecular analysis. Chemical analysis (HS-SPME) of the urine indicated a huge similarity to the profile obtained from a bitch in estrus, with an elevated level of acetophenone, which has been previously postulated in the literature as being a characteristic of the estrus phase in female domestic dogs. This case presented very atypical sexual attractiveness, particularly when taking into account the basal levels of hormones which, according to current knowledge, are responsible for the creation of attractiveness. As a hypothesis requiring verification, we propose the idea of involvement of other hormones in the creation of incidental attractiveness or increased production of compounds responsible for attractiveness (sex pheromones) resulting from metabolic events unrelated to reproductive processes. To our knowledge it is the first described case presenting this phenomenon, which, with more detailed study, could shed new light on the process of creation of sexual attraction in the domestic dog.
Efficiency of hCG for Inducing Resumption of Ovarian Cyclicity and Synchronized Ovulations during the Seasonal Anestrous in Sheep
Authors: Santos-Jimenez Zurisaday , Meza-Herrera César A. , Calderon-Leyva Guadalupe , Martinez-Ros Paula , Guillen-Muñoz Juan M. , Gonzalez-Bulnes Antonio
Published: November 2021

This research aimed to evaluate whether the administration of hCG at the time of removal of a progesterone device may be effective at inducing estrus and ovulations in sheep during the natural seasonal anestrous, by comparing reproductive outputs (induction and duration of estrus, follicle development, ovulation, ovulation rate, and pregnancy rates) in ewes treated with eCG or only saline solution at the time of CIDR removal. Whereas results demonstrated no response in the control non-treated group, the largest rate of narrowly synchronized estrus signs and ovulations occurred in the eCG-group. The administration of hCG was effective at inducing estrus, promote follicular growth and a delayed yet significant ovulation (>84%) on day 10 after CIDR removal; moreover, an increased embryonic implantation rate was also observed. Moreover, if the hCG ewes remain exposed to active males for some days, said strategy could be adopted, aiming to induce pregnancies by natural mating in a short period of time.
Influence of Days after Calving and Thermal Stress on the Efficacy of a Progesterone-Based Treatment in Acyclic Italian Mediterranean Buffalo
Authors: Matera Roberta , Cotticelli Alessio , Salzano Angela , Piscopo Nadia , Balestrieri Anna , Campanile Giuseppe , Neglia Gianluca
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a progesterone-based treatment on anoestrus in buffaloes. Primiparous acyclic buffaloes (n = 276), were divided into three classes according to their days in milk (DIM): from 50 to 90 (Class I; n = 86), from 91 to 150 (Class II; n = 102) and from 150 to 200 (Class III; n = 88). Animals were synchronized using P4 vaginal implants, followed by timed artificial insemination (TAI). They were then allowed to enter into a larger group of buffaloes for natural mating 15 days after AI was performed, and pregnancy status was monitored from then on at 15-day intervals. Finally, the temperature–humidity index (THI) was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA by means and both multiple and linear regression. The total pregnancy rate (PR) was 87.7%, with no differences among DIM classes (88.0, 92.4, and 80.0% in Classes I, II, and III, respectively). However, the PR at TAI tended to be higher (p = 0.07) in buffaloes in Class II. The follicle (FL) area in Class II buffaloes was larger (p < 0.01) than that of the other classes. No influence of the THI on the total PR was recorded. The pregnancy outcome at TAI was affected by the FL area (odds ratio = 2.237; p < 0.05) and body condition score (BCS) (odds ratio = 1.256; p < 0.05). In conclusion, treatment with vaginal P4 optimizes pregnancy rates in anoestrus buffaloes, particularly when the animals are in mid-lactation and show an optimal BCS. Furthermore, the THI does not seem to affect the efficiency of the progesterone treatment.
Axial-Symmetric Diffraction Radiation Antenna with a Very Narrow Funnel-Shaped Directional Diagram
Authors: Sirenko Yuriy , Sautbekov Seil , Sautbekova Merey , Yashina Nataliya , Burambayeva Nursaule , Begimova Assel
Published: November 2021

The paper is focused on reliable modeling and analysis of axially symmetric radiators with a very narrow (throat) funnel-shaped radiation pattern. When such a diagram is formed, a wave analogue of Smith–Purcell coherent radiation is realized—the surface wave of a radial dielectric waveguide ‘sweeps out’ with its exponentially decaying part a concentric periodic grating, the fundamental spatial harmonic of which, propagating without attenuation in a direction close to the symmetry axis of the structure, generates a radiation field with the required characteristics.
Protocol of Action in Injuries of the Long Head of the Biceps Tendon. Joint Reference Values and Recommended Training Weight for the Recovery of Joint Range and Strength
Authors: Pérez-de la Cruz Sagrario
Published: November 2021

Daily and sports activities can be affected by joint injury. The objectives of physical therapy are to help patients regain range of motion (ROM), mobility, strength, and function. The purpose of this study was to examine the optimal joint range of elbow flexion and recommended training weight for the recovery of biceps brachii muscle strength. It was a prospective study with a sample of 157 healthy young adult volunteers from two institutions. The Hawk goniometer was used for measurements. Participants performed a flexion-extension movement of the elbow in standing, in series, with progressive loads. The ROM in males was found to be higher than in females. Nevertheless, the joint values of the dominant and non-dominant arm indicate that there are differences between both arms, regardless of gender. In relation to the force used during the performance of the activity, the weight used by the women was lower than that of the men, whereas, during the execution, women showed greater stability throughout the test, compared to men. Normative values have been established for the ROM and weights to be used in the recovery process of injuries to the long tendon of the biceps brachii muscle.
A Wind Tunnel Experimental Study on the Icing Characteristics of a Cylinder Rotating around a Vertical Axis
Authors: Guo Wenfeng , Zhang Yingwei , Li Yan , Tagawa Kotaro , Zhao Bin
Published: November 2021

Rotating machinery in cold and humid regions is prone to icing. For exploring the characteristics of icing on objects rotating around a vertical axis, such as vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT), a cylinder rotating around the vertical axis was selected as the research object in this study. Three cylinders with different diameters were selected, and icing tests carried out under different tip speed ratios (TSR) in a self-built icing wind tunnel. The icing characteristics were quantitatively analyzed using characteristic parameters, including the icing area, the dimensionless icing area, the stagnation point thickness and the dimensionless stagnation point thickness. The dimensionless stagnation point thickness decreased with increases in the diameter of the cylinder. The icing limit decreased with an increase in the rotational speed of the cylinder, and reached 50% under the high TSR condition. Various icing characteristics were also analyzed for two rotation modes: rotation around the vertical axis and around the horizontal axis. The research findings in the present study lay the theoretical and experimental foundations for exploring VAWT icing in depth.
Development of Immersive VR Device for Gait Training Rehabilitation with Biofeedback System-Preliminary Study
Authors: Seo Jeong-Woo , Kim Dae-Hyeok , Jung Jeeyoun , Kim Jung-Joon , Kim Hyeong-Sic
Published: November 2021

Gait-training rehabilitation machines (MGTR) are contraptions used for the motor rehabilitation of patients with movement disorders resulting from stroke and Parkinson’s disease. This study was aimed at implementing a walking pattern similar to the normal gait. Background: Immersion and motivation are important factors in repetitive rehabilitation exercises. This was addressed by synchronizing walking speed and virtual reality (VR) visons to provide a sense of immersion in a convergence environment of MGTR and VR. Methods: The difference in joint angle and gait event was confirmed when the step length was adjusted in this system to control the joint movement. Results: It was confirmed that the joint range of motion also increased significantly as the step length increased. Conclusions: The possibility of developing a more immersive MGTR system that feedback the actual gait state in the VR system was confirmed by applying that the joint movement varies according to the step length. It will be possible to provide an immersive feeling more similar to the actual walking by modifying the gait trajectory of the MGTR.
Using a Random Forest Model to Predict the Location of Potential Damage on Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Guo Xiaogang , Hao Peiwen
Published: November 2021

Potential damage, eventually demonstrated as moisture damage on inner and in-situ road structures, is the most complex problem to predict, which costs lots of money, time, and natural resources for maintenance and even leads to safety problems. Traditional linear regression analysis cannot fit well with this multi-factor task in such in-field circumstances. Random Forest (RF) is a progressive nonlinear algorithm, which can combine all relative factors to gain accurate prediction and good explanation. In this study, an RF model is constructed for the prediction of potential damage. In addition, relative variable importance is analyzed to obtain the correlations between factors and potential damage separately. The results show that, through the optimization, the model achieved a good average accuracy of 83.33%. Finally, the controlling method for moisture damage is provided by combining the traditional analysis method and the RF model. In a word, RF is a prospective method in predictions and data mining for highway engineering. Trained with effective data, it can be multifunctional and powerful to solve hard problems.
Dynamic Analysis of the Complex Motion of Three-Section Cudgel in Wushu Sports
Authors: Xu Man , Jiang Yiran , He Xingfu , Yuan Juntong , Gao Ying
Published: November 2021

Purpose: To provide some suggestions on how to effectively master these movements during training. Methods: The dynamics method and ABAQUS simulation analysis were used to analyze the two technical movements of the three-section cudgels: wrestling cudgels and retrieving cudgels. Results: In the process of wrestling the cudgel, the best effect is achieved when the height of the cudgel holding hand is between 70 cm and 80 cm from the ground. The maximum height of the rebound was very similar with different initial angular velocities, at 4.5–9 cm. The initial angular velocities caused significant impact to the horizontal movement of cudgel at 8 s. By excluding the errors, the horizontal movement of cudgel increased approximately linearly with the increase of the initial angular velocity. Conclusions: When the height between held cudgel and the ground was controlled at 1.5 times the height of the middle section, the rebound of the tail section was the least. When completing the movement of three-section cudgel, the cudgel body should be in the same plane perpendicular to the ground and to better retrieve the three-section cudgel. The main factor affecting the cudgel wrestling was the height between the cudgel holder and the ground.
A LIME-Based Explainable Machine Learning Model for Predicting the Severity Level of COVID-19 Diagnosed Patients
Authors: Gabbay Freddy , Bar-Lev Shirly , Montano Ofer , Hadad Noam
Published: November 2021

The fast and seemingly uncontrollable spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) poses great challenges to an already overloaded health system worldwide. It thus exemplifies an urgent need for fast and effective triage. Such triage can help in the implementation of the necessary measures to prevent patient deterioration and conserve strained hospital resources. We examine two types of machine learning models, a multilayer perceptron artificial neural networks and decision trees, to predict the severity level of illness for patients diagnosed with COVID-19, based on their medical history and laboratory test results. In addition, we combine the machine learning models with a LIME-based explainable model to provide explainability of the model prediction. Our experimental results indicate that the model can achieve up to 80% prediction accuracy for the dataset we used. Finally, we integrate the explainable machine learning models into a mobile application to enable the usage of the proposed models by medical staff worldwide.
Sequential and Comprehensive Algorithm for Fault Detection in Semiconductor Sensors
Authors: Mazumdar Hirak , Kim Tae Hyeon , Lee Jong Min , Kum Euiseok , Lee Seungho , Jeong Suho , Chung Bong Geun
Published: November 2021

The semiconductor manufacturing processes have been evolved to improve the yield rate. Here, we studied a sequential and comprehensive algorithm that could be used for fault detection and classification (FDC) of the semiconductor chips. A statistical process control (SPC) method is employed for inspecting whether sensors used in the semiconductor manufacturing process become stable or not. When the sensors are individually stable, the algorithm conducts the relational inspection to identify the relationship between two sensors. The key factor here is the coefficient of determination (R2). If R2 is calculated as more than 0.7, their relationship is analyzed through the regression analysis, while the algorithm conducts the clustering analysis to the sensor pair with R2 less than 0.7. This analysis also provided the capability to determine whether the newly generated data are defective or defect-free. Therefore, this study is not only applied to the semiconductor manufacturing process but can also be to the various research fields where the big data are treated.
Driving Behavior Classification and Sharing System Using CNN-LSTM Approaches and V2X Communication
Authors: Kwon Seong Kyung , Seo Ji Hwan , Yun Jun Young , Kim Kyoung-Dae
Published: November 2021

Despite advances in autonomous driving technology, traffic accidents remain a problem to be solved in the transportation system. More than half of traffic accidents are due to unsafe driving. In addition, aggressive driving behavior can lead to traffic jams. To reduce this, we propose a 4-layer CNN-2 stack LSTM-based driving behavior classification and V2X sharing system that uses time-series data as an input to reflect temporal changes. The proposed system classifies driving behavior into defensive, normal, and aggressive driving using only the 3-axis acceleration of the driving vehicle and shares it with the surroundings. We collect a training dataset by composing a road that reflects various environmental factors using a driving simulator that mimics a real vehicle and IPG CarMaker, an autonomous driving simulation. Additionally, driving behavior datasets are collected by driving real-world DGIST campus to augment training data. The proposed network has the best performance compared to the state-of-the-art CNN, LSTM, and CNN-LSTM. Finally, our system shares the driving behavior classified by 4-layer CNN-2 stacked LSTM with surrounding vehicles through V2X communication. The proposed system has been validated in ACC simulations and real environments. For real world testing, we configure NVIDIA Jetson TX2, IMU, GPS, and V2X devices as one module. We performed the experiments of the driving behavior classification and V2X transmission and reception in a real world by using the prototype module. As a result of the experiment, the driving behavior classification performance was confirmed to be ~98% or more in the simulation test and 97% or more in the real-world test. In addition, the V2X communication delay through the prototype was confirmed to be an average of 4.8 ms. The proposed system can contribute to improving the safety of the transportation system by sharing the driving behaviors of each vehicle.
Textured and Hierarchically Constructed Polymer Micro- and Nanoparticles
Authors: Kronfeld Klaus-Peter , Mazetyte-Stasinskiene Raminta , Zheng Xuejiao , Köhler Johann Michael
Published: November 2021

Microfluidic techniques allow for the tailored construction of specific microparticles, which are becoming increasingly interesting and relevant. Here, using a microfluidic hole-plate-device and thermal-initiated free radical polymerization, submicrometer polymer particles with a highly textured surface were synthesized. Two types of monomers were applied: (1) methylmethacrylate (MMA) combined with crosslinkers and (2) divinylbenzene (DVB). Surface texture and morphology can be influenced by a series of parameters such as the monomer–crosslinker–solvent composition, surfactants, and additives. Generally, the most structured surfaces with the simultaneously most uniform particles were obtained in the DVB–toluene–nonionic-tensides system. In a second approach, poly-MMA (PMMA) particles were used to build aggregates with bigger polymer particles. For this purpose, tripropyleneglycolediacrylate (TPGDA) particles were synthesized in a microfluidic co-flow arrangement and polymerized by light- irradiation. Then, PMMA particles were assembled at their surface. In a third step, these composites were dispersed in an aqueous acrylamide–methylenebisacrylamide solution, which again was run through a co-flow-device and photopolymerized. As such, entities consisting of particles of three different size ranges—typically 0.7/30/600 µm—were obtained. The particles synthesized by both approaches are potentially suitable for loading with or incorporation of analytic probes or catalysts such as dyes or metals.
An Enhanced Parallelisation Model for Performance Prediction of Apache Spark on a Multinode Hadoop Cluster
Authors: Ahmed Nasim , Barczak Andre L. C. , Rashid Mohammad A. , Susnjak Teo
Published: November 2021

Big data frameworks play a vital role in storing, processing, and analysing large datasets. Apache Spark has been established as one of the most popular big data engines for its efficiency and reliability. However, one of the significant problems of the Spark system is performance prediction. Spark has more than 150 configurable parameters, and configuration of so many parameters is challenging task when determining the suitable parameters for the system. In this paper, we proposed two distinct parallelisation models for performance prediction. Our insight is that each node in a Hadoop cluster can communicate with identical nodes, and a certain function of the non-parallelisable runtime can be estimated accordingly. Both models use simple equations that allows us to predict the runtime when the size of the job and the number of executables are known. The proposed models were evaluated based on five HiBench workloads, Kmeans, PageRank, Graph (NWeight), SVM, and WordCount. The workload’s empirical data were fitted with one of the two models meeting the accuracy requirements. Finally, the experimental findings show that the model can be a handy and helpful tool for scheduling and planning system deployment.
Personality Traits Modulate the Effect of tDCS on Reading Speed of Social Sentences
Authors: Reyes Cristian , Padrón Iván , Nila Yagual Sara , Marrero Hipólito
Published: November 2021

In this case, 62 university students participated in the study, in which a between-subjects design was adopted. Participants were also given the behavioral approach system (BAS) and behavioral inhibition system (BIS) scales. Participants had to read a list of 60 sentences with interpersonal and neutral content: 20 approach (“Pedro accepted Rosa in Whatsapp”), 20 avoidance (“Pedro Blocked Rosa in Whatsapp”) and 20 neutral (“Marta thought about the causes of the problem”). After reading them, they were subjected to 20 min of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in one of the two conditions: anodal (31) or sham (31). After tDCS, they had to read other list of 60 sentences matched in approach, avoidance and neutral contents with the former list. We found significant improvement in reading speed after anodal stimulation for social and neutral sentences. Regarding affective traits, we found that anodal stimulation benefitted reading speed in low-BIS and low-BAS participants and had no effect in either high BAS or high BIS participants. In addition, tDCS improvement in reading speed was significantly lower in avoidance sentences in low-BIS (avoidance) participants. We discuss these results at the light of previous research and highlight the importance of approach and avoidance traits as moderators of tDCS effects.
25-Hydroxycholesterol 3-Sulfate Recovers Acetaminophen Induced Acute Liver Injury via Stabilizing Mitochondria in Mouse Models
Authors: Wang Yaping , Pandak William M. , Lesnefsky Edward J. , Hylemon Phillip B. , Ren Shunlin
Published: November 2021

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is one of the most frequent causes of acute liver failure (ALF). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is currently being used as part of the standard care in the clinic but its usage has been limited in severe cases, in which liver transplantation becomes the only treatment option. Therefore, there still is a need for a specific and effective therapy for APAP induced ALF. In the current study, we have demonstrated that treatment with 25-Hydroxycholesterol 3-Sulfate (25HC3S) not only significantly reduced mortality but also decreased the plasma levels of liver injury markers, including LDH, AST, and ALT, in APAP overdosed mouse models. 25HC3S also decreased the expression of those genes involved in cell apoptosis, stabilized mitochondrial polarization, and significantly decreased the levels of oxidants, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Whole genome bisulfite sequencing analysis showed that 25HC3S increased demethylation of 5mCpG in key promoter regions and thereby increased the expression of those genes involved in MAPK-ERK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. We concluded that 25HC3S may alleviate APAP induced liver injury via up-regulating the master signaling pathways and maintaining mitochondrial membrane polarization. The results suggest that 25HC3S treatment facilitates the recovery and significantly decreases the mortality of APAP induced acute liver injury and has a synergistic effect with NAC in propylene glycol (PG) for the injury.
Abnormal Calcium Handling in Atrial Fibrillation Is Linked to Changes in Cyclic AMP Dependent Signaling
Authors: Reinhardt Franziska , Beneke Kira , Pavlidou Nefeli Grammatica , Conradi Lenard , Reichenspurner Hermann , Hove-Madsen Leif , Molina Cristina E.
Published: November 2021

Both, the decreased L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) density and increased spontaneous Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), have been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that remodeling of 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling is linked to these compartment-specific changes (up- or down-regulation) in Ca2+-handling. Perforated patch-clamp experiments were performed in atrial myocytes from 53 patients with AF and 104 patients in sinus rhythm (Ctl). A significantly higher frequency of transient inward currents (ITI) activated by spontaneous Ca2+ release was confirmed in myocytes from AF patients. Next, inhibition of PKA by H-89 promoted a stronger effect on the ITI frequency in these myocytes compared to myocytes from Ctl patients (7.6-fold vs. 2.5-fold reduction), while the β-agonist isoproterenol (ISO) caused a greater increase in Ctl patients (5.5-fold vs. 2.1-fold). ICa,L density was larger in myocytes from Ctl patients at baseline (p < 0.05). However, the effect of ISO on ICa,L density was only slightly stronger in AF than in Ctl myocytes (3.6-fold vs. 2.7-fold). Interestingly, a significant reduction of ICa,L and Ca2+ sparks was observed upon Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibition by KN-93, but this inhibition had no effect on ITI. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments showed that although AF promoted cytosolic desensitization to β-adrenergic stimulation, ISO increased cAMP to similar levels in both groups of patients in the L-type Ca2+ channel and ryanodine receptor compartments. Basal cAMP signaling also showed compartment-specific regulation by phosphodiesterases in atrial myocytes from 44 Ctl and 43 AF patients. Our results suggest that AF is associated with opposite changes in compartmentalized PKA/cAMP-dependent regulation of ICa,L (down-regulation) and ITI (up-regulation).
Evidence of Neuroinflammation and Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption in Women with Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Authors: Bergman Lina , Hastie Roxanne , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Schell Sonja , Langenegger Eduard , Moodley Ashley , Walker Susan , Tong Stephen , Cluver Catherine
Published: November 2021

Cerebral complications in preeclampsia are leading causes of maternal mortality. Animal models suggest that an injured blood–brain barrier and neuroinflammation may be important but there is paucity of data from human studies. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate this in women with preeclampsia and eclampsia. We included women recruited to the South African Preeclampsia Obstetric Adverse Events (PROVE) biobank. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected around delivery. CSF was analyzed for neuroinflammatory markers interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The CSF to plasma albumin ratio was measured to assess blood–brain barrier function. Women with eclampsia (n = 4) showed increased CSF concentrations of all pro-inflammatory cytokines and TNF-alpha compared to women with normotensive pregnancies (n = 7) and also for interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha compared to women with preeclampsia (n = 4). Women with preeclampsia also showed increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 but not TNF-alpha in the CSF compared to women with normotensive pregnancies. In particular, women with eclampsia but also women with preeclampsia showed an increase in the CSF to plasma albumin ratio compared to normotensive women. In conclusion, women with preeclampsia and eclampsia show evidence of neuroinflammation and an injured blood–brain barrier. These findings are seen in particular among women with eclampsia.
Is Aromatic Nitration Spin Density Driven?
Authors: Capobianco Amedeo , Landi Alessandro , Peluso Andrea
Published: November 2021

The mechanism of aromatic nitration is critically reviewed with particular emphasis on the paradox of the high positional selectivity of substitution in spite of low substrate selectivity. Early quantum chemical computations in the gas phase have suggested that the retention of positional selectivity at encounter-limited rates could be ascribed to the formation of a radical pair via an electron transfer step occurring before the formation of the Wheland intermediate, but calculations which account for the effects of solvent polarization and the presence of counterion do not support that point of view. Here we report a brief survey of the available experimental and theoretical data, adding a few more computations for better clarifying the role of electron transfer for regioselectivity.
Study on Tunable Band Gap of Flexural Vibration in a Phononic Crystals Beam with PBT
Authors: Zhao Peng , Yuan Lili , Ma Tingfeng , Wei Hanxing
Published: November 2021

Low-frequency flexural vibration plays a significant role in beam vibration control. To efficiently attenuate the propagation of flexural vibration at a low-frequency range, this paper proposes a new type of a phononic crystals beam with an adjustable band gap. The governing equations of flexural vibration in a periodic beam are established based on the Euler theory and Timoshenko theory. The band structures are calculated by the plane wave expansion method, the attenuation properties and transmission response curves with a finite periodic beam are calculated by the spectral element method and finite element method. The effects of the elastic foundation and axial stress on band gaps are discussed in detail, and the regulation of the temperature field on the band gap is emphatically studied. The theoretical and numerical results show that the elastic foundation and axial stress have significant influence on the band gap, and the location and width of the band gaps can be adjusted effectively when the Young’s modulus of PBT is changed by a varying temperature. The results are very useful for understanding and optimizing the design for composite vibration isolation beams.
Surgical Oncology: Multidisciplinarity to Improve Cancer Treatment and Outcomes
Authors: Kleeff Jörg , Ronellenfitsch Ulrich
Published: November 2021

Surgical oncology is commonly regarded as the field of surgery dealing with cancer [...]