bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Targeted Influence Maximization Based on Multidimensional Selection in Social Networks
Authors: Jing Dong , Liu Ting
Published: December 2021

The influence maximization problem over social networks has become a popular research problem, since it has many important practical applications such as online advertising, virtual market, and so on. General influence maximization problem is defined over the whole network, whose intuitive aim is to find a seed node set with size at most k in order to affect as many as nodes in the network. However, in real applications, it is commonly required that only special nodes (target) in the network are expected to be influenced, which can use the same cost of placing seed nodes but influence more targeted nodes really needed. Some research efforts have provided solutions for the corresponding targeted influence maximization problem (TIM for short). However, there are two main drawbacks of previous works focusing on the TIM problem. First, some works focusing on the case the targets are given arbitrarily make it hard to achieve efficient performance guarantee required by real applications. Second, some previous works studying the TIM problems by specifying the target set in a probabilistic way is not proper for the case that only exact target set is required. In this paper, we study the Multidimensional Selection based Targeted Influence Maximization problem, MSTIM for short. First, the formal definition of the problem is given based on a brief and expressive fragment of general multi-dimensional queries. Then, a formal theoretical analysis about the computational hardness of the MSTIM problem shows that even for a very simple case that the target set specified is 1 larger than the seed node set, the MSTIM problem is still NP-hard. Then, the basic framework of RIS (short for Reverse Influence Sampling) is extended and shown to have a 1 − 1/e − ϵ approximation ratio when a sampling size is satisfied. To satisfy the efficiency requirements, an index-based method for the MSTIM problem is proposed, which utilizes the ideas of reusing previous results, exploits the covering relationship between queries and achieves an efficient solution for MSTIM. Finally, the experimental results on real datasets show that the proposed method is indeed rather efficient.
The Interplay of EFL Students’ Enjoyment, Hope, Pride and Self-Regulation
Authors: Yin Xuehong
Published: December 2021

Nowadays, emotions are among the most significant issues in the route of learning a language that should be taken into consideration. Consistent with the fundamental function of positive psychology (PP) and also the theory of broaden-and-build, enjoyment in language learning especially the foreign language is among those positive emotions that encourage EFL learners to develop their perspective to achieve. Efforts to apprehend and develop the academic achievement of EFL learners have also progressively concentrated on self-regulation as it boosts learners’ enjoyment, hope, pride, self-control, and learning. Besides, in line with the investigations of these positive emotions, principles of PP, the present review makes every effort for the interplay and its effects in language learning. It is pertinent to state that the present review of studies can benefit academic organizations, professional development centers, policymakers in the academic community to consider the role of emotions, namely positive ones and their positive impact on language learning.
Ontology-Enabled Emotional Sentiment Analysis on COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Twitter Streams
Authors: Narayanasamy Senthil Kumar , Srinivasan Kathiravan , Mian Qaisar Saeed , Chang Chuan-Yu
Published: December 2021

The exponential growth of social media users has changed the dynamics of retrieving the potential information from user-generated content and transformed the paradigm of information-retrieval mechanism with the novel developments on the concept of “web of data”. In this regard, our proposed Ontology-Based Sentiment Analysis provides two novel approaches: First, the emotion extraction on tweets related to COVID-19 is carried out by a well-formed taxonomy that comprises possible emotional concepts with fine-grained properties and polarized values. Second, the potential entities present in the tweet can be analyzed for semantic associativity. The extraction of emotions can be performed in two cases: (i) words directly associated with the emotional concepts present in the taxonomy and (ii) words indirectly present in the emotional concepts. Though the latter case is very challenging in processing the tweets to find the hidden patterns and extract the meaningful facts associated with it, our proposed work is able to extract and detect almost 81% of true positives and considerably able to detect the false negatives. Finally, the proposed approach's superior performance is witnessed from its comparison with other peer-level approaches.
BERT-Based Natural Language Processing of Drug Labeling Documents: A Case Study for Classifying Drug-Induced Liver Injury Risk
Authors: Wu Yue , Liu Zhichao , Wu Leihong , Chen Minjun , Tong Weida
Published: December 2021

Background & Aims: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates a broad range of consumer products, which account for about 25% of the United States market. The FDA regulatory activities often involve producing and reading of a large number of documents, which is time consuming and labor intensive. To support regulatory science at FDA, we evaluated artificial intelligence (AI)-based natural language processing (NLP) of regulatory documents for text classification and compared deep learning-based models with a conventional keywords-based model.

Methods: FDA drug labeling documents were used as a representative regulatory data source to classify drug-induced liver injury (DILI) risk by employing the state-of-the-art language model BERT. The resulting NLP-DILI classification model was statistically validated with both internal and external validation procedures and applied to the labeling data from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for cross-agency application.

Results: The NLP-DILI model developed using FDA labeling documents and evaluated by cross-validations in this study showed remarkable performance in DILI classification with a recall of 1 and a precision of 0.78. When cross-agency data were used to validate the model, the performance remained comparable, demonstrating that the model was portable across agencies. Results also suggested that the model was able to capture the semantic meanings of sentences in drug labeling.

Conclusion: Deep learning-based NLP models performed well in DILI classification of drug labeling documents and learned the meanings of complex text in drug labeling. This proof-of-concept work demonstrated that using AI technologies to assist regulatory activities is a promising approach to modernize and advance regulatory science.
Development of Gram Stain Scoring System Based on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in the Sheep Model for Testing Toxicity of Vaginal Products
Authors: Vincent Kathleen L. , Miller Aaron L. , Maxwell Carrie , Richardson-Harman Nicola , O'Neill Cynthia , Dawson Lauren N. , Madsen Timothy , Walker Cattlena , Swartz Glenn , Pyles Richard B.
Published: December 2021

Background: Development of safe, effective products to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV remains a priority. Prior to clinical testing, the products must undergo strict safety evaluations to avoid mucosal drug toxicity, inflammation, and vaginal microbiome (VMB) shifts. Based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance, we designed a study to measure the inflammatory markers and VMB changes after intravaginal treatment with products that have been associated with toxicity, with the objective to develop a Gram stain slide scoring system, similar to Nugent scoring, correlated with the proinflammatory cytokines in sheep.

Methods: Non-pregnant Dorset ewes (n = 34) were randomized to receive 5 ml intravaginal 4% nonoxynol-9 (N9) contraceptive gel, positive control (0.2% benzalkonium chloride), placebo control [hydroxethyl cellulose (HEC)], or no application daily for 10 days, with 11-day post-treatment follow-up. The vaginal swabs were collected for the cytokines, VMB, and Gram-stained slides. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis of cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, CXCL10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was used to determine inflammatory state of the sample. Vaginal microbiome community types (CT) were utilized to create five equivalent slide subsets for iterative development of a Gram-stained slide scoring system with comparisons with inflammatory state based on the cytokine levels.

Results: Digital images of the Gram-stained slides were scored based on Gram staining and morphology of bacteria, presence of sheep epithelial cells, and immune cells. The scoring system was modified in an iterative fashion with weighting based on cytokine categorization of inflamed samples, with three of four cytokine values above the mean indicating that the sample was inflamed. The parameters in the final version of the scoring system included mature epithelial cells, Gram-negative rods, and Gram-positive diplococci indicating normal and immune cells indicating inflammation. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC AUC) was 0.725 (ROC AUCs range between 0.5 and 1.0) with a greater area indicating higher diagnostic ability of a test with a binary outcome: inflamed or normal.

Conclusion: The scoring system, derived from the advanced VMB and cytokine analyses, provides a validated, practical method for quantification of Gram-stained slides that can be performed in most laboratories, increasing the potential for standardization. The training plan can assist laboratories to determine the safety of intravaginal products in their sheep studies or the methodological approach can be applied to other animal models where such data are also needed.
Spatiotemporal Characterization of VIIRS Night Light
Authors: Small Christopher
Published: December 2021

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day Night Band (DNB) on board the Suomi NPP satellite now provides almost a decade of daily observations of night light. The temporal frequency of sampling, without the degree of temporal averaging of annual composites, makes it necessary to consider the distinction between apparent temporal changes of night light related to the imaging process and actual changes in the underlying sources of the night light being imaged. The most common approach to night light change detection involves direct attribution of observed changes to the phenomenon of interest. Implicit in this approach is the assumption that other forms of actual and apparent change in the light source are negligible or non-existent. An alternative approach is to characterize the spatiotemporal variability prior to deductive attribution of causation so that the attribution can be made in the context of the full range of spatial and temporal variation. The primary objective of this study is to characterize night light variability over a range of spatial and temporal scales to provide a context for interpretation of night light changes observed on both subannual and interannual time scales. This analysis is based on a combination of temporal moments, spatial correlation and Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis. A key result of this study is the pervasive heteroskedasticity of VIIRS monthly mean night light. Specifically, the monotonic decrease of variability with increasing mean brightness. Anthropogenic night light is remarkably stable on subannual time scales while background luminance varies considerably. The variance partition from the eigenvalues of the spatiotemporal covariance matrix are 88, 2 and 2% for spatial, seasonal and interannual variance (respectively) in the most diverse region on Earth (Eurasia). Heteroskedasticity is pervasive in the monthly composites; present in all areas for all months of the year, suggesting that much, if not most, of the month-to-month variability may be related to luminance of otherwise stable sources subjected to multiple aspects of the imaging process varying in time. Given the skewed distribution of all night light arising from radial peripheral dimming of bright sources subject to atmospheric scattering, even aggregate metrics using thresholds must be interpreted in light of the fact that much larger numbers of more variable low luminance pixels may statistically overwhelm smaller numbers of stable higher luminance pixels and cause apparent changes related to the imaging process to be interpreted as actual changes in the light sources.
Resilient Organizations for River Restoration: The Case of Two Colorado River Sub-Basin Recovery Programs
Authors: Srinivasan Jaishri , Lorenzo Theresa E. , Schoon Michael L. , White Dave D.
Published: December 2021

This study characterizes the resilience of organizations undertaking river basin governance and recovery. The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (UCREFRP) and the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR-MSCP) are defined in this study as polycentric organizations nested within larger institutional mechanisms governing the Colorado River Basin. This study utilizes an environmental disturbance-organizational response framework to characterize organizational resilience—and uses attitudinal diversity (characterized by attitudes toward agendas) as the measurable metric. Environmental disturbances are defined as either press or pulse and categorized as either institutional or biophysical in nature. Four types of attitudinal diversity metrics are utilized—supportive, clarifying, conditional, and critical. Results indicate that institutional press and pulse events generated anticipatory resilience capabilities along with some adaptive capabilities for the organizations. However, the biophysical press and pulse events only reveal coping capabilities and very little adaptive capabilities. With the recent Colorado River shortage declaration, it is critical for the programs to build anticipatory as well as adaptive capabilities for optimal response to biophysical press events.
What Is Happening in Children’s Brains When They Are Playing Pretend?
Authors: Aanestad Emma , John Marvellous , Melkonyan Eliza , Hashmi Salim , Gerson Sarah , Vanderwert Ross E.
Published: December 2021

Our brains are active while we learn, work, and even play! We wanted to find out what parts of the brain kids use when they play with dolls. Because pretend play with dolls might involve imagining how other people act and feel, we thought that the areas of the brain used for thinking about other people might be particularly important during doll play. If this is true, do kids use these parts of the brain in all types of pretend play or is there something special about playing with dolls? Are the brain regions that are important for thinking about other people used in the same way when playing with an iPad vs. with dolls? Do kids use the social parts of their brains when playing pretend on their own, or only with a friend? Let us talk about what we found!
Facemasks Block Lower Visual Field in Youth Ice Hockey
Authors: Critelli Kyle , Demiris Victoria , Klatt Brooke N. , Crane Benjamin , Anson Eric R.
Published: December 2021

Wearing a facemask (FM) reduces the spread of COVID-19, but it also blocks a person's lower visual field. Many new public safety rules were created in response to COVID-19, including mandated FM wearing in some youth sports like youth ice hockey. We hypothesized that FM wearing in youth hockey players obstructs the lower field of view and may impact safety. Youth hockey players (n = 33) aged 12.03 (1.6) years button press when they saw an LED on the floor turn on in two conditions (wearing FM or no FM) in random order. An interleaved one-up/one-down two-alternative-forced-choice adaptive staircase design was used. Visual thresholds were calculated for each condition and participant. The visual angle threshold (VAT) was determined using standing eye height and the linear distance from the tip of the skates to the visual threshold. Paired t-tests determined whether mask wearing changed the VAT. We modeled the probability a player could see the puck on their stick in four distinct scenarios to estimate the potential impact of FM wearing during hockey play. The average unmasked VAT (11.4 degrees) was significantly closer to the skates than the masked VAT (20.3 degrees) (p < 0.001). Our model indicated a significant reduction in ability to visualize the puck using peripheral vision when more upright while wearing a FM. FM wearing compromised their lower visual field, suggesting a downward head tilt may be necessary to see the puck. Playing ice hockey while wearing a FM may lead to unsafe on-ice playing conditions due to downward head tilt to see the puck.
Antiangiogenic Therapy as a New Strategy in the Treatment of Endometriosis? The First Case Report
Authors: Bouquet de Joliniere Jean , Fruscalzo Arrigo , Khomsi Fathi , Stochino Loi Emanuela , Cherbanyk Floryn , Ayoubi Jean Marc , Feki Anis
Published: December 2021

Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in implantation and development of ectopic endometrial lesions. Thus, the potential usefulness of anti-angiogenic therapies has been speculated. Several reports describe their usefulness in animal models. Nonetheless this therapy has not been tested on humans yet. Here we report the outcome of a patient treated for a severe endometriosis with Bevacizumab (Avastin®), a monoclonal antibody directed against the vascular endothelial growth (VEGF). After a first-look laparoscopy with confirmatory biopsies was performed, three doses of Bevacizumab at 2-week intervals were administered. The therapy showed a well-tolerated profile and the prompt disappearance of the therapy-refractory chronic dysmenorrhea. A suppression of metabolic activity at the PET-scan compared to the basal one performed at diagnosis was also recorded. Furthermore, compared to the diagnostic biopsies prior the treatment, we documented a shift in the hormonal receptors profile toward a higher expression of progesterone and estrogen receptors in the endometriotic lesions.
Multiple Leveling for Paddy Field Preparation with Double Axis Rotary Tillage Accelerates Rice Growth and Economic Benefits
Authors: Zhang Yifu , Liu Jian , Yuan Wei , Zhang Ruihong , Xi Xiaobo
Published: December 2021

In the multiple cropping regions of southern China, straw returning has become a widely practiced agronomic measure for rice cultivation. However, excessive straw often leads to a high proportion of stubble in topsoil, which prolongs the leveling time of the paddy field and delays the transplanting date for rice seedlings. In particular, scholars in this region have successively improved multiple paddy field levelers to realize excellent straw returning and subsequent land preparation synchronously, but the economic benefit from land preparation to crop harvest was less reported. Therefore, this study carried out a 2-year rice cultivation experiments to compare the effects of paddy field preparation methods on rice growth and economic benefits within the same growing duration. Three treatments were designed: traditional tillage (TT), double axis rotary tillage (DR) and multiple operations for paddy field preparation (DR + ML), with three repeats. The results showed that DR + ML treatment simplified the operation process while improving the quality of land preparation. Within the same growing duration, DR + ML treatment could reduce the paddy field preparation time and extend the growing time in the field by 5–6 days. Furthermore, in comparison to TT treatment, DR + ML showed advantages in stimulating plant development, increasing dry matter accumulation (DMA), and thereby increasing rice yield by more than 12%. The economic benefits were mainly reflected in saving operation cost of paddy field preparation and improving the output (grain yield), which can generally increase the total profit by 58%. The implementation of this study can provide a reference for a simplified high yield cultivation technique in rice-related multiple cropping systems.
Rice Residue-Based Biochar Mitigates N2O Emission from Acid Red Soil
Authors: Aamer Muhammad , Bilal Chattha Muhammad , Mahmood Athar , Naqve Maria , Hassan Muhammad Umair , Shaaban Muhammad , Rasul Fahd , Batool Maria , Rasheed Adnan , Tang Haiying , Chuan Zhong , Shao Jinhua , Huang Guoqin
Published: December 2021

Biochar application is considered an effective approach to mitigating nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils. However, the mechanisms of biochar to mitigate N2O emissions from acidic red soils are still unclear. Therefore, the present study aims to underpin mechanisms associated with rice residue-based biochar in mitigating N2O emissions from acid soils. Soil treated with different rates of biochar control, from 1%, 2%, and 3%, and different soil properties, including soil pH, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), NH4+-N, NO3−-N, genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB), and enzymatic activities ((nitrate reductase (NR) and urease (UR)) were studied. The application of 3% biochar increased the soil pH (5.21–6.48), MBC (565–685 mg/kg), NO3−-N contents (24.23–44.5 mg/kg), genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB) and UR activity. The highest N2O emission (43.60 μg kg−1) was recorded and compared with the application of 1% (26.3 μg kg−1), 2% (18.33 μg kg−1), and 3% biochar (8.13 μg kg−1). Applying 3% biochar effectively reduced the N2O emission due to increased soil pH, MBC, NO3−-N contents, genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB), and weakened NH4+-N and NR activities. Therefore, increasing soil pH, genes abundance, and weakened nitrification following the addition of rice residue-based biochar can effectively reduce the N2O emissions from acidic red soils.
The Impact of Forest Fungi on Promoting Growth and Development of Brassica napus L.
Authors: Dąbrowska Grażyna B. , Garstecka Zuzanna , Trejgell Alina , Dąbrowski Henryk P. , Konieczna Wiktoria , Szyp-Borowska Iwona
Published: December 2021

Inoculation of plants with fungi has been shown to increase yields by improving germination, seedling vigor, plant growth, root morphogenesis, photosynthesis, and flowering through direct or indirect mechanisms. These mechanisms include solubilization and mineralization of nutrients, facilitating their uptake by plants, regulation of hormone balance, production of volatile organic compounds and microbial enzymes, suppression of plant pathogens, and mitigation of abiotic stresses. In the presented experiments, the effect of selected forest soil fungi on the growth and development of Brassica napus L. seedlings was investigated. Inoculation was carried out in vivo and in pot experiments with ectomycorrhizal fungi typical for forest soils: Collybia tuberosa, Clitocybe sp., Laccaria laccata, Hebeloma mesophaeum, and Cyathusolla. It was shown that all analyzed fungi produced IAA. In the in vitro experiment, B. napus inoculated with L. laccata showed stimulated root growth and greater number of leaves compared to control plants. A similar stimulatory effect on lateral root formation was observed in cuttings grown in pots in the presence of the C. olla fungus. In the pot experiment, the seedlings inoculated with the L. laccata fungus also showed increased growth of shoots and biomass. The effect of inoculation with the tested fungal strains, especially C. olla, on the growth and development of oilseed rape was probably indirect, as it also contributed to an increase in the number of microorganisms, especially soil bacteria. The expression of the metallothioneins in B. napus (BnMT1-BnMT3) varied depending on the fungal species. The presence of C. olla significantly increased BnMT2 expression in oilseed rape. It was found that BnMT1 expression increased and BnMT3 transcripts decreased in plants growing in the presence of L. laccata. This indicates the involvement of BnMT in the adaptation of oilseed rape to growth in fungi presence.
Antibiotic Prescribing Trends in Belgian Out-of-Hours Primary Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Study Using Routinely Collected Health Data
Authors: Colliers Annelies , De Man Jeroen , Adriaenssens Niels , Verhoeven Veronique , Anthierens Sibyl , De Loof Hans , Philips Hilde , Coenen Samuel , Morreel Stefan
Published: December 2021

Antibiotic overprescribing is one of the main drivers of the global and growing problem of antibiotic resistance, especially in primary care and for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). RTIs are the most common reason for patients to consult out-of-hours (OOH) primary care. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way general practitioners (GPs) work, both during office hours and OOH. In Belgian OOH primary care, remote consultations with the possibility of issuing prescriptions and telephone triage were implemented. We aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 on GPs’ antibiotic prescribing during OOH primary care. In an observational study, using routinely collected health data from GP cooperatives (GPCs) in Flanders, we analyzed GPs’ antibiotic prescriptions in 2019 (10 GPCs) and 2020 (20 GPCs) during OOH consultations (telephone and face-to-face). We used autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) modeling to identify any changes after lockdowns were implemented. In total, 388,293 contacts and 268,430 prescriptions were analyzed in detail. The number of antibiotic prescriptions per weekend, per 100,000 population was 11.47 (95% CI: 9.08–13.87) or 42.9% lower after compared to before the implementation of lockdown among all contacts. For antibiotic prescribing per contact, we found a decrease of 12.2 percentage points (95% CI: 10.6–13.7) or 56.5% among all contacts and of 5.3 percentage points (95% CI: 3.7–6.9) or 23.2% for face-to-face contacts only. The decrease in the number of prescriptions was more pronounced for cases with respiratory symptoms that corresponded with symptoms of COVID-19 and for antibiotics that are frequently prescribed for RTIs, such as amoxicillin (a decrease of 64.9%) and amoxicillin/clavulanate (a decrease of 38.1%) but did not appear for others such as nitrofurantoin. The implementation of COVID-19 lockdown measures coincided with an unprecedented drop in the number of antibiotic prescriptions, which can be explained by a decrease in face-to-face patient contacts, as well as a lower number of antibiotics prescriptions per face-to-face patient contact. The decrease was seen for antibiotics used for RTIs but not for nitrofurantoin, the first-choice antibiotic for urinary tract infections.
Superoxide Dismutase-1 Intracellular Content in T Lymphocytes Associates with Increased Regulatory T Cell Level in Multiple Sclerosis Subjects Undergoing Immune-Modulating Treatment
Authors: Rubino Valentina , Palatucci Anna Teresa , La Rosa Giuliana , Giovazzino Angela , Aruta Francesco , Damiano Simona , Carriero Flavia , Santillo Mariarosaria , Iodice Rosa , Mondola Paolo , Ruggiero Giuseppina , Terrazzano Giuseppe
Published: December 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in the T-cell activation processes. ROS-dependent regulatory networks are usually mediated by peroxides, which are more stable and able to freely migrate inside cells. Superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1 represents the major physiological intracellular source of peroxides. We found that antigen-dependent activation represents a triggering element for SOD-1 production and secretion by human T lymphocytes. A deranged T-cell proinflammatory response characterizes the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We previously observed a decreased SOD-1 intracellular content in leukocytes of MS individuals at diagnosis, with increasing amounts of such enzyme after interferon (IFN)-b 1b treatment. Here, we analyzed in depth SOD-1 intracellular content in T cells in a cohort of MS individuals undergoing immune-modulating treatment. Higher amounts of the enzyme were associated with increased availability of regulatory T cells (Treg) preferentially expressing Foxp3-exon 2 (Foxp3-E2), as described for effective Treg. In vitro administration of recombinant human SOD-1 to activated T cells, significantly increased their IL-17 production, while SOD-1 molecules lacking dismutase activity were unable to interfere with cytokine production by activated T cells in vitro. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide addition was observed to mimic, in vitro, the SOD-1 effect on IL-17 production. These data add SOD-1 to the molecules involved in the molecular pathways contributing to re-shaping the T-cell cytokine profile and Treg differentiation.
Oxygen-Dependent Changes in the N-Glycome of Murine Pulmonary Endothelial Cells
Authors: Tiboldi Akos , Führer Johannes , Schaubmayr Wolfgang , Hunyadi-Gulyas Eva , Zach Marie Louise , Hochreiter Beatrix , Spittler Andreas , Ullrich Roman , Markstaller Klaus , Altmann Friedrich , Klein Klaus Ulrich , Tretter Verena
Published: December 2021

Supplemental oxygen is frequently used together with mechanical ventilation to achieve sufficient blood oxygenation. Despite the undoubted benefits, it is vigorously debated whether too much oxygen can also have unpredicted side-effects. Uncertainty is also due to the fact that the molecular mechanisms are still insufficiently understood. The lung endothelium is covered with an exceptionally broad glycocalyx, carrying N- and O-glycans, proteoglycans, glycolipids and glycosaminoglycans. Glycan structures are not genetically determined but depend on the metabolic state and the expression level and activity of biosynthetic and glycan remodeling enzymes, which can be influenced by oxygen and the redox status of the cell. Altered glycan structures can affect cell interactions and signaling. In this study, we investigated the effect of different oxygen conditions on aspects of the glycobiology of the pulmonary endothelium with an emphasis on N-glycans and terminal sialylation using an in vitro cell culture system. We combined a proteomic approach with N-glycan structure analysis by LC-MS, qRT-PCR, sialic acid analysis and lectin binding to show that constant and intermittent hyperoxia induced time dependent changes in global and surface glycosylation. An siRNA approach identified St6gal1 as being primarily responsible for the early transient increase of α2-6 sialylated structures in response to hyperoxia.
Role of Oxidative Stress in Ocular Diseases Associated with Retinal Ganglion Cells Degeneration
Authors: Kang Eugene Yu-Chuan , Liu Pei-Kang , Wen Yao-Tseng , Quinn Peter M. J. , Levi Sarah R. , Wang Nan-Kai , Tsai Rong-Kung
Published: December 2021

Ocular diseases associated with retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration is the most common neurodegenerative disorder that causes irreversible blindness worldwide. It is characterized by visual field defects and progressive optic nerve atrophy. The underlying pathophysiology and mechanisms of RGC degeneration in several ocular diseases remain largely unknown. RGCs are a population of central nervous system neurons, with their soma located in the retina and long axons that extend through the optic nerve to form distal terminals and connections in the brain. Because of this unique cytoarchitecture and highly compartmentalized energy demand, RGCs are highly mitochondrial-dependent for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Recently, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been found to be the principal mechanisms in RGC degeneration as well as in other neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review the role of oxidative stress in several ocular diseases associated with RGC degenerations, including glaucoma, hereditary optic atrophy, inflammatory optic neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy, traumatic optic neuropathy, and drug toxicity. We also review experimental approaches using cell and animal models for research on the underlying mechanisms of RGC degeneration. Lastly, we discuss the application of antioxidants as a potential future therapy for the ocular diseases associated with RGC degenerations.
Development Progress of 3–5 μm Mid-Infrared Lasers: OPO, Solid-State and Fiber Laser
Authors: Ren Tingwei , Wu Chunting , Yu Yongji , Dai Tongyu , Chen Fei , Pan Qikun
Published: December 2021

A 3–5 μm mid-infrared band is a good window for atmospheric transmission. It has the advantages of high contrast and strong penetration under high humidity conditions. Therefore, it has important applications in the fields of laser medicine, laser radar, environmental monitoring, remote sensing, molecular spectroscopy, industrial processing, space communication and photoelectric confrontation. In this paper, the application background of mid-infrared laser is summarized. The ways to realize mid-infrared laser output are described by optical parametric oscillation, mid-infrared solid-state laser doped with different active ions and fiber laser doped with different rare earth ions. The advantages and disadvantages of various mid-infrared lasers are briefly described. The technical approaches, schemes and research status of mid-infrared lasers are introduced.
Effects of Environmental and Electrical Factors on Metering Error and Consistency of Smart Electricity Meters
Authors: Xiong Suqin , Zhang Jiahai , Zhang Baoliang , Sun Guodong , Chen Zhen , Qi Jia , Sun Yongquan
Published: December 2021

The smart electricity meter (SEM) is an important part of smart power grid, and the accuracy of SEMs is the basis for power grid operation control and trade settlement between power supply and electricity consumption, but the evolution behaviors of metering error of SEMs under field operation conditions have not yet been identified. The SEMs were installed and operated on site, metering error data were collected under various temperature and current conditions. The influences of current, power coefficient, and temperature on metering error and consistency were analyzed separately with the help of quadratic polynomials, and then an integrated model elaborating the joint effects of multi-stress was developed based on a binary quadratic polynomial. We find that a lower temperature and a larger current result in a higher metering error of SEMs; however, the effects of current on metering error are determined by power coefficients. The results have reference value for remote metrological verification, error monitoring, and the optimization of the operation and maintenance scheme of SEMs.
Automated Diagnosis of Childhood Pneumonia in Chest Radiographs Using Modified Densely Residual Bottleneck-Layer Features
Authors: Alkassar Sinan , Abdullah Mohammed A. M. , Jebur Bilal A. , Abdul-Majeed Ghassan H. , Wei Bo , Woo Wai Lok
Published: December 2021

Pneumonia is a severe infection that affects the lungs due to viral or bacterial infections such as the novel COVID-19 virus resulting in mild to critical health conditions. One way to diagnose pneumonia is to screen prospective patient’s lungs using either a Computed Tomography (CT) scan or chest X-ray. To help radiologists in processing a large amount of data especially during pandemics, and to overcome some limitations in deep learning approaches, this paper introduces a new approach that utilizes a few light-weighted densely connected bottleneck residual block features to extract rich spatial information. Then, shrinking data batches into a single vector using four efficient methods. Next, an adaptive weight setup is proposed utilizing Adaboost ensemble learning which adaptively sets weight for each classifier depending on the scores generated to achieve the highest true positive rates while maintaining low negative rates. The proposed method is evaluated using the Kaggle chest X-ray public dataset and attained an accuracy of 99.6% showing superiority to other deep networks-based pneumonia diagnosis methods.
Influence of Magnetic Fields with Induction of 7 T on Physical and Chemical Properties of Aqueous NaCl Solutions
Authors: Sarimov Ruslan M. , Simakin Alexander V. , Matveeva Tatyana A. , Gudkov Sergey V. , Lyakhov Gennady A. , Pustovoy Vladimir I. , Troitskii Alexey V. , Shcherbakov Ivan A.
Published: December 2021

The physicochemical properties of NaCl aqueous solutions in a wide range of concentrations were studied. We determined that constant magnetic fields with an induction of up to 7 T had a significant effect on the physicochemical properties of these solutions. First, we detected a decrease in pH that was dependent on the magnetic field strength both in water and in NaCl solutions. This effect was not associated with the presence of sodium cations or chlorine anions in water. Secondly, with an increase in magnetic field induction the redox potential of aqueous solutions also increased. Magnetic fields did not cause any changes in the concentration of dissolved molecular oxygen in deionized water. In this case, in aqueous solutions of NaCl under the action of a magnetic field, a concentration-dependent tendency to a decrease in the concentration of dissolved molecular oxygen is observed. Third, it was shown that under the action of a magnetic field on a NaCl solution, the rate of hydrogen peroxide generation increased with increasing NaCl concentration. Fourth, the essential role of the primary state of aqueous solutions in relation to the gas composition and gas equilibrium under magnetic influence was established. The work also evaluated the contribution of flow-mixing during sample preparation on the physicochemical properties of the solutions.
Recording a Hologram Transmitted over a Communication Channel on One Sideband
Authors: Shoydin Sergey , Odinokov Sergey , Pazoev Artem , Tsyganov Ivan , Drozdova Ekaterina
Published: December 2021

The paper presents experimental results on the recording and restoration of 3D holographic frames suitable for transmitting 3D holographic images with the frame rate required for TV images and a resolution of the Full HD standard and higher. The Patent RF No. 2707582 proposed a method for compressing holographic information and transmitting it using a procedure similar to SSB over conventional communication channels. In this work, the holographic information of a 3D portrait of a person, transmitted and received via the Wi-Fi communication channel, was restored in the form of a rainbow hologram, as one of a variety of holograms, by the computer addition of the carrier spatial frequency, and then hologram was actually produced on a photoresist. This technology can be used to create a holographic phototelegraph or, if there is a dynamic holographic display, to create a holographic television and 3D augmented reality.
Functional Effects of Permeability on Oldroyd-B Fluid under Magnetization: A Comparison of Slipping and Non-Slipping Solutions
Authors: Riaz Muhammad Bilal , Awrejcewicz Jan , Rehman Aziz Ur
Published: December 2021

In this article, the impact of Newtonian heating in addition to slip effects was critically examined on the unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of an Oldroyd-B fluid near an infinitely vertical plate. The functional effects such as the retardation and relaxation of materials can be estimated for magnetized permeability based on the relative decrease or increase during magnetization. From this perspective, a new mathematical model was formulated based on non-slippage and slippage postulates for the Oldroyd-B fluid with magnetized permeability. The heat transfer induction was also examined through a non-fractional developed mathematical model for the Oldroyd-B fluid. The exact solution expressions for non-dimensional equations of velocity and temperature were explored by employing Laplace integral transformation under slipping boundary conditions under Newtonian heating. The heat transfer rate was estimated through physical interpretation by considering the limits on the solutions induced by the Nusselt number. To comprehensively discuss the dynamics of the considered problem, the physical impacts of different parameters were studied and reverberations were graphically highlighted and deliberated. Furthermore, in order to validate the results, two limiting models, namely the Maxwell model and the second grade model, were used to compare the relevant flow characteristics. Additionally, in order to perform the parametric analysis, the graphical representation was portrayed for non-slipping and slipping solutions for velocity and temperature.
Prediction of Deflection of Shear-Critical RC Beams Using Compatibility-Aided Truss Model
Authors: Kim Sang-Woo
Published: December 2021

This study proposes a method for predicting the deflection of shear-critical reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Shear deterioration of shear-critical RC beams occurs before flexural yielding. After shear deterioration occurs in the shear-critical RC beams, the deflection caused by shear is greater than the flexural deflection obtained from the elastic bending theory. To reasonably predict the deflection of shear-critical RC beams, it is necessary to evaluate deflections due to shear as well as flexure. In this study, the deflections produced by flexure and shear were calculated and superposed to evaluate the deflection of shear-critical RC beams. The method recommended by ACI 318-19 was employed to calculate the flexural deflection, and a compatibility-aided truss model able to calculate the shear stress and shear deformation at each load stage was used to consider the shear deflection. A comparison of the experimental and analytical results showed that the proposed analytical method can effectively predict the deflection of shear-critical RC beams.
Analyzing Benford’s Law’s Powerful Applications in Image Forensics
Authors: Crișan Diana , Irimia Alexandru , Gota Dan , Miclea Liviu , Puscasiu Adela , Stan Ovidiu , Valean Honoriu
Published: December 2021

The Newcomb–Benford law states that in a set of natural numbers, the leading digit has a probability distribution that decays logarithmically. One of its major applications is the JPEG compression of images, a field of great interest for domains such as image forensics. In this article, we study JPEG compression from the point of view of Benford’s law. The article focuses on ways to detect fraudulent images and JPEG quality factors. Moreover, using the image’s luminance channel and JPEG coefficients, we describe a technique for determining the quality factor with which a JPEG image is compressed. The algorithm’s results are described in considerably more depth in the article’s final sections. Furthermore, the proposed idea is applicable to any procedure that involves the analysis of digital images and in which it is strongly suggested that the image authenticity be verified prior to beginning the analyzing process.
Correlation Analysis and Its Application on an Asymmetry Rotor Structure with Overhang
Authors: Zhong Shun , Zhang Suxia , Yang Jie , Zhang Yanan
Published: December 2021

Overhung rotors are widely used in the industrial field. However, compared with normal structure rotors, the prediction and control of overhung rotors cannot achieve good performance. The work aims to investigate the dynamical behaviours of an overhung rotor by means of correlation analysis, and find its possible application. In this work, based on a real type of rotor, the dynamic model of the rotor with overhang is established by means of the finite element method. Simulation of the dynamic model with different input positions and support stiffnesses is conducted. Based on the methodology of correlation analysis, by introducing a correlation parameter of a proportion of amplitude of measured signal and imbalance mass, the position which has most effect on the vibration is found. Meanwhile, an experiment on the same type of overhung rotor is carried out to validate the results. The numerical results and corresponding experimental results prove that the overhung node has the most effect on the vibration amplitudes of the measured points. Choosing the overhung node to add trial weight, the overhung rotor can be easily balanced. The theory provides an alternative approach to modal analysis which needs more knowledge of the system.
Identifying the Importance of Criteria for Passenger Choice of Sustainable Travel by Train Using ARTIW and IHAMCI Methods
Authors: Maskeliūnaitė Lijana , Sivilevičius Henrikas
Published: December 2021

Nowadays, travelers can use different modes of transport, and they usually choose the most suitable and reliable mode available. The choice of one mode of transport as an alternative to another is subjective. It is usually built upon passenger attitude toward the advantages and disadvantages of using a particular mode. This article proposes analytical methods for and research results on passenger choices for sustainable train journeys as an alternative to traveling by bus. The rank averages of all criteria and their normalized subjective weights were calculated with reference to new linear (ARTIW-L) and nonlinear (ARTIW-N) methods of average rank transformation into weight. A correlation between sub-criteria rank averages and normalized weights is presented, based on the minimum number of passengers required to be interviewed to provide reliable results. The average ranks assigned by passengers to the evaluation sub-criteria and their global weights were used for determining and describing the most and least important key criteria by applying the inverse hierarchy for assessment of main criteria importance (IHAMCI) method. The analysis shows that the most important key criterion belonged to the sub-criteria characterizing economy, while the less important key criteria included ride comfort. The least important key criteria described safety and environmental protection, whose normalized subjective overall weights were the lowest. Rail transport authorities and companies involved in transporting passengers can make this mode of transport more attractive to people by giving priority to improving the services they provide to passengers.
An Experimental Study on Efficient Piezoelectric Coupled Beams and Corresponding Piezoelectric Bricks
Authors: Wang Zijing , Xie Xiangdong , Zhang Jinfeng , Du Guofeng
Published: December 2021

In view of the low output power density of the existing footstep harvesters, two pairs of distinctive L-shaped beams and the corresponding piezoelectric brick models are developed to improve the utilization efficiency of the piezoelectric patches bonded on the beams. A theory model of the aforesaid L-shaped beam is established to analyze its dynamic performance. Two pairs of L-shaped beams and corresponding piezoelectric brick specimens are customized. The influences of some factors on the output voltage and average power from piezoelectric patches of aforesaid piezoelectric bricks are tested and analyzed. Numerical computation based on the theory model of L-shaped beam is conducted to extend the study on the electric output performances of the proposed piezoelectric bricks. Experiment and simulation results indicate that the peak-to-peak voltage and average power can reach up to 376 V (0.15 V/mm3) and 94.72 mW (37.89 μW/mm3) for a piezoelectric patch with a dimension of 50 mm × 50 mm × 1 mm of brick specimens. This research provides novel piezoelectric bricks to harvest footstep energy and obtains some instructive conclusions for the practical design of the piezoelectric brick with ideal energy harvesting efficiency and cost-effectiveness.