bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic and Expression Analysis of CENH3 and APOLLO Genes in Sexual and Apomictic Boechera Species
Authors: Bakin Evgeny , Sezer Fatih , Özbilen Aslıhan , Kilic Irem , Uner Buket , Rayko Mike , Taskin Kemal Melih , Brukhin Vladimir
Published: December 2021

Apomictic plants (reproducing via asexual seeds), unlike sexual individuals, avoid meiosis and egg cell fertilization. Consequently, apomixis is very important for fixing maternal genotypes in the next plant generations. Despite the progress in the study of apomixis, molecular and genetic regulation of the latter remains poorly understood. So far APOLLO (Aspartate Glutamate Aspartate Aspartate histidine exonuclease) is one of the very few described genes associated with apomixis in Boechera species. The centromere-specific histone H3 variant encoded by CENH3 gene is essential for cell division. Mutations in CENH3 disrupt chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis since the attachment of spindle microtubules to a mutated form of the CENH3 histone fails. This paper presents in silico characteristic of APOLLO and CENH3 genes, which may affect apomixis. Also, we characterize the structure of CENH3, study expression levels of APOLLO and CENH3 in gynoecium/siliques of the natural diploid apomictic and sexual Boechera species at the stages of before and after fertilization. While CENH3 was a single copy gene in all Boechera species, the APOLLO gene have several polymorphic alleles associated with sexual and apomictic reproduction in the Boechera genera. Expression of the APOLLO apo-allele during meiosis was upregulated in gynoecium of apomict B. divaricarpa downregulating after meiosis until 4th day after pollination (DAP). On the 5th DAP, expression in apomictic siliques increased again. In sexual B. stricta gynoecium and siliques APOLLO apo-allele did not express. Expression of the APOLLO sex-allele during and after meiosis in gynoecium of sexual plants was several times higher than that in apomictic gynoecium. However, after pollination the sex-allele was downregulated in sexual siliques to the level of apomicts and increased sharply on the 5th DAP, while in apomictic siliques it almost did not express. At the meiotic stage, the expression level of CENH3 in the gynoecium of apomicts was two times lower than that of the sexual Boechera, decreasing in both species after meiosis and keep remaining very low in siliques of both species for several days after artificial pollination until the 4th DAP, when the expression level raised in sexual B. stricta siliques exceeding 5 times the level in apomictic B. divaricarpa siliques. We also discuss polymorphism and phylogeny of the APOLLO and CENH3 genes.
Komagataella phaffii Cue5 Piggybacks on Lipid Droplets for Its Vacuolar Degradation During Stationary Phase Lipophagy
Authors: Kumar Ravinder , Shroff Ankit , Nazarko Taras Y.
Published: December 2021

Recently, we developed Komagataella phaffii (formerly Pichia pastoris) as a model for lipophagy, the selective autophagy of lipid droplets (LDs). We found that lipophagy pathways induced by acute nitrogen (N) starvation and in stationary (S) phase have different molecular mechanisms. Moreover, both types of lipophagy are independent of Atg11, the scaffold protein that interacts with most autophagic receptors and, therefore, is essential for most types of selective autophagy in yeast. Since yeast aggrephagy, the selective autophagy of ubiquitinated protein aggregates, is also independent of Atg11 and utilizes the ubiquitin-binding receptor, Cue5, we studied the relationship of K. phaffii Cue5 with differentially induced LDs and lipophagy. While there was no relationship of Cue5 with LDs and lipophagy under N-starvation conditions, Cue5 accumulated on LDs in S-phase and degraded together with LDs via S-phase lipophagy. The accumulation of Cue5 on LDs and its degradation by S-phase lipophagy strongly depended on the ubiquitin-binding CUE domain and Prl1, the positive regulator of lipophagy 1. However, unlike Prl1, which is required for S-phase lipophagy, Cue5 was dispensable for it suggesting that Cue5 is rather a new substrate of this pathway. We propose that a similar mechanism (Prl1-dependent accumulation on LDs) might be employed by Prl1 to recruit another ubiquitin-binding protein that is essential for S-phase lipophagy.
Two-Parameter CFAR Ship Detection Algorithm Based on Rayleigh Distribution in SAR Images
Authors: Wu Ruochen
Published: December 2021

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an active type of microwave remote sensing. Using the microwave imaging system, remote sensing monitoring of the land and global ocean can be done in any weather conditions around the clock. Detection of SAR image targets is one of the main needs of radar image interpretation applications. In this paper, an improved two-parameter CFAR algorithm based on Rayleigh distribution and morphological processing is proposed to perform ship detection and recognition in high resolution SAR images. Through simulation experiments, comprehensive study of the two algorithms for high resolution SAR image target detection is achieved. Finally, the results of ship detection experiments are compared and analyzed, and the effects of detection are evaluated according to the Rayleigh distribution model and algorithms.
Model-Based Dynamic Performance Simulation of a Microturbine
Authors: Erario Mario Leonardo , De Giorgi Maria Grazia , Przysowa Radoslaw
Published: December 2021

Microturbines can be used not only in models and education but also to propel UAVs. However, their wider adoption is limited by their relatively low efficiency and durability. Validated simulation models are required to monitor their performance, improve their lifetime, and design engine control systems. This study aims at developing a numerical model of a micro gas turbine for prediction and prognostics of engine performance. To build a reliable zero-dimensional model, the available compressor and turbine maps were scaled to the available test bench data with the least squares method, to meet the performance of the engine achieved during bench and flight tests. A steady-state aeroengine model was implemented in GSP and compared with experimental operating points. The selected flight data was then used as input for the transient engine model. The exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and fuel flow were chosen as the two key parameters to validate the model, comparing the numerical predicted values with the experimental ones. The observed difference between the model and the flight data was lower than 3% for both EGT and fuel flow.
The Role of Bruton’s Kinase Inhibitors in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Robak Tadeusz , Witkowska Magda , Smolewski Piotr
Published: December 2021

The use of the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors has changed the management and clinical history of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). BTK is a critical molecule that interconnects B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling. BTKIs are classified into two categories: irreversible (covalent) inhibitors and reversible (non-covalent) inhibitors. Ibrutinib is the ﬁrst irreversible BTK inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2013 as a breakthrough therapy in CLL patients. Subsequently, several studies evaluated the efﬁcacy and safety of new agents with reduced toxicity when compared with ibrutinib. Two other irreversible, second-generation BTK inhibitors, acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib, were developed to reduce ibrutinib-mediated adverse effects. Additionally, new reversible BTK inhibitors are currently under development in an early phase studies to improve their activity and to diminish adverse effects. This review summarizes the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, safety, dosing, drug-drug interactions associated with the treatment of CLL with BTK inhibitors, and examines its further implications.
miCampoApp, a Participatory Research Tool for Agroecology
Authors: Dupas Stéphane , Antolinez Poveda Cesar Alejandro
Published: December 2021

Agroecology, defined as the ecological science of food production is also as practical approach to design food production systems based on local concerted solutions that aim to promote synergy among the diversity of human and non human food systems elements. These two facets makes agroecology a good candidate for participatory research. Information technology should help using this information for the production of structured scientific knowledge. In this respect, there is a need for information technology that is adaptive to encompass the diversity of within and between systems and that provide benefit to farmers that feed it with data. We present MiCampoApp, a webapp that aims to join participatory research and certification in agroecology, with two roles, the farmer and the administrator. The idea to join participatory research for decision support with certification for market differentiation in single system is that much of the certification data harbors information for scientific research, and this incentivize data collection for the interest of the farmer and the community. The administrator create a model for data collection in order to solve a research question of interest for a communities or to produce traceability information to feed participatory guarantee system in a community. The farmer collects information using simple icons and produces traceability pages for research or certification purposes.
Current and Future Methodology for Quantitation and Site-specific Mapping the Location of DNA Adducts
Authors: Boysen Gunnar , Nookaew Intawat
Published: December 2021

Abstract: Formation of DNA adducts is a key event for a genotoxic mode of action and its formation is often use as surrogate for mutation and cancer. Interest in DNA adducts are twofold, first, to demonstrate exposure, and second, to link DNA adduct location to subsequent mutations or altered gene regulation. High chemically specific mass spectrometry methods have been established for DNA adduct quantitation and elegant bio-analytic methods utilizing enzymes, various chemistries, and molecular biology methods to visualize the location of DNA adducts. Traditionally, these highly specific methods cannot be combined, and the results are incomparable. Initially developed for single-molecule DNA sequencing, nanopore-type technologies are expected to enable simultaneous quantitation and location of DNA adducts across the genome. We will briefly summarize the current methodologies for state-of-the-art quantitation of DNA adduct levels and mapping of DNA adducts and describe novel single-molecule DNA sequencing technology that is expected to achieve both measures simultaneously. Emerging technologies are expected to soon provide a comprehensive picture of the exposome and identify gene regions susceptible to DNA adduct formation.
The Tryptophan Catabolite or Kynurenine Pathway in Schizophrenia: Meta-Analysis Reveals Dissociations Between Central, Serum and Plasma Compartments
Authors: Almulla Abbas F. , Vasupanrajit Asara , Tunvirachaisakul Chavit , Al-Hakeim Hussein K. , Solmi Marco , Verkerk Robert , Maes Michael
Published: December 2021

The tryptophan catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) since the rate-limiting enzyme indoleamine-dioxygenase (IDO) may be induced by inflammatory and oxidative stress mediators. This systematic review searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for papers published from inception until August 2021 and meta-analyzed the association between SCZ and TRYCATs in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral blood. We included 61 studies comprising 2813 patients and 2948 healthy controls. In the CNS we found a significant (p<0.001) increase in the kynurenine/tryptophan (KYN/TRP) (standardized mean difference, SMD=0.769, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.456; 1.082) and kynurenic acid (KA)/KYN+TRP (SMD=0.697, CI:0.478-0.917) ratios, KA (SMD=0.646, CI: 0.422; 0.909) and KYN (SMD=1.238; CI: 0.590; 1.886), while the 3OH-kynurenine (3HK) + KYN-3-monooxygenase (KMO)/KYN ratio was significantly reduced (SMD=-1.089, CI: -1.682; -0.496). There were significant differences between KYN/TRP, (KYN+KA)/TRP, (3HK+KMO)/KYN, KA, and KYN levels among the CNS and peripheral blood, and among serum and plasma KYN. The only useful peripheral marker of CNS TRYCATs findings was the increased KYN/TRP ratio in serum (SMD=0.211, CI: 0.056; 0.366, p=0.007), but not in plasma. There was no significant increase in a neurotoxic composite score based on KYN, 3HK, and picolinic, xanthurenic, and quinolinic acid. SCZ is accompanied by increased IDO activity in the CNS and serum, and reduced KMO activity and a shift towards KA production in the CNS. This CNS TRYCATs profile indicates neuroprotective, negative immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Peripheral blood levels of TRYCATs are dissociated from CNS findings except for a modest increase in serum IDO activity.
Efektivitas Kebun Buah Cepoko sebagai Media Diseminasi Informasi Pengembangan Tanaman Hortikultura di Kota Semarang
Authors: Juniarti Hafni Amalia , Suwarto Suwarto , Wijianto Arip
Published: December 2021

Kebun Buah Cepoko is one of the work units farm owned by Unit Pelaksana Teknis Daerah (UPTD)/ Regional Technical Implementation Unit, Departement Agriculture of Semarang City Goverment. The success of farm optimization programs for the development of food crops and horticulture needs to be analyzed in effectiveness dissemination information at the development of horticultural. The purpose of the research was to (1) analyze the effectiveness of Kebun Buah Cepoko as a media dissemination information on horticultural development; (2) analyze the correlation between the level of education, frequency of communication, value economic benefits of commodities, level of cosmopolitan and agricultural information needs with the effectiveness of media dissemination of information on horticultural development; (3) analyze the comparative effectiveness of information dissemination media from the different farmer groups. This research used quantitative methods with questionnaires and interview techniques. The population was 32 horticultural farmers who visited the Kebun Buah Cepoko and received information on the development of horticultural in the December 2019 period. The sampling technique used total sampling with a total of 32 respondents. Data analysis used descriptive statistics analysis, Spearman Rank correlation analysis and Kruskal Wallis comparative analysis. The research showed that the effectiveness of Kebun Buah Cepoko as dissemination media for horticultural development information was 68.78% or in the average category. There was no significant correlation between the factors, farmers, accessing information, consisting of the level of education, frequency of communication, the value of economic benefits of commodities, cosmopolitan level and the need for agricultural information with the effectiveness of dissemination media information on horticultural plant development in Semarang City. The significance value correlation between the economic benefits of commodities with the effectiveness of dissemination media information on horticultural plant development was 0.062. There was a significant comparation of the effectiveness of dissemination media information between farmer groups. Asymp value was obtained sig 0.045.
Information system of analysis of geodata for tracking changes of vegetation
Authors: Barabash Oleg , Bandurka Olena , Shpuryk Vadim , Svynchuk Olha
Published: December 2021

The rapid growth of geo-information technology capabilities in the field of spatial data processing and analysis has led to a significant growth of the role of geo-information systems in different areas of human activity. Application of approaches to spatial information processing from satellites new for more effective and efficient assessment of the state of plant cover is caused by growing tendency of availability to data of Earth remote sensing. The article offers an information system that allows to quickly and conveniently track changes in the vegetation. The analysis was carried out on the example of the Chornobyl Area between 2000 and 2020. The Chornobyl Disaster coincides with the period of intensive vegetative plant development. During that period, they are most sensitive to radiation. It has been established that for defining the quantitative state of biomass the NDVI index at different time intervals is most often used. But this index becomes ineffective during periods of weakening of active phase of vegetation. This is therefore of practical interest to assess the possibility of using the K-means clustering for the analysis of space images of vegetation cover at different phases of vegetation. As a result of the research, water surface, land with and without vegetation has been correctly interpreted, thus determining the land with a sparse vegetation and dense vegetation cover. The maps of the vegetation cover according to the normalized vegetative index using the K-medium method were constructed, the method by which changes in vegetation over 20 years can be clearly observed. The accuracy results were verified with the Common Method Bias. According to the calculations, despite all natural cataclysms (temperature increase, drought, winter anomalies of precipitations and temperatures, storms, forest fires), as well as human activity (sanitary clear cuttings, illegal logging), vegetation in the Chornobyl zone continues to grow and its areas will increase, although not so quickly.
IMPROVEMENT OF SVD ALGORITHM TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF RECOMMENDATION SYSTEMS
Authors: Krepych Svitlana , Spivak Iryna
Published: December 2021

Many existing websites use recommendation systems for their users. They generate various offers for them, for example, similar products or recommend the people registered on this site with similar interests. Such referral mechanisms process vast amounts of information to identify potential user preferences. Recommendation systems are programs that try to determine what users want to find, what might interest them, and recommend it to them. These mechanisms have improved the interaction between the user and the site. Instead of static information, they provide dynamic information that changes: recommendations are generated separately for each user, based on his previous activity on this web resource. Information from other visitors may also be taken into account. The methods of collecting information provided by the Internet have greatly simplified the use of human thought through collaborative filtering. But, on the other hand, the large amount of information complicates the implementation of this possibility. For example, the behavior of some people is quite clearly amenable to modeling, while others behave completely unpredictably. And it is the latter that affect the shift of the results of the recommendation system and reduce its effectiveness. An analysis of Internet resources has shown that most of the recommendation systems do not provide recommendations to users, and the part that does, for example, offers products to the user, selects recommendations manually. Therefore, the task of developing methods for automated generation of recommendations for a limited set of input data is quite relevant. The problems of data sparseness, new user problem, scalability of the widely used SVD algorithm for the development of such recommendation systems are proposed to be eliminated by improving this algorithm by the method of the nearest k-neighbors. This method will allow you to easily segment and cluster system data, which will save system resources.
Model of the quantitative criterion calculation for security assessment of the information and telecommunications systems in the critical infrastructure of the state
Authors: Yudin Oleksii , Sydorenko Viktoriia , Gnatyuk Sergiy , Verkhovets Oleksii
Published: December 2021

The subject of the article is methods and models for assessing the criticality of industry information and telecommunications systems (ITS). The purpose of this article is to analyze the existing methods and models of criticality assessment and use its results to propose a functional model for calculating the quantitative criterion for assessing the security of ITS. Results. Based on the known method of hierarchy analysis, a functional model for calculating the quantitative criterion for assessing ITS security is proposed, which, through the processing of expert assessments, allows to obtain a quantitative indicator of ITS security. This makes it possible to simplify the procedure for selecting experts, to avoid the specifics of processing expert data, as well as to assess ITS in a limited amount of statistics. Conclusions. The study showed that the developed model for calculating the quantitative criterion for assessing the security of ITS, using pairwise comparisons, allows experts to focus on the problem. In addition, the proposed model has a built-in quality criterion of the expert and allows to move from a qualitative assessment in the form of an ordered series of alphanumeric combinations, to a quantitative assessment in the form of the ratio of the basic security profile to the security profile defined by the expert.
EXCEL-orientated procedure for calculating the values of special functions with interval argument assigned on the hyperbolic form
Authors: Dubnitskiy Valeriy , Kobylin Anatolii , Kobylin Oleg , Kushneruk Yuriy
Published: December 2021

Aim of the work is to propose the main terms of the EXCEL-orientated procedures for calculating the values of elementary and special functions with interval argument that is assigned on the hyperbolic form. The results of the work. The methods of presenting the interval values in the hyperbolic form and the rules of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of this values were considered. The procedures of calculating the function values, whose arguments can be degenerate or interval values were described. Namely, the direct and the reverse functions of the linear trigonometry, the direct and the reverse functions of the hyperbolic trigonometry, exponential function, arbitrary exponential function and power function, Gamma-function, incomplete Gamma-function, digamma-function, trigamma-function, tetragamma-function, pentagamma-function, Beta-function and its partial derivatives, integral exponential function, integral logarithm, dilogarithm, Frenel integrals, sine integral, cosine integral, hyperbolic sine integral, hyperbolic cosine integral. The basic terms of the EXCEL-orientated procedures for calculating the values of elementary and special functions with interval argument that is assigned on the hyperbolic form were proposed. The numerical examples were provided, that illustrate the application of the proposed methods.
Defining bounding surfaces within and between eolian and non-eolian deposits, Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, Moab Area, Utah, U.S.A.: Implications for subdividing erg system strata
Authors: Hasiotis Stephen T. , Chan Marjorie A. , Parrish Judith Totman
Published: December 2021

A model-independent, sequence stratigraphic approach is used to define bounding surfaces in the Navajo Sandstone in order to identify an architectural hierarchy of genetically related sedimentary packages and the surfaces that bound them across multiple scales of both eolian and non-eolian components of an erg system. Seven bounding surfaces and eight depositional units are defined, from small to large scale. A lamina-deviation surface bounds wedge- and tabular-shaped sets of laminae and/or laminasets, separating those that have different angle orientations on the dune slipface. A bed-deviation surface bounds a succession of beds (crossbeds) that lie at different angles or orientations to bedding above, below, or adjacent to it. A bedset-deviation surface is curved, inclined, and/or wavy and irregular that bounds bedsets and their internal stratification patterns; that is, bed-deviation surfaces, and lamina-deviation surfaces. A simple surface is gently inclined with or without small, concave or convex segments that bound beds and bedsets. A composite surface is horizontal with or without concave, curved, or irregular portions of that surface. A complex surface is laterally extensive (∼ 1–10+ km) that regionally bounds and truncates underlying conterminous and interfingered eolian and non-eolian strata. An amalgamated surface is a regionally extensive (∼ 10 to 100s km) mappable unconformity, merged unconformities, and their laterally equivalent conformable surface that can exhibit local to regional pedogenic modification, lags, and significant (meters to 10s m) paleotopographic relief. The genetically related sedimentary packages typically bounded by like or higher-rank surfaces are defined as laminae, laminasets, bed, bedsets, and simple, composite, complex, and amalgamated units. Field relationships of strata and surfaces are key to reconstructing the interactions between eolian and non-eolian deposits and the processes they represent at the local, regional, and basin scale. This classification scheme can be applied to erg-system strata to fully integrate changes in diverse facies within and between contiguous deposits.
Hubungan Karakter Respect dengan Keterampilan Inferensi melalui Model Brain Based Learning Siswa
Authors: Faninda Novika Pertiwi  , Nayli Rosyidah
Published: December 2021

Karakter respect merupakan karakter yang memuat nilai-nilai kasih sayang, rendah hati, jujur, toleransi, dan sederhana. Sedangkan keterampilan inferensi adalah dugaan sementara dengan alasan yang logis atau masuk akal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk dapat mengetahui hubungan karakter respect dengan keterampilan inferensi melalui model brain based learning siswa kelas VII SMPN 5 Ponorogo. Bentuk penelitian ini adalah kuantitatif. Subjek populasi penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas VII SMPN 5 Ponorogo, dengan sampel siswa kelas VII I. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan testulis (posttest) dan kuesioner. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang positif antara karakter respect dengan keterampilan inferensi melalui model brain based learning siswa kelas VII SMPN 5 Ponorogo
Mereduksi Miskonsepsi Melalui Model Conceptual Change Berbasis STEM Education
Authors: Rohmah Risma Ulinnuha , Fadly Wirawan
Published: December 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mereduksi miskonsepsi yang dialami siswa melalui penerapan pembelajaran dengan model conceptual change berbasis pendekatan STEM education. Miskonsepsi dapat berdampak serius pada pembelajaran individu yaitu memiliki 4 konsekuensi utama antara lain prestasi rendah, berdampak pada topik, psikologi siswa, dan masalah pengelolaan kelas. Metode yang dgunakan adalah kuantitatif dengan bentuk desain eksperimen yaitu menggunakan Pre-Eksperimental Design dengan rancangan berupa Randomize Pretest Postest Control Grup Design. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah peserta didik kelas VIII di MTsN 3 Ponorogo Tahun Ajaran 2020/2021. Peneliti mengambil empat kelas yang terbagi menjadi 2 kelompok yaitu kelas eksperimen dan kelas kontrol dengan jumlah keseluruhan 100 siswa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Model pembelajaran conceptual change berbasis STEM education memiliki efektifitas yang lebih baik untuk mereduksi miskonsepsi siswa pada mata pelajaran IPA daripada model konvensional.
Kandungan Enzim Papain pada Pepaya (Carica papaya L) Terhadap Metabolisme Tubuh
Authors: Prihatini Indah , Dewi Ratna Kumala
Published: December 2021

atau dalam sistem metabolisme. Pepaya mengandung enzim proteolitik atau enzim pemecah protein yang disebut dengan enzim papain. Enzim papin berfungsi memecah protein pada makanan menjadi molekul yang lebih sederhana dengan cara hidrolisis sehingga mudah dicerna dalam tubuh. Namun mekanisme kerja enzim ini dipengaruhi oleh suhu dan pH tertentu. Tujuan literature review ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh enzim papain pada pepaya  terhadap metabolisme tubuh. Penulisan artikel ini menggunakan metode studi literatur. Sumber pustaka yang digunakan dalam penyusunan literature ini menggunakan pencarian artikel penelitian dari platform digital baik melalui Google Scholar, doaj, PubMed dan lain-lain dengan kata kunci “Enzim Papain”, “Pepaya”, “Aktivitas Enzim”, dan “Metabolisme”. Berbagai penelitian eksperimental menunjukan enzim papain pada pepaya berpengaruh terhadap metabolisme tubuh. Aktivitas enzim dapat memberikan pengaruh jika berada pada suhu dan pH yang optimum yaitu pada suhu sekitar 50°C-60°C dan pH netral sekitar pH 6-8.
An Experimental Study of the Wear Characteristics of Tubulars Made from Corrosion-Resistant Alloys
Authors: Teigland Andreas , Sangesland Sigbjørn , Dale Stein , Brechan Bjørn
Published: December 2021

Casing wear is the process of progressive loss of wall thickness owing to relative motion between the drillstring and casing. The amount of casing wear depends on conditions, such as the downhole forces, the accumulated time of contact between drillstring and casing, and the materials used. This process is complex and involves abrasive, adhesive, and corrosive wear mechanisms that are difficult to predict. To deal with the complexity of the conditions, a simple but effective wear model is used in the industry to estimate tubular wear in drilling and intervention operations. The model is based on abrasive and adhesive wear, and the effects of corrosion are not considered. In addition, an empirical part of the model known as the correction factor is based exclusively on experimental carbon-steel test data. Tubulars made of corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs) are known to exhibit abnormal wear characteristics. A series of experiments has been designed and performed to investigate the wear characteristics of CRAs. These experiments resulted in excessive wear factors for the CRA casing samples, demonstrating their susceptibility to wear. This study finds that omitting the correction factor from the calculation procedure can greatly improve wear estimates for some CRAs. Removing the correction factor results in a linear wear-work relationship that reflects the actual wear trends from test results. However, further studies are needed to confirm correction factors and more accurate wear calculation procedures for CRA tubulars in general.
A Digital Currency Architecture for Privacy and Owner-Custodianship
Authors: Goodel G. , Al-Nakib H. D. , Tasca P.
Published: December 2021

Objective: to present the new approach to perform monetary transactions with digital currency.

Methods: abstract-logical, analytical methods.

Results: in recent years, electronic retail payment mechanisms, especially e-commerce and card payments at the point of sale, have increasingly replaced cash in many developed countries. As a result, societies are losing a critical public retail payment option, and retail consumers are losing important rights associated with using cash. To address this concern, we propose an approach to digital currency that would allow people without banking relationships to transact electronically and privately, including both e-commerce purchases and point-of-sale purchases that are required to be cashless.

The article shows the advantages of cash payments compared to non-cash ones and defines the possibility to transform these advantages into the central bank digital currencies. The disputable issues of commercial banks development under the spread of digital currencies are discussed. The architecture of digital currencies is described, including distributed ledgers technology. It was shown that, for the digital currency to function effectively, it is necessary to include the privacy of end-users into its architecture; measures to achieve that are determined.

Scientific novelty: the approached proposed in the article should be used to develop the digital currencies infrastructure. It should be government-backed, privately-operated and ensure that every transaction is registered by a bank or money services business, relying upon non-custodial wallets backed by privacy-enhancing technology, such as blind signatures or zero-knowledge proofs, to ensure that transaction counterparties are not revealed. This approach can also facilitate more efficient and transparent clearing, settlement, and management of systemic risk. We argue that our system can restore and preserve the salient features of cash, including privacy, owner-custodianship, fungibility, and accessibility, while also preserving fractional reserve banking and the existing two-tiered banking system.

Practical significance: the proposed approach can be applied in the practical organization of perform monetary transactions using digital currencies.

The article was first published in English language by Future Internet. For more information please contact the editorial office.

For original publication: Goodell G., Al-Nakib H. D., Tasca P. A Digital Currency Architecture for Privacy and Owner-Custodianship, Future Internet, 2021, 13, 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi13050130

Publication URL:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/13/5/130
Study on hysteretic behavior of concrete CFRP specimen
Authors: Qing-li Wang , Yi-Huan Guo , Peng Kuan , Yong-bo Shao
Published: December 2021

In order to study the hysteretic behavior of concrete CFRP specimen under different influence factors, 12 specimens were designed. By consulting related literature, the research progress and main results of concrete-wrapped CFRP at home and abroad in recent years are summarized, and the accurate solution calculated by the multi-scale method and the error of the experimental value are verified by MATLAB. The non-linear vibration generated by the hysteretic performance under the action of wind excitation is introduced, which provides a certain reference for the later research.
Setting Up the Stillbirth Registration System and Investigating the Related Causes in Iran in Selected Hospitals: Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Moradi-Lakeh Maziar , Heidarzadeh Mohammad , Habibelahi Abbas , Khalili Narjes , Motamedi Mahnaz , Larijani Samaneh Saghafian , Kashanian Maryam , Taraghi Fatemeh
Published: December 2021

Background
One of the major causes of perinatal mortality is stillbirth. In many cases, the cause of stillbirth is difficult to identify, and the cause of many cases remain unexplained. Because of the lack of registration stillbirth system in our country we developed protocol and instructions for stillbirth and setting up a stillbirth registration system in selected hospitals around country.
Methods
Iranian Maternal and Neonatal Network (IMaN) registers information about almost all births (live & dead) around the country, but this network does not collect data about stillbirth causes. In this study, we developed the stillbirth evaluation protocol with experts' cooperation, and we designed forms for the stillbirth registration system electronically. Then we trained related individuals in 14 selected hospital from 12 provinces (14 cities) of Iran. After a year, we extracted, analyzed, and, based on the Relevant Condition of Death Classification (ReCoDe), interpreted the collected data.
Results
A total of 105,562 births and 762 stillbirths registered. In 742 registered stillbirth cases in 14 selected hospitals, the relevant causes were identified in 65.4% of cases, while 34.6% of cases remained unclassified. The most frequent relevant conditions were fetal (33.2%), maternal (9.1%), amniotic fluid (8.8%), placenta (7.7%), and umbilical cord (6.2%).
Conclusions
Our registration decreased the percentage of stillbirth with an unexplained cause from about 70–34.6%.
Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio Can Be Used As Marker To Predict Activity And Severity In Moderate And High Disease Activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Chen Bilin , Zhu Qing , Li Shu , Ge Yan , Wu Peijun , Tian Jing , Xie Xi , Li Fen
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study aimed to study and evaluate the value of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as markers to predict the disease activity and severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: A total of 139 inpatients with RA were divided into two groups: moderate activity group (3.2<DAS28-CRP score<5.1) and high activity group (≥5.1). The correlation of routine hematological indices with DAS28 and joint ultrasound score (gray-scale ultrasound score, GS-US; power Doppler ultrasound score, PD-US; total ultrasound score, T-US) were analyzed by Pearson's correlation and logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed to compare the efficacy of blood indices, ESR, or CRP in reflecting the disease activity and severity of RA.Results: The values of PLR, NLR, PD-US, and T-US were significantly different between moderate and high disease activity groups (p<0.001), and PLR was significantly correlated with PD-US and DAS28. Logistic regression analyses showed that PLR was an independent risk factor for disease activity by DAS 28 and joint damage severity by PD-US and T-US. ROC analysis showed that the efficacy of using PLR alone to evaluate the disease activity and joint severity of RA was similar to that of using combined CRP and ESR. The best cut-off value of PLR for predicting high disease activity and high joint severity was determined as 236.6.Conclusions: PLR can be used as a marker to predict activity and severity in patients with moderate and high RA disease activity.
Optimal Region Gradated Fusion Based Automatic Image Stitching for Industrial Systems
Authors: Huang Yanlin , Zheng Meilian , Song Ziwei , Mei Songzhu , Wang Zebin , Jia Gangyong
Published: December 2021

In the process of equipment production in large manufacturing, the continuity of production is becoming more significant. Timely detection of equipment operation faults can ensure production continuity and greatly reduce loss. In this study, the purpose is to use multi-equipment and image stitching algorithm to obtain the complete image of a large-scale production line. An improved image stitching method based on image fusion is proposed in this paper, which mainly solves the technical problems of stitching seams, unnatural effects, and distortion after image transformation in the existing stitching technique. In the image stitching algorithm, the improved fusion algorithm based on the optimal seam and gradated in and out fusion algorithm is used to realize image fusion, including the use of dynamic programming to find the optimal seam and limit the range of fusion based on the optimal seam found. Finally, the gradated in and out fusion algorithm is used to perform fusion calculation within the limited fusion range to complete image stitching. In the end, through the comparison of different dimensional image fusion indicators with the effect of the existing fusion algorithm, the experimental results show that the method in this paper solves the problem of unnatural image stitching effect, enhances the image stitching result, and has the great fusion effect. Therefore, the panorama processed by the image stitching algorithm proposed in this paper can be efficiently processed through the industrial detection module.
Molecular Detection of SARS-Cov-2 in Exhaled Breath Using a Portable Sampler
Authors: Stakenborg Tim , Raymenants Joren , Taher Ahmed , Marchal Elisabeth , Verbruggen Bert , Roth Sophie , Jones Ben , Yurt Abdul , Duthoo Wout , Bombeke Klaas , Fauvart Maarten , Verplanken Julien , Wiederkehr Rodrigo , Humbert Aurelie , Dang Chi , Vlassaks Evi , Uribe Alejandra Jauregui , Luo Zhenxiang , Liu Chengxun , Zinoviev Kirill , Labie Riet , Frederiks Aduén Darriba , Saldien Jelle , Covens Kris , Berden Pieter , Schreurs Bert , Duppen Joost Van , Hanifa Rabea , Beuscart Megane , Pham Van , Emmen Erik , Dewagtere Annelien , Lin Ziduo , Peca Marco , Jerrari Youssef El , Nawghane Chinmay , Arnett Chad , Lambrechts Andy , Deshpande Paru , Lagrou Katrien , De Munter Paul , André Emmanuel , Wijngaert Nik Van den , Peumans Peter
Published: December 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the need for improved technologies to help control the spread of contagious pathogens. While rapid point-of-need testing plays a key role in strategies to rapidly identify and isolate infectious patients, a cornerstone for any disease-control strategy, current test approaches have significant shortcomings related to assay limitations and sample type. Direct quantification of viral shedding in exhaled particles may offer a better rapid testing approach, since SARS-CoV-2 is believed to spread mainly by aerosols. It potentially measures contagiousness directly, the sample is easy to obtain, its production can be standardized between patients, and the limited sample volume lends itself to a fast and sensitive analysis. In view of these benefits, we developed and tested an approach where exhaled particles are efficiently sampled using inertial impaction in a micromachined silicon chip, followed by an in-situ RT-qPCR molecular assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 shedding. We demonstrate that sampling subjects using a one-minute breathing protocol, yields sufficient viral RNA to detect infections with a sensitivity comparable to standard sampling methods. A longitudinal study revealed clear differences in the temporal dynamics of viral load for nasopharyngeal swab, saliva, breath, and antigen tests. Overall, after an infection, the breath-based test is the first to consistently report a negative result, putatively signaling the end of contagiousness and further emphasizing the potential of this tool to help manage the spread of airborne respiratory infections.
Scutellaria Barbata D.Don (SBD) Extracts Suppressed Tumor Growth, Metastasis and Angiogenesis in Prostate Cancer Via PI3K/Akt Pathway
Authors: Sheng Dongya , Zhao Bei , Zhu Wenjing , Wang Tiantian , peng yu
Published: December 2021

Background: Scutellaria barbata D.Don (SBD) is derived from the dried whole plant of Labiate that has been widely used to treat patients with multiple cancer. It was previously reported that the ethanol extract of SBD is able to promote apoptosis, and inhibit cell proliferation and angiogenesis in cancer.Materials and methods: CCK8, Edu assays and colony formation assay were performed to assess the effect of SBD on PCa cell growth. Effect of SBD on apoptosis and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Transwell and wounding healing assay were performed to detected the invasion and migration activities of PCa cells. Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression. 2RRV1 mouse xenograft model was established to detect the effect of SBD on prostate cancer. Angiogenesis was analysed by coculturing PCa cell lines and HUVECs.Results: The results showed that SBD induced a significant decrease in cell viability and clonogenic growth in a dose-dependent manner. SBD induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle G2/M phase arrest by inactivating PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Treatment with SBE also significantly decreased the cell migration and invasion via phenotypic inversion of EMT that was characterized by the increased expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin, and decreased expression of N-cadherin, which could be partially attributed to inhibiting PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Subsequently, using AKT inhibitor MK2206, we performed that PI3K/AKT are also involved in cell apoptosis and metastasis of PCa cells stimulated by SBE. In addition, to its direct effects on PCa cells, SBD also exhibited anti-angiogenic properties. SBD alone or conditioned media from SBD-treated PCa cells inhibited HUVEC tube formation on Matrigel without affecting HUVEC viability. Furthermore, 22RV1 xenograft C57BL/6 mice treated with SBE in vivo showed a significant decrease in tumour size and tumour weight without toxicity. In addition, administration with medium- or high-dose of SBE significantly inhibited the cell proliferation and promoted the damage of tumour tissues.Conclusions: Collectively, our in vitro and in vivo findings suggest that SBE had the potential to develop into a safe and potent alternative therapy for PCa patients.
The Effectiveness of Using Virtual Patient Educational Tools to Improve Medical Students’ Clinical Reasoning Skills: A Systematic
Authors: Plackett Ruth , Kassianos Angelos P. , Mylan Sophie , Kambouri Maria , Raine Rosalind , Sheringham Jessica
Published: December 2021

Background

Use of virtual patient educational tools could fill the current gap in the teaching of clinical reasoning skills. However, there is a limited understanding of their effectiveness. The aim of this study was to synthesise the evidence to understand the effectiveness of virtual patient tools aimed at improving undergraduate medical students’ clinical reasoning skills.
Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ERIC, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO from 1990 to October 2020, to identify all experimental articles testing the effectiveness of virtual patient educational tools on medical students’ clinical reasoning skills. Quality of the articles was assessed using an adapted form of the MERSQI and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A narrative synthesis summarised intervention features, how virtual patient tools were evaluated and reported effectiveness.
Results

The search revealed 7,290 articles, with 20 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Average study quality was moderate (M=7.1, SD=2.5), with around a third not reporting any measurement of validity or reliability for their clinical reasoning outcome measure (7/20, 35%). Eleven articles found a positive effect of virtual patient tools on reasoning (11/20, 55%). Seven (7/20, 35%) reported no significant effect or mixed effects and two found a significantly negative effect (2/20, 10%). Several domains of clinical reasoning were evaluated. Data gathering, ideas about diagnosis and patient management were more often found to improve after virtual patient use (27/46 analyses, 59%) than knowledge, flexibility in thinking, problem-solving, and critical thinking (4/10 analyses, 40%).
Conclusions

Using virtual patient tools could effectively complement current teaching especially if opportunities for face-to-face teaching or other methods are limited, as there was some evidence that virtual patient educational tools can improve undergraduate medical students’ clinical reasoning skills. Evaluations that measured more case specific clinical reasoning domains, such as data gathering, showed more consistent improvement than general measures like problem-solving. Case specific measures might be more sensitive to change given the context dependent nature of clinical reasoning. Consistent use of validated clinical reasoning measures is needed to enable a meta-analysis to estimate effectiveness.
Macular and Peripapillary Choroidal Thickness Measured by Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography in Chinese Pregnant Women and Healthy No-Pregnant Women
Authors: Wu Hanfei , Lin Haishuang , Fang Huanjie , Ruan Mengting , Zhao Jiawei
Published: December 2021

Purpose: To evaluate macular, peripapillary choroidal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in different trimesters and compare the measurements with those of healthy non-pregnant women. Methods: A prospective comparative study included 45 healthy pregnant women in first trimester, 90 women in second, 45 women in third trimesters and 45 healthy no-pregnant women as the control group. Macular choroidal thickness was measured at the subfoveal, 1mm temporal and 1mm nasal to the fovea using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Peripapillary choroidal thickness and RNFL thickness parameters were automatically calculated by the Spectralis OCT. These parameters were analyzed among groups. Results: The subfoveal, temporal and nasal choroidal thickness were all significantly thicker in second trimesters, comparing with those parameters in first, third trimesters and the control group (all P<0.05). The peripapillary choroidal thickness was significantly increased at temporal, nasal, nasal inferior, temporal inferior and global positions during pregnancy among the 4 groups (all P<0.05). The RNFL thickness was also significantly increased in pregnant women at nasal superior and nasal inferior quadrants.Conclusions: Our results suggested that macular choroidal thickening appeared in second trimester. And peripapillary choroidal thickness and RNFL thickness also became thickening in pregnant women comparing with no-pregnant women as a whole.