bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Vulnerable Code Clone Detector Based on Context Enhancement and Patch Validation
Authors: Guo Junjun , Li Haonan , Wang Zhengyuan , Zhang Li , Wang Changyuan
Published: June 2022

With the rapid growth of open-source software, code cloning has become increasingly prevalent. If there are security vulnerabilities in a cloned code segment, those vulnerabilities may spread in the related software to potentially lead to security incidents. The existing methods of vulnerable code detection are performed on the condition that the source code is converted into an intermediate representation. However, these methods do not fully consider the rich semantic knowledge and patch information available for vulnerable codes, which can induce a high false positive rate (FPR). To address this problem, this paper proposes a vulnerable code clone detection method based on code fingerprints, named the Context-enhanced and Patch-validation-based Vulnerable code clone Detector (CPVDetector). A fingerprint database is built for functions, code snippets, and patches derived from preprocessed vulnerable source code. The target code to be detected is firstly transformed into function-level fingerprints. If clone detection fails at this coarse granularity, the detector is then applied at the finer line-level granularity. When fingerprint matching is successful between the target code and the vulnerable code segments, the detector will proceed to verify the context of vulnerable codes. Finally, CPVDetector can verify the fingerprints of patches corresponding to vulnerable codes to further reduce the FPR. Based on the generally accepted classification of code clones, CPVDetector can identify Type 1 and Type 2 vulnerable code clones at the coarse-grained level and offers significantly improved detection sensitivity for Type 3 and Type 4 code clones at the fine-grained level. Experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve high accuracy with a fast detection speed, and the FPR is as low as 2.35%, which is less than one-third of that of other existing methods. In view of its competitive performance and efficiency, CPVDetector can be applied in large-scale vulnerable code detection scenarios.
ATR-IR Spectroscopy Application to Diagnostic Screening of Advanced Endometriosis
Authors: Kokot Izabela , Mazurek Sylwester , Piwowar Agnieszka , Szostak Roman , Jędryka Marcin , Kratz Ewa Maria
Published: June 2022

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases among young women of reproductive age. Thus far, it has not been possible to define a parameter that is sensitive and specific enough to be a recognized biomarker for diagnosing this disease. Nonspecific symptoms of endometriosis and delayed diagnosis are impulses for researching noninvasive methods of differentiating endometriosis from other gynecological disorders. We compared three groups of individuals in our research: women with endometriosis (E), patients suffering from other gynecological disorders (nonendometriosis, NE), and healthy women from the control group (C). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models were developed based on selected serum biochemical parameters, specific regions of the serum’s infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR ATR) spectra, and combined data. Incorporating the spectral data into the models significantly improved differentiation among the three groups, with an overall accuracy of 87.5%, 97.3%, and 98.5%, respectively. This study shows that infrared spectroscopy and discriminant analysis can be used to differentiate serum samples among women with advanced endometriosis, women without this disease, i.e., healthy women, and, most importantly, also women with other benign gynecological disorders.
CYP26A1 Is a Novel Cancer Biomarker of Pancreatic Carcinoma: Evidence from Integration Analysis and In Vitro Experiments
Authors: Yu Yi , Wang Yunxing , Zou Yufeng , Yu Yuan
Published: June 2022

Background. CYP26A1 has been reported in multiple cancers. However, the role of CYP26A1 in pancreatic cancer (PC) has not been explored. Method. The public data used for this study was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) cell lines. CCK8, colony formation, and EdU assay were used to assess the proliferation ability of cancer cells. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to evaluate the invasion and migration ability of cancer cells. qRT-PCR and western blot assays were used to analyze the RNA and protein level of genes. Survival package was used for prognosis analysis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to identify biological pathway differences between two groups. ssGSEA analysis was used to quantify the immune microenvironment in PC tissue. GDSC and TIDE analyses were used for sensitivity analysis of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Results. Our results showed that CYP26A1 was overexpressed in PC tissue and cell lines. Meanwhile, metastatic PC cell lines tend to have a higher CYP26A1 level compared with the primary PC cell lines based on CCLE data. Moreover, CYP26A1 was associated with worse clinical features. Also, we found that CYP26A1 had a satisfactory efficiency in predicting overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free interval of PC patients, independent of other clinical features. In vitro experiments indicated that CYP26A1 could significantly facilitate the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of PC cells. GSEA showed that the pathways of angiogenesis, E2F target, MYC target, mTORC signaling, G2M checkpoint, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were activated in high CYP26A1 patients. Immune infiltration analysis showed that CYP26A1 was positively correlated with macrophages, Th1 cells, and Treg cells, but negatively correlated with Th17 cells. TIDE analysis showed that non_responder patients had a higher CYP26A1 level compared with predicted responder patients of immunotherapy. Drug sensitivity analysis and assay showed that CYP26A1 could increase the chemotherapy sensitivity of gemcitabine. Conclusions. In summary, CYP26A1 promotes PC progression and is a novel biomarker of PC, with potential for clinical application.
A Novel Pseudogene Methylation Signature to Predict Temozolomide Outcome in Non-G-CIMP Glioblastomas
Authors: Li Bowen , Wang Jiu , Liu Fangfang , Li Rui , Hu Weihong , Etcheverry Amandine , Aubry Marc , Mosser Jean , Yin Anan , Zhang Xiang , Wu Yuanming , Chen Kun , He Yalong , Wang Li
Published: June 2022

Objective. Alterations in the methylation state of pseudogenes may serve as clinically useful biomarkers of glioblastomas (GBMs) that do not have glioma-CpG island methylator phenotype (G-CIMP). Methods. Non-G-CIMP GBM datasets were included for evaluation, and a RISK-score signature was determined from the methylation state of pseudogene loci. Both bioinformatic and experimental analyses were performed for biological validation. Results. By integrating clinical information with DNA methylation microarray data, we screened a panel of eight CpGs from discovery cohorts of non-G-CIMP GBMs. Each CpG could accurately and independently predict the prognosis of patients under a treatment regime that combined radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ). The 8-CpG signature appeared to show opposite prognostic correlations between patients treated with RT/TMZ and those treated with RT monotherapy. The analyses further indicated that this signature had predictive value for TMZ efficacy because different survival benefits between RT/TMZ and RT therapies were observed in each risk subgroup. The incorporation of other risk factors, such as age and O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status, with our pseudogene methylation signature could provide precise risk classification. In vitro experimental data revealed that two locus-specific pseudogenes (ZNF767P and CLEC4GP1) may modulate TMZ resistance via distinct mechanisms in GBM cells. Conclusion. The biologically and clinically relevant RISK-score signature, based on pseudogene methylation loci, may offer information for predicting TMZ responses of non-G-CIMP GBMs, that is independent from, but complementary to, MGMT-based approaches.
[Retracted] Application of Nanoparticles in Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Yuan Juzheng , Wang Yang , Cao Yang , Yue Shuqiang , Li Xiao
Published: June 2022

Objective. In order to study the application of nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, we retrospectively analyzed pancreatic cancer patients after operation. Method. 60 cases of pancreatic cancer and surgical treatment were selected from our hospital. The time ranged from March 2018 to March 2019. The age ranged from 27 to 81 years. There were 36 males and 24 females, with an average age of 46.23 (7.63) years. Among them, the observation group consisted of nanotube artificial tubes, 16 males and 14 females, while the control group adopted nylon tube, male 18 and female 12. The patient was diagnosed by abdominal CT, and the patient’s demographic data and basic clinical data were recorded at the same time. Result. In this study, 60 patients were divided into groups and compared. The patients underwent surgical resection of pancreaticoduodenum and reconstruction of pancreaticoduodenal papillary duct. Among them, the observation group used nanocomposite artificial tube, while the observation group used nanocomposite artificial tube and placed drainage tube to drain the peritoneal effusion to prevent the effusion from forming in abdominal hypertension and infection. The amount of postoperative bleeding, operation time, and postoperative concomitant symptoms were observed, and the differences between the two materials were analyzed. Conclusion. The reconstruction of pancreaticoduodenal papillary duct with nanomaterials has certain advantages for postoperative recovery, reduces postoperative complications, reduces the probability of infection, and improves the therapeutic effect.
Ginkgolic acid improves bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting SMAD4 SUMOylation
Authors: Yu Lan , Bian Xiyun , Zhang Chunyan , Wu Zhouying , Huang Na , Yang Jie , Jin Wen , Feng Zongqi , Li Dongfang , Huo Xue , Wu Ting , Jiang Zhongmin , Liu Xiaozhi , Sun Dejun
Published: June 2022

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a refractory chronic respiratory disease with progressively exacerbating symptoms and a high mortality rate. There are currently only two effective drugs for IPF; thus, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutics. Previous experiments have shown that ginkgolic acid (GA), as a SUMO-1 inhibitor, exerted an inhibitory effect on cardiac fibrosis induced by myocardial infarction. Regarding the pathogenesis of PF, previous studies have concluded that small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) polypeptides bind multiple target proteins and participate in fibrosis of multiple organs, including PF. In this study, we found altered expression of SUMO family members in lung tissues from IPF patients. GA mediated the reduced expression of SUMO1/2/3 and the overexpression of SENP1 in a PF mouse model, which improved PF phenotypes. At the same time, the protective effect of GA on PF was also confirmed in the SENP1-KO transgenic mice model. Subsequent experiments showed that SUMOylation of SMAD4 was involved in PF. It was inhibited by TGF-β1, but GA could reverse the effects of TGF-β1. SENP1 also inhibited the SUMOylation of SMAD4 and then participated in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) downstream of TGF-β1. We also found that SENP1 regulation of SMAD4 SUMOylation affected reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during TGF-β1-induced EMT and that GA prevented this oxidative stress through SENP1. Therefore, GA may inhibit the SUMOylation of SMAD4 through SENP1 and participate in TGF-β1-mediated pulmonary EMT, all of which reduce the degree of PF. This study provided potential novel targets and a new alternative for the future clinical testing in PF.
Design and In Vitro Evaluation of Novel Cationic Lipids for siRNA Delivery in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Vaidya Sandeep , Jeengar Manish Kumar , Wadaan Mohammad Ahmad , Mahboob Shahid , Kumar Pankaj , Reece Lisa M. , Bathula Surender Reddy , Dutta Mycal
Published: June 2022

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality in Western nations, with a terrible prognosis. Many studies show that siRNA plays a role in the development of tumors by acting as a tumor suppressor and apoptosis inhibitor or both. siRNAs may be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer. Antisurvivin siRNA was chosen as a therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment because it directly targets survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein, that causes cell death. However, siRNA-based treatment has significant limitations, including a lack of tissue selectivity, a lack of effective delivery mechanisms, low cellular absorption, and the possibility of systemic toxicity. To address some of these issues, we provide a siRNA delivery method based on cationic lipids. In the recent past, cationic liposomes have displayed that they offer a remarkable perspective in proficient siRNA delivery. The presence of a positive charge plays a vital role in firm extracellular siRNA binding along with active intracellular siRNA separation and low biological adversities. Consequently, the methods for developing innovative cationic lipids through rendering and utilization of appropriate positive charges would certainly be helpful for benign and effective siRNA delivery. In the current study, an effort was made to synthesize a 3,4-dimethoxyaniline lipid (DMA) to improve the effectiveness and protection of successful siRNA delivery. DMA cationic lipid successfully delivered survivin siRNA that reduced the survivin mRNA expression, indicating the possibility of utilizing siRNA therapeutics for breast cancer. It is expected that this innovative quaternary amine-based liposome can open up new avenues in the process of developing an easy and extensively used platform for siRNA delivery. Cationic lipoplexes, a potential carrier system for siRNA-based therapies in the treatment of breast cancer, were proven by our data.
The Efficacy of Combined Therapy of Regorafenib with Detoxicating and Stasis Softening Chinese Herbal Spleen Tonics in Mid‐/Late‐Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Ma Yaokai , Liu Guowei , Yang Jinzu , Li Xin , Yang Xiyi , Fang Shiming , Zhao Baocheng
Published: June 2022

Objective. To explore the efficacy of combined therapy of Regorafenib with detoxicating and stasis softening Chinese herbal spleen tonics (DSS‐splenic tonics) in mid‐/late‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods. Retrospective observational data of 120 patients were obtained, 60 of which received combined therapy of DSS‐splenic tonics and regorafenib. Adverse event, overall survival (OS), and time‐to‐progress (TTP) were analyzed. Synergistic effect of DSS‐spleen tonics was found and validated in human hepatocellular carcinoma HCCLM3 cell line and xenograft mouse models. Results. Combination of regorafenib and DSS‐splenic tonics also slightly extended the TTP and OS compared with treatment of regorafenib alone, suggesting DSS‐splenic tonics has synergistic effect with regorafenib. Both Regorafenib and DSS‐spleen tonics exerted inhibitory effect on cell viability and invasion capability of HCCLM3 cells, and combining both could enhance the antitumor effect. At molecular level, we found that VEGF, HIF‐1α, MVD, and VEGF2 were all suppressed by regorafenib and DSS‐splenic tonics. These results suggest that DSS‐spleen tonics function synergistically with regorafenib in HCC by enhancing the regulation of regorafenib on VEGF, MMP‐2, HIF‐1α, and MVD, and may diminish angiogenesis during HCC progression. Conclusion. DSS‐spleen tonics could exert synergistic antitumor effect with regorafenib via targeting VEGF.
Control Strategy of Master-Slave Manipulator Based on Force Feedback for Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities
Authors: Wang Jin , Li Haoyuan , Meng Fansheng , Ma Rui , Lai Quanbin , Li Jianwu , Duan Xingguang
Published: June 2022

To improve operation and reduce labor intensity during the process of decommissioning of nuclear facilities, a master-slave manipulation robot system based on force feedback for decommissioning of nuclear facilities is proposed, which is divided into three parts: master hand, wall-through pipe, and slave hand. The structure of master hand is designed according to the human-computer interaction design to add the perception of force information based on position perception. The master-slave manipulation system adopts a force-position hybrid control strategy; the position and force are sent to master and slave hand to discover telepresence operation. Incremental position control method realizes the workspace mapping between the master and the slave manipulator to improve the accuracy of the following performance. The novel zero-length spring compensation is designed to recognize the total gravity compensation of the force feedback device. Finally, the relative experiments have verified the work effectiveness of the master-slave manipulation system.
Tumor Intrinsic PD-L1 Promotes DNA Repair in Distinct Cancers and Suppresses PARP Inhibitor–Induced Synthetic Lethality
Authors: Kornepati Anand V.R. , Boyd Jacob T. , Murray Clare E. , Saifetiarova Julia , de la Peña Avalos Bárbara , Rogers Cody M. , Bai Haiyan , Padron Alvaro S. , Liao Yiji , Ontiveros Carlos , Svatek Robert S. , Hromas Robert , Li Rong , Hu Yanfen , Conejo-Garcia Jose R. , Vadlamudi Ratna K. , Zhao Weixing , Dray Eloïse , Sung Patrick , Curiel Tyler J.
Published: June 2022

BRCA1-mediated homologous recombination is an important DNA repair mechanism that is the target of FDA-approved PARP inhibitors, yet details of BRCA1-mediated functions remain to be fully elucidated. Similarly, immune checkpoint molecules are targets of FDA-approved cancer immunotherapies, but the biological and mechanistic consequences of their application are incompletely understood. We show here that the immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1 regulates homologous recombination in cancer cells by promoting BRCA1 nuclear foci formation and DNA end resection. Genetic depletion of tumor PD-L1 reduced homologous recombination, increased nonhomologous end joining, and elicited synthetic lethality to PARP inhibitors olaparib and talazoparib in vitro in some, but not all, BRCA1 wild-type tumor cells. In vivo, genetic depletion of tumor PD-L1 rendered olaparib-resistant tumors sensitive to olaparib. In contrast, anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade neither enhanced olaparib synthetic lethality nor improved its efficacy in vitro or in wild-type mice. Tumor PD-L1 did not alter expression of BRCA1 or its cofactor BARD1 but instead coimmunoprecipitated with BARD1 and increased BRCA1 nuclear accumulation. Tumor PD-L1 depletion enhanced tumor CCL5 expression and TANK-binding kinase 1 activation in vitro, similar to known immune-potentiating effects of PARP inhibitors. Collectively, these data define immune-dependent and immune-independent effects of PARP inhibitor treatment and genetic tumor PD-L1 depletion. Moreover, they implicate a tumor cell–intrinsic, immune checkpoint–independent function of PD-L1 in cancer cell BRCA1-mediated DNA damage repair with translational potential, including as a treatment response biomarker.

Significance:

PD-L1 upregulates BRCA1-mediated homologous recombination, and PD-L1–deficient tumors exhibit BRCAness by manifesting synthetic lethality in response to PARP inhibitors, revealing an exploitable therapeutic vulnerability and a candidate treatment response biomarker.

See related commentary by Hanks, p. 2069
A Programmable In Vivo CRISPR Activation Model Elucidates the Oncogenic and Immunosuppressive Functions of MYC in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Thege Fredrik I. , Rupani Dhwani N. , Barathi Bhargavi Brahmendra , Manning Sara L. , Maitra Anirban , Rhim Andrew D. , Wörmann Sonja M.
Published: June 2022

Conventional genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) are time-consuming, laborious, and offer limited spatiotemporal control. Here, we describe the development of a streamlined platform for in vivo gene activation using CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) technology. Unlike conventional GEMMs, this model system allows for flexible, sustained, and timed activation of one or more target genes using single or pooled lentiviral guides. Myc and Yap1 were used as model oncogenes to demonstrate gene activation in primary pancreatic organoid cultures in vitro and enhanced tumorigenic potential in Myc-activated organoids when transplanted orthotopically in vivo. Implementation of this model as an autochthonous lung cancer model showed that transduction-mediated activation of Myc led to accelerated tumor progression and significantly reduced overall survival relative to nontargeted tumor controls. Furthermore, Myc activation led to the acquisition of an immune suppressive, “cold” tumor microenvironment. Cross-species validation of these results using publicly available RNA/DNA-seq datasets linked MYC to a previously described immunosuppressive molecular subtype in patient tumors, thus identifying a patient cohort that may benefit from combined MYC- and immune-targeted therapies. Overall, this work demonstrates how CRISPRa can be used for rapid functional validation of putative oncogenes and may allow for the identification and evaluation of potential metastatic and oncogenic drivers through competitive screening.

Significance:

A streamlined platform for programmable CRISPR gene activation enables rapid evaluation and functional validation of putative oncogenes in vivo.
Tracking control for planar nonminimum-phase bilinear control system with disturbance using backstepping
Authors: Mu`tamar Khozin , Naiborhu Janson , Saragih Roberd , Handayani Dewi
Published: June 2022

This article presents the design control of a tracking problem for a non-minimum phase bilinear control system containing disturbance. The bilinear control system is assumed to have a relative degree one and non-minimum phase, which means it has unstable internal dynamics. The disturbance exists only in state variables corresponding to the control function in external dynamics. The control design was carried out using the backstepping method, which was applied to the normal form of the bilinear control system. Internal dynamics will be stabilised using virtual control to overcome unstable internal dynamics. The last step will stabilise the external dynamics and disturbance using the original control function. The simulation results show that the proposed control method can rapidly drive the output to the given trajectory. Control performance varies depending on the control parameter setting. The higher the control parameter, the better the control performance, evaluated using integral absolute error.
Enhancement of code division multiple access system performance using raptor codes
Authors: Farhan Ikhlas Mahmoud , Zaghar Dhafer R. , Abdullah Hadeel Nasrat
Published: June 2022

Some kinds of communication systems work in very low signal-to-noise (LSNR) environments. For these systems to function reliably, specific techniques and methodologies have to be used to mitigate the degrading effects of the channel. The channel coding method is the key element in most LSNR communication systems, but emphasizing the code division multiple access (CDMA) is a new transmission technique in these channels. To enhance the CDMA scheme's system capacity and reach unprecedented ranges of LSNR values in wireless sensor network. This paper suggests combining CDMA with certain types of channel coding algorithms, such as the raptor codes. The raptor channel encoding technique has improved the CDMA system's performance when using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) modulation in additive white gaussian noise (AWGN) channels. It has achieved a low bit error rate in range of 10-7 at Eb/No value of (-3) dB and about 10-6 at shannon's limit. The Raptor-coded CDMA scheme works well for channel signal to noise ration (SNR) values of greater than -9 dB, showing an improvement of about 7 dB compared with turbo/convolutional channel coding methods used with the CDMA system bit error rate (BER) and throughput. On the other hand, it has been shown that the convolutional encoder presents the weakest performance compared to both the turbo and raptor codes.
Automatic summarization of YouTube video transcription text using term frequency-inverse document frequency
Authors: Albeer Rand Abdulwahid , AL-Shahad Huda F. , Aleqabie Hiba J. , Al-shakarchy Noor D.
Published: June 2022

Automatic summarization is a technique for quickly introducing key information by abbreviating large sections of material. Summarization may apply to text and video with a different method to display the abstract of the subject. Natural language processing is employed in automated text summarization in this research, which applies to YouTube videos by transcribing and applying the summary stages in this study. Based on the number of words and sentences in the text, the method term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) was used to extract the important keywords for the summary. Some videos are long and boring or take more time to display the information that sometimes finds in a few minutes. Therefore, the essence of the proposed system is to find the way to summarize the long video and introduce the important information to the user as a text with few numbers of lines to benefit the students or the researchers that have no time to spend with long videos for extract the useful data. The results have been evaluated using Rouge method on the convolutional neural network (CNN)-dailymail-master data set.
Deep convolutional neural network model for bad code smells detection based on oversampling method
Authors: Khleel Nasraldeen Alnor Adam , Nehéz Károly
Published: June 2022

Code smells refers to any symptoms or anomalies in the source code that shows violation of design principles or implementation. Early detection of bad code smells improves software quality. Nowadays several artificial neural network (ANN) models have been used for different topics in software engineering: software defect prediction, software vulnerability detection, and code clone detection. It is not necessary to know the source of the data when using ANN models but require large training sets. Data imbalance is the main challenge of artificial intelligence techniques in detecting the code smells. To overcome these challenges, the objective of this study is to presents deep convolutional neural network (D-CNN) model with synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) to detect bad code smells based on a set of Java projects. We considered four code-smell datasets which are God class, data class, feature envy and long method and the results were compared based on different performance measures. Experimental results show that the proposed model with oversampling techniques can provide better performance for code smells detection and prediction results can be further improved when the model is trained with more datasets. Moreover, more epochs and hidden layers help increase the accuracy of the model.
The adoption factors of two-factors authentication in blockchain technology for banking and financial institutions
Authors: Basori Amir Aizzat , Ariffin Nor Hapiza Mohd
Published: June 2022

Malaysian banks and financial organisations urgently require a secure authentication mechanism. However, there is a lack of research on the factors that drive blockchain authentication technology adoption, notably in Malaysian banks. This study identified the factors impacting adopting blockchain authentication technology in Malaysia. This document will be a roadmap for replacing existing technology utilizing the traditional transaction authorization code (TAC) via a short messaging service (SMS). In addition, this study looks into the elements that influence the new blockchain authentication technology's acceptability in Malaysia. The data was gathered from articles and research papers written by other scholars on blockchain authentication. To examine and categorise the aspects that influence the acceptance of blockchain authentication technology, we used risk management in technology (RMiT) standards to map them. Based on the result, security risk, regulatory support, technology latency, and technology complexity have been established as components of blockchain authentication adoption factors that can be a guideline to implement blockchain authentication in banking and financial institutions in Malaysia. In addition, the findings can contribute as a reference for future researchers to develop models or guidelines for blockchain authentication methods in banking and financial institutions.
O trabalho do Antropólogo: olhar, ouvir, escrever
Authors: Oliveira Roberto Cardoso de
Published: June 2022

According to the author, seeing, hearing and writing constitute three strategic moments pertaining to the anthropologist's craft. Using concrete ethnographic examples, it is shown how each of these monents, when properly submitted to epistemological reflection, can increase the efficacy of anthropological work. Seeing and bearing accomplish their basic functions during empirical research. However, writing, parlicularly of the kind wich is done in the office, emergcs as the most fruitful moment of interpretation. Thinking is revealed in its most creatíve moment when writing becomes the means for textualizing socio-cultural reality.
Prevalence of Genetic Diagnoses in a Cohort With Valvar Pulmonary Stenosis
Authors: Weaver K. Nicole , Chen Jing , Shikany Amy , White Pete S. , Prada Carlos E. , Gelb Bruce D. , Cnota James F. ,   on behalf of the Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium Investigators*
Published: June 2022

Background:

Valvar pulmonary stenosis (vPS) accounts for 8% to 12% of congenital heart disease cases. Multiple genetic syndromes are associated with vPS, most commonly Noonan syndrome, but the cause is unknown in most cases. We analyzed genomic data from a large cohort with vPS to determine the prevalence of genetic diagnosis.

Methods:

The Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium database was queried to identify probands with vPS without complex congenital heart disease or aneuploidy and with existing whole exome or genome sequencing. A custom analysis workflow was used to identify likely pathogenic or pathogenic variants in disease-associated genes. Demographic and phenotypic characteristics were compared between groups with and without molecular diagnoses.

Results:

Data from 119 probands (105 trios) were included. A molecular diagnosis was identified in 22 (18%); 17 (14%) had Noonan syndrome or a related disorder. Extracardiac and neurodevelopmental comorbidities were seen in 67/119 (56%) of probands. Molecular diagnosis was more common in those with extracardiac and neurodevelopmental phenotypes than those without (18/67 versus 4/52,
P
=0.0086).

Conclusions:

Clinicians should have high suspicion for a genetic diagnosis in individuals with vPS, particularly if additional phenotypes are present. Our results suggest that clinicians should consider offering sequencing of at least the known congenital heart disease and RASopathy genes to all individuals with vPS, regardless of whether that individual has extracardiac or neurodevelopmental phenotypes present.
Derailed by the COVID-19 Economy? An Intersectional and Life Course Analysis of Older Adults’ Shifting Work Attachments
Authors: Moen Phyllis , Pedtke Joseph H. , Flood Sarah
Published: June 2022

This paper addresses the uneven employment effects on older Americans (aged 50–75) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on monthly Current Population Survey data from January through December 2020, we take an intersectional and life course approach to study the labor market effects of COVID-19 on older Americans. First, we chart monthly labor force states throughout 2020 for older adult subgroups defined by age, gender, and race/ethnicity. We then examine transitions out of and into work from one month to the next. We find gendered age-graded declines in employment, increases in unemployment, and increases in the proportions of people in their 50s reporting they are not in the labor force for other reasons (NILF-other), most dramatically for Asian and Hispanic women. There is little change in age-graded retirement from before to during the pandemic, regardless of gender or race/ethnicity, though there are education-level effects, with those without a college degree more likely to retire in the face of COVID-19. White men with a college degree are the most apt to retain their work engagement.
Supplementing Intraoperative Mastoidectomy Teaching With Video-Based Coaching
Authors: Raymond Mallory , Studer Matthew , Al-Mulki Kareem
Published: June 2022

Objectives:

Video-based coaching might complement general surgery education, but little is known of its applicability for otologic microsurgical teaching. Our purpose was thus to evaluate the content and resident-perceived benefit of video-based coaching for mastoidectomy education.

Methods:

In this mixed-methods pilot design, mastoidectomies were recorded from operative microscopes and reviewed during 30-minute video-based coaching sessions at 2 tertiary care centers. Eight residents and 3 attendings participated. Ten-point Likert-type questionnaires on the extent to which attendings taught 12 topics through 8 techniques were completed by residents after surgical and coaching sessions. Coaching sessions and structured interviews with residents were audio-recorded, transcribed and iteratively coded.

Results:

Seven audio-recordings were available for coaching sessions, during which a mean of 2.22 ± 0.5 topics per minute were discussed. Of the 12 teaching topics, technique was discussed most frequently (32%, 0.71 ± 0.2 topics/min), followed by anatomy (16%, 0.31 ± 0.16 topics/min). Of all 8 ratings between coaching and operative sessions, residents indicated a greater extent of discussion of anatomy (median difference, [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 3 [1-4]), progress (2.25 [95% CI, 0.5-4]), technique (3.5 [95% CI, 1.5-5.5]), pitfalls (2.5 [95% CI, 1-3.5]), and summarizing (3 [95% CI, 1-5]). In structured interviews, residents reported improved self-confidence and global perspective.

Conclusions:

Video-based coaching is educationally dense and characterized by perceived richer teaching and promotion of a deeper surgical understanding. It requires no additional resources, can be completed in a short period of time and can be implemented programmatically for any otolaryngologic subspecialty utilizing video-recording capable equipment.
Economic Shocks, Mobilization, and Regional Elite Splits
Authors: Vall-Prat Pau
Published: June 2022

What are the origins of elite splits? Why do regional elites break away from central elites and develop regional parties? This paper contends that intra-elite differences are more likely to be politicized when an economic shock exacerbates pre-existing asymmetric economic preferences and disadvantaged elites can mobilize the electorate on the basis of identity. I employ constituency-level data from Catalonia spanning the late 19th and early 20th century to test which factors influenced regional elite decisions to form a regional elite political party. To understand elite divisions, I exploit a historical exogenous trade shock and its asymmetric impact within Catalonia, and the availability of identity-based mobilization agents. The results show that regional elite splits took place in areas more affected by the 1898 colonial trade shock and where elites had larger mobilization capacity.
What is just and unjust in education? Role of inter-ethnic tensions in defining justice in education through the prism of media debates
Authors: Lepianka Dorota
Published: June 2022

By exploring carefully selected education-related debates that have taken place in and through news media in five European countries, the current study investigates the role of inter-ethnic tensions in organizing public imaging of justice in educational matters. It focuses in particular on analysing in what ways and on what levels of moral reasoning justice-related tensions in the realm of education are permeated with inter-ethnic conflict. The results show that among the various justice-related controversies in educational matters, tensions around the imagined ‘who’ of (in)justice, the alleged winners and losers of educational policies, and the perceived victims and victimizers are absolutely crucial, determining the preferred definition of (in)justice as well as the choice of principles that should govern the realization of justice. Current analysis also shows how claiming victimhood by members of majorities pairs with ‘shifting blame’ and turning minorities into the agents of majoritarian suffering.
Who counts? The invisibility of mothers as victims of femicide
Authors: Condry Rachel , Miles Caroline
Published: June 2022

This article focuses on the important and persistent phenomenon of women killed by their sons. We argue that parricide (the killing of parents) is a gendered form of violence, given that women are disproportionately represented as victims compared to other forms of violence (aside from domestic homicide by current or ex partners) and that son-mother killings are a form of femicide that is often hidden. Not only do they fall under literal definitions of femicide in that they involve women being killed by men, but they also, we contend, fall under motivation-driven definitions as the killing of women by men because they are women and an institutional state failure to protect them as women. Drawing upon analysis of Homicide Index data and 57 case studies of parricide in the United Kingdom, we show that in many cases women are killed by their adult-aged mentally ill sons, within a broader context of ‘parental proximity’, maternal caregiving and intersectional invisibility, which ultimately renders them vulnerable to fatal violence.
Friends against capitalism: Constructive resistance and friendship compliance in worker cooperatives
Authors: Wiksell Kristin , Henriksson Andreas
Published: June 2022

The article examines how members of worker cooperatives articulated friendship as resistance against capitalist work relations. This elucidates relatively unexplored links between research on workplace friendships and resistance studies. Based on interviews with members from small Swedish worker co-ops, the analysis shows that the co-ops hinged their friendships on authenticity, but also valued friendship explicitly for its economic and political benefits. Yet, this ideal of authentic and equal friendships sat side by side with narratives of what the article calls ‘friendship compliance’. This concept denotes how friendships may instil loyalty, reduce dissent and promote self-sacrifice. It is argued that while such compliance can be at odds with cooperative ideals, its expression in the worker co-ops studied here did not coincide with how the same mechanism has been described as operating in capitalist work organisations.
Team Cognition in Handoffs: Relating System Factors, Team Cognition Functions and Outcomes in Two Handoff Processes
Authors: Wooldridge Abigail R. , Carayon Pascale , Hoonakker Peter , Hose Bat-Zion , Shaffer David W. , Brazelton Tom , Eithun Ben , Rusy Deborah , Ross Joshua , Kohler Jonathan , Kelly Michelle M. , Springman Scott , Gurses Ayse P.
Published: June 2022

Objective

This study investigates how team cognition occurs in care transitions from operating room (OR) to intensive care unit (ICU). We then seek to understand how the sociotechnical system and team cognition are related.

Background

Effective handoffs are critical to ensuring patient safety and have been the subject of many improvement efforts. However, the types of team-level cognitive processing during handoffs have not been explored, nor is it clear how the sociotechnical system shapes team cognition.

Method

We conducted this study in an academic, Level 1 trauma center in the Midwestern United States. Twenty-eight physicians (surgery, anesthesia, pediatric critical care) and nurses (OR, ICU) participated in semi-structured interviews. We performed qualitative content analysis and epistemic network analysis to understand the relationships between system factors, team cognition in handoffs and outcomes.

Results

Participants described three team cognition functions in handoffs—(1) information exchange, (2) assessment, and (3) planning and decision making; information exchange was mentioned most. Work system factors influenced team cognition. Inter-professional handoffs facilitated information exchange but included large teams with diverse backgrounds communicating, which can be inefficient. Intra-professional handoffs decreased team size and role diversity, which may simplify communication but increase information loss. Participants in inter-professional handoffs reflected on outcomes significantly more in relation to system factors and team cognition ( p < 0.001), while participants in intra-professional handoffs discussed handoffs as a task.

Conclusion

Handoffs include team cognition, which was influenced by work system design. Opportunities for handoff improvement include a flexibly standardized process and supportive tools/technologies. We recommend incorporating perspectives of the patient and family in future work.
Inequalities in (trans)national surrogacy: A call for examining complex lived realities with an empirical lens
Authors: Jacobson Heather , Rozée Virginie
Published: June 2022

Income disparity has become a mainstay of the international critique and public discourse on commercial surrogacy. Using existing empirical data, including our two respective field studies in India and the United States, we analyze surrogacy from a gender perspective and show how the visibility of gender disparities in a transnational context encourages assumptions at the local and national context. In doing so, we highlight the narrative of inequality, explore the complexity of surrogacy outside of a one-note narrative, and show how that narrative operates to overshadow the complex, lived experiences of those engaged in surrogacy.
Are High-Altitude Residents More Susceptible to Covid-19 in India? Findings and Potential Implications for Research and Policy
Authors: Chakraborty Sushmita , Das Upasak , Rathore Udayan , Sarkhel Prasenjit
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we study the incidence of COVID-19 and the associated fatality with altitude using high frequency, district level data from India. To understand the implications of the nationwide lockdown after the outbreak, we use data for about four months- two from the lockdown period starting from March 25 till May 31, 2020 and about two months after unlocking was initiated (June 1-July 26, 2020). The multivariate regression result indicates slower growth in average rate of infection during the lockdown period in hilly regions, the gains of which attenuated after the unlocking was initiated. Despite these early gains, the rate of fatalities is significantly higher during the lockdown period in comparison to the plains. The findings remain robust to multiple alternative specifications and methods including one that accounts for confounding possibilities via unobservable and provides consistent estimates of bias adjusted treatment effects. The evidence supports the need for provisioning of public health services and infrastructure upgradation, especially maintenance of adequate stock of life support devices, in high altitude regions. It also underscores the necessity for strengthening and revising the existing Hill Areas Development Programme and integrating important aspects of public health as part of this policy.
Hybridization effect of functionalized microcrystalline cellulose and liquid acrylonitrile butadiene rubber on epoxy
Authors: Motta Neves Roberta , Kerche Eduardo Fischer , Zattera Ademir José , Amico Sandro Campos
Published: June 2022

Toughening epoxy resins by adding different agents has been employed as a way to reduce brittleness in composites. Some hybridization strategies combining liquid rubbers and rigid fillers can be found in the literature, but the pair cellulose-based reinforcement, such as microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and liquid acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) is hardly studied. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of hybridizing MCC and amino-functionalized MCC (MCCSi) with NBR on the thermal, mechanical, and dynamic-mechanical behavior of epoxy. X-ray microtomography showed a good dispersion of MCCSi fillers in epoxy/NBR compared to the non-treated MCC filler. NBR with MCCSi was found to slightly increase the thermal stability of epoxy. The addition of MCC, regardless of the functionalization, decreased tensile strength and elastic modulus, but improved impact strength and toughness properties (KIC). Also, MCCSi composites displayed better dynamic-mechanical behavior, attributed to the enhanced chemical interaction, with a small effect on glass transition temperature.
Understanding Teacher Identity and Perceptions of Action Research as a Professional Development Tool in Pakistan
Authors: Zafar Aliya , Zafar Mueen A. , Faize Fayyaz Ahmad , Ahmad Raja Hasham
Published: June 2022

This study introduced action research to a group of 25 teachers in a K-12 school in Pakistan. The objective was to understand how teachers viewed their identity as teachers and how they perceived action research as a possible professional development tool. Data were obtained through three focused group interviews with 12 volunteers from the initial group which was later analyzed through discourse analysis. Findings from data are shared about action research as a viable tool in effective learning and instruction. The teachers shared their apprehensions about action research. Implications for equitable education and research in international contexts have been discussed.
Examining Virtual Manipulatives for Teaching Computations With Fractions to Children With Mathematics Difficulty
Authors: Satsangi Rajiv , Raines Alexandra R.
Published: June 2022

As digital technology use increases in K–12 education, greater numbers of strategies become available to support students in mathematics. One technology that provides students diverse representations of mathematical concepts is virtual manipulatives. Although instruction featuring representations with physical manipulatives possesses a large body of research, the virtual form lacks comparable study, particularly with young children experiencing mathematics difficulty or identified with a mathematics learning disability. These students often demonstrate challenges learning integral skills such as fractions that subsequently affect their academic success in future years. This study examined the use of virtual manipulatives paired with explicit instruction and a system of least prompts for teaching computations with fractions to three elementary students with mathematics difficulty. A functional relation was found using a single-subject multiple probe design between the treatment condition and students’ accuracy performance solving problems. These results and their implications for the field at-large are discussed.
Effects of Professional Development on English Learners’ Problem Solving
Authors: Orosco Michael J. , Reed Deborah K.
Published: June 2022

Teacher preparation for problem-solving instruction is essential to meeting the math needs of English learners (ELs) with math learning disabilities (MLD) in U.S. public schools. In investigating this instruction with Hispanic ELs with MLD, this study focused on how professional development supported one special educator’s implementation of effective practices for both academic language and problem-solving instruction. The professional development prepared the teacher for instructional and cooperative learning phases that faded prompting as students achieved independence in applying the problem-solving strategy. A multiple-baseline design was used to assess nine third-grade Hispanic ELs with MLD. As compared with the baseline phase, instructional scaffolding increased word problem solving for all the participants. All students’ level of probe performance was maintained during follow-up sessions. The results suggest the intervention facilitated improved math problem-solving performance.