bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Ultrasonically Welded Thermoplastic Composite Joints Using Netlike Energy Directors
Authors: Wang Kaifeng , Wang Xue , Yi Miran , Li Yang , Li Jingjing
Published: September 2021

This paper proposes a netlike energy director (ED) made of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRP) composites for ultrasonic welding. To explore the benefits of using netlike EDs, the joint qualities with flat EDs and without EDs are included for references. The influence of the netlike ED geometry on weld attributes and joint quality are investigated in terms of joint cross-sectional microstructure, fracture morphology, and maximum shear load. It is found that for both netlike and flat EDs, the welding process can be accelerated compared with the one without EDs, caused by the concentration of welding energy into the expected welding region and the avoidance of welding edges introduced by surface curvature. Meanwhile, the maximum shear loads of the joints with netlike EDs are higher than those with flat EDs, because of the decrease of the contact area and consequent higher cyclic strain, resulting in more melted materials during the ultrasonic welding process. However, with the increasing of the netlike ED thickness, more porosities are generated in the welding layer leading to reduced bonded region and decrease of the maximum shear load. From the joint fracture morphology analysis, it is found that the netlike EDs introduce carbon fibers in the welding layer, and the fracture modes include fiber-matrix debonding and fiber pull-out in addition to polymer fracture, confirming the feasibility of improving joint quality by introducing CFRP netlike EDs.
Deep Visible and Thermal Camera-based Optimal Semantic Segmentation using Semantic Forecasting
Authors: John Vijay , Mita Seiichi , Lakshmanan Annamalai , Boyali Ali , Thompson Simon
Published: September 2021

Visible camera-based semantic segmentation and semantic forecasting are important perception tasks in autonomous driving. In semantic segmentation, the current frame's pixel level labels are estimated using the current visible frame. In semantic forecasting, the future frame's pixel-level labels are predicted using the current and the past visible frames and pixel-level labels. While reporting state-of-the-art accuracy, both of these tasks are limited by the visible camera's susceptibility to varying illumination, adverse weather conditions, sunlight and headlight glare etc. In this work, we propose to address these limitations using the deep sensor fusion of the visible and the thermal camera. The proposed sensor fusion framework performs both semantic forecasting as well as an optimal semantic segmentation within a multi-step iterative framework. In the first or forecasting step, the framework predicts the semantic map for the next frame. The predicted semantic map is updated in the second step, when the next visible and thermal frame is observed. The updated semantic map is considered as the optimal semantic map for the given visible-thermal frame. The semantic map forecasting and updating are iteratively performed over time. The estimated semantic maps contain the pedestrian behavior, the free space and the pedestrian crossing labels. The pedestrian behavior is categorized based on their spatial, motion and dynamic orientation information. The proposed framework is validated using the public KAIST dataset. A detailed comparative analysis and ablation study is performed using pixel-level classification and IOU error metrics. The results show that the proposed framework can not only accurately forecast the semantic segmentation map but also accurately update them.
Lithium-Ion Battery State of Health Estimation Based on Improved Deep Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zeng Wanwan , Chang Chun , Wang Qiyue , Xu Si
Published: September 2021

Accurate estimation of the state of health (SOH) is an important guarantee for safe and reliable battery operation. In this paper, an online method based on indirect health features (IHFs) and sparrow search algorithm fused with deep extreme learning machine (SSA-DELM) of lithium-ion batteries is proposed to estimate SOH. First, the temperature and voltage curves in the battery discharge data are acquired, and the optimal intervals are obtained by ergodic method. Discharge temperature difference at equal time intervals (DTD-ETI) and discharge time interval with equal voltage difference (DTI-EVD) are extracted as IHF. Then, the input weights and hidden layer thresholds of the DELM algorithm are optimized using SSA, and the SSA-DELM model is applied to the estimation of battery's SOH. Finally, the established model is experimentally validated using the battery data, and the results show that the method has high prediction accuracy, strong algorithmic stability, and good adaptability.
A Comparative Analysis of Flame Temperature, Radiation Behaviors, and NOx Emission of an Oil Burner Fueled With Nano Biodiesel Blend Fuel Containing Suspended Energetic and Non-energetic Metal Nanoparticles
Authors: Pourhoseini S. H. , Ghodrat Maryam
Published: September 2021

This study presents a comparative experimental approach to analyze flame temperature, emissions, and radiation behaviors of an oil furnace fueled with nano biodiesel blend fuel containing suspended energetic and non-energetic nanoparticles (NPs). Iron NPs were used as energetic nanoparticles, and alumina (Al2O3) was selected as non-energetic NPs. A dilute homogeneous mixture (500 ppm) was provided from each NPs in B20 blend fuel. The fuels were burned in an oil burner subsequently, and infrared radiation (IR) images of flame, profiles of flame temperature, luminous and total radiation and NOx and CO emissions were gauged and compared. Measurements showed that both NPs improve the evaporation rate of fuel droplets and displace the peak of flame temperature to the flame upstream region. Moreover, nano biodiesel blend fuel containing energetic iron NPs elevates flame temperature while the non-energetic alumina NPs reduce the peak of flame temperature. In addition, both NPs strengthen the nucleation and growth of intermediate soot particles. These fuels containing suspended particles also lead to an increase in the intermediate soot particles content of flame and flame emissivity. This increases IR, luminous, and total flame radiation. The improvement of average flame radiative flux for nano biodiesel blend fuel containing energetic iron NPs and non-energetic alumina NPs is as high as 25% and 10%, respectively. Also, using energetic iron NPs and non-energetic alumina NPs in B20 fuel reduces the NOx emission by 13% and 11%, respectively.
Alcohol and Athletics: A Study of Canadian Student-Athlete Risk
Authors: Fitzpatrick Siobhan K. , Olthuis Janine V.
Published: September 2021

American student-athletes (SAs) are at heightened risk for hazardous alcohol consumption compared with their nonathlete peers. However, little is known about this risk or the influence of psychosocial predictors on drinking behavior among Canadian SAs. This study compared rates of alcohol use across Canadian SAs and nonathletes and investigated whether the use of athlete-specific psychosocial predictors can improve the prediction of alcohol use outcomes in SAs. Participants (179 varsity athletes and 366 nonathletes) completed anonymous self-report questionnaires. Results suggest that Canadian athletes are at a heightened risk for experiencing alcohol-related problems compared with nonathletes, with general psychosocial predictors explaining the majority of variance in SA alcohol use. However, and quite notably, athlete-specific positive reinforcement motives predicted SA binge drinking. This research provides some of the first evidence of drinking-related problems among Canadian SAs and supports the potential use of preventative efforts to help SAs develop safe strategies for alcohol use.
Mapping genomic and epigenomic evolution in cancer ecosystems
Authors: Ushijima Toshikazu , Clark Susan J. , Tan Patrick
Published: September 2021

Cancer is a major cause of global mortality underpinned by genomic and epigenomic derangements. Here, we highlight the importance of multimodal data integration in understanding the molecular evolution of malignant cell states across the cancer life cycle. The widespread presence of driver mutations and epigenetic alterations in normal-appearing tissues is prompting a reassessment of how cancer initiation is defined. In later-stage cancers, studying the roles of clonal selection, epigenomic adaptation, and persister cells in metastasis and therapy resistance is an emerging field. Finally, the importance of tumor ecosystems in driving cancer development is being unraveled by single-cell and spatial technologies at unprecedented resolution. Improving cancer risk assessment and accelerating therapeutic discovery for patients will require robust, comprehensive, and integrated temporal, spatial, and multilevel tumor atlases across the cancer life cycle.
From variant to function in human disease genetics
Authors: Lappalainen Tuuli , MacArthur Daniel G.
Published: September 2021

Over the next decade, the primary challenge in human genetics will be to understand the biological mechanisms by which genetic variants influence phenotypes, including disease risk. Although the scale of this challenge is daunting, better methods for functional variant interpretation will have transformative consequences for disease diagnosis, risk prediction, and the development of new therapies. An array of new methods for characterizing variant impact at scale, using patient tissue samples as well as in vitro models, are already being applied to dissect variant mechanisms across a range of human cell types and environments. These approaches are also increasingly being deployed in clinical settings. We discuss the rationale, approaches, applications, and future outlook for characterizing the molecular and cellular effects of genetic variants.
Biology meets public policy
The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality
Kathryn Paige Harden
Princeton University Press, 2021. 312 pp.
Authors: Panofsky Aaron
Published: September 2021

The tenuous portability of polygenic scores undermines an attempt to link genetics and justice
Complete Genome Sequence of
Methanothermobacter
sp. Strain THM-1, a Thermophilic and Hydrogenotrophic Methanogen Isolated from an Anaerobic Reactor in South Korea
Authors: Jeon Byoung-Seung , Kim Hyunjin , Go Young Wook , Kim Hyunook , Choi Okkyoung , Sang Byoung-In
Published: September 2021

Methanothermobacter
sp. strain THM-1, a thermophilic and hydrogenotrophic methanogen, was isolated from an anaerobic reactor enriched with thermophilic methanogens. The genome of THM-1 shares 98.81% of its sequence with
Methanothermobacter wolfeii
isolate SIV6 and consists of 1,724,502 bp with 1,665 protein-coding genes, 50 noncoding RNAs, and a GC content of 48.6%.
New Records of Rare Psychrolutid Fishes (Psychrolutidae) in the Sea of Okhotsk
Authors: Saveliev P. A.
Published: September 2021

Two rare species of psychrolutid fish (Psychrolutidae) were found in the Sea of Okhotsk. Psychrolutes dolganovi was found at a depth of 142 m near Urup Island (southern Kuril Islands); earlier the species was known only from the holotype collected off the Pacific coast of Iturup Island. This species is recorded in the Sea of Okhotsk for the first time. P. pustulosus was collected at depths of 205–400 m along central part of Kuril Islands and in the northwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk at depths of 240–294 m. A key to the species of the genus Psychrolutes inhabiting the northern Pacific Ocean is presented.
Use of metformin to prolong gestation in preterm pre-eclampsia: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial
Authors: Cluver Catherine A , Hiscock Richard , Decloedt Eric H , Hall David R , Schell Sonja , Mol Ben W , Brownfoot Fiona , Kaitu’u-Lino Tu’uhevaha J , Walker Susan P , Tong Stephen
Published: September 2021

Objective

To evaluate whether extended release metformin could be used to prolong gestation in women being expectantly managed for preterm pre-eclampsia.

Design

Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.

Setting

Referral hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

Participants

180 women with preterm pre-eclampsia between 26+0 to 31+6 weeks’ gestation undergoing expectant management: 90 were randomised to extended release metformin and 90 to placebo.

Intervention

3 g of oral extended release metformin or placebo daily, in divided doses, until delivery.

Main outcome measure

The primary outcome was prolongation of gestation.

Results

Of 180 participants, one woman delivered before taking any trial drug. The median time from randomisation to delivery was 17.7 days (interquartile range 5.4-29.4 days; n=89) in the metformin arm and 10.1 (3.7-24.1; n=90) days in the placebo arm, a median difference of 7.6 days (geometric mean ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 0.99 to 1.95; P=0.057). Among those who continued to take the trial drug at any dose, the median prolongation of gestation in the metformin arm was 17.5 (interquartile range 5.4-28.7; n=76) days compared with 7.9 (3.0-22.2; n=74) days in the placebo arm, a median difference of 9.6 days (geometric mean ratio 1.67, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 2.42). Among those who took the full dosage, the median prolongation of gestation in the metformin arm was 16.3 (interquartile range 4.8-28.8; n=40) days compared with 4.8 (2.5-15.4; n=61) days in the placebo arm, a median difference of 11.5 days (geometric mean ratio 1.85, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 2.88). Composite maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes and circulating concentrations of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, placental growth factor, and soluble endoglin did not differ. In the metformin arm, birth weight increased non-significantly and length of stay decreased in the neonatal nursery. No serious adverse events related to trial drugs were observed, although diarrhoea was more common in the metformin arm.

Conclusions

This trial suggests that extended release metformin can prolong gestation in women with preterm pre-eclampsia, although further trials are needed. It provides proof of concept that treatment of preterm pre-eclampsia is possible.

Trial registration

Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR201608001752102
https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/
.
Risk factors of infant mortality in rural The Gambia: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jarde Alexander , Mohammed Nuredin Ibrahim , Gomez Pierre , Saine Pa Cheboh , D'Alessandro Umberto , Roca Anna
Published: September 2021

Objective

The main objective was to assess the risk factors for infant mortality among children living in the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in Farafenni, The Gambia. Our secondary objective was to assess these risks separately in the neonatal and postneonatal (>28 days) period.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

HDSS in an urban centre and surrounding area in The Gambia.

Patients

7365 infants (47% female) born between 2014 and 2018, of which 126 (1.71%) died in the first year.

Main outcome measures

Infant mortality.

Results

Risk factors for mortality were death of any sibling (HR 2.78, 95% CI 1.54 to 5.00), having a twin (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.80), being born in the harvest season (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.24), living in a rural village (HR 4.34, 95% CI 2.03 to 9.29) and longer distance to the nearest village with a public health centre (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.59). In addition, no breast feeding (HR 10.73, 95% CI 6.83 to 16.86) and no BCG vaccination in the first week of life (HR 3.47, 95% CI 1.07 to 11.24) were associated with infant mortality. Similar risk factors were found in the neonatal and postneonatal periods.

Conclusion

Most risk factors associated with infant mortality (neonatal and postneonatal) are not easily modifiable at the individual level and would require programmatic approaches to target vulnerable infants and facilitate access to health services.
Working from within: how secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory genes
Authors: Douglas Tinsley Claire , Hannila Sari S.
Published: September 2021

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a small but powerful member of the serine protease inhibitor family, which includes proteins such as elafin and α1-antitrypsin. These proteins all have similar structures and antiprotease abilities, but SLPI has been found to have an additional role as an anti-inflammatory factor. It can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, prevent neutrophil infiltration in murine models of lung and liver injury, and regulate the activity of the transcription factor NF-κB. In this review, we will revisit SLPI’s unique biochemistry, and then explore how its anti-inflammatory functions can be linked to more recent findings showing that SLPI can localize to the nuclei of cells, bind DNA, and act as a regulator of gene expression.
Exclusive production of $$\rho $$-mesons in high-energy factorization at HERA and EIC
Authors: Bolognino A. D. , Celiberto F. G. , Ivanov D. Yu. , Papa A. , Schäfer W. , Szczurek A.
Published: September 2021

We study cross sections for the exclusive diffractive leptoproduction of $$\rho $$
ρ
-mesons, $$\gamma ^*~p~\rightarrow ~\rho ~p$$

γ
∗

p

→

ρ

p

, within the framework of high-energy factorization. Cross sections for longitudinally and transversally polarized mesons are shown. We employ a wide variety of unintegrated gluon distributions available in the literature and compare to HERA data. The resulting cross sections strongly depend on the choice of unintegrated gluon distribution. We also present predictions for the proton target in the kinematics of the Brookhaven EIC.
Data-Driven Approach to the Analysis of Real-Time FMRI Neurofeedback Data: Disorder-Specific Brain Synchrony in PTSD
Authors: Zweerings Jana , Sarasjärvi Kiira , Mathiak Krystyna Anna , Iglesias-Fuster Jorge , Cong Fengyu , Zvyagintsev Mikhail , Mathiak Klaus
Published: September 2021

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) can be used in real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI NF) investigations to provide feedback on brain activity to enable voluntary regulation of the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal from localized brain regions. However, the temporal pattern of successful self-regulation is dynamic and complex. In particular, the general linear model (GLM) assumes fixed temporal model functions and misses other dynamics. We propose a novel data-driven analyses approach for rtfMRI NF using intersubject covariance (ISC) analysis. The potential of ISC was examined in a reanalysis of data from 21 healthy individuals and nine patients with post-traumatic stress-disorder (PTSD) performing up-regulation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). ISC in the PTSD group differed from healthy controls in a network including the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). In both cohorts, ISC decreased throughout the experiment indicating the development of individual regulation strategies. ISC analyses are a promising approach to reveal novel information on the mechanisms involved in voluntary self-regulation of brain signals and thus extend the results from GLM-based methods. ISC enables a novel set of research questions that can guide future neurofeedback and neuroimaging investigations.
SDN-Empowered Reliable and Dynamic Scheduling Scheme for Security Resources
Authors: Huang Yonghui , Ma Yan , Lin Zhaowen , Wang Shuyue , Xie Bowen
Published: September 2021

By endowing network with the ability of reliable scheduling of security resources, it can realize the dynamic deployment of security resources as well as the efficient configuration of protection resources, and further can quickly respond to network security threats and emergencies timely. Furthermore, due to the network is increasingly complex, it is of great importance to make it reliable by invoking appropriate security resources. However, the security mechanism and response speed of traditional network based on security domain division, network boundary protection are hard to meet the requirements of the virtual network. In this paper, we propose the SDN-empowered reliable and dynamic scheduling scheme for security resources. In the scheme, we use network security resource virtualization technology to virtualize and modularize network security software and hardware resources; at the SDN control layer, we propose meta-security function combination technology to provide on-demand customization for various security applications’ security service; by using role-based conflict detection and conflict resolution technology, we can detect and handle security rule conflicts. The experiments show that the scheme is reliable and efficient with low latency and great throughput.
N-doped carbon-coated freestanding Fe film with sea urchin-like micro/nanoporous structure for efficient oxygen evolution reaction catalyst
Authors: Yu Xiangtao , Ren Xiangyu , Yuan Zhangfu , Wang Mingyong
Published: September 2021

Nitrogen-doped carbon-coated freestanding Fe film with sea urchin-like 3D micro/nanoporous structure as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst is prepared for the first time based on the electrodeposition of 3D microporous Fe film, sea urchin-like FeTCNQ Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) coating synthesis (Fe@ FeTCNQ), and FeTCNQ pyrolysis to form N-doped carbon coating (Fe@C(N)). Due to the synergistic effect of multiple structures, the sea urchin-like porous Fe@C(N) film possesses high inherent catalytic activity, large active area and good wettability, so it exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability for OER. The Tafel slope and overpotential at 10 and 200 mA cm[Formula: see text] of Fe@C(N) film for OER are 75 mV dec[Formula: see text], 77 and 453 mV in 1 M NaOH, respectively, which are much lower than those (129 mV dec[Formula: see text], 108 and 595 mV) of 3D microporous Fe film.
Electrospinning and Electrospraying with Cells for Applications in Biomanufacturing
Authors: Zhao Qilong , Wang Min
Published: September 2021

Biomanufacturing of cell-laden scaffolds with biomimetic cell-scaffold organizations resembling the structures and anatomy of human body tissues and organs holds great promise in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In human body tissues and organs, specific types of cells are supported by nanofibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) in well-defined three-dimensional (3D) manners. Electrospinning is a facile and effective technique for producing nanofibrous scaffolds, which exhibit high similarities in the structure compared to ECM that offers structural and mechanical supports to cells in the human body. The incorporation within the electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds has therefore been considered as a promising approach for biomanufacturing of cell-laden scaffolds with tissue-mimicking structures. However, limited by low controllability of conventional cell seeding strategies and small sizes of interconnected pores of normal electrospun scaffolds, it is highly difficult to incorporate living cells within electrospun scaffolds on demand and results in cell-laden scaffolds with desirable 3D cell-scaffold organization. With recent advances in electrospinning and electrospraying with cells, it is visible to directly incorporate living cells within scaffolds via cell microencapsulation approaches and therefore offer promising alternatives for biomanufacturing of cell-laden scaffolds with tissue-mimicking structures. In this review, we will summarize the applications and challenges of cell seeding strategies and cell microencapsulation technologies for incorporating cells within electrospun scaffolds. Some techniques with high potentials to be integrated with electrospinning for forming the cell-laden scaffolds in continuous and noncontact manners, including aerodynamic-assisted cell microencapsulation, hydrodynamic-assisted cell microencapsulation and electrohydrodynamic-assisted cell microencapsulation (i.e., cell electrospinning and cell electrospraying), are highlighted. In particular, the cell microencapsulation and the subsequent formation of cell-laden scaffolds directly by electrospinning and electrospraying with living cells are overviewed in a detailed manner. Finally, the perspective and challenges of electrospinning and electrospraying with cells for biomanufacturing of cell-laden scaffolds with tissue-mimicking structures are discussed.
Environmental Effects of Trade Liberalization–Evidence from China’s Pilot Free Trade Zone
Authors: Wang Lianghu , Wang Zhao , Ma Yatian
Published: September 2021

Free trade zone (FTZ) in China has been demonstrating remarkable achievements since its establishment, yet its effects on the environment in the zones cannot be ignored. However, there is still a lack of research on the impact of the quasi-natural experiment in the China pilot FTZ on China’s environment. Based on this, this paper uses panel data from 196 cities in China from 2010 to 2017 and uses the propensity score matching and difference in difference (PSM-DID) model to empirically test the environmental effects of the establishment of the FTZ. The result shows that there is an obvious causal relationship between the establishment of the FTZ and environmental quality. The establishment of the FTZ has exacerbated the environmental pollution problem in the pilot zone. Through a series of robustness tests, it is concluded that the estimated results of the benchmark model are robust. However, after a further study on whether the effect of the FTZ on environment is time varying, it was found that the effects of the FTZ on the environmental pollution in the test zones gradually weakened over time, which means that with the gradual maturity of China’s free trade pilot zone, the positive effect on environmental improvement will gradually highlight.
Analytic Criminology: Mechanisms and Methods in the Explanation of Crime and its Causes
Authors: Wikström Per-Olof H. , Kroneberg Clemens
Published: September 2021

Criminology is a smorgasbord of disparate theory and poorly integrated research findings. Theories tend to focus either on people's crime propensity or the criminogenic inducements of environments; rarely are these two main approaches effectively combined in the analysis of crime and its causes. Criminological research often either avoids questions of causation and explanation (e.g., risk factor approach) or is based on research designs that yield highly partial accounts (e.g., place-oriented experimental work). To advance knowledge about crime and its causes and prevention, we argue that there is a need for an analytic criminology that allows key theoretical insights and central empirical findings about people's crime propensities and environments’ criminogenic inducements and their combination to be integrated based on an adequate action theory. In this review, we outline this approach and its main methodological implications and discuss how its focus on why and how questions leads to a characteristic integration of theory development, methods, and research.
Drop Impact Dynamics: Impact Force and Stress Distributions
Authors: Cheng Xiang , Sun Ting-Pi , Gordillo Leonardo
Published: September 2021

Dynamic variables of drop impact such as force, drag, pressure, and stress distributions are key to understanding a wide range of natural and industrial processes. While the study of drop impact kinematics has been in constant progress for decades thanks to high-speed photography and computational fluid dynamics, research on drop impact dynamics has only peaked in the last 10 years. Here, we review how recent coordinated efforts of experiments, simulations, and theories have led to new insights on drop impact dynamics. Particularly, we consider the temporal evolution of the impact force in the early- and late-impact regimes, as well as spatiotemporal features of the pressure and shear-stress distributions on solid surfaces. We also discuss other factors, including the presence of water layers, air cushioning, and nonspherical drop geometry, and briefly review granular impact cratering by liquid drops as an example demonstrating the distinct consequences of the stress distributions of drop impact.
Museum Genomics
Authors: Card Daren C. , Shapiro Beth , Giribet Gonzalo , Moritz Craig , Edwards Scott V.
Published: September 2021

Natural history collections are invaluable repositories of biological information that provide an unrivaled record of Earth's biodiversity. Museum genomics—genomics research using traditional museum and cryogenic collections and the infrastructure supporting these investigations—has particularly enhanced research in ecology and evolutionary biology, the study of extinct organisms, and the impact of anthropogenic activity on biodiversity. However, leveraging genomics in biological collections has exposed challenges, such as digitizing, integrating, and sharing collections data; updating practices to ensure broadly optimal data extraction from existing and new collections; and modernizing collections practices, infrastructure, and policies to ensure fair, sustainable, and genomically manifold uses of museum collections by increasingly diverse stakeholders. Museum genomics collections are poised to address these challenges and, with increasingly sensitive genomics approaches, will catalyze a future era of reproducibility, innovation, and insight made possible through integrating museum and genome sciences.
The Gut Microbiome and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Shan Yue , Lee Mirae , Chang Eugene B.
Published: September 2021

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) arise from a convergence of genetic risk, environmental factors, and gut microbiota, where each is necessary but not sufficient to cause disease. Emerging evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between disease progression and changes in microbiota membership and function. Thus, the study of the gut microbiome and host–microbe interactions should provide critical insights into disease pathogenesis as well as leads for developing microbiome-based diagnostics and interventions for IBD. In this article, we review the most recent advances in understanding the relationship between the gut microbiota and IBD and highlight the importance of going beyond establishing description and association to gain mechanistic insights into causes and consequences of IBD. The review aims to contextualize recent findings to form conceptional frameworks for understanding the etiopathogenesis of IBD and for the future development of microbiome-based diagnostics and interventions.
Normative Principles for Decision-Making in Natural Environments
Authors: Summerfield Christopher , Parpart Paula
Published: September 2021

The decisions we make are shaped by a lifetime of learning. Past experience guides the way that we encode information in neural systems for perception and valuation, and determines the information we retrieve when making decisions. Distinct literatures have discussed how lifelong learning and local context shape decisions made about sensory signals, propositional information, or economic prospects. Here, we build bridges between these literatures, arguing for common principles of adaptive rationality in perception, cognition, and economic choice. We discuss how a single common framework, based on normative principles of efficient coding and Bayesian inference, can help us understand a myriad of human decision biases, including sensory illusions, adaptive aftereffects, choice history biases, central tendency effects, anchoring effects, contrast effects, framing effects, congruency effects, reference-dependent valuation, nonlinear utility functions, and discretization heuristics. We describe a simple computational framework for explaining these phenomena.
Inequalities on Generalized Sasakian Space Forms
Authors: Rehman Najma Abdul , Ghaffar Abdul , Abedi Esmaeil , Inc Mustafa , Kaabar Mohammed K. A.
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we find the second variational formula for a generalized Sasakian space form admitting a semisymmetric metric connection. Inequalities regarding the stability criteria of a compact generalized Sasakian space form admitting a semisymmetric metric connection are established.
Identification of the Vas Deferens in Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair Surgery Using the Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Cui Peng , Zhao Song , Chen Wenxi
Published: September 2021

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most frequently conducted surgical procedures worldwide. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is considered to be technically challenging. Artificial intelligence technology has made significant progress in medical imaging, but its application in laparoscopic surgery has not been widely carried out. Our aim is to detect vas deferens images in laparoscopic inguinal hernial repair using the convolutional neural network (CNN) and help surgeons to identify the vas deferens in time. We collected surgery videos from 35 patients with inguinal hernia who underwent laparoscopic hernia repair. We classified and labeled the images of the vas deferens and used the CNN to learn the image features. Totally, 2,600 images (26 patients) were labeled for training and validating the neural network and 1,200 images (6 patients) and 6 short video clips (3 patients) for testing. We adjusted the model parameters and tested the performance of the model under different confidence levels and IoU and used the chi-square to analyze the statistical difference in the video test dataset. We evaluated the model performance by calculating the true positive rate (TPR), true negative rate (TNR), accuracy (ACC), positive predictive value (PPV), and F1-score at different confidence levels of 0.1 to 0.9. In confidence level 0.4, the results were TPR 90.61%, TNR 98.67%, PPV 98.57%, ACC 94.61%, and F1 94.42%, respectively. The average precision (AP) was 92.38% at IoU 0.3. In the video test dataset, the average values of TPR and TNR were 90.11% and 95.76%, respectively, and there was no significant difference among the patients. The results suggest that the CNN can quickly and accurately identify and label vas deferens images in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.
The REDD1/TXNIP Complex Accelerates Oxidative Stress‐Induced Apoptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells through the Mitochondrial Pathway
Authors: Yin Huipeng , Wang Kun , Das Abhirup , Li Gaocai , Song Yu , Luo Rongjin , Cheung Jason Pui Yin , Zhang Teng , Li Shuai , Yang Cao
Published: September 2021

The death of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells is an important cause of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Redox disturbance caused by dysfunctional mitochondria has been considered as a vital risk for NP cell survival. It is valuable to identify key proteins maintaining mitochondrial function in NP cells. A previous study found that regulated in development and DNA damage response 1 (REDD1) are upregulated during intervertebral disc degeneration and that REDD1 can cause NP cell apoptosis. Thus, the present study further explores the effect of REDD1 on IVD degeneration. Our results showed that REDD1 promotes NP cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Importantly, REDD1 formed a complex with TXNIP to strengthen its own action, and the combination was consolidated under H2O2‐induced oxidative stress. The combined inhibition of the REDD1/TXNIP complex was better than that of REDD1 or TXNIP alone in restoring cell proliferation and accelerating apoptosis. Moreover, p53 acts as the transcription factor of REDD1 to regulate the REDD1/TXNIP complex under oxidative stress. Altogether, our results demonstrated that the REDD1/TXNIP complex mediated H2O2‐induced human NP cell apoptosis and IVD degeneration through the mitochondrial pathway. Interferences on these sites to achieve mitochondrial redox homeostasis may be a novel therapeutic strategy for oxidative stress‐associated IVD degeneration.
Image Denoising Based on Improved Gaussian Mixture Model
Authors: Wei Hui , Zheng Wei
Published: September 2021

An image denoising method is proposed based on the improved Gaussian mixture model to reduce the noises and enhance the image quality. Unlike the traditional image denoising methods, the proposed method models the pixel information in the neighborhood around each pixel in the image. The Gaussian mixture model is employed to measure the similarity between pixels by calculating the L2 norm between the Gaussian mixture models corresponding to the two pixels. The Gaussian mixture model can model the statistical information such as the mean and variance of the pixel information in the image area. The L2 norm between the two Gaussian mixture models represents the difference in the local grayscale intensity and the richness of the details of the pixel information around the two pixels. In this sense, the L2 norm between Gaussian mixture models can more accurately measure the similarity between pixels. The experimental results show that the proposed method can improve the denoising performance of the images while retaining the detailed information of the image.
Influence of Cord Parameters on the Load Characteristics of Airbags
Authors: Li Yu-Ru , Xiao Shou-Ne , Xie Jun-Ke , Zhu Tao , Yang Bing , Yang Guang-Wu , Xiao Shi-De
Published: September 2021

To accurately characterize the large deformation and nonlinear characteristics of airbags, the influence of cord parameters on vertical force characteristics was studied, and a finite‐element simulation model of airbags based on gas‐solid coupling was established. First, uniaxial tension and compression experiments with airbag under different initial pressures were carried out to analyse the effects of the initial pressure and working height on the mechanical properties of the airbag. Second, the validity of the model was verified by the test data of the vertical force and cavity pressure of the airbag. Finally, based on the gas‐solid coupling model proposed, the influence of the cord parameters on the vertical force characteristics was studied. The results show that the vertical force characteristics of an airbag are different between compression and tension and the nonlinear characteristic of the airbag becomes more obvious with the increase in the displacement in compression. After comparing the effects of cord parameters on the vertical force of the airbag, we can conclude that the number of cord layers has the most significant effect on the vertical force, followed by the cord diameter, while other cord parameters have a general effect. Under the same compression and tension displacements (d = ±80 mm), the effective area of 1 cord layer is 2.56 times as much as the effective area of 6 cord layers and the vertical force of the airbag with a cord diameter of 0.25 mm is 7.28 times greater than that of the corresponding vertical force with a cord diameter of 1.0 mm. The airbag with different cord angles shows differences in the working state of compression and tension, especially in compression. The force of the airbag at 90° cord angle gradually exceeds the force at other angles with an increase in displacement. The difference in the load at different working states of compression and tension is useful.
A Novel Homotopy Perturbation Method with Applications to Nonlinear Fractional Order KdV and Burger Equation with Exponential-Decay Kernel
Authors: Ahmad Shabir , Ullah Aman , Akgül Ali , De la Sen Manuel
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we introduce the Yang transform homotopy perturbation method (YTHPM), which is a novel method. We provide formulae for the Yang transform of Caputo-Fabrizio fractional order derivatives. We derive an algorithm for the solution of Caputo-Fabrizio (CF) fractional order partial differential equation in series form and show its convergence to the exact solution. To demonstrate the novel approach, we include some examples with detailed solutions. We use tables and graphs to compare the exact and approximate solutions.
Design of a High Step-Up DC-DC Converter with Voltage Doubler and Tripler Circuits for Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Yaseen Muhammad , Farooq Ajmal , Malik Muhammad Zeeshan , Usman Muhammad , Hafeez Ghulam , Ali Muhammad
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a high step-up DC-DC interleaved boost converter is proposed for renewable sources with low voltages such as photovoltaic module and fuel cell. The proposed converter uses interleaving method with an additional voltage doubler and tripler circuit. In the proposed converter, the inductor at all phases is operated to gain high voltage through voltage doubler and tripler circuit capacitors with suitable duty cycle. The proposed topology operates in six switching states in one period. The steady-state analysis and operating principle are examined comprehensively which shows numerous improvements over the traditional boost converter. These improvements are high-voltage gain and low-voltage stress across switches. The proposed DC-DC interleaved boost converter has a gain/conversion ratio four times that of the conventional interleaved boost converter and four times less-voltage stress across the main switches. Simulation has been done in Matlab Simulink on a 70% duty cycle, and results are compared with conventional interleaved boost converter. For an input voltage of 15 volts, the proposed converter is able to generate an output voltage of 200 volts at 70% duty cycle with a voltage stress of 50 volts across main switches, whereas traditional interleaved boost converter generates 200 volts from same input voltage at 92.5% duty cycle with voltage stress of 200 volts across switches. From simulation results, it is clear that the proposed converter has better performance as compared to conventional interleaved boost converter for same design parameters.
Numerical Study of MHD Third-Grade Fluid Flow through an Inclined Channel with Ohmic Heating under Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Nadeem Muhammad , Siddique Imran , Jarad Fahd , Jamil Raja Noshad
Published: September 2021

The uncertainties or fuzziness occurs due to insufficient knowledge, experimental error, operating conditions, and parameters that give the imprecise information. In this article, we discuss the combined effects of the gravitational and magnetic parameters for both crisp and fuzzy cases in the three basic flow problems (namely, Couette flow, Poiseuille flow, and Couette–Poiseuille flow) of a third-grade fluid over an inclined channel with heat transfer. The dimensionless governing equations with the boundary conditions are converted into coupled fuzzy differential equations (FDEs). The fuzzified forms of the governing equations along with the boundary conditions are solved by employing the numerical technique bvp4c built in MATLAB for both cases, which is very efficient and has a less computational cost. In the first case, proposed problems are analyzed in a crisp environment, while in the second case, they are discussed in a fuzzy environment with the help of

α

-cut approach, which controls the fuzzy uncertainty. It is observed that the fuzzy gravitational and magnetic parameters are less sensitive for a better flow and heat situation. Using triangular fuzzy numbers (TFNs), the left, right, and mid values of the velocity and temperature profile are presented due to various values of the involved parameters in tabular form. For validation, the present results are compared with existing results for some special cases, viz., crisp case, and they are found to be in good agreement.
A Case of Exfoliative Vesiculobullous Prurigo Pigmentosa Cured by Doxycycline and Topical Tacrolimus
Authors: Choi Hoon , Kim Choong Jae , Na Chan Ho , Shin Bong Seok , Kim Min Sung
Published: September 2021

Prurigo pigmentosa is a rare inflammatory skin disease characterized by an unexpected onset of diffuse erythematous papules and macules usually on the chest, neck, and back. These generally resolve, leaving reticular hyperpigmentation. Rarely, vesicular or bullous forms have been reported. We present a case of exfoliative vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa in a 13-year-old boy. He presented with symmetrical eruption of papules and vesicles on his back, neck, and chest in the last 10 days, causing pruritis and prickling sensation. Within a few days, the bullous lesions and all affected areas of the skin showed exfoliation. Histological study and clinical findings indicated the condition to be vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa with exfoliation. Treatment with doxycycline 200 mg/day and topical tacrolimus ointment showed a good response. The lesions resolved, leaving a light-brown reticulated hyperpigmentation. In conclusion, this was a case of exfoliative vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa in an adolescent man successfully treated with doxycycline and topical tacrolimus as an effective and safe treatment option.
Paraneoplastic Cushing Syndrome in Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumour
Authors: Mineur Laurent , Boustany Rania , Vazquez Léa
Published: September 2021

Ectopic production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) is relatively uncommon. We report a rare case of a liver metastatic G1 low-grade NET of the intestine that induced hypercortisolism after surgical resection. A 50-year-old man was admitted for an intestinal obstruction caused by a tumour of the intestine. Paraneoplastic Cushing syndrome was diagnosed more than a year later following the appearance of cushingoid symptoms, despite stable disease according to RECIST criteria but chromogranin A increase. Ketoconazole and sandostatin medical treatment and liver chemoembolization never managed to control the hypercortisolism unlike the bilateral adrenalectomy. The identification and effective management of this uncommon statement of ectopic ACTH secretion is important to improve the patient’s prognosis and quality of life.
Modification of the Indiana Pouch Ileo-Caecal Cutaneous Continent Urinary Diversion: Tubular Ileal Afferent Limb for Ureteral Anastomosis Has Low Stricture Rate and Allows Ileal Ureter Replacement
Authors: von Knobloch Rolf , Seybold Marc , Fischer Hans Peter , Kibele Monika , Samad Wasim Abdul
Published: September 2021

Objective: The aim of the study was to introduce our new modification of the Indiana pouch with a refluxing ureteral anastomosis in a tubular afferent ileal segment of the ileo-caecal urinary reservoir. Patients and Methods: Between February 2008 and December 2020, we performed a total of 37 modified continent ileo-caecal pouches for urinary diversion when orthotopic bladder substitution was not possible. Hereby, we modified the Indiana pouch procedure with a new refluxing end-to-end ureteral anastomosis into an 8-cm afferent tubular ileal segment. Results: We performed the modified Indiana pouch in 27 women (73%) and 10 men (27%). The median age of the patients at time of operation was 64 years (43–80 years). To date, the average follow-up is 69 months (3–156 months). In 32/37 cases, we performed the new pouch procedure after radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and in 1/37 cases after radical cystectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer. In 4 cases, the procedure was performed after total exenteration of the pelvis due to locally advanced bladder, colorectal, or gynaecological cancers. Ureteral anastomotic strictures were seen in 2/37 patients (5.4%) or 2/72 (2.8%) of renal units. Conclusions: Our modification of the Indiana pouch cutaneous continent urinary diversion with the ureteral anastomosis to a tubular segment of the pouch is easy to perform and effective in reducing the rate of ureteral anastomotic strictures. By lengthening, the afferent tubular ileal segment, it additionally allows easy ureteral replacement.