bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bridging the Socio-Technical Gaps in Body-worn Interpersonal Live-Streaming Telepresence through a Critical Review of the Literature
Authors: Pfeil Kevin P. , Chatlani Neeraj , LaViola Joseph J. , Wisniewski Pamela
Published: April 2021

It is important to learn from the past as we endeavor into this uncharted territory of mobile, human-to-human, one-to-one telepresence for interpersonal use. With the ever-increasing access to live-streaming cameras, we are now at the cusp of being able to create novel, immersive, and interpersonal telepresence activities that have the potential to change how humans interact with one another on a daily basis. Due to its novelty, there are likely socio-technical gaps between the needs of users and the technical specifications of the prototypes that are currently being designed to support the complex social interactions of human-to-human telepresence. Therefore, in this paper, we use a socio-technical lens to conduct a systematic literature review of 52 peer-reviewed articles of early work in this space. Overall, we found that while progress has been made to address the social needs of those involved in one-to-one telepresence scenarios, there are discontinuities within the existing literature that need to be addressed, particularly with the way we attempt to measure and quantify human-centered outcomes with unvalidated instruments. We also found that the social needs of on-site users have been neglected, as in many articles the user was merely treated as a surrogate, or reported feeling socially awkward or unsafe, due to the conspicuous nature of the body-worn technology in public environments. These findings are prevalent, even as researchers consider adding to this body-worn burden in an attempt to improve the receiving users' sense of immersion and presence. To preserve the beneficial nature of telepresence interaction while ensuring that all users' needs are met, researchers should endeavor to further understand the dynamics of the relationship between all parties in the remote environment. Our paper creates a future research agenda that emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all parties involved feel comfortable in their role during interpersonal telepresence interactions.
Speculation and the Design of Development
Authors: Sengers Phoebe , Williams Kaiton , Khovanskaya Vera
Published: April 2021

This paper examines the role of technoscientific speculation in large-scale development projects in postcolonial spaces, building on recent work in STS, design research, and postcolonial studies in and beyond CSCW. We analyze two historical cases of technology-infused development projects in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador and in Jamaica. We find that speculation in these contexts remixes the constructive stance toward speculation typical for normative technoscience with the critical, contesting orientation of speculative design. Conflicts between these stances are resolved by leveraging fantasy for pragmatic ends, grounding audacious fictions in imported realities, unmooring from conventional understandings of linear technological progress, and using even conservative futures to trouble colonial conventions.
Actionable UI Design Guidelines for Smartphone Applications Inclusive of Low-Literate Users
Authors: Srivastava Ayushi , Kapania Shivani , Tuli Anupriya , Singh Pushpendra
Published: April 2021

With easy access to affordable internet-powered smartphones, developing countries are adopting smartphone applications to provide enabling services to its citizens, through eHealth, eGovernance, and digital payments. The challenge is to ensure equitable access to these services by everyone, including people with semi-literacy or low-literacy who form a large part of the population in developing countries. However, extensive HCI literature has identified literacy as one of the barriers to designing user interfaces. In this work, we propose a framework of actionable guidelines for designing smartphone UIs that would be usable by low-literate users. We reviewed the last two decades of HCI literature engaging people with low literacy, to synthesize our framework-designing SARAL. To evaluate the framework, we conducted a preliminary study with a group of 20 practitioners and researchers working in the field of UI/UX/HCI. We also analyzed six publicly available industry reports on designing UIs for people with low-literacy. The proposed guidelines intend to support researchers, practitioners, designers, and implementers in the design and evaluation of UIs of smartphone applications for people with low literacy. We present the evolutionary nature of the proposed framework while highlighting the importance of adopting a translational approach when building such frameworks.
Exploring Entrepreneurial Activities in Marginalized Widows
Authors: Rathnayake Upul Anuradha , Halloluwa Thilina , Bandara Pradeepa , Narasinghe Medhani , Vyas Dhaval
Published: April 2021

In some developing countries, widows are looked down upon and are often considered inauspicious especially in rural regions. Some societies even consider them and their issues invisible. This paper presents findings from a qualitative study focused on understanding how technology could facilitate entrepreneurial and DIY activities of widows from rural Sri Lanka. We conducted semi-structured interviews and field observations with thirteen widows from low socio-economic backgrounds, who were involved in various small-scale entrepreneurial activities. Our findings showed three central aspects associated with their entrepreneurial activities which can be supported through technology: initial stages of entrepreneurship, balancing work with life, and dealing with exploitations. This paper explores how gender inequality in a social context affects marginalized women in rural Sri Lanka in conducting their entrepreneurial efforts. In particular, we highlight resilient practices that the participants apply to support their entrepreneurial activities. With an "assets-based approach" we conclude by providing implications for policymakers, media, and HCI practitioners to support this inbuilt resilience by leveraging their current assets.
How Accessibility Practitioners Promote the Creation of Accessible Products in Large Companies
Authors: Azenkot Shiri , Hanley Margot J. , Baker Catherine M.
Published: April 2021

Although some technology companies have made significant strides towards the accessibility of their products, most consumer-facing technology products still pose access barriers to people with disabilities. Prior research has established that accessibility expertise is limited to a small number of practitioners in companies, but we do not know how these practitioners can affect change across a large organization. We sought to address this gap and understand how large companies that produce consumer-facing technologies integrate accessibility into their product lifecycle. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 accessible technology practitioners working at 13 companies. We found accessibility expertise was centered in three main roles within the company: on a central accessibility team, in champions, and in accessibility teams embedded into large product teams. Much of the work of these practitioners centered around education and development of tools and resources to allow designers and developers throughout the organization to implement accessibility. Our study revealed current practices for embedding accessibility in large companies, highlighting the gap between accessibility research and practice. We conclude by presenting areas that need future research to understand how to better support accessibility practice.
Designing for Independence for People with Visual Impairments
Authors: Lee Sooyeon , Reddie Madison , Carroll John M.
Published: April 2021

The notion of "independence'' is frequently used to motivate technology design in the HCI sub-field of accessible and assistive technology for people with disabilities. Despite the term's pervasive use, the literature lacks a recent articulation of its meaning in the context of assistive technology. What does independence really mean? Scoping the study to people with visual impairments (PVI), we posed this question to 10 individuals from diverse backgrounds through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Our findings reveal that PVI have internal experiences of independence and social experiences of independence, with surprising insights into the roles that people and technology play in supporting independence. We also discuss new ways to design for independence.
Integrating Cultural Relevance into a Behavioral mHealth Intervention for Native American Youth
Authors: Vigil-Hayes Morgan , Collier Ann Futterman , Hagemann Shelby , Castillo Giovanni , Mikkelson Keller , Dingman Joshua , Muñoz Andrew , Luther Jade , McLaughlin Alexandra
Published: April 2021

Native American communities are disproportionately affected by a number of behavioral health disparities, including higher rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide. As mobile health (mHealth) interventions gain traction as methods for addressing these disparities, they continue to lack relevance to Native American youth. In an effort to explore the design of relevant behavioral mHealth intervention for Native American communities, we have developed ARORA (Amplifying Resilience Over Restricted Internet Access), a prototype behavioral mHealth intervention that has been co-designed with Native American youth, a community advisory board, and a clinical psychologist. In this paper, we qualitatively analyze our co-design and focus group sessions using a grounded theory approach and identify the key themes that Native American community members have identified as being critical components of relevant mHealth designs. Notably, we find that the Native American youth who participated in our focus groups desired a greater level of didactic interaction with cultural and behavioral health elements. We conclude with a discussion of the significant challenges we faced in our efforts to co-design software with Native American stakeholders and provide recommendations that might guide other HCI researchers and designers through challenges that arise during the process of cross-cultural design.
A Survey of Needs and Features for Augmented Reality Collaborations in Collocated Spaces
Authors: Radu Iulian , Joy Tugce , Bowman Yiran , Bott Ian , Schneider Bertrand
Published: April 2021

In this paper we contribute a literature review and organization framework for classifying the collaboration needs and features that should be considered when designing headset-based augmented reality (AR) experiences for collocated settings. In recent years augmented reality technology has been experiencing significant growth through the emergence of headsets that allow gestural interaction, and AR designers are increasingly interested in using this technology to enhance collaborative activities in a variety of physical environments. However, collaborative AR applications need to contain features that enhance collaboration and satisfy needs that are present during the group activities. When AR designers lack an understanding of what collaborators need during an interaction, or what features have already been designed to solve those needs, then AR creators will spend time redesigning features that have already been created, or worse, create applications that do not contain necessary features. While much work has been done on designing virtual reality (VR) collaborative environments, AR environments are a relatively newer design space, and designers are lacking a comprehensive framework for describing needs that arise during collaborative activities and the features that could be designed into AR applications to satisfy those needs. In this paper we contribute a literature review of 92 papers in the areas of augmented reality and virtual reality, and we contribute a list of design features and needs that are helpful to consider when designing for headset-based collaborative AR experiences.
Finding Place in a Design Space
Authors: MacNeil Stephen , Ding Zijian , Boone Ashley , Grubbs Anthony Bryce , Dow Steven P.
Published: April 2021

Many organizations have adopted design processes that integrate community voices to discover the real problems that communities face. Online discussion forums offer a familiar and flexible technology that can help facilitate discussion around problems and potential solutions. However, we lack understanding about what information community members share, how that information is structured, and how social interactions affect design processes at scale. This paper presents a mixed-methods analysis of Canvas, a learning management system, which enables users to contribute to the design of the platform by sharing and deliberating on problems and solutions in a discussion forum. We collected and analyzed 1412 ideas and 18,335 associated comments shared on the Canvas discussion forum. We found that the distributed nature of design information, the presence of duplicate ideas, and contributors' gaming behaviors made it difficult for the community to make sense of the design discussion. These gaming behaviors also constitute a new concern for participatory design research. Finally, we reflect on how Canvas community members contribute information to a shared design space and how future systems could more effectively coordinate community design efforts.
PACMHCI V5 CSCW1 April 2021 Editorial
Authors: Bardzell Shaowen , Kim Juho , Lindley Siân , Sarcevic Aleksandra , Schoenebeck Sarita
Published: April 2021

We are delighted to present this issue of the Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, which contains scholarship from the Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW) community. This issue has 190 papers, 177 submitted in June 2020 and 13 submitted in October 2020. It represents contributions from two Program Committees, including external reviewers, Associate Chairs, and Editors, who together have conducted a rigorous review process. As Papers Chairs, we are grateful for the community's collective efforts to continue shaping and sharing CSCW's tradition of high-quality scholarship during a global pandemic.
Amplifying Community-led Violence Prevention as a Counter to Structural Oppression
Authors: Dickinson Jessa , Arthur Jalon , Shiparski Maddie , Bianca Angalia , Gonzalez Alejandra , Erete Sheena
Published: April 2021

Street outreach is a violence prevention model in which organizations hire residents with strong relationships and local expertise to mediate violent conflicts in their communities. We present the results of a two-year co-design engagement between a street outreach organization and academic researchers in which we collaboratively designed, built, and deployed a mobile application (the Street Peace app) to support street outreach workers (SOWs). Three different street outreach organizations in Chicago adopted the app for two months. Results suggest that the app supported SOWs' transformative justice practices to build a counter-structure to traditional policing, which is historically oppressive to Black communities. The SOWs used the app to mediate potentially violent conflicts without police involvement, build community through in-person events, and extend their communities of care through positive stories and narratives that countered harmful stereotypes about Black criminality. By affording SOWs more agency over their communication with each other, the app enabled SOWs to connect their strengths and scale their existing practices that combat structural oppression and prefigure liberatory futures.
RECAST
Authors: Wright Austin P. , Shaikh Omar , Park Haekyu , Epperson Will , Ahmed Muhammed , Pinel Stephane , Chau Duen Horng (Polo) , Yang Diyi
Published: April 2021

With the widespread use of toxic language online, platforms are increasingly using automated systems that leverage advances in natural language processing to automatically flag and remove toxic comments. However, most automated systems, when detecting and moderating toxic language, do not provide feedback to their users, let alone provide an avenue of recourse for these users to make actionable changes. We present our work, RECAST, an interactive, open-sourced web tool for visualizing these models' toxic predictions, while providing alternative suggestions for flagged toxic language. Our work also provides users with a new path of recourse when using these automated moderation tools. RECAST highlights text responsible for classifying toxicity, and allows users to interactively substitute potentially toxic phrases with neutral alternatives. We examined the effect of RECAST via two large-scale user evaluations, and found that RECAST was highly effective at helping users reduce toxicity as detected through the model. Users also gained a stronger understanding of the underlying toxicity criterion used by black-box models, enabling transparency and recourse. In addition, we found that when users focus on optimizing language for these models instead of their own judgement (which is the implied incentive and goal of deploying automated models), these models cease to be effective classifiers of toxicity compared to human annotations. This opens a discussion for how toxicity detection models work and should work, and their effect on the future of online discourse.
Two Cases for Traces
Authors: Avdic Mirzel , Bødker Susanne , Larsen-Ledet Ida
Published: April 2021

In this paper we activate theoretical principles for HCI and CSCW in analysis and design of collaborative technologies. We critically evaluate theoretical principles about how technologies mediate collaborative activities through two empirical cases regarding smart speakers and collaborative writing, respectively. Common to them is that both common objects and mediating artifacts are set in a mixed virtual and physical setting.

Principles from activity theory are examined, specifically with a focus on how people use artifacts and objects as mediators to collaborate in joint activity. As part of questioning the cases, we also position collaborative affordances in relation to the principles. We engage with the cases by using the theoretical principles both analytically and constructively. Our analysis specifically targets traces as a possible construct that has potential to constructively aid collaboration across the two cases. We explore what seems to be a lack of support, and in particular theoretical framing, of traces of past activities, connected objects, other users, etc. With an initial hypothesis that traces could be a mechanism that would support these two kinds of collaborative activities better in a future redesign, we set out to further explore the cases and their future possibilities, and how they could be conceptually grounded and supported. We present a set of analytically and constructively oriented questions to help researchers and designers of artifacts identify mediators for and instances of collaboration.
The Wide, the Deep, and the Maverick
Authors: Jiang Julie , Maldeniya Danaja , Lerman Kristina , Ferrara Emilio
Published: April 2021

Although player performance in online games has been widely studied, few studies have considered the behavioral preferences of players and how they impact performance. In a competitive setting where players must cooperate with temporary teammates, it is even more crucial to understand how differences in playing style contribute to teamwork. Drawing on theories of individual behavior in teams, we describe a methodology to empirically profile players based on the diversity and conformity of their gameplay styles. Applying this approach to a League of Legends dataset, we find three distinct types of players that align with our theoretical framework: generalists, specialists, and mavericks. Importantly, the behavior of each player type remains stable despite players becoming more experienced. Additionally, we extensively investigate the benefits and drawbacks of each type of player by evaluating their individual performance, contribution to the team, and adaptation to changes in the game environment. We find that, overall, specialists tend to outperform others, while mavericks bear high risk but also potentially reap great rewards. Generalists are the most resilient to instability in the environment (game patches). We discuss the implications of these findings in terms of game design and community management, as well as team building in environments with varying levels of stability.
Gender, Power, and Harassment: Sociology in the #MeToo Era
Authors: Saguy Abigail C. , Rees Mallory E.
Published: April 2021

This article examines what sociological research teaches us about gender, power, and harassment in the #MeToo era, showing how the sociological literature on harassment has both shaped and been shaped by legal definitions and scholarship. For instance, like case law, sociological research has tended to focus on the workplace to the exclusion of harassment in other spheres such as housing, as well as on sexual forms of harassment—despite evidence that nonsexual forms of sex-based harassment are even more common and just as harmful as sexual forms. While not all sociological studies of harassment employ an intersectional approach, those that do show that race and gender shape not only who is likely to be targeted but also how different people define and understand harassment. The sociological research suggests that mainstream organizational approaches to harassment fail to reduce rates of harassment and even elicit backlash but that some alternative approaches offer promise.
Solid-State Rechargeable Lithium Metal Battery with Li4B4Al3O12Cl-based Water-Resistant Lithium-Ion-Conducting Oxychloride Glass-Ceramic Electrolyte
Authors: Saito Mayu , Arima Hidechika , Shoji Mao , Kizuki Yota , Munakata Hirokazu , Kanamura Kiyoshi , Kajihara Koichi
Published: April 2021

Glass-ceramics of lithium chloroboracite Li4B4Al3O12Cl, an oxychloride with a wide electrochemical window of ∼0–6 V vs Li/Li+, were employed as solid electrolytes in solid-state rechargeable lithium metal batteries. These glass-ceramics were stable against short-term (∼1 h) immersion in water. Test cells consisting of a LiCoO2-based composite cathode and Li-rich Li–Au alloy anode delivered an initial discharge capacity of ∼135 mAh g−1 and good average Coulombic efficiency of ∼99.3% under operation at 60 °C. These results confirm the compatibility of Li4B4Al3O12Cl-based glass-ceramics with solid-state rechargeable lithium metal batteries employing 4 V-class transition metal oxide cathodes.
Machine Learning Applications of Two-Phase Flow Data in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Reactant Channels
Authors: Santamaria Anthony D. , Mortazavi Mehdi , Chauhan Vedang , Benner Jingru , Philbrick Oliver , Clemente Riccardo , Jia Hongfei , Ling Chen
Published: April 2021

Multiphase flow is a primary concern in many energy conversion and storage technologies including fuel cells and flow batteries which utilize intricate flow-field patterns to facilitate reactant and byproduct transport. Due to complex physics and the limitations of numerical methods, new techniques of collecting and evaluating two-phase behavior in these reactant channels are needed. This paper demonstrates a novel method for two-phase data collection, processing, and its use in a machine learning algorithm. Decision tree (DT) regressions were used to correlate liquid distributions in reactant channels with the two-phase flow pressure drop along the channel. A transparent 3.0 mm × 2.4 mm rectangular channel was used to simulate the two-phase flow conditions of a polymer-electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) reactant channel by injecting water through a gas-diffusion layer (GDL) while air was flowed through the channel. A synchronized camera and pressure transducer setup collected images at 5 Hz of the liquid distribution and the two-phase flow pressure drop. By training using the liquid distributions as inputs and the corresponding pressure drop data as outputs, the DT models achieved pressure drop prediction accuracies in most cases exceeding 90%. Applications for flow-field design and liquid saturation estimation based on pressure are discussed.
Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Analyses for Dysprosium Complexes In Potassium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide Melts
Authors: Matsumiya Masahiko , Nomizu Daiki , Tsuchida Yusuke , Sasaki Yuji
Published: April 2021

The coordination states of multivalent dysprosium complexes of potassium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) amide (K[NTf2]) were investigated by Raman spectroscopy. The concentration dependence of the deconvoluted Raman spectra was investigated for 0.23−0.45 mol kg−1 Dy(III), and a mixed sample of Dy(II)/Dy(III) (molar ratio 1/3), in K[NTf2]. Using conventional analysis, the solvation number, n, of the dysprosium complexes was determined to be 4.12 for Dy(II) and 5.09 for Dy(III). The electrochemical behavior of [DyIII(NTf2)5]2– in K[NTf2] melts was also investigated in this study. It is speculated that the first reduction peak at approximately +2.24 V probably corresponds to the formation of [DyII(NTf2)4]2–. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the reduction peak of [DyIII(NTf2)5]2– at approximately +0.81 V at 483 K is based on an electrodeposition reaction from [DyIII(NTf2)5]2– to Dy(0). The diffusion coefficient and activation energy of [DyIII(NTf2)5]2– in K[NTf2] melts were measured in the range 473–493 K by semi-integral and semi-differential analyses. Furthermore, the nucleation behavior of [DyIII(NTf2)5]2– was evaluated using chronoamperometry. The results indicated that the nucleation mechanism of Dy nuclei changed from instantaneous to progressive nucleation when the overpotential became more negative than the deposition potential of Dy(0). The electrodeposits were identified as mostly the metallic state by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Finite Element Modeling of Chemical and Electrochemical Protection Mechanisms Offered by Mg-Based Organic Coatings to AA2024-T351
Authors: Moraes C. V. , Santucci R. J. , Scully J. R. , Kelly R. G.
Published: April 2021

A finite element model of the protection mechanisms offered by Mg-based organic coatings was developed. The model predicted the change in the corrosion potential of AA2024-T351 as a function of pH, water layer thickness, and the inhibition of oxygen reduction reaction. The pH in the solution was calculated taking into account Mg dissolution, precipitation of Mg(OH)2, Al dissolution, and hydrolysis of Al3+ ions. The predicted critical pH value at which the corrosion potential of AA2024-T351 sharply decreases to values below pitting and pit repassivation potentials under full immersion conditions was in accordance with experimental observations. A limiting water layer thickness below which the pH-induced pit repassivation mechanism is not predicted to occur was calculated. If the inhibition of oxygen reduction reaction by Mg(OH)2 is considered, the pH-induced repassivation mechanism becomes feasible at thinner water layers. Cathodic protection offered by Mg-rich primers was modeled as a function of coating resistance, water layer thickness, and electrolyte chemistry. The magnitude of the resistance of the film in which Mg pigments are embedded mitigates the extent of the cathodic protection. The change in local pH due to corrosion reactions affected the galvanic potentials obtained. The framework developed can be used to help identify chemical inhibitors that can operate by the chemical protection mode described in this work.
Xi Lei San Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Rats and TNF-α-Stimulated Colitis in CACO2 Cells: Involvement of the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Autophagy
Authors: Tao Zhang , Zhou Xiaoqing , Zhang Yan , Pu Wenfeng , Yang Yi , Wei Fuxia , Zhou Qian , Zhang Lin , Du Zhonghan , Wu Ji
Published: April 2021

Objective. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease with an unclear etiology. The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) exert anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory effects, and their multitarget characteristics provide them with a unique advantage for treating IBD. However, the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Xi Lei San in treatment of IBD remain unknown. This study was designed to investigate whether Xi Lei San exerted an anti-inflammatory effect in IBD via a mechanism involving NLRP3 inflammasomes and autophagy. Methods. We successfully established a rat model of dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced colitis as well as a cellular model of TNF-α-induced colitis. Xi Lei San and indirubin were identified by HPLC analysis. Rats were treated with Xi Lei San or alum crystals, and their body weights and morphology of intestinal tissues were examined. A western blot analysis was performed to determine the expression levels of inflammasome-related proteins and autophagy-related proteins, ELISA was performed to analyze IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-33 concentrations, and flow cytometry was used to monitor cell apoptosis and ROS levels. Results. Xi Lei San and indirubin were identified by HPLC analysis. We found that Xi Lei San could significantly increase the weights of rats and improve the structure of the intestinal tissues in DSS-induced colitis model rats. We also found that Xi Lei San significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activity, reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, and suppressed autophagy in DSS-induced colitis model rats. In vitro experiments revealed that Xi Lei San could repress apoptosis as well as ROS and inflammatory cytokine production in TNF-α-induced CACO2 cells by reducing the activity of NLRP3 inflammasomes and autophagy. Conclusions. Our findings showed that Xi Lei San significantly ameliorated IBD by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome, autophagy, and oxidative stress.
TOPSIS Method for Teaching Effect Evaluation of College English with Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Information
Authors: Wang Fengling
Published: April 2021

Teaching effect evaluation of College English is frequently considered as a multiattribute group decision-making (MAGDM) issue. Thus, a novel MAGDM method is needed to tackle it. Depending on the classical TOPSIS method and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs), this paper designs a novel intuitive distance-based IVIF-TOPSIS method for teaching effect evaluation of College English. First of all, a related literature review is conducted. Furthermore, some necessary theories related to IVIFSs are briefly reviewed. In addition, the weights of attribute are decided objectively by using the CRITIC method. Afterwards, relying on novel distance measures between IVIFSs, the conventional TOPSIS method is extended to the IVIFSs to calculate closeness degree of each alternative from the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy positive ideal solution (IVIF-PIS). Finally, an empirical example about teaching effect evaluation of College English and some comparative analyses have been given. The results show that the designed method is useful for teaching effect evaluation of College English.
Multiobjective Brain Storm Optimization Community Detection Method Based on Novelty Search
Authors: Pan Xiaoying , Wang Jia , Wei Miao , Li Hongye
Published: April 2021

A complex network is characterized by community structure, so it is of great theoretical and practical significance to discover hidden functions by detecting the community structure in complex networks. In this paper, a multiobjective brain storm optimization based on novelty search (MOBSO-NS) community detection method is proposed to solve the current issue of premature convergence caused by the loss of diversity in complex network community detection based on multiobjective optimization algorithm and improve the accuracy of community discovery. The proposed method designs a novel search strategy where novelty individuals are first constructed to improve the global search ability, thus avoiding falling into local optimal solutions; then, the objective space is divided into 3 clusters: elite cluster, ordinary cluster, and novel cluster, which are mapped to the decision space, and finally, the populations are disrupted and merged. In addition, the introduction of a restarting strategy is introduced to avoid stagnation by premature convergence. Experimental results show that the algorithm with good global searchability can find the Pareto optimal network community structure set with uniform distribution and high convergence and excavate the network community with higher quality.
Dysgerminoma with Estrogen-Producing Functioning Stroma Presenting Precocious Puberty
Authors: Nagase Shunsuke , Ogura Kanako , Ashizawa Karin , Nakazawa-Tanaka Nana , Urao Masahiko , Fukunaga Masaharu , Yamazaki Yuto , Sasano Hironobu , Matsumoto Toshiharu
Published: April 2021

Dysgerminoma is a malignant ovarian germ cell tumor, and unlike sex-cord stromal tumors, endocrine manifestation is considered rare. Here, we report the first case of dysgerminoma presenting precocious puberty. The patient is a 7-year-old girl who presented with a breast development in Tanner stage 3. Serum estradiol (E2) was markedly elevated while luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were suppressed below the detection limit. Microscopically, the right ovarian mass displayed nests of large polygonal cells and fibrous septa which were focally concentrated by theca-like plump spindle cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the spindle cells expressed various steroidogenic enzymes involved in estrogen biosynthesis including P450 aromatase. The tumor was diagnosed with pure dysgerminoma with estrogen-producing functioning stroma. After the operation, serum E2 declined below the detection limit; LH and FSH returned within the normal range. This case demonstrates that even a conventional dysgerminoma can present endocrine manifestation through functioning stroma.
[Retracted] A Systematic Analysis on COVID‐19 Patients in Inner Mongolia Based on Dynamic Monitoring
Authors: Yu Lan , Li Tianbao , Gao Li , Wang Bo , Chai Jun , Shi Xiaoli , Su Rina , Tian Geng , Yang Jialiang , Sun Dejun
Published: April 2021

COVID‐19 has spread globally with over 90,000,000 incidences and 1,930,000 deaths by Jan 11, 2021, which poses a big threat to public health. It is urgent to distinguish COVID‐19 from common pneumonia. In this study, we reported multiple clinical feature analyses on COVID‐19 in Inner Mongolia for the first time. We dynamically monitored multiple clinical features of all 75 confirmed COVID‐19 patients, 219 pneumonia patients, and 68 matched healthy people in Inner Mongolia. Then, we studied the association between COVID‐19 and clinical characteristics, based on which to construct a novel logistic regression model for predicting COVID‐19. As a result, among the tested clinical characteristics, WBC, hemoglobin, C‐reactive protein (CRP), ALT, and Cr were significantly different between COVID‐19 patients and patients in other groups. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.869 for the logistic regression model using multiple factors associated with COVID‐19. Furthermore, the CRP reaction showed five different time‐series patterns with one‐peak and double‐peak modes. In conclusion, our study identified a few clinical characteristics significantly different between COVID‐19 patients and others in Inner Mongolia. The features can be used to establish a reliable logistic regression model for predicting COVID‐19.
Nonlinear Analysis of the Thaw Settlement in Ice-Rich Embankments
Authors: Yang Gaosheng , Chen Peipei , Cai Guoqing
Published: April 2021

In this paper, the law of ice-rich permafrost embankment thaw consolidation is studied based on three-dimensional nonlinear large strain thaw consolidation theory. To avoid problems associated with numerical simulation efficiency and stability when a nonlinear stress-strain relationship is employed, a segment interpolation function is used to implement the nonlinear relationship between the compression modulus and the void ratio, and the corresponding simulation strategy is proposed. Through a comparison of the monitoring and calculated results, it is indicated that the calculation accuracy on ice-rich embankment thaw settlement can be notably improved after nonlinear theory is implemented with the proposed numerical simulation method. A further analysis of the calculated results indicates that the interactive effects between the thermal and mechanical fields can be more reasonably described by nonlinear theory than by linear theory. It is also determined that the postthaw pore water in the shallow embankment dissipates in the early operation period, while in the following long operation period, the development of the permafrost embankment thaw settlement is mainly due to the dissipation of newly postthaw pore water at the thaw depth or the permafrost table. This is one of the main differences in the law of permafrost embankment thaw settlement compared with that of unfrozen embankments.
[Retracted] Expression and Clinical Significance of miR‐146a and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor‐Associated Factor 6 (TRAF6) in Myasthenia Gravis Patient Serum
Authors: Yan Mei , Fu Yue , Rao Hui , Zhou Huiling , Liang Xiaohuang
Published: April 2021

Objective. To investigate the expression and clinical significance of miR‐146a and tumor necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in myasthenia gravis (MG) patient serum. Methods. The serum of 52 patients with MG and 60 healthy individuals was collected in our hospital. The expression of miR‐146a and TRAF6 in serum was measured by real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR). Comparison among serum miR‐146a and TRAF6 mRNA group clinical characteristics and assorted expressions was done with the correlation among the two groups evaluated. Logistics regression was used to analyze the effect of miR‐146a and TRAF6 mRNA on MG development with the ROC curve applied for an investigation into the diagnostic role of miR‐146a and TRAF6 mRNA expression in MG development. Results. miR‐146a and TRAF6 mRNA were significantly increased in the patients with MG compared with the healthy controls. Significant differences were identified in respiratory muscle endurance, muscle weakness level, vital capacity, and maximal voluntary ventilation between the two groups. Additionally, correlation analysis has discovered a positive correlation between miR‐146a and TRAF mRNA expression in patients with MG. miR‐146a and TRAF6 mRNA are independent MG occurrence factors exhibited by multivariate analysis while areas under ROC curve (AUCs) of miR‐146a and TRAF6 mRNA in MG diagnosis were established by ROC curve analysis with results being 0.782 and 0.703, correspondingly. Conclusion. miR‐146a and TRAF6 mRNA are highly expressed in MG patients and can affect MG occurrence. miR‐146a is a suitable candidate marker for diagnosing MG.
[Retracted] Design and Realization of Animation Composition and Tone Space Conversion Algorithm
Authors: Jing Liang
Published: April 2021

In recent years, with the development of society and the rapid development of the animation industry, people are paying more and more attention to and requirements for animation production. As an indispensable part of animation production, picture composition plays a major role in animation production. It can give full play to the application of color matching and light and shadow design and enhance the depth and space of the animation screen. Tone space conversion refers to the conversion or representation of color data in one color space into corresponding data in another color space. Its purpose is to distinguish and process color components such as hue and saturation in an image. This article first introduces the domestic and foreign research status of digital image preprocessing and analyzes the basic principles of several color space conversions in detail. Then, several color space conversion algorithms are studied, and the performance of the algorithms is compared and analyzed. The paper focuses on the hardware implementation and optimization of the algorithm for converting RGB color space into HSI color space to meet the real‐time requirements. This article focuses on the mutual conversion between the RGB tone space and the HSI tone space and describes in detail how each color component in the HSI tone space is converted from the three RGB color components from a geometric perspective, and then the conversion is derived, and several general conversion methods of RGB to HSI tone space are introduced; two conversion methods of geometric derivation method and standard modulus algorithm are implemented in the software, and the comparison verification is carried out, and the comparison is made from the perspective of hardware implementation. The pros and cons of the two methods are discussed. Finally, the paper summarizes the shortcomings in the design and proposes further research directions in the future.
Artificial Intelligence to Improve the Food and Agriculture Sector
Authors: Ben Ayed Rayda , Hanana Mohsen
Published: April 2021

The world population is expected to reach over 9 billion by 2050, which will require an increase in agricultural and food production by 70% to fit the need, a serious challenge for the agri-food industry. Such requirement, in a context of resources scarcity, climate change, COVID-19 pandemic, and very harsh socioeconomic conjecture, is difficult to fulfill without the intervention of computational tools and forecasting strategy. Hereby, we report the importance of artificial intelligence and machine learning as a predictive multidisciplinary approach integration to improve the food and agriculture sector, yet with some limitations that should be considered by stakeholders.
Renal Cell Carcinoma in Fistulizing Crohn’s Disease Patient Who Received Anti-TNF α Therapy
Authors: Albishi Abdullah Mohammed , Chakik Rafaat , Bazeed Mohammed
Published: April 2021

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic inflammatory diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract with different clinical presentations. These chronic inflammatory diseases are associated with an increased risk for both intestinal and different types of extra-intestinal malignancies. In this case report, we describe the condition of a 29-year-old Saudi male diagnosed with fistulizing ileal Crohn’s disease 7 years ago. The patient presented to the gastroenterology clinic with left flank pain for the last 2 months, which started gradually. The pain was dull, intermittent, and without a history of fever, dysuria, or hematuria. The patient was passing 3-4 times bowel motion, watery without blood or mucus. On examination, the patient looked well. Abdomen examination revealed a soft and lax abdomen with no tenderness or organomegaly. CT  abdomen showed a well-defined hypodense focal lesion originally from the left kidney near the hilum region with a clue sign. Colonoscopy was performed and showed only terminal ileitis. The patient was referred to a urologist for further action. The patient was seen by the urologist, and they are planning for partial left nephrectomy. The renal surgical specimen histopathology was reported later as renal cell carcinoma.
Risk Measurement by G-Expected Shortfall
Authors: Pei Ziting , Wang Xuhui , Yue Xingye
Published: April 2021

G-expected shortfall (G-ES), which is a new type of worst-case expected shortfall (ES), is defined as measuring risk under infinite distributions induced by volatility uncertainty. Compared with extant notions of the worst-case ES, the G-ES can be computed using an explicit formula with low computational cost. We also conduct backtests for the G-ES. The empirical analysis demonstrates that the G-ES is a reliable risk measure.
Research on Stochastic Resonance Detection Method for Periodic Signals under Low SNR and α-Stable Noise
Authors: Li Zhaorui , Wu Xiaobei , Liu Guangkai , Guo Baofeng , Chen Bohang
Published: April 2021

In Dual Sequence Frequency Hopping (DSFH) communication mode, aiming at improving the detection performance to weak signal under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions, stochastic resonance (SR) detection method is proposed. First, the α-stable distribution is used as the impulsive noise model and the influence of α value on the properties of α-stable noise is analyzed. Second, the transmitting and receiving signal model of DSFH communication system is introduced. The SR method is used to detect DSFH signal. In order to analyze the output signal, the fractional Fokker–Planck equation (FFPE) is established, and a new simplified solution method based on sampling decision time is proposed to solve the time-varying fractional differential equation. Base on the theoretical solution of FFPE, a binary hypothesis test statistic is constructed to quantify the signal detection probability and false alarm probability, and the detection performance is analyzed. Finally, simulation experiments verify the theoretical conclusions. The minimum effective SNR for SR detection is obtained, and it is about −20 dB, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of SR in the DSFH communication system.
Fisetin Alleviates Neointimal Hyperplasia via PPARγ/PON2 Antioxidative Pathway in SHR Rat Artery Injury Model
Authors: Pei Fang , Pei Hua , Su Chunhua , Du Lin , Wang Jifen , Xie Fusheng , Yin Qi , Gao Zhao
Published: April 2021

The phenotypic transformation of proliferation and migration in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from media to intima is the basic pathology of neointimal hyperplasia after angioplasty in hypertensive patients. Angiotensin II (AngII) stimulates oxidative stress in VSMC, inducing VSMC proliferation and migration, which is a critical factor in both developments of hypertension and angioplasty‐induced arterial restenosis. Fisetin, a plant flavonoid polyphenol, has been reported to be antioxidative and potent senolytic. It is unknown whether fisetin would inhibit neointimal hyperplasia. Therefore, we investigated the role of fisetin in neointimal formation in vitro and in vivo. The rat thoracic aortic smooth muscle cells (A10 cells) stimulated by AngII were used as the in vitro neointimal hyperplasia model, where AngII significantly induced the proliferation and migration in A10 cells. We found that fisetin could dose‐dependently inhibit the effect of AngII via inducing the expression of an antioxidant, paraoxonase‐2 (PON2), whose overexpression could inhibit the proliferation and migration of A10 cells and downexpression by siRNA had the opposite effect. Furthermore, we found the mechanism of fisetin’s inducing PON2 expression involved PPARγ. Rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, could increase PON2 expression in A10 cells, while the PPARγ inhibitor prevented the effect of fisetin on PON2. The in vivo neointimal hyperplasia model was established 2 weeks after the carotid artery balloon injury in SHR rats. Administration of fisetin (ip 3 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks) right after the injury significantly increased PON2 expression in the artery, inhibiting ROS production, and efficiently reduced carotid neointimal hyperplasia. These results indicate that fisetin increases the expression of antioxidant PON2 via activation of PPARγ, reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting VSMC proliferation and migration, and alleviates neointimal hyperplasia after intimal injury. PON2 may be a potential therapeutic target to reduce arterial remodeling after angioplasty in hypertensive patients.