bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Draft Genome Sequences of Three Listeria monocytogenes Strains Isolated from Chicken Carcasses in South Korea
Authors: Lee Sangmi , Ryu Sangryeol
Published: February 2023

While
Listeria monocytogenes
is a foodborne pathogen of global concern, little is known regarding
L. monocytogenes
populations in Asia. We report the draft genome sequences of three
L. monocytogenes
strains from chickens in South Korea, which could facilitate understanding the genetic diversity of the regional
L. monocytogenes
population.
Complete Genome Sequences of Three
Limnohabitans
sp. (Lhab-A3) Strains, INBF002, TEGF004, and MORI2, Isolated from Two Lakes and a River in Japan
Authors: Ogata Yusuke , Watanabe Keiji , Takemine Shusuke , Shindo Chie , Kurokawa Rina , Suda Wataru
Published: February 2023

Freshwater bacterioplankton of the genus
Limnohabitans
represent a dominant group that has worldwide distribution. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of three
Limnohabitans
sp. (Lhab-A3 tribe) strains, i.e., INBF002, TEGF004, and MORI2, which were isolated from surface water samples from two shallow eutrophic lakes and a river in Japan.
Negative Linear or Unimodal: Why Forest Soil Fungal Latitudinal Diversity Differs across China
Authors: Song Wenchen
Published: February 2023

Latitudinal gradients of forest soil fungal biodiversity in China have been previously investigated; however, the results of these studies were inconsistent. In the present study, I reanalyzed the data from these studies on all forest types in China and showed that the differences in forest soil fungal latitudinal diversity were caused by the different environments of continents and islands, as well as by the inconsistency between different classification standards.
Ultrasensitive and Specific Identification of Monkeypox Virus Congo Basin and West African Strains Using a CRISPR/Cas12b-Based Platform
Authors: Chen Xu , Yuan Wei , Yang Xinggui , Shi Yuanfang , Zeng Xiaoyan , Huang Junfei , Wang Yi , Li Shijun
Published: February 2023

Monkeypox (MPX), a reemerging zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), causes a smallpox-like disease in humans. Early diagnosis is critical to prevent MPX epidemics. Here, CRISPR/Cas12b was integrated with LAMP amplification to devise a novel CRISPR-MPXV approach to achieve highly specific, ultrasensitive, rapid, and visual identification of MPXV Congo Basin and West African strains.
Effect of tRNA Maturase Depletion on Levels and Stabilities of Ribosome Assembly Cofactor and Other mRNAs in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Trinquier Aude , Condon Ciarán , Braun Frédérique
Published: February 2023

The passage of ribosomes across individual mRNAs during translation can have different effects on their degradation, ranging from a protective effect by shielding from ribonucleases to, in some cases, making the mRNA more vulnerable to RNase action. We recently showed that some mRNAs coding for proteins involved in ribosome assembly were highly sensitive to the availability of functional tRNA.
My approach to bowel ischaemia
Authors: Wong Newton ACS
Published: February 2023

Resections of ischaemic bowel are one of the most common pathology specimens yet are often viewed as unappealing and diagnostically unrewarding. This article serves to dispel both misconceptions. It also provides guidance on how clinical information, macroscopic handling and microscopic assessment—and especially the interlinking of all three—can maximise the diagnostic yield of these specimens. This diagnostic process requires recognition of the wide range of causes of intestinal ischaemia, including several more recently described entities. Pathologists should also be aware of when and why such causes cannot be discerned from a resected specimen and of how certain artefacts or differential diagnoses can mimic ischaemia.
2008 economic crisis impact on perinatal and infant mortality in Southern European countries
Authors: Doetsch Julia Nadine , Almendra Ricardo , Severo Milton , Leão Teresa , Pilot Eva , Krafft Thomas , Barros Henrique
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The study of crisis events provides important lessons to prepare for upcoming events. The Great Recession’s impact on perinatal health in Europe can provide relevant insights into the healthcare and social protection systems’ response to the protection of the health of the most vulnerable groups.

Objective

To assess time trends and international disparities in perinatal mortality rates (PMR) and infant mortality rates (IMR), following the Great Recession, and their association with socioeconomic indicators in Portugal, Greece, Italy and Spain.

Methods

Associations were assessed through generalised linear models for all four countries. A Poisson joinpoint regression model was applied to explore PMR and IMR trend changes between 2000 and 2018. Country disparities were analysed using mixed-effects multilevel models.

Results

IMR and PMR have decreased overall in the four selected countries between 2000 and 2018. Still, whereas in Spain, Italy and Portugal the decreasing pace was attenuated after 2009, in Greece a positive trend was found after the 2008 crisis. IMR and PMR were significantly associated with socioeconomic indicators in all four countries. National disparities in the evolution of IMR and PMR were significantly associated with most socioeconomic indicators between 2000 and 2018.

Conclusion

Our results confirm the impact of the Great Recession on PMR and IMR trends in all four countries, taking recurring associations between macroeconomic cycles, variations in mortality trends, macroeconomic volatility and stagnation of IMR and PMR into account. The association with socioeconomic indicators stresses the need to strengthen social protection and healthcare systems to better protect the population’s health from the earliest days.
Contribution of parental health to the subsequent social assistance entry of the family with children: a nationwide register-linked birth cohort study in Finland
Authors: Hiilamo Aapo , Keski-Säntti Markus , Räsänen Sami , Niemelä Mika , Lallukka Tea , Ristikari Tiina
Published: February 2023

Aim

Our aim in this paper was to estimate the contribution of different parental specialised health care diagnoses to the subsequent risk of entry into the social assistance system for families with children in the period 1998–2013.

Methods

We used longitudinal population-level register data consisting of all children born in 1997 in Finland and their registered parents (54 960 one and two-parent families with 801 336 observations in the period 1998–2013). Diagnoses assigned in public specialised healthcare and social assistance records were derived from nationwide administrative registers. Measures of parental socioeconomic status and previous diagnoses and the birth weight of the child were adjusted for in regression models which estimated the association between parental diagnoses and entry into the social assistance system in the following year.

Results

Families with a parent somatic diagnosis had a risk ratio of 1.4 for social assistance entry in the subsequent year of the diagnosis though substantial variation by diagnosis category was detected. Parent psychiatric diagnoses were linked to a higher, 3.01-fold risk of social assistance entry. Covariate adjustment reduced these risk ratios to 1.2 and 2.1, respectively. Some 2.9% of all social assistance entries may be attributed to parental psychiatric diagnoses while somatic health records account for another 7.2%, making their total contribution over 1/10th of all cases.

Conclusion

Parental specialised healthcare records were associated with a higher risk of social assistance need. Thus more interventions to support financial management are required for parents with psychiatric diagnoses.
Frontotemporal dementia presentation in patients with heterozygous p.H157Y variant ofTREM2
Authors: Ogonowski Natalia , Santamaria-Garcia Hernando , Baez Sandra , Lopez Andrea , Laserna Andrés , Garcia-Cifuentes Elkin , Ayala-Ramirez Paola , Zarante Ignacio , Suarez-Obando Fernando , Reyes Pablo , Kauffman Marcelo , Cochran Nick , Schulte Michael , Sirkis Daniel W , Spina Salvatore , Yokoyama Jennifer S , Miller Bruce L , Kosik Kenneth S , Matallana Diana , Ibáñez Agustín
Published: February 2023

Background

The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2) is a major regulator of neuroinflammatory processes in neurodegeneration. To date, the p.H157Y variant ofTREM2has been reported only in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we report three patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) from three unrelated families with heterozygous p.H157Y variant ofTREM2: two patients from Colombian families (study 1) and a third Mexican origin case from the USA (study 2).

Methods

To determine if the p.H157Y variant might be associated with a specific FTD presentation, we compared in each study the cases with age-matched, sex-matched and education-matched groups—a healthy control group (HC) and a group with FTD with neitherTREM2mutations nor family antecedents (Ng-FTD and Ng-FTD-MND).

Results

The two Colombian cases presented with early behavioural changes, greater impairments in general cognition and executive function compared with both HC and Ng-FTD groups. These patients also exhibited brain atrophy in areas characteristic of FTD. Furthermore, TREM2 cases showed increased atrophy compared with Ng-FTD in frontal, temporal, parietal, precuneus, basal ganglia, parahippocampal/hippocampal and cerebellar regions. The Mexican case presented with FTD and motor neuron disease (MND), showing grey matter reduction in basal ganglia and thalamus, and extensive TDP-43 type B pathology.

Conclusion

In all TREM2 cases, multiple atrophy peaks overlapped with the maximum peaks ofTREM2gene expression in crucial brain regions including frontal, temporal, thalamic and basal ganglia areas. These results provide the first report of an FTD presentation potentially associated with the p.H157Y variant with exacerbated neurocognitive impairments.
Timing of physical activity across adulthood on later-life cognition: 30 years follow-up in the 1946 British birth cohort
Authors: James Sarah-Naomi , Chiou Yu-Jie , Fatih Nasri , Needham Louisa P , Schott Jonathan M , Richards Marcus
Published: February 2023

Background

To assess how timing, frequency and maintenance of being physically active, spanning over 30 years in adulthood, is associated with later-life cognitive function.

Methods

Participants (n=1417, 53% female) were from the prospective longitudinal cohort study, 1946 British birth cohort. Participation in leisure time physical activity was reported five times between ages 36 and 69, categorised into: not active (no participation in physical activity/month); moderately active (participated 1–4 times/month); most active (participated 5 or more times/month). Cognition at age 69 was assessed by tests of cognitive state (Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III), verbal memory (word learning test) and processing speed (visual search speed).

Results

Being physically active, at all assessments in adulthood, was associated with higher cognition at age 69. For cognitive state and verbal memory, the effect sizes were similar across all adult ages, and between those who were moderately and most physically active. The strongest association was between sustained cumulative physical activity and later-life cognitive state, in a dose-response manner. Adjusting for childhood cognition, childhood socioeconomic position and education largely attenuated these associations but results mainly remained significant at the 5% level.

Conclusions

Being physically active at any time in adulthood, and to any extent, is linked with higher later-life cognitive state, but lifelong maintenance of physical activity was most optimal. These relationships were partly explained by childhood cognition and education, but independent of cardiovascular and mental health and APOE-E4, suggestive of the importance of education on the lifelong impacts of physical activity.
Occupational risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide register-based study of the Danish workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020–2021
Authors: Bonde Jens Peter Ellekilde , Begtrup Luise Moelenberg , Jensen Johan Høy , Flachs Esben Meulengracht , Schlünssen Vivi , Kolstad Henrik A , Jakobsson Kristina , Nielsen Christel , Nilsson Kerstin , Rylander Lars , Vilhelmsson Andreas , Petersen Kajsa Kirstine Ugelvig , Soegaard Toettenborg Sandra
Published: February 2023

Objective

Most earlier studies on occupational risk of COVID-19 covering the entire workforce are based on relatively rare outcomes such as hospital admission and mortality. This study examines the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection by occupational group based on real-time PCR (RT-PCR) tests.

Methods

The cohort includes 2.4 million Danish employees, 20–69 years of age. All data were retrieved from public registries. The incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of first-occurring positive RT-PCR test from week 8 of 2020 to week 50 of 2021 were computed by Poisson regression for each four-digit Danish Version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations job code with more than 100 male and 100 female employees (n=205). Occupational groups with low risk of workplace infection according to a job exposure matrix constituted the reference group. Risk estimates were adjusted by demographic, social and health characteristics including household size, completed COVID-19 vaccination, pandemic wave and occupation-specific frequency of testing.

Results

IRRs of SARS-CoV-2 infection were elevated in seven healthcare occupations and 42 occupations in other sectors, mainly social work activities, residential care, education, defence and security, accommodation and transportation. No IRRs exceeded 2.0. The relative risk in healthcare, residential care and defence/security declined across pandemic waves. Decreased IRRs were observed in 12 occupations.

Discussion

We observed a modestly increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among employees in numerous occupations, indicating a large potential for preventive actions. Cautious interpretation of observed risk in specific occupations is needed because of methodological issues inherent in analyses of RT-PCR test results and because of multiple statistical tests.
Anticholinergic syndrome: blurred vision and headache
Authors: McAnena Lisa , Plant Gordon T , Wong Sui Hsien
Published: February 2023

A young woman presented with blurred vision due to anticholinergic syndrome. We highlight the importance of considering this condition in the context of multiple medications and increased anticholinergic burden. The documented pupil abnormality gives an opportunity to review the syndrome of the reverse (inverse) Argyll Robertson pupil (preserved pupil light response with loss of accommodation). We review other situations in which the reverse Argyll Robertson pupil may occur and its possible mechanism in this case.
Real-life efficacy and safety of nintedanib in systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease: data from an Italian multicentre study
Authors: Campochiaro Corrado , De Luca Giacomo , Lazzaroni Maria-Grazia , Armentaro Giuseppe , Spinella Amelia , Vigone Barbara , Ruaro Barbara , Stanziola Anna , Benfaremo Devis , De Lorenzis Enrico , Moccaldi Beatrice , Bosello Silvia Laura , Cuomo Giovanna , Beretta Lorenzo , Zanatta Elisabetta , Giuggioli Dilia , Del Papa Nicoletta , Airo Paolo , Confalonieri Marco , Moroncini Gianluca , Dagna Lorenzo , Matucci-Cerinic Marco
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Nintedanib (NTD) has been shown to be effective in systemic sclerosis (SSc)-interstitial lung disease (ILD). Here we describe the efficacy and safety of NTD in a real-life setting.

Methods

Patients with SSc-ILD treated with NTD were retrospectively evaluated at 12 months prior to NTD introduction; at baseline and at 12 months after NTD introduction. The following parameters were recorded: SSc clinical features, NTD tolerability, pulmonary function tests and modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS).

Results

90 patients with SSc-ILD (65% female, mean age 57.6±13.4 years, mean disease duration 8.8±7.6 years) were identified. The majority were positive for anti-topoisomerase I (75%) and 77 (85%) patients were on immunosuppressants. A significant decline in %predicted forced vital capacity (%pFVC) in the 12 months prior to NTD introduction was observed in 60%. At 12 months after NTD introduction, follow-up data were available for 40 (44%) patients and they showed a stabilisation in %pFVC (64±14 to 62±19, p=0.416). The percentage of patients with significant lung progression at 12 months was significantly lower compared with the previous 12 months (60% vs 17.5%, p=0.007). No significant mRSS change was observed. Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects were recorded in 35 (39%) patients. After a mean time of 3.6±3.1 months, NTD was maintained after dose adjustment in 23 (25%) patients. In nine (10%) patients, NTD was stopped after a median time of 4.5 (1–6) months. During the follow-up, four patients died.

Conclusions

In a real-life clinical scenario, NTD, in combination with immunosuppressants, may stabilise lung function. GI side effects are frequent and NTD dose adjustment may be necessary to retain the drug in patients with SSc-ILD.
Vaping in a heavily regulated setting: cross-sectional survey of e-cigarette use, perceptions and social media exposure
Authors: Ng Lionel , Ng Xian Yi , van der Eijk Yvette
Published: February 2023

Background

Singapore has completely banned e-cigarettes and the government’s cautious stance against vaping has been consistent. Despite this, vaping appears to have gained popularity in Singapore, especially among younger people. With the heavy marketing of vaping products on social media, it is possible that such marketing, due to its cross-border nature, is reaching younger Singaporeans and driving changes in vaping-related perceptions or behaviours. This study examines their exposure to vaping-related content on social media, and whether such exposure is associated with more positive perceptions of vaping or e-cigarette ever use.

Methods

Analysis of cross-sectional survey data of 550 adult (age 21–40 years) Singaporeans recruited via convenience methods in May 2022, using descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multiple linear and logistic regression models.

Results

16.9% of participants reported they had ever used e-cigarettes. 18.5% of those who used social media recalled seeing vaping-related content on a social media platform in the past 6 months, mostly from influencers or friends, and on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and/or YouTube. Reporting exposure to such content was not associated with e-cigarette ever use. It was associated with having a more positive overall perception of vaping (β=1.47; 95% CI: 0.17 to 2.78), although no significant difference was observed when examining only health-related perceptions.

Conclusion

Even in a heavily regulated environment such as Singapore’s, people appear to be exposed to vaping-related content on social media platforms and this exposure is, in turn, associated with more positive perceptions of vaping, but not e-cigarette ever use.
Novel rational solitons and generalized breathers for (1+1)-dimensional longitudinal wave equation
Authors: Rizvi Syed T. R. , Seadawy Aly R. , Ahmed Sarfaraz , Ashraf Farrah
Published: February 2023

This paper deals with the evaluation of multiwave, homoclinic breather, M-shaped rational solitons and interaction of M-shaped rational solitons with single and double kinks for [Formula: see text]-dimensional longitudinal wave equation via the logarithmic transformation and symbolic computation with ansatz functions method. We will obtain two types of M-shaped rational solitons and their dynamics are revealed in figures by choosing the distinct values of involved parameters. In addition, two forms of interaction of M-shaped rational soliton with kink wave will also be evaluated. Furthermore, we will compute kink cross-rational solutions, periodic cross-rational solutions, generalized breathers and Akhmediev breathers for governing model. The solitons behaviors via different values of parameters in the produced solutions will be analyzed.
Coupled Monte Carlo–Deterministic simulation of thermal behavior of graphene on substrate
Authors: Coco Marco
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this paper is to study thermal effects in a graphene sheet on substrate. The temperature evolution of the phonon branches and of the crystal lattice is obtained when also the presence of the substrate is taken into account. The numerical strategy is based on the coupling of stochastic and deterministic numerical methods; Boltzmann equation for charge transport is treated by using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo approach, whose results are treated as source terms for the phonon Boltzmann equation which is solved deterministically. The results are useful also for applications as correct design of graphene-based prototypes, when heating effects in the presence of a substrate are relevant.
Contribution of HADES URL to the development of the Cigéo project, the French industrial centre for geological disposal of high-level and long-lived intermediate-level radioactive waste in a deep clay formation
Authors: Armand Gilles , Plas Fréderic , Talandier Jean , Dizier Arnaud , Li Xiang Ling , Levasseur Severine
Published: February 2023

In the 1980s, HADES (High-Activity Disposal Experimental Site) was the first underground research laboratory (URL) dedicated to the study of the geological disposal of radioactive waste in a deep clay formation, the Boom Clay. It was not until the early 2000s, after a siting process, that ANDRA implemented the Meuse/Haute-Marne URL, in the Callovo-Oxfordian formation at a depth of about 500 m in order to develop the Cigéo project (French industrial centre for geological disposal). ANDRA therefore relied heavily on the work carried out in HADES, through numerous co-operation projects (participation in
in situ
experiments) both between ANDRA and ONDRAF/NIRAS and SCK CEN (EURIDICE) and/or with Mont Terri consortium, and within European projects (CLIPEX, RESEAL, etc.). This was driven by a dual objective: (1) to prepare its own experimental programmes in the Meuse/Haute-Marne underground laboratory (methodology, experimental devices and protocols, etc.); and (2) to acquire general knowledge on the behaviour of argillaceous rocks, in particular in terms of similarity and differences between the various argillaceous rocks. This paper illustrates the contribution of HADES to the ANDRA programme. This concerns the characterization of the claystone behaviour, host rock and swelling clay-based seals (hydromechanical, thermo-hydromechanical, excavation damaged zone, etc.), and the design and the behaviour of underground structures and seals in deep clay formation (constructability, lining/support, etc.).
Rule Based Fuzzy Computing Approach on Self-Supervised Sentiment Polarity Classification with Word Sense Disambiguation in Machine Translation for Hindi Language
Authors: Chauhan Shweta , Shet Jayashree Premkumar , Beram Shehab Mohamed , Jagota Vishal , Dighriri Mohammed , Ahmad Mohd Wazih , Hossain Md Shamim , Rizwan Ali
Published: February 2023

With increasing globalization, communication among people of diverse cultural backgrounds is also taking place to a very large extent in the present era. Issues like language diversity in various parts of the world can lead to hindrance in communication. The usage of social media and user-generated material has grown at an exponential rate and existing supervised sentiment polarity classification techniques need labelling for the training dataset. In this study, two problems have been analyzed. First, sentiment analysis of the Twitter dataset and sense disambiguation of morphologically rich Hindi language. A rule-based fuzzy logics-based system for self-supervised sentiment classification was used to compute and analyze the self-supervised or completely unsupervised sentiment categorization of a social-media dataset using three types of lexicons.  The combination of fuzzy with three different types of lexicons gives sentiment analysis a new path. The unsupervised fuzzy rules integrate the fuzziness of both negative as well as positive scores, and fuzzy logic-based systems can cope with ambiguity and vagueness. The fuzzy-system uses an unsupervised/self-supervised fuzzy rule-based technique to identify text using
natural language processing (NLP)
and sense of word. We compared the results of fuzzy rule based self-supervised sentiment classification by using three types of lexicons on five different datasets, with unsupervised as well as supervised sentiment classification techniques. Second, using cross-lingual sense embedding rather than cross-lingual word embedding resolves the ambiguity issue. The word sense embeddings are produced for the source languages to learn multiple or various senses of the words. Different evaluation metrics depict an improved performance for English-Hindi language.
Intermediate Value Linearizability: A Quantitative Correctness Criterion
Authors: Rinberg Arik , Keidar Idit
Published: February 2023

Big data processing systems often employ batched updates and data sketches to estimate certain properties of large data. For example, a
CountMin sketch
approximates the frequencies at which elements occur in a data stream, and a
batched counter
counts events in batches. This article focuses on correctness criteria for concurrent implementations of such objects. Specifically, we consider
quantitative
objects, whose return values are from an ordered domain, with a particular emphasis on
(ε,δ)-bounded
objects that estimate a numerical quantity with an error of at most ε with probability at least 1 - δ.

The de facto correctness criterion for concurrent objects is linearizability. Intuitively, under linearizability, when a read overlaps an update, it must return the object’s value either before the update or after it. Consider, for example, a single batched increment operation that counts three new events, bumping a batched counter’s value from 7 to 10. In a linearizable implementation of the counter, a read overlapping this update must return either 7 or 10. We observe, however, that in typical use cases, any
intermediate
value between 7 and 10 would also be acceptable. To capture this additional degree of freedom, we propose
Intermediate Value Linearizability (IVL)
, a new correctness criterion that relaxes linearizability to allow returning intermediate values, for instance, 8 in the example above. Roughly speaking, IVL allows reads to return any value that is bounded between two return values that are legal under linearizability.

A key feature of IVL is that we can prove that concurrent IVL implementations of (ε,δ)-bounded objects are themselves (ε,δ)-bounded. To illustrate the power of this result, we give a straightforward and efficient concurrent implementation of an (ε,δ)-bounded CountMin sketch, which is IVL (albeit not linearizable).

We present four examples for IVL objects, each showcasing a different way of using IVL. The first is a simple wait-free IVL batched counter, with
O
(1) step complexity for update. The next considers an (ε,δ)-bounded CountMin sketch and further shows how to relax IVL using the notion of
r
-relaxation. Our third example is a non-atomic iterator over a data structure. In this example, we augment the data structure with an
auxiliary history variable
state that includes “tombstones” for items deleted from the data structure. Here, IVL semantics are required at the augmented level. Finally, using a
priority queue
, we show that some objects require IVL to be paired with other correctness criteria; indeed, a natural correctness notion for a concurrent priority queue is IVL coupled with sequential consistency.

Last, we show that IVL allows for inherently cheaper implementations than linearizable ones. In particular, we show a lower bound of Ω (
n
) on the step complexity of the update operation of any wait-free linearizable batched counter from single-writer multi-reader registers, which is more expensive than our
O
(1) IVL implementation.
FaaSLight
: General Application-level Cold-start Latency Optimization for Function-as-a-Service in Serverless Computing
Authors: Liu Xuanzhe , Wen Jinfeng , Chen Zhenpeng , Li Ding , Chen Junkai , Liu Yi , Wang Haoyu , Jin Xin
Published: February 2023

Serverless computing is a popular cloud computing paradigm that frees developers from server management. Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) is the most popular implementation of serverless computing, representing applications as event-driven and stateless functions. However, existing studies report that functions of FaaS applications severely suffer from cold-start latency.

In this article, we propose an approach, namely,
FaaSLight
, to accelerating the cold start for FaaS applications through application-level optimization. We first conduct a measurement study to investigate the possible root cause of the cold-start problem of FaaS. The result shows that application code loading latency is a significant overhead. Therefore, loading only indispensable code from FaaS applications can be an adequate solution. Based on this insight, we identify code related to application functionalities by constructing the function-level call graph and separate other code (i.e., optional code) from FaaS applications. The separated optional code can be loaded on demand to avoid the inaccurate identification of indispensable code causing application failure. In particular, a key principle guiding the design of
FaaSLight
is inherently general, i.e.,
platform
- and
language-agnostic
. In practice,
FaaSLight
can be effectively applied to FaaS applications developed in different programming languages (Python and JavaScript), and can be seamlessly deployed on popular serverless platforms such as AWS Lambda and Google Cloud Functions, without having to modify the underlying OSes or hypervisors, nor introducing any additional manual engineering efforts to developers. The evaluation results on real-world FaaS applications show that
FaaSLight
can significantly reduce the code loading latency (up to 78.95%, 28.78% on average), thereby reducing the cold-start latency. As a result, the total response latency of functions can be decreased by up to 42.05% (19.21% on average). Compared with the state-of-the-art,
FaaSLight
achieves a 21.25× improvement in reducing the average total response latency.
Abrupt, but not gradual, motor adaptation biases saccadic target selection
Authors: Teunissen Lonneke , Selen Luc P. J. , Medendorp W. Pieter
Published: February 2023

Decisions between potential motor actions are influenced by their costs, but costs change when movements are adapted. Using a saccadic target selection task, we show that target preference shifts after abrupt, but not after gradual adaptation. We suggest that this difference emerges because abrupt adaptation results in target remapping, and thus directly influences cost calculations, whereas gradual adaptation is mainly driven by corrections to a forward model that is not involved in cost calculations.
Research on Demand Forecasting Information Sharing Strategy of Closed-Loop Supply Chain considering Advertising Effect
Authors: Li Liying , Hou Xinyu , Niu Lixia
Published: February 2023

Based on the uncertain market demand, this paper studies the sharing strategy of each main body of the closed-loop supply chain for demand prediction information and introduces the variable of advertising effect into the model. Firstly, this paper constructs a manufacturer-led Stackelberg game model based on a two-level closed-loop supply chain. Secondly, the manufacturer advertising mode and the retailer advertising mode are set up, and the influence of information sharing is discussed in each advertising mode. Finally, the conclusion and the proposition are verified by example analysis. The results show that in terms of advertising, manufacturers prefer retailers to undertake, and retailers’ willingness is related to the mode of information sharing. In order to achieve a “win-win” situation by sharing information, certain conditions should be met. The advertising effect is helpful to increase product demand, retail price, advertising investment level, and profits of manufacturers and retailers and also promote recycling activities. However, the impact on wholesale price will vary with different advertising subjects.
The Luciferase Immunoprecipitation System (LIPS) Targeting the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Is More Accurate than Nucleoprotein-Based LIPS and ELISAs for Mink Serology
Authors: Auer Agathe , Bortolami Alessio , Berguido Francisco J. , Bonfante Francesco , Terregino Calogero , Natale Alda , Fincato Alice , Colitti Barbara , Rosati Sergio , Lamien Charles E. , Cattoli Giovanni
Published: February 2023

Since anthropo-zoonotic outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in mink farms, it is important to monitor the seroprevalence within this population. To investigate the accuracy of nucleo (N) or spike (S) protein-based assays to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in animal serum, we compared four assays, two commercial N-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) validated for animal sera and two luciferase immunoprecipitation systems (LIPS-N and LIPS-S), to the reference standard plaque reduction neutralisation test (PRNT). Samples included in this study were derived from a naturally infected mink population. For the first time in this study, serum samples of mink were collected over a 307-day period, at different time points, thus providing an overview of performances of four different rapid serological tests over time. The assays were compared by performing a correlation analysis using R2, Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient, and Fleiss’ and Cohen’s kappa for analysis of agreement to PRNT, and an UpSet chart was created to visualize the number of shared positive samples between assays. Cohen’s kappa test on categorical data showed an excellent agreement between PRNT and LIPS-S, while agreements between PRNT and N-based methods decreased from fair for LIPS-N to poor agreements for the ELISA kits. In addition, LIPS-S revealed the highest number of true-positive SARS-CoV-2 samples compared to N-based methods. Despite an excellent agreement between LIPS-S and PRNT, a weak correlation was detectable between PRNT titres and relative light units. This study shows that the LIPS-S assay can be used for serological surveillance within a naturally exposed mink population, while N-based serological assays are less accurate providing a higher number of false-negative results, especially at a later stage of infection, thus indicating that N antibodies are less persistent in naturally exposed mink. Our findings provide crucial information for veterinarians and competent authorities involved in surveillance and outbreak investigation in wild and farmed minks.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Protects the Kidney from Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury by Suppressing the IκBα/NF-κB/IL-17C Pathway
Authors: Chen Yiwen , Xiong Yan , Luo Jun , Hu Qianchao , Lan Jianan , Zou Yongkang , Ma Qin , Yao Hanlin , Liu Zhongzhong , Zhong Zibiao , Ye Qifa
Published: February 2023

Objective. Ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) is an important cause of delayed functional recovery after transplantation. This study is aimed at investigating the molecular mechanism of ALDH2 in a kidney ischemia–reperfusion model based on RNA-seq. Methods. We performed kidney ischemia–reperfusion in ALDH2-/- and WT mice and evaluated kidney function and morphology using SCr, HE staining, TUNEL staining, and TEM. We used RNA-seq to compare mRNA expression in ALDH2-/- and WT mice after IR, and then, we verified the related molecular pathways by PCR and western blotting. In addition, activators and inhibitors of ALDH2 were used to alter the activity of ALDH2. Finally, we established a model of hypoxia and reoxygenation in HK-2 cells and clarified the role of ALDH2 in IR by interfering with ALDH2 and using an NF-κB inhibitor. Results. After kidney ischemia–reperfusion, the SCr value increased significantly, kidney tubular epithelial cells were damaged, and the apoptosis rate increased. In the microstructure, mitochondria were swollen and deformed, and ALDH2 deficiency aggravated these changes. The NF-κB pathway and IL-17 pathway were significantly enriched in ALDH2-/- mice compared with WT mice according to KEGG enrichment analysis of the RNA-seq data. The PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of IκBα and IL-17B, C, D, E, and F were significantly higher than those in the WT-IR group. Western blot verification results showed that ALHD2 knockdown resulted in increased phosphorylation of IκBα, increased phosphorylation of NF-κB, and increased expression of IL-17C. When we used ALDH2 agonists, the number of lesions and the expression levels of the corresponding proteins were reduced. Knockdown of ALDH2 in HK-2 cells resulted in a higher proportion of apoptotic cells after hypoxia and reoxygenation, but inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB prevented the increase in apoptosis and reduced the protein expression level of IL-17C. Conclusion. ALDH2 deficiency can lead to the aggravation of kidney ischemia–reperfusion injury. RNA-seq analysis and validation by PCR and western blotting revealed that this effect may be due to the promotion of IκBα/NF-κB p65 phosphorylation during ischemia–reperfusion caused by ALDH2 deficiency, which then leads to an increase in inflammatory factors, including IL-17C. Thus, cell death is promoted, and kidney IRI is eventually aggravated. We link ALDH2 deficiency with inflammation, revealing a new idea for ALDH2-related research.
Reanalysis of the Spin Direction Distribution of Galaxy Zoo SDSS Spiral Galaxies
Authors: Mcadam Darius , Shamir Lior
Published: February 2023

The distribution of the spin directions of spiral galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey has been a topic of debate in the past two decades, with conflicting conclusions reported even in cases where the same data were used. Here, we follow one of the previous experiments by applying the SpArcFiRe algorithm to annotate the spin directions in an original dataset of Galaxy Zoo 1. The annotation of the galaxy spin directions is carried out after the first step of selecting the spiral galaxies in three different manners: manual analysis by Galaxy Zoo classifications, by a model-driven computer analysis, and with no selection of spiral galaxies. The results show that when spiral galaxies are selected by Galaxy Zoo volunteers, the distribution of their spin directions as determined by SpArcFiRe is not random, which agrees with previous reports. When selecting the spiral galaxies using a model-driven computer analysis or without selecting the spiral galaxies at all, the distribution is also not random. Simple binomial distribution analysis shows that the probability of the parity violation to occur by chance is lower than 0.01. Fitting the spin directions as observed from the Earth to cosine dependence exhibits a dipole axis with statistical strength of 2.33

σ

to 3.97

σ

. These experiments show that regardless of the selection mechanism and the analysis method, all experiments show similar conclusions. These results are aligned with previous reports using other methods and telescopes, suggesting that the spin directions of spiral galaxies as observed from the Earth exhibit a dipole axis formed by their spin directions. Possible explanations can be related to the large-scale structure of the universe or to the internal structure of galaxies. The catalogs of annotated galaxies generated as part of this study are available.
Design and Management of Electricity Marketing Information System Based on Multisensor Fusion
Authors: Fu Runpeng , Liu Sufang
Published: February 2023

The electricity marketing management information system realizes the whole process of management from accepting customers’ electricity application to electricity bill recovery and from business processing to decision support. The electricity marketing management information system is a modern management tool for electric electricity enterprises to go to the market, expand the market, increase supply, expand sales, and provide customers with high-quality services. This paper has completed the following work: (1) described the development of domestic and foreign electricity marketing management information system and provided a theoretical basis for the design scheme proposed later. (2) The construction of the marketing system should focus on eight key points, establish a service-oriented architecture, plan the hardware platform in combination with the principles of advanced and practicality, and at the same time, apply multisensors to the marketing technology support system to improve the efficiency of data interaction. (3) According to the characteristics of the application software of the electricity marketing management information system, the software that runs between the components of the distributed, enterprise-wide C/S application or within the components is adopted. The performance of the software and hardware of the system is tested experimentally, and the results show that the electricity marketing information system has good performance.
The Laboratory and Semi-Field Larvicidal Effects of Essential Oil Extracted from Feronia limonia against Anopheles arabiensis Patton
Authors: Kweka Eliningaya J. , Mdoe France P. , Lowassari Norah N. , Venkatesalu Venugopalan , Senthilkumar Annadurai
Published: February 2023

This study intended to evaluate the larvicidal activity of Feronia limonia leaf essential oil against the wild population of Anopheles arabiensis Patton larvae in laboratory and semi-field environments. Larvae mortality was observed after 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of exposure. In laboratory condition, the essential oil showed good larvicidal activity against An. arabiensis (LC50 = 85.61 and LC95 = 138.03 ppm (after 12 hours); LC50 = 65.53 and LC95 = 117.95 ppm (after 24 hours); LC50 = 32.18 and LC95 = 84.59 ppm (after 48 hours); LC50 = 8.03 and LC95 = 60.45 ppm (after 72 hours), while in semi-field experiments, larvicidal activity was (LC50 = 91.89 and LC95 = 134.93 ppm (after 12 hours); LC50 = 83.34 and LC95 = 109.81 ppm (after 24 hours); LC50 = 66.78 and LC95 = 109.81 (after 28 hours); LC50 = 47.64 and 90.67 ppm (after 72 hours). These results give an insight on the future use of F. limonia essential oils for mosquitoes control.
An Analysis of the Clinical Medication Rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Based on Data Mining
Authors: Xu Dan , Lu Ming , Liu Ying , Chen Wansu , Yang Xiaole , Xu Min , Zhou Huifang , Wei Xiaoman , Zhu Yao , Song Qingxia
Published: February 2023

Objective. The aim of the present study is to investigate the rules and characteristics of the clinical administration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using data mining methods. Method. Medical cases of well‐known contemporary TCM doctors treating PCOS were collected from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, Wanfang, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and PubMed; the data were then characterized, and a standardized database of medical cases was built. This database was used to (1) count the frequency of syndrome types and the herbs used in medical cases by data mining methods and (2) analyze drug association rules and systematic clustering methods. Results. A total of 330 papers were included, involving 382 patients and a total of 1,427 consultations. The most common syndrome type was kidney deficiency; sputum stasis was the core pathological product and causative factor. A total of 364 herbs were used. Among them, 22 herbs were used >300 times, including Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae), Fuling (Poria), Xiangfu (Nutgrass Galingale Rhizome), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). Additionally, 22 binomial associations were obtained from the analysis of association rules; five clustering formulae were obtained via the analysis of high‐frequency drug clusters; and 27 core combinations were obtained by k‐means clustering of formula. Conclusion. In the treatment of PCOS, TCM is primarily employed as a combination approach involving tonifying the kidneys, strengthening the spleen, eliminating damp and dissolving phlegm, activating blood circulation, and resolving blood stasis. The core prescription is primarily a compound intervention based on the Cangfu Daotan pill, Liuwei Dihuang pill, and Taohong Siwu decoction.
Performance Optimization for Decode and Forward Cooperative Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Qin Dong , Wu Wufei , Zhou Tianqing
Published: February 2023

This paper considers the problem of optimizing the data rate of the cooperative cognitive system subject to the dual constraints of the interference threshold of primary users and power budget of secondary users. In particular, under a single constraint, the rate can reach its peak easily. But under the double restrictions, the peak rate problem becomes complicated and changeable. According to different interference conditions and power supplies, four scenarios are formulated: total interference threshold and total power budget, total interference threshold and separate power budget, separate interference threshold and total power budget, and separate interference threshold and separate power budget. Each scenario needs to be further divided into many situations for discussion due to the sheer particularity. Through careful comparison and classification, we summarize and formulate each situation one by one to achieve the optimal value of the rate. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that the proposed resource allocation policy represents the best compromise between enhancing the rate of the secondary users and satisfying the interference threshold requirements of the primary users.