bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stochastic monotonicity approach for a non-Markovian priority retrial queue
Authors: Boualem Mohamed , Touche Nassim
Published: January 2021

This paper considers a non-Markovian priority retrial queue which serves two types of customers. Customers in the regular queue have priority over the customers in the orbit. This means that the customer in orbit can only start retrying when the regular queue becomes empty. If another customer arrives during a retrial time, this customer is served and the retrial has to start over when the regular queue becomes empty again. In this study, a particular interest is devoted to the stochastic monotonicity approach based on the general theory of stochastic orders. Particularly, we derive insensitive bounds for the stationary joint distribution of the embedded Markov chain of the considered system.
Novel Approaches to Feasibility Determination
Authors: Solow Daniel , Szechtman Roberto , Yücesan Enver
Published: January 2021

This article proposes two-stage Bayesian and frequentist procedures for determining whether a number of systems—each characterized by the same number of performance measures—belongs to a set Γ defined by a finite collection of linear inequalities. A system is “in (not in) Γ” if the vector of the means is in (not in) Γ, where the means must be estimated using Monte Carlo simulation. We develop algorithms for classifying the systems with a user-specified level of confidence using the minimum number of simulation replications so the probability of correct classification over all
r
systems satisfies a user-specified minimum value. Once the analyst provides prior values for the means and standard deviations of the random variables in each system, an initial number of simulation replications is performed to obtain current estimates of the means and standard deviations to assess whether the systems can be classified with the desired level of confidence. For any system that cannot be classified, heuristics are proposed to determine the number of additional simulation replications that would enable correct classification. Our contributions include the introduction of intuitive algorithms that are not only easy to implement, but also effective with their performance. Compared to other feasibility determination approaches, they also appear to be competitive. While the algorithms were initially developed in settings where system variance is assumed to be known and the random variables are independent, their performance remains satisfactory when those assumptions are relaxed.
PolyDL
Authors: Tavarageri Sanket , Heinecke Alexander , Avancha Sasikanth , Kaul Bharat , Goyal Gagandeep , Upadrasta Ramakrishna
Published: January 2021

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have revolutionized many aspects of our lives. The use of DNNs is becoming ubiquitous, including in software for image recognition, speech recognition, speech synthesis, language translation, to name a few. The training of DNN architectures, however, is computationally expensive. Once the model is created, its use in the intended application—the inference task, is computationally heavy too and the inference needs to be fast for real time use. For obtaining high performance today, the code of Deep Learning (DL) primitives optimized for specific architectures by expert programmers exposed via libraries is the norm. However, given the constant emergence of new DNN architectures, creating hand optimized code is expensive, slow and is not scalable.

To address this performance-productivity challenge, in this article we present compiler algorithms to automatically generate high-performance implementations of DL primitives that closely match the performance of hand optimized libraries. We develop novel data reuse analysis algorithms using the polyhedral model to derive efficient execution schedules automatically. In addition, because most DL primitives use some variant of matrix multiplication at their core, we develop a flexible framework where it is possible to plug in library implementations of the same in lieu of a subset of the loops. We show that such a hybrid compiler plus a minimal library-use approach results in state-of-the-art performance. We develop compiler algorithms to also perform operator fusions that reduce data movement through the memory hierarchy of the computer system. Using Convolution Neural Network (CNN) models and matrix multiplication operations, we demonstrate that our approach automatically creates high performing DNN building blocks whose performance matches the performance of hand-crafted kernels of Intel’s oneDNN library on high end CPUs. At the same time, our techniques take only a fraction of time (1/20 or less) compared to AutoTVM, a deep learning auto-tuner to create optimized implementations.
Semiochemicals for Thrips and Their Use in Pest Management
Authors: Kirk William D. J. , de Kogel Willem Jan , Koschier Elisabeth H. , Teulon David A. J.
Published: January 2021

Thrips (Thysanoptera) are small insects that can cause huge problems in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry through feeding and the transmission of plant viruses. They produce a rich chemical diversity of pheromones and allomones and also respond to a broad range of semiochemicals from plants. These semiochemicals offer many opportunities to develop new approaches to pest management. Aggregation pheromones and plant-derived semiochemicals are already available in commercial products. We review these semiochemicals and consider how we can move away from using them mainly for monitoring to using them for control. We still know very little about the behavioral responses of thrips to semiochemicals, and we show that research in this area is needed to improve the use of semiochemicals in pest management. We also propose that thrips should be used as a model system for semiochemically mediated behaviors of small insects that have limited ability to fly upwind.
A Century of Synergy in Termite Symbiosis Research: Linking the Past with New Genomic Insights
Authors: Scharf Michael E. , Peterson Brittany F.
Published: January 2021

Termites have long been studied for their symbiotic associations with gut microbes. In the late nineteenth century, this relationship was poorly understood and captured the interest of parasitologists such as Joseph Leidy; this research led to that of twentieth-century biologists and entomologists including Cleveland, Hungate, Trager, and Lüscher. Early insights came via microscopy, organismal, and defaunation studies, which led to descriptions of microbes present, descriptions of the roles of symbionts in lignocellulose digestion, and early insights into energy gas utilization by the host termite. Focus then progressed to culture-dependent microbiology and biochemical studies of host–symbiont complementarity, which revealed specific microhabitat requirements for symbionts and noncellulosic mechanisms of symbiosis (e.g., N2fixation). Today, knowledge on termite symbiosis has accrued exponentially thanks to omic technologies that reveal symbiont identities, functions, and interdependence, as well as intricacies of host–symbiont complementarity. Moving forward, the merging of classical twentieth-century approaches with evolving omic tools should provide even deeper insights into host–symbiont interplay.
MSLp: Deep Superresolution for Meteorological Satellite Image
Authors: Zhao Liling , Yu Hao , Wang Yan
Published: January 2021

High‐resolution meteorological satellite image is the basic data for weather forecasting, climate prediction, and early warning of various meteorological disasters. However, the poor image resolution is limited for both subjective and automated analyses. Through our investigation and study, we found that the meteorological satellite image is a kind of complex data with multimodal and multitemporal characteristics. Fortunately, based on zero‐shot learning theory, the complexity of the meteorological satellite image can be used to enhance its own image resolution. In this work, we propose a novel framework called MSLp (Meteorological Satellite Loss phase). Specifically, we choose a zero‐shot network as a backbone and propose a phase loss function. A mapping from low‐ to high‐resolution meteorological satellite images was trained for improving the resolution by up to a factor of 4×. Our quantitative study demonstrates the superiority of the proposed approach over ZSSR and bicubic interpolation. For qualitative analysis, visual tests were performed by 7 meteorologists to confirm the utility of the proposed algorithm. The mean opinion score is 9.32 (the full score is 10). These meteorologists think that weather forecasters need higher‐resolution meteorological satellite images and the high‐resolution images obtained by our method have the potential to be a great help for weather analysis and forecasting.
Systematic Review: Guideline-Based Approach for the Management of Asthma and Subtypes via Chinese Medicine
Authors: Wong Lin Ho , Tay Louisa , Goh Robby Miguel W. J. , Tan Tai Joum , Zhou Ruishu , Ho Aaron Kwun Hang , Wong Pang Ong
Published: January 2021

Background. Asthma is a chronic condition that results in the inflammation and narrowing of airways, often clinically presenting as wheeze and shortness of breath. Little is known of the mechanisms of action (MOA) of herbs used to treat asthma. The aim of this study is to review existing data regarding known MOA of traditional Chinese medicine which will aid in the understanding of possible interactions between Western drugs and Chinese herbs as well as the standardization of management via a proposed guideline to improve patient safety and possible synergism in the long term. Methods. We searched through 5 databases for commonly prescribed herbs and formulas for asthma and narrowed down the search to identify the underlying MOA of individual herbs that could specifically target asthma symptoms. We included studies that stated the MOA of individual herbs when used for treating symptoms of asthma, excluding them if they are described as part of a formula. Results. A total of 26 herbs commonly prescribed for asthma with known mechanism of action were identified. Herbs used for asthma were found to have similar MOA as that for drugs. Based on existing GINA guidelines, a guideline is proposed which includes a total of 5 steps depending on the severity of asthma and the herbs’ MOA. 16 formulas were subsequently identified for the management of asthma, which consist of 12 “stand-alone” and 4 “add-on” formulas. “Stand-alone” formulas used independently for asthma generally follow the GINA guidelines but do not proceed beyond step 3. These formulas consist mainly of beta-agonist and steroid-like effects. “Add-on” formulas added as adjunct to “stand-alone” formulas, however, mainly act on T helper cells or have steroid-like effects. Conclusion. Through the understanding of MOA of herbs and their respective formulas, it will ensue greater patient safety and outcomes.
Voxel-Wise Brain-Wide Functional Connectivity Abnormalities in Patients with Primary Blepharospasm at Rest
Authors: Pan Pan , Wei Shubao , Li Huabing , Ou Yangpan , Liu Feng , Jiang Wenyan , Li Wenmei , Lei Yiwu , Tang Yanqing , Guo Wenbin , Luo Shuguang
Published: January 2021

Background. Primary blepharospasm (BSP) is one of the most common focal dystonia and its pathophysiological mechanism remains unclear. An unbiased method was used in patients with BSP at rest to observe voxel-wise brain-wide functional connectivity (FC) changes. Method. A total of 48 subjects, including 24 untreated patients with BSP and 24 healthy controls, were recruited to undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The method of global-brain FC (GFC) was adopted to analyze the resting-state fMRI data. We designed the support vector machine (SVM) method to determine whether GFC abnormalities could be utilized to distinguish the patients from the controls. Results. Relative to healthy controls, patients with BSP showed significantly decreased GFC in the bilateral superior medial prefrontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex (MPFC/ACC) and increased GFC in the right postcentral gyrus/precentral gyrus/paracentral lobule, right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), and left paracentral lobule/supplement motor area (SMA), which were included in the default mode network (DMN) and sensorimotor network. SVM analysis showed that increased GFC values in the right postcentral gyrus/precentral gyrus/paracentral lobule could discriminate patients from controls with optimal accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of 83.33%, 83.33%, and 83.33%, respectively. Conclusion. This study suggested that abnormal GFC in the brain areas associated with sensorimotor network and DMN might underlie the pathophysiology of BSP, which provided a new perspective to understand BSP. GFC in the right postcentral gyrus/precentral gyrus/paracentral lobule might be utilized as a latent biomarker to differentiate patients with BSP from controls.
BMO Functions Generated by

A

X

ℝ

n

Weights on Ball Banach Function Spaces
Authors: Wu Ruimin , Wang Songbai
Published: January 2021

Let

X

be a ball Banach function space on

ℝ

n

. We introduce the class of weights

A

X

ℝ

n

. Assuming that the Hardy-Littlewood maximal function

M

is bounded on

X

and

X

′

, we obtain that

BMO

ℝ

n

=

α
ln
ω
:
α
≥
0
,
ω
∈

A

X

ℝ

n

. As a consequence, we have

BMO

ℝ

n

=

α
ln
ω
:
α
≥
0
,
ω
∈

A

L

p

·

ℝ

n

ℝ

n

, where

L

p

·

ℝ

n

is the variable exponent Lebesgue space. As an application, if a linear operator

T

is bounded on the weighted ball Banach function space

X

ω

for any

ω
∈

A

X

ℝ

n

, then the commutator

b
,
T

is bounded on

X

with

b
∈
BMO

ℝ

n

.
Translating Unconventional T Cells and Their Roles in Leukemia Antitumor Immunity
Authors: de Araújo Nilberto Dias , Gama Fábio Magalhães , de Souza Barros Mateus , Ribeiro Thaís Lohana Pereira , Alves Fabíola Silva , Xabregas Lilyane Amorim , Tarragô Andréa Monteiro , Malheiro Adriana , Costa Allyson Guimarães
Published: January 2021

Recently, cell-mediated immune response in malignant neoplasms has become the focus in immunotherapy against cancer. However, in leukemia, most studies on the cytotoxic potential of T cells have concentrated only on T cells that recognize peptide antigens (Ag) presented by polymorphic molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This ignores the great potential of unconventional T cell populations, which include gamma-delta T cells (γδ), natural killer T cells (NKT), and mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT). Collectively, these T cell populations can recognize lipid antigens, specially modified peptides and small molecule metabolites, in addition to having several other advantages, which can provide more effective applications in cancer immunotherapy. In recent years, these cell populations have been associated with a repertoire of anti- or protumor responses and play important roles in the dynamics of solid tumors and hematological malignancies, thus, encouraging the development of new investigations in the area. This review focuses on the current knowledge regarding the role of unconventional T cell populations in the antitumor immune response in leukemia and discusses why further studies on the immunotherapeutic potential of these cells are needed.
Experimental Study on Main Physical Parameters Controlling Shear Strength of Unsaturated Loess
Authors: Tian Wen-tong , Dong Jian-hua , Sun Jun-jie , Yang Bo
Published: January 2021

It is particularly important to study the strength of unsaturated loess, and its accurate determination is crucial to the stability analysis of soil slope and foundation and calculation of earth pressure. In order to reveal the control mechanism of physical parameters on the shear strength of unsaturated loess, the intact and remolded loess were used as the research object; sandy silt, quartz flour, and quartz sand were used as contrast; the systematic direct shear tests of unsaturated loess, sandy silt, and quartz sand under different conditions of water content, dry density, and clay content were carried out. The results show that the cohesion, internal friction angle, and shear strength of unsaturated loess piecewise functionally decrease with the increase of water content, its shear strength increases linearly with the increase of dry density, and its internal friction angle shows an upward quadratic function relation with the increase of clay content. The law results of comparing sandy silt, quartz flour, and quartz sand with loess considering water content and dry density are the same; therefore, the equation of shear strength of unsaturated loess is proposed for practical engineering reference, and by the first derivative analysis of the equation, it is feasible to determine the control proportion of the three parameters on the shear strength of unsaturated loess. A stage‐like difference between the three control proportions is observed, depending on the combination variations of water content and clay content.
The Gut Microbiota and Its Relevance to Peripheral Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Cytokines in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhang Sheng-Xiao , Yin Xu-Fang , Zhang Ming-Xing , Qiao Jun , Xin Xiao-Hong , Chang Min-Jing , Gao Chong , Li Ya-Feng , Li Xiao-Feng
Published: January 2021

Growing experimental and clinical evidence suggests that a chronic inflammatory response induced by gut microbiome critically contribute to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous studies demonstrated the disturbance of lymphocyte subpopulations in RA patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of gut microbiome and the associations between bacterium and lymphocyte subpopulations as well as cytokines in patients with RA. Fecal samples from 205 RA patients and 199 healthy controls (HCs) were collected for bacterial DNA extraction and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. The levels of peripheral lymphocyte subpopulation such as T, B, CD4+T, CD8+T, NK, T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) of these subjects were detected by flow cytometry combined with standard absolute counting beads. The serum levels of cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (INF-γ) were tested by flow cytometric bead array (CBA). Alpha and beta diversity of gut microbiome were explored by bioinformatics analysis. Spearman rank correlation test was used to explore the relationships between gut microbiome and lymphocyte subsets as well as serum cytokines. The diversity and relative abundance of intestinal microbiota in patients with RA were significantly different from those in HCs. Detailly, the abundant of phylum Proteobacteria in RA patients was more than that in HCs, while Firmicutes was less than in HCs. There was increased relative abundance of genus Clostridium_XlVa as well as genus Blautia, more abundance of Ruminococcus2 in patients with lower levels of T, B, CD4+T, and Tregs. In addition, the relative abundances of Pelagibacterium, Oxalobacter, ClostridiumXlVb, and ClostridiumXVIII were correlated with cytokines. Gut microbiome of RA patients was clearly different from that of HCs. Abnormal bacteria communities are associated with the altered levels of lymphocyte subpopulation and cytokines, which might be one of the pathogenesis of RA.
Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes Associated with Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Comparative Study between Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients
Authors: Khalili Shayesteh , Sabaghian Tahereh , Sedaghat Meghdad , Soroureddin Zahra , Askari Elham , Khalili Neda
Published: January 2021

Background. The risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) development in patients with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19 have not been fully studied yet. In this study, we aimed to estimate the rate of AKI among the hospitalized population with COVID-19 and to identify the risk factors associated with AKI among patients with diabetes. Material and Methods. This retrospective cohort study included 254 patients (127 with diabetes and 127 without diabetes) who were admitted for COVID-19 to a tertiary hospital in Tehran, Iran, between February and May 2020. Clinical characteristics and outcomes, radiological findings, and laboratory data, including data on AKI, hematuria, and proteinuria were recorded and analyzed. Results. Of 254 patients, 142 (55.9%) were male and the mean (± SD) age was 65.7 years (±12.5). In total, 58 patients (22.8%) developed AKI during hospitalization, of whom 36 patients had diabetes (

p
=
0.04

); most patients (74.1%) had stage 1 or 2 AKI. Also, 8 patients (13.8%) required renal replacement therapy (RRT) after developing AKI. Regardless of diabetes status, patients who developed AKI had significantly higher mortality rates compared with patients who did not develop AKI (

p
=
0.02

). Hematuria and proteinuria were observed in 38.1% and 55% of patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that invasive mechanical ventilation, proteinuria, HBA1c level, history of cardiovascular disease, and use of statins were independent risk factors for AKI development in patients with diabetes. Conclusion. Results of this study showed that AKI develops in a considerable percentage of patients with COVID-19, especially in those with diabetes, and is significantly associated with mortality.
Appendicitis Secondary to Trauma following a Camel Kick: Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Toffaha Ali , Al-Yahri Omer , Hijawi Zainab , Al-Mudares Saif , Al-Tarakji Mohannad , Shahid Fakhar , Ali Syed Muhammad
Published: January 2021

Introduction. Independently, trauma and appendicitis are two of the most common conditions in surgical practice. Rarely, both conditions may coexist, which raises the controversy whether it is merely a coincidence or trauma may lead to acute appendicitis. Presentation of Case. We report a case of acute appendicitis after blunt abdominal trauma caused by a camel hoof kick to the abdomen in a young man and discuss the potential underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms with review of the pertinent literature. Conclusions. Blunt abdominal trauma caused by a camel kick to the abdomen requires a close observation of the patients. A camel kick may increase intra-abdominal pressure and cause internal organ injury including the appendix. Therefore, acute appendicitis should be considered in differential diagnosis in any patient with abdominal pain resembling appendicitis following blunt abdominal trauma.
Asymptomatic Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonia with Extensive HRCT Changes Preceding Sjogren’s Syndrome
Authors: Baharuddin Hazlyna , Hanafiah Mohammad , Aflah Syazatul Syakirin Sirol , Zim Mohd Arif Mohd , Ch’Ng Shereen Suyin
Published: January 2021

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) is a rare condition, commonly associated with Sjogren’s syndrome (SS). We report a 53-year-old woman with an incidental finding of an abnormal chest radiograph. LIP was diagnosed based on high-resolution computed tomography and lung biopsy, but treatment was not initiated. Six years later, she developed cough and dyspnoea, associated with dry eyes, dry mouth, and arthralgia. While being investigated for the respiratory symptoms, she developed cutaneous vasculitis and was treated with 1 mg/kg prednisolone, which resulted in the improvement of her respiratory symptoms. Physical examination revealed fine bibasal crepitations, active vasculitic skin lesions, and a positive Schirmer’s test. Investigations revealed a restrictive pattern in the pulmonary function test, stable LIP pattern in HRCT, and positive anti-Ro antibodies. She was treated with prednisolone and azathioprine for 18 months, and within this time, she was hospitalised for flare of LIP, as well as respiratory tract infection on three occasions. During the third flare, when she also developed cutaneous vasculitis, she agreed for prednisolone but refused other second-line agents. To date, she remained well with the maintenance of prednisolone 2.5 mg monotherapy for more than one year. The lessons from this case are (i) patients with LIP can be asymptomatic, (ii) LIP can precede symptoms of SS, and (iii) treatment decision for asymptomatic patients with abnormal imaging or patients with mild severity should be weighed between the risk of immunosuppression and risk of active disease.
Wearable Activity Tracking Device Use in an Adolescent Weight Management Clinic: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Authors: Bowen-Jallow Kanika , Nunez-Lopez Omar , Wright Alex , Fuchs Erika , Ahn Mollie , Lyons Elizabeth , Jupiter Daniel , Berry Lindsey , Suman Oscar , Radhakrishnan Ravi S. , Glaser Andrea M. , Thompson Deborah I.
Published: January 2021

Background. The use of physical activity tracker devices has increased within the general population. However, there is limited medical literature studying the efficacy of such devices in adolescents with obesity. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using wearable activity tracking devices as an adjunct intervention on adolescents with obesity. Methods. Randomized controlled pilot trial evaluated the feasibility (attrition ≤50%) of an activity tracking intervention (ATI) and its effects on weight loss in adolescents with obesity enrolled in an adolescent weight management clinic (AWMC). Outcomes included feasibility (attrition rate) and absolute change in BMI. Differences between groups at 6, 12, and 18 weeks were examined. Results. Forty-eight participants were enrolled in the study. Eighteen subjects were randomly assigned to the ATI group and 30 to control. The average age was 14.5 years. Overall, the majority of participants were Hispanic (56%). Sexes were equally distributed. The average baseline BMI was 37.5 kg/m2. At the study conclusion, the overall attrition rate was 52.1%, 44.4% in the ATI group versus 56.6% in the control group, with a differential attrition of 12.2%. The ATI and control groups each showed an absolute decrease in BMI of −0.25 and −2.77, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion. The attrition rate in our study was >50%. Participation in the AWMC by the ATI and control groups resulted in maintenance of BMI and body weight for the study duration. However, the use of an activity tracking device was not associated with greater weight loss. This trial is registered with NCT03004378.
circRNA circ_102049 Implicates in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression through Activating CD80 by Targeting miR-455-3p
Authors: Zhu Jie , Zhou Yong , Zhu Shanshan , Li Fei , Xu Jiajia , Zhang Liming , Shu Hairong
Published: January 2021

Emerging evidence has shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) and DNA methylation play important roles in the causation and progression of cancers. However, the roles of circRNAs and abnormal methylation genes in the tumorigenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are still largely unknown. Expression profiles of circRNA, gene methylation, and mRNA were downloaded from the GEO database, and differentially expressed genes were obtained via GEO2R, and a ceRNA network was constructed based on circRNA-miRNA pairs and miRNA-mRNA pairs. Inflammation-associated genes were collected from the GeneCards database. Then, functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of inflammation-associated methylated expressed genes were investigated using Metascape and STRING databases, respectively, and visualized in Cytoscape. Hub genes of PPI networks were identified using the NetworkAnalyzer plugin. Also, we analyzed the methylation, protein expression levels, and prognostic value of hub genes in PDAC patients through the UALCAN, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases, respectively. The circRNA_102049/miR-455-3p/CD80 axis was identified by the ceRNA network and hub genes. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the functions of circRNA_102049. The regulatory mechanisms of circRNA_102049 and miR-455-3p were explored by RT-PCR, western blot, and dual-luciferase assays. In the present study, twelve hub genes (STAT1, CCND1, KRAS, CD80, ICAM1, ESR1, RAF1, RPS6KA2, KDM6B, TNRC6A, FOSB, and DNM1) were determined from the PPI networks. Additionally, the circRNA_102049 was upregulated in PDAC cell lines. Functionally, the knockdown of circRNA_102049 by siRNAs inhibited cell growth, inflammatory factors, and migratory and invasive potential and promoted cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, circRNA_102049 functioned as a sponge of miR-455-3p and partially reversed the effect of miR-455-3p and consequently upregulated CD80 expression. Our findings showed that circRNA_102049 and methylated hub genes play an important role in the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and inflammatory response of PDAC, which might be selected as a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target for PDAC.
Text Semantic Classification of Long Discourses Based on Neural Networks with Improved Focal Loss
Authors: Jiang Dan , He Jin
Published: January 2021

Semantic classification of Chinese long discourses is an important and challenging task. Discourse text is high‐dimensional and sparse. Furthermore, when the number of classes of dataset is large, the data distribution will be seriously imbalanced. In solving these problems, we propose a novel end‐to‐end model called CRAFL, which is based on the convolutional layer with attention mechanism, recurrent neural networks, and improved focal loss function. First, the residual network (ResNet) extracts phrase semantic representations from word embedding vectors and reduces the dimensionality of the input matrix. Then, the attention mechanism differentiates the focus on the output of ResNet, and the long short‐term memory layer learns the features of the sequences. Lastly but most significantly, we apply an improved focal loss function to mitigate the problem of data class imbalance. Our model is compared with other state‐of‐the‐art models on the long discourse dataset, and CRAFL model has proven be more efficient for this task.
An Efficient Design of QCA Full-Adder-Subtractor with Low Power Dissipation
Authors: Gassoumi Ismail , Touil Lamjed , Mtibaa Abdellatif
Published: January 2021

The continuous market demands for high performance and energy-efficient computing systems have steered the computational paradigm and technologies towards nanoscale quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA). In this paper, novel energy- and area-efficient QCA-based adder/subtractor designs have been proposed. First, a QCA-based 3-input XOR gate is designed and then a full adder and a full subtractor are realized. The power consumption of the proposed design was tested via the QCAPro estimator tool with different kind of energy (γ = 0.5 Ek, γ = 1.0 Ek, and γ = 1.5 Ek) at temperature T = 2 in Kelvin. QCADesigner 2.0.03 software was applied to evaluate the simulation results of the proposed designs. The proposed design has better complexity than the conventional designs in terms of cell count, area, and power dissipation.
Deep Learning-Based Security Behaviour Analysis in IoT Environments: A Survey
Authors: Yue Yawei , Li Shancang , Legg Phil , Li Fuzhong
Published: January 2021

Internet of Things (IoT) applications have been used in a wide variety of domains ranging from smart home, healthcare, smart energy, and Industrial 4.0. While IoT brings a number of benefits including convenience and efficiency, it also introduces a number of emerging threats. The number of IoT devices that may be connected, along with the ad hoc nature of such systems, often exacerbates the situation. Security and privacy have emerged as significant challenges for managing IoT. Recent work has demonstrated that deep learning algorithms are very efficient for conducting security analysis of IoT systems and have many advantages compared with the other methods. This paper aims to provide a thorough survey related to deep learning applications in IoT for security and privacy concerns. Our primary focus is on deep learning enhanced IoT security. First, from the view of system architecture and the methodologies used, we investigate applications of deep learning in IoT security. Second, from the security perspective of IoT systems, we analyse the suitability of deep learning to improve security. Finally, we evaluate the performance of deep learning in IoT system security.
Evaluation of the Additives’ Behaviour to Determine the Best Modifier for Improving Asphalt Performance at High Temperature
Authors: Eldouma Ismail Bakheit , Xiaoming Huang
Published: January 2021

The current study aims to examine the physical and rheological properties at the high‐temperature range of 52, 58, 64, 70, 76, and 82°C, utilizing adjusted asphalt binders. Three kinds of asphalt modifiers were selected such as styrene‐butadiene‐styrene, ethylene vinyl acetate, and end of life tires. The selected additives were implemented with different contents ranging from 4% to 7% by the weight of neat asphalt. Various test methods have been established, such as ductility, viscosity, microscopic inspection, and dynamic shear rheometer experiments. Results proved that the percentage decrease in ductility was 93%, 91%, and 88% with regard to the adding of the end of life tires (ELTs), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and styrene‐butadiene‐styrene (SBS) additives, respectively. Outcomes also confirmed that viscosity was boosted from 0.411 Pa.s to 1.249, 1.0986, and 0.9785 Pa.s after adding 7% of ELTs, 7% of EVA, and 7% of SBS, respectively. The rutting parameter and complex shear modulus increased after modification, indicating the excellent performance of asphalt. The conclusions confirmed that the ELTs have fewer agglomerates and have good compatibility before ageing and excellent compatibility after the ageing process. Thus, the ELTs are deemed as efficient dispersion additive for avoiding separation during the storage and handling of the asphalt binder. Lastly, ELTs were accepted as the best enhancer for their positive influence on physical and rheological characteristics, which means higher quality amended bitumen would give higher resistance to permanent deformation.
Growth, Yield, and Sugar Content of Different Varieties of Sweet Corn and Harvest Time
Authors: Subaedah St. , Edy Edy , Mariana Kiky
Published: January 2021

The demand for sweet corn has increased largely because of its superior tastes compared with common corn. This research was conducted to analyze the growth and yield and sugar content of sweet corn seed on different varieties and harvest times. This research was conducted in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, from April to August 2018. The research was designed under a split-plot design. The main plot consisted of planting systems (single row and twin-row), whereas subplots consisted of three varieties (Bonanza, Talenta, and Master Sweet) and three harvest times (65, 70, and 75 days after planting). Variables measured consisted of plant height, cob length, cob weight, estimation of cob weight per hectare, and sugar content. Significant varietal differences were observed in plant height, cob length, cob weight, and sugar content. Master Sweet variety had the greatest plant height and cob length, whereas Bonanza variety produced the greatest cob weight, cob weight per hectare, and sugar content. Harvest time at 75 days after planting (DAP) produced the greatest plant height in the twin-row system, cob diameter, cob weight, and cob weight per hectare, whereas that at 65 DAP had the greatest plant height in control and sugar content. The twin-row system produced the greatest cob weight per hectare (22.33 ton/ha). This study recommends the use of Bonanza variety and harvest at 65 DAP to produce the greatest sweet corn cob per hectare.
Efficacy and Safety of Lenvatinib Therapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Real-World Practice in Korea
Authors: Goh Myung Ji , Oh Joo Hyun , Park Yewan , Kim Jihye , Kang Wonseok , Sinn Dong Hyun , Gwak Geum-Youn , Paik Yong-Han , Choi Moon Seok , Lee Joon Hyeok , Koh Kwang Cheol , Paik Seung Woon
Published: January 2021

Background: Lenvatinib has been recently approved as a first-line treatment option for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea. We aimed to study the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib therapy in a real-world practice and to find prognostic factors related to survival and disease progression. Methods: A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted on 111 consecutive patients who had unresectable HCC and were treated with lenvatinib at Samsung Medical Center from October 2018 to March 2020. Efficacy was determined using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) criteria in 111 patients who completed 1st tumor assessment. Safety was evaluated in 116 HCC patients including 5 patients who discontinued lenvatinib due to adverse events (AEs) before 1st tumor assessment using Common Terminology Criteria for AEs version 5.0. Results: A total of 111 patients with a median age of 59 years were analyzed during a median follow-up duration of 6.2 (4.4–9.0) months. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of overall survival was 10.5 months, and the median progression-free survival was 6.2 months. Based on mRECIST criteria, the objective response rate was 18.9% and disease control rate was 75.7%. AEs developed in 86/116 (74.1%) patients, and grade ≥3 AEs developed in 16/116 (13.8%) patients. Diarrhea, hand-foot skin rash, abdominal pain, hypertension, and anorexia were identified as the AEs with the highest frequencies of any grade. REFLECT eligibility criteria including tumor extent ≥50% liver occupation or inadequate bone marrow function and occurrence of anorexia were prognostic factors for survival, and occurrence of diarrhea was a favorable factor for disease progression. Conclusion: Lenvatinib therapy showed a favorable efficacy and safety in a real-world practice. The REFLECT eligibility criteria and specific AEs could be one of the prognostic markers.
Population Estimates of Hubbard’s Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur hubbardorum) at Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park, Madagascar
Authors: Martin Luke D. , Rowe Amanda K. , Nomenjanahary Eva S. , Montaño Serenity K. , Wright Patricia C. , Deppe Anja M.
Published: January 2021

Estimates of population size are fundamental to setting conservation priorities for threatened primate species. Many taxa in the lemur genus Lepilemur remain understudied, and basic population statistics are often dated, incomplete, or absent. Hubbard’s sportive lemur (Lepilemur hubbardorum) is known only from the Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park region in southwestern Madagascar. It is listed as Endangered by the IUCN owing to its fragmented, declining habitat and limited geographic range. However, this classification has not been confirmed through systematic population estimates. To address this issue, we undertook line transect surveys in the Zombitse parcel of the National Park. We applied geospatial analyses and data to quantify forest area as a proxy for L. hubbardorumhabitat. We recorded a total of 234 L. hubbardorum sightings over 18 survey nights, representing 47.2 km of survey effort. Our surveys revealed population densities of 145.6 L. hubbardorum individuals per km2 (95% CI: 97.2–218.1), for an extrapolated abundance estimate of ca. 16,500–18,000 L. hubbardorum individuals across the protected forests of the Zombitse parcel. This abundance estimate should be considered provisional, however, because our restricted sampling area did not include the more remote regions of the National Park where habitat disturbance and hunting practices have likely contributed to localized population declines.
Knowledge of Stroke Risk Factors and Signs in Parakou, a Northern City of Benin in West Africa
Authors: Agbetou Houessou Mendinatou , Hountada Hospice , Yahouédéou Bertrand , Choki Blaise , Kossi Oyéné , Adoukonou Thierry
Published: January 2021

Introduction: We aimed to determine knowledge of stroke risk factors and signs in an urban population of northern Benin. Methods: A door-to-door purposeful sampling survey was conducted in resident population (age ≥15 years) of the district of Titirou in the city of Parakou (N = 255,478) in Benin between March 15 and July 15, 2016. In-person interviews were conducted with data collection on structured questionnaires with close and open questions, according to standard definitions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess predictors of good knowledge, defined by provision of a correct response in pre-defined set of questions on stroke risk factors and warning signs. Results: Of 4,671 participants (mean age 27.7 ± 12.9 years; females 50.6%), only 404 (8.6%) knew at least 1 stroke risk factor. Knowledge level of stroke risk factors (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) was related to age (1.37, 1.27–1.48), level of education (2.54, 1.73–3.72), and family history of stroke (3.01, 2.08–4.26). Only 230 (4.9%) were able to cite at least 1 stroke symptom, and this knowledge was great with increasing age (1.04, 1.02–1.06), family (3.63, 2.41–5.49) and personal history of stroke (3.71, 1.86–7.42), and high level of education (4.35, 2.68–7.07). Conclusion: Knowledge of stroke risk factors and signs is low in northern Benin. Greater public education and awareness campaigns are required to address the burden of stroke.
COVID-19-Pandemie: Sicherheitsrichtlinien bei nicht-chirurgischen ästhetischen Eingriffen im Gesichtsbereich
Authors: Schulz Andrea
Published: January 2021

Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is expected to last for an extended time, making strict safety precautions for office procedures unavoidable. The lockdown is going to be lifted in many areas, and strict guidelines detailing the infection control measures for aesthetic clinics are going to be of particular importance. Methods: A virtual meeting was conducted with the members (n = 12) of the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery Focus Group to outline the safety protocol for the nonsurgical facial aesthetic procedures for aesthetic practices in order to protect the clinic staff and the patients from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The data analysis was undertaken by thematic and iterative approach. Results: Consensus guidelines for nonsurgical facial aesthetic procedures based on current knowledge are provided for three levels: precautions before visiting the clinic, precautions during the clinic visit, and precautions after the clinic visit. Conclusions: Sound infection control measures are mandatory for nonsurgical aesthetic practices all around the world. These may vary from country to country, but this logical approach can be customized according to the respective country laws and guidelines.
Kompressionstherapie: Wie nach der Sklerosierungsbehandlung die besten Ergebnisse erzielt werden können
Authors: Stücker Markus
Published: January 2021

Background: Sclerotherapy is considered to be the method of choice for the treatment of telangiectatic varicose veins (C1 veins). Whereas the use of compression stockings after sclerotherapy is recommended, little is known about the impact of compression on the outcome of sclerotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of compression on the outcome of injection sclerotherapy of C1 varicose veins. Methods: There were 100 legs of 50 consecutive patients with chronic venous insufficiency (C1) included. After randomization per patient, both legs were treated with sclerotherapy in a predefined area of the thigh (measuring 100 cm2), followed by eccentric compression for 24 hours. Group A received no further compression, whereas group B was additionally equipped with compression stockings of 18 to 20 mm Hg above the ankle and continued wearing these for 1 week. Photodocumentation was performed before, 1 week after, and 4 weeks after sclerotherapy, and the clinical outcome was assessed at these postprocedure follow-up dates. The photographs were reviewed by an internal unblinded rater and an independent blinded external rater. Results: There was no discernible difference between the groups in terms of clinical outcome or side effects after 4 weeks. Whereas inter-rater reliability was high, there was no correlation between the raters and patients in terms of outcome. In 55% of the treated legs, the patients deemed the result of the treatment to be good; in 27% of the treated legs, fair; and in 18%, poor. Postprocedure hyperpigmentation occurred in 13% of patients and was comparable in both groups. Compression therapy was found to be comfortable by the majority (58%) of patients. Conclusions: One week of postinterventional compression therapy had no clinical benefit compared with no compression.
The Importance of Molecular Diagnostics and Screening Programs in Monitoring
and Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer in the Republic of North Macedonia
Authors: Trpkovska Jovanka , Velickova Nevenka
Published: January 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant diseases (12 % of the total) that occurs with an incidence of 15 – 30 new cases per 100,000 population per year in European Union countries. The risk of this disease during life depends on many factors such as age, diet, physical activity, personal and family predisposition. Several preventive measures can reduce the number of colorectal cancer patients. First of all, the regular screening which allows the detection of precancerous polyps or cancer in the early stage and their successful surgical removal. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of screening programs as a preventive measure for the early detection of colorectal cancer and to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this disease. The strategy for improving the early detection of colorectal cancer also implies availability of useful information about the importance of screening programs for everyone as well as educating
health care staff about the program itself.
Number of newly registered colorectal cancer cases in 2009 in the Republic North Macedonia stands at 547 with a rate of 26.7 compared to 2018 with 839 newly registered cases with a rate of 40.4 which clearly indicates an increasing trend of colorectal cancer. Multidisciplinary approach to early detection of colorectal cancer, continuity of Program funding and quality of services will lead to reduction of morbidity and mortality of this type of cancer.