bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A forecasting of stock trading price using time series information based on big data
Authors: Nam Soo-Tai , Jin Chan-Yong , Shin Seong-Yoon
Published: February 2021

Big data is a large set of structured or unstructured data that can collect, store, manage, and analyze data with existing database management tools. And it means the technique of extracting value from these data and interpreting the results. Big data has three characteristics: The size of existing data and other data (volume), the speed of data generation (velocity), and the variety of information forms (variety). The time series data are obtained by collecting and recording the data generated in accordance with the flow of time. If the analysis of these time series data, found the characteristics of the data implies that feature helps to understand and analyze time series data. The concept of distance is the simplest and the most obvious in dealing with the similarities between objects. The commonly used and widely known method for measuring distance is the Euclidean distance. This study is the result of analyzing the similarity of stock price flow using 793,800 closing prices of 1,323 companies in Korea. Visual studio and Excel presented calculate the Euclidean distance using an analysis tool. We selected “000100” as a target domestic company and prepared for big data analysis. As a result of the analysis, the shortest Euclidean distance is the code “143860” company, and the calculated value is “11.147”. Therefore, based on the results of the analysis, the limitations of the study and theoretical implications are suggested.
A study on the development of joint tracking-based exercise contents technology for improving the strength of older people
Authors: Choi Donggyu , Kim Minyoung , Jang Jongwook
Published: February 2021

Currently, Korea's population is aging rapidly, and there is a lot of interest in the area of life in old age. Especially, as you get older, your ability to exercise gradually decreases, and you need to exercise continuously for your health. As a result, Korea older people exercise more than welfare powerhouse Japan. However, recently studies show that physical function lags even further. The results are based on a lack of diversity in motion. In Korea, people enjoy walking, hiking, and riding bicycles, but in Japan, there is a difference in the quality of exercise such as muscle-building exercise class, ball exercise, and underwater exercise. The old Korean ways of exercising are all high-intensity sports, but some do not know whether the purpose is for social club purposes. In this paper, real-time joint tracking using a single camera and deep learning was carried out to study the development direction of content that can measure or improve exercise ability to improve actual muscle strength.
Contrast-distorted image quality assessment based on curvelet domain features
Authors: Ahmed Ismail Taha , Der Chen Soong , Hammad Baraa Tareq , Jamil Norziana
Published: February 2021

Contrast is one of the most popular forms of distortion. Recently, the existing image quality assessment algorithms (IQAs) works focusing on distorted images by compression, noise and blurring. Reduced-reference image quality metric for contrast-changed images (RIQMC) and no reference-image quality assessment (NR-IQA) for contrast-distorted images (NR-IQA-CDI) have been created for CDI. NR-IQA-CDI showed poor performance in two out of three image databases, where the pearson correlation coefficient (PLCC) were only 0.5739 and 0.7623 in TID2013 and CSIQ database, respectively. Spatial domain features are the basis of NR-IQA-CDI architecture. Therefore, in this paper, the spatial domain features are complementary with curvelet domain features, in order to take advantage of the potent properties of the curvelet in extracting information from images such as multiscale and multidirectional. The experimental outcome rely on K-fold cross validation (K ranged 2-10) and statistical test showed that the performance of NR-IQA-CDI rely on curvelet domain features (NR-IQA-CDI-CvT) significantly surpasses those which are rely on five spatial domain features.
Developing an automatic brachial artery segmentation and bloodstream analysis tool using possibilistic C-means clustering from color doppler ultrasound images
Authors: Park Joonsung , Song Doo Heon , Kim Kwang Baek
Published: February 2021

Automatic segmentation of brachial artery and blood-flow dynamics are important for early detection of cardiovascular disease and other vascular endothelial malfunctions. In this paper, we propose a software that is noise tolerant and fully automatic in segmentation of brachial artery from color Doppler ultrasound images. Possibilistic C-Means clustering algorithm is applied to make the automatic segmentation. We use HSV color model to enhance the contrast of bloodstream area in the input image. Our software also provides index of hemoglobin distribution with respect to the blood flow velocity for pathologists to proceed further analysis. In experiment, the proposed method successfully extracts the target area in 59 out of 60 cases (98.3%) with field expert’s verification.
A method to convert non-numeric characters into numerical values in dynamic time warping for string matching
Authors: Park Hyun Jun
Published: February 2021

Dynamic time warping (DTW) is one of the well-known algorithms for measuring similarity between two temporal sequences, and it can be used for character matching. It uses a distance of two character strings. However, since the characters are non-numeric, it must be assigned to numerical values to calculate a distance between two character strings. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a method to convert non-numeric characters into numerical values in dynamic time warping for string matching. The proposed method uses normalized correlation coefficient, and it makes DTW gives more accurate results. Experimental results show that the proposed method gives excellent results.
Pine wilt disease spreading prevention system using semantic segmentation
Authors: Hwang Chulhyun , Jeong Jaean , Jung Hoekyung
Published: February 2021

Pine wilt disease is a disease that affects ecosystems by rapidly killing trees in a short period of time due to the close interaction between three factors such as trees, mediates, and pathogens. There is no 100% mortality infectious forest pests. According to the Korea Forest Service survey, as of April 2019, the damage of pine re-nematode disease was about 490,000 dead trees in 117 cities, counties and wards across the country. It's a fatal condition. In order to prevent this problem, this paper proposes a system that detects dead trees, early infection trees, and the like, using deep learning-based semantic segmentation. In addition, drones were used to photograph the area of the forest, and a separate pixel segmentation label could be used to identify three levels of transmission information: Suspicion, attention, and confirmation. This allows the user to grasp information such as area, location, and alarm to prevent the spread of re-nematode disease.
COVID-19, Intimate Partner Violence, and Communication Ecologies
Authors: Cannon Clare E. B. , Ferreira Regardt , Buttell Frederick , First Jennifer
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this research is to identify important predictors, related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, of intimate partner violence (IPV) and to provide insight into communication ecologies that can address IPV in disaster contexts. This study uses a cross-sectional design, with purposive snowball sampling, for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting the first week in April 2020. A total of 374 adults participated in the study. Logistic binary regression was used to identify key predictors among sociodemographic characteristics, stress related to COVID-19, and perceived stress of group membership for those who reported IPV experiences. A t test was used to statistically differentiate between IPV-reporters and non-IPV reporters based on perceived stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. Results indicated that respondents who reported renting, lost income due to COVID-19, and increased nutritional stress were all more likely to belong to the IPV-reporters group. These findings provide insight into additional stressors related to the ongoing pandemic, such as stress due to income loss, nutritional stress, and renting, and their likelihood of increasing IPV victimization. Taken together, these results indicate that additional communication resources are needed for those affected by IPV. Additional findings and implications are further discussed.
Evaluation of the MP Rapid 2019-NCOV IgM/IgG combo POCT test vs. an established platform-based method
Authors: Jassam N , Barth JH , Allgar V , Glover S , Stevenson F , Lauber N , Houghton V , Hanif Z , Child J , Clark B
Published: February 2021

Background

Accurate and rapid testing for SARS-COV-2 antibodies could improve the diagnosis and management of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a commercially available point-of-care lateral flow kit independently and in comparison to an established platform-based system.

Method

Samples from 144 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 130 pre-pandemic negative controls were tested in parallel by MP Rapid 2019-NCOV IgM/IgG Combo test and Roche Elecsys. Comparison of results based on serum and capillary blood testing was undertaken.

Results

Sensitivity at day 15 onwards was 100% for both methods. Between days 1 and 7 post admission, the IgM/IgG Combo test and Roche Elecsys shown sensitivity of 74% (95% CI: 62%-85%) vs. 67% (95% CI: 55%–79%, P =  0.3947). Combo test specificities were 100% for IgG, 98.5% for IgM vs. Roche Elecsys specificity of 100%. Concordance analysis showed 98.5% agreement to the Roche Elecsys method (Cohen’s Kappa 0.96 95% CI [0.92–0.99]). Capillary blood results showed complete agreement with serum samples using the Combo test.

Conclusion

In comparison to Roche Elecsys, our data show that the MP Rapid 2019-NCOV IgM/IgG Combo test provides a high-confidence assay system for the detection of previous exposure to SARS-COV-2 infection with advantage of affording near-patient testing.
Making Old People Work: Three False Assumptions Supporting the “Working Longer Consensus”
Authors: Ghilarducci Teresa
Published: February 2021

Pensions and social insurance—key parts of the welfare state—redistribute income and wealth across class by providing, or not providing, practical and legitimate access to basic income without requiring work for pay. Mistaken attention to generational equity and austerity economics creates a set of beliefs that older people should work more, forming what the article calls an emerging “Working Longer Consensus,” which is supported by three false doctrines. Using OECD data and secondary sources, the article counters each false doctrine by showing that healthy longevity gains are not distributed equally; there is no demonstrated trade-off between public spending for the elderly and children; and a greater supply of elder labor does not necessarily mean economic prosperity. The Working Longer Consensus, like the Washington Consensus, promises that pension austerity will yield economic prosperity.
The Contribution of Sense of Community to the Association Between Age-Friendly Built Environment and Health in a High-Density City: A Cross-Sectional Study of Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Hong Kong
Authors: Tang Jennifer Y. M. , Chui Cheryl H. K. , Lou Vivian W. Q. , Chiu Rebecca L. H. , Kwok Robin , Tse Michael , Leung Angela Y. M. , Chau Pui-Hing , Lum Terry Y. S.
Published: February 2021

Sense of community may be shaped by the quality of the physical environment and has potential health implications. Based on a survey of 2,247 community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults living in Hong Kong, we tested the mediation effect of sense of community on the relationship between the quality of the built environment and physical and mental health using path analysis. The quality of the built environment was indicated by the age-friendliness of outdoor spaces and buildings. No direct association was found between the built environment and health outcomes, although age-friendly outdoor spaces were associated with better mental health. Sense of community mediated 14% of the total effect between outdoor spaces and mental health and 44.8% of the total effect between buildings and physical health, underscoring the importance of accommodating the social needs of middle-aged and older people in urban development in high-density cities.
Same Personality, New Ways to Abuse: How Dark Tetrad Personalities Are Connected With Cyber Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Pineda David , Galán Manuel , Martínez-Martínez Ana , Campagne Daniel M. , Piqueras Jose A.
Published: February 2021

New technologies bring new forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) or abuse, such as cyber intimate partner violence (C-IPV). This is a contemporary issue with different consequences from in-person IPV. C-IPV is a complex phenomenon triggered by a number of factors, including personality traits such as the Dark Tetrad, composed of four “malevolent” qualities: subclinical narcissism, Machiavellianism, subclinical psychopathy, and everyday sadism. The Dark Tetrad plays an important role in predicting the perpetration or victimization of the resulting pervasive behaviors. Although the correlations between in-person IPV and the Dark Tetrad have been studied before, to our knowledge this investigation is the first to look at the links between these four dark personality traits and C-IPV. With a sample of 1,189 participants, we measured C-IPV victimization and perpetration rates and compared the results with the Dark Tetrad profiles of the respondents. To analyze these correlations, we conducted bivariate analysis and structural equation modeling. The analysis yielded positive relations of psychopathy and narcissism with cyber controlling behaviors. Psychopathy was found to be strongly related with direct cyber aggression behaviors; sadism was mainly related with C-IPV victimization in both controlling and direct aggression, and, finally and interestingly, Machiavellianism presented negative correlations with direct cyber aggression. Remarkable is that joining sadistic personalities increased vulnerability to victimization from C-IPV direct aggression, as well as more psychopathic traits and an increased probability of perpetration. These combinations may create dangerous situations. In conclusion, we found that both C-IPV perpetrators and victims present higher scores in the dark personality traits and gender-based differences than in-person IPV actors.
Nanopore sequencing as a rapid tool for identification and pathotyping of avian influenza A viruses
Authors: Crossley Beate M. , Rejmanek Daniel , Baroch John , Stanton James B. , Young Kelsey T. , Killian Mary Lea , Torchetti Mia K. , Hietala Sharon K.
Published: February 2021

We report whole-genome sequencing of influenza A virus (IAV) with 100% diagnostic sensitivity and results available in <24–48 h using amplicon-based nanopore sequencing technology (MinION) on clinical material from wild waterfowl ( n = 19), commercial poultry ( n = 4), and swine ( n = 3). All 8 gene segments of IAV including those from 14 of the 18 recognized hemagglutinin subtypes and 9 of the 11 neuraminidase subtypes were amplified in their entirety at >500× coverage from each of 16 reference virus isolates evaluated. Subgenomic viral sequences obtained in 3 cases using Sanger sequencing as the reference standard were identical to those obtained when sequenced using the MinION approach. An inter-laboratory comparison demonstrated reproducibility when comparing 2 independent laboratories at ≥99.8% across the entirety of the IAV genomes sequenced.
Sexual Feelings Toward Clients in the Psychotherapeutic Relationship: The Taboo Revealed
Authors: Vesentini Lara , Van Puyenbroeck Hubert , De Wachter Dirk , Matthys Frieda , Bilsen Johan
Published: February 2021

Talking about sexual feelings toward clients is still difficult for many mental health professionals. This is unfortunate, because exploring and talking about these feelings with peers (especially senior ones) or supervisors can help professionals to recognize, acknowledge, accept, and handle these feelings well. This focus group study explores the various factors that contribute to psychotherapists’ hesitancy to talk about these feelings. The analysis revealed two important impeding factors: the psychotherapists felt discomfortable and a safe environment was lacking. Young, less experienced psychotherapists and psychiatrists seemed to be most vulnerable. Furthermore, more profound sexual feelings were “disguised” in some cases by using a more acceptable narrative, such as “ intimate feelings,” which possibly also impeded acknowledgment and discussion of these feelings. These insights might help to open up the way for psychotherapists to explore and come forward with their sexual feelings and experiences.
The Journal of Orthodontics: A cross-sectional survey of British Orthodontic Society members
Authors: Jennings Rosalind , Seehra Jadbinder , Cobourne Martyn T
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To survey the opinion of British Orthodontic Society members on the Journal of Orthodontics.

Design:

Data collection involved an anonymous cross-sectional online SurveyMonkey™ questionnaire.

Methods:

An email invitation to complete the survey was sent to the 1842 members of the British Orthodontic Society on 9 June 2020 with a follow-up reminder on 15 July 2020. The invitation contained a brief description and online link to the questionnaire, which was active between 9 June and 9 August 2020. The 15-item questionnaire covered frequency of reading, preferred format, likes and dislikes, and what changes might improve the Journal. Data were analysed for the membership as a whole using simple descriptive statistics.

Results:

In total, 310 individuals completed the questionnaire, representing a response rate of 17% with 74.2% (n = 230) reporting reading at least one article per issue. The most popular way of reading the Journal (77.4%, n = 240) was through the distributed print copy. Overall, 63.6% (n=197) rated the Journal as excellent and 35.2% (n = 109) as satisfactory, with only 1.3% (n = 4) responding that it was poor. The scientific and clinical articles were the most popular aspect of the Journal and 90.3% (n = 280) of respondents felt the Journal content was relevant to their current clinical practice. Respondents were also given the opportunity to make additional free-text comments; and themes that emerged included a wish for more clinical content, more online interaction with authors through webinars and continued professional development.

Conclusion:

The Journal of Orthodontics is perceived as being relevant to current clinical practice by members of the British Orthodontic Society and has high-level satisfaction. There is a desire for more online interaction with the membership as part of its role within the society. However, the overall response rate was low and therefore a high risk of potential bias associated with this survey.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy: A Case of Comorbid PTSD, ADHD, and GAD
Authors: DiBacco Tabitha A. , Gaynor Scott T.
Published: February 2021

This case study displays the successful application of Prolonged Exposure (PE) for a client with diagnoses of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). To our knowledge ADHD has not been examined as a predictor or moderator of PE outcomes. As such, practitioners have precious little information about how to proceed in such cases, which highlights the importance of careful individual assessment and case conceptualization. There is also a dearth of information on the effects of combining PE (a research-supported psychological intervention for PTSD) with psychostimulant medication (a research-supported pharmacological intervention for ADHD). The present case study illustrates a positive synergy between psychostimulant treatment and PE. The unique adjustments made to deliver services (including in the face of COVID-19) are described as well as what this case suggests about the effects of psychostimulant use on PTSD symptoms and the new learning that occurs during PE.
Sting Negatively Regulates Allogeneic T-Cell Responses By Constraining Antigen-Presenting Cell Function
Authors: Wu Yongxia , Tang Chih-Hang Anthony , Mealer Corey , Bastian David , Sofi Mohammed Hanief , Tian Linlu , Schutt Steven Douglas , Choi Hee-Jin , Ticer Taylor , Zhang Mengmeng , Huang Lei , Mellor Andrew L. , Hu Chih-Chi Andrew , Yu Xue-Zhong
Published: February 2021

The endoplasmic-reticulum-resident protein STING (Stimulator of IFN genes) is a downstream signaling effector of cytosolic DNA sensor cGAS (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase). STING-mediated innate immune activation plays a key role in tumor- and self-DNA elicited anti-tumor immunity and autoimmunity, respectively, yet the mechanism remains largely unclear. We utilized murine models of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) to study the biology of STING in antigen-presetting cells (APCs) and T cells. STING expression in donor T cells was dispensable for their ability to induce graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a major complication of allo-HCT in the clinic. However, when STING-deficient mice were used as recipients, more severe disease was induced after allo-HCT. Using bone marrow (BM) chimeras where STING was absent in different compartments, we found that STING-deficiency on host hematopoietic cells (Fig. A), but not on non-hematopoietic cells, was primarily responsible for exacerbating the disease. Furthermore, STING expression on host CD11c+ cells played a dominant role in the regulation of allogeneic T-cell responses (Fig. B). Mechanistically, STING deficiency resulted in increased survival, activation and function of irradiated APCs, including macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs, fig. C-D). To further determine the role of STING in APCs, we generated a STING V154M knock-in mouse model, in which V154M mutation in TMEM173 causes constitutive activation of STING. Consistently, constitutive activation of STING attenuated the survival, activation and function of APCs isolated from STING V154M knock-in mice. In addition, STING-deficient APCs augmented donor T-cell expansion, chemokine receptor expression and migration into intestinal tissues (Fig. E), resulting in accelerated/exacerbated disease. Using pharmacologic approaches, we demonstrate that systemic administration of a STING agonist (c-di-GMP) to recipient mice before transplantation significantly reduced GVHD mortality (Fig. F). In conclusion, we report an inhibitory role of STING in regulating survival and T-cell priming function of hematopoietic APCs, especially CD11c+ cells, after allo-HCT. We validate that pharmacological activation of STING may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy to constrain APCs and induce immune tolerance.

Figure

Disclosures

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A high-efficiency wavefield decomposition method based on the Hilbert transform
Authors: Guo Xuebao , Shi Ying , Wang Weihong , Ke Xuan , Liu Hong , Chen Shumin
Published: February 2021

Wavefield decomposition can be used to extract effective information in reverse time migration and full-waveform inversion. The wavefield decomposition methods based on the Hilbert transform (HTWD) and the Poynting vector (PVWD) are the most commonly used. The HTWD needs to save the wavefields at all time steps or introduce additional numerical simulation, which increases the computational cost. PVWD cannot handle multiwave arrivals, and its performance is poor in complex situations. We have developed an efficient wavefield decomposition method based on the Hilbert transform (EHTWD). EHTWD constructs two wavefields to replace the original wavefield and the wavefield after the Hilbert transform. The first wavefield is obtained by using the dispersion relation to modify the frequency components. The other wavefield is obtained by time difference approximation. Therefore, there is a 90° phase change between the two wavefields. In EHTWD, we only need two wavefields at different moments, which avoids the need for additional numerical simulation. EHTWD is also suitable for wavefield decomposition in arbitrary directions. Compared to HTWD, the computational complexity can be greatly reduced with the decrease of the number of imaging time slices. The numerical examples of wavefield decomposition demonstrate that our method can realize wavefield decomposition in any direction. The examples of imaging decomposition and real data also indicate that EHTWD suppresses imaging noise effectively.
Innovative seismic imaging of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, Neves-Corvo, Portugal — Part 1: In-mine array
Authors: Brodic Bojan , Malehmir Alireza , Pacheco Nelson , Juhlin Christopher , Carvalho Joao , Dynesius Lars , van den Berg Jens , de Kunder Richard , Donoso George , Sjölund Tord , Araujo Vitor
Published: February 2021

To evaluate and upscale the feasibility of using exploration tunnels in an operating mine for active-source seismic imaging, a seismic experiment was conducted at the Neves-Corvo mine, in southern Portugal. Four seismic profiles were deployed in exploration drifts approximately 650 m beneath the ground surface, above the world-class Lombador volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit. In addition to the tunnel profiles, two perpendicular surface seismic profiles were deployed above the exploration tunnels. The survey was possible due to a newly developed prototype global positioning system (GPS) time transmitter enabling accurate GPS synchronization of cabled and nodal seismic recorders, below and on the surface. Another innovative acquisition aspect was a 1.65 t broadband, linear synchronous motor (LSM) driven — electric seismic vibrator (e-vib) used as the seismic source along two of the exploration tunnels. We have evaluated the challenges and innovations necessary for active-source tunnel seismic acquisition, characterized by high levels of vibrational noise from the mining activities. In addition, we evaluated the LSM vibrator’s signal and overall seismic-data quality in this hard rock mining environment. Our processing results from the tunnel data and 3D reflection imaging of the Lombador deposit below the exploration tunnels were checked for consistency through constant-velocity 3D ray-tracing traveltime forward modeling. For imaging purposes, 3D Kirchhoff prestack depth and poststack time-migration algorithms were used, with both successfully imaging the targeted deposit. The results obtained show that active-source-seismic imaging using subsurface mining infrastructure of operational mines is possible. However, it requires innovative exploration strategies, a broadband seismic source, an accurate GPS-time system capable of transmitting GPS-time hundreds of meters below the surface, and careful processing. The results obtained open up possibilities for similar studies in different mining or tunneling projects.
Deiodinases and Cancer
Authors: Nappi Annarita , De Stefano Maria Angela , Dentice Monica , Salvatore Domenico
Published: February 2021

Hormones are key drivers of cancer development, and alteration of the intratumoral concentration of thyroid hormone (TH) is a common feature of many human neoplasias. Besides the systemic control of TH levels, the expression and activity of deiodinases constitute a major mechanism for the cell-autonomous, prereceptoral control of TH action. The action of deiodinases ensures tight control of TH availability at intracellular level in a time- and tissue-specific manner, and alterations in deiodinase expression are frequent in tumors. Research over the past decades has shown that in cancer cells, a complex and dynamic expression of deiodinases is orchestrated by a network of growth factors, oncogenic proteins, and miRNA. It has become increasingly evident that this fine regulation exposes cancer cells to a dynamic concentration of TH that is functional to stimulate or inhibit various cellular functions. This review summarizes recent advances in the identification of the complex interplay between deiodinases and cancer and how this family of enzymes is relevant in cancer progression. We also discuss whether deiodinase expression could represent a diagnostic tool with which to define tumor staging in cancer treatment or even a therapeutic tool against cancer.
FSTL3-Neutralizing Antibodies Enhance Glucose-Responsive Insulin Secretion in Dysfunctional Male Mouse and Human Islets
Authors: Brown Melissa L , Lopez Alexa , Meyer Nolan , Richter Alden , Thompson Thomas B
Published: February 2021

Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin production from pancreatic beta cells or insufficient insulin action, leading to an inability to control blood glucose. While a wide range of treatments exist to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, therapies addressing the root cause of diabetes through replacing lost beta cells with functional cells remain an object of active pursuit. We previously demonstrated that genetic deletion of Fstl3, a critical regulator of activin activity, enhanced beta cell number and glucose-responsive insulin production. These observations suggested the hypothesis that FSTL3 neutralization could be used to therapeutically enhance beta cell number and function in humans. To pursue this possibility, we developed an FSTL3-neutralizing antibody, FP-101, and characterized its ability to prevent or disrupt FSTL3 from complexing with activin or related ligands. This antibody was selective for FSTL3 relative to the closely related follistatin, thereby reducing the chance for off-target effects. In vitro assays with FP-101 and activin revealed that FP-101-mediated neutralization of FSTL3 can enhance both insulin secretion and glucose responsiveness to nonfunctional mouse and human islets under conditions that model diabetes. Thus, FSTL3 neutralization may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treating diabetes through repairing dysfunctional beta cells.
Osteogenic Mechanisms of Basal Ganglia Calcification and its ex vivo Model in the Hypoparathyroid Milieu
Authors: Kar Parmita , Millo Tabin , Saha Soma , Mahtab Samrina , Agarwal Shipra , Goswami Ravinder
Published: February 2021

Context

Basal-ganglia calcification (BGC) is common (70%) in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism. Interestingly, cortical gray matter is spared from calcification. The mechanism of BGC, role of hyperphosphatemia, and modulation of osteogenic molecules by parathyroid hormone (PTH) in its pathogenesis is not clear.

Objective

We assessed the expression of a large repertoire of molecules with proosteogenic or antiosteogenic effects, including neuroprogenitor cells in caudate, dentate, and cortical gray matter from normal autopsy tissues. The effect of high phosphate and PTH was assessed in an ex vivo model of BGC using striatum tissue culture of the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Methods

The messenger RNA and protein expression of 39 molecules involved in multiple osteogenic pathways were assessed in 25 autopsy tissues using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. The striatal culture was maintained in a hypoparathyroid milieu for 24 days with and without (a) high phosphate (10-mm β-glycerophosphate) and (b) PTH(1-34) (50 ng/mL Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium–F12 media) for their effect on striatal calcification and osteogenic molecules.

Results

Procalcification molecules (osteonectin, β-catenin, klotho, FZD4, NT5E, LRP5, WNT3A, collagen-1α, and SOX2-positive neuroprogenitor stem cells) had significantly higher expression in the caudate than gray matter. Caudate nuclei also had higher expression of antiosteogenic molecules (osteopontin, carbonic anhydrase-II [CA-II], MGP, sclerostin, ISG15, ENPP1, and USP18). In an ex vivo model, striatum culture showed an increased propensity for calcified nodules with mineral deposition similar to that of bone tissue on Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, alizarin, and von Kossa stain. Mineralization in striatal culture was enhanced by high phosphate and decreased by exogenous PTH through increased expression of CA-II.

Conclusion

This study provides a conceptual advance on the molecular mechanisms of BGC and the possibility of PTH therapy to prevent this complication in a hypoparathyroid milieu.
AIRE deficiency, from preclinical models to human APECED disease
Authors: Besnard Marine , Padonou Francine , Provin Nathan , Giraud Matthieu , Guillonneau Carole
Published: February 2021

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare life-threatening autoimmune disease that attacks multiple organs and has its onset in childhood. It is an inherited condition caused by a variety of mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene that encodes a protein whose function has been uncovered by the generation and study of Aire-KO mice. These provided invaluable insights into the link between AIRE expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and the broad spectrum of self-antigens that these cells express and present to the developing thymocytes. However, these murine models poorly recapitulate all phenotypic aspects of human APECED. Unlike Aire-KO mice, the recently generated Aire-KO rat model presents visual features, organ lymphocytic infiltrations and production of autoantibodies that resemble those observed in APECED patients, making the rat model a main research asset. In addition, ex vivo models of AIRE-dependent self-antigen expression in primary mTECs have been successfully set up. Thymus organoids based on pluripotent stem cell-derived TECs from APECED patients are also emerging, and constitute a promising tool to engineer AIRE-corrected mTECs and restore the generation of regulatory T cells. Eventually, these new models will undoubtedly lead to main advances in the identification and assessment of specific and efficient new therapeutic strategies aiming to restore immunological tolerance in APECED patients.
Mutant non-coding RNA resource in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Hansen Jens , von Melchner Harald , Wurst Wolfgang
Published: February 2021

Gene trapping is a high-throughput approach that has been used to introduce insertional mutations into the genome of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. It is performed with generic gene trap vectors that simultaneously mutate and report the expression of the endogenous gene at the site of insertion and provide a DNA sequence tag for the rapid identification of the disrupted gene. Large-scale international efforts assembled a gene trap library of 566,554 ES cell lines with single gene trap integrations distributed throughout the genome. Here, we re-investigated this unique library and identified mutations in 2202 non-coding RNA (ncRNA) genes, in addition to mutations in 12,078 distinct protein-coding genes. Moreover, we found certain types of gene trap vectors preferentially integrating into genes expressing specific long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) biotypes. Together with all other gene-trapped ES cell lines, lncRNA gene-trapped ES cell lines are readily available for functional in vitro and in vivo studies.
Recruiting and Retaining Patients with Breast Cancer in Exercise Trials: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Hoover Jeffrey C. , Alenazi Aqeel M. , Alshehri Mohammed M. , Alqahtani Bader A. , Alothman Shaima , Sarmento Caio , Yahya Abdalghani , Rucker Jason L. , Kluding Patricia M.
Published: February 2021

Studies for patients with cancer often have low, but variable, recruitment. Retention is also variable and can prove problematic for successful study completion. This review aimed to estimate recruitment rate (RR), recruitment efficiency (RE), and dropout for exercise-related studies for the breast cancer population. In addition, this review aimed to address the gap in the literature of what factors are associated with recruitment and retention for exercise-related studies for the breast cancer population. PubMed, CINAHL, and ORRCA databases were searched. Peer-reviewed studies addressing recruitment in an exercise-related intervention for human adults, where >50% of the sample were participants with breast cancer, were included. Only studies written in English were included. Studies using a cross-sectional design were excluded. All identified studies were abstract and full-text screened. The proportion of RE and dropout were meta-analyzed, and the influence of predictors on RE and dropout were analyzed using meta-regression. RR had a weighted average of 2.6 participants per week. Dropout (r = 0.64, P = 0.003) and race (r = −0.54, P = 0.024) were correlated with RR. Random-effects meta-analyses yielded pooled estimates of 0.30 and 0.16 for RE and dropout, respectively. Treatment group compensation (b = −0.07, SE = 0.03, P = 0.013) and monitoring status (b = −0.13, SE = 0.06, P = 0.023) were statistically significant predictors of RE, where increasing compensation and monitoring a study predicted lower RE. Age (b = −0.07, SE = 0.02, P = 0.003) and education (b = −0.06, SE = 0.03, P = 0.024) were statistically significant predictors of dropout, where increases in age and decreases in education predicted lower dropout. This review may help identify characteristics that improve recruitment and retention. Study characteristics (e.g., compensation and monitoring status) predicted RE, and participant characteristics (e.g., age and education) predicted dropout.
On the Optimal Design of a Bipartite Matching Queueing System
Authors: Afèche Philipp , Caldentey René , Gupta Varun
Published: February 2021

Designing Fair and Efficient Matching Service Systems
Review: Church forests—the green spots of Ethiopian highlands
Authors: AMARE BITEWMEKONEN  , BERHANE GEBRESLASSIE  , Wassie Wubetie Adnew , BERHANU A. TSEGAY
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Mekonen AB, Gebreegziabher BG, Wassie WA, Tsegay BA. 2019. Review: Church forests—the green spots of Ethiopian highlands. Asian J For 3: 45-53. In the central and northern highlands of Ethiopia, the diversity and biomass of native vegetation are almost restricted to church forests which are the only remnant natural forest in the region. The church forests are sacred because the church is believed to be the house of God and everything in its compound is sacred and respected. However, they are under severe threats by both anthropogenic and a few natural disturbances. This review paper summarizes the role of Ethiopian church forests in the boundaries of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Churches (EOTC), in biodiversity conservation, source of seed and seedling of native vegetation, ecological importance, ecosystem values and services to the community and to the globe in general. It also emphasizes the main challenges of these forests i.e., humans disturbance and natural disturbances. It states the conservation strategies of church forest. We conclude that the EOTCs besides its religious activities played a great role in conserving the forests. However, most church forests have no clear and documented demarcations which enhances disturbance. The churches are also cultivating fast-growing exotic species replacing native trees for their income. Finally, we recommend that the head priests should evoke and customize the conservation of sacred groves using religious thought. The government should acknowledge the church for conservation and decide to have a clear boundary for the church forest to minimize further encroachment. Forest genetic resources conservation program (in situ type), Participatory Forest Management (PFM), and rehabilitation activities have to be implemented in addition to the church conservation effort using religious thoughts, religious sanctions, and legal protection for the integrity of these remnant sacred groves. Further studies are recommended to fill the gap of sacred groves in addressing the cause of disturbance and to provide possible solutions for better conservation.
Abundance, distribution and conservation threats of African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area, Tanzania
Authors: EMMANUEL MASENGA  , SHOMBE N. HASSAN  , KASHAIGILI JAPHET
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Masenga E, Hasan SN, Japhet K. 2018. Abundance, distribution, and conservation threats of African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area, Tanzania. Asian J For 2: 31-41. Assessment of abundance, distribution, and conservation threats to African wild dogs was conducted in Loliondo Game Controlled Area (LGCA), northern Tanzania. Specifically, the study focused on determining population size and structure, spatial distribution, attitudes of local people towards wild dogs and wild dog conservation and threats impacting the species. Semi-structured interviews, diurnal random searches, internal and external examinations of wild dogs carcasses examined, and night transect surveys were employed. Eight packs with a total of 132 recognized individuals at an average pack size of 16.50 ± SD 7.50 individuals were recorded. Pack sizes 3 individuals were reported to be sighted mostly and of all respondents (n= 210), only 26% were able to recognize wild dog sexes. The density of both known and unknown wild dogs was 0.19 animals/km2, higher compared to other carnivores. In terms of distribution, most of the packs were concentrated in the northern part as compared to the central and southern parts of LGCA. The species was observed to occur most in woodland type of vegetation. Interestingly, 55.30% of respondents showed a positive attitude towards wild dogs and wild dog conservation despite that 52.90% of respondents dismissed lack of any conservation action or strategy in place towards conserving the species. However, poisoning and Canine Distemper Virus were identified as the main threats. Therefore, conserving African wild dogs in LGCA requires mult-approach conservation efforts (i.e. awareness rising to community, fitting radio telemetry to the dogs and threats management interventions) due to nature of the species.
Rate of timber harvest and the effects of illegal activities on forest conservation in Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: DARAMOLA J.O. , ADESUYI F.E. , OLUGBADIEYE Oloruntobi , AKINBOWALE A.S. , ADEKUNLE V.A.J.
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Daramola JO, Adesuyi FE, Olugbadieye OG, Akinbowale AS, Adekunle VAJ. 2020. Rate of timber harvest and the effects of illegal activities on forest conservation in Southwestern Nigeria. Asian J For 5: 8-16. Availability of accurate data on timber harvest is very important for sustainable forest management. These data are not readily available, making forest management more complex. This study aimed at investigating the rate of timber harvest, illegal activities and its impacts on forest conservation in Osun State Forest Reserves. The selected reserves were Shasha Forest Reserve (SFR), Ago-Owu Forest Reserve (AFR), and Ikeji-Ipetu Forest Reserve (IFR). Data were collected using two sets of semi-structured questionnaires. One for the forest community dwellers and the other for forest officers. Simple random sampling was used to select 120 respondents from the population of concessionaires, saw millers, rural community dwellers, taungya farmers and the government officers in the study area. Secondary data was collected and compiled from the State Forestry Department to provide results for timber harvested only in SFR from January to July, 2019. The results revealed that SFR is under massive timber exploitation, as illegal logging and timber processing are the most prevalent driver of exploitation in this area; while AFR and IFR are degraded forest reserves marred with grazing and poaching, and illegal logging, respectively. The impacts of the illegal activities on forest conservation were categorized under economic, social, and environmental impacts. The most exploited species in SFR were Celtis spp. (3024 stems), Ricinodendron heudelotii (1789 stems), and the least exploited was Anthocleista spp. (3 stems). The study showed that many economic tree species that contribute to national development and rural livelihood have been exploited from the study sites and therefore recommend that timber harvest be carried out on a sustainable basis.
U-Net convolutional neural network-based modification method for precise fabrication of three-dimensional microstructures using laser direct writing lithography
Authors: Sun Xiuhui , Yin Shaoyun , Jiang Haibo , Zhang Weiguo , Gao Mingyou , Du Jinglei , Du Chunlei
Published: February 2021

In this paper, a modification method based on a U-Net convolutional neural network is proposed for the precise fabrication of three-dimensional microstructures using laser direct writing lithography (LDWL). In order to build the correspondence between the exposure intensity distribution data imported to the laser direct writing system and the surface profile data of the actual fabricated microstructure, these two kinds of data are used as training tensors of the U-Net convolutional neural network, which is proved to be capable of generating their accurate mapping relations. By employing such mapping relations to modify the initial designed exposure intensity data of the parabolic and saddle concave micro-lens with an aperture of 24µm×24µm, it is demonstrated that their fabrication precision, characterized by the mean squared error (MSE) and the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) between the fabricated and the designed microstructure, can be improved significantly. Specifically, the MSE of the parabolic and saddle concave micro-lens decreased from 100 to 17 and 151 to 50, respectively, and the PSNR increased from 22dB to 29dB and 20dB to 25dB, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of laser beam shaping using these two kinds of micro-lens has also been improved considerably. This study provides a new solution for the fabrication of high-precision three-dimensional microstructures by LDWL.
AI-optimised tuneable sources for bandwidth-scalable, sub-nanosecond wavelength switching
Authors: Gerard Thomas , Parsonson Christopher , Shabka Zacharaya , Thomsen Benn , Bayvel Polina , Lavery Domaniç , Zervas Georgios
Published: February 2021

Wavelength routed optical switching promises low power and latency networking for data centres, but requires a wideband wavelength tuneable source (WTS) capable of sub-nanosecond switching at every node. We propose a hybrid WTS that uses time-interleaved tuneable lasers, each gated by a semiconductor optical amplifier, where the performance of each device is optimised using artificial intelligence. Through simulation and experiment we demonstrate record wavelength switch times below 900 ps across 6.05 THz (122×50 GHz) of continuously tuneable optical bandwidth. A method for further bandwidth scaling is evaluated and compared to alternative designs.