bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ROLE OF FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN ASIAN COUNTRIES: MEDIATING ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY
Authors: LIU XI-YAN , CHANG LEI
Published: November 2022

Although the rapid development of financial technology has been realized throughout the Asian countries, research studies seldom focus on the growing impact of financial technology on poverty alleviation. The research paper explores financial technology’s effect on poverty alleviation in the Asian countries. The dataset was collected from Asian countries between 2010 and 2021. A web search technology and frequent word analytics tool are employed to conceptualize variables, and after that, each selected region’s financial technology index is constructed. Given the variation in poverty across selected regions, a novel approach of vector quantile regression is used to quantify the effect of financial technology on poverty allocation. The suggested method’s parametric estimators are employed as “location” measurements of poverty. The findings of this research reveal that despite an uneven index of financial technology development across Asian economies, financial technology significantly impacts poverty alleviation in every selected Asian economy. Furthermore, financial technology strongly impacts poverty alleviation in developing economies than emerging economies of Asian countries. Considering the above findings, practitioners, governments and policy-makers need to foster advanced financial technology mechanisms, specifically in developing economies of the selected Asian economies.
Darboux transformation and interaction solutions of localized waves for a defocusing coupled complex modified Korteweg-de Vries equation
Authors: Cui Wenying , Liu Yinping
Published: November 2022

In this paper, the binary Darboux transformation for a defocusing coupled complex modified Korteweg-de Vries (dccmKdV) equation was investigated. With nonzero plane wave initial conditions, we further derived its dark–dark solitons, breather solutions, different types of rogue waves and some new interaction structures among them. These novel results can be applied in the areas of fluid, plasma mechanics, etc.
Glaucoma Detection in Retinal Fundus Images Based on Deep Transfer Learning and Fuzzy Aggregation Operators
Authors: Ali Mohammed Yousef Salem , Jabreel Mohammad , Valls Aida , Baget Marc , Abdel-Nasser Mohamed
Published: November 2022

The early diagnosis of the glaucoma disease in the eye is crucial to avoid vision loss. This paper proposes an efficient computer-aided detection (CAD) system for diagnosing glaucoma based on fundus images, deep transfer learning and fuzzy aggregation operators. Specifically, the proposed CAD system includes three stages: (1) Detection of the region of interest of the optic disc using an efficient deep learning network, (2) Classification of images based on different pre-trained deep convolutional neural networks and support vector machines, and (3) Use of fuzzy aggregation operators to fuse the predictions of glaucoma classifiers. We used three popular yet robust aggregators: ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator, weighted power mean (WPM), and exponential mean (EXM). We assessed the efficacy of the proposed glaucoma CAD system on three public datasets: DRISHTI-GS1, RIM-ONE, and REFUGE. The proposed conjunctive OWA aggregation method (Conj-OWA) achieves the best glaucoma classification results. Specifically, it achieves accuracy values of 90.2%, 97.8%, and 94.3% and area under the curve (AUC) values of 95.3%, 99.8%, and 96.2%, respectively, on DRISHTI-GS1, RIM-ONE, and REFUGE databases.
Implicit regularization with strongly convex bias: Stability and acceleration
Authors: Villa Silvia , Matet Simon , Vũ Bằng Công , Rosasco Lorenzo
Published: November 2022

Implicit regularization refers to the property of optimization algorithms to be biased towards a certain class of solutions. This property is relevant to understand the behavior of modern machine learning algorithms as well as to design efficient computational methods. While the case where the bias is given by a Euclidean norm is well understood, implicit regularization schemes for more general classes of biases are much less studied. In this work, we consider the case where the bias is given by a strongly convex functional, in the context of linear models, and data possibly corrupted by noise. In particular, we propose and analyze accelerated optimization methods and highlight a trade-off between convergence speed and stability. Theoretical findings are complemented by an empirical analysis on high-dimensional inverse problems in machine learning and signal processing, showing excellent results compared to the state of the art.
β-Functionalized palladium(II) porphyrins: Facile synthesis, structural, spectral, and electrochemical redox properties
Authors: Rathi Pinki , Prakash Kamal , Sankar Muniappan
Published: November 2022

Two [Formula: see text]-substituted Pd(II) porphyrins, (PdTPP(NO[Formula: see text]Ph2 and PdTPP(Ph)[Formula: see text], were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, and their spectral and electrochemical redox properties were investigated with respect to PdTPP. The single-crystal X-ray structure of PdTPP(NO[Formula: see text]-Ph2 revealed saddle-shape conformation of the macrocyclic core of porphyrin. DFT studies revealed nonplanar saddle shape conformation of PdTPP(Ph)4 with an average deviation of [Formula: see text]-pyrrole carbon atoms from the porphyrin mean plane ([Formula: see text]C[Formula: see text] = ± 0.751 Å) and also 24 core atoms ([Formula: see text]24 = ± 0.368 Å) as compared to PdTPP(NO[Formula: see text]Ph2 ([Formula: see text]C[Formula: see text] = 0.649 Å and [Formula: see text]24 = ± 0.317 Å) due to more [Formula: see text]-pyrrole substitution. Both PdTPP(NO[Formula: see text]Ph2 and PdTPP(Ph)4 exhibited 13-19 nm and 49-59 nm red-shift in the Soret and Q[Formula: see text] bands as compared to PdTPP, respectively. PdTPP(NO[Formula: see text]Ph2 exhibited a very high dipole moment (7.32 D) as compared to PdTPP(Ph)4 (0.239 D) due to the “push-pull” effect of electron donor (phenyl) and acceptor (-NO[Formula: see text] groups at the [Formula: see text]-pyrrole positions of the macrocycle. The redox potentials of PdTPP(NO[Formula: see text]Ph2 anodically shifted ([Formula: see text]E = 0.2-0.4V) as compared to PdTPP and PdTPP(Ph)4 due to the presence of [Formula: see text]-phenyl groups and the strong electron-withdrawing effect of the nitro group. Hence the HOMO-LUMO energy gap of PdTPP(NO[Formula: see text]Ph2 decreased by 0.20 V and 0.28 V as compared to PdTPP(Ph)4 and PdTPP, respectively.
Alkali and Transition Metal-Doped 15-Crown-5 with Enhanced Nonlinear Optical Response: A DFT Study
Authors: Rafique Naima , Fatima Hillia , Ans Muhammad , Ayub Khurshid , Iqbal Javed
Published: November 2022

In this study, geometries, electronic structure and first hyperpolarizability of metals doped 15-crown-5 (C5M) were explored through the density functional theory (DFT) method. Alkali metals (Li, Na, K) and silver (Ag) were placed inside and outside of the crown ether, respectively, to deliver three compounds designated as Li[C5M]Ag, Na[C5M]Ag and K[C5M]Ag. All designed complexes were optimized at singlet, triplet, quintet and septet states, where the singlet state was identified as the stable state. The influence of doping on C5M can be investigated by energy gap fluctuation and it was noted that the smallest energy gap (4.68[Formula: see text]eV) was exhibited by K[C5M]Ag among all the intentional complexes, in contrast to reference C5M (12.73[Formula: see text]eV). Moreover, the density of state (DOS), transition density matrix (TDM), noncovalent interaction (NCI), molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) and electron density distribution map (EDDM) analysis were implemented. Static isotropic polarizability values were observed in the range of [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] esu which were comparable to dynamic isotropic polarizability values; [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text]. Li[C5M]Ag revealed maximum first hyperpolarizability ([Formula: see text]) of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]esu with the minimum transition energy ([Formula: see text]) of 2.93[Formula: see text]eV.
Achieving Digital Wellbeing Through Digital Self-control Tools: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Roffarello Alberto Monge , De Russis Luigi
Published: November 2022

Public media and researchers in different areas have recently focused on perhaps unexpected problems that derive from an excessive and frequent use of technology, giving rise to a new kind of psychological “digital” wellbeing. Such a novel and pressing topic has fostered, both in the academia and in the industry, the emergence of a variety of
digital self-control tools
allowing users to self-regulate their technology use through interventions like timers and lock-out mechanisms. While these emerging technologies for behavior change hold great promise to support people’s digital wellbeing, we still have a limited understanding of their real effectiveness, as well as of how to best design and evaluate them. Aiming to guide future research in this important domain, this article presents a systematic review and a meta-analysis of current work on tools for digital self-control. We surface motivations, strategies, design choices, and challenges that characterize the design, development, and evaluation of digital self-control tools. Furthermore, we estimate their overall effect size on reducing (unwanted) technology use through a meta-analysis. By discussing our findings, we provide insights on how to (i) overcome a limited perspective that exclusively focuses on technology overuse and self-monitoring tools, (ii) evaluate digital self-control tools through long-term studies and standardized measures, and (iii) bring ethics in the digital wellbeing discourse and deal with the business model of contemporary tech companies.
Measurements, Algorithms, and Presentations of Reality: Framing Interactions with AI-Enabled Decision Support
Authors: van Berkel Niels , Bellio Maura , Skov Mikael B. , Blandford Ann
Published: November 2022

Bringing AI technology into clinical practice has proved challenging for system designers and medical professionals alike. The academic literature has, for example, highlighted the dangers of black-box decision-making and biased datasets. Furthermore, end-users’ ability to validate a system’s performance often disappears following the introduction of AI decision-making. We present the MAP model to understand and describe the three stages through which medical observations are interpreted and handled by AI systems. These stages are Measurement, in which information is gathered and converted into data points that can be stored and processed; Algorithm, in which computational processes transform the collected data; and Presentation, where information is returned to the user for interpretation. For each stage, we highlight possible challenges that need to be overcome to develop Human-Centred AI systems. We illuminate our MAP model through complementary case studies on colonoscopy practice and dementia diagnosis, providing examples of the challenges encountered in real-world settings. By defining Human-AI interaction across these three stages, we untangle some of the inherent complexities in designing AI technology for clinical decision-making, and aim to overcome misalignment between medical end-users and AI researchers and developers.
Evolution of Vertebrate Hormones and Their Receptors: Insights from Non-Osteichthyan Genomes
Authors: Kuraku Shigehiro , Kaiya Hiroyuki , Tanaka Tomohiro , Hyodo Susumu
Published: November 2022

Homeostatic control and reproductive functions of humans are regulated at the molecular levels largely by peptide hormones secreted from endocrine and/or neuroendocrine cells in the central nervous system and peripheral organs. Homologs of those hormones and their receptors function similarly in many vertebrate species distantly related to humans, but the evolutionary history of the endocrine system involving those factors has been obscured by the scarcity of genome DNA sequence information of some taxa that potentially contain their orthologs. Focusing on non-osteichthyan vertebrates, namely jawless and cartilaginous fishes, this article illustrates how investigating genome sequence information assists our understanding of the diversification of vertebrate gene repertoires in four broad themes: ( a) the presence or absence of genes, ( b) multiplication and maintenance of paralogs, ( c) differential fates of duplicated paralogs, and ( d) the evolutionary timing of gene origins.
Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) based Ohmic Contacts on Bulk n-GaN Substrate
Authors: Uppalapati Balaadithya , Kota Akash , Azad Samee , Muthusamy Lavanya , Tran Binh Tinh , Leach Jacob H. , Splawn Heather , Gajula Durga , Chodavarapu Vamsy P. , Koley Goutam
Published: November 2022

A transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) contact to bulk n-GaN and n-GaN thin film on c-face sapphire with a specific contact resistivity of 8.06 × 10−4 Ω.cm2 and 3.71 × 10−4 Ω.cm2 was measured, respectively. Our studies relied on an RF sputtering system for ITO deposition. We have investigated the formation of the ITO-based contacts on untreated and plasma treated samples. A nonlinear I–V curve was observed for ITO deposited on untreated samples. On the other hand, an I–V curve with linear behavior was observed for plasma-treated samples, indicating the formation of ohmic contacts. From the C-V measurements, it was observed that there was also an increase in the carrier concentration in plasma treated samples compared to untreated samples. This can be attributed to the removal of surface oxide layer present on the GaN surface, and increase in nitrogen vacancies after SiCl4 plasma treatment. In addition, the increase in nitrogen vacancies at the GaN surface can also enhance localized surface/sub-surface carriers, thereby reducing the contact resistance further.
A Computational Model of Blood D-Dimer, Cystatin C, and CRP Levels Predicts the Risk of Intracranial Aneurysms and their Rupture
Authors: Xing Liang , Long Haibo , Bo Rui , Gou Xue , He Yan , Peng Xing
Published: November 2022

Objective. The aim of this study is to construct a computational model of blood D-dimer, cystatin C, and CRP levels and to predict the risk of intracranial aneurysms and their rupture. Methods. A total of 69 intracranial aneurysms patients were selected as the case group, including 28 cases in the ruptured group and 41 cases in the unruptured group. Another 64 non-intracranial aneurysm patients were selected as the control group. The detection results of serum D-dimer, cystatin C, and CRP were collected. The logistic regression computational model was used to analyze the occurrence and risk factors of intracranial aneurysms. The receiver operating curves (ROC) of serum D-dimer, cystatin C, and C reactive protein (CRP) levels for predicting intracranial aneurysms and their rupture were drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. Results. The serum levels of D-dimer, cystatin C, and CRP in patients with intracranial aneurysms were significantly higher than those in the control group and the differences were statistically significant

P
<
0.05

. The serum levels of D-dimer, cystatin C, and CRP in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms were higher than those in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms, and the differences were also statistically significant

P
<
0.05

. The combined detection of serum D-dimer, cystatin C, and CRP levels has a higher AUC (0.9014) for predicting intracranial aneurysms and higher AUC (0.9412) for predicting ruptured intracranial aneurysms than D-dimer (0.7118 and 0.8750, respectively), cystatin C (0.6489 and 0.6180, respectively), and CRP (0.7764 and 0.6551, respectively) independent detection; the combined detection had a sensitivity of 93.75% and 87.80 for predicting the occurrence and rupture of intracranial aneurysms, and the specificity was 68.12% and 92.86%, respectively. Conclusion. The combined detection of serum D-dimer, cystatin C, and CRP levels is a very valuable indicator for predicting the occurrence and rupture of intracranial aneurysms, and combined detection can provide scientific evidence-based guidance for clinical prediction of the occurrence and rupture of intracranial aneurysms.
The Development Trend of China’s Agricultural Product Cold Chain Logistics from the Perspective of Big Data
Authors: Wang Shenxiang
Published: November 2022

With the gradual prosperity of social economy, people’s demand for agricultural products consumption has also gradually increased. Through the efficient introduction of big data technology, we can optimize and innovate the management system of agricultural cold chain logistics enterprises, realize the modernization of enterprise logistics management, and effectively improve the management efficiency of agricultural cold chain logistics enterprises. Using big data technology can improve the efficiency of information docking, improve the stickiness of enterprise customers, and speed up the value-added of cold chain logistics data. This study introduces the common clustering algorithms in the field of cold chain logistics, with emphasis on the spectral clustering algorithm. The spectral clustering algorithm not only reduces the error rate but also significantly reduces the time spent in the clustering process, which shows the effectiveness and feasibility of the application of spectral clustering algorithm in China’s agricultural cold chain logistics industry.
Micro- and Nanoscale Pore Structure Characterization and Mineral Composition Analysis of Clayey-Silt Hydrate Reservoir in South China Sea
Authors: Lu Cheng , Xia Yuxuan , Qin Xuwen , Ma Chao , Bian Hang , Xing Donghui , Lu Hongfeng
Published: November 2022

Natural gas hydrate is a kind of environmentally friendly unconventional energy with large reserves, which attract increasing attention in recent years. The microscopic pore structure and mineral composition of natural gas hydrate reservoir have a great influence on its seepage characteristics during exploitation. In this study, computed tomography and scanning electron microscope are used to obtain digital images of three clayey-silt natural gas hydrate reservoir samples in the Shenhu area of South China Sea, and then, the pore structure and the mineral composition of the samples are obtained after image processing. The result indicates that the clayey-silt samples show strong hydrophilic characteristics, small particles, good sorting properties, variable pore distribution, small average pore and throat radius, large porosity, and a large content of submicron pores. The mineral composition of the reservoir is mainly quartz and contains a certain amount of clay minerals, mainly illite, while the mineral composition of reservoir rich in microbial fossils is mainly carbonate. The results indicate that the pore structure and mineral composition of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in Shenhu area lay a foundation for the efficient development of the clayey-silt reservoir.
Female Genital Tuberculosis: Clinical Presentation, Current Diagnosis, and Treatment
Authors: Tjahyadi Dian , Ropii Bejo , Tjandraprawira Kevin Dominique , Parwati Ida , Djuwantono Tono , Permadi Wiryawan , Li Tinchiu
Published: November 2022

Female genital tuberculosis is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the female reproductive tract. The disease burden among women leads to infertility is significant, especially in developing countries. The bacteria can spread from the lung into the reproductive organ through lymphatic or hematogenous. Many patients present with atypical symptoms, which mimic other gynecological conditions. Several investigations are needed to establish the diagnosis. Almost all cases of genital TB affect the fallopian tube and cause infertility in patients and endometrial involvement. Current treatment still relies on antituberculosis therapy with a combination of tubal surgery. The present review describes the epidemiological data, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and currently available treatment to cure the disease and for in vitro fertilization.
A Block-Based and Highly Parallel CNN Accelerator for Seed Sorting
Authors: Sang Xiaoting , Hu Zhenghui , Li Huanyu , Li Chunlei , Liu Zhoufeng
Published: November 2022

Seed sorting is critical for the breeding industry to improve the agricultural yield. The seed sorting methods based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved excellent recognition accuracy on large-scale pretrained network models. However, CNN inference is a computationally intensive process that often requires hardware acceleration to operate in real time. For embedded devices, the high-power consumption of graphics processing units (GPUs) is generally prohibitive, and the field programmable gate array (FPGA) becomes a solution to perform high-speed inference by providing a customized accelerator for a particular user. To date, the recognition speeds of the FPGA-based universal accelerators for high-throughput seed sorting tasks are slow, which cannot guarantee real-time seed sorting. Therefore, a block-based and highly parallel MobileNetV2 accelerator is proposed in this paper. First, a hardware-friendly quantization method that uses only fixed-point operation is designed to reduce resource consumption. Then, the block convolution strategy is proposed to avoid latency and energy consumption increase caused by large-scale intermediate result off-chip data transfers. Finally, two scalable computing engines are explicitly designed for depth-wise convolution (DWC) and point-wise convolution (PWC) to develop the high parallelism of block convolution computation. Moreover, an efficient memory system with a double buffering mechanism and new data reordering mode is designed to address the imbalance between memory access and parallel computing. Our proposed FPGA-based MobileNetV2 accelerator for real-time seed sorting is implemented and evaluated on the platform of Xilinx XC7020. Experimental results demonstrate that our implementation can achieve about 29.4 frames per second (FPS) and 10.86 Giga operations per second (GOPS), and 0.92× to 5.70 × DSP-efficiency compared with previous FPGA-based accelerators.
Dual‐Source Procurement Strategies of Emergency Materials Considering Risk Attitudes
Authors: Hou Yan , Yu Haisheng
Published: November 2022

The uncertainty of emergencies makes the emergency procurement face many risks, so the risk management is particularly important of the emergency procurement. The risk attitude of decision makers will significantly affect the decision‐making of risk management. In this paper, the risk management problem with different risk attitudes of emergency procurement consisting of dual‐source suppliers and the single government is studied, and a government‐led Stackelberg game is used to analyze the risks of each link to establish an emergency procurement model under the option contract, and the optimal decision‐making is obtained. The effects of reserve period, risk avoidance coefficient, and probability of emergency on optimal decision‐making are analyzed with different risk attitude. Moreover, we investigate the coordination of the government‐led supply chain coordination under the risk aversion and risk‐neutral conditions of emergency supply chain participants. The results show that the model can control the risk while reducing the cost of government procurement and ensuring the revenue of suppliers. Finally, the influence of each parameter on the optimization decision is verified by a numerical example.
Visual Sensing Technology for Digital Image-Oriented Public Art Design
Authors: Zheng Pei , Cong Hongyan
Published: November 2022

With the development of computer software technology, computer image processing software has become increasingly significant in the public art design process. It can help with graphic design inventiveness and color presentation, as well as improve the aesthetics of public art design. This study aims to analyze the use of digital image synthesis and visual sensing techniques in public art design, as well as to use Dongba paintings, which reflects Chinese culture, as image fusion research objects. The Dongba painting’s line drawing is modeled and drawn, and an element library is created. The characteristic information of Dongba paintings is extracted using line integration convolution (LIC) algorithm. The background texture elements of the image are fused using image quilting texture’s improved synthesis algorithm. To improve the image effect of the linked Dongba paintings, a local color transfer algorithm based on color transfer rights is presented. The results show that the optimized synthesis algorithm of image quilting textures can achieve the same texture synthesis effect as the original algorithm. The method can meet the needs of real-world applications while also significantly improving the original technique’s performance. The synthesis time is reduced by 87.67%, and the image recognition accuracy of the local color transfer algorithm reaches 88.9%. Compared with other algorithms, the recognition accuracy is improved by 6.4%. The proposed digital image synthesis technique can create good images with different foreground and backdrop combinations and can provide a diverse visual expression. This contributes to public art’s visual production.
Discussing the Construction of a Budget Management System Combining Multimedia Technology and Financial Risk Management
Authors: Jiang Xiaoyi
Published: November 2022

The development of modern technology allows enterprises to continuously expand the means of financial management. The use of advanced information technology and modern management means makes the financial management of enterprises continue to improve, but there are also many problems. In the face of various types of risks that enterprises may face at present, in addition to strengthening financial accounting, enterprises should also recognize the various risks that the double-edged sword of financial management informatization may bring to enterprise financial management and carefully analyze the reasons for the emergence of risks, from the ideological and technical means to continuously improve the entire process of financial management informatization, which is an important topic for every financial worker to discuss. This paper mainly studies and innovates the data mining process and the support vector machine model and designs the data preprocessing method in the data mining process to perform feature selection and optimize the parameters of the support vector machine model. The specific process is as follows: based on CRISP-DM, the industry-standard model of the data mining process, a series of data preprocessing, eigenvalue extraction, parameter optimization, training set pruning, and other methods are designed from business understanding, data understanding, data preparation, and other aspects to improve data quality. In the traditional support vector machine, when the test sample is located at the boundary point of the hyperplane, the judgment may be wrong. In the aspect of SVM model improvement, according to the discrimination method of SVM, the weighted K-nearest neighbor algorithm is introduced to redistinguish the qualified test samples in the feature space. From the whole process of data mining, a data mining system is designed, which is “data preprocessing standardization + genetic algorithm feature selection + training set pruning + support vector machine classifier discrimination optimization.” Finally, this paper uses a series of data mining optimization methods designed to mine the actual financial data of listed companies and has achieved good results.
Triptolide Inhibits Th17 Response by Upregulating microRNA-204-5p and Suppressing STAT3 Phosphorylation in Psoriasis
Authors: He Qi , Wu Xingyue , Shi Quan
Published: November 2022

Background. Psoriasis is an immune and inflammation-related skin disease. Triptolide with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties has been utilized for psoriasis treatment. However, the potential immunological mechanisms of triptolide have not been fully elucidated. Methods. Using an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic mouse model, we detected the effects of triptolide on psoriasis-like lesions including scales, thickening, and erythema. Methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) cytotoxicity assay was performed for evaluating the influence of triptolide on cell viability. Gene expression at mRNA and protein levels were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively. The combination between microRNA-204-5p (miR-204-5p) and signal transduction and transcription activator-3 (STAT3) was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to examine interleukin (IL)-17 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels using corresponding kits. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for the visualization of epidermal thickness. Flow cytometry analysis was employed for examining T helper (Th) 17 cells. Results. Triptolide ameliorated IMQ-induced psoriatic skin lesions manifested by the decreased psoriasis area and severity indexes (PASI) scores. Triptolide inhibited Th17 cell differentiation from splenocytes. Additionally, triptolide elevated miR-204-5p expression, whereas it downregulated STAT3 expression levels both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, miR-204-5p directly targeted STAT3 in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, triptolide repressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in IMQ-evoked psoriasis-like mice. Conclusion. Triptolide inhibits STAT3 phosphorylation via upregulating miR-204-5p and thus suppressing Th17 response in psoriasis.
Timing Decision of Low‐Carbon Technology Investment Adoption by High Energy Consuming Enterprises under Carbon Trading and Subsidies
Authors: Li Bin
Published: November 2022

Although government subsidies provide some financial support for firms to invest in low‐carbon technologies, carbon price fluctuations bring greater uncertainty risks to firms’ investment. The paper constructs a real option model to analyze the timing of low‐carbon technology adoption between upstream dominant high energy consuming firms and downstream retailers in case of collaborative decision‐making and Stackelberg game, and a numerical simulation is conducted to analyze factors affecting the timing for low‐carbon investment. We find that the proportion of cost subsidies, carbon price volatility, carbon emission reduction rate, and cost‐sharing ratio will affect firms to choose the optimal investment opportunity.
Detecting Liver Cancer Using Cell-Free DNA Fragmentomes
Authors: Foda Zachariah H. , Annapragada Akshaya V. , Boyapati Kavya , Bruhm Daniel C. , Vulpescu Nicholas A. , Medina Jamie E. , Mathios Dimitrios , Cristiano Stephen , Niknafs Noushin , Luu Harry T. , Goggins Michael G. , Anders Robert A. , Sun Jing , Meta Shruti H. , Thomas David L. , Kirk Gregory D. , Adleff Vilmos , Phallen Jillian , Scharpf Robert B. , Kim Amy K. , Velculescu Victor E.
Published: November 2022

Liver cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Screening individuals at high risk, including those with cirrhosis and viral hepatitis, provides an avenue for improved survival, but current screening methods are inadequate. In this study, we used whole-genome cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragmentome analyses to evaluate 724 individuals from the United States, the European Union, or Hong Kong with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or who were at average or high-risk for HCC. Using a machine learning model that incorporated multifeature fragmentome data, the sensitivity for detecting cancer was 88% in an average-risk population at 98% specificity and 85% among high-risk individuals at 80% specificity. We validated these results in an independent population. cfDNA fragmentation changes reflected genomic and chromatin changes in liver cancer, including from transcription factor binding sites. These findings provide a biological basis for changes in cfDNA fragmentation in patients with liver cancer and provide an accessible approach for noninvasive cancer detection.

Significance:

There is a great need for accessible and sensitive screening approaches for HCC worldwide. We have developed an approach for examining genome-wide cfDNA fragmentation features to provide a high-performing and cost-effective approach for liver cancer detection.

See related commentary Rolfo and Russo, p. 532.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 517
Nucleosome Patterns in Circulating Tumor DNA Reveal Transcriptional Regulation of Advanced Prostate Cancer Phenotypes
Authors: De Sarkar Navonil , Patton Robert D. , Doebley Anna-Lisa , Hanratty Brian , Adil Mohamed , Kreitzman Adam J. , Sarthy Jay F. , Ko Minjeong , Brahma Sandipan , Meers Michael P. , Janssens Derek H. , Ang Lisa S. , Coleman Ilsa M. , Bose Arnab , Dumpit Ruth F. , Lucas Jared M. , Nunez Talina A. , Nguyen Holly M. , McClure Heather M. , Pritchard Colin C. , Schweizer Michael T. , Morrissey Colm , Choudhury Atish D. , Baca Sylvan C. , Berchuck Jacob E. , Freedman Matthew L. , Ahmad Kami , Haffner Michael C. , Montgomery R. Bruce , Corey Eva , Henikoff Steven , Nelson Peter S. , Ha Gavin
Published: November 2022

Advanced prostate cancers comprise distinct phenotypes, but tumor classification remains clinically challenging. Here, we harnessed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to study tumor phenotypes by ascertaining nucleosome positioning patterns associated with transcription regulation. We sequenced plasma ctDNA whole genomes from patient-derived xenografts representing a spectrum of androgen receptor active (ARPC) and neuroendocrine (NEPC) prostate cancers. Nucleosome patterns associated with transcriptional activity were reflected in ctDNA at regions of genes, promoters, histone modifications, transcription factor binding, and accessible chromatin. We identified the activity of key phenotype-defining transcriptional regulators from ctDNA, including AR, ASCL1, HOXB13, HNF4G, and GATA2. To distinguish NEPC and ARPC in patient plasma samples, we developed prediction models that achieved accuracies of 97% for dominant phenotypes and 87% for mixed clinical phenotypes. Although phenotype classification is typically assessed by IHC or transcriptome profiling from tumor biopsies, we demonstrate that ctDNA provides comparable results with diagnostic advantages for precision oncology.

Significance:

This study provides insights into the dynamics of nucleosome positioning and gene regulation associated with cancer phenotypes that can be ascertained from ctDNA. New methods for classification in phenotype mixtures extend the utility of ctDNA beyond assessments of somatic DNA alterations with important implications for molecular classification and precision oncology.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 517
Impacto da hemofilia na qualidade de vida em relação à saúde de pacientes acompanhados pelo hemocentro de Alagoas
Authors: Custódio Rafaella Maria Bezerra Pinheiro , Sousa Maria Clara Domingos de Araújo , Costa Paulo José Medeiros de Souza
Published: November 2022

A qualidade de vida é um aspecto importante a ser considerado no plano terapêutico de qualquer paciente, principalmente aqueles que sofrem de doenças crônicas, como a hemofilia. Diante disso, esse estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade de vida em pacientes portadores de hemofilia atendidos pelo Hemocentro de Alagoas e descrever o perfil demográfico e socioeconômico. Foram 50 pacientes envolvidos na pesquisa, maiores de dezoito anos e portadores de hemofilia acolhidos pela associação e pelo hemocentro de Alagoas. A coleta de dados foi realizada por entrevistas utilizando-se de dois questionários: um sobre características demográficas e socioeconômicas e outro sobre avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (Haem-A-QoL). Desse total, 100% eram do sexo masculino, em que a maioria tinha idade entre 20 e 40 anos (80%), solteiro (62%), residentes no interior de Alagoas (58%), aposentado (56%), beneficiários da aposentadoria por complicação da hemofilia (60%), com renda pessoal no último mês de até um salário mínimo (78%) e sem plano de saúde privado (86%). A média do escore total do Haem-A-QoL foi 40,08 (variação de 0–96,46) com pior desempenho nos domínios “esporte e lazer” (média igual a 55,52) e “saúde física” (média igual a 50,16) e melhor nos campos de “relacionamentos e sexualidade” (média igual a 17,48). De modo geral, os hemofílicos do centro estudado apresentaram boa QVRS. A versão brasileira do Haem-A-QoL, demostrou ser um instrumento confiável, com boa consistência interna, revelando alguns problemas enfrentados pelos hemofílicos e que impactam na QVRS.
Physical activity in the post-COVID-19: AEROBICOVID project design and perspectives
Authors: Costa Gabriel Peinado , Wiggers Ester , Foresti Yan Figueiredo , Sorgi Carlos Arterio , Papoti Marcelo , Trapé Átila Alexandre
Published: November 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several late-onset impairments have been observed, affecting the health and functionality of those involved. On the other hand, lower SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and severity of symptoms were observed in high-altitude cities. In this sense, the AEROBICOVID project was developed with the hypothesis that exercise would be an important opportunity for health improvement and that hypoxia would promote additional benefits in the recovery process. The cohort was about 84 participants with approximately 30 days since the COVID-19 symptoms recovery, 25 in the control group, and 59 divided into three moderate physical training groups. The project had good results in teaching, research, and extension, but also faced difficulties in operationalization. This experience is the basis for future proposals through an extension project at the University of São Paulo and in a Family Health Unit, besides a research project that will develop a new low-cost hypoxia technology.
Early Catheter Ablation Versus Initial Medical Therapy for Ventricular Tachycardia Storm
Authors: Huang Kaimin , Bennett Richard G. , Campbell Timothy , Lee Vickie , Turnbull Samual , Chik William W.B. , El-Sokkari Ihab , Hallani Hisham , Dieleman Jan , Kruit Natalie , Eslick Adam , Priestley Mark , Burgess David , Thomas Stuart P. , Denniss A. Robert , Chow Clara K. , Kumar Saurabh
Published: November 2022

Background:

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm is associated with significantly increased morbidity, mortality, and exponential healthcare utilization. Although catheter ablation (CA) may be curative, there are limited data directly comparing outcomes of early CA with initial medical therapy.

Methods:

We compared outcomes of patients presenting with VT storm treated with initial CA versus those treated with initial medical therapy during their first storm presentation in an observational study. Retrospective data from the host institution from January 2014 to April 2020 of 129 patients with their first VT storm presentation were analyzed (58 underwent initial CA, 71 underwent treatment with initial medical therapy). Outcomes were compared in follow-up.

Results:

Median time to initial CA was 6 days. Over a median follow-up of 702 days, patients who underwent initial CA compared with those treated with initial medical therapy had significantly less: (i) VA recurrence (43% versus 92%;
P
=0.002); (ii) VT storm recurrence (28% versus 73%;
P
<0.001); (iii) composite end point of death, heart transplant, VT storm recurrence, and VT-related hospitalization (47% versus 89%;
P
=0.002); (iv) iatrogenic complications (at 12 months: 17% versus 45%;
P
<0.001); (v) cardiovascular-related hospitalizations (50% versus 89%;
P
=0.01); (vi) total number of hospitalizations (median 1 versus 4;
P
<0.001); and (vi) cumulative days in hospital (median 0.5 versus 18;
P
<0.001). There were no intraprocedural deaths in patients treated with early CA.

Conclusion:

In an observational setting in which patients presenting with storm, early CA appears superior to initial medical therapy in terms of VT recurrence, storm recurrence, iatrogenic complications, cardiovascular hospitalizations, and cumulative days in hospital in follow-up.
Rorty and the Question of Normativity: Replies to Commentators on Reconstructing Pragmatism
Authors: Voparil Chris
Published: November 2022

This response to insightful commentaries on my book, from Richard Shusterman, Susan Dieleman, Raff Donelson, and Colin Koopman, takes up the recurring theme of the nature of normativity on a Rortyan view. To frame my individual replies, I revisit the Davidsonian account of epistemic interaction that influences Rorty’s mature view and suggest that the norms implicit in Davidsonian triangulation are insufficient to support Rorty’s antiauthoritarianism in ethics and epistemology. To address the resulting question of how to account for norms of responsibility and obligation within Rorty’s thought, I highlight key strands of the pragmatic tradition, originating with Peirce but extending through James, Addams, and Dewey, that Rorty reconstructs in the process of developing the full implications of prioritizing democracy over philosophy.
On the Legal Regime of Waters Off the Disputed Territories in the Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Caligiuri Andrea
Published: November 2022

This paper analyses how the legal status of the disputed territories of Northern Cyprus and the Gaza Strip affects the legal regime of waters off their coasts. For both situations, the analysis focuses on the following fundamental issues: the legal regime of maritime disputed territories; the maritime delimitation disputes between each disputed territory and States with opposite or adjacent coasts; and the legal regime of natural resources of the waters off the coasts of a disputed territory. In particular, the legal opinions expressed by Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the State of Palestine are scrutinized, offering an assessment in the light of the relevant rules of the law of the sea and other pertinent rules of international law.
The Legal Regime Governing Mediterranean Fisheries: The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the FAO and the Added-Value of Article XIV Bodies
Authors: Ferri Nicola
Published: November 2022

The impact that the progressive development of public international law as relating to fisheries has had on the evolution of the role of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) is fairly well-known, having periodically attracted interest from public international law scholars and practitioners. There are some instances though where this development has not been the sole factor leading to the emergence of decision-making by RFMOs on the management of fisheries found in marine waters worldwide. The RFMOs family is broad and heterogeneous, also encompassing some organizations which belong to the institutional setting of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) is one of those FAO RFMOs.

Established in 1949 through an international agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIV of the FAO Constitution, the GFCM is the RFMO currently exercising regulatory powers to ensure the sustainability of Mediterranean fisheries. Its institutional belonging to the FAO is key to understanding that throughout its seventy years of existence the GFCM has not been responsive only to the progressive development of public international law as relating to fisheries, like all other RFMOs. The story of its evolution and, consequently, that of the legal regime governing Mediterranean fisheries, is deeply intertwined with developments that took place within the FAO’s administrative framework. This piece will briefly detail these developments, trying to shed light on the fact that the internal decisions taken by the FAO to enable bodies established under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution to exercise their regulatory powers have been, in the specific case of the GFCM, as decisive as the progressive development of public international law relating to fisheries; not only in bringing about the legal regime governing Mediterranean fisheries, but also in ultimately ensuring that this regime is as effective as that implemented by other RFMOs established independently of the FAO.
Italy’s Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and its Amendments: Unresolved Issues
Authors: Mancini Marina
Published: November 2022

The present article investigates whether the international crimes listed in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and its amendments are punished under Italian law and, if not, what changes to domestic law are necessary so that perpetrators can be prosecuted before the Italian courts. To this end, firstly, it recalls Italy’s efforts to enact ad hoc legislation implementing the Statute. Secondly, it scrutinizes the existing Italian legislation on international crimes and identifies gaps and inconsistencies with the Statute. Finally, it considers the recent Government’s initiative for adopting a code of international crimes. The author finds that the Italian legislation does not provide a proper legal basis for the prosecution of most of the aforementioned international crimes and advocates a major legislative effort to make all of them prosecutable before the domestic courts.
The New Italian Law Against Investment in Antipersonnel Mines and Cluster Munitions: Achievements and Loopholes
Authors: Rossi Pierfrancesco
Published: November 2022

This contribution analyses the key legal issues raised by Law No. 220 of 9 December 2021, the new Italian law against investment in anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions and submunitions. Law No. 220 targets firms in any way involved in the production of these weapons with a total investment ban and provides effective means of enforcing the prohibition upon financial intermediaries. This signals that Italy subscribes to a broad and progressive interpretation of its international obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. At the same time, though, the resulting legal regime also presents some inexplicable gaps with regard to penalties for the financing of firms involved in anti-personnel mines. It is argued here that these gaps create problems of compatibility with the Mine Ban Treaty and raise concerns of constitutionality with respect to Articles 3 and 117(1) of the Italian Constitution. Such issues may not be resoved by the Constitutional Court and should therefore be promptly addressed by Parliament.
The Song Resistance Movement, 1276–1279: An Episode in Chinese Regional History
Authors: Buell Paul D.
Published: November 2022

The final years of the Mongol conquest of Song China, 1276 to 1279, were intensely eventful and fateful. In this short span of time the Song lost three emperors and all of its territory, and the largest land-based empire the world has ever known reached its fullest extent in the wake of a massive battle on the seas off the coast of Guangdong in March 1279. The fighting during these years was largely riparian and littoral, with Song and Mongol (Yuan) warships engaging in intense clashes and suffering horrendous casualties. The Song resistance movement that developed after the withdrawal of the Song royal family in 1276 was valiant and dogged in its struggle against the Mongol juggernaut but ultimately ineffectual because it was waged against spectacularly superior tactics. In southern China, particularly Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi, the Song resistance helped Sinicize the once-largely unassimilated and isolated southeast, and many families to this day in the region point with pride to their valiant forebears. Sun Yat-sen was himself a successor to the Song resistance movement.