bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial‐temporal distribution and sequence diversity of group a human respiratory syncytial viruses in Kenya preceding the emergence of ON1 genotype
Authors: Wangui Julia , Nokes D. James , Mobegi Victor A. , Otieno James R. , Agoti Charles N. , Ngeranwa Joseph J.N. , Bulimo Wallace D.
Published: December 2021

Background

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of severe viral acute respiratory illness and contributes significantly to severe pneumonia cases in Africa. Little is known about its spatial–temporal distribution as defined by its genetic diversity.

Methods

A retrospective study conducted utilizing archived nasopharyngeal specimens from patients attending outpatient clinics in hospitals located in five demographically and climatically distinct regions of Kenya; Coast, Western, Highlands, Eastern and Nairobi. The viral total RNA was extracted and tested using multiplex real time RT‐PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction). A segment of the G‐gene was amplified using one‐step RT‐PCR and sequenced by Sanger di‐deoxy method. Bayesian analysis of phylogeny was utilized and subsequently median joining methods for haplotype network reconstruction.

Results

Three genotypes of HRSVA were detected; GA5 (14.0%), GA2 (33.1%), and NA1 (52.9%). HRSVA prevalence varied by location from 33% to 13.2% in the Highlands and the Eastern regions respectively. The mean nucleotide diversity (Pi[π]) varied by genotype: highest of 0.018 for GA5 and lowest of 0.005 for NA1. A total of 58 haplotypes were identified (GA5 10; GA2 20; NA1 28). These haplotypes were introduced into the population locally by single haplotypes and additional subsidiary seeds amongst the GA2 and the NA1 haplotypes.

Conclusions

HRSVA was found across all the regions throughout the study period and comprised three genotypes; GA5, GA2, and NA1 genotypes. The genotypes were disproportionately distributed across the regions with GA5 gradually increasing toward the Western zones and decreasing toward the Eastern zones of the country.
SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in households in a peri‐urban community of Lima, Peru: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Lanata Claudio F. , Gil Ana I. , Ecker Lucie , Cornejo Rubelio , Rios Stefano , Ochoa Mayra , Peña Bia , Flores Omar , Howard Leigh M. , Grijalva Carlos G.
Published: December 2021

Background

We assessed the prevalence and incidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in a prospective study of households in Lima, Peru.

Methods

Households with a child, a young adult 18–50 years, and an adult age >50 years in peri‐urban Lima were followed with twice‐a‐week household visits during a 2‐month period. Nasal swabs and saliva specimens were collected twice weekly, and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected weekly from each participant, regardless of symptoms. Laboratory‐confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was defined by two RT‐PCR tests from any of the collected specimens within a week. Blood samples collected at enrollment and end of follow‐up were tested with rapid serological tests. We calculated the prevalence and incidence of laboratory‐confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infections.

Results

We enrolled 132 participants from 44 households: 44 children, 44 young adults, and 44 older adults. A total of 13 SARS‐CoV‐2 infections were detected in eight households, for an overall period prevalence of 9.85% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.35–16.25). Most (61.54%) infections were symptomatic. Eight of 11 (72.73%) SARS‐CoV‐2 detections corresponded to the Lambda variant. During 218.79 person‐months at risk of follow‐up, there were six new SARS‐CoV‐2 infections detected (2.74 per 100 person‐month, 95% CI: 1.25–6.04). At enrollment, 59 of 128 participants tested had positive SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG serology (46.09%, 95% CI: 37.25–55.12). Five of six new infections occurred among participants with negative baseline serology.

Conclusions

We demonstrated high incidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in households, especially among subjects without evidence of prior infection, most of them not detected by the Ministry of Health system.
Prophylactic sacral protective dressings' effect on preventing pressure injury: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Gong Xinyan , Xu Ruimin
Published: December 2021

We performed a meta‐analysis to evaluate the effect of prophylactic sacral protective dressings on preventing pressure injury. A systematic literature search up to July 2021 was performed, and 11 studies included 5150 community or hospital‐based adult subjects requiring care at the start of the study; 2832 of them were using sacral protective dressings and 2318 were given standard care with no sacral protective dressings. They were reporting relationships between the effects of prophylactic sacral protective dressings on preventing pressure injury. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the effects of prophylactic sacral protective dressings on preventing pressure injury using the dichotomous method with a random or fixed‐effect model. Sacral protective dressings had a significantly lower incidence of pressure injuries (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.28‐0.53, P < .001) compared with standard care with no sacral protective dressings in community‐ or hospital‐based adult subjects requiring care. Sacral protective dressings had a significantly lower incidence of pressure injuries compared with standard care with no sacral protective dressings in community‐ or hospital‐based adult subjects requiring care. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Self‐protection and correction for automatically activated weight bias: Revisiting the applicability of the MODE model
Authors: Zabel Kevin L. , Seacat Jason D.
Published: December 2021

Previous research has attempted to assess the applicability of the motivation and opportunity as determinants (MODE) of the attitude‐behavior relations model to examine the situations in which automatically activated attitudes predict anti‐fat social judgments. These studies have produced mixed findings, but also had statistical and methodological limitations‐ leaving the applicability of the MODE model to weight bias unclear. Using a sample of ninety‐three undergraduate university students, the current study sought to address limitations of prior research and assess the viability of the MODE model by uniquely conceptualizing motivation as stemming from a need to protect against the negative consequences of a stigmatized social identity. Overall, it was found that participant body mass index (BMI) interacted with automatically activated attitudes to significantly predict perceptions of higher‐weight people’s lack of willpower. Specifically, among participants lower in BMI, stronger negative automatically activated attitudes toward higher‐weight individuals directly predicted greater perceptions of higher weight people’s lack of willpower. Conversely, among participants higher in BMI, automatically activated attitudes did not predict perceptions of higher‐weight people’s lack of willpower. Findings suggest that among higher BMI individuals, a self‐protective motive to avoid the negative consequences of a stigmatized social identity may motivate individuals to correct for the otherwise direct influence of automatically activated attitudes on more controlled, self‐reported anti‐fat judgments. The current study provides initial empirical support for the applicability of the MODE model to understanding situations in which automatically activated attitudes may (or may not) directly predict anti‐fat social judgments.
Practical applicability of genetics for the prevention and treatment of hypertension
Authors: Silva Alexandre Sérgio
Published: December 2021

Zou and colleagues are publishing in this issue of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, result of one of their studies in which they found that human corin genetic polymorphisms is involved in blood pressure control, more specifically in salt sensitivity. It is being published in this journal shortly after a literature review indicated another 18 genes were also involved in salt sensitivity, however corin gene. This dynamism of newly discovered genes shows the complexity of studying the genetic control of arterial hypertension and explains its known preliotropic characteristic. In this commentary, the study by Zou and colleagues is placed in the context of recent evidence on the genetics of high blood pressure and the future perspectives resulting from this and other studies are presented in the context of the clinical application of genetics in the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure.
Comment on “Optimal exercise parameters of tai chi for balance performance in older adults: A meta‐analysis”
Authors: Yang Aoran , Tian Xin
Published: December 2021

See the Reply by Zheng et al.
Analysis of factors influencing skin reactions to sunscreens, skin whitening products, and deodorants: Results from a large‐scale patch test dataset in China
Authors: Li Bingjie , Cheng BS Ying , Tan Yimei , Wang Fudi , Hu Weiyi , Wang Xuemin , Liu Wei , Krutmann Jean , Wang Sijia , Zou Ying
Published: December 2021

Background

Cosmetic products are widely used in daily life and can cause skin reactions. However, to date, few studies have investigated the prevalence and associated factors of skin reactions to different types of cosmetic products using patch test results.

Objectives

To investigate the frequency and associated factors of skin reactions to sunscreens, skin whitening products, and deodorants using patch test results in China.

Methods

This cross‐sectional analysis used data collected during 2004–2017 at the Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, China. Skin reactions were measured using patch tests following internationally standardized protocols.

Results

In total, 151 280 patch tests comprising 16 477 cosmetic products conducted in 4029 healthy volunteers were analyzed. The frequencies of skin reactions to different cosmetic products were 1.07%, 1.28%, and 4.41% for sunscreens, skin whitening products, and deodorants, respectively. With increasing age, a higher frequency of reactions to sunscreens in women (p < 0.001) and a lower frequency of reactions to skin whitening products in men (p < 0.05) were observed. In addition, men were more likely to develop skin reactions to deodorants compared to women (p < 0.05). Skin reactions were more frequent in winter (p < 0.05), which was true for different types of cosmetic products.

Conclusions

The frequency of patch testing for different cosmetic products was 1.07–4.41%. The effects of age, sex, and season vary among the different types of cosmetic products. We hope that these findings can offer guidance for a healthy skincare concept.
Multiplate platelet aggregometry in dogs undergoing laparoscopic liver biopsy for diagnosis of chronic hepatopathy
Authors: Shropshire S. B. , Olver C. S. , Twedt D. C. , Jablonski Wennogle S. A.
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To assess platelet function via the Multiplate analyser in dogs undergoing laparoscopic liver biopsy for diagnosis of chronic hepatopathy.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐seven client‐owned dogs were prospectively enrolled. Before laparoscopic liver biopsy, whole blood impedance platelet aggregometry via the Multiplate analyser was performed. Buccal mucosal bleeding time was performed in 23 of 27 dogs. Tissue factor‐activated thromboelastography was also performed, in addition to plasma‐based coagulation testing. Descriptive statistics were calculated and the prevalence of platelet function abnormalities and results of other biochemical and coagulation testing were reported.

Results

Seventeen (63%) of 27 dogs had evidence of decreased platelet function as assessed by aggregometry, with all 17 dogs having decreased responsiveness to adenosine diphosphate, and 11 of 17 dogs demonstrating decreased responsiveness to arachidonic acid. Based on maximum amplitude, most dogs were classified as normocoagulable on thromboelastography (15/25; 60%). Other frequent coagulation abnormalities included increased D‐dimers (20/27;74%), thrombocytopenia (11/27; 41%), hypofibrinogenemia (4/27; 15%), and decreased antithrombin (4/27; 15%).

Clinical Significance

Decreased platelet function as assessed by whole blood impedance aggregometry was common in dogs with chronic liver disease. Further study is necessary to determine whether this finding is repeatable or indicative of increased bleeding risk.
Portosystemic shunt is an effective treatment for complications of portal hypertension in hepatic myeloid metaplasia and improves nutritional status
Authors: Aspite Silvia , Schepis Filippo , Roccarina Davide , Gitto Stefano , Citone Michele , Di Bonaventura Chiara , Bianchini Marcello , Arena Umberto , Vannucchi Alessandro M. , Guglielmelli Paola , Campani Francesca , Fanelli Fabrizio , Marra Fabio , Vizzutti Francesco
Published: December 2021

In patients affected by myelofibrosis with hepatic myeloid metaplasia (HMM), portal hypertension (PHT) complications may develop. In this case series, we analysed the efficacy and safety of transjugular portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the treatment of PHT‐related complications and its effects on the nutritional status. Six patients were evaluated and the average follow‐up period after TIPS was 33 (IQR 5) months. None of the patients developed hepatic failure, nor any recurrence of variceal bleeding was recorded. No additional paracentesis or endoscopic prophylactic treatment for PHT‐related complications were required. In all subjects, the average dose of diuretics was almost halved three months after TIPS. Three patients died during the follow‐up, but none for liver‐related causes. All patients showed an improvement in the global nutritional status. In conclusion, TIPS represent an effective and safe treatment option for patients affected by complications of PHT secondary to HMM and drives to an improvement of the nutritional status.
Photosynthesis‐related genes induce resistance against soybean mosaic virus: Evidence for involvement of the RNA silencing pathway
Authors: Bwalya John , Alazem Mazen , Kim Kook‐Hyung
Published: December 2021

Increasing lines of evidence indicate that chloroplast‐related genes are involved in plant–virus interactions. However, the involvement of photosynthesis‐related genes in plant immunity is largely unexplored. Analysis of RNA‐Seq data from the soybean cultivar L29, which carries the Rsv3 resistance gene, showed that several chloroplast‐related genes were strongly induced in response to infection with an avirulent strain of soybean mosaic virus (SMV), G5H, but were weakly induced in response to a virulent strain, G7H. For further analysis, we selected the PSaC gene from the photosystem I and the ATP‐synthase α‐subunit (ATPsyn‐α) gene whose encoded protein is part of the ATP‐synthase complex. Overexpression of either gene within the G7H genome reduced virus levels in the susceptible cultivar Lee74 (rsv3‐null). This result was confirmed by transiently expressing both genes in Nicotiana benthamiana followed by G7H infection. Both proteins localized in the chloroplast envelope as well as in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Because the chloroplast is the initial biosynthesis site of defence‐related hormones, we determined whether hormone‐related genes are involved in the ATPsyn‐α‐ and PSaC‐mediated defence. Interestingly, genes involved in the biosynthesis of several hormones were up‐regulated in plants infected with SMV‐G7H expressing ATPsyn‐α. However, only jasmonic and salicylic acid biosynthesis genes were up‐regulated following infection with the SMV‐G7H expressing PSaC. Both chimeras induced the expression of several antiviral RNA silencing genes, which indicate that such resistance may be partially achieved through the RNA silencing pathway. These findings highlight the role of photosynthesis‐related genes in regulating resistance to viruses.
Cystic fibrosis in children: A pediatric anesthesiologist’s perspective
Authors: Williamson Danielle M. , Sharma Anshuman
Published: December 2021

Cystic fibrosis is a multi‐systemic disease of impaired sodium and chloride transport across epithelial surfaces. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common autosomal recessive diseases among Caucasian children. However, recent epidemiologic studies suggest that the disease in Hispanic, African American, and Asian American populations may be more common than previously recognized. The phenotypic expression is characterized by the constellation of pulmonary, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Progressive obstructive lung disease is the hallmark of cystic fibrosis, and end‐stage respiratory failure is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality. The most significant advance in the care has been the development of cystic fibrosis modulators, a class of drugs that restore cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator folding, intracellular processing, or function. Improved diagnostic abilities, a multidisciplinary approach to medical management, and the use of cystic fibrosis modulators have led to improvement in the quality of life and life expectancy. These patients undergo range of procedures such as nasal polypectomy, placement of gastrostomy tubes, vascular access device placement, transbronchial lung biopsies, and other thoracic surgeries. The anesthetic care of children with advanced cystic fibrosis disease is complex. Preoperative optimization can help improve postoperative outcomes. Strategies for pain control should rely on non‐opiate, multimodal adjuncts, and regional or neuraxial techniques. Unfortunately for some children, a progressive respiratory disease often leads to end‐stage respiratory failure and lung transplant surgery remains the only viable treatment option. Widespread use of lung transplant surgery as a treatment option is severely constraint by donor organ availability. Primary graft dysfunction is the most common cause of early death and can be seen within 48 h of surgery. Median long‐term survival after lung transplant remains modest. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction, opportunistic infections, and post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among long‐term survivors.
Residential stability and fear of crime: Examining the impact of homeownership and length of residence on citizens’ fear of crime
Authors: Lee Heeuk D. , Boateng Francis D. , Kim David , Maher Cooper
Published: December 2021

Even though social scientists have investigated the importance of homeownership in providing individuals with a sense of belonging, security, the welfare of the community, and informal social control within their neighborhood, the impact of homeownership yet has remained largely unexamined within the context of fear of crime. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature and examines the relationship among factors of residential stability on fear of crime. The purpose of the current study is to explore the predictive effects of homeownership on fear of crime among residents. Using community survey data collected from several cities of Northwestern states in the United States, results from the analysis found statistically significant effects for homeownership, length of residence, physical disorder, social cohesion, and victimization on fear of crime.
Circular Complementary Split Ring Resonator Rotation for Linear Array Millimeter Wave Microstrip Patch Antenna
Authors: Muhamad Nadzir Norsaidah , A. Rahim Mohamad Kamal , Murad Noor Asniza , Himdi Mohamed , Ayop Osman
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes multiple linear array millimeter wave MPAs that could operate at various frequencies depending on the angular rotation of the CSRR structure. The main contribution of this work is the range of frequencies of the linear array MPA found when the position of the CSRR structure is changed angularly. This is achieved by positioning the CSRR structure on the ground plane of the MPA and rotate it to an incremental of 22.5°. Computer Simulation Technology software is used to simulate the antenna designs. The performance of the antenna is evaluated against the single element millimeter wave MPA with similar angular rotation to the CSRR structure. The reflection coefficient graph shows at 0° rotation, the antenna has dual band performance at 26 GHz and 28 GHz. At 22.5° and 45° CSRR structure rotation, the antenna shows triple band performance with different operational frequencies and different polarization depending on the frequencies. Finally, at 67.5° CSRR structure rotation, the antenna now is operational only at 20 GHz frequency with horizontal polarization performance. Plus, the results between the single element MPA with circular CSSRR and the linear array MPA with circular CSRR shows similar behavior in which the rotation of the CSRR did not affect the antenna differently even with an increase of the number of elements. The millimeter wave MPA with CSRR angular rotation can be utilized in various applications as it covers multiple frequencies depending on the angle of rotation of the CSRR structure.
Second Iteration of Slotted Fractal Log Periodic Dipole Antenna for UHF Digital TV Band Application
Authors: Rosmin Muhammad Hafeez , A Rahim Mohamad Kamal , Yaziz Nur Syahirah , Iqbal Muhammad Naeem , Ayop Osman , Kamarusshahrin Muhammad Amir Haziq
Published: December 2021

This paper discusses the simulations and measurements of the antenna with and without slot implementation in terms of reflection coefficient (S11) and radiation pattern. The slot implementation on each of the radiating elements on the 2nd iteration log periodic fractal Koch antenna (LPFKA) was described in this paper. This method is utilised to reduce the antenna's size while also preventing the lower designated frequencies from shifting to the higher band as the iteration increases. The antenna is designed to test and observe performance in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, which ranges from 0.5 GHz to 3.0 GHz. Computer Simulation Technology (CST) software is used to design and model the antenna, which was then built using the wet etching technique. The antenna's substrate is made of FR-4 laminated board with a dielectric constant of 4.6, tangent loss of 0.019, and a thickness of 1.6mm. The results demonstrate good agreement, with a steady radiation pattern over the operational bandwidth and a reflection coefficient of less than -10 dB for the frequency range of interest. The antenna is being tested with Digital TV decoder and the result is observed towards the picture of the Digital TV.
Fluctuation theorem for nonunital dynamics
Authors: Goold J. , Modi K.
Published: December 2021

We derive an expression for the fluctuations of the energy in an open quantum system undergoing a nontrivial evolution. The statistics of energy are constructed by means of a two-point measurement process when the system has been evolved by a completely positive and trace-preserving map. The statistics depend only on the state of the system and the dynamical map generating the evolution. In particular, we consider the Tasaki–Crooks fluctuation theorem, where a unitary evolution is replaced by a quantum channel. Our construction of a backward process using an ancilla sheds important light on the mathematical structure at play when nonunital channels are considered in quantum thermodynamics.
Investigating urban soundscapes of the COVID-19 lockdown: A predictive soundscape modeling approach
Authors: Mitchell Andrew , Oberman Tin , Aletta Francesco , Kachlicka Magdalena , Lionello Matteo , Erfanian Mercede , Kang Jian
Published: December 2021

The unprecedented lockdowns resulting from COVID-19 in spring 2020 triggered changes in human activities in public spaces. A predictive modeling approach was developed to characterize the changes in the perception of the sound environment when people could not be surveyed. Building on a database of soundscape questionnaires (N = 1,136) and binaural recordings (N = 687) collected in 13 locations across London and Venice during 2019, new recordings (N = 571) were made in the same locations during the 2020 lockdowns. Using these 30-s-long recordings, linear multilevel models were developed to predict the soundscape pleasantness (R2=0.85) and eventfulness (R2=0.715) during the lockdown and compare the changes for each location. The performance was above average for comparable models. An online listening study also investigated the change in the sound sources within the spaces. Results indicate (1) human sounds were less dominant and natural sounds more dominant across all locations; (2) contextual information is important for predicting pleasantness but not for eventfulness; (3) perception shifted toward less eventful soundscapes and to more pleasant soundscapes for previously traffic-dominated locations but not for human- and natural-dominated locations. This study demonstrates the usefulness of predictive modeling and the importance of considering contextual information when discussing the impact of sound level reductions on the soundscape.
Contribution of laryngeal size to differences between male and female voice production
Authors: Zhang Zhaoyan
Published: December 2021

In this study we investigated the effect of sex- and age-related differences in vocal fold length, thickness, and depth on voice production in a three-dimensional vocal fold model. The results showed that the cause-effect relationships between vocal fold physiology and voice production previously identified in an adult male-like vocal fold geometry remained qualitatively the same in vocal folds with geometry representative of adult females and children. We further showed that the often-observed differences in voice production between adult males, adult females, and children can be explained by differences in length and thickness. The lower F0, higher flow rate, larger vocal fold vibration amplitude, and higher sound pressure level (SPL) in adult males as compared to adult females and children can be explained by differences in vocal fold length. In contrast, the thickness effect dominated and contributed to the larger closed quotient of vocal fold vibration, larger normalized maximum flow declination rate, and lower H1-H2 in adult males as compared to adult females and children. The effect of differences in vocal fold depth was generally small. When targeting a specific SPL, adult males experienced a lower peak vocal fold contact pressure during phonation than adult females and children.
Generalized punctual Hilbert schemes and 𝔤-complex structures
Authors: Thomas Alexander
Published: December 2021

We define and analyze various generalizations of the punctual Hilbert scheme of the plane, associated to complex or real Lie algebras. Out of these, we construct new geometric structures on surfaces whose moduli spaces share multiple properties with Hitchin components, and which are conjecturally homeomorphic to them. For simple complex Lie algebras, this generalizes the higher complex structure. For real Lie algebras, this should give an alternative description of the Hitchin–Kostant–Rallis section.
The Impact of Gut Microbiome on the Pharmacokinetics of Ginsenosides Rd and Rg3 in Mice after Oral Administration of Red Ginseng
Authors: Kim Jeon-Kyung , Lee Eun Kyu , Bae Chu Hyun , Park Soo-Dong , Shim Jae-Jung , Lee Jung-Lyoul , Yoo Hye Hyun , Kim Dong-Hyun
Published: December 2021

Ginsenosides of orally administered red ginseng (RG) extracts are metabolized and absorbed into blood. Here, we examined the pharmacokinetic profiles of ginsenosides Rd and Rg3 in mice orally gavaged with RG, then investigated the correlations between these and gut microbiota composition. RG water extract (RGw), RG ethanol extract (RGe), or fermented RGe (fRGe) was orally gavaged in mice. The plasma concentrations of the ginsenosides were determined, and the gut microbiota composition was analyzed. RGe and fRGe-treated mice showed higher plasma concentration levels of ginsenoside Rd compared with RGw-treated mice; particularly, ginsenoside Rd absorbed was substantially high in fRGe-treated mice. Oral administration of RG extracts modified the gut microbiota composition; the modified gut microbiota, such as Peptococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Hungateiclostridiaceae, were closely correlated with the absorption of ginsenosides, such as Rd and Rg3. These results suggest that oral administration of RG extracts can modify gut microbiome, which may consequently affect the bioavailability of RG ginsenosides.
Psidium guajava Flavonoids Prevent NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Alleviate the Pancreatic Fibrosis in a Chronic Pancreatitis Mouse Model
Authors: Zhang Guixian , Tang Liming , Liu Hongbin , Liu Dawei , Wang Manxue , Cai Jun , Liu Weijun , Nie Wei , Zhang Yi , Yu Xiaomeng
Published: December 2021

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a multifactorial, inflammatory syndrome characterized by acinar atrophy and fibrosis. Activation of NOD-like receptors family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a central mediator of multiple chronic inflammatory responses and chronic fibrosis including pancreatic fibrosis in CP. The Psidium guajavaleaf is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of chronic inflammation, but the anti-inflammatory effect of Psidium guajavaleaf on CP has not yet been revealed. In this study, we investigated whether the extract of total flavonoids from Psidium guajava leaves (TFPGL) plays a therapeutic mechanism on CP through NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in a mouse CP model. The H&E and acid-Sirius red staining indicted that TFPGL attenuated the inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis significantly. The results of immunohistological staining, western blot and RT-qPCR showed that the expressions of NLRP3 and caspase-1 were significantly increased in the CP model group, while TFPGL significantly decreased the NLRP3 and caspase-1 expression at both the gene and protein levels. Moreover, ELISA assay was used to examine the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome target genes, such as caspase-1, IL-1[Formula: see text] and IL-18. We found that TFPGL treatment decreased the expression of caspase-1, IL-1[Formula: see text] and IL-18, which is critical for the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway and inflammation response significantly. These results demonstrated that TFPGL attenuated pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis via preventing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and TFPGL can be used as a potential therapeutic agent for CP.
Surfing the waves of seed dispersal
Authors: Abramson Guillermo
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we analyze a model of an animal feeding on fruits and dispersing their seeds, which are later deposited and capable of germination. The deposition of seeds away from their collection sites produces a delay in the dynamics, whose analytical modeling complicates the description in a way that would delight Nitant. We have found approximate analytical solutions, as well as numerical ones, but here I will emphasize on a typical physicists rule of thumb argument.
Automatic Translation of Medical Information Based on Text Feature Recognition
Authors: Zhang Suyang
Published: December 2021

In order to improve the effect of the medical information automatic translation system, based on the text feature recognition technology of medical image, this paper constructs an automatic translation system that can recognize medical images. On the basis of the medical information image retrieval based on the combination of text information and visual information, this paper uses automatic image annotation technology and semantic similarity calculation method to extract the text and semantic features of medical information images. Then, this paper uses the inherent multi-information fusion capability of the Bayesian inference network to fuse the text features of medical information images and the semantic features of image content together to realize medical information image retrieval. Finally, this paper designs experiments to test the performance of the medical information automatic translation system. The research shows that the system constructed in this paper has certain effects.
A COMPUTATIONAL ALGORITHM FOR THE NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF NONLINEAR FRACTIONAL INTEGRAL EQUATIONS
Authors: AMIN ROHUL , SENU NORAZAK , HAFEEZ MUHAMMAD BILAL , ARSHAD NOREEN IZZA , AHMADIAN ALI , SALAHSHOUR SOHEIL , SUMELKA WOJCIECH
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we develop a numerical method for the solution of nonlinear fractional integral equations (NFIEs) based on Haar wavelet collocation technique (HWCT). Under certain conditions, we also prove the uniqueness and existence as well as Hyers–Ulam (HU) stability of the solution. With the help of the mentioned technique, the considered problem is transformed to a system of algebraic equations which is then solved for the required results by using Broyden algorithm. To check the validation and convergence of the proposed technique, some examples are given. For different number of collocation points (CPs), maximum absolute and mean square root errors are computed. The results show that for solving these equations, the HWCT is effective. The convergence rate is also measured for different CPs, which is nearly equal to [Formula: see text]
A ROBUST OPERATIONAL MATRIX OF NONSINGULAR DERIVATIVE TO SOLVE FRACTIONAL VARIABLE-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: BASIM MAYS , SENU NORAZAK , IBRAHIM ZARINA BIBI , AHMADIAN ALI , SALAHSHOUR SOHEIL
Published: December 2021

Currently, a study has come out with a novel class of differential operators using fractional-order and variable-order fractal Atangana–Baleanu derivative, which in turn, became the source of inspiration for new class of differential equations. The aim of this paper is to apply the operation matrix to get numerical solutions to this new class of differential equations and help us to simplify the problem and transform it into a system of an algebraic equation. This method is applied to solve two types, linear and nonlinear of fractal differential equations. Some numerical examples are given to display the simplicity and accuracy of the proposed technique and compare it with the predictor–corrector and mixture two-step Lagrange polynomial and the fundamental theorem of fractional calculus methods.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF EMPTY-NESTERS: A CHINESE URBAN CASE STUDY
Authors: YANG HUI , HAGEDORN AARON , CHEN HONGLIN , ZHANG RONGHUA
Published: December 2021

The research examined the mental health and well-being of a sample of empty-nesters in Jinan City, Shandong Province, China. An in-depth individual interview approach, with document analysis and participant observation, was performed on three types of interviewees (N = 33) recruited via purposive sampling. The empty-nesters faced many unique problems, especially a sense of being disjointed from the family, community and society. Influencing factors included Chinese traditional filial piety culture, lagging implementation of relevant policies and development of community aging services, as well as the loss of productive roles for the empty nesters. While this paper supports the argument that religious and related social activities play a role in facilitating the psychological adjustment of older people, it reveals a different finding from previous studies that highly educated empty nesters are likely to have lower levels of social participation and psychological fulfillment. Moreover, by employing the social-ecological systems theory for analysis, this study confirms the importance of the family interactions in the life of empty nesters, which contributed to the implication to relevant social policy and social work practice.
Research on Key Security Detection Method of Cross Domain Information Sharing Based on PKG Trust Gateway
Authors: Li RunQi
Published: December 2021

Aiming at the problems of low precision, long detection time and poor detection effect in current cross domain information sharing key security detection methods, a cross domain information sharing key security detection method based on PKG trust gateway is proposed. By analyzing bilinear pairing based on elliptic curve and identity based encryption scheme, according to the independent system parameters of PKG management platform, cross domain authentication access mechanism is proposed. PKG of different trust domains is used as the trust gateway for cross domain authentication. The key escrow problem of PKG of different trust domains is solved through key sharing, and the communication key agreement mechanism is established to mutually authenticate the user nodes in the trust domains with different system parameters. The formal description of the rule detection of cryptographic functions, parameters and other information, supported by the dynamic binary analysis platform pin, dynamically records the encryption and decryption process information during the operation of the program, and realizes cross domain information sharing key security detection through the design of correlation vulnerability detection algorithm. The experimental results show that the cross-domain information shared key security detection effect of the proposed method is better, which can effectively improve the detection accuracy and shorten the detection time.
Identifying Buying Patterns from Consumers’ Purchase History Using Big Data and Cloud Computing
Authors: Zhang Hui
Published: December 2021

Consumers can select their goods and resources in several ways, significantly affecting customer preference in the online world and raising network customers’ demands to anticipate their purchasing pattern. The current work aims to identify buying patterns from consumers’ purchase history (IBP-CPH) framework for analyzing the evolving trend of customer decision-making in the global marketplace. The project is carried out in two stages to achieve the goals. A comprehensive research analysis is conducted to evaluate the latest consumer behavior trends in the digital economy in this first stage. In the second stage, identifying buying patterns from consumers’ purchase history (IBP-CPH) framework identifies the finalized factor’s preference amounts (s). The concept of a fugitive setting requires the incoherence of information to be recorded. The results achieved in this research stated that buyers are very aware of new and sophisticated brands and brand consistency so that internet companies can keep their customers on their web platforms.
Design of Online and Offline Integration Teaching System for Body Sense Dance Based on Cloud Computing
Authors: He Yun
Published: December 2021

Traditional teaching methods are limited to time and place, and the performance of dance teaching resource management is poor. This paper designs a dance teaching resource management system based on cloud computing. The functional structure of the system includes the core cloud computing teaching and teaching management application. The data management module is used to store the processed data in the data file, and respond to the retrieval request of dance teaching content publishing module and the remote image resource positioning request of multi-media management module. Design user courseware on demand process, using the existing dance teaching resources to learn. The experimental results show that the designed system has good performance, high stability and compatibility, and strong data storage capacity of teaching resources.
Artesian conditions in the Chilterns Chalk aquifer (NW of the London Basin) and the implications for surface water–groundwater interactions
Authors: Marsili Alessandro , Karapanos Ilias , Jaweesh Mahmoud , Yarker Daniel R. , Powers Eleanor M. , Sage Robert C.
Published: December 2021

The Chalk is a principal aquifer which provides an important resource in SE England. For two centuries, it allowed the establishment of a thriving watercress-growing industry, indirectly through diverted stream flow and directly through the drilling of flowing artesian boreholes. The distribution of artesian boreholes across different catchments, suggests a regional control of vertical groundwater flow within the New Pit and Lewes Chalk units. Interrogation of location-specific information points to the confining role of a few key marls within the New Pit Chalk Formation, which can be traced up-catchment to where they naturally outcrop or have been exposed by quarrying. Evidence is found in geophysical logging of a number of boreholes across catchments, confirming a consistent pattern of the spatial distribution of such key markers. When tectonic stress was applied to the various Chalk formations, the marl bands would have reacted, producing more plastic deformation and less fractures in comparison with rigid rock strata. Such a scenario would have created the conditions for secondary aquifer units, giving the Chalk confining or semi-confining hydraulic characteristics on a regional scale. This conceptual understanding helps explain why the river flow response to reductions in groundwater abstraction varies across the flow duration curve.
Coeval development of extensional and contractional features along transform margins: insights from the Diaz Marginal Ridge
Authors: Paton Douglas A. , Mortimer Estelle J. , Markwick P. J. , Khan J. , Davids Anthea , Tshikovhi Rilwele , Van der Spuy David
Published: December 2021

The Diaz Marginal Ridge (DMR), on the southern transform margin of South Africa, is a bathymetric feature parallel to the Agulhas Falkland Fracture Zone (AFFZ) that has long been considered an archetype marginal ridge; and yet its origin and evolution remains unconstrained. Using recently acquired seismic data we present a new structural interpretation of the DMR and its association with the evolution of both the AFFZ and the Southern Outeniqua Basin. In contrast to previous scenarios invoking thermo-mechanical explanations for its evolution, we observe a more straightforward structural model in which the genesis of the DMR results from the structural inversion of a Jurassic rift basin. This inversion resulted in the progressive onlap of latest Valanginian–Hauterivian-aged stratigraphic units, important for the formation of stratigraphic plays of the recent Brulpadda discovery.

Paradoxically, this contraction is contemporaneous with renewed extension observed in the inboard normal faults. The orientation of the DMR and inboard structures have been demonstrated to be controlled by the underlying Cape Fold Belt (CFB) fabric. The onset of motion across the AFFZ shear system led to east–west-orientated maximum stress and north–south-orientated minimum stress. We propose this stress re-orientation resulted in strain partitioning across existing structures whereby in addition to strike-slip on the AFFZ there was coeval extension and contraction, the nature of which was determined by fault orientation. The fault orientation in turn was controlled by a change in orientation of the underlying CFB. Our model provides new insights into the interplay of changes in regional stress orientation with basement fabric and localized magmatism along an evolving transform. The application of horizontal strain partitioning can provide an explanation of similar features observed on other transform margins.
A Unified FPGA Virtualization Framework for General-Purpose Deep Neural Networks in the Cloud
Authors: Zeng Shulin , Dai Guohao , Sun Hanbo , Liu Jun , Li Shiyao , Ge Guangjun , Zhong Kai , Guo Kaiyuan , Wang Yu , Yang Huazhong
Published: December 2021

INFerence-as-a-Service (INFaaS) has become a primary workload in the cloud. However, existing FPGA-based Deep Neural Network (DNN) accelerators are mainly optimized for the fastest speed of a single task, while the multi-tenancy of INFaaS has not been explored yet. As the demand for INFaaS keeps growing, simply increasing the number of FPGA-based DNN accelerators is not cost-effective, while merely sharing these single-task optimized DNN accelerators in a time-division multiplexing way could lead to poor isolation and high-performance loss for INFaaS. On the other hand, current cloud-based DNN accelerators have excessive compilation overhead, especially when scaling out to multi-FPGA systems for multi-tenant sharing, leading to unacceptable compilation costs for both offline deployment and online reconfiguration. Therefore, it is far from providing efficient and flexible FPGA virtualization for public and private cloud scenarios.

Aiming to solve these problems, we propose a unified virtualization framework for general-purpose deep neural networks in the cloud, enabling multi-tenant sharing for both the Convolution Neural Network (CNN), and the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) accelerators on a single FPGA. The isolation is enabled by introducing a two-level instruction dispatch module and a multi-core based hardware resources pool. Such designs provide isolated and runtime-programmable hardware resources, which further leads to performance isolation for multi-tenant sharing. On the other hand, to overcome the heavy re-compilation overheads, a tiling-based instruction frame package design and a two-stage static-dynamic compilation, are proposed. Only the lightweight runtime information is re-compiled with ∼1 ms overhead, thus guaranteeing the private cloud’s performance. Finally, the extensive experimental results show that the proposed virtualized solutions achieve up to 3.12× and 6.18× higher throughput in the private cloud compared with the static CNN and RNN baseline designs, respectively.
AIgean
: An Open Framework for Deploying Machine Learning on Heterogeneous Clusters
Authors: Tarafdar Naif , Di Guglielmo Giuseppe , Harris Philip C. , Krupa Jeffrey D. , Loncar Vladimir , Rankin Dylan S. , Tran Nhan , Wu Zhenbin , Shen Qianfeng , Chow Paul
Published: December 2021

AIgean
, pronounced like the sea, is an open framework to build and deploy machine learning (ML) algorithms on a heterogeneous cluster of devices (CPUs and FPGAs). We leverage two open source projects:
Galapagos
, for multi-FPGA deployment, and
hls4ml
, for generating ML kernels synthesizable using Vivado HLS.
AIgean
provides a full end-to-end multi-FPGA/CPU implementation of a neural network. The user supplies a high-level neural network description, and our tool flow is responsible for the synthesizing of the individual layers, partitioning layers across different nodes, as well as the bridging and routing required for these layers to communicate. If the user is an expert in a particular domain and would like to tinker with the implementation details of the neural network, we define a flexible implementation stack for ML that includes the layers of Algorithms, Cluster Deployment & Communication, and Hardware. This allows the user to modify specific layers of abstraction without having to worry about components outside of their area of expertise, highlighting the modularity of
AIgean
. We demonstrate the effectiveness of
AIgean
with two use cases: an autoencoder, and ResNet-50 running across 10 and 12 FPGAs.
AIgean
leverages the FPGA’s strength in low-latency computing, as our implementations target batch-1 implementations.
Approximate Constant-Coefficient Multiplication Using Hybrid Binary-Unary Computing for FPGAs
Authors: Faraji S. Rasoul , Abillama Pierre , Bazargan Kia
Published: December 2021

Multipliers are used in virtually all
Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
applications such as image and video processing. Multiplier efficiency has a direct impact on the overall performance of such applications, especially when real-time processing is needed, as in 4K video processing, or where hardware resources are limited, as in mobile and IoT devices. We propose a novel, low-cost, low energy, and high-speed approximate constant
coefficient multiplier (CCM)
using a hybrid binary-unary encoding method. The proposed method implements a CCM using simple routing networks with no logic gates in the unary domain, which results in more efficient multipliers compared to Xilinx LogiCORE IP CCMs and table-based KCM CCMs (Flopoco) on average. We evaluate the proposed multipliers on 2-D discrete cosine transform algorithm as a common DSP module. Post-routing FPGA results show that the proposed multipliers can improve the {area, area × delay, power consumption, and energy-delay product} of a 2-D discrete cosine transform on average by {30%, 33%, 30%, 31%}. Moreover, the throughput of the proposed 2-D discrete cosine transform is on average 5% more than that of the binary architecture implemented using table-based KCM CCMs. We will show that our method has fewer routability issues compared to binary implementations when implementing a DCT core.