bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between SHP2 gene polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus risk
Authors: Li Rong , Zhou Ling , Yang Chan , Xu Wang‐Dong , Huang An‐Fang
Published: June 2023

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder. SHP2, a non‐transmembrane member of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family, can be involved in multiple signaling pathways in inflammatory response. To date, it remains to be investigated whether polymorphisms in the SHP2 gene are correlated with SLE in the Chinese Han population.

Method

A study comprising 320 SLE patients and 400 healthy individuals was performed. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4767860, rs7132778, rs7953150) of the SHP2 gene were genotyped using the Kompetitive Allele‐Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction method.

Results

Genotypes of rs4767860 (AA, AG + AA) and rs7132778 (AA, AC + AA), and alleles of rs4767860 (A) and rs7132778 (A) were associated with SLE risk. Genotype AA of rs7132778 and allele A of rs7132778 and rs7953150 were associated with oral ulcers in SLE patients. Allele C of rs7132778 and genotype AA and allele A of rs7953150 were associated with pyuria. Patients who carried AA genotype and allele A of rs7953150 are more likely to develop hypocomplementemia. AA and AG genotype frequencies are more raised in patients with SLE with alopecia than in those without alopecia. Patients who carried AA and AG genotypes of rs4767860 had elevated C‐reactive protein levels.

Conclusion

Gene polymorphisms of SHP2 (rs4767860, rs7132778) are relevant to SLE susceptibility.
Screen media exposure and young children's vocabulary learning and development: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Jing Mengguo , Ye Ting , Kirkorian Heather L. , Mares Marie‐Louise
Published: June 2023

This meta‐analysis synthesizes research on media use in early childhood (0–6 years), word‐learning, and vocabulary size. Multi‐level analyses included 266 effect sizes from 63 studies (Ntotal = 11,413) published between 1988–2022. Among samples with information about race/ethnicity (51%) and sex/gender (73%), most were majority White/Non‐Hispanic and between 40%–60% female. Analyses revealed a small overall positive relation between screen media exposure and vocabulary (r = .23). Experimental studies yielded a small‐to‐medium effect (r = .30), with stronger effects for e‐books than TV/video or games/apps, and non‐significant effects for video chat. In correlational studies, there was no overall association between vocabulary size and naturalistic media exposure (r = .07), with the exception of naturalistic exposure to educational media (r = .17).
Networking, Employment Services and Information: Key Findings from a Survey on Intra‐EU Mobility of High‐Skilled Women
Authors: Gomes de Araujo Anelise
Published: June 2023

Empirical evidence demonstrates that there has been a significant increase in the number of high‐skilled mobile workers in the European Union. Given scant understanding of the experience of female high‐skilled intra‐EU mobiles, this paper uses unique qualitative data collected through an online survey to investigate their labour market integration. Findings highlighted two main features: first, the use of social networks as an essential strategy on job search and entry; and second, the inadequate availability and access to support services and relevant information. The paper draws on these findings to advocate for a gender perspective about the experiences and outcomes, as well as responses to obstacles in the path of labour market integration of high‐skilled intra‐EU workers. This is relevant to avoid having these workers’ experience invisible and thus to suggest consistent labour market activation policies in support of this group, particularly towards those looking for work opportunities and older workers.
Learning equilibrium mean‐variance strategy
Authors: Dai Min , Dong Yuchao , Jia Yanwei
Published: June 2023

We study a dynamic mean‐variance portfolio optimization problem under the reinforcement learning framework, where an entropy regularizer is introduced to induce exploration. Due to the time–inconsistency involved in a mean‐variance criterion, we aim to learn an equilibrium policy. Under an incomplete market setting, we obtain a semi‐analytical, exploratory, equilibrium mean‐variance policy that turns out to follow a Gaussian distribution. We then focus on a Gaussian mean return model and propose a reinforcement learning algorithm to find the equilibrium policy. Thanks to a thoroughly designed policy iteration procedure in our algorithm, we prove the convergence of our algorithm under mild conditions, despite that dynamic programming principle and the usual policy improvement theorem failing to hold for an equilibrium policy. Numerical experiments are given to demonstrate our algorithm. The design and implementation of our reinforcement learning algorithm apply to a general market setup.
Decentering intensive mothering: More fully accounting for race and class in motherhood norms
Authors: Minnotte Krista Lynn
Published: June 2023

In 1996 Sharon Hays published The Cultural Contradictions of Motherhood describing the ideology of intensive mothering calling upon mothers to engage in a time‐intensive, expensive, and expert‐informed style of mothering. In this article, I describe the historical circumstances giving rise to intensive mothering and how structural and historical realities diverge across race and class. I argue that enactments of motherhood are varied, forming a mosaic of motherhood enactments informed by mothers' social locations, including their positions in racialized and classed hierarchies. Mothers operating from marginalized locations innovate and resist intensive mothering, while also being judged by these norms, despite often lacking the resources to meet them. Privileged, primarily White mothers, have been able to harness their resources to achieve intensive mothering and redefine what constitutes good mothering to match the style of mothering they practice. Among some privileged, predominantly White mothers, I contend an even more intense version of intensive mothering is being practiced, with some moving beyond being “expert informed” to positioning themselves as the experts who possess specialized knowledge superior to that of medical and educational experts. All told, I argue that mothering enactments are more diverse than is often portrayed by the concept of intensive mothering.
White people's activism in US‐ based social movements for racial justice
Authors: Russo Chandra
Published: June 2023

There is a long history of small groups of white activists engaging in social movements for racial justice led by Black Indigenous and People of Color in the United States. Yet organized white antiracism has received much less study than white racism. From forging antiracist identities to crafting racial justice organizing strategies, white people's involvement in BIPOC‐led liberation struggles has proven both promising and problematic. This article explores what scholars know about white people's involvement in US‐ based racial justice efforts in order to pose central questions and quandaries for future study. It focuses on white antiracist activism in the United States beginning in the Civil Rights era. During the late 20th century, US‐based racial justice campaigns became fragmented across diverse networks and issue areas making it harder to locate groups of white people collectively aligning with a visible and unified social movement for racial justice. This appears to be shifting. Racial logics and racist regimes have proven themselves eminently flexible, and investigating how white people have tried to join social movements for racial justice illuminates important areas for future study.
Inhibition of Infectious HIV-1 Production by Rerouting the Cellular Furin Inhibitor Serpin B8
Authors: Petersen Moritz , Lotke Rishikesh , Hopfensperger Kristina , Victoria Sabina , Haußmann Isabell , Burster Timo , Baldauf Hanna-Mari , Sauter Daniel
Published: June 2023

Many cellular proteases serve as dependency factors during viral infection and are hijacked by viruses for the maturation of their own (glyco)proteins. Consequently, inhibition of these cellular proteases may represent a means to inhibit the spread of viral infection.
Complete Genome Sequence of Invasive MLST-Untypeable Serotype 3
xpt
-Deficient Streptococcus pneumoniae Strain B1900, Isolated from the Brain of an Infant Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) That Died of Meningitis
Authors: Kim Sung Guk , Summage-West Christine V. , Reyna Mariela , Wang Sharon X. , Foley Steven L.
Published: June 2023

Serotype 3
Streptococcus pneumoniae
is associated with major invasive pneumococcal diseases in humans. We report the circularized 2.0-Mbp complete genome sequence of invasive serotype 3
S. pneumoniae
strain B1900, untypeable by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). This strain was isolated from the brain of an infant rhesus monkey (
Macaca mulatta
) that suddenly died of meningitis with no clinical symptoms.
Complete Genome Sequences and Characteristics of Seven Novel Mycobacteriophages Isolated in East Texas
Authors: Weiss Skylar M. , Happy Kezia K. , Baliraine Faith W. , Beach Abigail K. , Brobston Sean M. , Martinez Claire P. , Menard Kaitlyn J. , Orton Savannah M. , Salazar Angela L. , Frederick Gregory D. , Baliraine Frederick N.
Published: June 2023

Full-genome sequences of seven mycobacteriophages isolated from environmental soil samples are presented. These bacteriophages, with their respective clusters or subclusters are Duplo (A2), Dynamo (P1), Gilberta (A11), MaCh (A11), Nikao (K1), Phloss (N), and Skinny (M1). All had siphovirus-like morphologies, with genome sizes ranging from 43,107 to 82,071 bp.
Hydrothermal alteration episodes reflect multiple Proterozoic tectonic and magmatic events in the Kangdian region, western Yangtze Block
Authors: Su Zhi-Kun , Zhao Xin-Fu , Wang Christina Yan , Zi Jian-Wei , McNaughton Neal J. , Spandler Carl
Published: June 2023

Hydrothermal fluids are major agents for mass and heat transfer in the upper crust. Precise age dating and tracing of the origins of fluid fluxes can provide vital information on the geological past, yet detailed reconstructions of past hydrothermal fluid activity in Precambrian terranes are commonly hindered by multistage overprints and recrystallization events. In this contribution, we present integrated U-Pb and Re-Os isotopic analyses of texturally resolved hydrothermal minerals including allanite, monazite, apatite, rutile, and sulfides, in order to constrain the timing of hydrothermal activity in the 1710−1660 Ma Dahongshan Group, which hosts the largest Fe-Cu-Au deposit in the Kangdian region of the western Yangtze Block, South China. We identify six discrete periods of fluid activity at ca. 1650, 1140, 1040, 930, 870, and 830 Ma, as well as several other cryptic hydrothermal events in metasomatised rocks, all of which can be correlated with regional tectonic and magmatic events. Our reconstruction provides a framework for evaluating Proterozoic hydrothermal and metallogenic histories of the Kangdian region along the western margin of the Yangtze Block. Furthermore, our results highlight the sensitivity of minerals to the hydrothermal response of regional tectonomagmatic events. Demonstration of these relationships is further ascertained by contrasting hydrothermal histories among the Kangdian region and other Paleoproterozoic terranes that have similar polymetallic Fe-Cu mineralization worldwide. An additional implication is that hydrothermal archives hold potential to serve as unique fingerprints to aid recognition of geological events, complementary to conventional detrital and lithotectonic records.
ForWhenAustralian perinatal and infant mental health navigation programme: evaluation protocol
Authors: Kohlhoff Jane , Harris Sophia A , Lawson Kenny D , Eapen Valsamma
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Many parents and carers experience mental health challenges during pregnancy and early postpartum years, and there are cumulative shortfalls in the identification, follow-up, and treatment of those experiencing perinatal and infant mental health (PIMH) challenges. ForWhen is a new national navigation programme in Australia that aims to improve outcomes for families by supporting parents and carers to access PIMH services that best meet their needs. This paper presents the protocol of an evaluation of the ForWhen programme, to be conducted over the first 3 years of its implementation. The specific objectives of the evaluation include examining the characteristics of navigation service delivery, its implementation and clinical impact, and identifying potential moderators of change.

Methods and analysis

Utilising a mixed-methods design, this evaluation will incorporate three phases that reflect the stages of the programme life-cycle: (1) programme description, (2) implementation evaluation and (3) outcomes evaluation. The evaluation will use a mix of quantitative and qualitative data including deidentified routinely collected service data, participant observations, semistructured interviews, surveys and questionnaires, and a resource audit.

Discussion

Evaluation findings will be used to inform the development of a refined clinical navigation model, identify barriers and facilitators to successful navigation programme implementation, examine the impact of the ForWhen programme on client clinical outcomes and health service utilisation, understand how the programme is/can be best embedded in the evolving service system, and assess the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of a national navigation programme in improving health outcomes for PIMH in Australia.

Ethics and dissemination

This research was approved by South Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (2021/ETH11611). This study was registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622001443785). Results will be disseminated at conferences, in scientific journals, and in a final evaluation report.
Further development and feasibility randomised controlled trial of a digital programme for adolescent depression, MoodHwb: study protocol
Authors: Bevan Jones Rhys , Merry Sally , Stallard Paul , Randell Elizabeth , Weavers Bryony , Gray Anna , Hindle Elaine , Gavigan Marcela , Clarkstone Samantha , Williams-Thomas Rhys , Poile Vince , Playle Rebecca , Bisson Jonathan I , McNamara Rachel , Rice Frances , Simpson Sharon Anne
Published: June 2023

Introduction

A digital programme, MoodHwb, was codesigned with young people experiencing or at high risk of depression, parents/carers and professionals, to provide support for young people with their mood and well-being. A preliminary evaluation study provided support for the programme theory and found that MoodHwb was acceptable to use. This study aims to refine the programme based on user feedback, and to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the updated version and study methods.

Methods and analysis

Initially, this study will refine MoodHwb with the involvement of young people, including in a pretrial acceptability phase. This will be followed by a multicentre feasibility randomised controlled trial comparing MoodHwb plus usual care with a digital information pack plus usual care. Up to 120 young people aged 13–19 years with symptoms of depression and their parents/carers will be recruited through schools, mental health services, youth services, charities and voluntary self-referral in Wales and Scotland. The primary outcomes are the feasibility and acceptability of the MoodHwb programme (including usage, design and content) and of trial methods (including recruitment and retention rates), assessed 2 months postrandomisation. Secondary outcomes include potential impact on domains including depression knowledge and stigma, help-seeking, well-being and depression and anxiety symptoms measured at 2 months postrandomisation.

Ethics and dissemination

The pretrial acceptability phase was approved by the Cardiff University School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (REC) and the University of Glasgow College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences REC. The trial was approved by Wales NHS REC 3 (21/WA/0205), the Health Research Authority(HRA), Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW), university health board Research and Development (R&D) departments in Wales, and schools in Wales and Scotland. Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed open-access journals, at conferences and meetings, and online to academic, clinical, and educational audiences and the wider public.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN12437531.
Enhancing employment outcome among stable psychiatric patients: lesson learnt on innovative model of work inclusion
Authors: Khalid Karniza , Jamaluddin Ruzita , Ismail Mohd. Safiee
Published: June 2023

Background

Poor employment rate among psychiatric patients is poorly discussed.

Purpose

To share our strategies in boosting employment rate among stable psychiatric patients and discuss the lessons learnt.

Particular focus

Multifaceted strategies were remodelled to ensure a three-dimensional optimisation: (1) strengthening clinical service to ensure stable disease and appropriate patient selection through battery of assessments, (2) provision of psychosocial support to boost self-esteem and foster discipline among patients through encouragement, guidance and regular monitoring by the multidisciplinary community mental health team and (3) encourage willingness and confidence among stakeholders and local market to host job opportunities to stable mental health patients.

Overview

The yearly employment rate among our stable psychiatric patients under supported employment programme from 2020 to 2021 was 28.6% (2/7) and 30.0% (3/10), respectively. A qualitative survey found the main hindrance to recruitment were employers’ scepticism on work performance, while poor work retention was due to patients’ lack of specific skill set and discipline to adhere to routine. We restructured our supported employment programme by adding the role of community mental health facility to foster discipline and routine for 6 months prior to referral to a job coach. Until June 2022, two out of five patients managed to secure job positions (40.0%). Despite our efforts to improve employment with the instituted remedial strategy, we still fail to reach the minimum standard set by ministry. Future plan will focus on tailoring individual interests to a specific set of skills that match industrial expectation prior to seeking employment. Additionally, enhancing public education using social media may foster better inclusion of psychiatric patients and social acceptance.
Population-based prevalence study of common congenital malformations of the alimentary tract and abdominal wall in Thailand: a study using data from the National Health Security Office
Authors: Sirichamratsakul Kulpreeya , Laochareonsuk Wison , Surachat Komwit , Sangkhathat Surasak
Published: June 2023

Background

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of major congenital anomalies of the alimentary system and the abdominal wall in Thailand using a nationwide hospital discharge database from the National Health Security Office (2017–2020).

Methods

The study extracted data from records with International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) codes related to esophageal malformation (ESO), congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO), jejunoileal atresia (INTES), Hirschsprung’s disease (HSCR), anorectal malformation (ARM), abdominal wall defects (omphalocele (OMP) and gastroschisis (GAS)), and diaphragmatic hernia from the database with patient age selection set to less than 1 year.

Results

A total of 2539 matched ICD-10 records were found in 2376 individuals over the 4-year study period. Concerning foregut anomalies, the prevalence of ESO was 0.88/10 000 births, while that of CDO was 0.54/10 000 births. The prevalence figures of INTES, HSCR, and ARM were 0.44, 4.69, and 2.57 cases per 10 000 births, respectively. For abdominal wall defects, the prevalences of OMP and GAS were 0.25 and 0.61 cases/10 000 births, respectively. The mortality in our cases was 7.1%, and survival analysis found that associated cardiac defects had a statistically significant influence on survival in most anomalies studied. In HSCR, both Down syndrome (DS) (hazard ratio (HR)=7.57, 95% confidence interval (CI)=4.12 to 13.91, p<0.001) and cardiac defects (HR=5.82, 95% CI=2.85 to 11.92, p<0.001) were significantly associated with poorer survival outcomes. However, only DS (adjusted HR=5.55, 95% CI=2.63 to 11.75, p<0.001) independently predicted worse outcomes by multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

Our analysis of the hospital discharge database found that the prevalence of gastrointestinal anomalies in Thailand was lower than that reported in other countries, except for HSCR and anorectal malformations. Associated Down syndrome and cardiac defects influence the survival outcomes of these anomalies.
A note on the use of rhombus silicate networks and rhombus oxide networks
Authors: Quapp Wolfgang
Published: June 2023

We question the use of rhombus silicate networks and rhombus oxide networks in some papers by the count of the included oxygen atoms and oxygen ions.
Structuring forces of intertidal infaunal communities on the northern coast of British Columbia, Canada: assessing the relative importance of top-down, bottom-up, middle-out, and abiotic variables
Authors: Gerwing Travis G. , Campbell Lily , Hamilton Diana J. , Barbeau Myriam A. , Norris Gregory S. , Dudas Sarah E. , Juanes Francis
Published: June 2023

While trophic and habitat-related abiotic variables (predation, competition, tolerance, etc.) are known to influence community structure in many ecosystems, some systems appear to be only minimally influenced by these variables. Sampling multiple tidal flat communities in northern BC, Canada, we investigated the relative importance of top-down and middle-out (mesopredators) variables, competition for resources (bottom up), and abiotic variables in structuring an infaunal community (invertebrates living in sediment). Similar to previous studies on mudflats in the Bay of Fundy (also at a north temperate latitude), we determined that these variables accounted for a minor (0%–9%) proportion of the observed variation in this infaunal community, suggesting that these variables play a small role in structuring this community. Based on the results of our study and in combination with previous experiments on infaunal recovery patterns post disturbance, we posit that the main factors influencing these infaunal communities likely operate at a scale of sites (kilometres) and(or) plot (metres or less) but not transects (10–100 m within site). Candidate forces structuring these intertidal communities that need future examination include regional species pools and the variables that affect these pools, sediment biogeochemistry, and disturbance/recovery history of a site. The similarity of our Pacific coast findings to those from the north temperate Atlantic coast suggests some similarity in the processes structuring these distinct infaunal communities.
A species-specific digital PCR assay for the endangered blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) in Canada
Authors: Tournayre Orianne , Wolfe Ryan , McCurdy-Adams Hannah , Chabot Amy A. , Lougheed Stephen C.
Published: June 2023

The only population of the endangered blue racer ( Coluber constrictor foxii) in Canada occurs on Pelee Island, Ontario. The species is threatened by multiple factors, including habitat degradation and loss, road mortality, persecution, and potentially predation. We designed and evaluated the performance of an environmental DNA droplet digital PCR assay that can be used for multiple facets of conservation of this species. We tested the assay in silico and in vitro using DNA of blue racers and co-occurring snake species and estimated the LOD and LOQ using synthetic DNA. As wild turkey predation has been suggested to negatively affect racers, we tested the assay on eight wild turkey faecal samples. Our assay is specific, can detect the target species at very low levels of concentration (0.002 copies/µL), and can accurately quantify copy numbers ≥ 0.26 copies/µL. We detected no racer DNA in any wild turkey faecal sample. More faecal samples collected at strategic locations during snake peak activity on Pelee Island would enable a more thorough assessment of the possibility of turkey predation. Our assay should be effective for other environmental samples and can be used for investigating other factors negatively affecting blue racers, for example, helping to quantify blue racer habitat suitability and site occupancy.
Authentication and Authorization Management in SOA with the Focus on RESTful Services
Authors: Beshiri Arbër
Published: June 2023

SOA is an architectural style that enables providing applications as services. Following the authentication procedure, most Web services-based applications use application-specific access control mechanisms to make authorization decisions. Services can interact with one another, sometimes relying on a trust-based relationship. However, if unauthorized access is gained to a particular service, it could potentially jeopardize the whole security system. REST, likewise, is an architectural style defined by a set of principles for creating network-based software structures. These concepts come together to form a coherent metaphor for the Web’s processes and interactions. In RESTful services, authentication and authorization play a tremendous role in terms of security, so services are constantly charged with authenticating users. Security as an essential aspect of services affects those servers necessarily containing the authentication mechanism, and they must authenticate each service for each of its requests. This study presents the mechanisms of authentication and authorization in RESTful services. A RESTful service’s authorization management framework is proposed and the possibility to manage service access authorization to specific services (resources) is described and implemented. The paper is concluded with the presentation of experimental results derived from the implementation of the REST services based on the proposed framework.
DEEP HOLOENTROPY-CORRELATIVE BLOOD CELL SEGMENTATION APPROACH WITH ESCO-BASED DCNN FOR BREAST CANCER CLASSIFICATION
Authors: KUNDALE JYOTI UMESH , DHAGE SUDHIR
Published: June 2023

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women. Early identification of breast cancer allows patients to receive appropriate therapy, increasing their chances of survival. However, the early and precise detection of breast cancer is more challenging for researchers. Besides, histopathological image is the most effective tool for precise and early detection of breast cancer. Although it has restricted efficiency, breast cancer detection is the main challenge in medical image analysis. This study develops an Enhanced Cat Swarm Optimization-based Deep Convolutional Neural Network (ECSO-based DCNN) for the classification of breast cancer. Pre-processing is also more crucial in image processing since it improves image quality by removing noise from an input image. The segmentation process is used through a designed deep holoentropy-correlative segmentation method, where significant blood cells are extracted. The breast cancer detection and classification are performed using DCNN, which is trained by devised ECSO algorithm. The execution of the introduced deep holoentropy-correlative blood cell segmentation model with optimized DCNN for breast cancer categorization is performed using BreakHis and Breast Cancer Histopathological Annotation and Diagnosis (BreCaHAD) datasets. The proposed ECSO-based DCNN model obtained better performance with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 96.26%, 97.6%, and 93.57%.
Direct Growth of Lithium Niobate Thin Films for Acoustic Resonators
Authors: Ye Zhen , Zeng Qibin , Sim Celine , Lin Baichen , Hui Hui Kim , Yong Anna Marie , Tan Chee Kiang Ivan , Ramakrishna Seeram , Liu Huajun
Published: June 2023

Lithium niobate (LiNbO3, LN) thin films have been extensively studied for applications in acoustic and photonic devices, due to their outstanding piezoelectric, ferroelectric and electro-optical properties. With the increasing demand for high speed and low latency wireless communication, LN thin films with high electromechanical coupling coefficients are very attractive to improve the performance of acoustic resonators for radio frequency filters. The current bottleneck for LN-based devices is the synthesis of high-quality LN thin films, which is typically fabricated by expensive and inefficient process of ion slicing and layer transfer from bulk single crystals. This review paper focuses on the direct growth of high-quality LN thin films, which has the potential to scale up and lower the cost of LN thin films. We first introduce the crystal structure and piezoelectric properties of LN, followed by an overview of the state-of-the-art LN acoustic resonators. After a summary of the challenges in the fabrication of LN thin films, we review the direct growth of LN thin films by sputtering, pulsed laser deposition, metalorganic chemical vapor deposition and molecular beam epitaxy. With the progress in optimizing the crystallinity and surface roughness, the quality of the LN thin films synthesized by direct growth has been greatly improved. As a result of the fast-growing industrial interests, we believe that the research works in direct growth of LN thin films will increase exponentially to achieve the same quality of the LN thin films as the bulk single crystals.a
CoMeFa: Deploying Compute-in-Memory on FPGAs for Deep Learning Acceleration
Authors: Arora Aman , Bhamburkar Atharva , Borda Aatman , Anand Tanmay , Sehgal Rishabh , Hanindhito Bagus , Gaillardon Pierre-Emmanuel , Kulkarni Jaydeep , John Lizy K.
Published: June 2023

Block random access memories (BRAMs) are the storage houses of FPGAs, providing extensive on-chip memory bandwidth to the compute units implemented using logic blocks and digital signal processing slices. We propose modifying BRAMs to convert them to CoMeFa  (
Co
mpute-in-
Me
mory Blocks for
F
PG
A
s) random access memories (RAMs). These RAMs provide highly parallel compute-in-memory by combining computation and storage capabilities in one block. CoMeFa RAMs utilize the true dual-port nature of FPGA BRAMs and contain multiple configurable single-bit bit-serial processing elements. CoMeFa RAMs can be used to compute with any precision, which is extremely important for applications like deep learning (DL). Adding CoMeFa RAMs to FPGAs significantly increases their compute density while also reducing data movement. We explore and propose two architectures of these RAMs: CoMeFa-D (optimized for delay) and CoMeFa-A (optimized for area). Compared to existing proposals, CoMeFa RAMs do not require changing the underlying static RAM technology like simultaneously activating multiple wordlines on the same port, and are practical to implement. CoMeFa RAMs are especially suitable for parallel and compute-intensive applications like DL, but these versatile blocks find applications in diverse applications like signal processing and databases, among others. By augmenting an Intel Arria 10–like FPGA with CoMeFa-D (CoMeFa-A) RAMs at the cost of 3.8% (1.2%) area, and with algorithmic improvements and efficient mapping, we observe a geomean speedup of 2.55× (1.85×) across microbenchmarks from various applications and a geomean speedup of up to 2.5× across multiple deep neural networks. Replacing all or some BRAMs with CoMeFa RAMs in FPGAs can make them better accelerators of DL workloads.
Program Analysis and Machine Learning–based Approach to Predict Power Consumption of CUDA Kernel
Authors: Alavani Gargi , Desai Jineet , Saha Snehanshu , Sarkar Santonu
Published: June 2023

The General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit has secured a prominent position in the High-Performance Computing world due to its performance gain and programmability. Understanding the relationship between Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) power consumption and program features can aid developers in building energy-efficient sustainable applications. In this work, we propose a static analysis-based power model built using machine learning techniques. We have investigated six machine learning models across three NVIDIA GPU architectures: Kepler, Maxwell, and Volta with Random Forest, Extra Trees, Gradient Boosting, CatBoost, and XGBoost reporting favorable results. We observed that the XGBoost technique-based prediction model is the most efficient technique with an
R
2
value of 0.9646 on Volta Architecture. The dataset used for these techniques includes kernels from different benchmarks suits, sizes, nature (e.g., compute-bound, memory-bound), and complexity (e.g., control divergence, memory access patterns). Experimental results suggest that the proposed solution can help developers precisely predict GPU applications power consumption using program analysis across GPU architectures. Developers can use this approach to refactor their code to build energy-efficient GPU applications.
“Regular” CS × Inclusive Design = Smarter Students and Greater Diversity
Authors: Garcia Rosalinda , Morreale Patricia , Letaw Lara , Chatterjee Amreeta , Patel Pankati , Yang Sarah , Escobar Isaac Tijerina , Noa Geraldine Jimena , Burnett Margaret
Published: June 2023

What if “regular” Computer Science (CS) faculty each taught elements of inclusive design in “regular” CS courses across an undergraduate curriculum? Would it affect the CS program's climate and inclusiveness to diverse students? Would it improve retention? Would students learn less CS? Would they actually learn any inclusive design? To answer these questions, we conducted a year-long Action Research investigation, in which 13 CS faculty integrated elements of inclusive design into 44 CS/IT offerings across a 4-year curriculum. The 613 affected students’ educational work products, grades, and/or climate questionnaire responses revealed significant improvements in students’ course outcomes (higher course grades and fewer course fails/incompletes/withdrawals), especially for marginalized groups; revealed that most students did learn and apply inclusive design concepts to their CS activities; and revealed that inclusion and teamwork in the courses significantly improved. These results suggest a new pathway for significantly improving students’ retention, their knowledge and usage of inclusive design, and their experiences across CS education—for marginalized groups and for all students.
Photovoltaic Response of Heterojunction Photodiode based on Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 Nanorod Film
Authors: Salman Odai N. , Ismail Mukhlis M. , Sam Aya T.
Published: June 2023

The BST/Si photodiode has been effectively synthesized by growth BST on the p-type Si (100) substrate utilizing the hydrothermal process. Screen printing was used to prepare TiO2 film deposited on Si substrate, then immersing TiO2 film in Ba(OH)2 and Sr(OH)2 solution to fabricate BST/Si photodiode using a hydrothermal process. The BST film was studied using XRD, FESEM, and reflection spectra. The band gap was calculated for a BT film using the reflection methods. Hall measurement confirmed the n-type conductivity of BST film. Curie temperature of the BST film was observed at 87 °C according to DC measurement. The dark and illuminated (J-V) characteristics of the BST/Si photodiode have been measured under simulated AM1 conditions using a Xenon lamp. The Shockley-Read- Hall recombination caused unequal electron and hole capture rates that dominated the I-V characteristics resulting in an absence of classic superposition phenomena. The open circuit voltage (Voc) measurement is carried out to know the recombination mechanism in an open circuit. The BST/Si film showed more conductivity after increasing illuminating power density, which qualifies it for photovoltaic applications.
Dietary Cholesterol Supplementation Inhibits the Steroid Biosynthesis but Does Not Affect the Cholesterol Transport in Two Marine Teleosts: A Hepatic Transcriptome Study
Authors: Song Ziling , Xiong Haiyan , Meng Xiaoxue , Ma Qiang , Wei Yuliang , Li Yanlu , Liu Jian , Liang Mengqing , Xu Houguo
Published: June 2023

Cholesterol has been used as additive in fish feeds due to the reduced use of fish meal and fish oil. In order to evaluate the effects of dietary cholesterol supplementation (D-CHO-S) on fish physiology, a liver transcriptome analysis was performed following a feeding experiment on turbot and tiger puffer with different levels of dietary cholesterol. The control diet contained 30% fish meal (0% fish oil) without cholesterol supplementation, while the treatment diet was supplemented with 1.0% cholesterol (CHO-1.0). A total of 722 and 581 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the dietary groups were observed in turbot and tiger puffer, respectively. These DEG were primarily enriched in signaling pathways related to steroid synthesis and lipid metabolism. In general, D-CHO-S downregulated the steroid synthesis in both turbot and tiger puffer. Msmo1, lss, dhcr24, and nsdhl might play key roles in the steroid synthesis in these two fish species. Gene expressions related to cholesterol transport (npc1l1, abca1, abcg1, abcg2, abcg5, abcg8, abcb11a, and abcb11b) in the liver and intestine were also extensively investigated by qRT-PCR. However, the results suggest that D-CHO-S rarely affected the cholesterol transport in both species. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network constructed on steroid biosynthesis-related DEG showed that in turbot, Msmo1, Lss, Nsdhl, Ebp, Hsd17b7, Fdft1, and Dhcr7 had high intermediary centrality in the dietary regulation of steroid synthesis. In conclusion, in both turbot and tiger puffer, the supplementation of dietary cholesterol inhibits the steroid metabolism but does not affect the cholesterol transport.
The remarkable Ponto-Caspian amphipod diversity of the lower Durso River (SW Caucasus) with the description of Litorogammarus dursi gen. et sp. nov.
Authors: MARIN IVAN , PALATOV DMITRY , COPILAȘ-CIOCIANU DENIS
Published: June 2023

The first insight into the unexpectedly diverse amphipod assemblage of the Durso River (Novorossiysk area) in the SW mountainous pre-Caucasian area is presented. The presence of six species is revealed, including three new records for the area and one species new to science. The phylogenetic relationships of all studied species and their relatives were examined based on the divergence of the COI mtDNA gene marker (barcoding). The conducted research clearly showed that the coastal part of the Black Sea and the adjacent pre-Caucasian river/land areas harbors a significant undescribed diversity, and that the transitional sea/river brackish biotopes are important reservoirs of the endemicity. A new genus, Litorogammarus gen. nov. is proposed for native pebble-dwelling species, namely Echinogammarus karadagiensis Grintsov, 2009, Echinogammarus mazestiensis Marin & Palatov, 2021 and the newly discovered Litorogammarus dursi sp. nov., from the lower (estuarine) part of the Durso River and adjacent coastal areas. These three species form a strongly supported molecular clade and share a number of characters such as smooth body without carinae and setae, antenna II armed with dense curled setae, lacking calceoli, pereopods III–VII with sparse, short setation, epimeral plates armed with spines only, telson lobes longer than broad, gradually tapering, bearing only spines. Pectenogammarus oliviiformis (Greze, 1985) comb. nov. is also discovered in the area and is re-described herein. Although this is probably one of the most abundant and common coastal pebble-dwelling species along the northeastern coasts of the Black Sea, it was previously poorly described and thus overlooked by researchers.
A Novel Approach for the Treatment of Intractable Aspiration After Supracricoid Laryngectomy
Authors: Alsavaf Mohammad Bilal , Tardif Jacqueline , Salem Eman H. , Matrka Laura , Carrau Ricardo L.
Published: June 2023

Objectives:

This manuscript aims to present a novel and successful intervention for intractable aspiration following a supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) that may avoid the need for total laryngectomy in patients experiencing intractable aspiration after SCL.

Study design:

This report describes a novel approach to treat intractable aspiration and feeding tube-dependency due to an incomplete posterior apposition of the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis to the arytenoids after a SCL in a 67-year-old man.

Methods:

The right and left aryepiglottic folds and the median glossoepiglottic fold were denuded using a CO2 laser. Then, an arytenoepiglottopexy was completed by placing 4-0 Vicryl between the lateral aspect of the epiglottis and arytenoids; thus, approximating these structures.

Results:

Two weeks after surgery, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing demonstrated improved closure of the larynx upon swallowing with great upgrading in the Penetration-Aspiration scale (PAS). PAS improved from a 6 to 2, corresponding to, transient penetration for moderately thick liquids and puree solids. He also demonstrated improved secretion management and airway protection. Following a 4-week course of intensive dysphagia therapy, a modified barium swallow revealed a significant improvement in airway protection, with a PAS score of 1 (no airway invasion).

Conclusions:

Chronic aspiration is a life-threatening condition that can severely reduce patients’ quality of life. Despite the use of current therapeutic approaches, a subset of patients will remain plagued by persistent symptoms. We introduce an innovative, simple, and quick endoscopic technique that offers benefit in controlling aspiration after SCL.

Level of Evidence:

NA
Psychometric Validation and Meaningful Change Thresholds of the New Nasal Polyposis Symptom Diary
Authors: Shih Vivian H. , Slagle Ashley F. , Ivanescu Cristina , Flore Giulio , Meyers Oren , Kreindler James , Martin Ubaldo J. , Werkström Viktoria
Published: June 2023

Objectives:

The Nasal Polyposis Symptom Diary (NPSD) is a novel and short patient-reported outcome (PRO) tool specifically developed to assess important and relevant symptoms reported by patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). We evaluated the psychometric properties of 4 predefined NPSD-derived scores intended to support symptom-improvement assessments of investigational therapies for inclusion in product labeling.

Methods:

Five hundred eighteen patients with severe CRSwNP from a Phase III clinical trial (NCT03401229) completed the NPSD, comprising 11 items: 8 symptom-specific, 2 symptom-impact, and 1 optional medication-compliance. The psychometric characteristics of 3 single-item symptom scores (Nasal Blockage Score [NBS], Nasal Congestion Score [NCS], and Difficulty with Sense of Smell Score [DSS]) and a Total Symptom Score (TSS, summary of the 8 symptom-specific items) were evaluated for reliability, validity, and ability to detect change. Within-patient meaningful change thresholds (MCTs) were established using anchor- and distribution-based methods. Comparative PROs included the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S).

Results:

The TSS exhibited strong internal consistency (Cronbach α = .88) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient >.80). Correlation between the TSS and SNOT-22 total score indicated good convergent validity ( r = .70). All 4 NPSD scores demonstrated known-groups validity (significant differences among subgroups of patients with predetermined disease severity levels based on PGI-S categories) and were sensitive to detect change in patients’ clinical status (significant differences among subgroups of patients with reported changes between 2 time-points in PGI-S and Patient Global Impression of Change scores). MCTs for improvement were established at 1.0 point for NBS, NCS, and DSS, and 4.0 points for TSS.

Conclusion:

These findings support the reliability, validity, and suitability of the 4 NPSD-derived scores for evaluating treatment effect on CRSwNP symptoms and their use in clinical trials with predetermined MCTs for improvement.
An Item Response Theory Model for Incorporating Response Times in Forced-Choice Measures
Authors: Guo Zhichen , Wang Daxun , Cai Yan , Tu Dongbo
Published: June 2023

Forced-choice (FC) measures have been widely used in many personality or attitude tests as an alternative to rating scales, which employ comparative rather than absolute judgments. Several response biases, such as social desirability, response styles, and acquiescence bias, can be reduced effectively. Another type of data linked with comparative judgments is response time (RT), which contains potential information concerning respondents’ decision-making process. It would be challenging but exciting to combine RT into FC measures better to reveal respondents’ behaviors or preferences in personality measurement. Given this situation, this study aims to propose a new item response theory (IRT) model that incorporates RT into FC measures to improve personality assessment. Simulation studies show that the proposed model can effectively improve the estimation accuracy of personality traits with the ancillary information contained in RT. Also, an application on a real data set reveals that the proposed model estimates similar but different parameter values compared with the conventional Thurstonian IRT model. The RT information can explain these differences.
Cluster randomized controlled trial of Stepping Stones and Creating Futures to reduce mental health challenges among young men in informal settlements in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
Authors: Oyekunle Victoria , Tomita Andrew , Gibbs Andrew
Published: June 2023

Background:

Informal settlements are high density areas in and around cities, characterized by a lack of formal planning and basic amenities, being known in South Africa for high levels of mental disorder driven by violence, and complex social and economic challenges. In particular, young men’s poor mental health goes untreated, with relatively few evidenced-based interventions available in this setting.

Aim:

This cluster randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of Stepping Stones and Creating Futures (SS/CF), a participatory gender transformative and economic empowerment intervention, on the mental health of young men living in South African informal settlement.

Methods:

A total of 674 young men ages 18 to 30 years were recruited in 34 clusters in Durban’s urban informal settlements. Clusters were randomly allocated (1:1) to either the experimental SS/CF or control arm and participants were followed-up over 24-months. Intention-to-treat analysis based on generalized estimating equations (GEE) were fitted to quantify the impact of SS/CF on the men’s anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptomatology.

Results:

At end of the 24 months follow-period, anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.62, p = .04, 95% CI [0.39, 0.99]) and PTS (aOR = 0.52, p = .03, 95% CI [0.29, 0.93]) were significantly lower for group assigned to the SS/CF compared to the control group.

Conclusion:

SS/CF, a gender transformative and livelihoods strengthening intervention designed to address poverty and other socio-economic challenges in informal settlements reduced anxiety and PTS among men with mental health challenges living in informal settlements.
The case for case-based learning in police recruit training
Authors: Buhrig Ryan
Published: June 2023

Case-based learning is an andragogical approach that requires students to apply knowledge by discussing scenarios resembling real-life situations. Despite its history of practical and effective application in several educational settings, little empirical research on case-based learning in Canadian police recruit training exists. For this study, administrators from six Canadian police recruit training institutions were interviewed on their approach to training and case-based learning. Four key themes emerged, including (1) interrelated training content, (2) andragogical methods, (3) case-based learning, and (4) resourcing challenges. Case-based learning is then discussed as a strategy to enhance knowledge acquisition and critical thinking among police recruits.