bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ChordAR: An Educational AR Game Design for Children’s Music Theory Learning
Authors: Lu Yi , Wang Xiaoye , Gong Jiangtao , Liang Yun
Published: February 2022

Augmented reality (AR) technology, with its unique immersive interactive experience of virtual reality integration, can show children abstract concepts and theories in an intuitive way. In this paper, we improve the high-precision position and low delay interaction of AR recognition area through edge calculation, so as to enhance the immersion of children’s chord knowledge learning. Meanwhile, multisource fusion perception of audio and touch is used, and the AI algorithm model is used to monitor physical events (cloud AI training and edge execution) and effectively realize intelligent services such as chord combination, melody perception, and control. Chord knowledge in music theory is presented to children through multichannels (kinesthetic, visual, auditory, etc.) situationally, to improve children’s learning efficiency and experience. We invited 12 children to participate in user experiments to test usability of ChordAR. The test results showed that children can master the method of playing the game through simple learning, ultimately correctly imitating C, G, and E chords, and experience full immersion in the game. Finally, we discuss the positive effects of ChordAR on children’s learning and creativity and make suggestions for future AR games.
Hopf Bifurcation Analysis of a Delayed Diffusive Predator‐Prey Model with Predator Interference or Foraging Facilitation
Authors: Wang Wenlong , Liu Zijun , Yang Ruizhi
Published: February 2022

A delayed diffusive predator‐prey model with predator interference or foraging facilitation is studied. We are interested in the existence of Turing instability, local stability, and Hopf bifurcation. We analyze the direction and stability of bifurcating periodic solutions by the normal form method. Our results suggest that diffusion can induce Turing instability and time delay can induce oscillation of prey and predator’s densities. In addition, the interference parameter λ0 has stabilizing and destabilizing effect on the positive equilibrium.
Application of a Microseismic Method of Rock Burst Risk Assessment under Blasting Mining in Ashele Copper Mine
Authors: Xu Shida , Yang Xinlu , Zhang Feifei , Liu Jiaqi
Published: February 2022

Rock burst is a violent release of energy stored in the rock mass, which has been the focus of metal mine engineers. It gradually becomes a serious threat to both the mine’s workers and equipment. Rock burst risk assessment is a key issue in the prevention of rock burst. Based on the microseismic method for rock burst risk assessment that is used in tunnels, this paper presents a method of rock burst risk assessment for metal mines combining a simplified probability function and principal component analysis (PCA). Specifically, the size and details of key monitoring area and risk assessment units are determined according to the distribution of the fracture and driving stress during deep mining process. Based on the correlation analysis, six microseismic parameters are selected to be used for rock burst risk assessment. Simple linear functions are temporarily used to construct probability functions of each parameter before enough rock burst cases are collected. The method has been successfully used in the deep mining section of the Ashele Copper Mine (approximately 1000 m deep). Additionally, among various microseismic indicators, the energy release rate and cumulative energy are the greatest contributors to rock burst of different intensities. Therefore, the proposed method in this paper provides an important reference for the prevention and control of rock burst in metal mines.
Diagenesis and Its Impact on the Reservoir Quality of Continental Shales: A Case Study of the Lower Jurassic Da’anzhai Member of the Ziliujing Formation in the Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Zhu Yixiu , Li Zezhou , Zeng Lianbo , Liu Zhenyu , Wang Xinyao
Published: February 2022

The Jurassic continental shale oil (gas) is a favorable unconventional resource in the Sichuan Basin of China. In this paper, analysis methods such as core and outcrops observation, thin section identification, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are used to describe the characteristics of lacustrine fine-grained rock reservoir in Da’anzhai Member of the Ziliujing Formation in Sichuan Basin, and it discussed the influence and control of lacustrine fine-grained rock diagenesis on the quality of the reservoir, in order to determine the shale reservoir control factors. The results show that there are three types of rocks in the Da’anzhai Member, which are mudstone, siltstone, and limestone, and the rock combination of shell shale intercalated with shell limestone is developed in the Da 2 submember. Fine-grained sedimentary rocks in this section have undergone compaction, cementation, dissolution, metasomatism, transformation of clay minerals, and hydrocarbon generation of organic matter, which are currently in the middle diagenetic stage A or B substage. Compaction and cementation are the main factors that control the physical use of shale and limestone, and strong cementation is the main reason for the tightness of limestone reservoirs in the Da’anzhai Member in the northern and eastern parts of Sichuan Basin. The difference between dissolution and cementation is the main control factor for the formation of limestone or argillaceous limestone reservoirs in the same section in central Sichuan Basin. The organic-rich shale and shell shale of the Yuanba and Fuling area are the most favorable reservoirs of the Ziliujing Formation in this region. The shell limestone that experienced favorable dissolution in the Da’anzhai Member in the central of the Sichuan Basin has become a limestone reservoir. Discussing the impact of continental fine-grained rock diagenesis on the reservoir can better explore and develop similar intervals, enrich unconventional shale oil and gas accumulation and storage theories, and provide basic theoretical support for finding favorable unconventional shale oil and gas reservoirs.
Characteristics and Controlling Factors of the Chang 8 Oil Reservoir in the Yanchi Area of the Ordos Basin: A Case Study of Well G20
Authors: Shao Xiaozhou , Li Yong , Wang Miaomiao , Chu Meijuan , Qi Yalin , Zhang Xiaolei
Published: February 2022

In the Ordos Basin, the Chang 8 oil reservoir of the Triassic Yanchang Formation is the main target of oil exploration and development and there are many factors affecting the hydrocarbon accumulation. Well G20 is an important exploration well in the Yanchi area in the northwestern part of the basin, and the core of the Chang 8 reservoir was sampled and tested to determine the source rocks, trace element composition, mineral composition, reservoir physical properties, and oil-bearing properties. The results show that the rock retrieved exhibits delta plain subfacies; the range of the Chang 8 water body was large, with a gentle slope, and the climate was relatively dry. These findings suggest that this reservoir was deposited in an environment in which sedimentary sand body could easily form. The Chang 8 sandstone reservoir pores are dominated by intergranular pores and feldspar intragranular dissolution pores, indicating that the Chang 8 reservoir is a low-porosity and low-permeability reservoir. Chang 7 source rocks from this area have a type I-II1 hydrocarbon-generating potential, with an average total organic carbon (TOC) content of 5.99% and vitrinite reflectance (Ro) value of 0.48%. Combined with the regional sedimentary evolution, tectonic movement, and reservoir distribution, it is considered that due to the lack of lithologic traps or low-amplitude structural traps, G20 produced water in well testing. The Chang 8 oil reservoir in the Yanchi area can be divided into structural reservoirs and structural-lithologic reservoirs. The conventional oil and gas reservoir exploration ideas of “thick sand belt” and “reservoir sweet spot” are not applicable here. The lithology traps or low-amplitude structural traps and areas with good preservation conditions are the main directions for the next phase of exploration in the northwestern part of the Ordos Basin.
Data-Driven Dynamic Neural Programming for Network Media Nonlinear Visual Communication Design
Authors: Yang Jing , Li Xiaoman
Published: February 2022

As network media data gradually enters the field of visual communication design as information, more scholars have begun to rationally study the relationship between visual communication and network media. This paper mainly studies how to use data-driven nonlinear dynamic neural programming method to realize visual communication design in network media environment. The study constructs a network media visual communication design system from three aspects: data-driven, design process realization, and system flow establishment. The network media visual communication design is realized through the five process stages of data: analysis, definition, integration, visual presentation, and rendering. Based on the optimal control of visual communication design, the evaluation of visual communication realization and the dissemination of visual communication information are further analyzed, and the following three conclusions are drawn: firstly, each factor does not exist alone; they influence each other. The system digs out the association rules of different factors that affect the visual communication design under the standard of 10% support and 85% confidence; secondly, comparison of the output value of the system with the real output value of the object is found that they are very close, which shows that the dynamic neural programming method is more complex and nonlinear. Finally, through the simulation of the relationship between the continuous dissemination of information and the number of tourists, on the first day, there was the first burst of new customers. The first outbreak occurred on the fifth day of the first week. In the first month, as the number of tourists increased, the dissemination of tourist information by tourists also gradually increased. This fully shows that there is always a long-term relationship between information dissemination and audiences.
Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Is Associated with Compromised Microglial IGF-1 Signaling Which Can Be Rescued by Green Tea Polyphenol EGCG in Mice
Authors: Chen Xin , Le Yue , Tang Si-Qi , He Wan-you , He Jian , Wang Yun-hua , Wang Han-bing
Published: February 2022

Background. Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a frequent and troublesome complication of diabetes, with little effective treatment. PDN is characterized by specific spinal microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) primarily derives from microglia in the brain and serves a vital role in averting the microglial transition into the proinflammatory M1 phenotype. Given that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that can regulate IGF-1 signaling, we speculated that EGCG administration might reduce spinal microglia-related neuroinflammation and combat the development of PDN through IGF-1/IGF1R signaling. Methods. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) was established by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in mice. The protein expression level of IGF-1, its receptor IGF1R, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by Western blot or immunofluorescence. Results. The spinal IGF-1 expression markedly decreased along with the presence of pain-like behaviors, the spinal genesis of neuroinflammation (increased IL-1β, TNF-α, and Iba-1+ microglia), and the intensified M1 microglia polarization (increased iNOS+Iba-1+ microglia) in diabetic mice. IGF-1 could colocalize with neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, but only microglial IGF-1 was repressed in T1DM mice. Furthermore, we found that i.t. administration of mouse recombinant IGF-1 (rIGF-1) as well as i.t. or i.p. treatment with EGCG alleviated the diabetes-induced pain-like behaviors, reduced neuroinflammation (suppressed IL-1β, TNF-α, and Iba-1+ microglia), prevented the M1 microglia polarization (less iNOS+Iba-1+ microglia), and restored the microglial IGF-1 expression. Conclusions. Our data highlighted the importance of maintaining spinal IGF-1 signaling in treating microglia-related neuroinflammation in PDN. This study also provides novel insights into the neuroprotective mechanisms of EGCG against neuropathic pain and neuroinflammation through IGF-1 signaling, indicating that this agent may be a promising treatment for PDN in the clinical setting.
How Various Drug Delivery Methods Could Aid in the Translation of Genome Prime Editing Technologies
Authors: Ivanova Elena
Published: February 2022

Drug delivery systems can be engineered to enhance the localization of therapeutics in specific tissues in response to externally applied stimuli and/or local environmental changes. In recent decades, efforts to improve drug delivery techniques at both nano- and macroscale have led to a new era of therapeutic efficacy. Such technological advancements resulted in improved drug delivery systems regularly entering the clinical setting. However, these delivery innovations are unfortunately not always readily applied to newly developed technologies. One of these new and exciting technologies that has been overlooked by drug delivery scientists is prime editing. Prime editing is a novel genome editing technology that exhibits the plug-and-play capability of CRISPR/Cas9 editors while avoiding double-strand DNA breaks throughout the entire process. This article focuses on describing the potential advantages and disadvantages of selecting nanomedicine technologies along with prime editing capabilities for the delivery of cargo.
Thermal Freeze-Out Parameters and Pseudoentropy from Charged Hadron Spectra in High-Energy Collisions
Authors: Zhang Xu-Hong , Gao Ya-Qin , Liu Fu-Hu , Olimov Khusniddin K.
Published: February 2022

We collected the transverse momentum (mass) spectra of charged hadrons (

π

−

,

π

+

,

K

−

,

K

+

,

p

¯

, and

p

) produced in collisions over a center-of-mass energy range from 2.70 to 200 GeV (per nucleon pair). The modified Tsallis–Pareto-type function (the TP-like function) with average transverse flow velocity is used to describe the contribution of participant or constituent quarks to transverse momentum of considered hadron. The experimental spectra of

π

∓

and

K

∓

(or

p

¯

and

p

) are fitted by the convolution of two (or three) TP-like functions due to the fact that two (or three) constituent quarks are regarded as two (or three) energy resources in the formation of considered hadron. From the reasonable fits to the spectra, the thermal freeze-out parameters are extracted, and the pseudoentropy is newly defined and extracted. Some parameters quickly change in the energy range of less than 7.7 GeV, and slowly change in the energy range of greater than 7.7 GeV, indicating the variation of collision mechanism at around 7.7 GeV.
A Numerical Study of the Effects of Using Reformer Gas on Ignition Characteristics under Dual-Fuel Engine-Relevant Conditions
Authors: Junwu Guo , Leyang Guo
Published: February 2022

Natural gas/diesel dual-fuel engine has become an urgent need to alleviate the energy crisis and reduce emissions. As an additive, reforming gas can improve the combustion process of dual-fuel engines because it improves the combustion rate and compensates for the low reactivity of natural gas. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the ignition characteristics of natural gas diesel blends by adding H2 and syngas. Based on ANSYS Chemkin 17.0 software, the ignition delay time was solved by a closed uniform model. The effects of H2 and syngas on the ignition performance of a natural gas/diesel engine were studied. The results showed that the ignition delay time of the methane/n-heptane mixture was prolonged after adding H2 in the range of medium and low temperatures. This was due to the fact that reaction R3 (OH + H2 = H + H2O) was an endothermic reaction, which consumed OH radicals and inhibited the ignition process. In the high-temperature range, adding H2 reduced the ignition delay time of the mixture system, which was because of the significant increase in the sensitivity coefficients of R1(H + O2 = O + OH) and R3 and the generation of OH radicals. Therefore, the reduction in ignition delay caused by H2 addition in the high-temperature regions was mainly attributed to R3 and R1. In syngas, CO reduced the ignition delay time of methane/syngas/n-heptane. However, the addition of CO could reduce the importance of R3 in the reaction process—resulting in the weakening of the influence of H2 on ignition delay. This study can expand the theoretical basis of ignition characteristics of methane/n-heptane mixture with H2 and syngas under dual-fuel engine-relevant conditions.
Rhombus-Inscribed Circular Ring Fractal Array Antenna for Millimeter-Wave 5G Applications
Authors: Tahir Muhammad Usman , Rafique Umair , Ahmed Muhammad Mansoor
Published: February 2022

A 1 

×

 4 planar fractal array antenna is designed and presented for millimeter-wave 5G applications. The array’s top side is made up of a rhombus-inscribed circular ring fractal patch radiator, while the backside is made up of a square notch-loaded partial ground plane. To achieve high gain, a 1 

×

 4 corporate feeding network is used to excite the array elements. The designed array has an overall size of 28 × 17.75 mm2. From simulations as well as experimental results, it is observed that the designed array offers a wide impedance bandwidth in the frequency range of 22.8–29.2 GHz. Furthermore, a peak gain of 10.7 dBi with a radiation efficiency of

>

95% is observed in the operating bandwidth.
Blockchain-Empowered Secure and Privacy-Preserving Health Data Sharing in Edge-Based IoMT
Authors: Nie Xueli , Zhang Aiqing , Chen Jindou , Qu Youyang , Yu Shui
Published: February 2022

Health data sharing, as a booming demand, enables the patients with similar symptoms to connect with each other and doctors to obtain the medical history of patients. Health data are usually collected from edge-based Internet of medical things (IoMT) with devices such as smart wearable devices, smart watches, and smartphones. Since health data are highly private and have great financial value, adversaries ceaselessly launch diverse attacks to obtain private information. All these issues pose great challenges to health data sharing in edge-based IoMT scenarios. Existing research either lacks comprehensive consideration of privacy and security protection or fails to provide a proper incentive mechanism, which expels users from sharing data. In this study, we propose a novel blockchain-assisted data sharing scheme, which allows secure and privacy-preserving profile matching. A bloom filter with hash functions is designed to verify the authenticity of keyword ciphertext. Key-policy attribute-based encryption (KP-ABE) algorithm and smart contracts are employed to achieve secure profile matching. To incentivize users actively participating in profile matching, we devise an incentive mechanism and construct a two-phase Stackelberg game to address pricing problems for data owners and accessing problems of data requesters. The optimal pricing mechanism is specially designed for encouraging more users to participate in health data sharing and maximizing users’ profit. Moreover, security analysis illustrates that the proposed protocol is capable of satisfying various security goals, while performance evaluation shows high scalability and feasibility of the proposed scheme in edge-based IoMT scenarios.
Blockchain-Based Internet of Things: Machine Learning Tea Sensing Trusted Traceability System
Authors: Wu Yuting , Jin Xiu , Yang Honggang , Tu Lijing , Ye Yong , Li Shaowen
Published: February 2022

A framework combining the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain can help achieve system automation and credibility, and the corresponding technologies have been applied in many industries, especially in the area of agricultural product traceability. In particular, IoT devices (radio frequency identification (RFID), geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), etc.) can automate the collection of information pertaining to the key aspects of traceability. The data are collected and input to the blockchain system for processing, storage, and query. A distributed, decentralized, and nontamperable blockchain can ensure the security of the data entering the system. However, IoT devices may generate abnormal data in the process of data collection. In this context, it is necessary to ensure the accuracy of the source data of the traceability system. Considering the whole-process traceability chain of agricultural products, this paper analyzes the whole-process information of a tea supply chain from planting to sales, constructs the system architecture and each function, and designs and implements a machine learning- (ML-) blockchain-IoT-based tea credible traceability system (MBITTS). Based on IoT technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors, this article proposes a new method that combines blockchain and ML to enhance the accuracy of blockchain source data. In addition, system data storage and indexing methods and scanning and recovery mechanisms are proposed. Compared with the existing agricultural product (tea) traceability system based on blockchain, the introduction of the ML data verification mechanism can ensure the accuracy (up to 99%) of information on the chain. The proposed solution provides a basis to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of agricultural traceability systems.
Estimation-Based and Dropout-Dependent Control Design for Aeroengine Distributed Control System with Packet Dropout
Authors: Xu Yun , Pan Muxuan , Huang Jinquan , Zhou Wenxiang , Qiu Xiaojie , Chen Ye-Hwa
Published: February 2022

A novel estimation-based and dropout-dependent control design for distributed control systems of aeroengines with packet dropout is proposed. The packet dropout is described as an independent identically distributed (i.i.d.) Bernoulli process with known probability. The objective of the control system is to effectively and stably impel aeroengines. An inverse system is proposed to reconstruct the missing measurements, based on which, a hybrid adaptive Kalman filter (HAKF) is proposed to provide the estimated states for control design. A new state-feedback control design is developed with the estimated states and the actual states. For guaranteeing the stability of aeroengines, both the stability of HAKF and the new controlled system are analyzed and proved. The new design is applied to an aeroengine, HAKF has superior estimation accuracy which ensures the effectiveness, and the desired stability performance is achieved by controlled system in the presence of packet dropout.
Coupling Coordination Analysis of Urban Tourism Environment Quality and the Tourism Economy: A Case Study of Nanjing City
Authors: Guan Hongmei , Guo Xin
Published: February 2022

There is a complex interaction between the quality of the urban tourism environment and the tourism economy. The former is the key to sustainable development of the tourism economy, which, in turn, also has an impact on the urban tourism environment. Therefore, understanding the coupling coordination relationship between them is crucial. This paper aims to construct a comprehensive evaluation index system of urban tourism environment quality system and the tourism economic system and adopts the entropy method to weigh the indexes. The comprehensive evaluation model and coupling coordination degree model are exploited to conduct an empirical analysis of the changes in Nanjing’s tourism environment quality, tourism economy comprehensive development level, and coupling coordination degree from 2009 to 2020. The results show that the coupling coordination degree shows a fluctuating upward trend overall. In particular, the traffic environment and tourism benefits have the most significant impact on the coupling system, indicating that relevant departments need to consider these key factors when making macrodecisions.
Long Noncoding RNA TUG1 Inhibits Tumor Progression through Regulating Siglec-15-Related Anti-Immune Activity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Ren Yanyi , Lyu Jiayi , Guo Yaoguang , Yao Yuan , Hu Lin
Published: February 2022

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, and its biology remains poorly understood, especially in regards to the immunosuppression induced by immune checkpoints, such as Siglec-15. Most cancer treatments composed of immune checkpoint inhibitors and oncogene-targeted drugs display a better therapeutic effect in the clinic, including tumor progression inhibition and immunosuppression breaks. However, two or more drugs will result in a greater possibility of adverse effects. Thus, a double-function target is necessary for developing antitumor drugs, such as RNAi therapy. Methods. The expression of TUG1, Siglec-15, and miRNAs was evaluated by qPCR, and protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. The immune responses were evaluated by a Jurkat-reporter gene assay, a T cell-induced cytotoxicity assay, and IFN-γ/IL-2 release. The interactions among TUG1, Siglec-15, and miRNAs were verified by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assays. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were used to determine tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Results. In HCC patients and cells, increased TUG1 levels were observed, positively regulating Siglec-15 expression. TUG1-induced Siglec-15 upregulation resulted in the suppression of the immune response of HCC cells. hsa-miR-582-5p directly targeted TUG1 and Siglec-15 mRNA, and ihsa-miR-582-5p knockout prevented the regulation of Siglec-15 induced by THU1. Changes in hsa-miR-582-5p expression negatively regulated Siglec-15 levels and immunosuppression but had no influence on TUG1 levels. siRNA knockdown of TUG1 effectively led to tumor progression inhibition and immune response improvement in HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion. TUG1 increases the Siglec-15 level in HCC cells as a sponge to hsa-miR-582-5p, resulting in enhanced immunosuppression. TUG1 knockdown induced by siRNA not only reduces immunosuppression but also suppresses tumor progression both in vitro and in vivo. These novel findings may provide a potential and appropriate target for RNAi therapy to develop drugs with dual antitumor activity.
Development of RNA-Based Assay for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Clinical Samples
Authors: Kumar Vinod , Mishra Suman , Sharma Rajni , Agarwal Jyotsna , Ghoshal Ujjala , Khanna Tripti , Sharma Lokendra K. , Verma Santosh Kumar , Mishra Prabhakar , Tiwari Swasti
Published: February 2022

Introduction: The ongoing spread of pandemic coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is of growing concern. Rapid diagnosis and management of SARS-CoV-2 are crucial for controlling the outbreak in the community. Here, we report the development of a first rapid-colorimetric assay capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 in the human nasopharyngeal RNA sample in less than 30 min. Method: We utilized a nanomaterial-based optical sensing platform to detect RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of SARS-CoV-2, where the formation of oligo probe-target hybrid led to salt-induced aggregation and change in gold-colloid color from pink to blue visibility range. Accordingly, we found a change in colloid color from pink to blue in assay containing nasopharyngeal RNA sample from the subject with clinically diagnosed COVID-19. The colloid retained pink color when the test includes samples from COVID-19 negative subjects or human papillomavirus-infected women. Results: The results were validated using nasopharyngeal RNA samples from positive COVID-19 subjects (n = 136). Using real-time polymerase chain reaction as gold standard, the assay was found to have 85.29% sensitivity and 94.12% specificity. The optimized method has detection limit as little as 0.5 ng of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Conclusion: We found that the developed assay rapidly detects SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinical samples in a cost-effective manner and would be useful in pandemic management by facilitating mass screening.
Ablation of Plasma Prekallikrein Decreases Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol by Stabilizing Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor and Protects Against Atherosclerosis
Authors: Wang Jin-Kai , Li Yang , Zhao Xiao-Lu , Liu Yuan-Bin , Tan Jing , Xing Yu-Ying , Adi Dilare , Wang Yong-Tao , Fu Zhen-Yan , Ma Yi-Tong , Liu Song-Mei , Liu Yong , Wang Yan , Shi Xiong-Jie , Lu Xiao-Yi , Song Bao-Liang , Luo Jie
Published: February 2022

Background:

High blood cholesterol accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis, which is an asymptomatic process lasting for decades. Rupture of atherosclerotic plaques induces thrombosis, which results in myocardial infarction or stroke. Lowering cholesterol levels is beneficial for preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Methods:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) was used as bait to identify its binding proteins in the plasma, and the coagulation factor prekallikrein (PK; encoded by the
KLKB1
gene) was revealed. The correlation between serum PK protein content and lipid levels in young Chinese Han people was then analyzed. To investigate the effects of PK ablation on LDLR and lipid levels in vivo, we genetically deleted
Klkb1
in hamsters and heterozygous
Ldlr
knockout mice and knocked down
Klkb1
using adeno-associated virus-mediated shRNA in rats. The additive effect of PK and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 inhibition also was evaluated. In addition, we applied the anti-PK neutralizing antibody that blocked the PK and LDLR interaction in mice. Mice lacking both PK and apolipoprotein e (
Klkb1
−/−
Apoe
–/–
) were generated to assess the role of PK in atherosclerosis.

Results:

PK directly bound LDLR and induced its lysosomal degradation. The serum PK concentrations positively correlated with LDL cholesterol levels in 198 young Chinese Han adults. Genetic depletion of
Klkb1
increased hepatic LDLR and decreased circulating cholesterol in multiple rodent models. Inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 with evolocumab further decreased plasma LDL cholesterol levels in
Klkb1
-deficient hamsters. The anti-PK neutralizing antibody could similarly lower plasma lipids through upregulating hepatic LDLR. Ablation of
Klkb1
slowed the progression of atherosclerosis in mice on
Apoe
-deficient background.

Conclusions:

PK regulates circulating cholesterol levels through binding to LDLR and inducing its lysosomal degradation. Ablation of PK stabilizes LDLR, decreases LDL cholesterol, and prevents atherosclerotic plaque development. This study suggests that PK is a promising therapeutic target to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Taraxacum sect. Erythrocarpa in Europe in the Alps and eastwards: A revision of a precursor group of relicts
Authors: ŠTĚPÁNEK JAN , KIRSCHNER JAN
Published: February 2022

A taxonomic revision of Taraxacum sect. Erythrocarpa in the eastern part of Europe and in the Alps is presented. Seventeen species are recognized, nine of them are described as new. Most species occupy relatively restricted geographical ranges, the most characteristic habitats being limestone cliffs and mountain summit areas. The highest species diversity of this section is situated in the mountain ranges of Greece and the adjacent regions of Bulgaria and North Macedonia; only two species are known from the Alps, and a new species is described also from Crimea, Ukraine. Taraxacum pindicola is the only sexual diploid among the taxa studied, the other taxa exhibit agamospermy. The name T. pindicola is newly lectotypified. The northernmost representative of T. sect. Erythrocarpa, T. pieninicum (S. Poland), is conspecific with T. erythrocarpum of the western Slovakia. The names T. albomarginatum A.J. Richards and T. voricola A.J. Richards are later synonyms of T. olympophilum Sonck. Taraxacum sect. Erythrocarpa is characterized and, for each species, nomenclature, typification, a detailed description or a reference to it, diagnostic notes, distribution and habitat, and a list of herbarium specimens studied are given. Most species are illustrated, and for selected ones, distribution maps are provided.
A new grape hyacinth from East Anatolia (Turkey) Muscari vanensis (subgenus Botryanthus)
Authors: UYSAL TUNA , AKSOY AHMET , BOZKURT MERYEM , ERTUĞRUL KUDDİSİ
Published: February 2022

Muscari vanensis (Asparagaceae) is described and illustrated from East Anatolia, Turkey. This species is distributed in slopes of stony rocky areas facing south of Lake Van (B5 Van Province). Muscari vanensis an endemic confined to East Anatolia, is related to mainly with M. botryoides and M. armeniacum. Diagnostic morphological characters have been discussed and compared with those of closely related taxa. At the first glance, the new species is easily separated from its relatives in its dwarf appearance and patent leaves, shorter scape, densely globose-oblong raceme, globose urceolate and swollen fertile flowers. Additionally, karyological, molecular and palynological data were used to support this diagnostic characters and to strengthen the taxonomic background of the new species.
The identity of Justicia vagabunda var. laxiflora (Acanthaceae)
Authors: DENG YUN-FEI
Published: February 2022

N/A
Representation of Lake–Atmosphere Interactions and Lake-Effect Snowfall in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin among HighResMIP Global Climate Models
Authors: Notaro Michael , Jorns Jenna , Briley Laura
Published: February 2022

Credible modeling, tools, and guidance, regarding the changing Laurentian Great Lakes and the climatic impacts, are needed by local decision-makers to inform their management and planning. The present study addresses this need through a model evaluation study of the representation of lake–atmosphere interactions and resulting lake-effect snowfall in the Great Lakes region. Analysis focuses on an extensive ensemble of 74 historical simulations generated by 23 high-resolution global climate models (GCMs) from the High-Resolution Model Intercomparison Project (HighResMIP). The model assessment addresses the modeling treatment of the Great Lakes, the spatial distribution and seasonality of climatological snowfall, the seasonal cycle of lake-surface temperatures and overlake turbulent fluxes, and the lake-effect ratio between upwind and downwind precipitation. A deeper understanding of model performance and biases is achieved by partitioning results between HighResMIP GCMs that are 1) coupled to 1D lake models versus GCMs that exclude lake models, 2) between prescribed-ocean model configurations versus fully coupled configurations, and 3) between deep Lake Superior versus relatively shallow Lake Erie. While the HighResMIP GCMs represent the Great Lakes by a spectrum of approaches that include land grid cells, ocean grid cells (with lake surface temperature and ice cover boundary conditions provided by the Met Office Hadley Center Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature Dataset), and 1D lake models, the current investigation demonstrates that none of these rudimentary approaches adequately represent the complex nature of seasonal lake temperature and ice cover evolution and its impact on lake–atmosphere interactions and lake-effect precipitation in the Great Lakes region.

Significance Statement

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the capability of high-resolution global climate models to simulate lake–atmosphere interactions and lake-effect snowfall in the Great Lakes region, given the critical influence of the lakes on regional climate and vast societal and environmental impacts of lake-effect snowfall. It is determined that the models inadequately represent lake temperatures and ice cover, often leading to insufficient annual snowfall in the lake-effect zones. More advanced, three-dimensional lake models need to be coupled to climate models to support greater credibility in regional lake and climate simulations and future climate projections.
The anti-vaccination Robinsons – Isolated actors of the mainstream vaccination discourse in Poland
Authors: Świątkiewicz-Mośny Maria , Wagner Aleksandra , Polak Paulina
Published: February 2022

Vaccinations are treated as a tool that can eliminate disease or at least reduce morbidity and mortality. The programmes implemented by the World Health Organization aim to completely eradicate certain infectious diseases. At the same time, the number of people who choose not to vaccinate, or question the effectiveness and necessity of vaccination, is increasing. Called as anti-vaccinationists, they are treated by the dominant discourse as irrational, selfish and irresponsible. In this article, we analyse the media discourse around vaccination, pointing out that the institutionalised message supports the vaccination policy, while displacing and ridiculing actors who are opposed to the current vaccination procedure. Labelled as one type of group and pushed out of the dominant discourse, they organise themselves in their spaces and practise their coping strategies. We call them ‘the Robinsons’ (inspired by Robinson Crusoe) because, locked in their islands, they close themselves off from the current discourse, forming their own knowledge and their own practices. Our aim is to show the discursive mechanisms of pushing out them of the mainland.
Moving Beyond Current Treatment: Responding to Extreme States With Compassion and Dignity
Authors: Mackey Chelsea
Published: February 2022

Newer research around extreme experiences is showing that recovery is far more prevalent than has been represented in the past. In addition, some aspects that have traditionally been considered the first line of treatment are now being found to be less effective than once believed or even harmful. However, approaches that combine new information, compassion, and that restore dignity to the individual are finally being recognized as the underpinnings of successful outcomes. Individuals who have gone through an extreme state deserve to learn about the impact of cultural aspects and childhood experiences on such. They should be reminded that many will experience positive growth from the extreme state itself. It should be normalized how frequently these experiences arise throughout the world and how often people do recover. It is important for individuals to understand the beneficial impact of enhancing relationships and connections in their daily life and of fostering empowerment for themselves and their choices. By incorporating research findings and inviting the individual to seek out a meaningful life, as determined by themselves, people can and do recover from these experiences.
Innovative and Integrated Contact Tracing: Indian Health Service, Arizona, December 2020–January 2021
Authors: Close Ryan M. , Coles Kateri , Enos Laura A. , Nashio JT , McAuley James B.
Published: February 2022

SARS-CoV-2 has exposed limitations of public health mitigation measures such as traditional case investigations and contact tracing. The Whiteriver Service Unit is a rural, acute care hospital on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona with integrated health care delivery and public health services. During the first wave of COVID-19 cases in May–June 2020, we developed an innovative case investigation contact tracing approach that relied heavily on cross-trained personnel, in-person encounters, and baseline clinical evaluations. A second COVID-19 surge during December 13, 2020–January 31, 2021, caused incidence to peak at 413 cases per 100 000 community members. During that second surge, we investigated all 769 newly identified COVID-19 cases and notified 1911 (99.4%) of 1922 reported contacts. Median time interval from nasopharyngeal specimen collection to both case investigation and contact notification was 0 days (range, 0-5 days and 0-13 days, respectively). Our primary lesson was the importance of cross-trained personnel who integrated tasks along the testing–tracing continuum (eg, in-person interviews, prompt referral for additional testing and evaluation). These successive steps fed forward to identify new cases and their respective contacts. Our innovative community-based approach was both successful and efficient; our experience suggests that when adapted based on local needs, case investigation and contact tracing remain valuable and feasible public health tools, even in rural, resource-limited settings.
Resistance to Antisocial Peers in Adolescents Found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder: Predictive and Incremental Validity With the VRAG-R
Authors: Patricny Nicol , Haag Andrew M. , Pei Jacqueline R.
Published: February 2022

There has been a recent theoretical shift toward the inclusion of protective factors within risk assessment. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence surrounding this practice in unique forensic populations. Using a long-term retrospective design, we examined the predictive and incremental validity of the protective factor resistance to antisocial peers and the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide—Revised in 119 individuals who were found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder (NCRMD) as adolescents. The results indicated that resistance to antisocial peers significantly predicted general nonrecidivism (area under the curve [AUC] = .647) and violent nonrecidivism (AUC = .654) in the long term (maximum 35-year follow-up). Incorporation of resistance to antisocial peers into the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide—Revised did not significantly increase the incremental validity for general or violent recidivism. Using logistic regression, adolescents’ age at their NCRMD start date had no significant relationship with recidivism and was unrelated to the protective effect of resistance to antisocial peers.
The Testing Effect in University Teaching: Using Multiple-Choice Testing to Promote Retention of Highly Retrievable Information
Authors: Greving Sven , Lenhard Wolfgang , Richter Tobias
Published: February 2022

Background

Retrieval practice promotes retention of learned information more than restudying the information. However, benefits of multiple-choice testing over restudying in real-world educational contexts and the role of practically relevant moderators such as feedback and learners’ ability to retrieve tested content from memory (i.e., retrievability) are still underexplored.

Objective

The present research examines the benefits of multiple-choice questions with an experimental design that maximizes internal validity, while investigating the role of feedback and retrievability in an authentic educational setting of a university psychology course.

Method

After course sessions, students answered multiple-choice questions or restudied course content and afterward could choose to revisit learning content and obtain feedback in a self-regulated way.

Results

Participants on average obtained corrective feedback for 9% of practiced items when practicing course content. In the criterial test, practicing retrieval was not superior to reading summarizing statements in general but a testing effect emerged for questions that targeted information that participants could easily retrieve from memory.

Conclusion

Feedback was rarely sought. However, even without feedback, participants profited from multiple-choice questions that targeted easily retrievable information.

Teaching Implications

Caution is advised when employing multiple-choice testing in self-regulated learning environments in which students are required to actively obtain feedback.
Banishing the poets: Reflections on free speech and literary censorship in Vietnam
Authors: Tran Richard Quang-Anh
Published: February 2022

The article examines the status of free speech in Vietnam in light of some of the explosive debates that have flared up in both the US and Europe. It argues that unlike in the West the Vietnamese case requires a critical defense to augment the space for free speech as such. To lead up to this conclusion, the essay looks at two case studies of literary censorship in Vietnam to demonstrate that, since the middle of the twentieth-century, literary speech has been synonymous with political speech. Given the limited space for political speech itself, the essay concludes by advancing a version of the autonomy defense of free speech as one viable critical resource in the Vietnamese context.
Application of fractal and multifractal analysis on Blue Nile drainage patterns in the morphostructural analysis of the Ethiopian highlands, Ethiopia
Authors: Kusák Michal
Published: February 2022

Fractal geometry methods provide a quantitative description of complex landscape networks, such as drainage patterns. This article focuses on the determination of the fractal dimension ( F D) and Renyi multifractal spectrum ( F Dα) of drainage patterns of the Blue Nile Basin in the Ethiopian Highlands. The Ethiopian Highlands are one of the most tectonically influenced areas in the world. The spatial distribution of drainage patterns reflects a decreasing influence of tectonics with increasing distance from the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) to the center of the Ethiopian Highlands. The novelty of the paper is given by the calculation of F D and F Dα of drainage patterns as a part of morphostructural analysis. We analyzed how the values of F D and F Dα in each of 145 local drainage patterns changed depending on the changes of tectonic influences on landscape formation. Our methodologies provided a way of distinguishing the morphologies of tectonic and non-tectonic drainage patterns using the fractal/multifractal technique. The results of the study show that old dendritic drainage patterns located in the western part with low tectonic activity and an absence of faults had the lowest F D and F Dαvalues. The opening up of the MER and the neotectonic uplift of the Ethiopian Highlands accelerated the development of drainage patterns by activating river erosion and river piracy. Dendritic drainage patterns of the volcanic platforms have changed to young deep cut trellis patterns, and their F D and F Dα values are increased. Accelerating Quaternary uplift created the recent high landscape in the eastern part of the Blue Nile Basin, where the tectonic activities correspond to the MER. This young Quaternary landscape is characterized by prevailing deep and narrow valleys, and the presence of morphodynamic phenomena (erosion, landslides, earthquakes), where the trellis drainage patterns have the highest F D and F Dα.values.