bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel RHD allele, with c.491A > T (p.Asp164Val) mutation, identified via family pedigree analysis
Authors: Wang Jing , Que Wenjun , Xing Yan , Li Qing , Zhan Tingxi , Yu Zebo
Published: March 2021

A Chinese Han man was confirmed to carry an RHD variation by serological tests, and exons 1 through 10 of the RHD gene were analyzed by sequence‐specific primer‐polymerase chain reaction. To clarify the nature of this mutation, Sanger sequencing was used and a c.491A > T mutation was identified in exon 4. The proband inherited this mutation from his father, as determined from a family pedigree.
Racial/ethnic disparities among women receiving intrauterine transfusions for alloimmunization at a single fetal treatment center
Authors: Schwab Marisa E. , Schmidt Christina N. , Gonzalez‐Velez Juan M. , Bakhtary Sara
Published: March 2021

Disparities are prevalent in numerous areas of healthcare. We sought to investigate whether there were racial/ethnic disparities among pregnant women with the most severe form of alloimmunization who require intrauterine transfusions (IUT). We reviewed patients who underwent IUT for alloimmunization at a single fetal treatment center between 2015 and 2020. This “IUT cohort” was compared to an “Alloimmunization cohort”: patients seen at our institution with a diagnosis of alloimmunization during pregnancy, who did not receive IUT. We collected maternal demographics including self‐identified race/ethnicity and primary language, transfusion, and antibody characteristics. The cohorts were compared using unpaired t‐tests, Mann‐Whitney tests, and Fischer's exact tests, as appropriate. The IUT cohort included 43 patients and the alloimmunization cohort included 1049 patients. Compared to the alloimmunization cohort, there were significantly more patients of Latina descent in the IUT cohort (23.3% vs. 3.4%, p < .0001), and more non‐English speakers (18.6% vs. 4.6%, p = .001). Twenty‐one percent (9/43) of patients had immigrated to the United States, all of whom had pregnancies or miscarriages in their country of origin. A third of patients had new antibodies identified on serial screens during the current pregnancy. Significantly more women of Latina ethnicity and non‐English speakers required IUTs compared to the cohort of women with alloimmunization. Insufficient access to care prior to arriving in the United States and among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States may contribute to these findings. Providers should be cognizant of potential, racial, and ethnic inequalities among women receiving intrauterine transfusions.
Pathogen reduction of whole blood: Supplementing fibrinogen partly corrects clot formation in a massive transfusion model
Authors: Arbaeen Ahmad F. , Schubert Peter , Sheffield William P. , Devine Dana V.
Published: March 2021

Background

The use of whole blood (WB) to treat trauma patients is becoming more common. Similar to the treatment of individual components, pathogen inactivation (PI) technologies are available to treat WB. The impact of PI on WB function is not well understood. This study investigated the impact of PI of WB with riboflavin/ultraviolet (UV) light on its hemostatic function by modeling transfusion scenarios for trauma patients and assessing transfusion efficacy by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). As fibrinogen is affected by PI of WB, the effect of fibrinogen supplementation commonly used in trauma patients was also analyzed in this model.

Study Design and Methods

Trauma transfusion scenarios were simulated by mixing untreated WB or WB treated with the Mirasol PI technology (riboflavin/UV) in different ratios with hemodiluted blood, and the thromboelasticity was monitored by ROTEM. The impact of supplementation with the fibrinogen concentrate RiaSTAP was investigated in this model.

Results

Pathogen‐inactivated WB (PI‐WB) showed decreased activity in the hemostatic profile compared to the untreated control. Hemodiluted blood at a hematocrit (hct) of 20%, which was reconstituted with PI‐WB or untreated WB, exhibited increased alpha values, maximum clot firmness, and clot formation time. Simulating transfusion scenarios by blood replacement with PI‐WB resulted in a significant difference in ROTEM parameters between reconstituted PI‐treated and ‐untreated WB (p ≥ .05). The effect of PI treatment waned when PI‐WB was enriched with fibrinogen.

Conclusion

ROTEM investigations suggest that PI treatment has a negative impact on WB clot formation unless fibrinogen supplementation is used.
Contesting territory via editorials in different varieties of English
Authors: Ahrens Kathleen
Published: March 2021

This article broadens Schneider's (2018) proposal relating to finding culture in corpora by examining keyness, conceptual frames, and metaphorical signals in newspaper editorials in two varieties of world Englishes: Chinese and American English. These editorials focus on opinion articles and commentaries about territorial issues in the South China Sea during 2013–2015. The results demonstrate that keywords and metaphorical signals are used differently in the newspaper editorials published in these two countries, while the conceptual frames vary by degree but not by type. I discuss these findings in terms of how lexical‐conceptual patterns allow for a greater understanding of the culture of argumentation. I argue that these types of focused, small corpora analyses are also useful for examining culture in corpora and suggest that Schneider's (2018) second layer of cultural dimensions should be expanded from indicator terms to include lexical‐conceptual patterns found in keyword analysis, conceptual framing, and metaphorical signaling.
Computational Support for Concurrent Engineering of Cable Harnesses
Authors: Park Hisup , Lee Soo-Hong , Cutkosky Mark R.
Published: March 2021

Design and production of cables for aerospace systems provide the background for the development of concurrent engineering framework. Key issues include the development of an architecture that supports collaboration among engineers associated with different parts of the cable design process and the development of hierarchical representations that capture the different characteristics (e.g., connectivity, geometry) of the harnesses. The abstraction of design information results in features, while the abstraction of operations leads to the development of agents. These abstractions are essential for efficient transactions among people and computer tools in a domain that involves numerous interacting constraints. We have decomposed the cable design process into five basic categories of tasks that are each addressed by an “agent”: the Environment Editor, the Free Space Manager, the Cable Editor, the Component Selector, and the Cost Comparator. In this paper the strategy for the problem decomposition, the definition of features, and the ways in which features are used by various agents, are discussed. We conclude with a discussion of some of the issues raised by the project and the steps underway to address them.
SIMPA: A Graphic Simulator for the CAD of Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Gosselin Clément M. , Laverdière Simon , Côte Jean
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a graphic simulation environment which can be used as an aid for the design of parallel manipulators. Both planar and spatial parallel manipulators can be treated with the simulator. Fast algorithms for the determination of the workspace are implemented. Therefore, sections of the workspace — with their boundaries — can be plotted interactively and their volume or area estimated very accurately. Moreover, contour plots of design criteria such as dexterity, stiffness or conditioning can be superimposed on these plots in order to provide the user with a graphical representation of the behavior of these properties over the workspace. Singularity loci can also be plotted for planar manipulators. The simulator is implemented on a SUN SPARC Station and uses the SUNPHIGS graphics library. The mechanical design of parallel manipulators is a complex issue which involves a detailed mechanical analysis. Indeed, parallel manipulators generally exhibit good stiffness properties but usually have a rather limited workspace. Furthermore, they are known to suffer from singularities for which the end-effector becomes uncontrollable. Problems related to workspace optimization and stiffness are therefore crucial in the context of design of parallel manipulators and the simulation package presented here is a very useful tool for the designer.
An Estimate of Mesh Stiffness and Load Sharing Ratio of a Spur Gear Pair
Authors: Kuang J. H. , Yang Y. T.
Published: March 2021

A curve fitted tooth stiffness equation was developed to calculate directly the variable gear mesh stiffness. To improve the accuracy, a tooth profile generating method introduced by Litvin (1989) was employed for finite element idealization. A quadratic finite element model was employed in deriving the tooth stiffness constant at the successive positions of a single tooth as it passed through the zone of loading. The developed stiffness equation is applicable to both the standard full-depth or addendum modified involute gears. Variation of the shared loads introduced by the consideration of mesh stiffness was also investigated.
Full-Scale Transmission Testing to Evaluate Advanced Lubricants
Authors: Lewicki David G. , Decker Harry J. , Shimski John T.
Published: March 2021

Experimental tests were performed on the OH-58A helicopter main-rotor transmission in the NASA Lewis 500-hp helicopter transmission test stand. The testing was part of a joint Navy/NASA/Army lubrication program. The objectives of the joint program are to develop and demonstrate a separate lubricant for gearboxes with improved performance in life and load-carrying capacity. The goal of these experiments was to develop a testing procedure to fail certain transmission components using a MIL-L-23699 based reference oil and then to run identical tests with improved lubricants and demonstrate improved performance. The tests were directed at components that failed due to marginal lubrication from Navy field experience. These failures included mast shaft bearing micropitting, sun gear and planet bearing fatigue, and spiral bevel gear scoring. A variety of tests were performed and over 900 hr of total run time accumulated for these tests. Some success was achieved in developing a testing procedure to produce sun gear and planet bearing fatigue failures. Only marginal success was achieved in producing mast shaft bearing micropitting and spiral bevel gear scoring.
Maximum Transmission Efficiency of a Steel Belt Continuously Variable Transmission
Authors: Guebeli M. , Micklem J. D. , Burrows C. R.
Published: March 2021

A mathematical model of the power transmission through a Van Doorne steel belt continuously variable transmission is developed. The approach is based on a simplified viscous oil shear stress model. This enables the determination of the power transmission loss resulting from shearing the oil film along the traction line. The power to maintain the necessary hydraulic clamping forces is taken into account to optimise the power transmission efficiency. The analytical solution is evaluated numerically and compared with experimental results. Variations in the hydraulic pump displacement that is determined by the required ratio adjustment dynamics show that with a sufficiently small pump, peak efficiencies exceeding 97% are possible.
A Methodology for Compliant Mechanisms Design: Part I — Introduction and Large-Deflection Analysis
Authors: Midha A. , Her I. , Salamon B. A.
Published: March 2021

A broader research proposal seeks to systematically combine large-deflection mechanics of flexible elements with important kinematic considerations, in yielding compliant mechanisms which perform useful tasks. Specifically, the proposed design methodology will address the following needs: development of the necessary nomenclature, classification and definitions, and identification of the kinematic properties; categorization of mechanism synthesis types, both structurally as well as by function; development of efficient computational techniques for design; consideration of materials; and application and validation. Contained herein, in particular, is an introduction to the state-of-the-art in compliant mechanisms, and the development of an accurate chain calculation algorithm for use in the analysis of a large-deflection, cantilevered elastica. Shooting methods, which permit specification of additional boundary conditions on the elastica, as well as compliant mechanism examples are presented in a companion paper.
Rate Kinematics for Mobile Manipulators
Authors: Wang Chau-Chang , Sarkar Nilanjan , Kumar Vijay
Published: March 2021

When a serial-chain manipulator is mounted on a mobile base, the end-effector motion must be decomposed into the motion of the base and the motion of the manipulator. The problem of determining the actuator rates for a given end-effector motion is typically under constrained. A compact, analytical inverse rate kinematics solution is presented in which a weighted-norm of the joint rates is minimized. The method is capable of accomodating any type of joint as well as nonholonomic constraints. This framework allows the allocation of the end-effector motion between the manipulator and its mobile base according to user-prescribed preferences.
An Efficient Algorithm for the Graphical Representation of the Three-Dimensional Workspace of Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Gosselin Clément M. , Lavoie Eric , Toutant Pierre
Published: March 2021

This paper presents an algorithm for the graphical representation of the three-dimensional workspace of six-degree-of-freedom parallel manipulators. In fact, the algorithm introduced here follows from previous work on the subject (Gosselin 1990). In the latter reference, an algorithm was developed to obtain analytical expressions of the boundaries of the workspace. However, the method was applicable to two-dimensional sections of the workspace only. Therefore, a three-dimensional representation of the workspace, i.e., the set of positions attainable with a given orientation of the platform, could only be obtained by discretization. The algorithm introduced here involves the determination of analytical expressions of the boundaries of the three-dimensional workspace. Hence, it results in a very efficient procedure which can be performed interactively, in a context of CAD. The algorithm is described in detail in this paper. Examples of results that have been obtained with this algorithm are also presented.
Finite Element Analysis of Revolute Manipulators With Link and Joint Compliance by Joint-Beam Elements
Authors: Yang Zhijia , Sadler J. P.
Published: March 2021

In this paper, a composite finite element, referred to here as a joint-beam element, is presented to facilitate finite element modeling of revolute-jointed manipulators with both link and joint compliance. This element is primarily composed of two adjacent Euler beams joined by a torsional shaft in such a way that one end of the shaft can be kinematically rotated. Also accounted for in this element are the lumped mass and inertia moment representing the mass properties for the corresponding joint actuator. Through a number of cases studied using this element along with standard beam elements, the effect of joint compliance on the overall dynamic performance for a completely flexible manipulator is investigated. In particular, the joint compliance as well as link compliance are found to have significant impact on the positioning deviation of a robot, depending upon the relative amounts of joint and link flexibility. Useful information is obtained for improved design of completely flexible manipulators to reduce dynamically induced positioning errors.
Optimal Synthesis of Four-Bar Linkages for Four-Position Rigid-Body Guidance With Selective Tolerance Specifications
Authors: Venkataraman Shankar C. , Kinzel Gary L. , Waldron Kenneth J.
Published: March 2021

In practical rigid-body guidance problems, very often one or more of the design positions need not be generated exactly. Further, extreme accuracy at the design positions is somewhat pointless considering the inherent limitations in linkage manufacturing processes. This emphasizes the requirement of synthesis techniques to be able to handle tolerance specifications on the nominal design positions. A favorable offshoot of the tolerance incorporation would be the accompanying increase in the solution space of the synthesis problem thereby yielding better linkage solutions.
Balancing Conditions for Planar Mechanisms
Authors: Dresig Hans , Rockhausen Ludwig , Naake Steffen
Published: March 2021

One of the problems of the complete inertia force and moment balancing of planar mechanisms consists of the deriving from the so-called balancing conditions. In recent publications on this field these balancing conditions are seperately derived for each particular mechanism [1], [2], [3]. In the present paper a new method is presented which derives the balancing conditions for planar mechanisms with an arbitrary structure (except for mechanisms containing cam pairs) in generality. This algorithm is suitable for the application of computer algebra systems.
Near-infrared light–triggered platelet arsenal for combined photothermal-immunotherapy against cancer
Authors: Lv Yanlin , Li Feng , Wang Shuang , Lu Guihong , Bao Weier , Wang Yugang , Tian Zhiyuan , Wei Wei , Ma Guanghui
Published: March 2021

The aggregative instinct of platelets was exploited as a biomimetic strategy for synergistic combined therapy against cancer.
Cell-penetrating Alphabody protein scaffolds for intracellular drug targeting
Authors: Pannecoucke Erwin , Van Trimpont Maaike , Desmet Johan , Pieters Tim , Reunes Lindy , Demoen Lisa , Vuylsteke Marnik , Loverix Stefan , Vandenbroucke Karen , Alard Philippe , Henderikx Paula , Deroo Sabrina , Baatz Franky , Lorent Eric , Thiolloy Sophie , Somers Klaartje , McGrath Yvonne , Vlierberghe Pieter Van , Lasters Ignace , Savvides Savvas N.
Published: March 2021

The Alphabody protein scaffold can be engineered for intracellular protein drug targeting.
Rare presentation of atrial myxoma: chest pain, dysphagia and left upper extremity weakness
Authors: Zock a Zock Remy Waddel , Boccalandro Fernando
Published: March 2021

Atrial myxoma is a benign primary heart tumour, which can be found incidentally on imaging studies. It is usually located in the left atrium and may manifest as dyspnoea, chest pain, heart failure, cough, shortness of breath when rising from a recumbent position, haemoptysis, hoarseness and as a source of cardiac embolism. However, dysphagia caused by an atrial myxoma has been reported only twice in the literature. We present a 53-year-old Caucasian man with a chronic history of dysphagia caused by an atrial myxoma, in which surgical resection resulted in complete resolution of his dysphagia.
Improvement after bariatric surgery in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a novel treatment target
Authors: Vaidy Anika , Forfia Paul , Mazurek Jeremy , Vaidya Anjali
Published: March 2021

A 66-year-old man with a medical history significant for multiple pulmonary embolism and morbid obesity was evaluated for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiogram and right heart catheterisation were significant for severe pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, he was started on pulmonary hypertension medical therapy with riociguat and ambrisentan, in addition to anticoagulation. He experienced a dramatic clinical response to medical therapy. Despite haemodynamic improvement, the patient remained symptomatic with significant fatigue, exertional dyspnea and poor functional status as highlighted by a 6 min walk distance of only 128 m. Patient was referred for bariatric surgery with a gastric sleeve, after which he successfully lost 95 lbs in 6 months. Postoperative right heart catheterisation demonstrated normal pulmonary  vascular resistance and cardiac output. His echocardiogram revealed normal right ventricular size and function. His 6 min walk distance also nearly quadrupled from 128 to 512 m, consistent with WHO Functional Class I.
Differential effects of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in a single patient with neuropathic pain
Authors: Cameron Marte Grønlie , Kersten Christian
Published: March 2021

Neuropathic pain (NP) represents an unmet medical need, where analgesic responses to different epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR-Is) have been described. The human EGFR family of receptors consists of four members (human epidermal growth factor receptor, HER 1–4), signalling via different homodimer and heterodimer combinations. A 52-year-old man was treated with the EGFR-I cetuximab in a trial of severe NP. Pain scores decreased dramatically after blinded cetuximab, but not after placebo. On pain recurrence after the trial, he was prescribed the oral EGFR-Is erlotinib, gefitinib, and lapatinib without relief. However, treatment with the pan-HER-inhibitor afatinib was effective. After 4 years on afatinib, pain control remains excellent with manageable side effects. This is the first reported observation of differential effects of EGFR-Is on NP in the same patient and the first report describing NP relief with afatinib. Further understanding of the underlying pathophysiology could lead to development of EGFR-Is specifically targeting NP.
Common hand and wrist conditions: creation of UK research priorities defined by a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership
Authors: Karantana Alexia , Davis Tim , Kennedy Donna , Larson Debbie , Furniss Dominic , Grindlay Douglas J , Cowan Katherine , Giddins Grey , Jain Abhilash , Trickett Ryan W
Published: March 2021

Objective

Prioritisation of important treatment uncertainties for ‘Common Conditions Affecting the Hand and Wrist’ via a UK-based James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership.

Setting

This process was funded by a national charitable organisation and based in the UK.

Participants

Anyone with experience of common conditions affecting the adult hand and wrist, including patients, carers and healthcare professionals. All treatment modalities delivered by a hand specialist, including therapists, surgeons or other allied professionals, were considered.

Interventions

Established James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership methods were employed.

Electronic and paper questionnaires identified potential uncertainties. These were subsequently confirmed using relevant, up-to-date systematic reviews. A final list of top 10 research uncertainties was developed via a face-to-face workshop with representation from patients and clinicians. Impact of research was sought by surveying hand clinicians electronically.

Outcome measures

The survey responses and prioritisation—both survey and workshop based.

Results

There were 889 individually submitted questions from the initial survey, refined to 59 uncertainties across 32 themes. Eight additional uncertainties were added from published literature before prioritisation by 261 participants and the workshop allowed the final top 10 list to be finalised. The top 10 has so far contributed to the award of over £3.8 million of competitively awarded funding.

Conclusions

The Common Conditions in the Hand and Wrist Priority Setting Partnership identified important research questions and has allowed research funders to identify grant applications which are important to both patients and clinicians
Maternal body mass index and oxytocin in augmentation of labour in nulliparous women: a prospective observational study
Authors: Ramö Isgren Anna , Kjölhede Preben , Carlhäll Sara , Blomberg Marie
Published: March 2021

Objective

To evaluate oxytocin use for augmentation of labour in relation to body mass index (BMI) on admission to the labour ward, focusing on cumulative oxytocin dose and maximum rate of oxytocin infusion during the first stage of labour.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Seven hospitals in Sweden.

Participants

1097 nulliparous women with singleton cephalic presentation pregnancy, ≥37 weeks of gestation, spontaneous onset of labour and treatment with oxytocin infusion for labour augmentation. The study population was classified into three BMI subgroups on admission to the labour ward: normal weight (18.5–24.9), overweight (25.0–29.9) and obese (≥30.0). The cumulative oxytocin dose was measured from the start of oxytocin infusion until the neonate was born.

Primary outcome

Cumulative oxytocin dose.

Secondary outcome

Maximum rate of oxytocin infusion during the active phase of first stage of labour.

Results

The mean cumulative oxytocin dose increased in the BMI groups (normal weight 2278 mU, overweight 3108 mU and obese 4082 mU (p<0.0001)). However, when adjusted for the confounders (cervical dilatation when oxytocin infusion was started, fetal birth weight, epidural analgesia), the significant difference was no longer seen. The maximum oxytocin infusion rate during the first stage of labour differed significantly in the BMI groups when adjusted for the confounding factors individually but not when adjusted for all three factors simultaneously. In addition, the maximum oxytocin infusion rate was significantly higher in women with emergency caesarean section compared with women with vaginal delivery.

Conclusions

Women with increasing BMI with augmentation of labour received a higher cumulative oxytocin dose and had a higher maximum oxytocin infusion rate during first stage of labour, however, when adjusted for relevant confounders, the difference was no longer seen. In the future, the guidelines for augmentation of labour with oxytocin infusion might be reconsidered and include modifications related to BMI.
In vitro evaluation of disposable transport ventilators with combination aerosol therapy
Authors: Mac Giolla Eain Marc , O'Sullivan Andrew , Joyce Mary , MacLoughlin Ronan
Published: March 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for alternative short-term, reliable means to aid in the treatment of patients requiring ventilatory support. Concurrent aerosol drug delivery is often prescribed to such patients. As such, this study examines one such short-term option, the disposable gas-powered transport ventilator to effectively deliver aerosol therapy. Factors such as aerosol generator type, patient breathing pattern, humidification and nebuliser position within the respiratory circuit were also examined.

Methods

Aerosol drug delivery characterisation was undertaken using two different disposable transport ventilators (DTVs). Two different nebuliser types, a closed circuit vibrating mesh nebuliser (VMN) and an open circuit jet nebuliser (JN), at different locations in a respiratory circuit, proximal and distal to an endotracheal tube (ETT), with and without passive humidification, were evaluated in simulated adult and paediatric patients.

Results

Placement of a nebuliser proximal to the ETT (VMN: 25.19%–34.15% and JN: 3.14%–8.92%), and the addition of a heat and moisture exchange filter (VMN: 32.37%–40.43% and JN: 5.60%–9.91%) resulted in the largest potential lung dose in the adult patient model. Irrespective of nebuliser position and humidification in the respiratory circuit, use of the VMN resulted in the largest potential lung dose (%). A similar trend was recorded in the paediatric model data, where the largest potential lung dose was recorded with both nebuliser types placed proximal to the ETT (VMN: 8.12%–10.89% and JN: 2.15%–3.82%). However, the addition of a heat and moisture exchange filter had no statistically significant effect on the potential lung dose (%) a paediatric patient would receive (p>>0.05).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that transport ventilators, such as DTVs, can be used concurrently with aerosol generators to effectively deliver aerosolised medication in both adult and paediatric patients.
When steroids are not enough in immune-related hepatitis: current clinical challenges discussed on the basis of a case report
Authors: Gauci Marie-Léa , Baroudjian Barouyr , Lebbe Celeste , Roux Olivier
Published: March 2021

Immune-related hepatitis (IRH) is a frequent but poorly understood immune-related adverse event and its frequency increases since the use of combination therapy in several cancer types. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop adapted guidelines to manage IRH.In the present letter, based on Ziogaset alreport entitled ‘When steroids are not enough in immune-related hepatitis: current clinical challenges discussed on the basis of a case report’, several points are discussed: assessment of IRH severity and liver biopsy indication, immune-related cholangitis as a differential diagnosis for some IRH presentation, the need of steroids for IRH management or the indication for second line immunosuppressive treatment and finally, the possibility of immunotherapy resumption.
Involvement of Rho-kinase/IκB-α/NF-κB activation in IL-1β-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in human chondrocytes
Authors: Tiftik Rukiye Nalan , Temiz-Reşitoğlu Meryem , Güden Demet Sinem , Bayrak Gülsen , Ün İsmail , Yılmaz Şakir Necat , Şahan-Fırat Seyhan
Published: March 2021

It has been clearly indicated that osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory and degenerative disease that could be promoted by Rho-kinase (ROCK); however, little is known about the role of ROCK/inhibitor κB alpha (IκB-α)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 pathway activation in interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in primary human chondrocytes. To test this hypothesis, we focused on determining ROCK-II, IκB-α, p-IκB-α, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), p22phox, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase subtype 4 (NOX4) protein expression, ROCK-II activity, NADPH oxidase levels, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the presence and absence of ROCK-inhibitor fasudil. IL-1β (2 ng·mL–1, 24 h) increased the expression of ROCK-II, p-IκB-α, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, and p22phox proteins, and decreased the expression of IκB-α, and the NOX4 protein level did not alter. ROCK activity and NADPH oxidase levels were increased, whereas the TAC was decreased by IL-1β. Fasudil (10−5–10−7 M) reversed all these changes induced by IL-1β. These results demonstrate that ROCK/IκB-α/NF-κB p65 pathway activation contributes to the IL-1β-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress, and thus, ROCK inhibition might be a beneficial treatment option for OA patients mainly based on its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Novel Multi-Perspective Usability Evaluation Framework for Selection of Open Source Software Based on BWM and Group VIKOR Techniques
Authors: Dawood Kareem A. , Zaidan A. A. , Sharif Khaironi Y. , Ghani Abdul A. , Zulzalil H. , Zaidan B. B.
Published: March 2021

Increasing demand for open-source software (OSS) has raised the value of efficient selection in terms of quality; usability is an essential quality factor that significantly affects system acceptability and sustainability. Most large and complex software packages partitioned across multiple portals and involve many users — each with their role in the software package; those users have different perspectives on the software package, defined by their knowledge, responsibilities, and commitments. Thus, a multi-perspective approach has been used in usability evaluation to overcome the challenge of inconsistency between users’ perspectives; the inconsistency challenge would lead to an ill-advised decision on the selection of a suitable OSS. This study aimed to assist the public and private organizations in evaluating and selecting the most suitable OSS. The evaluation of the OSS software packages to choose the best one is a challenging task owing to (a) multiple evaluation criteria, (b) criteria importance, and (c) data variation; thus, it is considered a sophisticated multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem; moreover, the multi-perspective usability evaluation framework for OSS selection lacks in the current literature. Hence, this study proposes a novel multi-perspective usability evaluation framework for the selection of OSS based on the multi-criteria analysis. Integration of best-worst method (BWM) and VIKOR MCDM techniques has been used for weighting and ranking OSS alternatives. BWM is utilized for weighting of evaluation criteria, whereas VIKOR is applied to rank OSS-LMS alternatives. Individual and group decision-making contexts, and the internal and external groups aggregation were used to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed framework. A well-organized algorithmic procedure is presented in detail, and a case study was examined to illustrate the validity and feasibility of the proposed framework. The results demonstrated that BWM and VIKOR integration works effectively to solve the OSS software package benchmarking/selection problems. Furthermore, the ranks of OSS software packages obtained from the VIKOR internal and external group decision making were similar; the best OSS-LMS based on the two ways was ‘Moodle’ software package. Among the scores of groups in the objective validation, significant differences were identified; this indicated that the ranking results of internal and external VIKOR group decision making were valid, which pointed to the validation of the framework.
Detection and Correction of Abnormal Data with Optimized Dirty Data: A New Data Cleaning Model
Authors: Rahul Kumar , Banyal Rohitash Kumar
Published: March 2021

Each and every business enterprises require noise-free and clean data. There is a chance of an increase in dirty data as the data warehouse loads and refreshes a large quantity of data continuously from the various sources. Hence, in order to avoid the wrong conclusions, the data cleaning process becomes a vital one in various data-connected projects. This paper made an effort to introduce a novel data cleaning technique for the effective removal of dirty data. This process involves the following two steps: (i) dirty data detection and (ii) dirty data cleaning. The dirty data detection process has been assigned with the following process namely, data normalization, hashing, clustering, and finding the suspected data. In the clustering process, the optimal selection of centroid is the promising one and is carried out by employing the optimization concept. After the finishing of dirty data prediction, the subsequent process: dirty data cleaning begins to activate. The cleaning process also assigns with some processes namely, the leveling process, Huffman coding, and cleaning the suspected data. The cleaning of suspected data is performed based on the optimization concept. Hence, for solving all optimization problems, a new hybridized algorithm is proposed, the so-called Firefly Update Enabled Rider Optimization Algorithm (FU-ROA), which is the hybridization of the Rider Optimization Algorithm (ROA) and Firefly (FF) algorithm is introduced. To the end, the analysis of the performance of the implanted data cleaning method is scrutinized over the other traditional methods like Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), FF, Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), and ROA in terms of their positive and negative measures. From the result, it can be observed that for iteration 12, the performance of the proposed FU-ROA model for test case 1 on was 0.013%, 0.7%, 0.64%, and 0.29% better than the extant PSO, FF, GWO, and ROA models, respectively.
Offline and Online Learning of Signal Temporal Logic Formulae Using Decision Trees
Authors: Bombara Giuseppe , Belta Calin
Published: March 2021

In this article, we focus on inferring high-level descriptions of a system from its execution traces. Specifically, we consider a classification problem where system behaviors are described using formulae of
Signal Temporal Logic
(STL). Given a finite set of pairs of system traces and labels, where each label indicates whether the corresponding trace exhibits some system property, we devised a decision-tree-based framework that outputs an STL formula that can distinguish the traces. We also extend this approach to the online learning scenario. In this setting, it is assumed that new signals may arrive over time and the previously inferred formula should be updated to accommodate the new data. The proposed approach presents some advantages over traditional machine learning classifiers. In particular, the produced formulae are interpretable and can be used in other phases of the system’s operation, such as monitoring and control. We present two case studies to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms: (1) a fault detection problem in an automotive system and (2) an anomaly detection problem in a maritime environment.
3E-LDA
Authors: Li Yanni , Liu Bing , Yu Yongbo , Li Hui , Sun Jiacan , Cui Jiangtao
Published: March 2021

Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is one of the important techniques for dimensionality reduction, machine learning, and pattern recognition. However, in many applications, applying the classical LDA often faces the following problems: (1) sensitivity to outliers, (2) absence of local geometric information, and (3) small sample size or matrix singularity that can result in weak robustness and efficiency. Although several researchers have attempted to address one or more of the problems, little work has been done to address all of them together to produce a more effective and efficient LDA algorithm. This article proposes 3E-LDA, an enhanced LDA algorithm, that deals with all three problems as an attempt to further improve LDA. It proposes to learn a weighted median rather than the mean of the samples to deal with (1), to embed both between-class and within-class local geometric information to deal with (2), and to calculate the projection vectors in the null space of the matrix to deal with (3). Experiments on six benchmark datasets show that these three enhancements enable 3E-LDA to markedly outperform state-of-the-art LDA baselines in both accuracy and efficiency.
Test Generation for Hardware Trojan Detection Using Correlation Analysis and Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Shi Zhendong , Ma Haocheng , Zhang Qizhi , Liu Yanjiang , Zhao Yiqiang , He Jiaji
Published: March 2021

Hardware Trojan (HT) is a major threat to the security of integrated circuits (ICs). Among various HT detection approaches, side channel analysis (SCA)-based methods have been extensively studied. SCA-based methods try to detect HTs by comparing side channel signatures from circuits under test with those from trusted golden references. The pre-condition for SCA-based HT detection to work is that the testers can collect extra signatures/anomalies introduced by activated HTs. Thus, activation of HTs and amplification of the differences between circuits under test and golden references are the keys to SCA-based HT detection methods. Test vectors are of great importance to the activation of HTs, but existing test generation methods have two major limitations. First, the number of test vectors required to trigger HTs is quite large. Second, the HT circuit’s activities are marginal compared with the whole circuit’s activities. In this article, we propose an optimized test generation methodology to assist SCA-based HT detection. Considering the HTs’ inherent surreptitious nature, inactive nodes with low transition probability are more likely to be selected as HT trigger nodes. Therefore, the correlations between circuit inputs and inactive nodes are first exploited to activate HTs. Then a test reordering process based on the genetic algorithm (GA) is implemented to increase the proportion of the HT circuit’s activities to the whole circuit’s activities. Experiments on 10 selected ISCAS benchmarks, wb_conmax benchmark, and b17 benchmark demonstrate that the number of test vectors required to trigger HTs reduces 28.8% on average compared with the result of MERO and MERS methods. After the test vector reordering process, the proportion of the HT circuit’s activities to the whole circuit’s activities is improved by 95% on average, compared with the result of MERS method.
Using social robots to create inclusive classroom experiences for children with mixed visual abilities
Authors: Neto Isabel
Published: March 2021

Visually impaired children are increasingly educated in mainstream schools rather than special schools. However, even though being included with their sighted peers, previous research reveals concerns with classroom participation, lack of collaborative learning, reduced social engagement, and potential for isolation. My dissertation explores designing and building interactive social robots to promote inclusive classroom experiences and social engagement between children with mixed visual abilities. Social robots have the potential to foster engagement, participation, and collaboration due to their unique multi-sensory capabilities, actuators, and agency. Situated in a local mainstream school, I conducted extensive field work that involved engaging with the school community, including children, teachers, therapists, and parents through ethnographic observations, contextual inquiry, group interviews, and design activities. The identified challenges and opportunities will guide the design of social robots capable of supporting inclusive classroom experiences and sustaining long-term social engagement between mixed visual abilities' pupils. I will explore opportunities for off-the-shelf and custom-built robots to address existing challenges by following a user-centred methodology to design prototype, and evaluate solution with the school community.
Empirical web accessibility evaluation for blind web users
Authors: Hambley Alexander
Published: March 2021

The project intends to produce a novel, accurate and holistic system that assesses the accessibility of an entire website based on a sample of webpages. The project also strives to bring statistical rigour to the sampling and clustering of webpages. By orchestrating pre-existing evaluative tools, alongside developer testing, we can produce a combined accessibility assessment. A major benefit to the accessibility field is the effective, large-scale evaluation of large websites. The approach strives to improve automated testing coverage by combining evaluative tools, and minimise inaccuracy through effective clustering and sampling.
Non-visual composing and coding
Authors: Payne William C.
Published: March 2021

Both music creation tools and novice coding environments often use highly visual interfaces to aid in writing, editing, and navigation. Such designs fail to include blind users and may be totally inaccessible. This work sets out to develop a novel domain specific language, interface, and curriculum in partnership with students and teachers at the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg (FMDG) School, a community music school that reaches blind and visually impaired musicians of all ages and skill levels. The project will consist of an iterative co-design phase and an implementation/evaluation phase in which a small number of students at the school will use the technology during a music composition course to create original works.
Utilising digital services to empower the unpaid carers of individuals with long-term complex needs
Authors: Glick Peter
Published: March 2021

This study is developing sociotechnical responses to the challenges that families in England experience as they provide unpaid care for their children with profound disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy and genetic disorders. A point of commonality between the families being the intense and enduring care work that is placed upon them, their complex lives inhibiting social interactions and negatively affecting their health and quality of life. The National Health Service in England is promoting a policy of "Personal Health Budgets" to address this burden of care, and although successful in some regions of England, has not been adopted nationally and lacks infrastructural support. This project seeks to address the families' challenges through Participatory Action Research and Participatory Design, providing a set of design criteria for a technology to share assets and knowledge between the families, exploring trust and governance such that families can build an infrastructure to support one another in realising the potentials of Personal Health Budgets.
Accessible interactive 3D models for blind and low-vision people
Authors: Reinders Samuel
Published: March 2021

Blind and low-vision (BLV) people experience difficulty accessing graphical information, particularly regarding travel and education. Tactile diagrams and 3D printed models can improve access to graphical information for BLV people; however, these formats only allow limited detailed and contextual information. Interactive 3D printed models (I3Ms) exist, but many rely on passive audio labels that don't particularly empower BLV people in independent knowledge building and interpretation. This project investigates the creation of I3Ms that offer more engaging experiences with a focus on facilitating independent exploration and knowledge discovery. Specifically, this project explores how BLV people want to interact with I3Ms, interactive functionalities and behaviours that I3Ms should support, such as conversational interfaces and model agency, and to understand the relationship between I3Ms and conventional accessible graphics.
A model for the individual empowerment using intrinsic personalization of crowdsourcing tasks
Authors: Paulino Dennis
Published: March 2021

Crowdsourcing is a paradigm of outsourcing work that is done using human capabilities through the Internet. Given the various possibilities of overcoming cultural and social barriers, crowdsourcing provides an opportunity for people with disabilities to have a financial compensation and help them feel realised. In crowdsourcing, people with disabilities face problems related with the lack of task description or usability. This article it is presented the main threads for my PhD thesis which main goal is to prove, that it is possible to map crowdsourcing tasks effectively to each individual, focusing particularly on the cognitive abilities.
New Advances and Applications in Field-Flow Fractionation
Authors: Plavchak Christine L. , Smith William C. , Bria Carmen R.M. , Williams S. Kim Ratanathanawongs
Published: March 2021

Field-flow fractionation (FFF) is a family of techniques that was created especially for separating and characterizing macromolecules, nanoparticles, and micrometer-sized analytes. It is coming of age as new nanomaterials, polymers, composites, and biohybrids with remarkable properties are introduced and new analytical challenges arise due to synthesis heterogeneities and the motivation to correlate analyte properties with observed performance. Appreciation of the complexity of biological, pharmaceutical, and food systems and the need to monitor multiple components across many size scales have also contributed to FFF's growth. This review highlights recent advances in FFF capabilities, instrumentation, and applications that feature the unique characteristics of different FFF techniques in determining a variety of information, such as averages and distributions in size, composition, shape, architecture, and microstructure and in investigating transformations and function.
The Sharing Economy: Rhetoric and Reality
Authors: Schor Juliet B. , Vallas Steven P.
Published: March 2021

The sharing economy is transforming economies around the world, entering markets for lodging, ride hailing, home services, and other sectors that previously lacked robust person-to-person alternatives. Its expansion has been contentious and its meanings polysemic. It launched with a utopian discourse promising economic, social, and environmental benefits, which critics have questioned. In this review, we discuss its origins and intellectual foundations, internal tensions, and appeal for users. We then turn to impacts, focusing on efforts to generate user trust through digital means, tendency to reconfigure and exacerbate class and racial inequalities, and failure to reduce carbon footprints. Though the transformative potential of the sharing economy has been limited by commercialization and more recently by the pandemic, its kernel insight—that digital technology can support logics of reciprocity—retains its relevance even now.