bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MRI adipose tissue segmentation and quantification in R (RAdipoSeg)
Authors: Haugen Christine , Lysne Vegard , Haldorsen Ingfrid , Tjora Erling , Gudbrandsen Oddrun Anita , Sagen Jørn Vegard , Dankel Simon N. , Mellgren Gunnar
Published: October 2022

Background

Excess adipose tissue is associated with increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk, but the volume of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue poses different metabolic risks. MRI with fat suppression can be used to accurately quantify adipose depots. We have developed a new semi-automatic method, RAdipoSeg, for MRI adipose tissue segmentation and quantification in the free and open source statistical software R.

Methods

MRI images were obtained from wild-type mice on high- or low-fat diet, and from 20 human subjects without clinical signs of metabolic dysfunction. For each mouse and human subject, respectively, 10 images were segmented with RAdipoSeg and with the commercially available software SliceOmatic. Jaccard difference, relative volume difference and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated for each group. Agreement between the two methods were analysed with Bland–Altman plots.

Results

RAdipoSeg performed similarly to the commercial software. The mean Jaccard differences were 10–29% and the relative volume differences were below ( ±) 20%. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient gave p-values below 0.05 for both mouse and human images. The Bland–Altman plots indicated some systematic and proporitional bias, which can be countered by the flexible nature of the method.

Conclusion

RAdipoSeg is a reliable and low cost method for fat segmentation in studies of mice and humans.
Genomic characterization of peste des petits ruminants vaccine seed “45G37/35-k”, Russia
Authors: Kwiatek Olivier , Libeau Geneviève , Guendouz Samia , Corbanini Chloé , Gogin Andrey , Lunitsin Andrey , Sindryakova Irina , Koblasov Denis , Bataille Arnaud
Published: October 2022

Production of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccines in Russia is based on two attenuated virus strains (“45G37/35-k” and “ARRIAH”) of common origin. Here, the identity of the strain PPRV/45G37/35-k was investigated using a full genome, Illumina deep sequencing approach. Phylogenomic analysis showed that PPRV/45G37/35-k belongs to the same lineage as the widely used PPRV vaccine strain Nigeria/75/1 (lineage II). However, 248 nucleotide differences separate the genomes of these vaccine strains, indicating that the PPRV vaccine strains produced in Russia are new strains not yet recognised by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Detailed information on the safety and efficacy of these vaccines should be provided to the WOAH before further national and international distribution.
Molecular detection of Helicobacter spp. and Fusobacterium gastrosuis in pigs and wild boars and its association with gastric histopathological alterations
Authors: Cortez Nunes Francisco , Letra Mateus Teresa , Taillieu Emily , Teixeira Sílvia , Carolino Nuno , Rema Alexandra , De Bruyckere Sofie , Gärtner Fátima , Haesebrouck Freddy , Amorim Irina
Published: October 2022

Besides Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium that may cause gastric disorders in humans, non-Helicobacter pylori helicobacters (NHPH) may also colonize the stomach of humans and animals. In pigs, H. suis can induce gastritis and may play a role in gastric ulcer disease, possibly in association with Fusobacterium gastrosuis. In the present study, gastric samples from 71 slaughtered pigs and 14 hunted free range wild boars were tested for the presence of DNA of F. gastrosuis and gastric Helicobacter species associated with pigs, dogs cats and humans, using species-specific PCR assays, followed by sequencing of the amplicon. These gastric samples were also histopathologically evaluated. Almost all the pigs presented gastritis (95.8%). Helicobacter spp. were detected in 78.9% and F. gastrosuis in 35.2% of the animals. H. suis was the most frequently identified Helicobacter species (57.7% of the animals), followed by a H. pylori-like species (50.7%) and less often H. salomonis and H. felis (each in 2.8% of the animals). H. suis was most often detected in the glandular (distal) part of the stomach (pars oesophagea 9.9%, oxyntic mucosa 35.2%, antral mucosa 40.8%), while the H. pylori-like species was mainly found in the non-glandular (proximal) part of the stomach (pars oesophagea 39.4%, oxyntic mucosa 14.1%, antral mucosa 4.2%). The great majority of wild boars were also affected with gastritis (71.4%) and Helicobacter spp. and F. gastrosuis were detected in 64.3% and 42.9% of the animals, respectively. H. bizzozeronii and H. salomonis were the most frequently detected Helicobacter species, while a H. pylori-like species and H. suis were only occasionally identified. These findings suggest that these microorganisms can colonize the stomach of both porcine species and may be associated with gastric pathology. This should, however, be confirmed through bacterial isolation. This is the first description of the presence of F. gastrosuis DNA in the stomach of wild boars and a H. pylori-like species in the pars oesophagea of the porcine stomach.
Characterization of placental and decidual cell development in early pregnancy loss by single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Zheng Yuhua , Pan Jing , Xia Chenglai , Chen Haiying , Zhou Huadong , Ju Weina , Wegiel Jerzy , Myatt Leslie , Roberts James M. , Guo Xiaoling , Zhong Nanbert
Published: October 2022

Background

Early pregnancy loss (EPL) presents as sporadic or recurrent miscarriage during the first trimester. In addition to chromosomal defects, EPL may result from impairment of the placental-decidual interface at early gestational age due to gene-environmental interactions.

Methods

To better understand the pathogenesis associated with this impairment, cell development in chorionic villi and decidua of different forms of EPL (sporadic or recurrent) was investigated with single-cell RNA sequencing and compared to that of normal first-trimester tissue.

Results

Unique gene expression signatures were obtained for the different forms of EPL and for normal tissue and the composition of placental and decidual cell clusters in each form was established. In particular, the involvement of macrophages in the EPL phenotypes was identified revealing an immunoactive state.

Conclusion

Differential gene expression and unique marker genes among cell clusters from chorionic villi and decidua of miscarried and normal pregnancies, may lead to identification of biomarker for EPL.
A global super-grid: sociotechnical drivers and barriers
Authors: Hojckova Kristina , Ahlborg Helene , Sandén Björn A.
Published: October 2022

Background

One way to design an electricity system wholly based on renewables is referred to as the global Super-grid, a vision of a transmission network of unprecedented geographical scope that uses advanced technology to balance spatially and temporally varying supply and demand across the globe. While proponents, since the 1960s, have argued that a global Super-grid is technologically possible and socially desirable, and significant technical progress has been made since the 1990s, development is slow with new transmission lines being built predominantly with established technology and within the boundaries of single countries. The aim of this study is to explore sociotechnical drivers and barriers of global Super-grid development.

Results

A main driver is the century old ideas that larger grids are more efficient and contribute to cooperation and peace. Over the last decades, the level of technical knowledge and networks of proponent have grown. The Super-grid also benefits from the potential opportunity of building on existing grids. Barriers stem from the scale of investments needed to experiment, path dependences in established industry and competition from novel smaller scale solutions based on local production, energy storage and smart grid technology. Other barriers originate in the organisational and institutional complexities of international electricity trade, and in the lack of trust at local and global levels, which hinder the development of necessary coordination.

Conclusions

The analysis suggests that if the Super-grid is to become part of a future electricity system, the discourse needs to open up, move beyond simplistic ideas of efficiency and ‘technocratic internationalism’, and take into account a broader set of social benefits, risks and trade-offs.
Evaluation of quality and antimicrobial efficacy of locally manufactured alcohol-based hand sanitizers marketed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the era of COVID-19
Authors: Selam Muluken Nigatu , Habte Bruck Messele , Marew Tesfa , Bitew Molalegne , Getachew Tigist , Getachew Solomon , Abate Atlaw , Mitiku Mequanint , Matsabisa Motlalepula , Birhanu Gebremariam
Published: October 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been rapidly spreading across the globe since the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the disease outbreak as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Hand hygiene, via either regular handwashing with soap and water or using hand sanitizers, is among the various measures that need to be followed to control the outbreak of the disease. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) are the “gold standard” for hand disinfection because of their broad antimicrobial spectrum of activity, easy availability, better safety profile, and general acceptability to users. This study aimed at evaluating the physicochemical quality and antimicrobial efficacy of the locally manufactured ABHS marketed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was used to collect ABHS from Addis Ababa marketplaces. A total of 25 sample products were randomly selected from different categories of hand sanitizer manufacturers. The physicochemical evaluation of the products was carried out as per the United States Pharmacopoeia and WHO standards. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp clinical isolates were used for the antimicrobial efficacy test.

Results

The Fourier Transform Infrared result confirmed that all the test products met the identification test for ethanol. The majority (68%) of ABHS complied with the test for ethanol content (75–85% v/v). However, only 3 products fulfilled the hydrogen peroxide content (0.112–0.137% v/v). LPC307 showed the maximum zone of inhibition of 12 mm against Escherichia coli whereas MPC204 exhibited only 3 mm. LPC101 was found to be more sensitive to Shigella and Klebsiella Spp with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 20% and 10%, respectively. The sample product LPC101 showed a minimum bactericidal concentration of 20% against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella spp.

Conclusion

One-third of the tested ABHS did not comply with the WHO ethanol content limit and the majority of the products failed to meet the label claim for hydrogen peroxide content. Besides, nearly all products proved that they have activity against all the tested pathogenic microorganisms at a minimum concentration from 10 to 80%; though, they did not show 99.9% bacteriostatic or bactericidal activities as claimed. The study findings suggested regular monitoring of the quality of marketed ABHS considering the current wide use of these products.
COVID-19 mortality in patients with immunodeficiency and its predictors: a systematic review
Authors: SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad , Karimi Amirali , Barzegary Alireza , Mojdeganlou Hengameh , Vahedi Farzin , Mirghaderi Seyed Peyman , Shobeiri Parnian , Ramezani Maryam , Yousefi Konjdar Parisa , Mirzapour Pegah , Tantuoyir Marcarious M. , Mehraeen Esmaeil , Dadras Omid , Voltarelli Fabricio
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Patients with immunodeficiency are usually more prone to worse outcomes of infectious diseases. However, there are some disagreements in the context of COVID-19, for example, in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Herein, we aimed to systematically review the risk and predictors of COVID-19 mortality in people with primary or secondary immunodeficiency.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct were searched. We followed a two-step screening process to identify eligible results. We first reviewed the title and abstract of the records and the unqualified studies were removed. Then, their full texts were evaluated based on their coherence with the purpose and inclusion/exclusion criteria, and those eligible for qualitative synthesis were included.

Results

Twenty-two articles were included, which investigated a total of 109,326 with primary or secondary immunodeficiencies. Three studies investigated the pediatric and infant population, while other studies were conducted on the adult population. Overall, studies on both primary and secondary immunodeficiency conflicted as some reported higher and some mentioned lower mortality rates in patients with immunodeficiency.

Conclusions

Overall, there were two points of view in both types of immunodeficiencies. The first is the classical viewpoint that all immunodeficient patients are at a higher risk of infection leading to a higher mortality rate. The second types of studies found that immunodeficiency might play a less important or even an inverse role in mortality rates by lowering the severity of the inflammatory response. However, it is important to take note to comorbidities, such as DM, HTN, CAD, ESRD, history of lower respiratory infection, etc., and demographic factors, such as obesity and age > 70 years, as they appear to influence the mortality rate, especially in patients with secondary immunodeficiency.
Influence of social status, physical activity, and socio-demographics on willingness to pay for a basket of organic foods
Authors: Knaggs Julia , Pruitt J. Ross , Anderson Lindsay , Palma Marco
Published: October 2022

Consumers are known to signal social status through their purchasing behaviors. As the food industry continually expands its use of strategic marketing to reach customers, understanding food’s connection to this kind of status signaling may open the door to explore new markets for farmers. This study explored the influence of social status, physical activity, and socio-demographics on an individual’s willingness to pay for a basket of high-quality organic foods. Over 3 days, participants had their physical activity measured by a pedometer, and they were randomly assigned to a social status condition and subsequently placed bids for the organic food basket using a second-price auction to measure their willingness to pay. High-status individuals were publicly recognized in order to test our hypothesis that individuals will not be motivated to pay more for an organic food basket than low-status counterparts when they have already received recognition for their high status. The results showed that on average non-students were willing to pay significantly more for an organic food basket than student counterparts. Hispanic and Asian shoppers were willing to pay more for an organic food basket than White counterparts. However, physical activity had no significant impact on willingness to pay. Ultimately, our hypothesis was confirmed that recognizing high-status individuals eliminated or reduced the need to showcase social status through higher bids for the organic food baskets.
MHY4571, a novel diarylcyclohexanone derivative, exerts anti-cancer activity by regulating the PKA-cAMP-response element-binding protein pathway in squamous cell lung cancer
Authors: Chung Jae Heun , Choi Ho Jung , Kang Yong Jung , Kim Yun Seong , Lee Sang-Yull , Kwon Ryuk Jun , Jeong Han-Sol , Park Su-Jung , Jeong Yeongmu , Kang Dongwan , Ko Jeongin , Noh SangGyun , Chung Hae Young , Moon Hyung Ryong , Yoon Seong Hoon
Published: October 2022

Background

The protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) has been suggested to be related to the inhibition of the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a novel diarylcyclohexanone derivative, MHY4571, in regulating the PKA-CREB pathway and to study its anti-tumor role in squamous NSCLC.

Methods

We designed MHY4571 as a novel PKA inhibitor with acceptable in silico ADME properties and tested it in vitro in lung cancer cell lines and in vivo in xenograft and orthotopic mouse models of squamous cell lung carcinoma.

Results

MHY4571 inhibited PKA activity (> 70% inhibition) and suppressed the expression of p-PKA and p-CREB dose-dependently. MHY4571 treatment reduced lung cancer cell viability and promoted caspase 3-dependent apoptotic cell death. Orally administered MHY4571 significantly suppressed lung tumor growth in xenograft and orthotopic mouse models. PKA catalytic subunit alpha-silencing by siRNA (siPKA) strongly attenuated CREB phosphorylation; siCREB did not alter PKA protein levels or its phosphorylation, suggesting that PKA is an upstream regulator of CREB activity. MHY4571 acted synergistically with cisplatin (on co-treatment) to induce apoptotic cell death in lung cancer cells.

Conclusions

Our results imply that MHY4571 may be a potential drug candidate for squamous cell lung cancer treatment.
Secondary school mathematics and entrance into the STEM professions: a longitudinal study
Authors: Nitzan-Tamar Ortal , Kohen Zehavit
Published: October 2022

Background

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are in high demand for qualified personnel worldwide, yet drop-out rates of a career path in STEM occur at various points in lifespan. Based on a big-data analysis of 534,590 records retrieved from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics for several points in time over one and a half decades, the study aims to examine the various pathways of which secondary school students take toward STEM-related careers, and to characterize each pathway based on various demographic and educational factors.

Results

The study presents a three-tier tree, which highlights eight pathways leading to STEM or non-STEM bachelor's degrees. An important finding is the recognition of a non-linear pathway, demonstrating the biggest ‘leak’ from STEM in secondary school to non-STEM in higher education. Further, findings indicate that choosing advanced mathematics, majoring in physics and computer science in secondary school, and excelling in mathematics or science major at secondary school, have a lasting effect on STEM persistence in higher education. Additionally, males and non-minorities populations have the highest likelihood of choosing STEM for future studies.

Conclusions

The study contributes theoretically to broadening the conceptualization of various pathways toward pursuing a STEM career across important choice stages in people’s lifespan. Moreover, the study provides insight into the long-term effect of education choices made in secondary school, as well as demographic and educational factors, on future choice for study.
Evaluations of the performances of PET and MRI in a simultaneous PET/MRI instrument for pre-clinical imaging
Authors: Pollard Alyssa C. , de la Cerda Jorge , Schuler F. William , Kingsley Charles V. , Gammon Seth T. , Pagel Mark D.
Published: October 2022

Background

PET/MRI is an attractive imaging modality due to the complementary nature of MRI and PET. Obtaining high quality small animal PET/MRI results is key for the translation of novel PET/MRI agents and techniques to the radiology clinic. To obtain high quality imaging results, a hybrid PET/MRI system requires additional considerations beyond the standard issues with separate PET and MRI systems. In particular, researchers must understand how their PET system affects the MR acquisitions and vice versa. Depending on the application, some of these effects may substantially influence image quality. Therefore, the goal of this report is to provide guidance, recommendations, and practical experiments for implementing and using a small animal PET/MRI instrument.

Results

Various PET and MR image quality parameters were tested with their respective modality alone and in the presence of both systems to determine how the combination of PET/MRI affects image quality. Corrections and calibrations were developed for many of these effects. While not all image characteristics were affected, some characteristics such as PET quantification, PET SNR, PET spatial resolution, PET partial volume effects, and MRI SNR were altered by the presence of both systems.

Conclusions

A full exploration of a new PET/MRI system before performing small animal PET/MRI studies is beneficial and necessary to ensure that the new instrument can produce highly accurate and precise PET/MR images.
Assessment of Physical, Technical, and Tactical Analysis in the Australian Football League: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vella Andrew , Clarke Anthea C. , Kempton Thomas , Ryan Samuel , Coutts Aaron J.
Published: October 2022

Background

Elite Australian Football (AF) match-play requires proficiency in physical, technical, and tactical elements. However, when analysing player movement practitioners commonly exclude technical and tactical considerations, failing to recognise the multifactorial nature of AF match-play and providing little context into the movement requirements of the players.

Objectives

This systematic review aimed to identify the physical, technical, and tactical requirements of the Australian Football League (AFL) and to highlight the importance of integrating data from multiple sources when analysing player output.

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) was conducted from January 2009 to June 2022. Keywords relating to physical, technical, and tactical match requirements were used.

Results

Forty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. In isolation, physical requirements were the most analysed construct within the AFL (n = 17), followed by technical (n = 9) and then tactical (n = 6). Thirteen studies integrated physical and technical elements, one study integrated technical and tactical elements, one study integrated physical and tactical elements, and one study integrated all three elements. Movement analysis centred around average ‘whole’ match requirements, whereas technical and tactical match analyses focused on key performance indicators of match performance.

Conclusion

While the physical requirements of the AFL have been well documented, there is little understanding of how player technical output and various team tactics influence player movement requirements. Knowledge of how the elements of AF match-play interact with one another could enhance our understanding of match performance and provide a greater resource for training prescription.
Face masks affect emotion categorisation, age estimation, recognition, and gender classification from faces
Authors: Wong Hoo Keat , Estudillo Alejandro J.
Published: October 2022

Although putting on a mask over our nose and mouth is a simple but powerful way to protect ourselves and others during a pandemic, face masks may interfere with how we perceive and recognize one another, and hence, may have far-reaching impacts on communication and social interactions. To date, it remains relatively unknown the extent to which wearing a face mask that conceals the bottom part of the face affects the extraction of different facial information. To address this question, we compared young adults’ performance between masked and unmasked faces in four different tasks: (1) emotion recognition task, (2) famous face recognition and naming test, (3) age estimation task, and (4) gender classification task. Results revealed that the presence of face mask has a negative impact on famous face recognition and emotion recognition, but to a smaller extent on age estimation and gender classification tasks. More interestingly, we observed a female advantage in the famous face recognition and emotion recognition tasks and a female own-gender bias in gender categorisation and age estimation tasks. Overall, these findings allude to the lack of malleability of the adulthood face recognition and perceptual systems.
Contextual anaesthesia for a rare case of pycnodysostosis with myriad presentation: a case report
Authors: Kadni Reena Ravindra , L G Shyamasundar , Rao Pooja , Zachariah Varghese K. , Pushpavathi Priya
Published: October 2022

Background

Pycnodysostosis is a rare inherited syndrome characterized by classical craniofacial defects and diffuse osteosclerosis disorder of bones with tendency for fractures after minor trauma.

We describe the anaesthetic management of a parturient with pycnodysostosis with dual concerns of precious pregnancy and a fractured femur.

Case presentation

A 33-year-old primigravida with 31 weeks of gestation presented with subtrochanteric fracture of left femur. Clinico-radiological features of diffuse osteosclerosis suggested a diagnosis of pycnodysostosis, which was confirmed by genetic testing. We encountered challenges for sequential surgeries of lower segment caesarean section, surgical fixation of the fractured femur and surgical wound debridement in this patient in view of a difficult airway, short stature, physiological changes of pregnancy, difficulties in positioning and possibility of increased blood loss. A combination of general anaesthesia with either neuraxial anaesthesia or regional block was performed, which helped in the safe management of this syndromic patient.

Conclusions

Multidisciplinary team dynamics, communication and expertise played a crucial role in the successful care of the patient. Planning anaesthesia contextually for each surgical setting was vital. Anaesthetic gadgets like fibre-optic bronchoscope and ultrasound were a boon to anaesthesiologist at every surgical procedure to aid the anaesthetic plan.
Clinical evaluation of suture materials for transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tear
Authors: Hiranaka Takaaki , Furumatsu Takayuki , Okazaki Yuki , Kintaka Keisuke , Kamatsuki Yusuke , Zhang Ximing , Xue Haowei , Hamada Masanori , Ozaki Toshifumi
Published: October 2022

Background

There are no recommendations for specific suture materials in transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene sutures and suture tape.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 36 patients (27 women and 9 men, mean age 64.1 years) who had undergone transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears between November 2018 and December 2019. Two groups of 18 patients each received either two different cord-like sutures or suture tape. Clinical parameters were assessed preoperatively and on second-look arthroscopy (mean postoperative period 12 months). The meniscal healing status was assessed using a previously published scoring system (ranging from 0 to 10), and the incidence rate of suture cut-out was assessed on second-look arthroscopy.

Results

All clinical scores significantly improved in both groups, with no significant between-group differences on second-look arthroscopy. The arthroscopic meniscal healing scores significantly differed between sutures (mean 6.7 points) and suture tape (mean 7.4 points; p = 0.044). No significant between-group difference in the suture cut-out rate was observed.

Conclusions

This study found no significant differences in the clinical outcomes between ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene sutures and suture tape. Favorable clinical outcomes were obtained using both types of suture; however, the usefulness of suture tape appears to be limited.
Assessing the determinants of government spending efficiency in Africa
Authors: Adegboye Abiodun , Akinyele Olawale Daniel
Published: October 2022

Government spending is one of the vital ways for the provision of public goods and services with a view of improving citizens' well-being. African countries have been identified by international bodies as naturally endowed with resources that serve as major financiers for many African governments yet, most countries in Africa are ranked low in human development. Though the nature of many governments is hinged on the quality of life, however, the reverse is the case for many African countries. Low development indicators as against huge African governments spending indicates low efficiency in spending. Hence, this study assesses the efficiency of government spending in Africa and examines the drivers of government spending efficiency. Adopts SFA to assess government spending efficiency while TFE model was used to examine the relationship between government spending efficiency and its drivers. Owing to macrodata adopted in the study, it accounts for the second-generation panel unit root and uses panel corrected standard error to correct for cross-sectional dependence among 40 African countries between 2000 and 2020. The frontier result revalidates government spending as an input factor to achieve growing human development in Africa. The result shows that the level of government spending efficiency depends on the size of the economy and other factors. Natural resources could be used to address the burgeon government spending efficiency when effectively utilized. The result shows that colonial legacy has a long-lasting impact on government spending efficiency. These results suggest the need for efficiency of government spending owing burgeon drivers available among African economies. We recommend the need to improve the efficiency of government spending in order to situate framework for Africa development. Effective resources utilization and a strong institutional framework are potential drivers of spending efficiency in African economies. The paper provides an empirical study on the relationship between natural resources, colonial legacy, and government spending efficiency through true fixed effect among African countries.
Comparative evaluation of acute phase proteins by C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in nonhuman primates and feline carnivores
Authors: Kimura Tohru
Published: October 2022

The feasibility of a commercially available assay for C-reactive protein (CRP, CRP for humans: hCRP, and CRP for dogs: vCRP) and a trial reagent of serum amyloid A (SAA, vSAA for animals) were applied to the measurement of acute phase proteins in zoo animals, particularly in nonhuman primates and feline carnivores was evaluate. Results showed that hCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measure CRP and SAA in Haplorhini. There was a highly significant correlation between both parameters with remarkably high correlation coefficient. A higher proportion of Bonnet macaques in Haplorhini, and the linear regression with good correlation between hCRP and vSAA levels were observed. Reference values in healthy Bonnet macaques were hCRP (46.86 ± 30.97 nmol/L) and vSAA (9.06 ± 1.95 μg/mL). Although Ring-tailed lemur, which belonging to Strepsirrhini, showed low vSAA concentrations (reference values: 1.08 ± 0.47 μg/mL), vSAA in patients was apparently elevated. The vCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measurements of CRP and SAA in feline carnivores for highly significant correlation between both parameters. Theses two methods were also been deteded in lions, tigers and cheetahs. vSAA assays can be applied to measure SAA levels in other carnivores and herbivores. In conclusion, vSAA systems have potential utility as diagnostic tools for health screening and prediction in zoo animals.
Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks via an Adaptive Gaussian Mixture Model Based on Machine Learning
Authors:   School of Electronics Engineering, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751 024, India, Samala Srinivas , Mishra Subhashree , Singh Sudhansu Sekhar
Published: October 2022

Spectrum resources are becoming extremely scarce in modern wireless communication. However, the majority of the currently available spectrum resources have not been fully utilized. To mitigate this problem, we suggested Machine learning-based Adaptive Gaussian Mixture Model (AGMM) for cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks for pattern classification. We employ the energy level of secondary users to build a feature vector in the proposed method. The training feature vectors for classification are well defined by a combination of Gaussian density functions that are obtained using the proposed method. The proposed method performance is evaluated in terms of accuracy, recall, F1 score, and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves. The performance parameters of the proposed method are compared to the existing K-mean clustering approach. As evidenced by the results, the proposed method performs better than an existing method in all comparison parameters, according to the simulation findings in the MATLAB version.
Improving Mobility-aware Routing in Vehicular Ad hoc Networks Considering Two Level Architecture
Authors:   Department of Computer Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran, Abedi Omid , Soltani Soltan Mohammad
Published: October 2022

In VANET, moving vehicles each act as one moving node. Because of the large mobility of vehicles, the topology of the network is unstable. This instability of the network and its rapid changes have created a major challenge with regard to mobility management. Optimizing routing across automotive networks improves network node mobility management and minimizes clustering changes. As a result, in this study, the node clustering method was used for greater stability in node mobility. This study aims to significantly reduce changes in network topology, which means a decrease in clusters, as well as a significant increase in cluster survival. A random mobility model was considered in NS-3 and the speed of the nodes was randomized between 0 and 30 m/s. The simulation results showed that the proposed protocol has a high rate of accepted packages and the average survival of nodes and at the same time low cluster changes, which has a significant effect on improving mobility.
A Survey of Game Theoretical Approach in Cognitive Radio Network and 5G-6G Communications
Authors:   Institut Teknologi Telkom Purwokerto, 53147, Indonesia, Isnawati Anggun Fitrian
Published: October 2022

The development of telecommunications, especially wireless communication, requires data transmission at high speed and wide bandwidth to support 5G-6G communication services. For this reason, it is necessary to have a network with adaptive capabilities in managing and improving performance parameters independently through an intelligent radio network system or better known as Cognitive Radio Network (CRN). The use of CRN in several implementations such as Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Network (CRAHN), Cognitive Radio Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (CR-VANET), Intelligent CRN and even 6G-CRN has also been widely used. Another method that is also used to optimize system performance independently is through the Game Theory (GT) approach. Game theory can be implemented on CRN as well as on 5G-6G communications. The use of GT in the CRN system provides improvements in terms of increasing system performance such as reducing interference and bit error rate (BER), increasing throughput and Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR), power efficiency, increasing utility and resource capacity and being able to achieve convergence or reach the Nash equilibrium state more rapidly. Meanwhile, the use of GT in 5G-6G communication and other technologies are related to the power control, resource allocation, spectrum sharing, channel estimation, channel selection and Quality of Service (QoS) or Quality of Experience (QoE). In general, the use of GT can help to improve the overall performance of a system.
Interference Management in Small Cell System
Authors:   Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at Shoubra, Benha University, Cairo, Egypt, Elserwe Aya Allah A. , Dein Adly S. Tag El , Saad Reham S.
Published: October 2022

The rapid increase in quality performance and high data rate make the small cell an attractive solution in the next generation of a cellular mobile network. The Femtocell is a small cell that can boost services to four or five users in low price, and it can guarantee high data rate and capacity within the indoor residential. The Macrocell is a base station with high power that can cover up to 200 miles of cell radius. The propagative of Femtocell over macrocell can cause interference between them as they use the same spectrum. In our paper, first we explain interference management algorithms; such as power control algorithm, Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) algorithm and resource scheduling algorithm. Also, we propose an algorithm for interference management that combines the fixed power control algorithm, Dynamic Fractional Frequency Reuse (DFFR) algorithm, and resource scheduling algorithm to mitigate the interference. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm improves the signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), throughput and reduces the interference from neighbor cells.
Wearable Tool for Breathing Pattern Recognition and Exacerbation Monitoring for COPD Patients via a Device-to-Cloud Communication Model
Authors:   College of Computer and Information Science, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Philippines, Martillano Dennis A. , Iligan Marco C. , Ramos Algerica Raeven R. , Jr. Allan Daraman , Abadines March Fernan H.
Published: October 2022

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has become one of the major causes of disability in the Philippines today. COPD is incurable and would also be one of the most painstaking diseases because it progresses over time. Patient self-monitoring, especially breathing patterns and frequency has become an increasingly recognized process which is beneficial for the ongoing care of COPD. Many potential technologies for the diagnosis and monitoring of COPD have been developed, but focusing on telehealth, imaging, and spirometry. This study has designed and created an IoT based system that could recognize and monitor the respiratory rate through breathing patterns and provide a means for doctors to remotely monitor the patient. The prototype device that has been developed was named X-Hale. X-Hale is a cost-effective and portable remote monitoring IoT-based tool, integrated within a wearable oxygen mask responsible for recognizing and recording accurate breathing frequency patterns. The system was designed to interweave underlying elements of Device-to-Cloud model for a straight-forward communication used in remote monitoring. The wearable device was tested using an HT50 ventilator that delivers machine-controlled dummy breathing in an actual hospital setting. Results show high accuracy in detecting breathing patterns in Slow, Normal and Fast respiratory rate per minute. X-Hale was also tested in actual patients to facilitate the remote monitoring of breathing patterns via the IoT communication model used.
Extended Permutation Coding with Spectral Shaping Capability
Authors:   Center for Telecommunications, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, Ogunyanda K. , Swart T. G. , Ogunyanda O. O.
Published: October 2022

Considerable effort has been focused on efficient error correction schemes in digital communications where the medium of transmission is unfriendly for information transmission. Also, some of such channels have certain frequency characteristics that should be considered during system designs. Permutation coding (PC) has been reported as being capable of spectral shaping, by manipulating channel symbols in such a way that the frequency energy of the transmitted signal is concentrated towards certain areas of the frequency spectrum. We, therefore, report an extension operation that enables the generation of a new PC from a source PC that is capable of spectrum shaping, while still maintaining its spectral shaping capability. A mathematical expression that can predict the low energy sections of the codebook's spectrum is also presented, together with their lower and upper bounds. An added advantage of the proposed scheme is that better error correction is attainable due to the way the extension is introduced.
Transmission Techniques for Multi User MIMO VLC Systems Using Flip-OFDM
Authors:   Telecommunication Engineering, CMR Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, India, Jha Mahesh Kumar , Kumar Navin , Lakshmi Y. V. S.
Published: October 2022

Flip Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (flip-OFDM) is one of the unipolar forms of OFDM used in Visible Light Communication (VLC) systems. This paper analyzed the multi user VLC systems to transfer flip-OFDM based signal using different form of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmission techniques. These transmission techniques are Repetitive Coding (RC), Spatial Modulation (SM), generalized spatial modulation (Generalized SM) and spatial multiplexing (SMP). Multi User Interference (MUI) at the transmitter has been bypassed using precoding process of Block Diagonalization (BD). The performance analysis of proposed system is carried out with the help of simulation. A comparative study for RC, SM, generalized SM and SMP for multi user VLC system is performed with regard to Bit Error Rate (BER) performance. These transmission techniques are compared with and without the use of flip-OFDM. Furthermore, we also analyzed the Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of flip-OFDM signal. Simulation results showed that the generalized SM outperforms RC, SMP, SM approximately by 9dB, 5dB, 2dB Signal-to-Noise RATIO (SNR), respectively without flip-OFDM and, 8.5dB, 7dB, 3.3dB SNR respectively with flip-OFDM to obtain a BER of 10−6. We also analyzed the MIMO transmission techniques with regards to transmission efficiency. It is found that SMP offers better transmission efficiency with lower modulation order. To obtain the spectral efficiency of 8 bits per channel use (bpcu), RC, SM, generalized SM and SMP needs modulation order M = 256, 64, 8 and 4, respectively. Hence SMP is power efficient.
Beamspace NOMA Using User Clustering and Throughput Optimisation Algorithms for Massive MIMO
Authors:   Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia, Fatli Haitham Al , Ramli Khairun Nidzam , Baharudin Elfarizanis
Published: October 2022

Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) using millimetre wave transmissions received significant attention due to its significance of high data rate. However, achieving energy and spectrum efficient millimetre wave communications is challenging due to the dedicated Radio Frequency (RF) chain. Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) is used in beamspace MIMO (BS MIMO) significantly overcome such challenges. This paper proposes the enhanced approach of beamspace MIMO NOMA using a simple yet effective clustering solution with a C-NOMA throughput optimisation algorithm. This proposal involves the lightweight user clustering, lens antenna, and clustering-based iterative power allocation algorithm to enhance each cluster's spectral and energy efficiency performance. After cluster formation, the throughput optimisation function applies. Iterative power optimisation method is proposed to allocate power to each user in each cluster dynamically. Therefore, compared to recent clustering and NOMA methods, the proposed BS MIMO C-NOMA improves Energy Efficiency (EE) and Spectral Efficiency (SE) with minimum computational overhead. Results demonstrate that high EE and SE, respectively, as compared with the percentage of improvement of 26% and 37% in the existing BS MIMO NOMA and improvement of 16.47 % and 27.72 % in User Clustering based on Channel Gain (UCCG) MIMO NOMA among 50 and 100 users.
Study and Analysis of Beamforming Algorithm between LMS and SMI
Authors:   Al-Nisour University College, Address Correspondence to Bashar S. Bashar, Iraq, Bashar Bashar S. , Ismail Marwa M.
Published: October 2022

In the last ten years, intelligent antennas have played a beneficial role in developing and improving communication systems. The communication system is compellingly and authoritatively. It is requisite to increase the channel capacity and at the same time decrease the interference; smart Antennas are one of the best ways to improve the communication system by reducing interference between users and improving the Angle of Arrival (AOA). This paper analyzed and evaluated the Least mean square (LMS) and Sample matrix inversion (SMI) Through the effects of some matrix factors, the number of elements, and iterations in the algorithms. Through the results, the SMI solved the interference problem better than LMS with the less sidelobes number, using MATLAB to simulations the result.
Constructing New Representative Collective Signature Using the GOST R34.10-2012
Authors:   School of Computer Science - Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam, Kim Tuan Nguyen , Ngoc Duy Ho , Moldovyan Nikolay A.
Published: October 2022

A representative collective signature is a signature created by a collective of multiple signing groups. The basic requirement for this signature is that it must include information about all participants involved in the signing process of a given document. The U component in the 3-component collective signature (including U, E, S) is used to satisfy this requirement. In this paper, we propose a new form of representative collective signature consisting of only two components (e, s), then, the information of all signers is contained in the pseudo-random parameter R. The purpose of this is both to reduce the size of the signature, as well as ensure that the manager of the signing group has enough information to identify the signer and to prevent "disclaimer" during a dispute. In the proposed collective signature scheme, we use the GOST R34.10-2012 digital signature standard to develop a consensus group signature scheme based on the discrete logarithm problem on the Elliptic curve. This scheme allows the generation of a representative collective signature: i) Only 512 bits in length, but still achieves security level 2512 and ii) Significantly reduced computational performance (in comparison to the representative collective signature that represents the three components).
A New Method of Dual-Hop Energy Harvesting and Efficient Power Allocation in IoT Networks Using a Bio-Inspired Based Power Distribution Scheme
Authors:   Post Graduate Dept. of Electronics and I.T, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India, Mustafa Farhana , Sheikh Javaid A. , Sidiq Sumina , Sofi Ishfaq Bashir , Bhat Gh. Mohiuddin
Published: October 2022

Dual hop communication is an efficient technique for the broadcasting of energy in upcoming wireless transmission particularly in the Internet of things, (IoT). Energy consumption is a major issue for 5G communication networks. Hence the main role is to constraint the power and improves the energy efficiency of 5G networks. In this paper, the power consumption is minimized to improve the energy efficiency of the 5G network. In particular, we focus on power splitting in single and multi-user cooperative communication (CC) systems where the communication between transmitter and receiver is achieved in two-phase transmission. The non-linear issue has been solved by the near to closeness expression. In the proposed scheme the Lagrange method is used to evaluate the solution to non-linearity of system energy efficiency to the finest resolution. We formulate the corresponding algorithm design as a non-convex problem by making use of Dinkel-bach algorithm and Lagrange Dual decomposition method. However, this method is more time-consuming so the non-convex problem is further optimized by using a Bio-inspired Genetic Algorithm (GA). On comparing the simulation fallouts of the proposed-scheme with the previously published work the efficiency of the proposed scheme has been observed to perform better as compared to existing ones