bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Privacy-preserving Resilient Consensus for Multi-agent Systems in a General Topology Structure
Authors: Hou Jian , Wang Jing , Zhang Mingyue , Jin Zhi , Wei Chunlin , Ding Zuohua
Published: March 2023

Recent advances of consensus control have made it significant in multi-agent systems such as in distributed machine learning, distributed multi-vehicle cooperative systems. However, during its application it is crucial to achieve resilience and privacy; specifically, when there are adversary/faulty nodes in a general topology structure, normal agents can also reach consensus while keeping their actual states unobserved.

In this article, we modify the state-of-the-art Q-consensus algorithm by introducing predefined noise or well-designed cryptography to guarantee the privacy of each agent state. In the former case, we add specified noise on agent state before it is transmitted to the neighbors and then gradually decrease the value of noise so the exact agent state cannot be evaluated. In the latter one, the Paillier cryptosystem is applied for reconstructing reward function in two consecutive interactions between each pair of neighboring agents. Therefore, multi-agent privacy-preserving resilient consensus (MAPPRC) can be achieved in a general topology structure. Moreover, in the modified version, we reconstruct reward function and credibility function so both convergence rate and stability of the system are improved.

The simulation results indicate the algorithms’ tolerance for constant and/or persistent faulty agents as well as their protection of privacy. Compared with the previous studies that consider both resilience and privacy-preserving requirements, the proposed algorithms in this article greatly relax the topological conditions. At the end of the article, to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms, we conduct two sets of experiments, i.e., a smart-car hardware platform consisting of four vehicles and a distributed machine learning platform containing 10 workers and a server.
A Survey of Processing Systems for Phylogenetics and Population Genetics
Authors: Corts Reinout , Alachiotis Nikolaos
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic brought Bioinformatics into the spotlight, revealing that several existing methods, algorithms, and tools were not well prepared to handle large amounts of genomic data efficiently. This led to prohibitively long execution times and the need to reduce the extent of analyses to obtain results in a reasonable amount of time. In this survey, we review available high-performance computing and hardware-accelerated systems based on FPGA and GPU technology. Optimized and hardware-accelerated systems can conduct more thorough analyses considerably faster than pure software implementations, allowing to reach important conclusions in a timely manner to drive scientific discoveries. We discuss the reasons that are currently hindering high-performance solutions from being widely deployed in real-world biological analyses and describe a research direction that can pave the way to enable this.
A Review on CSP and CPVT Technologies: Energy, Economic Analysis and Recycling towards Circular Economy
Authors: Wong Weng Pin , Walvekar Rashmi , Vaka Mahesh , Khalid Mohammad , Mubarak Nabisab Mujawar
Published: March 2023

Recently, there has been a shift towards renewable energy sources for electricity generation due to rapidly depleting non-renewable energy sources. Solar energy is generally the most promising renewable energy source to be harvested by concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies. CSP technology can be further classified into a few categories, such as parabolic trough collector (PTC), solar power tower (SPT), linear Fresnel reflector (LFR), and solar parabolic dish (SPD). In contrast, solar PV can be further developed into concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) systems. The modifications (e.g. optical and thermal modifications) done on PTC and parabolic trough based CPVT systems on enhancing system performance were also discussed. Next, the economic analyses conducted for both systems were also discussed to compare the economic feasibility of the technologies employed in different countries. The appropriate recycling and CE approaches applied for PTC and PV technologies were also reviewed and classified based on the key material elements within this industry. Overall, this paper compared PTC and parabolic trough-based CPVT systems from the technical, economic, and environmental aspects to provide insight for the solar energy harvesting field researchers.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Teicoplanin among Chinese Patients with Gram-Positive Infections in a Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Li Yuan-Yuan , Zhang Guan-Xuan-Zi , Wang Jin , Bai Nan , Cai Yun
Published: March 2023

Background. To explore the use of teicoplanin among Chinese patients with Gram-positive infections in a tertiary hospital. Methods. The medical records of patients, who were monitored for teicoplanin plasma concentration (TPC) from December 2017 to February 2019, were collected. By combining the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and nonlinear mixed-effects model, a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model of teicoplanin was established. Results. The proportions of TPCs lower and higher than 10 mg/L were nearly the same (102 vs. 108 cases). A two-compartment model of teicoplanin PPK in Chinese patients was established. Compared with 400 mg, the 600 mg regimen was more able to reach the target concentration (10 mg/L), especially for high-weight patients. Conclusions. The standard regimen of teicoplanin, 400 mg, failed to reach the target value in the present population. Moreover, the 600 mg regimen was feasible for high-weight patients based on TDM and individualized pharmacokinetic dosing adjustment.
End to End Multitask Joint Learning Model for Osteoporosis Classification in CT Images
Authors: Zhang Kun , Lin Pengcheng , Pan Jing , Xu Peixia , Qiu Xuechen , Crookes Danny , Hua Liang , Wang Lin
Published: March 2023

Osteoporosis is a significant global health concern that can be difficult to detect early due to a lack of symptoms. At present, the examination of osteoporosis depends mainly on methods containing dual‐energy X‐ray, quantitative CT, etc., which are high costs in terms of equipment and human time. Therefore, a more efficient and economical method is urgently needed for diagnosing osteoporosis. With the development of deep learning, automatic diagnosis models for various diseases have been proposed. However, the establishment of these models generally requires images with only lesion areas, and annotating the lesion areas is time‐consuming. To address this challenge, we propose a joint learning framework for osteoporosis diagnosis that combines localization, segmentation, and classification to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Our method includes a boundary heat map regression branch for thinning segmentation and a gated convolution module for adjusting context features in the classification module. We also integrate segmentation and classification features and propose a feature fusion module to adjust the weight of different levels of vertebrae. We trained our model on a self‐built dataset and achieved an overall accuracy rate of 93.3% for the three label categories (normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis) in the testing datasets. The area under the curve for the normal category is 0.973; for the osteopenia category, it is 0.965; and for the osteoporosis category, it is 0.985. Our method provides a promising alternative for the diagnosis of osteoporosis at present.
Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by TGF-β1-Treated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Fracture Healing by SCD1-Regulated Transference of LRP5
Authors: Zhou Zihui , Guo Chenyang , Sun Xulong , Ren Zhengwei , Tao Jie
Published: March 2023

Bone fracture repair is a multiphased regenerative process requiring paracrine intervention throughout the healing process. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication and the regeneration of tissue, but their transplantation is difficult to regulate. The paracrine processes that occur in MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) have been exploited for this study. The primary goal was to determine whether EVs secreted by TGF-β1-stimulated MSCs (MSCTGF-β1-EVs) exhibit greater effects on bone fracture healing than EVs secreted by PBS-treated MSCs (MSCPBS-EVs). Our research was conducted using an in vivo bone fracture model and in vitro experiments, which included assays to measure cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, as well as in vivo and in vitro gain/loss of function studies. In this study, we were able to confirm that SCD1 expression and MSC-EVs can be induced by TGF-β1. After MSCTGF-β1-EVs are transplanted in mice, bone fracture repair is accelerated. MSCTGF-β1-EV administration stimulates human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration in vitro. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that SCD1 plays a functional role in the process of MSCTGF-β1-EV-mediated bone fracture healing and HUVEC angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration. Additionally, using a luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies, we discovered that SREBP-1 targets the promoter of the SCD1 gene specifically. We also discovered that the EV-SCD1 protein could stimulate proliferation, angiogenesis, and migration in HUVECs through interactions with LRP5. Our findings provide evidence of a mechanism whereby MSCTGF-β1-EVs enhance bone fracture repair by regulating the expression of SCD1. The use of TGF-β1 preconditioning has the potential to maximize the therapeutic effects of MSC-EVs in the treatment of bone fractures.
Association of Fungi in the Intestine of Black Carp and Grass Carp Compared with their Cultured Water
Authors: Long Cheng-Xing , Wu Jie-Qi , Liu Jia-Lin , Tan Zhou-Jin
Published: March 2023

The current study aimed to explore the intestinal fungal community characteristics of grass carp and black carp and their correlation with cultured water fungi. Grass carp, black carp, and their cultured water samples were collected from the same reservoir. Based on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 high-throughput sequencing platform, the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences of each sample were determined and analyzed. The results showed that a total of 1,193,261 valid sequences with an average length of 235–251 bp were detected in the three groups of samples, which included 9 phyla, 27 classes, 65 orders, and 288 genera. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Chytridiomycota were the dominant phyla. Mortierella, Thermoascus, and Thermomyces were the main genera. Compared with cultured water samples, the abundance of major phyla and genera was significantly different from grass carp and black carp samples, but there was no significant difference between grass carp and black carp samples. Surprisingly, Ascomycota was enriched in CY and QY samples. In conclusion, the dominant fungi in grass carp, black carp, and cultured water samples were similar, but the relative abundance was significantly different compared with cultured water samples. The results will provide a basis for the tolerance of fish with different feeding habits to colonize water and provide a theoretical basis for the regulation and improvement of aquaculture water quality and the realization of healthy and green aquaculture of fish.
Intergeneration Division Based on Key Component Analysis in an Autonomous Transportation System Using the Natural Language Processing Method
Authors: Yu Yuezhao , Gou Chao , Xiong Chen
Published: March 2023

Advancement of emerging technologies and increasing of transport demands accelerate the evolution of the autonomous transportation system (ATS). Framework and architecture of ATS are becoming a research hotspot; however, by far, few studies on transportation intergeneration division are not basically involved. Previous works indicate that key components are critical representation in the distinguishing of long-term era. Besides, massive text material accumulates as the research work goes on, and natural language processing technique keeps developing, which makes quantitative research on key components in intergeneration division become possible. In this work, a method based on the massive text analysis is proposed. First, the LDA2vec is used to get the relationship between components and other elements. Then, a word set is from the component word set extraction module based on component items. Finally, the component word set is clustered to get ATS generation and to generate key components. Based on an analysis of large-scale important traffic texts, our method divides the traffic system into three generations for Chinese traffic from 2010 to 2022. The key components of our method given are consistent with human cognition of ATS. Successful application indicates that this work can be extended to other intergeneration division fields.
EtHgSC: Eigen Trick-Based Hypergraph Stable Clustering Algorithm in VANET
Authors: Jabbar Mays Kareem , Trabelsi Hafedh
Published: March 2023

A smart city’s vehicular communication strategy is important. A significant problem with vehicular communication is scalability. Clustering can help with vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) problems; however, clustering in VANET faces stability problems because of the rapid mobility of the vehicles. To achieve high stability for the VANET, this paper presents a new efficient Eigen-trick-based hypergraph stable clustering algorithm (EtHgSC). This algorithm has a twofold scheme for stable CH selection. In the first part of the proposed scheme, the cluster generation is handled using an improved hypergraph-based spectral clustering algorithm using the Eigen-trick method. The “Eigen-trick” method is used to partition both vertices and hyperedges, which provides an approach for reducing the computational complexity of the clustering. The cluster head (CH) is chosen in the second part, taking into account the requirements for keeping a stable connection with most neighbors. In addition to relative speed, neighboring degree, and eccentricity that are used to select the CH, the vehicle time to leave metric is introduced to increase the CH stability. The grey relational analysis model is used to find each vehicle’s score, and the CH is selected based on the maximum vehicle’s score. The results show the supremacy of our proposed scheme in terms of CH lifetime, cluster member (CM) lifetime, and the change rate of CH. Also, the proposed scheme achieves a considerable reduction in terms of packet delay.
Development of a Residential Road Collision Warning Service Based on Risk Assessment
Authors: Selmoune Aya , Yun Jeongin , Seo Myoungkook , Kwon Hyeokhyeon , Lee Changhee , Lee Jinwoo
Published: March 2023

Pedestrians are more likely to be seriously injured in vehicle collisions. In fact, multiple collisions between vehicles and pedestrians occur on residential roads that lack street-to-sidewalk dividers and have numerous blind spots. Traditional traffic safety features and equipment, such as speed bumps and traffic signs, are not always sufficient to prevent pedestrian accidents on such residential roads. Therefore, we suggest a collision risk warning service for residential roads as a solution to this issue. We use CCTVs with computer vision techniques and radar to accurately detect objects in real-time and to trace their trajectories. In addition, we employ a time-to-collision-based method to identify dangerous situations. The service warns drivers and pedestrians about hazardous situations using a light-emitting diode sign board. We applied our service to three different roads on a university campus in Seoul, Korea, and then conducted a user survey to evaluate the service. In summary, more than 90% of respondents stated that the service was necessary for these specific locations, and 76.9% noted that the service significantly contributed to traffic safety on the campus. This implies that the proposed service improved traffic safety and can be applied to various locations on residential roads.
Laterization Process Recognition along the Northern Border of the Congo Craton by Geoelectrical and Geotechnical Data
Authors: Nkoungou H. L. Ekoro , Tsala S. A. Zogo , Oyoa V. , Eba'a Owoutou P.
Published: March 2023

With the properties of laterites being related to the nature of the rock from which they are derived, twenty vertical electrical surveys and twenty boreholes for geotechnical tests, distributed in two units (plutonic and green belt zones) of the Ntem complex located at the northern limit of the Congo Craton, were implemented to study the formation process of the laterites of this geological structure. The inversion of the geoelectrical data in the plutonic area resulted in three lateritic layers with resistivities of 1090 Ω·m, 1302 Ω·m, and 1122 Ω·m, with induration and leaching indices of 28.9% and 72.56%. In the green belt zone, three lateritic layers were also identified with resistivities of 1080 Ω·m, 943 Ω·m, and 1158 Ω·m, with induration and leaching indices of 28.8% and 72.55%. The similarities of the geomechanical parameters (induration and lixiviation indices) show that these soils experienced similar weathering patterns during the same geological period, confirmed by CBR values, corresponding to PF3 platforms that can be used in road works. However, the average resistivity values in the different geological units (1171.77 Ω·m and 1061.16 Ω·m in plutonic and green belt areas) reflect the observed differences in resistivity values of the bedrock alterations (3413.51 Ω·m and 1569.32 Ω·m in plutonic and green belt areas), showing that these laterites are derived from different bedrock weathering. In addition, the average permeability values obtained in the plutonic zone (k=6.24E−05 cm/s) and in the green belt zone (k=5.82E−05 cm/s) confirm this difference. The reduction in the difference between the resistivities of the laterites compared to the difference observed in the bedrock of the two units highlights the leaching process over a long geological period.
CD300a Regulates Mouse Macrophage Functionality in Allergic Inflammation
Authors: Puzzovio Pier Giorgio , Levy Bruce D. , Levi-Schaffer Francesca
Published: March 2023

Background: CD300a is an inhibitory receptor (IR) expressed on several leukocytes, including mast cells (MCs) and macrophages (MΦ), important cells in allergic inflammation (AI). We have previously characterized CD300a role on MCs and in vivo in mouse models of allergy, in which the absence of CD300a resulted in increased inflammatory features and delayed resolution. However, the exact mechanism of this delayed resolution is unclear. Our hypothesis is that MΦ, important players in resolution, might be impaired when CD300a is absent. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate CD300a-dependent functionality of mouse MΦ. Method: MΦ were purified from the peritoneum of wild-type (WT) and CD300a−/− mice naïve and 48 h and 96 h after challenge with ovalbumin/alum. Phenotype switching was analyzed via specific M1-M2 inducers and markers. MΦ phagocytotic ability was assessed via Staphylococcus aureus pHrodo-conjugated bioparticles. The influence of MCs on MΦ was investigated by incubating WT MΦ with supernatants from non-activated and IgE-activated bone marrow-derived MCs (BMMCs) and analyzing functional responses. Results: Naïve CD300a−/− MΦ presented with increased sensitivity to activation when treated with LPS. Absence of CD300a results in increased Arg1 expression and increased IL-6 release when MΦ are purified from allergic peritonitis-induced mice. Similar results were obtained when CD300a−/− MΦ were purified 96 h after challenge. On the other hand, CD300a absence did not affect phagocytosis. WT MΦ incubated with supernatants of non-activated and IgE-activated BMMCs presented with increased iNOS expression and decreased Arg1 levels. Conclusions: The IR CD300a controls the activation state of MΦ, and its absence could augment the inflammatory state seen in CD300a−/− mice. Moreover, MCs can also influence MΦ phenotype switching. This may partially explain the delayed AI resolution seen in these mice.
SHOX Whole Gene Duplications Are Overrepresented in SHOX Haploinsufficiency Phenotype Cohorts
Authors: Bunyan David J , Hobbs James I. , Duncan-Flavell Philippa J. , Howarth Rachel J , Beal Sarah , Baralle Diana , Thomas Nicholas Simon
Published: March 2023

Transcription of SHOX is dependent upon the interaction of the gene with a complex array of flanking regulatory elements. Duplications that contain flanking regulatory elements but not the SHOX gene have been reported in individuals with SHOX haploinsufficiency syndromes, suggesting that alterations to the physical organisation or genomic architecture may affect SHOX transcription. Individuals with tall stature and an additional X or Y chromosome have an extra copy of both the SHOX gene and the entire SHOX regulatory region, so all three copies of SHOX can be expressed fully. However, for a duplication of the SHOX gene that does not include all of the flanking regulatory elements, the potential effect on SHOX expression is difficult to predict. We present nine unpublished individuals with a SHOX whole gene duplication in whom the duplication contains variable amounts of the SHOX regulatory region, and we review 29 similar cases from the literature where phenotypic data were clearly stated. While tall stature was present in a proportion of these cases, we present evidence that SHOX whole gene duplications can also result in a phenotype more typically associated with SHOX haploinsufficiency and are significantly overrepresented in Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis and idiopathic short stature probands compared to population controls. Although similar-looking duplications do not always produce a consistent phenotype, there may be potential genotype-phenotype correlations regarding the duplication size, regulatory element content, and the breakpoint proximity to the SHOX gene. Although ClinGen does not currently consider SHOX whole gene duplications to be clinically significant, the ClinGen triplosensitivity score does not take into account the context of the duplication, and more is now known about SHOX duplications and the role of flanking elements in SHOX regulation. The evidence presented here suggests that these duplications should not be discounted without considering the extent of the duplication and the patient phenotype, and should be included in diagnostic laboratory reports as variants of uncertain significance. Given the uncertain pathogenicity of these duplications, any reports should encourage the exclusion of all other causes of short stature where possible.
CD45 Is Sufficient to Initiate Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Human Endothelial Cells—Brief Report
Authors: Nasim Sana , Wylie-Sears Jill , Gao Xinlei , Peng Qianman , Zhu Bo , Chen Kaifu , Chen Hong , Bischoff Joyce
Published: March 2023

Background:

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a dynamic process in which endothelial cells acquire mesenchymal properties and in turn contribute to tissue remodeling and growth. Previously, we found EndMT associated with mitral valve adaptation after myocardial infarction. Furthermore, mitral valve endothelial cells collected at 6 months post-myocardial infarction expressed the pan-leukocyte marker CD45 and EndMT markers. Additionally, mitral valve endothelial cells induced to undergo EndMT with TGF (transforming growth factor)-β1 strongly coexpressed CD45 but not CD11b or CD14. Pharmacologic inhibition of the CD45 PTPase (protein tyrosine phosphatase) domain in mitral valve endothelial cells blocked TGFβ-induced EndMT. This prompted us to speculate that, downstream of TGFβ, CD45 induces EndMT.

Methods:

We activated the endogenous CD45 promoter in human endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) using CRISPR (cluster regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/inactive Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) transcriptional activation. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on control ECFCs and CD45-positive ECFCs to identify transcriptomic changes. Three functional assays—cellular migration, collagen gel contraction, and transendothelial electrical resistance—were conducted to assess mesenchymal properties in CD45-positive ECFCs.

Results:

Activation of the endogenous CD45 promoter in ECFC and 3 additional sources of endothelial cells induced expression of several genes implicated in EndMT. In addition, CD45-positive ECFCs showed increased migration, a hallmark of EndMT, increased collagen gel contraction, a hallmark of mesenchymal cells, and decreased cell-cell barrier integrity, indicating reduced endothelial function.

Conclusions:

CD45 is sufficient to incite an EndMT phenotype and acquisition of mesenchymal cell properties in normal human ECFCs. We speculate that CD45, through its C-terminal PTPase domain, initiates signaling events that drive EndMT.
Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk, Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease, and Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Acquah Isaac , Hagan Kobina , Javed Zulqarnain , Taha Mohamad B. , Valero‐Elizondo Javier , Nwana Nwabunie , Yahya Tamer , Sharma Garima , Gulati Martha , Hammoud Aziz , Shapiro Michael D. , Blankstein Ron , Blaha Michael J. , Cainzos‐Achirica Miguel , Nasir Khurram
Published: March 2023

Background

Although there is research on the impact of social determinants of health (SDOHs) on cardiovascular health, most existing evidence is based on individual SDOH components. We evaluated the impact of cumulative SDOH burden on cardiovascular risk factors, subclinical atherosclerosis, and incident cardiovascular disease events.

Methods and Results

We included 6479 participants from the MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). A weighted aggregate SDOH score representing the cumulative number of unfavorable SDOHs, identified from 14 components across 5 domains (economic stability, neighborhood and physical environment, community and social context, education, and health care system access) was calculated and divided into quartiles (quartile 4 being the least favorable). The impact of cumulative SDOH burden on cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, and obesity), systemic inflammation, subclinical atherosclerosis, and incident cardiovascular disease was evaluated. Increasing social disadvantage was associated with increased odds of all cardiovascular risk factors except dyslipidemia. Smoking was the risk factor most strongly associated with worse SDOH (odds ratio [OR], 2.67 for quartile 4 versus quartile 1 [95% CI, 2.13–3.34]). Participants within SDOH quartile 4 had 33% higher odds of increased high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (OR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.11–1.60]) and 31% higher risk of all cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.03–1.67]), yet no greater burden of subclinical atherosclerosis (OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.79–1.29]), when compared with those in quartile 1.

Conclusions

Increasing social disadvantage was associated with more prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, inflammation, and incident cardiovascular disease. These findings call for better identification of SDOHs in clinical practice and stronger measures to mitigate the higher SDOH burden among the socially disadvantaged to improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Computational Fluid Dynamics in Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease
Authors: Ballout Ahmad A. , Prochilo Grace , Kaneko Naoki , Li Chuanlong , Apfel Ryan , Hinman Jason D. , Liebeskind David S.
Published: March 2023

Recurrent stroke risk in intracranial atherosclerotic disease remains high despite aggressive medical therapy. While hemodynamic insufficiency appears to be a strong marker of stroke recurrence, natural history studies using various unimodal imaging modalities have shown mixed results, as they likely do not adequately capture the complex local hemodynamic environment generated by a focal stenosis. Computational fluid dynamics, a multimodal tool used to simulate fluid flow and the interactions between fluids and surfaces, has recently been used to illustrate the complex hemodynamic environment surrounding intracranial atherosclerotic lesions and to risk‐stratify patients on the basis of simulated outputs. We aimed to summarize the literature pertaining to computational fluid dynamics use in intracranial atherosclerotic disease and to describe its future potential use in generating more targeted therapies.
Shame, Exasperation and Institutional Design: The African Union as an Emotional Security Community
Authors: Hogan John J.
Published: March 2023

The establishment of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) marked a fundamental reassessment of the African Union’s (AU) approach to security management. Many studies, however, view APSA through the lens of Eurocentric theories that neglect the agency of African actors. In contrast, this article examines how APSA’s design was influenced by collectively-held emotions – defined as moral judgements, based on present expectations and past experiences – amongst African policymakers. Emotional expressions can stabilise security communities by emphasising enmity towards outsiders and amity between insiders, while demanding remorse from individual or sub-groups of members that commit moral trespasses. However, this article theorises that inward-facing shame, when collectively felt by a community as a whole, can fundamentally alter its norms, valued behaviours and identity. This is illustrated by the APSA case study, which highlights the influence of inward-directed shame amongst African leaders over their reactions to humanitarian catastrophes in the 1990s, as well as outward-directed exasperation at the apathy of the international community. In addition to improving understanding of APSA’s establishment and design, this facilitates theory-building based upon African realities, thus making a valuable contribution to the growing field of International Relations scholarship concerned with emotions.
The Illusion of Neoliberalism: A Construct of African Development Gap
Authors: Popoola Michael Akin
Published: March 2023

It is a well-known fact that Africa continent is grappling with developmental challenges. The main objectives of this paper therefore are to examine the impact of neoliberalism on these developmental challenges and to encourage African leaders to take a bold and radical departure from the norm in order to chart a new course of development which will take the continent out of the woods of economic retardation and development deficit which envelope the region now. Drawing on the case study which centre on African realities and experiences, the paper discovered that the claim that neo-liberalism is the undisputable means of attaining economic development in Africa is an illusion. On the strength of this, the paper expands on the theory of assimilation with its concomitant smart or strategic protectionism through the adaptation of foreign technology, promotion of education and encouragement of entrepreneurship as means of genuinely engendering economic development in African. The research adopts qualitative and case study methodology. Similarly, the work embraces inductive research approach as the research process systematically focuses on finding answer to the question Of, What effective step can African governments take in order to candidly overcome the challenge of underdevelopment?
The City Versus Its Suburb: The Spatial Development of Pontic Olbia
Authors: Buiskikh Alla V. , Fornasier Jochen
Published: March 2023

This article is devoted to the urban space of Pontic Olbia – to the growth of its territory, and the emergence of its early defensive system consisting of earthworks with moats, which had surrounded the city as early as the Late Archaic period. Conclusions are drawn about the role of the settlement structure in the western part of the city, which had earlier been interpreted as Herodotus’ proasteion, but which – in the light of discoveries made by a Ukrainian-German research project – has been recognised as an integral part of the city. The chronology of the mud-brick and stone fortifications erected no later than in the middle of the 4th century BC, before Olbia was besieged by Zopyrion in 331 BC, has been amended. This work has made it possible to propose a new diagram for Olbia’s spatial development in the Late Archaic and Classical periods.
The Role of External Dynamics on Vietnam’s Ratification of the Convention Against Torture
Authors: Vo Huan Tuong
Published: March 2023

This article analyses the case of Vietnam’s ratification of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1987 from 2013 to 2014. It aims to provide empirical evidence to inform current debates regarding the roles of external and internal dynamics, as well as relevant pressures and threats, in shaping state behaviour toward international civil and political rights treaties. Through this case study, it is argued that external dynamics played an essential role in influencing the socialist state’s ultimate ratification behaviour. In the context of globalisation, international political dynamics are determinant conditions for shaping the socialist state’s signing and ratifying activities toward this convention. In the case of Vietnam, the decision to accede to international human rights treaties should be considered the most appropriate response to the mounting political pressure from the international community.
A Morpho-Pragmatic Study of Roman Alphabetic Initialisms (RAI s) on Chinese and Japanese Social Media
Authors: Chen Tiancheng , Fukushima Saeko , Chen Xinren
Published: March 2023

The use of Roman alphabetic initialisms (RAIs) is common on both Chinese and Japanese social media. However, to date, few studies have examined the phenomenon at the morpho-pragmatic interface in adequate detail or depth; nor has any researcher addressed their formational and motivational similarities and differences between Chinese and Japanese RAIs. To fill these gaps, this study conducts a comparative analysis of the RAIs collected from Weibo (for Chinese data) and Instagram and Twitter (for Japanese data). The results show that while the RAIs on the Chinese and Japanese social media share some ways of formation and converge on some motivations, differences in both formation and motivations also exist between Chinese and Japanese RAIs. It is argued that the formational differences stem from language characteristics and the functional divergences may be attributed to the different societal-cultural backgrounds of Chinese and Japanese netizens. The study may not only expand the scope of initialism research in general, but also enrich our understanding of the effect of societal-cultural differences on their formation and function of use in Computer- Mediated Communication (CMC) in particular.
‫سرديّات الأمل: دراسة في أخبار الفرج بعد الشدّة للتنوخيّ (ت ‫384‬/994)‬
Authors: Jalees (رشا جليس) Rasha
Published: March 2023

المستخلص

‫يُعَدُّ كتاب الفرج بعد الشدّة للقاضي أبي عليّ المحسّن التنوخيّ (ت ‫384‬/994) من أبرز النماذج النثريّة السرديّة التي خُصّصت لمعالجة موضوع المعاناة الإنسانيّة أو أزمة الفرد، وإظهار طريق الأمل والانفراج للخروج منها في القرن الرابع/العاشر، وهو يجسّد شكلًا فنّيًّا ناضجًا لأدبيّات الفرج في النثر العربيّ. تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تحليل مفهوم الأمل عند التنوخيّ واستظهاره في كتاب الفرج بعد الشدّة انطلاقًا من جانبين أساسيّين، يركّز الجانب الأوّل على علاقة خبر الفرج معرفيًّا بالبعد الإيمانيّ/العقديّ، ويكشف عن الطرق والاستراتيجيّات التي ساهمت في بلورة مفهوم الخلاص للفرد المأزوم، وذلك برصد عددٍ من النماذج السرديّة بناء على الموضوعات والتصنيفات التي وضعها التنوخيّ؛ ويركّز الجانب الثاني المتعلّق بالسرد على التحليل البنائيّ للأخبار، والظاهرة القصصيّة لثيمة الأمل، ويسعى إلى معالجة البنية السرديّة للخبر وأنماطها وتطوّرها الفنّيّ وارتباطها الموضوعيّ بفكرة الفرج، وذلك بالوقوف على نماذج سرديّة تحمل رؤًى متعدّدة نحو الأمل مثل: التصوّف، والفكاهة، والسرد الوعظيّ، والغرائبيّ، والتاريخيّ.‬
مفهوم الأمل واللاأمل في الشعر الفلسطينيّ: ريم غنايم ووسام جبران نموذجين نصّيّين
Authors: Bawardi (باسيليوس حنّا بواردي) Basilius Hanna
Published: March 2023

المستخلص

‫يطرح هذا المقال بعدًا جديدًا لموضوع الأمل واللاأمل في الشعر الفلسطينيّ متّخِذًا من نصوص الشاعرين الفلسطينيّين ريم غنايم ووسام جبران متّكأً نصّيًّا مغايرًا يخرج عن تقاطبيّة الأمل واليأس وتناقضهما، ويتبنّى متخيَّلًا بديلًا لايقينيًّا أو حيّزًا بينيًّا ملتبسًا وضبابيًّا. وهو ما يشبه القطع السيزوريّ الذي يتيح الولادة والحياة بصفته توتّرًا بين الانفصال والترابط، في محاولة لتعريف الهويّة الفلسطينيّة بأدوات شعريّة فلسطينيّة تجريبيّة منفلتة من تعريفات الذاكرة ودوائر الانتماء التقليديّة. إنّه خيار الغياب الحاضر، خيار اللاهويّة بوصفها هويّة انتشار في الأزمنة والأمكنة والوجدان، أو خيار المساكنة بين العناصر الكيانيّة الهجينة ومحاولة تجاوز الواقع الفلسطينيّ الثقافيّ الراهن وطروحاته التقليديّة، بل تجاوز مفهوم الخوف والذاكرة. يقدّم كلٌّ من غنايم وجبران رؤيةً خاصّة وجديدة للأدب الفلسطينيّ بصفته مجالًا متغيّرًا باستمرار ويلقي بظلال من الشكّ على نفسه. وإنّ تناول مفهوم الأمل واللاأمل في أعمالهما يُظهر اضطرابًا في التعبيرات المألوفة، ويشكّل مدخلًا للمفاهيم الوجوديّة العامّة والابتكار الأدبيّ. وليس الهدف تصويرهما صوتًا واحدًا خارج ”القانون“ الثقافيّ الفلسطينيّ، وإنّما تتبّع قراءة أعمالهما بصفتها قوّةً موسِّعة للجسم الأدبيّ الفلسطينيّ، مع التركيز على تعقيد الأدب الفلسطينيّ الحديث وتنوّعه.‬
Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Cu/Ti Joints Welded by Ultrasonic Spot-Welding with Zn Interlayer
Authors: Gu Xiaoyan , Gao Wei , Sui Chenglong
Published: March 2023

Cu/Ti dissimilar metals were joined together utilizing ultrasonic spot welding with a Zn interlayer. The threedimensional finite element analysis model was established to simulate the temperature field of the interface of Cu/Ti ultrasonic welding joint under different welding energies.
The interface forming, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the Cu/Zn/Ti ultrasonic spot-welded joints were studied systematically. Results showed that the temperature distribution of the interface of the Cu/Zn/Ti ultrasonic welding joint was inhomogeneous, and the temperature of the
interface below the indentation reached the highest and decreased gradually to the surrounding. With the increase of welding energy, the maximum temperature and the corresponding high-temperature region of Cu/Zn/Ti joint interface gradually increased. The interface of Cu/Zn/Ti ultrasonic welding
joint was well formed, and the thickness was different, and the local position had wavy undulation morphology. When the welding energy was low, the interface microstructure was mainly composed of copper solid solution and titanium solid solution. As the welding energy increased, the microstructure
of the joint interface was composed of CuZn compound, copper solid solution and titanium solid solution. When the welding energy was increased to 2000 J, the joint interface microstructure was composed of CuZn, Zn15Ti compound and copper solid solution. In comparison, Cu/Ti joints
welded with a Zn interlayer in-between displayed the maximum shearing force about 33.5% greater than those of joints without a Zn interlayer.
Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Norfloxacin-Loaded Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Microspheres on Urinary System Infections
Authors: Zhu Xin-Ying , Wang Juan
Published: March 2023

Urinary system infections are one of the most common infectious diseases in clinical practice. Patients prone to secondary infections need to take antibacterial drugs for a long time. Therefore, the development of a drug-carrying material with long-term antimicrobial activity is an
urgent problem for urology-allied medical materials science. In this study, PLGA microspheres with excellent biocompatibility were prepared using PLGA as the carrier and norfloxacin as the drug model. The size of norfloxacin/PLGA microspheres was mainly concentrated in 2.19–8.08 μm,
exhibiting a small surface area and good slow-release effect in vitro. Biological experiments showed that PLGA microspheres can reduce the inflammatory cytokine content in plasma, have a good bactericidal effect, and are expected to be used as drug carrier materials for urinary system
infections.
Regulation of the Diameter and Length of Silver Nanowires and Their Therapeutic Effect on Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Authors: Zhang Bin , Wang Ying , Tian Wan-Li , Jiang Yong-Qing , Wang Hong-Wei
Published: March 2023

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a systemic bone metabolic disease occurring in postmenopausal women. In this research, silver nanowires (Ag NWs) with different sizes were synthesized via poly-process synthesis by using different control agents and then characterized by scanning electron
microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. Their application values in postmenopausal osteoporosis were evaluated, and the related mechanism was explored.
Upper-Ocean Circulation and Tropical Atlantic Interannual Modes
Authors: Martín-Rey Marta , Vallès-Casanova Ignasi , Pelegrí Josep L.
Published: March 2023

The impact of tropical Atlantic Ocean variability modes in the variability of the upper-ocean circulation has been investigated. For this purpose, we use three oceanic reanalyses, an interannual forced-ocean simulation, and satellite data for the period 1982–2018. We have explored the changes in the main surface and subsurface ocean currents during the emergence of Atlantic meridional mode (AMM), Atlantic zonal mode (AZM), and AMM–AZM connection. The developing phase of the AMM is associated with a boreal spring intensification of North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC) and a reinforced summer Eastern Equatorial Undercurrent (EEUC) and north South Equatorial Current (nSEC). During the decaying phase, the reduction of the wind forcing and zonal sea surface height gradient produces a weakening of surface circulation. For the connected AMM–AZM, in addition to the intensified NECC, EEUC, and nSEC in spring, an anomalous north-equatorial wind curl excites an oceanic Rossby wave (RW) that is boundary-reflected into an equatorial Kelvin wave (KW). The KW reverses the thermocline slope, weakening the nSEC and EUC in boreal summer and autumn, respectively. During the developing spring phase of the AZM, the nSEC is considerably reduced with no consistent impact at subsurface levels. During the autumn decaying phase, the upwelling RW-reflected mechanism is activated, modifying the zonal pressure gradient that intensifies the nSEC. The NECC is reduced in boreal spring–summer. Our results reveal a robust alteration of the upper-ocean circulation during AMM, AZM, and AMM–AZM, highlighting the decisive role of ocean waves in connecting the tropical and equatorial ocean transport.
Impact of Non-Automobile Rollover Accidents on Patient Outcomes at an Appalachian Level I Trauma Center
Authors: Mannino Elizabeth A. , Leonard Matthew , Burns Bracken J.
Published: March 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes of patients involved in rollover accidents in non-automobile vehicles in a rural level I trauma center. This was a retrospective study including a total of 127 patients over 5 years who were admitted to our level I trauma center following rollover accidents in either of the following: ATV, lawnmower, or tractor. Patients were significantly older in the tractor and lawnmower rollover groups, and patients less than 65 years old were significantly more likely to sustain an injury in a rollover accident when compared to those greater than 65. Patients with extremity fractures secondary to tractor rollovers were more likely to be older, and patients who sustained spinal injuries secondary to tractor rollovers were more likely to be younger. Non-automobile rollovers have the potential to cause traumatic injuries; however, there does not appear to be 1 vehicle type that is more prone to injury.
Variations of the Saphenopopliteal Junction: An Ultrasonography Study in a Young Population, A Systematic Review and A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Veselá Michaela , Beneš Michal , Dostálová Gabriela , Aleš Linhart  , Kachlík David
Published: March 2023

Saphenopopliteal junction classification has been developing, but still the precise knowledge of junction type is crucial for proper surgical treatment. We examined the saphenopopliteal junction by duplex venous scanning in 244 extremities in healthy volunteers (median age: 23.0 years, 83 females, 39 male) and performed a meta-analysis of 13 studies focusing on structural types of the junction. According to Schweighoffer’s classification we distinguished 5 types of the junction and we subdivided type A according to Cavezzi’s classification of gastrocnemial veins termination into two. We added type F (small saphenous vein-SSV terminates into popliteal vein-PV), described especially in cadaveric studies. In our study, the most frequent type was A1 (96 cases), followed by C (70), B (48), A2 (20), E (6), D (3) and F (0). The pooled prevalence estimate for types A + B + D + E was 54.7% (95% CI 40.9–69.6%) and for type C 24.4% (95% CI 19.3–29.5%), whereas in 17.1% (95% CI 6.3–27.9%) of cases, the SSV terminated in the PV with no cranial extension present. The knowledge of the saphenopopliteal junction and its variations prevalence can help clinicians to quickly identify the real type of the junction during routine examination. In mid-European population, the main type is A1 and worldwide type A.
Effects of Question Methods in Assessing Fear of Hate Crimes
Authors: Pyo Jimin , Hayes Brittany E.
Published: March 2023

This study examined episodic measures that assess frequency and magnitude of perceived threat of hate crime over the last six months compared to standard methods that address diffuse threat. Framing effects of question wording, worry- versus fear- versus safety-based, were also assessed. Using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, a sample of 1,824 adults vulnerable to hate crime completed one of the three randomly assigned survey questionnaires that varied the question wording. Results show that standard measures tend to yield higher levels of perceived threat of hate crime across different bias motivations than episodic measures. Worry- and fear-based questions were also associated with higher odds of perceived threat of hate crime than safety-based questions. Findings, implications, and future directions are discussed.
New Insights for “What Works”? Religiosity and the Risk-Needs-Responsivity Model
Authors: Duwe Grant , Johnson Byron R.
Published: March 2023

The existing literature has devoted relatively little attention to the responsivity principle and, in particular, religiosity as a type of specific responsivity. Using a sample of nearly 2,000 people incarcerated in Minnesota’s prison system, this study examined the relationship between religiosity and measures of risk, needs, and responsivity. The results showed that religiosity was positively associated with childhood trauma, pro-social identities, and perceived social support, while it was negatively associated with criminal thinking and employment needs. Findings further revealed that religiosity was associated with less prison misconduct and reduced recidivism risk, but only for people with positive self-identities, according to Paternoster and Bushway’s Fear of Self scale, and lower levels of perceived social support. We discuss the implications of these results for theory and practice.
Teplizumab
Authors: Baker Danial E.
Published: March 2023

Each month, subscribers to The Formulary Monograph Service receive 5 to 6 well-documented monographs on drugs that are newly released or are in late phase 3 trials. The monographs are targeted to Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committees. Subscribers also receive monthly 1-page summary monographs on agents that are useful for agendas and pharmacy/nursing in-services. A comprehensive target drug utilization evaluation/medication use evaluation (DUE/MUE) is also provided each month. With a subscription, the monographs are available online to subscribers. Monographs can be customized to meet the needs of a facility. Through the cooperation of The Formulary, Hospital Pharmacy publishes selected reviews in this column. For more information about The Formulary Monograph Service, contact Wolters Kluwer customer service at 866-397-3433.