bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus infections among blood banking donors in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia: an institutional-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdel-Fattah Mohamed , Al-Marhb Omar , Matrafi Mohammed , Babaseel Mohamed , Asmari Mashari , Eletiany Soliman
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Worldwide about 350 million people are infected with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) putting HBV infection among the most serious infectious disease problems. Blood transfusion is vital in saving lives but is associated with transfusion-transmittable infections e.g.HBV which can lead to adverse consequences. Objective: To determine HBV infection prevalence between donors of blood banking in Makkah,Saudi Arabia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 2024 blood donors in two hospitals blood banks. Data were collected using laboratory blood screening tools. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical program. Statistically significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results: Our study was conducted on 4024 blood donor’s data. For Saudi donors, statistical analysis of HBV results has showed that 1% of donors were +ve for HBsAg and 6.8% of donors were +ve for anti-HBc. The results of NAT have showed that 1.1% of donors were positive and all were males. There is a high significance in age between 30-39 and 40-49 for NAT. The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 1% in Saudi donors. For non-Saudi donors, HBV results showed that 0.5% and 12.8% of donors were positive for HBsAg test and Anti-HBc test, respectively. The results of the Anti-HBc test were highly significant for the age range 30-39. The statistical analysis of NAT results showed that 0.8% of donors were positive and all were males. The overall prevalence of the HBsAg test among non-Saudi donors was 0.5%. Conclusion: The HBsAg and anti-HBc rates among blood donors have declined significantly. NAT is an important tool for viral detection which is expensive and not available everywhere. The total HBV prevalence between donors in Makkah was very low which may be due to recommended safety regulations followed in Makkah as its religious importance and application of an effective vaccine program.
Novel Drug Treatments for Diabetes Complications
Authors: Bakhdar Fatmah
Published: April 2022

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease associated with elevated levels of blood glucose. It has become the most prevalent disease in the Saudi population according to the last report from the national prevention program. Diabetes cases can be divided into three types: type I, which requires insulin therapy; type II, which requires the use of hypoglycemic drugs, with or without insulin, and is the most common type in Saudi Arabia; and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy. We must remember that diabetes can be very dangerous, causing complications in many parts of the body, like the nerves, heart, eyes, and kidneys. According to previous studies, these complications vary depending on the severity of diabetes. They may also affect the blood vessels of the retina, which can develop into diabetic retinopathy. Complications may also be fatal, in the cases of heart attacks, angina, and atherosclerosis. Additionally, they may cause poor circulation that leads to infection and gangrene, or cause neuropathy with numbness and a loss of pain sensations. Diabetic nephropathy is another harmful effect of diabetes that attacks the renal blood vessels. In this article, my aim was to review newly discovered drugs that target and decrease the complications produced by diabetes. My focus here was on certain drugs, including those using nanotechnology, cell-based therapy, angiopoietin like 4, baricitinib, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene therapy.
IOT Based Fire and Gas Alarm System using Raspberry Pi Pico
Authors:   Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India., Dushyant Kumar Singh S Mohammed Zoheb, Rangam Gowtham, Amiya Tathagat Pradhan
Published: April 2022

Now a days people want security systems at every place and to monitor that systems when they are at that place or away from that place. An Iot based fire and gas alarm system is a device or a method used to detect the presence of fire and gas in that coverage area and prevent the disaster that results in the damage of infrastructure as well as human life by triggering the alarm and also sending the alert signals to the webserver. This system also send the alert notification to the user mobile phone. This implemented system was developed in the combination of hardware and software. This system is made with low cost wireless and sensors which ensure remote monitoring. It allows the users to monitor the security of the place by the sensor connected to the higher performance chip i.e. Raspberry Pi Pico[2]. This chip is also used for other task like to receive the security status notification remotely on a webserver.
A Novel Isolated AC to DC Power Factor Corrector Rectifier with Higher Switching Frequency
Authors:   Rajasthan Technical University Kota, India, Gupta Swati , Bhargava Annapurna
Published: April 2022

The primary aim of this research paper is to design a novel low-cost ac-dc power rectifier for improving power factor and total harmonic distortion with higher switching frequency topology using fewer switches on its secondary side. This modified topology converts ac to dc power maintaining the criteria of international power conversion standards. Due to high currents on the low-voltage side and expensive prices, conventional rectifiers have considerable conduction losses, especially when multiple active devices are used in any form either in series, parallel or in combination to attain high voltage and high power levels. The suggested methodology substitutes traditional three-level converters on the secondary side with only two switches and four diodes while retaining its core converter operation. The simulation is performed in the MATLAB2019b environment. Keywords- Isolated AC-DC rectifier, lossless switching, ZVS and ZCS, solid-state transformer converter.
Shopping Mall Experience Over E-commerce Websites Using Beacon Technology and Data mining Algorithms
Authors:   Lokmanya Tilak College Of Engineering, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India., Gaikwad Manali , Umale Prof. Manish
Published: April 2022

The dramatic change in shopping experience over the past few decades presents many challenges to the retailers. In this technology can play an important role in enriching the shopping experience for the customers and help increase the sales of the retailers. In this paper an innovative method for doing the same is proposed. In this proposed system, customers are tracked using beacons that are set up in the retail shops and personalized discounts are offered to the customers based on their shopping patterns and purchase histories. The smartphone application detects the location of the customer inside the shop using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals emitted by the beacons and the information is then sent to the server for processing. The server then sends personalized offers to the customer. A Beacon is commonly a little Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE, Bluetooth 4.0) gadget that can be controlled by a coin cell, batteries or through an outer power supply. Beacon is expertise in identifying proximity and can be used in business areas for various information. The data which beacons transmit will be in the form of packets and relevant Smartphone can take up the data which is transmitted. In the proposed system the customer will receive the notifications and services provided by the vendor when he passes near the store/mall, thus providing the customized advertisement service to the user. This paper review beacon technology in the aspects of its roles, merit and demerit. Keywords: Beacon technology, Cluster analysis, Data management systems, Electronic commerce, Internet of things and Unsupervised learning
A Review on Higher Education of Belt and Road Initiative: Key Findings and Emerging Themes
Authors: Yue Xiaoyao , Yang Suping , Chen Beibei , Wanglee Weichi , Ye Yan
Published: April 2022

Higher education is an important pillar of B&R, and as Chinese universities improve their global popularity, China is working hard to increase the level of higher education. In this paper, we provide a narrative synthesis of studies of China’s Belt and Road Initiative for higher education in mainland China (published 2015-2020). The review reveals five major emerging themes in the published literature: Higher education development in countries along the route; Higher education cooperation between countries; Internationalization of higher education; Higher education functions; Education of international students. This review provides an overall picture of the knowledge base on high education for BRI. This article makes specific suggestions for improving higher education under the Belt and Road Initiative. The authors highlight the need for more empirically solid research in mainland China.
Student perceptions of collaborative and blended learning in food science and technology
Authors: Mshayisa Vusi
Published: April 2022

Blended learning refers to the use of conventional face-to-face learning experiences in combination with online education resources and practices. An increase in enrolments and a more diverse student body has intensified the demand to develop first-year teaching and learning pedagogies. Food science and technology lecturers must facilitate constructive learning in order to develop student skills, including critical thinking, teamwork, and self-directed learning. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate student perceptions of collaborative and blended learning. Students were exposed to various technology-enhanced pedagogical tools and face-to-face teaching strategies such as online academic journal reflections, video screencasts, group assignments, food processing practicals, and group crossword puzzles. A mixed-method survey consisting of multiple-choice, a 5-point Likert scale, and open-ended qualitative questions was administered via Blackboard. A total of 133 students were registered for the module, and 72.1% (n = 96) completed the survey. In this study, respondents felt they were prepared to complete the online group assignments (82%), which illustrates that they could learn the course material through collaboration. Moreover, 87% of the students agreed that they could keep up with the coursework in the blended format. Students recommended that there should be more lecture designed video screencasts, and they should be offered more opportunities to do oral presentations in this module. The respondents positively received collaborative and blended learning. The findings of this study, in general, affirm the merits of incorporating blended and collaborative learning in food science and technology curricula.
Phonon-mediated many-body quantum entanglement and logic gates in ion traps
Authors: Liu Teng , Lu Peng-Fei , Hu Bi-Ying , Wu Hao , Lao Qi-Feng , Bian Ji , Liu Yang , Zhu Feng , Luo Le ,   School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China,   Center of Quantum Information Technology, Shenzhen Research Institute,  Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518087, China,   State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Published: April 2022

The high-fidelity multi-ion entangled states and quantum gates are the basis for trapped-ion quantum computing. Among the developed quantum gate schemes, Mølmer-Sørensen gate is a relatively mature experimental technique to realize multi-ion entanglement and quantum logic gates. In recent years, there have also been schemes to realize ultrafast quantum entanglement and quantum logic gates that operate outside the Lamb-Dicke regime by designing ultrafast laser pulse sequences. In such a many-body quantum system, these entanglement gates couple the spin states between ions by driving either the phonon energy level or the motional state of the ion chain. To improve the fidelity of quantum gates, the modulated laser pulses or the appropriately designed pulse sequences are applied to decouple the multi-mode motional states. In this review, we summarize and analyze the essential aspects of realizing these entanglement gates from both theoretical and experimental points of view. We also reveal that the basic physical process of realizing quantum gates is to utilize nonlinear interactions in non-equilibrium processes through driving the motional states of an ion chain with laser fields.
Insight into the production of phenol from co‐pyrolysis of cellulose and sodium borohydride
Authors: Gu Yanqian , Liu Shasha , Wu Gang , Wu Yinlong , Zhang Shoujun , Huang Yong , Zhang Shu , Zhang Hong
Published: April 2022

Biomass is the sole carbon‐containing renewable resource on Earth, and has high potential for the production of platform chemicals. Phenol, one of the most important platform chemicals, is generally derived from lignin conversion. In this study, the production of phenol from co‐pyrolysis of cellulose and sodium borohydride at different mass ratios is investigated in detail. The results show that even a small amount of sodium borohydride (cellulose–sodium borohydride = 10:1) could effectively promote the conversion of cellulose to phenol through cellulose‐derived levoglucosan intermediates. As the mass ratio of cellulose–sodium borohydride decreased, the relative content of phenol in the products significantly increased, and could be as high as 11.0% when the ratio of cellulose to sodium borohydride was 2:1. Glycosidic bonds in cellulose were considered to play an important role in its catalytic conversion. Furthermore, the resulting solid product could be used as a B‐doping carbon material, which is desirable in various research fields. This study provided a novel method for the highly efficient utilization of cellulose. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stigmatizing Policies Interact with Mental Health and Sexual Behaviours to Structurally Induce HIV Diagnoses Among European Men Who Have Sex with Men
Authors: Stojanovski Kristefer , King Elizabeth J. , Amico K. Rivet , Eisenberg Marisa C. , Geronimus Arline T. , Baros Sladjana , Schmidt Axel J.
Published: April 2022

Structural stigma shapes men who have sex with men’s (MSM’s) mental health and sexual behaviours. The aim of this study was to examine how stigmatizing policies interact with downstream anxiety/depression and sexual behaviours to structurally pattern HIV disparities among European MSM. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the European Men-who-have-sex-with-men Internet Survey (EMIS) from 2017. We included a total of 98,600 participants living in 39 European countries. We used the Rainbow Index, a score given to countries based on their sexual and gender minority policies as the predictor of HIV diagnosis. We conducted adjusted random intercept and slope multi-level logistic regressions. In adjusted models, higher Rainbow Index scores was associated with lower predictive probabilities of diagnosed HIV, regardless of the number of condomless intercourse partners. The predictive probability of HIV diagnosis was also lower, regardless of severity of anxiety/depression, where the Rainbow Index score was better. Country-level policies interact with downstream sexual behaviours and anxiety/depression to structurally influence HIV diagnosis among MSM in Europe.
Reviewing Paradox Theory in Corporate Sustainability Toward a Systems Perspective
Authors: Carmine Simone , De Marchi Valentina
Published: April 2022

The complexity of current social and environmental grand challenges generates many conflicts and tensions at the individual, organization and/or systems levels. Paradox theory has emerged as a promising way to approach such a complexity of corporate sustainability going beyond the instrumental business-case perspective and achieving superior sustainability performance. However, the fuzziness in the empirical use of the concept of “paradox” and the absence of a systems perspective limits its potential. In this paper, we perform a systematic review and content analysis of the empirical literature related to paradox and sustainability, offering a useful guide for researchers who intend to adopt the concept of “paradox” empirically. Our analysis provides a comprehensive account of the uses of the construct - which allows the categorization of the literature into three distinct research streams: 1) paradoxical tensions, 2) paradoxical frame/thinking, and 3) paradoxical actions/strategies - and a comprehensive overview of the findings that emerge in each of the three. Further, by adopting a system perspective, we propose a theoretical framework that considers possible interconnections across the identified paradoxical meanings and different levels of analysis (individual, organizational, systems) and discuss key research gaps emerging. Finally, we  reflect  on the role a clear notion of paradox can have in supporting business ethics scholars in developing a more “immanent” evaluation of corporate sustainability, overcoming the current instrumental view.
A model of checkpoint behavior for applications that have I/O
Authors: León Betzabeth , Méndez Sandra , Franco Daniel , Rexachs Dolores , Luque Emilio
Published: April 2022

Due to the increase and complexity of computer systems, reducing the overhead of fault tolerance techniques has become important in recent years. One technique in fault tolerance is checkpointing, which saves a snapshot with the information that has been computed up to a specific moment, suspending the execution of the application, consuming I/O resources and network bandwidth. Characterizing the files that are generated when performing the checkpoint of a parallel application is useful to determine the resources consumed and their impact on the I/O system. It is also important to characterize the application that performs checkpoints, and one of these characteristics is whether the application does I/O. In this paper, we present a model of checkpoint behavior for parallel applications that performs I/O; this depends on the application and on other factors such as the number of processes, the mapping of processes and the type of I/O used. These characteristics will also influence scalability, the resources consumed and their impact on the IO system. Our model describes the behavior of the checkpoint size based on the characteristics of the system and the type (or model) of I/O used, such as the number I/O aggregator processes, the buffering size utilized by the two-phase I/O optimization technique and components of collective file I/O operations. The BT benchmark and FLASH I/O are analyzed under different configurations of aggregator processes and buffer size to explain our approach. The model can be useful when selecting what type of checkpoint configuration is more appropriate according to the applications’ characteristics and resources available. Thus, the user will be able to know how much storage space the checkpoint consumes and how much the application consumes, in order to establish policies that help improve the distribution of resources.
Detection of the Type of Left and Right Returns-to-Scales Using Envelopment DEA Models in Crisp and Fuzzy Environments: An Application for Predicting Changes in the Stock Market
Authors: Payan Ali , Hajihosseini Alireza , Nosrat Azizollah
Published: April 2022

This paper aims to analyze left and right returns-to-scales in crisp and fuzzy data envelopment analysis (DEA). Since all previous envelopment DEA models for assessing left and right returns-to-scales are parametric, they are prone to encountering infeasibility problems, producing incorrect or different solutions for determining the type of returns-to-scale because of the different choices of parameter values. This misdiagnosis will lead to poor management decisions. Due to the mentioned problems, the issue of one-sided returns-to-scale has also not been studied in inaccurate environments. The present paper first proposes an alternative method of left and right returns-to-scales determination with crisp data to address this problem. This approach develops two non-parametric envelopment DEA models for analyzing left and right returns-to-scales. Then, the proposed method is extended to the fuzzy environment where data are considered more realistic. Due to its major advantages, credibility measure is used for solving fuzzy DEA models built to determine left and right returns-to-scales. As an application of the proposed method, data of companies in the Iran stock market are collected for 2014–2019 as fuzzy data and frontier units are analyzed by one-sided returns-to-scale.
Dickson basis multiplier with concurrent error detection against fault attacks for lightweight cryptosystems
Authors: Chiou Che Wun , Sun Yuh‐Sien , Liang Che Wei , Chen Liang Yu , Dai Shih En , To Chen En , Chien Chen Che
Published: April 2022

Fault attacks have been proved for efficiently breaking hardware‐based elliptic curve cryptosystems. One way for fighting against fault attacks is to design the core multiplier circuit of elliptic curve cryptosystem with concurrent error detection capability. The multiplier with concurrent error detection only outputs its results if no existing error is found. This paper will design a systolic array Dickson basis multiplier with concurrent error detection capability for resisting fault attacks on elliptic curve cryptosystems.
Bright γ-ray source with large orbital angular momentum from the laser near-critical-plasma interaction
Authors: BAKE Mamat Ali , TANG Suo , XIE Baisong
Published: April 2022

We propose a new laser-plasma-based method to generate bright γ-rays carrying large orbital angular momentum by interacting a circularly polarized Laguerre–Gaussian laser pulse with a near-critical hydrogen plasma confined in an over-dense solid tube. In the first stage of the interaction, it is found via fully relativistic three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations that high-energy helical electron beams with large orbital angular momentum are generated. In the second stage, this electron beam interacts with the laser pulse reflected from the plasma disc behind the solid tube, and helical γ beams are generated with the same topological structure as the electron beams. The results show that the electrons receive angular momentum from the drive laser, which can be further transferred to the γ photons during the interaction. The γ beam orbital angular momentum is strongly dependent on the laser topological charge l and laser intensity a
0, which scales as

L

γ

∝

a

0

4

. A short (duration of 5 fs) isolated helical γ beam with an angular momentum of −3.3 × 10−14 kg m2 s−1 is generated using the Laguerre–Gaussian laser pulse with l = 2. The peak brightness of the helical γ beam reaches 1.22 × 1024 photons s−1 mm−2 mrad−2 per 0.1% BW (at 10 MeV), and the laser-to-γ-ray angular momentum conversion rate is approximately 2.1%.
Biological soil crusts and how they might colonize other worlds: insights from these Brazilian ecosystem engineers
Authors: Oliveira Mateus Fernandes , Maciel-Silva Adaíses Simone
Published: April 2022

When bryophytes, lichens, eukaryotic algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, and fungi live interacting intimately with the most superficial particles of the soil, they form a complex community of organisms called the biological soil crust (BSC or biocrust). These biocrusts occur predominantly in drylands, where they provide important ecological services such as soil aggregation, moisture retention, and nitrogen fixation. Unfortunately, many BSC communities remain poorly explored, especially in the tropics. This review summarizes studies about BSCs in Brazil, a tropical megadiverse country, and shows the importance of ecological, physiological, and taxonomic knowledge of biocrusts. We also compare Brazilian BSC communities with others around the world, describe why BSCs can be considered ecosystem engineers, and propose their use in the colonization of other worlds.
Clot or Not? Mimics of Acute Pulmonary Embolism on CT
Authors: Rivaud Yayone , Maldjian Pierre
Published: April 2022

Diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) can be challenging for both clinicians and radiologists. CT angiography (CTA) has emerged as the most practical imaging modality to ensure accurate and prompt recognition of acute PEs. Thus, radiologists are positioned as the first physicians able to confirm a diagnosis of acute PE in clinically suspected cases. However, in addition to identifying acute PE on CTA, radiologists also must be aware of its mimics. Misdiagnosis of PE can result in detrimental patient outcomes, exposing patients unnecessarily to the risks of anticoagulation and delaying recognition of any true underlying pathology. In this article, we discuss entities that can be mistaken for acute PE on CTA. These mimics include artifacts, nonvascular abnormalities, and various causes of filling defects in the pulmonary vasculature, both thrombotic and nonthrombotic. The objectives of this article are to familiarize the reader with mimics of acute PE and to review the characteristic features that differentiate them from acute PE on CT.
Feedback of Individual Genetic and Genomics Research Results: A Qualitative Study Involving Grassroots Communities in Uganda
Authors: Ochieng Joseph , Kwagala Betty , Barugahre John , Möller Marlo , Moodley Keymanthri
Published: April 2022

Background

Genetics and genomics research (GGR) is associated with several challenges including, but not limited to, implications of sharing research findings with participants and their family members, issues of confidentiality, determining appropriate methods for providing genetic or genomic information to individuals tested, and ownership of DNA obtained from the samples. Additionally, GGR holds significant potential risk for social and psychological harms.

A considerable amount of research has been conducted with resultant literature and global debate on return of genetic and genomics testing results, but such investigations are limited in the African setting, including Uganda.

The objective of the study was to assess perceptions of grassroots communities on if and how feedback of individual genetics and genomics testing results should be carried out in a Ugandan setting.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study that employed a qualitative exploratory approach. A total of 42 individuals from grassroots communities representing three major ethnic groupings participated in five deliberative focus group discussions. Data were analysed through content analysis along the main themes of the study. NVivo software (QSR international 2020) was used to support data analysis and illustrative quotes were extracted.

Results

Of the 42 respondents 23 (55%) were male with an age range of 18-77 years. Most (70%) were small scale farmers, and the majority were Christians, who were married and had children. They all lived in a rural community in one of the three regions of the country and had no prior participation in GGR. All the respondents were willing to undergo genetics testing and receive feedback of results with the main motivation being diagnostic and therapeutic benefits as well as facilitating future health planning. Content analysis identified three themes and several sub-themes including 1) the need to know one’ s health status; 2) ethical considerations for feedback of findings and 3) extending feedback of genetics findings to family and community

Conclusion

Participation in hypothetical genetics and genomics research as well as feedback of testing results is acceptable to individuals in grassroots communities. The strong therapeutic misconception linked to GGR is concerning and has implications for consent processes and genetic counselling. Privacy and confidentiality, benefits, risks as well as implications for sharing need to be considered for such feedback of results to be conducted appropriately.
Clinical EEG slowing induced by electroconvulsive therapy is better described by increased frontal aperiodic activity
Authors: Smith Sydney E. , Ma Vincent , Gonzalez Celene , Chapman Angela , Printz David , Voytek Bradley , Soltani Maryam
Published: April 2022

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most efficacious interventions for treatment-resistant depression. Despite its efficacy, ECT’s neural mechanism of action remains unknown. Although ECT has been associated with “slowing” in the electroencephalogram (EEG), how this change relates to clinical improvement is unresolved. Until now, increases in slow-frequency power have been assumed to indicate increases in slow oscillations, without considering the contribution of aperiodic activity, a process with a different physiological mechanism. Here we show that aperiodic activity, indexed by the aperiodic exponent, increases with ECT treatment. This increase better explains EEG “slowing” when compared to power in oscillatory peaks in the delta (1-3 Hz) range, and is correlated to clinical improvement. In accordance with computational models of excitation-inhibition balance, these increases in aperiodic exponent are linked to increasing levels of inhibitory activity, indicating that ECT might ameliorate depressive symptoms by restoring healthy levels of inhibition in frontal cortices.
Induction of a CD8 T cell intrinsic DNA damage and repair response is associated with clinical response to PD-1 blockade in uterine cancer
Authors: Muroyama Yuki , Manne Sasikanth , Wellhausen Nils , Oldridge Derek A. , Greenplate Allison R. , Chilukuri Lakshmi , Mathew Divij , Xu Caiyue , Herati Ramin S. , Berger Shelley L. , Huang Alexander C. , June Carl H. , Zamarin Dmitriy , Friedman Claire F. , Wherry E. John
Published: April 2022

Despite the success of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), many patients fail to achieve durable clinical benefit, and the underlying immunological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated immune reinvigoration by ICB in advanced or recurrent hypermutated or microsatellite instability-high, mismatch repair deficient (MSI-H/MMRd) uterine cancer patients treated with anti-PD-1 (nivolumab). CD8 T cells underwent rapid pharmacodynamic proliferation 2-4 weeks after initiating PD-1 blockade. This immunological response, however, did not correlate with clinical response. We hypothesized that the T cell-intrinsic response to proliferative and genotoxic stress might contribute to the disparity between immunological and clinical response. We developed a high-dimensional single cell cytometric platform to simultaneously analyze T cell differentiation with changes in DNA damage and repair (DDR) pathways. This DDR-Immune platform revealed T cell subset-specific patterns of DDR, and distinct DDR pathways induced by different types of DNA damage. Applying this platform to MSI-H/MMRd or hypermutated uterine cancer patients revealed a signature of DDR exemplified by rapid increase in phosphorylated-ATM (pATM) intrinsic to CD8 T cells proliferating in response to PD-1 blockade that distinguished clinical responders and non-responders. ATM regulated transcriptional circuits in T cells were associated with better clinical response to PD-1 blockade. These findings highlight a previously unrecognized role for CD8 T cell-intrinsic DDR as a potential determinant of immune fitness and clinical outcome of PD-1 blockade therapy.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Using high-dimensional immune and DNA damage response (DDR) profiling in T cell subsets we identified distinct signatures in anti-PD-1 treated MSI-H/hypermutated uterine cancer patients associated with clinical response versus non-response. Thus, T cell-intrinsic DDR is a potential determinant of immune responsiveness and clinical outcome to PD-1 blockade therapy in cancer.
Screening of the protein C pathway abnormality‐related thrombophilia by using thrombomodulin‐mediated tissue factor‐triggered clot waveform analysis
Authors: Hashimoto Naoki , Ogiwara Kenichi , Shimonishi Naruto , Nakagawa Takashi , Nakajima Yuto , Furukawa Shoko , Takeyama Masahiro , Nogami Keiji
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Absolute or relative protein (P)C pathway abnormalities (PC deficiency, PS deficiency, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), factor (F)V‐abnormality, and high FVIII level) cause thrombophilia. Although screening assays for these thrombophilias are available, one utilizing clot waveform analysis (CWA) remains unknown. We aimed to establish a CWA‐based screening assay to distinguish PC pathway abnormality‐related thrombophilia.

Methods

Samples were reacted with tissue factor (TF)/phospholipids and recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM; optimal 20 nM), followed by CWA measurement. The peak ratio (with/without rTM) of the first derivative curve of clot waveform was calculated.

Results

The peak ratio in healthy plasmas (n = 35) was 0.36 ± 0.13; hence, the cutoff value was set to 0.49. The peak ratios in plasmas with PC deficiency, PS deficiency, high‐FVIII (spiked 300 IU/dl), and APS were higher than the cutoff values (0.79/0.97/0.50/0.93, respectively). PC‐deficient plasma or PS‐deficient plasma mixed with normal plasma (25%/50%/75%/100% PC or PS level) showed dose‐dependent decreases in the peak ratios (PC deficient: 0.85/0.64/0.44/0.28; PS deficient: 0.69/0.53/0.40/0.25), suggesting that the peak ratio at ≤50% of PC or PS level exceeded the cutoff value. The peak ratio in FV deficiency with FV ≤25% was higher than the cutoff value. FV‐deficient plasma spiked with 40 IU/dl rFV‐R506Q (FVLeiden) or rFV‐W1920R (FVNara) showed >90% peak ratios.

Conclusions

rTM‐mediated TF‐triggered CWA might be useful for screening PC pathway abnormality‐related thrombophilia.
Skew left braces and isomorphism problems for Hopf–Galois structures on Galois extensions
Authors: Koch Alan , Truman Paul J.
Published: April 2022

Given a finite group [Formula: see text], we study certain regular subgroups of the group of permutations of [Formula: see text], which occur in the classification theories of two types of algebraic objects: skew left braces with multiplicative group isomorphic to [Formula: see text] and Hopf–Galois structures admitted by a Galois extension of fields with Galois group isomorphic to [Formula: see text]. We study the questions of when two such subgroups yield isomorphic skew left braces or Hopf–Galois structures involving isomorphic Hopf algebras. In particular, we show that in some cases the isomorphism class of the Hopf algebra giving a Hopf–Galois structure is determined by the corresponding skew left brace. We investigate these questions in the context of a variety of existing constructions in the literature. As an application of our results we classify the isomorphically distinct Hopf algebras that give Hopf–Galois structures on a Galois extension of degree [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] prime numbers.
Analysis to determine the effect of mutations on binding to small chemical molecules
Authors: Koshlan T. V. , Kulikov K. G.
Published: April 2022

In this paper, the authors present and describe, in detail, an original software-implemented numerical methodology used to determine the effect of mutations on binding to small chemical molecules, on the example of gefitinib, AMPPNP, CO-1686, ASP8273, erlotinib binding with EGFR protein, and imatinib binding with PPARgamma. Furthermore, the developed numerical approach makes it possible to determine the stability of a molecular complex, which consists of a protein and a small chemical molecule. The description of the software package that implements the presented algorithm is given in the website: https://binomlabs.com/.
Stakeholder Perceptions on Multiple Ecosystem Services of Soil Conservation Practices in Tiwa Watershed, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Debie Ermias
Published: April 2022

Understanding stakeholders’ perceptions and preferences regarding different soil conservation practices (SCPs) are essential for addressing short-term ecosystem service (ES) values from a particular field. Demand for multiple ESs of SCPs has received limited attention. This study aimed to examine stakeholders’ perceptions on multiple ESs of SCPs in Tiwa watershed, Northwest highlands of Ethiopia. Results of the multi-criteria analysis method indicated that the combination of vegetation stabilised terracing, compost and crop residue under the legume-cereal crop rotation (LCCR) system was the most preferred conservation method for enhanced provisional, regulating and social ESs. Soil bunds stabilised with Sesbania sesban shrubs were the second preferred by providing more ESs. Subsequently, the inclusion of crop residue into the soil under the LCCR system, followed by compost use was perceived to regulate soil fertility and increase crop yields, and reduce the cost of chemical fertiliser in the short term. Hence, it is recommended that a combination of terraces stabilised with Sesbania sesban, and compost under the LCCR system can be the best alternative approach for multiple ESs in the highland of Ethiopia.
Automatic Mining Method of Group Behavior Patterns Based on Incremental Spatiotemporal Trajectory Big Data
Authors: Chen Xinfang , Liu Yiqing
Published: April 2022

There is a problem of unclear group clustering in group behavior pattern mining, which leads to a long mining time. An automatic group behavior pattern mining method based on incremental spatiotemporal trajectory big data is proposed. The grid sequence of each road segment and the road segment information included in each grid are obtained using the group behavior pattern trajectory network. Using incremental trajectory data, the properties of incremental spatiotemporal trajectory big data are retrieved, and the group behavior pattern is grouped. In the obtained class, all data element records are categorized according to their data elements. Multiple attribute dimensions, such as data definition, limitations, and feature words, are used to standardize the spatiotemporal trajectory data pieces. To complete the autonomous mining of group behavior patterns, all subsequences are visited, computed, and compared. The test results show that when the group size threshold is 20, the running time of the group behavior pattern automatic mining method based on incremental spatiotemporal trajectory big data is 311.66, which is 141.29 s and 148.66 s shorter than that based on DBSCAN and K-means, respectively. Therefore, this method has higher execution efficiency.
Corrosion Resistance of 3D-Printed Titanium Alloy Ti64-ELI Parts for Dental Application
Authors: Lebea L. , Ngwangwa H. M. , Desai D. A. , Nemavhola F.
Published: April 2022

Corrosion in the human body can cause materials to change structurally and release undesirable products that may bring about complications such as toxicity and inflammation. These may jeopardize the mechanical stability of prostheses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of solutions (Ringer’s and table salt [NaCl]) and immersion periods on 3D-printed titanium alloy Ti64-ELI samples and the changes in mechanical properties before and after corrosion testing. The microstructure of prepared samples was analyzed, and the formation of α- and β-phases was studied. During testing, the β-phases showed up as white, and the α-phases presented as dark. In both, corrosion by pitting was observed after corrosion analysis. The results show that, by comparing NaCl and Ringer’s, the

E

corr

of the solutions increased by 0.8 V and the

I

corr

decreased by an order of magnitude. It was observed that the weight loss in the solutions will lead to dental implant instability and will cause failure.
An Improved Self-Training Model with Fine-Tuning Teacher/Student Exchange Strategy to Detect Computer-Generated Images
Authors: Yao Ye , Liu Shuhui , Wang Hui , Shen Zhangyi , Ni Xuan
Published: April 2022

Computer-generated (CG) images have become indistinguishable from natural images due to powerful image rendering technology. Fake CG images have brought huge troubles to news media, judicial forensics, and other fields. How to detect CG image has become a key point to solve the problems mentioned above. The image classification method based on deep learning, due to its strong self-learning ability, can automatically determine the differences in the image features between CG images and natural images and can be used to detect CG images. However, deep learning often requires a large amount of labeled data, which is usually a tedious and complex task. This paper proposes an improved self-training strategy with fine-tuning teacher/student exchange (FTTSE) to solve the problem of missing labeled datasets. Our method is actually a strategy based on semisupervised learning to train the teacher model through labeled data and to predict the unlabeled data by the teacher model to generate pseudo labels. The student model is obtained by continuous training on the mixed dataset composed of labeled and pseudo-labeled data. A teacher/student exchange strategy is designed for iterative training; i.e., the identities of the teacher model and the student model are exchanged at the beginning of each round of iteration. And then the new teacher model is used to predict pseudo labels, and the new student model exchanged from teacher model in the previous round of iteration is fine-tuned and retrained by the mixed dataset with new pseudo labels. Furthermore, we introduced malicious image attacks to perturb the mixed dataset to improve the robustness of the student model. The experimental results show that the improved self-training model we proposed can stably maintain the image classification ability even if the testing images are maliciously attacked. After iterative training, the CG image detection accuracy of the final model increases by 5.18%. The robustness against 100% malicious attacks is also improved, where the final trained model has an accuracy improvement of 7.63% higher than the initial model. The self-training model with FTTSE strategy proposed in this paper can effectively enhance the detection ability of the existing model and can greatly improve the robustness of the model with iterative training.
Cost-Effectiveness of Life Cycle Cost Theory-Based Large Medical Equipment
Authors: Chang Xiaoyi , Zhao Yongqiang , Li Yuebin , Bai Ting , Gao Jungang , Zhao Chao
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study is to use the life cycle cost theory to analyze the efficiency of large medical equipment in hospitals, so as to implement life cycle cost (LCC) management and solve the current problems in hospitals. The analysis model of cost benefit of large medical equipment is established, and the cost-effectiveness of 4 large medical equipment between 2019 and 2021 is investigated and analyzed. In terms of the data in each information system of hospitals, the utilization of large medical equipment is quantitatively evaluated and analyzed by life cycle theory. The results show that the Revolution 256 row has the highest revenue of 113.29%. The annual depreciation of Signa 3.0 T HDxt is the highest, amounting to 4,160,000 yuan. However, there is lack of quality control and preventive maintenance of most equipment during use. The cost and benefit of large medical equipment in hospitals are analyzed, which demonstrates that Signa 3.0 T HDxt shows better effectiveness. Too high hospital warranty cost reflects the weak maintenance strength of hospital engineering technicians. The fundamental point of the maintenance and management of large medical equipment is to strengthen the performance evaluation of medical engineering technicians.
Shaping science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum in Australian schools: An ecological systems analysis
Authors: Falloon Garry , Powling Markus , Fraser Sharon , Hatisaru Vesife
Published: April 2022

Improving young people’s engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is being promoted worldwide as a means of addressing projected shortfalls in expertise needed to further nations’ economic, social and environmental goals. Responding to this, schools are reforming traditional discipline-based curricula into interdisciplinary approaches based on problem and project-based designs, to make STEM learning more relevant and meaningful for students. This study drew on a dataset of 449 Australian principal and teacher interviews, to identify factors influencing STEM curriculum in their schools. It utilised Ecological Systems Theory to build understanding relating to the influence of activities and outputs originating at macro, exo and meso system levels, on STEM curriculum and practices in classrooms. Results demonstrated how many innovative schools were able to successfully leverage community, business and national resources to enhance their STEM curriculum, while others struggled due to limitations imposed by geographic or socio-economic factors, or limited access to resources, expertise or advice. Central to achieving this was the powerful influence of principals’ and teachers’ proximal processes and developmental assets in establishing effective and engaging interdisciplinary STEM curricula, despite constraints imposed by, at best, ambiguous national and state curriculum and policies, rigid assessment regimes and compliance-focused reporting requirements.
Approach to modeling in the metric space of the energy exchange of two media
Authors: Derevyanko Georgy V. , Mescheryakov Vladimir I.
Published: April 2022

The work is devoted to the development and analysis of a topological model of the interaction of two energy media in a metricspace. The Hausdorff metric space is chosen as the initial set,which obeys the axioms of identity, symmetry and triangle. The real elementof the system in the space of energy measures,designed to transfer energy from one medium to another,is represented in correspondence with its cellular image,defined as a virtual Grassmannian. When energy is transferred from a medium with a higher energy to a medium with a lower energy, energy measures determine the organization of processes in the designed heat exchangeequipment. Informative components of the Grassmannian are also its area and perimeter. An analysis of the structural model, using the modified Heron formula and the Cayley-Merger determinant, showed that,assuming equilibrium at the Grassmannian nodes, its area in the space of energy measures should be equal to zero. At equilibrium, the semi perimeterin terms of energy measures is the energy potential applied to the element under conditions of its minimum. Relationships between the area of the Grassmannian and the potential applied to the element, the temperature efficiency, and the mixing efficiency of two flows are obtained. The study of this relationship shows that the Grassmannian perimeter has an extremum at an area equal to zero, at which the perimeter is equal to theapplied potential. From a design point of view, this means that when specifying flows and inlet temperatures,the requirements for the apparatus are formulated in terms of energy or final temperatures. This essentially determines the required potential and thecorresponding energy exchange efficiency.In this case, the potential takes the minimum required value corresponding to the requirement of the project, and the amount of transferred energy corresponds to the required one at fixed values of flows and energy exchange efficiency.