bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 UL34 Mutants That Affect Membrane Budding Regulation and Nuclear Lamina Disruption
Authors: Vu Amber , White Shaowen , Cassmann Tiffany , Roller Richard J.
Published: June 2021

Herpesvirus nuclear egress is a complex, regulated process coordinated by two virus proteins that are conserved among the herpesviruses that form a heterodimeric nuclear egress complex (NEC). The NEC drives budding of capsids at the inner nuclear membrane and recruits other viral and host cell proteins for disruption of the nuclear lamina, membrane scission, and fusion.
Antibody-Based Inhibition of Pathogenic New World Hemorrhagic Fever Mammarenaviruses by Steric Occlusion of the Human Transferrin Receptor 1 Apical Domain
Authors: Ferrero Sol , Flores Maria D. , Short Connor , Vazquez Cecilia A. , Clark Lars E. , Ziegenbein James , Zink Samantha , Fuentes Daniel , Payes Cristian , Batto María V. , Collazo Michael , García Cybele C. , Abraham Jonathan , Cordo Sandra M. , Rodriguez Jose A. , Helguera Gustavo
Published: June 2021

Pathogenic clade B NWMs cause grave infectious diseases, the South American hemorrhagic fevers. Their etiological agents are Junin (JUNV), Guanarito (GTOV), Sabiá (SABV), Machupo (MACV), Chapare (CHAV), and a new Sabiá-like (SABV-L) virus recently identified in Brazil.
Genomic Sequence Analysis of Methicillin- and Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Raw Sewage
Authors: Kaze Mo , Brooks Lauren , Sistrom Mark
Published: June 2021

The reasons for the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections are complex and associated with myriad clinical and environmental processes. Wastewater treatment plants operate as nexuses of bacterial interaction and are known hot spots for genetic exchange between bacteria, including antibiotic resistance genes.
Mafic-ultramafic intrusion formed by multi-stage evolution of hydrous basaltic melts
Authors: Li Qi-Wei , Zhao Jun-Hong , Zhou Mei-Fu , Gao Jian-Feng
Published: June 2021

The magmatic processes beneath the active continental margins are very complicated and affect structures and compositions of the arc roots. Neoproterozoic igneous rocks are widely distributed around the margins of the Tarim Block in NW China. The Xingdier mafic-ultramafic intrusion is a composite body, located at the northern margin of the Tarim Block, and consists of gabbro, pyroxenite, and peridotite units. The gabbro unit has a secondary ion mass spectrometry zircon U-Pb age of 727 ± 5 Ma. Rocks from the Xingdier intrusion have a large range of MgO (12.9–32.8 wt%) and SiO2 (43.0–57.9 wt%), and low K2O + Na2O (0.11–2.25 wt%) contents. They have right inclined chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns with (La/Yb)N ratios of 2.2–8.6. Their primitive mantle normalized trace element patterns show arc-affinity geochemical features characterized by enrichment in Rb, Ba, Th, U, and Pb and depletion in Nb, Ta, and Ti. They have variable initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7063–0.7093), εNd(t) values (−2.9 to −7.8), 206Pb/204Pb (17.08–17.80), 207Pb/204Pb (15.42–15.49), and 208Pb/204Pb ratios (37.48–38.05), forming an evolution trend from the peridotite unit to the gabbro and pyroxenite units. Clinopyroxene in the three units is chemically similar to those formed in hydrous magmas. The spinel inclusions in olivine from the peridotite unit show unmixing texture and have high Al contents and oxygen fugacity of ~FMQ+1. Therefore, the parental magma was probably derived from a lithospheric mantle enriched by slab-derived fluids. Rocks from the gabbro and peridotite units are proposed to have been derived from olivine-normative melts, whereas rocks from the pyroxenite unit are cumulates from the quartz-normative melts. Such contrasting parental magmas resulted from variable degrees of crustal contamination and fractional crystallization in the arc root.
Prevalence of monogenic disease in paediatric patients with a predominant respiratory phenotype
Authors: Dai Dan , Mei Mei , Hu Liyuan , Cao Yun , Wang Xiaochuan , Wang Libo , Lu Yulan , Yang Lin , Dong Xinran , Wang Huijun , Wu Bingbing , Qian Liling
Published: June 2021

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of monogenic disease in paediatric patients with a predominant respiratory phenotype.

Methods

Exome sequencing was performed in a cohort of 971 children with a predominant respiratory phenotype and suspected genetic aetiology. A total of 140 positive cases were divided into subgroups based on recruitment age and the primary biological system(s) involved.

Results

There were 140 (14.4%) patients with a positive molecular diagnosis, and their primary clinical manifestations were respiratory distress (12.9%, 18 of 140), respiratory failure (12.9%, 18 of 140) and recurrent/persistent lower respiratory infections (66.4%, 93 of 140). Primary immunodeficiency (49.3%), multisystem malformations/syndromes (17.9%), and genetic lung disease (16.4%) were the three most common genetic causes in the cohort, and they varied among the age subgroups. A total of 72 (51.4%) patients had changes in medical management strategies after genetic diagnosis, and the rate in those with genetic lung disease (82.6%, 19 of 23) was far higher than that in patients with genetic disease with lung involvement (45.3%, 53 of 117) (p=0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that exome sequencing is a valuable diagnostic tool for monogenic diseases in children with a predominant respiratory phenotype, and the genetic spectrum varies with age. Taken together, genetic diagnoses provide invaluable clinical and prognostic information that may also facilitate the development of precision medicine for paediatric patients.
Strategy to prevent epitope masking in CAR.CD19+ B-cell leukemia blasts
Authors: Quintarelli Concetta , Guercio Marika , Manni Simona , Boffa Iolanda , Sinibaldi Matilde , Di Cecca Stefano , Caruso Simona , Abbaszadeh Zeinab , Camera Antonio , Cembrola Biancamaria , Ciccone Roselia , Orfao Alberto , Martin-Martin Lourdes , Gutierrez-Herrero Sara , Herrero-Garcia Maria , Cazzaniga Gianni , Nunes Vittorio , Songia Simona , Marcatili Paolo , Marin Frederikke I , Ruella Marco , Bertaina Valentina , Vinti Luciana , Del Bufalo Francesca , Algeri Mattia , Merli Pietro , De Angelis Biagio , Locatelli Franco
Published: June 2021

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T-cells) for the treatment of relapsing/refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia have led to exciting clinical results. However, CAR T-cell approaches revealed a potential risk of CD19-/CAR+ leukemic relapse due to inadvertent transduction of leukemia cells.

Background

Methods

We evaluated the impact of a high percentage of leukemia blast contamination in patient-derived starting material (SM) on CAR T-cell drug product (DP) manufacturing. In vitro as well as in vivo models were employed to identify characteristics of the construct associated with better profile of safety in case of inadvertent B-cell leukemia transduction during CAR T-cell manufacturing.

Results

The presence of large amounts of CD19+ cells in SM did not affect the transduction level of DPs, as well as the CAR T-cell rate of expansion at the end of standard production of 14 days. DPs were deeply characterized by flow cytometry and molecular biology for Ig-rearrangements, showing that the level of B-cell contamination in DPs did not correlate with the percentage of CD19+ cells in SM, in the studied patient cohort. Moreover, we investigated whether CAR design may affect the control of CAR+ leukemia cells. We provided evidences that CAR.CD19 short linker (SL) prevents complete epitope masking in CD19+CAR+ leukemia cells and we demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that CD19 +CAR(SL)+leukemic cells are killed by CAR.CD19 T-cells.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data suggest that a VL-VH SL may result in a safe CAR-T product, even when manufacturing starts from biological materials characterized by heavy contamination of leukemia blasts.
Non-invasive measurement of PD-L1 status and prediction of immunotherapy response using deep learning of PET/CT images
Authors: Mu Wei , Jiang Lei , Shi Yu , Tunali Ilke , Gray Jhanelle E , Katsoulakis Evangelia , Tian Jie , Gillies Robert J , Schabath Matthew B
Published: June 2021

Background

Currently, only a fraction of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) experience a durable clinical benefit (DCB). According to NCCN guidelines, Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression status determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) of biopsies is the only clinically approved companion biomarker to trigger the use of ICI therapy. Based on prior work showing a relationship between quantitative imaging and gene expression, we hypothesize that quantitative imaging (radiomics) can provide an alternative surrogate for PD-L1 expression status in clinical decision support.

Methods

18F-FDG-PET/CT images and clinical data were curated from 697 patients with NSCLC from three institutions and these were analyzed using a small-residual-convolutional-network (SResCNN) to develop a deeply learned score (DLS) to predict the PD-L1 expression status. This developed model was further used to predict DCB, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in two retrospective and one prospective test cohorts of ICI-treated patients with advanced stage NSCLC.

Results

The PD-L1 DLS significantly discriminated between PD-L1 positive and negative patients (area under receiver operating characteristics curve ≥0.82 in the training, validation, and two external test cohorts). Importantly, the DLS was indistinguishable from IHC-derived PD-L1 status in predicting PFS and OS, suggesting the utility of DLS as a surrogate for IHC. A score generated by combining the DLS with clinical characteristics was able to accurately (C-indexes of 0.70–0.87) predict DCB, PFS, and OS in retrospective training, prospective testing and external validation cohorts.

Conclusion

Hence, we propose DLS as a surrogate or substitute for IHC-determined PD-L1 measurement to guide individual pretherapy decisions pending in larger prospective trials.
Checkpoint blockade accelerates a novel switch from an NKT-driven TNFα response toward a T cell driven IFN-γ response within the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Aoyama Shota , Nakagawa Ryosuke , Nemoto Satoshi , Perez-Villarroel Patricio , Mulé James J , Mailloux Adam William
Published: June 2021

Background

The temporal response to checkpoint blockade (CB) is incompletely understood. Here, we profiled the tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) landscape in response to combination checkpoint blockade at two distinct timepoints of solid tumor growth.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice bearing subcutaneous MC38 tumors were treated with anti-PD-1 and/or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. At 11 or 21 days, TIL phenotype and effector function were analyzed in excised tumor digests using high parameter flow cytometry. The contributions of major TIL populations toward overall response were then assessed using ex vivo cytotoxicity and in vivo tumor growth assays.

Results

The distribution and effector function among 37 distinct TIL populations shifted dramatically between early and late MC38 growth. At 11 days, the immune response was dominated by Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-producing NKT, representing over half of all TIL. These were accompanied by modest frequencies of natural killer (NK), CD4+, or CD8+T cells, producing low levels of IFN-γ. At 21 days, NKT populations were reduced to a combined 20% of TIL, giving way to increased NK, CD4+, and CD8+T cells, with increased IFN-γ production. Treatment with CB accelerated this switch. At day 11, CB reduced NKT to less than 20% of all TIL, downregulated TNFα across NKT and CD4+T cell populations, increased CD4+and CD8+TIL frequencies, and significantly upregulated IFN-γ production. Degranulation was largely associated with NK and NKT TIL. Blockade of H-2kb and/or CD1d during ex vivo cytotoxicity assays revealed NKT has limited direct cytotoxicity against parent MC38. However, forced CD1d overexpression in MC38 cells significantly diminished tumor growth, suggesting NKT TIL exerts indirect control over MC38 growth.

Conclusions

Despite an indirect benefit of early NKT activity, CB accelerates a switch from TNFα, NKT-driven immune response toward an IFN-γ driven CD4+/CD8+T cell response in MC38 tumors. These results uncover a novel NKT/T cell switch that may be a key feature of CB response in CD1d+tumors.
Whole-genome analysis as a diagnostic tool for patients referred for diagnosis of Silver-Russell syndrome: a real-world study
Authors: Alhendi Ahmed S N , Lim Derek , McKee Shane , McEntagart Meriel , Tatton-Brown Katriona , Temple I Karen , Davies Justin H , Mackay Deborah J G
Published: June 2021

Background

Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is an imprinting disorder characterised by prenatal and postnatal growth restriction, but its clinical features are non-specific and its differential diagnosis is broad. Known molecular causes of SRS include imprinting disturbance, single nucleotide variant (SNV), CNV or UPD affecting several genes; however, up to 40% of individuals with a clinical diagnosis of SRS currently receive no positive molecular diagnosis.

Methods

To determine whether whole-genome sequencing (WGS) could uncover pathogenic variants missed by current molecular testing, we analysed data of 72 participants recruited to the 100,000 Genomes Project within the clinical category of SRS.

Results

In 20 participants (27% of the cohort) we identified genetic variants plausibly accounting for SRS. Coding SNVs were identified in genes including CDKN1C, IGF2, IGF1R and ORC1. Maternal-effect variants were found in mothers of five participants, including two participants with imprinting disturbance and one with multilocus imprinting disorder. Two regions of homozygosity were suggestive of UPD involving imprinted regions implicated in SRS and Temple syndrome, and three plausibly pathogenic CNVs were found, including a paternal deletion of PLAGL1. In 48 participants with no plausible pathogenic variant, unbiased analysis of SNVs detected a potential association with STX4.

Conclusion

WGS analysis can detect UPD, CNV and SNV and is potentially a valuable addition to diagnosis of SRS and related growth-restricting disorders.
Hostile environments?Down’s syndrome and genetic screening in contemporary culture
Authors: Burke Lucy
Published: June 2021

This essay explores the complex entanglement of new reproductive technologies, genetics, health economics, rights-based discourses and ethical considerations of the value of human life with particular reference to representations of Down’s syndrome and the identification of trisomy 21. Prompted by the debates that have occurred in the wake of the adoption of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), the essay considers the representation of Down’s syndrome and prenatal testing in bioethical discourse, feminist writings on reproductive autonomy and disability studies and in a work of popular fiction, Yrsa Sigurdardóttir’sSomeone To Look Over Me(2013), a novel set in Iceland during the post-2008 financial crisis. It argues that the conjunction of neo-utilitarian and neoliberal and biomedical models produce a hostile environment in which the concrete particularities of disabled people’s lives and experiences are placed under erasure for a ‘genetic fiction’ that imagines the life of the ‘not yet born’ infant with Down’s syndrome as depleted, diminished and burdensome. With close reference to the depiction of Down’s syndrome and learning disability in the novel, my reading explores the ways in which the generic conventions of crime fiction intersect with ideas about economics, politics and learning disability, to mediate an exploration of human value and social justice that troubles dominant deficit-led constructions of disability.
Experimental study on sulfate erosion resistance of nano-CaCO3 modified concrete
Authors: Qiao Hongxia , Hakuzweyezu Theogene , Yang Bo , Li Kan
Published: June 2021

In the saline soil environment of western China, salts can corrode ordinary cement concrete seriously, and the durability of concrete structure deteriorates gradually until it fails. This impedes the application of ordinary Portland cement concrete in this area. Aiming at the problem of the short service life of concrete in the harsh environment of western China, this study examines the performance of nano-CaCO3 modified concrete in a sulfate environment. The durability of the concrete was evaluated by the apparent phenomena on the relative quality evaluation parameter, the relative dynamic elastic modulus evaluation parameter, and the comprehensive damage evaluation parameter. The microstructure of corroded products was investigated using scanning electron microscopy to reveal the deterioration mechanism. The results show that the addition of 1% nano-CaCO3 can enhance the resistance of concrete to sulfate corrosion, and the service life of concrete structures will increase significantly.
Size spectra analysis of a decade of Laurentian Great Lakes data
Authors: Evans Thomas M. , Feiner Zachary S. , Rudstam Lars G. , Mason Doran M. , Watkins James M. , Reavie Euan D. , Scofield Anne E. , Burlakova Lyubov E. , Karatayev Alexander Y. , Sprules W. Gary
Published: June 2021

Size spectra analysis (SSA) is used to detect changes in food webs by simplifying complex community structures through abundance-versus-biomass considerations. We applied SSA to 10 years (2006–2015) of data on Great Lakes organisms ranging in size from picoplankton to macrozooplankton. Summer pelagic size spectra slopes were near the theoretical value of −1.0, but spring slopes were steeper, reflecting seasonal differences in abundance of small and large individuals. Pelagic size spectra slopes were relatively stable over the time period we examined. Height (the predicted number of organisms at the spectra midpoint) varied among lakes and was slightly higher in summer than spring in more productive basins. Including benthic data led to shallower slopes when combined with pelagic data, suggesting benthic organisms may increase food web efficiency; height was less affected by benthic data. Benthic data are not routinely included in SSA, but our results suggest they affect slopes and therefore SSA-based predictions of fish abundance. The ability of SSA to track changes in trophic energy transfer makes it a valuable ecosystem monitoring tool.
Double prompt J/ψ production at hadron colliders
Authors: He Zhi-Guo , Kniehl Bernd A. , Nefedov Maxim A. , Saleev Vladimir A.
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we give a brief review of recent theoretical studies of double prompt [Formula: see text] production at the FNAL Tevatron and the CERN LHC, to which both single- and double-parton-scattering processes contribute. In single parton scattering, we mainly present the results computed within the framework of non-relativistic quantum chromodynamics factorization combined with one of the two approaches to describe the parton inside the (anti)proton, the collinear parton model and the parton Reggeization approach. The contributions from double parton scattering calculated with different values of [Formula: see text] are also discussed. We conclude that, in double prompt [Formula: see text] hadroproduction, there remain some differences between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements.
Spinorial structures, discrete symmetries and some consequences
Authors: Villalobos C. H. Coronado , Rogerio R. J. Bueno , Aguirre A. R.
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we discuss fundamental aspects related to the helicity and dynamics of the spin-1/2 fermions encompassed within the very well-known Lounesto’s classification. More specifically, we investigate how the bi-spinorial structures behave under discrete symmetries, as well as analyze some consequences on the spinors dynamics. In addition, we find an interesting relation between the spinor helicity and the Lounesto spinor classification.
Design and characterization of a copper microchannel heat sink for SiP cooling
Authors: Miao Min , Zhang Hao , Yu Hejie , Cao Lili
Published: June 2021

With the increasing flourishing of miniaturized, multifunctional, and heterogeneously integrated system in package (SiP), heating problem is becoming more and more serious. In this paper, to meet the heat dissipation needs of the chips thus assembled and to achieve effective thermal management, linear, serpent and spiral shaped microchannel heat sinks were designed and fabricated into copper substrate by electrical discharge machining (EDM) and precision machining technology, acting both as the cooler and mounting base for passive and active SiP interposers. A test platform was set up to characterize the heat dissipation performance of the copper-based microchannel heat sink. The experimental and simulation results show that heat dissipation rate increases with the increasing heat flux density in the range 5–30 W/cm2 for the three microchannel designs, and the peak temperature can all be kept below 340 K (67[Formula: see text]C) even for the highest heat flux. The three designs are compared from the perspective of peak temperature, temperature distribution uniformity and pressure drop. In all, the solution proposed hereby provides a new and optimal option for in-situ cooling for densely integrated electronic hardware.
Reflected BSDEs when the obstacle is predictable and nonlinear optimal stopping problem
Authors: Bouhadou Siham , Ouknine Youssef
Published: June 2021

In the first part of this paper, we study RBSDEs in the case where the filtration is non-quasi-left-continuous and the lower obstacle is given by a predictable process. We prove the existence and uniqueness by using some results of optimal stopping theory in the predictable setting, some tools from general theory of processes as the Mertens decomposition of predictable strong supermartingale. In the second part, we introduce an optimal stopping problem indexed by predictable stopping times with the nonlinear predictable [Formula: see text] expectation induced by an appropriate backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE). We establish some useful properties of [Formula: see text]-supremartingales. Moreover, we show the existence of an optimal predictable stopping time, and we characterize the predictable value function in terms of the first component of RBSDEs studied in the first part.
A Novel Image Inpainting Framework Using Regression
Authors: Maiti Somanka , Kumar Ashish , Jain Smriti , Bhatnagar Gaurav
Published: June 2021

In this article, a blockwise regression-based image inpainting framework is proposed. The core idea is to fill the unknown region in two stages: Extrapolate the edges to the unknown region and then fill the unknown pixels values in each sub-region demarcated by the extended edges. Canny edge detection and linear edge extension are used to respectively identify and extend edges to the unknown region followed by regression within each sub-region to predict the unknown pixel values. Two different regression models based on K-nearest neighbours and support vectors machine are used to predict the unknown pixel values. The proposed framework has the advantage of inpainting without requiring prior training on any image dataset. The extensive experiments on different images with contrasting distortions demonstrate the robustness of the proposed framework and a detailed comparative analysis shows that the proposed technique outperforms existing state-of-the-art image inpainting methods. Finally, the proposed techniques are applied to MRI images suffering from susceptibility artifacts to illustrate the practical usage of the proposed work.
Time-Efficient Ensemble Learning with Sample Exchange for Edge Computing
Authors: Chen Wu , Yu Yong , Gai Keke , Liu Jiamou , Choo Kim-Kwang Raymond
Published: June 2021

In existing ensemble learning algorithms (e.g., random forest), each base learner’s model needs the entire dataset for sampling and training. However, this may not be practical in many real-world applications, and it incurs additional computational costs. To achieve better efficiency, we propose a decentralized framework:Multi-Agent Ensemble.The framework leverages edge computing to facilitate ensemble learning techniques by focusing on the balancing of access restrictions (small sub-dataset) and accuracy enhancement. Specifically, network edge nodes (learners) are utilized to model classifications and predictions in our framework. Data is then distributed to multiple base learners who exchange data via an interaction mechanism to achieve improved prediction. The proposed approach relies on a training model rather than conventional centralized learning. Findings from the experimental evaluations using 20 real-world datasets suggest that Multi-Agent Ensemble outperforms other ensemble approaches in terms of accuracy even though the base learners require fewer samples (i.e., significant reduction in computation costs).
A Blockchain-empowered Access Control Framework for Smart Devices in Green Internet of Things
Authors: Tan Liang , Shi Na , Yu Keping , Aloqaily Moayad , Jararweh Yaser
Published: June 2021

Green Internet of things (GIoT) generally refers to a new generation of Internet of things design concept. It can save energy and reduce emissions, reduce environmental pollution, waste of resources, and harm to human body and environment, in which green smart device (GSD) is a basic unit of GIoT for saving energy. With the access of a large number of heterogeneous bottom-layer GSDs in GIoT, user access and control of GSDs have become more and more complicated. Since there is no unified GSD management system, users need to operate different GIoT applications and access different GIoT cloud platforms when accessing and controlling these heterogeneous GSDs. This fragmented GSD management model not only increases the complexity of user access and control for heterogeneous GSDs, but also reduces the scalability of GSDs applications. To address this issue, this article presents a blockchain-empowered general GSD access control framework, which provides users with a unified GSD management platform. First, based on the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) decentralized identifiers (DIDs) standard, users and GSD are issued visual identity (
VID
). Then, we extended the GSD-DIDs protocol to authenticate devices and users. Finally, based on the characteristics of decentralization and non-tampering of blockchain, a unified access control system for GSD was designed, including the registration, granting, and revoking of access rights. We implement and test on the Raspberry Pi device and the FISCO-BCOS alliance chain. The experimental results prove that the framework provides a unified and feasible way for users to achieve decentralized, lightweight, and fine-grained access control of GSDs. The solution reduces the complexity of accessing and controlling GSDs, enhances the scalability of GSD applications, as well as guarantees the credibility and immutability of permission data and identity data during access.
A Scale and Rotational Invariant Key-point Detector based on Sparse Coding
Authors: Hong Thanh Phuoc , Guan Ling
Published: June 2021

Most popular hand-crafted key-point detectors such as Harris corner, SIFT, SURF aim to detect corners, blobs, junctions, or other human-defined structures in images. Though being robust with some geometric transformations, unintended scenarios or non-uniform lighting variations could significantly degrade their performance. Hence, a new detector that is flexible with context change and simultaneously robust with both geometric and non-uniform illumination variations is very desirable. In this article, we propose a solution to this challenging problem by incorporating Scale and Rotation Invariant design (named SRI-SCK) into a recently developed Sparse Coding based Key-point detector (SCK). The SCK detector is flexible in different scenarios and fully invariant to affine intensity change, yet it is not designed to handle images with drastic scale and rotation changes. In SRI-SCK, the scale invariance is implemented with an image pyramid technique, while the rotation invariance is realized by combining multiple rotated versions of the dictionary used in the sparse coding step of SCK. Techniques for calculation of key-points’ characteristic scales and their sub-pixel accuracy positions are also proposed. Experimental results on three public datasets demonstrate that significantly high repeatability and matching score are achieved.
A rapid degradation of calponin 2 is required for cytokinesis
Authors: Qian Airong , Hsieh Tzu-Bou , Hossain M. Moazzem , Lin Jim J.-C. , Jin J.-P.
Published: June 2021

Calponin 2 is an actin cytoskeleton-associated protein and plays a role in regulating cell motility-related functions such as phagocytosis, migration, and division. We previously reported that overexpression of calponin 2 inhibits the rate of cell proliferation. To investigate the underlying mechanism, our present study found that the levels of endogenous calponin 2 in NIH3T3 and HEK293 cells rapidly decreased before cell division characterized by an absence at the actin contractile ring. In cells lacking endogenous calponin 2, transfective expression of GFP-fusion calponin 2 inhibited cell proliferation similar to that of nonfusion calponin 2. Fluorescent imaging studies of mitotic cells indicated that a proper level of calponin 2 expression and effective degradation during cytokinesis are necessary for normal cell division. Computer-assisted dynamic image analysis of dividing cells revealed that overexpression of calponin 2 significantly affects motility and shape behaviors of cells only on the interval from the start of anaphase to the start of cytokinesis, i.e., the pre-cytokinesis phase, but not on the interval from the start of cytokinesis to 50% completion of cytokinesis. The pre-cytokinesis degradation of calponin 2 was attenuated by MG132 inhibition of the ubiquitin proteasome and inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), suggesting that PKC phosphorylation-triggered degradation of calponin 2 could determine the rate of cytokinesis. The novel role of calponin 2 in regulating the rate of cytokinesis may be targeted for therapeutic applications such as in an inhibition of malignant tumor growth.
Moving forward: methodological considerations for assessing corticospinal excitability during rhythmic motor output in humans
Authors: Lockyer Evan J. , Compton Chris T. , Forman Davis A. , Pearcey Gregory E. , Button Duane C. , Power Kevin E.
Published: June 2021

The use of transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess the excitability of the central nervous system to further understand the neural control of human movement is expansive. The majority of the work performed to-date has assessed corticospinal excitability either at rest or during relatively simple isometric contractions. The results from this work are not easily extrapolated to rhythmic, dynamic motor outputs, given that corticospinal excitability is task-, phase-, intensity-, direction-, and muscle-dependent (Power KE, Lockyer EJ, Forman DA, Button DC. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 43: 1176–1185, 2018). Assessing corticospinal excitability during rhythmic motor output, however, involves technical challenges that are to be overcome, or at the minimum considered, when attempting to design experiments and interpret the physiological relevance of the results. The purpose of this narrative review is to highlight the research examining corticospinal excitability during a rhythmic motor output and, importantly, to provide recommendations regarding the many factors that must be considered when designing and interpreting findings from studies that involve limb movement. To do so, the majority of work described herein refers to work performed using arm cycling (arm pedaling or arm cranking) as a model of a rhythmic motor output used to examine the neural control of human locomotion.
Muscle sympathetic single-unit responses during rhythmic handgrip exercise and isocapnic hypoxia in males: the role of sympathoexcitation magnitude
Authors: Incognito Anthony V. , Teixeira André L. , Shafer Brooke M. , Nardone Massimo , Vermeulen Tyler D. , Foster Glen E. , Millar Philip J.
Published: June 2021

Subpopulations of muscle sympathetic single units can be inhibited during mild sympathoexcitatory stress. We demonstrate that rhythmic handgrip exercise and isocapnic hypoxia, when matched by multiunit sympathoexcitation, induce similar proportions of single-unit inhibition, highlighting that heterogeneous single-unit response patterns are related to the level of sympathoexcitation independent of the stressor type. Interestingly, only 47% of single units behaved with concordant response patterns between stressors, suggesting the potential for functional specificity within the postganglionic neuronal pool.
Influence of Dentin Priming with Tannin-Rich Plant Extracts on the Longevity of Bonded Composite Restorations
Authors: Polassi Mackeler Ramos , Oliveira Thales de Sá , Carvalho Ana Calheiros de , Medeiros Lívia Soman de Medeiros , Veiga Thiago André Moura , Graeff Carlos Frederico de Oliveira , González Alejandra Hortencia Miranda , Marcucci Maria Cristina , Grecco Simone dos Santos , D’Alpino Paulo Henrique Perlatti
Published: June 2021

Objective. This in vitro study evaluated the influence of bioactive plant extracts as dentin biomodifying agents to improve the longevity of bonded restorations. For that, plant extracts were applied to the dentin surface prior to the adhesive system. Materials and Methods. Bovine incisors were ground flat to obtain 2 mm thick slices in which conical preparations were made (N = 10). Tannin-containing plant extracts were applied to dentin before the application of the restorative system, as follows: control group (untreated, CTL), chlorhexidine 0.12% (CHX), mastruz (Dysphania ambrosioides, MTZ), cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa, CTC), guarana (Paullinia cupana, GUA), galla chinensis (Rhus chinensis, GCH), and tannic acid (extracted from Acacia decurrens, TNA). The push-out bond strength test was conducted (0.5 mm/min). Dentin biomodification was assessed by the modulus of elasticity and mass change in bovine tooth sections (0.5 × 1.7 × 7.0 mm). The dentin staining after extract treatments of dentin slices was compared. The dentin surface wettability was also evaluated by means of the contact angles of the adhesive system with the dentin surface and compared with the untreated control group. Data were subjected to ANOVA/Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Results. The bond strength of the restoratives to dentin was not significantly improved by the plant extracts, irrespective of the evaluation time (

p
>
0.05

). Except for TNA, the elastic modulus of demineralized dentin significantly reduced after treatment with the plant extracts (

p
<
0.05

). The dentin staining correlated with the tannin content of the extracts. The contact angle was significantly reduced when treated with CTC, GCH, and TNA. Conclusions. The tannin-containing extracts had a questionable effect on the longevity of bonded restorations. The dentin modulus was negatively affected by the extract treatments. Although some of the extracts changed the contact angle, which seems to improve the adhesive monomer permeation, the tannin-rich plant extract application prior to adhesive application was proven to be clinically unfeasible due to dentin staining.
Intraspecific Variation of Phytochemicals, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Different Solvent Extracts of Albizia coriaria Leaves from Some Agroecological Zones of Uganda
Authors: Omara Timothy , Kiprop Ambrose K. , Kosgei Viola J.
Published: June 2021

Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver is a customary African medicinal plant, which has a long history of utilization in the management of oxidative stress-induced and bacterial diseases. However, there is no report on the phytochemicals, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of its leaves. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the phytochemicals, antioxidant, and antibacterial potential of A. coriaria leaves from Jinja, Kole, and Mbarara districts of Uganda. Shade-dried leaf samples were ground into powder and successively extracted with ethyl acetate, ethanol, and distilled water. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and terpenes as the major secondary metabolites in the extracts. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and total in vitro antioxidant activity were found to be the highest for ethanolic extracts, with the highest contents (101.72 ± 0.22 mg GAE/g DW; 13.23 ± 0.03 mg QE/g DW) and antioxidant potential (IC50 = 18.65 ± 0.06 mg/mL) being for leaves from Mbarara district. Antibacterial activity of the extracts determined by agar disc diffusion method revealed that ethanolic extracts had higher antibacterial activities with mean zones of inhibition of 6.00 ± 1.73 to 10.00 ± 1.73 mm, 5.00 ± 1.00 to 12.30 ± 1.53 mm, 17.00 ± 0.00 to 25.00 ± 2.65 mm, and 9.00 ± 1.73 to 16.00 ± 1.73 mm for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi, respectively. Ethyl acetate extracts of A. coriaria leaves from Kole and Mbarara had lower antibacterial activities, while aqueous extracts and ethyl acetate extract of leaves from Jinja showed no antibacterial activity. The current study for the first time established that A. coriaria leaves possess therapeutic phytochemicals with significant in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities, which lend credence to their use in traditional management of oxidative stress-induced conditions and bacterial diseases in Uganda. Structural elucidation of the responsible pure compounds for the observed bioactivities as well as toxicity studies of the extracts is recommended.
Melatonin Alleviated Potassium Dichromate‐Induced Oxidative Stress and Reprotoxicity in Male Rats
Authors: Bashandy Samir A. E. , Ebaid Hossam , Al-Tamimi Jameel , Ahmed-Farid Omar A.-H. , Omara Enayat A. , Alhazza Ibrahim M.
Published: June 2021

Melatonin (ML) is a potent antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress. This study was designed to examine the protective effect of melatonin on potassium dichromate‐ (PDC‐) induced male reproductive toxicity. Forty rats were divided into five groups: the control group, rats administered PDC orally (10 mg/kg body weight) for eight weeks, rats administered ML intraperitoneally at doses of either 2.5 or 5 mg/kg followed by the administration of PDC, and rats administered 5 mg/kg ML only. The treatment of rats with PDC led to a decrease in the levels of plasma sex hormones, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, carnitine, sperm count, and motility. Testicular malondialdehyde levels, nitric oxide concentrations, and abnormalities increased significantly in the PDC group. Melatonin administration to the PDC‐treated rats reduced the increase of malondialdehyde and restored the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase), glutathione, and sex hormone levels. Moreover, ML attenuated PDC‐induced increase in levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha or interleukin‐6. ML alleviated histopathological changes and an increase of p53‐positive immune reaction due to PDC. Furthermore, ML inhibited PDC‐induced decrease in the DNA content of spermatogenic cells. This study proposed that melatonin may be useful in mitigating oxidative stress‐induced testicular damage due to potassium dichromate toxicity.
How Does the Urgency of Borrowing in Text Messages Affect Loan Defaults? Evidence from P2P Loans in China
Authors: Liu Hong , Yuan Mingkang , Zhou Meiling
Published: June 2021

In P2P loans with information asymmetry, the text information described by the borrower plays an important role in alleviating the information asymmetry between borrowers and lenders. To explore the borrowing described in text information and its relationship with default behavior, this article selects credits from April 2014 to October 2016 as the repayment period and studies default data. This is performed based on the length of the excavated text, purpose of the loan, repayment ability, willingness to reimburse, five text variables, and degree of loan urgency. The empirical results show that text length has a significant negative correlation with the default probability of borrowers. Different loan purposes have different default risks. Interestingly, the more urgent a loan is, the more likely the borrower is to default. However, repayment ability information and repayment willingness information have no significant effect on default behavior. In addition, the Nagelkerke R2 improved by nearly 3% in the logistic regression model with the addition of text variables. In short, fully excavating loan description information is helpful in reducing the risk of loan default.
Investigation of the Allelopathic Effect of Matricaria chamomilla L. Parts’ Aqueous Extracts on Germination and Seedling Growth of Two Moroccan Varieties of Durum Wheat
Authors: Elbouzidi Amine , Bencheikh Noureddine , Seddoqi Sara , Bouhrim Mohamed , Bouramdane Youssef , Addi Mohamed
Published: June 2021

The phenomenon of allelopathy has been known for more than 2000 years. This phenomenon consists of the chemical interference of plant species (or other organisms), by enhancing, or inhibiting, the germination, seedling growth, or development of other plant species (or other organisms). This paper aimed to investigate the allelopathic potential of the aqueous extract of different parts of Matricaria chamomilla L. on germination parameters (radicle, coleoptile length, and dry weight) of two Moroccan varieties of durum wheat. Chamomile extracts from leaves, roots, or flowers at concentrations of 50 and 100 g·L−1 were prepared and applied to wheat durum seeds. The control group was given distilled water. In both studied varieties of durum wheat, only flowers’ aqueous extracts showed a significant positive allelopathic effect by increasing the studied parameters, while leaves and roots from chamomile showed an inhibiting potential on germination and seedling growth in varieties riyad and kanakis.
[Retracted] Using Camshift and Kalman Algorithm to Trajectory Characteristic Matching of Basketball Players
Authors: Liang Shuang , Li Yang
Published: June 2021

Because of its unique charm, sports video is widely welcomed by the public in today’s society. Therefore, the analysis and research of sports game video data have high practical significance and commercial value. Taking a basketball game video as an example, this paper studies the tracking feature matching of basketball players’ detection, recognition, and prediction in the game video. This paper is divided into four parts to improve the application of the interactive multimodel algorithm to track characteristic matching: moving object detection, recognition, basketball track characteristic matching, and player track characteristic matching. The main work and research results of each part are as follows: firstly, the improved K‐means clustering algorithm is used to segment the golf field area; then, HSV is combined with the RGB Fujian value method to eliminate the field area; at last, straight field lines were extracted by Hough transform, and elliptical field lines were extracted by curve fitting, and the field lines were eliminated to realize the detection of moving objects. Seven normalized Hu invariant moments are used as the target features to realize the recognition of moving targets. By obtaining the feature distance between the sample and the template, the category of the sample is judged, which has a good robustness. The Kalman filter is used to match the characteristics of the basketball trajectory. Aiming at the occlusion of basketball, the least square method was used to fit the basketball trajectory, and the basketball position was predicted at the occlusion moment, which realized the occlusion trajectory matching. The matching of players’ track characteristics is realized by the CamShift algorithm based on the color model, which makes full use of players’ color information and realizes real‐time performance. In order to solve the problem of occlusion between players in the track feature matching, CamShift and Kalman algorithms were used to determine the occlusion factor through the search window and then weighted Kalman and CamShift according to the occlusion degree to get the track feature matching result. The experimental results show that the detection time is greatly shortened, the memory space occupied is small, and the effect is very ideal.
Assessing the Effect of Data Augmentation on Occluded Frontal Faces Using DWT-PCA/SVD Recognition Algorithm
Authors: Asiedu Louis , Mensah Joseph Agyapong , Ayiah-Mensah Francis , Mettle Felix O.
Published: June 2021

The drift towards face-based recognition systems can be attributed to recent advances in supportive technology and emerging areas of application including voting systems, access control, human-computer interactions, entertainments, and crime control. Despite the obvious advantages of such systems being less intrusive and requiring minimal cooperation of subjects, the performances of their underlying recognition algorithms are challenged by the quality of face images, usually acquired from uncontrolled environments with poor illuminations, varying head poses, ageing, facial expressions, and occlusions. Although several researchers have leveraged on the property of bilateral symmetry to reconstruct half-occluded face images, their approach becomes deficient in the presence of random occlusions. In this paper, we harnessed the benefits of the multiple imputation by the chained equation technique and image denoising using Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWTs) to reconstruct degraded face images with random missing pixels. Numerical evaluation of the study algorithm gave a perfect (100%) average recognition rate each for recognition of occluded and augmented face images. The study also revealed that the average recognition rate for the augmented face images (75.5811) was significantly lower than the average recognition rate (430.7153) of the occluded face images. MICE augmentation is recommended as a suitable data enhancement mechanism for imputing missing data/pixel of occluded face images.