bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A framework for research on recurrent acute disasters
Authors: Machlis Gary E. , Román Miguel O. , Pickett Steward T. A.
Published: March 2022

Disaster science examines the causes, behaviors, and consequences of hazardous events, from hurricanes to wildfires, flooding, and major industrial accidents. Individual disasters are recurring more frequently and with greater intensity. Recurrent acute disasters (RADs) are sequential disasters that affect a specific locale over time. While disaster science has matured in recent years, understanding of the distinctive characteristics of RADs varies by discipline and lacks predictive power. A theoretical framework is presented by borrowing in part from mathematical topology and disturbance ecology. The recurrent disasters affecting Puerto Rico 2017–2020 are examined as a case example to test the framework. A key variable is the complex characteristics of legacy conditions created by one disaster that influence the effects of subsequent disasters. Substantial improvements in disaster response, recovery, and preparedness can be gained by adopting a RAD-based approach.
Parallel functional subnetworks embedded in the macaque face patch system
Authors: Park Soo Hyun , Koyano Kenji W. , Russ Brian E. , Waidmann Elena N. , McMahon David B. T. , Leopold David A.
Published: March 2022

During normal vision, our eyes provide the brain with a continuous stream of useful information about the world. How visually specialized areas of the cortex, such as face-selective patches, operate under natural modes of behavior is poorly understood. Here we report that, during the free viewing of movies, cohorts of face-selective neurons in the macaque cortex fractionate into distributed and parallel subnetworks that carry distinct information. We classified neurons into functional groups on the basis of their movie-driven coupling with functional magnetic resonance imaging time courses across the brain. Neurons from each group were distributed across multiple face patches but intermixed locally with other groups at each recording site. These findings challenge prevailing views about functional segregation in the cortex and underscore the importance of naturalistic paradigms for cognitive neuroscience.
A single locus regulates a female-limited color pattern polymorphism in a reptile
Authors: Feiner Nathalie , Brun-Usan Miguel , Andrade Pedro , Pranter Robin , Park Sungdae , Menke Douglas B. , Geneva Anthony J. , Uller Tobias
Published: March 2022

Animal coloration is often expressed in periodic patterns that can arise from differential cell migration, yet how these processes are regulated remains elusive. We show that a female-limited polymorphism in dorsal patterning (diamond/chevron) in the brown anole is controlled by a single Mendelian locus. This locus contains the gene
CCDC170
that is adjacent to, and coexpressed with, the
Estrogen receptor-1
gene, explaining why the polymorphism is female limited.
CCDC170
is an organizer of the Golgi-microtubule network underlying a cell’s ability to migrate, and the two segregating alleles encode structurally different proteins. Our agent-based modeling of skin development demonstrates that, in principle, a change in cell migratory behaviors is sufficient to switch between the two morphs. These results suggest that
CCDC170
might have been co-opted as a switch between color patterning morphs, likely by modulating cell migratory behaviors.
Enhancing strength and ductility via crystalline-amorphous nanoarchitectures in TiZr-based alloys
Authors: Ming Kaisheng , Zhu Zhengwang , Zhu Wenqing , Fang Ben , Wei Bingqiang , Liaw Peter K. , Wei Xiaoding , Wang Jian , Zheng Shijian
Published: March 2022

Crystalline-amorphous composite have the potential to achieve high strength and high ductility through manipulation of their microstructures. Here, we fabricate a TiZr-based alloy with micrometer-size equiaxed grains that are made up of three-dimensional bicontinuous crystalline-amorphous nanoarchitectures (3D-BCANs). In situ tension and compression tests reveal that the BCANs exhibit enhanced ductility and strain hardening capability compared to both amorphous and crystalline phases, which impart ultra-high yield strength (~1.80 GPa), ultimate tensile strength (~2.3 GPa), and large uniform ductility (~7.0%) into the TiZr-based alloy. Experiments combined with finite element simulations reveal the synergetic deformation mechanisms; i.e., the amorphous phase imposes extra strain hardening to crystalline domains while crystalline domains prevent the premature shear localization in the amorphous phases. These mechanisms endow our material with an effective strength–ductility–strain hardening combination.
Developmental changes in lignin composition are driven by both monolignol supply and laccase specificity
Authors: Zhuo Chunliu , Wang Xin , Docampo-Palacios Maite , Sanders Brian C. , Engle Nancy L. , Tschaplinski Timothy J. , Hendry John I. , Maranas Costas D. , Chen Fang , Dixon Richard A.
Published: March 2022

The factors controlling lignin composition remain unclear. Catechyl (C)–lignin is a homopolymer of caffeyl alcohol with unique properties as a biomaterial and precursor of industrial chemicals. The lignin synthesized in the seed coat of
Cleome hassleriana
switches from guaiacyl (G)– to C-lignin at around 12 to 14 days after pollination (DAP), associated with a rerouting of the monolignol pathway. Lack of synthesis of caffeyl alcohol limits C-lignin formation before around 12 DAP, but coniferyl alcohol is still synthesized and highly accumulated after 14 DAP. We propose a model in which, during C-lignin biosynthesis, caffeyl alcohol noncompetitively inhibits oxidation of coniferyl alcohol by cell wall laccases, a process that might limit movement of coniferyl alcohol to the apoplast. Developmental changes in both substrate availability and laccase specificity together account for the metabolic fates of G- and C-monolignols in the
Cleome
seed coat.
Complete Genome Sequence of Halopseudomonas aestusnigri Strain GOM5, Isolated from Asphalt Marine Sediments of the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Rojas-Vargas Jorge , González-Sánchez Ricardo , Sánchez-Flores Alejandro , Licea-Navarro Alexei Fedorovish , Pardo-López Liliana
Published: March 2022

We report here the complete genome sequence of a marine
Halopseudomonas aestusnigri
strain isolated from asphalt sediments of the Gulf of Mexico. Studying the genomes of atypical environmental bacteria increases knowledge about the biology of microorganisms metabolizing pollutants and is also a biotechnological resource to develop bioremediation methods.
Alterations in the Gut Fungal Community in a Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Kong Geraldine , Lê Cao Kim-Anh , Hannan Anthony J.
Published: March 2022

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder affecting both the mind and body. We have recently discovered that gut bacteria are disrupted in HD.
Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice
Authors: Authier Hélène , Bardot Valérie , Berthomier Lucile , Bertrand Bénédicte , Blondeau Claude , Holowacz Sophie , Coste Agnès
Published: March 2022

The adverse effects and emergence of resistance of currently available antifungals and the high recurrence of candidiasis prompt the need for alternative and complementary strategies. We demonstrated that oral administration of hydroethanolic extracts of licorice root (LRE) and walnut leaf (WLE) separately or in combination significantly reduced the colonization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by
C. albicans
, highlighting a robust antifungal activity of these plant extracts.
Electrical stimulation and virtual reality-guided balance training for managing paraplegia and trunk dysfunction due to spinal cord infarction
Authors: Michibata Ai , Haraguchi Miyoko , Murakawa Yuichiro , Ishikawa Hideo
Published: March 2022

A 41-year-old woman presented with spinal cord infarction and paraplegia after acute thoracoabdominal aortic dissection. Clinical evaluation revealed the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) lower limb exercise score of 0 points and the Functional Assessment for Control of Trunk (FACT) score of 0 points. Conventional physical therapy for 60 days did not significantly improve the paraplegia or FACT score; therefore, belt electrode skeletal muscle electrical stimulation (B-SES) and virtual reality (VR)-guided sitting balance training were introduced for 30 days. She developed independence for all basic movements and her gait was restored using short leg braces and Lofstrand crutches. At discharge, her ASIA lower limb exercise score was 24 and FACT score was 7, with a functional impedance measure motor item of 57, and she could continuously walk for a distance of 150 m. The combination of B-SES and VR-guided balance training may be a feasible therapeutic option after spinal cord infarction.
Neurogenic heterotopic ossificans of hips in a case of expanded dengue syndrome following critical illness polyneuropathy
Authors: Hegde Atmananda , Mane Prajwal Prabhudev , Shetty Chethan B , Thakkar Samarth Ajay
Published: March 2022

We present a case of 71-year-old man with bilateral hip neurogenic heterotopic ossificans following critical illness polyneuropathy as a complication of expanded dengue syndrome. His left hip was stiff and showed a circumferential ossific mass. After initial medical management, the patient underwent excision of ossific mass using posterior approach. For adequate excision, femoral head and neck were resected and a hybrid total hip arthroplasty was performed. The patient was followed up for 2 years and showed good clinical outcome without recurrence of heterotopic ossification. This case highlights the rare aetiology of neurogenic heterotopic ossification which is critical illness polyneuropathy following expanded dengue syndrome. It highlights that adequate resection and a total hip arthroplasty can be a viable option in selected cases of circumferential heterotopic ossification in old individuals.
Progression of untreated gastric and pulmonary metastasis in a patient with resected acral melanoma
Authors: Chawla Gurasees S , Tolu Seda S , Arora Shitij
Published: March 2022

We report a man in his 80s who presents with epigastric abdominal pain and fatigue for 2 weeks. His medical history was significant for left toe acral melanoma (excised 6 years prior) and a lung mass, further workup for which was declined at the time by the patient. On presentation, he had iron deficiency anaemia and esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a gastric mass. Histopathological analysis of gastric and subsequently, pulmonary, lesions were consistent with metastatic melanoma. This case demonstrates the unique slow progression of untreated pulmonary metastasis in metastatic melanoma.
Leiomyoma with bizarre nuclei of the scrotum: a rare entity
Authors: Gama João , Oliveira Rui Caetano , Jarimba Roberto , Sousa Vítor
Published: March 2022

Leiomyomas of the paratesticular region are a rare entity. A subtype of leiomyomas called bizarre nuclei leiomyoma is even rarer and histologically present some interesting features that are important to recognise to make the differential diagnosis with its malignant counterpart—leiomyosarcoma. We present a case of a man in his 60s, who presented with a painless mass on the right testicle. The clinical diagnosis was of an epidermoid cyst. The mass was excised and a diagnosis of leiomyoma of bizarre nuclei was made.
Treatment-related peripheral small cell lung carcinoma in a Hodgkin lymphoma survivor
Authors: Gudapati Prathyusha , Abouamara Mouna
Published: March 2022

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors have an increased risk of developing subsequent treatment-related primary malignancies. In the last few decades, advances in knowledge, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation have led to the transformation of lethal malignancy into highly curable malignancy, thereby improving outcomes. With prolonged survival, the risk of developing subsequent treatment-related late adverse effects, such as malignancies, steadily increases over time. Herein, we present the first case of a treatment-related second primary stage IV peripheral small cell lung carcinoma in a female HL survivor who was also diagnosed with right breast cancer 13 years after HL treatment and 1 year before her lung cancer diagnosis.
Thresholds for interpreting the fragility index derived from sample of randomised controlled trials in cardiology: a meta-epidemiologic study
Authors: Murad Mohammad Hassan , Kara Balla Abdalla , Khan Muhammad Shahzeb , Shaikh Asim , Saadi Samer , Wang Zhen
Published: March 2022

The fragility index (FI) was proposed as a simplified way to communicate robustness of statistically significant results and their susceptibility to a change of a handful number of events. While this index is intuitive, it is not anchored by a cut-off or a guide for interpretation. We identified cardiovascular trials published in six high impact journals from 2007 to 2021 (500 or more participants and a dichotomous statistically significant primary outcome). We estimated area under curve (AUC) to determine FI value that best predicts whether the treatment effect was precise, defined as adequately powered for a plausible relative risk reduction (RRR) of 25% or 30% or having a CI that is sufficiently narrow to exclude a risk reduction that is too small (close to the null, <0.05). The median FI of 201 included cardiovascular trials was 13 (range 1–172). FI exceeded the number of patients lost to follow-up in 46/201 (22.89%) trials. FI values of 19 and 22 predicted that trials would be precise (powered for RRR of 30% and 25%; respectively, combined with CI that excluded risk reduction <0.05). AUC for meeting these precision criteria was 0.90 (0.86–0.94). In conclusion, FI values that range 19–22 may meet various definitions of precision and can be used as a rule of thumb to suggest that a treatment effect is likely precise and less susceptible to random error. The number of patients lost to follow-up should be presented alongside FI to better illustrate fragility.
Epidemiological modelling in refugee and internally displaced people settlements: challenges and ways forward
Authors: Aylett-Bullock Joseph , Gilman Robert Tucker , Hall Ian , Kennedy David , Evers Egmond Samir , Katta Anjali , Ahmed Hussien , Fong Kevin , Adib Keyrellous , Al Ariqi Lubna , Ardalan Ali , Nabeth Pierre , von Harbou Kai , Hoffmann Pham Katherine , Cuesta-Lazaro Carolina , Quera-Bofarull Arnau , Gidraf Kahindo Maina Allen , Valentijn Tinka , Harlass Sandra , Krauss Frank , Huang Chao , Moreno Jimenez Rebeca , Comes Tina , Gaanderse Mariken , Milano Leonardo , Luengo-Oroz Miguel
Published: March 2022

The spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 presents many challenges to healthcare systems and infrastructures across the world, exacerbating inequalities and leaving the world’s most vulnerable populations at risk. Epidemiological modelling is vital to guiding evidence-informed or data-driven decision making. In forced displacement contexts, and in particular refugee and internally displaced people (IDP) settlements, it meets several challenges including data availability and quality, the applicability of existing models to those contexts, the accurate modelling of cultural differences or specificities of those operational settings, the communication of results and uncertainties, as well as the alignment of strategic goals between diverse partners in complex situations. In this paper, we systematically review the limited epidemiological modelling work applied to refugee and IDP settlements so far, and discuss challenges and identify lessons learnt from the process. With the likelihood of disease outbreaks expected to increase in the future as more people are displaced due to conflict and climate change, we call for the development of more approaches and models specifically designed to include the unique features and populations of refugee and IDP settlements. To strengthen collaboration between the modelling and the humanitarian public health communities, we propose a roadmap to encourage the development of systems and frameworks to share needs, build tools and coordinate responses in an efficient and scalable manner, both for this pandemic and for future outbreaks.
YouTube as a source of misinformation on COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic analysis
Authors: Li Heidi Oi-Yee , Pastukhova Elena , Brandts-Longtin Olivier , Tan Marcus G , Kirchhof Mark G
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 have been accessible to the public since December 2020. However, only 58.3% of Americans are fully vaccinated as of 5 November 2021. Numerous studies have supported YouTube as a source of both reliable and misleading information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Misinformation regarding the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines has negatively impacted vaccination intent. To date, the literature lacks a systematic evaluation of YouTube’s content on COVID-19 vaccination using validated scoring tools. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy, usability and quality of the most widely viewed YouTube videos on COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

A search on YouTube was performed on 21 July 2021, using keywords ‘COVID-19 vaccine’ on a cleared-cache web browser. Search results were sorted by ‘views’, and the top 150 most-viewed videos were collected and analysed. Duplicate, non-English, non-audiovisual, exceeding 1-hour duration, or videos unrelated to COVID-19 vaccine were excluded. The primary outcome was usability and reliability of videos, analysed using the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) score, the modifiedJournal of the American Medical Association(mJAMA) score and the COVID-19 Vaccine Score (CVS).

Results

Approximately 11% of YouTube’s most viewed videos on COVID-19 vaccines, accounting for 18 million views, contradicted information from the WHO or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Videos containing non-factual information had significantly lower mDISCERN (p<0.001), mJAMA (p<0.01) and CVS (p<0.001) scores compared with videos with factual information. Videos from government sources had higher mJAMA and CVS scores, but averaged three times the ratio of dislikes to likes, while videos containing non-factual information averaged 14 times more likes than dislikes.

Conclusion

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, widespread adoption of vaccination is essential in reducing morbidity, mortality, and returning to some semblance of normalcy. Providing high-quality and engaging health information from reputable sources is essential in addressing vaccine hesitancy.
Anaemia and associated factors among older adults in an urban district in China: a large-scale cross-sectional study
Authors: Ni Wenqing , Yuan Xueli , Sun Yuanying , Zhang Hongmin , Zhang Yan , Xu Jian
Published: March 2022

Objective

Anaemia leads to poor health outcomes in older adults; however, most current research in China has focused on younger adults. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anaemia and its associated factors in older adults in an urban district in China.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

An urbanised region, Shenzhen, China.

Participants

A total of 121 981 participants aged ≥65 years were recruited at local community health service centres in Shenzhen from January to December 2018.

Primary outcomes

The prevalence of anaemia was analysed and potential associated factors were evaluated.

Results

The mean haemoglobin level was 136.40±16.66 g/L and the prevalence of anaemia was 15.43%. The prevalences of mild, moderate and severe anaemia were 12.24%, 2.94% and 0.25%, respectively. Anaemia was positively associated with older age, being underweight (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.06, 95% CI 1.93 to 2.20), diabetes (AOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.28) and chronic kidney disease (AOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.36 to 1.46), and inversely with higher education level, current-smoker (AOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.89), non-habitual drinker (AOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.92), habitual drinker (AOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.87), overweight (AOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.70), obesity (AOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.61), central obesity (AOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.89), hypertension (AOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.89) and dyslipidaemia (AOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.84).

Conclusion

Anaemia is prevalent among people aged 65 years and older in China. Screening of high-risk populations and treatment of senile anaemia should be a top priority in Shenzhen, and should be listed as important public health intervention measures for implementation.
Prevalence, methods and characteristics of self-harm among asylum seekers in Australia: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Hedrick Kyli , Borschmann Rohan
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Asylum seekers are at increased risk of self-harm compared with the general population, and the experience of detention may further exacerbate this risk. Despite this, evidence regarding the prevalence, methods and characteristics of self-harm among asylum seekers in Australia (including those detained in onshore and offshore immigration detention) has not been synthesised. Such information is necessary to inform evidence-based prevention initiatives, and effective clinical and governmental responses to self-harm. This review will synthesise findings from the literature regarding the prevalence, methods and characteristics of self-harm among asylum seekers in both detained and community-based settings in Australia.

Methods and analysis

We searched key electronic health, psychology and medical databases (PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed and MEDLINE) for studies published in English between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 2021. Our primary outcome is self-harm among asylum seekers held in onshore and/or offshore immigration detention, community detention and/or in community-based arrangements in Australia. We will include all study designs (except single case studies) that examine the prevalence of self-harm in asylum seekers. Studies published between 1992—the commencement of Australia’s policy of mandatory immigration detention—and 2021 will be included. We will not apply any age restrictions. The Methodological Standard for Epidemiological Research scale will be used to assess the quality of included studies. If there are sufficient studies, and homogeneity between them, we will conduct meta-analyses to calculate pooled estimates of self-harm rates and compare relevant subgroups. If studies report insufficient data, or there is substantial heterogeneity, findings will be provided in narrative form.

Ethics and dissemination

This review is exempt from ethics approval as it will synthesise findings from published studies with pre-existing ethics approval. Our findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal article and conference presentations.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020203444.
Delayed antibiotic prescribing to reduce antibiotic use: an urgent care practice change
Authors: Tonazzi Shera , Prenovost Leanne , Scheuermann Suzette
Published: March 2022

Background

Antibiotic overuse threatens global health, food security and human development through the development of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Studies suggest urgent cares exceed the national average for inappropriate antibiotic use associated with maintaining patient satisfaction.

Local problem

Chart audits from an urgent care clinic in the southwest region of the USA revealed that antibiotics were prescribed for upper respiratory infections (URIs) routinely and without patient instruction on methods to reduce their antibiotic use. Further review, exposed that most urgent care sites do not have an Antibiotic Stewardship Plan (ASP) and little-to-no ASP training for medical staff.

Methods

A quantitative quality improvement project was implemented to determine the impact of delayed antibiotic prescribing on antibiotic usage rates for adult patients with URI symptoms at an urgent care clinic in central Arizona over 4 weeks.

Interventions

Implementing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s URI adult treatment guidelines for antibiotic use with follow-up phone calls 10 days post-discharge to evaluate the patient’s decision-making.

Results

Antibiotic usage rates decreased by 12% in 30 days, N=927, n=598 in the comparative and n=330 in the implementation group. A Mann-Whitney U test demonstrated a statistically and clinically significant reduction in antibiotic usage rates between groups (U=247, p=0.023).

Conclusion

Success in meeting the goal was a result of team and patient engagement strategies that reduced outpatient antibiotic use while maintaining high levels of patient satisfaction.
A faecal microbiota signature with high specificity for pancreatic cancer
Authors: Kartal Ece , Schmidt Thomas S B , Molina-Montes Esther , Rodríguez-Perales Sandra , Wirbel Jakob , Maistrenko Oleksandr M , Akanni Wasiu A , Alashkar Alhamwe Bilal , Alves Renato J , Carrato Alfredo , Erasmus Hans-Peter , Estudillo Lidia , Finkelmeier Fabian , Fullam Anthony , Glazek Anna M , Gómez-Rubio Paulina , Hercog Rajna , Jung Ferris , Kandels Stefanie , Kersting Stephan , Langheinrich Melanie , Márquez Mirari , Molero Xavier , Orakov Askarbek , Van Rossum Thea , Torres-Ruiz Raul , Telzerow Anja , Zych Konrad ,   MAGIC Study investigators,   PanGenEU Study investigators, Benes Vladimir , Zeller Georg , Trebicka Jonel , Real Francisco X , Malats Nuria , Bork Peer
Published: March 2022

Background

Recent evidence suggests a role for the microbiome in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) aetiology and progression.

Objective

To explore the faecal and salivary microbiota as potential diagnostic biomarkers.

Methods

We applied shotgun metagenomic and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to samples from a Spanish case–control study (n=136), including 57 cases, 50 controls, and 29 patients with chronic pancreatitis in the discovery phase, and from a German case–control study (n=76), in the validation phase.

Results

Faecal metagenomic classifiers performed much better than saliva-based classifiers and identified patients with PDAC with an accuracy of up to 0.84 area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) based on a set of 27 microbial species, with consistent accuracy across early and late disease stages. Performance further improved to up to 0.94 AUROC when we combined our microbiome-based predictions with serum levels of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19–9, the only current non-invasive, Food and Drug Administration approved, low specificity PDAC diagnostic biomarker. Furthermore, a microbiota-based classification model confined to PDAC-enriched species was highly disease-specific when validated against 25 publicly available metagenomic study populations for various health conditions (n=5792). Both microbiome-based models had a high prediction accuracy on a German validation population (n=76). Several faecal PDAC marker species were detectable in pancreatic tumour and non-tumour tissue using 16S rRNA sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridisation.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results indicate that non-invasive, robust and specific faecal microbiota-based screening for the early detection of PDAC is feasible.
The biological relevance of PCSK9: when less is better…
Authors: Mbikay Majambu , Chrétien Michel
Published: March 2022

Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin-type 9 (PCSK9) is a circulating negative regulator of hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which clears cholesterol from blood. Gain-of-function genetic mutations that amplify PCSK9 activity have been found to cause potentially lethal familial hypercholesterolemia. Inversely, reduction of its activity through loss-of-function genetics or with pharmaceuticals was shown to increase hepatic LDLR, to lower blood cholesterol, and to protect against cardiovascular diseases. New epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that this reduction could also attenuate inflammation, reinforce cancer immunity, provide resistance to infections, and protect against liver pathologies. In this review, we question the relevance of this protein under normal physiology. We propose that PCSK9 is an important, but nonessential, modulator of cholesterol metabolism and immunity, and that its pathogenicity results from its chronic overexpression.
Allosteric regulation of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases
Authors: Martinez Pomier Karla , Akimoto Madoka , Byun Jung Ah , Khamina Mariia , Melacini Giuseppe
Published: March 2022

Kinases include a wide variety of valuable drug targets, but full therapeutic exploitation requires a high degree of selectivity. A promising avenue to engineer the desired kinase selectivity relies on allosteric sites. Here, we provide a focused minireview of recent progress in allosteric modulation of cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases, including protein kinases A and G. We show how apparently diverse emerging concepts, such as allosteric pluripotency, allosteric nonadditive binding, and uncompetitive allosteric inhibition, are all manifestations of complex conformational ensembles. Such ensembles include not only the typical apo-inactive and effector-bound-active states, but also mixed intermediates that feature attributes of the former states within a single molecule. We also discuss how allosteric responses are amplified by aggregation processes, thus establishing a novel interface between the signaling and amyloid fields. Finally, we critically evaluate the challenges and opportunities for clinical translation opened by these emerging allosteric concepts.
Analysis of Injection Locking in Ring-Based Divide-By-Two Frequency Dividers
Authors: Fekih-Ahmed Lazhar
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we introduce a unified nonlinear injection locking model of a large class of 1:2 frequency dividers. The model is valid for two-stage dividers, injected with two-phase or single-phase current or voltage sources. We show that this class of dividers can be rigorously analyzed using the theory of planar nonlinear dynamical systems. We provide accurate compact expressions for the locking range, amplitude, frequency and phase noise. The formulas are validated for two types of frequency dividers using simulations.
Tidal effect on the gyroscopic precession around a compact star
Authors: Nath Kamal Krishna , Kuzur Debojoti , Mallick Ritam
Published: March 2022

General relativistic effects around massive astrophysical objects can be captured using a test gyro orbiting the object in a circular geodesic. This paper discusses how the tidal field due to a companion object affects the spin precession frequency and orbital angular velocity of a spinning gyro orbiting around a compact astrophysical object. The precession frequency is studied in a region of space around the central object using a perturbative approach. The central object is either a neutron star or a white dwarf in this study. The test gyro is any planetary or asteroid-like object orbiting a neutron star or a white dwarf. Moreover, the companion object that causes the tidal field can be a neutron star, white dwarf or a stellar black hole. It is seen that the tidal effect significantly affects the spacetime around the central object, which affects the gyro precession frequency and the orbital angular velocity. Slow rotation approximation has been considered for the central object, which creates negligible deformation. The change in the gyro’s precession frequency and the orbital angular velocity due to the tidal field increases with an increase in the companion object’s mass and decreases as the separation between the central star and the companion star increases. The tidal effect also varies with the stiffness of the equation of state of matter describing the host star. The lower the compactness of the host star, the greater is the tidal response; thus the greater is the change in the gyro’s precession and angular velocity of the geodesic.
VIABILITY OF 3T3-L1 PREADIPOCYTES IS MODULATED BY THE APPLIED FREQUENCY BUT NOT THE EXPOSURE DURATION OF LOW INTENSITY VIBRATORY STIMULATION
Authors: BASKAN OZNUR , OZCIVICI ENGIN
Published: March 2022

Mechanical forces are the integral determinants in cell and tissue homeostasis and regeneration, and they can affect numerous biological process from proliferation to fate determination. Mechanical forces that possess low magnitude and high frequency characteristics are also known as low intensity vibrations (LIVs). These signals were studied widely on many cell types for regenerative purposes, however most of these studies select components of LIV signals (e.g., magnitude, frequency, duration, etc.) arbitrarily. Here, we addressed the effect of LIV applied frequency, LIV daily exposure time and fate induction on the viability of preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells. For this, we performed a frequency sweep that was ranging from 30[Formula: see text]Hz to 120[Formula: see text]Hz with 15[Formula: see text]Hz increments applied for 5, 10 or 20[Formula: see text]min during quiescent growth or adipogenesis for up to 10 days. Results suggest that the applied frequency and fate induction was an important determinant of cell viability while daily exposure time had no effect. These findings contribute to the effort of optimizing a relevant mechanical stimulus that can inhibit adipogenesis.
FATIGUE OF KNEE EXTENSOR MUSCLES DOES NOT ALTER KNEE JOINT POSITION SENSE
Authors: BERSOTTI FELIPE MARRESE , DE MELO TAMIRIS BARBOSA , RAFAEL SKAU JERÔNIMO , MOCHIZUKI LUIS , ERVILHA ULYSSES FERNANDES
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of knee extensors fatigue on joint position sense. Fifteen healthy participants, all males, with no history of previous musculoskeletal lesions were recruited. Evaluation of the knee joint position sense and the muscle fatigue protocol had been performed using an isokinetic dynamometer. Fatigue was considered when the maximum torque was reduced by 50%. The joint position sense was analyzed by the absolute error and the variable error. The paired t-test was used to compare the mean in pre and during muscle fatigue conditions. The level of significance was 5%. Absolute and variable errors were not significantly affected by muscle fatigue. Knee joint position sense does not seem to be affected by fatigue of knee joint extensors.
Duality for matrix-valued wave packet frames in L2(ℝd, ℂs×r)
Authors: Jyoti  , Vashisht Lalit Kumar
Published: March 2022

Dual frames are generalized Riesz bases which have potential applications in signal processing. In this paper, the construction of dual frames of matrix-valued wave packet systems in the matrix-valued function space [Formula: see text] from dual pairs of atomic wave packet frames in [Formula: see text] is studied. A class of matrix-valued dual generators from its associated dual pair of atomic wave packets has been obtained. We provide a characterization of matrix-valued dual window functions in terms of orthogonality of wave packet Bessel sequences. A perturbation result with respect to window functions for matrix-valued dual frames is given. It is well known that an orthogonal Parseval Hilbert frame for a Hilbert space turned out be an orthonormal basis for the space, however, this is not true for an orthogonal matrix-valued wave packet Parseval frame for the underlying matrix-valued function space. We give a type of matrix-valued orthonormal basis associated with an orthonormal basis of [Formula: see text].
Multiclass cyber-attack classification approach based on the Krill Herd Optimized Deep Neural Network (KH-DNN) model for WSN
Authors: Dwarkanath Samleti Sandeep , Aruna R.
Published: March 2022

The Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a useful infiltration detection tool. With IDS, it may mechanically categorize intrusions, attacks, or breaches of security stratagems across host-level within the network and within the organization. The Krill Herd Optimized Deep Neural Network (KH-DNN) is proposed in this document as a multiclass cyberattack methodology. This model is suggested by uniting the network-based intrusion detection system (NIDS) and the host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) to advance flexible and actual IDS to categorize and detect unexpected and unpredictable cyber attacks. In this method, two types of IDS are classified, that is, NIDS and HIDS. Classification of the system call is exploited to discriminate behavior into normal and attack categories. In this manuscript accuracy, the parameter of the deep neural network classifier is optimized with the Krill Herd optimization algorithm. Finally, the DNN model is performed in the NIDS dataset and the HIDS dataset. For the HIDS dataset, the KDD Cup 99 dataset was used, which employed two datasets: ADFA-LD and ADFA-WD, and several types of attacks were detected and classified, including Adduser, Hydra-FTP, Java-Meterpreter, Hydra-SSH, and Web-Shell. The suggested IDS-KH-DNN algorithm attains higher accuracy 42.56% and 23.4%, high precision 84.74% and 52.43%, high F-score 53.5% 64.455, high sensitivity 33.4% and 45.23%, and high specificity 31.45% and 44.23% for the NIDS dataset. The proposed system is compared to two current processes: intrusion detection using Gray Wolf optimization-based support vector machine (IDS-GWO-SVM) and intrusion detection using artificial bee colony optimization algorithm based support vector machine (IDS-ABCO-SVM). Finally, the simulation results show that the suggested approach is capable of quickly and accurately locating optimal solutions.
Joint Offloading and Resource Allocation Based on UAV-Assisted Mobile Edge Computing
Authors: Tan Tiao , Zhao Ming , Zeng Zhiwen
Published: March 2022

Due to the birth of various new Internet of Things devices, the rapid increase of users, and the limited coverage of infrastructure, computing resources will inevitably become insufficient. Therefore, we consider an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)–assisted mobile edge computing system with multiple users, an edge server, a remote cloud server, and an UAV. A UAV, as a relay node, can provide users with extensive communications and certain computing capabilities. Our proposed scheme aims to optimize the unloading decision of the tasks among all users and the allocation of computing and communication resources to minimize overall energy consumption and costs of computing and maximum delay. To solve the joint optimization problem, we propose an efficient USS algorithm, which includes a UAV position optimization algorithm, semi-qualitative relaxation method, and self-adaptive adjustment method. Our numerical results show that the proposed algorithm can significantly reduce the unloading cost of multi-user tasks compared with four other unloading decisions, such as traditional cloud computing, which uses only the edge server.
MFPMiner: Mining Meaningful Frequent Patterns from Spatio-textual Trajectories
Authors: Valdes Fabio
Published: March 2022

In the second decade of this century, technical progress has led to a worldwide proliferation of devices for tracking the movement behavior of a person, a vehicle, or another kind of entity. One of the consequences of this development is a massive and still growing amount of movement and movement-related data recorded by cellphones, automobiles, vessels, aircraft, and further GPS-enabled entities. As a result, the requirements for managing and analyzing movement records also increase, serving commercial, administrative, or private purposes. Since the development of hardware components cannot keep pace with the data growth, exploring methods of analyzing such trajectory datasets has become a very active and influential research field.

For many application scenarios, besides the spatial trajectory of an entity, it is desirable to take additional semantic information into consideration. These descriptions also change with time and may represent, e.g., the course of streets passed by a bus, the sequence of region names traversed by an aircraft, or the points of interest in proximity of the positions of a taxi. Such data may be directly recorded by a sensor (such as the altitude of an aircraft) or computed from the spatial trajectory combined with some underlying information (for example, street names). It is often helpful or even necessary to focus on such semantic information for efficient analyses, as changes usually occur less frequently than it is the case for the spatial trajectory, where data points usually arrive in very close temporal distances. However, any kind of querying requires a deep semantic knowledge of the dataset at hand, particularly for retrieving the set of trajectories that match a certain mobility pattern, that is, a sequence of temporal, spatial, and semantic specifications.

In this article, we introduce a framework named MFPMiner

1

for retrieving all mobility patterns fulfilling a user-specified frequency threshold from a spatio-textual trajectory dataset. The resulting patterns and their relative frequency can be regarded as a knowledge base of the considered data. They may be directly visualized or applied for a pattern matching query yielding the set of matching trajectories. We demonstrate the functionality of our approach in an application scenario and provide an experimental evaluation of its performance on real and synthetic datasets by comparing it to three competitive methods. The framework has been fully implemented in a DBMS environment and is freely available open source software.
Machine Learning for Computer Systems and Networking: A Survey
Authors: Kanakis Marios Evangelos , Khalili Ramin , Wang Lin
Published: March 2022

Machine learning (ML) has become the de-facto approach for various scientific domains such as computer vision and natural language processing. Despite recent breakthroughs, machine learning has only made its way into the fundamental challenges in computer systems and networking recently. This article attempts to shed light on recent literature that appeals for machine learning-based solutions to traditional problems in computer systems and networking. To this end, we first introduce a taxonomy based on a set of major research problem domains. Then, we present a comprehensive review per domain, where we compare the traditional approaches against the machine learning-based ones. Finally, we discuss the general limitations of machine learning for computer systems and networking, including lack of training data, training overhead, real-time performance, and explainability, and reveal future research directions targeting these limitations.
Ultrasound Biomicroscopy Observation of Suspicious Primary Angle Closure Combined with the Relaxation of Zonule
Authors: Ma Jingjing , Jiang Nan , Jiang Zhongtai , Lin Jing , Li Cui , Zhao Guiqiu
Published: March 2022

Purpose. To investigate the difference in anterior segment parameters between suspicious primary angle closure (PACS) patients and normal patients as assessed by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Methods. From June 2019 to November 2020, 39 patients (50 eyes) with PACS in the Ophthalmology Department of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital who underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were selected as the PACS group. 32 patients (50 eyes) who underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were selected as the normal group. In addition to routine preoperative examinations such as visual acuity, noncontact intraocular pressure, axis length (AL), and ocular B-ultrasound examination, UBM examinations were also performed, including measuring the central anterior chamber depth (ACD), the maximum transverse diameter of the ciliary process at both ends (STS), the vertical distance between the anterior apex of the lens and the maximum transverse diameter at both ends of the ciliary processes (h), and angle opening distance (AOD500), iris-zonule distance (IZD), trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD), trabecular-iris angle (TIA), iris thickness (IT), trabecular-ciliary process angle (TCPA), and anterior placement of the ciliary body (APCB) at four quadrants (superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal quadrants). Results. Compared with the normal group, the PACS group showed statistically differences in AL, ACD, h, ACD/AL, h/STS, IZD, AOD500, TCPD, TIA, TCPA, and APCB (

P
<
0.05

), and there were no significant differences in STS and IT between the two groups (

P
>
0.05

). In the PACS group, there were significant differences in AL, ACD, h, ACD/AL, h/STS, IZD, TCPD, TCPA, and APCB between PACS patients with zonular relaxation and without zonular relaxation (

P
<
0.05

), while there were no significant differences in STS, AOD500, TIA, and IT (

P
>
0.05

). Conclusion. UBM quantitatively enables to identify the anterior segment morphology, especially the zonules in patients of suspicious primary angle closure combined with the relaxation of zonule. Accurate measurement of UBM can be used to predict whether patients with PACS are combined with zonular relaxation, so as to provide a clinical imaging evidence for the diagnosis.
Analysis of Nonlinear Vibration Characteristics of the Concentric Face-Gear Split-Torque Transmission System
Authors: Gong Fei , Zhu Rupeng , Li Pingjun , Li Jian
Published: March 2022

The concentric face-gear split-torque transmission system (CFGSTTS) is a new type of transmission that has significant applications in helicopter main gearboxes. To study the influence of various parameters on the dynamic characteristics of the CFGSTTS, a 23-degree-of-freedom translation-torsion nonlinear dynamic model was established based on the lumped parameter theory. The model includes tooth backlash, error excitation, time-varying meshing stiffness with meshing phase difference, meshing damping, and elastic support deformation. The excitation conditions for the time-varying meshing stiffness of face-gear pairs were calculated based on the strain energy theory. The bifurcation characteristics of the system with different parameters were obtained by the nonlinear dynamics numerical analysis method. The research shows that the system exhibits rich vibration response characteristics at different rotating speeds. The amplitude of the vibration displacement in the system bifurcation diagram increases significantly with the increase of the tooth backlash and input torque, whereas the amplitude decreases constantly with the increase of the meshing damping. The critical rotational speed at which chaotic motion occurs increases significantly with increasing input torque and damping ratio but decreases with increasing tooth backlash. The bearing clearance has a weak influence on the vibration displacement amplitude of the system and the speed range of chaotic motion.
Hyperpath Searching Algorithm considering Delay at Intersection and Its Application in CVIS for Vehicle Navigation
Authors: Ju Ziyan , Du Muqing
Published: March 2022

The periodic change of intersection signals in urban road systems is the leading cause of uncertain delays. Therefore, aiming to minimize the travel time on the road segments and the expected delay at the intersections, a hyperpath search method based on intersection signal timing is proposed. The expanded network representation is used to capture the different turning delays at intersections. According to the intersection signal timing, the maximum waiting time of each turn and the turning movement ratio is obtained. A “recommendation priority passable phase” guidance strategy is proposed for the cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system (CVIS) based on the optimal hyperpath. The simulation experiments show that the vehicles can shift the driving route in the hyperpath set according to the guidance strategy, which effectively reduces the actual delay at intersections, and further realize an optimized distribution of traffic flows in the road network.