bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanism and performance relevance of nanomorphogenesis in polyamide films revealed by quantitative 3D imaging and machine learning
Authors: An Hyosung , Smith John W. , Ji Bingqiang , Cotty Stephen , Zhou Shan , Yao Lehan , Kalutantirige Falon C. , Chen Wenxiang , Ou Zihao , Su Xiao , Feng Jie , Chen Qian
Published: February 2022

Biological morphogenesis has inspired many efficient strategies to diversify material structure and functionality using a fixed set of components. However, implementation of morphogenesis concepts to design soft nanomaterials is underexplored. Here, we study nanomorphogenesis in the form of the three-dimensional (3D) crumpling of polyamide membranes used for commercial molecular separation, through an unprecedented integration of electron tomography, reaction-diffusion theory, machine learning (ML), and liquid-phase atomic force microscopy. 3D tomograms show that the spatial arrangement of crumples scales with monomer concentrations in a form quantitatively consistent with a Turing instability. Membrane microenvironments quantified from the nanomorphologies of crumples are combined with the Spiegler-Kedem model to accurately predict methanol permeance. ML classifies vastly heterogeneous crumples into just four morphology groups, exhibiting distinct mechanical properties. Our work forges quantitative links between synthesis and performance in polymer thin films, which can be applicable to diverse soft nanomaterials.
Schrödinger’s red pixel by quasi-bound-states-in-the-continuum
Authors: Dong Zhaogang , Jin Lei , Rezaei Soroosh Daqiqeh , Wang Hao , Chen Yang , Tjiptoharsono Febiana , Ho Jinfa , Gorelik Sergey , Ng Ray Jia Hong , Ruan Qifeng , Qiu Cheng-Wei , Yang Joel K. W.
Published: February 2022

While structural colors are ubiquitous in nature, saturated reds are mysteriously absent. This long-standing problem of achieving Schrödinger’s red demands sharp transitions from “stopband” to a high-reflectance “passband” with total suppression of higher-order resonances at blue/green wavelengths. Current approaches based on nanoantennas are insufficient to satisfy all conditions simultaneously. Here, we designed Si nanoantennas to support two partially overlapping quasi–bound-states-in-the-continuum modes with a gradient descent algorithm to achieve sharp spectral edges at red wavelengths. Meanwhile, high-order modes at blue/green wavelengths are suppressed via engineering the substrate-induced diffraction channels and the absorption of amorphous Si. This design produces possibly the most saturated and brightest reds with ~80% reflectance, exceeding the red vertex in sRGB and even the cadmium red pigment. Its nature of being sensitive to polarization and illumination angle could be potentially used for information encryption, and this proposed paradigm could be generalized to other Schrödinger’s color pixels.
Diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Temperate Phages
Authors: Johnson Genevieve , Banerjee Swarnali , Putonti Catherine
Published: February 2022

Prophages play a critical role in the evolution of their host species and can also contribute to the virulence and fitness of pathogenic species. Here, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of prophage sequences from 5,383 publicly available
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
genomes from human as well as environmental isolates.
Dramatic Consequences of Reducing Erythrocyte Membrane Cholesterol on Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Ahiya Avantika I. , Bhatnagar Suyash , Morrisey Joanne M. , Beck Josh R. , Vaidya Akhil B.
Published: February 2022

Malaria remains a major challenge in much of the world. Symptoms of malaria are caused by the growth of parasites belonging to
Plasmodium
spp. inside the red blood cells (RBCs), leading to their destruction.
CD84 is a Suppressor of T and B Cell Activation during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Pathogenesis
Authors: Zheng Nan , Fleming Joy , Hu Peilei , Jiao Jianjian , Zhang Guoqin , Yang Ruifang , Li Chuanyou , Liu Yi , Bi Lijun , Zhang Hongtai
Published: February 2022

Immune checkpoint therapies, such as targeting checkpoints like PD-1/PD-L1, have proved successful in cancer therapy and can reinvigorate immune responses. The potential of this approach for treating chronic infectious diseases like TB has been recognized, but a lack of suitable immunotherapeutic targets, i.e., immune cell inhibitory receptors that trigger immunosuppression specifically during
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
pathogenesis, has limited the application of this strategy in the development of new TB therapies.
In Vitro
Antifungal Activity of Manogepix and Other Antifungal Agents against South African
Candida auris
Isolates from Bloodstream Infections
Authors: Maphanga Tsidiso G. , Mpembe Ruth S. , Naicker Serisha D. , Govender Nelesh P. ,   for GERMS-SA
Published: February 2022

Since
C. auris
was first detected in South Africa in 2009, health care-associated transmission events and large outbreaks have led to this pathogen accounting for more than 1 in 10 cases of candidemia. A large proportion of South African
C. auris
isolates are highly resistant to fluconazole but variably resistant to amphotericin B and echinocandins.
Synergistic Inhibitory Effect of Polymyxin B in Combination with Ceftazidime against Robust Biofilm Formed by Acinetobacter baumannii with Genetic Deficiency in AbaI/AbaR Quorum Sensing
Authors: Li Yinyue , Wang Bo , Lu Feng , Ahn Juhee , Zhang Wenwen , Cai Liangliang , Xu Jiahui , Yin Yi , Cao Qingchao , Ren Zhenyu , He Xinlong
Published: February 2022

Deeper explorations of molecular correlation among antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and pathogenicity could provide novel insights that would facilitate the development of therapeutics and prevention against
A. baumannii
biofilm-related infections. The major finding that polymyxin B in combination with ceftazidime displayed a synergistic antibiofilm effect against robust biofilm formed by an
A. baumannii
strain with genetic deficiency in AbaI/AbaR quorum sensing further provides a theoretical basis for clinical applications of antibiotics in combination with quorum quenching in antibiofilm therapy.
NrtR Mediated Regulation of H1-T6SS in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Zhang Xinxin , Yin Liwen , Liu Qi , Wang Dan , Xu Congjuan , Pan Xiaolei , Bai Fang , Cheng Zhihui , Wu Weihui , Jin Yongxin
Published: February 2022

NrtR is a Nudix-related transcriptional regulator and controls the NAD cofactor biosynthesis in bacteria.
P. aeruginosa
NrtR binds to the intergenic region between
nadD2
and
pncA
to repress the expression of the two operons, therefore controlling the NAD biosynthesis. We have previously reported that NrtR controls T3SS expression via the cAMP/Vfr pathway in
P. aeruginosa
.
Insights into the Unique Lung Microbiota Profile of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Using Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Xiao Guohui , Cai Zhao , Guo Qinglong , Ye Taosheng , Tang Yimin , Guan Peikun , Zhang Juanjuan , Ou Min , Fu Xiangdong , Ren Lili , Yu Minfei , Wang Zhaoqin , Liu Lei , Yang Liang , Zhang Guoliang
Published: February 2022

Characterization of the lung microbiota could lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of pulmonary TB. Here, we applied the metagenomic shotgun sequencing instead of 16S rRNA sequencing method to characterize the lung microbiota using the BALF samples instead of sputum.
Supplemental Material: The micrometeorite flux in the Albian–Aptian age (ca. 103–117 Ma): A search for Tycho ejecta in pelagic sediments using chrome spinels
Authors: Martin Ellinor , al. et
Published: February 2022

Figure S1, Tables S1–S3, and Table S4 (information
of the chemical alteration of sediment-dispersed “EC” grains; data set from the
chemical analyses of the chrome-spinels from Pacifica Quarry; lunar meteorite
Shisr 162; Mg-Al spinel grains from additional samples in the “K3” event;
compilation of selected chrome-spinel from lunar meteorites and soil used in Fig. 4).
Supplemental Material: Oceanic productivity after the Cretaceous/Paleogene impact: Where do we stand? The view from the deep
Authors: Alegret Laia , al. et
Published: February 2022

Table S1 (Diversity of benthic assemblages, relative abundance of buliminid taxa and infaunal morphogroups, and BFARs across the K/Pg boundary at ODP Site 1267); Table S2 (Diversity of benthic assemblages and relative abundance of buliminid taxa and infaunal morphogroups in the uppermost Maastrichtian and lowermost Danian at Urrutxua section, Basque-Cantabrian Basin); Table S3 (Benthic foraminiferal 13C records across the K/Pg transition at ODP Site 1267 [Walvis Ridge, SE Atlantic]); Table S4 (List of benthic foraminiferal species that last occurred at the K/Pg boundary at the 17 locations of our compilation, and species that went [globally] extinct at the boundary); Table S5 (List of benthic foraminiferal species that became globally extinct at the K/Pg boundary); Figure S1 (Correlation between the global drop in benthic foraminiferal diversity across the K/Pg boundary and paleodistance from the impact site, paleodepth and paleolatitude of the 17 study sites shown in Table 1); Figure S2 (Correlation between extinction rates and last occurrences of benthic foraminiferal across the K/Pg boundary, and paleodistance from the impact site, paleodepth and paleolatitude, using the data shown in Tables 1 and 2).
Comparison of ALitretinoin with PUVA as the first-line treatment in patients with severe chronic HAnd eczema (ALPHA): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Smith Isabelle L , Gilberts Rachael , Brown Sarah , Fernandez Catherine , Nixon Jane , Reynolds Catherine , Smith Catherine , Lear John T , Sunderland Lesley , Green Cathy , Goodfield Mark , Cowdell Fiona , Hampton Philip , Barker Amy , Vargas-Palacios Armando , Tubeuf Sandy , Wittmann Miriam
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Hand eczema (HE) is one of the most common skin disorders and an important cause for morbidity and occupational disability. The 1-year prevalence of HE is estimated to be up to 10% and it is estimated that 5%–7% of those develop severe chronic HE. However, current clinical evidence is not compelling enough to guide clinical practice. In a survey among 194 UK dermatologists the most frequent first choice approaches were psoralen combined with ultraviolet A (UVA) treatment (PUVA), oral steroids and alitretinoin (AL). When asked which strategy was most efficient for long-term outcome 20% of clinicians indicated they did not know; 43% of clinicians reported AL and 30% reported PUVA.

Methods and analysis

ALPHA is a multicentre, open, prospective, two-arm parallel group, randomised controlled trial comparing PUVA and AL with a planned sample size re-estimation. Between 500 and 780 participants will be randomised on a 1:1 basis. The physician’s global assessment (PGA) will direct treatment after randomisation, non-responders will be treated according to usual clinical practice; providing valuable pilot data on second line therapeutic approaches to inform future trials.

Assessments will be conducted up to 52 weeks post randomisation. The primary outcome measure is the Hand Eczema Severity Index at 12 weeks. Secondary outcome measures include modified Total Lesion Symptom Score, PGA, time to relapse, patient reported outcome measures and DNA extraction and assessment of genetic variants. A substudy on molecular inflammatory mediators will provide information on subgroup specific treatment responses. Photographs will be taken and HE severity assessed by a central review panel.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from Leeds West Research Ethics Committee (14/YH/1259).Trial results will be disseminated at relevant clinical conferences and societies, published in peer-reviewed journals and through relevant patient groups.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN80206075.
Inflamed and non-inflamed classes of HCC: a revised immunogenomic classification
Authors: Montironi Carla , Castet Florian , Haber Philipp K , Pinyol Roser , Torres-Martin Miguel , Torrens Laura , Mesropian Agavni , Wang Huan , Puigvehi Marc , Maeda Miho , Leow Wei Qiang , Harrod Elizabeth , Taik Patricia , Chinburen Jigjidsuren , Taivanbaatar Erdenebileg , Chinbold Enkhbold , Solé Arqués Manel , Donovan Michael , Thung Swan , Neely Jaclyn , Mazzaferro Vincenzo , Anderson Jeffrey , Roayaie Sasan , Schwartz Myron , Villanueva Augusto , Friedman Scott L , Uzilov Andrew , Sia Daniela , Llovet Josep M
Published: February 2022

Objective

We previously reported a characterisation of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) immune contexture and described an immune-specific class. We now aim to further delineate the immunogenomic classification of HCC to incorporate features that explain responses/resistance to immunotherapy.

Design

We performed RNA and whole-exome sequencing, T-cell receptor (TCR)-sequencing, multiplex immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry in a novel cohort of 240 HCC patients and validated our results in other cohorts comprising 660 patients.

Results

Our integrative analysis led to define: (1) the inflamed class of HCC (37%), which includes the previously reported immune subclass (22%) and a new immune-like subclass (15%) with high interferon signalling, cytolytic activity, expression of immune-effector cytokines and a more diverse T-cell repertoire. A 20-gene signature was able to capture ~90% of these tumours and is associated with response to immunotherapy. Proteins identified in liquid biopsies recapitulated the inflamed class with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.91; (2) The intermediate class, enriched inTP53mutations (49% vs 29%, p=0.035), and chromosomal losses involving immune-related genes and; (3) the excluded class, enriched inCTNNB1mutations (93% vs 27%, p<0.001) andPTK2overexpression due to gene amplification and promoter hypomethylation.CTNNB1mutations outside the excluded class led to weak activation of the Wnt-βcatenin pathway or occurred in HCCs dominated by high interferon signalling and type I antigen presenting genes.

Conclusion

We have characterised the immunogenomic contexture of HCC and defined inflamed and non-inflamed tumours. Two distinctCTNNB1patterns associated with a differential role in immune evasion are described. These features may help predict immune response in HCC.
Exercise prescription in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: what clinicians need to know
Authors: Gati Sabiha , Sharma Sanjay
Published: February 2022

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most frequently cited cause of exercise-related sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young individuals and has claimed the lives of some high-profile athletes. The circumstantial link between exercise and SCD from HCM has resulted in conservative exercise recommendations which focus on activities that should be avoided rather than the minimal amount of physical activity required to reap the multiple rewards of exercise. Consequently, most patients with HCM are confined to a sedentary lifestyle through fear of SCD, with accruing risk factors such as obesity and low cardiorespiratory fitness that confer a worse prognosis. Recent exercise programmes in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals with HCM have shown that mild and moderate exercise is safe and accompanied by increased functional capacity and improved quality of life. Population studies also reveal that individuals with HCM in the higher quartiles of self-reported physical activity have lower total cardiovascular mortality compared with those in the lower quartiles. The impact of vigorous exercise on the natural history of HCM is unknown, although current experience suggests that affected adults with mild morphology and absence of high-risk factors may partake in such activity without adverse events. This review highlights the evidence base that has resulted in a paradigm shift in the approach to exercise in HCM and liberalised recent international exercise guidelines in HCM. Practical tips for prescribing exercise in symptomatic patients and relevant precautions are provided to aid clinicians when recommending exercise as part of the management plan for all patients with HCM.
Resistance to bacterial spot (Xanthomonas gardneri) on foliage and fruit of commercial processing tomato cultivars
Authors: Simonton Tina E. , Robinson Darren , Gillard Chris , Jordan Katerina , Trueman Cheryl L.
Published: February 2022

Bacterial spot of tomato (Xanthomonas gardneri Šutić) is an economically important disease of processing tomatoes in Ontario, Canada, resulting in premature defoliation and fruit damage. Breeding efforts for host resistance focus on assessments of foliar health as opposed to fruit health but anecdotal reports from industry suggest a poor relationship between fruit and foliar resistance. To investigate this, nine commercial cultivars were inoculated at the vegetative (foliar experiment) or reproductive (fruit experiment) stages in replicated field experiments from 2016 to 2018. In the foliar experiment, the standardized area under the disease progress curve (sAUDPC) for defoliation was 51% to 54% higher for ‘TSH18’ than ‘H9706’, ‘Hypeel 696’, and ‘H3406’, but equivalent to ‘CC337’. Fruit disease incidence was 49% and 47% lower for ‘CC337’ than ‘TSH18’ and ‘H9706’, but equivalent to ‘H3406’ and ‘Hypeel 696’. Fruit disease severity was 63% and 60% lower for ‘CC337’ than ‘H9706’and ‘H3406’, respectively, but equivalent to ‘TSH18’ and ‘Hypeel 696’. However, in the fruit experiment, fruit disease incidence was equivalent among cultivars, while the disease severity index for ‘H9706’ (3.4) was higher than ‘Hypeel 696’ (0.7). Furthermore, rank correlation analysis between sAUDPC and fruit disease variables failed to meet the criteria for a significant and strong relationship (r ≥ 0.8 or  ≤ −0.8 and P ≤ 0.05). Additional research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of fruit infection by X. gardneri. In the meantime, scientists should consider the limitations of assessing only foliar damage as an evaluation method for bacterial spot management tools in tomato.
Analogue of the pole-skipping phenomenon in acoustic black holes
Authors: Yuan Haiming , Ge Xian-Hui
Published: February 2022

The pole-skipping phenomenon is a special property of the retarded Green’s function of black hole perturbations. We turn to its analog in acoustic black holes, which may relate to experiments. The frequencies of these special points are located at negative integer (imaginary) Matsubara frequencies $$\omega =-i2\pi Tn$$

ω
=
-
i
2
π
T
n

, which are consistent with the imaginary frequencies of quasinormal modes (QNMs). This implies that the lower-half plane pole-skipping phenomena have the same physical meaning as the imaginary part of QNMs, which represents the dissipation of perturbation of acoustic black holes and is related to the instability time scale of perturbation.
Soliton molecule and their interaction solutions for the (2 + 1)-dimensional gKDKK equation
Authors: Fan Shengwan , Wu Huiling , Fei Jinxi , Cao Weiping , Ma Zhengyi
Published: February 2022

The [Formula: see text]-soliton solution of the [Formula: see text]-dimensional generalized Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky–Kaup–Kupershmidt (gKDKK) equation is constructed through taking the Bäcklund transformation, the Hirota bilinear method and the auxiliary function [Formula: see text], which is combined by several elementary functions. The line soliton molecule, lump and breather solutions are first presented. The explicit expressions of the soliton molecules, including the line soliton mixed with breather/lump, can also be constructed. The interaction solutions among soliton molecule, lump and breather structures are finally achieved. These results mainly introduce the ideas of velocity resonance, module resonance of wavenumber and long-wave limit. In order to illustrate these phenomena, the analytical solutions are shown and the dynamical features are depicted through the Maple software.
Dynamical Taxonomy: Some Taxonomic Ranks to Systematically Classify Every Chaotic Attractor
Authors: Letellier Christophe , Stankevich Nataliya , Rössler Otto E.
Published: February 2022

Characterizing accurately chaotic behaviors is not a trivial problem and must allow to determine the properties that two given chaotic invariant sets share or not. The underlying problem is the classification of chaotic regimes, and their labeling. Addressing these problems corresponds to the development of a dynamical taxonomy, exhibiting the key properties discriminating the variety of chaotic behaviors discussed in the abundant literature. Starting from the hierarchy of chaos initially proposed by one of us, we systematized the description of chaotic regimes observed in three- and four-dimensional spaces, which cover a large variety of known (and less known) examples of chaos. Starting with the spectrum of Lyapunov exponents as the first taxonomic ranks, we extended the description to higher ranks with some concepts inherited from topology (bounding torus, surface of section, first-return map, …).

By treating extensively the Rössler and the Lorenz attractors, we extended the description of branched manifold — the highest known taxonomic rank for classifying chaotic attractor — by a linking matrix (or linker) to multicomponent attractors (bounded by a torus whose genus [Formula: see text]).
The Birth of a Hidden Attractor Through Boundary Crisis
Authors: Yan Hanxueyu , Jiang Jun , Hong Ling
Published: February 2022

Hidden attractors have been reported in a significant number of dynamical systems, according to their definition related to the existence of saddle points. Since it has now become common knowledge that there are different types of saddle invariant sets besides a fixed saddle point, it is of great interest to investigate the subject. In this paper, a sudden appearance of a hidden chaotic attractor is observed with the variation of a control parameter in some two-dimensional mapping systems. In order to reveal the mechanism behind the sudden appearance of hidden attractors, the generalized cell mapping method with GPU parallel computing is employed in order to obtain very accurate invariant sets. It is found that hidden attractors are generated from an existing chaotic saddle through a boundary crisis, where a hidden chaotic attractor is touching a periodic or chaotic saddle on its basin boundary. Three examples of two-dimensional mapping systems are given to demonstrate the birth of hidden attractors through a boundary crisis.
Persistence and Bifurcation Analysis of a Plankton Ecosystem with Cross-Diffusion and Double Delays
Authors: Jiang Zhichao , Nie Mingwei
Published: February 2022

To investigate the joint effects of diffusion and multiple delays, a toxin producing phytoplankton–zooplankton system with cross-diffusion is studied and two-parameter bifurcation analysis is carried out. Firstly, for the delay-free system, the stability of equilibria, existence of solutions and priori bound are given. The globally asymptotic stability of equilibrium is investigated for the two situations with or without the diffusion terms. The linear stability analyses show that the cross-diffusion is a key mechanism for Turing instability to occur and Turing instability interval becomes larger with increasing cross diffusion coefficient. Secondly, the focus is on the effects of delays on the system including persistence, stability and Hopf bifurcation. The sufficient conditions for the diffusion system with delays to remain persistent are given. Under certain conditions, the boundary equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. By analyzing the distribution of roots of the characteristic equation, using the crossing curve methods, the stable changes of positive equilibrium in two-delay plane are obtained. Explicit algorithm is derived for the properties of the bifurcating periodic solutions by normal form theory and the center manifold theorem for partial functional differential equations. Finally, numerical simulations confirm the correctness of theoretical analyses and find that double Hopf bifurcation may occur.
Paediatric Trigger-Locked Thumb
Authors: FERNANDES Carlton , DONG Katherine , RAYAN Ghazi
Published: February 2022

Paediatric trigger-locked thumb (PT-LT) is a common paediatric thumb condition. It is an acquired flexion deformity of the interphalangeal joint because of a size mismatch between an enlarged flexor pollicis longus tendon and a stenotic oblique pulley. It may present clinically as paediatric locked thumb which is more common or infrequently as paediatric trigger thumb. Paediatric locked thumb is classified into two types based on the presence of metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) hyperextension. Type I does not have MCPJ hyperextension, whereas type II is associated with MCPJ hyperextension. The treatment of PT-LT is determined by the patient’s age, time of onset, presentation, and type. Treatment modalities are observation, splinting, therapy, or surgery. Surgery involves dividing the A1 pulley and, most importantly, part of the oblique pulley.

Level of Evidence: V (Therapeutic)
The influence of weathering on index properties and undrained shear strength for the Charmouth Mudstone Formation of the Lias Group at a site near Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK
Authors: Briggs Kevin M. , Blackmore Letisha , Svalova Aleksandra , Loveridge Fleur A. , Glendinning Stephanie , Powrie William , Butler Simon , Sartain Nick
Published: February 2022

The Lias outcrop extends continuously from Dorset to Yorkshire in England, with outlying areas in Somerset and Wales. It underlies the transport routes between a number of major UK cities. Understanding the material properties of the Lias Group is therefore important for infrastructure construction and maintenance across England and Wales.

This study examines the influence of weathering on the engineering properties of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation (Lias Group) in light of recent developments in ground-investigation practice including: (i) the use of modern visual weathering classifications for soils and rocks; and (ii) the availability of large ground-investigation datasets from the construction of the High Speed Two (HS2) railway.

The variability in the undrained shear strength data was consistent with the moisture content, liquidity index and plasticity index of the samples, but they were poorer indicators than shown in previous studies. The visually-assessed weathering class and the depth below ground level were found to be more useful indicators of the undrained shear strength of the clay and mudstone samples of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation.

Supplementary material:
Dataset for the Undrained Shear Strength and Index Properties of Charmouth Mudstone Formation Samples Excavated Near Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK, is available from the University of Bath Research Data Archive at
https://researchdata.bath.ac.uk/id/eprint/1012
Discovering the Roots: Uniform Closure Results for Algebraic Classes Under Factoring
Authors: Dutta Pranjal , Saxena Nitin , Sinhababu Amit
Published: February 2022

Newton iteration is an almost 350-year-old recursive formula that approximates a simple root of a polynomial quite rapidly. We generalize it to a matrix recurrence (allRootsNI) that approximates all roots simultaneously. In this form, the process yields better circuit complexity in the case when the number of rootsris small but the multiplicities are exponentially large. Our method sets up a linear system inrunknowns and iteratively builds the roots as formal power series. For an algebraic circuit\( f(x_1,\ldots ,x_n) \)of sizes, we prove that each factor has size at most a polynomial insand the degree of the squarefree part off. Consequently, if\( f_1 \)is a\( 2^{\Omega (n)} \)-hard polynomial, then any nonzero multiple\( \prod _{i} f_i^{e_i} \)is equally hard for arbitrary positive\( e_i \)’s, assuming that\( \sum _i\deg (f_i) \)is at most\( 2^{O(n)} \).

It is an old open question whether the class of poly(n) size formulas (respectively, algebraic branching programs) is closed under factoring. We show that given a polynomialfof degree\( n^{O(1)} \)and formula (respectively, algebraic branching program) size\( n^{O(\log n)} \), we can find a similar-size formula (respectively, algebraic branching program) factor in randomized poly(\( n^{\log n} \)) time. Consequently, if the determinant requires an\( n^{\Omega (\log n)} \)size formula, then the same can be said about any of its nonzero multiples.

In all of our proofs, we exploit the following property of multivariate polynomial factorization. Under a random linear transformation\( \tau \), the polynomial\( f(\tau \overline{x}) \)completely factors via power series roots. Moreover, the factorization adapts well to circuit complexity analysis. Therefore, with the help of the strong mathematical characterizations and the ‘allRootsNI’ technique, we make significant progress towards the old open problems; supplementing the vast body of classical results and concepts in algebraic circuit factorization (e.g., [17,51,54,111]).
Methods for isolating and analyzing physiological hyaluronan: a review
Authors: Rivas Felipe , Erxleben Dorothea , Smith Ian , Rahbar Elaheh , DeAngelis Paul L. , Cowman Mary K. , Hall Adam R.
Published: February 2022

The carbohydrate hyaluronan (or hyaluronic acid, HA) is found in all human tissues and biofluids where it has wide-ranging functions in health and disease that are dictated by both its abundance and size. Consequently, hyaluronan evaluation in physiological samples has significant translational potential. Although the analytical tools and techniques for probing other biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids have become standard approaches in biochemistry, those available for investigating hyaluronan are less well established. In this review, we survey methods related to the assessment of native hyaluronan in biological specimens, including protocols for separating it from biological matrices and technologies for determining its concentration and molecular weight.
GPCR systems pharmacology: a different perspective on the development of biased therapeutics
Authors: Eiger Dylan Scott , Pham Uyen , Gardner Julia , Hicks Chloe , Rajagopal Sudarshan
Published: February 2022

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of transmembrane receptors and are the target of approximately one-third of all Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmaceutical drugs. GPCRs interact with many transducers, such as heterotrimeric G proteins, GPCR kinases (GRKs), and β-arrestins. Recent experiments have demonstrated that some ligands can activate distinct effector proteins over others, a phenomenon termed “biased agonism.” These discoveries have raised the potential of developing drugs which preferentially activate therapeutic signaling pathways over those that lead to deleterious side effects. However, to date, only one biased GPCR therapeutic has received FDA approval and many others have either failed to meet their specified primary end points and or demonstrate superiority over currently available treatments. In addition, there is a lack of understanding regarding how biased agonism measured at a GPCR leads to specific downstream physiological responses. Here, we briefly summarize the history and current status of biased agonism at GPCRs and suggest adoption of a “systems pharmacology” approach upon which to develop GPCR-targeted drugs that demonstrate heightened therapeutic efficacy with improved side effect profiles.
Exaggerated inflammatory response to bacterial products in decompensated cirrhotic patients is orchestrated by interferons IL-6 and IL-8
Authors: Kronsten Victoria T. , Woodhouse Charlotte A. , Zamalloa Ane , Lim Tiong Yeng , Edwards Lindsey A. , Martinez-Llordella Marc , Sanchez-Fueyo Alberto , Shawcross Debbie L.
Published: February 2022

Decompensated cirrhotic patients, compared with compensated patients, exhibit a greater exaggerated inflammatory response to bacterial products orchestrated by interferons, IL-6, and IL-8. Postbacterial product stimulation levels of a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines negatively correlate with liver disease severity biomarkers and liver disease severity scores raising the possibility that the switch to an immunodeficient phenotype in cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction may commence earlier in the course of advanced liver disease.
Motor skill learning decreases movement variability and increases planning horizon
Authors: Bashford Luke , Kobak Dmitry , Diedrichsen Jörn , Mehring Carsten
Published: February 2022

We show that when learning a motor skill humans are using information about the environment from an increasingly longer amount of the movement path ahead to improve performance. Crucial features of the behavioral performance can be captured by modeling the behavioral data with a receding horizon optimal control model.
The Effect of Nursing Intervention Model Using Mobile Nursing System on Pregnancy Outcome of Pregnant Women
Authors: Lu Yang
Published: February 2022

Due to the recent advancement in technology specifically mobile phones, these devices can be used in the hospital to monitor or speed up various activities, which are related to doctors and nurses. In literature, various mechanisms have been presented to resolve this issue, but none of these approaches have considered effectiveness of this technology in the development of a proper mobile nursing system, which is specifically designed for pregnant women. Therefore, in this paper, we have explored the effect of the intervention model based on the mobile nursing system on the pregnancy outcome of pregnant women. In this study, an Android-based mobile nursing monitoring system was adopted to monitor and transmit the human physiological data through physiological parameter monitoring equipment and continuously monitor the physiological parameter data of pregnant women. If the physiological health data of the pregnant woman was abnormal, it had to implement timely nursing intervention. In this study, 266 pregnant women in the electronic records (E-records) were selected as the research objects and divided into two groups according to the intervention method. Pregnant women in group A received routine physical examination during pregnancy, while those in group B received nursing intervention based on mobile nursing system. The results showed that the incidence of each indicator of pregnancy outcome in group B was significantly lower than that in group A, and the difference was statistically significant (

P
<
0.05

). The nursing intervention model based on the mobile nursing system can effectively improve the pregnancy outcome. The mobile nursing system can help nursing staff find the abnormalities of pregnant women during pregnancy and give effective nursing measures in time, which helped improve the pregnancy outcomes, reduce the probability of adverse pregnancy outcomes, ensure the safety of puerperae and newborns, and lessen the delivery risk factors.
Blockchain Data Privacy Protection and Sharing Scheme Based on Zero-Knowledge Proof
Authors: Feng Tao , Yang Pu , Liu Chunyan , Fang Junli , Ma Rong
Published: February 2022

The data generated in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has important research value. In the process of data sharing, data privacy, security, and data availability are important issues that cannot be ignored. This paper proposes a blockchain privacy protection scheme based on zero-knowledge proof to realize the secure sharing of data among data owners, cloud service providers, and semitrusted cloud servers. First, the method of combining zero-knowledge proof and smart contract is used to verify the availability of data between the data owner and the cloud service provider under the premise of protecting data privacy. Second, proxy reencryption technology is used to realize the secure sharing of data among authorized cloud service providers. In addition, data sharing transaction information between multiple parties and data hashes with digital signatures are stored on the blockchain to achieve public and verifiable data sharing information and data validity. Finally, the theoretical analysis of the scheme shows that the scheme meets the confidentiality requirements of security, integrity, and validity.
Neurobehavioral Differences of Valproate and Risperidone on MK-801 Inducing Acute Hyperlocomotion in Mice
Authors: Chen Po-An , Wang Hui-Yi , Sun Chien-Lun , Chen Mao-Liang , Chen Yi-Chyan
Published: February 2022

Objective. The glutamate system plays a major role in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as addiction, epilepsy, dementia, and psychosis. MK-801 (dizocilpine), an uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, could increase locomotor activity and stereotyped neurobehaviors mimicking schizophrenic-like features in the mouse model. The study would explore the neuropharmacological differences of risperidone and valproic acid on the MK-801-induced neurobehavioral changes. Methods. The subjects were male C57BL/6J mice obtained from the National Laboratory Animal Center. Drug effects were assessed using the open field with a video-tracking system and gaiting tests. After habitation, risperidone (0, 0.1 mg/kg) or valproic acid (0, 200 mg/kg) was injected and ran locomotion for 30 mins. Sequentially, mice were followed by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) with MK-801 (0, 0.2 mg/kg) and ran locomotion for 60 mins. Gaiting behaviors such as step angles, stride lengths, and stance widths were measured following the study drugs. Results. The results showed that risperidone and valproic acid alone could not alter the locomotor activities. Following the MK-801 injection, the travelled distance and speed in the entire open field dramatically increased. The dose 0.1 mg/kg of risperidone could totally inhibit the MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion compared with that of the saline-injected group (

p
<
0.001

). The valproic acid (200 mg/kg) partially suppressed the hyperlocomotion which is induced by MK801. Conclusion. The more dominant effect of risperidone to rescue MK-801 induced hyperlocomotion compared with that of valproic acid. The partial suppression of valproic acid may imply the psychopharmacological evidence as adjuvant effect to treat psychotic patients through tuning glutamatergic neurotransmission.
Mechanism of Microscopic Fracture of Typical Shell Steel under Impact Loading
Authors: Zhao Chuan , Wang Shushan , Guo Cean , Sun Yuhui , Guo Xuncheng , Ma Feng
Published: February 2022

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of strain rate and metallographic structure on the fracture mode and fracture pattern of a typical shell steel material under impact loading. A ballistic gun was used to launch a spherical tungsten alloy projectile to impact target 50SiMnVB and 60Si2Mn steel plates. The morphological characteristics of the cracks on different target plates were observed under a metallurgical microscope, and the effects of the strain rate and metallographic structure on the fracture mode and fracture pattern were analyzed. The results showed that when the strain rate was relatively low, the material mainly produced ductile fracture and brittle trans-granular fracture under impact loading; when the strain rate was relatively high, intergranular fracture and cleavage fracture were the main modes of fracture under impact loading. In addition, at higher strain rates, the metallurgical form mainly influenced the pattern of fracture of the material, with tempered troostite being more likely to produce a mixture of shear and tensile fractures than tempered sorbite. The results obtained provide an experimental basis for the mechanism of microscopic fracture of shell steel materials and, to a certain extent, reveal the correlations between fragmentation and the strain rate and microstructure of the material.
Freight Demand Distribution in a Suburban Area: Calibration of an Acquisition Model with Floating Car Data
Authors: Battaglia Giuseppe , Musolino Giuseppe , Vitetta Antonino
Published: February 2022

The paper deals with the interaction between freight flows, land use, and economy of a suburban area. In urban freight distribution, the process of freight acquisition of commercial establishments represents a crucial element. Therefore, it is necessary to plan city logistics in order to reduce the negative externalities generated by freight transport without depressing the economic and social vitality. In order to estimate and evaluate the performance and impacts generated by urban freight distribution, Transport System Models (TSMs) play an important role in reproducing and forecasting the process of distribution of final products to retailers and consumers. In recent years, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have made new sources of data in great amounts available at lower costs than data provided from traditional surveys. Among the different data sources, Floating Car Data (FCD), obtained through GPS trackers installed on board the vehicles, offer partial insights into the examined process with lower cost and provide continuous information in space and time. In order to obtain reliable results, it is necessary to combine TSMs and ICTs as observed data could feed Transport System Models and could allow their calibration and therefore their application in real cases. In the above context, the paper deals with TSMs related to estimating urban freight demand flows. The work carried out concerns the specification-calibration-validation of a freight zonal acquisition model by means of FCD related to interzonal trips of commercial vehicles inside the Locride area (Reggio Calabria, Italy). The obtained models, estimated from FCD, could support the a priori evaluation of city logistics measures. The results are more important considering that they are obtained in an area with a lack of transport monitoring technologies. They could be adopted in other similar areas and confirm that adequate planning of city logistics determines advantages for environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Phenomenological Study on the Study Experience of Part-Time Nursing Postgraduates
Authors: Xi Rui , Wang Yu , Huang Aoli , Zhao Baojie
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we have explored the experience of studying part-time nursing master degree students and provided a basis for improving the training of domestic part-time nursing master degree students. Using phenomenological research methods, we have conducted face-to-face and semistructured interviews with 14 part-time nursing graduate students, including postgraduate motivation, obstacles, gains, and expectations after postgraduate study. Part-time nursing master’s graduate students are mostly motivated by promotion, self-improvement, solving clinical problems, and role models; barriers to entry include role conflicts, time pressure, economic pressure, curriculum settings that cannot meet needs, unclear responsibilities for training process management, and personal value (cannot reflect, etc.). Study gains include enhancing scientific research confidence, stimulating learning interest, and increasing professional identity. In the training of part-time nursing master’s students, we should correctly guide students’ learning motivation, mobilize social support, and solve students’ learning obstacles. The curriculum of part-time nursing master’s students should be targeted, along with establishing a training management system jointly directed by the training unit and the employer, improving the career planning of nursing master’s students, and making a good connection with the training of senior practical nurses.
DeepCompNet: A Novel Neural Net Model Compression Architecture
Authors: Mary Shanthi Rani M. , Chitra P. , Lakshmanan S. , Kalpana Devi M. , Sangeetha R. , Nithya S.
Published: February 2022

The emergence of powerful deep learning architectures has resulted in breakthrough innovations in several fields such as healthcare, precision farming, banking, education, and much more. Despite the advantages, there are limitations in deploying deep learning models in resource-constrained devices due to their huge memory size. This research work reports an innovative hybrid compression pipeline for compressing neural networks exploiting the untapped potential of z-score in weight pruning, followed by quantization using DBSCAN clustering and Huffman encoding. The proposed model has been experimented with state-of-the-art LeNet Deep Neural Network architectures using the standard MNIST and CIFAR datasets. Experimental results prove the compression performance of DeepCompNet by 26x without compromising the accuracy. The synergistic blend of the compression algorithms in the proposed model will ensure effortless deployment of neural networks leveraging DL applications in memory-constrained devices.
Evaluation of Vertebral Function and Long-Term Quality of Life after Percutaneous Minimally Invasive Surgery in Patients with Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures
Authors: Liu Bin , Li QiaoHong , Xie Hui , Hu XinPan , Pan XueKun
Published: February 2022

Objective. To investigate the changes in vertebral function after minimally invasive surgery in patients with thoracolumbar spinal fractures and investigate the impact of percutaneous minimally invasive surgery on patients’ quality of life by following up the patients in the long term. Methods. A retrospective analysis was performed to select 80 patients with thoracolumbar spinal fractures treated in our hospital from April 2013 to October 2018, and the patients were divided into a study group and a control group according to the difference in their choice of procedure. The two groups were compared in terms of perioperative wound pain, serum creatine kinase (CK) activity, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and the two groups were followed up for 2 years to compare the changes in anterior vertebral body height and Cobb’s angle during the follow-up period and to compare the differences in quality of life between the two groups. Results. (1) The pain level of patients in the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group at the 1st and 3rd postoperative days (

p
<
0.05

). (2) The CK activity and CPR level of patients in the study group were significantly lower than that of the control group at the 1st and 3rd postoperative days (

p
<
0.05

). (3) Compared with the preoperative period, the height of the anterior border of the vertebral body and the Cobb’s angle in both groups showed significant changes at 7 d, 6 months, one year, and two years after surgery (

p
<
0.05

), suggesting that both procedures can significantly restore the height of the injured vertebra and improve the function of the vertebral body. (4) The somatic, physical, and psychological functions of patients in the study group were significantly greater than those in the control group at 6 months postoperatively (

p
>
0.05

). Conclusion. Compared to traditional open surgery, minimally invasive percutaneous surgery for thoracolumbar fractures can significantly reduce perioperative pain and improve perioperative stress in patients, while achieving better surgical outcomes and a significantly improved quality of life in patients at long-term follow-up.