bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of workload consolidation algorithms for cloud data centers
Authors: Ponto René , Kecskeméti Gábor , Mann Zoltán Á. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWorkload consolidation is an important method for the efficient operation of cloud data centers, impacting important quality attributes such as resource utilization and power consumption. Many different approaches have been proposed for workload consolidation, but few comparative studies were executed to date. Therefore, it is unclear which of the proposed approaches work best in which situation. In this article, we present a comprehensive simulation‐based comparison of five workload consolidation techniques. We introduce a general framework for workload consolidation techniques to the DISSECT‐CF simulator to foster the development and comparison of efficient data center consolidation algorithms. We use this framework to evaluate the effectiveness of a first fit best fit decreasing heuristic, a custom heuristic, and three population‐based metaheuristics (genetic algorithm, artificial bee colony, and particle swarm optimization). The evaluation is based on a wide variety of real‐world workload traces. The five algorithms are compared in terms of total energy consumption, the duration of the simulation, and the number of migrations. Based on the results, there is no generally best consolidation technique. The results deliver insight into the pros and cons of the algorithms as well as the impact of different parameters. In particular, the results show that population‐based metaheuristics do not offer a significant gain in terms of solution quality to compensate for the increased simulation time.
Platelet mass cytometry: Optimization of sample, reagent, and analysis parameters
Authors: Spurgeon Benjamin E. J. , Michelson Alan D. , Frelinger Andrew L. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPlatelets mediate key biological processes, including hemostasis, immunity, and inflammation. Although platelets are often treated as a homogeneous cell population, they are known to be heterogeneous in size, age, surface receptor expression, and response to agonist stimulation, raising the possibility that distinct platelet subsets perform specialized functions and that such subsets may be altered in disease settings. Attempts to identify platelet subsets by flow cytometry have had limited success due in part to limits on the number of probes that can be used at the same time and due to the challenges of compensating for probes that have large spectral overlap. We recently reported a method to identify platelet subsets by mass cytometry using a panel of 14 metal‐tagged antibodies directed at platelet surface markers. Here, we describe the technical considerations and best practices for platelet sample preparation, processing, and analysis by mass cytometry. Specifically, we show that anticoagulant choice alters platelet phenotype and function and that antibody cocktail storage and sample processing are critical for reproducibility. Additionally, we optimize sample density and instrument setup for maximal platelet transmission. Lastly, we demonstrate the importance of panel design and compensation and the use of clustering and dimension reduction to map platelet heterogeneity across resting and stimulated samples.
Prognostic value of cardiac 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging for predicting cardiac events after transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Authors: Kadoya Yoshito , Zen Kan , Tamaki Nagara , Yashige Masaki , Takamatsu Kazuaki , Ito Nobuyasu , Kuwabara Kensuke , Yamano Michiyo , Yamano Tetsuhiro , Nakamura Takeshi , Yaku Hitoshi , Matoba Satoaki 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimsIn patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS), cardiac sympathetic nervous (CSN) dysfunction and its improvement after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have been reported. The prognostic impact of CSN function remains unclear. This study investigated the prognostic value of cardiac 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging for predicting cardiac events after TAVR.Methods and resultsThis single‐centre prospective observational study enrolled patients with AS between July 2017 and May 2019. MIBG scintigraphy was performed before and soon after TAVR to evaluate the late heart–mediastinum ratio (L‐H/M). Patients were classified into three pairs of groups based on the baseline and post‐TAVR L‐H/M (≥2.0 or <2.0) and on the presence of TAVR‐related improvement in L‐H/M. The study endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of all‐cause death, non‐fatal myocardial infarction, and hospitalization due to heart failure. Among the 187 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR, 107 (27 men; median age: 86 years) were evaluated. Over a median follow‐up of 366 days, 15 (14.0%) patients had MACE. The incidence of MACE was significantly low in patients with L‐H/M improvement and/or high post‐TAVR L‐H/M (≥2.0). Baseline L‐H/M and frailty were associated with poor response of L‐H/M to TAVR treatment. TAVR‐related improvement in L‐H/M had significant effects on MACE, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.233 (95% confidence interval, 0.064–0.856; P = 0.028).ConclusionsTAVR‐related improvement in L‐H/M was an independent predictor of cardiac events, 1 year after TAVR. Cardiac MIBG imaging is useful for predicting cardiac events after TAVR.
Role of oxygen vacancy in metal oxide based photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Wang Zhiliang , Wang Lianzhou 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPhotoelectrochemial (PEC) water splitting relies on the optoelectric property of the photoelectrodes. Oxygen vacancy (VO) has attracted increasing attention in tailoring photoelectrodes in the following three aspects: light harvest, charge separation and transfer, and surface reaction kinetics. Even though the VO may increase the recombination as a kind of defects in metal oxide based photoelectrode, a number of recent researches have revealed the beneficial feature of VO in PEC, which is controversial to the former understanding. Thus, a comprehensive analysis about the oxygen vacancy in the metal oxide photoelectrodes will be important for applying VO in achieving high PEC performance. Herein, we contribute a critical review on the role of oxygen vacancy including its formation mechanism, characterization methods, and the influence on the semiconductor and surface catalytic properties. The knowledge will help to clarify the effect of VO in terms of the structure‐performance relationship in the PEC process.image
An evolutionary computation‐based privacy‐preserving data mining model under a multithreshold constraint
Authors: Wu Jimmy Ming‐Tai , Srivastava Gautam , Yun Unil , Tayeb Shahab , Lin Jerry Chun‐Wei 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPrivacy‐preserving data mining (PPDM) is a popular research topic in the data mining field. For individual information protection, it is vital to protect sensitive information during data mining procedures. Furthermore, it is also a serious offense to spill sensitive private knowledge. Recently, many PPDM data mining algorithms have been proposed to conceal sensitive items in a given database to disclose high‐frequency items. These recent methods have already proven to be excellent in protecting confidential information and maintaining the integrity of the input database. All prior techniques, however, ignored a crucial problem in setting minimum support thresholds. If a sensitive itemset includes more items, it will cause it the become more likely to be found. Before performing mining processes, a fixed value of the minimum support threshold will be set. In this paper, a new concept of minimal support for solving this issue is proposed. In compliance with a given threshold function, the proposed approach would set a tighter threshold for an object containing several items. The results of the experiments show the performance of the traditional Greedy PPDM approach, Genetic algorithm (GA)‐based PPDM approaches, and the proposed particle swarm optimization‐based algorithm with the new minimal support function. The results show that the proposed method performs similarly to conventional algorithms and offers higher protection than previous methods.
Sclerostin Antibody Administration Increases the Numbers of Sox9creER+ Skeletal Precursors and Their Progeny
Authors: Balani Deepak H , Trinh Sophia , Xu Mingxin , Kronenberg Henry M 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTBlocking the Wnt inhibitor, sclerostin, increases the rate of bone formation in rodents and in humans. On a cellular level, the antibody against sclerostin acts by increasing osteoblast numbers partly by activating the quiescent bone-lining cells in vivo. No evidence currently exists, to determine whether blocking sclerostin affects early cells of the osteoblast lineage. Here we use a lineage-tracing strategy that uses a tamoxifen-dependent cre recombinase, driven by the Sox9 promoter to mark early cells of the osteoblast lineage. We show that, when adult mice are treated with the rat-13C7, an antibody that blocks sclerostin action in rodents, it increases the numbers of osteoblast precursors and their differentiation into mature osteoblasts in vivo. We also show that rat-13C7 administration suppresses adipogenesis by suppressing the differentiation of Sox9creER+ skeletal precursors into bone marrow adipocytes in vivo. Using floxed alleles of the CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin, we show that these precursor cells express the canonical Wnt signaling mediator, β-catenin, and that the actions of the rat-13C7 antibody to increase the number of early precursors is dependent on direct stimulation of Wnt signaling. The increase in osteoblast precursors and their progeny after the administration of the antibody leads to a robust suppression of apoptosis without affecting the rate of their proliferation. Thus, neutralizing the Wnt-inhibitor sclerostin increases the numbers of early cells of the osteoblast lineage osteoblasts and suppresses their differentiation into adipocytes in vivo. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Emerging role of RNF2 in cancer: From bench to bedside
Authors: Yan Qi , Chen Bang‐jie , Hu Shuang , Qi Shun‐li , Li Liang‐yun , Yang Jun‐fa , Zhou Hong , Yang Chen‐chen , Chen Li‐jian , Du Jian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRNF2 (also known as ding, Ring1B or Ring2) is a member of the Ring finger protein family, which functions as E3 ubiquitin ligase for monoubiquitination of histone H2A at lysine 119 (H2AK119ub). RNF2 gene is located at the 1q25.3 site of human chromosome and the coding region is composed of 9 exons, encoding 336 amino acids in total. Many studies have demonstrated that overexpressed RNF2 was involved in the pathological progression of multiple cancers and has an impact on their clinical features. For instance, the upregulated expression level of RNF2 is positively correlated with the occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, and bladder urothelial carcinoma, as well as with the radioresistance of lung cancer and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer. This review provides an up‐to‐date perspective on the relationship between RNF2 and several cancers and highlights recent studies on RNF2 regulation. In particular, the relevant cellular signaling pathways and potential clinical value of RNF2 in cancers are also discussed, suggesting its potential as an epigenetic biomarker and therapeutic target for these cancers.
The use of engineering model‐building activities to elicit computational thinking: A design‐based research study
Authors: Lyon Joseph A. , Magana Alejandra J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundComputation and computational thinking are of great interest to both engineering research and teaching communities. Effective learning environments are needed to incorporate computational thinking within the engineering disciplines. Design‐based research is uniquely positioned to address this need for designing effective learning environments.PurposeThis design‐based research study characterizes the different ways in which students used computational thinking when building computational models. The design of the model‐building activities was grounded in productive failure and model‐eliciting activities.DesignThe design‐based research study implemented the computational modeling activities within an engineering capstone course. The research question was: What types of computational thinking outcomes emerge when engineering students build computational models? Thematic analysis was applied to individual student artifacts to identify key computational thinking outcomes that were elicited as a result of the intervention.ResultsThroughout the building of the model, students demonstrated the use of computational thinking outcomes, mainly abstraction, algorithmic thinking, evaluation, generalization, and decomposition. However, the diversity and density of use for each outcome were different and unique.ConclusionsThis study shows how building computational models, when guided by current educational theories, can allow for students to practice the use of computational thinking and for educators to incorporate these key practices into their engineering classrooms.
Computer vision for microscopic skin cancer diagnosis using handcrafted and non‐handcrafted features
Authors: Saba Tanzila 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSkin covers the entire body and is the largest organ. Skin cancer is one of the most dreadful cancers that is primarily triggered by sensitivity to ultraviolet rays from the sun. However, the riskiest is melanoma, although it starts in a few different ways. The patient is extremely unaware of recognizing skin malignant growth at the initial stage. Literature is evident that various handcrafted and automatic deep learning features are employed to diagnose skin cancer using the traditional machine and deep learning techniques. The current research presents a comparison of skin cancer diagnosis techniques using handcrafted and non‐handcrafted features. Additionally, clinical features such as Menzies method, seven‐point detection, asymmetry, border color and diameter, visual textures (GRC), local binary patterns, Gabor filters, random fields of Markov, fractal dimension, and an oriental histography are also explored in the process of skin cancer detection. Several parameters, such as jacquard index, accuracy, dice efficiency, preciseness, sensitivity, and specificity, are compared on benchmark data sets to assess reported techniques. Finally, publicly available skin cancer data sets are described and the remaining issues are highlighted.
Rare cause of cystic liver lesions: Liver metastasis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Authors: Sakata Masahiro , Kaneyoshi Toshihiko , Fushimi Takashi , Watanabe Jiro 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract with an annual incidence of 1–2 per 10 000 people. Although most GISTs are solid, they may present with predominantly cystic components. A 69‐year‐old Japanese woman presented with a recently elevated gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase level. Computed tomography revealed multiple space‐occupying lesions (SOLs) in the liver. These SOLs appear cystic on magnetic resonance imaging and abdominal ultrasound and are associated with thick walls at the margins. In addition, these thick walls showed high intensity on diffusion‐weighted images. She was diagnosed with liver metastasis of GIST by diagnostic biopsies from the thick parts of the cystic liver lesion (thick walls at the margins). The primary lesion was thought to be located along the medial side of the descending part of the duodenum, but a duodenal biopsy was initially undiagnosed. Liver metastases due to GISTs are known to cause cystic changes after treatment, such as imatinib mesylate. However, to the best of our knowledge, only six cases where hepatic GIST with predominantly cystic changes (prior to any treatment) have been reported. It should be noted that GISTs appear cystic in all organs.
A survey of the external morphology, internal oral morphology, chondrocranium and hyobranchial apparatus of Elachistocleis larvae Parker, 1927 (Anura, Microhylidae)
Authors: Ferreira Johnny S. , Weber Luiz N. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe external morphology, internal oral morphology, the chondrocranium and the hyobranchial apparatus of Elachistocleis bumbameuboi, E. cf. piauiensis, E. cesarii and E. bicolor are described and compared with each other and with other species of microhylids using available descriptions from the literature. The general morphology of Elachistocleis species is conservative in many aspects. Differences between species are subtle and are found in the body shape, the edge of the snout, fin height, if the lateral line is evident, the presence of regular pustules in the buccal roof arena, the posterolateral edge of the cartilago suprarostralis, the shape of the fenestra in the occipital region, presence or absence of fenestra hypophysea, the margin of the processus antorbitalis, expansions in the ventrolateral process, the shape and inclination of the fenestra subocularis, whether the subotic process is single or slightly bifid, and the inclination of the processus anterolateralis hyalis.
In‐situ formation of Zn–Al layered double oxides on electrochemically anodized nanoporous aluminum film as sorbent for chlorophenols extraction from water and wastewater followed by determination using HPLC
Authors: Ghani Milad , Raoof Jahan Bakhsh , Masoum Saeed 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHerein, we present a simple, cost‐effective, and robust strategy for the in‐situ preparation of Zn‐Al layered double oxides–anodized aluminum thin film via a facile hydrothermal method, followed by calcination treatment of the Zn‐Al layered double hydroxide in the air atmosphere. The in‐situ prepared Zn‐Al layered double oxide‐anodized aluminum film was implemented as sorbent for thin film microextraction of four selected chlorophenols (4‐chlorophenol, 2,4‐dichlorophenol, 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol), followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐ultraviolet detection. The different variables of the thin film microextraction were screened via Plackett–Burman design and then optimized through Box–Behnken design. Under the optimum condition, the method showed good linear ranges (0.2‐200 μg/L) with the coefficient of determinations higher than 0.9938. The calculated limit of detections were between 0.07 and 0.56 μg/L. Relative standard deviations of the method for determination of the analytes at 5 μg/L concentration level (n = 3) were ranged from 3.5 to 3.9% (as interday). The enrichment factors were between 39 and 58. This extraction method was demonstrated to be fast, efficient, and convenient. To study the capability of the developed method for real sample analysis, tap, well, river, and two types of wastewater samples were satisfactorily analyzed.
Using 5D flow MRI to decode the effects of rhythm on left atrial 3D flow dynamics in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Ma Liliana , Yerly Jérôme , Di Sopra Lorenzo , Piccini Davide , Lee Jeesoo , DiCarlo Amanda , Passman Rod , Greenland Philip , Kim Daniel , Stuber Matthias , Markl Michael 
Published: January 2021

PurposeThis study used a 5D flow framework to explore the influence of arrhythmia on thrombogenic hemodynamic parameters in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).MethodsA fully self‐gated, 3D radial, highly accelerated free‐running 5D flow sequence with interleaved four‐point velocity‐encoding was acquired using an in vitro arrhythmic flow phantom and in 25 patients with a history of AF (68 ± 8 y, 6 female). Self‐gating signals were used to calculate AF burden, bin data, and tag each k‐space line with its RRLength. Data were binned as an RR‐resolved dataset with four RR‐interval bins (RR1‐RR4, short‐to‐long) for compressed sensing reconstruction. AF burden was calculated as interquartile range of all intrascan RR‐intervals divided by median RR‐interval, and left atrial (LA) stasis as the percent of the cardiac cycle where the velocity was <0.1 m/s.ResultsIn vitro results demonstrated successful recovery of RR‐binned flow curves using RR‐resolved 5D flow compared to a real‐time PC reference standard. In vivo, 5D flow was acquired in 8:48 minutes. AF burden was significantly correlated with 5D flow‐derived peak (PV) and mean (MV) velocity and stasis (|ρ| = 0.54‐0.75, P < .001). Sensitivity analyses determined a threshold for low versus high AF burden at 9.7%. High burden patients had increased LA mean stasis (up to +42%, P < .01), and lower MV and PV (−30%, −40.6%, respectively, P < .01). RR4 deviated furthest from respiratory‐resolved reconstruction (end‐expiration) with increased mean stasis (7.6% ± 14.0%, P = .10) and decreased PV (−12.7 ± 14.2%, P = .09).ConclusionsRR‐resolved 5D flow can capture temporal and RR‐resolved 3D hemodynamics in <10 minutes and offers a novel approach to investigate arrhythmias.
Ultrasound guidance may have advantages over landmark‐based guidance for some nerve conduction studies
Authors: Wei Kuo‐Chang , Chiu Yi‐Hsiang , Wu Chueh‐Hung , Liang Huey‐Wen , Wang Tyng‐Guey 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundPrecise placement of stimulating and recording electrodes is vital when performing nerve conduction studies (NCSs). In this study, we aimed to determine whether ultrasonography (US) was more precise in localizing the superficial radial nerve (SRN), dorsal ulnar cutaneous nerve (DUCN), ulnar nerve (UN) crossing the cubital tunnel, and radial nerve (RN) crossing the spiral groove (SG) compared to conventional techniques.MethodsThirty healthy young subjects (15 male) were recruited. Each subject underwent both landmark‐based and US‐guided NCS. Onset latencies and amplitudes of compound motor action potentials (CMAPs) and sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs), and stimulation levels (ie, intensity × duration) required to obtain maximal CMAP amplitudes were compared between the two techniques.ResultsThe mean CMAP amplitudes of the UN above the cubital tunnel (9.55 ± 1.96 vs 8.96 ± 1.94 mV, P = .030), UN below the cubital tunnel (10.11 ± 2.07 vs 9.37 ± 1.95 mV, P < .001), and RN below the SG (5.21 ± 1.56 vs 4.34 ± 1.03 mV, P < .001) were significantly greater using US‐guided NCSs compared to landmark‐based NCSs. The mean onset latency of the DUCN was significantly shorter using US‐guided NCSs (1.49 ± 0.15 vs 1.57 ± 0.14 ms, P = .020). The required stimulation level in the UN and RN was significantly lower using US‐guided NCSs.ConclusionsWhen performing NCSs, US guidance provides a more precise localization of the stimulator and electrodes for the DUCN, UN, and RN, while providing comparable localization for the SRN, compared to landmark‐based techniques.
Metastatic basal cell carcinoma in a cat with brief review of the human and veterinary literature
Authors: Moyer Ashley , Vinayak Arathi , Heo Jin , Moller Cheryl , Ehrhart E. J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFeline basal cell carcinomas generally have a benign biological behaviour with a low metastatic rate, and little contemporary information exists regarding potential metastatic behaviour. The purpose of this report is to describe the protracted clinical course of metastatic basal cell carcinoma in a 10‐year‐old female spayed Persian cat affecting the right pelvic limb with nodal metastasis at the time of diagnosis and eventual metastasis to the lungs, lumbar spine, and skin 14 months after initial diagnosis. This report serves as a reminder that these tumours can metastasize and reviews information from human literature that may be helpful in understanding the metastatic pattern, treatment, and prognosis of basal cell carcinoma in veterinary medicine.