Ranking Influential Nodes of Fake News Spreading on Mobile Social Networks

Online fake news can generate a negative impact on both users and society. Due to the concerns with spread of fake news and misinformation, assessing the network influence of online users has become an important issue. This study quantifies the influence of nodes by proposing an algorithm based on information entropy theory. Dynamic process of influence of nodes is characterized on mobile social networks (MSNs). Weibo (i.e., the Chinese version of microblogging) users are chosen to build the real network and quantified influence of them is analyzed according to the model proposed in this paper. MATLAB is employed to simulate and validate the model. Results show the comprehensive influence of nodes increases with the rise of two factors: the number of nodes connected to them and the frequency of their interaction. Indirect influence of nodes becomes stronger than direct influence when the network scope rises. This study can help relevant organizations effectively oversee the spread of online fake news on MSNs

Five-Direction Occlusion Filling with Five Layer Parallel Two-Stage Pipeline for Stereo Matching with Sub-Pixel Disparity Map Estimation

Binocular stereoscopic matching is an essential method in computer vision, imitating human binocular technology to obtain distance information. Among plentiful stereo matching algorithms, Semi-Global Matching (SGM) is recognized as one of the most popular vision algorithms due to its relatively low power consumption and high accuracy, resulting in many excellent SGM-based hardware accelerators. However, vision algorithms, including SGM, are still somewhat inaccurate in actual long-range applications. Therefore, this paper proposes a disparity improvement strategy based on subpixel interpolation and disparity optimization post-processing using an area optimization strategy, hardware-friendly divider, split look-up table, and the clock alignment multi-directional disparity occlusion filling, and depth acquisition based on floating-point operations. The hardware architecture based on optimization algorithms is on the Stratix-IV platform. It consumes about 5.6 K LUTs, 12.8 K registers, and 2.5 M bits of on-chip memory. Meanwhile, the non-occlusion error rate of only 4.61% is about 1% better than the state-of-the-art works in the KITTI2015 dataset. The maximum working frequency can reach up to 98.28 MHz for the 640 × 480 resolution video and 128 disparity range with the power dissipation of 1.459 W and 320 frames per second processing speed

Efficacy and Safety of Pegylated Interferon Plus Ribavirin Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 6: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Hepatitis C genotype 6 (HCV-6) is prevalent in Southeast Asia. Data on the efficacy of direct-acting antiviral agents in chronic HCV-6 patients is limited and pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy remains standard therapy for those patients.</p><p>Aim</p><p>Meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of Peg-IFN plus RBV combination therapy for chronic HCV-6 patients.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Relevant studies were found by database search through Medline, Embase, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library. All published clinical trials assessing the efficacy of Peg-IFN plus RBV combination therapy for chronic HCV-6 patients were included. Sustained virological response rate (SVR) was pooled. We performed additional meta-analyses to compare the SVR outcomes of 24 versus 48 weeks of treatment in four head-to-head trials. Another second meta-analysis was also conducted to compare the efficacy of combination Peg-IFN plus RBV therapy in HCV-6 versus HCV-1 patients.</p><p>Results</p><p>Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled SVR of all single arms was 75% (95% CI: 0.68–0.81). The SVR of 24 weeks treatment was significantly lower than that at 48 weeks, with a risk difference of −14% (95% CI: −0.25 to −0.02, p = 0.02). However, when restricted to the patients with rapid virological response (RVR), there was no significant effect on SVR between these two treatment groups, with a risk difference of −1% (95% CI: −0.1 to 0.07, p = 0.67). The SVR in HCV-6 patients was significantly higher than that in HCV-1 patients, with a relative risk of 1.35 (95% CI: 1.16–1.57, p<0.001). Side effects were common, but rarely caused treatment discontinuation.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The results of this meta-analysis suggest that Peg-IFN plus RBV is effective and safe for HCV-6 patients. Shortening treatment seems to be feasible in HCV-6 patients with RVR when tolerance to treatment is poor. However, this decision should be made cautiously.</p></div

Characteristics of included trails.

#<p>Age<40 years n (%); NR: Not Reported; RGT: Respond-Guided therapy; AEs: adverse events.</p><p>*Including HCV-2/3 and HCV-6 groups. Only the data on HCV-6 groups were included in the current meta-analysis.</p

Study selection procedure.

<p>Study selection procedure.</p

Proportion meta-analysis of SVR rates in all eligible study arms in HCV-6 patients.

<p>Proportion meta-analysis of SVR rates in all eligible study arms in HCV-6 patients.</p

Meta-analysis of SVR rates in HCV-1 versus HCV-6 patients.

<p>Meta-analysis of SVR rates in HCV-1 versus HCV-6 patients.</p

A new technique of intramedullary elastic reduction of the “de-sharpened” Kirschner wire for the treatment of Gartland type III posterolateral displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children

Abstract Objective To compare the clinical effects of intramedullary elastic reduction of the “de-sharpened Kirschner wire and traditional three-dimensional manipulation in the treatment of Gartland type III posterolateral supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was made on 106 cases of Gartland type III posterolateral supracondylar fracture of the humerus treated in the Department of Orthopaedics of a Children’s Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022. According to different surgical technology, the patients were divided into two groups: intramedullary elastic reduction of the de-sharpened Kirschner wire group (experimental group, n = 50) and traditional three-dimensional manipulation group (control group, n = 56). The surgical operating time, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, postoperative Baumann angle changes, postoperative elbow function Flynn score, and complications were collected and compared between the two groups. Results All the enrolled cases underwent surgery successfully and were followed-up at least 6 months. The surgical operating time of the experimental group was 32.88 ± 3.69 min and that of the control group was 45.56 ± 10.13 min, and the difference was statistically significant (P  0.5). There were no complications such as osteomyelitis, compartment syndrome, iatrogenic vascular and nerve injury, and myositis ossificans in either group. Conclusions Good functional outcome can be obtained with both intramedullary elastic reduction of the de-sharpened Kirschner wire and traditional three-dimensional manipulation for Gartland type III posterolateral displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children; however, the former does not need repeated manipulation, and the operation time is shorter, the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy is less, and the recovery of the Baumann angle is better

MeCP2 is critical for maintaining mature neuronal networks and global brain anatomy during late stages of postnatal brain development and in the mature adult brain

Mutations in the X-linked gene, methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (Mecp2), underlie a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, most commonly, Rett Syndrome (RTT), a severe autism spectrum disorder that affects approximately one in 10,000 female live births. Because mutations in the Mecp2 gene occur in the germ cells with onset of neurological symptoms occurring in early childhood, the role of MeCP2 has been ascribed to brain maturation at a specific developmental window. Here, we show similar kinetics of onset and progression of RTT-like symptoms in mice, including lethality, if MeCP2 is removed postnatally during the developmental stage that coincides with RTT onset, or adult stage. For the first time, we show that brains that lose MeCP2 at these two different stages are actively shrinking, resulting in higher than normal neuronal cell density. Furthermore, we show that mature dendritic arbors of pyramidal neurons are severely retracted and dendritic spine density is dramatically reduced. In addition, hippocampal astrocytes have significantly less complex ramified processes. These changes accompany a striking reduction in the levels of several synaptic proteins, including CaMKII α/β, AMPA, and NMDA receptors, and the synaptic vesicle proteins Vglut and Synapsin, which represent critical modifiers of synaptic function and dendritic arbor structure. Importantly, the mRNA levels of these synaptic proteins remains unchanged, suggesting that MeCP2 likely regulates these synaptic proteins post-transcriptionally, directly or indirectly. Our data suggest a crucial role for MeCP2 in post-transcriptional regulation of critical synaptic proteins involved in maintaining mature neuronal networks during late stages of postnatal brain development. © 2012 the authors