bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification of All Single Traveling Wave Solutions of Fractional Perturbed Gerdjikov–Ivanov Equation
Authors: Li Zhao , Han Tianyong
Published: September 2021

The fractional perturbed Gerdjikov–Ivanov (pGI) equation plays a momentous role in nonlinear fiber optics, especially in the application of photonic crystal fibers. Constructing traveling wave solutions to this equation is a very challenging task in physics and mathematics. In the current article, our main purpose is to give the classifications of traveling wave solutions of the fractional pGI equation. These results can help physicists to further explain the complex fractional pGI equation.
XIST Inhibition Attenuates Calcium Oxalate Nephrocalcinosis‐Induced Renal Inflammation and Oxidative Injury via the miR‐223/NLRP3 Pathway
Authors: Lv Peng , Liu Haoran , Ye Tao , Yang Xiaoqi , Duan Chen , Yao Xiangyang , Li Bo , Tang Kun , Chen Zhiqiang , Liu Jianhe , Deng Yaoliang , Wang Tao , Xing Jinchun , Liang Chaozhao , Xu Hua , Ye Zhangqun
Published: September 2021

The roles of the lncRNA X inactive specific transcript (XIST) in many diseases, including cancers and inflammatory sickness, have been previously elucidated. However, renal calculus remained poorly understood. In this study, we revealed the potential effects of XIST on kidney stones that were exerted via inflammatory response and oxidative stress mechanisms. We established a glyoxylate‐induced calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone mouse model and exposed HK‐2 cells to calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM). The interactions among XIST, miR‐223‐3p, and NOD‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and their respective effects were determined by RNAs and protein expression, luciferase activity, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays. Cell necrosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and inflammatory responses were detected after silencing XIST, activating and inhibiting miR‐223‐3p, and both knocking down XIST and activating miR‐223‐3p in vitro and in vivo. The XIST, NLRP3, caspase‐1, and IL‐1β levels were notably increased in kidney samples from glyoxylate‐induced CaOx stone model mice. XIST knockdown significantly suppressed the inflammatory damage and ROS production and further attenuated oxalate crystal deposition. miRNA‐223‐3p mimics also exerted the same effects. Moreover, we verified the interactions among XIST, miRNA‐223‐3p and NLRP3, and the subsequent effects. Our results suggest that the lncRNA XIST participates in the formation and progression of renal calculus by interacting with miR‐223‐3p and the NLRP3/Caspase‐1/IL‐1β pathway to mediate the inflammatory response and ROS production.
[Retracted] Research Based on Visual Sensors and VR in the Field of Visual Culture
Authors: Li Yunpeng
Published: September 2021

Visual sensors provide us with a wealth of multimedia data; one of the core parts of VR technology is to present people with a real and immersive simulation environment; the application of this technology makes the human narrative to achieve visual transformation and further strengthens the central position of visual culture. This paper studies the field of visual culture from two aspects of visual sensor and VR. In this paper, the HSV color model models task processing problems in visual sensor networks using separable load theory and studies ways to seek optimal task scheduling strategies to minimize the completion time of the visual task. This paper mainly uses literature research method, questionnaire survey method, and statistical analysis method to design a model image output process to explore the application of visual culture under the development of visual sensor and VR and analyzes the development status of film, game, and cultural tourism industry VR in the field of visual culture. Questionnaire data show that compared with traditional video games, more people chose games under the application of VR technology for entertainment; in VR game experience, more than 70% are satisfied with game color and style, operation form, scene design, and experience of VR game itself, which shows to some extent the role of visual sensor and VR in visual culture.
Mitochondria: Key Organelles Accelerating Cell Wall Material Accumulation in Juice Sacs of Pummelo (Citrus grandis L. Osbeck) Fruits during Postharvest Storage
Authors: Lu Yanqing , Lin Yanjin , Lu Xinkun
Published: September 2021

Granulation is a physiological disorder of juice sacs in citrus fruits, which develops through secondary cell wall formation. However, the synergistic changes in the cytoplasm of juice sac cells remain largely unknown. This study investigated the dynamic ultrastructure of juice sacs of “Guanxi” pummelo fruits by transmission electron microscopy and determined their cell wall material, soluble sugar, and organic acid contents. The results showed that lignin and hemicellulose are accumulated in juice sacs isolated from dorsal vascular bundles, while lignin and cellulose contribute to the granulation of juice sacs isolated from septal vascular bundles. The significant differences in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents between the two types of juice sacs began to be observed at 30 days of storage. Fructose levels were elevated in juice sacs isolated from the dorsal vascular bundles from 10 to 60 days. Sucrose contents significantly decreased in juice sacs isolated from the septal vascular bundles from 30 to 60 days. Meanwhile glucose, citric acid, and malic acid contents exhibited no apparent changes in both types of juice sacs. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the ultrastructure of both types of juice sacs, it was clearly found that plasma membrane ruptures induce cell wall material synthesis in intracellular spaces; however, cell wall substance contents did not significantly increase until the number of mitochondria sharply increased. In particular, sucrose contents began to decrease significantly just after the mitochondria amount largely increased in juice sacs isolated from the septal vascular bundles, indicating that mitochondria play a key role in regulating carbon source sugar partitioning for cell wall component synthesis.
Design of Macroeconomic Growth Prediction Algorithm Based on Data Mining
Authors: Sun Hongxiang , Yao Zhongkai , Miao Qingchun
Published: September 2021

With the rapid development of information technology and globalization of economy, financial data are being generated and collected at an unprecedented rate. Consequently, there has been a dire need of automated methods for effective and proficient utilization of a substantial amount of financial data to help in investment planning and decision-making. Data mining methods have been employed to discover hidden patterns and estimate future tendencies in financial markets. In this article, an improved macroeconomic growth prediction algorithm based on data mining and fuzzy correlation analysis is presented. This study analyzes the sequence of economic characteristics, reorganizes the spatial structure of economic characteristics, and integrates the statistical information of economic data. Using the optimized Apriori algorithm, the association rules between macroeconomic data are generated. Distinct features are extracted according to association rules using the joint distribution characteristic quantity of macroeconomic time series. Moreover, the Doppler parameter of macroeconomic time series growth prediction is calculated, and the residual analysis method of the regression model is used to predict the growth of macroeconomic data. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has better adaptability, less computation time, and higher prediction accuracy of economic data mining.
Parental Involvement or Interference? Rural Teachers’ Perceptions
Authors: Ahmed Qazi Waqas , Rönkä Anna , Perälä-Littunen Satu
Published: September 2021

This research explored rural state school teachers’ perceptions concerning parental involvement in children’s education in a developing country context. The data were collected through thematic interviews with teachers of public schools situated in the rural areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. The study findings revealed teachers’ frustration and disappointment regarding parental involvement. Teachers believed that susceptible socioeconomic circumstances and adherence to local customs hindered many parents from participating in their children’s education. In line with this, teachers frequently held negative perceptions regarding children’s parents, and these perceptions have the potential to adversely affect parent–teacher communion and children’s learning. We offered several policy implications for enhancing parents’ roles and teachers’ competency in supporting parental involvement, which could also be practical in other developing countries sharing similar impediments, such as widespread illiteracy, poverty, and a lack of qualified teachers.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice Education Mode of Animation Digital Media Major Based on Intelligent Information Collection
Authors: Liu Lianlian , Wang Yongjun
Published: September 2021

With the rapid development of new media, it has also promoted the transformation of animation expression. One is the change of publishing media, which makes the dissemination of online media work faster and more convenient; the other is the order of magnitude change and the diversity of publishing channels and communication. The choice has contributed to a geometric increase in the number of works published. According to the flow of the new media animation production process, design and establish the classroom situation of animation studios, introduce “work” into the classroom, integrate occupations into studies, highlight occupations in studies, and strengthen professional concepts in the courses, in the form of animation studios, combined with animation companies. The production process and assessment standards effectively organize students to actively master animation theory knowledge and production technology; these experiences can accumulate effective and valuable experience for students’ career development. This article mainly introduces the research on the innovative and entrepreneurial practice education model of animation digital media major based on intelligent information collection and intends to provide some ideas and directions for the innovation and entrepreneurship practice education model reform of animation digital media major. This article proposes a studio-based animation digital media professional innovation and entrepreneurship practice education model research methods, used for studio-based animation research and experiment on innovation and entrepreneurship practice education mode of digital media major. The experimental results of this paper show that the Cronbach’s α coefficients of the questionnaire are all greater than 0.8, indicating that the survey content of the questionnaire is more authentic and highly reliable.
Research on the Mental Health of College Students Based on Fuzzy Clustering Algorithm
Authors: Tang Qinghua , Zhao Yixuan , Wei Yujia , Jiang Lu
Published: September 2021

The mental health of young college students has always been a social concern. Strengthening the supervision of college students’ mental health problems is an important research content. In this regard, this paper proposes to apply fuzzy cluster analysis to the health analysis of college students and explore college students through fuzzy clustering. Explore the potential relationship between the factors that affect the health of college students, and this will provide a reference for the early prevention and intervention of college students’ mental health problems. In view of this, an improved fuzzy clustering method based on the firefly algorithm is proposed. First, the Chebyshev diagram is introduced into the firefly algorithm to initialize the population distribution. Then, an adaptive step size method is proposed to balance exploration and development capabilities. Finally, in the local search process, a Gaussian perturbation strategy is added to the optimal individual in each iteration to make it jump out of the local optimal. The process has good optimization capabilities and is easy to obtain the global optimal value. It can be used as the initial center of the fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm for clustering, which can effectively enhance the robustness of the algorithm and improve the global optimization ability. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm, comparative experiments were carried out on four datasets, and the experimental results show that the algorithm is better than the comparison algorithm in clustering accuracy and robustness.
Is Calorie Labeling on Menus Related to Weight Disturbances among Females in Saudi Arabia?
Authors: Al-Otaibi Hala , Al-Sandal Tahani , Elkatr Haiam O.
Published: September 2021

Calorie labeling is a recent initiative from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) aimed to reduce the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by influencing people to make healthier food choices when they eat out and can also help people with weight disturbances to be more aware of their calorie intake. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the use of calorie labeling on restaurant menus, calorie intake, weight concern, body weight perception, and weight-control behaviors among young women. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among female students at a university restaurant. Participants were assigned to two groups: food menus with (experimental group) and without (control group) calorie labeling. The logistic regression model assessed the predictors of using calorie information separately for the experimental and control groups. Calorie labeling had a significant effect on reducing calorie consumption in the experimental group by 59 calories compared to the control group. The higher weight concern in the control group (OR = 0.410; 95% CI 0.230–0.730;

P
≤
0.002

) was a predictor for using calorie information. The experimental group had higher weight concern (OR = 1.530; 95% CI 1.107–2.115;

P
≤
0.01

) and body weight perception (OR = 4.230; 95% CI 1.084–6.517;

P
≤
0.038

) and lower calorie intake (OR = 1.005; 95% CI 1.001–6.517;

P
≤
0.008

) predictors for using calorie information. Weight-control behaviors did not significantly predict the use of calorie information in the groups. Calorie labeling might increase the weight disturbances among young females. More investigation is needed across various populations to gain a better understanding of calorie labeling as an effective food choice among people who are vulnerable to weight disturbances or already have weight disorders.
Melatonin Exerts Cardioprotective Effects by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome‐Induced Pyroptosis in Mice following Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Wen Lianghe , Wang Minnan , Luo Peiyao , Meng Xianglin , Zhao Mingyan
Published: September 2021

Myocardial infarction‐ (MI‐) induced myocardial damage is mainly attributed to the loss of cardiomyocytes. Pyroptosis is a newly recognized form of programmed cell necrosis that is associated with the progression of MI. Melatonin has been shown to exert cardioprotective effects against cardiac damage in multiple cardiovascular diseases. However, the effect of melatonin on pyroptosis‐induced cardiac injury in MI has not been elucidated. Herein, we found that melatonin administration ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and reduced cardiomyocyte death both in mice following coronary artery ligation and in H9C2 cells exposed to hypoxia. The results also showed that pyroptosis was induced both in vivo and in vitro, as evidenced by increased NLRP3, cleaved caspase‐1, GSDMD‐N, and mature IL‐1β and IL‐18 levels, and these changes were decreased by melatonin treatment. Furthermore, we observed that TLR4 and NF‐κB levels were increased by MI or hypoxia, and these increases were reversed by melatonin. The antipyroptotic action of melatonin was abrogated by treatment with an agonist of the TLR4/NF‐κB signaling pathway. Our results indicate that melatonin can exert cardioprotective effects by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome‐induced pyroptosis through modulation of the TLR4/NF‐κB signaling pathway and provide strong evidence for the utility of melatonin in the treatment of MI.
Integral Nonsingular Terminal Sliding Mode Control of Hydraulic Servo Actuator Based on Extended State Observer
Authors: Wan Zhenshuai , Fu Yu
Published: September 2021

Hydraulic servo actuator always suffers from various disturbance and uncertainties, which makes it difficult to design a higher performance controller. In this paper, an integral nonsingular terminal sliding mode controller based on extended state observer (ESO‐INTSM) is proposed to improve the robust performance of hydraulic servo actuator. The ESO is designed to estimate not only the parametric uncertainties but also the model disturbance. Based on the observed states of ESO, the proposed controllers could enable hydraulic servo actuator to track the desired motion trajectories. The stability of the synthesized controller is proved via Lyapunov analysis, which is very important for high‐accuracy tracking control of hydraulic servo actuator. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy can effectively attenuate the adverse influence caused by the uncertainties and apparently improve the tracking accuracy.
Optimal Game-Based Energy Management with Renewable Energy for Secure Electric Vehicles Charging in Internet of Things
Authors: Chen Huwei , Chen Shijun , Jiang Shanhe
Published: September 2021

The integration of smart grid and Internet of Things (IoT) has been facilitated with the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs). However, due to EVs’ random mobility and different interests of energy demand, there exists a significant challenge to optimally schedule energy supply in IoT. In this paper, we propose a secure game theoretic scheme for charging EVs supplied by mobile charging stations (MCSs) in IoT, considering the dynamic renewable energy source. Firstly, the charging system composed of MCSs is developed to implement the charging service. Secondly, when the secure charging scheme of EV users is designed, the utility function of each entity in the charging system is formulated to express the trading relationship between EV users and MCSs. Moreover, with consideration of the competition and cooperation, we propose a Stackelberg game framework with sub-noncooperative optimization. Thirdly, the existence and uniqueness of both Stackelberg equilibrium (SE) and Nash equilibrium (NE) are theoretically analyzed and proved. Through the presented distributed energy scheduling algorithm, we can achieve the optimal solution. Finally, numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposal through comparison with other existing schemes.
[Retracted] Continuous Sorption of Remazol Brilliant Orange 3R Using Caulerpa scalpelliformis Biochar
Authors: Ravindiran Gokulan , Sugumar Pradeepkumar , G Elias
Published: September 2021

An ever increase in the utilization of water for domestic and industrial activities resulted in the depletion of fresh water. Water is being used in huge quantities for manufacturing and other activities. The toxic pollutants used in the industries get mixed with water and result in the degradation of water quality. Textile industries are considered as one of the major industries that release a huge quantity of wastewater. The dye used in the textile industries is not completely utilized in the dyeing process and gets mixed with water and reaches the environment. Caulerpa scalpelliformis, a novel sorbent, was used for the preparation of biochar and successive removal of dyes in a continuous operation. The operating conditions, namely, biochar bed depth, dye flow rate, and initial dye concentration, were investigated, and the experimental result was validated with the mathematical models.
Cinnamic Acid Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Suppressing Hepatic Lipogenesis and Promoting Fatty Acid Oxidation
Authors: Wu You , Wang Minghui , Yang Tao , Qin Lingling , Hu Yaomu , Zhao Dan , Wu Lili , Liu Tonghua
Published: September 2021

Background. Cinnamic acid (CA) has been shown to have many beneficial effects including regulating lipid metabolism and reducing obesity. However, its effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFDL) has not been investigated in detail. Thus, we performed this study in order to explore CA’s effect on hepatic lipid metabolism and the underlying mechanisms. Method. Oleic acid (OA) was used to induce lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. After coincubation with CA, the cells were stained with oil red O and the triglyceride (TG) content was assessed. Key genes in lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation pathways were tested. Additionally, db/db and wt/wt mice were divided into three groups, with the wt/wt mice representing the normal group and the db/db mice being divided into the NAFLD and CA groups. After 4 weeks of oral treatment, all mice were sacrificed and the blood lipid profile and liver tissues were assessed. Results. CA treatment reduced the lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and in db/db mouse livers. ACLY, ACC, FAS, SCD1, PPARγ, and CD36 were significantly downregulated, while CPT1A, PGC1α, and PPARα were significantly upregulated. Conclusion. CA’s therapeutic effect on NAFLD may be attributed to its ability to lower hepatic lipid accumulation, which is mediated by suppression of hepatic lipogenesis and fatty acid intake, as well as increased fatty acid oxidation.
A Method of Product Selection Based on Online Reviews
Authors: Liang Xia , Guo Jie , Sun Yan , Liu Xiaoxiao
Published: September 2021

With the rapid development of information technology and market economy, global e-commerce platform develops rapidly. Recently, online reviews are widely available on e-commerce platforms to express customers’ experience of products. When ranking alternative products based on online reviews, how to make full use of the information in online reviews to represent the sentiment analysis results of online reviews is an important prerequisite for decision analysis. To this end, we propose a method for measuring the time utility and support utility of online reviews. Then a method for representing the sentiment analysis results of online reviews in the form of linguistic distribution is proposed. In addition, in view of the attributes and their weights being unknown, we propose a method for extracting product attributes from online reviews by using the Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) algorithm; and the objective weights of attributes are determined through the Criteria Importance through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method. Additionally, in order to highlight the differences between the alternatives, the roulette wheel selection algorithm is first used to randomly select product attributes. Then the alternative products can be ranked by the extended Multi-Attributive Border Approximation area Comparison (MABAC) method with mixed information. Finally, we illustrate the applicability of the proposed method through a case study of selecting a 5G mobile phone and simulation experiment.
Protective Effect of Honey and Propolis against Gentamicin‐Induced Oxidative Stress and Hepatorenal Damages
Authors: Laaroussi Hassan , Bakour Meryem , Ousaaid Driss , Ferreira-Santos Pedro , Genisheva Zlatina , El Ghouizi Asmae , Aboulghazi Abderrazak , Teixeira José Antonio , Lyoussi Badiaa
Published: September 2021

Bee products are a promising source of phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant activity. The present study was designed to explore the protective effect of honey, propolis, and their combination on gentamicin‐induced oxidative stress and hepatorenal dysfunction. This study was conducted on male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injections of gentamicin (120 mg/kg BW/day, i.p.) or normal saline (1 ml/kg BW/day, i.p.) for 10 consecutive days. Honey (2 g/kg BW), propolis (100 mg/kg BW), or their combination were given daily by gavage to normal and gentamicin groups. Honey and propolis samples were evaluated for their phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. The in vitro investigations showed that the evaluated samples especially propolis extract have high antioxidant power associated with the presence of several phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, flavan‐3‐ols, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and stilbenes, while honey contains only hydroxybenzoic acids and hydroxycinnamic acids. It was also shown that simultaneous treatment with honey or propolis extract alone or in association prevented changes caused by gentamicin administration and improved hepatic and renal functions. Changes caused by gentamicin administration, observed by in vivo experiments, include significant elevation of uric acid, urea, creatinine, and hepatic enzyme levels (ALT, AST, and ALP) and kidney biochemical changes (an increase of urea, uric acid, and creatinine and a decrease of albumin and total protein) as well as remarkable changes of renal and liver oxidative stress markers (CAT, GPx, and GSH) and elevation of MDA levels. Overall, it can be concluded that honey and propolis might be useful in the management of liver and renal diseases induced by xenobiotics.
Regional Boundary Control of Traffic Network Based on MFD and FR-PID
Authors: Yang Xin , Chen Juncheng , Yan Mantun , He Zhao , Qin Ziyan , Zhao Jiandong
Published: September 2021

In recent years, urban traffic congestion has become more serious and the capacity of roads has declined, resulting in frequent traffic accidents. In order to effectively alleviate the traffic congestion of the regional road network, aiming at the problem of lack of accurate OD data of the road network, a regional boundary control method of the traffic network based on fuzzy RBF neural network PID (FR-PID) is proposed by combining the theory of macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD). Firstly, based on the traffic survey, the simulation model of the study area is built, and the basic data such as the traffic flow and the time occupation rate of each road section are obtained. Secondly, the simulation data are used to test the existence of MFD in the road network, and the controlled area is defined. Then, the vehicle change model of the road network area is established. Then, in view of the problem of poor adaptive ability of traditional PID control, the FR-PID control structure is designed. Finally, an example is verified by VISSIM software. In the simulation, different control methods are used for comparison and verification, and the simulation results are analyzed. The results show that the control effect of the proposed method is better than that of the traditional method, and the regional average accumulative vehicle number, regional average completed volume, regional accumulative delays, and total vehicle travel time are optimized by 28.21%, 41.19%, 27.06%, and 32.73%, respectively. The research results can provide reference for the management of urban congestion, thereby reducing the number of traffic accidents and improving urban traffic safety.
Modelling the Accommodation Preferences of Tourists by Combining Fuzzy-AHP and GIS Methods
Authors: Mahdi Ali , Esztergár-Kiss Domokos
Published: September 2021

Finding the place of accommodation is one of the most crucial issues during a journey. This study aims to support the decision-making of tourists for choosing the optimal accommodation by combining fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. The adopted criteria are the cost per room, the distance from the center, the level of security, the place rating, and the availability of free cancellation and breakfast. Due to some uncertainty and diversity of criteria, the FAHP approach is applied to consolidate tourists’ decisions by applying criteria weighting, while the GIS is used to overlay the weighted criteria and to visualize the ranked places of accommodation on a map. The combined technique is applied on a case study in Budapest City, where the analysis is conducted on 364 places of accommodation. The results show that half of the places are recommended for tourists, and more than fifth of the accommodations are highly recommended. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the cost per room was the highest influential criterion with 0.233 importance weight, followed by the security level with 0.205. The lowest factor affecting the choice of accommodation was the free cancellation service. It was demonstrated that the rating weight importance was 0.182, while the breakfast and the distance from the center had approximately the same importance. As a recommendation, some improvements on the accommodation, such as decreasing the cost per room, enhancing the services, or developing the quality of the places, would increase their attractiveness for tourists.
Physicochemical and Biological Indicators of Soils in an Organic Farming System
Authors: Nasiyev Beybit , Vassilina Tursunay , Zhylkybay Ainur , Shibaikin Vladimir , Salykova Akmarzhan
Published: September 2021

In developed countries, the ideas of ecological agricultural production, continuous cycle, and waste-free production technologies have gained popularity. The effect from the production and consumption of ecological agricultural products is determined by the least harm to the environment, increasing the competitiveness of products, and receiving additional profit from increasing prices for higher quality products. The production of organically safe products is based on the principle of biologization, i.e., the widespread use of biological preparations, a high proportion of legumes (sources of nitrogen), and avoiding chemical plant protection products, transgenic plants, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This study aims to increase the productivity of safflower and improve the physicochemical and biological indicators of dark chestnut soils through the use of biologized technologies in the organic farming system. Standard methods for assessment and statistical analysis of physical and chemical parameters of soils were carried out in zone 1 of West Kazakhstan. This made it possible to identify the most optimal technology for the cultivation of safflower. The study results showed that under the influence of the phytomeliorative action of safflower in the 0–20 cm layer of dark chestnut soils, one could note an increase in the content of nitrate nitrogen by 5.95%, an increase in the content of mobile phosphorus by 5.22%, and soil loosening by 0.010 g/cm3, with the structure of the soil being 64.43%. Strong biological activity of the soil was established by the crops of safflower. The highest yield of safflower oil about 0.23 t/ha with an oil content of 30.1% was obtained using the biologized technology option. The use of biological technology, along with biological yields, increases oil yield by 0.06 t/ha or 28.06%.
Two Extensions of the Quadratic Nonuniform B-Spline Curve with Local Shape Parameter Series
Authors: Kong Xiang , Chen Jun
Published: September 2021

Two extensions of the quadratic nonuniform B-spline curve with local shape parameter series, called the W3D3C1P2 spline curve and the W3D4C2P1 spline curve, are introduced in the paper. The new extensions not only inherit most excellent properties of the quadratic nonuniform B-spline curve but also can move locally toward or against the fixed control polygon by varying the shape parameter series. They are C1 and C2 continuous separately. Furthermore, the W3D3C1P2 spline curve includes the quadratic nonuniform B-spline curve as a special case. Two applications, the interpolation of the position and the corresponding tangent direction and the interpolation of a line segment, are discussed without solving a system of linear functions. Several numerical examples indicated that the new extensions are valid and can easily be applied.
A Family with a High Incidence of Migraine and Vestibular Migraine and a Case of Menière’s Disease
Authors: Familiari Marco , Gatti Omar , Cangiano Iacopo , Teggi Roberto
Published: September 2021

Vestibular migraine (VM) and Menière’s disease (MD) are common neurotological disorders causing episodic vertigo. Sometimes, VM is accompanied by cochlear symptoms suggestive for MD. Therefore, in those cases, the differential diagnosis between the two disorders can be difficult. Moreover, a comorbidity with migraine in MD patients is widely reported, up to the hypothesis of a possible MD-VM overlapping syndrome. In this brief case report, we consider the clinical history of a family presenting high incidence of subjects fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of VM and single case fulfilling criteria for definite MD. The relationship between VM and MD is still under debate; anyway, it can be speculated that commonly shared genetic mutations could play a role as predisposing factors in both disorders. A congenital nystagmus in the family was present too, but its correlation with the other conditions is still not clear. Future goal of our work will be to assess genetics in this family.
Some Coincidence and Common Fixed-Point Results on Cone

b

2

-Metric Spaces over Banach Algebras with Applications to the Infinite System of Integral Equations
Authors: Islam Ziaul , Sarwar Muhammad , Filali Doaa , Jarad Fahd
Published: September 2021

In this article, common fixed-point theorems for self-mappings under different types of generalized contractions in the context of the cone

b

2

-metric space over the Banach algebra are discussed. The existence results obtained strengthen the ones mentioned previously in the literature. An example and an application to the infinite system of integral equations are also presented to validate the main results.
Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Links Hypercholesterolemia and Bladder Cancer Aggressiveness by Promoting Cancer Stemness
Authors: Yang Lin , Sun Jingya , Li Meiqian , Long Yiming , Zhang Dianzheng , Guo Hongqian , Huang Ruimin , Yan Jun
Published: September 2021

Hypercholesterolemia is a prevalent metabolic disorder that has been implicated in the development of steroid-targeted cancers. However, the link between hypercholesterolemia and urinary bladder cancer (UBC), a non–steroid-targeted cancer, remains unresolved. Here we show that diet-induced and Ldlr deficiency–induced hypercholesterolemia enhances both UBC stemness and progression. Inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption by ezetimibe reversed diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and cancer stemness. As a key component in hypercholesterolemic sera, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), but not native low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol or metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol, increased cancer stemness through its receptor CD36. Depletion of CD36, ectopic expression of an ox-LDL binding–disabled mutant form of CD36(K164A), and the neutralization of ox-LDL and CD36 via neutralizing antibodies all reversed ox-LDL–induced cancer stemness. Mechanistically, ox-LDL enhanced the interaction of CD36 and JAK2, inducing phosphorylation of JAK2 and subsequently activating STAT3 signaling, which was not mediated by JAK1 or Src in UBC cells. Finally, ox-LDL levels in serum predicted poor prognosis, and the ox-LDLhigh signature predicted worse survival in patients with UBC. These findings indicate that ox-LDL links hypercholesterolemia with UBC progression by enhancing cancer stemness. Lowering serum ox-LDL or targeting the CD36/JAK2/STAT3 axis might serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for UBCs with hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, elevated ox-LDL may serve as a biomarker for UBC.

Significance:

This study demonstrates how hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidized LDL promotes urinary bladder cancer stemness via a CD36/STAT3 signaling axis, highlighting these factors as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets of aggressive disease.
Hemochromatosis, Iron Overload–Related Diseases, and Pancreatic Cancer Risk in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare
Authors: Julián-Serrano Sachelly , Yuan Fangcheng , Barrett Michael J. , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Stolzenberg-Solomon Rachael Z.
Published: September 2021

Background:

Experimental studies suggest that iron overload might increase pancreatic cancer risk. We evaluated whether prediagnostic hemochromatosis and iron-overload diseases, including sideroblastic and congenital dyserythropoietic anemias, and non–alcoholic-related chronic liver disease (NACLD) were associated with pancreatic cancer risk in older adults.

Methods:

We conducted a population-based, case–control study within the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER)-Medicare linked data. Incident primary pancreatic cancer cases were adults > 66 years. Controls were alive at the time cases were diagnosed and matched to cases (4:1 ratio) by age, sex, and calendar year. Hemochromatosis, iron-overload anemias, and NACLD were reported 12 or more months before pancreatic cancer diagnosis or control selection using Medicare claims data. Adjusted unconditional logistic regression models were used to calculate ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) between hemochromatosis, sideroblastic and congenital dyserythropoietic anemias, NACLD, and pancreatic cancer.

Results:

Between 1992 and 2015, 80,074 pancreatic cancer cases and 320,296 controls were identified. Overall, we did not observe statistically significant associations between hemochromatosis, sideroblastic anemia, or congenital dyserythropoietic anemia and pancreatic cancer; however, sideroblastic anemia was associated with later primary pancreatic cancer (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.03–1.64). NACLD was associated with first (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01–1.19), later (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02–1.35), and all (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04–1.20) pancreatic cancer.

Conclusions:

Overall hemochromatosis and iron-overload anemias were not associated with pancreatic cancer, whereas NACLD was associated with increased risk in this large study of older adults.

Impact:

These results partly support the hypothesis that iron-overload diseases increase pancreatic cancer risk.
Tissue-Agnostic Drug Development: A New Path to Drug Approval
Authors: Thein Kyaw Z. , Lemery Steven J. , Kummar Shivaani
Published: September 2021

In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in our understanding of cancer biology, host responses, and the concept of precision oncology. These advances have focused attention on biomarker-driven, tissue-agnostic drug development strategies. The recent approvals by the FDA of pembrolizumab for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic, microsatellite instability–high or deficient mismatch repair solid tumors, and more recently for the treatment of tumor mutational burden–high tumors; and of larotrectinib and entrectinib for the treatment of neurotrophic tyrosine kinase (NTRK) fusion–positive solid tumors, have further heightened interest in target-driven as opposed to histology-driven drug development. Herein, we focus on tissue-agnostic clinical drug development with an understanding of target modulation in the context of histology. The use of molecular genetics and biomarker-driven strategies rather than traditional histology based on organ of origin has reinforced the concept of tissue-agnostic drug development. Recent approvals in the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, and other regions have further heightened interest in target-driven as opposed to histology-driven drug development.
Dissecting Response and Resistance to Anti–PD-1 Therapy in Microsatellite-Unstable Gastric Cancer
Authors: Fontana Elisa , Smyth Elizabeth C.
Published: September 2021

Most, but not all, patients with microsatellite-unstable gastric cancer respond to anti–PD-1 therapy. In this issue, Kwon and colleagues show, first, that differences in tumor mutation burden (TMB) may drive this variation in outcomes and, second, that treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors leads to further immunoediting and a reduction in TMB in responding patients.

See related article by Kwon et al., p. 2168.
mRNA Export as a Novel Cancer-Specific Dependency
Authors: Wang Eric , Abdel-Wahab Omar
Published: September 2021

In this issue, Malone and colleagues identified the nuclear mRNA export factor NXT1 as a novel genetic dependency in neuroblastoma as well as several additional pediatric cancers. These data highlight potential cell type–specific differences in the nuclear export machinery that may be exploited as cancer therapeutics.

See related article by Malone et al., p. 2282.
Bacterial Genotoxin Accelerates Transient Infection–Driven Murine Colon Tumorigenesis
Authors: Liu Yue , Fu Kai , Wier Eric M. , Lei Yifan , Hodgson Andrea , Xu Dongqing , Xia Xue , Zheng Dandan , Ding Hua , Sears Cynthia L. , Yang Jian , Wan Fengyi
Published: September 2021

Chronic and low-grade inflammation associated with persistent bacterial infections has been linked to colon tumor development; however, the impact of transient and self-limited infections in bacterially driven colon tumorigenesis has remained enigmatic. Here we report that UshA is a novel genotoxin in attaching/effacing (A/E) pathogens, which include the human pathogens enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli, and their murine equivalent Citrobacter rodentium (CR). UshA harbors direct DNA digestion activity with a catalytic histidine–aspartic acid dyad. Injected via the type III secretion system (T3SS) into host cells, UshA triggers DNA damage and initiates tumorigenic transformation during infections in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, UshA plays an indispensable role in CR infection–accelerated colon tumorigenesis in genetically susceptible ApcMinΔ716/+ mice. Collectively, our results reveal that UshA, functioning as a bacterial T3SS-dependent genotoxin, plays a critical role in prompting transient and noninvasive bacterial infection–accelerated colon tumorigenesis in mice.

Significance:

We identified UshA, a novel T3SS-dependent genotoxin in A/E pathogens that possesses direct DNA digestion activity and confers bacterially accelerated colon tumorigenesis in mice. Our results demonstrate that acute and noninvasive infection with A/E pathogens harbors a far-reaching impact on the development of colon cancer.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1
Proptosis and a Dermal Lesion as the Presenting Sign of Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Porcar Plana Carmen Alejandra , Puzo Bayod Martín , Santos Alarcón Sergio , Moya Roca Jaime , Campos Mollo Ezequiel
Published: September 2021

The purpose is to describe a clinical case of orbital metastases as the presentation sign of the primary tumor, and the importance of a multidisciplinary diagnosis. A 70-year-old man attended the Ophthalmology Department referring ocular pain. Mild proptosis and a dermal lesion in the neck were noticed. Biopsy of the dermal lesion and systemic work-up were compatible with lung adenocarcinoma with metastatic dissemination. After one cycle of palliative chemotherapy, patient’s medical condition worsened, and he eventually died. Although rare, orbital symptoms can be the initial clinical presentation preceding the diagnosis of the primary silent lung neoplasm. Ophthalmologist has an important role in diagnoses of metastatic orbital cancer. Involvement of the multidisciplinary team is important for diagnosis and treatment.
Anti-Proliferative Effects of E2F1 Suppression in Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Godoy Paulo R.D.V. , Donaires Flavia S. , Montaldi Ana Paula L. , Sakamoto-Hojo Elza T.
Published: September 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive malignant brain tumor; surgery, radiation, and temozolomide still remain the main treatments. There is evidence that E2F1 is overexpressed in various types of cancer, including GBM. E2F1 is a transcription factor that controls the cell cycle progression and regulates DNA damage responses and the proliferation of pluripotent and neural stem cells. To test the potentiality of E2F1 as molecular target for GBM treatment, we suppressed the E2F1 gene (siRNA) in the U87MG cell line, aiming to inhibit cellular proliferation and modulate the radioresistance of these cells. Following E2F1 suppression, associated or not with gamma-irradiation, several assays (cell proliferation, cell cycle analysis, neurosphere counting, and protein expression) were performed in U87MG cells grown as monolayer or neurospheres. We found that siE2F1-suppressed cells showed reduced cell proliferation and increased cell death (sub-G1 fraction) in monolayer cultures, and also a significant reduction in the number of neurospheres. In addition, in irradiated cells, E2F1 suppression caused similar effects, with reduction of the number of neurospheres and neurosphere cell numbers relative to controls; these results suggest that E2F1 plays a role in the maintenance of GBM stem cells, and our results obtained in neurospheres are relevant within the context of radiation resistance. Furthermore, E2F1 suppression inhibited or delayed GBM cell differentiation by maintaining a reasonable proportion of CD133+ cells when grown at differentiation condition. Therefore, E2F1 proved to be an interesting molecular target for therapeutic intervention in U87MG cells.
Higher Levels of C-Reactive Protein and Ferritin in Patients with Overweight and Obesity and SARS-CoV-2-Related Pneumonia
Authors: Bettini Silvia , Bucca Giovanni , Sensi Caterina , Dal Prà Chiara , Fabris Roberto , Vettor Roberto , Busetto Luca
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are associated with a more severe COronaVirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Adipose tissue-related chronic inflammation could be a promoter for the occurrence of the cytokine storm that predicts aggravation of COVID-19. The primary aim was to investigate if this increased risk for more severe COVID-19 was associated with a higher inflammatory response. Methods: We enrolled patients <75 years old hospitalized in a medical COVID-19 ward with SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia. Patients were classified according to BMI as normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Laboratory parameters were measured at admission and every second day during the hospital stay. Results: Ninety patients (64.4% males; median age 61 years) were enrolled. Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) was needed in 9% of the patients with normal weight, in 32.4% of the patients with overweight, and in 12.9% of the patients with obesity (p = 0.045). Maximal C-reactive protein (CRP) level during hospital stay was 92 (48–122) mg/L in patients with normal weight, 140 (82–265) mg/L in patients with overweight, and 117 (67–160) mg/L in patients with obesity (p = 0.037). Maximal ferritin values were 564 (403–1,379) μg/L in patients with a normal weight, 1,253 (754–2,532) μg/L in patients with overweight, and 828 (279–1,582) μg/L in patients with obesity (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Patients with overweight and obesity required more IMV and had higher peaks of CRP and ferritin than patients with normal weight during COVID-19.