bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transanal versus Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision in Male Patients with Low Tumor Location after Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Li Ze , Xiao Jingkun , Hou Yujie , Zhang Xingwei , Jie Haiqing , Liu Huashan , Ruan Lei , Zeng Ziwei , Kang Liang
Published: February 2022

Background. Since Sylla and Lacy successfully reported the transanal total mesorectal excision in 2010, taTME was considered to have the potential to overcome some problematic laparoscopic cases in male, low advanced rectal cancer. However, the evidence is still lacking. This study compared the short and long outcomes of taTME with laTME in these “challenging” patients to explore the advantages of taTME among the patients. Method. After propensity score matching analysis, 106 patients were included in each group from 325 patients who met the including standard. Statistical analysis was used to compare the differences of perioperative outcomes, histopathological results, and survival results between taTME and laTME groups. Results. The mean time of pelvic operation in the taTME group was significantly shorter than in the laTME group (

62.2
±
14.2

mins vs

81.1
±
18.9

mins,

P
=
0.003

). The complication incidence rate and the rate of protective loop ileostomy in the taTME group were significantly lower than those in the laTME group (19.8% vs 38.7%,

P
=
0.003

and 70.8% vs 92.5%,

P
<
0.001

). In long-term result, there was no significant difference between the two groups for 3-year OS (87.3% vs 85.4%,

P
=
0.86

) or 3-year DFS (74.9% vs 70.1%,

P
=
0.92

). The 2-year cumulative local recurrence rate was similar between the two groups (1.1% vs 5.8%,

P
=
0.22

). Conclusion. This study demonstrated that taTME might reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, especially of anastomotic leakage in these “challenging” patients. taTME may be considered to have clear advantages for “challenging” patients.
Finite Element Analysis of Femoral-Acetabular Impingement (FAI) Based on Three-Dimensional Reconstruction
Authors: Luo Xi , Zhang Jun , Cai Guofeng , Wu Yuqiong , Ma Kun
Published: February 2022

In order to solve the problem that people often have pain in the hip joint, it is more meaningful to study femoral-acetabular impingement syndrome in the future. This article aims to study the finite element analysis of femoral-acetabular impingement based on three-dimensional reconstruction. This paper proposes a selective image matching strategy. In the feature matching stage, all images are not matched in pairs, but the corresponding camera distance between the images is calculated initially, which has little effect on the number of features and greatly reduces the time of feature matching, thereby reducing the time cost of 3D reconstruction. In this experiment, a double-blind experiment was used to check the range of motion of all hip joints. Two senior radiologists read the obtained hip joint orthographic films to screen out the hip joint orthographic films that meet the requirements. Experimental data shows that although the initial matching points of the algorithm in this paper are lower than those of the traditional algorithm, the final number of matching points is higher than that of the traditional algorithm. When the final number of patches is fixed to 10000, the initial patch required by the algorithm in this paper is more than that required by the SAD algorithm, nearly 13%, but the total storage requirement is 56.4% of the SAD algorithm, which is a big improvement.
The Population Size and Distribution of Diurnal Large Wild Mammals in the Southern Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia
Authors: Kassa Yacob , Tekalign Wondimagegnehu
Published: February 2022

The study was carried out to assess the population size and distribution of diurnal large wild mammals in the southern Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia. The study area was stratified into four habitat types: riverine forest, ground-water forest, grassland, and bushland. Samples of animals were surveyed through the transect method. The total number of individuals belonging to the 15 species observed was 1681 and 1245 during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Burchell’s zebra (Equus burchellii), Anubis baboon (Papio anubis), Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), and Grant’s gazelle (Nanger granti) were the most abundant species, while Abyssinian hare (Lepus habessinicus) and Bush duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) were the least abundant species. The highest number of species has been supported by the bushland habitat, followed by open grassland, riverine forest, and ground-water forest in both seasons. Despite the park being home to various types of mammalian species, there is a need for conservation actions by the park management and other concerned bodies for the survival of those species in the area.
Construction of the Cross-Cultural Interaction Model for International Students Based on Big Data Analysis
Authors: Wang Zhisong , Gao Shuhong
Published: February 2022

Culture is an important feature that distinguishes human beings from animals. Human beings have created and developed various cultures and influenced people’s psychology and behavior in different social forms. With the continuous improvement of China’s international influence and cultural soft power, the number of foreign students studying in China is increasing year by year. In this paper, data mining is carried out on the data of international students, and the cross-cultural interaction model of international students is constructed. According to the characteristics of the research object, this paper explores the influence of cultural novelty and psychological capital on its cross-cultural adaptation in order to provide theoretical basis for the improvement of cross-cultural adaptation. It also promotes the better development of international students and the improvement of international exchange management in colleges and universities by providing some ideas for mental health education and management of international students. The importance of cultural study for international students in China is related not only to the development and improvement of foreign students’ cognitive level of target culture, but also to the external communication of national cultural image.
Use of Music and Songs as Pedagogical Tools in Teaching English as Foreign Language Contexts
Authors: Kumar Tribhuwan , Akhter Shamim , Yunus Mehrunnisa M. , Shamsy Atefeh
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this research paper is to demonstrate how music can be used in the classroom by describing several methods and providing resources, as well as to demonstrate why music can benefit foreign language learning by reviewing research on the impact of music-related methods on EFL learning and teaching. The researchers relied upon the previous studies and critical and scholarly texts. This study adopts a descriptive study design, which is comprised of a quantitative study in various contexts. The results demonstrated that the complexity found in the foreign language teaching process emerges from the social and cognitive needs of the EFL learners that in most cases are ignored intentionally or unintentionally. Moreover, the process of second language learning comes with a lot of anxiety and peer pressure. Hence, it is concluded that song and music can certainly be considered as one of the useful language learning tools that aid second language teaching without putting a lot of academic pressure on the learners. The implication that can be inferred is that English teachers need to offer a learning environment that is anxiety free and at the same time serves the purpose of learning through fun activities. Songs and music can be proven to be an effective listening activity that has multiple benefits to offer. Particularly in the case of young and elementary learners, music has been used widely to teach important concepts in a fun way by second language teachers.
Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Bone Marrow Failure Diseases
Authors: Sun Yingying , Cao Qiuying , Zhao Xiaoyu , Liu Chunyan , Shao Zonghong
Published: February 2022

Introduction. Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) is an inhibitory checkpoint protein expressed on activated T effector, T regulatory, and natural killer cells. The main function of LAG3 is the regulation of immune homeostasis. Several studies have suggested its role in malignant and autoimmune diseases. The objective of this study was to explore the association between LAG3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and bone marrow failure diseases. Methods. Sixty-two patients newly diagnosed with bone marrow failure diseases in the Hematology Department of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between January 2019 and December 2020 and 16 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. SNPs in LAG3 were investigated by performing Sanger sequencing, and the association of the detected SNPs with bone marrow failure diseases was analyzed. Results. Eleven SNPs were identified. Among them, the frequency of LAG3 rs1941928301 (C>T) was statistically different among the groups (P=0.013). It was higher in the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) group than that in the severe aplastic anemia (SAA) group (P=0.004) and that in the healthy control group (P=0.009). Conclusions. LAG3 rs1941928301 (C>T) might be associated with a higher risk of MDS. The detected LAG3 SNPs have no apparent effect on susceptibility to SAA and immune-related pancytopenia (IRP).
Probiotics-Containing Mucoadhesive Gel for Targeting the Dysbiosis Associated with Periodontal Diseases
Authors: Giannini Giuseppe , Ragusa Irene , Nardone Giulia Nerina , Soldi Sara , Elli Marina , Valenti Piera , Rosa Luigi , Marra Emanuele , Stoppoloni Daniela , Merlo Pich Emilio
Published: February 2022

Objective. Periodontitis is a common disorder that leads to the loss of both tooth and personal well-being, contributing to worsen the risk for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, probiotics, characterized by rapid oral dispersion, have been topically used. Here, we present data of a mucoadhesive gel containing probiotics, capable of ensuring a slow release of bacteria to prevent and treat periodontitis. Methods. An original mucoadhesive gel (AL0005) that is anhydrous and of food grade, loaded with the blend of lactobacilli and plants’ dry extracts, has been assayed. Results. The release kinetics of the bacterial mixture in different experimental models in vitro, including simulated saliva or physiological solutions, showed a significant and stable release for 5–8 hours. In one in vivo study of a mouse model of periodontitis, a locally applied mucoadhesive gel enriched with probiotic strains improved significantly the tissue pathology when compared with vehicle-exposed mice. Conclusions. Together, the results suggest that this mucoadhesive gel can be useful in the normalization of the gum bacterial flora and improvement of the tissue pathology of gum disorders.
Design and Implementation of Shared Memory for Turbo and LDPC Code Interleaver
Authors: Huo Kejia , Hu Zhuhua , Liu Dake
Published: February 2022

In 4G turbo and 5G LDPC, in order to realize a flexible, low-power, low-cost shared general-purpose block interleaving hardware module, it faces the challenges of interleaving structure integration, fewer gate circuits, parallel multistream operation, and switching between standards. Facing these challenges, after studying 3GPP TS 36.212 V15.4.0 and 3GPP TS 38.212 V15.4.0 protocols, common part of two major interleaving module standards is found. For the block interleave module in the rate matching of the 4G downlink turbo code and the bit interleave module after the rate matching of the 5G NR downlink LDPC code, this paper first designs a memory and implements the two codes interleaving on it. Then, based on the Altera Quartus prime platform and ModelSim for functional verification. Experimental results show that under SMIC 28 nm, operating frequency 50MHz, after synopsys synthesis, the memory module area is

0.17
 
μ

m

2

, and the power consumption is 6.45 mW. Through the shared design, 32 bits parallel access, and switching between standards, the proposed scheme reduces the hardware cost, power consumption, and clock overhead, and improves the flexibility of 4G LTE and 5G NR communication downlink hardware implementation.
Dynamic Mechanical Response, Cracking Behavior, and Stress Intensity Factors of Cement Mortar Specimens with Open and Closed Flaws
Authors: Wang Qizhi , Shi Fangshi , Wang Xiao , Meng Qingling , Li Xing , Song Jinbo , Yu Chang-yi
Published: February 2022

Major civil and military infrastructures are usually located in mountainous areas with complex geological structures. When subjected to impact loads caused by operational blasting or seismic activities, the inherent flaws or joints in the hosting rock mass may grow irreversibly and eventually and cause the entire structure to collapse. It is, therefore, desirable to understand the mechanical and cracking behaviors of flawed rock structures under dynamic loads. In this work, the cement mortar is used to make the plate specimens, and two different types of flaws, i.e., the open and the closed (resin-filled) flaws, with different inclination angles from 0° to 90° with respect to the loading direction are prefabricated. The nominal strength, crack initiation, and failure characteristics of the specimens under different loading rates are investigated using the split Hopkinson bar (SHPB) system in conjunction with the digital image correlation (DIC) technique. The results indicate that the dynamic nominal strength of both two types of specimens shows similar loading rate and flaw angle dependency, specifically, monotonically increasing with the increase of the loading rate while increasing first and then decreasing with increasing the flaw inclination angle. The strength of specimens with an open flaw is obviously lower than that of the specimens with a closed flaw at a similar loading rate. Besides, the failure mode of specimens with an open flaw is mainly an X-shaped tensile or tensile-shear mixed form regardless of the flaw inclination, whereas the resin-filled flawed specimens always fail in the form of an atypical X-shaped shear pattern with obvious randomness. Moreover, the stress field around the crack tip is carefully extracted based on the obtained displacement field from DIC analysis; the stress intensity factors at crack initiation onset also show flaw inclination- and loading rate-dependent behavior. The strength, cracking behavior, and stress field around the tip during the dynamic loading are closely related to the friction effect between the flaw surfaces. The findings in this work provide some basic insights into the cracking mechanism of rock with open and closed flaws under dynamic loading conditions.
Optimal Topology Configuration Design of Contoured-Beam Mesh Reflectors
Authors: Yang Guigeng , Tang Aofei , Zhang Yiqun , Yuan Zhenyi , Kong Lingfei
Published: February 2022

It is significant for the practical application of space-borne mesh-shaped reflectors to reduce the structural complexity under the condition of the far-field electromagnetic (EM) performance being satisfied. To address this problem, an optimal topology configuration design method is proposed for the mesh-shaped reflectors. First, a multifrequency optimization model is established to obtain the mesh-shaped reflector. The reflector nodal deviations in the x-, y-, and z-directions are simultaneously selected as design variables to design the shape of the mesh reflector and realize the required contoured beams within the whole frequency band. Then, based on the multifrequency optimization model, an iterative design technology is proposed to obtain the optimal topology configuration of the mesh-shaped reflector. Finally, a typical example of a mesh reflector with contoured beams covering the continental United States (CONUS) is investigated to demonstrate the feasibility of the method.
Evaluating Oculomotor Tests before and after Vestibular Rehabilitation in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Pre-Post Study
Authors: Abasi Amirabas , Hoseinabadi Reza , Raji Parvin , Friedman Joseph H. , Hadian Mohammad-Reza
Published: February 2022

Introduction. The elderly population is commonly affected by balance and gait disorders that increase the risk of falls. Pivotal systems for efficient postural control are sensory, motor, visual, vestibular, and cognitive. Disruption in any of these systems could lead to postural instability. Vestibular rehabilitation is a set of exercises that positively affect the primary components of the central sensory-motor integration, including somatosensory, visual, and vestibular systems. Accordingly, we hypothesized that vestibular rehabilitation exercises might improve both oculomotor functions and upright postural control in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Materials and Methods. 11 idiopathic Parkinson’s patients voluntarily participated in this study based on inclusion criteria: central vestibular dysfunction and the Hoehn and Yahr scale scores less than or equal to 3. Videonystagmography (VNG) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores were measured at the baseline. Then, the patients underwent vestibular rehabilitation training for 24 sessions (3 sessions per week). The VNG and BBS were measured again after 48 hours of the completion of the last session of the training. Result. After completing vestibular rehabilitation sessions, there were significant improvements in balance

P
≤
0.001

. Eye-tracking and gaze function statistically improved in 7 patients and 6 patients, respectively. Conclusion. Vestibular rehabilitation produced positive effects on oculomotor function and balance in a small cohort of people with PD. Consequently, it could be considered as a possible effective intervention for Parkinson’s patients. This trial is registered with IRCT201709123551N6.
Novel PEEK Retentive Elements versus Conventional Retentive Elements in Mandibular Overdentures: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sharaf M. Y. , Eskander Asharaf , Afify Mohamed
Published: February 2022

Background. Many patients suffer from lack of retention of conventional mandibular overdentures due to loss of clip retention over time. Computer-aided design-computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milled polyether ether ketone (PEEK) materials may be used for the construction of retentive housing and clips for improving retention of implant-supported overdentures. Objective. To compare retention and patient satisfaction of implant-supported mandibular overdentures retained by conventional nylon clip and metal housings for ball attachments versus PEEK clip and housings. Methods. Twenty-two participants were divided into 2 equal groups (n = 11). The conventional group received implant-supported mandibular overdentures retained by metal housings and nylon retentive elements, while the PEEK group received implant-supported mandibular overdentures retained by PEEK retentive elements and housings. The PEEK retentive elements were made using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM). The evaluation included measuring the retention by applying a gradual pulling up force by force meter and patient satisfaction with a 7-point visual analog scale (VAS) at overdenture insertion and 3, 6, and 12 months subsequently by a research interviewer. Results. The PEEK group showed statistically significantly increased retention force (

P
<
0.05

) at the time of insertion (37.6/17.79) and after 3 months (33.9/16.78), 6 months (32.7/15.97), and 12 months (31.65/13.05). The conventional group had a statistically significantly higher mean overall satisfaction (

P
<
0.05

) at the time of insertion (65/82.18). No statistically significant difference was found after 3 months (87.81/84.72). The PEEK group showed statistically significantly higher mean overall satisfaction (

P
<
0.05

) after 6 months (86.36/80.18) and 12 months (85.45/79.54). Conclusions. According to the results of this study, the PEEK retentive material provided more retention than did the conventional material and led to improved patient satisfaction. The study was registered at clinical trials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05079048).
Dynamic Modelling and Calculation of Crank Slider Mechanism of Multiparameter Friction Model in Wireless Communication
Authors: Jing Qian
Published: February 2022

In this research work, an advanced wireless communication-based crank slider mechanism for multiparameter friction techniques is analyzed. The earlier models are unable to find exact friction; therefore, a correct crank function cannot be identified. The dynamic crank sliding mechanism is required for advanced mechanical applications. The available models are not suitable for future mechanical exhibiting. In this work, an SVM-based crank slider with a dynamic friction model is implemented. The SVM mathematical technique continually balances dynamic modeling with friction balancing. Finally, the controller/observer methods showed effective numerical outcomes. The variables of the system are analyzed, noting the mistakes and the estimations that are made. The performance measures accuracy of 98.45%, sensitivity of 97.34%, crank slider of 96.34%, and recall at 97.34%.
Behavior of Multispan Extradosed Bridge Subjected to Variation of Cable-Free Segment Length
Authors: Wang Lifeng , Yu Saisai , Liu Long , Xiao Ziwang
Published: February 2022

Based on the main bridge of the Paira Bridge in Bangladesh, this paper studies the behavior of multispan extradosed bridge subjected to variation of cable-free segment length. First, a finite element simulation model was established, and linear analysis was performed. The accuracy of the finite element model was verified by comparing the measured data with the finite element analysis. Then the influences of the cable-free segment length in the midspan and the pylon root on the horizontal displacement of the pylon top, the vertical deflection of the midspan, and the bending moment of the main girder were analyzed, respectively. The results showed that the variation of the cable-free segment length put a significant impact on the horizontal displacement of the pylon top and the vertical displacement of the middle of each span. The increase of positive moment was greater than negative moment when the cable-free segment length in the middle of the span increased. However, when the cable-free segment length of the pylon root increased, the negative bending moment of the main girder increased more than the positive bending moment.
Naringin protects human nucleus pulposus cells against TNF-α-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and loss of cellular homeostasis by enhancing autophagic flux via AMPK/SIRT1 activation
Authors: Chen Renchang , Gao Shang , Guan Huapeng , Zhang Xin , Gao Yuliang , Su Youxiang , Song Yun , Jiang Yuehua , Li Nianhu
Published: February 2022

Activation of the proinflammatory-associated cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells is essential for the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Restoring autophagic flux has been shown to effectively protect against IDD and is a potential target for treatment. The goal of this study was to explore particular autophagic signalings responsible for the protective effects of naringin, a known autophagy activator, on human NP cells. The results showed that significantly increased autophagic flux was observed in NP cells treated with naringin, with pronounced decreases in the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which rescued the disturbed cellular homeostasis induced by TNF-α activation. Autophagic flux inhibition was detectable in NP cells cotreated with 3-methyladenine (3-MA, an autophagy inhibitor), partially offsetting naringin-induced beneficial effects. Naringin promoted the expressions of autophagy-associated markers via SIRT1 (silent information regulator-1) activation by AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) phosphorylation. Either AMPK inhibition by BML-275 or SIRT1 silencing partially counteracted naringin-induced autophagic flux enhancement. These findings indicate that naringin boosts autophagic flux through SIRT1 upregulation via AMPK activation, thus protecting NP cells against inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and impaired cellular homeostasis. Naringin can be a promising inducer of restoration autophagic flux restoration for IDD.
A Novel Forensic Readiness Framework Applicable to the Drone Forensics Field
Authors: Alotaibi Fahad Mazaed , Al-Dhaqm Arafat , Al-Otaibi Yasser D.
Published: February 2022

The Drone Forensics (DRFs) field is a branch of digital forensics, which involves the identification, capture, preservation, reconstruction, analysis, and documentation of drone incidents. Several models have been proposed in the literature for the DRF field, which generally discusses DRF from a reactive forensic perspective; however, the proactive forensic perspective is missing. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel forensic readiness framework called Drone Forensics Readiness Framework (DRFRF) using the design science method. It consists of two stages: (i) proactive forensic stage and (ii) reactive forensic stage. It considers centralized logging of all events of all the applicants within the drone device in preparation for an examination. It will speed up gathering data when an investigation is needed, permitting the forensic investigators to handle the examination and analysis directly. Additionally, digital forensics analysts can increase the possible use of digital evidence while decreasing the charge of performing forensic readiness. Thus, both the time and cost required to perform forensic readiness could be saved. The completeness, logicalness, and usefulness of DRFRF were compared to those of other models already existing in the DRF domain. The results showed the novelty and efficiency of DRFRF and its applicability to the situations before and after drone incidents.
A Risk Decision-Making Model Based on Kalman Filter for Intellectual Property Pledge Financing
Authors: Yin Xianan , Ming Hua , Bao Xinzhong
Published: February 2022

Risk dynamic early warning is of great importance for financing risk decision-making. Intellectual property (IP) pledge financing is an effective way to alleviate the financial difficulties for technologically small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is very important to study the financing risk decision-making because of its higher risk compared with other mortgage loans. Based on Kalman filter, we establish the pledge financing risk decision-making model and extract the key variables affecting financing risk by principal component analysis. We test the model with 88 listed SMEs. The results show that the average error between the predicted and the real values is 8.5% and the overall recognition accuracy of the model is 89.1%. The risk decision-making model has high discriminant accuracy and can provide evidence to risk decision-making.
Quantitative Study on the Stress Distribution Characteristics of Coal Rock with Faults
Authors: Xu Dayang , Si Hu , Hu Qianting , Liang Yunpei
Published: February 2022

To quantitatively describe the distribution characteristics of stress field of coal rock in fault area, a finite element model was established to study the influence mechanisms of different fault parameters on the stress distribution characteristics of coal rock and a prediction model of the tectonic stress field of a fault-containing coal rock was established based on the numerical simulations. The numerical simulation results show that the coal rock in the hanging wall of a normal fault forms an area of disturbance significantly larger than that in the footwall of the normal fault and reverse fault. With the increase in fault throw, the stress concentration factor and fault influence range decrease in both the normal and reverse fault scenarios. Additionally, for both the normal and reverse fault scenarios, with the increase in fault dip angle, the coal rock stress concentration zone gradually collapses to the fault plane and the stress concentration coefficient gradually increases due to the reduction in the area of pressure relief. The prediction model of the tectonic stress field can better describe the quantitative relationship between the fault parameters and the stress of coal rock, which can provide guidance for the excavation design of mining engineering and early warning for possible coal and gas outburst disasters.
Application of Image Fusion Algorithm Combined with Visual Saliency in Target Extraction of Reflective Tomography Lidar Image
Authors: Zhang Xinyuan , Hu Yihua , Xu Shilong , Han Fei , Wang Yicheng
Published: February 2022

Reflective tomography Lidar has been proved to be a new Lidar system with long distance and high resolution. The reflective tomography Lidar image is prone to clutter and artifacts; thus, it is important for space target recognition to extract the target from the image. In this study, we proposed image fusion algorithm combined with visual saliency could be applied to the target extraction of reflective tomography Lidar image, which can not only preserve the target information but also eliminate the clutter and artifacts in the image. The efficiency of this algorithm is shown by simulation and the experiment of the reflective tomography Lidar system. Also, we analyzed the main source of reflective tomography Lidar image artifacts and the reason why this algorithm could remove clutter and artifacts.
Ensemble Learning by High-Dimensional Acoustic Features for Emotion Recognition from Speech Audio Signal
Authors: Chalapathi M. M. Venkata , Kumar M. Rudra , Sharma Neeraj , Shitharth S.
Published: February 2022

In the recent past, handling the high dimensionality demonstrated in the auditory features of speech signals has been a primary focus for machine learning (ML-)based emotion recognition. The incorporation of high-dimensional characteristics in training datasets in the learning phase of ML models influences contemporary approaches to emotion prediction with significant false alerting. The curse of the excessive dimensionality of the training corpus is addressed in the majority of contemporary models. Modern models, on the other hand, place a greater emphasis on merging many classifiers, which can only increase emotion recognition accuracy even when the training corpus contains high-dimensional data points. “Ensemble Learning by High-Dimensional Acoustic Features (EL-HDAF)” is an innovative ensemble model that leverages the diversity assessment of feature values spanned over diversified classes to recommend the best features. Furthermore, the proposed technique employs a one-of-a-kind clustering process to limit the impact of high-dimensional feature values. The experimental inquiry evaluates and compares emotion forecasting using spoken audio data to current methods that use machine learning for emotion recognition. Fourfold cross-validation is used for performance analysis with the standard data corpus.
Biosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Produced by Phormidium ambiguum and Desertifilum tharense Cyanobacteria
Authors: Hanna Amira L. , Hamouda Hayam M. , Goda Hanan A. , Sadik Mahmoud W. , Moghanm Farahat S. , Ghoneim Adel M. , Alenezi Muneefah A. , Alnomasy Sultan F. , Alam Pravej , Elsayed Tarek R.
Published: February 2022

The world faces a challenge with the pervasion of multidrug‐resistant bacteria that encourages scientists to develop and discover alternative, ecofriendly, and easy‐to‐produce new antibacterial agents. Our work is part of the greater effort of scientists around the world to achieve this goal by the biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles using cyanobacterial extracellular and intracellular components as nonchemical reducing agents. Two Egyptian cyanobacteria were isolated and identified according to 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Phormidium ambiguum and a novel species Desertifilum tharense. The sequences were deposited with accession numbers MW762709 and MW762710 for Desertifilum tharense and Phormidium ambiguum, respectively, in the GenBank. The results of UV‐Vis analysis showed promising extracellular Ag‐NPs synthesis by Desertifilum tharense and Phormidium ambiguum under light conditions. Therefore, these Ag‐NPs were characterized and evaluated for antibacterial and antioxidant activity. TEM and SEM analyses revealed the spherical crystals with face‐centered cubic structures and size range of 6.24–11.4 nm and 6.46–12.2 nm for Ag‐NPs of Desertifilum tharense and Phormidium ambiguum, respectively. XRD and EDX results confirmed the successful synthesis of Ag‐NPs in their oxide form or chloride form. The FTIR spectrum data confirmed the presence of hydroxyl and amide groups. Desertifilum tharense Ag‐NPs displayed the largest inhibition zone that ranged from 9 mm against Micrococcus luteus ATCC 10240 to 25 mm against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300. For Phormidium ambiguum Ag‐NPs, the inhibition zone diameter was in the range of 9 mm to 18 mm. The biosynthesized Ag‐NPs significantly inhibited the growth of medically important resistance‐pathogenic Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The Ag‐NPs of Phormidium ambiguum exhibited the highest scavenging activity of 48.7% when compared with that of Desertifilum tharense, which displayed 43.753%.
Ammonium Polyphosphate Intercalated Yttrium-Doped Layered Double Hydroxides to Enhance the Thermal Stability and Flame Retardancy of Poly(Lactic Acid)
Authors: Dai Yufei , Cao Hongzhang , Yu Xiaoli , Han Dequan , Tian Huhu , Guo Liying , Zhou Xiaodong
Published: February 2022

The flammability of the biodegradable plastic PLA limits its application in industrial fields with high flame-retardant requirements. This paper provides a novel strategy for constructing refractory and thermostable PLA composites using layered double hydroxides (LDHs) chemically modified with ammonium polyphosphate (APP). XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, and TEM confirm that the goal of LDHs has been successfully prepared. The thermal stability and combustion behavior of PLA composites were evaluated by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimetry tests (CCT). The crystallization behavior and tensile performances were also examined. The results showed that the incorporation of 15 wt% MgAlY-APP-LDHs practically makes the PLA composites reach the UL-94 V-0 grade. There were 43% and 20% reduction in the PHRR and THR of PLA/15APP-LDHs respectively due to the catalytic effect of Y elements and barrier effects of LDHs, which was a major performance against fire hazards. Furthermore, the increase in crystallinity and the decrease in mechanical strength of PLA composites are attributed to the nucleation of LDHs. In short, this research introduces the production of multifunctional PLA composites through APP intercalation of LDHs, which are deemed as prospective candidates for the next generation of sustainable plastics products.
Absorption Performance of Doped TiO2-Based Perovskite Solar Cell using FDTD Simulation
Authors: Mulyanti Budi , Wulandari Chandra , Hasanah Lilik , Pawinanto Roer Eka , Hamidah Ida
Published: February 2022

In the third generation of the solar cell era, significant trends in the development of perovskite solar cells (PSC) were observed. Exploring suitable materials for its wafer structure, such as perovskite and electron transport layers (ETL), were a major emphasis of high-performance PSC development. Because of its matching band structure to MaPbI3, TiO2 is the most often utilized material for ETL. However, in the application of TiO2 to PSC, electron trapping and a wide energy gap become a drawback. The goal of this research is to improve the absorption performance of PSC employing ETL with Fe and Ta-doped TiO2 as well as the thickness of the material. The interaction between the electromagnetic waves of light and the solar cell structure was calculated using Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) simulations, which resulted in the absorption spectra. In comparison to pure TiO2, which absorbs only 79.5% of the incident light, Fe-TiO2 and Ta-TiO2 as ETL in solar cells have increased absorption spectra to 81.7% and 81.2%, respectively. Finally, we may conclude that the optimum ETL layer parameters are 0.32% Fe doping and a thickness of 100 nm.
Privacy-Preserving Collaborative Computation for Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Wang Lin , Zhao Chuan , Zhao Kun , Zhang Bo , Jing Shan , Chen Zhenxiang , Sun Kuiheng
Published: February 2022

Human Activity Recognition (HAR) enables computer systems to assist users with their tasks and improve their quality of life in rehabilitation, daily life tracking, fitness, and cognitive disorder therapy. It is a hot topic in the field of machine learning, and HAR is gaining more attention among researchers due to its unique societal and economic advantages. This paper focuses on a collaborative computation scenario where a group of participants will securely and collaboratively train an accurate HAR model. The training process requires collecting a massive number of personal activity features and labels, which raises privacy problems. We decentralize the training process locally to each client in order to ensure the privacy of training data. Furthermore, we use an advanced secure aggregation algorithm to ensure that malicious participants cannot extract private information from the updated parameters even during the aggregation phase. Edge computing nodes have been introduced into our system to address the problem of data generation devices’ insufficient computing power. We replace the traditional central server with smart contract to make the system more robust and secure. We achieve the verifiability of the packaged nodes using the publicly auditability feature of blockchain. According to the experimental data, the accuracy of the HAR model trained by our proposed framework reaches 93.24%, which meets the applicability requirements. The use of secure multiparty computation techniques unavoidably increases training time, and experimental results show that a round of iterations takes 36.4 seconds to execute, which is still acceptable.
Comprehensive Analysis of Immune Infiltrates of Ferroptosis-Related Long Noncoding RNA and Prediction of Colon Cancer Patient Prognoses
Authors: Chen Wenzheng , Chen Yafei , Liu Li , Wu Yukang , Fu Pengcheng , Cao Yi , Xiong Jianbo , Tu Yi , Li Zhengrong , Liu Yi , Jie Zhigang
Published: February 2022

Ferroptosis is a newly defined mode of programmed oxidative cell death. Knowledge of ferroptosis-related long noncoding (lnc) RNA in the tumor immune microenvironment of colon cancer is lacking. We systematically analyzed the correlations between ferroptosis-related lncRNAs and the tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, and patient prognosis for 379 colon cancer samples in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Using consensus clustering, we divided the 379 colon cancer patients into two subgroups (clusters 1 and 2) based on the differentially expressed ferroptosis-related lncRNAs. Cluster 1 was preferentially associated with longer overall survival, upregulated immune checkpoint inhibitor expressions, higher immunoscores, higher stromal scores, higher estimated scores, and distinct immune cell infiltration. Cancer- and metabolism-related pathways were enriched by gene set enrichment analyses. We constructed a prognostic signature of 15 ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (ZEB1-AS1, LINC01011, AC005261.3, LINC01063, LINC02381, ELFN1-AS1, AC009283.1, LINC02361, AC105219.1, AC002310.1, AL590483.1, MIR4435-2HG, NKILA, AC021054.1, and AL450326.1) and divided the patients into the high- and low-risk-score groups. The signature was validated using TCGA training and testing cohorts. The risk signature was an independent prognostic factor for predicting survival and excellently predicted the prognoses of patients with colon cancer. Moreover, the risk signature was related to immune characteristics. Chemosensitivity analyses showed that low-risk-score patients were more sensitive to sorafenib. In summary, our work revealed the important role of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in the tumor microenvironment and immune cell infiltration and may help determine personalized prognoses and treatment for patients with colon cancer.
An Empirical Study on the Effects of Using Kahoot as a Game-Based Learning Tool on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Recall and Retention
Authors: Ahmed Alim Al Ayub , Sayed Biju Theruvil , Wekke Ismail Suardi , Widodo Mulyanto , Rostikawati Dian , Ali Muneam Hussein , Abdul Hussein Hamed Ali , Azizian Mahdieh
Published: February 2022

Incorporating games into learning a foreign language is an effective strategy that can lower students’ stress and improve their learning. Thus, this study tried to examine the impacts of Kahoot as a game-based learning tool on Iranian EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retention. To this end, 50 Iranian intermediate learners were chosen for the participants of the study. After that, the participants were randomly assigned to two equal groups, one experimental and one control. Then, the participants’ English vocabulary knowledge was measured by administering a vocabulary pretest. After pretesting process, the participants in both groups received the treatment in two different ways. In the EG, the new vocabulary items were taught using the Kahoot game, while in the CG, the new ones were taught using traditional instruction. After finishing the treatment course, which lasted ten sessions, the two groups took the immediate vocabulary posttest. After three weeks, a delayed vocabulary posttest was administered to both groups to determine the effects of Kahoot on their vocabulary retention. The results of paired samples and independent samples t-tests depicted that there were significant differences between the immediate and delayed posttests of the EG and the CG in favor of the EG. The implications of this study can tell the teachers that teaching through game-based learning tools may produce better results than teaching through traditional methods. Also, the implications of this study can encourage students to practice and learn English even outside of the class context.
5G Massive MIMO Signal Detection Algorithm Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Yan Lichao , Wang Yi , Zheng Ning
Published: February 2022

Aiming at the problems of poor signal detection effect caused by many interference factors in large-scale MIMO technology scene, this paper proposes a 5G massive MIMO signal detection algorithm based on deep learning. Firstly, the MIMO system model based on neural network is constructed, and Deep Neural Network (DNN) detection is introduced into the receiver of the traditional MIMO system to obtain the information bits or codewords and channel state information transmitted by transmitters. Then, the end-to-end training method is adopted to make neural network learn the mapping relationship of information bits or codewords transmitted by system transceivers. Furthermore, DNN detector is improved based on Simplified Message Passing Detection (sMPD) algorithm, and the correction factor is updated continuously to optimize network parameters to realize the accurate detection and decoding of the MIMO system. Finally, the proposed algorithm is experimentally analyzed based on the TensorFlow deep learning framework. Experimental results show that when signal-to-noise ratio is 10 dB, the bit error rate and mean square error are lower than 0.005 and 0.1, respectively.
Urinary UDP-Glucose as a Novel Actionable Biomarker of Dehydration-Induced Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Battistone Maria Agustina , Mendelsohn Alexandra C. , Brown Dennis , Breton Sylvie
Published: February 2022

Background: People working in “extreme” conditions termed as sugar cane workers, firefighters and military personnel are subjected to significant dehydration. Prolonged episodes of dehydration may result in acute kidney Injury (AKI). AKI is associated with inflammation and is usually diagnosed only after the kidneys have gone through significant and often irreversible damage. We showed that the P2Y14 receptor mediates renal inflammation, leading to AKI following ischemia-reperfusion-injury [1]. P2Y14 is activated by the danger molecule UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc). Here we hypothesized that UDP-Glc is released by cells throughout the body after dehydration-induced stress. UDP-Glc is filtered by the kidney and concentrated in collecting ducts where it activates P2Y14 in intercalated cells. This would trigger renal inflammation and contribute to dehydration-associated AKI. Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the participation of UDP-Glc in pro-inflammatory cell recruitment and renal dysfunction following dehydration. Method: Mice were subjected to water deprivation for 24, 48, and 72 h. Kidney function was assessed via serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urine albumin. To study proximal tubule (PT) damage, aquaporin 1 (AQP1) localization was analyzed by immunofluorescence (IF). Urinary UDP-Glc concentration was measured by LC-MS, and renal recruitment of immune cells by flow cytometry and IF. Results: Water deprivation induced elevations in SCr and BUN after 48 h and 72 h, relative to control. Dehydration also induced albuminuria and the redistribution of AQP1 from the plasma membrane into the PT cell body indicating PT injury. An increase in urinary UDP-Glc concentration and renal recruitment of macrophages were detected at 48 h and 72 h of dehydration. Conclusion: This study supports the hypothesis that UDP-Glc, released by damaged cells during severe dehydration, induces the renal recruitment of inflammatory macrophages leading to PT injury and kidney dysfunction (Fig. 1). Blocking the UDP-Glc/P2Y14 pathway represents, therefore, a new therapeutic avenue for the attenuation of dehydration-induced renal inflammation and injury. In this context, urinary UDP-Glc is a promising actionable biomarker for dehydration-induced AKI.
Influence of Suboptimal Hydration on the Immune Response
Authors: Chabas Dorothée
Published: February 2022

Background: A healthy immune system is a subtle orchestration of the innate and adaptive immune systems that efficiently detect and process foreign antigens while tolerating the self. The influence of hypertonicity on the immune system is poorly understood [1–16]. Summary: In vitro studies suggest that hypertonicity influences innate and adaptive immunity on several cellular and molecular levels. This influence tends to be pro-inflammatory, but not always. Other cofactors include the duration of exposure to hypertonicity (chronic versus acute), the location in the body, and the timing with priming of the immune system. Recent publications about high salt diet in vitro and in animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest an influence on the TH17 autoimmune pathway, that does not translate into the human disease in vivo. Key Messages: The influence of hypertonicity on the immune system is complex and depends on multiple factors, such as temporality with immune priming and length of exposure. Since findings in animal models did not always translate into human diseases, further studies are needed to specify the consequences of acute or chronic hypertonicity in healthy subjects or patients with autoimmune diseases such as MS. Further studies need to be conducted in animal models and in humans to better understand the influence of suboptimal hydration on the immune system and on autoimmune diseases, and address its clinical relevance.