bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
#NFA Admits an FPRAS: Efficient Enumeration, Counting, and Uniform Generation for Logspace Classes
Authors: Arenas Marcelo , Croquevielle Luis Alberto , Jayaram Rajesh , Riveros Cristian
Published: October 2021

In this work, we study two simple yet general complexity classes, based on logspace Turing machines, that provide a unifying framework for efficient query evaluation in areas such as information extraction and graph databases, among others. We investigate the complexity of three fundamental algorithmic problems for these classes: enumeration, counting, and uniform generation of solutions, and show that they have several desirable properties in this respect.

Both complexity classes are defined in terms of non-deterministic logspace transducers (NL-transducers). For the first class, we consider the case of unambiguous NL-transducers, and we prove constant delay enumeration and both counting and uniform generation of solutions in polynomial time. For the second class, we consider unrestricted NL-transducers, and we obtain polynomial delay enumeration, approximate counting in polynomial time, and polynomial-time randomized algorithms for uniform generation. More specifically, we show that each problem in this second class admits a fully polynomial-time randomized approximation scheme (FPRAS) and a polynomial-time Las Vegas algorithm (with preprocessing) for uniform generation. Remarkably, the key idea to prove these results is to show that the fundamental problem # NFA admits an FPRAS, where # NFA is the problem of counting the number of strings of length
n
(given in unary) accepted by a non-deterministic finite automaton (NFA). While this problem is known to be P-complete and, more precisely,
SpanL
-complete, it was open whether this problem admits an FPRAS. In this work, we solve this open problem and obtain as a welcome corollary that every function in
SpanL
admits an FPRAS.
Vibration Edge Computing in Maritime IoT
Authors: Michala Anna Lito , Vourganas Ioannis , Coraddu Andrea
Published: October 2021

IoT and the Cloud are among the most disruptive changes in the way we use data today. These changes have not significantly influenced practices in condition monitoring for shipping. This is partly due to the cost of continuous data transmission. Several vessels are already equipped with a network of sensors. However, continuous monitoring is often not utilised and onshore visibility is obscured. Edge computing is a promising solution but there is a challenge sustaining the required accuracy for predictive maintenance. We investigate the use of IoT systems and Edge computing, evaluating the impact of the proposed solution on the decision making process. Data from a sensor and the NASA-IMS open repository were used to show the effectiveness of the proposed system and to evaluate it in a realistic maritime application. The results demonstrate our real-time dynamic intelligent reduction of transmitted data volume by

without sacrificing specificity or sensitivity in decision making. The output of the Decision Support System fully corresponds to the monitored system's actual operating condition and the output when the raw data are used instead. The results demonstrate that the proposed more efficient approach is just as effective for the decision making process.
Paligenosis: Cellular Remodeling During Tissue Repair
Authors: Brown Jeffrey W. , Cho Charles J. , Mills Jason C.
Published: October 2021

Complex multicellular organisms have evolved specific mechanisms to replenish cells in homeostasis and during repair. Here, we discuss how emerging technologies (e.g., single-cell RNA sequencing) challenge the concept that tissue renewal is fueled by unidirectional differentiation from a resident stem cell. We now understand that cell plasticity, i.e., cells adaptively changing differentiation state or identity, is a central tissue renewal mechanism. For example, mature cells can access an evolutionarily conserved program (paligenosis) to reenter the cell cycle and regenerate damaged tissue. Most tissues lack dedicated stem cells and rely on plasticity to regenerate lost cells. Plasticity benefits multicellular organisms, yet it also carries risks. For one, when long-lived cells undergo paligenotic, cyclical proliferation and redif-ferentiation, they can accumulate and propagate acquired mutations that activate oncogenes and increase the potential for developing cancer. Lastly, we propose a new framework for classifying patterns of cell proliferation in homeostasis and regeneration, with stem cells representing just one of the diverse methods that adult tissues employ.
The Recent Rise of Suicide Mortality in the United States
Authors: Martínez-Alés Gonzalo , Jiang Tammy , Keyes Katherine M. , Gradus Jaimie L.
Published: October 2021

Suicide is a major public health concern in the United States. Between 2000 and 2018, US suicide rates increased by 35%, contributing to the stagnation and subsequent decrease in US life expectancy. During 2019, suicide declined modestly, mostly owing to slight reductions in suicides among Whites. Suicide rates, however, continued to increase or remained stable among all other racial/ethnic groups, and little is known about recent suicide trends among other vulnerable groups. This article ( a) summarizes US suicide mortality trends over the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, ( b) reviews potential group-level causes of increased suicide risk among subpopulations characterized by markers of vulnerability to suicide, and ( c) advocates for combining recent advances in population-based suicide prevention with a socially conscious perspective that captures the social, economic, and political contexts in which suicide risk unfolds over the life course of vulnerable individuals.
Chemotherapy agents reduce protein synthesis and ribosomal capacity in myotubes independent of oxidative stress
Authors: Guo Bin , Bennet Devasier , Belcher Daniel J. , Kim Hyo-Gun , Nader Gustavo A.
Published: October 2021

Chemotherapeutic agents (CAs) are first-line antineoplastic treatments against a wide variety of cancers. Despite their effectiveness in halting tumor progression, side effects associated with CAs promote muscle loss by incompletely understood mechanisms. To address this problem, we first identified how oxidative stress impairs protein synthesis in C2C12 myotubes. Transient elevations in reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulted in protein synthesis deficits and reduced ribosomal (r)RNA levels. Oxidative stress did not reduce rRNA gene (rDNA) transcription, but it caused an increase in rRNA and protein oxidation. To determine whether CAs affect protein synthesis independent of oxidative stress, we exposed myotubes to Paclitaxel (PTX), Doxorubicin (DXR), or Marizomib (Mzb) at doses that did result in elevated ROS levels (sub-ROS). Exposure to CAs reduced protein synthesis and rRNA levels, but unlike oxidative stress, sub-ROS exposures impaired rDNA transcription. These results indicate that although oxidative stress disrupts protein synthesis by compromising ribosomal quantity and quality, CAs at sub-ROS doses compromise protein synthesis and ribosomal capacity, at least in part, by reducing rDNA transcription. Therefore, CAs negatively impact protein synthesis by causing oxidative stress in addition to directly reducing the ribosomal capacity of myotubes in a ROS-independent manner.
Antagonist surface electromyogram decomposition and the case of the missing motor units
Authors: Haynes Elijah M. K. , Kim Changki
Published: October 2021

Reece and Herda ( J Neurophysiol 125: 2094–2106, 2021) reported that an antagonist muscle exhibited an organized motor unit (MU) recruitment scheme during isometric elbow flexion contractions. This control scheme, however, differed from the typical MU control scheme in that MU firing rates did not change between force levels (40% and 70% maximal voluntary contractions) in the triceps brachii when it acted as an antagonist to isometric elbow flexion. Here, we suggest technological considerations with evidence that may have affected these findings. In addition, we highlight how this paper offers a promising starting point from which further insight into antagonist MU behavior can be gathered noninvasively and suggest future research directions to improve our understanding of MU activity of antagonist muscles in the upper limb.
Investigating the Association between Orthopedic Fractures and Head Injury due to Road Traffic Accidents
Authors: Algahtany Mubarak Ali
Published: October 2021

Background. Traumatic head injury (THI) due to road traffic accidents (RTAs) is a global health problem. Studies exploring the association between RTA-related THI and concurrent orthopedic fractures are lacking. We aim to provide a detailed analysis of this association and its impact on inhospital outcomes. Methods. Retrospective analysis of RTA-related THI associated with orthopedic fractures admitted to a large tertiary center, Southwest, Saudi Arabia, over ten years. Descriptive statistics for participant demographics and clinical outcomes were represented by percentages. The associations between head injury diagnosis or orthopedic fractures region and patient demographics are analyzed using the Chi-square test. Post hoc analysis for the significant Chi-square values was carried out by calculating the significant adjusted residuals. Adjust

p

value was obtained by using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure to control for multiplicity testing. A

p

value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Concurrent orthopedic fractures are present in one-tenth of RTA-related THI. The cohort was dominated by young males, with 46.5% of the population between 18 and 29 years old. There was a significant association between the head injury diagnosis and the region of orthopedic fracture (

p
=
0.028

). The type of head injury had significant associations with mortality and duration of hospital stay (

p
=
0.039

and

p
=
0.037

, respectively). The region of orthopedic fracture significantly (

p
=
0.018

) affected the duration of hospital stay, with fractures in the clavicle/shoulder region significantly (

p
=
0.035

) having a short course of hospital admission. Conclusion. Orthopedic fractures concomitant with RTA-related THI are common. The associations between the two injuries tend to happen in specific patterns. The inhospital stay duration and mortality significantly correlated with the site of the head or orthopedic injury. Knowledge of these patterns improves the care of THI victims, triaging, and resource allocations.
[Retracted] Disorder Genes Regulate the Progression of Ischemic Stroke through the NF‐κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wei Wei , Xin Wenqiang , Tang Yufeng , Chen Zhonglun , Heng Yue , Pu Mingjun , Yang Bufan , Zuo Jiacai , Duan Jingfeng
Published: October 2021

Stroke is an acute cerebrovascular disease, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Stroke is the second leading cause of death after ischemic heart disease, which accounts for 9% of the global death toll. To explore the molecular mechanisms of the effects of the dysregulated factors, in the GEO database, we obtained transcriptome data from 24 h/72 h of mice with ischemic stroke and 24 h/72 h of normal mice. We then performed differential gene analysis, coexpression analysis, enrichment analysis, and regulator prediction bioinformatics analysis to identify the potential genes. We made a comparison between the ischemic stroke 72 h and the ischemic stroke for 24 h, and 5103 differential genes were obtained (p < 0.05). Four functional barrier modules were obtained by weighted gene coexpression network analysis. The critical genes of each module were ASTL, Zfp472, Fmr1 gene, and Nap1l1. The results of the enrichment analysis showed ncRNA metabolism, microRNAs in cancer, and biosynthesis of amino acids. These three functions and pathways have the most considerable count value. The regulators of the regulatory dysfunction module were predicted by pivotal analysis of TF and noncoding RNA, and critical regulators including NFKB1 (NF‐κB1), NFKBIA, CTNNB1, and SP1 were obtained. Finally, the pivotal target gene found that CTNNB1, NFKB1, NFKBia, and Sp1 are involved in 18, 32, 2, and 60 target genes, respectively. Therefore, we believe that NFKB1 and Sp1 have a potential role in the progression of ischemic stroke. The NFKB signaling pathway promotes inflammatory cytokines and regulates the progression of ischemic stroke.
Combining Nanotechnology and Gas Plasma as an Emerging Platform for Cancer Therapy: Mechanism and Therapeutic Implication
Authors: Rasouli Milad , Fallah Nadia , Bekeschus Sander
Published: October 2021

Nanomedicine and plasma medicine are innovative and multidisciplinary research fields aiming to employ nanotechnology and gas plasma to improve health‐related treatments. Especially cancer treatment has been in the focus of both approaches because clinical response rates with traditional methods that remain improvable for many types of tumor entities. Here, we discuss the recent progress of nanotechnology and gas plasma independently as well as in the concomitant modality of nanoplasma as multimodal platforms with unique capabilities for addressing various therapeutic issues in oncological research. The main features, delivery vehicles, and nexus between reactivity and therapeutic outcomes of nanoparticles and the processes, efficacy, and mechanisms of gas plasma are examined. Especially that the unique feature of gas plasma technology, the local and temporally controlled deposition of a plethora of reactive oxygen, and nitrogen species released simultaneously might be a suitable additive treatment to the use of systemic nanotechnology therapy approaches. Finally, we focus on the convergence of plasma and nanotechnology to provide a suitable strategy that may lead to the required therapeutic outcomes.
An Exploratory Cohort Study of the Association between the Level of Testosterone and Suicidal Ideation in Hospitalized Adolescent Females with Depression in China
Authors: Liu Yan , Wang Shaohua , Xue Chuang , Hu Xiwen , Zhou Guoling , Zhou Yuanyue , Fang Dan , Ding Kaijing
Published: October 2021

Background. To date, around 4 per 100,000 adolescents committed suicide within the 29 OECD countries. The suicidal behavior is related to psychological factors, genetics, neurobiology, and other biomarkers. The aim of this study was to examine risk factors for the development of suicidal ideation in adolescent females with depression, focusing on the relationship between different testosterone levels and suicidal ideation, in order to help develop strategies to intervene in suicidal behavior in female adolescents with depression. Method. In this single-center prospective cohort study, we enrolled adolescent females with depression. We collected information on their baseline data, testosterone levels, symptom self-rating scale scores, suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behaviours, and suicide attempts. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors for the development of suicidal ideation in adolescent females with depression. Results. A total of 113 hospitalized adolescent females were enrolled with a mean age of 13.5 (1.20). Among these patients, there were 86 (76.11%) subjects who suffered from suicidal ideation, 59 (52.21%) had NSSI and 23 (20.35%) had suicide attempt behavior. In the final model, higher level of testosterone (

p
=
0.04

) and higher age (

p
=
0.02

) were associated with the higher odds of having suicidal ideation. Conclusion. In this exploratory cohort study, the emergence of suicidal ideation was common among adolescent females with depression. This study is consistent with the other studies. It shows that the age is a potential predictor for suicidal ideation in hospitalized adolescent females with depression.
Study on Non-Darcian Flow in Interlayer Shear Weakness Zones in the Basalt by High-Pressure Packer Tests
Authors: Shen Qi , Zhou Zhifang , Chen Meng , Wang Zhe , Li Yabing
Published: October 2021

The interlayer shear weakness zone (ISWZ) is a special structural plane with different widths and spacing in stratified rock masses, it has higher permeability compared with surrounding rocks which is a risk factor for the safety of the hydropower station project. The high-pressure packer test (HPPT) by step injection is always applied to characterize the permeability of ISWZ. However, the non-Darcian flow is easy to appear under high pressure, which makes the Darcy law model no longer applicable. In this study, two non-Darcian flow analytical methods for confined aquifer were proposed to investigate the non-Darcian flow permeability parameters. The equivalent permeability coefficients of different non-Darcian models were derived as well. The in situ tests were conducted on the ISWZs at the Baihetan hydropower station to verify the proposed methods. The results indicate that the flow is non-Darcian flow in the test section from integrity to destruction during the whole HPPT process. Izbash’s law has a better fit than Forchheimer’s law in this complicated test situation. The equivalent permeability coefficients after destruction are one or two orders of magnitude larger than those before. Meanwhile, it is necessary to pay attention to the increased difference of two expressions of the equivalent permeability coefficients under higher gradient (i) or velocity (v). In general, these methods can be used to evaluate the characteristic of ISWZ to analyze the impact on engineering stability.
Chest X-Ray Findings in COVID-19 Patients Presenting to Primary Care during the Peak of the First Wave of the Pandemic in Qatar: Their Association with Clinical and Laboratory Findings
Authors: Abougazia Abdelwahed , Alnuaimi Ahmed , Mahran Amal , Ali Tamer , Khedr Ahmed , Qadourah Banan , Shareef Ahmed , Zitouni Soubhi , Kahveci Servet , Alqudah Barham , Al Yassin Yasser , Eldesoky Mohamed , Abdelmoneim Ahmed , Youssef Reda
Published: October 2021

When managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, radiological imaging complements clinical evaluation and laboratory parameters. We aimed to assess the sensitivity of chest radiography findings in detecting COVID-19, describe those findings, and assess the association of positive chest radiography findings with clinical and laboratory findings. A multicentre, cross-sectional study was conducted involving all primary health care corporation-registered patients (2485 patients) enrolled over a 1-month period during the peak of the 2020 pandemic wave in Qatar. These patients had reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 and underwent chest radiography within 72 hours of the swab test. A positive result on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19. The sensitivity of chest radiography was calculated. The airspace opacities were mostly distributed in the peripheral and lower lung zones, and most of the patients had bilateral involvement. Pleural effusion was detected in some cases. The risk of having positive chest X-ray findings increased with age, Southeast Asian nationality, fever, or a history of fever and diarrhoea. Patients with cardiac disease, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease were at a higher risk of having positive chest X-ray findings. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean serum albumin, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and serum C-reactive protein, hepatic enzymes, and total bilirubin with an increase in the radiographic severity score.
Improved Antibacterial Activity of Water-Soluble Nanoformulated Kaempferol and Combretastatin Polyphenolic Compounds
Authors: Santhosh Kumar Y. , Kulanthaivel Langeswaran , Hikku G. S. , Saravanan R. , Lakshmi Thangavelu , Kirubhanand C. , Karthikeyan Murugesan , Vijayalakshmi P. , Subbaraj Gowtham Kumar
Published: October 2021

Kaempferol and combretastatin are polyphenolic compounds derived from plant sources which are known for their antibacterial activity. However, owing to their large size and water insolubility, their antibacterial activity is limited. In this context, the present study focused on the nanoformulation of kaempferol (NF-k) and combretastatin (NF-c) and their influence on water solubility and antibacterial properties. The NF-k and NF-c were prepared using the solvent evaporation method and were thoroughly characterized for evaluating the morphology, molecular vibrations, size, etc. Based on the results, it is observed that the pristine forms of kaempferol and combretastatin drugs get nanoformulated and completely soluble in water. Using particle size analyzer, the particle sizes of NF-k and NF-c were estimated as 334 nm and 260 nm, respectively, which are very fine compared to pristine kaempferol and combretastatin (5193 nm and 1217 nm, respectively). The molecular vibrations that exist in NF-k and NF-c were confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectra, where the nanoformulated drug showed lower intensities than the pristine form of kaempferol and combretastatin. The drug release kinetics of the nanoformulated drugs were carried out using the dialysis membrane method and were compared with their pristine forms. Owing to the size effect, the NF-k and NF-c release up to 50% of the drug in a sustained manner till 50 h showing twofold higher concentration than the control where it released 25%. The antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring the optical density at 600 nm using UV-vis spectrophotometer and displayed significant activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus strain. The mechanisms behind the antibacterial activity of NF-k and NF-c were discussed in detail. The activation of ATP-dependent efflux pump system and the blockage of porin channels could be the cause for the bactericidal activity. Our understanding of efflux pumps and their role in antibacterial activity is still in its early stages. No studies have been performed to date using nanoformulations of kaempferol and combretastatin to investigate their roles. This complicates the determination of the exact mechanisms acting against bacterial growth when using nanoformulation drugs. Our increasing knowledge of water-soluble nanoformulation drugs and their roles in reduced bacterial activity will pave the way to developing effective treatments in the future.
On the Number of Conjugate Classes of Derangements
Authors: Li Wen-Wei , Cheng Zhong-Lin , Liu Jia-Bao
Published: October 2021

The number of conjugate classes of derangements of order

n

is the same as the number

h

n

of the restricted partitions with every portion greater than 1. It is also equal to the number of isotopy classes of

2
×
n

Latin rectangles. Sometimes the exact value is necessary, while sometimes we need the approximation value. In this paper, a recursion formula of

h

n

will be obtained and also will some elementary approximation formulae with high accuracy for

h

n

be presented. Although we may obtain the value of

h

n

in some computer algebra system, it is still meaningful to find an efficient way to calculate the approximate value, especially in engineering, since most people are familiar with neither programming nor CAS software. This paper is mainly for the readers who need a simple and practical formula to obtain the approximate value (without writing a program) with more accuracy, such as to compute the value in a pocket science calculator without programming function. Some methods used here can also be applied to find the fitting functions for some types of data obtained in experiments.
Correlation and Diagnostic Value of Serum RBP4 and sRAGE and the Condition of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Xiong Shihong , Qi Ting , Gong Na , Yang Cheng
Published: October 2021

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive damage of renal structure and function caused by various reasons. Its course is long and irreversible. CKD can be divided into 5 stages according to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Early detection and early intervention of CKD can reduce the complications of patients and improve the survival rate. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a small molecule transporter. Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a multi-ligand transmembrane signal transduction receptor discovered in recent years. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) is a new splicing heterogeneity of RAGE. Our results show that serum RBP4 is increased while sRAGE is decreased in CKD patients, both of which are closely related to the severity of CKD. The combined use of serum RBP4 and sRAGE has a high diagnostic value for CKD and can provide a reliable diagnostic basis for the clinic.
Self-Attention-Guided Recurrent Neural Network and Motion Perception for Intelligent Prediction of Chronic Diseases
Authors: Ma Baojuan , Zhang Fengyan , Ma Baoling
Published: October 2021

Parkinson’s disease is a common chronic disease that affects a large number of people. In the real world, however, Parkinson’s disease can result in a loss of physical performance, which is classified as a movement disorder by clinicians. Parkinson’s disease is currently diagnosed primarily through clinical symptoms, which are highly dependent on clinician experience. As a result, there is a need for effective early detection methods. Traditional machine learning algorithms filter out many inherently relevant features in the process of dimensionality reduction and feature classification, lowering the classification model’s performance. To solve this problem and ensure high correlation between features while reducing dimensionality to achieve the goal of improving classification performance, this paper proposes a recurrent neural network classification model based on self attention and motion perception. Using a combination of self-attention mechanism and recurrent neural network, as well as wearable inertial sensors, the model classifies and trains the five brain area features extracted from MRI and DTI images (cerebral gray matter, white matter, cerebrospinal fluid density, and so on). Clinical and exercise data can be combined to produce characteristic parameters that can be used to describe movement sluggishness. The experimental results show that the model proposed in this paper improves the recognition performance of Parkinson’s disease, which is better than the compared methods by 2.45% to 12.07%.
Study on the Correlation Factors of Tumour Prognosis after Intravascular Interventional Therapy
Authors: Zheng Lei , Feng Hua , Yin Limin , Wang Jun , Zhou Wei , Tang Sunin , Li Mingming
Published: October 2021

Noninvasive or minimally invasive interventional surgery was selected, and the complications were less and had no significant impact on the quality of life of patients. Tumour patients are often accompanied by cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and other basic diseases, which more or less adversely affect the surgical efficacy of tumour. In this paper, endovascular remobilization was used to treat tumour; the basic condition of patients before operation and the interventional operation plan were introduced. Through the analysis of clinical data and prognosis evaluation results of tumour patients receiving intravascular interventional therapy, the patients were divided into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group according to the modified Rankin scale score at discharge. The relationship between gender, age, history of hypertension, tumour width, tumour size, preoperative Hunt-Hess grade, interventional surgery method, and prognosis related to intravascular interventional therapy was explored. The results showed that intravascular interventional therapy for tumour patients can obtain a good prognosis, which provides a reference for the future preoperative assessment of treatment risk and possible prognosis and provides a theoretical basis for the formulation of treatment plan to improve prognosis.
Role of Glycation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Prevention through Nymphaea Species
Authors: Ishrat Nayab , Khan Hamda , Patel Om P. S. , Mahdi Abbas Ali , Mujeeb Farina , Ahmad Saheem
Published: October 2021

The dysregulation of glucose metabolism that includes the modification of biomolecules with the help of glycation reaction results in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The formation of AGEs may activate receptors for advanced glycation end products which induce intracellular signaling, ultimately enhancing oxidative stress, a well‐known contributor to type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, AGEs are possible therapeutic targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications. This review article highlights the antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties of the Nymphaea species, and the screening of such aquatic plants for antiglycation activity may provide a safer alternative to the adverse effects related to glucotoxicity. Since oxidation and glycation are relatively similar to each other, therefore, there is a possibility that the Nymphaea species may also have antiglycating properties because of its powerful antioxidant properties. Herbal products and their derivatives are the preeminent resources showing prominent medicinal properties for most of the chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Among these, the Nymphaea species has also shown elevated activity in scavenging free radicals. This species has a load of phytochemical constituents which shows various therapeutic and nutritional value including anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant profiles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first article highlighting the possibility of an antiglycation value of the Nymphaea species by inhibiting AGEs in mediation of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We hope that in the next few years, the clinical and therapeutic potential may be explored and highlight a better perspective on the Nymphaea species in the inhibition of AGEs and its associated diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Classification of Benign and Malignant Lung Nodules Based on Deep Convolutional Network Feature Extraction
Authors: Lv Enhui , Liu Wenfeng , Wen Pengbo , Kang Xingxing
Published: October 2021

With the rapid development of detection technology, CT imaging technology has been widely used in the early clinical diagnosis of lung nodules. However, accurate assessment of the nature of the nodule remains a challenging task due to the subjective nature of the radiologist. With the increasing amount of publicly available lung image data, it has become possible to use convolutional neural networks for benign and malignant classification of lung nodules. However, as the network depth increases, network training methods based on gradient descent usually lead to gradient dispersion. Therefore, we propose a novel deep convolutional network approach to classify the benignity and malignancy of lung nodules. Firstly, we segmented, extracted, and performed zero-phase component analysis whitening on images of lung nodules. Then, a multilayer perceptron was introduced into the structure to construct a deep convolutional network. Finally, the minibatch stochastic gradient descent method with a momentum coefficient is used to fine-tune the deep convolutional network to avoid the gradient dispersion. The 750 lung nodules in the lung image database are used for experimental verification. Classification accuracy of the proposed method can reach 96.0%. The experimental results show that the proposed method can provide an objective and efficient aid to solve the problem of classifying benign and malignant lung nodules in medical images.
Hydrogen‐Rich Water Improves Cognitive Ability and Induces Antioxidative, Antiapoptotic, and Anti‐Inflammatory Effects in an Acute Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury Mouse Model
Authors: Lee Dain , Choi Jong-Il
Published: October 2021

Background. Cerebral ischemia and its reperfusion injury facilitate serious neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia due to cell death; however, there is currently no treatment for it. Reactive oxygen species is one of the many factors that induce and worsen the development of such diseases, and it can be targeted by hydrogen treatment. This study examined the effect of molecular hydrogen in cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion injury, which is emerging as a novel therapeutic agent for various diseases. Methods. Ischemia‐reperfusion injury was generated through bilateral common carotid artery occlusion in C57BL/6 mice. The test group received hydrogen‐rich water orally during the test period. To confirm model establishment and the effect of hydrogen treatment, behavioural tests, biochemical assays, immunofluorescence microscopy, and cytokine assays were conducted. Results. Open field and novel object recognition tests revealed that the hydrogen‐treated group had improved cognitive function and anxiety levels compared to the nontreated group, while hematoxylin and eosin stain showed abundant pyknotic cells in a model mouse brain, and this was attenuated in the hydrogen‐treated mouse brain. Total antioxidant capacity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assays revealed that hydrogen treatment induced antioxidative effects in the mouse brain. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed attenuated apoptosis in the striatum, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus of hydrogen‐treated mice. Western blotting showed that hydrogen treatment reduced Bax and TNFα levels. Finally, cytokine assays showed that IL‐2 and IL‐10 levels significantly differed between the hydrogen‐treated and nontreated groups. Conclusion. Hydrogen treatment could potentially be a future therapeutic strategy for ischemia and its derived neurodegenerative diseases by improving cognitive abilities and inducing antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects. Hydrogen treatment also decreased Bax and TNFα levels and induced an anti‐inflammatory response via regulation of IL‐2 and IL‐10. These results will serve as a milestone for future studies intended to reveal the mechanism of action of molecular hydrogen in neurodegenerative diseases.
Natural Course of Cerebral Cavernous Malformations in Children: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Santos Alejandro N. , Rauschenbach Laurèl , Saban Dino , Chen Bixia , Herten Annika , Dinger Thiemo Florin , Li Yan , Tippelt Stephan , Della Marina Adela , Dohna-Schwake Christian , Schmidt Börge , Jabbarli Ramazan , Wrede Karsten H. , Sure Ulrich , Dammann Philipp
Published: October 2021

Background and Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the natural course of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) in the pediatric population, with special emphasis on the risk of first and recurrent bleeding over a 5-year period.

Methods:

Our institutional database was screened for patients with CCM treated between 2003 and 2020. Patients ≤18 years of age with complete magnetic resonance imaging data set, clinical baseline characteristics, and ≥1 follow-up examination were included. Surgically treated individuals were censored after CCM removal. We assessed the impact of various parameters on first or recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at diagnosis using univariate and multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the cumulative 5-year risk for (re)hemorrhage.

Results:

One hundred twenty-nine pediatric patients with CCM were analyzed. Univariate logistic regression identified brain stem CCM (odds ratio, 3.15 [95% CI, 1.15−8.63];
P
=0.026) and familial history of CCM (odds ratio, 2.47 [95% CI, 1.04−5.86];
P
=0.041) as statistically significant predictors of ICH at diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed this correlation (odds ratio, 3.62 [95% CI, 1.18−8.99];
P
=0.022 and odds ratio, 2.53 [95% CI, 1.07−5.98];
P
=0.035, respectively). Cox regression analysis identified ICH as mode of presentation (hazard ratio, 14.01 [95% CI, 1.80−110.39];
P
=0.012) as an independent predictor for rehemorrhage during the 5-year follow-up. The cumulative 5-year risk of (re)bleeding was 15.9% (95% CI, 10.2%−23.6%) for the entire cohort, 30.2% (20.2%−42.3%) for pediatric patients with ICH at diagnosis, and 29.5% (95% CI, 13.9%−51.1%) for children with brain stem CCM.

Conclusions:

Pediatric patients with brain stem CCM and familial history of CCM have a higher risk of ICH as mode of presentation. During untreated 5-year follow-up, they revealed a similar risk of (re)hemorrhage compared to adult patients. The probability of (re)bleeding increases over time, especially in cases with ICH at presentation or brain stem localization.
Asymmetric Weights and Retrieval Practice in an Autoassociative Neural Network Model of Paired-Associate Learning
Authors: Aenugu Sneha , Huber David E.
Published: October 2021

Rizzuto and Kahana (2001) applied an autoassociative Hopfield network to a paired-associate word learning experiment in which (1) participants studied word pairs (e.g., ABSENCE-HOLLOW), (2) were tested in one direction (ABSENCE-?) on a first test, and (3) were tested in the same direction again or in the reverse direction (?-HOLLOW) on a second test. The model contained a correlation parameter to capture the dependence between forward versus backward learning between the two words of a word pair, revealing correlation values close to 1.0 for all participants, consistent with neural network models that use the same weight for communication in both directions between nodes. We addressed several limitations of the model simulations and proposed two new models incorporating retrieval practice learning (e.g., the effect of the first test on the second) that fit the accuracy data more effectively, revealing substantially lower correlation values (average of .45 across participants, with zero correlation for some participants). In addition, we analyzed recall latencies, finding that second test recall was faster in the same direction after a correct first test. Only a model with stochastic retrieval practice learning predicted this effect. In conclusion, recall accuracy and recall latency suggest asymmetric learning, particularly in light of retrieval practice effects.
Music, Ontology and the Need for History: A Critical Discussion
Authors: Giombini Lisa
Published: October 2021

Although an ontological approach to musical works has dominated analytic aesthetics for almost fifty years, criticisms have recently started to spread in the philosophical literature. Contestants blame mainstream musical ontology for lacking historical awareness, questioning the cogency of metaphysical proposals that are substantially essentialist with regard to our musical concepts. My aim in this paper is to address this accusation by engaging the historicist critics in a sustained debate. I argue that even if the arguments based on history and sociology turn out to be accurate, this may not be enough of a reason to abandon the ontological project altogether. Ontology and history do not necessarily clash. Moreover, historical-sociological examinations do not fulfil our philosophical interest in music. I conclude by making a plea to “historical ontology,” a perspective that does not reject ontology but closely connects it to the dialectic between historical research and aesthetic interest.
A new endemic species of Vera-duthiea (Hyacinthaceae subfam. Urgineoideae) from Oman
Authors: PATZELT ANNETTE , PINTER MICHAEL , MARTÍNEZ-AZORÍN MARIO
Published: October 2021

A new species of Vera-duthiea (Hyacinthaceae) is described from the southern parts of the Dhofar province of Oman. The species is fully described and illustrated, including information on its taxonomic relationships, biology, habitat and distribution. An assessment of its conservation status is also provided.
A new species of Anacampseros (Anacampserotaceae) from northern Namibia
Authors: BRUYNS PETER V. , KLAK CORNELIA
Published: October 2021

N/A
A new species of the genus Mongoloniscus Verhoeff, 1930 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Agnaridae) from China
Authors: YANG LINA , AN JIANMEI
Published: October 2021

A new species of suborder Oniscidea from northeast China, Mongoloniscus chevronus sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The new species is most related to M. sinensis, only can be distinguished from the latter and other congeners by all pereonites with concave-convex-concave posterior margins, pleon without any decorations. But it can be found new to science by Cox1 gene. A key to all species of genus Mongoloniscus is presented herein.
Aggregation-Induced Emission-Based Vaccine Improves Potential Antitumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Liang Yong , Gong Huanle , Li Yan , Lu Yinghao , Wu Xiaoqian , Zhang Xiaoyan , Ding Dan , Tang Xiaolong , Tang Qiyun
Published: October 2021

Recently, immunomodulation based on biomaterials has held great promise for preventing and treating cancer. Tumor vaccination can be considered as one of promising immunotherapies, compared with the vaccines for infectious disease, it still stays in its infant. Herein, we designed a
near-infrared-emitting AIEgens (named TPE-Ph-DCM) based vaccine as an adjuvant in enhancing immune response. AIE-based photodynamic vaccine exhibited efficiently enhancement of the DC?s antigen prestation and elicited antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte functionality, and significantly
inhibited B16-OVA tumor growth prophylactically and therapeutically in mice model. This study is expected to provide a scientific basis for developing effective and safe tumor vaccines.
Reconstructing Precipitation Events Using Collocated Soil Moisture Information
Authors: Parker Nathaniel , Patrignani Andres
Published: October 2021

Complete and accurate precipitation records are important for developing reliable flood warning systems, streamflow forecasts, rainfall–runoff estimates, and numerical land surface predictions. Existing methods for flagging missing precipitation events and filling gaps in the precipitation record typically rely on precipitation from neighboring stations. In this study, we investigated an alternative method for back-calculating precipitation events using changes in root-zone soil water storage. Our hypothesis was that using a different variable (i.e., soil moisture) from the same monitoring station will be more accurate in estimating hourly precipitation than using the same variable (i.e., precipitation) from the nearest neighboring station. Precipitation events were estimated from soil moisture as the sum of hourly changes in profile soil water storage. Hourly precipitation and soil moisture observations were obtained from a mesoscale network in the central U.S. Great Plains from May 2017 to December 2020. The proposed method based on soil moisture had a minimum detectable limit of 7.6 mm (95th percentile of undetected precipitation events) due to canopy and soil interception. The method was outperformed by the nearest neighbor (NN) interpolation method when neighboring stations were at distances of <10 km. However, the proposed method outperformed the NN method in 22 out of 27 stations when nearest stations were at distances > 10 km. Using changes in soil water storage was an effective approach for flagging and estimating actual missing precipitation events caused by pluviometer malfunction, highlighting new opportunities for using readily available in situ soil moisture information for operational quality control of precipitation observations in mesoscale environmental monitoring networks.

Significance Statement

This study investigated a new method for reconstructing precipitation events using changes in root-zone soil water storage. The method consists of a new option for improving the quality control of precipitation observations collected at in situ environmental monitoring networks. Using the sum of hourly changes in soil water storage proved effective as a qualitative method for flagging missing precipitation events caused by pluviometer failure and as a quantitative method for reconstructing precipitation events. This study presents a promising application of in situ soil moisture information as an alternative method for quality control of precipitation and as a method for filling gaps in the historical precipitation record of catchment-scale hydrological networks and mesoscale environmental monitoring networks.
Early Propranolol Is Associated With Lower Risk of Venous Thromboembolism After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Dhillon Navpreet K. , Hashim Yassar M. , Conde Geena , Phillips George , Fierro Nicole M , Yong Felix , Berezin Naomi , Ley Eric J.
Published: October 2021

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in an elaborate systemic cascade of secondary injury elicited in part by an intrinsic catecholamine response, which ultimately leads to changes in inflammation and coagulopathy. Attenuation of this catecholamine response with agents such as propranolol confers a survival advantage. The related impact of propranolol on venous thromboembolism (VTE) after TBI is largely unknown.

Study Design

A single institution retrospective review was conducted of all TBI patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission with an injury severity scale (ISS) ≥ 25 from January 2013 to May 2015. Patients who received at least one dose of propranolol within 24 hours of admission (PROP) were compared to patients who did not receive any doses of propranolol (NPROP) during their hospitalization.

Results

Of the 131 patients analyzed, 31 (23.7%) patients received propranolol. The PROP cohort was more severely injured overall (ISS 29 vs 26.5, P = .02). While unadjusted VTE rates were similar (16.1% vs 19.0%, P = .72), the adjusted VTE rate was lower in the PROP cohort (AOR 0.20 (95% CI 0.04-0.97), adjusted P-value < .05).

Conclusion

Propranolol use in TBI patients who have sustained critical injuries may mitigate the risk of VTE. The mechanism by which this outcome is achieved requires further investigation.
Exploration of individual and work-related impacts on police officers and police staff working in support or front-line roles during the UK’s first COVID lockdown
Authors: Brown Jennifer , Fleming Jenny
Published: October 2021

An online survey ( N = 2063) of women working either as police officers or non-sworn/warranted police staff addressed personal well-being and work-related factors during the first COVID lockdown in the United Kingdom from March to August 2020. Overall, 59% of all respondents reported being more stressed during the lockdown than they had been previously. A key factor in stress levels was the respondents’ organisational support measured by a computed index of trust, communication, and support (TCS). Those respondents having a positive orientation towards TCS were less stressed than those whose orientation was more negative. Findings differentiated the experience of respondents typed as front-line police officers, front-line police staff, police officers serving in support functions and police staff in support functions. Innovative COVID-19 working arrangements are highlighted as beneficial new practices worth retaining.
‘My dream is that I share the bed with only one man’: Perceptions and practices of premarital sex among Catholic women in Belgium
Authors: Huygens Eline
Published: October 2021

Drawing on qualitative research with Catholic women who are active in the Church in Belgium, this article sets out to analyse how these women negotiate and manage premarital sexuality. I map their practices, experiences, and strategies, and explore how they make sense of religious and secular norms regarding premarital sexuality. By using two notions as theoretical frameworks, namely religious agency and growth ethics, I argue that combining both can lead to a fertile approach to yielding new insights into the field of religion and sexuality. In so doing, I demonstrate that although not all my interlocutors refrain from sexual relations before marriage, they develop personal sexual ethics, which are distinctly informed by Catholic understandings.