bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutrophils in asthma: the good, the bad and the bacteria
Authors: Crisford Helena , Sapey Elizabeth , Rogers Geraint B , Taylor Steven , Nagakumar Prasad , Lokwani Ravi , Simpson Jodie L
Published: February 2021

Airway inflammation plays a key role in asthma pathogenesis but is heterogeneous in nature. There has been significant scientific discovery with regard to type 2-driven, eosinophil-dominated asthma, with effective therapies ranging from inhaled corticosteroids to novel biologics. However, studies suggest that approximately 1 in 5 adults with asthma have an increased proportion of neutrophils in their airways. These patients tend to be older, have potentially pathogenic airway bacteria and do not respond well to classical therapies. Currently, there are no specific therapeutic options for these patients, such as neutrophil-targeting biologics.

Neutrophils comprise 70% of the total circulatory white cells and play a critical defence role during inflammatory and infective challenges. This makes them a problematic target for therapeutics. Furthermore, neutrophil functions change with age, with reduced microbial killing, increased reactive oxygen species release and reduced production of extracellular traps with advancing age. Therefore, different therapeutic strategies may be required for different age groups of patients.

The pathogenesis of neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation in adults with asthma may reflect a counterproductive response to the defective neutrophil microbial killing seen with age, resulting in bystander damage to host airway cells and subsequent mucus hypersecretion and airway remodelling. However, in children with asthma, neutrophils are less associated with adverse features of disease, and it is possible that in children, neutrophils are less pathogenic.

In this review, we explore the mechanisms of neutrophil recruitment, changes in cellular function across the life course and the implications this may have for asthma management now and in the future. We also describe the prevalence of neutrophilic asthma globally, with a focus on First Nations people of Australia, New Zealand and North America.
Path to European quantum unicorns
Authors: Räsänen Markku , Mäkynen Henrikki , Möttönen Mikko , Goetz Jan
Published: February 2021

Quantum computing holds the potential to deliver great economic prosperity to the European Union (EU). However, the creation of successful business in the field is challenging owing to the required extensive investments into postdoctoral-level workforce and sophisticated infrastructure without an existing market that can financially support these operations.

This commentary paper reviews the recent efforts taken in the EU to foster the quantum-computing ecosystem together with its current status. Importantly, we propose concrete actions for the EU to take to enable future growth of this field towards the desired goals. In particular, we suggest ways to enable the creation of EU-based quantum-computing unicorns which may act as key crystallization points of quantum technology and its commercialization. These unicorns may provide stability to the otherwise scattered ecosystem, thus pushing forward global policies enabling the global spread of EU innovations and technologies.

The unicorns may act as a conduit, through which the EU-based quantum ecosystem can stand out from similar ecosystems based in Asia and the United States. Such strong companies are required because of the level of investment currently required in the marketplace. This paper suggests methodologies and best practices that can enhance the probability of the creation of the unicorns.

Furthermore, we explore future scenarios, in which the unicorns can operate from the EU and to support the EU quantum ecosystem. This exploration is conducted focusing on the steps to be taken and on the impact the companies may have in our opinion.
Anticorrosive Behavior of Aluminum Nitride Surface Exposed to Chlorine Trifluoride Gas at High Temperatures
Authors: Haruguchi Miyu , Hayashi Masaya , Irikura Kenta , Habuka Hitoshi , Takahashi Yoshinao
Published: February 2021

The powder and plate of aluminum nitride were exposed to chlorine trifluoride gas at the concentration of 100% and at atmospheric pressure for 10 min and temperatures up to about 1000 °C. With the increasing temperature, the weight of the aluminum nitride plate increased in the temperature range between 750 °C and 800 °C, while it decreased at temperatures higher than 800 °C. The thickness also increased at temperatures higher than 750 °C. The change in the aluminum nitride plate thickness showed a peak at 800 °C. The surface remained smooth at temperatures lower than 900 °C. However, the surface had small pits at 995 °C, because the aluminum trifluoride, produced by the chlorine trifluoride gas, was considered to slightly sublimate and affect the surface morphology. Overall, the aluminum nitride remained anticorrosive to the chlorine trifluoride gas at temperatures lower than 900 °C. When the aluminum nitride was used in the silicon carbide etching reactor, its surface was rather smooth after repetitive exposures to the chlorine trifluoride gas at 500 °C.
Threading Dislocation Reduction of Ge by Introducing a SiGe/Ge Superlattice
Authors: Yamamoto Y. , Corley C. , Schubert M. A. , Zoellner M. , Tillack B.
Published: February 2021

The influence of introducing a SiGe/Ge superlattice (SL) between Ge layers and Si substrate for the sake of the reduction of the threading dislocation density (TDD) without additional annealing is investigated. By introducing the SiGe/Ge SL and optimizing the layer stack, the TDD of the Ge layer becomes ∼1/3. In the case of 2.8 μm thick Ge without introducing the SiGe/Ge SL, the TDD at the surface is 7.6 × 108 cm−2. A slight TDD reduction is observed by introducing a Si0.2Ge0.8/Ge SL between the Si substrate and the Ge layer. By inserting 5, 10 and 20 cycles of Si0.2Ge0.8/Ge, the TDD is reduced to 7.1 × 108, 5.9 × 108 and 5.3 × 108 cm−2, respectively. The lateral lattice parameters of these SLs are ∼5.656 Å, which is a smaller value compared to that of bulk Ge, indicating plastic relaxation by misfit dislocation formation. Further TDD reduction is realized with increasing Si concentration in the SiGe/Ge SL without changing the cycle of the SL. However, surface roughening due to pit formation occurs if the Si concentration in the SL is higher than 50% because of increased strain at the interfaces between SiGe and Ge. With increasing SiGe and Ge thickness ratio in the SL layer and maintaining periodicity and cycles, the TDD is reduced to 2.8 × 108 cm−2 without degrading the surface roughness. This improvement is related to a relaxation of the SiGe/Ge SL by plastic deformation.
High-fat feeding disrupts daily eating behavior rhythms in obesity-prone but not in obesity-resistant male inbred mouse strains
Authors: Buckley Tiffany N. , Omotola Oluwabukola , Archer Luke A. , Rostron Cameron R. , Kamineni Ellora P. , Llanora Josie D. , Chalfant Jeffrey M. , Lei Feitong , Slade Emily , Pendergast Julie S.
Published: February 2021

Abnormal meal timing, like skipping breakfast and late-night snacking, is associated with obesity in humans. Disruption of daily eating rhythms also contributes to obesity in mice. When fed a high-fat diet, male C57BL/6J mice have disrupted eating behavior rhythms and they become obese. In contrast to obesity-prone C57BL/6J mice, some inbred strains of mice are resistant to high-fat diet-induced obesity. In this study, we sought to determine whether there are distinct effects of high-fat feeding on daily eating behavior rhythms in obesity-prone and obesity-resistant male mice. Male obesity-prone (C57BL/6J and 129X1/SvJ) and obesity-resistant (SWR/J and BALB/cJ) mice were fed low-fat diet or high-fat diet for 6 wk. Consistent with previous studies, obesity-prone male mice gained more weight and adiposity during high-fat diet feeding than obesity-resistant male mice. The amplitude of the daily rhythm of eating behavior was markedly attenuated in male obesity-prone mice fed high-fat diet, but not in obesity-resistant males. In contrast, high-fat feeding did not differentially affect locomotor activity rhythms in obesity-prone and obesity-resistant male mice. Together, these data suggest that regulation of the daily rhythm of eating may underlie the propensity to develop diet-induced obesity in male mice.
Hemodynamics of postexercise versus post-hot water immersion recovery
Authors: Francisco Michael A. , Colbert Cameron , Larson Emily A. , Sieck Dylan C. , Halliwill John R. , Minson Christopher T.
Published: February 2021

Hot water immersion resulted in a postintervention hypotension similar to that observed following exercise matched for time and core temperature rise, but with greater reductions in brachial retrograde shear. Heating was associated with lower heart rate, cardiac output, and mean arterial pressure than exercise. Thus, acute hot water immersion may provide similar or greater vascular changes during the hour following the intervention compared with acute exercise, but with a less taxing cardiac workload during the intervention.
Effects of head-down tilt bed rest plus elevated CO2 on cognitive performance
Authors: Basner Mathias , Stahn Alexander C. , Nasrini Jad , Dinges David F. , Moore Tyler M. , Gur Ruben C. , Mühl Christian , Macias Brandon R. , Laurie Steven S.
Published: February 2021

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY This study investigated the effects of prolonged head-down tilt bed rest with and without elevated (3.73 mmHg) levels of ambient CO2 on cognitive performance across a range of cognitive domains and is one of the few studies investigating combined effects of environmental stressors prevalent in spaceflight. The study showed moderate declines in cognitive speed induced by head-down tilt bed rest and suggests that exposure to elevated levels of ambient CO2 did not modify this effect.
Levels of cardiorespiratory fitness in men exerts strong impact on lymphocyte function after mitogen stimulation
Authors: Dorneles Gilson P. , Lira Fabio Santos , Romão Pedro R. T. , Krüger Karsten , Rosa-Neto José Cesar , Peres Alessandra , Antunes Barbara Moura
Published: February 2021

The innovation of the research is to elucidate the impact of different physical fitness status on metabolism, cell proliferation, and lymphocyte activity and, consequently, on the specific inflammatory response against a mitogen
Predictors of Preterm Birth among Mothers Who Gave Birth in Silte Zone Public Hospitals, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Hassen Jida Ali , Handiso Mengistu Nunemo , Admassu Bitiya Wossen
Published: February 2021

Background. A preterm birth is the leading cause of death in both neonatal and children under five years of age every year throughout the world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The causes of a preterm birth are complex and multifactorial; many risk factors that contribute it are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of a preterm birth among mothers who gave birth in Silte Zone Public Hospitals, Southern Ethiopia (2019/20). Methods and Materials. A hospital-based unmatched case-control study design was carried out from July 15th to October 30th, 2019, by assigning mothers who gave preterm births as cases and those with term births as controls. A total of 365 respondents (91 cases and 274 controls) were selected by a consecutive simple random sampling until the required sample size was achieved. For each case, three consecutive controls were included. Data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire complement with record reviewing. The data were entered into Epi Info 7 and exported into SPSS 25 for analysis. Descriptive analysis was computed to obtain summary values for cases and controls separately. All candidate variables in bivariate analysis were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model by using the backward likelihood ratio selection methods. Finally, variables withpvalue ≤ 0.05 were considered as potential determinants of a preterm birth and reported in the form of adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Results. Among a total of 365 mothers who gave live birth, 91 (24.9%) were cases compared to 274 (75.1%) which were controls. The final multivariable logistic regression analysis results showed that having history of a previous preterm birth (AOR=3.51;95%CI=1.40−8.81), having shorter interpregnancy interval (AOR=4.46;95%CI=1.95−10.21), experiencing obstetric complication (AOR=3.82;95%CI=1.62−9.00), and having infant born with low birth weight (AOR=5.58;95%CI=2.39−13.03) were found to be independent predictors of a preterm birth. Conclusions. According to this finding, mothers having previous history of a preterm birth, experiencing obstetric complication, having shorter interpregnancy interval, and having infant born with low birth weight were reported as the independent predictors of a preterm birth. Improving the quality of antepartum and intrapartum, counseling on birth space, creating awareness on family planning, and early screening of preterm determinants are mandatory.
Visual and Visual‐Inertial SLAM: State of the Art, Classification, and Experimental Benchmarking
Authors: Servières Myriam , Renaudin Valérie , Dupuis Alexis , Antigny Nicolas
Published: February 2021

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping is now widely adopted by many applications, and researchers have produced very dense literature on this topic. With the advent of smart devices, embedding cameras, inertial measurement units, visual SLAM (vSLAM), and visual‐inertial SLAM (viSLAM) are enabling novel general public applications. In this context, this paper conducts a review of popular SLAM approaches with a focus on vSLAM/viSLAM, both at fundamental and experimental levels. It starts with a structured overview of existing vSLAM and viSLAM designs and continues with a new classification of a dozen main state‐of‐the‐art methods. A chronological survey of viSLAM’s development highlights the historical milestones and presents more recent methods into a classification. Finally, the performance of vSLAM is experimentally assessed for the use case of pedestrian pose estimation with a handheld device in urban environments. The performance of five open‐source methods Vins‐Mono, ROVIO, ORB‐SLAM2, DSO, and LSD‐SLAM is compared using the EuRoC MAV dataset and a new visual‐inertial dataset corresponding to urban pedestrian navigation. A detailed analysis of the computation results identifies the strengths and weaknesses for each method. Globally, ORB‐SLAM2 appears to be the most promising algorithm to address the challenges of urban pedestrian navigation, tested with two datasets.
Factors Associated with the Technical Efficiency of Maize Seed Production in the Mid-Hills of Nepal: Empirical Analysis
Authors: Sapkota Mahesh , Joshi Niraj Prakash
Published: February 2021

Maize is the second most important staple crop in Nepal. Its demand is rapidly increasing due to a growth in the poultry sector. The national maize yield is low, leading to insufficient domestic production and thereby increasing imports. Maize seed is considered as one of the crucial inputs in achieving the targeted yield growth, but usually is in short supply during the cropping season. Farmers are involved in maize seed production, which eases its supply. Thus, understanding the efficiency of maize seed production will have a direct impact on the efficiency of the country’s maize production. This paper aimed to assess the technical efficiency (TE) of maize seed production and the major factors affecting TE. Semistructured questionnaire survey was administered in June 2016 to 182 maize seed farmers selected randomly from a total of 260 maize seed growers in Palpa District, a leading maize seed producing district in the mid-hills of Nepal. TE is estimated based on the stochastic frontier production model, and the factors affecting TE are assessed using the Tobit model. TE ranged from 0.25 to 0.92 with an average of 0.71. This revealed the scope of increasing TE by 29%. TE in the study area is largely affected by the age and schooling year of household heads. Similarly, the experience of maize seed production, livestock holding, the share of maize seed area, seed source, and access to extension services affect TE. Hence, a focus on motivating experienced educated maize seed growers to expand the maize seed production area supplemented by a better seed source and extension services would contribute to improving TE.
Complex Entropy and Its Application in Decision-Making for Medical Diagnosis
Authors: Xiao Fuyuan , Yue Xiao-Guang
Published: February 2021

In decision-making systems, how to measure uncertain information remains an open issue, especially for information processing modeled on complex planes. In this paper, a new complex entropy is proposed to measure the uncertainty of a complex-valued distribution (CvD). The proposed complex entropy is a generalization of Gini entropy that has a powerful capability to measure uncertainty. In particular, when a CvD reduces to a probability distribution, the complex entropy will degrade into Gini entropy. In addition, the properties of complex entropy, including the nonnegativity, maximum and minimum entropies, and boundedness, are analyzed and discussed. Several numerical examples illuminate the superiority of the newly defined complex entropy. Based on the newly defined complex entropy, a multisource information fusion algorithm for decision-making is developed. Finally, we apply the decision-making algorithm in a medical diagnosis problem to validate its practicability.
On the Representation of Neutrosophic Matrices by Neutrosophic Linear Transformations
Authors: Abobala Mohammad
Published: February 2021

The objective of this paper is to study the representation of neutrosophic matrices defined over a neutrosophic field by neutrosophic linear transformations between neutrosophic vector spaces, where it proves that every neutrosophic matrix can be represented uniquely by a neutrosophic linear transformation. Also, this work proves that every neutrosophic linear transformation must be an AH-linear transformation; i.e., it can be represented by classical linear transformations.
A Novel Hybrid Approach Based on BAT Algorithm with Artificial Neural Network to Forecast Iran’s Oil Consumption
Authors: Bahmani Mojtaba , Nejati Mehdi , GhasemiNejad Amin , Nazari Robati Fateme , Lashkary Mehrdad , Amani Zarin Naeeme
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we develop a function of population, GDP, import, and export by applying a hybrid bat algorithm (BAT) and artificial neural network (ANN). We apply these methods to forecast oil consumption in Iran. For this purpose, an improved artificial neural network (ANN) structure, which is optimized by the BAT is proposed. The variables between 1980 and 2017 were used, partly for installing and testing the method. This method would be helpful in forecasting oil consumption and would provide a level playing field for checking the energy policy authority impacts on the structure of the energy sector in an economy such as Iran with high economic interventionism by the government. The result of the model shows that the findings are in close agreement with the observed data, and the performance of the method was excellent. We demonstrate that its efficiency could be a helpful and reliable tool for monitoring oil consumption.
Multiconstrained Ascent Trajectory Optimization Using an Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Method
Authors: Lin Mu , Zhang Zhao-Huanyu , Zhou Hongyu , Shui Yongtao
Published: February 2021

This paper researches the ascent trajectory optimization problem in view of multiple constraints that effect on the launch vehicle. First, a series of common constraints that effect on the ascent trajectory are formulated for the trajectory optimization problem. Then, in order to reduce the computational burden on the optimal solution, the restrictions on the angular momentum and the eccentricity of the target orbit are converted into constraints on the terminal altitude, velocity, and flight path angle. In this way, the requirement on accurate orbit insertion can be easily realized by solving a three-parameter optimization problem. Next, an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm is developed based on the Gaussian perturbation method to generate the optimal trajectory. Finally, the algorithm is verified by numerical simulation.
The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Nosocomial Infection Rate: A Case of Iran
Authors: Jabarpour Maryam , Dehghan Mahlagha , Afsharipour Giti , Hajipour Abaee Elham , Mangolian Shahrbabaki Parvin , Ahmadinejad Mehdi , Maazallahi Mahboobeh
Published: February 2021

Background. Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a new type of coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic. The disease is highly contagious, and all people are susceptible to the disease. Therefore, extensive measures were taken to prevent the spread of the disease at the community and hospitals. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on nosocomial infection rate. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in an educational hospital, southeast Iran. The nosocomial infection rates of critical/intensive care units (CCU/ICUs) and medical-surgical units were assessed during and before the COVID-19 outbreak. Results. There was a 19.75-point decrease in the total rate of nosocomial infection during the COVID-19 outbreak (

P

 = 0.02). In addition, there was a 39.12-point decrease in the total rate of CCU/ICUs’ nosocomial infection during the COVID-19 outbreak (

P

 < 0.001). A 19.23-point decrease was also observed in the total rate of medical-surgical units’ nosocomial infection during the COVID-19 outbreak (

P

 = 0.13). All kinds of CCU/ICUs’ nosocomial infections had between 31.22- and 100-point decreases during the COVID-19 outbreak. Among medical-surgical units, 33.33- and 30.70-point decreases were observed only in UTI and SSI, respectively, during the COVID-19 outbreak, while BSI had a 40-point increase during the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusions. Proper implementation of infection control protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic seems to reduce nosocomial infections.
On Solutions of the Matrix Equation
A

∘

l

X
= B with respect to
M
M
-2 Semitensor Product
Authors: Wang Jin
Published: February 2021

M
M

-2 semitensor product is a new and very useful mathematical tool, which breaks the limitation of traditional matrix multiplication on the dimension of matrices and has a wide application prospect. This article aims to investigate the solutions of the matrix equation

A

°

l

X
=
B

with respect to

M
M

-2 semitensor product. The case where the solutions of the equation are vectors is discussed first. Compatible conditions of matrices and the necessary and sufficient condition for the solvability is studied successively. Furthermore, concrete methods of solving the equation are provided. Then, the case where the solutions of the equation are matrices is studied in a similar way. Finally, several examples are given to illustrate the efficiency of the results.
The Effect of Graphite and Fe2O3 Addition on Hydrolysis Kinetics of Mg-Based Hydrogen Storage Materials
Authors: Yang Kun , Qin Hongyun , Lv Junnan , Yu Rujun , Chen Xia , Zhao Zengdian , Li Yongjie , Zhang Fang , Xia Xianchang , Fu Qiang , Wang Ming
Published: February 2021

In this paper, graphite and Fe2O3 are introduced into MgH2 powder by the method of hydrogenation after magnetic grinding. Hydrogen storage materials which composite of MgH2–5 wt.% C and MgH2–5 wt.% C–5 wt.% Fe2O3 are successfully prepared. The physical structure of these materials was analyzed and characterized by XRD, SEM, etc. Furthermore, the influence of graphite and Fe2O3 on the hydrolysis of MgH2 was systematically investigated. The results show that MgH2–C–Fe2O3 composite powder has the fastest hydrogen release rate in municipal drinking water and the highest conversion rate. Graphite and Fe2O3 can effectively reduce the activation energy of the hydrolysis reaction of MgH2 and improve the hydrolysis kinetics of MgH2. The synergistic effect of the coaddition of graphite and Fe2O3 can significantly increase the hydrolysis conversion rate of MgH2 and improve the hydrolysis kinetics.
Critical Conditions and Energy Transfer Characteristics of the Failure Process of Coal-Rock Combination Systems in Deep Mines
Authors: Sun Haitao , Dai Linchao , Liu Yanbao , Jin Hongwei
Published: February 2021

With the steady increase in the size, intensification, and modernization of coal production enterprises, the deep coal resources in large coal bases are gradually entering the mining stage. When the coal mining reaches the deep zone, the interactions between various underground dynamic hazards begin to occur. These interactions are affected by the engineering geological environment and can lead to the occurrence of severe compound hazards. When coal and gas outbursts occur and destabilize the mining area, the high geostress causes the multiphysical coupling effect of the laminated overburden system to become more pronounced. Therefore, we analyzed the development path of a coal-rock system under instability conditions from the perspective of coal–rock coupling, constructed a model of the coal-rock combination system’s structure, and proposed three directions (i.e., strain softening, limit equilibrium, and dynamic instability) for the development of coal-rock system instability. Then, we established a model for the critical conditions of the system’s failure process and elucidated that the release of the rock’s elastic energy promoted the instability of the coal. Furthermore, we verified the established critical conditions through laboratory tests on a coal-rock combination structure and obtained the patterns of the rock energy transferring into the coal seam during the instability failure process of the coal–rock combination structure. When the coal–rock combination structure failed, the rock strain reached its maximum value and the strain rebound phenomenon occurred. The stored elastic strain energy released by the rock into the combination system accounted for 26% to 53% of the accumulated energy in the rock itself, and the released elastic energy and the new surface area of the crushed coal sample followed a logarithmic relationship. The findings of this study provide theoretical support for the identification and quantitative analysis of instability due to the dynamic hazards of coal-rock gas in deep mines.
Athleteʼs Physical Fitness Prediction Model Algorithm and Index Optimization Analysis under the Environment of AI
Authors: Zhao Liqiu , Zhao Yuexi , Wang Xiaodong
Published: February 2021

With the rapid progress of network technology and computers, the Internet of Things has slowly entered peopleʼs lives and work. The Internet of Things can bring a lot of convenience to peopleʼs lives and work. People have been living in a networked era, and communications, computers, and network technologies are changing the entire human race and society. The extensive application of databases and computer networks, coupled with the use of advanced automatic data collection tools, has dramatically increased the amount of data that people have. There are many important information hidden behind the surge of data, and people hope to conduct higher-level analysis on it in order to make better use of these data. This article mainly introduces the prediction model algorithm and index optimization analysis of athletesʼ physical fitness under the Internet of things environment. This paper proposes an algorithm and index optimization method for the athletesʼ physical fitness prediction model in the Internet of Things environment, which is used to conduct athletesʼ fitness prediction model algorithm and index optimization experiments in the Internet of Things environment, and designs steps for athletesʼ physical fitness prediction in the Internet of Things environment to lay a solid foundation for related applications of athlete index optimization. The experimental results in this article show that the prediction accuracy rate of the professional group with the athleteʼs physical fitness prediction model and index optimization under the Internet of Things environment is higher than that of the control group, with a difference

p
<
0.001

.
The Circadian Clock Regulates the Expression of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2‐Related Factor 2 in Acute Kidney Injury following Myocardial Ischemia‐Reperfusion in Diabetic Rat
Authors: Dong Chong , Zeng Cheng , Du Li , Sun Qian
Published: February 2021

Cardiac surgery‐associated acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious and frequent complication with poor prognosis, and disruption in circadian rhythm shall adversely influence cardiovascular and renal functions via oxidative stress mechanisms. However, the role of circadian clock genes (circadian locomotor output cycle kaput (CLOCK) and brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator‐like protein‐1 (BMAL1)) and its interaction with nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) in AKI following myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion (MIR) in the diabetic rat has not yet been explored. In this study, rats were divided into the sham (S) group, MIR (M) group, diabetic (D) group, and diabetic+MIR (DM) group. At light (zeitgeber time (ZT) 0) and dark time points (ZT12), rat MIR model was established by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min followed by 2 ‐hour reperfusion, and then renal injury was evaluated. The renal histological changes in the DM group were significantly high compared to other groups; serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin levels, as well as malondialdehyde and 8‐iso‐prostaglandin‐F2α levels in renal tissues of M ZT12 and DM ZT12 subgroups, were significantly higher than those of M ZT0 and DM ZT0 subgroups, individually indicating increased oxidative stress at a dark cycle. Further, Nrf2 protein accumulated in a circadian manner with decreasing levels at night in the DM and M groups. In conclusion, renal injury following MIR was exacerbated in the diabetic rat at night through molecular mechanisms involving transcriptional control of the circadian clock on light‐dark activation of Nrf2.
A Fuzzy Clustering Logic Life Loss Risk Evaluation Model for Dam‐Break Floods
Authors: Zhu Yantao , Niu Xinqiang , Gu Chongshi , Dai Bo , Huang Lixian
Published: February 2021

A dam is a complex and important water‐retaining structure. Once the dam is broken, the flood will cause immeasurable damage to the lives and properties of the downstream people, so it is particularly important to have the dam risk management. Since the dam‐break flood is a severe‐consequence low‐frequency event, the corresponding fatalities caused by it are difficult to estimate due to the lack of relevant data and poor data continuity. This paper analyzes the direct and indirect factors affecting the risk of life loss in dam failures and studies the characteristics, distribution rules, and membership functions of each factor. An adaptive differential evolution method is constructed through an optimization of the mutation factors and cross factors of the differential evolution method. This proposed evaluation method also combines with the fuzzy clustering iterative method that is capable of evaluating the similarity of life loss in dam accidents. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by 16 dam‐break case studies.
Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm and Convolutional Neural Network Based COVID-19 Identification in Chest X-Ray Images
Authors: Shukla Prashant Kumar , Sandhu Jasminder Kaur , Ahirwar Anamika , Ghai Deepika , Maheshwary Priti , Shukla Piyush Kumar
Published: February 2021

COVID-19 is a new disease, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, that was firstly delineated in humans in 2019. Coronaviruses cause a range of illness in patients varying from common cold to advanced respiratory syndromes such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has resulted in a global pandemic, and its transmission is increasing at a rapid rate. Diagnostic testing and approaches provide a valuable tool for doctors and support them with the screening process. Automatic COVID-19 identification in chest X-ray images can be useful to test for COVID-19 infection at a good speed. Therefore, in this paper, a framework is designed by using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to diagnose COVID-19 patients using chest X-ray images. A pretrained GoogLeNet is utilized for implementing the transfer learning (i.e., by replacing some sets of final network CNN layers). 20-fold cross-validation is considered to overcome the overfitting quandary. Finally, the multiobjective genetic algorithm is considered to tune the hyperparameters of the proposed COVID-19 identification in chest X-ray images. Extensive experiments show that the proposed COVID-19 identification model obtains remarkably better results and may be utilized for real-time testing of patients.
Expression of E‐Cadherin in Pig‐Tailed Monkey (Macaca nemestrina) Endometrium after Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation
Authors: Sahar Nurhuda , Muharam R. , Pradhita Andhea Debby , Thuffi Rosalina , Zulhulaifah Wa Ode , Birowo Ponco
Published: February 2021

An increase of steroid hormones in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) procedures is reducing the success rate in assisted reproductive technology (ART), and this includes the pregnancy rate and/or implantation rate. Research has found that the decrease in the success rate occurred due to the decreased expression of the protein that is needed to prepare the endometrium so that the embryo could attach. The aim of the study was to analyse the changes in E‐chaderin expression due to COH and its relations with increased level of steroid hormones as one of the proteins in the endometrium. There were 13 samples of stored biological tissue from Macaca nemestrina endometrial tissue; came from one group of natural cycles as the control group (n = 4) and three groups of stimulated cycles. The first stimulated cycle group was injected by a 30 IU dose of rFSH (n = 2). The second stimulated cycle group was injected by a 50 IU dose of rFSH (n = 4). The third stimulated cycle group was injected by a 70 IU dose of rFSH (n = 3). The expression of E‐cadherin was measured by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique. Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels were assessed using ELISA and have already been done. The IHC staining expression of E‐cadherin was found in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelium. Immunostaining measurement used the H_SCORE. We found that the expression of E‐cadherin within the group was not significantly different (p value: 0.178). Similarly, both the correlation between the estradiol level with E‐cadherin and the correlation between the progesterone level with E‐cadherin were not significantly different (p value: 0.872 and p value: 0.836). The conclusion is that the level of E‐Cadherin expression in the endometrium that were taken in themiddle secretion phase not affected by the dose regimen that given. In addition, the level of expression is not influenced by the increase of serum E2 and P4 levels.
A New Method of Fault Feature Extraction Based on Hierarchical Dispersion Entropy
Authors: Chen Peng , Zhao Xiaoqiang , Jiang HongMei
Published: February 2021

In the process of fault feature extraction of rolling bearing, the feature information is difficult to be extracted fully. A novel method of fault feature extraction called hierarchical dispersion entropy is proposed in this paper. In this method, the vibration signals firstly are decomposed hierarchically. Secondly, dispersion entropies of different nodes are calculated. Hierarchical dispersion entropy can realize the comprehensive feature extraction of the high‐ and low‐frequency band information of vibration signals and overcome the problems that dispersion entropy and multiscale dispersion entropy are insufficient to extract the fault feature information of vibration signals. The feasibility of hierarchical dispersion entropy is obtained by analyzing the hierarchical dispersion entropy of Gaussian white noise and compared with the multiscale dispersion entropy of Gaussian white noise. Meanwhile, a fault diagnosis method for rolling bearings based on hierarchical dispersion entropy and k‐nearest neighbor (KNN) classifier is developed. Finally, the superiority of the proposed fault diagnosis method is verified in the realization of fault diagnosis of the rolling bearing in different positions and different degrees of damage.
Visual‐Electrotactile Stimulation Feedback to Improve Immersive Brain‐Computer Interface Based on Hand Motor Imagery
Authors: Achanccaray David , Izumi Shin-Ichi , Hayashibe Mitsuhiro
Published: February 2021

In the aging society, the number of people suffering from vascular disorders is rapidly increasing and has become a social problem. The death rate due to stroke, which is the second leading cause of global mortality, has increased by 40% in the last two decades. Stroke can also cause paralysis. Of late, brain‐computer interfaces (BCIs) have been garnering attention in the rehabilitation field as assistive technology. A BCI for the motor rehabilitation of patients with paralysis promotes neural plasticity, when subjects perform motor imagery (MI). Feedback, such as visual and proprioceptive, influences brain rhythm modulation to contribute to MI learning and motor function restoration. Also, virtual reality (VR) can provide powerful graphical options to enhance feedback visualization. This work aimed to improve immersive VR‐BCI based on hand MI, using visual‐electrotactile stimulation feedback instead of visual feedback. The MI tasks include grasping, flexion/extension, and their random combination. Moreover, the subjects answered a system perception questionnaire after the experiments. The proposed system was evaluated with twenty able‐bodied subjects. Visual‐electrotactile feedback improved the mean classification accuracy for the grasping (93.00% ± 3.50%) and flexion/extension (95.00% ± 5.27%) MI tasks. Additionally, the subjects achieved an acceptable mean classification accuracy (maximum of 86.5% ± 5.80%) for the random MI task, which required more concentration. The proprioceptive feedback maintained lower mean power spectral density in all channels and higher attention levels than those of visual feedback during the test trials for the grasping and flexion/extension MI tasks. Also, this feedback generated greater relative power in the μ‐band for the premotor cortex, which indicated better MI preparation. Thus, electrotactile stimulation along with visual feedback enhanced the immersive VR‐BCI classification accuracy by 5.5% and 4.5% for the grasping and flexion/extension MI tasks, respectively, retained the subject’s attention, and eased MI better than visual feedback alone.
Long-Term Follow-Up, Association between CARD15/NOD2 Polymorphisms, and Clinical Disease Behavior in Crohn’s Disease Surgical Patients
Authors: Giudici Francesco , Cavalli Tiziana , Luceri Cristina , Russo Edda , Zambonin Daniela , Scaringi Stefano , Ficari Ferdinando , Fazi Marilena , Amedei Amedeo , Tonelli Francesco , Malentacchi Cecilia
Published: February 2021

Background. CARD15/NOD2 is the most significant genetic susceptibility in Crohn’s disease (CD) even though a relationship between the different polymorphisms and clinical phenotype has not been described yet. The study is aimed at analyzing, in a group of CD patients undergoing surgery, the relationship between CARD15/NOD2 polymorphisms and the clinical CD behavior after a long-term follow-up, in order to identify potential clinical biomarkers of prognosis. Methods. 191 surgical CD patients were prospectively characterized both for the main single nucleotide polymorphisms of CARD15/NOD2 and for many other environmental risk factors connected with the severe disease form. After a mean follow-up of 7.3 years, the correlations between clinical features and CD natural history were analyzed. Results. CARD15/NOD2 polymorphisms were significantly associated with younger age at diagnosis compared to wild type cases (

p
<
0.05

). Moreover, patients carrying a 3020insC polymorphism presented a larger

Δ

between diagnosis and surgery (

p
=
0.0344

). Patients carrying an hz881 and a 3020insC exhibited, respectively, a lower rate of responsiveness to azathioprine (

p
=
0.012

), but no difference was found in biologic therapy. Finally, the risk of surgical recurrence was significantly associated, respectively, to age at diagnosis, to familial CD history, to diagnostic delay, to arthritis, and to the presence of perioperative complications. Conclusions. 3020insC CARD15 polymorphism is associated with an earlier CD onset, and age at CD

diagnosis
<
27

years was confirmed to have a detrimental effect on its clinical course. In addition, the familiarity seems to be connected with a more aggressive postoperative course. Finally, for the first time, we have observed a lower rate of responsiveness to azathioprine in patients carrying an hz881 and a 3020insC.
Morphometrical and Molecular Characterization of Oesophagostomum columbianum (Chabertiidae: Oesophagostominae) and Haemonchus contortus (Trichostrongylidae: Haemonchinae) Isolated from Goat (Capra hircus) in Sylhet, Bangladesh
Authors: Nath Tilak Chandra , Lee Dongmin , Park Hansol , Choe Seongjun , Ndosi Barakaeli Abdieli , Kang Yeseul , Bia Mohammed Mebarek , Eamudomkarn Chatanun , Mohanta Uday Kumar , Islam Kazi Mehetazul , Bhuiyan Jamal Uddin , Jeon Hyeong-Kyu , Eom Keeseon S.
Published: February 2021

This study was aimed at describing two (2) intestinal nematodes from naturally infected native breed of goats (Capra hircus) in Bangladesh, identified as Oesophagostomum columbianum (Curtice, 1890) Stossich 1899 and Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi, 1803) Cobb, 1898. The identification was made based on morphometric features and was confirmed by amplifying internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome c oxidase (cox1) gene. Well-developed lateral alae, distinct cervical papillae anteriorly to esophageal expansion, and male spicule length (0.73-0.79 mm,n=2) were characteristically observed in O. columbianum. At the same time, male spicule length (0.40-0.46 mm,n=2) and position of female vulvar flap (4.30-4.54 mm from posterior end,n=3) were observed in H. contortus. DNA sequence homology of the ITS and cox1 gene of both specimens revealed the same results, showing similarity to the GenBank sequences of O. columbianum (GenBank No. KC715827; JX188470) and H. contortus (GenBank No. KJ724377; HQ389229). Phylogenetic analysis computed by maximum livelihood (ML) from the ITS nucleotide sequences revealed that the O. columbianum and H. contortus isolates identified in this study were clustered in the same clade with isolates from China and Iran, respectively. This study, for the first time, illustrates the characteristics of O. columbianum and H. contortus in Bangladesh, combining both morphological and molecular data. The universal primer-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol could be an economical and efficient option for researchers from poor resource settings for precise identification of nematodes. The information generated in this study may contribute to formulating effective control strategies against these nematodes.
Comparison of IL-17 and FOXP3+ Levels in Maternal and Children Leprosy Patients in Endemic and Nonendemic Areas
Authors: Prakoeswa Flora Ramona Sigit , Maharani Faradiba , Fitriah Munawaroh , Nugraha Jusak , Soebono Hardyanto , Prasetyo Budi , Martini Santi , Husada Dominicus , Notobroto Hari Basuki , Listiawan Muhammad Yulianto , Endaryanto Anang , Prakoeswa Cita Rosita Sigit
Published: February 2021

Leprosy, a chronic infection caused by M. leprae, has a complex transmission problem that makes eradication programs difficult. New cases and ongoing transmission of leprosy in endemic areas make individuals living in endemic environments vulnerable to leprosy. This can be caused by the dysregulation of immune system in individuals living in leprosy-endemic areas. Although the number of male leprosy patients is higher, female leprosy patients have more impact on the family health status due to close contact with family members, roles in the household, and parenting. This could cause the increased number of children leprosy patients. We investigated the dysregulation of immune system by comparing IL-17 and FOXP3+ levels occurring in maternal and child leprosy patients in endemic and nonendemic areas. The results of the study found a statistically significant difference in IL-17 levels between the MB leprosy patient group and the control group (

p
=
0.048

), where higher levels of IL-17 are observed in the control group. A significant difference also was found in FOXP3+ levels between the group of healthy children living in endemic and those living in nonendemic areas (

p
=
0.047

), where higher FOXP3+ is observed in the healthy children living in endemic areas group.
Identification and Construction of a Long Noncoding RNA Prognostic Risk Model for Stomach Adenocarcinoma Patients
Authors: Zha Zhiqiang , Zhang Peiling , Li Dailing , Liu Guolong , Lu Lin
Published: February 2021

Background. Long noncoding RNA-based prognostic biomarkers have demonstrated great potential in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients. However, systematic assessment of a multiple lncRNA-composed prognostic risk model is lacking in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). This study is aimed at constructing a lncRNA-based prognostic risk model for STAD patients. Methods. RNA sequencing data and clinical information of STAD patients were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified using the R software. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to construct a prognostic risk model. The survival analysis, C-index, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were employed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the model. The results were verified using the GEPIA online tool and our clinical samples. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were performed to indicate the potential biological functions of the selected lncRNA. Results. A total of 1917 DElncRNAs were identified from 343 cases of STAD tissues and 30 cases of noncancerous tissues. According to univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses, four DElncRNAs (AC129507.1, LINC02407, AL022316.1, and AP000695.2) were selected to establish a prognostic risk model. There was a significant difference in the overall survival between high-risk patients and low-risk patients based on this risk model. The C-index of the model was 0.652. The area under the curve (AUC) for the ROC curve was 0.769. GEPIA results confirmed the expression and prognostic significance of AP000695.2 in STAD. Our clinical data confirmed that upregulated expression of AP000695.2 was correlated with the T stage, distant metastasis, and TNM stage in STAD. GO and KEGG analyses demonstrated that AP000695.2 was closely related to the tumorigenesis process. Conclusions. In this study, we constructed a lncRNA-based prognostic risk model for STAD patients. Our study will provide novel insight into the diagnosis and prognosis of STAD patients.