bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic and Staging Value of Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Sarcoidosis
Authors: Wang Wenqiao , Ma Yue , Zhang Yongming , Lin Jiangtao , He Jie , Nong Ying , Zhang Xiaoyan , Jia Yuping
Published: February 2022

Objective. To investigate the diagnostic and staging value of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (sACE) in sarcoidosis. Methods. Patients with suspected sarcoidosis treated in the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from 2010 to 2020 were included. The data of sACE, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood count (CBC), lung function, bronchoalveolar lavage, and biopsy were collected. The differences between the sarcoidosis group and the nonsarcoidosis group and between different stages of sarcoidosis were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used for the diagnostic test of sACE in sarcoidosis. Results. A total of 84 cases with suspected sarcoidosis were included, among which 70 cases were confirmed to be sarcoidosis by biopsy. The mean value of sACE in sarcoidosis patients was

56.61
±
30.80

 U/L, which was significantly higher than that in nonsarcoidosis patients (

28.07
±
14.11

 U/L,

P
=
0.001

). The level of sACE in sarcoidosis patients with peripheral superficial lymph nodes and multiple system involvement was significantly higher than that in intrathoracic sarcoidosis patients (

P
=
0.009

); the percentage of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of sarcoidosis patients was

45.39
±
22.87

%, which was significantly higher than that of nonsarcoidosis patients (

P
<
0.001

). There was no correlation between sACE and ESR (

correlation
 
coefficient
=
−
0.167

). According to ROC curve analysis, when

sACE
≥
44.0

 U/L, the sensitivity of sarcoidosis diagnosis was 61.4%, the specificity was 92.9%, and the AUC was 0.819. Conclusion. sACE has a good specificity in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. sACE values in patients with sarcoidosis with systemic involvement were higher than those with simple intrathoracic sarcoidosis.
Dyslipidemia Diagnosis and Treatment: Risk Stratification in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Mosca Sara , Araújo Graça , Costa Vanessa , Correia Joana , Bandeira Anabela , Martins Esmeralda , Mansilha Helena , Tavares Mónica , Coelho Margarida P.
Published: February 2022

Dyslipidemias or dyslipoproteinemias are quantitative changes in total cholesterol concentration, respective fractions, or triglycerides in the plasma. Evidence supported that dyslipidemia in childhood is associated with atherosclerosis in adulthood, and early identification and treatment potentially reduce cardiovascular risk in adulthood, which is the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Dyslipidemias can result from primary lipoprotein metabolism changes due to different genetic causes (primary dyslipidemias) or as a consequence of exogenous factors or other pathologies (secondary dyslipidemias). Therefore, the combined dyslipidemias result from the association of important epigenetic and environmental influences with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The criterion for lipid metabolism screening at young ages is not widely accepted and possibly follows a universal or directed screening strategy. Additionally, little is known about its long-term effects or possible risk-benefit despite the growing tendency to start pharmacological therapy. Therefore, this study aimed to review the available bibliography on dyslipidemia in pediatric age to present a practical and structured approach to dyslipidemia that focuses on screening, risk stratification for atherosclerotic disease, and therapeutic approach.
Ureteral Diaphragmatic Hernia Treated with Ureteral Stenting: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Yoshino Tateki , Itakura Ayako , Fujikawa Shinnosuke , Sugitani Tomoyuki , Kawakami Kazuo , Ishibashi Emi , Kodama Koji , Oshima Shota
Published: February 2022

Ureteral diaphragmatic hernia through diaphragmatic defects is an exceptionally rare subset of ureteral hernia with only fourteen such cases reported in English manuscripts. An 85-year-old woman was introduced to our department with right flank pain, fever elevation, and nausea. Urinalysis showed bacteriuria, and Escherichia coli was detected in the urine culture. Blood analysis revealed abnormal findings, including elevated WBC count (10,510/μl) and C-reactive protein (0.28 mg/dl). Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen demonstrated a defect of the right diaphragmatic crus containing a dilated right ureter with associated hydronephrosis. Retrograde pyelography showed hydronephrosis and dilated ureter loops through the defect of diaphragmatic crus, known as a “curlicue sign,” and the diagnosis was right ureteral diaphragmatic hernia. A ureteral stent was placed on her right side, and the ureter was reducted into the retroperitoneal space. After six months, the ureteral stent was removed, with no subsequent recurrence of the ureteral diaphragmatic hernia at seven months. We reviewed all cases in the literature published in English of ureteral diaphragmatic hernia. While the etiology of ureteral diaphragmatic hernia is unknown, our present case and previous reports suggest that a ureteral diaphragmatic hernia may occur due to hepatic atrophy and/or an elevated position of the right kidney.
Corrosion Investigation of Rock Anchors Served over 10 Years in Underground Powerhouse of a Hydropower Station
Authors: Yin Tao , Sun Xingsong , Wang Yujie , Zhao Yufei
Published: February 2022

With the wide application of prestressed anchors in high slopes, underground structures, and bridge projects, the corrosion problems of the anchor structure during the long-term service have demanded more attention. Because of the environmental impact and structural characteristics, anchor cable corrosion is almost inevitable. To obtain the corrosion status of the anchors that have served over 10 years in the underground chambers of a power station, a field investigation was performed. The environment aggressivity was evaluated, and the anchor corrosion was inspected during the investigation. The results show that the effect of groundwater and stray current on anchor corrosion is slight. The main cause of the severe corrosion of the anchor heads is the high temperature and humidity in the chamber. To better evaluate the corrosion tendency and corrosion degree of the anchor head, a corrosion rating method was proposed based on the principles of existing investigation methods and the actual corrosion situation of anchors observed on-site. It was proved that the rating method can effectively reflect the corrosion characteristics and determine the areas prone to corrosion. This field investigation suggests that a regularly scheduled investigation is of great significance and meaning for accurately obtaining the corrosion status, assessing the failure risk, and issuing an early warning.
Dietary Plant Polyphenols as the Potential Drugs in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Evidence, Advances, and Opportunities
Authors: Yan Lu , Guo Min-Song , Zhang Yue , Yu Lu , Wu Jian-Ming , Tang Yong , Ai Wei , Zhu Feng-Dan , Law Betty Yuen-Kwan , Chen Qi , Yu Chong-Lin , Wong Vincent Kam-Wai , Li Hua , Li Mao , Zhou Xiao-Gang , Qin Da-Lian , Wu An-Guo
Published: February 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD), are characterized by the progressive degeneration of neurons. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases have been studied intensively, the mechanism is still in its infancy. In general, most neurodegenerative diseases share common molecular mechanisms, and multiple risks interact and promote the pathologic process of neurogenerative diseases. At present, most of the approved drugs only alleviate the clinical symptoms but fail to cure neurodegenerative diseases. Numerous studies indicate that dietary plant polyphenols are safe and exhibit potent neuroprotective effects in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, low bioavailability is the biggest obstacle for polyphenol that largely limits its adoption from evidence into clinical practice. In this review, we summarized the widely recognized mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as misfolded proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and neuroinflammatory responses. In addition, we summarized the research advances about the neuroprotective effect of the most widely reported dietary plant polyphenols. Moreover, we discussed the current clinical study and application of polyphenols and the factors that result in low bioavailability, such as poor stability and low permeability across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the future, the improvement of absorption and stability, modification of structure and formulation, and the combination therapy will provide more opportunities from the laboratory into the clinic for polyphenols. Lastly, we hope that the present review will encourage further researches on natural dietary polyphenols in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Mixed Variational Inequality Problem Involving Generalized Yosida Approximation Operator in q‐Uniformly Smooth Banach Space
Authors: Rajpoot Arvind Kumar , Ahmad Rais , Ishtyak Mohd , Wen Ching-Feng
Published: February 2022

A mixed variational inequality problem involving generalized Yosida approximation operator is considered and studied in q‐uniformly smooth Banach space. We have shown that mixed variational inequality problem involving generalized Yosida approximation operator is equivalent to a fixed‐point equation. The fixed‐point formulation is applied to establish an algorithm to obtain the solution of mixed variational inequality problem involving generalized Yosida approximation operator. Convergence criteria are also discussed. In support of our main result, we provide an example using Matlab program together with a computation table and convergence graphs. To check the validity of mixed variational inequality problem involving generalized Yosida approximation operator and its fixed‐point formulation, we construct one more example.
Uncertainty Measurement and Attribute Reduction Algorithm Based on Kernel Similarity Rough Set Model
Authors: Chen Baoguo , Chen Lei , Deng Ming
Published: February 2022

Attribute reduction is the core research content in rough set theory. At present, the attribute reduction of numerical information system mostly adopts the neighborhood rough set method. In order to further improve the similarity measurement effect between data objects, kernel function method is used to construct a new rough set model in numerical information system, and an uncertainty measurement method and attribute reduction method are proposed. Firstly, the similarity between objects of numerical information system is calculated by kernel function, and a granular structure model and rough set model based on kernel similarity relation are proposed. Then, from the perspective of kernel similarity rough approximation, an information system uncertainty measurement method called kernel approximation precision and kernel approximation roughness is proposed. Because these two measurement methods do not meet the strict monotonicity of information granulation, the concept of kernel knowledge granularity based on kernel similarity granular structure is further proposed in this paper. By combining kernel approximation precision and kernel approximation roughness with kernel knowledge granularity, an uncertainty measurement method of kernel similarity combination measurement is proposed. Finally, using the strict monotonicity of kernel similarity combination measurement, an attribute reduction algorithm for numerical information system is designed. Experimental analysis shows the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
miR-672-3p Promotes Functional Recovery in Rats with Contusive Spinal Cord Injury by Inhibiting Ferroptosis Suppressor Protein 1
Authors: Wang Fang , Li Jiaxi , Zhao Yingjie , Guo Dong , Liu Dongfan , Chang Su'e , Qiao Hao , Li Jie , Yang Yubing , Zhang Chengyi , Wang Rui , Li Fengtao , Wang Dong , Li Haopeng , He Xijing
Published: February 2022

Aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) after spinal cord injury (SCI) participate in diverse biological pathways and processes, including apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress responses, peroxidation, and ferroptosis. This study was aimed at exploring the mechanisms underlying miRNA-mediated ferroptosis in an SCI rat model. In the present study, a T10 weight-dropping SCI model was established and miRNA profiling was used to detect miRNA expression profiles post-SCI. Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores and inclined plane test, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, western blotting, cell viability, and Annexin V/7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) assays were used to evaluate locomotor activity, histological changes in the injured spinal cords, neuronal ferroptosis, ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) expression, and cell death, respectively. It was observed that many miRNAs were differentially expressed after SCI, and miR-672-3p, which increased significantly, was selected after cross-referencing with predicted target miRNAs. The luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-672-3p downregulated FSP1, a glutathione-independent ferroptosis suppressor, by binding to its 3

′

untranslated region. Oxygen and glucose deprivation- (OGD-) treated PC12 and AGE1.HN cells were treated with miR-672-3p mimics or inhibitors in vitro. The effect of miR-672-3p mimics or inhibitor on OGD-PC12/AGE1.HN ferroptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. The miR-672-3p mimics promoted ferroptosis after SCI, whereas the miR-672-3p inhibitor inhibited this process. Rats with SCI treated with miR-672-3p mimics or inhibitor showed similar results in vivo. Furthermore, the ferroptosis-related changes caused by SCI or miR-672-3p were reversed by overexpression of FSP1 lentivirus in vivo and in vitro. These results indicated that sh-miR-672-3p exerted a neural restoration effect in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting ferroptosis via the FSP1 pathway.
Nicotinic Acid Riboside Regulates Nrf‐2/P62‐Related Oxidative Stress and Autophagy to Attenuate Doxorubicin‐Induced Cardiomyocyte Injury
Authors: Zou Linfeng , Liang Bing , Gao YuanZhen , Ye Ting , Li MengJiao , Zhang Yukun , Lu Qi , Hu Xiaokun , Li Huanting , Yuan Yang , Xing Dongming
Published: February 2022

Doxorubicin (Dox) is an effective chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of various cancers. Due to its potential fatal cardiotoxic side effects, the clinical application is often limited. Dexrazoxane (Dex) is the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of Dox‐induced cardiotoxicity but has side effects. Thus, more protective strategies should be explored. If NAD+ plays a role in maintaining heart function, its precursor prospectively alleviates Dox‐induced cellular injury. Here, we studied the protective effects of nicotinic acid riboside (NAR) on Dox‐induced cardiotoxicity in vivo and in vitro. We found that NAR significantly improved the cardiac function of Dox‐treated mice by restoring ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), and serum level of cardiac troponin (cTnI). NAR not only reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in Dox‐treated cardiomyocytes but also further promoted the activities of cardiac superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). Following exposure to 5 μM Dox, cotreatment with NAR exhibited increased cell viability with a decrease in the apoptosis cell population. Moreover, the levels of apoptosis‐related proteins, as well as proteins involved in oxidative stress and autophagy, were altered after NAR treatment. Collectively, these findings underline the protective potential of NAR against Dox‐induced cardiomyocyte injury by regulating Nrf‐2/P62‐related oxidative stress and autophagy, which could potentially promote survival.
A Novel Prognostic Ferroptosis-Related Long Noncoding RNA Signature in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Bai Zhixun , Zhao Yongchao , Yang Xiaomin , Wang Linglu , Yin Xianhua , Chen Yue , Lu Jing
Published: February 2022

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common primary malignancy of renal cancer in adults. Ferroptosis is critically associated with the prognosis of ccRCC. However, knowledge of long noncoding RNA- (lncRNA-) related ferroptosis that affects the prognosis of ccRCC is still insufficient. Using the LASSO regression, we created a risk model based on differentially expressed ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (FRLRS) in ccRCC. The analysis of Kaplan–Meier for survival, area under the curve (AUC) for diagnosis, nomogram for predicting overall survival, and gene expression for immune checkpoints were performed based on the screened independent prognostic factors. Nine lncRNAs were found to be associated with ccRCC prognosis. Furthermore, the prognostic AUC of the FRLRS signature was 0.78, demonstrating its usefulness in predicting ccRCC prognosis. The lncRNA risk model outperformed the standard clinical variables in predicting ccRCC prognosis. Finally, The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that T cell functions, such as cytolytic activity, human leukocyte antigen activity, inflammation regulation, and type II interferon response coordination, are significantly different between two different risk levels of ccRCC. Immune checkpoints were also expressed differently in programmed cell death 1 receptor, inducible T cell costimulator, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, and leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 1. The nine FRLRS signature models may affect the prognosis of ccRCC.
Influence Research for Softening and Swelling of Weakly Cemented Soft Rock on the Stability of Surrounding Rock in Roadway
Authors: Li Yan , Ma Chao , Zhang Lianying , Li Bing
Published: February 2022

In order to study the influence of the softening and swelling of weakly cemented soft rock on the stability of roadway surrounding rock, based on the background of the general return airway in the south wing of Yuwu coal mine, 4 different schemes are designed according to whether the softening or swelling effect of weak cemented soft rock is considered. Based on the numerical simulation program, FLAC3D was used to analyze the distribution characteristics of the shear stress, displacement, and plastic zone of the surrounding rock of the roadway under these 4 designs. On this basis, in view of the geological conditions of the roadway, a new type of “grouting + anchor cable mesh + bottom arch” combined support plan is proposed. The research results show that, under the conventional anchor-net-cable-spraying support scheme, the surrounding rock of the roadway can remain stable without considering the softening and expansion of the weakly cemented soft rock in contact with water and its maximum displacement and plastic zone depth are only 66.9 mm and 2.8 m. When considering the softening and swelling of weakly cemented soft rock roadways, due to the synergistic effect of the two, the maximum displacement of the surrounding rock of the roadway and the depth of the plastic zone will reach 517.4 mm and 6.7 m, respectively, which will continue to increase with excavating along the roadway and lead to ultimately destabilization and destruction. After adopting the combined support of “grouting + anchor cable mesh + bottom arch,” the maximum displacement of the surrounding rock of the roadway and the depth of the plastic zone will be reduced by 77.1% ∼ 92.0% and 18.7% ∼ 72.4%, respectively, and they will basically remain stable after excavation of 5 days.
Changes of Mental State and Serum Prolactin Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia and Depression after Receiving the Combination Therapy of Amisulpride and Chloroprothixol Tablets
Authors: Yuan Bozhi , Yuan Mei
Published: February 2022

Objective. To investigate the changes in mental state and serum prolactin levels in patients with schizophrenia and depression after receiving the combination therapy of amisulpride and chloroprothixol tablets. Methods. A total of 148 schizophrenic patients with depression were randomly divided into control group (

N
=
73

) and study group (

N
=
75

). The control group was treated with clopidothiol, and the study group was treated with amisulpride. Symptom scores, sleep quality, adverse reactions, therapeutic effects, prolactin, and progesterone levels, HAMD, PANSS, and PSP scores were compared between the two groups. Results. The symptom scores of both groups were significantly reduced, but when compared to the control group, the symptom scores of the research group were significantly reduced more significantly (

P
<
0.05

); serum GDNF levels of both groups were significantly increased, while serum NSE, IL-1, and MBP levels were significantly reduced (

P
<
0.05

). However, the research group altered more substantially (

P
<
0.05

) than the control group; the overall PSQI score of the research group was lower (

P
<
0.05

) than the control group; and the incidence of adverse responses in the control and study groups was 12.3 percent and 4.0 percent. The research group had a lower rate of adverse responses (

P
<
0.05

) than the control group, and the effective treatment of the control and research groups was 82.2 percent and 98.7%, respectively. The research group had a lower rate of adverse reactions (

P
<
0.05

) than the control group, while the control and research groups’ successful treatment rates were 82.2 percent and 98.7%, respectively. When compared to the control group, the research group had a greater treatment efficiency (

P
<
0.05

); blood prolactin and progesterone levels were considerably lowered in both groups, but the reductions in the research group were more evident (

P
<
0.05

). Both groups had considerably lower HAMD and PANSS scores, and both had significantly higher PSP scores, although the difference in the research group was more evident (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. For people with schizophrenia and depression, a combination of amisulpride and chloroprothixol pills has a considerable effect. It can help patients with their clinical symptoms and sleep quality while also lowering their serum prolactin levels, which is favorable to their illness recovery. As a result, the combined treatment of amisulpride and chloroprothixol pills deserves to be promoted and used.
Factors Influencing Green Entrepreneurship of Returning Migrant Workers under the Dual-Carbon Background
Authors: Beiwei Li , Zhengliang Yue , Hongtao Liu
Published: February 2022

China’s rural energy consumption structure has dominated by coal, and carbon dioxide emissions are relatively large. Under the dual historical responsibilities of the carbon peak, the carbon neutral dual-carbon, and the rural revitalization strategy, the rural energy transition is imminent. This paper conducts an in-depth study on the green entrepreneurship of migrant workers returning to their hometowns and carefully analyzes the factors affecting the return of migrant workers to green entrepreneurship. This paper establishes a regression model to clarify that the green entrepreneurial guidance mechanism can effectively increase entrepreneurial opportunities, promote the rational allocation of regional resources, increase the success rate of entrepreneurship, and promote the construction of new rural areas in China with proper healthcare. The implementation of the scientific guidance mechanism for migrant workers’ green entrepreneurship should adhere to the scientific development concept, correctly guide farmers to return to their hometowns to start businesses, and provide them with a green channel for fiscal taxation. Green entrepreneurship can improve the entrepreneurial ability of migrant workers in order to effectively increase the success rate of migrant workers in entrepreneurship, ensure the rational use of regional resources, and promote the harmonious and stable development of society.
Developing a DEM and Elucidating through SWAT to Conserve Soil in Kulfo Watershed of Rift Valley Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Ayana Melkamu Teshome , Bizuneh Yechale Kebede , Koshuma Abera Ermias , Workneh Aschalew Cherie , Ali Belete Meketew , Lohani Tarun Kumar
Published: February 2022

Due to uninterrupted erosion and transportation, huge volume of sediments carried away by streams and rivers are finally deposited on the meanders, lakes, and reservoirs when the velocity of the surface water flow decreases. Kulfo River in the southern part of Ethiopia faces a challenge due to massive deposit of sediments. Hydrometeorological and spatial data of Kulfo watershed from the observed stream flow data series near Kulfo bridge and four meteorological station data were used to assess the depositional environment of Kulfo watershed. The data length covers the period from 2000 to 2019. Geomorphic parameters of the watershed were developed by using a 30m × 30m digital elevation model (DEM). The spatial distribution of sediment yield of the study area was estimated using SWAT, the soil and water assessment tool. Scenarios were developed to assess the effectiveness of watershed management interventions provided at the watershed and critical subwatershed level. The model genuinely replicated the observed discharge and sediment with an overall performance of 0.75 as measured by NSE. Twenty-one subbasins were created, and the observed average sediment yield was calculated as 11.9 ton/ha/y. The observed average sediment yield reduction at the hotspot subwatershed level postapplication of contouring, filter strip, terracing, and strip cropping were 40.79%, 57.94%, 66.02%, and 62.93%, respectively. By intricately analyzing, it can be referred that terracing is the best conservation measure to be incorporated into the affected subbasins.
Evaluation of Students’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ability Based on ResNet Network
Authors: Wang Fei , Ying Yalu
Published: February 2022

As the country’s high-quality talents, college students are an important force in national construction. Evaluating the innovative and entrepreneurial abilities for Chinese students will help promote innovation and entrepreneurship education system and improve the reform of educational system and mechanism of colleges, thereby enhancing the innovation and entrepreneurship abilities of college students and then pushing the country into the ranks of a strong country in human resources and a strong country in talents. This work designs a ResNet-based evaluation method to college innovation and entrepreneurship abilities; the main contributions are as follows. (1) When ResNet performs feature extraction, there are problems of bloated network structure and feature loss. A feature extraction backbone network based on ResNet is proposed. To solve the issue of loss for shallow features in process of feature extraction, a skip architecture is added to fuse the shallow details and spatial information with the deep semantic information. To solve the problem of weak model generalization ability caused by the shallow network, a network stacking strategy is proposed to deepen the network structure. (2) Aiming at the problem that ResNet using single-scale feature prediction cannot effectively utilize multiscale features in the network, a multiscale feature prediction is designed. According to idea of feature pyramid, multiple feature maps with different scales are selected for the improved residual network. It designed a multiscale feature fusion strategy for fusing the selected multiscale feature maps into a feature map and evaluated the innovation and entrepreneurship abilities on the fused feature maps. Finally, comparative experiment proves that the improved feature extraction backbone network and multiscale feature scheme can improve performance accuracy on constructed dataset.
Neurohumoral Profiles and Childhood Adversity of Patients with Multisomatoform Disorder and Pain as the Leading Bodily Symptom
Authors: Achenbach Johannes , Volkmann Lilly , Tran Anh-Thu , Jäger Burkard , Rhein Mathias , Glahn Alexander , Bernateck Michael , Karst Matthias
Published: February 2022

Objective. Patients suffering from chronic pain often present with multifactorial underlying conditions, sometimes without concrete pathological physical findings. Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) and somatoform disorders show a high prevalence of 8-20% and are often associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and chronic stress. As many different FSS have overlapping symptoms, the concept of multisomatoform disorder (MSD) has been introduced as an encompassing concept. We hypothesize that a common neurohumoral profile is present in patients with MSD that is distinct from gender- and age-matched controls and thus provides insight into possible common underlying mechanisms. Design. In 151 patients with MSD (138 females) and 149 matched controls (131 females), we determined ACE by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and chronic stress by the Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress (TICS). Furthermore, the serum levels of leptin, FSH, LH, cortisol, DHEA-S, and IGF-1 have been assessed. Results. There were significant differences in the levels of leptin, FSH, IGF-1, and cortisol between patients and controls, mainly driven by female participants. Levels of leptin were significantly correlated with BMI in patients, in controls, and in the female subgroup. This correlation was exaggerated in female patients when compared to female controls. Both CTQ and TICS predicted MSD directly and indirectly through the levels of leptin. Conclusion. There is evidence of a distinct neurohumoral profile in female patients with MSD when compared to matched healthy controls, similar to what has been demonstrated in other chronic pain states. The observed profile can be taken as possible evidence for a dysregulated response to chronic stress and metabolic balance as well as a state of hypocortisolism and HPA-axis dysfunction. ACE and chronic stress play a major role in the development of MSD and altered neurohumoral profile.
Predicting Young Imposter Syndrome Using Ensemble Learning
Authors: Khan Md. Nafiul Alam , Miah M. Saef Ullah , Shahjalal Md. , Sarwar Talha Bin , Rokon Md. Shahariar
Published: February 2022

Background. Imposter syndrome (IS), associated with self‐doubt and fear despite clear accomplishments and competencies, is frequently detected in medical students and has a negative impact on their well‐being. This study aimed to predict the students’ IS using the machine learning ensemble approach. Methods. This study was a cross‐sectional design among medical students in Bangladesh. Data were collected from February to July 2020 through snowball sampling technique across medical colleges in Bangladesh. In this study, we employed three different machine learning techniques such as neural network, random forest, and ensemble learning to compare the accuracy of prediction of the IS. Results. In total, 500 students completed the questionnaire. We used the YIS scale to determine the presence of IS among medical students. The ensemble model has the highest accuracy of this predictive model, with 96.4%, while the individual accuracy of random forest and neural network is 93.5% and 96.3%, respectively. We used different performance matrices to compare the results of the models. Finally, we compared feature importance scores between neural network and random forest model. The top feature of the neural network model is Y7, and the top feature of the random forest model is Y2, which is second among the top features of the neural network model. Conclusions. Imposter syndrome is an emerging mental illness in Bangladesh and requires the immediate attention of researchers. For instance, in order to reduce the impact of IS, identifying key factors responsible for IS is an important step. Machine learning methods can be employed to identify the potential sources responsible for IS. Similarly, determining how each factor contributes to the IS condition among medical students could be a potential future direction.
Hysteresis Behavior and Design of the New Autoclaved Lightweight Concrete (ALC) External Panel Connector with the Steel Frame
Authors: Ding Kewei , Zhang Chikun , He Shulin , Liu Yunlin
Published: February 2022

This paper proposes a new flexible connector for the autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) panel with the steel beam. It is a universal upper and lower crossing connector, with load-bearing and limitation holes; then, the seismic capacity of this connector is investigated in the simulations and full-scale tests. Firstly, the finite element simulations of the new connector and traditional connector (L-hooked bolt) were made by ABAQUS, which proved the reliability of the new connector by comparing them in low-cyclic loading. Secondly, in order to analyze the phenomenon and data of the two connectors which are in the same test conditions of simulation, the full-scale tests of the steel frame were conducted. The damage of the ALC panel at different connectors and at different test load displacements is described in detail. The contribution of the connectors to the steel frame and the ALC panel is investigated in depth during the elastic, elastoplastic, and plastic stages of the steel frames. The test result is similar to the simulation result roughly, in which the new connector has better seismic capability. In minor earthquakes, the ALC panel frame with the new connector has better synergistic capacity of panels, while in large earthquakes, it can provide certain stiffness to the structure. Compared with the L-hooked bolt, the maximum bearing capacity of the structure with the new connector increases by 5.2%, and the yield displacement delays by 27.5%, which results in the increase of ductility by 9.8%. In terms of energy consumption capacity, the equivalent damping factor of the new connector increases by 10.2% and 35.3% at the yield and ultimate state, respectively. The FEM simulation results can represent the actual test results well. To summarize, the new ALC panel connector in this paper has excellent seismic capacity and good synergistic, which can provide a reference for the development and application of new types of the ALC connector.
Anticancer and Cytotoxicity Activity of Native and Modified Black Rice Flour on Colon Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Thanuja B. , Parimalavalli R. , Vijayanand S. , Alharbi Reem Mohammed , Abdel-Raouf Neveen , Ibraheem Ibraheem Borie M. , Sholkamy Essam Nageh , Durairaj Kaliannan , Meansbo Hadish Kibrom
Published: February 2022

This study is intended to evaluate the cytotoxicity of native and dual-modified black rice flour against the colon cancer cell line (HCT116) and mouse embryo cell line (3T3-L1) by using the MTT assay. The modification techniques applied to prepare rice flour samples were enzymatic modification and heat moisture treatment. In this study, the IC50 of native black rice flour and modified black rice flour was 255.78 µg/mL and 340.85 µg/mL, respectively. The result confirms that the native black rice flour has significant cytotoxic and anticancer potential against human colon cancer cells. In addition, the IC50 of native black rice flour and modified black rice flour on the 3T3-L1 cell line was found to be 345.96 µg/mL and 1106.94 µg/mL, respectively. The results showed that the native black rice flour had weak cytotoxicity, and modified black rice flour was nontoxic in both the cell lines. The active component of phytochemicals present in black rice flour has a potential role in preventing colon cancer.
Effect of Material Behaviour on Flow Uniformity over Different Spillway Weir Profiles
Authors: Dilip singh J. , Senthilkumar G. , Mulugeta Lijalem
Published: February 2022

The spillway weir system finds an important application to achieve uniform flow in the open canal stream passages, for irrigation and in many industrial processes, majorly including cooling of reactor components with liquid sodium in prototype fast breeder reactors, process plants, and power industries. The optimal design of weir profile and the velocity of flow over the weir are the critical factors that need to be optimized to minimize flow separation in order to avoid entrainment of gas in flowing liquid, and also, the nonuniform cooling resulted in uneven temperature distributions in many thermohydraulic structures. In this research, the spillway weir profile made from SS-316, SS-304, concrete, and teak wood is compared for optimization of flow uniformity by means of hydraulic experiments conducted on the water-air model and also to investigate the behavior of flow past over the rectangular weir of three different radii 6 mm, 6.47 mm, and 7 mm, respectively, and the minimum of 1.2% flow separation was observed with 6.74 mm profile, and also, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based numerical simulation was performed in the fluid domain to validate the experimental data to attain the flow uniformity when flow past over the spillway weir profile and the results are highlighted. The experimental results on air entrapment, water film thickness, and velocity of water over the weir profile on the perspective of uniformity of flow are also discussed in detail.
A Simulation Approach to Detect Arterial Traffic Congestion Using Cellular Data
Authors: Li Shen , Zhang Jian , Zhong Gang , Ran Bin
Published: February 2022

Cellular data provide a promising way for congestion detection with low cost and high coverage, and the simulation study is a feasible solution to verify the detection method. This paper presents a simulation approach that uses cellular data to detect traffic congestion on urban arterials based on the relationship between cellular data and traffic status. The virtual testbed, which includes three main modules, is developed to perform the cellular activities generation, collection, and aggregation process between cell phones and cell stations. Then, the correlation between cellular data and traffic status data is studied. Finally, three scenarios using the data from testbed are demonstrated to measure the performance of the proposed method under different conditions. The results indicate that the proposed approach is a feasible and efficient way to simulate cellular data generation, collection, and aggregation process. Also, it can be the base for further analysis to detect traffic congestion on arterials using cellular data.
An Improved Recursive ARIMA Method with Recurrent Process for Remaining Useful Life Estimation of Bearings
Authors: Luo Zeyu , Wang Xian-Bo , Yang Zhi-Xin
Published: February 2022

A typical way to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of bearings is to predict certain health indicators (HIs) according to the historical HI series and forecast the end of life (EOL). The autoregressive neural network (ARNN) is an early idea to combine the artificial neural network (ANN) and the autoregressive (AR) model for forecasting, but the model is limited to linear terms. To overcome the limitation, this paper proposes an improved autoregressive integrated moving average with the recurrent process (ARIMA-R) method. The proposed method adds moving average (MA) components to the framework of ARNN, adding the long-range dependence and nonlinear factors. To deal with the recursive characteristics of the MA term, a process of MA component estimating is constructed based on the expectation-maximum method. In the concrete realization of the method, the rotation tree (RTF) is introduced in place of ANN to improve the prediction performance. The experiment on FEMTO datasets reveals that the proposed ARIMA-R method outperforms the ARNN method in terms of predictive performance evaluation indicators.
Lie Group Analysis of Double Diffusive MHD Tangent Hyperbolic Fluid Flow over a Stretching Sheet
Authors: Zeb Salman , Khan Suliman , Ullah Zakir , Yousaf Muhammad , Khan Ilyas , Alshammari Nawa , Alam Nur , Hamadneh Nawaf N.
Published: February 2022

In this study, we have used Lie group analysis procedure to propose a novel model for transforming the governing equations of double diffusive MHD hyperbolic tangent fluid flow model into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The solution of these equations is then investigated numerically by employing Shooting method. We also reported and presented our results graphically illustrating the results and analysis of physical parameters on concentration, velocity, and temperature profiles and on other physical quantities present in the flow model. The results show that fluid temperature increases with rise in the modified Dufour and velocity slip parameters whereas opposite behavior is observed for thermal slip parameter. Moreover, the Nusselt number declines with enhanced values of modified Dufour parameter whereas its opposite effect has been observed for Dufour-solutal Lewis number and Prandtl number.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparison of Outcomes of Robot-Assisted versus Open Partial Nephrectomy in Clinical T1 Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Ni Yixiu , Yang Xiaohua
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) has been increasingly used for renal cell carcinoma in recent years. But the advantages of RARN over open partial nephrectomy (OPN) are still controversial. Methods: We searched the articles between 1997 and 2021 in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMbase databases. The parameters were perioperative outcomes including operating time (OT), warm ischemic time (WIT), estimated blood loss (EBL), positive surgical margin (PSM), preoperative and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), length of stay (LOS), and intraoperative and postoperative complications. Stata 13.0 software was used for the meta-analysis. Results: Seven studies with 2,646 patients (1,285 in RAPN vs. 1,361 in OPN) were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in OT (WMD [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.14 [−0.33, 0.61], p = 0.570); WIT (WMD [95% CI]:0.28 [−0.13, 0.69], p = 0.187); PSM (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI]: 1.04 [0.37, 2.94], p = 0.944); preoperative eGFR (OR [95% CI]: 0.11 [−0.01, 0.23], p = 0.071); postoperative eGFR (OR [95% CI]: −0.11 [0.27, 0.04], p = 0.159); and intraoperative complications (OR [95% CI]: 0.13 [0.02, 1.04], p = 0.055) between 2 groups. But there were still less EBL (WMD [95% CI]: −0.67 [−1.07, −0.28], p = 0.001), shorter LOS (WMD [95% CI]: −1.09 [−1.86, −0.32], p = 0.005) and fewer postoperative complications (OR [95% CI]: 0.51 [0.38, 0.68], p = 0.000). Conclusions: Compared with OPN, RAPN appears to achieve partly similar short-term functional outcomes. Meanwhile, some results are inconsistent with previous studies which seem to show that tumor type is also an important factor in comparison between RAPN and OPN, but the analysis is not carried out due to lack of complete data. Therefore, more high-quality random controlled trials are acquired.
Universal Cell Free DNA or Contingent Screening for Trisomy 21: Does It Make a Difference? A Comparative Study with Real Data
Authors: Prodan Natalia Carmen , Wiechers Cornelia , Geipel Annegret , Walter Adeline , Siegmann Hans Jörg , Kozlowski Peter , Hoopmann Markus , Kagan Karl Oliver
Published: February 2022

Objective: The aim of the objective was to compare the detection rate for trisomy 21 of universal cell free DNA (cfDNA) screening with contingent screening. Methods: Retrospective study was carried out at 3 German centers. The study included euploid and trisomy 21 pregnancies where cfDNA and first trimester (FT) screening assessment was carried out. The FT risk for trisomy 21 was computed based on combined screening and stratified into the following classes: high risk ≥1:10, intermediate risk 1:11–1,000, low risk ≤1,001. For universal cfDNA screening, the cfDNA test results were examined. For the contingent screening model, the result of the cfDNA test was taken into account in case of an intermediate FT risk. Different strategies combining maternal age, nuchal translucency, nasal bone, beta-hCG, and PAPP-A were evaluated. Screen positivity was defined as either a high risk after FT screening or a cfDNA test indicating a high-risk result. An inconclusive cfDNA test was also considered as screen positive. Results: The search of the database identified 2,255 euploid and 163 affected pregnancies. All affected fetuses were identified by universal cfDNA screening. 1.3% of the euploid fetuses were classified as screen positive due to final inconclusive cfDNA test result. The detection and false-positive rate of a contingent approach that is based on combined screening and cfDNA screening in the intermediate group would be 98.4% and 0.7%, respectively. With this approach, cfDNA screening would be necessary in only about 27% of all pregnancies. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a contingent approach provides similar detection rates for trisomy 21 as universal cfDNA screening, by a reduction of 73% the number of cfDNA tests.
Peripheral Venous Pressure-Assisted Exercise Stress Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Pulmonary Hypertension During Exercise in Patients With Suspected Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Yang Jeong Hoon , Harada Tomonari , Choi Ki Hong , Kato Toshimitsu , Kim Darae , Takama Noriaki , Park Taek Kyu , Kurabayashi Masahiko , Chang Sung-A , Obokata Masaru
Published: February 2022

Background:

Identification of elevated pulmonary artery (PA) pressures during exercise may provide diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Although widely performed, exercise stress echocardiography may underestimate true PA pressures due to the difficulty in estimating right atrial pressure (RAP) during exercise. We hypothesized that peripheral venous pressure (PVP) could allow for reliable estimation of RAP, and thus PA pressures during exercise stress echocardiography.

Methods:

In protocol 1, we investigated the accuracy of PVP compared with simultaneously measured RAP at rest and during exercise right heart catheterization in 19 subjects. In protocol 2, we examined whether the addition of PVP to Doppler exercise echocardiography (tricuspid regurgitant velocity) would increase the ability to identify exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension compared with inferior vena cava-based RAP estimation in 60 patients with dyspnea.

Results:

In protocol 1, PVP was strongly correlated with simultaneously measured RAP at rest and during exercise (
r
=0.77 and 0.90), with little overestimation of invasively measured RAP (bias 3.4 mm Hg at rest and 1.7 mm Hg during exercise). In protocol 2, PVP increased dramatically during exercise echocardiography (14±5 mm Hg) while an increase in inferior vena cava-based RAP was modest (6±4 mm Hg). Exercise PA pressures calculated from PVP and tricuspid regurgitant velocity were significantly higher than those estimated from inferior vena cava and the use of PVP increased the proportion of patients with exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension from 40% to 68%.

Conclusions:

PVP may prevent underestimation of PA pressures during exercise echocardiography and could be a preferred approach to identify exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension in patients with suspected heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.