bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manta Ray Foraging Optimization (MRFO)-Based Energy-Efficient Cluster Head Selection Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Khodeir Mahmoud A. , Ababneh Jehad I. , Alamoush Bara’ah S.
Published: June 2022

Wireless sensor network (WSN) has become a very popular technology with a wide range of applications. It consists of several spatially distributed sensors that work collaboratively to monitor a given region of interest (ROI). The limited energy available for each sensor node is a crucial restriction that affects the overall performance of the network. Therefore, energy efficiency is a major concern in WSNs. Over the years, many techniques have been developed and used to reduce energy consumption in WSNs. Clustering is one of the most effective energy-saving techniques that significantly can improve the efficiency of WSNs in terms of the network lifetime, energy consumption, and the number of received packets. In this paper, an energy-efficient algorithm for cluster head (CH) selection based on a newly formulated fitness function and using the manta ray foraging optimization (MRFO) is proposed. The objective function for the proposed formulation takes into account different network parameters such as the average distance between the CH and the sensors in its cluster, the distance between CHs and the base station (BS), residual energy, and CH balancing. The proposed algorithm is tested by running many simulations under a variety of conditions. The simulation results showed that the proposed algorithm has a better performance than that of some other algorithms reported in the literature in terms of energy consumption, networks lifetime, and the number of received packets.
[Retracted] Correlation with Spectral CT Imaging Parameters and Occult Lymph Nodes Metastases in Sufferers with Isolated Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liu Ye , Nie Yongkang
Published: June 2022

For investigating the correlation with spectral CT imaging parameters and occult lymph nodes metastasis in sufferers with isolated lung adenocarcinoma. The clinic cases data of 352 sufferers with isolated lung adenocarcinoma from January 2019 to January 2022 were assembled. In line with whether the sufferers had occult lymph nodes metastasis, they were taken as a part in the metastasis group (n = 172) and the nonmetastasis group. All sufferers were scanned by spectral CT with a dual‐phase contrast‐enhanced method, and the recording of spectral CT imaging parameters in arteriovenous phase, iodine concentration (IC), water concentration (WC), the slope rate of the spectral HU curve (λHU), the normalized iodine concentration(NIC), the normalized water concentration(NWC), the normalized effective atomic number (Neff‐Z)], and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were employed to analyze the spectral CT imaging parameters of the arteriovenous phase. Evaluation of occult lymph nodes metastases in sufferers with isolated lung adenocarcinoma. The IC, NIC, λHU, and Neff‐Z in the arteriovenous phase spectral CT imaging parameters of the metastasis group were obviously smaller than that of the nonmetastasis group, and the discrepancies were statistically obvious (P < 0.05). The results of ROC curve analysis manifested that the area under the curve (AUC) of λHU, IC, NIC, and Neff‐Z in the CT parameters of the arterial phase were 0. 840 (95%CI : 0. 796–0.883), 0.763 (95% CI : 0.708–0.818), 0.918 (95% CI : 0.888–0.948), 0.778 (95% CI : 0.731–0.826). The AUCs of λHU, IC, NIC, and Neff‐Z in the venous phase spectral CT parameters were 0.909 (95% CI : 0.877–0.941), 0.837 (95% CI : 0.792–0.881), and 0.980 (95% CI : 0.968–0.968), respectively. 0.993), 0.792 (95% CI : 0.742∼0.842). Spectral CT imaging parameters have a certain value in evaluating occult lymph nodes metastasis in sufferers with isolated lung adenocarcinoma, which is helpful for doctors to judge the lymph nodes metastasis in sufferers with this disease before surgery.
[Retracted] Construction of Prediction Model of Radiotherapy Set‐Up Errors in Patients with Lung Cancer
Authors: Yang Fan , Li Xinxia
Published: June 2022

Objective. This study intends to construct an error distribution prediction model and analyze its parameters and analyzes the boundary size of CTV extension to PTV, so as to provide a reference for lung cancer patients to control clinical set‐up errors and radiotherapy planning. Methods. The prior SBRT set‐up error data of 50 patients with lung cancer treated by medical linear accelerator were selected, the Gaussian mixture model was adopted to construct the error distribution prediction model, and the model parameters were solved, based on which the emission boundary from CTV to PTV was calculated. Results. According to the analysis of the model parameters, the spatial distribution of set‐up errors is mainly concentrated in the direction of four central points (μ1 ~ μ4), and the error is smaller in the Vrt direction (‐0.991~2.808 mm) and Lat direction (‐0.447~1.337 mm) and larger in the Lng direction (‐1.065~4,463 mm). The possibility of offset of set‐up errors in μ2 and μ3 direction (0.4440, 02198) is greater than that of μ1 and μ4 (0.1767, 0.1595). The standard deviation of set‐up errors can reach 0.538 mm. The theoretical expansion boundary of CTV to PTV in Vrt, Lng, and Lat can be calculated as 1.7963 mm, 2.3749 mm, and 0.6066 mm. Conclusion. The GMM Gaussian mixture model can quantitatively describe and predict the set‐up errors distribution of lung cancer patients and can obtain the emission boundary of CTV to PTV, which provides a reference for radiotherapy set‐up errors control and tumor planning target expansion of lung cancer patients without SBRT.
Dose‐Dependent Variation in Anticancer Activity of Hexane and Chloroform Extracts of Field Horsetail Plant on Human Hepatocarcinoma Cells
Authors: Almasoud Hadeel A. , Ali Daoud , Yaseen Khadijah N. , Almukhlafi Hanouf , Alothman Norah S. , Almutairi Bader , Almeer Rafa , Alyami Nouf , Alkahtani Saad , Alarifi Saud
Published: June 2022

Horsetail fern plant is botanically known as Equisetum arvense L., and it is a good source of phenolic flavonoids, phenolic acids, and compounds. Anticancer properties of hexane and chloroform extracts of the horsetail fern plant and their mechanisms involved in the anticancer activity on human hepatocarcinoma (HuH‐7) cells were examined. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by using MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and NRU (neutral red uptake) assays. Other parameters such as oxidative stress and apoptosis in pretreated hexane and chloroform extracts of the horsetail fern plant were examined in HuH‐7 cells. The observation showed that hexane and chloroform extract of the horsetail fern plant exhibited cytotoxicity against HuH‐7 cells. The value of IC50‐24 h of hexane and chloroform extract of the horsetail fern plant was determined as 199.0 μg/ml and 161.90 0 μg/ml for HuH‐7 cells, respectively, and on the basis of IC50 value, three acute concentrations, viz., 75% of IC50, 50% of IC50, and 25% of IC50, were determined for further study. The lower dose of extracts hexane and chloroform extract of the horsetail fern plant did not show significant toxicity. Higher concentrations of extract induced significant antioxidant effects as well as apoptosis effects. However, exposure to hexane and chloroform extract of the horsetail fern plant upregulated the expression of Bax and p53 in HuH‐7 cells. These data suggest that hexane and chloroform extract of the horsetail fern plant plays a significant role in the induction of toxicity via the regulation of oxidative stress in HuH‐7 cells. This work may be useful for cancer chemotherapy.
Performance Analysis of Cognitive SWIPT Ergodic Capacity Based on Different Selection Policies
Authors: Cao Shilong , Lin Fei , Liu Jiemei
Published: June 2022

The advent of 5G era and the increase of terminal’s numbers have led to increasing demand for spectrum resources and energy simultaneously. Therefore, this paper studies how to combine the cognitive radio (CR) and the Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) technology effectively in a multiuser scenario, in which the spectrum utilization and energy efficiency are both improved. Firstly, the system model is designed of above cognitive SWIPT system, in which the cognitive users (CU) can choose spectrum access policy based on the amount of data transmission of licensed user. And then, according to cognitive users’ channel conditions and forwarding power, a concept of trust value and different relay selection policies is proposed. Subsequently, the according system ergodic capacity is analyzed. Finally, simulation results of system performance are provided to validate the analytical results. It shows that cognitive SWIPT technology can improve the system ergodic capacity and the spectrum access opportunities of cognitive users effectively, thereby improving the efficiency of energy and spectrum utilization.
Rabies Elimination: Is It Feasible without Considering Wildlife?
Authors: Acharya Krishna Prasad , Chand Rakesh , Huettmann Falk , Ghimire Tirth Raj
Published: June 2022

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable fatal viral disease that is zoonotic in nature. In this article, we provide a justification why the agreement of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) on The Global Strategic Plan to End Human Deaths from Dog-mediated Rabies by 2030 should also include a more holistic approach and ecologic views.
Immune Thrombocytopenia following COVID-19 Vaccine
Authors: Prasad Sonal , Jariwal Roopam , Adebayo Moujidin , Jaka Sara , Petersen Greti , Cobos Everardo
Published: June 2022

Several vaccines have been developed and are being administered against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Common side effects include fever, chills, headache, myalgia, and soreness at the injection site. However, some rare adverse effects have also been reported. We present a case of induced thrombocytopenia presenting with petechiae and mucosal bleeding which developed as an adverse response after first-dose administration of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
[Retracted] Location and Effect of Bone Cement in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures
Authors: Ding Xu , Zhang Qianfa , Zhao Yi , Wang Jian
Published: June 2022

In this study, the effectiveness and use of bone cement are thoroughly elaborated, and the role of bone cement on percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) fixed joints and its distribution on PVP are also elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of unilateral and bilateral bone cement distribution on the clinical efficacy of PVP in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) of the thoracolumbar spine. A total of 60 patients with thoracolumbar OVCF (T11‐L2) hospitalized in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2021 were studied. All patients had thoracolumbar OVCF. Under the guidance of the C‐arm machine, unilateral PVP was performed. According to the distribution of bone cement across the midline, the patients were divided into two groups: the unilateral group (37 cases): bone cement was distributed on one side of the midline of the vertebral body, and the bilateral group (23 cases): bone cement was distributed on both sides of the midline. Visual analogue scale (VAS), vertebral height recovery values, and preoperative and postoperative Cobb’s angle were recorded at 3 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The differences between the two groups were compared and analyzed to evaluate the clinical efficacy. There was a statistically significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups before and after surgery (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups at 3 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in vertebral height recovery value and Cobb’s angle between the two groups before and after surgery (P < 0.05).
On State Ideals and State Relative Annihilators in De Morgan State Residuated Lattices
Authors: Woumfo Francis , Koguep Njionou Blaise Bleriot , Temgoua Alomo Etienne Romuald , Lele Celestin
Published: June 2022

The concept of state has been considered in commutative and noncommutative logical systems, and their properties are at the center for the development of an algebraic investigation of probabilistic models for those algebras. This article mainly focuses on the study of the lattice of state ideals in De Morgan state residuated lattices (DMSRLs). First, we prove that the lattice of all state ideals

S
ℐ

L

of a DMSRL

L
,
τ

is a coherent frame. Then, we characterize the DMSRL for which the lattice

S
ℐ

L

is a Boolean algebra. In addition, we bring in the concept of state relative annihilator of a given nonempty subset with respect to a state ideal in DMSRL and investigate various properties. We prove that state relative annihilators are a particular kind of state ideals. Finally, we investigate the notion of prime state ideal in DMSRL and establish the prime state ideal theorem.
Evaluation and Change Analysis of Ecosystem Service Value of China’s Northeast Tiger-Leopard National Park Based on Big Data Land Use Change
Authors: Zhai Yucen , Li Wen
Published: June 2022

The aim of the construction of Northeast Tiger-Leopard National Park is to protect the integrity of endangered wild animals and natural resources. There is a close relationship between land use and ecosystem service value. Improving the quality of ecological environment is the demand of ecological civilization construction. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate and analyze the ecosystem service value of Tiger and Leopard Park, which is particularly based on big data land use change. Firstly, using ArcGIS software as the support, we have discussed the impact of the dynamic trend of land use change, transfer matrix, and sensitivity coefficient on ecosystem services in different periods of Tiger and Leopard Park. Secondly, we constructed an evaluation model based on the ecological service value method, which is primarily based on geographical conditions and surface coverage. We have completed the value evaluation and change analysis of ecosystem service in Tiger and Leopard Park by analyzing the generation process of ecosystem service data and information characteristics, as well as the ecosystem classification standard of Tiger and Leopard Park and equivalent factor of ecosystem service value per unit area. Simulation experiments show that the method proposed in this paper can reflect the service value of the ecosystem of the Tiger and Leopard Park, lay the foundation for the construction of ecotourism, and promote the green and sustainable development of the regional ecosystem of the Tiger and Leopard Park.
Magnoliae flos Downregulated Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Responses via NF-κB/ERK-JNK MAPK/STAT3 Pathways
Authors: Gil Tae-Young , Jin Bo-Ram , Cha Yun-Yeop , An Hyo-Jin
Published: June 2022

Background. Magnoliae flos is the dried flower bud of Magnolia biondii and related plants. It has been used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of rhinitis, sinusitis, and sinus headaches. Nevertheless, the effects of Magnoliae flos in microbial infection or sepsis remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Magnoliae flos water extract (MF) in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced septic mice and LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Results. We found that MF reduced the mortality of LPS-challenged mice. Enzyme immunoassays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that MF administration attenuated mRNA expression and protein production of proinflammatory mediators, including cyclooxygenase 2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6. In parallel to these results in mice, pretreatment with MF suppressed the LPS-induced production of proinflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition, we found that MF exerted its suppressive effects by inhibiting the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor-κB, and signal transducer and activator of transcription pathways at the protein level. Conclusion. MF could be a potential therapeutic agent for regulating excessive inflammatory responses in sepsis.
Hypoxia-Related Signature Is a Prognostic Biomarker of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Zhang Jing-jing , Shao Chao , Yin Yi-xin , Sun Qiang , Li Ya-ni , Zha Ya-wen , Li Min-ying , Hu Bang-li
Published: June 2022

Background. Hypoxia plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, but the effect of hypoxia-related genes in pancreatic cancer remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to identify hypoxia-related genes related to pancreatic cancer and construct a prognostic signature. Methods. Pancreatic cancer datasets were retrieved from TCGA database. Cox regression analyses were used to identify hypoxia-related genes and construct a prognostic signature. Datasets from International Cancer Genome Consortium and GEO databases were used as validated cohorts. The CIBERSORT method was applied to estimate the fractions of immune cell types. DNA methylation and protein levels of the genes in pancreatic cancer were examined. Results. Three hypoxia-related genes (TES, LDHA, and ANXA2) were identified as associated with patient survival and selected to construct a prognostic signature. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on the signature. Those in the high-risk group showed worse survival than those in the low-risk group. The signature was shown to be involved in the HIF-1 signaling pathway. The time-dependent ROC analyses of three independent validated cohorts further revealed that this signature had a better prognostic value in the prediction of the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Immune cells analysis for three datasets demonstrated that high-risk signature was significantly associated with macrophages and T cells. DNA methylation and protein levels of the three genes validated their aberrant expression in pancreatic cancer. Conclusions. Our research provided a novel and reliable prognostic signature that composes of three hypoxia-related genes to estimate the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.
Matrix Theory for Neutrosophic Hypersoft Set and Applications in Multiattributive Multicriteria Decision‐Making Problems
Authors: Jafar Muhammad Naveed , Saeed Muhammad
Published: June 2022

Decision‐making is a complex issue due to the vague, imprecise, and indeterminate environment especially when attributes are more than one and further bifurcated. To solve such types of problems, the concept of neutrosophic hypersoft set is proposed by Smaranndache. In this paper, the primary focus is to extend the concept of neutrosophic hypersoft sets (NHSs) to the neutrosophic hypersoft matrices (NHSMs) with the essential study of matrices with suitable examples. Then, the analytical study of some common operations for NHSM has been created. Lastly, decision‐making issues have been presented by establishing a new algorithm based on a score function, and it has been interpreted with the help of numerical example for the selection of teachers at the college level. In this study, NHSM algorithm is elaborated efficiently and conveniently for optimal choice selection to solve decision‐making problems.
Application of GIS Sensor Technology in Digital Management of Urban Gardens under the Background of Big Data
Authors: Chang Jiang , Tan Yingying
Published: June 2022

Since the reform and opening up, China’s urbanization level has been continuously improved, and the national demand for urban greening is also increasing. However, at present, there are many problems in domestic urban gardens, such as low management quality and high management cost, which have a certain negative impact on urban development and residents’ life. In this study, a digital management system of urban garden plant growth state based on sensor client/server structure, GIS (geographic information system) sensor technology and big data technology are designed, and its practicability is tested. The test results show that 52.90% and 40.70% of the people have positive comments on the satisfaction of the system client and the sensor comprehensive application value of the system based on WebGIS sensor technology, respectively. The former is 12.2 percentage points higher than the latter, and the server response speed and CPU (central processing unit) resource consumption of the former are also better. In addition, the robustness of the former is not significantly different from that of the latter. The data show that the digital sensor management system for the growth state of urban garden plants designed in this paper has complete and normal functions and good user experience.
Financial Data Analysis and Application Based on Big Data Mining Technology
Authors: Cheng Jinfeng
Published: June 2022

We provide a brief overview of the connotation and characteristics of data mining technology in the era of big data, analyze the feasibility of data mining technology in business management from the economic and technical perspectives, and propose specific application suggestions according to the content and requirements of business management. This paper describes in detail the principles and steps of using the weighted plain Bayesian algorithm and the decision tree algorithm to analyze students’ performance; firstly, we need to obtain the plain Bayesian analysis model of college students’ learning literacy in physical education and the C4.5 graduation literacy analysis model, and then use certain rules to combine the weighted plain Bayesian algorithm and the decision tree algorithm to obtain the WNB-C4.5 college students’ learning literacy analysis model. In addition, in the prediction of financial risks, the classification scheme can be used in the judgment of violation of regulations, but the most used classification scheme is the decision tree. Experiments show that the effectiveness of this scheme in data mining for financial companies is increased by 2% compared to the benchmark method.
Evaluation Strategy of the Piano Performance by the Deep Learning Long Short-Term Memory Network
Authors: Chang Xunyun , Peng Liangqing
Published: June 2022

With the development of society and the progress of technology, the piano education industry has a large market. In view of the problem of high payment fees in the piano education industry, the scientific and automatic nature of piano performance evaluation has attracted people’s attention. However, since most of the piano performance evaluation schemes are based on rules, the continuity of the piano music and the accuracy of playing are ignored. Therefore, the purpose is to design a scientific piano performance evaluation scheme that can play a certain role in the sustainable development of the piano education industry. Firstly, long short-term memory in deep learning is explored. Secondly, the musical characteristics of piano performance are analyzed according to the musical instrument digital interface. The piano music features are extracted, and a long short-term memory-based musical instrument digital interface piano performance evaluation model is constructed. Finally, it analyzes the number of hidden layers implemented in the long short-term memory model for piano performance evaluation. The accuracy of piano performance evaluation under different models is analyzed. Under the bidirectional long short-term memory network model, different piano performance levels are evaluated to realize the study of piano performance evaluation strategies. Compared with the accuracy of the recurrent neural network and the long short-term memory model with different hidden layers, the bidirectional long short-term memory model has the highest test accuracy, with an average of 69.78%. When the hidden layer of the bidirectional long short-term memory model is 3, the loss function

L

value is the smallest, which is 0.11. Different levels of piano skills are evaluated, and the results of the systematic evaluation are consistent with the performance of different levels. This shows that the BLSM model is feasible for the piano performance evaluation strategy system. This study not only conducts an in-depth analysis of the deep learning long short-term memory model but also proposes a long short-term memory-based musical instrument digital interface piano performance evaluation model. Additionally, the flaws such as the incomplete consideration of musical continuity and expressiveness when evaluating piano performance pieces have been compensated. Finally, through different model validations, the bidirectional long short-term memory model is concluded with good accuracy in piano performance evaluation. These conclusions provide theoretical research and practical significance for the accuracy of piano performance evaluation.
Analysis Model Design of the Intermediary Role of Psychological Expectation in Customer Value Proposition Driven Business Model Innovation against the Background of Big Data
Authors: Wang Yong
Published: June 2022

As the most important strategic resource of enterprises, big data has become the basic background of business model innovation. From the perspective of psychological contract, this paper discusses the mechanism of psychological contract in customer value proposition driven business model innovation and puts forward four research hypotheses. This paper adopts the confirmatory factor analysis method of structural equation to verify these four hypotheses. It is concluded that there is a significant positive relationship between customer value proposition and psychological contract; there is a significant positive correlation between psychological contract and business model innovation; and psychological contract has intermediary effect between value proposition and business model innovation. Furthermore, value proposition has a significant positive correlation with business model innovation, which has not been verified.
Application of Computer 3D Modeling Technology in the Simulation Design of Modern Garden Ecological Landscape
Authors: Tian Zhiyong
Published: June 2022

Modern landscape design not only needs creativity but also needs auxiliary tools that can predict the design effect, so as to ensure that the deficiencies can be found through the renderings before the landscape is completed, and targeted rectification can be carried out. At present, the research of landscape planning and design assisted by virtual reality technology in China is basically in its infancy. The rapid development of information-based computer technology, powerful 3D modeling, and solid rendering and animation functions have created a good environment for landscape design, so landscape design is inseparable from the help of computer-aided design technology. However, the conventional method to model and simulate the landscape is rather time-consuming. Based on the research on the application of computer-aided design technology in landscape design, the computer-aided design technology is briefly explained, and the application of computer-aided landscape design is explored step by step.
Biallelic Variants in CCDC39 Gene Lead to Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and Kartagener Syndrome
Authors: Shi Xiao , Geng Hao , Yu Hui , Hu Xiaolong , Wang Guanxiong , Yang Jin , Zhao Hui
Published: June 2022

Background. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by cilia with an abnormal structure or function. Its main clinical manifestations comprise chronic bronchitis, cough, recurrent respiratory infections, situs inversus, and male infertility. Single‐gene variants are widely assumed to be the main cause of this rare disease, and more than 40 genes have been described to be associated with its onset. CCDC39 is essential for assembling the inner dynein arms and dynein regulatory complex and is important in cilia motility. CCDC39 variants were reported as a monogenic etiology of PCD. Methods. This study investigated two unrelated Chinese patients diagnosed as PCD. The chest computed tomography scan was performed to identify PCD phenotypes of the two probands. Considering the effect of PCD on male fertility, routine semen analysis, sperm morphology examination, and scanning electron microscopy were performed to assess the semen characteristics of male proband in family 2 (F2 II‐1), who had a history of infertility. Subsequently, the peripheral blood samples of probands were collected to perform whole‐exome sequencing (WES) to explore the possible genetic causes of this disease. Results. Whole‐exome sequencing revealed a homozygous CCDC39 variant in the female proband of family 1 (F1 II‐1: c.286C>T:p.Arg96Ter) and two compound heterozygous CCDC39 variants in the male proband of family 2 (F2 II‐1: c.732_733del: p.Ala245PhefsTer18; c.2800_2802dup:p.Val934dup). The two probands showed the typical PCD phenotypes, including chronic bronchitis, recurrent respiratory infections, and situs inversus. The male proband also showed oligoasthenoteratospermia with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella. Additionally, CCDC39 protein level was significantly lower in the sperm of male proband than in the sperm from normal controls. Conclusion. We identified a homozygous variant reported previously and two compound heterozygous variants of CCDC39 possibly responsible for PCD pathogenesis, expanding the variant spectrum of Chinese PCD, Kartagener syndrome, and morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella involving CCDC39.
Clinical Effectiveness of Free Upper Arm Medial Flap in Repairing Skin and Soft Tissue Defects of the Dorsum of the Hand
Authors: Yu Xuejun , Zheng Wen , An Wei , Xiang Shengtao , Zhao Linglong
Published: June 2022

Objective. To study the effectiveness of medial upper arm free flap in repairing skin and soft tissue (SST) defects of the dorsum of the hand. Methods. 10 patients with SST defects on the dorsum of the hand who underwent free upper arm medial flap repair in our hospital from March 2017 to August 2018 were included in the study. Hand function, flap survival rate, wound healing, donor wound recovery, and the level of pain in the injured area were recorded before the operation, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively. Results. The highest score in hand function was seen at the 6-month postoperative interval, followed by that at the 1-month postoperative interval. The lowest score in hand function was the preoperative score (

P
<
0.05

). All flaps were still surviving 6 months postoperatively. Recovery of the function of the donor muscle, the elbow joint, as well as wound healing, all progressed well. 6 months postoperatively, 3 patients developed numbness and stiffness of the hand, but the symptoms were relieved following treatment. Compared to the preoperative scores, the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at the injured site 1 month and 6 months postoperatively were significantly decreased, with the 6-month postoperative score being lower than the 1-month postoperative score (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. The free upper arm medial flap is a good alternative for repairing skin and soft tissue defects of the dorsum of the hand with exposed phalanges, an approach that merits widespread promotion and clinical application.
The Use of Generalized Means in the Estimation of the Weibull Tail Coefficient
Authors: Caeiro Frederico , Henriques-Rodrigues Lígia , Gomes M. Ivette
Published: June 2022

Due to the specificity of the Weibull tail coefficient, most of the estimators available in the literature are based on the log excesses and are consequently quite similar to the estimators used for the estimation of a positive extreme value index. The interesting performance of estimators based on generalized means leads us to base the estimation of the Weibull tail coefficient on the power mean-of-order-p. Consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimators under study are put forward. Their performance for finite samples is illustrated through a Monte Carlo simulation. It is always possible to find a negative value ofp(contrarily to what happens with the mean-of-order-pestimator for the extreme value index), such that, for adequate values of the threshold, there is a reduction in both bias and root mean square error.
Calycosin Improves Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function after Gastrectomy in Rats through Alleviating Bacterial Translocation, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Peng Hui , Jin Lei , Zhang Qi , Shen Yi , Wang Zhen , Zhou Fuhai , Yu Qingsheng
Published: June 2022

Objective. Calycosin is the main bioactive extract of Astragali Radix with anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Here, our study evaluated the protective effects and mechanisms of calycosin on intestinal mucosal barrier under gastrectomy. Methods. After receiving gastrectomy, the rats were administrated with 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, or 80 mg/kg calycosin. Endotoxin, bacterial translocation, and intestinal bacterial flora were assayed. Intestinal injury was detected via hematoxylin and eosin staining. Tight junction indicators (occludin, claudin, and ZO-1) and apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase 3) were examined in intestinal tissues. Inflammatory indicators (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were examined in serum or intestinal specimens via ELISA. Apoptosis was assessed via TUNEL staining. IgA + B cells in intestinal tissues and sIgA in intestinal lumen were examined through immunohistochemistry and ELISA, respectively. Oxidative stress indicators (TSH, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and MDA) were also detected via ELISA. Results. Our results showed that calycosin administration decreased endotoxin levels in peripheral blood, intestine, and portal vein blood; lowered the bacterial translocation ratio; and regained the balance among intestinal bacterial flora (comprising bifidobacterium, lactic acid bacillus, enterobacter, enterococcus, aerobic bacteria, and anaerobic bacteria) in the rats with gastrectomy. After calycosin treatment, intestinal mucosal damage of the rats with gastrectomy was ameliorated, with the increase in expression of tight junction proteins. Additionally, calycosin reduced intestinal inflammation, apoptosis, secretion of sIgA, and oxidative stress in the rats with gastrectomy. Conclusion. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that calycosin may improve intestinal mucosal barrier function under gastrectomy via reducing bacterial translocation, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
Radiomics Analysis on Noncontrast CT for Distinguishing Hepatic Hemangioma (HH) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
Authors: Hu Shuyi , Lyu Xiajie , Li Weifeng , Cui Xiaohan , Liu Qiaoyu , Xu Xiaoliang , Wang Jincheng , Chen Lin , Zhang Xudong , Yin Yin
Published: June 2022

Background. To form a radiomic model on the basis of noncontrast computed tomography (CT) to distinguish hepatic hemangioma (HH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods. In this retrospective study, a total of 110 patients were reviewed, including 72 HCC and 38 HH. We accomplished feature selection with the least absolute shrinkage and operator (LASSO) and built a radiomics signature. Another improved model (radiomics index) was established using forward conditional multivariate logistic regression. Both models were tested in an internal validation group (38 HCC and 21 HH). Results. The radiomic signature we built including 5 radiomic features demonstrated significant differences between the hepatic HH and HCC groups (P < 0.05). The improved model demonstrated a higher net benefit based on only 2 radiomic features. In the validation group, radiomics signature and radiomics index achieved great diagnostic performance with AUC values of 0.716 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.581, 0.850) and 0.870 (95% CI: 0.782, 0.957), respectively. Conclusions. Our developed radiomics‐based model can successfully distinguish HH and HCC patients, which can help clinical decision‐making with lower cost.
Scholarly Output in Peruvian National Dentistry according to Gender Disparity: A 10‐Year Bibliometric Study
Authors: Mayta-Tovalino Frank , Pacheco-Mendoza Josmel , Alvitez-Temoche Daniel , Mendoza Roman , Mauricio Franco , Barja-Ore John , Guerrero Maria Eugenia
Published: June 2022

Objective. To evaluate Peruvian scientific publications in dentistry according to sex disparity (2011‐2020). Methods. This was a retrospective bibliometric study. The unit of analysis was made up of Peruvian dentistry publications indexed in the Scopus database during the last 10 years. Records with metadata (410) corresponding to the period 2011‐2020 were downloaded and standardized and refined by analyzing the metadata. The search strategy was developed based on the individual profiles of each Peruvian institution that has a dental school or college. It was evaluated according to the AF‐ID of each institution in the Scopus database. In addition, the information provided by the Scopus SciVal tool was used. Finally, publications, impact, and collaboration indicators were used, such as total number per document, per author, average of citations, h‐index, collaboration rate, number of institutions, the Source Normalized Impact per Paper indicator, the CiteScore, and the Scopus Field‐Weighted Citation Impact. Results. The greatest increase was evident in 2018, with 2019 and 2020 being the maximum peak of scientific publication growth. However, sustained growth has not been evidenced in relation to the female sex. The analysis of coauthorship by the authors revealed four large clusters, of which the first three were represented by male researchers, such as Arriola‐Guillen L., Mayta‐Tovalino F., and Mendoza‐Azpur G., and one by a female, Guerrero María E. Evaluating the national scientific publication in dentistry according to the CiteScore, it was found that most of the publications (145) from Peru were published in Q4 journals, although 90 manuscripts were published in Q1 journals. Conclusions. The Peruvian national dental publication in the last 10 years was mainly supported by male dentists, which invites us to reflect on the need to equalize opportunities so that female researchers can also reduce these gaps.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Tan Xi-Yue , Xie Yu-Jia , Liu Xing-Long , Li Xin-Yun , Jia Bo
Published: June 2022

Objectives. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging therapy that modifies the patient’s gut microbiota by transplanting feces from a healthy donor to achieve disease remission. However, its efficacy and safety need to be further investigated. Methods. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar databases (up to 8th November 2021) were searched and literature was screened by title and abstract as well as full text. The primary outcome was clinical remission, with the clinical response as a secondary outcome. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Results. A total of 14 trials were included in this study. In terms of clinical remission, FMT had a significant effect compared to placebo (RR = 1.44, 95 CI%: 1.03 to 2.02, I2 = 38%,

P
=
0.03

), with no significant risk of study heterogeneity. Moreover, FMT led to significant results in clinical response compared to placebo with moderate between-study heterogeneity (RR = 1.34, 95 CI%: 0.92 to 1.94, I2 = 51%,

P
=
0.12

). Subgroup analysis showed a higher clinical remission for fresh fecal FMT (40.9%) than that for frozen fecal FMT (32.2%); the efficacy of gastrointestinal (GI) pretreatment, the severity of disease, route of administration, and the donor selection remain unclear and require more extensive study. Safety analysis concluded that most adverse events were mild and self-resolving. The microbiological analysis found that the patient’s gut microbiota varied in favor of the donor, with increased flora diversity and species richness. Conclusion. FMT is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated therapy. Studies have found that fresh fecal microbiota transplant can increase clinical remission rates. However, more randomized controlled trials and long-term follow-ups are needed to assess its long-term effectiveness and safety.
GIS Multimedia Technology in Regional Construction Land Suitability Evaluation in Mountainous Villages and Towns
Authors: Zhou Zhenhong , Wang Huihui , Hu Qi , Zhou Min
Published: June 2022

In order to explore the suitability evaluation of regional construction land in mountainous villages and towns, a method based on GIS technology is proposed. Supported by GIS and RS technology, the Delphi method is used to determine the natural, socioeconomic, and ecological security factors affecting the ecological suitability of regional construction land in mountainous villages and towns, and analytic hierarchy process is used to calculate the weight of relevant influencing factors. Following the principle of giving priority to ecological protection, a set of ecological suitability evaluation model system and method of regional construction land in mountainous villages and towns are established, based on which the basic ecological control areas of mountainous villages and towns in the study area are divided, so as to provide suggestions for rational and effective planning of land resources in mountainous villages and towns. The experimental results show that the K-means clustering method is divided into five categories: the most suitable land, the more suitable land, the basically suitable land, the unsuitable land, and the unavailable land. Finally, according to the suitability grade system of construction land, it is reclassified, the unsuitable land and unavailable land are divided into basic ecological control areas, the most suitable land and more suitable land are divided into construction control areas, and the basically suitable land is listed as ecological buffer areas. It is proved that the basic ecological control area determined by the model method is basically consistent with the current basic ecological control line of a city, which shows that the model is practical and scientific.
Immune Infiltration Represents Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Li Mengxiang , Chen Pan , Zhao Yuanji , Feng Xiaoshan , Gao Shegan , Qi Yijun
Published: June 2022

Background. Immune infiltrates in the tumor microenvironment have established roles in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. However, the diagnostic and prognostic potential of immune cell signature in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. Results. The proportions of 22 subsets of immune cells from 331 samples including 205 ESCC and 126 normal esophageal mucosa retrieved from TCGA, GEO, and GTEx databases were deciphered by CIBERSORT. Nine overlapping subsets of immune cells were identified as important features for discrimination of ESCC from normal tissue in the training cohort by LASSO and Boruta algorithms. A diagnostic immune score (DIS) developed by XGBoost showed high specificities and sensitivities in the training cohort, the internal validation cohort, and the external validation cohort (AUC: 0.999, 0.813, and 0.966, respectively). Furthermore, the prognostic immune score (PIS) was developed based on naive B cells and plasma cells using Cox proportional hazards model. The PIS, an independent prognostic predictor, classified patients with ESCC into low‐ and high‐risk subgroups in the internal validation cohort (P = 0.038) and the external validation cohort (P = 0.022). In addition, a nomogram model comprising age, N stage, TNM stage, and PIS was constructed and performed excellent (HR = 4.17, 95% CI: 2.22‐7.69, P < 0.0001) in all ESCC patients, with a time‐dependent 5‐year AUC of 0.745 (95% CI: 0.644 to 0.845), compared with PIS or TNM stage as a prognostic model alone. Conclusion. Our DIS, PIS, and nomogram models based on infiltrated immune features may aid diagnosis and survival prediction for patients with ESCC.
[Retracted] Efficacy and Safety of N‐Acetylcysteine for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Chronic Bronchitis
Authors: Zhang Li , Xiong Yan , Du Lei
Published: June 2022

Background. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis are associated with poor clinical outcomes. N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) is a widely used therapeutic option for such patients; however, the clinical efficacy of NAC has not been conclusively determined. We hypothesized that high‐dose oral NAC can improve the clinical outcomes for patients with concurrent chronic bronchitis and COPD. Objective and Methods. This was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of high‐dose NAC for COPD patients with concurrent chronic bronchitis. Study participants were randomized into two groups and administered with NAC (900 mg) twice daily or matching placebo for 3 months. Then, respiratory health status was evaluated using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGQR), which was set as the primary end point. Results. A total of 143 COPD patients with chronic bronchitis were screened, and as a result, only 100 patients were enrolled in this study (50 participants were randomized to receive placebo, and others were randomized to receive NAC). After treatment, differences in SGQR scores between the placebo and NAC groups were not significant. Moreover, differences in secondary end points between the two groups after treatment were insignificant. Discussion. High‐dose NAC has no marked clinical benefits for COPD patients with concurrent chronic bronchitis.
Association of PTPRT Mutations with Cancer Metastasis in Multiple Cancer Types
Authors: Chen Chao , Liu Haozhen , Xu Qumiao , Zhang Xiuqing , Mu Feng , Liu Jixian
Published: June 2022

Metastasis is one of the characteristics of advanced cancer and the primary cause of cancer‐related deaths from cancer, but the mechanism underlying metastasis is unclear, and there is a lack of metastasis markers. PTPRT is a protein‐coding gene involved in both signal transduction and cellular adhesion. It is also known as a tumor suppressor gene that inhibits cell malignant proliferation by inhibiting the STAT3 pathway. Recent studies have reported that PTPRT is involved in the early metastatic seeding of colorectal cancer; however, the correlation between PTPRT and metastasis in other types of cancer has not been revealed. A combined analysis using a dataset from the genomics evidence neoplasia information exchange (GENIE) and cBioPortal revealed that PTPRT mutation is associated with poor prognosis in pan‐cancer and non‐small‐cell lung cancer. The mutations of PTPRT or “gene modules” containing PTPRT are significantly enriched in patients with metastatic cancer in multiple cancers, suggesting that the PTPRT mutations serve as potential biomarkers of cancer metastasis.