bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent developments in pre-hospital and in-hospital triage for endovascular stroke treatment
Authors: Ospel Johanna M , Dmytriw Adam A , Regenhardt Robert W , Patel Aman B , Hirsch Joshua A , Kurz Martin , Goyal Mayank , Ganesh Aravind
Published: October 2022

Triage describes the assignment of resources based on where they can be best used, are most needed, or are most likely to achieve success. Triage is of particular importance in time-critical conditions such as acute ischemic stroke. In this setting, one of the goals of triage is to minimize the delay to endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), without delaying intravenous thrombolysis or other time-critical treatments including patients who cannot benefit from EVT. EVT triage is highly context-specific, and depends on availability of financial resources, staff resources, local infrastructure, and geography. Furthermore, the EVT triage landscape is constantly changing, as EVT indications evolve and new neuroimaging methods, EVT technologies, and adjunctive medical treatments are developed and refined. This review provides an overview of recent developments in EVT triage at both the pre-hospital and in-hospital stages. We discuss pre-hospital large vessel occlusion detection tools, transport paradigms, in-hospital workflows, acute stroke neuroimaging protocols, and angiography suite workflows. The most important factor in EVT triage, however, is teamwork. Irrespective of any new technology, EVT triage will only reach optimal performance if all team members, including paramedics, nurses, technologists, emergency physicians, neurologists, radiologists, neurosurgeons, and anesthesiologists, are involved and engaged. Thus, building sustainable relationships through continuous efforts and hands-on training forms an integral part in ensuring rapid and efficient EVT triage.
The mono-Higgs + MET signal at the Large Hadron Collider: a study on the $$\gamma \gamma $$ and $$b\bar{b}$$ final states
Authors: Bhowmik Debabrata , Lahiri Jayita , Bhattacharya Satyaki , Mukhopadhyaya Biswarup , Singh Ritesh K.
Published: October 2022

We investigate the potential of the channel mono-Higgs + missing transverse energy (MET) in yielding signals of dark matter at the high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (LHC). As illustration, a Higgs-portal scenario has been chosen, where an extension of the Standard Model with a real scalar gauge-singlet which serves as a dark matter candidate. The phenomenological viability of this scenario has been ensured by postulating the existence of dimension-6 operators that enable cancellation in certain amplitudes for elastic scattering of dark matter in direct search experiments. These operators are found to have non-negligible contribution to the mono-Higgs signal. Thereafter, we carry out a detailed analysis of this signal, with the accompanying MET providing a useful handle in suppressing backgrounds. Signals for the Higgs decaying into both the diphoton and $$b{\bar{b}}$$

b

b

¯

channels have been studied. A cut-based simulation is presented first, optimizing over various event selection criteria. This is followed by a demonstration of how the statistical significance can be improved through analyses based on boosted decision trees and artificial neural networks.
Differential expansion for antiparallel triple pretzels: the way the factorization is deformed
Authors: Morozov A. , Tselousov N.
Published: October 2022

For a peculiar family of double braid knots there is a remarkable factorization formula for the coefficients of the differential (cyclotomic) expansion (DE), which nowadays is widely used to construct the exclusive Racah matrices S and $${\bar{S}}$$

S

¯

in arbitrary representations. The origins of the factorization remain obscure and the special role of double braids remains a mystery. In an attempt to broaden the perspective, we extend the family of double braids to antiparallel triple pretzels, which are obtained by the defect-preserving deformation from the trefoil and all have defect zero. It turns out that factorization of DE coefficients is violated quite strongly, still remains described by an elegant formula, at least for all symmetric representations.
A selective reagent ion-time-of-flight-mass spectrometric study of the reactions of O2+· with several volatile halogenated inhalation anaesthetics: potential for breath analysis
Authors: Weiss Florentin , Mayhew Chris A. , Ruzsanyi Veronika , Lederer Wolfgang , Märk Tilmann D.
Published: October 2022

As a part of an ongoing study to determine the concentrations of inhalation anaesthetics in the exhaled breath of patients following surgery, separate investigations are being undertaken to determine which soft chemical ionisation mass spectrometric techniques are most suitable for real-time breath measurements. Towards that goal, we present here details of a selective reagent ion-time-of-flight-mass spectrometer study investigating the reactions of O2+· with isoflurane, enflurane, desflurane, and sevoflurane. Information on the product ions as a function of reduced electric field and the influence of humidity in the drift (reaction) tube is presented. With increasing humidity in the drift tube, secondary product ion-water reactions lead to significant decreases in the intensities of many of the primary product ions, resulting here in a reduced analytical sensitivity for the four fluranes. However, for breath analysis this is found not to be a major issue owing to the high concentrations of inhalation anaesthetics found in exhaled breath even several days after surgery. This is demonstrated in a clinical measurement involving a patient who had undergone an operational procedure, with sevoflurane being used for maintenance of general anaesthesia.

Graphical abstract
The emergence of protein dynamics simulations: how computational statistical mechanics met biochemistry
Authors: Macuglia Daniele , Roux Benoît , Ciccotti Giovanni
Published: October 2022

In this essay, we aim to illustrate how Martin Karplus and his research group effectively set in motion the engine of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of biomolecules. This process saw its prodromes between 1969 and the early 1970s with Karplus’ landing in biology, a transition that came to fruition with the treatment of 11-cis-retinal photoisomerization and the development of an allosteric model to account for the mechanism of cooperativity in hemoglobin. In 1977, J. Andrew McCammon, Bruce Gelin, and Martin Karplus published an article inNaturereporting the MD simulation of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). This publication helped initiate the merger of computational statistical mechanics and biochemistry, a process that Karplus undertook at a later stage and whose beginnings we propose to reconstruct in this article through unpublished accounts of the key people who participated in this endeavor.
Analysis of multiple slip effects on MHD blood peristaltic flow of Phan–Thien–Tanner nanofluid through an asymmetric channel
Authors: Choudhari Rajashekhar , Baleanu Dumitru , Vaidya Hanumesh , Prasad K. V. , Khan M. Ijaz , Bafakeeh Omar T , Oreijah Mowffaq , Guedri Kamel , Galal Ahmed M.
Published: October 2022

The primary focus of this paper is to model the MHD peristaltic flow of Phan–Thien–Tanner nanofluid in an asymmetric channel while taking into account multiple slip effects. Approximations based on a long wavelength and a low Reynolds number are used to transform the governing partial differential equations into nonlinear and coupled differential equations. It is possible to obtain an exact solution to the problem of the distribution of temperature and the distribution of nanoparticle concentration. The perturbation technique is employed to solve the nonlinear velocity distribution. The graphical analysis illustrates the effects that essential and relevant parameters have on the velocity field, temperature distribution, nanoparticle concentration, skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number, Sherwood number, pressure rise, and trapping phenomena. The results that were obtained are essential to comprehending the rheology of blood.
Multi-Modal Emotion Recognition Combining Face Image and EEG Signal
Authors: Hu Ying , Wang Feng
Published: October 2022

Face expression can be used to identify human emotions, but it is easy to misjudge when hidden artificially. In addition, the sentiment recognition of a single mode often results in low recognition rate due to the characteristics of the single mode itself. In order to solve the mentioned problems, the spatio-temporal neural network and the separable residual network proposed by fusion can realize the emotion recognition of EEG and face. The average recognition rates of EEG and face data sets are 78.14% and 70.89%, respectively, and the recognition rates of decision fusion on DEAP data sets are 84.53%. Experimental results show that compared with the single mode, the proposed two-mode emotion recognition architecture has better performance, and can well integrate the emotional information contained in human face visual signals and EEG signals.
Characteristic Analysis of a Square Diaphragm Capacitive Pressure Sensor with Linkage Film
Authors: Sreekanth P. K. , Jindal Sumit Kumar
Published: October 2022

Capacitive pressure sensors (CPSs) have become more prevalent compared to the piezoresistive pressure sensors because they generate superior sensitivity and better linearity for the same application. Due to the innumerable use cases of the CPSs, it is becoming increasingly critical to carry out efficient analysis for their modeling. The higher sensitivity of a square diaphragm for the same side length in comparison to a circular diaphragm makes it ideal for sensor design. In this work, a complete formulation for analysis of a CPS with a square diaphragm having a linkage film has been presented. A comprehensive study of sensor parameters like capacitance, deflection of the diaphragms, capacitive and mechanical sensitivity has been formulated to aid the choice of sensor characteristics. This work also focuses on the method to determine the fundamental design parameters for optimal operation. Complex and resource-expensive methods have been used in the past for the analysis of MEMS capacitive pressure sensors. MATLAB and ANSYS have been used to compute and simulate the results.
Covid-19 Versus Lung Cancer: Analyzing Chest CT Images Using Deep Ensemble Neural Network
Authors: Santosh KC , Ghosh Sourodip
Published: October 2022

With a high rise in deaths caused due to novel coronavirus (nCoV), immunocompromised persons are at high risk. Lung cancer is no exception. Classifying lung cancer patients and Covid-19 is the primary aim of the paper. For this, we propose a deep ensemble neural network (VGG16, DenseNet121, ResNet50 and custom CNN) to detect Covid-19 and lung cancer using chest CT images. We validate our model using three different datasets, namely SPIE AAPM Lung CT Challenge (1503 images), Covid CT dataset (349 images), and SARS-CoV-2 CT-scan dataset (1252 images). We utilize a k(= 5) fold cross-validation approach on the individual deep neural networks (DNNs) and a custom designed CNN model architecture, and achieve a benchmark score of 96.30% (accuracy) with a sensitivity and precision value of 96.39% and 98.44%, respectively. The proposed model effectively utilizes diverse models. To the best of our knowledge, using ensemble DNN, this is the first time we analyze chest CT images to separate lung cancer from Covid-19 (and vice-versa).

As our aim is to classify Covid-19 and lung cancer using chest CT images, it helps in prioritizing immunocompromised persons from Covid-19 for a better patient care. Also, mass screening is possible especially in resource-constrained regions since CT scans are cheaper. The long-term goal is to check whether AI-guided tool(s) is(are) able to prioritize patients that are at high risk (e.g., lung disease) from any possible future infectious disease outbreaks.
Effective and Scalable Manifold Ranking-Based Image Retrieval with Output Bound
Authors: Lin Dandan , Wei Victor Junqiu , Wong Raymond Chi-Wing
Published: October 2022

Image retrieval keeps attracting a lot of attention from both academic and industry over past years due to its variety of useful applications. Due to the rapid growth of deep learning approaches, more better feature vectors of images could be discovered for improving image retrieval. However, most (if not all) existing deep learning approaches consider the similarity between two images
locally
without considering the similarity among a
group
of similar images
globally
, and thus could not return accurate results. In this article, we study the image retrieval with manifold ranking (MR) which considers both the local similarity and the global similarity, which could give more accurate results. However, existing best-known algorithms have one of the following issues: (1) they require to build a bulky index, (2) some of them do not have any theoretical bound on the output, and (3) some of them are time-consuming. Motivated by this, we propose two algorithms, namely
Monte Carlo-based MR
(
MCMR
) and
MCMR+
, for image retrieval, which do not have the above issues. We are the first one to propose an index-free manifold ranking image retrieval with the output theoretical bound. More importantly, our algorithms give the first best-known time complexity result of

\(O(n \log n)\)

where

\(n\)

is the total number of images in the database compared with the existing best-known result of

\(O(n^2)\)

in the literature of computing the exact top-

\(k\)

results with quality guarantee. Lastly, our experimental result shows that
MCMR+
outperforms existing algorithms by up to four orders of magnitude in terms of query time.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Al2O3/Epoxy Nano-composite with Improved Heat-Resistance and Elastic Modulus
Authors: Li Shuang Cui , Hao Chun Cheng
Published: October 2022

Thermal and mechanical properties of Al2O3/epoxy nano-composite, composed of bisphenol A diglygde ether (DGEBA) as matrix and 3,3-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) as curing agent filled with Al2O3 nanoparticles in sphere, cubic or tetrahedron shapes, are investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. Constant temperature constant pressure (NPT) ensembles and annealing cycles are utilized for modeling thermodynamic equilibrium systems in a wide temperature range. It is verified that all the three shaped Al2O3 nano-fillers can effectively improve heat-resistant and mechanical performances of epoxy polymer, in which sphere Al2O3 nano-fillers are the most significant in promoting mechanical stiffness and render an elevated glass transition temperature by 13.5 K. All three different shaped Al2O3 nano-fillers are capable of efficiently reduce thermal expansion coefficient and fractional free volume(FFV), accounting for the evident improvement in heat resistance, in which sphere and cubic Al2O3 nano-fillers are more preferential for decreasing thermal expansion coefficient by 13.92% and 12.66% respectively. Al2O3/epoxy nano-composite represents a substantial amelioration in elastic modulus, which is especially significant in the temperature range around glass transition temperature.
Fabrication and Mathematical Modeling of the Brushless Doubly Fed Induction Generator-Based Wind Electric Conversion System
Authors: Vanitha V , Resmi R , Kumar K. Ramash
Published: October 2022

Electricity generation with minimal environmental pollution is required for the world’s sustainable future, and wind electric generation is one of them. Brushless doubly fed induction generator (BDFIG), which derives from cascade induction machine technology, has grown in popularity as a wind electric generator due to advantages over doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) and permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) such as the absence of slip rings and brushes and high-cost permanent magnets. Wind energy research is critical for any country’s economic development and long-term sustainability. As a result, an experimental setup in a laboratory is required to replicate the behaviour of a wind turbine in the steady state. This study discusses the emulation of wind turbine characteristics in the laboratory using a prototype of a separately excited DC motor mechanically coupled to a brushless doubly fed induction generator (BDFIG). The wind turbine emulator-brushless doubly fed induction machine (WTE-BDFIM) prototype was tested in the laboratory under high power and low wind speed conditions. As a result, the simulation of the same hardware configuration in MATLAB was performed to investigate the overall performance of the BDFIM-based WECS. To determine the equivalent circuit parameters of the BDFIM, which are required for simulation, tests were performed on a prototype of 3.5 kW, 2/6 pole, 400 V, star/delta-star, and BDFIM in two modes, namely, the simple induction mode and the cascade induction mode. Based on the BDFIM parameters, a MATLAB Simulink model of a BDFIG-based wind electric conversion system (WECS) is created and its performance is investigated. Results of both hardware and simulation show that BDFIG can be used as the wind electric generator over a wider speed range compared to that of DFIG, an important feature that is required to get maximum power extraction from the wind turbine.
A Decentralized Public Auditing Scheme for Secure Cloud Storage Based on Blockchain
Authors: Chen Jiannan , Wang Ying , Huang Zhaohui , Ruan Conghao , Hu Chunqiang
Published: October 2022

The cloud storage service has brought great convenience to the customer, which can save massive storage and computation resources via outsourcing the data to cloud service provider (CSP). However, the security issues are the biggest challenge such as data integrity. The user can verify the integrity of outsourced data through a remote data auditing solution without retrieving original data from cloud, however, the auditing procedure has heavy computational overhead, which employs third party auditor (TPA) to conduct auditing task on behalf of users. In this paper, we propose a decentralized public auditing scheme for cloud storage based on blockchain, which removes TPA and increases the number of CSP, the auditing task was assigned to multiple CSPs, and the blockchain technology was used to record the audit process. Meanwhile, the structure of e-voting system is utilized to realize the audit result statistics of multiple CSPs via smart contract, which enhanced the credibility and stability of final auditing result. The theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that proposed scheme is secure and efficient.
Study on the Mechanism of Liquid Carbon Dioxide Fracturing and Permeability Enhancement Technology in Low Permeability Thick Coal Seam
Authors: Yu Rui , Wang Xinfeng , Wang Zhaofeng , Wang Long , Zhang Xiaoqiang , Liu Wengang , Zhang Qiao
Published: October 2022

For the urgent need of gas management in high gas and coal and gas herniated mines, liquid CO2 fracturing is used to increase the permeability and promote the pumping treatment of low permeability coal seams. In this paper, we construct the coal deformation and damage model, gas diffusion and seepage model, and coal seam permeability change model; simulate and solve the plastic zone and gas pressure of coal seam after fracturing with the COMSOL Multiphysics software; and set 4 different hole spacing groups of 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, and 5 m and 3 different hole layout methods of single hole, double hole, and net hole to get the best solution for liquid CO2 fracturing. At the same time, the specific effect of liquid CO2 on coal seam fracturing was verified by field experiments using coal seam No. 2 of the 12316 comprehensive mining working face of Wangjialing Coal Mine as the background of the study. The numerical simulation results show that the stress concentration area around the fracturing hole appears in single-hole fracturing, and the coal seam is prone to fatigue damage in this area, but the damage range is limited, and the reduction of gas pressure after fracturing is small; the fracturing effect of double-hole and net-hole fracturing is better than that of single-hole fracturing due to the existence of sufficient critical air surface. After negative pressure extraction, the coal seam gas pressure is positively correlated with the distance from extraction hole to fracturing hole, and the best extraction effect can be seen from the field experimental results with the netted hole layout at the hole distance of 3 m. The field test results show that the pure amount of gas extraction is improved about 4 times after liquid CO2 fracturing, which proves that liquid CO2 fracturing has a better enhancement effect on gas management in low permeability coal seams.
Interactive Course Design and Development for Cognitively Inspired Distance International Chinese Education
Authors: Zhang Qi
Published: October 2022

This paper conducts in-depth research and analysis on the design and development of interactive courses for distance international Chinese language education using the cognitive heuristic model. The A-frame framework and JavaScript (JS) language are used to complete the construction of the virtual supermarket environment and initially design the basic framework of task-based courseware for Chinese language teaching based on virtual reality technology. Experts were invited to conduct two rounds of prestudy on the index system and determine the evaluation indexes. The international students in the junior Chinese class of X University were randomly selected as the research subjects and divided into experimental and control groups for the experimental intervention teaching. The content and form of classroom teaching were the same for both groups, and they were asked to review and consolidate the grammar points learned in class after class. The only intervention was that the experimental group was required to conduct microlearning after class with the classroom grammar points, while the control group was not required to do the same form of review after class. In addition, the students in the experimental group were followed up as a case study, and their attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge proficiency in the microlearning were recorded in detail to assess the students’ acceptance and satisfaction of the microlearning from the perspective of qualitative analysis. It was found that the microlessons for teaching and learning Chinese as a foreign language can stimulate learners’ interest in learning, achieve good interactive effects, and contribute to the improvement of learners’ performance. This paper combines virtual reality technology, fully explores the role that immersive VR technology can play in providing cultural scenarios in the target language, and maximizes the use of existing technological vehicles and resources for Chinese teaching application design, to solve the challenges of poor interactivity in online teaching and the lack of socio-cultural contexts that have long existed in overseas Chinese teaching.
Ganoderic Acid A Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Extracellular Matrix Accumulation in Rat Glomerular Mesangial Cells
Authors: Wang Jing , Wu Bing , Zhu Yanting , Jin Gang , Fan Xiaobao
Published: October 2022

Objective. We aimed to investigate the role of ganoderic acid A (GAA) in glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) under high glucose (HG). Methods. GMCs were pretreated with GAA and then cultured under HG condition for 24 h. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay. The production of intracellular ROS was determined using DCFH-DA. The activities of SOD and CAT were measured using ELISA kits. The expressions of NOX2, NOX4, fibronectin (FN), collagen IV (col IV), p38, and p-p38 were detected by western blot. Results. GAA suppressed GMC proliferation in response to HG stimulation. GAA significantly attenuated HG-caused increase in ROS production and decreases in SOD and CAT activities in GMCs. In addition, the increased expressions of NOX2 and NOX4 and NOX activity in HG-induced GMCs were significantly decreased by GAA. Furthermore, GAA greatly inhibited the levels of FN and col IV in HG-stimulated GMCs. Mechanistic investigations showed that HG caused activation of p38 MAPK pathway, whereas the induction was mitigated by GAA. Notably, the specific agonist of p38 MAPK pathway (P79350) reversed the effects of GAA on GMCs. Conclusion. GAA protected GMCs from HG-induced oxidative stress and ECM production, which was mediated by the inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway.
A New Approach for Calculation of Metamaterial Printed Fractal Antenna Using Galerkin’s Method
Authors: Saedy Amjad S. , Saleh Al-Samawal. , Ali Sadiq.
Published: October 2022

This work provides a new approach for computing the impedance of a proposed multiband printed fractal antenna for wireless applications. Galerkin’s method is applied to deduce the impedance relationship of the proposed structure and then compute the return loss verses frequency by converting the impedance matrix of the proposed antenna [Z] to the scattering matrix [S]. This model is developed in order to study the impedance of the proposed antenna after adding a metamaterial structure in the antenna substrate. The obtained model is able to determine the resonant frequencies and the return loss of the proposed antenna. The model is also able to define the changes in these values when the dimensions of the proposed structure change. The proposed antenna provides multiband wireless applications in the (1–10) GHz frequency band, and the return loss of the proposed fractal antenna has been improved using negative permittivity and negative permeability metamaterial structure.
Simvastatin Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Malignant Behaviors by Suppressing RAS/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Pathway-Mediated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Ferroptosis
Authors: Zhou Dan , Wu Qiuhua , Qiu Huajuan , Li Mi , Ji Yanqin
Published: October 2022

This paper was designed to explore the function of simvastatin as a chemotherapeutic drug on the endometrial cancer (EC) cell proliferation, invasion, and ferroptosis. Firstly, a number of in vitro experiments were conducted to determine the impact of different treatments of simvastatin on the Ishikawa cell invasion, proliferation, and colony formation. The concentration of DCFH-DA-labeled reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to examine the intracellular contents of Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH). Additionally, Western blot was utilized to measure the expression level of RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-related proteins and ferroptosis-related proteins in cells. The results showed that simvastatin at 10 μM and 15 μM apparently suppressed the proliferation of Ishikawa cells, colony formation, and invasion ability of Ishikawa cells, and upregulated the level of MDA and ROS, but downregulated the level of GSH. Besides, 10 μM and 15 μM of simvastatin promoted cell ferroptosis (up-regulation of Fe2+ and TRF 1 protein level; down-regulation of SLC7A11 and FPN protein level) and lowered the RAS, p-MEK, and ERK protein level. Furthermore, experiments also revealed that the inhibitory effects of simvastatin on Ishikawa cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion, as well as the promoting effects on oxidation and ferroptosis were reversed. All in all, simvastatin reduces the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway to inhibit Ishikawa cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion, and promote cell oxidation and ferroptosis. This paper demonstrates the potential of simvastatin as a new anticancer drug for EC.
Quantitative Analysis of Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound That Can Be Used to Evaluate Angiogenesis during Patellar Tendon Healing in Rats
Authors: Zhao Haojun , Sheng Dandan , Cai Yehua , Tang Yanlin , Li Mei , Chen Jun , Chen Shiyi , Xu Ping
Published: October 2022

Objective. To investigate the efficacy of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in quantitatively evaluating angiogenesis during patellar tendon healing in rats. Methods. A total of 40 Sprague–Dawley rats were used in this study. The patellar tendons of 30 rats (60 limbs) that underwent incision and suture were treated as the operation group and monitored after 7, 14, and 28 days. The normal patellar tendons of 10 rats (20 limbs) were treated as the control group and monitored on day 0. The ultrasound examination was used to evaluate the structure and blood perfusion of the patellar tendon. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess angiogenesis, and the biomechanical test was used to verify functional recovery of the patellar tendon. Results. The tendons in the operation group were significantly thickened compared with those in the control group (p < 0.01). The peak intensity (PI) in CEUS of the tendons showed a clear difference at each time point after the surgery (p < 0.01). PI increased in the operation group with a maximum on day 7, and then gradually decreased until day 28 when PI was close to the basic intensity (BI) in the control group (p > 0.05). It was consistent with the change of the CD31‐positive staining areas representing angiogenesis of the injured patellar tendons. The PI was positively correlated with the CD31‐positive staining area fraction (R = 0.849, p < 0.001). The failure load and tensile strength of the repaired patellar tendons in the operation group increased over time. The PI showed negative correlations with the failure load (R = −0.787, p < 0.001) and tensile strength (R = −0.714, p < 0.001). Conclusion. The PI in CEUS could quantitatively reflect the time‐dependent change in the blood supply of the healing site, and the PI correlated with histologic and biomechanical properties of the healing tendon. Quantitative analysis of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound could be a useful method to evaluate angiogenesis in healing tendons.
Study on Expansion Characteristics and Expansion Potential of Gypsum Rock
Authors: Fu Junfu , Li Huayun , Zhu Kaicheng , Chen Yelei , Lei Zhongcheng
Published: October 2022

In this study, the relationship between four expansion indices and the expansion potential of gypsum rock was studied; on this basis, a criterion for judging expansion potential is established for gypsum rock. The results show that the free expansion rate is unsuitable for grading gypsum rocks’ expansion potential. Setting the gypsum rock in the Wuzhishan tunnel as the research subject, the ultimate expansion rate is 24.28% on the 7th day and 34.08% on the 30th day; the ultimate expansion rate on the 7th day of the indoor rock sample can be estimated by the fitting formula on the 30th day, the ultimate expansion force is 304.51 kPa, and the BET-specific surface area is 6.31 m2/g. The ultimate expansion ratio and BET-specific surface area have an excellent linear relationship with the ultimate expansion force. Setting the ultimate expansion force, ultimate expansion ratio and BET-specific surface area as the standard, the criterion for judging the expansion potential of gypsum rock is determined, which is more convenient and accurate than existing standards. The standard in this paper can predict the potential disasters that may occur in underground engineering.
On Suitability of Mixture of Generalized Exponential Models in Modeling Right-Censored Medical Datasets Using Conditional Expectations
Authors: Feroze Navid , Akgül Ali , Al-Alwan Ali A. , Hossain Md. Moyazzem , Alshenawy R.
Published: October 2022

The exploration of suitable models for modeling censored medical datasets is of great importance. There are numerous studies dealing with modeling the censored medical datasets. However, majority of the earlier contributions have utilized the conventional models for modeling the said datasets. Unfortunately, the conventional models are not capable of capturing the behavior of the heterogeneous datasets involving the mixture of two or more subpopulations. In addition, the earlier contributions have considered conventional censoring schemes by replacing all the censored items with the largest failed item. This paper is aimed at proposing the analysis of right-censored mixture medical datasets. The mixture of the generalized exponential distribution has been proposed to model the right-censored heterogeneous medical datasets. In converse to conventional censoring schemes, we have proposed censoring schemes which replace the censored items with conditional expectation (CE) of the random variable. In addition, the Bayesian methods have been proposed to estimate the model parameters. The performance and sensitivity of the proposed estimators have been evaluated using a detailed simulation study. The detailed simulation study suggests that censoring schemes based on CE provide improved estimation as compared to conventional censoring schemes. The suitability of the model in modeling heterogeneous datasets has been verified by modeling two real right-censored medical datasets. The comparison of the proposed model with existing mixture model under Bayesian methods advocated the improved performance of the proposed model.
Investigation of Physicochemical Properties and Characterization of Leaf Stalk Fibres Extracted from the Caribbean Royal Palm Tree
Authors: Gurupranes S. V. , Natrayan L. , Kaliappan S. , Patel Praveen Bhai , Sekar S. , Jayaraman P. , Arvinda Pandian C. K. , Esakkiraj E. S.
Published: October 2022

Synthetic fibres (SF) are replaced by natural fibres (NF) and are utilized as polymer reinforcement owing to their eco-friendliness. The composite has been introduced in the current development by employing NF as reinforcement and stuffing in the polymer matrix (PM). The advantages of using natural resources are being eco-friendly, having plentiful natural availability, higher strength, lower cost, and a simple extrication process. When heated to a specific temperature, certain synthetic products create noxious materials. Therefore, replacing these synthetic substances with natural substances has greater advantages for the environment. In this study, a novel NF extricated from the Caribbean royal palm (CRP) along with its features is determined to replace the harmful SF effectively. The CRP’s leaf stalks, termed CRP leaf stalk fibres (CRPLSFs), are extricated and categorized by (i) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), (ii) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), (iii) Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, (iv) physical-chemical analysis, (v) X-ray diffraction (XRD), and (vi) tensile test (TT). The physical-chemical characteristics of CRPLSFs, cellulose content (CC), tensile strength (TS), density, and hemicelluloses correlate with other NF characteristics. The CRPLSFs’ chemical components include hemicelluloses (14.52%), lignin (9.15%), and cellulose (61.67%). The TGA shows that the CRPLSFs are thermally stabilized up to 326°C. The XRD proved that the CRPLSFs are enriched with a cellulose fraction comprising a crystallinity index (CI) of 30.27%. The outcomes recommended that the biodegradable coconut peduncle leaf stalk fibres (CPLSF) could be exploited as possible reinforcement in the PM composite structure and can be engaged in making composites.
Autologous Bioactive Compound Concentrated Growth Factor Ameliorates Fistula Healing of Anal Fistula in a Pig Model and Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Human Skin Fibroblasts via Regulating the MEK/ERK Pathway
Authors: Zhang Xiufeng , Qiu Jianming , Wang Houdong , Lu Zhenfeng , Shao Shuxian , He Jun , Shen Zhong
Published: October 2022

Recent evidence suggested that autologous concentrated growth factor (CGF), a new bioactive compound from autologous blood is used widely as an ingenious biomaterial in tissue regeneration with anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated whether CGF could be involved in the treatment of fistula healing in the anal fistula. For this purpose, the porcine anal fistula model was conducted using the rubber band ligation method and collected pig autogenic CGF to treat the fistulas. CGF treatment promoted fistula healing, which was reflected in the downregulation of inflammatory factors, upregulation of growth factors, and promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition with increased collagen synthesis. Besides, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis of fistula tissues between the control and CGF groups showed that the microbial populations exhibiting significant differences were VadinCA02, Blastomonas, Deinococcus, Devosia, Sphingomonas, Rubrobacteria, and GW_34. CGF of volunteers were collected to process small interfering RNA- (siRNA-) ERK or siRNA-negative control transfected human skin fibroblasts (HSF). The results showed that CGF also promoted the proliferation and extracellular matrix-related functions in HSF, as well as activated the MEK/ERK pathway in vitro and in vivo. Finally, knockdown ERK reversed the effects of CGF in promoting wound healing in HSF. Collectively, our results suggest that the CGF as the bioactive compound from autologous blood exhibited great potential for repairing fistulas as well as promoting the proliferation and migration of human skin fibroblasts by triggering MEK/ERK signaling. These findings provided a fresh perspective for understanding the role of CGF in the management of fistulas.
Analysis of the Clinical Efficacy of Azacytidine + Venetoclax in the Treatment of Elderly Patients with Relapsed Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Wang Wei , Luo Quanfang , Chen Qinpin , Pang Aiping , Fang Kuiyan
Published: October 2022

Objective. To explore the clinical efficacy of azacytidine + venetoclax in the treatment of elderly patients with relapsed refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Method. The present study included 20 elderly patients with relapsed refractory AML from January 2019 to January 2021. These patients were randomized into treatment groups (n = 10, azacytidine alone) and control groups (n = 10, azacytidine + venetoclax) by a random number table. The differences in efficacy, adverse reactions, hematology parameters, and immune functions in elderly patients with relapsed refractory AML in two groups were analyzed. Results. The total efficiency for elderly patients with relapsed refractory AML was 90.00% and significantly higher than that in the control group (40.00%),

P
<
0.05

; PLT and WBC after treatment in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and Hb was significantly lower than in the control group,

P
<
0.05

; CD4+, CD3+, and CD4+/CD8+ after treatment in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment,

P
<
0.05

; CD4+, CD3+, and CD4+/CD8+ after treatment were not significantly different between the two groups,

P
>
0.05

; the incidences of adverse reactions were not significantly different between the two groups,

P
>
0.05

. Conclusion. Azacytidine + venetoclax in the treatment of elderly patients with relapsed refractory AML could improve efficacy and hematology parameters with high safety, which is of great significance.
High-Fat Diet Increases Bone Loss by Inducing Ferroptosis in Osteoblasts
Authors: Zhu RunJiu , Wang ZhaoFu , Xu Yuan , Wan HaoYang , Zhang Xin , Song MingRui , Yang Hong , Chai Yu , Yu Bin
Published: October 2022

Current research suggests that chronic high-fat dietary intake can lead to bone loss in adults; however, the mechanism by which high-fat diets affect the development of osteoporosis in individuals is unclear. As high-fat diets are strongly associated with ferroptosis, whether ferroptosis mediates high-fat diet-induced bone loss was the focus of our current study. By dividing the mice into a high-fat diet group, a high-fat diet + ferroptosis inhibitor group and a normal chow group, mice in the high-fat group were given a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. The mice in the high-fat diet + ferroptosis inhibitor group were given 1 mg/kg Fer-1 per day intraperitoneally at the start of the high-fat diet. Microscopic CT scans, histological tests, and biochemical indicators of ferroptosis were performed on bone tissue from all three groups at the end of the modelling period. Mc3t3-E1 cells were also used in vitro and divided into three groups: high-fat medium group, high-fat medium+ferroptosis inhibitor group, and control group. After 24 hours of incubation in high-fat medium, Mc3t3-E1 cells were assayed for ferroptosis marker proteins and biochemical parameters, and osteogenesis induction was performed simultaneously. Cellular alkaline phosphatase content and expression of osteogenesis-related proteins were measured at day 7 of osteogenesis induction. The results showed that a high-fat diet led to the development of femoral bone loss in mice and that this process could be inhibited by ferroptosis inhibitors. The high-fat diet mainly affected the number of osteoblasts produced in the bone marrow cavity. The high-fat environment in vitro inhibited osteoblast proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, and significant changes in ferroptosis-related biochemical parameters were observed. These findings have implications for the future clinical treatment of bone loss caused by high-fat diets.
The First Successful Transcatheter Closure of an Inferior Sinus Venosus Defect with Anomalous Drainage of the Right Lower Pulmonary Vein Using Bare and Covered Stents: A Single-Case Report
Authors: Durongpisitkul Kritvikrom , Chungsomprasong Paweena , Panjasamanvong Porntip , Thamtorawat Somrach
Published: October 2022

Inferior sinus venosus defect (SVD) is less common than a superior one. The lower edge of the defect straddles the orifice of the inferior vena cava, and this makes surgical repair via bicaval cannulation a technical challenge. The orifice of the unroofed right pulmonary vein is caused by the interatrial communication in sinus venosus defects which results in partial anomalous pulmonary vein drainage (PAPVD). Novel transcatheter closure of a superior SVD has recently been described; however, transcatheter closure of an inferior SVD has not yet been reported in the published literature. Here, we report the first successful transcatheter closure of an inferior SVD with bare and covered stents and the rerouting of a PAPVD into the left atrium to avoid occlusion of the hepatic veins. In this single-case report, we carefully describe the planning process, how the procedure was performed, and the steps taken to recapture and reposition a migrated stent. Careful patient selection and intensive assessment of pulmonary and hepatic vein anatomy before and during the procedure were necessary to achieve a successful outcome.
Resveratrol Enhances the Radiosensitivity by Inducing DNA Damage and Antitumor Immunity in a Glioblastoma Rat Model under 3 T MRI Monitoring
Authors: Qian Liping , Mao Lihua , Mo Weixing , Wang Rong , Zhang Yunlong
Published: October 2022

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common intracranial tumor with characteristic of malignancy. Resveratrol, a natural originated polyphenolic compound, has been reported to act as a potential radiosensitizer in cancer therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the first choice for the diagnosis, pathological grading, and efficacy evaluation of GBM. In this study, MRI was applied to observe whether resveratrol could intensify the anti-GBM tumor effect by enhancing antitumor immunity during radiotherapy. We established an intracranial C6 GBM model in SD rats, treated with radiation and resveratrol. The increased body weight, the inhibition on mortality, and tumor volume in radiated- GBM rats were further enhanced by resveratrol addition, while the pathological damage of brain was alleviated. The modulation of radiation on inflammation, cell cycle, and apoptosis was strengthened by resveratrol; and Ki-67, PD-L1, and cell cycle- and apoptosis-related protein expressions were also improved by cotreatment. Besides, cotreatment attenuated DNA damage and induced G0/G1-phase cell arrest of GBM rats, accompanied with the changed expression of ATM-AKT-STAT3 pathway-related proteins. Moreover, the percentages of CD3+CD8+T cells and IFN-γ+CD8+T cells were enhanced, while (CD4+CD25+Foxp3)/CD4+T cells were decreased by radiation or resveratrol, which was strengthened by cotreatment. The modulation effect of cotreatment on CD3, Foxp3, and IFN-γ levels was also stronger than radiation or resveratrol alone. To conclude, resveratrol enhanced the effect of radiotherapy by inducing DNA damage and antitumor immunity in the intracranial C6 GBM.
Efficient Sequestration of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solution Using Biosorbent Derived from Arundo donax Stem
Authors: Bhattarai Krishna Prasad , Pant Bishnu Datt , Rai Rajan , Aryal Ram Lochan , Paudyal Hari , Gautam Surendra Kumar , Ghimire Kedar Nath , Pokhrel Megh Raj , Poudel Bhoj Raj
Published: October 2022

The potential of a biosorbent derived from Arundo donax stem, a readily available agricultural product, was examined to remove Cr(VI) from water. Various techniques such as XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX were used for the characterization of the prepared adsorbent. The optimal pH for Cr(VI) biosorption was found to be 2.0. The experimental data best suits the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudosecond-order kinetics. The maximum biosorption capacity (qmax) of the investigated biosorbent for Cr(VI) was evaluated to be 76.92 mg/g by the Langmuir model. From the results of the Cr(VI) biosorption using charred Arundo donax stem powder (CADSP), it can be a novel, cost-efficient, and effective material for removing Cr(VI) from water and wastewater.
Rotavirus Quantification in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis
Authors: Galliano Ilaria , Daprà Valentina , Dini Maddalena , Gavatorta Martina , Sardo Allegra , Lo Curcio Giada , Bergallo Massimiliano
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Most intractable diarrheas are treated with antibiotics, irrespective of the causative agent. This study aimed to quantify rotavirus (RV) with TaqMan real-time PCR in fecal samples of children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in accordance with the program of reduction of drug resistance and use of antibiotics. Methods: A total of 190 fecal specimens were collected from under-5-year-old children with AGE in pediatric Hospital Regina Margherita of Turin in Italy in 2017. A total of 38 out of 67 (56.7%) episodes of AGE were associated with RV genomic detection with a multiplex commercial kit. Results: All fecal specimens were tested for the presence of RV and other GE viruses. The most commonly detected virus was norovirus (41%), astrovirus (15.8%), human bocavirus (8.9%), sapovirus (7.9%), human parechovirus (5.8%), rhinovirus (4.2%), and adenovirus (1%). In 66 out of 190 (34.7%), RV was detectable with the median viral load 7.2E + 11 ± 60E + 11 genomes/mg fecal specimens. Discussion/Conclusions: Our results showed that RV was present in around 34.7% of children hospitalized for AGE, a rate similar to those reported in previous studies conducted elsewhere which were in the range of 33–75%. Our protocols are able to quantify the absolute number of viral particle/mg of feces. The clinical utility of quantitative molecular assays, such as RV viral load, will be markedly improved.