bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between the Severity of Constipation and Exercise Status in the Japanese Population according to Questionnaire Survey
Authors: Shiba Sumiko , Masunaga Takuro , Tamamura Yusuke , Matsuura Michiko , Nishikimi Toshio
Published: October 2022

Objective. The Japanese guideline for the treatment of chronic constipation recommends that nonpharmacological treatment be applied. However, only a small proportion of patients with constipation seek medical care, and even when they do visit a hospital for constipation in Japan, most are only prescribed medication. This is because the effectiveness of exercise therapy for constipation is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of constipation in Japanese subjects and the relationship between constipation and exercise. Methods. We conducted a questionnaire survey over a period of four months to determine the prevalence of chronic constipation in nonexercise and exercise groups, as well as the effectiveness of exercise on chronic constipation. Subjective constipation was defined by the constipation scoring system. Multiple regression analysis was performed on risk factors for high constipation scoring system scores, and factors related to constipation symptoms were extracted. Result. We analysed responses regarding 556 participants ranging in mean age

35.6
±
17.2

years. The constipation scoring system score was significantly higher in the nonexercise group than in the exercise group. Independent predictors for the constipation scoring system score were sex, implementation of exercise, and presence of disease under treatment. Conclusion. The result showed that independent predictors for the constipation scoring system score were sex, implementation of exercise, and presence of disease under treatment. Thus, the present study demonstrated that exercise affects constipation symptom.
Intraoperative Analgesia with Magnesium Sulfate versus Remifentanil Guided by Plethysmographic Stress Index in Post-Bariatric Dermolipectomy: A Randomized Study
Authors: Silva Filho S. E. , Dainez S. , Gonzalez M. A. M. C. , Angelis F. , Vieira J. E. , Sandes C. S.
Published: October 2022

Background. Magnesium sulfate reduces pain scores and analgesic consumption. Its use as an analgesic resource in opioid-free or opioid-sparing techniques have also been tested. The evaluation of the antinociceptive potency of drugs and doses indirectly, through hemodynamic oscillations has been questioned. A relatively new algorithm called the plethysmographic stress index has been considered sensitive and relatively specific as a parameter for assessing the need for intraoperative analgesia. Objectives. The aim of this trial was to assess the intraoperative analgesic capacity of magnesium sulfate compared to remifentanil. The secondary objectives were propofol consumption and its latency, the consumption of opioids, ephedrine, and cisatracurium. Patients and Methods. Forty patients scheduled for post-bariatric dermolipectomy were randomly assigned to two groups to receive total intravenous anesthesia with target-controlled hypnosis induced with propofol. Analgesia was obtained in the remifentanil group with remifentanil at an initial dose of 0.2 μg·kg−1·min−1 and in the magnesium sulfate group with magnesium sulfate 40 mg·kg−1 + 10 mg·kg−1·h−1. Results. There was no statistical hemodynamic difference between the groups before and after orotracheal intubation (

p

 = 0.062) and before and after the surgical incision (

p

 = 0.656). There was also no statistical difference in the variation of mean arterial pressure before and after intubation (

p

 = 0.656) and before and after the surgical incision (

p

 = 0.911). There was similar consumption of cisatracurium, ephedrine, and postoperative opioids between the groups. Some patients in the magnesium sulfate group needed more intraoperative fentanyl and propofol, although the latency of propofol was similar in both the groups. Conclusion. We conclude that using magnesium sulfate in intravenous general anesthesia for post-bariatric dermolipectomy is related to a significant reduction in opioid consumption without compromising hemodynamic stability. Overall, PSI monitoring was helpful in driving the analgesic strategy. The use of magnesium sulfate proved to be an important adjunct in the scenario presented, allowing the use of opioids to be avoided in certain cases. We found no statistical differences in the consumption of neuromuscular blocker and vasoconstrictor. Substituting opioids for magnesium sulfate leads to an increase in propofol consumption in the scenario presented. Studies with a larger sample are needed to corroborate the results presented and evaluate other potential advantages in reducing opioid consumption.
Sex-Related Effects of Adrenergic Drugs on Conditioned Pain Modulation: A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Double-Blind Trial
Authors: Harvey Marie-Philippe , Dubois Marie-Chantal , Chalaye Philippe , Sansoucy Yanick , Marchand Serge
Published: October 2022

Objective. Endogenous pain inhibition can be investigated using conditioned pain modulation (CPM). CPM efficacy has been reported to be influenced by various factors, such as gender and cardiovascular (autonomic) activity. The aim of this study is to describe the effect of pharmacological manipulations of autonomic activity on CPM efficacy. Methods. Thirty healthy participants were enrolled to assess CPM efficacy in 4 experimental sessions. The first session consisted of the determination of baseline CPM effectiveness. The three following sessions were performed in a randomized order and consisted of the injection of (1) esmolol, (2) ephedrine, or (3) placebo, before the conditioning stimulus. Pain intensity induced by using a contact heat stimulation thermode was compared before and after a cold-pressure conditioning stimulus to evaluate CPM effectiveness. Results. Our results show that inhibiting sympathetic nervous activity with esmolol did not have a significant effect on CPM. Conversely, enhancing sympathetic nervous activity with ephedrine increased CPM effectiveness in healthy women but decreased it in men. Conclusions. Increasing sympathetic activity with adrenergic agonists, such as ephedrine, could improve CPM effectiveness in women. It will be interesting to verify if the same results are present in patients suffering from chronic pain and if adrenergic agonists could have better therapeutic effects in women showing reduced CPM effectiveness.
Age as the Impact on Mortality Rate in Trauma Patients
Authors: Wongweerakit Onchuda , Akaraborworn Osaree , Sangthong Burapat , Thongkhao Komet
Published: October 2022

Background. Globally, the fastest-growing population is that of older adults. Geriatric trauma patients pose a unique challenge to trauma teams because the aging process reduces their physiologic reserve. To date, no agreed-upon definition exists for the geriatric trauma patients, and the appropriate age cut point to consider patients at increased risk of mortality is unclear. Objectives. To determine the age cut point at which age impacts the mortality rate in trauma patients in Thailand. Materials and Methods. This was a retrospective cohort and prognostic analysis study conducted in trauma patients ≥40 years. Patient data were retrieved from the trauma registry database and hospital information system in Songklanagarind Hospital. The estimated sample size of 1,509 patients was calculated based on the trauma registry data. The age with the maximum mortality rate was used as the cut point to define the elderly population. Hospital cost, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, gender, precomorbidity, mechanism of injury, injury severity score (ISS), and trauma and injury severity score were analyzed for any correlation with mortality, and whether or not they were associated with elderly trauma patients. Results. A total of 1,523 trauma patients ≥40 years were included in the study. The median age in both the survival and death groups was 61 years, with gender in both groups being similar (

p

value = 0.259). In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) showed that increasing age was significantly associated with mortality (OR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.07;

p

value <0.001). In the age group of 70 to 79 years and >80 years, the odds of mortality were significantly increased (OR 3.29, 95% CI, 1.24–8.68;

p

value = 0.016 and OR 3.29, 95% CI, 1.27–12.24;

p

value = 0.018, respectively). Conclusion. Age is a significant risk factor for mortality in trauma patients. The mortality significantly increased at the age of 70 and higher.
Effect of Lymphocyte Subsets on Bone Density in Senile Osteoporosis: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Peng Cong , Guo Zongwei , Zhao Yue , Li Rui , Wang Liang , Gong Wenping
Published: October 2022

Background. Several studies have shown that lymphocyte subsets can mediate the occurrence of osteoporosis (OP); however, the predictive ability of lymphocyte subsets in senile OP has not been elucidated. Purpose. To investigate the ability of lymphocyte subsets to predict senile osteoporosis (OP). Methods and Materials. This study included 44 patients with senile OP and 44 without OP. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to determine bone mineral density (BMD). Flow cytometry was used to analyze the absolute counts of the lymphocyte subsets and cytokine levels. Finally, the correlation between BMD and lymphocyte subset counts in the two groups was analyzed. Results. There were no significant differences in age, sex, or weight between the OP and non-OP groups. The absolute counts of total T lymphocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the OP group were significantly lower than those in the non-OP group. The levels of IFN-γ or TNF-α in the OP group were significantly higher or lower, respectively, than those in the non-OP group. PCA showed that age, BMI, total T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes were the principal components of senile OP. The linear regression equation showed that BMD of the right femoral neck significantly decreased with a decline in CD8+ T lymphocyte counts. Conclusion. BMD decreased with a decrease in CD8+ T lymphocytes. The mechanism by which lower lymphocyte subsets lead to lower BMD may be related to abnormal bone metabolism caused by immune aging. Therefore, we considered that CD8+ T lymphocytes could be used to predict the incidence of senile OP.
Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid Inhibits Renal Tubular Reabsorption via the AKT/DAB2/Megalin Signalling Pathway
Authors: Zuo Minxia , Meng Cheng , Song Qian , Gao Zhongai , Cui Xiao , Wang Jingyu , Li Yongmei , Li Xiaochen , Shan Chunyan , Yang Juhong , Chang Baocheng
Published: October 2022

Aim. Patients with diabetic ketosis often exhibit albuminuria. We previously found that acute hyperglycaemia can cause nephrotoxic injury. Here, we explored whether an excessive ketone body level causes kidney injury and the potential underlying mechanism. Methods. Fifty-six type 2 diabetes without ketosis (NDK group), 81 type 2 diabetes with ketosis (DK group), and 38 healthy controls (NC group) were enrolled. Clinical data were collected before and after controlling diabetic ketosis. Beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BOHB), an AKT activator, an AKT inhibitor, or plasmids encoding DAB2 were transformed into human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK-2 cells). Results. The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), transferrin (TF), immunoglobulin G (IgG), Beta2-microglobulin (β2-MG), retinol-binding protein (RBP), N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG), and Beta-galactosidase (GAL) were higher in the DK than NC and NDK groups. The proportion of patients with an increased urinary level of TF, IgG, β2-MG, RBP, NAG, or GAL was higher in the DK group too. After controlling ketosis, urinary microalbumin, TF, IgG, β2-MG, and RBP decreased significantly. In HK-2 cells, albumin endocytosis and megalin expression decreased with increasing BOHB concentration. Compared with BOHB treatment, BOHB with AKT activator significantly increased the DAB2, megalin levels and albumin endocytosis; the AKT inhibitor treatment exhibited the opposite effects. Compared with BOHB treatment, megalin expression and albumin endocytosis were significantly increased after BOHB with DAB2 overexpression treatment. Conclusions. Patients with diabetic ketosis may suffer from glomerular and tubular injuries that recover after ketosis control. High concentrations of BOHB downregulate megalin expression by inhibiting the AKT/DAB2/megalin signalling pathway and albumin endocytosis in proximal renal tubules.
An Overview of Energy Recovery from Local Slaughterhouse-Based Gallus gallus domesticus Greasy Residues and Latest Applications
Authors: Ayissi Zacharie Merlin , Fokoua Fongain Alain , Dongmo Leonel Tsafack , Nazia Hossain , Alloune Rhiad , Ndoh Mbue Innocent , Mouangue Ruben
Published: October 2022

Gallus domesticus is one of the world’s most consumed animals, with a significant presence in all parts of the planet. Chicken oil appears to be a credible raw material in the context of alternative energy research. This study focuses on a literature review to highlight the chicken’s energy potential and the application of energy recovery from local slaughterhouse-based Gallus gallus domesticus greasy residues and it is proposed to make biodiesel from the fatty residues of Gallus gallus domesticus. The transesterification reaction takes place at 60°C. Methanol is used in a 1 : 6 oil-to-alcohol mass ratio. Catalysis is carried out with 1% (m/m) potassium hydroxide (KOH). The accepted reaction time under light agitation is 120 minutes. The reaction yield is estimated to be 85.6%, and the biodiesel produced is characterized. The postcharacterization values are consistent with the EN14214 biodiesel standard. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry reveals the intrinsic composition of the acids derived from the developed biodiesel methyl esters. The latter reveals a predominance of oleic acids with a value of 29.47% and palmitic acids with a value of 29.21%. The viscosity of greasy residues appeared to be relatively high at 69.32 mm/s. The low calorific value is 38775.363 KJ/Kg and the cetane index is 50. It has been observed that, for 1000 g of fat waste, it is possible to extract by cooking 507.807 g of oil, or an extraction yield of 51%. Fatty chicken residues from tropical market areas can be used as a raw material for biofuel development.
Expansive Soil Embankment Filling and Cutting Treatment Technology: A Systematic Review
Authors: Huang Zhen , Shi Hang , Zhang Wei , Ma Shaokun , Gao Feng , Ma Min
Published: October 2022

The characteristics of expansive soil, including over consolidation, swelling-shrinkage, fissures, and strength attenuation, can cause potential hazards in road construction, which are mainly manifested as subgrade swelling-shrinkage deformation and slope collapse. Effective treatment can not only ensure long-term subgrade stability but also reduce investment costs and environmental impact. In this review, the current development status of embankment filling and cutting slope treatment technology in expansive soil areas were summarized, and the classification standards of expansive soil filler, moisture retention, and antiseepage technology were described. Then, the utility of chemical, physical, biological, and solid waste modification materials in improving the engineering characteristics of core-filled expansive soil was discussed, and the cost and technical characteristics of these modification technologies were compared and analysed. Next, the application of rigid and flexible support technology in the treatment of cutting slope collapse was analysed, and the advantages and disadvantages of rigid and flexible supports were summarized. Finally, the development direction of expansive soil subgrade treatment technology was discussed. This review includes a summary of the treatment methods of highway subgrade in expansive soil areas and can provide a technical reference for treatment methods of expansive soil subgrade.
A Data-Driven Miscalibration Detection Algorithm for a Vehicle-Mounted Camera
Authors: Jiang Haiyang , Lu Yuanyao , Wang Jingxuan
Published: October 2022

LiDAR and camera are two commonly used sensors in autonomous vehicles. In order to fuse the data collected by these two sensors to accurately perceive the 3D world, it is necessary to perform accurate internal parameters’ and external parameters’ calibration on the two sensors. However, during the long-term deployment and use of autonomous vehicles, factors such as aging of the equipment, transient changes in the external environment, and interference can cause the initially correctly calibrated camera internal parameters to no longer be applicable to the current environment, requiring a recalibration of the camera internal reference. Since most of the current work is focused on the research of perception algorithms and the calibration of various sensors, there has not been much research in identifying when a sensor needs to be recalibrated. Consequently, this paper proposed a data-driven detection method for the miscalibration of RGB cameras to detect the miscalibrated camera internal parameters. The specific operation process is to first add a random perturbation factor to the correctly calibrated camera internal parameters to generate an incorrect camera internal parameter and then calibrate the raw image with the incorrect internal parameter to generate a miscalibrated image data. The miscalibrated image data are used as the input data of the neural network to train the network model and generate a network model for detecting the miscalibration parameters. On the KITTI dataset, we conducted training as well as model deployment with the data collected from Cam2 and Cam3, respectively, and evaluated the abovementioned two models. The experimental results show that our proposed method has some application value in detecting errors in the calibration of the camera’s internal parameters.
Solving the Multisensor Resource Scheduling Problem for Missile Early Warning by a Hybrid Discrete Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm
Authors: Liu Wei , Liu Changyun , Guo Xiangke , He Sheng , Fan Liangyou
Published: October 2022

Aiming at the problem of multisensor resource scheduling in missile early warning operation, a scheduling decomposition strategy for missile early warning tasks under cooperative detection is proposed. Taking the detection benefit factor, target threat factor, and handover factor as the fitness function, we establish a sensor-subtask assignment (SSA) model and propose a hybrid discrete artificial bee colony (HDABC) algorithm to solve the optimal solution of the SSA model. The HDABC algorithm has the following improvements: in the initialization stage, a sensor-subtask-based coding method is designed to reduce the solution dimension, and the heuristic rules are used to obtain excellent populations to improve the convergence speed; in the employed bee and onlooker bee stage, a food source update strategy based on discrete differential mutation (DDM) operation is proposed to improve the searchability of the algorithm, and a sorting-based adaptive probability (SAP) selection method is applied to enhance the global search and local optimization capacities. Simulation experiments were carried out in operation scenarios of different scales. Experimental results showed that the proposed HDABC algorithm can obtain the optimal scheduling schemes and had a better solving performance when solving the SSA model, especially in the medium-scale and large-scale operation scenarios.
TMT-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Downregulation of ITGAL and Syk by the Effects of Cycloastragenol in OVA-Induced Asthmatic Mice
Authors: Zhu Xueyi , Liu Baojun , Ruan Zhenhui , Chen Mengmeng , Li Congcong , Shi Hanlin , Huang Xi , Yu Hang , Zhou Yaolong , Zhu Hehua , Sun Jing , Wei Ying , Xu Weifang , Dong Jingcheng
Published: October 2022

Background. Cycloastragenol (CAG) has been reported to alleviate airway inflammation in ovalbumin- (OVA-) induced asthmatic mice. However, its specific mechanisms remain unclear. Objective. This study is aimed at investigating the effects of CAG on asthma, comparing its efficacy with dexamethasone (DEX), and elucidating the mechanism of CAG’s regulation. Methods. The asthma mouse model was induced by OVA. CAG at the optimal dose of 125 mg/kg was given every day from day 0 for 20-day prevention or from day 14 for a 7-day treatment. We observed the preventive and therapeutic effects of CAG in asthmatic mice by evaluating the airway inflammation, AHR, and mucus secretion. Lung proteins were used for TMT-based quantitative proteomic analysis to enunciate its regulatory mechanisms. Results. The early administration of 125 mg/kg CAG before asthma happened prevented asthmatic mice from AHR, airway inflammation, and mucus hypersecretion, returning to nearly the original baseline. Alternatively, the administration of CAG during asthma also had the same therapeutic effects as DEX. The proteomic analysis revealed that the therapeutical effects of CAG were associated with 248 differentially expressed proteins and 3 enriched KEGG pathways. We then focused on 3 differentially expressed proteins (ITGAL, Syk, and Vav1) and demonstrated that CAG treatment downregulated ITGAL, Syk, and Vav1 by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical staining. Conclusion. These findings suggest that CAG exerts preventive and protective effects on asthma by inhibiting ITGAL, Syk, and the downstream target Vav1.
Biomechanical Effect of Disc Height on the Components of the Lumbar Column at the Same Axial Load: A Finite-Element Study
Authors: Jeong Jae-Gyeong , Kang Sungwook , Jung Gu-Hee , Cho Mingoo , Kim Hyunsoo , Kim Kyoung-Tae , Kim Dong-Hee , Hwang Jong-Moon
Published: October 2022

Intervertebral discs are fibrocartilage structures, which play a role in buffering the compression applied to the vertebral bodies evenly while permitting limited movements. According to several previous studies, degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc could be accelerated by factors, such as aging, the female sex, obesity, and smoking. As degenerative change progresses, the disc height could be reduced due to the dehydration of the nucleus pulposus. This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the pressure that each structure of the spine receives according to the change in the disc height and predict the physiological effect of disc height on the spine. We analyzed the biomechanical effect on spinal structures when the disc height was decreased using a finite-element method investigation of the lumbar spine. Using a 3D FE model, the degree and distribution of von-Mises stress according to the disc height change were measured by applying the load of four different motions to the lumbar spine. The height was changed by dividing the anterior and posterior parts of the disc, and analysis was performed in the following four motions: flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Except for a few circumstances, the stress applied to the structure generally increased as the disc height decreased. Such a phenomenon was more pronounced when the direction in which the force was concentrated coincided with the portion where the disc height decreased. This study demonstrated that the degree of stress applied to the spinal structure generally increases as the disc height decreases. The increase in stress was more prominent when the part where the disc height was decreased and the part where the moment was additionally applied coincided. Disc height reduction could accelerate degenerative changes in the spine. Therefore, eliminating the controllable risk factors that cause disc height reduction may be beneficial for spinal health.
Effects of Educational Intervention on Dental Plaque Index in 9-Year-Old Children
Authors: Zarabadipour Mahdieh , Makhlooghi Sari Mehrnaz , Moghadam Alireza , Kazemi Benyamin , Mirzadeh Monirsadat
Published: October 2022

Background and Aim. Oral hygiene is a quintessential part of our health. Effective oral hygiene training should be commenced from early childhood, and if completed, yields positive results in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral hygiene training on dental plaque index in 9-year-old children of Qazvin city, Iran. Methods. 119 students of third-grade elementary (65 girls and 54 boys) from government and private schools of Qazvin city participated. The dental plaque index of every participant was primarily recorded by Silness and Loe method. Students were trained by a dental student by face-to-face method, and after 2 weeks, dental plaque indices were recorded again for every individual. After index recording and coding, data analysis was done using SPSS version 21. Results. Results showed that the dental plaque index was statistically significantly different before and after training (

p
<
0.001

). Conclusion. Based on the results of this study, students’ motivation in addition to proper training, can have a significant impact on oral and dental health. Furthermore, this study shows that face-to-face training along with involving the individual in training and learning was seen as quite helpful.
Prediction of the Radiative Properties of Triangular-Grating Surfaces from Electromagnetic Theory
Authors: Ghabara Taoufik
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we present a study of the influence of roughness on the bidirectional reflectivity and on the emissivity of surfaces using Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory. In this framework, we solve the Helmholtz equations by using the surface integral method. We first proceed to a general description of this method, allowing to solve the propagation equations of the electromagnetic field. We then express the diffused directional flux using the surface field and its normal derivative (source terms), in the case of an incident plane wave in “p” polarization or in “s” polarization. This finally allows us to arrive at the desired radiative properties. We have developed two numerical calculation codes whose use we limit to cases of surfaces presenting cavities in the shape of a symmetrical or asymmetrical “V”. Particular interest was given to the influence of the geometric parameters of these surfaces on the bidirectional reflection function and on the emissivity of these surfaces. Finally, we present some very conclusive results.
Elaboration of the Al-Al3Ni Alloy Eutectic by a Carbothermal Process
Authors: Bahaj Imane , Kaddami Mohammed , Essahli Mohamed
Published: October 2022

The present study develops an elaborate method of materials Al-Al3Ni by carbothermic reduction of nickel oxide from the decomposition of Ni(NO3)2.4H2O mixed with aluminum powder. This nitrate salt represents the source of nickel for an elaboration of these materials. The thermodynamic parameters adopted in the experimental study were defined based on the liquid-solid phase equilibrium diagram of the binary system Al-Ni and the Ellingham approach. Throughout this study, the metal Ni is elaborated by carbothermic reduction of nickel oxide resulting from nitrate salt decomposition at 900°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The heat treatment at 900 °C of a mixture of nitrate salt with aluminum powder under an inert gas atmosphere leads to the formation of phases Al2O3, Al4C3, Al, and Ni. The annealing of these obtained phases during 1 h and under a nitrogen flow atmosphere at the temperature of 600°C allowed us to obtain the Al-Al3Ni alloy devoid of oxides. The characterization of these obtained solid phases was carried out by the XRD analysis, the SEM-EDS, the DTA, and the DSC.
Theaflavin-3,3
′
-Digallate Plays a ROS-Mediated Dual Role in Ferroptosis and Apoptosis via the MAPK Pathway in Human Osteosarcoma Cell Lines and Xenografts
Authors: He Tao , Lin Xiaohong , Yang Chaohua , Chen Zhiyu , Wang Linbang , Li Qiaochu , Ma Jingjin , Zhan Fangbiao , Wang Yang , Yan Jin , Quan Zhengxue
Published: October 2022

Globally, osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent form of primary bone cancer in children and adolescents. Traditional neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens have reached a bottleneck; thus, OS survivors have unsatisfactory outcomes. Theaflavin-3,3

′

-digallate (TF3) exhibits potent anticancer properties against many human cancers. Nevertheless, the biological effects and the underlying molecular mechanism of TF3 in human OS remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of TF3 on human OS cell lines and mouse xenograft models. The results showed that TF3 reduced cell viability, suppressed cell proliferation, and caused G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in both MG63 and HOS cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. TF3 also altered the homeostatic mechanisms for iron storage in the examined cell lines, resulting in an excess of labile iron. Unsurprisingly, TF3 caused oxidative stress through reduced glutathione (GSH) exhaustion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and the Fenton reaction, which triggered ferroptosis and apoptosis in the cells. TF3 also induced MAPK signalling pathways, including the ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK pathways. Furthermore, oxidative stress was shown to be the primary reason for TF3-induced proliferation inhibition, programmed cell death, and MAPK pathway activation in vitro. Moreover, TF3 exhibited markedly strong antitumour efficacy in vivo in mouse models. In summary, this study demonstrates that TF3 concomitantly plays dual roles in apoptotic and ferroptotic cell death by triggering the ROS and MAPK signalling pathways in both in vitro and in vivo models.
The Regulation between CD4+CXCR5+ Follicular Helper T (Tfh) Cells and CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Regulatory B (Breg) Cells in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zhang Ying , Wu Jun , Zhang Haibo , Wu Chen
Published: October 2022

Purpose. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and regulatory B (Breg) cells are reported to play essential roles in humoral immunity, especially in inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Hence, we sought to investigate the involvement of CXCR5+CD4+ Tfh cells and CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Breg cells in gastric cancer. Methods. The blood samples were obtained from 36 gastric cancer patients and 18 healthy individuals. The percentage of Tfh cells (Tfh%) and Breg cells (Breg%) was detected via flow cytometry, while IL-21, IL-10, and CXCL13 levels were examined with ELISA. The association between them and clinical parameters of patients was also assessed. The in vitro Tfh-B cell coculture experiments were performed for six days, and then, Tfh%, Breg%, and cytokines were valued by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Results. Tfh%, Breg%, and CXCL13 level were significantly increased among gastric cancer patients. Moreover, higher Tfh% was associated with lymphatic metastasis, patients’ worse outcomes and Breg%. Tfh differentiation and CXCL13 were upregulated by cocultured B cells in vitro, while Tfh cells seem to not participate in Breg cell differentiation from B cells. Conclusion. Altogether, increased Tfh and Breg cells could be involved in immune suppression in gastric cancer. Moreover, B cell may be a potential regulator for Tfh differentiation, while Tfh cells had no significant effects on the regulation of Breg cells.
Bone Metastasis Initiation Is Coupled with Bone Remodeling through Osteogenic Differentiation of NG2+ Cells
Authors: Zhang Weijie , Xu Zhan , Hao Xiaoxin , He Tiancheng , Li Jiasong , Shen Yichao , Liu Kai , Gao Yang , Liu Jun , Edwards David G. , Muscarella Aaron M. , Wu Ling , Yu Liqun , Xu Longyong , Chen Xi , Wu Yi-Hsuan , Bado Igor L. , Ding Yunfeng , Aguirre Sergio , Wang Hai , Gugala Zbigniew , Satcher Robert L. , Wong Stephen T.C. , Zhang Xiang H.-F.
Published: October 2022

The bone microenvironment is dynamic and undergoes remodeling in normal and pathologic conditions. Whether such remodeling affects disseminated tumor cells (DTC) and bone metastasis remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that pathologic fractures increase metastatic colonization around the injury. NG2+ cells are a common participant in bone metastasis initiation and bone remodeling in both homeostatic and fractured conditions. NG2+ bone mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BMSC) often colocalize with DTCs in the perivascular niche. Both DTCs and NG2+ BMSCs are recruited to remodeling sites. Ablation of NG2+ lineage impaired bone remodeling and concurrently diminished metastatic colonization. In cocultures, NG2+ BMSCs, especially when undergoing osteodifferentiation, enhanced cancer cell proliferation and migration. Knockout of N-cadherin in NG2+ cells abolished these effects in vitro and phenocopied NG2+ lineage depletion in vivo. These findings uncover dual roles of NG2+ cells in metastasis and remodeling and indicate that osteodifferentiation of BMSCs promotes metastasis initiation via N-cadherin–mediated cell–cell interaction.

Significance:

The bone colonization of cancer cells occurs in an environment that undergoes constant remodeling. Our study provides mechanistic insights into how bone homeostasis and pathologic repair lead to the outgrowth of disseminated cancer cells, thereby opening new directions for further etiologic and epidemiologic studies of tumor recurrences.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 247
Long-Term Prognostic Impact of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate on Admission in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure
Authors: de la Espriella Rafael , Navarro Jorge , Mollar Anna , D’Marco Luis , Palau Patricia , Miñana Gema , Llácer Pau , Santas Enrique , Heredia Raquel , González Miguel , Górriz José Luis , Codina Pau , Díez Javier , Bayés-Genís Antoni , Núñez Julio
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Although small-sample size studies have shown that basal alterations of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are related to short- and mid-term higher mortality in acute heart failure (AHF), there is scarce information on the influence of an altered eGFR on long-term mortality and readmissions. Therefore, this multicenter study sought to investigate the relationship between eGFR on admission for AHF and both long-term mortality and readmissions in a large sample of patients. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 4,595 patients consecutively discharged after admission for AHF at three tertiary-care hospitals from January 1, 2008, to January 1, 2020. To investigate the effect of eGFR on admission with long-term morbimortality, we stratified the patients according to four eGFR categories: <30 mL·min−1·1.73 m−2 (G4 and G5 patients, n = 534), 30–44 mL·min−1·1.73 m−2 (G3b patients, n = 882), 45–59 mL·min−1·1.73 m−2 (G3a patients, n = 1,080), and ≥60 mL·min−1·1.73 m−2 (G1 and G2 patients, n = 2,099). eGFR was calculated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation within the first 24 h following admission. Results: At a median follow-up of 2.20 years, multivariate analyses revealed that compared to G1 and G2 patients, G4 and G5 patients exhibited a higher risk of all-cause (HR = 1.15, 95% CI: 01.02–1.30, p = 0.020) and cardiovascular (CV) (HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04–1.39, p = 0.013) mortality. Similarly, multivariate analyses also showed that the lower the eGFR, the higher the risk of readmissions. In fact, compared to G1 and G2 patients, G4 and G5 patients displayed significantly increased incident rate ratios of total all-cause (28%), CV (26%), and HF-related (30%) readmissions. Conclusion: Data from this large study provide evidence that an eGFR below 30 mL·min−1·1.73 m−2 on admission could be an independent predictor for long-term mortality and readmissions in patients with AHF.
Hypersensitivity to Ibuprofen: Real-Life Experience in Children with History of Suspected Immediate Reactions
Authors: Sipahi Cimen Sevgi , Yucel Esra , Suleyman Ayse , Hizli Demirkale Zeynep , Ozceker Deniz , Sayili Ugurcan , Guler Nermin , Tamay Zeynep
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Ibuprofen is the most common culprit drug causing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) hypersensitivity in children. We aimed to evaluate the frequency, clinical characteristics, and risk factors of confirmed ibuprofen allergy in children presenting with a history of suspected immediate type ibuprofen-induced hypersensitivity reactions. Methods: We evaluated 50 (35 M, 15 F) children with a median age of 7 years, who were referred to our clinic with suspected immediate ibuprofen hypersensitivity. Patients were subjected to a diagnostic work up including drug provocation tests (DPTs) with the culprit drug. Reactions were classified according to the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Task Force recommendations for pediatric patients. Proven ibuprofen allergic patients underwent DPT to find a safe alternative drug. Results: Ibuprofen allergy was confirmed in 34% (n: 17) of children; 9 patients were diagnosed by DPTs and 8 patients diagnosed based on their histories. Angioedema was the most common clinical manifestation (n: 30, 60%). Among patients with proven ibuprofen allergy, 7 of them were classified as cross-intolerant. Cross-intolerance reactions were further classified as NSAID-exacerbated cutaneous disease (n = 1) and NSAID-induced urticaria/angioedema/anaphylaxis (n = 6). As an alternative drug, paracetamol was safely tolerated, whereas 1 patient developed angioedema and urticaria with nimesulide. Older age and male gender were identified as independent risk factors for immediate-type ibuprofen allergy. Conclusion: DPTs should be performed to confirm or exclude ibuprofen allergy in children and to find safe alternative drugs. Male gender and older age are risk factors for ibuprofen allergy. NSAID-induced hypersensitivity reactions in the pediatric population cannot be well defined using the adult classification system.
A deep learning approach for brain tumor detection using magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Nayan Al-Akhir , Mozumder Ahamad Nokib , Haque Md. Rakibul , Sifat Fahim Hossain , Mahmud Khan Raqib , Al Azad Abul Kalam , Kibria Muhammad Golam
Published: October 2022

The growth of abnormal cells in the brain’s tissue causes brain tumors. Brain tumors are considered one of the most dangerous disorders in children and adults. It develops quickly, and the patient’s survival prospects are slim if not appropriately treated. Proper treatment planning and precise diagnoses are essential to improving a patient’s life expectancy. Brain tumors are mainly diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As part of a convolution neural network (CNN)-based illustration, an architecture containing five convolution layers, five max-pooling layers, a Flatten layer, and two dense layers has been proposed for detecting brain tumors from MRI images. The proposed model includes an automatic feature extractor, modified hidden layer architecture, and activation function. Several test cases were performed, and the proposed model achieved 98.6% accuracy and 97.8% precision score with a low cross-entropy rate. Compared with other approaches such as adjacent feature propagation network (AFPNet), mask region-based CNN (mask RCNN), YOLOv5, and Fourier CNN (FCNN), the proposed model has performed better in detecting brain tumors.
Optimal power flow solution with current injection model of generalized interline power flow controller using ameliorated ant lion optimization
Authors: Balasubbareddy Mallala , Dwivedi Divyanshi , Murthy Garikamukkala Venkata Krishna , Kumar Kotte Sowjan
Published: October 2022

Optimal power flow (OPF) solutions with generalized interline power flow controller (GIPFC) devices play an imperative role in enhancing the power system’s performance. This paper used a novel ant lion optimization (ALO) algorithm which is amalgamated with Lévy flight operator, and an effectual algorithm is proposed named as, ameliorated ant lion optimization (AALO) algorithm. It is being implemented to solve single objective OPF problem with the latest flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) controller named as GIPFC. GIPFC can control a couple of transmission lines concurrently and it also helps to control the sending end voltage. In this paper, current injection modeling of GIPFC is being incorporated in conventional Newton-Raphson (NR) load flow to improve voltage of the buses and focuses on minimizing the considered objectives such as generation fuel cost, emissions, and total power losses by fulfilling equality, in-equality. For optimal allocation of GIPFC, a novel Lehmann-Symanzik-Zimmermann (LSZ) approach is considered. The proposed algorithm is validated on single benchmark test functions such as Sphere, Rastrigin function then the proposed algorithm with GIPFC has been testified on standard IEEE-30 bus system.
Predicting reaction based on customer's transaction using machine learning approaches
Authors: Hayder Israa M. , Nabi Al Ali Ghazwan Abdul , A. Younis Hussain
Published: October 2022

Banking advertisements are important because they help target specific customers on subscribing to their packages or other deals by giving their current customers more fixed-term deposit offers. This is done through promotional advertisements on the Internet or media pages, and this task is the responsibility of the shopping department. In order to build a relationship with them, offer them the best deals, and be appropriate for the client with the company's assurance to recover these deposits, many banks or telecommunications firms store the data of their customers. The Portuguese bank increases its sales by establishing a relationship with its customers. This study proposes creating a prediction model using machine learning algorithms, to see how the customer reacts to subscribe to those fixed-term deposits or offers made with the aid of their past record. This classification is binary, i.e., the prediction of whether or not a customer will embrace these offers. Four classifiers that include k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) algorithm, decision tree, naive Bayes, and support vector machines (SVM) were used, and the best result was obtained from the classifier decision tree with an accuracy of 91% and the other classifier SVM with an accuracy of 89%.
Feature extraction comparison for facial expression recognition using adaptive extreme learning machine
Authors: Wafi Muhammad , Bachtiar Fitra A. , Utaminingrum Fitri
Published: October 2022

Facial expression recognition is an important part in the field of affective computing. Automatic analysis of human facial expression is a challenging problem with many applications. Most of the existing automated systems for facial expression analysis attempt to recognize a few prototypes emotional expressions such as anger, contempt, disgust, fear, happiness, neutral, sadness, and surprise. This paper aims to compare feature extraction methods that are used to detect human facial expression. The study compares the gray level co-occurrence matrix, local binary pattern, and facial landmark (FL) with two types of facial expression datasets, namely Japanese female facial expression (JFFE), and extended Cohn-Kanade (CK+). In addition, we also propose an enhancement of extreme learning machine (ELM) method that can adaptively select best number of hidden neurons adaptive ELM (aELM) to reach its maximum performance. The result from this paper is our proposed method can slightly improve the performance of basic ELM method using some feature extractions mentioned before. Our proposed method can obtain maximum mean accuracy score of 88.07% on CK+ dataset, and 83.12% on JFFE dataset with FL feature extraction.
A low complexity distributed differential scheme based on orthogonal space time block coding for decode-and-forward wireless relay networks
Authors: Alabed Samer , Mostafa Nour , Fouad Aly Wael Hosny , Al-Rabayah Mohammad
Published: October 2022

This work proposes a new differential cooperative diversity scheme with high data rate and low decoding complexity using the decode-and-forward protocol. The proposed model does not require either differential encoding or channel state information at the source node, relay nodes, or destination node where the data sequence is directly transmitted and the differential detection method is applied at the relay nodes and the destination node. The proposed technique enjoys a low encoding and decoding complexity at the source node, the relay nodes, and the destination node. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed strategy is analyzed by computer simulations in quasi-static Rayleigh fading channel and using the decode-and-forward protocol. The simulation results show that the proposed differential technique outperforms the corresponding reference strategies.
A new method of virtual direct torque control of doubly fed induction generator for grid connection
Authors: Zadehbagheri Mahmoud , Sutikno Tole , Kiani Mohammad Javad
Published: October 2022

Over the past few years, due to the shortage of fossil fuels and their unwanted environmental impacts, the use of renewable energy has vastly increased. Among them is wind power, which has been at the center of attention as one of the most important renewable energies. Many studies have been conducted regarding wind farms with variable speeds. Among these, the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) has been of utmost importance due to its capability of separately controlling the active and reactive power, reducing the nominal converter capacity, maintaining constant variable speed frequency, and improving quality. The goal of this study is to control the synchronizing and network connection to the DFIG such that when connected to the network, no pulse is seen in the torque, rotor current, or stator. The method used in this study is known as virtual torque, which is derived from direct torque control, but instead of an electromagnetic torque, we use a virtual one. To implement this method, it is only required to measure the network voltage, current, and rotor position, and changing the control algorithm from synchronizing to grid connection only includes some changes in the flux references and torque, and calculating the electromagnetic torque instead of the virtual one.
Long term temperature stability of thermal cycler developed using low profile microprocessor cooler
Authors: Sakti Setyawan Purnomo , Triqadafi Adin Okta , Putra Aldi Dwi , Putro Triswantoro , Anggraeni Dewi
Published: October 2022

Developing a low-cost thermal cycler for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is becoming interested in the pandemic era caused by viruses. PCR is the standard gold for the diagnostic. However, in a low-income country, the availability of the device is limited. In this work, the development of a thermal cycler uses electronic modules available in the market. The central part is thermoelectric for heating and cooling, an embedded system to control, and a low-profile cooling fan. The system temperature control used a combination of feedforward, bang-bang, and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. The control parameter of the PID was successfully obtained by using Chien servo tuning. The feedforward and bang-bang control are used to optimize the cooling cycle and minimize the rise time. The system shows a well-suited temperature accuracy at the denaturation, annealing, and extension temperature with a temperature deviation of less than 0.5 °C. System performance is maintained even though the system has been running non-stop for 24 hours. The low-profile cooling fan, which is usually used for CPU cooling, shows good results in maintaining temperature stability.