bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Cost of Intelligent Upgrades of Transportation Infrastructure for Intelligent Connected Vehicles
Authors: Liu Zongwei , Song Haokun , Tan Hong , Hao Han , Zhao Fuquan
Published: January 2022

Intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) have become the focus and development direction of the automobile industry. As a flexible intelligent terminal, ICVs will become a necessary part of the intelligent transportation system. The routes of developing ICVs based on “vehicle to X” (V2X) can effectively alleviate the demands of vehicles for intelligent functions and cut related research costs, accelerating commercialization of ICVs and leading to many social benefits. At present, China has made it clear to develop ICVs based on V2X, which requires simultaneous intelligent upgrades of vehicles and transportation infrastructure. Therefore, intelligent upgrades of transportation infrastructure must match the functional requirements of ICVs. In addition, the investment in intelligent upgrades of transportation infrastructure is mainly from the government, so the costs must be controlled reasonably to find the most cost-effective upgrade route. In this paper, the types of intelligent transportation infrastructures were determined by sorting out the demands of ICVs for transportation infrastructure, and the deployment methods and upgrade routes of intelligent transportation infrastructures were designed. Then, the cost evaluation model for intelligent upgrade of transportation infrastructures was established, based on which, the cost evaluation of different intelligent upgrade routes of transportation infrastructure was carried out in closed highway and open urban road scenarios to determine the optimal route. Besides, the key elements affecting the cost of transportation infrastructure upgrades were identified, and their impact degrees on transportation infrastructure upgraded were analyzed by scenario analysis. The results show that the intelligent transportation infrastructure for advanced ICVs mainly includes communication base stations, roadside units (RSUs), vision sensors, millimeter-wave radars, laser radars (LiDARs), meteorological sensors, intelligent signal machines, edge computing servers, and cloud computing centers. The route of deploying primary intelligent transportation infrastructure at first and then directly upgrading them to advanced level can well match the functional requirements of ICVs on the basis of lower costs. The costs of RSUs, LIDARS, and edge computing servers as well as data transmission rate of 5G are key elements affecting the costs of intelligent upgrades of transportation infrastructure.
Anesthetic Management Using Epidural Analgesia for Emergency Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in a Patient with Lupus Anticoagulant Positivity and Prolonged Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
Authors: Watanabe Yasuhiro , Kaneda Toru
Published: January 2022

Lupus anticoagulant (LA), an antiphospholipid antibody, prolongs in vitro activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) despite the presence of a hypercoagulable state in vivo. Irrespective of whether they receive antithrombotic therapy, meticulous anesthetic management is imperative in patients with LA positivity to prevent thrombotic complication. Additionally, emergency surgery in such patients can be challenging, as the time to devise perioperative strategies is limited. Here, we described the case of a patient with LA positivity and prolonged APTT who underwent emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy with successful anesthetic management using epidural analgesia. An 83-year-old woman presented with acute cholecystitis and underwent emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Preoperative blood test results revealed a prolonged APTT of 83 s, prothrombin time/international normalized ratio of 1.14, and normal platelet count. The patient had experienced a marked prolongation of APTT ten years previously, which was attributed to LA positivity, and she had previously undergone surgery for rectal cancer under general and epidural anesthesia. The patient did not receive antithrombotic therapy, and she demonstrated neither liver dysfunction nor a bleeding tendency. We prioritized optimal analgesia to enable early mobilization; therefore, an epidural catheter was placed in preparation for transition to open abdominal surgery. The operation was completed under laparoscopy, and good pain control was achieved postoperatively with continuous epidural analgesia, facilitating early ambulation. The epidural catheter was removed on the second postoperative day, and the patient did not develop any signs of thromboembolism or neurologic complications during her hospital stay. Anesthetic management for emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully performed using epidural analgesia in a patient with LA positivity and prolonged APTT. Careful evaluation of laboratory data, treatment history, and clinical symptoms is of critical importance in such patients.
Comparison of Multi-Satellite Precipitation Data from the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission and Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission Datasets: Seasonal and Diurnal Cycles
Authors: Wang Yilei , Wu Qiaoyan
Published: January 2022

A comparison was made between seasonal and diurnal variations in the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) version 06B Final run and TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) 3B42 version 7 products from April 2014 to March 2019. As for earlier IMERG versions, systematic differences between IMERG version 06B precipitation and TMPA precipitation data were larger over the oceans than over land. Systematic annual mean differences between the IMERG and TMPA data over the oceans were smaller for IMERG version 06B than for earlier IMERG versions, possibly because of updated calibration processes. The mean differences between the IMERG version 06B and TMPA data for tropical oceans were relatively smtropical Pacific for all four seasons were not. The diurnal amplitudes of the IMERG were smaller than those of the TMPA over most continents, and the differences increased with mean diurnal amplitudes. The diurnal amplitudes of the IMERG were larger than those of the TMPA data over the oceans. The differences between the phases of the precipitation diurnal harmonics in the IMERG and TMPA datasets varied widely in all four seasons, but the mean phases were almost the same over both the oceans and the land. The sources of the differences in diurnal precipitation amplitudes in the Bay of Bengal and along the west coast of Central America, which showed large diurnal ranges and rather different diurnal amplitudes, were assessed. Differences in seasonal means caused differences in diurnal amplitudes in the Bay of Bengal, but for Central America, differences in diurnal amplitudes were associated with seasonal mean diurnal amplitudes.
Black-Box Adversarial Attacks against Audio Forensics Models
Authors: Jiang Yi , Ye Dengpan
Published: January 2022

Speech synthesis technology has made great progress in recent years and is widely used in the Internet of things, but it also brings the risk of being abused by criminals. Therefore, a series of researches on audio forensics models have arisen to reduce or eliminate these negative effects. In this paper, we propose a black-box adversarial attack method that only relies on output scores of audio forensics models. To improve the transferability of adversarial attacks, we utilize the ensemble-model method. A defense method is also designed against our proposed attack method under the view of the huge threat of adversarial examples to audio forensics models. Our experimental results on 4 forensics models trained on the LA part of the ASVspoof 2019 dataset show that our attacks can get a

99
%

attack success rate on score-only black-box models, which is competitive to the best of white-box attacks, and

60
%

attack success rate on decision-only black-box models. Finally, our defense method reduces the attack success rate to

16
%

and guarantees

98
%

detection accuracy of forensics models.
The Information-Theoretic Treatment of Spinless Particles with the Assorted Diatomic Molecular Potential
Authors: Roshanzamir Muhammad
Published: January 2022

The relativistic solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation comprising an interaction of the generalized inversely quadratic Yukawa potential mixed linearly with the hyperbolic Schiöberg molecular potential is achieved employing the idea of parametric Nikiforov-Uvarov and the Greene-Aldrich approximation scheme. The energy spectra and the corresponding normalized wave functions are derived regarding the hypergeometric function in a closed form for arbitrary

ℓ

-state. Numerical results of the energy eigenvalue are proposed. Moreover, special circumstances of this potential are reviewed, and their energy eigenvalues were assessed. Subsequently, the Tsallis entropy and Rényi entropy both in position and momentum spaces are defined under the desired potential. The impacts of these entropies on the angular momentum quantum number are explored in detail.
Predicting User Susceptibility to Phishing Based on Multidimensional Features
Authors: Yang Rundong , Zheng Kangfeng , Wu Bin , Li Di , Wang Zhe , Wang Xiujuan
Published: January 2022

While antiphishing techniques have evolved over the years, phishing remains one of the most threatening attacks on current network security. This is because phishing exploits one of the weakest links in a network system—people. The purpose of this research is to predict the possible phishing victims. In this study, we propose the multidimensional phishing susceptibility prediction model (MPSPM) to implement the prediction of user phishing susceptibility. We constructed two types of emails: legitimate emails and phishing emails. We gathered 1105 volunteers to join our experiment by recruiting volunteers. We sent these emails to volunteers and collected their demographic, personality, knowledge experience, security behavior, and cognitive processes by means of a questionnaire. We then applied 7 supervised learning methods to classify these volunteers into two categories using multidimensional features: susceptible and nonsusceptible. The experimental results indicated that some machine learning methods have high accuracy in predicting user phishing susceptibility, with a maximum accuracy rate of 89.04%. We conclude our study with a discussion of our findings and their future implications.
A Comprehensive Analysis on Interference Avoidance for Dynamic Spectrum Sharing between FDD LTE and NR
Authors: Wang Jun , Mu Dejun
Published: January 2022

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis on the interference avoidance for dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) between FDD LTE and NR to solve the coverage layer for NR standalone (SA) network with low FDD LTE bands. In the first place, detailed collisions between FDD LTE and NR are presented and involved with physical control channel, physical data channel, and physical signal of both downlink and uplink. The corresponding principle of collision avoidance is also proposed based on the flexible configuration of NR physical layer in both the time domain and the frequency domain. Due to LTE CRS across the whole bandwidth, the collide with LTE CRS cannot be fully avoided by flexible configuration and need LTE CRS puncturing or NR puncturing on these collided LTE CRS with DSS activation. However, both LTE CRS puncturing and NR puncturing more or less cause the impacts on the performance. As with NR puncturing for LTE CRS, the simulation analysis on the impacts of NR SSB and RMSI is presented. On the other hand, LTE CRS puncturing influences the reception performance of LTE UE, and we analyze the impact of RSRP measurement, demodulation, and frequency/time offset measurement by simulation. Finally, capacity loss also is explained based on essential overhead.
Design of Commercial Building Complex Based on 3D Landscape Interaction
Authors: Wang Hongfei
Published: January 2022

The needs of visualization of multidimensional information of the earth, 3D virtual construction, and engineering design are driving research into some technologies of 3D landscape interactive design. The function and availability of the 3D landscape interactive system are largely determined by an efficient interactive algorithm, which is an essential part of the interactive design system of commercial architecture landscape. This paper investigates and evaluates the current state of 3D landscape intersection in landscape design, compares and evaluates existing 3D landscape modeling methods, and proposes some recommendations for the feasibility of a 3D commercial building performance scheme that will serve as a model for future large-scale urban commercial building landscape modeling. When the landscape is represented by objective substances like visual images, people are more likely to actively engage with nature and make automatic decisions based on physiological responses. The introduction of 3D technology has given people’s lives a new lease on life, and it is critical to optimize urban planning and management.
Comparison Study between Cherry and Arabic Gums in Preparation and Characterization of Orange Peel Extract Nanocapsules
Authors: Al-idee T. , Habbal H. , Karabet F. , Alghoraibi I.
Published: January 2022

This study was aimed at determining the potential use of cherry gum (CG) and chitosan (CS) as wall materials, to encapsulate an orange peel extract (PE) via the ionic gelation method and compare its efficiency with that of Arabic gum (AG). Different ratios of chitosan to gum (1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 3, v/v) and CS to PE (1 : 0.5, 1 : 1, and 1 : 1.5, v/v) were studied to evaluate the nanocapsule properties. The results showed that the capsules entrapping the PE were successfully created with an encapsulation efficiency (EE %) of more than 80% via the ionic gelation method. The ratio of chitosan : gums and CS : PE was affecting both the encapsulation efficiency and capsule size. The capsules’ spherical shape and nanometer size were confirmed using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The relative ratios 1 : 1 of CS : CG and 1 : 0.5 of CS : PE gave the highest EE% (89.27%) with an average capsule size of 70 nm, whereas the maximum EE% with AG was 97.39% with a mean size of 50 nm at the CS : PE ratio of 1 : 0.5 and AG : CS ratio of 1 : 2. The release profile of PE from the CS‐CG matrix during 240 min under acidic and alkaline conditions was about 94.45% and 98.53%, respectively, and that from the CS‐AG matrix was about 25.54% and 19.49%, respectively. The FTIR spectra confirmed the electrostatic interactions between the protonated amino group of chitosan (‐NH3+) and carboxylic ions (−COO−) of the gums. These findings indicated that the CS‐CG could be used as an efficient and ecofriendly coating material for nanoencapsulation of PE.
Implications of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Hyperpigmentation Disorders
Authors: Xing Xiaoxue , Dan Yanjun , Xu Zhongyi , Xiang Leihong
Published: January 2022

Oxidative stress represents an imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and the ability of antioxidant systems to decompose those products. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, melanoma, and other skin diseases. Regulatory networks involving oxidative stress and related pathways are widely represented in hypopigmentation diseases, particularly vitiligo. However, there is no complete review into the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of hyperpigmentation disorders, especially regarding associations involving oxidative stress and cellular signaling pathways. Here, we review oxidative and antioxidant systems, oxidative stress-induced signal transduction mechanisms, and effects of antioxidant drugs used in preclinical and clinical settings in hyperpigmentation disorders.
A State‐Dependent Impulsive Nonlinear System with Ratio‐Dependent Action Threshold for Investigating the Pest‐Natural Enemy Model
Authors: Ullah Khan Ihsan , Ullah Saif , Bonyah Ebenezer , Al Alwan Basem , Alshehri Ahmed
Published: January 2022

Based on the Lotka–Volterra system, a pest‐natural enemy model with nonlinear feedback control as well as nonlinear action threshold is introduced. The model characterizes the implementation of comprehensive prevention and control measures when the pest density reaches the nonlinear action threshold level depending on the pest density and its change rate. The mortality rate of the pest is a saturation function that strictly depends on their density while the release of natural enemies is also a nonlinear pulse term depending on the density of real‐time natural enemies. The exact impulsive and phase sets are given. The definition and properties of the Poincaré map corresponding to the pulse points on the phase set are provided. We investigate the existence and stability of boundary and interior order‐1 periodic solution. The theoretical analysis developed in the present paper combined with nonlinear controlling measures as well as nonlinear action threshold methods and techniques laid the foundation for the establishment and analysis of other state‐dependent feedback control models.
Influence of Melatonin on Behavioral and Neurological Function of Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via the JNK/FoxO3a/Bim Pathway
Authors: Chen Xingwang , Shen Xueyuan , Lai Jianbo , Yao Zhijun , Peng Xian , Wu Long , Ou Yuantong , Wu Huachu , Zhu Haofeng , Deng Yiyu
Published: January 2022

Objective. To investigate the influence of melatonin on behavioral and neurological function of rats with focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the JNK/FoxO3a/Bim pathway. Methods. One hundred and twenty healthy male SD rats were randomized into the model group (Model: the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was constructed and received an equal volume of normal saline containing 5% DMSO), sham operation group (Sham: received no treatment except normal feeding), and low, medium, and high dose of melatonin group (L-MT, M-MT, and H-MT intraperitoneally injected 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg melatonin 30 min after IR, respectively), with 24 rats in each group. Following 24 h of reperfusion, the rats in each of the above groups were tested for neurological deficit symptoms and behavioral changes to screen the rats included in the study. HE and TUNEL stainings were performed to observe pathological changes. Levels of oxidative stress-related indexes, inflammatory factor-related indexes, nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the rat brain were measured by ELISA. The JNK/FoxO3a/Bim pathway-related proteins as well as Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and Bax were examined using Western blot. Results. Detection of behavioral indicators showed that the MACO model was successfully constructed in rats. L-MT, M-MT, and L-MT groups presented reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, NF-κB p65, and apoptosis compared with the Model group (

P
<
0.05

), and the improvement degree was better in the M-MT group versus the L-HT group. Bcl-2 protein expression in the brain tissue of L-MT, M-MT, and H-MT groups increased significantly, while Bax, Caspase-3, p-JNK, p-FoxO3a, and Bim protein expression declined markedly, versus the Model group (

P
<
0.05

). The changes of indexes were greater in the M-MT group compared with that in the L-MT group. No significant difference was observed in all the above indexes between the M-MT group and the H-MT group (

P
>
0.05

). Conclusions. In the MACO rat model, melatonin can effectively reduce Bax and Caspase-3 levels by modulating the JNK/FoxO3a/Bim pathway, inhibit neuronal apoptosis, and alleviate neurological deficits by reducing the release of proinflammatory mediators, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In addition, 20 mg/kg is the optimal melatonin concentration.
Research and Application of a Proppant Transport Experimental Device for Complex Fractures in the Unconventional Reservoir
Authors: Peng Huan , Fan Yu , Peng Junliang , Han Huifen , Gao Xinping , Wang Liang , Gou Xinghao , Yin Yuelin , Zhou Yuchao
Published: January 2022

Due to the brittleness of the shale and tight reservoir and the development of natural fractures and horizontal beddings, complex fractures will be built by shear slip and tensile failure during multistaged horizontal well fracturing. Whether proppant can enter complex fractures and form effective support in main fractures and branch fractures determines conductivity of the complex fracture and stimulation effect of multistaged horizontal well fracturing. By means of discretization of disordered complex fractures, the orthogonal three-dimensional physical model of complex fractures is obtained and the complex fracture experimental device for simulating fracture complexity is developed and a complete set of proppant transport characteristic experimental device in unconventional reservoir complex fractures is formed. Combined with field parameters and lab experiments, the influence of proppant performance parameters and discharge capacity to proppant transport characteristics in complex fractures of the unconventional reservoir is studied. And on the basis of experimental results and analysis, the sensitivity analysis method is applied to analyze the influence degree of proppant transport characteristics in complex fractures of the shale or tight sandstone reservoir. The sensitivity order of influence factors is fracture morphology, proppant performance, liquid viscosity, displacement, and proppant concentration. The experimental device and research results can provide strong experimental support for the optimisation of shale or tight sandstone fracturing materials and field parameters.
Investigation on the Effect of Graded Emergency Nursing Group under the Assistance of Multidisciplinary First Aid Knowledge Internet-Based Approach on the First Aid of Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Song Lili , Lu Han , Ru Hong , Zhao Xue
Published: January 2022

Objective. To analyze the effect of a graded emergency nursing group under the assistance of multidisciplinary first aid knowledge Internet-based approach on the first aid of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods. The clinical data of 90 AMI patients treated in our hospital from March 2019 to March 2020 were selected for the retrospective analysis, and the patients were divided into the observation group and the routine group according to the first aid order, with 45 cases each. The patients in the routine group received the conventional first aid measures, and the graded emergency nursing group mode with the help of multidisciplinary first aid knowledge Internet-based approach was adopted for those in the observation group so as to compare the prognosis, nursing satisfaction scores, etc., between the two groups. Results. Compared with the routine group, patients in the observation group obtained significantly lower various fast reaction indicators and quality of life score (

P
<
0.001

), higher nursing satisfaction score (

P
<
0.001

), lower total complication rate (

P
<
0.05

), higher successful rescue rate (

P
<
0.05

), and lower AMI recurrence rate and PCI reuse rate (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Rescue measures by the graded emergency nursing group with the help of multidisciplinary first aid knowledge Internet-based approach are a reliable method for improving AMI patients, and such strategy greatly promotes patients’ quality of life and reduces the PCI reuse rate. Further research will be conducive to establishing a better solution for AMI patients.
CUCKOO-ANN Based Novel Energy-Efficient Optimization Technique for IoT Sensor Node Modelling
Authors: Bhargava Deepshikha , Prasanalakshmi B. , Vaiyapuri Thavavel , Alsulami Hemaid , Serbaya Suhail H. , Rahmani Abdul Wahab
Published: January 2022

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) based on the Internet of Things (IoT) are now one of the most prominent wireless sensor communication technologies. WSNs are often developed for particular applications such as monitoring or tracking in either indoor or outdoor environments, where battery power is a critical consideration. To overcome this issue, several routing approaches have been presented in recent years. Nonetheless, the extension of the network lifetime in light of the sensor capabilities remains an open subject. In this research, a CUCKOO-ANN based optimization technique is applied to obtain a more efficient and dependable energy efficient solution in IoT-WSN. The proposed method uses time constraints to minimize the distance between sources and sink with the objective of a low-cost path. Using the property of CUCKOO method for solving nonlinear problem and utilizing the ANN parallel handling capability, this method is formulated. The resented model holds significant promise since it reduces average execution time, has a high potential for enhancing data centre energy efficiency, and can effectively meet customer service level agreements. By considering the mobility of the nodes, the technique outperformed with an efficiency of 98% compared with other methods. The MATLAB software is used to simulate the proposed model.
Explanation on the Abnormal Behavior during the Nanoindentation Holding Stages by Amplifying Oscillation
Authors: Xu Jiahui , Li Guichen , Bi Ruiyang , Rong Haoyu , Sun Changlun
Published: January 2022

Recently, the holding states of nanoindentation experiments have been widely used to analyze the time‐dependent deformations of various rocks, and the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) method seems to be more applicable than the quasi‐static mechanical analysis (QMA) method when the influence of creep deformation on mechanical properties of rocks was analyzed. However, the former method causes an abnormal behavior during the creep holding stages that was not clearly interpreted.2 Consequently, in this study, by amplifying the oscillation of the DMA method, the mechanical mechanism of this phenomenon was explained. Experimental results confirm that the rheological deformation of rocks consists of the creep deformation (depth increasing) and the elastic aftereffect deformation (depth decreasing) during the creep time with small oscillation; once the elastic aftereffect deformation exceeds the creep deformation, the abnormal behavior can be observed. Besides, some other abnormal behaviors might be found for other rock materials when the DMA method with different oscillations is used, which illustrates the complexity and limitation of applying this method. Thus, the QMA method was recommended to investigate the above questions in future studies.
A Universal Synergistic Rule of Cd(II)-Sb(V) Coadsorption to Typical Soil Mineral and Organic Components
Authors: Zhou Min , Yang Ruijia , Tan Xiaoyu , Tie Boqing , Lei Ming , Du Huihui
Published: January 2022

Heavy metals and metalloids are common cooccurrence in contaminated soils, making their behaviors more complex than their individual presences. Adsorption to soil minerals and organic components determines the solubility and mobility of heavy metals. However, little information is available regarding coadsorbing metals (e.g., Cd) and metalloids (e.g., Sb) to soil components, and whether there is a universal coadsorption rule needs to be illuminated. This study investigated the coadsorption behaviors of Cd(II) and Sb(V) to goethite, kaolinite, and bacteria ( Bacillus cereus) at both acidic (pH 4.5) and alkaline pH (pH 8.5). Equilibrium adsorption experiments, coupled with scanning electron microscopy- (SEM-) energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), were applied to determine the batch adsorption phenomena and possible mechanisms. Batch results showed that Cd(II) adsorption was greater at pH 8.5 whereas Sb(V) adsorption was greater at pH 4.5. The presence of Cd or Sb promoted each other’s adsorption to goethite, kaolinite, and bacteria, but slight differences were that Sb(V) preferred to enhance Cd(II) adsorption at acidic pH, whereas Cd(II) was more able to increase Sb(V) adsorption at alkaline pH. SEM-EDS analyses further showed that the distribution of Cd and Sb was colocalized. The surface FeOH, AlOH, and COOH groups participated in the binding of Cd(II) and Sb(V), probably through the formation of inner-sphere complexes. Two possible ternary complexes, i.e., sorbent-Cd2+-Sb(OH)6 – and sorbent-Sb(OH)6 –-Cd2+, were possibly formed. Both the charge effect and the formation of ternary complexes were responsible for the collaborative coadsorbing of Cd-Sb. The universal synergistic rule obtained suggests that current models for predicting Cd(II) or Sb(V) sequestration based on single systems may underestimate their solid-to-liquid distribution ratio in a coexistence situation. The results obtained have important implications for understanding the chemical behavior of Sb and Cd in contaminated soils.
Adipose-Derived Stem Cell-Incubated HA-Rich Sponge Matrix Implant Modulates Oxidative Stress to Enhance VEGF and TGF-β Secretions for Extracellular Matrix Reconstruction In Vivo
Authors: Cheng Yu-Shen , Yen Hung-Hsun , Chang Chung-Yen , Lien Wei-Chih , Huang Shu-Hung , Lee Su-Shin , Wang Lin , Wang Hui-Min David
Published: January 2022

This study demonstrated both adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in vitro and in vivo combined with three-dimensional (3D) porous sponge matrices on implant wound healing. Sponge matrices were created from hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen (Col), and gelatin (Gel), constructing two types: HA-L (low content) and HA-H (high content), to be cross-linked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method verified carboxyl groups of HA and amino groups of Col and Gel reacting between the raw materials and scaffolds to identify the successive cross-linking. The swelling ratios of two types of sponge matrices were analyzed by water absorption capabilities, and the results displayed both over 30-fold dry scaffold weight enhancements. In biodegradation tests, matrices were hydrolyzed over time by three cutaneous enzymes, hyaluronidase, lysozyme, and collagenase I. ASCs from rats were cultured within the HA-H scaffold, demonstrating higher antioxidative abilities and secretions on related genes and proteins compared to the other two groups. The ASC HA-H matrix promoted cell proliferation to stimulate capillary angiogenesis inducer secretions, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). In vivo histological examinations showed ASCs from implanted HA-H implant transported into the subcutis, and rat skin cells also infiltrated into the original matrix zone to increase the extracellular matrix (ECM) reconstructions. Our experimental data revealed that the ASC HA-H sponge implant was effective in improving wound repair.
A Novel Intelligent Approach to Lane-Change Behavior Prediction for Intelligent and Connected Vehicles
Authors: Du Luyao , Chen Wei , Ji Jing , Pei Zhonghui , Tong Bingming , Zheng Hongjiang
Published: January 2022

The prediction of lane-change behavior is a challenging issue in intelligent and connected vehicles (ICVs), which can help vehicles predict in advance and change lanes safely. In this paper, a novel intelligent approach, which considering both the driving style-based lane-change environment and the driving trajectory-related parameters of the ICV and surrounding vehicles, is proposed to predict the lane-change behaviors for ICVs. By analyzing the characteristics of the lane-change behavior of the vehicle, a modified dataset for the prediction of lane-change behavior was established based on the Next-Generation Simulation (NGSIM) dataset, which is made up of real vehicle trajectories collected by camera. In the proposed approach, the hidden Markov model (HMM)-based model is designed to judge whether the current environment is suitable for lane change according to the driving environment parameters around the vehicle; then according to the driving state of the vehicle, a learning-based prediction-then-judgment model is proposed and designed to realize the prediction of the ICV’s lane-change behavior. Experiments are implemented by using the modified dataset. From the experimental results, the lane-change probability value on the target lane in the truth of the lane-change behavior calculated by the designed HMM-based model is basically above 0.5, indicating that the model can make a more accurate judgment on the surrounding lane-change environment. The proposed learning-based prediction-then-judgment model has an accuracy of 99.32% for the prediction of lane-change behavior, and the accuracy of the lane-change detection algorithm in the model is 99.56%. The experimental results show that the proposed approach has a good performance in the prediction of lane-change behavior, which could effectively assist ICVs to change lanes safely.
MSC-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Delivered L-PGDS Inhibit Gastric Cancer Progression by Suppressing Cancer Cell Stemness and STAT3 Phosphorylation
Authors: You Benshuai , Jin Can , Zhang Jiaxin , Xu Min , Xu Wenrong , Sun Zixuan , Qian Hui
Published: January 2022

Mesenchymal stem cell- (MSC-) derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) serving as delivery system have attracted extensive research interest, especially in cancer therapy. In our previous study, lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (L-PGDS) showed inhibitory effects on gastric cancer growth. In this study, we aimed to explore whether MSC-EV-delivered L-PGDS (EVs-L-PGDS) could inhibit gastric cancer progression. EVs-L-PGDS were generated from MSCs transfected with adenovirus encoding L-PGDS. Cell colony-forming, migration, invasion, and flow cytometry assays were used to show the inhibitory effects of EVs on tumor cells in vitro, and the nude mouse subcutaneous tumor model was performed to show the inhibitory effect of EVs on tumor progression in vivo. In vitro, EVs-L-PGDS could be internalized and inhibit the colony-forming, migration, and invasion ability of gastric cancer cell SGC-7901 and promote cell apoptosis. In vivo, EVs-L-PGDS inhibited the tumor growth in nude mouse subcutaneous tumor-bearing model. Compared with the PBS and EVs containing empty vector (EVs-Vector) group, more apoptotic cells and higher L-PGDS expression were detected in tumor tissue of the EVs-L-PGDS treatment group. And these differences are significant. Mechanistically, EVs-L-PGDS reduced the expression of stem cell markers including Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2 and inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation in gastric cancer cell SGC-7901. In conclusion, our results imply that MSC-derived EVs could be utilized as an effective nanovehicle to deliver L-PGDS for gastric cancer treatment, which provides a novel idea for the EV-based cancer therapy.
miR-466 Contributes to the Enhanced Antitumor Effect of Bortezomib on Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer by Inhibiting CCND1
Authors: Wang Wei-hua , Zhan Jia-ming , Tang Yan-Lei , Zhou Ning , Liu Wei-yan , Jiang Dao-wen
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Changes in microRNAs (miRs) contribute to the alternative chemo-resistance of cancers. Bortezomib (BTZ) is a well-characterized anticancer agent that inhibits proteasome, and its effect is associated with the function of miRs. Based on the data of microarray assay and comprehensive bioinformatics analyses, in the current study, we explored the role of miR-466 and its downstream effector CCND1 in the BTZ-resistance of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: miR expression profiles in NSCLC tissues and paratumor tissues were determined with microarray assay. The potential miR involved in the chemo-resistance of NSCLC cells was explored via a series of bioinformatics analyses, and miR-466 was selected. Afterward, levels of miR-466 and CCND1 were investigated in NSCLC samples and analyzed by clinicopathologic parameters, including age, sex, stage of NSCLC, tumor size, tumor differentiation status, and lymphocytic infiltration status. The expression of CCND1 and miR-466 was then modulated in vitro to explore the influence on cell phenotypes, which was then verified with mouse models. Results: Based on microarray detection, 287 miRs were dysexpressed between NSCLC tissues and paratumor tissues, including 90 upregulated members and 197 downregulated members. After bioinformatics analyses and reverse transcription quantitative PCR validation, miR-466 and CCND1 were selected. Following clinical investigations, miR-466 was downregulated, while CCND1 was upregulated in NSCLC samples, contributing to the advanced cancer progression. The overexpression of CCND1 increased cell viability, suppressed cell apoptosis, decreased p21 and induced N-cadherin, CCND2, and CDK4 under BTZ treatment. The induced expression of miR-466 re-sensitized NSCLC cells to BTZ treatment. In the animal model, the overexpression of CCND1 impaired the inhibitory effect of BTZ on the growth and metastasis of solid tumor, which was restored by miR-466 induction. Conclusion: The findings showed that the interaction between BTZ, miR-466, and CCND1 determined the antitumor effect of BTZ on NSCLC.
Quantitative and Qualitative Differences of Action Verbal Fluency between Young and Older Adults
Authors: Kim Soomin , Jang Hyuna , Choi Sou Jin , Kim Hyung-Ji , Lee Jae-Hong , Kwon Miseon
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Action verbal fluency (AVF) task, a word fluency test, involves language and executive function and is known to be sensitive to fronto-striatal degeneration. However, the ability may also decrease qualitatively as well as quantitatively in normal aging. The objective of this study is to investigate the age-related quantitative and qualitative differences in AVF of Korean adults. Methods: We analyzed data from 78 participants of 40 young (mean age = 28.9) and 38 older adults (mean age = 67.7). The correct responses in the AVF task were measured for quantitative analysis. Qualitatively, the mean number of arguments required by each verb was calculated for syntactic analysis. For semantic analysis, we subclassified verbs according to their characteristics (e.g., moment vs. non-moment verbs/active vs. non-active verbs) and calculated the ratio for comparison. The results of AVF were also compared to those of semantic/phonemic fluency and the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K). Results: The older group showed quantitatively lower performance in AVF than the young group (p < 0.01). The result of the AVF task significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with both semantic/phonemic fluency and the MoCA-K. Also, the older group produced syntactically more simple verbs than the counterpart (p < 0.01). In the semantic analysis, the older group produced fewer moment verbs (p < 0.05) but more non-moment verbs (p < 0.05) than the young group. There was no difference in active or non-active verbs between two groups. Conclusion: These results indicated that the ability of AVF declines with age not only quantitatively but also qualitatively in relation to their cognitive changes.
Oral L-Arginine (5 g/day) for 14 Days Improves Microcirculatory Function in Healthy Young Women and Healthy and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Elderly Women
Authors: Costa Gerusa , Shushanof Milenna , Bouskela Eliete , Bottino Daniel
Published: January 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral supplementation with L-arginine on serum biochemical profile, blood pressure, microcirculation, and vasoreactivity/endothelial function in young controls, and elderly women with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Healthy young (n = 25), healthy elderly (n = 25), and elderly women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DME, n = 23, glycated Hb ≥6.4% and mean of 7.7 years for duration of the disease), aged 18–30 and older than 65 years, respectively, were included in the study. All patients underwent biochemical analysis (fasting glycemia and lipidogram), arterial blood pressure, nailfold videocapillaroscopy (capillary diameters, functional capillary density [FCD], peak red blood cell velocity [RBCVmax] after 1 min ischemia, time to reach peak RBCV [TRBCVmax]), and venous occlusion plethysmography (vasoreactivity), before and after 14 days of oral supplementation with L-arginine (5 g/day). Results: L-Arginine did not change fasting glycemia and lipidogram, but it decreased systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure in elderly women, increased RBCVmax in all groups, and did not decrease TRBCVmax in T2DME. Capillary diameters and FCD remained unchanged in all groups. L-Arginine improved vasoreactivity during reactive hyperemia and after sublingual nitroglycerin (0.4 mg) in all groups. Conclusion: L-Arginine supplementation (5g/day during 14 days) was able to improve vascular/microvascular health in the elderly women with or without T2DM.
The Skin and Nose Microbiome and Its Association with Filaggrin Gene Mutations in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: van Mierlo Minke M.F. , Pardo Luba M. , Fieten Karin B. , van den Broek Tim J. , Schuren Frank H.J. , van Geel Michel , Pasmans Suzanne G.M.A.
Published: January 2022

Background: Interactions between the skin barrier, immune system, and microbiome underlie the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective: To investigate the skin and nasal microbiome in relation to filaggrin gene (FLG) mutations. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 77 children with difficult-to-treat AD. The entire encoding region of FLG was screened for mutations using single molecule molecular inversion probes and next-generation sequencing. Bacterial swabs from the anterior nares, lesional and nonlesional skin were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. For skin samples, additional qPCR was performed for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results: The prevalence of patients with a mutation in FLG was 40%, including 10 different mutations. Analyzing bacterial swabs from all three niches showed a significant effect for both niche and FLG mutation status on the overall microbiome composition. Using a subset analysis to test the effect of FLG mutation status per niche separately did not show a significant association to the microbiome. Shannon diversity and S. aureus abundance were significantly affected by the niche, but not by the presence of an FLG mutation. Conclusions: Our results suggest only a minor role for FLG mutation status on the overall microbiome, which is rather caused by differences in the present genera than by microbe richness and evenness.
Late-Onset Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Right Facial Nerve Palsy after COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Taguchi Meari , Bonner Kyle , Memon Anza Bilal
Published: January 2022

Here, we present a case of late-onset Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with COVID-19. A 70-year-old woman presented with ascending paralysis and right lower motor neuron facial weakness 2 months after COVID-19 infection. Test results for SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin were positive at the time of presentation. Lumbar puncture showed albuminocytological dissociation, and electrophysiology showed features of demyelination with secondary axon loss. In the published literature on GBS associated with COVID-19, almost all patients presented with neurological symptoms 1–4 weeks after the infection. GBS can be an early or late manifestation after COVID-19. Patients with signs of paraparesis and facial weakness after COVID-19 should be carefully evaluated for immune-mediated central and peripheral nervous system disorders.
Development of Sensitization to Multiple Allergen Molecules from Preschool to School Age Is Related to Asthma
Authors: Filiou Anastasia , Holmdahl Idun , Asarnoj Anna , van Hage Marianne , Ekenkrantz Tina , Rydell Niclas , Sjölander Anders , Stenberg-Hammar Katarina , Hedlin Gunilla , Konradsen Jon R. , Söderhäll Cilla
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Allergic sensitization in early life has been identified as a strong risk factor for subsequent asthma in childhood. It is still unclear why only a part of sensitized children develop asthma, and the role of specific allergen molecules in asthma pathogenesis is ambiguous [Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Feb;121(2):174–84]. We assessed the sensitization to multiple allergen molecules longitudinally and explored its relation to persistent asthma at 7 years. Methods: Seventy-two children included during an acute wheezing episode (cases) were followed prospectively from early preschool age (EPA) to age 7, and compared to 43 healthy controls at EPA. Allergen molecules were analyzed at EPA and age 7 using ImmunoCAP Solid-phase Allergen Chip (ISAC). Asthma diagnosis at 7 years was based on symptoms, medication, and spirometry. Results: At EPA, cases compared to controls showed a tendency toward having a higher prevalence of allergic sensitization (23.6% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.055). The prevalence of sensitization increased in cases from EPA to 7 years (23.6% vs. 38.9%; p = 0.048) as well as the median number (range) of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-reactive molecules 3 (3–14) versus 6.5 (1–21); p = 0.024. Sensitization to each additional molecule from EPA to the age of 7 was significantly related to asthma at 7 (OR = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [1.01, 1.54]). Conclusion: Polysensitization, assessed by allergen molecules, had a significant impact on persistent asthma at school age. The extent of sensitization, illustrated by molecular spreading from preschool to school age, was related to asthma diagnosis at 7 years in children with a history of wheezing at early life.
Factors Affecting Nivolumab Therapy Outcome in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Single-Center Analysis
Authors: Iwasa Yoh-ichiro , Yokota Yoh , Kitoh Ryosuke , Mori Kentaro , Tsukada Keita , Sekiguchi Nodoka , Fukushima Toshirou , Kobayashi Takashi , Kanda Shintaro , Takumi Yutaka , Koizumi Tomonobu
Published: January 2022

Background: Nivolumab, a programmed death-1 antibody, is an immune checkpoint inhibitor approved in Japan in March 2017 for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers (RM-HNCs) after platinum drug administration. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nivolumab and to determine the prognostic factors affecting the treatment outcome, in a real-world setting in Japanese RM-HNCs. Methods: Forty-six patients with RM-HNCs treated with nivolumab between April 2017 and April 2021 at Shinshu University Hospital were retrospectively assessed in this cohort study. Results: The overall response rate was 17.4%, and the disease control rate was 41.3%. The median first and second progression-free survival (PFS1 and PFS2) were 2.6 and 10.3 months, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 14.8 months. Multivariate analysis showed that performance status (PS) (p = 0.003) and a decrease in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (p = 0.02) were significantly associated with a better OS, and a decrease in NLR (p = 0.035) was associated with a better PFS2. Conclusions: This study is the first report of PFS2 in RM-HNCs treated with nivolumab; the long PFS2 may contribute to prolonged OS. We propose that the PS and a decrease in NLR could be useful clinical prognostic markers of nivolumab therapy, which can easily be evaluated in the clinical setting.