bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
[Retracted] Optimization and Simulation of Farmland Protection Dynamic Monitoring System Based on Internet of Things Technology
Authors: Hu Bixia , Zhang Wei , Ma Tao , Zhao Zhizhong
Published: July 2021

Based on the status quo of cultivated land, this paper analyzes the existing problems and builds a dynamic monitoring system for cultivated land protection. It works by using the Internet of Things technology and geographic and national conditions to realize the systematization, informatization, and socialization of cultivated land protection, thereby promoting the sustainable development of cultivated land and social stability and harmony. This paper puts forward relevant countermeasures and suggestions for the protection of cultivated land. This paper constructs the farmland protection dynamic monitoring system, proposes the goals of the system construction, points out the ideas of the system construction, and designs and analyzes the key points of the system composition. The system includes seven subsystems, and the functions and specific contents of the subsystems are explained, respectively, to build the entire system. Then, we put forward the financial, technical, and implementation problems of the system, and find out countermeasures, expand the system research, propose the development of the dynamic monitoring system of cultivated land protection in the direction of intelligence and convenience, and expand the application to food safety and disasters. In terms of forecasting, comprehensive evaluation of the existence and operation of the system is carried out by designing evaluation indicators and weights for the operation of the system.
[Retracted] Analysis of Body Behavior Characteristics after Sports Training Based on Convolution Neural Network
Authors: Zhou Xinliang , Wen Shantian
Published: July 2021

The use of artificial intelligence technology to analyze human behavior is one of the key research topics in the world. In order to detect and analyze the characteristics of human body behavior after training, a detection model combined with a convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed. Firstly, the human skeleton suggestion model is established to analyze the driving mode of the human body in motion. Secondly, the number of layers and neurons in CNN are set according to the skeleton feature map. Then, the output information is classified according to the fatigue degree according to the body state after exercise. Finally, the training and performance test of the model are carried out, and the effect of the body behavior feature detection model in use is analyzed. The results show that the CNN designed in the study shows high accuracy and low loss rate in training and testing and also has high accuracy in the practical application of fatigue degree recognition after human training. According to the subjective evaluation of volunteers, the overall average evaluation is more than 9 points. The above results show that the designed convolution neural network‐based detection model of body behavior characteristics after training has good performance and is feasible and practical, which has guiding significance for the design of sports training and training schemes.
Picard Method for Existence, Uniqueness, and Gauss Hypergeomatric Stability of the Fractional-Order Differential Equations
Authors: Eidinejad Zahra , Saadati Reza , De La Sen Manuel
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we consider a class of fractional-order differential equations and investigate two aspects of these equations. First, we consider the existence of a unique solution, and then, using a new class of control functions, we investigate the Gauss hypergeometric stability. We use Chebyshev and Bielecki norms in order to prove these aspects by the Picard method. Finally, we give some examples to illustrate our results.
Comparison of the Metabolites of Water Polo Players before and after Competition by the Metabolomic Approach
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Abdella Kemal Mohammed
Published: July 2021

Background. The metabolic characteristics of body fluids of excellent water polo players before and after competition have not been reported. The purpose of the study was to compare the metabolites in the urine of water polo players before and after competition by 1H-NMR-based metabolomic approach. Methods. Twenty-six young water polo players participated in the study voluntarily. The urine and blood samples of players were collected one week before competition (A), immediately after competition (B), and one week after competition (C). Metabolomic analysis was conducted on the urine samples. Urine routine items and biochemical indicators in blood samples were detected. Results. Metabolomic results showed that the contents of eleven metabolites including lactic acid, acetoacetate, and succinic acid in the urine of the subjects increased and four metabolites such as dimethylamine, choline, and glucose decreased at stage B. Most metabolites at stage C had basically returned to the levels at stage A. Pyruvate metabolism, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, synthesis, and degradation of ketone bodies were mainly involved in the above process. Urine conventional analysis results showed that the urine pH decreased dramatically and the levels of PRO and URO significantly increased at stage B, and the three indicators had similar values between stages A and C. The other indicators did not have obvious difference among the three stages. Analysis of blood biochemical indicators showed that the levels of LDH, BUN, CK, and AST significantly increased at stage B and did not show an obvious difference between stages A and C. The results are helpful for coaches to arrange the athletes’ diet reasonably and to conduct scientific training for athletes.
Low‐Cost and Long‐Range Node‐Assisted WiFi Backscatter Communication for 5G‐Enabled IoT Networks
Authors: Wang Zhimin , Feng Li , Yao Shumin , Xie Kan , Chen Yuqiang
Published: July 2021

The fifth‐generation‐enabled Internet of Things (5G‐enabled IoT) has been considered as a key enabler for the automation of almost all industries. In 5G‐enabled IoT, resource‐limited passive devices are expected to join the IoT using the WiFi backscatter communication (WiFi‐BSC) technology. However, WiFi‐BSC deployment is currently limited due to high equipment cost and short transmission range. To address these two drawbacks, in this paper, we propose a low‐cost and long‐range node‐assisted WiFi backscatter communication scheme. In our scheme, a WiFi node can receive backscatter signals using two cheap regular half‐duplex antennas (instead of using expensive full‐duplex technique or collaborating with multiple other nodes), thereby reducing the equipment cost. Besides, WiFi nodes can help relay backscatter signals to remote 5G infrastructure, greatly extending the backscatter’s transmission range. We then develop a theoretical model to analyze the throughput of WiFi‐BSC. Extensive simulations verify the effectiveness of our scheme and the accuracy of our model.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Supervised Learning Techniques for Electricity Theft Detection
Authors: Bohani Farah Aqilah , Suliman Azizah , Saripuddin Mulyana , Sameon Sera Syarmila , Md Salleh Nur Shakirah , Nazeri Surizal
Published: July 2021

There are many methods or algorithms applicable for detecting electricity theft. However, comparative studies on supervised learning methods for electricity theft detection are still insufficient. In this paper, comparisons based on predictive accuracy, recall, precision, AUC, and F1-score of several supervised learning methods such as decision tree (DT), artificial neural network (ANN), deep artificial neural network (DANN), and AdaBoost are presented and their performances are analyzed. A public dataset from the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) was used for this study. The dataset consisted of power consumption in kWh unit. Based on the analysis results, the DANN outperforms compared to other supervised learning classifiers such as ANN, AdaBoost, and DT in recall, F1-Score, and AUC. A future research direction is the experiments can be performed on other supervised learning algorithms with different types of datasets and suitable preprocessing methods can be applied to produce better performance.
An Advanced Otsu Method Integrated with Edge Detection and Decision Tree for Crack Detection in Highway Transportation Infrastructure
Authors: Han Haihang , Deng Hanyu , Dong Qiao , Gu Xingyu , Zhang Tianjie , Wang Yangyang
Published: July 2021

The detection of various cracks on pavement surfaces has drawn more and more attention from pavement maintenance engineers. In the traditional pavement image segmentation, due to the small area of the pavement cracks, the gray level of crack pixels only accounts for a very small portion in the grayscale histogram, making it difficult to segment. This paper developed an improved Otsu method integrated with edge detection and a decision tree classifier for cracking identification in asphalt pavements. An image preprocessing approach including Gaussian function‐based spatial filtering and top‐hat transform is firstly proposed to reduce the influence of poor shading and lighting effects significantly. Four edge detection operators including Prewitt, Sobel, Gauss–Laplace (LoG), and Canny are evaluated. The Canny edge detection has demonstrated outstanding performance in crack detection; this algorithm helps to obtain more details of both cracks and noises. The Sobel and LoG operators show similar image segmentation and retain fewer noises. The decision tree classifier based on the ID3 algorithm can effectively classify different types of cracks including transverse, longitudinal, and block ones.
Missed Giant Lower Esophageal Leiomyoma in a Young Female Presenting with Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Quach Duc Trong , Le Luu Huy , Ho Quy-Dung Dang
Published: July 2021

Esophageal leiomyoma is a rare disease commonly reported in middle-aged patients with a male predominance. Many patients are asymptomatic, and a few may present with symptoms such as dysphagia and chest pain. However, heartburn is only reported in patients with accompanying hiatal hernia. We hereby report a giant lower esophageal leiomyoma with concomitant hiatal hernia in a young Vietnamese female, who presented with refractory gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. The diagnosis was challenging as the tumor grew outward. As a consequence, the patient did not experience dysphagia and the tumor was hardly detected under endoscopy. The hiatal hernia in this patient was probably related to the presence of the leiomyoma. It is important to look carefully for submucosal tumor at the lower esophagus and cardia under endoscopy in patients with similar manifestations.
Isolation of Prebiotics from Artocarpus integer’s Seed
Authors: Wong Joel-Ching-Jue , Hii Siew-Ling , Koh Chen-Chung
Published: July 2021

There has been a high amount of attention given to prebiotics due to their significant physiological function and health benefits. Prebiotics contain nondigestible compounds that allow specific changes, both in the growth and in the activity of bacteria in the host gastrointestinal tract, that provide benefits upon the host by promoting a healthy digestive system and preventing disease. This study aims at investigating the potential prebiotic activity of bioactive compounds extracted from the seeds of an underutilized indigenous plant Artocarpus integer (A. integer). The optimum microwave-assisted extraction conditions were a microwave power of 1500 W, extraction time of 180 s, and solvent-to-sample ratio of 1000 : 1. The maximum amount of the total carbohydrate content extracted from A. integer was 787 mg/L. The percentage hydrolysis levels of A. integer extract in gastric juice at pH 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 6.14%, 7.12%, 8.98%, and 10.23%, respectively. For enzymatic digestion, the percentage of hydrolysis was 0.16% at pH 7. A. integer extract was found to support the growth of probiotics such as L. acidophilus and L. casei. After 72 hours of incubation, L. acidophilus achieved 6.96

log

10

CFU, whereas L. casei reached 8.33

log

10

CFU. The study makes an important contribution to the development of the use of Sarawakian underutilized plants and to the identification of new sources of prebiotic materials to be used in food.
Accelerating Spark‐Based Applications with MPI and OpenACC
Authors: Alshahrani Saeed , Al Shehri Waleed , Almalki Jameel , Alghamdi Ahmed M. , Alammari Abdullah M.
Published: July 2021

The amount of data produced in scientific and commercial fields is growing dramatically. Correspondingly, big data technologies, such as Hadoop and Spark, have emerged to tackle the challenges of collecting, processing, and storing such large‐scale data. Unfortunately, big data applications usually have performance issues and do not fully exploit a hardware infrastructure. One reason is that applications are developed using high‐level programming languages that do not provide low‐level system control in terms of performance of highly parallel programming models like message passing interface (MPI). Moreover, big data is considered a barrier of parallel programming models or accelerators (e.g., CUDA and OpenCL). Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate how the performance of big data applications can be enhanced without sacrificing the power consumption of a hardware infrastructure. A Hybrid Spark MPI OpenACC (HSMO) system is proposed for integrating Spark as a big data programming model, with MPI and OpenACC as parallel programming models. Such integration brings together the advantages of each programming model and provides greater effectiveness. To enhance performance without sacrificing power consumption, the integration approach needs to exploit the hardware infrastructure in an intelligent manner. For achieving this performance enhancement, a mapping technique is proposed that is built based on the application’s virtual topology as well as the physical topology of the undelaying resources. To the best of our knowledge, there is no existing method in big data applications related to utilizing graphics processing units (GPUs), which are now an essential part of high‐performance computing (HPC) as a powerful resource for fast computation.
MHD Williamson Nanofluid Flow over a Stretching Sheet through a Porous Medium under Effects of Joule Heating, Nonlinear Thermal Radiation, Heat Generation/Absorption, and Chemical Reaction
Authors: Bouslimi J. , Omri M. , Mohamed R. A. , Mahmoud K. H. , Abo-Dahab S. M. , Soliman M. S.
Published: July 2021

In this article, the effect of electromagnetic force with the effect of thermal radiation on the Williamson nanofluid on a stretching surface through a porous medium was studied considering the effect of both heat generation/absorption and Joule heating. On the other hand, the effect of Brownian motion and thermophoresis coefficients was considered. The system of nonlinear partial differential equations governing the study of fluid flow has transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations and nondimensional variables which were subsequently solved numerically by using the Rung-Kutta fourth-order method with shooting technique. Moreover, the effect of the resulting physical parameters on the distributions of velocity, temperature, and concentration of nanoparticles has been studied by using graphical forms with an interest in providing physical meanings to each parameter. Finally, special diagrams were made to explain the study of the effect of some physical parameters on the skin friction coefficient and the local Nusselt number; these results led to reinforcement in the values of the skin friction coefficient for the increased values of the magnetic field and the Darcy number while the effect on the local Nusselt number by thermal radiation as well as the heat generation/absorption coefficients became negative.
Circulating IL‐17 Level Is Positively Associated with Disease Activity in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Yin Rulan , Xu Rong , Ding Lei , Sui Wenjie , Niu Mei’e , Wang Mingjun , Xu Lan , Wang Haifang , Srirat Chomphoonut
Published: July 2021

Previous studies on the relationship between the circulating level of interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were contradictory. This study is aimed at quantitatively assessing the correlation between the circulating IL‐17 level and disease activity in SLE patients. A systematic search for related literature was conducted via PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (up to January 26, 2021). The relationship between circulating IL‐17 levels and SLE activity was evaluated using Fisher’s z value, which was then converted to r. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to describe the difference between the circulating IL‐17 level in patients with active and inactive SLE. STATA 16.0 was used to perform statistical analysis. Random‐effects model was performed to synthesize data. Twenty‐six studies involving 1,560 SLE patients were included in this review. The pooled r value was 0.38 (95% CI: 0.25‐0.50; I2 = 83.8%, P < 0.001) between the SLE activity and circulating level of IL‐17. Patients with active SLE had higher level of circulating IL‐17 than that of inactive (pooled SMD = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.38‐1.53; I2 = 90.5%, P < 0.001). The subgroup analysis suggested that the region and detection method of circulating IL‐17 might not be a source of heterogeneity. No significant publication bias was found. In summary, circulating IL‐17 level has a low positive relationship with SLE activity. It is necessary to carefully consider the use of circulating IL‐17 as a biomarker of the disease activity in SLE patients. The relationship between the circulating level of IL‐17 and SLE activity should be further confirmed in randomized controlled studies.
Rethinking Cancer Clinical Trial Conduct Induced by COVID-19: An Academic Center, Industry, Government, and Regulatory Agency Perspective
Authors: Flaherty Keith T. , Doroshow James H. , Galbraith Susan , Ribas Antoni , Kluetz Paul G. , Pazdur Richard , Theoret Marc R.
Published: July 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about major changes in cancer clinical trials. In its aftermath, the community has an opportunity to incorporate some of these changes as part of the future of trial conduct to make it more patient centered.
A Dendritic Cells-Targeting Nano-Vaccine by Coupling Polylactic-Co-Glycolic Acid-Encapsulated Allergen with Mannan Induces Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Wen He , Qu Litian , Zhang Yu , Xu Beilei , Ling Shiqi , Liu Xiaochun , Luo Yang , Huo Da , Li Wei , Yao Xu
Published: July 2021

Background: The efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is mainly depended on the tolerogenic immune responses elicited. Properly conjugated nano-vaccine has the advantages of both specific targeting and continuous and on-demand release of allergen. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a dendritic cells (DCs)-targeting nano-vaccine for AIT. Methods: The nano-vaccine was produced by coupling polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-encapsulated ovalbumin (OVA) with mannan. Allergen capture, human monocytes-derived DCs (hMoDCs) activation, and T cells responses were assessed by flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA, and Cytometric Bead Array. Balb/c mice were immunized with the nano-vaccines, and the immune responses were analyzed. Results: OVA-PLGA nanoparticle (NP) displayed favorable safety profile. OVA-mannan-PLGA NP was captured more efficiently by hMoDCs than OVA-PLGA NP, which was mediated mainly through DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin. A tolerogenic phenotype of hMoDCs was induced by OVA-mannan-PLGA NP, but not OVA-PLGA NP, and increased number of regulatory T (Treg) cells was generated subsequently in in vitro coculture. Immunization of Balb/c mice with OVA-mannan-PLGA NP resulted in lower serum level of OVA-specific immunoglobulins and less production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in splenocytes culture than the mice immunized with OVA-PLAG NP, PLGA NP, or OVA, while the number of splenic Treg cells was higher in OVA-mannan-PLGA group than in other groups. Moreover, preimmunization with OVA-mannan-PLGA NP significantly inhibited the Th2 immune response induced by OVA sensitization. Conclusions: The biocompatible PLGA-encapsulated OVA coupling with mannan has augmented ability for tolerance induction and could be developed as a novel vaccine for AIT.
FISH-Based Karyotype Analyses of Four Dracaena Species
Authors: Zhao Hongyou , Li Shuang , Yang Chunyong , Li Ge , Wang Yanfang , Peng Jianming , Yan Zhen , Li Rongying , Wang Yanqian , Zhang Lixia
Published: July 2021

The genus Dracaena is the main source of dragon’s blood, which is a plant resin and has been used as traditional medicine since ancient times in different civilizations. However, the chromosome numbers and karyotypes present in this genus remain poorly understood. In this study, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using oligonucleotide probes for ribosomal DNAs (5S and 45S rDNA) and telomeric repeats (TTTAGGG)3 was applied to analyze 4 related species: Dracaena terniflora Roxb., Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnep., Aizong (Dracaena sp.), and Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen. In all 4 species, both 5S and 45S rDNA showed hybridization signals in the paracentromeric region of a pair of chromosomes; the sizes of the 45S rDNA signals were larger than those of the 5S rDNA. Importantly, the telomeric repeat signals were located in the telomeric regions of almost all chromosomes. The results indicated that the chromosome number of all 4 Dracaena species is 2n = 40, and the lengths of the mitotic metaphase chromosomes range from 0.99 to 2.98 μm. Our results provide useful cytogenetic information, which will be beneficial to future studies in genome structure of the genus Dracaena.
Effects of Prosody Rehabilitation on Acoustic Analysis of Prosodic Features in Hearing-Impaired Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sobhy Ossama A. , Abdou Rania M. , Ibrahim Sara Magdy , Hamouda Nesrine H.
Published: July 2021

Background: The role of prosody in language acquisition and effective communication is documented in research. Nevertheless, rehabilitation of prosodic skills in children with hearing impairment using hearing aids or cochlear implants is relatively neglected compared to other speech and language areas. Objective: To detect the effect of prosodic rehabilitation using the adapted translated version of the “Prosody Treatment Program” on expression of prosodic features in Egyptian Arabic-speaking hearing-impaired school-age children fitted with hearing aids or cochlear implant devices in comparison to conventional auditory and language rehabilitation. Methods: This study was conducted on 34 children with sensorineural hearing loss in a randomized controlled trial design. Children were randomly divided into 2 groups, group A (cases) and group B (control), by block randomization. Both groups were initially evaluated for their prosodic skills using objective measures. Group A received rehabilitation for prosody using the Prosody Treatment Program for 1 h, once per week for 3 months, while group B received conventional auditory and language training and served as their control. Both groups were re-evaluated using the same protocol after 3 months of therapy. Results: A statistically significant improvement of most of the assessed prosodic parameters in group A was shown when comparing the pretherapy and posttherapy scores, as well as comparing between both studied groups after therapy. Conclusions: Prosody is amenable to motor learning. The Prosody Treatment Program seems to be an effective rehabilitation tool in improving some prosodic skills of hearing-impaired children. Prosodic rehabilitation showed superiority to conventional auditory and language training in improving the expression of some prosodic features and pragmatic language skills.
Surgical Practice in Girls with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: An International Registry Study
Authors: Hebenstreit Doris , Ahmed S. Faisal , Krone Nils , Krall Christoph , Bryce Jillian , Alvi Sabah , Ortolano Rita , Lima Mario , Birkebaek Niels , Bonfig Walter , Claahsen van der Grinten Hedi , Costa Eduardo Correa , Poyrazoglu Sukran , de Vries Liat , Flück Christa E. , Guran Tulay , Bugrul Fuat , Güven Ayla , Iotova Violeta , Koehler Birgit , Schröder Jennyver-Tabea , Konrad Daniel , Gevers Evelien , Krone Ruth , Milenkovic Tatjana , Vieites Ana , Ross Richard , Tadokoro Cuccaro Rieko , Hughes Ieuan , Acerini Carlo , Springer Alexander
Published: July 2021

In this article international trends in surgical practice in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are evaluated. All cases that had been classified in the I-CAH/I-DSD registry as 46,XX CAH and who were born prior to 2017 were identified. Centers were approached to obtain information on surgical decision making. Of the 330 included participants, 208 (63.0%) presented within the first month of life, and 326 (98.8%) cases were assigned female. Genital surgery had been performed in 250 (75.8%). A total of 64.3, 89.2, and 96.8% of cases residing in Europe, South America and Asia, respectively, had at least one surgery. In a logistic regression model for the probability of surgery before the second birthday (early surgery) over time an increase of probability for early vaginal surgery could be identified, but not for clitoral surgery or both surgeries combined. Genitoplasty in girls with CAH remains controversial. This large international study provides a snapshot of current practice and reveals geographical and temporal differences. Fewer surgeries were reported for Europe, and there seems to be a significant trend towards aiming for vaginal surgery within the first 2 years of life.
Efficacy of a Novel Medical Adhesive for Sealing Lung Parenchyma: An in vitro Study in Rabbit Lungs
Authors: Kalverkamp Sebastian , Mantas Anna , Spillner Jan , Hima Flutura , Kanzler Stephanie Sarah , Stopinski Thaddäus , Tolba René H. , Zayat Rashad
Published: July 2021

Introduction: During thoracic resection procedures, complete hemostasis and aerostasis are priorities. A persistent alveolar air leak is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to evaluate whether the novel medical adhesive VIVO (Adhesys Medical GmbH Aachen, Germany) is a reliable alternative sealing technique to routine surgical procedures. Methods: We conducted an in vitro animal study by analyzing 21 lungs of New Zealand (n = 19) and Chinchilla Bastard (n = 2) rabbits (age, 11–18 weeks; weight, 2,400–3,600 g). Three groups, each comprising 7 animals, were evaluated. VIVO (VIVO-group) was compared with standard surgical lung parenchymal lesion closure with a polypropylene suture (Suture-group) and TachoSil® (TachoSil-group). We adopted a stable, pressure-controlled ventilation protocol. After explantation, a surgical incision 0.5-cm deep and 1.5-cm wide was made in the lungs using a customized template. Air leak was measured quantitatively (mL/min) using a respirator and visualized qualitatively by 2 observers who made independent judgments. Next, the leak was closed using VIVO, suture, or TachoSil® as specified by the manufacturer. Subsequently, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and inspiratory pressure were gradually increased until a maximum of 15 and 30 mbar were attained, respectively. Results: At PEEPs of 8, 10, and 15 mbar, VIVO achieved complete sealing of the profound parenchymal defect in all (n = 7) lungs. After closure of the incision, we observed an air leak variation of 127 ± 114 mL/min (Suture-group), 31 ± 49 mL/min (VIVO-group), and 114 ± 134 mL/min (TachoSil-group). VIVO showed a significantly lower air leak than surgical sutures (p = 0.031) and TachoSil® (p = 0.046). Conclusion: VIVO offers sufficient closure of the lung parenchymal lesions. The novel adhesive enabled significantly better sealing with lower persistent air leakage than TachoSil® or surgical sutures. Further investigation using in vivo models is strongly encouraged to confirm our findings.
Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration of Superficial Lymphadenopathy Performed by Interventional Pathologists: The Applicability of the Sydney System from 2 Years of Experience and 363 Cases
Authors: Torres Rivas Héctor Enrique , Villar Zarra Karen , Pérez Pabón Lisseth Andrea , González Gutierréz María de la Paz , Zapico Ortiz Nuria , Olmo Fernández María del Mar , Nieto Llanos Santiago , Antoranz Álvarez Natividad , Gómez Martín Ángel , Fernández Fernández Luis Manuel
Published: July 2021

Introduction: The Sydney system proposal for the study and reporting of lymphadenopathy by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) constitutes one of the first attempts to standardize this procedure. Here, we review its applicability. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study in which all ultrasound-guided FNAs (USFNAs) of superficial lymphadenopathy (palpable or not) performed by interventional pathologists in 2 specialized hospital centers were quantified over 2 years. The procedure was systematized, and the diagnoses were reclassified according to the Sydney system categories. Results: We analyzed 363 USFNAs of lymphadenopathies. The distribution of cases by categories was as follows: insufficient (n = 13; 3.58%), benign (n = 208; 57.30%), atypia of uncertain significance (n = 7; 1.93%), suspicious (n = 21; 5.79), and malignant (n = 114; 31.40%). The risks of malignancy calculated for categories I, II, III, IV, and V were 27%, 3%, 50%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: The implementation of the Sydney system allows the systematization and standardization of the lymph node FNA methodology, with increased efficacy and efficiency. Assimilating the recommendations enables the qualification of the diagnostic procedure.
Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Addition to Cross-Sectional Imaging for Indeterminate Renal Cysts May Lead to Overclassification in Bosniak III Category: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Audenet François , Sapetti Jordan , Delavaud Christophe , Verkarre Virginie , Correas Jean-Michel , Mejean Arnaud , Timsit Marc-Olivier
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Indeterminate renal cysts may require several imaging modalities before clinical decision. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the imaging modality used to characterize indeterminate renal cysts on the pathological findings after surgical resection. Methods: From our institutional database, we identified all patients surgically treated for Bosniak III renal masses between January 2008 and January 2018. All complex renal cysts were characterized with a combination of computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and discussed during a multidisciplinary tumor board. Potential association between clinical/radiological characteristics and the pathological findings were investigated, using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Of the 52 renal cystic lesions surgically removed, with a preoperative diagnosis of Bosniak III renal cyst, 19 (37%) were malignant and 33 (63%) were benign. The proportion of malignant lesions decreased from 47% when the renal cyst was characterized with cross-sectional imaging (CT and/or MRI) to 17% when the diagnosis required CEUS in addition to cross-sectional imaging. In multivariate analysis, prior history of renal cell carcinoma was associated with a higher risk of malignancy (p = 0.016) and diagnosis made with CEUS was associated with a lower risk of malignancy (p = 0.040). Conclusion: We found that using CEUS in addition to cross-sectional imaging to characterize indeterminate renal cysts tends to redefine Bosniak III as lesions with a lower risk of malignancy and can lead to overclassification.
Outcome of a Real-World Patient Cohort with Secondary CNS Lymphoma Treated with High-Intensity Chemoimmunotherapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Thiele Benjamin , Binder Mascha , Schliffke Simon , Frenzel Christian , Dierlamm Judith , Wass Maxi , Weisel Katja C. , Bokemeyer Carsten , Janjetovic Snjezana
Published: July 2021

Background: Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas with secondary central nervous system (CNS) involvement bear a dismal prognosis. Optimal treatment remains so far unclear, and effective treatment options remain an unmet clinical need. Remission rates are in general low, resulting in rapid relapses and palliative care in the majority of patients. High-intensity treatment combining effective CNS-directed chemoimmunotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation was shown in a recent phase 2 trial to induce durable remissions. Here, we report the outcome of the first real-world patient cohort treated according to the published protocol. Methods: We retrospectively identified 17 HIV-negative lymphoma patients with secondary CNS involvement, either at first diagnosis or at relapse of lymphoma, treated according to the study protocol published by Ferreri et al. [J Clin Oncol. 2015] at two university medical centers in Germany. Treatment consisted of four cycles of chemoimmunotherapy with a consolidating autologous stem cell transplantation. Adverse events and overall outcome were assessed. Results: Five patients had CNS involvement at first diagnosis and 12 patients at relapse of lymphoma. A complete response was achieved in 9 patients. Median survival was 11 months. Five patients died of septic complications and 4 patients succumbed to progression or relapse of disease. Conclusions: The outcome of our real-world cohort emphasizes the possible toxic character of the treatment protocol by Ferreri et al. [J Clin Oncol. 2015]. Further improvement in treatment regimens is still an unmet need.
From Fiscal Diversity to Fiscal Convergence: Franciscan Monasteries in the Sanjak of Bosna during the First Century of Ottoman Rule
Authors: Ursinus Michael
Published: July 2021

The present contribution is an attempt to analyse and conceptualise all available information concerning the principal Franciscan monasteries in Central Bosnia from the Ottoman tax survey registers of the fifteenth and first half of the sixteenth centuries. Many features in the monks’ fiscal status at this period are shared with the müste’min or foreigner from abroad, a status which appears to be based on the ahdnames granted by Sultan Mehmed Fatih. Yet at the same time, individual monasteries can be shown to have been placed under different tax regimes. It is only towards the later period that a high degree of fiscal convergence can be observed, resulting in a stereotype wording of the relevant entries in the tax survey registers.
Double Clause Conjunction in Fifteenth and Sixteenth-Century Ottoman Documents: The Case of -Ub ve
Authors: Römer Claudia
Published: July 2021

The Ottoman gerund in -Ub functions as a conjunctor and designates a unidirectional ‘and’ relation. Sometimes, a second conjunctor like ve, ammâ, lâkin is added after -Ub. Erich Prokosch (Studien zur Grammatik des Osmanisch-Türkischen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Vulgärosmanisch-Türkischen, Freiburg: Klaus Schwarz Verlag, 1980, pp. 145–46) thought this double clause conjunction to happen only when the subjects (first actants) and/or diatheses are different from one another in the two clauses, i.e. in the basis segment and the gerundial segment. However, in this article, we try to show that in documents (and other Ottoman prose texts), one may also witness a shift of perspective, scene, plot, group of people, or even a total change of topic.
Care of God as Care of the Self: Foucault, Gnosis, and Curation of the Divine Mirror in John of Morigny’s Ninth Vision
Authors: Fanger Claire
Published: July 2021

This article draws on Foucault’s understanding of “thought” as “freedom” and his description of “care of the self,” connecting these concepts with the account of a vision of Christ recorded by the fourteenth-century French monk, John of Morigny (fl 1300–1315). I argue that John’s account reflects “thought” as “freedom” very much in the Foucaldian sense, even as it defers to Christ as the authority to whom the monk vows obedience. In the first part of the article I outline ways in which Foucault’s thought both is and is not “theological.” Since Foucault draws on Christian models, and John’s visionary practice involves repentance and confession, it might seem to be almost a too-perfect prototype of the self-care Foucault was interested in; yet the results of the analysis are unexpected. The vision, is induced by John’s own unorthodox prayer practice, begins with Christ appearing in penitential garb and asking to confess his own sin to John of Morigny. I demonstrate that it is only possible to make sense of this vision by looking at the ways Christ acts as an intimate mirror of John’s self, reflecting the stance and penitential practice John must follow to reconcile himself with God.
“From My Body Alone Do I Know This”: Sacrament & Scripture as Technologies of the Self in the Work of Jacob Böhme
Authors: Gentzke Joshua Levi Ian
Published: July 2021

This essay employs Michel Foucault’s typology of technologies to elucidate the relationship between early modern Eucharistic polemics, scriptural hermeneutics, and the practice of self-creation in the work of Jacob Böhme (1575–1624). Böhme’s work has often been dismissed as philosophically and theologically incoherent. Yet when understood as a therapeutic practice of self-transformation, what might appear to be madness can be seen as method. I demonstrate that Böhme created a program of “spiritual exercises,” rooted in the corporeal imagination, which absorbed and subverted religious power by reinterpreting two institutional “technologies of power” – the Eucharist and scriptural hermeneutics – and synthesizing them into a “technology of the self.” I show that Böhme drew upon esoteric thought to radicalize early modern Protestantism, transforming it from a form of religious protest bent on institutional reform into a countercultural spirituality centered on self-creation. Thus, Böhme developed a creative hermeneutics that appropriated and rejected aspects of competing Protestant modes of sacramental and scriptural interpretation to formulate an erotic gnosis of self and world exploration.
A new subspecies of Epipactis microphylla (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae) from Pantelleria Island (Sicily)
Authors: BRULLO SALVATORE , BRULLO CRISTIAN , CAMBRIA SALVATORE , TAVILLA GIANMARCO , PASTA SALVATORE , SCUDERI LEONARDO , ZIMMITTI ANGELO
Published: July 2021

A new subspecies of Epipactis microphylla, proposed as subsp. cossyrensis is described and illustrated from Pantelleria, a volcanic island near Sicily. It differs from subsp. microphylla mainly in the shape and size of leaves and bracts and several floral traits. This taxon, previously attributed to E. pollinensis, a species currently treated as a synonym of E. purpurata, grows in the undergrowth of thermophilous woodlands occurring on the top of the island, where it numbers a few tens of individuals. The conservation status, phenology and taxonomic remarks are provided. Keys for the species belonging to the Epipactis atrorubens group (= subsect. Atrorubensae), including E. microphylla, are presented.
A response to “Comments on author citations for nomenclatural novelties published in volume 15 of the Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (FRPS)” by Y. L. Peng & L. B. Zhang, with a reference to all nomenclatural novelties and all authors of taxonomic accounts in this volume
Authors: ZHU XIANG-YUN
Published: July 2021

Recently, the present author has read a paper “Comments on author citations for nomenclatural novelties published in volume 15 of the Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (FRPS)” published by Peng & Zhang (2016: 236), in which these authors corrected some authorships of nomenclatural novelties (only names of new taxa) published in volume 15 contrary to the authorships as recognized by Zhu (2015: 292–294). In the present contribution I would like to review the material again in lights of the arguments presented by Zhu (2015) and Peng & Zhang (2016).
Three species of hackled-orb web spider genus Miagrammopes from China (Araneae, Uloboridae)
Authors: LIANG YUN , CAI QU , LIU JINXIN , YIN HAIQIANG , XU XIANG
Published: July 2021

Three species of the genus Miagrammopes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1870 are described from China, including two new species, M. rutundus Liang & Xu, n. sp. from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and M. auriculatus Cai & Xu, n. sp. from Tibet Autonomous Region, and one known species, M. bifurcatus Dong, Yan, Zhu & Song, 2004. The female of M. bifurcatus is described for the first time. Both detailed illustration and a distribution map of the three species are provided.
Preparation of Magnetic Drug Loaded Nanoparticles and Its Anticancer Efficacy Against Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Chen Jingjing , Kang Cheng
Published: July 2021

As an important drug for the treatment of cancer, cis-diamine dichloroplatinum (CDDP) has poor solubility and antagonistic effect when it is used as a chemotherapy agent alone, leading to the insufficient dose in actual administration. In order to solve the above problems, increase
the targeting property of CDDP carrier and prolong the half-life period of CDDP’s sustained-release, it is necessary to design a magnetic nano-carrier for CDDP with magnetic targeting function to reduce the damage of CDDP to normal tissues in vivo and improve the therapeutic effect
of cancer. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) is used to directly coat oleic acid (OA)-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles (OA-Fe3O4 NPs) to create the nano-scale CMCS magnetic nanoparticles (CMCS/OA-Fe2O3 NPs), and CDDP loaded magnetic
nanoparticles (CMCS/OA-Fe2O3 NPs/CDDP) are prepared by the bonding interaction between carboxyl groups on the surface of CMCS and the anticancer drug CDDP. The magnetic drug loaded nanoparticles are characterized, and the results show that the magnetic nanoparticles are
successfully embedded in CMCS and loaded with CDDP, with the drug load of 43.65 ± 2.37%. MTT assay, flow cytometry and invasion assay are applied to evaluate the inhibitory effect of magnetic drug loaded nanoparticles to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells HNE-1. The results suggest
that the magnetic drug loaded nanoparticles successfully prepared have significant inhibitory effect on HNE-1 cells in vitro. Therefore, the magnetic drug loaded nanoparticles prepared have a good therapeutic effect on NPC.
Preparation of Multifunctional Nanocomposites and Local Hyperthermia for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Sun Xiaosong , Guo Haiyan , Fu Yahong , Wang Shuang , Feng Wenjuan , Zheng Ying
Published: July 2021

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) can metastasize from the primary tumor area to the regional lymph nodes at an early stage. Considering that the current imaging detection is not reliable, a better treatment for squamous cell carcinoma is urgently needed. From the perspective of photothermal
therapy (PTT), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) was used as a carrier, and reverse drug-resistant RNA-adriamycin (ADR) and indocya-nine green (IND) were encapsulated in the carrier. The chemokine SDF-a was introduced and coupled with the drug carrier by carbodiimide method. Thus, the multifunctional
polymer nanoparticles (SDF-a/IND/PNE/ADR-PLGA NPs) for targeting photoacoustic imaging and photothermal ablation of oral cancer cells were obtained. First, the size analysis and TEM characterization of the composite nanoparticles were carried out to evaluate the in vitro photogenic
imaging and targeting properties of the multifunctional targeting nanoparticles. The antitumor effect of the model was analyzed by establishing the metastatic lymph node model of tongue cancer in rabbits. In the experiment, the particle size of the multifunctional nanoparticles was about 192.53
nm±47.96 nm. TEM characterization showed that IND and ADR were encapsulated in PLGA shell membrane; immunofluorescence labeling of CXCR4 on SCC-15 cells could be used as a target protein, and the binding of SDF-a/CXCR4 could promote the nanoparticles to enter the cells and increase
the local range of nanoparticles. In animal models, through the injection of nanoparticle solution via multiple primary focus preparation, it was confirmed that the preparation of multifunctional nanoparticles and PTT under the guidance of photoacoustic imaging could achieve good therapeutic
effect on OSCC.
Kinetic Model of Adiabatic Temperature Rise of Mass Concrete
Authors: Chen Shou-Kai , Xu Bo-Wen
Published: July 2021

The adiabatic temperature rise model of mass concrete is very important for temperature field simulation, same to crack resistance capacity and temperature control of concrete structures. In this research, a thermal kinetics analysis was performed to study the exothermic hydration reaction
process of concrete, and an adiabatic temperature rise model was proposed. The proposed model considers influencing factors, including initial temperature, temperature history, activation energy, and the completion degree of adiabatic temperature rise and is theoretically mature and definitive
in physical meaning. It was performed on different initial temperatures for adiabatic temperature rise test; the data were employed in a regression analysis of the model parameters and initial conditions. The same function was applied to describe the dynamic change of the adiabatic temperature
rise rates for different initial temperatures and different temperature changing processes and subsequently employed in a finite element analysis of the concrete temperature field. The test results indicated that the proposed model adequately fits the data of the adiabatic temperature rise
test, which included different initial temperatures, and accurately predicts the changing pattern of adiabatic temperature rise of concrete at different initial temperatures. Compared with the results using the traditional age-based adiabatic temperature rise model, the results of a calculation
example revealed that the simulated calculation results using the proposed model can accurately reflect the temperature change pattern of concrete in heat dissipation conditions.
High-Temperature Behavior and Constitutive Modeling of MS1180 High-Strength Steel
Authors: Hu Shu-Shan , Zhang Qing-Dong , Liu Rong-E
Published: July 2021

The flow behavior analysis of MS1180 steel at high-temperature was carried out by the stress–strain data which were obtained through isothermal uniaxial tensile tests with Gleeble-3800 thermal simulator. The temperature range is 600 °C~900 °C and the strain rate is varied
from 0.005 s−1 to 0.02 s−1. A modified Johnson-Cook (JC) constitutive model of MS1180 steel considering the mutual effect of deformation parameters was proposed applying multiple nonlinear regression method. The calculated stress values obtained by the modified
constitutive equations and the experimental ones were compared with each other. The average relative error is less than 5% and correlation coefficient is greater than 0.95. The results verified that the modified constitutive equations has good prediction accuracy for the flow stress of MS1180.