bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sedimentological responses to initial continental collision: triggering of sand injection and onset of mass movement in a syn-collisional trench basin, Saga, southern Tibet
Authors: Liu Qun , Kneller Ben , An Wei , Hu Xiumian
Published: April 2021

A continuous Late Cretaceous–Paleocene sedimentary succession within the India–Asia collision suture zone in Xigaze, Tibet contains a
c
. 80 m thick sand injection complex immediately overlain by a
c
. 60 m thick mass transport deposit (MTD; the first of several) with the first evidence of Asian provenance, immediately followed by a
c.
61 Ma tuff. The youngest
in situ
strata with unequivocal Indian provenance are probably the source beds of the sand intrusions, separated from the first MTD by
c
. 50 m of pelagic deposits that potentially represent an interval of several million years; the collision could thus have occurred at any time within this interval. However, the uppermost limit of the sand intrusions closely coinciding with the MTD suggests that they occurred penecontemporaneously, possibly associated with the initial continental collision. This may provide an additional constraint of initial collision onset at
c
. 61 Ma. The co-occurrence of MTDs and sand injections are possibly good sedimentary indicators of the onset of continental collision and are characteristic of syn-collisional trench basins. Because neither the youngest Indian nor the oldest Asian provenance sediments are in their original stratigraphic position, this study shows that detailed sedimentological work combined with provenance study can better constrain the timing of continental collision.
Engineering of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism
Authors: Schiller Katharina , Bräutigam Andrea
Published: April 2021

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) has evolved from a C3ground state to increase water use efficiency of photosynthesis. During CAM evolution, selective pressures altered the abundance and expression patterns of C3genes and their regulators to enable the trait. The circadian pattern of CO2fixation and the stomatal opening pattern observed in CAM can be explained largely with a regulatory architecture already present in C3plants. The metabolic CAM cycle relies on enzymes and transporters that exist in C3plants and requires tight regulatory control to avoid futile cycles between carboxylation and decarboxylation. Ecological observations and modeling point to mesophyll conductance as a major factor during CAM evolution. The present state of knowledge enables suggestions for genes for a minimal CAM cycle for proof-of-concept engineering, assuming altered regulation of starch synthesis and degradation are not critical elements of CAM photosynthesis and sufficient malic acid export from the vacuole is possible.
Emerging Biomedical Applications Based on the Response of Magnetic Nanoparticles to Time-Varying Magnetic Fields
Authors: Rivera-Rodriguez Angelie , Rinaldi-Ramos Carlos M.
Published: April 2021

Magnetic nanoparticles are of interest for biomedical applications because of their biocompatibility, tunable surface chemistry, and actuation using applied magnetic fields. Magnetic nanoparticles respond to time-varying magnetic fields via physical particle rotation or internal dipole reorientation, which can result in signal generation or conversion of magnetic energy to heat. This dynamic magnetization response enables their use as tracers in magnetic particle imaging (MPI), an emerging biomedical imaging modality in which signal is quantitative of tracer mass and there is no tissue background signal or signal attenuation. Conversion of magnetic energy to heat motivates use in nanoscale thermal cancer therapy, magnetic actuation of drug release, and rapid rewarming of cryopreserved organs. This review introduces basic concepts of magnetic nanoparticle response to time-varying magnetic fields and presents recent advances in the field, with an emphasis on MPI and conversion of magnetic energy to heat.
The Emergence and Global Spread of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing
Authors: Ravitsky Vardit , Roy Marie-Christine , Haidar Hazar , Henneman Lidewij , Marshall John , Newson Ainsley J. , Ngan Olivia M.Y. , Nov-Klaiman Tamar
Published: April 2021

Since its introduction in 2011, noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has spread rapidly around the world. It carries numerous benefits but also raises challenges, often related to sociocultural, legal, and economic contexts. This article describes the implementation of NIPT in nine countries, each with its own unique characteristics: Australia, Canada, China and Hong Kong, India, Israel, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Themes covered for each country include the structure of the healthcare system, how NIPT is offered, counseling needs and resources, and cultural and legal context regarding disability and pregnancytermination. Some common issues emerge, including cost as a barrier to equitable access, the complexity of decision-making about public funding, and a shortage of appropriate resources that promote informed choice. Conversely, sociocultural values that underlie the use of NIPT vary greatly among countries. The issues described will become even more challenging as NIPT evolves from a second-tier to a first-tier screening test with expanded use.
Mechanical countermeasures to headward fluid shifts
Authors: Marshall-Goebel Karina , Macias Brandon R. , Laurie Steven S. , Lee Stuart M.C. , Ebert Douglas J. , Kemp David T. , Miller Annelise , Greenwald Scott H. , Martin David S. , Young Millennia , Hargens Alan R. , Levine Benjamin D. , Stenger Michael B.
Published: April 2021

As a weightlessness-induced headward fluid shift is hypothesized to be a primary factor underlying several physiological consequences of spaceflight, countermeasures aimed at reversing the fluid shift will likely be crucial during exploration-class spaceflight missions. Here, we tested three mechanical countermeasures individually and in various combinations to reduce a posture-induced headward fluid shift as a ground-based spaceflight analog.
Can cilia provide an entry gateway for SARS-CoV-2 to human ciliated cells?
Authors: Buqaileh Raghad , Saternos Hannah , Ley Sidney , Aranda Arianna , Forero Kathleen , AbouAlaiwi Wissam A.
Published: April 2021

A worldwide coronavirus pandemic is in full swing and, at the time of writing, there are only few treatments that have been successful in clinical trials, but no effective antiviral treatment has been approved. Because of its lethality, it is important to understand the current strain’s effects and mechanisms not only in the respiratory system but also in other affected organ systems as well. Past coronavirus outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV inflicted life-threatening acute kidney injuries (AKI) on their hosts leading to significant mortality rates, which went somewhat overlooked in the face of the severe respiratory effects. Recent evidence has emphasized renal involvement in SARS-CoV-2, stressing that kidneys are damaged in patients with COVID-19. The mechanism by which this virus inflicts AKI is still unclear, but evidence from other coronavirus strains may hold some clues. Two theories exist for the proposed mechanism of AKI: 1) the AKI is a secondary effect to reduced blood and oxygen levels causing hyperinflammation and 2) the AKI is due to cytotoxic effects. Kidneys express angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), the confirmed SARS-CoV-2 target receptor as well as collectrin, an ACE2 homologue that localizes to the primary cilium, an organelle historically targeted by coronaviruses. Although the available literature suggests that kidney damage is leading to higher mortality rates in patients with COVID-19, especially in those with preexisting kidney and cardiovascular diseases, the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is still being investigated. Here, we present brief literature review supporting our proposed hypothesis of a possible link between SARS-CoV-2 cellular infection and cilia.
MCTLS-Assisted Completed SINS/GPS Integrated and Applied to Low-Cost Attitude and Heading Reference System
Authors: Tao Canhui , Song Zhiping , Weng Zhenping
Published: April 2021

In this paper, a robust heading determination method is proposed for low-cost attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) aided by the global positioning system (GPS). As compared with the traditional GPS/SINS-integrated navigation-based heading determination method, in the proposed method, the heading information obtained from the GPS velocity outputs is first incorporated into the observation vector, which constructs a novel completed GPS/SINS integration framework and greatly improves the observability of azimuthal misalignment in the Kalman filter. Moreover, a multivariate constrained total least square (MCTLS) method is proposed and integrated into the completed integration framework to deal with the measurement error in both input and output data of GPS velocity measurement model, which improves the accuracy of the observed heading information and yields a robust heading estimation at each time instant. Simulation and experiment results demonstrate that the proposed robust heading determination method can outperform the related state-of-the-art methods for the GPS-aided attitude and heading reference system.
Numerical Analysis of Multiple Factors Affecting Hydraulic Fracturing in Heterogeneous Reservoirs Using a Coupled Hydraulic-Mechanical-Damage Model
Authors: Xu Tao , Zhai Mingyang , Huang Bo , Zhang Liaoyuan , Li Aishan , Zhang Quansheng , Zhang Zilin , Wang Lei , Li Lianchong
Published: April 2021

Hydraulic fracturing performance, affected by multiple factors, was essential to the economic exploitation of oil and gas in heterogeneous unconventional reservoirs. Multifactor analysis can gain insight into the fracturing response of reservoirs and in turn optimize the treatment design. Based on characterizations of the geological setting of a heterogeneous glutenite reservoir, the hydraulic fracture (HF) initiation and propagation process, as well as the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), were simulated and analyzed using a coupled hydraulic-mechanical-damage model. The Weibull distribution was employed to describe rock heterogeneity. The numerical model was verified with microseism (MS) interpretation results of HF geometry. A multifactor analysis and optimization workflow integrating response surface methodology, central composite design (CCD), and numerical simulations was proposed to investigate the coupling effects of multiple geomechanical and hydrofracturing factors on SRV and identify the optimum design of fracturing treatment. The results showed that the horizontal stress difference and injection rate were the most significant factors to control the SRV. Increasing the injection rate and reducing fluid viscosity may contribute to improving the SRV. It is more difficult to increase the SRV at higher horizontal stress difference than at lower horizontal stress difference. The multifactor analysis and optimization workflow introduced in this work was a practical and effective method to control the HF geometry and improve the SRV. This study provided a deep understanding of the hydraulic fracturing mechanism and possessed theoretical significance for treatment design.
Study on the Permeability Change Characteristic of Gas-Bearing Coal under Cyclic Loading and Unloading Path
Authors: Wang Fakai , Li Xuelong , Cui Bo , Hao Jian , Chen Peng
Published: April 2021

Using the self-developed three-axis servo fluid-solid coupling system with gas-solid coupling of gas-bearing coal, the variation law of the permeability of gas coal under the stress cycle loading and unloading path was studied. The qualitative and quantitative relationships between permeability, axial force, and radial stress of gas-bearing coals were established, and the variation law of permeability of gas-bearing coals was discussed. The results show that (1) different cyclic loading and unloading stress paths correspond to the permeability characteristics of different gas-bearing coals. (2) Permeability of gas-bearing coal decreases with the increase of axial stress and radial stress, and it has a logarithmic function with axial stress and radial stress. This shows that axial stress and radial stress are important factors affecting the permeability characteristics of gas-bearing coal. (3) Under the same stress loading and unloading conditions, the axial stress is less than radial stress on the permeability of gas-bearing coal. In the cyclic loading and unloading axial stress process, the permeability of the gas-bearing coal varies by a smaller extent than the cyclically unloaded confining force. (4) The cumulative damage rate of gas-bearing coal under axial stress gradually increases with the increase of the number of cycles of loading and unloading, and the rate of the cumulative damage rate of permeability is less than the corresponding rate of radial stress.
Application of Motion Sensor Based on Neural Network in Basketball Technology and Physical Fitness Evaluation System
Authors: Yuan Bin , Kamruzzaman M. M. , Shan Shaonan
Published: April 2021

Basketball is a sport that requires high athletes’ skills and physical fitness and is deeply loved by the people in our country. This paper studies the application of neural network‐based motion sensors in basketball technology and physical fitness evaluation system. The ideal effect of the system is to scientifically analyze relevant data through intelligent algorithms and provide more accurate diagnosis suggestions. Recognizing human movements requires collecting various data of the human body through motion sensors. The data acquisition components of this system are based on considerations of portability and power consumption and are equipped with equipment with strong computing power to realize the functions of data preprocessing, training, and recognition of the recognition model. The system only needs to send the data in the data collector to the computing device; it can effectively realize the action recognition and judge whether the athlete’s technical action and physical fitness level meet the standard. From the experimental data, the pass rate of the subjects in the 1000‐meter run was 83.3%, and the excellent rate was 10%; the pass rate in the 1‐mile run was 90%, and the excellent rate was 6.7%; and the pass rate in the 20‐meter round trip was only at 56.67%; it can be seen that there is still room for improvement in the reaction speed and agility of most subjects. According to intelligent data analysis, athletes can better understand where they have shortcomings and improve their physical fitness and basketball skills through targeted training.
Fisetin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Inflammatory Responses in Macrophage
Authors: Hada Yoshiko , Uchida Haruhito A. , Wada Jun
Published: April 2021

Several studies have reported the efficacy and safety of polyphenols in human health; however, the verification of their efficacy remains insufficient. The aim of this study was to examine whether fisetin, one of flavonoids prevalently present in fruits and vegetables, could suppress lipopolysaccharide‐ (LPS‐) induced inflammatory responses in macrophages. LPS increased proinflammatory mRNA abundance (MCP 1, IL‐1β, and iNOS) but were suppressed by fisetin. The increment of nitric oxide by LPS, an oxidative stress factor, was attenuated by fisetin. In addition, LPS‐enhanced phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (ERK and JNK) was reduced. Finally, fisetin attenuated the expression or activity of uPA, uPAR, MMP‐2, and MMP‐9, which are known as associated factors of macrophage recruitment or infiltration. In conclusion, fisetin is a promising therapeutic agent for macrophage‐related inflammation diseases, like sepsis and atherosclerosis.
Research on Mechanism of Rock Burst in Key Working Faces under Thick Magmatite in Deep Mine
Authors: Yang WeiLi , Zhang ZhiZeng , Wei QuanDe , Qu XiaoCheng , Wen JingLin
Published: April 2021

The rock burst of key working faces under the thick hard rock in deep mine significantly threatens the mining safety of deep mine. In this study, the key working faces under typical deeply buried thick magmatite were adopted as the engineering background. The mine pressure characteristics during the mining in key working faces under thick magmatite in deep mine were measured and analyzed. Then, the evolution of overburden strata structure under the control of thick magmatite was explored based on the theory of mine pressure to conclude that the horizontal “carrier” load of broken rock beam, the vertical “loader” load, and the shock bump load from thick magmatite fracture are main sources of force behind the burst. Finally, the mechanism of rock burst was studied on the basis of the balanced relationship between loading and bearing. According to the results of research, the burst in key working faces under thick magmatite in deep mine was actually the instability burst of the key working face block. The bearing capacity and load of key working face block were constantly changing during the unstable movement of thick magmatite. The rock burst would occur in the event of any instability during the dynamic confrontation of “loading‐bearing”. As per different burst sources, it could be divided into flexural loading burst of thick magmatite and shock bump burst of thick magmatite fracture. The mechanical conditions for each of the two bursts and the width calculation formula for the key working face free from overall instability burst were deduced. The research results were applied to key working face 12310. Meanwhile, the purpose of safe production following the principle of “No disaster in bumps, no harm under burst” was realized by implementing the “Four Keys” comprehensive prevention and control measures of “key monitoring + key speed reduction + key pressure relief + key support”.
On Solving the Decycling Problem in a Torus Network
Authors: Bossard Antoine
Published: April 2021

Modern supercomputers are massively parallel systems: they embody thousands of computing nodes and sometimes several millions. The torus topology has proven very popular for the interconnect of these high‐performance systems. Notably, this network topology is employed by the supercomputer ranked number one in the world as of November 2020, the supercomputer Fugaku. Given the high number of compute nodes in such systems, efficient parallel processing is critical to maximise the computing performance. It is well known that cycles harm the parallel processing capacity of systems: for instance, deadlocks and starvations are two notorious issues of parallel computing that are directly linked to the presence of cycles. Hence, network decycling is an important issue, and it has been extensively discussed in the literature. We describe in this paper a decycling algorithm for the 3‐dimensional k‐ary torus topology and compare it with established results, both theoretically and experimentally. (This paper is a revised version of Antoine Bossard (2020)).
Using the Rheological Index to Quantitatively Evaluate the Mechanical Performance of High‐Elasticity Modified Asphalt
Authors: Wang Jiani , Xue Zhongjun , Guo Meng , Zhang Shuaixiang
Published: April 2021

High‐elasticity modified asphalt is widely used in OGFC and bridge deck paving due to its high viscosity and strong displacement recovery capacity. It can improve the high‐temperature deformation resistance and elastic recovery ability of the pavement. Especially in bridge deck pavement, high‐elastic modified asphalt can inhibit the formation of reflective cracks and extend the service life. In order to quantitatively evaluate properties of the high‐elasticity modified asphalt, rheological properties are studied by using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) test. The parameters were fitted with the Burgers model, and the constitutive equation was established. The 3 s elastic recovery rate Er was proposed to quantitatively evaluate the elastic recovery of high‐elasticity modified asphalt. The experimental results show that the instantaneous modulus of elasticity G0 and the delayed modulus of elasticity G1 can be used to evaluate the elastic capacity. Er can quantitatively evaluate the elastic resilience of high‐elasticity modified asphalt. The correlation coefficient between the test results of high‐elasticity modified asphalt and those of impact toughness evaluation reached 0.9966, and the 3 s elastic recovery rate Er could be used to evaluate the elastic recovery ability of high‐elasticity modified asphalt.
IL-9 and IL-10 Single-Nucleotide Variants and Serum Levels in Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Caucasian Population
Authors: Vilkeviciute Alvita , Cebatoriene Dzastina , Kriauciuniene Loresa , Zemaitiene Reda , Liutkeviciene Rasa
Published: April 2021

Considering the immunological impairment in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), we aimed to determine the associations of IL-9 rs1859430, rs2069870, rs11741137, rs2069885, and rs2069884 and IL-10 rs1800871, rs1800872, and rs1800896 polymorphisms and their haplotypes, as well as the serum levels of IL-9 and IL-10 with AMD. 1209 participants were enrolled in our study. SNPs were genotyped using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays by real-time PCR method. IL-9 and IL-10 serum levels were evaluated using ELISA kits. Our study results have shown that haplotypes A-G-C-G-G and G-A-T-A-T of IL-9 SNPs are associated with the decreased odds of early AMD occurrence (

p
=
0.035

and

p
=
0.015

, respectively). A set of rare haplotypes was associated with the decreased odds of exudative AMD occurrence (

p
=
0.033

). Also, IL-10 serum levels were lower in exudative AMD than in controls (

p
=
0.049

), patients with early AMD (

p
=
0.017

), and atrophic AMD (

p
=
0.008

). Furthermore, exudative AMD patients with IL-10 rs1800896 CT and TT genotypes had lower IL-10 serum concentrations than those with wild-type (CC) genotype (

p
=
0.048

). In conclusion, our study suggests that IL-10 serum levels can be associated with a minor allele at IL-10 rs1800896 and exudative AMD. The haplotypes of IL-9 SNPs were also associated with the decreased odds of early and exudative AMD.
Genetic Variants of lncRNA GAS5 Contribute to Susceptibility of Ischemic Stroke among Southern Chinese Population
Authors: Deng Fu , Zhu Peiyi , Liao Chaoxiong , Li Shengnan , Hu Xingjuan , Wang Ying , Wu Zhaochun , Huang Shaoting , Zhong Wangtao , Zhao Bin , Ma Guoda , Li You
Published: April 2021

Emerging evidence suggests that the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) growth arrest special 5 (GAS5) plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS). The current research is aimed at assessing the correlation between two functional GAS5 variants (rs145204276 and rs55829688) and susceptibility to IS in a Han Chinese population. This study genotyped the two GAS5 variants in 1086 IS patients as well as 1045 age‐matched healthy controls by using an improved multitemperature ligase detection reaction (iMLDR‐TM) genotyping technology. We observed a considerable change in the frequencies of the rs145204276 allele and genotype among the IS patients and healthy control group. The del‐T haplotype was substantially more prevalent in the IS cases compared to the control individuals. When study participants were stratified according to environmental factors, we found that the rs145204276 del allele was correlated with a higher risk of IS in male, smokers, hypertensive, and those ≥65 years old. Additional stratification conforming to IS subtypes exhibited that individuals carrying the rs145204276 del allele conferred a higher risk of expanding a larger artery atherosclerosis stroke subset. Moreover, there was a significant association between the rs145204276 del allele and elevated expression of GAS5 in IS patients. In contrast, the frequency of the allele related to rs55829688 was not statistically correlated with IS in all analysis. Our study supports a model wherein the rs145204276 variant in the GAS5 lncRNA is associated with IS risk, thus representing a potentially viable biomarker for IS prevention and treatment.
Uterine Insulin Sensitivity Defects Induced Embryo Implantation Loss Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction‐Triggered Oxidative Stress
Authors: Chen Meixia , Li Jie , Zhang Bo , Zeng Xiangfang , Zeng Xiangzhou , Cai Shuang , Ye Qianhong , Yang Guangxin , Ye Changchuan , Shang Lijun , Qiao Shiyan
Published: April 2021

Scope. Implantation loss is a considerable cause of early pregnancy loss in humans and mammalian animals. It is not addressed how proliferative uterine defects implicate in implantation loss. Methods and Results. Herein, a comprehensive proteomic analysis was conducted on proliferative endometria from sows with low and normal reproductive performance (LRP and NRP, respectively). Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins revealed alterations in endometrial remodeling, substance metabolism (mainly lipid, nitrogen, and retinol metabolism), immunological modulation, and insulin signaling in LRP sows. Importantly, aberrant lipid metabolite accumulation and dysregulation of insulin signaling were coincidently confirmed in endometria of LPR sows, proving an impaired insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, established high‐fat diet‐ (HFD‐) induced insulin‐resistant mouse models revealed that uterine insulin resistance beginning before pregnancy deteriorated uterine receptivity and decreased implantation sites and fetal numbers. Mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion were decreased, and reactive oxygen species was overproduced in uteri from the HFD group during the implantation period. Ishikawa and JAR cells directly demonstrated that oxidative stress compromised implantation in vitro. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that uterine insulin sensitivity impairment beginning before pregnancy resulted in implantation and fetal loss associated with oxidative stress induced by mitochondrial dysfunction.
Effect of Root Canal Therapy on the Success Rate of Teeth with Complete Roots in Autogenous Tooth Transplantation
Authors: Cui Xuanyou , Cui Naiyu , Li Xuehan , Du Xin , Zhang ShuXin , Wu Changchun , Kim Dong-Hyuck , Lim Ho-Kyung , Lee Eui-Seok
Published: April 2021

Background. Autogenous tooth transplantation is a reliable method for repairing missing teeth. Although it recently became a recognized and feasible treatment method in dentistry, the long-term efficacy of root canal therapy (RCT) has not been well confirmed. This study is aimed at determining whether RCT has a good effect on the success rate of teeth with complete roots in autogenous tooth transplantation. Materials and Methods. Data were collected from the Korea University Guro Hospital. Data of patients who underwent autogenous tooth transplantation within 9 years were collected. We selected 29 teeth with complete roots as the research subjects in our study. None of the patients had any systemic diseases. All cases in this study were obtained with patient permission. Results. According to the tooth vitality test, the autogenous teeth tested negative in dental pulp test and function. Nine of the 29 teeth with autogenous tooth transplantation were treated with RCT and survived throughout the observation period. However, 20 autogenous teeth were not treated with RCT, and eight of them did not survive. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 20.0. The null hypothesis was rejected (

p
<
0.05

). Conclusion. For complete root teeth, the success rate after autogenous tooth transplantation after RCT is higher than that of teeth not treated with RCT.
A Novel BBO Algorithm Based on Local Search and Nonuniform Variation for Iris Classification
Authors: Wei Lisheng , Wang Ning , Lu Huacai
Published: April 2021

In order to improve the iris classification rate, a novel biogeography‐based optimization algorithm (NBBO) based on local search and nonuniform variation was proposed in this paper. Firstly, the linear migration model was replaced by a hyperbolic cotangent model which was closer to the natural law. And, the local search strategy was added to traditional BBO algorithm migration operation to enhance the global search ability of the algorithm. Then, the nonuniform variation was introduced to enhance the algorithm in the later iteration. The algorithm could achieve a stronger iris classifier by lifting weaker similarity classifiers during the training stage. On this base, the convergence condition of NBBO was proposed by using the Markov chain strategy. Finally, simulation results were given to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed iris classification method.
Magnitude of Gender-Based Violence and Its Associated Factors among Female Night Students in Bahir Dar City, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Belay Habtamu Gebrehana , Liyeh Tewachew Muche , Tassew Habtamu Abie , Ayalew Abeba Belay , Goshu Yitayal Ayalew , Mihretie Gedefaye Nibret
Published: April 2021

Background. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a major public health issue that affects the health and well-being of millions of young people worldwide each year. Gender-based violence was prevalent throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. However, research in Africa is extremely diverse. Objective. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent and risk factors of gender-based violence among night female students in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 788 elementary and high school night female students in Bahir Dar from October 15 to November 15, 2019. Data was gathered using self-administered questionnaires. A binary and multiple logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with gender-based and sexual violence. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95 percent confidence interval (CI) was calculated to determine the level of significance. Results. The overall lifetime prevalence of gender-based violence (sexual, physical, and emotional violence) was 71.1% with a 95% CI of 67.8%-74.1%. The lifetime prevalence of sexual violence, physical violence, and emotional violence was 49.1%, 57.5%, and 41.6%, respectively. Rural childhood residence (AOR: 3.37, 95% CI: (2.17-5.54)), low school performance (AOR: 3.44, 95% CI: (2.13-5.56)), lack of sexual and reproductive health conversation experience (AOR: 3.68, 95% CI: (2.07-6.54)), poor family control (AOR: 5.62, 95% CI: (3.25-9.71)), and being sexually active (AOR: 3.79, 95% CI: (2.35-6.12)) increased significantly the risk of gender-based violence. The risk factors for sexual violence were young people living with both parents (AOR: 0.28, 95% CI: (0.19-0.41)), peer pressure (AOR: 5.73, 95% CI: (4.11-7.98)), and family support (AOR: 0.31, 95% CI: (0.22-0.43)). Conclusion. In the study area, the lifetime prevalence of sexual violence, physical violence, and emotional violence was high. As a result, it is recommended that policymakers, district officials, schools, and other stakeholders pay attention to and act on gender-based values.
Reconstruction of ER Network from Specific Academic Texts for the Governance of MSW‐NIMBY Crisis in China
Authors: Yang Qing , Zhou Hui , Liu Xingxing , Zuo Chen , Wang Jinmei
Published: April 2021

Along with urban development globally, the NIMBY (Not‐In‐My‐Backyard) crisis has been a complex social problem, which requires urgent remedial action. The inevitable management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) has been one of the toughest risk management tasks in the worldwide modernization process. At present, certain fuzzy and unstructured results and methods have been formed for MSW‐NIMBY crisis response, mainly focusing on the sociology and politics which scatter in complex and sensitive reports and news. Aiming at enhancing the effectiveness of data mining from specific sparse text of MSW‐NIMBY crisis, an improved knowledge extraction method is developed. Through rule‐based text mining and complex network analysis, the Entity Relationship (ER) network of MSW‐NIMBY crisis is reconstructed. Meanwhile, a novel transitivity for relationship between entities in semantic analysis is proposed to improve the feasibility and accuracy of information extraction. Characteristics and regularity of MSW‐NIMBY crisis evolution and experience of crisis governance could be identified effectively. Results show that knowledge integration and ER transitivity can enhance knowledge recognition and major other factors, which could help formulate the governance strategies of NIMBY crisis from academic texts.
Rap1GAP Mediates Angiotensin II‐Induced Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy by Inhibiting Autophagy and Increasing Oxidative Stress
Authors: Gao Yan , Zhao Di , Xie Wen-zhi , Meng Tingting , Xu Chunxiao , Liu Yutong , Zhang Pengfei , Bi Xiuping , Zhao Zhuo
Published: April 2021

Abnormal autophagy and oxidative stress contribute to angiotensin II‐ (Ang II‐) induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. We previously showed that Ang II increased Rap1GAP gene expression in cardiomyocytes associated with hypertrophy and autophagy disorders. Using real‐time PCR and Western blot, we found that Rap1GAP expression was increased in the heart of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats infused by Ang II compared with saline infusion and in Ang II vs. vehicle‐treated rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of Rap1GAP in cultured cardiomyocytes exacerbated Ang II‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and cell apoptosis and inhibited autophagy. The increased oxidative stress caused by Rap1GAP overexpression was inhibited by the treatment of autophagy agonists. Knockdown of Rap1GAP by siRNA markedly attenuated Ang II‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and oxidative stress and enhanced autophagy. The AMPK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was inhibited by overexpression of Rap1GAP and activated by the knockdown of Rap1GAP. These results show that Rap1GAP‐mediated pathway might be a new mechanism of Ang II‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, which could be a potential target for the future treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
Complex Coronary Instent Chronic Total Occlusion Lesions: Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Coronary Stent Lengths
Authors: Li Xia , Guo Dianxuan , Chen Ying , Hu Youdong , Zhang Fenglin
Published: April 2021

The oxidative stress and inflammation played the key roles in the development of atherosclerotic coronary plaques. However, the relationships between pro/antioxidant, pro/anti‐inflammatory status, and complex coronary instent chronic total occlusion lesions were not clear in the elderly patients with very long stent implantations. We tried to evaluate the roles of pro/antioxidant and pro/anti‐inflammatory biomarkers in the diagnosis of complex reocclusion lesions in elderly patients after coronary stenting. We evaluated the expression levels of acrolein (ACR), malondialdehyde (MDA), high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3), paraoxonase‐1 (PON‐1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and stromal cell‐derived factor‐1α (SDF‐1α) in the elderly patients with very long stent implantations and complex reocclusion lesions. Levels of ACR, MDA, hs‐CRP, and TNF‐α were remarkably increased (P < 0.001), and levels of SOD3, PON‐1, eNOS, and SDF‐1α were decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in the elderly patients with very long stents and complex reocclusion lesions. The prooxidant and proinflammatory biomarkers were remarkably increased, as well as antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory biomarkers were decreased significantly in the elderly patients with very long stent implantations and complex reocclusion lesions after coronary stenting. In conclusion, these findings indicated that the imbalance between prooxidant/proinflammatory and antioxidant/anti‐inflammatory status was associated with complex reocclusion lesions, suggesting that oxidative stress and inflammation played the key roles in progression of complex reocclusion lesions in the elderly patients with very long stent implantations.
Analysis on Link Travel Time Estimation considering Time Headway Based on Urban Road RFID Data
Authors: Gu Jian , Li Miaohua , Yu Linghua , Li Shun , Long Kejun
Published: April 2021

In this paper, the calculation method of the link travel time is firstly analysed in the continuous traffic flow by using the detection data collected when vehicles pass through urban links, and a theoretical derivation formula for estimating link travel time is proposed by considering the typical vehicle travel time and the time headway deviation upstream and downstream of the links as the main parameters. A typical vehicle analysis method based on link travel time similarity is proposed, and the theoretical formula is optimized, respectively. Then, an estimation formula based on maximum travel time similarity and an estimation formula based on maximum travel time confidence interval similarity are proposed, respectively. Finally, when analysing the fitting conditions, the collected data from urban roads in Nanjing are used to verify the proposed travel time estimation method based on the radio frequency identification devices. The results show that time headway deviation converges to zero when the hourly vehicle volume is more than 20 veh/h in the certain flow direction, and there are more positive and negative fluctuations when the hourly vehicle volume is less than 10 veh/h in the certain flow direction. The accuracy of the proposed improved method based on typical vehicle travel time estimation is significantly improved by considering the typical vehicle travel time, and typical vehicles on the road segment mainly exist at the tail of the traffic platoon in the corresponding period.
CFD Simulation Strategy for Hypersonic Aerodynamic Heating around a Blunt Biconic
Authors: Yu Shutian , Ni Xinyue , Chen Fansheng
Published: April 2021

The design of the thermal protection system requires high-precision and high-reliability CFD simulation for validation. To accurately predict the hypersonic aerodynamic heating, an overall simulation strategy based on mutual selection is proposed. Foremost, the grid criterion based on the wall cell Reynolds number is developed. Subsequently, the dependence of the turbulence model and the discretization scheme is considered. It is suggested that the appropriate value of wall cell Reynolds number is 1 through careful comparison between one another and with the available experimental data. The excessive number of cells is not recommended due to time-consuming computation. It can be seen from the results that the combination of the AUSM+ discretization scheme and the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model has the highest accuracy. In this work, the heat flux error of the stagnation point is within 1%, and the overall average relative error is within 10%.
Meningoencephalitis with Streptococcus equi Subspecies equi Leading to a Dural Arteriovenous Fistula
Authors: Kerstens Jeroen , Durmus Busra , Lambrecht Stijn , Baar Ingrid , Ieven Margareta M. , Van Der Zijden Thijs , Parizel Paul M. , Menovsky Tomas , Lammens Martin M. Y. , Jorens Philippe G.
Published: April 2021

Invasive infection with Lancefield group C streptococci in humans is extremely rare, with the vast majority of clinical isolates belonging to Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis. We report a case of meningoencephalitis in a 69-year-old man caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, a microbe that causes strangles in Equus caballus (i.e., the horse). This is only the fourth infection with this subtype of the central nervous system (CNS) reported in humans. The invasiveness of these bacteria, known to be capable of releasing strongly immunogenic exotoxins, is illustrated by white matter lesions that are present in the acute phase. This patient initially recovered well after treatment with antibiotics and glucocorticoids. However, the patient was readmitted 5 months later with multiple intraparenchymatous cerebral haemorrhages. Cerebral angiography confirmed the presence of a suspected superficial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF), which is seldom reported after CNS infection. The invasiveness of these bacteria was illustrated by white matter lesions present in the acute phase and the occurrence of a de novo dural arteriovenous fistula in the follow-up period.
[Retracted] Recognition and Simulation of Exercise Mode Based on Energy Consumption Model
Authors: Li Yulei
Published: April 2021

Sports energy consumption is a quantitative reflection of physical exercise effect. Combined with different sports modes and students’ physical characteristics, the calculation model of sports energy consumption is put forward. Firstly, the relationship between students’ age, height, weight, gender, and energy consumption is analyzed by using multiple linear regression method, and a linear acceleration model is proposed by combining different exercise methods. The relationship between the integral value of acceleration and energy consumption is analyzed, and a linear integral model based on different motion modes is proposed. Based on the kinetic energy theorem, the student movement energy expenditure is estimated. This paper proposes a human movement recognition method based on hybrid features, which mostly can represent the curve of the second generation wavelet transform edge thinning, and from the edge and texture features of the optimal said human posture, the statistical characteristic of the second generation wavelet transform is subtly trained as image characteristics, learning and recognition of human movement. Then, the motion recognition algorithm is tested, which can effectively identify the common movement patterns of primary and middle school students. Finally, the linear relationship between the estimation results of the model and the calculation results of Meijer is analyzed. The analysis results show that the linear acceleration model proposed in this paper can estimate the energy consumption of primary and middle school students’ motion relatively accurately.
On Computation of Entropy of Hex‐Derived Network
Authors: Song Pingping , Ali Haidar , Binyamin Muhammad Ahsan , Ali Bilal , Liu Jia-Bao
Published: April 2021

A graph’s entropy is a functional one, based on both the graph itself and the distribution of probability on its vertex set. In the theory of information, graph entropy has its origins. Hex‐derived networks have a variety of important applications in medication store, hardware, and system administration. In this article, we discuss hex‐derived network of type 1 and 2, written as HDN 1(n) and HDN 2(n), respectively of order n. We also compute some degree‐based entropies such as Randić, ABC, and GA entropy of HDN 1(n) and HDN 2(n).
Soft Drink and Juice Consumption and Renal Cell Carcinoma Incidence and Mortality in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition
Authors: Heath Alicia K. , Clasen Joanna L. , Jayanth Nick P. , Jenab Mazda , Tjønneland Anne , Petersen Kristina Elin Nielsen , Overvad Kim , Srour Bernard , Katzke Verena , Bergmann Manuela M. , Schulze Matthias B. , Masala Giovanna , Krogh Vittorio , Tumino Rosario , Catalano Alberto , Pasanisi Fabrizio , Brustad Magritt , Olsen Karina Standahl , Skeie Guri , Luján-Barroso Leila , Rodríguez-Barranco Miguel , Amiano Pilar , Santiuste Carmen , Barricarte Gurrea Aurelio , Axelson Håkan , Ramne Stina , Ljungberg Börje , Watts Eleanor L. , Huybrechts Inge , Weiderpass Elisabete , Riboli Elio , Muller David C.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for more than 80% of kidney cancers in adults, and obesity is a known risk factor. Regular consumption of sweetened beverages has been linked to obesity and several chronic diseases, including some types of cancer. It is uncertain whether soft drink and juice consumption is associated with risk of RCC. We investigated the associations of soft drink and juice consumption with RCC incidence and mortality in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

Methods:

A total of 389,220 EPIC participants with median age of 52 years at recruitment (1991–2000) were included. Cox regression yielded adjusted HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for RCC incidence and mortality in relation to intakes of juices and total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drinks.

Results:

A total of 888 incident RCCs and 356 RCC deaths were identified. In models including adjustment for body mass index and energy intake, there was no higher risk of incident RCC associated with consumption of juices (HR per 100 g/day increment = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.97–1.09), total soft drinks (HR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98–1.05), sugar-sweetened soft drinks (HR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.94–1.05), or artificially sweetened soft drinks (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.96–1.08). In these fully adjusted models, none of the beverages was associated with RCC mortality (HR, 95% CI per 100 g/day increment 1.06, 0.97–1.16; 1.03, 0.98–1.09; 0.97, 0.89–1.07; and 1.06, 0.99–1.14, respectively).

Conclusions:

Consumption of juices or soft drinks was not associated with RCC incidence or mortality after adjusting for obesity.

Impact:

Soft drink and juice intakes are unlikely to play an independent role in RCC development or mortality.
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer, Overall and by Tumor Subtype, among Women from Mozambique, Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Brandão Mariana , Guisseve Assucena , Damasceno Albertino , Bata Genoveva , Silva-Matos Carla , Alberto Matos , Ferro Josefo , Garcia Carlos , Zaqueu Clésio , Lorenzoni Cesaltina , Leitão Dina , Soares Otília , Gudo-Morais Alberto , Schmitt Fernando , Morais Samantha , Tulsidás Satish , Carrilho Carla , Lunet Nuno
Published: April 2021

Background:

Breast cancer incidence is rising in Africa, but there are scare data regarding risk factors in this region. We assessed the relation between risk factors and the occurrence of breast cancer, overall and by tumor subtype in women from Mozambique.

Methods:

The associations between education, number of births, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and breast cancer risk among 138 cases (participants from the Moza-BC cohort) and 638 controls from the general population (from a World Health Organization stepwise approach to surveillance survey), recruited during 2014 to 2017, were investigated. Adjusted ORs (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression.

Results:

Multiparity (≥6 vs. 0–1 live births) was a protective factor for the development of hormone receptor (HR)–positive (aOR = 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08–0.64) and HR-positive/HER2-negative tumors (aOR = 0.20; 95% CI, 0.06–0.68), whereas a higher educational level (≥8 vs. 0 schooling years) increased breast cancer risk across all subtypes (overall aOR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.04–3.80). Higher weight and BMI were associated with a higher breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women (per 1-kg increase: aOR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.08; per 1-kg/m2 increase: aOR = 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04–1.18, respectively), but were protective in premenopausal women (aOR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96–0.99; aOR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91–0.99, respectively), regardless of subtype. Higher height increased the risk of HR-negative tumors in postmenopause (per 10-cm increase: aOR = 2.81; 95% CI, 1.41–6.03).

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate the etiological heterogeneity of breast cancer among native African women, namely regarding the differential effect of multiparity, education, and body parameters in breast cancer risk.

Impact:

As the prevalence of obesity grows, these findings are important to inform public health policies on cancer prevention, by highlighting obesity as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer among African women.