bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Descriptive Correlational Study to Evaluate Three Measures of Assessing Upper Extremity Function in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Saini Aman , Zucker-Levin Audrey , McMillan Benjamin , Kumar Pawan , Donkers Sarah , Levin Michael C.
Published: June 2021

Background. Activities of daily living and quality of life (QOL) are hindered by upper extremity (UE) impairments experienced by individuals with multiple sclerosis (iMS). The Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) is most frequently used to measure UE function. However, it does not measure peoples’ ability to perform routine tasks in daily life and may not be useful in iMS who cannot pick up the pegs utilized in the 9-HPT. Therefore, we evaluated three measures to explore a more comprehensive assessment of UE function: Upper Extremity Function Scale (UEFS), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and the 9-HPT. The objectives were to quantitatively assess the relationship between these measures of UE function, understand if the measures correlate with QOL as calculated by the MS Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), and to determine differences in the measures based on employment status. Methods. 112 (79 female) iMS were prospectively recruited for this descriptive correlational study. Inclusion criteria were as follows: confirmed diagnosis of MS or clinically isolated syndrome,

age
≥
18

years, and ability to self-consent. All statistical analyses including Spearman’s correlation coefficient (

r

s

) and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed using SPSS. Results. A moderate correlation (

r

s

=
−
0.51

;

p
<
0.001

) was found between the ARAT and 9-HPT scores for the more impaired hand. Likewise, a moderate correlation was found between UEFS and the physical health composite scores (PHCSs) of MSQOL-54 (

r

s

=
−
0.59

;

p
<
0.001

). Finally, performances on ARAT, 9-HPT, and UEFS differed between the employed individuals and those on long-term disability (

p
=
0.007

,

p
<
0.001

, and

p
=
0.001

). Conclusion. The UEFS moderately correlated with the QOL measure, and considering the UESF is a patient-reported outcome, it could be used to complement routinely captured measures of assessing UE function. Further study is warranted to determine which measure, or combination of measures, is more sensitive to changes in UE function over time.
An Extended Approach to Predict Retinopathy in Diabetic Patients Using the Genetic Algorithm and Fuzzy C‐Means
Authors: Ghoushchi Saeid Jafarzadeh , Ranjbarzadeh Ramin , Dadkhah Amir Hussein , Pourasad Yaghoub , Bendechache Malika
Published: June 2021

The present study is developed a new approach using a computer diagnostic method to diagnosing diabetic diseases with the use of fluorescein images. In doing so, this study presented the growth region algorithm for the aim of diagnosing diabetes, considering the angiography images of the patients’ eyes. In addition, this study integrated two methods, including fuzzy C‐means (FCM) and genetic algorithm (GA) to predict the retinopathy in diabetic patients from angiography images. The developed algorithm was applied to a total of 224 images of patients’ retinopathy eyes. As clearly confirmed by the obtained results, the GA‐FCM method outperformed the hand method regarding the selection of initial points. The proposed method showed 0.78 sensitivity. The comparison of the fuzzy fitness function in GA with other techniques revealed that the approach introduced in this study is more applicable to the Jaccard index since it could offer the lowest Jaccard distance and, at the same time, the highest Jaccard values. The results of the analysis demonstrated that the proposed method was efficient and effective to predict the retinopathy in diabetic patients from angiography images.
Ethnopharmacological Survey on Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Treatments in Traditional and Ayurveda Systems of Medicine in Sri Lanka
Authors: Gamage Dehel Gamage Nadeeshani Dilhara , Dharmadasa Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage , Abeysinghe Don Chandana , Wijesekara Rathnayaka Gamlathge Saman , Prathapasinghe Gamika A. , Someya Takao
Published: June 2021

Medicinal plants have been used for therapeutic and beauty applications in Sri Lanka with documented history of over 2,500 years. This inherited knowledge, which has been handed down from generation to generation, provides a largely unexplored source for the potential development of active ingredients for cosmetic formulations. Therefore, the present comprehensive survey was conducted to identify cosmetic potential medicinal plants species in Sri Lanka. Personal interviews were conducted via a semistructured questionnaire with randomly selected 30 traditional practitioners and 90 Ayurveda physicians in Sri Lanka. Data were collected on plants and specific plant parts used for the treatment of skin care, hair care, and oral care topically. The acquired data were verified using the Ayurveda authentic books and quantitatively analyzed using relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), relative importance (RI), and factor informant consensus (FIC). Results revealed about the usage of 133 different plant species belonging to 64 families in cosmetic treatments under the categories of skin care, hair care, and oral care. Majority of medicinal plants were used in skin care treatments (39%) followed by hair care (20%) and oral care (17%). Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. reported the highest RFC value (0.83) and UV (3.66). The highest RI value was reported from Asparagus racemosus Willd. and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (1.67). The dominant plant family was reported as family Fabaceae. The most utilized plant part was stated as leaves (34%) followed by bark (14%). The survey further revealed about treatments for 17 skin-related, 9 hair-related, and 2 oral-related beauty issues. All RFC values were comparatively high for identified different beauty issues. Many herbal preparations were prepared using water as the medium whilst most common mode of application was reported as paste (37%). In conclusion, acquired information could ultimately be utilized for the development of the herbal cosmetic industry through the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from the documented plants while preserving the traditional knowledge.
Research on Uyghur-Chinese Neural Machine Translation Based on the Transformer at Multistrategy Segmentation Granularity
Authors: Xu Zhiwang , Qin Huibin , Hua Yongzhu
Published: June 2021

In recent years, machine translation based on neural networks has become the mainstream method in the field of machine translation, but there are still challenges of insufficient parallel corpus and sparse data in the field of low resource translation. Existing machine translation models are usually trained on word-granularity segmentation datasets. However, different segmentation granularities contain different grammatical and semantic features and information. Only considering word granularity will restrict the efficient training of neural machine translation systems. Aiming at the problem of data sparseness caused by the lack of Uyghur-Chinese parallel corpus and complex Uyghur morphology, this paper proposes a multistrategy segmentation granular training method for syllables, marked syllable, words, and syllable word fusion and targets traditional recurrent neural networks and convolutional neural networks; the disadvantage of the network is to build a Transformer Uyghur-Chinese Neural Machine Translation model based entirely on the multihead self-attention mechanism. In CCMT2019, dimension results on Uyghur-Chinese bilingual datasets show that the effect of multiple translation granularity training method is significantly better than the rest of granularity segmentation translation systems, while the Transformer model can obtain higher BLEU value than Uyghur-Chinese translation model based on Self-Attention-RNN.
Production of an Animal Model of Semi-Yin and Semi-Yang Syndrome with Diabetic Ulcers and Study of Its Pathological and Metabolic Features
Authors: Liu Yu , Shi Jian-Ping , Xiong Wu , Liu Yang , Yan Yu , Yin Chao-Qi , Jiao Yu-Qi , Zhang Xi , Zhou Jian-Da
Published: June 2021

Background. To create an animal model for diabetic ulcers with semi-Yin and semi-Yang (SYSY) syndrome and to study the pathological and metabolic features of SYSY syndrome. Methods. Firstly, based on the clinical characteristics of the SYSY syndrome of diabetic ulcer, an animal model of diabetic ulcers with SYSY syndrome being full-thickness skin defects was created by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally, infecting with Staphylococcus aureus, and gastrically administering senna. Secondly, the content and distribution patterns of collagen fibers, the expression of neutrophils and macrophage markers, angiogenesis, and the expression of IL-1β and IL-10 in the rats with Yang syndrome, Yin syndrome, and SYSY syndrome of diabetic ulcers at different time points were detected. Representative traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ointment of Yang syndrome, Yin syndrome, and SYSY syndrome was used to treat this animal model. The above indexes in each treatment group were detected. Finally, metabonomics was used to detect and analyze the changes of differential metabolites related to macrophage metabolism in Yang, Yin, and SYSY syndromes at different time points. Results. An animal model of diabetic ulcers with SYSY syndrome was established. The pathological features of the SYSY syndrome group were chronic low-grade inflammatory reactions. On the third day, the SYSY syndrome group displayed lower expression of CD16, CD68, CD163, IL-1β, and metabolites related to M1-type macrophages compared with other groups. On the seventh day, the SYSY syndrome group showed lower expression of CD31, IL-10, myeloperoxidase, and metabolites related to M2-type macrophages. Treatment with Chong He Ointment, a representative TCM ointment for SYSY syndrome, reversed the expression levels of these indexes and promoted wound healing in the SYSY group. Conclusion. SYSY syndrome presents a persistent pathological state of low inflammation, which may be caused by an insufficient activation of the M1-type metabolic pathway in macrophages in the early acute inflammatory stage, resulting in the incomplete clearance of pathogens and debris and continuous stimulation of macrophages to initiate the M1-type metabolic pathway. CD163, CD31, IL-10, and citric acid can be used as potential specific markers for the recovery and progression of SYSY syndrome.
Single-Arm Archimedean Spiral Antenna with Broadband Circular Polarization
Authors: Fang Qingyuan , Jin Mengzhe , Liu Weidong
Published: June 2021

In this paper, a single-arm Archimedean spiral (SAAS) antenna with broadband circular polarization is investigated. Unlike traditional single-arm Archimedean spiral antenna, the antenna arm consists of a hybrid meandered strip line and a smooth arc strip line. Especially at low frequencies, the meandered strip line significantly improves the circular polarization performance by extending the antenna surface current path. The effects of the meandered strip line on the radiation pattern and axial ratio (AR) are studied in detail. To obtain unidirectional radiation, a metallic cavity is added below the SAAS antenna. The measurement results show that the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is less than 2 from 0.88 GHz to 8.82 GHz, which indicates a wide impedance bandwidth of 1 : 10 is realized. A wide AR bandwidth of 1 : 5 is available, that the measured AR is less than 3 dB from 1.6 GHz to 8 GHz.
Correlations between FTO Gene Polymorphisms and TSH Level in Uyghur Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Wang Li , Yi QiZhong , Yao Hua , He LiJuan , Fang BinBin , Xu WeiFang , Su YinXia , Liu JiWen , Ma Qi
Published: June 2021

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between polymorphisms in the FTO gene and TSH level in Uyghur patients with type 2 diabetes in the Xinjiang region. Material and Methods. This cohort was made up of 498 Uyghur patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent genotype screening for rs8050136 and rs9939609 using the Sequenom MassARRAY system. The distribution frequencies of the genotypes and alleles at rs8050136 and rs993960 were compared between two patient groups, those with TSH < 2.5 mU/L and those with TSH ≥ 2.5 mU/L group. We further evaluated the relationships between these different genotypes and FT3, FT4, TSH, FPG, and HbA1c expression. Results. The results suggested the TSH level was 2.281 times higher in rs8050136 CC+CA carriers than in AA genotype (95%CI = 1.024~5.080, P = 0.044) and was 2.417 times higher in rs9939609 TT+TA carriers than in AA genotype (95%CI = 1.257~4.649, P = 0.008) after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI under the recessive model. TSH levels were significantly different between T2DM patients with different FTO genotypes, rs8050136 (P = 0.008) and rs9939609 (P = 0.003), with TSH levels in rs8050136 CC genotype carriers showing a significant increase compared to those in the AA genotype carriers (P = 0.005). Additionally, rs9939609 TT and TA genotype carriers had a significant increase in the TSH level when compared to AA genotype carriers (P = 0.001 and P = 0.031, respectively). The TSH level was also significantly different in these male patients with different genotypes of rs8050136 (P = 0.026) and rs9939609 (P = 0.019). And TSH levels in rs8050136 CC genotype male carriers showing a significant increase compared to those in the AA genotype carriers (P = 0.013) and rs9939609 TT genotype male carriers had a significant increase in TSH level when compared to AA genotype carriers (P = 0.004). Conclusion. The polymorphisms at rs8050136 and rs9939609 are associated with changes in the TSH level with rs8050136 CC and rs9939609 TT genotypes identified as potential risk factors for increased TSH levels in these male patients.
Inferring Hydraulic Pressure Changes from Induced Seismicity Observations: Three Showcases from Geothermal Reservoirs
Authors: Koch Christopher , Baisch Stefan , Rothert Elmar , Reinecker John
Published: June 2021

We apply a recently developed approach for inferring in situ fluid pressure changes from induced seismicity observations to datasets from geothermal reservoirs at St. Gallen (Switzerland), Paralana (Australia), and Cooper Basin (Australia), respectively. The approach, referred to as seismohydraulic pressure mapping (SHPM), is based on mapping the seismic moment of induced earthquakes. Relative fluid pressure changes are inferred from the stress deficit of fracture patches slipping repeatedly. The SHPM approach was developed for the specific scenario, where induced earthquakes occur on a single, larger-scale plane with slip being driven by the regional stress field. We demonstrate that this scenario applies to the three datasets under investigation, indicating that geothermal systems in crystalline rock could typically be fault-dominated. For all datasets, individual earthquake source geometry could not be determined from source spectra due to the attenuation of the high signal frequencies. Instead, SHPM was applied assuming a constant stress drop in a circular crack model. Absolute values of inferred pressure change scale with the assumed stress drop while the spatiotemporal pattern of pressure changes remains similar even when varying stress drop by one order of magnitude. We demonstrate how the associated mismapping of seismic moment tends to average out when hypocentres are densely spaced. Our results indicate that SHPM could provide important information for calibrating numerical reservoir models.
Immunogenetics of the Ocular Anterior Segment: Lessons from Inherited Disorders
Authors: Serpen Jasmine Y. , Armenti Stephen T. , Prasov Lev
Published: June 2021

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases cause morbidity in multiple organ systems including the ocular anterior segment. Genetic disorders of the innate and adaptive immune system present an avenue to study more common inflammatory disorders and host-pathogen interactions. Many of these Mendelian disorders have ophthalmic manifestations. In this review, we highlight the ophthalmic and molecular features of disorders of the innate immune system. A comprehensive literature review was performed using PubMed and the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases spanning 1973–2020 with a focus on three specific categories of genetic disorders: RIG-I-like receptors and downstream signaling, inflammasomes, and RNA processing disorders. Tissue expression, clinical associations, and animal and functional studies were reviewed for each of these genes. These genes have broad roles in cellular physiology and may be implicated in more common conditions with interferon upregulation including systemic lupus erythematosus and type 1 diabetes. This review contributes to our understanding of rare inherited conditions with ocular involvement and has implications for further characterizing the effect of perturbations in integral molecular pathways.
Approximation Theorem for New Modification ofq-Bernstein Operators on (0,1)
Authors: Wu Yun-Shun , Cheng Wen-Tao , Chen Feng-Lin , Zhou Yong-Hui
Published: June 2021

In this work, we extend the works of F. Usta and construct new modifiedq-Bernstein operators using the second central moment of theq-Bernstein operators defined by G. M. Phillips. The moments and central moment computation formulas and their quantitative properties are discussed. Also, the Korovkin-type approximation theorem of these operators and the Voronovskaja-type asymptotic formula are investigated. Then, two local approximation theorems using Peetre’sK-functional and Steklov mean and in terms of modulus of smoothness are obtained. Finally, the rate of convergence by means of modulus of continuity and three different Lipschitz classes for these operators are studied, and some graphs and numerical examples are shown by using Matlab algorithms.
Secure Vertical Handover to NEMO Using Hybrid Cryptosystem
Authors: Reddicherla Vikram Raju , Rawat Umashankar , Kumar Y. Jeevan Nagendra , Zaguia Atef
Published: June 2021

To provide security to all pairs of nodes in network mobility (NEMO) while executing the handoff between different technologies, a hybrid cryptosystem with a suitable network selection mechanism is proposed. All pairs of nodes, i.e., Mobile Node (MN), Mobile Router (MR), Correspondent Node (CN) and MN, and Home Agent (HA), respectively, are considered. A proper security mechanism is proposed to provide confidentiality to Bound Update (BU) during handoff and conversation between MN, MR, and HA using the elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). In this solution, a network selection mechanism is proposed based on user preference and Received Signal Strength (RSS) in a heterogeneous network. The proposed model can protect the communication using security analysis from all NEMO standard attacks. Whenever NEMO moves, MR intimates to HA about the address change using (BU) and MR receives Binding Acknowledgement (BA) as a reply. During data (frame) exchange and registration between MN, CN, and HA, various security threats arise. In the earlier work, only the security solution is given, and the best network selection algorithm is not provided in a heterogeneous environment. Therefore, in this paper, the best network selection is contributed based on Received Signal Strength (RSS) and user preferences. A comparison of the proposed model is drawn with Return Routability Procedure (RRP). Authentication is provided for communication between MN and CN. The proof is derived using BAN logic. Many standard security attacks have been successfully avoided on all pairs of communications. It has been observed that the proposed model achieves 2.4854% better throughput than the existing models. Also, the proposed model reduces the handoff latency and packet loss by 2.7482% and 3.8274%, respectively.
Power Grid‐Oriented Cascading Failure Vulnerability Identifying Method Based on Wireless Sensors
Authors: Li Shudong , Chen Yanshan , Wu Xiaobo , Cheng Xiaochun , Tian Zhihong
Published: June 2021

In our paper, we study the vulnerability in cascading failures of the real‐world network (power grid) under intentional attacks. Here, we use three indexes (B, K, k‐shell) to measure the importance of nodes; that is, we define three attacks, respectively. Under these attacks, we measure the process of cascade effect in network by the number of avalanche nodes, the time steps, and the speed of the cascade propagation. Also, we define the node’s bearing capacity as a tolerant parameter to study the robustness of the network under three attacks. Taking the power grid as an example, we have obtained a good regularity of the collapse of the network when the node’s affordability is low. In terms of time and speed, under the betweenness‐based attacks, the network collapses faster, but for the number of avalanche nodes, under the degree‐based attack, the number of the failed nodes is highest. When the nodes’ bearing capacity becomes large, the regularity of the network’s performances is not obvious. The findings can be applied to identify the vulnerable nodes in real networks such as wireless sensor networks and improve their robustness against different attacks.
The Extracts of Angelica sinensis and Cinnamomum cassia from Oriental Medicinal Foods Regulate Inflammatory and Autophagic Pathways against Neural Injury after Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Luo Cheng , Chen Qi , Liu Bowen , Wang Shengpeng , Yu Hualin , Guan Xiaowei , Zhao Yonghua , Wang Yitao
Published: June 2021

The study indicates inflammation and autophagy are closely related to neural apoptosis in the pathology of ischemic stroke. In the study, we investigate the effects and mechanisms of the extracts of Angelica sinensis and Cinnamomum cassia (AC) from oriental medicinal foods on inflammatory and autophagic pathways in rat permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion model. Three doses of AC extract were, respectively, administered for 7 days. It suggests that AC extract treatment ameliorated scores of motor and sensory functions and ratio of glucose utilization in thalamic lesions in a dose‐dependent manner. Expression of Iba1 was decreased and CD206 was increased by immunofluorescence staining, western blotting results showed expressions of TLR4, phosphorylated‐IKKβ and IκBα, nuclear P65, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase‐1 were downregulated, and Beclin 1 and LC3 II were upregulated. Low concentrations of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 were presented by ELISA assay. Additionally, caspase 8 and cleaved caspase‐3 expressions and the number of TUNEL positive cells in ipsilateral hemisphere were decreased, while the ratio of Bcl‐2/Bax was increased. Simultaneously, in LPS‐induced BV2 cells, it showed nuclear P65 translocation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines were suppressed by AC extract‐contained cerebrospinal fluid, and its intervened effects were similar to TLR4 siRNA treatment. Our study demonstrates that AC extract treatment attenuates inflammatory response and elevates autophagy against neural apoptosis, which contributes to the improvement of neurological function poststroke. Therefore, AC extract may be a novel neuroprotective agent by regulation of inflammatory and autophagic pathways for ischemic stroke treatment.
Ocular TGF-β, Matrix Metalloproteinases, and TIMP-1 Increase with the Development and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Saucedo Lucia , Pfister Isabel B. , Zandi Souska , Gerhardt Christin , Garweg Justus G.
Published: June 2021

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threatening late complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Even though its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated, several studies suggested a role for transforming growth factor- (TGF-) β, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) in the onset and progression of the disease. Consequently, the aim of this study was to analyze the concentrations of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, MMP-3, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in patients with different stages of DR in order to identify stage-specific changes in their concentrations during the progression of the disease. Serum and aqueous humor (AH) samples were collected during intraocular surgery, and eyes were classified into the following groups: healthy controls (n=17), diabetic patients with non-apparent DR (n=23), mild/moderate nonproliferative DR (NPDR) (n=13), and advanced NPDR/proliferative DR (PDR) without vitreal hemorrhage (n=14). None of the patients had been under anti-VEGF or laser treatment within six months prior to surgery. In the AH, TGF-β1 levels increased in advanced NPDR/PDR by a factor of 5.5 compared to the control group. Similarly, an increase in MMP-3 and TIMP-1 levels in the AH was evident in the later stages of DR, corresponding to a 7.7- and 2.4-fold increase compared to the control group, respectively, whereas serum levels of the studied proteins remained similar. In conclusion, increased concentrations of TGF-β1, MMP-3, and TIMP-1 in the AH, but not in the serum, in advanced NPDR/PDR indicate that the intraocular regulation for these cytokines is independent of the systemic one and suggest their involvement in the progression of DR.
Antibody-Drug Conjugates Used in Breast Cancers
Authors: Abbas Aram J. , Ibrahim Marah F. , Saifo Maher S.
Published: June 2021

The prognosis of breast cancer has radically changed in recent years and continues to improve due to the broad application of effective therapies. New targeting strategies including targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs via receptor-targeting agents have been developed. We summarize recent publications and developments of novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) used to control breast cancer.
Anti-Inflammatory and Restorative Effects of Olives in Topical Application
Authors: Taheri Mahdiyeh , Amiri-Farahani Leila
Published: June 2021

Background and Objective. Olive oil is used as a traditional treatment for wounds, sores, and infections, and the effectiveness of topical use and absence of side effects have been reported in various clinical trials. The present study is an overview of the anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil in its topical application for various skin diseases and wounds. Methods. A literature search was conducted (1990–2021) in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Science Direct, SID, IranDoc, and Magiran databases. From the 102 reviewed articles, 17 articles were selected to be included in the current article. Results. Various forms of olive have long been used to accelerate the healing of various wounds and skin damage such as diabetic foot ulcers, atopic dermatitis, diaper dermatitis, episiotomy wound, and nipple ulcer but there are still no credible documents or articles that provide reliable evidence of topical use. Conclusion. According to the information obtained from the articles reviewed, olive oil appears to be an effective, safe, and available treatment. This study suggests that olive oil is an alternative remedy to minimize the frequent use of chemical-based treatments. More research may be beneficial to reach certainty in terms of curative properties of olive oil in similar or different injuries in different populations.
One-Year Visual and Refractive Outcomes following LASIK for Myopia and Myopic Astigmatism with MEL 90 versus Schwind Amaris 750S Excimer Laser: A Comparative Study
Authors: Brar Sheetal , Rathod Dishitha P. , Roopashree C. R. , Ganesh Sri
Published: June 2021

Purpose. To compare clinical outcomes following LASIK for myopia performed with MEL 90 vs. Schwind Amaris 750S excimer laser. Methods. Data were collected retrospectively for patients who underwent Femto-LASIK, using the MEL 90 and Schwind Amaris 750S excimer laser for correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism within the range of −1.00 to −10.00 D SE from January 2013 till June 2018. Outcomes were analysed at 12 months for safety, efficacy, enhancement rate, and long-term complications. Results. A total of 328 eyes of 328 patients were analysed. One hundred and sixty-three eyes were treated with Schwind Amaris and the remaining 165 eyes with the MEL 90 laser. Twelve months postoperatively, the mean UDVA, CDVA, residual SE, and cylinder in the Amaris group were −0.10 ± 0.09 logMAR, −0.14 ± 0.06 logMAR, −0.21 ± 0.22 D, −0.13 ± 0.18 D versus −0.05 ± 0.07 logMAR, −0.09 ± 0.08 logMAR, −0.23 ± 0.23 D, and −0.14 ± 0.21 D for the MEL 90 group (

p

values >0.05). For the Amaris group, safety and efficacy indices were 1.12 and 1.02, whereas for the MEL 90 group, these indices were 1.08 and 1.00, respectively. No eye in either group had any postop flap-related complications, infectious keratitis, diffuse lamellar keratitis, or keratectasia. Two eyes in the Amaris and 4 eyes in MEL 90 group required enhancement for the progression of myopia. Conclusion. At 12 months, both Schwind Amaris 750S and MEL 90 lasers demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes for myopic LASIK in a single surgeon setting.
On Computation and Analysis of Entropy Measures for Crystal Structures
Authors: Siddiqui Muhammad Kamran , Manzoor Shazia , Ahmad Sarfraz , Kaabar Mohammed K. A.
Published: June 2021

In recent years, the study of topological indices associated to different molecular tubes and structures gained a lot of attention of the researchers—working in Chemistry and Mathematics. These descriptors play an important role in describing different properties associated to the objects of study. Moreover, Shannon’s entropy concept—a slightly different but more effective approach—provides structural information related to the molecular graphs. In this article, we have computed and analyzed different entropy measures associated to different crystallographic structures. In particular, we have worked on the Zagreb entropies, hyper and augmented Zagreb entropies, and forgotten and Balaban entropies for the crystallographic structures of the cuprite

Cu

2

O

and titanium difluoride

TiF

2

.
Design and Development of an Efficient Network Intrusion Detection System Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Rincy N Thomas , Gupta Roopam
Published: June 2021

Today’s internets are made up of nearly half a million different networks. In any network connection, identifying the attacks by their types is a difficult task as different attacks may have various connections, and their number may vary from a few to hundreds of network connections. To solve this problem, a novel hybrid network IDS called NID‐Shield is proposed in the manuscript that classifies the dataset according to different attack types. Furthermore, the attack names found in attack types are classified individually helping considerably in predicting the vulnerability of individual attacks in various networks. The hybrid NID‐Shield NIDS applies the efficient feature subset selection technique called CAPPER and distinct machine learning methods. The UNSW‐NB15 and NSL‐KDD datasets are utilized for the evaluation of metrics. Machine learning algorithms are applied for training the reduced accurate and highly merit feature subsets obtained from CAPPER and then assessed by the cross‐validation method for the reduced attributes. Various performance metrics show that the hybrid NID‐Shield NIDS applied with the CAPPER approach achieves a good accuracy rate and low FPR on the UNSW‐NB15 and NSL‐KDD datasets and shows good performance results when analyzed with various approaches found in existing literature studies.
Circular RNA circFAT1(e2) Promotes Colorectal Cancer Tumorigenesis via the miR-30e-5p/ITGA6 Axis
Authors: Pan Fei , Zhang Dongqing , Li Na , Liu Mei
Published: June 2021

circRNAs (circular RNAs) are a family of noncoding RNAs and have diverse physiological and pathological functions. However, the functions and mechanisms of circRNAs in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the functions and roles of circFAT1(e2) in CRC. qRT-PCR revealed that circFAT1(e2) in CRC tumor tissues was upregulated compared with that in adjacent normal tissues and was also upregulated in CRC cell lines. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against circFAT1(e2) were used to decrease the expression of circFAT1(e2) in HCT116 and RKO cells in vitro. The roles of circFAT1(e2) in CRC cell metastasis and proliferation were then determined by transwell and CCK-8 assays. The results showed that circFAT1(e2) silencing markedly suppressed CRC growth. Moreover, we identified circFAT1(e2) as a promoter of CRC metastasis. Knockdown of circFAT1(e2) evidently reduced HCT116 and RKO cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, the regulatory relationship between circFAT1(e2) and its target miRNAs was verified by a luciferase reporter assay. We demonstrated that circFAT1(e2) could sponge miR-30e-5p, which regulated the expression level of integrin α6 (ITGA6), the downstream target gene of miR-30e-5p. Rescue assays demonstrated that knockdown of miR-30e-5p enhanced CRC proliferation and migration via ITGA6. Taken together, our results reveal the novel oncogenic roles of circFAT1(e2) in CRC through the miR-30e-5p/ITGA6 axis.
Cardiovascular Mortality Risk among Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Registry‐Based Analysis
Authors: Sun Shenghong , Wang Wei , He Chiyi
Published: June 2021

Background. This research is aimed to explore mortality patterns and quantitatively assess the risks of cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in patients with primary gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP‐NENs). Methods. We extracted data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for patients diagnosed with GEP‐NENs between 2000 and 2015. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and the absolute excess risk were obtained based on the reference of the general US population. The cumulative incidence function curves were constructed for all causes of death. Predictors for CVM were identified using a multivariate competing risk model. Results. Overall, 42027 patients were enrolled from the SEER database, of whom 1598 (3.8%) died from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The SMR for CVM was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.14‐1.26) among GEP‐NEN patients. The cumulative mortality of CVD was the lowest among all causes of death, including primary cancer, other cancer, and other noncancer diseases. Furthermore, age at diagnosis, race, Hispanic origin, sex, marital status, year of diagnosis, grade, education level, region, SEER stage, primary site, surgery, and chemotherapy were identified as independent predictors of CVM in GEP‐NEN patients. Conclusions. GEP‐NEN patients have a significantly increased risk of CVM relative to the general population. Cardioprotective interventions might be considered a preferred method for these patients.
Oxidative Stress in Association with Metabolic Health and Obesity in Young Adults
Authors: Jakubiak Grzegorz K. , Osadnik Kamila , Lejawa Mateusz , Kasperczyk Sławomir , Osadnik Tadeusz , Pawlas Natalia
Published: June 2021

Introduction. Obesity is one of the most important public health problems in the world. Among obese people, there are those who, apart from excessive body weight, do not exhibit other metabolic dysfunctions, have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and show lower mortality. According to the theory, they are referred as metabolically healthy obese (MHO), in contrast to metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). Metabolic disturbances occurring with obesity have been well established to be associated with oxidative stress. Aim. The purpose of this study was to analyse the association between selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters with oxidative stress in MHO, MUO, and normal weight young adults. Material and Methods. Individuals with age between 18 and 36 years with no history of chronic diseases and use of medicaments, with or without obesity, participated in the study. Complete blood counts, biochemical measurements, and parameters of oxidative stress such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), ceruloplasmin, thiol groups and lipid hydroperoxides (LPH), concentration of lipofuscin (LPS) in erythrocytes, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Results. 422 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Among the study participants, 208 people (49.29%) were offspring of patients with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease. Among the participants, 16 patients have been included in the group of metabolically healthy obese (MHO) people and 61 patients in the group of metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) people and 345 patients had normal body weight. Significant differences between metabolically unhealthy obese and normal weight patients, as well as between women and men, have been found. Conclusions. We showed significant differences in the selected parameters of oxidative stress between metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) individuals and young volunteers with normal body weight as well as without significant medical history.
Potential Acupoint Prescriptions and Outcome Reporting for Acupuncture in Atopic Eczema: A Scoping Review
Authors: Zeng Zhiwen , Li Man , Zeng Yunjie , Zhang Jialing , Zhao Yingjie , Lin Yuanxun , Qiu Ruijin , Zhang Dong-Shu , Shang Hong-Cai
Published: June 2021

Background. Acupuncture is considered a complementary therapy for atopic eczema. The aim of this scoping review is to identify, examine, and summarize the potential acupoint prescriptions and outcome reporting regarding the clinical trials of acupuncture for eczema. Methods. We searched different databases from inception to September 30, 2020. The data were screened and extracted to identify the potential acupuncture prescription and examine the variation in outcome reporting, outcome measurement instruments (OMIs), and measurement time points in clinical trials of acupuncture. Results. A total of 116 clinical studies were included. The acupoint combination of LI11 and SP10 was used frequently. The core acupoint association networks were acupoints LI11, SP10, ST36, SP6, and LI4. For clinical trials of acupuncture, a total of 6 outcome distinct domains were identified in the 32 outcome measurements. The most frequently reported outcome was the eczema area, which was reported 97 times (83.6%, 97/116). Immune system outcomes were assessed in 15 outcome measurements, which totally reported 37 times. Adverse events were reported 51 times. TCM syndrome, which could reflect the characteristics of TCM, was reported 4 times. 29 outcomes (90.6%, 29/32) were provided definitions or OMIs. Among these outcomes, the outcome measurement times ranged from 0 to 34. Conclusions. This scoping review provides potential knowledge that should be considered as priority in future research of acupuncture for eczema.
Stress-Mediated Reprogramming of Prostate Cancer One-Carbon Cycle Drives Disease Progression
Authors: Pällmann Nora , Deng Ke , Livgård Marte , Tesikova Martina , Jin Yixin , Frengen Nicolai Sebastian , Kahraman Nermin , Mokhlis Hamada M. , Ozpolat Bulent , Kildal Wanja , Danielsen Havard Emil , Fazli Ladan , Rennie Paul S. , Banerjee Partha P. , Üren Aykut , Jin Yang , Kuzu Omer F. , Saatcioglu Fahri
Published: June 2021

One-carbon (1C) metabolism has a key role in metabolic programming with both mitochondrial (m1C) and cytoplasmic (c1C) components. Here we show that activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) exclusively activates gene expression involved in m1C, but not the c1C cycle in prostate cancer cells. This includes activation of methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2) expression, the central player in the m1C cycle. Consistent with the key role of m1C cycle in prostate cancer, MTHFD2 knockdown inhibited prostate cancer cell growth, prostatosphere formation, and growth of patient-derived xenograft organoids. In addition, therapeutic silencing of MTHFD2 by systemically administered nanoliposomal siRNA profoundly inhibited tumor growth in preclinical prostate cancer mouse models. Consistently, MTHFD2 expression is significantly increased in human prostate cancer, and a gene expression signature based on the m1C cycle has significant prognostic value. Furthermore, MTHFD2 expression is coordinately regulated by ATF4 and the oncoprotein c-MYC, which has been implicated in prostate cancer. These data suggest that the m1C cycle is essential for prostate cancer progression and may serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target.

Significance:

These findings demonstrate that the mitochondrial, but not cytoplasmic, one-carbon cycle has a key role in prostate cancer cell growth and survival and may serve as a biomarker and/or therapeutic target.
Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Histopathological Results of Atypia of Undermined Significance in a Tertiary Center in UAE
Authors: Shangab Maha Osman , Khalifa Azza Abdulaziz , Al Awadi Fatheya , Alsharhan Mouza , Bashier Alaaeldin
Published: June 2021

Introduction: Bethesda classification of thyroid nodules cytology is an agreed upon method of classifying thyroid nodules according to risk of malignancy. Among them, Bethesda class III (Atypia of Undetermined Significance, AUS) has been a topic of great controversy. The reported estimated risk of malignancy associated with it varies in different studies. Our study investigates the associated incidence of malignancy in a single tertiary center in UAE. Methodology: Data were retrospectively collected over a 10-year period from January 2009 till December 2018 for cytology diagnosis of AUS. Patient charts were reviewed for method of management. Surgical and histopathology records were reviewed to compare findings on cytology versus histopathology. Results: A total of 180 cases were diagnosed Bethesda III (AUS) with a mean age of 45.09 ± 14.7 years. One hundred cases (55.6%) of them underwent surgical resection, and histopathological diagnosis was obtained. Among the operated cases, 46 were benign and 54 were malignant. Papillary thyroid cancer was the most common malignancy, seen in 39 (72.2%) of cases, and follicular cancer was the second most common, seen in 13 (24.1%) cases. Conclusion: The findings highlighted in our study suggest a higher incidence of malignancy in Bethesda III category than previously reported. It also puts in question the utility and benefit behind keeping a time gap and repeating FNA as previously recommended.
Longitudinal Follow-Up Studies on the Bidirectional Association between ADL/IADL Disability and Multimorbidity: Results from Two National Sample Cohorts of Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults
Authors: Qiao Yanan , Liu Siyuan , Li Guochen , Lu Yanqiang , Wu Ying , Shen Yueping , Ke Chaofu
Published: June 2021

Background and Objectives: Few studies have investigated the bidirectional relationship between disability and multimorbidity, which are common conditions among the older population. Based on the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we aimed to investigate the bidirectional relationship between disability and multimorbidity. Methods: The activities of daily living (ADLs) and the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) scales were used to measure disability. In stage I, we used multinomial logistic regression to assess the longitudinal association between ADL/IADL disability and follow-up multimorbidity. In stage II, binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the multimorbidity effect on future disability. Results: Compared with those free of disability, people with disability possessed ascending risks for developing an increasing number of diseases. For ADL disability, the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) values of developing ≥4 diseases were 4.10 (2.58, 6.51) and 6.59 (4.54, 9.56) in CHARLS and SHARE; for IADL disability, the OR (95% CI) values were 2.55 (1.69, 3.84) and 4.85 (3.51, 6.70) in CHARLS and SHARE. Meanwhile, the number of diseases at baseline was associated, in a dose-response manner, with future disability. Compared with those without chronic diseases, participants carrying ≥4 diseases had OR (95% CI) values of 4.82 (3.73, 6.21)/4.66 (3.65, 5.95) in CHARLS and 3.19 (2.59, 3.94)/3.28 (2.71, 3.98) in SHARE for developing ADL/IADL disability. Conclusion: The consistent findings across 2 national longitudinal studies supported a strong bidirectional association between disability and multimorbidity among middle-aged and elderly adults. Thus, tailored interventions should be taken to prevent the mutual development of disability and multimorbidity.
Triflusal in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Acetylsalicylic Acid Hypersensitivity
Authors: Fuertes Ferre Georgina , Pérez Guerrero Ainhoa , Linares Vicente Jose Antonio , Jimeno Sánchez Javier , Alonso-Ventura Vanesa , Cubero Saldaña Jose Luis , Galache Osuna Jose Gabriel , Andrés Esteban Eva María , Diarte de Miguel Jose Antonio , Ortas Nadal Maria del Rosario , Casasnovas Lenguas Jose Antonio
Published: June 2021

Background: Acetylsalicylic acid hypersensitivity (ASAH) limits therapeutic options in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), who benefit from dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), especially when undergoing stent implantation. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of triflusal in patients with ACS and ASAH. Methods and Results: Two-center retrospective study of patients diagnosed with ACS and ASAH from January 1, 2000, to May 1, 2020. Sixty-six patients were treated with triflusal. ASAH was confirmed with tests in 15 patients (22.7%). Forty-nine patients (74.2%) presented history of other drug allergies. Fifty-nine patients (89.4%) underwent stent implantation. DAPT was prescribed for ≥12 months in 54 patients. No adverse reactions to triflusal were reported. During a median follow-up of 5.12 years [IQR 2.7–9.9], rate of cardiovascular (CV) mortality was 6.1%, nonfatal myocardial infarction 12.1%, and ischemic stroke 4.5%. No cases of definite stent thrombosis occurred. Bleeding Academic Research Consortium grade ≥2 was observed in 3 patients during follow-up. Conclusion: In this series of patients presenting with ACS and ASA hypersensitivity, triflusal showed good tolerability and was associated with a low rate of CV and bleeding events.
The Effect of IFN-β Treatment on Plasma Levels of BDNF and IL-6 in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Shajarian Mansour , Alsahebfosoul Fereshteh , Etemadifar Masoud
Published: June 2021

Background: In recent investigations addressing neurodegenerative diseases, especially multiple sclerosis (MS), the roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been examined. Methods: Forty-five relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients, including 32 IFN-β-treated and 13 newly identified untreated cases as well as 45 sex- and age-matched healthy controls, were recruited in the study. Plasma levels of BDNF and IL-6 were assessed using the ELISA method. Data were analyzed by SPSS (ver.21). Results: There were significant differences between the case and healthy control groups in terms of the plasma levels of BDNF (p value = 0.044) and IL-6 (p value <0.001). Besides, the treatment with IFN-β had no significant impact on the level of BDNF or IL-6 in RRMS patients as compared to healthy controls (p value = 0.716 and 0.623 for BDNF and IL-6, respectively). Furthermore, the increase in the plasma levels of BDNF and IL-6 indicated a direct correlation in the case group (r = 0.508, p value = 0.008). In detail, following the classification of the case group into 2 subgroups of IFN-β-treated and untreated patients, a direct positive correlation was observed between the plasma levels of BDNF and IL-6 in IFN-β-treated patients (r = 0.495, p value = 0.026). Conclusion: The IFN-β treatment seems not to be effective for upregulating BDNF and IL-6 in RRMS patients.