bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effects of Astragaloside IV on Uric Acid-Induced Pancreatic β-Cell Injury through PI3K/AKT Pathway Activation
Authors: Jiang Zhenhuan , Wang Gang , Meng Lingling , Tang Yunzhao , Yang Min , Ni Changlin
Published: January 2022

Background. Elevated uric acid (UA) has been found to damage pancreatic β-cell, promote oxidative stress, and cause insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a major active monomer extracted from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. which belongs to TRIB. Galegeae (Br.) Torrey et Gray, Papilionaceae, exhibits various activities in a pathophysiological environment and has been widely employed to treat diseases. However, the effects of AS-IV on UA-induced pancreatic β-cell damage need to be investigated and the associating mechanism needs to be elucidated. This study was designed to determine the protective effects and underlying mechanism of AS-IV on UA-induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in T2D. Methods. UA-treated Min6 cells were exposed to AS-IV or wortmannin. Thereafter, the 3-(45)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-35-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry were employed to determine the effect of AS-IV on cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Insulin secretion was evaluated using the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) assay. Finally, western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed to determine the effect of AS-IV on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway in UA-treated cells. Results. AS-IV had no cytotoxic effects on Min6 cells. UA significantly suppressed Min6 cell growth, promoted cell apoptosis, and enhanced caspase-3 activity; however, AS-IV abolished these effects in a dose-dependent manner. Further, decreased insulin secretion was found in UA-treated Min6 cells compared to control cells, and the production of insulin was enhanced by AS-IV in a dose-dependent manner. AS-IV significantly increased phosphorylated (p)-AKT expression and the ratio of p-AKT/AKT in Min6 cells exposed to UA. No evident change in AKT mRNA level was found in the different groups. However, the effects of AS-IV on UA-stimulated Min6 cells were reversed by 100 nM wortmannin. Conclusion. Collectively, our data suggest that AS-IV protected pancreatic β-cells from UA-treated dysfunction by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Such findings suggest that AS-IV may be an efficient natural agent against T2D.
On Numerical Radius Bounds Involving Generalized Aluthge Transform
Authors: Yan Tao , Hyder Javariya , Akram Muhammad Saeed , Farid Ghulam , Nonlaopon Kamsing
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we establish some upper bounds of the numerical radius of a bounded linear operator

S

defined on a complex Hilbert space with polar decomposition

S
=
U
∣
S
∣

, involving generalized Aluthge transform. These bounds generalize some bounds of the numerical radius existing in the literature. Moreover, we consider particular cases of generalized Aluthge transform and give some examples where some upper bounds of numerical radius are computed and analyzed for certain operators.
A Novel In Vitro Method to Assess the Microbial Barrier Function of Tissue Adhesives Using Bioluminescence Imaging Technique
Authors: Mirzaei Yalda , Hagemeister Kerstin , Hüffel Martina , Schwandt Timo , Tolba René H. , Steitz Julia
Published: January 2022

Background. Tissue glues can minimize treatment invasiveness, mitigate the risk of infection, and reduce surgery time; ergo, they have been developed and used in surgical procedures as wound closure devices beside sutures, staples, and metallic grafts. Regardless of their structure or function, tissue glues should show an acceptable microbial barrier function before being used in humans. This study proposes a novel in vitro method using Escherichia coli Lux and bioluminescence imaging technique to assess the microbial barrier function of tissue glues. Different volumes and concentrations of E. coli Lux were applied to precured or cured polyurethane‐based tissue glue placed on agar plates. Plates were cultured for 1 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h with bioluminescence signal measurement subsequently. Herein, protocol established a volume of 5 μL of a 1 : 100 dilution of E. coli Lux containing around 2 × 107 CFU/mL as optimal for testing polyurethane‐based tissue glue. Measurement of OD600nm, determination of CFU/mL, and correlation with the bioluminescence measurement in p/s unit resulted in a good correlation between CFU/mL and p/s and demonstrated good reproducibility of our method. In addition, this in vitro method could show that the tested polyurethane‐based tissue glue can provide a reasonable barrier against the microbial penetration and act as a bacterial barrier for up to 48 h with no penetration and up to 72 h with a low level of penetration through the material. Overall, we have established a novel, sensitive, and reproducible in vitro method using the bioluminescence imaging technique for testing the microbial barrier function of new tissue glues.
Investigation on Mechanical and Wear Behaviors of LM6 Aluminium Alloy-Based Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites Using Stir Casting Process
Authors: Gnaneswaran P. , Hariharan V. , Chelladurai Samson Jerold Samuel , Rajeshkumar G. , Gnanasekaran S. , Sivananthan S. , Debtera Baru
Published: January 2022

In this investigation, aluminium-silicon-based alloy (LM6) with the addition of (0, 2.5, 5, and 10%) copper-coated short steel fiber and 5% boron carbide (B4C) element-strengthened composites was fabricated by the stir casting method. Mechanical properties and tribological behaviors of LM6-based hybrid composites were investigated, and microstructures of different castings were examined by an image analyzer. The test was conducted at different loads (10, 20, 30, and 40 N) and different sliding spaces (500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 m), respectively. The results revealed that the sample loaded with 10% of reinforcement recorded the highest tensile strength of 231 MPa. On the other hand, the hardness value increased from 71 to 144 BHN, when 15% of reinforcement was added to the sample. It was also noted that 10% copper-coated steel fiber improved wear resistance up to 50% when compared to LM6. A field emission scanning electron microscope was employed to observe the morphology of the worn surfaces of composites at different sliding distances and load conditions. The hybrid composite revealed that the combination of both short steel fibers and reinforcement of ceramic particles enhanced the mechanical properties, obtaining superior wear resistance.
Cloud‐Based Lung Tumor Detection and Stage Classification Using Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Kasinathan Gopi , Jayakumar Selvakumar
Published: January 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and the cloud computing have recently become widely used in the healthcare sector, which aid in better decision‐making for a radiologist. PET imaging or positron emission tomography is one of the most reliable approaches for a radiologist to diagnosing many cancers, including lung tumor. In this work, we proposed stage classification of lung tumor which is a more challenging task in computer‐aided diagnosis. As a result, a modified computer‐aided diagnosis is being considered as a way to reduce the heavy workloads and second opinion to radiologists. In this paper, we present a strategy for classifying and validating different stages of lung tumor progression, as well as a deep neural model and data collection using cloud system for categorizing phases of pulmonary illness. The proposed system presents a Cloud‐based Lung Tumor Detector and Stage Classifier (Cloud‐LTDSC) as a hybrid technique for PET/CT images. The proposed Cloud‐LTDSC initially developed the active contour model as lung tumor segmentation, and multilayer convolutional neural network (M‐CNN) for classifying different stages of lung cancer has been modelled and validated with standard benchmark images. The performance of the presented technique is evaluated using a benchmark image LIDC‐IDRI dataset of 50 low doses and also utilized the lung CT DICOM images. Compared with existing techniques in the literature, our proposed method achieved good result for the performance metrics accuracy, recall, and precision evaluated. Under numerous aspects, our proposed approach produces superior outcomes on all of the applied dataset images. Furthermore, the experimental result achieves an average lung tumor stage classification accuracy of 97%‐99.1% and an average of 98.6% which is significantly higher than the other existing techniques.
Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis for Identification of the Hub Genes Linked with Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer Patients
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Wang Qiu , Wu Zhicheng , Zheng Jiantong , Ji Ling
Published: January 2022

Background. One of the most usual gynecological state of tumor is ovarian cancer and is a major reason of gynecological tumor-related global mortality rate. There have been multiple risk elements related to ovarian cancer like the background of past cases associated with breast cancer or ovarian cancer, or excessive body weight issues, case history of smoking, and untimely menstruation or menopause. Because of unclear expressions, more than 70% of the ovarian cancer patient cases are determined during the early stage. Material and Methods. GSE38666, GSE40595, and GSE66957 were the three microarray datasets which were analyzed using GEO2R for screening the differentially expressed genes. GO, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes, and protein expression studies were performed for analysis of hub genes. Then, survival analysis was performed for all the hub genes. Results. From the dataset, a total of 199 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Through the KEGG pathway study, it was noted that the DEGs are mainly linked with the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, central carbon metabolism, and human papillomavirus infection. The survival analysis showed 4 highly expressed hub genes COL4A1, SDC1, CDKN2A, and TOP2A which correlated with overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. Moreover, the expression of the 4 hub genes was validated by the GEPIA database and the Human Protein Atlas. Conclusion. The results have shown that all 4 hub genes were found to be upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues which predict poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.
Processing of Aluminium-Silicon Alloy with Metal Carbide as Reinforcement through Powder-Based Additive Manufacturing: A Critical Study
Authors: Raj Mohan R. , Venkatraman R. , Raghuraman S. , Kumar P. Manoj , Rinawa Moti Lal , Subbiah Ram , Arulmurugan B. , Rajkumar S.
Published: January 2022

Powder-based additive manufacturing (PAM) is a potential fabrication approach in advancing state-of-the-art research to produce intricate components with high precision and accuracy in near-net form. In PAM, the raw materials are used in powder form, deposited on the surface layer by layer, and fused to produce the final product. PAM composite fabrication for biomedical implants, aircraft structure panels, and automotive brake rotary components is gaining popularity. In PAM composite fabrication, the aluminium cast alloy is widely preferred as a metal matrix for its unique properties, and different reinforcements are employed in the form of oxides, carbides, and nitrides. However, for enhancing the mechanical properties, the carbide form is predominantly considered. This comprehensive study focuses on contemporary research and reveals the effect of metal carbide’s (MCs) addition to the aluminium matrix processed through various PAM processes, challenges involved, and potential scopes to advance the research.
Effects of E-Government Policy on the Management of Healthcare Systems
Authors: Pedawi Sarwar , Alzubi Ahmad
Published: January 2022

E-government began by addressing the challenges of new technologies by delivering e-services to its citizens and has since evolved to include a growing number of areas, such as citizen communication, macroeconomic projections, budget management, and e-healthcare services. E-government is known as the use of information technology to provide administrative services, communication transactions, information exchange, integration of various electronic systems, and autonomous services between the government and citizens, the government and business environment, and the government and government. This paper discusses the role of E-government policy in healthcare crises during COVID 19. Data collected from 435 employees in the tourism industry of Iraq was used to verify the abovementioned relationships via SPSS macro. The results indicate that E-government policy has a significant effect on healthcare crises; job insecurity negatively predicted healthcare crises. The results revealed that social support moderated the relationship between E-government policy and job insecurity. Results of the study contributed to the theory within this study by demonstrating that employees who enjoy a high level of social support show less job insecurity than those with a low level of social support.
Adult Anopheles Mosquito Distribution at a Low and High Malaria Transmission Site in Tanzania
Authors: Munisi David Zadock , Mathania Mary Mathew
Published: January 2022

Malaria parasites are only transmitted by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles; hence, the disease’s distribution is linked to that of the vector mosquitoes. As such, the goal of this study was to find out the spatial and temporal distribution of Anopheles mosquito adults in the research sites. This was a repeated cross‐sectional ecological study that took place in Morogoro and Dodoma, Tanzania. Vacuum aspiration was used to collect mosquitoes both outside and inside human dwellings. All mosquito‐related data was collected and entered into appropriate data collection forms. Female mosquitoes were recognized morphologically using Gillies and Coetzee morphological criteria, followed by PCR. In total, about 2742 Anopheles mosquitoes with an average collection of 18.21 ± 1.12 per day were collected outside human houses of which 1717 (10.51 ± 1.17) and 1025 (8.42 ± 1.41) were collected from Morogoro and Dodoma, respectively. Of the captured mosquitoes, 89.0%, 10.0%, and 1.0% were recognized as Anopheles arabiensis, Anopheles gambiae s.s., and Anopheles quadrianulatus, respectively. The distribution varied significantly with seasons, whereby 302 (4.72 ± 1.04) and 2440 (12.96 ± 1.52) mosquitoes were captured in the cold‐dry and warm‐wet season, respectively (p < 0.0001). Of the captured mosquitoes, 42.33%, 16.33%, 14.96%, and 4.27 were found on the ceiling, stored junks, verandas, and barks/tree, respectively. In malaria‐endemic countries, vector control forms an important component of the malaria control efforts. This study found significant variation of Anopheles mosquito abundance in time and space with Anopheles arabiensis being the most predominant malaria vector. This signifies the need to introduce mosquito control methods that will target the less anthropophilic Anopheles arabiensis or the immature aquatic stages. The study further found that underbeds, store room/piled bags, and undisturbed curtains were the most preferred resting places by mosquitoes signifying to be the most effective strategic sites for spraying insecticides during the implementation of indoor residual spraying (IRS).
[Retracted] Dynamic Modeling and Analysis of Micro‐Video Teaching System Based on Cloud Computing in College English Teaching
Authors: Chen Ying
Published: January 2022

The era is developing and the society is improving. The application research of computer technology in the field of education is a hot topic at present. The cultivation of talents required the training of schools and teachers. How to cultivate talented person who meets the needs of society lied in the comprehensive ability of teaching in colleges and universities, so the college English education professional grammar teaching model is studied based on dynamic programming algorithm. After a brief overview of the dynamic rule algorithm, an algorithm for evaluating English grammar learning in colleges and universities is designed by using dynamic algorithm. The algorithm is composed of dynamic rule algorithm, language processing technology, and regular expression. In the subsequent experiments, it is proved that the algorithm has a good evaluation effect and can meet the actual application requirements.
Channel Measurement and Noise Estimation in FBMC/OQAM-Based IoT Networks
Authors: Sun Jun , Mu Xiaomin , Kong Dejin
Published: January 2022

Channel measurement plays an important role in the emerging 5G-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) networks, which reflects the channel quality and link reliability. In this paper, we address the channel measurement for link reliability evaluation in filter-bank multicarrier with offset quadrature amplitude modulation- (FBMC/OQAM-) based IoT network, which is considered as a promising technique for future wireless communications. However, resulting from the imaginary interference and the noise correlation among subcarriers in FBMC/OQAM, the existing frequency correlation method cannot be directly applied in the FBMC/OQAM-based IoT network. In this study, the concept of the block repetition is applied in FBMC/OQAM. It is demonstrated that the noises among subcarriers are independent by the block repetition and linear combination, instead of correlated. On this basis, the classical frequency correlation method can be applied to achieve the channel measurement. Then, we also propose an advanced frequency correlation method to improve the accuracy of the channel measurement, by assuming channel frequency responses to be quasi-invariant for several successive subcarriers. Simulations are conducted to validate the proposed schemes.
Identification of an m6A RNA Methylation Regulator Risk Score Model for Prediction of Clinical Prognosis in Astrocytoma
Authors: Guo Fangzhou , Deng Teng , Shi Liu , Wu Pinghua , Yan Jun , Ling Guoyuan , Chen Hainan , Huang Qianrong , Mu Junbo , Mo Ligen
Published: January 2022

Astrocytoma (AS) is the most ubiquitous primary malignancy of the central nervous system (CNS). The vital involvement of the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification in the growth of multiple human tumors is known. This study entailed probing m6A regulators with AS prognosis to construct a risk prediction model (RS) for potential clinical use. A total of 579 AS patients’ (of the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas,CGGA) data and the expression of 12 published m6A-related genes were included in this study. Cox and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses for independent prognostic factors and multifactor Cox analysis established an R.S. model to predict the AS patient prognosis. This was subject to verification employing 331 samples from the TCGA data set followed by gene ontology and pathway enrichment study with gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The R.S. constructed with three m6A genes inclusive of WTAP, RBM15, and YTHDF2 emerged as independent prognostic factors in AS patients with vital involvement in the advancement and development of the malignancy. In a nutshell, this work reported an m6A-related gene risk model to predict the prognosis of AS patients to pave the way for discerning diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Further corroboration employing relevant wet-lab assays of this model is warranted.
Analysis of Necessity and Feasibility for Ground Improvement in Warm and Ice‐Rich Permafrost Regions
Authors: Wang Honglei , Zhang Hu , Chai Mingtang , Zhang Jianming , Sun Zhizhong , Li Guoyu
Published: January 2022

Characterized by low bearing capacity and high compressibility, warm and ice‐rich frozen soil is a kind of problematic soil, which makes the original frozen ground formed by of that unreliable to meet the stability requirements of engineering infrastructures and foundations in permafrost regions. With the design and construction of major projects along the Qinghai‐Tibet Engineering Corridor (QTEC), such as expressway and airport runway, it is a great challenge to favor the stability of overlying structures by formulating the proper engineering design principles and developing the valid engineering supporting techniques. The investigations carried out in recent years indicated that warm and ice‐rich permafrost foundations were widespread, climate warming was significant, and the stability of existing engineering structures was poor, along the QTEC. When the warm and ice‐rich frozen ground is used as the foundation soil, the implementation of ground improvement is an alternative measure to enhance the bearing capacity of foundation soil and eliminate the settlement of structures during operation, in order to guarantee the long‐term stability of the structures. Based on the key factors determining the physicomechanical properties of frozen soil, an innovative idea of stabilizing the warm and ice‐rich frozen soil based on chemical stabilization is proposed in this study, and then, an in situ ground improvement technique is introduced. This study intends to explore the feasibility of ground improvement in warm and ice‐rich permafrost regions along the QTEC based on in situ chemical stabilization and provide the technical support and scientific reference to prevent and mitigate the hazards in the construction of major projects in the future.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Comparison of Anterior and Posterior Intracranial Arterial Stenosis
Authors: Zhao Yan , Liu Beibei , Wang Chunxiu , Guan Shaochen , Liu Chunxiao , Zhang Yanlei , Hou Chengbei , Song Xiaowei , Zhang Zhongying , Wu Xiaoguang , Li Huihui , Gu Xiang , Hu Shimin , Wu Jian , Fang Xianghua
Published: January 2022

The prevalence and risk factors of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) located in the anterior circulation (AC) and posterior circulation (PC) has been scarcely noted in the general population. We aimed to determine ICAS prevalence and risk factor profile of AC and PC in a representative population. Data were from the China Hypertension Survey of Beijing. In total, 4800 people aged 35 years or older were enrolled in this subsurvey for ICAS, and 3954 participants were eligible for analysis. ICAS was assessed by transcranial Doppler. The prevalence of ICAS in AC was much greater than that in PC (11.9% vs. 4.2%), and subjects with ICAS in PC were 3.9 years older than those with ICAS in AC. Multivariable logistics regression showed that the odds of hypertension and diabetes increased by 79% (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.40–2.27) and 35% (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.04–1.75) in those with AC vascular lesions and by 3.35 times (OR: 3.35, 95% CI: 2.49–4.50) and 71% (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.19–2.46) in those with PC vascular lesions compared with those without vascular lesions. Most modifiable vascular risk factors for ICAS appeared to exert similar magnitudes of risk for PC to AC lesions.
Application Effect of Different Concentrations of Platelet-Rich Plasma Combined with Quadriceps Training on Cartilage Repair of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Wu Zutong , Yin Jianwen , Yue Yajia , Zhang Yiqun
Published: January 2022

We investigated the application effect of different concentrations of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with quadriceps training on cartilage repair of knee osteoarthritis. Data of 37 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) treated in our hospital (November 2019–February 2021) were retrospectively analyzed and the patients were divided into low concentration group (LCG) (n = 12), medium concentration group (MCG) (n = 12), and high concentration group (HCG) (n = 13) according to the order of admission. All patients received quadriceps training. Three groups above received knee injection of PRP, and the platelet concentrations were 1000–1400 × 109/L, 1400–1800 × 109/L, and 1800–2100 × 109/L, respectively. Articular cartilage thickness of the medial and lateral femur, knee joint function scores, inflammatory factor levels, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) levels were compared. After treatment, compared with the MCG and HCG, articular cartilage thickness of the medial and lateral femur of the diseased side in the LCG was obviously lower (

P
<
0.05

). At 2 months after treatment (T3), compared with the HCG, articular cartilage thickness of the medial and lateral femur of the diseased side in the MCG was obviously higher (

P
<
0.05

), without remarkable difference in articular cartilage thickness of the medial and lateral femur of the healthy side among three groups (

P
>
0.05

). After treatment, compared with the LCG, knee joint function scores of the MCG and HCG were obviously better (

P
<
0.001

). Compared with the HCG, the knee function score at T3 in the MCG was obviously better (

P
<
0.001

). After treatment, compared with the LCG, inflammatory factor levels and levels of MMPs in the MCG and HCG were obviously lower (

P
<
0.05

). Compared with the HCG, inflammatory factor levels and levels of MMPs at T3 in the MCG were obviously lower (

P
<
0.05

). PRP combined with quadriceps training can accelerate cartilage repair of patients with KOA and reduce inflammatory factor levels and levels of MMPs, but the treatment effect of PRP depends on platelet concentration, with the best range of 1400–1800 × 109/L. Too high or too low platelet concentrations will affect recovery of knee function.
Precise Marketing Strategy Optimization of E‐Commerce Platform Based on KNN Clustering
Authors: Yang Benfang , Li Jiye
Published: January 2022

With the development of computer technology and the arrival of the era of artificial intelligence, the analysis of user demand bias is of great significance to the operation optimization of e‐commerce platforms. Combined with CS domain signaling data, IP packet data of PS domain, and customer CRM data provided by operators, this research studies each dimension index of operator user portrait, after that the operator user portrait platform is divided into some individual subunits, and then the corresponding data mining technology is carried out to study the implementation scheme of each subunit. The system can process and mine multidimensional data of operators’ users and form user portraits on the basis of user data aggregation. Finally, based on the operator user portrait platform studied in this paper, the operator user data are analyzed from both the user’s mobile phone use behavior and user consumption behavior. Furthermore, the application value of this research in the precision marketing and personalized service of operators is illustrated.
Research on the Reuse of Discharged Soil from EBP Shield Tunnels in Synchronous Grouting Material
Authors: Luo Guijun , Xiao Chao , Liu Yuan , Feng Kejun , Ren Qingguo
Published: January 2022

Great practical significance and engineering application value can be achieved when the large amount of discharged soil produced by EPB shield tunnels is recycled and comprehensively utilized. As one of the key processes of shield construction, synchronous grouting needs a large amount of bentonite, cement, fly ash, sand, and other materials. The research on the reuse of shield muck as synchronous grouting material is carried out based on Zhengzhou subway project. The physical properties and phase of the discharged soil from EPB shield tunnels are studied by using laboratory tests and XRD. The statistics show that the shield muck meets the performance requirements of bentonite and fine sand in synchronous grouting materials. The optimal grout ratio of the reused muck is obtained based on the optimization idea of multiobjective programming by MATLAB. Considering the combined effect of seepage field, stress field, and the timeliness of the grout, the influences of grouting pressure and the filling rate of synchronous grouting on surface settlement, plastic zone of strata, and segment deformation are analyzed by using finite difference method. The results prove that the surface settlement and segment deformation can be better controlled when the grouting pressure is at 0.18 MPa and the grouting rate is at 120%–150%.
Mechanism of Spectral Distortion for Real-Time Crack Propagation on Aluminum Alloy Structure
Authors: Jin Bo , Lu Cunbo , Zhang Feng , Zhang Weifang
Published: January 2022

This study investigates four characteristic damage mechanisms of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, with fatigue crack propagation in aluminum alloy. The multipeak wavelength distinguish algorithm was developed for FBG spectrum quantitative analysis. The results distinguish a subordinate peak skewing significantly, associated with strain patterns along the FBG, corresponding to various crack lengths. For parallel bonded direction grating, the subordinate peak skewing appears at the strain pattern transition region. This is located at the ratio 32%-34% of crack length lying in the crack tip. Meanwhile, the four damage characteristics correspond to subordinate peak skewing. When the strain is distributed along the grating, spectral distortion occurs. In this region, the cubic strain pattern determines the shorter wavelength location of subordinate peaks. This corresponds to the 15%-17% ratio of crack length lying in the grating, causing spectral oscillations.
Effect of Autoimmune Cell Therapy on Immune Cell Content in Patients with COPD: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Wen , Li Guanhong , Zhou Wei , Wang Hui , Zheng Yuqiong
Published: January 2022

Objective. To explore the effect of autoimmune cell therapy on immune cells in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to provide a reference for clinical treatment of COPD. Methods. Sixty patients with stable COPD were randomly divided into control group and treatment group (

n
=
30

). The control group was given conventional treatment, and the treatment group was given one autoimmune cell therapy on the basis of conventional treatment. The serum levels of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cells, B cells, and NK cells in the peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Possible adverse reactions were detected at any time during treatment. Results. There were no significant differences in the contents of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cells, B cells, and NK cells in the serum of the control group (

P
>
0.05

). Compared with before treatment, the contents of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cells, B cells, and NK cells in the serum of the treatment group were significantly increased (

P
<
0.05

). The ratio of

CD
4
+
/
CD
8
+

T cells in both control and treatment groups did not change significantly during treatment (

P
>
0.05

). There were no significant differences in serum CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cells, B cells, and NK cells in the treatment group at 30 days and 90 days after treatment (

P
>
0.05

), but they were significantly higher than those in the control group (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Autoimmune cell therapy can significantly increase the level of immune cells in the body and can be maintained for a long period of time, which has certain clinical benefits for recurrent respiratory tract infections and acute exacerbation in patients with COPD.
Geometric and Physical Characteristics of Precipitation Clouds in Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Teng Kunyu , Cai Hongke , Sun Xiubin , Chen Quanliang
Published: January 2022

This paper examines the basic geometric and physical characteristics of precipitation clouds over the Tibetan Plateau, based on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) data from 1998 to 2015, using the minimum bounding rectangle (MBR) method. The results show that about 60% of the precipitation clouds occur with a scale of approximately 18 km (length) and 15 km (width), and the proportion of precipitation clouds with a length longer than 100 km and a width wider than 90 km is less than 1%. Most of the precipitation cloud exhibits a shape between square and long strips in the horizontal direction and lanky in the vertical direction. The average rainfall intensity of precipitation clouds is between 0.5 and 6 mm h−1. The average length and width of precipitation clouds show a logarithmic, linear relationship. The distribution of raindrops in precipitation clouds is relatively compact. With the expansion of the area, the precipitation clouds gradually become squatty. The relationship between physical and geometric parameters of precipitation clouds shows that with the precipitation cloud area expanding, the average rainfall rate of precipitation clouds also increases. Heavy convective rainfall is more likely to occur in larger precipitation clouds. For the precipitation clouds of the same size, the area fraction and contribution of convective precipitation are lower than that of stratiform precipitation.
Metaheuristics with Deep Learning-Enabled Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis and Classification Model
Authors: Bahaddad Adel A. , Ragab Mahmoud , Ashary Ehab Bahaudien , Khalil Eied M.
Published: January 2022

Parkinson's disease (PD) affects the movement of people, including the differences in writing skill, speech, tremor, and stiffness in muscles. It is significant to detect the PD at the initial stages so that the person can live a peaceful life for a longer time period. The serious levels of PD are highly risky as the patients get progressive stiffness, which results in the inability of standing or walking. Earlier studies have focused on the detection of PD effectively using voice and speech exams and writing exams. In this aspect, this study presents an improved sailfish optimization algorithm with deep learning (ISFO-DL) model for PD diagnosis and classification. The presented ISFO-DL technique uses the ISFO algorithm and DL model to determine PD and thereby enhances the survival rate of the person. The presented ISFO is a metaheuristic algorithm, which is inspired by a group of hunting sailfish to determine the optimum solution to the problem. Primarily, the ISFO algorithm is applied to derive an optimal subset of features with a fitness function of maximum classification accuracy. At the same time, the rat swarm optimizer (RSO) with the bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) is employed as a classifier to determine the existence of PD. The performance validation of the IFSO-DL model takes place using a benchmark Parkinson’s dataset, and the results are inspected under several dimensions. The experimental results highlighted the enhanced classification performance of the ISFO-DL technique, and therefore, the proposed model can be employed for the earlier identification of PD.
Multimodal Imaging of Target Detection Algorithm under Artificial Intelligence in the Diagnosis of Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Jiang Meiping , Lei Sanlin , Zhang Junhui , Hou Liqiong , Zhang Meixiang , Luo Yingchun
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic value of multimodal images based on artificial intelligence target detection algorithms for early breast cancer, so as to provide help for clinical imaging examinations of breast cancer. This article combined residual block with inception block, constructed a new target detection algorithm to detect breast lumps, used deep convolutional neural network and ultrasound imaging in diagnosing benign and malignant breast lumps, took breast density grading with mammography, compared the convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm with the proposed algorithm, and then applied the proposed algorithm to the diagnosis of 120 female patients with breast lumps. According to the results, accuracy rates of breast lump detection (94.76%), benign and malignant breast lumps diagnosis (98.22%), and breast grading (93.65%) with the algorithm applied in this study were significantly higher than those (75.67%, 87.23%, and 79.54%) with CNN algorithm, and the difference was statistically significant (

P

 < 0.05); among 62 patients with malignant breast lumps of the 120 patients with breast lumps, 37 were patients with invasive ductal carcinoma, 8 with lobular carcinoma in situ, 16 with intraductal carcinoma, and 4 with mucinous carcinoma; among the remaining 58 patients with benign breast lumps, 28 were patients with fibrocystic breast disease, 17 with intraductal papilloma, 4 with breast hyperplasia, and 9 with adenopathy; the differences in shape, growth direction, edge, and internal echo of multimodal ultrasound imaging of patients with benign and malignant breast lumps had statistical significance (

P

 < 0.05); the malignant constituent ratios of patients with breast density grades I to IV were 0%, 7.10%, 80.40%, and 100%, respectively. In short, the multimodal imaging diagnosis under the algorithm in this article was superior to CNN algorithm in all aspects; according to the judgment on benign and malignant breast lumps and breast density with multimodal imaging features, the higher the breast density, the higher the probability of breast cancer.
Correction of Temporal Hollowing Deformity Using Serratus Anterior Muscle Flap
Authors: Chang Lan Sook , Kim Youn Hwan , Kim Sang Wha
Published: January 2022

Temporal hollowing deformity (THD) is a contour irregularity in the frontotemporal region, which results in facial asymmetry in the frontal view. Here, we present our clinical experience of correction of THD using serratus anterior (SA) muscle and fascia free flaps. Between March 2016 and December 2018, 13 patients presenting with THD were treated with SA free flap. The mean age of the patients was 47.8 years. The patients received craniectomy due to subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, or brain tumor. On average, correction of THD was performed 17 months after cranioplasty. The SA flap size ranged from 5 × 5 cm to 10 × 8 cm. The mean operation time was 107.3 minutes. All of the flaps survived without complications. The mean follow‐up duration was 20.3 months. For correction of THD, the SA muscle and fascia flap is among the best candidates to permanently restore aesthetic form and symmetry.
Subhealth Risk Perception Scale: Development and Validation of a New Measure
Authors: Sun Jiangjie , Jiang Xueli , Gao Yufei , He Chengsen , Wang Mingxin , Wang Xiaohua , Yu Zhengzhi , Si Xiaomao , Shi Xiuyan , Zhang Liping
Published: January 2022

Background. To develop an individual’s physical subhealth risk perception scale and evaluate its reliability and validity, so as to provide a measurement tool for individual physical health risk. Methods. A questionnaire on the perception risk of physical subhealth was developed. Using a random sampling method, 785 people in the Anhui provincial physical examination centre were selected as the research participants. Of the questionnaires returned, 770 were valid, giving an effective rate of 98%. Firstly, the Pearson correlation coefficient method was used to study the correlation of 35 items in the initial scale, and then, polychoric factor structure analysis was carried out by using the Pratt

D

matrix to optimize the item structure. The Cronbach’α coefficient method was used to test the internal consistency reliability, and a structural equation model was used to explore the construct validity of the scale. The discriminant validity of the scale was obtained by factor analysis. A general linear model was used to analyse the relationship between the clinical manifestations of physical subhealth and the level of risk perception, and the convergent validity of the scale was evaluated. Results. All the data of 35 items were significantly correlated at the 0.01 level. The correlation coefficients between a1 and a2, a3 and a4, b1 and b2, b2 and b3, c4 and c5, c5 and c6, c6 and c7, c8 and c9, d1 and d2, d2 and d3, e5 and e6, g1 and g2, g2 and g3, and g2 and g4 were greater than 0.6. The items with correlation coefficients greater than 0.6 were reduced by a Pratt

D

matrix. The resulting physical subhealth risk perception scale covers five factors with a total of 18 items. The Cronbach’α coefficient of the scale was 0.889, and the Cronbach’α coefficients of the five factors F1-F5 were 0.780, 0.825, 0.801, 0.736, and 0.704, respectively. Structural equation model analysis showed that

χ

2

/
df
=
3.43

,

p
<
0.001

,

RMSEA
=
0.08

,

GFI
=
0.88

,

NFI
=
0.84

,

AGFI
=
0.84

, and

CFI
=
0.88

. Factor analysis showed that factors F1–F5 had significant correlations (

p
<
0.01

), and the correlation coefficients were less than the corresponding square root value of AVE. Based on the subhealth clinical manifestations of the participants, the general linear model was used to explore the convergent validity of the scale, and the results indicated that the scale passed the convergent validity test. Conclusions. We propose a physical subhealth risk perception scale amounting to 18 items, which includes five dimensions: health knowledge (2 items), risk perception (5 items), trust selection (4 items), information channel (4 items), and social groups (3 items). The reliability and validity of the physical subhealth risk perception scale are acceptable. Applying the scale into practice has potential to improve the overall public health level.
Decreased Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channel 2 Activity in a Rat Model of Absence Epilepsy and the Effect of ZD7288, an Ih Inhibitor, on the Spike-and-Wave Discharges
Authors: Yavuz Melis , Aydın Banu , Çarçak Nihan , Onat Filiz
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel currents of Ih and absence epilepsy seizures are associated, but studies reveal differential results. Objective: In our study, we aimed to investigate the role of the HCN channels on the expression of spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) using the Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) model. Methods: HCN isoform levels from isolated brains of both naïve nonepileptic Wistar and GAERS groups were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ZD7288, an Ih inhibitor as well as an HCN channel antagonist, was administered intracerebroventricularly to the adult GAERS groups, and to evaluate their SWD activities, electroencephalography was recorded. The effect of ZD7288 on the cumulative total duration and number of SWDs and the mean duration of each SWD complex was evaluated. Results: The HCN2 levels in the cortex and hippocampus of the GAERS group were lower compared to the naïve nonepileptic Wistar group (p < 0.05). ZD7288 increased the number of SWDs at the 20th and 120th min with the highest administered dose of 7 μg (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Ih inhibitor ZD7288 increased the number of SWDs in a genetic absence epilepsy rat model, although this increase may not be significant due to the inconsistent time-dependent effects. In GAERS, the cortical and hippocampal HCN2 channel levels were significantly lower compared to the control group. Further studies are needed with higher doses of ZD7288 to determine if the effects will increase drastically.
A Smartphone Application as an Exploratory Endpoint in a Phase 3 Parkinson’s Disease Clinical Trial: A Pilot Study
Authors: Page Alex , Yung Norman , Auinger Peggy , Venuto Charles , Glidden Alistair , Macklin Eric , Omberg Larsson , Schwarzschild Michael A. , Dorsey E. Ray
Published: January 2022

Background: Smartphones can generate objective measures of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and supplement traditional in-person rating scales. However, smartphone use in clinical trials has been limited. Objective: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of introducing a smartphone research application into a PD clinical trial and to evaluate the resulting measures. Methods: A smartphone application was introduced part-way into a phase 3 randomized clinical trial of inosine. The application included finger tapping, gait, and cognition tests, and participants were asked to complete an assessment battery at home and in clinic alongside the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). Results: Of 236 eligible participants in the parent study, 88 (37%) consented to participate, and 59 (27 randomized to inosine and 32 to placebo) completed a baseline smartphone assessment. These 59 participants collectively completed 1,292 batteries of assessments. The proportion of participants who completed at least one smartphone assessment was 61% at 3, 54% at 6, and 35% at 12 months. Finger tapping speed correlated weakly with the part III motor portion (r = −0.16, left hand; r = −0.04, right hand) and total (r = −0.14) MDS-UPDRS. Gait speed correlated better with the same measures (r = −0.25, part III motor; r = −0.34, total). Over 6 months, finger tapping speed, gait speed, and memory scores did not differ between those randomized to active drug or placebo. Conclusions: Introducing a smartphone application midway into a phase 3 clinical trial was challenging. Measures of bradykinesia and gait speed correlated modestly with traditional outcomes and were consistent with the study’s overall findings, which found no benefit of the active drug.
Lung Ultrasound as a Tool to Evaluate Fluid Accumulation in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Alexandrou Maria-Eleni , Theodorakopoulou Marieta P. , Sarafidis Pantelis A.
Published: January 2022

Background: Volume overload is the main mechanism of BP elevation in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis and has been linked to adverse outcomes and increased mortality in this population. Summary: This review discusses current knowledge on lung ultrasound as a tool for detection of extracellular volume overload through evaluation of extravascular lung water content. We describe the principles of lung US, the main protocols to apply it in clinical practice, and accumulated data evidence regarding its associations with cardiovascular events and mortality. We also summarize available evidence on the effect of lung ultrasound-guided ­volume management strategies on BP control, echocardiographic parameters, and major outcomes in patients undergoing dialysis. Key Messages: Among interventions attempting to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in ESKD, effective management of volume overload represents an unmet clinical need. Assessment of hydration status by lung ultrasound is a cheap, easy to employ, and real-time technique that can offer accurate dry weight assessment leading to several clinical benefits.
Políticas atuais, transformações sociais e a perseguição a Paulo Freire
Authors: Arelaro Lisete Regina Gomes , Caetano Camila Gomes Arelaro
Published: January 2022

Desde o golpe jurídico-midiático-legislativo que se implantou no Brasil, o movimento conservador que vem atuando no país tem se empenhado em impor a desmobilização da população na luta pelos seus direitos sociais. No processo de conscientização freireana, o compromisso com a transformação social se efetiva quando os contextos sociais das pessoas são considerados no processo de formação e onde uma nova visão de mundo é estimulada a partir dos parâmetros da educação crítico-emancipatória. Este artigo trata das razões pelas quais as políticas atuais pretendem calar os movimentos sociais. No entanto, as pessoas, onde quer que atuem, são sujeitos históricos e podem se organizar e se rebelar propondo diferentes caminhos para a vida, o trabalho e a escola. Essa é a razão pela qual esse movimento reacionário vem tentando macular as teorias de Paulo Freire.