bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-operative management after chemoradiotherapy plus consolidation or sandwich (induction with bevacizumab and consolidation) chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: a multicentre, randomised phase II trial (NOMINATE trial)
Authors: Akiyoshi Takashi , Shinozaki Eiji , Taguchi Senzo , Chino Akiko , Hiratsuka Makiko , Tominaga Tetsuro , Nonaka Takashi , Toda Shigeo , Matoba Shuichiro , Matsui Shimpei , Okabayashi Koji , Mukai Toshiki , Hiyoshi Yukiharu , Yamaguchi Tomohiro , Nagasaki Toshiya , Yamaguchi Kensei , Ueno Masashi , Kuroyanagi Hiroya , Fukunaga Yosuke , Ishizuka Naoki , Konishi Tsuyoshi
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Total mesorectal excision (TME) and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, neoadjuvant CRT has no recognised impact on reducing distant recurrence, and patients suffer from a long-lasting impairment in quality of life (QOL) associated with TME. Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) is an alternative approach that could reduce distant metastases and increase the proportion of patients who could safely undergo non-operative management (NOM). This study is designed to compare two TNT regimens in the context of NOM for selecting a more optimal regimen for patients with LARC.

Methods and analysis

NOMINATE trial is a prospective, multicentre, randomised phase II selection design study. Patients must have clinical stage II or III (T3-T4Nany) LARC with distal location (≤5 cm from the anal verge or for those who are candidates for abdominoperineal resection or intersphincteric resection). Patients will be randomised to either arm A consisting of CRT (50.4 Gy with capecitabine) followed by consolidation chemotherapy (six cycles of CapeOx), or arm B consisting of induction chemotherapy (three cycles of CapeOx plus bevacizumab) followed by CRT and consolidation chemotherapy (three cycles of CapeOx). In the case of clinical complete response (cCR) or near cCR, patients will progress to NOM. Response assessment involves a combination of digital rectal examination, endoscopy and MRI. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving pathological CR or cCR≥2 years, defined as the absence of local regrowth within 2 years after the start of NOM among eligible patients. Secondary endpoints include the cCR rate, near cCR rate, rate of NOM, overall survival, distant metastasis-free survival, locoregional failure-free survival, time to disease-related treatment failure, TME-free survival, permanent stoma-free survival, safety of the treatment, completion rate of the treatment and QOL. Allowing for a drop-out rate of 10%, 66 patients (33 per arm) from five institutions will be accrued.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol was approved by Wakayama Medical University Certified Review Board in December 2020. Trial results will be published in peer-reviewed international journals and on the jRCT website.

Trial registration number

jRCTs051200121
Confounding adjustment methods in longitudinal observational data with a time-varying treatment: a mapping review
Authors: Wijn Stan R W , Rovers Maroeska M , Hannink Gerjon
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To adjust for confounding in observational data, researchers use propensity score matching (PSM), but more advanced methods might be required when dealing with longitudinal data and time-varying treatments as PSM might not include possible changes that occurred over time. This study aims to explore which confounding adjustment methods have been used in longitudinal observational data to estimate a treatment effect and identify potential inappropriate use of PSM.

Design

Mapping review.

Data sources

We searched PubMed, from inception up to January 2021, for studies in which a treatment was evaluated using longitudinal observational data.

Eligibility criteria

Methodological, non-medical and cost-effectiveness papers were excluded, as were non-English studies and studies that did not study a treatment effect.

Data extraction and synthesis

Studies were categorised based on time of treatment: at baseline (interventions performed at start of follow-up) or time-varying (interventions received asynchronously during follow-up) and sorted based on publication year, time of treatment and confounding adjustment method. Cumulative time series plots were used to investigate the use of different methods over time. No risk-of-bias assessment was performed as it was not applicable.

Results

In total, 764 studies were included that met the eligibility criteria. PSM (165/201, 82%) and inverse probability weighting (IPW; 154/502, 31%) were most common for studies with a treatment at baseline (n=201) and time-varying treatment (n=502), respectively. Of the 502 studies with a time-varying treatment, 123 (25%) used PSM with baseline covariates, which might be inappropriate. In the past 5 years, the proportion of studies with a time-varying treatment that used PSM over IPW increased.

Conclusions

PSM is the most frequently used method to correct for confounding in longitudinal observational data. In studies with a time-varying treatment, PSM was potentially inappropriately used in 25% of studies. Confounding adjustment methods designed to deal with a time-varying treatment and time-varying confounding are available, but were only used in 45% of the studies with a time-varying treatment.
A case-control, multicentre study of consecutive patients with COVID-19 and acute (myo)pericarditis: incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics and outcomes
Authors: Mirò Òscar , Sabaté Manel , Jiménez Sònia , Mebazaa Alexandre , Martínez-Nadal Gemma , Piñera Pascual , Burillo-Putze Guillermo , Martín Alfonso , Martín-Sánchez Francisco Javier , Jacob Javier , Alquézar-Arbé Aitor , García-Lamberechts Eric Jorge , Llorens Pere , González del Castillo Juan
Published: March 2022

Objective

To estimate incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics and outcomes of acute (myo)pericarditis (AMP) in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

Case-control, retrospective review, consecutive case inclusion performed in 62 Spanish EDs. All COVID-19 patients with AMP (cases) were compared in clinical characteristics and outcomes with COVID-19 without AMP (control group A) and non-COVID patients with AMP (control group B). We estimated unadjusted standardised incidence (SI, not adjusted by population’s age/sex) of AMP in COVID-19 and non-COVID populations (per 100 000/year).

Results

We identified 67 AMP in COVID-19 patients (SI=56.5, OR with respect to non-COVID patients=4.43, 95% CI=3.98 to 4.94). Remarkably, COVID-19 cases presented with chest pain less frequently than non-COVID patients and had less typical ECG changes, higher NT-proBNP (N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide), more left and right ventricular dysfunction in echocardiography and more need of inotropic/vasopressor drugs. Admission to intensive care was higher than control group A (OR=3.22, 95% CI=1.43 to 7.23), and in-hospital mortality was higher than control group B (OR=7.75, 95% CI=2.77 to 21.7).

Conclusion

AMP is unusual as a form of COVID-19 presentation (about 1‰ cases), but SI is more than fourfold higher than non-COVID population, and it is less symptomatic, more severe and has higher in-hospital mortality; therefore, rapid recognition, echocardiographic assessment of myopericardial inflammation/dysfunction and treatment with vasoactive drugs when needed are recommended in AMP in patients with COVID-19.
Torus orbit closures in flag varieties and retractions on Weyl groups
Authors: Lee Eunjeong , Masuda Mikiya , Park Seonjeong
Published: March 2022

A finite Coxeter group W has a natural metric d and if [Formula: see text] is a subset of W, then for each [Formula: see text], there is [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text]. Such q is not unique in general but if [Formula: see text] is a Coxeter matroid, then it is unique, and we define a retraction [Formula: see text] so that [Formula: see text].

The T-fixed point set [Formula: see text] of a T-orbit closure Y in a flag variety G/B is a Coxeter matroid, where G is a semi-simple algebraic group, B is a Borel subgroup, and T is a maximal torus of G contained in B. We define a retraction [Formula: see text] geometrically, where W is the Weyl group of [Formula: see text], and show that [Formula: see text]. We introduce another retraction [Formula: see text] algebraically for an arbitrary subset [Formula: see text] of W when W is a Weyl group of classical Lie type, and show that [Formula: see text] when [Formula: see text] is a Coxeter matroid.
Generalized heterogeneous hypergeometric functions and the distribution of the largest eigenvalue of an elliptical Wishart matrix
Authors: Shinozaki Aya , Shimizu Koki , Hashiguchi Hiroki
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we derive the exact distributions of eigenvalues of a singular Wishart matrix under the elliptical model. We define the generalized heterogeneous hypergeometric functions with two matrix arguments and provide the convergence conditions of these functions. The joint density of eigenvalues and the distribution function of the largest eigenvalue for a singular elliptical Wishart matrix are represented with these functions. Numerical computations for the distribution of the largest eigenvalue are conducted under the matrix-variate t and Kotz type models.
A regional explanation for Laxfordian tectonic evolution and its implications for the Lewisian terrane model
Authors: Park Graham
Published: March 2022

The later Paleoproterozoic (Laxfordian) structural and metamorphic history of the Lewisian Complex can be explained by several major kinematic changes. At
c.
1.9 Ga, the neighbouring Archean cratons of Rae, North Atlantic (NAC), Kola and Karelia were isolated from each other and subduction and accretion were active at their margins. At
c.
1.85 Ga, during the ‘Early Laxfordian’, the Lewisian, then part of the Nagssugtoqidian orogenic belt, experienced NW–SE-directed tectonic movements attributed to east–west convergence between the Rae Craton and the NAC, probably prompted by collision with Baltica. At
c.
1.7 Ga, during the ‘Late Laxfordian’, a major change to north–south convergence produced a combination of NW–SE-trending folds and NW–SE dextral shear zones. The kinematic system changed again after
c.
1.6 Ga. The latter two changes may be attributable to the docking of further large cratons as the Nuna supercontinent was assembled.

The Lewisian terrane model can be interpreted in terms of the relative movements between two major cratons, Rae and NAC. Sandwiched between them was a third, composed of material partly derived from a juvenile magmatic arc or arcs situated in oceanic crust. The Assynt terrane may be an isolated remnant of the upper-plate NAC, whereas most of the remaining Lewisian outcrop may consist of modified Rae material.
Computer Science Diagram Understanding with Topology Parsing
Authors: Wang Shaowei , Zhang Lingling , Luo Xuan , Yang Yi , Hu Xin , Qin Tao , Liu Jun
Published: March 2022

Diagram is a special form of visual expression for representing complex concepts, logic, and knowledge, which widely appears in educational scenes such as textbooks, blogs, and encyclopedias. Current research on diagrams preliminarily focuses on natural disciplines such as Biology and Geography, whose expressions are still similar to natural images. In this article, we construct the first novel geometric type of diagrams dataset in Computer Science field, which has more abstract expressions and complex logical relations. The dataset has exhaustive annotations of objects and relations for about 1,300 diagrams and 3,500 question-answer pairs. We introduce the tasks of diagram classification (DC) and diagram question answering (DQA) based on the new dataset, and propose the Diagram Paring Net (DPN) that focuses on analyzing the topological structure and text information of diagrams. We use DPN-based models to solve DC and DQA tasks, and compare the performances to well-known natural images classification models and visual question answering models. Our experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed DPN-based models on diagram understanding tasks, also indicate that our dataset is more complex compared to previous natural image understanding datasets. The presented dataset opens new challenges for research in diagram understanding, and the DPN method provides a novel perspective for studying such data. Our dataset can be available from https://github.com/WayneWong97/CSDia.
Racialized Reshuffling: Urban Change and the Persistence of Segregation in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Hwang Jackelyn , McDaniel Tyler W.
Published: March 2022

The literature on the persistence of racial residential segregation in the United States has made significant progress by moving beyond traditional explanations—socioeconomic differences, preferences, and discrimination—to focus on the complex ways in which these factors interact with the multistage process of residential sorting. Dramatic changes in metropolitan landscapes over the past two decades, however, demand an expanded theoretical framework that can account for stability and change. In this article, we review research on contemporary urban changes that offers insights for explaining segregation's persistence amid widespread change. We identify three broad categories of mechanisms that exacerbate inequities by race and class in residential sorting processes: resource inequality, hierarchy endurance, and consolidated power. We describe developments in measuring segregation and new data and methods for studying urban change that enable researchers to consider the contemporary mechanisms, forms, and scales of segregation in the twenty-first century.
Blocking the Cu (II) Ions Mediated Catalytical Ability for Construction of Ratiometric Fluorescence Sensing Platform Based on Glutathione-Stabilized Copper Nanoclusters
Authors: Tao Bei-Bei , Wu Ning-Ning , Zhang Hong-Ding , Wang Hai-Bo
Published: March 2022

It is of great importance to integrate two kinds of fluorescent probes in one system to construct ratiometric sensing platform. Inspired by the efficient overlapped spectrum of glutathione-stabilized copper nanoclusters (GSH-CuNCs) and 2, 3-diaminophenazine (DAP), a novel and label-free ratiometric fluorescent sensor has been developed for Cu2+ and kojic acid (KA) detection on the basis of in situ converting o-phenylenediamine (OPD) into DAP by the catalytic oxidation ability of Cu2+. The Cu2+ catalytically generated DAP was served as an energy acceptor to inhibit the fluorescence emission of GSH-CuNCs (energy donor). As a result, the sensitivity and accuracy of the strategy were greatly improved due to the dual-emission reverse change ratiometric profile. The sensing system showed high sensitivity toward Cu2+ in a range of 0.1–50 μM and with a limit of detection of 20 nM. Furthermore, based on the specific coordination interaction between Cu2+ and KA, the ratiometric sensor displayed the range of detection of KA from 0.2 μM to 300 μM with a limit of detection of 50 nM. Thus, the ratiometric method paved a new way for the effective quantification of Cu2+ and KA in real samples, which were closely concerned with human health.
Serine-arginine-rich protein kinase-1 inhibition for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Malhi Naseeb K. , Allen Claire L. , Stewart Elizabeth , Horton Katherine L. , Riu Federica , Batson Jennifer , Amoaku Winfried , Morris Jonathan C. , Arkill Kenton P. , Bates David O.
Published: March 2022

VEGF-A165a splicing is induced by hyperglycemia through PKC-mediated activation of SRPK1 in RPE cells, increasing their permeability and angiogenic capability. SRPK1 inhibitors can be given as eye drops to reduce retinal permeability and edema in diabetic retinopathy.
Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties and Energy Evolution Law of Coal-Rock Composite Structure under Different Interface Connection Modes
Authors: Tian Chenglin , Sun Haitao , Dai Linchao , Li Rifu , Wang Bo , Cao Jie , Wang Jun , Hu Qianting
Published: March 2022

The stability of the coal-rock composite structure is of great significance to the safety production of deep mines, and the different interface connection modes of coal and rock have an important influence on its stability. Therefore, the following work was done in this article: Firstly, the mechanical structure model of coal-rock was established, and the influence of different interface connection modes on coal rock was analyzed. Secondly, the mechanical characteristics (plastic zone, stress, and displacement) of coal-rock composite structure under different interface connection modes were studied by numerical simulation, and the energy was quantitatively analyzed by FISH language in FLAC3D. The results were as follows: (1) The interface reduces the strength of rock and increases the strength of coal in the coal-rock composite structure. (2) In the loading process, the coal body is destroyed first and the destruction range increases gradually with the increase of stress. The failure mode is mainly a plastic shear failure, and the deformation of coal is much larger than that of rock in the composite structure. (3) The interface contact mode affects the mechanical behavior of coal and rock structure. The strong contact interface influences the strength, displacement, and energy accumulation of coal and rock structure, among which the influence on energy and displacement is greater, which is helpful to the improvement of strength. Therefore, it is suggested to adopt the strong contact interface in the study of coal and rock structure.
Association between Androgenetic Alopecia and Psychosocial Disease Burden: A Cross‐Sectional Survey among Polish Men
Authors: Adamowicz Roksana , Załęcki Piotr , Dukiel Anna , Nowicka Danuta
Published: March 2022

A decline in quality of life in men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is frequently reported, so we aimed to evaluate the psychosocial burden related to AGA in Polish male patients with AGA. We enrolled 75 adult patients with AGA. The study was conducted in an outpatient dermatology clinic in Poland. Each participant answered 23 dedicated questions about demographic data, history of the disease, and a psychosocial condition. Overall, 38.7% of patients did not notice any impact of AGA on their contact with other people or activity in their free time; 50.7% of patients observed little or no effect on their relationship with their partner; 60% of patients often or sometimes felt embarrassed by their baldness (mainly those aged 18–25 years; p = 0.002); 66.7% of patients reported a rather large negative impact on their self‐esteem; and 81.3% of patients sometimes experienced stress in everyday life. We conclude that AGA impairs the emotional condition and social functioning of men of all ages, but particularly of younger men. Broader interventions should be planned to allow access to a psychological and psychosocial support, starting treatment at an early stage of the disease, and involving family physicians in the treatment of AGA.
microRNA-106b-5p Promotes Cell Growth and Sensitizes Chemosensitivity to Sorafenib by Targeting the BTG3/Bcl-xL/p27 Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Enkhnaran Bilegsaikhan , Zhang Guang-Cong , Zhang Ning-Ping , Liu Hai-Ning , Wu Hao , Xuan Shi , Yu Xiang-Nan , Song Guang-Qi , Shen Xi-Zhong , Zhu Ji-Min , Liu Xiu-Ping , Liu Tao-Tao
Published: March 2022

microRNAs (miRNAs) and miRNA-mediated regulatory networks are promising candidates in the prevention and treatment of cancer, but the role of specific miRNAs involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be elusive. Herein, we found that miR-106b-5p is upregulated in both HCC patients’ tumor tissues and HCC cell lines. The miR-106b-5p expression level was positively correlated with α-fetoprotein (AFP), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and tumor size. Overexpression of miR-106b-5p promoted cell proliferation, migration, cell cycle G1/S transition, and tumor growth, while decreased miR-106b-5p expression had opposite effects. Mechanistic studies showed that B-cell translocation gene 3 (BTG3), a known antiproliferative protein, was a direct target of miR-106b-5p, whose expression level is inversely correlated with miR-106b-5p expression. Moreover, miR-106b-5p positively regulates cell proliferation in a BTG3-dependent manner, resulting in upregulation of Bcl-xL, cyclin E1, and CDK2, as well as downregulation of p27. More importantly, we also demonstrated that miR-106b-5p enhances the resistance to sorafenib treatment in a BTG3-dependent manner. The in vivo findings showed that mice treated with a miR-106b-5p sponge presented a smaller tumor burden than controls, while the mice injected cells treated with miR-106b-5p had more considerable tumor burden than controls. Altogether, these data suggest that miR-106b-5p promotes cell proliferation and cell cycle and increases HCC cells’ resistance to sorafenib through the BTG3/Bcl-xL/p27 signaling pathway.
Esophageal Perforation following Accidental Ingestion of a Razor Blade
Authors: Shrestha Suraj , Sapkota Ranjan , Bhatta Suraj , Kharel Sanjeev , Shrestha Bibek Man , Sharma Aakriti
Published: March 2022

Background. Ingestion of sharp foreign bodies is uncommon and often underreported. It can present with esophageal perforation which is a life-threatening complication requiring prompt diagnosis and management. Case Presentation. We report a case of accidental ingestion of a razor blade in a chronic alcoholic who presented with hematemesis after an esophageal perforation, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by radiology. Conclusion. Early recognition of esophageal perforation is crucial for early intervention. Proper history taking and radiological investigations are a key to reaching a diagnosis.
A Remote Sensing Approach for Displaying the Changes in the Vegetation Cover at Az Zakhnuniyah Island at Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Taisan Wafa’a A.
Published: March 2022

In the terrestrial ecosystem, vegetation is the important component of exchanging of water and energy in biogeochemical and climate cycle. A study was conducted to detect the vegetation cover change at Az Zakhnuniyah island by using remote sensing techniques. It includes vegetation analysis using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) while comparing with climatological data including temperature, humidity, and precipitation. A clear trend was seen in climatological parameters where temperature and humidity were rising decade by decade although NDVI did not show. In addition, increasing soil salinization over the years was observed when soil salinity index was used. NDVI-based long-term decadal analysis on vegetation cover based on Landsat surface reflectance data showed increase of vegetation cover which was also linked to precipitation trends. Also, the short-term demi-decadal comparison using PROBA-V showed the vegetation cover reduction between 2015 and 2019. Nevertheless, the sea level surrounding the island also showed an increasing trend of 0.34 cm/y, which could be the cause of inundation in some parts of the island in future. Furthermore, all these trends need to be observed in entirety as many of those trends can be interlinked.
Numerical and Experimental Study on End Effect of Waste-Soil Samples under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Wang Yukai , Liu Xiaoli , Pang Bo
Published: March 2022

In order to investigate the influence of end effect on the waste-soil sample strength under uniaxial compression, the influence law of end effect on the uniaxial compression strength is numerically simulated by the FLAC3D software, and the reliability of the numerical model is verified by comparing it with the test results. Based on the above model, the influence of end effect on the lateral displacement and stress state of waste-soil samples is simulated, and the formation mechanism of end effect under uniaxial compression is revealed. The results show that, when the friction coefficient increases from 0 to 0.4, the uniaxial compression strength and percentage of triaxial compression units first increase rapidly and then slowly and then finally remain invariant. With the increase of the friction coefficient, the lateral displacement of the sample is significantly reduced. On the end surface, the nearer to the edge one is, the greater the decrease is. The triaxial compression region on the axis section is triangular in distribution; with the increase of the friction coefficient, this region increases first rapidly and then slowly and then finally remains invariant. The end effect produces lateral compression stress by reducing the lateral displacement of the end surface of samples, and lateral compression stress causes the sample to enter the triaxial compression state. With the increase of the friction coefficient, the triaxial compression region increases gradually, and thus, the uniaxial compression strength of the entire sample increases.
A Dance Somersault Pose Recognition Model Using Multifeature Fusion Algorithm
Authors: Kang Li
Published: March 2022

With the continuous progress of society, dance art has gradually entered the lives of ordinary people, and people’s appreciation level and artistic attention have gradually improved. How to improve the level of dance art has become an urgent problem to be resolved. In order to solve the problems encountered in dance tumbling pose recognition, this paper proposes a dance tumbling pose recognition model based on multifeature fusion algorithm. According to the characteristics of dance movements, an effective feature extraction method is studied. By combining the key information of bones, the fusion features of the relative position of human joints, the angle of joints, and the ratio of limb length are selected to classify the movements in the dance scene. Through the residual block automatic motion detection method, a multifeature fusion module is used to fuse multiple features, so as to improve the estimation of complex pose by the algorithm and finally complete the dance action identify. The test and analysis results on the data set show that the algorithm can identify the dance somersault pose and can effectively improve the accuracy of dance movement recognition, with strong recognition performance. It is convenient for people to recognize dance tumble posture in the video, thereby realizing the action correction function for dancers.
IoT Architecture-Based Mechanism for Digital Transmission of Key Aspects of the Enterprise
Authors: Chen Cheng
Published: March 2022

This paper provides an in-depth study and analysis of data transmission in key aspects of the enterprise using internet of things (IoT) technology. IoT technology can provide an effective solution to the integration of enterprise resources and efficiency improvement. If it can be properly introduced into the enterprise, it not only can effectively integrate the enterprise resources in the management but also can significantly improve the efficiency and thus further reduce its operating cost. This paper explores the management application strategy of IoT in the key aspects of digital transmission in enterprises. It can also increase productivity to address labour shortages. Most importantly, because of the internet of things technology, many emerging industries have been derived. In order to achieve this research objective, firstly, based on the in-depth study of the problems of digital transmission of key aspects of the enterprise, this paper evaluates and summarizes the supply chain, safety, efficiency, and quality problems that often occur in the past operation and management of the case enterprise and analyses the main reasons for the formation of the problems and then recognizes the necessity and feasibility of introducing IoT technology and management; secondly, based on the kernel of IoT and industrial IoT technology combined with the main modules of enterprise operation management, using the 5S field management method, we try to build a three-dimensional all-round electrical equipment enterprise IoT management application scheme design system; and finally according to the planning and design rules and management process, we focus on implementing digital transmission network application projects from the enterprise level combining key links of technology and management. This paper studies not only technical innovation but also a revolution in management. The research in this paper will provide a more feasible technical and management design scheme for the application of IoT in enterprises for industry reference.
miR-4731-5p Enhances Apoptosis and Alleviates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition through Targeting RPLP0 in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Chang Chang , Xu Meilin
Published: March 2022

Background/Aim. MircoRNA-4731-5p (miR-4731-5p) is a new miRNA involved in different human cancers, but its function has not been clarified in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study attended to resolve the role of miR-4731-5p in NSCLC. Materials and Methods. The expression level of miR-4731-5p or ribosomal protein large P0 (RPLP0) and NSCLC clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. The binding between miR-4731-5p and RPLP0 was confirmed by TargetScan prediction and luciferase reporter experiment. Also, the probable role of miR-4731-5p in NSCLC via RPLP0 was elaborated by the MTT, western blotting, immunofluorescence, transwell, flow cytometry, and TUNEL assays. Moreover, in vivo verification was conducted in xenografted nude mice. Results. The level of miR-4731-5p was notably declined in vivo and in vitro, which was involved in the prognosis of lung cancer patients. The miR-4731-5p mimic could remarkably restrain cell viability, invasion, and the translational expression level of vimentin and e-cadherin, with promoted cell apoptosis in NSCLC, which were notably reversed by RPLP0 overexpression. Conclusion. miR-4731-5p/RPLP0 axis might be an underlying therapeutic target for NSCLC.
Using ARIMA-GARCH Model to Analyze Fluctuation Law of International Oil Price
Authors: Xiang Ying
Published: March 2022

It is meaningful and of certain theoretical value for the development of economy through analyzing fluctuation rules of international oil prices and forecasting the future trend of international oil prices. By composing the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and the combination model of autoregressive integrated moving average model-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARIMA-GARCH) for analyzing and forecasting international oil prices, study shows that the combination model of ARIMA (1,1,0)-GARCH (1,1) is more suitable for short-term forecasting of international oil prices with higher accuracy that the MAPE of forecasting has reduced from 1.549% to 0.045% and the RMSE of forecasting has reduced from 1.032 to 0.071.
Finite Element and Vulnerability Analyses of a Building Failure due to Landslide in Kaithakunda, Kerala, India
Authors: Andrewwinner Rajkumar , Chandrasekaran Sembulichampalayam Sennimalai
Published: March 2022

Rainfall‐induced landslide is one of the major natural disasters in the Western Ghats of India. Kerala state in southern India received unprecedented heavy rainfall from July to August 2018. The rainfall received was higher than the average for the past 100 years. The present study discusses the investigation of vertical cut failure at Kaithakunda, located in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It was due to the series of medium rainfall followed by a short period of extremely heavy rainfall. The heavy rainfall triggered the slope failure, which led to the damage of the building and the death of three residents of the building. The index and engineering properties of the soil were evaluated from the laboratory tests. The tests revealed that the soil was silty sand (SM) with low permeability. Tests on the mineral composition and microstructure fabric nature of the soil revealed that the soil was formed due to the weathering action of the parent charnockite rock. The finite element analysis of the slope was carried out using PLAXIS 3D. The analysis was carried out in two stages. The original slope before the vertical cut was modelled as the first stage. The vertical cut was modelled in the second stage to study the actual site condition before failure. The failure occurs due to the increase in pore water pressure in the soil, thereby reducing the matric suction and shear strength of the soil. The vulnerability of the building located near the cut slope is studied using the Support Vector Method to investigate the effect of material on the failure. The results showed the importance of the material properties in the increase of building resistance to 20%.
Private Face Image Generation Method Based on Deidentification in Low Light
Authors: Dong Beibei , Wang Zhenyu , Gu Zhihao , Yang Jingjing
Published: March 2022

The existing face image recognition algorithm can accurately identify underexposed facial images, but the abuse of face image recognition technology can associate face features with personally identifiable information, resulting in privacy disclosure of the users. The paper puts forward a method for private face image generation based on deidentification under low light. First of all, the light enhancement and attenuation networks are pretrained using the training set, and low-light face images in the test set are input into the light enhancement network for photo enhancement. Then the facial area is captured by the face interception network, and corresponding latent code will be created through the latent code generation network and feature disentanglement will be done. Tiny noise will be added to the latent code by the face generation network to create deidentified face images which will be input in a light attenuation network to generate private facial images in a low-lighting style. At last, experiments show that, compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms, this method is more successful in generating low-light private face images with the most similar structure to original photos. It protects users’ privacy effectively by reducing the accuracy of the face recognition network, while also ensuring the practicability of the images.
Fuzzy Random Prediction Model of Frost Heave Characteristics of Horizontal Frozen Metro Contact Channel in Coastal Area
Authors: Yafeng Yao , Zhemei Zhang , Wei Wang , Yongheng Li , Siqi Li , Chenguang Wei
Published: March 2022

The frost heave characteristics of artificial frozen soil are very important information for underground freezing engineering. It is found that both the frost heaving force and rate of the same soil layer increase with the decrease of freezing temperature. In addition, due to the comprehensive influence of freezing temperature, natural water content, dry density, and tidal flow peak value, the frost heave characteristics of different soil samples are evidently uncertain. With the aim of improving the deficiency of traditional BP neural network algorithms in solving fuzzy random engineering problems, random factor and mean square error between layers are used to modify the evaluation function of the network model. On this basis, taking tidal flow peak value, freezing temperature, natural water content, and dry density as inputs, the frost heaving force and rate of frozen soil as output values, and setting the number of hidden layer elements as 4, an improved fuzzy random BP network prediction model for frost heave characteristics was established. The new network prediction model has a smaller weight and bias, and the response tends to be smoother than the traditional one, which greatly reduces the overfitting phenomenon. The engineering example shows that the improved BP neural network prediction model can make the predicted value of frost heaving force and rate basically coincide with the measured value after effective training, and the error is controlled within 8%. Therefore, the prediction model can be used as an effective tool to predict frost heaving characteristics in Nantong metro freezing construction, and the corresponding model and method can also be extended to similar engineering cases.
S100A8 as a Promising Biomarker and Oncogenic Immune Protein in the Tumor Microenvironment: An Integrative Pancancer Analysis
Authors: Wu Zixuan , Jiang Dongli , Huang Xuyan , Cai Minjie , Yuan Kai , Huang Peidong
Published: March 2022

Background. S100 Calcium Binding Protein A8 (S100A8) is beneficial for cancer immunotherapy. However, the processes underlying its therapeutic potential have not been completely studied. Methods. The Cancer Genome Atlas provides raw data on 33 different cancer types. GEO made available GSE67501, GSE78220, and IMvigor210. We investigated S100A8’s genetic changes, expression patterns, and survival studies. The linkages between S100A8 and TME, as well as its association with immunological processes/elements and the major histocompatibility complex, were explored to effectively understand the role of S100A8 in cancer immunotherapy. Three distinct immunotherapeutic cohorts were employed to examine the relationship between S100A8 and immunotherapeutic response. Results. S100A8 expression was high in tumor tissue. The overexpression of S100A8 is associated with poor clinical outcome in patients with overall survival. S100A8 is associated with immune cell infiltration, immunological modulators, and immunotherapeutic indicators. S100A8 overexpression is connected to immune-related pathways. However, no statistically significant connection between S100A8 and immunotherapeutic response was identified. Conclusions. S100A8 may be a reliable biomarker for tumor prognosis and a viable prospective therapeutic target for human cancer immunotherapy (e.g., GBM, KIRC, LGG, and LIHC).
Towards Energy-Efficient and Delay-Optimized Opportunistic Routing in Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks for IoUT Platforms: An Overview and New Suggestions
Authors: Menon Varun G. , Midhunchakkaravarthy Divya , Sujith Aaromal , John Sonali , Li Xingwang , Khosravi Mohammad R.
Published: March 2022

In underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs), the reliable transfer of data from the source nodes located underwater to the destination nodes at the surface through the network of intermediate nodes is a significant challenge due to various unique characteristics of UASN such as continuous mobility of sensor nodes, increased propagation delay, restriction in energy, and heightened interference. Recently, the location-based opportunistic routing protocols seem to show potential by providing commendable quality of service (QoS) in the underwater environment. This study initially reviews all the latest location-based opportunistic routing protocols proposed for UASNs and discusses its possible limitations and challenges. Most of the existing works focus either on improving the QoS or on energy efficiency, and the few hybrid protocols that focus on both parameters are too complex with increased overhead and lack techniques to overcome communication voids. Further, this study proposes and discusses an easy-to-implement energy-efficient location-based opportunistic routing protocol (EELORP) that can work efficiently for various applications of UASN-assisted Internet of Underwater Things (IoUTs) platforms with reduced delay. We simulate the protocol in Aqua-Sim, and the results obtained show better performance than existing protocols in terms of QoS and energy efficiency.
Investigation and Strategy Research on Dietary Nutrition Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Athletes
Authors: Feng Benyu , Yuan Yu
Published: March 2022

The goal of this paper is to learn more about the nutritional knowledge, attitude, and behavior of teenager trampoline athletes to improve their dietary nutritional levels as well as their sports performance. The questionnaires were designed on athletes’ diet nutrition knowledge, and the questionnaire surveys were conducted on the selected teenager trampoline athletes aged 10–17 as the survey object. Dietary nutrition knowledge, attitude, and behavior are significantly correlated with the total score

P
<
0.05

; dietary nutrition knowledge and dietary nutrition behavior are significantly correlated

P
<
0.05

; dietary nutrition attitude and dietary nutrition behavior are also significantly correlated

P
<
0.05

; dietary nutrition knowledge and dietary nutrition attitude are not strongly correlated

P
>
0.05

. The average score of dietary nutrition knowledge of teenager trampoline athletes is

6.5
±
1.7

(failing). The nutritional knowledge of teenager trampoline athletes is not systematic and the quality of nutrition information obtained by teenager trampoline athletes is low. The average score of dietary nutrition attitude of teenager trampoline athletes is

7.1
±
1.8

(good). The average score of dietary nutrition behavior is

13.4
±
3.1

(moderate). Teenager trampoline athletes mainly rely on coaches, relatives, and friends to obtain nutritional knowledge. Therefore, the correct eating habits need to be strengthened and their dietary nutrition behaviors need to be reasonably monitored. Suggestions will include providing relevant nutrition courses, increasing athletes’ awareness of the importance of dietary nutrition, and using professional dietitians for dietary nutrition matching and monitoring.
Prognostic Analysis of Postoperative Survival for Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma with or without Cirrhosis
Authors: Xia Feng , Zhu Peng , Chen Xiao-Ping , Zhang Bi-Xiang , Zhang Ming-Yu
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims. Conflicting results are often observed in the prognosis of patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC), and there are currently very few studies on the long-term postoperative outcomes of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma patients. This study aimed to distinguish between the postoperative prognosis of rHCC patients with cirrhosis (rHCC-C) and those without cirrhosis (rHCC-NC) using some serum markers. Methods. We collected the data of 151 rHCC patients treated at our centers from January 2010 to March 2021. 62 had no cirrhosis, and 89 had cirrhosis. The prognosis of rHCC-C and rHCC-NC groups was compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. We used multivariate Cox regression to analyze prognostic factors in rHCC patients, and subgroup analysis was performed on the two groups of patients. Results. The long-term prognosis of rHCC-NC patients was better than that of rHCC-C patients. Tumor diameter, Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage, HBsAg, positive Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, elevated creatinine, and elevated T-bilirubin were prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in rHCC-C patients. However, only alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 92 ng/mL was a prognostic factor for OS in rHCC-NC patients. In noncirrhotic patients, HBsAg positivity was only associated with OS. Similarly, the presence or absence of microvascular invasion (MVI) also had different results in the two groups. Conclusions. There are differences in serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, the presence of microvascular invasion (MVI), and HBsAg positivity between rHCC-C and rHCC-NC patients, indicating that the analysis of these prognostic factors may help improve the management of rHCC patients and provide a direction for future treatment options.
Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns, Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Production, and Associated Risk Factors of Klebsiella Species among UTI-Suspected Patients at Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Ameshe Asmamaw , Engda Tigist , Gizachew Mucheye
Published: March 2022

Introduction. Klebsiella species cause pneumonia, UTI, and septicemia in human beings. Beta-lactam drugs are used extensively to treat patients infected with Klebsiella, but most of the Klebsiella species are resistant to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins and monobactams to which data are scarce in the study area. Objective. To determine the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, ESBL production, and associated risk factors of Klebsiella species among UTI-suspected patients in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A multi-institution-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2019. Midstream urines were collected from 385 patients and inoculated onto CLED and MacConkey agars. Identification of growth was done by a battery of biochemical tests. Antimicrobial resistance and ESBL production patterns were determined by using the disc-diffusion method on Mueller–Hinton agar. Quality of data was maintained by following SOPs and using Klebsiella pneumoniae (ACTT700603). Logistic regression statistical analysis was done using the SPSS, version 25, statistical package. A

p

value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. The median age of the study participants was 32 years. Majority of them were female, urban residents, and unable to read and/or write. The total Klebsiella species detected were 38 (9.9%). Of which, 25 (65.8%) were Klebsiella pneumoniae, followed by 6 (15.8%) Klebsiella ozaenae. 20 (80%), 19 (76%), and 19 (76%) Klebsiella pneumoniae showed resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, and cotrimoxazole, respectively. All K. oxytoca were resistant to ampicillin, and all K. rhinoscleromatis were resistant to cefoxitin and cefotaxime. Klebsiella species that showed resistance to ≥3 antimicrobials were 26 (68%). ESBL-producing Klebsiella species were 10 (26.3%). Patients who had history of antibiotic use, hospitalization, and tight dressing habit had more risk of getting UTI (

p
<
0.05

) than their counterparts. Conclusions. Overall UTI prevalence in our study was lower than that of previous Ethiopian studies. High MDR and ESBL-producing Klebsiella species were detected. Patients’ history of antibiotic use, hospitalization, and tight dressing habit were risk factors for UTI. It calls up for improving prevention/control systems of Klebsiella species.
Low-Temperature Plasma-Activated Medium Inhibited Proliferation and Progression of Lung Cancer by Targeting the PI3K/Akt and MAPK Pathways
Authors: Li Ying , Lv Yang , Zhu Yu , Yang Xiaodong , Lin Boya , Li Mengqing , Zhou Yaqi , Tan Zhibo , Choi Eun Ha , Wang Junjie , Wang Shubin , Liu Yajie
Published: March 2022

Low-temperature plasma, an engineered technology to generate various reactive species, is actively studied in cancer treatment in recent years, yet mainly by using a traditional 2D cell culture system. In this study, we explored the effect of the plasma-activated medium (PAM) on lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by using a 3D cell culture model. The results showed that PAM markedly inhibited 3D spheroid formation and downregulated stemness-related gene expression. We found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) penetrated throughout the whole spheroids and induced cell death surrounding and in the core of the tumor spheroid. Besides, PAM treatment suppressed migration and invasion of lung cancer cells and downregulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition- (EMT-) related gene expression. In the mouse xenograft model, the tumor volume was significantly smaller in the PAM-treated group compared with the control group. By using transcriptome sequencing, we found that PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways were involved in the inhibition effects of PAM on lung cancer cells. Therefore, our results indicated that PAM exhibits potential anticancer effects on lung cancer and provides insight into further exploration of PAM-induced cell death and translational preclinical use.