bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence and Big Data: The Advent of New Pedagogy in the Adaptive E-Learning System in the Higher Educational Institutions of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Khan Mohammed Arshad , Khojah Maysoon , Vivek
Published: February 2022

The operations of many industries, such as banking, insurance, energy, healthcare, and retail, have been improved and transformed by the application of artificial intelligence. The education sector is the particular one which has more potential for artificial intelligence and its applications. Universities and colleges are currently facing a number of challenges, including high rates of dropouts and student disengagement in their classes, as well as the failure of traditional learning techniques in the face of ongoing outbreaks. Major issues in the educational sector can be resolved by the proper application of artificial intelligence and big data, which can facilitate learner-centred approaches as per the needs of today’s era. This can be better described as a personalised learning approach, in which the needs of each and every student can be considered and education can be provided uniquely for them. In this way, the educator can provide a better learning experience according to the needs and ability of the learners/students. Thus, it also assists in enhancing the motivational level of the learners and minimising the dropout rates of the students. The main purpose of the study is to examine the role of artificial intelligence and big data in the adaption of the E-learning system for imparting better education facilities to the students of various colleges and universities situated in Saudi Arabia. The sample dataset for this study was collected through a purposive sampling technique from the 290 students enrolled in numerous higher educational institutions. The collected data were analysed using SPSS and SmartPLS 3 software. The findings of this study reveal that AI and big data assist educators and students as well to run the teaching and learning process smoothly even in the period of an ongoing pandemic at the higher levels of the education system. It also explores the educational inferences of transpiring technologies in the ways of students’ “learning and institutions” teaching and their adaption. In recent eras, technological evolution and an increase in the adoption of latest technologies in the field of higher education have been scouted to forecast the essence of higher education globally in the near future, where AI will be the gist for universities. This study reveals some issues faced by higher educational institutions and students related to the adaptation of these technologies for learning, teaching, administration, and student support. The implications of the present study will be helpful for students and teachers to access educational resources effectively and for educational institutions to improve the efficiency and personalization of learning tasks. Furthermore, it will allow students to get more time with their respective teachers.
Toward Steganographic Payload Location via Neighboring Weight Algorithm
Authors: Qiao Tong , Luo Xiangyang , Pan Binmin , Chen Yuxing , Wu Xiaoshuai
Published: February 2022

Modern steganalysis has been widely investigated, most of which mainly focus on dealing with the problem of detecting whether an inquiry image contains hidden information. However, few articles in the literature study the location of secret bits hidden by modern adaptive steganography. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for locating steganographic payload in the spatial domain. We first predict the steganographic scheme and its payload, which is used for generating a random bitstream. Then, the random bits are embedded in the stego image based on the cost matrix in the framework of Syndrome-Trellis Codes (STCs). Next, relying on the differences between two stego images, the extended modification map in couple with the neighboring weight algorithm can be acquired, leading to the location of the hidden bits. Compared with the prior art, the extensive experiments verify that our proposed locating algorithm performs better, in terms of locating accuracy and efficiency.
The Meta-Analysis of Bevacizumab Combined with Platinum-Based Treatment of Malignant Pleural Effusions by Thoracic Perfusion
Authors: Shen Bairu , Tan Minghua , Wang Zhengyu , Song Changshan , Hu Hui , Deng Shunfu , Yang Yuxin
Published: February 2022

Objective. To evaluate the safety of bevacizumab combined with platinum-based thoracic perfusion for treating lung cancer-related malignant pleural effusion (MPE) through meta-analysis. Methods. The CNKI, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and Wanfang Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of bevacizumab combined with platinum-based thoracic perfusion for the treatment of MPE. The references included in the articles were manually searched for additional studies. A meta-analysis of the RCTs was conducted using the RevMan 5.3 application. Results. A total of 8 studies involving 540 patients (271 cases in the test group and 269 cases in the control group) were included in the meta-analysis. The test group had a significantly greater risk of elevated blood pressure as well as a higher rate of complete remission (CR) compared to the control group (

P
<
0.05

). In contrast, the incidence of partial remission (PR) was only slightly higher in the test group (

P
>
0.05

), and the risks of leukopenia, vomiting or nausea, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding or hemoptysis, proteinuria, abnormal kidney and liver function, arrhythmia, and rashes were not significantly different between the test and control groups (

P
>
0.05

). Conclusion. Bevacizumab combined with platinum-based thoracic perfusion can achieve CR of MPE in patients with advanced lung cancer without significantly increasing the risk of adverse effects. The rate of PR was similar for the combination treatment and platinum-based infusion.
Estimation of Some Lifetime Parameters of Flexible Reduced Logarithmic‐Inverse Lomax Distribution under Progressive Type‐II Censored Data
Authors: Buzaridah M. Mustafa , Ramadan Dina A. , El-Desouky B.S.
Published: February 2022

In this study, the estimation of parameters of a three‐parameter flexible reduced logarithmic‐inverse Lomax (FRL‐IL) distribution based on progressive type‐II right censored sample is studied. These methods include maximum likelihood estimations (MLEs) and Bayesian estimators. Approximate confidence intervals (ACIs) for the reliability and hazard functions are estimated based on the asymptotic distribution of maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs). In addition, two bootstrap CIs are also proposed. Bayesian estimates are obtained for symmetric and asymmetric loss functions such as squared error loss (SEL) and linear‐exponential (LINEX) loss functions. The Gibbs within Metropolis‐Hasting sampler procedure is applied using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique to get the Bayes estimates of the unknown parameters and their credible intervals (CRIs). Finally, a real‐life dataset that represents a group of patients with bladder cancer is considered an application of the proposed methods.
Changes of Intestinal Microflora in Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgical Resection and Chemotherapy
Authors: Huang Rui , He Ke , Duan Xiaopeng , Xiao Jinfeng , Wang Hanning , Xiang Guoan
Published: February 2022

Objective. The change of bacterial flora structure in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients after treatment is not clear. The aim of this study was to explore the change and function of intestinal microflora in CRC before and after treatment. Method. The 16S conserved region V3+V4 of intestinal flora obtained from CRC patients was sequenced and analyzed. Alpha and beta diversity indices were used to analyze the abundance and structure of gut flora. FAPROTAX, BugBase, and Tax4Fun software were used to analyze the species phenotypes and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Ontology (KO) function pathways. Results. Total abundance and structure of species in CRC patients were significantly increased compared with healthy people (control group) (

P
<
0.05

), but there was no significant difference between CRC patients before and after treatment (

P
>
0.05

). There was significant difference in relative abundance of bacteria at different levels (phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species) between the CRC group with after operation (CRC_O group) and chemotherapy (CRC_C group) treatment, particularly Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Akkermansia, Fusicatenibacter, Tyzzerella_4, Megamonas, etc. in genus level. The KO function analysis showed that most of the bacteria with differences were mainly involved in the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide (Megamonas, Megasphaera, and Ruminococcus torques_group), protein digestion and absorption, renin-angiotensin system pathway (Akkermansia, Eubacterium_ruminantium_group, and Eubacterium_nodatum_group genus), adipocytokine signaling pathway and peroxisome pathway (Tyzzerella_4, Phascolarctobacterium, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group), and so on. Conclusion. The abundance of intestinal microflora in CRC patients was increased significantly contrasted to healthy people, and surgery and chemotherapy were hard to reduce this phenomenon. Megamonas was involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and carcinogenesis in colorectal cancer. Surgery and drug treatment did not reduced lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis but increased the number of probiotic Akkermansia population and reduced the pathogenic bacteria Tyzzerella_4, participate in adipocytokine signaling pathway, and affect metabolism.
Characterization of Desmoglein 3 (DSG3) as a Sensitive and Specific Marker for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chi Zhikai , Balani Jyoti , Gopal Purva , Hammer Suntrea , Lewis Cheryl M. , Peng Lan
Published: February 2022

Although P40 and P63 are both sensitive and specific for routine esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) diagnosis, we recently showed that P40 and P63 immunoreactivities were significantly lower in well-differentiated SCC than those in higher grade tumors. Therefore, a novel esophageal SCC marker, ideally performing better in well-differentiated SCC, is still needed. We characterized desmoglein 3 (DSG3) immunohistochemistry in esophageal SCC, esophageal adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung carcinoma, and large B-cell lymphoma, alongside P40 and CK5/6. The World Health Organization classification was used to grade tumors as well-differentiated (WD), moderately differentiated (MD), or poorly differentiated (PD). There were 20 WD, 26 MD, and 17 PD components among 39 esophageal SCC cases. All esophageal SCC components showed significant DSG3 immunoreactivity (mean, 80%; range, 30%–100%), and the proportions of DSG3 immunoreactive cells were higher in the WD and MD components than in the PD components. No esophageal adenocarcinoma cases showed more than 10% DSG3 immunoreactivity with only weak cytoplasmic staining. With a 5% immunoreactivity cutoff, DSG3 positivity was 100% in all 63 SCC components, 18% in adenocarcinoma cases, and 0% in small-cell lung carcinoma or large B-cell lymphoma cases. The overall DSG3 specificity was 94%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize DSG3 as a sensitive and specific marker for esophageal SCC.
Ecological Protection Technology of Spraying Vegetation Concrete on Carbonaceous Rock Slope Experimental Research and Application
Authors: Chang Zhenchao , Luo Junhui , Tang Qiongzhen , Zeng Ling , Zhang Hongri , Li Youjun , Yang Gexiao , Zhang Liming
Published: February 2022

To solve the environmental protection issue of carbonaceous rock slope, the failure mechanism of carbonaceous rock slope and the protection mechanism of vegetation concrete are analyzed based on the engineering characteristics of carbonaceous rock and vegetation concrete. Therefore, the field test of vegetation concrete was carried out to obtain the optimal dosage of vegetation concrete greening additive. The application of environmental protection technology of vegetation concrete on carbonaceous rock slope is applied in slope engineering of Hebai highway, and the change law of soil fertility was analyzed to verify the effect of ecological protection. The results show that the protection mechanism of vegetation concrete slope protection technology is mainly categorized into two groups, namely, the surface sealing effect of vegetation concrete substrate in the early stage and the plant ecological protection effect in the later stage. The experiment results show that the optimum dosage of green additive for vegetation concrete is ranging from 30 kg/m3 to 40 kg/m3. According to the field application, within one year after the construction of vegetation concrete, the contents of available phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter increased by 70.2%, 24.9%, and 76.8%, respectively. Moreover, the content of alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen decreased by 44.8% and bulk density by 17.4%; the content of total phosphorus changed little. After 60 days of construction, the vegetation coverage rate of the slope can reach more than 95% and there is no obvious soil erosion phenomenon after three times of heavy rainfall.
Neurodoron® for Stress Impairments: A Prospective, Multicenter Non-Interventional Trial
Authors: Hellhammer Juliane , Schmidt Katja , Semaca Cristina , Hufnagel Rebecca
Published: February 2022

Introduction. Stress is associated with a multitude of physical and psychological health impairments. To tackle these health disorders, over-the-counter (OTC) products like Neurodoron® are popular since they are considered safe and tolerable. Experience reports and first studies indicate that Neurodoron® is efficient in the treatment of stress-associated health symptoms. To confirm this, a non-interventional study (NIS) with pharmacies was conducted. Methods. The NIS was planned to enroll female and male patients who suffered from nervous exhaustion with symptoms caused by acute and/or chronic stress. The main outcome measures were characteristic stress symptoms, stress burden, and perceived stress. Further outcome measures included perceived efficacy and tolerability of the product as assessed by the patients and collection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). A study duration of about 21 days with a recommended daily dose of 3–4 tablets was set. Results. 279 patients were enrolled at 74 German pharmacies. The analyzed set (AS) included 272 patients (mean age 44.8 ± 14.4 years, 73.9% female). 175 patients of the AS completed the NIS. During the study, all stress symptoms declined significantly (total score 18.1 vs. 12.1 (of max. 39 points),

p

 < 0.0001). Furthermore, a reduction of stress burden (relative difference in stress burden, VAS = −29.1%,

p

 < 0.0001) was observed. For most patients, perceived stress was reduced at the study end (PSQ total score decreased in 70.9% of the patients). 75.9% of the study population rated the product efficacy as “good” or “very good” and 96.6% rated its tolerability as “good” or “very good.” One uncritical ADR was reported. Discussion/Conclusion. This study adds information on the beneficial effects of Neurodoron® in self-medication. The results from this NIS showed a marked reduction in stress burden and perceived stress, along with an excellent safety profile of the medicinal product (MP) Neurodoron®. Further trials are required to confirm these results.
Degenerate Poly‐Lah‐Bell Polynomials and Numbers
Authors: Kim Taekyun , Kim Hye Kyung
Published: February 2022

Many mathematicians studied “poly” as a generalization of the well‐known special polynomials such as Bernoulli polynomials, Euler polynomials, Cauchy polynomials, and Genocchi polynomials. In this paper, we define the degenerate poly‐Lah‐Bell polynomials arising from the degenerate polyexponential functions which are reduced to degenerate Lah‐Bell polynomials when k = 1. In particular, we call these polynomials the “poly‐Lah‐Bell polynomials” when λ⟶0. We give their explicit expression, Dobinski‐like formulas, and recurrence relation. In addition, we obtain various algebraic identities including Lah numbers, the degenerate Stirling numbers of the first and second kind, the degenerate poly‐Bell polynomials, the degenerate poly‐Bernoulli numbers, and the degenerate poly‐Genocchi numbers.
CD38 Expression by Circulating and Skin-Infiltrating Lymphocytes from Sezary Syndrome Patients: A Flow Cytometry and Immunohistochemistry Study
Authors: Quaglino Pietro , Novelli Mauro , Fava Paolo , Ortolan Erika , Astrua Chiara , Tonella Luca , Tomasini Carlo Francesco , Senetta Rebecca , Ribero Simone , Ponti Renata , Fierro Maria Teresa , Funaro Ada
Published: February 2022

Background. Reports on the expression of CD38 in Sézary syndrome (SS), erythrodermic primary cutaneous T cell lymphoma with leukemic involvement, are limited. The aim of the present study is the analysis of the expression of CD38 by skin-infiltrating mononuclear cells and circulating T lymphocytes in a cohort of SS patients. Methods. SS patients diagnosed since 1985 in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed for CD38 expression in biopsy and blood samples by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, respectively. Results. SS patients show a predominant CD38-negative phenotype on both skin and blood. A subgroup of patients was found expressing CD38 (12 cases) in either the skin (>25% cell infiltrate) or blood (CD4+CD38+ >50%), among whom 4 in the blood, 7 in the skin, and 1 in both blood and skin. Conclusion. The implications of these observations may be twofold: the relevance in basic science is related to a potential role in immune defense regulation, whilst in perspective CD38 may become a target for antibody therapy, considering the availability of different anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies.
Immunohistochemical Analysis of Postburn Scars following Treatment Using Dermal Substitutes
Authors: Lee Mi Young , Kim Hyunchul , Kwak In Suk , Jang Youngchul , Choi Younghee
Published: February 2022

Background. Post-burn hypertrophic scars commonly occur after burns. Studies that compare dermal substitutes with other treatment methods are insufficient. The purpose was to analyze the histopathological differences in hypertrophic burn scars after Matriderm®+split-thickness skin graft (STSG) and compare with AlloDerm®+STSG, STSG, full-thickness skin graft (FTSG), and normal skin. Methods. Samples of unburned, normal skin and deep 2nd or 3rd degree burns were obtained from patients who experienced a burn injury in the past to at least 6 months before biopsy, which was performed between 2011 and 2012. All subjects received >6 months of treatment before the biopsy. Intervention groups were normal (63), STSG (28), FTSG (6), Matriderm® (11), and AlloDerm® (18). Immunohistochemical analyses of elastin, collagen I, collagen III, cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and laminin from scar and control tissues were performed and compared. Results. α-SMA vascular quantity and vessel width, stromal CD31, and basement membrane laminin expression were not significantly different between normal and intervention groups. Matriderm® group showed no significant difference in elastin, collagen III, stromal CD31 and α-SMA, CD31 vessel width, stromal α-SMA, vessel quantity and width, and laminin length compared to the normal group, meaning they were not significantly different from the normal skin traits. Conclusion. Dermal substitutes may be an optimal alternative to address the cosmetic and functional limitations posed by other treatment methods.
An Updated Overview of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Iron in Movement Disorders
Authors: Tambasco Nicola , Nigro Pasquale , Chiappiniello Andrea , Paolini Paoletti Federico , Scialpi Sara , Simoni Simone , Chiarini Pietro , Parnetti Lucilla
Published: February 2022

Brain iron load is one of the most important neuropathological hallmarks in movement disorders. Specifically, the iron provides most of the paramagnetic metal signals in the brain and its accumulation seems to play a key role, although not completely explained, in the degeneration of the basal ganglia, as well as other brain structures. Moreover, iron distribution patterns have been implicated in depicting different movement disorders. This work reviewed current literature on Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Brain Iron Detection and Quantification (MRI-BIDQ) in neurodegenerative processes underlying movement disorders.
Effect of Normobaric Hypoxia on Alterations in Redox Homeostasis, Nitrosative Stress, Inflammation, and Lysosomal Function following Acute Physical Exercise
Authors: Maciejczyk Mateusz , Zalewska Anna , Gryciuk Małgorzata , Hodun Katarzyna , Czuba Miłosz , Płoszczyca Kamila , Charmas Małgorzata , Sadowski Jerzy , Baranowski Marcin
Published: February 2022

Hypoxia is a recognized inducer of oxidative stress during prolonged physical activity. Nevertheless, previous studies have not systematically examined the effects of normoxia and hypoxia during acute physical exercise. The study is aimed at evaluating the relationship between enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant barrier, total antioxidant/oxidant status, oxidative and nitrosative damage, inflammation, and lysosomal function in different acute exercise protocols under normoxia and hypoxia. Fifteen competitive athletes were recruited for the study. They were subjected to two types of acute cycling exercise with different intensities and durations: graded exercise until exhaustion (GE) and simulated 30 km individual time trial (TT). Both exercise protocols were performed under normoxic and hypoxic (

Fi

O

2

=
16.5
%

) conditions. The number of subjects was determined based on our previous experiment, assuming the test

power
=
0.8

and

α
=
0.05

. We demonstrated enhanced enzymatic antioxidant systems during hypoxic exercise (GE: ↑ catalase (CAT), ↑ superoxide dismutase; TT: ↑ CAT) with a concomitant decrease in plasma reduced glutathione. In athletes exercising in hypoxia, redox status was shifted in favor of oxidation reactions (GE: ↑ total oxidant status, ↓ redox ratio), leading to increased oxidation/nitration of proteins (GE: ↑ advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), ↑ ischemia-modified albumin, ↑ 3-nitrotyrosine, ↑ S-nitrosothiols; TT: ↑ AOPP) and lipids (GE: ↑ malondialdehyde). Concentrations of nitric oxide and its metabolites (peroxynitrite) were significantly higher in the plasma of hypoxic exercisers with an associated increase in inflammatory mediators (GE: ↑ myeloperoxidase, ↑ tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and lysosomal exoglycosidase activity (GE: ↑ N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase, ↑ β-glucuronidase). Our study indicates that even a single intensive exercise session disrupts the antioxidant barrier and leads to increased oxidative and nitrosative damage at the systemic level. High-intensity exercise until exhaustion (GE) alters redox homeostasis more than the less intense exercise (TT, near the anaerobic threshold) of longer duration (

20.2
±
1.9

 min vs.

61.1
±
5.4

 min—normoxia;

18.0
±
1.9

 min vs.

63.7
±
3.0

 min—hypoxia), while hypoxia significantly exacerbates oxidative stress, inflammation, and lysosomal dysfunction in athletic subjects.
Investigation of New Design Principles for the Centrifugal Compressor Vaned Diffusers
Authors: Li Qingkuo , Sun Zhigang , Lu Xingen , Zhang Yingjie , Han Ge
Published: February 2022

Diffuser’s aerodynamic performance is crucial for the centrifugal compressors, while at present the universal principles for the optimization design of the vaned diffusers are still not available. In this paper, three vaned diffusers with different inlet Mach numbers were numerically studied in order to explore new design principles for the centrifugal compressor vaned diffusers. It proved that there are practical and effective design principles for the vaned diffuser optimizations, the performance of the vaned diffuser can be improved by carefully control of two aerodynamic parameter distributions: Tangential velocity (Vt) and Meridional velocity (Vm). The vaned diffusers with subsonic, transonic and supersonic inlet conditions were optimized with the new design principles, and the peak efficiencies were increased by 4.23%, 2.15% and 2.59%, respectively. The stage pressure ratios were increased by 3.36%, 1.39% and 6.49%, respectively, and their surge margins were also improved substantially. Finally, since the Vt and Vm could affect each other during the optimization process, an interactive optimization design procedure was also presented in this paper in order to accelerate the optimization process.
Classification of Electroencephalogram Signal for Developing Brain-Computer Interface Using Bioinspired Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Thilagaraj M. , Ramkumar S. , Arunkumar N. , Durgadevi A. , Karthikeyan K. , Hariharasitaraman S. , Rajasekaran M. Pallikonda , Govindan Petchinathan
Published: February 2022

Transforming human intentions into patterns to direct the devices connected externally without any body movements is called Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). It is specially designed for rehabilitation patients to overcome their disabilities. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal is one of the famous tools to operate such devices. In this study, we planned to conduct our research with twenty subjects from different age groups from 20 to 28 and 29 to 40 using three-electrode systems to analyze the performance for developing a mobile robot for navigation using band power features and neural network architecture trained with a bioinspired algorithm. From the experiment, we recognized that the maximum classification performance was 94.66% for the young group and the minimum classification performance was 94.18% for the adult group. We conducted a recognizing accuracy test for the two contrasting age groups to interpret the individual performances. The study proved that the recognition accuracy was maximum for the young group and minimum for the adult group. Through the graphical user interface, we conducted an online test for the young and adult groups. From the online test, the same young-aged people performed highly and actively with an average accuracy of 94.00% compared with the adult people whose performance was 92.00%. From this experiment, we concluded that, due to the age factor, the signal generated by the subjects decreased slightly.
MiRNA-186-5p Exerts an Anticancer Role in Breast Cancer by Downregulating CXCL13
Authors: Wang Yulong , Hu Shaojun , Zhang Hongbin , Zhang Chenxin , Lian Qixin , Jiao Yu , Zhou Yu
Published: February 2022

The aim of this study is to illustrate the biofunctions of miRNA-186-5p level in breast cancer (BCa) and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Levels of miRNA-186-5p in BCa tissues and adjacent normal ones were determined. Association of miRNA-186-5p with pathological parameters and prognosis in BCa patients was analyzed. Luciferase assay was conducted for the prediction of the interaction between miRNA-186-5p and CXCL13. Their mutual interaction in influencing the proliferative potential of BCa was finally explored. Results showed that miRNA-186-5p expression was downregulated in BCa cell lines and tissues. MiRNA-186-5p overexpression could attenuate proliferative ability in BCa cells. A direct and negative correlation was identified between miRNA-186-5p and CXCL13. In addition, their mutual interaction was coresponsible for the malignant development of BCa. In BCa patients, miRNA-186-5p level was remarkably associated with tumor size and tumor staging, rather than other pathological parameters. Low level of miRNA-186-5p predicted a poor prognosis in BCa. Downregulated miRNA-186-5p in BCa is linked to tumor size, tumor staging, and prognosis. miRNA-186-5p downregulates CXCL13 by binding CXCL13 3′UTR in BCa cells. Overexpression of CXCL13 can significantly neutralize the inhibitory effects of miRNA-186-5p on BCa proliferation.
Intelligent Diagnosis and Analysis of Brain Lymphoma Based on DSC Imaging Features
Authors: Mao Yipu , Jiang Muliang , Zhao Fanyu , Long Liling
Published: February 2022

Currently, DSC has been extensively studied in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and prognosis evaluation of brain lymphoma, but it has not obtained a uniform standard. By combining DSC imaging features, this study investigated the imaging features and diagnostic value of several types of tumors such as primary brain lymphoma. At the same time, this study obtained data from brain lymphoma patients by data collection and set up different groups to conduct experimental studies to explore the correlation between IVIMMRI perfusion parameters and DSC perfusion parameters in brain lymphoma. Through experimental research, it can be seen that the combination of two perfusion imaging techniques can more fully reflect the blood flow properties of the lesion, which is beneficial to determine the nature of the lesion.
Glaucocalyxin B Attenuates Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth and Cisplatin Resistance In Vitro via Activating Oxidative Stress
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Xu Chenxin , Zheng Peisen , Zhang Xiaoxian , Qiu Chenyu , Wu Fengjiao , Chen Jundixia , Xiao Zhongxiang , Zhu Jiandong , Zhang Jingjing , Zou Peng , Ni Daoyong
Published: February 2022

Ovarian cancer is one of the fatal gynecological cancers around the world. Cisplatin is the first-line chemotherapy drug for the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer. However, many patients with ovarian cancer are still suffering from resistance to cisplatin. Therefore, the new drug combinations or treatment strategies for ovarian cancer are urgently needed. Glaucocalyxin B (GLB), a diterpenoid isolated from the aerial parts of Rabdosia japonica, has shown antitumor activity in some tumors. However, the mechanisms by which GLB inhibits ovarian cancer remain unclear. In the present study, we showed that GLB potently inhibits ovarian cancer cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that GLB has a notably synergistic antitumor effect with cisplatin. Mechanistically, we found that GLB enhances the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin via increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and DNA damage. Interestingly, a synergistic inhibitory effect of GLB with cisplatin was also observed in the cells which were resistance to cisplatin. Together, these data suggest that GLB can sensitize ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin by increasing ROS levels.
Comparison of Point-of-Care and Highly Sensitive Laboratory Troponin Testing in Patients Suspicious of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Its Efficacy in Clinical Outcome
Authors: Mohammadzadeh Sahand , Matani Nasim , Soleimani Neda , Bazrafshan drissi Hamed
Published: February 2022

Background. The use of high-sensitivity troponin (hs-cTnI) assays is recommended in current guidelines for managing patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) symptoms. However, point-of-care (POC) assays are frequently used in emergency departments (EDs) to reduce turnaround time and length of stay. This study aimed to compare the results of POC-cTnI testing with those of the gold standard, automated central laboratory testing of troponin (i.e., hs-cTnI). The primary and secondary outcomes were the diagnostic performance of POC-cTnI in diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during 30 days, respectively. Materials and Methods. In this diagnostic accuracy study, 136 patients with suspected ACS who were referred or admitted to the Al Zahra Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, were included between March (2020) and July (2020). For the diagnosis of AMI, central laboratory cTnI levels were assessed at the time of presentation (0 hour) and reassessed at least 3 hours later. The POC-cTnI was measured at 0 hour in all patients and at 3 hours if a patient was diagnosed with AMI but had a 0-hour negative result for the POC-cTnI assay. Additionally, the 30-day follow-up period for these participants began on the day of the initial presentation to assess MACE. Results. Out of 180 patients, 136 patients (median age of 59.5 years; 57.5% male) were left for the qualitative POC-cTnI and hs-cTnI assays. In 86 (63.24%) subjects, hs-cTnI was positive (either initial or serial); however, AMI was diagnosed in 85 patients according to positivity of troponin by hs-cTnI and clinical signs and symptoms, which were diagnosed by a cardiologist. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of 0-hour POC-cTnI were observed to be 91.76% (95% CI: 83.77–96.62%), 98.04% (95% CI: 89.55–99.95%), and 87.72% (95% CI: 77.82–93.56%), respectively. Moreover, considering both the 0-hour and 3-hour POC-cTnI, all AMI cases were correctly identified, yielding a perfect test performance result. None of the 50 patients with negative cTnI results (by 0-hour and 3-hour POC-cTnI and hs-cTnI) experienced at least one MACE. Conclusion. In this small sample-size study, a new qualitative POC-cTnI assay was statistically equal to a hs-cTnI assay in terms of diagnostic accuracy for AMI or MACE in patients with suspected myocardial infarction. The POC-cTnI was observed to be acceptable for the identification of AMI and prediction of MACE in the ED environment.
Different Oral Antithrombotic Therapy for the Treatment of Ventricular Thrombus: An Observational Study from 2010 to 2019
Authors: Yang Qing , Lang Xinyue , Quan Xin , Gong Zebin , Liang Yan
Published: February 2022

Aim of the Study. To evaluate the utilization of oral antithrombotic agents, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), or antiplatelet therapy (APT), in ventricular thrombus (VT) patients and to analyze factors for thrombus resolution and clinical outcomes. Methods. This retrospective observational study was conducted from 2010 to 2019 in National Center of Cardiovascular Diseases of China. We included patients with VT confirmed by imaging. The primary outcome was the rate of thrombus resolution. Hazard ratio (HR) was calculated with or without adjustment for covariates using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results. 463 patients were included. 43.0% received VKAs, 16.6% received NOACs, and 40.4% received APT. Over a median of 468 days’ follow-up, NOACs group was more likely to have the thrombus resolved within 12 months’ follow-up than VKAs (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.57 to 3.31) or APT (HR 2.92, 95% CI 1.97 to 4.33). After adjustment for baseline variables, the significance remained in the comparison of NOACs versus VKAs (HR 2.13, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.22) as well as NOACs versus APT (HR 2.55, 95% CI 1.53 to 4.27). No significant differences were identified in bleeding rate, thromboembolism rate, or all-cause death in 12 months’ follow-up. Conclusion. Our findings showed that patients who were male, diagnosed with MI with or without ventricular aneurysm, or diagnosed with coronary artery diseases medical history had a risk of thrombus unresolved. Patients with NOACs had a higher resolution and a similar safety profile comparing VKAs or APT, which persisted after adjusting for other factors. Large randomized controlled trials are required urgently. This trial is registered with NCT05006677.
Research on Clue Mining in Criminal Cases of Smart Phone Trojan Horse under the Background of Information Security
Authors: Gang Li , Wen Yong
Published: February 2022

With the massive popularity and wide application of Android smartphones, there are more and more malware targeting Android smartphones. Research and analysis Android smart phone Trojan horses can provide corresponding technical support for malware detection on Android smart phones, which has good scientific research significance and broad market value. This work studies and analyzes the existing implantation technology of Android smart phone Trojans and analyzes the basic principles and implementation methods of obtaining root permissions on mobile phones. At the same time, the basic principles and implementation methods of mobile phone Trojan horse hiding are also studied. Through the research of the broadcast receiver model of the Android platform, the background monitoring principle and implementation technology of the mobile phone Trojan horse are analyzed, and the theoretical foundation and technical support are provided for the implementation of the Trojan horse background monitoring program in this article. Aiming at the problem of insufficient training corpus in the event relationship classification task, this work proposes an event relationship classification method based on tritraining. This method first trains three different classifiers based on the labeled dataset. In the collaborative training process, the new labeled event pairs used to expand each classifier are provided by the other two classifiers. For the same unlabeled event pair, the relationship prediction results are consistent; then, the event pair is considered to have a higher classification confidence and is placed in the labeled set of the third classifier after labeling. Finally, a well-trained classifier is used to determine the relationship between the pair of events to be tested by voting. This study constructs a weighted network structure model called the conceptual network and determines its upper weight based on the structural information and text data of the knowledge network. Aiming at the problem of the lack of means for mining-related forms between things, the pheromone strategy of absorbing the ant colony algorithm is proposed, and random walks are performed on the conceptual network. By analyzing the pheromone distribution information in the convergent state, the calculation of the semantic relevance is completed. At the same time, the method of semantic clue discovery is realized. The experimental results show that the human cognitive information contained in the knowledge network can meet the needs of the mining of the related forms of things, and the performance of the semantic correlation calculation method based on the convergence pheromone is close to other random walk methods based on the knowledge network.
Construction of a Redox-Related Prognostic Model with Predictive Value in Survival and Therapeutic Response for Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xiao Lingyan , Li Qian , Huang Yongbiao , Fan Zhijie , Ma Li , Liu Bo , Yuan Xianglin
Published: February 2022

Background. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) represents the most common histological subtype of lung cancer. Redox plays a significant role in oncogenesis and antitumor immunity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic redox-associated genes and construct a redox-based prognostic signature for LUAD. Materials and Methods. A discovery cohort containing 479 LUAD samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was analyzed. We identified prognostic redox-associated genes by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and univariate Cox regression analysis to construct a prognostic model via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-multivariate Cox regression analyses. The performance of the redox-based model was validated in the TCGA cohort and an independent cohort of 456 samples by Cox regression analyses, log-rank test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Correlations of the model with clinicopathological variables and lymphocyte infiltration were assessed. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to clarify the underlying mechanism of the prognostic model. We constructed a nomogram based on the model and created calibration curves to show the accordance between actual survival and predicted survival of the nomogram. Results. Stepwise analyses identified 6 prognostic redox-associated genes of LUAD and constructed a prognostic model that performed well in both the discovery and validation cohorts. The model was found to be associated with tumor stage, mutation of TP53 and EGFR, and lymphocyte infiltration. The model was mainly involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, DNA replication and repair, NADH metabolism, and the p53 signaling pathway. Calibration curves showed the high predictive accuracy of the nomogram. Conclusions. This study explored the role of redox-associated genes in LUAD and constructed a prognostic model of LUAD. The signature was also associated with tumor progression and therapeutic response to immunotherapy. These findings contributed to uncovering the underlying mechanism and discovering novel prognostic predictor of LUAD.
Preparation, Characterization, and Preliminary Imaging Study of [188Re]Re‐Ibandronate as a Novel Theranostic Radiopharmaceutical for Bone Metastasis
Authors: Xu Tingting , Wang Yingwei , Chen Zan , Liu Hanxiang , Yang Songsong , Liu Guangfu , Zhao Yan , Fu Wenhui , Liu Lin , Xiang Ke , Peng Dengsai , Chen Yue
Published: February 2022

Background. Bone is a common site of metastasis from a malignant tumor. Several radiopharmaceuticals are available to relieve bone pain in patients with cancer. However, every radiopharmaceutical has its own disadvantages, and there is still a need to investigate easily accessible and high bone affinity radiopharmaceuticals. Ibandronate (IBA) and 188Re were used for radiolabeling to develop and evaluate a novel type of bone‐seeking radiopharmaceutical. Methods. The preparation conditions of [188Re]Re‐IBA were investigated, and thin‐layer chromatography was used to analyze radiochemical purity. The stability, plasma protein binding rate, lipid‐water distribution coefficient, safety and biodistribution in normal mice, and bone imaging of [188Re]Re‐IBA in New Zealand rabbits were studied. In addition, the nude mice model of bone metastasis was established, and biodistribution and imaging characteristics of [188Re]Re‐IBA in these nude mice were studied. Results. [188Re]Re‐IBA was successfully prepared with radiochemical purity >95%. The optimum preparation conditions were as follows: IBA, 0.8–1.4 mg; ascorbic acid, 0.2–0.5 mg; stannous chloride, 0.14–0.18 mg; potassium perrhenate, 0.005 mg; and [188Re]ReO4- activity, 18.5–296 MBq, reacted for 30 min at 95°C with pH = 2. [188Re]Re‐IBA demonstrated good stability, high plasma protein binding rate, good hydrophilicity, and low toxicity. The biodistribution and bone imaging in normal animals showed rapid blood clearance, high bone uptake, low uptake in the solid organs and soft tissue, and high contrast during imaging. The biodistribution and imaging of bone metastasis in nude mice showed that [188Re]Re‐IBA has higher uptake in bone metastasis lesions than normal bone. Conclusions. Our study encompassed the successful preparation of [188Re]Re‐IBA, a novel bone‐seeking radiopharmaceutical, and confirmed it has potential in the treatment of bone metastasis and monitoring through imaging.
Effects of a Novel Convection Heated Roasting Method on Aroma and Umami Taste Components of Vegetable- and Meat-Based Extracts
Authors: Jeong In-Seek , Park Geon-Woo , Kim Young-Sang , Park Kyung-Ho , Hwangbo Hark , Lee Sang-Yun , Kim Sang-gu
Published: February 2022

Roasting has been widely used in manufacturing food products, ensuring microbial safety, and improving extraction efficiency. Roasting treatment affects various qualities such as the chemical composition, physical properties, colour, aroma, and texture of food. This study determined the effect of novel convection heated roasting on aroma and taste components, that is, amino acids (AAs) and nucleotides in vegetables, meat, and their products. Heat treatment conditions were confirmed with a temperature condition of 250°C for 20–50 min for each raw material. The individual raw materials were each subjected to a convection oven process, then mixed together, and pressurised by heating at 121°C for 3 hours to prepare a key-based broth for use in Korean soup dishes. As for aroma components, aroma of fermented spirits, unpleasant aroma, and bad aroma were observed in the absence of roasting. By contrast, convection heated roasting-related aroma components such as savoury fatty aroma, coffee aroma, and roasted barley aroma were observed in the finished products after roasting. The products’ sensory profile presumably changed from negative to positive owing to roasting. By roasting, in the case of raw material extracts, the total AA and glutamic acid contents increased to 24.1–38.1%, and for the finished product, the total AA and glutamic acid contents slightly increased to 5.8–8.9%. However, no significant effect of roasting was found on nucleotides. In conclusion, it was concluded that the positive aroma component as well as the total amount of AA (umami taste) increased owing to roasting. The present results contribute immensely to the food industry as the enhancement of taste and aroma can help with the production of more palatable foods as desired by food consumers, thereby increasing the sales of nutritious foods that otherwise consumers may not buy.
Tiaojing Cuyun Recipe Enhances Pregnancy Outcome via the VEGF/PI3K/AKT/eNOS Signaling Pathway in EID Mice
Authors: Huang Hongli , Xia Lei , Xia Yanqiu , Yan Yunping , Jiang Zhuojun , Zhao Pei , Dong Li
Published: February 2022

Purpose. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Tiaojing Cuyun Recipe (TJCYR) on embryo implantation dysfunction- (EID-) induced damage of endometrial receptivity in mice and investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect. Methods. The main compounds of TJCYR were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). One hundred and twenty pregnant mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, EID only, progesterone (Prog)+EID, TJCYR-low-dose+EID, TJCYR-medium-dose+EID, and TJCYR-high-dose+EID. Mifepristone was injected to make the EID model. On the fourth day of pregnancy, serum was obtained to analyze hormone level by radioimmunoassay, the uterus was collected to analyze morphology by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a combination of immunofluorescence and Western blot was used to identify the related proteins. On the eighth day of pregnancy, the mice were sacrificed and the number of uterus-implanted blastocysts was counted. Results. Treatment with TJCYR significantly improved the number of implanted sites, the number of well-developed pinopodes, and microvascular formation in the mice. Moreover, TJCYR significantly activated PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathways to promote angiogenesis, resulting in significantly improved endometrial receptivity and fertility outcomes when compared to the model group. Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that TJCYR was able to protect embryo implantation of EID mice due to TJCYR-mediated improvement in endometrial receptivity by promoting endometrial angiogenesis.
Exome Sequencing Identifies a Novel SIN3A Variant in a Patient with Witteveen-Kolk Syndrome
Authors: Penon-Portmann Monica , Carlston Colleen M. , Martin Pierre-Marie , Slavotinek Anne
Published: February 2022

Witteveen-Kolk syndrome (WITKOS; OMIM #613406) is a recently described, rare neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by mild intellectual disability and a recognizable facial gestalt. WITKOS is caused by heterozygous loss-of-function variants in SIN3A. It shares some features with 15q24 deletion syndrome but to date has only been described in a limited number of patients mostly of Northern European ancestry. Here, we report the first patient with Hispanic ancestry to our knowledge diagnosed with WITKOS, who has a novel, truncating variant in the SIN3A gene. Clinical exome sequencing performed in-house using a custom bioinformatics pipeline identified a de novo heterozygous, nonsense variant in SIN3A, c.1015C>T (p.Gln339Ter) that has not been previously described in the literature. This 3-year-old boy with WITKOS demonstrated classic features including mild developmental delay and triangular facies with hypotelorism and deep-set, hooded eyes. This patient supports the currently described phenotype for WITKOS in more diverse populations.