bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Communication—Polysulfide-Induced Chemical Capacity Loss in Li-S Batteries
Authors: Kim Kookhan , Kim Chunjoong , Park Jungjin , Sung Yung-Eun
Published: May 2022

Time-dependent deterioration of the electrochemical performance in the lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cell is thoroughly revaluated. The degradation in the capacity and rate performance is highly affected by the irreversible chemical reaction of the sulfur cathode and Li anode with polysulfide intermediates. We newly propose the new data plot, the capacity vs test time, to better understand the relation between rate performance and cycle retention excluding the self-discharge effect.
TiO2 Nanoparticles Co-Sensitized with Graphene Quantum Dots and Pyrocatechol Violet for Photoelectrochemical Detection of Cr(VI)
Authors: Bakhshandeh Fatemeh , Saha Sudip , Sakib Sadman , Zhitomirsky Igor , Soleymani Leyla
Published: May 2022

Photoactive electrodes with high photon-to-electron conversion efficiency are key to achieving sensitive photoelectrochemical sensors. Among all the photoactive materials, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles have attracted much attention due to their unique electronic and optical properties. However, the large bandgap of TiO2 results in limited photocurrent signal generation under visible irradiation, which is important for its use in many applications including sensing. Herein, we modified TiO2 nanoparticles with both pyrocatechol violet and graphene quantum dots to obtain high photocurrents at visible light excitation while also improving TiO2 nanoparticle dispersion and film-forming properties. This material system enhances photocurrent by 5 times compared to TiO2 nanoparticles that are modified with only pyrocatechol violet and 60 times compared to TiO2 nanoparticles modified with graphene quantum dots. Additionally, the optimized photoelectrodes were used to detect hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), which has been reported as a toxic carcinogen. Under visible light irradiation, the fabricated sensor offered a low limit-of-detection of 0.04 μM for Cr(VI), with selectivity against Na, Mg, Cu, and Cr (III) ions, paving the route toward photoelectrochemical Cr(VI) sensing.
Reliability of theta burst stimulation as a neuromodulation tool
Authors: Park Jung Hyun
Published: May 2022

Theta burst stimulation (TBS), a specific version of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is known to induce long-term plasticity of the brain with a short-term administration. Although many studies and treatments have increasingly used TBS as a neuromodulation tool, its reliability is still in question. This article reviews a study by Boucher et al. (Boucher PO, Ozdemir RA, Momi D, Burke MJ, Jannati A, Fried PJ, Pascual-Leone A, Shafi MM, Santarnecchi E. Sci Rep 11: 21170, 2021) that found minimal reliability of TBS by examining different TBS protocols (intermittent/continuous/sham) and considers possible alternative explanations for the variability of TBS effects.
Cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling in repetitive movements in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Gong Ruxue , Mühlberg Christoph , Wegscheider Mirko , Fricke Christopher , Rumpf Jost-Julian , Knösche Thomas R. , Classen Joseph
Published: May 2022

Our findings using noninvasive EEG recordings provide evidence that PAC dynamics might play a role in the physiological cortical control of movement execution and may encode transitions between movement states. Results in patients with Parkinson’s disease suggest that bradykinesia is related to a deficit of the dynamic regulation of PAC during movement execution rather than its absolute strength. Our findings may contribute to the development of a new concept of the pathophysiology of bradykinesia.
Effect of Programmed Comprehensive Nursing for Postoperative Delirium in Intensive Care Unit Patients
Authors: Liao Juanjuan , Kui Chuanran , Zhou Yangchun , Huang Li , Zuo Dandan , Huang Yuqin , Pan Ruihong
Published: May 2022

Background. This study is to evaluate the effect of programmed comprehensive nursing for postoperative delirium in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods. A total of 90 cases of ICU surgery patients admitted to our hospital from July 2019 to July 2020 were recruited and assigned via the random number table method (1 : 1) to receive either conventional nursing (control group) or programmed comprehensive nursing (experimental group). The delirium assessment method was used to record the incidence of delirium events at different time points after the intervention. Outcome measures included delirium events, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores, the activities of daily living (ADL) scale scores, nursing satisfaction, and total nursing efficiency. Results. Programmed comprehensive nursing was associated with significantly better nursing satisfaction, ADL scores, VAS scores, PSQI scores, and nursing efficiency than conventional nursing (all

P
<
0.05

). Programmed comprehensive nursing resulted in a significantly lower incidence of postoperative delirium than conventional nursing

P
<
0.05

. Conclusion. The application of programmed comprehensive nursing for postoperative delirium in ICU patients shows a promising efficiency, effectively alleviates the clinical symptoms of patients, and optimizes various clinical indicators of patients; hence, it is worthy of further application and promotion.
The Application of 5G Network Technology in the Innovative Development of Physical Education
Authors: Wang ZhiAng
Published: May 2022

The rapid development of information technology is changing people’s work, learning, and lifestyle and bringing new development space to education. Physical education is an important component of the university education system. The goal of physical education is to increase the physical fitness of the students and promote their advancement. In the context of the recent evolution of the social economy, the fifth-generation (5G) network technology is increasingly being deployed in many fields which may assist students to actively partake in physical education and promote successful physical education development. This study proposes an innovative framework based on 5G network technology for the development of physical education. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is used to achieve long-term data collecting and real-time data monitoring, and a unique cuckoo search firefly optimization algorithm (CSFOA) is presented to improve data transmission efficiency. The performance of the system is assessed in terms of accuracy, energy efficiency, security level, error rate, and student satisfaction, respectively. Results confirm that the proposed system has certain practical effects and has the potential to optimize the process of physical education development.
Mathematical Problems in Engineering Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Transportation Decision Making under the Government’s Reward–Penalty Mechanism: A Perspective of Evolutionary Game Theory
Authors: Yang Zhengfan , Zhao Kai , Guo Qichang
Published: May 2022

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cold chain transportation of medicines is becoming more and more critical to the quality and safety of drugs. In order to better motivate the logistics service providers to adopt the cold chain transportation strategy, this paper constructs a multiparty evolutionary game model composed of the government, logistics service providers, and medical institutions, and models behavioral strategies. The interaction is simulated and analyzed. Focusing on the contradictions between cost and service level in cold chain transportation, the revenue-sharing coefficient between medical institutions and logistics service providers and the government's reward and punishment mechanism are introduced. The results show the following: (1) a reasonable revenue sharing contract between the medical institution and logistics service provider will prompt the logistics service provider to use cold chain transportation. (2) With the government's penalties and rewards being further increased, the logistics service provider will tend to use noncold chain transportation. Therefore, the government must set a reasonable reward and punishment mechanism to ensure drug safety. (3) With the increasing revenue of the medical institution, the probability of the logistics service provider using noncold chain transportation decreases. In order to avoid medical malpractice related to noncold chain transportation, the government should appropriately adjust drug price restrictions to increase drug sales revenue. (4) With the rate of medical malpractice being increased, the evolution of each stakeholder to the equilibrium point of the game is accelerated.
Design and Research of Dragonfly Robot under the Background of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Qin Minchuan
Published: May 2022

Simulating the flight of dragonflies has always attracted scientists’ interest. This paper studies the theory and method of the transmission mechanism of dragonfly robot, establishes the relationship function model between wing swing angle and geometric parameters, and designs a kind of gear and rod mechanism transmission chain, including a pair of wing angle turnover mechanism, so that the wings swing smoothly, no jam phenomenon occurs, and improves the lift ratio. In this paper, the dynamic principle of Bionic Flapping Wing robot was analyzed, and the design scheme of driving mechanism is put forward; the project realizes the three-dimensional design of robot parts, the virtual digital prototype and simulation, and 3D printing of the prototype robot. During the design and manufacture, the lightweight design and processing of the fuselage and wings are carried out to reduce its weight. The drive circuit and algorithm are designed with 8051 chip as the CPU; the balance and attitude control methods are proposed.
Mining Engineering Image Recognition Method Based on Simulated Annealing Algorithm
Authors: Qu Nianhua , Yan Yubiao , Cheng Tong , Wang Yajun , Song Xin , Wang Limin
Published: May 2022

Because the current methods used in mining engineering image feature recognition have some problems, such as poor classification accuracy, operation efficiency, and inability to recognize rotation features, in order to promote the development of mineral processing in China and improve resource recovery, simulated annealing algorithm is applied to the process of mining engineering image feature extraction in this paper. Based on the simulated annealing algorithm, this paper introduces the image recognition technology based on the simulated annealing algorithm and uses this image recognition technology to study the separation of ore and rock according to the differences between ore and waste rock in morphology and R, G, and B primary color components. At the same time, based on the local binary mode theory, the local variance of pixels is calculated successively to obtain the variance diagram of mining engineering image. At the same time, the simulated annealing algorithm is used to calculate the vector in each direction in the variance diagram of mining engineering image, and then, the vector is combined as the image eigenvalue. The obtained eigenvalue is combined with the binary pattern feature to realize mining recognition method and feature recognition. Finally, the experimental research shows that the algorithm proposed in this paper can quickly extract the spatial data information of mining engineering image variance and reuse the information of image local binary pattern. Compared with the traditional mining engineering image feature extraction algorithm, the recognition accuracy of this algorithm can reach 85%.
Effect of HIV-1 Protease Inhibitor on IL-18 and IL-1β in Rats with Insulinoma
Authors: Lou Haiying , Guo Luyong
Published: May 2022

This study is aimed at investigating the treatment effectiveness of HIV-1 protease inhibitor for rats with insulinoma and its effects on interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). A total of 40 6-week-old nude mice were included in this study. We randomly assigned 20 rats for insulinoma modeling and divided them into model A and B groups. Another 20 rats were randomly divided into control A and B groups. Rats from the model A and control A groups were given HIV-1 protease inhibitors. The expression profiles of IL-18 and IL-1β, clinical indicators, water maze test results, oxidative stress damage, and changes in neurological functions in rats from each group were recorded. The expression levels of IL-18 and IL-1β, insulin level, the ratio of immunoreactive insulin to plasma glucose (IRI/G), escape latency, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and amyloid β-protein (Aβ) level were lower in the model A group than in the model B group while fasting blood glucose, platform crossing times, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were higher in the model A group than in the model B group. The insulin level and hippocampus Aβ level were lower in the control A group than in the control B group. In contrast, other indicators in the control A group were not significantly different from those in the model B group. HIV-1 protease inhibitor is effective in the treatment of insulinoma in rats. It can significantly reduce IL-18 and IL-1β and protect the neurological functions in rats and has broad prospects for clinical application.
A Variable-Scale Data Analysis-Based Identification Method for Key Cost Center in Intelligent Manufacturing
Authors: Wang Ai , Gao Xuedong
Published: May 2022

Although the competitive advantages brought by intelligent manufacturing technology for enterprises have been preliminarily shown, a lack of matched management capacity still greatly limits its effect. This paper focuses on the cost management capacity problem of intelligent manufacturing enterprises. The multiscale cost data model is established on the basis of the three-dimensional cost system model, which contains actual cost, standard cost, and testing cost. According to the scale transformation theory, we propose the dynamic updating mechanism of standard cost. The key cost center identification methods, respectively, for the production performance assessment scenario (KCCI_PPA) and the business decision-making scenario (KCCI_BDM) are also put forward, which could overcome the subjective determination limitation of initial observation scale in the traditional variable-scale data analysis method. Experiments with both industrial statistical and enterprise real datasets verify the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed KCCI_PPA and KCCI_BDM method.
Constructing Swimming Training Model Based on Cyclic Coordinate Descent Algorithm
Authors: Chen Haixiong
Published: May 2022

In this paper, the cyclic coordinate descent algorithm is used to solve the target attitude of the constrained frame. The motion is smoothed by constructing the motion offset mapping curve near the constraint frame. The motion editing and redirection can be accomplished by adjusting the displacement ratio of root nodes and estimating the initial position. The cyclic coordinate descent algorithm generates the keyframe actions corresponding to the key moments in the virtual human swimming movement cycle division. Then, the spherical linear interpolation based on four elements is used to generate the intermediate frame action in the swimming movement. The simulation results of swimming training show that the method can generate a relatively smooth human swimming process. Finally, a simple simulation of the swimming training model based on the cyclic coordinate descent algorithm is carried out to achieve a more realistic simulation effect. The experimental results show that this method is relatively complete and retains the characteristics of the original motion well, and the redirected motion is smooth and natural.
Intelligent Management of Land Resources Based on Internet of Things and GIS Technology
Authors: Gong Hao , He Chen
Published: May 2022

In order to improve the effect of land resource management, this paper combines the Internet of Things technology and GIS technology to build an intelligent management system for gradient resources to improve the efficiency of land resource management. Aiming at the hybrid intelligent model of wetland resource remote sensing monitoring technology, this paper analyzes and studies the remote sensing image processing theory. Moreover, this paper studies in detail remote sensing image restoration, TM image reflectivity simulation imaging, image enhancement technology, optimal band selection based on the characteristics of wetland resources, expert decision analysis, deep mining of image data, knowledge reasoning, and decision tree analysis to form a theoretical support system for a hybrid intelligent classification model for wetland resources. The research shows that the intelligent management system of land resources based on the Internet of Things and GIS technology has a good effect in the collection and processing of land resource information and can effectively improve the management efficiency of land resources.
Association Study of Anticitrullinated Peptide Antibody Status with Clinical Manifestations and SNPs in Patients Affected with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Issilbayeva Argul , Ainabekova Bayan , Zhetkenev Sanzhar , Meiramova Assel , Akhmetova Zhanar , Karina Karlygash , Kozhakhmetov Samat , Nurgaziyev Madiyar , Chulenbayeva Laura , Poddighe Dimitri , Kunz Jeannette , Kushugulova Almagul
Published: May 2022

Introduction. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that leads to disability due to articular and extra-articular damage. RA prevalence is variable. The disease is most common among females with a 3 : 1 ratio. The interaction of environmental and host factors contributes to RA development. Currently, the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) give the opportunity to uncover the RA genetic background. Anticitrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) is a highly specific RA antibody, associated with poor prognosis and severe course of RA, and regulated by numerous genes. Our study is aimed at investigating whether there are any clinical and genetic aspects correlate with ACPA presence in Kazakhstani patients with RA. Indeed, the available studies on this subject are focused on Caucasian and East Asian populations (mainly Japanese and Chinese), and there are scarce data from Central Asia. Methods. Our study included 70 RA patients. Patients’ blood samples were collected and genotyped for 14 SNPs by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). General examination, anamnestic, and clinical and laboratory data collection were carried out. Statistical analysis was performed using R statistics. Results and Conclusion. Our study revealed a significant association of ACPA positivity with Fc receptor-like 3 (FCRL3) and ACPA negativity with signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) genes, but not with T cell activation Rho GTPase activating protein (TAGAP). In addition, ACPA positivity was associated with radiographic progression, rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), age of RA onset, the patient global assessment, body mass index (BMI), and Gamma globulin. Conclusion. Remained 11 earlier identified significantly associated in Caucasian and Asian population SNPs were not replicated in our cohort. Further studies on larger cohorts are needed to confirm our findings with higher confidence levels and stronger statistical power.
Study of Saponin Components after Biotransformation of Dioscorea nipponica by Endophytic Fungi C39
Authors: Huang Nannan , Yu Dan , Huo Jinhai , Wu Junkai , Chen Yiyang , Du Xiaowei , Wang Xijun
Published: May 2022

This study conducted the solid fermentation process of Dioscorea nipponica using endophytic fungi C39 to determine the changes in the diosgenin concentration. The results revealed that endophytic fungi C39 could effectively biotransform the saponin components in D. nipponica. Moreover, the maximum increase in the diosgenin concentration reached 62.67% in 15 days of solid fermentation. MTT assay results demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of the fermentation drugs on four types of cancer cells (liver cancer cells (HepG2), stomach cancer cells (BGC823), cervical cancer cells (HeLa), and lung cancer cells (A549)) were better than those of the crude drugs obtained from D. nipponica. The chemical composition of the samples obtained before and after the biotransformation of D. nipponica was analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. A total of 32 compounds were identified, 21 of which have been reported in Dioscorea saponins and the ChemSpider database and 11 compounds were identified for the first time in D. nipponica. The biotransformation process was inferred based on the variation trend of saponins, which included transformation pathways pertaining to glycolytic metabolism, ring closure reaction, dehydrogenation, and carbonylation. The cumulative findings provide the basis for the rapid qualitative analysis of the saponin components of D. nipponica before and after biotransformation. The 11 metabolites obtained from biotransformation are potential active ingredients obtained from D. nipponica, which can be used to further identify pharmacodynamically active substances.
Research on System Construction and Strategy of Intelligent Sports in the Implementation of National Fitness
Authors: Tang Yuxin , Zan Shengfeng , Zhang Xiaowen
Published: May 2022

This paper studies the construction and development strategy of intelligent sports system in the context of Chinese National Fitness Program with methods of literature review and model construction. The research shows that there are four dilemmas in the implementation of intelligent sports in national fitness: data security, market monopoly, legal supervision, and product iteration. However, there are also three promoting factors in this regard, including policy guarantee, market demand, and industrial upgrading. Following the principles of scientificity, effectiveness, public welfare, and collaboration, this paper designs a system for intelligent sports in national fitness. The construction of the national fitness intelligent sports system mainly consists of four modules, including basic framework construction, function design, content design, and operation analysis. With the systematic analysis of the status quo of intelligent sports application in national fitness, this paper puts forward intelligent sports development strategies in the implementation of national fitness from four aspects: optimizing the top-level design of government, speeding up industrial transformation and upgrading, constructing market supervision mechanism, and establishing a talent training system.
Approximate Analytical and Numeric Solutions to a Forced Damped Gardner Equation
Authors: Salas Alvaro H. , El-Tantawy S. A. , Martinez H. Lorenzo J.
Published: May 2022

In this paper, some exact traveling wave solutions to the integrable Gardner equation are reported. The ansatz method is devoted for deriving some exact solutions in terms of Jacobi and Weierstrass elliptic functions. The obtained analytic solutions recover the solitary waves, shock waves, and cnoidal waves. Also, the relation between the Jacobi and Weierstrass elliptic functions is obtained. In the second part of this work, we derive some approximate analytic and numeric solutions to the nonintegrable forced damped Gardner equation. For the approximate analytic solutions, the ansatz method is considered. With respect to the numerical solutions, the evolution equation is solved using both the finite different method (FDM) and cubic B-splines method. A comparison between different approximations is reported.
Microalgae Classification Using Improved Metaheuristic Algorithm
Authors: Wei Liu , XiaoPan Su , Heydari Faezeh
Published: May 2022

Microalgae are present at all levels of nutrients and food networks, so in aquatic environments they are an important part of the food chain of aquatic organisms, which also play an important role as biological purifiers of water resources and regulation. They also affect the pH of the environment; also plants are the only organisms capable of synthesizing long-chain fatty acids. Therefore, microalgae are the supplier and primary source of unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for all organisms present in the food chain of the aquatic environment. It should be noted that many microalgae are also biological indicators of water and reflect the ecological status of the environment. Precise classification of microalgae is related to the human observation capability. The present study proposes a new optimized classification technique with higher accuracy to provide a computer-aided classification of the microalgae. The method begins with an image segmentation to determine the region of interest. The segmentation part has been optimized by a new metaheuristic to provide higher accuracy. Then, the features have been extracted and fed to a Support Vector Machine (SVM) for final classification. The comparison results of the proposed method with some other methods show that the proposed method with 0.828 Kappa, and 0.342 and 0.855 min and max value of F1, provides the highest accuracy compared to the others.
Analysis of the Mineral Compositions of Lateritic Clay in Guangxi and their Influence
Authors: Yang Er-jing , Zeng Sha-sha , Mo Hong-yan , Yang Cheng-lin , Chen Cheng , Wang Yan-fu
Published: May 2022

In order to study the effect of mineral composition on the physical properties of lateritic clays, the mineral compositions of four kinds of lateritic clay from Guangxi province in China were quantitatively analyzed by means of DTA, XRD, SEM, XRF and total chemical element analysis. On this basis, the variation law of macroscopic physical properties of lateritic clay was analyzed from the perspective of mineralogy. The results show that kaolinite and goethite are the main minerals of lateritic clays from Guangxi in China. The mineral compositions of these four samples are quantitatively and accurately analyzed by Bogue’s method. According to the study on mineral compositions of soil samples, the physical properties of lateritic clay are related to its clay minerals and cemented substances. The liquid limit (LL) or plastic limit (PL) increases with the increase of the ability and content of clay minerals to adsorb water. The lateritic clay is dominated by kaolinite minerals with low adsorption capacity, so the observed boundary water content (LL and PL) of high value of lateritic clays can be explained by the contribution of “inert water” in soil pores. The iron-bonded cement minerals (the form of existence is goethite) in lateritic clay have great influence on the liquid and plastic limits, which decrease linearly with the increase of goethite, whereas the goethite has relatively smaller effect on shrinkage characteristics. It is believed that the shrinkage characteristics of lateritic clay may also be affected by other factors.
Music Singing Based on Computer Analog Piano Accompaniment and Digital Processing for 5G Industrial Internet of Things
Authors: Qi Linlin , Liu Na
Published: May 2022

At present, most professional music colleges and universities have made large-scale investment in computer software and hardware equipment and have also continuously opened various relevant courses. However, how to give full play to the advantages of computer music at the software level and make software and hardware systems suitable for music education application is still a subject being explored. The industrial Internet of Things turns every link and equipment in the production process into a data terminal, comprehensively collects the underlying basic data, carries out deeper data analysis and mining, and improves efficiency. To adapt to the trend of the times, digitization is the inevitable trend of the development of music accompaniment, and the deep integration of computer is an important way to realize digitization. Combined with the basic music theory and digital processing method, this paper designs the virtual piano auxiliary accompaniment and realizes the digital music accompaniment of artificial intelligence through digital signal processing. This paper will start with the auditory effect of auxiliary singing, take the rhythm and style of piano auxiliary accompaniment as the research object, build the accompaniment generation tool through the piano music simulation system model, and generate the accompaniment chord of the main melody by extracting the style, treble, and other characteristics of the main melody. The simulation results show that the frequency response is evenly distributed, the model effectively uses the harmonic structure information, and the extracted feature dimension is only 88. The reduction of feature dimension can save the time of subsequent processing and has the characteristics of real time, automation, embedded (software), security, and information interoperability.
The Design of Sports Games under the Internet of Things Fitness by Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Wang Xiangyu , Liu Chao , Sun Laishuang
Published: May 2022

This study explores the application of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) in the Internet of Things (IoT) sports game design. The fundamentals of DRL are deeply understood by investigating the current state of IoT fitness applications and the most popular sports game design architectures. The research object is the ball return decision problem of the popular game of table tennis robot return. Deep deterministic policy gradients are proposed by applying DRL to the ball return decision of a table tennis robot. It mainly uses the probability distribution function to represent the optimal decision solution in the Markov Model decision process to optimize the ball return accuracy and network running time. The results show that in the central area of the table, the accuracy of returning the ball is higher, reaching 67.2654%. Different tolerance radii have different convergence curves. When r = 5 cm, the curve converges earlier. After 500,000 iterations, the curve converges, and the accuracy rate is close to 100%. When r = 2 cm and the number of iterations is 800,000, the curve begins to converge, and the accuracy rate reaches 96.9587%. When r = 1 cm, it starts to converge after 800,000 iterations, and the accuracy is close to 56.6953%. The proposed table tennis robot returns the ball in line with the requirements of the actual environment. It has practical application and reference value for developing IoT fitness and sports.
Sulforaphane Ameliorates Limb Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Muscular Injury in Mice by Inhibiting Pyroptosis and Autophagy via the Nrf2-ARE Pathway
Authors: Sun Huanhuan , Wang Jueqiong , Bi Wei , Zhang Feng , Chi Kui , Shi Long , Yuan Tao , Ma Kai , Gao Xiang
Published: May 2022

Background. Limb ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, as a life-threatening syndrome, is commonly caused by skeletal muscle damage resulting from oxidative stress. Additionally, inflammation-induced pyroptosis and dysregulated autophagy are vital factors contributing to the aggravation of I/R injury. Of note, sulforaphane (SFN) is a natural antioxidant, but whether it worked in limb I/R injury and the possible mechanism behind its protection for skeletal muscle has not been clearly established. Methods. Effects of SFN on limb I/R-injured skeletal muscle were assessed by HE staining, followed by assessment of wet weight/dry weight (W/D) ratio of muscle tissues. Next, ELISA and biochemical tests were used to measure the inflammatory cytokine production and oxidative stress. Immunofluorescent analysis and Western blot were adopted to examine the level of pyroptosis- and autophagy-related proteins in vivo. Moreover, protein levels of Nrf2-ARE pathway-related factors were also examined using Western blot. Results. SFN treatment could protect skeletal muscle against limb I/R injury, as evidenced by diminished inflammation, pyroptosis, autophagy, and oxidative stress in skeletal muscles of mice. Further mechanistic exploration confirmed that antioxidative protection of SFN was associated with the Nrf2-ARE pathway activation. Conclusions. SFN activates the Nrf2-ARE pathway, and thereby inhibits pyroptosis and autophagy and provides a novel therapeutic strategy for the limb I/R-induced muscle tissue damage.
Jieduquyuzishen Prescription Attenuates Renal Fibrosis in MRL/lpr Mice via Inhibiting EMT and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 Pathway
Authors: Wu Shan , Ji Lina , Fan Xuemin , Fang Sijia , Bao Jie , Yuan Xiao , Fan Yongsheng , Xie Guanqun
Published: May 2022

Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) has been used to treat lupus nephritis (LN) and its effectiveness in the treatment of LN has been clinically proven, but the underlying mechanisms have yet to be completely understood. This aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy of JP on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells and the molecular mechanisms of JP in MRL/lpr mice. In vivo, we observed the therapeutic actions of JP in MRL/lpr mice as well as its antifibrosis effect and potential mechanism. In vitro, we evaluated the role of JP in EMT and its possible mechanism through the EMT of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and M2c macrophages. HK-2 cells were treated with JP-treated serum, and MRL/lpr mice were treated by JP for 8 weeks. The results showed that JP alleviated disease activity, improved renal function, decreased proteinuria, and improved renal injury and fibrosis in MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, JP suppressed the activation of the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, upregulated the E-cadherin levels, and downregulated the Vimentin and mesenchymal α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) levels in the kidney of MRL/lpr mice. JP was further found to prevent the TGF-β1 and M2c macrophages-induced EMT of HK-2 cells. Collectively, JP could alleviate the disease activity of MRL/lpr mice, improve renal function, and attenuate renal fibrosis, and its underlying mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of EMT and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.
Deletion of ACLY Disrupts Histone Acetylation and IL-10 Secretion in Trophoblasts, Which Inhibits M2 Polarization of Macrophages: A Possible Role in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Authors: Chen Xin , Song Qian Lin , Li Ze Hong , Ji Rui , Wang Jia Yu , Ge Chang , Xiao Zhuo Ni , Guo Duan Ying , Yang Jing
Published: May 2022

Changes to macrophage polarization affect the local microenvironment of the placenta, resulting in pathological pregnancy diseases such as recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Macrophages are in close contact with trophoblasts during placental development, and trophoblast-derived cytokines are important regulators of macrophage polarization and function. Histone acetylation can affect the expression and secretion of cytokines, and ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is an important factor that regulates histone acetylation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ACLY expression differences in trophoblast on macrophage polarization and its mechanism. Our data demonstrate that ACLY level in placental villi of patients with RSA is decreased, which may lead to the inhibition of histone acetylation in trophoblasts, thereby reducing the secretion of IL-10. Reduced IL-10 secretion activates endoplasmic reticulum stress in macrophages, thus inhibiting their M2 polarization.
Sea Defence Project and a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in Coastal Ghana
Authors: Mensah Justice
Published: May 2022

Coastal erosion, sand and gravel mining, and open defecation threaten the sustainability and outstanding universal value (OUV) of heritage monuments dotted along the coast of Ghana. A sea defence project has been embarked upon in some areas in Ghana to, among other reasons, safeguard coastal resources, including the historic heritage monuments—castles and forts. This study examined the implications of the project for the sustainability and OUV of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) along the Ghanaian coastline. The study used a qualitative research design. In‐depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to collect data from key stakeholders and analyzed using the thematic method. It became evident that the project has helped reduce oceanic effects, sand and gravel mining hazards, and open defecation in the direct neighbourhood of the site. These have increased the resilience and protective capacity of the monument and enhanced the aesthetic value and sanitation at the site, thereby shoring up the integrity and authenticity of the site and culminating in its enhanced sustainability and OUV. UNESCO, the State Party, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, Municipal Authority, and Community Leaders should ensure that the advantages that have accrued to the site from the sea defence project are safeguarded and maximized. Additionally, the project should be extended to other coastal areas in the country where similar monuments are located to enable those monuments to derive similar benefits for sustainable development. The study contributes to understanding the protective and aesthetic nexus between coastal engineering and sustainable coastal heritage management.
Modified Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm-Based Strategy for Brain Tumor Segmentation
Authors: Dahiya Priyanka , Kumar Anil , Kumar Ashok , Nahavandi Bijan
Published: May 2022

Medical image segmentation is a technique for detecting boundaries in a 2D or 3D image automatically or semiautomatically. The enormous range of the medical image is a considerable challenge for image segmentation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to aid in the detection and existence of brain tumors. This approach, however, requires exact delineation of the tumor location inside the brain scan. To solve this, an optimization algorithm will be one of the most successful techniques for distinguishing pixels of interest from the background, but its performance is reliant on the starting values of the centroids. The primary goal of this work is to segment tumor areas within brain MRI images. After converting the gray MRI image to a color image, a multiobjective modified ABC algorithm is utilized to separate the tumor from the brain. The intensity determines the RGB color generated in the image. The simulation results are assessed in terms of performance metrics such as accuracy, precision, specificity, recall, F-measure, and the time in seconds required by the system to segment the tumor from the brain. The performance of the proposed algorithm is computed with other algorithms like the single-objective ABC algorithm and multiobjective ABC algorithm. The results prove that the proposed multiobjective modified ABC algorithm is efficient in analyzing and segmenting the tumor from brain images.
Analysis on Transmission Characteristics of Stimulated Raman Scattering Based on the Multi-Sensor Signal Enhancement Technique
Authors: He Wentao , Men Zhiwei
Published: May 2022

In recent 20 years, fibre laser system has been developed rapidly and widely used for its high quality, high efficiency, high robustness, and compactness. However, there are still many factors (such as non-linear effect, thermal effect, and mode instability) that limit the further increase of power of fibre laser system. Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is one of the main limitations in the transmission process of fibre lasers. It not only reduces the output efficiency of fibre lasers, but also increases the damage risk of reverse Stokes light to the system. Recent studies have shown that SRS in low-mode fibres can lead to quasi-static mode degradation in addition to mode instability. With the introduction of multi-sensor enhancement technology in the fibre field, it becomes an effective means to popularise high-power and high-beam quality fibre lasers. Based on the multi-sensor signal enhancement technology, this paper explores the influence of this technology on the output efficiency of SRS in the mode-reducing fibre laser, which provides a new idea and method for the output efficiency and transmission analysis method of fibre laser.
Efficient Estimators of Finite Population Mean Based on Extreme Values in Simple Random Sampling
Authors: Iftikhar Anum , Shi Hongbo , Hussain Saddam , Abbas Mohsin , Ullah Kalim
Published: May 2022

The use of extreme values of the auxiliary variable is sometimes more beneficial to get the high efficiency of the estimators, and the study variable can have a correlation with the rank of the decently correlated auxiliary variable. As a result, it can be regarded as additional data for the study variable that can be used to improve the estimators’ efficiency. When the knowledge of the minimum and maximum values, as well as the rankings of the auxiliary variable, is known, various better estimators for calculating the finite population mean of the research variable based on extreme values under simple random sampling are proposed in this paper. The suggested estimators’ bias and mean squared error expressions are derived using first-order approximation. The recommended estimators have been compared mathematically to the current estimators. The suggested estimators are more exact in terms of relative efficiency than the other estimators addressed here, as shown by simulation and real datasets used to demonstrate the estimation of a limited population mean based on extreme values.
Synthesis and Characterization of Banana and Pineapple Reinforced Hybrid Polymer Composite for Reducing Environmental Pollution
Authors: Ramesh M. , Jafrey Daniel James D. , Sathish kumar G. , Vijayan V. , Raja Narayanan S. , Teklemariam Aklilu
Published: May 2022

Nonbiodegradable polymers constitute major pollution and their usage cannot be ignored due to their properties. Hybrid polymer composite research has increased in recent times due to improved characteristics and biodegradable nature. The effect of different stacking sequences containing pineapple/banana/basalt fiber has been studied in the present work to reduce the usage of synthetic fibers without compromising on properties. Hybrid composites were manufactured using the hand layup method and were assessed for mechanical and morphological characteristics. The results showed that several properties improved by keeping the pineapple layer in the skin layer. The adhesion between the matrix and the fiber played a vital role in determining the properties of the composites manufactured. Morphological studies have concluded that the proper bonding between the matrix and the fiber has enhanced several properties.
[Retracted] Impacts of the Weighted Deduction Policy for R&D Expenses on Innovation Additionality of Firms: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Xu Junling , Wang Tong
Published: May 2022

Based on the data of 3894 companies disclosed in the 2014–2017 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Board and Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) Annual Reports, our research evaluates the impacts of the weighted deduction policy for research and development (R&D) expenses on innovation additionality in the “Propensity Score Matching” (PSM) approach, from the moderation perspective of marketization, market competition, and political connections. The empirical findings are as follows: (1) The weighted deduction policy for R&D expenses has a positive effect on the additionality of input and output. The policy has an “additionality effect” on invention patents and utility patents, but it is not significant on appearance patents. (2) Low degree of marketization and high degree of market competition have positive moderating effects on the additionality of input and output. (3) Political connections strengthen the incentive effect of the weighted deduction policy for R&D expenses on the additionality of input and output. From the perspective of additionality, our research results enrich the literature on studies of incentive effects of policy innovation and also provide empirical support for the adjustment of the weighted deduction policy for R&D expenses.
Association of p53 with Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Luo Qiang , Sun Wei , Wang Yi-Fan , Li Ji , Li Da-Wei
Published: May 2022

p53 is a vital transcriptional protein implicated in regulating diverse cellular processes, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, mitochondrial metabolism, redox homeostasis, autophagy, senescence, and apoptosis. Recent studies have revealed that p53 levels and activity are substantially increased in affected neurons in cellular and animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) as well as in the brains of PD patients. p53 activation in response to neurodegenerative stress is closely associated with the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, abnormal protein aggregation, and impairment of autophagy, and these pathogenic events have been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. Pathogenic p53 integrates diverse cellular stresses and activate these downstream events to induce the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons; thus, it plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PD and appears to be a potential target for the treatment of the disease. We reviewed the current knowledge concerning p53-dependent neurodegeneration to better understand the underlying mechanisms and provide possible strategies for PD treatment by targeting p53.
AKG Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury through c-Fos/IL-10/Stat3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Hua Weilong , Zhang Xiaoxi , Tang Haishuang , Li Chen , Han Ning , Li He , Ma Hongyu , Liu Pei , Zhou Yihan , Zhang Hongjian , Zhang Yongxin , Zhang Lei , Li Zifu , Shen Hongjian , Xing Pengfei , Yu Longjuan , Zhang Yongwei , Zhou Yu , Yang Pengfei , Liu Jianmin
Published: May 2022

Inflammation is dominant in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS). Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), according to previous studies, has demonstrated a variety of pharmacological effects such as antioxidation and inhibitive inflammation activities. However, whether AKG ameliorates cerebral ischemic injury, as well as the underlying molecular events, is still unclear. Therefore, the effect and underlying mechanisms of AKG on ischemic brain injury should be identified. The study established a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model in mice as well as an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model in SH-SY5Y cells, respectively. It was observed that AKG markedly suppressed infarction volume and neuronal injuries and improved the neurological score in vivo. Moreover, AKG reduced the inflammatory response and lowered the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. In vitro, AKG treatment strongly inhibited OGD/R-induced neuronal injury and the proinflammatory factors. It was also found that the increased SOD and GSH levels, as well as the lower ROS levels, showed that AKG reduced oxidative stress in OGD/R-treated SY-SY5Y cells. Mechanistically, AKG largely promoted IL-10 expression in ischemic brain injury and OGD/R-induced neuronal injury. Furthermore, IL-10 silencing neutralized the protective effect of AKG on inflammation. Notably, it was discovered that AKG could upregulate IL-10 expression by promoting the translocation of c-Fos from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. The results indicated that AKG demonstrated neuroprotection on cerebral ischemia while inhibiting inflammation through c-Fos/IL-10/stat3 pathway.