bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing Multiscale Spatial Relationships between the House Price and Visual Environment Factors
Authors: Liao Xu , Deng Mingyu , Huang Hongyu
Published: December 2021

House price is closely associated with the development of the national economy and people’s daily life. Understanding the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of the house price is of great practical significance. Although a lot of attention has been paid to modeling the house price from structure and location attributes, limited work has considered the impact of visual attributes. Intuitively, a better visual environment may raise the surrounding house price. When aggregating multiple factors that influence house price, the multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) provides a suitable solution. Specifically, the MGWR assigns each factor a bandwidth to model the spatial heterogeneity, e.g., a factor may have different influences at different places. In this paper, we introduce the visual environment factors into the MGWR method. In detail, we extract ten visual elements, e.g., sky, vegetation, road, from the Baidu street view (BSV) images, using a deep learning framework. We further define six visual environment factors to investigate their influence on house price. Based on the data from two representative Chinese cities, i.e., Beijing and Chongqing, we reveal the influence degree and spatial scale difference of six visual indexes on the house price in two cities. Results show that: (1) the influence intensity of our proposed six visual environment factors on the house price in different regions of the city can be identified, and the green view index (GVI) is the most important visual environmental factor; and (2) the influence of these view indexes changes significantly or even reversely depends on different areas.
Parallel Extreme Learning Machines Based on Frequency Multiplexing
Authors: Lupo Alessandro , Massar Serge
Published: December 2021

In a recent work, we reported on an Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) implemented in a photonic system based on frequency multiplexing, where each wavelength of the light encodes a different neuron state. In the present work, we experimentally demonstrate the parallelization potentialities of this approach. We show that multiple frequency combs centered on different frequencies can copropagate in the same system, resulting in either multiple independent ELMs executed in parallel on the same substrate or a single ELM with an increased number of neurons. We experimentally tested the performances of both these operation modes on several classification tasks, employing up to three different light sources, each of which generates an independent frequency comb. We also numerically evaluated the performances of the system in configurations containing up to 15 different light sources.
Transposable Elements in the Genome of the Lichen-Forming Fungus Umbilicaria pustulata and Their Distribution in Different Climate Zones along Elevation
Authors: Dal Grande Francesco , Jamilloux Véronique , Choisne Nathalie , Calchera Anjuli , Rolshausen Gregor , Petersen Malte , Schulz Meike , Nilsson Maria A. , Schmitt Imke
Published: December 2021

Transposable elements (TEs) are an important source of genome plasticity across the tree of life. Drift and natural selection are important forces shaping TE distribution and accumulation. Fungi, with their multifaceted phenotypic diversity and relatively small genome size, are ideal models to study the role of TEs in genome evolution and their impact on the host’s ecological and life history traits. Here we present an account of all TEs found in a high-quality reference genome of the lichen-forming fungus Umbilicaria pustulata, a macrolichen species comprising two climatic ecotypes: Mediterranean and cold temperate. We trace the occurrence of the newly identified TEs in populations along three elevation gradients using a Pool-Seq approach to identify TE insertions of potential adaptive significance. We found that TEs cover 21.26% of the 32.9 Mbp genome, with LTR Gypsy and Copia clades being the most common TEs. We identified 28 insertions displaying consistent insertion frequency differences between the two host ecotypes across the elevation gradients. Most of the highly differentiated insertions were located near genes, indicating a putative function. This pioneering study of the content and climate niche-specific distribution of TEs in a lichen-forming fungus contributes to understanding the roles of TEs in fungal evolution.
Precise Dose of Folic Acid Supplementation Is Essential for Embryonic Heart Development in Zebrafish
Authors: Han Xuhui , Wang Bingqi , Jin Dongxu , Liu Kuang , Wang Hongjie , Chen Liangbiao , Zu Yao
Published: December 2021

Folic acid, one of the 13 essential vitamins, plays an important role in cardiovascular development. Mutations in folic acid synthesis gene 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is associated with the occurrence of congenital heart disease. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of cardiac development by mthfr gene are poorly understood. Here, we exposed zebrafish embryos to excessive folate or folate metabolism inhibitors. Moreover, we established a knock-out mutant of mthfr gene in zebrafish by using CRISPR/Cas9. The zebrafish embryos of insufficient or excessive folic acid and mthfr−/− mutant all gave rise to early pericardial edema and cardiac defect at 3 days post fertilization (dpf). Furthermore, the folic acid treated embryos showed abnormal movement at 5 dpf. The expression levels of cardiac marker genes hand2, gata4, and nppa changed in the abnormality of folate metabolism embryos and mthfr−/− mutant, and there is evidence that they are related to the change of methylation level caused by the change of folate metabolism. In conclusion, our study provides a novel model for the in-depth study of MTHFR gene and folate metabolism. Furthermore, our results reveal that folic acid has a dose-dependent effect on early cardiac development. Precise dosage of folic acid supplementation is crucial for the embryonic development of organisms.
3-Formylchromone Counteracts STAT3 Signaling Pathway by Elevating SHP-2 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Mohan Chakrabhavi Dhananjaya , Yang Min Hee , Rangappa Shobith , Chinnathambi Arunachalam , Alharbi Sulaiman Ali , Alahmadi Tahani Awad , Deivasigamani Amudha , Hui Kam Man , Sethi Gautam , Rangappa Kanchugarakoppal S. , Ahn Kwang Seok
Published: December 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading cancers that contribute to a large number of deaths throughout the globe. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a tumorigenic protein that is overactivated in several human malignancies including HCC. In the present report, the effect of 3-formylchromone (3FC) on the STAT3 signaling pathway in the HCC model was investigated. 3FC downregulated the constitutive phosphorylation of STAT3 and non-receptor tyrosine kinases such as JAK1 and JAK2. It also suppressed the transportation of STAT3 to the nucleus and reduced its DNA-binding ability. Pervanadate treatment overrode the 3FC-triggered STAT3 inhibition, and the profiling of cellular phosphatase expression revealed an increase in SHP-2 levels upon 3FC treatment. The siRNA-driven deletion of SHP-2 led to reinstate STAT3 activation. 3FC downmodulated the levels of various oncogenic proteins and decreased CXCL12-driven cell migration and invasion. Interestingly, 3FC did not exhibit any substantial toxicity, whereas it significantly regressed tumor growth in an orthotopic HCC mouse model and abrogated lung metastasis. Overall, 3FC can function as a potent agent that can display antitumor activity by targeting STAT3 signaling in HCC models.
Analysis of Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Data: A Step-by-Step Guide
Authors: Malhotra Aanchal , Das Samarendra , Rai Shesh N.
Published: December 2021

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology provides an excellent platform for measuring the expression profiles of genes in heterogeneous cell populations. Multiple tools for the analysis of scRNA-seq data have been developed over the years. The tools require complicated commands and steps to analyze the underlying data, which are not easy to follow by genome researchers and experimental biologists. Therefore, we describe a step-by-step workflow for processing and analyzing the scRNA-seq unique molecular identifier (UMI) data from Human Lung Adenocarcinoma cell lines. We demonstrate the basic analyses including quality check, mapping and quantification of transcript abundance through suitable real data example to obtain UMI count data. Further, we performed basic statistical analyses, such as zero-inflation, differential expression and clustering analyses on the obtained count data. We studied the effects of excess zero-inflation present in scRNA-seq data on the downstream analyses. Our findings indicate that the zero-inflation associated with UMI data had no or minimal role in clustering, while it had significant effect on identifying differentially expressed genes. We also provide an insight into the comparative analysis for differential expression analysis tools based on zero-inflated negative binomial and negative binomial models on scRNA-seq data. The sensitivity analysis enhanced our findings in that the negative binomial model-based tool did not provide an accurate and efficient way to analyze the scRNA-seq data. This study provides a set of guidelines for the users to handle and analyze real scRNA-seq data more easily.
Structural Performance of Thin-Walled Twisted Box-Section Structure
Authors: Wang Shijun , Wang Zan , Ping Chang , Wang Xing , Wu Huiying , Feng Jian , Cai Jianguo
Published: December 2021

The light weight and high strength-to-mass ratio of thin-walled boxed sections have incited interest in their widespread use in the construction of domes. However, the installation of these sections in forming the dome geometry has induced initial twists and curving features, to which their mechanical response has rarely been explored. Therefore, the structural performance of a structure with thin-walled twisted box sections is numerically studied in this paper, employing ANSYS, the verification of which is carried out through a comparison with experimental results. Additional components examined include the longitudinal stiffening rib, diaphragm, and web. The effects of variations in the thicknesses of these member plates on the mechanical behaviors are investigated. In general, the ultimate capacity of the structure is improved by increasing the thickness of the longitudinal stiffening rib, diaphragm, and web, but the strengthening effect of the stiffener is limited by a certain thickness enhancement. The common failure mode of the initial model is found to be an overall elastic-plastic buckling. A reduction in the thickness of the stiffener or web creates a curving deformation zone in the lower arch at the ultimate capacity, whereas the diaphragm thickness has little effect on the failure mode of the model.
Response Spectra-Based Post-Earthquake Rapid Structural Damage Estimation Approach Aided with Remote Sensing Data: 2020 Samos Earthquake
Authors: Kaplan Onur , Kaplan Gordana
Published: December 2021

Effective post-event emergency management contributes substantially to communities’ earthquake resilience, and one of the most crucial actions following an earthquake is building damage assessment. On-site inspections are dangerous, expensive, and time-consuming. Remote sensing techniques have shown great potential in localizing the most damaged regions and thus guiding aid and rescue operations in recent earthquakes. Furthermore, to prevent post-earthquake casualties, heavily damaged, unsafe buildings must be identified immediately since in most earthquakes, strong aftershocks can cause such buildings to collapse. The potential of the response spectrum concept for being associated with satellite-based remote sensing data for post-earthquake structural damage estimation was investigated in this study. In this respect, a response spectra-based post-earthquake structural damage estimation method aided by satellite-based remote sensing data was proposed to classify the buildings after an earthquake by prioritizing them based on their expected damage levels, in order to speed up the damage assessment process of critical buildings that can cause casualties in a possible strong aftershock. A case study application was implemented in the Bayrakli region in Izmir, Turkey, the most affected area by the Samos earthquake, on 30 October 2020. The damage estimations made in this research were compared with the in situ damage assessment reports prepared by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment and Urbanization experts. According to the accuracy assessment results, the sensitivity of the method is high (91%), and the necessary time spent by the in situ damage assessment teams to detect the critical buildings would have been significantly reduced for the study area.
CANDIED: A Pan-Canadian Cohort of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Muniz Thiago P. , Araujo Daniel V. , Savage Kerry J. , Cheng Tina , Saha Moumita , Song Xinni , Gill Sabrina , Monzon Jose G. , Grenier Debjani , Genta Sofia , Allen Michael J. , Arteaga Diana P. , Saibil Samuel D. , Butler Marcus O. , Spreafico Anna , Hogg David
Published: December 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a rare but potentially fatal immune-related adverse event (irAE). In this multicentre retrospective cohort study, we describe the characteristics of ICI-induced IDDM in patients treated across five Canadian cancer centres, as well as their tumor response rates and survival. In 34 patients identified, 25 (74%) were male and 19 (56%) had melanoma. All patients received anti-programed death 1 (anti-PD1) or anti-programmed death ligand-1 (anti-PD-L1)-based therapy. From ICI initiation, median time to onset of IDDM was 2.4 months (95% CI 1.1–3.6). Patients treated with anti-PD1/PD-L1 in combination with an anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 antibody developed IDDM earlier compared with patients on monotherapy (1.4 vs. 3.9 months, p = 0.05). Diabetic ketoacidosis occurred in 21 (62%) patients. Amongst 30 patients evaluable for response, 10 (33%) had a complete response and another 10 (33%) had a partial response. Median overall survival was not reached (95% CI NE; median follow-up 31.7 months). All patients remained insulin-dependent at the end of follow-up. We observed that ICI-induced IDDM is an irreversible irAE and may be associated with a high response rate and prolonged survival.
Biomarker Testing in Older Patients Treated for an Advanced or Metastatic Non-Squamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: The French ESME Real-Life Multicenter Cohort Experience
Authors: Lamy Tina , Cabarrou Bastien , Planchard David , Quantin Xavier , Schneider Sophie , Bringuier Michael , Besse Benjamin , Girard Nicolas , Chouaid Christos , Filleron Thomas , Simon Gaëtane , Baldini Capucine
Published: December 2021

Background: Genomic and immunologic tumor biomarker testing has dramatically changed the prognosis of patients, particularly those treated for advanced/metastatic non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) when access to targeted agents is available. It remains unclear whether older patients have access to therapy-predictive biomarker testing techniques in the same proportion as younger patients. This study aims to compare the proportion of biomarker testing performed in non-squamous aNSCLC at diagnosis between patients aged ≥70 years old and their younger counterparts. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the Epidemio-Strategy and Medical Economics (ESME) Advanced or Metastatic Lung Cancer Data Platform, a French multicenter real-life database. All patients with non-squamous aNSCLC diagnosed between 2015 and 2018 were selected. Biomarker testing corresponded to at least one molecular alteration and/or PD-L1 testing performed within 1 month before or 3 months after the aNSCLC diagnosis. Results: In total, 2848 patients aged ≥70 years and 6900 patients aged <70 years were included. Most patients were male. The proportion of current smokers at diagnosis was higher in the <70 years group (42% vs. 17%, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the proportion of biomarker testing performed between the two groups (63% vs. 65%, p = 0.15). EGFR mutations were significantly more common in the older group (22% vs. 12%, p < 0.0001) and KRAS mutations significantly more frequent in the younger group (39% vs. 31% p < 0.0001). The distribution of other driver mutations (ALK, ROS1, BRAF V600E, HER2, and MET) was similar across age. In the multivariable analysis, factors independently associated with biomarker testing were gender, smoking status, history of COPD, stage at primary diagnosis, and histological type. Conclusions: Age is not a barrier to biomarker testing in patients with aNSCLC.
Novel Intraoperative Imaging of Gastric Tube Perfusion during Oncologic Esophagectomy—A Pilot Study Comparing Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) and Fluorescence Imaging (FI) with Indocyanine Green (ICG)
Authors: Hennig Sebastian , Jansen-Winkeln Boris , Köhler Hannes , Knospe Luise , Chalopin Claire , Maktabi Marianne , Pfahl Annekatrin , Hoffmann Jana , Kwast Stefan , Gockel Ines , Moulla Yusef
Published: December 2021

Background: Novel intraoperative imaging techniques, namely, hyperspectral (HSI) and fluorescence imaging (FI), are promising with respect to reducing severe postoperative complications, thus increasing patient safety. Both tools have already been used to evaluate perfusion of the gastric conduit after esophagectomy and before anastomosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating both modalities simultaneously during esophagectomy. Methods: In our pilot study, 13 patients, who underwent Ivor Lewis esophagectomy and gastric conduit reconstruction, were analyzed prospectively. HSI and FI were recorded before establishing the anastomosis in order to determine its optimum position. Results: No anastomotic leak occurred during this pilot study. In five patients, the imaging methods resulted in a more peripheral adaptation of the anastomosis. There were no significant differences between the two imaging tools, and no adverse events due to the imaging methods or indocyanine green (ICG) injection occurred. Conclusions: Simultaneous intraoperative application of both modalities was feasible and not time consuming. They are complementary with regard to the ideal anastomotic position and may contribute to better surgical outcomes. The impact of their simultaneous application will be proven in consecutive prospective trials with a large patient cohort.
Endoscopic Classifications of Early Gastric Cancer: A Literature Review
Authors: Fujiyoshi Mary Raina Angeli , Inoue Haruhiro , Fujiyoshi Yusuke , Nishikawa Yohei , Toshimori Akiko , Shimamura Yuto , Tanabe Mayo , Ikeda Haruo , Onimaru Manabu
Published: December 2021

Endoscopic technologies have been continuously advancing throughout the years to facilitate improvement in the detection and diagnosis of gastric lesions. With the development of different endoscopic diagnostic modalities for EGC, several classifications have been advocated for the evaluation of gastric lesions, aiming for an early detection and diagnosis. Sufficient knowledge on the appearance of EGC on white light endoscopy is fundamental for early detection and management. On the other hand, those superficial EGC with subtle morphological changes that are challenging to be detected with white light endoscopy may now be clearly defined by means of image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE). By combining magnifying endoscopy and IEE, irregularities in the surface structures can be evaluated and highlighted, leading to improvements in EGC diagnostic accuracy. The main scope of this review article is to offer a closer look at the different classifications of EGC based on several endoscopic diagnostic modalities, as well as to introduce readers to newer and novel classifications, specifically developed for the stomach, for the assessment and diagnosis of gastric lesions.
Co Loading Adjustment for the Effective Obtention of a Sedative Drug Precursor through Efficient Continuous-Flow Chemoselective Hydrogenation of 2-Methyl-2-Pentenal
Authors: Fernández-Ropero Antonio Jesús , Zawadzki Bartosz , Matus Krzysztof , Patkowski Wojciech , Krawczyk Mirosław , Lisovytskiy Dmytro , Raróg-Pilecka Wioletta , Śrębowata Anna
Published: December 2021

This work presents the effect of Co loading on the performance of CNR115 carbon-supported catalysts in the continuous-flow chemoselective hydrogenation of 2-methyl-2-pentenal for the obtention of 2-methylpentanal, an intermediate in the synthesis of the sedative drug meprobamate. The Co loading catalysts (2, 6, 10, and 14 wt.%) were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), temperature-programmed desorption of hydrogen (H2-TPD) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for selected samples, and have been studied as hydrogenation catalysts at different pressure and temperature ranges. The results reveal that a certain amount of Co is necessary to achieve significant conversion values. However, excessive loading affects the morphological parameters, such as the surface area available for hydrogen adsorption and the particle size, preventing an increase in conversion, despite the increased presence of Co. Moreover, the larger particle size, caused by increasing the loading, alters the chemoselectivity, favouring the formation of 2-methyl-2-pentenol and, thus, decreasing the selectivity towards the desired product. The 6 wt.% Co-loaded material demonstrates the best catalytic performance, which is related to the formation of NPs with optimum size. Almost 100% selectivity towards 2-methylpentanal was obtained for the catalysts with lower Co loading (2 and 6 wt.%).
Synthesis, Property Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of the Ag3PO4/Gd2BiTaO7 Heterojunction Catalyst under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Luan Jingfei , Wei Zhijie , Niu Bowen , Yang Guangmin , Huang Cisheng , Ma Bingbing , Liu Wenlu
Published: December 2021

A new type of Gd2BiTaO7 nanocatalyst (GBT) was synthesized by a high-temperature solid-phase method, and a heterojunction photocatalyst, which was composed of GBT and silver phosphate (AP), was prepared by the facile in-situ precipitation method for the first time. The photocatalytic property of GBT or the Ag3PO4/Gd2BiTaO7 heterojunction photocatalyst (AGHP) was reported. The structural properties of GBT and AGHP were characterized by an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope–X-ray energy dispersive spectra, an X-ray photoelectron spectrograph, a synchrotron-based ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscope, a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, an UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer and an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer. The results displayed that GBT was well crystallized with a stable cubic crystal system and space group Fd3m. The lattice parameter or band gap energy of GBT was found to be a = 10.740051 Å or 2.35 eV, respectively. After visible light irradiation of 30 min, the removal rate of bisphenol A (BPA) reached 99.52%, 95.53% or 37.00% with AGHP as the photocatalyst, with Ag3PO4 and potassium persulfate (AP-PS) as photocatalysts or with N-doped TiO2 (NT) as a photocatalyst, respectively. According to the experimental data, it could be found that the removal rate of BPA with AGHP as a photocatalyst was 2.69 times higher than that with NT as a photocatalyst. AGHP showed higher photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic degradation of BPA under visible light irradiation compared with GBT or AP-PS or NT. The removal rate of total organic carbon (TOC) was 96.21%, 88.10% or 30.55% with AGHP as a photocatalyst, with AP-PS as photocatalysts or with NT as a photocatalyst after visible light irradiation of 30 min. The above results indicated that AGHP possessed the maximal mineralization percentage ratio during the process of degrading BPA compared with GBT or AP-PS or NT. The results indicated that the main oxidation radical was •OH during the process of degrading BPA. The photocatalytic degradation of BPA with AGHP as a photocatalyst conformed to the first-order reaction kinetics. This study provided inspiration for obtaining visible light-responsive heterojunction photocatalysts with high catalytic activity and efficient removal technologies for organic pollutants and toxic pollutants, and as a result, the potential practical applications of visible light-responsive heterojunction photocatalysts were widened. The subsequent research of thin-film plating of the heterojunction catalysts and the construction of complete photoluminescent thin-film catalytic reaction systems, which utilized visible light irradiation, could provide new technologies and perspectives for the pharmaceutical wastewater treatment industry.
TRAIL Triggers CRAC-Dependent Calcium Influx and Apoptosis through the Recruitment of Autophagy Proteins to Death-Inducing Signaling Complex
Authors: Airiau Kelly , Vacher Pierre , Micheau Olivier , Prouzet-Mauleon Valerie , Kroemer Guido , Moosavi Mohammad Amin , Djavaheri-Mergny Mojgan
Published: December 2021

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively kills various cancer cell types, but also leads to the activation of signaling pathways that favor resistance to cell death. Here, we investigated the as yet unknown roles of calcium signaling and autophagy regulatory proteins during TRAIL-induced cell death in leukemia cells. Taking advantage of the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) project, we first found that leukemia patients present a unique TRAIL receptor gene expression pattern that may reflect their resistance to TRAIL. The exposure of NB4 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells to TRAIL induces intracellular Ca2+ influx through a calcium release-activated channel (CRAC)-dependent mechanism, leading to an anti-apoptotic response. Mechanistically, we showed that upon TRAIL treatment, two autophagy proteins, ATG7 and p62/SQSTM1, are recruited to the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and are essential for TRAIL-induced Ca2+ influx and cell death. Importantly, the treatment of NB4 cells with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) led to the upregulation of p62/SQSTM1 and caspase-8 and, when added prior to TRAIL stimulation, significantly enhanced DISC formation and the apoptosis induced by TRAIL. In addition to uncovering new pleiotropic roles for autophagy proteins in controlling the calcium response and apoptosis triggered by TRAIL, our results point to novel therapeutic strategies for sensitizing leukemia cells to TRAIL.
Effects of theTiB2-SiC Volume Ratio and Spark Plasma Sintering Temperature on the Properties and Microstructure of TiB2-BN-SiC Composite Ceramics
Authors: Tian Shi , Liao Zelin , Guo Wenchao , He Qianglong , Wang Heng , Wang Weimin
Published: December 2021

TiB2-BN composite ceramics combine excellent electrical conductivity, thermal shock resistance, high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and easy processing of TiB2 and BN. However, in practical applications, their high-temperature oxidation resistance is poor and the resistivity distribution is uneven and changes substantially with temperature. A TiB2-BN-SiC composite ceramic with stable and controllable resistivity was prepared by introducing SiC into the TiB2-BN composite ceramics. In this work, spark plasma sintering (SPS) technology was used to prepare TiB2-BN-SiC composite ceramics with various TiB2-SiC ratios and sintering temperatures. The samples were tested by XRD, SEM, and thermal and mechanical analysis. The results show that as the volume ratio of TiB2-SiC was increased from 3:1 to 12:1, the resistivity of the sample decreased from 8053.3 to 4923.3 μΩ·cm, the thermal conductivity increased from 24.89 to 34.15 W/(m k), and the thermal expansion rate increased from 7.49 (10−6/K) to 10.81 (10−6/K). As the sintering temperature was increased from 1650 to 1950 °C, the density of the sample increased, the mechanical properties were slightly improved, and the resistivity, thermal expansion rate, and thermal conductivity changed substantially. The volume ratio and sintering temperature are the key factors that control the resistivity and thermal characteristics of TiB2-SiC-BN composite ceramics, and the in situ from liquid phases of FeB and FeO also promotes the sintering of the TiB2-BN-SiC ceramics.
Impact-Initiation Sensitivity of High-Temperature PTFE-Al-W Reactive Materials
Authors: Sun Tao , Zheng Yuanfeng , Yuan Ying , Wang Haifu
Published: December 2021

Drop-weight tests were conducted to investigate the impact-initiation sensitivity of high-temperature PTFE-Al-W reactive materials. The test results show that the impact-initiation sensitivity of the materials more than doubles with increasing the sample temperature from 25 to 350 °C. Combined with the impact-induced initiation process recorded by high-speed video and the difference between reacted and unreacted residues, the crack-induced initiation mechanism was revealed. The rapid propagation of crack provides a high-temperature and aerobic environment where Al reacts violently to PTFE, which induces the initiation. Moreover, the influence of sample temperature on the sensitivity was discussed and analyzed. The analysis results indicate that the sensitivity shows a temperature interval effect, and 127 and 327 °C are the interval boundaries where the sensitivity changes significantly. The sensitivity may leaps at 127 °C and increases more rapidly in the temperature interval from 127 to 327 °C, but hardly changes after the temperature reaches 327 °C.
Clinicopathologic Features and Molecular Biomarkers as Predictors of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Mutation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Liu Lanlan , Xiong Xianzhi
Published: December 2021

Lung cancer ranks first in the incidence and mortality of cancer in the world, of which more than 80% are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The majority of NSCLC patients are in stage IIIB~IV when they are admitted to hospital and have no opportunity for surgery. Compared with traditional chemotherapy, specific targeted therapy has a higher selectivity and fewer adverse reactions, providing a new treatment direction for advanced NSCLC patients. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR-TKIs) are the widely used targeted therapy for NSCLC patients. Their efficacy and prognosis are closely related to the mutation status of the EGFR gene. Clinically, detecting EGFR gene mutation is often limited by difficulty obtaining tissue specimens, limited detecting technology, and economic conditions, so it is of great clinical significance to find indicators to predict EGFR gene mutation status. Clinicopathological characteristics, tumor markers, liquid biopsy, and other predictors are less invasive, economical, and easier to obtain. They can be monitored in real-time, which is supposed to predict EGFR mutation status and provide guidance for the accurate, individualized diagnosis and therapy of NSCLC patients. This article reviewed the correlation between the clinical indicators and EGFR gene mutation status in NSCLC patients.
The Neurokinin-1 Receptor Is a Target in Pediatric Rhabdoid Tumors
Authors: Kolorz Julian , Demir Salih , Gottschlich Adrian , Beirith Iris , Ilmer Matthias , Lüthy Daniel , Walz Christoph , Dorostkar Mario M. , Magg Thomas , Hauck Fabian , von Schweinitz Dietrich , Kobold Sebastian , Kappler Roland , Berger Michael
Published: December 2021

Rhabdoid tumors (RT) are among the most aggressive tumors in early childhood. Overall survival remains poor, and treatment only effectively occurs at the cost of high toxicity and late adverse effects. It has been reported that the neurokinin-1 receptor/ substance P complex plays an important role in cancer and proved to be a promising target. However, its role in RT has not yet been described. This study aims to determine whether the neurokinin-1 receptor is expressed in RT and whether neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonists can serve as a novel therapeutic approach in treating RTs. By in silico analysis using the cBio Cancer Genomics Portal we found that RTs highly express neurokinin-1 receptor. We confirmed these results by RT-PCR in both tumor cell lines and in human tissue samples of various affected organs. We demonstrated a growth inhibitory and apoptotic effect of aprepitant in viability assays and flow cytometry. Furthermore, this effect proved to remain when used in combination with the cytostatic cisplatin. Western blot analysis showed an upregulation of apoptotic signaling pathways in rhabdoid tumors when treated with aprepitant. Overall, our findings suggest that NK1R may be a promising target for the treatment of RT in combination with other anti-cancer therapies and can be targeted with the NK1R antagonist aprepitant.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography-Derived Augmented Fluoroscopy Improves the Diagnostic Yield of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Biopsy for Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions
Authors: Lin Ching-Kai , Fan Hung-Jen , Yao Zong-Han , Lin Yen-Ting , Wen Yueh-Feng , Wu Shang-Gin , Ho Chao-Chi
Published: December 2021

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy (EBUS-TBB) is used for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), but the diagnostic yield is not adequate. Cone-beam computed tomography-derived augmented fluoroscopy (CBCT-AF) can be utilized to assess the location of PPLs and biopsy devices, and has the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy of bronchoscopic techniques. The purpose of this study was to verify the contribution of CBCT-AF to EBUS-TBB. Methods: Patients who underwent EBUS-TBB for diagnosis of PPLs were enrolled. The navigation success rate and diagnostic yield were used to evaluate the effectiveness of CBCT-AF in EBUS-TBB. Results: In this study, 236 patients who underwent EBUS-TBB for PPL diagnosis were enrolled. One hundred fifteen patients were in CBCT-AF group and 121 were in non-AF group. The navigation success rate was significantly higher in the CBCT-AF group (96.5% vs. 86.8%, p = 0.006). The diagnostic yield was even better in the CBCT-AF group when the target lesion was small in size (68.8% vs. 0%, p = 0.026 for lesions ≤10 mm and 77.5% vs. 46.4%, p = 0.016 for lesions 10–20 mm, respectively). The diagnostic yield of the two study groups became similar when the procedures with a failure of navigation were excluded. The procedure-related complication rate was similar between the two study groups. Conclusion: CBCT-AF is safe, and effectively enhances the navigation success rate, thereby increasing the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBB for PPLs.
Clinical Evaluation of a New Electronic Periodontal Probe: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Laugisch Oliver , Auschill Thorsten M. , Heumann Christian , Sculean Anton , Arweiler Nicole B.
Published: December 2021

Precise measurements of periodontal parameters (such as pocket depths: PPD, gingival margins: GM) are important for diagnosis of periodontal disease and its treatment. Most examiners use manual millimeter-scaled probes, dependent on adequate pressure and correct readouts. Electronic probes aim to objectify and facilitate the diagnostic process. This randomized controlled trial compared measurements of a standard manual (MP) with those of an electronic pressure-sensitive periodontal probe (EP) and its influence on patients’ acceptance and practicability. In 20 patients (2436 measuring points) PPD and GM were measured either with MP or EP by professionals with different levels of experience: dentist (10 patients), 7th and 10th semester dental students (5 patients each). Time needed was measured in minutes and patients’ subjective pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale. Differences were analyzed using the generalized estimating equations approach (GEE) and paired Wilcoxon tests. Mean PPD varied with ΔPPD 0.38 mm between both probes, which was significant (p < 0.001), but GM did not (ΔREC 0.07 mm, p = 0.197). There was a statistically significant correlation of both probes (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient GM: 0.674, PPD: 0.685). Differences can be considered robust (no deviation in either direction). The comparison of time needed and pain sensitivity did not result in statistically significant differences (p > 0.05).
Hybrid Deep Learning Model for Endoscopic Lesion Detection and Classification Using Endoscopy Videos
Authors: Ayyaz M Shahbaz , Lali Muhammad Ikram Ullah , Hussain Mubbashar , Rauf Hafiz Tayyab , Alouffi Bader , Alyami Hashem , Wasti Shahbaz
Published: December 2021

In medical imaging, the detection and classification of stomach diseases are challenging due to the resemblance of different symptoms, image contrast, and complex background. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) plays a vital role in the medical imaging field, allowing accurate results to be obtained in minimal time. This article proposes a new hybrid method to detect and classify stomach diseases using endoscopy videos. The proposed methodology comprises seven significant steps: data acquisition, preprocessing of data, transfer learning of deep models, feature extraction, feature selection, hybridization, and classification. We selected two different CNN models (VGG19 and Alexnet) to extract features. We applied transfer learning techniques before using them as feature extractors. We used a genetic algorithm (GA) in feature selection, due to its adaptive nature. We fused selected features of both models using a serial-based approach. Finally, the best features were provided to multiple machine learning classifiers for detection and classification. The proposed approach was evaluated on a personally collected dataset of five classes, including gastritis, ulcer, esophagitis, bleeding, and healthy. We observed that the proposed technique performed superbly on Cubic SVM with 99.8% accuracy. For the authenticity of the proposed technique, we considered these statistical measures: classification accuracy, recall, precision, False Negative Rate (FNR), Area Under the Curve (AUC), and time. In addition, we provided a fair state-of-the-art comparison of our proposed technique with existing techniques that proves its worthiness.
From Coastal to Montane Forest Ecosystems, Using Drones for Multi-Species Research in the Tropics
Authors: Rahman Dede Aulia , Sitorus Andre Bonardo Yonathan , Condro Aryo Adhi
Published: December 2021

Biodiversity monitoring is crucial in tackling defaunation in the Anthropocene, particularly in tropical ecosystems. However, field surveys are often limited by habitat complexity, logistical constraints, financing and detectability. Hence, leveraging drones technology for species monitoring is required to overcome the caveats of conventional surveys. We investigated prospective methods for wildlife monitoring using drones in four ecosystems. We surveyed waterbird populations in Pulau Rambut, a community of ungulates in Baluran and endemic non-human primates in Gunung Halimun-Salak, Indonesia in 2021 using a DJI Matrice 300 RTK and DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual with additional thermal sensors. We then, consecutively, implemented two survey methods at three sites to compare the efficacy of drones against traditional ground survey methods for each species. The results show that drone surveys provide advantages over ground surveys, including precise size estimation, less disturbance and broader area coverage. Moreover, heat signatures helped to detect species which were not easily spotted in the radiometric imagery, while the detailed radiometric imagery allowed for species identification. Our research also demonstrates that machine learning approaches show a relatively high performance in species detection. Our approaches prove promising for wildlife surveys using drones in different ecosystems in tropical forests.
Measuring Dispersion and Serial Dependence in Ordinal Time Series Based on the Cumulative Paired ϕ-Entropy
Authors: Weiß Christian
Published: December 2021

The family of cumulative paired ϕ-entropies offers a wide variety of ordinal dispersion measures, covering many well-known dispersion measures as a special case. After a comprehensive analysis of this family of entropies, we consider the corresponding sample versions and derive their asymptotic distributions for stationary ordinal time series data. Based on an investigation of their asymptotic bias, we propose a family of signed serial dependence measures, which can be understood as weighted types of Cohen’s κ, with the weights being related to the actual choice of ϕ. Again, the asymptotic distribution of the corresponding sample κϕ is derived and applied to test for serial dependence in ordinal time series. Using numerical computations and simulations, the practical relevance of the dispersion and dependence measures is investigated. We conclude with an environmental data example, where the novel ϕ-entropy-related measures are applied to an ordinal time series on the daily level of air quality.
An Experiment-Based Comparison between Fully Digital and Hybrid Beamforming Radio Architectures for Many-Antenna Full-Duplex Wireless Communication
Authors: Megson Gavin , Gupta Sabyasachi , Hashir Syed Muhammad , Aryafar Ehsan , Camp Joseph
Published: December 2021

Full-duplex (FD) communication in many-antenna base stations (BSs) is hampered by self-interference (SI). This is because a FD node’s transmitting signal generates significant interference to its own receiver. Recent works have shown that it is possible to reduce/eliminate this SI in fully digital many-antenna systems, e.g., through transmit beamforming by using some spatial degrees of freedom to reduce SI instead of increasing the beamforming gain. On a parallel front, hybrid beamforming has recently emerged as a radio architecture that uses multiple antennas per FR chain. This can significantly reduce the cost of the end device (e.g., BS) but may also reduce the capacity or SI reduction gains of a fully digital radio system. This is because a fully digital radio architecture can change both the amplitude and phase of the wireless signal and send different data streams from each antenna element. Our goal in this paper is to quantify the performance gap between these two radio architectures in terms of SI cancellation and system capacity, particularly in multi-user MIMO setups. To do so, we experimentally compare the performance of a state-of-the-art fully digital many antenna FD solution to a hybrid beamforming architecture and compare the corresponding performance metrics leveraging a fully programmable many-antenna testbed and collecting over-the-air wireless channel data. We show that SI cancellation through beam design on a hybrid beamforming radio architecture can achieve capacity within 16% of that of a fully digital architecture. The performance gap further shrinks with a higher number of quantization bits in the hybrid beamforming system.
Time Delay Estimation Control of Permanent Magnet Spherical Actuator Based on Gradient Compensation
Authors: Wang Xiuqin , Zhang Rui , Li Guoli , Wang Qunjing , Wen Yan
Published: December 2021

A multi-degree-of-freedom Permanent Magnet Spherical Actuator (PMSpA) has a special mechanical structure and electromagnetic fields, and is easily affected by nonlinear disturbances such as modeling errors and friction. Therefore, the quality of a PMSpA control system may be deteriorated. In order to keep the PMSpA with good trajectory tracking performance, this paper designs a time delay estimation controller based on gradient compensation. Firstly, the dynamic model of the PMSpA with nonlinear terms is derived. The nonlinear terms in the complex dynamic model can be simplified and estimated by the time delay estimation method. Secondly, for the estimation errors caused by time delay control, a gradient compensator is introduced to further correct and compensate for it. Furthermore, the stability of the designed controller is proved by the Lyapunov equation. Finally, the correctness and effectiveness of the controller are validated by comparison with other controllers through simulation. In addition, experimental results have also shown that the control accuracy of the spherical motor can be effectively improved using the proposed controller.
Low-Latency and Minor-Error Architecture for Parallel Computing XY-like Functions with High-Precision Floating-Point Inputs
Authors: Liu Ming , Fu Wenjia , Xia Jincheng
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes a novel architecture for the computation of XY-like functions based on the QH CORDIC (Quadruple-Step-Ahead Hyperbolic Coordinate Rotation Digital Computer) methodology. The proposed architecture converts direct computing of function XY to logarithm, multiplication, and exponent operations. The QH CORDIC methodology is a parallel variant of the traditional CORDIC algorithm. Traditional CORDIC suffers from long latency and large area, while the QH CORDIC has much lower latency. The computation of functions lnx and ex is accomplished with the QH CORDIC. To solve the problem of the limited range of convergence of the QH CORDIC, this paper employs two specific techniques to enlarge the range of convergence for functions lnx and ex, making it possible to deal with high-precision floating-point inputs. Hardware modeling of function XY using the QH CORDIC is plotted in this paper. Under the TSMC 65 nm standard cell library, this paper designs and synthesizes a reference circuit. The ASIC implementation results show that the proposed architecture has 30 more orders of magnitude of maximum relative error and average relative error than the state-of-the-art. On top of that, the proposed architecture is also superior to the state-of-the-art in terms of latency, word length and energy efficiency (power × latency × period /efficient bits).
XGBoost-Based Day-Ahead Load Forecasting Algorithm Considering Behind-the-Meter Solar PV Generation
Authors: Bae Dong-Jin , Kwon Bo-Sung , Song Kyung-Bin
Published: December 2021

With the rapid expansion of renewable energy, the penetration rate of behind-the-meter (BTM) solar photovoltaic (PV) generators is increasing in South Korea. The BTM solar PV generation is not metered in real-time, distorts the electric load and increases the errors of load forecasting. In order to overcome the problems caused by the impact of BTM solar PV generation, an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) load forecasting algorithm is proposed. The capacity of the BTM solar PV generators is estimated based on an investigation of the deviation of load using a grid search. The influence of external factors was considered by using the fluctuation of the load used by lighting appliances and data filtering based on base temperature, as a result, the capacity of the BTM solar PV generators is accurately estimated. The distortion of electric load is eliminated by the reconstituted load method that adds the estimated BTM solar PV generation to the electric load, and the load forecasting is conducted using the XGBoost model. Case studies are performed to demonstrate the accuracy of prediction for the proposed method. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm was improved by 21% and 29% in 2019 and 2020, respectively, compared with the MAPE of the LSTM model that does not reflect the impact of BTM solar PV.