bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Too Many Cooks, Not Enough Gourmets: Examining Provision and Use of Feedback for the Developing Athlete
Authors: Taylor Jamie , Collins Dave , Cruickshank Andrew
Published: December 2021

Feedback from coaches and other stakeholders is well established as having a significant impact on the development of performance. This study investigated perceptions of the feedback process and the sense-making of athletes transitioning to elite sport. Specifically, the aims were to (a) investigate the number of feedback providers young players reported through their talent development journey, (b) understand the degree of coherence that players perceived from this feedback, and (c) explore the sense-making process of individual players by understanding their decision criteria. The findings suggest that pathway athletes were offered an excess of feedback from multiple sources, often incoherently. Yet, players lacked an appropriate sense-making process to appreciate, critically reflect on, and apply feedback. Given the implications for talent development, we offer suggestions for the coach and system to optimize feedback processes and develop gourmet consumers.
Dependence of discharge, channel area, and flow velocity on river stage and a refutation of Manning’s equation
Authors: Criss* Robert E.
Published: December 2021

Field data reveal how the discharge (Q), channel area (A), and average water velocity (Vavg) of natural streams functionally depend on the effective stage (h) above channel bottom. A graphical technique allows the level that corresponds to a dry channel, denoted “h0,” to be determined, permitting the dependent variables Q, A, and Vavg to all be expressed as simple functions of h, equal to hL – h0, where hL is the local stage that is typically reported relative to an arbitrary, site-specific datum. Once h0 is known, plots of log Q, log A, and log Vavg versus log h can be constructed using available data. These plots define strong, nearly linear trends for which the slopes (1) quantify the power relationships among these variables; (2) show that Vavg varies nearly linearly with h, unlike behaviors assumed in the Chezy and Manning equations; (3) distinguish the individual contributions of A and Vavg to discharge, which is their product; (4) provide quantitative means with which to compare different sites; and (5) offer new insights into the character and dynamics of natural streams.
Links of planetary energetics to moon size, orbit, and planet spin: A new mechanism for plate tectonics
Authors: Hofmeister* Anne M. , Criss Robert E. , Criss† Everett M.
Published: December 2021

Lateral accelerations require lateral forces. We propose that force imbalances in the unique Earth-Moon-Sun system cause large-scale, cooperative tectonic motions. The solar gravitational pull on the Moon, being 2.2× terrestrial pull, causes lunar drift, orbital elongation, and an ~1000 km radial monthly excursion of the Earth-Moon barycenter inside Earth’s mantle. Earth’s spin superimposes an approximately longitudinal 24 h circuit of the barycenter. Because the oscillating barycenter lies 3500–5500 km from the geocenter, Earth’s tangential orbital acceleration and solar pull are imbalanced. Near-surface motions are enabled by a weak low-velocity zone underlying the cold, brittle lithosphere: The thermal states of both layers result from leakage of Earth’s internal radiogenic heat to space. Concomitantly, stress induced by spin cracks the lithosphere in a classic X-pattern, creating mid-ocean ridges and plate segments. The inertial response of our high-spin planet with its low-velocity zone is ~10 cm yr–1 westward drift of the entire lithosphere, which largely dictates plate motions. The thermal profile causes sinking plates to thin and disappear by depths of ~200–660 km, depending on angle and speed. Cyclical stresses are effective agents of failure, thereby adding asymmetry to plate motions. A comparison of rocky planets shows that the presence and longevity of volcanism and tectonism depend on the particular combination of moon size, moon orbital orientation, proximity to the Sun, and rates of body spin and cooling. Earth is the only rocky planet with all the factors needed for plate tectonics.
Grand Strategy and the (Re)Shaping of Greece–China Relations
Authors: Doga Alexandra , Lioumpas Andreas , Petropoulos Sotiris
Published: December 2021

This paper assesses China–Greece relations since 2006, examining them as part of China’s Grand Strategy, and Greece’s perception of them. The first aim of the paper is to provide an overview of China–Greece relations in connection with its long- and short-term goals. In essence, it focuses on understanding whether a Chinese Grand Strategy towards Greece exists. Second, it aims to examine the perception of Greeks over China’s foreign policy towards Greece. The intended contribution of the paper is to illustrate the response of national discourses over China’s increased presence in both the global sphere and specific countries. By offering the Greek perspective, we ultimately seek to provide a more balanced foundation for the ongoing scholarly and policy debate.
Estimating Degradation of Machine Learning Data Assets
Authors: Mauri Lara , Damiani Ernesto
Published: December 2021

Large-scale adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) models fed by heterogeneous, possibly untrustworthy data sources has spurred interest in estimating degradation of such models due to spurious, adversarial, or low-quality data assets. We propose a quantitative estimate of the
severity
of classifiers’ training set degradation: an index expressing the deformation of the convex hulls of the classes computed on a
held-out
dataset generated via an unsupervised technique. We show that our index is computationally light, can be calculated incrementally and complements well existing ML data assets’ quality measures. As an experimentation, we present the computation of our index on a benchmark convolutional image classifier.
Integration of Blockchain with Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: Vision and Challenge
Authors: Dargahi Tooska , Ahmadvand Hossein , Alraja Mansour Naser , Yu Chia-Mu
Published: December 2021

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) are introduced to improve individuals’ quality of life by offering a wide range of services. They collect a huge amount of data and exchange them with each other and the infrastructure. The collected data usually includes sensitive information about the users and the surrounding environment. Therefore, data security and privacy are among the main challenges in this industry. Blockchain, an emerging distributed ledger, has been considered by the research community as a potential solution for enhancing data security, integrity, and transparency in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). However, despite the emphasis of governments on the transparency of personal data protection practices, CAV stakeholders have not been successful in communicating appropriate information with the end users regarding the procedure of collecting, storing, and processing their personal data, as well as the data ownership. This article provides a vision of the opportunities and challenges of adopting blockchain in ITS from the “data transparency” and “privacy” perspective. The main aim is to answer the following questions: (1) Considering the amount of personal data collected by the CAVs, such as location, how would the integration of blockchain technology affect
transparency
,
fairness
,
and lawfulness
of personal data processing concerning the data subjects (as this is one of the main principles in the existing data protection regulations)? (2) How can the trade-off between transparency and privacy be addressed in blockchain-based ITS use cases?
TAML: A Traffic-aware Multi-task Learning Model for Estimating Travel Time
Authors: Xu Jiajie , Xu Saijun , Zhou Rui , Liu Chengfei , Liu An , Zhao Lei
Published: December 2021

Travel time estimation has been recognized as an important research topic that can find broad applications. Existing approaches aim to explore mobility patterns via trajectory embedding for travel time estimation. Though state-of-the-art methods utilize estimated traffic condition (by explicit features such as average traffic speed) for auxiliary supervision of travel time estimation, they fail to model their mutual influence and result in inaccuracy accordingly. To this end, in this article, we propose an improved traffic-aware model, called TAML, which adopts a multi-task learning network to integrate a travel time estimator and a traffic estimator in a shared space and improves the accuracy of estimation by enhanced representation of traffic condition, such that more meaningful implicit features are fully captured. In TAML, multi-task learning is further applied for travel time estimation in multi-granularities (including road segment, sub-path, and entire path). The multiple loss functions are combined by considering the homoscedastic uncertainty of each task. Extensive experiments on two real trajectory datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed methods.
Automating Research Data Management Using Machine-Actionable Data Management Plans
Authors: Miksa Tomasz , Oblasser Simon , Rauber Andreas
Published: December 2021

Many research funders mandate researchers to create and maintain data management plans (DMPs) for research projects that describe how research data is managed to ensure its reusability. A DMP, being a static textual document, is difficult to act upon and can quickly become obsolete and impractical to maintain. A new generation of machine-actionable DMPs (maDMPs) was therefore proposed by the Research Data Alliance to enable automated integration of information and updates. maDMPs open up a variety of use cases enabling interoperability of research systems and automation of data management tasks.

In this article, we describe a system for machine-actionable data management planning in an institutional context. We identify common use cases within research that can be automated to benefit from machine-actionability of DMPs. We propose a reference architecture of an maDMP support system that can be embedded into an institutional research data management infrastructure. The system semi-automates creation and maintenance of DMPs, and thus eases the burden for the stakeholders responsible for various DMP elements. We evaluate the proposed system in a case study conducted at the largest technical university in Austria and quantify to what extent the DMP templates provided by the European Commission and a national funding body can be pre-filled. The proof-of-concept implementation shows that maDMP workflows can be semi-automated, thus workload on involved parties can be reduced and quality of information increased. The results are especially relevant to decision makers and infrastructure operators who want to design information systems in a systematic way that can utilize the full potential of maDMPs.
Modelling of Coupled Mass and Thermal Balances in Hall-Heroult Cells During Anode Change
Authors: Wong Choon-Jie , Yao Yuchen , Bao Jie , Skyllas-Kazacos Maria , Welch Barry J. , Jassim Ali , Mahmoud Mohamed , Arkhipov Alexander
Published: December 2021

As the most routine work practice in an aluminum reduction cell, anode change introduces substantial perturbations that adversely affect the mass and heat balance of the cell which may lead to loss of process efficiency and increased energy consumption. The literature lacks a dynamic mathematical model that describes the interactions among cell variables (e.g., electrolyte temperature and flow, anode current distribution, and cell heat loss) during and following this operation, which could otherwise be used to understand the process in greater depth and to develop changes that improve process operations and control. This paper presents a spatially-discretised dynamic model for anode replacement that integrates mass balance, thermal balance and cell voltage to describe and predict local cell variables. It was experimentally validated with an industrial cell undergoing an anode change procedure. This generic model can be applied to different cell design or process conditions by using appropriate parameters (e.g., heat transfer coefficients, conductivities, and flow patterns). The model can be used to improve existing process operations or control strategies for higher process efficiency, lower energy consumption, and lower emissions.
Effects of Chemical-Electrical and Mechanical Parameters on Electrical-induced Chemical Mechanical Polishing of GaN
Authors: Ding Zhao , Niu Shiwei , Yao Qingyu , Wang Yongguang , Guan Huaijun , Zhao Dong , Yu Zexin
Published: December 2021

Overcoming the low fabricating efficiency of traditional chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) for Gallium nitride (GaN) is a challenge owing to its high hardness, high brittleness, and chemical inertness. Here, electrochemical etching is proposed to increase the material removal rate and acquire a high-quality surface on GaN wafers. To reveal the synergistic etching mechanism of oxidizing agent and corrosion inhibitor on the GaN wafers, electrochemical etching experiments were carried out. The optimal etching solution contained 4 wt% H2O2 and 10 mmol l−1 purified terephthalic acid. Experiments with various polishing parameters were comparatively investigated to verify the auxiliary effect of etching and determine the ideal parameters. Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy shows that the electrochemical etching removes the SSDs completely and the CMP process with befitting parameters does not induce supernumerary SSDs.
Structural, Optical, and Optoelectrical Studies of Spray Pyrolyzed CuGaSnS4 Thin Films
Authors: Radaf I. M. El , Al-Zahrani H.Y.S
Published: December 2021

We deposited CuGaSnS4 thin films on soda-lima glass substrates via a spray pyrolysis process. The X-ray diffraction of CuGaSnS4 films established the formation of an orthorhombic single phase. In addition, the structural parameters of the CuGaSnS4 films were estimated by Debye-Scherer’s formulas, which showed that an enhancement in crystallite size (

D

) values occurred by increasing the thickness of the investigated films. The EDAX pattern of CuGaSnS4 films confirms a stoichiometric composition. The optical results revealed that the CuGaSnS4 films possessed a direct optical energy gap (E

g
). The E

g
values were reduced from 1.50 to 1.38 eV with the increase in thickness. Also, there was an observed increase in the linear refractive index and the linear absorption coefficient values occurred due to the increased thickness. Finally, the optoelectrical constants of the sprayed CuGaSnS4 films such as the optical conductivity (σ

opt
) and the optical free carrier concentration to effective mass

N

o
p
t

/

m

*

were enlarged with increasing film thickness. The nonlinear optical study showed that the increase in film thickness enhanced the nonlinear optical constants of CuGaSnS4 films. The hot-probe procedure shows that the sprayed CuGaSnS4 films expose p-type conductivity.
Kidney cell type-specific changes in the chromatin and transcriptome landscapes following epithelial Hdac1 and Hdac2 knockdown
Authors: Hyndman Kelly A. , Crossman David K.
Published: December 2021

Recent studies have identified at least 20 different kidney cell types based upon chromatin structure and gene expression. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic transcriptional repressors via deacetylation of histone lysines resulting in inaccessible chromatin. We reported that kidney epithelial HDAC1 and HDAC2 activity is critical for maintaining a healthy kidney and preventing fluid-electrolyte abnormalities. However, to what extent does Hdac1/Hdac2 knockdown affect chromatin structure and subsequent transcript expression in the kidney? To answer this question, we used single nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin-sequencing (snATAC-seq) and snRNA-seq to profile kidney nuclei from male and female, control, and littermate kidney epithelial Hdac1/Hdac2 knockdown mice. Hdac1/Hdac2 knockdown resulted in significant changes in the chromatin structure predominantly within the promoter region of gene loci involved in fluid-electrolyte balance such as the aquaporins, with both increased and decreased accessibility captured. Moreover, Hdac1/Hdac2 knockdown resulted different gene loci being accessible with a corresponding increased transcript number in the kidney, but among all mice only 24%–30% of chromatin accessibility agreed with transcript expression (e.g., open chromatin and increased transcript). To conclude, although chromatin structure does affect transcription, ∼70% of the differentially expressed genes cannot be explained by changes in chromatin accessibility and HDAC1/HDAC2 had a minimal effect on these global patterns. Yet, the genes that are targets of HDAC1 and HDAC2 are critically important for maintaining kidney function.
Structural Features of the Mental Foramen in a Saudi Subpopulation: A Retrospective CBCT Study
Authors: Mashyakhy Mohammed , Mostafa Ahmed , Abeery Amani , Sairafi Zainab , Hakami Nazeeha , Alroomy Riyadh , Chohan Hitesh , Abu-Melha Abdulaziz
Published: December 2021

Introduction. Accurate and precise knowledge about the position, size, and shape of the mental foramen (MF) are critical in avoiding procedural complications. The MF’s anatomical features vary among different ethnic groups, and various radiographic techniques have been used to determine these variations. Aims. To evaluate the MF’s shape, vertical and horizontal positions, and distance from the border of the mandible. To evaluate the differences among genders as they pertain to the right and left sides of the mandible and research the bilateral symmetry regarding the same variables. Materials and Methods. Cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) scans of 155 Saudi patients (69 males and 86 females) who visited the college of dentistry’s clinics were obtained from the college database for this retrospective study. All the scans were analyzed by 3 calibrated examiners. The data collected was analyzed statistically, and results were obtained. Results. The MF was located under the mandibular second premolar in 56.9% of cases, whereas in 26.9% of cases, it was located between the first and second mandibular premolar. The most prevalent position was below the level of the apices of the mandibular premolar teeth (87.2%). The round shape was most frequent (44.9%) compared to the H‐oval (34.7%) and V‐oval (20.4%). The V‐oval shape was more frequent in males, while the H‐oval shape was more frequent in females. The average distance from the center of the MF to the mandibular border was 14.03 ± 1.58 mm, with males exhibiting a greater distance than females. Overall, there were no significant differences between the bilateral symmetry and the right and left sides for all parameters. Conclusion. The most common position of the MF was under the root apex of the mandibular second premolar, with an average distance of about 14 mm from the border of the mandible. The position and shape of the MF were the same bilaterally in the majority of individuals.
Serum Glycoproteomics and Identification of Potential Mechanisms Underlying Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kerdsaeng Naphatthakarn , Roytrakul Sittiruk , Chanprasertyothin Suwannee , Charernwat Piangporn , Chansirikarnjana Sirintorn , Sritara Piyamitr , Sirivarasai Jintana
Published: December 2021

Objectives. This study compares glycoproteomes in Thai Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients with those of cognitively normal individuals. Methods. Study participants included outpatients with clinically diagnosed AD (

N
=
136

) and healthy controls without cognitive impairment (

N
=
183

). Blood samples were collected from all participants for biochemical analysis and for

Apolipoprotein
 
E

(APOE) genotyping by real-time TaqMan PCR assays. Comparative serum glycoproteomic profiling by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was then performed to identify differentially abundant proteins with functional relevance. Results. Statistical differences in age, educational level, and APOE ɛ3/ɛ4 and ɛ4/ɛ4 haplotype frequencies were found between the AD and control groups. The frequency of the APOE ɛ4 allele was significantly higher in the AD group than in the control group. In total, 871 glycoproteins were identified, including 266 and 259 unique proteins in control and AD groups, respectively. There were 49 and 297 upregulated and downregulated glycoproteins, respectively, in AD samples compared with the controls. Unique AD glycoproteins were associated with numerous pathways, including Alzheimer’s disease-presenilin pathway (16.6%), inflammation pathway mediated by chemokine and cytokine signaling (9.2%), Wnt signaling pathway (8.2%), and apoptosis signaling pathway (6.7%). Conclusion. Functions and pathways associated with protein-protein interactions were identified in AD. Significant changes in these proteins can indicate the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AD, and they have the potential to serve as AD biomarkers. Such findings could allow us to better understand AD pathology.
Cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus on Agricultural Wastes and Their Combination
Authors: Fufa Bulti Kumera , Tadesse Belsti Atnkut , Tulu Mestawot Merid
Published: December 2021

Background. Mushrooms are increasingly becoming an important component of diets worldwide, and it is of paramount importance to choose appropriate substrates to grow them. The objective of this study was to grow Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom using different agricultural substrates. Methods. Corncobs, finger millet straw, and bamboo waste were collected from different sites of the Awi Zone. The substrates were chopped into small pieces, and 500 g of their dry mass alone and their combination was measured, packed in a polythene bag, moistened, and pasteurized. The cooled substrates were inoculated with a spoon of P. ostreatus spawn brought from Debre Berhan University. The bags were placed in the growing room, and growth parameters were recorded continuously with environmental variables. The experimental setup was a complete randomized design, six treatments with three replicates. Results. The fastest spawn running phase of P. ostreatus was 28.71 ± 0.80 days, pinhead formation was 32.36 ± 0.26 days, and fruiting bodies’ formation was 5.19 ± 0.74 days after the pinhead was recorded on the corncob substrate. The highest fresh weight and biological efficiency with the significant statistical association were obtained from P. ostreatus grown on finger millet straw (253.07 ± 1.05 and 50.20 ± 0.47, respectively). The highest average number of pinheads and fruiting bodies (29.60 and 11.44, respectively) was recorded on finger millet straw. The lowest biological efficiency (20.80 ± 0.41), fresh weight (101.48 ± 0.91), number of pinheads (14.40), and number of fruiting bodies (4.25) were recorded from a mixture of corncob and bamboo waste (50% each) substrates. Conclusion. Finger millet straw is recommended as the best substrate for the cultivation of P. ostreatus. The mixed substrate of corncob and bamboo waste (1 : 1) for P. ostreatus cultivation is not encouraged due to poor growth performance.
Behavioral and Genetic Factors Associated with Successful Long-Term Cessation in Persons with HIV Who Smoke Cigarettes
Authors: Shuter Jonathan , Hosgood H. Dean , Kim Ryung S. , Ye Kenny , Montagna Cristina , Shan Jidong , Weinberger Andrea H. , Ward Kenneth
Published: December 2021

Background. Persons with HIV (PWH) smoke cigarettes at much higher rates than the general population in the US, and smoking is now the leading cause of death in US PWH. Efforts to control the tobacco use epidemic in PWH have met with limited success, and the factors associated with successful cessation are not well delineated. There is a particular dearth of knowledge regarding PWH ex-smokers who have successfully quit smoking cigarettes for the long term. Methods. We pooled data from three separate sources of PWH smokers and ex-smokers (reporting complete abstinence for ≥ one year with biochemical verification at the time of data collection) from New York City, collected sociodemographic and behavioral information from them in structured interviews, and obtained their DNA samples. Univariate and rigorous multivariate analytic strategies were employed to determine the sociobehavioral and genetic factors that distinguished PWH smokers from ex-smokers. Results. We compared 142 current/recent smokers to 52 biochemically confirmed ex-smokers. The mean age of the participants was 53.3 ± 9.9 years, 49.5% were female, and 76.3% were Black/African American. Successful quitters had significantly lower anxiety scores and were less likely to report hazardous alcohol use or to use marijuana or cocaine. On multivariate analysis utilizing a conservative analytic approach, of 156 single nucleotide variants (SNV) within 12 a priori candidate genes, only the 37148248 T->C variant of gene SLC25A21 on chromosome 14 was associated with long-term cessation. Conclusions. In this study, we report behavioral variables associated with long-term abstinence in PWH ex-smokers, and we also report the first genetic correlation of successful cessation in a PWH population yet described.
MiR-301a-3p Advances IRAK1-Mediated Differentiation of Th17 Cells to Promote the Progression of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus via Targeting PELI1
Authors: Luo Shuaihantian , Wu Ruifang , Li Qianwen , Zhang Guiying
Published: December 2021

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease with high incidence in females. The pathogenesis of SLE is complex, and healing SLE has become a serious challenge for clinical treatment. Aberrant expression of miR-301a-3p involves the progressions of multiple diseases, and some studies have indicated that increased miR-301a-3p could induce the inflammatory injury of some organs. However, the role and molecular mechanism of miR-301a-3p in SLE remain unclear. In this study, the miR-301a-3p levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the patients with SLE and health subjects were measured with qRT-PCR. The ELISA assay was used to investigate the effect of miR-301a-3p on the levels of inflammatory factors in PBMCs, and flow cytometry assays were used to observe the effect of miR-301a-3p on the levels of CD4+ T cells and Th17 cells in PBMCs. Moreover, TargetScan, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and western blot were used to reveal the downstream targets and regulation mechanism of miR-301a-3p in SLE. The results showed that miR-301a-3p was significantly upregulated in PBMCs of the SLE patients, and increased miR-301a-3p could boost the expression of IL-6, IL-17, and INF-γ in PBMCs and promote the differentiation of Th17 cells. It was found that PELI1 was a target of miR-301a-3p, and PELI1 upregulation could effectively reverse the effect of miR-301a-3p on PBMCs. Besides, this study also found that miR-301a-3p could promote the expression of IRAK1 to involve the progression of SLE via targeting PELI1. In conclusion, this study suggests that increased miR-301a-3p serves as a pathogenic factor in SLE to promote IRAK1-mediated differentiation of Th17 cells via targeting PELI1.
Comprehensive Analysis to Identify Key Genes Involved in Advanced Atherosclerosis
Authors: Huo Tian-ming , Wang Zhi-wei
Published: December 2021

Background. The study was aimed at finding accurate and effective therapeutic targets and deepening our understanding of the mechanisms of advanced atherosclerosis (AA). Methods. We downloaded the gene expression datasets GSE28829, GSE120521, and GSE43292 from Gene Expression Omnibus. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed for GSE28829, and functional enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction network analysis were conducted on the key module. Significant genes in the key module were analyzed by molecular complex detection, and genes in the most important subnetwork were defined as hub genes. Multiple dataset analyses for hub genes were conducted. Genes that overlapped between hub genes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of GSE28829 and GSE120521 were defined as key genes. Further validation for key genes was performed using GSE28829 and GSE43292. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was applied to key genes. Results. A total of 77 significant genes in the key module of GSE28829 were screened out that were mainly associated with inflammation and immunity. The subnetwork was obtained from significant genes, and 18 genes in this module were defined as hub genes, which were related to immunity and expressed in multiple diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus. Some hub genes were regulated by SPI1 and associated with the blood, spleen, and lung. After overlapping with DEGs of GSE28829 and GSE120521, a total of 10 genes (HCK, ITGAM, CTSS, TYROBP, LAPTM5, FCER1G, ITGB2, NCF2, AIF1, and CD86) were identified as key genes. All key genes were validated and evaluated successfully and were related to immune response pathways. Conclusion. Our study suggests that the key genes related to immune and inflammatory responses are involved in the development of AA. This may deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of and provide valuable therapeutic targets for AA.
[Retracted] Application of Multidirectional Mutation Genetic Algorithm and Its Optimization Neural Network in Intelligent Optimization of English Teaching Courses
Authors: Yang Zi
Published: December 2021

Aiming at the problems existing in the traditional teaching mode, this paper intelligently optimizes English teaching courses by using multidirectional mutation genetic algorithm and its optimization neural network method. Firstly, this paper gives the framework of intelligent English course optimization system based on multidirectional mutation genetic BP neural network and analyses the local optimization problems existing in the traditional BP algorithm. A BP neural network optimization algorithm based on multidirectional mutation genetic algorithm (MMGA‐BP) is presented. Then, the multidirectional mutation genetic BPNN algorithm is applied to the intelligent optimization of English teaching courses. The simulation shows that the multidirectional mutation genetic BP neural network algorithm can solve the local optimization problem of traditional BP neural network. Finally, a control group and an experimental group are set up to verify the role of multidirectional mutation genetic algorithm and its optimization neural network in the intelligent optimization system of English teaching courses through the combination of summative and formative teaching evaluations. The data show that MMGA‐BP algorithm can significantly improve the scores of academic students in English courses and has better teaching performance. The effect of vocabulary teaching under the guidance of MMGA‐BP optimization theory is very significant, which plays a certain role in the intelligent curriculum optimization of the experimental class.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Outcome after Total Knee Replacement: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Jordan
Authors: Al Thaher Yazan , Alfuqaha Othman A. , Dweidari Ahmed
Published: December 2021

Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common procedure that is considered cost-effective with excellent long-term survivorship. This cross-sectional study, which includes 118 selected patients in Jordan from January 2020 to January 2021, aims to assess health-related quality of life (HQOL), functional status, and associated factors before and after 3 to 12 months of TKR. Furthermore, several demographical factors were included in this study to evaluate the potential association with the procedure’s outcome. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scale (WOMAC) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) scale were used in this study. It was found that the main change occurred 6–12 months after the procedure. Gender and age were found to be the primary predictor of quality of life among TKR patients. Patients before the TKR procedure experienced severe pain, joint stiffness, physical impairment, and psychological demand issues. After the TKR procedure, all symptoms were improved significantly. The TKR procedure can improve the quality of life for patients, which can be detected for several months after the procedure. Function and pain are the most critical indicators of improvement in quality of life. Assessing the quality of life is a key indicator for identifying patients without improvement, as well as improving the health care process and comparing other alternative interventions.
A Nanoparticle-Conjugated Anti-TBK1 siRNA Induces Autophagy-Related Apoptosis and Enhances cGAS-STING Pathway in GBM Cells
Authors: Xu Shengchao , Yan Xi , Tang Lu , Dai Gan , Luo Chengke
Published: December 2021

Background. Gene therapy shows considerable clinical benefit in cancer therapy, in which single-stranded ribonucleic acid (siRNA) is a promising strategy in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is critical in tumorigenesis and development, which lays a foundation for an ideal target for tumor therapy. However, the practical application of free siRNA is limited. It is urgent to develop novel strategies to deliver TBK1 siRNA to activate apoptosis and cGAS-STING pathway as a therapeutic strategy for GBM. Methods. The expression and prognostic value of TBK1 were evaluated in the TCGA, CGGA, and GTEx databases. A novel gene delivery system was designed here via PEGylated reduced graphene oxide (rGO-PEG) to targeted delivery of anti-TBK1 siRNA efficiently. The efficacy of TBK1si/rGO-PEG was evaluated in GBM cells. The underlying pathways were explored by Western blot. Results. TBK1 was highly expressed in glioma samples, and its high expression indicated poor prognoses in glioma patients. The rGO-PEG presented great efficiency in targeted delivery of TBK1si RNA into GBM cells with up to 97.1% transfection efficiency. TBK1si/rGO-PEG exhibited anti-GBM activities by inhibiting TBK1 and autophagy, as well as activating apoptosis and cGAS-STING pathway. Conclusion. The rGO-PEG could be an efficient system facilitating the delivery of specific siRNA. TBK1si/rGO-PEG could be a novel strategy for the treatment of GBM.
A Review of Doses for Dental Imaging in 2010–2020 and Development of a Web Dose Calculator
Authors: Lee Hawon , Badal Andreu
Published: December 2021

Dental imaging is one of the most common types of diagnostic radiological procedures in modern medicine. We introduce a comprehensive table of organ doses received by patients in dental imaging procedures extracted from literature and a new web application to visualize the summarized dose information. We analyzed articles, published after 2010, from PubMed on organ and effective doses delivered by dental imaging procedures, including intraoral radiography, panoramic radiography, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and summarized doses by dosimetry method, machine model, patient age, and technical parameters. Mean effective doses delivered by intraoral, 1.32 (0.60–2.56) μSv, and panoramic, 17.93 (3.47–75.00) μSv, procedures were found to be about1% and 15% of that delivered by CBCT, 121.09 (17.10–392.20) μSv, respectively. In CBCT imaging, child phantoms received about 29% more effective dose than the adult phantoms received. The effective dose of a large field of view (FOV) (>150 cm2) was about 1.6 times greater than that of a small FOV (<50 cm2). The maximum CBCT effective dose with a large FOV for children, 392.2 μSv, was about 13% of theeffective dose that a person receives on average every year from natural radiation, 3110 μSv. Monte Carlo simulations of representative cases of the three dental imaging procedures were then conducted to estimate and visualize the dose distribution within the head. The user-friendly interactive web application (available at http://dentaldose.org) receives user input, such as the number of intraoral radiographs taken, and displays total organ and effective doses, dose distribution maps, and a comparison with other medical and natural sources of radiation. The web dose calculator provides a practical resource for patients interested in understanding the radiation doses delivered by dental imaging procedures.
The Clinical Significance and Potential Molecular Mechanism of Upregulated CDC28 Protein Kinase Regulatory Subunit 1B in Osteosarcoma
Authors: Mo Chaohua , Xie Le , Chen Chang , Ma Jie , Huang Yingxin , Wu Yanxing , Xu Yuanyuan , Peng Huizhi , Chen Zengwei , Mao Rongjun
Published: December 2021

Background. CDC28 Protein Kinase Regulatory Subunit 1B (CKS1B) is a member of cyclin-dependent kinase subfamily and the relationship between CKS1B and osteosarcoma (OS) remains to be explored. Methods. 80 OS and 41 nontumor tissue samples were arranged to conduct immunohistochemistry (IHC) to evaluate CKS1B expression between OS and nontumor samples. The standard mean deviation (SMD) was calculated based on in-house IHC and tissue microarrays and exterior high-throughput datasets for further verification of CKS1B expression in OS. The effect of CKS1B expression on clinicopathological and overall survival of OS patients was measured through public high-throughput datasets, and analysis of immune infiltration and single-cell RNA-seq was applied to ascertain molecular mechanism of CKS1B in OS. Results. A total of 197 OS samples and 83 nontumor samples (including tissue and cell line) were obtained from in-house IHC, microarrays, and exterior high-throughput datasets. The analysis of integrated expression status demonstrated upregulation of CKS1B in OS (SMD = 1.38, 95% CI [0.52–2.25]) and the significant power of CKS1B expression in distinguishing OS samples from nontumor samples (Area under the Curve (AUC) = 0.89, 95% CI [0.86–0.91]). Clinicopathological and prognosis analysis indicated no remarkable significance but inference of immune infiltration and single-cell RNA-seq prompted that OS patients with overexpressed CKS1B were more likely to suffer OS metastasis while MYC Protooncogene may be the upstream regulon of CKS1B in proliferating osteoblastic OS cells. Conclusions. In this study, sufficient evidence was provided for upregulation of CKS1B in OS. The advanced effect of CKS1B on OS progression indicates a foreground of CKS1B as a biomarker for OS.
Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Misuse: Mechanisms, Patterns of Misuse, User Typology, and Adverse Effects
Authors: Ding Jack B. , Ng Marcus Z. , Huang Steven S. , Ding Mark , Hu Kevin
Published: December 2021

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) encompass a broad group of natural and synthetic androgens. AAS misuse is highly prevalent on a global scale, with the lifetime prevalence of AAS misuse in males being estimated to be around 6%, with 15 to 25% of male gym attendees using it at any one time. AAS are associated with sudden cardiac death, neuropsychiatric manifestations, and infertility. The average AAS user is unlikely to voluntarily declare their usage to a physician, with around 1 in 10 actively engaging in unsafe injection techniques. The aim of this paper is to review the current evidence base on AAS with emphasis on mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and user profiles that are most likely to engage in AAS misuse. This paper also reviews terminologies and uses methods specific to the AAS user community.
Research on Modeling and Dynamic Characteristics of Complex Biological Neural Network Model considering BP Neural Network Method
Authors: Chen Hongyan
Published: December 2021

Biological neural network system is a complex nonlinear dynamic system, and research on its dynamics is an important topic at home and abroad. This paper briefly introduces the dynamic characteristics and influencing factors of the neural network system, including the effects of time delay and noise on neural network synchronization, synchronous transition, and stochastic resonance, and introduces the modeling of the neural network system. There are irregular mixing problems in the complex biological neural network system. The BP neural network algorithm can be used to solve more complex dynamic behaviors and can optimize the global search. In order to ensure that the neural network increases the biological characteristics, this paper adjusts the parameters of the BP neural network to receive EEG signals in different states. It can simulate different frequencies and types of brain waves, and it can also carry out a variety of simulations during the operation of the system. Finally, the experimental analysis shows that the complex biological neural network model proposed in this paper has good dynamic characteristics, and the application of this algorithm to data information processing, data encryption, and many other aspects has a bright prospect.
Uncovering Cybercrimes in Social Media through Natural Language Processing
Authors: Ramírez Sánchez Julián , Campo-Archbold Alejandra , Zapata Rozo Andrés , Díaz-López Daniel , Pastor-Galindo Javier , Gómez Mármol Félix , Aponte Díaz Julián
Published: December 2021

Among the myriad of applications of natural language processing (NLP), assisting law enforcement agencies (LEA) in detecting and preventing cybercrimes is one of the most recent and promising ones. The promotion of violence or hate by digital means is considered a cybercrime as it leverages the cyberspace to support illegal activities in the real world. The paper at hand proposes a solution that uses neural network (NN) based NLP to monitor suspicious activities in social networks allowing us to identify and prevent related cybercrimes. An LEA can find similar posts grouped in clusters, then determine their level of polarity, and identify a subset of user accounts that promote violent activities to be reviewed extensively as part of an effort to prevent crimes and specifically hostile social manipulation (HSM). Different experiments were also conducted to prove the feasibility of the proposal.
[Retracted] lncRNA FGD5‐AS1 and miR‐130a Can Be Used for Prognosis Analysis of Patients with Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Yu Miao , Chi Chunyuan
Published: December 2021

Background. lncRNA and microRNA affect the occurrence and development of many diseases, so they are expected to become diagnostic or predictive indicators. But the relationship between lncRNA FGD5‐AS1 and miR‐130a and the prognosis of chronic periodontitis is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the prognostic value of the two in chronic periodontitis. Objective. This study set out to investigate the prognostic value of lncRNA FGD5‐AS1 and miR‐130a in chronic periodontitis. Methods. Eighty‐seven patients with chronic periodontitis who visited our hospital from March 2016 to August 2017 were collected as an observation group (OG), and 72 subjects with periodontal health who underwent physical examination at the same time were collected as a control group (CG). The FGD5‐AS1 and miR‐130a expression levels of subjects in the two groups were compared, and prognosis of 87 patients who were reviewed one year later was counted. The expression levels of patients with different prognoses were compared when they were admitted to our hospital. We drew the ROC curve and explored the prognostic value of FGD5‐AS1 and miR‐130a. The risk factors for adverse prognosis were analyzed through logistic regression. Results. FGD5‐AS1 was lowly expressed in patients, while miR‐130a was highly expressed. FGD5‐AS1 and miR‐130a had certain diagnostic and predictive value in chronic periodontitis and patient prognosis. The higher the periodontal pocket, the higher the attachment loss. Lower FGD5‐AS1 and higher miR‐130a levels were independent prognostic risk factors. Conclusion. lncRNA FGD5‐AS1 is lowly expressed in patients with chronic periodontitis, while miR‐130a is highly expressed. Both of them have certain diagnostic and prognostic value in chronic periodontitis and may be potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators.
Small Pilot Tunnel Advance and Step Reverse Expansion in Super‐Large‐Section Tunnel Excavation
Authors: Sun Bole , Tang Xiaorong , He Yongyi , Wang Mingnian
Published: December 2021

Collapse of the vault and numerous other safety accidents often occur during the construction process of large‐section tunnels. The utilization of a small pilot tunnel and a step reverse expansion construction methodology is proposed based on conventional construction methods to explore safe construction technology. First, a theoretical analysis combined with on‐site monitoring parameters was conducted. It showed that the maximum displacement of the tunnel surrounding rock was 0.027 m during the elastic stage and increased to 0.031 m during the strength limit stage. The overall surrounding rock deformation does not have a noticeable impact on tunnel safety. A numerical simulation model of the small pilot tunnel advancement and step reverse expansion method was established. Simulation results showed that the first two excavation steps caused 89.6% of the total overlining strata subsidence, and the use of a small pilot tunnel advancement and step reverse expansion method can enhance the tunnel support. The tunnel surrounding rock was adequately stabilized after using this excavation method and provides the in‐situ conditions for expanding the pilot tunnel to the large‐section tunnel. The proposed method was adopted in an actual engineering project. It protected the subsequent construction of the main tunnel and decreased construction time, saving construction costs while ensuring safety, reducing construction risks, and improving production efficiency. This research can guide similar tunneling projects.
Preparation and Characterization of Pt-Doped Bi2MoO6 Nanocomposites and Its High PDT Efficiency on HL60 Cells
Authors: Xiao Mucang , Li Miaomiao , Lun Yongkun , Pan Qilin , Ai Baoquan , Xiong Jianwen
Published: December 2021

In this study, Pt-doped Bi2MoO6 nanocomposites were prepared by solvothermal and in situ reduction method. We used XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, EDS, and XPS to characterize its chemical properties. Results showed that the Pt-doped Bi2MoO6 nanocomposites had advantages of small size, good dispersion, and wide spectral response range. Then, we tested its biological toxicity and PDT efficiency on HL60 cells. Both pure Bi2MoO6 and Pt-doped Bi2MoO6 nanocomposites showed great biocompatibility after coincubated with leukemia cells for 12 h in the dark. As to PDT efficiency, Pt-doped Bi2MoO6 had a better-inactivated effect than pure Bi2MoO6. Furthermore, the PDT efficiency went up when atomic ratios and concentration increased. While the atomic ratio was 5% and the concentration was 1000 μg/mL, it reached the highest value at 85.2%. At last, we briefly analyzed the photocatalysis mechanism, which demonstrated that it was a potential photosensitizer with high efficiency for treating leukemia.