bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scene Matching Method for Children’s Psychological Distress Based on Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Su Junli
Published: February 2021

In the process of children’s psychological development, various levels of psychological distress often occur, such as attention problems, emotional problems, adaptation problems, language problems, and motor coordination problems; these problems have seriously affected children’s healthy growth. Scene matching in the treatment of psychological distress can prompt children to change from a third‐person perspective to a first‐person perspective and shorten the distance between scene contents and child’s perceptual experience. As a part of machine learning, deep learning can perform mapping transformations in huge data, process huge data with the help of complex models, and extract multilayer features of scene information. Based on the summary and analysis of previous research works, this paper expounded the research status and significance of the scene matching method for children’s psychological distress, elaborated the development background, current status, and future challenges of deep learning algorithm, introduced the methods and principles of depth spatiotemporal feature extraction algorithm and dynamic scene understanding algorithm, constructed a scene matching model for children’s psychological distress based on deep learning algorithm, analyzed the scene feature extraction and matching function construction of children’s psychological distress, proposed a scene matching method for children’s psychological distress based on deep learning algorithm, performed scene feature matching and information processing of children’s psychological distress, and finally conduced a simulation experiment and analyzed its results. The results show that the deep learning algorithm can have a deep and abstract mining on the characteristics of children’s psychological distress scenes and obtain a large amount of more representative characteristic information through training on large‐scale data, thereby improving the accuracy of classification and matching of children’s psychological distress scenes. The study results of this paper provide a reference for further researches on the scene matching method for children’s psychological distress based on deep learning algorithm.
A Fast Hybrid Strategy‐Based RFID Tag Identification Protocol
Authors: Wang Xinyan
Published: February 2021

Tag collision is one of the critical problems in radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology which can be widely used to identify objects using tag attachment automatically. Through the transmission and reflection of wireless radiofrequency signals, noncontact identification is realized. However, when multiple tags respond to the reader simultaneously, a collision occurs, significantly degrading the identification performance of RFID systems. To tackle the tag collisions, we propose a fast hybrid strategy‐based RFID anticollision (FHS‐RAC) protocol. Based on the conventional query tree algorithm, the proposed FHS‐RAC makes full use of collision bits and the total response bits to achieve the faster tag identification. Extensive simulations and experiments verify the feasibility and effectiveness of our proposed scheme.
Imaging Hyperreflective Foci as an Inflammatory Biomarker after Anti‐VEGF Treatment in Neovascular Age‐Related Macular Degeneration Patients with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Wu Jing , Zhang Chaoyang , Yang Qian , Xie Hai , Zhang Jingting , Qiu Qinghua , Liu Kun , Luo Dawei , Liu Fang , Zhang Jingfa
Published: February 2021

Purpose. To investigate the hyperreflective foci (HRF) as an inflammatory biomarker using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) patients after antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti‐VEGF) treatment and its association with the retinal microcapillary density. Methods. Twenty‐five eyes from 25 patients with neovascular AMD were included in the study. All eyes were imaged with OCTA at baseline (M0) and after 3 consecutive injections (M3; injection performed each month) of anti‐VEGF. The number of HRF in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and outer retina was counted. The vascular density of the fovea, parafovea, and the whole macula, as well as the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), was measured. Results. The mean interval between baseline and follow‐up with OCTA was 93.08 ± 5.00 (range, 85‐101) days. Compared with the baseline, the number of HRF significantly decreased in DCP (7.52 ± 3.06 vs. 3.76 ± 1.48, P < 0.01) and outer retina (12.04 ± 4.91 vs. 5.88 ± 3.32, P < 0.01) after treatment. There was no significant difference for HRF number in the SCP, the vascular density (containing foveal, parafoveal, and whole macular), and FAZ area before and after treatments. Conclusion. The number of HRF in DCP and outer retina might serve as an inflammatory biomarker in patients with neovascular AMD. The reduced HRF possibly represents the alleviation of inflammation after anti‐VEGF treatment in patients with AMD.
Active Ageing across the Life Course: Towards a Comprehensive Approach to Prevention
Authors: Foster Liam , Walker Alan
Published: February 2021

“Active ageing” has become the leading scientific and policy conceptualization of a later life over the past two decades in the European Union (EU). It has been used as a key strategy for responding to demographic ageing. In the United States, in contrast, discourses around successful ageing have been more prevalent. This review article charts the development of active ageing responses to demographic change, showing how the concept compares with the notion of successful ageing and other terms associated with “ageing well.” It identifies how, in practice, active ageing has been dominated by a narrow economic or productivist interpretation that prioritizes the extension of working life (to reduce the “burden” of population ageing). Such interpretations of active ageing undermine its value and emphasize the need for a more comprehensive approach which is set out. The development of the Active Ageing Index in 2012 provided a new analytical tool to promote evidence‐based strategies towards population ageing. However, in practice, we show how it has not yet engaged fully with a comprehensive approach to active ageing or with the critical role of the life course in shaping the experience of old age. Nonetheless, this review article shows that the concept of active ageing still has an important role to play in our understanding of and responses to population ageing.
Study on the Loess Immersion Test of Metro Line 2 in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
Authors: Xu Yuanjun , Wang Jiading , Gu Tianfeng , Zhang Dengfei , Ma Weiqian
Published: February 2021

With the implementation of China’s western development and “One Belt, One Road” initiative, there are more and more projects in the collapsibility loess area, and the collapsibility loess problem encountered in the construction is becoming more and more prominent. In this paper, the collapsibility loess of the south extension section of Xi’an Metro Line 2 is investigated, and its collapsibility characteristics are studied through a large‐scale site immersion test. The test site was a 15 m diameter circular test pit, which took 35 days for water injection and 60 days for observation after water stopped. The test results showed that the maximum self‐weight collapsibility of the soil layer in the test pit is 32 mm, and the deformation amount is 10.05 mm in Q3 and 9.55 mm in Q2. The maximum deformation amount of 32 mm is less than 70 mm in the shallow marker; it may be caused by the paleosol layer as a bridge to provide a support to the overlying soil layer. The shape of the sphere of influence after immersion resembles a trumpet, slightly protruding outwards from the paleosol. The scope of influence between the infiltrated and saturated zones gradually increases with depth, and the saturated zone is generally smaller than the infiltrated zone. The research results of this paper can provide technical support and reference for the construction of Xi’an Metro Line 2 and other related projects in the region.
Performance Analysis of Wireless Location and Velocity Tracking of Digital Broadcast Signals Based on Extended Kalman Filter Algorithm
Authors: Hao Yukai , Qiu Xin
Published: February 2021

In order to improve the accuracy and reliability of wireless location in NLOS environment, a wireless location algorithm based on artificial neural network (ANN) is proposed for NLOS positioning error caused by non‐line‐of‐sight (NLOS) propagation, such as occlusion and signal reflection. The mapping relationship between TOA and TDOA measurement data and coordinates is established. The connection weights of neural network are estimated as the state variables of nonlinear dynamic system. The multilayer perceptron network is trained by the real‐time neural network training algorithm based on extended Kalman (EKF). Combined with the statistical characteristics of NLOS error, the state component NLOS bias estimation is modified to realize TDOA data reconstruction. Simulation and experimental data analysis show that the algorithm can effectively weaken the influence of NLOS error. The localization method does not depend on the specific NLOS error distribution, nor does it need LOS and NLOS recognition. It can significantly improve the mobile positioning accuracy.
A Transaction Trade‐Off Utility Function Approach for Predicting the End‐Price of Online Auctions in IoT
Authors: Li Xiaohui , Dong Hongbin
Published: February 2021

To stimulate large‐scale users to participate in the big data construction of IoT (internet of things), auction mechanisms based on game theory are used to select participants and calculate the corresponding reward in the process of crowdsensing data collection from IoT. In online auctions, bidders bid many times and increase their bid price. All the bidders want to maximize their utility in auctions. An effective incentive mechanism can maximize social welfare in online auctions. It is complicated for auction platforms to calculate social welfare and the utility of each bidder’s bidding items in online auctions. In this paper, a transaction trade‐off utility incentive mechanism is introduced. Based on the transaction trade‐off utility incentive mechanism, it can make the forecasting process consistent with bidding behaviors. Furthermore, an end‐price dynamic forecasting agent is proposed for predicting end prices of online auctions. The agent develops a novel trade‐off methodology for classifying online auctions by using the transaction trade‐off utility function to measure the distance of auction items in KNN. Then, it predicts the end prices of online auctions by regression. The experimental results demonstrate that an online auction process considering the transaction utility is more consistent with the behaviors of bidders, and the proposed prediction algorithm can obtain higher prediction accuracy.
Indoor Detection and Tracking of People Using mmWave Sensor
Authors: Huang Xu , Cheena Hasnain , Thomas Abin , Tsoi Joseph K. P.
Published: February 2021

This paper proposes a new indoor people detection and tracking system using a millimeter‐wave (mmWave) radar sensor. Firstly, a systematic approach for people detection and tracking is presented—a static clutter removal algorithm used for removing mmWave radar data’s static points. Two efficient clustering algorithms are used to cluster and identify people in a scene. The recursive Kalman filter tracking algorithm with data association is used to track multiple people simultaneously. Secondly, a fast indoor people detection and tracking system is designed based on our proposed algorithms. The method is lightweight enough for scalability and portability, and we can execute it in real time on a Raspberry Pi 4. Finally, the proposed method is validated by comparing it with the Texas Instruments (TI) system. The proposed system’s experimental accuracy ranged from 98% (calculated by misclassification errors) for one person to 65% for five people. The average position errors at positions 1, 2, and 3 are 0.2992 meters, 0.3271 meters, and 0.3171 meters, respectively. In comparison, the Texas Instruments system had an experimental accuracy ranging from 96% for one person to 45% for five people. The average position errors at positions 1, 2, and 3 are 0.3283 meters, 0.3116 meters, and 0.3343 meters, respectively. The proposed method’s advantage is demonstrated in terms of tracking accuracy, computation time, and scalability.
Time‐Frequency Analysis and Application of a Vibration Signal of Tunnel Excavation Blasting Based on CEEMD‐MPE‐HT
Authors: Ma Chen-yang , Wu Li , Sun Miao , Yuan Qing
Published: February 2021

The traditional empirical mode decomposition method cannot accurately extract the time‐frequency characteristic parameters contained in the noisy seismic monitoring signals. In this paper, the time‐frequency analysis model of CEEMD‐MPE‐HT is established by introducing the multiscale permutation entropy (MPE), combining with the optimized empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD) and Hilbert transform (HT). The accuracy of the model is verified by the simulation signal mixed with noise. Based on the project of Loushan two‐to‐four in situ expansion tunnel, a CEEMD‐MPE‐HT model is used to extract and analyze the time‐frequency characteristic parameters of blasting seismic signals. The results show that the energy of the seismic wave signal is mainly concentrated in the frequency band above 100 Hz, while the natural vibration frequency of the adjacent existing tunnel is far less than this frequency band, and the excavation blasting of the tunnel will not cause the resonance of the adjacent existing tunnel.
On ISRC Rumor Spreading Model for Scale‐Free Networks with Self‐Purification Mechanism
Authors: Wang Zijun , Chen An
Published: February 2021

At present, the feasibility of using self‐purification mechanism to inhibit rumor spreading has been confirmed by studies from different perspectives. This paper improves the classical rumor spreading models with self‐purification mechanism, analyzes the correlation between spreading threshold in the model and its self‐purification level theoretically, and conducts numerical simulations to study the impact of the changes of model parameters on key indicators in the process of rumor spreading. The simulation results show that changes of model parameters, including self‐purification level and forgetting rate, exert significant influences on rumor spreading exactly.
Painlevé Analysis, Soliton Molecule, and Lump Solution of the Higher-Order Boussinesq Equation
Authors: Ren Bo
Published: February 2021

The Painlevé integrability of the higher-order Boussinesq equation is proved by using the standard Weiss-Tabor-Carnevale (WTC) method. The multisoliton solutions of the higher-order Boussinesq equation are obtained by introducing dependent variable transformation. The soliton molecule and asymmetric soliton of the higher-order Boussinesq equation can be constructed by the velocity resonance mechanism. Lump solution can be derived by solving the bilinear form of the higher-order Boussinesq equation. By some detailed calculations, the lump wave of the higher-order Boussinesq equation is just the bright form. These types of the localized excitations are exhibited by selecting suitable parameters.
Markdown Time for Perishables Based on Dynamic Quality Evaluation for Complex Data Analysis
Authors: Wang Jiang-Tao , Yu Jian-Jun , Yuan Yu-Hsi , Tsai Sang-Bing , Zhang Shu-Fen
Published: February 2021

Perishables’ freshness is a dynamic state, which can be captured by statistical big data based on advanced product identification and sensory technologies. A time‐based markdown strategy model is proposed to consider the markdown strategy in maximizing performance. The results showed that demand uncertainty would force them to implement a markdown strategy in advance, merchants’ profit and initial inventory are sensitive to the uncertainty and deterioration rate of perishable quality, and markdown time has a regulatory effect on initial inventory.
Long Noncoding RNA LINC00526 Represses Glioma Progression via Regulating miR-5581-3p/BEX1
Authors: Yan Jian , Li Youping , Xu Chunhua , Tang Bin , Xie Shenhao , Hong Tao , Zeng Erming
Published: February 2021

The roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating glioma progression have been widely recognized in recent years. This work was to investigate the roles and associated mechanisms of LINC00526 in glioma progression. LINC00526 expression in glioma tissues and cells and their normal counterparts was measured with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Functions of LINC00526 in glioma were investigated with in vitro experiments. Moreover, competitive RNA (ceRNA) theory was employed to understand mechanisms of action of LINC00526 in glioma. LINC00526 was found to be decreased in glioma tissues and cell lines compared with their normal counterparts. Silencing the expression of LINC00526 promotes, while forcing its expression, inhibits glioma cell growth and invasion. Mechanism analyses showed LINC00526 functions as a sponge for microRNA-5581-3p (miR-5581-3p) to regulate brain-expressed X-linked 1 (BEX1) expression and, in the end, affects glioma progression. Collectively, our study indicated LINC00526 serves as a tumor-suppressive lncRNA and directly regulates miR-5581-3p/BEX1 axis in glioma.
A New Robust Adaptive Fusion Method for Double‐Modality Medical Image PET/CT
Authors: Zhou Tao , Lu Huiling , Hu Fuyuan , Shi Hongbin , Qiu Shi , Wang Huiqun
Published: February 2021

A new robust adaptive fusion method for double‐modality medical image PET/CT is proposed according to the Piella framework. The algorithm consists of the following three steps. Firstly, the registered PET and CT images are decomposed using the nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT). Secondly, in order to highlight the lesions of the low‐frequency image, low‐frequency components are fused by pulse‐coupled neural network (PCNN) that has a higher sensitivity to featured area with low intensities. With regard to high‐frequency subbands, the Gauss random matrix is used for compression measurements, histogram distance between the every two corresponding subblocks of high coefficient is employed as match measure, and regional energy is used as activity measure. The fusion factor d is then calculated by using the match measure and the activity measure. The high‐frequency measurement value is fused according to the fusion factor, and high‐frequency fusion image is reconstructed by using the orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm of the high‐frequency measurement after fusion. Thirdly, the final image is acquired through the NSCT inverse transformation of the low‐frequency fusion image and the reconstructed high‐frequency fusion image. To validate the proposed algorithm, four comparative experiments were performed: comparative experiment with other image fusion algorithms, comparison of different activity measures, different match measures, and PET/CT fusion results of lung cancer (20 groups). The experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm could better retain and show the lesion information, and is superior to other fusion algorithms based on both the subjective and objective evaluations.
Logisticschain: A Blockchain-Based Secure Storage Scheme for Logistics Data
Authors: Li Hongzhi , Han Dezhi , Tang Mingdong
Published: February 2021

With the rapid development of information technology, logistics systems are developing towards intelligence. The Internet of Things (IoT) devices throughout the logistics network could provide strong support for smart logistics. However, due to the limited computing and storage resources of IoT devices, logistics data with user sensitive information are generally stored in a centralized cloud center, which could easily cause privacy leakage. In this paper, we propose Logisticschain, a blockchain-based secure storage scheme for logistics data. In this scheme, the sensing data from IoT devices should be encrypted for fine-grained access control, and a customized blockchain structure is proposed to improve the storage efficiency of systems. Also, an efficient consensus mechanism is introduced to improve the efficiency of the consensus process in the blockchain. Specific to the logistics process, the sensing data generated from IoT devices will be encrypted and aggregated into the blockchain to ensure data security. Moreover, the stored logistics records can be securely audited by leveraging the blockchain network; both IoT data and logistics demands cannot be deleted or tampered to avoid disputes. Finally, we analyze the security and privacy properties of our Logisticschain and evaluate its performance in terms of computational costs by developing an experimental platform.
Ownership and Utilisation of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets in Tiko Health District, Southwest Region, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Fru Paulette Ngum , Cho Frederick Nchang , Tassang Andrew N. , Fru Celestina Neh , Fon Peter Nde , Ekobo Albert Same
Published: February 2021

Introduction. Malaria is and remains a serious health concern in Africa. In Cameroon, where malaria is endemic and a major public health problem, the major control measure put in place is the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). In the Tiko Health District (THD), the challenges have been to assess and to evaluate the ownership and utilisation of LLINs. This study sought to assess the ownership and utilisation rates of LLINs in the THD. Methodology. A cross-sectional survey involving 418 households was conducted in four health areas in the THD. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on LLIN ownership and utilisation as well as sociodemographic characteristics. Results. The ownership of at least one LLIN per household, coverage, and accessibility were, respectively, 89%, 56.2%, and 66.3%, while installing LLINs on all beds in the household, sleeping under LLINs the previous night (SULPN), and universal utilisation were 72%, 24.9%, and 14.1%, respectively. Factors significantly associated with the ownership of at least one LLIN per household were respondent’s age and gender. Heat (21.1%) and forgetfulness (6.5%) were the main reasons postulated for irregular utilisation of LLINs. Conclusion. The ownership LLINs failed to guarantee utilisation and definitely effective control of malaria in the THD, as expected. Continuous and appropriate use of LLINs is indispensable, in addition to periodic sanitation, booster campaigns of LLIN distribution, and evaluation research for effective prevention and control of malaria.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of miR‐192 in Different Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Wang Lili , Liu Yuhan , Lyu Chen , Buchner Alexander , Pohla Heike
Published: February 2021

Introduction. It has been shown that miR‐192 is abnormally expressed in a variety of cancer types and participates in different kinds of signaling pathways. The role of miR‐192 in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer has not been verified. This article is aimed at exploring the diagnostic and prognostic value of miR‐192 through a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods. A systematic search was performed through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases up to June 16, 2020. A total of 16 studies were enrolled in the meta‐analyses, of which 11 articles were used for diagnostic meta‐analysis and 5 articles were used for prognostic meta‐analysis. The values of sensitivity and specificity using miR‐192 expression as a diagnostic tool were pooled in the diagnostic meta‐analysis. The hazard ratios (HRs) of overall survival (OS) with 95 confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted from the studies, and pooled HRs were evaluated in the prognostic meta‐analysis. Eleven studies including 667 cancer patients and 514 controls met the eligibility criteria for the diagnostic meta‐analysis. Five studies including 166 patients with high miR‐192 expression and 236 patients with low miR‐192 expression met the eligibility criteria for the prognostic meta‐analysis. Results. The overall diagnostic accuracy was as follows: sensitivity 0.79 (95%CI = 0.75‐0.82), specificity 0.74 (95%CI = 0.64‐0.82), positive likelihood ratio 3.03 (95%CI = 2.11‐4.34), negative likelihood ratio 0.29 (95%CI = 0.23‐0.37), diagnostic odds ratio 10.50 (95%CI = 5.89‐18.73), and area under the curve ratio (AUC) 0.82 (95%CI = 0.78‐0.85). The overall prognostic analysis showed that high expression of miR‐192 in patients was associated with positive survival (HR = 0.62, 95%CI : 0.41‐0.93, p = 0.020). Conclusion. Our results revealed that miR‐192 was a potential biomarker with good sensitivity and specificity in cancers. Moreover, highly expressed miR‐192 predicted a good prognosis for patients.
Medical Cannabis for Chronic Noncancer Pain: A Systematic Review of Health Care Recommendations
Authors: Chang Yaping , Zhu Meng , Vannabouathong Christopher , Mundi Raman , Chou Roland S. , Bhandari Mohit
Published: February 2021

Purpose. Medical cannabis for patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) has been the focus of numerous health care recommendations. We conducted a systematic review to identify and summarize the currently available evidence-based recommendations. Methods. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane database of systematic reviews, and websites for clinical guidelines and recommendations. We summarized the type of the publications, developers, approach of health care recommendation development, year and country of publication, and conditions that were addressed. We categorized the direction and strength of each recommendation. Results. We identified 12 eligible publications. Publication years ranged from 2007 to 2019; four (33.3%) of them were published in 2018. Canada ranked first for the number of publications (n = 4, 33.3%). Most (n = 11, 92%) of the included recommendations were based on both a systematic review of the best evidence and expert consensus. All the included publications provided a recommendation supporting medical cannabis for CNCP in general and for the specific conditions of neuropathic pain, chronic pain in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and chronic abdominal pain, with detailed information sharing and comprehensive consideration of a patient’s own values and preferences. Conclusion. Clinicians can attend to the guidance currently offered, being aware that only weak recommendations are available for medical cannabis in patients with CNCP, as a third- or fourth-line therapy. Detailed discussions with patients regarding the benefits in reducing pain and potential adverse effects are required before its prescription.
Control of Chaotic Calcium Oscillations in Biological Cells
Authors: Ji Quanbao , Ye Min
Published: February 2021

The contribution of this present paper is to propose a method that combines a chemical Brusselator reaction‐diffusion system with a biological cell system via gap junction for controlling and visualizing the frequency and magnitude of chaotic intracellular calcium oscillations in two cell types, including nonexcitable cells and the glial cells. This produces a wide variety of oscillatory behaviors similar to those reported in numerous biological experiments. We particularly show that in the majority of chaos cases, the reactor to cell coupling can induce the generation of regular calcium oscillations as the coupling strength is varied. Together with the proposed method of coupled models, the regularity of these chaotic oscillations enables us to gain better understanding and extensive insights into the overall coupling dynamics.
Molecular Characterization of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Isolates from Outbreak Cases in Cattle from Sawena District of Bale Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
Authors: Leliso Shubisa Abera , Bari Fufa Dawo , Chibssa Tesfaye Rufael
Published: February 2021

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease caused by LSD virus and is one of the most economically significant transboundary and emerging diseases of cattle. LSD causes considerable economic losses due to emaciation, damage to hides, infertility, and loss of milk production. In Ethiopia, the disease is distributed almost in all regions and is regarded as one of the most economically important livestock diseases in the country. An outbreak investigation of the disease was monitored from October 2016 to April 2017 in southern pastoral areas of Bale Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. In December 2016, LSD outbreak occurred in Sawena district of Bale Zone, from which necessary biopsy samples were collected from actively infected animals for the purpose of virus isolation, and characterization using different molecular techniques at National Animal Health and Diagnostic Investigation Center (NAHDIC) of Sebeta, Ethiopia. In addition, clinical examination of infected and in-contact animals was carried out together with a questionnaire survey. Based on the clinical manifestations, LSD was recorded in 18% (94/522) of examined cattle, whereas biopsy samples from 20 clinically positive animals were collected for further laboratory process. The morbidity rate was higher in animals less than two years 28.97% (31/107) than other ages and showed a statistically significant difference with

P
<
0.05

. Female animals showed higher morbidity rate of 20.59% (76/369) than male animals (11.76%) (18/153) with a significant difference at

P
≤
0.003

. Mortality rate and case fatality were also significantly higher in young animals than other age groups. Viruses were isolated from both skin biopsies and nasal swabs on Vero cell line. From both skin biopsies and nasal swabs, the virus DNA was identified by amplifying the 172 bp DNA fragment using real-time and conventional PCR. Providing adequate diagnostic facilities, establishing strategic policies for effective control and eradication and awareness creations for communities for early identification or reporting were recommendations made to minimize economic losses of the disease.
On the Capacity of Full‐Duplex AF/DF Relay System with Energy Harvesting for Vehicle‐to‐Vehicle Communications
Authors: Nguyen Ba Cao , Le Xuan Hung , Nguyen Van Duan , Dung Le The
Published: February 2021

This paper studies the ergodic capacity (EC) of full‐duplex (FD) amplify‐and‐forward (AF) and decode‐and‐forward (DF) relay system with energy harvesting (EH) for vehicle‐to‐vehicle (V2V) communications. Unlike previous works on FD‐EH systems, we consider the case that both relay and destination are mobile vehicles while the source is a static base station. We mathematically derive the exact closed‐form expressions of ECs of both AF and DF protocols of the considered FD‐EH‐V2V relay system over cascade (double) Rayleigh fading. Our numerical results show that the ECs in the case of the V2V communication system are reduced compared to those in the case of stationary nodes. Also, with a specific value of residual self‐interference (RSI), the ECs of the considered FD‐EH‐V2V relay system can be higher or lower than those of half‐duplex‐ (HD‐) EH‐V2V system, depending on the average transmission power of the source. Furthermore, when the transmission power of the source and RSI are fixed, the ECs of the considered system can achieve peak values by using optimal EH time duration. On the other hand, the ECs of both AF and DF protocols reach the capacity floors in the high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) regime due to the RSI impact. Also, the effect of RSI dominates the impact of cascade Rayleigh fading in the high SNR regime. Finally, we validate our analysis approach through Monte‐Carlo simulations.
Moxibustion against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Premature Ovarian Failure in Rats through Inhibiting NLRP3-/Caspase-1-/GSDMD-Dependent Pyroptosis
Authors: Zhang Cai-rong , Zhu Wei-na , Tao Wei , Lin Wan-qi , Cheng Chang-cheng , Deng Han , Ni Guang-xia
Published: February 2021

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a clinical term used to describe a condition in which women present with amenorrhoea, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, and infertility under 40 years old, which are mainly characterized by ovarian granulosa cell inflammation and death. Pyroptosis is a proinflammatory form of programmed cell death. However, the roles of pyroptosis in POF and moxibustion (Mox) on pyroptosis in POF have not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of moxibustion against cyclophosphamide- (CP-) induced POF and to determine the underlying mechanisms. The results indicated that Mox could decrease the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteotropic hormone (LH) and increase estradiol (E2) in serum, which indicated that it could improve ovarian reserve capacity. Mox also ameliorated CP-induced ovarian injury accompanied by decreased levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18, and gasdermin D (GSDMD), which are key features of pyroptosis. Further investigation showed that Mox alleviated POF through NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis. On the one hand, Mox directly inhibited TXNIP/NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling-induced pyroptosis, and on the other hand, it indirectly decreased NLRP3, pro-IL-1β, and pro-IL-18 through inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling. Our results show that Mox might be a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of POF.
Gene Expression–Based Prediction of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Early Breast Cancer: Results of the Prospective Multicenter EXPRESSION Trial
Authors: Edlund Karolina , Madjar Katrin , Lebrecht Antje , Aktas Bahriye , Pilch Henryk , Hoffmann Gerald , Hofmann Manfred , Kolberg Hans-Christian , Boehm Daniel , Battista Marco , Seehase Martina , Stewen Kathrin , Gebhard Susanne , Cadenas Cristina , Marchan Rosemarie , Brenner Walburgis , Hasenburg Annette , Koelbl Heinz , Solbach Christine , Gehrmann Mathias , Tanner Berno , Weber Karsten E. , Loibl Sibylle , Sachinidis Agapios , Rahnenführer Jörg , Schmidt Marcus , Hengstler Jan G.
Published: February 2021

Purpose:

Expression-based classifiers to predict pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) are not routinely used in the clinic. We aimed to build and validate a classifier for pCR after NACT.

Patients and Methods:

We performed a prospective multicenter study (EXPRESSION) including 114 patients treated with anthracycline/taxane-based NACT. Pretreatment core needle biopsies from 91 patients were used for gene expression analysis and classifier construction, followed by validation in five external cohorts (n = 619).

Results:

A 20-gene classifier established in the EXPRESSION cohort using a Youden index–based cut-off point predicted pCR in the validation cohorts with an accuracy, AUC, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.811, 0.768, 0.829, 0.587, 0.216, and 0.962, respectively. Alternatively, aiming for a high NPV by defining the cut-off point for classification based on the complete responder with the lowest predicted probability of pCR in the EXPRESSION cohort led to an NPV of 0.960 upon external validation. With this extreme-low cut-off point, a recommendation to not treat with anthracycline/taxane-based NACT would be possible for 121 of 619 unselected patients (19.5%) and 112 of 322 patients with luminal breast cancer (34.8%). The analysis of the molecular subtypes showed that the identification of patients who do not achieve a pCR by the 20-gene classifier was particularly relevant in luminal breast cancer.

Conclusions:

The novel 20-gene classifier reliably identifies patients who do not achieve a pCR in about one third of luminal breast cancers in both the EXPRESSION and combined validation cohorts.
Safety, Antitumor Activity, and T-cell Responses in a Dose-Ranging Phase I Trial of the Oncolytic Peptide LTX-315 in Patients with Solid Tumors
Authors: Spicer James , Marabelle Aurélien , Baurain Jean-Francois , Jebsen Nina Louise , Jøssang Dag Erik , Awada Ahmad , Kristeleit Rebecca , Loirat Delphine , Lazaridis George , Jungels Christiane , Brunsvig Paal , Nicolaisen Berit , Saunders Andrew , Patel Hamina , Galon Jérôme , Hermitte Fabienne , Camilio Ketil André , Mauseth Brynjar , Sundvold Vibeke , Sveinbjørnsson Baldur , Rekdal Øystein
Published: February 2021

Purpose:

LTX-315 is a first-in-class, 9-mer membranolytic peptide that has shown potent immunomodulatory properties in preclinical models. We conducted a phase I dose-escalating study of intratumoral LTX-315 administration in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Patients and Methods:

Thirty-nine patients were enrolled, receiving LTX-315 injections into accessible tumors. The primary objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of this approach, with antitumor and immunomodulatory activity as secondary objectives. Tumor biopsies were collected at baseline and posttreatment for analysis of immunologic parameters.

Results:

The most common treatment-related grade 1–2 adverse events were vascular disorders including transient hypotension (18 patients, 46%), flushing (11 patients, 28%), and injection site reactions in 38% of patients. The most common grade 3 LTX-315–related toxicities were hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis (4 patients, 10%). Analysis of immune endpoints in serial biopsies indicated that LTX-315 induces necrosis and CD8+ T-cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. Sequencing of the T-cell receptor repertoire in peripheral blood identified significant expansion of T-cell clones after treatment, of which 49% were present in available tumor biopsies after treatment, suggesting that they were tumor associated. Substantial volume reduction (≥30%) of injected tumors occurred in 29% of the patients, and 86% (12/14 biopsies) had an increase in intralesional CD8+ T cells posttreatment. No partial responses by immune-related response criteria were seen, but evidence of abscopal effect was demonstrated following treatment with LTX-315.

Conclusions:

LTX-315 has an acceptable safety profile, is clinically active, induces changes in the tumor microenvironment and contributes to immune-mediated anticancer activity.
Targeting DNA Damage Repair Functions of Two Histone Deacetylases, HDAC8 and SIRT6, Sensitizes Acute Myeloid Leukemia to NAMPT Inhibition
Authors: Zhang Pu , Brinton Lindsey T. , Williams Katie , Sher Steven , Orwick Shelley , Tzung-Huei Lai , Mims Alice S. , Coss Christopher C. , Kulp Samuel K. , Youssef Youssef , Chan Wing Keung , Mitchell Shaneice , Mustonen Allison , Cannon Matthew , Phillips Hannah , Lehman Amy M. , Kauffman Tierney , Beaver Larry , Canfield Daniel , Grieselhuber Nicole R. , Alinari Lapo , Sampath Deepa , Yan Pearlly , Byrd John C. , Blachly James S. , Lapalombella Rosa
Published: February 2021

Purpose:

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibitors (NAMPTi) are currently in development, but may be limited as single-agent therapy due to compound-specific toxicity and cancer metabolic plasticity allowing resistance development. To potentially lower the doses of NAMPTis required for therapeutic benefit against acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we performed a genome-wide CRISPRi screen to identify rational disease-specific partners for a novel NAMPTi, KPT-9274.

Experimental Design:

Cell lines and primary cells were analyzed for cell viability, self-renewal, and responses at RNA and protein levels with loss-of-function approaches and pharmacologic treatments. In vivo efficacy of combination therapy was evaluated with a xenograft model.

Results:

We identified two histone deacetylases (HDAC), HDAC8 and SIRT6, whose knockout conferred synthetic lethality with KPT-9274 in AML. Furthermore, HDAC8-specific inhibitor, PCI-34051, or clinical class I HDAC inhibitor, AR-42, in combination with KPT-9274, synergistically decreased the survival of AML cells in a dose-dependent manner. AR-42/KPT-9274 cotreatment attenuated colony-forming potentials of patient cells while sparing healthy hematopoietic cells. Importantly, combined therapy demonstrated promising in vivo efficacy compared with KPT-9274 or AR-42 monotherapy. Mechanistically, genetic inhibition of SIRT6 potentiated the effect of KPT-9274 on PARP-1 suppression by abolishing mono-ADP ribosylation. AR-42/KPT-9274 cotreatment resulted in synergistic attenuation of homologous recombination and nonhomologous end joining pathways in cell lines and leukemia-initiating cells.

Conclusions:

Our findings provide evidence that HDAC8 inhibition- or shSIRT6-induced DNA repair deficiencies are potently synergistic with NAMPT targeting, with minimal toxicity toward normal cells, providing a rationale for a novel–novel combination-based treatment for AML.
A Novel Mouse Model of Radiation-Induced Cardiac Injury Reveals Biological and Radiological Biomarkers of Cardiac Dysfunction with Potential Clinical Relevance
Authors: Dreyfuss Alexandra D. , Goia Denisa , Shoniyozov Khayrullo , Shewale Swapnil V. , Velalopoulou Anastasia , Mazzoni Susan , Avgousti Harris , Metzler Scott D. , Bravo Paco E. , Feigenberg Steven J. , Ky Bonnie , Verginadis Ioannis I. , Koumenis Constantinos
Published: February 2021

Purpose:

Radiation-induced cardiotoxicity is a significant concern in thoracic oncology patients. However, the basis for this disease pathology is not well characterized. We developed a novel mouse model of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity to investigate pathophysiologic mechanisms and identify clinically targetable biomarkers of cardiac injury.

Experimental Design:

Single radiation doses of 20, 40, or 60 Gy were delivered to the cardiac apex of female C57BL/6 mice ages 9–11 weeks, with or without adjacent lung tissue, using conformal radiotherapy. Cardiac tissue was harvested up to 24 weeks post-radiotherapy for histologic analysis. Echocardiography and Technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) at 8 and 16 weeks post-radiotherapy were implemented to evaluate myocardial function and perfusion. Mouse cardiac tissue and mouse and human plasma were harvested for biochemical studies.

Results:

Histopathologically, radiotherapy resulted in perivascular fibrosis 8 and 24 (P < 0.05) weeks post-radiotherapy. Apical perfusion deficits on SPECT and systolic and diastolic dysfunction on echocardiography 8 and 16 weeks post-radiotherapy were also observed (P < 0.05). Irradiated cardiac tissue and plasma showed significant increases in placental growth factor (PlGF), IL6, and TNFα compared with nonradiated matched controls, with greater increases in cardiac cytokine levels when radiotherapy involved lung. Human plasma showed increased PlGF (P = 0.021) and TNFα (P = 0.036) levels after thoracic radiotherapy. PlGF levels demonstrated a strong correlation (r = 0.89, P = 0.0001) with mean heart dose.

Conclusions:

We developed and characterized a pathophysiologically relevant mouse model of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity involving in situ irradiation of the cardiac apex. The model can be used to integrate radiomic and biochemical markers of cardiotoxicity to inform early therapeutic intervention and human translational studies.
How Did We Get a COVID-19 Vaccine in Less Than 1 Year?
Authors: Wherry E. John , Jaffee Elizabeth M. , Warren Nicholas , D'Souza Gypsyamber , Ribas Antoni
Published: February 2021

The successful development of COVID-19 vaccines within an unprecedented short time needs to be followed by rapid vaccine uptake, in particular, in high-risk populations such as patients with cancer. It is important for the scientific research community and cancer physicians to convey the knowledge behind the COVID-19 vaccine development and contribute to build the required trust on their use.
Molecular Targeting of RRM2, NF-κB, and Mutant TP53 for the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Wilson Elizabeth A. , Sultana Nahid , Shah Khyati N. , Elford Howard L. , Faridi Jesika S.
Published: February 2021

Doxorubicin and other anthracycline derivatives are frequently used as part of the adjuvant chemotherapy regimen for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Although effective, doxorubicin is known for its off-target and toxic side effect profile, particularly with respect to the myocardium, often resulting in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and congestive heart failure when used at cumulative doses exceeding 400 mg/m2. Previously, we have observed that the ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2) is significantly overexpressed in estrogen receptor (ER)–negative cells as compared with ER-positive breast cancer cells. Here, we inhibited RRM2 in ER-negative breast cancer cells as a target for therapy in this difficult-to-treat population. We observed that through the use of didox, a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor, the reduction in RRM2 was accompanied by reduced NF-κB activity in vitro. When didox was used in combination with doxorubicin, we observed significant downregulation of NF-κB proteins accompanied by reduced TNBC cell proliferation. As well, we observed that protein levels of mutant p53 were significantly reduced by didox or combination therapy in vitro. Xenograft studies showed that combination therapy was found to be synergistic in vivo, resulting in a significantly reduced tumor volume as compared with doxorubicin monotherapy. In addition, the use of didox was also found to ameliorate the toxic myocardial effects of doxorubicin in vivo as measured by heart mass, LV diameter, and serum troponin T levels. The data present a novel and promising approach for the treatment of TNBC that merits further clinical evaluation in humans.
Atraumatic Restorative Treatment-Sealed versus Nonsealed First Permanent Molars: A 3-Year Split-Mouth Clinical Trial
Authors: Hesse Daniela , Guglielmi Camila de Almeida Brandão , Raggio Daniela Prócida , Bönecker Marcelo José Strazzeri , Mendes Fausto Medeiros , Bonifácio Clarissa Calil
Published: February 2021

To investigate the efficacy of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants vs. no sealant in preventing the development of dentine caries lesions in first permanent molars over a period of 3 years. A total of 187 schoolchildren (aged 6–8 years) from a low-income population presenting the 4 first permanent molars without clinically detectable dentine caries lesions were selected to be part of a split-mouth clinical trial. All 4 first permanent molars were investigated in this trial and the children’s mouth was split vertically into left and right sides; therefore, 2 molars were randomly allocated to receive ART sealants, while the other 2 molars remained nonsealed. All children received toothbrushing instructions and dietary advice every 6 months for a period of 3 years. Clinical evaluations were performed after 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months and both sealant retention and dental caries were scored. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank test, and Cox regression with shared frailty analysis were performed. A cavitated dentine caries lesion was considered a failure. The cumulative survival rates of dentine cavity-free first permanent molars were 90% for ART-sealed molars and 90.8% for nonsealed molars, with no statistically significantly difference between sealed and nonsealed molars (p = 0.70). The retention of sealants was not associated with the development of cavitated dentine caries and children presenting a higher baseline caries experience had greater chances of developing dentine lesions. In conclusion, the application of ART sealants was not more efficacious than nonsealing in reducing the development of dentine cavitated lesions in first permanent molars.