bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empagliflozin: Validation of Stability-Indicating LC Method and in silico Toxicity Studies
Authors: da Silva Andressa Tassinari , Brabo Gabriela Rossi , Porto Douglas dos Santos , da Silva Jonco Jaizor , Bajerski Lisiane , Paula Fávero Reisdorfer , Paim Clésio Soldateli
Published: December 2022

A new stability-indicating liquid chromatography method was developed for the quantification of empagliflozin and two synthetic impurities. The chromatographic conditions included Spherisorb® RP-18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with a PDA detector, using acetonitrile and formic acid (pH 4.0) as mobile phase in gradient elution and flow-rate of 1.2 mL·min−1. The gradient increasing from 51 to 100% acetonitrile until 11.00 min, followed by decreasing the solvent from 100% to the initial ratio from 11.01 to 15.00 min. The method was validated according to International Council of Harmonization guidelines. The LOD and LOQ values for impurities A and B were 35 and 15 ng·mL−1, respectively, (for LOD) and 115 and 35 ng.mL−1, respectively (for LOQ). The method was linear in the range of 80–140, 115–1150 and 35–350 ng·mL−1 for EMPA, impurities A and B, respectively, and the correlation coefficient were > 0.999 in all situations, indicating the method good linearity. The developed method showed a good recovery for empagliflozin and added impurities. The method has proven to be precise, demonstrated values less than 2.0% to empagliflozin and 5.0% to synthetic impurities, robust and selective with no interference from other products in the determination of analytes. The in silico toxicity prediction suggested that the impurities do not present any toxicity risk for the parameters evaluated.
The Capitulations Syndrome: Why Revisionist Powers Leverage Post-Colonial Sensibilities toward Post-Imperial Projects
Authors: Fisher-Onar Nora
Published: December 2022

This article confronts a puzzle regarding revisionist powers: How to make sense of states whose behavior combines “post-colonial” critique of Western hegemony with “post-imperial” projects at home and in near abroads? Answers to this question are often informed by realist notions of great power competition that tend to read revisionist critique of the West as either epiphenomenal or due to intrinsic enmity.

This piece proposes an alternative—the “capitulations syndrome”—which is developed via the Ottoman/Turkish experience and the literature on ontological insecurity. The syndrome combines “moral injury” at subordination to the West with attempts to elevate a state's status within Western-dominated international society. Anxieties produced by this paradox are managed via state narratives that celebrate select glories and traumas. This results in an exceptionalist sense of national “Self” that—when confronted—can lead to outrage at “Others” of the state story. The syndrome, I argue, both shapes broad imaginaries and is instrumentalized by policymakers. Thus, calls for global justice vis-à-vis Western hegemony can coexist with hegemonic projects nearer home.

Identifying a series of family resemblances with China and Iran, I conclude by underscoring the article's main contributions: (1) its empirical study of the (post-)Ottoman experience as a case of revisionist former empires, (2) its analytical tool—the capitulations syndrome—with which to read comparative patterns, and (3) its epistemological corrective to international relations’ blindspot regarding actors with both “post-colonial” and “post-imperial” features. This hybrid condition enables revisionist former empires to invoke post-colonial solidarities in pursuit of post-imperial projects.
Can modified Dunn radiographs be an alternative to standing AP pelvis radiographs in the evaluation of pincer femoroacetabular impingement?
Authors: Cici Hakan , Zeybek Hakan , Hapa Onur
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare modified Dunn radiographs with standing anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiographs in respect of the tilt ratio, lateral centre-edge angle (LCEA), crossover sign, crossover percentage and joint space width measurements. The study hypothesis was that modified Dunn radiographs could be an alternative method to standing AP pelvis images in the evaluation of pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). The study included 31 patients with a mean age of 42 years (range: 29–55 years) who had modified Dunn and standing AP pelvis radiographs taken in the radiological evaluation of non-traumatic hip pain between July 2018 and September 2022. Similar tilt ratio values were obtained on standing AP and modified Dunn images (P = 0.986). Joint space width showed a decrease in the transition from the modified Dunn position to the standing position, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.161). The mean LCEA was measured as 34° ± 4° in the standing position and as 35° ± 5° in the modified Dunn position. No statistically significant difference was determined in the number of patients with a crossover sign or the crossover percentage values in these patients (P > 0.05). The data obtained in this study showed that there was no significant difference between images taken in the standing and modified Dunn positions in respect of radiological findings of pelvic tilt and pincer-type FAI. The modified Dunn radiograph is equivalent to the standing AP pelvis radiograph for the evaluation of pincer FAI.
Focal myositis in the foot: one unique case in the plantar aspect
Authors: Alkhatib Mohammad , Alneasan Moaaz , Aji Widad
Published: December 2022

We present a case of an acquired deformity of the toes of a young patient with no previous pathologic or traumatic history. Later, it emerged that it was ‘Focal Myositis’ at the Flexor Digitorum Brevis muscle of the right foot. The clinical course of the case involved a hard painless mass at the muscle belly that increased in size very slowly over several years, causing flexion contracture of the third toe without an accompanying skin lesion.
A novel presentation of alcohol-induced gastric necrosis: a case report
Authors: Silvers Jason , Dixit Shaili , Tan Khea , Masia Rachel , Pratt Abimbola , Bulauitan Constantine , Arumugam Dena , Kipnis Seth
Published: December 2022

Acute gastric necrosis is a rare condition with unknown pathogenesis. Existing literature describes acute esophageal necrosis as a result of excessive alcohol use; however, it is more difficult to find literature on alcohol-induced gastric necrosis. This condition may present with epigastric tenderness, vomiting or diarrhea with findings of pneumoperitoneum, gastric pneumatosis and portal venous gas on computed tomography. These patients can have complications such as septic shock, peritonitis and death. In this case report, we discuss a patient with a history of alcohol abuse who presented with acute gastric necrosis. On endoscopy, this patient was found to have a black necrotic gastric fundus and unusual erythematous changes to the mucosa. Prior research has identified other findings of patchy or diffuse circumferential black pigmentation of esophageal mucosa in patients with alcohol-induced esophageal necrosis, otherwise known as black esophagus. This case report aims to describe this novel presentation of alcohol-induced gastric necrosis.
Inadequate sampling of the soundscape leads to overoptimistic estimates of recogniser performance: a case study of two sympatric macaw species
Authors: Lewis Thomas C. , Vargas Ignacio Gutiérrez , Beckerman Andrew P , Childs Dylan Z.
Published: December 2022

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) – the use of autonomous recording units to record ambient sound – offers the potential to dramatically increase the scale and robustness of species monitoring in rainforest ecosystems. PAM generates large volumes of data that require automated methods of target species detection. Species-specific recognisers, which often use supervised machine learning, can achieve this goal. However, they require a large training dataset of both target and non-target signals, which is time-consuming and challenging to create. Unfortunately, very little information about creating training datasets for supervised machine learning recognisers is available, especially for tropical ecosystems. Here we show an iterative approach to creating a training dataset that improved recogniser precision from 0.12 to 0.55. By sampling background noise using an initial small recogniser, we can address one of the significant challenges of training dataset creation in acoustically diverse environments. Our work demonstrates that recognisers will likely fail in real-world settings unless the training dataset size is large enough and sufficiently representative of the ambient soundscape. We outline a simple workflow that can provide users with an accessible way to create a species-specific PAM recogniser that addresses these issues for tropical rainforest environments. Our work provides important lessons for PAM practitioners wanting to develop species-specific recognisers for acoustically diverse ecosystems.
Novel lentiviral vectors for gene therapy of sickle cell disease combining gene addition and gene silencing strategies
Authors: Brusson Mégane , Chalumeau Anne , Martinucci Pierre , Romano Oriana , Poletti Valentina , Scaramuzza Samantha , Ramadier Sophie , Masson Cecile , Ferrari Giuliana , Mavilio Fulvio , Cavazzana Marina , Amendola Mario , Miccio Annarita
Published: December 2022

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is due to a mutation in the β-globin (HBB) gene causing the production of the toxic sickle hemoglobin (HbS, a2βS2). Transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) transduced with lentiviral vectors (LVs) expressing an anti-sickling β-globin (βAS) is a promising treatment; however, it is only partially effective and patients still present elevated HbS levels. Here, we developed a bifunctional LV expressing βAS3-globin and an artificial microRNA (amiR) specifically downregulating βS-globin expression with the aim of reducing HbS levels and favoring βAS3 incorporation into Hb tetramers. Efficient transduction of SCD HSPC by the bifunctional LV led to a substantial decrease of βS-globin transcripts in HSPC-derived erythroid cells, a significant reduction of HbS+red cells and effective correction of the sickling phenotype, outperforming βAS gene addition andBCL11Agene silencing strategies. The bifunctional LV showed a standard integration profile and neither the HSPC viability, engraftment and multi-lineage differentiation nor the erythroid transcriptome and miRNAome were affected by the treatment, confirming the safety of this therapeutic strategy. In conclusion, the combination of gene addition and gene silencing strategies can improve the efficacy of current LV-based therapeutic approaches without increasing the mutagenic vector load, thus representing a novel treatment for SCD.
StereoSiTE: A framework to spatially and quantitatively profile the cellular neighborhood organized iTME
Authors: Liu Xing , Qu Chi , Liu Chuandong , Zhu Na , Huang Huaqiang , Teng Fei , Huang Caili , Luo Bingying , Liu Xuanzhu , Xie Min , Xi Feng , Li Mei , Wu Liang , Li Yuxiang , Chen Ao , Xu Xun , Liao Sha , Zhang Jiajun
Published: December 2022

With emerging of Spatial Transcriptomics (ST) technology, a powerful algorithmic framework to quantitatively evaluate the active cell-cell interactions in the bio-function associated iTME unit will pave the ways to understand the mechanism underlying tumor biology. This study provides the StereoSiTE incorporating open source bioinformatics tools with the self-developed algorithm, SCII, to dissect a cellular neighborhood (CN) organized iTME based on cellular compositions, and to accurately infer the functional cell-cell communications with quantitatively defined interaction intensity in ST data. We applied StereoSiTE to deeply decode ST data of the xenograft models receiving immunoagonist. Results demonstrated that the neutrophils dominated CN5 might attribute to iTME remodeling after treatment. To be noted, SCII analyzed the spatially resolved interaction intensity inferring a neutrophil leading communication network which was proved to actively function by analysis of Transcriptional Factor Regulon and Protein-Protein Interaction. Altogether, StereoSiTE is a promising framework for ST data to spatially reveal tumoribiology mechanisms.
Sexism and the Far‐Right Vote: The Individual Dynamics of Gender Backlash
Authors: Anduiza Eva , Rico Guillem
Published: December 2022

This article contends that sexism plays a fundamental role in the electoral rise of the far right, both as a predisposition and as a changing attitude. Using panel data from Spain, we show that modern sexism is indeed among the most important attitudinal predictors of voting for the far‐right party Vox. The results also show that internal individual changes in levels of modern sexism impact far‐right voting. Backlash attitudinal change, defined as increases in sexism occurring in a context of feminist momentum, contributed significantly to the recent emergence of the radical right. Our findings indicate that sexism is not a crystalized attitude but rather susceptible to showing short‐term changes with important political consequences. This highlights the importance of understudied context‐dependent individual dynamics of gender backlash in far‐right voting.
Meta‐analysis: Use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of gastric cancer in patients requiring gastric acid suppression
Authors: Piovani Daniele , Tsantes Andreas G. , Schünemann Holger J. , Bonovas Stefanos
Published: December 2022

Background

Proton‐pump inhibitors (PPIs) are suspected to increase the risk of gastric cancer.

Aim

To assess the risk of gastric cancer associated with the use of PPIs.

Methods

We systematically searched Medline/PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases (until June 1, 2022) for randomised and non‐randomised studies (NRS) of the association between PPIs and gastric cancer having considered Histamine‐2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) users as controls. We chose this comparison to minimise confounding by indication, and focus on patients requiring gastric acid suppression. Two authors independently extracted study data and assessed each study's risk of bias. Maximally‐adjusted relative risk (RR) estimates were extracted. Heterogeneity and small‐study effect were examined, and summary estimates were calculated using random‐ and fixed‐effect models. Stratified analyses and meta‐regression were employed to explore heterogeneity. We used GRADE to evaluate the certainty of evidence.

Results

Of 8375 records, 12 NRS (>6 million patients; 11,554 gastric cancers) and two randomised clinical trials (498 patients; 1 gastric cancer) fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Randomised evidence was very imprecise and provided very‐low certainty evidence. Meta‐analysis of six NRS providing a comprehensive adjustment for confounding (2.5 million patients; 7372 gastric cancers) did not show any association between PPIs and gastric cancer (RRrandom = 1.07, 0.97–1.19; RRfixed = 1.05, 0.98–1.12). The certainty of the evidence was low. No convincing evidence of dose–response, or increased risk with long‐term use, was found. Lack of or minimal adjustment for confounding was associated with larger effect sizes.

Conclusions

We found no association between PPIs and gastric cancer in NRS having adequately controlled for confounding. Published studies may suffer residual confounding.

Systematic review registration: CRD42022335971.
Creative cognition: A multidisciplinary and integrative framework of creative thinking
Authors: Pinkow Felix
Published: December 2022

Extant research provides vast information on antecedents to creativity. However, creative thinking is oftentimes treated as a black box, requiring input and producing creative output. Cognitive processes occurring during creative thinking tend to be neglected, although they can provide a bridge between the inputs to creativity and the resulting outputs. Literature offers different perspectives on creative thinking processes, such as the separation of divergent and convergent thinking, different stages of creativity or the concept of creative cognition. This variety of concepts underlying creativity has led to confusion and misinterpretations of some concepts. Moreover, the overemphasis on creative outcomes and divergent thinking has resulted in a neglect of a more comprehensive view on cognitive dimensions of creativity. Through reviewing and synthesizing multidisciplinary literature on creativity, an integrative framework is developed positioning cognitive elements of creativity within a system including organizational antecedents to creativity and creative outcomes. The framework seeks to offer pathways to increasingly incorporate the concept of creative cognition into future research. Suggesting different forms of creative cognition that individuals engage in during creative thought, this theoretical work further offers a theoretical development of creativity concepts that intends to inspire future research designs and facilitates cross‐disciplinary knowledge transfer.
A preliminary study of changes in carotid artery elasticity in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Jin Chun‐xiang , Tian Jing , Yang Hui‐hui , He Yu
Published: December 2022

Background

Carotid stiffening is found to be present in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) together with endothelial dysfunction and it remains unclear about the role of carotid elasticity in the development of diabetic vascular damage. The aim of the study was to investigate changes and significance of carotid artery elasticity in diabetic patients with or without microvascular complications using velocity vector imaging (VVI) analysis.

Methods

Fifty participants were enrolled and divided into health Control group, the uncomplicated DM (uDM) group and the complicated DM (cDM) group. All of them underwent carotid ultrasound examinations. VVI was used to evaluate the common carotid artery (CCA) elasticity and intima‐media thickness (IMT) was also measured. Flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) was performed to detect the vascular endothelial function. Then differences and correlations of variables between three groups were compared and analyzed.

Results

CCA elasticity measured by VVI decreased significantly between three groups (p < 0.05), while FMD decreased significantly only in cDM group (p < 0.01) and only IMT in cDM group was significantly thicker than that of Control group (p < 0.05). Representative VVI variables were independently, negatively related to the known duration and microalbuminuria (p < 0.05). All VVI variables were significantly correlated with FMD (0.5 ≤ |r | <0.8, p < 0.001), and just a small part of VVI variables were significantly correlated with IMT (0.3 ≤ |r | <0.5, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Compared with FMD, CCA elasticity measured by VVI showed more obvious changes in diabetic patients with different levels of vascular damage and may be considered as an alternative indicator in evaluating arterial status of T2DM.
Are protocol graft biopsies after pediatric liver transplantation useful? Experience in a single center over 20 years
Authors: Wischlen Emma , Boillot Olivier , Rivet Christine , Lachaux Alain , Bouvier Raymonde , Hervieu Valérie , Scoazec Jean‐Yves , Collardeau‐Frachon Sophie , Dumortier Jérôme , Laverdure Noémie
Published: December 2022

Background

The role of protocol liver biopsies (PLB) in the follow‐up of pediatric liver transplant recipients remains questionable. This single‐center retrospective study aimed to evaluate their clinical impact on the long‐term management of pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Methods

We described histopathological lesions and clinical consequences for patient management of PLB performed 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years after pediatric liver transplantation (LT).

Results

A total of 351 PLB performed on 133 patients between 1992 and 2021 were reviewed. PLB found signs of rejection in 21.7% of cases (76/351), and moderate to severe fibrosis in 26.5% of cases (93/351). Overall, 264 PLB (75.2%) did not cause any changes to patient care. Immunosuppression was enhanced after 63 PLB, including 23 cases of occult rejection. The 1‐year PLB triggered significantly more changes, while biopsies at 15, 20, and 25 years produced the lowest rates of subsequent modifications. PLB had a significantly higher probability of inducing therapeutic changes if the patient had abnormal biological or imaging results (odds ratio [OR] 2.82 and 2.06), or a recent history of rejection or bacterial infection (OR 2.22 and 2.03).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that, although it often does not prompt any treatment changes, PLB could be performed because of its ability to detect silent rejection requiring an increase in immunosuppression. PLB could be carried out 1, 5, and 10 years after LT and then every 10 years in patients with normal biological and imaging results and no recent complications, while other patients could be kept on a 5‐year protocol.
Exploring the Benefits of Culturally Responsive Art Learning Experience for Rural Chinese Students
Authors: Luo Ning , Guan Tao
Published: December 2022

This ethnographic case study explored the benefits associated with culturally responsive art learning experience in a Chinese rural town in the process of urbanisation. The case of this study, Fuchong Art Education Programme (FAEP), provided culturally relevant art activities for primary and secondary rural students who cannot access enriched art programmes in schools. Art studio learning, a summer art camp, an art exhibition, neighbourhood sketching, online teaching, student home visits and teacher meetings were documented and examined over an eight‐month period of fieldwork. Semi‐structured interviews with the participating students, their teachers and parents and the programme coordinator were conducted to elicit the participants’ perspectives on the FAEP experience, the benefits of participation and the challenges involved in implementing a culturally responsive art programme. The emerging themes included artistic, personal, social and external benefits, which were examined in relation to previous research on the intrinsic and instrumental benefits of art learning and a local understanding of the value of community art engagement in the lives of rural people. The implications offer guidance for promoting culturally responsive art learning in rural settings.
New insights into the variability of upper airway morphology in modern humans
Authors: Maréchal Laura , Dumoncel Jean , Santos Frédéric , Astudillo Encina Williams , Evteev Andrej , Prevost Alice , Toro‐Ibacache Viviana , Venter Rudolph G. , Heuzé Yann
Published: December 2022

The biological adaptation of the human lineage to its environment is a recurring question in paleoanthropology. Particularly, how eco‐geographic factors (e.g., environmental temperature and humidity) have shaped upper airway morphology in hominins have been subject to continuing debate. Nasal shape is the result of many intertwined factors that include, but are not limited to, genetic drift, sexual selection, or adaptation to climate. A quantification of nasal airway (NA) morphological variation in modern human populations is crucial to better understand these multiple factors. In the present research, we study 195 in vivo CT scans of adult individuals collected in five different geographic areas (Chile, France, Cambodia, Russia, and South Africa). After segmentation of the nasal airway, we reconstruct 3D meshes that are analyzed with a landmark‐free geometric morphometrics method based on surface deformation. Our results highlight subtle but statistically significant morphological differences between our five samples. The two morphologically closest groups are France and Russia, whose NAs are longer and narrower, with an important protrusion of the supero‐anterior part. The Cambodian sample is the most morphologically distinct and clustered sample, with a mean NA that is wider and shorter. On the contrary, the Chilean sample form the most scattered cluster with the greatest intra‐population variation. The South African sample is morphologically close to the Cambodian sample, but also partially overlaps the French and Russian variation. Interestingly, we record no correlation between NA volume and geographic groups, which raises the question of climate‐related metabolic demands for oxygen consumption. The other factors of variation (sex and age) have no influence on the NA shape in our samples. However, NA volume varies significantly according both to sex and age: it is higher in males than in females and tends to increase with age. In contrast, we observe no effect of temperature or humidity on NA volume. Finally, we highlight the important influence of asymmetries related to nasal septum deviations in NA shape variation.
Canary seed, Phalaris canariensis, has higher nutritional value than giant kelp seaweed, Macrocystis pyrifera, as feed ingredient in diets for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Leyva Ranferi , Rodríguez‐González Hervey , Carrillo‐Domínguez Silvia , Ulloa José A. , Ramírez‐Ramírez José C. , Rosas‐Ulloa Petra , Bautista‐Rosales Pedro U. , Civera‐Cerecedo Roberto
Published: December 2022

Nonconventional feed ingredients for different aquatic species need to be tested to establish their nutritional value. Thus, this study assessed the use of canary seed (CS), Phalaris canariensis L., and giant kelp seaweed (KS), Macrocystis pyrifera, as ingredients for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L., feed. Two feeding trials were conducted: (1) Growth trial, where seven feeds were tested; a control diet (CD) and six CS/KS diets (100, 200, 300 g/kg). Fish fed CS/KS diets (100 and 200 g/kg) had similar weight gain to those fed CD, whereas CS/KS diets (300 g/kg) decreased growth performance (p < 0.05). The CS‐diet Economic Conversion Ratios and KS100 diet were similar to CD, while KS inclusion levels (200, 300 g/kg) decreased this parameter (p < 0.05). Dietary KS inclusion of 300 g/kg significantly decreased the profit index compared with CD and CS‐diets (p < 0.05, 2), digestibility trial, where nine feeds were evaluated: a reference diet (RD); six CS/KS diets (100, 200, 300 g/kg) to determine diet digestibility, and two CS/KS diets (300 g/kg) to determine ingredient digestibility. CS dry matter, protein, and lipid digestibility were higher than KS (p < 0.05). The results suggest that CS has higher nutritional value than KS for Nile tilapia.
Collaborations across Cinematic Objects
Authors: Browne Cynthia , Allan Diana , Kröger Merle , Scheffner Philipp , Mader Vera , Biet Marion , Frisorger Theodor , Polze Anna , Schade Julia
Published: December 2022

This conversation brings practitioners together from two different milieus of media production to initiate a dialogue about documentary practices as collaborative work, understood through a reflexive lens that also attends to the power relations and social differentiations inherent within its fabrication. As such, our conversation explores how filmmaking emerges through contingent and negotiated relations between filmmakers and film subjects, different representational modalities, the archive, (recording) technology and voice; the conversation also probes how the infrastructural conditions of collaborative work shape the ever‐shifting horizons of the documentary imagination. Mediated by members of the graduate research training group on Documentary Practices, based at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, it features Philip Scheffner and Merle Kröger from pong, a production platform housed in Berlin, Germany, in conversation with Professor Diana Allan, a colleague of the Sensory Ethnography Lab based at Harvard University, a co‐organizer of the new Critical Media Lab at McGill University, and a Canada Research Chair in the Anthropology of Living Archives.
Comparative Evaluation of Geological Heritage Landscapes in Dali-Cangshan Global Geopark
Authors: LI Zhang , DUAN Xiaodi
Published: December 2022

Cangshan Glacier is one of the southernmost mountains in the Northern Hemisphere (Asian Continent) during the last Quaternary glaciation, and is a standard area with well-preserved and abundant traces of Quaternary Dali glaciation. In this study, the geological heritage resources of Cangshan Mountain are evaluated in terms of condition indicator and value indicator. Through the determination of quantitative evaluation indicators and evaluation factor weights of geological heritage landscapes, the geological heritage resources of Cangshan Mountain are identified and classified. The results show that there are two world-class geological heritage landscapes, 14 national geological heritage landscapes, 54 provincial geological heritage landscapes and 55 geological relic landscapes below the provincial level in the park. Cangshan Mountain’s geological heritage resources are compared with glacial heritage resources, Quaternary glaciation resources and tectonic geomorphic heritage resources both at home and abroad, so as to form a complete evaluation of the geological heritage landscape resources of Cangshan Mountain.
Wavelet Estimation of Function Derivatives from a Multichannel Deconvolution Model
Authors: Guo Huijun , Li Shuzi
Published: December 2022

This paper considers a multichannel deconvolution model with Gaussian white noises. The goal is to estimate the

d

-th derivatives of an unknown function in the model. For super-smooth case, we construct an adaptive linear wavelet estimator by wavelet projection method. For regular-smooth case, we provide an adaptive nonlinear wavelet estimator by hard-thresholded method. In order to measure the global performances of our estimators, we show upper bounds on convergence rates using the

L

p

-risk (

1
≤
p
<
∞

).
Breast Cancer Classification from Mammogram Images Using Extreme Learning Machine-Based DenseNet121 Model
Authors: Pattanaik Raj Kumar , Mishra Satyasis , Siddique Mohammed , Gopikrishna Tiruveedula , Satapathy Sunita
Published: December 2022

Breast cancer is characterized by abnormal discontinuities in the lining cells of a woman’s milk duct. Large numbers of women die from breast cancer as a result of developing symptoms in the milk ducts. If the diagnosis is made early, the death rates can be decreased. For radiologists and physicians, manually analyzing mammography images for breast cancer become time-consuming. To prevent manual analysis and simplify the work of classification, this paper introduces a novel hybrid DenseNet121-based Extreme Learning Machine Model (ELM) for classifying breast cancer from mammogram images. The mammogram images were processed through preprocessing and data augmentation phase. The features were collected separately after the pooling and flatten layer at the first stage of the classification. Further, the features are fed as input to the proposed DenseNet121-ELM model’s fully connected layer as input. An extreme learning machine model has replaced the fully connected layer. The weights of the extreme learning machine have been updated by the AdaGrad optimization algorithm to increase the model’s robustness and performance. Due to its faster convergence speed than other optimization techniques, the AdaGrad algorithm optimization was chosen. In this research, the Digital Database for Screening Mammography (DDSM) dataset mammogram images were utilized, and the results are presented. We have considered the batch size of 32, 64, and 128 for the performance measure, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and computational time. The proposed DenseNet121+ELM model achieves 99.47% and 99.14% as training accuracy and testing accuracy for batch size 128. Also, it achieves specificity, sensitivity, and computational time of 99.37%, 99.94%, and 159.7731 minutes, respectively. Further, the comparison result of performance measures is presented for batch sizes 32, 64, and 128 to show the robustness of the proposed DenseNet121+ELM model. The automatic classification performance of the DenseNet121+ELM model has much potential to be applied to the clinical diagnosis of breast cancer.
Factors Associated with Commercial Sex Behavior among Male College Students Who Engaged in Temporary Heterosexual Behavior in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Yang Zhongrong , Chen Weiyong , Ma Qiaoqin , Zhou Xin , Chen Wanjun , Wang Hui , Jin Meihua , Jiang Tingting
Published: December 2022

Objective. This study explored the characteristics and associated factors of commercial sex behavior among male college students who engaged in temporary heterosexual behaviors in Zhejiang Province, China. Methods. The participants were male college students with temporary heterosexual behaviors. We developed an online questionnaire to collect information on demographic characteristics, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and HIV/AIDS interventions through stratified cluster sampling. Chi‐square (χ2) tests were performed for the different groups of participants. The occurrence of commercial sex behavior among participants was taken as the dependent variable, and logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with the participants’ commercial sex behavior. Results. This study investigated the temporary heterosexual behavior of 424 male college students. Among them were 112 students who reported commercial sex behavior (26.42%), whose average age was 20.25 ± 1.27 years, and whose household registration of Zhejiang Province accounted for 63.39%. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that acceptance of commercial sex behavior (Adjusted (a) OR = 3.53, 95% CI = 1.94~6.40) and feeling at risk of contracting HIV (aOR = 6.44, 95% CI = 2.98~13.94), seeking temporary sexual partners through the Internet (aOR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.27~5.25), consistently using condoms during sex (aOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.16~0.70), or using condoms sometimes/frequently during sex (aOR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.13~0.68) were independent factors associated with male college students with temporary heterosexual behavior engaging in commercial sex behavior. Conclusion. Open sexual attitudes, seeking temporary sexual partners through the Internet, high awareness of HIV infection risk, and low condom use are associated factors for male college students engaging in commercial sex behavior. For college students’ HIV/AIDS prevention and education interventions, it is necessary to strengthen the prevention of network influence, increase peer education, increase teacher participation in education, enhance college students’ risk awareness, advocate for the use of condoms, and promote HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
BYHW Decoction Improves Cognitive Impairments in Rats with Cerebral Microinfarcts via Activation of the PKA/CREB Pathway
Authors: Xue Bingjie , Ma Bo , Yao Yaoyao , Zhao Aimei , Gao Ying , Liu Jianxun
Published: December 2022

Cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) are characterized by sporadic obstruction of small vessels leading to neurons death. They are associated with increased risk of cognitive impairments and may have different risk factors compared with macroinfarcts. CMIs have a high incidence and result in heavy social burden; thus, it is essential to provide reasonable treatment in clinical practice. However, there are relatively few researches on the mechanism and treatment of CMIs, and the literature is composed almost exclusively of community—or hospital based on autopsy or imageological studies focusing on elderly patients. The Bu Yang Huan Wu (BYHW) decoction, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, has long been used to treat stroke and stroke-related diseases, including cognitive impairments. We applied microsphere-induced CMI model in rats to investigate the behavioral and molecular consequences of CMIs and to determine how they were ameliorated by BYHW decoction treatment. We then used the Morris water maze, quantitative proteomics, immunohistochemistry, and other molecular assays and found that activation of the PKA/CREB pathway by BYHW decoction treatment may reverse mitochondrial dysfunction, inhibit apoptosis of hippocampal neurons, and ameliorate CMI-induced cognitive impairments in rats. Collectively, these findings confirmed the therapeutic potential of the BYHW decoction in treating cognitive impairments induced by CMIs and demonstrated a viable mechanism for its action.
Prediction of Survival and Tumor Microenvironment Infiltration Based on Pyroptosis-Related lncRNAs in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Xue Shengbai , Shen Kangjie , Wang Kexuan , Ge Weiyu , Mao Tiebo , Li Shumin , Zhang Xiaofei , Xu Haiyan , Wang Yongchao , Yao Jiayu , Yue Ming , Ma Jingyu , Wang Yanling , Shentu Daiyuan , Cui Jiujie , Wang Liwei
Published: December 2022

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a fatal tumor with high mortality. Pyroptosis plays a tumor suppressor role as a novel cell death. However, the influences of the pyroptosis-related lncRNAs (PRlncRNAs) on the prognosis and tumor microenvironment (TME) infiltration have not been fully studied in PC. Using coexpression analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis, we identified seventeen prognostic PRlncRNAs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, which were all expressed differently in normal and tumor samples. A seven-PRlncRNA risk signature was constructed and validated using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Furthermore, we verified its independence and created a nomogram to validate the clinical viability of the risk signature. We then identified its relationship with clinical factors and evaluated its values in TME infiltration, functional enrichment, tumor mutation, and therapeutic responses in PC. Lower ImmuneScore, ESTIMATEScore, and advanced tumor stage were connected with high-risk score. The low-risk group was characterized by better OS, elevated immune activation, and higher susceptibility of pazopanib and sunitinib. The high-risk group possessed a worse immune infiltration and poor survival, with higher tumor mutations and lapatinib and paclitaxel that may be better choices in this group. In conclusion, we developed an original seven-PRlncRNA risk signature to predict prognosis, TME infiltration, tumor mutation, and therapeutic options for PC patients.
The Correlation between Type 2 Diabetes and Fat Fraction in Liver and Pancreas: A Study using MR Dixon Technique
Authors: Zheng Yonghong , Yang Shengsheng , Chen Xianyuan , Lv Jieqin , Su Jiawei , Yu Shun
Published: December 2022

Objective. The increased obesity results in ectopic fat deposits in liver and pancreas, which will affect insulin resistance and elevated plasma glucose with type 2 diabetes. To assess the relationship between obesity and ectopic fat deposits and diabetes, this study used the MR Dixon method for the quantification of liver and pancreas fat fraction (FF) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and healthy controls. Methods. The FF of whole liver (FFWL) and pancreas (FFWP), the maximum diameters of the pancreas, the abdominal subcutaneous adipose area (SAT), the visceral adipose tissue area (VAT), and the total abdominal adipose tissue area (TAT) were measured for 157 subjects using the MR Dixon data. Four groups were established on the basis of BMI value. For statistics, intra‐ and intergroup comparisons were made by employing independent sample t‐test. Results. FFWL, FFWP, and VAT varied significantly between T2DM (BMI < 25) and control group (BMI < 25), T2DM (BMI ≥ 25) and control group (BMI ≥ 25), T2DM (BMI < 25) and T2DM (BMI ≥ 25) (all P < 0.05). The FF of pancreas tail, SAT, and TAT varied significantly between control group (BMI < 25) and control group (BMI ≥ 25) (P < 0.05). FFWP and the FF of pancreas tail varied significantly between T2DM and normal volunteers (P < 0.05), with normal or mild liver fat content. Conclusion. The tissue FF, which has a close relationship with T2DM, can be assessed by the MR Dixon technique. T2DM patients should pay attention to tissue fat content regardless of BMI values.
Phytochemical Screening, Antifungal, and Anticancer Activities of Medicinal Plants Thymelaea Hirsuta, Urginea Maritima, and Plantago Albicans
Authors: El-Bondkly Esraa Ahmed Mohamed , Al Shammari Basim , El-Gendy Mervat Morsy Abbas Ahmed , Alsafari Ibrahim A. , El-Bondkly Alaa Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed , El-Shenawy Fareed Shawky , El-Bondkly Ahmed Mohamed
Published: December 2022

Ethyl acetate, ethanol, and acetone extracts of the medicinal plants Thymelaea hirsuta L., Urginea maritima L., and Plantago albicans L. (aerial parts) were evaluated for their phytochemical compositions, antimycotic activity against dermatophytes, and antiproliferative activity against different human cancer cell lines. Among them, the ethanolic extracts showed the highest phytochemical contents along with hyperactivities and were then selected for gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of different characteristic peak values with various functional chemical groups of the active components. However, U. maritima extracts through Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed distinctive peaks related to phenolic, amines, amides, aromatic, alkanes, alkyne, cyclopentanone, conjugated aldehyde, nitro, methoxy, uronic acids, aromatic esters, tertiary alcohol or ester, secondary and primary alcohols, aliphatic ether, sulfoxide, vinylidene, and halo compounds. Many bioactive main compounds with reported biological activities were detected by GC/MS (%) in the ethanolic extract of T. hirsuta, U. maritima, and P. albicans. All studied dermatophytes included a diverse set of virulence factors, including phospholipase, protease, keratinase, hemolysis, and melanoid production, all of which play vital roles in dermatophytic infection. Ethanolic extract of P. albicans inhibited the growth of Trichophyton soudanense totally and Trichophyton erinacei in addition to all Microsporum species. In contrast, the ethanolic extract of Trichophyton hirsuta at concentrations of 25 g/mL totally prevented the growth of all Trichophyton species. EtOH extract of U. maritima completely prevented the growth (100% inhibition) of all dermatophytic strains under study at the lowest concentration of 12.5 μg/mL. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed considerable morphological modifications and structural alterations in dermatophyte species exposed to ethanolic extract of these plants. The viability of HCT‐116, HepG‐2, MCF‐7, and HeLa cell lines was reduced after treatment with the ethanolic extracts of T. hirsuta, U. maritima, and P. albicans individually with IC50 values (10.0, 9.97, 48.5, and 56.24 μg/mL), (26.98, 25.0, 17.11, and 9.52 μg/mL), and (9.32, 7.46, 12.50, and 16.32 μg/mL), respectively. Our work revealed the significance of these traditional ethnomedical plants as potent sources for biologically active pharmaceuticals with potential applicability for the treatment of fungal and cancer diseases.
The Snail and Its Horns: Practical Philosophy Inspired by the Zhuangzi
Authors: Defoort Carine
Published: December 2022

In the last century, Western jargon and methodologies have overwhelmed the study of early Chinese texts. In an attempt to somewhat redress the balance, this paper retrieves a core notion from the Zhuangzi, “disputation” (bian 辯) or “distinctions” (bian 辨), to reflect upon a contemporary Western debate, namely about the exclusion of non-Western sources at philosophy departments. The detailed analysis of one anecdote about two states fighting each other on the horns of a snail leads to a view on disputation and its limits. By applying these insights to the “legitimacy of Chinese philosophy” debate, the Zhuangzi can inspire insights and attitudes that tend to be overlooked.
Functions of Meta-discursive Nouns: A Corpus-based Comparison of Post-graduate Genres in L1 and L2 English
Authors: Yuvayapan Fatma , Yakut Ilyas
Published: December 2022

Academic discourse is characterized by various linguistic features that academic writers utilize to maintain cohesion, reader–writer communication, and authorial stance. Recently, meta-discourse (MD) has received considerable attention as one of the most prominent linguistic and pragmatic features of academic writing. Despite the abundance of nouns in academic genres, there has been little attention paid to their meta-discursive functions. In this study, we intend to address this gap by exploring the usage of nouns, specifically in two important post-graduate genres: MA and Ph.D. theses written by both native and non-native academic writers of English. The analysis draws on a corpus of 1,148,992 words of MA and Ph.D. theses, and the concordance software, AntConc version 3.5.8, was utilized to calculate the frequency counts of MD nouns. Log-likelihood statistics were performed to determine whether there was a statistical difference among four corpora regarding the use of MD nouns. We observed cultural variations in the MD noun usage between native and non-native academic writers of English. The analysis also reflected the same rhetorical decisions by both groups of academic writers regarding the deployment of MD nouns in MA and Ph.D. theses. Hence, it may be suggested that a genre-based approach in academic writing courses may raise students’ awareness of socially and disciplinary-based norms of academic genres.
Financial Inclusion and Human Development in Indian States: Evidence from the Post-Liberalisation Periods
Authors: Barik Rajesh , Lenka Sanjaya Kumar , Parida Jajati K.
Published: December 2022

This article examines the existing synergy between financial inclusion and human development in Indian states during the post-liberalisation periods (1993–2015). Using both principal component analysis and panel data regression models, first, the impact of financial inclusion on human development is measured. Second, the reverse causality from human development to financial inclusion is estimated to know whether human development should be a pre-condition for ensuring greater financial inclusiveness in Indian states. It is found that financial inclusion has a positive and statistically significant impact on human development, along with other control variables such as social sector expenditure, per capita state gross domestic product and capital receipt. However, the lack of urbanisation (measured by the percentage of rural population) has a negative and significant impact on the process of human development in Indian states. On the other hand, since human development has also a significant reverse causal connection with financial inclusion, it is argued that ensuring financial inclusion through urbanisation measures would not only improve the level of human development in Indian states, but it would also sustain the process of inclusive development in itself due to the existing feedback loop with the later.