bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust adaptive beamforming based on the direct biconvex optimization modeling
Authors: Hu Jinfeng , Zou Xinying
Published: November 2020

It is well known that the performance of the minimum variance distortionless response beamformer is sensitive to steering vector mismatch, which motivates the development of robust adaptive beamforming(RAB). However, robust adaptive beamforming (RAB) is usually modeled as a nonconvex optimization problem. The most state-of-art methods solve it indirectly by approximating the nonconvex problem to the convex optimization problem, which causes the approximation errors and performance degradation. To circumvent this problem, a novel method that is against the mismatch of the signal look direction errors, which reformulates RAB as the biconvex form directly, is proposed. This method imposes ideal response constraints to guarantee the gain of the angular region in which the actual signal lies and suppresses the signals in the remaining region, and constructs a four-order problem. Then, an auxiliary variable is introduced to reformulate it as a biconvex problem without approximation process, which can be efficiently solved iteratively by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed method can obtain a better performance on the signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) and flexible control of error range.
Viewpoint Robust Knowledge Distillation for Accelerating Vehicle Re-identification
Authors: Xie Yi , Shen Fei , Zhu Jianqing , Zeng Huanqiang
Published: November 2020

Vehicle re-identification is a challenging task that matches vehicle images captured by different cameras. Recent vehicle re-identification approaches exploit complex deep networks to learn viewpoint robust features for obtaining accurate re-identification results, which causes large computations in their testing phases to restrict the vehicle re-identification speed. In this paper, we propose a viewpoint robust knowledge distillation (VRKD) method for accelerating vehicle re-identification. The VRKD method consists of a complex teacher network and a simple student network. Specifically, the teacher network uses quadruple directional deep networks to learn viewpoint robust features. The student network only contains a shallow backbone sub-network and a global average pooling layer. The student network distills viewpoint robust knowledge from the teacher network via minimizing the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the posterior probability distributions resulted from the student and teacher networks. As a result, the vehicle re-identification speed is significantly accelerated since only the student network of small testing computations is demanded. Experiments on VeRi776 and VehicleID datasets show that the proposed VRKD method outperforms many state-of-the-art vehicle re-identification approaches with better accurate and speed performance.
Depletion of Fractalkine Ameliorates Renal Injury and Treg Cell Apoptosis via the p38MAPK Pathway in Lupus-Prone Mice
Authors: Ma Jingxue , Gong Qiming , Guo Pengwei , Pan Xiuhong , He Linlin , You Yanwu
Published: November 2020

Background

Fractalkine is a chemokine with several roles, including chemotaxis, adhesion, and immune damage. It participates in cell inflammation and apoptosis and responds to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, Treg cells are involved in autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to explore the regulatory mechanism of Fractalkine in renal injury and Treg apoptosis via the p38MAPK signalling pathway in lupus-prone mice.
Methods

Lupus was induced in BALB/c female mice by injection of pristane. Then, CD4+ CD5+ Treg cells were isolated from the spleen of lupus mice. To deplete Fractalkine, first, mice received an injection of anti-Fractalkine antibody. Later, the transfection of Treg cells with Fractalkine siRNA was conducted. Lupus mice and Treg cells were treated with the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and/or activator U-46619, respectively. The levels of urine protein, serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, and autoantibodies were measured from mouse samples, and renal histopathological features were analysed. The expression of Fractalkine, p-p38, Foxp3, IL-6, and IL-17 in the mouse kidney and Treg cells was detected. The levels of apoptosis and key apoptotic factors: Bax, Bcl-2, and Cyt-c in Treg cells were analysed.
Results

The expression of Fractalkine, p-p38, IL-6, and IL-17 increased; meanwhile, that of Foxp3 decreased in the kidneys of mice with lupus. The depletion of Fractalkine and p38MAPK levels ameliorated proteinuria and renal functions and significantly reduced serum autoantibodies, renal Fractalkine, p-p38, IL-6, and IL-17 levels, while increasing renal Foxp3 concentration in lupus mice. The effects of Fractalkine knockdown (KD) and p38MAPK inhibitor on Treg cells, derived from lupus mice, were consistent with those observed in the kidneys. In addition, Fractalkine KD reduced cell apoptosis and suppressed the activation of p38MAPK signalling in Treg cells, derived from lupus mice. Meanwhile, the p38MAPK activator U-46619 had the opposite effect.
Conclusion

Together, our data indicated that Fractalkine promoted the nephritis progression in lupus mice, most likely through the regulation of Treg cell apoptosis and activation of the p38MAPK signalling pathway. It suggested that targeting Fractalkine is a potential therapeutic strategy for treating LN.
Regulation of Apelin Is Associated with Proliferation and Angiogenesis in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Tian LiJun , Liu Hong-Zhi , Zhang Qiang , Geng Dian-Zhong , Yang Jing , Geng Hai-Tao , Zhai Yu-Jie , Huo Yu-Qing , Hao YanZhang
Published: November 2020

Background: Apelin is an emerging endogenous ligand, which is involved in proliferation and angiogenesis in certain cancers. However, few studies have reported its functions and underlying mechanisms in human gastric cancer (GC). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of Apelin expression in human GC and the underlying mechanisms of Apelin in the promotion of proliferation both in vitro and in vivo.Methods: A total of 178 patients diagnosed with GC under postoperative care were enrolled for the study to investigate clinicopathological and immunohistochemical factors of Apelin expression. Survival of patients was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model. We adopted quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot and ELISA to analyze human GC specimens and cell lines. The role and mechanisms of Apelin were evaluated by performing in vitro and in vivo experiments to analyze exogenous Apelin and its overexpression in human GC cells. Results: The expression of Apelin was higher in human gastric cancer cells than in adjacent normal tissues. Apelin, which was overexpressed in vessel invasion (P <0.01), lymph node metastasis (P <0.01), late-staged tumor (T) status (P <0.05), pathological type (P <0.05) and nerve invasion (P <0.05), also exhibited a positive correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Apelin overexpression or exogenous Apelin activated downstream of ERK/Cyclin D1/MMP-9 signaling pathway to promote MGC-803 cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Apelin overexpression promoted angiogenesis aiming at accelerating growth of subcutaneous xenograft in vivo.Conclusions: This study has elucidated the relationship between Apelin and its clinicopathological features in human GC, and the role of Apelin in tumor cell proliferation in human GC cell lines. This is the first study to elucidate underlying mechanisms of Apelin in the proliferation of GC. Apelin can be a potential therapeutic target for human GC.
Selenium yeast modulated ileal transcriptome and microbiota to ameliorate egg production in aged laying hens
Authors: liu zhexi , cao yutao , ai yue , wang linli , wang mengyao , zhang bingkun , guo yuming , lian zhengxing , wu keliang , han hongbing
Published: November 2020

Background: The declines in both laying performance and egg shell quality during late production period have adverse effects on long production cycle. Improving nutrition of laying hens is a crucial measure to reverse the declination. Selenium (Se) plays important roles in antioxidant defense, redox balance, immune response, and modulation of gut microbiota. However, the mechanism underlying selenium yeast regulating the interaction between transcriptome and gut microbiota to influence laying performance, is still unclear. Here, we use the transcriptome and 16S rRNA analysis to investigate how selenium yeast alters the gene expression and microbiota composition of ileum in aged laying hens.Results: In this study, selenium yeast ameliorated the depression in aged laying performance with a significant increase of laying rate in 0.30 mg/kg group. Furthermore, functional enrichment and STEM analysis were performed using RNA-Seq, which indicated selenium yeast activated metabolic progresses (e.g. Glycerolipid metabolism, Glycerophospholipid metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism), immune response and oxidative stress response. Four hub genes (TXNRD1, DLD, ILK and LZTS2) were involved in intestinal metabolism which was closely associated with Se deposition/status. Additionally, Se increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria including Veillonella, Turicibacter, and Lactobacillus whiledecreasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria Stenotrophomonas by 16S rRNA-Seq. The Integrated analysis of omics revealed that several microbiotas (Maritalea, Alteromonas, Geobacter, etc.) were positively associated with both Se content and laying rate, and there was a markable correlation between several specific microbiotas (Aliivibrio, Anaerobacillus, Shewanella, etc.) and the immune response pathways (regulation of acute inflammatory response, positive regulation of lymphocyte activation and IFN gamma response). Meanwhile, the “switched on” gene PSCA had a positive relationship with Veillonella, and a negative relationship with the opportunistic pathogens Stenotrophomonas. CCA analysis indicated that both the Se content and the laying rate were highly positively correlated with Anaerobacillus, Alteromonas, Loktanella and the positive regulation of lymphocyte activation, but were negative correlated with Streptococcus, Devosia, Aerococcus, Intestinibacter and fatty acid metabolic progress. Conclusions: Overall, our study provides unprecedented insights showing that selenium yeast supplementation can affect immune response, metabolic processes, and specific microbiota composition to ameliorate the egg production deterioration in aged laying hens.
Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear preparedness of public hospitals in Riyadh
Authors: Alahmari Ahmed Ali , Khan Anas A
Published: November 2020

ObjectivesChemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents are those that involve chemical or biological warfare agents or toxic radiological or nuclear materials. These agents can cause disasters intentionally or accidentally. Hospitals play a crucial role in handling CBRN disasters. This study aimed to assess the CBRN preparedness of government hospitals in Riyadh.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across government hospitals in Riyadh, all government hospitals in Riyadh with more than 100 inpatient beds and an emergency department met the inclusion criteria. Hospital preparedness was assessed using an adaptation of the CBRNE Plan Checklist. Results were described in frequencies across several domains such as foundational considerations, planning, training and awareness, procedures, and modules for preparing for a biological incident, a chemical incident, and a radiological or nuclear incident.ResultsOf the 11 eligible hospitals, 10 participated in the study. Further, CBRN considerations were included in the disaster plans of 7 hospitals. Drills had been conducted in collaboration with local agencies in only 2 hospitals. The staff had been trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of exposure to class (A) biological agents in less than half of the hospitals. A majority of the hospitals had antidotes and prophylactics to manage chemical incidents, but only half of them had radiation detection instruments. Personal protective equipment was available in all hospitals, but rapid access to stockpiles of medications was available in only half of them.ConclusionGovernment hospitals in Riyadh demonstrated insufficient CBRN preparedness. Therefore, their staffs should be trained to manage CBRN emergencies, and local drills should be conducted to improve their preparedness.
Predictors of In-hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Limb Ischemia – Lesson Learnt from A Tertiary Hospital in Jakarta
Authors: Indriani Suci , Adiarto Suko , Andriantoro Hananto , Sunu Ismoyo , Siddiq Taofan , Pranata Raymond , Yonas Emir , Dakota Iwan
Published: November 2020

Background

This study aims to identify risk factors associated with in-hospital and 30-days mortality in patients with acute limb ischemia (ALI).
Methods

This study was a single-centered cohort enrolling a total of 160 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of ALI. The ALI diagnosis was based on clinical history, physical examination, and Doppler studies of the extremities. The main outcome of this study is in-hospital and 30-days mortality.
Results

There were a total of 170 patients involving 192 limbs with the diagnosis of ALI. Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion (HR 3.4; 95% CI 1.0-11.3, p = 0.042), no vitamin E treatment (HR 5.6; CI 1.7–18.3, 0.004), arrhythmia (HR 12.00; CI 3.8–37.7, p < 0.001), and acute renal failure (HR 6.70; CI 1.88–24.3, p = 0.003) were an independent predictor of intra-hospital mortality. For 30-days mortality, the independent predictors were menopause (HR 3.2; CI 1.16–8.85, p = 0.02); IABP insertion (HR 4.51; CI 1.14–17.92, p = 0.03); arrhythmia (HR 0.11; CI 0.04–0.32, p < 0.001); bleeding requiring transfusion (HR 3.77; CI 0.10-14.28, p = 0.05); and acute renal failure (HR 5.5; CI 1.79–16.95, p = 0.003).
Conclusion

In-hospital mortality in patients with ALI remains high in our center. Several factors contributing to mortality were arrhythmia, renal failure, no vitamin E supplementation, and a history of recent cardiac operation.
The application analysis of 8F ultrafine chest drainage tube for thoracoscopic lobectomy of lung cancer
Authors: Song Yongbin , Zheng Chong , Zhou Shaohui , Cui Hongshang , Wang Jincong , Wang Jianxun , Wang Wenhao , Liu Lijun , Liu Junfeng
Published: November 2020

Background
Currently, thoracoscopic lobectomy is widely used in clinical practice, and postoperative placement of ultrafine drainage tube has advantages of reducing postoperative pain and accelerating postoperative recovery in patients. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of placement of 8F ultrafine chest drainage tube after thoracoscopic lobectomy and its superiority over traditional 24F chest drainage tube.
Methods
A retrospective data analysis was conducted in 134 patients who underwent placement of 8F ultrafine chest drainage tube or 24F chest drainage tube with thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer from January 2018 to December 2019. Patients with 8F ultrafine chest drainage tube were included in group A (n = 67) and those with 24F chest drainage tube were included in group B (n = 67). The drainage time, the total drainage volume, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pain score and postoperative complication of both groups were analyzed and compared.
Results
Compared to group B, group A had lower pain scores on postoperative days 1, 2 and 3 (3.72 ± 0.65point vs 3.94 ± 0.67point, P = 0.027; 2.72 ± 0.93point vs 3.13 ± 1.04point, P = 0.016; and 1.87 ± 0.65point vs 2.39 ± 1.22point, P = 0.005), shorter drainage time (4.25 ± 1.79d vs 6.04 ± 1.96d, P = 0.000), fewer drainage volume (1100.42 ± 701.57 ml vs 1369.39 ± 624.25 ml, P = 0.021); and shorter postoperative hospital stay (8.46 ± 2.48d vs 9.37 ± 1.70d, P = 0.014). Postoperative complications such as subcutaneous emphysema, pulmonary infection, atelectasis, chest tube reinsertion and intrathoracic hemorrhage showed no differences between both groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
Compared with 24F chest drainage tube, the application of an 8F ultrafine chest drainage tube after thoracoscopic lobectomy has significantly shortened the drainage time, reduced the total drainage volume, reduced the postoperative pain degree, shortened the hospital day, and effectively detected postoperative intrathoracic hemorrhage. So, it is considered as an effective, safe and reliable drainage method.
Vein-first versus artery-first ligation procedure for lung cancer surgery: An updated review
Authors: Zhao Tian , Zhang Chu , Zhao Chen , Wu Wenbin , Zhang Miao
Published: November 2020

Background

The optimal sequence of pulmonary vessel interruption during lung cancer resection remains controversial. This review aimed to elucidate the association of vein-first versus artery-first ligation and circulation tumor cells (CTCs) dissemination and survival of the patients.
Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar from their inception to October 2020 for published articles that compared vein-first (the pulmonary vein was interrupted first) and artery-first procedure (the pulmonary artery was ligated first) during lung cancer surgery.
Results

Finally, a total of 13 full articles were included. First, 7 of these studies with survival data were included for meta-analysis. As compared with artery-first ligation, vein-first approach did not decrease local recurrence (risk ratio [RR] 0.96 in favour of vein-first ligation; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77–1.19, p = 0.68) or distant metastasis (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.34–2.54, p = 0.89), but it was associated with better 5-year overall survival of the patients (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.52–0.99, p = 0.04). Second, 7 studies provided the data of tumor cells using different biomarkers and detection methods; thus, a quantitative meta-analysis was not possible. Among them, 3 studies showed that vein-first decreased the extent of tumor dissemination.
Conclusion

Vein-first ligation in lung cancer surgery is associated with improved survival of the patients and potentially decreased surgery-related tumor dissemination. Further high-quality trials are warranted.
Evaluation by simulation of clinical trial designs for evaluation of treatment during a viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak
Authors: Manchon Pauline , Belhadi Drifa , Mentré France , Laouénan Cédric
Published: November 2020

Background
Viral haemorrhagic fevers are characterized by irregular outbreaks with high mortality rate. Difficulties arise when implementing therapeutic trials in this context. The outbreak duration is hard to predict and can be short compared to delays of trial launch and number of subject needed (NSN) recruitment. Our objectives were to compare, using clinical trial simulation, different trial designs for experimental treatment evaluation in various outbreak scenarios.
Methods
Four type of designs were compared: fixed or group-sequential, each being single- or two-arm. The primary outcome was 14-day survival rate. For single-arm designs, results were compared to a pre-trial historical survival rate pH. Treatments efficacy was evaluated by one-sided tests of proportion (fixed designs) and Whitehead triangular tests (group-sequential designs) with type-I-error = 0.025. Both survival rates in the control arm pC and survival rate differences Δ (including 0) varied. Three specific cases were considered: “standard” (fixed pC, reaching NSN for fixed designs and maximum sample size NMax for group-sequential designs); “changing with time” (increased pC\(\text{ }\)over time); “stopping of recruitment” (epidemic ends). We calculated the proportion of simulated trials showing treatment efficacy, with K = 93,639 simulated trials to get a type-I-error PI95% of [0.024;0.026].
Results
Under H0 (Δ = 0), for the “standard” case, the type-I-error was maintained regardless of trial designs. For “changing with time” case, when pC>pH, type-I-error was inflated, and when pC<pH it decreased. Wrong conclusions were more often observed for single-arm designs due to an increase of Δ over time. Under H1 (Δ=+0.2), for the “standard” case, the power was similar between single- and two-arm designs when pC=pH. For “stopping of recruitment” case, single-arm performed better than two-arm designs, and fixed designs reported higher power than group-sequential designs. A web R-Shiny application was developed.
Conclusions
At an outbreak beginning, group-sequential two-arm trials should be preferred, as the infected cases number increases allowing to conduct a strong randomized control trial. Group-sequential designs allow early termination of trials in cases of harmful experimental treatment. After the epidemic peak, fixed single-arm design should be preferred, as the cases number decreases but this assumes a high level of confidence on the pre-trial historical survival rate.
The Peritumoral Hypointense Rim Around Hepatocellular Carcinoma on T2*-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation
Authors: Tsukahara Yoshinori , Okajima Yukinori , Yamada Akira , Momose Masanobu , Uehara Takeshi , Shimizu Akira , Soejima Yuji , Fujinaga Yasunari
Published: November 2020

BackgroundThe peritumoral hypointense rim (PTHR) is sometimes observed around hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on T2*-weighted images (T2*WIs). We aimed to investigate the association between the PTHR and histopathologic findings on T2*WIs.MethodsWe assessed the presence of a PTHR on T2*WIs in 39 pathologically proven HCCs from April 2012 to December 2013. Prussian blue staining was performed, and iron deposition was evaluated by semiquantitative and quantitative methods. Optical density was used in the quantitative methods. The associations between a PTHR on T2*WI and histopathologic peritumoral or background liver iron deposition were analyzed.ResultsA PTHR on T2*WI was observed in 23 of 39 (59%) HCCs. There was no significant difference in the histopathologic fibrous capsule findings (P = 0.394). In the semiquantitative methods, both peritumoral and background liver iron deposition grade were significantly higher in HCCs with a PTHR compared with HCCs without a PTHR (P < 0.001). The mean optical density in HCCs with a PTHR was significantly higher compared with HCCs without a PTHR, in the quantitative peritumoral (42244.1 ± 20854.9 vs 18739.1 ± 12258.7, respectively; P < 0.001) and background liver iron deposition analyses (35554.7 ± 19854.8 vs 17292.4 ± 11605.8, respectively; P < 0.001). Tumor size (P = 0.005), etiology (P = 0.001), and degree of fibrosis (P = 0.042) were significantly associated with the presence of a PTHR.ConclusionA PTHR in HCCs on T2*WIs was strongly associated with peritumoral iron deposition in the iron-deposited background liver but not with the fibrous capsule.
Self-Care Practice and Its Predictors Among Adults With Diabetes Mellitus on Follow Up at Public Hospitals of Arsi Zone, Southeast Ethiopia
Authors: Kassa Rahel Nega , Ibrahim Ibrahim Yimer , Hailemariam Hana Abera , Habte Mekdes Hailegebriel
Published: November 2020

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM)is a chronic illness that requires ongoing patient self-management and support to prevent acute complications and to reduce the risk of long-term complications. The objective of the study was to assess diabetic self-care practice and its predictors among adults with DM on follow up at hospitals of Arsi zone, southeast Ethiopia. Results: Above half (53.3%) of diabetic patients had good self-care practice. Younger age (AOR: 8.95, 95% CI: 1.89,42.48), earning high income (AOR: 2.495, 95% CI: 1.0,5.85), having family history (AOR: 4.5, 95% CI: 1.3, 15.5), long duration of diagnosis (AOR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.127, 4.05), not having diabetic complications (AOR: 3.87, 95% CI: 2, 7.48) and having glucometer (AOR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.78l, 9.33)were significantly associated factors with good diabetic self are practice. Efforts should be made to prevent complications and to support patients who are aged and who have not glucometer at their home to promote good self-care practice. Particularly, health care providers should give special attention for newly diagnosed patients.
Analysis of Maize Commercialization among Smallholder Farmers: Empirical Evidence from North Western Ethiopia
Authors: Wassihun Agerie Nega , Feleke Fikeremaryam Birara , Abate Tadie Mirie , Bayeh Gebrehiwot Abebe
Published: November 2020

Agricultural commercialization is a process of transformation from subsistence farming system to market oriented production system. Promoting smallholder farmers to produce beyond their consumption and enabling them to be profit oriented should be given priority in order to foster the economic growth in developing countries where agriculture is the pillar of the economy and smallholder farmers are the largest section of the country like Ethiopia. However, due to a number of reasons smallholder farmers’ level of commercialization is very low and insignificant. There are only few studies conducted about agricultural commercialization in Ethiopia but the studies are not focused to specific crop. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the factors that determine market participation and degree of commercialization by smallholder maize producers in North Western Ethiopia. Data were collected from 385 smallholder maize producers in three districts where maize is produced potentially through multistage sampling method. Interview schedule, focus group discussion and key informant interview were used to collect the required primary data. In order to achieve the study objectives, Tobit model was employed to analyse both market participation and intensity of commercialization. From the analysis education level, livestock holding, frequency of extension contact, training, off/non-farm income activity, quantity of maize and lagged price were found to have significant effect on market participation whereas intensity of commercialization was significantly influenced by education level, livestock holding, training, frequency of extension contact, off/non-farm activity, quantity of maize produced and lagged price. Finally based on the findings, smallholder maize producers should be supported regularly by extension agents in order to increase their practical skills which results enhancement of their market participation and intensity of commercialization.
WITHDRAWN: Investigating Okun’s Law in SAARC Countries: An ARDL Approach
Authors: Hanif Md. Abu , Ahmed Zobayer , Acet Hakan , Çevik Savaş
Published: November 2020

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to test the applicability of Okun’s law in SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) counties. It also intends to find the long-run association between unemployment rate and growth rate and investigate the impact of growth rate on unemployment in the South Asian Region.Design/methodology/approach: The study uses annual time series data for eight SAARC countries, from 1991 to 2015. To meet the objectives of the research, the graphical illustration of trend with descriptive statistics are followed by econometric analysis. Based on the stationarity of the variables, an autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model has been estimated to test the long-run relationship between unemployment and growth.Findings: The results indicate that per capita GDP negatively influences the unemployment rate in the long run only in three member countries of SAARC, namely- Afghanistan, India and Sri Lanka and in the South Asian Region in aggregate. This paper also finds a negative relationship between the growth rate and unemployment rate in Bangladesh, but this association is not statistically significant. The study doesn’t find any negative relationship between the two variables in Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan. The study discovers the validity of Okun’s law, but the attained Okun coefficient is less than that of the actual Okun coefficient, documented by Arthur Okun. Another substantial evidence is that the significance of the connection between the growth rate and unemployment rate varies among the SAARC countries.Research limitations: The main limitation of this paper is the unavailability of data for Afghanistan compared to other SAARC countries. Originality/value: This paper is unique as it tests the validity of Okun’s law in every member country of SAARC and as a region of South Asia. To date, no such study like this has been found in the body of literature which finds long-run relationship in all SAARC countries.JEL Classification: E24, J64, O11, O40.
New Insights Into the Role of MADS-box Transcription Factor Gene CmANR1 on Root and Shoot Development in Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Morifolium)
Authors: Sun Cui-Hui , Wang Jia-Hui , Gu Kai-Di , Zhang Peng , Zhang Xin-Yi , Zheng Cheng-Shu , Ma Fangfang , Hu Da-Gang
Published: November 2020

Background: MADS-box transcription factors (TFs) are the key regulators of multiple developmental processes in plants; among them, a chrysanthemum MADS-box TF CmANR1 has been isolated and described as functioning in root development in response to high nitrate concentration signals. However, how CmANR1 affects root and shoot development remains unclear.Results: We report that CmANR1 plays a positive role in root system development in chrysanthemum throughout the developmental stages of tissue culture. Metabolomics combined with transcriptomics assays show that CmANR1 promotes robust root system development by facilitating nitrate assimilation, and influencing the metabolic pathways of amino acid, glycolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) cycle. Also, we found that the expression levels of TFs associated with the nitrate signaling pathways, such as AGL8, AGL21, and LBD29, are significantly up-regulated in CmANR1-transgenic plants relative to the wild-type (WT) control; by contrast, the expression levels of RHD3-LIKE, LBD37, and GATA23 were significantly down-regulated. These results suggest that these nitrate signaling associated TFs are involved in CmANR1-modulated control of root development. In addition, CmANR1 also acts as a positive regulator to control shoot growth and development.Conclusions: These findings provide potential mechanisms of MADS-box TF CmANR1 modulation of root and shoot development, which occurs by regulating a series of nitrate signaling associated TFs, and influencing the metabolic pathways of amino acid and glycolysis, as well as TCA cycle and nitrate assimilation.
Foliar Spraying Suitable Dosage of Silicon Fertilizer on Wheat Suppressed Inoculated Aphid Reproduction by Activating Plant Induced Defense Response
Authors: Qi Xiuxiu , Wei Chang , Yan Fengming , Zhang Zelong , Jiang Ying , Han Yanlai
Published: November 2020

Background: Although the ability of silicon to induce plant resistance against some insect is known, it is still unknown that the effect of the different concentrations of silicon on activates the secondary defense system in wheat, and then influence the life cycle table of wheat aphids. In this experiment, different levels of silicon (Si) fertilizer was applied to change the secondary defense system of wheat, to study the impact on the life table parameters of aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and to explore the mechanism of Si application in enhancing wheat resistance to aphids. Wheat seedlings were cultured in a hydroponic experiment with the seven different levels of Si (0, 0.3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9 mmol/L). Results: Our ﬁndings indicated that the application of Si can suppress the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), mean generation time (T), finite rate of increase (λ), and prolong the population doubling time (t) of aphid. Besides, aphid infection elicited immune responses in wheat, which was enhanced by Si: Between the treatments, a foliar application of Si improved the activity of four defense enzymes (PAL, PPO, CAT, LOX), and increased the content of signal transduction substances (JA, SA) and secondary metabolites (tannin, alkaloids, lignin, total phenolics and ﬂavonoids). Moreover, the results of the correlation analysis showed that the concentration of Si in wheat was positively associated with the activities of defense enzymes and the concentrations of secondary metabolites and signal transduction substances. There was a significant positive correlation between the activities of four defense enzymes and the concentrations of secondary metabolites and signal transduction substances in wheat. Furthermore, the activities of defense enzymes, the concentrations of secondary metabolites and signal transduction substances and Si in wheat were negatively associated with the R0, T, rm, ƛ and positively related to the t of the life table parameters from the aphid. Conclusions: In conclusion, the current result suggested that the application of Si can increase the signal transduction pathway of wheat and regulate the secondary metabolism by influencing the concentration of Si in wheat. As a result, the application of Si affected the life table parameters of aphids and enhanced the resistance of wheat. Also that 3 mmol/L Si application was more beneficial to enhance the resistance of wheat than higher or lower concentrations. The application of Si in wheat might provide an important basis for pest management control.
Analysis of Female Labor Participation and Economic Growth: The Case of Rwanda
Authors: Uwimana Olive , Ruranga Charles
Published: November 2020

This paper examines the possible existence of a long run relationship between economic growth and female labor participation in the case of Rwanda. As a land-locked country in the Central-East Africa, Rwanda has made remarkable economic transformations in recent years with considerably high GDP growth rate such as between 2018 and 2019 where GDP per capita increased by 5.6 percent which is why it is often referred as the future “Singapore of Africa”. On the other hand, the country is also often exalted for its outstanding efforts to empower women in all aspects of life including having the majority of women in the parliament on a global scale and other gender reforms. Therefore, this study aims at determining any long-run correlation between the two economic indicators by also using explanatory variables such as female unemployment rate, fertility rate and educational attainment of girls. By using ARDL Boundary Test, the findings indicate that there is indeed a U-shape relationship between economic growth and Rwanda female labor participation. It is recommended that the government establish a quota on the least number of women especially in male-dominated industries as a way to reduce the labor gender gap and ensure socio-economic uplift of women.
Comparison of Non-operative Versus Operative Management of Resectable Colorectal Cancer in Elderly Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hu Richard , Selvam Rajajee , Moloo Husein , Williams Lara , Raiche Isabelle , Musselman Reilly
Published: November 2020

Background: In 2010, 1.3 million Canadians were aged 80 and older. This number is expected to more than double to 3.3 million by 2036. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in both men and women, with its highest incidence rate in septu- and octogenarians. As clinicians encounter a growing number of very elderly patients (80 years and older) with resectable colorectal cancer, justifying major surgery in a comorbid population with limited life expectancy is difficult. Therefore, this study aims to systemically review the available literature to compare non-operative management to surgical resection with respect to overall survival and quality of life. Method: A systematic review will be conducted, in accordance with the PRISMA guideline. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Controlled Trials from 2000 to 2020 with the assistance of a health information specialist and clinical expert in the field of colorectal surgery.Discussion: The goal of this review is twofold: to synthesize the existing data on management of colorectal cancer in the very elderly patients, and identify the gap in the literature for potential future research. More specifically, we aim to streamline non-operative outcome data on resectable colorectal cancers to aid clinicians’ decision making with respect to survival outcomes and quality of life. We foresee challenges with this study, for example, we expect a lack of outcome data with regards to non-operative management of resectable, as well we also envision large degrees of heterogeneity with retrospective data and suboptimal study designs. In addition, outcomes such as quality of life and change of level of care lack widely recognised assessment tools, which will render comparisons difficult. Ultimately, despite these challenges, this review will serve to synthesize the existing data and lay the groundwork for future research. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO. Registration number: CRD42020199509
Localized Co-delivery of Serca2a and Cx43 Genes Combined With Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Restores Rat Ischemic Cardiac Mechano-electrical Function
Authors: Wang Wei , Tayier Baihetiya , Guan Lina , Yan Fei , Mu Yuming
Published: November 2020

Aim: Significantly reduced expression of Ca2+-ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) and Connexin 43 (Cx43) which play important roles in regulating mechano-electrical function was found in an ischemic heart. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation brings with a weak improvement of ischemic heart in cardiac contractility and anti-arrhythmias effect. The aim of this study was to recover mechano-electrical function of ischemic heart through combining stem cell therapy with SERCA2a/Cx43 co-delivery by biotinylated microbubbles (BMBs) via ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD).Methods: Dual gene-loaded BMBs were developed through conjugating SERCA2a-adenovirous (S-Ad) and Cx43-adenovious (C-Ad) onto BMBs via biotin-avidin linkage. UTMD was used to mediate the local co-delivery of S-Ad and C-Ad into the infarct zone where BMSCs were transplanted. The expression of SERCA2a and Cx43 gene, neovascularization in the infarct area and mechano-electrical function of rats were detected. Results: UTMD-mediated dual gene delivery could significantly enhance the expression of SERCA2a/Cx43 genes in the infarct zone receiving BMSCs transplantation. Significantly improved neovascularization was observed. More importantly, UTMD-mediated dual gene delivery greatly improved cardiac function and reduced arrhythmia in these myocardial infarct (MI) hearts transplanted with BMSCs. Conclusions: BMSCs-based dual gene therapy can effectively improve cardiac mechano-electrical function and reduce arrhythmia in heart with MI. It is necessary to rebuild the gene network in damaged heart rather than supply a single gene. BMSCs transplantation combined with localized dual-gene delivery by UTMD might point out a novel strategy to recover mechano-electrical function of ischemic heart.
Neuron Specific Enolase Promotes Metastasis by Activating the Wnt/β-catenin Pathway in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zha Zhiqiang , Li Dailing , Zhang Peiling , Wang Peipei , Fang Xisheng , Liu Xia , Weng Chengyin , Li Baoxiu , Wu Yong , Mao Haibo , Wang Lina , Xu Lin , Dong Jiaming , Guan Mingmei , Lu Lin , Liu Guolong
Published: November 2020

BackgroundNeuron-specific enolase (NSE) has been used as a specific biomarker for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Nevertheless, the biological function and mechanism of NSE in SCLC are still unclear. MethodsWe conducted an investigation in SCLC patients and then analyzed the association between NSE concentration and the distant metastasis. The migration and invasion were analyzed using Wound-healing and Transwell assays. The proteins and mRNA levels were measured by western blot and qRT-PCR. Furthermore, we conducted Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to explore potential signaling pathways. The interaction between NSE and β-catenin was verified through CO-IP experiments. In addition, animal experiments were performed in tumor metastasis models of nude mice.ResultIn this study, we clarified the role of NSE in the progression of SCLC and found that NSE expression was positively correlated with distant metastasis. Functional analysis showed that overexpression of NSE promoted migration, invasion and metastasis of SCLC cells, while knocking down NSE inhibited these effects. Mechanism analysis showed that NSE overexpression induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of SCLC cells, while knocking down NSE inhibited this effect. Moreover, overexpression of NSE increased the protein expression of β-catenin and its downstream target genes, and silencing β-catenin eliminated NSE-mediated cell migration, invasion and EMT process. Furthermore, NSE interacted with β-catenin and inhibited the degradation of β-catenin. Besides, the animal experiments also indicated that NSE could promote the EMT process and tumor distant metastasis of SCLC cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vivo.ConclusionOur results revealed that NSE could promote EMT process of SCLC cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby promoting migration, invasion and distant metastasis, which might serve as a potential target for the therapy of SCLC patients.
WITHDRAWN: Shifting Hazards: Footprint trends of the German Bioeconomy
Authors: Bringezu Stefan , Distelkamp Martin , Lutz Christian , Wimmer Florian , Schaldach Rüdiger , Hennenberg Klaus , Böttcher Hannes , Egenolf Vincent
Published: November 2020

Hoping to support sustainability, many countries established policies to foster bioeconomy (BE). While shifting towards more biomass use bears chances and risks, appropriate monitoring is still lacking. Here we show for the first time global key environmental footprints (FPs) of the German BE. From 2000 to 2030, the agricultural biomass FP is dominated by animal-based food consumption, which is slightly declining. Forest biomass FP of consumption could be potentially supplied from domestic territory. Agricultural land use for consumption is triple of domestic agricultural land (which covers half of Germany), having induced significant land use change in other regions from 2000 to 2015. Water FP for irrigation has decreased and might decline in absolute terms, but the share of supply regions with water stress might increase until 2030. The climate FP of BE contributes 20 to 18 % to the total climate FP of domestic consumption, while employment makes up 10 % and value added only 8 % of total.
In silico comparative study of SARS-CoV-2 proteins and antigenic proteins in BCG, OPV, MMR and other vaccines: evidence of possible putative protective effect
Authors: Haddad-Boubaker Sondes , Othman Houcemeddine , Touati Rabeb , Ayouni Kaouther , Lakhal Marwa , Mustapha Imen Ben , Ghedira Kais , Kharrat Maher , Triki Henda
Published: November 2020

Background:Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a viral pandemic disease that induces severe pneumonia in human. Until now, no effective therapeutic interventions or specific vaccines have been developed. In this paper, we attempt to investigate the putative implication of 12 vaccines, including BCG, OPV and MMR in the protection against COVID-19. First, we compared sequences of the main antigenic proteins in the investigated vaccines and SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Then, we investigated identified segments using a combination of structural and antigenicity prediction tools to assess their immunogenic effect.Results:A total of 14 highly similar segments were identified in investigated vaccines. After mapping on S and N proteins and analysis of the antigenicity prediction, three segments, in Hepatitis B, Tetanus and Measles proteins showed structural and antigenic properties that can induce possible putative protective effect.Conclusions:HBV, Tetanus and Measles vaccines should constitute a good candidate for a clinical trial to evaluate their real protective effect against COVID-19.
Theoretical and Experimetal Hints to a Flux of Doppler-Transformation-Energies during processes with Energy Conservation
Authors: Schultheiss Christoph
Published: November 2020

In a microscopic model of the photoelectric effect it becomes clear that the conservation of energy is exclusively determined by Doppler shift processes, i.e., the whole energy of the pho-ton vanishes by means of Doppler redshifts. Accordingly, if a photon is generated, the energy is won by Doppler blueshifts. This is supposed to be valid for all processes with energy con-servation. An experiment is carried out to make this Doppler energy flow visible by means of interactions with probes. The result of this experiment is that a weak force is measurable in the vicinity of processes with energy conservation. With the aid of a twisted rubber driven low-power device ( ), accelerations of about 10-6 m/s2 are measurable. In the close vicinity of the device, accelerations with values up to 10-3 m/s2 can be concluded. The conse-quences which result from this force are discussed.
Keywords: Compton-Effect, Doppler-Effect, energy- momentum conservation, flywheel
A new proposed mechanism of some known drugs targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein using molecular docking
Authors: Moussa Tarek , Sabry Nevien
Published: November 2020

COVID-19 is caused by the novel enveloped beta-coronavirus with a genomic RNA closely related to severe acute respiratory syndrome-corona virus (SARS-CoV) and is named coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S-protein interacts with the human ACE-2 receptor that enables the initiation of viral entry. Hence, blocking the S-protein interactions by means of synthetic compounds mark the pivotal step for targeting SARS-CoV-2. Most of the six compounds were observed to fit nicely with specific noncovalent interactions, including H bonds, electrostatic, Van der Waals and hydrophobic bonds (pi and sigma bonds). Oseltamivir was found to be the most strongly interacting with the RBD, exhibiting high values of full fitness and low free energy of binding. it formed multiple noncovalent bonds in the region of the active site. Hydroxychloroquine also demonstrated high binding affinity in the solvent accessbility state and fit nicely into the active pocket of the S-protein. The results revealed that these compounds could be potent inhibitors of S-protein that could, to some extent, block its interaction with ACE-2. It is obvious from the 3D structure of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was changed with the interaction of different drugs, which led to the unsuitability to bind ACE2 receptor. Hence, laboratory studies elucidating the action of these compounds on SARS-CoV-2 are warranted for clinical assessments. Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and oseltamivir interacted well with the receptor binding domain of S-protein via noncovalent interactions and recommended as excellent candidates for COVID-19.