bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertex distortion of lattice knots
Authors: Campisi Marion , Cazet Nicholas
Published: August 2021

The vertex distortion of a lattice knot is the supremum of the ratio of the distance between a pair of vertices along the knot and their distance in the [Formula: see text]-norm. Inspired by Gromov, Pardon and Blair–Campisi–Taylor–Tomova, we show that results about the distortion of smooth knots hold for vertex distortion: the vertex distortion of a lattice knot is 1 only if it is the unknot, and there are minimal lattice-stick number knot conformations with arbitrarily high distortion.
Scale dependence of the nucleon–nucleon potential
Authors: Benhar Omar
Published: August 2021

The scale-dependence of the nucleon–nucleon (NN) potential, which in recent years has been extensively analyzed within the context of chiral effective field theory, is, in fact, inherent in any models constrained by a fit to scattering data. A comparison between a purely phenomenological potential and a set of local interactions derived from chiral effective field theory suggests that — owing to the ability to describe NN scattering at higher energies, as well as the deuteron momentum distribution obtained from the [Formula: see text]-scaling analysis of electro-disintegration data — purely phenomenological potentials are best suited to describe nuclear dynamics at the scale relevant to neutron star matter and correlation effects in nuclei. The breakdown of the paradigm based on the description of nuclear systems in terms of point-like protons and neutrons is briefly discussed.
Measurement of cross-sections for charge pickup by 12C on elemental targets at 290MeV/n
Authors: Ma Tian-Li , Li Jun-Sheng , Li Hui-Ling , Xu Ming-Ming , Yang Rui-Xia , Zhang Zhi , Wang Qi , Kodaira Satoshi , Zhang Dong-Hai
Published: August 2021

The nuclear charge pickup cross-sections of [Formula: see text]C on CH2, C, Al, Cu and Pb targets at the highest energy of 288[Formula: see text]MeV/n were investigated using CR-39 nuclear track detector. The cross-section for H was calculated from those measured on C and CH2 targets. The dependence of charge pickup cross-section on target mass was investigated. It was found that the nuclear charge pickup cross-section of [Formula: see text]C at our studied beam energies seems to exponentially depend on the target mass with the fitting exponent [Formula: see text], which can be well explained by the peripheral and the surface collisions of the nuclear charge pickup reactions.
Financial Self-Efficacy in Family Business Environments
Authors: Antoncic Jasna Auer , Veselinovic Drasko , Antoncic Bostjan , Grbec Dalma Lorena , Li Zhaoyang
Published: August 2021

Entrepreneurial self-efficacy can have positive effects on entrepreneurship, company start-ups, and business growth. The family business environment has not yet been studied in relation to financial-self efficacy, a dimension of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. In order to address this research gap, this paper focuses on financial self-efficacy and how it relates to its antecedent — the family business environment. This study contributes to a better understanding of how financial self-efficacy has developed in the family business environment by building and checking a normative model. A hypothesis about family business environment experience and the financial self-efficacy relationship was developed and empirically tested using survey data from two countries. The findings of this research reveal the family business environment can make a difference in financial self-efficacy in certain economic contexts.
What Are the Main Questions, Approaches and Interpretations on Minority Entrepreneurship Literature? A Systematic Review
Authors: Cavalcanti André L. , Ferreira João J.
Published: August 2021

Based on a systematic review of the literature, this article seeks to analyse the main questions, interpretations, and typologies for minority entrepreneurship over recent decades. To this end, we made recourse to the Scopus database for our article collection process that returned 220 articles for analysis. The results enable the identification of seven congruent research units (categories), with their own respective approaches and contributions: i) attitudes and motivations; ii) barriers and challenges; iii) interventionist policies and cultures; iv) comparisons between minorities and non-minorities; v) networks and resources; vi) impact on the local economy; vii) autonomous employment or entrepreneurship through need. This study further contributes by enabling future researchers to target their efforts on the still poorly explored shortcomings in the literature and providing a temporal overview of this theme.
Bernstein–Sato functional equations, V-filtrations, and multiplier ideals of direct summands
Authors: Àlvarez Montaner Josep , Hernández Daniel J. , Jeffries Jack , Núñez-Betancourt Luis , Teixeira Pedro , Witt Emily E.
Published: August 2021

This paper investigates the existence and properties of a Bernstein–Sato functional equation in nonregular settings. In particular, we construct [Formula: see text]-modules in which such formal equations can be studied. The existence of the Bernstein–Sato polynomial for a direct summand of a polynomial over a field is proved in this context. It is observed that this polynomial can have zero as a root, or even positive roots. Moreover, a theory of [Formula: see text]-filtrations is introduced for nonregular rings, and the existence of these objects is established for what we call differentially extensible summands. This family of rings includes toric, determinantal, and other invariant rings. This new theory is applied to the study of multiplier ideals and Hodge ideals of singular varieties. Finally, we extend known relations among the objects of interest in the smooth case to the setting of singular direct summands of polynomial rings.
Branching rules and commuting probabilities for Triangular and Unitriangular matrices
Authors: Kaur Dilpreet , Sharma Uday Bhaskar , Singh Anupam
Published: August 2021

This paper concerns the enumeration of simultaneous conjugacy classes of [Formula: see text]-tuples of commuting matrices in the upper triangular group [Formula: see text] and unitriangular group [Formula: see text] over the finite field [Formula: see text] of odd characteristic. This is done for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], by computing the branching rules. Further, using the branching matrix thus computed, we explicitly get the commuting probabilities [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] in each case.
Properties and Performance of Eco-Friendly Hydro-Fluoro-Olefin (HFO) Refrigerant-R1234yf: Part I
Authors: Bibin B. S. , Gundabattini Edison
Published: August 2021

The creation of new age refrigerants might be the answer to the issue of an Earth-wide rise in temperature. Hence, while choosing new refrigerants a careful process is required. The general effect of any refrigerant substance on global warming, energy efficiency, ozone depletion, cost-effectiveness, chemical stability, and safety ought to be assessed. This paper sums up the experimental and numerical investigations directed with the globally accepted R1234yf refrigerant. The paper’s principal points are to assess the capability of the hydro-fluoro-olefin (HFO) refrigerant mainly R1234yf utilized in the refrigeration system (vapor compression systems, domestic refrigeration system) and to explore its utilization as an eco-friendly refrigerant. In the vapor compression refrigeration system, the cooling capacity and coefficient of performance of R1234yf are found to be less, 9% and 11%, respectively compared to that of R134a. But the power consumption of the system with R1234yf increased between 1.6% and 6.7% when compared to R134a. This paper likewise assists with recognizing the gap in the past research works and explores the possibilities for additional works.
A Virtual Method to Estimate the Aerodynamic Coefficients of UAV
Authors: Mohammed Zaouche , Khaled Foughali
Published: August 2021

In this work, a new approach for aircraft aerodynamic behavior identification by using virtual simulation is proposed. Both theoretical and experimental aspects are presented. A simulation environment, Microsoft Flight Simulator, is used as the test platform. To make the communication with this environment possible, a real-time interface that allows the read and/or write from and to the shared memory layer of this flight simulator is developed. Using this interface, the virtual aircrafts sensors are read and the commands are written to the inputs control (thrust, elevators, ailerons, trims, and rudder). Also, an identification of the aerodynamic coefficients’ derivatives using the total least square technique is presented. The piloting law expression is toughly tied to those derivatives which are unknown and not always available. The aircraft aerodynamic model is then used to calculate the aerodynamic coefficients. We determine the aerodynamic performances of the wing which is based on the polar drag, the computation of the maximum lift-to-drag coefficient ratio and the determination of the moment in which the aerodynamic stall phenomenon appears.
Quantum Mechanics from the Energy Circulation Theory — Wave Function Showing an Energy Location in the 3D Real Space
Authors: Nagao Shigeto
Published: August 2021

The Schrödinger equation is one of the cores in quantum mechanics, but bears a contradiction. In the process to obtain the energy and momentum operators, the relation [Formula: see text] is used for [Formula: see text]. However, when they are applied to the Hamiltonian equation, the kinetic energy is set as [Formula: see text]. Based on the Energy Circulation Theory, we examine in this paper the quantization of motions of a particle. We clarify in which situation and for what energy we can use the relation [Formula: see text]. We derive a wave equation de novo to provide wave functions representing a concrete motion and energy distribution of a particle. The Schrödinger equation has a similar form by chance but the mass in our new equation is that of energy quantum expressed by [Formula: see text], which is common for any energies of any particles and decided only by the moving speed. A solution shows an energy location in the 3D real space even if it is expressed in complex. When a motion of a particle gets in circle, its circular frequency becomes quantized. In an atom, an electron circulates around the hidden dimensional axis, and the circulation can further rotate. We propose the quantization conditions for the electron orbiting, and derive the wave functions in concrete for S and P orbitals, which are different from current perceptions. We also demonstrate that the uncertainty principle is not valid for a motion of a particle.
In Silico Approaches for Novel Drug Discovery Against Coronavirus by Employing the Hybrid Molecular Technique: A Review
Authors: Mohsin Noor ul Amin , Irfan Muhammad , Aamir Muhammad Naeem
Published: August 2021

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is causing havoc all around the world. The number of active cases and deaths is increasing day by day. The novel coronavirus (CoV) is the causative agent of this disease. For the time being, there is no specific antiviral agent for the cure of COVID-19. A variety of drugs are being repurposed to counteract this disease. Scientists all over the world are striving to get some ideal molecules against this pandemic. Some hybrid molecules have been designed by coupling the privileged scaffolds of known antiviral and antimalarial drugs. This review deals with the hybrid molecules that have been designed and evaluated against the known targets of CoV by in silico techniques.
Information and Research Science connecting to Digital and Library Science
Authors: Dosso Dennis , Ferilli Stefano , Manghi Paolo , Poggi Antonella , Serra Giuseppe , Silvello Gianmaria
Published: August 2021

Since 2005 the Italian Research Conference on Digital Libraries is a yearly date for researchers on Digital Libraries and related topics, organized by the Italian Research Community. Over the years, IRCDL has become an essential national forum focused on digital libraries and associated technical, practical, and social issues. IRCDL encompasses the many meanings of the term digital libraries, including new forms of information institutions; operational information systems with all manner of digital content; new means of selecting, collecting, organizing, and distributing digital content; and theoretical models of information media, including document genres and electronic publishing.
Dissecting Organismal Morphogenesis by Bridging Genetics and Biophysics
Authors: Mishra Nikhil , Heisenberg Carl-Philipp
Published: August 2021

Multicellular organisms develop complex shapes from much simpler, single-celled zygotes through a process commonly called morphogenesis. Morphogenesis involves an interplay between several factors, ranging from the gene regulatory networks determining cell fate and differentiation to the mechanical processes underlying cell and tissue shape changes. Thus, the study of morphogenesis has historically been based on multidisciplinary approaches at the interface of biology with physics and mathematics. Recent technological advances have further improved our ability to study morphogenesis by bridging the gap between the genetic and biophysical factors through the development of new tools for visualizing, analyzing, and perturbing these factors and their biochemical intermediaries. Here, we review how a combination of genetic, microscopic, biophysical, and biochemical approaches has aided our attempts to understand morphogenesis and discuss potential approaches that may be beneficial to such an inquiry in the future.
Sexually dimorphic changes in the endocrine pancreas and skeletal muscle in young adulthood following intra-amniotic IGF-I treatment of growth-restricted fetal sheep
Authors: Buckels Emma J. , Bloomfield Frank H. , Oliver Mark H. , Spiroski Ana-Mishel , Harding Jane E. , Jaquiery Anne L.
Published: August 2021

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with compromised metabolic function throughout adulthood. Here, we explored the long-term effects of fetal IGF-I therapy on the adult pancreas and skeletal muscle. This is the first study demonstrating that IGF-I therapy of FGR has sex-specific long-term effects at both the tissue and molecular level on metabolically active tissues in adult sheep.
The timing of intermittent hypoxia differentially affects macronutrient intake and energy substrate utilization in mice
Authors: Framnes-DeBoer Sarah N. , Jones Aaron A. , Kang Michelle Y. , Propsom Kat , Nelson Lauren R. , Arble Deanna M.
Published: August 2021

Pairing repeated hypoxic episodes to a mouse’s resting phase during the day preferentially decreases carbohydrate intake and results in a switch to metabolic fat oxidation. These data indicate that the timing of intermittent hypoxia should be considered when calculating sleep apnea’s effects on metabolic outcomes.
Application Value of Mathematical Models of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Differentiating Breast Cancer Lesions
Authors: Jiang Xiaolong , Chen Chao , Liu Jie , Liu Sheng
Published: August 2021

Objective. To determine the application value of the mono-exponential model, dual-exponential model, and stretched-exponential model of MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in breast cancer (BC) lesions. Methods. Totally 64 cases with BC admitted to our hospital between June 2019 and October 2020 were enrolled in this study. They had 71 lesions in total, including 40 benign tumor lesions (including 9 breast cyst lesions) and 31 malignant tumor lesions. After DWI examination, with normal glands as control, mono-exponential model (ADC) map, dual-exponential model (Standard-ADC) map, slow apparent diffusion coefficient (Slow-ADC) map, fast-apparent diffusion coefficient (Fast-ADC) map, and stretched-exponential model (DDC) map were processed, and corresponding values were generated. Then, the situation and significance of each parameter in breast cysts, benign breast tumor lesions, and malignant tumor lesions were analyzed. Results. The values of ADC, Standard-ADC, and DDC of breast cysts were higher than those of normal glands (all

P
<
0.05

), and the values of ADC and DDC of benign breast tumor lesions were lower than those of normal glands (

P
<
0.05

). In addition, malignant breast tumor lesions had lower values of ADC, Standard-ADC, Slow-ADC, and DDC and a higher Fast-ADC value compared to normal glands (all

P
<
0.05

). Compared with benign tumor lesions, malignant tumor lesions had lower values of ADC, Standard-ADC, Slow-ADC, and DDC and a higher value of Fast-ADC (all

P
<
0.05

). Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve-based analysis revealed that all the above models could be adopted to effectively evaluate the deterioration of benign breast tumor lesions (all

P
<
0.05

), and DDC value had the most significant diagnostic effect on malignant tumor lesions (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Both dual-exponential model and stretched-exponential model of DWI can help effectively evaluate the progression of benign breast tumors, and the stretched-exponential model is more effective in the diagnosis of malignant breast tumors. These models are of great help to the future clinical diagnosis of BC.
Direct-Contact Low-Frequency Ultrasound and Pulse Lavage Eradicates Biofilms on Implant Materials In Vitro
Authors: Wu Xiaoqing , Shi Xuanren , Chen Mingcong , Chen Xiaoyong , Zhang Chi , Zhang Xiaonan , Zhu Jinyu
Published: August 2021

Pulse lavage (PL) debridement and ultrasound are both known to be the treatment of biofilm-related periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). However, the efficacy of these in combination is unknown in eradicating biofilm from the orthopaedic metal implant surface. This study was conducted to understand the efficacy of PL and ultrasound in combination in eradicating bacterial biofilms on titanium alloy in vitro. Biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus strains were grown on titanium alloy coupons for 24 h. Then, the coupons were taken to each treatment group: (i) debrided with PL, (ii) exposed to ultrasound, or (iii) exposed to both. An untreated biofilm was set as a control group. Viable plate count and confocal microscopy using live/dead staining was used to measure the amount of biofilm. Viable plate count showed an approximate two-log reduction in CFU/cm2 in PL alone, from an initial cell count on the mental surface of approximately 109 CFU/cm2. The ultrasound caused an approximate seven-log reduction, and the combination group eradicated viable biofilm bacteria completely. Confocal imaging corroborated the CFU data. Our results indicate that PL and ultrasound both are remarkably in eradicating biofilm, and the combination of PL and ultrasound is more effective than alone in reducing biofilm.
Potential Effects of Dietary Isoflavones on Drug-Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Yao Liangliang , Nisar Muhammad Farrukh , Yan Tingdong , Wan Chunpeng (Craig)
Published: August 2021

Numerous prescribed drugs and herbal and dietary supplements have been reported to cause drug-induced acute liver injury, which is a frequent cause of acute liver failure (ALF). It is a tremendous challenge with ever-increasing drug application in the medication system for huge populations. Drug-induced acute liver injury can lead to diverse pathologies similar to acute and chronic hepatitis, acute liver failure, biliary obstruction, fatty liver disease, and so on. Recently, extensive work demonstrated that isoflavones play an essential and protecting role in drug-induced liver injury (DILI). The isoflavones mediated hepatoprotection by modulating specific genes linked with control of cellular redox homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Isoflavones upregulate oxidative stress-responsive nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2), downregulate inflammatory nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways, and modulate a balance between cell survival and death. Moreover, isoflavones actively inhibit the expression of cytochromes P450 (CYPs) enzyme during drug metabolism. Moreover, isoflavones are also linked with farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation and signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation in hepatoprotection DILI. In vivo and in vitro studies clearly stated that isoflavones bear strong antioxidant potential and promising agents for hepatotoxicity prevention and stressed their potential role as therapeutic supplements in DILI. The current review will elaborate on isoflavones’ preventive and therapeutic potential concisely and highlight various molecular targets to exert a protective effect on DILI.
Falkner–Skan Equation with Heat Transfer: A New Stochastic Numerical Approach
Authors: Khan Imran , Ullah Hakeem , AlSalman Hussain , Fiza Mehreen , Islam Saeed , Zahoor Raja Asif , Shoaib Mohammad , Gumaei Abdu H.
Published: August 2021

In this study, a new computing model is developed using the strength of feedforward neural networks with the Levenberg–Marquardt method- (NN-BLMM-) based backpropagation technique. It is used to find a solution for the nonlinear system obtained from the governing equations of Falkner–Skan with heat transfer (FSE-HT). Moreover, the partial differential equations (PDEs) for the unsteady squeezing flow of heat and mass transfer of the viscous fluid are converted into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with the help of similarity transformation. A dataset for the proposed NN-BLMM-based model is generated in different scenarios by a variation of various embedding parameters, Deborah number (

β

) and Prandtl number (Pr). The training (TR), testing (TS), and validation (VD) of the NN-BLMM model are evaluated in the generated scenarios to compare the obtained results with the reference results. For the fluidic system convergence analysis, a number of metrics such as the mean square error (MSE), error histogram (EH), and regression (RG) plots are utilized for measuring the effectiveness and performance of the NN-BLMM infrastructure model. The experiments showed that comparisons between the results of the proposed model and the reference results match in terms of convergence up to E-05 to E-10. This proves the validity of the NN-BLMM model. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that there is an increase in the velocity profile and a decrease in the thickness of the thermal boundary layer by increasing the Deborah number. Also, the thickness of the thermal boundary layer is decreased by increasing the Prandtl number.
Effects of Unidirectional In Situ Stress on Crack Propagation of a Jointed Rock Mass Subjected to Stress Wave
Authors: Fan Zhanfeng , Cai Jianhua
Published: August 2021

This paper proposes a large‐scale experiment combined with multiple cement mortar blocks to simulate stress wave propagation across a jointed rock mass under unidirectional in situ stress. Two identical mortar block models with smooth, dry, and unfilled joints were poured. The stress waves in Model 1 and Model 2 were generated by an electric spark source and a blast‐induced source, respectively. The effects of these two excitation sources on stress wave propagation were compared through crack propagation experiments. The experimental results show that the peak value of the transmitted strain wave decreases as the in situ stress increases. The unidirectional in situ stress has a certain inhibitory effect on the stress wave propagation. It also indicates that for Model 1 with the electric spark source, no cracks on the upper surface, but a Livingstone blasting crater at the bottom is generated. For Model 2 with the blast‐induced source, cracks on the upper surface and a blasting crater at the bottom are produced. The results verify the similarity between the electric spark source and the explosive source. The two‐dimensional finite element program (ANSYS/LS‐DYNA) was applied to further simulate the crack propagation of a jointed rock mass under different in situ stresses. The results of numerical simulation verify that the in situ stress has a clear guiding effect on the crack propagation.
Socioeconomic Status and Its Relation to Hypertension in Rural Nepal
Authors: Bhattarai Sanju , Tandstad Birgit , Shrestha Archana , Karmacharya Biraj , Sen Abhijit
Published: August 2021

Introduction. Hypertension and its association with socioeconomic positions are well established. However, the gradient of these relationships and the mediating role of lifestyle factors among rural population in low- and middle-income countries such as Nepal are not fully understood. We sought to assess the association between socioeconomic factors (education, income, and employment status) and hypertension. Also, we assessed whether the effect of education and income level on hypertension was mediated by lifestyle factors. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 participants aged ≥18 years attending a rural health center in Dolakha, Nepal. Self-reported data on demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors were collected, and blood pressure, weight, and height were measured for all study participants. Those with systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg or administrating high blood pressure-lowering medicines were regarded as hypertensives. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the prevalence ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals to assess the association between socioeconomic factors and hypertension. We explored mediation, using the medeff command in Stata for causal mediation analysis of nonlinear models. Results. Of the 50 hypertensive participants, sixty percent were aware of their status. The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension was two times higher for those with higher education or high-income category. Compared to low-income and unemployed groups, the prevalence ratio of hypertension was 1.33 and 2.26 times more for those belonging to the high-income and employed groups, respectively. No evidence of mediation by lifestyle factors was observed between socioeconomic status and hypertension. Conclusions. Socioeconomic positions were positively associated with hypertension prevalence in rural Nepal. Further studies using longitudinal settings are necessary to validate our findings especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Nepal.
Interpretation of Electrocardiogram Heartbeat by CNN and GRU
Authors: Yao Guoliang , Mao Xiaobo , Li Nan , Xu Huaxing , Xu Xiangyang , Jiao Yi , Ni Jinhong
Published: August 2021

The diagnosis of electrocardiogram (ECG) is extremely onerous and inefficient, so it is necessary to use a computer-aided diagnosis of ECG signals. However, it is still a challenging problem to design high-accuracy ECG algorithms suitable for the medical field. In this paper, a classification method is proposed to classify ECG signals. Firstly, wavelet transform is used to denoise the original data, and data enhancement technology is used to overcome the problem of an unbalanced dataset. Secondly, an integrated convolutional neural network (CNN) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) classifier is proposed. The proposed network consists of a convolution layer, followed by 6 local feature extraction modules (LFEM), a GRU, and a Dense layer and a Softmax layer. Finally, the processed data were input into the CNN-GRU network into five categories: nonectopic beats, supraventricular ectopic beats, ventricular ectopic beats, fusion beats, and unknown beats. The MIT-BIH arrhythmia database was used to evaluate the approach, and the average sensitivity, accuracy, and F1-score of the network for 5 types of ECG were 99.33%, 99.61%, and 99.42%. The evaluation criteria of the proposed method are superior to other state-of-the-art methods, and this model can be applied to wearable devices to achieve high-precision monitoring of ECG.
Biobjective Scheduling for Joint Parallel Machines with Sequence-Dependent Setup by Taking Pareto-Based Approach
Authors: Srisuruk Wichai , Sudtachat Kanchala , Horkaew Paramate
Published: August 2021

Modern factories have been moving toward just-in-time manufacturing paradigm. Optimal resource scheduling is therefore essential to minimize manufacturing cost and product delivery delay. This paper therefore focuses on scheduling multiple unrelated parallel machines, via Pareto approach. With the proposed strategy, additional realistic concerns are addressed. Particularly, contingencies regarding product dependencies as well as machine capacity and its eligibility are also considered. Provided a jobs list, each with a distinct resource work hour capacity, this novel scheduling is aimed at minimizing manufacturing costs, while maintaining the balance of machine utilization. To this end, different computational intelligence algorithms, i.e., adaptive nearest neighbour search and modified tabu search, are employed in turn and then benchmarked and validated against combinatorial mathematical baseline, on both small and large problem sets. The experiments reported herein were made on MATLAB™ software. The resultant manufacturing plans obtained by these algorithms are thoroughly assessed and discussed.
In Vivo Antiplasmodial Activity and Toxicological Analyses of the Ethanolic Leaf and Twig Extract of Faurea speciosa Welw. (Proteaceae)
Authors: Ayisi Felix , Mensah Caleb Nketia , Borquaye Lawrence Sheringham
Published: August 2021

In Africa, medicinal plants are commonly used to treat malaria and other diseased conditions. The ethanolic leaf and twig extract of Faurea speciosa has been shown to possess promising antiplasmodial properties. This present study was aimed at investigating its antiplasmodial effect in vivo. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out on the plant samples using standard methods. The antiplasmodial effect against early infection, curative effect against established infection, and prophylactic effect against residual infection were studied in vivo in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice while the carrageenan-induced edema model in chicks was used for anti-inflammatory tests. The phosphomolybdenum and DPPH radical scavenging assays were used in the evaluation of antioxidant potential. Acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines. Phytochemical screening of plant samples revealed the presence of flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, saponins, and glycosides. Faurea speciosa leaf and twig extract exhibited significant antiplasmodial activities in the mouse model with parasite suppression rates of 66.63%, 71.70%, and 56.93% in the suppressive, curative, and prophylactic tests, respectively. A 55.50% reduction of edema in the anti-inflammatory test indicated moderate success in reducing inflammation. The total antioxidant capacity of the extract was determined to be 65.4 mg AAE/g of extract, while in the DPPH radical scavenging assay, the IC50 value was found to be 499.4 μg/mL. With the exception of an inconsistent rise in urea level, there was no significant difference in the other biochemistry parameters in the acute toxicity studied. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was over 2000 mg/kg. The results of this study show that Faurea speciosa leaf and twig extract has promising antimalarial capabilities and is fairly safe at low concentrations.
Parallel Swarm Intelligent Motion Planning with Energy‐Balanced for Multirobot in Obstacle Environment
Authors: Su Shoubao , Zhao Wei , Wang Chishe
Published: August 2021

Multirobot motion planning is always one of the critical techniques in edge intelligent systems, which involve a variety of algorithms, such as map modeling, path search, and trajectory optimization and smoothing. To overcome the slow running speed and imbalance of energy consumption, a swarm intelligence solution based on parallel computing is proposed to plan motion paths for multirobot with many task nodes in a complex scene that have multiple irregularly‐shaped obstacles, which objective is to find a smooth trajectory under the constraints of the shortest total distance and the energy‐balanced consumption for all robots to travel between nodes. In a practical scenario, the imbalance of task allocation will inevitably lead to some robots stopping on the way. Thus, we firstly model a gridded scene as a weighted MTSP (multitraveling salesman problem) in which the weights are the energies of obstacle constraints and path length. Then, a hybridization of particle swarm and ant colony optimization (GPSO‐AC) based on a platform of Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) is presented to find the optimal path for the weighted MTSPs. Next, we improve the A∗ algorithm to generate a weighted obstacle avoidance path on the gridded map, but there are still many sharp turns on it. Therefore, an improved smooth grid path algorithm is proposed by integrating the dynamic constraints in this paper to optimize the trajectory smoothly, to be more in line with the law of robot motion, which can more realistically simulate the multirobot in a real scene. Finally, experimental comparisons with other methods on the designed platform of GPUs demonstrate the applicability of the proposed algorithm in different scenarios, and our method strikes a good balance between energy consumption and optimality, with significantly faster and better performance than other considered approaches, and the effects of the adjustment coefficient q on the performance of the algorithm are also discussed in the experiments.
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Potential and Comparison of HPLC Composition, Secondary Metabolites Count, and Antioxidant Activity of Mentha rotundifolia and Mentha pulegium Extracts
Authors: Alharbi Nada K. , Naghmouchi Souheila , Al-Zaban Mayasar
Published: August 2021

In the present study, the relationship between the phenolic counts, chemical composition, and biological activities of two Mentha species (Mentha rotundifolia (MR) and Mentha pulegium (MP)) was analyzed. The characterization of the action mode against pathogenic bacteria and the inhibition of spore germination of two fungal species using prepared methanolic extracts were studied here for the first time. The obtained data highlighted the presence of positive correlation between the secondary metabolites contents and the biological activities of the investigated extracts. In fact, HPLC analysis showed that the major components in both the extracts were eriocitrin and rosmarinic acid (25 and 20 mg/ml and 12 and 8 mg/ml in methanolic extracts of MR and MP, respectively). Moreover, the MR extract was rich in polyphenols and presents the highest antioxidant activity than MP ones. In addition, both extracts possess an antimicrobial activity against four Gram-positive and five Gram-negative bacteria and one yeast species (Candida albicans) and were able to inhibit the spore germination of two fungi species (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus). But, the significant activity was observed in the presence of MR methanolic extract. The effect of time on cell integrity of E. coli and L. monocytogenes determined by time-kill and bacteriolysis assays showed that the MR extract had a rapid bacteriolytic effect compared to the MP extract, and their capacities were significant against Gram-negative bacteria than positive ones. Based on the obtained data, it can be concluded that Saudi Mentha species have high pharmacological and industrial importance and they can be used in preparation of food or drugs.
Analysis of Glomerular IgG Subclasses Switch in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy Classified by Glomerular Phospholipase A2 Receptor Antigen and Serum Antibody
Authors: Cui Hao-yuan , Li Chao , Li Hang , Wen Yu-bing , Duan Lin , Li Yan , Yan Xi-wei , Hu Yu-ting , Chen Li-meng , Li Xue-mei
Published: August 2021

Background. The role of IgG subclass in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) was unclarified. Recent study found IgG subtype switches from IgG1 to IgG4 in the early pathological stage in IMN. The profile of IgG subclass in phospholipase A2 receptor- (PLA2R-) related and PLA2R-unrelated IMN was unrevealed. Our study is aimed at testifying whether IgG subclass switch existed in PLA2R-related and PLA2R-unrelated IMN, respectively. Methods. Our study retrospectively enrolled 157 Chinese patients with biopsy-confirmed IMN between September 2017 and November 2019. We measured glomerular PLA2R antigen and serum anti-PLA2R antibody to classify the patients into PLA2R-related (

n
=
132

) and PLA2R-unrelated (

n
=
25

) subgroup. We evaluated glomerular IgG subclass by immunofluorescence (IF) predominance. Our study defined IgG subclass deposition as predominant if the IF score was higher than the other three and ≥1 +, or as codominant if the IF intensity was equal to any other and ≥1 +. We explored the relationship between IF predominance of glomerular IgG subtype and electron microscopic (EM) stages of IMN. Results. We did not find statistical difference of predominant or codominant rate (pre/co-rate) among EM stages in any subclass (

P
>
0.05

). Pre/co-rate of IgG3 linearly associated with EM stage in total and PLA2R-related subgroup (

P
=
0.044

,

P
=
0.013

). PLA2R-related subgroup showed higher IgG4 intensity (

2.1
±
0.6

vs.

1.6
±
0.7

,

P
=
0.001

) and pre/co-rate of IgG4 in stage 1 (97% vs. 57%,

P
=
0.015

) than PLA2R-unrelated group. We found no difference of IgG subclass pre/co-rate in different EM stages or linear association between pre/co-rate of IgG1, IgG2, IgG4, and EM stages (

P
>
0.05

). Conclusions. Pre/co-rate of IgG3 declined with EM stage in total and PLA2R-related subgroup. We did not find IgG subclass switches from IgG1 to IgG4 in either IMN patients or subgroups.
Experimental Study on the Shearing Behaviour on the Interface between Coarse Sand and Concrete under High Stress
Authors: Tan Junkun , Guo Jiaqi , Qiao Shifan , Dong Changrui , Cai Ziyong , Wang Gang
Published: August 2021

The shear behaviour on the interface between soil and structure is a research hot point. Based on the RMT-150B rock mechanics test system, a series of high-stress direct tests were performed on the coarse sand under the condition of different moisture contents and concrete substrates with different rough and hardness. The results showed that the shear stress-displacement curve and volumetric strain-displacement curve of the interface under high stress could be fitted by a hyperbolic model; the ultimate shear strength and initial shear stiffness of the interface both increased with the normal stress while the shear stiffness decreased with the shear displacement. The crushing rate of the coarse sand particles on the interface increased with the normal stress. After the range analysis for the influencing factors of the interface’s shearing behaviour, it was shown that for the ultimate shear strength, their sequence of influencing degree was normal stress, the roughness of interface, moisture content, and hardness of concrete base; for the initial shear strength, the sequence was normal stress, moisture content, interface roughness, and basal hardness. As for dry sand, the possibility of relative particle crushing was higher than that of sand with a moisture content of 8%, and a peak of crushing occurred when the moisture content was 16%.
Exploring Functional Differences between the Right and Left Ventricles to Better Understand Right Ventricular Dysfunction
Authors: Bernal-Ramirez Judith , Díaz-Vesga Magda C. , Talamilla Matias , Méndez Andrea , Quiroga Clara , Garza-Cervantes Javier A. , Lázaro-Alfaro Anay , Jerjes-Sanchez Carlos , Henríquez Mauricio , García-Rivas Gerardo , Pedrozo Zully
Published: August 2021

The right and left ventricles have traditionally been studied as individual entities. Furthermore, modifications found in diseased left ventricles are assumed to influence on right ventricle alterations, but the connection is poorly understood. In this review, we describe the differences between ventricles under physiological and pathological conditions. Understanding the mechanisms that differentiate both ventricles would facilitate a more effective use of therapeutics and broaden our knowledge of right ventricle (RV) dysfunction. RV failure is the strongest predictor of mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension, but at present, there are no definitive therapies directly targeting RV failure. We further explore the current state of drugs and molecules that improve RV failure in experimental therapeutics and clinical trials to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and provide evidence of their potential benefits in heart failure.
Neural Crest-Like Stem Cell Transcriptome Analysis Identifies LPAR1 in Melanoma Progression and Therapy Resistance
Authors: Liu Jianglan , Rebecca Vito W. , Kossenkov Andrew V. , Connelly Thomas , Liu Qin , Gutierrez Alexis , Xiao Min , Li Ling , Zhang Gao , Samarkina Anastasia , Zayasbazan Delaine , Zhang Jie , Cheng Chaoran , Wei Zhi , Alicea Gretchen M. , Fukunaga-Kalabis Mizuho , Krepler Clemens , Aza-Blanc Pedro , Yang Chih-Cheng , Delvadia Bela , Tong Cynthia , Huang Ye , Delvadia Maya , Morias Alice S. , Sproesser Katrin , Brafford Patricia , Wang Joshua X. , Beqiri Marilda , Somasundaram Rajasekharan , Vultur Adina , Hristova Denitsa M. , Wu Lawrence W. , Lu Yiling , Mills Gordon B. , Xu Wei , Karakousis Giorgos C. , Xu Xiaowei , Schuchter Lynn M. , Mitchell Tara C. , Amaravadi Ravi K. , Kwong Lawrence N. , Frederick Dennie T. , Boland Genevieve M. , Salvino Joseph M. , Speicher David W. , Flaherty Keith T. , Ronai Ze'ev A. , Herlyn Meenhard
Published: August 2021

Metastatic melanoma is challenging to clinically address. Although standard-of-care targeted therapy has high response rates in patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma, therapy relapse occurs in most cases. Intrinsically resistant melanoma cells drive therapy resistance and display molecular and biologic properties akin to neural crest-like stem cells (NCLSC) including high invasiveness, plasticity, and self-renewal capacity. The shared transcriptional programs and vulnerabilities between NCLSCs and cancer cells remains poorly understood. Here, we identify a developmental LPAR1-axis critical for NCLSC viability and melanoma cell survival. LPAR1 activity increased during progression and following acquisition of therapeutic resistance. Notably, genetic inhibition of LPAR1 potentiated BRAFi ± MEKi efficacy and ablated melanoma migration and invasion. Our data define LPAR1 as a new therapeutic target in melanoma and highlights the promise of dissecting stem cell–like pathways hijacked by tumor cells.

Significance:

This study identifies an LPAR1-axis critical for melanoma invasion and intrinsic/acquired therapy resistance.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Du Jingyi , Sun Guoliang , Ma Han , Xiang Ping , Guo Yue , Deng Yifan , Li Shangrong , Li Xiang
Published: August 2021

Objectives: Pain and psychological disorders are the 2 most commonly occurring symptom clusters in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for anxiety and depressive disorders in patients with PHN. Methods: Retrospectively, we examined the potential risk factors of anxiety and depression among patients with PHN from the clinic medical records of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from 2017 to 2019. The Chinese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess anxiety and depression. Patients were retrospectively allocated to 2 groups – PHN with and without anxiety/depression – and compared to identify the differential patient characteristics. Results: Cases of 661 patients who were diagnosed with PHN were included. Anxiety and depression developed in 69.0% (456/661) and 65.8% (435/661) of the enrolled patients with PHN, respectively. Results of univariate regression analyses showed that female sex, magnitude of pain intensity, time from onset of rash and extent of spread of rashes were significantly associated with anxiety and depression in patients with PHN. Multivariate analysis revealed that both anxiety and depression states significantly correlated with female sex, magnitude of pain intensity, and extent of spread of rashes. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression were not uncommon in patients with PHN. Women with PHN who experience severe pain and develop extensive rashes have a high risk of developing anxiety and depressive disorders.
Long-Term Body Mass Index Variability, Weight Change Slope, and Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes: 7-Year Prospective Study in Chinese Hypertensive Subjects
Authors: Cai Zefeng , Wu Weiqiang , Chen Zekai , Fang Wei , Li Weijian , Chen Guanzhi , Chen Zhichao , Wu Shouling , Chen Youren
Published: August 2021

Background: The relationship between long-term body mass index (BMI) variability, weight change slope, and risk of cardiovascular outcomes in Chinese hypertensive patients has not been fully elucidated. Methods: A total of 20,737 patients with hypertension and three BMI measurements between 2006 and 2011 were included. Average real variability (ARV) was used to evaluate variability, and the subjects were divided into three groups: tertile 1 with BMI_ARV ≤0.86; tertile 2 with 0.86 < BMI_ARV ≤ 1.60; and tertile 3 with BMI_ARV >1.60. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to analyze the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in each group. Results: There were 1,352 cases of CVD during an average follow-up of 6.62 years. The 7-year cumulative incidence rates of CVD, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) in tertile 3 were 7.53, 6.13, and 1.56%, respectively. After adjustment for average BMI, weight change slope, and other traditional risk factors, the hazard ratio (HR) values for CVD, stroke, and MI in the highest tertile were 1.21 (95% CI 1.05–1.39), 1.21 (95% CI 1.04–1.38), and 1.20 (95% CI 0.88–1.62), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the HR values for CVD in tertile 3 were 1.71 (95% CI 1.06–2.75) and 0.98 (95% CI 0.61–1.58) in the positive and the negative weight change subjects, respectively. Conclusions: Higher BMI variability was associated with increased risk of CVD in hypertensive subjects with weight gain but not in those with weight loss, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Microbiomes and Childhood Malnutrition: What Is the Evidence?
Authors: McGuire Michelle K. , McGuire Mark A.
Published: August 2021

Both undernutrition and overnutrition continue to represent enduring global health crises, and with the growing implications of both forms of malnutrition occurring simultaneously in individuals and populations (referred to as the double burden of malnutrition), understanding their biological and environmental causes is a primary research and humanitarian necessity. There is growing evidence of a bidirectional association between variation in the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome and risk of/resilience to malnutrition during early life. For example, studies of siblings who discordantly do or do not develop severe malnutrition show clear differences in the diversity and composition of fecal microbiomes. These differences are transiently lessened during refeeding but re-emerge thereafter. These findings have been somewhat recapitulated using animal models, but small sample sizes and limited range complicate interpretation of results and applicability to humans. Mechanisms driving these differences are currently unknown but likely involve a combination of inflammatory pathways (and perhaps antioxidant status of the host) and effects on nutrient availability, requirements, and utilization by both host and microbe. A less robust literature also suggests that variation in GI microbiome is associated with risk for obesity during childhood. The putative impact of GI microbiomes on malnutrition is likely modified by a variety of important variables such as genetics (likely driven, in part, by evolution), environmental pathogen exposure and its timing, dietary factors, and cultural/societal pattern (e.g., use of antibiotics). Given the growing double burden of malnutrition, this topic demands a focused interdisciplinary approach that expands from merely characterizing differences and longitudinal changes in fecal microbes to examining their functionality during early life. Understanding the complex composition of human milk and how its components impact establishment and maintenance of the recipient infant’s GI microbiome will also undoubtedly shed important light on this topic.