bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID‐19 on Blood Donation and Supply: A Multicenter Cross‐Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hakami Nora Y. , Al-Sulami Afnan J. , Alhazmi Wafaa A. , Qadah Talal H. , Bawazir Waleed M. , Hamadi Abdullah Y. , Owaidah Amani Y. , Alhefzi Razan A. , Hamdi Fawaz Y. , Maqnas Amr , Alghassab Ghassab F. , Badawi Maha A. , Hindawi Salwa I.
Published: January 2022

Background. The coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused a major impact on blood donation process and supply globally. A lockdown management procedure was launched nationally in Saudi Arabia to manage this global health crisis. The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of COVID‐19 lockdown on blood donation services and supply in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Study Design and Methods. A retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted in the blood bank centers of 5 major cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Hail, and Jizan in Saudi Arabia. Demographic and blood characteristics were retrieved from the first 6 months of 2019 (January–June) and compared to the same period of 2020. Results. Our findings showed variation in the characteristics of blood donation and supply among the centers surveyed, as some of these centers were adversely affected, while others showed an increase in the availability of blood products during the pandemic. For example, Jeddah’s center was significantly affected by COVID‐19 lockdown whereas Hail’s center showed a significant increase in the analyzed characteristics of blood donation services in 2020 compared to 2019. Overall, there was no major difference among the surveyed centers between 2020 and 2019, and this might be due to the effective management of blood supply and transfusion. Discussion. Although blood supply and transfusion practice was slightly affected at various degree among the surveyed centers, the whole process did not show a significant effect on the overall outcome. This is in fact due to the proper preparedness, management of blood requirements and supplies, and efficient response of the surveyed centers in Saudi Arabia.
Aluminum Poisoning with Emphasis on Its Mechanism and Treatment of Intoxication
Authors: Rahimzadeh Mehrdad Rafati , Rahimzadeh Mehravar Rafati , Kazemi Sohrab , Amiri Roghayeh Jafarian , Pirzadeh Marzieh , Moghadamnia Ali Akbar
Published: January 2022

Aluminum poisoning has been reported in some parts of the world. It is one of the global health problems that affect many organs. Aluminum is widely used daily by humans and industries. Residues of aluminum compounds can be found in drinking water, food, air, medicine, deodorants, cosmetics, packaging, many appliances and equipment, buildings, transportation industries, and aerospace engineering. Exposure to high levels of aluminum compounds leads to aluminum poisoning. Aluminum poisoning has complex and multidimensional effects, such as disruption or inhibition of enzymes activities, changing protein synthesis, nucleic acid function, and cell membrane permeability, preventing DNA repair, altering the stability of DNA organization, inhibition of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inducing oxidative stress, decreasing activity of antioxidant enzymes, altering cellular iron homeostasis, and changing NF-kB, p53, and JNK pathway leading to apoptosis. Aluminum poisoning can affect blood content, musculoskeletal system, kidney, liver, and respiratory and nervous system, and the extent of poisoning can be diagnosed by assaying aluminum compounds in blood, urine, hair, nails, and sweat. Chelator agents such as deferoxamine (DFO) are used in the case of aluminum poisoning. Besides, combination therapies are recommended.
Effects of Modified Wenjing Decoction Combined with Online Publicity and Education on the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea of Cold Coagulation and Blood Stasis
Authors: Li Na , Li Jie , Gai Pengpeng
Published: January 2022

Objective. To explore the effects of modified Wenjing decoction combined with online publicity and education on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea of cold coagulation and blood stasis. Methods. The materials of 111 patients with primary dysmenorrhea of cold coagulation and blood stasis in the outpatient department (January 2019–June 2021) were collected to conduct the retrospective study. The 111 patients were randomized into treatment group (n = 59) and control group (n = 52). The control group received online publicity and education and conventional treatment, and the treatment group received online publicity and education and modified Wenjing decoction. The patients in the two groups were continuously treated for three menstrual cycles. The treatment effects, the dosage of analgesics, the scores of associated symptoms before and after treatment, and other indexes were compared between the two groups. Results. The differences in the efficacy on abdominal pain were statistically significant between the two groups

P
<
0.05

. Compared with the control group, the treatment group had lower scores of associated symptoms after treatment

p
<
0.5

. After the treatment of three menstrual cycles, 54 patients in the treatment group stopped taking ibuprofen, and the average ibuprofen dosage of the other 5 patients was (0.24 ± 0.16)g. The 52 patients in the control group still needed to take ibuprofen, and the mean dosage was (0.51 ± 0.05)g. The differences in the ibuprofen dosage between the two groups had remarkable difference

P
<
0.001

. Conclusion. Modified Wenjing decoction combined with online publicity and education can obviously improve the clinical symptoms of the patients with primary dysmenorrhea of cold coagulation and blood stasis and reduce the dosage of analgesics. It is worth promoting and applying in practice.
A Hybrid Model for Predicting Steering Brake Squeal Based on Multibody Dynamics and Finite Element Methods
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Dong Yongchao , Meng Dejian , Li Wenbo
Published: January 2022

In recent years, the problem of automotive brake squeal during steering braking has attracted attention. Under the conditions of squealing, the loading of sprung mass is transferred, and lateral force is generated on the tire, resulting in stress and deformation of the suspension system. To predict the steering brake squeal propensity and explore its mechanism, we established a hybrid model of multibody dynamics and finite element methods to transfer the displacement values of each suspension connection point between two models. We successfully predicted the occurrence of steering brake squeal using the complex eigenvalue analysis method. Thereafter, we analyzed the interface pressure distribution between the pads and disc, and the results showed that the distribution grew uneven with an increase in the steering wheel angle. In addition, changes in the contact and restraint conditions between the pads and disc are the key mechanisms for steering brake squeal.
The Role of Oxidative Stress in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Authors: Cao Guoshuai , Yang Sidong , Cao Jianye , Tan Zixuan , Wu Linyu , Dong Fang , Ding Wenyuan , Zhang Feng
Published: January 2022

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a very common type of degenerative disease causing severe socioeconomic impact, as well as a major cause of discogenic low back pain and herniated discs, placing a heavy burden on patients and the clinicians who treat them. IDD is known to be associating with a complex process involving in extracellular matrix and cellular damage, and in recent years, there is increasing evidence that oxidative stress is an important activation mechanism of IDD and that reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species regulate matrix metabolism, proinflammatory phenotype, autophagy and senescence in intervertebral disc cells, apoptosis, autophagy, and senescence. Despite the tremendous efforts of researchers within the field of IDD pathogenesis, the proven strategies to prevent and treat this disease are still very limited. Up to now, several antioxidants have been proved to be effective for alleviating IDD. In this article, we discussed that oxidative stress accelerates disc degeneration by influencing aging, inflammation, autophagy, and DNA methylation, and summarize some antioxidant therapeutic measures for IDD, indicating that antioxidant therapy for disc degeneration holds excellent promise.
The Effect of Problem-Based Learning on Metacognitive Ability in the Conjecturing Process of Junior High School Students
Authors: Sutarto  , Dwi Hastuti Intan , Fuster-Guillén Doris , Palacios Garay Jessica Paola , Hernández Ronald M. , Namaziandost Ehsan
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to analyze the effect of problem-based learning on metacognitive abilities in the conjecturing process of junior high school students. To reach this purpose, a mixed-methods design, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, was used. The quantitative method was used to analyze the metacognitive abilities of the students’ conjecturing process, while the qualitative method was used to explore observation and interview data. The subjects of this study consisted of 60 eighth-grade students. Two learning models were compared, namely the problem-based learning model and the conventional learning model. The metacognitive abilities of students’ conjecturing process were measured by a pattern generalization problem-solving test. After collecting the data and analyzing them through the independent-samples t-test, it was revealed that the PBL had a significant effect on the metacognitive abilities of students’ conjecturing process in solving pattern generalization problems. Finally, based on the results, some conclusions and implications were suggested.
Zika Virus Prediction Using AI-Driven Technology and Hybrid Optimization Algorithm in Healthcare
Authors: Dadheech Pankaj , Mehbodniya Abolfazl , Tiwari Shivam , Kumar Sarvesh , Singh Pooja , Gupta Sweta , Atiglah Henry kwame
Published: January 2022

The Zika virus presents an extraordinary public health hazard after spreading from Brazil to the Americas. In the absence of credible forecasts of the outbreak's geographic scope and infection frequency, international public health agencies were unable to plan and allocate surveillance resources efficiently. An RNA test will be done on the subjects if they are found to be infected with Zika virus. By training the specified characteristics, the suggested Hybrid Optimization Algorithm such as multilayer perceptron with probabilistic optimization strategy gives forth a greater accuracy rate. The MATLAB program incorporates numerous machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence methodologies. It reduces forecast time while retaining excellent accuracy. The projected classes are encrypted and sent to patients. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and TRIPLE Data Encryption Standard (TEDS) are combined to make this possible (DES). The experimental outcomes improve the accuracy of patient results communication. Cryptosystem processing acquires minimal timing of 0.15 s with 91.25 percent accuracy.
Monitoring Urban Expansion and Loss of Agriculture on the North Coast of West Java Province, Indonesia, Using Google Earth Engine and Intensity Analysis
Authors: Gandharum Laju , Hartono Djoko Mulyo , Karsidi Asep , Ahmad Mubariq
Published: January 2022

Uncontrolled urban expansion resulting from urbanization has a disastrous impact on agricultural land. This situation is being experienced by the densely populated and fertile island Java in Indonesia. Remote sensing technologies have developed rapidly in recent years, including the creation of Google Earth Engine (GEE). Intensity analysis (IA) is increasingly being used to systematically and substantially analyze land-use/land-cover (LULC) change. As yet, however, no study of land conversion from agriculture to urban areas in Indonesia has adopted GEE and IA approaches simultaneously. Therefore, this study aims to monitor urban penetration to agricultural land in the north coastal region of West Java Province by applying both methods to two time intervals: 2003–2013 and 2013–2020. Landsat data and a robust random forest (RF) classifier available in GEE were chosen for producing LULC maps. Monitoring LULC change using GEE and IA has demonstrated reliable findings. The overall accuracy of Landsat image classification results for 2003, 2013, and 2020 were 88%, 87%, and 88%, respectively. IA outputs at interval levels for all categories showed that the annual change-of-area rate was higher during 2013–2020 than during 2003–2013. At the category level, IA results showed that the area of agricultural land experienced net losses in both periods, with net loss in 2013–2020 being 2.3 times greater than that in 2003–2013 (∼1,850 ha per year). In contrast, the built-up area made net gains in both periods, reaching almost twice as much in the second period as in the first (∼2,030 ha per year). The transition-level IA performed proved that agricultural land had been the primary target for the expansion of built-up areas. The most extensive spatial distribution of land conversion from agriculture to built-up area was concentrated in the regencies of Bekasi, Karawang, and Cirebon. These findings are intended to provide stakeholders with enrichment in terms of available literature and with valuable inputs useful for identifying better urban and regional planning policies in Indonesia and similar regions.
Potential of Wood Harvesting Residues and Residual Stand Damage due to Timber Harvesting: A Case Study at PT Austral Byna in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Suhartana Sona , Yuniawati  , Gandaseca Seca , Dulsalam  , Soenarno  , Ratnasingam Jegatheswaran
Published: January 2022

The practice of timber harvesting in natural forests which has been conducted up to now still leaves wood harvesting residue and residual stand damage. Most condition of wood harvesting residue is still good and can be utilized. The objective of this research was to determine the potency of wood harvesting residue and residual stand damage on timber harvesting in natural forests. The data on wood utilization, wood harvesting residue, and residual damage were collected from three sample plots. The sample plots were arranged in a systematic and purposive manner, and the data were processed with tabulation and average analysis. Research results showed that the average volume of wood being utilized was 9.212 m3 tree−1. The average volume of wood harvesting residues was 2.310 m3 tree−1, and the total average volume of wood harvesting residues which were good, defected, and broken was 2.121 m3 (80.952%), with an average volume for good wood harvesting residue condition of 1.038 m3 (34.808%). Proportions of wood harvesting residues were 2.154 m3 (94.444%) consisting of buttress as large as 0.102 m3 (5.159%), stumps as large as 0.375 m3 tree−1 (23.597%), butt as large as 0.855 m3 (35.930%), and end part as large as 0.821 m3 (29.758%). The average number of trees with a diameter of 20 cm which were damaged due to felling and skidding was 5 trees ha−1 (5.40%) and 6 trees ha−1 (6.58%), respectively.
Properties of Functions with Symmetric Points Involving Subordination
Authors: Raza Malik Ali , Bukhari Syed Zakar Hussain , Ahmed Imtiaz , Ashfaq Muhammad , Nazir Maryam
Published: January 2022

We study a new subclass of functions with symmetric points and derive an equivalent formulation of these functions in term of subordination. Moreover, we find coefficient estimates and discuss characterizations for functions belonging to this new class. We also obtain distortion and growth results. We relate our results with the existing literature of the subject.
The Research of Sequence Shadowing Property and Regularly Recurrent Point on the Double Inverse Limit Space
Authors: Ji Zhan jiang
Published: January 2022

According to the definition of sequence shadowing property and regularly recurrent point in the inverse limit space, we introduce the concept of sequence shadowing property and regularly recurrent point in the double inverse limit space and study their dynamical properties. The following results are obtained: (1) Regularly recurrent point sets of the double shift map

σ

f

∘

σ

g

are equal to the double inverse limit space of the double self-map

f
∘
g

in the regularly recurrent point sets. (2) The double self-map

f
∘
g

has sequence shadowing property if and only if the double shift map

σ

f

∘

σ

g

has sequence shadowing property. Thus, the conclusions of sequence shadowing property and regularly recurrent point are generalized to the double inverse limit space.
On a Subclass of Analytic Functions That Are Starlike with Respect to a Boundary Point Involving Exponential Function
Authors: Lecko Adam , Murugusundaramoorthy Gangadharan , Sivasubramanian Srikandan
Published: January 2022

In the present exploration, the authors define and inspect a new class of functions that are regular in the unit disc

D
≔

ς
∈
ℂ
:

ς

<
1

,

by using an adapted version of the interesting analytic formula offered by Robertson (unexploited) for starlike functions with respect to a boundary point by subordinating to an exponential function. Examples of some new subclasses are presented. Initial coefficient estimates are specified, and the familiar Fekete-Szegö inequality is obtained. Differential subordinations concerning these newly demarcated subclasses are also established.
Exploring the Prognosis of Breast Cancer with Synchronous Distant Nonregional Lymph Node Metastasis and Establishing a Predictive Model: A Population‐Based Study
Authors: Lin Hong , Lin Jianxiong , Wu Yanxuan , Liang Guoxi , Sun Jiating , Chen Liming
Published: January 2022

Background. We aimed to explore the prognosis of breast cancer patients with synchronous isolated distant‐lymph node metastasis (SDLNM). Methods. We extracted information from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Kaplan‐Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to compare overall survival (OS). Fine‐Gray test was utilized to compare breast cancer‐specific survival (BCSS). We applied propensity score matching (PSM) to balance confounders. In total, 692 SDLNM patients were allocated into training and validation cohorts. Univariate and multivariate analyses were implemented to determine independent prognostic variables. A nomogram predicting OS of SDLNM patients was constructed. Calibration curves and receiver operating characteristic curves were utilized to access the predictive model. Results. Cox regression and PSM analysis showed that the prognosis of SDLNM patients was similar to breast cancer patients in stage TnN3cM0 and superior to patients with other oligometastasis (SDLNM vs. TnN3cM0, p = 0.778; SDLNM vs. other oligometastasis: HR 0.767, 95% CI, 0.672‐0.875, p < 0.001). A nomogram was established to predict 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year OS for SDLNM patients. All C‐indexes and AUCs were greater than 0.7. Calibration curves implied accurate prediction. For patients receiving mastectomy, postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy were significant. Conclusions. Breast cancer with SDLNM has a similar OS and BCSS with locally advanced disease. Comprehensive treatment was associated with better prognosis compared with palliative therapy. We constructed a predictive model for SDLNM breast cancer. It will be necessary to design large‐scale prospective trials to confirm our results and validate the predictive model.
miR-641 Inhibited Cell Proliferation and Induced Apoptosis by Targeting NUCKS1/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Li , Wei Da , Zhang Junying , Deng Rong , Tang Jinhai , Su Dongming
Published: January 2022

Objective. Studies revealed an important role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in multiple cancers, including breast cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the role and function of miR-641 in breast cancer. Methods. The expression level of miR-641 in breast cancer cell lines (Hs-578T, MCF7, HCC1937, and MAD-MB-231) was determined by real-time PCR. Functional analyses, including CCK-8 assay, transwell assay, wound-healing assay, and apoptosis detection, were carried out to explore the roles of miRNA-641 in malignant behaviors of breast cancer. Luciferase report assay was used to investigate the regulatory association of miRNA-641 with its potential targets. Results. The expression levels of miR-641 were downregulated, while the expression levels of nuclear casein kinase and cyclin-dependent kinase substrate 1 (NUCKS1) were increased in breast cancer cell lines. The in vitro results showed that miR-641 repressed proliferation and migration/invasion and promoted apoptosis of breast cancer cells. NUCKS1, a positive regulator of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3K)/protein-serine-threonine kinase (AKT) pathway, was confirmed as a direct target of miR-641. The of treatment of the PI3K agonist, 740Y-P, could abrogate the antioncogenic potentials of miR-641 in breast cancer cells. Conclusion. miR-641 functioned as a tumor suppressor through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway via targeting NUCKS1 in breast cancer.
Protective Effects of Honey-Processed Astragalus on Liver Injury and Gut Microbiota in Mice Induced by Chronic Alcohol Intake
Authors: Zhou Jingxuan , Zhang Nanhai , Zhao Liang , Mohamed Soliman Mohamed , Wu Wei , Li Jingming , Zhou Feng , Zhang Liebing
Published: January 2022

Honey-processed Astragalus (HPA) is a mixture of Astragalus and honey, which is a processed product of Chinese medicine. It has the active ingredients of Astragalus and the unique effects of honey. However, the mechanism of HPA for improving alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is not clear. The purpose of this study is to explore the ameliorating effect and mechanism of HPA (4 and 8 g/kg bw) on alcoholic liver injury. Two doses of HPA were orally administered to alcohol-treated mice for four weeks. The results showed that HPA could effectively reduce triglycerides (TG) by 59% and free fat acid (FFA) and total cholesterol (TC) in serum and hepatic were reduced by least 25.9%. HPA could cause a decrease in serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from 0.145 mM to 0.117 mM, and the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased. After alcohol-treated mice were supplemented with HPA, antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)), liver function index (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)), proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)), and liver tissue were all significantly improved. This is related to the fact that HPA can promote the expression of oxidative stress-related genes and inhibit the expression of inflammation-related genes. In addition, HPA could also regulate the disturbance of the intestinal microflora. In general, HPA could significantly improve the accumulation of serum and liver lipids caused by alcohol and the imbalance of intestinal flora in mice. It could also improve liver function, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
Force‐Deformation Study on Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Slab Incorporating Waste Paper
Authors: Praburanganathan S. , Sudharsan N. , Bharath Simha Reddy Yeddula , Naga Dheeraj Kumar Reddy Chukka , Natrayan L. , Paramasivam Prabhu
Published: January 2022

This study inspects the viability of engaging the discarded paper wastes in concrete by varying the volume proportions from 0%–20% with each 5% increment in replacement of the weight of cement. A physiomechanical study was conducted, and the results were presented. A glass fiber reinforced rectangular slab with a longer span (ly) to shorter span (lx) ratio of (ly:lx) 1.16 was cast with optimum replacement of waste‐paper mass and compared the force‐deformation characteristics with the conventional concrete slab without waste paper. The optimum percentage of discarded papers for the replacement of cement is 5%. Also, the results imply that the compressive strength at the age of 28 days is 30% improved for the optimum replacement. Based on the outcomes of the investigation, it can be inferred that the compressive strength gets progressively reduced if the volume of the discarded paper gets increases. The incorporation of glass fibers improves the split and flexural strength of the concrete specimens considerably. The ultimate load‐carrying capacity of the glass fiber reinforced waste paper incorporated concrete slab measured 42% lower than that of the conventional slab. However, development of the new type of concrete incorporating waste papers is the new trend in ensuring the sustainability of construction materials.
Screening of Soybean Genotypes for Waterlogging Stress Tolerance and Understanding the Physiological Mechanisms
Authors: Sathi Khadeja Sultana , Masud Abdul Awal Chowdhury , Falguni Maliha Rahman , Ahmed Naznin , Rahman Khussboo , Hasanuzzaman Mirza
Published: January 2022

Waterlogging is a common form of abiotic stress that severely impedes global soybean production. Targeting this issue, an experiment was carried out at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University during August–November 2019 to screen out the waterlogging tolerance and yield performances of selected soybean genotypes. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications consisting of 2 water levels (control and waterlogging) and 12 genotypes (Sohag, BARI Soybean-5, BINAsoybean-1, BINAsoybean-2, BINAsoybean-3, BINAsoybean-5, BINAsoybean-6, SGB-1, SGB-3, SGB-4, SGB-5, and GC-840). On the 15th day after sowing, plants were exposed to waterlogging for 12 days. Waterlogging remarkably declined the growth and yield of all the soybean genotypes compared to control. Reduced plant height, relative water content, above-ground fresh and dry weight, SPAD value, leaf area, number of leaves, branches, pods, seeds pod−1, 100-seed weight, and seed yield plant−1 were observed under waterlogging stress. Conversely, mortality rate and electrolyte leakage were increased under the same condition. The waterlogged plants showed delayed flowering and maturity compared with the control plants. However, among the 12 genotypes, Sohag, BARI Soybean-5, GC-840, BINAsoybean-1, and BINAsoybean-2 showed better waterlogging tolerance. These genotypes showed a greater number of adventitious roots in the base of their stem, which probably helped plants to thrive under waterlogging conditions.
EEG Channel Selection Using Multiobjective Cuckoo Search for Person Identification as Protection System in Healthcare Applications
Authors: Abdi Alkareem Alyasseri Zaid , Alomari Osama Ahmad , Al-Betar Mohammed Azmi , Awadallah Mohammed A. , Hameed Abdulkareem Karrar , Abed Mohammed Mazin , Kadry Seifedine , Rajinikanth V. , Rho Seungmin
Published: January 2022

Recently, the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal presents an excellent potential for a new person identification technique. Several studies defined the EEG with unique features, universality, and natural robustness to be used as a new track to prevent spoofing attacks. The EEG signals are a visual recording of the brain’s electrical activities, measured by placing electrodes (channels) in various scalp positions. However, traditional EEG-based systems lead to high complexity with many channels, and some channels have critical information for the identification system while others do not. Several studies have proposed a single objective to address the EEG channel for person identification. Unfortunately, these studies only focused on increasing the accuracy rate without balancing the accuracy and the total number of selected EEG channels. The novelty of this paper is to propose a multiobjective binary version of the cuckoo search algorithm (MOBCS-KNN) to find optimal EEG channel selections for person identification. The proposed method (MOBCS-KNN) used a weighted sum technique to implement a multiobjective approach. In addition, a KNN classifier for EEG-based biometric person identification is used. It is worth mentioning that this is the initial investigation of using a multiobjective technique with EEG channel selection problem. A standard EEG motor imagery dataset is used to evaluate the performance of the MOBCS-KNN. The experiments show that the MOBCS-KNN obtained accuracy of93.86%using only 24 sensors withAR20autoregressive coefficients. Another critical point is that the MOBCS-KNN finds channels not too close to each other to capture relevant information from all over the head. In conclusion, the MOBCS-KNN algorithm achieves the best results compared with metaheuristic algorithms. Finally, the recommended approach can draw future directions to be applied to different research areas.
Gastroprotective Effect of Polypeptide-K Isolated from Momordica charantia’s Seeds on Multiple Experimental Gastric Ulcer Models in Rats
Authors: Abu Bakar Nurul ’Ain , Hakim Abdullah Muhammad Nazrul , Lim Vuanghao , Yong Yoke Keong
Published: January 2022

Peptic ulcer disease is a multifactorial disorder and is the most significant public health concern nowadays. Previous study showed that essential oil extracted from Momordica charantia’s seed exhibited gastroprotective effect. However, the evidence for the gastroprotective effect of its active compound, polypeptide K (PPK), remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the preventive effect of PPK against different experimental gastric lesions models in rats. The possible gastroprotective effect of PPK was assessed in hydrochloride ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models in Sprague Dawley rats and was further evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Pyloric ligation experiments were used to investigate gastric secretion. Oral administration of PPK at all concentrations (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) showed significant

p
<
0.05

reduction in total area of lesion in both hydrochloride ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models. The highest inhibition rate was seen in PPK dose of 50 mg/kg with 64.9% and 72.2% on hydrochloride ethanol and indomethacin models, respectively. Microscopically, PPK preserved the normal architectures of the gastric tissues from being damaged by hydrochloride ethanol and indomethacin. Further, in the pyloric ligation studies, PPK significantly

p
<
0.05

decreased the ulcer area where the highest protection was exhibited by 50 mg/kg with 70% inhibition rate. Moreover, all concentrations of PPK also significantly

p
<
0.05

enhanced the gastric wall mucus secretion. Collectively, this study demonstrated the gastroprotective effect of PPK on hydrochloride ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models. The possible mechanism might be associated with enhanced mucus secretion and thus lowering the total acidity.
BSIRNet: A Road Extraction Network with Bidirectional Spatial Information Reasoning
Authors: Tan Hai , Xu Hao , Dai Jiguang
Published: January 2022

Automatic extraction of road information from remote sensing images is widely used in many fields, such as urban planning and automatic navigation. However, due to interference from noise and occlusion, the existing road extraction methods can easily lead to road discontinuity. To solve this problem, a road extraction network with bidirectional spatial information reasoning (BSIRNet) is proposed, in which neighbourhood feature fusion is used to capture spatial context dependencies and expand the receptive field, and an information processing unit with a recurrent neural network structure is used to capture channel dependencies. BSIRNet enhances the connectivity of road information through spatial information reasoning. Using the public Massachusetts road dataset and Wuhan University road dataset, the superiority of the proposed method is verified by comparing its results with those of other models.
Boundedness and Compactness of Hankel Operators on Large Fock Space
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Zeng Zhicheng
Published: January 2022

We introduce the BMO spaces and use them to characterize complex-valued functions

f

such that the big Hankel operators

H

f

and

H

f
¯

are both bounded or compact from a weighted large Fock space

F

p

ϕ

into a weighted Lebesgue space

L

p

ϕ

when

1
≤
p
<
∞

.
Identification of Helicobacter pylori Membrane Proteins Using Sequence-Based Features
Authors: Liu Mujiexin , Chen Hui , Gao Dong , Ma Cai-Yi , Zhang Zhao-Yue
Published: January 2022

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most common risk factor for gastric cancer worldwide. The membrane proteins of the H. pylori are involved in bacterial adherence and play a vital role in the field of drug discovery. Thus, an accurate and cost-effective computational model is needed to predict the uncharacterized membrane proteins of H. pylori. In this study, a reliable benchmark dataset consisted of 114 membrane and 219 nonmembrane proteins was constructed based on UniProt. A support vector machine- (SVM-) based model was developed for discriminating H. pylori membrane proteins from nonmembrane proteins by using sequence information. Cross-validation showed that our method achieved good performance with an accuracy of 91.29%. It is anticipated that the proposed model will be useful for the annotation of H. pylori membrane proteins and the development of new anti-H. pylori agents.
Comparison of Modified Above-Knee and Conventional Surgery with the Stripping of the Great Saphenous Vein of Varicose Veins of the Lower Extremities: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Liu Peng , Peng Jun-lu , Zhang Feng , Wang Zi-bin , Zhang Miao , Niu Xu-peng , Su Hai-ying , Han Ya-ru , Wang Yuan-yuan
Published: January 2022

Objective. To compare the clinical effects of modified above-knee and conventional surgery with the stripping of the great saphenous vein of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Methods. Clinical data of patients with a varicose vein of the lower extremity from May 2016 to May 2018 were collected. A retrospective study was conducted on the patients receiving modified above-knee and conventional surgery with the great saphenous vein stripping. The baseline characteristics and long-term follow-up data were compared between the groups. Results. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups (

P
>
0.05

). The surgeries were successfully performed by the same group of surgeons under local anesthesia and neuraxial anesthesia. The hospital stay, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, total length, and number of incisions in the above-knee group were comparable to those in the conventional surgery group (

P
>
0.05

). The incidence of saphenous nerve injury and subcutaneous hematoma in the above-knee group was lower than that in the conventional surgery group (

P
<
0.05

). There were no significant differences in recurrent varicose vein incidences (

P
>
0.05

). After surgery, the venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) scores of both groups were higher than those before operation (

P
<
0.05

). There was no significant difference in VCSS score or CIVIQ-14 scores between the two groups postoperation (

P
>
0.05

). At 24 months after surgery, the above-knee group (71.8%) and conventional surgery group (73.2%) resulted in changes of at least two CEAP-C clinical classes lower than baseline, respectively. Conclusion. The modified above-knee technique can ensure clinical outcomes, reduce intraoperative blood loss and complication incidences, and shorten the operative time. This gives evidence that the modified above-knee technique is worthy of clinical application.
Delaying Intraoral Radiographs during the COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Conundrum
Authors: Kaur Harneet , Gupta Harshita , Dadlani Himanshu , Kochhar Gulsheen Kaur , Singh Gurkeerat , Bhasin Ritasha , Kochhar Anuraj Singh , Alam Mohammad Khursheed
Published: January 2022

Background. The COVID‐19 pandemic has made dentists very assiduous about cross‐infection during dental treatment, thereby delaying dental radiographs for treatment. However, patients needing dental emergency treatment in the ongoing pandemic require relevant intra/extraoral dental radiography for adequate diagnosis and treatment planning. Methods. This article is aimed at adding to the hot debate: Is delay for intraoral radiographs justified or a possible proxy? As a narrative review, it provides an insight into the reasons for delaying intra‐oral dental radiographs during in the pandemic and options of the nontraditional radiographic techniques available until the pandemic subsides. Discussion and Conclusion. Cross‐contamination concerns through respiratory droplets grow while using intraoral film holders that stimulate gag reflex, coughing, saliva secretion, and if proper disinfection protocols are not applied. Since the patients’ acquiring emergency dental treatment cannot be neglected, the return‐to‐work guidelines by the health regulatory bodies urge to prioritize extraoral radiographic imaging techniques to curb the infection, offering the best diagnostic efficacy. The dental professionals can consider cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and sectional dental panoramic radiographs (SDPRs), followed by a risk assessment for COVID‐19, a safer modality in reducing cross‐contamination and assuring an innocuous environment for both patient and coworkers.
Ginsenoside Rg2 Attenuated Trastuzumab‐Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats
Authors: Liu Guang , Zhang Jinli , Sun Fangyi , Ma Jingtao , Qi Xiaoyong
Published: January 2022

Aim. Trastuzumab (TZM) is a monoclonal antibody drug for HER2‐positive breast cancer by targeting epidermal growth factor 2, but it has significant cardiotoxicity. Ginsenoside Rg2 has shown a variety of biological activities. This study was aimed at investigating whether Rg2 attenuates TZM‐induced cardiotoxicity. Methods. A model of TZM‐induced cardiotoxicity was established in Wistar rats, and the rats were pretreated with Rg2. After echocardiography analysis, the rats were killed and the hearts were dissected for RNAseq analysis. Primary human cardiomyocytes (HCMs) were treated with TZM with or without pretreatment with Rg2 and then subjected to a colony formation assay, flow cytometry analysis, and Western blot analysis for the detection of caspase‐3, caspase‐9, and BAX. Results. TZM induced LV dysfunction in rats, but Rg2 could attenuate TZM‐induced LV dysfunction. The mRNA levels of caspase‐3, caspase‐9, and BAX were significantly higher in TZM‐treated rats. The colony formation ability of HCMs was significantly lower in TZM‐treated cells but was recovered after pretreatment with Rg2. The apoptosis rate of HCMs was significantly higher in TZM‐treated cells but was significantly lower after pretreatment with Rg2. Moreover, protein levels of caspase‐3, caspase‐9, and BAX were significantly higher in TZM‐treated cells but were significantly lower after pretreatment with Rg2. Conclusion. Ginsenoside Rg2 inhibited TZM‐induced cardiotoxicity, and the mechanism may be related to the downregulation of the expression of proapoptotic proteins caspase‐3, caspase‐9, and BAX and the inhibition of TZM‐induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Ginsenoside Rg2 has a potential to be applied in patients with breast cancer to prevent TZM‐induced cardiotoxicity.
Distribution of Therapeutic Efficacy of Ranunculales Plants Used by Ethnic Minorities on the Phylogenetic Tree of Chinese Species
Authors: Hao Da-Cheng , Zhang Yulu , He Chun-Nian , Xiao Pei-Gen
Published: January 2022

The medicinal properties of plants can be evolutionarily predicted by phylogeny-based methods, which, however, have not been used to explore the regularity of therapeutic effects of Chinese plants utilized by ethnic minorities. This study aims at exploring the distribution law of therapeutic efficacy of Ranunculales plants on the phylogenetic tree of Chinese species. We collected therapeutic efficacy data of 551 ethnomedicinal species belonging to five species-rich families of Ranunculales; these therapeutic data were divided into 15 categories according to the impacted tissues and organs. The phylogenetic tree of angiosperm species was used to analyze the phylogenetic signals of ethnomedicinal plants by calculating the net relatedness index (NRI) and nearest taxon index (NTI) in R language. The NRI results revealed a clustered structure for eight medicinal categories (poisoning/intoxication, circulatory, gastrointestinal, eyesight, oral, pediatric, skin, and urinary disorders) and overdispersion for the remaining seven (neurological, general, hepatobiliary, musculoskeletal, otolaryngologic, reproductive, and respiratory disorders), while the NTI metric identified the clustered structure for all. Statistically, NRI and NTI values were significant in 5 and 11 categories, respectively. It was found that Mahonia eurybracteata has therapeutic effects on all categories. iTOL was used to visualize the distribution of treatment efficacy on species phylogenetic trees. By figuring out the distribution of therapeutic effects of Ranunculales medicinal plants, the importance of phylogenetic methods in finding potential medicinal resources is highlighted; NRI, NTI, and similar indices can be calculated to help find taxonomic groups with medicinal efficacy based on the phylogenetic tree of flora in different geographic regions.
Analytical RS-GBSM-Based Nonstationary Low-Altitude Air-to-Air Channel Modeling over Open Area
Authors: Wei Zaixue , Tang Qipeng
Published: January 2022

Aerial communication is very flexible due to almost no restrictions on geographical conditions. In recent years, with the development and application of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the air-to-air communication attracts dense interests from the researchers. More accurate and precise channel modeling for air-to-air communication is a new hot topic because of its essential role in the performance evaluation of the systems. This paper presents an analytical nonstationary regular-shaped geometry-based statistical model for low-altitude air-to-air communication over an open area with considerations on ground scattering. Analytical expressions of the channel impulse response and the autocorrelation functions based on the three-ray model are derived. Based on the assumption of uniform distribution of the ground scatterers, the distributions of the channel coefficients such as time delay and path attenuation are derived, simulated, compared, and fitted. The nonstationary characteristics of the channel are observed through the time-variant distributions of the channel coefficients as well as the time-variant autocorrelated functions and time-variant Doppler power spectrum density.
Investigation of Unsteady Pressure Pulsation in New Type Dishwasher Pump with Special Double Tongue Volute
Authors: Zhang Jinfeng , Zhu Yilei , Li Yalin , Huang Ping , Xu Hui , Zheng Feng
Published: January 2022

Through numerical simulations, this work analyzes the unsteady pressure pulsation characteristics in new type of dishwasher pump with double tongue volute and single tongue volute, under volute static and rotation conditions. Likewise, the performance tests were also carried out to verify the numerical results. Multiple monitoring points were set at the various positions of new type dishwasher pump to collect the pressure pulsation signals, and the relevant frequency signals were obtained via Fast Fourier Transform, to analyze the influence of volute tongue and its passive speed on the pump performance. The results reveal that when the double tongue volute is stationary, the pressure pulsation amplitudes increase from the impeller inlet to the impeller outlet. Under the influence of shedding vortex, the pressure pulsation in the lateral region of tongue becomes disorganized, and the main frequency of pressure pulsation changes from blade frequency to shaft frequency. In addition, compared with the static volute, double tongue volute can effectively guide the water flow out of the tongue during the rotation process, thus ensuring good periodicity for pressure pulsation in the tongue region. Accordingly, a volute reference scheme with passive rotation speed is proposed in this study, which can effectively improve the pressure pulsation at tongue position, and provides a new idea for rotor-stator interference to guide the innovation of dishwasher.
Five-Flavor Sophora flavescens Enteric-Coated Capsules for Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Hou Wen Bin , Sun Wei Jia , Zhang Xiao Wen , Li Yuan Xi , Zheng You You , Sun Yu Xin , Liu Jian Ping , Liu Zhao Lan
Published: January 2022

Background. Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mucopurulent bloody stool. In recent years, the incidence and prevalence of UC have been increasing consistently. Five-flavor Sophora falvescens enteric-coated capsule (FSEC), a licensed Chinese patent medicine, was specifically used to treat UC. This review was aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of FSEC for the treatment of UC. Methods. Six electronic databases were searched from inception to March 2021. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing FSEC or FSEC plus conventional Western medicine with conventional Western medicine in participants with UC were included. Two authors screened all references, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted data independently. Binary data were presented as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and metric data as mean difference (MD) with 95% CI. The overall certainty of the evidence was assessed by GRADE. Results. We included 15 RCTs (1194 participants, 763 in the FSEC group and 431 in the control group). The treatment duration ranged from 42 to 64 days. Twelve trials compared FSEC with conventional Western medicine, and two trials compared FSEC plus conventional medicine with conventional medicine. Another trial compared FSEC plus mesalazine with compound glutamine enteric capsules plus mesalazine. FSEC showed a higher clinical effective rate (improved clinical symptoms, colonoscopy results, and stools) (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.20; 729 participants; 8 trials; low-quality evidence) as well as the effective rate of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20; 452 participants; 5 trials; low-quality evidence) compared to mesalazine. There was no significant difference in the adverse events between FSEC and control groups. Conclusions. FSEC may show effectiveness in UC treatment compared to conventional medicine, and the use of FSEC may not increase the risk of adverse events. Due to the limited number of clinical trials and low methodological quality of the included trials, our findings must be interpreted with discretion.
Computational Intelligence Method for Detection of White Blood Cells Using Hybrid of Convolutional Deep Learning and SIFT
Authors: Manthouri Mohammad , Aghajari Zhila , Safary Sheida
Published: January 2022

Infection diseases are among the top global issues with negative impacts on health, economy, and society as a whole. One of the most effective ways to detect these diseases is done by analysing the microscopic images of blood cells. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are now widely used to detect these blood cells and explore their structures. In recent years, deep learning architectures have been utilized as they are powerful tools for big data analysis. In this work, we are presenting a deep neural network for processing of microscopic images of blood cells. Processing these images is particularly important as white blood cells and their structures are being used to diagnose different diseases. In this research, we design and implement a reliable processing system for blood samples and classify five different types of white blood cells in microscopic images. We use the Gram-Schmidt algorithm for segmentation purposes. For the classification of different types of white blood cells, we combine Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) feature detection technique with a deep convolutional neural network. To evaluate our work, we tested our method on LISC and WBCis databases. We achieved 95.84% and 97.33% accuracy of segmentation for these data sets, respectively. Our work illustrates that deep learning models can be promising in designing and developing a reliable system for microscopic image processing.