bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding groundwater recharge processes in the Sutlej-Yamuna plain in NW India using an isotopic approach
Authors: Joshi Suneel Kumar , Rai Shive Prakash , Sinha Rajiv
Published: December 2020

The isotopic composition of water has been widely used to investigate groundwater dynamics and recharge processes. In the present study, we have analysed the isotopic composition of groundwater, and of Sutlej River, Yamuna River, Ghaggar River and canal water from the Sutlej-Yamuna plain in NW India. We document spatial and depth-related variations in δ
18
O and deuterium excess (d-excess) values of groundwater in three zones based on topography and slope (zones I–III) from NE to SW. In Zone I, precipitation is the main recharge source for groundwater, as indicated by the isotopic values. We infer mixed recharge from precipitation and irrigation return flow in Zone II. Zone III records depleted δ
18
O and higher d-excess values in most of the groundwater samples, suggesting active recharge from canals. Further, we have calculated the contribution of canal water in groundwater using the hydrograph separation approach and have also quantified the uncertainty in its estimation. We note significant spatial and depth-related variability in the canal water contribution to groundwater recharge. The canal contribution is as high as 83 ± 10% at 18 m below ground level (bgl) in Zone III, and as low as 5 ± 3% at 43 m bgl in Zone II. The present study provides the baseline data on recharge processes in NW India, which is critical for developing sustainable management strategies for groundwater resources in this region.
Flexible Skylines
Authors: Ciaccia Paolo , Martinenghi Davide
Published: December 2020

Skyline and ranking queries are two popular, alternative ways of discovering interesting data in large datasets. Skyline queries are simple to specify, as they just return the set of all non-dominated tuples, thereby providing an overall view of potentially interesting results. However, they are not equipped with any means to accommodate user preferences or to control the cardinality of the result set. Ranking queries adopt, instead, a specific scoring function to rank tuples, and can easily control the output size. While specifying a scoring function allows one to give different importance to different attributes by means of, e.g., weight parameters, choosing the “right” weights to use is known to be a hard problem.

In this article, we embrace the skyline approach by introducing an original framework able to capture user preferences by means of constraints on the weights used in a scoring function, which is typically much easier than specifying precise weight values. To this end, we introduce the novel concept of
F-dominance
, i.e., dominance with respect to a
family
of scoring functions
F
: a tuple
t
is said to
F
-dominate tuple
s
when
t
is always better than or equal to
s
according to
all
the functions in
F
.

Based on
F
-dominance, we present two
flexible skyline
(F-skyline) operators, both returning a subset of the skyline:
nd
, characterizing the set of non-
F
-dominated tuples;
po
, referring to the tuples that are also potentially optimal, i.e., best according to some function in
F
. While
nd
and
po
coincide and reduce to the traditional skyline when
F
is the family of all monotone scoring functions, their behaviors differ when subsets thereof are considered. We discuss the formal properties of these new operators, show how to implement them efficiently, and evaluate them on both synthetic and real datasets.
Sketches of Dynamic Complexity
Authors: Schwentick Thomas , Vortmeier Nils , Zeume Thomas
Published: December 2020

How can the result of a query be updated after changing a database? This is a fundamental task for database management systems which ideally takes previously computed information into account. In dynamic complexity theory, it is studied from a theoretical perspective where updates are specified by rules written in first-order logic.

In this article we sketch recent techniques and results from dynamic complexity theory with a focus on the reachability query.
Cu-Based MOF for Simultaneous Determination of Trace Tl (I) and Hg (II) by Stripping Voltammetry
Authors: Baghayeri Mehdi , Amiri Amirhassan , Safapour Moghaddam Behrooz , Nodehi Marzieh
Published: December 2020

In this study, blue octahedral crystal of Cu-based metal-organic framework (Cu-MOF) was synthesized through a simple solvothermal method. The Cu-MOF was used as a modifier on GCE for the simultaneous determination of Tl (I) and Hg (II) at the trace level by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The synthesized Cu-MOF was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transition electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The parameters affecting the electrochemical process, such as the kind of electrolyte solution, KCl concentration, the potential, and the time for accumulation were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the present sensor showed excellent electrochemical performance for Tl (I) and Hg (II) in the leaner ranges from 0.5–700 ppb and 1–400 ppb, respectively. Low detection limits of 0.11 ppb for Tl (I) and 0.17 ppb for Hg (II) were achieved. The method is successfully applied to the determination of Tl (I) and Hg (II) in real samples and good recoveries are obtained from different spiked samples.
Investigation of The Reaction Kinetics of Chromium(III) Ions with Carboxylic Acids In Aqueous Solutions and The Associated Effects on Chromium Deposition
Authors: Büker L. , Dickbreder R. , Böttcher R. , Sadowski S. , Bund A.
Published: December 2020

Electroplated chromium is an important industrial coating. Both in the decorative and functional field, research is being carried out to develop trivalent chromium electrolytes. In this work, the interaction between CrIII ions and carboxylic acids (malonic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid and glycolic acid) is investigated. The use of carboxylic acids to improve the current efficiency in trivalent chromium plating baths has been known for a long time. But the thermodynamics and kinetics of the associated complexing reactions are not well understood. It is shown that the complexes form at different rates depending on the acid and its concentration and have a varying influence on chromium deposition. For the development of a technical bath, care must be taken to ensure that the molar ratios between chromium and carboxylic acids can be controlled. This is possible with the HPLC method presented here.
Risk of Short-Term Mortality after Intracerebral Haemorrhage due to Weekend Hospital Admission in Poland
Authors: Nowakowska-Kotas Marta , Waliszewska-Prosół Marta , Papier Paulina , Budrewicz Sławomir , Bańkowski Tomasz , Pokryszko-Dragan Anna
Published: December 2020

Background. The mortality rate for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) has remained high and stable for many years. The unfavourable prognostic factors include age, bleeding volume, location of the haematoma, high blood pressure, and disturbed consciousness on admission. Other risk factors associated with medical care also deserve attention. The study aimed to analyse the relationship between day of admission, concerning other prognostic factors, and short-term mortality in ICH, in a Polish specialist stroke unit. Methods. Medical records of 156 patients (74 males, 82 females, mean age 68.7 years) diagnosed with spontaneous ICH and admitted to a specialist stroke center were retrospectively analysed. Demographics, location, volume of bleeding, blood pressure values, and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), as well as the day of admission, were determined. The relationships were analysed between these factors and 30-day mortality in the patients with ICH. Results. A total of 83 patients were admitted to the hospital during weekdays (Monday 8 am to Friday 3 pm) and 73 during weekends or holidays. Of these, 65 patients died within 30 days. Patients admitted at weekends initially presented with lower GCS scores. Admission on Saturday was associated with an increased risk of death (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.2–9.48,

p
<
0.05

), but after correction for clinical state measured with the GCS and ICH score, the association was no longer significant. Conclusions. The time and mode of admission were not associated with increased risk of short-term mortality in ICH patients. Prehospital care issues should be additionally considered as prognostic factors of the outcome.
Involvement of the miR-137-3p/CAPN-2 Interaction in Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis through Modulation of p35 Cleavage and Subsequent Caspase-8 Overactivation
Authors: Wang He , Yu Qian , Zhang Zai-Li , Ma Hong , Li Xiao-Qian
Published: December 2020

Background. Neuron survival after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is the primary determinant of motor function prognosis. MicroRNA- (miR-) based gene therapy has gained attention recently. Our previous work explored the mechanisms by which miR-137-3p modulates neuronal apoptosis in both in vivo and in vitro IR models. Methods. IR-induced motor dysfunction and spinal calpain (CAPN) subtype expression and subcellular localization were detected within 12 h post IR. Dysregulated miRs, including miR-137-3p, were identified by miR microarray analysis and confirmed by PCR. A luciferase assay confirmed CAPN-2 as a corresponding target of miR-137-3p, and their modulation of motor function was evaluated by intrathecal injection with synthetic miRs. CAPN-2 activity was measured by the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and mean fluorescence intensity in vitro. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. The activities of p35, p25, Cdk5, and caspase-8 were evaluated by ELISA and Western blot after transfection with specific inhibitors and miRs. Results. The IR-induced motor dysfunction time course was closely associated with upregulated expression of the CAPN-2 protein, which was mainly localized in neurons. The miR-137-3p/CAPN-2 interaction was confirmed by luciferase assay. The miR-137-3p mimic significantly improved IR-induced motor dysfunction and decreased CAPN-2 expression, even in combination with recombinant rat calpain-2 (rr-CALP2) injection, whereas the miR-137-3p inhibitor reversed these effects. Similar changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, CAPN-2 expression, and CAPN-2 activity were observed when cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) and transfected with synthetic miRs in vitro. Moreover, double fluorescence revealed identical neuronal localization of CAPN-2, p35, p25, and caspase-8. The decrease in CAPN-2 expression and activity was accompanied by the opposite changes in p35 activity and protein expression in cells transfected with the miR-137-3p mimic, roscovitine (a Cdk5 inhibitor), or Z-IETD-FMK (a caspase-8 inhibitor). Correspondingly, the abovementioned treatments resulted in a higher neuron survival rate than that of untreated neurons, as indicated by decreases in the apoptotic cell percentage and p25, Cdk5, caspase-8, and caspase-3 protein expression. Conclusions. The miR-137-3p/CAPN-2 interaction modulates neuronal apoptosis during IR injury, possibly by inhibiting CAPN-2, which leads to p35 cleavage and inhibition of subsequent p25/Cdk5 and caspase-8 overactivation.
Clinical Utility of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in Older Adult Rehabilitation and Nursing Homes: Perceptions among Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists in Spain
Authors: Capdevila Elisabet , Rodríguez-Bailón María , Kapanadze Maria , Portell Mariona
Published: December 2020

Introduction. Scientific evidence that supports the psychometric properties of the COPM as a tool to enable personalized care has been repeatedly shown. However, there is a lack of studies about its utility within the Spanish research community. Aim. This qualitative study seeks to ascertain the perceptions of professionals from social health centers, nursing homes, and Spanish rehabilitation services about the clinical utility of the COPM as a standardized instrument. Methods. Thirty occupational therapists and physiotherapists in four focus groups discussed the experience of applying the COPM. The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) incorporated a multidimensional model of clinical utility based on the components of acceptable, appropriate, accessible, and practicable by the clients, professionals, and institutions. Results and Discussion. The results of the utility study showed that the COPM helped professionals and clients to gain significant involvement in the treatment process. The COPM contributed to the process of further goal setting, occupation-based, and client-centered, thus achieving considerable satisfaction from the clients that had treatment. The professional training and adaptation to the geriatric population were vital to this process. Conclusion. The COPM is a useful and viable tool for the institutions that are supportive of a client-centered approach in the Spanish context.
A Positive Feed Forward Loop between Wnt/β-Catenin and NOX4 Promotes Silicon Dioxide-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Lung Epithelial Cells
Authors: Ma Jia , Cai Qian , Yang Dandan , Yang Jiali , Xue Jing , Yu Miao , Liu Yingxue , Ma Fucheng , Li Feng , Liu Xiaoming
Published: December 2020

Silicosis is a chronic fibrotic lung disease caused by the accumulation of silica dust in the distal lung. Canonical Wnt signaling and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis including silicosis. However, the underlying mechanisms of crosstalk between these two signalings are not fully understood. In the present study, we aimed to explore the interaction of Wnt/β-catenin and NOX4 of human epithelial cells in response to an exposure of silica dust. Results demonstrated an elevated expression of key components of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and NOX4 in the lungs of silicon dioxide- (SiO2-) induced silicosis mice. Furthermore, the activated Wnt/β-catenin and NOX4 signaling are accompanied by an inhibition of cell proliferation, an increase of ROS production and cell apoptosis, and an upregulation of profibrogenic factors in BEAS-2B human lung epithelial cells exposed to SiO2. A mechanistic study further demonstrated that the Wnt3a-mediated activation of canonical Wnt signaling could augment the SiO2-induced NOX4 expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production but reduced glutathione (GSH), while Wnt inhibitor DKK1 exhibited an opposite effect to Wnt3a. Vice versa, an overexpression of NOX4 further activated SiO2-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling and NFE2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant response along with a reduction of GSH, whereas the shRNA-mediated knockdown of NOX4 showed an opposite effect to NOX4 overexpression. These results imply a positive feed forward loop between Wnt/β-catenin and NOX4 signaling that may promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lung epithelial cells in response to an exposure of silica dust, which may thus provide an insight into the profibrogenic role of Wnt/β-catenin and NOX4 crosstalk in lung epithelial cell injury and pathogenesis of silicosis.
Acute Gastric Volvulus on Hiatal Hernia
Authors: KAOUKABI Abdessamad EL , MENFAA Mohamed , HASBI Samir , SAKIT Fouad , CHOHO Abdelkrim
Published: December 2020

The gastric volvulus is defined as an abnormal rotation of all or part of the stomach around one of its axes, creating the conditions of an upper abdominal obstruction with gastric dilation and risk of strangulation. It is a rare entity that requires a surgical treatment, and its diagnosis is often delayed due to frequently aspecific symptoms. We will describe the observation of a 62 year old patient who presented to the emergency department for acute epigastric pain with dyspnea. The thoracoabdominal CT has demonstrated a stasis stomach on pyloric obstacle evoking a gastric torsion. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (EGD) and an upper gastrointestinal contrast made it possible to diagnose an acute gastric volvulus on hiatal hernia. A midline laparotomy was performed with detorsion of the stomach and repair of the hiatal hernia. The patient recovered gradually and was discharged on the sixth postoperative day. Three months after the operation, the patient remained asymptomatic.
Validation and Refinement of the Baveno VI Criteria for Ruling Out High-Risk Varices
Authors: Zhou Hong , Hu Han , Tian Maoyong , Chu Jun , Tian Caiyun , Yang Yanqing , Lin Shide
Published: December 2020

In the past decade, numerous studies have evaluated the roles of noninvasive methods for diagnosing or excluding varices and high-risk varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. The Baveno VI criteria recommend the use of a simple algorithm based on aliver stiffness measurement<20 kPathrough transient elastography and aplatelet count>150×109/Lfor ruling out high-risk varices in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease. A large number of studies have validated the clinical usefulness of Baveno VI criteria for excluding high-risk varices. Several strategies have been proposed to refine the Baveno VI criteria; however, currently there is no review to summarize the diagnostic accuracy and limitations of the Baveno VI criteria after extensive validation. In this review, we summarize the diagnostic accuracy and limitations of the Baveno VI criteria after extensive validation. We also discuss methods to refine these criteria.
An All-Solid Dispersion-Compensating Photonic Crystal Fiber Based on Mode Coupling Mechanism in Dual-Concentric Core
Authors: Liu Zhaolun , Zhang Chunlan , Qu Yuwei
Published: December 2020

An all-solid dispersion-compensating photonic crystal fiber based on mode coupling mechanism in dual-concentric core has been proposed. The mode coupling characteristics, dispersion, confinement loss of the fiber, and the influence on dispersion of some structure parameters are simulated by full-vector finite element method. By using the relationship between phase matching wavelengths and coupling strength with the change of fiber microstructure parameters, an all-solid dual-concentric-core dispersion-compensating photonic crystal fiber is presented. The structure parameters on dispersion characteristic are investigated. The results demonstrate that the proposed fiber has a large negative dispersion value 8465 ps/(nm·km) at 1550 nm. The effective mode area and the splicing loss to the standard single mode fiber are 12.8 μm2 and 1.89 dB at 1550 nm, respectively. At 1550 nm, the confinement loss is less than 1 × 10−3 dB/km and the bending loss with 2 cm bending diameter is less than 1 × 10−2 dB/km.
Tyrosol May Prevent Obesity by Inhibiting Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes
Authors: Pacifici Francesca , Farias Carolina Lane Alves , Rea Silvia , Capuani Barbara , Feraco Alessandra , Coppola Andrea , Mammi Caterina , Pastore Donatella , Abete Pasquale , Rovella Valentina , Salimei Chiara , Lombardo Mauro , Caprio Massimiliano , Bellia Alfonso , Sbraccia Paolo , Di Daniele Nicola , Lauro Davide , Della-Morte David
Published: December 2020

Tyrosol (TR), a major polyphenol found in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), exerts several antioxidant effects. However, only scarce evidences are present regarding its activity on adipocytes and obesity. This study evaluated the role of TR in adipogenesis. Murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were incubated with TR (300 and 500 μM), and TR administration inhibited adipogenesis by downregulation of several adipogenic factors (leptin and aP2) and transcription factors (C/EBPα, PPARγ, SREBP1c, and Glut4) and by modulation of the histone deacetylase sirtuin 1. After complete differentiation, adipocytes treated with 300 and 500 μM TR showed a reduction of 20% and 30% in lipid droplets, respectively. Intracellular triglycerides were significantly reduced after TR treatment (

p
<
0.05

). Mature adipocytes treated with TR at 300 and 500 μM showed a marked decrease in the inflammatory state and oxidative stress as shown by the modulation of specific biomarkers (TNF, IL6, ROS, and SOD2). TR treatment also acted on the early stage of differentiation by reducing cell proliferation (~40%) and inducing cell cycle arrest during Mitotic Expansion Clonal (first 48 h of differentiation), as shown by the increase in both S1 phase and p21 protein expression. We also showed that TR induced lipolysis by activating the AMPK-ATGL-HSL pathway. In conclusion, we provided evidence that TR reduces 3T3-L1 differentiation through downregulation of adipogenic proteins, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Moreover, TR may trigger adipose tissue browning throughout the induction of the AMPK-ATGL-UCP1 pathway and, subsequently, may have promise as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of obesity.
Clinical, Histopathological, and Prognostic Characteristics of Patients with Prostate Cancer in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Mbey Pitchou Mukaz , Mukuku Olivier , Arung Willy Kalau , Tengu Guylain Kitoko , Amisi Nasser Lubosha , Kyabu Véronique Kabila , Odimba Etienne Fwamba Koshe , Tshilombo François Katombe
Published: December 2020

Introduction. Prostate cancer is currently a public health problem with a frequency that varies from country to country. This study aims to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological and outcome features of prostate cancer in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Materials and Methods. This was a descriptive longitudinal study of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer at the University Clinics of Lubumbashi. The study period was 3 years (2017 to 2019). Parameters studied were age and clinical, biological (PSA level, prostatic specific antigen), histopathological, and outcome features. Results. The mean age of patients was 68.7 years (range: 47 and 90 years). The 60 to 69 age group was the most affected (43.18%). Elderly subjects (≥60 years old) represented 89.77% of the cases (n = 79). Voiding disorders were the main reason for consultation in 55.68% of the cases. The mean PSA level was 133.7 ng/ml (range: 4 and 1564.5 ng/ml) at diagnosis and 125.4 ng/ml after 3 months of follow-up (range: 0.16 and 1782.1 ng/ml). Adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological type (100%). In prognosis, 31.82% of patients had a Gleason score greater than 7 and 59.10% had a high risk at the D’Amico risk classification for Prostate Cancer. Hormone therapy was administered alone in 75% of the cases and in combination with pulpectomy in 13.64% of the cases. The 3-year overall survival was 56.82%. Conclusion. Prostate cancer is frequent and has a poor outcome in our country. The establishment of an individual screening policy would be an undeniable advantage in improving the prognosis.
Assessment of Resection Margins in Bone Tumor Surgery
Authors: Malherbe Corentin , Crutzen Bernard , Schrooyen Jean , Caruso Giovanni , Lecouvet Frédéric , Detrembleur Christine , Schubert Thomas , Docquier Pierre-Louis
Published: December 2020

Limb salvage surgery is now the preferred procedure for bone tumor surgery. To decrease the risk of local recurrence, it is crucial to obtain adequate resection margins. The obtained margins must be evaluated postoperatively because they influence what treatment is given subsequently when margins are not adequate (e.g., surgical revision and radiotherapy). The study aims to evaluate margin assessment of tumor specimen by MRI compared to conventional histology (to establish the viability of using MRI) and assess the accuracy of a patient-specific instrument when narrow margins were aimed. The resection margins in 12 consecutive patients that were operated on for bone tumor resection were prospectively analyzed using three methods: MRI of the resection specimen, macroscopic evaluation of specimen slices, and microscopic pathological evaluation. The assessments were qualitative (R0, R1, and R2) and quantitative (distance in mm). MRI, macroscopic, and microscopic margins generated similar results for both the qualitative (all resections were R0) and quantitative assessments. The median error in safe margins was 2 mm with a surgical guide (PSI) and 5 mm without a surgical guide. Local recurrences were not detected after a mean follow-up period of 3.7 years (range, 2.1–5 years); however, four patients died during the study. In conclusion, MRI is a valuable tool for assessing safe margins. When specimens are not available for pathological assessment (e.g., extracorporeally irradiated autograft or autoclaved autograft), MRI could be used to evaluate margins. In particular, when tumor volume is high, MRI could also help to focus the pathological examination on areas of concern.
A Novel IVPLTS Decision Method Based on Regret Theory and Cobweb Area Model
Authors: Li Peng , Peng Huanhuan
Published: December 2020

For the multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem with interval-valued probabilistic linguistic information, we propose a novel method considering the regret theory and cobweb area model. We first propose a new score function, which can be used to compare different interval-valued probabilistic linguistic term sets (IVPLTSs) and transform the IVPLTSs into crisp numbers. Some properties of the score function are verified. Then, we utilize the regret theory to obtain the perceived utilities of decision makers (DMs), which can reflect the DMs’ bounded rationality. Furthermore, we use the cobweb area model to aggregate decision information. Finally, a real case of evaluating nursing homes is used to illustrate the effectiveness and features of our method.
Effect of Age and Lipoperoxidation in Rat and Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Muñoz Mario F. , Argüelles Sandro , Marotta Francesco , Barbagallo Mario , Cano Mercedes , Ayala Antonio
Published: December 2020

A wide range of clinical applications in regenerative medicine were opened decades ago with the discovery of adult stem cells. Highly promising adult stem cells are mesenchymal stem/stromal cells derived from adipose tissue (ADSCs), primarily because of their abundance and accessibility. These cells have multipotent properties and have been used extensively to carry out autologous transplants. However, the biology of these cells is not entirely understood. Among other factors, the regeneration capacity of these cells will depend on both their capacity of proliferation/differentiation and the robustness of the biochemical pathways that allow them to survive under adverse conditions like those found in damaged tissues. The transcription factors, such as Nanog and Sox2, have been described as playing an important role in stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Also, the so-called longevity pathways, in which AMPK and SIRT1 proteins play a crucial role, are essential for cell homeostasis under stressful situations. These pathways act by inhibiting the translation through downregulation of elongation factor-2 (eEF2). In order to deepen knowledge of mesenchymal stem cell biology and which factors are determinant in the final therapeutic output, we evaluate in the present study the levels of all of these proteins in the ADSCs from humans and rats and how these levels are affected by aging and the oxidative environment. Due to the effect of aging and oxidative stress, our results suggest that before performing a cell therapy with ADSCs, several aspects reported in this study such as oxidative stress status and proliferation and differentiation capacity should be assessed on these cells. This would allow us to know the robustness of the transplanted cells and to predict the therapeutic result, especially in elder patients, where probably ADSCs do not carry out their biological functions in an optimal way.
Six Novel ATM Gene Variants in Sri Lankan Patients with Ataxia Telangiectasia
Authors: Hettiarachchi D. , Panchal Hetalkumar , Pathirana B. A. P. S. , Rathnayaka P. D. , Padeniya A. , Lai P. S. , Dissanayake V. H. W.
Published: December 2020

Introduction. Ataxia telangiectasia is a rare genetic condition with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 40,000–100,000 live births. This condition predominantly affects the nervous and immune systems. It is characterized by progressive ataxia beginning from early childhood. The neurological deficit associated with this condition affects one’s balance, coordination, walking, and speech and can be accompanied by chorea, myoclonus, and neuropathy. They may also have ocular telangiectasias and high levels of blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene (ATM) is associated with this condition and codes for the ATM protein which is a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. This gene occupies 150 kb on chromosome 11q22–23 and contains 66 exons encoding a 13 kb transcript. ATM is a relatively large protein with a molecular weight of 350 kDa and 3,056 amino acids. Methods. Four patients of Sri Lankan origin presenting with features suggestive of ataxia telangiectasia were referred to our genetics center for specialized genetic counseling and testing. Whole-exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the candidate variants. Protein modeling and genotype to phenotype correlation was performed in the identified variants. Results. We observed 6 novel ATM gene variants in four patients with ataxia telangiectasia. The identified variants are as follows: homozygous c.7397C > A (p.Ala2466Glu) and c.510_511delGT (p.Tyr171fs) and compound heterozygous c.5347_5350delGAAA (p.Glu1783fs), c.8137A > T (p.Arg2713

∗

) and c.1163A > C (p.Lys388Thr), and c.5227A > C (p.Thr1743Pro). Variant analysis was followed by modeling of the native and altered protein structures. Conclusion. We report novel ATM gene variants that have implications on the molecular diagnosis of ataxia telangiectasia.
Some Nonlinear Integral Inequalities Connected with Retarded Terms on Time Scales
Authors: Khan Zareen A. , Ahmad Hijaz , Rashid Saima , Kaynak Kadir , Wang Miao-Kun
Published: December 2020

The objective of this research is to formulate a specific class of integral inequalities of Gronwall kind concerning retarded term and nonlinear integrals with time scales theory. Our results generate several new inequalities that reflect continuous and discrete form, as well as giving the unknown function an upper bound estimate. The effectiveness of such inequalities arises from the belief that it is widely relevant in unique circumstances where there is no valid utilization of various available inequalities. Applications are additionally represented to display the legitimacy of built-up hypotheses.
Balancing Access Control and Privacy for Data Deduplication via Functional Encryption
Authors: Mi Bo , Long Ping , Liu Yang , Kuang Fengtian
Published: December 2020

Data deduplication serves as an effective way to optimize the storage occupation and the bandwidth consumption over clouds. As for the security of deduplication mechanism, users’ privacy and accessibility are of utmost concern since data are outsourced. However, the functionality of redundancy removal and the indistinguishability of deduplication labels are naturally incompatible, which bring about a lot of threats on data security. Besides, the access control of sharing copies may lead to infringement on users’ attributes and cumbersome query overheads. To balance the usability with the confidentiality of deduplication labels and securely realize an elaborate access structure, a novel data deduplication scheme is proposed in this paper. Briefly speaking, we drew support from learning with errors (LWE) to make sure that the deduplication labels are only differentiable during the duplication check process. Instead of authority matching, the proof of ownership (PoW) is then implemented under the paradigm of inner production. Since the deduplication label is light-weighted and the inner production is easy to carry out, our scheme is more efficient in terms of computation and storage. Security analysis also indicated that the deduplication labels are distinguishable only for duplication check, and the probability of falsifying a valid ownership is negligible.
A Short-Term Traffic Flow Reliability Prediction Method considering Traffic Safety
Authors: Li Shaoqian , Zhang Zhenyuan , Liu Yang , Qin Zixia
Published: December 2020

With the rapid development and application of intelligent traffic systems, traffic flow prediction has attracted an increasing amount of attention. Accurate and timely traffic flow information is of great significance to improve the safety of transportation. To improve the prediction accuracy of the backward-propagation neural network (BPNN) prediction model, which easily falls into local optimal solutions, this paper proposes an adaptive differential evolution (DE) algorithm-optimized BPNN (DE-BPNN) model for a short-term traffic flow prediction. First, by the mutation, crossover, and selection operations of the DE algorithm, the initial weights and biases of the BPNN are optimized. Then, the initial weights and biases obtained by the aforementioned preoptimization are used to train the BPNN, thereby obtaining the optimal weights and biases. Finally, the trained BPNN is utilized to predict the real-time traffic flow. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the DE-BPNN model is improved about 7.36% as compared with that of the BPNN model. The DE-BPNN is superior to the performance of three classical models for short-term traffic flow prediction.
Modeling and Prediction of Stock Price with Convolutional Neural Network Based on Blockchain Interactive Information
Authors: Zhang Wei , Tao Ke-xin , Li Jun-feng , Zhu Yan-chun , Li Jing
Published: December 2020

The interactive information in blockchain architecture establishes an effective communication channel between users and enterprises, enabling them to communicate in a comprehensive and effective manner. Therefore, taking blockchain interactive information as the research object, this paper explores how the intervention of official information on investors affects the stock price movement and then makes predictions on stock prices according to the emotional tendency of interactive information. With the contextual information fusion, a sentiment computing model based on a convolutional neural network is established to extract and quantify the emotional features of blockchain interactive information. Combined with investors’ emotional features, the stock price prediction model based on long short-term memory is proposed. The experiment results show that the accuracy of the model has been improved by incorporating the intervened emotional features, thereby proving that information clarification can have a positive effect on the stock price.
Thermophysical Properties of 1-Octyl-3-Methylimidazolium Acetate with Organic Solvents
Authors: Yang Fuxin , Feng Peng
Published: December 2020

Ionic liquid (IL) usually possesses high viscosity. In this work, the selected organic solvents, namely, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide, were used as the diluents to lower IL viscosity. The thermophysical properties of the densities and viscosities for the binary mixtures of IL (i.e., 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate) with solvents were studied at normal pressure in the temperature ranges of 303.15 K to 348.15 K. The effects of the organic solvents on lowering IL viscosity were quantitatively evaluated. The excess properties of the mixtures were calculated to analyze the interactions between IL and solvents. The hard-sphere model was employed to reproduce the viscosity behavior of the pure substances and binary mixtures.
Serum CCL21 as a Potential Biomarker for Cognitive Impairment in Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Chen Yuanzhen , Liang Liangke , Cao Shengnan , Hou Guangjian , Zhang Qian , Ma Hong , Shi Bin
Published: December 2020

Objective. Cognitive impairment is considered to be an important complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore whether serum CCL21 can be used as a potential biomarker of cognitive impairment in SCI. Methods. In Neck‐Shoulder and Lumbocrural Pain Hospital, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, hospitalized or treated acute SCI patients were included in the study as the SCI group (SCI). At the same time, a normal control group (NC) matching the age and sex of the SCI group was recruited in the outpatient clinic. Once the two groups were enrolled, their demographics and clinical characteristics were collected immediately. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum CCL21 levels within 24 hours of admission. Three months later, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to test the cognitive function of the population. Results. A total of 84 SCI patients and 49 NC populations were eligible for inclusion in the study. There was no significant statistical difference in the demographics and clinical characteristics (age, gender, BMI, TG, LDL‐C, FBG, SBP, and DBP) between the two groups (p > 0.05). Compared with the NC group, the SCI group had a higher serum CCL21 level (p < 0.001) and a lower MoCA score (p < 0.001). Serum CCL21 level in SCI was negatively correlated with MoCA score (p = 0.023). Multivariable analyses showed that serum CCL21 level is an independent prognostic factor of cognitive impairment in SCI. Conclusions. MoCA score has a linear relationship with serum CCL21 quartile, and SCI cognitive function has a negative correlation with serum CCL21. Serum CCL21 is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment after SCI.
On Enhancing TCP to Deal with High Latency and Transmission Errors in Geostationary Satellite Network for 5G-IoT
Authors: Zong Liang , Bai Yong , Zhao Chenglin , Luo Gaofeng , Zhang Zeyu , Ma Huawei
Published: December 2020

The geostationary (GEO) satellite networks have two important influencing factors: high latency and transmission errors. Similarly, they will happen in the large-scale multihop network of the Internet of things (IoT), which will affect the application of 5G- (5th-generation mobile networks-) IoT. In this paper, we propose an enhanced TCP mechanism that increases the amount of data transferred in the slow start phase of TCP Hybla to mitigate the effect of long RTT and incorporates a refined mechanism of TCP Veno, which can distinguish packet loss between random and congestion. This scheme is evaluated and compared with NewReno, Hybla, and Veno by simulation, and the performance improvement of the proposed TCP scheme for GEO satellite network in the presence of random packet losses is demonstrated. At the same time, the enhanced TCP scheme can improve the transmission performance in the future 5G-IoT heterogeneous network with high delay and transmission .
Immunological Aspects of Dental Implant Rejection
Authors: Baseri Milad , Radmand Faraz , Hamedi Reyhaneh , Yousefi Mehdi , Kafil Hossein Samadi
Published: December 2020

Nowadays, dental implants are a prominent therapeutic approach among dentists for replacing missing teeth. Failure in dental implants is a severe challenge recently. The factors which lead to dental implant failure are known. These factors can be categorized into different groups. In this article, we discussed the immunological aspects of implant failure as one of these groups. Cytokines and immune cells have extensive and various functions in peri‐implantitis. The equilibrium between pro and anti‐inflammatory cytokines and cells, which involve in this orchestra, has a crucial role in implant prognosis. In conclusion, immune cells, especially macrophages and dendritic cells, almost increased in the patients with implant failure. Also, proinflammatory cytokines were proposed as diagnostic factors according to their higher levels in dental implant rejection.
Sociodemographic Determinants of Physical Inactivity of People Aged 60 Years and Older: A Cross‐Sectional Study in Poland
Authors: Biernat Elżbieta , Piątkowska Monika
Published: December 2020

Purpose. The aim of the study was to evaluate general physical activity (PA) level on the basis of leisure time and transportation physical activity (LTPA and TPA), assess the percentage of persons not meeting PA recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and evaluate the relationship between selected sociodemographic factors and physical inactivity. Methods. The paper is based on data (n = 7,347) retrieved from five large‐scale surveys (2014‐2018) used to collect information on the PA of Polish society. In order to meet the aim of the paper, we selected a sample of 2,023 Poles aged ≥ 60 years old. In each wave, the Polish long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal‐Wallis tests were used to investigate the differences between the types and volume of PA and sociodemographic variables. Relationships between physical inactivity and analysed variables were evaluated using log‐linear analysis. To capture relationships between physical inactivity and a set of explanatory variables, a predictive model was built. Results. The total average energy expenditure amounted to 1879.5 ± 2352.5 MET‐min/week, including LTPA (938.5 ± 1491.9 MET‐min/week) and TPA (944.8 ± 1322.4 MET‐min/week). Over the course of the last two years of the study, the average value of MET‐min/week increased significantly (p < 0.05); however, prohealth WHO norms are not met by nearly 40% of Poles. Sex determines the volume of LTPA and TPA (p < 0.05) but does not determine the inactivity of seniors. Place of residence and education differentiate participation in LTPA and TPA. The lower the education level and the smaller the place of residence, the greater the inactivity. Conclusions. The target for future interventions should be people aged 60+ living in villages and small towns (especially those with primary education). It is necessary to undertake educational and motivational programmes promoting PA. It is essential to develop detailed recommendations and to create a friendly and supportive environment.
Effect-Size Estimation Using Semiparametric Hierarchical Mixture Models in Disease-Association Studies with Neuroimaging Data
Authors: Emoto Ryo , Kawaguchi Atsushi , Takahashi Kunihiko , Matsui Shigeyuki
Published: December 2020

In disease-association studies using neuroimaging data, evaluating the biological or clinical significance of individual associations requires not only detection of disease-associated areas of the brain but also estimation of the magnitudes of the associations or effect sizes for individual brain areas. In this paper, we propose a model-based framework for voxel-based inferences under spatial dependency in neuroimaging data. Specifically, we employ hierarchical mixture models with a hidden Markov random field structure to incorporate the spatial dependency between voxels. A nonparametric specification is proposed for the effect size distribution to flexibly estimate the underlying effect size distribution. Simulation experiments demonstrate that compared with a naive estimation method, the proposed methods can substantially reduce the selection bias in the effect size estimates of the selected voxels with the greatest observed associations. An application to neuroimaging data from an Alzheimer’s disease study is provided.
Association of Toll‐Like Receptor 4 Gene Polymorphisms with Acute Aortic Dissection in a Chinese Han Population
Authors: Li Tan , Liu Xiaozheng , Ning Hongxia , Li Xintong , Yang Jun , Ma Chunyan
Published: December 2020

Background. Inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of acute aortic dissection (AAD). Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is known to play a critical role in regulating the immune and inflammatory processes. To date, the relationship between genetic variation of TLR4 and AAD is far from clear. The purpose of our study was to illustrate the relevance of TLR4 polymorphisms with the susceptibility to AAD. Methods. A total of 222 AAD patients and 222 controls were enrolled in this study. Frequency distributions of TLR4 polymorphisms (rs10759932 in the promoter and rs11536889 in the 3 ′‐untranslated region) were determined by the KASP method. Clinical parameters were acquired from subjects’ medical records, and serum TLR4 levels were collected from our previously published data. Results. We found that rs10759932 polymorphism was associated with a reduced risk of AAD in the overall population (CC vs. TT: OR = 0.393, 95%CI = 0.164‐0.939, P = 0.036; recessive model: OR = 0.439, 95%CI = 0.196‐0.984, P = 0.045) and subgroup analyses stratified by sex. The GC genotype and dominant model of rs11536889 conferred a significantly higher risk of AAD compared with GG genotype in female subjects (GC vs. GG: OR = 3.382, 95%CI = 1.051‐10.885, P = 0.041; dominant model: OR = 3.043, 95%CI = 1.041‐8.900, P = 0.042). In addition, a significant interaction between the rs11536889 recessive model and dyslipidemia was observed for an increased risk of AAD (Pinteraction = 0.038, OR = 15.229) after the adjustment for potential clinical covariates. We also used the false‐positive report probability (FPRP) analysis to validate the significant results. Furthermore, rs11536889 polymorphism could affect the maximal aortic diameters of AAD (P = 0.037), while AAD patients carrying CC genotype of rs10759932 showed lower serum TLR4 levels than TT genotype carriers (P = 0.043). Conclusions. Our findings provide evidence for the association between TLR4 polymorphisms and AAD susceptibility in a Chinese Han population, which may have some implications for understanding the role of TLR4 in the pathophysiology of AAD.
A New Method for Imputing Censored Values in Crossover Designs with Time‐to‐Event Outcomes Using Median Residual Life
Authors: Jalali Maryam , Bagheri Zahra , Zare Najaf , Ayatollahi Seyyed Mohammad Taghi
Published: December 2020

Crossover designs are commonly applied in research due to efficiency and subject parsimony compared to parallel studies. Baseline measurements would improve the power of comparison. For time to event outcomes, the sample size is reduced due to censorship, if they are ignored; thus, applying traditional regression models will be limited. A logical solution is to impute the censored observation and apply common analytical models for analyzing the data. Nevertheless, techniques to impute censored data in time‐to‐event outcomes in crossover designs are not practiced as much. Accordingly, we propose a method to impute the censored observation using median residual life regression and then analyze the data using analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), considering the difference of period‐specific baselines as covariate. We used simulation to show the favorable performance of our method relative to a recently proposed method, multiple imputation with model averaging and ANCOVA (MIMI). Specifically, the censored observations were multiply‐imputed using prespecified parametric event time models, and then, the methods were applied to a real data example.