bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Dexmedetomidine Improve or Worsen Restless Leg Syndrome under Sedation: A Case Report and Extensive Review
Authors: Iskandar Sandra , Martins Marina Souto , Hudson Andrew , Hirsch Jason G. , Jahr Jonathan S.
Published: September 2022

Background. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological condition that manifests as creeping, nonpainful urges to move lower extremities and is relieved with movements of the legs. RLS is associated with comorbidities such as gastric surgery, diabetes mellitus, uremia, and iron deficiency anemia, and it is misdiagnosed in many cases. Drugs like levodopa, ropinirole, pramipexole, cabergoline, and pergolide that target the dopaminergic system have been traditionally used to treat symptoms of RLS. α2-adrenoceptor (α2-AR) agonists, like clonidine and dexmedetomidine, have also been reported to show improvement of RLS symptoms during sedation. Specific Aim. This case report suggests that dexmedetomidine may have worsened RLS during sedation in a 71-year-old male with no prior diagnosis of RLS or reported symptoms. The patient had a procedure for right first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) fusion, with second digit proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) arthrodesis, and flexor tendon transfer due to pain on walking and failing conservative therapy. He underwent intravenous sedation/monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with propofol, dexmedetomidine, and a peripheral regional block for intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative analgesia. During the surgery, the patient experienced continuous bilateral leg movement, unpredictable, and unrelated to surgical stimulation or level of consciousness within 5 minutes of administration of dexmedetomidine. The patient tolerated the procedure, and the unpredicted leg movement was managed by the surgeons intraoperatively. Conclusion. Although no previous literature exists and mechanisms are unclear, this case report hypothesizes that dexmedetomidine may contribute to worsening RLS symptoms.
Sex Disparity in Characteristics, Management, and In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients with ST-Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction: Insights from Henan STEMI Registry
Authors: Wang Shan , Zhang You , Cheng Qianqian , Qi Datun , Wang Xianpei , Zhu Zhongyu , Li Muwei , Zhang Junhui , Hu Dayi , Gao Chuanyu , Henan STEMI registry study group On behalf of
Published: September 2022

Background. Women hospitalized with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) experience higher risk of early mortality than men. We aimed to investigate the potential impact of risk factors, clinical characteristics, and management among gender-related risk differences. Method. We analyzed 5063 STEMI patients prospectively enrolled from 66 hospitals during 2016–2018 and compared sex differences in mortality, death, or treatment withdrawal and main adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) using the generalized linear mixed model, following sequential adjustment for covariates. Results. Women were older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension (53.3% vs. 41.1%,

P
<
0.001

) and diabetes (24.5% vs. 15.2%,

P
<
0.001

). Eligible women were less likely to receive reperfusion therapy (56.1% vs. 62.4%,

P
<
0.001

); the onset to first medical contact (FMC) (255 vs. 190 minutes,

P
<
0.001

), onset to fibrinolysis (218 vs. 185 minutes,

P
<
0.001

), and onset to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (307 vs. 243 minutes,

P
<
0.001

) were significantly delayed in women. The incidence of in-hospital death (6.8% vs. 3.0%,

P
<
0.001

), death or treatment withdrawal (14.5% vs. 5.6%,

P
<
0.001

), and MACCE (18.5% vs. 9.4%,

P
<
0.001

) were notably higher. The gender disparities persist in death (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.12–2.33), death or treatment withdrawal (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.26–2.24), and MACCE (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.08–1.74) after adjustment for covariates. Among possible explanatory factors, age (−58.46%, −59.04%, −62.20%) and cardiovascular risk factors (−40.77%, −39.36%, −41.73%) accounted for most of the gender-associated risk differences. Conclusions. Women experienced worse in-hospital outcomes, and age and cardiovascular risk factors were major factors influencing sex-related differences. The sex disparity stressed the awareness and importance of quality improvement efforts against female patients in clinical practice.
Progressive Failure Analysis of Laminated CFRP Composites under Three-Point Bending Load
Authors: Shen Bing , Liu HongJun , Lv Shengli , Li Zheng , Cheng Wen
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the mechanical behavior and damage evolution of CFRP laminates under three-point bending loads were investigated. Based on the three-dimensional Hashin failure criterion and cohesive zone method, a progressive damage analysis model was constructed to predict seven different failure modes, and an improved stiffness matrix degradation law was proposed. Numerical simulations were performed using ABAQUS finite element software and UMAT user subroutines and verified by three-point bending tests. The experimental results show that the relative errors of the flexural strength and flexural modulus of the current model simulation results and the experimental data were −3.10% and −2.70%, respectively, and the damage evolution process after the ultimate load was accurately predicted. Meanwhile, the predicted final failure and damage modes were consistent with the micrographs of the failed specimens.
Kinetics of Sludge Superheated Steam Drying and Optimization of Process Parameters
Authors: Zhang Xukun , Xing Pu , Liu Shengping , Zhang Chengzhen , Fu Weiliang
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of steam temperature, sludge thickness, and steam flow on the drying characteristics and drying kinetics of sludge superheated steam and optimize the process parameters of sludge superheated steam drying by using the response surface method and taking relative unit energy consumption as the response value. Single-factor test of superheated steam drying of sludge was conducted under different drying conditions of steam temperature (180, 195, 220, and 260°C), sludge thickness (2, 3.5, 6, and 10 mm), and steam flow rate (22, 29, 36, and 40 m3/h). Taking relative unit energy consumption as the response value and steam temperature, sludge mass (corresponding to sludge thickness), and steam flow as the test factors, the three-factor and five-level response surface test was conducted on the sludge. The experimental results show that steam temperature and sludge thickness had a significant influence on the drying characteristics of superheated sludge steam (

p
<
0.05

). With the increase of steam temperature, the decrease of sludge thickness, and the increase of steam flow, the drying time of sludge will be shortened, the drying efficiency of sludge will be improved, and the maximum condensation amount and recovery time will be reduced. The quadratic polynomials, linear equation, and logarithmic model can better fit the change law of water variation of the sludge of superheated steam condensation section, recovery section, and drying section. With the increase of steam temperature, sludge thickness, and steam flow rate, the effective diffusion coefficient also increases. The activation energy of sludge superheated steam drying was 13.42 kJ/mol at a sludge thickness of 6 mm, steam flow rate of 22 m3/h, and different steam temperatures. The order of influence degree of three test factors on relative unit energy consumption is as follows: sludge mass (corresponding to sludge thickness) > steam flow rate > steam temperature. According to response surface test analysis, the optimal drying process with relative unit energy consumption is steam temperature of 215°C, sludge mass of 25 g (corresponding sludge thickness of 8 mm), and steam flow of 30 m3/h. Under this drying process parameter, the minimum energy consumption of sludge superheated steam drying is 284.61 kJ/g. Compared with the relative unit energy consumption value obtained in the verification test, the relative error is 1.65%.
Serosurvey of Cystic Echinococcosis and Related Risk Factors for Infection in Fars Province, Southern Iran: A Population‐Based Study
Authors: Safarpour Ali Reza , Omidian Mostafa , Pouryousef Ali , Fattahi Mohammad Reza , Sarkari Bahador
Published: September 2022

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common zoonotic infection in all provinces of Iran, especially in areas where people live on agriculture and animal husbandry. The current cross‐sectional population‐based study is aimed at determining the seroprevalence of CE in Kavar County, Fars province, southern Iran. Blood samples were collected from 1500 individuals (749 males and 751 females). Anti‐hydatid cyst antibodies were detected, using a recombinant B8/1 antigen of Echinococcus graunlosus in an ELISA system. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to find out the independent risk factor for CE seropositivity. Anti‐hydatid cyst antibodies were detected in the sera of 131 out of 1500 participants, corresponding to a seroprevalence rate of 8.73%. With a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05), the seroprevalence of hydatid cyst in males and females was 5% and 7%, respectively. Differences in the seropositivity of hydatid cysts were also statistically significant by occupation (p < 0.05). The seroprevalence of hydatid cyst was significantly higher in the age group of 35‐45 years than in other age groups (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that only age was associated with seropositivity to CE (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.33‐3.72). Moreover, there was a statistically significant association between seropositivity to hydatid cysts and underlying diseases such as hypertension (p = 0.049) and fatty liver (p = 0.048). The findings of this study indicate that the seroprevalence rate of CE is relatively high in the Fars province, southern Iran, and this high rate of infection is mainly linked to people’s jobs and lifestyles.
[Retracted] Children’s Motor Intelligence Evaluation System Based on Multi‐data Fusion
Authors: Zhao Sihong
Published: September 2022

Along with the main feedback information of early childhood education activities, children’s movement evaluation plays an important guiding role in early childhood education activities. Teachers can teach children in accordance with their aptitude according to the results of children’s sports evaluation. Traditional physical education overemphasizes the leading role of teachers, and young children can only passively receive the education of teachers. Teachers always use the same standard to evaluate each child, simply assigning a rating of “strong,” “moderate,” and “poor” to children, ignoring the differences in children’s physical intelligence. The emergence of multidata fusion technology can use the differences and complementarity of various data in evaluation functions to make up for the insufficiency of a single exercise evaluation result, purposefully choose the evaluation method flexibly according to the content of the exercise and the scene of the exercise, and gradually improve the level of children’s exercise evaluation. This paper studied the children’s motor intelligence evaluation system based on multidata fusion. To this end, this paper will focus on children’s autonomous sports games and determine the first‐level indicators in the children’s sports evaluation index system as four indicators: classroom performance, physical fitness, motor skills, and extracurricular fitness. It used the principle of multidata fusion, firstly evaluates children’s exercise physiology data through a fuzzy neural network algorithm, and then combines the adaptive weighted data fusion algorithm with D‐S evidence theory to evaluate children’s movement intelligence. Experiments showed that the multidata evaluation system can take effective measures to intelligently evaluate children’s comprehensive motor ability. Compared with the traditional evaluation method, the evaluation results are increased by 5%, and the children’s sports evaluation results are more average, which can enhance children’s sports confidence and promote children’s effective exercise.
Detection of Malicious Cloud Bandwidth Consumption in Cloud Computing Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Veeraiah Duggineni , Mohanty Rajanikanta , Kundu Shakti , Dhabliya Dharmesh , Tiwari Mohit , Jamal Sajjad Shaukat , Halifa Awal
Published: September 2022

The Internet of Things, sometimes known as IoT, is a relatively new kind of Internet connectivity that connects physical objects to the Internet in a way that was not possible in the past. The Internet of Things is another name for this concept (IoT). The Internet of Things has a larger attack surface as a result of its hyperconnectivity and heterogeneity, both of which are characteristics of the IoT. In addition, since the Internet of Things devices are deployed in managed and uncontrolled contexts, it is conceivable for malicious actors to build new attacks that target these devices. As a result, the Internet of Things (IoT) requires self-protection security systems that are able to autonomously interpret attacks in IoT traffic and efficiently handle the attack scenario by triggering appropriate reactions at a pace that is faster than what is currently available. In order to fulfill this requirement, fog computing must be utilised. This type of computing has the capability of integrating an intelligent self-protection mechanism into the distributed fog nodes. This allows the IoT application to be protected with the least amount of human intervention while also allowing for faster management of attack scenarios. Implementing a self-protection mechanism at malicious fog nodes is the primary objective of this research work. This mechanism should be able to detect and predict known attacks based on predefined attack patterns, as well as predict novel attacks based on no predefined attack patterns, and then choose the most appropriate response to neutralise the identified attack. In the environment of the IoT, a distributed Gaussian process regression is used at fog nodes to anticipate attack patterns that have not been established in the past. This allows for the prediction of new cyberattacks in the environment. It predicts attacks in an uncertain IoT setting at a speedier rate and with greater precision than prior techniques. It is able to effectively anticipate both low-rate and high-rate assaults in a more timely manner within the dispersed fog nodes, which enables it to mount a more accurate defence. In conclusion, a fog computing-based self-protection system is developed to choose the most appropriate reaction using fuzzy logic for detected or anticipated assaults using the suggested detection and prediction mechanisms. This is accomplished by utilising a self-protection system that is based on the development of a self-protection system that utilises the suggested detection and prediction mechanisms. The findings of the experimental investigation indicate that the proposed system identifies threats, lowers bandwidth usage, and thwarts assaults at a rate that is twenty-five percent faster than the cloud-based system implementation.
Ensemble Feature Selection in Binary Machine Learning Classification: A Novel Application of the Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) Method
Authors: Abellana Dharyll Prince M. , Roxas Robert R. , Lao Demelo M. , Mayol Paula E. , Lee Sanghyuk
Published: September 2022

Combining filters in an ensemble to improve feature selection performance is a growing field in the literature. Current techniques, however, are focused on approaches that suffer from drawbacks such as sensitivity to skewed distribution, among others. To address this gap, this paper investigates the applicability of multiple criteria decision-making in ensemble feature selection. This paper adopts the Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) method due to its many familiar elements to the feature selection community. An experiment was performed on six datasets and a control group. The paper uses the six datasets as levels of the blocking factor. A negative control group (i.e., no feature selection) was adopted to compare with the proposed algorithm. Results show that the proposed ensemble FS algorithm was able to reduce the dataset without compromising the performance of the classifier. The findings in this study would contribute to the literature in several ways. First, the paper is one of the few works to demonstrate how MCDM can be used in feature selection with promising results. Second, this paper is one of the few works to demonstrate the significance of including datasets as levels of a blocking factor when performing significance testing. Finally, this paper is the first to demonstrate the applicability of EDAS as an ensemble FS algorithm. As such, the findings in this paper could spark the cross-fertilization of feature selection and MCDM.
Structural and Functional Annotation and Molecular Docking Analysis of a Hypothetical Protein from Neisseria gonorrhoeae: An In‐Silico Approach
Authors: Mazumder Lincon , Hasan Md. Rakibul , Fatema Kanij , Islam Md. Zahirul , Tamanna Sanjida Khanam
Published: September 2022

Background. Worldwide, Neisseria gonorrhoeae‐related sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be of significant public health concern. This obligate‐human pathogen has developed a number of defenses against both innate and adaptive immune responses during infection, some of which are mediated by the pathogen’s proteins. Hence, the uncharacterized proteins of N. gonorrhoeae can be annotated to get insight into the unique functions of this organism related to its pathogenicity and to find a more efficient therapeutic target. Methods. In this study, a hypothetical protein (HP) of N. gonorrhoeae was chosen for analysis and an in‐silico approach was used to explore various properties such as physicochemical characteristics, subcellular localization, secondary structure, 3D structures, and functional annotation of that HP. Finally, a molecular docking analysis was performed to design an epitope‐based vaccine against that HP. Results. This study has identified the potential role of the chosen HP of N. gonorrhoeae in plasmid transfer, cell cycle control, cell division, and chromosome partitioning. Acidic nature, thermal stability, cytoplasmic localization of the protein, and some of its other physicochemical properties have also been identified through this study. Molecular docking analysis has demonstrated that one of the T cell epitopes of the protein has a significant binding affinity with the human leukocyte antigen HLA‐B∗15 : 01. Conclusions. The in‐silico characterization of this protein will help us understand molecular mechanism of action of N. gonorrhoeae and get an insight into novel therapeutic identification processes. This research will, therefore, enhance our knowledge to find new medications to tackle this potential threat to humankind.
Subtype Classification and Prognosis Signature Construction of Osteosarcoma Based on Cellular Senescence-Related Genes
Authors: Wang Hanyu , Liu Hongliang , Wang Li , Xu Shuchai , Pi Honglin , Cheng Zhian
Published: September 2022

Background. Cellular senescence (CS) is an alternative procedure that replaces or reinforces inadequate apoptotic responses and is used as an influencing factor for a variety of cancers. The value of CS gene in evaluating the immunotherapy response and clinical outcome of osteosarcoma (OS) has not been reported, and an accurate risk model based on CS gene has not been developed for OS patients. Methods. 279 CS genes were obtained from CellAge. Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to screen the CS gene which was significantly related to the prognosis of OS samples in TARGET data set. The prognosis, clinicopathological features, immune infiltration, gene expression at immune checkpoints, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score, and chemotherapy resistance of OS were analyzed among clusters. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) Cox regression analysis to build cellular senescence-related gene signature (CSRS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis of CSRS and clinical parameters were carried out, and the parameters with independent prognostic value were used to construct nomogram. Results. Based on 30 CS genes related to OS prognosis, OS samples were divided into three clusters: C1, C2, and C3. C3 showed the lowest survival rate and metastasis rate and the highest immune score and stromal score and was more likely to respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment. A CSRS scoring system including four CS genes (MYC, DLX2, EPHA3, and LIMK1) was constructed, which could distinguish the survival outcome, tumor microenvironment (TME) status, and ICB treatment response of patients with different CSRS score. Nomogram constructed by CSRS score and metastatic has a high prognostic value for OS. Conclusions. Our study identified a molecular classification determined by CS-related genes and developed a new CSRS that has potential value in OS immunotherapy response and clinical outcome prediction.
Stability Results of Thermal Control System with Time-Dependent Delays and Perturbations of Nonlinearity
Authors: Gemechu Dagne Asefa , Prabakaran K. , N Lalithamani , Nagarajan S. , Umamaheswaran S. , S Umamageshwari. , Feyisa Meseret Leta
Published: September 2022

The stability of a controlled network temperature control system (heat exchanger system) is examined in this study paper. A heat exchanger system keeps the end temperature of a liquid within defined parameters. The study proposes a linearized model of a temperature control system based on a delay-dependent state equation to accomplish this job. For a temperature management system in a network having time-varying delays, the LK functional (Lyapunov–Krasovskii) method is coupled with the reciprocal convex lemma. To get less conservative stability requirements, a new LK functional was assumed in the stability analysis, and the time-dependent of the (LK) functional was taken via the reciprocal convex combination approach. Finally, under the LMI (linear matrix inequalities) paradigm, the suggested stability analysis leads to a stability criterion. The suggested results establish a new stability criterion for a more accurate operating form for a present temperature control system based on a theoretically obtained temperature management system.
Review of InfraRed Thermography and Ground‐Penetrating Radar Applications for Building Assessment
Authors: Garrido Iván , Solla Mercedes , Lagüela Susana , Rasol Mezgeen
Published: September 2022

The first appearance of concern for the good condition of a building dates back to ancient times. In recent years, with the emergence of new inspection technologies and the growing concern about climate change and people’s health, the concern about the integrity of building structures has been extended to their analysis as insulating envelopes. In addition, the growing network of historic buildings gives this sector special attention. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive review of the application of two of the most common and most successful Non‐Destructive Techniques (NDTs) when inspecting a building: InfraRed Thermography (IRT) and Ground‐Penetrating Radar (GPR). To the best knowledge of the authors, it is the first time that a joint compilation of the state‐of‐the‐art of both IRT and GPR for building evaluation is performed in the same work, with special emphasis on applications that integrate both technologies. The authors briefly explain the performance of each NDT, along with the individual and collective advantages of their uses in the building sector. Subsequently, an in‐depth analysis of the most relevant references is described, according to the building materials to be studied and the purpose to be achieved: structural safety, energy efficiency and well‐being, and heritage preservation. Then, three different case studies are presented with the aim of illustrating the potential of the combined use of IRT and GPR in the evaluation of buildings for the purposes defined. Last, the final remarks and future lines are described on the application of these two interesting inspection technologies in the preservation and conservation of the building sector.
Artemisia spp.: An Update on Its Chemical Composition, Pharmacological and Toxicological Profiles
Authors: Sharifi-Rad Javad , Herrera-Bravo Jesús , Semwal Prabhakar , Painuli Sakshi , Badoni Himani , Ezzat Shahira M. , Farid Mai M. , Merghany Rana M. , Aborehab Nora M. , Salem Mohamed A. , Sen Surjit , Acharya Krishnendu , Lapava Natallia , Martorell Miquel , Tynybekov Bekzat , Calina Daniela , Cho William C.
Published: September 2022

Artemisia plants are traditional and ethnopharmacologically used to treat several diseases and in addition in food, spices, and beverages. The genus is widely distributed in all continents except the Antarctica, and traditional medicine has been used as antimalarial, antioxidant, anticancer, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral agents. This review is aimed at systematizing scientific data on the geographical distribution, chemical composition, and pharmacological and toxicological profiles of the Artemisia genus. Data from the literature on Artemisia plants were taken using electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Selected papers for this updated study included data about phytochemicals, preclinical pharmacological experimental studies with molecular mechanisms included, clinical studies, and toxicological and safety data. In addition, ancient texts and books were consulted. The essential oils and phytochemicals of the Artemisia genus have reported important biological activities, among them the artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, with antimalarial activity. Artemisia absinthium L. is one of the most famous Artemisia spp. due to its use in the production of the absinthe drink which is restricted in most countries because of neurotoxicity. The analyzed studies confirmed that Artemisia plants have many traditional and pharmacological applications. However, scientific data are limited to clinical and toxicological research. Therefore, further research is needed on these aspects to understand the full therapeutic potential and molecular pharmacological mechanisms of this medicinal species.
[Retracted] Application of Laparoscopy Combined with Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) in Acute Intestinal Obstruction and Analysis of Prognostic Factors: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Miao Xianglai , Tao Lixuan , Huang Linfei , Li Jun , Pan Sheng
Published: September 2022

Objective. A retrospective cohort study was carried out to research the effect of stent combined with laparoscopy combined with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in the operation of acute intestinal obstruction and to explore and analyze the prognostic factors. Methods. During February 2019 to April 2021, sixty patients with acute intestinal obstruction cured in our hospital were enrolled. Randomly assigned control group patients (n = 50) were divided into the research group and control group patients. The control group accepted stent combined with laparoscopic therapeutic, and the research group accepted stent combined with laparoscopic therapeutic based on ERAS. The general data, operative index, Short Form 36 (SF‐36) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, procalcitonin (PCT), CRP, prealbumin (PA) index, curative effect, and incidence of complications were investigated. Results. No difference was found in age, gender, or type of disease among the general population (P > 0.05). A lower amount of blood was lost during the operation, less anal exhaustion was experienced by the research group, and a shorter hospital stay and lower hospitalization cost was experienced in the research group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There exhibited no remarkable difference in SF‐36 score and VAS score before operation, but after operation, the VAS score lessened, the SF‐36 score augmented, while the VAS score was lower, and the SF‐36 score in the research group was higher (P < 0.05). There exited no remarkable difference in the indexes of PCT, CRP, and PA before operation, but after operation, the levels of PCT and CRP lessened as well as the level of PA augmented, and the levels of PCT and CRP were lower, while the level of PA in the research group was higher. In terms of the clinical efficacy, the effective rate of the research group (98.00%) was higher compared to the control (86.00%) (P < 0.05). The main postoperative complications were pulmonary infection and incision infection. One case of incision infection occurred in the research group, and the probability of postoperative complications was 2.00%. In the control group, there were 3 cases of pulmonary infection, 0 cases of perforation, and 4 cases of incision infection, and the probability of postoperative complications was 14.00%. The prevalence in the research group was remarkably lower (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Compared with the traditional concept of surgical therapeutic, it can more effectively reduce stress reaction, relieve postoperative pain, promote the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function as soon as possible, and reduce postoperative complications, which is worth to explore the application in the therapeutic of acute abdomen.
Effect of Dapagliflozin on Indicators of Myocardial Fibrosis and Levels of Inflammatory Factors in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Wang Chuanqiang , Qin Yiteng , Zhang Xiaojun , Yang Yang , Wu Xuan , Liu Jing , Qin Shuhui , Chen Ke , Xiao Wenliang
Published: September 2022

Objective. To explore the effect of dapagliflozin on the myocardial fibrosis and the levels of inflammatory factors in heart failure patients. Methods. 60 patients with T2DM who were diagnosed as acute left heart failure or acute exacerbation of chronic left heart failure in the Department of Cardiology of our hospital from November 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, during hospitalization were the study subjects. According to the treatment regimen, they were divided into the experimental group (EG) which received dapagliflozin and conventional drugs and the control group (CG) which received conventional drugs, with 30 cases in each group to compare and analyze the clinical indicators such as myocardial fibrosis and inflammatory factors. Results. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and hs-CRP in the two groups were decreased gradually after treatment, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and hs-CRP in the EG were visibly lower compared with those in the CG at week 4 of treatment (

P
<
0.05

). The cardiac function evaluation of patients showed that the levels of LVEF and LVEDD in both groups were gradually improved after treatment, with a significant difference from the fourth week. In other words, compared with the CG, the LVEF level in the EG was obviously higher (

P
<
0.05

), the LVEDD level was distinctly lower (

P
<
0.05

), and the levels of ST2, BNP, and MCP-1 in the EG were clearly lower at week 4 of treatment (

P
<
0.05

) with a statistical significance in difference. Conclusion. Dapagliflozin has a definite curative effect in heart failure patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can effectively reduce the inflammatory response of patients and inhibit the myocardial fibrosis, and has a potential value in improving cardiac function and promoting prognosis.
Thermal Response and Mechanical Behaviors of Compact Basalts Induced by Microwave Irradiation
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Wu , Xu Jin-Hai , Chen Liang , Cao Yue , Sun Lei , Shaikh Faiz
Published: September 2022

Microwave pretreatment could be an invaluable method to improve the efficiency of the rock breakage in the excavation and comminution operations. To investigate the influence of microwave irradiation on the thermal response and mechanical behavior of compact rocks, a series of physical and mechanical experiments were conducted on the nontreated and treated basalts. The mineral compositions of the basalts were obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) test. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and geological sketch were utilized to analyze the propagation pattern of the microcracks and macrofractures caused by the microwave irradiation. High power density microwave can induce the complication of the microcracks and exchange the pattern of the macrofracture network. Based on the uniaxial compression strength (UCS) test, the mechanical performance of the basalts was evidently reduced with the increase of the microwave power and exposure time. The experimental results prove that microwave-assisted method has significant potential application to preweakening rocks in civil and mining engineering.
The Impact of Scaffolded Metacognitive Writing Strategy Instruction on Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners’ IELTS Writing Task 2
Authors: Nourazar Somayeh , Kakvand Rokhsareh , Aliasin Seyed Hesamuddin
Published: September 2022

According to research findings, metacognition has been shown to have an essential role in education. As individuals are different,6 metacognitive knowledge cannot be the same for all learners. Learners need to be trained to improve their metacognition. Given this, the current study has examined the influence of scaffolding awareness and the use of metacognitive strategies during a strategy instruction program on the performance of Iranian EFL learners on IELTS writing task 2. To achieve this aim, using the Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT), eighty intermediate EFL learners (males and females) were selected from among 100 learners. They were randomly assigned to two groups of forty participants each as control and experimental groups. To benchmark the participants’ writing skills, an IELTS writing task 2 question was administered as the pretest. The experimental group received scaffolded metacognitive strategy instruction in their writing practices for four weeks, with 6 hours per week. The control group was instructed in traditional writing practices. The purpose was to promote the metacognitive awareness of the experimental group in performing the writing task. At the end of the treatment, another IELTS writing task 2 question was assigned as the posttest to measure the participants’ gain due to the treatment application. The independent and paired samples t-tests indicated that scaffolded metacognitive instruction effectively improved learners’ metacognitive awareness, which led to their improvement in writing skills. There was not any significant difference between males and females’ posttest mean scores.
Fabrication of High‐Performance MgCoO2/PEDOT:PSS@Nickel Foam Anode for Bioelectricity Generation by Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Shetty Brahmari H. , Sundramoorthy Ashok K. , Annamalai Jayshree , Murugan Preethika , Atchudan Raji , Arya Sandeep , Alothman Asma A. , Ouladsmane Mohamed
Published: September 2022

We report the fabrication of cost‐effective, biocompatible, and high‐performance anode made of nickel foam (NF) modified with magnesium cobalt oxide (MgCoO2) and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) as active components. Modified electrodes were prepared upon addition of each component to NF which formed PEDOT:PSS@NF, MgCoO2@NF, and MgCoO2/PEDOT:PSS@NF. These electrodes were compared for their electrocatalytic activity in dual‐chambered microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Sewage wastewater was used as feed stock while exoelectrogenic microbes present in wastewater served to generate bioelectricity upon utilizing organic waste and glucose as an electron donor. The maximum power and current density values were found to be 494 mWm−2 and 900 mA m−2 using MgCoO2/PEDOT:PSS@NF anode. It was ~2.5 times higher than that of unmodified NF anode. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis exhibited reduction in charge transfer resistance for MgCoO2/PEDOT:PSS@NF anode (25.26 Ω) compared to the unmodified NF anode (61.34 Ω). Thus, with the enhanced electrocatalytic activity and biocompatibility, MgCoO2/PEDOT:PSS@NF anode offered better stability and porosity for dense biofilm formation which helped in the efficient generation of bioelectricity.
[Retracted] Application Model of Public Health Visual Art Creation Concept Based on Artificial Intelligence Technology in Venice Biennale
Authors: Xie Xiaohe
Published: September 2022

There are some problems in the creation process of public health visual art works, such as low accuracy and poor content quality. In order to further improve the accuracy and quality of artistic creation, based on artificial intelligence technology, a neural network model and an error backpropagation algorithm are used to analyze artistic creation, so as to obtain the corresponding optimization model. This model can analyze the application of public health visual art creation concepts in the Venice Biennale, so as to obtain the corresponding model calculation results under different indicators. Finally, data comparison is used to verify the accuracy of the model. Relevant studies show that activation values have different trends in connection weights under the action of different factors. The fluctuation of the curve is obvious in the initial state, but when the factor is high, the corresponding connection weight tends to be stable gradually. The range of learning rate in the initial state is relatively small, and the connection weights show a V‐shaped change at higher factors. It can be seen from the curve corresponding to the ω learning method that the increase in learning speed will lead to further compression of calculation time, and the curve shows a trend of fluctuation. The corresponding learning error decreases gradually with the increase in factors, which indicates that higher factors will promote the accuracy of connection weights. Artificial intelligence‐based visual models of art can calculate public health. It can be seen from the calculation results that the curve corresponding to artistic connotation has the largest range of variation and the highest influence on the model. The theme, form, and style of art all show a linear trend of improvement with the increase in time, while the content of art shows a downward trend. This research can provide support for the application of artificial intelligence theory in the field of public health.
Modeling of Energy Saving and Comfort of Building Layout in Extreme Weather Urban Residential Area under the Background of Spatial Structure and Form Evolution: Taking Yichun as an Example
Authors: Lu Ming , Sun Guofei , Wang Endong , He Zichong
Published: September 2022

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the state formulated the first five-year plan for national economic development with the development of heavy industry as the core. The assistance of the Soviet Union completely opened the prelude to China’s large-scale industrial construction. With the continuous increase of urban energy consumption in China and the huge pressure it brings to the environment, urban planning and design aiming at energy conservation and climate adaptability has attracted more and more attention. Residential building layout is an important part of urban planning and design, which is closely related to building environmental energy consumption and urban microclimate. Therefore, it is necessary to study the energy saving and climate adaptive design strategy of residential building layout. Yichun is a cold city, located in the northernmost part of the three northeastern provinces, with a population of about 1 million. Its climate is characterized by continuous low temperature in winter, and the extreme value of daily lowest air temperature in Yichun City since 1981 is -42.2°C. The highest temperature in summer is 35°C. The unique geographical location and climate have created Yichun’s unique urban quality, and outdoor cultural activities are also unique. Yichun is a place with four distinct seasons, and each season has its own characteristics. The beauty of the four seasons contrasts greatly. The best travel time in Yichun is from June to September. In this study, the scientific nature of environment numerical simulation software is verified. Taking the surrounding residential open space as the research object, reasonable grid simulation size and initial boundary conditions are set. The quantitative relationship between design elements and thermal comfort level is established through software simulation. After repeated and a large number of hourly simulation verification, combined with the spatial distribution map and numerical distribution map of thermal comfort, the design elements and open space are established. On this basis, the optimization strategies of open space in residential areas in extreme weather areas are put forward, including the reasonable layout of activity areas, careful selection of open positions, attention to the proportion of open space, attention to plane enclosure and corner units, encouragement of secondary restrictions of activity space, reasonable selection of underlying surface materials, and reasonable layout of water bodies. This paper mainly studies the design of outdoor communication space in Yichun residential area in winter. The average temperature in winter is -14°C ~ -2°C. Through the study of design methods and countermeasures, an operable Yichun residential area design method is found.
The Effect of External Cold and Vibration on Infiltration-Induced Pain in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Faghihian Reihaneh , Esmaeili Mona , Asadi Hossein , Nikbakht Mohammad Hossein , Shadmanfar Fateme , Jafarzadeh Mehdi
Published: September 2022

Introduction. Children’s fear of and anxiety about dental treatments are important problems in maintaining health. The anesthetic injection is the main cause of dental fear. One of the methods to reduce the infiltration-induced pain is to use external cold or vibration using the gate control system. Various devices have been used to apply cold and vibration, including the BUZZY device (BUZZY Company, Arizona). Studies have shown contradictory results for the effectiveness of cold and vibration. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cold and vibration versus cold alone on maxillary infiltration-induced pain and stress. Methods. Thirty children aged 6–12 years who required profound restoration of deciduous or permanent first molars were recruited in this randomized double-blind clinical trial. The anesthetic gel and BUZZY device were used in half of the children’s jaws, and the anesthetic gel and the cold alone were used in the other half of the jaws. To measure stress from the heart rate, the Wong–Baker scale was used as the subjective scale, and the face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) scale was used as the objective scale. Results. The FLACC score was significantly lower in the BUZZY group than in the cold-alone group, but the Wong–Baker scale and heart rate did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions. The BUZZY device can be effective in reducing infiltration-induced dental pain.
School‐Based Comprehensive Strength Training Interventions to Improve Muscular Fitness and Perceived Physical Competence in Chinese Male Adolescents
Authors: Zhao Meiling , Liu Siling , Han Xiaowei , Li Zhipeng , Liu Baoji , Chen Jianquan , Li Xiaotian
Published: September 2022

Purpose. This research was to see how effective and feasible school‐based comprehensive strength training programs are in improving muscular fitness and perceived physical competence in Chinese male adolescents. Methods. A total of 123 participants (13.46 ± 0.60 years) were randomized to comprehensive strength training intervention group (CST) (n = 62) and the control group (CON) (n = 61). The training sessions were performed three times a week for ten weeks in CST. Muscular fitness (i.e., muscular strength, power, and muscular endurance) and perceived physical competence were assessed at initial testing and final testing. Results.The subjects in the CST significantly improved their mean performance in standing long jump (p < 0.05), vertical jump (p < 0.05), 1 min push‐ups (p < 0.05), 1 min sit‐ups (p < 0.05), handgrip strength (p < 0.05), and perceived physical competence (p < 0.05) after the intervention. Moreover, the CST were greater in standing long jump (p < 0.05), vertical jump (p < 0.05), 1 min sit‐ups (p < 0.05), handgrip strength (p < 0.05), and perceived physical competence (p < 0.05) compared to the CON, but no in 1 min push‐ups (p > 0.05). Conclusions. The comprehensive strength training interventions designed in this study can significantly increase male adolescents’ muscular fitness, especially in the lower extremity muscle power and abdominal core endurance, and can enhance their perceived physical competence.
Identification of the Risk Factors for the Failure of Ureteral Access Sheath Placement
Authors: Hu Jieping , Yu Yue , Liu Wei , Zhong Jialei , Zhou Xiaochen , Xi Haibo
Published: September 2022

Purpose. Insertion of a ureteral access sheath (UAS) may fail in some patients in retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), and this study aimed to seek preoperative risk factors for the failure of 12/14F UAS placement. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 260 consecutive patients who underwent RIRS between May 2020 and March 2022 at our institution. Data on patient and stone characteristics and several computed tomography (CT)-based measurements were collected and compared between the success and failure UAS placement groups. Results. Twenty-nine (11.2%) patients failed to insert the UAS. Age, gender, height, weight, stone side, stone location, length of history, and computed tomography (CT)-based parameters were not significant differences between the two groups. Univariate logistic regression analyses showed sex (female/male) (odds ratio: 0.287 and 95% CI [0.107, 0.722],

p
=
0.013

), length of history 15–31 days (odds ratio: 0.315 and 95% CI [0.102, 0.974],

p
=
0.045

), length of history >31 days (odds ratio: 0.202 and 95% CI [0.051, 0.805],

p
=
0.023

), and diameter of the ipsilateral common iliac artery (odds ratio: 1.285 and 95% CI [1.018, 1.623],

p
=
0.035

) were associated with UAS placement. Conclusion. Our study indicated that males, the short length of history, and the short diameter of the ipsilateral common iliac artery were the risk factors for the failure of UAS placement.
The Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions for Variable-Order Fractional Differential Equations with Antiperiodic Fractional Boundary Conditions
Authors: Wang Fang , Liu Lei
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we discuss the existence and uniqueness of solutions for nonlinear fractional differential equations of variable order with fractional antiperiodic boundary conditions. The main results are obtained by using fixed point theorem.