bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The long-acting amylin/calcitonin receptor agonist ZP5461 suppresses food intake and body weight in male rats
Authors: Stein Lauren M. , McGrath Lauren E. , Lhamo Rinzin , Koch-Laskowski Kieran , Fortin Samantha M. , Skarbaliene Jolanta , Baader-Pagler Tamara , Just Rasmus , Hayes Matthew R. , Mietlicki-Baase Elizabeth G.
Published: July 2021

The peptide hormone amylin reduces food intake and body weight and is an attractive candidate target for novel pharmacotherapies to treat obesity. However, the short half-life of native amylin and amylin analogs like pramlintide limits these compounds’ potential utility in promoting sustained negative energy balance. Here, we evaluate the ability of the novel long-acting amylin/calcitonin receptor agonist ZP5461 to reduce feeding and body weight in rats, and also test the role of calcitonin receptors (CTRs) in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) of the hindbrain in the energy balance effects of chronic ZP5461 administration. Acute dose-response studies indicate that systemic ZP5461 (0.5–3 nmol/kg) robustly suppresses energy intake and body weight gain in chow- and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. When HFD-fed rats received chronic systemic administration of ZP5461 (1–2 nmol/kg), the compound initially produced reductions in energy intake and weight gain but failed to produce sustained suppression of intake and body weight. Using virally mediated knockdown of DVC CTRs, the ability of chronic systemic ZP5461 to promote early reductions in intake and body weight gain was determined to be mediated in part by activation of DVC CTRs, implicating the DVC as a central site of action for ZP5461. Future studies should address other dosing regimens of ZP5461 to determine whether an alternative dose/frequency of administration would produce more sustained body weight suppression.
Neuron-astrocyte networking: astrocytes orchestrate and respond to changes in neuronal network activity across brain states and behaviors
Authors: Van Horn Marion R. , Benfey Nicholas J. , Shikany Colleen , Severs Liza J. , Deemyad Tara
Published: July 2021

Astrocytes are known to play many important roles in brain function. However, research underscoring the extent to which astrocytes modulate neuronal activity is still underway. Here we review the latest evidence regarding the contribution of astrocytes to neuronal oscillations across the brain, with a specific focus on how astrocytes respond to changes in brain state (e.g., sleep, arousal, stress). We then discuss the general mechanisms by which astrocytes signal to neurons to modulate neuronal activity, ultimately driving changes in behavior, followed by a discussion of how astrocytes contribute to respiratory rhythms in the medulla. Finally, we contemplate the possibility that brain stem astrocytes could modulate brainwide oscillations by communicating the status of oxygenation to higher cortical areas.
Corticokinematic coherence is stronger to regular than irregular proprioceptive stimulation of the hand
Authors: Mujunen Toni , Nurmi Timo , Piitulainen Harri
Published: July 2021

Cortical proprioceptive processing can be investigated using corticokinematic coherence (CKC). The findings show that CKC method is sensitive to temporal stability in the stimulation sequence. Although both regular and irregular sequences resulted in robust coherence, the regular stimulation sequence with pneumatic movement actuator is recommended to maximize coherence strength and reproducibility to allow better comparability between groups or populations.
Sensorimotor knowledge from task-irrelevant feedback contributes to motor learning
Authors: Liu Yajie , Jiang Wanying , Bi Yuqing , Wei Kunlin
Published: July 2021

When the motor system faces perturbations, such as fatigue or new environmental changes, it adapts to these changes by voluntarily selecting new action plans or implicitly fine-tuning the control. We show that the action selection part can be enhanced without practice or explicit instruction. We further demonstrate that this enhancement is probably linked to the acquisition of abstract knowledge about the to-be-adapted novel visual feedback. Our findings draw an interesting parallel between motor and perceptual learning by showing that top-down information affects both types of procedural learning.
Noise Resilient Local Gradient Orientation for Content-Based Image Retrieval
Authors: Bilquees Samina , Dawood Hassan , Dawood Hussain , Majeed Nadeem , Javed Ali , Mahmood Muhammad Tariq
Published: July 2021

In a world of multimedia information, where users seek accurate results against search query and demand relevant multimedia content retrieval, developing an accurate content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system is difficult due to the presence of noise in the image. The performance of the CBIR system is impaired by this noise. To estimate the distance between the query and database images, CBIR systems use image feature representation. The noise or artifacts present within the visual data might confuse the CBIR when retrieving relevant results. Therefore, we propose Noise Resilient Local Gradient Orientation (NRLGO) feature representation that overcomes the noise factor within the visual information and strengthens the CBIR to retrieve accurate and relevant results. The proposed NRLGO consists of three steps: estimation and removal of noise to protect the local visual structure; extraction of color, texture, and local contrast features; and, at the end, generation of microstructure for visual representation. The Manhattan distance between the query image and the database image is used to measure their similarity. The proposed technique was tested using the Corel dataset, which contains 10000 images from 100 different categories. The outcomes of the experiment signify that the proposed NRLGO has higher retrieval performance in comparison with state-of-the-art techniques.
Track Behavior and Crash Risk Analysis of Passenger Cars on Hairpin Curves of Two-Lane Mountain Roads
Authors: Yu Zhigang , Chen Ying , Zhang Xiaobo , Xu Jin
Published: July 2021

Hairpin curves are often employed in alignment layout and an important feature that identifies dangerous driving conditions for mountain roads. However, driving behaviors at hairpin curves remain ambiguous. Field driving tests were conducted in this study on one two-lane mountain road with 11 hairpin curves. Vehicle-mounted equipment was utilized to collect track and lateral distance between the wheels and the lane markings under naturally driving conditions. Track morphology and patterns, risks, and road crash mechanisms were analyzed. The main findings are as follows. Curve cutting was a typical method for negotiating hairpin curves, was observed for left and right turns, and can be classified into three types based on the location of the cutting point, namely, cutting at curve entry, cutting at curve middle, and cutting at curve exit. Based on the lateral positional relationships between tracks and lane markings, six track patterns are determined for left turns and four track patterns for right turns. When passing a right turn by cutting the curve, a driver occupied the right shoulder of the turn; therefore, there is a risk of colliding with the mountain or the guardrail. When making a left turn into hairpin curves, a driver occupied the right shoulder on curve exit, resulting in running off the road or colliding with the guardrail. More than 70% and 60% of drivers occupied the opposite lane when turning right and turning left, respectively, into a hairpin turn, which led to intertwining between the tracks in the two driving directions and therefore a risk of potential collisions.
Assessing the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ–A): Specific and General Insights from an Ethiopian Context
Authors: Andarge Eshetu , Trevethan Robert , Fikadu Teshale
Published: July 2021

The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ–A) has been used in a variety of forms and in a range of countries. This study involves a detailed examination of the PAQ–A to determine its applicability and effectiveness in an Ethiopian setting. We administered the scale to 110 Ethiopian adolescents on two occasions, 5 weeks apart. Data were inspected for features typical of the participants and analyzed to identify interitem correlations, the scale’s factor structure, and a range of descriptive statistics concerning composite scores. Most of the scale’s items were satisfactorily interrelated according to lenient criteria, and most items loaded on a single factor in exploratory factor analyses. However, a number of the scale’s properties were deficient according to stringent or conventionally accepted psychometric criteria. Close inspection of participants’ responses highlighted problems in the way the scale is worded, interpreted by participants, and scored. Although the scale does not capture PA as an homogeneous construct, we argue that this is not a problem and neither is its poor test–retest reliability. We make recommendations concerning presentation and scoring of the PAQ–A that are likely to enhance its validity beyond Ethiopia, and we provide a modified version of the scale.
Robustness Analysis of Air Route Network Based on Topology Potential and Relative Entropy Methods
Authors: Ren Guangjian
Published: July 2021

Air route network (ARN) is the important carrier of air transport, and its robustness has important influence on the safety and stability of air transport. To analyze the robustness of ARN, in this paper, a topology potential relative entropy (TPRE) model is proposed, based on topology potential (TP) and relative entropy (RE) methods. Firstly, the TPRE model is established as the theoretical basis for the research. Secondly, an air route reduction network (ARRN) model is constructed according to real Chinese ARN. Besides, the basic topology features of ARRN are given by complex network theory. To prove the applicability, objectivity, and accuracy of the proposed method, attack strategies including random, degree, betweenness, closeness, eigenvector, and Bonacich are used to attack ARRN. Eventually, the performance of ARRN robustness is analyzed by network efficiency, size of giant component, and the proposed TPRE model. This conclusion has practical significance for optimizing ARN structure and improving airspace efficiency.
A 3D FEM Mesoscale Numerical Analysis of Concrete Tensile Strength Behaviour
Authors: Guo Chao , Lu Zhengran
Published: July 2021

A three‐dimensional (3D) finite element method (FEM) based on an inserted cohesive element numerical analysis procedure was developed for concrete mesoscale systems on the ABAQUS platform with python scripts. Aggregates were generated based on dividing the existing geometrical element algorithms to randomize arbitrary spheres. Simultaneously, randomizations of the maximum aggregate size and uniform distributions of aggregate particles were also considered. An FEM for the mortar phase in concrete mesoscale systems was generated along with the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) by inserting a cohesive element. Numerical parameter analyses were performed for nine different concrete systems by varying the coarse aggregate volume fraction (α) and the ITZ tension strength (ITZ‐S). The mechanical performance of concrete systems with the coupling effects of α and ITZ‐S was evaluated for simulated tensile loading. The results of the numerical simulations for mechanical properties, such as the simulated tensile strengths and tension damage behaviour of concrete systems, were verified with experimental results. The proposed aggregate and ITZ generation approach and numerical simulation procedure can be used by researchers to better understand how aggregate volume fraction and ITZ strength affect the tensile behaviour of concrete mesoscale systems.
Study on the Freeze‐Thaw Problems in the Winter Construction of the Lianghekou Earth‐Core Rockfill Dam and the Countermeasures for Prevention
Authors: Yu Qihao , Ren Xiu-Ling , Yue Pan , Zhang Gui-Ke , Wang Jun-Feng , Mu Yan-Hu , Liu En-Long
Published: July 2021

Winter construction in seasonally frozen soil areas is inevitable. The variation of ambient temperature causes the freeze‐thaw of the filling soils and its impact is significant, and whether the countermeasures can be effectively established and adopted is particularly important for the management and control of the construction quality of the project. This paper conducts systematic research based on the winter construction process of the dam core wall of the Lianghekou Hydropower Station, which is the third highest earth‐core rockfill dam in the world under construction. The results show that for the construction site in the seasonally frozen soil area, there is a development process of the short‐term frozen soils for the filling soils under the environment with low temperature in winter. The soil underwent a high‐frequency freeze‐thaw process wherein it was frozen at night and completely thawed during the day. During the freezing process, a large number of thin‐layered segregated ice developed inside the soil to form a thin‐layered or integral cryostructure, which will have an adverse effect on the engineering properties and the quality of the filling soils. And, the field tests demonstrate that the filling compaction degree of the frozen soils is difficult to meet the designed requirements. In order to effectively cope with the adverse effect of the freeze‐thaw on the construction quality during the construction process, based on the analysis of the freeze‐thaw characteristics of soils and its influence, and the energy exchange process of soils on‐site, the principles and methods for establishing the freeze prevention system during the winter construction process are established, and a comprehensive monitoring system suitable for on‐site is established in this paper. This research will provide an important reference for the scientific management and efficiency improvement of the winter construction process of the dams in cold regions.
Dynamic Analysis of Multi‐Stepped Functionally Graded Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Composite Plate with General Boundary Condition
Authors: Kim Kwanghun , Kwak Songhun , Ri Yonguk , Paek Yongsong , Han Wonjin , Ri Kumchol
Published: July 2021

This study presents the multi‐stepped functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG‐CNTRC) plate model for the first time, and its free and forced vibration is analyzed by employing the domain decomposition method. The segmentation technique is employed to discretize the structure along the length direction. The artificial spring technique is applied to the structural boundary and piecewise interface for satisfying the boundary conditions and the combined conditions between subplates. Based on this, the boundary conditions of subdomains could be considered as a free boundary constraint, reducing the difficulty in constructing the allowable displacement function. Since all the structures of subdomains are identical, the allowable displacement functions of them can be uniformly constructed using the two‐dimensional ultraspherical polynomial expansion. The potential energy function of the plate is derived from the first‐order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The allowable displacement function is substituted into the potential energy function, and then the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the multi‐stepped FG‐CNTRC plate are decided by using the Rayleigh–Ritz method. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed method are confirmed by the results of the previous literature and finite element method (FEM). On this basis, the influences of the geometric and material parameters on free and forced vibration of the multi‐stepped FG‐CNTRC plate are also studied.
Antioxidative Characteristics and Sensory Acceptability of Bread Substituted with Purple Yam (Dioscorea alata L.)
Authors: Tamaroh Siti , Sudrajat Ajat
Published: July 2021

In this study, plain bread was made by substituting wheat flour with purple yam flour (Dioscorea alata, L). The addition of 0, 10, 15, 20, and 30% purple yam flour aims to increase the functional value of plain bread as a source of natural antioxidants. The bread produced with two baking temperatures (170°C and 180°C) was tested for anthocyanin levels, total phenol, antioxidant activity (DPPH free radical scavenging), volume expansion, color, and preference test. The results showed that the temperatures of the bread baking did not affect anthocyanin levels, total phenol, antioxidant activity, volume expansion, and bread color (

p
>
0.05

). The substitution of purple yam flour had a significant effect on anthocyanin levels, total phenol, antioxidant activity, volume, and bread color (

p
<
0.05

). The levels of anthocyanins, total phenol, antioxidant activity, and darker color increased with the addition of purple yam flower whereas the rate of expansion reduced. However, the addition of purple yam flour did not affect the level of preference for the bread produced. Purple yam flour can be added to the manufacture of bread made from wheat flour as much as 30% with a baking temperature of 180°C. The resulting bread contained total anthocyanins 54.62 mg/100 g db, total phenol 391.14 mg EAG/100 g db, antioxidant activity 48.53% and volume expansion 64.85%, color

L

∗

=
53.06

,

a

∗

=
6.52

,

b

∗

=
13.32

,

C
=
14.87

,

H
=
64.06

, and

sensory
 
score
=
3.24

(preferred).
A Tool for Energy Consumption Monitoring and Analysis of the Android Terminal
Authors: Li Deguang , Cui Zhanyou , Bai Chenguang , He Qiurui , Yan Xiaoting
Published: July 2021

With the rapid development of communication technology, the intelligent mobile terminal brings about great convenience to people’s life with rich applications, while its power consumption has become a great concern to researchers and consumers. Power modeling is the basis to understand and analyze the power consumption characteristics of the terminal. In this paper, we analyze the Bluetooth and hidden power consumption of the android platform and fix the power model of open-source Android platform. Then, a power consumption monitoring tool is implemented based on the model; the tool is divided into three layers, which are original information monitor layer, power consumption calculation layer, and application layer. The original monitor layer gets the power consumption data and running time of the different components under different states, the calculation layer calculates the power consumption of each hardware and each application based on the power model of each component, and the application layer displays the real-time power consumption of the software and hardware. Finally, we test our tool in real environment by using Xiaomi 9 Pro and perform comparison with actual instrument measurement; the error between the monitored value and the measured value is less than 5%.
Signal Denoising Based on Wavelet Threshold Denoising and Optimized Variational Mode Decomposition
Authors: Hu Hongping , Ao Yan , Yan Huichao , Bai Yanping , Shi Na
Published: July 2021

To eliminate the noise from the signals received by MEMS vector hydrophone, a joint algorithm is proposed in this paper based on wavelet threshold (WT) denoising, variational mode decomposition (VMD) optimized by a hybrid algorithm of Multiverse Optimizer (MVO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and correlation coefficient (CC) judgment to perform the signal denoising of MEMS vector hydrophone, named as MVO‐PSO‐VMD‐CC‐WT, whose fitness function is the root mean square error (RMSE) and whose individual is the parameters of VMD. For every individual, the original signal is decomposed by VMD into pure components, noisy components, and noise components in terms of CC judgment, where the pure components are directly retained, the noisy components are denoised by WT denoising, and the noise components are discarded, and then, the denoised noisy components and the pure components are reconstructed to be the denoised signal of the original signal. Then, the obtained optimal individual is utilized to perform the signal denoising by MVO‐PSO‐VMD‐CC‐WT by the use of the above repeated signal processing. Two simulated experimental results show that the MVO‐PSO‐VMD‐CC‐WT algorithm which has the highest signal‐to‐noise ratio and the least RMSE is superior to the other compared algorithms. And the proposed MVO‐PSO‐VMD‐CC‐WT algorithm is effectively applied to perform the signal denoising of the actual lake experiments. Therefore, the proposed MVO‐PSO‐VMD‐CC‐WT is suitable for the signal denoising and can be applied into the actual experiments in signal processing.
Financial Distress Warning: An Evaluation System including Ecological Efficiency
Authors: Wu Shuang , Zhang Hui , Tian Yuan , Shi Liyuan
Published: July 2021

This article established an evaluation system including ecological efficiency that can provide a more accurate financial distress warning for companies. Based on the data of listed companies, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is applied to evaluating the business efficiency, financial efficiency, financing efficiency, human capital efficiency, and ecological efficiency, and the accuracy of the evaluation system that includes ecological efficiency is measured by artificial neural networks (ANNs). Besides, the logit model is applied to test the results. Our experiments indicate that participating in ecological efficiency improves the evaluation system of financial distress warnings, and its accuracy is much better than the traditional evaluation system in the long run. The logit model confirms the essential of ecological indicators in financial distress warning, and the behavior of observing environmental regulation will prevent enterprises from getting into financial distress. Finally, suggestions on improving green finance and promoting technological innovation are propounded, in which technological innovation (TI) is the core of an enterprise’s competitiveness, and green finance can accelerate that process.
[Retracted] Feature Recognition of English Based on Deep Belief Neural Network and Big Data Analysis
Authors: Liu Xiaoling
Published: July 2021

Realizing accurate recognition of Chinese and English information is a major difficulty in English feature recognition. Based on this difficulty, this paper studies the English feature recognition model based on deep belief network classification algorithm and Big Data analysis. First, the basic framework based on deep belief network classification algorithm and Big Data analysis is proposed. Combined with the Big Data analysis training model, the English feature information is processed. Through the recognition of different English text features, the recognition and matching of English features are realized. Then the errors of deep belief network classification algorithm and Big Data analysis are evaluated. Second, this paper describes the quantitative evaluation of deep belief network classification algorithm and Big Data analysis in this system. In the evaluation, the language feature evaluation method is used to improve the evaluation function. At the same time, the deep belief network classification algorithm and Big Data analysis are used to self‐study the model, and the English feature recognition method with strong applicability is established. Finally, the effectiveness of the recognition system is verified by the experiment.
Construction of Network Multimedia Teaching Platform System of College Sports
Authors: Li Wumei , Fan Xiaorui
Published: July 2021

With the development of computer technology and related disciplines, the application of multimedia technology to education is rapidly becoming the mainstream technology of educational technology. This article mainly researches the construction of college sports network multimedia teaching platform system. The physical education management module is the main module in this sports network teaching platform. Therefore, the physical education management module is tested in the testing process. Each module adopts a black box test method. In the system analysis, by dicing, slicing, rotating, and other operations on the data warehouse constructed with the student's performance data, the data are observed from different angles, which is convenient for the teacher to understand the teaching effect. This article adopts the method of grade evaluation to finally determine a number of indicators that are not contradictory and nonrepetitive. The end of a teaching unit or a series of teaching activities must be evaluated at different levels. The biggest difference between process evaluation and summative evaluation is that it not only attaches importance to objective measurement and quantitative analysis but also attaches importance to the subjective judgment and qualitative analysis of both teaching parties, which requires a combination of the two. The test environment of the system is to simulate the real operating environment of the system. A cloud computing service platform is built in the school's central computer room to provide services such as dynamic resource scheduling and dynamic load balancing. There are very few schools that use college sports networks to develop educational functions, only reaching 7.8% of the total number of campus networks. The results show that the multimedia teaching platform greatly promotes the teaching effect of college physical education.
Dysfunctional Parenting Styles Are Associated with Mental Disorders and Low Self‐Efficacy Beliefs in Brazilian Undergraduate Medical Students
Authors: Siqueira-Campos Vânia Meira , De Deus Mariana Siqueira Campos , Carneiro Larissa Arbués , Naghettini Alessandra Vitorino , Pereira Maria Amélia Dias , De Deus José Miguel , Conde Délio Marques
Published: July 2021

Objective. To investigate the association between parental bonding styles and anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and self‐efficacy beliefs in undergraduate medical students. Methods. A cross‐sectional, self‐administered survey involving 315 Brazilian medical students was conducted online. The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 (GAD‐7) scale, the 9‐item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9), the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire‐Revised (SBQ‐R), and the general self‐efficacy (GSE) scale were used. The internal consistency of the instruments used in the study was analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha. Multiple logistic regression models were applied, and the odds ratios (OR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to determine the association between parental bonding styles and anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and general self‐efficacy beliefs. Results. In the analysis adjusted for sociodemographic variables, maternal affectionless control was associated with a greater risk of anxiety (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.15‐5.33), depression (OR = 7.54; 95% CI: 3.20‐17.78), suicidal ideation (OR = 3.62; 95% CI: 1.58‐8.27), and low self‐efficacy (OR = 3.81; 95% CI: 1.76‐8.25), while maternal neglectful parenting was associated with depression (OR = 3.24; 95% CI: 1.17‐8.96) and paternal affectionate constraint with suicidal ideation (OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.36‐7.02). Conclusions. These findings showed dysfunctional parenting styles to be associated with mental illnesses and low self‐efficacy in Brazilian undergraduate medical students. This should be taken into consideration when treating medical students with mental disorders.
Parameter Estimation of the Lotka–Volterra Model with Fractional Order Based on the Modulation Function and Its Application
Authors: Hao Ying , Guo Mingshun
Published: July 2021

The Lotka–Volterra model is widely applied in various fields, and parameter estimation is important in its application. In this study, the Lotka–Volterra model with universal applicability is established by introducing the fractional order. Modulation function is multiplied by both sides of the Lotka–Volterra model, and the model is converted into linear equations with parameters to be estimated by the fractional integration method. The parameters are obtained by solving the equations. The state of the system is estimated by shifted Chebyshev polynomial. Last, the implementation program of the model is compiled. The concrete implementation method of the improved model is proposed by an example in this study.
Histone Methyltransferase G9a Promotes the Development of Renal Cancer through Epigenetic Silencing of Tumor Suppressor Gene SPINK5
Authors: Li Ren-Gui , Deng Huan , Liu Xiu-Heng , Chen Zhi-yuan , Wan Shan-shan , Wang Lei
Published: July 2021

Background. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 2–3% of malignant tumors in adults, while clear cell renal cell carcinoma accounts for 70–85% of kidney cancer cases, with an increasing incidence worldwide. G9a is the second histone methyltransferase found in mammals, catalyzing lysine and histone methylation. It regulates gene transcription by catalyzing histone methylation and interacting with transcription factors to alter the tightness of histone‐DNA binding. The main purpose of this study is to explore the role and mechanism of G9a in renal cell carcinoma. Methods. Firstly, we investigated the expression of G9a in 80 clinical tissues and four cell lines. Then, we explored the effect of G9a‐specific inhibitor UNC0638 on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of two renal cancer cell lines (786‐O, SN12C). In order to study the specific mechanism, G9a knocking down renal cancer cell line was constructed by lentivirus. Finally, we identified the downstream target genes of G9a using ChIP experiments and rescue experiments. Results. The results showed that the specific G9a inhibitor UNC0638 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of kidney cancer in vivo and in vitro; similar results were obtained after knocking down G9a. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that SPINK5 was one of the downstream target genes of G9a through ChIP assay and proved that G9a downregulate the expression of SPINK5 by methylation of H3K9me2. Therefore, targeting G9a might be a new approach to the treatment of kidney cancer. Conclusion. G9a was upregulated in renal cancer and could promote the development of renal cancer in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we identified SPINK5 as one of the downstream target genes of G9a. Therefore, targeting G9a might be a new treatment for kidney cancer.
AIBPO: Combine the Intrinsic Reward and Auxiliary Task for 3D Strategy Game
Authors: Li Huale , Cao Rui , Wang Xuan , Hou Xiaohan , Qian Tao , Jia Fengwei , Zhang Jiajia , Qi Shuhan
Published: July 2021

In recent years, deep reinforcement learning (DRL) achieves great success in many fields, especially in the field of games, such as AlphaGo, AlphaZero, and AlphaStar. However, due to the reward sparsity problem, the traditional DRL‐based method shows limited performance in 3D games, which contain much higher dimension of state space. To solve this problem, in this paper, we propose an intrinsic‐based policy optimization (IBPO) algorithm for reward sparsity. In the IBPO, a novel intrinsic reward is integrated into the value network, which provides an additional reward in the environment with sparse reward, so as to accelerate the training. Besides, to deal with the problem of value estimation bias, we further design three types of auxiliary tasks, which can evaluate the state value and the action more accurately in 3D scenes. Finally, a framework of auxiliary intrinsic‐based policy optimization (AIBPO) is proposed, which improves the performance of the IBPO. The experimental results show that the method is able to deal with the reward sparsity problem effectively. Therefore, the proposed method may be applied to real‐world scenarios, such as 3‐dimensional navigation and automatic driving, which can improve the sample utilization to reduce the cost of interactive sample collected by the real equipment.
Association of the PINX1 Variant rs6984094, Which Lengthens Telomeres, with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Susceptibility in Chinese Populations
Authors: Qi Yuan-yuan , Liu Xin-ran , He Ying-xin , Zhou Min , Ning Xiang-hui , Zhai Ya-ling , Zhang Xiao-xue , Wang Xiao-yang , Zhao Ya-fei , Cui Yan , Zhao Zhan-Zheng
Published: July 2021

A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) of Asian ancestry reported that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) was associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). TERT has a critical role in maintaining the chromosomal stability and the length of telomere. Given that only a small portion of the genetic heritability of SLE has been explained so far, we aimed to identify novel loci in telomere-related genes responsible for SLE susceptibility in Chinese populations. We performed a comprehensive genetic association analysis of SLE with telomere-related genes. To identify functional significance, we analyzed the publicly available HaploReg v4.1 and RegulomeDB databases. Differential gene expression analysis was also performed using ArrayExpress. A novel signal of PINX1 rs6984094 was identified (

P

discovery

=
4.13
×

10

−
2

,

OR
=
0.58

, 95% CI 0.35-0.98) and successfully replicated (

P

replication

=
5.73
×

10

−
3

,

OR
=
0.45

, 95% CI 0.26-0.81). Multiple layers of functional analysis suggested that the PINX1 rs6984094 risk T allele exhibited increased nuclear protein binding. We also observed an increased expression of PINX1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients compared with healthy controls. Overall, we observed a novel genetic association between PINX1 (encodes the PinX1 protein, an inhibitory telomerase enzyme that lengthens telomeres) and SLE susceptibility in Chinese populations.
Exosomes Derived from Nerve Stem Cells Loaded with FTY720 Promote the Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats by PTEN/AKT Signal Pathway
Authors: Chen Jianbin , Zhang Can , Li Shouye , Li Zheming , Lai Xiaojing , Xia Qingqing
Published: July 2021

Background. Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a challenge owing to limited therapies. The exosome of neural stem cells (NSCs-Exos) and FTY720 transplantation could improve SCI effectively. However, the effect and mechanism of NSCs-Exos combined with FTY720 (FTY720-NSCs-Exos) transplantation in the treatment of SCI are not fully understood. Methods. Sprague Dawley rats (8-week-old) were used to establish the SCI model, followed by the treatment of NSCs-Exos, FTY720, and FTY720-NSCs-Exos. The effect of FTY720, NSCs-Exos, and FTY720-NSCs-Exos combination treatment on hindlimb function, pathological changes, apoptosis activity, and the expression of spinal edema-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins in SCI models were investigated by BBB scoring, HE staining, TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Meanwhile, the effect of these treatments on spinal cord microvascular endothelial cells (SCMECs) was detected under hypoxic circumstance. Results. Our results found that FTY720-NSCs-Exos could alleviate pathological alterations and ameliorate the hindlimb function and oxygen insufficiency in model mice after SCI. In addition, exosomes could ameliorate the morphology of neurons, reduce inflammatory infiltration and edema, decrease the expression of Bax and AQP-4, upregulate the expression of claudin-5 and Bcl-2, and inhibit cell apoptosis. At the same time, in vitro experiments showed that FTY720-NSCs-Exos could protect the barrier of SCMECs under hypoxic circumstance, and the mechanism is related to PTEN/AKT pathway. Conclusion. FTY720-NSCs-Exos therapy displayed a positive therapeutic effect on SCI by regulating PTEN/AKT pathway and offered a new therapy for SCI.
Crosstalk between Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth and Immunosuppression of Breast Cancer
Authors: Soongsathitanon Jarupa , Jamjuntra Pranisa , Sumransub Nuttavut , Yangngam Supaporn , De la Fuente Marjorie , Landskron Glauben , Thuwajit Peti , Hermoso Marcela A. , Thuwajit Chanitra
Published: July 2021

Signals from the tumor microenvironment (TME) have a profound influence on the maintenance and progression of cancers. Chronic inflammation and the infiltration of immune cells in breast cancer (BC) have been strongly associated with early carcinogenic events and a switch to a more immunosuppressive response. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant stromal component and can modulate tumor progression according to their secretomes. The immune cells including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) (cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and helper T cell (Th)), monocyte-infiltrating cells (MICs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), mast cells (MCs), and natural killer cells (NKs) play an important part in the immunological balance, fluctuating TME between protumoral and antitumoral responses. In this review article, we have summarized the impact of these immunological players together with CAF secreted substances in driving BC progression. We explain the crosstalk of CAFs and tumor-infiltrating immune cells suppressing antitumor response in BC, proposing these cellular entities as predictive markers of poor prognosis. CAF-tumor-infiltrating immune cell interaction is suggested as an alternative therapeutic strategy to regulate the immunosuppressive microenvironment in BC.
Research of Single Image Rain Removal Algorithm Based on LBP-CGAN Rain Generation Method
Authors: Xue Ping , He Hai
Published: July 2021

Rain has an undesirable negative effect on the clarity of the collected images. In situation where images are captured in rain, it can lead to a loss of information and disability in reflecting real images of the situation. Consequently, rain has become an obstacle in outdoor scientific research studies. The reason why images captured in rain are difficult to process is due to the indistinguishable interactions between the background features and rain textures. Since current image data are only processed with the CNN (convolutional neural network) model, a trained neural network to remove rain and obtain clear images, the resulted images are either insufficient or excessive from standard results. In order to achieve more ideal results of clearer images, series of additional methods are taken place. Firstly, the LBP (local binary pattern) method is used to extract the texture features of rain in the image. Then, the CGAN (conditional generative adversarial network) model is constructed to generate rain datasets according to the extracted rain characteristics. Finally, the existing clear images, rain datasets generated by CGAN, as well as the images with rain are used for convolution operation to remove rain from the images, and the average value of PSNR (peak signal to noise ratio) can reach 38.79 by using this algorithm. Moreover, a large number of experiments are done and have proven that this joint processing method is able to successfully and effectively generate clear images despite the rain.
Hypertension and the Risk of All‐Cause and Cause‐Specific Mortality: An Outcome‐Wide Association Study of 67 Causes of Death in the National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Aune Dagfinn , Huang Wentao , Nie Jing , Wang Yafeng
Published: July 2021

Background. Few studies have assessed the association between hypertension and risk of detailed causes of death. We investigated the association between hypertension and all‐cause mortality and 67 causes of death in a large cohort. Methods. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for self‐reported hypertension vs. no hypertension and mortality. Adults aged ≥18 years (n = 213798) were recruited in 1997‐2004 and followed through December 31, 2006. Results. During 5.81 years of follow‐up, 11254 deaths occurred. Self‐reported hypertension vs. no hypertension was associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality (HR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.19‐1.31) and mortality from septicemia (HR =1.66, 1.06‐2.59), other infectious parasitic diseases (HR = 2.67, 1.09‐6.51), diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.97, 1.45‐2.67), circulatory disease (HR = 1.49, 1.37‐1.61), hypertensive heart disease (HR = 3.23, 2.00‐5.20), ischemic heart disease (HR = 1.35, 1.23‐1.49), acute myocardial infarction (HR = 1.50, 1.27‐1.77), other chronic ischemic heart diseases (HR = 1.35, 1.17‐1.56), all other forms of heart disease (HR = 1.51, 1.21‐1.89), primary hypertension and renal disease (HR = 3.11, 1.82‐5.30), cerebrovascular disease (HR = 1.64, 1.37‐1.97), other circulatory system diseases (HR = 1.71, 1.09‐2.69), other chronic lower respiratory diseases (HR = 1.39, 1.12‐1.73), other chronic liver disease (HR = 1.89, 1.06‐3.37), renal failure (HR = 1.91, 1.33‐2.74), motor vehicle accidents (HR = 1.60, 1.07‐2.37), and all other diseases (HR =1.30, 1.10‐1.54), but with lower risk of uterine cancer (HR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15‐0.90) and Alzheimer’s disease (HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47‐0.92). Conclusion. Hypertension was associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality and 17 out of 67 causes of death, with most of these being circulatory disease outcomes, however, some of the remaining associations are unlikely to be causal. Further studies are needed to clarify associations with less common causes of death and potential causality across outcomes.
Evaluation Method of Resource Development Effect of Cultural Industry Based on Wireless Sensor Technology
Authors: Sun Dayong , Xiao Yibing
Published: July 2021

To overcome the problems of low evaluation accuracy and efficiency existing in traditional resource development efficiency evaluation methods, this paper proposes a new evaluation method of cultural industry tourism resource development effect based on wireless sensor technology. The method takes into account the data of cultural industry resource development collected by the wireless sensors and transmits it to the computer system by wireless transmission technology. Based on the collected development data, the evaluation index system is constructed and the index weight is calculated. Furthermore, the multiobjective weighted function is employed to calculate the development effect evaluation score and complete the evaluation of cultural industry resources development effect. Experimental results show that the proposed method can successfully improve the evaluation accuracy and efficiency, and the highest evaluation accuracy is stable at 98%. Therefore, this method has high reliability.
The Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Central Nervous System Diseases and Prospects for Clinical Application
Authors: Guo Yinghan , Zeng Hanhai , Gao Chen
Published: July 2021

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are complexes of decondensed DNA fibers and antimicrobial peptides that are released by neutrophils and play important roles in many noninfectious diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes, and cancer. Recently, the formation of NETs has been detected in many central nervous system diseases and is thought to play different roles in the occurrence and development of these diseases. Researchers have detected NETs in acute ischemic stroke thrombi, and these NETs are thought to promote coagulation and thrombosis. NETs in ischemic brain parenchyma were identified as the cause of secondary nerve damage. High levels of NETs were also detected in grade IV glioma tissues, where NETs were involved in the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells by activating a signaling pathway. Extracellular web‐like structures have also recently been observed in mice with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and it was hypothesized that NETs contribute to the development of edema after TBI. This article reviews the effect of NETs on multiple diseases that affect the CNS and explores their clinical application prospects.
Review of Traditional Chinese Medicines for Common Complications Related to Hemodialysis: An Evidence-Based Perspective
Authors: Liu Yan-Wen , Hsu Yung-Tang , Lee Wen-Chin , Tsai Ming-Yen
Published: July 2021

Renal replacement therapy is an important therapy for prolonging life in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) populations, and, in Taiwan, hemodialysis (HD) is the choice for most patients with ESRD. Although HD is effective for prolonging life, it is sometimes associated with complications that patients and doctors have to cope with every day, such as intradialytic hypotension, dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, and muscle cramps. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a complementary and alternative therapy that has been recognized for its efficacy in treating a variety of diseases by the World Health Organization. Nowadays, the clinical practice of TCM for HD-related complications has received attention for its effectiveness and safety. In this article, we summarize the TCM viewpoint and different TCM interventions for HD-related complications, such as Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, herbal acupoint therapy, auricular acupoints, and moxibustion. In the ESRD population, TCM is able to balance Yin and Yang, prevent cardiovascular accidents, control blood pressure, and relieve pain. More importantly, TCM may also improve common HD-related complications such as uremic symptoms, imbalance of electrolyte and fluid status, insomnia, and malnutrition. The mechanism of TCM is considered related to the regulation of autonomous functions and the activation of biologically active chemical substances. According to the studies noted in this review article, TCM has been proven effective for HD-related complications. However, more well-designed and rigorous research will be necessary to reveal the underlying mechanisms in the future.
Communication Delay Modeling for Wide Area Measurement System in Smart Grid Internet of Things Networks
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Kamrul , Islam Shayla , Shafiq Muhammad , Ahmed Fatima Rayan Awad , Ataelmanan Somya Khidir Mohmmed , Babiker Nissrein Babiker Mohammed , Bakar Khairul Azmi Abu
Published: July 2021

We present communication frameworks, models, and protocols of smart grid Internet of Things (IoT) networks based on the IEEE and IEC standards. The measurement, control, and monitoring of grid being achieved through phasor measurement unit (PMU) based wide area measurement (WAM) framework. The WAM framework applied the IEEE standard C37.118 phasor exchange protocol to collect grid data from various substation devices. The existing frameworks include the IEC 61850 protocol and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) based supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. These protocols have been selected as per the smart grid configuration and communication design. However, the existing frameworks have severe synchronization errors due to the communication delays of IoT networks in the smart grid. Therefore, this article designs the timing mechanism and a delay model to reduce the timing delay and boost real‐time measurement, monitoring, and control performance of the smart grid WAM applications. The result shows that the proposed model outperformed the existing WAM system.
The Role of Neurotropic B Vitamins in Nerve Regeneration
Authors: Baltrusch Simone
Published: July 2021

Damage and regeneration naturally occur in the peripheral nervous system. The neurotropic B vitamins thiamine (B1), pyridoxine (B6), and cobalamin (B12) are key players, which maintain the neuronal viability in different ways. Firstly, they constantly protect nerves against damaging environmental influences. While vitamin B1 acts as a site‐directed antioxidant, vitamin B6 balances nerve metabolism, and vitamin B12 maintains myelin sheaths. However, nerve injury occurs at times, because of an imbalance between protective factors and accumulating stress and noxae. This will result in the so‐called Wallerian degeneration process. The presence of vitamins B1, B6, and B12 paves the way out to the following important regeneration by supporting the development of new cell structures. Furthermore, vitamin B1 facilitates the usage of carbohydrates for energy production, whereas vitamin B12 promotes nerve cell survival and remyelination. Absence of these vitamins will favor permanent nerve degeneration and pain, eventually leading to peripheral neuropathy.