bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualitative inquiry into barriers and facilitators to transforming primary care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in US federally qualified health centres
Authors: Gagnon Kelly W , Bifulco Lauren , Robinson Sarafina , Furness Bruce , Lentine Daniel , Anderson Daren
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Health systems must rapidly move knowledge into practice to address disparities impacting sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients. This qualitative study explores barriers and facilitators that arose during an initiative to improve care for SGM patients in federally qualified health centres (FQHCs) from the perspectives of FQHC staff.

Design

Cross-sectional qualitative content analysis, using a general inductive approach, of secondary data from transcripts of intervention events offered to FQHC staff and semistructured interviews with staff and FQHC leadership during the intervention.

Setting

10 FQHCs from nine states in the USA.

Participants

FQHC quality improvement (QI) and clinical care staff, and leaders at each FQHC.

Interventions

The transforming care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people QI initiative combined two evidence-based programmes, Learning Collaborative (LC) and Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), to assist primary care health centres in developing capacity to identify SGM patients, monitor their health and care, and improve disparities.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was identification of barriers and facilitators to implementing initiatives to improve care for SGM patients. The secondary outcome was clarification of how intervention participants used Project ECHO sessions versus LC meetings to obtain information that influenced implementation of the initiative at their FQHC.

Results

Barriers and facilitators mapped to two major themes: ‘Clinical’ (patients’ health, wellness, and available treatment) and Health Systems and Institutional Culture (FQHC operations, and customs and social institutions within the FQHCs and in the external environment). Common ‘Clinical’ inquiries were for assistance with behavioural health, pre-exposure prophylaxis and transgender hormone therapy. Prevalent facilitators included workflow change and staff training, while adapting electronic health records for data collection, decision support and data extraction was the most prevalent barrier.

Conclusions

Project ECHO and LC provided complimentary forums to explore clinical and operational changes needed to improve care for SGM at FQHCs.
Assessment of the Cow’s Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMiSS) as a diagnostic tool for cow’s milk protein allergy: a prospective, multicentre study in China (MOSAIC study)
Authors: Vandenplas Yvan , Zhao Zheng-Yan , Mukherjee Rajat , Dupont Christophe , Eigenmann Philippe , Kuitunen Mikael , Ribes Koninckx Carmen , Szajewska Hania , von Berg Andrea , Bajerová Kateřina , Meyer Rosan , Salvatore Silvia , Shamir Raanan , Järvi Anette , Heine Ralf G
Published: February 2022

Objectives

The MOSAIC study aimed to evaluate if the Cow’s Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMiSS) can be used as a stand-alone diagnostic tool for cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA).

Design

Single-blinded, prospective, multicentre diagnostic accuracy study.

Setting

10 paediatric centres in China.

Participants

300 non-breastfed infants (median age 16.1 weeks) with suspected CMPA.

Interventions

After performing the baseline CoMiSS, infants commenced a cow’s milk protein elimination diet with amino acid-based formula for 14 days. CoMiSS was repeated at the end of the elimination trial. Infants then underwent an open oral food challenge (OFC) with cow’s milk-based formula (CMF) in hospital. Infants who did not react during the OFC also completed a 14-day home challenge with CMF. A diagnosis of CMPA was made if acute or delayed reactions were reported.

Primary outcome measures

A logistic regression model for CoMiSS to predict CMPA was fitted and a receiver–operator characteristic (ROC) curve generated. An area under the curve (AUC) of ≥0.75 was deemed adequate to validate CoMiSS as a diagnostic tool (target sensitivity 80%–90% and specificity 60%–70%).

Results

Of 254 infants who commenced the OFC, 250 completed both challenges, and a diagnosis of CMPA made in 217 (85.4%). The median baseline CoMiSS in this group fell from 8 (IQR 5–10) to 5 (IQR 3–7) at visit 2 (p<0.000000001), with a median change of −3 (IQR −6 to −1). A baseline CoMiSS of ≥12 had a low sensitivity (20.3%), but high specificity (87.9%) and high positive predictive value (91.7%) for CMPA. The ROC analysis with an AUC of 0.67 fell short of the predefined primary endpoint.

Conclusions

The present study did not support the use of CoMiSS as a stand-alone diagnostic tool for CMPA. Nevertheless, CoMiSS remains a clinically useful awareness tool to help identify infants with cow’s milk-related symptoms.

Trial registration number

NCT03004729; Pre-results.
Suicide prevention for international students: a scoping review protocol
Authors: McKay Sam , Li Angela Yuen Chun , Bailey Eleanor , Lamblin Michelle , Robinson Jo
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The existing literature demonstrates that international students face a variety of stressors and barriers that can heighten the risk of suicide. However, up to now, no research has sought to summarise the available literature on the prevention strategies for suicide for international students in tertiary education. This document provides a scoping review protocol that aims to systematically chart and synthesise the published, unpublished and grey literature on the prevention strategies for suicide in the international student community.

Methods and analysis

The enhanced six-stage methodological framework for scoping reviews of Arksey and O’Malley will be used. Two main research questions guide the review: (1) What is the extent, range and nature of the evidence regarding suicide prevention for international students? and (2) What suicide prevention strategies are promising for targeting international students? Peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed articles, reports and policy documents will be eligible to be included in the review with no limits on publication date. Electronic searches of the CINAHL, ERIC, Medline, PsycInfo and ProQuest will be conducted to identify relevant academic publications. Grey literature searches will be undertaken on relevant databases as well as government and organisational websites. The reporting of the review will follow the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. Criteria for evidence inclusion and exclusion will be used during literature screening and mapping. Screening and data charting of the published and grey literature will be conducted by three reviewers. Relevant stakeholders and experts will be consulted regarding the findings and their input will be integrated into the final report.

Ethics and dissemination

The study will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal, conference presentations and consultations with relevant stakeholders in policy and professional settings. Ethical approval is not required for this review.
Biology of selective caries removal: a systematic scoping review protocol
Authors: Widbiller Matthias , Weiler Rita , Knüttel Helge , Galler Kerstin M , Buchalla Wolfgang , Scholz Konstantin J
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Primary goal of restorative caries therapy is to preserve pulp vitality and the dentition. Whereas the conventional approach of complete caries removal aims at the elimination of all affected substances without regard to losses of hard tissue or pulp vitality, the innovative concept of selective caries removal (SCR) is characterised by a targeted and non-invasive excavation. It presents a lower risk of accidental pulp exposure, which reportedly has a positive effect on tooth survival. Although clinical data show the benefits of SCR, knowledge about the biological processes during this procedure in the pulp-dentine complex of permanent teeth is scarce. Hence, the aim of this work is to systematically scope the existing literature and map the existing evidence according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guideline. This protocol details the scoping review’s methodological and analytical approaches.

Methods and analysis

First, a structure was established (phase I) as basis for a systematic scoping of literature (phase II). In the course of phase I, a total of 100 systematic reviews related to selective caries removal were searched in MEDLINE and information or theories on the biological processes were extracted. During the entire procedure, two reviewers independently screened the articles, and controversies were mediated by vote of a third reviewer. Eventually, it became apparent that different biological explanations can be organised into four categories: pulp response, cavity seal, remaining bacteria and cavity liner. Based on this structure, a search for original publications (phase II) will be performed and retrieved evidence will be assembled using a predefined conceptual framework.

Ethics and dissemination

As primary data will not be included in this study, ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and summaries for key stakeholders.
First among equals? Adaptive preferences and the limits of autonomy in medical ethics
Authors: Pennings Susan , Symons Xavier
Published: February 2022

Respect for patient autonomy is a central principle of medical ethics. However, there are important unresolved questions about the characteristics of an autonomous decision, and whether some autonomous preferences should be subject to more scrutiny than others.

In this paper, we consider whetherinappropriately adaptive preferences—preferences that are based on and that may perpetuate social injustice—should be categorised as autonomous in a way that gives them normative authority. Some philosophers have argued that inappropriately adaptive preferences do not have normative authority, because they are only a reflection of a person’s social context and not of their true self. Under this view, medical professionals who refuse to carry out actions which are based on inappropriately adaptive preferences are not in fact violating their patient’s autonomy. However, we argue that it is very difficult to articulate a systematic and principled distinction between normal autonomous preferences and inappropriately adaptive preferences, especially if this distinction needs to be useful for clinicians in real-life situations. This makes it difficult to argue that inappropriately adaptive preferences are straightforwardly non-autonomous.

Given this problem, we argue that there are significant theoretical issues with contemporary understandings of autonomy in bioethics. We discuss what this might mean for the practice of medicine and for medical ethics education.
Downed wood dynamics in the riparian and littoral zone of small lakes in tolerant hardwood forests
Authors: Pearce Jennie L. , Mallory Elaine C. , Smokorowski Karen E.
Published: February 2022

Large wood (LW) is an important structural feature in forested lake ecosystems, but little is known about the production of LW in riparian forests and its movement across the forest–lake ecotone, both of which we describe here for eight small (<30 ha) lakes in Ontario, Canada. The creation of snags through live-tree death varied by species, ranging from 0.24% year−1 for eastern white cedar to 5.60% year−1 for balsam fir. Snag breakage was best described as a function of snag height and snag fall described as a function of tree species, decay stage, and diameter. Long LW pieces and pieces generated close to the lake were more likely to be deposited at the shoreline. The density of LW at the shoreline was 125–550 pieces·km−1, and density and volume of LW were positively related to riparian slope. LW was a stable resource at the shoreline, with a recruitment rate about equal to the loss rate and average movement along the shoreline of 2.89 cm·year−1. LW volumes at the shoreline and in the littoral zone of the lake were positively related to lakebed slope. LW could reside in the littoral zone for centuries, providing physical structure for multiple generations of aquatic organisms in these small lakes. Our results indicate that critical habitat for fish that need aquatic LW extends at least 5 m into riparian forest and that removal of trees within 5 m of the forest edge would reduce LW input to the littoral zone.
Thermodynamical and dynamical stability of a self-gravitating charged thin shell
Authors: Reyes Luz Marina , Chiapparini Marcelo , Bergliaffa Santiago Esteban Perez
Published: February 2022

A study of the thermodynamical and dynamical stability of self-gravitating charged shells is presented. The matter on the shell is described by a barotropic equation of state, and the charge is assumed to be proportional to the mass. For a given form of the entropy of the matter on the shell, it is shown that strong restrictions on the states of the shell follow from the imposition of both types of stability plus the condition that the speed of sound is less than one, in some cases leading to the absence of stable states.
A space-time Chebyshev spectral collocation method for the reaction–dispersion equations with anti-kink-type waves
Authors: Sari Murat , Kocak Huseyin , Tunc Huseyin
Published: February 2022

The aim of this work is to provide an efficient technique for numerical solutions of the reaction–dispersion equations including convection and diffusion. The Chebyshev spectral collocation method (ChSCM) is used in both space and time to exhibit anti-kink-type waves that appear as the result of the proposed model equations. It is shown that the revealed solutions are promising to efficiently catch such challenging physical behavior. Quantitative convergence results in both time and space are illustrated for the reaction–dispersion problems.
RUN-LENGTH FUNCTION FOR REAL NUMBERS IN β-EXPANSIONS
Authors: ZHENG LIXUAN , WU MIN
Published: February 2022

Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be two real numbers. For all [Formula: see text], the run-length function with respect to [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is defined as the maximal length of the prefix of the [Formula: see text]-expansion of [Formula: see text] amongst the first [Formula: see text] digits of the [Formula: see text]-expansion of [Formula: see text]. The level set [Formula: see text] is investigated in our paper. We obtain the Hausdorff dimension of [Formula: see text] which extends many known results on run-length function in [Formula: see text]-expansions.
STUDY ON CHARACTERIZATION METHOD OF PHASE-POINT SATURATION BASED ON THE CAPACITY DIMENSION
Authors: LANG SHIHUI , ZHU HUA , WEI CHUNLING , ZHOU WEIWEI , LI YUTAN
Published: February 2022

In this study, the characterization method and evolution law of phase-point saturation based on the capacity dimension in fractal theory are studied to investigate the running-in process and state identification of a system. Tests of the running-in process under different working conditions were conducted on a ring-disc tribometer, and the friction signals were collected. The phase trajectories in different stages were then constructed and the fractal dimensions were calculated. The phase-point saturation parameter is proposed to reflect the degree of saturation of a phase space filled with phase points, and its reliability, noise-resistance, correlation with the fractal dimension, and effectiveness of the characterization of the running-in process were thoroughly investigated. The results demonstrate that the proposed phase-point saturation parameter is reliable and resistant to noise and can be used to identify changes in the system state. Furthermore, there is a negative correlation between the phase-point saturation parameter and the fractal dimension, and the phase-point saturation parameter can effectively characterize the state characteristics and describe the running-in process. During the running-in process, the phase-point saturation changes from high to low and tends to be stable when it reaches the running-in state. When entering the stable wear stage, the value of the parameter is maintained near the minimum, it fluctuates little as compared with the correlation dimension, and it exhibits good stability. Therefore, the proposed phase-point saturation parameter has important theoretical significance and application value for the quantitative characterization of the running-in process and state identification.
APPROXIMATION OF THE SAME BOX DIMENSION IN CONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS SPACE
Authors: LIANG YONG-SHUN
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we make research on the approximation of functions with fractal dimension in continuous functions space. We first investigate fractal dimension of the linear combination of continuous functions with different fractal dimensions. Then, fractal winding of continuous functions has been given. Furthermore, based on Weierstrass theorem and Weierstrass function, we establish a theorem that continuous functions with the non-integer fractal dimension can be approximated by the linear combination of trigonometric polynomials with the same fractal dimension. Condition about continuous functions with fractal dimension one and two has also been discussed elementary.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF PROCESS PARAMETERS ON MACHINING PERFORMANCE IN ELECTRO-DISCHARGE MACHINING OF 6061Al/TiC/Gr COMPOSITES
Authors: JEYAPRAKASAM S. , KATHIRSELVAM M. , VELMURUGAN C. , VENKATACHALAM R.
Published: February 2022

This study employs Taguchi orthogonal design (L9) to optimize the machining parameters of electro-discharge machining (EDM). The aluminum matrix composite (AMC) with 16[Formula: see text]wt.% titanium carbide (TiC) and 4[Formula: see text]wt.% graphite (Gr) specimen was prepared by stir casting process. This study involves three control parameters with three levels, namely pulse current, voltage and fluid pressure to predict the process response, such as material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) of the worn surface. Maximum MRR of 0.1661[Formula: see text]g/min was attained for 10[Formula: see text]A, 500[Formula: see text]V and 15[Formula: see text]kgf/cm2fluid pressure with corresponding roughness of 11.43[Formula: see text]m and the minimum value of 7.51[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m was observed for 10[Formula: see text]A, 100[Formula: see text]V and fluid pressure of 5[Formula: see text]kgf/cm2. A regression model was developed and the effect of control parameters on process responses were determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA). According to ANOVA outcome, the machining parameters which control the process response MRR were determined as voltage (47.94%), pulse current (33.19%) and fluid pressure (17.58%). Similarly, the SR was affected by machining parameters voltage (55.17%), pulse current (22.41%) and flushing pressure (21.47%). The optimum machining parameters were predicted and confirmed by conducting experiments with reasonable error of 2.49% and 2.02% for MRR and SR, respectively. Surface characteristics of the machined AMC was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe the defects like craters, voids, glued debris and recast layers.
An Integrated Model of BWM and Choquet Integral for Determining Fuzzy Measures in Interacting Criteria
Authors: Maleki Nazanin , Gholamian Mohammad Reza , Yaghoubi Saeed
Published: February 2022

Decision-making is one of the significant and inevitable issues in the most real-world problems. Decision criteria interact in many of these problems, and traditional aggregation techniques, which are usually linear methods, cannot be exploited to consider these interactions and exert correlations between criteria. In such cases, nonadditive aggregation methods have attracted the attention of many researchers. This study presents a novel model based on the best-worst method (BWM) and the multi-criteria fuzzy Choquet integral technique to apply the interaction between the criteria. In the proposed model, we have reduced the effect of the inconsistency rate detected on the fuzzy measure (or Choquet capacity) by taking into account the positive or negative interaction between the criteria.
Borel invariant for measurable cocycles of 3-manifold groups
Authors: Savini A.
Published: February 2022

We introduce the notion of pullback along a measurable cocycle and we use it to extend the Borel invariant studied by Bucher, Burger and Iozzi to the world of measurable cocycles. The Borel invariant is constant along cohomology classes and has bounded absolute value. This allows to define maximal cocycles. We conclude by proving that maximal cocycles are actually trivializable to the restriction of the irreducible representation.
Large-scale topography of the north Tibetan ranges as a proxy for contrasted crustal-scale deformation modes
Authors: Jolivet Marc , Cheng Feng , Zuza Andrew V. , Guo Zhaojie , Dauteuil Olivier
Published: February 2022

Forming the northern margin of the Cenozoic Himalayan–Tibetan orogen, the area surrounding the Qaidam Basin is a key region to study the mechanisms that govern the long-term evolution of intracontinental orogenic processes. Indeed, tectonic deformation in this region involves newly formed and inherited crustal and lithospheric structures, partition between horizontal and vertical movements, and a strong influence from external factors such as climate and erosion. This study proposes a description of the topography and crustal structure of the north Tibet ranges as an insight into their tectonic deformation characteristics. The topographic study includes the integrated analysis of regional topographic profiles, river profiles, slope maps and thermochronology data. The available geophysical, geological and structural data are used to draw regional, crustal-scale geological sections across northern Tibet to describe the regional crustal structure. We show that three deformation modes are expressed (block uplift, distributed shortening and crustal buckling) in structural compartments that involve either complete mountain ranges or some specific regions inside those ranges. We propose that a new crustal structure may develop parallel to the Altyn Tagh fault, connecting the eastern tip of the Qimen Tagh with the Haiyuan fault, across the Qaidam Basin.

Supplementary material
: Supplementary figures are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5841461

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Fold-and-thrust belts collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/fold-and-thrust-belts
Effects of passive and active leg movements to interrupt sitting in mild hypercapnia on cardiovascular function in healthy adults
Authors: Park Song-Young , Wooden TeSean K. , Pekas Elizabeth J. , Anderson Cody P. , Yadav Santosh K. , Slivka Dustin R. , Layec Gwenael
Published: February 2022

Passive leg movement could not preserve macrovascular endothelial function, whereas active leg movement could protect endothelial function. Attenuated microvascular function can be salvaged by passive movement and active movement. Preservation of macrovascular hemodynamics and plasma total nitrate/nitrite and endothelin-1 during prolonged sitting requires active movement. These findings dissociate the impacts induced by mechanical stress (passive movement) from the change in metabolism (active movement) on the vasculature during prolonged sitting in a mild hypercapnic environment.
Regional Economic Prediction Model Using Backpropagation Integrated with Bayesian Vector Neural Network in Big Data Analytics
Authors: Zhang Qisong , Yan Lei , Hu Runbo , Li Yingqiu , Hou Li
Published: February 2022

Forecasting economic growth is critical for formulating national economic development policies. Neural Networks are a type of artificial intelligence that may be used to model complex target functions. ANN (Artificial Neural Networks) are one of the most effective learning approaches now available for specific sorts of tasks, such as learning to understand complex real-world sensor data. This paper proposes the regional economic prediction model based on neural networks techniques. Bayesian vector neural network (BVNN) is integrated with backpropagation (BP) model. The database has been collected based on the economics of particular region which has been extracted and classified using knowledge-based computer analysis by neural networks. Discretization, reduction, importance ranking, and prediction rule are attributes considered here. Then, as the input training sample, feed extracted important components into the NN. This strategy enhanced the training speed and prediction accuracy by reducing structure of NN. WEO, APDREO, and AFRREO are the dataset and FWA-SVR and LSTM are the existing method taken for comparison. For the WEO dataset, 97% of GDP and 98% of accuracy are produced. For APDREO dataset, 92% of accuracy and GDP of 97% are obtained. For AFRREO dataset, 98% of accuracy is produced. The neural network can tackle nonlinear problems, according to experimental data, and the technology has been proven to be successful and viable with high accuracy. For practical application, the model has a good reference value. The proposed model reduces error by increasing the convergence rate and accuracy for each dataset.
Cluster Partition Method of Large-Scale Grid-Connected Distributed Generations considering Expanded Dynamic Time Scenarios
Authors: Ye Chang , Cao Kan , Han Haiteng , Liu Ziwen , Cai Defu , Liu Dan
Published: February 2022

The reasonable clustering of large-scale distributed generations (DGs) can optimize the scheduling control and operation monitoring of the power grid, which ensures the orderly and efficient integration of DGs into the power system. In this article, the influence of internal and external flexible resources is considered in the DG cluster partition, and the comprehensive performance indexes with expanded dynamic time scenario are proposed to realize the dynamic cluster partition. Firstly, the active and reactive power balance indexes considering the flexible resources are derived, which forms the comprehensive index together with the structure index. Then, the comprehensive index is expanded to the dynamic forms, which reflects the real-time cluster performance, and the cluster partition method is given with the genetic algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness verification of the proposed cluster partition method is carried out with the 14- and 33-bus systems.
Vibration Suppression of a Coupled Aircraft Wing with Finite‐Time Convergence
Authors: Liu Yiming , Tan Zhifeng , Yang Xiaofen , Wang Xiaowei
Published: February 2022

A nonlinear coupled wing model subject to unknown external disturbances is proposed in this paper. Since the model is modeled by partial differential equations, the traditional control design scheme based on the ordinary differential equation model is not applicable, and the control law design becomes very complex. In this paper, a new antidisturbance boundary control scheme based on a finite time convergent disturbance observer is proposed. The control laws are designed based on the new disturbance observers to make the external disturbance errors converge to zero in a finite time and ensure the uniformly bounded stability of the controlled system. Finally, the effectiveness of the controllers and the finite‐time convergence of disturbance errors are verified by the simulation and comparison.
Clinical Diagnosis of an Autoimmune Encephalitis Presented as a Manic Episode with Psychotic Symptoms: A Case Report
Authors: Soto Ontoso Miguel , Piernas González Ruben A. , Ramírez Martínez Isabel , Meca García José Miguel
Published: February 2022

Introduction. Autoimmune encephalitis is caused by antineuronal immune mechanisms. Its clinical presentation is heterogeneous and in many cases onset with psychiatric symptoms. Paraclinical criteria guide the approach; however, the challenge occurs when there are no detectable autoantibodies in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methodology. We report one case that highlights the variability of clinical manifestations, which in the absence of antibodies was treated with immunotherapy with good response. Conclusion. In places where there is no antibody measurement, or when its measurement is negative, the clinical suspicion supported by CSF studies, magnetic resonance imaging, and electroencephalographic recording, should guide us to start immunotherapeutic treatment early. The early initiation of treatment ensures the reversibility of the neurological disorder in the vast majority of patients.
Risk Factors of Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer: Analysis of a Large Population-Based Registry
Authors: Danial Daneshvar , Youssef El Douaihy , Maryam Bayat Mokhtari , Mohammad Abureesh , Moein Bayat Mokhtari , Liliane Deeb
Published: February 2022

Background. As the third most common type of cancer in the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) was previously thought to be rare in young populations. Despite a decrease in the overall incidence of CRC, the rate of new cases under 50 years old has been continuously increasing. Aim. The purpose of our study was to analyze risk factors of young-onset CRC. Methods. Commercially available software platform, Explorys, was used to extract data from a collective healthcare database electronically. Results. In this database, 13,800 young adults (age 20–50) were diagnosed with primary colorectal malignancy. Compared to subjects with a previous family history of CRC who had an odds ratio of 17.78, those diagnosed with primary malignant neoplasm of breast and inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s) had odds ratios of 16.94, 4.4, and 3.7 for young-onset CRC, respectively. Patients with a history of alcohol abuse, smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia had higher chances of developing young-onset CRC. In addition, the odds of CRC were lower in Hispanic ethnicity in comparison to Caucasians (OR: 0.54), with no statically significant differences between Caucasian, African American, and Asian populations. Conclusion. Currently, this is an expansive study investigating the risk factors for early-onset CRC. The analysis showed factors such as family and individual history of IBD to have high association with early onset. Notably, an individual history of breast malignancy was strongly associated with early-onset CRC.
MiR-139-5p Inhibits the Development of Gastric Cancer through Targeting TPD52
Authors: Li Yuanbo , Sun Yan , Li Zhenlu , Li Shikuan , Wu Changliang
Published: February 2022

Background. Many researchers have confirmed that miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC). This study focused on investigating the specific functions of miR-139-5p in GC. Methods. MiR-139-5p and TPD52 expressions were observed by qRT-PCR or western blot in GC. The functional mechanism of miR-139-5p was explored by the luciferase reporter assay, transwell assay, and MTT assay. Results. MiR-139-5p downregulation and TPD52 upregulation were detected in GC. Adverse clinical features and prognosis in GC patients were related to low miR-139-5p expression. MiR-139-5p overexpression restrained GC cell proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, miR-139-5p directly targeted TPD52. TPD52 silencing blocked GC progression. And TPD52 upregulation weakened the antitumor effect of miR-139-5p in GC. Conclusion. MiR-139-5p inhibits GC cell proliferation and metastasis through downregulating TPD52.
Intelligent L2-L∞ Consensus of Multiagent Systems under Switching Topologies via Fuzzy Deep Q Learning
Authors: Cheng Haoyu , Xu Linpeng , Song Ruijia , Zhu Yue , Fang Yangwang
Published: February 2022

The problem of intelligent L2-L∞ consensus design for leader-followers multiagent systems (MASs) under switching topologies is investigated based on switched control theory and fuzzy deep Q learning. It is supposed that the communication topologies are time-varying, and the model of MASs under switching topologies is constructed based on switched systems. By employing linear transformation, the problem of consensus of MASs is converted into the issue of L2-L∞ control. The consensus protocol is composed of the dynamics-based protocol and learning-based protocol, where the robust control theory and deep Q learning are applied for the two parts to guarantee the prescribed performance and improve the transient performance. The multiple Lyapunov function (MLF) method and mode-dependent average dwell time (MDADT) method are combined to give the scheduling interval, which ensures stability and prescribed attenuation performance. The sufficient existing conditions of consensus protocol are given, and the solutions of the dynamics-based protocol are derived based on linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Then, the online design of the learning-based protocol is formulated as a Markov decision process, where the fuzzy deep Q learning is utilized to compensate for the uncertainties and achieve optimal performance. The variation of the learning-based protocol is modeled as the external compensation on the dynamics-based protocol. Therefore, the convergence of the proposed protocol can be guaranteed by employing the nonfragile control theory. In the end, a numerical example is given to validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Isolated Compounds from Prosopis africana Leaves
Authors: Yanda Lambert , Tatsimo Simplice J. N. , Tamokou Jean-De-Dieu , Matsuete-Takongmo Germaine , Meffo-Dongmo Sylvie Carolle , Meli Lannang Alain , Sewald Norbert
Published: February 2022

Prosopis africana (G. &Perr.) Taub (Mimosaceae) is a large tree native to dry tropical Africa and characteristic of dry leguminous forests. Different parts of this plant are used to treat wounds, skin infection, and to fight against cancer. Literature review indicated various pharmacological properties. Despite these medicinal properties, the chemical composition studies remain limited. This study aims to isolate and characterize secondary metabolites from P. africana leaves and evaluate their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Air-dried powdered leaves of P. africana were macerated in methanol at room temperature and partitioned with ethyl acetate. The EtOAc extract was subjected successively to flash and column chromatographies in order to isolate compounds. The structure of the isolates was determined with help of spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR experiments and comparison with literature data. The antibacterial activities were evaluated via determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The antioxidant activities were evaluated via gallic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity (GEAC) and diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays. The chemical investigation of the EtOAc extract led to the isolation of seven compounds: (2E, 6E) farnesylamine (1), myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside (2), bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate (3), lupeol (4), ß-sitosterol (5), stigmasterol glycoside (6), and a mixture of bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate (3) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate (7) in ratio 1 : 2. Compound 1 is described here for the first time as a natural product with complete 1H and 13C assignments. Compounds 3 and 7 were identified as artefacts from dichloromethane. Sesquiterpene amine (1) is reported in Prosopis genus for the first time. Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of isolated compounds were investigated. Among the tested samples, the EtOAc extract and compound 2 exhibited the highest antioxidant (EC50 = 5.67–77.56 μg/mL; GEAC = 36.58–89.28 μg/mL) and antibacterial (MIC = 8–64 μg/mL) activities against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The EtOAc extract and compound 2 from P. africana exhibited antibacterial activity through bacteriolytic effects and reduction of the antioxidant defenses in the bacterial cells. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of isolated compounds was discussed. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate extract and compound 2 can justify the traditional uses of P. africana leaves for the treatment of diseases related to bacterial infections. The presence of compounds 1, 2, and 4 in this plant should also be considered as valuable chemotaxonomic features.
Comparison of Anterior and Posterior Approaches for Acute Traumatic Central Spinal Cord Syndrome with Multilevel Cervical Canal Stenosis without Cervical Fracture or Dislocation
Authors: Zhou Quan , Zhang Junxin , Liu Hao , Zhou Xinfeng , He Wei , Jin Zheyu , Yang Huilin , Liu Tao
Published: February 2022

Introduction. This is a retrospective comparative study that aims to compare the benefits of different surgical approaches for patients with multilevel cervical canal stenosis (CCS) without cervical fracture or dislocation of acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS). Methods. From January 2015 to December 2018, 59 patients were included in the study. Among them, 35 patients (Group A) received anterior surgery and 24 patients (Group B) received posterior surgery. Primary outcome measures were American Spinal Cord Injury Association (Asia) grade, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and recovery rate (RR). Secondary outcome measures included operation time, intraoperative blood loss, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, cervical sagittal parameters, and complications. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze prognostic determinants. Results. Compared with Group B, Group A had longer operation time and more intraoperative blood loss (

P
<
0.05

). However, the VAS score of Group B was higher than that of Group A at discharge (

P
<
0.05

). There was no significant difference in cervical sagittal plane parameters between the two groups (

P
>
0.05

). Postoperative complications were different in the two groups. During follow-up, the Asia grade, the JOA score, and RR of both groups improved (

P
<
0.05

), but there were no significant differences between the two groups (

P
>
0.05

). Younger age, earlier surgery, and better preoperative Asia grade were correlated with better prognosis. Conclusions. For patients with multilevel CCS without cervical fracture or dislocation of ATCCS, both surgical approaches had good outcomes. Although no significant differences were found in the primary outcome measures between the two groups, there were different recommendations for the secondary outcome measures. Younger age, earlier surgery, and better preoperative Asia grade were protective factors for better prognosis.
Impacts of Skill Centrality on Regional Economic Productivity and Occupational Income
Authors: Waters Keith , Shutters Shade T.
Published: February 2022

A well‐developed perspective in the study of urban systems is that cities are complex systems that manifest as networks of interdependent economic units. These units might be occupations, industries, labor skills, patent technologies, etc. Much research has focused on describing the nature of these networks, quantifying their links, and suggesting applications for policymakers. In this paper, we examine the US skill network, focusing on the relationship between network centrality and economic performance. Here, nodes are represented by individual labor skills, and edge weights are derived from the colocation pattern of skill pairs among 384 US metropolitan statistical areas. The centrality of skills, using three centrality measures, is then aggregated to the occupational and metropolitan level. We find that occupations with higher skill centrality are associated with greater annual salaries, and metropolitan areas with higher skill centrality have higher productivity rates. Overall, these results suggest that the application of traditional network metrics to this view of cities as complex networks can offer new insights into the dynamics of regional economies.
Is It Possible to Directly Determine the Radius of a Spherical Indenter Using Force Indentation Data on Soft Samples?
Authors: Kontomaris S. V. , Stylianou A. , Malamou A.
Published: February 2022

An important factor affecting the accuracy of Young’s modulus calculation in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) indentation experiments is the determination of the dimensions of the indenter. This procedure is usually performed using AFM calibration gratings or Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging. However, the aforementioned procedure is frequently omitted because it requires additional equipment. In this paper, a new approach is presented that focused on the calibration of spherical indenters without the need of special equipment but instead using force indentation data on soft samples. Firstly, the question whether it is mathematically possible to simultaneously calculate the indenter’s radius and the Young’s modulus of the tested sample (under the restriction that the sample presents a linear elastic response) using the same force indentation data is discussed. Using a simple mathematical approach, it was proved that the aforementioned procedure is theoretically valid. In addition, to test this method in real indentation experiments agarose gels were used. Multiple measurements on different agarose gels showed that the calibration of a spherical indenter is possible and can be accurately performed. Thus, the indenter’s radius and the soft sample’s Young’s modulus can be determined using the same force indentation data. It is also important to note that the provided accuracy is similar to the accuracy obtained when using AFM calibration gratings. The major advantage of this paper is that it provides a method for the simultaneous determination of the indenter’s radius and the sample’s Young’s modulus without requiring any additional equipment.
A Novel Multicategory Defect Detection Method Based on the Convolutional Neural Network Method for TFT-LCD Panels
Authors: Chang Yung-Chia , Chang Kuei-Hu , Meng Hsien-Mi , Chiu Hung-Chih
Published: February 2022

Defects on thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel could be divided into either macro- or microdefects, depending on if they are easy to be detected by the naked eye or not. There have been abundant studies discussing the identification of macrodefects but very few on microones. This study proposed a multicategory classification model using a convolutional neural network model to work with automatic optical inspection (AOI) for identifying defective pixels on the TFT-LCD panel. Since the number of nondefective pixels outnumbered the defective ones, there exists a very serious class-imbalanced problem. To deal with that, this study designed a special training strategy that worked with data augmentation to increase the effectiveness of the proposed model. Actual panel images provided by a mobile manufacturer in Taiwan are used to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed approach. After validation, the model constructed by this study had 98.9% total prediction accuracy and excellent specificity and sensitivity. The model could finish the detection and classification process automatically to replace the human inspection.
Evolutionary Overlapping Coalitional Game-Based Link Selection for Distributed Cooperative Localization in Mobile Networks
Authors: Yin Ting , Zou Decai , Zhang Rui , Jing Dongliang , Li Yongzhao , Lu Xiaochun
Published: February 2022

With the increasing application of Internet of Things (IoT), the localization of IoT devices has been widely used. The distributed cooperative localization is expected to be applied in a large-scale dynamic network, such as IoT. It is located through the exchange of information among multiple nodes. For a large amount of battery-based users, the high-computational complexity and heavy communication overhead will lead to huge energy consumption. In this paper, we propose a link selection algorithm based on the evolutionary overlapping coalitional (EOC) game to mitigate the energy consumption for distributed cooperative localization in the dynamic network. The equivalent Fisher information matrix (EFIM) and the Cramér–Rao lower bound (CRLB) are employed to keep location accuracy. Numerical results verify that the distributed cooperative localization based on the EOC game achieves lower energy consumption while keeping localization accuracy in the dynamic networks.
Antitumor Effects of Natural Bioactive Ursolic Acid in Embryonic Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Kang Dong Young , Sp Nipin , Jang Kyoung-Jin , Jo Eun Seong , Bae Se Won , Yang Young Mok
Published: February 2022

Embryonic cancer cells (CSCs) could cause different types of cancer, a skill that makes them even more dangerous than other cancer cells. Identifying CSCs using natural products is a good option as it inhibits the recurrence of cancer with moderate various effects. Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from fruit and herbal remedies and has known anticancer functions against various cancer cells. However, its potential against CSCs remains uncertain. This study was planned to examine the induction of cell apoptosis by the UA. For cell signaling studies, we performed experiments, which are real-time qPCR and immunoblotting. Also, various cellular processes were analyzed using flow cytometry. The results raised a barrier to cell proliferation by the UA in NTERA-2 and NCCIT cells. Morphological studies also confirmed the UA’s ability to cause cell death in embryonic CSCs. Examination of cell death importation showed that the UA formed the expression of the iNOS and thus the cell generation and mitochondrial reactive oxygen generation, which created a reaction to cellular DNA damage by raising the protein levels of phospho-histone ATR and ATM. In addition, the UA created the binding of the G0/G1 cell cycle to NTERA-2 and NCCIT cells, improved the expression levels of p21 and p27, and reduced the expression levels of CDK4, cyclin D1, and cyclin E, confirming the UA’s ability to initiate cell cycle arrest. Finally, the UA created an internal mechanism of apoptosis in the embryonic CSC using BAX and cytochrome c regulation as well as the regulation of BCL-xL and BCL-2 proteins. Therefore, UA could be the best candidate for targeting CSCs and thus suppressing the emergence of cancer.
A Three‐mRNA Signature Associated with Pyrimidine Metabolism for Prognosis of BRCA
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxue , Zhang Qiang , Xie Xianxin , Li Yang , Pang Zhiyuan , Yu Tao
Published: February 2022

Objective. Breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), as a systemic disease, is currently the most malignant tumor among women. Early detection of BRCA will increase the probability of cure. Pyrimidine metabolism (PyM) stands for an essential metabolic pathway related to DNA replication of cancer cells, which may also serve as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target. Therefore, the aim of this research is to discover a prognostic signature associated with PyM for BRCA. Methods. The BRCA mRNA sequencing data along with microarray data were obtained based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. In addition, 4 PyM‐related gene sets were profiled through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA); it revealed the core genes differentially expressed in cancer and paracancerous tissue. Thereafter, genes were subjected to univariate as well as multivariate regression for constructing an mRNA signature to independently predict BRCA prognosis. Then, the Kaplan‐Meier (KM) curve was applied for validation. The prognostic power of the signature was verified against the METABRIC (Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium) database. Results. We constructed a three‐mRNA (RRM2B, NME3, and POLD2) gene signature related to PyM to predict overall survival (OS) for BRCA. The as‐constructed gene signature was adopted to classify cases as high‐ or low‐risk group, identifying patients with BRCA with poor prognosis. Additionally, the risk score obtained using our constructed 3‐mRNA prognosis signature is independent from other clinical variables. Conclusion. Our findings suggested that PyM‐related mRNA signature might be a combined prognostic biomarker for BRCA and can provide important reference that are useful for individualized treatment for BRCA patients.