bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing global injectivity for constrained parameterization
Authors: Du Xingyi , Kaufman Danny M. , Zhou Qingnan , Kovalsky Shahar Z. , Yan Yajie , Aigerman Noam , Ju Tao
Published: December 2021

Injective parameterizations of triangulated meshes are critical across applications but remain challenging to compute. Existing algorithms to find injectivity either require initialization from an injective starting state, which is currently only possible without positional constraints, or else can only prevent triangle inversion, which is insufficient to ensure injectivity. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first algorithm for recovering a globally injective parameterization from an arbitrary non-injective initial mesh subject to stationary constraints. These initial meshes can be inverted, wound about interior vertices and/or overlapping. Our algorithm in turn enables globally injective mapping for meshes with arbitrary positional constraints. Our key contribution is a new energy, called
smooth excess area
(SEA), that measures non-injectivity in a map. This energy is well-defined across both injective and non-injective maps and is smooth almost everywhere, making it readily minimizable using standard gradient-based solvers starting from a non-injective initial state. Importantly, we show that maps minimizing SEA are guaranteed to be locally injective and
almost
globally injective, in the sense that the overlapping area can be made arbitrarily small. Analyzing SEA's behavior over a new benchmark set designed to test injective mapping, we find that optimizing SEA successfully recovers globally injective maps for 85% of the benchmark and obtains locally injective maps for 90%. In contrast, state-of-the-art methods for removing triangle inversion obtain locally injective maps for less than 6% of the benchmark, and achieve global injectivity (largely by chance as prior methods are not designed to recover it) on less than 4%.
Pose with style
Authors: Albahar Badour , Lu Jingwan , Yang Jimei , Shu Zhixin , Shechtman Eli , Huang Jia-Bin
Published: December 2021

We present an algorithm for re-rendering a person from a single image under arbitrary poses. Existing methods often have difficulties in hallucinating occluded contents photo-realistically while preserving the identity and fine details in the source image. We first learn to inpaint the correspondence field between the body surface texture and the source image with a human body symmetry prior. The inpainted correspondence field allows us to transfer/warp local features extracted from the source to the target view even under large pose changes. Directly mapping the warped local features to an RGB image using a simple CNN decoder often leads to visible artifacts. Thus, we extend the StyleGAN generator so that it takes pose as input (for controlling poses) and introduces a spatially varying modulation for the latent space using the warped local features (for controlling appearances). We show that our method compares favorably against the state-of-the-art algorithms in both quantitative evaluation and visual comparison.
Aesthetic-guided outward image cropping
Authors: Zhong Lei , Li Feng-Heng , Huang Hao-Zhi , Zhang Yong , Lu Shao-Ping , Wang Jue
Published: December 2021

Image cropping is a commonly used post-processing operation for adjusting the scene composition of an input photography, therefore improving its aesthetics. Existing automatic image cropping methods are all bounded by the image border, thus have very limited freedom for aesthetics improvement if the original scene composition is far from ideal, e.g. the main object is too close to the image border.

In this paper, we propose a novel, aesthetic-guided
outward image cropping
method. It can go beyond the image border to create a desirable composition that is unachievable using previous cropping methods. Our method first evaluates the input image to determine how much the content of the image should be extrapolated by a field of view (FOV) evaluation model. We then synthesize the image content in the extrapolated region, and seek an optimal aesthetic crop within the expanded FOV, by jointly considering the aesthetics of the cropped view, and the local image quality of the extrapolated image content. Experimental results show that our method can generate more visually pleasing image composition in cases that are difficult for previous image cropping tools due to the border constraint, and can also automatically degrade to an inward method when high quality image extrapolation is infeasible.
Differential effects of obesity on visceral versus subcutaneous adipose arteries: role of shear-activated Kir2.1 and alterations to the glycocalyx
Authors: Ahn Sang Joon , Le Master Elizabeth , Lee James C. , Phillips Shane A. , Levitan Irena , Fancher Ibra S.
Published: December 2021

We identified a role for endothelial Kir2.1 in the differences observed in VAA versus SAA endothelial function with obesity. The endothelial glycocalyx, a regulator of Kir activation by shear, is unequally perturbed in VAAs as compared with SAAs, which we propose results in a near complete loss of VAA endothelial Kir shear sensitivity and endothelial dysfunction. We propose that these differences underly the preserved endothelial function of SAA in obese mice and humans.
S100A9 is a functional effector of infarct wall thinning after myocardial infarction
Authors: Chalise Upendra , Becirovic-Agic Mediha , Daseke Michael J. , Konfrst Shelby R. , Rodriguez-Paar Jocelyn R. , Feng Dan , Salomon Jeffrey D. , Anderson Daniel R. , Cook Leah M. , Lindsey Merry L.
Published: December 2021

S100A9 is a functional marker of infarct wall thinning.
Epicardial adipose tissue as a mediator of cardiac arrhythmias
Authors: Patel Kiran Haresh Kumar , Hwang Taesoon , Se Liebers Curtis , Ng Fu Siong
Published: December 2021

Obesity is associated with higher risks of cardiac arrhythmias. Although this may be partly explained by concurrent cardiometabolic ill-health, growing evidence suggests that increasing adiposity independently confers risk for arrhythmias. Among fat depots, epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) exhibits a proinflammatory secretome and, given the lack of fascial separation, has been implicated as a transducer of inflammation to the underlying myocardium. The present review explores the mechanisms underpinning adverse electrophysiological remodeling as a consequence of EAT accumulation and the consequent inflammation. We first describe the physiological and pathophysiological function of EAT and its unique secretome and subsequently discuss the evidence for ionic channel and connexin expression modulation as well as fibrotic remodeling induced by cytokines and free fatty acids that are secreted by EAT. Finally, we highlight how weight reduction and regression of EAT volume may cause reverse remodeling to ameliorate arrhythmic risk.
Automatic Synthesis Technology of Music Teaching Melodies Based on Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Zhang Yingxue , Li Zhe
Published: December 2021

Computer music creation boasts broad application prospects. It generally relies on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to generate the music score that matches the original mono-symbol score model or memorize/recognize the rhythms and beats of the music. However, there are very few music melody synthesis models based on artificial neural networks (ANNs). Some ANN-based models cannot adapt to the transposition invariance of original rhythm training set. To overcome the defect, this paper tries to develop an automatic synthesis technology of music teaching melodies based on recurrent neural network (RNN). Firstly, a strategy was proposed to extract the acoustic features from music melody. Next, the sequence-sequence model was adopted to synthetize general music melodies. After that, an RNN was established to synthetize music melody with singing melody, such as to find the suitable singing segments for the music melody in teaching scenario. The RNN can synthetize music melody with a short delay solely based on static acoustic features, eliminating the need for dynamic features. The proposed model was proved valid through experiments.
A Novel Guidance Law for Intercepting a Highly Maneuvering Target
Authors: Wu Gang , Zhang Ke
Published: December 2021

Given the resolution of the guidance for intercepting highly maneuvering targets, a novel finite-time convergent guidance law is proposed, which takes the following conditions into consideration, including the impact angle constraint, the guidance command input saturation constraint, and the autopilot second-order dynamic characteristics. Firstly, based on the nonsingular terminal sliding mode control theory, a finite-time convergent nonsingular terminal sliding mode surface is designed. On the back of the backstepping control method, the virtual control law appears. A nonlinear first-order filter is constructed so as to address the “differential expansion” problem in traditional backstepping control. By designing an adaptive auxiliary system, the guidance command input saturation problem is dealt with. The RBF neural network disturbance observer is used for estimating the unknown boundary external disturbances of the guidance system caused by the target acceleration. The parameters of the RBF neural network are adjusted online in real time, for the purpose of improving the estimation accuracy of the RBF neural network disturbance observer and accelerating its convergence characteristics. At the same time, an adaptive law is designed to compensate the estimation error of the RBF neural network disturbance observer. Then, the Lyapunov stability theory is used to prove the finite-time stability of the guidance law. Finally, numerical simulations verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed guidance law.
C-Reactive Protein Levels in relation to Incidence of Hypertension in Chinese Adults: Longitudinal Analyses from the China Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Chen Bo , Cui Yuze , Lei Mengyun , Xu Wenlei , Yan Qiongjie , Zhang Xiaotong , Qin Minghui , Xu Shaoyong
Published: December 2021

Objective. To explore the association between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and incident hypertension, as well as the association between hs-CRP levels and related covariates, in a Chinese adult population. Methods. This study was based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey, a continuing open, large-scale prospective cohort study. Adult participants who were free of hypertension were included at baseline survey in 2009 and were followed up in 2015 (follow-up rate: 77.45%). The hs-CRP was measured using the immunoturbidimetric method and divided into three groups: low-risk group (0 ≤ hs-CRP <1 mg/L), average-risk group (1 ≤ hs-CRP <3 mg/L), and high-risk group (3 ≤ hs-CRP ≤10 mg/L). Definite diagnosis of hypertension in the follow-up survey in 2015 was the endpoint event of this study. The areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to evaluate the predictive value of the hs-CRP. Results. 3794 participants were finally included as study sample, of whom 912 developed hypertension during a 6-year follow-up period (incidence: 24.1%). The incidences of hypertension in hs-CRP low-risk, average-risk, and high-risk groups were 17.6% (200/1135), 25.9% (521/2015), and 29.7% (191/644), respectively. Spearman’s correlation analyses showed that there was significant positive correlation between hs-CRP levels and waist circumference, total triglycerides, total cholesterol, age, body mass index, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index. Stepwise regression analyses showed that participants in the hs-CRP high-risk group had a 46.2% higher risk of developing hypertension compared with those in the hs-CRP low-risk group (odds ratio: 1.462, 95% confidence interval: 1.018–2.101). Baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and waist circumference contributed the most to the development of hypertension with R2 of 0.076, 0.052, and 0.039, respectively, while hs-CRP had lower area under the curve (AUC) for hypertension, adding baseline BP and WC to the prediction model increased the AUC to 0.708 (95% CI: 0.681–0.735). Conclusion. This study revealed a weak positive association between CRP levels and future incidence of hypertension in the Chinese population. The combination of hs-CRP with baseline BP and waist circumference (WC) had a higher predictive value for hypertension (AUC: 0.708), but the predictive value was still limited.
Bioactivity-Guided Single-Step Isolation of Stachyspinoside from Sideritis congesta by Centrifugal Partition Chromatography
Authors: Osthoff Julian , Carola Christophe , Salazar Andrew , von Hagen Joerg
Published: December 2021

Sideritis congesta is a plant native to Mediterranean countries. Infusions of this plant are used to treat various diseases. The anti-inflammatory potential of Sideritis species is widely known. However, the anti-inflammatory potential of an aqueous extract of S. congesta has not been investigated yet. In this study, the phytochemical composition and anti-inflammatory potential of different fractions of an aqueous extract from S. congesta using bioactivity guided fractionation via centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) were determined. A CPC single-step isolation of a flavonoid stachyspinoside 1 from S. congesta is reported. In addition, a CPC fractionation protocol of the crude aqueous extract was developed. Three aqueous fractions (I, II, and III) of S. congesta were obtained, and their anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated with respect to their ability to inhibit the activity of COX-2 and NF-κB in vitro. Fraction I showed the highest COX-2 inhibition activity (92.3% inhibition at 0.1%). Fraction III showed the highest NF-κB inhibition activity (99.9% at 0.1%) among the CPC produced fractions. The structures of 3 compounds of fraction III could be identified and were validated by HPLC-PDA, HRMS, and NMR spectroscopy. Finally, the phenol, saponin, and flavonoid contents were quantified in the most potent CPC fractions (I and III).
New Online Shunt Acidification for Water Injection Increasing Technology and Its Application in Huanjiang Oilfield
Authors: Deng Zhiying , Ji Zhenning , Zhang Suiwang , He Lingpu , Lu Xiaobing , Wu Wenchao , Xiong Liwei , Fan Haiming
Published: December 2021

The poor physical property and strong heterogeneity of Triassic Yanchang formation in Huanjiang oilfield of Ordos Basin are the main reasons for uneven water absorption, partial injection wells underinjection at high pressure, and decline of production. Previously, large numbers of conventional acidifications were used for plugging removal in the reservoir, but the effect was not so good and effective period was short. Aiming at the geological characteristics of Huanjiang oilfield, an online shunt acidification and augmented injection technology which does not stop water injection, pull original production strings out, and continuously inject acid and diverting agent has been proposed. A chelating acid COA-1S with low corrosion rate (0.3675 g/(m2·h)), good retardation capacity (hydrolysis constant = 1.2 × 10−6), and effective chelating ability (precipitation inhibition rate >95%) has been developed, as well as a diverting agent COA-1P with good dispersion in acid solution, diversion effect, and particle size (10–100 μm), which behaves well in COA-1S acid. It has been proved that the online acid system has a good diversion acidizing ability and plugging removal performance in a deep area in the laboratory core physical simulation test. The field test results show that the online shunt acidizing and augmented injection technology could reduce the injection pressure significantly (4.2 MPa) and increase water injection by 10 m3/d for the measured well (H5) and improve the water injection profile prominently. The online shunting acidification and augmented injection technology have the following advantages: simple procedures, fewer equipment needed, high efficiency of depressurization, and increasing water injection, which could effectively improve the profile of water wells, and there is a bright future of the technology.
Engineering Financial Performance Evaluation of Wireless Network Based on Intelligent Neural Network Model
Authors: Xu Xiaoling , Song Jianghao
Published: December 2021

Under the global economy, enterprises in the financial industry are facing plenty of opportunities and severe challenges. Aimed at providing a reference enterprise performance evaluation system for related enterprises, the proposed model helps enterprises to learn and sort out their own performance evaluation system according to this structure. A prediction model of BP neural network (BPNN) based on the wireless network is studied as the performance data prediction algorithm. Firstly, the feasibility of this algorithm is analysed through prediction training. Secondly, the proposed neural network algorithm is compared with the traditional algorithm for data prediction. It turns out that this neural network prediction algorithm based on wireless communication is not only universal to the prediction data but also superior to the traditional prediction algorithm in both error gap and relative average error compared with other traditional algorithms. On this basis, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is also used to evaluate the performance indicators of three enterprises, and accurate numerical values are obtained to express the corresponding results. Therefore, it is concluded that the subalgorithm can be applied to the enterprise performance evaluation team in the financial industry.
Research and Implementation of Mobile Internet Management Optimization and Intelligent Information System Based on Smart Decision
Authors: Han Yanqing , Lei Yuyan , Bao Zimin , Zhou Qingyuan
Published: December 2021

The way by which artificial intelligence is implemented is similar to the thinking process of the human brain. People obtain information about external conditions through five senses, namely, vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and, through the further processing of the brain, it forms meaningful decision‐making elements. Then, through the process of analysis and reasoning, further decisions are made. In the information age, the application of intelligent management information systems in various fields has promoted the modernization and intelligence of social development. From the perspective of intelligent decision‐making, this paper analyzes the requirements of intelligent information systems and designs an intelligent information system based on mobile Internet management optimization, including system management optimization, and proposes an environment‐based layer, network transport layer, and the three‐tier system architecture of the smart service application layer. Finally, this paper considers the problem of data fusion after system expansion. According to the existing fuzzy fusion algorithm, a weight‐based fuzzy fusion algorithm is proposed. The simulation analysis shows that the algorithm can be effectively applied in intelligent information systems.
Sishen Pill Maintained Colonic Mucosal Barrier Integrity to Treat Ulcerative Colitis via Rho/ROCK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Yun , Zhao Hai-Mei , Liu Yi , Lu Xiu-Yun , Li Yan-Zhen , Pan Qi-Hong , Wang Hai-Yan , Ge Wei , Liu Duan-Yong
Published: December 2021

Sishen Pill (SSP) is a classical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine and often used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis (UC). However, its mechanism is still unclear. We aimed to determine the mechanism of SSP in the treatment of UC by investigating if it maintains the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier via the Rho A/Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway. Administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) successfully induced chronic UC in rats, while the treatment effect of SSP was evaluated by body weight change, colonic length, colonic weight, colonic weight index, histological injury score, and pathological injury score after colitis rats were treated for 7 days. TNF-α and IL-1β levels were analyzed by ELISA, and the proteins of PI3K/Akt and RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway and junction proteins expression were measured by western blotting assay, and the distribution of Claudin 5 was shown by immunofluorescence. SSP significantly improved the clinical symptoms of colitis in rats and reduced the expression of p-RhoA, ROCK1, PI3K, and Akt in the colon mucosa, while it increased the expression of p-Rac and related proteins (Claudin-5, JAM1, VE-cadherin, and Connexin 43). In addition, SSP increased p-AMPKα and PTEN proteins expression, decreased Notch1 level, and hinted that activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was inhibited. In conclusion, SSP effectively treated chronic colitis induced by TNBS, which may have been achieved by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signal to suppress activation of the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway to finally maintain the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier.
The Teaching Optimization Algorithm Mode of Integrating Mobile Cloud Teaching into Ideological and Political Courses under the Internet Thinking Mode
Authors: Jiao Yipei , Liu Yu
Published: December 2021

The purposes are to use the Internet technology to innovate the ideological and political (IAP) classroom teaching mode, take full advantage of the mobile platform under big data (BD), improve the effectiveness of IAP education, and deeply grasp the internal needs of students for the IAP classroom. First, the specific meaning and implementation process of mobile cloud teaching (MCT) under the Internet are deeply studied, as well as the connotation of the IAP course. Second, some suggestions are proposed. A theoretical analysis of the synergy between MCT and IAP classroom is conducted, and the teaching situation of cloud teaching classroom from the basic construction and operation mode of MCT platform is discussed. Finally, a case study on blue-ink cloud class is carried out. The results show that to realize the innovation of the IAP classroom teaching mode, it is considered that the IAP classroom has a strong dependence on the information. The MCT platform has wide access to information, which can well connect with the IAP classroom. The teaching methods of the cloud teaching platform tend to be diversified and interesting, and the overall teaching pattern is different from the traditional classroom teaching mode. The teaching effect is greatly improved based on the MCT platform. To achieve the synergy of the Internet and the MCT platform, the advantages of the cloud teaching platform should be expanded, the online communication between teachers and students should be strengthened, and the channels for information acquisition should be opened up. Blue-ink cloud class fully utilizes the advantages of the cloud teaching platform, which provides a great reference for IAP classroom teaching. Its flexible teaching method and intelligent management are helpful to the reform of IAP classroom teaching in the future.
Bioinformatic Analysis Identified Potentially Prognostic Long Noncoding RNAs and MicroRNAs for Gastric Cancer
Authors: Guo Jiao , Liu Yongda , Zhao Ping
Published: December 2021

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common malignant tumor in the world. The present study was performed to discover the potential diagnostic and therapeutic long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) of GC. Data used in this study to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were obtained from 187 GC tissues and 32 adjacent nontumor tissues. The total clinical data on GC included 187 cases. The above data were from the TCGA database. RStudio/Bioconductor software was used to conduct univariate analysis, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox, and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression for the DElncRNAs and DEmiRNAs. Clinical information was analyzed through univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. Results: five lncRNAs (AC007785.3, AC079385.3, LINC00392, LINC01729, and U95743.1) and two miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐3174, hsa‐miR‐605) were proven to be independent prognostic indicators of GC. Results of the Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis showed that AC007785.3, AC079385.3, LINC01729, miR‐3174, and miR‐605 were significantly correlated with OS of GC. The target genes of AC079385.3, miR‐3174, and miR‐605 were obtained and clustered mainly on MAPK and cGMP‐PKG signaling pathways. The clinical data showed that age and clinicopathologic stage were correlated with the prognosis of GC. Furthermore, AC007785.3 was associated with metastasis of GC, and miR‐3174 was associated with the primary tumor condition of GC. We identified three lncRNAs (AC007785.3, AC079385.3, LINC01729), two miRNAs (miR‐3174, miR‐605), and clinical factors related to the pathogenesis and prognosis of GC. Our predicted results provide a possible entry point for the study of prognostic markers for GC.
ZNF652-Induced circRHOT1 Promotes SMAD5 Expression to Modulate Tumorigenic Properties and Nature Killer Cell-Mediated Toxicity in Bladder Cancer via Targeting miR-3666
Authors: Ke Hu , Zhang Jiabin , Wang Fei , Xiong Yunhe
Published: December 2021

Bladder cancer (BC) is the 9th most frequent diagnosed tumor and the 2nd most common urology tumor worldwide. Despite the considerable advancement that BC treatment has made recently, the five-year survival rate of BC remains unsatisfactory. Novel therapeutic strategies for BC clinical intervention are therefore urgently needed now more than ever. circRHOT1 is a newly identified circRNA that plays a crucial role in multiple types of tumorigeneses. However, it remains unclear whether circRHOT1 plays a functional role in BC progression. Our findings suggest that circRHOT1 was highly expressed in BC tumor tissues and cell lines. The results from CCK-8, EDU, Transwell migration, and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity detection assays suggested that circRHOT1 knockdown could markedly suppress BC cell proliferation and migration level and could aggravate the sensitivity of BC cells to NK cells. Subsequently, we conducted bioinformatics analysis followed by RNA pull-down, ChIP, and luciferase reporter assays, from which we found that circRHOT1 expression in BC cells could be regulated by ZNF652, and circRHOT1 could promote SMAD5 expression to regulate BC cell cellular progression by sponging miR-3666. These results may provide a new direction for developing novel diagnostic or therapeutic targets for BC.
Toward Identifying APT Malware through API System Calls
Authors: Wei Chaoxian , Li Qiang , Guo Dong , Meng Xiangyu
Published: December 2021

Self-developed malware was usually used by advanced persistent threat (APT) attackers to launch APT attacks. Therefore, we can enhance the understanding and cognition of APT attacks by comprehending the behavior of APT malware. Unfortunately, the current research cannot effectively explain the relationship between the recognition, detection, and defense of APT. The model of similar studies also lacks an explanation about it. To defend against APT attacks and inquire about the similarity of different APT attacks, this study proposes an APT malware classification method based on a combination of multiple deep learning algorithms and transfer learning by collecting malware used in several famous APT groups in public. By extracting the application programming interface (API) system calls, with the vector representation of features by combining dynamic LSTM and attention algorithm, we can obtain API at different APT families classification contributions trained dynamic. Thus, we used transfer learning to perform multiple classifications of the APT family. This study aims to reduce the burden of network security staff from reviewing a large number of suspicious files when defending against APT attacks. Additionally, it can effectively intercept them in the initial invasion stage of APT to perform targeted defense against specific APT attacks by combining threat intelligence in public. The experimental result shows that the proposed method can achieve 99.2% in distinguishing common malware from APT malware and assign APT malware to different APT families with an accuracy of 95.5%.
A Theoretical Analysis Method of Spatial Analytic Geometry and Mathematics under Digital Twins
Authors: Wang Kaiqi
Published: December 2021

In recent years, online education in China has made considerable achievements. But there are also some problems: the teaching quality of online education is unsatisfactory; students’ online learning effects are frustrating, and students’ autonomous learning ability is poor. Based on analysis, teachers’ literacy and Internet technology are important factors restricting the online teaching reform, and online teaching easily falls into the dilemma of “shallow learning.” Digital twins can effectively realize the intelligent interconnection and interaction of the physical world and the information world, optimize the remote teaching process, and provide high‐quality remote learning experience for learners. Based on this, the technology is used to the teaching of space geometry to help students understand it and improve their performance. First, the principle and advantages of digital twins are expounded. Second, the platform system based on digital twins is constructed. Then, the corresponding digital model is drawn by using the drawing function of MATLAB software, and the system based on virtual reality (VR) is established. Finally, the students of four classes of the same major are selected as the research subjects to test the teaching effect of advanced mathematics on the digital platform. The results show that students’ scores in the traditional classrooms are form 2.5 to 5.5 and their average score is 4.049, while the scores of the students in the digital twin classrooms are between 5.5 and 9.5 and their average score goes up to 7.986. This shows that students’ performance in the digital twin classrooms is 97.2%, higher than that in the traditional classrooms. A fully digitized spatial geometric model is implemented by using digital twins, and it can help students understand the mathematical theory of spatial analytic geometry, and their learning effect is greatly improved. This study provides a new direction for the application of new technologies in mathematics teaching.
Therapeutic Effect of Seawater Pearl Powder on UV-Induced Photoaging in Mouse Skin
Authors: Han Siyin , Huang Delun , Lan Taijin , Wu Yongpei , Wang Yingbiao , Wei Jiying , Zhang Weiyuan , Ou Yuanyang , Yan Qiangqiang , Liu Peng , Chen Zhenxing , Lin Jiang
Published: December 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of seawater pearl powder (SPP) on ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced photoaging in mouse skin. The protein and trace elements in SPP were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The effect of SPP on treating skin damage resulting from UV-induced photoaging was observed by gross physical appearance and histopathological analysis. Oxidative stress and melanin synthesis were analyzed using biochemical method. Western blotting was applied to analyze the phosphorylation and expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), collagen I, and proteins involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways (p38, ERK, and JNK). The results show that SPP has a significant therapeutic effect on UV-induced photoaging of skin and improves and restores appearance and tissue structure of mouse skin. The major mechanism may be related to reduction of expression level of MMP-1 and enhancement of collagen I production via inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway after scavenging of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the UV-induced photoaged skin of mice. Meanwhile, it may also be involved in reducing melanin content by inhibiting tyrosinase activity after scavenging excess ROS in the UV-induced photoaged skin of mice. Therefore, SPP could be a good substance to treat photoaging skin. Taking cost-effectiveness and efficacy into consideration, the optimal concentration of SPP for treating photoaging skin could be 100 mg/g.
Investigation of Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Trelagliptin in Egyptian Volunteers Using Sensitive LC-MS/MS: A Comparative Study with a Japanese Population
Authors: Mowaka Shereen , Ashoush Nermeen , Tadros Mariam M. , Ayoub Bassam M.
Published: December 2021

Trelagliptin (TLN) is a novel once-weekly antidiabetic drug that enhanced the patient compliance in type 2 diabetes. TLN analysis and bioanalysis literature review showed many methods for TLN assay either in dosage form or as biological fluids (pharmacokinetic parameters), but all those methods did not consider the full details dealing with biological assay of TLN. Studies that included information about pharmacokinetic parameters did not mention the used analytical procedures for those determinations and parameters. Although some LC-MS/MS and UPLC-UV methods were reported for TLN bioassay in rats’ plasma, they used direct precipitation techniques, and the current described procedure showed lower LLOQ than all the reported methods in spite of that working on human plasma is more complicated than on rats’ plasma. In this study, LC-MS/MS bioanalysis of TLN in human plasma (4–1000 nM) was employed successfully with LLOQ of 4 nM which is lower than all reported methods in rats’ plasma followed by a preliminary pharmacokinetic study. Alogliptin was used as internal standard (IS) because of its structure similarity to TLN. Pharmacokinetic parameters of TLN were investigated in Egyptian volunteers, and they had been compared to Japanese. Liquid-liquid extraction showed more sensitive results than direct precipitation. The proposed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study conducted on Egyptian volunteers. No dose modification is required upon comparing the pharmacokinetic parameters of the current study and previous studies on non-Egyptian volunteers.
DNA-PKcs: A Targetable Protumorigenic Protein Kinase
Authors: Dylgjeri Emanuela , Knudsen Karen E.
Published: December 2021

DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is a pleiotropic protein kinase that plays critical roles in cellular processes fundamental to cancer. DNA-PKcs expression and activity are frequently deregulated in multiple hematologic and solid tumors and have been tightly linked to poor outcome. Given the potentially influential role of DNA-PKcs in cancer development and progression, therapeutic targeting of this kinase is being tested in preclinical and clinical settings. This review summarizes the latest advances in the field, providing a comprehensive discussion of DNA-PKcs functions in cancer and an update on the clinical assessment of DNA-PK inhibitors in cancer therapy.
Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy Using a Surgical Energy Device: Initial Experience in a Japanese Single-Center Cohort
Authors: Ohkubo Jun-ichi , Wakasugi Tetsuro , Takeuchi Shoko , Hasegawa Shoichi , Takahashi Azusa , Suzuki Hideaki
Published: December 2021

Objective: Video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT) was approved for coverage under the Japanese public health insurance system in 2016. In our department, we introduced VAT in 2018, and we have since been performing the procedure with the assistance of surgical energy devices. We herein summarize our cases undergoing VAT, including a review of points to consider when introducing the procedure, and characteristics of the surgical energy devices. Methods: We enrolled 24 patients (14 women and 10 men; age: 24–83 years; mean: 59.0 years) with thyroid/parathyroid tumors who underwent VAT between January 2018 and March 2021 at our department. The medical records of the patients were reviewed, and demographic data, clinical characteristics, histological type, treatment outcomes, and complications were analyzed. Results: The surgical energy devices used were LigaSure® in the first 4 cases, Acrosurg®. Scissors S17 in the next 13 cases, and Acrosurg®. Revo S15 in the latest 7 cases. The operation time (range: 72–250 min; mean: 147 min), intraoperative blood loss (range: 5–370 mL; mean: 33 mL), indwelling time of wound drain (range: 2–6 days; mean: 3.5 days), and hospitalization period (range: 3–8 days; mean: 5.5 days) were within acceptable ranges. In this study, it is suggested that Acrosurg®. Revo S15 can shorten the indwelling time and the hospitalization period. There were no serious complications, but 1 patient developed transient vocal cord paralysis, which improved 3 months after surgery. It was suggested that the microwave energy devices, Acrosurg®. Scissors S17 and Acrosurg®. Revo S15, may be more effective with respect to sealing/hemostasis/coagulation capacity and controllability than the high-frequency electrosurgical device, LigaSure®. Conclusion: Based on this initial experience, VAT using surgical energy devices appeared to be a safe, effective, and minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of thyroid/parathyroid tumors. Further studies confirming these early findings are needed.
Bilateral Diffuse Uveal Melanocytic Proliferation in a Woman with Metastatic Scalp Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Cemiplimab
Authors: Katzburg Etti , Zur Dinah , Gutfeld Orit , Kirgner Ilya , Habot-Wilner Zohar
Published: December 2021

Bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (BDUMP) is a rare paraneoplastic intraocular syndrome that causes progressive visual loss in patients driven by an IgG factor associated with an underlying malignancy. The IgG factor – cultured melanocyte elongation and proliferation – was found in the IgG fraction of the serum of BDUMP patients. It has been shown to be involved in melanocytic proliferation. In this case report, we describe the first case of BDUMP related to metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) of the scalp. A 61-year-old woman complained of decreased vision in both of her eyes, while being treated with cemiplimab (an anti-PD-1 therapy) for metastatic cSCC. Fundus examination showed hypopigmented lesions in a leopard pattern and pigmentary clumps in both eyes. Further imaging confirmed the diagnosis of BDUMP. The patient was successfully treated with plasmapheresis. During follow-up, cataract progressed in both eyes, and she underwent cataract surgery with visual acuity improvement to 20/20. BDUMP is a challenging diagnosis especially in patients treated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy as it can be confused with drug-related effects. It is crucial to distinguish between the cases in order to allow the appropriate treatment which includes continuation of systemic anti-PD-1 for the underlying malignancy and plasmapheresis therapy for BDUMP.
Tadalafil in Increasing Doses: The Influence on Coronary Blood Flow and Oxidative Stress in Isolated Rat Hearts
Authors: Banjac Nada M. , Vasović Velibor M. , Stilinović Nebojša P. , Prodanović Dušan V. , Tomas Petrović Ana D. , Vasović Lucija V. , Jakovljević Vladimir Lj.
Published: December 2021

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the influence of different doses of tadalafil on coronary flow and oxidative stress in isolated rat hearts. Methods: The hearts of male Wistar albino rats (n = 48) were retrogradely perfused according to the Langendorff technique at gradually increased constant perfusion pressure (CPP) (40–120 mm Hg). Coronary flow and oxidative stress markers: nitrite oxide (NO) outflow and superoxide anion production in coronary effluent were measured. The experiments were performed during control conditions and in the presence of tadalafil (10, 20, 50, and 200 nM) alone or with Nω-nitro-L-arginine monomethyl ester (L-NAME) (30 μM). Results: Tadalafil administration significantly increased coronary flow at all CPP values at all administered doses. Tadalafil led to an increase in the NO levels, but a statistically significant NO release increase was found only at the highest dose and highest CPP. Tadalafil did not significantly affect the release of O2−. After inhibiting the nitrite oxide synthase system by L-NAME, tadalafil-induced changes in cardiac flow and NO levels were reversed. L-NAME administration had no pronounced effect on the O2− release. Conclusion: Tadalafil causes changes in the heart vasculature in a dose-dependent manner. It does not lead to a significant increase in the production of superoxide anion radicals.
Evaluation of Clinical Significance of Lymphovascular Space Invasion in Stage IA Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Okugawa Kaoru , Yahata Hideaki , Hachisuga Kazuhisa , Tomonobe Hiroshi , Yasutake Nobuko , Kodama Keisuke , Kenjo Hironori , Yagi Hiroshi , Ohgami Tatsuhiro , Yasunaga Masafumi , Onoyama Ichiro , Asanoma Kazuo , Hori Emiko , Ohishi Yoshihiro , Oda Yoshinao , Kato Kiyoko
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The prognostic significance of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) in stage IA endometrial cancer remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of LVSI in stage IA endometrial cancer. Methods: Clinical data of patients with stage IA endometrial cancer who underwent initial surgery at our institution between January 2008 and December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Information of patients, surgery, and characteristics of cancer were obtained from medical records and pathological reports. Results: Two hundred ninety-seven patients were enrolled in this study. With a median follow-up of 60 months, 15 patients experienced recurrence (5.1%) and 4 patients died of endometrial cancer (1.3%). The recurrence and mortality rates did not differ significantly between the LVSI-positive and -negative groups (p = 0.07 and p = 0.41, respectively). Recurrence-free survival and endometrial cancer-specific survival also did not differ significantly between these groups (p = 0.11 and p = 0.49, respectively). The 5-year endometrial cancer-specific survival rates for tumors with and without LVSI were 97.0% and 98.9%, respectively. Among patients with low-grade tumors, recurrence-free survival and endometrial cancer-specific survival did not differ significantly between patients with tumors with and without LVSI (p = 0.92 and p = 0.72, respectively). The 5-year endometrial cancer-specific survival rates for low-grade tumors with and without LVSI were 100% and 99.3%, respectively. Conclusion: LVSI was not a prognostic factor of not only stage IA endometrial cancer but also stage IA low-grade cancer.
Quality of Life of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Cetuximab, Fluorouracil, Cisplatin Comparing to Cetuximab, Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, and Docetaxel within the CEFCID Trial
Authors: Goerling Ute , Gauler Thomas , Dietz Andreas , Grünwald Viktor , Knipping Stephan , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando , Frickhofen Norbert , Lindeman Hans-Walter , Fietkau Rainer , Haxel Boris , Große-Thie Christina , Maschmeyer Georg , Zipfel Matthias , Martus Peter , Knoedler Maren , Keilholz Ulrich , Klinghammer Konrad
Published: December 2021

Introduction: CeFCiD was a multicenter phase II study comparing the efficacy of cetuximab (C), 5-flourouracil, and cisplatin with the same regimen adding docetaxel (D) in recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer. The primary analysis trial did not demonstrate survival benefit from therapy intensification in first-line recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The current analysis of the trial assessed the impact of treatment on quality of life (QoL). Methods: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire QLQ-C30 and the tumor-specific module for head and neck cancer (QLQ-H&N35) were used to assess QoL at baseline (visit 1), after 2 (visit 3), 4 (visit 5), and 6 (visit 7) cycles of chemotherapy. Results: Of 180 patients included in this study, 86 patients (47.8%) completed the questionnaires at baseline. Considering selected scores over treatment time, there was no difference in global QoL, dyspnea, swallowing, and speech between the treatment arms in the course. For fatigue, a significant increase from baseline to visit 3 (p = 0.02), visit 5 (p = 0.002), and to visit 7 (p = 0.003) was observed for patients receiving D, cisplatin or carboplatin (P), 5-fluorouracil (F), and C. At the end of chemotherapy, the manifestation of fatigue was similar compared in the 2 treatment arms. Discussion/Conclusion: Therapy intensification not adversely affects selected scores of QoL of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN. Nevertheless, fatigue seems to be pronounced in patients treated with D.
Renovação urbana da região da Luz em São Paulo: da experiência da espoliação sob neoliberalismo e financeirização à luta de classes
Authors: Petrella Guilherme Moreira
Published: December 2021

A região da Luz, centro de São Paulo, é objeto de planos de renovação urbana desde os anos 1970, visando reverter a degradação socioespacial. Dentre esses planos, os propostos no século XXI convergem por suas formas de atuação: reestruturação espacial no imbricamento imobiliário e infraestrutura realizada por meio de parcerias público-privadas, que centralizam capitais produtivos (real), capitais improdutivos (fictício) e Estado (leis, financiamentos, políticas públicas e monopólio do uso da violência). Eles orientam para a constituição imediata do complexo imobiliário financeiro global. Apesar das estratégias arquitetônicas e urbanísticas, com suas concepções formais diferenciadas, sua “verdade” é a viabilidade econômica. Nesse sentido, o “direito à moradia” aparece e se realiza como “direito à propriedade”. Assim, a propriedade se constitui como estrutura dessa forma de urbanização e permite a privatização da riqueza social por meio da construção arbitrária do preço do produto imobiliário, associada ao endividamento (público e privado): uma dominação de classe e suas frações proprietárias sobre a produção e o consumo do espaço que, no limite, indica a sobrevida da acumulação do capital em detrimento da reprodução da vida.
Diderot hoje
Authors: Delon Michel
Published: December 2021

Para Diderot, foi mais difícil entrar no cânone literário e filosófico do que para Voltaire e Rousseau, pois ele sempre se expressou em reação à fala de um outro, respondendo, replicando, prolongando, transformando, sem pretensão à originalidade absoluta. Ele foi um tradutor, um plagiário inventivo, um enciclopedista que fez a cartografia de um saber sem limites, à imagem de um universo sem começo, nem fim; um pensador da relação e da transposição. Companheiro de nossas dúvidas e de nosso trabalho, ele nos oferece uma obra aberta que pede nossas próprias intervenções e transposições. O cinema, por exemplo, apoderou-se de suas ficções e se interroga sobre a passagem das palavras às imagens, do quadro ao movimento.
Por uma estética Mundial-Literária da memória pós-colonial: Rainhas da Noite, de João Paulo Borges Coelho
Authors: Santos Emanuelle dos
Published: December 2021

Com foco na inerente relação entre as esferas locais e globais que marca a ficção de João Paulo Borges Coelho, este ensaio propõe que a articulação estética da memória pós-colonial presente em sua obra constitui-na como literatura-mundial. Através da análise do romance Rainhas da Noite (2013), argumentamos que sua representação nuançada do colonialismo pela lente da memória opera uma crítica das sociedades pós-coloniais que é, intrinsecamente, transnacional e sistêmica.