bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Role for Qualia
Authors: Rapaport William J.
Published: December 2022

If qualia are mental, and if the mental is functional, then so are qualia. But, arguably, qualia are not functional. A resolution of this is offered based on a formal similarity between qualia and numbers. Just as certain sets “play the role of” the number 3 in Peano’s axioms, so a certain physical implementation of a color plays the role of, say, red in a (computational) cognitive agent’s “cognitive economy”.
Technological Brave New World? Eschatological Narratives on Digitalization and their Flaws
Authors: Hoffmann Christian Hugo
Published: December 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics have made autonomous technical systems a reality that can replace human performance in more and more aspects and tasks, often with better quality and higher speed. This has changed the perspective from the fascination of visionary technology to the question of what will happen to humans as technology gets better and better. Improvement and replacement narratives about the future of humans circulate primarily in trans- and post-humanism, but also engage mass media and church academies. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview and analysis of the recent literature to strengthen and criticize the thesis that in many debates on new technologies and AI across different disciplines (from computer science to philosophy, futurism and the broader public), teleological positions have been taken, according to which the technological perfection constitutes the historical goal of man and his destiny.
Ad-Hoc Monitoring of COVID-19 Global Research Trends for Well-Informed Policy Making
Authors: Sarkar Souvika , Bijoy Biddut Sarker , Saba Syeda Jannatus , Feng Dongji , Mahajan Yash , Amin Mohammad Ruhul , Islam Sheikh Rabiul , Karmaker (“Santu”) Shubhra Kanti
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide with severe health, economic, social, and political implications. Healthcare Policy Makers (HPMs) and medical experts are at the core of responding to this continuously evolving pandemic situation and are working hard to contain the spread and severity of this relatively unknown virus. Biomedical researchers are continually discovering new information about this virus and communicating the findings through scientific articles. As such, it is crucial for HPMs and funding agencies to monitor the COVID-19 research trend globally on a regular basis. However, given the influx of biomedical research articles, monitoring COVID-19 research trends has become more challenging than ever, especially when HPMs want on-demand guided search techniques with a set of topics of interest in mind. Unfortunately, existing topic trend modeling techniques are unable to serve this purpose as (1) traditional topic models are unsupervised, and (2) HPMs in different regions may have different topics of interest that they want to track.

   To address this problem, we introduce a novel computational task in this article calledAd-Hoc Topic Tracking, which is essentially a combination ofzero-shottopic categorization and the spatio-temporal analysis task. We then propose multiplezero-shotclassification methods to solve this task by building on state-of-the-art language understanding techniques. Next, we picked the best-performing method based on its accuracy on a separate validation dataset and then applied it to a corpus of recent biomedical research articles to track COVID-19 research endeavors across the globe using a spatio-temporal analysis. A demo website has also been developed for HPMs to create custom spatio-temporal visualizations of COVID-19 research trends. The research outcomes demonstrate that the proposedzero-shotclassification methods can potentially facilitate further research on this important subject matter. At the same time, the spatio-temporal visualization tool will greatly assist HPMs and funding agencies in making well-informed policy decisions for advancing scientific research efforts.
Noise Effects in the Design of Analog Circuits Based on CNTFET
Authors: Marani R. , Perri A. G.
Published: December 2022

This paper presents a procedure to analyse the noise effects in the design of analog circuits based on CNTFETs. The noise mechanisms in electronic devices are discussed and the impact of the different noise sources is analysed. After a brief description of the basic structure of device and main noise sources existing in CNTFETs, a static, dynamic and noise analysis is presented. As an example of analog circuit, the proposed procedure is applied to study a basic current mirror and the simulation results allow to determine easily the different noise contribution of every single source. The software used is Advanced Design System (ADS) which is compatible with the Verilog A programming language.
The mechanism for regulating the isometric contraction of masseter muscles is involved in determining the vertical dimension of occlusion
Authors: Tanaka Yuto , Sato Hajime , Toyoda Hiroki , Saito Mitsuru , Maeda Yoshinobu , Kang Youngnam
Published: December 2022

Since 1934, the vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) in edentulous individuals has been anatomically determined mostly by referring to the resting jaw position. However, such a static method is not always accurate. Considering the dynamic nature of clenching/mastication, it is desirable to determine VDO dynamically. We demonstrate that VDO can be accurately determined by measuring masseter EMG during the voluntary isometric contraction of jaw-closing muscles exerted against the ramp load in the jaw-opening direction.
People adapt a consistent center-of-mass trajectory in a novel force field
Authors: Bucklin Mary A. , Brown Geoffrey , Gordon Keith E.
Published: December 2022

With experience people adapted a predictive internal model to control their whole body center-of-mass walking trajectory that anticipated the disruptive laterally directed forces of a novel and consistent external environment. Collectively these findings demonstrate that adaptation of gait to anticipate consistent aspects of the external environment is a response that is robust to force fields in multiple directions that require substantially different lower limb dynamics and neural control.
Spinal glycinergic currents are reduced in a rat model of neuropathic pain following partial nerve ligation but not chronic constriction injury
Authors: Natale Claudia A. , Christie Macdonald J. , Aubrey Karin R.
Published: December 2022

Neuropathic pain models are used in preclinical research to investigate the mechanisms underlying allodynia, a common symptom of neuropathic pain, and to test, develop, and validate therapies for persistent pain. We demonstrate that a glycinergic dysfunction is consistently associated with partial nerve ligation but not the chronic constriction injury model. This suggests that the cellular effects produced by each injury are distinct and that data from different neuropathic pain models should be considered separately.
Histone deacetylase 3 inhibitor attenuates diabetic retinopathy in mice
Authors: Jiang Yu , Luo Bo
Published: December 2022

The study demonstrated that RGFP966 significantly reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis in the retina of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, which may be associated with Nox2 and Sod2 expression.
Treatment of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome in a Mouse Model by Cannabidiol, an Angiogenesis Pathway Inhibitor
Authors: Tahermanesh Kobra , Hakimpour Sahar , Govahi Azam , Keyhanfar Fariborz , Kashi Abolfazl Mehdizadeh , Chaichian Shahla , Shahriyaripour Roya , Ajdary Marziyeh
Published: December 2022

Studies suggest that ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) can be treated by reducing the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, due to the side effects of commercially available VEGF‐reducing drugs, they can be ruled out as a suitable treatment for OHSS; therefore, researchers are looking for new medications to treat OHSS. This study is aimed at investigating the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in an OHSS model and to evaluate its efficacy in modulating the angiogenesis pathway and VEGF gene expression. For this purpose, 32 female mice were randomly divided into four groups (eight mice per group): control group, group 2 with OHSS induction, group 3 receiving 32 nmol of dimethyl sulfoxide after OHSS induction, and group 4 receiving 30 mg/kg of CBD after OHSS induction. The animals’ body weight, ovarian weight, vascular permeability (VP), and ovarian follicle count were measured, and the levels of VEGF gene and protein expression in the peritoneal fluid were assessed. Based on the results, CBD decreased the body and ovarian weights, VP, and corpus luteum number compared to the OHSS group (p < 0.05). The peritoneal VEGF gene and protein expression levels reduced in the CBD group compared to the OHSS group (p < 0.05). Also, CBD caused OHSS alleviation by suppressing VEGF expression and VP. Overall, CBD downregulated VEGF gene expression and improved VP in OHSS.
Association between Neutrophil Levels on Admission and All-Cause Mortality in Geriatric Patients with Hip Fractures: A Prospective Cohort Study of 2,589 Patients
Authors: Liu Rui , Zhang Yan-Ning , Fei Xu-Jing , Wang Jing-Ya , Hua Rong-Li , Tong Ying-Na , Li Kun , Cao Wen-Wen , Chen Shao-Hua , Zhang Bin-Fei , Chen Juan , Zhang Yu-Min
Published: December 2022

Objective. To evaluate the association between neutrophil levels and all-cause mortality in geriatric hip fractures. Methods. Elderly patients with hip fractures were screened between January 2015 and September 2019. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were collected. Linear and nonlinear multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify the association between neutrophil levels and mortality. Analyses were performed using Empower Stats and R software. Results. A total of 2,589 patients were included in this study. The mean follow-up period was 38.95 months. During the study period, 875 (33.80%) patients died due to various causes. Linear multivariate Cox regression models showed that neutrophil levels were associated with mortality after adjusting for confounding factors, when neutrophil concentration increased by

1
∗

10

9

/
L

, the mortality risk increased by 3% (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.06, and

P
=
0210

). Neutrophil concentration was used as a categorical variable; we only found statistically significant differences when neutrophil levels were high (HR = 1.27, 95% CI:1.05–1.52, and

P
=
0.0122

). In addition, the results are stable in

P

for trend and propensity score matching sensitivity analysis. Conclusions. Neutrophil levels are associated with mortality in geriatric hip fractures and could be considered a predictor of death risk in the long-term. This study is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) as number ChiCTR2200057323.
Molecular Docking and Dynamic Simulation Revealed the Potential Inhibitory Activity of Opioid Compounds Targeting the Main Protease of SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Mahmoud Samaher S. A. , Elkaeed Eslam B. , Alsfouk Aisha A. , Abdelhafez Elshimaa M. N.
Published: December 2022

Opioids are a class of chemicals, naturally occurring in the opium poppy plant, and act on the brain to cause a range of impacts, notably analgesic and anti‐inflammatory actions. Moreover, an overview was taken in consideration for SARS‐CoV‐2 incidence and complications, as well as the medicinal uses of opioids were discussed being a safe analgesic and anti‐inflammatory drug in a specific dose. Also, our article focused on utilization of opioids in the medication of SARS‐CoV‐2. Therefore, the major objective of this study was to investigate the antiviral effect of opioids throughout an in silico study by molecular docking study to fifteen opioid compounds against SARS‐CoV‐2 main protease (PDB ID 6LU7, Mpro). The docking results revealed that opioid complexes potentially inhibit the Mpro active site and exhibiting binding energy (‐11.0 kcal/mol), which is comparably higher than the ligand. Furthermore, ADMET prediction indicated that all the tested compounds have good oral absorption and bioavailability and can transport via biological membranes. Finally, Mpro‐pholcodine complex was subjected to five MD (RMSD, RMSF, SASA, Rg, and hydrogen bonding) and two MM‐PBSA, and conformational change studies, for 100 ns, confirmed the stability of pholcodine, as a representative example, inside the active site of Mpro.
Mechanism of Surfactant Enhancement of CO2 Displacement Recovery in Interlayer Shale Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Yao Lanlan , Lei Qihong , Yang Zhengming , He Youan , Li Haibo , Zhao Guoxi , Zheng Zigang , Hou Haitao , Du Meng
Published: December 2022

Aiming at the problem that few studies have been conducted on the combination of multiple media in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the physical simulation experiment of surfactants + CO2 (SPC) was carried out to analyze the influence of surfactant on the CO2 displacement effect of interlayer shale oil reservoir. The results show that when the displacement flow volume (DFV) reaches 20 PV, the oil displacement efficiency (ODE) of SPC displacement is 0.42~3.00% higher than that of CO2 displacement. The ODE of small pore displacement can be increased by 1.51~3.61%. And the relative displacement content (RDC) ratio of free oil of tight shale oil reservoir can be increased by 7.10~20.54%. When the DFV is 5 PV, the ODE can be improved more significantly. It shows that the efficiency of small pore displacement can be increased by 1.74~2.33%. It also indicates that the ODE can be increased by 7.03% of the ultralow permeability shale oil reservoir. And the RDC ratio of free oil of tight shale oil reservoir can be increased by 10.34~21.50%. Surfactant can improve the wettability of the reservoir and make the rock sample wet. This research can help to understand the influence of surfactant on CO2 displacement effect and reveal the mechanism of SPC displacement improving the ODE of interlayer shale oil reservoir, providing theoretical basis for the effective development of interlayer shale oil reservoir.
Design and Analysis of a Dual-Band Semitransparent MIMO Antenna for Automotive Applications
Authors: Kannappan Lekha , Palaniswamy Sandeep Kumar , Kanagasabai Malathi , Kumar Sachin
Published: December 2022

This paper presents the design and development of a semitransparent antenna that can be used in automotive applications to support multiple wireless services. The proposed quad-port multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna is comprised of four orthogonally arranged identical semitransparent antenna elements on a transparent substrate. The MIMO antenna covers the 2.4 GHz band and 3.2–15 GHz band, supporting automotive/wireless applications such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, intelligent transport system (ITS), advanced driver assistance systems (ADASs), vehicle to infrastructure (V2I), vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle to network (V2N), and vehicle to device (V2D). The parameters such as envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG), total active reflection coefficient (TARC), and channel capacity loss (CCL) are studied to evaluate antenna diversity performance. The antenna has an ECC of less than 0.15, DG of more than 9.85 dB, TARC of less than −10 dB, and CCL of less than 0.2 bits/s/Hz. The developed antenna can be easily installed on the mirror and windshield of the vehicles. Also, the housing effect and on-vehicle performance of the antenna at various positions in a car are investigated.
Performance Evaluation of Novel Random Biased-Genetic Algorithm (NRB-GA): A Hybrid Load Balancing Algorithm in a Cloud Computing Environment
Authors: Subramanian Karpaga Selvi , Teshite Gemmachis
Published: December 2022

A novel random biased-genetic algorithm (NRB-GA) load-balancing algorithm that exhibits the characteristics of both genetic algorithms and biased random algorithms is designed and developed to improve the processing time and response time metrics of the cloud computing environment. The NRB-GA is designed to discover a virtual machine with fewer loads by applying a genetic algorithm with a fitness function that is inversely proportional to the average load over a period of time for each virtual machine and with biased parent selection to maximize the fitness values of offspring. The developed NRB-GA load-balancing algorithm is evaluated by analysing its performance for various simulated scenarios in a cloud computing environment with different user bases and data center configurations. The analysis of the experimental results of NRB-GA indicates that the average response time is reduced by 27.22%, 21.15%, and 22.34%, and the processing time is reduced by 25.73%, 16.14%, and 18.82% for one, two, and three data centers, respectively. It is evident that the proposed NRB-GA algorithm for load balancing outperforms other existing algorithms significantly.
Predictive Model Techniques with Energy Efficiency for IoT-Based Data Transmission in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Bharathi R. , Kannadhasan S. , Padminidevi B. , Maharajan M. S. , Nagarajan R. , Tonmoy Mahtab Mashuq
Published: December 2022

Wireless sensor networks are limited by the vast majority of goods with limited resources. Power consumption, network longevity, throughput, routing, and network security are only a few of the research issues that have not yet been addressed in sensor networks based on the Internet of Things. Prior to becoming widely deployed, sensor networks built on the Internet of Things must overcome a variety of technological obstacles as well as general and specific hazards. In order to address the aforementioned problems, this research sought to improve rogue node detection, reduce packet latency/packet loss, increase throughput, and lengthen network lifetime. Wireless energy harvesting is suggested in the proposed three-layer cluster-based wireless sensor network routing protocol to extend the energy lifespan of the network. For the purpose of recognising and blacklisting risky sensor node behaviour, a three-tier clustering architecture with an integrated security mechanism is suggested. This clustering approach is cost-based, and the sink node selects the cluster and grid heads based on the cost function’s value. With its seemingly endless potential across a wide range of industries, including intelligent transportation, the Internet of Things (IoT) has gained prominence recently. To analyse the nodes and clustering strategies in IoT, the suggested method PSO is applied. A plethora of new services, programmes, electrical devices with integrated sensors, and protocols have been produced as a result of the Internet of Things’ explosive growth in popularity.
Thermal Parameters Inversion Method for Concrete Dam Based on Optimal Temperature Measuring Point Selecting
Authors: Wang Fang , Zhou Huawei , Zhou Yihong , Zhao Chunju , Seman Ebrahim Aman , Gong Pan
Published: December 2022

Concrete thermal parameters in a natural pouring environment are essential inputs for simulating the temperature field of a concrete dam. This paper proposes a two-stage thermal parameters inversion method for a concrete dam based on optimal temperature measuring point selection to improve the accuracy of parameters. Firstly, a selection method of optimal measuring point for thermal parameters inversion is presented and the temperature response sensitivity of measuring points when the parameters disturb is taken as the critical evaluation index. And then, an inversion model is established based on support vector regression (SVR) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Finally, the proposed method is applied to the thermal parameter inversion of a concrete dam. The results show that the proposed method is effective for improving the inversion accuracy and obtaining accurate parameters. The average error of the inversion results based on the SVR-PSO model is 28.54% lower than that of the genetic algorithm optimization using a back propagation neural network (BPNN-GA). Besides that, the average error of the inversion results based on the optimal measurement points is 35.57% lower than that of the nonoptimized ones.
Design and Analysis of UWB MIMO Antenna for Smart Fabric Communications
Authors: Govindan Thennarasi , Palaniswamy Sandeep Kumar , Kanagasabai Malathi , Kumar Sachin
Published: December 2022

This paper presents a flexible multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with ultrawideband (UWB) performance for smart clothing applications. The MIMO antenna is comprised of four octagonal-shaped radiators with several slots loaded into them, and it offers a frequency range of 2.9–12 GHz. The unit cell has a size of 0.26λ0 × 0.164λ0 × 0.014λ0 and the MIMO antenna has a size of 0.48λ0 × 0.48λ0 × 0.014λ0, where λ0 corresponds to the lowest operating frequency. The radiation and diversity performances of the antenna are evaluated, and the obtained metrics are envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) <0.045, diversity gain (DG) >9.9 dB, total active reflection coefficient (TARC) <−14 dB, and channel capacity loss (CCL) <0.13 bits/s/Hz. The bending analysis of the MIMO antenna is performed. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of the MIMO antenna is also investigated, and the obtained values are 0.229 W/Kg (4 GHz), 0.253 W/Kg (7 GHz), and 0.463 W/Kg (10 GHz).
Development of Eco-Sustainable Silica-Reinforced Natural Hybrid Polymer Composites for Automotive Applications
Authors: Senthil Kumar M. , Sakthivel G. , Jagadeeshwaran R. , Lakshmipathi J. , Vanmathi M. , Mohanraj T. , Admassu Yesgat
Published: December 2022

The increasing demand for eco-friendly materials and technology has made the industry focus on bio-compatible composites. This made the researchers explore the potential of eco-friendly, bio-degradable, and inexpensive banana fibre for automotive applications. This work reports the preparation and testing of banana fibre natural hybrid composite fibres randomly oriented with and without adding silica filler (5–15 wt.%) through a hand lay-up process. The mechanical properties such as tensile modulus, flexural modulus, hardness, impact strength, and water absorption capacity were measured. Composite specimens having a fibre length of 30 mm (15 wt.% of silica) exhibited better mechanical properties. The hardness, tensile, flexural, and impact strength measured were 46.74 HV, 54.71 MPa, 127.94 MPa, and 15.19 kJ/m2. The results showed significant improvement in mechanical properties in silica-reinforced hybrid composite compared to composites without silica filler. The wt.% of banana fibre increases, and the number of free hydroxyls (-OH) groups increases in cellulose, increasing moisture absorption. The pattern in which the composite absorbs the moisture at room temperature is called “Fickian behaviour.” Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) characterisation studied the interaction between fibre matrix and the distribution of silica reinforcement. This research concludes that bio-composites that exhibit improved mechanical properties are eco-friendly and are found to be suitable for automotive applications that meet present-day requirements.
Lane-Level Road Map Construction considering Vehicle Lane-Changing Behavior
Authors: Fan Liang , Zhang Jinfen , Wan Chengpeng , Fu Zhongliang , Shao Shiwei
Published: December 2022

In recent years, the construction of lane-level road maps has received extensive attention from industry and academia. It has been widely studied because this kind of map provides the foundation for much research, such as high-precision navigation, driving behavior analysis, and traffic analysis. Trajectory-based crowd-mapping is an emerging approach to lane-level map construction. However, the major problem is that existing methods neglect modeling the trajectory distribution in the longitudinal direction of the road, which significantly impacts precision. Thus, this article proposes a two-stage method based on vehicle lane-changing behavior to model the road’s lateral and longitudinal trajectory distributions simultaneously. In the first stage, lane-changing behaviors are extracted from vehicle trajectories. In the second stage, the lane extraction model is established using the weighted constrained Gaussian mixture model and hidden Markov model to estimate lane parameters (e.g., lane counts and lane centerline) on each road cross section. Then accurate and continuous lane centerlines can be constructed accordingly. The proposed method is verified using vehicle trajectory data collected from the crowdsourced platform named Mapillary. The results show that the proposed method can construct lane-level road information satisfactorily.
Rosiglitazone Protects against Acetaminophen‐Induced Acute Liver Injury by Inhibiting Multiple Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathways
Authors: Cao Yuping , He Wei , Li Xiaoping , Huang Jiahui , Wang Junxian
Published: December 2022

Background. Excessive acetaminophen (APAP) use can lead to acute liver injury (ALI) by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). We previously found that pretreatment with the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ) ligand rosiglitazone (RSG) alleviated ALI in APAP‐treated mice. Objective. To examine if RSG‐mediated hepatoprotection is associated with ERS suppression. Methods. Forty‐eight male CD‐1 mice were randomly divided into control, RSG, APAP 4 h, APAP 24 h, RSG + APAP 4 h, and RSG + APAP 24 h groups. The RSG and RSG + APAP groups received RSG (20 mg/kg) by gavage 48, 24, and 1 h before intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg/kg APAP, while the APAP group received APAP alone and the control group received only normal saline. Animals were sacrificed immediately (RSG and control groups), 4 h (APAP 4 h and RSG + APAP 4 h), or 24 h (APAP 24 h and RSG + APAP 24 h) post‐APAP injection. Liver tissues were collected for hematoxylin‐eosin staining, TUNEL staining, and Western blotting for ERS‐associated proteins. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were also measured. A second cohort received APAP or RSG + APAP as described and were monitored for survival over one week. Results. At 4 and 24 h following APAP injection alone, serum ALT and AST levels were significantly elevated, and central lobular necrosis of the liver was observed. Necrosis area reached 21.7% at 4 h and 32.1% at 24 h post‐APAP, while apoptotic fractions reached 25.6% and 32.4%. Further, 50% of mice in the survival analysis cohort died within one week post‐APAP. At 4 h post‐APAP, the ERS marker glucose‐regulated protein‐78 (GRP78) and ERS‐associated proteins pJNK, GRP78, p‐eIF2α, pPERK, and pIRE were all significantly upregulated. Pretreatment with RSG significantly reduced serum ALT and AST, liver necrosis area, apoptosis rate, and expression of ERS‐associated proteins compared to APAP alone, while increasing survival to 80%. Conclusions. Rosiglitazone pretreatment can alleviate APAP‐induced ALI by suppressing three branches of ERS signaling.
Xiaotangzhike Pill Attenuates the Progression of Diabetes In Vivo through the Mediation of the Akt/GSK-3β Axis
Authors: Yang Liu , Wang Wei , Fan Yanbo , Lin Zheren , Zhang Yisheng , Zeng Qingfeng
Published: December 2022

Background. Diabetes seriously threatens the health of people. Traditional Chinese medicine has been proven to inhibit the progression of diabetes. Meanwhile, the Xiaotangzhike pill (XTZK) was known to alleviate the symptom of diabetes. Thus, this research decided to investigate the mechanism underlying the impact of XTZK in diabetes remains unexplored. Methods. To assess the impact of XTZK in diabetes, in vivo model of diabetes was constructed. The contents of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the rats were tested by the commercial kits. In addition, Masson and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were applied for assessing the histological changes and fibrosis in the rats, respectively. Furthermore, a western blot was applied to assess the protein levels. Results. Streptozotocin (STZ) significantly increased the levels of area under the curve (AUC), TG, TC, LDL-C, and decreased the contents of HDL-C in rats, while these phenomena were partially reversed by XTZK. In addition, STZ notably induced inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis in the liver tissues of rats, which was greatly restored by XTZK. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum of rats were notably upregulated by STZ, while the effect of STZ was markedly abolished by XTZK. Meanwhile, STZ-caused the upregulation of p-Smad2 and α-SMA in rats was restored by XTZK. Furthermore, XTZK notably inhibited the progression of Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome in diabetes through the mediation of the Akt/GSK-3β axis. Conclusion. The Xiaotangzhike pill attenuates the progression of diabetes through the mediation of the Akt/GSK-3β axis. Hence, our study might supply a novel insight into discovering new strategies against diabetes.
Designing a Band for Vehicles’ Drivers Induced by Ultraviolet and Infrared Radiations
Authors: AlQahtani Nouf Jubran , Bukair Amnah Nabil , Alessa Ghada Naje , AlDushaishi Hoor Fayez , Ali Syed Mehmood
Published: December 2022

Background. Solar radiations that reach the Earth can be divided into ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared. Overexposure to these radiations can facilitate adverse skin diseases such as sunburn, skin cancer, and photoaging. People who drive vehicles for an extended period are likely to develop skin cancer in the exposed body area. Method. This research proposes a wearable protective device around the upper arm to measure the transmitted radiation through the front and the side windows. A novel skin type classification algorithm using a color sensor was created to provide an accurate skin type identification. Also, the device was programmed to calculate the time before sunburn occurrence based on the ultraviolet index, sunscreen’s sun protection factor, and skin type. Results. The prototype was tested inside a Toyota Camry model 2001 vehicle with an accuracy of 97%. The front window had transmitted more infrared radiation compared to the side window. The highest recorded value was 76.76 mW/cm2. On the other hand, the side window had transmitted more ultraviolet compared to the front window as it lacks the protective polyvinyl butyral layer that the front window has. The highest recorded ultraviolet index was 3.5. Conclusion. These results highlight the importance of wearing the designed solar band and using appropriate UV and IR protection while driving a vehicle to prevent skin diseases from occurring.
Identification of Cuproptosis‐Related Subtypes in Lung Cancer, Characterization of Tumor Microenvironment Infiltration, and Establishment of a Prognostic Model
Authors: Cui Jin , Xiong Ying , Liu Yuting , Sun Min , Gu Xinyue , Zhong Luhui , Hong Xiaohua , Liu Li
Published: December 2022

Cuproptosis, a recently found kind of programmed cell death, has been linked to tumor development, prognosis, and therapeutic response. The roles of cuproptosis‐related genes (CRG) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are, nevertheless, unknown. We evaluated alterations in CRG and assessed the related expression patterns in 1445 lung cancer (LC) samples from three separate datasets, analyzing genetic, and transcriptional domains. We discovered two separate molecular subtypes of CRG and discovered that various subtypes of CRG were connected with patient clinical features and prognosis. Furthermore, we discovered connections between distinct CRG subtypes and TME cell infiltration features. The CRG_score was then developed and validated for predicting overall survival (OS). Following that, we investigated the relationship between CRG_score and the cancer stem cell (CSC) index and chemotherapeutic treatment sensitivity. In addition, we created a very accurate nomogram to increase the clinical usefulness of CRG_score. The potential roles of CRG in the tumor‐immune‐microenvironment, clinical characteristics, and prognosis in LC are demonstrated by our multiplex study. These findings expand our understanding of CRG in LC and may open up new options for assessing LC patients’ prognosis and generating more effective immunotherapeutic treatments.
Iodine Concentration in Brazilian Drinking Water and Its Possible Contribution to Iodine Intake for Different Physiological Groups
Authors: Pinto Carina Aparecida , Filomeno Fontes Edimar Aparecida , Crispim Sandra Patricia , Vieira Ribeiro Sarah Aparecida , Franceschini Sylvia do Carmo Castro , Pizato Nathalia , Rocha de Faria Franciane , Pereira Renata Junqueira , Abreu de Carvalho Carolina , Carmo Rodrigues Barbosa Míriam , Sperandio Naiara , de Souza Macedo Mariana , Priore Silvia Eloiza
Published: December 2022

Objective. The objective is to analyze the concentration of iodine in Brazilian drinking water and its possible contribution to iodine intake for different groups. Methods. Water samples collected from primary healthcare units in eight locations distributed across all five macroregions of Brazil were analyzed. The quantification of iodine in the water samples was done by spectrophotometry (leuco crystal violet method). To classify the degree of iodine concentration, the recommendation of the Ministry of Health (China) was followed since Brazil lacks a classification standard. To verify the possible contribution of drinking water to iodine intake for different groups, the recommended water intake for each group according to the United States Institute of Medicine (2004) was considered. The percentage of iodine in drinking water and its contribution to iodine intake for different physiological groups were calculated based on the estimated average requirement (EAR) of iodine. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0 and Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) version 9.2. Results. Significant differences were found between the maximum and minimum concentrations of iodine in water samples from the same location. In Pinhais (south region), the difference was 44.32 μg⋅ L−1; in Viçosa (southeast region), it was 27.86 μg·L−1; in Rondonópolis (midwest region), it was 12.66 μg·L−1; in São Luís (northeast region), it was 11.82 μg·L−1; in Brasilian Federal District (midwest region), it was 10.98 μg·L−1; in Macaé (southeast region), it was 10.14 μg⋅ L−1; in Palmas (north region), it was 4.22 μg·L−1; and in Vitória (southeast region), it was 1.69 μg·L−1. The maximum concentrations of iodine found in the drinking water of Pinhais and Viçosa can contribute more than 70.0% and 50.0%, respectively, to daily iodine intake for all groups. Conclusion. Monitoring the concentration of iodine in drinking water from different locations in each city or Federal District is a preventive measure against inadequate iodine intake and possible adverse changes in population health.
Pharmacological Mechanism of Pingxiao Formula against Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Yu Wei , Lu Chang , Wang Guoliang , Liang Zhenghao , Jiang Zizheng , Liu Yanzhi , Yan Jing
Published: December 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer worldwide and develops due to a broad range of causative factors. Pingxiao (PX) formula and Xihuang (XH) formula are two commonly used drugs to treat CRC, especially as an alternative therapy for those patients who could not suffer surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, namely, elder or advanced CRC patients. However, the pertinent pharmacological mechanisms are still elusive. The investigation was designed to explain the pharmacological mechanisms of the PX formula. A murine model of CRC was established by injecting CT26.WT cells into the caecum of 4-week-old male Balb/c mice, following PX or XH treatment for 30 days. Network pharmacology analysis combined with weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) predicted the pharmacological mechanisms and therapeutic value. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing determined the alterations in the gut microbiota communities. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry examined the influence of PX on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Injection of CT26.WT-induced CRC in Balb/c mice was markedly attenuated by PX treatment. Compared with XH administration, PX exhibited a stronger antitumor effect, such as smaller tumor volume, lower interleukin 17 (IL-17), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) serum levels, and higher interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) concentration. Network pharmacology analysis demonstrated that both PX and XH targets were enriched in cancers and inflammatory responses. RNA sequencing confirmed that PX treatment induced cancer cell apoptosis and inhibited inflammatory reactions within the tumor. Moreover, the PX formula considerably restored homeostasis of the gut microbiota, which was not observed in the XH group. PX targets, those associated with the survival probability of CRC patients, correlated with macrophage (Mφ) infiltration, which presented an independent risk factor for the CRC outcome. PX treatment promoted the transition of alternatively activated Mφs (M2 Mφs) to classically activated Mφs (M1 Mφs). Moreover, the peritoneal Mφs from the PX group inhibited the migration of CW26.WT cells, as evidenced by the wound healing experiment and transwell assay, which was consistent with the decreased expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, the coculturing system confirmed that PX-treated Mφs suppressed colorectal tumor-derived organoid proliferation. PX formula exhibits a potential antitumor effect against CRC by suppressing the colonization of pathological microorganisms, reshaping Mφ effector functions and hence inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.
Adherence to Self-Care Recommendations and Associated Factors among Adult Heart Failure Patients in West Gojjam Zone Public Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Molla Belayneh , Geletie Haimanot Abebe , Alem Girma , Gualu Tenaw , Zewudie Bitew Tefera , Tesfa Shegaw , Tsehay Tadesse , Amlak Baye Tsegaye
Published: December 2022

Background. Self-care practices are an important part of heart failure patient management and essential to control symptoms of the disease and its exacerbation. However, poor adherence to these self-care behaviors could be associated with an increase in hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Even if it is an important part of management for heart failure patients, yet information is not adequate in the study area about adherence to self-care recommendations and associated factors among heart failure patients. Purpose. To assess self-care recommendation adherence and associated factors among heart failure patients in West Gojjam Zone public hospitals. Methods. Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 304 selected heart failure patients attending follow-up at public hospitals in West Gojjam Zone from March 16 to April 16, 2021. Consecutive sampling technique based on patient arrival with proportional allocation to each hospital was employed to select the study participants. Data were collected through face-to-face interview and reviewing patients’ medical records. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Binary logistic regression model was fitted to assess the association between adherence to self-care recommendations and associated factors.

P

value < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval (CI) was considered to declare a statistically significant association in multivariable logistic regression. Results. In this study, 304 patients participated with a response rate of 97.4%. Only 32.9% of them had good adherence to self-care recommendations. Having good knowledge on heart failure (adjusted odds ratio

AOR

=
4.6

; 95% CI: 1.82, 11.86), no depression (

AOR
=
6.1

; 95% CI: 1.92, 19.37), having strong social support (

AOR
=
3.57

; 95% CI: 1.56–8.33), age 30-49 years (

AOR
=
3.37

; 95% CI: 1.14, 9.89), and college and above level of education (

AOR
=
6.17

; 95% CI: 1.22, 31.25) were factors significantly associated with good adherence to self-care recommendations. Conclusion. This study showed that most of the heart failure patients had poor adherence to self-care recommendations. Policymakers and other stakeholders should develop and implement appropriate strategies to increase patients’ adherence level to self-care recommendations by emphasizing on addressing identified factors.
Influence of Underlying Surface on Distribution of Hourly Heavy Rainfall over the Middle Yangtze River Valley
Authors: Guo Yinglian , Sun Jisong , Xu Guirong , Zhou Zhiming , Wang Jizhu
Published: December 2022

The variation of boundary layer circulation caused by the influence of complex underlying surface is one of the reasons why it is difficult to forecast hourly heavy rainfall (HHR) in the middle Yangtze River Valley (YRV). Based on the statistics of high-resolution observation data, it is found that the low resolution data underestimate the frequency of HHR in the mountain that are between the twain-lake basins in the middle YRV (TLB-YRV). The HHR frequency of mountainous area in the TLB-YRV is much higher than that of Dongting Lake on its left and is equivalent to the HHR frequency of Poyang Lake on its right. The hourly reanalysis data of ERA5 were used to study the variation of boundary layer circulation when HHR occurred. It can be found that the boundary layer circulation corresponding to different underlying surfaces changed under the influence of the weather system. Firstly, the strengthening of the weather system in the early morning resulted in the strengthening of the southwest low-level air flow, which intensified the uplift of the windward slope air flow on the west and south slopes of the mountainous areas in the TLB-YRV. As a result, the sunrise HHR gradually increases from the foot of the mountain. The high-frequency HHR period of sunrise occurs when the supergeostrophic effect is weakened, the low-level vorticity and frontal forcing are strengthened, and the water vapor flux convergence begins to weaken. Secondly, the high-frequency HHR period of the sunset is caused by stronger local uplift and more unstable atmospheric stratification, but the enhanced local uplift is caused by the coupling of the terrain forcing of the underlying surface and the enhanced northern subgeostrophic flow, which causes the HHR to start closer to the mountain top at sunset than at sunrise.
Potential Therapeutic Mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi against Ankylosing Spondylitis Based on a Comprehensive Pharmacological Model
Authors: Li Xu , Liu Jian , Fang Yanyan , Huang Dan , He Mingyu , Wang Fanfan , Han Qi
Published: December 2022

Background. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) has significant anti‐inflammatory and immune‐modulating activities and is widely used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, the mechanism of SBG in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains to be elucidated. Methods. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to AS were analyzed based on two GEO gene chips. The DEGs were merged with the data derived from OMIM, GeneCards, and PharmGKB databases to ascertain AS‐related targets. Active components of SBG and their targets were acquired from the TCMSP database. After overlapping the targets of AS and SBG, the action targets were acquired. Subsequently, protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network and core target screening were conducted using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. Moreover, the DAVID platform was used to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of action targets. Finally, the affinity of major active components and core targets was validated with molecular docking. Results. A total of 36 active components of SBG were acquired from TCMSP database. Among these, the main active components were baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A. The PPI network and screening showed TNF, IL‐6, CXCL8, PTGS2, and VEGFA as core targets associated SBG against AS. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that SBG participated in various biological processes, via regulating IL‐17, TNF, and NF‐κB signaling pathways. Molecular docking results confirmed a strong binding activity between the main active components and the core targets. Conclusion. The therapeutic mechanism of SBG associated with AS can be characterized as a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway mechanism. SBG may be a promising therapeutic candidate for AS.
Eosinophilic Colitis, an Uncommon Cause of Diarrhea: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Cardoso Pedro , Elias Catarina , Medas Renato , Cardoso Leila , Peixoto Armando , Macedo Guilherme , Almeida Jorge
Published: December 2022

Eosinophilic colitis and hypereosinophilic syndrome with colic involvement are rare diagnosis that are characterized by wide-ranging gastrointestinal symptoms and idiopathic infiltration of eosinophils in the colon. The diagnostic workup is challenging since there are no standardized criteria. We report a case of a man admitted to the hospital with a history of nonbloody chronic diarrhea. The detailed workup demonstrated blood eosinophilia, and the colonic biopsies revealed extensive eosinophilic infiltration. He was treated with steroids with clinical and analytical improvement. Due to relapsing colitis after therapy withdrawal, he was chronically medicated with 10 mg of prednisolone with ultimate symptom control. This case report describes the diagnostic workup and highlights the most important features of this often underdiagnosed entity.
Recommendations for Titration and Administration of Oral Semaglutide for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes during Ramadan
Authors: Hassanein Mohamed , Almansari Abdulqawi , Ba-Essa Ebtesam , Alawadi Fatheya F. , ElBadawi Hussein , Sahay Rakesh Kumar , Malik Rayaz , Abdul Ghani Rohana , Abusnana Salah , Shaikh Shehla , Zainudin Sueziani Binte , Elhadd Tarik , AL Saleh Yousef
Published: December 2022

Background: Injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are proven to be well tolerated and efficacious in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) fasting during Ramadan. The first oral GLP-1RA semaglutide, also indicated for the treatment of T2DM, has specific dosing instructions to optimize treatment exposure, which may need to be altered during Ramadan fasting to ensure optimal efficacy. Summary: Given the lack of current published evidence for the effect of oral semaglutide during Ramadan, a panel of experts formulated recommendations for the administration of oral semaglutide during Ramadan. Key Messages: This statement reports recommendations for oral semaglutide administration during Ramadan.