bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex-Specific Effects of Vitamin D Status on the Metabolic Profile in Prediabetic Subjects
Authors: Gisinger Teresa , Leutner Michael , Wohlschläger-Krenn Evelyne , Winker Robert , Nistler Sonja , Endler Georg , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra
Published: October 2021

Introduction. We aim to investigate the effect of vitamin D on metabolic parameters in a population with prediabetes and to detect possible sex differences. Methods. In 621 patients with diagnosed prediabetes, glucose, lipid, and anthropometric parameters were measured. Furthermore, the interaction of 25-OH-vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) with metabolic and glucose metabolism parameters was analysed in the total prediabetic population, as well as after stratification by sex (female vs. male prediabetic subgroup), by logistic regression. Results. 25-OH-vitamin D was negatively related to cholesterol, BMI, fatty liver index, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Especially in the male prediabetic cohort, 25-OH-vitamin D levels negatively correlated with total cholesterol levels (r = −0.17,

p
=
0.001

), with triglycerides (r = −0.17,

p
=
0.001

), and with HbA1c levels (r = −0.14,

p
=
0.010

). Only in the female cohort with prediabetes, we found a negative correlation of 25-OH-vitamin D levels with systolic (r = −0.18,

p
=
0.005

) and diastolic blood pressures (r = −0.23,

p
<
0.001

). Conclusion. In this study, in females with prediabetes, 25-OH-vitamin D was notably related to a more favourable metabolic profile, including lower total cholesterol and higher HDL cholesterol levels. On the contrary, in men with prediabetes, there was a stronger association between 25-OH-vitamin D and cholesterol-HDL quotient, as well as fatty liver index was observed in the male prediabetic subgroup. Therefore, sex differences should be considered in future studies on vitamin D and glucose tolerance status.
Improvement of Resveratrol Solubility by Complexation with Lactose Using Organic Solvent Spray Drying Technique
Authors: Wang Bo , Sun Xinran , Guo Xu , Yi Hanxi , Cheng Zeneng
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this experiment is to change the crystallization state of resveratrol and improve its solubility and dissolution in water by spray drying technology, so as to improve the feasibility of resveratrol in clinical application. The powder samples were spray-dried with different proportions of ethanol aqueous solution as dissolution medium. The powder samples were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry, and ultraviolet spectroscopy, and their dissolution characteristics were investigated. It was found that the solubility and dissolution rate of different groups of samples obtained by spray drying increased compared with resveratrol crystals, and 50% ethanol solution had the greatest solubilization effect. The experimental results show that this method has a positive effect on the solubility of resveratrol and can regulate its dissolution behavior.
Computed Tomography Image under Three-Dimensional Reconstruction Algorithm Based in Diagnosis of Renal Tumors and Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy
Authors: Zhang Haijie , Yin Fu , Yang Liyang , Qi Anqi , Cui Weiwei , Yang Shanshan , Wen Ge
Published: October 2021

This study was to explore the clinical application value of computed tomography (CT) images based on a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction algorithm for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in patients with renal tumors. 30 cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients admitted to the hospital were selected as the research objects and were rolled into two groups using a random table method. The patients who received PLN under the three-dimensional reconstruction and laparoscopic technique were included in the experimental group (group A), and the patients who received LPN using CT images only were included in the control group (group B). In addition, the treatment results of the two groups of patients were compared and analyzed. Results. The effective rate of the established model was 93.3%; the total renal arteriovenous variability of group A (13.3%) was higher than that of group B (6.7%), and the operation time (131.5 ± 32.1 minutes) was much lower than that of group B (158.7 ± 36.2 minutes), showing statistical significance (

P

 < 0.05). Conclusion. CT images based on 3D reconstruction algorithms had high clinical application value for LPN in patients with renal tumors, which could improve the efficiency and safety of LPN.
Effect of Acupoint Embedding on Serum Leptin and Hypothalamus Leptin Receptor Expression in Rats with Simple Obesity
Authors: Yang Qiming , Xing Liwei , Dong Qinzuo , Chen Hongxi , Xia Chunlin , Yue Xianwu , Wang Yuanfeng , Li Li , Luo Yingjing , Lai Mingxing , Zhao Dong , Zhang Zhiyan , Zhao Rong
Published: October 2021

Background. Acupoint embedding treatment on obesity has been applied in clinical practice for many years and has achieved obvious efficacy. However, animal experimental studies on acupoint embedding are relatively few, and its mechanism remains unclear. Methods. We established a simple obese rat model using a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. Acupoint embedding therapy was performed once a week for 4 weeks. After the treatment, serum leptin, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were detected by radioimmunoassay, HE staining was used for fat morphology analysis, and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of leptin receptor in hypothalamus. Results. Compared with model group, acupoint embedding treatment can reduce body weight and Lee's index, reduce serum leptin, TG, TC, and LDL level, increase HDL level, change the morphology and number of adipocytes, and increase the expression of leptin receptor in hypothalamus. Conclusion. Acupoint embedding therapy can reduce the level of leptin in blood, increase the number of leptin receptors in hypothalamus, enhance the biological effect of leptin, alleviate the leptin resistance in obese body, change the shape of fat, and regulate the level of blood lipid, so as to achieve the goal of weight loss.
Better Effectiveness of Multi‐Integrated Neural Networks: Take Stock Big Data as an Example
Authors: Lu HangLin , Peng XiuYun
Published: October 2021

With the development of big data, in the financial market, the stock price prediction has many research directions from the perspective of big data. The classical time series prediction model cannot adapt to the high‐latitude information of stock data in the era of big data. The development of deep learning provides a new idea for high‐latitude stock data prediction. Four neural network models and three integrated learning models form different strategy sets, and the opening price of the next timestamp is predicted by backtracking information over the past 15 days with the characteristics of 12 indexes of the stock. The experimental results show that the prediction effect of the integration model based on the average weight policy and stacking policy is better than that of the single neural network, and the integration model based on stacking policy is expected to have the highest prediction accuracy and the minimum expected error. The accuracy was 80.2%, and the mean square error was 0.024. Compared with the single model, the accuracy is increased by 2%~7%, and the error is reduced by 0.01~0.03. The innovation of this article lies in the traditional machine learning thinking is applied to deep learning, as an individual with a variety of neural network to study, through the integration of learning strategies, fusion for the integration model, the experimental results show that the effect of the integrated model is better than that of a single model, to improve the robustness and accuracy of the model; the performance of the integrated model is more stable. For the utilization of big data resources, the integrated model of neural network has better prediction effect.
Fuzzy Product KM‐Subalgebras and Some Related Properties
Authors: Kalaiarasi K. , Manimozhi V. , Kausar N. , Pamucar D. , Kousar S. , Gaba Y. U.
Published: October 2021

The concept of KM‐algebras has been originated in 2019. KM‐algebra is a generalization of some of the B‐algebras such as BCK, BCI, BCH, BE, and BV and also d‐algebras. KM‐algebra serves two purposes in mathematics and computer science as follows: a tool for application in both fields and a strategy for creating the foundations. On the fuzziness of KM‐algebras, an innovative perspective on fuzzy product KM‐algebras as well as some related features is offered. Moreover, the notion of KMM‐ideals is described and also initiated the concept of the KM‐Cartesian product of fuzzy KM‐algebras, and related outcomes are examined. Some of the innovative results in fuzzy KMM‐ideals and KM‐Cartesian product of fuzzy KM‐subalgebras are analyzed, and some are as follows: arbitrary intersection of fuzzy KMM‐ideals is again a fuzzy KMM‐ideal, order reversing holds true in every KMM‐ideal, every fuzzy KM‐subalgebra is a fuzzy KMM‐ideal, and KM‐Cartesian product of two fuzzy KM‐subalgebras is again a fuzzy KM‐subalgebra.
Statistical Inference for Piecewise Affine System Identification
Authors: Jianwang Hong , Ramirez-Mendoza Ricardo A. , Yan Xiang
Published: October 2021

This short note studies the problem of piecewise affine system identification, being a special nonlinear system based on our previous contribution on it. Two different identification strategies are proposed to achieve our mission, such as centralized identification and distributed identification. More specifically, for centralized identification, the total observed input-output data are used to estimate all unknown parameter vectors simultaneously without any consideration on the classification process. But for distributed identification, after the whole observed input-output data are classified into their own right subregions, then part input-output data, belonging to the same subregion, are applied to estimate the unknown parameter vector. Whatever the centralized identification and distributed identification, the final decision is to determine the unknown parameter vector in one linear form, so the recursive least squares algorithm and its modified form with the dead zone are studied to deal with the statistical noise and bounded noise, respectively. Finally, one simulation example is used to compare the identification accuracy for our considered two identification strategies.
The Effect of miR-520b on Macrophage Polarization and T Cell Immunity by Targeting PTEN in Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhu Qin , Yuan Jiaqi , He Yuqiong , Hu Yu
Published: October 2021

Background. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. miR-520b had binding sites with PTEN through the bioinformatics prediction. But few studies have been conducted on miR-520b and PTEN in breast cancer. We aimed to explore the effect of miR-520b and PTEN on breast cancer and the mechanisms involved. Methods. Clinical samples of breast cancer were collected. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to screen the differentially expressed miRNAs. CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells were cocultured with MCF-7 cells in the Transwell system. Moreover, MCF-7 cells and M0 macrophage cocultured cell lines were constructed. qRT-PCR, IF, western blot, flow cytometry, and ELISA were performed to detect related factors expression. Starbase and dual-luciferase reporter assay verified the binding of miR-520b to PTEN. The tumor formation model was established to study miR-520b and PTEN effects in vivo. Results. The differentially expressed miR-520b was screened via miRNAs sequencing and cell verification. miR-520b expression was high, PTEN was low in tumor tissues, T cells and NK cells were inhibited, and macrophages were transformed into M2 type, promoting immune escape. In addition, miR-520b bound to PTEN. Then, splenic CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells were successfully sorted. During CD4 T cell differentiation to Th1 and Treg, Th1 was inhibited, and Treg was activated. We found the polarization of macrophages was related to breast cancer. The proportion of CD206 cells increased and CD68 cells decreased in the miR-520b mimics group compared with the mimic NC group. Compared with the inhibitor NC group, the proportion of CD206 cells decreased, and CD68 cells increased in the miR-520b inhibitor group. In vivo experiments showed that miR-520b inhibitor inhibited tumor growth and promoted PTEN expression. The proportion of CD3, CD4, CD8, NK1.1, CD4+IFNγ, and CD68 cells increased, while FOXP3 and CD206 cells decreased in the miR-520b inhibitor group compared with the inhibitor NC group. However, the proportion of CD3, CD4, CD8, NK1.1, CD4+IFNγ, and CD68 cells decreased, while FOXP3 and CD206 cells increased after the addition of siPTEN. Conclusions. miR-520b inhibited PTEN and aggravated breast tumors. miR-520b inhibitor enhanced CD4 and CD8 cell populations in the tumor immune microenvironment and inhibited tumor growth.
Artificial Intelligence-Based Computed Tomography Imaging Characteristics for the Diagnosis Effect of High Flow Nasal Cannula in the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Tang Xiaobin , Yuan Jiang
Published: October 2021

Objective. This study was to compare the effects of symptomatic treatment and high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) treatment on patients with advanced lung cancer complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to explore the clinical application effect of HFNC treatment in such patients. Methods. 80 patients with advanced lung cancer and COPD admitted to the hospital were selected as the research objects. They were randomly divided into a control group (n = 40) and an observation group (n = 40). The computed tomography (CT) image data of all patients were classified. The neural network was trained to obtain the network weights. Based on surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, patients in the control group received anti-inflammatory, phlegm, and other symptomatic treatments, while patients in the observation group received HFNC treatment on this basis. The blood gas analysis results, clinical symptoms (cough, wheezing, rales, etc.), inflammatory factors (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), plateletcrit (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)), and quality of life of the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results. When the model MSE was the smallest, the corresponding hidden layer neuron node value was 49, so 49 was set as the optimal number of hidden layer neuron nodes. CT images were imported into the constructed model system, and the model diagnosis system could still diagnose and classify under the premise that the pathological characteristics were not obvious. There was no significant difference in clinical data between the two groups of patients before treatment (

P
>
0.05

). After treatment, the clinical symptoms, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), hs-CRP, PCT, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were greatly reduced; those of patients in the observation group were much better in contrast to those of the control group (

P
<
0.05

). The total effective rate in the observation group was 97.5%, and the effective rate in the control group was 87.5%. After treatment, the functional assessment of cancer therapy-lung (FACT-L) score was obviously higher than that before treatment (

P
<
0.05

). After treatment, the quality of life in the observation group was increased by 45.69% compared with that before treatment, and the quality of life in the control group was increased by 35.77%. Conclusion. HFNC therapy can improve the lung function of patients with advanced lung cancer and COPD, alleviate the development of the disease, and improve the quality of life of patients.
Study on the Meso‐Energy Damage Evolution Mechanism of Single‐Joint Sandstone under Uniaxial and Biaxial Compression
Authors: Wang Gui-Lin , Cao Tian-Ci , Sun Fan , Wen Xing-Xiang , Zhang Liang
Published: October 2021

Energy conversion and release occur through the entire deformation and failure process in jointed rock masses, and the accumulation and dissipation of rock mass energy in engineering can reveal the entire process of deformation and instability. This study uses PFC2D to carry out numerical simulation tests on single‐joint sandstone under uniaxial compression and biaxial compression, respectively, and analyse the influence of joint inclination, length, and confining pressure on the meso‐energy conversion process and phase evolution of jointed sandstone. Through analysis, it is found that the input meso total strain energy is transformed into meso dissipated energy and meso‐elastic strain energy. Macroscopic and microscopic joint sandstone law is consistent with the overall energy evolution; and the difference is reflected in two aspects: (1) the microlevel energy evolution has no initial compaction energy consumption section and (2) the linear energy storage section before the macroenergy evolution peak can be subdivided into two sections in the meso‐level energy evolution. Under uniaxial compression, the energy values at the characteristic points of the meso‐level energy evolution phases first asymmetrically decrease and then increase with the increase of the joint inclination. The initiation point of jointed sandstone is significantly affected by the length of the joint, and the degradation effect of the meso‐energy at the damage point and peak point weakens with the increase of the joint length. Comparing the data obtained from the PFC numerical simulation with the experimental data, it is found that the error is small, which shows the feasibility of the numerical model in this paper. Under biaxial compression, the accumulation rate of meso‐elastic strain at the peak point of the jointed sandstone first decreases and then increases with the joint inclination angle. After the peak of jointed sandstone, the rate of sudden change of meso‐energy change decreases with the increase of joint length. The conditions of high confining pressure will promote the meso‐accumulated damage degree of the jointed sandstone before the peak, while inhibiting the meso‐energy and the mutation degree of the damage after the peak. The higher the confining pressure, the more obvious the joint length and inclination effect characteristics of the elastic strain energy at the peak point of the jointed sandstone.
Modal Interaction-Induced Parametric Resonance of Stayed Cable: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Investigation
Authors: Zhang Qi-Chang , Cui Su-Yu , Fu Zhi , Han Jian-Xin
Published: October 2021

The cable-stayed bridge is widely used due to its strong spanning capacity and navigability. However, flexible cables parametrically resonated by external excitation may result in instability or even damage to the bridge. To prevent such undesirable resonance, this paper discusses an in-plane modal interaction-induced parametric resonance of the stayed cable excited by the bridge deck vibration via nonlinear dynamic analysis. Based on the nonlinear distributed model, two modal governing equations of the cable are established via the Galerkin method. A certain working condition, when the external excitation frequency is close to the second-order natural frequency of the stay cable while nearly twice the first-order natural frequency, is theoretically and experimentally investigated. Specifically, the frequency response equations are obtained by the multiscale method, and the stability of solutions is examined through the Routh Hurwitz criterion. Theoretical and experimental results show that bridge deck vibration can induce not only the primary and superharmonic resonance of the cable but also the principal parametric resonance. Parametric resonance-induced bifurcations are also observed in the system. Particularly, the energy exchange from second-order primary resonance to first-order principal parametric resonance is found, which can induce the parametric resonance with the response amplitude one to three times higher than that of the primary resonance. This paper also validates the superiority of the present modal interaction model over the traditional single-mode model in practical engineering applications.
Study on the Effect of Amygdales on Mechanical Characteristics of Basalt Using the Combined Finite‐Discrete Element Method
Authors: Zhang Shirui , Qiu Shili , Li Ping , Kou Yongyuan , Kou Pengfei
Published: October 2021

Amygdaloidal basalt, as a heterogeneous rock, is widely exposed at Baihetan hydropower station, China. The geometric effect of amygdales needs further studies and quantifying the shape, orientation, and statistical distribution of amygdales plays an important role in the laboratory and numerical experiments. Therefore, digital image processing (DIP) was first utilized to build a heterogeneous model (HM) to calibrate against the laboratory test results. Then, the heterogeneous models (HMs) with prescribed geometric features were generated by the inverse Monte‐Carlo (IMC) algorithm. The uniaxial compression experiments based on HMs were conducted to study the mechanism of the crack initiation and propagation in the amygdaloidal basalt. The tensile fractures were mainly occurred in the matrix, and the shear fractures were mainly occurred in the amygdales. With the increase in the elliptic coefficient of amygdales, the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) showed a linear growth trend. With the increase in the orientation of amygdales, the UCS exhibited a “V‐shaped” distribution characteristic. This paper provides a numerical method for studying the mechanical properties of rocks with flaws.
Role of Chest X-Ray in Coronavirus Disease and Correlation of Radiological Features with Clinical Outcomes in Indian Patients
Authors: Sathi Satyanand , Tiwari Richa , Verma Savita , Kumar Garg Anil , Singh Saini Virendra , Kumar Singh Manoj , Mittal Amit , Vohra Devinder
Published: October 2021

Recent literature has reported that radiological features of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients are influenced by computed tomography. This study aimed to assess the characteristic chest X-ray features of COVID-19 and correlate them with clinical outcomes of patients. This retrospective study included 120 COVID-19 patients. Baseline chest X-rays and serial chest X-rays were reviewed. A severity index in the form of maximum radiological assessment of lung edema (RALE) score was calculated for each lung, and scores of both the lungs were summed to obtain a final score. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) and frequency (%) were determined, and an unpaired t test, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and logistic regression analyses were performed for statistical analyses. Among 120 COVID-19 patients, 74 (61.67%) and 46 (38.33%) were males and females, respectively; 64 patients (53.33%) had ground-glass opacities (GGO), 55 (45.83%) had consolidation, and 38 (31.67%) had reticular-nodular opacities, with lower zone distribution (50%) and peripheral distribution (41.67%). Baseline chest X-ray showed a sensitivity of 63.3% in diagnosing typical findings of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The maximum RALE score was 2.13 ± 1.9 in hospitalized patients and 0.57 ± 0.77 in discharged patients (

p

value <0.0001). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between maximum RALE score and clinical outcome parameters was as follows: age, 0.721 (

p

value <0.00001); >10 days of hospital stay, 0.5478 (

p

value <0.05); ≤10 days of hospital stay, 0.5384 (

p

value <0.0001); discharged patients, 0.5433 (

p

value <0.0001); and death, 0.6182 (

p

value = 0.0568). The logistic regression analysis revealed that maximum RALE scores (0.0932 [0.024–0.367]), (10.730 [2.727–42.206]), (1.258 [0.990–1.598]), and (0.794 [0.625–1.009]) predicted discharge, death, >10 days of hospital stay, and ≤10 days of hospital stay, respectively. The study findings suggested that the RALE score can quantify the extent of COVID-19 and can predict the prognosis of patients.
Population Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Species in Kenech Forest, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Balemlay Sewale , Siraj Mammo
Published: October 2021

Understanding the structural pattern and regeneration status of tree species is an important measure taken to assess the vegetation dynamics and their destruction factors species as well as management history and ecology of the forest. This study was conducted with the objective to assess the species diversity, structure, and regeneration status of woody species in Kenech natural forest, Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling method was employed as a sampling design for the collection of vegetation data. Accordingly, 40 plots of 20 m × 20 m were laid at every 100 m along four parallel transect lines following altitudinal gradient. Any woody species of trees and shrubs with the diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥2.5 cm was measured at 1.5 m from the ground. In each sample plots, all woody species seedling, sapling, and mature woody species were counted and recorded. A total of 80 plant species categorized into 67 genera and 28 families were recorded and identified, for description and analysis of vegetation structure. Structural analysis of the Kenech natural forest revealed a density of 840 stems/ha and a total basal area of 56.8 m2/ha. About 80.36% of the individuals are found in the first two classes (2.5–10 and 10–20 cm). The general pattern of DBH class distribution of woody species in the study area revealed an inverted J shape indicating the presence of a high density of trees in the lower DBH class than in the higher. The most dominant tree species relatively with the highest importance values recorded in the area were Pouteria adolfi-friedericii, Podocarpus falcatus, Celtis africana, Mimusops kummel, Pyschotria orophila, and Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa. Forty-two species (64.61%) were represented by both seedling and sapling class, whereas 9 species (13.84%) were not regenerating.
A Case of Femoral Neck Insufficiency Fracture due to Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia
Authors: Inoue Yu , Fukui Tomoaki , Oe Keisuke , Hayashi Shinya , Kawamoto Teruya , Kuroda Ryosuke , Niikura Takahiro
Published: October 2021

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare skeletal disease caused by hypersecretion of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) from neoplasms of mesenchymal origin; patients with TIO present with insufficiency fractures, progressive bone pain, and delayed fracture unions. Herein, we report the case of a 48-year-old man with an insufficiency fracture in his left femoral neck associated with TIO. The causative tumor located in the patient’s maxillary sinus had been resected; however, complete resection was impossible due to the location of the tumor. Therefore, the patient’s osteomalacia persisted, and he experienced a left femoral neck fracture in the absence of severe trauma. Because delayed fracture union was anticipated in this patient, we performed an internal fixation using an implant with a lateral plate for angular stability and multiple screws for rotational stability. Although fracture union took 15 months, the patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he could walk without any symptoms or assistance at his most recent follow-up 30 months after surgery. In TIO, hypersecretion of FGF-23 leads to increased renal excretion of phosphorus, increased bone resorption of calcium and phosphorus, decreased osteoblastic bone mineralization, and decreased gastrointestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus, leading to insufficiency fractures and delayed fracture unions. Diagnosis of TIO is often delayed due to its rarity and vague symptoms. Total resection of the causative tumor is the optimal treatment; however, in cases wherein complete tumor resection is impossible, drug therapy may be insufficient, and the underlying TIO pathology, including bone fragility, may persist. Early diagnosis of TIO is important for preventing insufficiency fractures; however, when fractures are unavoidable, the surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures in patients with osteomalacia should account for a longer time frame for complete fracture union and therefore utilize implants with sufficient stability.
Argan Tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) Mapping Based on Multisensor Fusion of Satellite Imagery in Essaouira Province, Morocco
Authors: Moumni Aicha , Belghazi Tarik , Maksoudi Brahim , Lahrouni Abderrahman
Published: October 2021

Tree species identification and their geospatial distribution mapping are crucial for forest monitoring and management. The satellite‐based remote sensing time series of Sentinel missions (Sentinel‐1 and Sentinel‐2) are a perfect tool to map the type, location, and extent of forest cover over large areas at local or global scale. This study is focused on the geospatial mapping of the endemic argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) and the identification of two other tree species (sandarac gum and olive trees) using optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) time series. The objective of the present work is to detect the actual state of forest species trees, more specifically the argan tree, in order to be able to study and analyze forest changes (degradation) and make new strategies to protect this endemic tree. The study was conducted over an area located in Essaouira province, Morocco. The support vector machine (SVM) algorithm was used for the classification of the two types of data. We first classified the optical data for tree species identification and mapping. Second, the SAR time series were used to identify the argan tree and distinguish it from other species. Finally, the two types of satellite images were combined to improve and compare the results of classification with those obtained from single‐source data. The overall accuracy (OA) of optical classification reached 86.9% with a kappa coefficient of 0.84 and declined strongly to 37.22% (kappa of 0.29) for SAR classification. The fusion of multisensor data (optical and SAR images) reached an OA of 86.51%. A postclassification was performed to improve the results. The classified images were smoothed, and therefore, the quantitative and qualitative results showed an improvement, in particular for optical classification with a highest OA of 89.78% (kappa coefficient of 0.88). The study confirmed the potential of the multitemporal optical data for accurate forest cover mapping and endemic species identification.
Theoretical Analysis and Numerical Simulation of the Graben Fault Instability Mechanism
Authors: Ma Qihua , Niu Shiwei , Wang Huaguo , Ma Weixiang , Chi Lihui , Wan Xiao
Published: October 2021

The rock burst caused by geological structures is abrupt and destructive, and the special structure of a graben fault decides the uniqueness of mine ground pressure in the mining process. By simplifying the graben fault structure, the evolution law of roof stress during the recovery process was studied based on the theory of the elastic shear beam. The change laws of stress field and displacement nearby the fault during the advancement process of the working face were explored through a numerical simulation, and the instability mechanism and laws of rock strata nearby this graben fault were revealed. This study will be of great significance for preventing and controlling the rock burst in the graben fault.
A Linear Approach Suitable for a Class of Steady-State Heat Transfer Problems with Temperature-Dependent Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Gama R. M. S. , Pazetto R.
Published: October 2021

This work presents an useful tool for constructing the solution of steady-state heat transfer problems, with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity, by means of the solution of Poisson equations. Specifically, it will be presented a procedure for constructing the solution of a nonlinear second-order partial differential equation, subjected to Robin boundary conditions, by means of a sequence whose elements are obtained from the solution of very simple linear partial differential equations, also subjected to Robin boundary conditions. In addition, an a priori upper bound estimate for the solution is presented too. Some examples, involving temperature-dependent thermal conductivity, are presented, illustrating the use of numerical approximations.
Evaluation of Leea rubra Leaf Extract for Oxidative Damage Protection and Antitumor and Antimicrobial Potential
Authors: Das Nibedita , Hossain Sanowar , Barmon Jaytirmoy , Parvin Shahnaj , Hasan Mahadi , Akter Masuma , Islam Ekramul
Published: October 2021

Background. The leaves of Leea rubra contain an abundance of phenolic constituents and have medicinal uses as antipyretic and diaphoretic agents and are also used in the treatment of stomach ache, rheumatism, arthritis etc. In spite of the traditional uses, data on the scientific evaluation of the plant are not sufficient. So, the present study was designed to evaluate the protective role of the extract against oxidative damage to DNA and human erythrocytes as well as antitumor and antibacterial activities against some resistant bacteria. Methods. The protective activity of the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of the extract was investigated by evaluating the inhibition of oxidative damage of pUC19 plasmid DNA as well as hemolysis and lipid peroxidation damage to human erythrocytes induced by 2,2′-azobis-2-amidinopropane (AAPH). Antitumor activity was assessed by evaluating the percentage inhibition of cell growth, morphological changes of Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells, and hematological parameters. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the disc diffusion method against different resistant microorganisms. Results. EAF effectively inhibited AAPH-induced oxidative damage to DNA because it can inhibit the transformation of the supercoiled form of plasmid DNA to open circular and further linear form. The oxidative hemolysis caused by AAPH in human erythrocytes was inhibited by EAF extract in a time-dependent manner, and the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly reduced, which indicates the prevention of lipid peroxidation. In antitumor assay, 76% growth of inhibition of EAC was observed compared with the control mice (p<0.05) at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against two pathogenic resistant microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and the highest antimicrobial activity was observed against Pseudomonas spp. Conclusion. EAF may have great importance in preventing oxidative damage to DNA, erythrocytes, and other cellular components as well as can be a good candidate in cancer chemotherapy and treating infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Experimental Study on the Effect of Freeze‐Thaw Cycles on Axial Tension and Compression Performance of Concrete after Complete Carbonization
Authors: Cao Dafu , Liu Jiaqi , Zhou Yanling , Ge Wenjie , Zhang Xin
Published: October 2021

The effect of freeze‐thaw cycles on the axial tension and axial compression properties of completely carbonized concrete are investigated in this study. Three grade concrete specimens (C30, C40, and C45) were fabricated. The freeze‐thaw cycle test was carried out on the completely carbonized specimens, followed by axial tension and axial compression tests. The results show that completed carbonization increases the axial tensile peak stress of C30, C40, and C45 concrete specimens by 8.7%, 9.7%, and, 12.1%, respectively. The peak axial tension strain increased by 1.9%, 7.2%, and 9.6%, respectively. The peak axial compressive stress increased by 10.5%, 19.1%, and 24.1%, respectively. The peak axial compressive strain decreased by 13.7%, 14.1%, and 14.3%, respectively. With the increase of freeze‐thaw cycles, the peak stress of tensile stress, peak strain, and compressive stress of concrete decrease continuously. The peak strain of compressive strain increases. The lower the strength grade of concrete, the faster the decline rate of stress and strain. According to the data changes of peak stress and peak strain at different times of freeze thaw after carbonization, the stress‐strain curve fitting formula for concrete under freeze‐thaw cycles after complete carbonization is put forward, which has a good coincidence with the experimental result.
On the Dynamics Behaviors of a Stochastic Echinococcosis Infection Model with Environmental Noise
Authors: Sun Jianguo , Zhang Huina , Jiang Daqing
Published: October 2021

This paper pays main attention to the dynamics behaviors of a stochastic echinococcosis infection model with environmental noise. The existence and uniqueness of the stochastic model is showed in this paper. We obtain the sufficient condition of the ergodic stationary distribution. What is more, the condition of extinction of the stochastic model is also given.
Clonal Propagation of Coffea arabica with Indole Butyric Acid and Acclimatization Conditions in Amazonas, Peru
Authors: Chichipe Oyarce Jardy , Camacho Alina , Bobadilla Leidy G. , Vigo Carmen N. , Vásquez Héctor V. , Silva Valqui Gelver
Published: October 2021

The use of hormones is important in improving the propagation process. The objective of the experiment was to identify the best dose of indole butyric acid (IBA) hormone for the rooting of coffee cuttings of the typical variety through clonal propagation in the Amazon region. The experiment was carried out in two stages. Both stages were carried out under a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The percentage of rooting of cuttings and the number of roots were evaluated. The coffee tree clones were collected from rust tolerant elite plants. In the laboratory, the cuttings were immersed for 10 minutes in fungicide and then in five doses of IBA hormone (1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, and 3000 mg L−1) of IBA. They were then placed in a microtunnel. With the best dose obtained in stage 1 of IBA (T4: 2000 mg L−1), which achieved a rooting percentage of 52.50% and 5.8 roots on average, stage 2 was installed for the evaluation of acclimatization conditions (greenhouse and nursery). Thirty plants of the Típica variety were evaluated per treatment. Regarding the results after 90 days, the greenhouse obtained the highest values with 72.22% survival, a plant height of 9.48 cm, 4.32 mm stem diameter, 6.53 leaves per plant, 9.65 cm leaf length, and 3.83 cm leaf width. The IBA hormone in a controlled environment such as the greenhouse achieves good vegetative propagation for the Típica variety.
Research on the Pollutant Emission Reduction Strategy and Simulation of Paper-Making Enterprises under the Reward and Punishment Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Sen , Qin Guangyuan , Xie Yifan , Tian Yuan , Shi Liyuan , Cheng Baodong
Published: October 2021

Environmental pollution has become an important obstacle on the path of ecological civilization construction, and it is urgent to control environmental pollution. By establishing an evolutionary game model, this thesis focuses on analyzing how paper-making enterprises choose their own emission reduction strategies under the reward and punishment mechanism. It further analyzes how social welfare changes under the reward and punishment mechanism, and finally through simulation research, this thesis analyzes the evolutionary paths of paper-making enterprises’ pollution emission strategies under the reward and punishment mechanism. The results of the reward and punishment mechanism are as follows: under the static reward and punishment mechanism, the game system will repeatedly oscillate around a point. There is no stable equilibrium point at this time. However, under the dynamic reward and punishment mechanism, the game system will tend to a stable equilibrium point. The results of social welfare analysis show that high-intensity rewards will reduce the amount of pollution discharged by paper-making enterprises, thereby maximizing social welfare. On the contrary, when paper-making enterprises discharge a large amount of pollution, they will be subject to high-intensity penalties. When facing high-intensity punishments, paper-making enterprises will tend to not to discharge. So social welfare is also maximized. The simulation research results show that reasonable punishment strategies are more effective than reward ones. Based on this, the author proposes countermeasures, such as establishing a reasonable reward and punishment mechanism, reasonably determining the reward and punishment intensity for polluting enterprises. The emission reduction strategies of paper-making enterprises will be affected by the government’s reward and punishment mechanism. A deep study of its internal mechanism is not only of great significance for pollution control but also of great significance for the development of a green economy.
Lymphocutaneous Sporotrichosis Refractory to First-Line Treatment
Authors: Belda Walter , Domingues Passero Luiz Felipe , Stradioto Casolato Ana Thereza
Published: October 2021

Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection endemic in Latin America and has been attributed to the thermodimorphic fungus of the genus Sporothrix. Transmission to humans occurs during a traumatic injury with soil or organic material; additionally, lesions caused by infected cats play an important role in the epidemiology of the disease. The classic treatment of sporotrichosis is performed with itraconazole or potassium iodide; second-line medications, such as amphotericin B and terbinafine, can alternatively be used in cases of first-line drug failure. In the present study, a patient with lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis in the right upper limb exhibited intolerance to itraconazole and potassium iodide, additionally during the period of use; these drugs did not control skin lesions. In this patient, amphotericin B deoxycholate and its liposomal version were used in this patient; and complete recovery of the lesions was observed.
Global Dynamics of Sixth-Order Fuzzy Difference Equation
Authors: Khaliq Abdul , Adnan Muhammad , Khan Abdul Qadeer
Published: October 2021

Across many fields, such as engineering, ecology, and social science, fuzzy differences are becoming more widely used; there is a wide variety of applications for difference equations in real-life problems. Our study shows that the fuzzy difference equation of sixth order has a nonnegative solution, an equilibrium point and asymptotic behavior.

y

i
+
1

=

D

y

i
−
1

y

i
−
2

/

E
+
F

y

i
−
3

+
G

y

i
−
4

+
H

y

i
−
5

,
i
=
0,1,2
,
…

, where

y

i

is the sequence of fuzzy numbers and the parameter

D
,
E
,
F
,
G
,
H

and the initial condition

y

−
5

,

y

−
4

,

y

−
3

,

y

−
2

,

y

−
1

,

y

0

are nonnegative fuzzy number. The characterization theorem is used to convert each single fuzzy difference equation into a set of two crisp difference equations in a fuzzy environment. So, a pair of crisp difference equations is formed by converting the difference equation. The stability of the equilibrium point of a fuzzy system has been evaluated. By using variational iteration techniques and inequality skills as well as a theory of comparison for fuzzy difference equations, we investigated the governing equation dynamics, such as its boundedness, existence, and local and global stability analysis. In addition, we provide some numerical solutions for the equation describing the system to verify our results.
Block Sparse Bayesian Recovery with Correlated LSM Prior
Authors: Zhao Juan , Bai Xia , Shan Tao , Tao Ran
Published: October 2021

Compressed sensing can recover sparse signals using a much smaller number of samples than the traditional Nyquist sampling theorem. Block sparse signals (BSS) with nonzero coefficients occurring in clusters arise naturally in many practical scenarios. Utilizing the sparse structure can improve the recovery performance. In this paper, we consider recovering arbitrary BSS with a sparse Bayesian learning framework by inducing correlated Laplacian scale mixture (LSM) prior, which can model the dependence of adjacent elements of the block sparse signal, and then a block sparse Bayesian learning algorithm is proposed via variational Bayesian inference. Moreover, we present a fast version of the proposed recovery algorithm, which does not involve the computation of matrix inversion and has robust recovery performance in the low SNR case. The experimental results with simulated data and ISAR imaging show that the proposed algorithms can efficiently reconstruct BSS and have good antinoise ability in noisy environments.
A Randomized Phase II Study of Anti-CSF1 Monoclonal Antibody Lacnotuzumab (MCS110) Combined with Gemcitabine and Carboplatin in Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Kuemmel Sherko , Campone Mario , Loirat Delphine , Lopez Rafael Lopez , Beck J. Thaddeus , De Laurentiis Michelino , Im Seock-Ah , Kim Sung-Bae , Kwong Ava , Steger Guenther G. , Adelantado Esther Zamora , Duhoux Francois P. , Greil Richard , Kuter Irene , Lu Yen-Shen , Tibau Ariadna , Özgüroğlu Mustafa , Scholz Christian W. , Singer Christian F. , Vega Estela , Wimberger Pauline , Zamagni Claudio , Couillebault Xuan-Mai , Fan Liqiong , Guerreiro Nelson , Mataraza Jennifer , Sand-Dejmek Janna , Chan Arlene
Published: October 2021

Purpose:

This phase II study determined the efficacy of lacnotuzumab added to gemcitabine plus carboplatin (gem-carbo) in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Patients and Methods:

Female patients with advanced TNBC, with high levels of tumor-associated macrophages not amenable to curative treatment by surgery or radiotherapy were enrolled. Lacnotuzumab was dosed at 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks, ± a dose on cycle 1, day 8. Gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2) and carboplatin (dose in mg calculated by area under the curve [mg/mL/min] × (glomerular filtration rate [mL/min] + 25 [mL/min]) were dosed every 3 weeks. Treatment continued until unacceptable toxicity, disease progression, or discontinuation by physician/patient.

Results:

Patients received lacnotuzumab + gem-carbo (n = 34) or gem-carbo (n = 15). Enrollment was halted due to recruitment challenges owing to rapid evolution of the therapeutic landscape; formal hypothesis testing of the primary endpoint was therefore not performed. Median progression-free survival was 5.6 months [90% confidence interval (CI), 4.47–8.64] in the lacnotuzumab + gem-carbo arm and 5.5 months (90% CI, 3.45–7.46) in the gem-carbo arm. Hematologic adverse events were common in both treatment arms; however, patients treated with lacnotuzumab experienced more frequent aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatine kinase elevations. Pharmacokinetic results showed that free lacnotuzumab at 10 mg/kg exhibited a typical IgG pharmacokinetic profile and target engagement of circulating colony-stimulating factor 1 ligand.

Conclusions:

Despite successful target engagement and anticipated pharmacokinetic profile, lacnotuzumab + gem-carbo showed comparable antitumor activity to gem-carbo alone, with slightly poorer tolerability. However, the data presented in this article would be informative for future studies testing agents targeting the CSF1–CSF1 receptor pathway in TNBC.