bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Position Prediction for Interactive Motion Capture
Authors: Schreiner Paul , Perepichka Maksym , Lewis Hayden , Darkner Sune , Kry Paul G. , Erleben Kenny , Zordan Victor B.
Published: September 2021

We present a method for reconstructing the global position of motion capture where position sensing is poor or unavailable. Capture systems, such as IMU suits, can provide excellent pose and orientation data of a capture subject, but otherwise need post processing to estimate global position. We propose a solution that trains a neural network to predict, in real-time, the height and body displacement given a short window of pose and orientation data. Our training dataset contains pre-recorded data with global positions from many different capture subjects, performing a wide variety of activities in order to broadly train a network to estimate on like and unseen activities. We compare training on two network architectures, a universal network (u-net) and a traditional convolutional neural network (CNN) - observing better error properties for the u-net in our results. We also evaluate our method for different classes of motion. We observe high quality results for motion examples with good representation in specialized datasets, while general performance appears better in a more broadly sampled dataset when input motions are far from training examples.
Flexible Motion Optimization with Modulated Assistive Forces
Authors: Kim Nam Hee , Ling Hung Yu , Xie Zhaoming , van de Panne Michiel
Published: September 2021

Animated motions should be simple to direct while also being plausible. We present a flexible keyframe-based character animation system that generates plausible simulated motions for both physically-feasible and physically-infeasible motion specifications. We introduce a novel control parameterization, optimizing over internal actions, external assistive-force modulation, and keyframe timing. Our method allows for emergent behaviors between keyframes, does not require advance knowledge of contacts or exact motion timing, supports the creation of physically impossible motions, and allows for near-interactive motion creation. The use of a shooting method allows for the use of any black-box simulator. We present results for a variety of 2D and 3D characters and motions, using sparse and dense keyframes. We compare our control parameterization scheme against other possible approaches for incorporating external assistive forces.
Prevalence and Adaptive Impact of Introgression
Authors: Edelman Nathaniel B. , Mallet James
Published: September 2021

Alleles that introgress between species can influence the evolutionary and ecological fate of species exposed to novel environments. Hybrid offspring of different species are often unfit, and yet it has long been argued that introgression can be a potent force in evolution, especially in plants. Over the last two decades, genomic data have increasingly provided evidence that introgression is a critically important source of genetic variation and that this additional variation can be useful in adaptive evolution of both animals and plants. Here, we review factors that influence the probability that foreign genetic variants provide long-term benefits (so-called adaptive introgression) and discuss their potential benefits. We find that introgression plays an important role in adaptive evolution, particularly when a species is far from its fitness optimum, such as when they expand their range or are subject to changing environments.
Causality and the Cox Regression Model
Authors: Martinussen Torben
Published: September 2021

This article surveys results concerning the interpretation of the Cox hazard ratio in connection to causality in a randomized study with a time-to-event response. The Cox model is assumed to be correctly specified, and we investigate whether the typical end product of such an analysis, the estimated hazard ratio, has a causal interpretation as a hazard ratio. It has been pointed out that this is not possible due to selection. We provide more insight into the interpretation of hazard ratios and differences, investigating what can be learned about a treatment effect from the hazard ratio approaching unity after a certain period of time. The conclusion is that the Cox hazard ratio is not causally interpretable as a hazard ratio unless there is no treatment effect or an untestable and unrealistic assumption holds. We give a hazard ratio that has a causal interpretation and study its relationship to the Cox hazard ratio.
Microbiota, Prostatitis, and Fertility: Bacterial Diversity as a Possible Health Ally
Authors: Puerta Suárez Jenniffer , Cardona Maya Walter D.
Published: September 2021

Background. In health, microorganisms have been associated with the disease, although the current knowledge shows that the microbiota present in various anatomical sites is associated with multiple benefits. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the genitourinary microbiota of chronic prostatitis symptoms patients and fertile men. Materials and Methods. In this preliminary study, ten volunteers have included 5 volunteers with symptoms of chronic prostatitis (prostatitis group) and five fertile volunteers, asymptomatic for urogenital infections (control group) matched by age. Bacterial diversity analysis was performed using the 16S molecular marker to compare the microbiota present in urine and semen samples from chronic prostatitis symptoms and fertile volunteers. Seminal quality, nitric oxide levels, and seminal and serum concentration of proinflammatory cytokines were quantified. Results. Fertile men present a greater variety of operational taxonomical units-OTUs in semen (67.5%) and urine (17.6%) samples than chronic prostatitis symptoms men. Chronic prostatitis symptoms men presented a higher concentration of IL-12p70 in seminal plasma. No statistically significant differences were observed in conventional and functional seminal parameters. The species diversity in semen samples was similar in healthy men than prostatitis patients, inverted Simpson index median 5.3 (5.0–10.7) vs. 4.5 (2.1–7.8,

p
=
0.1508

). Nevertheless, the microbiota present in the semen and urine samples of fertile men presents more OTUs. Less microbial diversity could be associated with chronic prostatitis symptoms. The presence of bacteria in the genitourinary tract is not always associated with the disease. Understanding the factors that affect the microbiota can implement lifestyle habits that prevent chronic prostatitis. Conclusion. Chronic prostatitis does not seem to affect male fertility; however, studies with a larger sample size are required. Our preliminary results strengthen the potential role; the greater bacterial diversity is a protective factor for chronic prostatitis.
Synthesis of Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) from Sweet Potato Starch by Simultaneous Saccharification and Transglycosylation Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae Var. diastaticus BE 134 to Improve Purity of IMOs
Authors: Duong Hong Quan , Hoang Minh Tri , Nguyen Thi Hong Gam , Nguyen Thi Thu Hien , Nguyen Ngoc Hoa , Nguyen Thi Truc Lam , Nguyen Thi Van Anh , Vu Thu Trang , Luong Hong Nga
Published: September 2021

This study developed a simple two-step procedure to produce isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) from low-cost sweet potato starch (SPS). Effect of various reaction parameters on the steps of the synthesis process of IMOs was systematically investigated. The results show that Spezyme Xtra enzyme was the most suitable for the liquefaction step. The oligosaccharide components’ contents, including G1–G10 and G2–G6, reached 73.95 ± 0.02% and 49.24 ± 3.19%, respectively, after liquefaction. The simultaneous saccharification and transglycosylation (SST) reaction of SPS followed the liquefaction after the α-amylase activity was deactivated. This reaction was simultaneously treated by β-amylase, pullulanase, and α-transglucosidase. The effect of various reaction parameters, consisting of solution pH, reaction temperature, enzyme dosage, and reaction time, on the SST reaction to synthesize IMOs from SPS was fully studied. The results showed that the highest concentration of IMOs (IG234) reached 68.85 ± 1.82 g/L at the optimal condition. The purification of pristine IMO was performed by adding Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus BE 134 yeast cells at the final step of the procedure. In particular, the SST reaction for the synthesis of IMOs from SPS shortened SST reaction time by three times compared with other three-step synthesis procedures of IMOs. These findings show that the SPS-derived IMOs can be applied as a novel and inexpensive prebiotic healthcare product for human gastrointestinal health, dieters, and diabetics.
The Influence of Different Dexmedetomidine Doses on Cognitive Function at Early Period of Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Extensive Total Hysterectomy
Authors: Huang Huiqiong , Xu Xiuyi , Xiao Yirong , Jia Junxiang
Published: September 2021

Background. This study aims to analyze the influence of different dexmedetomidine doses on cognitive function. It works on early periods of patients undergoing laparoscopic extensive total hysterectomy. Method. 119 patients with gynecological cancer underwent a laparoscopic extensive total hysterectomy. The operation was performed at the Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2019 to June 2020. The score of MoCA and the level of TNF-α, IL-6, S-100β protein, NSE, and GFAP of each group were compared 1 day before and after operation and 3 and 7 days after operation. Result. In four groups, remifentanil, sufentanil, and propofol were given in the following order: group A > group D > group C > group B. Group A > group D > group C in terms of time spent in the recovery room, extubation, and recovery from anesthesia. The difference between groups B and C was not significant (

P
>
0.05

). Compared with group A, group B scored higher in MoCA at 1 day (T1), 3 days (T2), and 7 days (T3) after operation (

P
<
0.05

). At the same scoring point, the score was group B > group C > group D > group A. The POCD of four groups all occurred at 3 days after surgery. Compared with the T0 point, the level of TNF-α and IL-6 of the four groups at T1 and T2 was significantly increased (

P
<
0.05

). At T3, the level of TNF-α and IL-6 gradually decreased. At various periods, the levels of S-100 protein, NSE, and GFAP in groups B, C, and D were lower than those in group A (P0.05). Group B had a substantially higher rate of bradycardia than the other three groups (P0.05). The incidence of chills, respiratory depression, and restlessness in group A differed significantly from the other three groups (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Using 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine during the perianaesthesia can effectively reduce anesthetic drugs in patients. They had a laparoscopic extensive complete hysterectomy, which helps to reduce the adverse responses and the occurrence of POCD while also protecting brain function.
Analyzing Accident Injury Severity via an Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) Model
Authors: Wu Shubo , Yuan Quan , Yan Zhongwei , Xu Qing
Published: September 2021

Vehicle to vulnerable road user (VRU) crashes occupy a large proportion of traffic crashes in China, and crash injury severity analysis can support traffic managers to understand the implicit rules behind the crashes. Therefore, 554 VRUs-involved crashes are collected from January, 2017, to February, 2021, in a city in northern China, including 322 vehicle-pedestrian crashes and 232 vehicle-bicycle crashes. First, a descriptive statistical analysis is conducted to investigate the characteristics of VRUs-involved crashes. Second, the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model is introduced to identify the importance of risk factors (i.e., time of day, day of week, rushing hour, crash position, weather, and crash involvements) of VRUs-involved crashes. The statistical analysis demonstrates that the risk factors are closely related to VRUs-involved crash injury severity. Moreover, the results of XGBoost reveal that time of day has the greatest impact on VRUs-involved crashes, and crash position shows the minimum importance among these risk factors.
Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Properties of a 3D Flower-Like TiO2 Nanostructure Photocatalyst
Authors: Zhang Yunping , Liu Xi , Yusoff Mahani , Razali Mohd Hasmizam
Published: September 2021

Flower-like titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructures are successfully synthesized using a hybrid sol-gel and a simple hydrothermal method. The sample was characterized using various techniques to study their physicochemical properties and was tested as a photocatalyst for methyl orange degradation and as an antibacterial material. Raman spectrum and X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern show that the phase structure of the synthesized TiO2 is anatase with 80-100 nm in diameter and 150–200 nm in length of flower-like nanostructures as proved by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of flower-like anatase TiO2 nanostructure found that only titanium and oxygen elements are present in the sample. The anatase phase was confirmed further by a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern analysis. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) result shows that the sample had a large surface area (108.24 m2/g) and large band gap energy (3.26 eV) due to their nanosize. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed the formation of Ti4+ and Ti3+ species which could prevent the recombination of the photogenerated electron, thus increased the electron transportation and photocatalytic activity of flower-like anatase TiO2 nanostructure to degrade the methyl orange (83.03%) in a short time (60 minutes). These properties also support the good performance of flower-like titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructure as an antibacterial material which is comparable with penicillin which is

13.00
±
0.02
 
mm

inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus.
Design and Research of Remote Monitoring System for Sports Injury Rehabilitation Training
Authors: Liu Hongyan , Qin Panlong , Qi Ruiming
Published: September 2021

In order to study the sports injuries that often occur in athletes’ training and competition and solve the problems of low monitoring accuracy of injury mode data and large difference of resistance signal waveforms in the traditional monitoring system, this paper proposes the application of wireless sensor network in monitoring process. The accuracy of data monitoring with 9 different degree injury modes set by 1–9 squares in the traditional system is lower, while the accuracy of sports injury rehabilitation monitoring based on wireless sensor network is higher, which can be maintained above 90%. The experimental results show that the monitoring system has high monitoring accuracy of damage mode data and small difference of resistance signal waveform. It is basically consistent with the actual waveform.
[Retracted] Mesenchymal Stem Cell‐Derived Exosomes and Their Potential Agents in Hematological Diseases
Authors: Shen Min , Chen Tong
Published: September 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most exploited stem cells with multilineage differentiation potential and immunomodulatory properties. Numerous lines of findings have reported their successful applications in a multitude of inflammatory conditions and immune disorders. However, it is currently discovered that these effects are mainly mediated in a paracrine manner by MSC‐exosomes. Moreover, MSC‐exosomes have been implicated in a wide variety of biological responses including immunomodulation, oxidative stress, tumor progression, and tissue regeneration. Meanwhile, they are reported to actively participate in various hematological diseases by the means of transferring different types of exosomal components to the target cells. Therefore, in this review, we briefly discuss the sources and biological features of MSCs and then illustrate the biogenesis and biological processes of MSC‐exosomes. Of note, this paper especially highlights the latest research progress of MSC‐exosomes in hematological diseases.
Prophylactic Treatment of Probiotic and Metformin Mitigates Ethanol-Induced Intestinal Barrier Injury: In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Approaches
Authors: Patel Farhin , Parwani Kirti , Rao Priyashi , Patel Dhara , Rawal Rakesh , Mandal Palash
Published: September 2021

Ethanol depletes intestinal integrity and promotes gut dysbiosis. Studies have suggested the individual role of probiotics and metformin Met in protecting intestinal barrier function from injuries induced by ethanol. The objective of the current study is to investigate the potential mechanism by which coadministration of probiotic Visbiome® (V) and Met blocks the ethanol-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction/gut leakiness utilizing Caco-2 monolayers, a rat model with chronic ethanol injury, and in silico docking interaction models. In Caco-2 monolayers, exposure to ethanol significantly disrupted tight junction (TJ) localization, elevated monolayer permeability, and oxidative stress compared with controls. However, cotreatment with probiotic V and Met largely ameliorated the ethanol-induced mucosal barrier dysfunction, TJ disruption, and gut oxidative stress compared with ethanol-exposed monolayers and individual treatment of either agent. Rats fed with ethanol-containing Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet showed decreased expression of TJ proteins, and increased intestinal barrier injury resulting in pro-inflammatory response and oxidative stress in the colon. We found that co-administration of probiotic V and Met improved the expression of intestinal TJ proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) and upregulated the anti-inflammatory response, leading to reduced ER stress. Moreover, co-administration of probiotic V and Met inhibited the CYP2E1 and NOX gene expression, and increase the translocation of Nrf-2 as well as anti-oxidative genes (SOD, catalase, Gpx, and HO-1), leading to reduced colonic ROS content and malondialdehyde levels. The combined treatment of probiotic V and Met also improved their binding affinities towards HO-1, Nrf-2, SLC5A8, and GPR109A, which could be attributed to their synergistic effect. Our findings based on in-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico analyses suggest that the combination of probiotic V and Met potentially acts in synergism, attributable to their property of inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress against ethanol-induced intestinal barrier injury.
A Review of Synthesis Techniques for Phased Antenna Arrays in Wireless Communications and Remote Sensing
Authors: Ogurtsov Stanislav , Caratelli Diego , Song Zhe
Published: September 2021

Electronically controlled antenna arrays, such as reconfigurable and phased antenna arrays, are essential elements of high-frequency 5G communication hardware. These antenna arrays are aimed at delivering specified communication scenarios and channel characteristics in the mm-wave parts of the 5G spectrum. At the same time, several challenges are associated with the development of such antenna structures, and these challenges mainly originate from their intended mass production, contemporary manufacturing technologies, integration with active RF chains, compact size, dense circuitry, and limitations in postmanufacturing tuning. Consequently, 5G antenna array designers are presented with contradictory design requirements and constraints. Furthermore, these designers need to handle large numbers of designable parameters of the antenna array models, which can be computationally expensive, especially for repetitive and adaptive simulations that are required in design optimization and tuning. Antenna array synthesis, namely, the process of finding positions, orientation, and excitation of the array radiators, is a challenging yet crucial part of antenna array development. This process ensures that the performance requirements of the antenna array are met. Therefore, there is a need for reliable yet fast automated computer-aided design (CAD) and synthesis tools that can support the development of 5G antenna array solutions, from the initial prototyping stage to the final manufacturing tolerance analysis. This paper presents an overview of recent advances in antenna array synthesis from the viewpoint of their applicability to the design of electronically reconfigurable and phased antenna arrays for wireless communications and remote sensing.
Increased Levels of CD107a and Intracellular Cytokines in IL-2 Stimulated PBMCs from Endometriosis Patients
Authors: Muharam R. , Febri Ririn Rahmala , Prabowo Kevin Ardito , Bustami Arleni , Mansur Indra G.
Published: September 2021

It has been postulated that the immune system is impaired in individuals with endometriosis, with attention directed to natural killer (NK) cells. Specifically, it has been hypothesized that altered numbers of peripheral NK cells in blood are associated with the presence of endometriotic lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the level of the peripheral NK cell surface marker CD107a in endometriosis in the presence of IL-2 stimulation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 7 women with endometriosis and 7 women without endometriosis. The PBMCs were divided into two groups and either treated with recombinant IL-2 or left untreated. The cytotoxic activity of the PBMCs toward target cells (K562) was evaluated. Then, both groups were cocultured for 4 days. The expressions of CD107a, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were determined using flow cytometry analysis. There was no difference in the expression of CD107a prior to IL-2 stimulation in PBMCs from women with endometriosis compared to those from women without endometriosis. However, we observed upregulation of the expression of the surface marker CD107a after treatment in the endometriosis group. In addition, there was a significant difference in CD107a expression in the endometriosis group before versus after stimulation with IL-2 (

p

 < 0.01). We also found no difference in the production of TNF-α and IFN-γ before versus after treatment with IL-2 in either groups. The levels of CD107a were significantly enhanced in peripheral blood taken from women with endometriosis after treatment with IL-2.
[Retracted] Forecast of the Employment Situation of College Graduates Based on the LSTM Neural Network
Authors: Li Xing , Yang Ting
Published: September 2021

Scientific and reasonable forecast model of graduates’ employment data can efficaciously embody the complex characteristics of graduates’ employment data and embody the nonlinear dynamic interaction of influencing elements of graduates’ employment situation. It has a strong and steady characteristic learning capability, thus selecting the main influence data that influence the change of graduates’ employment data. In this paper, according to the situation embodied by students’ employment, a data mining analysis model is set up by using the statistical method based on the model of cluster analysis technology to forecast the employment situation of graduates. In this paper, a forecast technique of graduates’ employment situation based on the long short‐term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network is conceived, including network structure design, network training, and forecast process implementation algorithm. In addition, aiming at minimizing the forecasting error, an LSTM forecasting model parameter optimization algorithm based on multilayer grid search is conceived. It also verifies the applicability and correctness of the LSTM forecasting model and its parameter optimization algorithm in the analysis of graduates’ employment situation.
The Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Nomogram for Head and Neck Cancer Patients with Bone Metastasis
Authors: Chi Changxing , Fan Zhiyi , Yang Binbin , Sun He , Zheng Zengpai
Published: September 2021

Background. Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common malignancy globally, and many demographics and clinicopathological factors influence its prognosis. This study aimed to construct and validate a prognostic nomogram to predict the prognosis of HNC patients with bone metastasis (BM). Methods. A total of 326 patients with BM from HNC were collected from the SEER database as the subjects of this study. In a ratio of 7 to 3, patients were randomly divided into training and validation groups. Independent prognostic factors for HNC patients with BM were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The nomogram for predicting the prognosis was constructed, and the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Result. The independent prognostic factors for HNC patients with BM included age, primary site, lung metastasis, and chemotherapy. The area under the curve predicting overall survival at 12, 24, and 36 months was 0.768, 0.747, and 0.723 in the training group and 0.729, 0.723, and 0.669 in the validation group, respectively. The calibration curves showed good agreement between the predicted and actual values for overall survival. In addition, the decision curve analysis showed that this prognostic nomogram model has a high clinical application. Conclusion. This study developed and validated a nomogram to predict overall survival in HNC patients with BM. The prognostic nomogram has high accuracy and utility to inform survival estimation and individualized treatment decisions.
Cloud Computing into Respiratory Rehabilitation Training-Assisted Treatment of Patients with Pneumonia
Authors: Yu Yan
Published: September 2021

In order to study the therapeutic effect of respiratory rehabilitation training on patients with pneumonia, this paper proposes an integrated adjuvant therapy program based on the cloud computing model. A total of 60 pneumonia patients admitted to Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University from January to July 2020 were selected as the research objects and Southern Medical University pneumonia patients as the research object, to be evenly divided into two groups, each group of 30 people. The control group was treated with conventional anti-infection treatment, and the observation group was treated with supplementary respiratory rehabilitation training on the basis of conventional treatment. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were compared. The results showed that the absorption time of lung lesions was (9.17 ± 3.46) days in the observation group and (13.97 ± 3.07) days in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t = 5.683,

P
<
0.001

). Respiratory therapy based on the cloud computing model has the characteristics of integration and extensibility, which can be effectively applied to the treatment effect analysis of patients with pneumonia and is of great significance for the effective analysis of patients’ blood gas indexes and lung function indexes.
Attention Feature Network Extraction Combined with the Generation Algorithm of Multimedia Image Description
Authors: Sun Beibei
Published: September 2021

In view of the issue that the features of the images in the shallow layer cannot be fully utilized when the image description is generated and the target association of the image cannot be sufficiently obtained, a generation method for the description of the acquisition of attention images is put forward in this paper. The proportions of the features of images at various depths are autonomously assigned based on the content data of the language model, and the images thus generated are all pictures with image features with attention. In this way, the effect of description generation of images has been improved. After the testing of the database, the results indicate that the calculation method of the algorithm put forward in this paper is more accurate than the top-down multimedia image algorithm generated by a single attention.
Evolution of Regional Economic Spatial Structure Based on IoT and GIS Service
Authors: Jiang Lei
Published: September 2021

Unbalanced regional development is an inevitable trend in the development of all countries in the world. The rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology has created tools for the study of regional development issues. IoT has many advantages and thus owns a very wide range of applications. This paper makes use of geographic information system (GIS) technology, which can be viewed as one of the IoT sensing information. Changes in spatial regional economic differences and space and the evolution of the structure are particularly examined by processing spatial information such as maps, analyzing phenomena and events that exist on the earth, and exploiting Kriging and inverse distance weighting (IDW). The numerical results in this paper justify that the introduction of GIS technology to the study of economic diversity can upgrade regional economic research from a traditional qualitative and statistical level to a quantitative and spatial visualization level.
A Novel Supplement Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced TDP-43-Related Pathogenesis in TDP-43-Expressed Cells
Authors: Yang Eun Jin
Published: September 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is caused by selective the loss of spinal motor neurons by multifactorial pathological mechanisms and results in muscle atrophy. Incidence rates of ALS are increasing over time, but there are no effective treatments at present due to limitations on approved therapies (riluzole and edaravone). Therefore, this study investigated whether combined treatment with Bojungikgi-tang and riluzole could act synergistically in transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) stress granule cells. To examine the effect of combined treatment on oxidative stress-induced cell death, the CCK8 assay was performed for the detection of cell viability. The expression of oxidative stress-induced proteins was determined by Western blot. Quantification of sodium arsenite-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured in TDP-43 stress granular cells using 2,7-diacetyl dichlorofluorescein diacetate. To investigate the effect of combined treatment on TDP-43 aggregation, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting were performed in TDP-43 stress granular cells. This combined treatment alleviated oxidative stress-induced cell death by increasing the expression levels of antioxidation proteins, such as heme oxygenase-1 and B cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein. Furthermore, it reduced oxidative stress-induced TDP-43 aggregates and lowered the levels of autophagy-related proteins, including p62, light chain 3b, and ATG8, in TDP-43-expressing cells. Our results suggest that this combined treatment could be helpful for autophagy regulation in other neurodegenerative diseases.
Effect of Freeze‐Thaw Cycles on the Mechanical Properties of Polyacrylamide‐ and Lignocellulose‐Stabilized Clay in Tibet
Authors: Shi Haiping , Li Zhongyao , Li Wenwei , Wang Shaopeng , Wang Baotian , Wang Peiqing
Published: September 2021

Laboratory freezing experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of polyacrylamide (PAM) and lignocellulose on the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of Tibetan clay. Direct shear and unconfined compressive tests and field emission scanning electron microscopy analyses were performed on clay samples with different contents of stabilizers. The test results show that the addition of PAM can improve the unconfined compressive strength and cohesion of Tibetan clay, but an excessive amount of PAM reduces the internal friction angle. After several freeze‐thaw cycles, the unconfined compressive strength and cohesion of samples stabilized by PAM decrease significantly, while the internal friction angle increases. Samples stabilized by PAM and lignocellulose have higher internal friction angles, cohesion, and unconfined compressive strength and can retain about 80% of the original strength after 10 freeze‐thaw cycles. PAM fills the pores between soil particles and provides adhesion. The addition of lignocellulose can form a network, restrict the expansion of pores caused by freeze‐thaw cycles, and improve the integrity of PAM colloids. It is postulated that the addition of a composite stabilizer with a PAM content of 0.4% and a lignocellulose content of 2% may be a technically feasible method to increase the strength of Tibetan clay.
Colorimetric Comparison of Internal Bleaching with and without Removing Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) on Induced Coronal Tooth Discoloration by MTA
Authors: Khedmat Sedigheh , Ahmadi Elham , Meraji Naghmeh , Fallah Zahra Farhang
Published: September 2021

Objective. This study aimed to colorimetric comparison of internal bleaching with and without removing mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) on induced coronal tooth discoloration by MTA cement. In this experimental study, twenty human teeth were prepared. An OrthoMTA barrier was placed 1 mm below the CEJ. The teeth were restored with composite resin and were placed in the aging accelerator machine. Then, the specimens were divided into two groups (n = 10); in group A, part of the OrthoMTA was removed and the glass ionomer was placed on the OrthoMTA, and in group B, the OrthoMTA remained intact. Internal bleaching was performed 5 times in 6-day intervals using 37% carbamide peroxide gel. Color determination was performed in 5 stages: baseline, after OrthoMTA discoloration, before OrthoMTA removal, after OrthoMTA removal, and after bleaching treatment sessions. In group A, 8 specimens reached to ∆E < 3.3 after 2 times internal bleaching treatment, and in group B, 5 specimens reached to ∆E < 3.3 with almost 3 bleaching sessions

p
>
0.05

. Additionally, 5 specimens reached to the initial color (baseline) after bleaching treatment, 4 specimens in group A and 1 specimen in group B. After OrthoMTA removal, 2 specimens in group A reached to ∆E < 3.3. There was no significant difference between groups with or without OrthoMTA removal

p
=
0.06

. Although, the specimens with OrthoMTA removal required fewer bleaching treatment sessions, and the mean value of ∆E was lower in this group.
A Novel Identified Peptide Hormone “Metabolitin” Attenuates Lipid Absorption in the Small Intestine of Diabetic Mice with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Regulating Neurotensin and AMPK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Xu Peng , Wang Shanjuan , Pang Dongyue
Published: September 2021

Aim. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of a novel identified peptide hormone “metabolitin” on lipid absorption in the small intestine of mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and potential mechanisms. Methods. T2DM was induced in mice by 4–6 weeks of high-fat diets followed by intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg/kg STZ. NAFLD was induced in diabetic mice by a month of high-fat diets. Oral administration of 4 pmol/g or 12 pmol/g metabolitin every two days was performed during one-month high-fat diets. Triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) detection and Oil Red O staining were performed to evaluate lipid absorption. The neurotensin (NT) levels in the intestinal tissues and serum were determined by ELISA. Lipogenesis- and lipolysis-related proteins, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and p-AMPK were examined by Western blot analysis. Results. It was found that glucose tolerance test (GTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), TG, and TC indicated lower levels in the serum of NAFLD/T2DM mice receiving 4 pmol/g and 12 pmol/g metabolitin compared to the mice receiving normal saline (

P
<
0.05

). No significant difference was noted in the TC level of the feces among mice with different diets (

P
>
0.05

), but compared to NAFLD/T2DM mice with normal saline, the mice administrated with 4 pmol/g and 12 pmol/g metabolitin revealed much higher TG levels in the feces (

P
<
0.05

). The results of Oil Red O staining revealed that the intestinal epithelial cells of NAFLD/T2DM mice receiving 12 pmol/g metabolitin indicated resistance to lipid absorption and the area of staining was smaller than that of NAFLD/T2DM mice with normal saline (

P
<
0.05

). The NAFLD/T2DM mice receiving 4 pmol/g and 12 pmol/g metabolitin showed a higher extent of p-AMPK concomitant with lower levels of NT in the serum and small intestine than the mice with normal saline (

P
<
0.05

). Western blot analysis also suggested that NAFLD/T2DM mice receiving 4 pmol/g and 12 pmol/g metabolitin revealed lower expressions in fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1 (SREBP1) proteins and higher expressions in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and fatty acid translocase (CD36) proteins than NAFLD/T2DM mice with normal saline (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. According to the data we observed, oral administration of metabolitin could attenuate lipid absorption in the small intestine of NAFLD/T2DM mice, which may be a novel therapeutic approach for NAFLD/T2DM.
Association between Thyroid Dysfunction and Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Shabana Tarek Samir , Anis Sherif George , Ibrahim DiaaElDein Mahmoud
Published: September 2021

Background. Thyroid disorders may decrease the threshold for developing myopathy. Nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) is a common form of thyroid dysfunction in critically ill patients who are prone to the development of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW). We therefore tested the hypothesis that patients with abnormalities in thyroid function are at a higher risk of developing ICUAW. Methods. We assessed blood samples from patients admitted to the ICU for ≥7 days for thyroid functions. Patients were classified into 4 categories (euthyroid, hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, and NTIS). Patients were then evaluated daily for ICUAW development. Patients with ICUAW were considered as cases, whereas patients who did not develop ICUAW served as controls. We compared demographic and clinical variables, such as APACHE II score; length of ICU stay; free T3 (FT3), free T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels; incidence of the four categories of thyroid function; and other risk factors for ICUAW. Logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors for ICUAW. Results. This case-control study included 114 patients: 57 cases (ICUAW) and 57 controls. FT3 levels were significantly lower in the cases (2.13 ± 0.96 mU/L) than in controls (2.69 ± 1.07 mU/L;

P
=
0.004

). There were no significant differences between cases and controls regarding the incidence of all categories of thyroid function. In univariate analysis, five independent variables had

P
<
0.25

(sepsis, vasopressors, mechanical ventilation duration, NTIS, and FT3 levels). Among these variables, multiple regression showed that only FT3 level (CI = 0.157–0.82,

P
=
0.015

) was an independent risk factor. Conclusion. The study revealed an inverse association between ICUAW incidence and FT3 levels.
Parallel Calculation Method of Patch Area Landscape Art Index Based on Surface Coverage Data
Authors: Xu Zhihua
Published: September 2021

Aiming at the problem of slow convergence in the parallel calculation of patch area landscape art index, a parallel calculation method of patch area landscape art index based on land cover data was proposed. Firstly, patch type area index, patch connectivity index, patch number index, and fragmentation index were selected as patch area landscape art spatial staggered pattern indexes to conduct characteristic analysis and establish a 3D visual reconstruction model with actual colors. Then, the coordinate points of the landscape space staggered pattern are transformed into three-dimensional visual coordinate points to realize the reconstruction of landscape art space staggered pattern in patch area. The aerial landscape image of patch area is preprocessed and input into GPU to build a Gaussian difference pyramid model. The feature points of the patch area in the aerial landscape image are calculated by the parallel computing process, and the patch boundary in the aerial landscape image is determined. The landscape perimeter of the patch area was calculated according to the boundary. The experimental results show that the complete convergence time of the horizontal axis error and the vertical axis error is 2.13 s and 1.81 s, respectively, and the absolute error and relative error of the perimeter measurement are controlled below 0.60 m and 1.00%, respectively.
An Efficient Resource and Topological Attribute-Based Configuration Algorithm of Virtual Networks
Authors: Wang Xinyan , Li Shunbin , Bai Longju
Published: September 2021

In the future Internet operation and service model, users put forward network application requirements, and the service provider allocates the corresponding virtual network for users according to the demands. Virtual network resource allocation is an NP-hard problem; hence, the existing research work is mainly based on heuristic algorithms to solve the above problem. However, these traditional algorithms based solely on resource attributes are not sufficient to configure virtual networks. We design a virtual network configuration algorithm (ERTA-CA) based on the two-stage heuristic resource utilization that considers both local and global resource attributes and topological attributes of the network. The experimental results verify that our proposed algorithm can improve the acceptance rate and configuration revenue of the virtual network, which further indicates that ERTA-CA can achieve the virtual network configuration with efficient use of resources.
Pain Changes Induced by Acupuncture in Single Body Areas in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Results from an Open-Label Pragmatic Study
Authors: Di Carlo Marco , Beci Giacomo , Salaffi Fausto
Published: September 2021

To date, there is considerable evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture in fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). However, it is not known in which body areas acupuncture is more effective. The objective of this study was to assess the improvements of pain induced by acupuncture in single body areas in patients with FM. In this open-label pragmatic study, FM patients in a state of high disease severity were consecutively enrolled and treated with a course of 8 weekly sessions of manual acupuncture. Patients were assessed with the Self-Administered Pain Scale (SAPS) of the Fibromyalgia Assessment Status at baseline and at the end of eight acupuncture sessions. Acupuncture sessions were all conducted with the same acupuncture formula (LV3, SP6, ST36, LI4, CV6, CV12, Ex-HN-3, and GV20) in each session and in each patient. Ninety-six FM patients completed the course of treatment. All the 16 body areas assessed by SAPS showed improvement in pain. A statistically significant improvement was achieved in 12 of the 16 body areas investigated, with the best results in abdomen and forearms (

p
=
0.001

), while the worst results were registered for neck (

p
=
0.058

), chest (

p
=
0.059

), left buttock (

p
=
0.065

), and right thigh (

p
=
0.052

). The treatment has also shown significant effectiveness in improving fatigue and sleep quality (

p
<
0.0001

). Acupuncture has a beneficial effect on pain in all body areas in FM patients with high disease severity, with the greatest effects in the abdominal region and in the forearms, allowing a personalization of the treatment.
Mood Reactive Disorders among COVID-19 Inpatients: Experience from a Monocentric Cohort
Authors: Fiore Vito , De Vito Andrea , Fanelli Chiara , Geremia Nicholas , Princic Elija , Nivoli Alessandra , Maida Ivana , Lorettu Liliana , Madeddu Giordano , Babudieri Sergio
Published: September 2021

Objective: We aimed to investigate the presence and severity of depressive symptoms among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inpatients and any possible changes after their discharge. Subject and Methods: We collected data of patients admitted to the Infectious Disease Unit in Sassari, Italy, for COVID-19, from March 8 to May 8, 2020. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was performed 1 week after admission (T0) and 1 week after discharge (T1). The cutoff point chosen to define the clinical significance of depressive symptoms was 20 (at least moderate). Results: Forty-eight subjects were included. Mean age was 64.3 ± 17.6 years, and 32 (66.7%) were male. Most frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular diseases (19; 39.6%) and hypertension (17; 35.4%). When performing BDI-II at T0, 21 (43.7%) patients reported depressive symptoms at T0, according to the chosen cutoff point (BDI-II = 20). Eight (16.7%) patients had minimal symptoms. Mild mood disturbance and moderate and severe depressive symptoms were found in 24 (50%), 14 (29.2%), and 2 (4.2%) patients, respectively, at T0. The comparison of the BDI-II questionnaire at T0 with T1 showed a significant improvement in the total score (p < 0.0001), as well as in 4 out of the 5 selected questions of interest (p < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that kidney failure and the death of a roommate were significantly associated with severity of mood disorders. Conclusion: Mood disturbances and depressive symptoms commonly occur among COVID-19 inpatients. Our results show that COVID-19 inpatients might be at higher risk for developing depressive reactive disorders and could benefit from an early psychological evaluation and strategies improving sleep quality.
Treatment Response and GWAS Risk Allele rs2514218 (C) of the Dopamine D2 Receptor Gene in Inpatients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Morozova Margarita A. , Lezheiko Tatyana V. , Lepilkina Taissia A. , Burminskiy Denis S. , Potanin Sergey S. , Beniashvili Allan G. , Rupchev George E. , Golimbet Vera E.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: The pathophysiological mechanisms of acute schizophrenia are largely unknown, but it is widely accepted that dopamine D2 receptors (DRD2s) are involved in psychosis treatments for schizophrenic patients. We suggest that genetic variation in these receptors may play a role in patients’ responses to commonly used antipsychotics, particularly D2-blockers. Methods: This study included adult patients with ICD-10 diagnoses of schizophrenia and current acute psychosis who were treated with antipsychotics. All patients underwent genotyping for DRD2 rs2514218 polymorphism. The definition of overall treatment response was based on changes in treatment scheme: no changes indicated a good response, and changes indicated a limited response. Results: There were 275 inpatients (38.1% of whom were female; mean age = 32.7 years, SD = 11.1 years) who met the inclusion criteria. Of the participants, 99 were good responders (34% of whom were female), and 176 were limited responders (40% of whom were female). No differences in demographic, premorbid, or disease characteristics were found. The number of patients that were homozygous for the risk allele was significantly greater in the limited response group than in the good response group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the risk variant at the DRD2 locus can be used as an indicator for patients’ responses to antipsychotics without direct DRD2-blocking, thereby shortening the time needed for drug selection.
Role of Alternative Splicing in Sex Determination in Vertebrates
Authors: Gómez-Redondo Isabel , Planells Benjamín , Navarrete Paula , Gutiérrez-Adán Alfonso
Published: September 2021

During the process of sex determination, a germ-cell-containing undifferentiated gonad is converted into either a male or a female reproductive organ. Both the composition of sex chromosomes and the environment determine sex in vertebrates. It is assumed that transcription level regulation drives this cascade of mechanisms; however, transcription factors can alter gene expression beyond transcription initiation by controlling pre-mRNA splicing and thereby mRNA isoform production. Using the key time window in sex determination and gonad development in mice, it has been reported that new non-transcriptional events, such as alternative splicing, could play a key role in sex determination in mammals. We know the role of key regulatory factors, like WT1(+/–KTS) or FGFR2(b/c) in pre-mRNA splicing and sex determination, indicating that important steps in the vertebrate sex determination process probably operate at a post-transcriptional level. Here, we discuss the role of pre-mRNA splicing regulators in sex determination in vertebrates, focusing on the new RNA-seq data reported from mice fetal gonadal transcriptome.