bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coupled Fixed Point Theorems for Some Type of Contraction Mappings in
b
-Cone and
b
-Theta Cone Metric Spaces
Authors: Ali Abou Bakr Sahar Mohamed
Published: May 2021

This paper proves the existence of a unique coupled fixed point of some type of contraction mappings defined on a complete

b

-cone and

b

-theta cone metric spaces; consequently, it extends and generalizes many previous coupled fixed point theorems.
Interaction of Adiponectin Genotypes and Insulin Resistance on the Occurrence of Taiwanese Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Chen Chun-Chieh , Wei Yu-Hsiang , Huang Chia-Chen , Hung Shin-Hui , Wang Zeng-Wei , Wong Ruey-Hong
Published: May 2021

Backgrounds. Adiponectin (apM1) may affect insulin sensitivity, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) can inhibit the binding of insulin and insulin receptors. However, whether apM1 and TNF-α genes influence the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) preceded by insulin resistance is unclear. The current study examines the interactions between the apM1 +45 genotypes, TNF-α ‐308 genotypes, and insulin resistance on the occurrence of MetS. Methods. A total of 329 community residents were recruited, and their personal characteristics were collected. Waist circumference and biochemical markers were examined for determining MetS. Genotypes were identified by the polymerase chain reaction. Results. After adjusting for the confounding effects, compared to apM1 +45 GG and GT genotypes carriers with HOMR‐IR less than 2.0, those carriers with HOMA‐IR greater than 2.0 had an increased MetS risk (OR = 4.35, 95% CI 2.14‐8.85). Further, apM1 +45 TT carriers with HOMA‐IR greater than 2.0 experienced a higher MetS risk (OR = 5.91, 95% CI 2.78‐12.54). A significant interaction of the apM1 +45 genotype and insulin resistance on the MetS development was observed (P = 0.04). Conclusion. Our data suggested that apM1 +45 genotypes might modify the effect of insulin resistance on the development of Taiwanese MetS.
Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Ameliorates Heat-Stress-Induced Impairment of Primary Sertoli Cells and the Blood-Testis Barrier in Rat via Androgen Receptor and Akt Phosphorylation
Authors: Hu Suqin , Liu Dianlong , Liu Sijia , Li Chunrui , Guo Jian
Published: May 2021

Male infertility induced by heat stress has been attracting more and more attention. Heat stress not only causes apoptosis of spermatocytes but also has adverse effects on Sertoli cells, further damaging spermatogenesis. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is the main bioactive component of Lycium barbarum, which has a protective effect on male reproduction, but its mechanism is still unclear. In this study, our results proved that LBP blocked the inhibitory effect on the proliferation activity of Sertoli cells after heat stress, reversed the dedifferentiation of Sertoli cells induced by heat stress, and ameliorated the structural integrity of the blood-testis barrier. In addition, it increased the expression of the androgen receptor and activated Akt signaling pathway to resist heat-stress-induced injury of Sertoli cells.
Intelligent Recognition of Safety Risk in Metro Engineering Construction Based on BP Neural Network
Authors: Li Mengchu , Wang Jingchun
Published: May 2021

With the rapid development of urban economy, the development of urban rail transit is becoming more and more rapid. As an energy-saving, land-saving, and environment-friendly green travel mode, the subway provides realistic and feasible solutions to the increasingly prominent traffic environment and other urban diseases in our country and brings a booming development in the subway construction industry with efforts to promote and build in many large cities. For a large number of subway constructions, it is particularly important to judge the construction safety status in time during the entire safety management process. Regularly conducting safety risk assessments on subway construction status can accurately predict and judge the types of accidents that occur. In order to solve the current safety risk assessment problems in the process of subway construction in our country, this paper is based on the BP neural network to intelligently identify the safety risks of subway construction, choosing from three aspects: human factors, management factors, and risk factors. We evaluate the construction safety of subway projects under construction through the model, predict the types of accidents that may occur, so that the construction unit can take corresponding preventive and improvement measures, improve the relevant safety technology of subway construction in a targeted manner, and propose corresponding reductions. We provide suggestions and measures for risk probability, to ensure that the construction unit discovers the danger in time and takes safety measures. The rectification measures provided theoretical basis and guidance.
An Appearance Invariant Gait Recognition Technique Using Dynamic Gait Features
Authors: Masood Hajra , Farooq Humera
Published: May 2021

Gait recognition-based person identification is an emerging trend in visual surveillance due to its uniqueness and adaptability to low-resolution video. Existing gait feature extraction techniques such as gait silhouette and Gait Energy Image rely on the human body’s shape. The shape of the human body varies according to the subject’s clothing and carrying conditions. The clothing choice changes every day and results in higher intraclass variance and lower interclass variance. Thus, gait verification and gait recognition are required for person identification. Moreover, clothing choices are highly influenced by the subject’s cultural background, and publicly available gait datasets lack the representation of South Asian Native clothing for gait recognition. We propose a Dynamic Gait Features extraction technique that preserves the spatiotemporal gait pattern with motion estimation. The Dynamic Gait Features under different Use Cases of clothing and carrying conditions are adaptable for gait verification and recognition. The Cross-Correlation score of Dynamic Gait Features resolves the problem of Gait verification. The standard deviation of Cross-Correlation Score lies in the range of 0.12 to 0.2 and reflects a strong correlation in Dynamic Gait Features of the same class. We achieved 98.5% accuracy on Support Vector Machine based gait recognition. Additionally, we develop a multiappearance-based gait dataset that captures the effects of South Asian Native Clothing (SACV-Gait dataset). We evaluated our work on CASIA-B, OUISIR-B, TUM-IITKGP, and SACV-Gait datasets and achieved an accuracy of 98%, 100%, 97.1%, and 98.8%, respectively.
A Retrospective Study of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Functional Outcome and the Incidence of Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tear in Spontaneous Osteonecrosis of the Knee
Authors: Wu Po-Ju , Lin Tsung Yu , Lu Yung Chang
Published: May 2021

Background. Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) can lead to severe knee osteoarthritis predominantly localized to the medial compartment. We aimed to determine whether unicompartmental knee arthroplasty was an effective treatment for primary SONK. Methods. We analyzed the functional outcomes in 23 patients with SONK (with a magnetic resonance imaging‐ (MRI‐) confirmed diagnosis) who underwent UKA at a single center. The mean follow‐up time was 67 months post‐UKA. Results. Significant improvements in function were indicated by reduced Oxford Knee and Visual Analogue Scale scores after UKA, and there were no specific complications after the procedures. The incidence of MRI‐identified medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) was 69.6% (16/23). Conclusion. Unicompartmental arthroplasty for SONK is less destructive to the native knee structure than total knee arthroplasty but can achieve comparable prognosis with strict patient selection. While the precise etiology of SONK is unknown, one theory posits that a MMPRT may change the biomechanical circumstances of the knee joint, leading to osteonecrosis. Although not confirmatory, the high prevalence rate suggests that MMPRT may have a key role in the development of SONK. UKA is an effective treatment option for SONK, resulting in significant functional improvement. Long‐term (>10 years) outcomes should be investigated.
Biodegradation of Weathered Petroleum Hydrocarbons Using Organic Waste Amendments
Authors: Yousefi Kimiya , Mohebbi Ali , Pichtel John
Published: May 2021

Extraction, transport, and processing of petroleum products have resulted in inadvertent contamination of soil. Various technologies have been proposed for removal of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants, including biological techniques. Treatment of aged (weathered) petroleum compounds is challenging, as these wastes tend to be enriched with recalcitrant hydrocarbons. The purpose of the reported study was to investigate remediation of weathered petroleum via simulated landfarming using selected soil amendments. Soil contaminated by aged crude petroleum from well fields in the southern Zagros region in Iran was treated in combination with plant compost, papermill sludge, activated carbon, and molasses. Over 15 weeks, the greatest percentage removal (40%) of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) occurred in the molasses treatment, followed by a 29% reduction in the plant compost treatment. The degradation constant (k), produced by a kinetic model, demonstrated the performance of the molasses over the other treatments applied; experimental data adequately fitted into first-order kinetics (k = 0.005 d−1, t½ = 71 d). Benzene decomposition was greatest (77 and 74%) in the molasses and activated carbon treatments, respectively, and was lowest in the papermill sludge treatment (41%). FTIR analysis revealed loss of benzene in all treatments. Bacterial counts were highest (4.9 × 106 CFU/g) in the plant compost treatment and lowest (1 × 105 CFU/g) in the untreated oil-contaminated soil. Based on the findings of the current study, it is possible to successfully conduct landfarming of aged petroleum deposits; however, it is recommended that common and inexpensive amendments such as molasses and plant compost be used when feasible.
The Cross‐Link between Ferroptosis and Kidney Diseases
Authors: Wang Jingyu , Liu Yi , Wang Yaqing , Sun Li
Published: May 2021

Acute and chronic kidney injuries result from structural dysfunction and metabolic disorders of the kidney in various etiologies, which significantly affect human survival and social wealth. Nephropathies are often accompanied by various forms of cell death and complex microenvironments. In recent decades, the study of kidney diseases and the traditional forms of cell death have improved. Nontraditional forms of cell death, represented by ferroptosis and necroptosis, have been discovered in the field of kidney diseases, which have reshuffled the role of traditional cell death in nephropathies. Although interactions between ferroptosis and acute kidney injury (AKI) have been continuously explored, studies on ferroptosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain limited. Here, we have reviewed the therapeutic significance of ferroptosis in AKI and anticipated the curative potential of ferroptosis for CKD in the hope of providing insights into ferroptosis and CKD.
Algorithms for Computing Wiener Indices of Acyclic and Unicyclic Graphs
Authors: Bi Bo , Jamil Muhammad Kamran , Muhammad Fahd Khawaja , Sun Tian-Le , Ahmad Imran , Ding Lei
Published: May 2021

Let G = (V(G), E(G)) be a molecular graph, where V(G) and E(G) are the sets of vertices (atoms) and edges (bonds). A topological index of a molecular graph is a numerical quantity which helps to predict the chemical/physical properties of the molecules. The Wiener, Wiener polarity, and the terminal Wiener indices are the distance‐based topological indices. In this paper, we described a linear time algorithm (LTA) that computes the Wiener index for acyclic graphs and extended this algorithm for unicyclic graphs. The same algorithms are modified to compute the terminal Wiener index and the Wiener polarity index. All these algorithms compute the indices in time O(n).
DDIT4 Novel Mutations in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Ding Fadian , Hong Xiaoping , Fan Xiangqun , Huang Shirong , Lian Wei , Chen Xingting , Liu Qicai , Chen Youting , Gao Feng
Published: May 2021

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. This study is aimed at searching the possible genetic mutations and the value of novel gene mutation in the DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) and signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the DNA sequences of DDIT4 from patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In addition, we used IHC to detect the expression level of DDIT4 in patients with pancreatic cancer in different types of gene mutation. Double-labeled immunofluorescence was employed to explore the expression levels of DDIT4/LC3 and their potential correlation. Our work indicated the two novel stable gene mutations in DDIT4 mRNA 3

′

-untranslated region (m.990 U>A and m.1246 C>U). Thirteen samples were found to have mutation in the DDIT4 3

′

-untranslated regions (UTR). To further verify the influence of gene mutation on protein expression, we performed immunohistochemistry on different gene mutation types, and we found a correlation between DDIT4 expression and gene mutation, which is accompanied by nuclear staining deepening. In order to further discuss the clinical value of DDIT4 gene mutation, immunofluorescence suggested that the expression of DDIT4 colocated with LC3; thus, we speculated that DDIT4 mutation may be involved in autophagy in pancreatic cancer cell. In this study, we found mutation in the 3

′

-UTR region of DDIT4, which may be associated with DDIT4 expression and tumor autophagy in pancreatic cancer tissues.
Antibacterial Effects of Green-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Ferula asafoetida against Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from the Hospital Environment and Assessment of Their Cytotoxicity on the Human Cell Lines
Authors: Abootalebi Seyedeh Narjes , Mousavi Seyyed Mojtaba , Hashemi Seyyed Alireza , Shorafa Eslam , Omidifar Navid , Gholami Ahmad
Published: May 2021

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a dangerous nosocomial pathogen in intensive care units, causing fatal clinical challenges and mortality. In this study, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the extract of Ferula asafetida and the chemical synthesis of AgNPs were carried out to evaluate their effects on A. baumannii bacterial strain and a human adenocarcinoma cell line. The NPs were characterized using several techniques, including field emission-scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. After synthesis, the arrangement of AgNPs was confirmed based on the maximum absorption peak at 450 nm. The results showed that the AgNPs had a hexagonal structure. The antimicrobial activity of biogenic NPs significantly increased and reached a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2 μg/mL. The nanomaterials did not exhibit any toxic effects on the human cell line at certain concentrations and showed improvements compared to chemically synthesized AgNPs. However, at higher concentrations (100 μg/mL), the cytotoxicity increased. Finally, it was concluded that biosynthesized AgNPs had significant antimicrobial effects on A. baumannii isolated from intensive care units.
Ear Acupressure for Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhong Juan , Liu Shuqin , Lai Dan , Lu Tao , Shen Yifeng , Gong Qisheng , Li Peijia , Zhang Qinxiu
Published: May 2021

Background. The treatment effects and safety of ear acupressure (EAP) for patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) have yet to be clarified. Objective. To evaluate the effects and safety of EAP in AR patients. Design. Systematic review of published studies. Methods. A total of 24 English and Chinese databases (PubMed, EMBASE (Excerpta Medical Database), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Informit, ScienceDirect, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences), ProQuest, AMED, Blackwell Synergy, PsycINFO, Panteleimon, AcuBriefs, KoreaMed, IndMed, Ingenta, mRCT, ISI Web of Knowledge, ERIC, VIP Information (http://www.cqvip.com), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (http://www.cnki.net), Cochrane Library, Chinese Cochrane Centre Controlled Trials Register Platform, and Wanfang Chinese Digital Periodical and Conference Database) were searched from their respective inceptions to August 2020 to collect randomized controlled trials of ear acupressure for allergic rhinitis. We performed literature inclusion, data extraction, and trial quality evaluations. Methodological quality was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook. Revman5.3 was used for all analyses. Results. A total of 203 trials were identified and eleven studies involved 1094 participants aged 3–70 years. EAP was better than control group interventions in terms of effectiveness (risk ratio (RR): 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36–0.70;

P
<
0.0001

). EAP was superior to sham EAP in terms of improvement of the total nasal symptom score (RR: −0.50; 95% CI: −0.96–0.05; P = 0.03), sneezing score (RR: −0.36; 95% CI: −0.59–0.12; P = 0.003), global QoL score (RR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.04–0.08; P = 0.03), and eye symptom score (RR: −0.36; 95% CI: −0.67–0.05; P = 0.02). Conclusions. Despite the positive results, it is premature to confirm the efficacy of EAP for treating AR. More high-quality studies are needed to confirm safety and efficacy.
Studies on Optimal Strategy to Adopt Nuclear Power Plants into Saudi Arabian Energy System Using MESSAGE Tool
Authors: Esmail Shadwan M. M. , Cheong Jae Hak
Published: May 2021

An optimal long-term electric power strategy for Saudi Arabia to adopt nuclear power was evaluated using the MESSAGE tool. Saudi Arabia is predicted to experience an electricity shortage by 2025 with the present energy system. This electricity shortage could be postponed until 2035 by rehabilitating the existing power plants. The MESSAGE model predicts that adopting a combination of renewable (i.e., solar and wind), advanced traditional power (i.e., gas turbine, steam, and combined cycle), and nuclear technologies is the most competitive future strategy to supply 43.7%, 41.6%, and 3.8%, respectively, of Saudi Arabia’s electricity needs by 2050. This paper proposes an optimal strategy for adopting nuclear power. The nuclear capacity of three scenarios was evaluated: a single APR-1400 nuclear reactor, a single SMART-100 nuclear reactor, and a combination of these two reactors. The results of this study indicate that the highest nuclear capacity was achieved by the combination of the APR-1400 and SMART-100 reactors followed by the single APR-1400 reactor and then the single SMART-100 reactor. However, the single G4ECONS nuclear reactor shows a higher capacity than the single APR-1400 reactor in other evaluated scenarios. The combined reactor strategy may be the most feasible option if the capital cost of a first-of-a-kind SMART-100 reactor is reduced by 62.3%. The cost reductions result from including factors like the time required to build the nuclear power plants in the MESSAGE tool calculation. Also, CO2 taxation will increase nuclear power’s feasibility in the Saudi Arabian energy system. However, the share of renewable energy is predicted to be more affected by the taxation of CO2. In this study, the proposed approach can provide more flexible strategic options for countries embarking on nuclear energy. These flexible strategic options can optimize their national energy mix for long-term planning.
Cluster‐Based Cooperative Cache Deployment and Coded Delivery Strategy in C‐V2X Networks
Authors: Bao Haizhou , Huo Yiming , Huang Chuanhe , Dong Xiaodai , Qiu Wanyu
Published: May 2021

Cellular vehicle‐to‐everything‐ (C‐V2X‐) based communications can support various content‐oriented applications and have gained significant progress in recent years. However, the limited backhaul bandwidth and dynamic topology make it difficult to obtain the multimedia service with high‐reliability and low‐latency communication in C‐V2X networks, which may degrade the quality of experience (QoE). In this paper, we propose a novel cluster‐based cooperative cache deployment and coded delivery strategy for C‐V2X networks to improve the cache hit ratio and response time, reduce the request‐response delay, and improve the bandwidth efficiency. To begin with, we design an effective vehicle cluster method. Based on the constructed cluster, we propose a two‐level cooperative cache deployment approach to cache the frequently requested files on the edge nodes, LTE evolved NodeB (eNodeB) and cluster head (CH), to maximize the overall cache hit ratio. Furthermore, we propose an effective coded delivery strategy to minimize the network load and the ratio of redundant files. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed method can effectively reduce the average response delay and network load and improve both the hit ratio and the ratio of redundant files.
Human Tissue Kallikrein 1 Is Downregulated in Elderly Human Prostates and Possesses Potential In Vitro Antioxidative and Antifibrotic Effects in Rodent Prostates
Authors: Zhang Mengyang , Luo Changcheng , Lin Dongxu , Cui Kai , Chen Zhong , Liu Jihong
Published: May 2021

Objective. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of KLK1 on aging‐related prostate alterations and search clues about the application of KLK1 to the treatment of human BPH. Methods. Thirty‐six rats including 26 male wild‐type SD rats and 10 transgenic rats were fed to 3‐ or 18‐month‐old and divided into three groups: young WTR (yWTR) as the control (n = 16), aged WTR (aWTR) (n = 10), and aged TGR (aTGR) (n = 10). The prostates of the three groups of rats (10 rats per group) were harvested to evaluate the levels of KLK1 expression, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and involved signaling pathways, such as NO/cGMP, COX‐2/PTGIS/cAMP, and TGF‐β1/RhoA/ROCK1, via quantitative PCR, Western blot, histological examinations, and ELISA. Moreover, the remaining 6 yWTRs were sacrificed to obtain primary prostate fibroblast and aortic endothelial cells, and a coculture system was built with the cells for the verification of above signaling pathways in vitro. And the direct effects of bradykinin on prostate cells were detected by MTT experiment. Prostate specimens of 47 patients (age from 48 to 92 years) undergoing BPH surgery were collected after approval. Histological examinations and KLK1 IHC were preformed to analyze the relationship between KLK1 expression and age and prostate fibrosis. Results. The human KLK1 gene only existed and was expressed in aTGR. The prostate of young rats expressed more KLK1 than the aged and the expression of KLK1 in prostate decreased with age in humans (r = −0.347, P = 0.018). Compared to the aWTR group, the yWTR and aTGR groups showed milder fibrosis, less oxidative stress, upregulated NO/cGMP, and COX‐2/PTGIS/cAMP signaling pathways and inhibited TGF‐β1/RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway. In the coculture system, KLK1 suppressed TGF‐β1‐mediated fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transdifferentiation via cleaving LMWK to produce the BK which upregulate eNOS expression and NO production in endothelial cells. BK not only slightly stimulated the proliferation ability of prostatic stromal cells but also upregulated iNOS and inhibited TGF‐β1 expression in them. Conclusion. KLK1 protects prostate from oxidative stress and fibrosis via amplified NO/cGMP signal in aged rats. The decrease of KLK1 expression with aging is laying the groundwork for the application of KLK1 to the treatment of human BPH. The current experimental data showed that the side effects of KLK1 on the prostate cell were not obvious.
The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Zhibaidihuang Decoction on Recurrent Oral Ulcer with Sirt1 as the Key Regulatory Target
Authors: Shao Yajie , Ding Bin , Ji Jinjun , Lei Shanshan , Dong Yu , Fan Yongsheng , Ge Weihong , Xu Li
Published: May 2021

The syndrome of ROU is generally manifested as obvious pain, redness, and swelling of local ulceration area, accompanied by flushed face, red eyes, sore throat, and swollen gums. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctors believe that “yin deficiency” is one causative factor of ROU. Zhibaidihuang decoction (ZBDHD) is a prescriptively developed receipt, where Anemarrhena asphodeloides and Phellodendri amurensis Cortex are added in the original Liuweidihuang decoction. It is generally used for “yin deficiency” treatment. It can effectively reduce the recurrence of oral ulcers and release the severity of the disease. However, the mechanism of this activity remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that ZBDHD has a certain therapeutic effect on the pathological changes of oral mucosa. Furthermore, the results of serum metabolomics showed ZBDHD influenced the synthesis and metabolism of certain fatty acids. The results of western blot, immunochemical, and immunofluorescence staining indicate that ZBDHD could increase the expression of Sirt1 and Foxp3 and suppress the expression and acetylation of NF-κB in oral mucosa cells. By screening active ingredients in ZBDHD, we found berberine, as well as other compounds, presenting high fitness of the Sirt1 reactive centre. Therefore, it is possible that ZBDHD can regulate the Sirt1-NF-κB pathway to improve fatty acids metabolism in the body, thereby achieving the effect of treating ROU.
[Retracted] Real‐Time Analysis of Basketball Sports Data Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Yao Peng
Published: May 2021

This paper focuses on the theme of the application of deep learning in the field of basketball sports, using research methods such as literature research, video analysis, comparative research, and mathematical statistics to explore deep learning in real‐time analysis of basketball sports data. The basketball posture action recognition and analysis system proposed for basketball movement is composed of two parts serially. The first part is based on the bottom‐up posture estimation method to locate the joint points and is used to extract the posture sequence of the target in the video. The second part is the analysis and research of the action recognition algorithm based on the convolution of the space‐time graph. According to the extracted posture sequence, the basketball action of the set classification is recognized. In order to obtain more accurate and three‐dimensional information, a multitraining target method can be used in training; that is, multiple indicators can be detected and feedback is provided at the same time to correct player errors in time; the other is an auxiliary method, which is compared with ordinary training. The method can actively correct technical movements, train players to form muscle memory, and improve their abilities. Through the research of this article, it provides a theoretical basis for promoting the application of deep learning in the field of basketball and also provides a theoretical reference for the wider application of deep learning in the field of sports. At the same time, the designed real‐time analysis system of basketball data also provides more actual reference values for coaches and athletes.
On Certain Aspects of Topological Indices
Authors: Islam Tanweer Ul , Mufti Zeeshan Saleem , Ameen Aqsa , Aslam Muhammad Nauman , Tabraiz Ali
Published: May 2021

A topological index, also known as connectivity index, is a molecular structure descriptor calculated from a molecular graph of a chemical compound which characterizes its topology. Various topological indices are categorized based on their degree, distance, and spectrum. In this study, we calculated and analyzed the degree-based topological indices such as first general Zagreb index

M

r

G

, geometric arithmetic index

GA

G

, harmonic index

H

G

, general version of harmonic index

H

r

G

, sum connectivity index

λ

G

, general sum connectivity index

λ

r

G

, forgotten topological index

F

G

, and many more for the Robertson apex graph. Additionally, we calculated the newly developed topological indices such as the

AG

2

G

and Sanskruti index for the Robertson apex graph G.
Optimization and Quality Analysis of Different Extraction Methods of Palm Seed Oil
Authors: Li Qi-Zhao , Cai Zheng-Qun
Published: May 2021

The extraction process of palm seed oil was optimized. Using palm seed as raw material, oil extraction rate was used as an index. The effects of flash extraction, ultrasonic‐assisted extraction, supercritical extraction, and aqueous enzymatic extraction on the yield of palm seed oil were investigated. The extraction methods and technological conditions of palm seed oil were optimized by the orthogonal method on the basis of single factor. The seed oil was analyzed and detected. The results showed that the water enzymatic extraction method was the best, and the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: enzymatic hydrolysis time 16 h, enzymatic hydrolysis temperature 50°C, and enzymatic content 2.0%. The oil yield of palm seed was 16.48%. Conclusion. Water enzymatic extraction process of palm seed oil is reasonable, the active ingredients are rich, and the quality of seed oil is better, providing reference for the development and research of palm seed oil.
TOA and DOA Estimation for IR‐UWB Signals: An Efficient Algorithm by Improved Root‐MUSIC
Authors: Li Yang , Yu Jia , He Liyuan
Published: May 2021

The automatically paired time of arrival (TOA) and direction of arrival (DOA) can be jointly estimated via a high‐precision multidimensional spectral peak search‐ (SPS‐) based multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm in the impulse radio ultrawideband (IR‐UWB) positioning system, while heavy computational burden is required. To tackle this issue, we propose an improved root‐MUSIC algorithm for joint TOA and DOA estimation. After modelling the frequency domain form of the received signal, the algorithm first uses the signal subspace to establish the relationship between the two antennas. Then, the MUSIC spatial spectrum function is reconstructed with this relation, which enables it to offer a spectrum function in regard to the one‐dimensional (1D) parameter of time delay. For further reducing the complexity, the TOA estimates of one antenna are obtained via 1D polynomial root finding instead of SPS, and the TOA estimates of the other antenna can be calculated by the established relationship. Finally, the DOA estimation can be achieved with the estimated TOAs. Due to the relationship between two antennas with signal subspace, the parameters estimated by the proposed algorithm are autopaired. Numerical simulations substantiate the superiority of the proposed algorithm.
User Value Identification Based on Improved RFM Model and K‐Means++ Algorithm for Complex Data Analysis
Authors: Wu Jun , Shi Li , Yang Liping , Niu Xiaxia , Li Yuanyuan , Cui Xiaodong , Tsai Sang-Bing , Zhang Yunbo
Published: May 2021

In recent years, with the development of machine learning and big data technology, user data has become an important element in the production process of enterprises. For today’s e‐commerce platforms, the deep mining of user’s purchase behavior is helpful to understand user’s purchase preferences and accurately recommend products that meet user expectations, which can not only improve user satisfaction but also reduce platform marketing cost. To accurately identify the user value of online purchasing on an e‐commerce platform, this paper uses an improved RFM model to extract user features and uses the K‐means++ clustering algorithm to realize user classification. The indicators of the traditional RFM model characterize user features from three angles: recent purchase time (R), purchase frequency (F), and total consumption amount (M). The user group and scenarios studied in this paper are different from the previous literature: (1) the user group is relatively fixed, (2) the consumer goods are relatively single, and (3) the characteristics of repeated purchase are obvious. Therefore, based on the existing literature, this paper extracts the user characteristics studied and improves and models the traditional indicators. Based on the real purchasing data from September to December 2018, it calculates the indicators that improved RFM, empowers the weight to indicators, and finally classifies the value of users by using the K‐means++ algorithm. The experimental results show that the user classification based on the improved RFM model is more accurate than the user classification based on the traditional RFM model, and the improved RFM model can identify the user value more accurately, which provides a strong support for the e‐commerce platform to realize the accurate marketing strategy based on big data.
A Review of the Material Characteristics, Antifreeze Mechanisms, and Applications of Cryoprotectants (CPAs)
Authors: Liu Xiangjian , Pan Yuxin , Liu Fenglin , He Yongju , Zhu Qubo , Liu Zhaolin , Zhan Xuehui , Tan Songwen
Published: May 2021

Cryopreservation has been a key technology in medical science, food preservation, and many other fields. In a freezing process, the formation of ice crystals may cause significant damage to the frozen samples. In order to reduce the damage, many cryoprotectants (CPAs) have been developed and added in cryopreservation processes for reduced ice volume, decreased ice size, proper ice shaping, and cell protection. According to the material characteristics, the CPAs are either impermeable (i.e., antifreeze protein, polyampholytes, and polyvinyl alcohol) or permeable (i.e., dimethyl sulfoxide, proline, and glycerol) to cell membranes. The typical CPAs are introduced in this work with their material characteristics, antifreeze mechanisms, and applications. Antifreeze mechanisms for different CPAs involve molecular adsorption on the ice surface, hydrogen bonding to ice, bending the ice surface, lowering the freezing point, inhibiting ice recrystallization, protecting cell membranes, reducing dehydration of cells, and breaking hydrogen bonds among ice crystals to reduce the size of ice crystals. In practice, different CPAs can be used together with their cryopreservation properties functioning synergetically. This study reviews the recent applications of CPAs in food, biology and medicine, and agriculture. Future works for CPAs are suggested in improving efficiency, revealing mechanisms, broadening application, and finding new CPAs.
Surgery Treatment Improved the Overall Survival Rate in Locoregional Myxoid Leiomyosarcoma than Other Myxosarcomas in the United States
Authors: Almoiliqy Marwan , Al-danakh Abdullah , Safi Mohammed , Alradhi Mohammed , AL-Azab Mahmoud , Adlat Salah , Zhou Wanhai , Mohammed Aiman Saleh A. , Al-maamari Ahmed
Published: May 2021

Myxosarcomas are rare malignant tumors of soft connective tissues, classified into various subtypes, including myxoid liposarcoma, myxoid chondrosarcoma, and myxoid leiomyosarcoma. In this study, we proposed to study the demographic, tumor characteristics, and overall survival rate and compared the treatment modalities between these cancers. Patient data collected based on locoregional metastasis presentation of the abovementioned tumors with a cutoff study of survival duration up to 10 years were obtained from the SEER database during 1975‐2016. Our results indicated that elderly patients and females were more in locoregional myxoid leiomyosarcoma than myxoid liposarcoma and myxoid chondrosarcoma with locoregional metastasis. The white race represented the most patients who suffered from these cancers than other races. The heart is the primary site for the abovementioned cancers, in addition to the female genitals to the myxoid leiomyosarcoma. Myxoid liposarcoma and myxoid chondrosarcoma patients with locoregional metastasis were suffering from grade II, while locoregional myxoid leiomyosarcoma patients with blank grading were due to missed data. Surgery was the most common treatment modality in this study compared with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed a significant difference in survival time between the three subtypes by using histology, and myxoid leiomyosarcoma showed prolonged survival than others. Elderly, female, white, unknown grade, surgery, no radiation, and no chemotherapy variables were independent factors associated with overall survival among these cancers. Multivariate analysis also showed significant differences in overall survival between the three tumors by histology, and myxoid leiomyosarcoma was with a better prognosis than others. Multivariate analysis of locoregional myxoid leiomyosarcoma showed the statistical significance of black race, grade, and radiotherapy, indicating them as independent prognostic factors of locoregional myxoid leiomyosarcoma. We conclude that surgery was the primary treatment modality against these cancers than radiotherapy and chemotherapy. And the locoregional myxoid leiomyosarcomas showed a better prognosis and higher survival rate than locoregional myxoid liposarcoma and locoregional myxoid chondrosarcoma.
Long Noncoding RNA CTD-2245E15.3 Promotes Anabolic Enzymes ACC1 and PC to Support Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Growth
Authors: Wang Chen , Meng Xiangfeng , Zhou Yu , Yu Jing , Li Qing , Liao Zhicong , Gu Yuanyuan , Han Jiayi , Linghu Shuo , Jiao Zichen , Wang Tao , Zhang Chen-Yu , Chen Xi
Published: May 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) have been shown to play critical regulatory roles in the onset and progression of human cancers. However, the functions of a large proportion of lncRNAs are still unexplored. Here we describe a novel lncRNA, CTD-2245E15.3, that promotes lung tumorigenesis by regulating the anabolic enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1, encoded by the ACACA gene) and pyruvate carboxylase (PC). Differentially expressed lncRNAs between non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and paired adjacent nontumor tissues were identified by a microarray and validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. CTD-2245E15.3 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC and was mainly located in the cytoplasm. Knockdown of CTD-2245E15.3 by specific antisense oligonucleotides suppressed cell growth in vitro and in vivo, largely due to cell-cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Overexpression of CTD-2245E15.3 in an orthotopic model of lung cancer led to a significant increase in total tumor burden. CTD-2245E15.3 exerted its oncogenic function by binding ACC1 and PC, which are key anabolic factors for biomolecule synthesis in rapidly proliferating tumor cells. Knockdown of CTD-2245E15.3 increased phosphorylation of ACC1 at an inhibitory site for enzymatic activity and promoted PC degradation via ubiquitination. Supplements of palmitate or oxaloacetate, products of ACC1 and PC, alleviated the suppression of cell growth caused by loss of CTD-2245E15.3. These findings reveal the important role of CTD-2245E15.3 as an oncogenic lncRNA in the anabolic process for tumor growth.

Significance:

These findings demonstrate a novel lncRNA CTD-2245E15.3 that binds and positively regulates anabolic enzymes ACC1 and PC to promote tumor growth.
Disabling the Fanconi Anemia Pathway in Stem Cells Leads to Radioresistance and Genomic Instability
Authors: Deng Xinzhu , Tchieu Jason , Higginson Daniel S. , Hsu Kuo-Shun , Feldman Regina , Studer Lorenz , Shaham Shai , Powell Simon N. , Fuks Zvi , Kolesnick Richard
Published: May 2021

Fanconi anemia is an inherited genome instability syndrome characterized by interstrand cross-link hypersensitivity, congenital defects, bone marrow failure, and cancer predisposition. Although DNA repair mediated by Fanconi anemia genes has been extensively studied, how inactivation of these genes leads to specific cellular phenotypic consequences associated with Fanconi anemia is not well understood. Here we report that Fanconi anemia stem cells in the C. elegans germline and in murine embryos display marked nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ)–dependent radiation resistance, leading to survival of progeny cells carrying genetic lesions. In contrast, DNA cross-linking does not induce generational genomic instability in Fanconi anemia stem cells, as widely accepted, but rather drives NHEJ-dependent apoptosis in both species. These findings suggest that Fanconi anemia is a stem cell disease reflecting inappropriate NHEJ, which is mutagenic and carcinogenic as a result of DNA misrepair, while marrow failure represents hematopoietic stem cell apoptosis.

Significance:

This study finds that Fanconi anemia stem cells preferentially activate error-prone NHEJ-dependent DNA repair to survive irradiation, thereby conferring generational genomic instability that is instrumental in carcinogenesis.
Inhibition of Jumonji Histone Demethylases Selectively Suppresses HER2+ Breast Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis Growth via Inhibition of GMCSF Expression
Authors: Bhan Arunoday , Ansari Khairul I. , Chen Mike Y. , Jandial Rahul
Published: May 2021

HER2+ breast leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (HER2+ LC) occurs when tumor cells spread to cerebrospinal fluid–containing leptomeninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord, a complication with a dire prognosis. HER2+ LC remains incurable, with few treatment options. Currently, much effort is devoted toward development of therapies that target mutations. However, targeting epigenetic or transcriptional states of HER2+ LC tumors might efficiently target HER2+ LC growth via inhibition of oncogenic signaling; this approach remains promising but is less explored. To test this possibility, we established primary HER2+ LC (Lepto) cell lines from nodular HER2+ LC tissues. These lines are phenotypically CD326+CD49f−, confirming that they are derived from HER2+ LC tumors, and express surface CD44+CD24−, a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. Like CSCs, Lepto lines showed greater drug resistance and more aggressive behavior compared with other HER2+ breast cancer lines in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, the three Lepto lines overexpressed Jumonji domain–containing histone lysine demethylases KDM4A/4C. Treatment with JIB04, a selective inhibitor of Jumonji demethylases, or genetic loss of function of KDM4A/4C induced apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest and reduced Lepto cell viability, tumorsphere formation, regrowth, and invasion in vitro. JIB04 treatment of patient-derived xenograft mouse models in vivo reduced HER2+ LC tumor growth and prolonged animal survival. Mechanistically, KDM4A/4C inhibition downregulated GMCSF expression and prevented GMCSF-dependent Lepto cell proliferation. Collectively, these results establish KDM4A/4C as a viable therapeutic target in HER2+ LC and spotlight the benefits of targeting the tumorigenic transcriptional network.

Significance:

HER2+ LC tumors overexpress KDM4A/4C and are sensitive to the Jumonji demethylase inhibitor JIB04, which reduces the viability of primary HER2+ LC cells and increases survival in mouse models.
Host-Dependent Phenotypic Resistance to EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Authors: Haga Yuya , Marrocco Ilaria , Noronha Ashish , Uribe Mary Luz , Nataraj Nishanth Belugali , Sekar Arunachalam , Drago-Garcia Diana , Borgoni Simone , Lindzen Moshit , Giri Suvendu , Wiemann Stefan , Tsutsumi Yasuo , Yarden Yosef
Published: May 2021

Lung cancers driven by mutant forms of EGFR invariably develop resistance to kinase inhibitors, often due to secondary mutations. Here we describe an unconventional mechanism of resistance to dacomitinib, a newly approved covalent EGFR kinase inhibitor, and uncover a previously unknown step of resistance acquisition. Dacomitinib-resistant (DR) derivatives of lung cancer cells were established by means of gradually increasing dacomitinib concentrations. These DR cells acquired no secondary mutations in the kinase or other domains of EGFR. Along with resistance to other EGFR inhibitors, DR cells acquired features characteristic to epithelial–mesenchymal transition, including an expanded population of aldehyde dehydrogenase–positive cells and upregulation of AXL, a receptor previously implicated in drug resistance. Unexpectedly, when implanted in animals, DR cells reverted to a dacomitinib-sensitive state. Nevertheless, cell lines derived from regressing tumors displayed renewed resistance when cultured in vitro. Three-dimensional and cocultures along with additional analyses indicated lack of involvement of hypoxia, fibroblasts, and immune cells in phenotype reversal, implying that other host-dependent mechanisms might nullify nonmutational modes of resistance. Thus, similar to the phenotypic resistance of bacteria treated with antibiotics, the reversible resisters described here likely evolve from drug-tolerant persisters and give rise to the irreversible, secondary mutation–driven nonreversible resister state.

Significance:

This study reports that stepwise acquisition of kinase inhibitor resistance in lung cancers driven by mutant EGFR comprises a nonmutational, reversible resister state.
TIMP1 Triggers Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Schoeps Benjamin , Eckfeld Celina , Prokopchuk Olga , Böttcher Jan , Häußler Daniel , Steiger Katja , Demir Ihsan Ekin , Knolle Percy , Soehnlein Oliver , Jenne Dieter E. , Hermann Chris D. , Krüger Achim
Published: May 2021

Tumor-derived protein tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP1) correlates with poor prognosis in many cancers, including highly lethal pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The noncanonical signaling activity of TIMP1 is emerging as one basis for its contribution to cancer progression. However, TIMP1–triggered progression-related biological processes are largely unknown. Formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) in the tumor microenvironment is known to drive progression of PDAC, but factors or molecular mechanisms initiating NET formation in PDAC remain elusive. In this study, gene-set enrichment analysis of a human PDAC proteome dataset revealed that TIMP1 protein expression most prominently correlates with neutrophil activation in patient-derived tumor tissues. TIMP1 directly triggered formation of NETs in primary human neutrophils, which was dependent on the interaction of TIMP1 with its receptor CD63 and subsequent ERK signaling. In genetically engineered PDAC-bearing mice, TIMP1 significantly contributed to NET formation in tumors, and abrogation of TIMP1 or NETs prolonged survival. In patient-derived PDAC tumors, NETs predominantly colocalized with areas of elevated TIMP1 expression. Furthermore, TIMP1 plasma levels correlated with DNA-bound myeloperoxidase, a NET marker, in the blood of patients with PDAC. A combination of plasma levels of TIMP1 and NETs with the clinically established marker CA19–9 allowed improved identification of prognostically distinct PDAC patient subgroups. These observations may have a broader impact, because elevated systemic levels of TIMP1 are associated with the progression of a wide range of neutrophil-involved inflammatory diseases.

Significance:

These findings highlight the prognostic relevance of TIMP1 and neutrophil extracellular traps in highly lethal pancreatic cancer, where a noncanonical TIMP1/CD63/ERK signaling axis induces NET formation.