bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte and Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratios and Hematological Parameters with Diagnosis, Stages, Extrapulmonary Involvement, Pulmonary Hypertension, Response to Treatment, and Prognosis in Patients with Sarcoidosis
Authors: Korkmaz Celalettin , Demircioglu Sinan
Published: September 2020

Sarcoidosis is a rare disease characterized by granulomatous inflammation in affected organs, primarily in lungs. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are easy and practical methods providing valuable information in diagnosis, severity, and prognosis of various diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between NLR, PLR, and hematological parameters in sarcoidosis. The study was performed with 75 sarcoidosis patients and 92 controls. Patients’ NLR, PLR, and hematological parameters were compared with those of controls. Additionally, while differences between NLR and PLR were investigated in sarcoidosis patients, differences of extrapulmonary involvement, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and spontaneous remission between those with and without responses to treatment concerning stages were also assessed. NLR and PLR were significantly higher in sarcoidosis patients than controls. For NLR, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were found as 68, 61, 58, and 70% respectively, while sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for PLR were found as 72, 67, 63, and 74%, respectively. In sarcoidosis patients, NLR and PLR were significantly higher at stage-2 and -3 than at stage -1 and -4. There was a significant weak positive correlation between C-reactive protein (CRP) and NLR and PLR. Mean platelet volume (MPV), hemoglobin (Hgb), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were lower among patients than controls. A positive moderate correlation was detected between NLR and CD4/CD8 in blood, while there was a strong positive correlation between CD4/CD8 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and positive moderate correlation between PLR and CD4/CD8 in BAL. High NLR and PLR values were not significantly associated with pulmonary PH, spontaneous remission, response to treatment, and prognosis. The increase in PLR and NLR may be a guide for diagnoses of both sarcoidosis and lung parenchymal involvement. To use these entities as markers, our findings should be supported with prospective studies with larger samples.
D-Dimer Combined with Fibrinogen Predicts the Risk of Venous Thrombosis in Fracture Patients
Authors: Lin Chaohui , Chen Yifan , Chen Bin , Zheng Ke , Luo Xiongbiao , Lin Fengfei
Published: September 2020

Objective. While D-dimer can successfully diagnose venous thrombosis due to its excellent negative predictive value (NPV), it cannot be used to detect venous thromboembolism (VTE) because of its low positive predictive value (PPV). This study aims to investigate if a combination of using D-dimer and fibrinogen can improve PPV in the VTE diagnosis. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed various data including D-dimer, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, ultrasound, and others collected from 10775 traumatic fracture patients and categorized them into two groups of VTE and non-VTE. By comparing the difference between the two groups, we employ multiple logistic regression to find risk factors that are useful to detect VTE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic yield of using fibrinogen, D-dimer, and their combination, respectively. Also, these data were classified into quartiles by patient age. We perform the same analysis on the quartiles and find if the patient’s age has an impact on diagnosing VTE. Results. The univariate analysis demonstrated that five factors of age, D-dimer, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significant to predict VTE. ROC showed that D-dimer was more useful than fibrinogen for the diagnosis of VTE, while the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.7296 for D-dimer and 0.5209 for fibrinogen. The cutoff point of D-dimer and fibrinogen was 424.89 ng/ml and 3.543 g/L, respectively. The specificity of fibrinogen was 0.777 which was better than D-dimer, while the sensitivity of fibrinogen was lower than that of D-dimer. Both PPV and NPV were similar in D-dimer and fibrinogen. The PPV of combining D-dimer and fibrinogen in ages Q3 (60 < age ≤ 70) and Q4 (age > 70) was better than using either D-dimer or fibrinogen. Conclusions. Fibrinogen is a promising strategy for the diagnosis of subclinical VTE and postoperative VTE. In particular, a combination of D-dimer and fibrinogen can improve the PPV to successfully diagnose VTE in traumatic fracture patients who are more than 60 years old. Levels of Evidence. This assay is a diagnostic test at level II.
Association of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms (‐580 A/G and ‐609 G/T) and TNFR1 Serum Levels with the Susceptibility to Gastric Precancerous Lesions and Gastric Cancer Related to H. pylori Infection in a Moroccan Population
Authors: Bounder Ghizlane , Jouimyi Mohamed R. , Boura Hasna , Jouhadi Hassan , Badre Wafaa , Benomar Hakima , Kettani Anass , Lebrazi Halima , Maachi Fatima
Published: September 2020

Chronic inflammation due to H. pylori infection is the risk factor of gastric cancer (GC). Through its receptor (TNFR1), TNF‐α plays a fundamental role in inflammatory, infectious, and tumor processes. Dysregulation of TNFR1 gene expression could impact many biological processes that can lead to cancer. This study is aimed at evaluating the association of TNFR1 promoter gene polymorphisms (‐580 A/G and ‐609 G/T) and TNFR1 serum levels with GC and precancerous lesion susceptibility. Patients suffering from gastric lesions (65 chronic gastritis, 50 precancerous lesions, and 40 GC) related to H. pylori infection and 63 healthy controls (HC) were involved in this study. Individuals are genotyped by TNFR1 gene promoter sequencing, and TNFR1 serum levels were measured by the ELISA quantitative method. Concerning TNFR1 ‐609 G/T locus, we noticed that the T allele was associated with an attenuated susceptibility to GC (OR = 0.4; p value = 0.02). At the genotypic level and under the recessive model, the TNFR1 ‐609 TT genotype showed a decreased risk of GC (OR = 0.3, p value = 0.03) compared to the combined (GG/GT) genotypes. TNFR1 serum levels have been increased together with gastric lesion severity (p value < 0.05). The TNFR1 ‐609 TT genotype seemed linked to a low level of sTNFR1 compared to GT and GG genotypes (p value = 0.07). Concerning TNFR1 ‐580 A/G locus, no significant relation was noticed between this polymorphism and GC susceptibility, as well as with the TNFR1 serum level. Our results suggest that the TNFR1 ‐609 T allele appears to have a protective effect against GC. High levels of TNFR1 serum levels seemed to be associated with the aggressiveness of gastric lesions. Therefore, our results suggest that TNFR1 ‐609 T/G polymorphism and the TNFR1 serum levels may be related to GC susceptibility.
USP46 Inhibits Cell Proliferation in Lung Cancer through PHLPP1/AKT Pathway
Authors: Wang Wei , Chen Meng , Xu Hailing , Lv Dongqing , Zhou Suna , Yang Haihua
Published: September 2020

Previous studies have shown that ubiquitin‐specific protease 46 (USP46) is a tumor suppressor in colon cancer and renal cell carcinoma. However, its specific role in other cancers is still poorly understood. This study is aimed at investigating the role of USP46 in lung cancer tumorigenesis and identifying its underlying mechanisms. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blotting (WB) were used to measure the expression levels of USP46 and PHLPP1 in lung cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue from patients with lung cancer. We examined the ability of USP46 to regulate cell proliferation in lung cancer cells via cell proliferation assay, radiation assay, genetic overexpression and knockdown, and chemical inhibition of relevant genes. We investigated the underlying mechanisms in multiple lung cancer cell line models by coimmunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays. In this study, we identified a strong downregulation of the expressions of USP46 and PHLPP1 in lung cancer tissues relative to normal adjacent tissues. USP46 was further shown to inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation under conditions of normal growth and during radiation‐induced DNA damage by antagonizing the ubiquitination of PHLPP1 resulting in the inhibition of AKT signaling. Exposure to radiation and AKT inhibition significantly reversed the effect of USP46 siRNA on lung cancer cell proliferation. USP46 is downregulated in lung cancer and suppresses the proliferation of lung cancer cells by inhibiting the PHLPP1/AKT pathway. AKT inhibition slows the proliferation of lung cancer cells that have been downregulated by USP46 and exposed to radiation. This suggests a potential therapeutic avenue for USP46‐downregulated lung cancer through a combination of radiation and AKT inhibitor treatment.
A Novel Current Calculation Method Based on Temperature Rise of Current-Carrying Conductor
Authors: Lv Sen , Zong Ming
Published: September 2020

Smart grid is the inevitable trend of power grid technology development. As an important terminal apparatus in the power grid, the overload protection method of bimetal used by traditional miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) is difficult to meet the requirements of smart grid. Bimetal uses the thermal effect of current for overload protection, so in this paper, the thermal effect is used to calculate the current. Also, all current carrying conductors except superconductors will generate heat, and the heat will not be saturated, which can meet the characteristics of miniature circuit breakers with small volume and large current. Compared with other current calculation methods, the proposed method has simple structure and wide measurement range, which is an effective way to solve the problem of intelligent MCBs. After derivation, the algorithm in this paper is not affected by the convection coefficient. The experimental results show that the error of the algorithm is less than 5%.
Oral Immunotherapy Using Probiotic Ice Cream Containing Recombinant Food-Grade Lactococcus lactis Which Inhibited Allergic Responses in a BALB/c Mouse Model
Authors: Vasiee Alireza , Falah Fereshteh , Sankian Mojtaba , Tabatabaei-Yazdi Farideh , Mortazavi Seyed Ali
Published: September 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of recombinant probiotic bacteria as a candidate for oral vaccine with the potential of treating allergy to Amaranthus retroflexus pollens. The main gene of this allergen, Ama r 2, was cloned into the food grade plasmid pNZ7025 and then was electrotransformed into the food grade Lactococcus lactis NZ1330. No expression was observed in the primary structure due to the distance between the ribosome binding site and the start codon. Therefore, the vector structure was corrected using the site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) technique. The cell extract of this strain was used for assessing the expression of the recombinant allergen in western blot analysis, and the existence of this protein with a molecular weight of 14.2 kDa was confirmed. To evaluate the efficacy of this strain in the treatment of allergies as an oral vaccine, probiotic ice cream was prepared. After the sensitization of mice, the treatment was performed by oral immunotherapy for 4 weeks, 4 to 5 times per week. 20 μl of functional ice cream with 1012 CFU/ml of r-L. lactis NZ1330 significantly reduced the serum IgE level. The levels of IFN-γ and TGF-β cytokines increased in the 20 μl ice cream treatment group as well as 40 μg/ml pure allergen compared with the PBS-treated group, and IL-4 cytokine levels decreased compared with the PBS-treated group. Overall, 20 μl ice cream with 1012 CFU/ml of the recombinant bacteria resulted in the best performance in terms of improving allergies to Th1 and Treg responses.
Congenital Bladder and Urethral Agenesis: Two Case Reports and Management
Authors: Delshad Salahaddin , Rastad Hadith , Mardi Parham
Published: September 2020

Background. Agenesis of the bladder and urethra is a rare congenital anomaly, with a very few living cases reported in the literature so far. Case Presentation. We are reporting two female patients (3 and 6 years old) with bladder and urethral agenesis who presented with urinary incontinence. In both patients, magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) revealed a case of bladder and urethral agenesis with normal ureters draining into the vagina. Patients underwent a neobladder and conduit creation surgery. The neobladder was constructed from the whole cecum and a part of the ascending colon, followed by an anastomose of the ureters into the neobladder in a nonrefluxing fashion; the appendix was used simultaneously as a continent catheterizable conduit. The two patients attained urinary continence postoperatively. Conclusion. We reported two cases of bladder agenesis, and for the first time, we have performed neobladder creation surgery using the cecum and ascending colon. One-year follow-up did not reveal any complications.
Adequacy of Cancer-Related Pain Treatments and Factors Affecting Proper Management in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia
Authors: Tuem Kald Beshir , Gebremeskel Leake , Hiluf Kibrom , Arko Kbrom , Hailu Haftom Gebregergs
Published: September 2020

Background. Cancer-related pain (CRP) is a major problem with a potential negative impact on quality of life of the patients and their caregivers. Purpose. To assess the adequacy of cancer-related pain management in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (ACSH). Methodology. A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in ACSH from January to March 2019. A well-structured professional-assisted questionnaire using Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) was used to collect data concerning the severity of pain, functioning interference, and adequacy of pain management in cancer patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.21. Result. Out of 91 participants, 47 (51.6%) were male and 52 (57.1%) were between the age group of 18–45, with the mean age of 44.8 ± 13.6 years. According to the pain assessment tool (BPI), 85 (93.4%) patients experienced pain and 90 (98.9%) patients had activity interference; negative pain management index (PMI) was observed in 40 (43.95%) patients, showing that 43.95% were receiving inadequate pain management. Out of 38 patients who received no analgesics, 35.2% were found to have inadequate pain management, whereas those who took strong opioids had 100% effective pain management and the majority of the patients were in stage III. Among 38 (41.76%) only 20 (52.63%) received adequate pain management, based on patients’ self-report in which 18.7% of the participants stated that they got 30% pain relief and only 1.1% got 90% relief. The predictors of undertreatment were presence of severe pain, metastasis, comorbidity, and stage of the cancer and could also be due to the educational level and monthly income, as evidenced by significant association. Conclusion. This study suggests that cancer pain management in ACSH was sufficient for only 56%. However, large numbers of individuals are suffering from a manageable pain. Hence, remedial action should be taken, including increasing awareness of symptom management in medical staff and incorporating existing knowledge into routine clinical practice.
Analysis of the Heterogeneity of CD4+CD25+ T Cell TCR β CDR3 Repertoires in Breast Tumor Tissues, Lung Metastatic Tissues, and Spleens from 4T1 Tumor-Bearing BALB/c Mice
Authors: Zhang Teng , Duan Fangfang , Su Danhua , Ma Long , Yang Jiezuan , Shi Bin , He Xiaoyan , Ma Rui , Sun Suhong , Yao Xinsheng
Published: September 2020

To study the homogeneity and heterogeneity of CD4+CD25+ T cells receptor β-chain complementarity determining region 3 (TCR β CDR3) repertoires in breast tumor tissues, lung metastatic tissues, and spleens from 4T1 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. We used high-throughput sequencing to analyze the characteristics and changes of CD4+CD25+ TCR β CDR3 repertoires among tumor tissues, lung metastatic tissues, and spleens. The diversity of the CD4+CD25+ TCR β CDR3 repertoires in breast tumor tissue was similar to that of lung metastatic tissues and less pronounced than that of spleen tissues. Breast tumor tissues and lung metastatic tissues had a greater number of high-frequency CDR3 sequences and intermediate-frequency CDR3 sequences than those of spleens. The proportion of unique productive CDR3 sequences in breast tumor tissues and lung metastatic tissues was significantly greater than that in the spleens. The diversity and frequency of the CDR3 repertoires remained homogeneous in breast tumors and lung metastatic tissues and showed great heterogeneity in the spleens, which suggested that the breast tissues and lung metastatic tissues have characteristics of CD4+CD25+ T cells that relate to the tumor microenvironment. However, the number and characteristics of overlapping CDR3 sequences suggested that there were some different CD4+CD25+ T cells in tumors and in the circulatory immune system. The study may be used to further explore the characteristics of the CDR3 repertoires and determine the source of the CD4+CD25+ T cells in the breast cancer microenvironment.
Triterpenoids from the Leaves of Centella asiatica Inhibit Ionizing Radiation‐Induced Migration and Invasion of Human Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Han Ah-Reum , Lee Sanghun , Han Sujin , Lee Yeon Jin , Kim Jin-Baek , Seo Eun Kyoung , Jung Chan-Hun
Published: September 2020

Radiotherapy using ionizing radiation is a major therapeutic modality for advanced human lung cancers. However, ionizing radiation itself can induce malignant behaviors such as cancer cell migration and invasion, leading to local recurrence or distal metastasis. Therefore, safer and more effective agents that inhibit the metastatic behaviors of cancer cells in radiotherapy are needed. As a part of our ongoing search for new radiotherapy enhancers from medicinal herbs, we isolated the following triterpenoids from the ethanol extract of Centella asiatica: asiatic acid (1), madecassic acid (2), and asiaticoside (3). These compounds inhibited the ionizing radiation‐induced migration and invasion of A549 human lung cancer cells at noncytotoxic concentrations. These results suggest that triterpenoids 1–3 isolated from C. asiatica are candidate natural compounds to enhance the effect of radiotherapy in patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer.
Improved ORB-SLAM2 Algorithm Based on Information Entropy and Image Sharpening Adjustment
Authors: Luo Kaiqing , Lin Manling , Wang Pengcheng , Zhou Siwei , Yin Dan , Zhang Haolan
Published: September 2020

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) has become a research hotspot in the field of robots in recent years. However, most visual SLAM systems are based on static assumptions which ignored motion effects. If image sequences are not rich in texture information or the camera rotates at a large angle, SLAM system will fail to locate and map. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an improved ORB-SLAM2 algorithm based on information entropy and sharpening processing. The information entropy corresponding to the segmented image block is calculated, and the entropy threshold is determined by the adaptive algorithm of image entropy threshold, and then the image block which is smaller than the information entropy threshold is sharpened. The experimental results show that compared with the ORB-SLAM2 system, the relative trajectory error decreases by 36.1% and the absolute trajectory error decreases by 45.1% compared with ORB-SLAM2. Although these indicators are greatly improved, the processing time is not greatly increased. To some extent, the algorithm solves the problem of system localization and mapping failure caused by camera large angle rotation and insufficient image texture information.
Identification of Latent Oncogenes with a Network Embedding Method and Random Forest
Authors: Zhao Ran , Hu Bin , Chen Lei , Zhou Bo
Published: September 2020

Oncogene is a special type of genes, which can promote the tumor initiation. Good study on oncogenes is helpful for understanding the cause of cancers. Experimental techniques in early time are quite popular in detecting oncogenes. However, their defects become more and more evident in recent years, such as high cost and long time. The newly proposed computational methods provide an alternative way to study oncogenes, which can provide useful clues for further investigations on candidate genes. Considering the limitations of some previous computational methods, such as lack of learning procedures and terming genes as individual subjects, a novel computational method was proposed in this study. The method adopted the features derived from multiple protein networks, viewing proteins in a system level. A classic machine learning algorithm, random forest, was applied on these features to capture the essential characteristic of oncogenes, thereby building the prediction model. All genes except validated oncogenes were ranked with a measurement yielded by the prediction model. Top genes were quite different from potential oncogenes discovered by previous methods, and they can be confirmed to become novel oncogenes. It was indicated that the newly identified genes can be essential supplements for previous results.
Curative Effect and Mechanism of Guiren Runchang Granules on Morphine‐Induced Slow Transit Constipation in Mice
Authors: Sun Yihan , Yan Chengqiu , Jin Shifeng , Shi Chong , Zhao Jingming , Li Guofeng
Published: September 2020

Recent studies have identified the curative effects of traditional Chinese medicine for constipation. The mechanism of action of Guiren Runchang granules (GRGs) in the treatment of slow transit constipation (STC) was evaluated in this study. Here, we assessed the efficacy of GRG by comparing the differences in fecal characteristics, stool weight, and intestinal transit rate (ITR) among 6 groups (n = 12/group), which were administered three concentrations of GRG, mosapride, and saline. The influence of GRG on the SCF/c‐kit pathway, AQP4, and serum motilin of mice was assessed through ELISA, western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis. The dry weight of mouse feces at 24 hr and ITR in the MD (medium‐dose GRG; 9.44 g/kg/d) and HD (high‐dose GRG; 18.88 g/kg/d) groups was higher than that in the MC (model control) group. The serum motilin of morphine‐induced mice level was lower in the MC group than in the NC (normal control) group, and this condition was improved in the HD group. The HD group expressed significantly higher levels of SCF and c‐kit protein but lower levels of AQP4 and simultaneously presented more SCF‐positive and c‐kit‐positive cells. However, no differences in the serum SCF level were found among the six groups. Certain concentrations of GRG are effective in STC mice, the potential mechanism of which may be associated with repairing the SCF/c‐kit pathway and reducing the expression of AQP4 in the colon. GRG improved the serum motilin level but had no influence on the serum SCF level.
Prediction of Protein-Protein Interactions from Protein Sequences by Combining MatPCA Feature Extraction Algorithms and Weighted Sparse Representation Models
Authors: Wang Zheng , Li Yang , You Zhu-Hong , Li Li-Ping , Zhan Xin-Ke , Pan Jie
Published: September 2020

Identifying protein-protein interactions (PPIs) plays a vital role in a number of biological activities such as signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and apoptosis. Although advances in high-throughput technologies have generated large amounts of PPI data for different species, they only cover a small part of the entire PPI network. Furthermore, traditional experimental methods are generally expensive, time-consuming, tedious, and prone to high false-positive rates. Therefore, to overcome this problem, it is necessary to develop a novel computational method for predicting PPIs. In this article, we propose an efficient computational method to detect protein-protein interactions using only protein sequence information, which integrates the MatPCA feature extraction algorithm and the weighted sparse representation classifier. As a result, when predicting PPIs on yeast, human, and H. pylori datasets, the proposed method achieves superior prediction performance with an average accuracy of 94.55%, 97.48%, and 83.64%, respectively. These experimental results further illustrate that the proposed method is reliable and robust in predicting PPIs, which can be regarded as a useful complement to the experimental method.
On the Analytical and Numerical Solutions in the Quantum Magnetoplasmas: The Atangana Conformable Derivative (1+3)-ZK Equation with Power-Law Nonlinearity
Authors: Khater Mostafa M. A. , Chu Yu-Ming , Attia Raghda A. M. , Inc Mustafa , Lu Dianchen
Published: September 2020

In this research paper, our work is connected with one of the most popular models in quantum magnetoplasma applications. The computational wave and numerical solutions of the Atangana conformable derivative (1+3)-Zakharov-Kuznetsov (ZK) equation with power-law nonlinearity are investigated via the modified Khater method and septic-B-spline scheme. This model is formulated and derived by employing the well-known reductive perturbation method. Applying the modified Khater (mK) method, septic B-spline scheme to the (1+3)-ZK equation with power-law nonlinearity after harnessing suitable wave transformation gives plentiful unprecedented ion-solitary wave solutions. Stability property is checked for our results to show their applicability for applying in the model’s applications. The result solutions are constructed along with their 2D, 3D, and contour graphical configurations for clarity and exactitude.
Sunlight-Driven Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Pomelo Peel Extract and Antibacterial Testing
Authors: Nguyen Vinh Tien
Published: September 2020

A green approach, including using phytochemicals in pomelo peel extract (PPE) and direct sunlight, was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). PPE was prepared by treating pomelo peel with a citric acid solution at 85°C for 2 h. PPE was then mixed with AgNO3 and exposed to sunlight to induce the formation of AgNPs. Time-dependent UV-vis spectra of the reaction mixture demonstrated that AgNPs are formed under sunlight irradiation faster than underheating at 90°C. Characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, confirmed the formation of AgNPs with sizes of 20–30 nm. AgNPs synthesized in PPE were more stable toward electrolyte-induced aggregation than those synthesized using the conventional NaBH4/citrate method. The AgNPs synthesized in PPE showed antibacterial activities comparable to those of AgNO3 at the same silver concentration against four pathogenic bacterial strains. The obtained PPE containing AgNPs, pectin, and other phytochemicals can be utilized further to produce antibacterial and antioxidant films in food packaging and medical applications.
Cost Index Predictions for Construction Engineering Based on LSTM Neural Networks
Authors: Dong Jiacheng , Chen Yuan , Guan Gang
Published: September 2020

In recent years, the cost index predictions of construction engineering projects are becoming important research topics in the field of construction management. Previous methods have limitations in reasonably reflecting the timeliness of engineering cost indexes. The recurrent neural network (RNN) belongs to a time series network, and the purpose of timeliness transfer calculation is achieved through the weight sharing of time steps. The long‐term and short‐term memory neural network (LSTM NN) solves the RNN limitations of the gradient vanishing and the inability to address long‐term dependence under the premise of having the above advantages. The present study proposed a new framework based on LSTM, so as to explore the applicability and optimization mechanism of the algorithm in the field of cost indexes prediction. A survey was conducted in Shenzhen, China, where a total of 143 data samples were collected based on the index set for the corresponding time interval from May 2007 to March 2019. A prediction framework based on the LSTM model, which was trained by using these collected data, was established for the purpose of cost index predictions and test. The testing results showed that the proposed LSTM framework had obvious advantages in prediction because of the ability of processing high‐dimensional feature vectors and the capability of selectively recording historical information. Compared with other advanced cost prediction methods, such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), this framework has advantages such as being able to capture long‐distance dependent information and can provide short‐term predictions of engineering cost indexes both effectively and accurately. This research extended current algorithm tools that can be used to forecast cost indexes and evaluated the optimization mechanism of the algorithm in order to improve the efficiency and accuracy of prediction, which have not been explored in current research knowledge.
Contraceptive Use among Basic School Pupils in Ghana: A Case Study of a Municipality
Authors: Gbagbo Fred Yao
Published: September 2020

Background. Ghana over the years strived to improve contraceptive services for young people through various policies and programs. Despite these efforts, contraceptive use among young people remains a challenge. In this study, contraceptive use among basic school pupils in a Ghanaian municipality was explored to inform policy and program decisions. Methods. The research design was a cross-sectional and mixed-method survey involving four hundred and twenty-seven (427) respondents randomly selected from four hundred and eleven (411) basic schools (102 from private and 309 from public basic schools) within Effutu Municipality of Ghana. Results. Basic school pupils in Ghana are generally sexually active but have high unmet needs for modern contraception due to sociocultural barriers, stigma, and misconceptions. Awareness and use are however more prevalent among junior high school pupils compared to those at the primary levels. Pupils who received contraceptive education from parents/guardians were, however, more likely to use modern contraceptives consistently than their counterparts who do not. Conclusions. Because young people in basic schools are becoming sexually active, there is a need for formalized contraceptive education in basic schools for correct information and education.
Effect of Massa Medicata Fermentata on the Gut Microbiota of Dyspepsia Mice Based on 16S rRNA Technique
Authors: Zhang Xiaorui , Zhang Hongling , Huang Qinwan , Sun Jilin , Yao Renchuan , Wang Jin
Published: September 2020

Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating indigestion and its related disorders. This study analyzes the effect of MMF on intestinal microorganisms in dyspepsia mice based on 16S rRNA technology. We take a dyspepsia model caused by a high‐protein, high‐calorie, high‐fat diet. The 60 specific‐pathogen free Kunming (SPF KM) mice were randomly divided into a model group (n = 12), an MMF group (LSQ group, n = 12), a Jianweixiaoshi group (JWXS group, n = 12), a domperidone group (DP group, n = 12), and a blank group (n = 12). On the seventh day of administration, mice were fasted and deprived of water. After 24 h, take the second feces of stress defecation in mice under strict aseptic conditions and quickly transfer them to a sterile cryotube. This study comprehensively evaluates the α‐diversity, β‐diversity, flora abundance and composition of each group of miceʼs intestinal microorganisms, and their correlation with functional dyspepsia based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. After modeling, some dyspepsia reactions, proximal gastric relaxation reduction, and intestinal microflora changes were noted. Dyspepsia mice showed dyspepsia reactions and proximal gastric relaxation reduction, characterized by a significant decrease of contents of gastrin (P < 0.01) and cholinesterase (P < 0.01). MMF can improve dyspepsia symptoms and promote proximal gastric relaxation. Significant intestinal flora disorders were found in dyspepsia mice, including downregulation of Bacteroidetes, Lactobacillus, and Prevotellaceae and upregulation of Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Epsilonbacteraeota, Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, and Lachnospiraceae. MMF could alleviate intestinal microflora disturbance, and the regulation effect of MMF on Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Epsilonbacteraeota was more reliable than that of Jianweixiaoshi tables and domperidone. The intestinal microflora may be correlated with the promoted digestion of MMF.
Unit Root Analysis Method of Actual Crack Behavior of the Concrete Dam Based on Residuals of the Monitoring Model
Authors: Xu Bo , Li Zhanchao , Zhao Jinlei
Published: September 2020

Analysis on the actual crack behavior is of important significance to evaluate safety of the concrete dam. In this paper, mainly based on the research status on cracks of the concrete dam, the unit root analysis method of actual crack behavior of concrete dam is proposed based on the monitoring data and autoregression model, aiming to enrich the analysis methods of crack behavior of concrete dam and deepen the understanding of crack behavior of concrete dam. Firstly, the feasibility of analyzing actual crack behavior based on residual sequence of the crack opening displacement monitoring model is discussed. Next, the basic principle of the unit root analysis method of crack behavior is elaborated and the unit root analysis method of actual crack behavior is established by studying prior conditions of the autoregression model and parameter estimation methods of the autoregression model, as well as determination criteria of the model order. Finally, the proposed unit root analysis method of actual crack behavior is applied to analyze monitoring data of a concrete gravity‐arch dam. The result shows that the unit root analysis method of actual crack behavior is relatively simple and convenient in practical application, which is an available method to evaluate crack behavior based on data in dam health monitoring.
Assouad Dimensions and Lower Dimensions of Some Moran Sets
Authors: Xiao JiaQing
Published: September 2020

We prove that the low dimensions of a class of Moran sets coincide with their Hausdorff dimensions and obtain a formula for the lower dimensions. Subsequently, we consider some homogeneous Cantor sets which belong to Moran sets and give the counterexamples in which their Assouad dimension is not equal to their upper box dimensions and packing dimensions under the case of not satisfying the condition of the smallest compression ratio

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In Vitro Antiosteoporosis Activity and Hepatotoxicity Evaluation in Zebrafish Larvae of Bark Extracts of Prunus jamasakura Medicinal Plant
Authors: Komakech Richard , Shim Ki-Shuk , Yim Nam-Hui , Song Jun Ho , Yang Sun Kyu , Choi Goya , Lee Jun , Kim Yong-goo , Omujal Francis , Agwaya Moses , Nambatya Grace Kyeyune , Kan Hyemin , Hwang Kyu-Seok , Motlalepula Gilbert Matsabisa , Kang Youngmin
Published: September 2020

Osteoporosis is one of the main health problems in the world today characterized by low bone mass and deterioration in bone microarchitecture. In recent years, the use of natural products approach to treat it has been in the increase. In this study, in vitro antiosteoporosis activity and hepatotoxicity of P. jamasakura bark extracts were evaluated. Methods. Mouse bone marrow macrophage (BMM) cells were incubated with tartrate‐resistant acid phosphate (TRAP) buffers and p‐nitrophenyl phosphate and cultured with different P. jamasakura bark extracts at concentrations of 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 μg/ml in the presence of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐Β ligand (RANKL) for 6 days. The osteoclast TRAP activity and cell viability were measured. Nitric oxide (NO) assay was conducted using murine macrophage‐like RAW 264.7 cells treated with P. jamasakura ethanolic and methanolic bark extracts at concentrations of 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml. For hepatotoxicity assessment, zebrafish larvae were exposed to P. jamasakura bark extracts, 0.05% dimethyl sulfoxide as a negative control, and 5 μM tamoxifen as a positive control. The surviving larvae were anesthetized and assessed for hepatocyte apoptosis. Results. TRAP activity was significantly inhibited (p < 0.001) at all concentrations of P. jamasakura extracts compared to the control treatment. At 50 μg/ml, both ethanolic and methanolic extracts of P. jamasakura exhibited significant (p < 0.01) BMM cell viability compared to the control treatment. P. jamasakura ethanolic and methanolic extracts had significant inhibitory (p < 0.01) effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced NO production at 200 μg/ml and exhibited significant (p < 0.01) and (p < 0.05) stimulative effects, respectively, on RAW 264.7 cell viability. No overt hepatotoxicity was observed in the liver of zebrafish larvae in any of the treatments. Conclusion. The TRAP activity of P. jamasakura bark gives a foundation for further studies to enhance future development of antiosteoporosis drug.
Ameliorating Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation at Neiguan (PC6) and Zusanli (ST36) Acupoints Combined with Adaptive Biofeedback Training on Functional Outlet Obstruction Constipation
Authors: Liu Jie , Chen Hulin , Wu Dewei , Wei Ruiling , Lv Chaolan , Dong Juan , Wu Dandan , Yu Yue
Published: September 2020

Background. Stimulant laxatives are still considered the most common treatment for functional outlet obstruction constipation (FOOC). However, the effectiveness of laxatives is unsatisfactory, and the long‐term use of laxatives may cause certain adverse events. With this in mind, it is, however, paramount that novel complementary treatment(s) and/or other forms of alternative medicine are adequately investigated. Aims. The study aims to explore the effects and potential mechanism(s) of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) combined with adaptive biofeedback training (ABT) on FOOC. Methods. A total of forty‐five patients with FOOC were recruited and were randomly assigned to receive either Macrogol 4000 Powder (MAC, 10 g bid) (group A, n = 15) only, ABT + MAC + Sham‐TEA (group B, n = 15), or TEA + ABT + MAC (group C, n = 15) in a six‐week study. Individual patients′ constipation‐symptoms (PAC‐SYM) and constipation‐quality of life (PAC‐QOL) were both assessed and scored. Serum acetylcholine (Ach) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured from drawn blood samples while individual patients′ heart rate variability (HRV) was calculated at baseline and after each corresponding therapy. Anorectal manometry and balloon expulsion test were both performed before and after treatment. Results. Firstly, participants in group C had significantly lower scores of PAC‐SYM, PAC‐QOL, and a decreased anal defecating pressure (ADP) as compared to participants in group B (all p < 0.050). These results, however, suggest the TEAs effect. Secondly, the low‐frequency band (LF)/(LF + HF) ratio in groups B and C were decreased as compared to group A (p = 0.037, p = 0.010, respectively) regarding HRV. On the other hand, the high‐frequency band (HF)/(LF + HF) ratio in groups B and C showed an opposite outcome. Finally, the serum Ach in groups B and C was significantly higher as compared to group A (p = 0.023, p = 0.012, respectively). Of significant importance, the serum NO in groups B and C were notably low as compared to group A (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. TEA, combined with ABT, effectively improves constipation symptoms as well as QOL in FOOC patients. It is, however, achieved by decreasing ADP, which mechanisms are mediated via the autonomic and enteric mechanisms.
Experimental Study on Properties of Rock‐Cemented Coal Gangue‐Fly Ash Backfill Bimaterials with Different Coal Gangue Particle Sizes
Authors: Wang Yabo , Yin Dawei , Chen Shaojie , Zhang Libo , Liu Dongyi , Sun Yanhua
Published: September 2020

Properties of rock‐cemented coal gangue‐fly ash backfill (CGFB) bimaterials determine the effects of strip CGFB mining on controlling the surface subsidence in coal mines, which are affected by the coal gangue particle size in CGFB. In this paper, uniaxial compression tests were conducted on the coarse sandstone‐CGFB composite samples with different coal gangue particle sizes, and their strength, acoustic emission (AE), and failure characteristics were investigated. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus of the composite sample decreased with the coal gangue particle size. The strength of the composite sample is mainly dependent on that of CGFB in it, affected by interactions between CGFB and coarse sandstone. The deformation of the coarse sandstone weakened the damage accumulation within CGFB, resulting in the strength of the composite sample larger than that of CGFB. The average UCS values of composite samples with coal gangue particle sizes of 0∼5 mm, 5∼10 mm, and 10∼15 mm, increased by 10.78%, 14.98%, and 12.70% compared with CGFB in them, respectively. AE event signal regularity of the composite sample was divided into three stages: rising period, calm period, and active period. The intensity and frequency of AE event signals in three periods were strengthened with the coal gangue particle size. The calm period can be taken as the precursory information for the failure and instability of composite sample under loading, whose duration became shortly with the coal gangue particle size. The rebound deformation of coarse sandstone caused the fluctuations of AE event signals at the later stage of active period. The failures of the composite sample occurred within CGFB, and no obvious failures were found in the coarse sandstone. The CGFB mainly experienced the splitting failure accompanying by varying degrees of surface spalling failures. The broken degree of CGFB increased with the coal gangue particle size, and the largest weight ratio of CGFB fragments (chips) after failure was determined by the coal gangue particle size.
A Chaotic Hybrid Immune Genetic Algorithm for Spectrum Allocation Optimization in ICRSN
Authors: Xu Mengying , Zhou Jie , Lu Yi
Published: September 2020

The growing usage of the industrial cognitive radio sensor network (ICRSN) brings profound changes to the Internet of Things. The ICRSN is an emerging technique to transfer industrial data, which has strict and accurate communication requirements in a large number of areas such as environmental surveillance, building monitoring, control, and many other areas. The problem of maximizing the sum bandwidth by using a spectrum allocation algorithm has been extensively studied in this paper. Inspired by chaos theory and quantum computing, this work presents a new chaotic hybrid immune genetic algorithm (CHIGA). We then introduce a spectrum allocation model that considers both network reward, throughput, and convergence time. The improvement of CHIGA performance through experimental simulations is evaluated in terms of the sum network reward compared to methods based on simulated annealing (SA), ant colony optimization (ACO), and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Simulation results show that the CHIGA has a higher network reward and throughput existing optimized algorithms while maintaining total system throughput.
The Potential Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Derived Exosomes as Immunomodulatory Agents for COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Alzahrani Faisal A. , Saadeldin Islam M. , Ahmad Abrar , Kumar Dipak , Azhar Esam I. , Siddiqui Arif Jamal , Kurdi Bassem , Sajini Abdulrahim , Alrefaei Abdulmajeed F. , Jahan Sadaf
Published: September 2020

A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing lethal acute respiratory disease emerged in December 2019. The World Health Organization named this disease “COVID-19” and declared it a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Many studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their exosomes (MSCs-Exo), which are isolated from allogenic bone marrow stem cells, significantly lower the risk of alveolar inflammation and other pathological conditions associated with distinct lung injuries. For example, in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia patients, MSCs-Exo and MSCs provide similar healing properties and some clinical trials have used cell-based inhalation therapy which show great promise. MSCs and MSCs-Exo have shown potential in clinical trials as a therapeutic tool for severely affected COVID-19 patients when compared to other cell-based therapies, which may face challenges like the cells’ sticking to the respiratory tract epithelia during administration. However, the use of MSCs or MSCs-Exo for treating COVID-19 should strictly adhere to the appropriate manufacturing practices, quality control measurements, preclinical safety and efficacy data, and the proper ethical regulations. This review highlights the available clinical trials that support the therapeutic potential of MSCs or MSCs-Exo in severely affected COVID-19 patients.
Evaluation and Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk and Milk Products in Yemen Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Murshed Safwan
Published: September 2020

Aflatoxin M1 is one of the major fungal contaminants found in dairy products around the globe. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in samples of milk and milk products in Yemen. The tested dairy product samples were collected from different sources for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in Yemen. A total of 250 local and imported samples consisting of 38 liquid milk, 60 powder milk, 62 yogurt, and 90 cheese samples which are marketed throughout Yemen were tested by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with a fluorescence detector and immunoaffinity column purification for detection of AFM1. High levels of AFM1 were detected in preserved milk (77.24%), ranging from 0.021 μg/L to 5.95 μg/L. On the other hand, AFM1 was detected in 66.66% and 68.42% in powdered milk and liquid milk samples, respectively. Among dairy products, 87.09% of yogurt and 81.39% of cheese samples were found contaminated with AFM1. The AMF1 values were higher than the acceptable range for humans set by the European Union. So, we concluded that dairy products used in Yemen showed an AFM1 content beyond the acceptable range, and this is a major factor for causing health-related complications including cancer. In the present study, we reported for the first time the presence of mycotoxins especially AFM1 in dairy products used in Yemen.
eRNAs and Superenhancer lncRNAs Are Functional in Human Prostate Cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiaona , Pang Panpan , Jiang Min , Cao Qunfa , Li Huili , Xu Yi , Li Yao , Chen Xue , Han Junsong
Published: September 2020

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in males worldwide. lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) play a significant role in the occurrence and development of PCa. eRNAs (enhancer RNAs) and SE-lncRNAs (superenhancer lncRNAs) are important elements of lncRNAs, but the role of eRNAs and SE-lncRNAs in PCa remains largely unclear. In this work, we identified 681 eRNAs and 292 SE-lncRNAs that were expressed differentially in PCa using a microarray. We also found that eRNAs transcribed from active open chromatin had significantly higher expression than those from active closed chromatin, and SE-lncRNAs had a little higher expression than eRNAs. Next, we constructed a transcriptional regulation network that eRNA-related enhancer and the target genes shared the same TF-binding motifs. Further, we investigated whether CTCF played a role in mediating the transcriptional regulation network. eRNAs, especially those that regulate androgen response genes, may be candidates for prognostic biomarkers and therapy targets. Our work provides a new perspective for developing medical treatments and therapies for prostate cancer.