bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of an Athermalizing Bonding Structure for Optical Components
Authors: Liu Xiaofeng , Zhang Xin , Chen Xindong
Published: March 2022

In this paper, an athermalizing connection method of the optical components of high-performance optical objectives that enables them to reduce the deterioration of their performance due to temperature instability is proposed. The optical components of the athermalizing connection structure consist of three parts arranged from the outside to the inside. The materials of the intermediate parts are different from those of the external and internal ones. The relationship between the parameters of the athermalizing connection structure is deduced based on the mechanics of materials. The surface errors of optical components at different temperatures are simulated for an exemplary structure. The simulation results show that the root mean square (RMS) of the optical component surface is approximately proportional to the temperature. When the temperature drops by 10 °C, the RMS changes by 0.66 nm as compared to its value measured at 20 °C. The temperature deflection test of the optical components carried out in the temperature range of 20 ± 5 °C provides the RMS values of the optical face of 0.019λ at 15 °C and 0.02λ at 25 °C. The change of RMS obtained in this test amounts to 0.63 nm for a temperature difference of 10 °C, which deviates from the respective simulated value by 4%. The experimental results show that the athermalizing connection method proposed in this paper ensures small deformations of optical components at large temperature changes. Therefore, it meets the requirements for the application of optical components and is suitable for the connection of high-precision components.
Determination of Reasonable Width of Filling Body for Gob-Side Entry Retaining in Mining Face with Large Cutting Height
Authors: Pu Shijiang , Wu Guiyi , Liu Qinzhi , Wang Yuliang , Li Qiang , Xiong Yu
Published: March 2022

When gob-side entry retaining is adopted in the mining face with large cutting height, due to large stope space, strong dynamic pressure, and other reasons, the filling body is usually broken and unstable due to improper width of filling body, and the stability of surrounding rock of a roadway is poor. Taking the actual project of Shaqu mine as the background, we analyze the stability factors of gob-side entry retaining with large mining height, and considering the lateral pressure and overlying load on the filling body, the mechanical model of a gob-side retaining roadway is established, the calculation method of the reserved width of the filling body is simplified, and the reasonable width of the filling body is obtained quantitatively. Through the monitoring results of numerical simulation and field test, the rationality of the calculation results of the reserved width of filling body is verified. The results show that if the width of the filling body is too small, it will not be able to bear the load of the overlying strata, resulting in the fragmentation of the filling body. The larger the width of the filling body, the greater the cutting resistance provided, which can reduce timely the stress on the roadway and above the filling body, and the more stable the retaining roadway is, but when the width increases to a certain value, the displacement of the surrounding rock of the roadway has changed little. When the width of the filling body is 4 m, the stability of gob-side entry retaining can be guaranteed.
Fluorofenidone Inhibits UUO/IRI-Induced Renal Fibrosis by Reducing Mitochondrial Damage
Authors: Liao Xiaohua , Lv Xin , Zhang Yan , Han Yuanyuan , Li Jiajia , Zeng Jianhua , Tang Damu , Meng Jie , Yuan Xiangning , Peng Zhangzhe , Tao Lijian , Xie Yanyun
Published: March 2022

Objective. Mitochondrial damage contributes to extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and renal fibrosis. In this study, we aimed (1) to investigate whether fluorofenidone (AKF-PD) can attenuate mitochondrial damage in two renal fibrosis models: unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), and (2) to explore the underlying mechanism. Method. Mitochondrial damage and renal lesions were analyzed in the UUO and IRI models. Mitochondrial energy metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, and oxidative stress were measured to assess the effect of AKF-PD on mitochondrial damage and to explore the underlying mechanism. In addition, HK-2 cells were stimulated with TGF-β with and without AKF-PD. The mitochondrial morphology, mtROS, ATP contents, and redox-related proteins were then examined. Results. In both UUO and IRI models, AKF-PD relieved renal fibrosis, maintained mitochondrial structure, and increased mitochondrial DNA copy numbers. The protection was associated with (1) sustaining mitochondrial energy metabolism, evident by elevations of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes; (2) improving mitochondrial biogenesis with increases of TFAM, NRF1, PGC-1α, and SIRT1; and (3) reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress likely via regulating SOD2, SIRT3, and NOX4 expressions. In HK-2 cells treated with TGF-β, AKF-PD protected mitochondria along with improving mitochondrial morphology, enhancing ATP production, reducing mtROS, and regulating SOD2, SIRT3, and NOX4 expression. Conclusion. We demonstrate that AKF-PD inhibited renal fibrosis at least in part via protecting mitochondria from damages developed in the UUO and IRI models. The mitochondrial protection was associated with sustaining mitochondrial energy metabolism, improving mitochondrial biogenesis, and reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress. This research verified the protective effect of AKF-PD on mitochondria in the UUO and IRI models and elaborated the underlying mechanism.
How Snowfalls Affect the Operation of Taxi Fleets? A Case Study from Harbin, China
Authors: Li Binliang , Cai Haiming , Xiao Dan
Published: March 2022

Taxi network plays an important role in urban passenger transportation. However, its operation is greatly affected by weather, especially by snowfalls in cold region. In this study, we focus on the persistent effect of snowfall on taxi operation and propose an autoregressive distribution lag model (ARDL) to quantitatively analyse it. To support our study, the taxi GPS trajectory data collected in Harbin, China, during 61 days from 1 November to 31 December in 2015 is analysed. First, the daily average order volume (DAOV) is acquired through data sampling and processing. Then, combined with the data of daily snowfall during the 61 days, the ARDL model is constructed. The result shows that the snowfall has a lag effect on taxi operation and it lasts about 3 days. To better interpret the result, visualization of total 6 days before and after a heavy snowfall is conducted. The result also indicates that weekends have a positive effect on operation. These results are expected to assist us to better understand the effect of snowfall on taxi operation and provide some policy suggestions for local municipal and transportation management departments to ensure the normal operation of taxi networks.
High-Precision Electrical Impedance Tomography for Electrical Conductivity of Metallic Materials
Authors: Zhao Shuanfeng , Miao Yao , Chai Rongxia , Zhao Jiaojiao , Bai Yunrui , Wei Zheng , Ren Simin
Published: March 2022

Metal materials are subject to deformation, internal stress distribution, and cracking during processing, all of which affect the distribution of electrical conductivity of the metal. Suppose we can detect the conductivity distribution of metal materials in real time. In that case, we can complete the inverse imaging of metal material properties, structures, cracks, etc. and realize nondestructive flaw detection. However, metal materials' small resistance, high electrical conductivity, and susceptibility of voltage signals to noise signal interference make an accurate measurement of metal conductivity challenging. Therefore, this paper addresses the problem of detecting the conductivity distribution of metals by investigating a high-precision four-electrode AC measurement method. This technical approach combines laminar imaging techniques with high-precision weak signal extraction methods. On this basis, a method and equipment for high-precision electrical impedance tomography of metallic materials’ electrical conductivity were established. The way specifies a new number of electrodes and adopts a model of spaced excitation reference measurements. Single-frequency sinusoidal AC signal is used for excitation, and Shannon wavelet analysis is used for signal extraction and noise reduction. Super-resolution reconstruction algorithms are used for resistivity distribution image reconstruction to improve image quality. Based on the results of various comparative experiments, it is clear that this new functional technique method has good imaging stability and operability and can perform tasks such as analyzing the internal conductivity distribution of metals. This research provides an effective way of new ideas for the safe detection of metal structures, the changes in crystal tissue structure, and the study of metal properties. In particular, it expands the scope of research in the development and application of resistance tomography, which has tremendous commercial potential research significance.
Munro Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale in Adult Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia in the Operating Room
Authors: Lei Lumin , Zhou Ti , Xu Xinlin , Wang Lihong
Published: March 2022

Pressure ulcers are a common complication of immobility and frequently occur in surgical patients. The occurrence of pressure ulcers is affected by many factors, such as operation time and position, anesthesia method, and postoperative nursing. The aim of this study was to investigate the Munro Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale’s value in predicting acute pressure ulcers in general anesthesia patients. This case-control study included patients who underwent more than 2 hours of general anesthesia in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. The case group comprised 42 patients who had pressure sores in surgical compression sites within 3 days after surgery. The control group consisted of 84 patients without acute pressure sores after surgery. Baseline patient data were compared between the two groups, and a logistic multivariate model was used to analyze potential risk factors for acute pressure ulcers. The Munro Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale scores and Braden scale scores were compared between the two groups during and after surgery. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the clinical value of the two scales (administered at the two time points) in predicting the occurrence of acute pressure ulcers after surgery. The operation and anesthesia times of patients in the case group were longer than those in the control group (

P
<
0.05

). The proportion of comatose patients and patients with diabetes were significantly higher in the case group. While the case group had higher Munro scores during and after surgery compared to the control group (

P
<
0.05

), Braden scores at the corresponding time points were lower (

P
<
0.05

). The following variables were identified as independent risk factors of acute pressure ulcers: prolonged operation time and anesthesia time, increase in Munro scores during and after operation, decrease in Braden scores during and after operation, and comatose status (

P
<
0.05

). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the postoperative Munro score for predicting postoperative pressure ulcer risk was 0.774; the sensitivity and specificity were 67.73% and 80.58%, respectively. The AUC of the intraoperative Braden score for predicting postoperative pressure ulcer risk was 0.836, with a sensitivity of 78.95% and specificity of 78.00%. The AUC of the postoperative Braden score for predicting postoperative pressure ulcer risk was 0.809, with a sensitivity of 73.58% and specificity of 64.26% (

P
<
0.05

). Our results indicate that the intraoperative Munro Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale is highly effective for predicting the risk of postoperative pressure ulcers in surgical patients who require general anesthesia.
The Research of the Influence on Stress below the Roadway Floor of the Coal Seam Becoming Thin
Authors: Chen Liang , Liu Qi
Published: March 2022

Stress is the important factor of dynamic disaster in the coal mine. Stress is closely related with surrounding geological conditions. The geological tectonic area which exists high stress has a greater impact on dynamic disaster. However, local changes of the coal seam in the thickness may be sedimentary in origin and also result in the dynamic disasters. The paper studies the influence on stress with coal seam thickness varying below the roadway floor by means of numerical models. And the degree of influence on stress of the thinning with the burial depth is studied, too. The results of the research carried out were similar to the field test. Meantime, the results show that the shorter and narrower of the coal seam with thinning, the greater both horizontal and vertical stresses generated in that area. The difference is that the horizontal overstress increment is more than the vertical’s. It also reveals an overstress phenomenon has a great relationship with the geometry of the coal seam more and not the burial depth of the heading face. The results drawn in this paper may be helpful to predict and control dynamic disasters when the geometry of the coal seam varies.
Structure Preserving Numerical Analysis of Reaction-Diffusion Models
Authors: Ahmed Nauman , Rehman Muhammad Aziz-ur , Adel Waleed , Jarad Fahd , Ali Mubasher , Rafiq Muhammad , Akgül Ali
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we examine two structure preserving numerical finite difference methods for solving the various reaction-diffusion models in one dimension, appearing in chemistry and biology. These are the finite difference methods in splitting environment, namely, operator splitting nonstandard finite difference (OS-NSFD) methods that effectively deal with nonlinearity in the models and computationally efficient. Positivity of both the proposed splitting methods is proved mathematically and verified with the simulations. A comparison is made between proposed OS-NSFD methods and well-known classical operator splitting finite difference (OS-FD) methods, which demonstrates the advantages of proposed methods. Furthermore, we applied proposed NSFD splitting methods on several numerical examples to validate all the attributes of the proposed numerical designs.
All Hands on Deck! School-Community Partnerships as a Nexus for Resource Mobilisation in South African Rural Schools
Authors: Mkhize Themba Ralph , Hungwe Joseph Pardon
Published: March 2022

Despite the fact that South Africa attained freedom nearly three decades ago, rural schools still struggle to acquire resources that will deliver quality education. International and local research confirms the critical role of school-community partnerships in advancing quality education and maximising learning outcomes. However, a paucity of research explores school-community partnerships as a nexus for resource mobilisation in South African rural schools. This qualitative study sought to explore and identify school-community partnerships through which schools within rural contexts can mobilise resources, as supported by boundary-spanning leadership and resource mobilisation theories. Data were collected, using free-attitude interviews and transect walk with photo voice, from 15 participants in three schools in a KwaZulu-Natal rural municipality. The school stakeholders included three school principals, three teachers’ school governing bodies (SGBs), three parents’ SGBs, one trade union, two nonprofit organisations, two corporate social responsibility managers, and one local municipality manager. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. Seven main school-community partnerships findings emerged from the data, which were used to make recommendations to address and improve the quality of education in the rural schools. We argue that all hands are required on deck from all school stakeholders, so as to enable the school-community partnerships aimed at resource mobilisation to work.
How Technological Innovation Influences Environmental Pollution: Evidence from China
Authors: Xin Duan , Zhi Sheng Zhang , Jiahui Sun
Published: March 2022

Technological innovation has an important impact on environmental pollution. In this paper, first, we analyze the influence mechanism of technological innovation on environmental pollution and then design the index system of technological innovation. Then, we use the entropy method to calculate the technological innovation level of different regions in China based on provincial panel data from 2004 to 2016. Finally, the panel vector autoregression model (PVAR) is adopted, and taking the discharge of sewage, solid waste, and exhaust gas as the research objects, the impact of technological innovation on them is empirically analyzed. The results show that China’s technological innovation level is steadily improving, but there are significant differences in the impact of technological innovation on wastewater, waste gas, and solid waste. Specifically, technological innovation can contribute to an increase in wastewater and solid waste emissions. However, the impact of this technological innovation on them is not equal. Secondly, the impact of technological innovation on exhaust emissions is to inhibit exhaust emissions in the short term and promote exhaust emissions in the long term. Finally, there are clear differences between them in terms of the specific impact of changes in wastewater, solid waste, and exhaust emissions. Changes in wastewater discharges and solid waste generation are largely derived from their own effects, while the role of technological innovation is supportive and insignificant. The change in exhaust emissions is initially influenced by itself, but in the long run, the influence of technological innovation gradually increases and eventually exceeds its own influence. Based on these research results, this paper puts forward corresponding policy suggestions to speed up environmental pollution control.
Prp19 Facilitated p21-Dependent Senescence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Yin Jie , Zhang Guang-Cong , Fang Ying , Yu Xiang-Nan , Liu Tao-Tao , Dong Ling , Shen Xi-Zhong
Published: March 2022

Introduction. Evidence suggests that the role of senescence in the development of cancer is context-dependent. An orthologue of human pre-mRNA processing factor 19 (Prp19) attenuates the senescence of human endothelial cells. Prp19 has been reported to be involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This work aims to investigate the effect of Prp19 on the senescence of HCC. Materials and Methods. Senescence of L02 cells and HCC cells under different stimuli was detected through cell cycle analysis, SA-β-gal staining, and senescence associated secretory phenotype analysis. The relationship between Prp19 and senescence-related proteins was evaluated using real-time RT-PCR, western blot assay, and immunohistochemistry. Subcutaneous xenograft tumors in nude mice were used to evaluate the role of Prp19 on senescence in vivo. Data analysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism 6. Results. Prp19 facilitated the senescence of L02 cells and HCC cells under different stresses. Prp19 positively modulated p21 expression in the mRNA level. Downregulation of Prp19 promoted the growth of subcutaneous xenograft tumors generated by HCC cell lines. Conclusions. Prp19 may promote senescence of HCC cells via regulating p21 expression.
Comparison of Neural Network and Logistic Regression Analysis to Predict the Probability of Urinary Tract Infection Caused by Cystoscopy
Authors: Chen Tsai-Jung , Hsu Yu-Huang , Chen Chieh-Hsiao
Published: March 2022

Purpose. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infections among hospitalized patients. Cystoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure to check bladder disease, among the patients receiving procedure, approximately 10% of patients may experience UTI. In this study, a neural network model with high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity was developed to predict the probability of UTIs caused by cystoscopic procedures. To reduce antibiotic overuse during cystoscopic procedures, the model can provide clinicians with a rapid assessment of whether patients require prophylactic antibiotics. Materials and Methods. Patients who underwent cystoscopic procedures at China Medical University Beigang Hospital from 2016 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 1647 patients were enrolled, and 147 cases of urinary tract infection occurred. An artificial neural network (ANN) and logistic regression analysis were used to develop the prediction models, and the two models were compared. Results. The logistic regression analysis model had an accuracy of 91%, sensitivity of 2%, and specificity of 99%, indicating that the logistic regression model predicted that most patients had a low risk of infection. The neural network model had a high accuracy of 85%, sensitivity of 80%, and specificity of 88%. Conclusions. Because the logistic regression model had low sensitivity and missed most cases of UTI, the logistic regression model is inappropriate for clinical application. The neural network model has superior predictive ability and can be considered a tool in clinical practice.
Correlation between Ultrasonographic Appearance of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma and BRAF V600E Mutation
Authors: Liang Songnian , Huang Kun
Published: March 2022

The study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the ultrasonographic appearance of a thyroid nodule and the BRAF V600E mutation. Patients with thyroid nodules (n=186), for which BRAF V600E testing and cytopathology analysis were performed, and who underwent subsequent surgery for nodule resection were enrolled in this study. For each patient, color Doppler ultrasonography was performed to observe the variables of the nodules. The nodules were then characterized using the thyroid imaging reporting and data system classification TI-RADS. Furthermore, the ultrasonographic appearance of the control group, encompassing patients with nodular thyroid goiters, and the case group, encompassing patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), was statically analyzed. Similarly, a statistical analysis of the ultrasonographic appearance of the BRAF V600E-positive and BRAF V600E-negative subgroups was also performed. The accuracy was significantly different for the corresponding values when color Doppler ultrasonography, BRAF V600E testing, or cytopathology alone was used for diagnosis. There were significant differences in the ultrasonographic appearance variables between the control and case groups. Comparing with the BRAF V600E-negative subgroup of the case group, the ultrasonographic appearances of the BRAF V600E-positive subgroup showed less circumscribed and more irregularly shaped nodules, with significantly different aspect ratios of >1. The combination of BRAF V600E testing and color Doppler ultrasonography or cytopathology improved the accuracy of the PTMC diagnose. We found that the ultrasonographic appearance of thyroid nodules was related to PTMC.
Effect of Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia (PCEA) Based on ERAS on Postoperative Recovery of Patients Undergoing Gynecological Laparoscopic Surgery
Authors: Zhu Tianli , Lu Weiming , Wang Wenjuan , Zhou Li , Yan Wen
Published: March 2022

Objective. To explore the effect of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) based on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) on the postoperative recovery of patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery. Methods. Between January 2019 and December 2020, 90 patients scheduled for gynecological laparoscopic surgery and assessed for eligibility were recruited and randomly assigned at a ratio of 1 : 1 to receive either conventional analgesic management (regular group) or PCEA based on ERAS (ERAS group). Comparisons of postoperative rehabilitation indicators, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, self-care ability, complications, and nursing satisfaction were conducted between the two groups. Results. The ERAS group had significantly shorter first exhaust time (FET), first defecation time (FDT), out-of-bed activity time (OAT), and length of stay (LOS) versus the regular group (

P
<
0.05

). The VAS scores were significantly decreased after treatment, with lower results observed in the ERAS group (

P
<
0.05

). The level of self-responsibility, self-concept, self-care skills, and health knowledge increased significantly in both groups after the intervention, and the ERAS group showed significantly higher results than the regular group (

P
<
0.05

). The total incidence of complications in the ERAS group was significantly lower than that in the regular group (

P
<
0.05

). Eligible patients given PCEA based on ERAS were associated with a higher nursing satisfaction (97.78%) versus conventional analgesic management (82.22%) (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. The application of ERAS for postoperative PCEA management in gynecological laparoscopy provides promising results by effectively enhancing the quality of surgery and promoting rapid postoperative recovery, with a good safety profile.
Implantation of Hypoxia-Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cell Advances Therapeutic Angiogenesis
Authors: Yusoff Farina Mohamad , Nakashima Ayumu , Kawano Ki-ichiro , Kajikawa Masato , Kishimoto Shinji , Maruhashi Tatsuya , Ishiuchi Naoki , Abdul Wahid S. Fadilah S. , Higashi Yukihito
Published: March 2022

Hypoxia preconditioning enhances the paracrine abilities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for vascular regeneration and tissue healing. Implantation of hypoxia-induced mesenchymal stem cells (hi-MSCs) may further improve limb perfusion in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. This study is aimed at determining whether implantation of hi-MSCs is an effective modality for improving outcomes of treatment of ischemic artery diseases. We evaluated the effects of human bone marrow-derived MSC implantation on limb blood flow in an ischemic hindlimb model. hi-MSCs were prepared by cell culture under 1% oxygen for 24 hours prior to implantation. A total of

1
×

10

5

MSCs and hi-MSCs and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were intramuscularly implanted into ischemic muscles at 36 hours after surgery. Restoration of blood flow and muscle perfusion was evaluated by laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Blood perfusion recovery, enhanced vessel densities, and improvement of function of the ischemia limb were significantly greater in the hi-MSC group than in the MSC or PBS group. Immunochemistry revealed that hi-MSCs had higher expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor A than those in MSCs. In addition, an endothelial cell-inducing medium showed high expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, and von Willebrand factor in hi-MSCs compared to those in MSCs. These findings suggest that pretreatment of MSCs with a hypoxia condition and implantation of hi-MSCs advances neovascularization capability with enhanced therapeutic angiogenic effects in a murine hindlimb ischemia model.
Synergistic Effect of Erastin Combined with Nutlin-3 on Vestibular Schwannoma Cells as p53 Modulates Erastin-Induced Ferroptosis Response
Authors: He Weiwei , Shu Wenying , Xue Lu , Wang Yaoxuan , Chai Yongchuan , Wu Hao , Wang Zhaoyan
Published: March 2022

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a rare neurotology neoplasm that results in partial neurological defects. As we know, a comprehensive understanding of basic mechanisms and targeted therapy is vital for disease management. In VS, p53 has been proved to suppress tumor progression via a cooperative with the key protein, merlin, as well as regulation of the cell cycle. However, there are more potential mechanisms of p53 in VS needed to exploit. First, via genome-wide RNA expression analysis, we identified differentially expressed genes in VS compared with normal nerves, and then, bioinformatics analyses were used to analyze these differential expression data and suggested a high level of enrichment of cysteine and glutathione metabolism pathways in VS. Meanwhile, we observed a downregulation of SLC7A11/xCT, a component of the cystine/glutamate antiporter (also known as system xc−) involved in cystine uptake. Next, for a deeper study, our group extracted tumor cells from vestibular schwannoma tissues and established two immortalized cell lines named JEI-001 and JEI-002. Secondly, in our established cells, we demonstrated that ferroptosis participated in erastin-induced growth inhibition. As a novel cell death process, ferroptosis driven by iron-mediated lipid reactive oxygen species (lipid ROS), as well as cysteine and glutathione metabolism. Furthermore, ferroptosis contributes to the inhibitory effects of tumor suppressor p53. Here, we show that p53 sensitizes schwannoma cells to ferroptosis by repressing expression of SLC7A11/xCT. Finally, erastin combined with Nutlin-3, which s to p53 activation, triggered antitumor effects of ferroptosis on the growth of schwannoma cells in vitro. These findings present potential mechanism of p53 in schwannomas and raise the possibility of treatment strategies directed against this pathogenesis.
Optimal Design of Water Supply Network Based on Adaptive Penalty Function and Improved Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Ding Kun , Ni Yong , Fan Lingfeng , Sun Tian-Le
Published: March 2022

In view of the shortcomings of water supply network optimization design based on the traditional genetic algorithm in water supply safety and economy, an improved crossover operator adaptive algorithm and penalty function are proposed to improve the traditional genetic algorithm, which can effectively solve the problem of local optimal solution caused by too early convergence of the traditional genetic algorithm in pipe network optimization design. Taking a typical annular water supply network as an example, the calculation results show that the economy of the design scheme of the improved genetic algorithm is better than the traditional genetic algorithm, which fully shows that the improved genetic algorithm is practical and effective for the optimal design of water supply network.
Assessment of Hepatitis B Vaccination Status and Associated Factors among Healthcare Workers in Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia 2020
Authors: Hussein Nur Ahmed , Ismail Abdiwahid Mohamed , Jama Saaid Said
Published: March 2022

Introduction. Hepatitis B virus disease is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is a major public health problem worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, two billion people worldwide have serologic evidence of past or present HBV infection. The risk of infection is high among health professionals due to the risk of occupational contact with fluids of infected patients and the risk of needle stick injury. This study is aimed at assessing HBV vaccination coverage and reasons for possible defiance of the vaccine among healthcare workers in Bosaso, Somalia. Methodology. An institution‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted by using a quantitative approach to identify hepatitis B virus vaccination coverage and reasons for vaccine defiance in Bosaso from September 2020 to November 2020. Healthcare workers (HCWs) in Bosaso city both in public and private health facilities who accepted to participate in this study were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire, and SPSS was used to analyze the collected data. Results. We found that only (16.4%) of HCWs were fully vaccinated. The main reasons for not taking the vaccine by the participants were the unavailability of the vaccine (42%), high vaccine cost (28.7%), lack of time (20.7%), and fear of vaccine side effects (7.5%). The majority (69.7%) of HCWs demonstrated good knowledge about HBV infection. The vaccination uptake was significantly higher among midwives (p = 0.02; OR = 1.21; 95%CI = 1.39 − 67.41) and individuals aged under 30 years (p = 0.03; OR = 8.6; 95%CI = 1.17–63.26). Conclusion. Our study revealed that vaccination coverage of HCWs in Bosaso was very low because of the unavailability of vaccines, high cost of the vaccine, lack of time, and fear of vaccine side effects. Therefore, the development and implementation of policies related to HBV vaccination are recommended.
Advanced Phasmatodea Population Evolution Algorithm for Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem
Authors: Zhuang Jiawen , Chu Shu-Chuan , Hu Chia-Cheng , Liao Lyuchao , Pan Jeng-Shyang
Published: March 2022

Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) is difficult to solve by the traditional precise methods in the transportation area. The metaheuristic algorithm is often used to solve CVRP and can obtain approximate optimal solutions. Phasmatodea population evolution algorithm (PPE) is a recently proposed metaheuristic algorithm. Given the shortcomings of PPE, such as its low convergence precision, its nature to fall into local optima easily, and it being time-consuming, we propose an advanced Phasmatodea population evolution algorithm (APPE). In APPE, we delete competition, delete conditional acceptance and correspondingevolutionary trend update, and add jump mechanism, history-based searching, and population closing moving. Deleting competition and conditional acceptance and correspondingevolutionary trend update can shorten PPE running time. Adding a jump mechanism makes PPE more likely to jump out of the local optimum. Adding history-based searching and population closing moving improves PPE’s convergence accuracy. Then, we test APPE by CEC2013. We compare the proposed APPE with differential evolution (DE), sparrow search algorithm (SSA), Harris Hawk optimization (HHO), and PPE. Experiment results show that APPE has higher convergence accuracy and shorter running time. Finally, APPE also is applied to solve CVRP. From the test results of the instances, APPE is more suitable to solve CVRP.
Chaotic Behaviors and Coexisting Attractors in a New Nonlinear Dissipative Parametric Chemical Oscillator
Authors: Kpomahou Y. J. F. , Adomou A. , Adéchinan J. A. , Yamadjako A. E. , Madogni I. V.
Published: March 2022

In this study, complex dynamics of Briggs–Rauscher reaction system is investigated analytically and numerically. First, the Briggs–Rauscher reaction system is reduced into a new nonlinear parametric oscillator. The Melnikov method is used to derive the condition of the appearance of horseshoe chaos in the casesω= Ω andω≠ Ω. The performed numerical simulations confirm the obtained analytical predictions. Second, the prediction of coexisting attractors is investigated by solving numerically the new nonlinear parametric ordinary differential equation via the fourth‐order Runge–Kutta algorithm. As results, it is found that the new nonlinear chemical system displays various coexisting behaviors of symmetric and asymmetric attractors. In addition, the system presents a rich variety of bifurcations phenomena such as symmetry breaking, symmetry restoring, period doubling, reverse period doubling, period‐m bubbles, reverse period‐m bubbles, intermittency, and antimonotonicity. On the contrary, emerging chaotic band attractors and period‐1, period‐3, period‐9, and period‐m bubbles routes to chaos occur in this system.
Exploration on Formation Mechanism of Core Discing Based on Energy Analysis
Authors: Ye Siqi , Li Jianan , Xie Jing , Yang Bengao , Hao Haichun , Li Fei
Published: March 2022

The basic premise of deep in situ fluidized mining is to study the in situ stress state of deep rocks, and coring is one of the basic physical means. However, core discing often occurs in the process of coring. And core discing is one of the symbols of high in situ stress in deep engineering area, and revealing the mechanical response of core stub under different conditions is an important premise to explore the formation mechanism of core discing. Therefore, the effects of in situ stress combination condition, core diameter, and drilling depth on the maximum tensile stress after core stub unloading are discussed by PFC2D discrete element numerical simulation method, and the formation mechanism of core discing is preliminarily explored based on strain energy and dissipated energy. Research shows that in situ stress combination is the most dominant factor of core discing. When the hydrostatic stress increases from 40 MPa to 80 MPa, the maximum tensile stress at the core stub increases by 98.42%. When the horizontal stress is 60 MPa and the axial stress increases from 40 MPa to 100 MPa, the maximum tensile stress at the core stub increases by 53.33%. However, when the axial stress is 60 MPa and the horizontal stress increases from 40 MPa to 80 MPa, the maximum tensile stress at the core stub first increases and then decreases, and there is an inflection point when the horizontal stress is 75 MPa. When the core diameter increases from 8.00 mm to 13.00 mm, the maximum tensile stress at the core stub increases by 1.58 times. When the drilling depth increases from 3.00 cm to 4.00 cm, the maximum tensile stress at the core stub increases by 4.01 times; that is, small diameter cores and cores with large drilling depth are more prone to core discing. The total energy of the system increases with the increase of in situ stress. When the hydrostatic pressure is 80 MPa, the dissipated energy of the system is 2.80 times greater than that when the hydrostatic pressure is 40 MPa. More energy must be dissipated when the core discing occurs under higher in situ stress conditions. It is preliminarily proved that the formation mechanism of core discing is that the tensile cracks extend and penetrate at the core stub, and the core is pulled off to form a core disc, which is reciprocating to produce core discing. The research results are expected to provide a certain reference for understanding the formation mechanism of core discing and provide useful ideas for the related research of discing phenomenon.
Epigenetic Activation of Plasmacytoid DCs Drives IFNAR-Dependent Therapeutic Differentiation of AML
Authors: Salmon Jessica M. , Todorovski Izabela , Stanley Kym L. , Bruedigam Claudia , Kearney Conor J. , Martelotto Luciano G. , Rossello Fernando , Semple Timothy , Arnau Gisela Mir , Zethoven Magnus , Bots Michael , Bjelosevic Stefan , Cluse Leonie A. , Fraser Peter J. , Litalien Veronique , Vidacs Eva , McArthur Kate , Matthews Antony Y. , Gressier Elise , de Weerd Nicole A. , Lichte Jens , Kelly Madison J. , Hogg Simon J. , Hertzog Paul J. , Kats Lev M. , Vervoort Stephin J. , De Carvalho Daniel D. , Scheu Stefanie , Bedoui Sammy , Kile Benjamin T. , Lane Steven W. , Perkins Andrew C. , Wei Andrew H. , Dominguez Pilar M. , Johnstone Ricky W.
Published: March 2022

Pharmacologic inhibition of epigenetic enzymes can have therapeutic benefit against hematologic malignancies. In addition to affecting tumor cell growth and proliferation, these epigenetic agents may induce antitumor immunity. Here, we discovered a novel immunoregulatory mechanism through inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC). In models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), leukemia cell differentiation and therapeutic benefit mediated by the HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) panobinostat required activation of the type I interferon (IFN) pathway. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) produced type I IFN after panobinostat treatment, through transcriptional activation of IFN genes concomitant with increased H3K27 acetylation at these loci. Depletion of pDCs abrogated panobinostat-mediated induction of type I IFN signaling in leukemia cells and impaired therapeutic efficacy, whereas combined treatment with panobinostat and IFNα improved outcomes in preclinical models. These discoveries offer a new therapeutic approach for AML and demonstrate that epigenetic rewiring of pDCs enhances antitumor immunity, opening the possibility of exploiting this approach for immunotherapies.

Significance:

We demonstrate that HDACis induce terminal differentiation of AML through epigenetic remodeling of pDCs, resulting in production of type I IFN that is important for the therapeutic effects of HDACis. The study demonstrates the important functional interplay between the immune system and leukemias in response to HDAC inhibition.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1397
Albert Pitres: Charcot’s Brilliant Student
Authors: Drouin Emmanuel , Pereon Yann , Pasquini Marta , Hautecoeur Patrick
Published: March 2022

Albert Pitres (1848–1928) was an internist, neuropsychiatrist, professor of anatomy, pathology, and histology. He never really had a biography in English. However, the development of neurology and neurosciences in Bordeaux owes a lot to him, as to the psychiatrist Emmanuel Régis (1855–1918). The fact that his career was so closely linked with Charcot (1825–1893) should have secured him a more prominent place in neurology and the history of aphasiology. Pitres went on to co-author clinical and experimental research papers with Charcot that are considered some of the most notable ones among Charcot’s publications. Both carried out studies about pathological correlations between cortical lesions and hemiplegia, published series of articles and two major books about neurophysiology of motor control. To convey the atmosphere and the importance of the neurological clinic of Pitres in the heyday, we illustrate this article with unpublished photos of him.
Assessing Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease by Magnetic Resonance Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping Combined Voxel-Wise and Radiomic Analysis
Authors: Zhao Yi , Qu Hang , Wang Wei , Liu Jiangbing , Pan Yu , Li Zheng , Xu Gang , Hu Chunhong
Published: March 2022

Background: The relationship between iron accumulation in the central nervous system and cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the value of quantitative susceptibility mapping in assessment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in PD. Methods: Sixteen PD patients with MCI (PD-MCI), sixteen normal cognition PD patients (PD-NC), and 28 healthy controls (HCs) were included. The differences in the magnetic susceptibility and Radiomic indicators among groups and their correlations with Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) scores and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS-III) were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance. Results: Higher iron deposition was observed in the cortical and subcortical structures of the PD patients compared with HCs, including limbic system, orbitofrontal cortex, cuneus, red nucleus, and substantia nigra. Combined magnetic susceptibility and texture index in hippocampus achieved the best diagnostic performance (area under curves: 0.828) in differentiating PD-MCI from PD-NC. The magnetic susceptibilities of the substantia nigra, red nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, and thalamus were negatively correlated with the MoCA-B scores (all p < 0.05), and of the putamen and amygdala were positively correlated with the UPDRS-III scores (both p < 0.05). Conclusion: Higher iron deposition was observed in the cortical and subcortical structures of the PD-MCI and PD-NC groups. The susceptibility values of vulnerable brain subregions shown significant correlation with MoCA-B and UPDRS-III. Together with the texture index, magnetic susceptibility values could provide robust performance in distinguishing PD-MCI patients from PD-NC.
Morphologic Mapping of the Sublingual Microcirculation in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Güven Göksel , Uz Zühre , Hilty Matthias P. , Bilecenoğlu Burak , Akin Șakir , Ince Yasin , Ince Can
Published: March 2022

Purpose: Monitoring the sublingual and oral microcirculation (SM-OM) using hand-held vital microscopes (HVMs) has provided valuable insight into the (patho)physiology of diseases. However, the microvascular anatomy in a healthy population has not been adequately described yet. Methods: Incident dark field-based HVM imaging was used to visualize the SM-OM. First, the SM was divided into four different fields; Field-a (between incisors-lingua), Field-b (between the canine-first premolar-lingua), Field-c (between the first-second premolar-lingua), Field-d (between the second molar-wisdom teeth-lingua). Second, we investigated the buccal area, lower and upper lip. Total/functional vessel density (TVD/FCD), focus depth (FD), small vessel mean diameters (SVMDs), and capillary tortuosity score (CTS) were compared between the areas. Results: Fifteen volunteers with a mean age of 29 ± 6 years were enrolled. No statistical difference was found between the sublingual fields in terms of TVD (p = 0.30), FCD (p = 0.38), and FD (p = 0.09). SVMD was similar in Field-a, Field-b, and Field-c (p = 0.20–0.30), and larger in Field-d (p < 0.01, p = 0.015). The CTS of the buccal area was higher than in the lips. Conclusion: The sublingual area has a homogenous distribution in TVD, FCD, FD, and SVMD. This study can be a description of the normal microvascular anatomy for future researches regarding microcirculatory assessment.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Associated with Norovirus Gastroenteritis: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Yılmaz Neslihan , Yüksel Selçuk
Published: March 2022

A previously healthy 3-year-old girl was admitted with fever, nonbloody diarrhea, vomiting for 3 days, and oliguria. Physical examination showed fatigue, pale appearance, hypertension, and mild periorbital edema. Laboratory examinations revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, acute kidney injury, high LDH, and low haptoglobin levels. Urinalysis showed proteinuria and hematuria. Schistocytes and helmet cells were detected in the peripheral blood smear. There were no electrolyte imbalance and hypocomplementemia. Direct Coombs and viral panel were negative. Blood, urine, throat, and stool cultures were negative. Norovirus GII was positive in stool PCR, while other diarrheal agents were negative. The patient was diagnosed with norovirus gastroenteritis-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Furosemide was started for oliguria and hypertension, and blood pressure was controlled with oral nifedipine. On the 12th day of hospitalization, he was discharged with fully recover. To date, norovirus-associated HUS has been reported in 5 cases. Two of these are adult cases and the other three and our case are pediatric patients. In this case report and literature review, we observed that norovirus can cause HUS, especially in children, with a milder course than other types of HUS. The reason why it is more complicated in adult cases may be the presence of an additional underlying kidney disease. Since it was detected coincidentally in 1 case in the literature, it may be useful to screen for mutations in the complement pathway that may cause aHUS, if possible, in diarrhea-associated HUS caused by norovirus agents, but it was not present in our case.