bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Study on SSRC under Eccentric Compression
Authors: Li Qingfu , Zhang Tianjing , Yan Yaqian , Xiang Qunhua
Published: December 2021

The use of stainless steel bars can improve the durability and sustainability of building materials. Through the static performance test, this research analyzes the failure pattern and bearing performance of bias stainless steel reinforced concrete (SSRC) column. The influence of reinforcement ratio of longitudinal bars and eccentricity on the mechanical performance of specimens was studied. Different constitutive models of stainless steel bars were used to calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of the section of the column under eccentric compression column. Based on the experimental results, a method to modify the expression of the design specification is proposed. And, the results were compared with the test results. The results showed that the damage patterns and failure modes of SSRC columns are essentially the same as those of traditional reinforced concrete columns. The bearing capacity of SSRC columns rises with the increase in the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, and the ductility of the specimens is enhanced. The ultimate load of the specimen decreases with the rise in eccentricity but the deflection increases gradually. The strain distribution of the mid‐span section of the SSRC column conforms to the plane section assumption. The bearing capacity of the specimen can be analyzed by referring to the calculation method of the specification, and some parameters in the calculation formula of the specification are modified to adapt to the design and calculation of the SSRC column.
Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on the US Credit Default Swap Market
Authors: Romanyuk Kirill
Published: December 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic affected the US economy at different levels. Since credit default swaps can be viewed as a default probability indicator, the article shows the credit default swap market perspective on how the US economy was hit by the pandemic. Forecasting models are built to estimate the predictability of the CDS market sectors during the pandemic, i.e., manufacturing, energy, banks, consumer goods, and services and financial sector excluding banks. Econometric tests are applied to check the uniqueness of credit default swap market sectors after the declaration of the pandemic. The results indicate that the financial sector excluding banks performed uniquely during the pandemic; i.e., the predictability of this sector dropped significantly, and the Chow breakpoint test and Wald coefficient test can identify the shift in the data after declaration of the pandemic.
Secure Symmetric Keyword Search with Keyword Privacy for Cloud Storage Services
Authors: Youn Taek-Young , Rhee Hyun Sook
Published: December 2021

As Internet services are widely used in various mobile devices, the amount of data produced by users steadily increases. Meanwhile, the storage capacity of the various devices is limited to cover the increasing amount of data. Therefore, the importance of Internet-connected storage that can be accessed anytime and anywhere is steadily increasing in terms of storing and utilizing a huge amount of data. To use remote storage, data to be stored need to be encrypted for privacy. The storage manager also should be granted the ability to search the data without decrypting them in response to a query. Contrary to the traditional environment, the query to Internet-connected storage is conveyed through an open channel and hence its secrecy should be guaranteed. We propose a secure symmetric keyword search scheme that provides query privacy and is tailored to the equality test on encrypted data. The proposed scheme is efficient since it is based on prime order bilinear groups. We formally prove that our construction satisfies ciphertext confidentiality and keyword privacy based on the hardness of the bilinear Diffie–Hellman (DH) assumption and the decisional 3-party DH assumption.
X-Ray Film under Artificial Intelligence Algorithm in the Evaluation for Nursing Effect of Gamma Nail Internal Fixation in Elderly Patients with Intertrochanteric Fracture of Femur
Authors: Wang Yudi , Wang Xin , Jin Lei , Wei Xuemei
Published: December 2021

The aim of this work was to explore the effects of Gamma nail internal fixation for intertrochanteric fracture of femur by X-ray film classification and recognition method based on artificial intelligence algorithm. The study subjects were 100 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture of femur admitted to hospital. The cases were diagnosed as elderly (over 60 years old) femoral intertrochanteric fractures by X-ray or CT. They were divided into two groups, with 50 persons in each group: one group used the X-ray film evaluation image guidance based on the artificial intelligence algorithm (research group), and the other group did not use algorithmic guidance (control group). The results showed that the segmentation effect of the proposed algorithm was similar to the gold standard segmentation result, indicating that the algorithm was effective and feasible in the segmentation of fractures and bones. The global level set algorithm was set as the control. The ultimate measurement accuracy (UMA) value of the algorithm group was (

1.77
±
0.22

), and the UMA value of the global level set algorithm group was (

3.42
±
0.36

), indicating that the image processed by the algorithm group had obvious numerical effect, high accuracy, and good retention of details. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, hospital stay, weight-bearing time, and fracture healing time of the two groups were all better than those of the control group. One month after surgery, the Harris score of the algorithm group was 67, and that of the control group was 51, with a 16-point difference between the two groups (

p
<
0.05

). The patient had less pain and fast recovery speed, indicating that it was a good way to treat elderly intertrochanteric fractures with the nursing effect of X-ray Gamma nail internal fixation based on an artificial intelligence algorithm. The artificial intelligence algorithm not only can be applied to the Gamma nail internal fixation of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures but also can be applied to the X-ray image processing of other fractures and other surgical methods to provide effective treatment for fracture patients.
Selfish node Detection Based on Fuzzy Logic and Harris Hawks Optimization Algorithm in IoT Networks
Authors: Akhbari Abbas , Ghaffari Ali
Published: December 2021

The Internet of things describes a network of physical things for example, “things” that are connected with the sensors, software, and other technologies to connect and exchange data with other devices and systems via the Internet. In this type of network, the nodes communicate with each other because of the low radio range by step by step with the help of each other until they reach their destination, but there are nodes in the network that do not cooperate with other nodes in the network, which are called “selfish nodes”. In this paper, we try to detect selfish nodes based on a hybrid approach to increase the performance of our network. The proposed method consists of three stages: in the first stage, with the help of the Harris hawk operation, we try to set up the cluster and select head cluster; in the second stage, the sink investigates the existence or nonexistence of selfish nodes in the network by considering the general parameters of the network; and in the event of a selfish node in the network, it informs the head clusters to check the cluster members and recognize the selfish node. In the third stage, with the help of fuzzy logic, the amount of reputation of each of the nodes has been realized, and finally, with the help of fusion of head clusters and fuzzy logic, each node is decided to be cooperate or selfish nodes, and in case of head clusters and fuzzy logic in some cases, the opportunity node will be reestablished to participate in network activities otherwise the node will be isolated. The results show that the accuracy of selfish node detection has increased by an average of 12% and the false positive rate is 8% in comparison to existing methods.
Plantain-Tree Rubber Intercropping Systems Improved Productivity in the Tropical Humid Zone of Ghana, West Africa
Authors: Tetteh Erasmus Narteh , Owusu Danquah Eric , Abunyewa Akwasi Adutwum , Melenya Ocansey Caleb , Boakye Emmanuel Amoah , Tuffour Henry Oppong , Logah Vincent , Twum-Ampofo Kwame , Dzomeku Beloved Mensah , Yeboah Stephen , Barnes Victor Rex
Published: December 2021

A three-year field trial was conducted between 2014 and 2017 in the Ellembelle and Jomoro districts of the Western region of Ghana where rubber production is common to determine the optimum population density of plantain when grown in combination with immature rubber tree crops. The trials were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications. The treatments were sole rubber, sole plantain, and three intercrops of one row of plantain in between two rows of rubber, two rows of plantain in between two rows of rubber, and three rows of plantain in between two rows of rubber. The rubber clone used was GT1 while the variety of plantain used was false horn. The results showed that population density of plantain had significant effect on the growth of the associated rubber. Growing plantain at closer spacing of 1.5 m under the high-density plantain treatment significantly increased plantain yield compared to the other cropping systems. There was a significant positive relationship between population density of plantain and the rubber tree growth and development. The optimum population density of plantain when intercropped with rubber was 1,666/ha. The study showed intercropping was advantageous over sole cropping for both crops.
Survey on Astroturfing Detection and Analysis from an Information Technology Perspective
Authors: Chen Tong , Liu Jiqiang , Wu Yalun , Tian Yunzhe , Tong Endong , Niu Wenjia , Li Yike , Xiang Yingxiao , Wang Wei
Published: December 2021

With the development of the Internet, user comments produced an unprecedented impact on information acquisition, goods purchase, and other aspects. For example, the user comments can quickly render a topic the focus of discussion in social networks. It can promote the sales of goods in e-commerce, and it influences the ratings of books, movies, or albums. Among these network applications and services, “astroturfing,” a kind of online suspicious behavior, can generate abnormal, damaging, and even illegal behaviors in cyberspace that mislead public perception and bring a bad effect on Internet users and society. Hence, the manner of detecting and combating astroturfing behavior has become highly urgent, attracting interest from researchers both from information technology and sociology. In the current paper, we restudy it mainly from the perspective of information technology, summarize the latest research findings of astroturfing detection, analyze the astroturfing feature, classify the machine learning-based detection methods and evaluation criteria, and introduce the main applications. Different from the previous surveys, we also discuss the new future directions of astroturfing detection, such as cross-domain astroturfing detection and user privacy protection.
Root Canal Configuration of Burmese (Myanmar) Maxillary First Molar: A Micro-Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Kyaw Moe M. M. , Jo H. J. , Ha J. H. , Kim S. K.
Published: December 2021

Aim. To investigate the root canal anatomy of Burmese (Myanmar) permanent maxillary first molar (BMFM) with micro-computed tomography. Methodology. One hundred and one extracted BMFMs were scanned by a SkyScan 1272 scanner (Bruker microCT, Belgium) and reconstructed with NRecon software (Bruker microCT). CTAn software (Bruker microCT) was used to create 3D models of root and internal canal anatomy, while CTVol software (Bruker microCT) was used to visualize 3D models. In each root, Vertucci’s canal types, incidence and location of the lateral canal, incidence, location, and type of isthmus, and number and position of foramina were examined. Results. In 101 specimens, 83 (82.18%) mesiobuccal roots had multiple canals. The most common canal type is type IV (45.5%), followed by type II (17.8%) and I (17.8%) canals. Type III, V, VI, VII, and VIII canals are less than 10% in total. Seven additional canal types were seen for 10% in total. Fourteen (13.86%) distobuccal roots had multiple canals, and the predominant canal type is type I (86.1%), followed by type II (5.9%) and V (4%) canals. Three additional canal types were observed for 4% in total. All palatal roots possessed the simplest type I canal. Apical ramification occurred in 69 mesiobuccal roots (68.3%), 36 distobuccal roots (35.6%), and 37 palatal roots (36.6%). A total of 240 lateral canals were observed in 101 specimens. Each specimen had 2.38 ± 2.22 lateral canals on average. The highest incidence, 136 (56.67%) lateral canals, occurred in the mesiobuccal root, followed by 57 (23.75%) and 47 (19.58%) lateral canals from the distobuccal root and the palatal root, respectively. Each specimen had 6.17 ± 2.42 foramina. Mesiobuccal root had the highest incidence of apical foramina compared to other roots. Seventy-two mesiobuccal roots (71.29%) had isthmus, while only 7 distobuccal roots (6.93%) had isthmus somewhere along the root. Conclusions. The root canal anatomy of BMFM was quite complex, especially in the mesiobuccal root. The predominant canal type was Vertucci type IV in the mesiobuccal root and type I in the distobuccal and palatal roots. In addition, this micro-computed tomography study disclosed complemented canal types and a higher prevalence of lateral canal than the previous studies.
Protective Properties of the Extract of Chrysanthemum on Patients with Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Zhu Zhuoying , Qian Shuxia , Lu Xudong , Xu Congying , Wang Yanping , Zhang Xiaoling , Yu Xin , Shen Yufei
Published: December 2021

Investigation of the protective effect of chrysanthemum extract in ischemic strokes patients is among the challenging issues with the traditional hospital system in general and smart technology-based hospitals in particular. In this study, we have evaluated the protective effect of chrysanthemum extract on patients with ischemic stroke by detecting the severity of stroke, neuronal indexes, and oxidative stress biomarkers. For this purpose, forty-six patients with ischemic stroke were randomly divided into the control group (n = 30) and chrysanthemum group (n = 30). The control group received standard stroke treatment, and the chrysanthemum group was treated with chrysanthemum extract 400 mg/day (200 mg/day, twice/day) on the basis of standard treatment. The groups were compared the effect of saffron capsules using the National Institute of Health Stoke Scale (NIHSS), serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), S100, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), malondialdehyde (MDA), Su-peroxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC ) levels, at the time of first day and fourth day after treatment. On the first day after treatment, there was no significant difference in the NIHSS score, serum NSE, S100, BDNF, MDA, SOD, and TAC levels between the chrysanthemum group and the control group (

P
>
0.05

). On the fourth day after treatment, the NIHSS, serum NSE, S100, and MDA levels were significantly reduced in the chrysanthemum group compared to the control group, while the BDNF, SOD, and TAC levels were higher (

P
<
0.05

). In addition, compared to the levels on the first day, the NIHSS, serum NSE, S100, and MDA levels were significantly reduced, and the BDNF, SOD, and TAC levels were increased in the chrysanthemum group on the fourth day (

P
<
0.05

). Chrysanthemum extract has the effects of scavenging oxygen free radicals and antioxidation and has a neuroprotective effect on ischemic stroke patients.
Analysis of the Evolution of Time and Space Differences and Coordinated Development Degree of Tourism Economy Based on Regional Internet of Things Technology
Authors: Zhang Su
Published: December 2021

From the time dimension, this paper analyzes the characteristics of the scale, industrial structure, employment flexibility, and comprehensive employment effects of regional tourism employment based on the three‐level criteria of the scope of tourism employment based on the regional Internet of Things. From the spatial dimension, we take the regional city as the basic research unit, adopt multiple indicators, and conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the regional development of regional tourism employment through horizontal and vertical comparisons. This paper uses multiple linear regression analysis to establish the relationship between the development level of the county tourism economy and the influencing factors; in order of magnitude of influence, they are tourism resource endowment, location traffic conditions, and economic development. Using a combination of a single indicator and multiple indicators, the county tourism economy is evaluated and analyzed for differences in time and space. We select the total tourism revenue as an indicator and use methods such as range, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and coefficient to analyze the time difference of the tourism economy in each county. We adopt the Granger causality test and other methods to analyze the factors affecting tourism employment in the area and the growth mode. Through the establishment of a structural model of the tourism employment growth dynamics system, causality test and other methods are adopted to analyze the regional tourism employment influencing factors and growth methods, and the results show that the regional tourism employment growth mode is an investment‐driven tourism employment growth mode.
Development of Some Novel Suction‐Based Correlations for Swell Behavior of Expansive Soils
Authors: Zamin Bakht , Nasir Hassan , Mehmood Khalid , Iqbal Qaiser , Bashir M. Tariq , Farooq Asim
Published: December 2021

Swelling and shrinkage are the two distinctive characteristics of expansive soils, and due to this behavior, these soils are considered a natural hazard for infrastructure. Many structures in different regions have been impaired due to the swell/shrink behavior of the expansive soil. Most of the severe distress is impeded because of the inherent suction (negative pore water pressure) present in expansive soils. Both suction and swelling parameters are greatly affected by the surrounding moisture content. Due to this feature of expansive soil, geotechnical engineers are interested in utilizing the suction‐based correlations for the assessment of unsaturated expansive soils. The current investigation was carried out to develop novel correlations incorporating lab testing and field instrumentation. To fulfill the objectives, eight sites of the local expansive soil in Pakistan were selected for samples collection and field testing. Conventional odometer testing was conducted to measure the swell pressure (Sp) and swell potential (S) of the fabricated/remolded specimens. Gypsum block (G‐block) sensors were additionally utilized for estimating the matric suction in the field. To expand the database, the previously published data of the same nature was also incorporated. Based on the results, the power form of the novel correlations (suction‐based) is highly significant for estimating (Sp), while for swell potential, the logarithmic correlation with R2 = 0.6551 is more significant than other forms of correlations. The proposed suction‐based correlation can be equally utilized for the estimation of field suction as well as for swell behavior of expansive soil having a plasticity index (PI) ≥ 22%.
Data Mining-Based Stability and Prescription Analysis of Neonatal Parenteral Nutrition Solution
Authors: Li Huiqin , Fan Wenyan , Han Xiaoyan , Yang Hao
Published: December 2021

In order to evaluate the stability of neonatal parenteral nutrition solution, in this paper, the prescription of neonatal parenteral nutrition solution was investigated and analyzed. The formula of neonatal parenteral nutrition solution used, particularly the one utilized in this study, is commonly used in clinical practice. All the neonatal parenteral nutrition solution required for the test was prepared on the purification workbench in a sterile environment. The time points of stability of parenteral nutrient solution were 0, 12, and 24 hours, respectively, and three parallel samples were taken at each time point. Likewise, to investigate the stability of two kinds of fat milk injection in parenteral nutrition solution of neonates and provide a reference for subsequent experiments and to investigate the influence of electrolyte, amino acid, temperature, pH value, mixing sequence, and the final concentration of glucose on the stability of neonatal parenteral nutrition solution, the stability indexes of neonatal parenteral nutrition liquid mainly include appearance, pH, insoluble particles, fat milk particle size, and particle size distribution. Neonatal parenteral nutrition solution prescriptions from the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, specifically from January to June 2019, were collected and statistically processed. The experimental data were processed by SPSS 19.0 software and data mining technology. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and statistically processed by ANOVA.

P
<
0.05

was considered statistically significant. The results showed that the stability of neonatal parenteral nutrient solution was influenced by many factors. The formula of neonatal parenteral nutrition solution is generally reasonable, but there are unreasonable phenomena which are needed to be improved further if feasible.
Detection of Tibiofemoral Joint Injury in High-Impact Motion Based on Neural Network Reconstruction Algorithm
Authors: Zheng Hongbo
Published: December 2021

In order to reduce the damage degree of joint bones, ligaments, and soft tissues caused by the high impact on the tibiofemoral joint during landing, a method for detecting the damage of tibiofemoral joint under high-impact action based on neural network reconstruction algorithm is proposed. Two dimensional X-ray images of knee joints from straightening to bending in 10 healthy volunteers were selected. CT scans were performed on the knee joint on the same side, and the 3D model from the acquired images was reconstructed. The kinematics data of the femur relative to the tibia with full degree of freedom were measured by registering the 3D model with 2D images. The results showed that in the extended position, the femur was rotated inward (5.5° ± 6.3°) relative to the tibia. The range of femoral external rotation is (18.7° ± 5.9°) from flexion to 90° in straight position. However, from 90° to 120°, a small amount of internal rotation occurred (1.4° ± 1.9°), so during the whole flexion process, the femur rotated (17.3° ± 6.9°), among which, from the straight position to 15°, the femur rotated (10.0° ± 5.6°). Damage in different areas is determined by the size of the interlayer displacement sample size method of sample space reduction. It is proved that the detection method of tibiofemoral joint injury in high-impact motion based on neural network reconstruction algorithm has high accuracy and consistency.
The Establishment of Ore-Controlling Fracture System of Baoginshan Gold Mine Based on Fracture-Tectonic Analysis
Authors: Lu Yulong , Li Xingqiang , Liu Yang , Leng Jiahao
Published: December 2021

The Baoginshan quartz vein type gold mine in the Baimashan-Longshan-Ziyunshan gold belt is the object of study, and the nature of the fracture structure and its ore-controlling effect are studied through surface and pit investigation, and the nature of the ore-controlling structure system and combination pattern of the Baoginshan gold mine is established. The F7 and F9 fractures in the near-east-west (EW) direction are the main fractures, which tend to the north and control the spreading of the ore zone; the northwest (NW) direction secondary tension fracture, with a dominant yield of 221°∠63°, is a T-type fracture in the Riedel shear mode and is the ore-holding structure of the vein-like ore body; the northeast-east (NEE) direction secondary shear fracture, with a dominant yield of 343°∠53°, is a P-type fracture and the combination of the two controls the specific positioning of the ore body. The characteristics and nature of the fracture structures in the whole ore zone, as well as their combination patterns, indicate that the overall ore-controlling fracture system of Baoginshan is a right-going tensional shear fracture zone composed of NW-oriented (T-type) and NEE-oriented (P-type) secondary fractures with F7 and F9 fractures as boundary fractures. The directions of the principal stresses are σ1≈158°∠40°, σ2≈288°∠38°, and σ3≈42°∠28°, respectively. In the next step of the prospecting process, based on increasing the spacing of prospecting pits (to 40m), in-pit drilling is deployed in the upper and lower discs of the NEE secondary fracture along with the tendency and strike for literacy, which can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of prospecting and greatly reduce the cost of prospecting.
Network Pharmacology-Based Study on the Mechanism of Aloe Vera for Treating Cancer
Authors: Xie Jing , Wu Jun , Yang Sihui , Zhou Huaijun
Published: December 2021

Background. Aloe vera has long been considered an anticancer herb in different parts of the world. Objective. To explore the potential mechanism of aloe vera in the treatment of cancer using network pharmacology and molecule docking approaches. Methods. The active ingredients and corresponding protein targets of aloe vera were identified from the TCMSP database. Targets related to cancer were obtained from GeneCards and OMIM databases. The anticancer targets of aloe vera were obtained by intersecting the drug targets with the disease targets, and the process was presented in the form of a Venn plot. These targets were uploaded to the String database for protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, and the result was visualized by Cytoscape software. Go and KEGG enrichment were used to analyze the biological process of the target proteins. Molecular docking was used to verify the relationship between the active ingredients of aloe vera and predicted targets. Results. By screening and analyzing, 8 active ingredients and 174 anticancer targets of aloe vera were obtained. The active ingredient-anticancer target network constructed by Cytoscape software indicated that quercetin, arachidonic acid, aloe-emodin, and beta-carotene, which have more than 4 gene targets, may play crucial roles. In the PPI network, AKT1, TP53, and VEGFA have the top 3 highest values. The anticancer targets of aloe vera were mainly involved in pathways in cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, and non-small-cell lung cancer and the TNF signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking suggested that the binding ability between TP53 and quercetin was the strongest. Conclusion. This study revealed the active ingredients of aloe vera and the potential mechanism underlying its anticancer effect based on network pharmacology and provided ideas for further research.
C‐Reactive Protein Level Predicts Cardiovascular Risk in Chinese Young Female Population
Authors: Liu Ruifang , Xu Fangxing , Ma Qian , Zhou Yujie , Liu Tongku
Published: December 2021

Background. C‐reactive protein (CRP) is one of the most common oxidative indexes affected by many diseases. In recent years, there have been many studies on CRP, but the relationship between CRP levels and the cardiovascular risk in the Chinese young female population is still unclear. The purpose of this work is to explore the predictive value of CRP for the cardiovascular risk in the Chinese young female population. Methods. The study is conducted by 1 : 1 case‐control to retrospectively analyze 420 young women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS group) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 420 young women (control group) who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) to exclude coronary heart disease from January 2007 to December 2016. All patients are divided into three subgroups according to CRP values: subgroup 1: CRP < 1.0 mg/L (n = 402); subgroup 2: 1.0 mg/L ≤ CRP ≤ 3.0 mg/L (n = 303); subgroup 3: CRP > 3.0 mg/L (n = 135). The levels of CRP were observed in the two groups and three subgroups. Results. A total of 840 patients were analyzed. The mean duration of follow‐up was 66.37 ± 30.06 months. The results showed that the level of CRP in the ACS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (1.30 ± 1.70 vs. 3.33 ± 5.92, respectively, p < 0.001), and patients with higher CRP levels were associated with a significantly increased rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (7.0% vs. 8.9% vs. 19.30%, respectively, p < 0.05). After adjustment for baseline covariates, CRP level was still an independent predictor for the incidence of MACE, either as a continuous variable or as a categorical variable. There was a significantly higher rate of all‐cause mortality and myocardial infarction in patients with higher CRP values during follow‐up. Conclusions. The research results show that high CRP is associated with increased risk of ACS in the Chinese young female population. Risk stratification with CRP as an adjunct to predict clinical risk factors might be useful in the Chinese young female population.
Application of Grey-Based SWARA and COPRAS Techniques in Disease Mortality Risk Assessment
Authors: Rehman Shazia , Rehman Nadia , Naz Mehvish , Mumtaz Ayesha , Jianglin Zhang
Published: December 2021

The health industry is amongst the most affected systems in terms of multiobjective decision-making, rendering the final solution, vulnerable to errors; however, multicriteria decision analysis (MDCA) emerges as a supportive tool for the process of decision-making. Therefore, the present study seeks to offer an MCDA framework for assessing and identifying the potential influence of socioeconomic risk factors on noncommunicable disease mortality. We adopted a subjective approach of grey-based Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and COmplex PRoportional Assessment (COPRAS) approach to calculate weights of parameters and criteria, respectively, and then rank them based on their degree of significance. The findings reveal that CRD mortality is potentially affected by the selected socioeconomic risk variables followed by IHD and cancer. Implementing MCDA techniques in the present study will assist the public health practitioners and policymakers in drawing decisions on the best strategy to reduce CRD mortality, which contributes significantly to raising overall mortality.
To Explore the Haemostatic Effect of Compression Haemostasis Using an Ultrasonic Probe under the Guidance of Ultrasound after Radial Artery Puncture
Authors: Jin Xianwei , Weng Qiaoling , Min Jia
Published: December 2021

Objective. To evaluate a new haemostasis method using an ultrasound probe to compress the radial artery and haemostasis under direct vision to replace traditional manual compression of the radial artery. Methods. According to a random number table, 240 patients with gastrointestinal tumours who had undergone arterial puncture were divided into Group A (120 cases) and Group B (120 cases). In Group A, patients were under the guidance of ultrasound to confirm the vascular port, determine the compression position of the ultrasound probe, observe the degree of vascular deformation, and press the radial artery puncture port with pressure to stop bleeding under direct vision. In Group B, traditional manual compression was used. All patients received 5 min of compression for haemostasis, and haemostasis conditions were recorded after compression and 24 hours postoperatively. Results. The incidence of bleeding, haematoma, and skin ecchymosis at the puncture site after 5 minutes of compression in Group A was lower than that in Group B (

P
<
0.05

). No significant difference was found between the two groups at 24 hours after the operation (

P
>
0.05

). Conclusion. The method using an ultrasound probe to guide radial artery compression to haemostasis is better than traditional manual compression when applied for compression haemostasis after removing the radial artery catheter.
Serum NT-Pro-BNP versus Noninvasive Bedside Inotropic Index in Paediatric Shock: A Contest of Myocardial Performance in Response to Fluid Loading
Authors: Pudjiadi Antonius Hocky , Rahayu Tuty , Wijaya Stephanie , Alatas Fatima Safira
Published: December 2021

Background. Mild elevation of serum amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is associated with myocardial dysfunction. A significantly lower Smith–Madigan inotropic index (SMII) has been shown to accurately represent cardiac contractility among heart failure subjects. We aim to monitor the effect of fluid resuscitation on cardiac function among paediatric patients by measuring serum NT-pro-BNP and SMII. Methods. This is an observational study on 70 paediatric shock patients. NT-pro-BNP and noninvasive bedside haemodynamic monitoring were done by using an ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM, USCOM, Sydney, Australia). The presence of cardiac diseases was excluded. SMII was obtained from the USCOM. An increase in the stroke volume index (SVI) of ≥15% indicates fluid responders. Measurements were taken before and after fluid loading. Results. Preloading NT-pro-BNP and SMII category were significantly different between the fluid responsiveness group,

p
=
0.001

and

p
=
0.004

, respectively. Higher median NT-pro-BNP (preloading NT-pro-BNP of 1175.00 (254.50–9965.00) ng/mL vs. 196.00 (65.00–509.00) ng/mL,

p
=
0.002

) was associated with fluid nonresponders (subjects >12 months old). Preloading NT-pro-BNP <242.5 ng/mL was associated with fluid responders (AUC: 0.768 (0.615–0.921),

p
=
0.003

), 82.1% sensitivity, and 68.7% specificity for subjects >12 years old. Delta NT-pro-BNP in fluid responders (15.00 (−16.00–950.00) ng/mL) did not differ from fluid nonresponders (505.00 (−797.00–1600.00) ng/mL),

p
=
0.456

. Postloading SMII >1.25 W·m−2 was associated with fluid responders (AUC: 0.683 (0.553–0.813), p = 0.011), 61.9% sensitivity, and 66.7% specificity, but not preloading SMII. Fluid responders had a higher mean postloading SMII compared to nonresponders (1.36 ± 0.38 vs. 1.10 ± 0.34,

p
=
0.006

). Conclusion. Higher NT-pro-BNP and lower SMII in the absence of cardiac diseases were associated with poor response to fluid loading. The SMII is affected by low preload conditions.
GNAO1 as a Novel Predictive Biomarker for Late Relapse in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Du Meiling , Feng Jie , Tao Yiran , Pan Qincong , Chen Fengyuan
Published: December 2021

GNAO1, the alpha O1 subunit of G protein, was reported to be significantly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as being implicated in a variety of intracellular biological events; findings suggest that it may act as a tumor suppressor. Our goal was to further explore the expression of GNAO1 in HCC patients and its potential clinical significance. Oncomine and Kaplan–Meier plotter databases were used to assess the mRNA expression of GNAO1 in HCC tissues and patient survival time. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to measure GNAO1 protein level in tissue from 79 cases of HCC and paired adjacent tissues. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, Cox regression model, and prognostic nomogram were used to evaluate the prognostic role of GNAO1 in HCC. Results demonstrated that mRNA and protein expressions of GNAO1 were both lower in HCC tissues than in adjacent tissues (all

p
<
0.01

). HCC patients with high expression of GNAO1 had better relapse-free survival (RFS) than those with low GNAO1 expression (all

p
<
0.05

). A high expression of GNAO1, meanwhile, functioned as a good predictor of late relapse for HCC (

p
<
0.05

). The nomogram consisting of GNAO1 expression and the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) model presented good ability in predicting the 3-year relapse for HCC (C-index = 0.614). In conclusion, GNAO1 was a reliable biomarker of relapse prediction for HCC.
Numerical Solutions for Laminar Boundary Layer Nanofluid Flow along with a Moving Cylinder with Heat Generation, Thermal Radiation, and Slip Parameter
Authors: Agbaje Titilayo Morenike , Makanda Gilbert
Published: December 2021

The investigation of the numerical solution of the laminar boundary layer flow along with a moving cylinder with heat generation, thermal radiation, and surface slip effect is carried out. The fluid mathematical model developed from the Navier-Stokes equations resulted in a system of partial differential equations which were then solved by the multidomain bivariate spectral quasilinearization method (MD-BSQLM). The results show that increasing the velocity slip factor results in an enhanced increase in velocity and temperature profiles. Increasing the heat generation parameter increases temperature profiles; increasing the radiation parameter and the Eckert numbers both increase the temperature profiles. The concentration profiles decrease with increasing radial coordinate. Increasing the Brownian motion and the thermophoresis parameter both destabilizes the concentration profiles. Increasing the Schmidt number reduces temperature profiles. The effect of increasing selected parameters: the velocity slip, Brownian motion, and the radiation parameter on all residual errors show that these errors do not deteriorate. This shows that the MD-BSQLM is very accurate and robust. The method was compared with similar results in the literature and was found to be in excellent agreement.
A Review of Keypoints’ Detection and Feature Description in Image Registration
Authors: Liu Cuiyin , Xu Jishang , Wang Feng
Published: December 2021

For image registration, feature detection and description are critical steps that identify the keypoints and describe them for the subsequent matching to estimate the geometric transformation parameters between two images. Recently, there has been a large increase in the research methods of detection operators and description operators, from traditional methods to deep learning methods. To solve the problem, that is, which operator is suitable for specific application problems under different imaging conditions, the paper systematically reviewed commonly used descriptors and detectors from artificial methods to deep learning methods, and the corresponding principle, analysis, and comparative experiments are given as well. We introduce the handcrafted detectors including FAST, BRISK, ORB, SURF, SIFT, and KAZE and the handcrafted descriptors including BRISK, FREAK, BRIEF, SURF, ORB, SIFT, KAZE. At the same time, we review detectors based on deep learning technology including DetNet, TILDE, LIFT, multiscale detector, SuperPoint, and descriptors based on deep learning including pretrained descriptor, Siamese descriptor, LIFT, triplet network, and SuperPoint. Two group of comparison experiments are compared comprehensively and objectively on representative datasets. Finally, we concluded with insightful discussions and conclusions of descriptor and detector selection for specific application problem and hope this survey can be a reference for researchers and engineers in image registration and related fields.
Correction Model of BDS-3 Satellite Pseudorange Multipath Delays and Its Impact on Single-Frequency Precise Point Positioning
Authors: Guo Zhongchen , Yu Xuexiang , Hu Chao , Yu Zhihao , Jiang Chuang
Published: December 2021

Precise point positioning (PPP) is used in many fields. However, pseudorange multipath delay is an important error that restricts its accuracy. Pseudorange multipath delay can be considered as the combination of effective information and observation noise; it can be modeled after removing the observation noise. In this work, elastic nets (EN) regularization denoising method is proposed and compared with L2-norm regularization denoising method. Then, quadratic polynomial (QP) model plus autoregressive (AR) model (QP + AR) are used to model the denoised pseudorange multipath delays. Finally, the modeling results are corrected to the observations to verify the improvement of BDS-3 single-frequency PPP accuracy. Three single-frequency PPP schemes are designed to verify the effectiveness of denoising method and QP + AR model. The experimental results show that the accuracy improvement of B3I and B2a is more obvious than that of B1I and B1C when the modeling values are corrected to the pseudorange observations. The improvement of B3I and B2a in the east (E) and up (U) directions can reach 10.6%∼34.4% and 5.9%∼65.7%, and the improvement of the north (N) direction is mostly less than 10.0%. The accuracy of B1I and B1C in E and U directions can be improved by 0%∼30.7% and 0.4%∼28.6%, respectively, while the accuracy of N direction can be improved slightly or even decreased. Using EN regularization denoising and QP + AR model correction, single-frequency PPP performs better at B3I and B2a, while L2-norm regularization denoising and QP + AR model correction perform better at B1I and B1C. The accuracy improvement of B2a and B3I is more obvious than that of B1I and B1C. The convergence time after MP correction of each frequency is slightly shorter. Overall, the proposed pseudorange multipath delays processing strategy is beneficial in improving the single-frequency PPP of BDS-3 satellite.
Predicting the Swelling Behavior of Acrylic Superabsorbent Polymers Used in Diapers
Authors: Zhang Shuxin , Peng Yangyang , Jiang Ran , Liu Wenqiang , Yang Huanlei , Yun Na , Chai Xinsheng
Published: December 2021

Acrylic polymer is a superabsorbent for water and widely used in diapers, in which its swelling behavior can be significantly affected by several factors, i.e., the time, temperature, pH, and salt concentration, and thus the product performance in the applications. In this work, the water absorption behavior of acrylic superabsorbent polymers by each of these individual factors was investigated. The results showed that the water absorbency increases with the pH in the range of 2 to ~7 and decreases when the pH continues to increase. However, it decreases with the increases in NaCl concentration in the solution. Moreover, more water can be absorbed by the acrylic polymers at the higher temperature. Based on a previously developed kinetic swelling model and the information from the above investigations, a semiempirical model for predicting the swelling behavior of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) under different conditions has been developed. Data showed that the model can predict (with a relative error of <4.5%) the amount of water absorbed by acrylic SAPs under different swelling conditions. The model would be very helpful to the practical application in both product design and its performance evaluation.
E-Cadherin: Context-Dependent Functions of a Quintessential Epithelial Marker in Metastasis
Authors: Fang Cao , Kang Yibin
Published: December 2021

Loss of E-cadherin expression has been well known as a hallmark of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is linked to increased risk of cancer metastasis. However, it was less clear whether E-cadherin and its downstream signaling pathways are functionally involved in driving EMT and the prometastatic phenotype. A study by Onder and colleagues in 2008 discovered that E-cadherin loss not only helps tumor cells detach from each other by breaking down cell–cell junctions but also elicits intracellular signaling events to confer a mesenchymal cell state and metastatic phenotype. This study established E-cadherin as an important global regulator, rather than just a marker, of EMT. The discovery inspired further investigation in the following decade that significantly deepened our understanding of E-cadherin and its diverse functions and more broadly of cellular plasticity in different stages and contexts of cancer metastasis.

See related article by Onder and colleagues, Cancer Res 2008;68:3645–3654.
Non-Invasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-Like Nuclear Features Is Not a Cytological Diagnosis, but It Influences Cytological Diagnosis Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Haaga Elina , Kalfert David , Ludvíková Marie , Kholová Ivana
Published: December 2021

Background: A low-risk thyroid tumour, non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) was introduced in 2016. NIFTP criteria require a thorough histological examination to rule out capsular and lymphovascular invasion, which denies the possibility of preoperative cytological diagnosis. Nevertheless, since the adoption of the new entity, the cytology of NIFTP has been a subject of interest. Objectives: The present systematic review and meta-analysis investigate the cytological diagnosis of NIFTP. Method: An online PubMed literature search was conducted between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, for all original articles considering the cytology of histologically proven NIFTP. The studies including data on fine needle aspiration specimens classified by The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology (TBSRTC) categories, risk of malignancy (ROMs) in the TBSRTC categories, and cytomorphological features of NIFTP were included in the meta-analysis. Non-English studies and case reports were excluded. The data were tabulated and statistical analysis was performed with Open Meta-Analyst program. Results: Fifty-eight studies with a total of 2,553 NIFTP cases were included in the study. The pooled prevalence of NIFTP cases was calculated among 25,892 surgically resected cases from 20 studies and the results show that NIFTP consisted 4.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.5–5.4%) of all cases. Most of the NIFTP cases (79.0%) belonged to the intermediate categories of TBSRTC. The pooled distribution of NIFTP cases in each TBSRTC category was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.8–1.7%) in non-diagnostic (ND), 8.9% (95% CI: 6.9–10.8%) in benign, 29.2% (95% CI: 25.0–33.4%) in atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS), 24.2% (95% CI: 19.6–28.9%) in follicular neoplasm (FN), 19.5% (95% CI: 16.1–22.9%) in suspicious for malignancy (SM), and 6.9% (95% CI: 5.2–8.7%) in malignant. Compared to pre-NIFTP era, the pooled risk differences of ROM were reduced by 2.4% in ND, 2.7% in benign, 8.2% in AUS/FLUS, 8.2% in FN, 7.3% in SM, and 1.1% in the malignant category. The cytomorphological features of NIFTP were similar to follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) but lesser to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Conclusions: Based on our results, NIFTP remains a histological diagnosis. Although cytomorphological features cannot be used in differentiating NIFTP from FVPTC, they may guide in separating NIFTP from PTC. Features such as papillae, microfollicles, giant cells, psammoma bodies, and the amount of papillary-like nuclear features should be taken into account when suspicious of NIFTP. NIFTP should not have papillae or psammoma bodies, and giant cells were rarely observed.