bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-donor Neural Transfer Learning for Genetic Programming
Authors: Wild Alexander , Porter Barry
Published: September 2022

Genetic programming (GP), for the synthesis of brand new programs, continues to demonstrate increasingly capable results towards increasingly complex problems. A key challenge in GP is how to learn from the past so that the successful synthesis of simple programs can feed into more challenging unsolved problems. Transfer Learning (TL) in the literature has yet to demonstrate an automated mechanism to identify existing donor programs with high-utility genetic material for new problems, instead relying on human guidance. In this article we present a transfer learning mechanism for GP which fills this gap: we use a Turing-complete language for synthesis, and demonstrate how a neural network (NN) can be used to guide automated code fragment extraction from previously solved problems for injection into future problems. Using a framework which synthesises code from just 10 input-output examples, we first study NN ability to recognise the presence of code fragments in a larger program, then present an end-to-end system which takes only input-output examples and generates code fragments as it solves easier problems, then deploys selected high-utility fragments to solve harder ones. The use of NN-guided genetic material selection shows significant performance increases, on average doubling the percentage of programs that can be successfully synthesised when tested on two different problem corpora, compared with a non-transfer-learning GP baseline.
A Socioecological-Genetic Framework of Culture and Personality: Their Roots, Trends, and Interplay
Authors: Lu Jackson G. , Benet-Martínez Verónica , Wang Laura Changlan
Published: September 2022

Culture and personality are two central topics in psychology. Individuals are culturally influenced influencers of culture, yet the research linking culture and personality has been limited and fragmentary. We integrate the literatures on culture and personality with recent advances in socioecology and genetics to formulate the Socioecological-Genetic Framework of Culture and Personality. Our framework not only delineates the mutual constitution of culture and personality but also sheds light on ( a) the roots of culture and personality, ( b) how socioecological changes partly explain temporal trends in culture and personality, and ( c) how genes and culture/socioecology interact to influence personality (i.e., nature × nurture interactions). By spotlighting the roles of socioecology and genetics, our integrative framework advances the understanding of culture and personality.
cideMOD: An Open Source Tool for Battery Cell Inhomogeneous Performance Understanding
Authors: Ciria Aylagas Raul , Ganuza Clara , Parra Ruben , Yañez Maria , Ayerbe Elixabete
Published: September 2022

With the increasing demand of energy storage systems driven by the transition toward electrification, particularly of the transportation sector, where the broader transformation to Electric Vehicles (EVs) is owing to environmental concerns, high-performance and cost-effective batteries, are imperative. To accelerate the design and development of new batteries and improve the already existing ones, modelling tools are important in understanding the performance of the cell; thus, reducing time and effort on the experimental load. In this study, we present cideMOD, an open-source t that helps battery designers, manufacturers, and developers to understand and analyze the performance of their cell designs through simulation, considering full domain and its real geometry, thereby providing knowledge on cell inhomogeneous behavior along different usage patterns. cideMOD combines the state-of-the-art electrochemical, thermal, and degradation models, solved in the three dimensions of the cell, into a single simulation tool.
Aluminum Nanoplatelet Electrodeposition in AlCl3–1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride–Urea Melts
Authors: Tsuda Tetsuya , Miyakawa Ryutaro , Kuwabata Susumu
Published: September 2022

The electrodeposition behavior of Al nanoplatelets, which are two-dimensional Al metal thin layer deposits, was investigated in five types of Lewis acidic 60–x–(40−x) [0 ≤ x ≤ 40] mol% AlCl3–1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C2mim]Cl)–urea room-temperature melts. Al nanoplatelets were obtained in 60–10–30 and 60–0–40 mol% AlCl3–[C2mim]Cl–urea melts. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that these Al nanoplatelets were oriented in the 111 direction. The formation of this anomalous Al nanoplatelets was analyzed using the operando digital microscope observation technique with our original air-tight electrochemical cell. We succeeded in video recording of the entire formation of Al nanoplatelets in the 60–0–40 mol% AlCl3–[C2mim]Cl–urea melt. Considering these results and electrode reactions involved in the Al deposition process, the electrodeposition behavior of the Al nanoplatelet formation could be attributed to the adequate quantities of free urea molecules generated during the electrode reaction and their specific adsorption onto the (111) Al crystal plane. The applied current density was an important key factor for the electrodeposition of the Al nanoplatelets in the AlCl3–[C2mim]Cl–urea melt. Al nanoplatelets were produced at low applied current densities smaller than −5.0 mA cm−2. The Al nanoplatelets became larger at lower applied current densities.
A New Quaternary Full Adder Cell based on CNFET for Use in Fast Arithmetic Circuits
Authors: Bolourforoush Alireza , Mohammadi Ghanatghestani Mokhtar
Published: September 2022

Multi-valued logic potentially increases the efficiency of arithmetic circuits and digital signal processing. Quaternary logic can be suggested as a solution to the problem of power consumption and connection complexity in binary digital systems. The possibility of having several threshold voltage levels using the Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistor (CNFET) results in the widespread use of this technology in the design of multi-valued circuits. In this paper, a quaternary full adder cell has been proposed. The main goal of the proposed circuit is to reduce the critical delay path in the quaternary full adder circuit using a parallel design. The proposed circuit is compared with four quaternary full adders based on simulation results using HSPICE in 32 nm technology. The experimental results show the higher performance of the proposed quaternary full adder cell than the state-of-the-art designs.
Review—Temperature Dependence of Transition-Metal and Rare-Earth Ion Luminescence (Mn4+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Eu2+, Eu3+, Tb3+, etc.) II: Experimental Data Analyses
Authors: Adachi Sadao
Published: September 2022

An analysis method presented in a separate article of I can be applicable not only to Mn4+ ion, but also to other kinds of ions like Mn4+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Eu2+, Eu3+, and Tb3+. Herein, the characteristic luminescence behaviors of such ion-activated phosphors are summarized from various spectroscopic points of view. The phosphors discussed in this article are classified into five groups: (i) transition-metal 3d
3-activated phosphors of types F-Mn, O-Mn (Mn4+), and O-Cr-A (Cr3+), (ii) transition-metal 3d
3-activated phosphors of types F-Cr and O-Cr-B (Cr3+), (iii) transition-metal 3d
5-activated phosphors (Mn2+), (iv) divalent rare-earth ion-activated phosphors (Eu2+), and (v) trivalent rare-earth ion-activated phosphors (Eu3+, Tb3+). Particularly, the effects of the crystal field on the electronic energy-level scheme of these ions are demonstrated in graphical form with presenting their typical excitation absorption and luminescence spectra. The phosphor materials actually examined here are: (i) Rb2GeF6:Mn4+ and K2SiF6:Mn4+, (ii) RbIn(WO4)2:Cr3+, (iii) Zn4B6O13:Mn2+, (iv) SrSi2O2N2:Eu2+, and (v) CaTiO3:Eu3+ and Ca3Ga2Ge3O12:Tb3+. The experimental photoluminescence intensity (I
PL) vs T data for these phosphors are analyzed using our proposed model. An electron trap model has recently been proposed as an alternative model of ours to explain negative or zero thermal quenching phenomenon. Detailed discussion is also given on the reliability of this electron-trap model.
Perceived tactile intensity at a fixed primary afferent spike rate varies with the temporal pattern of spikes
Authors: Sharma Deepak , Ng Kevin K. W. , Birznieks Ingvars , Vickery Richard M.
Published: September 2022

Structuring a fixed number of spikes into temporal burst patterns evoke gradations of perceived intensity with burst spike count, emphasizing the importance of spike timing in primary afferents for shaping perception. This forms the basis for new strategies in communicating a range of intensity information to users of neural interfaces by simply varying the timing of spikes in nonspecific primary afferents using fixed-charge electric pulses, without requiring alterations in stimulation current or mean pulse frequency.
Endophthalmitis Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes, and Antibiotics Sensitivities
Authors: Lin Jiaqi , Huang Shanshan , Liu Manli , Lin Lixia , Gu Jianjun , Duan Fang
Published: September 2022

Purpose. The aim of this study is to report the clinical characteristics, visual outcomes, and antibiotic susceptibilities of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis. Methods. The medical records of patients with culture-proven Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis treated from June 2013 to December 2019 were reviewed. Results. This study included 36 eyes of 36 patients. The clinical settings included ocular trauma (15/36), corneal ulcer (9/36), postoperative endophthalmitis (5/36), endogenous (3/36), and unknown (4/36). Sixteen patients underwent evisceration, 13 patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), 2 patients were treated with only intravitreal antibiotics, and 5 patients did not undergo surgery. Only one patient achieved a visual acuity of 20/400, and the others had all counting fingers or below. The cultured Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 100% sensitive to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin and, approximately 95% sensitive to meropenem, imipenem, and aztreonam. Conclusion. The visual outcomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis were very poor, and the evisceration rate remained high. Pseudomonas aeruginosa has good susceptibility to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin.
HBV Genomic Integration and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Gang , Chen Zhi
Published: September 2022

The infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most important risk factors of liver carcinogenesis. The infection could influence several aspects of the host liver cells, including liver inflammation resulting in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among of them, HBV DNA integration into the host genome could change host gene expression profiling, genomic stability, and HBV gene expression. The present review is focused on the effects of the integration of HBV genomic DNA into host genome during the carcinogenesis of HCC.
Lightweight Mutual Authentication Scheme Enabled by Stateless Blockchain for UAV Networks
Authors: Kong Lingjun , Chen Bing , Hu Feng , Zhang Ji
Published: September 2022

The UAV network composed of resource-constrained lightweight UAV swarms can efficiently accomplish mission with time critical requirements in dynamic and complex environments. However, the trusted authentication of network nodes poses a huge challenge due to its own resource constraints, the lack of trusted centralized support, frequent joining or departure of UAVs to or from the network, and the presence of cyber-attacks. In this paper, we propose a stateless blockchain based on triple aggregatable subvector commitment and present a dynamic proof of trust authorization consensus mechanism with a periodic random selection of authorized nodes to guarantee the trustworthiness of mutual authentication of UAV nodes. Our proposed triple vector authentication solution solves several of the challenges mentioned above very well. The extensive experiments demonstrate that our blockchain-based authentication scheme enjoins significant advantages over the four schemes currently available for UAV network authentication in terms of single authentication latency, speed of energy consumption, average computational cost, and end-to-end latency.
Impact of Sociocultural Factors on Contraceptive Use: A Case Study of Pakistan
Authors: Khan Arsalan , Qureshi Moiz , Daniyal Muhammad , Tawiah Kassim
Published: September 2022

Background. The use of birth control methods is influenced by complex and competing socioeconomic and demographic factors. Regardless of the complexity of the behavioral approach of women, the utility of contraceptive methods in providing the opportunity of choice is well paired. This study examined the factors driving the usage of contraception and the impact of contraceptive practices on population growth in Pakistan. We also perused the quantification of sociocultural contraceptive use. Methodology. The Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS, 2017‐18) dataset collected by the National Institute of Population Study (NIPS) was used for all analyses. We applied the frequentist logistic regression model and multinomial logistic regression model in assessing factors impacting contraceptive practices. Bayesian logistic and multinomial regression models were also implemented to compare estimates. The regions and provinces in Pakistan were considered as different clusters, thereby introducing hierarchical structures in the regression model. Results. The study revealed a distinctive highly significant negative effect on contraceptive use and women’s age. The odds ratio (OR) for women aged 25‐34, 35‐44, and above 44 was 1.242, 1.155, and 0.638, respectively, which shows that the OR of contraceptive use decreases in women aged 25‐44. Our study showed the superior performance of the Bayesian model in highlighting disparities among the various cultural streams existing in the country. Estimates of the Bayesian analysis of competing models indicated that the Bayesian models provide powerful estimates compared to the classical models. Conclusion. Our results indicated that contraceptive use is almost relevant to sociodemographic factors (education, age, language, partner, work, etc.). Women with no formal education living in rural areas were not aware of the use of contraception, thereby not using it. Contraceptive use and methods are most probably influenced by the age and the number of children of women. We recommend that high‐quality education, counseling, and widespread access to contraceptives should be prioritized in family planning healthcare in all areas of the country, especially rural areas.
A Fine-Grained Image Classification and Detection Method Based on Convolutional Neural Network Fused with Attention Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Yue
Published: September 2022

Due to the existence of attention system, people pay attention to the distinguishable area of the image, rather than directly receiving and processing the information of the whole image. This natural advantage makes attention mechanism widely used in fine-grained image classification. The research goal of fine-grained image classification task often is to differentiate subclass objects belonging to the same basic category. The difficulty of classification is that there are only slight local differences between different categories, but there may be large feature differences within the same category. At the same time, complex background features also bring interference factors to image recognition. In order to further extract discriminant regional features, this paper proposes a fine-grained image classification method WSFF-BCNN based on weak supervision feature fusion from two aspects: the improvement of the loss function in the training process of convolution neural network and the refinement of fine-grained image feature extraction. It uses the mixed attention of channel domain and spatial domain to obtain the detailed description information in the feature to highlight the response of the corresponding channel and spatial location in the feature map and pay attention to the attention characteristics of different dimensions. The original images of different sizes are input into the improved bilinear model to obtain multi-scale features. The large-scale features can represent the spatial location information of key areas, and the small-scale features represent the low-level features of the image. The backbone network of bilinear network uses ResNet50 to extract features and sample and zoom and uses bilinear pooling to fuse features of different scales to obtain a rich image feature representation.
Research on the Integration Method of Character Costume Culture in Dunhuang Murals Based on Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Zhai Ying , Xuan Ningjing , Shi Hualong , Liu Qiao
Published: September 2022

Objective. As one of the world’s cultural heritages, Dunhuang murals contain profound cultural, historical, social, and artistic values. In this paper, the evolution and progress of character costumes are analyzed and the development process of Chinese costumes is studied. Methods. This paper compares the characteristics of the costumes in different times; the progress and changes in graphics, styles, and textures; and the different characteristics from the costumes in the modern society. It also compares the coupling degree data of clothing culture in the two periods. Through analysis and research it is found that, compared with traditional algorithms, the integration of clothing culture using deep learning algorithms is more coupling. Through the calculation and analysis of clothing evolution in Dunhuang murals, more design inspiration can be provided for Chinese clothing designers, and more strength and research materials can be contributed to future design and clothing development in combination with ancient and modern clothing culture.
Effects of Fluid Shear Stress on Human Intervertebral Disc Nucleus Pulposus Cells Based on Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics
Authors: Xie Liang-yu , Cao Sheng-nan , Li Zi-teng , Wang Dan-dan , Shi Bin
Published: September 2022

Objective. To explore the possible mechanism of fluid shear stress on human nucleus pulposus cells based on label-free proteomics technology. Methods. The human nucleus pulposus cell line was purchased and subcultured in vitro. The Flexcell STR-4000 multiflow field cell fluid shear stress loading culture system was used to apply continuous laminar fluid shear stress (12 dyne/cm2, 45 mins) to the monolayer adherent cells. Those without mechanical loading were used as the control group, and those subjected to fluid shear loading were used as the experimental group. Differential protein expression was identified using mass spectrometry identification technology, and bioinformatics analysis was performed using Gene Ontology GO (Gene Ontology) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes). Results. The proteomics results of the experimental group and the control group showed that the total number of mass spectra was 638653, the number of matched mass spectra was 170110, the total number of identified peptides was 32050, the specific peptide was 30564, and the total number of identified proteins was 4745. Comparing the two groups, 47 proteins were significantly differentially expressed, namely, 25 upregulated proteins and 22 downregulated proteins. Bioinformatics analysis showed that significantly different proteins were mainly manifested in cellular process, biological regulation, metabolic process, binding, catalytic activity, cellular components (cell part), organelle part (organelle part), and other molecular biological functions. Conclusion. Using proteomics technology to screen human nucleus pulposus cells after fluid shear stress loading, the differential protein expression provides a basis for further exploration of the mechanism of mechanical factors on nucleus pulposus.
Numerical Approach for Solving the Fractional Pantograph Delay Differential Equations
Authors: Hajishafieiha Jalal , Abbasbandy Saeid
Published: September 2022

A new class of polynomials investigates the numerical solution of the fractional pantograph delay ordinary differential equations. These polynomials are equipped with an auxiliary unknown parameter a, which is obtained using the collocation and least‐squares methods. In this study, the numerical solution of the fractional pantograph delay differential equation is displayed in the truncated series form. The upper bound of the solution as well as the error analysis and the rate of convergence theorem are also investigated in this study. In five examples, the numerical results of the present method have been compared with other methods. For the first time, a‐polynomials are used in this study to numerically solve delay equations, and accurate approximations have been displayed.
A Comprehensive Method for Fault Location of Active Distribution Network Based on Improved Matrix Algorithm and Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Li Zhen , Qiao Jian , Wang Yikai , Yin Xianggen
Published: September 2022

The traditional fault location methods are not effective for the multisource active distribution network and are difficult to meet both requirements of timeliness and fault tolerance simultaneously. In this paper, a fault location method for active distribution networks which combines both improved matrix algorithm and optimization algorithm is proposed. The improved matrix algorithm is constructed to determine the fault section hypothesis by using the causal relationship between the alarm information and the fault section. Subsequently, network splitting is used for causal verification to check whether the alarm information is distorted. If the alarm information is normal, the fault sections can be quickly located by the above matrix algorithm. If the alarm information is distorted, the optimization model is constructed by using the fault section hypothesis selected by the matrix algorithm. The discrete particle swarm optimization (DPSO) algorithm is used to solve this optimization model, which can accurately locate the real fault sections. Hence, the advantages of both matrix algorithm and optimization algorithm are complementary. Simulation results show that the proposed method has the advantages of both high timeliness and fault tolerance in a complex active distribution network.
Performance Analysis of XGBoost Ensemble Methods for Survivability with the Classification of Breast Cancer
Authors: Mahesh T. R. , Vinoth Kumar V. , Muthukumaran V. , Shashikala H. K. , Swapna B. , Guluwadi Suresh
Published: September 2022

Breast cancer (BC) disease is the most common and rapidly spreading disease across the globe. This disease can be prevented if identified early, and this eventually reduces the death rate. Machine learning (ML) is the most frequently utilized technology in research. Cancer patients can benefit from early detection and diagnosis. Using machine learning approaches, this research proposes an improved way of detecting breast cancer. To deal with the problem of imbalanced data in the class and noise, the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) has been used. There are two steps in the suggested task. In the first phase, SMOTE is utilized to decrease the influence of imbalance data issues, and subsequently, in the next phase, data is classified using the Naive Bayes classifier, decision trees classifier, Random Forest, and their ensembles. According to the experimental analysis, the XGBoost-Random Forest ensemble classifier outperforms with 98.20% accuracy in the early detection of breast cancer.
Insights into the Enhancement Mechanisms of Molten Salt Nanofluids
Authors: Yaxuan Xiong , Huixiang Wang , Zhenyu Wang , Yuting Wu , Qian Xu , Gang Wang , Chuan Li , Yulong Ding , Chongfang Ma
Published: September 2022

The addition of nanomaterials to molten salts can significantly improve their thermal performance. To explore the enhancement mechanisms, this work prepared carbonate salt nanofluids with binary carbonate as base salt and 20 nm SiO2 and 20 nm MgO nanoparticles as additives by the commonly used aqueous solution method. Then, the key performance and micromorphology of the carbonate salt nanofluids are characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, laser flash analysis, and micromorphology analysis. Results showed that the 20 nm SiO2 nanomaterials instead of the 20 nm MgO nanomaterials exerted higher effects on latent heat while the 20 nm MgO nanomaterials instead of the 20 nm SiO2 nanomaterials exerted higher effects on the sensible heat, thermal conductivity, and high-temperature stability of carbonated salt. In addition, different nanostructures were observed in SiO2-based and MgO-based molten salt nanofluids, respectively. Innovatively, formation mechanisms of molten salt nanofluids were proposed based on cloud nuclei to explain the different enhancements in this work.
CTA Study of Ruptured Aneurysms of the Posterior Communicating Artery
Authors: Zhou Zibo , Yu Jinlu
Published: September 2022

Background. Only a few reported studies have used computed tomography angiography (CTA) to image ruptured aneurysms at the junction of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and posterior communicating artery (PcomA) in the context of the adjacent arteries. Therefore, we performed such a study using a GE Workstation. Methods. The parameters of each aneurysm and its adjacent arteries were measured. Then, statistical assessments were performed to compare the parameters of the aneurysm side and the lesion-free (control) side. Results. Sixty-three patients were included in this study. The average age was

62.1
±
11.0

years, and the ratio of males to females was 0.8 : 1. The measurement results showed that the mean aneurysmal height was

5.2
±
2.3

 mm, the mean width was

4.7
±
2.2
 

mm, and the mean neck width was

4.5
±
1.9
 

mm. On the aneurysm side, the intradural ICA diameter was

4.34
±
0.90

 mm, and the diameter of the ICA at its termination was

3.55
±
0.72
 

mm. A fetal-type PcomA was found in 52.4% of aneurysms. The other measured parameters were also provided. Statistical results showed that the height of the aneurysm was larger than the width (

P
<
0.05

). The intradural ICA diameter, the ICA diameter at termination, the intradural ICA length, and the angle between the ICA and PcomA were larger in the aneurysm group than in the control group (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusions. This CTA study showed that the ruptured PcomA aneurysm was often wide-necked, nonspherical, and approximately 5 mm in size. In the presence of a ruptured PcomA aneurysm, the affected intradural ICA became thicker and longer than the contralateral control ICA, and the aneurysm significantly reduced the angle between the ICA and the PcomA.
Dynamic Structural Assessment of Blast Wall Designs on Military-Based Vehicle Using Explicit Finite Element Approach
Authors: Mubarok Muhammad Arif Husni , Prabowo Aditya Rio , Muttaqie Teguh , Muhayat Nurul
Published: September 2022

Explosion load studies are an essential part of shield engineering design. This is especially true for explosion-proof plates, which are used in order to reduce the impact of explosions, which have the potential to cause substantial damage to structural elements. The purpose of this study is to detail the explosion phenomenon and the response of sandwich panel structures under explosive loading. The finite element method (FEM) is used to model the dynamic structural response to explosions. Explicit finite element modeling and analysis are performed using ABAQUS CAE software. An air explosion simulation code is used to determine the blast load on the lower skin plate of a test panel on a typical armored personnel vehicle. Structural analysis is carried out with respect to displacement, von-Mises stress, and internal kinetic energy. Three variations of explosive loads are considered in the simulation in order to better compare the responses of the structures. Three different design variants and materials are considered, including honeycomb, stiffener, and corrugated geometric models and mild steel, medium carbon steel, and alloy steel materials. The results provided by this study pave the way toward the development of guidelines for the design of lightweight structural reinforcement elements.
Comparison of Antioxidant and Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Properties of Moringa peregrina and Ferulago carduchorum Leaf Extracts and Microencapsulation of Superior Plant
Authors: Nouri Shiva , Moslehishad Maryam , Hosseini Seyede Marzieh , Etemadi Mina
Published: September 2022

Today, medicinal plants have a crucial role in treating diseases such as diabetes and cancer. These plants do not impose any side effects owing to their bioactive compounds in comparison with chemical drugs. Several studies have demonstrated antioxidant capacity and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. According to previous studies, Moringa peregrina (MP) and Ferulago carduchorum (FC) are two promising plants in terms of antioxidant capacity and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects. This research followed a three-stage study. In the first stage, the antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties of MP and FC ethanolic extracts, native to Iran, were compared using spectrophotometric methods. The results showed that the ABTS•+ radical scavenging and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activities of both plants were dependent on extract concentration. MP exhibited lower IC50 values in both tests, 1.01 and 4.96 mg·mL−1, respectively. Accordingly, the extract of MP was selected for further experiments. In the second stage, total phenolic content (TPC) and GC-MS analysis were conducted on MP extract to investigate the reason behind its antioxidant capacity and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties. Results of assessing total phenolic content (TPC) using the Folin-Ciocalteu method revealed a strong positive correlation between TPC with antioxidant activity (r = 0.94,

p
<
0.05

). GC-MS was used to identify phytoconstituents of the extract, leading to the determination of 35 components whose major one was vitamin E (10.2%). To ensure its suitability for food fortification, in the third stage, encapsulation of the MP extract was followed. Microencapsulation was performed using three polymer coatings, and the effects of carriers were investigated on moisture content, solubility, bulk density, microencapsulation yield, particle size, antioxidant activity, and TPC. According to the experiments, antioxidant activity and TPC were retained well in all carriers. Moreover, SEM, DSC, and FTIR analyses confirmed that the extract was well-coated and no surface fractures were observed. The results indicated that MP can be a promising plant for food fortification as a natural antioxidant and antidiabetic source.
Teacher Education and Management: Innovative Application of Ecological Management System of Big Data Management System
Authors: Li Xiaoying
Published: September 2022

At present, with the rapid growth of China’s comprehensive national power, China wants to accelerate the construction of world-class universities and world-class disciplines to match it. Therefore, the education and management of university teachers is crucial, and the current research results at home and abroad in this area are remarkable. In this paper, we will start from the innovative application of university teachers’ management system and use the Oracle and SQL Server database processors commonly used in big data processing to process data. It is concluded that China’s teaching force is gradually balanced; the comprehensive quality of the teaching force is improving; the academic atmosphere is more open; the fields and perspectives of academic research are richer; the distribution of teachers at all levels in China is more balanced; the comprehensive quality of our teachers is improving; the system of education and scientific research in China’s universities is improving; and the ecological management system of universities is improving. In addition, in view of the current situation of education and management of teachers in China’s colleges and universities, according to the results of big data analysis, we also propose (1) to improve the academic level and establish a strict institutional threshold for the college teaching profession; (2) to effectively implement the policy of freedom and equality in academic academia and improve the appointment and evaluation system of teachers and principals in higher education institutions; (3) to insist on implementing the principle of academic fairness and optimizing the teacher evaluation system; (4) to innovate and implement the incentive mechanism for teachers in colleges and universities according to the talent training characteristics of teachers’ academic career ability; and (5) to establish the access system of college teachers’ career development and promote academic career development and other suggestions of big data management for college teachers.
The Predictive Values of MMP-9, PLTs, ESR, and CRP Levels in Kawasaki Disease with Cardiovascular Injury
Authors: Yang Yinan , Hu Xiaobin
Published: September 2022

Objective. To explore the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), platelets (PLTs), C reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and their predictive values in Kawasaki disease (KD) with cardiovascular injury. Methods. 128 children were diagnosed with KD in the Lanzhou University Second Hospital. 75 patients had coronary artery lesion (CAL), while 53 patients did not. The levels of MMP-9, PLTs, and CRP and ESR in the two groups were determined. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the Youden index (YI) were used to evaluate the efficacy of MMP-9, PLTs, ESR, and CRP for predicting CALs in KD. Results. The mean age of the patients was 2.7 ± 2.03 years (range, 2 months to 11 years). There were 87 boys (67.97%) and 41 girls (32.03%). In contrast to the NCAL group, the CAL group had obviously higher levels of MMP-9, PLTs, and CRP and an obviously higher ESR (

P
<
0.05

). MMP-9 showed a linear positive correlation with ESR (

P
<
0.05

) and CRP (

P
<
0.05

). The AUC of the combined detection of the four indicators was 0.877, the sensitivity was 85.07% and the specificity was 78.95%. Conclusion. MMP-9, PLTs, ESR, and CRP are important indicators for a CAL in KD. The efficacy of the combined detection of MMP-9, PLTs, ESR and CRP is better than that of any single indicator for predicting a CAL in KD.
Research Progress on the Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Signal Pathway Related to Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
Authors: Wang Yidi , Teng Xiuxiang , Liu Jun
Published: September 2022

The occurrence and development of premature ovarian insufficiency involves the abnormality of multiple signal pathways. It is a complex disease. Traditional Chinese medicine affects the relevant factors of the occurrence and development of premature ovarian insufficiency (granulosa cell apoptosis, ovarian blood supply, ovarian reserve, ovarian oxidative damage, gap junction, ovarian fibrosis, follicular development, follicular atresia, and other biological processes) by regulating a variety of signal pathways, thus playing the role in antioxidant stress, prevention and treatment of chemotherapy side effects, protection of ovarian function, control of aging, and improvement of ovarian reserve function. The research shows that the research on the related pathways of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency has been quite extensive. Based on the search of the domestic and foreign literature, it is found that Yulinzhu and Xianziyizhen capsule and ginsenoside Rg1 can promote the proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells, inhibit apoptosis, and reduce follicular atresia by affecting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway; Guiluo's Anzang decoction, Kuntai capsule, and Yangyin Shugan granule can maintain the balance between pro-apoptotic protein and anti-apoptotic protein through the Bax/cytc/caspase-3 pathway to improve ovarian reserve function; Bushen Jianpi recipe can control cell apoptosis and promote the proliferation and development of ovarian granulosa cells by regulating the MAPK signal pathway; Siwu mixture and Zuo Gui pill can regulate the TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway to promote the recruitment of primordial follicles, promotes follicular development, inhibits follicular atresia, and regulates ovarian function; Erxian decoction, Yiqi Yangrong Fujing formula, and Cistanche deserticola can antagonize the inflammatory symptoms of premature ovarian failure, promote the secretion of relevant vascular growth factors, and enhance the ovarian reserve function through the NF-KB signal pathway; Bushen Culuan decoction can promote damage repair and protect normal ovarian cells through antioxidant stress. The above summary aims at providing reference for the in-depth study of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency and inspiring new diagnosis and treatment ideas.
Effect of Supplementation of Vitamin A on Growth, Haemato-Biochemical Composition, and Antioxidant Ability in Cyprinus carpio var. communis
Authors: Hassan Aamina , Ahmed Imtiaz , Wani Gohar Bilal
Published: September 2022

Vitamin A requirement in fingerling common carp, Cyprinus carpio var. communis (1.64 ± 0.02 g; ABW ± SD), was evaluated by conducting a 10 week growth experiment. Casein-gelatin-based test diets representing six graded levels of vitamin A (0, 0.03, 0.07, 0.11, 0.15, and 0.19 g/kg, dry diet) were designed and fed to the triplicate group of fish at 08:00 and 16:00 hrs at the rate of 4% body weight per day. Growth parameters like live weight gain (LWG %), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), specific growth rate (SGR), and body protein deposition (BPD) improved significantly (

P
<
0.05

) with each elevated dietary vitamin A level and found maximum growth rate along with the best- FCR at 0.11 g/kg diet. Dietary vitamin A levels also significantly (

P
<
0.05

) affected haematological parameters of the fish. Highest haemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte count (RBC), haematocrit content (Hct %), and lowest leucocyte count (WBC) were observed at 0.11 g/kg vitamin A fed diet compared to all the diets. Highest protein and lowest fat content were observed in the group of fingerlings fed with 0.11 g/kg vitamin A containing diet. Blood and serum profile also showed some significant (

P
<
0.05

) differences with elevating concentration of dietary vitamin A levels. Serum parameters like aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and cholesterol values decreased significantly (

P
<
0.05

) at 0.11 g/kg vitamin A fed diet compared to control diet. However, except albumin the other electrolytes improved significantly (

P
<
0.05

) and maximal values of these parameters were also evident at 0.11 g/kg of vitamin A fed diet. Better value of TBARS was found in the group that fed 0.11 g/kg vitamin A diet. Hepatosomatic index and condition factor improved significantly (

P
<
0.05

) with fish fed at optimal dose 0.11 g/kg of vitamin A diet. Based on quadratic regression analysis of LWG%, FCR, BPD, Hb, and calcium values of C. carpio var. communis against the varying levels of dietary vitamin A, an optimum growth, best FCR, higher BPD, Hb, and Ca values lie in the range of 0.10 to 0.12 g/kg diet, respectively. The data generated during this study would be important in developing vitamin A balanced feed for successful intensive culture of C. carpio var. communis.
Gene Expression Trajectories from Normal Nonsmokers to COPD Smokers and Disease Progression Discriminant Modeling in Response to Cigarette Smoking
Authors: Zhang Zili , Chen Sifan , Li Qiongqiong , Li Defu , Li Yuanyuan , Xie Xiaohui , Yuan Liang , Lin Zeqiang , Lin Fanjie , Wei Xinguang , Fang Yaowei , Wang Jian , Lu Wenju
Published: September 2022

Background. Cigarette smoking (CS) is considered to the predominant risk factor contributing to the etiopathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); meanwhile, genetic predisposition likely plays a role in determining disease susceptibility. Objectives. We aimed to investigate gene expression trajectories from normal nonsmokers to COPD smokers and disease progression discriminant modeling in response to cigarette smoking. Methods. Small airway epithelial samples of human with different smoking status using fiberoptic bronchoscopy and corresponding rat lung tissues following 0, 3, and 6 months of CS exposure were obtained. The expression of the significant overlapping genes between human and rats was confirmed in 16HBE cells, rat lung tissues, and human peripheral PBMC using qRT-PCR. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to establish discrimination models. Results. The integrated bioinformatic analysis of 8 human GEO datasets (293 individuals) and 9 rat transcriptome databases revealed 13 overlapping genes between humans and rats in response to smoking exposure during COPD progression. Of these, 5 genes (AKR1C3/Akr1c3, ERP27/Erp27, AHRR/Ahrr, KCNMB2/Kcnmb2, and MRC1/Mrc1) were consistently identified in both the human and rat and validated by qRT-PCR. Among them, ERP27/Erp27, KCNMB2/Kcnmb2, and MRC1/Mrc1 were newly identified. On the basis of the overlapping gene panel, discriminant models were established with the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.98 (AKR1C3/Akr1c3 + ERP27/Erp27) and 0.99 (AHRR/Ahrr + KCNMB2/Kcnmb2) in differentiating progressive COPD from normal nonsmokers. In addition, we also found that DEG obtained from each expression profile dataset was better than combined analysis as more genes could be identified. Conclusion. This study identified 5 DEG candidates of COPD progression in response to smoking and developed effective and convenient discriminant models that can accurately predict the disease progression.
On the Agricultural Commodities Supply Chain Resilience to Disruption: Insights from Financial Analysis
Authors: Hamidu Zulaiha , Oppong Priscilla B. , Asafo-Adjei Emmanuel , Adam Anokye Mohammed
Published: September 2022

The study proffers the need to strengthen supply chain resilience toward the minimization of disruptions. We investigate the financial performance of agricultural commodities' supply chain amid external uncertainty shocks in both time and frequency dimensions. The wavelet techniques are employed for the analysis. Specifically, both the Windowed Scalogram Difference (WSD) and Wavelet Multiple techniques are utilized. First, the study finds from the WSD that disruption which we proxy with global economic policy uncertainty (GEPU) hurts all the agricultural commodities in the medium and long terms. For instance, we find high comovements between agricultural raw material (ARM) and GEPU. This is similar to the comovements between rice and GEPU. Additionally, high potential comovements between 2005 and 2016 in the medium and long term for fertilizer, maize, and possibly wheat with the GEPU are found. Generally, there seem to be fewer comovements between soybeans and the GEPU which is indicative of a resistance to shocks. Second, we find from the Wavelet Multiple approaches that most of the agricultural commodities are highly integrated, except rice. Findings from the study imply minimization of diversification, hedge, or safe haven benefits with regard to market conditions among the commodities. The findings have important inferences for policymakers, supply chain actors of agricultural commodities, and investors to extensively examine the heterogeneous and adaptive dynamics of the commodity markets. We advocate that supply chains of agricultural commodities must be borne with dynamic capacities to manage vulnerabilities in an uncertain environment, necessitating resilience capabilities to thrive in the long run. Also, investors should hedge against the portfolio risk present in these agricultural commodities. This study is the first to provide insights into the supply chain of agricultural commodities from a financial perspective through time and/or frequency analysis.
Remodeling of the Tumor Microenvironment Through PAK4 Inhibition Sensitizes Tumors to Immune Checkpoint Blockade
Authors: Abril-Rodriguez Gabriel , Torrejon Davis Y. , Karin Daniel , Campbell Katie M. , Medina Egmidio , Saco Justin D. , Galvez Mildred , Champhekar Ameya S. , Perez-Garcilazo Ivan , Baselga-Carretero Ignacio , Singh Jas , Comin-Anduix Begoña , Puig-Saus Cristina , Ribas Antoni
Published: September 2022

PAK4 inhibition can sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We report that PAK4 inhibition reverses immune cell exclusion by increasing the infiltration of CD8 T cells and CD103+ dendritic cells (DC), a specific type of DCs that excel at cross-presenting tumor antigens and constitute a source of CXCL10. Interestingly, in melanoma clinical datasets, PAK4 expression levels negatively correlate with the presence of CCL21, the ligand for CCR7 expressed in CD103+ DCs. Furthermore, we extensively characterized the transcriptome of PAK4 knockout (KO) tumors, in vitro and in vivo, and established the importance of PAK4 expression in the regulation of the extracellular matrix, which can facilitate immune cell infiltration. Comparison between PAK4 wild type and KO anti-PD-1 treated tumors revealed how PAK4 deletion sensitizes tumors to ICB from a transcriptomic perspective. In addition, we validated genetically and pharmacologically that inhibition of PAK4 kinase activity is sufficient to improve antitumor efficacy of anti-PD-1 blockade in multiple melanoma mouse models. Therefore, this study provides novel insights into the mechanism of action of PAK4 inhibition and provides the foundation for a new treatment strategy that aims to overcome resistance to PD-1 blockade by combining anti-PD-1 with a small-molecule PAK4 kinase inhibitor.

Significance:

Our findings provide new insights into PAK4 inhibition mechanism of action as well as the scientific foundation for specifically blocking PAK4 kinase activity using a novel and specific PAK4 kinase inhibitor to overcome resistance to PD-1 blockade.
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9 Inhibition as a Potential Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Shao Yu-Yun , Hsu Hung-Wei , Wo Rita Robin , Wang Han-Yu , Cheng Ann-Lii , Hsu Chih-Hung
Published: September 2022

Purpose: Composite cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibition has shown potential as a treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in preclinical studies. We tested whether the specific inhibition of CDK9 was effective against HCC. Methods: The effects of two specific CDK9 inhibitors, BAY1143572 and AZD4573, in HCC cell lines were examined. We tested the in vivo efficacy of CDK9 inhibition in mouse xenograft models of HuH7 human HCC cells and in an orthotopic model of BNL mouse HCC cells. Overexpression and knockdown of CDK9 were performed to confirm the efficacy of CDK9 inhibition. Results: CDK9 inhibitors exhibited potent antiproliferative activities in HCC cells regardless of the levels of c-myc expression while inhibiting the downstream signals of CDK9, such as the phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II. These 2 CDK9 inhibitors induced apoptosis in HCC cells and reduced the expression of antiapoptotic proteins such as myeloid cell leukemia-1 and survivin. In the xenograft studies, mice receiving either CDK9 inhibitor exhibited significantly slower tumor growth than did the mice receiving vehicles. In the orthotopic model, the HCC growth in mice receiving a CDK9 inhibitor also tended to be slower than that in the control group. Overexpression of CDK9 in HuH7 cells reduced the efficacy of both CDK9 inhibitors. Knockdown of CDK9 expression reduced the proliferative activities of HCC cells. Conclusion: We demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo activity of CDK9 inhibition on multiple HCC cell lines. Our data support further clinical development of CDK9 inhibitors as a treatment for HCC.