bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of CEF Cell-Based and DF-1 Cell Line Adapted Infectious Bursal Disease Vaccines in Specific-Pathogen-Free Chickens
Authors: Workineh Daniel , Bitew Molalegne , Oluwayelu Daniel , Getachew Belayneh , Abayneh Takele , Gelaye Esayas , Mohammed Hawa , Fikru Tedros , Birhan Mastewal , Dessalegn Bereket , Deresse Getaw , Adamu Kassaye , Ibrahim Saddam Mohammed
Published: October 2022

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an immunosuppressive and economically important disease of young chickens caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). The National Veterinary Institute (Bishoftu, Ethiopia) produces intermediate IBDV vaccine using primary chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells, a method with technical and economical cumbersome. This study assessed the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of DF-1 cell line-adapted IBDV LC–75 vaccine strain in reference to the CEF-based vaccine. Confluent monolayer of DF-1 cells was infected with IBDV and cells with cytopathic effects were passaged until 3rd passage. Viral growth was confirmed using a one-step RT-PCR targeting IBDV VP2 gene. Viral titer increased from 1st passage through 3rd passage. Safety was assessed in 30 specific-pathogen-free chickens (15 chickens/group) injected with 10-fold field dose of each vaccine intraocularly and monitored for 21 days. For immunogenicity and efficacy, 60 specific-pathogen-free chickens were grouped into 3 (20 chickens/group). First and 2nd group received DF-1 cell and CEF-based IBDV vaccines, respectively. The 3rd group served as unvaccinated control. Antibody response was measured using iELISA. Chickens were challenged 4 weeks postvaccination with very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) intraocularly and followed-up for 10 days. Vaccination did not cause any adverse reactions during the 21 days of follow-up. In addition, both vaccines induced higher antibody titer 14 and 24 days-post-vaccination as compared to unvaccinated controls (

p
<
0.05

). Moreover, DF-1 and CEF-based IBDV LC–75 vaccines rendered a complete protection against vvIBDV. Contrarily, morbidity and mortality in unvaccinated chickens was 50% and 30%, respectively. The results indicated that DF-1 and CEF cell-based IBDV vaccines are comparably immunogenic and efficacious. Therefore, DF-1 cell-line can be considered an affordable and convenient alternative to the CEF-based approach. The suitability of DF-1 cells to grow other IBDV strains and safety of these vaccines on bursa of Fabricius should further be investigated.
Exploring the Risk Factors of Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Establishing a Prognostic Model: Retrospective Study
Authors: Xie Bihua , Chen Zejun , Luo Jun , Lei Yanan , Li Jiaojiao , Wu Rongrong , Wang Quanting , Liu Xianan
Published: October 2022

Objective. Exploring the risk factors of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and establishing a prognostic model. Methods. Information on patients with CSCC was extracted from the SEER database, conducting a retrospective study. 650 patients with CSCC were finally included in the model. Descriptive analysis was performed by Chi-square test and

T

-test. The risk factors of CSCC were explored by COX multivariate analysis, and the corresponding prognostic model was established as a result. Results. The all-cause mortality rate of CSCC was 38.3%, and the risk factors were age (

HR
=
1.077

), sex (

HR
=
0.691

), grade (

HR
=
7.857

), laterality (

HR
=
1.403

), N (

HR
=
7.195

), M (

HR
=
0.217

), and surgery (

HR
=
1.618

), all

P
<
0.05

. The new model had C index and area under curve ROC (AUC) value greater than 0.7. Calibration curve, Net Reclassification Index (NRI), Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI), and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) indicate the new model has better predictive performance than the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC-TNM). Conclusions. Compared with the clinical guidance of AJCC (TNM) for patients with CSCC, the established model exhibits good performance and can provide guidance for clinical decision-making.
In Vitro and In Vivo Neuroprotective Effects of Sarcosine
Authors: Tanas Arzugül , Tozlu Özlem Özdemir , Gezmiş Tuğba , Hacimüftüoğlu Ahmet , Abd El-Aty A. M. , Ceylan Onur , Mardinoğlu Adil , Türkez Hasan
Published: October 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by behavioral and psychological symptoms in addition to cognitive impairment and loss of memory. The exact pathogenesis and genetic background of AD are unclear and there remains no effective treatment option. Sarcosine, an n‐methyl derivative of glycine, showed a promising therapeutic strategy for some cognitive disorders. To our knowledge, the impacts of sarcosine supplementation against AD have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to determine the neuroprotective potential of sarcosine in in vitro and in vivo AD model. In vitro studies have demonstrated that sarcosine increased the percentage of viable cells against aluminum induced neurotoxicity. In AlCl3‐induced rat model of AD, the level of antioxidant capacity was significantly decreased and expression levels of APP, BACE1, TNF-α, APH1A, and PSENEN genes were elevated compared to the control group. Additionally, histopathological examinations of the hippocampus of AlCl3‐induced rat brains showed the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). However, the administration of sarcosine produced marked improvement and protection of AD‐associated pathologies induced by AlCl3 in experimental rats. Therefore, this investigation may contribute to design novel therapeutic strategies using sarcosine for the management of AD pathologies.
Comprehensive Evaluation Model of Coal Mine Safety under the Combination of Game Theory and TOPSIS
Authors: Li Hongxia , Chen Lei , Tian Fangyuan , Zhao Lin , Tian Shuicheng
Published: October 2022

At present, the frequent occurrence of coal mine accidents in China is a key concern in the field of safety. Although the coal mine accident rate is decreasing due to the progress of technology and the improvement of management, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluation of the role of various factors in the coal mine. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to establish a game theory combination weight-TOPSIS comprehensive evaluation model based on the analysis of various factors affecting coal mine safety. The model combines the weights obtained from fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), entropy weight method (EWM), and back propagation neural network (BP-NN) by using the combination method of game theory and then combines with the TOPSIS method to evaluate 20 indicators in four aspects of a coal mine: personnel, equipment, environment, and management. Taking five mines under Zheng Coal Group as an example, the evaluation results of the game theory combination weight-TOPSIS comprehensive evaluation model are compared with those of the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and the improved composite weight-TOPSIS method. The results show that the safety grade of the five mine samples under Zhengmei Group is ranked as follows: mine 4 > grade II (relatively safe) > mine 2 > mine 5 > grade III (moderately safe) > mine 3 > mine 1 > grade IV (generally safe). The evaluation result of the game theory combination weight-TOPSIS method is basically consistent with the actual safety situation of the coal mine, which reflects the superiority and practicality of the evaluation model. The model has greater differentiation in the process of determining the coal mine safety grade, and the evaluation results are more intuitive and reasonable, which can provide a more effective evaluation tool for the comprehensive evaluation of coal mine safety. Finally, based on the evaluation results, corresponding policy recommendations to improve the status quo of coal mine safety are proposed, aiming to provide decision-making reference for coal mine safety management personnel.
Efficacy of Periodontal Endodontics Combined with Diode Laser (DL) Therapy on Severe Periodontitis
Authors: Liu Sijia , Zhang Xu , Zhou Quanying
Published: October 2022

Background. For a long time, the impact of severe periodontitis on the pulp has been the focus of periodontal clinical research. Whether the teeth with severe periodontitis should be treated with pulp has also become the focus of clinical research. Aims. To explore the effect of periodontal endodontic therapy combined with DL therapy on severe periodontitis. Materials and Methods. The clinical data of 100 patients with severe periodontitis from January 2020 to July 2022 were selected and included in the retrospective study. According to the different retrieval treatment methods, they were divided into the control group and the treatment group with 50 cases in each group. The control group received periodontal endodontic treatment, and the treatment group received DL treatment on the basis of the control group. The differences in periodontal probing depth (PD), toothache degree, bleeding index (BI), inflammatory factors, plaque index (PLI), and attachment loss (AL) between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results. After 3 months of treatment, the bleeding index (BI), plaque index (PLI), and periodontal probing depth (PD) of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (

P
<
0.05

). The attachment loss (AL) of the group was not significantly different from that of the control group (

P
>
0.05

). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the levels of inflammatory factors between the two groups (

P
>
0.05

). After 3 months of treatment, the levels of IL-6 and CRP in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (

P
<
0.05

). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the levels of inflammatory factors between the two groups (

P
>
0.05

). After 3 days of treatment, the VAS score of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (

P
<
0.05

).After treatment, there were no complications during follow-up in the two groups. Conclusion. The application of DL treatment has a significant effect, which can promote the healing of periodontal tissue, reduce the depth of periodontal pockets, and reduce the degree of toothache, thereby providing a reference for clinical treatment.
Determination of Virulence Factors and Resistance Profile of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains among Different Types of spa, agr, and SCCmec
Authors: Latifpour Mohammad , Narimani Tahmineh , Sadeghi Amin , Niakan Mohammad
Published: October 2022

In order to restrict the spread of methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in hospitals, it is necessary to characterize isolates rapidly and precisely. The objective of this study was to determine virulence factors and resistance profiles of MRSA strains among spa, agr, and SCCmec types. In total, 55 MRSA isolates were collected from clinical specimens. The MRSA isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, virulence genes, agr typing, spa typing, and SCCmec typing. According to our findings, all MRSA strains were resistant to cefoxitin; 88% and 86.7% of which were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin, respectively. Type II agr was predominant with 54.54% frequency. Among 27 different spa types, type t030 was most frequently (25.45%). Most MRSA isolates (63.3%) were SCCmec type III. The pvl and tst genes were found in 25.3% and 32.7% of MRSA isolates, respectively. Among the MRSA strains, ermA, ermB, and ermC were present in 50%, 33.3%, and 57.3% of cases, respectively. In addition, 43 of the 55 MRSA strains (78%) harbored aminoglycoside resistance genes. The results of our study revealed that the MRSA rate in our region is dramatically high. Better infection control guidelines in hospitals, as well as ongoing epidemiological surveillance studies, could be strongly suggested for effective prevention of the spread of MRSA to inpatients.
Using Network Pharmacology and Animal Experiment to Investigate the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Polydatin against Vincristine-Induced Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Xi Peng , Mao Rui , Wu Shiyan , Liu Lei , Cai Ceng , Lu Lei , Zhang Cailin , Li Yimei
Published: October 2022

Background. Polydatin (PD) is the primary active compound in Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb and has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. In the present study, we aimed to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of PD against chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. Methods. The putative targets of PD were obtained from the CTD and SwissTargetPrediction databases. Neuropathic pain- and VIN-related targets were collected from the CTD and GeneCards databases. Subsequently, the intersection targets were obtained using the Venn tool, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) was constructed by the STRING database. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to investigate the biological functions of the intersection targets. Further, a rat model of VIN-induced neuropathic pain was established to confirm the reliability of the network pharmacology findings. Results. A total of 46 intersection targets were identified as potential therapeutic targets, mainly related to neuroinflammation. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the IL-17 signaling pathway was involved in the mechanism of the antinociceptive effect of PD. PPI network analysis indicated that RELA, IL-6, TP53, MAPK3, and MAPK1 were located at crucial nodes in the network. Additionally, PD exerted an antinociceptive effect by increasing the nociceptive threshold. The results of qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunohisochemistry indicated that PD inhibited the IL-6, TP53, and MAPK1 levels in VIN-induced neuropathic pain rats. Conclusions. Overall, this research provided evidence that suppressing inflammatory signaling pathways might be a potential mechanism action of PD’s antinociceptive effect against VIN-induced neuropathic pain.
Research on the Classification of Policy Instruments Based on BERT Model
Authors: Zhao Jiani , Li Cheng
Published: October 2022

Currently, policy instruments are classified mainly by means of manual encoding and checking, which is highly subjective and inefficient, which greatly hinders the development of policy research. The research tries to apply the automatic classification algorithm based on BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformer) to the policy instruments to improve the efficiency and accuracy of policy instruments classification. An entrepreneurship policy instrument classification model was established on the basis of the pretraining language model to realize the automatic classification of entrepreneurship policy instruments. The research showed that through optimization and improvement of the model, the F1 value was 0.86 on the test set, indicating a good classification effect; through the comparative experiment, it was further proved that the classification effect of this model was far superior to other three commonly used text classification models. The model greatly improves the efficiency and objectivity of policy instrument classification and provides a new idea for investigating entrepreneurship policies and more generalized policy instruments.
Procedure Time and Students’ Perception Comparing Full Arch Digital Scans with Conventional Impressions: A Cross-Over Randomized Experimental Trial
Authors: Alfallaj Hayam A. , Alsaloum Mohammed A. , Altuwaijri Sahr H. , Aldibasi Omar S. , Alkadi Lubna T.
Published: October 2022

Purpose/Objectives. Dental students are being introduced to intraoral digital scanning during their undergraduate dental education. Usually, the conventional impression technique is introduced before the digital scanning technique. This study compares the procedure duration, students’ preference, and perceived procedure difficulty level after students’ initial preclinical exposure to either digital scanning using CEREC Omnicam intraoral scanners or conventional impressions using vinyl polysiloxane impression material. Methods. Ninety-six dental students each prepared tooth #36 for an all-ceramic crown on typodont models and were then randomly assigned into either group A: performed digital scan first, or Group B: performed conventional impression first. Procedure time was recorded for both. Immediately following each procedure, students indicated their perceived procedure difficulty. After exposure to both techniques, they selected their preferred one. Results. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean procedure time of both techniques (

P
<
0.0001

), where students spent 663.76 ± 442.50 seconds to complete the conventional impression and 293.32 ± 181.49 seconds to complete the digital scan. Females were significantly faster in completing the conventional impression compared to males. On the contrary, male students were faster in digital scanning than female students. There were no carryover effects in the duration and the initially performed procedure. 76% (73 of 96) of participants preferred digital scanning with no statistical significance shown between the preferred and initially performed procedure. Participants perceived conventional impressions to be more difficult than digital scans. There was a weak positive correlation between the VAS score and the procedure time for the digital technique (R = 0.25) and a moderate positive correlation for the conventional technique (R = 0.45). Conclusions. The digital technique was preferred and perceived as easier than the conventional among undergraduate dental students with no impression-making experience, suggesting their readiness for new technology uptake. However, no significant correlation was found between the initially performed procedure and preference.
Dust Deposition and Associated Heavy Metal Contamination in the Neighborhood of a Cement Production Plant at Konongo, Ghana
Authors: Awuah Prince Baffour , Adjaottor Albert Amatey , Gikunoo Emmanuel , Arthur Emmanuel Kwesi , Agyemang Frank Ofori , Baah Douglas Siaw
Published: October 2022

The release of harmful particles from industries is one of the important sources of environmental pollution worldwide. The goal of this study was to determine the amounts of dust deposition and heavy metal pollution in the soils surrounding a cement mill in Konongo, Ghana. Topsoils (0-10 cm) were sampled at the four geographical axes of the factory within a radius of 400 m, while at the same time, about 500 g of cement was sampled with a hand trowel. A Frisbee dust sampler was used to examine the levels of dust depositions at the various geographical axes of the factory. The heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) were measured in a total of 20 soil samples using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results obtained for climatic elements such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity were 2.25, 25.7, and 49.5 m3/s, respectively. The average deposition of dust within the study period using the geographical axis indicated that the southern axis recorded the highest dust accumulation with a mean of 60.2 g/m2 per month. The mean concentrations of metals at the various axes were 1.04 mg/kg, 4.78 mg/kg, 8.95 mg/kg, 9.30 mg/kg, and 18.4 mg/kg for Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb, respectively. The concentration of chemical components investigated in the soil was below the WHO/FAO standard, except for Cd. The spatial distribution pattern of the examined heavy metals showed that Cd, Cr, and Cu represent possible sources of soil contaminants. According to the conclusions of this research, this paper suggests an approach to investigate the areas contaminated with heavy metals to call out the attention of local authorities to take action.
A Multi-DOF Manipulator Joint Trajectory Tracking and Monitoring Method Based on Decision Tree
Authors: Wu Qiong , Chen Hua , Liu Baolong
Published: October 2022

Understanding trajectory tracking control concerns is crucial for industrial-grade manipulators to provide precise and risk-free operations for the safe environment. Consequently, the robot arms need precise aim for tracking a given target trajectory by the trajectory control input driving torque which can use smart AI-based techniques for precision. Similarly, a decision tree is a soft computing-based method of feature space partitioning which can certainly allow the movement of robots in an accurate manner. The control of robot arms is an important aspect for automating the process of sustainable development. Aiming at the problem of poor tracking accuracy of traditional Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Manipulator Joint Trajectory Monitoring (Multi-DoF MJTM) and long monitoring delay, this article proposes a Multi-DOF manipulator joint trajectory tracking method based on decision tree. The Multi-DoF manipulator is developed for the adaptive control object of the working machine, and it is combined with the output response feature to construct the kinematics model of the Multi-DoF manipulator mechanism of the walking machine. The joint trajectory reconstruction of the running trajectory is used to obtain the joint trajectory deviation of the Multi-DoF manipulator’s running trajectory through the multi-measurement system. Based on this, the Multi-DoF manipulator’s running trajectory joint trajectory tracking control equation is obtained to realize the joint trajectory tracking and monitoring of the manipulator. The features for a safe environment are also integrated. The experimental results show that the proposed method has high accuracy in tracking the trajectory of Multi-DoF manipulator joints, and the time delay for tracking and monitoring the trajectory of manipulator’s joints is also optimized.
Application of Outlier Detection Model in Korean Language and Culture Communication System Based on Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Yuqiong Qiao
Published: October 2022

With the continuous expansion of the Internet in China, network communication models and network services have become more and more complex, and with the increase of data types and diversification of data sources, network operation and maintenance projects have become more and more difficult. Passive statistical testing techniques for outliers are widely used, and many shortcomings have been pointed out, so there is an urgent need for improvement. After the research on the abnormal test of the text, it is determined that each method uses the visualization tool to simulate the data through the classification algorithm of the existing abnormal test and to identify the possibility of the data of each method and the PR diagram. The accuracy is counterintuitive. At present, Hallyu has a greater influence on the Internet, mainly in the fields of fashion and culture in Asian countries. Therefore, Korean language teaching has received widespread attention from the society, and combining cultural education with language teaching is an important way to improve the efficiency of language teaching. In the actual Korean language teaching work, a variety of Korean language materials are essential educational and teaching resources. The simulation results show that a large amount of training can make the DNN generate a better auto-encoder. In addition to strengthening the template for simulation training in deep learning, multiple supervisions of the data can be performed to reduce errors and improve efficiency.
Increased Asymmetry of Lower Limbs and Leading Joint Angles during Crossing Obstacles in Healthy Male with Cold Exposure
Authors: Yao Shun , Su Yu , Jiang Yu-Hong , Lei Tze-Huan , Wang I-Lin , Hsieh Shang-Lin
Published: October 2022

Lower ambient temperatures impair neuromuscular function and balance. However, whether lower ambient temperatures could alter joint angles and symmetry of lower limbs during crossing obstacles in males still remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether there is reduction of ambient temperature (20°C; 15°C; 10°C) on lower limbs joint angles and symmetry when crossing obstacles in males. On three different occasions, eighteen male participants underwent 30 min exposure to three different environmental temperatures (10°C, 15°C, and 20°C), which was followed by the obstacle crossing test at 10%, 20%, and 30% of the participant leg length. In each trial, we assessed joint angles and symmetry of lower limbs when crossing obstacles at 10%, 20%, and 30% of the participants’ leg length. The results showed that leading limb maximum joint angles were greater in 10°C than in 15°C and 20°C when leading limb crossed obstacle heights of 20% and 30% leg length (

p
<
0.05

). Trailing limb maximum joint angles were not different (

p
>
0.05

). Lower limb asymmetry increased when participants crossed obstacle heights of 20% and 30% leg length at 10°C (

p
<
0.05

). This study concluded that in male participants, cold exposure can increase lower limb asymmetry to increase falling risk when crossing obstacles. Also, the increased leading limb joint angles and constant trailing limb joint angles increase safety during crossing obstacles.
Facile Fabrication of CuO Nanoparticles Embedded in N‐Doped Carbon Nanostructure for Electrochemical Sensing of Dopamine
Authors: Sobahi Nebras , Imran Mohd , Khan Mohammad Ehtisham , Mohammad Akbar , Alam Md. Mottahir , Yoon Taeho , M. Mehedi Ibrahim , Hussain Mohammad A. , Abdulaal Mohammed J. , A. Jiman Ahmad
Published: October 2022

In the present study, a highly selective and sensitive electrochemical sensing platform for the detection of dopamine was developed with CuO nanoparticles embedded in N‐doped carbon nanostructure (CuO@NDC). The successfully fabricated nanostructures were characterized by standard instrumentation techniques. The fabricated CuO@NDC nanostructures were used for the development of dopamine electrochemical sensor. The reaction mechanism of a dopamine on the electrode surface is a three‐electron three‐proton process. The proposed sensor’s performance was shown to be superior to several recently reported investigations. Under optimized conditions, the linear equation for detecting dopamine by differential pulse voltammetry is Ipa (μA) = 0.07701 c (μM) − 0.1232 (R2 = 0.996), and the linear range is 5‐75 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) and sensitivity were calculated as 0.868 μM and 421.1 μA/μM, respectively. The sensor has simple preparation, low cost, high sensitivity, good stability, and good reproducibility.
The Impact of Tillage and Weed Control Methods on Physical Properties of Sandy Clay Loam Forest Ochrosol in Cassava Cultivation
Authors: Budu Maxwell , Atta-Darkwa Thomas , Amaglo Harrison , Kyei-Baffour Nicholas , Aidoo Isaac Albert , Ahorsu Samuel Kojo , Bessah Enoch
Published: October 2022

The field study was carried out on a sandy clay loam forest ochrosol at Hodzo, near Ho in Ghana, from July 2017 to May 2018. The objective was to determine how tillage and weed control techniques affect the physical properties of the soil. The split-plot design was used in the study, with tillage serving as the main factor and weed control serving as the subplot factor. The tillage treatments were no tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), and ploughing followed by harrowing and ridging (PHR) and deep tillage followed by Ploughing, harrowing, and ridging (DPHR). On the other hand, the weed control treatments comprised hoe weeding, machete weeding, and no weeding. It was realised during the study that, in the upper layer (0–15 cm), the PHR treatment produced lower soil penetration resistance (38.57 kPa), high dry bulk density (1.019 Mgm−3), and slightly lower soil moisture content (5.0%) in comparison with the other tillage treatments at three months after planting (3 MAP). The results on initial and basic infiltration rates portrayed a trend where the more intensive the tillage regime (hence, soil disturbance), the lower the initial and basic infiltration rates, and vice versa. Moreover, tillage had a higher impact on the physical characteristics of the soil than weed control methods. Nonetheless, tillage with machete weeding resulted in lower soil dry bulk density and higher moisture content, while tillage with hoe weeding reduced penetration resistance and increased infiltration rates. Given similar weather and soil conditions, the study recommends that farms and farmers in the Ho Municipality and the Volta Region adopt conservative tillage methods such as heaping with machete or hoe weeding and use the savings to expand their farm sizes. Therefore, the adoption of conservation tillage practices is more crucial than ever in order to ensure sustainable food production with minimal impact on the soil and environment.
Identification of Specific Cervical Cancer Subtypes and Prognostic Gene Sets in Tumor and Nontumor Tissues Based on GSVA Analysis
Authors: Zhong Zihang , Wang Yuanyuan , Yin Jian , Ni Senmiao , Liu Wen , Geng Rui , Liu Jinhui , Bai Jianling , Yu Hao
Published: October 2022

Background. Cervical cancer is the fourth common cancer among women. Its prognosis needs our more attention. Our purpose was to identity new prognostic gene sets to help other researchers develop more effective treatment for cervical cancer patients and improve the prognosis of patients. Methods. We used gene set variation analysis (GSVA) to calculate the enrichment scores of gene sets and identified three subtypes of cervical cancer through the Cox regression model, k-means clustering algorithm, and nonnegative matrix factorization method (NMF). Chi-square test was utilized to test whether a certain clinical characteristic is different among divided subtypes. We further screened the prognostic gene sets using differential analysis, univariate Cox regression analysis, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to analyze which pathways and function the genes from screened gene sets enriched. Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) was used to draw the protein-protein interaction network, and Cytoscape was used to visualize the hub genes of protein-protein interaction network. Results. We identified three novel subtypes of cervical cancer in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) samples and validated in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) samples. There were significant variations between the three subtypes in histological type, T stage, M stage, and N stage. T_GSE36888_UNTREATED_VS_IL2_TREATED_STAT5_AB_KNOCKIN_TCELL_2H_UP and N_HALLMARK_ANGIOGENESIS were screened prognostic gene sets. The prognostic model was as follows:

riskScore
=
T
_
GSE
36888
_
UNTREATED
_
VS
_
IL
2
_
TREATED
_
STAT
5
_
AB
_
KNOCKIN
_
TCELL
_
2
H
_
U

P

∗

 
2.617
+
N
_
HALLMARK
_
ANGIOGENESI

S

∗

 
4.860

. Survival analysis presented that in these two gene sets, high enrichment scores were all significantly related to worse overall survival. The hub genes from T gene set included CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL8, ALDOA, TALDO1, LDHA, CCL4, FCAR, FCER1G, SAMSN1, LILRB1, SH3PXD2B, PPM1N, PKM, and FKBP4. As for N gene sets, the hub genes included ITGAV, PTK2, SPP1, THBD, and APOH. Conclusions. Three novel subtypes and two prognostic gene sets were identified. 15 hub genes for T gene set and 5 hub genes for N gene set were discovered. Based on these findings, we can develop more and more effective treatments for cervical cancer patients. Based on the gene enriched pathways, we can development specific drugs targeting the pathways.
Non-Isolated Power Factor Corrected AC/DC Converter with High Step-Down Voltage Ratio for Low-Power Applications
Authors: Annambhotla Lalitha T. S. , Parthiban P.
Published: October 2022

This paper proposes a high step-down ratio AC-DC converter employing a quadratic buck converter with power factor correction. Conventional active power factor correction topologies employ boost-based correction schemes for unity power factor operation. This will require a steeper step-down ratio and higher switch voltage stress apart from complexity in the control scheme with sensors. The structure of the proposed topology is developed by combining the power factor correction stage with a high step-down stage. The passive input filter is split up into two for the purpose of reducing the thermal heating apart from offering a higher power factor. A single switch operation reduces the complexity of the control scheme. In addition, the number of conducting devices during the current path is also the same as the conventional buck converter due to cascading and hence offers lower conduction losses. The need for the converter to operate at an extremely low duty cycle is reduced due to the quadratic stage structure. The proposed converter operates at a moderate duty cycle, offering higher step-down voltage apart from reducing filtering requirements. MATLAB R2020b is used for carrying out simulation studies. Xilinx FPGA-based controller using system generator is implemented for the generation of pulses of appropriate duty cycle. Simulation and experimental results for a 150 W prototype are presented. An investigation and comparative evaluation of the conventional bridgeless buck system with the quadratic buck converter are carried out. The proposed structure offers the benefit of a higher step-down voltage ratio incorporating an inherent power factor correction stage along with the AC/DC stage.
Experimental Study on the Crack Initiation and Propagation of Unequal Cracks in Rock-Like Materials
Authors: Chen Qingfeng , Huang Min , Duan Jingmin
Published: October 2022

The crack in the rock is a system that coexists with multiscale and interaction cracks, and it is necessary to evaluate the deformation, stability, and strength of rock mass in many engineering projects and the failure of rock are related to the distribution of cracks in the rock. Cracks of different lengths were set in rock-like materials, and uniaxial loading experiments were carried out under 30 test conditions by changing the length of the rock bridge and the short crack as well as the crack angle. During the experiment, a high-speed camera system was used to record the failure process of the specimens. The following conclusions were obtained: when the crack angle is in the range of 30°to 60° with the loading direction, the shorter cracks are more likely to propagate and coalesce. Most of the specimens initiate cracking from the outer tip of the longer crack and the key point of crack instability is the outer tip of the longer crack. The coalescence mode of the cracks is mainly related to the length of the rock bridge length and the crack angle.
Chinese Universities’ Image Repair after Network Public Opinion Events: Strategy Choice and Effect Evaluation
Authors: Jiang Jing , Ren Juanjuan
Published: October 2022

The study aims to address Chinese universities’ image repair strategies after network public opinion events in the field of crisis management; therefore, it takes 43 network public opinion events in Chinese universities as the research object, encodes the official texts issued by universities according to the image restoration strategy, and sums up the image repair strategies commonly used by Chinese universities. Then, natural language processing is used to conduct the sentiment analysis of the online comments obtained. Accordingly, the sentiment index is constructed to evaluate the effect of Chinese universities’ image repair strategies. We find that Chinese universities commonly use the image repair strategy combination of bolstering, provocation, and corrective action; they have not used the apology strategy commonly used in western discourse systems. We also find that the complete information release process has a better image repair effect, particularly in teachers’ lapse and personal safety events. The sentiment index in teachers’ lapse events is the highest and is related to the universities’ corrective actions. The sentiment index in different public opinion hot events is quite different, which may be related to the nature of specific events. In personal safety events, netizens are more satisfied with image repair strategies.
The Influence of Wind Shielding and Train‐Induced Wind on the Vibration of a Train‐Bridge System
Authors: Wang Yujing , Xv Xuexiang , Wang Shanshan , Guan Qinghai
Published: October 2022

The aerodynamic forces of the system were obtained based on a 3D aerodynamic model, and a dynamic analysis model of the train‐bridge coupling system was established to compare the vibration responses of the train and bridge with and without a wind barrier to fully consider the wind shielding effect and train‐induced wind effect on the vibration of a train‐bridge system. The results show that the combined wind direction and the direction of the operating train are at an angle. Although the shape of the leading and trailing cars is the same, their wind load values are not the same due to the influence of the train wind. Because of the perforations, the vortex between the wind barrier and the train’s windward surface varies in a complicated fashion. The airflow traveling through the holes has a negative value because it circulates at the intersection of the windward surface and the top surface of the car body. The vehicles’ lateral wheel force, derailment factor, offload factor, and overturning factor are all lowered when the wind barrier is erected. The shielding effect of the wind barrier on the head car is more noticeable when it comes to lateral wheel force and derailment factor. With a wind barrier installed, the wind field surrounding the bridge is very complex, resulting in a modest decrease in vertical displacement.
Ameliorative Effect of Curcumin Nanoparticles against Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats
Authors: Hamdalla Hadeer M. , Ahmed Rasha R. , Galaly Sanaa R. , Naguib Ibrahim A. , Alghamdi Badrah S. , Ahmed Osama M. , Farghali Ahmed , Abdul-Hamid Manal
Published: October 2022

Aim. This study is aimed at evaluating the use of curcumin-loaded polylactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles (CUR-loaded PLGA NPs) as a treatment against monosodium iodoacetate- (MIA-) induced knee OA. Materials and Methods. Eighteen rats were assigned to three groups (

n
=
6

), namely, normal control group that received intra-articular injections (IAIs) of saline, an OA control group that received an IAIs of MIA (2 mg/50 μL), and a treatment group (MIA+CUR-loaded PLGA NPs) that received IAIs of CUR-loaded PLGA NPs (200 mg/kg b.wt). Results. The CUR NP treatment against knee OA alleviated radiographic alternations and histopathological changes and inhibited the upregulation in the serum levels of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and transforming growth factor-beta and the downregulation in interleukin-10. CUR NP-treated joints also decreased the mRNA expression of nuclear factor-kappa B and inducible nitric oxide synthase and the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 and caspase-3. Finally, CUR-loaded PLGA NP treatment mitigated the loss of type II collagen, which resulted in a significant reduction in malondialdehyde level and increased the glutathione content and superoxide dismutase activity compared with that of the OA group. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that the administration of CUR NPs could provide effective protection against MIA-induced OA and knee joint histological deteriorated changes due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties.
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Encourages the Neuroinvasive Potential of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Activating the Warburg Effect and Promoting Tumor Derived Exosomal miRNA-21 Expression
Authors: Peng Tao , Guo Yao , Gan Zheng , Ling Yan , Xiong Jiongxin , Liang Xueyi , Cui Jing
Published: October 2022

Background. It has been reported that signaling from the nerve growth factor (NGF) pathway associated with peripheral nerves is able to contribute to perineural invasion (PNI) of pancreatic cancer (PC). Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism by which NGF leads to PNI remained poorly understood. Methods. Western blotting was employed to determine NGF level in PC and paracarcinoma tissues and in PC cell lines as well as pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. MiaPaCa-2 and CFPAC-1 cells were treated with 100 ng/ml of NGF or the NGF inhibitor Tanezumab for 24 h, CCK-8 and Transwell assays were employed to test cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, respectively. TrkA expression was knocked down in MiaPaCa-2 and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells treated with NGF to determine its effect on the Warburg effect. To reveal that the NGF-TrkA signaling pathway was closely associated with PC PNI, in vitro neuroinvasion model was established by using MiaPaCa-2 cells via coculturing DRG cells in Matrigel. Further, exosomes were extracted from PC cells and identified by examining the levels of specific markers for exosomes. Then RT-qPCR was applied to test miR-21-5p level in tumor derived exosomal (TDE-miR-21-5p). RIP assay was performed to validate NGF and miR-21 binding ability in MiaPaCa-2 cells. Rescue experiments were performed by using coprocessing of Tanezumab and miR-21-5p mimic on MiaPaCa-2 cells, followed by coculture with DRG cells. Subsequently, we used a model of neuroinvasion in nude mice to assess the effect of NGF in vivo on tumor nerve invasion as well as on nociceptive transmission. Results. NGF level was preeminently higher in PC tissues and cell lines than in paracarcinoma tissues and normal pancreatic epithelial cell lines. NGF promoted MiaPaCa-2 and CFPAC-1 cell invasion and migration, while Tanezumab treatment showed the opposite results. Besides, NGF binding to TrkA receptors encouraged the intracellular Warburg effect in PC and DRG cells. TrkA blocking-up could restrain NGF induced PC cell migration and neural invasion. Mechanistically, NGF could upregulate TDE-miR-21-5p levels, and DRG cells took up TDE to activate the Warburg effect and stimulate nociceptor gene expression. miR-21-5p inhibitor could abolish the facilitative effect of NGF on PNI in MiaPaCa-2 cells. In vivo tumorigenesis experiments, Tanezumab markedly alleviated nerve invasion of PC cells as well as relieved nociceptive conduction in animal models. Conclusions. These findings displayed that NGF/TrkA encouraged the neuroinvasive potential of PC cells by activating the Warburg effect in DRG cells through upregulation of TDE-miR-21-5p expression.
Economic Globalization and Corporate Accounting Risks: An Analysis of Enterprise Risk Management Based on Big Data
Authors: Zhang Yantai
Published: October 2022

Economic globalization has become an unavoidable result of the rapid development of global economy. However, while economic globalization brings speed development and convenience to businesses, it also brings risks and challenges. With the advancement of network technology, Big Data has become increasingly intertwined with people’s lives. Big Data is gradually being applied to the method of people’s lives, in business, medical care, science and technology, production, and life. The production of Big Data for enterprises provides a large amount of data and information analysis library and for the management of enterprises provides a lot of convenience. Business management has also changed with the addition of big data. It is the top priority of enterprise development and survival to cope with the current economic and information globalization era which brings hidden dangers and risks. Based on the background of economic globalization and Big Data, this study analyzes the importance of enterprise risk management in the context of Big Data. This study mainly adopts the literature method and survey method to summarize what problems exist in enterprise risk management, highlights the causes of the problems in enterprise risk management, and gives corresponding solutions according to the existing problems. This paper aims at the study of enterprise risk management in the big environment, hoping to have certain suggestions and guidance for the relevant enterprises.
Monitoring Evolution of Coastline along Mto Tamamba Delta in Kenya North Coast Using Satellite Images
Authors: Aketch D. N. , Mito C. O. , Laneve G.
Published: October 2022

Coastal zones are the epicenter of economic activities in most developing countries in the world hence are bound to change. With advancement in technology, monitoring degradation of coastal zones using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) has become a critical subject for scientific research. RS refers to the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance (typically from satellite or aircraft) while GIS is a system that creates, manages, analyzes, and maps all types of data. This paper reports an evolving Kenyan coastline over the past three decades using RS and GIS. Literature on chronological evolution and its impacts along this coastline is scanty and it is therefore envisaged that this work will instigate more enquiry into factors that were involved in landscape formation along the Kenyan coast. Prior reports indicate that research work done along this coastline were by field survey. We report a prograding beach on Mto Tamamba delta as displayed by multispectral Landsat imagery. The marine ecosystems, riparian communities and tourism industry are facing a major threat. The finding establishes hydrodynamic effects and human influence as key contributors of this menace. This study is aimed at detecting the coastline change using multispectral Landsat images from the years 1990 to 2021. For this purpose, coastlines belonging to these years were drawn numerically with the aid of GIS and RS on ENVI 5.3 software. We utilized maximum likelihood algorithm to categorize the images, and employed a time series methodology on classified endmembers to infer the presence of erosion and accretion. Using the image subset technique, areas prone to erosion and accretion within the coastal datum were identified and cut. The patterns of spatiotemporal trend of these endmembers were effectively employed to corroborate these findings. Change in distribution of endmembers over the 31 years’ period was assessed using thematic change technique; an approach not previously applied in this study area. From the classified Mto Tamamba image, the pixel coverage area for each endmember was extracted. Validation using field campaign data gave an overall accuracy of 84% and kappa coefficient of 0.799. Taking into account that, the traditional methods of monitoring land degradation over a large area are time consuming and expensive; remote sensing data used in this study has offered alternatively cheap, consistent, reliable and retrievable data.