bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Âyanlar, Ticari Tarım ve Sermaye Birikim İmkânları
Authors: DEMİRCİ Hüseyin Aliyar , AYBUDAK Utku
Published: May 2022

Bu çalışma âyanların Osmanlı ekonomisindeki konumuna ve sermaye üretim kapasitesine odaklanmaktadır. Osmanlı toplumu içerisinde özellikle 17. yüzyıldan itibaren önem kazanan ayanlar, lisansüstü düzeyde çeşitli âyan ailelerin faaliyetleri açısından tekil olarak sıklıkla ele alınmıştır. Ancak bir toplumsal grubun tek bir hanesini ele almak, onların ekonomik sahadaki tutarlılık arz eden davranışlarını genel bağlamdan kopararak “israf, lüks düşkünlüğü” olarak tanımlama yanılgısına neden olabilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı âyanların ekonomik davranışlarının altında yatan bağlamsal sebepleri ortaya koymaktır. Bunun yanında âyanların servetlerinin mahiyeti ve tarihsel olarak karşılaştırılması da çalışmanın amaçları arasındadır. Enflasyondan arındırılmış biçimde bir karşılaştırma yapıldığında, âyanların Osmanlı siyasi ve iktisadi sistemini dönüşüme uğratacak derecede büyük bir maddi imkâna sahip olmadığı anlaşılmaktadır. 19. yüzyıl ile başlayan merkezileşme sürecinin ardından âyanların iktidarı büyük ölçüde kırılmış ve Osmanlı Devletinde16. yüzyıldan beri devam eden adem-i merkezileşme eğilimi son bulmuştur. Yaklaşık üç asır boyunca Osmanlı toplumsal yapısında oldukça mühim bir yer işgal eden âyanların ticari tarım faaliyetleri ve sermaye birikim imkanları, dönemin önemli tarımsal müesseseleri olan plantasyonlar ile de karşılaştırılmaktadır. Hem tarımsal verimlilik hem de toprağın doyurması gereken iş gücü açısından kıyaslamanın yapıldığı çalışmada âyanların düşük verimlilik ve yüksek maliyet koşullarında faaliyetlerini sürdürdüğü ve bu nedenle sermaye birikim imkânlarının son derece kısıtlı olduğu ortaya konulmaktadır
Пост- и деколониальные гейзы кыргызского антрополога
Authors: Алымбаева Аида Аалы
Published: May 2022

Данное эссе – рефлексия о том, что такое культурно-социальная антропология/этнография в со-временном Кыргызстане и, шире, Центральной Азии, и о ее роли в парадигме колониального и деколониального знания. Я утверждаю, что кыргызстанские антропологи в своих этнографиче-ских исследованиях таких горячих тем постсоветских и постколониальных контекстов, как этно-национализм и гендер, фактически деколонизируют гейзы западных ученых, которые и направляли «местных» коллег на эти темы. Этот местный поворот западных концепций может привести к новым вопросам. Например, если определять колониальность как состояние отчуждения, в котором над «местным» доминирует канон «чужого» знания, то современный Кыргызстан находится не только в постколониальном положении по отношению к России как наследнице советского доминиона, но и переживает волну «внутреннего колониализма» в форме исламизации и/или усиления кыргыз-ского национализма.

This essay is a reflection on what cultural and social anthropology/ethnography is in modern Kyrgyzstan and, more broadly, Central Asia, and on its role in the paradigm of colonial and decolonial knowledge. I argue that Kyrgyz anthropologists in their ethnographic studies of such hot topics in post-Soviet and post-colonial contexts as ethno-nationalism and gender actually decolonize the gazes of Western scientists who directed their “local” colleagues to these topics in the first place. This local twist on Western concepts may lead to new questions. For example, if coloniality is defined as a state of alienation in which the canon of “alien” knowledge dominates the “local”, then modern Kyrgyzstan is not only in a post-colonial position in relation to Russia as the heir to the Soviet dominion, but is also experiencing a wave of “internal colonialism” in the form of Islamization and/or strengthening of Kyrgyz nationalism.
Заметки о «постколониальном»
Authors: Шохат Элла
Published: May 2022

В настоящей статье я намерена не столько досконально проанализировать сам термин «постколониальный» с семантической точки зрения, сколько обозначить его географическое, историческое и институциональное положение, ставя при этом под сомнение его политическую составляющую. Ряд насущных вопросов заключается в следующем. Какие перспективы выдвигаются в «постколониальном»? Для каких целей? Какими могут быть негативные последствия? Я не намерена исследовать разнообразие провокативных работ, публикуемых под рубрикой постколониальной теории; я не собираюсь также эссенциализировать термин «постколониальный»; моя задача заключается в том, чтобы раскрыть его двусмысленное политическое значение, которое иногда ускользает от противоположных друг другу намерений его теоретиков. В данной статье я буду выступать за более ограниченное – как исторически, так и теоретически – конкретное использование термина «постколониальный», которое помещает его в контекст по отношению к другим – не менее проблематичным – категориям.

My intention in this essay is not merely to anatomize the term “post-colonial” semantically, but situate it geographically, historically and institutionally, while raising doubts about its political agency. The question at stake is this. Which perspectives are being advanced in the “post-colonial?” For what purposes? And with what slippages? In this brief discussion, my point is neither to examine the variety of provocative writings produced under the rubric post-colonial theory, nor simply to essentialize the term “post-colonial”, but rather to unfold its slippery political significations, which occasionally escape the clearly oppositional intentions of its theoretical practitioners. Here I will argue for a more limited, historically and theoretically specific usage of the term “post0colonial”, one which situates it is a relational context vis-à-vis other (equally problematic) categories.
Two Domains of Meandering Spiral Waves in a Modified Barkley Model
Authors: Zykov Vladimir , Bodenschatz Eberhard
Published: May 2022

The stability of rigidly rotating spiral waves is a very important topic in the study of nonlinear reaction-diffusion media. Computer experiments carried out with a slightly modified Barkley model showed that, in addition to one region of instability observed earlier in the original Barkley model, there is another one exhibiting completely different properties. The wave instability in the second region is not related to the Hopf bifurcation. Moreover, hysteresis effects are observed at the boundary of the region. This means that in the vicinity of this region of instability, direct integration of the model equations leads either to a rigidly rotating or meandering spiral, depending on the initial conditions.
VirHunter: A Deep Learning-Based Method for Detection of Novel RNA Viruses in Plant Sequencing Data
Authors: Sukhorukov Grigorii , Khalili Maryam , Gascuel Olivier , Candresse Thierry , Marais-Colombel Armelle , Nikolski Macha
Published: May 2022

High-throughput sequencing has provided the capacity of broad virus detection for both known and unknown viruses in a variety of hosts and habitats. It has been successfully applied for novel virus discovery in many agricultural crops, leading to the current drive to apply this technology routinely for plant health diagnostics. For this, efficient and precise methods for sequencing-based virus detection and discovery are essential. However, both existing alignment-based methods relying on reference databases and even more recent machine learning approaches are not efficient enough in detecting unknown viruses in RNAseq datasets of plant viromes. We present VirHunter, a deep learning convolutional neural network approach, to detect novel and known viruses in assemblies of sequencing datasets. While our method is generally applicable to a variety of viruses, here, we trained and evaluated it specifically for RNA viruses by reinforcing the coding sequences’ content in the training dataset. Trained on the NCBI plant viruses data for three different host species (peach, grapevine, and sugar beet), VirHunter outperformed the state-of-the-art method, DeepVirFinder, for the detection of novel viruses, both in the synthetic leave-out setting and on the 12 newly acquired RNAseq datasets. Compared with the traditional tBLASTx approach, VirHunter has consistently exhibited better results in the majority of leave-out experiments. In conclusion, we have shown that VirHunter can be used to streamline the analyses of plant HTS-acquired viromes and is particularly well suited for the detection of novel viral contigs, in RNAseq datasets.
Fabrication and Effect of Strontium-Substituted Calcium Silicate/Silk Fibroin on Bone Regeneration In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Zhou Yuning , Hu Yue , Uemura Mamoru , Xia Lunguo , Yu Xingge , Xu Yuanjin
Published: May 2022

Achieving rapid osteogenesis and angiogenesis was the key factor for bone regeneration. In the present study, the strontium-substituted calcium silicate (SrCS)/silk fibroin (SF) composite materials have been constructed by combining the different functional component ratios of SrCS (12.5 wt%, 25 wt%) and SF. Then, the effects of SrCS/SF materials on proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and angiogenic factor secretion of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (rBMSCs) were first evaluated in vitro. Moreover, the in vivo effect of osteogenesis was evaluated in a critical-sized rat calvarial defect model. In vitro studies showed that SrCS/SF significantly enhanced the cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and the expression of osteogenic and angiogenic factors of rBMSCs as compared with the SF and CS/SF, and the optimum proportion ratio was 25 wt%. Besides, the results also showed that CS/SF achieved enhanced effects on rBMSCs as compared with SF. The in vivo results showed that 25 wt% SrCS/SF could obviously promote new bone formation more than SF and CS/SF. The present study revealed that SrCS could significantly promote the osteogenic and angiogenic activities of SF, and SrCS/SF might be a good scaffold material for bone regeneration.
Intelligent Fall-Risk Assessment Based on Gait Stability and Symmetry Among Older Adults Using Tri-Axial Accelerometry
Authors: Lien Wei-Chih , Ching Congo Tak-Shing , Lai Zheng-Wei , Wang Hui-Min David , Lin Jhih-Siang , Huang Yen-Chang , Lin Feng-Huei , Wang Wen-Fong
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to use the k-nearest neighbor (kNN) algorithm, which combines gait stability and symmetry derived from a normalized cross-correlation (NCC) analysis of acceleration signals from the bilateral ankles of older adults, to assess fall risk. Fifteen non-fallers and 12 recurrent fallers without clinically significant musculoskeletal and neurological diseases participated in the study. Sex, body mass index, previous falls, and the results of the 10 m walking test (10 MWT) were recorded. The acceleration of the five gait cycles from the midsection of each 10 MWT was used to calculate the unilateral NCC coefficients for gait stability and bilateral NCC coefficients for gait symmetry, and then kNN was applied for classifying non-fallers and recurrent fallers. The duration of the 10 MWT was longer among recurrent fallers than it was among non-fallers (p < 0.05). Since the gait signals were acquired from tri-axial accelerometry, the kNN F1 scores with the x-axis components were 92% for non-fallers and 89% for recurrent fallers, and the root sum of squares (RSS) of the signals was 95% for non-fallers and 94% for recurrent fallers. The kNN classification on gait stability and symmetry revealed good accuracy in terms of distinguishing non-fallers and recurrent fallers. Specifically, it was concluded that the RSS-based NCC coefficients can serve as effective gait features to assess the risk of falls.
Elevated ACE Levels Indicate Diabetic Nephropathy Progression or Companied Retina Impaired
Authors: Huang Kangkang , Liang Yunlai , Wang Kun , Ma Yating , Wu Jiahui , Luo Huidan , Yi Bin
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays important roles in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN), and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is the key factor in the process from angiotensin I to angiotensin II, but the variation and roles of serum ACE in DN patients are still unclear.

Methods

Forty-four type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, 75 DN patients, and 36 age-gender-matched healthy volunteers were recruited who attended Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in this case control study. Serum ACE levels and other indexes were tested with commercial kit.

Results

ACE levels in DN were significantly higher than T2DM and controls (F = 9.66, P < 0.001). Serum ACE levels significantly correlated with UmALB (r = 0.3650, P < 0.001), BUN (r = 0.3102, P < 0.001), HbA1c (r = 0.2046, P = 0.0221), ACR (r = 0.4187, P < 0.001), ALB (r = -0.1885, P = 0.0192), and eGFR (r = -0.3955, P < 0.001), and we got an equation that Y = 2.839 + 0.648X1 + 2.001X2 + 0.003X3 - 6.637X4 +0.416X5 - 0.134X6 (Y: ACE; X1: BUN; X2: HbA1C; X3: UmALB; X4: gender; X5: ALB; X6: eGFR, R2 = 0.655). When DN patients were divided into advanced-stage and early-stage with or without DR, ACE levels would increase when early-stage DN develops into advanced-stage or companied with DR.

Conclusion

Elevated serum ACE levels may hint DN progression or retina impaired of DN patients.
Diversification and Functional Evolution of HOX Proteins
Authors: Singh Narendra Pratap , Krumlauf Robb
Published: May 2022

Gene duplication and divergence is a major contributor to the generation of morphological diversity and the emergence of novel features in vertebrates during evolution. The availability of sequenced genomes has facilitated our understanding of the evolution of genes and regulatory elements. However, progress in understanding conservation and divergence in the function of proteins has been slow and mainly assessed by comparing protein sequences in combination with in vitro analyses. These approaches help to classify proteins into different families and sub-families, such as distinct types of transcription factors, but how protein function varies within a gene family is less well understood. Some studies have explored the functional evolution of closely related proteins and important insights have begun to emerge. In this review, we will provide a general overview of gene duplication and functional divergence and then focus on the functional evolution of HOX proteins to illustrate evolutionary changes underlying diversification and their role in animal evolution.
Deciphering Innate Immune Cell-Tumor Microenvironment Crosstalk at a Single-Cell Level
Authors: Sugimura Ryohichi , Chao Yiming
Published: May 2022

The tumor microenvironment encompasses various innate immune cells which regulate tumor progression. Exploiting innate immune cells is a new frontier of cancer immunotherapy. However, the classical surface markers for cell-type classification cannot always well-conclude the phenotype, which will further hinge our understanding. The innate immune cells include dendritic cells, monocytes/macrophages, natural killer cells, and innate lymphoid cells. They play important roles in tumor growth and survival, in some cases promoting cancer, in other cases negating cancer. The precise characterization of innate immune cells at the single-cell level will boost the potential of cancer immunotherapy. With the development of single-cell RNA sequencing technology, the transcriptome of each cell in the tumor microenvironment can be dissected at a single-cell level, which paves a way for a better understanding of the cell type and its functions. Here, we summarize the subtypes and functions of innate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment based on recent literature on single-cell technology. We provide updates on recent achievements and prospects for how to exploit novel functions of tumor-associated innate immune cells and target them for cancer immunotherapy.
Tumor-Derived Lactate Creates a Favorable Niche for Tumor via Supplying Energy Source for Tumor and Modulating the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Jin Mengyao , Cao Wei , Chen Bo , Xiong Maoming , Cao Guodong
Published: May 2022

Tumor evolution is influenced by events involving tumor cells and the environment in which they live, known as the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME is a functional and structural niche composed of tumor cells, endothelial cells (ECs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), and a subset of immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T cells, B cells). Otto Warburg revealed the Warburg effect in 1923, a characteristic metabolic mechanism of tumor cells that performs high glucose uptake and excessive lactate formation even in abundant oxygen. Tumor tissues excrete a large amount of lactate into the extracellular microenvironment in response to TME’s hypoxic or semi-hypoxic state. High lactate concentrations in tumor biopsies have been linked to metastasis and poor clinical outcome. This indicates that the metabolite may play a role in carcinogenesis and lead to immune escape in TME. Lactate is now recognized as an essential carbon source for cellular metabolism and as a signaling molecule in TME, forming an active niche that influences tumor progression. This review summarized the advanced literature demonstrating the functional role of lactate in TME remodeling, elucidating how lactate shapes the behavior and the phenotype of both tumor cells and tumor-associated cells. We also concluded the intriguing interactions of multiple immune cells in TME. Additionally, we demonstrated how lactate functioned as a novel function factor by being used in a new histone modification, histone lysine lactylation, and to regulate gene expression in TME. Ultimately, because lactate created a favorable niche for tumor progression, we summarized potential anti-tumor strategies targeting lactate metabolism and signaling to investigate better cancer treatment.
Lestaurtinib Has the Potential to Inhibit the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Uncovered by Bioinformatics Analysis and Pharmacological Experiments
Authors: Wu Shuang , Liu Shihai , Li Yan , Liu Changchang , Pan Huazheng
Published: May 2022

Patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seek a satisfactory prognosis. However, most HCC patients present a risk of recurrence, thus highlighting the lack of effectiveness of current treatments and the urgent need for improved treatment options. The purpose of this study was to identify new candidate factors in the STAT family, which is involved in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, and new targets for the treatment of HCC. Bioinformatics web resources, including Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), The Human Protein Atlas (HPA), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), and GSCALite, were used to identify candidate genes among the STAT family in HCC. STAT1 was significantly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. More meaningfully, the high STAT1 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, STAT1 is expected to be a therapeutic target. The JAK2 inhibitor lestaurtinib was screened by the Genomics of Cancer Drug Sensitivity Project (GDSC) analysis. Pharmacological experiments showed that lestaurtinib has the ability to prevent cell migration and colony formation from single cells. We also found that STAT1 is involved in inflammatory responses and immune cell infiltration. Immune infiltration analysis revealed a strong association between STAT1 levels and immune cell abundance, immune biomarker levels, and immune checkpoints. This study suggests that STAT1 may be a key oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma and provides evidence that the JAK2 inhibitor lestaurtinib is a potent antiproliferative agent that warrants further investigation as a targeted therapy for HCC.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cardiovascular Diseases: Potential Targets for Treatment
Authors: Yang Jiaqi , Guo Qianyun , Feng Xunxun , Liu Yang , Zhou Yujie
Published: May 2022

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are serious public health issues and are responsible for nearly one-third of global deaths. Mitochondrial dysfunction is accountable for the development of most CVDs. Mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate through oxidative phosphorylation and inevitably generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excessive ROS causes mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Mitochondria can protect against these damages via the regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis. In recent years, mitochondria-targeted therapy for CVDs has attracted increasing attention. Various studies have confirmed that clinical drugs (β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor-II blockers) against CVDs have mitochondrial protective functions. An increasing number of cardiac mitochondrial targets have shown their cardioprotective effects in experimental and clinical studies. Here, we briefly introduce the mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction and summarize the progression of mitochondrial targets against CVDs, which may provide ideas for experimental studies and clinical trials.
Nuclear GSK-3β and Oncogenic KRas Lead to the Retention of Pancreatic Ductal Progenitor Cells Phenotypically Similar to Those Seen in IPMN
Authors: Ding Li , Roeck Kaely , Zhang Cheng , Zidek Brooke , Rodman Esther , Hernandez-Barco Yasmin , Zhang Jin-San , Bamlet William , Oberg Ann , Zhang Lizhi , Bardeesy Nabeel , Li Hu , Billadeau Daniel
Published: May 2022

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a downstream target of oncogenic KRas and can accumulate in the nucleus in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). To determine the interplay between oncogenic KRas and nuclear GSK-3β in PDA development, we generated Lox-STOP-Lox (LSL) nuclear-targeted GSK-3β animals and crossed them with LSL-KRasG12D mice under the control of the Pdx1-cre transgene—referred to as KNGC. Interestingly, 4-week-old KNGC animals show a profound loss of acinar cells, the expansion of ductal cells, and the rapid development of cystic-like lesions reminiscent of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). RNA-sequencing identified the expression of several ductal cell lineage genes including AQP5. Significantly, the Aqp5+ ductal cell pool was proliferative, phenotypically distinct from quiescent pancreatic ductal cells, and deletion of AQP5 limited expansion of the ductal pool. Aqp5 is also highly expressed in human IPMN along with GSK-3β highlighting the putative role of Aqp5+ ductal cells in human preneoplastic lesion development. Altogether, these data identify nGSK-3β and KRasG12D as an important signaling node promoting the retention of pancreatic ductal progenitor cells, which could be used to further characterize pancreatic ductal development as well as lineage biomarkers related to IPMN and PDA.
Early Bioinformatic Implication of Triacidic Amino Acid Motifs in Autophagy-Dependent Unconventional Secretion of Mammalian Proteins
Authors: Biswal Malay Ranjan , Padmanabhan Sreedevi , Manjithaya Ravi , Prakash Meher K.
Published: May 2022

Several proteins are secreted outside the cell, and in many cases, they may be identified by a characteristic signal peptide. However, more and more studies point to the evidence for an “unconventional” secretion, where proteins without a hitherto unknown signal are secreted, possibly in conditions of starvation. In this work, we analyse a set of 202 RNA binding mammalian proteins, whose unconventional secretion has recently been established. Analysis of these proteins secreted by LC3 mediation, the largest unconventionally secreted dataset to our knowledge, identifies the role of KKX motif as well as triacidic amino acid motif in unconventional secretion, the latter being an extension of the recent implicated diacidic amino acid motif. Further data analysis evolves a hypothesis on the sequence or structural proximity of the triacidic or KKX motifs to the LC3 interacting region, and a phosphorylatable amino acid such as serine as a statistically significant feature among these unconventionally secreted proteins. This hypothesis, although needs to be validated in experiments that challenge the specific details of each of these aspects, appears to be one of the early steps in defining what may be a plausible signal for unconventional protein secretion.
Novel Insights on Lipid Metabolism Alterations in Drug Resistance in Cancer
Authors: Yang Ruixue , Yi Mei , Xiang Bo
Published: May 2022

Chemotherapy is one of the primary treatments for most human cancers. Despite great progress in cancer therapeutics, chemotherapy continues to be important for improving the survival of cancer patients, especially for those who has unresectable metastatic tumors or fail to respond to immunotherapy. However, intrinsic or acquired chemoresistance results in tumor recurrence, which remains a major obstacle in anti-cancer treatment. The high prevalence of chemoresistant cancer makes it urgent to deepen our understanding on chemoresistance mechanisms and to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Multiple mechanisms, including drug efflux, enhanced DNA damage reparability, increased detoxifying enzymes levels, presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, ferroptosis and resistance to apoptosis, underlie the development of chemoresistance. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that lipid metabolism alteration is closely related to drug resistance in tumor. Targeting lipid metabolism in combination with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs is a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance. Therefore, this review compiles the current knowledge about aberrant lipid metabolism in chemoresistant cancer, mainly focusing on aberrant fatty acid metabolism, and presents novel therapeutic strategies targeting altered lipid metabolism to overcome chemoresistance in cancer.
Speech Assistant System With Local Client and Server Devices to Guarantee Data Privacy
Authors: Hirsch Hans-Günter
Published: May 2022

Users of speech assistant systems have reservations about the distributed approach of these systems. They have concerns that people might get access to the transmitted speech data or that somebody is able to access their microphone from outside. Therefore, we investigate the concept of a setup with local client and server systems. This comes along with the requirement of cost-efficient realizations of client and server. We examined a number of different cost-efficient server solutions depending on the required recognition capability of specific applications. A fairly cost-efficient solution is the use of a small computing device for recognizing a few dozens of words with a GMM-HMM based recognition. To perform a DNN-HMM based recognition, we looked at small computing devices with an integrated additional graphical processor unit (GPU). Furthermore, we investigated the use of low-cost PCs for implementing real-time versions of the Kaldi framework to allow the recognition of large vocabularies. We investigated the control of a smart home by speech as an exemplary application. For this, we designed compact client systems that can be integrated at certain places inside a room, e.g., in a standard outlet socket. Besides activating a client by a sensor that detects approaching people, the recognition of a spoken wake-up word is the usual way for activation. We developed a keyword recognition algorithm that can be implemented in the client despite its limited computing resources. The control of the whole dialogue has been integrated in our client, so that no further server is needed. In a separate study, we examined the approach of an extremely energy-efficient realization of the client system without the need of an external power supply. The approach is based on using a special microphone with an additional low-power operating mode detecting the exceeding of a preset sound level threshold only. This detection can be used to wake up the client's microcontroller and to make the microphone switch to normal operating mode. In the listening mode, the energy consumption of the microphone is so low that a client system can be active for months with an energy supply from standard batteries only.
Investigation on Deformation Mechanism and Treatment Effect of a Scattered Slope Based on Continuum–Discontinuum Element Method and Finite Difference Method
Authors: Gao Meiben , Zhang Hua , Cui Shenghua , Wu Zhongteng , Liu Ji , Feng Lixia , Zeng Feng , Li Ning , Chen Fujiang , Li Tianbin , Zhang Yan
Published: May 2022

Slope deformation and failure is an inevitable engineering problem in highway construction and operation in mountainous areas. Its essence is a continuous–discontinuous gradual failure process of slope under the action of unbalanced force. Slope deformation and failure mechanism is the basis and key content of its emergency treatment and comprehensive treatment. In this study, the continuous–discontinuous element method (CDEM) and finite difference method are used to analyze the deformation mechanism and support the effect of a scattered slope in the Biwei Expressway. The results showed that the change in the local geological environment caused by roadbed excavation leads to slope slippage along the surface and then pulls the upper rock mass gradually to produce slippage failure, resulting in the stability gradually decreasing. The mechanism is traction sliding–tensile cracking. The continuous–discontinuous element method can effectively simulate the formation process of the main and sub sliding planes during excavation and can better display the phenomenon of slope failure and gradual disintegration. The emergency disposal of the gravity anti-sliding retaining wall in front of the slope can effectively control further deformation and ensure temporary stability. In comprehensive treatment, step-type slope excavation, gravity anti-sliding retaining wall, and anchor frame beam are adopted to control the deformation and failure of slope and ensure long-term stability. The numerical simulation results are consistent with the actual results, which effectively explains the rationality of this study. The research results of this study can provide some reference for the emergency treatment and comprehensive treatment of slopes in mountainous areas and for the construction and operation of highways and other infrastructure in mountainous areas.
Associations of Lumber Disc Degeneration With Paraspinal Muscles Myosteatosis in Discogenic Low Back Pain
Authors: Huang Yilong , Wang Ling , Luo Baofa , Yang Kaiwen , Zeng Xiaomin , Chen Jiaxin , Zhang Zhenguang , Li Yanlin , Cheng Xiaoguang , He Bo
Published: May 2022

Accompanied with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, increasing fat infiltration of paraspinal muscles may be related to discogenic low back pain (DLBP), but their relationship is still unclear and the classical animal models are not completely applicable. The purpose of this study was to assess the paraspinal muscle fat infiltration in patients with DLBP by quantitative MRI, and to develop a novel DLBP rat model to explore the potential relationship between DLBP paraspinal muscle fat infiltration and TNF-α levels. We measured the proton density fat fraction (PDFF) of the multifidus and erector spinae muscles of 70 DLBP patients and 36 healthy volunteers by using quantitative MRI IDEAL-IQ. In addition, we developed a DLBP experimental rat model by puncturing the L4/5 and L5/6 IVDs under the guidance of X-ray fluoroscopy. Then various behavioral experiments, MRI and pathological examination of IVDs were used to evaluate the performance of the DLBP animal model. The gait analysis, hot plate test, acetone test, grasping test and tail suspension test were used to evaluate the pain and muscle dysfunction in rats. Through quantitative MRI and histological examination, the degeneration of IVDs and fat infiltration in the muscles were observed in vivo and ex vivo. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay detects the level of TNF-α in rat IVDs and paraspinal muscles. In the human study, compared with healthy volunteers, the PDFF of multifidus and erector muscles of DLBP patients increased significantly at L4/5 and L5/S1 levels (p<0.05). In the rat experiment, compared with control group and sham group, DLBP group had reduced gait score, shortened response time to cold and heat stimuli, prolonged bending time, and shortened struggling time. Rat lumbar MRI T2WI showed that the signal intensity of L4/5 and L5/6 IVDs were progressively decreased. Histological examination revealed that IVDs had increased collagen fibers, reduced nucleus pulposus, thickened annulus fibrosus, and distorted shape. The PDFF of multifidus muscle at L4/5 and L5/6 level in the DLBP group were more than that in other groups (p<0.05), and HE staining and oil red O staining of paraspinal muscles showed that the muscle bundle space of the DLBP group muscles increased, and the muscle tissues Increased lipid droplets. Finally, the expression of TNF-α in IVDs and paraspinal muscles in the DLBP group were significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.05). It is reliable and feasible to establish a DLBP rat model by puncturing the lumbar IVDs under the guidance of X-ray fluoroscopy. The degeneration of lumbar IVDs with DLBP leads to the occurrence of fat infiltration of paraspinal muscles, which is related to the expression of TNF-α.
The Design of a Remediation Device for Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil Under Digital Economy
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Liu Jiang , Jia Shibo
Published: May 2022

Since entering the new era, the economy has grown rapidly and the economic strength has improved significantly, but it is accompanied by resource and environmental problems caused by the high pollution and high energy consumption growth model. Realizing the transformation of economic development from “incremental” to “increasing quality” and promoting economic green transformation has become one of the main development goals of China in the next stage. With the rapid development of China’s social economy, the changes of industrialization, urbanization and agricultural intensification are getting faster and faster. The discharge of industrial “three wastes” and urban domestic wastewater has gradually increased, and a large amount of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have been applied to rural arable land. It accelerates soil heavy metal pollution. Electrodynamic remediation technology, as an emerging soil in situ remediation technology, has attracted wide attention due to its advantages of wide range of pollutant removal, low cost and good effect. In this paper, a remediation device for heavy metal-contaminated soil is designed based on electrodynamic remediation technology. That is, on the basis of the digital economy, an electrolyte circulation mechanism with high adsorption of heavy metal ions is introduced. In this paper, the feasibility of electrokinetic remediation of the contaminated soil was investigated, and the effects of electrolyte type, voltage, and remediation time on the removal of heavy metals were studied. The following results were obtained through a series of experimental studies: the pH values of region A in E1, E2, and E3 were 3.24, 3.18, and 3.09, respectively. The current peak values of E1, E2 and E4 are 0.44, 0.68 and 0.75 mA respectively. E4 had the best adsorption effect on heavy metal cadmium ions, with an average adsorption rate of 7.3%. The results show that the electrodynamic remediation device can effectively remove heavy metals in soil. It can also recycle the electrolyte solution, which is an environmentally friendly repair device.
Energy and Exergy Analysis on a Novel Solar-Air Dual-Source Vapor Injection Heat Pump Air-Conditioner for the Electric Bus
Authors: Zhang Hong , Liu Qian , Yang Lichen
Published: May 2022

A novel solar-air dual-source vapor injection heat pump air-conditioner for the electric bus is proposed, aiming to enhance the system heating performance and increase the vehicle endurance. Three working modes are designed for the proposed system, including solar-air dual-source heating mode, air source heating mode, and cooling mode. The system heating performance is explored by the simulation approach. Compared with the conventional vapor injection heat pump, the proposed system averagely enlarges the heating capacity and efficiency by 17.0% and 21.2%, respectively, under the considered evaporating temperature range (−25∼0°C) by utilizing the solar energy. Moreover, the two systems possess the optimal intermediate pressures to achieve the maximal heating efficiency. The system performance comparison under the two heating modes indicates that the dual-source mode is preferred except for the extremely low or no solar radiation situation. The exergy analysis shows that more than half of the system total exergy input is destructed in the solar collector, which grows by 111.4% as the solar radiation intensity increases by 300 W m−2; thus, the system exergy efficiency decreases as the solar radiation enhances, although the system heat exergy output shows a growth tendency. The component irreversibility analysis on the proposed system is also conducted, aiming to explore the reason for the system exergy performance variation and the irreversibility distribution rule. At last, the exergy flow situations of the proposed system and the conventional system are contrastively analyzed. The exergy performance comparison indicates that under the given condition the proposed system can improve the exergy output by 20.2% and decrease the electricity consumption by 4.5% compared with the conventional system.
Value of Information: Exploring Behavioral and Social Factors
Authors: Glynn Pierre D. , Chiavacci Scott J. , Rhodes Charles R. , Helgeson Jennifer F. , Shapiro Carl D. , Straub Crista L.
Published: May 2022

There is growing interest within and beyond the economics community in assessing the value of information (VOI) used in decision making. VOI assessments often do not consider the complex behavioral and social factors that affect the perception, valuation, and use of information by individuals and groups. Additionally, VOI assessments frequently do not examine the full suite of interactions and outcomes affecting different groups or individuals. The behavioral and social factors that we mention are often (but not always) innately-derived, less-than-conscious influences that reflect human and societal adaptations to the past. We first discuss these concepts in the context of the recognition and use of information for decision making. We then find fifteen different aspects of value and information pertinent to VOI assessments. We examine methodologies and issues related to current VOI estimation practices in economics. Building on this examination, we explore the perceptions, social factors, and behavioral factors affecting information sharing, prioritization, valuation, and discounting. Information and valuation issues are then considered in the context of information production, information trading and controls, and information communication pathologies. Lastly, we describe issues relating to information useability and actionability. Our examples mention the value and use of geospatial information, and more generally concern societal issues relating to the management of natural resources, environments, and natural and anthropogenic hazards. Our paper aims to be instrumentally relevant to anyone interested in the use and value of science.
Road Safety Evaluation Framework for Accessing Park Green Space Using Active Travel
Authors: Luo Yuanyuan , Liu Yanfang , Xing Lijun , Wang Nannan , Rao Lei
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a burgeoning demand for active travel (walking or cycling), which is a healthy, pollution-free, and affordable daily transportation mode. Park green space (PGS), as an open natural landscape, have become a popular destination for active travel trips in metropolitan areas. Pedestrians and cyclists are often at high crash risk when exposed to complicated traffic environments in urban areas. Therefore, this study aims to propose a safety assessment framework for evaluating active travel traffic safety (ATTS) near PGS from the perspective of urban planning and exploring the effect of the point-of-interest (POI) aggregation phenomenon on ATTS. First, links between ATTS and the environment variables were investigated and integrated into the framework using the catastrophe model. Second, the relationship between the POI density and ATTS was investigated using three spatial regression models. Results in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area as a case study have shown that (1) the population density, road density, nighttime brightness, and vegetation situation near PGS have pronounced effects on ATTS; (2) pedestrians near PGS enjoy safer road facilities than cyclists. Active travel traffic near PGS requires more attention than non-park neighborhoods; (3) among four park categories, using active travel to access theme parks is the safest; and (4) SEM has the best fit for POI cluster research. Increases in leisure facility density and residence density may lead to deterioration and improvement in ATTS safety levels near PGSs, respectively. The safety framework can be applied in other regions because the selected environment indicators are common and accessible. The findings offer appropriate traffic planning strategies to improve the safety of active travel users when accessing PGS.
Variation in Female Leverage: The Influence of Kinship and Market Effects on the Extent of Female Power Over Males in Verreaux’s Sifaka
Authors: Lewis Rebecca J. , Bueno Gabrielle L. , Di Fiore Anthony
Published: May 2022

Female mammals employ reproductive strategies (e.g., internal gestation) that result in power asymmetries specific to intersexual dyads. Because the number of eggs available for fertilization at any given time for most mammals is quite limited, having a fertilizable egg is potentially an important source of economic power for females. Control over mating opportunities is a source of intersexual leverage for female Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi). We examined economic factors thought to influence the value of mating opportunities, and, thus, the extent of female leverage: kinship and market effects. Using a longitudinal dataset of agonistic interactions collected during focal animal sampling of all adult individuals in 10 social groups from 2008 to 2019, we tested the effects of relatedness, female parity, reproductive season, and adult sex ratio (population and group) on (1) the direction of submissive signaling and (2) which sex won a contested resource. While 96% of the acts of submission were directed from males toward females, females only won a third of their conflicts with males. Thus, our study has implications for evolutionary explanations of female-biased power. If female power evolved due to their greater need for food and other resources, then intersexual conflicts would be expected to result in males more consistently relinquishing control of resources. As expected, males were more likely to chatter submissively toward successful mothers, during the mating season, and when the sex ratio was male-biased. Although females generally had less power to win a conflict when their fertilizable egg was less valuable (when they were nulliparous or unsuccessful mothers or when interacting with male kin) and with an increasing female-bias in the sex ratio, this ability to win additionally was influenced by which sex initiated the conflict. Our study demonstrates that female leverage can be influenced by the supply and demand for mating opportunities, but evoking submission does not translate into winning a resource. Indeed, intersexual power is dynamic, contextual, and dependent on the individuals in the dyad.
rs401502 and rs11575934 Polymorphisms of the IL-12 Receptor Beta 1 Gene are Protective Against Colorectal Carcinogenesis
Authors: Jelassi Refka , Dhouioui Sabrine , Ben Salah Hamza , Saidi Nasreddine , Mzoughi Nabiha , Ammi Radhia , Bouratbine Aida , Aoun Karim , Zidi Ines , Chelbi Hanen
Published: May 2022

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health problem worldwide and in Tunisia. It ranks among the main cancers in terms of incidence and cancer-related cause of death. Its pathogenesis is currently considered to be multifactorial involving genetic and environmental factors. Recent studies have suggested that the gene encoding the β1 subunit of the IL-12 receptor, an important pro-inflammatory cytokine of the anti-tumor response, could be involved in the susceptibility to inherited CRC. Hence, it would be interesting to study the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL-12RB1 gene (rs401502 and rs11575934) in CRC susceptibility.

Aim: Our purpose was to assess whether genetic variants IL-12RB1 +1196G/C (rs401502) and IL-12RB1 +705A/G (rs11575934) within the IL-12RB1 gene are associated with the sporadic CRC risk.

Methods: A total of 110 Tunisian patients with sporadic CRC and 141 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Genotyping was performed by high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. All results were confirmed by direct DNA sequencing or PCR-RFLP methods. Later, the allele frequencies and genotype distribution were established and compared between the control group and CRC patients.

Results: The obtained results showed that the two target SNPs were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in both patients and controls. Minor allele frequencies of rs401502 SNP were 16.4% in CRC cases and 23.8% in controls. Mutant allele of rs11575934 SNP was present with 21.4% in CRC patients and 29.8% in control group. An association study showed a significant association of two target polymorphisms with CRC, according to the dominant genetic model with OR = 0.577, 95% CI = [0.343 to 0.972], p = 0.038 and OR = 0.547, 95% CI = [0.328 to 0.911], p = 0.02, respectively.

Conclusion: In this study, we found, for the first time, a potential protective effect of two SNPs in the IL-12RB1 gene, namely rs401502 and rs11575934, in sporadic colorectal cancer in Tunisians.
Comparative Proteome Profiling of Saliva Between Estrus and Non-Estrus Stages by Employing Label-Free Quantitation (LFQ) and Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-LC-MS/MS Analysis: An Approach for Estrus Biomarker Identification in Bubalus bubalis
Authors: Singh Laishram Kipjen , Pandey Mamta , Baithalu Rubina Kumari , Fernandes Abhijeet , Ali Syed Azmal , Jaiswal Latika , Pannu Suryaprakash , Neeraj  , Mohanty Tushar K. , Kumaresan A. , Datta Tirtha K. , Kumar Sudarshan , Mohanty Ashok K.
Published: May 2022

Accurate determination of estrus is essentially required for efficient reproduction management of farm animals. Buffalo is a shy breeder and does not manifest overt signs of estrus that make estrus detection difficult resulting in a poor conception rate. Therefore, identifying estrus biomarkers in easily accessible biofluid such as saliva is of utmost interest. In the current study, we generated saliva proteome profiles during proestrus (PE), estrus (E), metestrus (ME), and diestrus (DE) stages of the buffalo estrous cycle using both label-free quantitation (LFQ) and labeled (TMT) quantitation and mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 520 proteins were identified as DEPs in LFQ; among these, 59 and four proteins were upregulated (FC ≥ 1.5) and downregulated (FC ≤ 0.5) during E vs. PE, ME, and DE comparisons, respectively. Similarly, TMT-LC-MS/MS analysis identified 369 DEPs; among these, 74 and 73 proteins were upregulated and downregulated during E vs. PE, ME, and DE stages, respectively. Functional annotations of GO terms showed enrichment of glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, endopeptidase inhibitor activity, salivary secretion, innate immune response, calcium ion binding, oocyte meiosis, and estrogen signaling. Over-expression of SERPINB1, HSPA1A, VMO1, SDF4, LCN1, OBP, and ENO3 proteins during estrus was further confirmed by Western blotting. This is the first comprehensive report on differential proteome analysis of buffalo saliva between estrus and non-estrus stages. This study generated an important panel of candidate proteins that may be considered buffalo estrus biomarkers which can be applied in the development of a diagnostic kit for estrus detection in buffalo.