bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel defined N7-methylguanosine-related LncRNAs signature for predicting the prognosis of Hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Luo Yijiang , Zhang Xueyong , Yang Hao
Published: July 2022

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous disease with poor prognosis, making the prediction of the prognosis much challenges. N7-methylguanosine (m7G) is a common modification with roles in eukaryotes. However, the value of m7G-related LncRNAs in predicting prognosis of HCC still remains to be further elucidated. This study aimed to find new potential biomarkers for predicting prognosis and precision medication. Methods. To build reliable predictive models,we obtained transcriptome and clinical data of HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). M7G-related prognostic lncRNAs were selected by coexpression analysis and univariate Cox regression. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was utilized to construct the m7G related lncRNA model. Patients in TCGA cohort were divided into train group and test group. Applying the muti-lncRNA model,the patients were divided into high risk group and low risk group .The Kaplan–Meier analysis,time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC), univariate Cox (uni-Cox) regression, multivariate Cox (multi-Cox) regression, nomogram, clinical characteristics and calibration curves were made to verify and evaluated the model. Furthermore ,we used principal component analysis (PCA), t-distributed stochastic-neighbor embedding (tSNE), immune analysis, and prediction of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) to verify the signature in two risk groups .Results. A model with 4 m7G-related lncRNAs was constructed. The HCC patients were divided into two risk groups according to the model.Patients in the low-risk group showed significantly better outcome compared with patients in the high-risk group both in the train group and the test group (P < 0.001 in the TCGA train cohort and P = 0.001 in the test cohort). The risk score was an independent predictor for prognosis in multivariate Cox regression analyses (HR> 1, P< 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis show predictive capacity. Analysis of clinical characteristics and tumor microenvironment (TME) between risk groups showed significant difference (p=0.038). Functional analysis revealed different immune-related pathways were enriched, and immune status were different between two risk groups. Mediation analysis with IC50 revealed that the two risk group were significantly different, which could be a guidance of systemic treatment. Conclusion. A novel m7G-related LncRNAs signature can be used for prognostic prediction in HCC. Targeting m7G may be a therapeutic alternative for HCC.
Research on yield strength estimation and lift-off elimination method based on incremental permeability features
Authors: Li Kaiyu , Liu Yiran , Wang Pin , Zhang Zhengda , Jia Yinliang , Zeng Jie
Published: July 2022

The incremental permeability(IP) is related to the reversible domain movements of ferromagnetic materials during the period of dynamic magnetization. The IP signal generated by reversible domain motion is weak, during the experiment, the vibration of the platform and the uneven surface of the sample will affect the lift-off value of the probe, resulting in the distortion of the IP signal. In order to solve this problem, the change of IP feature γ reflecting the average grain size of the material under different lift-off conditions is studied, and the corresponding relationship between this feature and lift-off is quantitatively analyzed. In this paper, the fitting method of γ curve is revised to reduce its fitting under different lifting conditions. Two parameters aγ and bγ are proposed to modify the γ curve when lift-off changes. Finally, the yield strength of the material is estimated under different lift-off conditions, and the estimation error is less than 10%.
Colonic TRPV4 overexpression is related to constipation severity
Authors: Mihara Hiroshi , Uchida Kunitoshi , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Nanjo Sohachi , Sakumura Miho , Motoo Iori , Ando Takayuki , Minemura Masami , Muhammad Jibran Sualeh , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Itoh Fumio , Yasuda Ichiro
Published: July 2022

BackgroundChronic constipation is prevalent and involves both colon sensitivity and various changes in intestinal bacteria, particularly mucosa-associated microflora. Here we examined regulatory mechanisms of TRPV4 expression by co-culturing colon epithelial cell lines with intestinal bacteria and their derivatives. We also investigated TRPV4 expression in colon epithelium from patients with constipation. MethodsColon epithelial cell lines were co-cultured with various enterobacteria (bacterial components and supernatant), folate, LPS, or short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). TRPV4 expression levels and promoter DNA methylation were assessed using pyrosequencing, and microarray network analysis. For human samples, correlation coefficients were calculated and multiple regression analyses were used to examine the association between clinical background, rectal TRPV4 expression level and mucosa-associated microbiota.ResultsCo-culture of CCD841 cells with P. acnes, C. perfringens, or S. aureus transiently decreased TRPV4 expression but did not induce methylation. Co-culture with clinical isolates and standard strains of K. oxytoca, E. faecalis, or E. coli increased TRPV4 expression in CCD841 cells, and TRPV4 and TNF-alpha expression were increased by E. coli culture supernatants but not bacterial components. Although folate, LPS, IL-6, TNF-alpha, or SCFAs alone did not alter TRPV4 expression, TRPV4 expression following exposure to E. coli culture supernatants was inhibited by butyric acid or TNF-alphaR1 inhibitor and increased by p38 inhibitor. Microarray network analysis showed activation of TNF-alpha, cytokines, and NOD signaling. TRPV4 expression was higher in constipated patients from the terminal ileum to the colorectum, and multiple regression analyses showed that low stool frequency, frequency of defecation aids, and duration were associated with TRPV4 expression. Meanwhile, incomplete defecation, time required to defecate, and number of defecation failures per 24 hours were associated with increased E. faecalis frequency.ConclusionsColon epithelium cells had increased TRPV4 expression upon co-culture with K. oxytoca, E. faecalis, or E. coli supernatants, as well as TNFα-stimulated TNFαR1 expression via a pathway other than p38. Butyrate treatment suppressed this increase. Epithelial TRPV4 expression was increased in constipated patients, suggesting that TRPV4 together with increased frequency of E. faecalis may be involved in the pathogenesis of various constipation symptoms.
Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in Three Gorges Reservoir Area Based on GIS and Boosting Decision Tree Model
Authors: Miao Fasheng , Zhao Fancheng , Wu Yiping , Li Linwei , Török Ákos
Published: July 2022

Recognized as one of the most destructive geological disasters, a myriad of landslides has revived and developed in the Three Gorges Reservoir area under the combined action of various detrimental factors, becoming a nightmare for the residents over vicinity. Therefore, the pertinently regional landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) is of great significance for disaster prevention and mitigation. In this study, LSM was prepared by using a boosting-C5.0 decision tree model. Under the landslide verification of on-site investigations, the study area was divided into accumulation and rock areas, and a total of 12 impact factors including triggering factors and causing factors were skillfully selected as model inputs to felicitously explore spatial characteristics related to the landslide. TOL and VIF were employed to determine the multicollinearity among the impact factors. The independent training (80%) and validation (20%) datasets were constructed by random sampling for LSM. ANN, C5.0, and SVM were selected for comparative analysis. In addition, uncertainty analysis was appositely performed for boosting-C5.0 model. The results show that there is no rigorous multicollinearity among the impact factors proposed in this paper. The landslide susceptibility in the study area is divided into low, moderate, high, and very high. The highest susceptibility area distributes along the riverside and farmland where the landslide ratio is 37.05% in boosting-C5.0 model. Then the ROCs were expropriated to infer the accuracy of each model. The boosting-C5.0 performed the best with the largest area under the curve (AUC) in both accumulation and rock areas, reaching at 0.991 and 0.990 in the validation sets, respectively. Finally, the composite modification of the 5 validation sets shows that the uncertainty of boosting-C5.0 is concentrated in the intermediate probability areas of susceptibility. This research reveals that the machine learning model can be used to evaluate the susceptibility of regional landslides, which could provide a basis for the risk management and control of geological disasters.
Climatic control on the location of continental volcanic arcs
Authors: Muller Veleda A. P. , Sternai Pietro , Sue Christian , Simon-Labric Thibaud , Valla Pierre G.
Published: July 2022

Orogens and volcanic arcs at continental plate margins are primary surface expressions of convergent plate tectonics. Although it is established that climate affects the shape, size, and architecture of orogens via orographic erosion gradients, the crustal upwelling of magmas and location of volcanic arcs have been considered insensitive to erosion. However, available data reveal westward migration of late-Cenozoic volcanic activity in the Southern Andes and Cascade Range where orography drives an eastward migration of the topographic water divide by increased precipitation and erosion along west-facing slopes. Here we use thermomechanical numerical modeling to show that orographic erosion and leeward topographic shift may entail asymmetric crustal structures, driving magma upwelling toward the region of enhanced erosion. Considering the different tectonic histories between the Southern Andes and the Cascade Range, the orographic erosion gradient is a plausible shared causal mechanism behind the late-Cenozoic westward migration of the regional volcanic arcs.
Uni-variate and Bi-variate Inverted Exponential-Teissier Distribution in Bayesian and Non-Bayesian framework to Model Stochastic Dynamic Variation of Climate data
Authors: THAKUR DEBJOY , Bhattacharya Sumangal , Das Ishapathik
Published: July 2022

This article provides a new Inverted Exponential Teissier (IET) distribution to model an extreme value data set and explain temporal dependence in environmental statistics employing Bi-variate probability distribution. We deduce its various statistical properties, including descriptive statistics, characterization, and different measurements of reliability. The model parameters are estimated using Bayesian and Non-Bayesian frameworks. For exploring the dependency structures between two geographical Random Variables (RV), we extend the IET to Bivariate IET distribution, (BIET). We introduce a novel time-series forecasting algorithm based upon copula assuming stationarity of the data set. We validate the proposed method using extensive simulation studies with different possible combinations of parameter values. This method is applied to the seasonal rainfall data of Kerala from 1901 to 2017. We estimate the monsoon rainfall using median regression derived from BIET, where summer rainfall data is used as an important covariate. We found the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) is 19.242% on the test data set.
Governing the Green Economy in the Arctic
Authors: Garbis Zoe , McCarthy Erin , Orttung Robert Wilson , Poelzer Gregory , Shaiman Melissa , Tafrate Jacob
Published: July 2022

In Sweden’s Norrbotten County, a “green transition” driven by market demand and new normative structures is underway, creating a regional mega-project designed to put Sweden at the forefront of emerging green industries. These industries, such as carbon-neutral steel fabrication, battery production, and data center hosting, all require large amounts of energy, land, and minerals. This paper applies the regional environmental governance framework to Arctic data to examine which stakeholders have the capacity to impose their agenda on the Arctic environment and the points of conflict and collaboration during this period of accelerated growth. The paper tests the hypothesis that regional governance performs better than other levels in accommodating a plurality of interests. A case study on Norrbotten County’s industrial mega-project centered around Luleå, Sweden shows the dominance of EU norms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this region. However, the existing regional governance model does a poor job of integrating the local Indigenous Sami preferences for land use. At the core of the difference between actors advancing the green economy and the local reindeer herders are different conceptions of nature and sustainability.
Evaluation of ABCD Water Balance Conceptual Model Using Remote Sensing Data in Ungauged Watersheds (A Case Study: Zarandeh, Iran)
Authors: Baseri Masoud , Mahjoobi Emad , Rafiei Fatemeh , Baseri Moean
Published: July 2022

Water balance is one of the most important issues in water resources management and water consumption planning. ABCD water balance conceptual model is a very suitable simulation tool due to its simplicity, low requirement of input data, and providing various components of the water balance. As the lack of data is always a major challenge in many developing countries, remote sensing technology was used to collect the required data for the Zarandeh sub-basin in Neyshabur in the Northeastern Iran. To do so, IMERG precipitation satellite products and ERA5 temperature reanalysis data were used. Outputs were evaluated using five statistical indices including Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency Coefficient (NSE), and BIAS Coefficient. The Results indicated that products are accurate, and there is a high correlation between outputs and observed data. To calculate the water balance, remote sensing products were applied in the form of the ABCD model. The uncertainties in the model parameters were assessed through Fuzzy numbers. In addition, the Monte Carlo method was employed to calibrate them with two different objective functions including NSE and Coefficient of Determination (R2). The results showed that the ABCD water balance model is an accurate tool for simulating the surface runoff of the Zarandeh sub-basin. Finally, the model was applied to the Sebi sub-basin located in Torbat-e-Heydariyeh, which had a moderate performance showing that the model parameters should be recalibrated in each region.
The Characteristics of Pseudophakic Retinal Detachment and Risk Factors of Recurrence in the North of Spain
Authors: Gibelalde Ane , Pinar-Sueiro Sergio , Ibarrondo Oliver , Martínez-Soroa Itziar , Mendicute Javier
Published: July 2022

Purpose: The present study was designed to gain knowledge about the prognostic factors and evolution of pseudophakic retinal detachment (PRD). To analyse the main characteristics of PRD, such as the mean time to retinal detachment following cataract surgery, as well as the clinical factors associated with the risk of recurrence, and with worse anatomical and functional outcomes.Methods: Retrospective study of 330 patients with PRD between 2012-2020.All patients are pseudophakic ,were referred for retinal detachment surgery at the Donostia University Hospital (Terciary Hospital, Spain). Results: The mean age of patients was 63.06 ± 10.8 at the time of phacoemulsification and 49.09% of them had moderate myopia ( axial length (AL) (23.5 26.5 mm). In our serie, macular detachment was evident in 69.09% of patients. The mean time that elapsed between phacoemulsification and RD surgery was 4.04 ± 4.17 years, being reduced by half in the event of surgical complications (2.24 ± 2.65). The rate of recurrence of RD was 28.79%. The anatomical results in terms of retinal reapplication have been better by combining vitrectomy with scleral buckle (83.1% vs 70.5%). The variables associated with a higher risk of recurrence were male gender (Hazard ratio -HR= 1.75), macular detachment (HR= 2.00) and the presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (HR= 3.21) Conclusions :PRD usually occurs within 4 years of phacoemulsification, although it may occur significantly earlier in the event of surgical complications. The involvement of the macula, PVR, and male gender are all associated with a higher risk of PRD recurrence.
Virtual reality intervention effects on future self-continuity and delayed reward preference in substance use disorder recovery: pilot study results
Authors: Shen Yitong I , Nelson Andrew J , Oberlin Brandon Gregg
Published: July 2022

Sustained remission from substance use disorder (SUD) is challenged by high relapse rates, which provides opportunities for novel clinical interventions. Immersive virtual reality (VR) permits delivering synthetic experiences that feel real and actualizes otherwise impossible scenarios for therapeutic benefit. We report on the feasibility of an immersive VR intervention designed to increase valuation of the future by enhancing future self-continuity and leveraging future self-discrepancy with personalized future selves as SUD recovery support. Twenty-one adults in early SUD recovery (< 1 year) interacted with versions of themselves age-progressed fifteen years from two different behavioral trajectories: an SUD Future Self and a Recovery Future Self. The future selves’ interactive monologs include personalized details and voice for a lifelike interaction within a time travel vignette. Before and following the intervention, participants rated future self-continuity and performed delay discounting. Following the intervention, daily images of the Recovery Future Self were sent to participants’ smartphones for thirty days. The VR intervention generated no adverse events, was well tolerated (presence, liking, and comfort), significantly increased future self-continuity and delayed reward preference (doubling delay tolerance), and reduced craving, ps < .05. Thirty days later, n = 18 remained abstinent; importantly, increased future self-similarity persisted. Abstainers’ future self-similarity increased following VR. All individual participants showing increased future self-similarity post-VR remained abstinent, and all participants who relapsed showed either reduced or zero effect on future self-similarity. Post-intervention semi-structured interviews revealed emotional engagement with the experience. VR simulation of imagined realities reifies novel clinical interventions that are practicable and personalized. The current study demonstrates an implementation readily applied in the clinic and shows promise for facilitating SUD recovery. Creative collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and VR developers has great potential to revolutionize mental health interventions and expand the range of tools for clinicians targeting SUD and other disorders.
Characteristics of rice straw decomposition and succession in the bacterial community during decomposition in paddy field in Southeast China
Authors: Wang Xiya , He Ping , Xu Xinpeng , Qiu Shaojun , Zhao Shicheng
Published: July 2022

Crop straw decomposition in the soil is a complex biochemical process. Microorganisms are the main drivers of straw decomposition, and external environmental conditions and straw composition are known to regulate straw decomposition by influencing the microbial community composition. However, the characteristics of rice straw decomposition and changes in microbial community structure during the straw decomposition in the double-rice system are still unclear. A 2-year straw bag decomposition experiment was used to study the change in nutrient release, enzyme activity, and bacterial community composition during rice straw decomposition in the double-rice system in Southeast China. After burial in soil, the cumulative dry matter loss rates of rice straw were 38.9%, 72.6%, and 82.7% after 2, 12, and 24 months, respectively. The change in the release rate of straw nitrogen and phosphorus was similar to the dry matter loss, but 93.5% of straw potassium was released after 1st month. Bacterial abundance and community diversity in straw increased rapidly, reaching peaks after 7 and 12 months, respectively. Straw extracellular enzyme activities are the highest in the first 2 months, and then gradually decrease over time. Redundancy analysis showed that rice straw decomposition was mainly influenced by straw C/N and K. The dominating bacterial communities at the early stage were classes Bacilli and Flavobacteriia. However, they were succeeded by classes Acidobacteria, Anaerolineae, Deltaproteobacteria, Saccharibacteria, and Sphingobacteriia at the later stage of decomposition. In conclusion, rice straw decomposition was strongly influenced by straw composition, and straw decomposition was dominated by copiotrophic bacteria in the early stages and evolved to be dominated by oligotrophic bacteria in the later stages with the depletion of easily decomposable components.
Phylogeographical analysis on the alpine endemic plant Meconopsis punicea (Papaveraceae) based on chloroplast and nuclear genes
Authors: Ou Zhi , Xiong Jian , Jiang Yuanqi , Dai Yongdong , Qu Yan
Published: July 2022

Meconopsis punicea (Papaveraceae) is only distributed in the alpine areas of the Qinghai Plateau (QHP) and Hengduan Mountains (HDM) in China. As an important ornamental flower and traditional Tibetan medicine, in addition to habitat loss, its higher economic value drives over-exploitation of this resource, which has accelerated the reduction of its distribution. How to make its protection strategy is still unfounded as unclear genetic diversity characteristics of M. punicea. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structures of M. punicea representing 11 populations 106 individuals using 4-locus dataset (matK, ndhF, rbcL and rpb2, a total of 2576 bp). A total of 76 sequence types were identified (Hd = 0.987, Pi = 0.00447). Six phylogenetic clades were recognized, and 3 clades were restricted to unique geographic distribution (Clade A corresponded to population SD, B to LT, and C to BL). The zoige area was referred as the differentiation center and a glacial refuge of M. punicea. M. punicea most likely originated from the southern HDM in the early Miocene (~ 22 Myr). Two dispersal routes were suggested and the ecological and geographical difference were revealed as the main driving forces for species differentiation of M. punicea. The suitable distribution area was predicted about 158,000 km2 mainly in Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai. Our current results provide much clear and detailed understanding for the diversity and geographical spatial distribution of the endemic alpine plant M. punicea. It will also be able to provide theoretical guidance for formulating the urgently needed protection strategies of M. punicea.
Pleotropic potential of quorum sensing mediated N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) at the LasR and RhlR receptors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Rex Devasahayam Arokia Balaya , Saptami Kanekar , Chandrasekaran Jaikanth , Rekha Punchappady Devasya
Published: July 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen, having complicated quorum sensing (QS) system utilizing multiple signals and receptors to coordinate virulence and pathogenicity. N-acyl-homoserine-lactones (AHLs) are the most common autoinducers responsible for regulation of QS mediated virulence gene expression. There are two interrelated QS systems in P. aeruginosa namely, LasI/R and RhlI/R, which are regulated by 3-oxo-C12-HSL and C4-HSL respectively and well explored in host-associated pathogenesis. The LasR and RhlR binding specificity to cognate or non-cognate HSLs influences the QS mediated responses. In the current study, using computational approaches we aimed to consolidate the interaction of different types of HSLs which are produced during P. aeruginosa infection with LasR and RhlR receptors. To explore the binding affinity, fourteen different AHLs were subjected for molecular docking analysis with LasR and RhlR receptors. The RhlR was modelled using MMseqs2 in ColabFold: Alpha fold 2. Further, to validate the stability and interaction mechanism, molecular dynamic simulations was performed with the top docked six HSLs for 100 ns. In docking results, apart from 3-oxo-C12-HSL and C4-HSL, other HSLs such as C16-HSL and C6-HSL showed better binding affinity towards LasR and RhlR respectively. Further validation by molecular dynamic simulations showed that 3-oxo-C10-HSL has a stable complex formation with LasR and 3-oxo-C6-HSL with RhlR. Our comprehensive Insilco study results may provide promising targets for development of anti-QS drugs against Las/Rhl QS systems.
Clinical features, etiology, and prognosis of hand knob stroke: a case series
Authors: Zhang Zhiyong , Sun Xiaoxin , Liu Xinxiu , Wang Lei , Zhu Rui
Published: July 2022

Background
Hand knob stroke is a rare clinical disorder frequently misdiagnosed as peripheral neuropathy. The purpose of this study is to recognize this particular type of stroke by analyzing clinical features, etiology, and prognosis.
Methods
We enrolled 20 patients with acute hand knob stroke in the Department of Neurology of the Beijing Geriatric Hospital from January 2018 to January 2022, and the clinical and imaging data of the patients during hospitalization and follow-up were collected and summarized.
Results
Acute hand knob stroke accounted for 0.9% of all acute stroke, and ischemic stroke (18 cases, 85%) was more than hemorrhagic stroke (2 cases, 15%). All patients presented contralateral hand paresis, 12 (60%) of them had only isolated hand paralysis, and the location of the lesion corresponded to different finger weakness. The cause of hand knob hemorrhage was hypertension, while the causes of hand knob infarction were mainly small-vessel occlusion (SVO) (33.3%) and large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) (33.3%), and the rare causes include carotid artery dissection, moyamoya disease and carotid body tumor. After a median follow-up 13.8 months, the prognosis of 95% patients was good, and one patient (5%) had recurrent stroke.
Conclusions
Hand knob stroke is a rare stroke with a good prognosis and a low stroke recurrence rate. Ischemic stroke is the predominant type and the main clinical manifestation is hand paresis. The cause of hand knob hemorrhage is hypertensive, while SVO and LAA are the main causes of hand knob infarction, but there are some rare etiologies.
Overburden Strata Movement Mechanism and its Key Control Technologies for Intelligent Backfilling Mining in Deep Coal Seams
Authors: Wang Fangtian , Li Zhe , Ren Shuai , Li Huaizhan , Gao Xiang , Feng Guangming
Published: July 2022

Coordinated development of safety and efficient mining and ecological environment protection in deep coal seams was an important theme of current coal green mining. Based on the geological production conditions in the deep coal seam of Yineng Coal Mine as the engineering background, the intelligent upgrading of backfilling mining equipment has been carried out in field and set the remote-control center in the roadway to realize intelligent backfilling mining; The FLAC3D software was used to simulate the coordinated bearing characteristics of the “backfilling body and the coal pillar”, and the coal pillar width in the reasonable section of the panel was determined to be 30 m. The coordinated load-bearing structure can realize overburden strata stability control. Comparing and simulating the coal energy distribution law with different backfilling ratios, on-site micro-seismic monitoring shows that super-high-water backfilling mining can effectively reduce the degree of coal seam energy accumulation, effectively prevent the occurrence of shock dynamic disasters in deep coal seams, and reveal the mechanism of backfilling mining to prevent rock bursts; In order to further improve the control effect of overburden strata movement in backfilling mining, intelligent mining and backfilling coordinated overburden strata control technologies such as secondary backfilling, and gangue pumping and mining without coal pillars, ‘backfilling body-support-coal body’ coordinated bearing have been proposed; The intelligent monitoring and pre-warning of the backfilling face, the intelligent monitoring and control of the surrounding rock deformation of the roadway and the evaluation strategy of the backfilling effect have been constructed, and the intelligent monitoring and pre-warning control technology system of deep coal seam backfilling and mining has been formed. The research results provide a demonstration for the realization of intelligent and green mining of deep coal seams.
Knowledge of youth regarding HIV prevention in South Africa – A quantitative descriptive and cross-sectional study
Authors: Sedzani Thivhafuni , Rose Tshililo Azwidihwi , Sellina Raliphaswa Ndidzulafhi
Published: July 2022

Background: The human immune deficiency virus is a transmissible retro infection that causes Acquired immune deficiency syndrome in humans. HIV infection gradually affects the immune system of the human body and successively harms the cells. The significant method of transmission of HIV and AIDS worldwide is hetero contacts, especially in developing countries. Most young people do not receive adequate HIV and sex education. The study aimed at investigating the knowledge of youth regarding HIV prevention in TVET campuses within the Vhembe district. Methods: Quantitative approach with a descriptive and cross-sectional design was employed in the study to gather more information on the knowledge of youth regarding HIV prevention in the Vhembe district. 353 self-administered questionnaires were completed by the students from all TVET campuses within the Vhembe district. Results: The study revealed that youths know the following: unprotected sex place’s one at risk of getting HIV/AIDS, condom use is one of the HIV prevention strategies, ABC stands for; is Abstain, be faithful, and Condom use, Abstaining reduces one’s chances of contracting HIV, and being faithful to one sexual partner means one is safe from contracting HIV. Conclusion: It is recommended that school health nurses should gain access to all TVET campuses within the Vhembe district to disseminate information about HIV prevention to the youth to increase their knowledge of HIV and promote the utilization of knowledge that youths must prevent HIV infection.
Integration of the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and Modular Function Deployment (MFD) methods applied to mass customization aiming product modularization: a case study on heavy vehicle suspension
Authors: Forti Antonio Wagner , Ramos Cesar Coutinho , Muniz Jorge
Published: July 2022

This work presents the integration between the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and Modular Function Deployment (MFD) methods applied to the modularization process of an air rear suspension system for heavy vehicles with 44 components by a cross-functional team. These two methods possess desired characteristics to process in industries, such as matrix-based data entry and commercial and academic software available. The modularization process started with the DSM method base on a binary square matrix that shows the presence or absence of relationships between pairs of components in a system. A DSM algorithm reordered the binary square matrix elements to generate the preliminary modules. That way, 26 from 44 components were grouped into eight modules that became new components, reducing the initial number of components from 44 to 26 (44-26+8). The reduction of the number of components made easy the application of the MFD method. The MFD method incorporated the customer requirements using the Quality Function Deployment (QFD), the Engineering point of view utilizing the Design Property Matrix (DPM), and the strategies of the company employing the Module Indication Matrix (MIM) in the modularization process. The QFD Matrix, DPM, and MIM union form the Product Management Matrix (PMM). A dendrogram helped the cross-functional team visualize the hierarchical relationship between the DPM and MIM components and analyze the modules' set. The cross-functional team chose seven final suitable modules considering components mounting in the assembly line and the supply chain of components too. This systematic modularization process showed up efficiently and made the work of the cross-functional team easy. Finally, the cross-functional team suggested the company board invest in knowledge management tools to assist the future cross-functional teams in replicating this modularization process in other heavy vehicle systems.
High-Dimensional Aerodynamic Data Modeling Using Machine Learning Method Based on Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Zan Bo-Wen , Han ZhongHua , Xu Chen-Zhou , Liu Ming-Qi , Wang Wen-Zheng
Published: July 2022

Modeling of high-dimensional aerodynamic data presents a major challenge in the context of aero-loads prediction, aerodynamic shape optimization, flight control and simulation, etc. In this article, a machine learning approach based on convolutional neural network (CNN) is developed to address this problem. CNN is able to implicitly distill features underlying the data, and the number of parameters to be trained can be significantly reduced due to its local connectivity and parameter sharing properties, which is favorable for solving high-dimensional problems in which the training cost can be prohibitive. A hypersonic wing similar to the wing of Sanger aerospace plane carrier is employed as the test case to demonstrate the CNN-based modeling method. First, the wing is parameterized by free-form deformation method and 109 variables incorporating flight status and aerodynamic shape variables are defined as model input. Second, 7431 sample points generated by Latin hypercube sampling method are evaluated by performing computational fluid dynamics simulations based on a Reynolds-Average Navier-Stokes flow solver to finally obtain an aerodynamic database, and a CNN model is built based on the observed data. Finally, the well-trained CNN model considering both flight status and shape variables is applied to aerodynamic shape optimization to demonstrate its capability to achieve fast optimization at multiple flight statuses.
Identification, Prioritization and Management of Biodiversity Hotspecks: A Case Study of Western Ghats of Maharashtra
Authors: Trivedi Shivam , Bharucha Erach
Published: July 2022

The Western Ghats are globally recognized as a hotspot of rich, endemic and threatened biodiversity. Within this hotspot of biological diversity, there are islands of natural landscapes that can be termed as ‘hotspecks’. These hotspecks require careful prioritization and specific management strategies as they vary in objectives and ownership. Conserving hotspecks of biodiversity is of great relevance because creating new protected areas with wildlife corridors between them has become relatively impossible in the present context of intensive land-use change in this rapidly developing region. Management strategies, however, must be based on scientific assessment and using a set of prioritization criteria for selecting the most appropriate forms of management. The conservation action plan for the Western Ghats has become a controversial issue. In the present context of rapidly changing land-use patterns, economic development, forest fragmentation, isolation of habitats, linear intrusion, neo-urbanization and industrial growth are threats to the pristine nature of the ghats. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify, prioritize and manage the smaller fragments of biological importance within the larger ecologically sensitive landscape. A prioritization model for different types of hotspecks is essential so that it can be easily replicated by training frontline forest staff and implementing a strategy and action plans for the sites by using the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Support of the local Biodiversity Management Committees and the State Biodiversity Board is essential for the conservation management of these biodiversity-rich sites.This study presents an innovative approach to prioritize areas (outside Forest Department jurisdiction) to assess the conservation value of hotspecks of diversity through a Rapid Biodiversity Assessment Technique. This can lead to a rational conservation strategy that conservation planners and practitioners can use.
Orbital b-Metric Spaces and Related Fixed Point Results on Advanced Nashine-Wardowski-Feng-Liu Type Contractions with Applications
Authors: Rasham T. , Shabbir M. S. , Nazam M. , Musatafa A. , Park Choonkil
Published: July 2022

In this article we prove some novel fixed-point results for a pair of multivalued dominated mappings obeying a new generalized Nashine-Wardowski-Feng-Liu- type contraction for orbitally lower semi-continuous functions in complete orbital b-metric space. Furthermore, some new fixed-point theorems for dominated multivalued mappings are established in the scenario of ordered complete orbital b-metric space. Some examples are offered to demonstrate the validity of our new results' premise. To demonstrate the applicability of our findings, applications for a system of nonlinear Volterra type integral equations and fractional differential equations are shown. These results extend the theoretical results of Nashine et al. (Nonlinear Anal. Model. Control. 26(3)(2021), 522–533).2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 47H04; 47H10; 54H25
Applying the Spherical fuzzy DEMATEL Approach for Identification and Prioritization of the Drone App Issues
Authors: Pandey Mamta , Litoriya Ratnesh , Pandey Prateek
Published: July 2022

During the past few years, the number of drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or UAVs) manufactured and purchased has risen dramatically. It is predicted that it will continue to spread, making its use inevitable in all walks of life. There are two key parts to the UAV: the physical hardware and the software that governs its navigation or performs various duties depending on the area of concern. Manufacturers of drones release a mobile app for operating the drones. Only a small number of drone manufacturers also offer development kits for those who want to create their own unique or more creative apps for their devices. Drone apps are therefore expected to be overrun the app stores in the near future. UAV's software is not being studied/researched despite several active researches and studies being carried out in the UAV's hardware field. A large-scale empirical analysis of Google Play Store Platform apps connected to drones is being done in this direction. There are, however, a number of challenges with drone apps because of the lack of formal and specialized app development procedures. In this paper, eleven drone apps issues have been identified. Then we applied DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method to analyze the drone apps issues (DIs) and divide these issues into cause and effect groups. Firstly, multiple experts evaluate the direct relations of influential issues in drone apps. The evaluation results are presented in spherical fuzzy numbers (SFN). Secondly, convert the linguistic terms into SFN. Thirdly, based on DEMATEL, the cause-effect classifications of issues are obtained. Finally, the issues in the cause category are identified as DI’s in drone apps. The outcome of the research is compared with the other variants of DEMATEL like rough‐Z‐number‐based DEMATEL and Spherical fuzzy number and the comparative results suggest that Spherical Fuzzy-DEMATEL is the most fitting method to analyze the interrelationship of different issues in drone app. The outcome of this work definitely assists the software industry to successful identification of the critical issues where professionals and project managers could really focus on.
Blue light attenuates TGF-β2-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human lens epithelial cells via autophagy impairment
Authors: Zhang Dongyan , Zhu Hong , Yu Xin , Wang Liyin , Wen Yingying , Zhang Liyue , Tong Jianping , Shen Ye
Published: July 2022

Background: Pathogenesis of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) was related to pathological epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs). It has been reported that blue light could have an effect on EMT. This study aims to elucidate the role and potential mechanism of autophagy in EMT after blue light exposure in LECs.Methods: HLE-B3 cells were treated with TGF-β2 with different concentration and time to induce EMT as a model of PCO in vitro. Cells were exposed to blue light with or without TGF-β2. The expression levels of EMT-associated markers were analyzed by qRT-PCR, western blotting and cell migration ability was determined by transwell migration assay and wound healing assay. The expressions of autophagy-related proteins were analyzed by western blotting, immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Rapamycin and chloroquine were utilized in cells for autophagy activation and inhibition.Results: TGF-β2 induced autophagy activation during EMT progression in HLE-B3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Blue light exposure inhibited TGF-β2-induced EMT characterized by inhibited expression of EMT related markers and reduced migration. Meanwhile, blue light exposure impaired autophagy activated by TGF-β2. Furthermore, Autophagy activation with rapamycin rescued EMT attenuated by blue light. Autophagy inhibition with chloroquine reduced TGF-β2-induced EMT in HLE-B3 cells.Conclusion: Blue light exposure had inhibited effects on TGF-β2-induced EMT in LECs through autophagy impairment, which provides a new insight on prevention and treatment of PCO.
How to define a Puumala hantavirus outbreak?
Authors: Kazasidis Orestis , Jacob Jens
Published: July 2022

Human Puumala virus (PUUV) infections in Germany fluctuate multi-annually, following fluctuations of the bank vole population size. We applied a transformation to the annual incidence values and established a heuristic method to develop a straightforward robust model for the binary human infection risk at the district level. The classification model was powered by a machine-learning algorithm and achieved 85% sensitivity and 71% precision, despite using only three weather parameters from the previous years as inputs, namely the soil temperature in April of two years before and in September of the previous year, and the sunshine duration in September of two years before. Moreover, we introduced the PUUV Outbreak Index that quantifies the spatial synchrony of local PUUV-outbreaks, and applied it to the seven reported outbreaks in the period 2006–2021. Finally, we used the classification model to estimate the PUUV Outbreak Index, achieving 20% maximum uncertainty.
An in-silica computation of alpha oscillations from apparently unrelated psychophysics data
Authors: Ghosh Kuntal , Chandran Keerthi S
Published: July 2022

The ten hertz alpha oscillations are the strongest rhythmic encodings from human brain. They arise from occipital lobes and are connected with visual perception and visual cognition. A flicker stimulus can also evoke oscillations in human EEG that are of the same frequency as the flicker stimulus. The oscillations are evoked even when there is no conscious perception of the flicker stimulus. The oscillations so evoked show resonances at 10, 20, 40 and 80 hertz. When a subject is not able to perceive the flicker and the source appears as a steady source of light, flicker fusion is said to have occurred. Psychophysics experiments on flicker fusion involves presenting a human subject with a flicker stimulus, and the subject classifying the stimulus as either flickering or fused. The physical parameters associated with the stimulus that determines whether the stimulus is classified as flickering or fused by the subject, are varied in psychophysics experiments. Deep neural networks, on the other hand, have been proposed as a model for cognition and perception that can make falsifiable predictions. In this work, motivated by the feedforward and feedback visual pathways, we propose a deep convolutional recurrent neural network model that may be trained using psychophysics data. The neural network takes the time series representation of the flicker stimulus as input, and the binary classification made by the subject on whether stimulus appears flickering or fused, is set as the output. We show that an intermediate convolution layer of such a recurrent neural network trained on psychophysics data can give sinusoidal output on the input of a representation of ten hertz stimulus, signifying that an in-silica computation of alpha oscillations is possible through such a network.
A gated group sequential design for seamless Phase II/III trial with subpopulation selection
Authors: Miao Guanhong , Liao Jason J.Z. , Yang Jing , Anderson Keaven
Published: July 2022

Background: Due to the high cost and high failure rate of Phase III trials, seamless Phase II/III designs are more and more popular to trial efficiency. A potential attraction of Phase II/III design is to allow a randomized proof-of-concept stage prior to committing to the full cost of the Phase III trial. Population selection during the trial allows a trial to adapt and focus investment where it is most likely to provide patient beneﬁt. Methods: Motivated by a clinical trial to ﬁnd the population that potential beneﬁts with dual-primary endpoints progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), we propose a gated group sequential design for a seamless Phase II/III trial design with population selection. Results: The investigated design controls the familywise error rate and allows multiple interim analyses to enable early stopping for efficacy or futility. Simulations and an illustrative example suggest that the proposed gated group sequential design can have more power than the commonly used classical group sequential design, and reduces the patient’s exposure to less effective treatment if the complementary sub-group has less significant treatment effect. Conclusions: The proposed gated group sequential design controls the familywise error rate and allows multiple interim analyses to enable early stopping for efficacy or futility. It has the potential to save drug development cost and more quickly fulfill unmet medical needs.