bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of Shock Wave Storage and Test System with Variable Parameters Based on the Sensor of Piezoelectric Circuit
Authors: Li Zhi
Published: June 2021

With the wide application of science and technology in the field of weapons, shock wave is an important breakthrough point in weapon research, and the storage and testing system of shock wave is a breakthrough point that people pay most attention to at present. Shock wave data storage has the characteristics of large scale, complex structure, low cost efficiency, and strong timeliness. This paper mainly studies the design of shock wave storage test system with variable parameters based on numerical piezoelectric circuit sensor. Based on fluid dynamics simulation theory and numerical simulation method, the normal and concave‐convex three‐dimensional models of two pressure measuring devices are constructed by using the flow waveform of calculator, and then, the network is divided. The results show that, under the same inlet pressure, the larger the bulge or depression value, the greater the influence on the experimental results. The influence of disk is 10% higher than that of pen, and the change rate of relative difference is increased by 1.5% with the increase of concave‐convex value. Finally, experiments are carried out in different environments to verify the reliability, survivability, and flexibility. The shock wave storage test system is optimized when the parameters of the digital voltage circuit sensor are variable.
Study of a Fractional‐Order Chaotic System Represented by the Caputo Operator
Authors: Sene Ndolane
Published: June 2021

This paper is presented on the theory and applications of the fractional‐order chaotic system described by the Caputo fractional derivative. Considering the new fractional model, it is important to establish the presence or absence of chaotic behaviors. The Lyapunov exponents in the fractional context will be our fundamental tool to arrive at our conclusions. The variations of the model’s parameters will generate chaotic behavior, in general, which will be established using the Lyapunov exponents and bifurcation diagrams. For the system’s phase portrait, we will present and apply an interesting fractional numerical discretization. For confirmation of the results provided in this paper, the circuit schematic is drawn and simulated. As it will be observed, the results obtained after the simulation of the numerical scheme and with the Multisim are in good agreement.
EEG-Based Closed-Loop Neurofeedback for Attention Monitoring and Training in Young Adults
Authors: Wang Bingbing , Xu Zeju , Luo Tong , Pan Jiahui
Published: June 2021

Attention is an important mechanism for young adults, whose lives largely involve interacting with media and performing technology multitasking. Nevertheless, the existing studies related to attention are characterized by low accuracy and poor attention levels in terms of attention monitoring and inefficiency during attention training. In this paper, we propose an improved random forest- (IRF-) algorithm-based attention monitoring and training method with closed-loop neurofeedback. For attention monitoring, an IRF classifier that uses grid search optimization and multiple cross-validation to improve monitoring accuracy and performance is utilized, and five attention levels are proposed. For attention training, we develop three training modes with neurofeedback corresponding to sustained attention, selective attention, and focus attention and apply a self-control method with four indicators to validate the resulting training effect. An offline experiment based on the Personal EEG Concentration Tasks dataset and an online experiment involving 10 young adults are conducted. The results show that our proposed IRF-algorithm-based attention monitoring approach achieves an average accuracy of 79.34%, thereby outperforming the current state-of-the-art algorithms. Furthermore, when excluding familiarity with the game environment, statistically significant performance improvements (

p
<
0.05

) are achieved by the 10 young adults after attention training, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed serious games. Our work involving the proposed method of attention monitoring and training proves to be reliable and efficient.
Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan Particles Loaded with Antioxidants Extracted from Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Seeds
Authors: Morales-Olán Gema , Luna-Suárez Silvia , Figueroa-Cárdenas Juan De Dios , Corea Monica , Rojas-López Marlon
Published: June 2021

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds contain antioxidants with great benefits for health and are widely used in the food industry. Antioxidants can be degraded by environmental factors, decreasing their biological activity. Their encapsulation in chitosan (CH) particles represents an alternative to protect them and increases their application. The encapsulation efficiency (%EE) of the antioxidants in the CH particles depends on the synthesis conditions. In this study, two methods for encapsulation of chia extract in chitosan particles were evaluated: method A, 0.05% CH in 1% acetic acid was mixed with 0.07% of tripolyphosphate (TPP) and method B, 0.3% CH in 2% acetic acid was mixed with 1% TPP. The results showed that the %EE decreased with the concentration of the extract, and the FTIR analysis suggested that the compounds of the extract were adsorbed on the surface of the particles. Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analysis showed that the particles of method A are unstable and with a tendency to agglomerate, and the particles of method B are stable. The highest %EE was obtained with 0.2 mg·mL−1 (method A) and 1.0 mg·mL−1 (method B) of the extract. The higher loading capacity (%LC) (16–72%) was exhibited by the particles of method A. The best particle yield (62–69%) was observed for method B. The particles with the extract adsorbed showed antioxidant activity (5–60%) at 25°C; however, in the particles with the extract encapsulated, the activity increased after subjecting to acidic conditions at 40°C due to the breakdown of the particles. The results obtained will allow choosing the appropriate conditions for the synthesis of chitosan particles loaded with chia extracts with specific characteristics (%EE, %LC, size, and type) according to their future applications. The particles could be used in food and pharmaceutical industries and even in edible films for food packaging.
A Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network with Selective-Data Training for Flight Arrival Delay Prediction
Authors: Alla Hajar , Moumoun Lahcen , Balouki Youssef
Published: June 2021

Flight delay is the most common preoccupation of aviation stakeholders around the world. Airlines, which suffer from a monetary and customer loyalty loss, are the most affected. Various studies have attempted to analyze and solve flight delays using machine learning algorithms. This research aims to predict flights’ arrival delay using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). We applied a MultiLayer Perceptron (MLP) to train and test our data. Two approaches have been adopted in our work. In the first one, we used historical flight data extracted from Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The second approach improves the efficiency of the model by applying selective-data training. It consists of selecting only most relevant instances from the training dataset which are delayed flights. According to BTS, a flight whose difference between scheduled and actual arrival times is 15 minutes or greater is considered delayed. Departure delays and flight distance proved to be very contributive to flight delays. An adjusted and optimized hyperparameters using grid search technique helped us choose the right architecture of the network and have a better accuracy and less error than the existing literature. The results of both traditional and selective training were compared. The efficiency and time complexity of the second method are compared against those of the traditional training procedure. The neural network MLP was able to predict flight arrival delay with a coefficient of determination

R

2

of 0.9048, and the selective procedure achieved a time saving and a better

R

2

score of 0.9560. To enhance the reliability of the proposed method, the performance of the MLP was compared with that of Gradient Boosting (GB) and Decision Trees (DT). The result is that the MLP outperformed all existing benchmark methods.
The Effects of Lavender and Citrus aurantium on Anxiety and Agitation of the Conscious Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Parallel Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Karimzadeh Zahra , Azizzadeh Forouzi Mansooreh , Rahiminezhad Elham , Ahmadinejad Mehdi , Dehghan Mahlagha
Published: June 2021

Background. Conscious patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) suffer from anxiety and agitation for various reasons, which can affect their recovery processes. Aims. To compare the effects of lavender and Citrus aurantium essential oils on anxiety and agitation of conscious patients admitted to ICUs. Design. A randomized parallel placebo‐controlled trial. Methods. One hundred and fifty conscious patients admitted to ICUs were selected by convenience sampling and were randomly divided into three groups, groups of lavender aromatherapy and Citrus aurantium aromatherapy, in addition to the routine care and inhalation of five drops of lavender or Citrus aurantium essential oils for 30 minutes. The placebo group, in addition to routine care, was provided with 5 drops of normal saline for 30 minutes. Anxiety was assessed with the state subscale of State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, and agitation was examined with Richmond Agitation‐Sedation Scale before, immediately, one hour, and three hours after the intervention. Results. All three groups suffered from relatively severe state anxiety before the intervention. The level of anxiety in the lavender and Citrus aurantium groups was significantly lower than that of the placebo group immediately and three hours after the intervention (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the two groups of lavender and Citrus aurantium. The majority of the samples in all three groups were agitated before the intervention, but agitation of all three groups decreased after the intervention. Restless/agitation reduced significantly in all three groups. Although restless/agitation of the lavender and Citrus aurantium groups reduced more than that of the placebo, no significant difference was found between the three groups. Conclusion. The results of the present study showed the positive effects of lavender aromatherapy and Citrus aurantium aromatherapy on reducing the anxiety of patients admitted to ICUs. Relevance to Clinical Practice. Aromatherapy can be used as an effective and safe intervention to reduce anxiety in ICUs.
Investigation of Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Formation in Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Karimi Kiana , Zarei Omid , Sedighi Parinaz , Taheri Mohammad , Doosti-Irani Amin , Shokoohizadeh Leili
Published: June 2021

Aim. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is an encapsulated Gram-negative bacterium that can lead to 14–20% of nosocomial infections. The ability of biofilm formation in this bacterium decreases the host immune response and antibiotic efficacy. This may impose a huge impact on patients and healthcare settings. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance pattern and biofilm formation in K. pneumoniae strains isolated from two major Hamadan hospitals, west of Iran. Methods. A total of 83 K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from clinical samples of patients in different wards of Hamadan hospitals from September 2018 to March 2019. Determination of antimicrobial susceptibility was performed using the disk diffusion method. Biofilm formation was evaluated by the crystal violet method. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software and chi-square test. Results. The results showed that clinical samples included 18 urinary tract samples (22%), 6 wound samples (7%), 6 blood samples (7%), 17 tracheal tube aspiration samples (20%), 32 throat cultures (38%), 2 sputum samples (2.5%), and 2 abscess drain cultures (2.5%). High-level resistance to cefotaxime was detected in 92%, and all of isolates were susceptible to colistin. Biofilm formation was seen in 62 (75%) isolates. Strong biofilm formation was observed in 17 (20%) strains. A significant correlation was seen between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance (

P

value <0.05). Conclusion. Our findings emphasize the need for proper diagnosis, control, and treatment of infections caused by K. pneumoniae especially in respiratory tract infections due to the strong biofilm formation and high antibiotic resistance in these strains.
Changes of Peripapillary Region Perfusion in Patients with Chiasmal Compression Caused by Sellar Region Mass
Authors: Wang Guangxin , Gao Jian , Yu Wenjuan , Li Yang , Liao Rongfeng
Published: June 2021

Purpose. To evaluate the peripapillary vessel density (pVD) and the peripapillary nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in patients with chiasmal compression caused by sellar region mass using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods. This is an observational, cross-sectional study of 31 patients (31 eyes) with chiasmal compression caused by sellar region mass and 34 healthy controls (34 eyes). Automated perimetry and OCTA were performed. The pVD and pRNFL thickness were compared between the two groups. The impact of tumor diameter, duration of symptoms, and cavernous sinus (CS) invasion on visual dysfunction, pVD, and pRNFL thickness was also analyzed. Furthermore, we divided the patients into two subgroups according to whether there was an absolute defect in the central visual field and evaluated their pVD and pRNFL thickness, respectively. Results. Compared to the healthy control group, there was a statistically significant decrease in pVD and pRNFL thickness in patients with chiasmal compression (

p
<
0.05

), especially in patients with substantial absolute defects in the central visual field. Tumor diameter, duration of symptoms, and CS invasion did not appear to be associated with pVD and pRNFL thickness. There was a significant positive correlation between the pVD and pRNFL thickness in patients with chiasmal compression (

p
<
0.001

). Conclusion. pVD and pRNFL thickness are significantly decreased in patients with chiasmal compression revealed by OCTA, especially in patients with more severe visual field defects. A significant correlation between pVD and pRNFL thickness was demonstrated, which provides a clue for the study of the mechanism of changes in retinal perfusion in compressive optic neuropathy. It requires considerable attention that OCTA may play an important role in disease monitoring of sellar region mass. Hence, further studies are needed to verify whether OCTA is helpful to predict the prognosis of visual function after decompression surgery.
The Supercritical Multithermal Fluid Flooding Investigation: Experiments and Numerical Simulation for Deep Offshore Heavy Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Tan Xianhong , Zheng Wei , Wang Taichao , Zhu Guojin , Sun Xiaofei , Li Xiaoyu
Published: June 2021

The supercritical multithermal fluids (SCMTF) were developed for deep offshore heavy oil reservoirs. However, its EOR mechanisms are still unclear, and its numerical simulation method is deficient. In this study, a series of sandpack flooding experiments were first performed to investigate the viability of SCMTF flooding. Then, a novel numerical model for SCMTF flooding was developed based on the experimental results to characterize the flooding processes and to study the effects of injection parameters on oil recovery on a lab scale. Finally, the performance of SCMTF flooding in a practical deep offshore oil field was evaluated through simulation. The experiment results show that the SCMTF flooding gave the highest oil recovery of 80.89%, which was 29.60% higher than that of the steam flooding and 11.09% higher than that of SCW flooding. The history matching process illustrated that the average errors of 3.24% in oil recovery and of 4.33% in pressure difference confirm that the developed numerical model can precisely simulate the dynamic of SCMTF flooding. Increases in temperature, pressure, and the mole ratio of scN2 and scCO2 mixture to SCW benefit the heavy oil production. However, too much increase in temperature resulted in formation damage. In addition, an excess of scN2 and scCO2 contributed to an early SCMTF breakthrough. The field-scale simulation indicated that compared to steam flooding, the SCMTF flooding increased cumulative oil production by 27122 m3 due to higher reservoir temperature, expanded heating area, and lower oil viscosity, suggesting that the SCMTF flooding is feasible in enhancing offshore heavy oil recovery.
Magnetic Field Stimulation Effect on Germination and Antioxidant Activities of Presown Hybrid Seeds of Sunflower and Its Seedlings
Authors: Bukhari Shazia Anwer , Tanveer Muhammad , Mustafa Ghulam , Zia-Ud-Den Nighat
Published: June 2021

Magnetic field biostimulation plays a significant role in enhancing the germination of seeds and increasing the metabolic rate. The low magnetic field effect for long exposure time and its effect on antioxidant profiling have not been studied. Therefore, in the recent findings, the static magnetic field’s impact on sunflower seeds subjected to the magnetic field at varying intensity (millitesla) for different exposure times was examined. The effectiveness of magnetic biostimulation on presown sunflower seeds, growth parameters of seedlings (biomass, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of roots, shoots, leaf, and height of plants), and antioxidant activities were also studied. It has been revealed that magnetic treatment at 50 mT/45 min greatly influenced the growth parameters, including mean germination growth (100 ± 0.02) and final emergence rate. Concerning the antioxidant parameters, seed variety FH620 at 500 µg/µL concentration showed significant results compared to other varieties. FTIR was employed to determine the conformational changes and functional groups of organic compounds from sunflower seedlings. Tocopherol analysis by HPLC showed that magnetic treatment at 50 mT/45 min had a higher concentration of vitamin E compared to the control group. These modifications indicated that magnetic field induction enhanced seeds’ inner energy that led to seedlings’ growth and development enhancement. Besides, magnetic field pretreatment has been shown to have a beneficial influence on sunflower seeds and their bioactive compounds. Future studies should be focused on growth characteristics at the field level and yield attributes.
Effects of Binahong (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore) Steenis) Extracts on the Levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in Cataract Goat Lenses
Authors: Feriyani Feriyani , Maulanza Hady , Lubis Rodiah Rahmawaty , Balqis Ummu , Darmawi Darmawi
Published: June 2021

Cataracts are one of the most causes of blindness in the world. Oxidative stress can form pathological conditions such as cataracts. This oxidative stress ability can be measured by the malondialdehyde (MDA) biomarker. Binahong leaves (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore) Steenis) are native plants from Indonesia that are used to treat various diseases including cataract treatment. Binahong leaf (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore) Steenis) has a high amount of flavonoids and is rich in antioxidants that can be used to treat cataracts. Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of binahong leaf extract on the levels of MDA in a goat lens with cataract-induced material. Method. As many as possible, 40 goat eye lenses were divided into several groups, namely, group I normal lenses as controls (glucose 5.5 mM), group II lenses were cataract induced with glucose concentration of 55 mM, group III lenses with glucose 55 mM + binahong leaf extract (100 μg/ml), group IV lens with glucose 55 mM + binahong leaf extract (200 μg/ml), and group V lens with glucose 55 mM + quercetin (positive control). Biochemical parameters measured in the lens homogenate are malondialdehyde lens morphology in all groups’ observations and comparisons made. Results. The results of the study found that the lens group with the addition of binahong extract showed more results transparency compared to lens groups induced by glucose concentrations of 55 mM). This shows that the diabetic cataract group experienced high oxidative stress due to the accumulation of sorbitol compounds derived from glucose which caused turbidity in the goat eye lens and increased levels of lens MDA. Binahong levels at concentrations of 100 or 200 can inhibit MDA production. Conclusion. Binahong (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore) Steenis) extract has the ability to inhibit the production of MDA levels. In glucose-induced goat lenses, binahong extract and quercetin show antioxidant and anticataract properties.
The Forecasting of Electrical Energy Consumption in Morocco with an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Approach
Authors: Jamii Mohammed , Maaroufi Mohamed
Published: June 2021

The national demand for primary energy has experienced an average increase of almost 5% in recent years, driven by the growth in electricity consumption, which grew by an average of 6% per year between 2003 and 2017, by virtue of the almost generalization of rural electrification and the dynamism of our economy and especially the policy of major works in infrastructure, industry, agriculture, tourism, and social housing. In fact, forecasting the demand for electrical energy remains a controversial issue in the development of the electricity grid and energy management. The ARIMA (1, 1, 1) model is applied to model electrical energy consumption for the annual period from 1971 to 2020. The same data are also used to predicting for 2021–2030 in order to verify the adequacy of the model and to provide information on the state of energy demand in Morocco in the future. The main results indicate an upward trend in electrical energy consumption by the end of 2030, with electricity consumption expected to be in the range of 2039639.09–53589.00 GWh per year.
A Nanoradiomics Approach for Differentiation of Tumors Based on Tumor-Associated Macrophage Burden
Authors: Starosolski Zbigniew , Courtney Amy N. , Srivastava Mayank , Guo Linjie , Stupin Igor , Metelitsa Leonid S. , Annapragada Ananth , Ghaghada Ketan B.
Published: June 2021

Objective. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) within the tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) of solid tumors play an important role in treatment resistance and disease recurrence. The purpose of this study was to investigate if nanoradiomics (radiomic analysis of nanoparticle contrast-enhanced images) can differentiate tumors based on TAM burden. Materials and Methods. In vivo studies were performed in transgenic mouse models of neuroblastoma with low (N = 11) and high (N = 10) tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) burden. Animals underwent delayed nanoparticle contrast-enhanced CT (n-CECT) imaging at 4 days after intravenous administration of liposomal-iodine agent (1.1 g/kg). CT imaging-derived conventional tumor metrics (tumor volume and CT attenuation) were computed for segmented tumor CT datasets. Nanoradiomic analysis was performed using a PyRadiomics workflow implemented in the quantitative image feature pipeline (QIFP) server containing 900 radiomic features (RFs). RF selection was performed under supervised machine learning using a nonparametric neighborhood component method. A 5-fold validation was performed using a set of linear and nonlinear classifiers for group separation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Results. N-CECT imaging demonstrated heterogeneous patterns of signal enhancement in low and high TAM tumors. CT imaging-derived conventional tumor metrics showed no significant differences (

p
>
0.05

) in tumor volume between low and high TAM tumors. Tumor CT attenuation was not significantly different (

p
>
0.05

) between low and high TAM tumors. Machine learning-augmented nanoradiomic analysis revealed two RFs that differentiated (

p
<
0.002

) low TAM and high TAM tumors. The RFs were used to build a linear classifier that demonstrated very high accuracy and further confirmed by 5-fold cross-validation. Conclusions. Imaging-derived conventional tumor metrics were unable to differentiate tumors with varying TAM burden; however, nanoradiomic analysis revealed texture differences and enabled differentiation of low and high TAM tumors.
Mitochondrial‐Targeting Antioxidant SS‐31 Suppresses Airway Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Induced by Cigarette Smoke
Authors: Yang De-qing , Zuo Qiu-nan , Wang Tao , Xu Dan , Lian Liu , Gao Li-juan , Wan Chun , Chen Lei , Wen Fu-qiang , Shen Yong-chun
Published: June 2021

This study investigated whether the mitochondrial‐targeted peptide SS‐31 can protect against cigarette smoke‐ (CS‐) induced airway inflammation and oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo. Mice were exposed to CS for 4 weeks to establish a CS‐induced airway inflammation model, and those in the experimental group were pretreated with SS‐31 1 h before CS exposure. Pathologic changes and oxidative stress in lung tissue, inflammatory cell counts, and proinflammatory cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were examined. The mechanistic basis for the effects of SS‐31 on CS extract‐ (CSE‐) induced airway inflammation and oxidative stress was investigated using BEAS‐2B bronchial epithelial cells and by RNA sequencing and western blot analysis of lung tissues. SS‐31 attenuated CS‐induced inflammatory injury of the airway and reduced total cell, neutrophil, and macrophage counts and tumor necrosis factor‐ (TNF‐) α, interleukin‐ (IL‐) 6, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 levels in BALF. SS‐31 also attenuated CS‐induced oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and increasing that of superoxide dismutase (SOD). It also reversed CS‐induced changes in the expression of mitochondrial fission protein (MFF) and optic atrophy (OPA) 1 and reduced the amount of cytochrome c released into the cytosol. Pretreatment with SS‐31 normalized TNF‐α, IL‐6, and MMP9 expression, MDA and SOD activities, and ROS generation in CSE‐treated BEAS‐2B cells and reversed the changes in MFF and OPA1 expression. RNA sequencing and western blot analysis showed that SS‐31 inhibited CS‐induced activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Thus, SS‐31 alleviates CS‐induced airway inflammation and oxidative stress via modulation of mitochondrial function and regulation of MAPK signaling and thus has therapeutic potential for the treatment of airway disorders caused by smoking.
Impaired Autophagy Induced by oxLDL/β2GPI/anti‐β2GPI Complex through PI3K/AKT/mTOR and eNOS Signaling Pathways Contributes to Endothelial Cell Dysfunction
Authors: Zhang Guiting , He Chao , Wu Qianqian , Xu Guoying , Kuang Ming , Wang Ting , Xu Liangjie , Zhou Hong , Yuan Wei
Published: June 2021

Endothelial cell dysfunction plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS), and endothelial autophagy has protective effects on the development of AS. Our previous study had shown that oxidized low‐density lipoprotein/β2‐glycoprotein I/anti‐β2‐glycoprotein I antibody (oxLDL/β2GPI/anti‐β2GPI) complex could promote the expressions of inflammatory cytokines and enhance the adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effects of oxLDL/β2GPI/anti‐β2GPI complex on endothelial autophagy and explore the associated potential mechanisms. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEnd.3) were used as models of the vascular endothelial cells. Autophagy was evaluated by examining the expressions of autophagic proteins using western blotting analysis, autophagosome accumulation using transmission electron microscopy, and RFP‐GFP‐LC3 adenoviral transfection and autophagic flux using lysosome inhibitor chloroquine. The expressions of phospho‐PI3K, phospho‐AKT, phospho‐mTOR, and phospho‐eNOS were determined by western blotting analysis. 3‐Methyladenine (3‐MA) and rapamycin were used to determine the role of autophagy in oxLDL/β2GPI/anti‐β2GPI complex‐induced endothelial cell dysfunction. We showed that oxLDL/β2GPI/anti‐β2GPI complex suppressed the autophagy, evidenced by an increase in p62 protein, a decrease in LC3‐II and Beclin1, and a reduction of autophagosome generation in endothelial cells. Moreover, inhibition of autophagy was associated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR and eNOS signaling pathways. Rapamycin attenuated oxLDL/β2GPI/anti‐β2GPI complex‐induced endothelial inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, whereas 3‐MA alone induced the endothelial injury. Our results suggested that oxLDL/β2GPI/anti‐β2GPI complex inhibited endothelial autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR and eNOS signaling pathways and further contributed to endothelial cell dysfunction. Collectively, our findings provided a novel mechanism for vascular endothelial injury in AS patients with an antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) background.
2D-OPC Subarray Structure for Efficient Hybrid Beamforming over Sparse mmWave Channels
Authors: Yoo Junhyuk , Sung Wonjin , Kim In-Kyung
Published: June 2021

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication is a key technology of 5G new radio (NR) mobile communication systems. Efficient beamforming using a large antenna array is important to cope with the significant path loss experienced in the mmWave spectrum. The existing fully digital beamforming scheme requires a separate radio frequency (RF) chain for each antenna, which results in an excessive hardware cost and consumption power. Under these circumstances, hybrid beamforming which approaches the performance of fully digital beamforming while reducing the complexity is a promising solution for the mmWave multiuser transmission. By extending the existing hybrid beamforming strategies, this paper proposes a novel architecture which effectively reduces the hardware cost and complexity for large antenna arrays. The proposed scheme includes multiple subarrays in the form of uniform planar array (UPA) which are allowed to be overlapped in the two-dimensional space. The corresponding antenna structure is referred to as the two-dimensional overlapped partially connected (2D-OPC) subarray structure. We evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme to suggest performance-complexity trade-offs in designing versatile antenna arrays for efficient beamforming over the mmWave channel.
Research on Basic Mechanical Properties and Fracture Damage of Coal Gangue Concrete Subjected to Freeze‐Thaw Cycles
Authors: Huang Min , Duan Jingmin , Wang Jiakai
Published: June 2021

In order to study the freeze‐thaw damage law of the basic mechanical properties and fracture performance of coal gangue concrete, four kinds of coal gangue concrete specimens with different replacement rates of coal gangue coarse aggregate were designed, and then, the basic mechanical test and three‐point bending loading were carried out under different times of the freeze‐thaw cycle. The test results show that the compressive strength and flexural strength of concrete decrease with the increase of coal gangue aggregate content, and the higher the content of coal gangue aggregate is, the greater the freeze‐thaw damage of coal gangue concrete is. The coal gangue reduces the fracture resistance of concrete, and the higher the replacement rate of coal gangue coarse aggregate is, the lower the fracture toughness and fracture energy of concrete is. The freeze‐thaw cycle causes the obvious decrease of fracture toughness and fracture energy of concrete because the moisture content of coal gangue particles is higher; the freeze‐thaw damage of coal gangue concrete is more serious than that of ordinary concrete, and the higher the substitution rate of replacement of coal gangue coarse aggregate is, the higher the freeze‐thaw damage of fracture toughness and fracture energy is. The correlation between the freeze‐thaw times and the two parameters of fracture toughness and fracture energy damage of coal gangue concrete after freeze‐thaw cycles is good. The relationship between the two parameters and the freeze‐thaw times can be fitted by power function y = axb, and the fitted power index value of fracture toughness is higher than that of fracture energy.
An Efficient CNN for Hand X-Ray Classification of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Mate Gitanjali S. , Kureshi Abdul K. , Singh Bhupesh Kumar
Published: June 2021

Hand Radiography (RA) is one of the prime tests for checking the progress of rheumatoid joint inflammation in human bone joints. Recognizing the specific phase of RA is a difficult assignment, as human abilities regularly curb the techniques for it. Convolutional neural network (CNN) is the center for hand recognition for recognizing complex examples. The human cerebrum capacities work in a high-level way, so CNN has been planned depending on organic neural-related organizations in humans for imitating its unpredictable capacities. This article accordingly presents the convolutional neural network (CNN) which has the ability to naturally gain proficiency with the qualities and anticipate the class of hand radiographs from an expansive informational collection. The reproduction of the CNN halfway layers, which depict the elements of the organization, is likewise appeared. For arrangement of the model, a dataset of 290 radiography images is utilized. The result indicates that hand X-rays are rated with an accuracy of 94.46% by the proposed methodology. Our experiments show that the network sensitivity is observed to be 0.95 and the specificity is observed to be 0.82.
Prevalence of Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma vivax in Lira District, Uganda
Authors: Katabazi Aziz , Aliero Adamu Almustapha , Witto Sarah Gift , Odoki Martin , Musinguzi Simon Peter
Published: June 2021

Trypanosomes are the causative agents of animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), the former affecting domestic animals prevalent in Sub‐Saharan Africa. The main species causing AAT in cattle are T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. b. brucei. Northern Uganda has been politically unstable with no form of vector control in place. The return of displaced inhabitants led to the restocking of cattle from AAT endemic areas. It was thus important to estimate the burden of trypanosomiasis in the region. This study was designed to compare the prevalence of animal African trypanosomes in cattle in Lira District using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR) methods. In this cross‐sectional study, a total of 254 cattle from the three villages of Acanakwo A, Barropok, and Acungkena in Lira District, Uganda, were selected by simple random sampling technique and screened for trypanosomiasis using microscopy and PCR methods. The prevalence of trypanosomiasis according to microscopic results was 5/254 (2.0%) as compared to 11/254 (4.3%) trypanosomiasis prevalence according to PCR analysis. The prevalence of trypanosomiasis infection in the animal studied is 11/254 (4.3%). Trypanosoma congolense was the most dominant trypanosome species with a proportion of 9/11 (81.8%), followed by T. vivax 1/11 (9.1%) and mixed infection of T. congolense/T. vivax1/11 (9.1%). Barropok village had the highest prevalence of trypanosomiasis with 6/11 (54.5%). There is a statistically significant relationship (OR = 6.041; 95% CI: 1.634‐22.331; p < 0.05) between abnormal PCV and trypanosome infection. Polymerase reaction amplification was the most reliable diagnostic method due to its high sensitivity and specificity as compared to the conventional microscopic method. Polymerase reaction amplification appears to have adequate accuracy to substitute the use of a microscope where facilities allow. This study, therefore, underscores the urgent need for local surveillance schemes more especially at the grassroots in Uganda to provide data for reference guideline development needed for the control of trypanosomiasis in Uganda.
The New Challenge for Heart Endocarditis: From Conventional Prosthesis to New Devices and Platforms for the Treatment of Structural Heart Disease
Authors: Nappi Francesco , Iervolino Adelaide , Singh Sanjeet Singh Avtaar
Published: June 2021

Infective endocarditis is a sinister condition with considerable morbidity and mortality. Its relevance in the current era is compounded by the increased use of implanted devices such as replacement valves or cardiac implantable electronic devices. These infections are caused by multiple different bacteria with different virulence, pathogenicity, and antimicrobial resistance. Unlike in native endocarditis, the presence of foreign tissue permits sustenance by inflammatory and thrombotic processes as the artificial surfaces promote inflammatory responses and hypercoagulability. Prevention of these infections has been suggested with the use of homografts in combination with antibiotics. Others have attempted to use “low fouling coats” with little clinical success thus far. The use of antibiotic prophylaxis plays a pivotal part in reducing the incidence of prosthesis‐related endocarditis. This remains especially crucial with the increasing use of transcatheter heart valve therapies. The widespread use of cardiac implantable electronic devices such as permanent pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices has also heralded a noticeable increase in cases of infectious endocarditis affecting complex equipment which can be difficult to treat. Multimodality strategies are needed with input from surgeons and cardiologists to ensure treatment is both prompt and successful, tailored to the individual needs of the patients.
Controlled Release of Curcumin from HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose) Co-Spray-Dried Materials
Authors: Zheng Jiao , Wang Bo , Xiang Jia , Yu Zhengyu
Published: June 2021

In order to achieve the controlled release of curcumin, HPMC (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose) was spray dried with curcumin and lactose. The spray-dried materials were pressed into tablets with a diameter of 8 mm, and their release characteristics in vitro were measured. In vitro experiments showed that the release of curcumin from the HPMC mixture was significantly slower due to the sustained-release property of HPMC as a typical excipient. The release profile of curcumin from the HPMC mixture was relatively stable for a controlled release. SEM images show that the HPMC co-spray-dried powders have crumpled surfaces due to the large molecular weight of HPMC. DSC, XRD, FTIR, N2 adsorption, and TGA have been measured for the spray-dried curcumin materials. This work indicates that HPMC can be used as a controlled-release excipient for curcumin preparations.
Group Delegated ID‐Based Proxy Reencryption for the Enterprise IoT‐Cloud Storage Environment
Authors: Kim Won-Bin , Seo Daehee , Kim Donghyun , Lee Im-Yeong
Published: June 2021

In general, ID‐based proxy reencryption (IBPRE) includes data transfer in a 1 : 1 manner between a sender and receiver. Therefore, only the data owner has the authority to decrypt or reencrypt the data that is encrypted with his/her public key. However, in an environment with data self‐sovereignty, such as an enterprise IoT‐cloud environment, the data are directly managed by cloud once data is uploaded from user‐controlled IoT devices. In such a situation, there is no way of sharing data if the data owner has no access over the data due to being outside the workplace and other issues. In this study, to solve this problem, data can be shared even when the data cannot be accessed by delegating the authority of the data owner to generate the reencryption key to other users. In addition, by solving the security threats that may appear in this process, data sharing can be performed securely and efficiently in the corporate environment.
Exploring the Crosstalk between Inflammation and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer
Authors: Chattopadhyay Indranil , Ambati Rangarao , Gundamaraju Rohit
Published: June 2021

Tumor cells undergo invasion and metastasis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transition (EMT) by activation of alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) protein-encoding genes, enzymes responsible for the breakdown of ECM, and activation of genes that drive the transformation of the epithelial cell to the mesenchymal type. Inflammatory cytokines such as TGFβ, TNFα, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 activate transcription factors such as Smads, NF-κB, STAT3, Snail, Twist, and Zeb that drive EMT. EMT drives primary tumors to metastasize in different parts of the body. T and B cells, dendritic cells (DCs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) which are present in the tumor microenvironment induce EMT. The current review elucidates the interaction between EMT tumor cells and immune cells under the microenvironment. Such complex interactions provide a better understanding of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis and in defining the aggressiveness of the primary tumors. Anti-inflammatory molecules in this context may open new therapeutic options for the better treatment of tumor progression. Targeting EMT and the related mechanisms by utilizing natural compounds may be an important and safe therapeutic alternative in the treatment of tumor growth.
Acupuncture Regulates Serum Differentially Expressed Proteins in Patients with Chronic Atrophic Gastritis: A Quantitative iTRAQ Proteomics Study
Authors: Li Feng , Yang Bai , Liu Yanan , Tang Tianying , Wang Cun , Li Mei , Lv Siyi , Qi Qin , Liu Huirong , Shi Zheng , Wu Huangan , Wang Xiaomei
Published: June 2021

Objective. To identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in sera of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and to explore acupuncture’s mechanism in CAG. Methods. Peripheral sera from 8 healthy volunteers (HC), 8 chronic nonatrophic gastritis (NAG) patients, 8 CAG patients, and 8 CAG patients who underwent acupuncture treatment (CAG + ACU) were collected followed by labeling with iTRAQ reagent for protein identification and quantification using two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC-MS/MS). Representative DEPs were selected through bioinformatics, and proteins were verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. A total of 4,448 unique peptides were identified, corresponding to 816 nonredundant proteins. A 1.4-fold difference was used as the threshold. Compared with the HC group, 75 and 106 DEPs were identified from CAG and NAG groups, respectively. Compared with the CAG group, 110 and 66 DEPs were identified from the NAG and CAG + ACU groups, respectively. The DEPs were mainly involved in protein binding and the Notch signaling pathway-related proteins, and the upregulated proteins included actin-binding proteins (thymosin beta-4, tropomyosin-4, profilin-1, transgelin-2), while the downregulated proteins included Notch2 and Notch3. After acupuncture, the expression of these proteins in CAG patients was less differentiated from that in healthy people. The level of the above 6 proteins were verified by ELISA, and the results were similar to the results of iTRAQ analysis. Conclusions. Actin-binding proteins and Notch signaling pathway-related proteins were correlated with the development and progression of CAG and thus are potential diagnostic markers for CAG. Acupuncture may play a role in regulating actin-binding proteins and Notch signaling pathway-related proteins to play a therapeutic role in CAG.
Prediction and Analysis of Train Passenger Load Factor of High-Speed Railway Based on LightGBM Algorithm
Authors: Wang Bing , Wu Peixiu , Chen Quanchao , Ni Shaoquan
Published: June 2021

In order to improve the prediction accuracy of train passenger load factor of high-speed railway and meet the demand of different levels of passenger load factor prediction and analysis, the influence factor of the train passenger load factor is analyzed in depth. Taking into account the weather factor, train attribute, and passenger flow time sequence, this paper proposed a forecasting method of train passenger load factor of high-speed railway based on LightGBM algorithm of machine learning. Considering the difference of the influence factor of the passenger load factor of a single train and group trains, a single train passenger load factor prediction model based on the weather factor and passenger flow time sequence and a group of trains’ passenger load factor prediction model based on the weather factor, the train attribute, and passenger flow time sequence factor were constructed, respectively. Taking the train passenger load factor data of high-speed railway in a certain area as an example, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method were verified and compared. It is verified that LightGBM algorithm of machine learning proposed in this paper has higher prediction accuracy than the traditional models, and its scientific and accurate prediction can provide an important reference for the calculation of passenger ticket revenue, operation benefit analysis, etc.
Effects of Liraglutide on Left Ventricular Function: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhong Zhaoshuang , Chen Kaiming , Zhao Yan , Xia Shuyue
Published: June 2021

Background. The effects of liraglutide treatment on the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function remain unclear. Methods. This meta-analysis was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. All relevant randomized, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science from the establishment to January 2021 without language limitations. The weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated. Results. Ten placebo-controlled RCTs involving a total of 732 cases were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with the placebo group, liraglutide therapy showed no beneficial effect on the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at the end of the study (WMD: 2.120, 95% CI: −0.688 to 4.929,

P
=
0.139

) and ΔLVEF during the trial period (WMD: −0.651, 95% CI: −1.649 to 0.348,

P
=
0.
202

). Similarly, no statistical differences were noted in diastolic function parameters between the two groups, including the value early diastolic filling velocity (E)/the mitral annular early diastolic velocity (

e

′

) (WMD: −0.763, 95% CI: −2.157 to 0.630,

P
=
0.
283

),

Δ

e

′

(WMD: −0.069, 95% CI: −0.481 to 0.343,

P
=
0.
742

), and

Δ
E

/

e

′

(WMD: −0.683, 95% CI: −1.663 to 0.298,

P
=
0.
172

). Conclusions. Liraglutide treatment did not improve the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Given the study’s limitations, further investigation may be warranted.