bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Response and Influencing Factors of Shield Single/Twin Tunnel under Seismic Loading using FLAC 3D
Authors: Li Song , Chen Yanxiang , Huang Linhua , Guo Enping
Published: May 2022

The research on the dynamic response and influencing factors of shield tunnel lining under earthquake demonstrates significant engineering value in guiding the design of antiseismic tunnels. In this paper, a nonlinear finite element model of soil-tunnel interaction is established based on FLAC finite difference software, and then Mohr–Coulomb elastoplastic model and dynamic plastic damage model are used to simulate the dynamic characteristics of soil and lining damage of tunnel, and the seismic waves of South Iceland are selected to analyze the residual internal force, dynamic internal force distribution, and the relative deformation of the top and bottom of the arch of the shield tunnel under the earthquake load. Meanwhile, the effects of depth tunnel, lining thickness, and tunnel diameter on the dynamic response of the tunnel are discussed. In addition, the interaction law of horizontal parallel tunnel and the amplification effect on the surface acceleration are also studied. The results show that under the action of a strong earthquake, the bearing capacity of the tunnel decreases sharply, the lining is destroyed, and a large residual internal force appears. When the buried depth of the tunnel is small, the nonlinear effect is more significant, and the R value increases at first and then decreases with the increase in the seismic acceleration. The maximum dynamic bending moment and maximum dynamic axial force of the tunnel lining aggrandize obviously with the increase in tunnel diameter and lining thickness. In particular, the dynamic bending moment has internal force redistribution and deflection under the condition of large tunnel diameter and small lining thickness. Moreover, the interaction of parallel tunnels affects the distribution of internal force and the magnitude of adjacent surface acceleration.
The Supply of Rural Public Cultural Services Relying on Data Mining Technology under the Rural Revitalization Strategy
Authors: Wen Jun
Published: May 2022

The rural revitalization policy can be said to be a major change in the party’s agricultural policy and rural history. Rural revitalization is the rebirth of rural civilization, which is intimately connected with the growth of soft power. Culture should become a productive force; combined with the driving force of the village, culture should improve the quality of life, improve development conditions, guide civilization, and benefit the villagers. This article takes advantage of the data mining technology under the platform of big data to gather data related to rural public cultural services and presents the existing problems and countermeasures. In the satisfaction survey of existing facilities and venues, the satisfaction rate of the library is 47.36%, the satisfaction rate of the cultural center is 50.12%, and the satisfaction rate of the cultural square and Dabazi is 67.25%.
Fast and Accurate Hand Visual Detection by Using a Spatial-Channel Attention SSD for Hand-Based Space Robot Teleoperation
Authors: Gao Qing , Zhang Xin , Pang Wenrao
Published: May 2022

Space robot teleoperation is an important technology in the space human-robot interaction and collaboration. Hand-based visual teleoperation can make the operation more natural and convenient. The fast and accuracy hand detection is one of the most difficult and important problem in the hand-based space robot teleoperation. In this work, we propose a fast and accurate hand detection method by using a spatial-channel attention single shot multibox detector (SCA-SSD). The SSD framework is used and improved in our method by introducing spatial-channel attentions with feature fusion. To increase the restricted receptive field in shallow layers, two shallow layers are fused with deep layers by using feature fusion modules. And spatial attention and channel-wise attention are also used to extract more efficient features. This method can not only ease the computational burden but also bring more contextual information. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments on some public datasets and a custom astronaut hand detection dataset (AHD) are conducted. The results show that our method can improve the hand detection accuracy by 2.7% compared with the original SSD with only 15 fps speed drops. In addition, the space robot teleoperation experiment proves that our hand detection method can be well utilized in the space robot teleoperation system.
A Combined Detection Algorithm for Personal Protective Equipment Based on Lightweight YOLOv4 Model
Authors: Ma Li , Li Xinxin , Dai Xinguan , Guan Zhibin , Lu Yuanmeng
Published: May 2022

Improper wearing of personal protective equipment may lead to safety incidents; this paper proposes a combined detection algorithm for personal protective equipment based on the lightweight YOLOv4 model for mobile terminals. To ensure high detection accuracy, a channel and layer pruning method (CLSlim) to lightweight algorithm is used to reduce computing power consumption and improve the detection speed on the basis of the YOLOv4 network. This method applies L1 regularization and gradient sparse training on the scaling factor of the BN layer in the convolutional module: global pruning threshold and local safety threshold are used to eliminate redundant channels, the layer pruning threshold is used to prune the structure of the shortcuts in the Cross Stage Partial (CSP) module for inference speed improvement, and finally, a lightweight network model is obtained. The experiment improves the YOLOv4 and YOLOv4-Tiny models for CLSlim lightweight separately in GTX2080ti environment. Results show that (1) CLSlim-YOLOv4 compresses the YOLOv4 model parameters by 98.2% and increases the inference speed by 1.8 times with mAP loss of only 2.1% and (2) CLSlim-YOLOv4-Tiny compresses the original model parameters by 74.3% and increases the inference speed by 1.1 times with mAP increase of 0.8%, which certificates that this improved lightweight algorithm serves better for the real-time ability and accuracy of combined detection on PPE with mobile terminals.
Computational Technologies for Low-Frequency Torque Ripple Suppression in Exterior-Rotor Permanent Magnet Motors
Authors: Hui Ding , Jun Mao
Published: May 2022

Exterior-rotor permanent magnet direct-drive motors (ERPMDDMs), which have a simple structure and high energy efficiency, can achieve high torque output at low speed. Because of the superior performance, ERPMDDMs have been widely used in low-speed and high-torque (LSHT) mechanical equipment. The stability of the LSHT drive of ERPMDDMs directly affects the reliability of the equipment, which is thoroughly studied in this work by taking 250 kW ERPMDDMs as an example. The influence of different pole-to-slot ratios and pole-arc coefficients on the cogging torque is analyzed by the electromagnetic field calculation and analysis software Ansoft, and several parameters are optimized to reduce the torque ripple in energized motors and ensure the stability and reliability of the equipment.
Development of Corpus Linguistic Using Lexical Teaching to Improve English Writing
Authors: Sun Zhikun
Published: May 2022

The study of language based on text corpora is known as corpus linguistics. The aesthetic analysis with corpus linguistics to give a novel description of the phenomena of speech, writing, and thinking presentation, often known as ‘speech reporting’ or ‘writing presentation.’ With the vigorous development of corpus linguistics, linguists propose the concept of “block” through a large amount of corpus and use the phrase as the teaching unit of English writing to enhance the fluency and accuracy of language expression. In order to study the creation of linguistics academic English vocabulary block, the author used empirical research, mainly experiments, supplemented by questionnaires and personal interviews. At the same time, this paper used the corpus and Java Web technology for further experimental analysis. After a series of studies, it is concluded that corpus linguistics is a new research method and a trend of future language teaching. It is anticipated that the course will point out methods to supplement by adding activities that provide a greater writing purpose for English language acquisition. The findings of this investigation give a number of specific phenomena, including speculative speech, writing, and concept organization, integrated speech, writing, and idea demonstration, and uncertainty in speech, composing, and thought demonstration.
Understanding the Shortest Route Selection Behavior for Private Cars Using Trajectory Data and Navigation Information
Authors: Wang Shiguang , Ding Heng , Cheng Zeyang
Published: May 2022

Traffic information and driving preference play critical roles in the route selection of drivers and further impact transport management in practice. Some studies have explored the difference between actual and shortest paths for private cars during route selection. However, the quantification of the difference and deviation as well as the impacts of the date on route selection is still seldom investigated. The study proposed a method to quantify the deviation between actual and shortest paths based on big trajectory data and the digital map. Firstly, the rules of private car travel are determined according to the definition of a trip, and the travel trajectory is divided based on these rules to attain many trips. Then, the trip routes and their attributes are generated by geographical information methods. Baidu Map’s path planning collects the shortest routes with the optimal distance and time, and the deviation between actual and recommended paths is compared. Finally, the results of 2860 private car trips of nearly 400 drivers in Chongqing, China, reveal that only about 67% of the actual trips match well with the shortest path, which was significantly higher compared to existing studies. However, the deviation between the actual and shortest paths is limited to 9 minutes or 2 kilometers. There was no significant difference between the weekday and weekend in the proportion. Compared with the weekday, the indicators of the weekend are more deviated. Path selection and the deviation vary in travel modes, OD types, drivers’ preferences, travel time intervals, and distance intervals.
Identification of MBOAT2 as an Unfavorable Biomarker Correlated with KRAS Activation and Reduced CD8+ T-Cell Infiltration in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Li Zhenchong , Zhuang Hongkai , Chen Xinming , Zhang Yue , Ma Zuyi , Wang Shujie , Yan Qian , Zhou Zixuan , Huang Shanzhou , Zhang Chuanzhao , Hou Baohua
Published: May 2022

Objectives. Limited research on the role of membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain–containing 2 (MBOAT2) in cancer biology exists. In particular, the underlying role of MBOAT2 and its potential mechanisms in pancreatic cancer have not yet been explored. Further study of MBOAT2 could provide new ideas about the carcinogenesis and treatment of pancreatic cancer (PC). Methods. In the current study, the potential biological and clinical significances of MBOAT2 were explored by bioinformatics analysis. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to determine the level of MBOAT2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines. MTT, colony formation, and Transwell assays and flow cytometry of cell cycle were performed to analyze PDAC cell proliferation, migration, and cycle progression. The potential relationship between MBOAT2 level and tumor immunity was analyzed using the ESTIMATE algorithm, CIBERSORT algorithm, and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. Results. The level of MBOAT2 was remarkably upregulated in most tumors, especially pancreatic tumors, and was positively correlated with a greater rate of tumor recurrence, higher histologic grade, and worse overall survival. MBOAT2 overexpression was also closely correlated with the mutation status and expression level of driver genes, especially KRAS. Meanwhile, functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that MBOAT2 might be involved in cell–cell communication; cell cycling; the Ras signaling pathway; and immune-related biological functions such as the leukocyte activation involved in T-cell–receptor signaling pathway, the inflammatory response, and antigen processing and presentation. Furthermore, in vitro experiments demonstrated that MBOAT2 overexpression accelerated PC cell proliferation and migration. MBOAT2 overexpression also enhanced CDK2 and CCNA2 expression, leading to cell cycle progression from the G1 phase to the G2 phase. Lastly, MBOAT2 overexpression reduced the infiltration level of CD8+ T-cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and activated dendritic cells but triggered a high type-2 T helper/type-1 T helper cell ration (Th2/Th1 ration) in PC. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that MBOAT2 is a potential protooncogene in PDAC that predicts a poor prognosis and is related to KRAS activation and inferior infiltration of CD8+ T-cells in PC.
A DDoS-Attack Detection Method Oriented to the Blockchain Network Layer
Authors: Dai Qian-yi , Zhang Bin , Dong Shu-qin
Published: May 2022

By nature, a traditional attack method, denial-of-service (DDoS) attack poses a considerable threat to the security of the blockchain network layer. This paper proposes a distributed DDoS-attack traffic detection method based on a cross multilayer convolutional neural network model in the blockchain network layer. The method resolves the low generalisation, high misreporting rate, and low detection efficiency problems of the existing detection methods, which are caused by nondistinctive core features and the high complexity of robust features when detecting DDoS attacks transmitted by mixed protocols on a blockchain network layer. First, the model performs a convolution operation on preprocessed traffic on the blockchain network layer using a cross-layer method based on L2 regularisation. After this operation, the model can perceive the detailed features of attack traffic from multiple levels while enhancing the representational performance of key features; specifically, the parameters with high-variance terms are penalised to limit changes in the model’s weight parameters. The highly robust abstract features of attack traffic are extracted, thereby increasing the generalisation ability and reducing the misreporting rate of the model. Second, parametric encoding of the abstract features is performed by a stacked sparse autoencoder based on Kullback–Leibler divergence, and the sparsity of the model is adjusted to reduce the redundant data and the coupling between abstract features. The outputs of the encoded features are then effectively categorised. Finally, the global optimisation of parameters is performed by an improved random gradient-descent algorithm, which prevents oscillation of the training parameters and accelerates the model convergence. In an experimental evaluation, the proposed method achieved satisfactory binary- and multiclass detection of DDoS-attack traffic on both CSE-CIC-IDS 2018 on the AWS dataset and on the real mixed data of a blockchain network layer.
Apple Sweetness Measurement and Fruit Disease Prediction Using Image Processing Techniques Based on Human-Computer Interaction for Industry 4.0
Authors: Kumar Mohit , Pal Yogesh , Gangadharan Syam Machinathu Parambil , Chakraborty Koushik , Yadav Chandra Shekhar , Kumar Harish , Tiwari Basant
Published: May 2022

When it comes to agricultural sciences, one of the most difficult challenges to solve is the detection of diseases. Agricultural specialists study a variety of sources to detect plant issues on a regular basis. Rarely can misinterpretations of diseased plants cause improper pesticide selection and subsequent agricultural disaster, although this does happen from time to time. In order to diagnose illnesses at an early stage, it is necessary to deploy automated disease detection systems. This is critical for farmers since it is both time-consuming and expensive. A sick leaf must be carefully segmented in order to be properly separate it from the rest of the leaves. Despite digital noise, a different background, a different shape, and a different brightness, it is tough to distinguish a sick photo. In order to increase the quality of apple leaf images for disease detection and classification, a new approach known as brightness preserving dynamic fuzzy histogram equalisation (BPDFHE) has been created. To determine the sweetness of an apple, examine the leaf and the texture of the fruit. In the next section, the performance of the proposed enhancement algorithm is compared to the performance of existing enhancement approaches. Existing segmentation algorithms are outperformed by our approach for segmenting the area of interest from ill leaves against a live background. It is during this phase that we analyse the Jaccard index, the Dice coefficient, and correctness. Comparing the proposed segmentation algorithm to current approaches, it proves to be a highly effective strategy that can more efficiently identify apple ill leaves from a live background with a 99.8 percent accuracy rate.
Application of Data Mining Algorithm in Agricultural Products Logistics Network Planning
Authors: Yu Dong-Yun , Wu Gui-Ling
Published: May 2022

The location of agricultural products center is related to the overall operation efficiency of logistics system and has a great impact on the follow-up agricultural products distribution route planning. The distribution route planning directly determines the total transportation cost and customer service quality of the whole logistics system. In this study, the problem of location path under the background of agricultural products logistics is studied, and an algorithm of agricultural products logistics network planning based on space-time constraints is proposed. An algorithm based on K-means is used to cluster the time-space double factors of customers. Minimize the total distribution cost under the constraints of meeting customer needs and minimizing time window deviation. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has better performance through Taguchi analysis and master-slave two-layer model analysis, and its algorithm has better convergence and sensitivity and can better reduce the total cost of distribution and the length of transportation path.
Influence of Propolis Extract (Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester) Addition on the Candida albicans Adhesion and Surface Properties of Autopolymerized Acrylic Resin
Authors: Al-Khalifa Khalifa S. , Gad Mohammed M. , Alshahrani Faris A. , Alqarawi Firas K. , Hassanein Faisal R. , Khurshid Zohaib , Al-Abidi Khalid S.
Published: May 2022

Background. Denture stomatitis has been linked to the adhesion and proliferation of Candida albicans (C. albicans) on denture bases, which is a common and recurrent problem in denture wearers. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of incorporating caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) into autopolymerized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) acrylic resin on C. albicans adhesion, surface roughness, and hardness as well as the correlation between tested properties. Methods. Autopolymerized acrylic resin discs (N = 100, 50/C. albicans adhesion; 50/C. albicans surface roughness and hardness test) were fabricated in dimensions 15 × 2.5 mm, samples were categorized into 5 groups (n = 10) based on CAPE concentrations; unmodified (control), 2.5, 5, 10 and 15% wt of acrylic powder. Specimens were stored in distilled water for 48 h at 37°C. C. albicans adhesion was evaluated via direct culture method. Profilometer and Vickers hardness tester were used for surface roughness and hardness measurement. Post hoc Tukey’s HSD with ANOVA test was performed to compare the difference of means amongst groups.

P

values were statistically significant at ≤0.05. Results. The addition of 2.5% of CAPE to PMMA has significantly reduced C. albicans counts in comparison to higher CAPE concentrations (

p
<
0.001

). As for surface roughness, it was noticed that it increased with increased CAPE concentrations (

p
<
0.0001

). While surface hardness decreased as CAPE concentrations increased (

p
<
0.0001

). All tested properties showed a significant difference amongst groups for C. albicans colony count and surface parameters. Conclusion. The addition of 2.5% of CAPE to PMMA acrylic resin significantly decreased C. albicans count compared to higher CAPE concentrations. CAPE can be used as an adjunct in the prevention of DS by incorporating in the PMMA acrylic resin.
Fractal Statistical Study on the Strength of Jointed Rock Mass
Authors: Li Fangtao , Hu Zhiping , Ren Xiang , Ma Jiakuan , An Xuexu , Zheng Yunxin , Zhang Yonghui
Published: May 2022

The failure probability and strength of jointed and fractured rock mass under water pressure action place important constraints on the safety and stability of rock mass engineering. In this study, two strength calculation models for rock mass joint rupture failure and shear slip failure are established according to different relative sizes and working conditions, and the effects of fractal dimension, water pressure, and number of cracks on the strength and failure probability of rock mass are analyzed. The most unfavorable dip angle under shear-slip conditions is calculated. The proposed models accurately reflect the failure probability and strength of jointed rock mass, and different strength calculation methods should be selected according to the specific working conditions. The effect of water pressure on the strength of jointed rock mass is sensitive to the failure mode. Reasonable drainage should be carried out according to the different failure modes when constructing tunnels with abundant groundwater, and certain drainage or water plugging construction schemes are not necessarily applicable to all cases. The dip angle at which joint fissures are most prone to shear slip is given as π/4 + φ/2, where φ is the jointed rock mass strength parameter. An increase in the fractal dimensions, external stress, and number of fractures will enhance the rock mass failure probability regardless of failure mode. Controlled blasting and advanced grouting reinforcement measures are recommended when a tunnel traverses through a joint fissure zone to reduce the number of cracks generated in the surrounding rock and thus improve its strength and stability.
Experimental Study on Mechanical Behaviors of Loess Based on Two Different Modes of Oil Contamination
Authors: Li Rongjian , Zhang Shibin , Li Rongjin , Bai Weishi , Wang Lei
Published: May 2022

When loess is contaminated by oil, different modes of contamination will have a certain impact on the mechanical behaviors of loess in the oil-production areas. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of diesel oil contamination on mechanical behaviors of loess through extensive laboratory tests. Two different modes of oil contamination were proposed and applied in compression tests, direct shear tests, and unconfined compressive strength tests to study the compressibility and strength characteristics of diesel-contaminated loess. Results show that two different modes of oil contamination have significant effects on the mechanical behaviors of loess. In comparison with clean loess, the compressibility of contaminated loess increases, and its unconfined compressive strength and shear strength all decrease under the first mode of oil contamination. The compression modulus, friction angle, and unconfined compressive strength of diesel oil-contaminated loess using the second mode of oil contamination are larger than those in the first mode of oil contamination at the same oil content and dry density. Understanding these effects on mechanical behaviors of loess under different modes of oil contamination can significantly guide soil and environment-remediation activities in loess oil-production areas.
Online Algorithm Design of English Translation of Film and Television Works under the Background of Media Cultural Information
Authors: Sun JiaXi
Published: May 2022

As a carrier and medium of culture, film and television have richer cultural connotations and a mission of cross-cultural communication. The translation and dissemination of film and television works not only play an important role in enhancing understanding and communication between different countries, but also contribute to the social life and values of ordinary people. Influence is growing. In order to improve the media communication function of film and television works, this paper attempts to explain and discuss how subtitle translation uses these two translation strategies through the analysis of Chinese and foreign film and television dramas. Through the analysis of the specific translation process of film and television works, the author draws the conclusion that in order to achieve the specific translation purpose, the subtitle translation should be based on the author’s intention, translation purpose, text type, and reader factors. This paper adopts a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and selects suitable examples to explain or illustrate the phenomenon of film and television translation in the description and analysis process. The system designed in the paper is designed with the dissemination and evaluation of film and television works as parameters. The example in this study is that the author himself recorded it according to the Chinese and English subtitles on the screen when watching. Without personal modification, the selected films are officially official institutions, published or broadcast translations. This research focuses on the dialectical analysis and thinking of the collected corpus, so that the conclusions are more convincing than just giving some perceptual examples.
Carnosol Attenuates LPS-Induced Inflammation of Cardiomyoblasts by Inhibiting NF-κB: A Mechanistic in Vitro and in Silico Study
Authors: Baradaran Rahimi Vafa , Momeni-Moghaddam Mohammad Amin , Chini Maria Giovanna , Saviano Anella , Maione Francesco , Bifulco Giuseppe , Rahmanian-Devin Pouria , Jebalbarezy Ali , Askari Vahid Reza
Published: May 2022

Carnosol possesses several beneficial pharmacological properties. However, its role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation and cardiomyocyte cell line (H9C2) has never been investigated. Therefore, the effect of carnosol and an NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 was examined, and the underlying role of the NF-κB-dependent inflammatory pathway was analyzed as the target enzyme. Cell viability, inflammatory cytokines levels (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)), and related gene expression (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)) were analyzed by ELISA and real-time PCR. In addition, docking studies analyzed carnosol’s molecular interactions and binding modes to NF-κB and IKK. We report that LPS caused the reduction of cell viability while enhancing both cytokines protein and mRNA levels (

P
<
0.001

, for all cases). However, the BAY 11-7082 pretreatment of the cells and carnosol increased cell viability and reduced cytokine protein and mRNA levels (

P
<
0.001

vs. LPS, for all cases). Furthermore, our in silico analyses also supported the modulation of NF-κB and IKK by carnosol. This evidence highlights the defensive effects of carnosol against sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction and, contextually, paved the rationale for the next in vitro and in vivo studies aimed to precisely describe its mechanism(s) of action.
Detection of Ag+ by Synthesizing Fluorescent Copper Nanoparticles through Ultrasensitive Free Label Approach
Authors: Arthy M. , Brindha J. , Viswanathan Sabareeshwari , Gnanasekar A. K. , Nanammal V. , Raju Raja , Al Obaid Sami , Almoallim Hesham S. , Selva A.
Published: May 2022

Ag is abundant in nature and is employed in practically every aspect of life. Furthermore, Ag+ contamination poses a severe hazard to human and environmental health due to the extensive usage of Ag products. Traditional Ag+ detection techniques include drawbacks such as high operational costs, sophisticated operating units and instruments, and strong technical demands. The use of fluorescence copper nanoparticles in pollution detection has received a lot of attention in recent times. The development of copper nanoparticles and the detecting of Ag+ are the major topics of this research. Utilizing fluorescence copper nanoparticles produced utilizing glucose (Glc) as a reduction mediator like a fluorescent probe, and a simple approach for determining Ag+ in water was devised. Due to its appealing properties, including such dissolution rate, widespread availability, simplicity of synthesis process, and excellent biocompatibility, fluorescence copper nanoparticles (F‐CuNPs) have sparked a lot of interest, and a lot of time and effort has gone into their synthesis and usage. The slightly elevated metallophilic Ag+ contact served as such sensing element, efficiently quenching the fluorescent of AuAg NCs. Moreover, these fluorescence nanoprobes could have been used to identify Ag+ in the atmosphere, implying that they might be used as practical, dual‐functional, fast‐responding, and label‐free fluorescent sensors for health and environmental assessment. The experiment’s analytical methodology would be that silver ions could fast and efficiently extinguish the fluorescent of Glucose‐CuNPs. In the Ag+ region at 100 mol/L–600 mol/L (R = 0 9845), a strong linear relation was discovered; the color is progressively improved below the observable region and visually colorimetrical measurement. Furthermore, the Glucose‐CuNP instrument only detected Ag+ and was unaffected by other metal ions, demonstrating that Glucose‐CuNPs have strong sensitivity for Ag+ sensing. Glucose‐CuNP, as a result, accomplishes the identification of substantial metal Ag+ ions, and it has promising future applicability in environmental monitoring.
Spray-Dried Microencapsulation of Oregano (Lippia graveolens) Polyphenols with Maltodextrin Enhances Their Stability during In Vitro Digestion
Authors: Bernal-Millán Manuel de Jesús , Gutiérrez-Grijalva Erick Paul , Contreras-Angulo Laura , Muy-Rangel M. Dolores , López-Martínez L. Xochitl , Heredia J. Basilio
Published: May 2022

The effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the release of microencapsulated phenolic compounds was evaluated through an optimized spray drying process. A stock extract of oregano phenolic compounds was developed and microencapsulated in a spray dryer following a central composite rotatable design, controlling the variables, inlet temperature (111.7-168.2°C), and percentage of wall material (5.8-34.1%). Optimum drying conditions for spray drying were decided based on different yield percentages (

Y

%) and encapsulated phenolic compounds (EPC). The analyzed physical properties were morphology measured by electron microscopy and humidity; other properties evaluated were the content of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity determined by DPPH and ABTS assays, and phenolic profile by ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). During the gastrointestinal simulation, a stability of 85% was determined in the intestinal stage. Microencapsulation technology by spray drying is an excellent selection to stabilize and protect bioactive compounds of oregano and promote its use as a functional ingredient.
On Teaching Patterns of English Grammar under the Background of “Internet+”
Authors: Zhou Shujiang , Quan Zhi
Published: May 2022

English grammar is an indispensable aspect of English as foreign language (EFL) teaching. As the teaching concept has been renewed, nowadays English grammar is no longer treated as a knowledge carrier. Instead, it is regarded as a fifth skill after listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with its term changing from “grammar” into “grammaring”. The new concept of English grammar teaching adapts itself to “Internet+” mode, and consequently various teaching patterns, such as MOOCs+flipped classroom, Internet+cooperative learning, and Internet+experimental learning, can be used for grammar teaching. The thesis analyzes the patterns with the aim of providing insights for the future English pedagogical reform in China.
The Role of Cancer Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer Progression
Authors: Li Xueting , Li Xinjian , Zhang Bin , He Baoyu
Published: May 2022

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a small portion of tumor cells with self-renewal ability in tumor tissues and are a key factor in tumor resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. CSCs produce a large number of exosomes through various mechanisms, such as paracrine and autocrine signaling. Studies have shown that CSC-derived exosomes (CSC-Exos) carry a variety of gene mutations and specific epigenetic modifications indicative of unique cell phenotypes and metabolic pathways, enabling exchange of information in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. In addition, CSC-Exos carry a variety of metabolites, especially proteins and miRNAs, which can activate signaling pathways to further promote tumor development. CSC-Exos have dual effects on cancer development. Due to advances in liquid biopsy technology for early cancer detection, CSCs-Exos may become an important tool for early cancer diagnosis and therapeutic drug delivery. In this article, we will review how CSC-Exos exert the above effects based on the above two aspects and explore their mechanism of action.
Study on the Role and Mechanism of LncRNA ZFasL in Renal Carcinoma
Authors: Shi Hongbin , Zhu Hengyu , Zhang Chao , Zhou Xiaojie , Ma Wenzhuo , Xu Haoran , Yang Xiaobo
Published: May 2022

Background. Renal carcinoma is the 7th most common cancer in the world, with the 7th and 6th highest incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Although great progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of renal carcinoma, its prognosis is still unsatisfactory. It is important to study the molecular mechanisms of renal carcinoma occurrence and development and to find potential therapeutic targets. Objective. The main objective is to investigate the effects of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) ZFAS1 (lncZFAS1) on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of renal carcinoma cells and to preliminarily explore its mechanism. Methods. A qRT-PCR method was used to detect the expression of lncZFAS1 in renal carcinoma tissues and renal carcinoma cells. After shRNA interference with lncZFAS1 expression, the effects of lncZFAS1 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were detected by CCK-8 method, flow cytometry, scratch test, and Transwell assay. The effect of the knockdown of lncZFAS1 on the growth of transplanted tumors was examined. The expression of lncZFAS1 in renal carcinoma tissues and renal carcinoma cells was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues and normal esophageal epithelial cells. Knockdown of lncZFAS1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasive ability of renal carcinoma cells; upregulated miR-150-5P expression and downregulated HMGA2 expression in renal carcinoma cells; and significantly inhibited the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice. Conclusion. Upregulation of miR-150-5P expression was detected after knockdown of lncZFAS1 in renal carcinoma cells, while both mRNA and protein expression levels of HMGA2 were decreased. lncZFAS1 can promote the proliferation and migration of renal carcinoma cells, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of the miR-150-5P/HMGA2 molecular axis.
The Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Head and Neck Cancer Patients and Those Who Were Treated with Radiotherapy: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Yeh Tzu-Lin , Hsieh Cheng-Tzu , Hsu Hsin-Yin , Tsai Ming-Chieh , Wang Chia-Chun , Lin Chuan-Yi , Hsiao Bo-Yu , Jhuang Jing-Rong , Chiang Chun-Ju , Lee Wen-Chung , Chien Kuo-Liong
Published: May 2022

Background:

To investigate the standardized incidence ratios (SIR) of stroke in patients with head and neck cancer and their relationship to radiotherapy.

Methods:

Patients with head and neck cancer ages 20–85 years were enrolled from 2007 to 2016 using the Taiwan Cancer Registry. The study endpoint was fatal and non-fatal ischemic stroke, ascertained by the National Health Insurance Research Database. Age- and sex-adjusted SIRs, categorized by 10-year age standardization, were used to compare the patients with head and neck cancer with a randomly selected 2,000,000 general population. We compared the risk of stroke in patients with head and neck cancer who received radiotherapy or surgery alone. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained from Cox regression analysis with competing risk.

Results:

Among 41,266 patients (mean age, 54.1 years; men, 90.6%) in the median follow-up period of 3.9 years, 1,407 strokes occurred. Compared with the general population, the overall SIR of stroke was 1.37 (95% CI, 1.30–1.44) in patients with head and neck cancer. In patients with head and neck cancer, the fully adjusted HR of stroke in those who received radiotherapy was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.83–1.10), compared with those who received surgery alone.

Conclusions:

Patients with head and neck cancer had a higher risk of fatal or non-fatal ischemic stroke. The risk of stroke was not higher in patients initially treated with radiotherapy.

Impact:

Oncologists should emphasize stroke prevention in all patients with head and neck cancer, not only in those who received radiotherapy.
Fertility Preservation and Financial Hardship among Adolescent and Young Adult Women with Cancer
Authors: Meernik Clare , Mersereau Jennifer E. , Baggett Christopher D. , Engel Stephanie M. , Moy Lisa M. , Cannizzaro Nancy T. , Peavey Mary , Kushi Lawrence H. , Chao Chun R. , Nichols Hazel B.
Published: May 2022

Background:

Financial hardship among adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer who receive gonadotoxic treatments may be exacerbated by the use of fertility services. This study examined whether AYA women with cancer who used fertility preservation had increased financial hardship.

Methods:

AYA women with cancer in North Carolina and California completed a survey in 2018–2019. Cancer-related financial hardship was compared between women who cryopreserved oocytes or embryos for fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis (n = 65) and women who received gonadotoxic treatment and reported discussing fertility with their provider, but did not use fertility preservation (n = 491). Multivariable log-binomial regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results:

Women were a median age of 33 years at diagnosis and 7 years from diagnosis at the time of survey. Women who used fertility preservation were primarily ages 25 to 34 years at diagnosis (65%), non-Hispanic White (72%), and had at least a Bachelor's degree (85%). In adjusted analysis, use of fertility preservation was associated with 1.50 times the prevalence of material financial hardship (95% CI: 1.08–2.09). The magnitude of hardship was also substantially higher among women who used fertility preservation: 12% reported debt of ≥$25,000 versus 5% in the referent group.

Conclusions:

This study provides new evidence that cryopreserving oocytes or embryos after cancer diagnosis for future family building is associated with increased financial vulnerability.

Impact:

More legislation that mandates insurance coverage to mitigate hardships stemming from iatrogenic infertility could improve access to fertility preservation for young women with cancer.
Possible Reactivation of Latent Anal Human Papillomavirus Associated with Markers of Immune Dysfunction in Gay and Bisexual Men
Authors: Poynten I. Mary , Jin Fengyi , Molano Monica , Roberts Jennifer M. , Hillman Richard J. , Templeton David J. , Law Carmella , Stanley Margaret A. , Waterboer Tim , Farnsworth Annabelle , Fairley Christopher K. , Garland Suzanne M. , Grulich Andrew E.
Published: May 2022

Background:

It is unknown whether reactivation of human papillomavirus (HPV) after latency occurs in the anus. We measured incidence and predictors of incident anal HPV in sexually inactive gay and bisexual men (GBM) as a surrogate of HPV reactivation.

Methods:

The Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer collected data on sexual behavior, anal cytology, HPV DNA, histology and HPV serology. HPV incidence during periods when zero sexual partners were reported in the last six months at both the current and previous annual visit (“no sexual activity”) was analyzed by Cox regression using the Wei-Lin-Weissfeld method to determine univariable predictors.

Results:

Of 617 men enrolled, 525 had results for ≥2 visits, of whom 58 (11%) had ≥ one period of “no sexual activity”. During sexually inactive periods, there were 29 incident high risk HPV infections in 20 men, which occurred more commonly in older men (Ptrend = 0.010), HIV-positive men (HR = 3.12; 95% CI, 0.91–16.65), longer duration of HIV (Ptrend = 0.028), history of AIDS defining illness (P = 0.010), lower current (P = 0.010) and nadir CD4 count (P = 0.014). For 18 of 29 infections with available results, 12 men remained type-specific HRHPV L1 seronegative. None were consistently seropositive. A new diagnosis of HSIL occurred in only two men, caused by an HPV type other than the incident type.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that in sexually inactive GBM, anal HRHPV incidence is relatively common, and is associated with increasing age and immune dysfunction, a pattern consistent with HPV reactivation.

Impact:

Reactivation of anal HPV may occur.
A Randomized Phase II Study of MEDI0680 in Combination with Durvalumab versus Nivolumab Monotherapy in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Clear-cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Voss Martin H. , Azad Arun A. , Hansen Aaron R. , Gray Jhanelle E. , Welsh Sarah J. , Song Xuyang , Kuziora Michael , Meinecke Lina , Blando Jorge , Achour Ikbel , Wang Yi , Walcott Farzana L. , Oosting Sjoukje F.
Published: May 2022

Purpose:

MEDI0680 is a humanized anti–programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibody, and durvalumab is an anti-PD-L1 antibody. Combining treatment using these antibodies may improve efficacy versus blockade of PD-1 alone. This phase II study evaluated antitumor activity and safety of MEDI0680 plus durvalumab versus nivolumab monotherapy in immunotherapy-naïve patients with advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma who received at least one prior line of antiangiogenic therapy.

Patients and Methods:

Patients received either MEDI0680 (20 mg/kg) with durvalumab (750 mg) or nivolumab (240 mg), all intravenous, every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included best overall response, progression-free survival (PFS), safety, overall survival (OS), and immunogenicity. Exploratory endpoints included changes in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), baseline tumor mutational burden, and tumor-infiltrated immune cell profiles.

Results:

Sixty-three patients were randomized (combination, n = 42; nivolumab, n = 21). ORR was 16.7% [7/42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.0–31.4] with combination treatment and 23.8% (5/21; 95% CI, 8.2–47.2) with nivolumab. Median PFS was 3.6 months in both arms; median OS was not reached in either arm. Because of adverse events, 23.8% of patients discontinued MEDI0680 and durvalumab and 14.3% of patients discontinued nivolumab. In the combination arm, reduction in ctDNA fraction was associated with longer PFS. ctDNA mutational analysis did not demonstrate an association with response in either arm. Tumor-infiltrated immune profiles showed an association between immune cell activation and response in the combination arm.

Conclusions:

MEDI0680 combined with durvalumab was safe and tolerable; however, it did not improve efficacy versus nivolumab monotherapy.
Triple Targeting of HER Receptors Overcomes Heregulin-mediated Resistance to EGFR Blockade in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Rau Alexander , Janssen Nicole , Kühl Lennart , Sell Thomas , Kalmykova Svetlana , Mürdter Thomas E. , Dahlke Marc-H. , Sers Christine , Morkel Markus , Schwab Matthias , Kontermann Roland E. , Olayioye Monilola A.
Published: May 2022

Current treatment options for patients with advanced colorectal cancers include anti-EGFR/HER1 therapy with the blocking antibody cetuximab. Although a subset of patients with KRAS WT disease initially respond to the treatment, resistance develops in almost all cases. Relapse has been associated with the production of the ligand heregulin (HRG) and/or compensatory signaling involving the receptor tyrosine kinases HER2 and HER3. Here, we provide evidence that triple-HER receptor blockade based on a newly developed bispecific EGFR×HER3-targeting antibody (scDb-Fc) together with the HER2-blocking antibody trastuzumab effectively inhibited HRG-induced HER receptor phosphorylation, downstream signaling, proliferation, and stem cell expansion of DiFi and LIM1215 colorectal cancer cells. Comparative analyses revealed that the biological activity of scDb-Fc plus trastuzumab was sometimes even superior to that of the combination of the parental antibodies, with PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition correlating with improved therapeutic response and apoptosis induction as seen by single-cell analysis. Importantly, growth suppression by triple-HER targeting was recapitulated in primary KRAS WT patient-derived organoid cultures exposed to HRG. Collectively, our results provide strong support for a pan-HER receptor blocking approach to combat anti-EGFR therapy resistance of KRAS WT colorectal cancer tumors mediated by the upregulation of HRG and/or HER2/HER3 signaling.
Examination of Subungual Hematomas and Subungual Melanocytic Lesions by Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Dermoscopy
Authors: Hobelsberger Sarah , Laske Jörg , Aschoff Roland , Beissert Stefan
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Examination of subungual pigmented lesions is sometimes a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Objectives: The study was aimed to investigate characteristic patterns in optical coherence tomography (OCT) of subungual hematomas and determine distinctive features that can differentiate them from subungual melanocytic lesions. Methods: VivoSight® (Michelson Diagnostics, Maidstone, UK) was used to examine 71 subungual hematomas and 11 subungual melanocytic lesions in 69 patients (18 female and 51 male patients). Results: On OCT, bleeding was related to sharply defined black sickle-shaped (p < 0.001) or globular regions (not significant [ns]) with a hyperreflective margin (0.002), a grey center (0.013), hyperreflective lines in the area (ns) or periphery (p = 0.031), peripheral fading (p = 0.029), and red dots in the area (p = 0.001). In the 1 case of melanoma in situ examined, we found curved vessels with irregular sizes and distribution on the dermis of the nailbed, while subungual hematomas and subungual benign nevi presented as clustered red dots and/or regularly distributed curved vessels. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the use of OCT in addition to dermoscopy provides high-resolution optical imaging information for the diagnosis of subungual hematoma and facilitates the differential diagnosis of subungual hematomas and subungual melanocytic lesions.