bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Eucommia ulmoides leaves on hyperuricemia and kidney injury induced by a high-fat/high-fructose diet in rats
Authors: Gong Man , Zhang Hong , Liu Xiaoqian , Li Qingxia , Zhang Yang , Zhang Weijin , Huang Na , Chen Anying , Dai Liping , Wang Zhimin
Published: December 2021

Eucommia ulmoides leaves have unique advantages in the treatment of metabolic diseases. In this study, network pharmacology and molecular-docking methods were used to predict the effects and action mechanisms of the major components of E. ulmoides leaves on hyperuricemia. Combining literature collection, we used SciFinder and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform to collect E. ulmoides leaf flavonoid and iridoid components. Swiss Target Prediction, SEA, GeneCards, and the OMIM database were used to obtain core targets, and the STRING protein database was performed as core targets for gene ontology enrichment Set and KEGG analyses. Molecular docking was applied to predict the pathways regulating the metabolism of uric acid. The selected targets and targeting efficacy were validated using a rat model of hyperuricemia and renal injury induced by a high-fat and high-fructose diet. A total of 32 chemical components with effective targets, which regulated the PI3K-AKT pathway and endocrine resistance, were collected. Isoquercetin, kaempferol, and quercetin were predicted via network pharmacology to have potential bioactivities and strong docking binding forces. Molecular docking results showed that iridoids and flavonoids are bound to proteins related to inflammation and uric acid metabolism. In addition, it was verified via animal experiments that an E. ulmoides leaf extract ameliorated hyperuricemia, renal injury, and inflammation, which are closely related to the targets IL-6, TNF-α, TLR4, and GLUT9. In conclusion, E. ulmoides leaf flavonoids and iridoids ameliorate hyperuricemia and uric-acid–induced inflammation through a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway mechanism, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of therapeutics from E. ulmoides leaf components.
Deep Learning Based Signal Processing For Multiuser OFDM Systems
Authors: Ye Youjie , Chen Yunfei
Published: December 2021

Deep learning (DL) methods have been proved effective in improving the performance of channel estimation and signal detection. In this work, we propose three DL algorithms: fully connected deep neural network (FCDNN), convolutional neural networks (CNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks for signal processing in multiuser orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) communications systems. The bit error rates (BERs) of these DL methods are compared with the conventional linear minimum mean squared error (LMMSE) detector. Additionally, the relationships between the BER and signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the number of interfering users (NoI) and modulation type are investigated. Numerical results show that all DL methods outperform LMMSE under different multiuser interference conditions, and FCDNN and LSTM give the best and robust anti-multiuser performance. This work shows that FCDNN and LSTM network have strong anti-interference ability and are useful in multiuser OFDM systems.
Study on Surface Quality and Corrosion Resistance of Ultrasonic Vibration Assisted Micromilling Inconel718
Authors: Yuan Zhonghang , Fang Bin , Dong Yude , Ding Heng , Zhang Yuanbin
Published: December 2021

Micromilling (MM) is favored by the field of high-precision micro parts. However, the high plasticity of Inconel718 often poses a threat to MM, such as pits, humps and gullies, which affect the surface quality. In this study, the influence of ultrasonic vibration assisted micromilling (UVAMM) on surface quality is comprehensively analyzed by using the machining process of workpiece vibration, combined with cutting force, tool wear, surface morphology and corrosion resistance. The results show that, on the one hand, small amplitude plays a significant role in reducing cutting force and inhibiting tool wear. On the other hand, smaller speed, smaller feed rate and moderate amplitude will produce better surface morphology, which is a uniform and regular fish scale surface with lower surface roughness and fewer surface defects. Furthermore, the application of ultrasonic vibration also significantly improves the surface corrosion resistance of Inconel718. It is worth noting that the surface corrosion resistance does not completely depend on the surface roughness, but also has a close correlation with the surface morphology.
Theoretical Researches On Binding Modes and Stability of Hydrogen Bonds Between Uracil and Formic Acid
Authors: Tang Qian , Huang Ting , Huang Ruisi , Cao Hongyu , Wang Lihao , Zheng Xuefang
Published: December 2021

The hydrogen bond formation with formic acid would affect the complementary pair of bases between uracil and adenine, but the binding modes and spectral properties of hydrogen bonds are still obscure. Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory were applied to investigate the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between uracil and formic acid. The reduced density gradient (RDG), bond lengths and vibration absorption frequencies revealed that the most probable uracil-formic acid (U-FA) interaction mode formed in the position c of FA and the site 1 of U, that is, the mode 1c. The theoretical parameters in excited state complexes manifested that the variety of hydrogen bond configurations led to different degrees of strengthening or weakening of molecular interaction. In the implicit solvent (water), the formations of O-H∙∙∙O in the uracil-formic acid complexes were promoted obviously. These theoretical studies would positively affect the researches of life science and medicinal chemistry.
The Association of Perioperative Glycemic control with Post-operative wound Infection after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Veterans with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Elgudin Yakov , Deo Salil V , Rubelowsky Joseph , Cmolik Brian
Published: December 2021

Introduction: After coronary artery bypass (CABG), diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk of infection. We model the inter-relationship of pre- and post-operative glycemic control and their composite influence on post-operative wound infection. Methods: 2,899 Veterans that underwent isolated CABG were stratified (Group I: < 8%, Group II: 8 - 10%, Group III: > 10%) according to preoperative HbA1c levels. We obtained the median blood sugar level (BSL) on post-operative days 0 - 4 (POD) and compared trends in BSL readings according to HbA1c groups. We fit a multi-variable random effects mixed model to understand the odds (OR) of developing postoperative mediastinitis. A two-stage joint model was fit to evaluate the adjusted hazard (HR) of pre-operative HbA1c, post-operative BSL and clinical factors on 90-day readmission for infection. Results: In groups I, II, and III had 66%, 25% and 9% patients respectively. In 148,810 post-operative BSL readings, median BSL values peaked at POD 2 (145 mg/dl). In group III, 29% BSL reading was above the recommended limit (< 180 mg/dl). Group III (OR 3.5; p < 0.01) and COPD (OR 2.51; p < 0.01) were associated with higher rates of mediastinitis. Groups II (HR 1.4; p = 0.01) and III (HR 1.5; p = 0.04) were associated with increased risk for 90-day readmission for infection. Post-operative blood sugar levels (p = 0.5) were not associated with increased risk for wound infection at 90 days. Conclusion: Among Veterans undergoing coronary artery bypass, a large proportion had HbA1c levels > 8%. In the post-operative period, 22% of the blood sugar readings are higher than 180 mg/dl. Preoperative HbA1c (rather than postoperative glycemic control) is associated with higher rates of deep sternal wound infection.
Scaling Behavior of Sub-100 nm InAlN/GaN HEMTs on Silicon for RF Applications
Authors: Cui Peng , Zeng Yuping
Published: December 2021

Due to the low cost and the scaling capability of Si substrate, InAlN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) on silicon substrate have attracted more and more attentions. In this paper, a high-performance 50-nm-gate-length InAlN/GaN HEMT on Si with a high on/off current (Ion/Ioff) ratio of 7.28 × 106, an average subthreshold swing (SS) of 72 mV/dec, a low drain-induced barrier lowing (DIBL) of 88 mV, an off-state three-terminal breakdown voltage (BVds) of 36 V, a current/power gain cutoff frequency (fT/fmax) of 140/215 GHz, and a Johnson’s figure-of-merit (JFOM) of 5.04 THz∙V is simultaneously demonstrated. The device extrinsic and intrinsic parameters are extracted using equivalent circuit model, which is verified by the good agreement between simulated and measured S-parameter values. Then the scaling behavior of InAlN/GaN HEMTs on Si is predicted using the extracted extrinsic and intrinsic parameters of devices with different gate lengths (Lg). It presents that a fT/fmax of 230/327 GHz can be achieved when Lg­ scales down to 20 nm with the technology developed in the study, and an improved fT/fmax of 320/535 GHz can be achieved on a 20-nm-gate-length InAlN/GaN HEMT with regrown ohmic contact technology and 30% decreased parasitic capacitance. This study confirms the feasibility of further improvement of InAlN/GaN HEMTs on Si for RF applications.
A Novel Approach to Damage Assessment in Structures Based on Artificial Neural Network Working Parallel With a Hybrid Stochastic Optimization
Authors: Tran-Ngoc H. , Khatir S , Le-Xuan T. , Viet H. Tran - , De Roeck G. , Bui-Tien T. , Wahab Magd Abdel
Published: December 2021

Artificial neural network (ANN) is the study of computer algorithms that can learn from experience to improve performance. ANN employs backpropagation (BP) algorithms using gradient descent (GD)-based learning methods to reduce the discrepancies between predicted and real targets. Even though these differences are considerably decreased after each iteration, the network may still face major risks of being entrapped in local minima if complex error surfaces contain too numerous the best local solutions. To overcome those drawbacks of ANN, numerous researchers have come up with solutions to local minimum prevention by choosing a beneficial starting position that relies on the global search capability of other algorithms. This strategy possibly assists the network in avoiding the first local minima. However, a network often has many local bests widely distributed. Hence, the solution of choosing good starting points may no further be beneficial because the particles are probably entrapped in other local optimal solutions throughout the process of looking for the global best. Therefore, in this work, a novel ANN working parallel with the stochastic search capacity of evolutionary algorithms, is proposed. Additionally, to increase the efficiency of the global search capacity, a hybrid of particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithm (PSOGA) is applied during the process of seeking the best solution, which effectively guarantees to assist the network of ANN in escaping from local minima. This strategy gains both benefits of GD techniques as well as the global search capacity of PSOGA that possibly solves the local minima issues thoroughly. The effectiveness of ANNPSOGA is assessed using both numerical models consisting of various damage cases (single and multiple damages) and a free-free steel beam with different damage levels calibrated in the laboratory. The results demonstrate that ANNPSOGA provides higher accuracy than traditional ANN, PSO, and other hybrid ANNs (even a higher level of noise is employed) and also considerably decreases calculational cost compared with PSO.
Interaction Between Retinol Intake and ISX rs5755368 Polymorphism in Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Case-control Study Among the Korean Population
Authors: Bui Anh Quynh , Gunathilake Madhawa , Lee Jeonghee , Oh Jae Hwan , Chang Hee Jin , Sohn Dae Kyung , Shin Aesun , Kim Jeongseon
Published: December 2021

There is limited evidence about the interaction between retinol intake and the intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) rs5755368 polymorphism in colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study to examine whether the ISX rs5755368 genotypes are associated with the effect of dietary retinol consumption on CRC risk. First, to identify the association between dietary retinol and CRC risk, we recruited 923 CRC patients and 1846 controls. Dietary retinol intake was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. For genetic analysis, genotype data were available for 1419 patients (600 cases and 819 controls) out of the total study population. ISX rs5755368 genotyping was performed using an Illumina MEGA-Expanded Array. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression models. Retinol intake was inversely associated with the development of CRC (OR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.37–0.63) after adjusting for confounders. Patients with homozygous AA genotype of the ISX rs5755368 polymorphism were less likely to have CRC risk than subjects carrying the G allele (AG+GG) (OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.58–0.99). Additionally, a 68% reduced risk of CRC was related to the highest retinol intake among those carrying the rs5755368 AA genotype compared to the risk of participants carrying the G allele consumed the lowest retinol intake (OR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.20–0.53; P interaction=0.026). In conclusion, our study confirmed a protective role of retinol intake in CRC risk reduction. Moreover, this association was strengthened significantly among individuals carrying the homozygous AA genotype of the ISX rs5755368 polymorphism.
Mechanical and Micrography Analysis of Armour Plate Weldment Using Tungsten Inert Gas and Oxy-Acetylene Welding Methods
Authors: Osuchukwu Obinna Anayo , AGBOGU Emmanuel Obiora , GARBA Danladi King , AKINDAPO Jacob Olaitan
Published: December 2021

Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has compared the effect of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) and Oxy-Acetylene welding methods on microstructural and some mechanical properties of Armour plate for the modification of military troop carriers. The optical emission spectrometer (OES) at DICON was used to analyse the chemical composition of the armour plate strip. It was then machined and cut to various test piece dimensions for both welding processes, following which the weldment samples were subjected to post-weld mechanical tests (tensile, impact, and hardness) and metallographic examination. The samples were then welded according to the procedure outlined in this study. The fundamental composition of armour plates was preserved in the samples. When compared to Oxy-Acetylene (OA) welding, Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding produced better results, with an average ultimate strength (UTS) of 603.52 MPa and an impact strength of 10.53 J. In addition, the TIG analysis hardness strength for the source material, heat affected zone (HAZ), and weldment sample is 510.3, 502, and 511-HV, respectively. At x200 magnification, the micrography of the TIG weldment revealed a small coarse grain size of ferrite and larger areas of pearlite.
A Comparative Study on Chemical Characterization and Properties of Surface Active Compounds From Gram-positive Bacillus and Gram-negative Ochrobactrum Strains Utilizing Pure Hydrocarbons and Waste Mineral Lubricating Oils
Authors: Saha Ishika , Datta Sriparna , Biswas Dipa , Sengupta Dipanjan
Published: December 2021

Mineral lubricating oils are widely used in various industrial sectors for their applications in maintenance and functioning of machineries. However, indiscriminate dumping of these used oils has resulted in polluting the natural reservoirs which subsequently destroys ecological balance. Bacteria can emulsify or lower surface tension between phases of immiscible substrates and can acquire them as their carbon and energy sources. Such a phenomenon is mediated by synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances which can function as eminent surface active compounds based on their surfactant or emulsifying nature. The comparison between bacterial strains (Gram-positive Bacillus stratosphericus A15 and Gram-negative Ochrobactrum pseudintermedium C1) on utilisation of pure straight chain hydrocarbons, waste mineral lubricating oils as sole carbon source and chemical characterization of the synthesized surface active compounds is studied. Characterization analysis by Ultraviolet Visible spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, Carbon-Hydrogen-Nitrogen analysis has given detailed structural elucidation of surface active compounds. The contrasting nature of bacterial strains in utilisation of different hydrocarbons of spindle oil was observed in Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy. The variation between both strains in utilisation of hydrocarbons can be manifested in a difference in chemical structure and properties of the synthesized surface active compounds. Scanning Electron Microscopy gives detailed insight into the difference in morphological nature of the compounds. The utilisation of these lubricating oils can address waste disposal problem and offer an economical feasible approach for bacterial synthesis of surface active compounds. Additionally, their distinctive nature and properties can maneuver applications in bioremediation of toxic environmental pollutants and as biomaterials in pharmaceutics.
Lymphatic system is the mainstream for breast cancer dissemination and metastasis revealed by single-cell lineage tracing
Authors: Miao Kai , Zhang Aiping , Shao Fangyuan , Wang Lijian , Zhang Xin , Sun Heng , Xu Jun , Zhang Jingyao , Feng Yuzhao , Guo Sen , Weng Zhihui , Wang Dong , Gao Shuai , Zhao Xiaoyang , Xu Xiaoling , Deng Chu-Xia
Published: December 2021

Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related death, yet the forces that drive cancer cells through various steps and different routes to distinct target organs/tissues remain elusive. In this study, we applied a CellTag system-based single-cell lineage tracing approach to show the metastasis rate and route of breast cancer cells and their interactions with the tumour microenvironment (TME) during metastasis. The results indicate that only a small fraction of cells can intravasate from the primary site into the blood circulation, whereas more cells disseminate through the lymphatic system to different organs. Tumour cells derived from the same progenitor cell exhibit different gene expression patterns in different soils, and the cancer cell-TME communication paradigm varies significantly between primary and metastatic tumours. Furthermore, metastable cells require a prewired IL-2 expression ability to migrate in vivo. In summary, leveraging a single-cell lineage tracing system, we demonstrate that the crosstalk between tumour cells and the TME is the driving force controlling the preferential metastatic fate of cancer cells through the lymphatic system and that this metastasis can be suppressed by knockdown of IL-2.
Effect of Electric Field On Electron Mobility in Sub-100 nm InAlN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors
Authors: Cui Peng , Zeng Yuping
Published: December 2021

Electron mobility is important for electron velocity, transport current, output power, and frequency characteristics. In conventional mobility extraction methods, electron mobility is usually extracted directly from the measured gate capacitance (CG) and current-voltage characteristics. When device gate length (LG) scales to sub-100 nm, the determination of CG becomes more difficult not only for the measure equipment but also the enhanced effect from parasitic capacitance. Here in this paper, the CG extracted from high-frequency small-signal equipment circuit is used for the InAlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). Electron mobility of the device with LG of 60-nm under VDS of 0.1 V and 10 V is extracted using two-dimensional scattering theory, respectively. The obtained results show that under a high electric field, the electron temperature (Te) and addition polarization charges (∆σ) increase, resulting in the enhanced polar optical phonon (POP) as well as polarization Coulomb field (PCF) scatterings and degradation of the electron mobility. This study makes it possible to improve the electron mobility by reducing Te and ∆σ for the InAlN/GaN HEMTs application.AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors with different gate lengths were fabricated. Based on the chosen of the Hamiltonian of the system and the additional polarization charges, two methods to calculate PCF scattering by the scattering theory were presented. By comparing the measured and calculated source-drain resistances, the influence of the different gate lengths on the PCF scattering potential was confirmed.
Melittin Regulates Iron Homeostasis as a Key Mediator of Macrophage Polarization in Rat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Authors: Kim Hyunseong , Hong Jin Young , Jeon Wan-Jin , Lee Junseon , Lee Yoon Jae , Ha In-Hyuk
Published: December 2021

BackgroundLumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is defined as the narrowing of the spinal canal, which compresses the nerves traveling through the lower back into the legs. Inflammation is the most common cause of LSS. Chronic pain induced by nerve damage results from chronic inflammation, and the inflammation response worsens with elevated iron stores. Furthermore, macrophage polarization to the M1 (inflammatory) or M2 (anti-inflammatory) type is essential for controlling host defense or repairing tissues. However, the precise function of macrophage polarization in iron release or retention in LSS pathophysiology is not well-understood. Here, we introduce melittin to modulate macrophage polarization related to iron metabolism for LSS treatment.MethodsPrimary peritoneal macrophage were cultured in 200 or 500 ng/mL of melittin and FeSO4-containing medium for 24 h. Macrophage polarization was assessed by Immunofluorescence staining to CD86 or Arg1 antibodies. In an in vivo rat model of LSS, melittin were administered at 100 and 250 µg/kg, and in vivo effects of melittin on iron deposition-induced macrophage polarization was evaluated by immunochemistry, real time-PCR, western blot, and flow-cytometry. The locomotor functions were assessed by BBB, ladder scoring, and Von Frey test for up to 3 weeks. ResultsIn vitro experiments demonstrated that macrophages can be polarized toward an M2 phenotype after melittin treatment in iron-insulted primary macrophages. Treatment with 100 and 250 μg/kg melittin in a rat LSS model increased the proportion of M2 macrophages in the damaged spinal cord. Moreover, we found that melittin attenuated iron overload-induced M1 polarization via regulating iron metabolism-related genes in LSS rats. As a result, melittin improved locomotor recovery and stimulated axonal growth following LSS.ConclusionsMelittin can promote functional recovery in LSS models by activating M2 macrophages via controlling macrophage iron metabolism, suggesting the potential applications of melittin for treating LSS.
High Expression of Complement Component C7 Indicates Poor Prognosis of Endometrial Cancer and poor 5-year OS
Authors: Li Ruoqiao , Yue Qi
Published: December 2021

Background: Corpus Carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed female cancer worldwide. However, the well-known biomarkers are not enough to meet the needs of precision medicine. Novel targets are desirable and highly valuable for improved patient survival. In this regard, we identified complement component C7 as one of the candidates based on data from the TCGA database.Method: C7 expression was examined by mRNA expression profile in 425 cases of corpus carcinoma, including grade 3 data (such as mRNA-seq, miRNA-seq, and clinical data) from 406 primary corpus carcinoma tissues and 19 normal controls from the dataset. The availability of data is demonstrated by heat maps, and the distribution of genes is demonstrated by volcanic maps. Then the value of C7 was demonstrated on the basis of genomics and clinical epidemiology respectively, confirmed by grade 3 data from TCGA. The relationship between the C7 expression and five-year survival of corpus carcinoma patients was analyzed in order to investigate the function of C7 in corpus carcinoma. Result: In our present study, we reported for the first time that C7 was an independent prognostic factor of corpus carcinoma and the 5-year survival rate of patients with high C7 expression is lower than that of patients with low C7 expressions. (p=0.02265) Conclusion: In summary, high expression of C7 may promote corpus carcinoma development. Our present study laid a foundation to help clinicians improve the identification of patients for C7 in the era of precision medicine.
Meteorological and climatic variables predict the phenology of Ixodes ricinus nymphs activity in France, accounting for habitat heterogeneity
Authors: Wongnak Phrutsamon , Jacquot Maude , Bord Séverine , Agoulon Albert , Beugnet Frédéric , Bournez Laure , Cèbe Nicolas , Chevalier Adélie , Cosson Jean-François , Dambrine Naïma , Hoch Thierry , Huard Frédéric , Korboulewsky Nathalie , Lebert Isabelle , Madouasse Aurélien , Mårell Anders , Moutailler Sara , Plantard Olivier , Pollet Thomas , Poux Valérie , René-Martellet Magalie , Vayssier-Taussat Muriel , Verheyden Hélène , Vourc’h Gwenaël , Chalvet-Monfray Karine
Published: December 2021

Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are the most important vector for Lyme borreliosis in Europe. As environmental and climate changes might affect the distribution and activity of tick populations, this study aimed to determine the effects of environmental factors, i.e., meteorological, bioclimatic, and habitat characteristics on questing activity of I. ricinus nymphs across diverse climatic types in France over an 8-year period. Questing activity was observed using a repeated removal sampling design with a cloth-dragging technique in 11 sampling sites from 7 tick observatories from 2014 to 2021 at approximately 1-month intervals, involving 631 sampling campaigns. Three phenological patterns were observed, potentially following a climatic gradient. The mixed-effects negative binomial regression revealed that observed nymph counts were driven by different interval-average meteorological variables, including one-month average temperature, previous-season average temperature, and half-year average minimum relative humidity. The interaction effects indicated that the phenology in colder climates peaked differently from that of warmer climates. Also, the land cover characteristics that support the highest baseline abundance were moderate forest fragmentation with transition borders with agricultural areas. Finally, our model could potentially be used to predict seasonal human-tick exposure risks in France that could contribute to mitigating Lyme borreliosis risks.
Generation of Efficient Terahertz Radiation by Relativistic Self-Focusing of A Cosh-Gaussian Laser Beam in A Magnetized Plasma
Authors: Purohit Gunjan , Gaur Bineet , Kothiyal Pradeep , Raizada Amita
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a scheme for the generation of terahertz (THz) radiation by self-focusing of a cosh-Gaussian laser beam in the magnetized and rippled density plasma, when relativistic nonlinearity is operative. The strong coupling between self-focused laser beam and pre-existing density ripple produces nonlinear current that originates THz radiation. THz radiation is produced by the interaction of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam with electron plasma wave under the appropriate phase matching conditions. Expressions for the beamwidth parameter of cosh-Gaussian laser beam and the electric vector of the THz radiation have been obtained using higher-order paraxial theory and solved numerically. The self-focusing of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam and its effect on the generated THz amplitude have been studied for specific laser and plasma parameters. Numerical study has been performed on various values of the decentered parameter, incident laser intensity, magnetic field, and relative density. The results have also been compared with the paraxial region as well as the Gaussian profile of laser beam. Numerical results suggest that the self-focusing of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam and the amplitude of THz radiation increase in the extended paraxial region compared to the paraxial region. It is also observed that the focusing of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam in the magnetized plasma and the amplitude of the THz radiation increases at higher values of the decentered parameter.
Does Greenwashing Affect Employee’s Career Satisfaction? The Mediating Role of Organizational Pride, Negative Emotions and Affective Commitment.
Authors: Santos Célia , Coelho Arnaldo , Marques Alzira
Published: December 2021

Greenwashing occurs when companies deliberately deceive or mislead stakeholders regarding their environmental practices or benefits of a product/service. Most existing greenwashing studies focus on consumers, and the effects on employees have seldom been examined. Furthermore, little is known about how employees may respond emotionally to their company's greenwashing practices. Accordingly, the current research conducted an empirical study of the relationship between employees’ greenwashing perception and their career satisfaction. The mediating roles of organizational pride, negative emotions, and affective commitment are also examined. Based on information collected through a questionnaire applied to 398 Portuguese employees, a quantitative, causal, cross-sectional study was carried out, using structural equation model techniques, through AMOS. The results indicate that employees’ perception of greenwashing relates negatively to their career satisfaction, organizational pride, and affective commitment. In turn, negative emotions are positively impacted by greenwashing. The results also reveal that the path between perceived greenwashing of employees and career satisfaction is established not only directly, but also through organizational pride and affective commitment. This study extends the literature by addressing the neglected side of employees’ emotional reactions to greenwashing. Based on the central premise that corporate greenwashing is inherently an immoral act, we draw upon appraisal theory and moral foundations theory to investigate short-term (affective commitment, negative emotions, and organizational pride) and long-term work-related effects (career satisfaction) as an outcome for greenwashing.
Doxorubicin and siRNA co-delivery System Based on Carbon Dots Inhibits Chemoresistance of Lung Cancer Through MRP1
Authors: Hui Luo , Kexin Tang , Xi Lin , Yongquan Huang , Ting Yu , Qiang Wang , Lili Wu , Lei Yang , Yu Hailing , Hong Shan
Published: December 2021

BackgroundAcquired resistance against chemotherapeutic drugs hinders the clinical efficacy of treatments in lung cancer. To circumvent the developed resistance, we aim to target critical signaling molecules related with chemoresistance through co-delivering siRNA and chemotherapeutics. The co-delivery strategy may address the unmet need to efficiently counteracting the multidrug resistance in treating lung cancer. MethodsA co-delivery nanosystem that could carry siRNA and DOX simultaneously has been studied in this work. The co-delivery is based on carbon dots was surface-modified with poly-ethylenimine (PEI), and loaded the siMRP1 and chemotherapeutics on the surface with pH-triggered drug release. The CD-PEI was synthesized by one-step microwave assisted method; the PEI were raw materials and passivator during the reaction process that makes CD exhibit excellent optical property.ResultsThe CD-PEI was capable of loading and delivering siMRP1 and DOX to tumor and release synchronously in cells by acid-triggered manner.The expression of MRP1 in A549 and A549/ADM cells were successfully knocked down by siRNA. The silencing of MRP1 by co-delivery system could increase DOX accumulation and significantly enhance the inhibitory effect of cell viability. Moreover, the co-delivery system enhances the inhibitory effect of metastatic potential elicited by doxorubicin in A549 and A549/ADM cells.Conclusion﻿By suppressing MRP1, the co-delivery system can obviously increase the drug cellular accumulation and inhibit the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of lung cancer, implying its potential application to overcome chemoresistance and enhance therapeutic efficiency in clinical practices.
Context-aware POI Recommendation using Neutrosophic Set for Mobile Edge Computing
Authors: Zheng Meiguang , Li Yi , He Zhengfang , Hu Yu , Li Jie , Yang Liu
Published: December 2021

With the rapid development of mobile communication technology, there is a growing demand for high-quality point of interest(POI) recommendation. The POIs visited by users only account for a very small proportion. Thus traditional POI recommendation method is vulnerable to data sparsity and lacks a clear and effective explanation for POI ranking result. The POI selection made by the user is influenced by various contextual attributes. The challenge lies in representing accurately and aggregating multiple contextual information efficiently. We transform the POI recommendation into a contextual multi-attribute decision problem based on the neutrosophic set (NS) which is suitable for representing fuzzy decision information. We establish a unified framework of contextual information. Firstly, we propose a contextual multi-attribute NS transformation model of POI, including the NS model for single-dimensional attributes and the NS model for multi-dimensional attributes. And then through the aggregation of multi attribute NS, the POI that best conforms to user's preferences is recommended. Finally, the experimental results based on the Yelp dataset show that the proposed strategy performs better than the typical POI recommendation method in NDCG, accuracy, and recall rate.
Estimating the role of climate internal variability and source of uncertainties in hydrological climate-impact projections
Authors: Cai Wenjun , Liu Jia , Zhu Xueping , Zhao Xuehua
Published: December 2021

Hydrological climate-impact projections in future are limited by large uncertainties from various sources. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and estimate the sources of uncertainties involved in climate changing impacted assessment in a representative watershed of Northeastern China. Moreover, recent researches indicated that the climate internal variability (CIV) plays an important role in various of hydrological climate-impact projections. Six downscaled Global climate models (GCMs) under two emission scenarios and a calibrate Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model were used to obtain hydrological projections in future periods. The CIV and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are investigated to analyze the the role of internal variability in hydrological projections. The results shows that the internal variability shows a considerable influence on hydrological projections, which need be partitioned and quantified particularly. Moreover, it worth noting the CIV can propagate from precipitation and ET to runoff projections through the hydrological simulation process. In order to partition the CIV and sources of uncertainties, the uncertainty decomposed frameworks based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) are established. The results demonstrate that the CIV and GCMs are the dominate contributors of runoff in rainy season. In contrast, the CIV and SWAT model parameter sets provided obvious uncertainty to runoff in January to May and October to December. The findings of this study advised that the uncertainty is complex in hydrological simulation process hence, it is meaning and necessary to estimate the uncertainty in climate simulation process, the uncertainty analysis results can provide effectively efforts to reduce uncertainty and then give some positive suggestions to stakeholders for adaption countermeasure under climate change.
Degree-of-Freedom Analysis and Structural Synthesis of a Class of Host–Parasite Multi-Loop Mechanisms
Authors: Wei Wei , Dong Geyu
Published: December 2021

The method of analyzing the mechanism in series, parallel and hybrid modes can no longer meet the requirements of analyzing multi-loop mechanisms (MLMs), especially multi-loop mechanisms with passive degrees of freedom(P-DOFs).This study presents an approach to analyzing sub-degree-of-freedom (sub-DOF) relations in a class of MLMs with P-DOFs (P-DOFs) as well as structurally synthesizing these mechanisms. First,the DOFs of mechanisms with P-DOFs are decomposed and combined,and two methods—multi-loop serial connection and multi-loop stacking—are formulated to establish MLMs with P-DOFs.Second, a DOF space (DOF-S) model is generated.Host–parasite (H–P) MLMs are proposed, and various types of parasitism are analyzed. Finally, various DOF distribution patterns in H–P MLMs are analyzed based on real-world examples. The results show the following. H–P mechanisms are a class of MLMs with P-DOFs. For an H–P mechanism, its DOFs can be longitudinally and centrally, transversely and centrally, or comprehensively optimally distributed in the DOF-S by selecting a suitable type of parasitism. The H–P-type palletizing robot prototype developed in this study is able to self-balance. This demonstrates that the comprehensive optimization of DOF distribution is effective. This study enriches the theoretical knowledge on MLMs, which are extensively applied in fields such as aerospace, industrial robotics, and numerical-control machine tools.
Structure-Based Virtual Screening, Insilico Docking, ADME Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics Studies for Identification of Potential NMT Inhibitors Against Malaria
Authors: Anbuselvam Mohan , Katherine C Ji , Jeeva Anbuselvam , Ji Hai-Feng
Published: December 2021

One of the major public health problems globally, malaria, is mainly caused protozoan parasites from the genus Plasmodium, and commonly spreads to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Strategies for treatment, prevention, and control are available for malaria but the eradication of malaria still poses great challenge due to plasmodium’s drug resistance over the past decades. Development of novel antimalarial drugs remains a significant task to protect people from malaria. N-Myristoyl transferase is responsible for the N-Myristoylation catalysis process and the survival of Plasmodium species. Thus, it is considered a therapeutic drug target in protozoans and was recently validated as a significant target for Plasmodium vivax. In this present scenario, we endeavour to identify effective NMT inhibitors to prevent the onset of malaria in the human species. Initially, the structure-based virtual screening was executed against ZINC database and four potential candidates for NMT were identified. Furthermore, the four identified compounds were subjected to ADME prediction and all the four compounds found within adequate range with predicted ADME properties. Eventually, we conducted the molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the binding stability of top three protein-ligand complexes at different time scale by employing the tool Desmond. The molecular dynamics simulation studies revealed the protein-ligand complexes were stable throughout the entire simulation. Besides, we noticed that the residues ASN 365, PHE 103 and HIS 213 of NMT were crucially involved in the formation of various intermolecular interactions, significantly contributing to the stability of protein-ligand complexes. From this computational investigation, we suggest that the three identified potential compounds are extremely useful for further lead optimization and drug development.
Prognostic Value of Drug Targets Predicted using Deep Bioinformatic Analysis of M6A-associated lncRNA-based Pancreatic Cancer Model Characteristics and its Tumour Microenvironment
Authors: Cao Peng-wei , Liu Lei , Li Zi-Han , Cao Feng , Liu Fu-Bao
Published: December 2021

Background: The role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-associated long-stranded non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in pancreatic cancer is unclear. Therefore, we analysed the characteristics and tumour microenvironment in pancreatic cancer and determined the value of m6A-related lncRNAs for prognosis and drug target prediction.Methods: An m6A-lncRNA co-expression network was constructed using The Cancer Genome Atlas database to screen m6A-related lncRNAs. Prognosis-related lncRNAs were screened using univariate Cox regression; patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups and randomised into training and test groups. In the training group, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used for regression analysis and to construct a prognostic model, which was validated in the test group. Tumour mutational burden (TMB), immune evasion, and immune function of risk genes were analysed using R; drug sensitivity and potential drugs were examined using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database.Results: We screened 129 m6A-related lncRNAs; 17 prognosis-related m6A-related lncRNAs were obtained using multivariate analysis and three m6A-related lncRNAs (AC092171.5, MEG9, AC002091.1) were screened using LASSO regression. Survival rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the low-risk than in the high-risk group. Risk score was an independent predictor affecting survival (P < 0.001), with the highest risk score being obtained by calculating the c-index. The TMB significantly differed between the high- and low-risk groups (P < 0.05). In the high- and low-risk groups, mutations were detected in 61 of 70 samples and 49 of 71 samples, respectively, with KRAS, TP53, and SMAD4 showing the highest mutation frequencies in both groups. A lower survival rate was observed in patients with a high versus low TMB. Immune function HLA, Cytolytic activity, and Inflammation-promoting, T cell co-inhibition, Check-point, and T cell co-stimulation significantly differed in different subgroups (P < 0.05). Immune evasion scores were significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. Eight sensitive drugs were screened: ABT.888, ATRA, AP.24534, AG.014699, ABT.263, axitinib, A.443654, and A.770041.Conclusions: We screened m6A-related lncRNAs using bioinformatics, constructed a prognosis-related model, explored TMB and immune function differences in pancreatic cancer, and identified potential therapeutic agents, providing a foundation for further studies of pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The Effect of Changing Stirrup Spacing and Hook Angle on RC Cantilever Beams with Industrial Iron Chips Waste
Authors: ÖZYURT MUHAMMET ZEKİ , Sancak Ömer Fatih
Published: December 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Elucidation of Genetic Diversity as Morphological, Phytochemical and Molecular Markers in Some Hawthorn (Crataegus) Genotypes
Authors: YILDIZ Ercan , YAMAN Mehmet , SÜMBÜL Ahmet , SAY Ahmet
Published: December 2021

Backround:

Thanks to its ecological and geographical location, Turkey is the homeland of many fruit species and allows many fruit species to be grown. Hawthorn, which is understood to be important in human health and nutrition, is one of these fruit types. This study was carried out to identify morphological, biochemical and molecular genetic variations of 22 hawthorn genotypes belonging to three different species collected from Kayseri province.
Methods and Results:

Morphological, biochemical and molecular marker (ISSR) techniques were used to determine genetic diversity. The fruit and leaf characteristics of the genotypes showed differences. Among the biochemical properties of the genotypes, the antioxidant activity ranged from 23.13–61.59%, the total flavonoid content ranged from 16.63 to 57.22 mg QE/100 g, and the total phenolic content ranged from 277.28 to 310.80 mg GAE/100 g. Genotypes were compared with principal component analysis according to their morphological and biochemical characteristics. In the principal component analysis, species generally formed similar clusters. In molecular marker analysis, 101 bands were obtained from 13 ISSR primers. 76 of the bands are polymorphic and the polymorphism rate was calculated as 75.24%. The similarity index in the UPGMA dendogram obtained as a result of the molecular analysis ranged between 0.71 and 0.88. In the dendrogram, genotypes did not show a dense clustering by species.
Conclusion

The results obtained may benefit researchers in the determination and protection of gene sources in breeding studies on hawthorn species.
LIM Homeobox Transcription Factors as Novel Prognosis Biomarkers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lu Chen , Duan Cong-cong , Bing Han
Published: December 2021

Background: LIM class homeobox (LHX) genes, an important subfamily of the homeobox genes, encode transcription factors that have a fundamental role during embryonic development. However, knowledge regarding the function and mechanism of LHXs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is still lacking. Methods: We conduct a bioinformatic analysis to systematically explore the mRNA expression, clinical correlation, prognostic values, and underlying mechanisms of distinct LHXs in HNSCC. The differentially expressed mRNAs in the LIM homeobox gene family and their correlation with clinical variables were determined and verified with packages in software R. The prognosis values of LHXs expression levels were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier (KM) method and Cox proportional hazard model. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to understand the potential biological function of LHXs. The immune cell infiltration patterns were estimated through CIBERSORT and TIMER, and the methylation levels of LHXs in HNSCC were explored in UALCAN and MEXPRESS.Results: We found that among 12 LHXs, 8 genes (ISL1, LHX1-3, 5, 9, LMX1A, and LMX1B) showed altered expression in HNSCC tissues and detected significant correlations between their expression and clinical variables. Survival analysis revealed that LHX1, LHX5, LMX1A, LMX1B can serve as unfavorable prognosis predictors, and ISL1, LHX2, LHX9 can serve as favorable predictors in all HNSCC patients. Gene sets enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analyses showed that the aberrant expression of LHXs was closely related to cancer-associated processes and immune cell infiltration patterns. Finally, we observed hyper-methylation in the promoters of ISL1, LHX2, 5, 9, LMX1A, LMX1B and hypo-methylation in LHX3 promoter, suggesting the regulatory mechanism of LHXs abnormal expression may be related to aberrant DNA methylation. Conclusions: Our study found the oncogenic roles of LHX1,5 and LMX1B and the tumor-suppressor roles of ISL1 and LHX2 in patients with HNSCC, suggesting these LHXs as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HNSCC.
Superflares and Starspots: when size does not matter
Authors: Araujo Alexandre , Valio Adriana
Published: December 2021

Within the last decade, space missions have provided a wealth of information about stellar flares. Nevertheless, what triggers these superflares, and whether they are similar to the solar counterparts, remains a great mystery. How are flares connected to active regions and what are the main causes of their occurrence? Here we investigate the activity of two K-type stars, similar in every way from mass to rotation periods and planetary systems. Even if both stars exhibited hundreds of spots, Kepler-411 produced 65 superflares, while Kepler-210 presented none. The spots of both stars were characterised using the planetary transit mapping technique which yields the intensity, temperature, and radius of starspots. The only discrepant parameter was the size of the spots. While the average radius of spots on Kepler-411 was (17 ± 7) × 103 km, for Kepler-210 the mean radius was (39 ± 18) × 103 km. That is, the star with no superflare exhibited spots twice as large as the one with 65 superflares. Thus starspot area appears not to be the main culprit of superflare triggering, but rather the magnetic complexity seems more important, as in the case of the Sun. These are important clues to the magnetic dynamo acting on these solar-type stars.